For those of us that don’t want to travel too far, holidays to France are perfect as it only requires a short ferry/Eurotunnel crossing till you arrive at your destination, making it accessible by car and coaching holidays packages. Not only are holidays to France perfect in terms of short travelling times but they can also be easy on the purse-strings too. With this in mind, we thought we’d take a look at some of the places within France that you might not consider visiting when on holiday. Take a look at our mini list and let us know what you think…

Paris
Known to many as one of the most romantic cities in the world, Paris has all but exhausted the superlatives that can reasonably be applied to any city. We all know about the beauty of the Notre Dame and the Eifel Tower at sunrise, sunset and at night as well as the delights that can be offered via a cruise along the River Seine, but is there anything else we can do when holidaying in France? Encapsulate the village atmosphere by visiting the street markets. Not only do these offer an alternative shopping experience compared to the city boutiques but, they are also great for social gatherings as well as picking up some great culinary tips. Head off the beaten track and visit the Moorish mosque, you have to be modestly dressed to be able to wander through the colonnaded courtyards, listen to the incredible acoustics during the ‘Call To Prayer’ and leaf through ancient Arabic texts in the library. Here’s something a little different, why not escape the hustle & bustle of city life and explore the tiny streets of Île St-Louis? Here you’ll find quaint shops dotted around the island, you can listen to buskers on the riverbanks whilst watching the riverboats glide by. Doesn’t this bring a welcome relief to the usual city breaks to Paris?

Normandy
Think it’s fair to say that Normandy can be summed up in just three words – camembert, cider and cows! This is where you’ll find the lush green countryside of France smashing into the rolling waves of La Manche (the English Channel). Perhaps discover your ‘inner impressionist’ with a visit to Monet’s Garden in Giverny, be bowled over by the magnificent Bayeux Tapestry, sample the seafood delights of Trouville and Honfleur or slip into an architectural bubble and soak up the half-timbered houses and Gothic churches in Rouen. Make a pilgrimage to the D-Day Landing Beaches where the largest military operation in history, code-named ‘Operation Overlord’, was carried out in June 1944 that was followed by the Battle of Normandy which ultimately led to the liberation of Europe from Nazi Occupation. Should you wish to find out more about this greatest military event, make time to visit the Caen Memorial Museum that provides a comprehensive overview of what happened. No holidays to Normandy would be complete without visiting the abbey of Mont St-Michel where legend has it that Aubert, the Bishop of Avranches, was visited by the Archangel Michael in a dream. To this day, a gilded copper statue of Michael slaying a dragon crowns the Abbey symbolising the triumph of good over evil – did you know that?

Provence
Everyone knows that this southern tip of France is one of the most sun and celebrity-riched parts of the country with its glittering coastline, mountain retreats, Roman temples and amazing gastronomic delights that will make your mouth water just thinking about it! Saunter through lush lavender fields, chestnut forests, apple-green vineyards and delectable olive groves. Why not follow in the footsteps of Van Gogh around Arles to the areas where he set up his easel to paint some of his best-known canvases. Hike, bike or drive through the hillsides of Digne-les-Bains. Sip a coffee in a café along the table-lined terrace of 1792 Les Deux Garçons. It’s fair to say that Provence is most definitely an old-fashioned love affair that never ends – in fact, the lure of the region will have you holidaying here more than once, guaranteed!

Books suggested in the article include: Joanna Trollope’s new novel “The Other Family”; “The Slap”, by Christos Tsiolkas, which won the 2009 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize (Best Book); Ian McEwan’s “Solar”, which is an amusing tale of a scientist’s trek across the Arctic to research climate change; “Must You Go? My Life with Harold Pinter”, a memoir by the late dramatist’s wife, Antonia Fraser; and Carol Ann Duffy’s “Love Poems”.

Ideas include taking a spa holiday in Cornwall, cycling in Holland and taking a trip to the Whitepod, a ski resort in Switzerland which claims to be more environmentally friendly than traditional ski resorts.

However, these health problems can be easily avoided if you follow sun safety advice, so here are our top five tips for staying safe in the sun.

1. Don’t spend all your time on the beach. It may be tempting to head straight for the beach on the first day of your holiday, but if you do, don’t spend too long there. Experts believe that you do less damage to your skin if you gradually increase the amount of time that you spend in the sun than you do if you suddenly spend hours sunbathing. It’s also important to stay out of the sun between 11 a.m and 3 p.m, as the sun’s rays are strongest at this time of day. You should also make sure that you take regular breaks by leaving the beach and moving into the shade.

2. Dress appropriately. When you’re out and about in the sun, make sure that you cover up, and wear a hat and sunglasses. If you are spending time at the beach, take some suitable beachwear with you, so that you can wear it over your swimwear when you aren’t in the water.

3. Apply sun cream regularly. It’s important to choose the right sun screen and use it correctly. You need protection from two types of ultraviolet radiation waves emitted by the sun – UVB rays and UVA rays. UVB rays cause skin to burn, and to prevent this, look for a sun screen cream with a Sun Protection Factor (or SPF) of 15 or above. UVA rays cause deeper damage and can age skin prematurely – to protect yourself from the effects of UVA rays, use sun screen which has a star rating of four or five stars.

Apply your sun cream at least 30 minutes before going out into the sun and reapply it every two or three hours. Use a water resistant sun cream and make sure that you reapply it after you have been swimming.

4. Drink plenty. Dehydration can have serious consequences, so when the weather is warm, make sure that you drink plenty of water. Try to avoid drinking alcohol in hot weather as this will dehydrate you.

5. Don’t just think about the sun when you are on the beach. Like sand, snow and water reflect UV rays, so even if you aren’t spending your holiday lying on a beach, you will need to think about sun safety. You can also get sunburnt when the weather is cloudy, so don’t get caught out.

Malaga International Airport is situated about 8km to the southwest of the Spanish city of Malaga, on the Costa del Sol. Malaga is one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations, with attractions such as the Alcazaba (the city’s Moorish fortress) and The Picasso Museum, and Malaga International Airport is also the main airport for tourists heading for destinations such as Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Fuengirola. As a result, the airport is extremely busy, with 12,813,472 travellers having passed through it during 2008.

Both domestic and international flights arrive and depart from Malaga International Airport, and a number of UK airlines operate flights to Malaga. At the moment, the airport has one runway and two terminals, although a second runway and third terminal are being constructed. Flights from the UK arrive at Terminal 2 (also known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso), and most flights depart from this terminal as well (although check-in is divided between the two terminals).

The terminals include shops and food outlets, and there are also several VIP lounges. Unusually for an airport, there is an Exhibition Hall between the terminals, where you can see works by local artists. There is also a museum, The National Museum of Aviation, which is housed in the original terminal building, about ten minutes away from the current terminals.

It’s worth noting that there are no hotels at the airport itself and there are also no left luggage facilities.

There is a railway station at the airport, so you could take the train to the city of Malaga or to Fuengirola, and there are also buses and taxis available outside of the terminal. Improved rail links to the airport are also planned as part of the ongoing expansion of the airport.

However, the easiest and most convenient way to travel to and from Malaga International Airport is probably by car. There are a number of car firms operating from the airport, but if you want to get the cheapest deals, it’s worth booking your Malaga Airport hire car in advance. You can then have peace of mind from knowing that when you land you will be able to just pick up your rental car and drive to your destination.

Using Malaga Airport’s car hire facilities also means that you can just drive straight to the airport when your holiday is over and drop your car off before checking-in, so you won’t have to worry about relying on public transport or taxis to get you to the airport on time.

In the next post in this series, we’ll be taking a look at Nice Airport and its facilities.

Los Angeles is situated in the State of California, on the West Coast of the USA. Nicknamed the City of Angels, Los Angeles’ most famous area is Hollywood, the home of the movie business and an area known for its celebrity hangouts. Other famous areas of Los Angeles include Beverly Hills and Bel-Air (where you can see the homes of the rich and famous), and the adjoining beach cities of Santa Monica, Venice and Malibu.

L.A. is a truly diverse city, with attractions to suit everyone, so it’s a great place to visit. You can stroll on the beach in the Californian sun, visit museums and famous landmarks, shop until you drop in designer or stores and eclectic boutiques,  visit the world-famous theme parks located just outside of the city, or enjoy a night out at one of the fantastic clubs and bars.

Airlines including Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and American Airlines operate flights between London’s Heathrow Airport and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The flight takes about ten hours and will cost in the region of £400 – £500 per person.

When you are planning your trip to Los Angeles, remember that your passport must be valid for at least six months after your travel date and, in order to enter the USA, UK residents now need to apply for authorisation in advance as part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). You can apply for this online via the US Department of Homeland Security’s Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) website. It’s easy to do and is free of charge.

When planning your trip, it’s a good idea to work out which attractions you’d particularly like to visit and find out exactly where they are. As Los Angeles is so big, it’s worth considering breaking up your holiday by staying in more than one area of the city, or even spending a few days in another location. You may want to spend a few days in West Hollywood or Beverly Hills, then head to Santa Monica for a few days. You might also want to head out of Los Angeles spend some time in the city of Anaheim (home of the Disneyland Resort) or experience a different aspect of California with a stay at Big Bear Mountain.

In later posts, we’ll take an in-depth look at some of the things you can see and do in and around Los Angeles, and provide you with some hints and tips to help you to make the most of your stay.

Image by: Nserrano

The first thing to decide on is the type of swimwear that you want. You can choose from traditional swimsuits, bikinis or tankinis. Swimsuits and bikinis have been popular for many years and you’ll find many different styles to choose from. The tankini is a relatively new addition to the marketplace and consists of a short, sleeveless top and bikini bottoms, making it less revealing than a bikini but more practical than a swimsuit.

Different swimwear designs suit different body types, so make sure that you choose one that will be flattering. For example, swimsuits with halterneck tops are most suitable for women with classic pear shape figures, as they draw attention to the upper half of the body rather than to the lower half, whereas swimsuits with high necklines flatter women with “apple” shaped figures, as they draw attention to the waist.

It’s also important to make sure that the colour and design of the swimwear that you’re considering suits you. If you have a tan, a brightly coloured bikini will look great, whereas a darker colour will suit you if you have fair, untanned skin. Darker colours are also slimming, so if you aren’t confident about your body, opt for a dark blue or black swimsuit, and choose something plain rather than something with an all-over pattern.

Many online stores, such as Marks & Spencer, have excellent swimwear ranges, so you should be able to find a swimsuit, bikini or tankini to suit you fairly easily.