The rooms were spacious and overlooked a watering hole where the Elephants and other wild life gather. The public spaces are beautifully appointed and the staff friendly and helpful. It certainly was a wonderful place to return after a days safari.

Sheer modern luxury and size in the heart of Serengeti central plains, the Bilila Lodge offers spectacular views of wildlife roaming across the savannah. Having afternoon drinks on the balcony watching the beautiful sunsets was amazing.

Fishing

Visitors and residents alike enjoy fishing in central Florida which is home to some excellent freshwater and salt fishing. Many of the 554 freshwater lakes in Polk County are linked together by canals and here many different fish can be caught. Bluegills, speckled perch and catfish can all be caught by anglers here and the area has been called the “Bass Capital of the World” because so many large-mouth bass have been caught here. Sea fishing off the west coast is also popular and charters leave from the Tampa-St Petersburg area.

The beautifully clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico also attract kayakers to the region, as well as providing ideal conditions for snorkelling and diving.

Bok Tower Gardens

This 250 acre botanical garden just north of Lake Wales opens daily from 8am to 6pm for visitors to enjoy its various features. It is built on one of the highest points in Florida, Iron Mountain and the Singing Tower itself occupies the highest part of the site. The Pine Ridge trail extends for three quarters of a mile and visitors can follow it through various environments to watch the wildlife.

The gardens themselves are home to over one hundred species of birds and were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.

Cape Canaveral

The midpoint between Miami and Jacksonville, Cape Canaveral is situated on central Florida’s east coast. There are many activities to enjoy here, including swimming, surfing and kayaking, but visitors should also ensure they visit the famous NASA Space Centre while they are here. Other attractions include the Brevard Zoo and Cape Canaveral Lighthouse.

Lake Kissimmee State Park

This large nature reserve surrounds Lake Kissimmee, the third largest Lake in Florida. It is situated about 15 miles east of Lake Wales. Visitors can enjoy more than thirteen miles of nature trails where plenty of wildlife including white-tailed deer, sandhill cranes, bobcats, turkeys and bald eagles may be seen. Florida’s cowboy past is recreated in the cow camp where visitors can see demonstrations of the working life of cowboys in Florida in the late 1800s.

Other outdoor activities include boating on Lake Kissimmee in kayaks, canoes and small motorboats and camping and picnicking on the lake shores. Stargazing is popular with campers at night, as the skies are so dark.

Disney Wilderness Preserve

This 12,000 acre preserve includes 8,500 acres which was purchased in the early 1990s by the Walt Disney Co. and donated to the Nature Conservancy. It includes parts of the headwaters of the Everglades ecosystem and is home to over a thousand plant and animal species. Here visitors can experience the natural beauty of old Florida and one of the last undeveloped lake fronts around Lake Russell. Hikers can follow the long trail to enjoy a day out in the sun and observe the wildlife.

There are many other places to visit and things to do in central Florida, including the many theme parks and water parks that attract tourists throughout the year. For outdoor activities there are many more nature parks and reserves as well as a number of recreational trails for hikers, cyclists and horse riders to follow. There is plenty for everyone in central Florida.

Considering a trip to Florida? Compare Florida flights at cheapflights.co.uk to find the best prices.

So how do you find it? When it comes to finding a cheap holiday, summer is one of the most competitive times of year. Of course, travelling in summer means that the kids are on holiday which can immediately bump the prices up, but providing you’ve got a sharp eye for deals, you can often get around this with a few simple tricks.

For starters, when you’re searching for a cheap holiday, look out for tour operators’ deals and discounts. Spending just a few minutes comparing the main websites could serve up some great summer savings. Try looking for advance bookings too, and providing you won’t have school-age kids in tow, try searching outside of the school holidays – for instance in May and September or October. This is outside of the peak season and can often represent some fantastic savings.

Of course where package holidays are concerned you can also look for late bookings. This is still a great way to snap up a bargain and works by searching for package breaks departing within the next few weeks. Availability and choice is strictly limited and the discounts won’t apply to every holiday, but for those that have been reduced, you can often snap up a great last-second deal – particularly if you can be flexible with your holiday criteria.

There is plenty of summer sun and lashings of sizzling special offers out there – it’s just a matter of finding your favourite.

Search online for a fantastic range of escapes departing this summer, and find great deals on holidays both this year and next through Thomas Cook Holidays, the world’s best-known name in travel.

    The Activity Center has various activities including mountain biking, kayaking, nature tours, and snorkeling. “Buddy’s Rangers” Kids Club will keep the kids off the internet with a weekly schedule of activities for children 5-14 years old. Childcare is available. Guests can relax at the swimming pools, calming gardens with hammocks, or the sandy terraces with lounges.

Wifi Internet connection areas are available in certain locations around Buddy Dive.The large open air reception center is open everyday to aid with any guest need and after-hour security is always on-duty. Buddy Dive’s 5-Star, Gold Palm, full service dive operation, caters to experienced and inexperienced divers with a  full rental department, a full range of instruction, gear sales and service. The team of dedicated dive professionals are always willing to help.

Buddy Dive works every day from morning to the afternoon. Boat trips on comfortable customized dive boats and also schedules guided day and night dives to specific diving sites. The digital photo center has cameras for underwater photographers.

    Dining at Buddy Dive begins daily with their buffet breakfasts in front of the relaxing ocean. The Pool Bar has seaside dining and drinks for either lunch and dinner with theme nights under their expansive thatched roof terrace. It won’t be long before a brand new oceanfront restaurant for casual dining opens in 2013.

Friday evenings are perfect here because there is a large all-you-can-eat barbecue along with Moogie entertainers for guests at the weekly Rum Punch party. It is a tradition that Buddy Dive provides for its visitors. Information can be found on bonairepros.com.

That said, if you are travelling to Qatar on business or pleasure you won’t be short of things to do in this gas-rich state.  Along with the ex-pat brunch buffets and fine dining restaurants – Doha has a lot to offer culturally. The exhibits at the Museum of Islamic Art and The National Museum offer a feast for the eyes and the brain. Comedy, art and night clubs are all plentiful in the capital Doha, though if you’re travelling alone you should take the necessary precautions when you traverse between them.

The local currency is the Qatari Riyal. You should ensure you have sufficient money for taxi fares but be aware you can pay by card in most shops and restaurants and card skimming is a fairly rare occurrence – though you should of course be mindful of the risk anywhere you travel. If you need to top up on currency, Travelex has spread its tourism empire into Qatar and you can order it online here and pick up at the nearest Travelex branch to you, which should net you a better rate than in the local airport. You can also check out the exchange rates here. Also be mindful of booking reputable taxis through your hotel reception or where you are dining.

There are a huge number of places where you can be preened and pampered in Qatar and many of the hotels have spas on the premises. Temperatures in Qatar mean that air conditioning may be re-qualified from an accommodation ‘luxury’ to ‘necessity’, depending on the season you visit, but most hotels tick the box in this department. Something that is also worth bearing in mind is that the Doha population is predominantly ex-pat and overall, 85% of Qatar is made up of ex-pat population. This means that along with the popular Friday hotel brunches, you’ll find most people speak English and are fairly used to seeing women travel alone – though you should avoid wandering by yourself at night.

The dress code is not as strict on the Qatari peninsula as you might imagine – there is no need to cover your head and face unless you visit a mosque but you shouldn’t don your swimwear away from private beaches or the hotel pool. It is respectful to cover up in modest clothing, so cover your shoulders and midriff and be careful with hemlines and of course, steer well clear of anything sheer.

In many ways Qatar can seem more relaxed than Western states – attitudes to being late for meetings are certainly very different: it’s seen as far more rude to rush someone than to arrive late and this is quite a novelty at first. In general, Qataris are used to single women travellers and will be helpful to those they encounter, but, as when visiting anywhere, if you feel uncomfortable in any shop or restaurant use common sense and leave and keep the number of your hotel stored in your phone in case you get lost and need directions. Obviously, things are a little more sensitive during Ramadan, so if you are traveling during the holy month, you should have a little read of this guide from Lonely Planet.

1. Egypt

Sharm el-Sheikh and the whole Red Sea Riviera is a true paradise for divers. The Straits of Tiran offer stunning coral reefs, and if you’ve never dived before, there are plenty of qualified instructors available to help you get started. Many of the beaches on the Sinai Peninsula are home to unusual wildlife and have a protected status, so you’ll be able to enjoy a truly unique beach experience.

2. Hawaii

The Hawaiian Islands provide so much more than sun soaked beaches. If you’ve ever seen the George Clooney film The Descendants, you’ll be aware that Hawaii features some truly breath-taking and unspoilt countryside that will thrill hikers and explorers. Animal lovers will be able to go whale-watching, and sports fans can take their pick of the island’s many golf resorts.

3. Tenerife

The strange but beautiful volcanic landscape of Tenerife provides the ultimate distraction from rainy Britain. Choose to relax on its perfect beaches or visit the Parque Nacional del Teide, a national park that’s home to many strange lava formations. If you feel like a bit of culture, visit the ancient city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna in the north, designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

4. Phuket, Thailand

Just over an hour’s flight from Bangkok, Phuket is ideal for winter sun seekers. It is a place of pristine beaches, invigorating water sports and luxury hotels with private pools for you to enjoy in quiet seclusion. Hotels here are also usually family friendly, allowing children to enjoy their own activities while you relax in peace, so you can be sure that the whole family will have a great time.

5. Barbados

Barbados is one of the best destinations to recuperate. Take to the beach, cocktail in hand, and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere. Alternatively, explore the unique Barbados Wildlife Reserve and experience animals in their natural environment, including the popular local green monkeys, which come and go as they please.

For hassle-free payment while on holiday, why not apply for a credit card from American Express? You’ll find a host of great options, from travel rewards cards to generous cashback credit cards, all accepted at a wealth of top establishments around the globe.

With cheap travel insurance available online from reputable providers, it’s not a difficult process and insurance could be yours with a couple of clicks of the mouse, but why bother? It’s recommended that if travelling within Europe, both travel insurance and an EHIC should be invested in. You hear so many stories, on the news and through word-of-mouth, of people running into trouble during their holiday abroad – whether it’s a health matter requiring emergency medical attention or trying to retrieve their luggage that has been lost along the way. As farfetched as it may sound that any of these eventualities could happen to you, it’s important to bear in mind that it could happen to anyone – even you.

Whether it’s single trip insurance or business travel insurance to cover you when on a business trip, the importance of it is paramount. While the EHIC covers you within the EU, as well as Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland, travel insurance protects you wherever you are in the world. While an EHIC covers state-provided emergency treatment, it won’t cover all of your medical expenses, which is where a travel insurance policy comes in rather handy. If you require private medical care for whatever reason, without an insurance policy, you would have to pay, considerably.

Travel Insurance also covers your belongings should they get lost, repatriation should the worst happen and also protect you in the event of trip cancellation, delays and missed connections, amongst much much more – something the EHIC won’t cover at all.

Compare the cheap travel insurance options online today and make sure your back is 100% covered.

Salar de Uyuni spreads out over 4 square miles of surface area and yet is so flat that the largest range in height throughout its vast property is just over 3 feet. However, the whole thing is actually almost 12,000 feet above sea level! It is unknown exactly how much salt lies within this spectacular natural wonder, but at least 25,000 tons of it is extracted and mined every year.

The Salar de Uyuni salt flats is one of the most incredible and breathtaking sights on earth. This entirely flat, sparkling, blinding white landscape seems to stretch for miles with no end as if it was the ends of the world itself.

When covered with a thin layer of water around the month of December, it becomes a perfect glorious sparkling mirror of all that is around it. Some pink flamingoes visit every November which makes it a great month for a visit.

Hot in the sun, and bitterly cold at night, Uyuni is the jumping off point for Bolivia’s most spectacular scenery. For travelers seeking nature’s most beautiful sights, there’s no place better than Salar de Uyuni. The sunrises and especially sunsets will be unlike anything you’ve ever seen before as the colors not only dominate the sky, but also melt across the shimmering salt plains like the most vibrant real life watercolor painting in the world.

This is a fantastic place for photography. Salar de Uyuni is a trip of a lifetime that will dance in your memories forever.

Due to a dense, 6-foot salt crust, it appears like a desert. Scorched by day, frozen by night, the flats harbor one of the most extreme daily temperature dichotomies on the planet. The weather can be very cold, but it is well worth it for the amazing scenery.

In June and July the bright blue skies contrast with the bright white salt crust. After an especially wet season, the lake is covered in water which adds to the special experience. The winter months can be extremely cold, but trips to the Salar are still possible and stunning.

If you love spending time on the beach and in the water, there is a huge choice of beautiful beaches here and you can do practically every water sport you could think of. And for kids there are numerous different attractions like water parks, theme parks and zoos.

Holidays to Playa Blanca, one of the most popular resorts with a beautiful white sandy beach, can be as fun-packed or as relaxed as you like.  You’ll find busy seaside towns behind some of the beaches, with all the shops and restaurants you could want, but there are also natural preserves to visit like the beach of Papagayo, which is protected from development.

Away from the beach, you can do lots of walking around the island of Lanzarote and one of the most popular places to visit is the Fire Mountains national park, so named for the five volcanoes which created the lunar like landscape here. Also known as Timanfaya National Park, this is a great place to go for a day trip.

Although it has a great climate, Lanzarote is a place that you can get a great family holiday for a really good price, whether you book an all-inclusive package deal or if you book just the flights with a budget airline and then arrange your accommodation separately.

It’s a great place to visit for a blast of sunshine in the depths of winter, but is also a great place to go at Easter or October. You may find it a bit too hot during the summer, especially if you have young children, but you can always take a siesta to avoid the midday sun and make your holiday even more relaxing!

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