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Your own little slice of luxury is now even more affordable!

How many times have you heard the expression: 'You can't have your cake and eat it too'? No doubt it's been said countless times, but now it's possible to truly experience it all - and enjoy every moment of it. According to a recent report by industry experts, luxury hotel accommodation has now become even more affordable.

With hotel room prices lowered all around the world, there has never been a better time to take advantage of some great deals on five-star accommodation. The Hotel Price Index (HPI) is a regular survey of hotel prices in major city destinations across the world as compiled by the travel agency Hotels.com on an international scale. Approximately 78,000 properties in more than 13,000 locations contribute to the survey results, covering both chain and independent hotels, and also including self-catering and B&B facilities.

The most recent findings focus on the best deals going at the moment for cut-price luxury accommodation. The Top 10 includes both far-flung destinations and close-to-home cities ideal for a European weekend away, and all for a price tag of less than £100. Talk about value!

The list contains both new cities to discover and time-after-time favourites. If you're looking for a break, maybe now is the time to hold the plans for the hotels in Rome and opt instead to experience all the latest in Lisbon, Mexico City or Toronto.

Top 10 luxury options for under £100

1. Lisbon
2. Marrakech
3. Melbourne
4. Mexico City
5. Pisa
6. Sao Paulo
7. Toronto
8. Warsaw
9. Prague
10. Tallinn

Press pause on the Paris hotels holiday plans and check out all that's happening in Prague. Destinations such as Melbourne and Sao Paulo may be better for a longer vacation, but many others on the list - such as Marrakech, Pisa, Warsaw and Tallinn are in easy reach thanks to the comprehensive network of low-cost flights linking the European capitals and centres of culture.

Cool Catalonia

If you still haven’t had a holiday this year, maybe you have been put off by strikes, ash clouds and travel company collapses, or maybe finances are a bit tight. Whatever the reasoning behind it, now could be the time to revaluate your situation.

Because tour ops, airlines and hotels are dealing with a drop in revenue, because you – the customer – has stayed at home instead of flocking south with the sun, they are now slashing prices here, there and everywhere. Some travel agents are claiming that as much as 70% is being chopped off prices, with the biggest winners being in mainland Spain, the Balearics and Greece. What’s more, if you can wait until the school holidays are over, you will get the maximum saving.

It’s not just beach packages that have been affected. City breaks too have been dealt a hefty blow as they are notoriously expensive, because city life is just that, expensive. So savings are big in this sector too. So, therefore, some of the best deals can be found in Barcelona, Spain’s second biggest city, but by far its most popular.

Like all other large European cities, accommodation can be rather pricey. But thanks to this summer bonanza, you could strike it lucky. The range of hotels on offer in Barcelona is outstanding.

The city is a popular backpacker location, therefore there are hostels and low-budget hotels aplenty. If you are after something a little more chic and unique, boutique hotels are everywhere in this city of style. Rooms are individually designed and named and offer something special that larger hotels lack.

But for families there are the larger, modern developments by the Olympic Harbour that are cutting edge, giant glasshouses that offer luxury at an affordable price. They also work for business use as this is the location of many major Spanish headquarters.

Grandeur is not as apaprent in Barcelona as is it in say Paris, Rome or even the Spanish capital Madrid, with many hotels choosing understated glamour rather than all-out opulence. However, there is still a sprinkling of old-age historic pomp and privilege in five-star hotels. They cater to every whim possible and possess some of the best locations in the city. Hotels of this calibre come at a price, but right now, this price is not as high as it once was.

If you are thinking of a break in the coolest Spanish city ever, check out the Barcelona hotels deals on offer from Octopus Travel.

Discover Rome

The city of Rome is a living, breathing and chaotic museum. At every turn your eyes will feast upon centuries old churches, Roman remains – many of which aren’t really remains but fully qualified buildings – approaching their 2000th birthday and grand chapels, villas and piazzas. In fact, there is so much to see you rapidly become blasé to it all. But then some modern fusion food, loud pumping dance music or a choking, smoking moped will bring you back down to earth and make you realise you haven’t stepped back in time, you are still in the 21st century.

Rome is sleek and stylish in so many ways, from the female traffic office wearing Prada heels to conduct the orchestra of vehicles on the overcrowded city streets, to the luxury and opulence of the Vatican, particularly the Sistine Chapel. Shopping here is simply divine from luxury boutiques from all the major fashion labels, high-street stores that are wonderfully affordable and department stores that give Selfridges a run for its money.    

Hotels are just as spectacular. From old, boutique townhouses, giving away nothing by their exterior of the wonders they hold within, to the grand mansions occupying as much ground space as the Colosseum with far more pomp and extravagance. But you can also find modern, affordable hotels around the outskirts, in the newer areas of the city, making hotels in Rome wonderfully diverse. For a full range of Rome hotels, check out the deals on offer from Octopus Travel.

When it comes to sightseeing, you could spend days walking through the Eternal City and still not see it all, even the residents still find something new every day. So, plan your routes and must-see locations carefully.

Top of the list has to be the Colosseum and the Roman Forum next door. The Colosseum was built in AD72 and was able to seat a whopping 50,000 people; this is large even by today’s standards. It had retractable awnings, it was water tight allowing for water battles and it was highly decorated with banners, like a Roman version of advertising.

Right on the doorstep is the Roman Forum. This was ancient Rome’s political and economic centre. Even though today it is just ruins you can still feel the power that would have been exerted from the Roman Empire.

Even if you aren’t religious you must visit the Vatican, if not for the museum for the beautiful architecture. From Michelangelo’s frescoes of the Sistine Chapel to the hundreds of classical statues and paintings, the Vatican museum is world class. 

We could go on and on, but Rome is a place you should explore by accident. You never know what you will come across when you turn the next corner.

Planning a Golf Package Holiday

Golf is an increasingly popular sport and there is a huge increase in the number of people, either as individuals or groups who are booking golf package holidays. One advantage of golf is that it can be played in hot conditions, which make it ideal both as far as a form of relaxation, and an enjoyable sport which can have a competitive edge. There are many options available when booking a golf package holiday. There are a wide range of companies who will completely book your holiday for you and arrange everything from accommodation, arranging course bookings, green fees and even tournaments if you wish

When booking a package holiday, you first need to consider where you would like to go, especially in relation to the kind of golf course you wish to play on. You need to find out whether the course available in the area you wish to go to are suitable for your standards of play. Accommodation is also important, not only regarding the standards and facilities, but simple things such as how far it is from the golf course, and how far, and by what means you have to travel to get there. The same applies to restaurants, and general holiday facilities. You may wish to find other forms of relaxation, such as swimming in the pool, and you need to make sure that these facilities are available. If you are going as a group you may need to consider specific requirements of your golfing companions. Taking care of all of these details should be part of the package holiday which your holiday provider will arrange for you. They should also arrange all you golfing requirements, and some companies will even arrange tournaments against local clubs, if you wish them to do so.

Booking a golf package holiday may be a more expensive than your budget will allow, and you may find better value for money by organising the trip yourself. Packages can sometimes be a compromise. You may not get all the facilities you wish at the time you want them, and this can take the edge off the holiday. Another option may be to try and book everything yourself. This gives you more control over where you go, and what you do when you get there, however it although it can save you money, it may also be a more complicated approach.

A certain amount of research will have to be carried out prior to booking your holiday. Some sites will allow you to organise the trip on a building block basis. You choose where you want to go, and can then book specific holiday accommodation and eating requirements. Once you have done that, you then have to arrange the times you wish to play, and arrange all course fees, and tee off slots. Car hire may be another part of the booking process which you need to consider when booking. Certain members of your party may want to experience the local night life, and you have to be able to balance this with their availability in relationship to where you want to play your golf.

If you are a good organiser, and you have all the information you need to make a successful booking, then this is probably the approach to take. You have much more control, and you maw certainly save money going this route. Preparation is the key, and the ability to see potential problems, but the satisfaction gained by organising a successful holiday, will be worth it. For great golfing information go to http://comparegolfprices.co.uk/shopping/travelling.php golf travel bags.

Luxury Ski Chalets

Ski chalets have often held an unfortunate reputation, and caused many unfortunate memories. Large, shared chalets with lacklustre food and barely any room for your family or group; many people considered them to be hostels set in the mountains. Any skier with a decent amount of cash would rather stump for the nearest 4 or 5 star hotel rather than stay in a ski chalet.

However, the good news for those looking for family ski holidays and group ski holidays nowadays is that ski chalets have gone posh. Yes indeed, if you’ve got a few thousand to blow on your accommodation you can get an absolutely stunning chalet all to yourself, complete with all the latest mod-cons: flat screen HD TVs, iPod speakers, Jacuzzis; anything you can think of. Luxury ski chalets tend to come with a full complement of staff as well such as a chef and chauffeur. If you’re on a family ski holiday and need chaperones for the kids to take them to and from school, well, by Jove, that’s exactly what you’ll get. Essentially, you’ve got a full hotel service entirely at your disposal.

That of course, is the kind of service reserved for those who can happily fork out £10,000 or more for a week’s group ski holiday. If you’ve something of a more modest budget, you still might be pleasantly surprised at what’s on offer. Not only are there much smaller chalets and self-catering ones at that which offer much cheaper deals with no staff but comparable levels of comfort, but the shared chalets still exist: however, many of them now offer separate apartments within the larger chalets, and en-suite bathrooms are becoming standard for bedrooms much as they are in all but the cheapest hotels.

The best chalets, whatever your budget, will also help you sort out local details such as skiing passes and lessons (although even better is to sort these out beforehand). These days, chalets are much less like hostels stuck on the side of a pristinely white mountain, and more like small hotels in charming buildings. If you can afford a luxury ski chalet, you’ll get a ski holiday complete with all you would expect from the very best of hotel service, but also have the benefit of having the run of the place: you can visit the kitchen and take whatever you like, whenever you like.

If you can’t afford to throw all your cash at your ski accommodation, then you’ll be just as happy with an apartment in a shared chalet, or a mini-chalet to yourself. Ski chalets have grown up, and kids going on their first family ski holidays will have nothing but good memories of them when they do too.

An Introduction To The Algarve

Spanning the length of Portugal`s southern coast, the Algarve is one of  Europe`s most popular holiday destinations. The combination of sparkling Atlantic sea, white sandy beaches, pristine golf courses and top class leisure facilities all contribute to the region`s ability  to attract thousands of visitors each year. With its enviable position in the south west corner of Europe, the Algarve enjoys excellent weather all year round, with hot, dry summers and mild, dry winters. There is no bad time to visit the region, although the busiest months for visitors are between May and September, when some of the main tourist attractions can become quite crowded. Outside of this period the main resorts are significantly quieter and some excellent accommodations deals can be found if you shop around.

For a relatively small geographical area, the Algarve offers visitors a diverse range of activities and scenery to explore. The eastern Algarve is one of the least developed areas and a good choice for those keen to explore the traditional way of life. The coastline offers miles of sandy beaches and pretty fishing villages and further inland you can enjoy strolling among the lush, green hills of the Algarve countryside. The central Algarve is more popular with young visitors keen to experience the vibrant nightlife and families that want easy access to water parks and child-friendly activities. In the western edge of the Algarve you will find the best opportunities for water sports and keen surfers should head for the towns around Sagres in the far west.

A popular pastime for visitors to the Algarve is to spend time simply relaxing on the beach and with so many lovely beaches to explore this can occupy a large part of your holiday. There are so many wonderful beaches in the Algarve, however it is worth noting a couple of the best. The Ilha de Tavira in the eastern Algarve is a wonderful island beach, which comprises a 14 kilometre long sandspit separated from the mainland. Ferries carry passengers across from Tavira town centre and the journey really adds to the effect of having discovered your own little desert island. Another lovely beach well worth visiting if you are in the area is Praia da Luz, a golden curve of sandy beach ideal for families. The children can explore the many interesting rock pools and there are plenty of nice beachside cafes and restaurants.

The area has becoming one of the most popular spots in the world for golfing holidays due to the wealth of championship courses throughout the Algarve. All areas of the Algarve cater well for golfers, with some of the most popular resorts including Albufeira, Vilamoura, Carvoeira and Portimao. You can arrange customised golfing breaks or else plan your own trip, taking in whichever courses most appeal to your style and ability. Some of the finest courses in the Algarve include the Old Course at Vilamoura, San Lorenzo at Quinta do Lago and, for the experienced player, Parque da Floresta at Sagres.

Getting to the Algarve is straightforward, with many flights from the UK to Faro. The city is also connected by road and rail to all of Portugal`s main cities. With such a well developed tourist infrastructure, visitors will find plenty of accommodation options to choose from, ranging from campsite to luxury hotels. Once you have chosen which region of the Algarve will suit you best, decide whether you would prefer the flexibility of self catering or the extra service and facilities associated with a good hotel. Most of the main resorts and towns can offer accommodation that combines the best of both worlds, with a fully equipped apartment for self catering located within a larger complex that provides many hotel-style facilities, such as swimming pools and restaurants. For example, visitors to Albufeira might choose the http://www.ilovealgarve.net/albufeira-hotels/alto-da-colina-apartments/">Alto da Colina Albufeira, a modern apartment complex offering a range of onsite activities.