Mayfair has been, for the most part, one of the most iconic and fashionable parts of the UK, so why would you defer from wanting to visit.  Especially as English residents, it’s important to take an active interest in our own country.  Sure the weather might be typically English, but does the area exudes style, glamour and wealth more so than any other destination.  And who would not want to experience that, at least for a long weekend.

The Making of a Mayfair Hotel

It’s certainly not for the lack of accommodation on offer.  Though you have to pay for the privilege, Mayfair boasts some of the most luxurious hotels the world has to offer.  If you’re looking for that romantic break with you partner in a Mayfair hotel, there’s plenty of options none of which will leave you with feelings of disappointment.  The Chesterfield exemplifies this, providing the most stylish décor with the upmost service and class.  Famed for its typically English afternoon tea, the Chesterfield presents what it is to be typically English with its traditional yet luxurious ambience.  Situated on just off Berkley square, the Chesterfield allows you to experience the glittering shops of Bond Street, Regent Street and Piccadilly.  If shopping doesn’t take to your tastes, venture across the Royal Parks towards Buckingham Palace to call in on one of the most iconic English landmarks.

The Park Mews Hotel located just off Park Lane is an equally exclusive area of Mayfair.  But just a few strides away from Soho, the Mews brings about the more contemporary, stylish part of London.  The nightlife in Soho oozes style and urbane, providing the perfect setting to relax and enjoy a sophisticated place to socialise.  And if those forms of entertainment don’t take your fancy, Soho also offers great theatre as part of London’s vibrant Theatreland with plenty of shows to entertain a long weekend.

The London Hilton Park Hotel too scales to perpetual heights providing 360 views of London city.  Similarly situated in the heart of the Mayfair, the Park Hotel has phenomenal chocolate afternoon tea in their famed POP bar.  There is also a beautiful spa, which provides the perfect environment for relaxation after a hard days shopping.  The hotel was also awarded the ‘UK’s best business hotel in the UK 2011’ for its high standards.

Mayfair is buzzing with activity and providing a classic blend of English culture and style.  Enjoying the luxurious environment should be somewhere on your travelling agenda.  Travelling isn’t all about backpacking and bedding down for the night amongst the wild bush, its about experiencing a variety of cultures and sampling the whole accommodation spectrum.  An Mayfair tips the scales toward exclusivity, whilst emptying you wallet in the process.

For all of its stereotypes, London’s potential offerings for this year’s Olympic games promises to cast England’s capital in a new light.  But it seems there is one stereotype you can’t stray away from.

Prices for hotels near O2 are set to escalate, with rooms expected to rise to four times what they would be in regular peak season.  And that very boom seems to have extended its greasy fingers to the helms of the wales, as rates in Cardiff also and around the Millennium Stadium have hit epic levels.

Cardiff’s state of the art stadium is the first venue to host an Olympic event, the foremost being the a ladies international football game on the 25^th July, just two days before the official opening ceremony.  During this time hotel prices have already sored to upwards of 279%, with that price set to continue its upward trend as availability decreases.

London’s image as a lavish destination is one that the city has embraced for a long time.  But that impression isn’t necessarily the prettiest picture to paint.  Sometimes and certainly in a recession, offering value for money can make for the Mona Lisa in the gallery.  So what of the Olympics?

We there are deals to be had over the course of the Olympics, though they remain inflated.  Your best chance at grabbing a bargain is to book early and prepay the full amount, but for the majority that possess a ticket that time may have already passed.

So what now?

Well you best bet is to stay as far away from the city centre as you can.  Track hotels that base themselves in the suburbs.  The cost of getting you around London will far outweigh the cost of bedding down in the city centre.  In fact, staying away from the city centre in its entirety is essential if your to save yourself a few quid.

The only time you should look toward the city centre is when you’re keeping your finger to the pulse on any newly built developments and jump on their discounted opening offers.

For the most daring of those wanting a room over London’s Olympic period, the best more audacious strategy is to wait until the last minute.  For London though, this might not be the best idea given how tight availability in England’s capital will be.

The more savvy travellers who are able to think outside the box, you don’t have to stay in a hotel.  There will be a large number of Londoners who will want to escape the hustle of the Olympics – at least at some point.  House swaps are a perfect way to share that experience, offering enthused Olympic fans a bed and over indulged Londoners a way out.

All in all, my tip is just that.  Think outside the box and grab your gold medal for a great stay over the Olympic period.

Culture courses through Europe’s veins in many ways, to many of the great cities within. Berlin is one of those cities with enough cultural quality and diversity to be graced with the title of European Capital of Culture in 1989 and since then has not looked back. It is very easy when talking about Berlin and Germany in general to always refer to world wars and dictators but I prefer to look at the beauty and visual splendour of a great city.

Of course culture has many avenues and varieties, from opera and ballet to art and sculpture.  Berlin has three major opera houses, seven symphony orchestras as well as numerous museums, art galleries and music venues. Berlin makes great use of all of these with a variety of art and music festivals, as well as indulging in the more contemporary aspects such as rock music and cinema.

It is a fabulous, historic city to visit with many evocative sights and more than 150 museums to indulge the senses. The most famous of these are on Museum Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, housing five incredible buildings with some great collections. I’ve not spent as much time looking around museums as I did wandering this small part of Germany.

10 million people stay in Berlin every year, to indulge in the history and stay in one of the great hotel Berlin has to offer meeting every budget and personal taste. I don’t think there is any excuse not to spend at least a couple of days here taking in as much as you can. The transport system is one of the best in Europe, with trains coming in from all over Europe, extensive public bus and trams routes across the city as well as the autobahn spreading across the country.

As well as all the cultural and arts that I love to see when in Berlin, there are plenty of grand buildings and pieces of architecture to visit. Standing beneath The Brandenburg Gate in central Berlin, you get a sense of the tension that was held here for more than half a century when East and West Germany were created after the end of the Second World War. The beautiful gate, which surely must be visited by everybody who comes to Berlin, has been standing for almost 300 years, surviving world wars, the Napoleonic wars and a country split in two. Yet still it is a wonder to behold and is simply breath-taking.

Any traveller who has a taste for the cultural and historic would be foolish to not add Berlin to their list of tried and tested cities. I have and will be going back again and again. To coin an oft-used incorrectly spoken phrase, ”Ich bin ein Berliner”

As remote as New Zealand is, this tiny group of islands is a heavy weight when it comes to beautiful holiday destinations.  Comprising of two main landmasses and a collection of smaller islands, New Zealand’s small population of just over 4 million people has helped preserve the island’s beauty.

And like paparazzi that used to flock around the beautiful Marilyn Monroe, New Zealand has also attracted a high number of camera flashes as tourists from all over the world come to capture the country’s beauty.

New Zealand saw over 2.5 million international tourists in 2010, which is astounding given its small population.  Tourism is a $15 billion industry there, helping employ more than 10% off it country’s entire workforce.

But with such a mass of holidaymakers, the country is beginning to pay a price it cannot afford.  The extra number of visitors is putting a strain on the lush, green environment it is renowned for.  The deep blue sky that has set this leafy landscape is now awash with airline traffic, filling the sky with their commercial jets that was once so empty.  The situation has deteriorated so much that locals even openly admit to neglecting to go certain places of their homeland because of the massive influx of tourists.

So, surely that doesn’t mean that New Zealand is becoming, dare I say it… overdeveloped?

But unlike Harry Potter and ‘The One that Must not be Named’, this menace must be addressed before it reaches the epic proportions of Lord Voldemort.

Finding a balance between supporting their country’s financial income and protecting what has come to symbolise their country might take some wizardry though.  The Franz Josef Glacier doesn’t quite have the same charm if its beauty is drowned out by the droning sound of Boeing 757’s flying overhead.

In fact New Zealand is already beginning to recognise the problem and are now implementing booking systems fronted by the Department of Conservation for tourist hotspots, like the Milford Track and the Abel Tasman Coast Track.  These measures are now in place are to calm the high numbers of visitors who use the attractions.

But that’s not to say that this great destination is becoming less of an attractive hotspot.  The new technology that now have in place to aid their conservation project is sophisticated and doesn’t hinder the flow of users.

Amongst controlling the country’s number of visitors, New Zealand still amasses all of the ingredients to make a great holiday.  Amid the beautiful scenery, there lies a great nation of sports fans whose enthusiasm runs through the country as clear as the River Waikato.

As the All Blacks finally met the hype rugby pundits had pertained to them, the country celebrated New Zealand’s achievements in flamboyant style.   Their world cup win brought about street parties to celebrate what many Kiwi’s saw as a victory well over due.  It was a classic example that New Zealand has a lot more to offer than just beautiful surroundings.

However, its famed landscapes are spectacular and for the most part encompass good reasoning to visit this great country.  Trips like the Kiwi Classic barely scrap the top of New Zealand’s cultural barrel, but they provide a great source of enjoyment and help sculpt an overview of what the country is about.  Illustrating the country’s geothermal sites with dramatic eruptions, isolated beaches and sampling the New Zealand’s finest wines, the Kiwi Classic is the most popular tour for tourists.

Away from the isolated beaches, Christchurch offers more urban surroundings, which are unusually set amongst a  somewhat bucolic environment.

With a number of bars, restaurants and art galleries, Christchurch remains one of the must-sees New Zealand has to offer.

But for the most part, New Zealand is about the beautiful landscape.  Geographically, there are few places as spectacular as the beautiful group of islands.  If the cost of long haul, both financially and mentally, isn’t too taxing for you, make sure you visit this south eastern jewel.  After all experiencing all of the globes most fruitful destinations is part of being a traveller, regardless of how close that brings you to the limits of the map.

A long awaited rematch from Super Bowl XLII, many football fans expect a repeat of the 2008 dramatic contest where the New York Giants became the first ever team to win the championship as a wildcard team.  Then facing a New England team that were undefeated walking into the final,  Patriot fans will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself in this year’s Super Bowl.

But the promise of that spectacle has seen airfares to Indianapolis rocket to 10,000ft.

The cost of Airfares to Indianapolis…

Airfares from New England are costing ticket holders on average $1000 for non-stop flights via US Airways.  And for those of you that consider yourselves savvy in seeking out a good deal, you can forget looking toward the smaller airports.  Well, unless you want to $1200 on a one stop flight from Hartford to Indi.

New York fans face a simpler prospect with flights from JFK, with fares starting around the $1,100 mark.  There is an out for Giant’s fans though, if they are prepared to the travel down to Philidelphia.  You can currently expect airfares there to be approximately $400 less than those available in New York City.

Incredibly, the escalated expense of travelling to Indianapolis on Super Bowl weekend doesn’t just stop at the east coast.  Mutual fans from the west coast will be expected to pay swollen fares too, with prices for flights as high as $1,500 on US Airways out of San Francisco.

Given that this year’s Super Bowl will host an age old rivalry that will turn back the years, it seems ticket holders should similarly turn back the clocks when they make their travel arrangements and opt for the good old fashioned road trip.

On many levels, Benidorm’s typecast isn’t strictly untrue either.  Sure, it’s overdeveloped and it has been suffocated by English holiday makers so much so that its once colourful culture has faded away.  But there are still many reasons to go on Benidorm holidays.

There’s no doubt that these stereotypical images have snowballed and brought about the rise of a hit television programme.  Except ITV’s hit show takes that image and stretches it to make an exaggerated, comical production.

Benidorm Holidays

Much like Ronseal, Benidorm does exactly what it says on the tin.  While it offers all of the amenities that make up an enjoyable holiday destination, it also varnishes you with a healthy brown glow for your return flight home.  The city has become Europe’s hospitality epicentre, boasting 35,000 beds across hundreds of hotels and 200,000 apartments available for stays.  In that very sense, Benidorm is the easy option when booking a holiday, with plenty of options, availability and prevalent British community.

But a familiar pseudo English surrounding comes at a cost.  If you’re looking for Hispanic culture, then look elsewhere.  Saturated with British communities, the city has become….well…British.  But be rest assured, Benidorm has a great climate, beautiful sandy beaches and great night life.

Costa del Sol’s most popular city has two beaches.  The Playa de Poniente and the Playa de Levante are a massive 5km long.  Though Playa de Poniente is situated along the city’s busy limits and backs onto a busy road.

Playa de Levante though offers far more quiet surroundings, ideal if you’re in search of the relaxing Benidorm sun and a few quiet moments away from the hustle of the city.

On the other hand, if you’re looking at smashing those relaxed feelings up with a five iron, then take to the fairways at one of Benidorm’s Golf courses.  Real De Faula designed by Jack Nicklaus offers a stern test of golf and a great way to enjoy the Spanish sun.

For something a little more intense, Aqualandia water park will splash you and the family with excitement.  Situated deep in the city centre, the Park is easily accessible and offers cafes and restaurants for you dine in.  There are shaded areas and even relaxation spots in case the excitement and sun gets a little too much for you.

When it comes to Benidorm, its somewhat a blank canvas with all the components to make a great holiday experience.  You wont find culture here, but you’ll discover how to have fun in a bustling city, with idealic sandy beaches and a vibrant night life.

To layback and think of England is usually the most patriotic way for any English person to escape from whatever unpleasantries they may be faced with at the time.  It’s an ironic statement really, given that England conjures images of profound boredom that in itself are worthy of distraction. But there’s a mass of people who find better ways of burying their heads in the sands of playa d’en bossa.  May sound unpleasant, but with shutting their eyes completely out of the question, lying back and thinking of anything impossible.  Especially since the bright neon lights have etched their fuzzy glow onto the retinas of those who gazed upon them.

In fact it’s fair to say that once you’ve sampled Ibiza holidays completing even the most simple tasks becomes hard practise.  All of your senses leave you as the ears you once used to hear with are replaced with a temporary ringing and your eyes remain blurred from the unquantifiable number of hours you’ve spent awake, dancing the nights away.

Of course there are remedies readily available to sort any Ibiza hangovers you may endure once you return home, such as sleep, Alka Selzer and a week in a hotel spa – if you can afford one.

But who would want to medicate such feelings?  Breaking out of conformity was the mission you set out to achieve and these feelings are merely the battle scars of victory.  Don’t lie in bed leaving the buzz to simmer out. Get out and shout about your Ibiza experiences you have faced  and live the holiday to its full purpose – an unforgettable event.

Dubbed as the party capital of the world, Ibiza has more than its fair share of venues to facilitate its renowned title.  For the most part, the clubs that bestow the best experience are Eden, Privilege, Amnesia and Pacha.  In reality though all the venues do is house the fun that is to be had and like any club enthusiast will tell you, it’s the night that needs your full attention.

Ibiza Clubs – The best nights…

So, given that this is the case here are the best nights to be had on this great Spanish island;

• To start with what many would consider to be the best, and oddly enough the most expensive night throughout the year,  Manumission at Privilege returns on Monday night for another season, bouncing off the success it had during 2011.  Residents hosting the night are smoking Joe and Griff and Jay.  Manumission also carries on its debauched antics at an additional venue too.  Hosted at Space you can head down for more of the same to see in Tuesday morning under the blazing sun.
• Gods Kitchen at Ammesia remains one of the hottest nights in the Ibiza club scene calendar.  With Fergie, Mauro Picotto and Tall Paul as residents, this will be certainly one of the nights out that’ll keep you talking for a lifetime.  As one of the few venues really worth talking about, amnesia remains one of the most popular clubs in Europe and a sure fire bet to blow your mind as you dance amongst thousands of people.
•  For a night of unsolicited trance, Oakfield returns for another season for Perfecto at Pacha.  Widely hailed as one of the greatest residents of that genre and Soulsonic take up residency in the back room.
• Last year they had Kylie on stage in ‘the shorts’, providing the visual element that was supplemented only by the sounds of Carl Cox & Dave Seaman and Sander Kleinenberg.  As well as this, there are sets for a more funkier taste in the adjoining rooms.
• The big one though comes on Thursdays in Cream at Amnesia.  Resident Yousef gets to work with debutant Hernan Cattaneo along with Futureshock, Oliver Lieb, Smokin’ Jo, Guy Ornadel, Junior Sanchez and Jimmy Van M are to name but a few.  There are also expected to be showcases from more upcoming residents.

The rest really is up to you.  Of course, all nights are open to interpretation but whether this is your first time to Ibiza or a return trip, you’ll be hard placed to find nights that appeal to the masses like these do.

Happy Clubbing

As in any affair, the excitement of the neon lights of Times Square coupled with the romance for the city that has been bred from Hollywood exposure was too much to resist.  Since booking my flights to New York I have never looked back.

Initially, when you arrive at JFK airport and catch a cab downtown, you can’t help but feel overwhelmed by all that is going on around you.  As you drive through the streets and avenues your pupils are a blur, darting around at whatever catches your eye next.  It’s tourism on steroids.

Like any good story, it starts with a famous landmark.  The Empire State Building was originally built for office rental space in the deep depression.  Subsequently nicknamed ‘The Empty State Building’, it accrued more revenue in its first year as an observation tower from its 81^st floor.  Thus making it a must see for any visitors to the great state.

To New York….

Most people that visit Manhattan do three things – shop, eat and go to shows.  If you enjoy shopping, Times Square will play host to the biggest bender of retail therapy you can possibly imagine.  Brands like Gucci, Fendi and Louis Vuitton along with all of the high street brands are at your fingertips.  But more than this, the shopping experience will blow your mind.  When you step foot into Abercrombie and Fitch I grantee, no matter how much you shop, you will never have encountered anything like this before.  There’s music, dancers and bright lights that create more of a spectacle than a retail service.  It truly is mind blowing.

The New York Rockefeller centre is the perfect place to retire to once you have had your fill of shopping.  There are cafes to take in landscape in the summer and an ice ring with the most famous Christmas tree in the world in the winter.

One of my particular favourites when I visited New York was Madison Square Garden.  Home to the Rangers and Knicks, there is always something to watch.  Even if you aren’t a sports fan, the gravitas that enshrouds the place is too much to ignore.

Central Park is Manhattans escape to the countryside.  The greenery is the perfect break from the concrete jungle that surrounds it.  Horse drawn carriages are available through some of the tourist agents that are based there.  A great way to discover what is surprisingly a large park.

Finally, we have one of the most famous landmarks in the world, the Statue of Liberty.  For many Americans, the structure is a symbol of freedom.  A ferry gives access to Ellis Island, which you will have to pay a small fee for.  However entry to Lady Liberty is totally free.  Like the Empire State Building and Rock Observation Deck, the Statue of Liberty has fantastic views across the city.

As far as I can see, there is only one downside to the Big Apple.  That being you simply can’t take a big enough bite out of it and the taste in your mouth will leave you wanting more.

Luxury liners encompass all of your holiday needs, providing you with all of the necessary amenities on board. All so you can endure the most relaxing experience. And the very nature of a cruise means that it doesn’t just stop there. Along the way you’ll visit new landmarks, encounter different cultures and scale a variety of landscapes.

Misconceptions about Cruises

The common misconception however is that cruises are like the Vegas of the ocean. But this is completely misguided. Even if that was the case, Las Vegas is expected to see 3 million people visit its city in December alone. Sure, some will claim that hedonistic behaviour isn’t to everyone’s taste. But there is a reason why Cruise occupancy continues to rise, along with self-indulgent vacation destinations like Vegas and Disneyland World Resort.

In fact, so self-indulgent is the life on a cruise ship that one of the best skills you can possess as you venture to the seas is knowing when to say no. Doing cruises to excess only means that you will get wrapped up in all the activities, food and drink, when really the enjoyment from cruising comes from the days that you spend at sea. The dramatic view where two shades of blue collide make for a fantastic spectacle, as you discover the vastness of the planet we inhabit.

Nevertheless, a cruise liner’s healthy ambition to identify consumer needs and fill them makes for a great experience. As with all vacations, especially those ones that are stateside, cruises do have an array of surcharges to trap their guests. But even this is common place in the travel industry now, with hotels finding new inventive ways of making additional money in turbulent financial times. Be mindful of that these charges exist and identify them from the outlay to ensure you don’t get stung at the end of the holiday.

And even though the very ship in which you stand upon is probably carrying upwards of 3000 people, you couldn’t feel more alone or less insignificant as you cast your eyes out to seas. Then turn around and you’ll find a beehive of activity from surfing on a flow rider to playing bowls on board – the list is endless.

So can the ‘elitist’ traveller enjoy cruises? No, probably not, but remarkably they only make up a tiny proportion of the world’s travel industry anyway. The larger proportion of holiday goers look to make one, maybe two vacations a year, where the key aspect is to relax in luxury surroundings. And that’s exactly what a cruise offers. Of course, it won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it will appeal to the vast majority of hedonistic individuals who seek a decadent experience away from the usual 9 to 5 grind.

Reports released from the Tisch Centre for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management in New York showed that the add-on surcharges have increased by 6% this year, equating to an industry total of £1.12 billon.

Many put the increase down to the rise in occupancy levels that have seen growth in America slowly coming out its recession, but surcharges have been rapidly increasing for years.

The story on Surcharges

In fact, add-on charges have more than doubled since the millennium.

But travel consumers are become more tolerant to paying these charges, with more hotels leaning on them as an institutionalised revenue source.

Amongst the reports were some shocking revelations such as holding baggage fees, resort fees and mini bar restocking fees. Yes that right, you did read that correctly. Hotels are not only charging astronomical fees for whisky miniatures, they’re also charging you for the privilege of restocking the fridge. Stateside where the charges are customary, you can expect to pay in the range of $3 to $10, regardless of how many items you use. On that basis, if you buy a single miniature of whiskey you could be paying up to $30, without the mixer.

But most commonly tourists have the biggest animosity surrounding resort fees, because there is no real escaping them. Resort fees cover things from safe rental to internet access, all amenities that many travellers would expect as part of the accommodation fee. It’s likely that at some point in your travelling history you will have picked up a bill on check-out, questioning ‘what… I have to pay for the sofa bed and its $20 a night?!’

Unfortunately, there is no escaping these charges. The best advice is to clarify with the reception upon check what and where the surcharges are. Avoidance is the only remedy. Have it spelled out for you from the outlay at reception and that way you can’t go wrong.