Blog

What surprises most Europeans when they first visit the USA is that "everything is just like it is on TV". From the shopping malls to the whitened smiles and from the way people talk to the cars they drive, - it all seems terribly familiar, yet "much bigger than I had imagined". Interestingly, even when it comes to "the making of", the USA is just like the film industry. Whether you're into motorbikes, chocolate or designer shoes, you can get a peek behind the scenes of almost anything. If you want to get the feeling you saw and learned something new during your holiday, factory tours are brilliant excursions for you. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll discuss the most fascinating factory tours in Florida. The first one that really whet our appetite is: Whetstone Chocolate Factory.

Continue reading... Peek behind the Screens of Florida - Chocolate Factory

What is your favourite comic book? And what would you wear if you were to dress up as one of the characters? All travellers who have booked flights to Gran Canaria between 3 - 21 February 2012 will have to ask themselves these questions before packing their suitcases. Why? Because between these dates, the entire island will be celebrating Carnival and the official theme of the Carnival is Comic Heroes! If you want to experience this festival to the full, we recommend donning a fancy dress costume. Don't worry if you don't fancy making a public appearance your Spiderman pyjamas or shiny Superman leggings. When it comes to outfits, pretty much anything goes, but for those need some inspiration, we have listed our top 10 comic characters. We'd also love to hear your ideas for Carnival costumes!

Continue reading... Top 10 Cartoon Characters - what to wear to GC Carnival 2012

- A Santa hat (to wear on Christmas morning, at dinner, in bed)

Continue reading... Winner of the Christmas Luggage Competition!

Over the last weeks, we have been blogging a lot about celebrating Christmas and New Year's Eve abroad. Now, it's your turn! Whether you've booked flights to Tenerife or are keeping it closer to home this December, fact is: you can't bring as much luggage with you as Santa can fit on his sleigh. That's why we'd love to read on their own weblogs what items British bloggers bring with them to really capture the Christmas spirit. Mention the competition in your post, leave a comment here with your URL and we will reward the most original and useful Christmas luggage tip with an appropriate prize: the Antler Purelite Large Suitcase!

Continue reading... Christmas Luggage Competition: Win an Antler Suitcase!

Watching videos about a country are a fantastic way to get a feel for a place before you go over and spend time there. Especially those videos that the locals themselves are watching. Spain may well be a popular and well-known holiday destination but there's still nothing like viewing its sights and listening to its sounds on film. This Viva Espana video starts with a fabulous fanfare and a flash of the Spanish flag before giving you wonderful overview of Spain. It's a lovely introduction to the country.

Continue reading... Viral Videos from Spain

It's great to read up on where you're going to holiday before you get there. But for a more engaging insight into Egypt, why not watch one of the many videos that Egyptians themselves are viewing about their country. Here's a selection of some of those going viral in Egypt.

Continue reading... Viral Videos from Egypt

Can't face another last minute dash to the shops for Christmas presents? Does the thought of turkey and sprouts fill you with dread? Why not escape the usual Christmas routine this year and make the most of flights to Paphos for a Yule season to remember in Cyprus? Not only do you get to celebrate in style, but you'll also have the chance to laze on a sun-drenched beach after Christmas lunch too. (You couldn't do that in Margate...).

Continue reading... Christmas in Cyprus

Every couple should plan at least one romantic holiday a year. Whether you have children or are busy at work, the best way to enjoy each other's company is to leave everything else behind and simply focus on each other. They say a change is as good as a rest and by choosing a supremely romantic backdrop against which to enjoy yourselves, you will find that the fires of romance are rekindled. It's too easy to take your partner for granted; show them just what they mean to you by planning a romantic break abroad.

Continue reading... The Top Five Romantic Destinations

The town of Arrecife is home to a wide range of different fiestas and events. A lot of these fiestas and events are popular with people from all across the world and they tend to make use of the flights to Arrecife. One of the biggest events that are held in Arrecife is the fiesta of San Juan.

Continue reading... Fiesta of San Juan

The popular resort of Fuerteventura is popular with people from all around the world who want to make the most of the cheap regular flights to Fuerteventura and enjoy doing some shopping in the sun. This popular resort is home to a vast array of shops and these all cater for the needs of the people that live in this area and they also cater for people that are visiting.

Continue reading... Shopping In Fuerteventura

Menorca, the southern island among other Balearic Islands, is by far the most popular sites of prehistoric settlements, belonging to the Talaiotic Period. Talaiotic Period is the duration lying between 2000 BC and 1000 BC. These ancient sites consist of 3 distinct types of structures named navetas that are constructed from several stones making it look like a upside down boat. The second type is in form of talayots, circular or square buildings created from numerous large stones. The third kind is made from taulas or tables created from large slabs of rock given shape of a T. If you have that archeological bent of mind then you definitely need to catch the next flights to Menorca.

Continue reading... Son Mercer de Baix in Menorca

From the brighter and sunnier south to the laid back and cooler north, Gran Canaria is an ideal tourist destination that offers variety of places to visit. It also boasts of great diversity of flora, fauna and the climate which has given it the title of The Miniature Continent. This is one of the topmost tourist destinations in the world and you should plan your visit to Gran Canaria for your next vacation here. It is accessible by air and flights to Gran Canaria are quite regular.

Continue reading... Santa Catalina in Gran Canaria

Burgas is a great place to be especially in winters because winters are mild and there is constant breeze to make you feel refreshed at all times. Burgas also happens to be the largest seaport in the whole of Bulgaria. Burgas can be reached by air as there are daily flights to Burgas from a number of European as well as other airports. The city of Burgas was made a duty-free zone in 1989 and the reason was simply that the state wanted to promote tourism and trade. It consists of total population of about 230,000 and has become one of the most famous destinations for tourists.

Continue reading... State Puppet Theatre in Burgas

Pollenca is situated at the Northern end of Menorcas Tramuntana mountains and it is a special location especially for various festivals of Menorca. If you are planning a vacation here to catch these festivals, you can reach by air as there are regular flights to Menorca throughout the year. Pollenca is characterized by the Lluc Monastery and the Port de Pollenca, the beaches of Menorca, the St Albufera wetlands and the Formentor Peninsula. It is quite close to the Bay of Alcudia. Pollenca has several remarkable churches such as the 16th century museum cum a symbol of baroque style called Convent de sant Domingo, the famous Nostra Senyora dels Angels and the Nostra Senyora del Roser.

Continue reading... Sant Antoni fest in Menorca

Dalaman is located towards western region of Turkey. It is full of natural setting all around, with hills and sea to provide fresh new look to the region every single day. Dalaman is still developing as a tourist spot but the hot springs and mud baths, rock tombs, Iztuzu beach, caunos ruins and Caretta turtles are some of the most fascinating places at Dalaman that any visitor or tourist cannot afford to miss. It is ideal to reach Dalaman by air as there are several flights to Dalaman from a number of domestic and international airports. The best time to reach Dalaman is early part of the spring season to the end of autumn.

Continue reading... Caretta at Daylan in Dalaman

The beautiful island of Santorini, is a part of the group of Cyclades islands, located right at the centre of the Greek Islands in the Aegean Sea. Santorini is among the most attractive getaways in Greece. It forms part of a small group of volcanic lands and the name of the island is associated with Saint Irene. Santorini has a well equipped airport so you can book your flights to Santorini from wherever you are! The site where Santorini stands today was that of one of the strongest volcanic eruptions across the world. Even though it does not seem to be there at all, it is a well known fact that the volcano is merely dormant.

Continue reading... Submarine in Santorini

Kefalonia is situated on the western coast of Greece and is governed by a moderate climate where walks on the beaches can be enjoyed thoroughly. The shooting of the film called Captain Corellis Mandolin was organized here and since then the island has become a great holiday destination. Kefalonia has some of the cleanest beaches among the Greek islands. As your flight to Kefalonia lands you will instantly be tempted to explore the island. It has some mysterious caves that stay cool and pleasant no matter what, as they are full of stalagmites and stalactites in some very attractive colors.

Continue reading... Monastery of St Gerassimos in Kefalonia

During the 18th century, a property was bought by Charles Murray, who was also the English Consul at the time. The property was none other than the Monte located to the southern part of the church. It was bought and converted in to a heavenly estate. It was called Quinta do Prazer which means The Pleasure Estate. As the 19th century arrived, a few rich families from Madeira, who had some vast estates themselves, came to live here whenever they came to visit Funchal.

Continue reading... Funchal Monte Palace Tropical Garden

The date of celebrating the festival is decided by the Coptic calendar. The festival celebrates the beginning of the harvesting season. Shemu stands for revival of life and onset of the harvesting season. The festival is marked by a great feast in which certain things have to be consumed. The offerings during the feast also hold great significance.

Continue reading... Sharm el Sheikh Sham el Nessim

Before 1928, the festival known as St Johns Bonfires was celebrated just as it was celebrated in any other part of Europe. The huge gathering of people coming together to burn things such as old furniture is quite a spectacle. But, during the same year, a man from Alicante called Jose Maraa Py improvised the idea of similar nature. In a short span of 3 months the first such Bonfire was planned and organized in Daa de San Juan.

Continue reading... Alicante-St John's Bonfires

Palma de Mallorca World Folkdance Festival is a great occasion that many art lovers look forward to. The first of its kind was conducted in 1985 at Munich in Germany. Several experienced dancers coming from close to 67 countries have participated in the festival and have entertained the audiences surpassing the expectations of everyone. After 1987 the venue of the festival was shifted to Palma de Mallorca. Various participants travel all the way from their respective countries to Palma de Mallorca to display their talent and craft learnt over many years of practice and hard work. If you visit Palma de Mallorca at the time of the festival you will notice that most of the participants are professionals while some are striving to learn and master the dances.

Continue reading... Palma de Mallorca World Folkdance Festival

Being strategically located, Preveza changed several hands before joining Greece as a state. Your flights to preveza greece will actually land you at the Aktio airport, which is situated across the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf. Different historical structures and the atmosphere of the town itself narrate its history, which was ridden by war and occupation by Venice, France and Turkey. Today, the town invites everybody, from holiday goers to history enthusiasts, to explore its rich past and enjoy its natural beauty.

Continue reading... Preveza Womens Carnival

For such a small country, the Mediterranean islands of Malta have a rich and vibrant history. With North African and Arabic influences, theres been an incredible mix of rulers and occupiers over the centuries, yet all of these markson this beautiful, sunny nation create something individual with a distinct andcharming character.

Continue reading... malta guide art holidays

After Cinema, in 2004, his music reached new audiences, in Portugal and elsewhere. The O Mundo compilation, released internationally in 2006, earned him appraised critics. Pedro Almodovar, for example, had no doubts in describing Rodrigo as one of the most inspired compositors in the world. Musicians like Ryuichi Sakamoto or Beth Gibbons from Portishead didnt hesitate when they got invited by Rodrigo to leave their mark on the records he was creating.

Continue reading... rodrigo leao in concert

Anatalya, Turkey actually celebrates every national festival and other important events, therefore if you plan to visit or spend your vacation there, you will get to enjoy all the festivities that Turkey has to offer. They even celebrate the events that are derived from the Islamic calendar. Antalya, however also have its own festivals that it celebrates that are meant for and celebrated to highlight the city and its own characteristics and culture.

Continue reading... Fun, Frolic and Food in Antalya

The Canary Islands are located in Spain and are known for their year round festivities. Gran Canaria as the name suggests, is one of the largest islands within the set and it lives up to the name by offering a calendar of events that makes the island worth visiting any time of the year. The vents are often kept in and around the area of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria which is also the capital of the island. Many of the big festivals took place earlier in the year, but there are still many more to come. You may have missed the Music festival in January; the Opera festival in February or even the Jazz Festival in July, but they will be here again next year and there are still many of the good ones that you can still experience this year.

Continue reading... Festivity Non stop on the Gran Canaria Island

For a classic autumn holiday of sun, sea and sand, there can be few more hospitable destinations than The Gambia. Flights to Banjul International Airport are a very do-able six hours and since there is no time difference, there is no jet-lag to spoil the start of your holiday. Set off in the morning and you could be sipping freshly mixed fruit cocktails before sun-down.

Continue reading... Gambia, paradise in the sun

There is a week-long preparation that goes into the festival. Many shop owners cover their shops before hand with huge plastic covers as a protection from the mess. There are also few rules to adhere to. It a part of the rule to squash the tomatoes before hurling them at people. However, any objects other than tomatoes are not to be thrown!

Continue reading... La Tomatina Festival in Spain

The biggest of all the Greek islands, you could be forgiven for thinking that Crete was in fact a whole country. Steeped in ancient history and home to the infamous Minotaur, Crete retains a mythical quality that many other countries have since lost. Book flights to Crete and experience the timeless traditions of this island while you catch one of the intimate celebrations that take place over the summer and autumn months.

Continue reading... St. Minas Parade in Heraklion

The capital of the Canary Islands, Las Palmas, plays host to the International Festival of Theatre, Music and Dance. The festival is in its fourteenth edition from 8 July to 14 August and has been gaining in strength and recognition every year. Las Palmas is a candidate for the prestigious award of European Capital of Culture for 2016, spurring large investments in everything cultural happening within the city.

Continue reading... Paving the way to becoming European Capital of Culture

Considered one of the major fiestas in Tenerife, the Festival of the Virgin de Candelaria, the patron of the Canary Islands, occurs every year on August 15th, and the festivities are attended by over two million visitors annually.

Continue reading... Virgin de Candelaria, patron of the Canary Islands

Steeped in antiquarian history, natural beauty, the clearest blue skies and the finest culinary delights, the islands of Greece are understandably popular destinations. But there is much more to Greece then just sea, sand and fine food. Try booking flights to Kos and you will be left speechless at the peculiar island festivals that are on offer over June, July and August.

Continue reading... The Feast of Aghios Ioannis in Kos

This summer, every village in Corfu will host at least one paniyiri, a local festival with live music, dancing, delicious food and - it's Greece after all - Ouzo. The newspaper "The Corfiot" lists the major paniyiri, but there are many others that only the locals know about. Don't be shy and ask them about it: they will be happy to invite you so they can show off their intricate dance moves and share their special dishes with you. Though you should book your flights to Corfu well in advance, you can't plan what you're going to do on the island until you're there.

Continue reading... Corfu's Food and Festivals

Menorca has tons of great sandy beaches. Punta Prima is a beach resort area in the east of the island and it has many restaurants, bars and mini-supermarkets near the sand. Es Grau has beautiful flora all around it and is quiet and serene. Because it's a grand holiday destination, flythomascook offers flights to Menorca from twelve airports througout the UK.

Continue reading... Menorca

Bulgarian cuisine is not known for its international appeal. But if you understand what the strengths are in terms of food choices, you can eat well while visiting here. Bulgarian food shares characteristics with other Balkan cuisines. Due to the climate and diverse geography, Bulgaria has excellent growth conditions for many vegetables, herbs and fruits. So vegetable dishes are often a good bet when eating in restaurants here. The tomatoes, aubergines and other assorted vegetable dishes are staple here. Meat eaters will see lamb and rabbit on the menus. Bulgarian cuisine also offers variety of hot and cold soups. There are many different Bulgarian pastries to try such as banitsa. You will often see rich salads offered at most meals, which are almost a meal unto themselves.

Continue reading... Bulgarian Bites

From June 4th to 14th the historic Portuguese city of Santarem will hold the National Agricultural Fair. If the name puts you off, it is important to remember that the festival is a million miles away from the farmers markets you may have seen back home. The Portuguese never do things by halves, and the festival is a celebration of every aspect of their traditional rural culture. The event takes place two kilometres west of the city centre and is one of the largest agricultural fairs in Europe. Attractions include horse riding competitions, cattle herding and a nocturnal bull run. Dancing is also an important part of any celebration in Portugal and you can expect to see an array of local dances, including the fandango.

Continue reading... National Agricultural Fair in Santarem

Other European clubbing locations may be on the rise or the fall but Ibiza still heads the pack, with the best clubs and the most impressive list of high profile DJ's this summer.

Continue reading... Ibiza Still Club Capital

Concern over the state of the beaches in Fuerteventura was what started the CleanOceanProject project three years ago. Since then, the campaign has held numerous events that encourage groups to meet up and carry out clean-up exercises on the beaches of the island. The original concern was highlighted when the beaches used by surfers and windsurfers on the island were starting to experience a build-up of rubbish, so the founders of the initiave called on the surfers themselves to drive the project forward. In addition to deriving their enjoyment from the ocean, it turned out the surfers were more than happy to put some effort back into keeping their sporting environment clean.

Continue reading... Clean Beaches in Fuerteventura

If you are planning to spend a holiday on the island of Menorca during April then, in addition to the wonderful beaches that are just perfect for lazy days in the sun, the island has plenty of plans for other activities and attractions that will encourage you to get out and about in the countryside and on the water.

Continue reading... Menorca on Land and Sea

Calendars have already been flipped over to March and now on to April, and Spring has certainly arrived on the island of Mallorca. Temperatures are nudging their way towards 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the island is a picture of new life with orchards all over the island proudly displaying their almond blossom.

Continue reading... Spring Forward in Mallorca

Two contrasting styles of music were set to be performed on the island of Malta during March and April, and the culturally aware audiences on the island were bound to appreciate both.

Continue reading... Music Styles on Malta

Relatively few resorts were promoting large events during march, preferring to wait until the new holiday season really starts at Easter. In Tunisia, music festivals are relatively thin on the ground anyway, so it was unusual to find a new festival taking place during March this year.

Continue reading... Music in Monastir

The humble almond is a stranger to British shores but across the Mediterranean, it is grown widely especially in locations with warm, dry weather for most of the year. This includes many parts of Greece, Cyprus and the Balearic Islands. In the Canaries, Christmas is a time when the shelves of supermarkets become stocked with all kinds of almond-based delicacies including the traditional Turron, a type of nougat.

Continue reading... Almond Walks on Mallorca

During the Summer months, many of our passengers on flights to Ibiza travel to the island to enjoy the thriving nightlife as much as the sun and beaches. The six months or more between the time when most of the clubs close in October through to their reopening in May and June may seem a lifetime, but many will already be planning their trips at this time of year to get the best deals.

Continue reading... Ibiza Summer 2010

If you go to the Canary Islands for a winter break, don't be surprised to find the locals with a healthy appetite for watching football. The islands currently have several successful teams, one that competes in the top Spanish League and others that play more locally.

Continue reading... Canaries Football Spotlight

The social calendar during December on the island of Malta has a familiar British ring to it and that's no surprise given Malta's history and its long associated with Britain.

Continue reading... December Events in Malta

Body Boarding or Boogie Boarding is not a new sport, in fact this easier version of surfing is claimed to have been invented in California almost 40 years ago. But don't be fooled, those Californians have a habit of picking an ancient custom and skill, adding a twist and claiming it as their own. The Californian surfboard designer who carved his first body board from a chunk of polystyrene foam was in fact doing exactly what Polynesian natives had done thousands of years earlier to allow them to float and surf the waves around their islands.

Continue reading... Boogie Boarding Lanzarote

Visitors to the island of Fuerteventura may be interested in going along to a new monthly market that aims to promote the produce of local farmers. Alongside tourism, Fuerteventura's next commercial strength is its agriculture, with farmers using the island's clement weather to grow everything from wheat crops, to tomatoes, onions, garlic and even bananas. Much of this activity takes place away from the main tourist areas and unless people make a specific effort, this side of the island can easily be missed.

Continue reading... Fuerteventura's Biosphere Market

The Gran Canaria International Marathon took place on the 24th January 2010. Local council and tourism authorities saw the potential of hosting an international marathon race after witnessing what they called the "magnetic" effect of similar races in other Spanish cities. They quoted the success of cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Saragossa and Palma de Mallorca as some of those that have put on marathon races and attracted huge crowds in addition to the runners themselves. For Gran Canaria the obvious choice was to make the most of the island's mild winter weather and entice runners to take part in one of the only European marathons to be held during January.

Continue reading... Countdown to Gran Canaria Marathon

January and February are both popular months for golfers taking a trip to the Algarve in Portugal. The resorts that are within easy reach of Faro airport offer perfect conditions at the start of the year, when many UK courses could be difficult to play or even closed due to the weather conditions.

Continue reading... Fly To Faro For January Golf

The month of November on the island of Madeira is certainly one when food seems to take the centre stage.

Continue reading... Madeira Food Focus

The world famous club scene on Ibiza approached the big closing party season in late September.

Continue reading... Ibiza Clubs Round Off 2009 Season

During the summer months the resort of Alcudia on the northern coast of Mallorca transforms into a buzzing beach location, fringed with a huge selection of luxury hotels, bars, restaurants, cafes and one of the best sandy beaches on the island. Once the peak months of the summer are gone, everything starts to move at a slightly slower pace, although the resort doesn't quite return to the peaceful, quiet rural zone it once was before tourism discovered it.

Continue reading... Alcudia Fair in October

There is so much to do and see in this area of Turkey that children, adults, couples and singles will be spoilt for choice. There are top water parks here,the ghost town of Kayakoyu, and a cruise to Cleopatra Isle. For a relaxing break visitors can indulge in the natural thermal pools at Pammukale Falls or stop in a hammam for a good hot soak. The coast itself is literally crammed with history as the Lycian Tombs are embedded in the rocks here, visible from Dalyan town and very scenic.

Continue reading... Spoilt for Choice in Dalaman

Deciding on a new destination for your next holiday is both exciting and difficult. The prospect of discovering new and wonderful places is set against the worry of potentially being disappointed with your choice of location. Travel brochures have pages of tempting pictures of beautiful scenery and attractive descriptions and the resorts themselves use all kinds of marketing strategies to attract as many visitors as possible. As part of this promotion you may have heard some resorts describe their beaches as "blue flag", but what does that actually mean?

Continue reading... Blue Flag Beaches

The traditions of communal bathing and the geological features around Dalaman go hand in hand to create two special phenomena that are proving a hit with visitors to this part of Turkey.

Continue reading... Hot Water and Mud in Dalaman

Of course the Canary Islands are not that far from the West African coast and the Sahara Desert but you wouldn't expect to find a desert in Gran Canaria. Amazingly there is one - well sort of. In the south of the island of Gran Canaria are the Dunas de Maspalomas or the Maspalomas Dunes. This is a protected area of land over 300 hectares in size that resembles the deserts of Africa. The fine sand is formed from ground shells and the shifting dunes themselves reach heights of 10m.

Continue reading... Desert in Gran Canaria

The area around Paphos in the south of Cyprus has changed during the last 25 years on the back of better provisions for tourists and an increasing popularity of the area for second-home investors. Control of development is still a concern with conservationists but at least the authorities can see the issues created when developers are given too much of a free rein. What Paphos has to offer, apart from its own cultural attractions, is its proximity to two areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Continue reading... Paphos a gateway to the real Cyprus

Travel half an hour East from Faro on the Algarve and you will arrive at the old town of Tavira, a place that ranks alongside Lagos in architectural significance on this stretch of the Portuguese coast.

Continue reading... Festival in the Old Town of Tavira