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Those who want to visit Spain, but stay away from the major cities, would do well to consider Sitges.  Located 35 kilometres southwest of Barcelona, the Mediterranean coastal town is rich in history and culture and provides a great location for beach holidays.  It is also easily accessible from Barcelona for day trips with an excellent rail service.

The history of Sitges dates back to Roman times, and over the following centuries it was governed by a variety of rulers.  It includes an Arab castle and a medieval fort.  The old town which spreads up from the seafront is an enchanting maze of steep, winding streets which now house a wealth of restaurants, bars and shops.  The seafront has a fine selection of beaches and a promenade that stretches the length of the town.  An evening stroll along the seafront is a very popular pastime in Sitges.

Most of the town’s hotel and holiday apartments sit alongside the seafront and so provide immediate access to the beach.  Sitges hosts a spectacular carnival with a procession and street party in March which makes it a good place to visit at this time of year as well as in summer.  Horror fans also flock to the town in October for the Sitges Film Festival, which is the world’s premier festival of fantasy and horror films.

The summer weather is typically dry and sunny with temperatures around the 30°C mark.  Throughout summer, Sitges is also a popular destination for gay holidaymakers.  The nearest airport is Barcelona which can be reached by public transport as well as by a reasonably priced taxi ride.

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St Petersburg, the great Russian city situated in its far western corner of the country, is a slice of continental Europe in otherwise very Russian territory.  In fact, when the city was envisioned by Peter the Great, it was his intention to create a city that would be famed for being the ‘Paris of the East’. 

St Petersburg has had a turbulent past, and has gone through several name changes in its relatively short life.  The original name, St Petersburg, was ditched in favour of Petrograd after the Russian Revolution, and was changed again in 1924 to Leningrad in honour of the great revolutionary hero.  During the Second World War, the siege of Leningrad lasted over two years.  In 1991 the city reverted back to its original given name of St Petersburg. 

Despite all the turmoil, much of the original beautiful architecture – a romantic fusion of Russian and European styles – remains intact.  The mighty Hermitage Museum bears more than a passing resemblance to the Palace of Versailles; for a slice of Russian Orthodox influence that rivals the iconic St Basil’s Church in Moscow, you can visit the Church of the Saviour of the Blood near the centre of the city. 

St Petersburg really is the perfect holiday destination for culture vultures and history lovers.  Along with the Hermitage, visitors should also check out the Russian Museum for more contemporary art, as well as the original cornerstone of St Petersburg, the Peter and Paul Fortress, which is now home to the city’s history museum.

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Barcelona may be famous for Gaudi and the modernista style of architecture, but the Spanish city is also at the forefront of cutting-edge design and technology.  A visit to the city’s DHUB centres should not be missed to get a taste of what’s going on.

Disseny Hub Barcelona, to use its full name, is currently based in two temporary sites in the city, and celebrates the skills of the designer from products and architecture to interior design and fashion.  DHUB is based on C/ Montcada in the El Born part of town and right across the street from the Picasso Museum.  The picturesque streets of Barcelona’s old town and the cobbled courtyard outside make an interesting contrast to the high-tech interior.

This space hosts a series of temporary exhibitions as well as study facilities. Exhibitions over the summer of 2011 include What to Wear? celebrating the haute couture creations of Spanish designer Pedro Rodríguez for the famous socialite Maria Brillas.  Meanwhile, I/O/I. The Senses of Machines is an interactive laboratory exploring the relationship between man and machine.

DHUB Museu at Palau de Pedralbes on Avenida Diagonal houses their permanent collection including Museu de les Arts Decoratives and Museu Tèxtil i d’Indumentària covering decorative art, industrial design, textiles and fashion.  Dressing the Body is another popular exhibition featuring the history of clothing over the last five centuries.  DHUB and DHUB Museu will merge into a new location on Plaça de les Glòries in 2012.

Both sites also host a range of special activities and workshops. They are open from Tuesday to Sunday, with admission only €5. Visitors who arrive on Sunday afternoons are admitted free of charge.

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Seattle is a bustling city located in the Pacific Northwest region of the USA. The climate in the area allows for year-round holidays, although the winter months are generally characterised by rain. The most famous attraction in Seattle is arguably Pike Place Market, a vibrant public market situated along the city’s waterfront. The market offers an extraordinary amount of fresh, local seafood and if you are lucky, you will get to see slippery fish being thrown from fishmonger to fishmonger. There are displays of fruit and vegetables, baked goods, local arts and crafts and jewellery. 

Another favourite destination is the Seattle Center, an entertainment complex that includes museums, theatres, restaurants, gardens, and fountains. The Space Needle is located here, overlooking the city, as does the Experience Music Project, the Science Fiction Museum and the Pacific Science Center. The Olympic Sculpture Park is free to the public and displays various works of art throughout the nine-acre park. The Seattle waterfront is home to restaurants and the Seattle Aquarium. You should also sample some of the local wines at the various wineries in the Woodinville area, just 30 minutes from the city.

Seattle is three hours south of Vancouver, Canada. The Victoria Clipper connects Seattle with Victoria, in Canada, a 2½hour trip across the Juan de Fuca Strait. Flights from international and domestic destinations arrive at the Sea-Tac International Airport. While Amtrak rail transport is available from various cities in the western USA. 

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An increasing number of tourists are flocking to Prague for weekend breaks or longer holidays.  The capital of the Czech Republic has something for everyone.  It has become a mecca of entertainment for men seeking a fun place for their stag weekends.  It also boasts sightseeing opportunities and great entertainment for anyone arriving in Prague for a city break or a longer holiday.

Prague caters for its influx of visitors with three to five stars hotels and three and four star apartments located right in the city centre.  Getting to Prague will not be problem as a range of economically priced flights are available from UK airports.

Prague offers visitors both its old and modern side.  For those seeking the historic Prague there is Prague Castle.  Hailed as the world’s largest medieval castle it offers tourists a display of Czech History.  Additionally, there is a toy museum as well as a display of Bohemian art.

For those wanting to see something of the modern Prague, you should head out towards Wenceslas Square.  Graced by the Wenceslas monument the square contains the Café Evropa, and is a hive for shoppers. 

Prague offers great entertainment to suit all tastes.  Its pubs offer cheap Czech beer, and there is a wide selection of nightclubs.  For those who want to incorporate some culture into their night time entertainment Prague is home to the Czech National Theatre, which stages both ballet and opera.

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The important Indian city of Mumbai, formerly called Bombay, is the capital of the state of Maharashtra.  With a population of more than 12 million inhabitants, it ranks as the fifth most populated city in the world.  Considered the entertainment capital of India, Mumbai is where the majority of Hindi films are made, giving it the designation of “Bollywood.”  The city also hosts a thriving television industry providing programming to the subcontinent.

Because Mumbai was once part of the thriving British Empire in India, it today features an eclectic mix of architectural styles.  Both the Victoria Terminus and the University of Bombay were constructed in the European style known as Gothic Revival and include features such as Dutch roofs, Roman arches, and German gables, as well as Tudor casements, yet these features co-exist alongside Indian styles also incorporated into the buildings.  The Gateway to India, another Mumbai landmark, features Indo-Saracenic architecture without European influence.

Interestingly enough, Mumbai is also a centre of Art Deco architecture and has more buildings in this style than any other city in the world except for Miami.  Tourists interested in seeing Art Deco buildings should proceed along Marine Drive, which heavily features the style.  Mumbai is also notable for its number of skyscrapers; there are already almost a thousand in the city with several hundred more currently under construction.

Some of the best times to visit Mumbai are in January and February each year when the Banbanga and Elephanta Festivals are underway.

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Barcelona may not quite be the capital city of Spain, but it is the most cosmopolitan of all Spanish cities.  It is also home to the country’s busiest port.  The city boasts a lot of foot traffic, with tourists keen to visit and experience the sights and smells of this, the homeland of the most successful football club in the world!

Barcelona has a multitude of attractions designed to fascinate the most discerning of tourists. The city is brimming with amazing churches, historical monuments, fascinating art galleries, quaint high-end shopping boutiques and more.  It is also home to Spain’s most visited monument, la Sagrada Familia.  Built to look like it was designed in the 16th century, the cathedral is a work in progress after more than a hundred years.  Finally consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, the main nave is now open for daily mass. This interesting historic monument will leave you with many happy memories.

For visitors to Barcelona, shopping is definitely on the to-do list.  The city is known for its quaintly picturesque shops and boutiques lined up side by side with enormous malls. After a shopping spree, you can opt to rest your tired feet at one of the many cafés as you sip a cup of coffee. 

Barcelona is also known for its colourful and vibrant festivals.  When planning your visit to Barcelona, try to make your visit coincide with a fiesta to get the true feel of Spain!  This city also offers a host of sandy beaches on the outskirts of the city centre, so take a moment to pack your swimsuit!

Most major United Kingdom airports offer budget flights to Barcelona, making it easily accessible for a short weekend break for all British tourists.

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This modern capital city is situated in the southern part of Malaysia.  Despite Malaysia being far more Western in terms of development than most other Southeast Asian countries, travellers should not be fooled by map distances when travelling to Kuala Lumpur, especially when travelling from the northeast part of the country.  It may look like only a couple of hours away on paper, but you will need to traverse, or at the least skirt, the central mountain range that runs pretty much all the way through Malaysia.  While this will add extra time to your journey, the views will more than delight you on your way to the city.

Malaysia’s cultural diversity is never more apparent than in its capital city, and manifests itself in the dizzying array of foodstuffs available to travellers.  From street hawkers to high class restaurants, visitors are guaranteed a delightful gastronomic experience here, particularly if Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisines are to your taste. 

However, it is not all about the treat-eats in Kuala Lumpur – there is a lot to see and do in this amazing city.  The site that the city is most famous for is the Petronas Twin Towers, which were the world’s tallest skyscrapers up until 2004.  Early birds can get tickets to go up to the 41st floor Skybridge for incredible views over the city.  

Visitors can also explore the sights and sounds of Little India and Chinatown, as well as the Colonial District for a taste of times past juxtaposed with modern city life.  And one should not forget the shopping opportunities, which are available 24 hours a day. 

Kuala Lumpur has something for everyone!

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The city of Edinburgh is as much fun in the evening as it is during the day.  During the day you can enjoy the highlights of shopping in Princes Street, taking tours of the city and walking up the extinct volcano ‘Arthur’s Seat’.  You can visit Edinburgh Castle which is thought to be one of the most haunted places in the UK and looks fabulously eerie when lit up at night.

There are many bars and restaurants for you to enjoy in Edinburgh both during the day and at night time and if you are unsure of which sights to see you can take a bus tour of the city.  These allow you to hop on and off as many times as you like within a 24 hour period on the same ticket.  This means you can visit a few places on the tour and if there is somewhere you would love to see again you can go back at a later date and spend longer there. 

If you time your visit just right you can also enjoy festivals and events such as the Edinburgh tattoo or the Edinburgh fringe festivals.  If you really want to be a part of these events you must make sure you secure your ticket and accommodations in advance to avoid disappointment.

There are several walking tours of Edinburgh but the best ones are those that take place at night.  Mary Kings Close is one highlight of the evening tours.  This was an actual Edinburgh street that was sealed off during the 17th century outbreak of the plague.

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As well as being one of the premier cities in the world, the capital of England, London, is filled with iconic landmarks and attractions that tourists enjoy all year round.  Using the famous Underground system, tourists will find it fascinating to make their way around the city and be surprised at the ease with which they will be able to do it.  Here are some of the main attractions to visit.

London Eye

Only recently built in 1999, this is the world’s highest observation wheel and takes visitors high above London’s landmarks, offering some incredible views of the city.  It is the most popular paid-for tourist attraction in the United Kingdom.

Natural History Museum

This museum offers amazing exhibitions covering all aspects of nature.  It includes life-size models of dinosaurs and whales and has many interactive exhibits which will keep the attention of young and old visitors for hours on end.

Madame Tussauds

A particular favourite with tourists, this is the world-famous home of incredibly life-like waxworks of the rich, famous and infamous.  New models are frequently added to keep up with the times.  Celebrities know they have made it when they have a model at Madame Tussauds.

Tower of London

Over 900 years old, this building has had many different uses – everything from a royal palace to a zoo.  It is also home to the Crown Jewels. 

With most attractions in London being free to enter, there is an opportunity to learn something new and interesting around almost every corner.

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