European Travel Magazine - Issue 3 - December 2013

8/13/2019 European Travel Magazine - Issue 3 - December 2013

1/22

Issue 2 November 2013

EuropeanTravelMAGAZINE

IN THIS ISSUE

Issue 3 December 2013

POPULAR WATER PARKS IN LONDON A trip to London is always filled with a lot of fun and frolic. A WEEKEND IN

KORTRIJK BELGIUM Kortrijk is a very attractive city in Belgium, popular with visitors looking for a weekend get-

away. BEWARE OF TRAVEL SCAMS Some travel packages turn out to b e very different from what was presented

or what the consumer expected. MINI CRUISES A great way to enjoy a short break.

London Gatwick Airport The Markets Of Istanbul Top Bruges Hotels

Wishing All Our Readers A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year


2/22

Destination of themonth: LaplandLapland Europes Winter Playground

Its a well known fact that Lap-land is one of the most beautiful

locations in the world, especiallyduring its winter months. Its anabsolute haven for children, butfew people realize its actually afantastic holiday destination foradults too. Kids love Lapland be-cause they can meet Santa andall the other animals and wildlifethat Lapland offers up, as wellas some unique winter activitiesthey might not get to take partin back home.

Adults love Lapland because ofthe beautiful sights and attrac-tions that are unique to theregion, as well as meaningfulexperiences you encounter thatreally stimulate the senses.

There is one place in Laplandthat cant be missed, its agreat build up to the magic ofSanta, and its also a place thatwill leave children mesmerizedand adults amazed, and thisplace has to be the Lainio SnowVillage. This village is annu-

ally constructed as soon as thetemperature drops to about 10

degrees below zero, usuallyaround October or November.

The construction is differenteach year, utilizing the skills ofonly the best specialist construc-tion workers and tools in orderto produce some really stunningbuildings and sculptures, takingthe art form to new levels eachyear. The Snow Village allowsyou to have a warm drink at

the ice bar, spend a night in thebeautiful snow hotel, explore thespecially sculpted snow maze,or simply explore the villageand enjoy the beautiful feats ofengineering that is this beautifulvillage.

The Amethyst mine is anothergorgeous place that has to bevisited. Its truly unique to Lap-land, with its various shades ofviolet it is a wonderful place tovisit during your stay.

EUROPEAN TRAVEL MAGAZINE ISPUBLISHED MONTHLY BYEuropean Travel Magazine

[email protected]

ADVERTISING

PAdvertise your business in our monthlymagazine and blog at special introductoryates.

Contact:[email protected]

SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLESBloggers and travel writers submit yourarticles now for consideration.f successfull your article will apear in one

of our publications which best ts.

PHOTOGRAPHY

We welcome submissions of your travelpictures from all our readers and followers.To submit pictures please email them [email protected]

With the subject line PHOTOGRAPHY

2 E U R O P E A N T R A V E L M A G A Z I N E
http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=3745&id=120122http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=3685&id=120122http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=3610&id=120122


3/22

4

6 8 11

The Markets Of Istanbul

If youre heading off on your Mediterranean family holidays,Turkey is more than likely to be one of your rst choices. Theubiquitous trio of sun, sea and sand are obviously the big-gest draw cards, but Turkey has a lot more to offer than that.

A Weekend in aKortrijk Belgium

If you book yourself a Kor-trijk hotel and arrive in thecity with an open mind, youwill have lots of options forthings to see and do espe-cially if you are a history fan.

Beware Of Travel Scams

Unlike most products, travel

services usually have to be paidfor before they are delivered. Thiscreates opportunities for disrepu-table individuals and companies.Some travel packages turnout to be very different

Winter sun is closerthan you think

Spanish hotel group Med Playais making warm winters afford-able for all this season withrooms in its Costa hotels start-ing from just 16 per night.

12 14 16 17 18 20

LondonGatwickAirportGuide

Top BrugesHotels

DFDS SEA-WAYS MiniCruises

A HolidayRental inFrance

VisitingBrussels? AnIntroduction

PopularWater ParksIn London

3C O N T E N T S


4/22

The MarketsOf Istanbul



5/22

If youre heading off on your Mediterraneanfamily holidays, Turkey is more than likely tobe one of your rst choices. The ubiquitous trioof sun, sea and sand are obviously the big-gest draw cards, but Turkey has a lot more tooffer than that. Not only is Turkey steeped in

a fascinating history (the remnants of whichare some of the most important archaeologi-cal signposts in the world), it also has a proudand colourful culture. Its not hard to shop,eat and drink like a local on your family holi-days; Turkey has some of the most wonder-ful shops and bazaars you will ever see.

The Grand Bazaar IstanbulThe Big Daddy of all markets, the Grand Bazaarin Istanbul is home to over 5000 shops andstalls. If you cant nd it in the Grand Bazaar, it

simply doesnt exist. Gold and silver jewellery,fabulously exotic antiques, metal and copperobject dart, leather goods and hand paintedceramics are just a selection of the treasures youcan nd. When you are travelling with childrenon your family holidays, Turkeys biggest un-dercover bazaar is a fascinating and excitingattraction for kids of all ages. They will lovethe smells and sounds of the bustling bazaar.The Turkish people love children, so they willbe entertained and embraced by the locals.

The Spice Market IstanbulWhilst not strictly for the children, an excursionto the wonderfully aromatic Spice Market in Is-tanbul should still be included in the itinerary ofyour family holidays. Turkey is renowned for itsexotic spices, fruits and nuts and these marketswill have your head spinning and your mouthsalivating with the selection on display. The rstthing that hits you is obviously the smell, whichpermeates every nook and cranny of the marketscreating a delightful, if at times overpowering,scent. Row upon row of jewel coloured spicesline the stalls in huge baskets and the aislesare crowded with locals jostling for the lowestprices. As with any market in Turkey, the rstprice is never the last price and haggling is a wayof life, so dont be shy to ask for a discount.

Tahtakale Market DistrictSituated in between the Grand Bazaar and theSpice Markets, the Tahtakale Market Districtis the most authentic taste of Turkey you willnd. Almost exclusively patronised by locals,the streets of the district are lined with shopsand stalls selling everything from handker-

chiefs, beads, food stuffs, luggage, clothing,kitchen utensils, wooden furniture and toys,to mosque decorations and even rearms.

5E U R O P E A N T R A V E L M A G A Z I N E


6/22

I F Y O U B O O K Y O U R S E L F A K O R T R I J K H O T E L A N D A R R I V E I N T H E C I T Y W I T H A N O P E N

There are lots of interest ing

museums to vis i t in Kor tr i jk .

The most fascinat ing i f you are

vis i t ing as a fa mily is Kortr i jk

1302: Seven Centur ies in One

D a y



7/22

E U R O P E A N T R A V E L M A G A Z I N E

D , Y O U W I L L H A V E L O T S O F O P T I O N S F O R T H I N G S T O S E E A N D D O

A Weekend in a

Kortrijk BelgiumKORTRIJK IS A VERY ATTRACTIVE CITY IN BELGIUM, POPULAR

WITH VISITORS LOOKING FOR A WEEKEND GETAWAY

If you book yourself aKortrijk hotel and arrive

in the city with an openmind, you will have lotsof options for things tosee and do especiallyif you are a history fan.

In just one weekend youllget plenty of time to eatout at some great restau-rants and stroll aroundthe city to take in theambience, but you should

also spend a bit of timevisiting a few of the fol-lowing attractions whichare some of the best thatKortrijk has to offer.

MuseumsThere are lots of interestingmuseums to visit in Kortrijk.The most fascinating if youare visiting as a family isKortrijk 1302: Seven Cen-

turies in One Day, whichis great for kids becausethere are so many interac-tive things to see and do.It is the newest museum inthe city and very handy toyour central Kortrijk hotel;so put on your walkingshoes and come and ndout all about the Battle ofthe Golden Spurs throughexhibits, an auditoriumand numerous artefacts.

The National Flax Museumis also a great place to

pay a visit and presentsthe history of one of themost important industriesof the city: cloth making.Located in the Beeuwsaer-thoeve building, you will beable to nd out all aboutthe ax production pro-cess and why ax was soimportant here historically.

Landmarks

The Gravenkapel, orChapel of the Counts, isattached to the Church ofNotre Dame and is anotherhandy site within easy ac-cess of your Kortrijk hotelroom. It dates back to 1374and is an extremely elegantbuilding, especially on theinside. It has a number ofinteresting features, oneof which is that it contains

paintings of all the Countsof Flanders on its walls. Italso contains a painting byAnthony Van Dyck, calledElevation of the Cross, anda statue of St Catherinewhich shows her clasp-ing a wheel in one handand a sword in the other.

The Broeltorens are twoimpressive towers that looksimilar but were actually

built at separate times.They are the last part of

the city wall that remainsand should denitely beon your weekend itinerary.You should also check outthe Groeninge Monumentwhich commemorates the600th anniversary of theBattle of the Golden Spurs,which occurred in 1302.

Further AeldIf you fancy an afternoon

out of the city, then leaveyour Kortrijk hotel behindand head to Ypres, which isnot too far away. Here youcan learn more about thehistory, and sometimes hor-rors, of World War I, andthere are many cemeteriesfor the fallen, including theBritish one at Tyne Cot.

Explore Kortrijk and

its SurroundingsWhen you stay in a Kor-trijk hotel youll be ableto experience all of theseattractions, and more,very easily. It is a fascinat-ing place, both culturallyand historically, and youcan easily spend a fewdays exploring the cityand surrounding areas.The only question is is aweekend really enough?

Grifers House

Counts Chapel

Beguinage ofKortrijk

The Bguinage

Broel Towers

7


8/22


B E WA R E O F

T R AV E L S C A M SUnlike most products, travelservices usually have to be paidfor before they are delivered.This creates opportunities fordisreputable individuals andcompanies. Some travel pack-ages turn out to be very differ-ent from what was presented orwhat the consumer expected.Some dont materialize at all!

If you receive an offer by phoneor mail for a free or extremelylow-priced vacation trip to apopular destination (often Ha-waii or Florida), there are a fewthings you should look for:

* Does the price seem too goodto be true? If so, it probably is.

* Are you asked to giveyour credit card num-

ber over the phone?

* Are you pressured to makean immediate decision?

* Is the carrier simply identiedas a major airline, or does therepresentative offer a collectionof airlines without being able tosay which one you will be on?

* Is the representative unableor unwilling to give you a streetaddress for the company?

* Are you told you cant leavefor at least two months? (Thedeadline for disputing a creditcard charge is 60 days, andmost scam artists know this.)If you encounter any of thesesymptoms, proceed cautiously.Ask for written information tobe sent to you; any legitimatetravel company will be happy

to oblige. If they dont have abrochure, ask for a day or twoto think it over; most bona dedeals that are good today will still

be good two days from now. Ifthey say no to both requests, thisprobably isnt the trip for you.

Some other advice:* If you are told that youvewon a free vacation, ask if youhave to buy something else inorder to get it. Some packageshave promoted free air fare, aslong as you buy expensive hotel

arrangements. Others include afree hotel stay, but no air fare.

* If you are seriously consider-ing the offer and are condentyou have established the fullprice you will pay, compare theoffer to what you might obtainelsewhere. Frequently, the appealof free air fare or free accom-modations disguises the fact thatthe total price is still higher than

that of a regular package tour.

* Get a conrmed departure date,in writing, before you pay any-thing. Eye skeptically any prom-ises that an acceptable date willbe arranged later. If the packageinvolves standby or waitlist travel,or a reservation that can only beprovided much later, ask if yourpayment is refundable if youwant to cancel, and dont pay anymoney you cant afford to lose.

* If the destination is abeach resort, ask the sellerhow far the hotel is from thebeach. Then ask the hotel.

* Determine the completecost of the trip in dollars, in-cluding all service charges,taxes, processing fees, etc.

* If you decide to buy the trip

after checking it out, paying bycredit card gives you certain legalrights to pursue a chargeback.

8


9/22


B E W A R E O F T R A V E L O F F E R T H A T S E E M J U S T T O O G O O D T O B E T R U E .

9


10/22

http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=1728&id=120122


11/22

W I NT E R S U N I SCLOS ER T HA N

YO U T H I NK W I T HMEDPLAYA.COMSPANISH HOTEL GROUP MED PLAYA IS MAKING

WARM WINTERS AFFORDABLE FOR ALL THIS

SEASON WITH ROOMS IN ITS COSTA HOTELS

STARTING FROM JUST 16 PER NIGHT.

Med Playa operates a range ofhotels rated up to four stars inpopular holiday destinations,including the Costa Brava, Salou,Benidorm and the Costa del Sol.Their 2013/14 winter sun dealssee rooms start from as littleas 16 per night, meaning thata sunny Christmas getaway is

within reach for those looking tobanish the winter blues or recoverfrom a hectic Yuletide celebration.With Medplaya.com you can bookdirect, allowing you great pricesand peace of mind as you havedealt direct with the hotel.By focusing on their core businessof providing accommodation, theycan guarantee your winter sunstay will be unforgettable.Coming to a MedPlaya resortmeans coming to a place whereyou are our priority, said Med-Playa commercial director NarcsCodina Negre. The SpanishCostas have warm winter weatherand year-round sunshine and areonly a short ight from the darkgrey winter of the UK.Whether you want to come andenjoy a relaxing break, perhaps alittle golf, or you would just like abrief escape, we have the perfectaccommodation to suit.

Med Playas range of hotels in-cludes the well known and popu-lar Flamingo Oasis in Benidorm.This four star All Inclusive hotel

offers families and couples greatvalue for money in a modernwelcoming hotel.Families may want to try the MedPlaya Hotel Bali in Benalmadena,Costa del Sol. This three staraccommodation in Benalmadenaenjoys two swimming pool areas,a large bar lounge area, a play-

ground and plenty of entertain-ment if you like to take part inthings. An All Inclusive option isavailable for stays of more than5 days. The Hotel Bali is wellequipped to provide a great fam-ily winter escape.Whatever your budget, Med Playahas something for you. Med Pla-yas full range of two, three andfour-star resorts can be bookeddirectly online.Visit www.medplayer.comto nda wide range of deals plus activitypackages to enhance your stay.

http://www.medplaya.com/http://www.medplaya.com/


12/22

LONDON

GATWICKA I R P O R T G U I D EGATWICK AIRPORT IS THE SECOND LARGEST

LONDON AIRPORT.

Although there is only onerunway this airport processes

33 million passengers each year.Many charter and budget airlinecompanies use thisairport. Thereare two terminals (North andSouth) that are connected by ashuttle train.

Local Transport

TrainThere is a train station in Termi-

nal South. The Gatwick Expressgoes to Victoria Station in Lon-

don, travel time is 30 minutes,the Thameslink connects theairport to Kings Cross Station,travel time is 50 minutes. Fur-ther information about the trainsystem can be obtained throughNational Rail.

Car and busThe airport is 45 kilometers southof London along the motorwayM23 (exit 9). The airport is also

accessible from the road betweenLondon and Brighton (A23).

Express buses leave from bothterminals to London, but the mainstation is on the ground oor ofTerminal South, most buses gofrom Terminal North to London.There are ticket ofces in theArrivals Hall of both terminals forbus tickets.

Car rental London GatwickAirportIn front of both terminals build-ings, there are counters for carrental companies: National/Alamo, Avis, Enterprise, Hertz,Dollar/Thrifty and Europcar.

TaxiTaxis are in front of the ArrivalsHall of both terminals. Take intoaccount that the road to Londonis frequently very busy and a taxiride to the center of the city canlast 6090 minutes.Airport Parking

There is a place for short-termparking at both terminals with adirect, covered connection withthe terminal. A free shuttle busgoes from the long-term parkingarea to both terminals.

Services

Shops and restaurantsThere is a large range of shops,bars, cafes and restaurants in

both terminals. Purchased itemscan be delivered to your house.Baggage

There are counters in both ter-minals for lost and found items,you can also store baggage there.This service is managed by Ex-cess Baggage Company.Information

The service counters in bothterminals are staffed 24 hours,the personnel speak several lan-guages.

Contact

AddressLondon Gatwick AirportWest SussexRH6 0NPGreat Britain

Telephone, fax, emailTelephone: +44(0)870 000 2468Fax: n/aEmail: [email protected]

Airport codesIATA airport code: LGWICAO airport code: EGKK



13/22

Business

Business facilities are offered bytwo hotels at the airport: Hiltonand Le Meridien, both have fullyequipped ofces and meetingrooms, and also offer secretarialsupport.

There are various lounges fromthe airline companies. Publiclounges are the Servisair Loungein Terminal South and the AvianceAlexandra Suite in Terminal North.

Disabled facilitiesThe terminal is extremely ac-cessible for the disabled. Thereare wheelchair ramps, adaptedelevators, restrooms and tele-phones. There are induction loopsavailable for the hearing impaired.Furthermore, there are reservedparking places for the disabledand also reserved seating in bothterminals.

Other servicesThere are banks, money ex-change ofces and ATMs in both

terminals. There is a post ofce in

Terminal South. Wireless internetis present in both terminals, andthere is an internet caf in Termi-nal South. There are childrensplay corners and baby rooms. Themedical center not only has FirstAid, but also offers vaccinations.parking, the areas are developedby NCP

Although there is only one runway this a irport pro -

cesses 33 mil l ion passengers ea ch year . Many charterand budget a ir l ine compani es use thisai rport . There

are two terminals (North an d South) that are con-

nected by a shutt le train.


14/22

Top Bruges Hotels

F L O R I S H O T E L B R U G E S 3 *

The Floris Hotel Bruges is Bruges newest hotel,totally renovated in 2011. 63 Spacious rooms,lounge bar, games area and reception all in amodern colonial style. Breakfast is a continentalbuffet with some hot items. Brilliantly located ap-prox. 300m from Concert Hal on the Zand Squareand only few minutes away fromthe Old Market Square.

F L A N D E R S H O T E L B R U G G E 4 *

This elegant hotel boasts a tranquil courtyardterrace, heated indoor pool and an extensivebuffet breakfast. Flanders Hotel Brugge - Hamp-shire Classic is situated in the centre of Bru-ges, only 650 metres from the Markt. Guestscan make use of free Wi-Fi in the lobby. Eachmorning breakfast is served in the dining room

which overlooks a terrace with a pond.

C A N A L V I E W H O T E L T E R R E I E N 2 *

Great little two star hotel in a perfect location,next to the Sint Annerei canal! The hotel datesfrom the 19th century and has retained manybeautiful original features. The bedrooms areclean, simply yet homely decorated and havegood facilities. Some of the bathrooms are verysmall but overall this is a great value for moneyhotel! Some rooms offer lovely canal views.

H O T E L D U K E S P A L A C E 5 *

Former Kempinski hotel, the Dukes Palace has aprime location in Bruges historic UNESCO WorldHeritage City. The hotel has 93 luxury rooms andsuites many of which are historic listed rooms andhave been carefully restored with frescoes and walland ceiling ornaments from the 15th century. At

the Dukes Palace, guests experience a high qual-ity service in a warm and friendly atmosphere.



15/22

M O N T A N U S H O T E L 4 *

The historic, romantic Montanus hotel, situated inthe house of a previous mayor of the city is locatedin the heart of Bruges, in walking distance fromall the main highlights of the city. Old style ele-

ments and a tasteful decoration characterize thehotel. Both the cottage-style garden pavilion andthe grand mansion provide romantic guest rooms.

H O T E L M A R T I N S B R U G G E 3 *

With its perfect location just behind the Bel-fry, Martins Brugge is known for its trendy andwarm atmosphere. Rooms are decorated withgreat care given to detail. Each room disposes

of a at-screen TV. Martins Bar is at guests dis-posal to taste a variety of regional beers.In the evening you will be spoilt with alot of choice for different restaurants,all on the doorstep of the hotel.

H O T E L A C A D E M I E 4 *

Hotel Academie is a contemporary four-starhotel set right in the historic golden triangleof Bruges, approx. 50 metres from the famous

Minnewater (Lake of Love) and Begijnhof (Be-guine Convent). All other interesting sights ofBruges are within walking distance. With 90 styl-ish rooms, it provides all the necessary comfortssuch as air-conditioning, telephone and TV.

H O T E L J A N B R I T O 4 *

Hotel Jan Brito is a charming hotel situated ina 16th century listed building. Its an elegantrefurbished mansion, conserving unique deco-rations from former centuries. The hotel is lo-cated in the heart of Bruges, only a few stepsaway from most of the romantic canals. Awarm and personal welcome is guaranteed.

N H B R U G G E 4 *

The NH Brugge uniquely boasts all the modernconveniences of a contemporary facility withinthe antiquated charm of a 17th century mon-astery. Amid stained glass windows, exposedwood beams and bricks replaces, the 149room NH Brugge hotel offers guests 8 multi-functional meeting rooms along with an impres-sive array of luxurious amenities to enjoy.

http://www.awin1.com/cread.php?s=304785&v=4329&q=143720&r=120122


16/22

D F D S S E AWAY S

M I N I C R U I S E SA MINI CRUISE IS A GREAT WAY TO ENJOY A SHORT BREAK TO

EUROPE AND RECHARGE YOUR BATTERIES ON YOUR HOLIDAY.

A mini cruise is a great wayto enjoy a short break toEurope and recharge yourbatteries on your holiday.Enjoy 2 nights onboard ourwell equipped ferries andreturn home feeling relaxedand rejuvenated.

Combining comfort and en-tertainment with adventurein your chosen destination,a mini cruise is ideal forfamilies, couples lookingfor a romantic break andgroups looking to get awayfrom it all. We do our bestto help you unwind with 2nights comfortable accom-modation and the chance

to experience a new culturebefore catching your returnferry to the UK refreshed

and well entertained.

Our ferries sail to top must-see destinations includingAmsterdam , Esbjerg andHaarlem with convenientdeparture dates and timesto t into your busy life-style.

Already been? Our mix ofactivity and themed minicruises offer something alittle different.

If youve already been onone of our standard Euro-pean mini breaks and fancya change this time, haveyou considered an activity

or themed mini cruise ? Weorganise both seasonal andone-off ferry trips featur-

ing lively onboard enter-tainment on your journeyacross the high seas,including adding an excit-ing twist to an Amsterdammini cruise with Halloweenand school disco themes.A festive shopping trip toBelgium or Denmark is an-other option - allowing youto discover your chosendestination for a specicevent.



17/22

A H O L I DAY R E N TA L

I N F R A N C E P E R F E C TF O R T H E T R AV E L I N GG O L F E RIF YOURE A GOLFER WHO LOVES TO TRAVEL, YOULL FIND

PLENTY OF EXCITING GOLF COURSES WITH ONE OF THEMANY GOLF HOLIDAY RENTALS IN FRANCE.

Whether you want to golfat only one course or cruisethe French Riviera to vari-ous locations and courses,there are plenty of golfcourses in France to t yourstyle and budget.

North and SouthFrances FinestFrance offers some of thenest golf courses, withmore than 25 of the top100 courses in Europe.When taking a golf holidayin the south of France,there are many well-knownclubs and courses to try outsuch as the Royal MouginGolf Club, Monte Carlo GolfClub, Cannes-MandelieuOld Course, Domaine deTerre Blanche, Golf CountryClub de Vievola, and St. En-dreol Golf, to name a few.In northern France, thereare top quality courses suchas Le Touquet, HardelotLes Pins, Belle Dune, andNampont St. Martin GolfCourse.

A golf holiday south of

France is often prefer-able year round due tothe milder climate and

gorgeous scenery. Theweather is beautiful mostdays, and many of the golfcourses in southern Francewere designed by someof Europes most skilledgolf course architects. Andthough there are premier

golf courses in the southof France, this doesntalways mean extravagantprices or pro-style golf only.You can nd courses to talmost any budget and alsocourses that welcome golf-ers of all skill levels.

Youll also be able to toursome of the nest cities inEurope such as Marseille,Vence, Cannes, Nice, Mo-naco, or Toulon. Many ofthese cities are just a veryshort distance from theFrench Riviera, so you cansecure great holiday rentalsin France and tour severalareas around the FrenchRiviera. South France holi-day rentals are available athotels and resorts, or youmight nd a cozy apart-ment to spend your golf

holiday.

Package Ideas for a GolfHoliday in FranceWhen traveling to France,choose golf holiday pack-ages that will cater to yourneeds and location, wheth-er staying north or south ofFrance. If you need to stay

only a few nights, many ho-tels and resorts offer pack-ages for two to four nightsand a couple of games ofgolf. If you need to staylonger, nd golf packagesthat are discounted forlonger stays. If its varietyyou want, another type ofpackage is a golf cruise inwhich you can sail to dif-ferent hot spots and playgolf on different courses.French Riviera golf cruisesare particularly popular.

You might also chooseto stay in an area thatssaturated with golf coursesso you can try out a newone every day. Areas suchas Vence (south of France)or Nice offer many courses,tourist attractions, andbeautiful scenery.

17C O N T E N T SE U R O P E A N T R A V E L M A G A Z I N E


18/22


Nouveau movement was spear-headed by Belgian architects Vic-tor Horta and Henry van de Velde.

- Lovers of architecture, museumsand cathedrals will be satised

by the good mix on display. Asidefrom the wide range of museums,theres the Cathedrale des StsMichel et Gudule whos originscan be traced back to 1072.

- Chocolate. Belgian choco-late is reputed to be the bestin the world and Brussels of-fers many chocolate shopswhere you can stock up onne chocolate to take home.

Whether you come to Brussels forthe culture, architecture or justthe heavenly chocolate, yourecertain to have an enjoyable time.

T A G G E D A S T H E C A P I T

V I S I T I N G B R U S S E L S ?

A N I N T R O D U C T I O NTO T R AV E L L I N GTO T H E H E A R T O F

E U R O P E S C H A R M I N GC A P I TA L C I T YTagged as the capital of Europe,Brussels boasts a number of at-tractions to lure the most fussyof travelers. From ne diningand quaint architecture to avibrant nightlife and its many

landmarks, theres something toappeal to everyone in Brussels.

Look around the streets of Brus-sels and youll see people froma wide variety of backgroundsand culture a testimony tothe cosmopolitan nature of thecity. Aside from the many ex-pats posted here from aroundthe world, Brussels also playshost to immigrants from Tur-key, Greece and North Africa.

The dominant language in Brus-sels is French, but Flemish isalso spoken in certain pocketsof the city as is a unique mix ofthe two languages (called Ma-rollien or Brusselse Sproek).

So whats Brussels char-acterized by?

- Fine food and tasty beers. You

cant help but be impressed bythe wide variety of food options

open to the Brussels visitor. Thenational dish is moules et fritesand must be sampled but the cityalso offers a magnicent choiceof ethnic foods including Turkish,Chinese, Moroccan, Vietnamese,

Tunisian, Italian and more.

- The vibrant Grand-Place isthe very heart of Brussels andshould be the rst port of callfor the newly arrived visitor.Many believe it to be amongthe nest town squares to befound anywhere in the world.

- Brussels is the EU capital,and as such is the location ofan increasing number of Eu-ropean Union buildings.

- Brussels gave birth to the artnouveau architectural move-ment in the late 1890s. This wasto spread to many other countrieswho embraced the bold newcombination of materials such asstone, iron and exquisite tiles. Someexamples of famous landmarksyou can visit that are a testimonyto the movement are the Hotels

Metropole & Solvay, Musee hortaand Maison Saint Cyr. The Art

18


19/22


F E U R O P E , B R U S S E L S B O A S T S A N U M B E R O F A T T R A C T I O N S T O L U R E F U S S Y T R A V E L E R

19


20/22

Popular WaterParks In LondonA trip to London is always lled with a lot of

fun and frolic. Especially if you are traveling

with your family London can be a perfect

destination for an exciting holiday or vaca-

tion.



21/22

Although cost is not the sole deciding factor mostof these water parks have lot many features whichare sure to give you an enjoyable outing with yourfamilies and kids.The following are some of the most popular waterparks in London :

1) Oasis Swimming Pool:Located in the heart of the city, this water park of-fers two heated swimming pools which are locatedindoors as well as outdoors. It can be frequentedall the year around and also has loads of otherentertainment and sport options such as a healthsuite with an efcient masseurs and masseuses, asquash court, a sauna, a gymnasium and a cafete-ria as well. The pools are well guarded by hoistsin order to discourage unlawful entry. The OasisSwimming Pool is a great place to visit with families

and kids.

2) Leyton Leisure Lagoon:A perfect destination for your children especially ifyou are looking at an option which engages playand learn games. This Water Park conducts swim-ming classes for kids who are interested in learninghow to swim. Children below the age of ve canbe kept busy at the creche which engages themin play and learn activities. Moreover there area variety of fun lled water games such as ip nfun, water scooters, water walkers and wet play

sessions on a large sized fun ume that ends onuniquely shaped pool of a standard size. Your kidsare surely well taken care of while you can take awalk around the other places in the park.

3) Waterfront Leisure Center:Located at about eight miles away from the city ofLondon, the Waterfront Leisure Center is a perfectgetaway destination for you and your kids. The bestway to get to this water park is by train and youcan check with the National Rail Enquiries for thetrain schedules. The park houses two swimmingpools that conduct pool sessions for all age groups.Some of these sessions also offer training in newtechniques. Both the pools are quite large with alength spread across 25 meters and four lanes.Activities such as a 65 meter snake slide, a waterfallalong with wave machines, volcanoes, water jetsand a ve lane water slide will denitely make yourkids go wet and wild. The water park also offers aspa facility which allows you to relax and rejuvenateas your kids are having fun in the pool.

The above destinations offer perfect family andare easily among the most popular water parks

in London.



22/22

Documents

European Travel Magazine - Issue 3 - December 2013