Hotels.com offer over 17 000 properties in over 400 cities across North America, Europe, The Caribbean and Asia. They specialise in providing accommodation during sold-out periods. Their website is packed with special offers and packages. They have a huge range of types of packages, including family or golf breaks, romantic trips and gay travel. They even offer a road trip feature where you input a zip code and the maximum number of hours you want to travel, and an optional direction of travel and it will suggest places to stay with information about each one.
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Magellans International Travel
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Rating:
8
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Magellans are The leading source of travel supplies in America. They really offer a one stop shop for all of your travel needs. The huge range includes appliances, clothing, luggage, maps, photography, packing aids, toiletries and picnic gear.
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Real World Travel
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Rating:
7
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With Real World Travel you can search for holidays from some of the best specialist tour operators. You could choose to go trekking in Nepal, a self-drive tour or safari in South Africa, a Nile cruise, a honeymoon in Victoria Falls or Mauritius, or a holiday in Kenya, the Far East, or South America. Whatever you decide, you'll have the freedom to explore the country at your own pace allowing you to stop and visit places which interest you.
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Despite the best efforts of the power to its north, the
sun still shines on Cuba. It's the Caribbean's largest and
least commercialized island and one of the world's last
bastions of communism. The island's relative political isolation
has prevented it from being overrun by tourists, and locals
are sincerely friendly to those who do venture in - even
blockade runners from the US get a warm welcome! The Helms-Burton
Act has allowed Cuba to find its place in the post-Soviet
world gradually, without the sudden destabilizing shock
of mass consumer tourism from the United States. It's only
a matter of time before American-imposed travel and trade
barriers fall. No doubt millions will come when flights
from Miami resume. Clearly, the time to go is now.
Although you can't quite hear the colonial architecture
peeling in the streets, even Cuba's larger towns are pretty
relaxed. The most frenetic it gets is in the middle of an
enthusiastic chachachá, and the loudest it gets is
behind one of the huge finned American cars chugging the
streets. If you want it even quieter, Cuba's backcountry
and beaches are perfect chillout destinations for hikers,
swimmers, cyclers, spelunkers or those who just want to
smoke a fine cigar under a palm tree.
Cuba has undergone a transformation since it first opened
its doors to global tourism after almost three decades of
isolation. Most noteworthy has been the rapid growth in
private accommodation, the extensive network of casas particulares
allowing the independent traveller the opportunity, not
only to experience life more as it is lived by the average
Cubano, but also to explore corners of the country that
had previously been inaccessible or off-limits. Good news
for the tourist is the growing choice of resorts and the
number of new or refurbished hotels that are opening in
towns across the country. While eco-tourism is still in
its infancy and much of the island’s extraordinary
natural beauty remains to be discovered, the government
is already making strides in the right direction
Cuba really can offer something for all types of travellers
and holiday makers. Whether you are looking for a picture
perfect paradise with palm trees shading the pure white
sand beaches and blue lagoons, or for an interesting baptism
into a culture moulded by its unique history and political
climate, next time you draft up your short list of vacations...
make sure Cuba is on it.
VITAL STATISTICS:
• Full country name: Republic
of Cuba
• Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean
Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida
• Geographic coordinates: 21 30 N, 80 00 W
• Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
• Area: total: 110,860 sq km
• Land: 110,860 sq km
• Land boundaries: 29 km
• Water: 0 sq km
• Population: 11 million
• Capital city: Havana (pop 2,200,000)
• People: 60% Spanish descent, 22% mixed-race, 11%
African descent, 1% Chinese
• Language: Spanish
• Religion: 47% Catholic, 4% Protestant, 2% Santería
(many Catholics also practice Santería
• Government: Communist republic
• Head of State: Fidel Castro
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Great value rooms across the UK. All rooms offer king size bed, en-suite bathroom, tv and coffee/tea making facilities making your stay simple and pleasant. Each Travelodge is normally situated to good travel links and other local amenities such as bars and restaurants. If you are looking for a nice simple place to put your head down for the night then you can't beat Travelodge for quality and good value.
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Virgin Atlantic
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Rating:
10
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Founded in 1984, Virgin Atlantic is now one of the UK’s largest long-haul airlines. Flights depart daily from Heathrow and Gatwick to over 20 worldwide destinations including the USA, Caribbean, Africa, India and the Far East. Their Flying Club enables you to earn air miles on almost all flights including full fare Economy class. Virgin Atlantic regularly wins awards for business and leisure travel, including those for Best Long Haul Airline, and Best Transatlantic Airline, and has received numerous awards for their innovative in-flight entertainment, which includes individual seatback TVs with a choice of at least 8 channels. Flying Upper Class enables you to experience their award-winning Upper Class suite, which boasts an on-board bar area, and the largest fully flat bed offered in business class by any airline. Virgin Atlantic provide a great in-flight experience and excellent customer service.
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The Met Office has to be the most comprehensive website for UK weather. It shows regularly updated weather warnings for the UK and offers a 5-day forecast for most towns. This website is a great place for UK statistics, with charts showing average temperatures, rainfall, hours of sunshine and even number of days of air frost for each month for regional weather stations. World weather forecasts and past weather statistics are available with detailed information on world climate for countries, major cities and holiday destinations. A 5-day UV index, shipping forecasts, satellite information, rainfall animation and a UK 4 week forecast are available. A great website for those wanting more detailed information and statistics.
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Weather Channel
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Rating:
10
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The Weather Channel is a great place to get general information and statistics about the climate of your holiday destination, or even for where you live at any time of the year. It gives average monthly temperatures and rainfall, and you can even look at the actual dates that you expect to travel to see the average temperatures for those dates, and sunrise and sunset times. There are 10-day forecasts for most UK towns.
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Simply Travel are specialists in providing villa and hotel holidays off the beaten track. The properties are hand-picked and full of character, offering an alternative to mass-marketed package holidays for those who want more from their holiday than a nice tan! The quality accommodation ranges from simple to luxurious and you can even select a 'wandering' option so you get the chance to tour the island/area and stay in a selection of hotels.
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Simply Travel aim to offer something for those who want something a little different from mass-marketed package holidays. They carefully select quality accommodation in destinations off the beaten track. All properties are full of character and range from charmingly simple to luxurious. For those who want to explore more of an island or area, you can select the 'wandering' option which enables you to tour the area whilst staying in a carefully hand-picked selection of hotels across the region. Great destination guides to help you pick the right location.
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Superbreak specialise in short breaks and simple hotel requirements e.g. stopovers, business travel, throughout the UK. For 2-5 star accommodation, whether you are looking for a city or countryside location, Superbreak has access to 1000s of hotels ensuring they will meet your requirements. With real time availability you can book up to and including the day of departure, with a simple online booking process. Last minute offers and special deals are always available online.
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With Eurostar you can travel from London or Ashford in Kent to over 100 destinations across Europe. Direct services run to Brussels, Lille, Disneyland Paris and Calais. They also offer a seasonal ski service direct to the French Alps. There is a loyalty programme available for frequent travellers, offering benefits such as reduced check-in time and earning points when you travel, which can be redeemed for Eurostar travel or other rewards. The website includes special offers on train journeys and hotel city breaks.
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National Express
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Rating:
9
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National Express carries more than 12 million passengers to 1200 destinations across Britain. They offer regular services to airports, and destinations include cities in Europe and Ireland. Students, the over 50’s and young people aged 16-25 can save 30% on fares by purchasing a coachcard. Amazing special offers are often available online, with fares from as little as £1! Points are earned through booking online.
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Volunteer Travel
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Rating:
9
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i-to-i provides well researched, supported volunteer placements to those who wish to do something different and rewarding with their time off. They offer teaching, conservation, community development, and professional placements available in 24 countries around the world. All prices include full travel insurance, food and accommodation arrangements, emergency cover, a worldwide support network, and training provided for all volunteers.
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Haven Holiday Parks
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Rating:
9
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Haven Holidays offer fun-filled breaks at award-winning family holiday parks around the UK. With a choice of ‘All-Action’ parks for non-stop entertainment, or ‘Lively’ parks which also give the chance to unwind, there is something to suit the tastes of all family members. All the parks have excellent facilities such as all-weather sports courts, indoor and outdoor pools, crazy golf and mini-bowling, adventure playgrounds, kid’s clubs and much more. There are also daytime and nightime shows full of music and spectacular floorshows, often from big-name star performers, so you’ll never be short of something to do, day or night.
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Yahoo is a comprehensive weather website with international information. Weather forecasts are available for most UK towns, including sunrise and sunset times, visibility and a 10-day forecast. Area maps are available showing animated satellite images and temperature forecasts.
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Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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Rating:
9
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For up-to-date information on problems affecting your safety in around 200 countries.
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Going Places.com
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Rating:
9
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Going Places.com is the website of one of the UK’s leading high street travel agents and offers great value package holidays and flights direct from established, and well-respected tour operators including Airtours, Aspro, Escapades, Manos and Panorama.
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Travel Insurance Online
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Rating:
9
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If you need travel insurance in a hurry, then look no further! Travel Insurance Online offer instant cover, and you receive your policy and certificate online. They offer low-cost comprehensive rates for all types of trips including single or long stay, and special discounted rates for under-35's. Great for last minute travel!
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Hoseasons Holidays
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Rating:
9
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Hoseasons are the UK's leading self-catering holiday specialists. They offer over 12 000 places to stay throughout Britain and Ireland. Whether you are looking for a secluded lodge at the edge of a forest, a seaside holiday park, a cottage in the countryside or by the coast, or a relaxing river or canal holiday, Hoseasons has something for everyone. They now offer holiday apartments and villas throughout mainland Europe, at over 120 locations.
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XL are the budget airline with a difference. Their planes are fitted with leather seats and linen headrests for maximum comfort. They have an excellent punctuality record and you can save money by booking your in-flight extras online of which there is a huge range, including meals for those with special dietary needs and seats with extra legroom. Destination guides include forthcoming events, so that you can see what is happening there before deciding when to travel.
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The Big Bus Company
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Rating:
9
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The Big Bus Company offer sightseeing tours of London on top of a traditional double decker bus. Buses leave every 15-30 minutes so that you can hop on and off en route. Tour go via Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and St Paul's Cathedral. The price includes a free Thames river cruise and free walking tours, of which there is a great choice with a theme to suit everyone! There is a live commentary on the Bus Tours or a recorded commentary available in 8 different languages. Printable e-tickets are available online for the bus tours and you can also avoid the queues by purchasing fast entry tickets for top London attractions. Bus tours are also available in Dubai and Philadelphia.
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With Bowhills you can browse over 340 properties across France. They offer a huge selection of luxury villas, cottages, chateaux, and farmhouses - most of which have pools or are near a beach. All properties have a detailed description of the area in which it is located and of the villa itself and lots of photos to help you to find the right property.
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Warner Holidays
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Rating:
9
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Warner holidays offer breaks exclusively for adults. They have a range of properties including historic hotels and listed buildings set in stunning grounds, or you could choose a more traditional holiday in a classic resort. Beautiful locations in the country or by the coast, the breaks include breakfast, a 3-course evening meal a wide range of activities and live evening entertainment. Special offers are available on their website.
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With over 160 years of experience and selling millions of holidays each year, Thomas Cook are one of the UK's leading and most trusted travel companies. They offer cheap flights to Europe and great deals on long-haul flights. To ensure you are getting the best deal, they offer a price promise and exclusive online offers.
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1st4Phonecards are one of Europe's largest online retailers of international phonecards. They aim to provide you with the cheapest, high quality phonecards online. The phonecards are pre-charged with credit and can be used from almost any touch tone telephone to make domestic or international calls. Using these phonecards will typically save you over 80% on the cost of the call, and as the card is not physically required, details can be emailed to you making it convenient for use when travelling.
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Sherpa Expeditions
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Rating:
9
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Sherpa Expeditions provide walking and cycling holidays. With over 30 years experience they offer self-guided tours for those who prefer the freedom to go at their own pace, or escorted tours for those who want to travel with like-minded people. Tours are available to suit all levels of fitness, from a gentle ramble to a Himalayan expedition. A huge range of tours are available at destinations throughout the world all offering stunning scenery and a sense of achievement. Arrangements are made for baggage to be transferred to the next location wherever possible. Itineries and locations are constantly researched and updated to ensure you are getting the best tour available, and with 75% of their customers coming from repeat business or recommendations it would seem that they are getting it right!
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Canterbury Travel - Santa Holidays in Lapland
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Rating:
9
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Canterbury Travel provide specialist holidays to Lapland and Finland to see Father Christmas. They offer everything from 1 day breaks to 5 day tours, with a choice of activities such as reindeer, sleigh and husky rides and snowmobile driving. You could also choose to visit the North Pole Post Office or Santa's workshop where you'll meet Santa's elves. Tours include a personal meeting with Father Christmas and all children between the ages of 2 and 11 receive a present. The tours are designed to avoid commercialised areas, and you can even spend the Christmas period there! It's the perfect romantic setting and weddings can be arranged in a beautiful outdoor wooden chapel. Departures are available from many regional UK airports and special offers such as free places for children or for group bookings are offered online.
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Canterbury Travel - Christmas Weddings in Lapland
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Rating:
9
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For a wedding day that's unique and special you could have a Christmas wedding in Lapland. Set in beautiful surroundings with stunning scenery, you can travel from regional UK airports during December and January. The day starts with the tinkling of bells as the bride is picked up in a sleigh led by reindeer (a skidoo for the groom) and taken to the special outdoor wooden chapel. After the ceremony you could choose to have a meal in a local restaurant specialising in Lappish cuisine which caters for 2-90 people. This really is the perfect wedding location if you are looking for something a little different and it is ideal if you are travelling with children as they can enjoy the holiday and visit Santa's elves in the North Pole Post Office or in Santa's workshop, and they can even visit Santa and receive a present from him!
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Key Camp Holidays
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Rating:
9
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Key Camp Holidays offer self-drive camping and mobile home holidays in destinations throughout Europe. Holidays are suitable for all age groups and families, with children's clubs available for tots to teens. Key Camp Holidays would also appeal to those seeking an activity holiday, with a huge choice including scuba diving, sailing, horse riding, cycling, canoeing and windsurfing. All campsites have excellent facilities and you can choose to stay in a mobile home or a 4 bedroomed supertent. Late deals are available on the website.
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