Posts Tagged ‘winter’
Beyond The Classics: 5 Alternative Destinations to Visit in 2025
In Europe, you’ll find plenty of iconic cities, from the romantic canals of Venice to the impressive monuments of Paris. But why not visit somewhere a little different for your next holiday? If you’re looking for a unique experience this year, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of 5 alternative destinations to get you started…
1. Ljubljana, Slovenia
Ljubljana is Slovenia’s capital, nestled between Austria, Italy, and Croatia. Unlike its more well-known European counterparts, this city offers a very laid-back atmosphere, with interesting medieval architecture and an eco-friendly environment that locals take pride in. Ljubljana is compact in size, so it’s very easy to navigate and the welcoming locals are sure to make you feel right at home. Stroll along the Ljubljanica River and take in the fresh Alpine air, or visit Ljubljana Castle which offers stunning panoramic views. Relax and enjoy the superb café culture where you’ll find several quirky spots along the riverside.
Why Visit?
- Rich history & stunning architecture
- Various parks and green spaces
- Laid-back cafes and local produce markets
Osprey Recommends
City Hotel Ljubljana
2. Porto, Portugal
While Lisbon has been a long-standing favourite for travellers around the world, Porto in northern Portugal is a perfect alternative. Known for its picturesque riverside views and rich cultural heritage, Porto offers all the beauty of its southern counterpart. Wander through the colourful streets of Ribeira, visit the famous Livraria Lello bookstore, and of course, indulge in the region’s renowned port wine at one of the many wine cellars lining the Douro River.
Why Visit?
- Scenic river views
- Fewer crowds
- Port Wine
Osprey Recommends
Editory House Ribeira
3. Valencia, Spain
While Barcelona and Madrid dominate the Spanish tourism scene, Valencia is a hidden gem on Spain’s eastern coast. This vibrant city boasts a rich blend of modern and historic architecture, beautiful beaches, and delicious cuisine – think paella! The City of Arts and Sciences is a futuristic complex worth exploring, while the Turia Gardens, a park created in the former bed of the Turia River, is perfect for a peaceful walk or bike ride.
Why Visit?
- Architecture, nature and beach
- Home to the birthplace of paella
Osprey Recommends
Hospes Palau de la Mar
4. Ghent, Belgium
Bruges often steals the spotlight in Belgium, however Ghent is also worth a visit. It’s an artsy city with a quieter charm, well known for its stunning canals, impressive castles, and fascinating history. The Gravensteen Castle, St. Bavo’s Cathedral, and the Museum of Fine Arts are just a few highlights. Here there’s a lively cultural scene, with many festivals, art galleries, and craft beer bars which adds a modern touch to the historical landscape.
Why Visit?
- Beautiful medieval city
- Vibrant arts scene
- Belgian beer!
Osprey Recommends
Pillows Grand Hotel Reylof
5. Riga, Latvia
Riga, the capital of Latvia, offers a fantastic alternative to the popular cities of Eastern Europe like Prague or Budapest. Known for its Art Nouveau architecture, medieval Old Town, and lively nightlife, Riga provides a mixture of the old and the new. Stroll down the cobbled streets of the Old Town, take in panoramic views from the St. Peter’s Church tower, and enjoy the cosy cafes and boutiques scattered around the city.
Why Visit?
- Medieval and modern architecture
- UNESCO-listed Art Nouveau buildings
Osprey Recommends
TRIBE Riga City Centre
Wellton Centrum Hotel & Spa
Whether you’re looking for historic charm, cultural richness, or scenic beauty, these hidden gems prove that Europe has so much more to offer beyond its famous counterparts.
To find out more about these cities or to request a tailored quote, call our team on 0131 243 8098 or email [email protected].
Gareth Goes to Paris!
Gareth, our Sales Manager, visited Paris where he stayed at Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris – just a few minutes from the Arc du Triomphe and Champs Elysees. Here’s a quick update on his trip:
The hotel is stunning, everything you would expect from a top luxury hotel in a major world city. The clientele were as beautiful as the décor (we fitted in perfectly) and service was exceptional. We had a huge suite; we used the lovely pool and wellness areas and the base for walking the city could not have been better.
We took the Eurostar from St Pancras and upgraded to Premier (now Eurostar Plus) and really liked the comfort, quiet coach, decent meal and wine. We played some Uno, we watched the stats pop up on the overhead screens, with speed and distance noted, and the train seemed to be there in no time. Arriving into Gare du Nord meant that all of the passport checking had already been done so we just had to navigate the Friday evening rush hour and get our way to the hotel. This was a pretty simple job, we went to a ticket window and the rail staff were more than happy to help us. We had a chilled evening so that we were ready to go the next morning – Le Bar Long in the hotel knew how to mix a cocktail! We went to bed happy.
First impressions the next day, Paris was looking good. There was still a lot of work being done around Arc du Triomph, Place de la Concorde with breaking down the Olympics infrastructure but other than that it felt very much business as usual. We walked lots (and lots).
The walk up to and down from Sacre Coeur was lovely – lots of the bars and cafes had happy hour offerings with discounted food and drink and while it was busy, it felt busy in a buzzy way, rather than over busy. We spent hours winding our way up to the Cathedral and then just as long coming back down. We had a pizza in a bar – nothing of note, we were all hungry so we just stopped. Watching the world go by from our pavement table felt great – so Parisian.
The next day we walked a different way, we headed down Champs Elysees with much shopping being done (and a stop in McDonalds too – please don’t judge) on to Place de la Concorde, and into the Jardin des Tuileries just beyond. The cafes in the park were really busy but we managed to find a seat so that we could sit in the sun with a strong French coffee.
We visited The Louvre getting on one of the later slots, not long before the museum closed, and found it quiet. We saw everything we wanted to without being rushed or bothered by too many people.
Later we crossed the river to Rive Gauche and found a lovely little place to eat – it was authentic, charming and reasonably priced. The service was fab and the food its equal. I would highly recommend Café Le Flores.
Our son was desperate to see the Eiffel Tower and I am glad that we saved it to the end of the day as seeing the light show on a lovely Parisian evening was a really great way to finish our trip to Paris.
We flew home on Transavia (part of Air France) and they offered good service and great times between Paris and Edinburgh. We flew from Orly and the new RER train link is a well priced, quick and easy way to get from the centre of Paris to the airport. It is also much smaller and easy to navigate compared to Charles du Gaul.
Overall wasn’t that fussed about going to Paris – but this trip was an amazing family break with so many highlights. It was a brilliant couple of days, and I am itching to go back!
To find out more about Gareth’s visit to Paris or if you’re interested in a similar trip,
give the team a call on 0131 243 8098, send us an email or say hello on live chat.
Christmas and New Year 2024/25
From everyone at Osprey Holidays, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! If you wish to get in touch please contact us on 0131 243 8098 and find our festive opening hours below:
Two In One: Shona Explores Paris & Val d’Isere
I was lucky enough to attend a fabulous FAM trip hosted by Experimental Group. Experimental are currently in the midst of an exciting new project building the new Experimental Chalet Val d’Isere, which is due to open at the end of the year. For all ski related enquiries, our sister company, Ski Independence are on hand to help create the perfect ski holiday for your clients.
Day 1
After a smooth flight to Paris Beauvais airport, I hopped on a bus and arrived at Porte Maillot. From there I took the metro to the first hotel I was staying in, Experimental’s Hotel des Grands Boulevards. Wow, what a place! The hotel was marvellous and I was greeted with a warm smile by the friendly reception staff. As I was handed a set of real keys to my room, I already started to feel right at home.
After dropping my bags, I strolled along the beautiful Parisian streets and visited a selection of our fabulous featured hotels:
- 5-star Parister Hotel
- 4-star Hotel Crayon Rouge
- 4-star Hotel Le Milie Rose
Once I had rendezvoused with the rest of the lovely agents in the group, we wandered around and saw some iconic Paris sites and headed back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner at the hotel. The restaurant has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, offering a great selection of dishes and unique cocktails made with ingredients from their very own on-site garden!
Day 2
Off to an early start, we had a fabulous continental breakfast with plenty of pastries and had a tour of the hotel. Afterwards, we were treated to a superb food tour run by Through Eternity Tours, which included wine, French onion soup, galettes, chocolate and a lot of cheese!
Very happy and our bellies full, we took the scenic route back to our next hotel – The Grand Pigalle Hotel, a smaller, yet equally sophisticated slice of Paris. The Grand Pigalle hotel had a classically Parisian feel, with chic bedrooms and an elegant interior. My room had a beautiful balcony, perfect for a coffee and watching the world go by in the mornings.
In the evening, we had dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, Frenchie Pigalle, restaurant of the one-starred chef Gregory Marchand. The waiting staff were incredibly professional and knowledgeable, offering a description of each dish we had and the food was just to die for!
Day 3
After a blissful sleep in the comfiest beds, we had another delightful breakfast and were all feeling very excited for the journey ahead to Val d’Isere. Experimental will soon be opening new accommodation in Val d’Isere, which will be replacing the current L’Aigle Des Neiges.
We set off to Gare de Lyon and had a very easy journey to Chambery, before being picked up by our transfer to take us to our next accommodation.
When we arrived, snow was gently falling down around us. The resort of Val d’Isere is stunning, surrounded by cosy looking lodges and picturesque mountain backdrops. We stayed in the Chalet Marco Polo, which was absolutely breathtaking. Kitted out with a swimming pool, hot tub, games room and gym, it was a dream!
As the construction works of the new accommodation are still ongoing, we were taken on a tour of the showroom, which was mocked up to replicate one of the rooms at Experimental Chalet Val d’Isere. Equipped with hard hats and welly boots, we visualized what the accommodation will look like.
We were given a presentation from the Val d’Isere Tourist Office and afterwards treated to a mixology class by one of Experimental’s specialist mixologists. We had a private dinner which consisted of a spectacular 3-course meal, which was also to die for!
If you want to find out more about ski holidays with Ski Independence, visit our dedicated travel agent pages here. If you’re already registered with Osprey, that means you’re also registered with Ski Independence, and you can enquire today.
Day 4
After a wonderful breakfast with views of the mountains and gently falling snowflakes, we set off on our final activity – snowshoeing. I had never done this before and it was a great opportunity to get on the slopes and see the Alps in all their glory!
Sadly it was time to say goodbye, and after an incredible 4 days we packed our bags and headed to Geneva airport. The entire experience was the perfect mix of city sightseeing with a glorious alpine setting, and a fair few laughs along the way!
‘Til we meet again!
To find out more about Shona’s trip to Paris & Val d’Isere or if you’re interested in a similar trip,
give the team a call on 0131 243 8098 or send us an email.
Sarah’s Icelandic Adventure
After a quick 2 hour flight from Edinburgh to Reykjavik we had arrived! There is no time difference between the UK and Iceland, which is great especially for a short break. It was about 7pm so we dropped our bags at our beautiful hotel, the Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel Curio Collection By Hilton and headed straight out for dinner. Read the rest of this entry »
Luxury Scottish trip to Trump Turnberry
We took six travel agents on our Luxury Scotland trip to the beautiful Trump Turnberry – A Luxury Collection Resort near Glasgow with Lisa our Senior Short Break Specialist, Jennifer our Agency Sales Executive and Sarah our Marketing Manager. Read the rest of this entry »
Our Favourite Christmas Markets
Plaisirs d’Hiver – Winterpret – Winter Wonders
© visit.brussels – Eric Danhier – 2017
We are getting into the true festive spirit here at Osprey Holidays as we feel the colder weather and dark nights drawing in. So it’s time to get snug, enjoy the magic and visit a Christmas Market!
The team have chosen their favourite ones to visit this year and here’s why. Read the rest of this entry »
Cracking Krakow!
Christmas Markets, Main Square, Krakow, Poland
After arriving into Krakow it was great to have our transfer driver waiting for us ready to whisk us off to the hotel. After check-in we decided to have a quick wander round to get our bearings and check out the Christmas Markets Read the rest of this entry »
Our Ladies in Prague!
Diane & Irene in Prague
After a speedy transfer from Prague Airport we dropped off our bags at the K&K Hotel Central, our base for our two nights in Prague. First stop was lunch, we stumbled upon a market in Republic Square just minutes from the hotel, we each a had delicious hot pulled pork baguette from a street food stall. There are lots of interesting food stalls dotted all around the city with their tempting warm steamy aroma. Read the rest of this entry »
Travel Agents – Win an Osprey Experience!
– COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED –
We are offering agents a new incentive for any booking that includes an Osprey Experience.
All travel agent bookings made during the month of August that include any added tour, excursion or visit Read the rest of this entry »
