Flights to Cairo are constantly coming down in price and you can pick up some real bargains these days. The whole of the Middle East is opening up to adventurous travellers and those looking for something a bit different in a holiday. Flights to Amman, flights to Beirut and flights to Damascus are now as regular and accessible as flights to Aberdeen and flights to London.

Cairo is in many ways the archetypal Middle Eastern city, with its mosques, minarets, bazaars and ancient, often crumbling walls and buildings casting a spell over the visitor the moment they are first set eyes on it.

Cairo is nicknamed ‘The Mother of All Cities’ and is a vast, sprawling metropolis where you can easily find yourself being swept along by the crowd to exotic parts of the city you didn’t even know existed, in an Arabian Nights adventure. This is in fact one of the best ways of exploring it if you’re feeling adventurous.

Just outside the city stand the great Pyramids of Giza, wonders of the world not to be missed by any visitor and as likely as not the reason for going there in the first place.

Cairo is an ancient and modern city at the same time, with bazaars and crowded markets sitting easily alongside smart international hotels and restaurants, and you can take breakfast at the Hilton or share strong, sweet coffee with traders in the Khan al-Khalili bazaar as you choose.

The cuisine is traditional Middle Eastern with an emphasis on delicious lamb dishes and other Turkish recipes from the long Ottoman occupation.  

It would seem that every nation has their own problems when it comes to snowboarding and skiing holidays according to a survey which has been carried out by a major winter sport insurer. It would seem that British skiers, especially men, have a habit of showing off on the piste, so it is not just on the beach after all! The Italians are, well just Italians, and they do everything at breakneck speed including skiing and boarding. The French simply overestimate their own abilities whilst the Spanish don’t believe in lessons! Unsurprisingly it is after lunch when most accidents occur, alcohol has to play its part but this is when most people are getting tired, particularly after a long lazy lunch on the terrace. The biggest cause of accidents is people pushing themselves beyond their ability because of jealousy of others’ expertise on the slopes.

However it is the Germans that, it would seem, cause the biggest problem, they do not have any awareness of who is around them and perhaps they believe that the slopes are for them alone. Another area where our German friends have won is the battle for the beach bed! Thanks to Thomas Cook, tourists from the fatherland will no longer need to lay out their towels at 5am to secure a prime spot by the resort pool; they simply have the option to pay €3 per day when they book their ski holiday.

It may seem rather a reckless thing to suggest, that in these recessionary times an ideal spirit booster is to take a cruise. And yet, despite popular misconceptions, cruise holidays are often exceptionally reasonable in price, especially with the constant supple of excellent cruise deals on offer.

The big companies like Costa Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises and Thomson Cruises – have worked hard to attract younger cruisers by radically modernising their onboard facilities. You won’t have to sit on a deckchair reading a book; today you’ll be able to choose anything from onboard water skiing, rock wall climbing, golf, ice skating or well-equipped fitness centres. And that’s in addition to staples such as cinema, gourmet restaurants, and evening entertainment.

Families might do well to try to select a larger vessel – there’ll be plenty of pools to keep the children occupied, and services such as kids’ clubs and babysitting so that mum and dad can go to a dance or take in a movie. Whether you’re considering Caribbean cruises or Mediterranean cruises, Baltic cruises or Far East cruises, there’s a bespoke cruise for you out there waiting to be booked. And if you feel like a longer stay in a resort, try one of the many cruise and stay options available – one week on the beach, one week of cruising. Perfect!

Glasgow city centre is laid out in a grid system of roads and streets, which is rather like the way some American cities are planned. The central hub of the city is George Square where you will find Queen Street Station and a number of hotels including the popular Millennium.

The buildings around the Square were mostly built in the 1800’s but the only one left in its original state is the Millennium. Glasgow City Chambers, the ornate building used by Glasgow City Council is also situated in the square.

Argyle Street, Sauchie Hall and Buchanan Street that covers the area to the south and the west of St. George’s is where the shopping precincts are located.

This city centre area is also where you will find The Theatre Royal, King’s Theatre, Glasgow Film Centre and the Gallery of modern Art, as well as numerous other theatres and arts venues. In nearby Renfrew Street you will find the world’s tallest cinema, Cineworld. It has 18 screens.

Glasgow city centre is also where The University of Strathclyde, Glasgow School of Art and several other educational establishments can be found.

It’s a busy, thriving cosmopolitan area of the city with a lot to see and do, but be warned, there is an awful lot of walking to do. If you are hoping to walk around and see some of the sights in the city centre you will need some comfortable shoes because everything is so spread out.

Regardless of when you take cheap flights to Venice, there are literally dozens of things to see and do while visiting. Whether you choose to explore Saint Mark’s Basilica or the San Giovanni e Paolo or head over to the Doge’s Palace or the La Fenice Theatre, there are literally more cultural and architectural wonders here than you will ever be able to get around in one holiday. While visitors need to eventually head home on flights to London, flights to Aberdeen or flights to Damascus and other destinations around the world, there is no sense in worrying about anything while you are in Venice. Instead, allow yourself to be completely enthralled by the romantic charm of this floating city.

One of the best ways to experience many of the attractions is to purchase a Venice Card, which allows you access to public transport, entrance to cultural attractions, public toilets and many other amenities. One thing to keep in mind when booking cheap flights to Venice is that the Venice Card is only recommended if you are going to spend more than three days in the city, because while it has access to many of the museums and churches throughout the islands in the Lagoon, it does not give access to the main attractions. Also, it is best to reserve a ticket online, rather than deal with the crowds and hassle of purchasing one in person after you arrive.

As anyone that has visited will tell you, after a week long vacation in Venice, there will still be literally so many sights and sounds to experience that you can come back half a dozen times and still be amazed.

Istanbul is where east meets west, and its unique character stems from being half in Europe and half in Asia.  The city straddles the two sides of the straits of Bosphorus and although the largest city in Turkey, it is not the capital.

If you want to experience the heart of the city you can rent holiday apartments in its historic centre, close to all the sights and sounds. For tranquil surroundings, just outside the city you can stay in a house or villa in areas such as Burgazada, or Heybeliada Island. Things to see in Istanbul include the famous Dolmabahce Palace – a magnificent building, dating from the 19th century and boasting lavishly ornate decorations and grand stately gardens. Also not to be missed is Topkapi – a 400 year old Ottoman palace, packed with historic treasures. 

The enormous, early 17th century, Blue Mosque has six minarets and is a landmark on the Istanbul skyline. Make sure you are appropriately dressed before going in. There are also many beautiful churches such as Hagia Sophia to see. The Grand Bazaar is labyrinthine and bustling, selling everything from jewellery to leather goods to colourful spices, and Istiklal Street is famous for its shops and nightlife. Take a cruise along the Bosphorus River to see breathtaking views of the city and dine on aromatic lamb kebabs. Lastly, a visit to Istanbul is just not complete without at least one visit to a proper Turkish Baths.

If you’re planning to take cruise holidays with young children anytime soon, you’ll probably breathe a sigh of relief that many of the big operators provide not just a range of onboard activities like child-safe shallow pools and kids clubs but even baby-sitting services. If, though, you’re taking your teenage children with you, you might be wondering how on earth you’re going to keep them occupied; in many respects, teenagers are more demanding than smaller kids, with ‘boredom’ being a constant complaint of the adolescent separated from his or her amigos at home. But have no fear – there are plenty of cruises ideally suited to teenagers.

For example, Royal Caribbean Cruises’ Voyager Class and Freedom Class ships both come brimming with attractions the most bored of teenagers will find hard to resist. These include rock climbing walls, miniature golf courses, full-sized basketball courts and discos. Some facilities like The Living Room, the Back Deck and Fuel are teen dedicated, allowing youngsters to keep in touch with their friends through numerous internet cafes, and dance till the wee hours (2.00am) drinking mocktails as they go.

Carnival Cruises’ ‘Liberty, ‘Freedom’ and ‘Splendour’ ships each have a large ‘Seaside Theatre’ rising above the pool area, replicating a kind of ‘drive-in movie’ experience. Older teens will enjoy the late night teen discos every evening, but there are also earlier parties for 12 – 14 year olds. Teenagers can even go on their special discounted shore excursion programmes, voting on which tour they like the sound of most. With cruise deals which cure the teenage boredom affliction, cruise holidays could well become your holiday of choice from now on. Cruises, it’s plain to see, are not just for the middle aged and above!

Bodrum is one of the most popular choices for English-speaking travellers in the entirety of Turkey. This is especially true with British and Australian travellers, and regardless of whether good food or good accommodation is on the menu there are plenty of British-themed pubs and hotels to choose from. In fact, many of the Brit pubs throughout Bodrum actually ban local residents from entering during the high seasons.

Given the fact that Bodrum is located along such a perfect region of coast, with access to the island of Kos and hundreds of kilometres in either direction of pristine coastline, not to mention the interior countryside itself with the various historical ruins and sprawling countryside, this is easily a destination where an individual could lose themselves for several weeks at a time, and renting a holiday apartment is probably the best choice for an extended stay. Hotels and bed and breakfasts are great for weekend stays or even four to five day trips, but any extended holidays need a more affordable option, which is where renting an apartment comes in.

The history of Bodrum dates back centuries, to the time when it was formerly known as Halicarnassus. Bodrum Castle was built during the 15th century and looks out over the entire harbour and surrounding area, playing host to a variety of cultural festivals throughout the year as well as the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, perfect for those travellers looking to learn a little about the underwater history of the region during their stay.

Known primarily for chocolate and beer, Brussels is unexpectedly and yet delightfully charming. If any city has two faces, it is Brussels, with a lively interchange of Flemish vs. French, hip vs. traditional, the odd vs. the mundane.

The city is full of surprises, intrigue and contradictions. It continues to seduce travellers with the air of intrigue, which surrounds the capital of Belgium. Brussels is a quilted heirloom of multicultural roots; entwined and deeply ingrained.

There is a casual air amongst the residents, with laissez-faire locals populating the city’s sidewalk cafés and local taverns. In Brussels, beer reigns supreme and the variety of brew is unparalleled. Brussels has delicious eateries where Art Nouveau and Art Deco subsist happily together in the same locale. Brussels is also one the world’s finest regions for delectable fine chocolate.

Take a stroll through the Matonge section of the city, a burgeoning marketplace inhabited by descendants brought here from the Belgium Congo. Visit Grand Place, the most celebrated landmark in Brussels and also a World Heritage site. If you prefer a bit of history, stroll along the Avenue Louise where the Nazi Gestapo was headquartered during the Belgium Occupation. Today, it is home to many of Brussels’ amazing sculptures, luxury shops and salons.

Constant among all the treasures that make up the city of Brussels is the fine quality of everyday life; great shopping, fabulous restaurants, art museums and parks.

Brussels is emerging as one of the world’s most diverse cities, uniting the historical decaying streets with a fresh façade of cockiness and inner-city regeneration.

Flights to Brussels are available from most international airports.

Whilst there are no hard and fast rules to finding the best cruise deals, there are some useful tips to keep in mind. Perhaps the most pressing one is to act now, if you can – cruise prices look set to rise in 2010. There were record bookings for all cruise lines this season, which means that ships are filling up and supply and demand will soon be cranking up the cost of new bookings (Carnival Cruises has already announced price hikes). Most of the lines are, offering price guarantees, so if the price of cruise holidays actually falls, you’ll be compensated (and you’ll also get the pick of the cabins).

Last minute cruises are continuing to catch on (i.e., booking beyond the cruise’s final payment deadline, usually 60 to 90 days before departure). These deals are perhaps easiest to find on Caribbean cruises, but many cruise lines have unsold cabins 60 days before sailing (people sometimes pay a deposit, then fail to come up with the balance, hence the cut-price vacancies).

For families with school-aged children who are tied to peak season periods, the best advice is to book your cruises at least 6 and preferably 12 months in advance. You’ll also have a much better choice of cabins, itineraries and dinner settings. But if you’re bewildered at the prospect of finding the best deals available from big names like P&O Cruises, Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises, a knowledgeable travel agent can often discover extra savings and facilities. Then all that remains is cruising and relaxing.