Europe & Beyond

Florida Holiday Ideas

There is no better summer holiday for the family than traveling throughout the state of Florida. There is so much variety in what you can do in the Sunshine State that you would not run out of activities and attractions no matter how much time you spend.

The beaches, of course, are world-known and can be enjoyed all along the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other side. Daytona Beach is one of the most popular. The Gulf Coast with its long stretches of sandy beach encourages swimming, boating, fishing, diving, and more. Panama City beach is another favorite.

Disney World Florida

Disney World in Orlando is the most popular destination along with Epcot and Universal Studios, and there are many discount packages being offered, some even including food as well as accommodations. Disney World has a total of four theme parks, two water parks, thousands of hotel rooms, golf courses, and shopping.

St. Augustine, the oldest city, offers many historical memorials covering 500 years of Florida’s history and unusual attractions such as a preserved fort and the Spanish Quarter Living Museum where the day-to-day life of settlers from the 18th century is acted out with craftsmen from the past.

The Florida Keys are popular with fishermen, scuba divers, snorkelers, jet skiers, and tourists who can enjoy the historical offerings of this southernmost tip of Florida.

The Tampa Bay area is a busy cruise port with nearby Busch Gardens, the Florida Aquarium, and more.

In St. Petersburg the Salvador Dali Museum will permit you to see the world’s most exclusive collection of Dali’s works.

Amelia Island, the northernmost barrier island, has natural beauty and a gorgeous resort.

NASA Kennedy Space Center

The NASA Kennedy Space Center is extra popular right now as the 40th anniversary of the first man on the moon is being celebrated. You and your children can enjoy a simulated launch, see space exhibits and the launch pad (and sometimes a shuttle), visit the astronaut training center, and learn a tremendous amount about space travel.

There is Sea World, Wet n” Wild, Parrot Jungle, and other animal attractions as well as many amusement parks.

The Miami area offers a Latin vibe, art deco architecture, South Beach has been renovated and is “party central”, or you can take an airboat ride in the Everglades.

Natural attractions are abundant throughout the 8,426 miles of coastline. The summer weather is quite hot and humid, so remember your light-weight cotton clothing, sun screen, and hats.

You can get great deals on Florida holidays this summer as well as package holidays from a wide range of different online tour operators.

Turkey Holiday Ideas

If you are looking for a holiday that is both relaxing and exciting then a holiday in Turkey can offer all this. Turkey offers a wide array of culture, history, art, and sports in a unique combination of old and new; of relaxation and excitement. As one of the top ten tourist destinations in the world, with a wide coastline and changing landscape, Turkey has a range of outdoor activities allowing visitors unique ways to experience the country.

The areas of Kas, Bodrum, Saro and Kemer allow divers to take on underwater experiences in the warm summer months. Within the four seas Turkey offers (Black sea, Mediterranean, Aegean and Marmara), divers can explore underwater caverns, archaeological ruins and sunken ships. The many rivers throughout the country offer plenty of thrilling white- water rafting and canoeing opportunities. Experiencing the Coruh, Rize Firtina and Dalaman rivers and the Koprucay- Coprulu Canyon are safe yet exciting rafting routs in Turkey.

The Turkish mountain ranges offer plenty of opportunity to enjoy the outdoors year round. While the country is known for its warm climate and sunny Mediterranean resorts, winter sports such as skiing, and climbing are prevalent throughout the mountain regions. Mountain Climbing activities in Turkey are everywhere. Areas such as the Agri- Mount Ararat, Mt. Taurus, Mt. Argeus, Kayseri- Erciyes and the Rize Kacker mountain range offer some mythological and biblical settings for fantastically challenging and beautiful climbs and hikes.

Mountain biking is another great activity that the mountains offer plenty of. Mapped routes are safe and maintained by authorities. The Cappadocia Mountain Biking Festival is a highly recommended activity for the mountain biking enthusiasts. It will take riders through various spots and let them enjoy the picturesque scenery in the company of mountain bikers from across the globe.

Turkey has over 40,000 caves and caverns to explore, from the caverns of Antalya to the caves of Zongulduk. There is a wide range of opportunity for explorers to venture out and find magnificent geological formations, but cave exploring should only be done with certified instructors and appropriate equipment.

Air sports include parachuting and paragliding, which have really taken off in recent years. Famous paragliding spots are around Mount Baba in Fehiye, and in the Oludenuz region. Another unconventional way of exploring the country is in a hot air balloon. Travelling at heights of up to 1500 ft, this tranquil experience lets you slowly explore the landscape from a birds’ eye view. Recommended areas are the Cappadocian landscapes, where floating through the countryside will feel like a gentle dream.

Holiday Activities in Turkey

Jeep safaris are a real adventure and offer rides through the varied landscapes of forests, mountains and rivers. Discovering hidden beauties and experiencing Turkish life on the ground can also be done on horseback riding tours. Another recommended activity is a horseback riding tour through the Cappadocia region, which actually derives its’ name from the Persian word Katpatuka, meaning “The land of Beautiful Horses”.

In recent years international golf courses have opened throughout the country. Popular golf resorts to visit include the Gloria Golf Resort, Noblis Golf Otel, and Klassis Golf and Country.

Finally, after all of the exerting, exciting activity during your holiday, there are some fantastic ways to relax. Turkey has over 1000 thermal springs, and most of them are in and around the Mamara and Aegean regions. People flock to enjoy the many resorts built around the springs that are said to heal many illnesses.

Italy > Car Hire > Bologna > Mirabilandia
If you are planning a holiday to Bologna, in Italy, you’ll find plenty to do in the city itself, but there are also some great places that you can visit on a day-trip if you hire a car. Mirabilandia is a theme park with its own beach area and beautiful gardens, making it the perfect place to visit on a family car hire holiday.

Getting to Mirabilandia from Bologna

It will take you about an hour to drive to Mirabilandia from Bologna in your car. Head out of Bologna on the RA1/Tangenziale partial toll road and then take the ramp signposted for Ancona to get onto the A14 toll road. Follow this road for 33.8km and take the exit for Ravenna in order to get onto the A14dir partial toll road. Continue along the A14dir for 28.5km and take the exit for Ravenna Centro in order to get onto the SS16. Follow this road for 14.8km and then take the first exit at the roundabout to get onto the SP101. Turn right to get to Mirabilandia. There is a car park at Mirabilandia where you can leave your car for a small charge while you explore the park.

Mirabilandia Attractions

Mirabilandia has more than 25 rides, ranging from rides for young children to extreme thrill rides, so you should be able to find plenty to entertain you.

Extreme thrill rides in Mirabilandia include Katun, an inverted rollercoaster that reaches a speed of 110mph, and Columbia and Discovery, two tower rides. A new rollercoaster, iSpeed, is due to open in June 2009.

Younger children will enjoy taking a trip on the Santa Fe Express train, spinning around on the tea cup-style Colazione da Papere ride, or a ride on the Leprotto Express junior rollercoaster. Other rides in the park include the Niagra log flume ride, the Rio Bravo rapids ride and the Explorer runaway mine train style ride.

There are a range of shows that you can watch in the park, including a pirate-themed diving show (L’Isola del Tereso), a stunt show (Scuola di Polizia), a show featuring the music of the 70s (Juke Box Live) and a laser show in the evenings.

The Mirabilandia Beach area of the park features water chutes, water slides and golden sands, and is the perfect place to cool off in the summer. Entrance to the main Mirabilandia park doesn’t include entrance to Mirabilandia Beach, so you will need to buy separate tickets.

If you would prefer something a bit less active, you can take a stroll in the park’s Enchanted Garden, which features more than 140,000 flowers, palm trees, pine trees and water features. It’s also home to Canada Geese, herons and other types of bird.

There are restaurants and cafes throughout the park, and there are also a number of gift shops where you can buy souvenirs.

Mirabiliandia is usually open daily between early April and mid-September and at weekends only from the end of September and October, whilst Mirabilandia Beach is open daily from the middle of June and then end of August. However, opening days and opening hours vary, so check with the park travelling there in your hire car.

Hiring a Car in Italy

One of the easiest ways to book a car for your Italy car hire holiday is to use an online car rental specialist. You can book your hire car online and pick it up from Bologna airport. With car rental offices in many locations, including many other popular Italian holiday destinations, as well as in Bologna, you’ll soon be driving in Italy