The dream island of Mauritius

With its turquoise seas and blue lagoons, its endless beaches of soft, white sand fringed with palm trees, and wonderful sunshine, the enchanting island of Mauritius provides that perfect dream island location for a winter getaway. From the variety of top shops and excellent nightlife of Grand Bay, to the peace and tranquillity of The Labourdonnais Orchards, Mauritius suits all tastes and holiday moods.

There are colourful outdoor markets, such as Flacq Market, where you can buy delicious fresh fruit and vegetables, see amazing locally caught fish, and bright local textiles such as clothing, baskets and hats.

Mauritius offers an impressive variety of water sports, from gentle rides in pedal boats and kayaks, to the more adventurous windsurfing, water skiing, and utterly thrilling speedboat rides. There is even a Waterpark Leisure Village where you can ride down giant water chutes. If you are a fan of fishing, then you can try out some of the deep sea fishing that Mauritius has to offer.
If you go snorkelling, scuba diving, or go on a sea trip in one of the many glass bottom boats, you will see the most spectacular sea life, such as the fascinating coral beds, sparkling fish all colours of the rainbow, moray eels, and turtles swimming along who may well be older than any of the people gazing at them.

An essential part of any holiday is good food, and the delicious cuisine of Mauritius combines Chinese, European and Indian influences. If you enjoy a drop of rum then you will find some good ones to sample here, as sugarcane was introduced to the island by the Dutch, and rum is one of the traditional drinks produced on the island.

So if you are looking for glorious weather and a beautiful island retreat when northern Europe is in the grips of winter, Mauritius is the place to head for.


Spread the Word: Share/Submit or Bookmark this Post...

Go skiing!

One good method of chasing away the end-of-summer blues is to start thinking about skiing holidays, and they needn’t cost an arm and a leg if you shop around for a good deal.

So where is the best place to go skiing? The French Alps offer some of the biggest ski circuits, spectacular vistas, and all the good things about France, from its wine to its cuisine, as well as some lively après-ski in the pubs and clubs of the Alpine regions. Over the border in the Italian Alps you will find similarly good skiing, as well as the great Italian culture, pasta, pizza and wine. The après-ski in Italy is also renowned for being excellent and not too expensive.

Switzerland offers breathtaking mountain scenery and pretty lakes, as well as a number of places where you can go skiing and snowboarding all year round. Resorts like St Moritz offer the last word in luxury, plus the opportunity to spot glamorous celebrities, but there are value-for-money resorts as well. Another popular European skiing location is Austria, which has a great number of skiing resorts dotted with pretty wooden chalets, and slopes with mountain bars where you can warm yourself up with a little schnapps. As well as modern nightlife, there are also traditional Austrian restaurants offering après-ski music and entertainment.

So whether you are an advanced skier who can’t wait to get back on the slopes, or a careful beginner, a good antidote to winter is to go skiing.


Spread the Word: Share/Submit or Bookmark this Post...

A winter escape to the Costa del Sol

Here in the UK the leaves are falling, and yet it feels like we have hardly had a summer. If you like to get away for a couple of weeks of sunshine in the cold winter months, then a good place to head for is Spain’s Costa del Sol. The Costa del Sol is outrageously hot during the summer months, and fine for sun worshippers, but in the winter this coast is warm and sunny without being too hot. There are also fewer tourists, making it an ideal place to relax. The Costa del Sol is also a good place to go to for Christmas or New Year, and most of the major hotels do champagne gala nights on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

The resorts of the Costa del Sol include Torremolinos with its fine beaches and long promenade, and nearby Benalmadena with its beautiful marina incorporating a complex of charming shops and apartments. There is also the city of Málaga, famous for its music and vibrant flamenco, and Marbella, well-known for its well-to-do population of ex-pats, its exclusive shops, and top golf courses.

The Costa del Sol is not actually that far from north Africa, and one of the best organised day trips to take from the area is a trip across to Tangier, to enjoy camel rides, a delicious lunch of couscous, Arabic dancing and shopping for bargains in the souk.

Another good trip to go on is to Gibraltar, where you can see Europe’s only wild monkeys, and take a thrilling cable car ride from ground level to the top of the rock.

With a winter holiday in the Costa del Sol you are not short of sunshine, or things to do.


Spread the Word: Share/Submit or Bookmark this Post...