Wish You Were Here (Top 10 Winter Destinations)

Member Name: LauraElliott

Product:	Top 10 Winter Destinations
Date:	08/06/02 (3273 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great places to visit, Good tourist attractions

Disadvantages: Some places can be extremely cold in the Winter (pretty much like England), You might not know what clothes and item's are best to take in the Winter ( mean, who wants to be sitting on a beach with a Wooly Jumper on?!?), Some of the foreigner's can be a bit rude, but I'm sure that they get the same treatment when they come to England sometimes.

I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel a lot, mainly recreationally. Most of the places that I get to visit are places that I have chosen to go to myself and so far, almost all of the places have been up to scratch and even better that I assumed they would of been when I was booking them. Glancing through the glossy travel brochures brings back those fantastic memories of swimming in the sea, sunbathing on the white sandy beaches and in the winter editions even skiing in the Alps.

Watching those 'wish you were here...' holiday programmes on the television make you just want to be in those places - that instant. I know that this category is supposed to be for Winter holiday destinations only, but most of the places listed below I have visited in all sorts of weather and season's and are still very suitable for the cold Winter months. Some of my favourite holiday destinations are as follows...they are in no particular order really....

One

Magaluf, Majorca - the most popular British visited Balearic Island out of them all. It attracts at least 1 million British visitors per year, and I can completely understand why. One of the top spots for sun, sea and sand as well as a wonderful nightlife consisting of plenty of bars, clubs and pubs, along with some fine restaurants. There are over 2500 bars and clubs in Magalluf alone! The most annoying thing about most of them are that there are so many PR's trying to get you to 'come in and join us for a free cocktail and some sangria'. Magalluf is sometimes known as 'Shag-alluf' due to the high tourist population in the hot summer months, consisting of young girls out for a good time and the same about the male gender, so when put together, creates 'Shag-galluf'. I have been going to Majorca (spelt Mallorca to us English people) every year for about 15 years, and each year it gets better and better.

You wouldn't believe how much it has
changed since my first holiday there in the early 1980's. It used to appeal to all of the young teenagers who were on their first holiday away from home without their parents and with a huge group of friends, but now it is not only suited for them but also for families with young children and even older people. There are different parts of Majorca which I would say were better than Magaluf if you are looking for a peaceful, relaxing or quiet holiday rather than an upbeat, fun and lively holiday. For older people, Porto Christo, Cala D'or or C'an Pastilla would be much better suited, and for families...Alcudia or Palma would be your best bet.

Anyway, Majorca, the place where all young generations want to go, the place that parties into the early hours of the morning, with music thudding and booming as loud as it possibly can, making sure that the whole resort is awake and up on the go, dancing till the sun comes up again, and then getting ready for another fun day on the beach or in your hotel. Most of the hotels in Majorca are good and contain an outdoor swimming pool. The beach in Magaluf is wonderful, nice, white, sandy and litter free. Sun loungers are really cheap also, along with there being a man who comes around selling ice cold drinks and refreshing juicy fruit like watermelon, just the thing to get you into the summer mood, if your not already, that is. If you get bored of lying on the beach then there are plenty of water sports to try, including jet skiing and the great banana ride where you are all dragged along on the back of an inflatable banana at about 40mph until you fly off into the blue luscious ocean! And for the not so adventurous...you can always have a pedal on the pedalo's, out to a small island about a mile away from Magaluf beach.

Food wise, Local specialities include: Sopas mallorquinas, tortilla, escaldums (chicken) and lechona (roast suckling pig).
Flights to Majorca (Palma Airport) cost only ab
out £220 and the travel time by taxi from the airport to Magaluf is only about 45 minutes. In the height of the season (Summer holidays), the temperatures can rise right up to approximately 40 centigrade!

Two

I went to Ayia Napa or as the Cypriots call it, Agia Napa about 3 years ago. Ayia Napa is a popular clubbing resort in Cyprus and was voted as one of the best 'lively holidays' in the year 2000-2001. I stayed in the Pavlo Napa Beach hotel and had an awesome time, especially due to the fact that the hotel was all inclusive (free drinks!!!).

Most of the hotels there are all inclusive, mainly because it is easiest and a really good way to spend little money and leave the country with not much less than you went with. Not too long ago Ayia Napa was a small sleepy fishing village. The boom of tourism has transfigured it in a relatively short space of time into a throbbing nightlife. It seems to be particularly appealing to young people who are after a good time. Ayia Napa is a Night City, well it is also a day resort, but at night there is so much to see and do that you will not explore it all in a week.

Water world water park is one of the best splash parks on the island. It has so many fantastic water rides that you won't want to leave by the end of the day. Only one bad thing about going there was that they wouldn't let us take any food into the site, because they rather that you spend money in their restaurants and not bring your own packed lunches! In the beautiful blue sea's, there are plenty of opportunities to explore the marine life with scuba diving courses starting at only £7 per session!

One of my favourite places is called Famagusta (also known as Ghost Town) and is where a silent village that has never been explored (remains still) is positioned. It is amazing to see such a quite and peaceful place, no one lives there, it is as if it is a world of its own. You are not allowed to s
tep over a border line and enter in there, you can only view it from one of the tallest points near to it. There are some great Safari trips as well, where you can hire out a jeep and go for a look around the animal parks. From Larnaca airport to Ayia Napa, it takes around 70 minutes and the taxi costs about £35 for that transfer trip.

Three

Las Vegas, the city of bright lights and casino's which 'kerccch-hhing' out money all day, every day. There are so many fun things to explore in Vegas and the best way to travel around the city that never sleeps is in style, in a limousine. Las Vegas is in the desert. And, yes, the temperature gets to be about 115 degrees in the summer. But if you happen to be visiting in the winter (usually from Halloween to Valentine's Day), don't be fooled. A jacket is definitely recommended, especially if the wind is blowing.

There are some amazing attractions within Las Vegas to visit and if you are adventurous you can even step out of this large city and explore some of the rest of America. The Grand Canyon tour is not to be missed! It makes a great day out, if not nothing else and it is certainly a once in a lifetime experience. The best way to see it is of course by helicopter (seeing it up close and from the air is a truly marvellous site).

You can also rent a boat out for a day or go for the cowboy excitement experience where you get to dress up and act like a cowboy all day long. There is a light show called the Fremont Street experience, it has almost 2 million lights and impressively, it can be seen for miles. The San Diego wildlife and zoo park has some really exotic animals that I have never heard of or seen before and it is awesome to actually hold some of the smaller animals. There is an interesting titanic exhibition, which includes some of the actual artefacts taken from the famous boat. Today in Las Vegas the temperature is approximately 77 Fahrenheit.


Four

However much I hate to admit it, I actually do enjoy visiting and staying in London. I don't really class it as a holiday, more like just a stop over or staying place. I only live about 30 minutes by train from central London, but still, Oxford St and all of the rest of the popular and well-known city, seem extremely different from where I have been brought up. London has always in my eyes, seemed like a place where only posh people or visitors go, not ordinary folk who just want to go and visit the museums and see the wonderful sites.

Some of the best places to visit in London have to be the London Eye where you can see miles on end across the whole of London and the half an hour ride or so you get to spend sitting/standing in a glass capsule, being able to look out in any direction imaginable, seeing London's most visited attractions like the houses of parliament, the tower of London and even Buckingham Palace. The accommodation available in London isn't very broad, it is mainly suited for business people who have a lot of cash to splash on something that I wouldn't want to spend more than a couple of nights in. Most of the guest houses are old fashioned, yet still very pricey to stay in.

Obviously you know what the temperature is going to be like (well actually you don't - I mean this is England I am talking about here), but for the most part, if your lucky to visit in Summer, then the weather should be on average, quite warm, although you do unfortunately get those odd rainy days. Central London is situated about 30 minutes by train from Heathrow Airport.

Five

My fifth favourite place in the world has to be Elat in Israel. Although the best way to get around it is either to walk (which may take you a fair while), or to ride a bike, the place never becomes dull and boring as there is so much to do. The weather is fantastic all year around, never a point where the temperatures drop into the
minuses (unlike unpredictable England).

Most of the population are Jewish and speak Hebrew. The hotels are luxurious, and in most of them you get treated superbly, kindly waited on, and treated like Royalty. The food is also great too, there are so many choices, including popular Israeli dishes such as a Dessert consisting of Apples covered in hardened honey, and for a snack, matzo's with smoked salmon and cream cheese. The choice of food is very good, and whilst no pork or bacon is served in hotels, an excellent selection of fish, beef, poultry and lamb are available. Dietary laws do not permit milk to be served with meat. However non-milk substitutes are usually available.

Food and drink can vary from place to place but is generally a little more expensive than comparable countries. In Israel for example: you can expect to find approximate costs starting from: English newspaper - £1.50; 3 course meal with wine - £20.
Elat is one of the Southern cities in Israel and unlike the other's which are more in the North or towards the West, Elat rarely ever gets the rouble or the fighting occuring there, it tends to stick to the other parts and not near this popular holiday destination. Trouble could occur and therefore the tour operators tend to suggest that you stick with taxi's to travel around instead of using the public transport, wherever possible. As a citizen of the UK you will be issued with a visitors visa free of charge at port of entry in Israel. This is usually completed on the plane and includes a slip to hand in again upon departure.

Because Israel is in the middle-east I thought that you might need to have various vaccinations to gain entry but was pleased when I was told that this was not required (I have a phobia of needles and injections!) The currency of Israel is the shequel (IS) also called the new shequel (NIS). Each shequel is divided into 100 agorot. Banknotes circulate in denominations of IS200, 100, 5
0, 20 and 10. You may bring an unlimited amount of local and foreign currency into Israel in cash, travellers' cheques, and letters of credit. Foreign currency may be exchanged at any bank and at many hotels.

Whilst in Israel I wanted to do a bit of shopping, note that most shops are open daily from Sunday to Thursday between 9am and 7pm, although some close for a mid-day break between 1pm and 4pm. On Fridays and the eves of major Jewish Holidays shops open in the morning and close early afternoon.

Six

Australia's Hervey Bay has to be one of the most fabulous, beautiful places I have ever been to in my lifetime. The memories just bring tears to my eyes because I spent such a wonderful time there and never ever wanted to leave - I wish my holiday had lasted for longer.

It is a favourite family holiday destination; Hervey Bay has a strip of seaside resorts with safe swimming and good fishing. The bay is famous for Whale watching for Humpback whales from August to mid October, with a Whale festival in August. Numerous tourist attractions have been developed to make holidays in the area an even better one. Sky Diving from 10,000 feet over Hervey Bay is something you can try in tandem, with one of Australia's most experienced instructors. You will experience the rush generated by the jump, take in the thrill of a freefall, soak up some breathtaking views, and even take over the steering for a while if you like. Famous Australian shark catcher, Vic Hislop has established a monster shark show on The Esplanade, Hervey Bay. Some of Vic's catches are on display, together with educational entertainment highlighting the danger of sharks to man and whale. Just outside Hervey Bay city is the go-kart track, where you can test your driving skill in a hired kart. A local go-kart club conducts regular race meetings at the track, sometimes attracting competitors from afar. The track itself has uphill and downhill sections, making fo
r particularly interesting racing.

The beaches of Hervey Bay city are connected by this foreshore bike and walking track, paralleled for much of its length by the Esplanade, which carries vehicular traffic. Fitness enthusiasts find the track is a marvellous way of getting around, on roller blades, bicycles, skateboards, or on foot. A joy flight with Elite Airways departing from Hervey Bay airport can provide a wonderful birds-eye view of the Fraser Coast and Hervey Bay city. Sunsets produce some beautiful scenes in many parts of the world, but when reflected in calm waters as they often are in Hervey Bay, the resulting scenes are truly spectacular. The strip of beachside parkland stretching the length of Hervey Bay city is equipped with numerous seats facing the water so that these quieter moments may be enjoyed in comfort.

Seven

The town of Selfoss is conveniently located in the heart of South Iceland. It serves as the district's centre for administration, industry, commerce and other services. Selfoss is also in the vicinity of some of the country's most beautiful tourist attractions. Sports are popular in Selfoss, especially handball, although other sports, such as basketball, also enjoy a growing following. Every year the Selfoss Bridge Marathon is held at Selfoss; people come from all over the country to take part. In the summer, there is an open-air market in the town.

The town of Selfoss provides excellent services for young and old. A unit of service apartments for the elderly was recently completed. The South Iceland Hospital is located at Selfoss. There are plenty of options for those who want a meal or an evening out, including a hotel, pizza parlours, a chicken restaurant, fast-food restaurants offering a variety of food including traditional Icelandic meals, as well as pubs, dance clubs, and excellent banqueting and conference rooms. Leisure facilities at Selfoss include a splendid 9-hole golf course. There
are pleasant walking paths in the area, along the banks of the Ölfusá river, and on nearby Mt. Ingólfsfjall, with its spectacular views of the lowlands of south Iceland, the mountain ranges to north and east, and the Westman Islands to the south.

The municipal swimming pool has both indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, solarium, etc. in a recently renovated area. Selfoss offers good sports facilities, including a sports hall at the Sólvallaskóli School, and a large open-air leisure area with sports fields.
Bus services run in all directions. Buses run from Selfoss to Reykjavík, inland to Gullfoss and Geysir, and to the coastal communities of Stokkseyri, Eyrarbakki and Horlákshöfn. In the summer, there are also bus services to Hórsmörk and Landmannalaugar, to Akureyri and to the east, as well as many other places. Selfoss has several travel agencies and a tourist information centre. Selfoss is a very unknown part of Iceland, but still...it is well worth staying at the one solitary hotel they provide, or to stay nearby.

Eight

Seeing as I am a girl who loves my shopping I thought that Milan would be the ideal place for me to go - the capital of fashion! Situated in Northern Italy, it is a financial and economic capital as well as major political and cultural centre, it is the second most popular city in Italy.
If you are arriving by plane, Linate and Malpensa airports are the two that manage the intense international and domestic traffic. It is convenient and comfortable to use public transportation in Milan. Trams, buses, trolleys and three subway lines bring together even the remotest parts of the city. Prices for underground and aboveground transportation are the same.
Tickets are sold at news stands, bars, tobacco shops and automatic vending stations. The public transport system operates from 6:00 in the morning until midnight, but during the night there is a bus line which substitutes for the number 1 subway line.

>Tourist passes exist at a price of 6000 lire for 24 hours and 9000 lire for 48 hours. Milan's taxis are white. When you enter a taxi, the fixed tariff of 6000 lire clicks on; during holidays, at night and with baggage, you have to pay a supplement.
These days, Milan is flooded with fish. It has the largest fish market in Italy, but for all this fishy culture, not a trace is seen in Milanese cuisine. On the other hand, you'll find excellent recipes for fresh-water fish, for example anchovy pâté and pike braised in red wine.

Not so famous but also very good are some Milanese soups like minestrone, naturally. Even better are the soups made from rice and parsley with liver, from rice and leeks. Milan doesn't have a huge nightlife area, only a few bars and clubs and one or two discotheques. I only spent a weekend in Milan and that was enough for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

Nine

Sharm el-Sheikh, in Egypt...the simplicity of sun, sea and sand. The luxury of five-star hotels, water sports, shopping and entertainment - Sharm el-Sheikh is one of the most accessible and developed tourist resort communities on the Sinai Peninsula. All around are colourful tents, mountains and sea. There are small, intimate hotels with modern designs, as well as larger hotel complexes belonging to International chains, plus about all the amenities you could expect of a tourist centre, including casinos, discos and nightclubs, golf courses and health facilities.

In fact, with diving and snorkelling, windsurfing and other water sports, horses and camel riding, desert safaris, and great nearby antiquities attractions, it is almost impossible for a visitor to ever suffer from boredom.
Four miles south the southern section of the town stands on a cliff overlooking the port, and is a great view.
Na'ama Beach is one of the centres of the tourist activities. Located just north of Sharm, this area is developing into a
resort town of its own. Most hotels at Na'ama Bay have their own, private beaches with comfortable amenities such as chairs, shades and even bars.

Shark's Bay is also nearby, and again is a growing resort community with more and more to offer, along with several diving centres.
The small harbour known, as Sharm el-Moiya is located next to the civil harbour, has accommodations for boats, and includes a Yacht Club with rooms.
For those who live to shop, the Sharm el-Sheikh mall provides shops with both foreign and local products, including jewellery, leather goods, clothing, pottery and books.
It has been said that this is a must visit for all diving enthusiasts. There are many diving sites along the 10-mile beach between Sharm el-Sheikh and Ras Nusrani and it is one of the most amazing places in the world!!

And as I said in my introduction about my opinion not really being about Winter holiday's, here is one that is mainly based around the Winter season:

Ten

Haines is an unknown place in Alaska, Usa. Haines shares a border with 20 million acres of protected wilderness. The heart of Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park is less than 25 miles by air from downtown Haines, and Canada's Kluane National Park and Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park are just up the road. As you can imagine, opportunities for outdoor recreation are endless.

While in Haines, I explored the cultural heritage at Sheldon Museum, and at Alaska Indian Arts in historic Fort Seward, and learnt about the area's natural history through taxidermy at the American Bald Eagle Foundation. Haines' galleries had exquisite artistry of the Chilkoot and Chilkat Tlingits and other resident artists.
Haine's has an amazing full packed all year round calendar, so you can go for a festival, a bicycle race, or for the Southeast Alaska State Fair in August.
Most evenings during summer you can feast at a salmon bake and enjoy
a fascinating performance by native dancers.

Perhaps best of all, Haines' scenic streets are never over-crowded, yet they offer everything you'll need while you're on the road: lodging, RV parks and private campgrounds, restaurants and bars, supermarkets and hardware stores, gas stations and garages, bookstores, galleries and gift shops, clothing stores and outdoor outfitters, as well as excellent medical and dental services. Haines even has a public swimming pool, a small airport, a tennis court, and a veterinarian!

Overall, I recommend going to all of the place's that I mentioned above at some point in your life, you're bound to love them, as each of them are suited for basically everyone.

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