You can take short day trips around the suburbs of the French capitol but there are extended cruises, sleeping onboard and slipping past gorgeous fairytale chateaux, delightful medieval castles and ancient market towns all the way down to the Normandy coast.

The French love affair with the river means many prominent landmarks and famous locations have used it as their backdrop. You will sail past the splendid gardens of the artist Monet’s farmhouse in Giverny, stopping off to walk the beautifully manicured grounds of the Palace of Versailles.

Rouen with its enchanting market place is another worthwhile port of call, for this is the place where Joan of Arc was martyred.

For a look at events in the more recent past the trip culminates on the beaches of Normandy, made famous during WWII when the Allied liberation of France began here. Visit the much-commemorated Omaha beach and the Mulberry Harbour.

The return cruise to Paris takes in the sublime views of Honfleur, a favourite fishing village captured by many an artist’s brush, including Courbet and Monet. Trips to the popular Smugglers Harbour of Vieux Bassin are very popular as well.

Chalet holidays are now more popular than ever before and they offer all the advantages that can be found in a hotel ski holiday. Usually the numbers are considerably smaller sometimes as low as 8 or 9, so they make an ideal venue for a group of like minded people. However if you are looking for some luxury, then you should opt for a hotel, you will want for nothing and they offer advantages over apartments for example , because everything is done for you. At the end of a day of hard skiing, nothing beats relaxing in a hot bath, going down to the bar for a drink with family or friends, followed by dinner in restaurant. With the growing popularity of skiing as a winter activity, ski specialists great deals can be found in hotels and chalets in France, Austria and Switzerland.

Umbria is very similar to Tuscany, with its rolling hills and scenery, but it is also visited less by tourists which makes it a much quieter place to visit, allowing for a relaxing holiday.  There are many different landscapes in the province, which include the valleys of the Tiber, Chiascio and Nera.  These are rich in colour and are examples of unspoiled natural beauty.

Although there is no coastline in Umbria there are still plenty of places to avail of water sport and related activities. Why not visit the stunning Lake Trasimeno where there are plenty of water sports for you to enjoy?  In addition you can visit the magnificent Marmore waterfalls at Terni.

Although holiday lettings are common in the area, the preferred accommodation choice for families and groups seem to be self-catering holiday villas. In Italy, there is no shortage of these villas, and all are designed with holidaymakers in mind; with full modern amenities and many even have a swimming pool and outdoor dining area. 

The warm climate and supremely beautiful landscapes of the Far East are like a siren call to increasing numbers of holiday makers looking for new experiences, and cruise holidays to Hong Kong and other destinations are not to be missed.

With cruise holidays you have all your needs taken care of in a floating city that caters for your every need, and affordable, all-inclusive prices mean that your budget is never compromised. There are none of the unforeseen expenses associated with the usual type of plane, train and automobile holidays.

Modern cruise liners have a wealth of entertainment on board, and a dedicated staff on hand to cater for your needs. As soon as you’ve unpacked you can just relax and enjoy what’s on offer as you’re whisked from one exotic destination to the next.

The kids will have more than enough to keep them occupied, leaving you free to enjoy yourself. With movies, video games and internet connections all over the ship you’ll be able to rest safe in the knowledge that your little monsters are in safe hands.

Cruising holidays are becoming increasingly popular because of the safe, self-contained, hassle-free environment, where you don’t waste any of your precious free time with queues and delayed flights, which can ruin any holiday.

The Caribbean is much more than just a sun-seeker’s paradise as each island has its own colourful history and there are many fascinating places to visit. Brimstone Hill Fortress in St. Kitts and Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua are just two of the historical locations on the islands that are popular with visitors.

There are also other great attractions for those who want to do more than lie on a beach. Jeep safaris take tourists deep into the tropical rainforest of St. Lucia. Other possibilities are horse riding in Jamaica or swimming with stingrays in Grand Cayman. The Caribbean is also famous for its diving and snorkelling as well as offering opportunities to spot dolphins or whales.

There are many different islands in the Caribbean, each one offering something slightly different. Antigua and Aruba are renowned for their stunning white beaches whereas St. Lucia, Martinque and Guadeloupe have amazing scenery that ranges from lush tropical forests to cultivated botanical gardens and even volcanoes. Scuba diving and snorkelling enthusiasts will want to visit Curacao or Bonaire St. Barts. Dominica and Grenada are well known for their secluded coves and the local spice markets.

The Eastern Caribbean cruises will include the British and American Virgin Islands in the itinerary. St. Thomas UVI is the capital of the US Virgin islands and is a volcanic island with a spine of mountains that runs from east to west.

Ski passes and lessons that are extra often mean that some ski deals are not as cheap as one would have liked, so try to find deals that include these in the package. If that is not possible having a few lessons on the local dry ski slope before leaving for the holiday will help cut costs.

For reasonably priced ski holidays, France, Austria and Switzerland are all amongst the best choices for those who live in Europe as they are easily accessible. There are now many low cost airlines that operate flights to cities near to the ski resorts, with only an hour or two transfer time needed. This can help cut costs immensely.

Choosing a resort to suit your budget is a necessity as some of the resorts are extremely chic and cosmopolitan and offer only high class boutiques and fine dining, so the money you saved getting there could be lost to the ‘extras’ once at the resort.

Self catering accommodation could be one way around the high cost of eating out and renting your equipment could save money too. Clothes and equipment only have to fit and be comfortable and warm – the style is not so important.

For example, how about stopping off in France en route to some luxurious destinations in Spain?  You won’t mind spending a few days sailing from one place to the next because every cruise ship has more than enough entertainment and activities on board to keep you busy during the journey.

Once you leave Spain it is only a short distance to Gibraltar, so why not pick a cruise that takes in this region as well?

Elsewhere you can head down to Greece and Turkey, where yet more delightful ports await you.  There are lots of Mediterranean cruises that focus on the Greek islands alone, so if this appeals to you it can make an ideal holiday and a chance to escape from everyday life for a while.

The key is to think about which area of the Med you would most like to visit.  You can then see which Mediterranean cruises provide you with the most interesting stop off points along the way.  You might end up taking the holiday of a lifetime.

There is a huge choice of holiday villas, or gites in France and they are situated in areas that offer a wide range of interesting places to visit. Many of the properties available are modern and are ideally equipped for your stay; most have luxurious gardens with a swimming pool. Owners of the chateaus, villas and cottages are also able to arrange additional services such as chefs, babysitters and tour guides, extras that allow you to fully enjoy your stay in France.

France offers a wide range of activities; plus their world famous cuisine, breathtaking landscapes, historic sites and excellent museums, as well as numerous festivals that you can enjoy as a spectator or even participate in.

Much of the appeal of France is its close proximity to the UK, with the added attraction of a different culture and language. Of all European destinations France is the nearest and easiest to reach, a quick trip across the channel on a ferry or through Eurotunnel and you are there. With little difficulty you could soon be sitting by the River Seine, or sipping wine from a local vineyard, sampling the freshly cooked bread from a boulangerie, or shopping in Paris. Why not book a gite in France today and find out why France is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world?

If you love where you live and know all the local hot spots, this could be the ideal job for you, especially if you live in a big city that attracts tourists. You could give them up-to-date information about events in the city. Guidebooks take a while to print and even longer to write. By the time they are published the information can already be out of date. Even websites can have a hard time keeping all the information up-to-date. Plus, some people prefer that face-to-face contact. It is obviously much more productive to speak with an actual local and act on their recommendations about their hometown; its attractions, live entertainment, dining and cultural events can all be obtained from a reliable source.

Even if you live in a small town you could offer your services to people who are just travelling through. It might not be a full-time paying job but you could meet new people and show them an insight into your hometown that they would not receive from a book. In additions, recommendations from satisfied visitors could result in future job offers, where tourists contact you directly to show them around your hometown.

Especially with kids, things can quickly degenerate into a situation that makes us wish we’d just stayed at home and not bothered.

If you’ve found yourself in a similar plight, consider cruise holidays. These are becoming increasingly popular with people who don’t want to be bothered with the numerous responsibilities and difficulties usually attendant on traditional getaways.

With cruise holidays all your needs are taken care of. The kids have their own exciting activities such as organised group games and the usual computer and video games, and you are freed up to unwind and enjoy yourself without having to worry about either their boredom or their safety.

The restaurants on board today’s floating hotels offer a great range of top-notch cuisine, and the numerous bistros and bars are places to chill out in and make new friends.

Being treated like a valued customer, entertained to your heart’s content, wined and dined like a VIP and being floated to a different exotic location every day is something not to be missed.