The South West of England offers the green and gentle Devonshire hills, the dramatic coastline and stunning beaches of Cornwall and oodles of gorgeous English countryside from the Cotswolds to the Forest of Dean. If you are a lover of the great outdoors, the South West is the perfect staycation location for you.

Devon Countryside - Image by ironman

First of all you need to choose somewhere great to stay. It is important to get the right type of accommodation as this can make the difference as to whether your holiday is one you remember for the right reasons! If you enjoy eating out, perhaps you would prefer to stay in a hotel or a B& B. This way you will be free to dine out to your hearts content. If you are a bit of a culinary genius and prefer to cook up a storm at home, a holiday cottage will be the perfect option for you. This way you can also save precious pennies as well. We recommend searching for local farmers markets online and asking locals when you are there where they shop, to find the best quality and get a real taste of the South West during your trip.

The train line between Exeter and Newton Abbott is one of the most beautiful in the country and we recommend that you see it. It takes you over the famous Brunnel bridge and where else in the world can you be so close to the sea from your train carriage?!

The Roman Baths in the city of Bath will provide the luxurious element to your staycation. They are based around Britain’s only hot spring and have been recently renovated so you are sure to get luxury at its most up to date. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to spend there, so you can really relax into the experience.

Roman Bath - Image by JustAnotherGuyInBristol

There is no better staycation activity than surfing at Newquay’s Fistral Beach. Surfing is all the rage with the celebrities at the moment and its no surprise really as it is a great way to get fit and toned whilst having lots of fun too. There are plenty of hire shops in Newquay where you can loan boards and wetsuits, so what are you waiting for – get down there!

If you are looking for a bit of glamour on your staycation there’s no better place for al fresco eating than Poole Harbour. Here you can watch the glittering boats in the harbour and enjoy the South West’s very own Riviera style living.

And for Art and culture we recommend St Ives. It is home to the wonderful Tate gallery, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and many smaller galleries and shops, making it a great place to soak up a little culture without the crowds.

This article was written by Late Lettings who specialise in last minute self catering properties, including last minute cottages in Cornwall

Italy - Image by PKirillov

Italy is a wonderfully romantic country, but it often gets mired in stereotypes. People expect a certain image from Italy. While Italy fits some aspects of this image, the country itself has so much more to offer. There are many boutique hotels and natural cuisine restaurants that will entirely change your image of this beautiful country. Try seeing the secret romance behind Italy for a truly breathtaking experience.

Restaurants

Most people imagine pasta and heavy desserts when thinking about Italian cuisine. Those are parts of the cuisine, but not the entirety. Venice is known for making some of the world’s best rice and fish meals due to its geography. Venice often traded with the East in olden times, and the marine geography made fish abundant.

Italy is known for great food. However, most people try to fit Italian cuisine within a comfortable box. Consider going to restaurants that are not built exclusively for tourists. This is the best way to get a real bite of Italian cuisine that will scintillate the senses.

Wine

Another secret side to Italy is its wine. Many people know that Italy produces wine, but few people consider it to rival wine from France. Some of the highest rated wines can only be found in Italy. A number of these wines are never exported, so you can only taste them when you travel to Italy.

If you have ever liked wine, then you will love Italian wine. It sits in the mouth and begs the senses to really indulge in the flavor and aroma. Italy has wines that fit the tastes of light wine drinkers and the refined palates of connoisseurs.

Festivals

If you have never visited Italy, then you probably don’t know how important festivals are. Italy is known for having many festivals. Each city tends to commemorate at least one historical or religious day. Some events are only for local areas. Other festivals are celebrated throughout Italy.

Find a calendar of events and join in the festivities. The food and wine will be spectacular, and the festival will give you a real look at Italy.

Small Towns

Florence, Italy - Image by sporkist

Venice and Florence are known for having romantic settings. However, you have to go during off-season to get the most out of the trip. Some points of the year are so crowded that you cannot do anything without seeing a huge line of people.

Instead of hitting the popular cities, try visiting a smaller town. Italy’s romance extends far beyond these popular cities. Each town has at least one picturesque point that can bring you and a loved one together. These places are far less crowded, so you can have the whole area to yourself.

Nature Parks

Retreat from the bustle of city sound into one of the many nature parks in Italy. About 10 percent of Italy is protected, so finding a park is easy. You can see animals that you are not used to, and the plants and vegetation in Italy create a romantic and unique image that just begs to be admired.

While tourist hotspots are great, consider taking a few hours off to visit a park and see the hidden side to Italy.

Art

Italy was a huge nexus of creativity during the Renaissance. Many of those artworks can still be found in Italy. Visiting them can give you a good idea of the beauty the old masters saw in Italy. Even if you are not an art buff, you can see some pieces of art that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Conclusion

Italy is a vast and beautiful country with hidden romantic layers beyond its tourist attractions. Get off the beaten path and get a real taste of Italy. Eat the real foods, go see some important artworks and visit the parks and small towns to get a good glimpse of what Italy is really like.

You are sure to love it. Italy has something for everyone, but only if you look around for it. If you only speed through towns and hit the hotspots, then you are missing so much that Italy has to offer.

Author Bio

George Dennis is president of King Shade and Window, a home improvement company that carries a range of blackout roller shades, great for sleeping in on a romantic getaway.

New York, United States of America

New York Street Art - Image by Ed Yourdon

New York is a great place for street art. You will often find some amateur designs, but every now and then you will find a piece done by a true master. Most people say that the lower West side is the best place for street art, but the underground art movement is always changing its habits to keep from getting caught.

Be sure to have a camera ready, because these pieces are usually taken down fairly quickly.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin doesn’t have the same strict view of street art that America does. While a good amount of it is taken down, there is usually more left up if the piece deserves artistic merit.

There are actually street art workshops that show you all the famous places for street art, and you are even invited to make your own. Both amateurs and professionals are invited.

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne Street Art Tour - Image by Doogsta

Here you can find the “Melbourne Street Art Tour.” This tour is operated by many of the same artists who made the pieces you will look at during the tour. This is a great experience, because you won’t miss a single image while going through the hidden alleys and streets to find the best street art the world has to offer.

You can sometimes see the artists making designs, which gives a special quality to the piece. Seeing it before it is finished gives you that rare glimpse that few street art admirers really get to see. Don’t forget to kick back and share a beer with some of the artists.

London, UK

While there are some street art tours found in London, they aren’t quite as large or expansive as the Melbourne and Berlin ones. You will often have better luck going around the city and find the street art on your own. Talk with the people there and try to find places where street art is commonly made. London is a busy city, but you can usually get glimpses of the best street art in the world by just walking around and looking for it.

Look for bustling art centers, because most of the people there will know where the best street art is.

Stavanger, Norway

Nuart Festival - Image by kalevkevad

Every September, the city of Stavanger holds its own festival called the Nuart. This festival is a gathering of underground artists that celebrate the graffiti and post-graffiti time periods. You can usually find street artists making murals on brick and buildings, and there are usually workshops for others to get in on the action.

If you are an aspiring street artist, then this is a great festival to attend. Even if you aren’t, you can find amazing pieces made by the best street artists in all of Norway.

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Over 60 street artists attend the Graffiti Fine Art festival held in Sao Paulo. You can see exhibits from amazing street artists, and the entire festival goes on for about a month without stopping. Each year it gets bigger, with more artists and exhibits joining in the fun.

While this is mostly an exhibit of great street art, you can get up close and personal with the artists. Most of them love talking about their work, and you can easily talk with them about the piece. This is a rarity, as most street artists keep themselves shrouded in secrecy.

Conclusion

Finding the world’s best street art can be difficult, especially since so much of it is taken down. But, if you are lucky and if you know where to look, then you can find great street art before it is removed. Try out these different cities, and you are sure to see some amazing pieces of work.

Author Bio

Denise Hill is a blogger for NetQin, keeping you protected no matter where in the world you are.

Timeshare Property - Image by nancyarora2020

The concept of timeshare rentals is relatively unknown amongst people who take regular holidays every year. Spending thousands of dollars on hotels is quite common and people do that, every year, without thinking twice. Instead, if you invest it into a timeshare rental property, you get to enjoy all the benefits of a hotel, at cheaper costs, and with the same freedom and independence that your home brings to you.

So, what is a timeshare property? Effectively, it is a kind of real estate deal wherein you get the opportunity to use or partially own a particular piece of property for a particular period of time throughout the year. This is different from regular ownership in that there are many people who own the property and each owner is given a share of the time that they can spend at the property.

The Origin of the Timeshare Concept

The concept originated in the 1960s, when Hapimag, a company that developed ski resorts, realized that they were having problems in finding new customers for their resorts.

They took the concept of timeshare from coffee shops where cakes were sold by the slice simply because people couldn’t eat an entire cake at one go. As a result, the part-ownership concept came about wherein you would actually own a part of the property that you can use at a particular time of the year, every year. It also led to the “right to use” concept, where you will not own any part of the property and will, instead, only be leasing it for that time.

Advantages of Timeshare Properties

Timeshare homes come fully furnished and completely developed. You can simply start living in the property for a particular period of time, every year. Some people claim that the inability to choose your own furnishings makes it harder to look at timeshare rental properties as your own, but the fact is, you can get any kind of place that your budget can afford. Keep looking around until you find something and this way, you ensure that you get what you want, without worrying too much about what has to be bought for which room.

If you are taking your entire family out for a vacation, imagine not having to worry about peak tourist seasons or crowded hotel pools because you already have something waiting there for your family to come in and occupy. Effectively, you end up paying less, per night, for your stay and also get up to four bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and everything else that a house may provide. Compare that to the single room you get in a hotel and the lobby that you have to share with everyone, and things are already looking up.

If you have the kind of money that comes with travelling to exotic locations, you can always hire a local chef to cook all the region’s delights in your very own kitchen. If, however, you are travelling on a budget, then using some of the local produce to create your own home-cooked meal is a fantastic way of spending time with your family as well as saving a bit of money for those budget vacations.

Many people think that the concept of buying a holiday vacation home, for the family, is something for the rich and affluent. However, with popular resorts like Hilton and Marriott giving out their properties on timeshare and at prices that anyone can afford, it is just incredible what you can do with your holidays.

About the Author

Anna works as a freelance travel writer for some of the biggest names in the industry. Her primary job description has been to work as a ghost-writer for the blogs of many popular travel show hosts & personalities and it is this pursuit that has led her into the world of timeshare rental properties. Going out there herself to experience this phenomenon herself, first-hand, has given Anna the dough she needs to understand how much more interesting these forms of vacations are as compared to the regular holidays.

StaraTrta

Oldest Grape Bearing Vine, StaraTrta - Image by vagabond

Found in Maribor, StaraTrta is one of the oldest wine cellars and grape vines in all of Europe. When you go here you can see the wine being created, and you are invited in to try some of the fresh wines they are making. If you love wine, or if you are a fan of old world culture, then you will absolutely love the StaraTrta.

Dominikanerkloster

The Dominikanerkloster is found in Ptuj and it is an old religious building that has a rather lengthy history. First used and occupied by the Romans for worship of Mithra, it was later purchased by Christians and turned into a religious museum that also has many other items like crypts and a rare coin collection.

This is the perfect place to find out the history of Slovenia, and it can be very entertaining to walk the old halls and see all the artifacts and items held in the museum.

Tartini Square

Tartini Square - Image by dearbarbie

Located in Piran, the Tartini Square is the center of town and it grants you access to many other local hotspots like a maritime museum and a host of great restaurants. If you want to indulge in Slovenia culture and food, then this is the place to be.

Along with all the stores and restaurants, there is one other thing most Slovenia tourists like from Tartini Square: the architecture. The architecture here is among the best in Slovenia and it really gives you a good look at their style. There are also boats that can take you to other places outside of Slovenia, like Venice. If you want to hop back and forth between places, then Tartini Square can also provide that for you.

Praetorian Palace

The Praetorian Palace is another historic site found in Slovenia, and you can locate it in the town of Koper. This is an interesting place that mixes both the Middle Ages and modern times.

Praetorian Palace - Image by lavidoo

You will see the Middles Ages history by looking at the castle itself. This castle was used hundreds of years ago, and the architecture is still accurate to its original design. While there have been some upgrades here and there, it still looks similar to when it was first made. The Praetorian Palace also has many interesting artifacts and items from when the castle was made.

There are also many modern items on display here. Slovenia government officials often use the castle for official meetings, so you may be able to see a few high-ranking people within the Slovenia government.

ZorbEkopool

Located in the Celje area, this is an area dedicated entirely to zorbing. This is a very fun, but often unknown of, activity. You start off by getting in a large plastic ball. The ball is large enough for most people, so you shouldn’t have any trouble fitting inside.

The ball is then rolled down a steep cliff. While rolling, you will be tumbling around inside the zorb. Since there is a thick outer layer, it will be difficult for anything to damage you, like a rock, and there is air in the zorb so it should not quickly sink if submersed in water.

Many people love the adrenaline rush they get when zorbing, and it is both a fun and simple activity that almost anyone can do.

Conclusion

Slovenia has many fun attractions. Most of the attractions are historical or religious, but there are many other great things to do here, like zorbing. If you are in, or planning to be in, the Slovenia area, then check out one of these five hotspots. You are sure to enjoy them, regardless of your tastes. The majority of these attractions are either free or inexpensive, so you won’t have to spend much to go to them.

Author Bio

Tom Demers writes for Organic Baby Nook, an organic baby products guide for earth-conscious parents.