The major difference is the weather, obviously, but many of the locations you visit will still be warmer than in the UK – although temperatures will not reach the high levels they would in summer.

What to pack?

As a result you’ll need to prepare slightly differently, and that starts with what you need to pack. The best advice for going on a winter cruise is to take plenty of layers, as that way you’re perfectly capable of dealing with any weather situation.

A set of lightweight waterproofs is also recommended, just in case the weather does take a turn for the worst during your trip.

Choose the locations carefully

Before booking, it helps to have some idea of where you’d like to go – that way you can ensure that the itinerary of that particular cruise takes in all the sights you want to see.

Locations will often be quieter during the winter months and depending on where you’re cruising, the ships themselves may be quieter too. Leaving from the UK removes the need for expensive air travel and finding airports in places you’ve never been to before so why not consider a homegrown departure point?

Plan ahead

If you’re stopping in ports you’ve never been to before, consult the guidebook long in advance to discover what you can do there. Many of the locations where cruise ships stop will have plenty of opportunities just waiting to be discovered, so it helps if you know where you’re going beforehand and set a rough itinerary of things you want to do.

Have a list of ports you especially want to explore and know where you want to sight-see – but remember how long it takes to look round and queue. Weave this in to your plans so you have a realistic estimate of what you can pack into each onshore visit as you don’t want to miss the boat!

And finally, remember that any excursions could still leave you with several hours to kill, so always have a backup plan handy.

For more information on cheap cruises visit http://www.thomascook.com/cruise/

For most of us there is a lot of planning that goes into our holiday. We want to find the right location, a decent resort and to go and buy our holiday clothes. The excitement builds up the nearer the day of departure comes. We might use websites like Tripadvisor to get the lowdown on potential holiday destinations or pricerunner.co.uk to find the best deal on swimwear. But how many of us put the same effort into finding out what our phone will cost us? It may not be as exciting as the rest of our preparation, but good planning can pay dividends and save us money.

When we use your mobile phone in the UK we will be charged the contractual rate specified by our network provider such as Vodafone. Network providers compete to entice customers with good rates. This means we will often be on a satisfactory rate that we are comfortable with. There are great deals to be had and many packages available to suit the different needs of customers, depending on the way we use our mobile phones. However, when going abroad with our phones, we should be vigilant. Costs can be vastly increased, as we will be ‘roaming’.

A roaming charge is an additional charge for using our mobile phone when abroad. We will be automatically connected to a foreign network rather than the network we use when at home. This network provider will typically charge us a lot more for using our mobile phone than our domestic network provider. This is where the costs can and do escalate.

These charges will apply when using our phone for calls, using the internet on our phone and for sending texts. Roaming charges will also apply whenever we download or update apps on your phone, as we are connecting to a network to do so. Many of us have apps on our mobile phones which automatically update every so often. This can mean a lot of data being downloaded, frequently for lengthy periods. All this costs money when it is done over a foreign network.

You should take note that there are a lot of changes going on in the mobile market and different authorities are getting involved in how roaming charges affect mobile users. The European Union, for instance, have capped charges and are to bring further legislation in which may ban roaming charges. Other companies are finding increasingly more inventive ways to get around roaming charges. Furthermore, there are ways for the mobile user abroad to operate their phones in a smarter way to minimise their costs. For the smart user with their finger on the pulse, using your phone abroad needn’t cost the earth.

Whistler, British Columbia is home to perhaps one of the best-known ski resorts in North America. The Whistler Blackcomb Resort offers world-class skiing and snowboarding from fall until well into the spring months, and regularly attracts visitors from Europe, Asia and Australia. Intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders especially appreciate the exclusive access to big-mountain heli-skiing over 173 glaciers and 475 runs.

Summer visitors to Whistler will find a great deal more to do besides ski during their stay, and Whistler Village is an amazing destination even for non-skiers. A favorite family-friendly attraction during the summer months is the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, which offers riding lessons to children as young as five years and where children over the age of seven can ride with an adult. The Peak 2 Peak Gondola lift provides spectacular aerial views of Whistler Village as well as the surrounding glaciers, forests, peaks and valleys. Whistler’s progressive side is also evident in its array of friendly accommodations and activities, including the legal recognition of same-sex weddings, a variety of summer pride events sponsored by Whistler and a long list of TAG-approved accommodations. Visitors are also encouraged to bring their best canine friends along for the trip, with pet-inclusive attractions ranging from dog-friendly beaches and parks, to the Dogfest held in late April in conjunction with the annual TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival.

With amazing activities and an open-minded atmosphere, Whistler offers a summer vacation experience like no other. Both skiers and summer vacationers looking to have the time of their lives should plan their next big vacation in Whistler, B.C.!

Jack Benefold knows his way around Whistler, and he loves going there every chance he can. In his blogs he tell his readers about his favorite places to go and the best Vancouver to Whistler transportation options, all you have to do is get in contact with Ridebooker, Jack’s favorite transportation company.

Here’s the list of the holidays destinations in Germany:

1. Berlin – The Capital

Germany’s capital city Berlin is the largest and receives a great number of visitors every year. Berlin’s diverse awesome sites and attractions make it as the most visited city. The Strandbad Grünau is worth a try. It is one of the city’s lovely lake beaches, with deep waters offering an option for a proper swimming. The open air cinema Freiluftkino also provides a different watching experience. For some great aerial and climbing adventure, the MountMitte is one of the great places to visit.

2. Neuschwanstein Castle

If you are up for some fairytale adventure, the Neuschwanstein castle is the best destination for you. It is a breathtaking fairytale castle situated in the Southwest Bavaria, Germany. With all the dazzling chandeliers, lavishly decorated rooms and great paintings hanged almost in every room. The castle appeared in many movies and was made an inspiration for the most popular Sleeping Beauty Castle.

3. The “Romantic Rhine”

For a perfect sight-seeing experience of the many beautiful views of the medieval and well-preserved castles. You would have a perfect riverboat cruise with your loved one. You can see the famous attractions along the narrow section of the Rhine George. Other ways to explore the Romantic Rhine are to use the cycling routes or walk through the trails.

4. Rothenburg ob der Tauber

The well known old medieval town in Germany is one of the best tourist destinations. Its name meaning, “Red fortress above the Tauber” signifies that this town is overlooking the Tauber River. The town presents a well-preserved German history. A number of notable Museums such as the Criminal Museum and the Christmas Museum are in the town. Some Historic buildings are also situated in the town, depicting the history of Germany.

5. The Oktoberfest

For beer lovers, Oktoberfest should not be missed. This world’s largest fair is making a great number of visitors every year. It runs from the late of September up to the first weekend of October, and lasts for 16 days. Large quantities of beers are served during the festival. Yet only those breweries that go with the German Beer Purity Law are in to serve. You should never miss the chance experiencing the largest beer fair when travelling in Germany.

There is no question about why Germany is now considered as one of the best destinations in the world. For every season of the year, travelers will not be left jaded and stuck in some boring bistro. A day of trip to Germany may not be enough with the many destination options. Plan out an awesome trip today and see it for yourself.

Reiner travels constantly and wanting to see the world through its wonders. He writes about his travel experiences and share to everyone how great each place he visits. Click here www.live-like-a-german.com and get more ideas about traveling in Germany from his write ups.

Here are some of the great things to do when you get to Barbados:

1. Explore the Island

Take a great day trip and explore the Caribbean Island. Discover the secrets of Barbados and its nature and wildlife. Whether you hire a car for a land trip or go sailing, you will run across the many spectacular views of Barbados. Don’t forget to drop by Harrison’s Cave for a more intense nature experience. Other must see great spots are the St. Nicholas Abbey and Earthworks Pottery.

2. Go for Underwater Adventure

What is more exciting that getting into the island waters for some scuba diving and snorkeling? You can indulge in an underwater experience and get the chance to see live corals and shipwrecks and swim with the turtles. For a luxurious underwater adventure, you can also go for a submarinetrip and explore the bottom of the sea without getting wet.

3. Go for a Relaxing Lunch Cruise

If you want something relaxing and cozy, a lunch cruise will do. You can spend a few hours or even a day on board being served with some sumptuous lunch. You can sit back and get a glass of wine while savoring the entire island view. Most cruises have stops along the way that gives the guests a good time to swim and have a feel of the crystal clear waters.

4. Experience the Thrill

For thrill seekers, Barbados has something for you. Adventure activities such as hiking, horseback and ATV riding can also be experienced in Barbados. You can enjoy an on the road all terrain tour experience and explore the island off its waters. An aerial Zipline adventure is available in the forested side of the island.Barbados also offers surfing lessons and other water sports activities for sport fanatics.

5. Some Evening Fun

In Barbados, what comes after the sunset? The awesome nightlife, The Island gets even livelier after hours. Caribbean Island dinner shows are all over. A great beach ambiance under a star-filled sky, fresh and delicious cooked meals and some lively music can make your Barbados night experience one of a kind. Sports bars and clubs are having parties like no other.

6.  Festivals Fanatics

For each season of the year, the fun and activities in the Island never stop. Different festivals are being held showcasing the culture, art and music of Barbados. Huge street carnival and colorful danceactivities happen during the summer months. You should not miss such a one of a kind experience when you get to the beautiful island of Barbados.

Richard Carson wants to explore the world and enjoys his travels. He keeps a journal of all his trips. You can get more travel ideas and tips from Travelbag. Check it out for more help about your next holiday trip.

• An excellent car leasing service needs to have many different branches located in various regions:

These areas have to be within the particular place or region in which you are traveling. For instance if you are going to another town or city, there must be an available branch located there as well. The rental company also needs to be readily accessible at all times. This will enable you to get a vehicle anytime you need on while on your trip. Sometimes, it helps if you consult folks in the area regarding the different rental services, they will certainly recommend the better companies for you to use. In any case is should be easy to locate the nearest leasing service within your vicinity; DVLA number.

• It is also good if you can get the perfect package to suit your individual needs:

There are usually some rental services that are only useful if traveling within a certain area of the city, this of course isn’t going to be helpful if you’re planning on traveling a long distance away. Make certain to view the different packages and offers that each company provides before deciding on one. You want to be sure that the service and quality that a company promises is going to be backed up within their contract; DVLA number.

•  One last thing to consider is renting a vehicle is to have you are getting quality service at all times:

We all want to have a worry free vacation, therefore we don’t want to be worrying about the vehicle we are driving. The automobile should have no problems with it whatsoever and should definitely run smoothly. The company should also thoroughly explain to you what to do in case of an accident or even if car problems should occur. Be certain to have all of your questions answered before leaving the facility. Also there should be some sort of insurance on the vehicle to ensure your safety while driving, and finally there should always be 24 hour customer assistance. The rental company that you choose will be sure to provide you with a packet of information with various telephone numbers and emergency locations to take your vehicle should something happen or you simply need assistance with something.

About Me:

Joana Armie is a blogger from London UK. She has  interest in reading and writing articles .As if now she is busy doing a research work on dvla contacts which explains about procedure for applying for driving license.

People who cannot get enough of the sun and fun that exists along the shore have the chance to take surfing lessons, go scuba diving or snorkeling, kayaking, or engage in fishing excursions. There are even boat tours that allow you to get up close and personal with the whales that have made Byron Bay their home. Byron Bay activities are not limited to the sea and land. This vacation destination just keeps offering more the more one explores its delights. Visitors can find the thrill of a lifetime by going skydiving. This activity allows one to get the best possible view around when it comes to seeing the land in its full glory. Hiring a car to take you to remote hang gliding locations will allow you to see some the area’s natural habitats that cannot be explored through any other means while hot-air ballooning gives you a unique perspective that is both exciting and serene. Taking a hot-air balloon ride near sunset will create picturesque memories that can last for a lifetime.

Many people find that they get the most out of a vacation when they have unique chances to relax, rejuvenate, and nourish their inner sense of peace. Byron Bay has many activities that are geared specifically towards healing the body and mind. There are holistic retreats that many people use to balance out their time of excitement in the Byron Bay area. There are also day spas that offer massages and many other forms of therapy that will allow the body to regain balance. Yoga classes for people of all skill levels welcome visitors. Kids and adults who wish to explore their creative side can also find the bay to be nourishing.

Arts and crafts classes allow people to discover their inner creativity and increase their skill level when it comes to painting and other forms of crafts.The wildlife in the area is a major draw for visitors from all over the world. Among the most popular tours are the Sea Turtle Snorkel Tours. This excursion allows people the chance to see the living coral reef that provides the living habitat for hundreds of species of fish and mammals. The snorkeling locations where these creatures flourish only requires hiring a car and taking a five minute boat ride. The Julian Rocks Marine Reserve is just one of the cherished locales that make Byron Bay such a joy to discover.

Game of Thrones is getting a bit of a cult following lately and due to this it is also helping the tourism of Northern Ireland.  The popular HBO television series based on a sequence of fantasy novels by George R.R. Martin was primarily filmed in Northern Ireland and people are heading over to there to stand in the footsteps of their favourite characters.  The filming crew were based in the Paint Hall Studio in the Titanic Quarter of Belfast, Northern Ireland and a lot of Westeros was filmed there.

Northern Ireland is the perfect location to film GOT as the landscape is perfect for its medieval look and feel, also Ireland is one of the places of origin for Celtic culture so it is quite a fitting location. There are lots of areas in Northern Island which haven’t been developed on so there are plenty of rolling hills and green scenery which make a perfect back drop to many of the scenes. Antrim Plateau is more or less untouched and made the perfect filming location for when Ned Stark beheaded a deserter from the Night’s Watch. Some of the Dothraki Camp scenes from the first season were also filmed in filmed in County Antrim.

Ireland has some breathtaking beaches which made for some great filming locations.  If you remember where Theon Greyjoy was baptised, this was the beach of Ballintoy in Northern Island. The beach has not been ruined by tourism which made it very easy and accessible for the film crew to roll up, film their scenes and be on their way.  The fictional Iron Island of Pyke was also filmed in Ballintoy.  Ballintoy harbour with its brickwalls and oldly world look and feel made it a great location for many coast and sea scenes.

The Dark Hedges is one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Island.  It is a row of beach trees which form a tunnel over a country lane making it very dark and eerie.  The trees were planted back in the 18^th century and the road is reported to be haunted by a spectral ‘Grey Lady’ who is known to appear at dusk. Many artists have painted the scene and it is a favourite location for tourists and wedding photographers.  Thanks to Game of Thrones and the scene where Arya’s travels from King’s Landing to the Night’s Watch along this road, it is getting even more attention.

A small town of Cushendun in Northern Ireland was used to film Mellisandra’s dark rituals in Season 2.  The strange rock formations, the dark caves and the stony beach were perfect for creating the spooky atmosphere required for that scene. The dramatic scene where Davos Seaworth, on the orders of Lord Stannis, takes the sorceress Melisandre ashore and gives birth to a shadow baby, were filmed at the caves in Cushendum.

There are many other great locations which were used for dramatic scenes in GOT and the only way to really see them all is to find an organised tour. Brit Movie Tours is running a Game of Thrones Tour in 2014 which takes you to some of the above filming location in Northern Ireland.

The wildlands of Alaska are quite vast. Finding wildlife here obviously needs a lot of preparation as well as adequate knowledge. The State of Alaska has prepared a wildlife viewing program for Alaskans and tourists from around the globe, offering wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the state, helping them learn about the wildlife here, and providing them with safety tips. Such a program is of great benefit to those who are passionate about Alaskan wildlife.

Wildlife sightings in Alaska can at the same time be common, a rarity, and simply breathtaking. This however depends on the habitat and locations of the wild creatures, and also the timing of your visit. The wildlife sightings that you can indulge in Alaska include birds viewing, land mammals, marine mammals and fish. You can also go for tidepooling as well.

Alaska is surely a birder’s paradise. The boundless wild lands, location on migratory routes and diversity of habitats has made Alaska prime destination for ornithologists from all over the world.  About 500 bird species are found populating or passing through the Great Land – from the Arctic pack ice to the windswept Aleutian Islands to the rainforests of Southeast. These sites are the most preferred for breeding, resting, overwintering, and refueling for these bird species. The waterfowl, shorebirds and wading birds are seen greatly relying on Alaska’s more than 40,000 miles of coastline, vast wetlands, rivers and lakes. The expansive forests of the state provide shelter to raptors, woodpeckers, and migratory and resident birds.

Apart from birds, Alaska is also home to some of the most popular land mammals. The animals that can be sighted here include brown and black bears, caribou, moose, mountain goat and Dali sheep, muskox, porcupine, and wolf.

Marine mammals sightings are also quite common in Alaska. The marine mammals here range from ocean-dwelling creatures like whales, to polar bears that are largely dependent on the oceans for food. Marine mammals that can be sighted here include beluga whales, harbor seals, humpback whales, killer whales, polar bears, porpoises, dolphins, and sea otters.

The world-class fisheries are among the biggest attractions for the anglers who book air tickets in cheap price with the help of a travel agent every year. Here, watching fishes can be fun too. If you are lucky enough, you will be able to see king, coho, sockeye, chum, or pink salmon trying to battle out en masse for making their way up Alaskan rivers and streams to spawn. You can always seek help from Alaska Department of Fish and Game sportfish biologists for getting tips about the locations at some of the best places in Alaska for viewing fishes.

Come to Alaska, wildlife viewing can be a challenge as much as sheer fun!