When booking a holiday, one of the most important aspects is the accommodation. The right accommodation can make a holiday absolutely perfect, while the wrong type of accommodation can ruin a holiday.

Finding the right type of accommodation may seem daunting at first but there are a few handy hints to make the task a lot easier. The first aspect to look at when considering accommodation is the location. There is no point in paying low prices for accommodation in the middle of nowhere with no available transport. The easiest way to check the location is to locate the property on a map, paying attention to nearby transport options such as buses and subways. If the accommodation is not located near the centre of a city or town then make sure that the transport runs frequently and late at night or if there is parking available for hire cars. Also, is the accommodation is located within the city, the safety and noise level of the area should be taken into consideration.

Another important consideration for finding the right place to stay is to assess what type of accommodation is needed. For families; hotels, guesthouses and holiday camps offer secure accommodation with handy services. Large groups of individuals, particularly stag and hen parties are more suited to large apartments which can be shared. Smaller groups and individual travellers will find hotels suitable as well as hostels which provide basic accommodation. Special consideration must be taken for sporting holidays such as ski trips or surfing holidays, as storage for equipment and location are important.

This accommodation can vary in quality and one way to avoid booking poor quality accommodation is to be aware of previous customer`s reviews which can often be found on independent travel websites. For hotels, the star rating is a good indication of quality while other types of accommodation may be awarded local tourist commendations as well as international awards for service. Another aspect to be aware of is that some accommodation offers unique features such as art hotels which are available in a number of cities.

Of course all these different types of accommodation vary in price with the cheapest typically being hostels and the most expensive being luxury hotels. However, cheap accommodation of all types can be found simply by shopping around and taking advantage of special offers. A number of websites offer special deals on accommodation particularly for last minute bookings but the accommodation will also usually offer special prices and discounts.

By following these handy hints, there`s no reason why booking accommodation can`t be simple and stress free. With so many great examples of accommodation across Europe such as Barcelona secret rooms and hidden rooms in Paris, there are lots of great places to enjoy your stay.

Camping in Europe means different things to different people; a backpack camping trip favoured by the independent traveller will bear no resemblance to a two week camping package holiday for parents with three children in tow. Whatever kind of camping holiday you are planning there are an number of universal tips which will make the trip as enjoyable as possible. Once you have chosen your destination you need to think about your equipment.

Choosing the right tent to suit your needs – taking into account how many will sleep in it, how frequently you will be moving on during your trip, how important living space will be.

Packing light is essential if you are taking your own tent, the tent itself and all the additional equipment you`ll need to be comfortable by necessity means there won`t be a great deal of space left for clothing, toiletries, toys, books or luxury items; this holds true whether you are going to be carrying your temporary home on your back or packing it into the boot of your family car.

Lists are essential when you are packing for a camping holiday, for the first time camper this can be a bit tricky but we keep our list from one year to the next and refine it with each trip.

Having a practice run at home is a really good idea for first timers. Even if all you gain from this is knowledge of how to put the tent up efficiently it will be worth it, but if you can have a go at cooking and sleeping out too you will get a valuable insight into how comfortable you are and get an idea of whether you think there are things you can`t leave behind or others you probably won`t need.

With this useful information under your belt it is time to choose your campsite. Facilities on a campsite vary tremendously from simple pitches with basic toilet and shower facilities to resort style sites with shop, pool, restaurant, bar and entertainment. Many campers love sleeping under the stars and enjoy the outdoor lifestyle but still enjoy being surrounded by all the facilities on offer in places like Eurocamp Waikiki Holiday Park where there are fantastic sports facilities as well as swimming pools and where the on-site restaurant and entertainment keep all the family happily fed and amused the whole holiday long.

Oaxaca is a beautiful historic city southeast of Mexico City with a rich heritage and a slowly recovering reputation that was marred by the Teachers’ Strike of 2006. The teachers’ protests cast Oaxaca in an unfavorable light and even made it quite dangerous (in much of 2006 impossible) to visit.

While undoubtedly a complex situation, the sad fact is that despite striking each year for 25 years (each time for better pay), Oaxacan teachers do not seem to be improving the performance of their students. Education in the state of Oaxaca is among the worst in Mexico, leading one to wonder if the strikes are helping or hindering the education of poor Mexican children. To an outside observer, it seems obvious that students are better off learning in school rather than sitting at home while their teachers protest each year. During the strike in 2006, students sat at home for 7 months – a scandalously long time for a young student.

But thankfully, with the resolution of the situation, children are back in school and tourists have started to return to this charming colonial city.

There are many things to do in and around Oaxaca. Here are the top things to do that will leave you with fond memories of Oaxaca:

Sightseeing around the Zocalo

The Zocalo is where the action is – day or night. There are plenty of restaurants on the Zocalo for a nice meal or a margarita. In the evening, people-watching can be a lot of fun as you sit under giant trees and listen to street musicians performing throughout the plaza. Don’t be afraid to go exploring, especially for dinner. We found an excellent local restaurant nearby that served one of the most delicious meals we had while in Mexico. When sightseeing in town, use the Zocalo as a handy orientation for where you are and where you want to go.

Read the full review on the Zocalo in Oaxaca

Mitla

Mitla is the second most famous ruin around Oaxaca. It is a bit further away but well worth a visit. Mitla is a small ancient city that became the most important city for the Zapotecs after the fall of Monte Alban in 750 AD. The ruins are mostly a collection of religious and ceremonial buildings built within the old city walls. When the Spanish arrived, they dismantled many of these buildings and built a church here. The best way to experience Mitla is with a guided tour, which typically also include a stop at a Mezcal distillery, a visit to a modern Zapotec weaver and the widest tree in the world, the Tule Tree.

Read the full review on Mitla

Hierve el Agua

Hierve el Agua, at 2400m above sea level, is a geologically fascinating sight that will appeal to travelers who want to get closer to nature while visiting Oaxaca. It is located further east of Mitla, making it a good attraction to visit in conjunction with Mitla. Hierve el Agua means “the water boils” in Spanish and once you get there, you will see why. Because water trickles down the rock face so slowly, it mostly evaporates, leaving behind rock formations that resemble a frozen waterfall. It isn’t easy to get here on your own but it is an impressive waterfall that was an important source of water for the ancient civilizations here.

Read the full review on Hierve el Agua

Monte Alban

Monte Alban was the biggest and most well known ancient city of the Zapotecs near Oaxaca.  It was built as early as 500 BC and was the great center for the Zapotec civilization. The city is impressive – thousands of workers built religious temples, palaces, tombs and ball courts high in the mountains east of modern day Oaxaca. As all of the great centers, Monte Alban was the heart of the empire and in turn, the epicenter of religious importance.

Just 9km (6 miles) from Oaxaca, Monte Alban is close enough that you can simply grab a taxi and spend a half day exploring the ruins.

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