Today, Monday 23rd of January 2012, processions with Chinese drums, grand dragon and lion dances, colourful festive flags and firecrackers will welcome the Year of the Dragon all over the world. The traditional celebrations will last for 15 days, resulting in the lovely Lantern Festival. The Year of the Dragon reoccurs ever 12 years as part of the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. Chinese dragons are a symbol of power, strength, good luck and control over water, rainfall, hurricane, and floods. In 2012, the celebrations will be extra special for people who were born in another Year of the Dragon, such as:

Continue reading... Happy Chinese New Year... even in Cyprus!

The small agricultural town of Dalaman, on the southwestern coast of Turkey, may not be a place you would expect to find delicious cuisine but its fertile costal landscape provides a delicious bounty certainly worth travelling for. The areas specialties have their roots in traditional Ottoman dishes with plenty of fresh fish, citrus flavors and red meat, all grilled over hot coals.

Continue reading... Dalaman's Most Exciting Restaurants

If you need to escape from the stresses and strains of everyday life, leave yourself behind during your vacation and experience Greece like a local. As well as cheap flights to Zante, Corfu, Heraklion and many other Greek airports, Flythomascook can now offer you the inside information you need to really get away from everything.

Continue reading... Locals about Greece: When people make plans, God laughs

One of the fruitiest, juiciest festivals of the world is about to take off again, so if you've got a sweet tooth and don't have any plans yet, check out our last minute flights to Crete now! Every year in August, the inhabitants of the seaside city Sitia host the traditional Sultana Festival.

Continue reading... Off the beaten track: a Fruity Festival

Most locals eat their Tapas while standing at the bar because it's cheaper and more sociable than sitting down. It's easy to find out which Tapas bars are best as they're always crowded with locals. If you've been on your feet all day, you might want to sit down and enjoy your Tapas in your own time, in which case it's recommended to book a table in advance. It might even be an idea to give one of the following restaurants a call as soon as you've booked your flights to Tenerife.

Continue reading... Top five Tapas bars in Tenerife

The Biosphere Market is a monthly market, which is held within Fuerteventura. This market is very popular with a vast array of people who come to the area in order to enjoy all that the island has to offer. A lot of the people that come to this area enjoy the frequent cheap flights to Fuerteventura.

Continue reading... Biosphere Market in Fuerteventura

Cooking within the Canaries is a very simple and straightforward process and this is certainly the case for Fuerteventura. Before this area became popular with tourists it was actually just a hide away, which had a small population. This cuisine within this area is based mainly around vegetables, fresh meat and fish. All of these foods are cooked in a no nonsense way which is practical. There are a lot of tourists that enjoy using the cheap flights to Fuerteventura in order to enjoy the weather and also the local cuisine.

Continue reading... Eating Out in Fuerteventura

The popular attraction that is known as LagOmar was built on behalf of the famous actor that was known as Omar Sharif and it was built during the 1970s. LagOmar is one of the most popular restaurants within Lanzarote. This restaurant is located within a small sized village that is known as Oasis de Nazaret and this area has an exclusive collection of villas, which are built into the side of the mountain and they are half way between Teguise and Tahiche. There are a lot of people that enjoy this restaurant whilst on holiday in this area and they also enjoy the regular flights to Lanzarote. This restaurant is a very common stopping place for tourists.

Continue reading... LagOmar in Lanzarote

Crete is one of the lively places in Greece and people here very joyfully celebrate a lot of festivals throughout the year. They are a lot into celebrating festivals concerned with the harvest of crops and fruits, hence the names of many of its festivals as the orange harvest, sultana and raisin season and the chestnut picking. Festivals here will provide even the visitors from other countries an opportunity to have the taste of this years harvest. Traveling to Crete at this time of the year is even better as Christmas is here. There are regular flights to Crete as well. But if you are not able to reach Crete in December or January, be sure to be in Crete in February for the Shrove Monday.

Continue reading... Shrove Monday in Crete

Its not too late to think about your Christmas vacation and if you are keen on spending it somewhere in Spain then Gran Canaria would be a great choice. It would be a good option not just because there are frequent flights to the Gran Canaria but also because of the variety of places to visit and festivities to enjoy especially from December to January. When Christmas is just around the corner, you should better book your tickets in advance.

Continue reading... Christmas in Gran Canaria

The culture of Paphos is embedded into its rich history and tradition of celebrating loads of festivities round the year. Being a part of Paphos festival can be great fun and a huge source of relaxation for people coming from various countries leaving their work away during holidays. If you intend to do the same then catch flights to Paphos in February to be a part of the Limassol carnival. Limassol is about 57 km from Paphos and reaching Limassol will never be an issue considering the availability of different modes of transport.

Continue reading... The Limassol Carnival

Rhodes has an Old town and a New town both having its own peculiarities. The old town has some prodigious walls where some of the structures show influence of the Latin, Byzantine and Turkish inhabitants. The old town consists of several quiet but twisting alleyways interrupted timely by lively squares. It is a good idea to take flights to Rhodes to explore the incredible palaces and museums that are located in the old town. You could also reach via the commercial harbor of Rhodes that is home to a number of international ferry services. There are inter island ferries too located towards the east.

Continue reading... The Jewish Quarter in Rhodes

Apokrias Carnival in Crete is celebrated to appease Dionysos, the God of Feast and Wine. Traditionally it is supposed to prepare the people for the 40 day fast or Lent, during which there is are no parties, weddings or celebrations of any kind. The carnival is held as a form of last time of celebration before Lent begins, when people are not allowed to have meat or drink wine. It is held over a period of three weeks filled with fun and festivities, more to compensate for the abstinence to be held during the 40 day fast.

Continue reading... Crete Apokrias Carnival

If you've ever taken a holiday trip to Paphos, you know that this stunning coastal city in Cyprus has got many extensive attractive choices for visitors. But to crown it all, they also organize a huge annual festival to promote the culture and taste of the land. During the festival, a lot of flights to Paphos are usually overbooked as most of the tourists who have been part of the great event once wish to return. To secure your place at the festival, book your flights via flythomascook and buy a ticket to the festival online.

Continue reading... The Glitz and Thrills of Paphos' Aphrodite Festival

Wrestling is a national sport in Turkey, particularly Oil wrestling. In fact, the country is famous for its various annual wrestling festivals. Elmali Oil Wrestling festival, similar to the historical Kirkpinar Oil wrestling tournament, is one of the oldest festivals in Turkey which attracts more than a 100 wrestlers from all over Turkey to Elmali to compete for the wrestling title. From the 6th of August to the 8th of August, this wrestling festival - which is over 600 years old - will be held in a large stadium in Elmali, a town in the Antalya district. If you have already booked your flights to Antalya around this period, it is a great opportunity to enjoy this lovely sporting event.

Continue reading... Elmali Oil Wrestling festival in Turkey

If you want go jet skiing this summer, you should book flights to Kos because this Greek island is the perfect location this exciting sport. At least, that's the opinion of Jet Ski authorities, which is why they organised National Jet Ski Championships here last summer.

Continue reading... Discover Kos

The Algarve is famous for its excellent seafood cuisine. This remarkable attraction can be tied to the long stretches of seashore and harbours dotting the whole region, which contribute to the richness and beauty of Algarve. The area shows off its qualities during the Sardine festival in Faro. Every year, there is an influx of visitors and flights to Faro because of this summer festival, which takes place in the month of August on the Riverside zone in Portimao. Thousands of sardine enthusiasts return to Faro during this event to participate in the fun and challenging competitions which this festival offers.

Continue reading... Sardine festival in Faro

Because it's the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, you can expect to see a lot of these qualities in the lives of the Cypriots. This heritage especially shows when they're celebrating the Arkadia festival. In the month of August, the village of Kallepeia is packed with tourists who have come to celebrate this summer festival with the locals. If you have already booked your flights to Paphos during this month, Arkadia festival might be something to look forward to. You should not miss out on this opportunity to share in the hospitality and culture of Paphos.

Continue reading... Arkadia festival in Paphos

Santorini is one of the most popular destinations in Greece and is known as the home of one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. With its large numbers of beautiful sandy beaches and guaranteed summer sunshine, it is the ideal destination for those looking for a relaxing break. Book flights to Santorini in time to see the world renowned International Music Festival which takes place from the end of July until the beginning of September and you won't be disappointed with what's on offer.

Continue reading... The International Music Festival of Santorini

Palma has many cultural events such as concerts, exhibitions, festivals and theatre productions both in summer and winter. In September, for example, Palma de Mallorca will host the Mare de Deu de la Salut fiesta. This means that processions and floral offerings will take over the city. There will be music and theatre entertainment, as well as a solemn mass in honour of the Virgin Mary at the church of Sant Miguel.

Continue reading... Palma for Party animals

If you're on Malta today (30 June 2010), you're probably one of 50,000 youngsters from all over Europe, having a ball. You will most certainly be at Fosos Square because Isle of MTV, Malta's biggest free open-air party is on! There is a great line-up with Scissor Sisters, David Guetta and Kid Rock.

Continue reading... MTV on Malta

Although called a 'minor island' compared to other parts of Spain, Menorca is certainly a magnificent place in terms of its attractions. It is still one of the most visited places because of its scenic views and magical resorts. The reported numbers of flights to Menorca as well as the top-rated reviews of its hotels show a huge development in its tourism year after year.

Continue reading... What you need to know about Menorca

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

The best way to discover Crete may just be on foot. The island is ideal for walks, with mountains, valleys, villages, plains and an expansive coastline to explore. Crete has over 200 gorges which are accessible by walking

Continue reading... Discover Crete

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

Skopelos island is part of the Sporades islands in the Aegean Sea to the east of mainland Greece. The Sporades islands offer travellers a different atmosphere to the usual Greek island getaways. Instead of bare hills and packed villages, the Sporades are pine forested and feature some of the best beaches along the Aegean. What is more striking is the difference in architecture that is less whitewashed and features stone roofs. Skopelos is known for its exceptionally gorgeous beaches, hidden away coves and crystal blue water. The capital city is charming and was built around a bay in an amphitheatre design.

Continue reading... Summer in Skopelos

In Spanish areas, there's always something festive happening and the Canarian Islands are no exception. One of the most popular events on the Canarian island Fuerteventura is the Feria de Artesania, a festival that annually takes place in May. For three days, locals gather in Antigua to display things they have made by hand, from furniture, weaving, clothes and musical instruments to local cheese, sweets and dried fish.

Continue reading... Find new Furniture in Fuerteventura

We've already posted information about several of the big carnival events planned for the Canary Islands and the Balearics but Greece is another country that celebrates at this time of year.

Continue reading... Greek Carnival in Crete

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 island of Fuerteventura has a long history of successful agriculture, so what better way to sample some of that produce than to try some traditional Fuerteventuran dishes during your visit.

Continue reading... Fuerteventura Food Tradition

In Europe the Autumn period seems to be the time when many areas host festivals celebrating local produce and cuisine. A little research has revealed that food fairs are now held in many popular tourist areas at the end of the summer season and serve to provide visitors with a taste of local cuisine and traditions.

Continue reading... Food Fairs in Autumn

Gran Canaria in October is much the same as Gran Canaria in September and November. The usual warm Autumn weather, lots of tourists arriving on the island for a late summer break and plenty of things going on. However the first weekend of October this year did seem to have an unusual combination of events on the calendar.

Continue reading... Cheese, Rock and Art Celebrations

Popular tourist destination Gran Canaria was selected to host the World Cheese Awards in 2009.

Continue reading... Gran Canaria gets the Cheese

The eastern most island of the Canaries, Lanzarote is a place of spectacular natural beauty. This unspoilt volcanic island will bowl you over with its extraordinary rock formations, mountains, seascapes and desert plains. With so much to enjoy here, Lanzarote is a superb beach break for a relaxing or active holiday.

Continue reading... Lanzarote - Part 1