Newcastle's Critically-Acclaimed Restaurants

Whether I'm planning a weekend away or a long holiday, I always intend to eat out in style - at least once or twice! Although many great destinations in the UK offer great food, recently, I had found out that  in Newcastle there are some truly fantastic restaurants - so much so that I really did feel the craving. Many of these have received a fair amount of critical acclaim, and it's these I'll be focusing on for the purposes of this post.

Cafe 21

Where: Trinity Gardens, Quayside

Once upon a time, this lovely restaurant was located at 21 Queen Street, from where it takes its name.
After spending 19 years there, it moved to its new home on the Quayside with its sleek, modern decor that creates a fantastically swish, upmarket atmosphere.

What I most like about this restaurant is that while it's a very sophisticated setting, it offers very honest, fuss-free food, aiming to bring out the best in the ingredients. Here, you'll eat classic bistro fare - though lots of dishes do have a unique contemporary twist.

To give you a taste of what you can expect, starters include a cheddar cheese and spinach souffle, and mains like fish stews, pan-roasted cod and roasted duck breast are available. My favorite course, dessert, gives you a choice of creme brulee, hot raspberry souffle, Tanzanian chocolate mousse and more.

It's also worth bearing in mind that this restaurant snapped up a Gold Award at the Taste of North East England Awards 2008.

Blackfriars Restaurant and Banquet Hall

Where: Friars Street

It's not every day you can say that you've eaten in the oldest dining room in England, but that's exactly what you can do if you eat at Blackfriars Restaurant. Located in a friary that dates all the way

back to 1239, this eatery makes the very best use of its setting by offering medieval banquets as well as an a la carte menu filled with British classics.

What's more, it's won a host of awards for its culinary prowess, including a Taste of England award in both 2013 and 2012. The dishes here are made with locally sourced food (often from the nearby farms) and include treats like beetroot risotto, Durham pork fillet and Cumbrian stuffed chicken breast. Sweet-toothed individuals like myself can look forward to some really classic desserts - as well as traditional dishes with a twist - like dark chocolate fondant, sticky toffee pudding and cherry bakewell cheesecake.

Just as a quick tip, this restaurant is open for lunch and dinner every day, with the exception of Sundays when there's no evening service.

Jesmond Dene House Restaurant

Where: Jesmond Dene Road

My final suggestion is in one of Newcastle'shotels; the Jesmond Dene House Restaurant is easily one of the finest in the city, and it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. And don't worry, you don't need to

be a guest at the hotel in order to eat here.

Boasting three AA Rosettes, it's one of the top places to eat in Newcastle. I think one of the best things about this restaurant is that it has a strong focus on fresh, local food and even uses produce sourced from the hotel garden. So, you can expect to enjoy some incredible flavours.

Alongside the three main meals, afternoon tea is also available here, as well as an excellent tasting menu. The dinner menu, meanwhile, features treats such as garden pea soup, seared hand-dived Scottish scallops, fillet of beef and chocolate gateau.
As a traveler, we always try to select great places not only to enjoy the food but also to avoid stomach problems travelers face from time to time. Selecting great restaurants is important and usually is it advisable to go by recommendation.

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Get the Romance Going - 3 Great Resorts for Couples

Are you looking for some honeymoon destinations or want to spend romantic time with your partner? Think lot of times before finalizing a deal somewhere. It's this romantic time that matters the most in your life. This time is never going to come again. In cases as these, money is a second thing. But the Romance should get going. Let's have a look at 3 great couple resorts that are crafted in such a way that even if you don't know how to be romantic, it just bring it to your naturally.

A. Go Romantic with the newly renovated resort of La Plantation d'Albion:
La Plantation d'Albion is a resort built on the west coast of Mauritius islands. The Republic of Mauritius is famous for lovely beaches and the islands which you can enjoy even at this resort. It's a Club Med Resort built with Epicurean delights, surrounded by nature. Whether it is mountains with rocks, lovely seashores or wonderful forests, this resort is surrounded by all of them. The architecture and the interiors of this resort are best in the world. It is built with wonderful swimming pools, bars and restaurants that are exotic and full with luxury. You can spend valuable private time with your partner if you are on honeymoon or vacations. La Plantation d'Albion has everything the Mauritius can offer you.

B. Enjoy carefree vacation at Club Med Cancun Yucatan:
If you want a carefree all-inclusive vacation with you partner, travel to Club Med Cancun Yucatan. This resort is located in the north of Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and is named one of the best resort for couples and families. It's a unique couples resort ideally for newly wedded ones as well as for the one interested in spending romantic time. You can relax on white sandy beaches with your partner, enjoy water skiing, go for scuba diving and adventure flying trapeze. This resort has everything that you would dream of-natural surroundings, awesome atmosphere inside and luxury. Opt for this one if your target of vacation is Mexico.

C. Discover exotic charm & Go romantic Club Med Bali:
Going to Southeast Asia? A innovative beach resort surrounded by rice paddy fields, temples, gardens and swimming pools in Indonesia- that's what Club Med Bali is all about. It's an exotic resort that can provide you eternal peace. It's ideal romantic destination of Indonesia. You can enjoy playing in famous golf courses, have Spa treatments at Club Med Spa and enjoy the authentic flavors of Balinese cuisine. Club Med Bali is a must visit resort especially if you are on a honeymoon. This resort is so beautiful that you won't like going back from here and even if you have to, the memories remains forever.

Gift your partner a surprise trip to any of this 3 resorts amidst nature and enjoy the luxury with simplicity and lavishness of this resorts. Simply great resorts to die for. Spend some value time in this resorts. Love the nature, Make love to your partner with nature, relax on the beaches, enjoy thrilling adventure & keep the romance going.

Related post:  Top 3 Ski Resorts in France

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Singapore Outside The Casino- Family Travel Guide

Singapore is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South East Asia. Tourism is a major contributor to Singapore. It attracted over 11 million visitors in 2012. There are wide options for doing a variety of activities in Singapore. Some tourist attractions are very well known where as some of them are little known. Singapore is a popular place for family activities like Shopping, Zoo, Eating etc.

Sentosa

Sentosa is a place which no tourist in Singapore would ever miss. It is an island resort with beach, theme parks, hotels. Fort Siloso is located in Sentosa. It is now a museum and open to public. There are also two golf courses in Sentosa. There are some famous attractions like Songs of the Sea, Sentosa Monorail, in Sentosa. The theme park is Universal Studios Singapore. There are lot of outlets within Universal Studios which sell Hollywood merchandise. Models of popular movies like Madagascar, Jurassic Park, The Lost World etc are housed in the Universal Studios.Apart from Sentosa, the bird park and night safari are popular family attractions. The bird park is a bird zoo with a wide range of bird species. The night safari is a nocturnal park and allows visitors to explore the zoo in the night.

Marina Bay

Singapore is a great destination for shopping. There are many places like Orchard Street, Marina Bay, Bugis, China town, Little India etc. Orchard street is one of the best places to shop for high end fashion goods. Designer brands such as Gucci, Versace, Armani have a presence in Orchard Street. Marina Bay is famous for the symbol of Singapore, the Merlion. Bugis street, China town and Little India are great for street shopping. Bugis is famous for a wide range of accessories bags, watches etc. China town is famous for Chinese made stuff, Feng Shui, etc. Little India is great for shopping for Indian goods, spices, restaurants. Arab street is famous for Arab food.

Singapore is a vibrant country with a wide range of culinary options. Hawker centers spread across Singapore are a great way to explore local food. Though Singapore cuisine derives from Chinese, Malay and Indian food, there are some dishes which are specific to Singapore. One such culinary delight is the Kaya toast which is a simple toast made of eggs, sugar and coconut milk. Another common dish is Laksa which is a popular noodle soup. The Durian fruit which has a pungent odor is also local to Singapore. Depending on their interests, tourists can engage in elaborate culinary indulgences.

Singapore Museum

Some little visited places in Singapore are the museum and the philatelic museum. The Philatelic museum is a museum of stamps and postage material of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. It is located near the Armenian Street.The Clarke Quay and Boat Quay are great places to explore the nightlife in Singapore. Apart from the tourist attractions within its boundaries, Singapore is also close to Malaysia. The Legoland Malaysia is located in Nusajaya, Johor. The famous islands of Bintan and Batam in Indonesia are also accessible via a ferry ride from Singapore. Overall, Singapore is a vibrant city with a variety of options to embark on various activities.

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Top 3 Ski Resorts in France

When it comes to skiing holidays, France is the country that usually pops into my head first. After all, it's pretty famous for its amazingresorts, plus it's nice and easy to get to - and if that's not a winning combination, I'm not sure what is! Of course, the nation's home to a fair few skiing destinations, which means deciding exactly where to go can take longer than you think, especially if, like me, you tend to be quite indecisive.

So, I thought I'd help you out by putting together a list of my top three ski resorts in France. Hopefully, this will set your holiday planning off to a good start. And if any of the below do take your fancy, you can find out more about accommodation and such at companies like Snowchateaux.

1) Tignes

If you're looking for a snow-sure resort, you're not going to do any better than Tignes. Located in the Espace Killy region, it offers skiing from an impressive 3,450 m on the Grand Motte Glacier.

Its snow-sure qualities are one of the key reasons I selected it, but there are more. Personally, I think one of the very best things about Tignes is the simple fact that it's so varied. From lively apres-ski and unusual activities to renowned pistes and an extensive, exceptionally well put together lift system, it really does seem to have it all.

Among my favourite Tignes facts is that you can ski to Val d'Isere - another top ski resort - in just 20 minutes. So, if you come to Tignes, you essentially have the slopes of Val d'Isere at your disposal too, which is a pretty exciting thought.

I also love the fact that there's so much else you can do here, like going ice driving and attempting snowshoe treks. After all, it's always nice to try something a bit different while you're on holiday.

2) La Plagne

Next on my list is La Plagne, a fantastic resort in the valley of the Tarentaise, which is in the Savoie region of France. Forming one half of the vast Paradiski area, La Plagne is home to 225 km of pistes, where you'll find 15 black runs, alongside 72 blue and 10 green. Plus, there's a sizeable off-piste area, as well as a new snow park - 7cube.

It's also worth remembering that La Plagne is one of the highest resorts on the continent (sitting between 1,250 m and 3,250 m), so it's a snow-sure destination. In terms of its layout, La Plagne is spread across four main communes, which it is possibly simplest to look at as mini resorts in themselves. These are Champagny-en-Vanoise, Macot-la-Plagne, Aime and Bellestre.

3) Les Arcs

Last on my list is the famous Les Arcs, which is one of France's best-known ski resorts. What you might not already know, however, is that this forms the other half of the Paradiski area, and from here you can reach the aforementioned La Plagne in just four minutes, as the two are connected by the world's fastest cable car.

What's great about Les Arcs is the variety it offers. Boasting some 200 km of pistes, it has open runs and tree runs, as well as a 7 km long piste that descends 2,026 m. There's also 30 km of cross-country skiing, good snow schools - including Ecole de Ski Francais - and guaranteed snow throughout the season.

Plus, there are traditional villages offering accommodation here, as well as four purpose-built resorts that are more modern. Wherever you choose to stay, though, you'll generally find the local area puts on lots of great events, like firework displays and film screenings.

Related post: 6 Great Family Destinations in the UK

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Worshipping the sun in Menorca

Sun lovers don't need to be told about the merits of holidays to Menorca. The second largest of the Balearic Islands, it is famed the world over for its sunny climate, which is apparent almost the whole year around. In the summer months you can expect as many as ten to 11 hours of sunshine a day, but even in the winter, it's possible to work on your tan, with three to four hours of quality sunshine a day and temperatures in the teens – not bad for December and January!

More tranquil than its larger sibling Majorca, the island offers the opportunity to enjoy roasting temperatures and laze on the beach in relative calm. Click throughfor a comprehensive selection of packages you can get for holidays on the island. In the meantime, let's look at everything you need to know about the island.

When to visit?

As we mentioned, Menorca is a sunseeker's paradise and June through to September is the peak of the summer, when temperatures are usually in the late twenties or sometimes the early thirties and you can expect more than ten hours of uninterrupted sunshine every day. For this reason, it's certainly popular with families looking to get away during the school holidays. If you don't have kids, a good time to go is in September, when schools in the UK reconvene for the new academic year. You'll find that it can be just as blistering at this point of the year as it is earlier in the summer and there's typically about eight hours of sunshine a day to enjoy.

Taking advantage of the sun

With el sol shining so brightly on Menorca, you don't need to worry about any of it going to waste. In fact, whenever you choose to visit you'll have plenty of opportunity to soak up the rays. Punta Prima to the east of Sant Lluis is a beautiful beach with flawless white sand. If you walk to its eastern end, there are also plenty of rocks to make things interesting. Here you can enjoy the usual swimming and beach sports, while there are some great bars dotted along the shore. Alternatively, why not try out Son Bou, which is south of Alaior and serves as one of Menorca's longest stretches of uninterrupted beach. Here, you'll find beach bars, sun beds and access to all the water sports you'd expect, while lifeguards are also on hand for added peace of mind.

Picking a resort

You're bound to be surrounded by beaches and attractions wherever you choose to stay in Menorca and access shouldn't be a problem thanks to the size of the island. Some of the best resorts can be found at the aforementioned Son Bou, which is on the island's southern coast. Cala Blanca is worth considering for its position at the foot of an exquisite bay on the islands northern side. If you wish to stay close to Port Mahon, then consider Binibeca, which is the definition of island paradise.

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6 Perfect Cultural Gifts to Take Home from China

China is a country that has a great history, culture and different tradition that makes it different from world. Depends on where you come from from, the cost of flight to China can be very costly which might balance it with the low cost of traveling in China after arriving.  If you decide to compare prices, keep in mind that flight are affordable and easy to find on www.fly.co.uk.  When you visit china you will surely find so many native cultural things there that you cannot find anywhere else in the world. You can take buy these things as souvenir and gift from China and here are 6 perfect cultural gifts to take home from China.

Silk from China

Silk : It was the China that gave silk to world and Silk from China is world famous for its amazing quality, magnificent colors and various varieties. In China also Silk from few specific places like Sichaun, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Dandong is more famous compare to other places and you cannot get this quality of silk from anywhere else in the world. So buying Silk from china is one of the best Chinese cultural gifts to take home from china.


Tea : This is another item that originated from China and loved by world. You can find hundreds of Tea Varieties in China that Chinese people consume at different time of the day for different reason. They consume it with meal, they use it for better health, they consume it for pleasure and they also use it as welcome drink. Chinese categorize tea in black tea, green tea, scented tea, brick tea and long tea. You can take buy some from all 5 categories and you can use it as you want.

Handicrafts : Just like tea and Silk Handicraft products from china are also world famous and it offer so many different handicraft products that amaze everyone. Some of these handicrafts look like living being and to create this kind of masterpiece, Chinese artisans give their entire dedication and lot of time. These handicrafts include paper ct, embroidery, woodblock picture, leather silhouette and you can buy some of these handicrafts as cultural gifts from china.

Paintings: China is one of the oldest countries that have artistic tradition and its paintings reflected the time, social condition and its changes as time changed. Painters from china mastered this art in an amazing way that they can create lively painting and you will feel as if everything is like real. You can also buy some of these paintings from china as a cultural gift that you can use at your home or you can give it to your loved ones.

Chinese Traditional Medicine

Antiques : China is one of the ancient countries in the world and it offer so many great antique products that you can legally buy from some authentic shops. These shops sell fascinating antique products to you in very affordable price and you can take some of the low cost antique souvenir from china to your home.

Chinese Traditional Medicine : Its traditional medicine is an essential part of culture of this fascinating country. Some of these medicines are famous to give energy, youth, health and enhanced sexual potential and if you want you can take some of these medicines with you as a gift from china.

These cultural gift items represent china and it's almost impossible to find these things anywhere else in the world with same quality. So when you will take these gift items for your loved one, they will surely love your gift. When you visit any county in Asia, there are many factor to consider.

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