26/09/2011 by Dave.

Ibiza holidays aren’t just about partying in super clubs all night and sleeping and roasting to a crisp all day on the beach. There is much more to this Balearic Island than mainstream media would have you believe. For starters the island boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Mediterranean, but also you can find a quiet secluded corner, away from the crowds, even in the height of summer.

Despite being such a small island, there are numerous accommodation options to choose from and diverse locations to base yourself depending on what kind of holiday you are after. Many of the tour operators offer something for everyone, from party people to honeymooning couples. The Holiday Photo Site is designed to help you to make the right decision.

Party and culture: Ibiza Town

Space, Pacha and Amnesia are all located in Ibiza Town and Privilege, the world’s largest club, is just a few miles away. The city is on the go all the time and whilst the beach isn’t as beautiful as those elsewhere on the island, there are still plenty of places to rest your aching head.

The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is simple beautiful. Pastel coloured townhouses and shops spiral up to a hilltop fort from an attractive and bustling old port area. It is a far cry from the ‘new town’ area that is buzzing with clubbers. This part of Ibiza is quaint and romantic.

Family fun: Portinatx

On the north of the island Portinatx is away from the clubs and bars of the south and is altogether calmer and quieter. It’s a purpose built holiday resort so offers everything a family could hope for, including dining and entertainment venues as well as water sports hire and sheltered beaches. The beaches are beautiful and the pine-clad hills abutting them are perfect for hikers and mountain bikers. Many of the area’s coves and bays are perfect for snorkelling and scuba diving too.

Loved-up couples: Santa Eulalia

Palm trees, a white-sand beach, pine-clad hills as a backdrop and an attractive French-Riviera style promenade make Santa Eulalia a popular choice with couples looking for a quieter slice of Ibiza. It is a large resort, the island’s third biggest, but the town is more focused on elegance and luxury than world-record-breaking clubs. There are numerous top-notch restaurants and several cultural and historical sites to explore too.

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26/09/2011 by Dave.

The term ‘outdoor museum’ gets knocked around a lot these days, particularly in reference to the city of Rome and several of the Greek islands as well as the capital Athens. This is not an unfair description of these places; the sheer number of ancient landmarks still standing for us to admire and photograph is truly remarkable. However, another place that perhaps claims a greater stake in this outdoor museum definition is Egypt. From the Pyramids to the Sphinx, the Valley of the Kings and Queens, Thebes and Karnak, Egypt is dotted with remnants of just one ancient civilization, and being one of the most powerful, intelligent, creative and industrious, the landmarks still induce questions, conundrums and gasps of amazement.

Obviously, there is much to see in Egypt, however 95% of it is comprised of desert. The remaining amount is a fertile valley running along the banks of the Nile from where the majority of the Ancient Egyptian sights can be found as well as the bustling, crowded, chaotic but endearing capital city of Cairo.

However, not everyone comes to Egypt for its history. A huge number of tourists come to its beaches. Whether in Hurghada or the peninsula resort of Sharm-el-Sheikh, tourists flock in their millions to plush, modern hotels, palm lined beaches and oasis like swimming pools. However, for many the real draw isn’t what’s on land, but what’s in the water. The Red Sea lays claim to some of the best scuba diving and snorkelling in the world. From vibrant coloured coral reefs to preserved-in-time shipwrecks, the sea is alive with activity, colour and intrigue. Here you can swim with giant manta rays, warily admire reef sharks and snap rainbow coloured fish with your underwater camera.

Egypt offers something quite unique. There are few places that offer so much of so many things. However, the country is large, as we mentioned above it’s mostly desert and the roads aren’t exactly well maintained; therefore two-centre holidays are advisable if you want to make the most of this incredibly country. A great way to get the most for your money is with a cruise and stay package. You can cruise along the Nile, the flowing heart of Egypt’s ancient and modern culture from Cairo to Aswan and then you can hop on over to Hurghada for a relaxing beach break or scuba diving trip.

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