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Imagine that for the first time in a long while, you’re facing this beautiful combination: a weekend free of obligations and a few extra pounds in your pocket. You’ve been itching to get away, eyeing some of the choicest short-haul destinations, and now it’s time to act. Sound familiar? Have you had enough of “staycations” and are you ready to break out of recession living and enjoy yourself a bit? If so, here’s some destinations that won’t break and the bank and will be sure to deliver a first rate, memorable trip.
Barcelona isn’t the most exotic choice, but it is always reliable, a can’t-miss city if your risk tolerance is low. What’s to like? It starts with great weather most anytime of the year, and gorgeous beaches that invite a bare foot stroll into forgetfulness of all you left behind. This cosmopolitan city also boasts the eateries, the shopping, entertainment, and accommodations that will make every moment there worthwhile. Take in the Gothic quarter and the outrageously unique architecture, highlighted by the Sagrada Familia church.

Hop to Brussels and enjoy the lifestyle the world’s diplomats. Luxury and indulgence abound everywhere! Spoil yourself in pricey, sumptuous accommodations, or with not-at-all pricey selections of world class beers and chocolate treats. Immerse yourself in more than calories! The city boasts some 40 museums, scores of quaint shops selling you-name-it, and the Grand Place, one of Europe’s finest squares offering a blend of Gothic architecture and cosy bars where you can sample a few of those beers! Been to Brussels? Bruges is another beer and chocolate haven, if that’s what you crave.

Head East to Krakow, the jewel of Poland, a city near the top of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites list. Your itinerary will certainly include a day spent in Old Town (Stare Miasto), taking in the sites and pleasures of Rynek Glowny square, Wawel Castle, and legendary marketplace dating from the Medieval era. Plenty of elegant last minute hotels await your arrival, eager to please in every way.

Don’t overlook Prague when evaluating your options. This story book come to life is a feast for all the senses, with an enduring Bohemian attitude. Wenceslas Square sizzles with great shopping by day and hot entertainment by night. Choose a lastminute hotel near the city center, so all Prague’s best galleries, museums, restaurants and music venues are in easy reach.

Live a little. Refresh yourself. Your world will seem a better place come Monday morning!

One of the world’s most popular cities, London offers something for every visitor. For gay and lesbian travelers on a budget, however, London can be intimidating, as the prices can be sky high. Luckily, a variety of accommodations exist that are both gay-friendly and wallet-friendly, as well. Many are conveniently located near SoHo, London’s top gay neighborhood.

The Apex City of London is a four-star property located near the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Featuring 179 guest rooms and suites, Apex guests enjoy wide screen television and separate walk-in showers in each room. An on-site restaurant and bar, Addendum, specialises in modern European cuisine. Apex also features an on-site gym to work off those meals.

With a quiet location on a pedestrian-only street, the Fitz Bed and Breakfast is within walking distance of SoHo and the West End. The charming guest rooms are equipped with tea and coffee; free WiFi access is provided and guests may borrow a laptop computer, as well. A light breakfast is offered throughout the morning hours.

Set in Belgravia halfway between Victoria and Sloane Square in Chelsea, Astors is an inexpensive boutique hotel in an excellent location. Within walking distance of Harrods, Astors Hotel is also close to antique shops, art galleries, and international designer boutiques. The property itself is non-smoking, and breakfast is offered every morning.

Another option in chic but cheap London hotels is the George Hotel, which is located on the edge of Bloomsbury, just north of Russell Square. The George Hotel is centrally located and within an easy walk of Covent Garden, the British Museum, Soho, and the West End. Rooms feature cable TV with free premium channels, and a full English breakfast is included in the nightly room rate. Guests have access to the hotel’s private gardens, and for a nominal sum, the adjoining tennis courts.

The historic landmark Radisson Edwardian May Fair is not typically grouped in with cheap London hotels, but the room rates are surprisingly affordable for a five-star accommodation. Combining contemporary design with luxurious service, the May Fair was opened by King George V in 1927 and has a long and interesting history. With over 400 hotel rooms and suites, the May Fair is not a cozy, intimate property, but for those who enjoy traditional service in the old-world style, the May Fair fits the bill perfectly.

The Lake District is consistently one of the most visited areas in the U.K., playing host to upwards of 10 million tourists each year, including many from abroad. This gorgeous corner of the country offers something for everyone, and can be seen and enjoyed on any size budget. If you are considering this beautiful, history-rich region be assured that activities and accommodations abound that offer an affordable holiday any time of the year.

It is nature’s beauty that draws many souls to the Lake District. Dotted with 16 major lakes left by the receding glaciers of the last ice age, many of them may be overlooked from hill and mountainside trails, obliging fields filled with wildflowers in their season, and places to stay or eat while you enjoy the breathtaking vistas. The Lake District National Park is a “must-see” for any outdoor enthusiast. Camping in the park, stretching your legs on her hiking trails, photographing her diverse beauties, and finding solitude in her meandering forests offer a holiday on the cheap, to be sure. For minimal additional expense, you may hire a bike or fishing gear for the day, play a round or two of golf, or take a guided horseback tour through the stunning countryside. Don’t overlook the outdoor opportunities for paragliding, sailing, rock climbing, cycling, and bird watching, all of which the Lake District is absolutely perfect for.

Those who enjoy expanding their minds as well as their lungs whilst on holiday will be fascinated with the areas opportunities, especially learning the lore of the Lake District poets and authors. Wordsworth, Coleridge, Beatrice Potter, and others of literary renown have made their homes here, and much of their history has been maintained in places like the Jerwood Centre, which is in possession of Wordsworth’s papers, and many others of the English Romantics. Steep yourself in their writings, or visit their former haunts like Dove Cottage at Rydal Mount, or the Samling Hotel near Windermere. Choose accommodations nearby in one of the Lake District hotels that offer budget rooms in every season, for a very affordable stay.

These are just a few of the low cost activities available here. If you have a few extra pounds, peruse the quaint shops of the area’s towns. If you discover a village you want to explore further, take a room at a last minute hotel and relax – after all, it’s a holiday!

Native British band Massive Attack will be visiting London during their upcoming tour in early 2010. The February 2010 tour date is set to coincide with the release of the duo’s latest album, Heligoland, which follows closely on the heels of the 2009 EP, Splitting the Atom.

Comprised of DJs Robert Del Naja (3D) and Grant Marshall (Daddy G), Massive Attack is a staple of experimental music in Europe, boasting of collaborations with the likes of David Bowie, Madonna, and TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe during the course of their 22 year career. In brighter times, the well-known duo counted production whiz Andrew Vowles (Mushroom) amongst their ranks, but permanently parted ways with Vowles in 2009 due to disagreements about the future of the band’s sound.

From Bristol to the Big-Time

Massive Attack emerged from the Bristol music scene of the mid-1980s, where the members were previously involved in the band, The Wild Bunch. Not long after, Marshall, Del Naja, and Vowles formed their own act with an eclectic mix of electronic, hip hop, soul, punk, and house influences, leading to a recording contract with Circa Records in 1990.

The trio’s first studio album, Blue Lines, was released in 1991 by Virgin Records, and was unexpectedly met with favourable critical reactions in the UK. The album introduced the band’s signature fusion of melancholic downtempo beats, paired with ghostlike vocals from featured guest singers, most notably Shara Nelson. Massive Attack’s innovative musical style quickly received the label of trip hop, a genre that has since grown to include Portishead and Tricky.

Rocky Moments in the Rise to Fame

Following a disastrous U.S. tour, Massive Attack refueled and released two successful albums, Protection in 1994 and Mezzanine in 1998. Under the lead of former MC, Del Naja, the band gradually began to incorporate more post-punk influences into their music, a factor that eventually contributed to disputes between Del Naja and Vowles. The 2003 album, 100th Window, was almost entirely dominated by Del Naja with minimal input from the remaining member, Daddy G.

Massive Attack’s latest studio efforts comes in the wake of charity involvement with the Hoping Foundation and several years spent reconnecting with former collaboraters. While tickets for the Brighton Dome tour date have already sold out, devoted Massive Attack fans can still secure a seat at the Hammersmith Apollo in London for February 11, 2010. London hotels will likely be experiencing heavy traffic in early 2010, so non-locals should make appropriate plans as soon as possible. The Hammersmith is ideally located near a range of accommodations, from luxury locations to cheap hotels. There’s no need to miss out on Massive Attack’s tour this year.

Manchester has spawned its own fair share of iconic music groups, but few have enjoyed the sort of long-running cult favourite status that The Smiths have. Indeed, The Smiths – who formed in 1982 and were fronted by lead singer Morrissey – not only hailed from this large city, but they frequently alluded to it in many of their most popular songs. Fans of The Smiths can’t roam around the city without running across places that Morrissey mentions in many of the group’s songs. Without question, The Smiths and Manchester are indelibly linked; if you’re a fan of the group, a holiday in Manchester is a wonderful way to pay tribute.

The Smiths: The Beginning

After being formed in 1982, The Smiths released their first proper album, the eponymous The Smiths, in February 1984. Manchester took centre stage in a couple of different tracks from the album. In “Still Ill,” for instance, Morrissey mentions “The Iron Bridge,” a place that can be found on Kings Road in Manchester. The song “Suffer Little Children” was about the infamous Moors Murders that happened in the city between 1963 and 1965. Finally, in “Miserable Lie,” mention is made of Whalley Range, a section of Manchester. Indeed, The Smiths was coloured with many references to Manchester’s history and its landmarks.

Mid-To-Late Career

Although The Smiths were never a huge sensation in their day, they released a steady stream of relatively popular music during their career. The 1985 record Meat Is Murder carried a more political message, but the 1986 album The Queen Is Dead took Manchester into the spotlight once more. On that record, the song “Cemetry Gates” mentions Southern Cemetery, a well-known Manchester burial ground. In “Vicar In A Tutu,” lyrics mentioning Manchester’s Holy Name Church – which is on Wilmslow Road in the city – also bring Manchester into focus once more. The rapid-fire nature of The Smiths’ record releases were wise, though, since the band would shortly break up.

The End Of The Smiths

While several mentions of Manchester were made in many of The Smiths’ first three albums, it was their fourth one – Strangeways, Here We Come – that commemorated the city in the most obvious way. After all, Strangeways Prison is a famous Manchester institution, and the tongue-in-cheek title of what would become The Smiths’ final record surely brought smiles to the faces of many Mancunians. As it happened, frontman Morrissey and lead guitarist Johnny Marr were increasingly at odds around the time that Strangeways, Here We Come was released in September of 1987. The band split shortly thereafter; Morrissey, in particular, went on to enjoy a relatively successful solo career.

The Smiths And Manchester: Forever Linked

Despite the rapid rise, descent and demise of The Smiths, the band made an unforgettable mark on the city of Manchester. Today, fans regularly make pilgrimages to the city, staying in Manchester hotels in order to check out the many sites that Morrissey sang about in various Smiths’ albums. If you were a fan of The Smiths during their heyday – or if you have recently discovered them – you may want to consider booking hotels in Manchester and try exploring the city on your own. Be sure to hit the Salford Lads Club on Coronation Street, where the band posed for the cover of The Queen Is Dead.

Liverpool and London serve as geographical bookends to the story of the Beatles; a story that encompasses rock n’ roll’s most important years and still enthralls fans the world over. Any visit to Liverpool would be incomplete without a visit to at least a few of the haunts that shaped the most popular rock band of all time.

The Cavern Club
This legendary club where manager Brian Epstein discovered the Beatles no longer exists, having been demolished to make way for the Merseyrail underground in 1973, but the new club was built with the original bricks. It sits firmly in the Beatles’ shadow and is a must-see for any true fan. Take in some great live music, look over the Wall of Fame, and touch a piece of music history.

The neighborhood surrounding the club is also a thriving shopping district where Beatle-themed merchandise and entertainment abound.

Magical Mystery Tour
Liverpool is full of sites that shaped and inspired the early lives of the “fab four.” See the actual locations that inspired song titles and lyrics. See the places where life events inspired the music that’s captured the world’s imagination.

One of the best ways to go about this is to schedule a guided bus tour. Magical Mystery Tour is one such tour and takes visitors to sites like Strawberry Field, Penny Lane, and St. Peter’s Church in Woolton where John Lennon and Paul McCartney first met. This particular tour tells the Beatles story in a vivid and entertaining way with plenty of music sprinkled in along the way.

The tour originates in close proximity to several good Hotels in Liverpool and is a good way to prevent the frustration that can come with running all over town with a map.

Some fans, however, may choose to take the sights in at their own pace, and this can be a great way for the truly devoted to take their time and get a good feel for these places and neighborhoods.

Of particular interest is John Lennon’s childhood home on Menlove Avenue. Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono recently purchased and renovated the house, restoring it to it’s 1950s styling. Ono donated it to the National Trust and it’s now open to the public.

Liverpool hotels and the hospitality in Liverpool generally is particularly accomodating to Beatles fans. Visitors will find that they’re both encouraged and welcomed in this rock music Mecca.

More likely than not, you or someone you know has been directly affected by cancer. There are many ways to get proactive about fighting cancer and helping to find a cure these days; Shine Manchester 2010 is one of the most exceptional examples. This 26-mile walking marathon will take participants around some of Manchester’s most famous sites, all in the name of raising money and awareness for cancer research. The event, which is hosted by Cancer Research UK, will take place on 17 April 2010 and will begin at 10:00pm. Participation only costs £30.00 per person, and is open to men and women ages 16 and over.

Walk For A Great Cause

One of the best things about the Shine Manchester event is that it is something that virtually anyone can participate in. Participants can take their pick between walking the full, 42-kilometre marathon, or they can complete half the marathon at approximately 30 kilometres. Either way, there is little preparation necessary to take part, and you can choose to sponsor one of twelve different types of cancer to raise research money for. Whether you choose to sponsor breast cancer research, leukemia research, prostate cancer research or another kind, you can rest assured that your participation will make a positive difference.

Get Others Involved

Since Shine Manchester is a walking marathon, it’s easy to find other people to go along with you. Call up your friends and family members to see who would like to participate, and you can make a fun holiday out of it. Chances are, several people who you know will want to take part and will be thrilled for the invite. Whether you live near Manchester or not, taking a trip there to help raise money for cancer research is a great way to combine pleasure with a fantastic opportunity to make a difference.

See Manchester’s Top Sites

On the night of Shine Manchester, you will get the chance to not only help raise funds for the cancer research of your choice, but you’ll get to see some of Manchester’s most famous sights by moonlight. Walking through the city at night, alongside thousands of other people, is sure to create memories that will last a lifetime. From Manchester Central to Old Trafford, all the way over to Manchester Town Hall, you and those who accompany you will get to see the city in an exciting new way.

Make A Holiday Of It

As popular as Shine Manchester is bound to be, hotels in Manchester are going to book up fast. In order to get the most out of your experience, you should plan on making your reservations for Manchester hotels as early as possible. That way, you can focus on the incredible experience of participating in this phenomenal event, and can retire to your comfortable room early in the morning to get some well-deserved rest. Whether you’ve spent time in Manchester before or not, Shine Manchester is a sublime reason to discover – or rediscover – this fascinating place.

Since 1984, the Lake District Summer Music Festival has come to the English Lake District in Cumbria. In 2010, the festival runs from 30 July to 15 August, with a wide, eclectic range of classical musicians to rival previous festival gatherings. Featuring nearly two hundred musicians from as many as twenty different countries, the festival is truly an international affair.

In addition to showcasing professional musicians, the festival also offers opportunities for student musicians to hone their craft, or for musicians new to the music scene to make debut performances. The LDSM Outreach Program even provides programs to help schools provide high-quality musical training to students throughout the year.

The festival events themselves even spread beyond the Lake District, with over fifty events occurring in more than thirteen towns and locations as far as the Central Lakes and Ambleside. Last year’s festival saw more than ten thousand attendees throughout its two-week run.

Over the years, the high quality of musicians attracted to the Lake District Summer Music Festival has led it to become one of the highest rated and best regarded classical music festivals in the UK. In fact, in 2007 the Independent on Sunday gave the LDSM very high rankings. Judged the third best festival of classical music, LDSM was also ranked sixteenth in best general music festival. This was even better than rankings given to the well-regarded Glastonbury music festival, which only ranked twentieth.

With this stellar reputation, the Lake District Summer Music Festival has attracted musicians such as the London Gypsy Orchestra, Nelson Goerner, a pianist from Argentina, German cellist Christoph Richter and Leon Bosch, a renowned South African double bass player. Events at the festival also include spotlights on classical artists such as Haydn and Mendelssohn. Events and performers for 2010 have yet to be announced, but promise to follow the festival’s reputation for quality and diversity.

The festival is truly an occasion not to be missed. Travelers should be sure to book early, since Lake District hotels fill quickly to accommodate visitors. While last minute hotel reservations are possible, and might provide bargains for careful shoppers, with this high profile event advance planning is a plus.

The annual London International Mime Festival is a celebration of visual theatre that is held every year at various venues located throughout the heart of the city. During the first few weeks of every January, performance artists from around the world make their way to London to participate in the 19 days of mime performances. Although the artist selection varies from one year to the next, visitors can anticipate wold class performances by visual theatre artists from diverse cultural and artistic backgrounds. Whether you are new to the world miming or have harboured a lifelong love for visual theatre, the London International Mime Festival offers the finest contemporary visual performance artists in the world presented on some of the finest stages in London. The wide range of performances at the festival include traditional miming and clowning, dance, acrobatics and contemporary performance art.

The London Internal Mime Festival was first organised in 1977 by British performance artists who were inspired by similar international events dedicated to the visual theatre, such Amsterdam’s Festival of Fools. The festival is primarily funded by the Arts Council of Great Britain and organised by the Cockpit Theater, located at 35 Little Russell Street in downtown London. Although the event was originally organised to bring attention to local artists who were more well known abroad than they were in London, the festival was soon expanded to include performers from all over the world.

The London International Mime Festival is held every year at a variety of venues located throughout the city, including the Southbank Centre, Clore Studio, Stunt Vaults and a handful of other stages. Over the years, the festival has hosted nearly every major name in the field of visual theatre, including Marcel Marceau, Annie Fratellini and James Lecoq. Attending the London International Mime Festival is also a great way to discover some of the emerging visual theatre companies in the field, such as Les Apostrophes, Circus Klezmer and Improbable Theatre.

Every year, the London International Mime Festival attracts theatre lovers from all over the country and the world for the 19-day event. If you are planning on visiting London for the next festival, there are a wide variety of hotels in London that cater to every possible taste. However, visitors are advised to book their accommodations well in advance at their hotel; London has a number of events attracting tourists to the city this time of the year.

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