Ireland: a small, beautiful country with breathtaking landscapes, friendly people and boundless amounts of things to do. The people will welcome you warmly, the wildness of the lakelands will draw you in and the cosy log fires will heat your bones! If you’re going to the Land of the Postcard with a group then have a look at these tips for each of the main Irish areas.

Belfast

Belfast enjoys all that Northern Ireland has to offer. The lively city is developing at huge speeds and there’s a sense of optimism everywhere you go. If you’re looking at keeping a group busy in the city then consider some of the great outdoor activities like 4×4 off-road driving, clay shooting or go karting. Alternatively there are plenty of opportunities for pampering and dancing the day and night away if you don’t fancy braving the outdoors for too long; this city has something for everyone.

Cork

The beautiful city of Cork has award winning bars and restaurants as well as great shops, clubs, galleries and museums. There are wonderful spa facilities, perfect if your group’s looking for some indulgence, as well as a huge selection of excellent bars to suit everyone. During the daytime you can all keep busy with some horse riding, paintball, quad biking and climbing, and then in the evening you can sample fine Irish hospitality with murder mystery nights, casinos, excellent restaurants and buzzing nightclubs.

Dublin

If you’re in search of the craic then Dublin is an excellent place to head with friends; it’s a veritable haven of hospitality and fun. Greater Dublin has a population of 1.66 million so the city’s built to entertain, with the Guinness Brewery and Temple Bar as well as the excellent Punchestown Racecourse. Dublin’s only an hour flight away from London and does some excellent ladies horse racing days if you’re visiting the city with female friends. To keep your group busy pre-book some top activities like archery, high ropes and paintball.

Limerick

The River Shannon provides a beautiful backdrop to Limerick’s rich supply of great restaurants, shops, galleries, pubs and clubs. Shannon airport is just 20 minutes away from the city and it’s easy to see why the city has experienced such a tourism boom over recent years. There’s something for everyone, with rugby spectating to be done, horses to be ridden and Bollywood dancing lessons to be tried out.

Although these are the main group activities to try in four of the great areas of Ireland, there are loads more things to do and you’re sure to have a great time in the welcoming country.

This is a guest written by Gen from hen party organisers GoHen. You can book your UK hen party at their website.

This photo of Mono Loco Bar

Of course, before heading to a night club to party, it is more than natural to start your evening at a bar. The nicest bars to go to before the big night at the club in Warsaw include Paparazzi, Mono Bar, Scheesha and Lemon Café. The music usually played at Mono Bar is from 1970’s and 1980’s and there are some jam sessions too. The Paparazzi Bar is full of hot girls and the Lemon Café has a laid back atmosphere. Scheesha Café offers oriental atmosphere and belly dancers. Once you have a few drinks to start, then the night clubs are on demand. The prices of the drinks there are high if compared to the prices in the rest of the cities in Poland, but are just fine when compared to the prices in London, Paris and Moscow, for example.

This photo of Warsaw

The places that should not be missed here include Platinum, Klubo Kawiarnia, Rich & Pretty, Opera, Piekarnia, The Eve. Among these, the most popular dance club is Piekarnia. The Opera clubs is paced at the cellars of the National Opera and tempts with its oriental style. Among the best clubs in the city is Klubo Kawiarnia, where funky music is played and the atmosphere is great. The VIP persons usually go to the Sketch night club, which is among the most elite places on the city’s night scene. It is followed by another similar club – Szlafrok. Usually, the last stop of the party animals is at the night club The Eve, which is a great after party place.

This photo of Mono Loco Bar

For those who are looking for a good night out with their friends, including drinks and dances, then they should better head towards Resort and Chlodna 25, which are nice and laid-back bars. Club 70 is for those who love retro music. The same is valid for the Zoo bar. For those who like reggae sounds, there is the Tygmont Club. There are people who are into indie music, rock and some other of the alternative music styles and they should better choose Klub Palladium, Klub Stodola, and also Chwila Da Klub. These all have regular live events that are worth to be attended.

Whenever one decides to go for a good night out in Warsaw, one will definitely get it. The city is busy and vibrant, the people are modern and the venues are great. We should also not forget that the drinks are affordable and the music is loud.

A post by Krysia Wozniak who is also writing about apartment in Krakow and holiday apartments in Brussels

Among the places that should be checked here is the Louvre, which is the most visited museum on the globe and a piece of art itself. Inside the glass pyramid is collected one of the most exciting and exquisite legacy of the artists. Here travelers could marvel at the Egyptian mummies, see the statue of Venus de Milo and be captivated from the smile of Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci. The museum presents the beauty of the human spirit and soul and is a symbol of the typical finesse of the French.

Another great places that should be seen in France is the Abbaye du Mont Saint Michel, which is a breathtaking example of medieval architecture. The place is located here Brittany meets Normandy and the nature around the castle is marvelous. The place is part of the World Heritage List of UNESCO and is a symbol of the national identity of the French people.

This photo of Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel

Without doubt, there is one other symbol that should not be missed in France and this is the Eiffel Tower. This icon of France is the tallest building in Paris and the best visited monument in the entire world. The Eiffel Tower offer to the visitors three levels for sightseeing and two restaurants on two of these levels. In case you need a guided tour, there are such tours during the entire day.

The next site to be mentioned here is Vieux Nice or the Old Town of Nice. It has a great open-air market, selling flowers and fruits, fresh fish and cheese. Another site to be mentioned is Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere in Lyon, which is a great landmark, as well as the Grand Place in Lille, surrounded by Flemish style houses, where one could enjoy an early breakfast and watch life going by.

This photo of Old Town (Vieille Ville)

The other place that should not be missed is the notre-Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg, which is the tallest medieval building on the entire continent. The place to be checked in Toulouse city is St. Sernin Basilica, being the biggest Romanesque church in the western world and a main stop on the pilgrimage Saint Jaques de Compostelle.

Other must see places include the Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde in Marseille, which is the most prominent structure in the area of the Old Port, the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles and the Le Suquet area in Cannes. Of course, we should also not forget the Notredame Cathedral in the town of Rouen.

A post by Martine Simon who also writes about Barcelona apartment and rent apartments in London on holidays

The beaches at Bali are absolutely safe for swimming and you will find that to be a major pastime here. There are also a number of water sports to indulge in from scuba diving to drift diving. There are a number of diving schools that will offer you a range of short term courses; just about enough to give you the ultimate feel of being in a place like Bali.

Bali beaches vary from coast to coast. For example you have palm lined white washed sands that are present in the east coast. On a completely different note are the black sand beaches on the western coast. There are also a number of coves in between, some discovered and others just waiting to be found.

If you are young and carefree and simply looking around for the most happening party spot on the beach, then you should head to Kuta. It is paradise for surfers and has now expanded to include its neighbors, the Legian, Tuba and Seminyak beaches. Legian follows close on the heels of Kuta as a party place. If fine dining with the waves crashing in the background is something you fancy, then a good choice would be the Seminyak Beach.

Peace and tranquility in atmosphere is what you will find at the Jimbaran Beach which is lined with 5 Start hotel properties such as the Four Seasons Ritz Carlton and others in the category. On the east coast you have beaches like the Nusa Dua Beach, which again is dotted by a number of 5 star properties. This is one beach though that can get a wee bit crowded. There is also the Sanur Beach, a popular one but which has gradually suffered from soil erosion.

When you get to the beaches, make sure that you are appropriately dressed. While sun bathing is allowed, doing it in the nude is completely not allowed. The same goes with minor drugs. Any form of drugs is punishable by death in the country and it is not known for leniency on the matter. It would be best to play it safe when on the beach and swim to the marked boundaries. The seas around the area are a bit tricky and can suddenly ensnare you.

Natasha is blogger, traveler and writing for FlightCentre, Australia offering great selection of cheap international flights

Mark woke up quite early on the following day, thus he went outside our Edinburgh flat for some breakfast and a paper, then made the capuccino and woke me up. We had a few peaceful hours and after that headed towards the first of the several monuments I got on my collection.

The one nearest to our serviced flat in Edinburgh turned to be the National Museum of Scotland, and then we went to the Royal Museum with its Millennium Clock. Mark insisted on seeing the National Gallery of Scotland as he is a serious lover of fine art and then he dragged me to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle

I required some air and after our visit down the museums, I convinced Mark we had more than enough for that day and we headed towards the Princes Street Gardens where we made a picnic. The recreation area was filled with parents with their children and they all appeared happy.

The Kensington Garden Edinburgh

In the evening we headed to the Leith district, which hasn’t been that close to the Edinburgh holiday accommodation we were residing at, but was so charming that we could not resist. We visited the Britannia Royal Yacht, which is on dock there and then we went to the Shore, which is a location of fish and chip shops, curry houses and elegant seafood eating places, together with traditional Scottish bars. I selected a good brasserie called A Room in Leith, which offered a waterside position and we had a nice Scottish meal.

After that Mark was the one to choose the pub we left for right after dinner and he picked The Kings Wark on the shore, which turned to be a conventional pub on the water. There we had some beer and appetizers and remained at really late until we eventually got a cab to our Edinburgh apartment.

My initial trip to Madrid happened 10 years ago, while me and my cousin were still little children and our parents brought us on a family trip with the automobile. I had some obscure memories, but appreciated the pleasing atmosphere and therefore as soon as my ceo explained I had to go on a business trip to the Spanish main city; I jumped with joy… though I did not show it while in front of him!

Madrid

The office assistant in our company booked my flights and told me she sorted out my Madrid apartment, which in the beginning appeared odd and I asked her why not a hotel room. She explained that she used similar Madrid holiday accommodation when she went on her vacation last year and that she was very pleased with the facilities and the discounted rental price.

Restaurant Madrid

As she explained, the Madrid apartment she picked for me was just remarkable. I stayed in the centre of the urban center, had direct link to the commercial zone where I was presupposed to train my regional colleagues and connect with the executives and had all of the luxuries I wanted.

Plaza Mayor, Madrid

The most captivating thing of all was that I was accommodated very close to the Plaza Mayor place, which I think is the most impressive spot in Madrid. I had time to enjoy the statue of King Philip III, the architecture of Casa de la Panaderia and the outstanding Arco de los Cuchilleros. In the evenings I went for meal at the open-air eating places at the square. I was by myself but never felt lonesome there, as Madrid has that great enchanting feeling, where one could never feel bad after being between so many good people. Then I went back to my Madrid apartment for a good night rest as I needed to be ready for the following day.

My corporate visit was going just like organized, I managed to do all my professional assignments and still to have time and relax in the Madrid apartment I have rented. On the 3rd day of my visit to the Spanish capital I had a free afternoon and a local co-worker proposed to bring me to the El Retiro Park. I’ve by now seen the spot since it is pretty near to my Madrid short stay apartment but haven’t had the time to explore it. So, when my colleague proposed an outdoor afternoon under the open sky I did not wait at all, we bought coffee and snacks and we headed towards the park.

Retiro Park Madrid

I was amazed to read later that the park is overwhelmingly huge, embracing a region of 12 hectares. My colleague told me that at first it was organized like an Italian recreation area in a baroque style, later to become transformed like French park. Nowadays, the El Retiro Park features a huge man-made pond where one could rent a boat at a decent price. My personal favorite place however was the Rose Garden with the sculpture of the Fallen Angel, while my colleague said she appreciated most the Paseo de las Estatuas or the Statue Walk.

Puerta del Sol Madrid

We ate our sandwiches and decided to go to Plaza de Colon to purchase some tasty ice-cream. The place is placed between Paseo de la Castellana and Paseo de Recoletos and has a nice area known as the Gardens of Discovery with its cascading fountains, etc.

Cervantes de Espana Madrid

Now that I consider it, I was lucky to be with a local as I got a lot of information for the city and we talked a lot about how the locals live. Once we parted, I headed immediately to my Madrid apartment where I had a long shower and went to bed earlier.

Because I stayed in a arranged and holiday Madrid holiday apartment in the heart of the Spanish main city throughout my business trip, I was able to explore the Puerta del Sol area, which is a preferred place for the tourists and the local people. The spot has a nice square where these days are organized different events including the New Year’s Eve. Here is also located the image of the city, which looks like a bear sculpture of bronze that goes up a strawberry shrub. I did several pictures of this statue, and also managed to capture the people of the square, that were having coffee, eating cakes or sandwiches or just resting and looking at the life going by.

Puerta del Sol Madrid

Cervantes de Espana Madrid

My Madrid accommodation was additionally close to a number of the nicest dining places and night clubs in Madrid. It was hard for me to get used to the late dining hours here since the dining establishments were available for visitors after eight and at times also after nine o’clock. The dance clubs however were open until the morning of the following day. Some of the best night clubs I learned about were set along the Plaza de Santa Barbara where other than cafes and watering holes, one could find takeaway food restaurants. I read that the neighborhoods Moncloa and Arguelles are generally chosen by the College students and I did not went there. Instead I picked a bar in the Malasaca region, where I found several people from my home town and they took me with them to Pase de la Castellana where we visited an additional popular night club. Then I was so exhausted that I called it a night and headed towards my Madrid hotel were I went to bed. At the next morning I took a quick bath, enjoyed a hot cup of coffee and ordered a taxi to the airport as my business trip was over.

We had a couple of additional days in the Scottish main city and were really happy that they coincided with the start of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Mark was thrilled that almost all of the alternative shows were to be organized in the proximity of our Edinburgh holiday apartment and we in fact managed to see several of them.

To be in the Scottish main city when the largest arts festival on the planet begins was really exciting and we actually noticed exactly how the population grew in number when all the performers and guests came to get pleasure from the event! The town was packed with college students, thrilled to present on stage what they are efficient at.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Mark and I loved the open-air street art fair along the Royal Mile and a few free of charge shows also. Mark appreciated most a play we saw, whilst I enjoyed best a dance theatre. During the initial night of the event we had a dinner and then went to a good club where we went to a unique night show.

On the last day of our trip in the Scottish main city, we woke up early, packed our suitcases to be prepared and left it in our Edinburgh residential home, and then we went to see 2 comedies that we really had fun with.

Town of Edinburgh

There after we still had time and money to had a salad and some tasty meal at the Hendersons bar, which was well-liked among the non-meat eaters. The atmosphere was fantastic and we were happy that we really had the possibility to see the main landmarks of the Scottish capital and also to see a few of the Fringe Festival activities.

Henderson's Wharf Inn

I bought a lot of desserts and small souvenirs for my colleagues at the office, while Mark bought souvenirs for our two families. Then we went straight to our Edinburgh lodging, grab the baggage and took a cab to the airport.

Edinburgh

First visit in the capital of Scotland

A month ago I received a special winning prize from the office, which included a free vacation to the Scottish main city for me and a person I pick to go on with. Every little thing was set up by the assistant in the office, therefore me and Mark took the airplane tickets and the instructions on just how to reach our Edinburgh getaway apartment as soon as we go to the airport.

We got accommodated and I was satisfied with all the comforts I found in the serviced apartment in Edinburgh that people were renting. Because that was our very first time to the Scottish capital, just before the holiday I made a very good research on the internet and built a program of just what we are to see. For the very first day of our stay Mark and I got on the sightseeing buses, to get to understand the town and to select the places we wanted to come back to on the following days. We covered all four bus trips out there and we did some good photographs.

Khan El Khalili CAiro

The next day, as we woke up in our huge comfy bedroom, we got capuccino and some fruits and left our Edinburgh apartment for a walk to the Royal Mile area where are concentrated the majority of the historic sights in the city. We spent an hour or so checking out the Edinburgh Castle and then we visited the Holyroodhouse Palace on the other side, while along we enjoyed some other historical places like the Cathedral St. Giles and the House of John Knox, had a coffee and bought some souvenirs. I was happy I had my comfortable walking shoes on, because we wandered a lot.

Holyroodhouse Palace Edinburgh

Our 2nd sightseeing day ended with a visit to the Arthur’s Seat, wherefrom we could take pleasure in some good views in the direction of the city, before we had a nice dinner at a pub near our Edinburgh holiday flat.