Thomson Turkey holidays staying at the Club Alka Apartments which provide a small and friendly introduction to the vibrant resort of Gümbet and are a great base from which to explore the many hidden jewels that this part of Turkey has to offer.

Thomas Cook Egypt holidays staying at the Tropicana Rosetta. This extensive complex comprising of the Rosetta, Hills and Naama Sun Club offers views over Naama Bay and is ideal for those seeking a lively hotel with a range of facilities.

Weather in Venice
Venice is situated in the north-east of Italy on the Adriatic coast. With so much to see and do this is a popular destination throughout the year despite the fact that it can be cold in winter and some may find summer uncomfortably hot and humid. There are pleasant beaches - including those at the Lido – but visitors don’t come here for a sun and sand holiday. Winter is the quietest season, although Christmas and the New Year are popular and crowds flock in for the Carnevale in February. Many guides recommend visiting from May to early June or September to mid-October but really Venice is a magical destination at any time.

Venice Weather – Hot sunny summers, pleasant springs and autumns
Late spring temperatures of over 20°C make it a pleasant time to visit the city with none of the humidity and intense heat of the high summer. The average highs in July and August are 27°C but it can reach into the 30’s, which with the summer crowds can make sight-seeing a little tiring.  On the plus side, summer visitors can expect 8-10 hours of sunshine glittering across the surface of the canals. November is the wettest month but rain falls here throughout the year. In summer may be afternoon thunderstorms while in winter it’s often more persistent rain or even snow blowing in from the Alps. 

Weather in Venice – Blue sky or mist, it adds to the magic
Venice is a truly spectacular destination and the weather often adds to the spectacle. A clear blue sky in spring or autumn is wonderful but then a swirling winter mist can be incredibly romantic. Even the frequent fogs add a cloak of mystery. A crisp, cold winter’s day with a layer of snow is something special indeed, and the heat of summer makes a gelato all the more enjoyable. One thing it’s harder to prepare for, except by packing wellingtons, is the acqua alta, or high tide, which can cause flooding and is most likely during November and December. This can cause problems but usually only lasts a few hours. Bring the right clothes and Venice, with so much to see inside and out, will not disappoint.

Getting around
Venice may have 150 canals and 118 islands but walking around its traffic-free centre is a delight. For travelling on the canals the waterbuses, or vaporetto, are good value, especially with an unlimited travel ticket or a Venice Card, which includes free or reduced admission to museums and other attractions. Water taxis are expensive, fast and luxurious. Gondolas are expensive, slow and romantic.

The Grand Canal
The city’s main artery snakes through Venice for 2.5 miles with splendid bridges, including the Rialto, which carries shops across the canal, and nearly 200 palaces with their wonderful mix of Renaissance, Byzantine, Baroque and Classical architecture.

Art collections
Great art is everywhere but two collections stand out. The Accademia Galleries chronicle the development of Venetian art and include works by Titian, Bellini, Piero della Francesca and Veneziano. By way of contrast, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is an impressive record of early to mid-20th century art by the likes of Picasso, Max Ernst, Pollock, Giacometti and Henry Moore, all housed in an attractive 18th century palace.
 
Piazza San Marco
Described by Napoleon as ‘The most beautiful drawing-room in Europe’, St Mark’s Square is a place to relax and people-watch or just stare in awe at Saint Mark’s Basilica, the Church of San Geminiano and the Doges Palace.

The Lido and islands
Torcello was once a city larger than Venice. San Michele is the cemetery island. Murano is famous for its glassmaking. Burano is known for its painted fishermen’s cottages and lace making. Mazzorbo is covered with vineyards and orchards. And the Lido di Venezia is an 11-mile sandbar and beach resort famous for its film festival held each August/September.

Shopping
This is Italy and you’ll find plenty of elegant designer fashion stores, especially around St Mark’s Square. Local crafts include lace making, glassmaking and, of course, mask-making. There has been a market on the site of the famous Rialto since 1097, and even if you’re not shopping the Fresh Produce Market and Pescheria are worth a visit.

Eating and drinking
Seafood is truly excellent and the prices can reflect this, but it is possible to find relatively inexpensive food. Look out for neighbourhood bars, or bacari, where you’ll find tramezzini, small, tasty half-sandwiches, and cicchetti, little toothpick snacks. You’ll probably want to save some money before visiting Venice institutions such as Caffè Florian, Gran Caffè Quadri and Harry’s Bar.

Carnevale
Masks are sold all year but the actual Carnival is around two weeks leading up to Lent. Its origins go back to the 13th century when masks and costumes were worn to help break down the rigid social conventions. Expect the city to be packed for a series of gala balls, concerts, street parties and a stunning firework finale.

Georgioupolis Holidays – Popular resort between historic towns
Georgioupolis is a popular developed resort with a huge beach on the northern coast of Crete between the historic towns of Chania, twenty miles away, and Rethymnon, 12 miles distant. The original village of Georgioupolis has grown with popularity but remains a pleasant place, an excellent base for exploring this part of Crete, and is set in beautiful countryside between sea and mountains. Three rivers flow into the sea at Georgioupolis and the largest, the Almiros, forms a delta and small harbour for small fishing and tourist boats.

Holidays In Georgioupolis – Beaches for miles
Holidays in Georgioupolis obviously centre on the incredibly long Georgioupolis beach of sand and shingle that stretches for around 6 miles! The beach has good clear water and is quite developed with plenty of accommodation, bars and tavernas close to the seafront. The seaside atmosphere is relatively relaxed. If the 6 miles of beach at Georgioupolis isn’t enough there are boat trips to other resorts and beaches in the region as well as water sports. Holidays in Georgioupolis can take advantage of good transport connections to visit the attractive historic towns of Chania and Rethymnon, both of which have fascinating and cosmopolitan old towns and a different atmosphere from the strictly holiday-based beach resorts.

Georgioupolis Holidays – A popular base for the north coast
Popular Georgioupolis holiday excursions include the springs and waterfalls at the neighbouring village of Argiroupolis and the lake of Kournas, which is within walking distance; the only fresh water lake on Crete and an important wildlife centre. Horse riding is available. A holiday in Georgioupolis should take a day at least to explore the stunning landscapes of inland Crete with their vineyards, olive groves and charming traditional villages backed by the White Mountains.

The winter weather in Opatija is temperate and gentle. Winter temperatures in Opatija fall to anywhere between 8C and 13C. The prime bathing season on the Adriatic runs between June and late September. You’ll experience the most rain in October and November, while the town’s driest months, both very popular for holidays in Opatija, are July and August. Snow is very rare indeed, but there are a few well-known local winds. The Bura wind is coastal and blows north east through the winter in gusts, bringing clear weather and high seas. The Jugo wind is a warm, humid wind which also generates large waves. And there’s the Mestral wind, loved by everyone, which blows off the sea to cool the summer heat beautifully.

Senator Apartments is a great base for enjoying all this side of the island has to offer.  Within walking distance to the island's best nightlife in Ayia Napa, and one of the best beaches, in Nissi, it also offers 3 pools with poolside bars, excellent self catering studios with balcony, TV, kitchen and Air conditioning.

Club Antique Palace Hotel lies on the outskirts of Marmaris and has a family-friendly setting.  There are 3 swimming pools on site and a restaurant with a bar.  Accommodation has air conditioning, kitchen with fridge, kettle, toaster and satellite TV.

Water sports
WIth its perfect climate and long sandy beaches, a holiday in the Canaries offers a great opportunity to indulge in plenty of water sports, with facilities for activities such as kayaking, water-skiing, parascending and surfing available.

WInd surfing
Boasting delightful warm weather and exceptional wind conditions, the Canary Islands are an established base for wind-surfing and kite-surfing. Fuerteventura, in particular, is a haven for wind-surfing and hosts the World Championships each year, with resorts such as Corralejo and Caleta de Fuste offering equipment and tuition for visitors.  

Sailing
Plenty of schools offer charters out into the clear warm waters surrounding the Canary Islands, with the trade winds creating enjoyable conditions for sailing, both for those looking for expert tuition or pure relaxation out on the water.

Scuba-diving
Diving is widely available throughout the Canaries, with the area boasting some excellent scuba-dive sites. Diving in Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria are the most popular islands for diving, with varied coastlines offering several wrecks, and an impressive array of marine life, such as sting rays, barracudas, trumpet fish and eels.

Deep-sea fishing
The Canaries are one of the worlds' leading sport-fishing locations, with most of the major resorts on the islands offering trips and excursions. With the waters home to varieties including sharks, marlin, swordfish and tuna, conditions for deep-sea fishing are excellent.

Horse riding
Full of natural beauty and with a glorious climate, one of the best ways to explore the Canary Islands is on horse-back. With its diverse landscapes of volcanic mountains, tropical green forests and long sandy beaches, horse riding is a relaxing way to spend time whilst on holiday in the Canaries.

Walking and hiking
With an extensive amount of hiking trails both along the coastline and inland, the Canary Islands are ideal for discovering on foot, whether it's strenuously making it up to the top of Mount Teide on Tenerife, or strolling through the lush tropical greenery on La Palma.

Days out
There are many water parks to choose from all over the Canary Islands, and everything from zoos, marine shows, botanical gardens, bird and butterfly sanctuaries, to specialized amusement and entertainment parks, (including a wild west theme, and even an aboriginal park).

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Thomson holidays in the Caribbean staying at the Oasis Cano. Tucked away on the coast, this hotel couldn’t have a more idyllic location if it tried with gently swaying coconut palms and translucent turquoise seas.

Thomas Cook Turkey holidays staying at the modern Melissa Gardens complex. With a welcoming atmosphere and bright, comfortable accommodation, this makes a great base for couples, families and groups of friends.

Twenty minutes drive away is Mijas Costa, 7.5 miles of fine coastline encompassing resorts like El Chaparral, El Combo, Riviera del Sol and Sitio de Calahonda. Here, life is totally contemporary, and you’ll find an enormous choice of fun things to do in and on the sea including jet skiing, waterskiing, windsurfing, paragliding and much more.