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.
Visit Site:
|
Weather Channel
|
Rating:
10
|
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.
Visit Site:
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.
Visit Site:
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
Visit Site:
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.
Visit Site:
|
Alpha Rooms.com
|
Rating:
9
|
Alpha Rooms offer you the chance to book accommodation from a huge selection of 15 000 discounted villas and hotels across the world. The website has special offers and late deals for both popular holiday resorts and worldwide city breaks.
Visit Site:
|
Hoseasons Holidays
|
Rating:
9
|
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.
Visit Site:
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.
Visit Site:
James Villas are specialists in providing holiday villas. They offer quality villas in 22 popular destinations including Spain, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Florida. All James Villas have their own private pool, from simple farmhouses to luxury villas by the sea. Simple online availability and booking with a shortlist facility to make it easier to keep track of your favourite properties before making a decision. James Villas can also take care of flights, car hire and insurance at competitive prices.
Visit Site:
With MyVillaRenters you can browse over 4000 holiday homes and villas and book online. They ofer a huge selection of stunning properties throughout major European destinations and across the world. Each property has loads of information about the villa, and the local area so that you can be confident that you are making the right decision. Photos of the property both inside and outside are available, as well as floor plans and maps. Special offer online include last minute deals, early bird discounts and long term discounts. Customer reviews are also available to view about each property. Online booking is simple.
Visit Site:
|
Accommodation Online
|
Rating:
8
|
Accommodation Online provide travellers with accesss to one of the widest ranges of properties currently available in the marketplace. Fron budget apartments to private villas and luxury hotels they are able to offer highly competitive prices and late deals. Properties are located throughout the world, but they specialise in the Med, European cities, city and beach resorts, the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Visit Site:
QuickRooms specialise in providing low cost hotels, villas and apartments. Search from over 42 000 properties worldwide and in the UK. QuickRooms offer a huge range of beach, city and worldwide locations. The website is easy to use with just 3 clicks to book. They are an independent, impartial travel service, and therefore are able to offer you the best deals available.
Visit Site:
Holiday Autos are part of LastMinute.com and they are the world's largest leisure car rental broker with 4000 locations throughout the UK and worldwide. This means that they are able to offer low prices from the best rental companies, and they offer a price tracker promise where they check their prices against their main competitiors to offer the lowest priced fully inclusive deals. Check out their website for the latest offers!
Visit Site:
EasyCar is represented in over 30 countries with 1,400 rental locations and access to a fleet of some 350,000 cars! As part of the Easy Group which operates the highly successful Easyjet, you can be sure you are getting something just that little bit different at the lowest possible price.
Visit Site:
Avis offer car hire within the UK and in over 5000 destinations worldwide including airport locations. In addition to standard car hire services, they also offer chauffeur driven and prestige car hire and special services for business customers.
Visit Site:
Europcar have a huge fleet of over 220 000 vehicles to suit all your requirements, from economy to prestige including minivans and trucks. They are based in over 2800 locations in 143 countries including all major airports. Their website includes details of special offers including hourly rates available from major UK airports and affordable longer term hire.
Visit Site:
|
Record Rent a car
|
Rating:
8
|
Record Rent a car offer discount rates on car rental in mainland Spain, the Balearics or Canary Islands. They have offices based in all main Spanish airports and cities. Prices are all-inclusive with no hidden charges or extras.
Visit Site:
Avis offer prestige car hire in the UK. Long or short-term rentals are avilable from Kensington, Heathrow and Gatwick. Their prestige fleet includes BMW, Jaguar, Porsche and Mercedes.
Visit Site:
|