Summer Holiday Tips

Belgium is becoming a very popular European family holiday destination. Holiday makers like to take a family holiday in Belgium and rent self catering holiday accommodation. Belgium has some great holiday villas and self catering holiday apartments that can be rented direct from their owners as holiday accommodation.

The main international airport here is the Brussels airport, which was known as Zaventem before it was renamed. In case you are already in Europe you can easily reach here by a bus or train. There are some international bus services operating from and to Belgium. There are international services to Belgium everyday on Belgium Railways.

Belgium is situated in the western part of Europe and has around 40 miles of seacoast on the North Sea and Strait of Dover, together. It is enclosed by France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Belgium’s main rivers Meuse and the Schelde, are very important for commercial movement. The capital of Belgium is Brussels.

The capital city is not the only place to see and visit in Belgium. There are many other fascinating cities which include Ghent, Liege, and Bruges. They have very imposing architecture, great cuisine and enjoyable night life.

As it is a very beautiful and well preserved medieval city in Europe, Bruges of Belgium are known as the Venice of the North. Antwerp is famous for fashion and design in Belgium. The mountainous region of the Ardennes region to the east is a very beautiful place to see.

Some places to visit when you are holidaying in Belgium are the Gravensteen, which is also called Count’s Castle. It is situated in the heart of Ghent and was a very powerful seat of the 12th-century counts of Flanders. It is a typical castle which has moat, turrets and arrow slits. The view from the battlements is fantastic.

Hautes Fagnes Nature Reserve or otherwise called High Fens is a marshy moorland with woods and wind blowing over. It is a plateau over Germany’s Eifel hills. People who love walking and cycling can be seen here. The Menin Gate or Meensestraat can be said to be a very sad reminder of Ypres past. You will see the names of 54,896 British and Commonwealth troops, who were lost in the Flanders trenches during World War I, inscribed on the huge white gate. The traffic stops every evening at 20:00, and you can hear the sound of the Last Post.

Cinquantenaire Museum is an unbelievable place with 350,000 artifacts, which are collected from every where. They are from anywhere in the world across all cultures and nationality. The majestic Royal Museum of Art and History has a permanent collection of all these amazing things.

Brussels’ outstanding central square, also known as the Grand Place, prides itself of the Belgium’s best baroque guildhalls, pavement cafes and friendly restaurants. It is concealed in the heart of the old town. You can only see it once you enter the place through the narrow lanes. Belgium is very well known for its special products like beer, mouthwatering chocolates, gorgeous lace, and do not miss on the Belgian waffles.



By: Andrew Gibson

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With Burma around the corner, Laos is one of the most beautiful landlocked countries in Southeast Asia. Known as the Land of the Million Elephants, Laos is filled with forested landscapes, and rugged mountains all through. The climate here is tropical, and rains happen between May and November. It is part of the Golden triangle, since it is a country where Opium is grown here.

With economy on the upward slide, tourism is the major source of income in Laos. People come here to explore the hidden terrains, learn more about their culture, unique language, and style of dressing. Buddhism is the predominant religion here and so don’t be surprised to see all those temples strewn across. Keep in mind, these five things that you must see when holidaying in Laos.

A large spiritual cave dug into the limestone cliff that is facing the river is what makes Pak Ou caves so popular. The caves are filled with images of Buddha in various styles and shapes, but the most beautiful is the Luang Prabang model of standing Buddha. There are tours conducted almost on a daily basis to this place, and the only means of transport is by boat from Ban Pak Ou.

Plain of Jars is another popular destination with tourists staying in Laos. The only reason the place is called Plain of jars is because through the coastal region, there are huge jars strewn all over the place. There are three places which are open to public, of which one of them has the most number of jars. Most of these jars are nearly 2000 years old, and the mystery behind them is that they are all filled with bones, or food remains and has no other information on them. Some of the jars are as heavy as 6 tonnes, and made of stone, which was not very common in this area.

Known to be the largest waterfall in all of Asia, Khone Phapheng is beautiful and breath taking. It is located in the south side of Si Phan Don. If you are lucky, you could get to see plenty of dolphins around this region.

A place that is very special to residents of Laos is the Pha That Laung. This is where one sees Budhhism and Lao sovereignty go hand in hand. The monument looks like a missile from afar, and when getting close, one sees that it is a tall structure with small windows on the sides. A major festival happens here every year in November, which is the highlight of the place.

A small structure, which is very tiny when compared to the Angkor era sites, Wat Phu is a monument that is very unique. The ornate shiva sanctuary, and the crocodile stone are what make the place so enigmatic and popular amidst visitors. A three day Buddhist festival takes place here every year, when worshippers make their way up the Wat Phu Champasak, and also leave offerings.



By: Andrew Gibson

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Home for the holidays has a nice sound to it, until you actual get on the freeways, compete for precious parking space, and unwrap your presents for the nice airport security people so you can wait for four hours for your flight. As some heroic individuals do try to go home for the holidays, another travel is also heading out of town. But there’s no security checkpoint, no weather delay, and no gift-giving anxiety. These people are going on a holiday cruise. For the right people under the right circumstances, there is no better way to spend the holidays than on the sea.

Most cruise lines offer special packages that cruise over Christmas and New Year’s, typically with an upcharge that reflects some of the extra festivities that passengers will experience. Many holiday cruises offer special meals, decorations, and parties to commemorate Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and the fare reflects this.

Holiday cruises sell out early, so if you want to try this next year, make your decisions as early as you can. In fact, it might be good timing now to book for the 2008 Christmas cruise!

While the cruise lines do an outstanding job of making the voyage as festive as possible, the fact is that Christmas on a cruise ship is just not a traditional experience. Particularly in the Caribbean, the warm weather, palm trees, and pristine beaches just don’t seem to match the mood of the season. For that reason, cruise passengers for the holidays should make certain mental as well as physical preparations.

First, be flexible. If you have a Christmas card holiday in mind, a cruise vacation may make you feel like you’re missing Christmas. You need to have a sense of adventure and a desire to create new traditions and seek new experiences.

Second, take some Christmas with you. Whether you’re traveling with one person or a group, take along some gift-wrapped presents to exchange on the big day. If your family always had certain holiday traditions (such as a midnight snack on Christmas eve or chocolate candy on Christmas day or opening stockings stuffed with presents early in the morning) you might be able to figure out a way to “import” that to the cruise. This will help you merge the traditional Christmas with the cruise Christmas.

Third, you need to ponder for a moment the real meaning of the holidays for you. Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year’s Eve, holidays are holidays for a reason. Think about what they mean to you and allow the cruise to complement that.

For example, New Year’s Eve may be a time when you enjoy getting dressed up for big parties and when you like to relax and reflect on the year gone by. Great, you can do that (and more) on a cruise ship.

Get in the party mood. The crew on your ship is working this holiday and that can be hard thing. Many crew members have long-term contracts and don’t see their families or native countries for months at a time. They are tasked with creating a festive mood for you; do them a favor, reciprocate. Be generous with your tips and your thank-yous.

Holiday cruises work out well in situations where you can cruise with your family (like a combination reunion-Christmas cruise) or in situations where you feel like you can’t face a traditional holiday. If you’re recently divorced or widowed or find yourself in a situation where you can get some time off but can’t (or don’t want to) go home, a cruise is a great solution.

Talk to your cruise line about what sorts of activities are planned and if you might need special attire. Many cruises offer formal or lavish holiday type events, so you may need to bring evening clothes (or perhaps more than one set of formal wear).

If you’ve grown up in a cold climate and plan on spending Christmas or New Year’s in the Carribean or other warm-water destinations, be prepared for a jolt. Even if you know it’s going to be warm, even if you think you’ll love the fact that it’s warm, even if you think you don’t care that it’s warm.

Even people who grow up in warm climates will tell you that it is an odd experience to watch an 80-degree breeze ripple the tinsel on the Christmas tree and how odd it feels to hum along to carols in your bathing suit. Sunbathing on Christmas Day may sound delightful, but you will get a sort of weird sensation if it actually happens.

Be prepared for this by making sure you do get some familiar holiday traditions worked into your cruise vacation.

While last-minute cruising is a bit of an art form (and can be a good way to save a few bucks on a great cruise), it hardly ever applies to holiday cruising. It really is a good time right now to plan a cruise for next year’s holiday.

Why so early? Well, for one thing, holiday cruises book up early. Some people have literally made a Christmas or New Year’s cruise a tradition. And cruises are getting increasingly popular in general, so holiday cruising is only going to see increasing demand.

The other reason is that you will save money but have lots of choices. Most cruise lines are willing to discount fares to two types of passengers: those who book early and those who book very, very late. The late-comers are really just filling up space that would have gone empty otherwise. Late-comers can get deals, but they never get a choice. You pretty much have to take what you can get.

On the other hand, most cruise lines are very generous to early birds. It’s good business. The theory is that if the cruise ship can sell out far in advance, the cruise company will not have to scramble to sell fares at the last minute … less advertising, less promotion, less last-minute discounting frenzy. It helps them to encourage passengers to book early, so they encourage you the best way they know. They offer discounts.

Don’t expect massive discounts by booking early. But you can probably land a pretty good deal. One thing that most cruise lines will do for people who book cruises months ahead of time–they will work in some upgrades. You may be able to upgrade your stateroom or get some on-board credits as well as a less-than-rack-rate passage.

Think it’s really too early to start planning next year’s holiday cruise? Go online and look at the cruise companies. They all have announced their schedules for 2008, some far beyond that.

Maybe next year you can get a suntan for Christmas!



By: Mandy Karlik

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I’ll be going on a holiday to Gold Coast, Australia with my 4-year old son & hubby in early November. What are the essential items I have to take for myself & my son to keep us comfortable there? This will be our 1st holiday trip overseas as a family & I’m a bit nervous about keeping the balance - romantic for hubby & practical but fun with my son. Any advise?

By: Michelle B

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I’m going on a 15 day holiday to a really hot country and i was wondering how many clothes should i pack including tops,shorts,skirts,dresses,undergarments etc.
thanx heaps!

By: Che-Che McAleese

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I play the Sims 2 on my PC all the time, and I was just wondering if there is any difference between Sims 2 Holiday Party Pack and the Sims 2 Happy Holiday Stuff Expansion packs. If they are different, then what is the difference between them, and which one is better? thanks!

By: xxtwilight94xx

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A country in the Arab world, Jordan shares its border with Iran, Iraq and Syria. Jordan is also known as Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, since it is still a monarchy. Most of this country is covered with arid deserts, which get water from the Oasis and the highest point out here is Jabal, which is nearly 5600 feet above sea level. The lowest point on the other hand is the Dead Sea, which is 1378 feet below sea level. A country with limited natural resources, Jordan survives with business from what little resources they have within their realms.

For tourists visiting Jordan, the place has much to offer, in terms of sights and monuments. Tourism also contributes to nearly 12 percent of their GDP every year. Numerous deserts, waterfalls, cultural sights are all what makes this place so popular. These are five things that one must see while on their vacations to Jordan.

Karak castle is one of the few historical buidings that still stands tall in Jordan. The castle dominates the town, and was where plenty of famous battles took place in this part of the world. When travelling to Petra, make sure to stop over at the Karak Castle to catch a glimpse of this stunning historical monument.

A place straight out of our imagination, Petra, is an ancient city with buildings and towering walls that will fascinate every visitor. There is no other place in the entire country of Jordan, that has such an impact, and requires more than just a couple of days to get the feel of the place. Its claim to fame came through the Hollywood movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Earlier known as the Gerasha, the ruins at Jerash, is of high significance in Jordan. A true example of the Middle Eastern Roman city, this was the hub for all cultural, and political events. The unique architecture, and sculptures on the walls will display the amount of craftsmanship that was around back then.

A beautiful castle built atop the Mountain Auf, Qala’at ar- Rabad is renowned for the Islamic architecture styles. It was originally built by Generals working with Saladin and looks upon the entire Jordan valley and the wadis that lead into it as well. A castle that one just should not miss while visiting Jordan speaks about the history of Jordan and its rulers.

In Amman, this Citadel sits on the highest point in the hill, Jebel Al Qala. It is also the ancient site filled with artifacts from the Bronze age, which reflect on how rich the fort must have been in earlier times. A fortress that is grand and majestic can be toured on foot, after one picks up the ticket from the foot of the citadel, in the office. There are people who come from various parts of the world just to visit this place, and take in the beauty.

It is now possible to rent holiday accommodation in Jordon direct from their holiday home owners. Many holiday makers on a family holiday to Jordon like to rent holiday villas or self catering holiday apartments.



By: Andrew Gibson

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But I don’t want to have to pay like $50 to ship it. And all my worst enemies are already dead.*Evil Smile*

By: Cate

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Malta is a tiny country located along the Mediterranean Sea between North Africa and Europe.

Malta is a prime spot for holiday travellers because of its rich heritage and many enticing attractions that draw people from all over the world. Malta experienced a great increase in the number of holiday visitors it received in 2007, reaching about 1,300,000 visitors. These guests were mainly from the countries of Scandinavia, Ireland and Britain.

This is great news for a country that depends heavily on tourist expenditures as a source of income. With a whopping 6 per cent increase in sales in 2007 over the past year, things are looking just as promising for the 2008 projection of sales. So, what is it about Malta that attracts so many visitors? Let’s take a look at some of the countries highlights.

For the Nightlife Traveller

Partying in the Mediterranean is an experience not many people want to miss. The country hosts popular stars who perform concerts for eager listeners, with attractions such as Elton John, Sting and others. The night clubs and restaurants are some of the top-rated places to visit in the world. If dancing is not your scene, perhaps you would enjoy the bustling casinos or vivacious theater shows. There is definitely no shortage of adventure with the Malta nightlife.

For the Sports Nut

Malta’s climate makes it easy to enjoy the outdoor life immensely. Sea sports are huge in Malta, including scuba diving in crystal clear waters, sailing, water skiing and wind surfing, among others. The Marsa Sports Club, the largest sports center in Malta, has opportunities for tennis enthusiasts, as well as squash, cricket and golf participants. Another favorite sport in Malta is horseback riding.

For the History Buff

For a small country, Malta is teeming with history and culture. There are many attractions to see, including the Museum of Archaeology where you can catch a glimpse of prehistoric artifacts. Ggantija is a popular attraction, as it is the oldest freestanding temple left in the world. You can see historical re-enactments, as well as multimedia presentations that give you the scoop on Malta’s history in less than an hour. With so much history in Malta, you can find yourself viewing relentless dungeons from the medieval era and walking through romantic and fragrant gardens.

It is no wonder that Malta makes such a great holiday destination. It is alive and welcoming. It presents so much to do and can fit the interests of any visitor easily. Malta jumps at the chance to show off its stuff and should see a continuing rise in the number of tourists that come to visit. So, when will you be arriving?



By: Roger Munns

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I am looking for the Michelob Holiday Sampler 20-pack. I used to see it all the time around November/ December, but I haven’t come across it yet this year. I live in Central FL. Where can I find the Michelob Holiday Sampler 20-packs?
Never heard of TOPS Supermarket… I am in Central Florida.
… I still haven’t found them…

By: DRATER

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