Excellent weather, stunning beaches and the laid back atmosphere for which Perth is famous are some of the reasons to visit this great city. A relaxed downtown and sparsely downtown makes this city unique. The boom in commodities has made this city a rich recipient of miner money and as a result it has become one of the richest in Australia and is a sophisticated, cosmopolitan city with great restaurants, cafes, museums and places of interest for visitors to this city. Renowned for its eco friendly credentials with acres of parkland in and around the city and golden beaches both north and south enable all those who visit and live there a very relaxing environment in which to exist.

Perth is also located on the banks of the Swan river and this location at the mouth of the river is what made it famous after gold was discovered in Kalgoorlie on the east side of the city in the late 1800’s which led to a huge rise in the number of inhabitants given this opulent gold rush and the subsequent boom which followed. After the gold, rich deposits of nickel and iron ore in the 1970’s ensured that it became a leading mining city.

There is plenty to do in this city: You can stroll around the relaxed downtown, travel around by tram or bus, or enjoy the exceptional watersports on the riverside that are available to all. The city is also famous for its culinary delights given the huge number of restaurants on offer are highlighted by the fact that there are more restaurants per capita here than anywhere else in Oceania. You can sample a wide range of indigenous wines on offer from Swan valley which is one of the oldest and most prestigious wine growing areas of Australia with many award winning wineries, which in itself can be a great day out. Perth also has a number of visitor attractions that make it unique, first and foremost is the fact that the oldest operating mint is still in existence, also there are several museums worth visiting while an eclectic mix of architectural and historical treasures are waiting to be explored. The shopping in Perth is excellent with a number of boutiques that offer an unique insight into the creative side of this city. The single most popular attraction for visitors and locals alike is the Kings Park located within walking distance of the city center with over 900 acres of botanical gardens set on Mount Eliza offering breathtaking views of the city.

The best time to book cheap flights to Australia is clearly in mind summer which, given that it is in the southern hemisphere, means the best weather is between November and February when it is warm and sunny. Similar in climate to the Mediterranean Perth’s winters tend to be wet and mild with spring being cool and crisp but dry.

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Gohop.ie offers cheap flights to Spain and sun holidays.

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Easter has been and gone and so has the ski holiday season for this year, but already keen skiers are looking forward to next year when they can hit the pistes again.

But for those who are considering their first ski holiday - perhaps inspired by the Winter Olympics - what do they need to think about?

The first thing to consider is destination - and there’s plenty of ski holiday destinations to choose from.

In Europe one of the best locations for new skiers is Andorra - there’s good ski schools and plenty of slopes that are good for beginner and intermediate skiers to enjoy themselves on.

The most obvious choice for Europeans is France - over half of all ski holidays taken by the British are in France - and the Pyrenees and Alps offer a wide choice of skiing, and price ranges.

For those on a budget the choice used to be Andorra, and Andorra built her reputation as a cheap ski holiday destination in the 1980’s and 90’s, but Andorra has moved upmarket in recent years, spending millions on the hotels in Andorra and first class skiing facilities in a bid to attract those who might head elsewhere.

Today’s budget destination is Bulgaria.

In the U.S. and Canada there are, like Europe, a multitude of choices, but the best known ones that have all the facilities a skier would possibly want are:

Lake Louise, Whistler, Banff and Jasper for Canada ski holidays.

And for the U.S. Aspen in Colorado, along with Breckenridge, Lake Tahoe and Vail offer new and established skiers alike a great choice of accommodation and infrastructure.

Along with which destination, another important factor is which company to travel with. Those with experience include Thomson, Thomas Cook, Crystal Ski and First Choice.

Whichever company you choose, and destination you decide upon, we hope you have a good ski holiday in 2011.

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YourAndorra.com has various ski holidays information plus financial information for those who want to buy a bank and for those wanting property and real estate Andorra immobilien

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The name Cuba (cubao) means ‘where fertile land is abundant’ and this fertile land has kept Cuba self-sufficient since the 1959 Cuban revolution and the consequent 40-year American trade embargos. The island of Cuba has over 11 million inhabitants and is the 16th largest island in the world. Due primarily to embargos this insular nation has retained its old world charm of old cars, architecture, traditional cuisine and music. Beautiful untouched landscape un-polluted from globalisation has been retained with lush rainforest, rolling plains and deserted hotel-free beaches in abundance.

This socialist country under Fidel Castro and more recently his brother Raul Castro has kept capitalism at bay, while being a forerunner in developing first class health, agricultural and education systems. The island, with its tropical climate and dry season from November to April, is perfect for a winter getaway. The capital, Havana, and the town of Trinidad are UNESCO World heritage sites; they’re currently being restored due to crumbling architecture, which has not been updated since Castro’s arrival in 1959.

The local culture of Spanish and African roots is steeped in music; Cuban music forms the basis which many other styles followed, including Salsa and Rumba - sipping cocktails and dancing the night away in the ‘musical houses’ as they are known around Havana is a must. Until recently Cubans were not allowed to stay in the few hotels on offer but Raul Castro has lifted this law, meaning interaction with the few locals who can afford to stay in the hotels is easy.

Cuba is renowned for its cars and cigars. The cars - 60,000 old Buicks and Pontiacs - beeping their horns are part of the charm of Cuba, making its streets look like a 1950s movie. Meanwhile, the art of cigar making can be seen in the Havana factories such as Partagas, La Corona and Romeo and Julieta. Plaza de Armas in Havana is the city’s museum with areas dedicated to covering the Cuban wars for independence.

Cuba’s ecosystem, including its protected coral waters over Isla de la Juventud, is a big draw - a plethora of exotic fish such as tarpon, barracuda and angelfish await. Lush rainforest can be seen off the town of Baracoa, with the Jungle of Cuchillas behind. The area has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1987 and plays host to many unique species.

Cuba is driving the idea of ecotourism and its importance to the world, from its international ecotourism summit in 2001 to working with Ghana in developing ecotourism there. Ecotourism has come naturally to the country via the need to be self-sufficient. An example of this can be seen in the development of the Havana Urban farms, an urban garden development for food production. From the rainforests to the wetlands of the Montemar Natural Park on the Zapata Penisula, Cuba is awash with ecotourism potential thanks to its beautiful untouched landscapes.

The peninsula of Montemar, 75 miles from Havana, is an array of forests, marshes, lagoons and canals. From crocodile farms to bird watching centres and nature trails to flooded caves for divers, Cuba has it all. Cuba is an alternative destination - an alternative world, even - which has to be seen to be believed. And with cheap Cuba holidays available from online travel agencies, there’s no excuse not to book the trip of a lifetime.

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Sarah Maple is writing for Gohop.ie who offer city breaks and cheap sun holidays.

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