Bulgaria. Cheap and sunny. If those were the first things that sprung into your mind, well you’d be right. However, it’s not all cheap food and sunshine, the Black Sea resort of Sunny Beach is lively, action-packed, with something for everyone. Of course, an average temperature of 27 degrees doesn’t harm its popularity either!

Sunny Beach is lively, full of activities and the quintessential summer destination. Recently dubbed a Club 18-30s resort, if partying is your thing, you’re in luck. However, it’s possible to escape the hedonism and enjoy a family break here, with plenty to keep the kids occupied.

Flights leave the UK regularly during summer, direct to nearby Bourgas, lasting a comfortable 3½ hours, with a 2½ hour transfer. Most UK airports offer cost-effective extras, such as Luton Airport Parking, saving you stress and money before you take off.

All those saved pennies will come in handy when you hit the plentiful shops in Sunny Beach, and the nearby bazaar; a great opportunity to practice your haggling skills and grab yourself a bargain or three. Haggling is great fun once you get over the initial oddness of it all, and it’s possible to come away with fantastic souvenirs at half the asking price! The usual fare of bags, purses, spices and trinkets sit floor to ceiling, waiting for you to buy.

Sunny Beach is home to, of course, a rather spectacular beach. Wide and long, with a Blue Flag award, the beach is sandy, with crystal clear water. A huge range of water-sports are available, along with volleyball and tennis for the energetic amongst you. Despite the scorching sun, the nearby Balkan mountains ensure a slight, cooling breeze – remember that sun cream!

Of course when you’re done sunning on the beach, you’ve done water-sports and had an adventure at the aquapark, you might want to head off on a day-trip for a little culture, and nearby Nessebur is a great place to visit. One of the oldest towns in Bulgaria, Nessebur is home to stunning architecture and medieval churches, steeped in history. The Basilica of Holy Mother Eleusa is a must-see. Nessebur is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, so there’s a recommendation, if ever there was one!

Head to Bourgas for a cosmopolitan town with many shopping opportunities. Despite being modern and bustling, Bourgas still maintains much of its old charm and cultural influences. Bourgas is home to an international folk festival in summer, check the dates, for a colourful, musical treat with a difference.

When night falls in Sunny Beach, you have the choice of rowdy or quiet. There are more clubs and bars than you can shake a stick at, with lively nightclubs for those that want to party until dawn. However, maybe the open air cinema? Maybe dinner at one of the many restaurants? Whilst you’re there, try some traditional Bulgarian food. A popular and refreshing dish is Tarator; a cold soup consisting of yogurt, cucumber, garlic, walnut and dill. It’s surprisingly yummy!

Now much more accessible, holiday prices are very reasonable, with the cost of eating out quite low. Saving money where you can is the name of the game these days, and booking holiday extras, such as Gatwick parking will go a long way to increasing holiday spends. Of course, great value extras, such as airport hotels, give you a chilled out start, and Birmingham Airport Parking is also available, at fantastic prices.

So, a visit to Sunny Beach? I think the name alone sells it!

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Holiday makers to Spain can now enjoy the facilities of self-catering homes that have been popularized by Holiday home rentals. These types of comfortable flats in Madrid and other parts of Spain offer great privacy along with various kinds of accessories to make your stay memorable and fun.

Spanish tourism abounds in a dazzling display of historical treasures and city life, apart from the flora and fauna, mosaic nature, festivals, indigenous cultures and great variety of foods. Relax on the white sandy beaches of the Mediterranean in the day and enjoy the nightlife that Valencia has to offer. Holiday home rentals excel in providing you the perfect platform to help you explore the wondrous bounties of this futuristic country.

The tourist destinations in Spain offer various attractions. Granada is where the palace, Alhambra, lies in all its majesty.  The holiday apartments offer captivating and stunning views of Sierra Nevada with the spectacular countryside that surrounds these Mountain ranges. The holiday home rentals have beautiful swimming pools, gardens, modern amenities, such as electronic gadgets, closed garages and great household furniture.

Barcelona offers a terrific blend of vibrant urban city life and old buildings that boast of gothic architecture.  Visit the Picasso Museum, or the Santa Catarina Market which offers great nightlife.  Rentals, to suit every budget, are available by way of cottages, villas or apartments in Barcelona, that self-cater and are easily affordable.  Most of the holiday homes are sea-facing and that is the reason tourists prefer them to staying in hotels. The capital of Spain, Madrid, is another city that abounds with nightlife, bars and musical extravaganza. Holiday rentals are proud to offer great penthouses, villas and apartments to entice tourists to arrive in large numbers to their vacation homes with extra amenities, such as maid service, freezer, over and sub-beds. They also have attractive packages in Madrid for enthusiasts who love playing golf.

Visit the Coto de Donana National Park, which is renowned for its natural pristine beauty.  Tourists who wish to spot the variety of colored birds and birdwatchers can also select country houses that border the reserve area to get their fill of watching these beautiful birds.  Las Alpujarras is a mountainous region where tourists can head to if they are interested in hiking and trekking.  Guests are welcomed with traditional hospitality to the village homes with great amenities in spite of living in rugged terrains. There are many orchards, swimming pools, olive groves and water-ways that were famous during the Arabian rule. Holiday makers can visit Lanjaron, which has a wealth of history and Cost-del-sol, as there is plenty to see and do in these places. Honeymooners, who head to these destinations, enjoy the seclusion of these country houses as they can enjoy viewing breathtaking scenes of the sunrise and sunset from these ideal locations.

Reserve your accommodation by booking online with the managers, who offer great options for the tourists, as well as the property owners. Thanks to the Internet, tourists can explore various options and take advantage of the new dimensions created for their comfort. Vacationers can enjoy a dream holiday by staying in these spacious, affordable apartments from Wimdu.

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Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, is an area of superlative buzz. Over the last ten years it has played host to an enormous boom of sun-seeking, cheap-thrills-holidaymakers who make there way to this Spanish outlet in there droves on low-cost flights from all parts of the surrounding European continent. It does, therefore, demonstrate a little too keenly at times the traditional hallmarks of an overdose in the spotlight – such as the overcrowded beaches of Playa de las Americas and the sometimes characterless collection of hotel restaurants that line its shores. That said it caters for a specific crew, those seeking sunshine, postcard perfect palms, long stretches of golden sand, glow-stick inspired revelry, and all that lies in between. And it must be said, it does this very well. If this is your thing, then go for it. If not, then there is another side to the island that might appeal, a side that attracts nature lovers, architectural admirers, culinary enthusiasts and sports fanatics.

Firstly, its worth mentioning that accommodation on the island varies greatly, from the to-be-expected cockroach infested double bed flats in the hills above the aforementioned Playa de las Americas, to the sublimely executed 5* all inclusive resorts in the south of the Island. Rooms of the former variety are advertised at highish rates, and often come with the tag line of ‘beach view balcony’ or something of similar, dubious appeal… It’s worth checking what this actually means before making one of these your bed for the week. Mid priced Tenerife hotels can also be misleading, and in the high tourist areas close to either the North or South airport, do expect concrete multiplexes. You will however, be rewarded if you are prepared to step out from the geographical convenience of the main transport hubs and into the countryside, where the striking vistas of volcanic landscapes and backdrops of palm studded evergreen forestry make you wonder whether you are still on the same island! If you are looking for just such an example of the different types of accommodation found on the island then the ultimate option would be the Abama Hotel & Resort. Set entirely in its own private 160 hectare grounds, in the secluded Guía de Isora region, the Abama has its own proffesional golf course (with 22 lakes…), 14 different bars and restaurants, and plenty of activities for the family. Understandably the Abama comes with a hefft price tag, and has become a celebrity hang out of late.

Tenerife restaurants are, as with the accommodation, extremely variable. Party-goers would rarely get the chance to delve into the roots of the local cuisine, and it’s a shame because its can be extremely satisfying. For starters, its worth remembering that Tenerife sits not far off the coast of Africa and with that comes the vast selection of wonderful seafood from the Atlantic Ocean.  The most common fish varieties are comb-tooth blennies, the sea bream, red porgy, gold lined bream and grouper. You can also find Atlantic mackerel, sardine and Moray eels.  Often seafood is simply prepared, either boiled or baked.  During your holidays make sure to try wrinkly potatoes, or papas arrugadas, covered with a local mojo sauce to add some garlicly kick to the meal. Potatoes are something of a specialty in Tenerife, as they are cooked in very salty water – which is left to evaporate completely, leaving hard, salty and crispy skins – much like your skin after a week in high season splashed out on Playa de las Americas. Excellent!

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Planning a trip to the land of leprechauns and ale? Whilst there is no guarantee of an actual sighting of a real life leprechaun, Ireland most definitely promises a vast natural beauty and a hospitable atmosphere to boot. Made up of two parts, Ireland comprises of the Republic of Ireland (which covers the land’s majority) and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. Although sharing a relatively modest and unpredictable climate with Great Britain, Ireland offers a multitude of unique and inspiring activities amidst a picturesque natural setting with a rich cultural heritage. Ireland is bursting with unusual outdoor holiday experiences, and is the perfect destination for those who seek outdoor adventure.

Some perfect ways to soak in some fresh air and breath-taking views are through hikes around Walkabout Wicklow, Skellig Michael and the Mountain View Horse Riding Centre. If the weather doesn’t allow for outdoor escapades, another interesting option would be to opt for one of Ireland’s infamous cooking courses. Some of the more popular cookery schools include; Ballyknocken House and Cookery School in Glenealy, where courses are taught in the beautiful grounds of a Victorian country house; Donnybrook Fair Restaurant, Food Hall and Cookery School, which fuses a restaurant, school and deli in an urban setting, and the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Shanagarry.

If it’s the eating part that appeals most, rather than slaving away over a stove yourself, then luckily you’ll find a multitude of well-respected eateries that exhibit everything that Irish cuisine has to offer. Typically you’ll find national dishes like hearty Irish stews, boxty (Irish potato pancake), colcannon (mash potato with kale or cabbage), coddle (stewed pork, bacon and potato) and black pudding. You’ll also find an impressive selection of real ales and stouts in one of the many friendly local pubs, where the choices on offer will suit everyone from the selective drinker to the full blown alcohol connoisseur. There are also dozens of recommendable restaurants in Ireland to choose from, with different areas offering various takes on the Irish culinary experience.

Depending on where you decide to stay, the list below covers some critically acclaimed restaurants to sink your teeth into. Some popular Ireland restaurants include; The Huntsman Inn in Galway, The Upper Deck Cafe in New Ross, Fenns Quay Restaurant in Cork, and The Aquarium Restaurant in Offaly. There are also a number of themed eating experiences, from the historic surroundings of Harrigan’s Cafe Bar in Kildare and Kilgraney House in Carlow, to the romantic waterside settings of Aqua Restaurant in Dublin and Gargoyles in Kildare. If you’re unsure about where to anchor your travels, click here for more information on Ireland.

Once you’ve decided on a region, there are plenty of places to stay in Ireland, from high end hotels to characteristic bed and breakfasts. On the hotel front, there’s the highly recommended Old Imperial in Cork, the Wellington Park Hotel in Belfast and the Diamond Coast Hotel in Sligo. If you’re after a more intimate and homely experience, there are plenty of lovely little bed and breakfasts to try out across Ireland. Some particularly noteworthy establishments include the Seaview in Galway, Calhame House in Mayo and Ballyboy House in Tipperary. Whilst hotels and bed and breakfasts are popular accommodation options, they are by no means the only ones; there are also a number of hostels, camp sites and guest houses to choose from. To sample the full extent of Irish hospitality, a great idea would be to plan a combination of a few. If doing this, I’d recommend starting with the camping and ending in a hotel- nothing beats concluding your holiday in luxury!

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