Auckland Voted 3rd best City In The World To Live

In the 2011 Mercer Best Cities To Live rankings, Auckland the largest and most densely populated city in New Zealand was voted the 3rd best place in the world to live. Over 30% of the population of New Zealand live in Auckland (approx 1.3 million inhabitants). Boasting two harbours Auckland is known as the "City of Sails" due to the number of yachts spotted in the area. Combining a modern city with cultural attractions such as the Auckland Civic Theatre, Auckland Art Gallery, War Memorial Museum, Harbour bridge & Sky Tower. The city also offers some magnificent natural attractions including Auckland Domain, one of the largest parks in the city & Rangitoto Island at the entrance of Waitemata Harbour. For the best views of the city visitiors should take a trip up Mount Eden, a volcanic cone which is the highest natural point in Auckland offering magnificent panoramic views. While in Auckland a visit to Waiheke Island is a must with its stunning beaches and amazing forests, olive groves & vineyards. Boasting a warm year round climate the 1.3 million inhabitants should feel privileged to live in the 3rd best city in the world, why not visit Auckland & see how you rank it?!? Book Flights To Auckland Here & Why Not Stay in One of these Auckland Hotels

Mother Nature Wreaking Havoc On Travel Plans

 

Across the globe Mother Nature has been wreaking havoc with disastrous consequences for thousands of would be travellers. Perhaps worse hit was Bangkok, with the heaviest monsoon rains in 50 years flooding large areas of the city, especially the northern provinces. Claiming 442 lives, and damaging the lives and homes of millions the flood waters have so far mainly avoided the central tourist areas of the city however the FCO still advises against all but essential travel to Bangkok. The main Bangkok airport (Suvarnabhumi) has remained open and unaffected however many holidaymakers from the UK have simply flown into Suvarnabhumi and instead of staying in Bangkok as planned have headed to resorts like Hua Hin, Cha Am, Pattaya, Koh Samui & Phuket away from the affected areas.

In the same week as Thailand saw its heaviest rainfall in 50 years an unseasonably late hurricane (hurricane rina) threatened areas of the Caribbean including Cancun and the Yucatan Peninsula. Although Cancun airport remained open over 90% of flights in & out of the airport scheduled for the days when Rina was due to strike were cancelled and hundreds of holidaymakers were evacuated from their hotels. Thankfully by the time Rina reached Cancun it had significantly weakened and damage to the area was minimal.

Even Europe couldn’t escape mother nature’s wrath as flash floods hit areas of Tuscany in Italy and La Cala Finestrat near Benidorm where two British tourists were killed when a flash flood hit a market.   

Perfect Time For A Sunshine Getaway

Recent research from hotel price comparison site Trivago shows that european hotel rates are on average 7% cheaper in October than September. Prices in 35 of the top 50 most popular destinations show vast reductions in hotel rates with hotspots like Majorcan resorts Playa del Palma, Alcudia & Cala Millor all  over 30% cheaper in October compared to September. Considering the weather in Majorca in October is still in the mid twenties October may well be the perfect time to book a cheap majorca holiday & enjoy a bargain sunshine getaway.

Rugby World Cup Hots Up in New Zealand

The weekend saw the Quarter Finals of the 2011 Rugby World Cup played out. In the first of the Quarter finals Ireland played Wales in an enthralling encounter. Ireland were slight favourites going into the match with their experienced stars expected to be too much for the youthful Welsh team. However stout defending by the young Welsh men combined with some speedy attacking play saw Wales overcome their celtic counterparts 22 - 10.
In the second Quarter final England played France. Both sides had struggled to capture previous form & on the day England were particularly disappointing, France rode out 19-12 victors. Setting up a semi final between Wales & France to be played in Auckland on Saturday.
The third Quarter final was in World Rugby terms a clash of the titans with South Africa facing Australia. Australia came out on top 11-9 in a close affair.
The last Quarter final to be played was between hosts New Zealand & Argentina, after a slow start New Zealand's class shone through & they ended the game winning 33-10.

The Semi Finals will be played in Auckland on Saturday 15th October with the Final set to be played on Sunday 23rd October. If you're interested in flying out to Auckland to catch the semi finals or the final or both! then flights are still available with Travelbag

Travel Trends Survey

An Abta consumer trends survey released today, which surveyed over two thousand holidaymakers found that over the last 12 months the number of people booking their holiday in a high street travel agent store has risen from 17% to 25%. Somewhat suprisingly the survey revealed that young people are more likely than older people to book through their high street travel agent. 32% of 16-24 year olds used their high street travel agent compared to just 15% of 45-54 year olds. It seems that 1 in 4 of us prefers to sit down face to face with a travel agent & discuss & book our holidays in a bricks & mortar shop as opposed to over the internent. If you are one of this growing 25% then why not visit your local travel agent to book your next holiday.

Bangkok Destination Guide

The capital of Thailand, Bangkok is home to ten million inhabitants and sees at least a further ten million visitors every year. There are countless adjectives used to describe Bangkok, it is essentially a big dirty city and first time visitors are sometimes alarmed by its intensity, however this big dirty city definitely has a certain appealing charm – which is underlined by the number of visitors who return to Bangkok again and again.

The most visited attraction in Bangkok is the Grand Palace. This complex of impressive buildings dates back to 1782 and was home to the King of Thailand his royal court and government until the mid twentieth century. The wonderful architecture with its elaborate detail combined with the atmosphere of reverence and respect makes the Grand Palace a truly unique cultural experience. The spiritual centre of Thailand is a must see for visitors in Bangkok.

Among the most inspiring sights in Bangkok are the temples. These places of Buddhist worship are masterfully architected and ornately decorated with gold, coloured pottery and coloured glass, a true spectacle to behold. Among the most popular are Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) with its seventy metre high spire this temple is an iconic symbol of the Bangkok skyline and looks most captivating when lit up. Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) is another temple popular with visitors. It is the largest of Bangkok’s temples and is home to the famous Reclining Buddha statue, which is forty-six metres long. This huge gold leaf covered statue is something every visitor to Bangkok should observe.

While on holiday in Bangkok visitors should take time to visit the markets. These narrow alleys of stores stocking all sorts of goods (some of questionable legitimacy!?!) offer a unique experience. Excellent bargains can be had and the food stalls can offer a true taste of Thai cuisine. A visit to the markets gives a true impression of Thai culture. To make the market experience more unique visit the floating markets of Bangkok.

What better way to get a view of real Thai culture than attending a Thai boxing (Muay Thai) bout. A unique atmosphere as locals bet furiously on the outcome of the ongoing bouts of the national sport. Best places to catch Thai boxing bouts are at Lumpini stadium and Ratchadamneon Stadium.

Perhaps one of the things that Bangkok is most famous for is its nightlife. Boasting excellent restaurants and trendy bars and nightclubs Bangkok offers plenty away from it’s raunchy and dirty image. However while in Bangkok why not embrace the culture and take in one of the famous Ladyboy Cabaret shows, they offer excellent entertainment.

With so much to see and do in Bangkok it is easy to see why it is such a popular tourist destination. Many people visit Bangkok on their holiday to Thailand for just a few nights, take in the atmosphere and sights and carry on to one of Thailand’s many beach resorts which include Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin,Cha Am, Koh Samui, and Krabi.

Destination Guide For Cape Town

Cape Town

The success of FIFA’s 2010 World Cup in South Africa has made the country the in vogue destination for holidaymakers for 2011. Having seen the amazing natural beauty of the country & with confidence over security & safety in the country boosted after the World Cup many people see now as the perfect time to enjoy a holiday in South Africa. Cape Town is South Africa’s most popular tourist destination, in fact it is the most popular tourist destination in the whole of Africa & it is not difficult to see why. 

Cape Town’s geographical location on the Cape peninsula; set on the shores of Table Bay & with Table Mountain offering a unique backdrop to the city’s skyline makes Cape Town one of the World’s most beautiful & instantly recognisable cities. 

Table Mountain is part of the Table Mountain national park - there are 3 separate sections to the national park, the other two are the Cape Point section & the Silvermine-Tokai section. The Park boasts a varied terrain incorporating mountains, cliffs, grasslands & beaches. The Park is visited by millions of visitors each year. Botanists are amazed by the bio diversity of the flora in the park, it boasts more plant species than the whole of the British Isles. It is not only the flora which amazes visitors but the wildlife too with a variety of animals varying from penguins to frogs, baboons to antelopes. The Table Mountain national park is definitely worth a visit while in Cape Town, take a guided walk around some of the park to appreciate the true natural beauty of South Africa.

Apart from the amazing natural surroundings of Cape Town which offer many hours of hikes & climbs in the national park or hours relaxing on one of Cape Town’s many beaches, there is another reason Cape Town’s natural surroundings attract interest. The vineyards or winelands are just a few minutes drive from the city however offer an amazing experience. Book a wine tasting tour & enjoy testing the finest south African wines in their natural habitat -  the warm climate & beautiful natural surroundings.

For those interested in the culture & history of Cape Town a tour of the Langa township reflects the history & enormity of the apartheid era. Similarly a visit to Robben Island museum where Nelson Mandela spent years as a political prisoner is just 12 kilometres from Cape Town but definitely worth a visit. The Castle Of Good Hope is also a point of interest for those interested in history. Built between 1666 & 1679 it is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa. The Castle is currently the seat of the military in Cape Town and also is the home to the Iziko Museum and the Castle Military museum.

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is situated right at the heart of Cape Town’s working harbour. Boasting over 80 restaurants offering a variety of international cuisine, along side a range of indoor entertainment venues as well as offering a number of outdoor activities. All this is available with the backdrop of magnificent views of the ocean and mountain and set in a cosmopolitan atmosphere. No wonder The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is so popular with visitors to Cape Town. 

Cape Town is a city with a cosmopolitan vibe against a backdrop of outstanding natural beauty just waiting to be explored. Whether visitors are interested in fine dining and wines, history, culture, art, music, wildlife, outdoor activities and adventures – whatever their interest Cape Town really is the city that has something for everyone.

Flights to Cape Town are available from just £538pp From Gatwick with Emirates Airlines.

Destination Guide For Sydney

Sydney attracts over 2.7 million international visitors each year. Sydney is often mistakenly referred to as the capital of Australia, an honour which actually belongs to Canberra. Although not the capital of Australia Sydney is the largest & most densely populated city in Australia & is home to many of the iconic images visitors associate with Australia.

Located in New South Wales on the South East Coast of Australia, Sydney is home to over four & a half million Sydneysiders (the term used to describe Sydney inhabitants). Situated on the hills which surround Sydney Harbour (Port Jackson) Sydney is fortunate to be home to over 40 beaches including the famous beaches at Manly, Coogee & of course Bondi.

 Combining stunning natural surroundings with an ever growing international reputation for arts, commerce, entertainment, music, sport & culture it is unsurprising that Sydney consistently appears in the Top 10 list of Best Places in the World to live & scores high on the list of virtually everybody’s must visit cities.

Things To See & Do:

Sydney Opera House is one of the most iconic buildings of the 20^th century. Designed by Danish Architect Jorn Utzon it was opened in 1973. Tours of the Opera House are run each day & while in Sydney visitors should try & catch one of the 40 shows performed here each week.

Sydney Harbour Bridge is a hugely popular tourist attraction. At 134 metre tall, 503 metres long & 49 metres wide it is a fine example of excellent design & engineering & is a source of huge pride among Australians. An impressive sight many an adventurous visitor has climbed the bridge thanks to www.bridgeclimb.com .

Sydney Tower is the tallest free standing structure in Sydney at 305 metres tall. A popular tourist attraction the observation deck (at 250metre high) offers amazing views of the city & has a rotating restaurant so why not enjoy amazing panoramic views of the city while enjoying a bite to eat.

Australian Museum previously known as the Colonial Museum or the Sydney Museum, is the oldest museum in Australia; it was founded in 1845. Renowned internationally for its collections & exhibitions on natural history & anthropology the Australian Museum is a must see while in the city.

Boasting amazing entertainment facilities, cultural attractions, excellent restaurants & shopping. Combined with a warm year round climate & close proximity to amazing beaches it is not hard to see why many people think Sydney is the city that has everything!

Now you know what Sydney has to offer why not pay it a visit.

Tips For Saving Money for 2011

Here are the top destinations for grabbing a deal in 2011

1) Las Vegas - More rooms than ever are now available meaning prices have dropped so hotel rates & package holiday prices are as low as ever. Check some great deals on cheap las vegas holidays here. 

2) Greece - With its struggling economy Greece & the greek islands have reduced prices by as much as 40%. For some great deals on holidays to greece

3) Egypt - Sharm El Sheikh & other Red Sea resorts have grown enormously in popularity over recent years due to the excellent hotels, year round good weather & beautiful natural surroundings. For holidays to sharm el sheikh 

4) Australia - With flights to Melbourne from just £594 now is the perfect time to book your flights to australia & enjoy the perfect trip down under.

5) Thailand - The popularity of Thailand as a holiday destination has grown dramatically with British tourists over the last 15 years. With amazing beaches, affordable luxury & an authentic thai culture it is little wonder that holidays to thailand grow in popularity year on year.