Nature at its most awe-inspiring

Cruise holidays offer many experiences that are unique and often life-affirming – sailing past the Statue of Liberty in New York as dawn breaks or watching dolphins surfing the bow wave are just two. Sailing into a Norwegian fjord on glassy water, with mountains and ancient glaciers in the distance has to be another one of those experiences.

Fjord cruises are becoming increasingly popular, and it’s easy to see why. The view from the water is unparalleled – you simply can’t fathom their sheer magnitude and scale from land, and you can often access places that would take hours to reach by land. By cruising, you’re also able to see natural wonders from a different angle – what other form of travel allows you to sail past a glacier whilst sipping champagne, or witness a waterfall tumble into the water below from the comfort of your balcony?

Cannes travel guide

Cannes might be synonymous with the International Film Festival, but beneath this celebrity veneer is a city rich in rewards for travellers. That’s not to detract from the annual extravaganza, which has become Cannes’ biggest drawing card since it was introduced in 1939.

Every year celebrity A-listers come from all over the world to walk the hallowed red carpet of the Palais des Festivals and Cannes turns into a media circus with photographers hovering around film stars like flies around the proverbial. But you don’t need a press card to rub shoulders with the stars, who frequent some of the city’s most popular haunts.
Although a sense of normality returns when the circus leaves town, parts of the city remain fairly exclusive; luxury yachts float in the harbour, designer boutiques line the streets and the main beach is reserved for wealthy guests at Cannes’ lavish hotels. However, being filthy rich is not a prerequisite for an entertaining sojourn in Cannes as there is plenty to do for those on more modest budgets.

Belfast travel guide

Northern Ireland's capital city Belfast is a vibrant destination, replete with stylish bars, restaurants, hotels and historical attractions. The once battle-scarred city, which was blighted for over 30 years by The Troubles - religious, political and sectarian feuding, which began in the late 1960s - is now enjoying a renaissance, thanks to the ongoing peace process.

The arrival of luxury hotels like the Merchant Hotel and Malmaison symbolize the city's growing confidence. Plans to create Europe's largest waterfront development will dramatically transform Belfast. The new Titanic Quarter, named after the ill-fated ship that was built and launched from Belfast in 1912, will feature new hotels, restaurants, cafés, bars, galleries and parks.
Meanwhile, historical buildings like the Grand Opera House are evidence of Belfast's rich culture.Combine all this with Belfast's greatest asset, the warmth, resilience and character of its people, and you can understand why it has become one of the UK's top city break destinations.

Travel Guide 2012

Barcelona travel guide

As the cultural capital of Spain, Barcelona breaks stereotypes with its eclectic, avant garde yet charismatic flair. Reinventing Spanish ethos, Barcelona seduces with its jumble of futuristic buildings and medieval edifices, creative cuisine and a gyrating nightlife. It’s no wonder Barcelona ranks high on the list of top European travel destinations.

While Barcelona has morphed into a vibrant metropolis, it is still a stronghold of traditions. Mingle with the Catalans, explore the city’s Gothic Quarter or simply hang out at any classic cafeteria – you’ll be treated to a crash course in Barcelona’s treasured history. Meanwhile, the city’s sizzling beachfront, chic fashion streets and hopping music scene bring you straight back to the present.
Barcelona’s beauty stretches beyond the city, with day trip options that make for perfect getaways all year round. In the north stand Mount Tibidabo and the Pyrenees Mountain range. Down south, the Mediterranean Sea flows alongside miles of sandy beaches.

Travel Guide 2012 

Marseille travel guide

Built on multiculturalism, revolution and a Mediterranean climate, Marseille stands as one of Europe’s most intoxicating coastal metropolises. France’s second city divides opinion – its wild-at-heart spirit is an enthralment to many and anathema to others – but for the majority of the 1.6 million people who call it home, it is the source of an intense pride.

The cascading hills and white limestone cliffs of the Calanques provide an attractive backdrop to the urban throng, but more emblematic of the city are the souk-like backstreets of the town centre, the boisterous bartering at the fish market and the packed crowds at FC Olympique de Marseille’s home stadium. It might be in the south of France, but any dreams of Provençal calm are best realised elsewhere.
The hub of Marseille is the Vieux-Port, a harbour with some 2,600 years of history, while adjacent neighbourhoods such as Le Panier and Belsunce still offer up warrens of washing-webbed lanes perfect for exploration on foot or by bike (the city now has a hugely successful public bicycle system, usable by tourists). Nearby, the tree-lined central avenue of La Canebière crackles with activity day and night, while a short ferry ride offshore reveals Marseille’s other face – the Iles du Frioul, a rocky archipelago perfect for walkers and bird-spotters. The views back across town are spectacular.

Istanbul travel guide

Istanbul owes its historic importance and its amazing cultural and architectural heritage to its perfect strategic location, straddling the Bosphorus straits which separate Europe and Asia Minor.

Through most of its 2,500-year-long history, the city (first known as Byzantium, then as Constantinople and since 1930 as Istanbul) was a cultural melting pot. Today, its population of more than 13 million is almost exclusively Turkish, and many of its people are recent migrants from provincial Turkey, lured by the promise of jobs and careers in this vibrant, fast-growing city.

Istanbul is no longer the nation's capital, but is Turkey's economic and cultural powerhouse - a status underlined by its role as a European City of Culture in 2010 and the award of UNESCO World Heritage listing to many of its most important landmarks, which range from stunning Ottoman mosques and Byzantine churches and catacombs to the columns of Hellenistic temples and the remains of massive medieval city walls.

But there's more to Istanbul than Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. A fast-growing economy contributed to a flourishing arts and music scene, with a plethora of new bars, clubs, private art galleries, restaurants and designer fashion outlets.

Travel Guide 2012

New tour of historic sites in Thang Long-Hanoi

Domestic and foreign visitors will soon have the chance to learn more about Hanoi and its history by taking a “Thang Long-Hanoi city tour – a journey through history” specially designed to celebrate of the capital’s forthcoming millennium anniversary.