SLOVENIA

The most affluent of the former Yugoslavian countries, Slovenia has an amazing variety of settings to go along with its

Habsburg Empire and Venetian Republic heritage. Bled Castle is perhaps the most well-known tourist attraction

but the country has a small but charming coastline, the Julian Alps and an extraordinary array of caves.

BULGARIA

This country has always offered great value for money, great coastlines, good skiing and lively cities but

investment in new hotels and improved infrastructure over recent years means that it can compete with the

Mediterranean countries on an even footing.

BRUSSELS

CROATIA

With the wars which tore apart the old Yugoslavia becoming a distant though tragic memory, more and more Brits are

rediscovering the delights of Croatia. Most people travel to the beautiful Italianate resorts of Dubrovnik, Split and Rovign on

the Dalmatian coast. The hundreds of idyllic islands dotted along this coast make for perfect sailing,

the crystal clear sea and the good value for money, has meant that the country has experienced steep growth in the

number of visitors in the past few years. The region before the wars had aimed to attract mass tourism

but now development has taken a more sustainable upmarket approach.

UNTITED KINGDOM Holidays:The British isles has always been a great attraction for people all over the world -

with London actracting the most visitors. London is one of the cleanest cities in England

There are many beautiful holiday cottages all over the UK

 ITALY

Lovers of art, music and architecture flock to the cultural centres of Rome, Venice, Verona and Florence, but as if this wasn`t

enough, Italy also showcases its globally adored cuisine among beautiful countryside, mountains and lakes.

No-frills airlines continue to put on routes to Italy, even though a major Italian no-frills carrier went under in 2004.

Italy`s islands of Sardinia and Sicily are also attractive destinations – with Sardinia especially renowned as being exclusive.

However, a major British tour operator has added programmes to both these destinations, and these are

already proving popular.

Italy is also home to some spectacular lakes and mountains and is very much a mainstream ski destination.

WEDDINGS IN ITALY

IRISH REPUBLIC

Ireland offers a quiet and relaxed pace of life amongst friendly, hospitable people. The types of accommodation available are

wide-ranging and the standard is high. Dublin has a rich history and diverse cultural attractions which together with the

increased number of competitively priced flights and the appeal of Temple Bar has made it the number one city-break

destination for stag and hen parties wanting to sample Ireland`s "craic." In addition the lush green countryside of

County Kerry and the West Coast with the relaxed pace of life are a great attraction. However,

a third of all visits to the Republic are for the purpose of visiting friends and family.

NETHERLANDS

Amsterdam remains one of the most frequently visited cities in Europe due to its laid back attitudes and great art.

But the Hague and Maastrict also feature in a number of British city break programmes. The country is also sold as a

great destination for a short holiday, which can be combined with a visit to its neighbour Belgium and the

medieval cities of Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp.

PORTUGAL

Portugal saw visitor numbers swell during summer 2004 as it hosted Euro 2004. The Algarve is number one hot spot,

with its unspoilt Atlantic beaches and some of the finest golf courses in the world, while Lisbon – the lively and

cosmopolitan capital – and Oporto are popular city breaks. Oporto, known for its famous port wine lodges and hilly,

atmospheric old quarter is linked by spectacular bridges. Many forget that Portugal is a gastronomic delight, with

great wine options and tasty seafood. Portugal also boasts a number of historical cities, including Guimares,

which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and Coimbra, which is a romantic city considered to be the

Oxford of Portugal, universities, monuments, cathedrals and medieval churches grace the city.

TURKEY

As Turkey is still outside the eurozone, the British pound still goes a long way. As a result summer bookings were up

10 per cent. Interestingly, Turkey may well enter Europe, but further talks will not effect holidays in 2005.

Turkey is becoming increasingly a year round destination due to its southerly latitudes. And with a range of

attractions repeat business for Turkey is estimated at 40%. With 5,000 miles of dramatic coastline, sun seekers

, water sports and sailing enthusiasts are well catered for. Most still stick to the Turquoise coast in the south and

west, and Antalya has become an attractive resort with several fine beaches. On the Aegean coast

, Bodrum and Kusadasi are favourites for those looking for good beaches and a lively nightlife. Sailing on a

budget is provided on the local yachts, gulets. Istanbul has also become a popular city break destination combining

the best of east and west. Not known to many, Turkey also has some of the best preserved classical ruins in

the world with the magnificent Greek city of Ephesus leading the way but also the cave towns and gorges of

Cappadocia are one of the most unusual phenomena of the country.

CYPRUS

Cyprus remains popular as a winter and summer destination. Larnaca in the southeast,

Limassol in the South and Paphos in the west are the biggest resorts.

The Famagusta district, which produces vegetable crops for export, hosts the resort of Protaras and

boasts the best beaches on the island including Pernera beach and Fig Tree Bay. Ayia Napa is also in this area,

which for the past five years has been a by word for clubbing. Despite a crack down on rowdy and bad behaviour and

a concerted effort from the Cypriots to reposition the resort as a family centred destination, ‘Napa` will still

appeal to the serious dance music fan.

As a destination to get married in, Cyprus has grown dramatically over the last couple of years as there is a

large number of churches which will conduct this kind of ceremony.

CRETE & Other Greek islands Please see:   GREEK ISLAND PAGES .

SPAIN

It seems that Brits just can`t get enough of Spanish culture, weather and lifestyle and in 2004 Spain was again the

most popular leisure destination.

However, the type of holiday we are buying in Spain is changing and becoming more diverse as we become more

familiar with the country. At the lower end of the market, holidaymakers have always known that they can get good

cheap deals in Spain, but with a high Euro, Spain has faced stiff competition from other non-Euro countries.

One major tour operator pulled its programme from the Costa Brava blaming the move on hoteliers who had not

upgraded their accommodation.

City breaks to Barcelona, Madrid, and Bilbao are as popular as ever, while holidaymakers on beach breaks often

visit the Moorish cities of Grenada, Seville and Cordoba in the South. Themed holidays such as riding, dancing,

golfing and trekking are all becoming more popular in Spain as holidaymakers want more out of their holiday experience.

The Balearic Islands including Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca are the most popular area of Spain.

Mallorca and Menorca traditionally attract family visitors, while San Antonio Ibiza has become the number one name in

club chic and so appeals to a younger audience. The Canary Islands of Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and

Fuertaventura - situated just off the North Western coast of Africa - are volcanic and have a sub-tropical dry and

warm climate. This means that they are popular during summer and also busy during the winter months.

FRANCE

France was knocked from its top spot as the UK`s favourite destination by Spain in 2003 and has stayed at

number two in 2004.

But our nearest neighbour may well be on the brink of a revival. Not only are Eurostar`s passenger numbers growing,

but the train company is adding the South of France to its routes in summer 2005. Extra routes from regional UK

airports to Paris are also starting up next year. Added to this is the added intrigue provided by blockbuster thriller

‘The Da Vinci Code`, which is due to be made into a film next year. Already visitor numbers since the publication of

the book to the Louvre, are up by 17.6 per cent, and with Columbia pictures confirming Ron Howard as director and

a possible

George Clooney as lead, Paris may well be on the brink of a renaissance all of its own.

France also still offers a huge range of holiday products for Brits. Golf, cultural, gastronomic and spa holidays are all

very popular. One of the big attractions of France is the ease and choice of access.

Holidaymakers can travel by air, rail or sea and areas that used to be remote such as Carcassonne,

the Pyrenees and the South of France have now opened up as short break destinations.

Perennial favourites remain, such as the Loire with its amazing number of chateaux and wine, while in the summer the

beaches and campsites of Brittany, the Western Loire, Vendee and Aquitaine are flooded with British families.

France is also the UK`s favourite ski destination, as not only has it the highest resorts in Europe,

it also has the biggest ski areas too.

GREECE

The Olympic Games in 2004, Greece made enormous improvements to its infrastructure, and this has

increased its potential to diversify the types of holidays it can offer. Athens is no longer as polluted or a congested city it

once was. It is now becoming an exciting city break destination. Even in August - when the Athenians go on holiday...

Not only has it got restaurants and art galleries to rival other main European cities but it also has unique ancient sites.

Holiday suggestions for 2006 include using Athens as a base for exploring both the Greek mainland and other islands as

flight times to even the most southern most islands can be as little as 35 minutes.

While Greece is also experiencing a growth in agro and eco-tourism, it is investing in its many spas and upgrading a

great deal of accommodation for mainstream and traditional holidays.

The islands of Corfu, Crete and Rhodes are the most popular islands for British holidaymakers, while the Cyclades,

including the popular islands of Mykonos and Ios, and the Dodecanese, including Rhodes, are likely to be popular with

those who enjoy island-hopping. How about a European Cottage...  TLC cottage

MORE EUROPE

GREEK ISLANDS

GREEK ISLAND WEDDINGS

WORLD WIDE WEDDINGS