The Cote d’Azur is France’s third biggest economic region, and being framed by both the Mediterranean Ocean sparkling beneath the sun, and by the snowy Alps also glistening below the cloudless blue sky, this visually stunning region of France remains a hotspot for tourists and business travellers alike.

In fact given the Cote d’Azur’s economical attractiveness – being France’s leading region for business outside Ile-de-France – which contrasts delightfully with its immense natural splendour, the province remains one of the world’s top tourist destinations, attracting approximately 35 million tourists each year.

The region’s economic success and prosperity is reflected through the excellent transport infrastructure the Cote d’Azur boasts, including three international airports – Marseille, Nice and Toulon.

Cheap flights to South of France have now been made more feasible than ever with the announcement that Easyjet has opened a new base in Nice. In March this year the budget airline opened two new bases in the south of France, one in the airport of Nice and one in Toulouse Airport, meaning Easyjet is well on its way to becoming a pan-European airline.

Easyjet’s arrival to Nice and Toulouse has meant that travellers now have access to 12 new routes, including eight daily flights from Paris to both the southern France airports.

Increasing the number of flights to and from Nice is part of the development of Nice’s infrastructure and promises to give both the tourist sector an even bigger boost in the Cote d’Azur, as well as those travelling for business purposes, by increasing the number of travellers being able to reach this particularly beautiful and exclusive region of France relatively inexpensively.

Talking about the cheap flights to South of France and the benefits of Easyjet being based in Nice and Toulouse will bring to the regions, Herve de Place, President of Nice Cote d’Azur Airport said in a press conference:

“Nice still has development potential and Easyjet can serve what Cote d’Azur passengers expect, not just for leisure but also business.”

Asides its rapidly expanding transport infrastructure, the Cote d’Azur is also home to one of the largest pools of technologically resources in Europe.

It is this unique blend of natural beauty, excellent transport infrastructure and the being among the best in Europe for technological innovation, which makes the Cote d’Azur a truly world-class place to visit.

So with cheap flights to South of France sorted, why not have a look at Vintage Travel’s portfolio of luxury villas with pools?

This holiday competition 2012 can be entered on the Sudocrem Mousse facebook page, the prize is worth £2500. You just need to answer three moose related questions.

The luxury Spanish villa is from our extensive portfolio of luxury villas in Spain. If you are looking for a holiday competition 2012 with a great prize, go to the Sudocrem mousse facebook page.

Good luck everyone!

Being one of Europe’s favourite holiday destinations, the sunny Algarve has had hordes of travel guides and books written about it over the years, dedicated to informing discerning travellers of the many treasures the region is blessed with. Now a new book on the Algarve with a difference has been launched, written by Len Port, an Irish journalist and author who has lived on the Algarve for the last 25 years.

The ‘place apart’ reference to the title of the book refers to the Algarve, which, because of its geographical position as the most south-western extremity of mainland Europe, in ancient times the region was steeped in mysticism for being on the ‘very edge of the world’.  This ‘mysticism’ has remained an integral part of the Algarve’s history, culture and charm.

‘People in a Place Apart’ explores the remarkable diversity of foreign cultures in the Algarve, as well as focussing on some of the extraordinary individuals who have visited or made the region their home over the years. This unusual slant provides readers with a profounder understanding and absorbing comprehension of this incredible region of southern Portugal.

From famous political figures, royalty, heads of state and warriors, such as Henry Cooper. Vasco da Gama and Henry Cooper, to intimate portrayals of famous contemporary names who have an association with the Algarve, such as Paul McCartney and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, Port’s book provides comprehensive insight about a region that has crowed intrigue, excitement and fascination for centuries.

Len Port is a veteran writer, whose articles and books never fail to rouse the imagination, with one fan of Port’s books averring that ‘Len is one of those writers that keeps you hanging on his every word’.

In 2010 the Algarve author launched a book called ‘Fatima’ to coincide with Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Portugal, which chronicles the events before, during and since the six Fatima apparitions of 1917.

From villains to victims, heroes to enemies, Len Port’s latest book provides a refreshingly novel take on a truly tremendous region of Portugal.

‘People in a Place Apart’ is currently only available as an eBook and can be downloaded to Kindle devices, as well as Kindle apps for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, PC, Blackberry and Android devices.

If your trip to the Dordogne does however involve children, you may be less inclined to spend your days exploring the natural beauty of this awe-inspiring region. To help entertain the children during your stay, we have located three great educational activities for children in the Dordognecan do whilst the adults can take in the sheer beauty of the region in a more relaxing manner.

Art Workshop at the Zigou Studio, Bergerac

For all young budding artists out there, there is no place quite as artistically inspiring as the Dordogne. Capitalise on this natural inspiration and enrol you children at the Art Workshop held at Zigou Studio in Bergerac. Small classes and private lessons run on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, with both French and English speaking tutors. The Art Workshop is available for children aged 3 – 16 and focuses on drawing, painting, collage and modelling.

For more information on the Art Workshop in Bergerac call 06 81 52 38 78

Garden Workshop

You only have to look at the vast amount of immaculately kept gardens brimming with colour and life to realise that there is a huge emphasis on gardening in the Dordogne. Why not let your youngsters experience, play and learn about gardening in the spectacular surroundings of the Jardin Botanique de la Bastide in Bordeaux. The Garden Workshop is open for children aged 8 – 12 and is held every Wednesday afternoon.

Ring 05 56 52 18 77 for more information on Bordeaux’s Garden Workshop.

Science Workshop

Children have a natural fascination with science, hence the popularity of the Science Workshops held at Cap Sciences in Bordeaux. Each Wednesday afternoon a different scientific theme is run at the workshop that never fails to captivate children’s naturally inquisitive minds. The workshops are available to children aged 8 – 14.

For more information ring 05 56 01 07 07.

For the perfect child friendly villa in the Dordogne, how about La Maison Fleurie (pictured)? With a pool, swings and table tennis available, the kids will be more than happy here!

If you are on the look-out for a great new camera to accompany you on your impending holiday, take a look at one of the best luxury villa rental websites Vintage Travel’s top three cameras for a holiday abroad.

IXUS 220 HS

With an optional waterproof case, the IXUS 220 HS enables you to explore underwater photography on your holiday. With a ‘Smart Auto’ function, the camera detects 32 different scenes including Beach and Sunset enabling users to take quality photos specifically designed for capturing shots on the beach as well as those beautiful sunsets we are likely to witness on holiday. With a stainless steel chassis the 220 HS is likely to withstand some more ‘extreme’ conditions than it is perhaps used to, such as exposure to water, dust and high temperatures, and will be a stylish accessory for your well-deserved holiday in the sun.

Panasonic DMC-FT10

This compact digital camera weighs just 157g and measures just 21.6mm and therefore can fit easily into your beach bag and will not weigh you down. The Panasonic DMC-FT10 is shockproof, waterproof and dustproof and will therefore be able to survive the dust of Spain, endure the penetrating beats of a club in Kavos and will live to see another day after being taken for a ride on a banana boat in Malta. And costing a modest £159.95, the Panasonic DMC-FT10 will not break you pre-holiday budget.

TX-10 Cybershot

This stylish camera is available in five different colours and would be a trendy accessory on your summer holiday. The TX-10 Cybershot takes 16-megapixel photographs and shoots HD videos, thus allowing your precious holiday memories to be captured in high-definition videos – perfect to help you overcome those post-holiday blues. Similar to the DMC-FT10, the TX-10 Cybershot is dustproof, waterproof and shockproof, meaning it should be able to handle all the potential damaging features a summer holiday may throw at it.

That’s the camera sorted, now all you need is somewhere to go. For one of the best luxury villa rental websites, come and have a look at Vintag Travel’s stunning portfolio of properties.

If you want to improve your holiday snaps then read on, as our five tips for taking great holiday photos may help you in your quest to produce a David Bailey-esque summer holiday album.

1. Use the flash outdoors

Many people solely associate a flash with dimly lit areas and indoor shooting. A flash however should not be confined to ‘light-starved’ settings, and even in bright sunlight, a flash can even out contrasts and fill in the shadows, creating a more ‘masterful’ photograph.

2. Don’t use the flash indoors

Whilst it can be advantageous to use your flash outdoors, it can be equally as beneficial to not use the flash indoors, particularly in well-lit hotel rooms and apartments on holiday where there is plenty of natural daylight. If you are shooting a subject indoors, make sure you are between the subject and the main source of light, namely a door or a window, as including a door or window in the composition will throw off your exposure meter.

3. Capture reflections

From the moon reflecting on the sea to the sunset casting a hazy pink hue on the horizon, your summer holiday is likely to be full of reflections. Keep your eye out for interesting splashes of colour, as capturing reflections often makes great photos.

4. Get up close

Photos that comprise of a subject that dominates the photograph and is impossible to miss often make great photos. If your baby’s face is covered in ice-cream or your partner is snoring away on the beach, remember to get up close, as these pictures are often the best.

5. Shoot first ask questions later

The beauty about digital photography is that, unlike film photography, you can take as many pictures as you want. Take advantage of this ‘infinite’ component of modern digital photography by snapping away as much as you want. The more photographs you have of your holiday, the more it will keep the memory alive.

For the more ‘budget conscious’ travellers, we have uncovered three activities in Monaco for under 30 euros.

Le Loga Restaurant’s ‘from 14 euro meals’

Located on the stunning Boulevard des Moulins, in the heart of Monaco, the fashionable and classy Le Loga Restaurant is offering menus starting at 14 euros.

Although it offers ‘value for money’ – a concept normally alien in Monaco – Le Loga does not compromise style and taste. This popular restaurant is somewhere between being a contemporary brasserie and a traditional restaurant, which boasts a classic dining room and a stylish open air terrace.

For more information on Le Loga, visit the website.

Monaco Dance Forum 2011

From July 8 – July 10 2011, the globally recognised contemporary choreographer, Carolyn Carlson, and iconic figure in the world of equestrian art, Bartabas, will be collaborating to bring visitors of Monaco the ‘We Were Horses Show’.

Held in the Chapiteau de Fontvieille on the Avenue des Ligures, ‘We Were Horses’ promises to be a stunning visual performance of dance and equestrian art, what’s more, tickets cost from just 24 euros.

To snatch up a ticket for what promises to be a remarkable show for a remarkably reasonable price, click here.

Café Llorca’s ‘20 euro lunches’

Another exquisite eatery selling incredibly inexpensive lunches, is Café Llorca, located on Avenue Princesse Grace, in the heart of the stylish French Riviera town.

Every day Café Llorca is offering two lunch deals for just 20 euros. The meal includes the main dish of the day and a glass of wine or ½ a litre of mineral water.

The restaurant also offers a daily 22 euro meal that includes the a starter of the day, a main course of the day and a glass of wine or ½ a litre of mineral water – Not bad for one of the most expensive cities in the world!

Prepare your family for their hiking adventure

Preparation, like most things in life, is the secret to a successful hiking holiday. Research the destination and area you will be walking in by searching local maps, park websites, guidebooks and libraries for information about the area.

Involving your children in the research can be a good way to get them involved and rouse up excitement for their holiday – If they need it that is!

Once you have researched the area you can chose the most suitable trails for children.

Also check out how close the nearest restaurants and shops are, as there is nothing worse than arriving at a destination with hungry children only to find there are no shops in a 20 miles radius!

Bring the right gear

If you are hiking with children remember to take clothes and accessories to cater for all types of weather. Remember to pack sunhats and sun cream, as well as rain macs and wellies. Taking insect repellent and cream is also advisable if you are spending long hours in the outdoors with children.

Take plenty of water

Children become dehydrated more quickly than adults, even if they are not doing any walking and are being carried in a backpack! Make sure you take plenty of water on your daily hiking expeditions, and stop regularly to give your children sips of water.

Start early in the day

The temperatures are obviously lower early in the morning and as a result it is advantageous to start your day’s hiking earlier rather than later. Try to avoid the harsh midday heat, particularly if you are hiking in a hot country. Try and develop some kind of routine on your holiday as children, generally, thrive on routine. Get up at a similar time each day, have a hearty breakfast and then start hiking, before that sun gets too high!

Let your child take the lead

Children love being given responsibility and therefore letting them ‘take the lead’ on the trial will make them feel important and could help to avoid the ‘Dad I want to be carried’ scenario! Obviously do not let your child get too far in front as it is easy to become lost on many hiking trials.

Make walking fun

To keep morale up it is important to make your hiking ventures fun. Play games with your children as you walk, such as ‘I Spy’ and name the wildlife. Talk to your children about the local history and wildlife; let your holiday be an educational one as well as a fun one!

Given this surge in popularity, we feel a blog post dedicated to the five best travel apps available would make an interesting, or if not important, read.

Everytrail

Download Everytrail to your iPhone and you can immediately start plotting walks, cycling, skiing and even kayaking routes anywhere in the world. Users can attach photos and keep and log of the routes they have accomplished and then show them off to friends via Facebook and Twitter – perfect for the adventure traveller.

iPlane Pro

The days of having to leave your drink in the airport bar, wearily walk over to the departure board and squint up at the screen to find still no information about your flight has been displayed, are numbered, thanks to the iPlane Pro app. Install this little beauty and you will receive up-to-date information about the status of your flight, including gate numbers, meaning you can sit back and relax at the airport.

Translator

With 53 different dictionaries and phrasebooks conveniently located on your iPhone, you will never have to take a dictionary abroad with you again, giving you more room and weight on those stingy luggage restrictions. Pronunciation also accompanies the written translations, meaning you will walk off the plane with similar language skills as a local!

Touchnote Postcards

Desperately searching for a shop that sells postcards and then being face with the even more difficult task of finding a post box when you are in the back and beyond so that your loved-ones back home will receive their annual postcard from you is an affliction of the past, if you download the Touchnote Postcards app to your iPhone. Simply take a photograph, attach a note and an address and the Touchnote Postcard team will create a real-life postcard and send it to the address provided.

UrbanSpoon

Download this ultra-innovative app, shake your iPhone, watch the spin like a slot machine, and ‘hey presto’ your iPhone screen is engulfed by a ‘best of’ restaurant guide of the town where you are located – Does technology come much better than this?

Travelling can be a stressful experience in normal situations, let alone with an awkward and bulky golf bag, numerous golf balls and barrage of golf clubs in tow.

There are several steps you can take to make travelling with your golfing repertoire as stress free as possible. Here’s how.

1) Buy yourself a decent golf bag with wheels. A good, sturdy but lightweight case will, not only protect your clubs, but will make wheeling it around the airport and in and out of taxis and hotels easier.

2) Endeavour to only take half of your golf set with you. If you feel you can manage with half a set, it will give you more room in the car and less weight to carry around.

3) Hire a car that has enough room for your golf set. There is nothing worse than arriving at your hire car only to find it does not have sufficient room for your golf accessories. Plan ahead and make sure you book a hire car with plenty of room.

4) Many insurance companies do not cover sporting items such as golf clubs and will not automatically insure you for loss or damage to such items or injuries you may sustain whilst on the golf course. Ensure that your travel insurance includes golf cover, if not, get covered.

5) Many golf resorts abroad will not allow you to play in any footwear other than golf shoes. To be on the safe side, always pack your golf shoes in your suitcase.

6) Many sites also insist on seeing a handicap certificate. It is advisable to either check with the resort whether you will require one or not or just take a handicap certificate with you. They can be obtained from your club handicap secretary for no charge.