It is far easier to see the sights in Paris than in London. It is a much more compact city and you can get around on foot with no problem. If you start of on the Ile de la Cite and use this Roman founded site as your base to explore the city you’ll find yourself ideally placed. The Musee d’Orsay and the Louvre are near here, and the Notre Dame cathedral is one of the wonders of the world. Also at this historic heart of the city can be seen the Conciergerie and La Sainte-Chapelle.

Take a river-bus or boat from here to see the other great tourist destinations such as the Eiffel Tower and St-Germain des Pres. Even other lesser known sights are just a few minutes away even on foot. These include the Musee de Cluny, the Palais Royal and Jardin des Plantes.

The Louvre Museum is the most famous in the world and everyone comes to see the Mona Lisa. This is one of the oldest museums in Europe, founded in 1793 as France gave birth to the Revolution and great buildings were given back to the people.

The Arc de Triomphe at the head of the Champs Elysees attracts almost two million visitors each year, and although not as tall as the Eiffel Tower the view from the top is panoramic and stunning.

Paris with its museums, art galleries and historic buildings all within easy walking distance of one another has all the makings for a perfect break. 

Overlooked by many tourists, Berlin has a rich history and thriving arts scene that makes it a hidden gem among holiday locations.  Its central European location makes for an easy arrival from the UK, Spain, and even Russia.  Berlin’s northern latitude makes the summer months the best time to visit for outdoor activities, but for a real treat, go during the shoulder season or even winter, and skip the crowds inside at the shops and galleries.
 
Make your first stops the Neues Museum and the Pergamon Museum just down the street.  The Neues Museum was recently re-designed by David Chipperfield of London, and houses an entire room devoted to Nefertiti.  Other Egyptian antiquities are featured, though the museum houses a wide collection of artefacts from all periods.  The Pergamon Museum focuses on ancient history and has some very impressive (and large) displays, including the Altar of Zeus and Babylon’s Ishtar Gate.
 
Be sure to walk through the Brandenburg Gate while in Berlin.  During the Christmas holiday you will find vendor stalls all around, but at other times of the year you can see vestiges of Berlin’s past as a divided city. The Brandenburg Gate was a dividing line; now it creates beautiful pictures at night when it is lit up at dusk.  Another cannot-miss sight, this time indoors, is the Berlin Cathedral.  From the roof view to the intimate prayer rooms, this building houses graceful and ornate architecture from different periods of construction, all of which are awe-inspiring as you stand in the main portion of the cathedral and gaze around.

Holidaymakers that want to experience the culture and history of the Netherlands without the hectic pace of Amsterdam should think about planning a trip to Leiden.  This Dutch city with a history that goes back thousands of years is the perfect place to retreat for a holiday.  The best time to visit is during the spring and summer, although it has events year-round.

Leiden is described as a charming city, as it contains two river branches and a network of canals that run through it.  Boat cruises travel the river branches, providing holidaymakers with an easy and inexpensive way to see the whole city.  The city is not known for being spacious, and shops, hotels, and restaurants are all packed close together.  However, that makes it easy to pick a place to stay; hotels and apartment rentals are all within walking range of city sights and dining options.

One of the most anticipated activities for holiday goers is the twice-weekly general market.  It’s located on the banks of the Rhine, and it occurs every Wednesday and Saturday.  It has local foods, trinkets, and clothing.  It’s a wonderful place to buy souvenirs for friends and family back home.

For a piece of more modern history, holidaymakers can meander around the city and look at the wall poems that are located all over the city.  They provide an interesting look into how city residents live.  The interesting combination of old and modern history make Leiden a wonderful holiday destination, especially for those who want to take life at a slower pace for a bit.

Moscow is convenient to most European departure cities, but is less-visited over many other sites.  This means that on your Moscow holiday, you are likely to enjoy many sights and few lines of any significance.  The time to holiday in Moscow is now, before the secret that is Moscow gets out and the crowds arrive.

A city has existed at the site of Moscow for well over a thousand years.  Conveniently situated on the Moskva River and the Yauza, it has clearly been a melting pot of cultures.  The architecture alone in the city is a mix of onion domes, Gothic stonemasonry, and modern development.  Two cannot-miss locations are the Kremlin and the Armory, which is one of the oldest Russian museums.  The Kremlin has several museums inside, and an entire day should be devoted to touring the grounds and the precious artefacts within.

It is quite easy to get around Moscow by using the Moscow Metro.  The stations are beautiful, definitely earning the name “Underground Palace”.  If you happen to walk along a long, empty corridor, the echoing of your feet on the stone and marble is an eerie sound alongside the distant rattle of trains at other stations. 

No visit to Moscow is complete without walking along Red Square.  Here you will also see Lenin’s Tomb, the mausoleum built shortly after Lenin’s death in 1924.  Go inside if you have the time (the tour takes a little over a half hour) and no photography is allowed, as it is a place of deep respect for the Russian people.

Visit Moscow, where art, natural beauty, and centuries of history await you.

New York City is one of the most popular destinations for British holidaymakers in the United States, attracting tens of thousands of tourists from the UK each year.  The East Coast destination is one of the quickest and easiest places to get to in the USA from Britain, with a host of relatively low cost flights available from most of the UK’s international airports making travel arrangements easy.

Of the many attractions in New York City, some of the most popular are the city’s great shopping and fashion opportunities.  From Macy’s and Bloomingdales to Fifth Avenue and the number of big brand flagship stores that are dotted throughout that iconic street, there are a hundreds of fashion outlets throughout New York City.  Whether based on budget or style, there are guaranteed to be dozens of shops to suit anyone.  For those looking to snag themselves a bargain, most of the large department stores have daily deals on and some even offer special cards which give tourists special discounts.

One of New York City’s other major tourist attractions is Broadway – the city’s equivalent to London’s West End – which features some of the best theatre in the world.  Although one can always head online or direct to a theatre’s box office to guarantee the best seats in the house to these shows, for those looking for a great experience on a budget there is a large kiosk in the middle of Times Square run by the Broadway theatres which offers discounted tickets to that night’s performances.

Take a luxury holiday in Prague this year and explore one of the most fascinating cities in Central Europe to have opened up and rediscovered itself after decades of stultifying Communist oppression.  The central location of Prague, and indeed of Poland on the continent of Europe has meant that its history has been an often turbulent one, but this has also left it with some fabulous monuments that now attract a new generation of cultured tourists in their droves.

Despite its atrocious treatment during World War Two at the hands of the Nazis, Prague’s historic Old City remains intact despite Hitler’s orders to flatten it in revenge for the assassination of Heydrich. This must have been an act of God because the world would be a poorer place without this medieval maze of cobbled alleyways, churches, Old Square and the Habsburg concert hall.

In addition to its rich heritage, Prague now boasts some of the most buzzing nightlife in Europe, with hardcore clubbing venues rubbing shoulders with jazz clubs and some fine beer cellars.  The proximity of the old and the new is what makes this city such a delight, and there is nothing quite like strolling across the historic Charles Bridge in the evening on the way from a delicious three-course meal at a top restaurant to listen to some jazz and have a drink before retiring for the night.

Luxury holidays in Prague can work out quite cheap but be a great introduction to a unique city.

Located in central Portugal, Coimbra is a beautiful city for a Portuguese holiday.  The city started out as a small Roman town, spent about 100 years as Portugal’s capital city, and is now one of the most important cities in Portugal.

Since Coimbra spent so much time as a Roman city, there is a lot of interesting architecture and ruins to explore.  Coimbra is situated near the Roman ruins of Conimbriga, a great attraction for holidaymakers.  The ruins are well preserved, allowing you to see the Roman baths, mosaic walls and floors, and the remaining city walls.  To experience some more modern history, holidaymakers can visit the Museo Nacional Machado de Castro.  This is a very important Portuguese art museum, and it’s located in the Palace of the Bishops.

Coimbra is also home to the University of Coimbra.  This is one of the oldest universities in all of Europe, and there is a lot for visitors to do there.  There is a large open square located in the middle of the university, which leads to a Baroque chapel located on the grounds.  Many visitors also like to visit the botanical gardens of the university; these were built during the 18th century and people come from all over Europe just to visit them.  Another surprising holiday attraction at the university is the library.  It’s housed in rooms with lovely painted ceilings, and there are over 300,000 books to peruse.

Holidaymakers, especially those who want to spend their holiday learning and experiencing history, are sure to love Coimbra.

New Orleans, Louisiana in the U.S. is a city that has been hit hard by both Mother Nature and man.  Still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Katrina, the 2010 BP oil spill hit the local fishermen hard.  However, the area is roaring back in a big way, and of all the locations in the world, this one probably welcomes tourists the most.  The people of the Gulf Coast are determined to survive, and to do that they are welcoming tourists with open arms.
 
New Orleans is a city made for walking.  Stroll down Garden Street or Rue Bourbon and marvel at the beautiful ironwork balconies and galleries, many of them draped with colourful flowers and filigreed ferns. In the evening, listen to the blues, zydeco, jazz and rock music that tumbles out the doors of bars and clubs.  You can wander up and down the streets with a drink in your hand, unlike many other American cities, making bar-hopping a delight on a warm, clear evening.
 
New Orleans hosts some superb restaurants, from Chef Emeril LaGasse’s restaurant (£25-£50) to the famous Blue Plate Café (£7-£18).  You will find dishes like crawfish cakes that you will not find anywhere else in the world—and do not forget Café Du Monde for some famous beignets!
 
Every type of hotel and B&B is available in New Orleans, although the ones toward Bourbon Street can be a bit noisy.  If you want quiet when you sleep, look for a hotel away from the heart of the French district; transport abounds in the Big Easy, so getting back to the action in the morning will only take you a few minutes.

Rome runs practically level with Paris in the world’s most romantic city stakes.  They both drip history and have some of the most breathtaking architecture on earth, but it must be said that Rome has a slight edge with its Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps, backdrops to many a romantic film and three wishes for future connubial bliss.

A honeymoon in Rome will get any marriage off to a good start and hopefully it will not all be downhill after that, but luxury holidays in Rome can be enjoyed by anyone and do not have to break the bank.    The advantage of a luxury break is that all your whims will be taken care of by an attentive staff so that you’ll be free to enjoy the Eternal City at your leisure.

You can take a private guided tour of the incomparable sights and enjoy the cafe society whilst admiring marble columns and imposing Renaissance architecture.

The Trevi Fountain is one of the top sights in Rome, and with its Tritons gushing bubbling water and an air of exuberant freshness, you’ll feel compelled to toss a coin or three into it and make a wish.

Of course, Rome as well as being the seat of an old imperial power with monuments such as the Parthenon, Colosseum and temples to the gods is also the present seat of the Catholic Church, and the Vatican museums are packed with art treasures too.

Take a luxury break in Rome and fully immerse yourself in the life of a city that has dominated and directed civilisation for more than two thousand years.

Egypt’s 500km stretch of coastline on the Mediterranean has some of the best beaches in the world, stretching right up to the border with Libya.

If you are looking for a western-style beach holiday, the resorts around El-Alamein are hardly distinguishable from those in Spain, complete with cocktails and bikinis.

The bay at Matrouh, 300km west of Alexandria, is ideal if you would prefer to combine a beach holiday with easy access to an attractive town.  The small port is a relaxing place to dine simply in the evenings and watch the world go by after a long day on the Shahata al-Gharam (Beach of Lovers) or Cleopatra Beach further west with its sharp drop into the sea just a metre offshore.

The beaches in the Nile’s central delta region are popular with the Egyptian locals during the summer.  They are easily reached from Damietta and provide a respite from the heat of the town.

If diving and snorkelling are your pleasure, look no further than Na’ama Bay, Sharm el-Sheikh’s main centre.  This has become so popular in recent years that a small city has built up around the beach and its facilities, and visitors enjoying Egypt holidays can combine relaxing days on the beach with a vibrant nightlife.

Pharaoh’s Island, close to Taba at the top of the Gulf of Aqaba, has an excellent beach, but is especially popular with divers and snorkelers because of the proliferation of labyrinthine coral and strong currents.

Egypt is a truly unique country.  No other offers such a wealth of historical monuments combined with an abundance of natural beauty.  Mix and match elements of both to create a perfect break on your Egypt holidays.