Accommodation in Barcelona: Apartments close to famous monuments

Sometimes when we travel, we become particularly excited by the idea of staying in a certain neighbourhood, either next to a monument that we love or by a certain location like the beach. Therefore, here is a list of three apartments that are near some emblematic monuments in Barcelona. All of these apartments can be found on the OK Apartment Barcelona website, a great place to go if you're looking to see what kind of accommodation is available in Barcelona.

Apartment Top Sagrada Familia:

Without a doubt, this is one of the most wonderful apartments on offer, not only because when you look out of the window you can see the architectural masterpiece and most visited tourist attraction in Spain by Antoni Gaudí - La Sagrada Familia, but also for its modern decor. With parquet flooring and lots of natural light, it goes without saying that this accommodation is better than most luxury hotels. There is 70 sq metres of space and a capacity to sleep up to 6 people. What's more, apart from having La Sagrada Familia on your doorstep, you're only a 15 minute walk from Passeig de Gracia, where there are two more Guadí masterpieces, amongst other fantastic modernist buildings and the best highstreet in the city to go shopping. The price? €28 per person/night.

Apartment Beat Almatí II:

This is designer apartment (also with parquet flooring) can accommodate up to three people. With a spacious shower, it's located a few metres away from Park Güell. The park has been a public space for years, but in October 2013 it will cost €5 - €10 to enter. The park is an amazing world apart from the urban city where you can escape to the curves, colours, and forms of Gaudí's imagination. The Gracía district in which the apartment is located is known for its authentic and non-touristic atmosphere. The prices start from €30 per person/night.

Apartment Gaudí Pedrera

In case you haven't guessed already, the final apartment is also near one of Guadí's works. An 8th floor apartment, you have spectacular views of Barcelona each and every day. Located right in front of La Pedrera on Passeig de Gracia, it has lots of natural light and can accommodation up to 7 people across its 70 sq metres. This property has 3 double bedrooms and is ideal if you want to stay in the city centre. It's on the best street in the city for shopping and you'll find many restaurants and bars in the area. It's a great starting point for any journey, with Casa Batlló, Las Ramblas, Barcelona Cathedral, and La Sagrada Familia all within walking distance.

Two romantic cities for Valentines Day: Barcelona and Malaga

If these two cities have anything in common, Barcelona and Málaga, it's that they can be very romantic if you just know the right places to visit. Coming up are just some of the parts of the city that you shouldn't miss out on if you're looking for a romantic journey.

Barcelona: The enamoring city

In the Catalan Capital, there are some fundamentals that you need for cover if you're planning things to do with your partner.

Walk around Port Vell at sunset: It's a precious little walk surrounded by boats while the sun says its farewell until tomorrow. You can take advantage of this opportunity by having dinner on one of the restaurants terraces in the area. On Sunday mornings on Port Vell there are stalls that sell crafts and handmade goods.

Lose yourselves in Laberint d'Horta: This labyrinth parks is the oldest in Barcelona and without a shadow of a doubt the most romantic. The romance will never be ruined by overcrowding either, as there is a limit on the amount of people allowed in at once, give you the time and space to wander in this small paradise. It is however, hard to find, and away from the centre, but it's free on Sundays and Wednesdays.

The breathtaking views of Tibidabo: There are some amazing views to experience from Tibidabo, so don't miss out on this chance. It's a very romantic and peaceful place, surrounded by nature (if you stay away from the theme park).

Rent Barcelona accommodation in El Born: El Born is a district that's perfect for couples. It's full of very cute restaurants and small venues for a drink. There are also a lot of local shops. An apartment will also give you more privacy.

Malaga - Southern Charm

Plaza de la Merced: It's one of the most popular squares in the city, especially owing to the fact that many artists have portrayed it in their works. The area is full of places to take your partner to enjoy the sun setting. And if you're fans of art, you'll find the Museo Casa Natal de Pablo Picasso here, the birthplace of the famous artist.

La Malagueta: This is the main beach in Malaga and is lovely place to see the sunrise. There are also a lot of great restaurants along the promenade that you can enjoy in the evening.

Paseo de la Farola: Located near the port of Malaga, of which it has some fantastic views. The lighthouse, called La Farola, is a symbol of Malaga, and you will find it along this walk. It's almost 200 years old!

Events in Barcelona Worth Visiting For

Barcelona is amongst the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe, and it is guaranteed that whatever time of year you visit there will always be a variety of events to please locals and tourists alike. These events are a great opportunity to sample Spanish culture and can create the linchpin for a visit to the area. Below are three events occurring in Barcelona this January.

Catalan Folk Music Festival

Folk music is a large part of Catalan culture, so this festival is a great excuse to visit Barcelona and really soak up the rich culture of this area. This festival runs from January to March and visits various different venues around the city. Visitors can not only sample the traditional music but also attend folk-related workshops.

Sa Pobla

This annual festival is a must for those who enjoy a carnival atmosphere. A combination of bands, singers and red devils makes for an electric atmosphere, filled with culture, in a traditional tribute to the Spanish patron saint of animals. It is tradition that the festival goers sample the range of foods available whilst enjoying the range of open fires and bonfires. This is a truly Spanish Experience.

Procession of the Three Kings

This post Christmas Tradition sees the residents of Barcelona gather at the steps of the harbour to welcome the three kings, which is signalled by an extravagant firework display as well as an eruption of foghorns. This is followed by a procession through the streets of Barcelona before ending at the fountain of Montjuic where specially written classical music is played.

5 Most Luxurious Spa Resorts in the World

Beau Rivage Palace, Switzerland

With stunning views of the Alps, this is the perfect location for a luxury spa. The spa at the Beau Rivage Palace is a 15,000 square feet suite with its own Turkish bath, Bain Japonais and treatments including Taoist face-care massage and Balinese massage.

Chiva Som, Thailand

The Chiva Som has views over the Gulf of Thailand and seven acres of stunning gardens in which to walk and relax. There are water therapy suites for men and women, aqua skin polish and other hydrotherapy treatments. Guests’ rooms also have butler service and private balconies to make sure any visitors are fully relaxed throughout their stay.

Como Shambhala Retreat, Turks and Caicos

The Como Shambhala is renowned for its retreats, with specialist spa food and a variety of specialists instructing courses from yoga and Pilates to meditation and pranayama. There are double treatment rooms which make it ideal for couples, as well as the outdoor monsoon showers and Japanese baths.

Four Seasons Resort, Thailand

Four seasons in Thailand is a spa villa, with a unique Thai temple design. Facilities include rain shower massage beds, open air treatment terraces and aromatherapy steam rooms. A variety of luxury Elemis products are used throughout the various treatments and warm foot compresses are given the beginning of every session to help focus the mind and senses.

Hayman Island Resort, Australia

Based in the Great Barrier Reef and on its own private island, Hayman Island resort is the epitome of tranquility. The resort is only accessible by sea-plan, helicopter or boat from the adjacent Hamilton Island and south of Cairns. The resort houses 13 treatment rooms, two relaxation lounges and wet treatment room. There are also exclusive treatments including facials and massages developed by the Champs Elysée Guerlain Institute.
Whatever the budget for luxury holiday, always still make that you have full holiday insurance cover to cover all eventualities. More expensive policies do not necessarily mean better cover, so do still read the small print and consideration all options when booking your insurance. You can more ideas on symondstravel.com if you are looking for more travel motivation.

Holidays in Cornwall

The UK’s southernmost county of Cornwall is perhaps the most mysterious and beautiful corner of the British Isles. A ruggedly picturesque peninsula, its coastline touches upon the English Channel and Atlantic Ocean to its south, the Irish Sea to the north and is bordered to the east by the county of Devon.

From Time immemorial it was an ancient Celtic stronghold of the Bronze Age that pre-dated the Roman invasion of Britain. Its gentle fields and rugged moors still hide in them, remnants of an age so far past and forgotten that much of it refuses to offer up historical explanation. Stone circles, druidic rituals and sunken castles remain intact only as skeletal shadows of the British Isles Neolithic period when it was nothing more than an obscure and barely known land mass to the north of Europe, inhabited by people with terrible Legends and harsh gods that scared the Classical civilizations of the continent to its bones.

People and culture - Cornwall remains, as it has done for millennia, a place that is detached from the rest of the British Isles both geographically and to a large degree, culturally. Here the seasonal Pagan rites and rituals of old are still maintained by many of the Cornish with such a natural ardour that to ask them if they still believed in such things would be to miss the point entirely. They do this simply because it is what they have always done. Periods relating to the earth’s equinox along with the Winter solstice that have long been forgotten throughout the rest of the UK, are a staple of the Cornish calendar and any visitors to the county during these times will be warmly welcomed to join in the festivities.

Cornish people themselves have also long maintained a certain distance from the governing forces of Great Britain, and whilst not officially recognized, many Cornish lay claim to their land as a separate entity and worthy of the devolution granted to the other nations that make up the union of the United Kingdom.

Holidays in Cornwall - The thing that is at first most apparent to any visitor to Cornwall is its understated beauty. There are no wild untamed mountain ranges and precipices of the dazzling variety that Wales and Scotland possess and its countryside is not the patchwork of picture perfect Englishness found in rural counties to the South West of the country. Cornwall’s charm lies in its remote villages and wild moors that touch the coastlines north to south, and in the real life water colours of fishing harbors that are dotted along its bays and inlets.

A holiday in Cornwall can be a remarkably contrasting experience. Bed and Breakfasts can be found in every corner of the county from the stormy cliff face of the United Kingdom’s most southerly point at Land’s End, to the small town immortalized in the old English nursery rhyme about a traveller on the road to St Ives, and along the north coast to the British surfing mecca of Newquay. There is a wide and varied spectrum of choices available from the more antiquated and remote country cottages that are run by couples and families to more sophisticated lodgings in larger towns that offer luxurious rooms and fine dining to their visitors.

Wherever you choose you spend time in this unique corner of the British Isles and whatever it is you choose to do whilst there, you are certain to be left with an experience that will leave you with the feeling that one day soon, you will wish to return again to Cornwall. 'A range of Cornish bed and breakfasts or private rented holiday apartments can be found through wimdu.co.uk'.

Travel and Food: Speciality Food Show, UK

One event I went to a couple of weeks ago and which travel and food lovers would have enjoyed - and which you might want to come to London for next year is the Speciality Food Show. I am not sure about you but when I travel, I find that food is a great way to take in a part of the local culture and a country such as Italy for example, with different unique foods in every town.

Speciality Food Show - There is a big market in the UK for speciality food and drink and the Speciality Food show is amongst the leading events in the industry. The event, held at Olympia in London, is not only a superb day out for those who work within the industry, it is also one of the most important events in terms of progressing within the field by experiencing a host of products and knowledge in one place.

Undoubtedly the best feature of the Speciality Food show is the opportunity to meet with such a large number of suppliers and manufacturers, as one of the key concepts of a successful speciality food business is to be able to offer a variety of good quality specialist foods. The exhibition stands here are filled with people from both ends of this spectrum, with businesses looking to source new products and manufacturers looking to maximise the commercial outlets for their products. These exhibitors travel to the show from around the UK as well as the rest of the world and encompass the whole range of service providers involved in the industry, including restaurateurs and delicatessens.

Visiting this show is an opportunity to keep yourself a breadth will all of the latest issues and developments in the industry, as well as to gain access to specialist marketing advice to help you to maximise exposure of your business to the target markets. Visitors to the show can network with others whilst sampling the foods which could potentially set the basis for the continued success of their business.

A very quick mention for our friends over in Cairo who also love food and travel and have just started the Egypt holiday and travel site for thos of you interested in Egypt. If you are a food buff, you might also enjoy our previous post on French culture and food.

The sights and sounds of Central Park

Central Park is a full of activity throughout the year, and you will always find something to do or see, no matter when you visit this NYC hotspot. Although officially a park, Central Park is more than just an expanse of greenery where you can relax; it has theatres and food stalls, and holds open air concerts, exhibitions and art shows.
One of the most interesting things to do in Central Park is to watch a Shakespeare in the Park show, which has free entry and is held at the Delacorte Theatre. Some of the most popular plays held here include Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Macbeth. However, do remember that although entry is free, you will have to pick up the tickets in advance of the show. Other activities that you can enjoy there include summer chess matches and musical performances held all over the park.

The Great Lawn in Central Park is the site for most the open air concerts and these include opera performances. Other interesting sights include the Turtle Pond, the World War I memorial, fountains, some interesting looking red gates, Central Park SummerStage, Lenon’s Strawberry Fields memorial, Shakespeare Garden, Belvedere Castle and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.

You can also buy one of the infamous NYC hotdogs, pretzels, hamburgers or pizzas here as the Park features several eateries and cafes. Depending on when you visit the park, you may find a gaggle of Canadian geese that have migrated there. If you want something more upmarket food wise, there are a number of classy restaurants on the West side of the park and not shortage of good cafes and bars.

Depending on when you are visiting Central Park, you can enjoy a host of activities. For instance, during the winter, the Park features an ice skating rink, while during the fall, its lawns become a natural exhibition are of foliage and colour. Central Park also hosts events and festivals throughout the year, which includes the Central Park Film Festival held on an annual basis, marathons and philharmonic concerts. The classical concerts are a particular favourite of mine and on a good summer’s day, sat in the park with some great music and views of the skyline, are wonderful. You can find more information on travel to New York City from New York Culture.

The Best things about French culture

France has a unique and strong culture, and as anyone who has visited France will tell you, the French take their culture very seriously. I have visited France several times on both business and pleasure and have enjoyed my dealings with the French while making some interesting observations about their culture.

One of the best things about French culture is the cuisine, which favours rich sauces and unique methods of cooking. Tourists are sure to enjoy their meals here whether it is a small snack at a café or full course meal in a reputed French restaurant.

The French take their food seriously and as a result, you can expect to get food cooked under a high standard of excellence. You can also expect a long lunch break, in fact you are expected to take time over your food to savour and enjoy it.

Another thing I enjoy about the French culture is that almost every café and little street side eatery serves wine, which is supposed to accompany a meal. It is also part of the French culture to observe dining etiquette.

Fashion and style have always been a part of the region’s culture and as a result you can expect some of the best design houses to have a base in the region. This is a great place to shop and if you like to dress - this is a country that will appreciate your sense of style.

The French are also very open-minded and this includes their attitudes about love and romance. Romance is very much a part of their culture and this is seen in their art and history. However, the French are also experts on not mixing business with pleasure and believe in keeping their private lives separate from business. The French are also big on punctuality which is another great thing about their culture.

If you are planning to visit France soon, Air France are worth checking for flights and Paris apartments one option for affordable accommodation.

Places to catch on camera in Paris, France

One of my favourite things to do when I am travelling is taking unusual pictures of popular landmarks. I find that this is one of the bets ways of cataloguing my travels and creating pictures that I will always remember. If you are in Paris and want to take some memorable pictures on camera, there are hundreds of places that you can visit, but it would be advisable to start with these.

1. The Eiffel Tower – Catching the Eiffel Tower on camera should be first one your list of place s in Paris to photograph. You can take good pictures of the Eiffel tower from the base of the monument and also from the top where you will get a great view of the city.

2. Sacre Coeur Basilica – A picture of the Sacre Coeur Basilica will only be beaten by a photograph of the view from the top of this building, which will give you a panoramic view of the city and the Paris sky.

3. Disneyland – This is yet another exciting place to catch on camera and you are sure to get a lot of pictures of happy memories ion this place. This is especially advisable if you are travelling with children.

4. Arc de Triomphe – The Arc de Triomphe is one of Paris’ most popular monuments and you must get this on camera. You will also be able to capture some good shots of the Champs-Elysees and the Tuileries Gardens which are located close by.

5. Rue Cler Market - If you want some pictures of a vibrant and colourful Paris, visit the Rue Cler market, which is a local street market where you can see flowers, fruits, vegetables and French bread being sold in abundance.

6. The Louvre – After the movie the Da Vinci Code was released, the Louvre has become even more popular than it has already been. Take a picture of the glass pyramid and the front building to remember your trip here. You can find cheap flights to Paris in France.

4 sights every discerning traveller should see in Cyprus

The following is a guest post from James Agate, the author behind the Love Cyprus blog.
Cyprus is a Mediterranean island that’s well worth visiting – stunning views, beautiful beaches lapped by azure waters and a rich cultural heritage with plenty of sights to see. It is often labelled the year round island thanks to the pleasantly warm winters and scorching hot summers.

January is, for the discerning traveller, the perfect time to see Cyprus. It is largely deserted by the ‘usual’ tourists and the dip in temperature makes being active much easier on your body. Here are 4 sights every world luxury traveller should see.

1. The traditional harbour at Agios Georgios - The picturesque village of Agios Georgios is located West of Paphos and the harbour is simply stunning; crystal clear waters gently rock the many wooden fishing boats, stay for a drink and watch the sunset over the bay. If you’ve got the cash to splash, get yourself a villa on the new uber-luxury development Cap St Georges which is being built on the seafront at Agios Georgios overlooking the historic Yeronisos island where Cleopatra is said to have once visited.

2. The Akamas peninsula - Known as the jewel of Cyprus, this breathtakingly beautiful area is unique. It’s unique because it is the only coastal area of Cyprus not to have been spoiled by mass tourism. Locals have, for 20 years, petitioned the Cypriot authorities to declare the area a national park but unfortunately the Government has yet to make a decision – making this a fragile beauty that has to be seen before it’s too late.

3. The Zenobia wreck off the coast of Larnaca - The real diving gem of Cyprus and a true hotspot for divers worldwide. The cargo ship capsized nearly 30 years ago taking over 100 lorries, a selection of industrial machinery and livestock. The nature of the wreck attracts novice and expert divers alike because of the wide variety of underwater sites to be seen and the relatively shallow depths required to see the Zenobia.

4. Yioulou valley in Western Cyprus - This region of the island is at its peak around January/February because the almond trees (for which the valley is famous) begin to blossom creating a sight that has to be seen to be truly appreciated.

These are just 4 of the incredible sights and attractions that Cyprus has to offer. Cyprus is one of those islands that if you are given the chance, you should visit on a number of occasions just so that you get the chance to take it all in.