Middle East Archives - Page 3 of 5

March 11, 2013 by Arlene

7 Things to Do in Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is Israel’s party and cultural centre, with great activities for everyone. Whether you are planning to travel alone or with your family, this thriving Mediterranean capital offers endless attractions and activities. Here are some of the things to do in Tel Aviv.

Beaches

Tel Aviv offers some of the most beautiful town beaches found anywhere in the world. With calm waters and shimmering white sands, all Tel Aviv beaches are great places to visit and unwind or enjoy activities such as surfing or beach volleyball.

Shops

Tel Aviv is a popular fashion hub in the world, with famous designers and brands based in the city. Go shopping along Sheinkin or Bograshov streets for attractive boutiques and visit some of the leading malls in the city for a memorable shopping experience.

Culture

The ever-awake Tel Aviv boasts a dynamic club, museum, park, and party environment. From ancient to modern styles, Tel Aviv is a must-visit for any gallery enthusiast. Whether you are into modern culture or prehistoric crafts, the city has a museum for various interests and traits.

Nightlife

Israelis are known for their merry-making activities and Tel Aviv provides them with the perfect environment to hold their parties. Here, clubs and bars are open throughout the night. Whether you are planning to party all night long or relax with a few friends, you will easily find something that suits your nightlife needs and expectations.

Bar Hopping

Bars are often opening and closing. In order to find out whether the place you want to visit is open, make sure that you make inquiries beforehand. During the week, you will find it easy to locate some great clubs and bars in the city. When it comes to the weekend, you can go out on a Saturday evening. On the other hand, bar hopping is one of the most popular fun activities among the young people. Bars are normally packed on Fridays, but many of them remain closed on Sunday. Locals generally love going out late at night, and the bars remain open until all the revelers leave.

The Carmel Market

The thriving Carmel Market offers great food options for everyone who needs a taste of indigenous life. In addition, the splendid fresh products available, the adjacent areas are also blossoming with attractive shops. Besides, most cafes are have the magnificent Mediterranean and deck ocean view.

The Israeli Food Culture

The local food is as varied as it is scrumptious. The blending of café cultures and plenty of ingredients available results in a range of foods any aficionados will be excited to sample. If you are looking for a fun, delicious tour of the gastronomic life of native foods, café hopping can be a great pastime. The option of cafes and restaurants in the city is immense, each boasting a great style and atmosphere.

Therefore, if you are planning to visit Tel Aviv next, there are many things to do to make your journey a truly memorable one, so go ahead and plan your holiday well and you will surely want to come back.

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Photo by manc72 on Flickr

March 6, 2013 by Arlene

A Turkish “Delightful” Break

Turkey is one of my favourite places in the world. Don’t ask me what it is about the place, as I’ve never been able to quite put my finger on it, yet it has me hooked. One of my favourite resorts is the chilled-out town of Altinkum.

Perfectly situated between the bustling town of Bodrum and the party central of Kusadasi, Altinkum is the perfect choice for those wanting a beach holiday, with plenty of night-life thrown in for good measure.

These days, you’ll find plenty of great value flights heading over to Turkey, with many low-cost airlines getting in on the action. Be sure to cut costs even further by pre-booking great value airport extras, such as Luton Airport parking from Holiday Extras, for flights out of the capital. Most large UK airports offer this fantastic service, including airports north of the border, with Glasgow airport parking great value for money.

The downside to any flight into Turkey is that, more often than not, you’ll have a lengthy transfer. The coach ride from Bodrum airport to Altinkum takes around 70 minutes, but thankfully, the destination is well worth it.

The first place I’d be heading is the beach, and Altinkum has a beautiful, wide, sandy beach to waste a few afternoons on. There are two beaches at either end of the town, and each has water-sport opportunities and safe waters for children. Kick back and relax with the sun beating down, or alternatively, I’d highly recommend jumping on a boat trip, for a different take on the coastline.

Altinkum itself doesn’t have much in the way of things to visit in resort; other than the beach, it’s mainly about excursions and exploring the surrounding area. I’d highly recommend a jeep safari, as not only is this great fun, but you get to explore traditional villages at the same time, and see the beautiful countryside too. The cotton-candy landscape of Pamukkale isn’t too far away, as well as ancient Ephesus. Want more? Well, nearby Bodrum is certainly worth a visit, if only for the views from the castle.

Turkish markets are certainly an experience, but it’s one that any visitor must have. Nearby Didim has a market every Saturday, so head down there and haggle, haggle, haggle! There are many bargains to be had, and once you get into the haggling routine, it’s surprisingly easy. The atmosphere, colours and smells are intoxicating, so be sure to add the market experience to your to-do list.

Night-life in Altinkum is varied, colourful, but never as rowdy as some of the neighbouring resorts, such as Kusadasi. Most of the night-life in terms of bars and clubs is located down near the harbour, but before you hit the bars of Altinkum, be sure to line that stomach. Turkish food is delicious, plentiful and very cheap, so if you’re into trying traditional cuisine, this is for you. Kunefe is one of my favourite deserts in the world, so I’d suggest you sample that one! Alternatively, there are plenty of international menus around town, so nobody is going to starve.

I don’t have a bad word to say about Turkey, and Altinkum is certainly a wonderful resort to visit. Cheap and cheerful, but in no way tacky, you can cut costs to this Turkish delight by pre-booking those all important airport extras before you travel, such as Stansted parking, and cut out the need for those expensive airport taxis.

Lira saved before you travel – what more could you want?

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Photo by modenadude on Flickr

February 4, 2013 by Arlene

The best Red Sea cruise destinations

Cruises are great, especially if you want to see several sights during one trip without having to spend a fortune on fuel or train tickets. One of the world’s most popular spots for cruises is the Red Sea in the Middle East. From here, you can see some of the most famous landmarks on the planet, but where are the best places to visit on a cruise in the Red Sea?

Sharm-el-Sheikh

Not quite a landmark, but one of the most impressive parts of the Red Sea area. This long, sandy beach attracts millions of sun seeking tourists every year, while many visitors here also choose to go snorkelling and scuba diving too.

Port Sokhna

Within a stone’s throw of the Pyramids and the equally-famous Sphinx in Giza, this city has its charms, but its proximity to Cairo makes it an attractive destination for anyone going on a cruise. Giza has plenty to offer too, but from here, most of Egypt’s biggest attractions are easily accessible.

Luxor

For anyone keen to learn about the rich history of Egypt, the city of Luxor is a great place to stop off during a cruise. From Port Safaga, tourists can travel roughly 45 minutes to Luxor and see for themselves various attractions including the much-heralded Tomb of Tutankhamun and Tomb of Ramesses VI, not to mention other artefacts from their eras.

Petra, Jordan

Located in the heart of the country, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has to be seen to be believed. Some of the ancient city’s structures are carved delicately and intricately into the pink-tinted rocks, and are easily accessible from the Red Sea itself.

Hurghada

Another shimmering beach, this one doesn’t have the same reputation as Sharm-El-Sheikh. This makes it perfect for anyone who wants to spend a quiet day at the beach, and it’s perfect for anyone who likes to swim, snorkel, scuba dive or even go horse riding on the beach itself!

If you like the idea of visiting all of these places and more, then what’s stopping you? There are some great offers to visit the Red Sea in the cruise deals at virginholidayscruises.co.uk you could look at if you want to go there for less.

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Photo by archer10 on Flickr.

January 28, 2013 by Arlene

Top 10 Party Destinations for You and Your Friends

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Here is a list of the top party destinations in the world that can assist you in deciding where to go next and will also save you money because these destinations are easily accessible due to the amount of online discounts available.

1. Ibiza, Spain

The number one Mediterranean party island, Ibiza, offers the best dance floors and the best DJs of the world. With a lively nightlife, it is a perfect party island for trendy tourists.

2. Las Vegas, Nevada

When talking about parties, one cannot forget Las Vegas. It is overflowing with bars, clubs, casinos, restaurants and wide variety of entertainment. The best part? It never closes. You can party, eat, drink and dance all night and day. Tanning Salons in Las Vegas, NV are everywhere you turn and you get get a cheeky top up before the real thing to look as good as possible whilst partying.

3. Koh Phangan, Thailand

Koh Phangan is located on the island of Koh Samui and is known for a fantastic beach and diving opportunities. The island is also famous for its full moon party in the jungle. Full Moon Party takes place every full moon, of course. Thousands of tourists from around the world gather in an open area and party together. Colorful lasers illuminate the jungle and the loud music rocks the place.

4. Jamaica

It flaunts a laid back atmosphere and is a centre for reggae, rocksteady and dub music. The sunsets and beautiful beaches make this place great for the more mellow partier.

5. Beachcomber Island, Fiji

Beachcomber Island is Fiji’s party island whose extensively popular nightlife attracts the younger tourists who cannot get enough of nightclubs. Festivals go on throughout the night, all year round with a wide selection of exotic cocktails and renowned DJs.

6. Hvar, Croatia

Hit Croatia’s sunniest and most trendy island if you are really eager to be out until dawn. During the summers, the island turns into one big party that brings together people from all over the Croatian coast.

7. St. Lucia

If you are looking for a Caribbean destination with vibrant nightlife, St. Lucia is where you should go. Every night here seems to be the Friday night. The island has a wide selection of nightclubs and bars with hot rhythmic music. The island also offers celebrations including the jazz festival and several summer festivals.

8. Mykonos, Greece

Located in the Aegean Sea, Mykonos has a stunning architecture and endless cobbled streets that lead to flat-roofed white houses with wooden doors and windows that are painted blue. In Mykonos, you can lie down in the sun on the beautiful beaches in the afternoons to enjoy the sun and water sports. In the evening it is something entirely different. Lively celebrations on the beach kick off at dusk. Mykonos has always been a favorite among party lovers.

9. Istanbul, Turkey

Halfway between Europe and Asia, Istanbul is just amazing. To discover the true celebrations of the city, the key is to go up to the attics of buildings where most of the bars and clubs are located. A cross-cultural city, Istanbul shows the eyes of the modern world. After the traditional “nargile” (hookah), the nightlife offered is too tempting to resist.

10. Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic is definitely the paradise of the “all inclusive”. While during the day, the main focus is on the sun and beach, the nights are tinged with color and dancing until dawn. The hotels in the area incorporate great clubs, but the best and most authentic festivities occur on the beach at full moonlight.

So if you’re ready to party, pack your bags and embark on a journey to one of these hoppin’ destinations.

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Photo by robertocastano on Flickr