Egypt has long been a popular destination for UK tourists, attracted by the warm weather, the ancient history and the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea Riviera.

Described by travelsupermarket.com as “a country of true diversity – from the flora and fauna of the Nile valley and the barren sands of Sinai Desert to the golden beaches and exotic marine life of the Red Sea Peninsula” Egypt is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Middle East.

Egypt has a rich cultural history, and ancient cities such as Alexandria and the capital Cairo are popular destinations for those looking to explore tombs and museums dedicated to the histories and mythologies of Ancient Egypt.

The capital Cairo has a number of museums dedicated to the ancient history of Egypt – with artefacts and mummies on show at the Egyptian Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts. Cairo is also a fantastic destination for searching for a bargain at one of the many bazaars

Tours of the world famous pyramids at Giza remain one of the biggest tourist draws in Egypt, giving us an insight into fascinating ancient cultures and the chance to explore the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World that remains today.

There are also a number of tours available, which give you the chance to explore all that Egypt has to offer – from the great pyramids and their surrounding desert landscape to the chance to view the sights from a boat trip on the historic River Nile.

Indeed, Giza is home to a number of recognisable Egyptian monuments, including the Great Sphinx – the world’s oldest monolith – and the largest of the pyramids, the Great Pyramid of Cheops.

The coastal resort of Sharm El Sheikh is one of the most popular destinations for scuba enthusiasts. The blue waters of the Red Sea are a prime location for scuba excursions, with a variety of coral reefs and wrecks to explore.

With a variety of beach resorts to choose from, Sharm El Sheikh is a popular destination for those looking to enjoy a short break in the warm desert weather and a dip in the clear blue waters of the Red Sea.

And with a wide variety of activities to see and do in and around the resorts of Sharm El Sheikh – from scuba diving excursions to desert tours – what was once a small fishing village has become a prime destination for Egypt holidays.

Whether you’re looking to explore ancient tombs or take the plunge into the clear blue waters off the coast and explore beautiful coral reefs, Egypt is a country that has something to offer every type of tourist.

My wife and I have always had a tendency to take exhausting vacations filled with lots of moving around with morning till night activity. Visiting the land of the Pennsylvania Dutch, or Amish, was an excellent alternative. Lancaster County, which is a reasonable stone’s throw from Philadelphia, has the well deserved reputation of being the garden spot of America. It owes this distinction to the hundreds of years of effort expended by the local Amish farmers. It’s their lifestyle that draws people to the area, and my wife and I were no exceptions. Imagine spending a vacation being voyeurs to an entire community.

We spent a week in a fine, clean, inexpensive, and unmemorable motel just outside of Philadelphia, which required only a short easy drive to be right in the heart of the Amish countryside, easily recognized by the abundance of horse drawn carriages. As would be expected in a productive farming area, food is plentiful and excellent.

One famous restaurant in Lancaster, called the Good and Plenty, absolutely must be visited. We entered the restaurant, which is always busy, expecting the usual separate tables with two to four seats. Instead we found a great hall with family sized tables filled with guests sharing country style service. The food is excellent. The chicken pot pie is superb, and I can’t really speak about the pastries. I’m still full from the shoofly pie and apple dumplings.
Naturally, shopping for Amish made wares is a prime activity when visiting the area. If you’re into high quality collectible quilts, Lancaster is heaven. Amish women are queens of the craft, and every country store and gift shop has excellent handmade quilts for sale. Homemade jams, preserves, and jellies are also excellent gifts to take home or send to friends.

Not all of Lancaster’s farm products are sold at local shops. Most farmers bring their produce and crafts into the Farmer’s Market in downtown Philadelphia. My wife and I spent a full morning browsing and shopping at the market. It was a cultural learning experience, meeting and talking with the Amish farmers and their wives. During the afternoon, after our shopping spree, we did all of the touristy things expected from visitors to Philadelphia like visiting Betsy Ross’s house, the Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall.

If you should decide to follow in our footsteps into Lancaster County, be sure to plan your vacation during the warm season. Pennsylvania enjoys a robust four season climate. Unless you enjoy deep snow, avoid visiting Lancaster in winter. Enjoy the rich lush green countryside with the bright sun in your face.

There are many who travel for business purposes who, being driven by time and schedules, do not have the opportunity to look for cheap flights or to employ many money saving strategies. When travelling for fun, entertainment, or vacation, however, people do have options. The cost of airline travel today has become the major determinant as to when and where you take your next vacation. There are ways to save money, however. All it takes is a little extra time, patience, preparation, and common sense.

Don’t select an airline just because someone told you that they flew with them once and thought they were really great. Do your own research. Cheap flights are what you’re after. Check prices on the Internet. Use website like Priceline and Expedia to get prices and then compare their prices with the cost of making arrangements for the same flight directly with the airline.

Book your flight as far ahead as possible, at least one month ahead, but much sooner is better. Airlines, like all businesses, like to have a firm handle on projected income. When you book a flight early, they benefit and you get a lower price. Early booking can result in significant savings.

Try never to book a flight on a traditionally busy holiday or event weekends. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break are typical examples of weekends during which airlines will demand their premium prices. Some travelers, who can afford time away from work, travel the weekend before the traditional holidays, and use the money saved to pay for the extra nights in a hotel.

Sometimes, getting cheap flights requires spending more time getting to your destination. Air travel that involves multiple interconnecting flights traditionally cost less than non-stop flights. The more interconnects the greater savings. Do your math, however, and make sure that boarding fees and luggage charges do not eat up the savings. Be flexible about schedule. Selecting a late-night or midweek flight can save and may also allow you to travel in an uncrowded aircraft.

Be thoughtful when packing your bags. Pack lightly. Airlines are beginning to charge for everything but the air that you breathe. Take only what you need. Find out if your hotel has a hair dryer, an iron, and an ironing board. Is there a radio in the room? Never bring anything with you that will be available when you get there.
Extra baggage can be very expensive, and baggage that is not with you always runs the risk of being lost. If you can manage with only a carryon bag, you’ll be way ahead of the pack with regards to cost and risk of loss.

While not recommended for a trip with a short stay at the destination, if you are planning on being away for some time, consider shipping your luggage on ahead by ground transport, as long as you have someone or an organization that you trust to mind them until you arrive.

One final strategy keeping cheap flights cheap, plan not to spend your hard earned cash on food and drinks served on the flight. Bring your own snacks. Why pay a premium for stale peanuts, when you can bring some fresh ones from home for only pennies. Be sure to bring a good book won’t be bored into the temptation of paying to watch an in-flight movie.