The holiday resort of Sharm el Sheikh is translates in to “The City of Peace” and is situated on the southern tip of the Sinai peninsular. Sharm el Sheikh is the biggest city on the Sinai peninsular. The near by towns of Nuweiba, Dahab and Taba offer tourist attractions and also have a growing number of hotels large and small.

Beaches

The main industry of Sharm el-Sheikh is tourism, both domestic and international. Tourists are attracted to Sharm el-Sheikh’s natural beaches, spectacular landscape, and constant low humidity. Apart from Egypts ancient appeal, the country is a magnet for people taking package holidays than any other kind of visitor. This is due to warm Egyptian beaches, which are both low-cost and luxurious.

Water sports

Water sports, such as snorkeling, scuba diving, wind surfing, kite surfing, para sailing, boating, and canoeing, are popular here and considered to be amongst the best in the world, due to Sharm’s tranquil and transparent waters almost year-round. In close proximity to the Red Sea, Sharm offers some of the most eye-catching underwater scenery and warm water making this the perfect place to dive. Tourists have the unique opportunity to see a vast spectrum of Marine species. Sharm el-Sheikh is a habitat for two hundred and fifty of various coral reefs, and one thousand species of fish.

Excursions

Sharm offers a vast variety of excursions, for example Safari Tours, Sea Tours, Nile Cruises, and even Balloon Tours. Just imagine yourself taking a day trip to Luxor by plane from Sharm, visiting Valley of the Kings, Memnon statues, Hatshepsut temple, and Karnak temples. Alternatively, you might prefer to visit the desert mountains, which are the Sinai’s most remarkable facet, and which conceals the Colored Canyon, one of its most gorgeous highlights. Near the coastal village of Nuweiba, this outstandingly deep, narrow fracture is splashed with red, orange, yellow, and purple mineral sediments.

Transportation

You can get to Sharm by plane, boat, bus, or car. Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport offers regular flights to Alexandria, Cairo, Hurghada, and Luxor. Additionally, there are numerous cheap flights from London airports and charter flights to Ireland, Italy, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and other destinations. In Sharm’s marina, there are not only private sailboats and yachts, but also cruise ships and ferry that can take you to Aqaba and Hurghada. International Fast Ferries provides fast boats to Hurghada on the mainland Red Sea Coast four times weekly. The travel time is 1.5 hours for the price of 250 one-way and 450 LE round trip. Be aware, that the trip is infamously bumpy and subject to cancellations.

If you decide to drive to Sharm el-Sheikh, you can start from Eilat, Israel and drive down the eastern coast, via Nuweiba and Dahab. Another option is driving along the western coast from the capital city of Cairo. Local bus services run daily for either route. From Cairo, if you take an East Delta bus, your travel time would be around eight hours (80 LE); in a luxury coach, it takes in the region of 6 hours. When traveling from Cairo by bus, keep your passport and ticket handy, because you will go through several checkpoints. The drive is pleasant with magnificent scenery, all the way through the route.

In Sharm, you can travel by taxi. The taxis are generally modern, either Chevrolet or Hyundai. Be ready to demand that the taxi uses its meter; it is the law in Sharm. You can also take a small bus, which is a fleet of blue and white tuk-tuk, which is less expensive way of transportation than taxis. To get on a tuk-tuk just wait on the side of the main street and raise your hand to stop one as it approaches. A single fare to anywhere in Sharm will be approximately 20 LE.

Hotels

Many hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh, especially in the Na’ama Bay area, accommodate package holiday tourists. There are from three to six star all-inclusive hotels, refined facilities, and some budget accommodations. Sharm is a well-developed area, and it looks more like a European resort, rather than an Egyptian one. While anyone can probably spend a lot here, Sharm el-Shakh remains, for many Europeans, a comparatively cheap holiday alternative to pricey beach resorts elsewhere in Europe.

Some hotels are rather far from Na’ama Bay, so you have to pay for taxi for every trip to Na’ama. However, taxi is not that expensive from most hotels. In Na’ama Bay, the hotels are often situated across a street for pedestrians; this can interfere a bit with privacy, especially when using a hotel’s pool.

If your seeking affordable luxury check the Renaissance hotel, Hilton waterfalls and Concorde el Salaam. If you prefer a luxurious stay, among your options are Hyatt Regency Sharm El Sheikh, Grand Rotana Resort & Spa, Maritim Royal Peninsula Hotel & Resort, Four Seasons, and Ritz Carlton.

Located by Mount Musala in the Rila mountain range Borovets is the oldest winter sports resort in Bulgaria and is fast becoming one of the best known ski destinations in Europe. Borovets is around an hour’s drive from Sofia.

What is the skiing like in Borovets?

Borovets is a world class ski resort, evidenced by the fact that the town has twice been host to the World Cup and would have been used for Olympic runs had Bulgaria won the 2014 Winter Olympics. The facilities here are considered to be top rate — the biathlon track on the resort, for example, is one of the best in Europe. The resort enjoys good snowfall from December to April and usually has a mild winter. There are around 20 ski rums here spread over three sectors, Sitniakoyo, Markoudzhik and Yastrebets. Although considered a great option for families, Borovets actually offers runs of all difficulties from novice to expert.

Visitors to Borovets can also do other sports as well including snowboarding, ski-dooing, ice-skating, alpine skiing, ski jumping and cross country skiing. All signs/markings are international and the resort’s runs are well maintained. Borovets has a gondola and various chair and drag/baby drag lifts.

What kind of accommodation is available in Borovets?

As a well-established and busy resort Borovets has a wealth of hotels — from five star through to small family run concerns — and plenty of self-catering properties for those who prefer rented accommodation. Options here will suit all sizes of parties and all budgets. Typical self-catering properties include villa, apartments, chalets, houses and bungalows. Some properties here are purpose built new developments whilst others are conversions of local properties.

What’s the night-life like in Borovets?

There is plenty to do in the resort. The town has shops, bars, cafes and restaurants as well as various discos and clubs for skiers who like to burn the candle at both ends! From an eating perspective there are all kinds of cuisines on offer from stalls selling local snacks, to traditional Bulgarian restaurants through to the kind of modern European cuisine that is universally found.

What else is there to do apart from skiing?

Many visitors explore the local countryside so hiking, walking and horse-riding are all popular activities. Some people take the opportunity to go up Mount Musala which involves a lift for part of the way and then a walk to get to the top. Visitors should take a look at the Bistrista Palace which is an old royal hunting lodge which contains some great examples of wood carving for which the region is renowned. Other activities include swimming, bowling and there are various health/spa options as well. Many visitors also go a little further afield and make a visit to historical Sofia or Plovdiv.

Conclusion

The facilities and friendly atmosphere in Borovets make this an ideal destination for a ski holiday. Although the resort is very well designed and maintained at the moment it is likely to benefit from further improvements. The Bulgarian government has started a ‘Super Borovets’ initiative which is designed to turn the resort into a year-round holiday destination. As part of this initiative the winter sports facilities will also be enhanced.

Puerto Vallarta prizes itself because of its rich cultural and historical value. It is also one of those cities of Mexico that try to indulge in historical and cultural traditions in order to keep them alive. Some of these traditions lie in the depth and heart of the colonial Spanish culture which is extremely rich and grand. One of these classic traditional activities is bullfighting.

This glorious experience takes place at Plaza de Toros, which is very close to Cruise Ship Pier situated in Marina Vallarta. The spectacle includes the finest four matadors which take the place of the center ring. These matadors then battle it out with the fierce and unruly bull. The bullfights in Puerto Vallarta are not just an exciting sport but they have abundant splendor. Its history also lies in folklores and it carries abundant symbolic significance of Mexico. The roots of this tradition lie in ancient history which dates all the way back to 711 A.D. This amazing spectacle displays and is a testimony to not only the valor and bravery of the matador but it also magnifies the strength of the bull and how this bullfighting is a tribute to the bull’s spirit prior to its death. Moreover it also marks and celebrates the machismo culture. You can all enjoy this spectacle with its vibrant costumes. Live music will also be present to provide entertainment to all those who attend. But above all else you will be able to enjoy a thrilling battle which is fought between man and a beast.

However, the important thing to note here is that these bullfights are real and not the ones which are bloodless. Therefore the bulls that are involved in the show are actually killed. Hence, this spectacle should only be watched by those who do not have a faint heart and it is not for children. It is also advisable for you to gain prior knowledge about bullfights before attending, which you can always check online on Wikipedia.

These bullfights take place on Wednesdays from 5:00 p.m. till 6:30 p.m. These bullfights begin in November and last till the month of June. The duration of this epic fight is 1 hour and 45 minutes. The things you might need for this spectacle are of course sunscreen in order to protect your skin; you can even bring a hat. It is advisable that you keep some extra money with yourself in case you want to get some refreshments or indulge in buying some souvenirs.

This adventure departs from Plaza de Toros which is situated in Puerto Vallarta, and is only 7 minute walk away from the Cruise pier situated in Marina Vallarta. Even though all ages are permitted for this event it is NOT advisable for children to attend this event. The price for Adults is $31.50 and for kids it is $17.50 pesos. This is a spectacle which is for the brave and courageous. Thus, if you are macho, you can prove it by watching these bullfights here at Puerto Vallarta.