Romantic Europe River Cruise Destinations

Find below some of the popular European river cruises 2011: 

Danube River 
Discover the vast history and culture along the banks of the beautiful blue Danube River. The second longest river in Europe, the Danube flows through ten countries with numerous historical sites, Gothic cathedrals, exquisite vineards, and medival towns.
Cities include: Passau, Grein, Melk, Durnstien, Vienna, Bratislava, Esztergom, Budapest, Bezdan, Mohacs, Belgrade, Orsova, Turnu Severin, Giugiu, Ruse, Olteniza, Constanta, Tulcea and more.

 

Elbe River 
Discover days of a bygone era as you cruise down the Elbe River. Historic cities and quaint villages mingle with nature along its picturesque banks.
Cities include: Berlin, Dresden, Magdeburg, Meissen, Potsdam, Prague, Oderberg, Wittenberg, Stettin, Stralsund, and Eberswalde, just to name a few.
Gironde, Garonne and Dordogne Rivers Discover Bordeaux, an exceptional region as you cruise along the mighty rivers of the Gironde, the Garonne and Dordogne.
Cities include: Pauillac, The Medoc, Libourne, Saint Emilion, Blaye, Cadillac.

Holland Waterways
As you cruise down the waterways of Holland you'll discover charming towns vibrant with colors from gardens overflowing with tulips and other fragrant flowers.
Cities include: Amsterdam, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hoorn, Volendam, Utrecht, Kampen, Drodrecht, Middleberg, Enkuizen and many more.




Mekong River
Discover the diversity of the most exciting river in South East Asia and the cities, towns and temples along its shores.
Cities include: Hanoi, Siem Reap, Angkor, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Cham, Phnom Penh, Sa Dec, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)


Portugal - Douro River 

Cruises A cruise along the Douro offers the best views of the terraced vineards that surround cities rich in culture and history. You will quickly discover why so many of the cities it have become world herritage sites as you explore their palaces, marvel at their medival monuments and sample their world famous Port wine.
Cities include: Porto, Regua, Pinhao, Guimares, Braga, Vila Real, Lamego, Barca D'Alva & Bitetos.


Rhine River
You will become enchanted by the many exquisite castles that line the banks of this majestic river. Flowing through the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland, the Rhine River has alot to offer with surprises at every turn.
Cities include: Amsterdam, Antwerp, Arnheim, Basel, Cologne, Mainz, Strasbourg, Cochem, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Ghent, Koblenz, Mannheim, Regensburg, Rotterdam, Speyer, Trier, and these are just the beginning.

 





Rhone River

Discover the romance of France while criusing down the Rhone River, past fields of sunflowers, sunny vineards and intoxicating of lavender. The Burgundy and Provence regions of Southern France host traquil towns, grand cities and the gastronomic capital of France: Lyon.
Cities include: Arles, Avignon, Chalon-sur-Saone, Lyon, Macon, Trevoux, Vienne, The Ardeche, Beune, The Camargue, Perouges, Turon and many more.


 

Travel Madeira Island

The island of Madeira is a haven from today's modern society and just a short traveling distance from most European cities. Madeira is in  the lap of Portugal, at the banks of the waters of the Gulf Stream with warm comfortable summers and mild winters which make it an enchanting holiday destination all year round. Below you will find some information which may help you plan your last minute travel deals to Madeira Island. Years ago people discovered on this island a welcoming population, a wonderful climate and an ever increasing and diverse supply of hotels and other tourist accommodation to suit every taste and budget. Early tourists to Madeira were the passengers of the great cruise liners because Madeira was an important station and excursions into the countryside were a pleasant day’s break from the rolling Atlantic. From then, Madeira is brimming with smiles and colour. It is, more often than not, warm, sunny and mild.

The first hotel was built on the western edge of Funchal bay and English tea for the cognoscenti has been served there ever since. Many eminent and infamous visited the island during this time, like George Bernard Shaw, Winston Churchill and Napoleon, to name a few.

You can also rent a property for a few months which will give you an insight into the culture and people of Madeira Island.

• Madeira will be more beautiful during the various festivals. Continue Reading  a list of festivals in Madeira from my blog.

• Madeira and Portugal, in general, has long intolerance homosexuals. Continue Reading about Gay & Lesbian Travelers in Madeira from my blog.

What to do in Madeira Island:
The islands of the Madeira Archipelago is most popular for its golden sandy sea beaches. You can lay down lazily, or can take part in some water sport, or swim at your own wish. If you are animal lover, Madeira has some presents for you. The sea life of Madeira is extraordinary, and a caravel is the most comfortable way to enjoy the sea life.  Bonita da Madeira is such a boat, offering half or full-day excursions to Madeira's beautiful bays and to the Nature Reserve of the Desertas Islands, 15 miles south of Madeira. Leaving for the Desertas at 10am and returning at 6pm, there is ample time to explore, swim and have lunch, not to mention the dolphin and whale watching.

Just a 20 minutes walk can bring you into the lush green Boa Vista Orchids. The gardens include one of the last and oldest remaining systems of walled stairs terracing, as they were back in the 19th century to be found within the close proximity of the city centre.

No holiday in Madeira would be complete without a visit to the historic Jardim Botânico (Botanical Gardens). Set high above Funchal with views of the city and surroundings, the real attention-grabbers are the many exotic plants and trees collected in this wonderful garden. Easy to reach either by car or bus, the preferred method is the Teleférico Cable Car. Connecting the Gardens with the old town of Funchal, the cable car floats over the gorges and hillsides with some stupendous views on offer.

Among other tourist attractions in the Madeira archipelago, there are 3 wonderful golf courses- Santo da Serra, Palheiro and Porto Santo Golf.

Tourist Information Offices in Madeira Island:

The tourism offices can provide you with useful information about interesting places in Madeira Island and also bus timetables, which bus to catch to see ‘that’ place, island maps and other related services.

Once on the island, you can contact the Tourist Green Line by telephone on 800 296 296. They will be able to help you in Portuguese, English, French and Spanish, advise you about places to stay, to see, to eat and give you information about cultural events and the major festivals happening at the time. This service operates everyday (including holidays), from 09.00 to 21.00 h.

But you can also go directly to the tourism offices spread around the entire island:

Funchal's Centre Tourism Office

Arriaga Avenue. Opened from 9.00 to 20.00 h Monday to Friday and from 9.00 to 18.00 h weekends and public holidays

Tel: +351 291 211 902

Seychelles, Honeymoon Destination

Seychelles is becoming one of the most popular honeymoon destinations now a days. Seychelles is an island country with 115 islands (42 of which are gigantic, Mahe is the largest one) in the Indian Ocean. There are many coral islands in Seychelles. The temperature of Seychelles varies between 24C to 30C, the weather is mostly humid with an annual rainfall around 2900mm. Seychelles is located to the northeast of Madagascar and about 1,600 km east of Kenya. It is part of the Mascarene Islands along with Mauritius and Réunion. Other nearby island countries and territories include Zanzibar to the west, Réunion to the south, Comoros and Mayotte to the southwest. Seychelles has the smallest population of any African state.

The Beach of Seychelles is undoubtedly the most attractive of all. White sands with Crystal clear waters, backed by lush hills and big boulders. 

But these are not the all of Seychelles. You must be in confusion to decide which island should you go to. Don’t be confused. Be it one of the three main islands of Praslin, La Digue or Mahé - its mountainous interior being home to Morne Seychellois National Park - or any outlying island, you’ll strike gold.

With such a dreamlike setting, the Seychelles is, unsurprisingly, a favorite choice for a honeymoon. But there’s much more to do than simply opening a bottle of champagne with the loved one in a luxurious hotel. 

Seychelles earned a reputation as a paradise of ecotourism. There are several unique varieties of Orchids on the Islands of Seychelles. Seychelles hosts some of the largest seabird colonies in the world. The marine life around the islands, especially the more remote coral islands, can be spectacular. More than 1,000 species of fish have been recorded. 

Since the use of spearguns and dynamite for fishing was banned through efforts of local conservationists in the 1960s, the wildlife is unafraid of snorkelers and divers. Seychelles are famous for its tortoise. Many people visit Seychelles to watch this magnificent creatures. And when you tire of beaches you can venture inland on jungle trails, indulge in fine dining or enjoy the sublime laid-back tempo.

And the best part of Seychelles is that it has plenty of affordable self-catering facilities and guest houses, often situated on some of the best land., to suit all of your budgets. Though it remains an expensive destination, its tourist authorities are now targeting non-millionaires, promoting these economy options. But don't be panic, it will not be a touristy place like many other beach and you can enjoy the calmness year round.

So what are you waiting for? Go to your travel agent’s office to get the best travel deals to Seychelles and book your Airline travel ticket to paradise.

The photos are collected from the net.

Travel guides to Mahe Island in Seychelles

When you have to decide for your honeymoon destination, one picture comes into mind, crystal clear water, sandy beach, lush green forest in the backdrop, luxurious accommodations and great cuisines. Now all these you can have at Mahe Island in Seychelles. Banyan Tree hotel in Seychelles is one of the best at this place, I just remember to add. So don't thing to much, rush to get your travel deals on Mahe.

By far the largest and most developed of the Seychelles islands, Mahé is home to the country’s capital, Victoria, and to about 90% of the Seychelles’ population. Small wonder that it has excellent vacation and adventure opportunities. Best of all, most spots along the coast are easy to reach by bus or car. Beau Vallon Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island. The pristine sand, clear water and coral reefs make it an excellent spot for sunbathing, snorkeling, swimming and fishing. The beach was just a short walk from most of the hotels. The Coral Strand Hotel and several popular restaurants are located along the beach which makes for a nice beachside meal or cocktail.

While the dazzling coastline of Mahé is undoubtedly the main attraction of Seychelles in general, you should not miss to explore the island’s mountainous interior. One of Mahé’s highlights, the splendid Morne Seychellois National Park encompasses an impressive 20% of the land area of Mahé and contains a wide variety of habitats, from coastal mangrove forests up to the country’s highest peak, the Morne Seychellois (905m). Choked in thick forest formation, the enigmatic, central part of the park is virtually deserted and can only be reached by walking trails; you don’t have to go very far before the outside world starts to feel a long, long way away.

Visit Tenerife, the Island

Want travel deals and information to  Enjoy your Vacation in Tenerife Island. The oldest mountain ranges in Tenerife rose from the Atlantic Ocean by volcanic eruption which gave birth to the island around twelve million years ago. Tenerife is known internationally as the "Island of Eternal Spring" (Isla de la Eterna Primavera). The island, being on a latitude of the Sahara Desert, enjoys a warm climate year-round with an average of 20° - 22°C in the winter and 26° - 28°C in the summer and high sunshine. Tourism is the most prominent industry in the Canaries, and Tenerife is one of the major tourist destinations in the World. The lushness of the gardens and the comfortable atmosphere are very special features of Tenerife, which has lively places to stroll around. The city houses a number of buildings of great historical and artistic value such as the church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña, la Ermita de San Telmo, el castillo de San Felipe, la casa de la Aduana and the old quay where small fishing boats are still moored. In the evening the streets near the Plaza del Charco and the promenade are pleasant places of enjoyment where one can eat at any of the many open air restaurants in Tenerife. Tenerife island is always in demand among tourists because of its year round sunshine. However, to find a cheap holiday to Tenerife, you might try a long winter holiday or keep an eye out for last minute travel deals. Monarch now offer a wide selection of great value holidays to Tenerife, giving you great access to the buzzing resorts, non-stop entertainment and blissful, vast beaches of "the Canary with everything".

What to see in Tenerife Island:
Tourism is more prevalent in the south of the island, which is hotter and drier and has many well developed searesorts such as Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos. More recently coastal development has spread northwards from Playa de las Americas and now encompasses the former small enclave of La Caleta. After the Moratoria act passed by the Canarian Parliament in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, no more hotels should be built on the island unless they are classified as 5 star-quality and comprise different services such as Golf Courses or Congress facilities. This act was passed with the goal of improving the standard of tourism service and promoting environmentally conscious development.

Festivals in Madeira Island

Madeira is home to various Portuguese festivals carnivals throught the year. Tourists from all over the world visit Madeira during these festivals.

Read about

• Tourist Attractions in Madeira Island

• Gay & Lesbian Travelers in Madeira Island

 
Find below a list of some of the main festivals in Madeira:


Madeira Carnival:
4th - 8th March

Madeira Carnival is an extravagant bonanza, celebrated in the capital, Funchal. Costumes, music, food… Everything you could ask for is here. No costume is too crazy for this beautiful Carnival!

Flower Festival:
7th – 8th May

The Madeira Flower Festival attracts thousands of visitors from all around the world to witness what is, arguably, one of the most beautiful sights you will ever see! Fresh flowers flood the streets and a delicate fragrance fills the air. If you choose to visit Madeira, make sure you attend this event. It is not to be missed!


São João Festival:June

This festival takes place on the island of Porto Santo, just off the coast of Madeira. Though it is of a religious origin, it also symbolises the beginning of summer festivites for all Madeirans. The festival encompasses beautiful firework displays, music and plenty of local gastronomy to try out!