23ac Outdoor Life

If you fancy visiting a festival this summer but are a little worried about the weather, (and having to stand in a muddy field with thousands of other mud caked festival goers), then Benicassim Festival maybe the very one for you! Taking place between the 15th -18th July the festival has the luxury of being on the Spanish Mediterranean coast in the resort of the Costa del Azahar. FIB (Festival Internacional de Benicassim) is near the towns Valencia and Barcelona.

Over the fifteen years since conception Benicassim saw a cornucopia of acts such as the Stone Roses, Radiohead and Oasis playing to the sell out audience although Oasis leader Noel Gallagher was not overly cheerful after one or two sound problems during there set in 2009. He did, however compliment the keen crowd!

The line is astounding for 2010. Headliners are Kasabian on the Thursday, Vampire weekend on Friday. Wonder kid Sat. and Gorillaz on the Sun. Supporting acts due to play over the a few days comes from prize-winning band Ash, Punk legend Jonny Rotten with Public Image Ltd, Ray Davies, Ian Brown Dj Shade , Lily Allen, The Specials and the Klaxons and lots more top quality artists.

As well as the great onstage music there’s also 2 FIB markets to mooch thru. The FIB markets are made from stalls from record corporations and fashion house to record stores and non profit associations and there’s one in the locale itself and the other is in the ( free ) camping area.

FIB fills Benicassim with varied other attractions, over the four days, with modern art installations, exhibitions, theatre, a seriously popular short film holiday and fashion shows. Just about something for everyone!

Both Valencia and Barcelona have international airports taking flights from the U.K. Alternatively you can fly into Reus, Alicante, Gerona and Madrid. Ryan Air (Liverpool & London) and Easyjet (Bristol, Edinburgh and Liverpool) flights are available to most of the destinations. Transfers are available from with an official FIB bus service.

Benicssim has a train station with connections to most Spanish towns should you need to fly somewhere else. State Express, EU Dollar Lines and Alsa all run coaches form the United Kingdom to Valencia and Barcelona if you do not mind spending a lot of hours on a bus. Ensure you take 2 books and your iPod!

If you would rather avoid the holiday site there are hostels and camping available in the close by resorts of Alcoceber, Castellon, Oropesa, Del Mar and Peniscola. Guarantee to take masses of sun cream as the average temperature for July is 30c! HOT!

If you’ve enjoyed all the information you read here about 2010 Benicassim Festival,you’ll love everything else you find at Benicassim Festival Spain 2010 or if you are in the UK, please call 0800 612 8719 to discuss your options.

A pop up tent is a tent that can be easily transported, set up, and taken down. They are made with built in flexible poles that spring into shape the moment that the tent is unpacked. Transportation of the tent is accomplished through its being folded into a conveniently sized carry pouch. Thus it is lighter in weight than other types of tents, which just adds to its portability.

A true woman, or man, of the outdoors appreciates how much closer to nature one is able to come when using a tent. The pop up tent is an ideal choice for that experience that is much desired. In point of fact there are many that think that using a tent is an excellent way to commune with the environment.

When selecting a pop up tent there are a few factors that you should consider since there are many different types to chose from. Some questions you should answer are what type of weather, or conditions, will you be expecting at your camp site? And how many people are going camping with you?

It would be to your disadvantage and to the ones with you, for instance, if you did not check the size of the tent before purchasing. After all the right size tent is needed for the accommodation of every camper who wishes to sleep in its shelter. Thus not only the dimensions must be checked but the description of how many can sleep inside. For example one that says that it can sleep up to four adults can mean four average fully grown humans or a family of three children and two adults.

Where you will be camping is also a factor in the type of tent you choose. For example if you are camping anywhere that often has gusts of wind then a hoop tent may not be the right choice. It most likely will not be strong enough to withstand a powerful wind. Instead they are good for camping in the backyard and in an campground that is enclosed.

The pop up tent is quite useful for going camping in the woods because of its simplicity of carriage, take down, and set up. Thus it is not unusual for a single person to be able to carry it. It is a known fact that because of the ease in which it is put up it is often referred to as the tent that erects itself.

Nick Edwards is a respected authority of camping equipment and saftey gear, he specializes in pop up tents and everything this to do with camping accessories. You can find numerous of his articles on Pop up Tent Shop.

If you have a motor home or caravan, you’ll know how convenient they are for travelling around your country. They can help save loads of money on hotel and food bills and are the really the best option for a long road trip. Motor homes or caravans are used all over the world, from America and Britain, to Europe and Australia and are one of the best methods of exploring a country.

There are basic differences between motor homes and caravans. A motor home is a complete living unit that is self-driving, as opposed to a caravan that is towed along by another vehicle. Generally, motor homes are used more for travelling around for an extended length of time, some people will live in them for up to a year, whilst caravans are towed to a particular destination and are more common for short breaks.

There are many options available to anyone looking for a caravan to buy. Your budget and requirements will decide whether you buy a luxury new model with all the latest features or a basic second-hand model.

Second-hand or luxury caravans don’t come cheap. You will have the initial cost of purchase and after that you have the insurance to consider, petrol to pay for and you will have to maintain the vehicle regularly to keep it in a good condition. However, travelling on the road in a caravan gives you the freedom and choice to go where you want, whenever you like and change plans as often as you want.

Consider the facilities and features you want, list your basic requirements and budget and go from there. The size of the caravan, facilities needed, and lengths of time you think you will be away from home are key factors that will guide you to your decision. There’s also the size of the vehicle to consider. Whether you are towing it or driving it, the bigger it is the more difficult it will be to manoeuvre. How confident are you in driving a large motor home or towing a large caravan? Also the larger the vehicle the more gas it will need and this will push your expenses up. These are all factors to take into consideration before acquiring your ideal mobile home.

Looking to find the best deal on parks?, then visit Vale Holidays for the best advice on Caravan Sales Wales for you.

The last thing you want to be doing on a caravan holiday is slaving over the cooker or worrying about what to serve at the next meal. After all, it’s a time to relax, enjoy the beach or the countryside or just spend more quality time with the family. So, keep things simple, things about your favourite quick but nutritious recipes that you can adapt and how you can make them in a more confined space.

Unless you are going to a very isolated location, there’s also no need to take a huge amount of food with you. Shopping as you go gives you the opportunity to explore your new local area, support the local economy and sample some food and drink you may never have tried before. Most little food shops carry the same basic items, so you should be able to get fresh bread, milk and other items that you need.

Veteran holidaymakers will also know how important a good ‘food box’ is to supplement the fresh stuff. Non-perishable and tinned goods like dried herbs, cereals, crackers, margarine, mayo, pasta, rice, oil, baked beans, tomatoes and tuna are essential for the basics of a quick dinner. Also, don’t forget things like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, bottled water, sugar, biscuits and other treats that you need.

For fresh food, look out for fruit and vegetables that are in season and local oil, honey, breads, cheeses, meat and other goods. Those holidaying near the coast can buy fresh fish from the harbour or from a beachside kiosk and of course there will be plenty of fish and chip shops about. Try the local wines or beers too.

Also, a caravan holiday is good time to try out different methods of cooking. Most caravans and holiday homes have an oven and also a microwave oven, but you can also use a barbecue if the weather is OK. A slow cooker is a great option if you are going out for the day and don’t forget baking potatoes around the camp fire. Just make sure you take a kettle and a toaster as well as a frying pan and a decent sized saucepan.

Learn more about Caravan Sales Wales. Visit Vale Holidays to find the best advice on holiday home Wales for you.

Travelling with your own caravan attached to the rear of the car is an experience all on it’s own. Knowing how to reverse with a caravan is either learned through repetitive performance or a natural talent is present from the word go. Judging distances and maneuvering in awkward traffic situations has to be a concern for anyone wishing to have great value holidays at holiday parks in the UK, and are taking their caravan with them.

Cheap weekend getaways can be had at any place along the coast that has a caravan park. Cornwall has especially lovely beaches. White sands, a few rocks to climb over as the waves break – beautiful. All that’s needed is the sun shining and a clear sky for an adventure on the beach.

A typical mid-week escape is very affordable with prices competitive at sixty pounds for four days. Activities to get involved in are fishing, golf, boating, surfing, walks along the trail and generally relaxing. Nighttime activities can be a late night stroll on the sandy beaches or a visit to the local club for a few drinks and some restaurant fare.

When money is scant and nothing but a break away will do, try staying at a few locations instead of just one. Moving on every four or five days gives one a feeling of affluence and a lot more sights can be seen this way. Travelling through Cornwall there are several lovely villages well worth visiting for the fishing, golf or nightlife. Why take your pick when you can do all three?

Most parks have facilities suitable for families with young children. Kid’s clubs have fun games and activities for primary school age children and are suitable for older one’s as well. Swimming is a great activity for the kids but at night something a little safer like a family game of monopoly is in order.

A few of the parks are pet friendly. To avoid the extra expense of kennelling the dog while having great value holidays at holiday parks in the UK, simply take them along. Very affordable prices begin at 10 pounds per night. You can’t get a much better deal than that.

Pontins and Haven Holidays 2010 offer great value holidays in the UK with great entertainment and facilities. Find out how you can get the best prices and accommodation with travel tips from Bertie Davis of Holiday Parks in UK

It is anticipated that their will be a revival in the development of vacations in the UK as more and more people decide to holiday within the UK. One of the main reasons is the currency rate since the reduction in the value of sterling against other European currencies and especially the Euro. For UK tourists the cost of going to the continent for a holiday is approximately forty percent more simply because sterling no longer has the comparable spending ability.

Way back in the 1930′s before the introduction of mass travel and holiday flights most families went to one of the popular holiday camps such as Pontins. These were the first mass market vacation resorts where you could go for an economical vacation. The vacation camps offered accommodation with entertainment and facilities to keep the visitors happy.

Now holiday camps have become holiday parks and the quality of lodgings has vastly got better as has the amenities and entertainment. You also have the choice of staying in a self contained mobile home which has all the up to date appliances and comforts you would require. Most holiday parks now have large indoor swimming pools with chutes as well as outdoor activities to keep the children happy.

There are a number of companies offering vacations of this type throughout Britain and especially in the south of England where the weather tends to be better. A lot of the parks are also situated on or close to beaches so on the really hot days you can spend the day at the beach.

Evening entertainment is a really popular part of holidaying at a holiday parks and a lot of well known celebrities have started to appear at holiday parks all over the UK. It is not unusual to find that a whole holiday park is taken over for the weekend and based on a particular theme. You can get 70′s weekends where many of the people dress as they did back in the 1970′s and best-selling bands and singers from that era are also appearing there.

Holiday Parks have come a long way since they first started and no doubt this popular type of holiday will be around for a long time in the future. Holiday parks can usually provide vacations for the weekend so you can test them out with friends before going for a full week with the family.

Butlins 2010 is going to be a great year at Butlins as more and more people are enjoying a UK based holiday. Find out the options with Melanie Griffiths of Holiday Parks in UK

categories: Travel,vacations,uk,holidays,destinations,camping

Cuba – Peninsula of Guanahacabibes – has been selected as a base for a research venture between Cuba and Spain. Cuban Scientists from the Cuban Oceanology Institute and the Spanish University of Oviedo have come together to document hundreds of marine species in the western most part of Cuba and Los Jardines de la Reina in trhe central part of the Island.

Jesus Ortega a Spanish Biologist and Professor of the University of Oviedo in an interview conducted by Prensa Latina affirmed that they will keep researching on the west of Cuba where around 700 species are still pending for classification. So far in the area 50 specimens have been acknowledged as new species.

One of the most significant discoveries in the region is the striking Emiliotia Inmaculatus (tiny mollusck with semi-transparent shell) and the Cubalaskeya Machoi both found at Cueva Pedro( undersea cavern almost 33 meters under sea level).

Not surprisingly a strong similarity has been found between mollusks found in the Bahamas and South Florida Keys and the species found in the Guanahacabibes Peninsula in the western part of Cuba.

Peninsula de Guanahacabibes and Cienaga de Zapata, both rich in Flora and Fauna, have been declared Protected Area of The Biosphere and the least human interaction can be found in this region which has been accountable for the documentation of 50 percent of all mollusk species discovered in Cuba.

This is a part of Cuba with a shocking wonderful natural wealth, with an enormous species variety still to determine said Cuban ecologist Jose Espinosa, and continued – Cuba might be a centre for plankton larvae that could favour the most needed healing the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean sea.

Maria La Gorda is the only tourist resort that can be found in the vicinity of peninsula de Guanahacabibes and it is very popular amongst snorkellers, divers, oceanologists and holiday makers in general.

Want to find out more about Cuba, then visit Perucho Ochoa’s site on how to choose the best Cuba Holidays for your needs.

There are loads of websites online which can tell you what they consider to be the top ten holiday destinations. However, with these sites it is usually ones that they are trying to get you to arrange your next holiday to. But when it comes to really discover where the top ten holiday destinations are in any given year the best place to start your search is using the World Tourism Organisation website.

Every year The World Tourism Organisation send out facts and figures representing which countries have the most tourists. This is very helpful to travel agents when selling holidays to the public.

A favourite holiday destination in Europe is Italy, closely followed by France, Spain, UK and Germany. 18% of all holidaymakers choose Europe because of its history and culture. The weather is even good in some places!

Other popular destinations outside Europe include Africa, with Egypt being the first choice for travellers. Other countries like Rwanda, South Africa, Tunisia and Morocco are also becoming very popular amongst holidaymakers.

Up and coming places that are starting to attract many tourists are China, Japan and Thailand. China is very popular at the moment because of the Olympics and Para Olympics. Thailand is very popular with students and backpackers. Then theres Japan which has a totally different way of living which Europeans love to experience.

Another place other than the World Tourism Organisation is the Independent Tour Operators. They list the top holiday destinations for that year. Below is their latest list.

Tresco, Isles of Scilly ” This is situated of the west coast of England and is going to be a favourite because of the new built luxury development of holiday homes on it.

Naples in Italy has always a top favourite amongst holiday visits due to its spectacular scenery. Naples also has fantastic shops and restaurants that are always worth checking out.

City Breaks, France ” Since the setting up of Eurostar getting to anyone of this countries wonderful cities not just Paris has become much quicker and easier. Although many may not believe it but you will receive a truly warm welcome when you visit any part of France.

Angkor Wat in Cambodia is a fantastic place to visit, there is so much to see and do. One must see is the World Heritage site where visitors can access for free.

Western Iceland is a great place to visit if you are interested in relaxing and taking time out, this part of Iceland is very secluded, so being bothered will not happen.

Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is popular due to the fact that its food is second to none. There are plenty of Spanish and French cuisines to choose from.

Cook Islands is a great place to go is you like the sun, it is also becoming very popular with UK citizens due to the fact that the pound is strong against the New Zealand dollar.

Monte Carlo, is known as a millionaires playground and is very popular with the rich and famous. Monte Carlo becomes very popular and expensive during the week of the Grand Prix.

Zambia is a great place to visit is you like safari, you will see all kinds of animals. Zambia is a cheap holiday destination and accommodation is fun if you stay in a tribal home hut.

Togo and Benin is situated in West Africa is a fantastic holiday resort if you are looking to see another side to Africa. It is a cheap holiday destination so your pound will stretch much further.

If you are searching for properties abroad search no further than the classifieds site Adflyer. Adflyer have 1000s of properties abroad for sale.

Caravan Porch Awnings have given an opportunity to holidaymakers to make there holidays even more fun. They can now enhance the space in their caravan, which make their vehicle much more comfortable to stay in. Moreover, the style that these awnings provide to a caravan is a value addition.

You would find most of the caravan awnings available in the market made of polyester or acrylic. However, the frames are made of aluminum or steel, which make them resistant to bad weather and make them easy to install.

The awnings are available in hundreds of colors, sizes and shapes as per the size of your caravan, holiday spot and weather conditions prevailing there. So get ready to be spoilt for choices.

It was always tough to install these bulky awnings few years ago. It would take a hell lot of time and energy to get these erected and then to dismantle them at the end of holiday. In addition, these were also tough to load and carry in a caravan, thanks to their heavy weight and huge sizes.

But now things have changed. With technology advancement, you can buy caravan awnings that are lighter in weight. These are easier to erect as well as disassemble, owing to their lighter weight.

Moreover, their easy installation is further ensured by strong zips and easy to erect frames that these are provided with.

You will find a caravan porch awnings much less expensive than the full porch awnings in the market. Reasonable prices, attractive colors and light weights make them a preferred choice over their traditional, bulky and expensive counterparts.

Caravan porch awnings are easily available on rental basis as well. You can surf through various websites that can offer you with attractive awnings on per day rent basis on per week rent basis depending on the holiday period.

So next time, when you plan to go for a caravan trip, ensure that caravan porch awnings are a part of it.

A perfect answer to extending your outdoor living space when you are travelling on a caravan holiday are caravan porch awnings. There are many different kinds out there but if you stick to buying quality like Isabella caravan awnings, you will not be at loss.

If you are looking for information on where to go and what to do in Cuba this might be a good place to start. This charming Caribbean Island certainly has everything you need for fantastic holidays to Cuba and there are options to please the most discerning traveler.

Cuba is the largest of the Antilles and offers a wide variety of holidays. If you are looking for just relaxation on a beach resort or get to know the island by joining an escorted tour Cuba certainly does not lack options

Lets look at places like Varadero, Jibacoa, Guardalavaca, cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Cayo Santa Maria and so many other beach destinations with white sandy beaches and turquoise color waters. To chose among all of them could be a difficult task. Some places like Varadero are better in terms of infrastructure and things you can do out side your hotel while the rest are more for the purpose of pure relaxation.

Vinales Valley located in Pinar del Rio province enjoys by far the most astonishing landscapes of Cuba. It is also famous for its tobacco plantations responsible for the best cigars in the World.

Trinidad de Cuba one of the most charming colonial villages in Cuba which dates back from the 17th Century. Today Trinidad is considered a World Heritage Site definitely worth visiting.

Havana has to be my favourite place. Not only was I born in Havana and know it quite well, I can say with confidence that I have walked every corner of this amazing City. You have to visit Havana if you really want to feel you have been to Cuba. I particularly recommend the Old Town area to stay and the night clubs of Vedado neighborhood.

You can combine as many places as your time and budget allows. Bear in mind that traveling around the island will increase the cost of your holidays since you will have to afford the transportation which is mainly by taxis and in some cases you could spend up to 6 hours on the road.

Some think that Cuba might change in the next couple of years. I personally have been hearing this same thing for the past 20 years and Cuba still remains the same defiant and beautiful country. However it is important to highlight that in the past few years the expectation of a change has increased. My advice is not to leave your visit for too late or you might miss have a century of history and culture.

Before booking your holidays to Cuba. Visit www.quest2cuba.co.uk for more information on the best Cuba tours.