The port of Southampton is a favorite departure destination due to its closeness to London and its natural appeal. Folks who have to spend a day before departure in the city will be gratified by its scenic waterfront area, and by its rich history. Southampton, after all, was the place of departure for the famous Mayflower when it left for America in 1620. The Maritime Museum is an excellent destination, as well, for its historical artifacts and information – a perfect place to pass some time before the cruise begins.

The specific liner that travelers choose depends on what Mediterranean destinations they want to see most. For example, those wishing most to visit Iceland and its fjords or perhaps to make the transatlantic journey to New York will be attracted to P&O Cruises. Those seeking cruises to Northern Europe or the Baltic countries will be serviced best by Cunard. Prince Caribbean may be the best bet for cruisers with an urge to explore the Canary Islands and Spain. Planning is incredibly important in booking a vacation, and deciding which destinations are most attractive before booking a ticket is a wise move.

However, there are a few destinations that seem to appeal to all Mediterranean cruisers for their world-renowned wonder and spectacle. Athens, Greece is a fine example of this sort of place, with its incredible architecture and cultural history. Few vacationers will want to miss out on seeing the Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, the Arch of Hadrian or the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

Naples, Italy is another one of these incredibly popular ports. Founded over 2,800 years ago, Naples is fascinating for its history and cultural heritage, while maintaining a modern flare. The art and architecture in the Italian city rival the best the world has to offer, and the dining is truly an experience unequaled. After all, it is the birthplace of pizza!

Monte Carlo, Monaco is also a staple on the list of top Mediterranean destinations. It is the most fabulously glamorous city on the Riviera, with its famed casino and Hotel de Paris. It also has plenty of culture for the more historically interested, such as the Oceanographic Museum and awe-inspiring Cathedral of St.Nicholas. The nightlife in Monte Carlo is also world-class in its exuberance and variety.

Leaving for a cruise from a city which itself has plenty to offer by way of entertainment is an excellent way to begin a vacation. Mediterranean cruises leaving Southampton abound online, and destination options are in great variety. Whether it’s a transatlantic voyage to New York with a detour in Iceland, or a Northern European crawl that a traveler seeks, a cruise from Southampton is a hard trip to top.

In this article, we shall examine two such cities that have become two of the best kept secrets in holiday tourism: Phnom Penh, the far flung capital of Cambodia situated on the banks of the Mekong, Bassac ad Tonle Sep Rivers; but first we shall look at Ajaccio, capital of the French island of Corsica and situated 210 nautical miles southeast of Marseille.

France is, of course, one of the most popular holiday destinations for the British but most people are inclined to spend their time ambling around mainland France. Many British people may take their car with them when visiting France, which makes Corsica difficult to reach, seeing as it is an island and over 200 miles away from France’s southernmost shores.

There are, however, regular flights to the island and if you want car hire Ajaccio has plenty of outlets available allowing you to get around the city and the island. Ajaccio is the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte and his influence in the city is ubiquitous. His former residence is now a museum, there is another museum dedicated to his exploits in the town, the central market place is named after him (cours Napoleon) and his statue is one of the most visited landmarks in Ajaccio.

Ajaccio is not solely about this former French political leader. Works of art can be viewed at the Notre-Dame de la Misericorde, while the Fesch Museum is home to a fabulous collection of paintings and art collections. Further afield, a trip to the beautiful UNESCO Archaeological site at Cucuruzzu and the Piscine Naturelle de Zoza, a superb and naturally formed rock pool and waterfall that is deep enough to swim in and enjoy most of the year, is well within the reach of Ajaccio-based holidaymakers.

One of the oddest things about culture is how it bridges divides and a visitor to Phnom Penh could, while wandering around the city’s French quarter, be fooled into thinking that this city would not look out of place in Corsica. Phnom Penh, however, is a large and varied city, a cultural melting pot where philosophies and architecture of both the east and west mingle easily upon the eye.

The beautiful terracotta National Museum is well worthy of a visit and guides are available who speak both English and French to inform guests about the many treasures on display. These include pottery and bronzes dating back to the fourth centuries, as well as statues of Vishnu and Shiva.

Wat Phnom, situated on a beautiful tree covered hill in the northeast of the city, is an important monument in the city. Not only do locals believe that the temple is powerful enough to ensure that anyone making a wish there shall have it granted, but the temple played a key role in how the city came to be named. Legend has it that the Pagoda was built in 1373 to house four statues of the Buddha, which had been deposited on the hilltop by the fast-flowing waters of the Mekong River. They were duly discovered by a local woman named Penh and as such the name Phnom Penh (the hill of Penh) became synonymous with the city.

Bargain hunters in Phnom Penh can also hone their bartering skills at two outstanding markets. New Central Market is the biggest and contains a huge number of stalls selling an array of locally produced items, including food, fabrics, shoes, gold and silver jewellery, clocks, flowers and antique coins. If you are a fan of the art of the area, or have an interest in finding some antique pieces on your stay, then Tuol Tom Pong Market is the place to head. Also known as the Russian market, this is not the place to head if you are reticent about bargaining as the prices initially stated by vendors can be very high!

For all their differences, Ajaccio and Phnom Penh do have many things in common: the mixture of French influences alongside other cultures, fantastic attractions and beautiful scenery and best of all, the guarantee that whichever city you decide to head to, you will have a fantastic time!

When thinking about what makes a great weekend away, many tourists consider how easy it is to get there, accommodation, places to visit and many people’s favourite two things in the world – food and shopping!

Being a European capital city, Madrid is incredibly easy to get to of course, being only a couple of hours direct flight from any UK main airport. As for hotels in Madrid…well, where to start?! There’s such a range to choose from, whatever your budget or need – whether you want nothing more than a place to rest your head between excursions or a hotel with a pool to chill out besides, you’ll find what you’re looking for, and there are always plenty of deals on offer too.

Madrid

Madrid has been in existence since Roman times, although it was only adopted as Spain’s capital city in 1561, so there’s plenty to see if sightseeing’s your thing. Particularly recommended is the Palacio Real (Royal Palace), the Spanish monarchy’s official residence, which is open to the public. The royal family only use this palace for state occasions, which means we get the chance to see how European royalty live.

Let’s not forget that Spain was the departure point for Columbus, who, sent out by King Ferdinand in 1492 discovered the Americas and the fabulous wealth of gold and precious stones that flooded back to Spain paid for some pretty amazing stuff! This enormous and imposing building is filled with lavish halls, banqueting rooms, the throne room (which has the most amazing mirrors and even rock crystal spiders to admire) residential areas and a royal armoury. There are also fabulous gardens with planting that will take your breath away. You can choose to stroll around by yourself, or join a guided tour. This takes 45 minutes and is well worth it.

If after a morning’s bustle around Madrid’s busy streets you’re feeling like introducing a little calm back into your life, then Madrid has some simply beautiful parks to visit. The Retiro is perhaps the most famous; originally built as pleasure gardens for the royal family, it was scattered with palaces, all of which have now unfortunately disappeared. There is however a fabulous lake to take a break alongside and a really beautiful and highly fragrant rose garden.

For the true garden enthusiast, the Real Jardin Botanico (Royal Botanic Garden) is Spain’s answer to Kew Gardens, with over 20 acres planted with over 100 different kinds of tree and 3,000 different plants and flowers. Probably deserving of a day all by itself!

However, the venue that perhaps best sums up what Madrid is all about is the Plaza Mayor, a really stunning enclosed square in the city centre, with three-storey buildings on all sides, sheltering traditional shops, cafes and bars beneath ancient porticos. The buildings are all fabulously painted with murals, so beautiful you’re likely to get a crick in your neck as you wander round admiring the artwork.

While you’re there, see if you can spot the blood on the walls – oh yes, this square has a long and varied history…you can still see splashes of blood from when it was used for bull-fighting, though there are, thankfully, no hints of its use by the Spanish Inquisition for executing heretics! Today it’s filled with tables from the cafes that surround the square and is a perfect place to watch the locals enjoy the ‘paseo’ every evening. The paseo is a typically Spanish affair, when families young and old take to the streets to stroll in the cooler evening air, meeting friends and sharing a glass of excellent Spanish wine and a few tapas.

Mmmm, tapas… another typically Spanish affair and one which many city breakers quickly develop a love for. To understand the concept of tapas, those little dishes of delicious local foods found in almost every bar in Madrid, you need to understand the Spanish lifestyle a little bit.

Spanish people love to eat and are often shocked by our ‘eat and run’ culture! They see food as the glue that binds families and friends together. They take a very relaxed approach to eating, starting the day with a light breakfast, but doing it all again around 11am, when coffee and cakes are the order of the day!

Lunch rarely starts before 1.30pm; in fact, most businesses operate from 8am till 2pm, when workers disappear for a couple of hours for a relaxed lunch, to return at 4pm for a few more hours at their desks!

Evening meals are equally late (by our standards, that is), with dinner never starting before 8pm, and some restaurants not even opening till 9pm. In the summer, many families won’t sit down together to eat till 10 or even 11 o’clock, which is where tapas come in so useful!

If you really want to make like a local, you should take your time over lunch, having two courses with bread and a yummy dessert, then hit the street again around 8pm for the paseo, when anybody who’s anybody strolls in the cooler air and stops at a bar for a glass of excellent Spanish wine and a few tapas – tiny little meat balls in sauce (albondigas), Spanish omelette served warm in wedges with garlic mayonnaise (tortilla), chorizo sausages or even just a bowl of olives and some fresh bread.

Finally, no weekend in Madrid can be said to be complete without a visit to the El Rastro flea market, which takes place every Sunday. This is Madrid’s most popular flea market and is held every week and on public holidays between 9am and 3pm. Packed with stalls selling everything from funky clothing, bags and jewellery to original art to antiques to all that’s cheap and cheerful, you could very easily spend a few hours here just pottering and bargaining for goodies, before decamping to a local bar for a glass of something cooling and, of course, some tapas!

If you’ve never stayed in Madrid hotels, you’ve missed out and should set out to rectify that immediately!