It is difficult to refer to the European carnivals without thinking of Venice Carnival. This fantastic tradition makes of Venice a mysterious and magical place where you have the feeling of living this magic. Formerly the carnival was one of the most appreciated festivals by the citizens.

It is true that the arrival of tourists have subtracted authenticity to the event. You cannot go to Venice, thinking of the carnival of Tenerife or Brazil, because then the disappointment is assured, the Venice Carnival has its own character and magic far away from the tourist image of the long-nosed mask that fills all the city workshops. During the 10 days-carnival, people dress up and go out for a walk, and take photos. The costumes are vintage costumes of the Venice seventeenth century.

During Carnival many events and parties are also organized, some of them private and it’s hard to go without knowing anyone. Prices for parties are often very expensive, and one night can cost up to € 500.

What about tourists?

The vast majority of tourists are not dressing up BUT they love to wear a mask bought in the many shops and street in Venice.

The goal of most visitors is to see Venice at Carnival and take pictures with the best costumes.

Considering that Venice is very close to the Alps and the carnival is celebrated earlier this year you should be well protected. It is very common that snows, so don´t forget to bring your warm hat, scarf and gloves.  Accommodation could be a problem to find something still available, but be lucky with a holiday home in Venice and get close to all the street shows.

The dates for this year Venice Carnival 2010 is from Saturday the 6th of February till Tuesday the 16th of February.

To plan a holiday in France means planning a holiday surrounded by culture and beautiful landscapes along the French countryside. Actually many travelers feel like knowing many interesting corners of the French country by staying in typical self catering holiday villas in France or even castles that today are available to accommodate travel guests all over France. 

In this terms, Purefrance.com is the website specialized in accommodate travelers in magnificent country houses and castles in the most beautiful regions in France ideal for winter or summer holidays. Purefrance.com is an advertising portal for independent property owners throughout France.

 France has a great offer of interesting tourist places that really worth a visit. There is a variety of holiday rentals in France to choose from in different French destinations:

Burgundy & Loire Valley:

This French destination is able to move the traveller back to the most brilliant epochs in Europe, the Renaissance. In the course of the Loire River you´ll find numerous palaces to visit and country houses to stay during a holiday. Cycling the Valley One of the most enjoyable ways to visit the Loire Valley is on a bicycle, just a quiet ride in the middle of an extraordinary nature will contribute to build a perfect holiday in France.

Languedoc-Roussillon:

Languedoc is one of the most charming areas of the country due to its medieval touch and landscapes rich in vineyards. Enjoy your stay at one of their fabulous homes to rent.

Provence & Côte d’Azur :

The Provence & Côte d’Azur is one of the most important tourist areas in France, so if you are thinking of spending a holiday on the coast, you should consider this destination as an excellent option. Accommodate in one the amazing villas with pool in Côte d’Azur and get impressed by the region which inspired artists like Picasso.

Travelers and bloggers community, probably you heard about this travel website Moneysupermarket.com from the entrepreneur Simon Nixon.

From June 2009, Simon Nixon launched his new website Simonseeks.com which aims to give the opportunity to everyone interested in writing holiday reviews about their trips and making money from writing on Simonseek´s travel blog.

This website is formed by a community of travel writers who wish to contribute by sharing their experiences in the website´s blog and benefiting at the same time from doing it. In other words, anyone can write for the site and share in the sales commission or advertising revenue generated as a result of their guide.
The only requirements to become an author and share travel experiences is to follow a good article structure, as well as using a correct spelling and well-written story.

Advantages of using Simonseeks.com:

- Search countries all over the world and find your particular travel guide.
- Find lots of useful resources to help you planning your next trip.
- Navigate through their inspiration section and select the theme you are interested at. There are many different ideas to choose from: family, short breaks, Spa, nightlife, road trips, cultural section and many more.

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23 January, travel social network is holding a Meetup at the trade fair

The MINUBE travellers’ social network will be hosting a “Meetup” at FITUR on 23 January for lovers of travelling. Between 12.00  and 14.00 hours, in hall 10 of the Feria de Madrid, travellers will have the opportunity to Exchange experiences with other lovers of  travel. There will also be a talk in which travellers can hear the different impressions and opinions of other travellers: from the more  adventurous; followers of solidarity tourism or backpackers, to lovers of gastronomical or cultural routes. Furthermore, participants  will be encouraged to enter a contest to win 10 enological trips in Castile-La Mancha, the region sponsoring the event. Visitors will be treated to a glass of Manchego wine and a typical regional tapa at the end of the meeting.

MINUBE experts will also be offering the public personalised advice before entering the trade fair, between 23 and 24 January. Two information points will be located at the North and South entrances of IFEMA for visitors to freely consult which FITUR destinations, or type of travel products they are seeking and once the relevant stands have been located, visitors can plan the most appropriate route of the trade fair and optimise their time spent there.

Source from http://www.xeniosworld.com/?p=2890   and http://www.ifema.es/ferias/fitur/documentos/minube_i.pdf

From the first of November 2009, Air France-KLM is charging its passengers a surcharge of 50€ for carrying a second suitcase and 200€ for the third suitcase checked in.

This surcharge is applied to the economy class, while business class passengers are allowed to check a second bag free.

Passengers will also pay a surcharge of 100€ on excess of weight from 23 kg.

Ryanair will open an operations center in Malaga and create 19 routes by next June. The Irish Low Cost airline offer 39 new connections in 2010.

The president of the low cost airline Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, already brought his Christmas present to the tourism industry on the Costa del Sol.  Wearing the traditional Santa Claus clothes, Mr. O’Leary announced the arrival of this great company in Malaga in June 2010. Malaga airport will be the fifth base of operations in Spain and number 38 in Europe.

Ryanair new base in Malaga will generate 200 direct jobs and will offer 360 flights a week, some of them with the possibility of making the journey on the same day.
According to O´Leary, Ryanair aim to be the leading passengers company at Malaga airport next year, today occupied by Easyjet.

The new destinations in Europe are: Aarhus (Denmark), Bratislava (Slovakia), Eindhoven and Maastricht (Netherlands), Krakow (Poland), Memmingen, Munich, and Berlin (Germany), Oslo (Norway), Paris (France); Pisa and Venice (Italy), Stockholm and Gothenburg (Sweden), Tampere (Finland), and Wroclaw in Poland.

Hopefully more opportunities to travel to Malaga on a low price to spend a fantastic holiday on Costa del Sol.

See more info at Ryanair news.

Have you ever thought about a different holiday? Tired of hotels on the coast and warm temperatures? Then there is a place for you, the “Ice hotel”. Yes, it is a hotel made of ice. This fantastic hotel you can find at the city of Jukkasjärvi in Lapland, 200 km north of the Arctic Circle and it is the first hotel made entirely of ice. It is built from the ice that comes from the nearby Torne River.

This Swedish hotel is renowned throughout the world, and here you can find the famous Absolute Ice Bar and a chapel made of ice for those who want to marry into a very special environment. Indoor temperature is around -5 ° C to -8 ° C, regardless of how cold it is outside. The beds are made of ice and covered with a mattress made of reindeer skins and a sleeping bag. The hotel recommends that you sleep in thermal underwear and a hat. There is heated bathroom and dressing room in a part of the hotel. Winter boots, hat, gloves and overalls included in the price of one night, but you should still take your own winter clothes. There is a shop in the hotel where it is possible to buy clothes for the through a special climate.

You can go out in the snow on your own or you can use the hotel’s outdoor experiences with many different activities as cross country skiing, safari, snowmobile safari, dog sled ride, bird hunting or ice fishing. At the hotel there is of course a sauna for guests. A stay at the Ice Hotel you do it once in a lifetime experience because it is not cheap. There are different room types from luxury suites to standard double rooms. Prices vary depending on room type and which day of the week you travel. Activities are not included in prices. To arrive to the Ice Hotel, you can fly to Kiruna airport which is 12 km distance.

Times have changed a lot in the last few decades, from the point of view of the life style. Everything is faster: work and communication are playing a wide role but also our spare time has been affected by this trend.The years when tourists used to spend their holiday throughout the whole month of August, seem really far.

The holidays are now much shorter but this doesn’t necessarily mean that we spend less time on holiday during the year! In fact, holidaymakers’ attitude is now more focussed on having several breaks away from home during the years. These help to detach from the routine for some days and to take a breath in a different and often stimulating environment. The destinations that are chosen to alleviate the stress of daily life are often the cultural capitals of Europe. Madrid, Paris, Rome, London, Prague are extremely popular targets for city breaks as they offer a wide range of opportunities: arts, culture, leisure, gastronomy, events, exhibitions…

The low cost air companies have contributed to reinforce the tourists’ flow towards the cities, since sometimes the cost of two tickets is comparable to a restaurant’s bill. So, many people think, why not? The opportunity to spend a pleasant day shopping, visiting attractions and then enjoying the rest of the break in a luxurious holiday apartment in Paris city is a lovely surprise that every woman would be really enchanted to receive from her partner.

Christmas and New Year are approaching and the cities are preparing their decorations: lights, Christmas trees and Fathers Christmas are populating the streets and ready to welcome the visitors that decide to spend a city break in a capital of Europe.

London has some of the best shopping places in the world when it comes to Christmas shopping. With a large selection of stores to choose from, surrounded by a brilliant display of Christmas lights, Christmas music on the street, and hot chestnuts to be roasted on the sidewalk, London is the perfect destination. As Christmas is getting closer, why not bringing your shopping list to London and buy all your gifts there?

There are two main streets in London you cannot miss when you’re on the hunt for Christmas presents. Oxford Street offers plenty of shops and department stores. You can find everything from Marks & Spencer to Selfridges, and make sure to take your time because it tends to be much to look at! Selfridges is worth a visit just to see their famous decked shop window that always appears at this time of the year.

On the other hand we have Regent Street, the more expensive of the two streets. Hamleys, the big toy store, is one of the most famous stores across the street. It is a tradition in London to come to Regent Street for the Christmas candles.

Portobello Market, a typical market that always receive visitors from around the world. Everything is available here if you’re looking for antiques or the latest in the fashion world. It is a paradise for shoppers, with many shops, art galleries, and the finest food and wine.

Camden Market is a highlight of the festive season. Loaded with all sorts of stalls selling paintings, fashion, jewelry, designer goods, crafts and traditional objects souvenirs, it is a great place to shop Christmas presents for reasonable prices.
Do not forget to visit the exclusive Harrods. This year Harrods celebrates the 70th anniversary of the famous classic movie “Wizard of Oz” where Dorothy and her friends will create a magical atmosphere with lots of activities for the whole family.

Now that Christmas is getting closer, there’s no better way to get into the Christmas mood  than visiting some of Germany’s famous Christmas markets.

Christmas markets are world famous and an incredible experience to dream away with decorated squares and streets, Christmas carols and (hot wine). This is an incredible shopping experience for those who want to buy Christmas presents, decorations, candies, and handycrafts. But if it is not the shopping you’re after then just enjoy the wonderful mood, eating good food and listening  to the various concerts offered during this time in the different markets. Markets start this year on the 27th of November and until Christmas Eve. If you have the opportunity to visit this beautiful country, then live the magic of Christmas and make a holiday home in Germany the perfect and charming accommodation during your stay.

 

All over Germany there Christmas markets, but some of the best known are as follows:

 

Christmas market in Munich: It is known to be one of the world’s largest Christmas markets. Here you will find everything to get you in Crhistmas mode, hundreds of booths selling handycrafts, decorations, food and glühwein. There are live music and concerts everyday around Marienplatz.

 

Christmas market in Rostock: A fantastic experience for the kids, this site arrive at the port by boat and it is known for its fairytale landscape built up each year at the Neuer Markt Square.

 

Christmas market in Frankfurt: Christmas market in Frankfurt is known to be the world’s oldest and most beautiful Christmas market, which began in 1393. Millions of tourists come here to experience the amazing markets with hundreds of booths and concerts.

 

Christmas market in Lübeck: The most romantic and historic Christmas markets experienced each year by tourists in the old town in Lübeck. Four of the best known are: 1. The medieval Christmas market at St Mary’s Church. 2nd Market at Obertrave, perfect for families with children, 3rd Crafts market at Heiligen-Geist-Hospital. 4th St. Petri crafts market.

 

Christmas market in Berlin: More than 50 traditional Christmas markets throughout the city. Many cultural events going on around that time and there are an incredible number of shopping opportunities. Visit the most famous and historic market, Weihnachts Zauber.