Cheap Travel Europe: Maldives

Southwest of Sri Lanka, on the equator, the Maldives are 1,190 coral islands, forming an archipelago of 26 major atolls. It stretches 820 kilometres north to south and 120 kilometres east to west. 202 islands are inhabited, while 87 are exclusive resort islands.

The Maldives is famed for its rare underwater beauty. The profusion of psychedelic colours and the abundance and variety of life underwater have fascinated divers and snorkellers since Maldives was discovered as a diving destination.

The highest level of visibility that one could expect- sometimes exceeding 50 metres - and warm temperatures throughout the year makes diving in the Maldives a delight you would want to experience over and over again. The Maldives has some of the best dive sites in the world and many visit the Maldives repeatedly for the sole purpose of diving.

All resorts in the Maldives have professional dive schools with multi-lingual instructors and conduct courses for beginners as well as the advanced. Many of the resorts have excellent house reefs. Just a short swim from the beach and snorkellers too can experience the same pleasures from the surface.

Did you know that Maldives ranks among the top five places on Earth for watching whales and dolphins? Over 20 different species (a quarter of the world’s total) call the Maldives home. These range from the mighty Blue Whale (the largest animal alive) to the diminutive but highly acrobatic Spinner Dolphin.

Spinner Dolphins are the commonest species, and they occur here in their tens of thousands. They have a regular daily routine to their lives, feeding offshore at night, coming into the atolls in the early morning, and leaving again for the open ocean in the late afternoon. This dependable schedule means that it is very easy to find Spinner Dolphins at certain times every day. And as a result, many Maldivian resorts offer morning or afternoon dolphin excursions to see Spinners. While nothing with wildlife can be absolutely guaranteed, you will never have a better chance to watch wild dolphins playing in their natural environment than right here in the Maldives.

Cheap Travel Europe: Athens, Greece

Athens. The city with the most glorious history in the world, a city worshipped by gods and people, a magical city. The enchanting capital of Greece has always been a birthplace for civilization. It is the city where democracy was born and most of the wise men of ancient times. The most important civilization of ancient world flourished in Athens and relives through some of the world's most formidable edifices.

Who hasn't heard of the Acropolis of Athens? Photos and history of the most famous archaeological monument in Europe have made the world tour causing feelings of admiration by thousands of people. Acropolis is nominated to be one of the 7 wonders of modern world. In fact the trademark of Athens is one of the favorites. The Holy Rock of Acropolis dates back to the 5th BC, the famous Golden Age of Periklis.

he sun is shining over Athens all year round. The climate is one of the best in Europe, with mild winters and very hot summers, ideal for tourism. It is located just a few kilometers from the port of Piraeus, the central commercial port of the capital, and the shores of southern Attica.

The city that now hosts more than 4,5 million people, was constructed around the Acropolis walls. Today it is the political, social, cultural, financial and commercial center of Greece.

Athens is a city of different aspects. A walk around the famous historic triangle (Plaka, Thission, Psyri) the old neighborhoods, reveal the coexistence of different eras. Old mansions, well-preserved ones and other worn down by time. Luxurious department stores and small intimate shops, fancy restaurants and traditional taverns. All have their place in this city.

The heart of Athens beats in Syntagma Square. Where Parliament and most of the Ministries are. Monastiraki, Kolonaki and Lycabettus Hill attract thousands of visitors all year round. A few kilometers from the historic center in Faliro, Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni, you can enjoy the sea breeze. Or you can head up north and enjoy the fresh air at the more classy neighborhoods of Marousi, Melissia, Vrilissia and of course Kifisia.

Athens and Attica in general have the most important archaeological monuments (Acropolis, Odeion of Herodes Atticus, Olymbion, Roman Market, Panathinaiko Stadium or Kallimarmaro, The Temple of Poseidon in Sounio, etc). In the capital you will admire many imposing neoclassic buildings, true ornaments of the city (The Greek Parliament, Athens Academy and University, etc). Don't miss visiting the museums hosting unique treasures of our cultural inheritance (Archaeological Museum, Military Museum, Byzantine Museum, etc).

The capital is famous, more than any other European capital, for its nightlife. Athens by night totally changes. The options for entertainment satisfy all tastes. The famous "bouzoukia" are the leaders in the Athenian entertainment. While the numerous theaters all around Athens offer a different type of entertainment.

Cheap Travel Europe: Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona has the dynamic and open personality so typical of Mediterranean cities. It is the perfect city to relax in, stroll around and enjoy. Barcelona has its own way of life which makes it unique.

The sea breezes mean that Barcelona enjoys a pleasant climate. There is a wide range of public transport and sightseeing transport options. There are different ticket types so that you can get to where you want to go easily and conveniently.

Barcelona is a city open to the sea. The broad beaches of the Catalan capital, which extend for 4.5 km, are blessed with fine golden sand and shallow waters for bathing. They constitute one of the largest areas of leisure available to locals and visitors alike. They are never more than just a few minutes away from any point in the city, since they are easily reached by public transport or by bicycle. Equipped with all the necessary facilities and services, every year they are visited by around seven million people.

They provide a perfect complement to the cultural attractions of the city, and all year round they offer a never-ending variety of activities: taking a stroll, passing away the hours on a terrace or in a restaurant, simply enjoying the view and the sun, having a bathe, playing some sport, riding a bicycle...

Enjoy a flavour-filled journey in a guided tour through the old town and discover Barcelona's cuisine. During this walk you will find out about the history of Barcelona's cuisine as well as some of its flagship restaurants and food outlets, to enjoy sampling some of their produce. Bon appétit!

Cheap Travel Europe: Venice, Italy

The city of Venice, located in northern Italy, is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. It's built on water and stretches across over 100 small islands. More than 400 bridges cross its numerous waterways.

Referred to as the City of Water, the way to get around Venice is by boat. Gondola rides are popular among tourists and provide a great and romantic view of the city, its buildings and its waterways.

Venice is famous for festivals such as the Carnival of Venice and the Venice Film Festival and city attractions such as St. Mark's Basilica and St. Mark's Square are popular among tourists.

Taking a gondola ride down the Canal Grande is a must-do when in Venice. Take in the sights and sounds of the city, including buildings dated from the 14th to 18th centuries.

Be sure to visit the following attractions:

Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica): This Byzantine Basilica, built in the 11th century is modeled after ones in Constantinople with their mosquelike domes. It is the final resting place of St. Mark the Evangelist.

Chiesa Santa Maria dei Miracoli: After a 10-year renovation the 15th century Miracoli is open again. The small church is said to be one of the most beautiful religious buildings in Europe.

Torre dell'Orologio (Clock Tower): Located in Piazza San Marco, this clock tower was restored to its original glory in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of its construction. The tower and clock were built around 1496 and continue to be a meeting spot for many Venetians.

Ca' Pesaro: Two museums are located in this palace. One being a museum of modern art and the other is a museum of mostly Japanese artifacts.

Squero di San Trovaso: This small boatyard first opened in the 17th century and is one of the most photographed sights in Venice.

Cheap Travel Europe: Tuscany, Italy

One of the most important regions in Italy, Tuscany is the symbol of the country’s rich artistic history.

Located in the centre of Italy, Tuscany is bordered by Lazio to the south, Marche and Umbria to the east, Emilia Romagna to the north and Liguria to the west.

Dipping its toes in the water of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Tuscany’s coastline stretches 400km from the town of Carrara to the mountain region of Monte Amiata.

A region which defined the Italian culture and art scene, Tuscany has many cities appreciated all over the world for their monuments and ancient buildings. These towns include not only Florence, Pisa and Siena, but also many smaller and quainter villages.

There are ten different provinces located within Tuscany’s borders. They are: the region’s capital, Florence, Grosseto, Livorno, Pisa, Siena, Arezzo, Pistoia, Prato, Massa Carrara and Lucca.

A geologically diverse region, Tuscany has numerous reliefs, the Apennines, the Apuane Alps, some isolated mountains such as Mount Amiata and Mount Prato, and hills including the Metalliferous Hills, the Livornese Hills and the Chianti Hills, famous for the production of the DOCG Chianti wine.

Not just a region of hills and mountains, Tuscany is also home to its world-famous rolling fields and, thanks to its vicinity to the sea, a beautiful coastline.

The Tuscan Archipelago is also part of the region and is a group of islands immersed in the Tyrrhenian Sea and part of a National Park formed in 1996.

Italy’s artistic and cultural centrepiece, Tuscany has many sites which have been recognised by world body UNESCO for their cultural heritage including six cities which have been given World Heritage Status.

These include the historic centres of Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Pienza, Piazza del Duomo in Pisa and Val d’Orcia.

The capital region of Tuscany, Florence is located in the north-east of the territory.

A city full of gems, Florence gained UNESCO World Heritage recognition thanks to its extreme wealth of beautiful monuments scattered all over. These monuments include the very famous Uffizi Gallery; the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, a bridge as romantic for its place on the Arno River as for its stalls of priceless jewels; the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the second largest church in the city; the Medici-Riccardi Palazzo, once home to the Medici family; Bianca Cappello Palazzo; Strozzi Palazzo; and finally the Rucellai Palace, which dates back to the fifteenth century and was designed by architect Leon Battista Alberti.

Then, of course, there are Florence’s many visually stunning and architecturally astounding churches. One of the city’s many claims to fame, the Duomo is a major European church and was once the family church for the Medici family and the Russian Orthodox Church of the Nativity. However, the Duomo is not the only beautiful church in the Florence. There is also the Church of Santa Croce, designed by a Franciscan; the Church of Carmine, whose chapel was painted by artists’ Masaccio and Masolino; the Baptistery of San Giovanni, with its famous frescoes; the church of Santa Maria Novella, the symbol of Florence’s art history; the Church di San Marco; the Church of San Gaetano, built in Baroque style; the Church of the Santissima Annunziata, rich in works of art dating back to between 1300 and 1800; the Church of the Holy Spirit, designed and built by Filippo Brunelleschi: the Church of All Saints, which was originally the church of Amerigo Vespucci’s family; and finally the Church of Santa Maria del Fiore.

Cheap Travel Europe: Santorini, Greece

Santorini is one of the most magical islands of Greece. It is a barren, rocky island just opposite a volcano, with black and red beaches and towns situated on high cliffs offering breathtaking views and fantastic sunsets. Santorini has a dramatic beauty as opposed to lush and green islands.

The volcano is still active, and the last eruption was in 1950, causing an earthquake that destroyed many villages on the island. The island's official name is Thira and its main town, Fira, is also the capital of the Cyclades islands. It is a cosmopolitan island and is therefore quite expensive.

The locals live mainly off agriculture and tourism. The islands largest export product is soil; 2.000.000 tons a year are used all over the world, mainly to make concrete. The Suez channel was built with this concrete for example.

Most holidaymakers stay where the beaches are, Kamari and Perissa, but these places really do not represent the island's amazing distinctiveness.

If you can, you should try to stay in Fira, Imerovigli or Oia, the towns on the cliffs, which are very beautiful and full of little cafes, shops and places of interest. There is a bus that goes to the beaches everyday, and it is much better to be in the towns in the evening and on the beaches during the day. If you stay in Monolithos you will have more peace and quiet.

Approaching the island by boat the immediate impression obtained is this is a Greek island unlike any other. The island of Santorini was formed out of the lava from the volcanic eruption in 1660 BC. The central part of the volcano sank into the sea leading to the emergence of Santorini itself and the tiny neighbouring islands of Thirasia, Palaia and Nea Kameni close by.

Today, Santorini is the only inhabited Caldera (volcano cauldron) in the world. Unlike other islands in Greece, the towns and villages sit densely on top of the massive cliffs of the Caldera and from a distance appear like snow capping the towering mountain tops. The coloured strata of the volcanic rock of these cliffs are spectacular in themselves: chocolate brown, rust red, yellow ochre, white and cream. The geological uniqueness however is not the only thing that makes Santorini a special holiday destination.

Everyone has read about the spectacular sunsets that occur on this island and the sceptic may question whether the setting sun can really appear differently here than from the neighbouring islands of Naxos or Ios. Nevertheless, the sunsets at Santorini, viewed from the Caldera, really are breathtakingly beautiful when seen as a backdrop to the volcano. The colours that streak the sky change from lilac to deep purple, from yellow to orange to red, as the golden sun sinks and becomes blood red reflecting its light on to the sea and the surrounding little islands. The eastern slopes of the island are green and fertile, even in October. This is due to the copious vineyards that grow so well in the fertile volcanic soil. The terraced slopes of the mountains use every available part of this fertile land.

Santorini main beaches have water sports. In general, Santorini beaches are wide with mainly black sand. There are also lots of currents and the waves can get very high especially at the north east side of the island. Kamari and Perissa are popular beaches with their beautiful surroundings and black sand. If you seek calmer beaches, it is better to go to Monolithos, Vlichada or Agios Georgios. For snorkelling visit Amoudi.

Santorini is quite a small island, and it is easy to get around. There are local buses to take you to most places, but of course you can also rent a car or a bike. There are also taxis on the island.
The harbour of Athinios where the ferryboats stop is connected to Fira and the rest of the island by a well made serpentine road. Driving up or down this road can be quite an experience for anyone afraid of heights. The old port of Fira under the town is used only for passengers from the cruise ships. You can also walk up or down that road (almost 900steps) or take a donkey ride all the way. There is also a cable car taking you straight to Fira. As you arrive at Athinios you can rent a car straight away from the spot. Santorini has a very good road network and a car or a bike will make your stay more convinient.