Theories abound that the world is coming to and end in 2012. Some people swear buy it, some people say it’s nonsense, but whether or not you’re a believer, it’s always best to play it safe and if it’s to be last, make 2012 the best year it can possibly be. And what better way to do that by travelling! Here’s our top 5 destinations for 2012.

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This is why you should visit Las Ramblas. To find out when you shouldn’t scroll down

My father is a caustic fellow. He enjoys the fine things in life, like everyone else, but there’s one thing he excels at: criticising those that are less… fine.

I remember my father’s rant about Belgium’s Manneken Pis, enough to make me swallow a whole Brussel sprout, because I was laughing in an almost uncontrollable manner. We click there, because I am so much like my father. Yes, it’s true, I’m not your most usual ray of sunshine, my colleagues will promptly tell you.

Therefore, instead of going on and on about Barcelona’s top ten greatest I will instead focus on Barcelona’s… not so great. Because, if one chooses to travel somewhere, I’m quite sure they know why they want to go there. Once they’re there, it might be useful to have a quick guide as to which things one should definitely avoid.

1. Eating in Las Ramblas is a gambla

Sure, they’re worth a visit. And they’re so well-known for a good reason. But if you’re planning on eating out and being ripped-off, they’re the place to go. There are much better places to enjoy Barcelona’s great cuisine than there.

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Need to have a short break but don’t want to spend a fortune? With low cost airlines now flying to Istanbul, cheap car hire and help from our city guide of free activities you can make your way through the streets of Istanbul!
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Ski season is nearly upon us and we have put together our top choices for hitting the slopes in France:

Chamonix – This classic French town is home to Mount Blanc and hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924! It’s a perfect choice for advance skiing and snowboarding and for those who revel in extreme sports you can also try out rock climbing.

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Montreal is the second largest city in Canada. Situated on an island, it takes its name from the triple peaked mountain in the heart of the city – Mont Royal. It is a cosmopolitan city with lots going on all year round. We have put together our top 5 things to do in Montreal.

Notre-Dame Basilica – This Gothic church is one of the most dramatic in the world. The interior is grand, colourful and unusual. The ceiling is painted deep blue with gold stars and the stained glass windows have images of Montreal’s history and not the usual biblical scenes.
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Florida is a perfect destination for family fun in the sun! From Jacksonville in the north to Miami in the south the choice of activities are endless. 

To help you choose we have picked out ‘Top 5 Florida Hotspots!’ 

1.  Orlando – Home to Disneyland, Sea World, Universal Studios and many more, it’s theme park heaven here in Orlando!  

 2.  Tampa - A beautiful Gulf Coast Bay city that teams history with culture and even has an urban park. Keep a close eye on the waterways that lap the shoreline and you may see dolphins at play!

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In the summer, Spain has a wonderful warm climate which is ideal for all you Golfers out there! Why not consider going away with your friends for a wonderful golfing weekend in Spain? There are many beautiful and challenging Golf courses out in Spain so we are going to look at our top five and give you some ideas on where you could play.

1. Fina Cortesin: Casares, Costa Del Sol – This beautiful establishment is in between Marbella and Sotogrande. Here you can really relax as it has swimming pools, tennis courts, gym, sauna, Turkish baths and much more for you to indulge in. The 18 hole golf course, opened in 2006, is exclusive and each hole gives you a unique experience. If you and your friends want a challenge then this is the course to go to! With a difficulty of 4 out of 5, you are bound to have a really good time.
2. Benalup Golf: Benalup-Casas Viejas, Cadiz – A wonderful boutique hotel with an all inclusive service. With meals at all 5 restaurants included, drinks including cocktails, wines and liquors, the mini bar in the your room, as well as the spa, fitness and tennis courts! The Golf course is wonderful; and if you stay for 7 nights you get unlimited use! The 18 hole course opened in 2001 and has a difficulty of 3 out of 5, so it will be challenging enough for the not so confident players.
3. Alicante Golf: Valencia/Alicante, Costa Blanca – This hotel actually offers golf at more than one course, so you can pick and choose where you want to play! Alicante 18 hole Golf course offers a difficulty of 3, Alendia Golf Club with another 18 holes and difficulty of 3, Golf and Spa Bonalba 18 hole course with a difficulty of 1 and Foressos Golf with 18 holes and a difficulty of 4. These are just a few you can play, there are many others too, so enjoy your weekend playing at a different course everyday.
4. Peralada: Peralada, Girona, Cataluna – A wonderful hotel that offers stunning views over the golf course, the Albera Mountain Range, The Pyrenees and the medieval town Peralada! This wonderful 18 hole Golf course is perfect for you and your friends to enjoy a few games on. Great views and great green!
5. Fuerteventura Golf: Fuerteventura, Canaries – This hotel is right in the middle of the Golf course! Beautiful surroundings and amazingly quiet, this hotel would be ideal if you want to chill out with a beer watching the players outside. The 18 hole course built in 2002 offers a great challenge to the players and with it’s peaceful surroundings there is nothing better than a wonderful day of relaxing Golf.

These are our top five courses in Spain, we hope you will enjoy them if you decide to go! A good point to remember is that hiring a car will make your journey to and from the airport with your luggage and clubs a lot easier. Are there any other courses in Spain you would recommend to our readers? Let us know!

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Krakow is one of the oldest cities in Poland and its old town was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Once the capital of Poland, it is rich in history and has become a popular tourist destination in recent years with Ryanair and easyJet both servicing the city.

Here are our top five thing to see in Krakow:

1. The Wieliczka Salt Mine – The mine produced table salt from the13th century until 2007 and is now a tourist attraction. There is a wooden staircase 64 metres down to the first level of the mine, 378 steps. It is a labyrinth of passageways, chambers and sculptures all carved in salt The chapel of St. Kinga is magnificent and the Warsaw Chamber, which is 122.5 metres below ground is a great place to experience a concert because of the unique natural acoustics.
2. Wawel Cathedral – Situated on Wawel Hill this Gothic cathedral was built in the 14th century and is Polands most important national sanctuary. There are eighteen chapels around the cathedral which display many art treasures. The Chapel of the Holy Cross has Russian Mural dating back to the 15th century and the Sigismund Chapel is Renaissance art at its best.



3. Wawel Castle – One of the most beautiful and romantic royal houses in Europe. The State Rooms have magnificent tapestries and painted ceilings to admire. The Renaissance courtyard is impressive and the Royal Audience Hall with its sculptured heads in the ceiling is also worth seeing. The Treasury and Armoury houses a wonderful collection of swords and weapons many of which are either jewel encrusted or oriental.
4. Ethnographical Museum – The museum is in the old 14th century Town Hall which has a lovely Renaissance facade. There are regional costumes from all over Poland and a wonderful display of painted Easter Eggs. The ground floor has a chain of rooms which are authentically recreated interiors from different regions around Poland.
5. Market Square – The square is the largest Medieval town square in Europe. Here you can see St Mary’s Basilica, a Gothic 14th century church with its fabulous wooden altarpiece and lovely stained glass windows. Every hour a trumpet is sounded which breaks off mid-stream in remembrance of the 13th century trumpeter, who was shot in the throat whilst sounding the alarm when the Mongols attacked. There are plenty of cafes in the square where you can sit, relax and soak up the atmosphere.

Have you been to Krakow? What are your favourite places to visit?

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Prague is a beautiful city. I have been there myself when my partner took me away for our anniversary. It was an amazing 4 days away and we saw the entire city! In saying that, there is a lot to see in Prague, so much so that I wish I could list them all! Instead, I have decided to list my personal top 5 things to see in Prague.

1. Observation Tower – This was fantastic. We had to walk up some very steep hills in Petrin Hill to get to it and on the way passed Church of Saint Michael, which looks like a Japanese style building, but beautiful. Carrying on up the very steep hill, we eventually reached a beautiful garden of roses of all different shapes, sizes and colours. You will also walk past the Church of Saint Lawrence which is stunning. Finally you will get to the observation tower and there are no lifts to get to the top! You have to walk but it is worth it as it the views are absolutely stunning!
2. St Vitus Cathedral – Another walk up a very big hill, this Cathedral is just beautiful. It lights up at night giving it a wonderful atmosphere and inside there is stunning ceiling work for you to admire. You can also walk through the castle and explore the grounds, watch the changing of guards and stroll hand in hand through the Royal Gardens.



3. Prague Zoo – It was a lovely day when we decided to go to Prague Zoo. There were so many animals from Polar bears to lions and tigers as well as mountain goats! I spent about half an hour wondering how on earth they got up high without falling down the mountains! There are birds and turtles and lizards, it is just amazing! Also you can admire all the people walking their dogs and go to the gift shop to buy a souvenir.
4. John Lennon Wall – Since the 1980′s this wall has been filled with many Lennon-inspired graffiti and lyrics from The Beatles songs. The wall changes continuously, so everyday you will find something new, but the artwork here and lyrics are amazing and so inspiring. I spent a good hour reading everything people had wrote on the wall, some even bought me to tears. From here you can also find a water wheel with a metal fence covered in padlocks. It’s a way people lock their love for one another, how romantic!
5. Wenceslas Square – A wonderful walk up to the National Museum, Wenceslas Square is a very vibrant area of hotels, restaurants, clubs, shops, bars and apartments. Prague’s main shopping area begins here. It’s great to wander around and admire the shops and people in this bustling area; and the view of the National Museum from a distance is amazing. Once you get up to the national museum (buying a coffee on the way of course!) you can just sit and people watch for a while, relaxing on the steps. You can take another stroll from here to the second main square in Prague, the Old Town Square which dates back 600 – 700 years. The most notable attraction is the Astronomical clock.

That is my personal top five in Prague. Have you been to Prague? What did you enjoy?

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When the Easter Holidays come around (not long until April!) You will have a wonderful 4 day weekend to spend with your kids. But what are you going to do with them? There are many events going on in London so your little ones will not be bored! There are many places in London doing Easter Egg Hunts and lots of other things so let’s take a look at what is going on in London.

1. Kew Gardens: They are opening a new outdoor play area called Treehouse Towers! It has giant swings, zip wires, scramble nets and slides. Great for your kids aged between 3 – 11 years old! That’s a shame, I wanted to go! There is also a free Easter egg hunt on 4th April from 9.30am – 12.30pm.
2. Kenwood House: With an Easter egg trail throughout the ground you’d be mad not to take your kids to this beautiful English Heritage site. This runs from the 2nd – 5th April and children only need to pay £1 for a trail sheet. After they have found all the wooden eggs they can trade them for a chocolate prize! After this why not take them around the house and gardens which is free entry!
3. WWT London Wetland Centre: Now I know for a fact you will not be able to resist this season at the Wetland Centre. March and April are possibly the cutest month as there will be little ducklings wandering around the ground. They can also take part in Easter egg hunts and storytelling sessions.
4. The Foundling Museum: This Easter egg hunt takes place on Saturday 11th April. It is free entry for children with an accompanying adult and doors are open from 10.00am – 5.00pm. You can follow the Easter trail and get a yummy chocolate prize at the end!
5. Victoria and Albert Museum: This museum is doing something different for Easter. Create your own Superhero! With 2 weeks worth of workshops from 6th – 10th & 13th – 17th April your kids will be able to take part in a whole range of activities! Become a master of disguise, write your own story, track down Superheroes with the trails.

All these activities going on make me wish I was a kid again, hunting for chocolate, making crafts and having loads of fun! What are you doing for Easter?

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