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Action!
Action-Packed
Adventure
April Drinking and Dancing
Artistic Inclinations
Artistic Inspiration
Autumn
Beautiful Summer Vistas
Best Baths
Breaks in Europe
British Summer Festivals
Casinos
Celtic traditions
Cities by Boat
Christmas Shopping 2005
Christmas Shopping 2006
Cool Escapes
Cool Summer Tips
Diving
Drinking Festivals
Escape to the Hills
Early Sun
Easter Getaways
Eco Tourists
Escaping the Winter Chills
Experience the Local Crafts
Family Beach Holidays
Family Fun in the Sun
Father's Day Fun
Fiesta!
Forward-moving Cities
Free Trips
Gardens
Ghosts and Ghouls!
Golf
Good Surf!
Great Outdoors
Great Sights
Great Works of Art
Ice
Independence Day
Indian Summers
Islands
Itchy Feet
It's all Greek to me!
January Family Sun-Seekers
Junebug
Kickstart Summer
Killer Hikes
Laidback
Lost Cities
Markets
May Day Mayhem
Mother's Day
Movie Locations
Musical May
Music by the Great Lakes
National Parks
Natural Wonders
New Year Celebrations
New Year Cures
Northern Lights
Parties around the world including Prague, Berlin and Rio
Penguins
Places to Party 1
Places to Party 2
Racing
Remembrance
Roman Ruins
Romantic Cities
Romantic Post-Christmas City Breaks
Romantic Respites
Sailing Breaks
Spectacular Waterfalls
September Rain
Spectacular Wildlife
Spring Clean
Spring into Action
Spring is in the Air
St Patrick's Day
Summer Camping
Summer in the City
Summer in the north
Summer Clubbing
Take it Easy
Theme Park Fun
Thrill Seeking
Travel around Europe by Rail
Travelling Through Time
Tropical Waters
Unforgettable Easter Experiences
Volcano Climbing
Walking Holidays
Wander off the Beaten Track
Watersports
Waterways of Europe
Whale Watching
Where it's Warm 1
Where it's Warm 2
Wine Festivals
Winter Action
Winter Away-breaks
Wonderful Wildlife
Wonderful Wines |
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Slovenia
Between April and October, the Soca River draws water-sports enthusiasts from many countries keen to test out one of the most beautiful and challenging white-water rivers in Europe. titlehough it is not an immediately obvious destination, the valley has few peers when it comes to sheer, stark beauty. Thousands of rafters, canoeists and kayakers are drawn to its milky, blue-green waters.
Take to the wicked white-water rivers of Slovenia
Rough Guide to Slovenia |
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Indonesia
Plengkung, known as 'G-Land', is renowned worldwide for its great surfing, boasting possibly the longest left break in the world. With reef breaks often reaching five metres this is surfing for the experienced only. The Quiksilver World Tour Circuit attracts some of the best surfers each year. The wet season has usually receded by now, and the surf centres are just opening, so it is a good time to avoid huge crowds.
Surf crazy in Indonesia
Rough Guide to Indonesia |
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Tongariro National Park
Rafting, kayaking, tramping and skiing - there's an activity to suit most people in the popular area where three volcanoes dominate the skyline. There is great fishing to be had as well and if you are keen to haul a trout from lake Taupo, you will be paired with a fishing guide to match your experience and aspirations.
Try a new activity in New Zealand
Rough Guide to New Zealand |
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Dharamsala
One of the most popular starting points for treks over the rocky ridges of the Dhauladher range, which rise steeply from the Kangra valley to 4600m. Trails pass through forests of deodar, pine, oak and rhododendron, cross streams and rivers and wind along vertiginous cliff tracks passing the occasional lake, waterfall and glacier.
A treck of a lifetime
Rough Guide to India |
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Paris
Paris has long been a source of inspiration to the some of the world's most famous and influential artists. From the masterpieces of natives Matisse, Monet and Renoir to the works of international legends Picasso, Dali and Kadinsky - this city is home to them all. If contemporary art is more your taste, then why not pay a visit to the Site de Création Contemporaine - home to some of the world's most cutting-edge art collections. Paris-born Louise Bourgeois has exhibited here, along with a group of skateboard artistes and even a squat-living art group. Whatever your preference, this city is sure to inspire any budding artist.
Inspiration around every corner
Paris DIRECTIONS
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Venice
Venice was the home of some of the most influential figures in Renaissance art and today it is literally a living masterpiece of this artistic movement. Many of the city's churches still retain the original paintings they commissioned centuries ago; from Bellini's lustrous titlearpiece in San Zaccaria to Tintoretto's famous paintings in San Giorgio Maggiore. To see some of the best works of art from the Renaissance era you need to visit the Museo Correr where you will delight in the spectacular display of Venetian masterpieces and archaeological sculptures.
Visit a living masterpiece; Venice
Venice DIRECTIONS
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Berlin
Lying in the heart of Europe, Berlin's climate is continental: winters are bitingly cold, and summers are blissfully hot. Over the years, Berlin has transformed into an extraordinary city and it is impossible to see everything in one short trip. Berlin is a twenty-four-hour city, and you'll never be short of something to do. The city boasts a cutting-edge arts scene, vibrant nightlife and an excellent array of bars and restaurants. From the UK, the city is well serviced by a host of low-cost airlines including, Air Berlin, Ryanair and easyjet, making it a perfect city-break destination.
Take a city break to Berlin
The Rough Guide to Germany
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Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a compellingly theatrical place - awash with history yet refreshingly modern. Its centre is remarkably compact and the majority of the main sights are within easy walking distance of each other. The city has an outstanding collection of national institutions, from museums and magnificent art collections to a controversial, yet intriguing new parliament building and the world's best indoor climbing facility. Edinburgh's mix of history, heritage, dramatic views and impressive buildings have established it as one of Europe's most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities.
Soak up the atmosphere of Edinburgh
Edinburgh DIRECTIONS
The Rough Guide to Scotland
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Las Vegas
There is only one city in the world where it is possible to stand at the top of the Eiffel Tower, wonder at the glory of Ancient Rome, while eating pizza from the Big Apple - what Las Vegas lacks in history and culture it certainly makes up for in fun and excitement. The world-famous 'Strip' is home to some of the most spectacular casinos - practice your poker face in the opulent surroundings of the Venetian, chance your luck on the roulette wheel in one of the Luxor pyramids or play the slot machines inside the faux Roman pomp of Caesars Palace. With over 37 million visitors each year, this is one city that is sure to keep you entertained.
Practice your poker face in Las Vegas
Las Vegas DIRECTIONS
The Rough Guide to Poker |
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Monaco
For centuries, Monaco has been seen as the international playground of the rich and famous. No bigger than London's Hyde Park, this tiny independent principality is home to one of the world's most luxurious casinos, however, you don't need to have millions in the bank to enjoy an afternoon at the casino. As long as you are over 18 and have some loose change in your pocket, you are welcome to sit at one of the poker tables or enjoy a cocktail in the extravagant Pink Lagoon Bar. titlehough the dress code isn't quite 'Hollywood Glamour', what better excuse is there to put on your best attire and live the life of a movie star…besides, you never know who might be trying to call your bluff!
Live the high life for a night in Monaco
The Rough Guide to Provence & the Côte d'Azur
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Ireland
Kerry is one of Ireland's most remote and beautiful counties located on the scenic west coast. The county is deservedly famous for the beauty of its lakes and mountains where visitors are able to escape and feel remote from the demands of their day-to-day lives. That said Kerry is also a vibrant and welcoming county with an abundance of bars, hotels, shops and restaurants to suit all visitors, on any budget.
Enjoy the craic in Kerry
The Rough Guide to Ireland |
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France
There is no one city or town in Brittany that encapsulates the character of one of the richest regions in the world. The province is tinged with Celtic culture: mystical, musical and inspired. The attractions of the Breton coast are obvious: warm white-sand beaches, towering cliffs, rock formations and offshore islands and islets. Accommodation and campsites are plentiful from mid-June to the end of August.
Uncover the Celtic culture in France
The Rough Guide to France
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Germany
The ultimate beer tour of Germany has to begin in Munich. Not only does it annually host the legendary Oktoberfest (late Sept - early Oct); its beer gardens and beer dens are also some of the most famous in the country. Nearby Freising is the home of the oldest brewery in the world, dating back to the eleventh century. If wine is more your drink of choice, then don't be put off by the country's famous beer culture as Germany also has a number of beautiful wine regions with Rhein-Hessen (the home of Liebfraumilch) being the largest and most productive of them all. A trip to Germany this autumn is one trip you won't forget in a hurry, or at least not until the hangover wears off!
Get fuzzy headed in Freising
The Rough Guide to Europe |
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Bulgaria
For the time being Bulgaria remains a little-known destination with a great deal to discover. Much of the country is like an open-air museum of Balkan culture, with beautifully decorated churches and wonderfully preserved rustic villages. Bulgaria is also the home place of the internationally famed Melnik wine, which plays a central part in two of the regions main festivals. At the Trifon Zarezan festival in February, wine is sprinkled on the vineyards to ensure a bumper crop, and on October 18 locals and visitors celebrate the harvest with an evening of festivities including, singing dancing and plenty of sampling of the local produce.
Put on your drinking cap and head for Bulgaria
The Rough Guide to Bulgaria
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Scottish Highlands
Rugged and weather-beaten, the Scottish Highlands are far removed from the rural charms or the cosmopolitanism of much of Britain. The Highlands is a region with a wild romanticism and a regular supply of glorious sunsets that turn the sea lochs gold. May and early June throw up weather every bit as good as high summer and you're less likely to encounter crowds or have trouble finding somewhere to stay. Plus, May is also a good month for watching nesting seabirds.
Visit the heather of Scotland
Rough Guide to Scottish highlands & Islands |
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Switzerland, titleo Ticino
Giornico, with its picturesque bridge, is one of a string of attractive villages in the lush, high valleys of this Italian-speaking region. It's a district that offers long, lonesome countryside rambles and on a two-week walking tour you can explore the finest valleys and most remote landscapes in the upper part of the canton. If getting off the beaten path is your aim, you're likely to find greater satisfaction in titleo Ticano than in most other parts of the country.
Breath in the clean air of Switzerland
Rough Guide to Switzerland |
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Lesotho
Teya-Teyaneng (usually abbreviated to ”T.Y”) means ”place of shifting sands”, after the way the nearby river changes its course from time to time. The town has a bustling, compact centre and is well-known as the crafts capital of Lesotho, specialising in all manners of weavings, from luxurious jerseys to elaborately designed wall-hangings. Three kilometres south of the town is the pleasant Anglican St Agnes Mission whose showroom has an excellent selection of woven crafts. In the workshop next door you can watch the craftswomen working on wall hangings at great looms stretching nearly to the ceiling.
Pick up a wall hanging in Lesotho
The Rough Guide to South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland |
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Kansai
Kyoto has long been famous for its high-quality weaving. The centre of the city's textile industry is the Nishijin district, located north west of the Imperial Palace. Even today you'll hear the clatter of looms in dozens of family-run workshops as you walk through the area, some of which have been settled there since the early 1500s. In Nishijin weaving, silk threads are dyed before being woven into their intricate patterns. You can see examples of these gorgeous fabrics and watch free demonstrations of this intricate craft at the Nishijin Textile Centre.
Visit the family-run weaving workshops of Kansai
The Rough Guide to Japan |
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Algarve
Famed for its stunning beaches and year-round sunshine, the Algarve is perfect for family holidays. The Portuguese are very family-orientated and children are welcomed everywhere - expect to see children out in public squares and restaurants until midnight. The region boasts a range of attractions specifically for children, including water parks, zoos, and mini-train rides. If you are looking for a more cultural Portuguese experience, then the Algarve's many museums, castles and churches are unmissable.
Splash around in one of the many water parks
Algarve DIRECTIONS
The Rough Guide to Portugal |
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Boston
Summer is certainly the most popular time to visit Boston, both for the warmer weather and frequent festivals. One of the great aspects of travelling with children to the city is the feeling that you are conducting an on-going history lesson. Younger children will enjoy the colonial-period costumes and cannons of the Freedom Trail, while older children may prefer a Red Sox game at Fenway Park or the New England Aquarium. Harbour cruises are also popular with families and are a unique way to see the city, as is ascending to the top of one of the city's many skyscrapers.
Discover Boston's history
The Rough Guide to USA
The Rough Guide to Boston |
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Peru
June is fiesta time in Cusco. Despite being one of South America's biggest tourist destinations, this welcoming city remains relatively unspoilt. During Easter, June and Christmas the city centre becomes the focus for relentless fiestas and carnivals. The city also has many enticing destinations within easy reach, including the famous citadel of Machu Picchu. The best time to visit the region is during the dry season (May-September), when it's warm with clear skies most of the time.
Get down and party in Peru
The Rough Guide to Peru |
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Canada
Montréal hosts a number of festivals throughout June: from the First People's Festival, involving concerts, traditional dance, and exhibitions of aboriginal sculpture and painting; to the Mondial de la Bière (beer festival) - slightly less highbrow. The Canadian Grand Prix also takes place in the middle of the month, and you can end your stay by attending one of the world's best jazz festivals. For the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, the streets around Place des Arts shut down for hundreds of free concerts. The main stage attracts crowds of over 200,000 revellers and if Jazz isn't quite your scene, there are plenty of other genres to enjoy from salsa to hip-hop.
Visit one of the hundreds of free festivals in Canada
The Rough Guide to Montreal |
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London
Over the years London has gained the reputation of being quite an expensive place to visit - but this doesn't necessarily have to be the case! Did you know that most of London's top museums and art galleries are absolutely free to all locals and visitors alike? Experience the delights of choral Evensong at St Paul's Cathedral or catch a jazz gig at lunchtime in the foyer of Royal Festival Hall. You can even view an auction at the legendary Sotheby's auction house without putting a dent in your pocket - that is of course unless you decide make a bid!
London's calling
London DIRECTIONS |
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Washington DC
Visiting the capital city of the world's most powerful country may sound like a costly venture, but rest assured it is possible to see some of Washington DC's top tourist attractions without spending a dime. Most of the museums along The National Mall are absolutely free to all visitors, from the National Museum of American History - home of Dorothy's ruby slippers - to the National Air and Space museum. If you prefer to stay outdoors, you can take a stroll around the city's many monuments, including the poignant Vietnam Veterans' Memorial and the dramatic Lincoln Memorial, all of which are free to visit.
Washington's a capital city to visit
Washington DC DIRECTIONS
The Rough Guide to Washington DC |
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USA
As one of the most popular days of the year, it's surprising that Halloween isn't a public holiday in the US. However, this doesn't stop thousands of children and adults across the country, putting on their best fancy dress, trick-or-treating and celebrating with lively block-parties. If you fancy taking part in the festivities, why not travel to West Hollywood in Los Angeles, and spend an evening on board the Halloween Shipwreck. For one day, the Queen Mary transforms itself into a 'haunted' ocean liner filled with ghosts, ghouls and demons…probably not for the faint-hearted!
Trick or treat?
The Rough Guide to USA
The Rough Guide to Los Angeles |
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Ireland
On October 31st, Derry City - the second largest city in Northern Ireland -
transforms itself into one large party-town for the annual Halloween Carnival. The four-day extravaganza attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world, who come together for a weekend of partying. Locals and visitors alike take to the streets and enjoy party after party, pubs and bars across the city host special Halloween themed evenings with ghostly activities. The carnival ends on Halloween night itself when the skies of the city are illuminated by a spectacular fireworks display.
Have a ghoulishly good time in Ireland
The Rough Guide to Ireland |
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Scotland
Golf has long had the reputation as being an elitist sport, but this doesn't mean you too can't practice your swing on some of the world's championship courses. Scotland - the home of golf - has over 400 golf courses and the Old Course at St Andrew's is probably the most famous of them all. As long as you have a valid handicap anyone is welcome to tee-off for an enjoyable round of golf. Less-challenging courses are scattered all along Scotland's beautiful coastline and with some of the most immaculately kept greens, you are sure to enjoy the scenery even if your performance lets you down on the day.
Practice your swing in Scotland
The Rough Guide to Scotland |
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Tunisia
Fancy teeing-off in warmer climes, then why not try a golfing holiday to Tunisia? There are several golf courses throughout the country and the 18-hole course in Tabarka is perhaps the most scenic of them all. The town itself is a beautiful natural harbour, surrounded by some of the richest natural habitats in the country, including a cork oak forest and a stunning coral coastline. A number of tour operators offer packages to the region and Tabarka would certainly be the perfect setting for that first hole-in-one.
Time to tee-off in Tunisia
The Rough Guide to Tunisia
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Hawaii
Ancient rock carvings and eyewitness accounts prove that surfing was the most popular activity in pre-contact Hawaii. Oahu's fabled North Shore is a haven for surfers, who ride the waves around Waimea Bay and hang out in the coffee bars of Hale'iwa. If you are a surfing beginner, it is recommended that you explore some of Hawaii's quieter beaches or even try one of the island's many surfing lessons, where it is guaranteed you will be able to ride a wave on your own before you travel home.
Surfs up in Hawaii
The Rough Guide to Hawaii |
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Devon & Cornwall
The north Devon coast has some of England's most outstanding surfing beaches. The most popular areas are Wollacombe Bay and Croyde Bay in Devon. The firm, sandy beach of Croyde Bay has retained its secluded, undeveloped appeal despite the number of visitors each year. South of Croyde, surfing is also popular at Saunton Sands, a beautiful long strand magnificently exposed to long ranks of breakers. During the summer months, you'll find kiosks on the beaches renting out wet suits and boards and offering surfing lessons.
You don't have to go abroad for good surf, try Devon or Cornwall
The Rough Guide to Devon & Cornwall |
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Australia
This is the best time of year to visit the coastal tropics of the country. During the hot and cloudless dry season, you will find moderate humidity and pleasant temperatures day and night. Inland the nights are even cooler. In the state of Queensland lie the Atherton Tablelands where the remaining pockets of forest are magnificent. You could spend days here, driving or hiking through the rainforest to crater lakes and endless small waterfalls, or simply camp out for a night and search for wildlife with a torch.
May is one of the best times to visit
Rough Guide to Australia |
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USA, Monument Valley
This classic Wild West landscape of stark sandstone buttes and forbidding pinnacles of rock, poking from an endless expanse of drifting red sands, has become an archetypal image. Such scenery does exist elsewhere, but nowhere is it so perfectly concentrated and distilled. While movie-makers have flocked here since the early days of Hollywood, the sheer majesty of the valley still takes your breath away. The area is a stronghold of Navajo culture, surprisingly unaffected by tourism. April-May is when the wild flowers bloom in the desert and the temperatures are not scorching.
Make your own movie memory
Rough Guide to Southwest USA |
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Athens
Exploring the Acropolis and its surrounds can easily take up a whole day in Athens. While the spectacular Parthenon is the most imposing of the remains, it's far from the only one. The Acropolis houses an extraordinary collection of Classical Architecture all dating back to the time of the Ancient Athenian democracy. To see some of the artefacts up-close, why not take a visit to the Acropolis Museum, where you will find almost all of the treasures removed from the site since the 1830s. One day the museum hopes to complete its collection with the returned Parthenon Marbles, currently housed in the British Museum.
Visit the ancient world
Athens DIRECTIONS |
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China
There are plenty of scenic spots and places of interest scattered in the hills around Beijing, and no visit would be complete without a trip to the Great Wall. Stretching 6000km in a dotted line across China, the Great Wall was begun in the fifth century BC, and was still being built in the sixteenth century. If remaining sections of the wall were placed together today they would link New York with Los Angeles. Unsurprisingly, there are a number of organised tours to the wall, but one of the best ways to see some of the more deserted sections is to head off on your own tour taking one of the local buses.
Take a walk along the Great Wall of China
The Rough Guide to China
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New York
For most visitors to this vibrant city, shopping in New York is all about 5th Avenue, Madison Avenue and perhaps Greenwich Village for the hip and trendy. However, even this cosmopolitan metropolis offers a taste of rural America with the Union Square Farmer's Market. Held every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 7am and 6pm, the market offers the very best in fresh produce that is ideal for creating the perfect picnic feast to eat later in Central Park.
Take a bite of rural America in New York
New York DIRECTIONS |
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Marrakesh
The Northern Medina is a great place for shopping and the main area of souks, or markets, is centred on Souk Smarine. Historically, this busy and important street was dominated by the sale of textiles and clothing. Today, classier tourist "bazaars" are moving in, titlehough there are still a wide variety of the traditional stalls selling everything from shirts to fezzes. The feeling of being in a labyrinth of hidden treasures is heightened by the passages among the shops, leading through to small covered markets with plenty more to explore.
Wander the maze of hidden markets in Marrakesh
Marrakesh DIRECTIONS |
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South Africa
Boulders Beach near Cape Town has one of only two mainland African penguin colonies in the world. Each year this popular area attracts visitors who want to get a rare look at the entertaining local residents. Formerly known as Jackass penguins, this idyllic reserve is one of the only places where this endangered species is actually rising in number. The reserve is located in the Boulders section of the Table Mountain National Park - open for an extra three hours a day (7am-7pm) from October to March. Named after the impressive cluster of huge rocks that surround the sandy-white beaches and crystal blue waters, Boulders is the perfect place to spend an afternoon practising your own swimming skills.
Go potty over penguins at Boulders Beach
The Rough Guide to Cape Town & the Garden Route |
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Australia
The Little penguin, smallest of all penguins, can only be found in Southern Australian waters. The popular holiday destination of Phillip Island is home to over 20,000 Little penguins, and each evening after dusk visitors can watch the Penguin Parade on a floodlit beach. titlehough it may sound commercial, the parade is a fantastic opportunity to get a rare-look at the penguins and provides the funding for the excellent Penguin Parade Visitor Centre. Long after the parade ends, you can continue to watch the comical antics of the Little penguins from the boardwalks above their burrows, and as they are active most of the night - you could be there for a while!
Watch the Penguin Parade
The Rough Guide to Australia |
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Seville
Sevilla boasts two of the largest festivals in Spain. The first, the Semana Santa (Holy Week at Easter), always spectacular in Andalucia, is here at its peak with extraordinary processions of hooded penitents and impressive pasos or floats decorated with large-as-life scenes from the Passion carried through the streets. The second, the Feria de Abril, is unique to the city. It was once a market festival, but is now converted to a weeklong party of drink, food and flamenco. The feria follows closely on the heels of Semana Santa.
Find out the full list of fiestas in
The Rough Guide to Spain |
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New Orleans
The internationally acclaimed New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (Jazz Fest) is held during the last weekend (Fri-Sun) in April and the first weekend (Thurs-Sun) in May, at the Fair Grounds racetrack near City Park. Starting small in 1969, it has mushroomed to become an enormous affair, attracting nationwide acts and rivalling Mardi Gras in size and importance. The 'jazz' of the title is taken as a loose concept, with a dozen or so stages hosting R&B, gospel, funk, blues, African, Caribbean, Latin, Cajun, folk, bluegrass, reggae, country, Mardi Gras Indian, and brass band music.
Get down and boogie with
New Orleans Directions |
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Celebrated the world over, St Patrick's Day (March 17th) is Ireland's most famous festival. In Dublin however, one day is clearly not enough as the festival runs for four days from March 16th - 20th. The highlight is the Festival Parade in which Irish and International marching bands fill the city with the sounds of Ireland alongside the street theatre companies who together make for a sights and sounds extravaganza. Elaborate costumes and plenty of Guinness make for a guaranteed good time! www.stpatricksday.ie
For more places to party take a look at
The Rough Guide to Ireland
The Rough Guide to Dublin - Mini |
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Las Fallas de San José in Valencia is by far the biggest of the bonfire festivals, and indeed one of the most important fiestas in all Spain. The whole thing costs as much as €1,200,000, most of which goes up in smoke (literally) on the final Nit de foc when the grotesque caricatures, fashioned from papier-mâché and wood are burned. Throughout there are bullfights, music and stupendous fireworks. www.fallas.com
Find out the full list of fiestas in
The Rough Guide to Spain |
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Mallorca
If you enjoy the atmosphere of a beach holiday but also like to spend time exploring the local culture or ancient culture in this case, why not take a trip to Mallorca this Autumn. This idyllic Spanish island is dotted in historic ruins mostly dating from 1400 to 800BC. The pre-historic settlement of Ses Paisses in the south is one of the best-preserved settlements on the island, and in the north there is one of the most delightful examples of an open-air Roman theatre - Teatre Roman. Idyllically located in one of the most pleasant spots on the island; set amidst fruit and olive trees, this Roman site is the perfect place to take a picnic, relax and enjoy the ancient past.
Enjoy the ancient past in Mallorca
Mallorca DIRECTIONS
The Rough Guide to Mallorca & Menorca |
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Rome
Unsurprisingly, there is only one place to go if you truly want to see some of the most spectacular examples of Roman architecture - Italy's capital city Rome. Prepare to be amazed by the completeness and ingenuity of the awesome Colosseum - the most photographed of Rome's monuments. Arguably the most imposing and breath taking of the city's monuments is The Pantheon. Set amidst the cafes and bars of the Piazza della Rotonda, this is the perfect place to enjoy modern-day Rome against a backdrop of ancient times gone by.
When in Rome…
The Rough Guide to Rome
Rome DIRECTIONS
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A trip to Paris, famous as the most romantic of destinations, is one of those lifetime musts. The very fabric of the city is elegant with its grand avenues and atmospheric little avenues. It's also the perfect place to blow out on a meal of a lifetime; try L'Ambroisie offering exquisite food in a magnificent dining room hung with tapestries. Book well in advance. (Tues-Sat noon- 2pm & 7-10.15pm; 9 Place de Vosges; 01 42 78 51 45 )
The perfect Paris pocket guide
Paris Directions |
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Ljublijana; enjoy fabulous architecture and riverside cafes in the enchanting Slovene capital. Most people head straight for the magical old town: strewn with gorgeous Baroque townhouses and stately churches, all wrapped around a regal castle-topped hill, A visit to the mountain regions can also be enjoyed at pretty much any time of year. (Aside from Kranjska Gora in the winter.) Head for the stunning alpine lakes and mountains northwest of the capital where, during the winter, fairytale Lake Bled freezes over, tempting skaters out on the ice.
Discover the magic of Ljublijana
The Rough Guide to Slovenia |
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Kenya
If you really want to experience the 'wild' in wildlife - then a trip to Kenya on Africa's east coast will certainly not disappoint. This is a country where elephants are plentiful, giraffes and zebras roam freely, and where monkeys and baboons are viewed as a local menace. Whether you ride on the wave of caution and stay within the boundaries of one of the country's many reserves, or decide to try a more independent adventure, this country will certainly make you feel closer to nature.
Go wild in Kenya
The Rough Guide to Kenya |
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South America
You don't have to be an ornithologist to appreciate the spectacular array of birdlife that awaits you in South America's second largest country - Argentina. Home to over a thousand species of wild birds - over ten percent of the world's total - and with a remarkable mix of natural habitats, it's no wonder that Argentina has become one of the world's leading holiday destinations for bird-lovers. That said - is there anyone who wouldn't enjoy the sight of a shocking-pink flamingo against the backdrop of a glacier?
A bird-lovers paradise
The Rough Guide to Argentina |
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Boston
One of the best times to visit Boston is in the spring (April through mid-May), when the magnolia trees blossom along Commonwetitleh Avenue and the parks come back to life. Boston is as close to the Old World as the New World gets, an American city that proudly trades on its colonial past, having served a crucial role in the country's development from a few wayward pilgrims right through to the Revolutionary War.
Smell the perfume of a magnolia tree
Rough Guide to Boston |
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South Bohemia
More than any other region, this area conforms to the popular myth of Bohemia as a bucolic backwater of rolling hills and endless forests. A century of conspicuous industrialization and destruction from two world wars have pretty much passed it by. Spring is a good time to visit, as the days tend to warm quickly, with consistently pleasant, mild weather for most of May.
Truly bohemian
Rough Guide to Czech and Slovak Republics |
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Wales
Whether you are admiring castles, choirs, stone circles or Dylan Thomas' home at Laugharne, almost everything in Wales is enhanced by the beauty of the awesome countryside, from the lowland greenery of the river valleys to the inhospitable heights of the moors and mountains. Pembrokeshire, the Wye Valley and Snowdonia are among Wales' most popular camping destinations, but wherever you decide to stop, rest assured that there are plenty of reasonably priced campsites scattered throughout the country.
Pitch your tent in the beautiful Welsh countryside
The Rough Guide to Wales
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Provence
The contrasting landscape of rural fields, remote mountainous regions and the cosmopolitan streets of the Riviera make this one of France's most diverse and beautiful regions. Camping is extremely popular with the French, particularly those from the north of the country, and there is at least one campsite in almost every town and village in Provence. The region is famous for its delightful range of local produce, from strawberries and sweet chestnuts to Muscat grapes and wines, all perfect accompaniments to an evening meal around the campfire.
Own your own dream 'holiday home' in Provence…
The Rough Guide to Provence & the Côte d'Azur |
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