The Greek islands are always an excellent option for a holiday, so in this post we will be reviewing the idyllic resort of Pefkos, in the island of Rhodes.

Kavos Taverna View (Photo credit: steve.wilde)

The Greek word “pefko” literally means “pine tree”, and there is certainly an abundance of those in this Mediterranean resort. The surrounding fields are also peppered with olive and fig trees, while the deep blue sea offers a contrast to the greenness of the fields. You will be immediately captured by the beauty of both.

Getting there

Rhodes airport is only a 30 minute drive away from Pefkos. The airport receives daily from various locations in the UK and in mainland Greece. Frequent local buses also shuttle passengers between the airport and Rhodes town, from where visitors can connect with another bus that will take them to Pefkos. These buses operate every 30 minutes during the summer season.

Alternatively, visitors can hire a car at the airport.

Accommodation

The once sleepy fishing village of Pefkos has slowly evolved into a holiday resort with all the amenities. Here, accommodation comes mainly in the form of self-catering villas, studios, and apartments. Most of the villas feature a swimming pool and are nestled among fragrant lemon, orange and pine trees. Some of them even afford stunning views over the Bay of Lardos. Excellent deals can be had from just a little over £300 per fortnight.

There are also a few 2 and 3-star hotels in town and by the seafront.

Beaches

Pefkos main beach was awarded the Blue Flag award in 2008. There are three other beaches nearby, including the beautiful cove of Glystra, the isolated beach of Limanaki (where a hilltop restaurant offers breath-taking views), and the pebbled beach of Plakia. All of them have standard facilities such as sunbeds and umbrellas for rent, with some beaches offering water sport activities too.

Eating and drinking

A visit to a taverna is a must in any Greek holiday. There are other options, such as upscale restaurants, kebab shops, and waterfront eateries. All in all, there are over 50 venues to choose from including, bars, restaurants and tavernas.

Related articles

• Visiting Lindos, Rhodes (getaroundeurope.co.uk)
• Greek unrest could put off travellers (telegraph.co.uk)
• Rhodes island ( Nikos) (slideshare.net)

If you plan to have a nice vacation in Spain where you want your own flexible schedule to work, you can consider hiring a car and driving yourself around. You can find car hire at any major airport in Spain including Madrid and Alicante airport. There are certain things you must keep in mind before you set out for your first drive in the area:

1. Drive on the right side of the road, and make sure you don’t let that slip out of your mind.
2. Keep your driving license and insurance certification handy. If your driving license doesn’t have a photograph, make sure you have your passport along. It is also mandatory to keep the vehicle registration document in the car (known as V5C in UK).
3. Follow the regular safety norms that are practiced at home as well, including no drunk driving, no using the mobile phone while driving, and wearing seat belt at all times.
4. If you have a 12 year old or younger child traveling with you, make sure he or shit sits in the back.
5. Follow the speed limits very particularly. Although they are indicated almost everywhere, you must have an idea yourself. In the residential and built up areas, the speed limits are 20 km/h and 50 km/h. On the main roads (Carreteras), dual carriageways (Autovi-as) and motorways (Autopistas), the limits are 90 km/h, 100 km/h and 120 km/h respectively.
6. Keep yourself prepared for some aggressive driving. Spaniards are in the habit of honking a lot, and it shouldn’t be considered offensive on a personal level. For them, a honk is basically a sign to let the other person know that he is about to overtake.
7. It may come as a surprise that Spaniards have minimum speed limits as well. For instance, if you are on the motorway and the maximum speed is 120 km/h, you do not want to go any slower than 70 km/h. In case you go below the minimum speed limit, you will be issued a ticket.

There’s a great deal to do in Bristol, from shops and museums to special events like the Ashton Court Festival and the Balloon Fiesta. If you want to go further afield, though, you can find plenty of day trip destinations a short journey away. Many are accessible by public transport; for others you’ll need a car. Fortunately, car hire in Bristol is convenient and inexpensive.

Just outside the city, near Tetbury, is Westonbirt Arboretum – particularly attractive in autumn thanks to the changing colours of the leaves.

Weston-super-Mare, on the coast, is a real old-fashioned seaside resort complete with pier and donkey rides. It also boasts the world’s largest dedicated helicopter museum. If that’s your thing, you can continue the aviation theme with a visit to the Fleet Air Arm Musuem at RNAS Yeovilton.

History and Geography

One of the nearest towns to Bristol, and surely one of the prettiest towns around, is Bath. This historic spa was already ancient when the Romans arrived and named it Aquae Sulis. Today, you can tour the Roman baths or visit the Grand Pump Room, built comparatively recently in the 18th century.

Even further back in time is Stonehenge, the mysterious prehistoric monument located near Amesbury in Wiltshire.

Stonehenge is man-made, but there are plenty of natual wonders around too. Explore the limestone formations of Cheddar Gorge, or visit the stalagmites and underground lake of spooky Wookey Hole Caves.

Here Be Dragons

If all that isn’t enough, you can even visit another country! Cross the River Severn on the spectacular Severn Bridge and you’re in Wales. Chepstow, with its famous castle, is the nearest town, and an attractive place to spend the day.

Contributed by National Car hire UK

photo credit: Alex McClung

It’s not secret that Germany boasts a renowned beer culture and some of the finest alcoholic drinks in the world. For visitors to this fascinating country, attending a beer festival often ranks alongside seeing the country’s wealth of museums, historic cities like Berlin and Cologne and natural wonders. Even outside of the famed Oktoberfest, there are plenty of beer festivals in Germany to choose from. They run the gamut from small and intimate to vast, carnival-like spectacle complete with games and rides. These beer festivals draw millions from around the world annually, and with good reason. German beer festivals are like nothing else on Earth.

Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival, is an event that needs to introduction. Held for 16-18 days in the beautiful city of Munich, Oktoberfest is known across the world as a celebration of beer, food, fun and Bavarian culture. Held since 1810, Oktoberfest represents the consummate beer festival in the minds of people across the globe. Oktoberfest features a plethora of authentic German beers to drink as well as food such as sausages, pretzels and dumplings. Additionally, Oktoberfest boasts many rides, including roller coasters and carousels. Games, live music and dancing are all unforgettable parts of Oktoberfest too.

Nearby, in the city of Straubing, Gaubodenvolkfest is held. Second only to Oktoberfest in sheer size, this festival also features plenty of beer, food and games for everyone to enjoy. The festival, founded in 1812, is more modern and family-friendly than Oktoberfest and plays host to many rides such as roller coasters, bumper cars, Ferris wheels, carousels, parades and incredible fireworks displays. As with Oktoberfest, the chance to drink authentic German beer is a top draw too.

Another excellent beer festival is the Hanover Schutzenfest. This huge fair contains a wide array of games, rides, music and food as well as two huge beer tents. Every year, about 1 million people attend the Hanover Schutzenfest.

With so many great rides to go on, music to listen to, games to play and beers to drink, attending a German beer festival is a great activity while visiting Germany.

Easyjet operate flights to Berlin, Munich and Cologne to city airports close to the beer festivals.

The best tool for hotel marketing is the internet. Potential customers will search online when beginning their travel plans. Get to know what type of customer your hotel brings in. Find out where and how they search online. Rather than broadcasting information to the entire world, you will get better results if you focus on a smaller group that is interested in what you have to offer. Make use of blogs, emails, press releases, videos, and socail media sites.  Once the word is out about your hotel, people will want a website to go to for more information. Set your website up carefully. Focus on the first impressions you will be making. Photos and video can advertise your hotel better than words. Take flattering pictures of the guest rooms, lobby, surrounding grounds, and any other special features, such as pools and dining areas, that you may have on the property. Place these photos on the home page of your website. Add links to video tours of all the hotels main areas. The words used to describe amenities should be done in plain language that everyone can understand. Include reviews from previos guests, and make it clear and easy to book a reservation.  Once you get a customer, you need to keep them coming back. Set up a reward system for returning guests. Offer free nights after so many stays. Their word of mouth about this will be wonderful advertising.

There is a myriad of fancy and luxurious hotels in Paris France. Three five star hotels are the Ritz Paris, Hotel Lutetia and Mon Hotel Paris.   The Ritz Paris is legendary because it is located in one of the most breathtaking squares in Paris. It is surrounded by historic landmarks and upscale boutiques. The entire building has classic French style decor. The luxury suites are legendary because of the ornate fireplaces and views of the Place Vendome. All of the modern amenities are available including room service, Internet access, a gym and spa services. Guests can enjoy superb cuisine at the Private Salons. They can even host up to 400 guests for private events.   Hotel Lutetia is modern and has a contemporary Art Deco style. There is a fabulous statue of Gustave Eiffel inside of the building! Artwork by contemporary artist is displayed in the lobby. Each suite has two bedrooms, a sitting room and a stem shower. The walk-in closets are a special feature. Guest can partake of fine cuisine on site.   Mon Hotel Paris is a boutique style hotel with a lively atmosphere. The executive rooms are comfortable and spacious. They are located in the corner units and guests have a view of Avenue Foch. The food in the hotel is excellent and room service is available.   Paris France has three great luxury hotel options that have all of the modern amenities to satisy the needs of all guests.