Whilst touring holidays are a great way of seeing a lot of country in one trip, the downside is that you don’t get to spend much time in one place to explore it properly. Mami, Florida is one of the places that falls into this category as it is on the itinerary of many tour and cruise operators. There is much to see and do here, and knowing what to see in a short space of time in advance can be a godsend.

A must see, however long you are in Miami for is the world famous Ocean Drive. Lined on either side by hotels and building carrying the unique art deco architecture of the 1930′s, a visit here is like being taken back in time to the elegance and sophistication that was Miami in that decade. With many organisations working to ensure that these buildings are preserved and keep their lustre, Ocean Drive has an appeal all of its own.

The beaches of Miami are some of the best known across the globe, and a great opportunity to relax for a while and catch the rays. The demand for the beaches alone have been reason for the number of cheap flights to Miami becoming available in recent years. If you are daring enough, check out the topless Third Street beach, part of the South beach area, and for a unique souvenir get a photo taken beside the art deco lifeguard station. If a family picnic on the sands is what you had in mind, then the perfect spot is Crandon Park on Key Biscayne.

Lincoln Road is where the beautiful people of Miami hang out, so if you are into people watching head down to one of the chic eateries or just relax in a bar and watch the rich and stylish go about their business. Lincoln Road consists of 8 blocks of entertainment that is well worth taking the time to explore during your time here.

Moving to San Francisco, whether in the long or short term, can seem to many like the ultimate holiday due to what is on offer in one of the world’s premier cities. The wonderful climate, diverse culture and the numerous financial and media centres can make moving here seem a dream come true. Whilst the job market is still buoyant, it has declined since the bursting of the dot com bubble, but there are still plenty of jobs to be had.

The areas that you look at also greatly depend on your personal situation; single, couple, family etc. Singles may think that they will have the easiest time finding somewhere to live, but the San Francisco city apartments are notoriously small, so if you are staying for a while and bring lots of stuff with you, you may have to find a cheap storage facility to store that stuff you can’t bear to get rid of but don’t have room for.

Richmond and Sunset are family orientated neighbourhoods that have more owners than renters. There are large Russian and Asian communities here and it is a longer commute into the city centre. Haight is an area more suitable for couples as it embraces a counter culture and many hippies live here. There can be some safety concerns here but like anywhere, being sensible about travelling at night is the key.

Marina is very much a ‘Yuppie’ area with prices to match. An expensive and exclusive area mainly consisting of professionals who have relocated to San Francisco. It is close to the bay with easy access to the city. Saint Francis Woods is another classy area that appeals to families. There is a long commute into the city but those who live here think its worth it for the quality of life they enjoy here.

There is something unique and exciting about taking a train journey, and one of our oldest methods of transport has seen of all comers to remain as popular today as it was centuries ago. The beauty of taking luxury rail tours as opposed to a coach is the comfort and freedom of movement you have. If you are torn between a coach or train tour of central Europe, then the latter has to win hands down, every time.

If you are planning to take a train across central Europe and are looking for something that extra bit special, then there is only way to go; all aboard the Danube Express. This is the last word in luxurious train travel and is the ultimate hotel on wheels. It also offers a very sophisticated and elegant way of travelling to some of the most enticing destinations on the continent, and is truly a unique and wonderful experience.

There are 4 main trips that you can take on the Danube Express that will see you criss-crossing central Europe and seeing the best of the continent. The Transylvanian runs between Istanbul and Budapest, the Polish Explorer is Budapest to Warsaw, the Istanbul loop is an epic 7 day trip around the most exciting cities of central Europe and starts and finishes in Istanbul and the 3 day Balkan Voyager takes in Turkey, Bulgaria, Hungary and Serbia.

The consummate luxury of this train will sometimes make it hard for you to believe that you are actually on a train. Traditional ambience meets modern comforts head on and the two settle down to create the kind of relaxing atmosphere that you only thought existed in the movies. From the deluxe sleeping compartments to the restaurant cars serving the finest international cuisine, every moment on the Danube Express is a memorable one.

The term ‘trip of a lifetime’ is an overused cliché and very few trips that are advertised as this live up to their expectations. A train ride through central Europe on this luxury train bucks that trend however and will create the kind of memories that last a lifetime, and be a holiday that you will look back on fondly and talk about for years to come.

Copenhagen is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world and is notable for the fact that it is spread out near the island of Amager . With a humid climate in an oceanic zone, the weather is very unstable, meaning that it varies between as much as 40 degrees during one season. For this reason it can be a great, and exotic, destination to visit during any time of the year.

One of the notable features of Copenhagen is its beautiful parks and beaches.  Its gardens, such as the Garden of Rosenborg Castle, Sculpture Garden and Botanical Gardens and King’s Garden are all worth a visit. The Kronborg Castle also demands a visit as its ancient architecture is breathtaking and well preserved. Also worth travelling over to is the artificial island of Flakfortet, which has been turned into a wildlife park.

Those who enjoy shopping will want to check out the Stroget street area where there are endless stalls, boutiques, supermarkets, theatres, memorials, and shops. You can find just about anything in this area, which is what makes it so charming.

Children and adults alike will enjoy the ‘Little Mermaid’ which sits on the Langelinie Wharf and was sculpted in 1913. The maiden sits atop a rock and is considered to be the city’s symbol.  Nearby are some great restaurants that feature the grand seafood that Copenhagen is known for. Finally, the Latin Quarter is a great place to stop to find the unique creative hub of Copenhagen as the area is a mix of bars, clubs, and museums.

Customs authorities differ depending on which country you are travelling into and where you are departing from, but for those who will be leaving on an international trip soon or planning one there are a few basics that  you can expect almost anywhere you travel.

First of all, in order to travel to nearly any country you will need a valid passport, so if you do not have one then you may want to apply ASAP as it takes time for a passport to be approved.  Second, before heading into any country you will want to check the NHS travel vaccinations guide to see what vaccinations you should consider before travelling out of the country.  It is important to note that for some countries vaccinations are actually required, so you will need to bring proof of vaccination to customs with you.

Customs laws differ by country, but you can expect usually to find that there is a limit to how many electronic goods can be brought into a country before a duty tax is applied.  It is extremely useful to know this before departing so that you can be properly prepared.  Note that some countries will not allow devices such as the iPhone or iPad to be brought into them, so be sure to check in advance so that you do not have to throw out any items.

As a general rule of thumb, most custom authorities will not allow food and drink to cross international borders therefore, if you want to bring any of these items it is best to check in advance.

There is little that hasn’t been said about Thailand; miles of unspoilt, palm fringed beaches, vibrant and colourful cities that never seem to sleep, lush, verdant landscapes with hidden temples waiting to be discovered, and just about the friendliest people you could ever wish to meet. No wonder Thailand is called the land of smiles, and no wonder British tourists flock there every year to experience like no other.

A big selling point of Thailand, as far as tourists are concerned, is the fact that you get an awful lot of holiday for your money, and this particularly applies to the luxury resorts which are affordable to the majority. The word is that even if you are travelling on a budget, you can stay in one of the top end luxury resorts in Thailand for what you would spend to stay in a 3 or 4 star hotel on the continent.

The Sarojin is an outstanding boutique resort on the beach, and offers those who stay here an experience they will never forget. There are 56 guest residences at The Sarojin, split into three categories; Sarojin suites, garden residences and pool residences. The suites are large, spacious, luxuriously decorated and boast a sunny terrace and private relaxation pool. The pool and garden residences are the same high standard and one is set in sumptuous gardens, and the other has a private pool.

As far as gastronomy is concerned, the Sarojin is second to none. Their Ficus and The edge restaurants offer the best of Thai and Mediterranean cuisine, and their wine cellar will have connoisseurs chomping at the bit. If you are here on a romantic break or honeymoon with your partner, there are the unique ‘just for 2′ intimate dining experiences where you can choose a location such as on the beach, or next to a jungle waterfall.

With numerous sports facilities, and the world renowned spas that the Thais are famous for, this 10 acre resort with private access to the 11km white beach on the Andaman Sea, a holiday at the Sarojin is that kind special thing you have always said you would treat yourself to, and now you can.

The travel market has changed immensely over the past three decades, both in terms of how it is run and in terms of how consumers find the best deals. Just two decades ago the common practice was to head to a travel agent in order to find the best flight and hotel deals. 

Travel agents reigned supreme for their ability to provide top of the line deals in exchange for a small finder’s fee, however, the internet has taken this concept and made it outdated as the new travel agent is a website that operates for free.

In modern times, if you want the best travel deal the first thing you do is log into a major travel site such as Coop Travel, enter your travel needs, and sit back while the website does the work for you. With this in mind, there are still a few tips that can be helpful to know if you want the absolute groundbreaking price for a hotel or flight.

For instance, most people do not realise that Tuesday night is the best time to book a hotel or flight if you can do so. This is due to the fact that travel companies release their best deals at the start of the week on Monday, and by Tuesday have all adjusted their fares to competitively match the lowest comparable prices on the market.

Thus, if you wait until Tuesday to book any travel arrangements you will likely get the lowest prices. As the week moves on the price will start to slowly edge up with the weekend being the worst time to purchase any type of travel arrangements.

This is just one of the many travel tips that you can get online, because once you book your flight you will still need to figure out how to spend your holiday. For this you may want to head to travel blogs tailored at your country or destination of choice.

Popular travel review websites can also offer an array of information and tips from those who have actually been in your shoes allowing you to get some firsthand tips about how to book and plan your holiday before you leave the house.

For those that hear Bordeaux and immediately think of wine, it should come as no surprise that the French town of Bordeaux is known for its collection of exotic wines. Spread out along the River Garonne, the large city offers some of the best breweries and wineries in the world, which is one of the major reasons why people often take weekend breaks to Bordeaux.

The large city region produces over 800 million bottles of wine a year, therefore, finding a place to sample and taste wine in the city is not usually too hard. Most of the restaurants and diners in town also have a collection of fine wines, making it easy to sample dozens of wines during just one weekend, if not more.

Guided tours of the wineries can also be arranged in advance if you head online before heading to Bordeaux and there are even tours of famous wine collectors’ homes. Those that do not have reservations for a tour can jump on the daily wine tours that start in the city centre area and reach out to the vineyards on the city’s outskirts.

May and June are the best weekends to head out to Bordeaux if you do not mind crowds, due to the fact this is when the annual summer wine festival is held. Outside of the wineries, Bordeaux also sports a fair number of nightclubs and museums, all of which can be a delight to visit as well, in between the wineries and fine dining opportunities.

Before You Go: Get Informed

While it’s true that organising family holidays is never easy – all that pre planning, packing and initial research can certainly gobble up your free time – you certainly have to arm yourself with some information before your eco-friendly trip to Ireland. Hop online and utilize the services of one of the many eco tour sites around the web. These super helpful services will lead you to green travel agents, hotels and hostels and tourist guides that specialize in offering green alternatives for a responsible traveler like yourself.

Take the Train

Planning on traveling all around Ireland? Then why not take the train to reduce your carbon footprint? But before you hop on, make sure you’re traveling with a company that’s committed to environmentally friendly practices. These trains have lower greenhouse gas emissions, more responsible waste policies and are more likely to equip their cabins with eco products. So, skip the plane and go with the train!

Take  a Green Walking Tour

If your destination is western Ireland, then you should definitely look into taking an eco walking tour or hike. Consider Mayo or Galway for their gorgeous islands, forests and mountains. You’ll be able to experience all of Ireland’s natural beauty without making too much of your own impact on it. If you want to take your green living to the next level, opt to stay in a guest house that caters to the environment by using solar powered water and heating. The best part about a natural adventure in Ireland? It offers outdoor fun for the entire family!

Millions of us every day get on and off trains to get to work, to go shopping, to go on holiday or to visit friends or relatives. While most of us may think that all there is to rail travel is to buy your ticket, get on at one end and get off at the other, it is time to think again. Escorted holidays in England making use of our trains are very much on the up, and there are some great tours to choose from.

An escorted train tour of Northumberland and Yorkshire is a real eye opener for those who think there is little to see or do in these great Northern counties. The wild beauty of the country coupled with the history of the area can be appreciated fully on one of these tours. Taking in the likes of York, Bamburgh Castle and Lindisfarne, a train tour shows the traveller the best that this area has offer.

Norfolk is long associated with boating holidays on the Norfolk Broads, but an escorted train tour lets you see what else is on offer here. The tour that takes in the waterways, Norwich and the Royal country retreat of Sandringham shows of picturesque Norfolk at its best. A trip on a vintage steam train is all part of the tour, as is a trip through verdant countryside on the Poppy Line.

Head further south, and you can take a train tour around Devon and Cornwall that takes in the Eden Project, one of the top tourist destinations in the UK. You really can discover the best of the South West as you wind your way through these counties on a steam train. Visit Torquay and the other resorts that make up the English Riviera before heading as far south as you can go to the fabled Lands End.