Top 10 things to do in Ireland when it's raining!

Discover Ireland has put together a helpful list of ten things to do when it’s raining.

The National Wax Museum Plus in Dublin is a must see location. It is split into several zones, with the time vault section allowing visitors to explore Irish history through the experiences of sight and sound. As well as seeing famous Irishmen and women from all careers, the museum is home to a green screen where you can sing and dance along to your favourite tunes. For a lasting souvenir of your visit, you can even have a copy of your own hand moulded in wax to take home with you!

For the historically minded, The Dunbrody Famine Ship is a great attraction to visit. The ship provides a realistic interpretation of the famine emigration experience. On board the ship, the harsh conditions emigrants faced are explained whilst costumed actors bring the experience to life.  The nearby Dunbrody visitor centre is home to the Irish America hall of fame, commemorating the contribution of the Irish people to American history.

A visit to the Funtasia Water Park in Drogheda will provide fun for every-one. The Pirates Cove water park has something to entertain all ages from white-knuckle rides to Jacuzzis. However, Funtasia is not all about water based fun.; it is also home to a 14 lane bowling alley, crazy golf course, rock climbing, indoor aerial adventure course, play area and a roller skating rink. Endless fun for those rainy days.

Alternatively, you can experience the outdoors without getting wet! Get closer to nature with a visit to the Glengowla Mines. In-depth guided tours of the mine are available and tell the tale of how silver and lead were mined during the 19^th century, including the working conditions of those who mined it . You will see caverns of marble studded with lead and silver, leading you back in time. See rare crystals such as fluorite and quartz, along with ‘miners gold.’ Glengowla is home to a Seismograph, allowing visitors to see how it works and how the impact of earthquakes around can be felt thousands of miles away. For smaller children, the working farm will be of interest.

There’s plenty to do in Ireland, whatever the weather!

Click here for more information.

Latvia: Top 10 Travel Destinations

The Latvian Tourism Agency has put together a list of the top 10 travel destinations in Latvia.

A visit to the historical town of Kuldīga features at the top of the list, and rightly so. The Alekšupīte River flows through the town, directly along the walls of many buildings. Kuldīga has been called the Venice of Latvia.  The town centre is home to narrow streets, one-storey houses and has buildings preserved from the 13^th century. Just outside Kuldīga lies Europe’s widest waterfall, the Venta Waterfall, which is over 240m wide. During spring and autumn, spawning fish will try to jump over the waterfall, creating quite a spectacle.

The seaside town of Ventspils offers something a little different. Located on the coast of the Baltic Sea, Ventspils is home to sandy Blue Flag Beaches, making it the perfect place for a swim. The beach is also home to basketball courts and exercise equipment meaning there is something for everyone. The old town offers narrow cobbled streets and quaint buildings, which contrast with the modern architecture. It is easy to get around Ventspils,:Mazbānītis, a small train, runs on a 2km narrow gauge railway which connects popular attractions such as the beach, Seaside Park, Adventure Park and Seaside Open Air Museum. If you’re more historically minded, you’ll love visiting the Castle of the Livonian Order, one of the oldest preserved fortresses in Latvia, located in Ventspils.

If you enjoy exploring the outdoors, Gauja National Park is perfect for you. There are more than 500 historical and cultural monuments located inside the Park, including windmills, churches, stone castles, hill forts and watermills. If you follow one of the Līgatne Nature Trails, you might see some of the native wildlife such as red deer, bears, lynx, owls, wild boars and red foxes. The nearby Līgatne secret underground bunker will delight history enthusiasts; it was built for the Soviet Latvia leaders in the event of a nuclear war.

There’s something to suit all tastes in Latvia.

Click here to read the full list. 

Latvia offers some breathtaking tourism sites

Top 10 tips for a stress free holiday

Do the preparations for your holiday increase your stress levels?

At time do you wish that you weren't going at all?

Check out our top 10 tips for planning ahead and getting the most out of your break.

Click here to read more

Top 10 Tips for a Stress Free Holiday

....more What to do in the Big Apple

...continuing our blog with suggestions for what you should do and see when visiting New York.

The Statue of Liberty must be one of the most recognisable structures in the world.  The statue was a gift from the people of France to the citizens of the USA, and was dedicated in 1886. It's only possible to access by boat. It is possible to book in advance to go all the way to the crown, but it's only for the strong as there are 377 steps to climb.  Access to the pedestal can also be booked in advance.

Ellis Island is the place where 40% of Americans can trace their ancestry where between 1892 & 1954 over 12 million new immigrants were processed.  Obviously the island is only accessible by boat, and along with the Statue of Liberty is managed by the National Park Service.

Covering 265 acres, the Bronx Zoo is the largest urban wildlife preserve in the United States.  On display are elephants, giraffes, zebra and lions, as well as gorillas and penguins. The zoo is open 7 days a week.

Manhattan's Metropolitan Museum of Art houses nearly 2 million works of art spanning more than 5000 years, and is one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world.

Collections range from the splendours of ancient Egypt to the recently opened American wing.

Who can fail to recognise the iconic Brooklyn Bridge that links Manhattan and Brooklyn. When it was opened in 1883 it was the world's longest suspension bridge.  Since then it has been seen in many movies and television shows, immediately known as being in New York.

We'll continue with more tips for visiting New York soon, but if you can't wait then click here.

For luggage for your New York City holiday click here.

To read the previous part of this Blog click here.

To read the next part of this blog click here.

Hawaii: Top attractions for your first trip

How about travelling somewhere new for your holiday?  Try Hawaii!

The 21 hour journey from London to Hawaii is well worth the effort; you’ll be rewarded with beautiful scenery, wonderful weather and friendly locals. The largest island is Hawaii Island, home to eleven of the world’s thirteen climatic zones, ensuring a wide variety of landscapes.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has created a list of attractions perfect for your first trip.

A visit would not be complete without visiting the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The Park is home to Kilauea volcano, which has been erupting since 1983 and is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. It produces enough lava per day to resurface a 32km road and has added 198 hectares of new land to Hawaii Island since 1994! The chance to witness the primal process of destruction and creation is an opportunity not to be missed.  The Kilauea visitor centre offers talks, the latest eruption updates, maps and the scheduling of guided walks with a ranger.

Travel further east from the Kohala Coast to Waimea, which is full of rolling, green pastures and is home to many ranches, cowboys and cattle. The Kahua ranch offers visitors the chance to experience this unspoilt landscape on horseback or ATV. Waimea is also home to one of the best restaurants on the island, Merriman’s, whose head chef was one of the founding members of Hawaiian cuisine. Hawaiian cuisine is famed worldwide for its fresh, local ingredients and is definitely worth a try.

For those seeking something more relaxing, why not experience the crystal blue waters which surround Hawaii Island? The waters on the Kona side have fantastic visibility and are calm. Honaunau Bay is the perfect place to snorkel and features ‘two steps’ formed from worn out volcanic rock, creating a perfect entry point into pure bliss. The Kona coast is the best place in Hawaii to spot manta rays that have huge wingspans of up to 6 metres and do not have a sting. The best way to see these incredible creatures is a boat tour at night; watching these graceful animals feed is truly an experience of a lifetime.

Hawaii Island also provides fantastic vantage points for viewing the stars. The tallest sea mountain in the world, Maunakea, is home to 13 telescopes representing 11 countries from around the world. Due to minimal light pollution and clear air, the stars are clearly visible with naked eye and light up the night sky. Maunakea also offers some spectacular sunsets and sunrises above the clouds. Guided stargazing tours are available and are the easiest way to experience the natural beauty of the world above.

If you visit Hawaii Island at Easter, you can visit the Merrie Monarch Festival- the world’s largest Hula competition. The motto of the Festival is “Hula is the language of the heart, therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people”. The Hula dance is unique to Hawaii and is often accompanied by a chant or song. Some Hawaiian hotels offer guests the opportunity to learn this cultural dance; If you’re feeling brave you can show off you hula skills to other guests!

To read the full article, visit http://www.gohawaii.com/uk/big-island/guidebook/first-trip/

Hong Kong's Top Ten Attractions

Fancy going somewhere different this year? How about visiting Hong Kong?

Lying just south of the Tropic of Cancer, Hong Kong has a humid sub-tropical climate. This makes it the perfect location for those seeking a bit of winter warmth; Hong Kong has an average temperature of 16°C in January! Due to Hong Kong’s colonial past and international harbour, English is widely spoken. All public announcements and official signs are bilingual, making it easier to get around! The city is extremely diverse and beautiful; Chinese clan heritage and European colonial history combine to create a city like no other.

Hong Kong’s cuisine is highly acclaimed worldwide. Ditch the New Year’s resolution and sample some of the local delicacies such as Put Chai Ko (a sticky rice pudding), stir-fried rice noodles, sweet and sour pork and mango pudding. International cuisine also has a strong presence in the city, with Chinese, Asian and Western foods on offer. Special diets are also catered for, with many halal and vegetarian restaurants in the city.

A visit to Hong Kong is not complete without doing some shopping. The districts of Causeway Bay and Sheung Wan are well worth a visit. If you prefer the more authentic street markets, Hong Kong caters for you well. You may spot a bargain on Upper Lascar Row (Cat Street), famed for its antiques and silk products. Chun Yeung Street has busy stalls selling fresh produce where you can experience the sights and sounds of a traditional market in full swing.

While Hong Kong is known mainly as an urban city, it is also home to impressive wildlife and ecology too. The best places to see them are in marine parks and nature reserves, where you’ll see the untamed, remote and rugged Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Global Geopark of China contains some spectacular rock formations, showing off the region’s timeless landscape. The Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region is well worth a visit with hexagonal volcanic columns, islands created as a result of super volcanoes, and splendid sea arches that will make you gasp in awe.

A visit to the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple will immerse you in Hong Kong’s culture. The beautiful ornamented buildings are home to three different religions (Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism). The Temple claims to ‘make every wish come true upon request,’ and is a popular tourist and religious site.

Visitors with young families will enjoy going to Hong Kong Disneyland. The Park four main themed lands: Main Street USA, Adventureland, Tommorowland and Fantasyland. The parades are a must see, and there are many rides to keep the whole family entertained. Don’t forget your camera and autograph book!

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has put together a list of the top ten attractions in the city.

Click here to read the full list

Enjoy a great holiday in Canada - Top reasons to visit

If there’s not enough snow falling for you in the UK at the moment, why not visit Canada? Winter is the perfect time of year to go!

The Jasper National Park, located in Alberta, sees an average of nearly 4 metres of fluffy dry snow fall during the winter months! For thrill seekers, Jasper’s Marmot Basin Ski Resort is an ideal location for winter sports, with 86 named runs and a range of difficulties to suit all levels. The nearby Maligne Ice Canyon provides a mesmerizing journey, walking around sheets of glowing ice, hidden caverns and waterfalls.

Yellowknife, a city 250 miles south of the Arctic Circle, is also a little chilly at this time of years with average temperatures of -20°C! The cold weather offers many opportunities to tourists: you can try your hands at ice fishing, perhaps even managing to catch a fish from a frozen lake! Snowmobiles and snow shoes are also available to hire, which you can take on groomed trails or into the back country. Yellowknife is also North America's diamond capital, so you can choose a Canadian diamond and watch it being embossed and polished before your eyes. If you choose to visit Yellowknife during winter, the area surrounding the city is perfect for seeing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). On a clear night, the solar flares are simply mesmerising! For the perfect Canadian experience, you can even travel on a dogsled and see the Northern Lights trotting through a snowy forest.

Perhaps the most well-known natural attraction in Canada is Niagara Falls, the world’s second largest waterfall. Staggeringly, six million cubic feet of water cascade over its brink every minute, which is more than enough to get you wet, even from a distance! Tourists can walk behind the falls, or even fly above them in a helicopter. If you feel thirsty after seeing all that water, you can dine among the vines at a winery restaurant. The Niagara region is known worldwide for its distinctive wines.

Ottawa, Canada’s capital, is a city steeped in culture. Take a course from Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa and sample Canadian specialities, including Alberta beef, British Colombia salmon and Quebec foie gras. You can even meet a Mountie, who will guide you through Canada's Parliament buildings, whilst the National Gallery of Canada is a must see for art lovers. The historically minded will love visiting the Canadian War Museum. The Canadian Museum of History is just a short walk or ferry ride away in the neighbouring city of Gatineau. If you visit during winter, you can skate on the world's largest skating rink- the frozen Rideau Canal.

If you want to head further North, St John's, located in Newfoundland, has something to offer for all ages. Prowl George Street is the centre of nightlife and has the most pubs per square foot in Northern America! St John's is an important site historically; it is the oldest city in Northern America, founded in 1497. There is a huge variety of architecture, along with jaw-dropping scenery which makes this city a must see. Tourists can also visit the site of the the final battle of the Seven Years' War and Signal Hill (the point where Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal). St John's is also the most Easterly point in North America and has beautiful panoramic views of the Atlantic ocean.

For more from the Canadian Tourist Board click here.

British Columbia

Top South African holiday destinations

 

With the miserable January weather now upon us, surely it is the time of year to think about booking your next getaway?

South Africa has long been a popular holiday destination and is famed for its wildlife reserves. Kruger National Park is the oldest National Park in South Africa and one of the largest in the world. On safari you may be lucky enough to spot one or more of the 'Big Five'- elephants, buffalo, leopards, rhinos and lions.

South Africa is also home to some of the most beautiful and diverse cities on Earth that reflect the wealth of the country's history and culture.

A South African holiday is great value for money with one pound (GBP) buying approximately 17 South African Rand (ZAR). The South African climate is temperate and is known for its long, sunny days- certainly a nice change from the cold and damp British winter!

Popular tourist attractions include the Table Mountain National Park in Capetown. Table Mountain itself is a flat topped mountain with many tourists choosing to hike to the top that is almost 2 miles across. A cable car service is available for those less athletic! Once you reach the top, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views over Capetown and surrounding areas.

For the more historically minded, a visit to the Robben Island Museum is a must. The island, situated approximately 4 miles off the coast of Bloubergstrand, was the site of a prison for political prisoners during the 20^th century. The most notable inmate was Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned there for 18 years.

If spectacular scenery is on your bucket list, look no further than the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve in Northern Mpumalanga. Enjoy fantastic views as you hike or drive through the reserve. One vantage point at the southern extremity of the reserve has been nicknamed 'God's window' due to its panoramic splendour. There you can see sheer cliffs plunge down into an expanse of forests and on a clear day be able to see for miles around.

If after all that travelling you feel a bit thirsty, then visit the Winelands of South Africa to quench your thirst! The Cape wine routes allow you to discover the joys of South Africa's award-winning wines and cuisine as well as enjoying beautiful green valleys and historic towns.

The South African Tourism Board has compiled a list of South Africa's top ten cities. The tourism hot-spots of Capetown, Johannesburg and Pretoria feature. Some lesser known cities feature, such as Port Elizabeth on the Eastern Cape which is known for its hospitality and picturesque beaches. Pietermaritzburg, in the state of KwaZulu-Natal, is cherished for its history and picturesque countryside. Durban,in the same state, is a hot destination with endless beaches, sultry nightlife and famous curries!

Click here to read the full article.

10 Top Travel Tips for Your Holiday

We all want our holidays to turn out be be wonderfully relaxing and enjoyable experiences.

How often do we succeed?

Our Top 10 Tips for a Stress Free Holiday may be the start, and you never know you may.

Click here to read more

Top 10 best selling luggage ranges

Which luggage ranges are the most popular at the moment?

We've complied our list of the top 10 ranges based on our web sales at Luggage UK and sales from our retail luggage superstore in Haywards Heath.

10. Samsonite B-Lite lightweight soft side

9.  Revelation Nexus budget lightweight suitcases

8.  Gino Ferrari laptop bags, briefcases and backpacks

7.  Stylish Samsonite Cosmolite ultra lightweight hardside spinner cases

6.  Samsonite Aeris traditional and strong hard side luggage

5.   Antler Business B100 wardrobe packs and computer bags

4.  Antler Cyberlite 2 and 4 wheel lightweight suitcases in a great range of colours

3.  Antler Camden strikingly designed hard side cases

2.  The practical and attractive Antler Juno hard suitcase range

and at number 1 .......

The amazingly light Revelation Weightless range!

We hope that this listing gives you food for thought, and you can check them out for yourself by clicking here.

For help or advice please call us on 01444 417111 or email us at any time.

... and don't forget if you place your order with us before 3pm on Monday, your luggage could be delivered to you on Tuesday! 

2014's most popular tourist destinations

We've now reached the third part of our countdown of the Tarvellers' Choice most popular travel destinations for 2014.

No. 12 - New York City, USA
Who can resist the lure of the big apple?

No. 11 - Berlin, East Germany
Visit the city with a troubled and divided past that's now one of the power houses of Europe

No. 10 - Shanghai, China
Explore the mysteries of Chinese culture for yourself

No. 9 - Siem Reap, Cambodia
Explore the 12th century Angkor Thom Royal city and the temples of Angkor War

No. 8 - Hanoi, Vietnam
Explore the delights of this well known city with its well know past

No. 7 - Paris, France
The Eiffel Tower, Champs Elyses, what more can we say?

With full acknowledgements to TripAdvisor