The wide range of cheap flights to Dublin means that a holiday in the Emerald Isle is so much more affordable than it used to be.  Dublin itself can be used as a base to explore the rest of the country, though if you want to wander off the beaten track, it is a good idea to hire a car. 

Travelling to the south of the country there is the popular tourist destination of County Cork.  Here there are a number of attractions which will suit most tastes, most notably Blarney Castle, where visitors can kiss the Blarney Stone.  The heritage town of Youghal is a Norman walled port which was home to Sir Walter Raleigh, who is said to have planted Ireland’s first potatoes here.

Also to the south is the town of Waterford, home to the world famous crystal.  There is a visitor centre there and hundreds of thousands go each year to learn more about the history of the crystal and see it being created. 

While there are lots of historical attractions in Ireland, if you are travelling with children it may not be as fun for them, so why not make the trip to Wexford to the Pirates Cove Adventure Park?  It is a great day out and children will find plenty there to keep them amused. 

With regular flights to London and other UK and international destinations, Dublin Airport sees hundreds of thousands of people come and go each year and many make Ireland a regular holiday destination. 

Albuquerque is tucked into the American Southwest, a high desert gem that will astound you with its natural beauty and small-town atmosphere.  The culture is a mix of American Indian, mestizo, Hispanic and White.  English and Spanish are spoken almost equally here, so close is it to the Mexican border.

To get the most from your trip, rent a holiday villa or apartment.  From your “base camp” you can venture out and see some of this area’s stunning beauty, or spend a day at the Albuquerque Biological Park, which consists of the zoo, aquarium, botanical gardens and Tingley Beach, an aquatic park.  If you’re still not worn out after all that, head for Cliff’s Amusement Park for some of the most hair-raising, fast-paced rides you’re likely to come across.

Want something a little more restful?  The Albuquerque Museum of Art & History, in Albuquerque’s Old Town, has a great mix of art and history.  If you’re willing to travel a few miles outside of town, the Pueblo Indian Cultural Centre is a marvellous introduction to the indigenous people of this area.  See dances, eat authentic food, and stroll through exhibits that will give you an idea of the richness of this culture.

Albuquerque is situated at the base of the Sandia Mountains.  Grab a jacket and take the Tramway tour of about 20 minutes to the top of the mountains.  The vistas are spectacular – don’t forget your camera – and there are trails available for hiking in the summer.  You can ski from the tram in the winter.

The area is known for the mining of precious metals, and there are a number of business people who will design and create custom-made gold jewellery for you during your visit.  What better way to return home than with a gift that will last a lifetime?

In the debate on whether France or Italy has the best skiing, Mont Blanc sits as an impartial judge between the two countries. If nothing else, as the highest mountain in the Alps, Mont Blanc does appear to have a distinct ambience on either side of its summit.

The Chamonix Valley in France has historical significance in the sport of skiing for being the first host of the Winter Olympics in 1924. The six ski areas in the Vallée Blanche offer different skiing experiences for every level of skier or snowboarder.

The people living and visiting Chamonix are an important part of the resort as is its traditional ski resort charm. Chamonix caters to a wide range of visitors where people on a budget can enjoy themselves as much as any jet setter. Seeing brands like Patagonia, The North Face, Chanel, and Swarovski are common along with bargain-store fashion.

Over in Italy, ‘easy going’ is a term that describes the atmosphere on the Italian side of Mont Blanc with regards to its resorts and après ski. Courmayeur in the Val d’Osta is a small but picturesque, traditional skiing village with more than sixty miles of trails.

Courmayeur itself has a traffic-free village centre but is accessible from the slopes via cable car. It does not matter if personal tastes run from chic to casual; Courmayeur never loses its friendly, welcoming, laid-back charm.

Regardless of which side of Mont Blanc is picked for a ski holiday, the ability to ski in both France and Italy on the same holiday can be done with ease.

Carnival Cruise ‘fun ships’ are a great way to spend a holiday. With a vast choice of cruises to destinations such as Alaska, Europe and the Caribbean, Carnival Cruises have something for everyone. Those looking for a very short break with no destination in mind can even book a ‘Cruise to Nowhere’ holiday allowing them to enjoy all the entertainment the ship has to offer while sailing two nights out to sea and back.

With many optional shore excursions such as shopping in Waikiki or visiting Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, taking a gondola ride in Venice or even glass blowing in Monaco and tours of Monte Carlo, there is entertainment to suit every taste.

On board entertainment includes cafes and bistros where you can while away some time watching people go by on their way to the spa or even to the onboard art gallery. Evening entertainment includes many fun shows, cabarets and comedians and you can even try your luck at one of the on board casinos.

A choice of staterooms means there is something to suit all budgets, from an interior room with luxury soft furnishings, to an ocean view room that boasts large windows to help you enjoy your breath taking surroundings, to a balcony suite with its separate indoor sitting area and balcony where you can sit outside and enjoy fresh air. Carnival Cruises also have Penthouse suites, with all the luxury of the balcony suite with added walk-in closet space and whirlpool baths.

The Algarve in Portugal is an ideal location for renting a holiday apartment. Whether with family or friends this pleasant, sun kissed opening off the Mediterranean with its soft sandy beaches and adventurous, wild seas provides the perfect respite to city chaos.

Lovely appointed apartments make the area one of the most favoured golf holiday destinations and there are plenty of well-manicured greens for amateurs and professionals alike to have a round.

Excellent destinations with nearby golf courses include:

Vilamoura – a picturesque coastal resort on Portugal’s south coast in the heart of the Algarve’s tourist region. There are a number of recommended golf courses locally, the beach and sea life is exceptional and there are interesting Roman ruins nearby and an adventure aquatic park as well.

Albufeira – this busy Algarve fishing resort takes its name from the Arabic for “castle by the sea” and Albufeira is a bustling holiday location with lively bars and restaurants and plenty of sporting activities within easy reach. Golf is ever popular here but there is also a thriving yacht chartering service and lots of wave action in the sea.

Monte Gordo – a suburb of Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Monte Gordo borders the Spanish region of Ayamonte and ever since the 1960’s has been recognised as a swinging hot spot. There are lots of vibrant, trendy bars and cafés, a casino and nightclubs. For those looking to get away from the noise and excitement there is a museum and local archaeological sites to explore.

Portimao, is the perfect location for lovers of aquatic pastimes. Portimao has wonderful beaches and sea fronts where you can swim, surf and sail under the constant Portuguese summer sun.   

The capital of Belgium and being entirely surrounded by Dutch-speaking Flanders, Brussels is one of the most important cities in Europe and sees millions of cheap flights coming into the city annually. Seen as the capital of the European Union, as well as a crossroads of cultures, Brussels can be described as perhaps the very essence of the cultural melting pot. However, despite its diversity, it still retains its own unique character and charm and regardless of whether you are one of the many visitors taking flights from Edinburgh to Brussels or from anywhere else in the world, there is a lot to explore within the city itself; certainly enough to keep any traveller busy for several weeks at least.

Brussels is a complex mixture of modern and medieval. As an international hub it regularly sees travellers coming in, as well as going out on flights to London or flights to Aberdeen and other destinations throughout the world. Whether one chooses to visit such sites as the la Grand Place de Grote Markt, walk the streets of the historic centre or view the Manneken Pis, there are plenty of architectural wonders throughout the city to suit every taste. Above and beyond the older architecture, the city boasts a wide number of modern skyscrapers and major business corporations and while many visitors book cheap flights to Brussels specifically to take in the Bohemian atmosphere of the Saint Gilles portion of the city, others come here specifically on business trips related to the European Union.

Visitors to Iceland are seduced by everything about it, from the wild glacial beauty of its scenery to its avant-garde art and music scene, and no visit is complete without a stopover in the capital city of Reykjavik. The atmosphere in the many bars, clubs and cafes is young, cool and creative. It’s a beautiful, clean city, with a focus on healthy living and sports including skiing and dog sledding. There are lots of fascinating reminders of the country’s Viking heritage too. You can rent a funky apartment in the city centre or a spacious holiday home with gardens in a leafy neighbourhood – it’s a fairly compact city, so wherever you stay, you’re never far from all the action. Here are some top tips to help you make the most of your visit:

•    Choose the time of year carefully as there are 22 hours of daylight in the summer and a perpetual gloom and blizzards in the winter. The best time of year to see the Northern Lights is between November and February.

•    Why not coincide your visit with an event such as the Arts Festival in May/June, the Independence Day celebrations on 17th June, or the Winter Lights Festival in February?

•    Try some Icelandic culinary specialities including fresh seafood dishes, salt cod and smoked lamb.

•    Visit the Arbaejarsafn for a unique collection of old Icelandic buildings, rebuilt on a site outside the city, complete with arts and crafts demonstrations in the summer.

If you totally adore skiing then you are probably one of those people who wish it were winter all year round. There are places at such high altitudes that they are still cold enough to ski, snowboard, and snow hike even in the middle of the summer.

The Tyrol Mountains in Austria between Innsbruck and Salzburg offers all year skiing. The Otztaler Alps and Kaunertal Valley provide both outstanding snowy peaked mountain views and plenty of skiing any time of the year. Other possibilities exist in Europe on the glaciers around Zell am See and the villages around Mount Dachstein are a popular draw.

Zermatt in Switzerland and Tignes in France are other well-known locations for glacial runs during the summer months. Tignes is a snowboarder’s paradise with over 20 km of area to glide over. Zermatt is a more traditional ski destination with ski lifts and views of the Matterhorn.

Year round skiers in Canada head for the Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia as a classic site for winter sports with summer weather.  Across the border Oregon is favoured by American ski enthusiasts; Mount Hood is one of the guaranteed places for summer sun and winter sports. 

Exotic thrill seekers might try South America; Argentina and Chile are countries blessed with all year runs. Cerro Catedral and Las Lenas in Argentina cater for the seasoned traveller. A Chilean summer spent at Ski Portillo will give you chance to indulge your winter obsession as well. Down under, those bored with sun and surf travel to Australia’s Perisher Blue peaks and New Zealanders head to the Coronet Peak.

Looking for something different for your next holiday?  How about helping on an archaeological dig?  Peru has many sites where history is being uncovered every day, and amateur archaeologists are invited to help out.  You’ll be able to see a new part of the world, learn about an ancient civilisation, and maybe even discover a priceless relic!  Consider renting a modern holiday apartment or villa while you explore this most ancient of lands.

On the west coast of South America, Peru is home to some of the oldest civilisations on the planet.  The Norte Chico civilisation and of course the ancient Incas are gone now, but will never be forgotten because of the work of professional – and now amateur – archaeologists. 

During many archaeological tours you’ll receive an introduction to the area and the culture with which you’ll be working, along with instruction into basic archaeological techniques.  Most tours also provide you with any equipment you’ll need, such as a small trowel and brush or broom, but be sure to ask about this before you leave so you don’t arrive empty-handed. 

Machu Picchu, the 15th century ancient city of the Incas, was re-discovered in 1911 and has since become an important archaeological site and tourist attraction.  Several tour companies offer archaeological and adventure tours to this site alone, or to multiple sites, depending on the time and money you have available.  Since it sits at 2,430 metres, though, you want to be aware that there will be high-altitude walking and working at this site, and come prepared for physical exertion.

There are multiple archaeological sites in Peru, though, so if you prefer something near the bottom of a mountain, rather than at the top, that can certainly be accommodated.  Sites from Cusco to Piura offer archaeological opportunities that will give you memories to last a lifetime.

Many well known ski resorts, particularly in France, Switzerland and Austria, are uncomfortably crowded in the peak season. Although the crowds flock to these resorts for good reasons, such as the quality and range of pistes, their popularity is sometimes counter productive. However, there are times in the ski season when lift queues are minimal, and the prices are lower too. If you don’t have to plan your holiday well in advance, you can usually enjoy crowd free slopes at the beginning of the season in December or at the end in March and April. You won’t know whether there is enough snow until the last minute, so advance booking for these times is risky. Alternatively, the mid-season weeks that don’t coincide with British or European school holidays are always less crowded.

If you don’t have flexibility around the timing of your ski holiday, then you should perhaps look at going to a less well known resort in order to get the most out of your ski pass. Many lesser resorts have improved their facilities in recent years and offer a great skiing experience and excellent value for money also. Some places to look at are in Italy, Andorra and Bulgaria. In Andorra, you’ll find challenging pistes and a range of snow activities in the resorts of Soldeu and Arinsal. In Italy, the inviting mountains of Sauze D’Oulx and Valtournenche make a refreshing change from ‘motorway skiing’.  Bulgaria’s ski resorts are rapidly gaining in popularity, offering great value for money.