Bali is one of the most popular and unique tourist destinations in the world. Every year, more than 2.5 million visitors flock to this spectacular island. From a tourist’s perspective, the Indonesian island of Bali has much to offer. Often called the Island of the Gods, Bali has a rich culture and a diverse ecosystem that includes unique arts and crafts, ethnic dancing, unique architecture, historic temples, beautiful beaches and world-class diving which you can see when you book any Bali holiday deals.

This lush island is pleasantly small, which enables tourists too see a wide variety of attractions during a one or two-week stay. The island is roughly 90 miles wide and approximately 50 miles long. Tourist areas are concentrated in the southernmost regions of the island near the coastal city of Kuta and the city of Denpasar, which is home to the Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport.

Bali is known for its beautiful beaches, verdant landscape and towering volcanic peaks that enrich the island’s soil. The fertile land enhances Bali’s agricultural products, which include premium coffee and rice. The island’s rainy season begins in November and continues through April. However, Bali is a beautiful destination to visit any time of year. The highest tourist traffic occurs between July and September, but many visitors also arrive between December and January. During the low season, visitors have more bargaining power and access to a larger range of accommodations. One trait that makes Bali so popular is its diverse tourist accommodations ranging from communal rooms that are ideal for backpackers to luxurious beachside villas and private bungalows.

The island of Bali is home to a large number of historic temples and archeological sites. Unlike other islands in Indonesia, Bali is home to the country’s Hindu minority. According to legend, the first Hindus arrived on the island as early as 100 B.C., and their cultural legacy is marvelously apparent today. The island’s many ancient temples are distributed across caves, sea cliffs and fertile plains. These important temples, which are used for many religious ceremonies, feature unique Balinese architecture with elegant pagoda-like towers made from palm thatch and readily available materials.

On land, visitors can tour protected rainforests that are home to macaques, monkeys, coffee-eating civets and many indigenous animals. Although several of the island’s endemic species, such as the Bali tiger, are now extinct, Bali still has one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Along the shore, tourists can enjoy beautiful beaches, excellent surfing and breathtaking underwater habitats. Bali and the islands of Indonesia have some of the best diving areas in the world. With 20 percent of the world’s coral reefs located in this archipelago, Indonesia is home to 3,000 unique reef fish, more than 600 types of coral and many species that are waiting to be discovered. Other underwater creatures that divers can encounter include sharks, sea turtles and giant manta rays. Visit Bali to discover the spectacular scenery, pristine beaches, ancient historical buildings and culinary traditions that have earned this tropical island worldwide recognition as a tourist destination.

Oxford Street may be the biggest and most well-known shopping street in central London, but it’s also the busiest. Home to the flagship stores of big brands like Topshop, John Lewis and department stores such as Selfridges, Oxford Street is the obvious choice both for locals and tourists staying in central London hotels. But for those who don’t fancy fighting the crowds, there are a number of shopping streets where a quieter and more independent vibe prevails. Here’s a selection of them:

image from flickr

Marylebone High Street
Situated just a five minute walk from Baker Street Station at one end, and 10 minutes from Oxford Street at the other, Marylebone High Street feels hidden away compared to its busy West End neighbours. Lined with small independent shops, high street boutiques, restaurants and cafes, there’s also a scattering of high end designers such as Paul Smith and L’Occitane – plenty to fill a leisurely day. The street is also home to arguably one of the most beautiful book stores in London, Daunt Books, where literary fiends venturing behind the Edwardian style front are spoiled with an oak-lined interior and endless shelves of travel books, organised by country and recommended by knowledgeable staff.

Camden Passage, Angel Islington
While Angel’s N1 Shopping Centre concerns itself with high street staples such as Gap and French Connection, the real gems of Islington are to be found tucked away on Camden Passage. Located on the same side as the tube station and running parallel to lively Upper Street, the cobbled streets of Camden Passage are home to antique market stalls and shops where dealers sell anything from furniture and jewellery to clothing. Head there on a Wednesday or Saturday to see the market in full swing, or else take a wander on any other day of the week to browse the shops. The grade II listed Camden Head pub is at the half way point, and on hand with refreshments for those with tired feet.

Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill
Visitors who choose to stay in hotels further west will no doubt already have a visit to Notting Hill’s famous Portobello Road scheduled into the trip. While the markets and shops of this West London spot are definitely worth a look, the heavy tourist crowds can get in the way of anyone looking for a truly relaxing afternoon. A quieter, more exclusive alternative is nearby Westbourne Grove, where fashion-forward visitors will find a mixture of designer labels, contemporary art galleries and bespoke jewellery shops. There’s even a pet boutique and café further up the road, where pampered pooches can sniff around for a new collar while their owners stop for a glass of champagne.

There are a large number of late cruise deals available today, ranging from mini-cruises of a few days, to transatlantic voyages lasting several weeks. The three main cruise types are: no-fly, fly/cruise and cruise-and-stay holidays. Each offers a particular type of cruising experience.

Fly/cruise holidays involve flying out to meet your ship and then cruising the area from there, flying back from the same or a different airport. Many late cruise deals to the Caribbean are of this kind, allowing passengers to have maximum time in the tropics without a lengthy voyage to get there. Another option is to cruise out and fly back (or vice versa). Transatlantic cruises from Southampton, where ships are berthed at different locations in winter and summer, are often booked on this basis.

A growing number of UK travellers, particularly those with young families, are choosing no-fly (sometimes called ex-UK) cruise options, which involve no flying at all. Instead, the ship cruises from Southampton (or another British port) on a “round robin tour”, before returning to the port she left from. Cunard, P & O, Royal Caribbean International and Princess all offer no-fly cruises from Southampton. The Mediterranean, Canaries, Baltic, Scandinavia and Egypt are just some of the destinations. P & O and Cunard also offer luxurious world cruises from Southampton, taking passengers to Australia, the Caribbean, Asia, America and many other fabulous destinations.

Cruise-and-stay vacations combine a conventional beach holiday with a cruise experience, giving you the best of both worlds. For example, there are late cruise deals to Egypt which combine a stay in a Red Sea resort with a cruise down the Nile. Other options include Alaska, the US and the Far East.

If you’re not sure if cruising is for you, there are mini-cruises from Southampton which allow you to “dip your toes in the water”. Alternatively, there are late cruise deals on river cruise vessels, for those who like to be within sight of land.

Dubai is a destination for family holidays for those who want a variety of activities. From fine dining to skyscrapers, this location has something for everyone to enjoy. From outdoor activities to indoor activities, the kids and adults will never be bored. Everybody will be amazed at all the fun and new places to explore.

Dubai offers the family a chance to get wet at Jumeirah Beach. The family can take a picnic, and enjoy swimming or playing in the sand making sand castles. It will be a chance for the family to relax and be together in a natural setting of sparkling water and sandy beach. Jumeirah Beach Park is complete with lifeguards and picnic tables as well as play areas for the kids.

After a day in the sun, the family can go indoors to a kid-friendly shopping mall. The malls offer interactive activities such as Magic Planet and Encounter Zone. The kids and adults can enjoy all these activities in the comfort of an air-conditioned building away from the heat of the day. Another activity will be Ski Dubai’s indoor snow slopes. The family can go from the sun to the snow by just going inside and trying the slopes.
Can you imagine seeing snow in the desert? A family holiday in Dubai makes that possible with their indoor slopes of real snow.

The kids will love a memorable ride on a camel down a sandy desert trek. Your family holiday can include taking a desert safari away from the city. You will be able to see the stars in the desert’s sky if you travel by night. A camel ride will be an event that is sure to be remembered for a long time.

Kids love the outdoors, and they will be excited when they see the water rides at Wild Wadi theme park. The park offers water slides for the daring as well as for some relaxing fun. While in Dubai, be sure to go by the Wildlife & Waterbird Sanctuary to see what it has to offer. Then, take a trip on the scenic train and have some fun with games at Al Mamzar Park. You might also want to check out the Wonderland Amusement Park for a day of adventure.

The family will want to do a little sightseeing while in Dubai. Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world, and from it, the family can get a distant view of the area. Then, to learn more about the history of the area, take the family to the Dubai Museum.

After learning about Dubai’s history, you can go do some bargain hunting at the cities open-air markets. These markets offer almost anything you might want for a souvenir to take home to remember this momentous family holiday in Dubai. You will be able to smell the aromas of the spices and perfumes in these open-air markets. You will want to return to Dubai for more holidays after experiencing all of these activities.