Australia has long been a holiday destination of choice for many Brits, but most holidays have focussed on the east coast where cities like Sydney or Cairns up in the north draw in the crowds. Whilst these places are well worth a visit, for the truly hidden gems of Australia you have to head west, to Western Australia and one of the least densely populated regions on earth.

Getting to western Australia is easy thanks to the mass of cheap flights to Australia that are on offer through the likes of DialAFlight, Perth is the capital of the region and the main tourist hub, but there’s a lot more going besides.

The first thing to mention is that for most Europeans, the distances involved in travelling in Western Australia are absolutely phenomenal. The northern pearling city of Broome is a mere 2,200km from Perth, so there’s a lot of landscape to traverse, and not a lot of people around.

The best way to enjoy Western Australia is probably to hire a car and go on a road trip. Starting in Perth is obviously a good choice, and you should take a couple of days to explore the city because it’s often under-rated as a tourist destination. From there you head north, taking in the beautiful coastline and the remote town of Geraldton on the way to Monkey Mia.

Monkey Mia is famous solely for its marine life, in fact, it’s mostly beaches. The real attraction is the dolphins who come into the shallow waters of the bay to eat on a daily basis, a good tip is to avoid the first feeding of the day (which takes place around 7.45am) because there are so many people there that it gets a little impossible to see what’s going on.

From Monkey Mia cut across into the interior (make sure you take plenty of water with you) and head for Karijini National Park. Karijini is an astonishing network of gorges, waterfalls, secluded swimming spots and amazing wildlife – but watch out on the road in because it’s not in the best condition. Entrance to the park is cheap, and there are places to camp or sleep overnight. Schedule a couple of days for the park, because there’s so much to see that you’ll never fit it in to one day.

The last major stop is Broome, in the north. Broome is a city that was original built on the pearling trade and at one point provided 80% of the world’s mother of pearl (or Nacre). Now it’s a popular tourist spot, and is most remarkable for the impossible colours that surround it. Much of the landscape is a vivid red, but the turquoise of the ocean waves and the bright white sand make it seem positively other worldly.

It’s difficult to simply sum up the mass of variety and things to see and do in Western Australia, it’s pretty much the size of Europe, and you’ll be doing a lot of driving. For a truly unforgettable holiday, though, you can’t look further than exploring one of the world’s last true wildernesses.

Dumfries and Galloway is the southern most county of Scotland stretching along the border with England to the Irish Sea. The stunning landscape of Dumfries and Galloway is the perfect backdrop for a trip that offers much to see and do. Whether you enjoy historical castle or mountain biking, wildlife or art galleries, you will find it all here, and all easily accessible from anyway on the UK mainland.

Keen golfers will already know what this county has to offer, and the choice of luxury holiday homes and courses are vast and varied, with varying degrees of difficulty to appeal to golfers whatever their handicap may be. These courses nestle in the glorious countryside alongside that is home to rutting stags, red squirrels, nesting Osprey, wild geese and natterjack toads, amongst many others.

While there is undoubtedly much to see and do in Dumfries and Galloway, there are certain times of year when special events are held that aren’t widely advertised, so unless you are actually there it is unlikely you would ever know about them. Between the 31^st May-03 June, the enormous family friendly festival known as Knockengorrach World Ceilidh is being held at Castle Douglas.

This is a celebration of music, song, dance, poetry has much to enjoy, including performances from global artists, workshops, children’s area, a cinema, real ale,  talks, fire performances and much more. The annual Spring Fling takes place in Stranraer from 21^st April-19^th May. This gives locals artists a chance to showcase their arts and crafts, and all the original pieces are for sale.

Take a trip to Dumfries and Galloway at the end of September and you will get the opportunity to see some great performances at the Lockerbie Jazz Festival. World renowned artists such as Acker Bilk and Take Six are scheduled to appear, and tickets sell out quickly so if  you are planning on taking your trip around this time you are best off getting your tickets well in advance.

If you are flying to Geneva with a view from travelling on to your destination, make the effort to add a few days to your trip and spend some quality time in this glorious Swiss city. Sitting alongside the stunning vista of Lake Geneva, there is much to see and do in Geneva and it makes the perfect destination for a weekend getaway or short break.

The Cathedrale de St Pierre is a must see for anyone appreciative of both architecture and history as it was here that John Calvin first gave his stirring sermons during the protestant reformation years. For history buffs there are a plethora of fascinating museums which give an insight into the likes of natural history, arts, science and the Patek Philippe speciality museum which is dedicated to watches.

One of the most attractive of the outdoor attractions in Geneva is Jet d’Eau, a tremendous fountain that is situated in downtown Geneva. It is one of the highlights of the city and is equally impressive whether viewed during the day or at night. There are many bars, cafes and restaurants scattered around Geneva and all of these serve excellent beverages and various priced meals, perfect after a busy day of sightseeing.

There are many hotels to choose from in Geneva, from the smaller, intimate guest house style to large corporate hotels. There is one to suit all budgets and with all the major airlines flying here, there is no excuse not to experience the delights of Geneva for yourself.

So the decorations have come down, the tree is packed away and all there is to look forward to now is a cold winter of an indeterminable length. It is little wonder that so many of us choose this time of year to start planning our summer holidays, to give ourselves something to look forward to if nothing else.

When it comes to our holidays we want our accommodation to be booked through a reputable company to ensure comfort, and Sol Hotels are simply one of the best. This global brand has hotels in all the top resorts across the globe, each offering their guests a combination of style, comfort, entertainment and facilities and affordable luxury that is second to none. Need A Holiday?

To celebrate the start of a new year Sol Hotel are running a fabulous competition that gives a lucky winner the chance to win 4 night holiday for 4 people in one of their top hotels in the Canary islands. Just think, a luxurious short break in the year round warm climate that the Canaries offer, the perfect thing to recharge your batteries and shrug of the winter gloom.

To enter couldn’t be simpler, all you have to do is go to Sol Hotels Facebook page and click ‘like’. The next step is choosing which four items are essential for you to have in your suitcase when you go on holiday, share this on your Facebook profile and get your friends to vote for you. The participant with the most votes after the closing date of 18^th January 2012 will be the winner and can start packing their case.

Think carefully about those four items before you enter though, this competition is  meant to be fun, and people putting the likes of toothpaste and deodorant is far from exciting! Be imaginative, are there things you would love to take but baggage allowances prevent it? What about that childhood teddy you can’t bear to leave behind, you want to grab peoples attention so they will vote for you, so the wackier the better.

Spend some time considering these items, but not too long, the competition closes on the dot of 11.59pm 18^th January 2012, and you don’t want to miss out on a chance of winning this great break courtesy of Sol Hotels.

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Belgium is known for its fine chocolate, but outside of chocolate the country also has plenty to offer in terms of cuisine including specialty items such as mussels and frites, especially when the frites are served with mayonnaise which is the local custom. For the best taste of cuisine in Bruges you may wan to try out any of the following best restaurants in Bruges.

A short distance from the bars and outside of the tourist track lies De Drie Zintuigen which offers a great deal more than just mussels and frites, although the dish is quite tasty here as well. You can expect to pay about thirty Euros per person but the price is well worth it for fine cuisine.

We were most impressed by Bistro Den Huzaar located on Vlamingstraat 36. There was a very reasonable three course with a good choice of starters, main courses and deserts. As with most restaurants in Bruges, game features quite prominentlyon the menu and Den Huzaar was no different. For the main course I had a delicious venisson stew, very tender with a rich dark beer sauce ideal for a winter’s night.

For those attempting to stick to a budget the L’Estaminet in Astrid Park is also a grand choice where you can get either a scrumptious croquet monsieur or its world famous spaghetti for about eight Euros. Plus, the restaurant has a lovely terrace to dine out in the sun along with a fine selection of drinks to complement your meal.

Another great stop for those wanting a nice steak is the In’t Nieuw Museum which is an authentic Belgian grill restaurant that features reasonable prices and a steak that you will likely remember for years.

Finally, those that want a true local restaurant at a reasonable budget should head over to the Brasserie Medard where you can get the best spaghetti in Bruges, but beware that tourists are not welcome unless they seat themselves and adapt to the local customs.

Saas Fee Swiss Alps

As far as skiing holidays are concerned, there are certain countries that are more popular than others. Austria, France, Italy, the US and parts of Eastern Europe are mainstays of European skiing holidays, but the jewel in the crown are those resorts nestling in the Swiss Alps. As the name would suggest, these are the parts of the Alps that are within Switzerland.

The choice of chic and fashionable resorts are second to none; Klosters, St Moritz, Zermat, Nendaz, the names are world famous, as are the skiing facilities and attractions within them. Whether you are a complete beginner or somewhat of an expert, there are pistes to suit all ages and abilities, as well as other winter off piste sports such as snowboarding, sledging, sleigh rides, hiking and mountaineering.

The hospitality of the Swiss is legendary, and the combination of this with the glamorous resorts and superb après ski ensures that Swiss Alps still maintains their crown as the number one place to ski, and be seen, in Europe. The accommodations here are exemplary too, with luxury hotels nestling next to picture postcard chalets. Swish bars and cafes line the streets, as do designer boutiques and other high end retailers.

Skiing holidays are becoming more accessible to all, and although there are some resorts such as Klosters which attract Royalty and film stars, the resorts in the Swiss Alps offer excellent value for money considering what you get there. There is something very special about choosing this region to for your family ski holiday, and the Swiss Alps resorts sound as impressive as they are.

There are numerous reputable websites where you can find your perfect skiing holiday in the Swiss Alps, and with it being such an easy place to access from the UK, British skiers will make sure it stays number one.

Bruges is arguably one of the most beautiful cities in not only Belgium but in the whole of Western Europe. It is also one of the prime destinations for romantic getaways and for friends that like to expirement tasting various Flemish beers, and while Paris has long held the title of Europe’s most romantic city, there are many who think that Bruges is a very comparable alternative. Better beers in Bruges for sure though, no arguments there!

While there are many luxury and high priced hotels in Bruges, if you are looking for somewhere unique for an extra special break full of charm and history, look no further than De Sterre B&B.  The accommodation is actually a traditional summerhouse set in a beautiful secret brick walled garden complete with pond and orchard featuring figs, apples and pears. It affords such privacy and peace and quiet that it is hard to believe that it’s in the centre of a bustling city and just a short walk down the scenic canal from the historic market square.

The summerhouse sits in the grounds of a 16^th century home and was constructed in 1789. It gives its occupants complete privacy and offers everything you could need to add that certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to your break. Completely self contained, this haven of tranquillity consists of a traditionally decorated bedroom with a cosy bed, a small bathroom with a bathtub and shower, a sitting room with tea and coffee making equipment and a private entrance through a gate in the garden wall. We had a little difficutly with the shower though as we could not seem to find a holder for the shower head, but we managed somehow without too much trouble.

The entire interior is decorated tastefully and in a very romantic vintage style that is perfectly in keeping with the exterior of the building which exudes romance and charm. The only modern appliance here is a television set and the enormous windows give an unprecedented view out over the wild gardens that have been left to grow as nature intended, in keeping with the traditional character off the summerhouse. The slippers and bathrobes were also a very nice touch to make you feel at home, along with the complimentary local chocolate for that extra treat.

You need never to enter the main house and even breakfast is kindly brought out to you by Francine in the mornings, you just have to say what time. This consists of fresh bread rolls, fruit, cheeses, fresh juice, jams and yoghurt, and when the weather permits can be served al fresco under the giant oak tree. We also had some delicious danish pastries from a local bakery which came highly recommended called Van Mullem, on Vlamingstraat 54, on the market square opposite the old theater. You can request your breakfast at any time you want, further adding to the complete freedom of your break. Francine has a wealth of knowledge regarding all things Bruges and had some great tips regarding restaurants and traditional Flemish pubs to find unique beers that you won’t find anywhere else.

This hidden gem in the heart of the city has only been open for a few years and has very quickly built itself a reputation that many other places in the city would strongly fight for. Both the main house and the summerhouse are listed buildings and this just serves to add to its charm even more when you see the original features that still exist. The drinking of alcohol is permitted within the summerhouse, allowing you to sample great local brews in the comfort of the house next to a lovely traditional fire, ideal on a cold winter’s night.

It isn’t very often these days that you can come back from a short break and boast that you have stayed in somewhere completely unique, but you honestly can when describing De Sterre B&B. If you are looking at taking a trip over to Bruges, whether as a couple or with a friend, this is a great place where you will get freedom combined with charm, total peace and tranquillity.

Rooms:

• Twin room
• Sunday till Thursday : 85 Euro p. night.
• Friday and Saturday: 90 Euro p. night.
• Single occupancy
• Sunday till Thursday: 70 Euro p. night.
• Friday and Saturday: 75 Euro p. night.

(All prices include breakfast)

Information and Reservation

Francine Geldof

Gouden-Handstraat 3, B-8000 Brugge, België
Tel: +32 50/33.80.58 or 0476/81.04.31
Email: francine.geldof@telenet.be

It’s really no secret that NYC borough Brooklyn has taken off in recent years. Haven and home to the city’s artists, creative folk and trend makers, this neighborhood offers affordable (in New York terms!) housing in a part of town that’s only a hop, skip and a jump away from Manhattan. Planning on relocating to the city that never sleeps? Read on for some insider tips!

Williamsburg

If you ache for all things city living and crave being in the epicenter of cool then Williamsburg offers the perfect option for you. Since the NYC neighborhood started rapidly gentrifying more than a decade ago, cool kids (read: hipsters) have taken over the former ethnic enclave. Filled with coffee shops, indy diners, record stores, music venues and all the other hallmarks of urban cool, you’ll pay a pretty penny for your Williamsburg abode. Atleast with the growing number of cheap flights to New York available, this will help offset the cost a little of living in Williamsburg.

Greenpoint

For those of you out there who desire to live in Brooklyn but want to shy away from the hectic oh-so-coolness (and prices!) of central Williamsburg, consider Greenpoint. Brimming with tucked away coffee spots, nice residential neighborhoods and young family-friendly hangouts, Greenpoint offers a haven for the citygoer who still wants a piece of the action without the Williamsburg proper prices.

Carroll Gardens

Carroll Gardens truly does have a lot to offer: gorgeous brownstone walk-ups, leafy green streets, a multitude of good eateries and watering holes and lots of original Italian-American charm. If you’re searching for a neighborhood that boasts a great combination of the old and the new then Carroll Gardens is for you.

Propsect Heights

For the young cash strapped urbanite who still craves a bit of all things citified, Prospect Heights really can’t be beat. If you’re cash poor but rich of soul, this may be for you. For all the cultural aesthetes the neighborhood is home to the Brooklyn Public Library, the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden among others.

One sector of the travel industry which has seen a growth rather than a decline is that of the short break. With low cost flights to Europe and bargains on the Eurostar to be had, business is booming for romantic city breaks on the continent. A perfect city for such a break is Bruges.

Only one hour from Brussels, this magical city is attracting visitors in their droves. Smaller than its neighbour, Bruges is fast becoming the main tourist destination in Belgium for short breaks. With its exquisite architecture and beautiful canals, it is not difficult to see why it has such appeal. When making a trip to such a magical place you need a magical hotel, and that is the Die Swaene.

Situated close to the market square in the old city centre, the Die Swaene enjoys an enviable position overlooking one of the canals. With the many shops, bars and restaurants being in such proximity, this hotel has everything you could want for your short break. Classed in the small luxury category, this hotel has won many coveted awards and is in the list of world’s top hotels.

These kinds of plaudits aren’t just given away and have to be earned, and everything about the Die Swaene smacks of that subtle luxury that makes this small boutique hotel so very special. The building itself is exquisite, and gives the visitor on arrival a tantalising idea of what gems lie within.

The hotel is actually made up of two parts, the main historic building on one side of the canal (above) and a more contemporary building on the other side of the canal situated next to the restaurant. We stayed in the more contemporary building, in a stunning room directly facing the canal.

There are 30 rooms in Die Swaene, each one decorated luxuriously and completely unique. You can tell that much detail has gone into elegantly fitting the rooms from features including the lighting to the furniture. Romance is the key here, and the comfortable four poster beds with traditional red drapes are the kind that would most likely impress you. There is even a cosy gas fire ideal for those winter nights. The en-suite bathrooms are of the same exemplary standard, with large showers, quality toiletries and soft robes, making it a very relaxing experience if you are in the mood for relaxing in your room.

After a days sightseeing around Bruges, the Die Swaene offers the ultimate in a luxurious retreat to relax for a while before your evening meal. While it is tempting just to stay in rooms such as this, the hotel also offers an excellent spa and wellness facility that is second to none.

Whether you choose to take a dip in the pool, relax in the sauna or take a massage, the Sky House will suit your needs. There are also relaxation packages available for couples which include access to the facilities, a ½ massage, a glass of wine and use of slippers, bathrobe and towels.

Once rejuvenated a good meal will be even more appealing. Again, the Die Swaene excels in this area. There are two restaurants to choose from; the young and trendy Pergola Kafee where in fine weather you can dine on the terrace overlooking the canal. The second restaurant is the gourmet eaterie Bib Gourmand which has been accredited with 2 red forks by the prestigious Michelin Guide.

After a good night’s sleep, you will be treated to one of the finest breakfast’s that I have had the pleasure of having in Europe. We were treated to a very warm and friendly breakfast service inside an elegant dining area adjoined to the conservatory. We were treated to a pot of coffee and a delicious omlette made with fresh herbs especially for us. The buffet selection was truely outstanding, featuring smoked salmon, a selection of cheeses, exotic fruit, freshly squeezed juices, variety of breads and speciality hams just to name a few. I would almost go back to Bruges alone just for the breakfast…

If you are planning a romantic break in Europe, there are few cities more suited to this kind of getaway than Bruges, and Die Swaene is the perfect place to start.

Why travel Europe by bus, car or plane when you can look into epic winter train holidays across the continent? The benefits? Traveling overland allows you to see the visually stunning sights of the countryside while engaging in old world activities like bunking in your own sleeper car or visiting the train dining car. Maybe you’ll follow in a legend’s wake and write The Next Great Novel while on the rails. If not, at least you’ll have had an amazing trip to write home about! Here’s our hot list of Europe’s most exciting train journeys:

Super Classic: The Orient Express

No European train trip has inspired more superstars, legends, aristocrats, royals and other lucky folk than this behemoth of the rails. Hop on this legendary train and you’ll hit such classic cities as Rome, Paris, Istanbul, Venice, Vienna, Budapest and Prague.

For a Quick Getaway: London to Paris or London to Berlin

If you’re in the mood for a simple weekend getaway, why not hop from London to Paris/Berlin or vice versa? Rail king Eurostar offers a reasonably affordable first class option that will add a bit of luxury class to your weekend sojourn.

Hip Destination: Monte Carlo

Got a taste for backgammon, beaches and casinos? Then Monte Carlo should top your list of destinations. Whether you’re traveling from Paris, London or some other origin on the continent you can easily reach this destination. All the major rail companies offer a Monte Carlo option, but the Eurostar and Train Bleu connection is the most frequently traveled.