A few years ago you had to drive some miles from cities like Paris, Berlin or Madrid to find a beach and have a swim. But a few years ago, urban beaches are appearing on some european cities.

In Madrid you can taste the flavor of the sea in a salt water swimming pool at a few miles from city center, in the suburb town of Parla. It is only opened during the summer, but you can enjoy a day at the beach and tan your skin without leaving Madrid.

In “Paris Plages” you cannot swin, because it is strictly prohibited to dive in the rivers, but you can lie in a deckchair and get your skin tanned for a few hours. But Paris-Plages is more than just an artificial beach, you have lots of performances, activities for kids etc. For further information check out : www.paris-plages.fr

Berlin is the is another european city in which you can enjoy the beach even if the weather is not always very sunny. In the IndoorBeachCenter you will enjoy a sweet temperature all year long, where you can practice sports like beach-volleyball or just relax in a deckachair. All the details on : www.beachberlin.de

You have no excuse to go to the beach!

The volcanic eruption in Iceland was almost four months ago, however it has changed some of the british consumer’s minds as we now pay more attention to travel insurance and what it covers. The ash cloud caused a chaos all over Europe and we do not want it to be repeated: some had to travel by car, some others had to take ferries or the train back home. This situation has changed people’s mind and although most of us still prefer to go for the cheap option, a percentage of Brits say now that they prefer paying more and having everything covered.

In the same line, most holidaymakers hope travel insurance will cover them if they fall ill abroad. It is a very good idea to check before leaving what is covered and what is not so there are no surprises back home.

When talking about Costa Daurada, for many people its beaches are the first thing that come to mind and, of course, the famous theme park Port Aventura. And yes, it’s certainly true that spread along its coastline there are many beaches and small coves where you can enjoy being under the sun, or indulge in a pleasant swim and have a drink at one of the many beachside snack bars. Of course, during your stay you can’t miss out on visiting Port Aventura, where you can enjoy all day long with your family, partner or friends.

And we can’t forget about the rich gastronomy of this region with its delicious fish and rice specialities. Also scattered along the coast are small and charming fishing villages, which breathe with tradition. We recommend you to visit the Ebro Delta Natural Park, with many wildlife species (especially birds) and flora. Summing up, there’s no doubt that Costa Daurada offers a wide variety of options for you to choose between and have a great holiday.  Search your hotel in Hotelopia

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Today was the last day of the PWA Costa Teguise World Cup. It has been on since last Thursday 1st of July in Las Cucharas beach, Lanzarote. The wind has whistled so strongly that it has forced the competition to close before the double final could be finished. The best windsurfers in the world have been competing in the Canary Islands in the modality of freestyle. Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredoand Sarah-Quita Offringa were the winners in the Men and Women respectively. Hotelopia is, among  others, one of the sponsors of this fantastic competition. Because sports is another good reason to travel!

Winchester is a city in the south of England, worth visiting for its history, as it was once the capital of Wessex and the Kingdom of England.

Nowadays it is known for its cathedral, originally built in 1079 and with fine architecture of the 16th century, it is one of the biggest in England and the longest in Europe. The Cathedral is also famous because it was used for the scenes of The Da Vinci Code, a film based on the book by Dan Brown, a bestseller. Another curiosity we want to point out about it is the fact that Jane Austen, the famous writter, was burried in the north aisle of the cathedral. The inscription has no reference to her literary talents, as her novels were published anonymously.

If you happen to visit this quiet city, don’t forget to wander around the main street, where you will be able to see soem famous shops and nice restaurants and bars. From Hotelopia we highly recommend Brassery Blanc as the place to have dinner. A French restaurant, with very good service and even better food. The perfect end to a day of turism in Winchester. Book your hotel in Winchester in Hotelopia!

The famous red double decker buses are on fashion again. This icon of London will have, in 2012,a new desgin that will make people stop and stare. Engineeers have worked on a more modern and aerodinamic vehicle with a greeen inside (its a hybrid), it will have three doors and two stairways to improve the comfort of this means of transport. It is the red bus designed for the 21st century.

The proposal’s main objetive is to give passanger’s a more pleasant ride around the city. Will they like it? Do you want to be one of the first to ride the bus? Book your hotel in London in Hotelopia!

We have always thought that travelling back in time was just a fantasy from Science Fiction Films however according to Professor Hawking; it is just a matter of time!

Stephen Hawking has claimed that humans might one day be able to use time travel to skip generations into the future. In his new documentary he pointed out we could one day be able to build spaceships capable of travelling at such high speeds that time slowed down for those on board. The only problem he sees is the fact that the spaceship would have to be large scale to carry all the fuel needed.

Wow!

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has put together a Travel checklist of things you should do for your safety before going abroad, we have brought out the most important ones. Have a look, it will make you enjoy your holidays even more!

• Find out where the nearest EMBASSY will be; check their website to find out what services they offer and their opening times.
• Don’t travel without INSURANCE; make sure it covers you for any activities you are likely to undertake such as extreme or water sports
• If you are travelling within the EU, get a free EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD for free or reduced emergency care. Even if you do, you still need full travel insurance!
• Remember, you can call 112 to contact the emergency services in any EU country.
• Check with your doctor to find out if you need any VACCINATIONS before you travel.
• Make sure you’ve got correct VISAS for the country you are visiting and that your passport is valid.
• Take PHOTOCOPIES of your passport and other important documents and keep these separate from the originals when you travel and/or store them online using a secure data storage site.
• TELL a friend or relative where you are going and for how long for – give them some idea of your itinerary if possible and an emergency contact number
• Take enough MONEY for your trip and some back-up funds in a mix of cash and travellers cheque –  make a note of the cheques’ numbers before you go.

The most important social network worldwide has announce that from tomorrow on, there will be an alliance with Spotify. Last week there was a similar agreement between Facebook and Pandora. Now the Premium users of the music program will be able to share their music with their Facebook friends and friends will have the option to rate and comment about it.