Albania has a lot to offer visitors, from the stunning mountain scenery and charming towns and villages through to the fascinating archaeological sites that show the remains of different civilizations including the Roman and Ottoman Empires.  Albania is a wonderful destination for a holiday and the people are friendly and welcoming and there are some delicious local delicacies and wines to try.

Hiking

The Albanian Alps provide plenty of amazing walks which can take your through alpine fields, mountain forests and impressive ravines. You can also combine this with nature watching and the coastal wetlands of Karavastaja and Kune-Vaini provide opportunities to spot unusual birdlife including Dalmatian pelicans and spotted eagles.

Cycling

This is a great way to explore Albania’s dramatic landscapes, and you can cycle right through the scenic Gramoz Mountains in the south of the country starting at the colorful city of Korça and ending at beautiful city of Përmeti.

Archeology

Albania has a lot of ancient castles, Roman ruins, Ottoman fortresses and medieval buildings and churches to explore, and there are also a wide number of excellent museums which celebrate the country’s rich and varied history.  There are also some amazing collections of religious art on show in Tirana, Korça and Berati, and these include original 16th-century icons painted by Byzantine artist Onufri. If you are interested in Ottoman architecture then the cities of Gjirokastra and Berati are perfect destinations as many of the original Ottoman buildings still stand, including some imposing hilltop castles.

Relaxation

Albania has a number of stunning beaches along the beautiful Adriatic Ocean, which are ideal places to relax and unwind and enjoy the warm climate.  One of the most popular beaches is Mali Robitis, just a 40 minute drive from Tirana which offers golden sand, lovely clear blue waters and stunning surrounding forest scenery.

If you want to experience a truly different sort of holiday then the distinctive geography of Istanbul makes this a very unique destination, as this is the only city in the world that spans two continents with Europe in the west and the Asia in the east.  This amazing location has meant that Istanbul has been one of the most important focal points of some of the world’s greatest cultures, once serving as the centre of the Byzantine, Ottoman and Roman Empires (under the former name of Constantinople).

Istanbul remains to this day as a city of great contrasts and ancient splendor sits side by side with modern conveniences, and you can turn the corner from towering spires and sacred buildings and walk straight into a district full of designer apartment blocks, busy shops and lively nightclubs.

Istanbul is a vast city and it is impossible to explore even a quarter of its great urban sprawl during a short holiday, so it is a good idea to plan a few essential sight seeing trips before you go so that you are not overwhelmed by the choices when you arrive.  A lot of cruise ships stop off at the port of Istanbul during their trips around the Eastern Mediterranean, and this is a good way to visit the city in comfort and style.

The main language of Istanbul is Turkish, but a multitude of dialects and languages are spoken throughout this cosmopolitan city and you will find that English is widely spoken at most of the major tourist sites and in the big hotels.  The currency used in Istanbul is the Turkish New Lira and there are plenty of bureau de changes throughout the city including the main banks, train stations and airports.  It is easy to get around Istanbul and there is a cheap tram system and there are plenty of licensed taxis available.  You can also walk easily around several of the major sites including the Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque and the Bazaar.

Cyprus is known as Aphrodite’s Isle, as this was the legendary place of the goddess of love’s birth, and this beautiful island truly is a jewel of the Mediterranean with some of the most stunning beaches, coastlines and pine clad mountains in the world.

Cyprus has been a top holiday destination for many years and so it has a lot of facilities to offer visitors including plenty of affordable hotels and villas, lively bars and restaurants and lots of outdoor activities including watersports such as waterskiing, surfing, sailing, fishing and more.  Ayia Napa has also gained a reputation as one of the biggest party capitals in the world and every summer thousands of youthful visitors come to enjoy the late night dance scene and also the many wonderful beaches.

For those tourists that love nature there are a number of stunning national parks and protected areas, including the Akamas National Park with its rugged untamed wilderness and also the majestic Troodos Mountains which feature the famous Mount Olympus and many charming mountain villages which offer a cool respite from the intense summer heat of the lowlands.  There are many opportunities to explore Cyprus’ lovely natural areas and there are many hiking and biking trails, and also lots of opportunities for bird and animal spotting (the loggerhead turtles come to lay their eggs on Lara Bay beach every year).

History lovers will also find many fascinating places to explore in Cyprus, as this country has had a long and rich past stretching back over 10,000 years and there are crusader castles, Roman remains and Venetian walls to explore.

If you enjoy the fun and lively atmosphere of festivals then a good time to visit Cyprus is during the feast of Kataklysmos (this is the Greek Orthodox Whitsun), which is a popular holiday and is celebrated throughout the island with lots of live music, dancing, feasts and general good cheer.  There is also a popular wine festival in Limassol where you can taste delicious Cypriot wines for free from the sweet red dessert wines of the Commandaria Region through to elegant white tables wines from the Agros region.

Barcelona is one of Europe’s great cosmopolitan cities and offers an attractive urban landscape with a number of iconic architectural features, excellent museums and art galleries, lively bars, restaurants and nightclubs and some fine parks and gardens.  Barcelona also has one of the Mediterranean’s busiest ports and miles of stunning coastline, and although there is a generally feeling of hedonistic thrill seeking to this party capital this is also a very hardworking, business-orientated city with many key industries including IT and medical research and development.

Arts and Culture

Barcelona has a fine tradition of supporting the arts and everything from architecture through to dance is celebrated in this lively city and given the attention it deserves.  There are a number of excellent theatres, performance venues, live musical events, galleries and more in the city and Barcelona is of course famous for its amazing and unique buildings designed by world renowned architect Antonio Gaudí.

Festivals

Barcelona has some great annual festivals, and these are lively and lots of fun so it makes sense to coincide your visit with one of the big events (if you don’t mind crowds).  The Festes de la Mercè in September is a big favorite and is a four day festival celebrating the city’s top saint Nostra Senyora de la Mercè (Our Lady of Mercy).  This festival has a number of highlights including the swimming race across the harbor, a whole host of parades and feasts and plenty of free live music and dance displays.  

Weather

Barcelona has a mild, warm Mediterranean climate and this makes it a great destination all year round.  Most of the top events are held in late spring, early summer, so this is a great time to visit the city, but try to avoid august as this is a very busy time with crowds of tourists and it can get very hot and uncomfortable in the main city (most locals head off to the coast to get away from it all at this time of year).  If you prefer to visit without the crowds then January and February can offer some great off peak deals, and it is cooler at this time of year (Barcelona often gets cold snaps pouring down from the nearby Pyrenees mountain in the winter), which makes travelling around much more comfortable.

The Channel Islands are a stunning archipelago of small islands located right in the heart of the English Channel between southern Great Britain and Northern France and include Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney, Sark and Herm and also many much smaller islands. The Channel Islands make an excellent destination for a holiday as they combine a cosmopolitan, laid back way of life with some stunning natural scenery and a pleasantly warm climate and there are plenty of things to see and do for all ages.

Beauport Bay, Jersey

Jersey
Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands and is a beautiful place with a romantic, windswept coastline and miles of green, lush farmland. You can easily cycle around Jersey in just a few hours and as there is hardly any traffic this is one of the best ways to explore this peaceful and idyllic island. Jersey is famous for its wonderful seasonal foods, and there are many excellent country pubs and Michelin-starred restaurants where you can enjoy some of the delicious cuisine exquisitely prepared from the freshest local ingredients including excellent seafood and fruit and vegetables (such as the world renowned Jersey Royal potatoes). There are many things to see and do on Jersey and there are two prominent golf courses, the La Moye in St Brelade and Royal Jersey in Grouville which are members only and also Les Mielles and Les Ormes which are both 18-hole courses that are open to the public. Fishing is also very popular in Jersey and you can charter boats out from the harbor which will take you to the best spots and also provide you with all the equipment you need as well. Jersey has some stunning beaches, ideal for romantic strolls, swimming and sunbathing, and there are also plenty of watersports on offer including windsurfing, waterskiing and surfing, which are available at locations such as St Brelade’s Bay and St Ouen’s Bay.

Guernsey
Guernsey is another beautiful destination in the Channel Islands, and has a warm, almost tropical feel with some wonderful beaches and botanical gardens to enjoy. Guernsey is just 28 miles off the coast of France and has a distinctly Gallic way of life and the laid back atmosphere is ideal for relaxing on holiday and there are a number of amazing restaurants and bistros serving finely prepared local cuisine. Guernsey holds a strategic position in the Channel and has been occupied many times in its long history and there are a number of fortifications around the island including Ivy Castle (close to Le Bouet), which was once a Norman stronghold. There are also various remnants from WWII such as the German Underground Hospital at St Andrew. Guernsey also has a thriving arts community and the Guernsey Eisteddfod Society Annual Festival (www.guernseyeisteddfod.co.uk) is a popular event which is held throughout January, February and March each year and celebrates the best of local arts and entertainments.