As far as Northern Ireland goes, there is so much to see beyond the city limits of its Belfast capital. The second largest city in Ireland, Derry (or Londonderry, as it’s also known) is spread across both sides of the River Foyle and its position lends itself to being an excellent base for exploring the country (including nearby County Antrim) as well as the Republic of Ireland – namely Donegal and Inishowen. A city steeped in history as well as modern amenities, Derry is a quintessentially Irish town that is well worth a visit.

Staying in Derry can be an affordable prospect – you can find a hotel in Derry that is well within a reasonable budget, and places you in the heart of the city ready to explore.

In 2010, Derry was shortlisted for the prominent accolade of City of Culture 2013 and is proud to be the inaugural holder of the award next year. It’s easy to see why the city achieved the honour as well, as it provides a myriad of cultural offerings to its visitors.

The Workhouse Museum is a museum over two floors, which offers insight into workhouse life during the 19^th century and is also home to the Atlantic Memorial exhibition which covers Derry’s activity during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War 2.

The Tower Museum that opened in 1992 is home to two permanent exhibitions as well as visiting exhibitions throughout the year. The ‘Story of Derry’ does exactly what it says on the tin, and you can also enjoy the ‘An Armada Shipwreck’ exhibition that holds artefacts found in Kinnagoe Bay, back in the 70s, that belonged to a 16^th century shipwreck.

If you’re interested in local history, be sure to pay your respects to the Bloody Sunday Memorial in Glenfada Park that pays tribute to those who lost their lives during the plight of Bloody Sunday in 1972. There is also some archive space and an exhibition for you to peruse directly opposite the plinth.

A hankering for a spot of retail therapy can be satiated with the handful of shopping centres in the area, including Foyleside, Lisnagelvin and Quayside, whilst there are also a huge number of independent stores and shops, catering for any requirement, strewn across this vibrant city.

For a meal out, La Sosta provides some fine Italian cuisine, whilst if a gastropub is what you’re after, look no further than Badger’s Place for some top quality hearty grub. There are also plenty of traditional Irish establishments that are nestled on the banks of the River Foyle for you to sample if something a little more rustic is what you’re looking for.

Venture out of the city and head for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. With Derry being in close proximity to the borders, you can appreciate the natural beauty of Donegal during your trip. The Glenveagh National Park is simply breathtaking and just north of Derry; you can find the Inishowen Peninsula which offers a 100-mile scenic drive that comes highly recommended.

Book your hotel in Derry today and look forward to exploring another corner of Northern Ireland.

An Infographic

With the rise of visual based social sharing sites such as Pinterest, so has come the rise of the visual infographic. I love infographics and have been collecting them on Pinterest since I joined. These have mainly been for social media statics and some general business ones I’ve come across in my interweb travels but I’m now starting to see more travel based infographics. Here’s a cool one I’ve seen recently which I thought I’d share.

By the way, you can catch me on Pinterest and check out my dream, travel board.

Find Your Way to the Perfect Family Vacation by vacation rentals site FlipKey.com

Deciding quite what amounts to the perfect cruise holiday package is a tough challenge indeed. For parents the idea of an ideal cruise is likely to involve the right balance between spending time with the children and spending time away from them. For couples, the aim might be to strike a more romantic note and we all have our favourite regions of the world that capture our imaginations like nowhere else. But the beauty of cruise holidays these days is that there really ought to be something for everyone and every reason to expect that somewhere there will be an ideal escape for you and your travelling party.

A key issue to decide upon as you plan and look around for cruise deals is whether you intend to stay on-board your chosen ship for just a short time or for as long as you can manage. There are packages that keep holidaymakers sailing for close to a month but the most common offers are on deals for a week, 10 days or close to a fortnight. Some ships are rather more family friendly than others, which you might well want to look into, and some ships are famed more for their food than for their evening entertainment and vice versa. The choice of course is entirely up to individuals but there is a lot to be said for doing some basic research online and finding out what experienced cruise-holidaymakers have to say about certain cruise ships and particular packages.

P&O has long been among the most popular providers of cruise adventures among UK consumers and the Azura is perhaps the most impressive ship in the company’s spectacular fleet. The good news is that there are P&O Azura deals available on package tours to a variety of stunning locations during the final few months of 2012 and right throughout 2013.

Melbourne is a city with plenty to offer, but you don’t have to bankrupt yourself to have a good time. Here are 8 ways to enjoy Melbourne on a budget.

1. Avoid taking taxis

Melbourne has the some of the highest taxi fares in the country so try to use alternative transport. Arrange for a shuttle bus pickup from the airport and research public transport routes in the city. Book in advance to get good deals on train tickets or, if you are planning on doing a lot of travelling, rent a car for the duration of your stay. It is fairly easy to get around the city so you can save money by walking or cycling to most of the tourist spots.

2. Look out for deals on attractions

If you want to visit a lot of tourist sites then you can often save money by purchasing a package which includes entry to more than one attraction. There are usually many different packages available: some are only one day passes and others can be used for up to a week.

3. Make the most of the free sights

There are plenty of great free things to do in the city. Take a walk along the Yarra River and you will find plenty of interesting art installations and sculptures along the way. If you are still there near the end of the work day you will see the rowing clubs go past in their dragon boats. If you are looking for a fun free indoor activity then head to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image which hosts a range of exciting exhibitions from the history of the moving image to collections of the latest screen-based art.

4. Look for deals on food

There are always plenty of deals on food in Melbourne restaurants so look online or in travel guides for the latest restaurant coupons. If you are looking for cheap fresh food then wander around the Queen Victoria Markets. The markets have everything from food to souvenirs at very affordable prices. Go at the end of the day when vendors are keen to get rid of the last of their stock by dropping all their prices.

5. Spend a day at St. Kilda

St. Kilda is one of Melbourne city’s only beaches and relaxing by the sea is a great way to spend a day for free. The beach has a boardwalk and a pier that you can explore, as well of plenty of grassy areas perfect for having a budget-friendly picnic on.

6. Sign up to be part of the audience for a television show

If you are looking to do something a bit different then keep a look out for free tickets to a television show. Become a member of the audience and watch a live taping of a popular show. If you show plenty of enthusiasm and energy you may even get given a free movie pass!

7. Spend an evening watching live music

If you are looking for cheap evening entertainment then see if any local bars are hosting a free live band. Brunswick is the best place to find local musicians and a lot of the bars have spacious beer gardens which make a nice place to relax in on a warm evening.

8. Head to Federation Square

There is always something going on at Federation Square. From fashion shows to comedy acts you are sure to find some great free entertainment. There are usually people handing out vouchers to local events or restaurants, as well as free goodies – make sure to make the most of them!

By researching the best deals on travel and food and keeping an eye out for free attractions, it’s easy to enjoy exploring Melbourne while sticking to a budget.