Breaking Blue : Helping you explore the world!

Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland is fast becoming a popular destination for short city breaks and longer holidays. With so much history and culture the city has plenty for the tourists to see and do and getting there couldn’t be easier.

Boasting two major airports, (Belfast International Airport and George Best Belfast City Airport), most of the European routes are covered as are some long haul flights to North America. The airports are also popular for budget airlines such as Fly Bmi and Easyjet making flights to Belfast affordable, and with useful public transport links from the airports into Belfast city (which run on a regular basis) getting into the centre is virtually pain free.

Of course not everyone likes to fly, but with many ferry routes in operation with well known companies such as Norfolk line, SeaCat and Stena Line there is no reason not to choose Belfast as your holiday destination. Ferries operate from Liverpool, Stranraer and even the Isle of Man directly into Belfast Harbour. Again the city centre is easily accessible to those coming off the ferries by car or on foot, and for those not wishing to walk from the harbour there are public transport links.

Belfast Central railway station is situated about 10 minutes out of the city centre, and has regular services to and from other Northern Ireland towns and cities such as Derry and Portadown. For those travellers coming from the Republic of Ireland (Eire), as many as eight trains a day travel between Belfast and Dublin making train travel a popular choice.

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Brussels may be the headquarters of NATO and the European Union, but don’t be fooled by the city’s staunch reputation. Flights to Brussels deliver thousands of tourists from all over the world looking for the excitement that can only come from this truly unique city.

A cosmopolitan capital city with a diverse local population and cultural influences, Brussels is anything but boring. Natives often refer to themselves as Zinneke (mongrel) and come from a varied collection of backgrounds. Brussels is where Flemish, Walloon, Spanish, Italian, German, English and many other nationalities have come together, over the centuries, to create a truly one-of-a-kind destination. The twice-yearly Zinneke Parade celebrates Brussels’ multi-cultural heritage.

Flights to Brussels are mainly handled by Brussels Airlines, the national carrier, though you can also find good deals with smaller operators like EasyJet and Flybe.

Rich in history and culture, Brussels features many important points of interest. Many consider the Grand Place, to be the country’s most beautiful town square. The Musee Royaux Des Beaux-Arts houses a priceless collection of Belgian and Flemish masterpieces. The Cantillon Brewery, a family-run business, produces Lambic, Gueuze, Faro and Kriek beers. The Atomium is a huge silver monument that depicts an iron crystal magnified nearly 200 billion times.

However, it is the Manneken Pis that is perhaps the most famous tourist attraction in the whole of Belgium. This statue of a young boy urinating has an extensive wardrobe of over 700 costumes. Some of the best include Father Christmas and Elvis.

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Whether you want to have fun inside or outside on a cruise, then Carnival Cruises won’t disappoint. You can pass the time away by taking part in various activities, either planned or spontaneous.

Spend the day or evening relaxing at the bar, walking around the stunning ship or taking in the decor, stroll through the gorgeous galleries, displayed impressive artwork, find a book in the ship’s library or spend time in the casino testing your luck. If you love watching the world go by in clubs, bistros and cafes, you can do it all aboard a Carnival cruise ship.

Dining on a Carnival cruise is just as much fun as taking part in any of the other activities that are available. You can start your day with breakfast served in the traditional dining room, your own private stateroom or outside, on the gorgeous lido deck.

For lunch, you could eat inside or go for an alfresco buffet. For a meal that will keep you fuelled until dinner, you can’t go far wrong with the choices on a Carnival cruise. There are, of course, children’s menus such as hotdogs, spaghetti and meatballs, pizza and much more.

The dining rooms and the steakhouses are the perfect accompaniment to the culinary feasts you will be enjoying for dinner. Select you favourite dish, from fresh lobster to prime beef, you will be truly spoilt for choice.

There are also specialty menus to keep you satisfied for the entire voyage, from sandwiches to sushi, ice cream to gateaux, whatever your tastes you are sure to find something to whet your appetite.

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The English Channel has protected us from invaders for over 900 years but it has also proved to be an obstacle when we wanted to nip over to France for a quick weekend of skiing in the Alps. At the mercy of airlines and ferry operators, our ski holidays have always compared badly with those of our European neighbours, so the building of the channel tunnel link from Folkestone to Calais, which opened in 1994, provided us with another means of enjoying our favourite winter sporting pastime.

Thanks to the efforts of ski specialist companies, we are now able to use the tunnel to access the great ski slopes of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps, for many a much better alternative to flying. With the high speed rail link it is now possible to get from London to the French Alps in less than 8 hours, try doing that by ‘plane with all the necessary heightened security measures now in place, what’s more you do not get charged for skis on the train! Now with the rail link you have access to some really great weekend ski deals something that was once only available to our European friends.

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The highlight and main attraction for most visitors on flights to Jordan is the majestic city of Petra.  While this is certainly one of the most breathtaking and stunning destinations in the entire Middle East region – perhaps behind only Angkor Wat or Machu Picchu as the world’s most fascinating lost city – there is lots more to see in Jordan.

From ruins dating back to the Roman Empire and castles built by the Crusaders to desert fortresses and significant historical sites, Jordan is a treasure trove of ancient history and culture.  The biggest draw for many tourists on flights to Jordan is the plethora of biblical locations:  the stream where Jesus was baptised, the mountain where Moses first looked upon the Promised Land, the citadel where John the Baptist was beheaded.  Even today, some of the remnants of these biblical times endure and it is likely you’ll see shepherds wearing long robes as they herd their flocks across the vast desert.

But fear not, adventure seekers:  Jordan is also a vibrant, modern nation with an eye on the future.  Amman, the country’s capital, is a diverse and cosmopolitan urban centre full of first rate dining, a vibrant club scene, and world-class shopping and culture.  There’s also plenty to do in the great outdoors, from expansive deserts to palm forests to brilliant beaches.

While Jordan is probably the safest, most stable nation in the region it’s still wise to consult and heed any travel advisories or warnings before boarding flights to Jordan.

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Aberdeen is the third most populated city in Scotland with a population that just exceeds 220,000 people. The city has a very long coastline and rose to fame when oil was discovered in the North Sea.  It is the oil industry that has been the reason for economic growth in Aberdeen, complementing the city’s more traditional industries such as textiles and fishing.

The surrounding areas of Aberdeen are some of the most historically settled in the entire world. Archaeologists have found evidence that accounts for the city’s existence over the last 8000 years, with some ruins and original settlements still visible when visiting the city today.

The city is the most popular for education in all of Scotland owing to the fact that it has two highly respected and popular universities; The University of Aberdeen and the Robert Gordon University.

Transport links to the city are good and varied in nature. The city is listed in the top ten busiest heliports in the entire world and the seaport cannot be rivalled in size for the whole of the Northeast of the country.

Aberdeen is very pleasing to the eye of visiting tourists. The city has won the Britain in Bloom competition for the last ten years, making it one of the prettiest cities to visit in the United Kingdom.

The Aberdeen International Youth Festival also attracts some of the most talented teenage performers from across Europe to perform each year.

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Cruise holidays are often associated with high cost, but there is a wealth of cheap alternatives to choose from that will not compromise on entertainment and excitement. A good place to start when searching for the best budget cruise deals is to choose one of the older ships from the main operators. Royal Caribbean, Thomson and Costa cruises all have older ships covering a wide range of destinations and they will be significantly cheaper than their newer vessels.

However, perhaps the best way to find a cheap cruise is to book a weekend or four-day break. If you are only a spending a night or two at sea, there will be no need to book a lavish cabin and there will still be plenty of routes to choose from. Princess cruises, for example, sail from San Francisco to Los Angeles as well as Seattle to Vancouver.

If you would prefer a slightly longer time at sea, 4-night cruises are highly recommended. Both Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises are extremely popular with travellers looking for a short trip. Royal Caribbean ships visit the stunning islands of the Bahamas with three and four night voyages.

Shorter cruise holidays tend to attract younger travellers, so you can be sure there will be plenty of exciting entertainment and activities lined up for the journey. Looking out for off-peak cruise deals is also highly recommended and it will be well worth checking out when your favourite destinations are out of season.

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Cruise and stay holidays are a great way of getting the best of both worlds during your holiday period. The cruise and stay format is exactly what it sounds like – guests board the cruise ship of their choice and cruise as far as their chosen destination where they will disembark and transfer to a hotel of their choice to round off their holiday time with a traditional shore based stay.

The beauty of a cruise and stay holiday is that getting there really is only half the fun. Holidaymakers who opt for this sort of split style holiday will get to experience all of the onboard atmosphere of a traditional cruise holiday, relaxing aboard a luxury liner as it carries them at a leisurely and stress free pace toward their final holiday destination, as well as being able to spend time exploring the holiday location of their choice during the second part of their trip.

The cruise and stay holiday – which is offered by most major cruise line operators including Royal Caribbean Cruises, Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises – is also a great option for holidaymakers looking to take a cruise for the first time. First time cruise passengers are often anxious in case they do not enjoy their time aboard the ship – but with a shore based element at the beginning or end of the holiday, travellers can enjoy a traditional holiday at the same time as trying out this new and exciting experience.

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Moscow is the heart and soul of Russia and the biggest metropolitan area in the whole of Europe. The city dominates in many sectors from finance to education and enjoys a rich history of being a city that tries to set the example to everyone else in that part of the world.

The city has a population of over ten million people, which is larger than London and cheap flights means that its easier than ever to visit this remarkable city. Moscow was also the capital of the former Soviet Union, which produced some of the most brutal leaders in the history of the world.

Moscow also houses The Kremlin, the home of the Russian Parliament and the central point for the government of this huge country.

Moscow is often regarded as a somewhat sinister city because of the Soviet history it is linked to. However, it is one of the best examples of forward thinking architecture in the entire world and has a transport system that is envied across Europe.

Moscow’s airport and tube system have been described as the best in the world by a number of foreign visitors that have visited the country. It is also now a key business centre for the world and large industries such as oil and gas dominate the local economy, making the country billions each year.

Moscow is one of those countries that some people are put off visiting because of the police state that had dominated Russia for so long. However, things have changed drastically and it is now one of the most visited cities in the world.

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A cruise holiday is a great choice of getaway for lone travellers as it offers a sense of security to singles as well as offering an amazing choice of onboard entertainment. Single travellers often worry about being bored or lonely when taking a holiday alone, but choosing the best cruise for you can help to alleviate these worries.

While singles may want to opt for a dedicated singles cruise if looking for love, a normal cruise can offer opportunities to form friendships onboard as well. As many single holidaymakers choose to cruise, a lone passenger is likely to find likeminded passengers to share their time on board the ship.

With activities and entertainments laid on at all times there is no fear of feeling at a loose end when travelling alone, and singles can choose to take part in onboard activities as diverse as wine tasting and rock climbing, ballroom dancing and book clubs, ensuring there is never a dull moment for the single at sea.

Booking options for singles include some single cabins on newer vessels – most notably on Costa Cruises – or lone travellers can choose to take advantage of a passenger partnering scheme where they will share a twin room with another single seafarer of the same sex.

The latter option can be a great way to find a friend to share the cruise experience with, and many friendships can forged on board. However single travellers should be wary of becoming a cruise stalker, and divide their time equally between those they meet on board.

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