Sit back, pour a glass of your favorite varietal and start dreaming of your next trip. If you’re considering a wine tour through Europe and wondering what destinations are of top tasting value, then here are a few to mark on your map.

Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux is situated in the southwest of France and is home to the largest wine producing region in the country – which itself is the largest wine producing country in the world. Tours here give visitors the chance to experience a beautiful port city surrounded by rolling hills lined with grape vines. The town of Saint-Émilion is a great place to head for tours and tastings.

Montepulciano, Italy

Tuscany is known throughout the world for being a major food and wine centre, and if you’re looking to experience both wonderful tastes and stunning sites, including Renaissance churches and artwork, then the region of Montepulciano is for you. The famed Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a dry, full-bodied red, and was for a long time the only wine to be served to region’s nobility.

Porto and the Douro Valley, Portugal

Today people will commonly call any dessert wine a Port, but true Port can only be produced in one region of the world. The Douro Valley is known for producing sweet red wines in a variety of styles, from Tawny Port to Late Bottle Vintage. Visitors to this region of Portugal will also quickly discover that it is home to one of Europe’s most stunning natural landscapes.

La Rioja, Spain

La Rioja is home to what most will consider Spain’s finest wine, made from the country’s noble grape, Tempranillo. If you’re a fan of food and wine pairings than Spain is the perfect destination for you, as most tastings can be paired with delcious servings of Tapas. La Rioja is also home to a number of quaint towns such as Arnedillo, and famous sites like the Monasterios de San Millán de Yuso.

If you’re looking for some of the best places to not only taste wine, but also enjoy local food and stunning vistas, then the above destinations will not disappoint.

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Orlando

No matter where you go in Florida, you’re guaranteed great weather but there’s only one destination that the whole family will enjoy. Orlando holidays are perfect for family getaways because of its family-oriented atmosphere and fantastic weather. There are so many attractions in and around the city but the Magic Kingdom has to rate as number one.

Walt Disney World

Each year 52.5 million holiday makers visit Disney World that has four theme parks, two water parks, four golf courses and a whole host of other attractions.

You can spend days exploring the Magic Kingdom Park, which is home to the iconic Cinderella Castle, the Epcot Center where innovation and technology are explored, Disney’s Hollywood Studios which draws inspiration from the firm’s many classic movies, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom which is the second largest theme park in the world.

Universal Orlando Resort

You won’t need to spend all your time in Disney World to give the kids a great holiday. Universal Orlando Resort is another fantastic attraction. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the resort’s top attraction but the kids will also love Transformer – The 3D Ride and the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction.

SeaWorld

This is something that everyone will enjoy, no matter what their age. At SeaWorld There are rides like the wet and wild Journey to Atlantis, family-orientated shows like the Shamu Dolphin Show and beautifully crafted exhibits like the Empire of the Penguin.

Final word

With attractions like SeaWorld and Fun Spot America also in Orlando, there’s plenty to keep the family enthralled. To make the most of your trip you should visit Orlando for at least 3 week. The timing of your trip doesn’t really matter because the sunshine state gets great weather all year round.

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Only 4 hours away from the UK is the sun kissed country of Turkey. With coastlines on the Aegean and the Mediterranean, a great exchange rate and an outstanding choice of resorts, it is little wonder that so many Brits now flock there every year. Whether or not you have been to Turkey before the following guide should see you in good stead if you are considering a Turkish holiday in 2014. If you were not considering this great destination, well, maybe after reading this you will be looking for a great value Turkish holiday.

Unique location

Some view Turkey as a virtual bridge between the continents of Asia and Europe as whichever way you look at it Turkey enjoys a unique location geographically. Being the point where the Christian West meets the Muslim East, the country gains extra frisson when you compare it with its Mediterranean competitors such as Greece and Italy. While you are quite likely to roused at dawn by the call to prayer for the predominantly Muslim population, it is every much a secular state and when you hear the calling for dusk prayers emanating from the closest mosque’s minaret you will probably be sitting enjoying a beer or a glass of wine with a delicious evening meal.

Origins and culture

Giving a partial nod to the Islamic heritage of the county, and another to their origins as nomadic herdsmen going about their business on Central Asia’s steppes, you will find that the Turks are incredibly open, friendly and hospitable. Being served a glass of tea in an unusual, tulip shaped glass and then being joined by the shopkeeper from a local bazaar will not usually be a ploy for him to use you as a captive audience for his sales spiel, it is merely part of the Turkish culture and should be welcomed.

Major attractions

The thrill of taking a holiday somewhere with such a different culture to our own, and being surrounded by some of the friendliest people in the world, does not go very far in explaining why 35m visitors choose to holiday in Turkey every year. A major player in its appeal is its coastline, and 1700 miles of Aegean coast and 1000 miles on the Mediterranean will satisfy even the most discerning of beach lovers.

In Turkey’s Aegean region are the mountains belonging to the Anatolian interior. Anatolia itself is a vast and tilting tableland of mountain and ‘steps’ which run for nearly 1000 miles up to the border with Iran. The mountains are at right angles to the coast, thus giving this area a beautiful, indented coastline consisting of coves, bays, peninsulas and promontories, and this coastline is at its most dramatic around the hugely popular resorts of Marmaris and Bodrum.

In some areas of the mountainous south west of the country you will see the mountains actually plunging into the sea, and this is also the area where the Aegean and the Mediterranean merge. Head east past Antalya and you will find a broad plain, with a backdrop of the stunning Taurus mountains, that is fringed by an endless run of glorious sandy beaches.

Development

Despite the fact that the Turkish authorities vowed long ago not to go in the same direction as Spain when it came to development, it has had a huge impact on the landscape. This is particularly noticeable around the Antalya area where golf courses and all-inclusive resorts have irrevocably altered the whole outlook of the area.

The rockier shores around the southern Aegean and south west Mediterranean have been much more reluctant to make such changes however. And resorts such as Kalkan, Kas, Dalyan, Bodrum and Gelemis (Patara) have managed to retain a lot of their original charm. Even though most visitors to these resorts are more than content to swim, soak up the rays and take the odd tour, those who like to keep active have ample opportunities to go diving, kayaking and windsurfing.

This rocky coastline lends itself perfectly to the ‘gulet’ tours. These ancient, wooden yachts are a major tourist attraction and if you want to go one step further you can charter your own. There are many that are so luxurious they are akin to a floating villa and perfect for a spot of self-indulgence.

History

Exploring the ancient sites of Turkey is hugely enjoyable, whether you are a history buff or not. The Mediterranean and Aegean littoral is generously strewn with some outstanding Greco-Roman ruins from such historical heavyweights as Ephesus and Troy but there are also many lesser known wonders to be discovered such as Sagalassos and Arykanda. Most of the sites are easily accessible by either a hire car or on an organised tour, but there are some who are best visited by boat.

Easily accessible from a large number of main coastal resorts are such geological wonders as the hot springs and amazing travertine basins at Pammukale, and if you fancy taking a trip from Antalya an absolute must is the stunning Turkish lake-land around Egirdir. This gives a lush, cooling respite away from the extreme summer heat. The Carian, St Pauls and Lycian marked trails have effectively opened up the mountains behind the coast so walkers can enjoy their splendour and those who choose to visit in the winter will enjoy the ski resorts at Davraz and Saklikent.

A bit more info

Few realise just how big Turkey actually is, and with the country enjoying so many return visitors it is hardly surprising that they, after several forays to the coast, find the lure of Anatolia’s austere landscape too hard to resist.

The strange formations of volcanic rock cut for the Byzantine churches at Cappadocia are hugely popular and this is the most appealing region to visit inland, not least because of its “cave” boutique hotels, of which there are hundreds.

Those who have penchant for an altogether wilder vista and/or lesser known civilisations should head to the Hittite heartlands which are to the east of Ankara. Armenian churches as Urartian fortresses encircle the ridiculously blue waters of Lake Van whilst to the south east are the basins of Euphrates and Tigris, known as the “cradle of civilisation”. These areas are an awful long way, and in more than just distance, from the overcrowded coastal hotspots, and are both beautiful and fascinating.

Wherever you stay in Turkey, be it in a budget priced apartment from providers such as Icelolly.com or a posh private villa, make the effort to take either an organised tour or hire a car and criss-cross the country. You are guaranteed a warm welcome anywhere you decide visit and will come away knowing about a country that is not east or west, but it unique in its own right.

This article was contributed by Sam Jones

The post Turkey, coast and inland appeared first on Vi Travel Tips.

Clothes

Take minimal clothes as it’s easy to pick up more cheaply if you need them, and laundry services are also inexpensive.

Take clothes that will cover your body. Short skirts/shorts and tight or revealing clothes should be avoided. On women, clothes should cover knees and shoulders. Long sleeved shirts and linen trousers will keep you cool, prevent you from burning and can stop you from being bitten.

Travel in a pair of sturdy shoes that are comfortable for walking long distances and pack a pair of sandals, which are handy to slip off when visiting temples.

Wraps can be useful to cover you in the sun, to wrap around you if it gets cold, to sleep under during journeys and to wrap around your head if visiting a mosque.

If you’re visiting a touristy beach resort, take modest swimwear (a one-piece for ladies).

Take a lightweight fleece – even if you’re visiting during the hot weather, air conditioning can sometimes be fierce and nights can cool down.

Remember to take a sun hat.

Toiletries and medicines

You can take small bottles of your usual products, although you’ll easily be able to buy most things in India. Remember to put bottles of liquid in waterproof bags to avoid leakage.

Put together a medical kit. Although medicines are available in India, they can be under different names. Be sure to include all of your usual medical essentials, especially diarrhoea medication and a thermometer.

Take the advice from health professionals about whether you need to take anti malaria medication.

Insect repellent with DEET is essential (check for advice about using repellent on children). You can buy plug in repellents when you arrive.

Luggage

The most practical luggage to take is a lightweight, soft rucksack that has a detachable daysack. A rucksack will allow you to dodge through a busy airport and it will also be easy to squash into the luggage racks on buses.

A packable bag is also useful, so you can pull it out if you go shopping or you need something more than just your daysack.

Documents

Make sure you leave photocopies of any important documents – including your passport and insurance – with somebody at home.

Extras

• A camera and charger.
• Sunglasses.
• Ear plugs and an eye mask (useful for both on the flight and in case your hotel is noisy).
• Suncream.
• Aftersun.
• Umbrella and packable rain macs.
• Antibacterial hand wash.
• Individually wrapped, antibacterial hand wipes and small packets of tissues.
• Plug converters.
• A torch.
• A travel washing line along with a small bottle of liquid wash detergent.
• A mobile phone (ensure it is activated to be used abroad before you go).
• A mixture of cash, credit cards and travelers cheques.
• A lightweight travel towel (takes up minimal space and dries easily). Whether you take one of these each depends on whether your accommodation includes towels or whether you plan to visit the beach regularly.
• Notebook and pen for planning, writing memories and making notes on train times etc.
• A good guidebook.

Travel to India

Don’t take too much with you on vacation as heavy, bulky bags can make your time in the country less enjoyable. You can get most things in India, so don’t worry if you forget to pack something. A good piece of tried and tested advice is to put everything out that you’d like to take, halve it and then take double the money! But even if you can’t double up on your spending money, you’ll certainly benefit from traveling light.

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Make sure you have insurance in place

When planning your next Christmas holiday, chances are that insurance policies are the last thing you want to be worrying about. However, travelling without insurance is simply not worth the risk, especially if you travel with children. Also, extreme and unpredictable winter weather might mean that your fight is delayed or cancelled altogether. Minimize the risks of disruption by ensuring that you have travel and medical insurance in place, so that you can focus on enjoying your time away.

Book a package holiday

As a family, finding an affordable yet fun holiday option is surely one of your priorities. The best way to end your year is to have great package holidays with your family. Relaxing in a perfect destination with your loved ones is truly a great experience, which is why choosing the right accommodation package is essential. Remember that you can still personalise some aspects of a package holiday, so that your next Christmas trip is precisely what you and your family are after.

Book your family holiday online

Have you waited until the last minute to choose a destination for your next family winter break? If you have, don’t panic, as this could actually be a good thing. Many tour operators offer fantastic last-minute deals that can only be booked online. There are even specialist travel comparison sites where you can learn about the latest deals and read the reviews left by other families.

Consider a staycation

Staycations began to be popular as the income of families around the world was affected by the financial crisis. However, there are reasons other than just finances that make a staycation a great option this winter. In the first place, there is a lot less stress involved, both for you and for your children, as there are no language barriers or unfamiliar food and drinks. Moreover, staycations are a great opportunity to appreciate the diversity of your own country, especially if you arrange a home exchange with another family.

But what about destinations? You may be asking. Here are some interesting ideas for your next Christmas family holiday.

Enjoy the Winter Sun in Egypt

Egypt is a great medium-haul destination for families looking for a change of scenery. Flights take barely 5 hours to reach el Cairo, where you can book a package holiday that includes tours to the Pyramids and to the old town markets. And why not take the standards Nile river cruise further this Christmas and treat your family to a cruise that goes all the way to fascinating Luxor?

A waterway winter holiday in the UK

With more than 2,000 miles of waterways, the UK is the perfect place to take your family on a winter canal boat holiday. Picture yourself waking up in a cosy boat anchored at a picture-perfect marina, taking a day trip to a nearby Christmas market, or enjoying some mulled wine in the comfort of your own boat. Some recommendations include the Kennet and Avon Canal, the Norfolk Broads, and the Caledonian Canal.

A trip to Santa’s homeland

Since it’s Christmas time, why not put a smile on your kid’s faces by taking them to visit Santa in his own home? Lapland holidays are not only great for children, but also for adults, as you can relax in traditional Finnish saunas, watch the Northern Lights, and go on a fun snowmobile safari at night as a family.

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