Albania was once the destination of choice for only those who wanted to do something a bit different and ‘brave’, or for backpackers seeking adventure.
Albania has glorious beaches, azure seashores, fabulous local food and wealth of heritage sites. And it is now is one of the top places to visit in Europe for those who want all these things at a fraction of the price to be found elsewhere and without too much ‘tourism’.
Albania is a small Balkan state just north of Greece. It is a mountainous terrain dotted with charming, old-style villages but also several young, vibrant cities. Its historical skirmishes with neighbouring Greece (usually in the form of bandits rowing across the water to rob the shores of Corfu) and their past impoverished status make them an unlikely choice for a holiday spot, but the country is taking great strides to welcome tourists and improve its international image. Its communist history seems rather far in the past to anyone who strolls around Tirana, the capital, which has mastered the café culture rather well.
If you do choose to visit, remember that whilst Albania is part of NATO and is seeking EU status, it is not currently in the Euro zone and does not have the Euro as its currency – the local currency is the lek and the exchange rate is fantastic. You can get a beautiful, large, en suite room facing the ocean for about £10 a night.
Avoid the beaches closest to the coastal cities like Saranda, as they can be a bit dirty and over-used, but you won’t be short of choice for beaches elsewhere with around 300km of sandy beaches to choose from along the Adriatic or Ionian Seas. They’re all easy to reach by taxi, or the bus system is very user-friendly, safe and cheap if you’d prefer. Or hire a car and explore some of the more remote parts of the coastline with coves and caves to explore.
Pizza and pasta and fresh fish feature highly on any menu in Albania, since it is situated quite close to Italy, and you won’t be disappointed at the quality – or the price.

One of the most relaxing yet entertaining holidays that I have ever had with my husband and young son was to a mobile home in Wales. Not the most glamorous destination or accommodation, granted, but those two weeks were utterly fantastic. The camp site was quiet but had a nice play park for the early evenings (still sunny in Summer) and there were loads of attractions nearby to keep us entertained (from beaches and castles to amusement parks and little trains). Plus, having a mobile home was preferable to a hotel because we could get up when we wanted (or rather, when our son wanted, which was usually at the crack of dawn) and have breakfast when we wanted, and we didn’t need to worry about waking everyone up or keeping them awake when our son had night terrors.

Wales is a beautiful part of the UK, with mountains and valleys as far as the eye can see, more castles and forts than you can shake a stick at, and plenty of pretty, empty beaches to enjoy. There are fewer people living in Wales than there are in England, so it always feels rather deserted, which is rather nice when you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of it all. The further North you are, the less friendly the welcome from Welsh people unfortunately (they’re very protective of their culture and boundaries) but in the South people are generally welcoming of English tourists.

It rains a fair amount, but that’s what makes it such a lush, green land, and the rain also provides beautiful waterfalls amongst the forest walks to enjoy.

Although many of the castles and forts are there following relatively recent history between the English and Welsh, there are also monuments dating back to the Celts in Anglesey, and there are plenty of Roman fortresses too.

Welsh is the main language in most parts of the country, with road signs and street signs compulsorily written in both English and Welsh; Welsh is also a compulsory language in schools. It’s worth taking a phrase book if you want to impress the locals and make that effort to be polite and respectful.

One place you should visit if you’re in the north is the GreenWood Forest Park, which is at the foot of Snowdonia and is a family “eco-attraction”. I’ve never been anywhere quite like it and it really is worth a day’s visit. There’s a people-powered roller coaster; the world’s longest sledge-run, tree-top walkways and climbing frames, boats and a ‘bare foot trail’. The bare foot trail is as it sounds – you have to take your shoes and socks off, and walk bare foot along a trail, which is paved with all sorts of different textures and materials (from squelchy mud to pebbles and sand). There are feet-washing facilities at the end, but we went around it several times at the insistence of our son who thought it was the best thing since Ben 10.

Wales has a lot to offer and it’s there on the doorstep, so why not visit?

If all you know about Sweden is that the chef from The Muppets comes from there, and it’s not somewhere you’ve ever considered as a holiday destination then this article is for you.

Different parts of the country have different things to offer, and where you go rather depends on what type of holiday you want – whether it’s a skiing holiday, a relaxing spa break or a city sight-seeing tour.

Northern Sweden is full of mountains and glaciers, and is home to Swedish Lapland. There are two national parks of significance up there – Abisko and Sarek – for those seeking a holiday full of spectacular views and stunning walks or wildlife-spotting: you might catch sight of elk, wolverines, bears, Arctic foxes and golden eagles. And if you’re lucky you’ll get to see the Northern Lights.

Central Sweden contains the capital city Stockholm, which actually covers some fourteen islands. There’s fabulous shopping to be had and plenty of places to eat and drink. A souvenir that you’ll probably want to buy is a glass candle holder that looks like a snowball – these are sold almost everywhere. You can view most of Stockholm by foot but can also take a boat around the islands to visit those areas that are otherwise hard to reach.

Southern Sweden is by far the most populated area – some 80 percent of Sweden’s population live here, although it is not crowded by any means. There are no mountains down here, just miles and miles of green pastures and pine forests.

If you fancy a spa – which are very popular in Sweden – you can visit Northern Sweden in the land of the midnight sun, or one in a city in central Sweden, or one nestled amongst the natural beauty of the South. For skiing, obviously you need to head North, from Riksgränsen (which is so far North it’s in the Arctic Circle) all the way down to Dalarna. Most resorts guarantee snow between Christmas and Easter so it’s a safe bet that you’ll get plenty of runs. There are around 200 resorts, many of which specialise in family runs suitable for children as well as adults, whilst others are aimed at adults looking for nightlife and bars.

If you’d rather snowboard than ski, then try any of the snowparks in central Sweden, or in Swedish Lapland. The biggest is the Åre ski resort, in central Sweden. Check which one best suits your group’s needs as some offer slopes suitable for children and adults, experienced snowboarders and novices alike whilst others are for the more serious snowboarder and professionals. The parks feature jumps and a variety of jibs.

If a city break is more your scene, then head to Stockholm or to Gothenberg, both of which offer several museums and parks and give you a flavour of life in Sweden. The cities also have forests, marinas, lakes and beaches, so don’t expect masses of uninterrupted concrete.

If you’re a single parent, or if you’re together with a partner but only have one child, finding a holiday that suits your budget and your entertainment needs can be a little more tricky than finding a holiday for a whole brood. Single adults can often be faced with costly single-supplements, which hardly seems fair when they are travelling with someone – even though that ’someone’ is a child.
Anyway, here are out picks of some great holiday destinations for small or single-parent families.
1. Self-catering Cottages.
Choose to stay in a cottage on a working farm to get away from it all. Just watch where you walk. Excellent opportunities for children to get their hands dirty and help out on the farm, feeding the geese and sheep, milking the cows and hunting for eggs, and for long walks for the family in the surrounding countryside. Good suggestions for locations are the Brecon Beacons, Lake District and Norfolk Downs.

2. Camping/
If you’re feeling brave, there’s nothing more exciting for children than having a holiday under canvas. It’s also surprisingly cosy, tucked up at night in your sleeping bags. On the downside, it can be a bit scary being so open to the elements, and of course there’s the matter of the lack of bathroom facilities. But a short break is entirely manageable and if you choose a location with lots of things to do nearby it can work out as an adventure. There are specialist holiday companies offering these holidays for single-parent families where all the tents booked by their clients are placed close to each other to give a sense of community, and offer nice family activities like barbecues and local expeditions.

3. Rent a House
If you want to travel abroad for your holiday, where better than beautiful Italy, where you can rent a villa close to other families so that the little ones have others to play with and you have other families to socialise with. There are numerous holiday companies that specialise in this type of break, each offering holidays designed to give you privacy whilst making socialising available when you want it.
4. Swiss hotels
The Swiss are renowned for their child-friendly approach to life, and to tourism, and so a holiday to a hotel in Switzerland would be ideal for the smaller family wanting a warm welcome or a single-parent family wanting a friendly reception. Most hotels over there offer spas and saunas and local activities like husky-drawn sleighs and adventure climbing days in the forest are widely available.
5. A Greek Cruise
If you pick the right tour operator you can get a really good cruise that the whole family can enjoy with enough on-board entertainment to keep the little ones happy whilst you relax or enjoy the on-board activities aimed at the grown-ups. A cruise around the Aegean offers stop-offs at coves, private islands, trips to little villages for sightseeing, and the occasional beach.

If one of your New Year Resolutions this year will be to never again have another New Year’s Eve spent in your sitting room waiting to go to bed, then make sure you stick to it by booking a break – NOW!
People like different things from their New Year celebrations. For some, it’s one big party and the more drink and fireworks the better. For others, it’s a chance to get together with family and friends and play games that get progressively sillier as the night wears on. For others, they like a quiet night in, reflecting on the past year and what’s to come in the next. For new parents, incidentally, it’s just another night where sleep is interrupted continually and the day blends into the night seamlessly and without much fanfare (or was that just me?).
Whatever you like, there are some ideas here that will hopefully inspire you as to where and how to spend 31st December 2011.
For Parties:
Paris! Fireworks at the Champs-Elysées, the Eiffel Tower’s light show, and spiritual enlightenment at the Sacré-Coeur.
New Zealand! Be the first in the world (except for a few people on some little islands that are hard and expensive to get to) to see in 2012 and join in the Rhythm and Vines festival whilst your at it for live music and one heck of a beach party.
Edinburgh! Enjoy the Hogmanay spirit and festivals over the whole New Year period.
For Reflection
Spa breaks – available pretty much anywhere, but the best are perhaps at Center Parcs (several throughout the UK), Foxhills in Surrey Ragdale Hall in Leicestershire, or head further afield and enjoy Budapest’s thermal spas in Széchenyi Gyógyfürdo.
For Time with the Family
Take the kids to the panto, and rent a cottage or maybe even go glamping if you think you can brave the cold (most glamp tents will have heating, so go on and be brave) for a break with a difference this year.
Or take the children to Lapland for the Christmas and New Year periods for reindeer sleigh rides, visits to Santa, snowmobile rides and the Northern Lights. Stay in an ice hotel for the ultimate experience!

Slovakia gained its independence in 1993 but is still not a well-known tourist destination – which actually makes it a rather attractive destination for those of us who don’t really like typical ‘tourist hotspots.’
It offers breathtaking scenery in the form of beautiful mountain peaks (High Tatras or Vysoke Tatry being of particular note) that can be enjoyed whilst hiking, mountaineering or skiing, or by taking a trip on the suspended cable car that leads up to Lomnický štít peak, one of the highest in the country. Whilst you’re up there, you may want to spend a night in Europe’s highest hotel.
The capital city is called Bratislava, and is situated in the south-west of the country. Its historic centre rich in Czechoslovakian, Hungarian and even Polish architecture is in juxtaposition with modern development as the city strives to redevelop its capitalist, booming commercial districts. Bratislava Castle has also been renovated to its former full glory, and a visit there will also give you unrivalled views over the whole area and, on a clear day, of neighbouring Austria and Hungary. ot miss the nearby Devín castlewhere the Danube and Morava rivers meet. Symbol of Bratislava’s rich history, the Bratislava castle has recently undergone a renovation, now you can visit it in its full glory. And once you are up there, enjoy the beautiful view not only on historical part of this city, but also on the neighbouring Austria and Hungary. 
A lovely, unique feature of Slovakia is its elaborate cave system at Aggletek Kras, which is a World Heritage site. Four were originally open to the public – Jasov cave; Gombasecká cave; Domenica cave and Silická; and now the spectacular Dobšinská Ice Cave and Demänovská Cave of Freedom are too.
There are some fantastic aqua parks around Slovakia. One of them, AquaCity Poprad, is heated by a natural thermal spring, generating temperatures in the pools of around 30-40°C. It has indoor and outdoor pools, slides, saunas, Jacuzzis and places to eat and drink. There’s also a ‘wellness centre’ that offers massages, inhalation rooms, steam rooms and a snow cave.
Slovakia is a full member of the EU and its currency is therefore the euro, and you don’t need a visa to travel there. The official, main language is Slovak, but many speak English and German.

Luxembourg is a tiny (80 x 50km) European country, squeezed between Germany, France and Belgium. It’s easy to overlook as a destination for a holiday, but it really shouldn’t be because it has lots to offer with plenty of historical buildings and museums, plus really beautiful countryside.
The official languages of Luxembourg are French and German, although the most commonly spoken language is Letzebuergesh. Most residents speak good English though they appreciate any efforts made at speaking any of the local languages.
Its location has obviously meant that it has had a great deal of input in terms of its cultural development from neighbouring France, Germany and Belgium, but it has its own identity too and strong folk traditions. It is also unique because it is a Grand Duchy with independent status. It is fully involved with the rest of Europe though, and is a member state of the EU, NATO and the UN.
It’s a wealthy nation, largely due to its impressive financial sector, and it is also a tax haven so a great deal of foreign money finds its way into Luxembourg. Also, despite its relatively vast areas of greenery, its main industries are steel and iron processing.
Luxembourg is made up of several towns and only one city – its capital, also called Luxembourg. Most of Luxembourg’ half a million inhabitants live in the towns.
Don’t miss visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Luxembourg Castle, the Grand Ducal Palace, and the city of Luxembourg’s amazing fortification system. This was built during the course of several centuries up to the 1700’s when its casements and tunnels gave it the reputation of the best fortress in Europe. It’s still possible to see parts of the fortress including parts that are underground.
Of the museums available, don’t miss the National Museums of History and Art, and of Natural History. There are also two impressive Modern Art galleries – the Am Tunnel and the Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art (aka Mudam). If war history is what you’re interested in, go to visit the Gelle Fra War Memorial and the Luxembourg American Cemetary/Memorial.
Other sights not to be missed are the Chemin de la Corniche, which is a beautiful promenade leading to the Citadelle du St. Espirit, where you can view the river valleys and lower town, and try to go on the Wenzel Walk through the oldest quarters of the town for a tour rich in the country’s history.
Luxembourg is also well known for its wine – particularly within the Moselle Valley. So make sure you try a sample of the local wine, and maybe even go on a wine-tasting tour, which are very popular in the country. The ‘Wine Road’ (“Route de Vin”) starts out at Waserbillig, proceeding along the Moselle River through several quaint villages.
Don’t overlook Luxembourg, take a trip and enjoy all that the country has to offer.

Halloween is on the strangest, spookiest of all times of the year, meaning that those taking a trip during this period will likely want something a bit different from the norm. These are some of the best options available for unusual Halloween holiday breaks, in the UK, Europe and the US.

Alton Towers

For those wishing to spend their Halloween holiday break in the UK, the Alton Towers amusement park in Staffordshire offers a great deal. Every year they have the ‘Scarefest’, which incorporates later than usual opening times (up until 9pm every night). Furthermore if you want to stay at the park overnight during this period, they include a number of special, ghostly Halloween experiences within their hotels. There are discounts available for children for both the park and the accommodation during this period.

Disneyland, Paris

If you prefer to go elsewhere in Europe, the Paris Disneyland park is another popular Halloween option. The park features special shows, decorations and parties to celebrate Halloween and, again you can opt to stay in one of the company’s hotels, where further attractions are available, including appearances by some of the famous Disney animated characters.

Circus Circus, Las Vegas

Then again, if the USA is your preferred Halloween location, then the Circus Circus in Las Vegas offers and affordable, if cheap and cheerful, option for families on tight budgets. This is the location of the Adventuredome, which is the largest indoor theme park in the US. Alternatively, if you wish something a bit more expensive, the Stanley Hotel in Colorado, which was one of the inspirations for the Stephen King novel The Shining and has a reputation for being haunted – features tours, Ghost Hunts with paranormal investigators, Murder Mystery dinners and Halloween screenings of The Shining, as entertainments to tempt both adults and children during the Halloween period.

Andorra is a small country wedged in between Spain and France. Few people have even heard of it despite its relative proximity to our shores, though it is well known among skiiers and snowboarders since it offers amazing ski resorts.

If you’re interested in taking a skiing holiday this year, then Andorra is well worth a visit. Not as well-known or high-profile as some of the other resorts in neighbouring countries, yet it has plenty to offer. There are a number of linked ski paths and zones, that can all be accessed with the use of a single lift pass, giving you a breadth and range of sights and experiences that you just don’t get elsewhere for the same sort of price.

However, if you’re interested in seeing more of the region and country than just the ski slopes, there is plenty to see and do in the area. If you wanted to, a three hour drive would take you to Barcelona, but you really don’t have to go that far to see interesting things and experience a bit of culture. Spain and France are both within an hour’s drive, if you want to visit them. Here are some experiences and places to visit that we think are worth travelling for:

You could visit the Rafting Centre, La Seu d’Urgell, Spain.
If you haven’t had your fill of sporting and energetic pursuits on the slopes, why not try the Parc Olymic which offers whitewater rafting and canoeing. The venue was used for the kayak events in the Olympics of 1992 and is now a popular venue for water-sport fanatics.
Or try Os de Civis:
This beautiful little Spanish village is located in the mountains and is only accessible through the gorges of Andorra – worth the visit for the journey in itself. Experience a lunch of local fresh food such as Catalan peasant soup and Spanish sausage, and visit the 12th Century church on the hill.
If you choose to stick to Andorra, there are plenty of apres ski activities and lively night-life to enjoy; plus shopping there is duty free so you can pick up some bargains. Enjoy!

It’s nearly Hallowe’en, and so we thought: where’s the spookiest place to go on holiday? Where else? Romania!

Home to more myths and scary legends than you can shake a stick at, it’s the perfect place for a half-term getaway to remember.

Romania is a very beautiful country with plenty of history and varied architecture, which are all good reasons to visit the country at any time of the year (note that Spring is warm during the day, cool during the morning; Summer is really rather sunny and warm, up to 100F though cooler in the mountains; Autumn is dry and cool and there’s plenty of gorgeous foliage to admire; Winters are cold and often very snowy).

But what about Hallowe’en??

Where else to go in Romania but Transylvania.

Transylvania is a region of Romania in which there are many, amazingly-well preserved medieval towns (e.g. Brasov, Sibiu and Sighisoara), fabulous to explore during the daylight hours. Or at night if you’re brave. Here and there are Gothic castles worthy of any vampire novel or Hammer Horror film. The most famous of these is probably Bran (built in 1377), near Brasov, which was originally home to Prince Vlad Tepes (known as ‘Vlad the Impaler’) in the 15th-century – thought to be the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Near to the Bran castle are Saxon, fortified churches in Harman and Prejmer, which are also worth a visit – these are designated as World Heritage Sites.

Going to Transylvania is a bit like travelling back in time. Everywhere you look you will see people going about very old-fashioned, traditional routines and jobs (there are actual shepherds, blacksmiths, carpenters and weavers, for example). They take things one step further in Moti Land, which is in the Ariesi Valley, where several villages are situated across numerous sites up the mountains there (living at over 4,000ft above sea-level) with well-preserved traditional lifestyles in the same way as they have done for centuries.

If the actual, day-to-day lifestyles of Transylvania’s population isn’t enough, you can always visit one of the region’s many museums, like the National Art Museum in Cluj; the Ethnographic, Art and/or History museum in Brasov, or the National History Museum of Transylvania in Cluj. If you’re feeling a bit in need of something gruesome, opt for the History Museum in Sighisoara which contains the ‘Torture Room’.

There are loads of cave systems to explore if you’re interested in doing a bit of caving while you’re there – perhaps the best place to start is at the Apuseni Nature Park or the Piatra Craiului National Park (the latter is home to the world’s deepest underground abysses)

The food in Transylvania mainly consists of pork, lamb and veal, usually flavoured with thyme and red pepper. There’s plenty of home-made pasta, usually found in the soups, but their version of lasagne (called ‘Varza a la Cluj’) is actually made with layers of shredded cabbage instead of the pasta sheets used in Italy. ‘Varza’ is Romanian for cabbage and you’ll see it a lot on their menus, since it’s one of the main items produced by the country.

Some of the legends that surround the region are:
that Transylvania is situated within a very strong magnetic field and the inhabitants have ESP (extra-sensory perception);
Vampires can be found at crossroads on St George’s Day (23rd April) and 29th November (the eve of St Andrew’s day)
There was genuinely vampire activity in Romania in the late 1600’s and throughout the 1700’s