Declared  a national monument, Toledo, a small city found on a Castilian hilltop overlooking the Rio Tajo (River Tagus), was once the Spanish capital under the Visigoths (567 to 711) and again when Felipe II moved the Court of Spain to Madrid (1085 to 1561). It is still the religious centre of Spain. Locals often refer to Toledo as ‘La Ciudad Imperial’ (The Imperial City).

Getting Info
The tourist information office in Toledo is located on the Carretera de Madrid, next to the main gate officially known as the Puerta Nueva de Bisagra. An additional tourism kiosk resides on the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, close to the cathedral.

What to see
The top attractions in Toledo do of course include the city’s magnificent cathedral, which houses some beautiful stained glass, delicate wood and stone sculptures and a large collection of paintings. Also of note is El Alcázar (the Alcázar), a fort that was founded almost 1,000 years ago, while for Spanish art, the Museo de Santa Cruz (Holy Cross Museum) boasts an extensive collection, including a wide selection of paintings by famous Renaissance artist, El Greco. Relatively close by is the Museo de Taller del Moro (the Taller del Moro Museum), where you can learn more about the construction of Toledo’s cathedral itself.

Where to Stay and Eat
Toledo is situated near to Madrid, the capital of Spain, and is full of many charming narrow, winding streets which are almost like a labyrinth. Most of the Toledo hotels are located at the Plaza de Zocodover, which is known as Zoco to the locals, and there are also a good number of excellent restaurants and bars in this area.

The diverse architectural styles that traverse the centuries from Gothic to Baroque have benefited from the city’s ties to the Christians, Moors and Jews. Boasting a plethora of fine arts and including works by the likes of El Greco, Goya and Velaquez, Toledo is one of Europe’s most visited sites and very accessible on foot.

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When it comes to public holidays, Australia seems like it’s missing out a bit. After all, pretty much every holiday activity comes down to: have a barbie. Of course, so does pretty much every day that ends in ‘y’. But a quick look around the world reveals some of the craziness you can get up to, holidays that pack an element of danger to liven them up.  After all, the worst you get in Australia is some singed eyebrows. Note: everyone knows about the bloody running of the bulls, so we’ll skip it, shall we?

Songkran – Thailand
Thai new year started out as a quiet, dignified event where small cups of water were respectfully poured on the shoulders of neighbours, family and buddhas. Then super soaker technology arrived in Southeast Asia and Songkran would never be the same. Now it’s a raucous, nation-wide waterfight complete with Thais by the ute-load chucking ice-cold water on anyone in sight, up to and including passing motorbike drivers doing 70 kph. Bring an underwater camera, you won’t want to miss this one.

Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling Contest – Gloucester, England
Ever had a real serious craving for a Babybel? How about one that weighs 350+ kilos? Sounds great, right? Now imagine chasing said cheesy comestible down a near vertical hill with dozens of other blokes hot at your heels. For two centuries the pommies have been doing just that every final Monday in May.

Beehive Rockets Festival – Yanshui, Taiwan
Shooting fireworks into the air is for wimps. In Taiwan they know that they best vantage point for a fireworks show is at the business end. At the end of Chinese New Year, the locals and visitors in this small farm town down protective gear that never fully works and are pelted with tiny rockets from 4 meter tall launching platforms.

There you have it. If self-preservation isn’t your thing, these three festivals might be.

The Sierra Nevada’s in Southern Spain boasts the highest mountain range in Europe after the Alps. There are over 20 peaks with the highest being over 3,000 metres, but walkers do not have to succumb to mountain climbing to enjoy the fabulous hiking, photographic opportunities or bird watching in the area. Here are three options on where to start planning your walking adventures into this stunning part of Spain.

1: Parque Natural de la Sierra de Grazalema

This park has over 51,695 hectares of river valley views, cliffs, limestone caves, grottoes, and gorges to explore, not to mention quaint white washed villages.

The township of Grazalema itself has a woolen mill worth investigating and the enchanting town of Ronda is good for bull fights.

Getting around this part of Spain can be difficult at times without a car. However, this park is the best option if traveling by public transport as there are airport transfers and a direct train service to Grazalema from Granada.

2: Parque Natural Sierra de Aracena

Another option if you are without a hire car is Parque Natural Sierra de Aracena, situated northwest of Sevilla. This park offers hill rather than mountain walks, and also has many lovely villages to visit. There is a bus connection from Sevilla to close to the park which takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes.

3:  Parque Natural Los Alcornocales

Option three is the walks from the small town of Alcornocales, the main town of Parque Natural Los Alcornocales. This area boasts unspoilt, stunning scenery and offers around 20 walks within the park, which vary from mountain and hill country walks to coastal tracks.

Deep, narrow valleys, called canutos, shelter rare ferns and other subtropical forest vegetation. You can also see the best example of a primeval Iberian forest and cork tree groves in the world. Visit Alcala Conservation Centre for information, and maybe permission for some of the longer walks. A car is essential for this area.

For all three walking locations check that all paths are open in summer, as in high fire danger times some may be closed. Take good walking boots and carry sunscreen, a hat and water.

1. Walk around Stockholm’s Djurgården Island

Djurgården is an island in central Stockholm with museums, galleries, historical monuments and buildings and much more. The island is renowned for its beautiful green spaces, parks and events. A wonderful way to explore this unique island is on the two hour Djurgarden walking tour which takes you across the island.

2. Södermalm – trendy, charming and unique

In trendy Södermalm, you’ll find a multitude of unusual, interesting and contemporary boutiques carrying fashion, design, interior décor, vintage merchandise and curios. The selection in Södermalm is more bohemian than that offered downtown. Explore Södermalm’s distinctive streets and find a wealth of unique and top-class vintage merchandise!

3. The iconic City Hall

Topped with three golden crowns sitting on a spire, it is easy to see why the City Hall is considered an icon of the city. It is made of eight million bricks, stands at 106 metres tall and is a true example of national romanticism in architecture. The hall is used for the great Nobel banquet, and afterwards Nobel Prize recipients, royalty and guests dance in the Golden Hall, which known for its 18 million gold mosaic tiles. Take a guided tour and don’t forget to climb the tower for breathtaking views of the city.

4. Exploring the Archipalego

Sitting as it does on a unique archipelago, a visit to Stockholm is not complete without exploring the city’s waterways, beaches and 30, 000 islands. There are plenty of boat tours to choose from, depending on what you are after. Try a royal, historical, morning or even express tour. There are also hop-on hop-off options which can be combined with open top bus tours. Then be sure to hop off at one of the city’s beaches. Summer favourites include Långholmsbadet and Smedsuddsbadet.

5. The world’s oldest open-air museum

Take a journey into the 18th and 19th centuries at Skansen, the world’s oldest open-air museum and a living replica of historical Sweden. Over time more than 150 buildings have been relocated to Skansen from all over the country. You can meet people in period costume, visit the pharmacy, shoemaker, silversmith and ironmonger house, and try some of the delicious treats from the traditional bakery! Skansen also has an open-air zoo, which contains a wide range of Scandinavia’s animals including the moose, grey seal, red fox, reindeer, bison and brown bear.

6. Ice Skating at Kungsträdgården

If you’re visiting Stockholm in winter, don’t miss out on ice skating at Kungsträdgården Park. Ice skating is a very popular winter activity in Scandinavia and the rink at Kungsträdgården Park is a favourite for locals and visitors alike. The park is located in the heart of Stockholm and surrounded by many cafes, which makes it one of the most popular spots in the capital.

7. The Vasa Museum

The Vasa Museum displays the world’s only, almost fully intact 17th century ship, one of the seven wonders of Sweden! The highly-decorated, 64-gun warship Vasa sank in 1628 during its maiden voyage. Three centuries later is was discovered and salvaged. Visitors can see the ship from six levels and so far more than 25 million people have visited it.

8. A royal sneak peak of Drottningholm Palace

As the most well-preserved castle built in the 1600s in Sweden, Drottningholm Palace is deservedly on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Inspired by the Palace of Versailles, it also boasts a Chinese Pavilion, stunning gardens and a perfectly preserved theatre, built in 1766. The south wing is reserved for the Swedish Royal Family, but the rest of the palace and the grounds are open to the public.

9. Gamla stan

Gamla stan, one of the largest and best preserved medieval city centres in Europe, is among the foremost attractions in Stockholm. The cobbled streets, archaic architecture and medieval alleyways take you back to 1252 when Gamla stan was founded. The restaurant Den gyldene freden on Österlånggatan has been in business since 1722 and, according to Guinness Book of Records, the restaurant is the world’s oldest existing restaurant with an unaltered interior.

10. Changing of the Guard

Watching the changing of the Guard at The Royal Palace is a fantastic experience and best of all it’s free! The Royal Guard is carried out by units of the Swedish Armed Forces and consists of around 30,000 guards. Since 1523 the Royal Guard has continuously guarded the Royal Palace in Stockholm. This 40-minute event attracts large numbers of tourists every summer.

For more information visit www.flysas.com.au or call 1300 727 707. For information on Scandinavia go to www.visitscandinavia.com.au

To be eligible for an additional star, the hotel had to comply with 300 criteria as per the modified hotel rating system, including areas related to quality of services, equipment, comfort, disabled accessibility, environmental issues, and new technologies.  To qualify, InterContinental Carlton Cannes was subject to two audits to ensure the necessary criteria were met. 

“I am very proud to give the InterContinental Carlton Cannes its fifth star. It is a mythical place, a symbol of excellence and elegance and an important reference for the French hotel industry – an industry that we are trying to promote with this new classification,” comments Cannes Minister of Tourism Hervé Novelli.

The hotel overlooks France’s Mediterranean coast and is located in the heart of La Croisette. It is a legend in itself, built nearly a century ago the beautiful art nouveau palace instantly became famous worldwide as a monument of the city of Cannes on the Cote d’Azur. Among the many well-known visitors who have enjoyed the first-rate service and luxury that the Carlton Cannes has to offer are Elizabeth Taylor, Clint Eastwood, Robert De Niro, Sean Penn, and Uma Thurman. The hotel recently announced the opening of a new Carlton Beauty and Fitness Center by Cap Croisette, consisting of three treatment rooms, a salon, and workout center with ocean-side training facilities.

For more information visit www.intercontinental.com.

So you can join in with the celebrations they are promoting an exclusive Centennial Accommodation Package, which includes a menu at Michelin starred restaurant La Barbacane, featuring traditional regional dishes inspired by the founding father of French cooking, Auguste Escoffier. They are also offering a special rate for your first night when you book a minimum of two nights at the hotel. The centenary room promotion is available from November 1, 2009 to January 16, 2010.

Over the past 100 years, gourmets have flocked to the hotel to sample the treasures of its wine cellar and its Michelin starred restaurant, La Barbacane.  As part of the centenary celebrations, Executive Chef, Jérộme Ryon, has recreated a five course centennial menu of Escoffier classics such as Lobster Newburg, Duck Foie Gras Perigourdine-style and a Tête de Moine cheese course.  Ryon, a student of Escoffier, has made only slight modifications to the classic recipes to cater to the preferences of modern day diners.

Hôtel de la Cité opened on September 1, 1909 with just eight rooms, but soon grew to become an elegant and inspiring home away from home for stars of literature, theater and film such as Buster Keaton, Rudyard Kipling, Princess Grace of Monaco, Walt Disney, Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis.

The hotel is set in its own glorious gardens overlooking the ramparts and has a total of 47 guest rooms and 14 junior suites and suites, offering a unique opportunity to experience this UNESCO World Heritage site in authentic style. Hôtel de la Cité is situated between Carcassonne’s two main attractions – the Basilica St. Nazaire and the Château Comtal and resides in the Languedoc-Rousillon region of Southwestern France in the foothills of the Pyrénées.

To book or for more informaiotn visit www.hoteldelacite.com and enter the promotional code “Century” or call Orient-Express at (800) 237-1236.

This is the country that brought the world Albert Einstein and Martin Luther, Ludwig van Beethoven and Bertholt Brecht. It garnered fourteen of the first thirty-one Nobel Prizes in Chemistry, saw the creation of moveable type, the growth of Pschology as a science and the discovery of X-Rays.

And the best part is you can catch an up-close glimpse of this fascinating history of achievement by browsing any of the magnificent museums and art galleries that litter the Germany’s cities.

In addition to the achievements of man, there is great natural spectacle to witness in Germany also.

The forests of Thuringia, the Muritz National Park and the Berchtesgaden should all sit high on your to-do list, thanks to their lush landscapes and mystical feel.

Given that there is so much to see and do in this great European nation, how do you work out where to start?

Let’s take a look at a few of the top places to visit.

Berlin

The nation’s capital has changed immensely since its remarkable reunification with the destruction of the Wall in 1989. Now it is a truly modern city, dotted with bars and clubs, skyscrapers and hotels. The composition of the buildings in this great city are terrific; orderly and beautifully bouncing off one another, they maintain links to their gothic heritage but also embrace modernity.

You will need to visit the Anne Frank Museum while here, if only just to see the reconstructed bookcase that covered the entrance to the secret Achterhuis – the hiding place for Anne Frank and her family during Nazi reign.

This is a city of tolerance, of friendship, and of variety.

Sylt

The distinctive island sits on Germany’s west coast, a gorgeous sliver of land that is a star attraction for lovers of outdoor sports – wind surfers in particular – and which plays host to many of the nation’s rich and famous.

A healthy, warm climate pervades Sylt, making it one of the best places to sit on the beach in Europe, or jump on a mountain bike and pedal along one of the dune trails.

At night you can tuck into to great food at one of the many glitzy restaurants, and lazy days can be spent browsing the designer boutiques that dot the most affluent areas of the island.

Hamburg

If you want to party in Germany, this is the place to do it. Germany’s biggest port is a city on water, with a party capital red-light district called the Reeperbahn renowned for its wild ways.

Before you head out into the bars and clubs of this town, spend your days strolling alongside the waterways or staring up at buildings shaped like ocean liners.

Tuck into any of the unusual local dishes, such as Aalsuppe (eel soup) or Bohn, Birnen und Speck (green beans, pears and bacon).

And don’t miss the city’s grand church St Michaelis, dedicated to the archangel Michael and featuring a large bronze statue showing Michael defeating the devil.

It may sound odd but that’s the kind of experience you can have in this landlocked nation; a combination of France, Germany, Italy and more awaits.

People from all over flock to Switzerland for its famous outdoor lifestyle, which seems to please in both summer and winter. The Swiss Alps are the home of skiing and lay dormant at 4000 metres and higher, and the sparkling lakes that dot the country are ready during the warm months for all kinds of merriment.

The country is one of immensely beautiful landscapes, where locals take pride in the fact that their greatest buildings – think castles, cathedrals and churches – complement the surrounding environment.

Take Lausanne, for example. A lively, medieval city dominated by one of the world’s great Gothic cathedrals, Lausanne is somewhere to indulge in arts and entertainment, but also to peer breathlessly at the gorgeous surroundings.

For a taste of the mountain high life you will probably want to head to Zermatt, a climbing and skiing paradise that is balanced by a chilled and funky nightlife.

But don’t make the mistake of thinking Switzerland is all about the past. Any country that speaks four languages (Swiss German, Italian, French and Romansch) is going to be great at keeping up with the latest international pop culture trends.

Basel, seated on the Rhine to the country’s north, features some uber modern buildings designed by the likes of Frank Gehry, and the “world’s capital”, Geneva, is one of the slickest cosmopolitan centres on the planet.

While in Geneva, continue with the international local flavour and check out some of the more than 200 international governmental and nongovernmental organizations that operate from here.

You might start with a tour of the UN head offices, then over to the World Health Organisation before a quick stop off at the International Red Cross.

And that sums up one of the strange but compelling aspects of Switzerland; for a place with so much quiet and tranquility, you really can find parts of the whole world here.

At just 25 kilometres long and 6 kilometres wide, you could traverse the entire country in an hour or so.

There is a certain trivial and humorous aspect to Liechtenstein – it’s the world’s biggest producer of dentures, for example – but the locals are very proud of their country and are firmly independent.

Those same locals are generally lovely people that welcome you to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds them.

And Liechtenstein really is intensely beautiful; plunging cliffs run into lush green valleys before running into another ravine, where a castle or ruins may be precariously perched on the mountainside.

If you enjoy the outdoors, Liechtenstein should be high on your list of places to visit.

Hiking and cycling trails abound (well, as much as they can abound in a country of only 150 square kilometres) and you can sign up to them in social tour groups.

Getting around is pretty easy, with German and English spoken by many and Swiss francs the currency.

The principality’s capital is the crisp and orderly Vaduz, which sits on the Rhine and has about 5000 inhabitants.

Don’t miss out on a visit to the excellent cathedral here, which is actually the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop.

You will also need to set aside some time to explore the Vaduz Castle, home of the Liechtenstein princely family and an icon of the city.

Both the National Art Gallery and National Museum are worth a look; the art gallery in particular stands out for its futuristic and delightful design.

For a country with a population of about 35,000, Liechtenstein does a great job of catering to tourists.

The biggest money-sucker of your holiday can often be accommodation. Finding accommodation, even hotels on last minute websites, is unlikely to offer you anything for less than $170 a night in Paris.

The answer? Live like a local. Two people can rent an apartment for as little as $60 a night. You’d have to be comfortable with climbing six flights of stairs (lifts are uncommon) and residing in a cosy one-bedder. You can also make use of the kitchenette facilities after visiting the markets and turn locally grown produce into delicious homemade meals. Find holiday apartments in Montmarte by visiting homelidays.com.

Secondly, you’ll need a cost-effective form of transport for getting around Paris. Thanks to Velib, Paris’ hire bike system, there are docks around the city where you swipe a card, pick a bike, cycle to your destination and then return it to the nearest dock. If the trip is less than 30 minutes, it’s free. Seven-day passes for 5 or one-day passes for 1 are also available. You’ll need a $150 deposit too in case the bike isn’t returned.

If you’re not a fan of cycling, Paris also has a public transport system that is both fast and convenient. Buying tickets in bulk packs is always better value and you can get unlimited local travel on a five-day pass for only $28.30.

Once you’ve sorted accommodation and transport, it is also possible to eat in France without doing over your entire budget. Food is a pleasure in France, making it possibly the only place in the world you can justify a diet of pastries, cheese and coffee. There are plenty of fine dining opportunities if you’re willing to splurge but travel guides have loads of recommendations for good quality, affordable eateries. Look for Le Routard stickers on restaurant doors – this means it’s recommended by a French backpacking guidebook full of budget-friendly suggestions.

To complete you bargain Paris holiday, there are a number of ways you can see everything you want to see if you plan your trip wisely. Try to make your stay coincide with the first Sunday of the month. Why? This is when Musee du Louvre is free. Also free and less crowded is the art-filled Pompidou centre, home to one of the best views from an escalator in the world. There are at least twenty Parisian museums that have free entry, including Victor Hugo’s house.

Paris also has beautiful parks such as the Jardin des Tuileries near the Louvre that boasts spectacular views of a pond and landscaped gardens. For something a different, there are also many stunning cemeteries such as Pere Lachaise. If you’re searching for particular people (say, Oscar Wilde), you can see a map at the entrance and use it to guide you. There’s also many wonderful things to see and purchase from the Paris Flea Market (le Marche aux puces de Saint-Ouen). It’s not exactly full of bargains but there are some great little treasures for you to return home with.