Six Great Wine Destinations

Fond of wine, and not only because you like getting tipsy? Then why not consider visiting one of the following major european cities for your next city break?

Here is a list of events which are well worth the trip!!! Enjoy!

EXPOVINA – Zürich (Switzerland) from 29.10.09 to 12.11.09

This is Switzerland's largest wine show! On board 12 boats anchored near Bürkliplatz, visitors can choose between 4,000 wines from 22 countries and 5 continents. In addition, 6 speciality restaurants offer diners a diverse range of culinary delights.

More information (only in German, unfortunately) on www.expovina.ch

Looking for the best Zürich hotel deals?

VINITALY – Verona (Italy) from 08.04.2010 to 12.04.2010

This five-day event is a true opportunity to find marvelous wines, and not just the biggest names. Producers, traders, restaurateurs and humble wine lovers - from Italy and beyond will be flocking to Verona for this event. The fair is divided into buildings, each representing an Italian region, and has a growing section of international wines too. Be sure to organize yourself: the map will surely help!

www.vinitaly.it

Tired after a day wandering around stands and drinking? Verona hotel deals

SALON VINS ET TERROIRS - Paris (France) twice a year, from 06.11.09 to 08.11.09 and in April

Every year around 250 independent wine makers gather to showcase their wines to the public. Tickets cost €5.50 making the event both affordable and popular.

Best hotel offers in Paris!

FENAVIN Ciudad Real (Spain) in May (dates not available yet)

This is undoubtedly the largest wine fair in Spain, and a point if reference for learning more about the wide selection of Spanish wines. The most unique feature of Fenavin is the Wine Gallery, where representative wines from the different exhibitors are lined up to simplify the visitor's tasting. Each wine comes with an informative index card containing the name of winery, brand name, estimated price in euro, viticultural notes, varietal components, awards and ratings and other pertinent info such as their location inside the fair, which makes it easier to select and buy them in a second moment.

In need of a siesta? Look for Ciudad Real hotel deals

LONDON INTERNATIONAL WINE AND SPIRITS FAIR – London (UK) from 18.05.2010 to 20.05.2010

An incredible opportunity to taste over 20,000 wines, take part in seminars and tutored tastings, and why not, buy some bottles!

Be sure not to miss this event, because one of the world’s most important annual wine and spirits trade events will celebrate its 30th birthday in May 2010.

Visit www.londonwinefair.com

After a long day of wine tasting, rest in the perfect London hotel

VINO FAIR - Ljubljana (Slovenia) from 08.02.2010 to 11.02.2010

This fair has a long tradition, the first of its kind being held in 1811. In 1955, the fair won the approval of the OIV (Office International de la Vigne et du Vin - the International Office for Grapevine and Wine), and the VINO fair has adhered strictly to its high standards ever since. This makes the annual Ljubljana Wine Fair one of only six European wine exhibitions certified by the OIV, with medals and diplomas awarded being officially recognized in all European countries.

More info on http://www.ljubljanafair.com/ljubljana-exhibition-and-convention-centre/

Check out the best hotel offers in Ljubjana, user-tested and approved

"Ludicrous Lawsuits – when your holiday ends in the courts"

Courts often have the dubious pleasure of sorting out bizarre claims from holidaymakers. Complaints about there being too many natives on the beach, that the waves were too high or even tales of bed bugs which cause psychosis seem to find their way almost daily to the courts. HolidayCheck brings the hammer down on the strangest cases of all.

A storm in a teacup?

Certainly creative, a German gentleman took umbrage at the windy conditions confronting him while on holiday in the Seychelles. Clearly an avid swimmer, his disappointment in not being able to utilise the sea as he'd imagined meant he ended up taking his sorry tale to the courts, seeking damages for the waves being too high. His claim was overturned.

File this under 'Possibly Slightly Overreacting'

In 2003, the Library Hotel in New York got a nasty surprise when they found themselves being sued by the Online Computer Library Centre. The charge? Why, using the Dewey Decimal System as an innovative way to number the rooms in this book-themed hotel. As it turned out, the Dewey Decimal System is a trademarked brand! Luckily the opponents were able to settle their differences, allowing the hotel to continue using the system.

...and yet, there were always plenty of sun loungers.

In 2008, David Barnish sued Thomson for breach of contract after he discovered his hotel was overrun with Germans! The rather provocative headlines fuelled a battle of the stereotypes between the tabloids in England and the Bild newspaper in Germany over which country's citizens are really the worst tourists. Disappointingly for the sensationalists, the claims were actually quite reasonable and the judge ruled in favour of Barnish, stating that customers staying at a hotel featured in an English-language brochure and having paid for additional services should reasonably expect to be served in their own language.

Once bitten...

A New York man sued a hotel in New Haven over a case of serious bed bug bites! Although the stay lasted only one night and was, in fact, two years ago, Luis George claims that he still suffers severe emotional distress and insomnia from the pesky critters. Those must have been some seriously scary mites.

A pooltry excuse

As incredible as these cases may seem, none of them can really top the case of the Polish mother who claimed that her daughter became pregnant on holiday in Egypt – courtesy of the swimming pool! Despite the chlorine content of the water and the question of how sperm got there in the first place (do we really want to know?), the mother claims her daughter didn't have any contact with boys. We'll see how this one goes.

Top 5 London Markets

Loads of visitors to London head for the tourist drags of the West End like Oxford Street but London also has many markets that not only have a wide range of wares on offer but also take the visitor to parts of the city they may not otherwise get to see:

Borough Market is held beneath railway arches that branch out from London Bridge Station. This setting has made the area a popular location for film shoots and Bridget Jones amongst other had scenes filmed here. Borough market is a wholesale farmer's market heldd every Saturday with a great range of fresh produce such as vegetables and British cheeses (Neal's Yard Dairy). After a hard morning slogging around the stalls why not make a beeline for the nearby George Inn (77 Borough High Street, SE1) for a relaxing drink.

Camden Market is a major tourist attraction. Here you can buy clothes, antiques, music (including tonnes of bootlegged stuff), candles (lots of candles), healing crystals and other assorted New Age nick-nackery. Some people insist it used to be a lot better but even 15 years ago you still had to rummage through piles of tat before finding something worth buying. That's half the fun. Camden Town is also well known for its buzzing night life.

Columbia Road Flower Market is a great place to floral pottering. Located close to Shoreditch tube this is a very nice way to spend a Sunday morning. The Market's on between, 9am and midday and there are plenty of lunch options in thelocal area.

Covent Garden. Now that you've got into the market habit why not visit the former convents garden, just off the Strand. You may be none the wiser as to it's popularity since it's so expensive and quality is mixed. But the market area is fringed by some nice shops and the London Transport Museum Shop is good for London souvenirs.

Greenwich Market. You can get there with the Docklands Light Railway but a boat ride is a great way to get to Greenwich (ferries depart regularly from Embankment), a really nice part of London. There is a lot to see here, apart from the Market which sells arts and crafts, books and clothes.

The Whole Hog: 7 Magnificent Adventure Holidays

If you're planning a holiday that's a bit different why not go the whole hog and opt for one of the following extreme adventure holidays? HolidayCheck is happy to share some ideas that'll have you rummaging for your passport.

Icebreaker cruises – These are not just a chance for shy people to get to know one another. A nautical adventure par excellence awaits those intrepid souls (fool)hardy enough to brave the northern seas. Icebreakers cruise the partially frozen waters of the Baltic, for example, and those on board are occasionally offered the chance to take an icy plunge in the ship's wake. HolidayCheck user Simone reckons this is, 'an absolutely unique experience'.

Tornado chasing – Every year the American Midwest is ravaged by marauding twisters that tear through houses as if they were made of matchsticks. Despite the very real misery that these storms cause, a niche travel industry has mushroomed around the phenomena. People track and chase the swirling pillars of destruction, getting as close as they can for that ultimate thrill.

Race into space – Steven Hawking is up for this and operators are already running commercial flights to the edge of space - 60 miles above the planet's surface! At the very edge of the Earth's atmosphere these select group of interstellar tourists can experience the kind of weightlessness that their wallets experienced after they paid for the ride.

Surf a volcano - What a paLAVA! Nicaragua's most recently formed volcano, Cerro Negro, offers those whose middle name is 'Danger' (and anyone else who's up for it) a chance to ski down ashen slopes. Talk about off-piste!

Trail of danger – The Chinese mountain Hua Shan is criss-crossed by many trails. The one that leads to the summit is carved into a virtually sheer rock-face. Thousands of brave walkers make the climb each year.

Devils Swimming Pool – The Victoria Falls offers a spine-tingling confluence of splendour and risk for the dare-devil visitor. The Zambezi plunges 400 foot down a rocky gorge, sending clouds of mist into the African sky. That's why the locals call the place Mosa-oa-Tunya ('the smoke that thunders'). Close to the edge of the falls there is actually a well known natural basin perfect for bathing. Check for crocodiles first.

Wreck diving – The pressure's on. Hardly surprising if you're 12,000 foot below the waves off Newfoundland looking at the wrecked hull of the Titanic. The macabre opportunity to survey the ruined hull of the White Star Line's luckless vessel is now being touted by specialist tour operators.

Read more www.holidaycheck.co.uk - your first stop when planning your holiday! Read reviews from other travellers, look at holiday snaps and videos or chat to others at the forum.

Themed Hotels: An overnight stay the adventurous way!

Who wouldn't want to book a hotel bed in a hot air balloon or a bouncy castle? Even if those options don't exist yet, anyone itching to try out something more adventurous than a common or garden hostelry is well accommodated in one of a new breed of themed hotels. HolidayCheck, one of Europe's major hotel review platforms, is happy to present eight distinguished establishments:

Crane Hotel (Holland)

Hafenkran Hotel in Harlingen, Holland hoists the holiday expectations of its guests to surprising heights. The driver's cabin in this decommissioned crane is operational, allowing the guest to determine precisely his or her own ideal sea-view. HolidayCheck user Chris enthuses, 'Perfect. Aesthetically pleasing design with fine attention to detail. You can set everything yourself (lighting
and air conditioning etc) via a console by the bed. It's really special.'

Cave Hotel (Tunisia)

Discover your inner Neanderthal at Hotel Marhala! This antidote to high-rise ostentation is located in caves below ground. 'Those looking for an authentic adventure (in the positive sense) are well catered for here,' reports HolidayCheck user Frank-Michael

Jail Hotel (Switzerland)

Experience adventures, thrills and excitement all at once when you sleep 'behind bars' at the converted prison hotel 'Löwengraben' in Luzern. The place has been a hotel since 1998. Stripy jim-jams compliment the jailbird look. 'If you're looking for a reasonably priced room in central Luzern, coupled with a novel hotel experience, this is a good place to try', according to HolidayCheck user Mark.

Plane Hotel (Sweden)

Everyone knows you can't get a decent night's sleep on an aeroplane. Things are different at the Jumbo Hotel in Stockholm. This old Boeing 747-200 is roomy and comfortable and guests can even indulge their flights of fancy in the cockpit suite.

Tree House Hotel (Germany)

Pining for your childhood roots? Book in at the tree house Hotel Solling and see how the hotel sector is branching out to cover every possible novelty niche. This place is not only a great choice for kids, it's also a treat for budding adventurers of all ages. Nobody leaves here without a smile on their face!

Igloo Hotel (Switzerland)

Live like an Eskimo in Trübsee Igloo Village in Engelberg. Guests can even build their own igloos. HolidayChecker user Daniela enthuses: 'Everything here, from the chairs to the beds, is made of ice - right down to the tiniest details! It's brilliantly done.'

Underwater Hotel (USA)

In the spirit of Jules Verne's '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea', the Jules Undersea Lodge is built on the seabed 40 feet below the surface. Big windows give guests the chance to appreciate the submarine panorama to the full. There is no direct access to the world above so you have to check in and out with the assistance of a diving suit. Similar hotels are planned for Fiji and Dubai.

If these are a bit too exciting for you, never mind. Just head on over to www.holidaycheck.co.uk to look at and book thousands of hotels worldwide.