Since Valentine’s Day is less than a month away, unless you’ve already planned your getaway, it’s time to do your research and book the vacation. Travel deals for Valentine’s Day can be found all over the internet (and in travel agencies) , so there are many choices.

First of all, look for one of the cheap flights within Europe ; many low-cost carriers offer special prices for this holiday, so make sure to get their newsletters and follow then on Twitter and Facebook. Typically, these sales don’t last for very long, so make sure to book a flight as soon as you find a good price.

When you look for accommodation, consider the things you want to do while in Paris. Rooms aren’t very cheap, but you can get away with a low budget if you don’t mind staying in private rooms in hostels or in budget hotels.

As for spending Valentine’s Day in Paris, there are plenty of romantic ways to do it, aside from the cliché dinner. Take photos on the river bank, walk hand in hand in parks or just soak up the atmosphere. It’s still winter in Europe, so you can plan a lovely evening at the ice rink (plus, you get to burn off the calories). Or, if you like chocolate, book a guided tour which features…sweet delights.

Photo credit

Spring is a lovely time to travel because the crowds haven’t “invaded” the cities yet and the prices are relatively low compared to the summer. The bad news is that you should plan for some rainy days no matter what city you plan to visit; weather can be either sunny and warm or gloomy and rainy.

Once you are in Europe, it’s easy and cheap to plan your next stop. The United Kingdom in particular is an excellent start point for your vacation because there are countless cheap flights to large European cities. Flights to Amsterdam are incredibly cheap especially if you like to search for the low-cost airlines’ deals. There’s always something to grab your attention but make sure to keep your eyes open and act fast.

When it comes to accommodation, hostel beds are the cheapest choice but you can always look for cheap hotels in Amsterdam . It’s true that you get what you pay for but sometimes it’s possible to find some great deals offered by 3 or 4-star hotels.

Other expenses to consider while visiting Amsterdam are those linked to the entertainment and food. Happy hours will save you quite a lot of Euros if you like to enjoy a few drinks now and then. And it’s quite easy to find cheap food (especially if you are not into healthy eating).

By the way, you can burn off some of those calories by checking out the many trendy stores. You may never know when you find a good bargain and it’s surely better to come home with a cute new tank top rather than a tacky souvenir.

>>If you are like me and want to find the cheapest possible airfare, accommodation and don’t plan to spend too much on food and sightseeing either, then you’ll surely appreciate reading this cheap Amsterdam guide .

Shrouded in mystery and myth, the Isle of Skye is a magical place with enough history to fill more than one text book. Join Macbackpackers, an independent Scottish owned tour company, on their 3 day exploration of legends and history, faeries and warriors, love and war as you journey from Edinburgh through the highlands and up to Skye.

Day 1

Leaving on a Friday morning we are met by our kilted guide, Neil Mclennan. After picking up the rest of the troops we head out of the city on our faithful steed, the Macbackpacker bus. Neil is a fantastic story teller and is soon entertaining us with legends and stories. Our first stop is “The Hermitage” (see photo left) , where, Neil reveals, he was possibly once approached by faeries who hoped to lure him to their kingdom. There is certainly a strange magical feel about the place for sure.Killicrankie is our picnic spot where Neil enthusiastically recreates the highland charge that scared the shite out of the British troops. A brief stop at Culloden Battle Field to pay homage to the many men who lost their lives in this historic battle, a battle that was surely a turning point in Scottish history. Nearing the end of a long day of traveling we search for Nessie at Loch Ness and dip our feet in the frigid water. Finally pulling into Kyleakin Town on the Isle of Skye in the early evening.

Our home for the next 2 nights is Lochbuie Guest House and we have it all to ourselves, with a fantastic view of the harbor and just a hop skip and jump from Haakons pub and restaurant. After claiming our beds we all head over for a delicious meal and a traditional Scottish Ceilidh (kay-ley). With bagpipes playing we all dance the night away and sleep very well that night.

Day 2

Day 2 start with a visit to the Skye Backpackers to pick up a set of willies for all those without waterproof shoes. At the river Sligachan, Neil once again entertains with an enthusiastic recreation of the meeting of Sciath and Cuchaillien and encourages to put our face in the river with the promise of eternal youth. The epic adventure came when climbing to the “Old Man of Storr” (see photo right), just 30minutes Neil said… I think the old man was hiding in the mist, but it was great climb and as long as you listen to instructions and don’t wander off the path there should be no need to call search and rescue. At the end we all formed a circle and toasted each other as we passed around a much needed swig of whiskey. You certainly form great friendships on this trip and after a great group meal of pasta we all sat around and chatted, listened to music and recalled the exciting events of the day.

Day 3

Day 3 was a farewell to Skye as we headed home via stunning Glen Coe where we sat and had lunch and looked out for wild red deer. Stopping to get a picture of Hamish the Hairy Coo/Cow was a highlight to the tour, just don’t get too close to his horns. Our final stop was the Wallace Monument in Stirling and then home to Edinburgh.

Conclusion

A great tour, great leader and friends for life. The only downside is the amount of travel time, but that can’t be helped and you are never on the bus for more than 2hrs.

Where to book

To book your tour check out MackBackpackers , or book at either Royal Mile Backpackers , High Street Backpackers or Castle Rock Backpackers . There are many tour options to choose from.

More photos from the tour:

How many backpackers can you fit in a phone booth?

Hoping Nessie won’t grab us

All backpackers think alike

If legend is true…7 seconds and stay young

VisitScotland organises a range of tours to suit all tastes. All tours include…

The Hogmanay break, taking in Edinburgh’s renowned New Year’s celebrations in the Princes Street Gardens under the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, begins at £105. From £189 you can partake in the world famous Edinburgh Military tattoo, which conincides with the Festival season in August of each year. Get in quick as the Tattoo sells out months in advance every year. Golf is a favourite pastime in Scotland and VisitScotland organises a range of golf tours, including the Open Golf Championship 2007 and a visit to the St Andrew course. For all you Da Vinci code fans, there is even a tour to Rosslyn Chapel, made famous by it’s inclusion in Dan Brown’s Da Vinci code. If you are interested in this tour it’s a good idea to come out of season, as large groups easily crowd the small church.

For other Edinburgh/Scotland tours and offers, see VisitScotland.

So lets say the creative crowd move in and get to work. Good art, music and culture often stems from the underground, and its likely to attract a host of taggers on. Trendy cafes open up. Local bars host the freshest sounds of the underground. The wheels of popular culture start creaking. Word spreads. At the epicentre of creativity new fashion is being born and the pack follows in droves. Added demand for rental space pushes prices up. The scum moves out. Hell, the place is even cleaned up a bit. Before long (I don’t know, how long does this take?) every woman, man, their cat and Vauxhall lives on the street where only junkies and ne’er do wells used to sleep on concrete pillows. The effect? Just another regular, safe and boring suburb is born; all the while the party, and the new cool, is being generated somewhere else.

Don’t believe me? Irvine Welsh‘s 1993 literature (and later film) classic Trainspotting was largely set in Leith. The images of social decay and hedonism gone awry provided powerful inspiration for this film. Early 90′s Leith was true to this depiction. But not now. UndiscoveredScotland had this to say:

“Anyone who has read Irvine Walsh’s Trainspotting will feel they know all they need to know about Leith, and steer well clear of it. Yet today’s Leith would be barely recognisable to the 1993 characters of the book. Over the past decade what was a typically rough-edged large seaport has turned into something very different. Today’s Leith is a fitting foil for Edinburgh’s Athens of the North; and while calling it the Venice of the North might be going a little far, the ongoing development of its many waterfront areas into smart (and expensive) flats; into restaurants and bars; and into shops and offices is certainly pushing it in that direction. ”

Welsh, who was raised on the (then) gritty streets of Leith, recently lambasted its ‘yuppification’, and “accused developers of providing just a few token “cheap” housing developments to keep local people quiet while building posh flats for ‘rich incomers‘. Further evidence of this yuppification can be found in recent news announcing the development of Leith as an ‘international culinary centre‘. So it’s now a very nice place to live. Not so many needles on the street, but perhaps not another trainspotting around the corner. The only thing left to ask is…where is it happening now?

About 17 miles east of Edinburgh, and just past the Aberlady village, is one of the area’s most interesting beaches. As well as being great for bird and wildlife watching (you can often glimpse deer at dawn and dusk), the beach has some hidden surprises. Half buried in the sand are two midget submarines, which were deliberately sunk here at the end of World War II.

Take in the views with an energising walk – the round trip takes about 90 minutes and is well worth the effort.

A word of warning: be aware of the tide – it comes in very fast here.

Gullane Bents

Popular with surfers, Gullane is just 20 miles from Edinburgh on the A198. It’s also easy to reach by bus – a regular service runs to Gullane from Edinburgh – and the beach is just a short walk from the village.

The beautiful long beach is a great setting for a peaceful stroll. Edged by dunes, it offers superb views west to Edinburgh and you can enjoy spectacular sunsets.

The village of Gullane is also worth exploring and boasts an impressive range of pubs, shops and restaurants, making it a great place for a day out.

Yellowcraigs

This long sandy beach is popular with families and dog walkers. There’s loads of room for the kids to run about, fly a kite or enjoy a game of football. If you prefer to take things at a more leisurely pace, you can take a gentle stroll along the sand, taking in the great views over the Firth of Forth to Fife and the island of Fidra.

Yellowcraigs is east of Edinburgh, just before North Berwick on the A158.

Portobello

3 miles to the southeast of Leith lies Portobello, Edinburgh’s town beach. Once a lively seaside resort, it still retains a faded charm – and on a hot summer’s day, the beach can be a mass of swimmers, sunbathers, surfers and pleasure boats.

Buses run to Portobello from Princes Street.

Cramond

A small beach, close to Edinburgh and easily reached by car or bus, Cramond is a popular choice with Edinburgh residents who head here to walk and cycle on the beachside paths.

At low tide you can cross the causeway to Cramond Island and explore, but be careful as the changing tides come in fast and there have been cases of people getting stranded on the island overnight!

Coastal Villages

South Queensferry

South Queensferry nestles beneath Sir John Fowler’s iconic Forth Rail Bridge (opened in 1890) and the equally famous Road Bridge (opened by the Queen in 1964).

The royal connection doesn’t end there; this was the landing place of the ferry that carried Queen Margaret (wife of Malcolm III) between Edinburgh and Dunfermline in the late 11th century – hence the village’s unusual name.

South Queensferry is 10 miles west of Edinburgh on the Firth of Forth and is full of interesting old buildings, such as the church of St Mary’s (1441) and Hawes Inn, which boasts stunning views across to Fife.

Aberlady

This historic conservation village is just 17 miles east of Edinburgh on the A198, but despite their closeness, this peaceful village is worlds away from the buzz of the city. Boasting superb views across Aberlady Bay, the village is a magnet for golfers and wildlife enthusiasts alike.

Once the port for the nearby town of Haddington, Aberlady offers a number of good hotels and restaurants, as well as access to some of Scotland’s best links and courses. The nearby Nature Reserve gives you the chance to see lots of local wildlife and is particularly popular with birdwatchers.

Gullane

A pretty village about 20 miles east of Edinburgh and 5 miles west of North Berwick on the A198.

Golf has been played here since 1854, and today there are three courses, all offering great views. The best – a splendid 360 degree panorama across East Lothian, Edinburgh and the Forth – can be enjoyed from the number 7 green on Gullane number 1 course.

Find out more on the Gullane Golf Club website.

Alternatively, you can relax at Greywalls Country House Hotel. The house, which dates back to 1901, was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and the gardens by Gertrude Jekyll – it’s well worth a visit.

I was dissapointed. I was very dissapointed. The place was packed; the beer was flowing; the night seemed destined to be a great success, but I can only stand 30 minutes of mediocre pop tunes and teenagers making gang signals in the air before I know it’s time to hit the next party. I think it was Roots Manuva playing, but instead of his usual unique blend of dub squeaks, fat beats and quirky rhymes, it was a no frills sound track that did little to hype the crowd. I would have been better to spend my £10 quid on a curry and a sixer and sit at home listening to the radio. To cut a long (and whingey) story short, I left by 12. Maybe I missed the boat. Maybe it was really good later on. I don’t know. I was sleeping. Can anyone tell me if it did indeed get better later on? And inwhat order were the acts playing?

Ahem…don’t you love the critics who don’t even know who was playing…

On a good note, the venue is worth experiencing in itself. Located beneath the city in subterranean caves come basement space, the venue is easy to navigate and the two rooms are well isolated by a solid wall of rock. So the sound from two simultaneous DJ sets doesn’t mix together. That’s a good thing. See CV’s website for an upcoming list of gigs.

It may appear that I’m in a bad mood today, giving everything bad reviews and all. Hostel: grumpy staff, Roots manuva: boring; when I actually did get out of bed on the right side of bed and I did eat my happy pills. The fact of the matter is…well…they sucked and here in logue-land, we tell it like it is

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