One of the first things you’ll notice about the culture in Barcelona, and in Spain in general, is that time is pushed forward. In many cultures, you eat lunch between noon and 1:30; in Barcelona, you eat lunch between 3 and 4. Dinner is often not served until very late, between 10 and 11:30 in the evening; if you’re lucky, you may find eateries opening at 9:30, but that is the very earliest; if you try to eat too early, you will end up stuck in a tourist trap and over-paying. Make sure that you pack light snacks to take with you through the day if you are not used to eating at such times.

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It is almost considered the norm nowadays for people to take time out from their daily routine to experience perhaps a back-packing adventure around the world, or a trip to Australia for a year.

Indeed, the majority of holiday goers venture abroad. The attractions are obvious: guaranteed sunshine, golden sandy beaches and cheap beer.

It’s fair to say that the UK tourist industry finds it difficult to complete: if asked when they last had a holiday in the UK, substantial numbers of holidaymakers, many of whom would probably consider themselves well-travelled, might be left scratching their heads.

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Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest international airport, is the most used gateway into the UK for many overseas visitors. Most are probably unaware that regional airports often offer lower cost flights.

It’s hardly surprising that most people looking to fly into London and the south east of England assume that they are best flying into one of the major London airports, such as Heathrow or Gatwick.

Certainly Heathrow appears to have plenty to offer - namely a large selection of flights to choose from and proximity to central London (about 45 minutes to central London on the Underground last time I travelled the route).

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Greece… Islands you say? Party? Cruises? Ancient civilizations?

Sure, you are completely right, and in this article I’ll try to avoid that. There’s a lot more in Greece apart from the coast, even if I have to admit that the cruise options are some of the favorites around the world.

First of all, I would like to make clear that Greece has some myths that are untrue. The first of all them is that Athens is a precious city. Look, I understand that the name sounds very good, at least we Europeans even have the Greek Yogurt (which I still don’t know why it is called like this) and the idea of the ancient civilizations living there sincerely attracts all of us.

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Could the writing be on the wall for low cost airlines operating out of the UK and other European countries as the Conservative Party - once a campaigner and implementer of lower taxes - has called for purchase tax to be introduced to domestic flights?

The tax would add up to 17.5 per cent on to the cost of a flight from one British city to another, but while flights to the European mainland and popular holiday islands such as Menorca aren’t specifically mentioned, one travel company believes the new policy will inevitably lead to higher fares for flights not just within Britain, but elsewhere too.

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Hiking can be a great outdoor vacation or adventure, and usually it is not dangerous. But, you are outside and often find yourself far from civilization, and you could get injured or even worse. With that in mind, it is very beneficial to heed some basic safety tips to keep your hiking adventure a pleasant experience.

First, do not travel alone. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. If you are strolling along a well-traveled area, you are probably safe. But, hiking through a thick forested area with canyons and winding trails is a different story. You could easily get lost.

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Have you ever noticed how some of your friends seem to get away on a lot of holidays each year? Maybe they’re just lucky, or maybe they know the secrets to finding cheap airline tickets.

Before internet usage became so common, the trick to finding the best deals on flights often involved waiting until the very last moment and then phoning a specialist flight broker.

Such brokers were often able to offer extremely competitive last minute deals, allowing you access to cheap prices. They were able to get their hands on cheap tickets because some airlines would find themselves with excess capacity and would look to brokers to fill seats.

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Many of us have had the misfortune to be stuck around in airport lounges, waiting for our delayed flight to depart. In this article we examine methods to avoid the associated boredom.

Being stuck at an airport for hours on end can be a draining experience. Even the world’s largest airports make less than ideal locations to spend more than an hour or so.

From the uncomfortable chairs to the loud announcements, it seems that airport lounges are not conducive to relaxing. Although many airports will include a number of stores within the airport terminal buildings, such stores are often over-priced, making the entire experience even less pleasurable.

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Wardrobe Court is a glimpse of the London of the past and dates back to 1720. To stand here on a winter’s night, in the pitch black stillness, is to experience the true thrill of historic and haunted London. Massive trees tower over the three-story houses, and even the faintest of breezes will send their branches creaking and their trunks swaying.

The perfect stillness of the yard keeps you constantly on edge and glancing furtively around at the gloomy shadows; you feel certain that eyes are watching you from the inky blackness of the house windows.

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Flight prices are as low now as they have ever been, thanks in no small part to the rise of budget airlines. In the word’s of a former British Prime Minister, we’ve “never had it so good”.

We may think of budget airlines as being a new concept but they’ve actually been around for quite some time. Southwest Airlines offered a ticketless operation back in the early 1970s and that is an approach that will be familiar to millions of customers who have used the likes of Ryanair, Easyjet and Flybe in recent years.

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