You may be surprised to learn that, up until the early 1900s, the Cote d’Azur was a simple and undistinguished collection of fishing villages. It wasn’t until European aristocracy descended upon the pristine shores of Southern France, in search of warmth and relaxation close to home, that the uninspiring coastal towns quite literally boomed into existence. Within a few short years, the cultural and social gems we enjoy now, like Cannes, Nice and St. Tropez became the favoured holiday destination for the élite the world over. The picturesque town of Cannes, flanked on one side by miles of splendid coast, and the other by luscious green hills, was always bound for stardom. The start of a very humble film festival, which has grown to be the most famous in the world, served to catapult it into the international limelight. Cannes is indeed extremely central, and from here day trips to nearby jewels like Nice, Monaco and St Tropez and extremely easy to organize, either by rental-car or public transport. Yet while most tourists confine their visits to famous villages, there are a few quaint towns worthy of an in-depth look. Book an apartment in Cannes and, while you’re out exploring ...

Nestled cozily in the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand is a tiny little haven of pure deliciousness. Koh Tao a world-renowned diving mecca, and is slowly emerging at the forefront of Koh Samui’s most popular day-trip destinations. It’s hard to imagine that this tropical paradise was once a detention island for political prisoners. Blimey, even we would contest a political point or two if a few years here would be our punishment! Glistening white sand, abundant sea life and perfect year-round temperatures are what await you in Koh Tao...an island that’s almost too perfect for words. Visiting on a snorkeling day trip from Koh Samui is absolutely imperative, and a great way to get away from it all for a few hours. To make your planning even easier, we’ve compiled a guide to the easiest and most enjoyable ways to discover this priceless gem; so book your Koh Samui holiday villa today and come see for yourself what paradise looks like. Activity agents abound on Koh Samui, and tours offered are quite standard; so shop around for the best deal, and have an unforgettable snorkeling experience. Tour by speed boat... The most popular option is the day-trip from Koh Samui by ...

Just a few miles off the coast of Miami Beach, Florida, is the exclusive Fisher Island, known as the residential retreat for wealthy Americans. Until the mid twentieth century this island belong to the Vanderbilt family, who used as a winter residence. Today the population of Fisher island has risen to five hundred people. Being in close proximity to the famous Miami beaches, Fisher Island enjoys the same exquisite weather and conditions, only with significantly less people. There are stunning beaches to enjoy as well as fantastic views of the ocean from the intriguing landscape. Arguably the main attraction on Fisher Island is the Fisher Island Club, which is an exclusive club boasting top class facilities including a golf course, tennis courts, a marina and a spa amongst various other features. The dining facilities here are five star quality, with the views from the restaurants truly incredible. Travel from Miami Beach to Fisher Island is only available via private boat or ferry. The ferry journey to Fisher Island from Miami Beach only takes seven minutes and runs twenty four hours a day. Departures occur every fifteen minutes from a specific terminal just down the road from Miami Beach. You will ...

Due to its sheltered position, Chalong Bay has evolved into the main boat harbour (and scuba diving centre) on Phuket. Here are some of the wonderful destinations you reach from here in the morning, then be back by the evening to enjoy a sundowner cocktail. Lon Island (or Koh Lon) lies only 20 minutes from Chalong Bay. It is where the majority of the Muslim community of the southern islands live, and is famed for beautiful beaches. Coral Island (or Koh Hae) is another little stunner with three fabulous beaches, crystalline waters and lush, tropical interior. It lies on the threshold of Phang Nga Bay national park, one of the most breathtaking seascapes in the world. The islets of Phi-Phi were one of the worst hit in the terrible tsunami of 2004 and although re-building has been swift, that should be good enough reason to visit this beautiful location and support the local economy. Phi Phi offers wonderful scuba diving and snorkelling and fine white sandy beaches. One of them was used as location for the ultimate paradise-lost film ‘The Beach’. Koh Racha are actually two islands; Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi (meaning ‘big’ and ‘little’). Closest to Calong Bay and Phuket ...

The closely-knit nature of the seven United Arab Emirates, makes day and weekend tripping feasible. A network of buses (called Emirates Express) connects Dubai with all major cities in the UAE as do budget airlines such as FlyDubai. Whichever way you go, you’ll have amazing views of the desert terrain that blankets the Gulf States along the way. Sharjah is the third largest city in the UAE (after Dubai and Abu Dhabi) but with the largest mosque—the King Faisal Mosque. Slightly rough around the edges yet charming all the same, Sharjah is located less than an hour away from Dubai by bus. Major attractions include the Fort of Sharjah (dating from 1820), the Islamic Museum and a Children’s Farm at the Sharjah Desert Park. Muscat, the capital of Oman (so not part of the UAE but on the extreme east of the peninsula) is another great option though flying is the best way to get there (FlyDubai have a regular service, as does Emirates from Sharjah’s airport). Attractions in Muscat include the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (the third largest in the world and open to non-Muslims) the Al Jalali and Al Mirani forts and the charming Corniche quarter. Afterwards ...

Prague is a wonderful city steeped in history and historical buildings but during your Prague holiday you may wish to go further afield and visit some of the nearby treasures Czechoslovakia has to offer. KARLSTEJN CASTLE & TOWN A trip to Karlstejn Castle is about 45 minutes by train from Prague. It is a majestic castle that was built in the 14th century and well-worth visiting for a day. When you arrive at the castle there is a choice of the 50-minute tour or a 70-minute tour, the latter requires booking in advance. Apart from the castle, Karlstejn town has a good choice of places in which to eat and drink and there is a fine selection of shops. There is also a golf course. KARLOVY VARY Karlovy Vary is a spa town that has been renowned for its curative hot springs since the 14th century. The simplest way to get to Karlovy Vary is the express coach which leaves from Florenc bus station and takes about 2.5 hours. When you reach Karlovy Vary there is much to see although most of it is focussed on the hot springs. Make sure to visit some of the wonderful churches and the local museum. KUTNA HORA Kutna Hora ...

There is a wonderful choice of day trips that can be taken during your Florence holiday, whether travelling by car or by public transport. Here is an un-exhaustive list of day trips you can easily take from Florence: Castello Di Verrazzano - For example, Castello di Verrazzano is about an hour’s drive from Florence through delightful scenery. The first sight of the castello is its silhouette which rises up above the horizon and welcomes you to one of Tuscany’s most charming and traditional wineries, where you can taste the wine and take a tour. Lucca - The walled city of Lucca which is protected on three sides by mountains and original defensive walls. In the heart of the town is a Roman racetrack that is now the central market square where you will find the town’s magnificent cathedral. Lucca is a beautiful place to visit and the Palazzo Ducale is definitely worth a tour as it is rumoured that Napoleon Bonaparte stayed there. During your visit to Lucca, you could also visit one or two of the local grand villas which were once home to some of the region’s most noble families. Siena - Located on a hill to the south of Florence ...

New York City is such an exciting place that it is possible to find new things to do every day of a long holiday. But, sometimes the sky high buildings can feel oppressive and getting out for a day trip can be totally refreshing.The choice of day trips is impressive and below are listed some of the most popular.   NEW YORK DAY TRIP: BELMONT PARK RACE TRACK Belmont Park race track is a superb way to spend a day outside of New York. It is set in 430 acres in Belmont, New York State and has two seasons. The first race season in 2009 lasts for 64 days and is from April 29 until June 26 and the autumn season is from September 11 until October 25.   NEW YORK DAY TRIP: NIAGARA FALLS A day trip from New York City to Niagara Falls may seem a little ambitious but there are day trips that leave from Midtown Manhattan, take you to LaGuardia Airport and fly you up to Buffalo. From the airport there is a guided tour of the Niagara Falls and a ride on the Maid of the Mist boat. Once you have seen all there is to see of the magnificent Niagara ...

Sorrento is a delightful city with wonderful orange groves and spectacular cliffs looking out over the Bay of Naples to the north and, on a clear day, you can see the Vesuvius. But why not take a break from your Sorrento holiday rental and visit Capri for a day? Getting to Capri from Sorrento A trip to the island of Capri can be taken by hydrofoil or ferry. From Sorrento town centre take a taxi or a bus down the steep twisting road to Porta Marina Piccola where you can buy a one-way ticket for Capri. The journey by hydrofoil takes about twenty minutes. Do not buy a return ticket as you may wish to return by ferry, especially if the sea is a bit choppy, and there are no special deals for buying a roundtrip ticket in advance. The ferry ride takes longer than the hydrofoil but it is much more comfortable and one hydrofoil journey in a day, unless the sea is like glass, is usually enough. ABOUT CAPRI When you arrive at Capri in the Marina Grande you will discover an enchanting, romantic island that has been a luxury getaway since the days of the Roman Empire. In fact, Emperor Tiberius ...

All roads lead to Rome and all trains too. Therefore, travelling from Rome for a day trip is usually very easy. For example, fifty minutes by express train from Rome’s Ostiense Station and you are in the fortified town of Tarquinia; 1 hour and a half by train and you will be able to admire the treasures of Florence. ROME TO TARQUINIA - Tarquinia sits atop rocky cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean and is a fascinating medieval town, with a swimming beach. Worth visiting here is the Monterozzi: 6,000 graves carved into the rock that are complemented by beautiful frescoes. Also within the town is the Tarquinia National Museum which exhibits a couple of winged horses that were originally part of the town’s temple. ROME TO FLORENCE - One of Italy's main art cities, the beautiful Florence, is only 1 and 1/2 hours by train. There are many trains leaving everyday from Termini station straight to Santa Maria Novella station in the center of Florence. Make sure you visit the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries. If you wish to stay longer in Florence Holiday Velvet has many holiday apartments in Florence. ROME TO BRACCIANOAbout an hour by train from Rome’s Termini Station is the village ...