PARIS, FRANCE

     I went to Paris to celebrate my 16th birthday. Although it was the beginning of September, it was very warm and sunny, just the perfect weather for some sight-seeing!

     The tourist attraction you've got to visit when in Paris is obviously the Eiffel Tower. The view on Paris from the second floor is simply amazing! The white architecture looks magical, a real breath-taking view! Although the queue for the tickets is always very long, it is definitely worth the wait. And if you get hungry, I recommend buying fries from a chippy stand next door. Ticket prices for the Eiffel Tower entrance vary between €7,00 and €11,00.

     The Eiffel Tower looks just as nice at night, when it is all lit up with lights, so make sure to check it out, whilst out on an evening walk ;)

     In a convenient place, right opposite the Eiffel Tower you'll be able to find the Gardens of the Trocadero, which look absolutely stunning! 

     Another place you've got to see is the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile. The Triumphal Arch honours those who fought and died in the French Revolutionary. It's a really nice piece of architecture and a perfect spot for some photos.

     Whether you're making it a family trip or you're a bit of a kid yourself, you should go to the Disneyland Paris Resort and enjoy some rides. I would especially recommend the spaceship ride, which is a roller-coaster with a 360 degrees turn! Be patient though, when visiting Disneyland at peak time, be prepared to wait around 60-80 minutes in a queue for a ride that lasts about 3 mins! The resort is divided into two parks, and there is no way you will be able to go through all the attractions within one day. 

     When the sun goes down, Paris is still alive so don't be afraid to walk down the main streets and visit all the charming restaurants and cafe's. It is especially nice in summer, when you can drink a cocktail outside whilst enjoying the view on the Eiffel Tower.

     If you're short on money and you find Paris accommodations too expensive, try finding a hotel in towns surrounding central Paris. An example of such town is Val d'Europe, which has an easy access to central Paris, as well as is ridiculously close to the Disneyland Resort, so it might be worth looking into.

     Overall, Paris is a place you have to visit at least once in your lifetime! It is very romantic, the architecture is amazing and although it is a bit pricey, you won't regret it ;)

HAMBURG, GERMANY

So break the laws of time, the moments can't rewind...

     I went to Hamburg just for a day, whilst visiting my friends living in Bremen, as those two major cities are not far away from each other. Hamburg is situated on river Elbe in the North of Germany. It is the second largest city in Germany and the thirteenth largest in European Union.

     Hamburg is more of a modern city with many new, tall buildings, however you can still spot the traditional architecture, for example an old train station.

     Next to the river there is a small market (although it might only have been there temporarily for the Christmas period), where you can buy beautiful souvenirs.

     Overall Hamburg is a beautiful city and I would love to go back there again to explore it further as 1 day wasn't enough! If you're looking to travel to Hamburg, make sure you check out the deals on EasyJet, as they usually have good prices from London airports.

LEGNICA, POLAND

NO PLACE LIKE HOME!

     Legnica is a town I was born in and lived for the first ten years of my life, hence why I have a massive sentimentality towards it. It lays upon river Kaczawa in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship in southwestern Poland.

     Town Centre is constantly changing, giving Legnica a modern vibe about it. The are three huge shopping centres, where you will be able to find absolutely everything you need, from shops, cafes and restaurants to cinema, children's play area and a hotel.

     There are many monuments around town. The "Herring Houses" are one. These are colourful buildings in the middle of town centre, where fishes used to be sold in the old days.

     House "Under the Quail Basket" is another monument based next to the theatre, that is famous for it's original shape and texture.

     Poland is a very catholic country, and so there are many churches around Legnica, including the cathedral in town centre.

     The monarchy that used to occupy the town left an amazing castle behind. Part of it is now used as a secondary school, however you can purchase a tour around the castle in a group of no less than three Monday to Friday between 10am-4pm.

     If you're looking for a place to eat I recommend the Don Giovani restaurant in the middle of town centre. It offers delicious food and desserts. It has an outside sitting area, a perfect place to chill on a sunny afternoon.

     When deciding where to go before hitting a night club I would advise you to try the "Sky Light- beach on a roof" bar situated on the roof of the Gwarna mall. You can enjoy beer or cocktails whilst sitting on sand surrounded by a beautiful view on Legnica. However, be prepared that the cocktails at a bar are a bit more expensive than in other places.

SIDE, TURKEY

TONIGHT FEELS LIKE THE BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE!

     I went to Side in August 2012 for my last holiday with parents. I had a really good and relaxing two weeks, this is a perfect family holiday destination.

     The temperatures were high, so if you don't like excess heat, do not go to Turkey in the summer months, especially if you're planning on going on excursions, as the further you are from the sea, the more difficult it is to deal with the weather.

     The water in the sea was fabulous, very warm, could have easily spent all days swimming in it. At the same time, it was very salty, which is a good treatment if you suffer from rheumatism.

     I stayed in Crystal Sunrise Queen Luxury Hotel & SPA, a 5* accommodation I recommend to anyone. It is a large hotel with an immediate access to the sea and multiple swimming pools, everyone is able to find their perfect place to spend the lazy sunny days.

     Furthermore, Crystal Sunrise offers its guests a large main restaurant, which serves a buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are different themed dinners everyday, so you can try the cuisines of the world. 

     There are also three a la carte restaurants, which you can book once within your stay free of charge. 

     The hotel offers an all inclusive board basis only, therefore you can drink an unlimited amount of drinks, the alcoholic ones too. The bar tenders working in a many bars on site will serve you some delicious cocktails and mixers made from local brands.

     Don't forget to visit the beautiful Old Town of Side, where you will be able to find charming souvenir shops, as well as boutiques selling leather jackets and bags. For the history fans, there are ruins of the old Colosseum and a library where Julius Caesar used to go on dates with Cleopatra.

  

     Overall I had an amazing time in Turkey and am definitely wanting to visit this country again in future.

BREMEN, GERMANY

I WANT TO PARTY IN BREMEN NIGHT AND DAY!

     

     I went to Bremen at the end of 2013 to visit my friend and to celebrate New Year's Eve with him and his crew. It is a lovely city situated in north-western Germany on Weser River.

     It does not have an U-bahn (underground) however it is very easy to relocate around the city with the normal trains. If you are a student, and you're under the age of 21, you can buy yourself a monthly train ticket for as little as €19.

     Outside the train station you will be able to find a fragment of the Berlin Wall that symbolises the old division. I personally think it is an exciting part of history and of course I had to have a photo next to it.

     The city itself is quite old. Town centre is full of historical buildings. St Peter's Cathedral is one of them. It is a church of beautiful architecture with tall twin towers.

     In the middle of the market square there is a gold 'hole' in the ground. It is very easy to miss this attraction so watch out! When you drop a coin into the hole, voices of the prisoners from old dungeons speak out. It is really cool!

     If you consider yourself to be unlucky, you're in the correct place. Apparently if you touch a donkeys hoof on the statue in town centre, you will get luck. It is worth a try.

     On the outer line of town centre there are a few narrow streets. Their scenery reminds me of Disney movies, it's a magical place to be.

     Whilst visiting Bremen you have to try their local beer- Beck's. Somehow it does taste better to the Beck's sold in UK pubs. You may also like to try beers from other German regions.

     Overall Bremen is a really nice city, it's a shame I only went over there for three days. I had a lot of fun exploring it, and would love to go back there again sometime soon. If you book in advance, you can find cheap flights from London Stansted with Ryanair. I paid £54 return. The airport in Bremen is really small, there is no way you will be able to get lost. I strongly recommend visiting this city for a weekend break away.

HURGHADA, EGYPT

RELAX, TAKE IT EASY!     

     I went to Egypt for a family holiday in August 2011. Hurghada is a third largest city in Egypt located on the Red Sea coast. It is a typical family resort, attracting tourists from all over the world.

     The sea is very warm, perfect for long swimming sessions. It is important however that before entering the water you wear a suitable footwear (can be purchased in any of the Egyptian supermarkets) to avoid unnecessary injuries, as the bottom can be rocky.

     Egypt is a perfect place for diving. If you would like to discover a deeper sea life search for professional diving instructors, there are plenty of them throughout the city and are easy to find. Otherwise, you can dive on your own with just a simple mask. You will still be able to enjoy the view of beautiful plants and endless types of fishes.

     If you decide to try diving without an instructor, make sure you do not do it on your own and ensure to stay safe at all times. You also need to be careful as in some places, the sea level drops from shallow to fifty meters down.

     When going to Egypt, I would only recommend the all inclusive basis. Both food and drinking water is different to the European standards. It is very easy to get food poisoning if you decide to eat out in inappropriate places, where as at hotels the food is prepared under strict procedures, minimising the risk.

     I stayed at Jaz Aquamarine Resort, a 5 star hotel I would strongly recommend. It is situated right next to the beach and supplies multiple swimming pools, which prevents them from getting overcrowded. There is also an aqua-park designed for children and adults. In addition it has a couple of restaurants, including an a la carte restaurant included in the price of accommodation. Furthermore, the hotel has an entertainment team which provides regular daytime and evening entertainment, including water games, animation shows and discotheque nights.

     When staying at luxury hotels, you will be surprised how inventive the cleaners are with the towels. Below is just one of many examples I was able to find.

     Outside the hotel, you will be able to find many shops within a ten minute walking distance. I wouldn't advice going to Hurghada during the summer holiday months if you're not a fan of extreme heat. August was boiling! The high temperature does not affect you as much when you stay within the hotel area because of a nice cool breeze coming over from the sea. However, as soon as you decide to leave the hotel premises and go for a walk, you will regret your decision instantly.

     The sun goes down quite early in Egypt. By around 6pm it is pitch dark, which is very unusual. It makes you feel as if it is much later, which personally I didn't enjoy, as one of the reasons I love summer is the long days and late sunsets.

     If you ever feel bored of the sweet relaxation and want to try something different, you can purchase a camel ride on the beach. It costs €10 and the photos with this photogenic animal are included in price.

     Generally I really enjoyed Hurghada and was disappointed that I only went for a week. Although Egypt is a relatively expensive destination from the UK, I would definitely visit this place again but this time I would go in September, when the temperatures are still high, but you can't feel the heat as much. I believe this would allow me to go on excursions and explore the region further.