Where to visit

English: Inside Luton Hoo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Luton Hoo

Luton Hoo is a stately home that was designed by Robert Adam in the 18th Century. It is set in a thousand acres, which are made up of parkland and gardens. The mansion house is now a five-star hotel, the Luton Hoo Hotel, and this possesses an 18 hole golf course and a spa. The Luton Hoo Hotel also offers corporate hospitality and wedding packages. Because of its history and reputation, Luton Hoo is one of the most prestigious wedding venues in Bedfordshire.

Woburn Abbey

Woburn Abbey is listed in the top ten of English Treasure Houses, which are houses deemed to be of historical importance. Woburn Abbey is surrounded by 3,000 acres, and there are various gardens in the abbey grounds for visitors to enjoy. There is also an impressive deer park, and the famous Woburn Safari Park, which is designed to be a memorable experience for all the family. Woburn also hosts weddings and corporate events, and has its own inn.

Wrest Park

An English Heritage site, Wrest Park is situated near Silsoe. The park itself has a mansion, built in a French style, at its heart, and the grounds include Italian and Rose Gardens. Consisting of around 90 acres, there are miles of pathways, and also in the grounds are statues and garden buildings. On the first Sunday of each month, visitors are able to see Wrest Park’s Chinese and French Wallpaper Rooms. Wrest Park is also available as a wedding reception venue.

Woodland Manor

Woodland Manor is now a hotel, and is a manor house near Bedford with an intriguing past. The house was built in 1901, and in the Second World War it was used as both a guest house and a hospital, before becoming a hotel in 1973. Woodland Manor Hotel is situated in a picturesque location of wooded grounds, and the hotel can be used for conferences or weddings.

London is one of the most exciting capitals in Europe and driving can be a great way to see its many attractions. It can be a daunting experience, especially if you have never driven in the UK before. Here are some top tips for driving in London:

1. Drive on the left

Never forget that we drive on the left in the UK. It might take some getting used to if you’ve always driven on the right, but simply follow the traffic and you’ll be okay.

2. Know your route

Get a street atlas or A to Z to help you avoid getting lost whilst out and about. Some cheap car hire London firms like Alamo offer GPS in their vehicles.

3. Be in the right frame of mind

Driving in a major city like London can be a bit frightening but approach it with a clear and calm mind. Think of it as an experience like no other and have fun. You’ll enjoy it a lot more with this kind of attitude.

4. Allow yourself plenty of time

Congestion and other delays can lengthen journeys considerably. Always allow plenty of time to take any potential delays into consideration.

5. Plan for parking

Parking availability and pricing in London ranges from great to terrible. Find out the best parking near to the attraction you want to visit beforehand.

6. Remember the Congestion Charge

Visitors to the capital may not be familiar with the Congestion Charge. This is a charge for driving into central London and starts from Westminster to the City of London. Cameras automatically record your numberplate and you may be fined if you don’t pay it. Transport for London’s website has a map and pre-payment facility (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/default.aspx)

7. Switch off your phone

Driving while using your mobile phone is illegal here, so please turn it off for your own safety and avoid a fine in the process.

8. Drive in the posted speed limit

There are numerous speed cameras in London. Don’t risk fines by going past the speed limit. You can be tracked down through your car hire company and it’s not worth the hassle.

9. Ask for help

There are lots of friendly staff at London hotels, cafes and other places. Never be afraid to ask for directions if you’re lost.

Are you planning to spend your holiday vacations in Las Vegas? If this is the case then you must first know about the best hotels in Las Vegas. Planning for reliable and affordable accommodation in advance is essential before visiting Las Vegas. The following is the list of top 3 Las Vegas hotels that you can choose for accommodation in advance.

photo credit: Gaffke Photography v2.8

1) Bellagio Resort and Casino in Las Vegas - If you are looking for lavish lifestyle and world class facilities then Bellagio Resort and Casino tops the list for best hotels in Las Vegas. It is situated in Strip area of the city. Thousands of people visit this hotel every year just to see the magnificent water fountain show featuring thousands of fountains dancing on the music at a time. This hotel has several highlights such as beautiful decoration, botanical conservatory, huge landscape, multi-colored glasses, and an European pool, etc. There are other popular tourist attractions in this hotel like the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, indoor mall, 928-room spa tower, Cirque du Soleil Show, etc. Bellagio Resort and Casino is truly the most favorite choice for tourists visiting Las Vegas.

photo credit: photographerglen
2) Luxor Las Vegas - Luxor is also the world famous hotel in Las Vegas situated in Paradise, Nevada region. Its unique feature is its 120,000 sq ft casino floor which contains more than 2,000 slot machines and 87 table games. This hotel also features 4 swimming pools, whirlpools, Nurture Spa and Salon, wedding chapel, huge convention space, and more than 29 retail stores. Unique lives shows such as Criss Angel – Believe, Menopause the Musical are highlights of Luxor Las Vegas. Excellent food verities and food court featuring brands such as McDonalds, Quiznos, Little Caesars Pizza, etc. are available at this hotel for food lovers.

photo credit: Omar Le Fou
3) Encore Las Vegas - This hotel is also located in the Strip region and it features more than 2,034 suits to stay for the tourists. Some of these suites range from 700 sq ft to 5,800 sq ft in area. This hotel has received several Forbes 5 star awards for its top notch customer service and world class amenities. Huge food varieties are available at Encore Las Vegas with 11 retail outlets, exclusive night club, excellent spa and salon and other luxurious services. Every hotel room is equipped with 42 inches to 46 inches of flat screen TVs, world class office equipments, single touch climate control, mini bar, etc.

These 3 hotels top the list when it comes to decide the best Las Vegas hotels.

In this guest post Amy from Easyjet takes us through the top beer festivals to visit in Germany

photo credit: Vitor Pamplona

Germany is known for many things, including efficiency, quality manufacturing, delicious baked goods and beautiful scenery. But perhaps nothing is more famed than its beer and annual beer festivals. In cities and towns throughout Germany, beer festivals are held each year to commemorate certain occasions and provide a great time to local citizens and visitors. Here is some information on the top 5 beer festivals in Germany:

1. Oktoberfest: Easily the most famous and largest beer festival in Germany, Oktoberfest is an annual event held in Munich, and is a large part of local Bavarian culture. Beer is the main attraction, and only those beers brewed in the local area surrounding Munich are allowed to be served to patrons. Flights to Munich from the UK start from £23.99

2. Cannstatter Volksfest: This beer festival is held every autumn in Stuttgart, Germany. With just over 4 million annual visitors, it is the second largest beer festival in the country, after Munich’s Oktoberfest. It is a commemoration of a bountiful harvest, first started in 1817. The symbol of the festival is a giant fruit column that weighs over 3 tons and stands 26 meters in height.

3. Gäubodenvolksfest: This is another Bavarian beer festival, held in the town of Straubing. It is similar in many ways to the Oktoberfest, and has over 1 million annual visitors. Only beers from the surrounding region are served there, and each year the festival begins with a traditional “bierprobe”, or beer testing day, followed by a historical parade with attendees is traditional Bavarian clothing.

4. Bierbörse: The city of Cologne hosts a small but exciting beer festival each year in August called Bierbörse. Thousands of varieties are offered, and traditional German foods are sold by vendors dotting the streets. Although it only lasts for 3 days, the atmosphere is vibrant and well worth a visit. Flights to Cologne from the UK start from £24.99.

5. International Berlin Beer Festival: This is the biggest beer festival in Frankfurt, and takes place on on weekend in August each year. Over 2,000 varieties of beer are available along a 2 kilometer stretch of vendors, which is called the “Beer Mile” by locals. Flights to Berlin from the UK start from £28.99

Whether you visit one of the these top 5 beer festivals or one of the many smaller options throughout Germany, you certainly won’t be disappointed!

Cheap flights are available if you book your flight in advance. The only question is how soon should you book a flight? The cost of fuel today causes many flights to be far more expensive than usual. So it really is a question of timing. Here is a look at how far in advance you should book a flight.

Timing

The timing of your holiday and the destination will greatly affect the cost of your flight. If you travel to the United States during the summer months then you will get a higher rate. If you time it properly however, then you can still have that summer trip and save a bit. You must book your flights as early as possible however in order to avoid higher fares and get these reduced rates. If you are traveling internationally during the summer then you really need to book in advance. If you fail to do that you could end up not being able to even get a flight to your destination.

Some exceptions to that rule do exist. Some airfare may actually be cheaper just prior to the flight. They might potentially have seats that open up at the last minute. These seats often come at a reduced cost to you. It is up to you to decide how much risk that you would like to take.

The Fare

Any holiday that you plan needs to be organized so that you can enjoy your trip and not have to worry about other aspects. Talk to your travel agent regarding any incidentals that might occur regarding your flight. That way you are prepared ahead of time, and you can get the best fare. You don’t want incidentals to happen that you are not aware of. Taxes, gratuities and that sort of thing can be a surprise added to your fare and can greatly affect your holiday.

Location of your Seat

The location of your seats on the plane can greatly affect the cost. You would be surprised at how greatly the fare can vary depending on your location of the seat on your flight. Your travel agent can also greatly affect this. So when you are booking your trip be sure to ask your travel agent about any discounts that they can get regarding the location of the seat on the flight.

Special Offers

Some airlines and travel agencies have offers at various times of the year. If you plan your holiday during those times then you can often get fantastic rate. Also remember that you should always get round trip tickets rather than one-way tickets. You never know what the return cost could be when you try to come home. You don’t want to take any risk like that.

Destination

Some destinations have optimum times for travel. International travel for example should require more time and preparation. Avoid the peak times for holidays by traveling to Europe during the fall to winter period. Most people travel to Europe in the spring and summer. So avoid that and book at least 6 months in advance in order to get the best fare.

Some events and locations can also be an issue to the cost. It is very important to note that some locations have holidays and events at various times of the year. One example is the Alps. You don’t want to book a holiday there during the winter if the cost of the fare is an issue. Just because it is winter does not ensure that you will always get a great rate. Everything comes into play when you travel.

Conclusion

Your rates will vary by many factors when you travel anywhere. You should always book your flights at least 6 months in advance to make sure that you get the very best rate for the flight. Your holiday should be well planned 6 months in advance in order to get the best rates.

Europe is a happening continent. There are a multitude of great bars and nightclubs located throughout Europe that offer experiences that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. There are many choices for the enthusiastic par tiers. Anything that a person could want can be found somewhere on the European continent. However, what are the three top famous night clubs in Europe?

3. Fabric in London, England
The third most famous nightclub in Europe is Fabric. Fabric is located in London, England. More than once, Fabric has scored the coveted title of Best Club in the World.  This great club In the heart of England’s biggest city was the first to have the Bodysonic-style dance floor in Europe.  The Bodysonic dance floor is a very unique invention.  It uses over 400 bass transducers to blast music directly into the bodies of the clubbers hrough their very feet.  Fabric has been celebrated by many for shining a spotlight on underground dance music.  Fabric also has some of the hottest DJs in the world to come and spin for them.

2. Cocoon in Frankfurt, Germany
The second most famous club in all of Europe is the Cocoon.  Cocoon is located in Frankfurt, Germany.  This club is famous for it’s link to the legendary club DJ Sven Vath.  This Is a dynamic place that offers a dance floor that is over 25,000 square feet wide.  The guests are offered their own private cocoons with mini bars with light controls and even cutting edge sound systems.  It also has a 360 degree screen that bounces images and light to bounce off of the walls.  This is a truly awe-inspiring sight to see and a great place to hear music.  It has great acoustics that are very noticeable to even casual acoustic enthusiasts.   This is the perfect uber-modern club.  It is trendy but completely welcoming.

1. Space in Ibiza, Spain
Spain’s club Space is the most famous club in all of Europe. Space is an Ibiza institution.  Space is one of the hot party island’s most popular attractions.  This club can easily hold 20,000 people.  It is nominated for Best Global Club for its world-class sound system that has been used by the top DJs in the world.

Any real partied has to visit all of these bars. Every club on this club will delight and excite even the most jaded dancers and socialites. These are the kinds of clubs that just make everyone incredibly happy to be alive and feeling fine.