What about a nice weekend in the south of England? It is not always necessary to go out of the country to discover somewhere beautiful, different, special and charming. Those words describe perfectly the essence of Dartmouth, a small town in the south of England that is famous for its castle and its colourful houses.

Dartmouth is a smart choice; a nice, tranquil and peaceful place to get out of the city’s traffic jams and stress. There are plenty of things to do: have a walk to the castle, or get the little boat that takes you there; or take the ferry to Kingswear, where you can see and get on a steam train. If the weather gets worst the Cherub Pub is the place to be. It is also worth knowing that it is Dartmouth’s oldest building.

Soon winter will be over (or at least it is something we are all looking for) so book your hotel in this wonderful little town and get out of your day to day routine!

Edinburgh is a city known for its castle, its gardens and tales. However, the birthplace of Harry Potter is also known for being one of the most expensive cities in the UK. Today we suggest a few places you can visit for free in this wonderful Scotish city.

First of all, you cannot miss the National Gallery of Scotland, located in one of the most popular streets of Edinburgh, Princess St, it has a very extense collection, with paintings of Velazquez, Titian, Van Gogh or Cezanne. If you prefer an outdoors activity and you are brave enough to go out in the Scotish weather,  you should definitely visit the Botanic Gardens, beauty in a variety of forms and sizes. Finally, if you are more of a music person you should stop at the jazz bar, a small bar in Old Town where there is music every night, ideal for relaxing whilst having a drink.

So there it is, activities for everyone without spending more than you can afford.

Travellers, the moment has arrived to write a letter to the Three Magi from the Orient. Where would you like to go on a trip next year? Which destination would you love to explore? Which city or town to pick? Which country to tour? Now is the time to write down your travel wishes. Who knows? They might even come true. Have you been good?

Where would you like to go in 2010? What was the most enjoyable trip away you had in 2009?

Winter is upon us and some ski resorts are now open and ready to receive lots of ski buffs after the first snowfall of the season, who are keen to get away for this long weekend break, in commemoration of the Spanish Constitution. Hotelopia recommends three destinations: Andorra, the Pyrenees and Alps. This time, we have skipped over Mount Saint Elias, located between Alaska (USA) and Yukon (Canada), where three ski mountaineers strapped on their skis and descended a 25- kilometre long “ski slope.” A feature documentary was made of their adventure.

Club Gascon is a Michelin-starred restaurant in London where you can dine for 14 euros, without fear of getting sent to the kitchen to wash the dishes afterwards. It’s not the only one either. Thirteen restaurants with one or two Michelin stars have decided to offer their customers menus for less than 30 pounds (33.6 euros). Michelin Pied à Terre and the Foliage are two such restaurants. In the case of Club Gascon, which offers the lowest price, the menu includes a dish of the day, a glass of wine, dessert and coffee. The owners of these establishments say the crisis is the main reason why they are promoting this initiative. This means that on the London tube, you could here the following conversation between three friends backpacking around Europe:
“Where do you want to eat today?”
“Let’s get out the Michelin guide and look for a cheap restaurant.
“What do you think? One or two stars today?”

A mining company in search of gold has apparently destroyed 100 metres of the Great Wall of China. The most well-known monument and tourist attraction in China was built 2000 years ago to protect its borders from invaders attacking from northern Asia. Until this mining company decided to blow it sky high, the Great Wall of China was 6,000 kilometres long. Previously, it had reached 8,000 kilometres, but with the passing of time and human intervention, parts of the wall are now in ruins or have disappeared. When travellers visit the wall, they might come across country houses nearby that were built with stones from this monument. Destroying the wall today could involve a hefty jail sentence. Many walls have been built and many others destroyed over the last 2,000 years, but the Great Wall of China stands proud, like a gigantic dragon, enduring the tests of time. It is simply amazing. Fortunately for the travellers who have yet to admire it in person, there are still 5,900 kilometres left standing.

On the occasion of the Agrotur Trade Fair held at the Feria de Cornellà Exhibition Centre, the newspaper “ Periodico de Cataluña” interviewed Enric Brufau, the director of this event. In times of crisis, the rural tourism industry is not only holding up, but it is even managing to continue growing. Enric Brufau believes that the crisis has caused travellers’ habits to shift. Now they opt for shorter stays in destinations that are closer to home, instead of going on long overseas trips. He also declared in the interview that sitting in front of a fireplace is an excellent therapy for relieving stress.
Quite a few years ago, rural tourism began to become an attractive option to consider when planning a holiday. At the beginning, this alternative popped up almost spontaneously and there were no regulations set up control it. Nowadays however, rural tourism is a sound alternative for travellers. Now that there is no more arguing about whether it’s time to put the heavy duvet on the bed, shall we sit in front the fireplace? Maybe we aren’t that stressed out or maybe we can’t get rid of all of it, but isn’t it worth it just to enjoy this moment?