2011 Archive

Archive of articles from 2011

On the 17th January 1912, Scott reached the South Pole only to find Norwegian Roald Amundsen had beaten him to it by 33 days.

Video: Video: Captain Robert Scott’s Antarctic challenge – 100 years on

Nearly 100 years to the day of Captain Robert Scott's ill-fated polar expedition, Welsh businessman and entrepreneur, William McNamara OBE, is to make an attempt on the Pole.

The healingEARTH Spa Retreat at Essque Zalu in Zanzibar is inspired by the ancient, traditional and therapeutic heritage of Africa.

Top 5 detox holidays

Feel a bit over-indulged after Christmas? Why not combine your New Year’s resolution to get fit and detox with a break away?

Top 5 places to see the Northern Lights

Surely a must-see on everyone's travel list, here is travelbite.co.uk's top five ways to see the Northen Lights:

Budapest Christmas Market (photo: Sarah Gibbons)

Budapest: highlights from an urban winter wonderland

Hungary’s capital comes alive during the festive season. Sarah Gibbons paid a visit to find out more:

Who says Christmas needs to be cold? (photo: Thinkstock)

Top 5 holidays to capture the festive spirit

Christmas is a magical time of year wherever you are; however some places capture the festive spirit better than others.

The Festival of Colours in India is one of the most iconic events of the year (photo: Getty Images)

Top festivals and events around the world in 2012

From colourful festivals to unique local celebrations, here are the top events from around the world in 2012 with World Expeditions:

Cley Windmill dates from the early 18th Century and is a well-known landmark on the north Norfolk coast (photo: OneOffPlaces)

Top 5 UK windmill stays

There are few retreats quite as special and unique as a windmill

Yukon was a prime destination for those seeking gold

Video: Video: Retracing the Gold Rush in The Yukon, Canada

Let history come alive on your Yukon journey as you follow the trails of First Nation traders and gold strike prospectors, and visit Dawson City to relive the heady days of the Klondike Gold Rush.

Winter walks with the National Trust

Whether you want to enjoy crisp, winter air or burn off that Christmas turkey, National Trust properties have some great walks to explore.

Experience igloo life in an ice hotel (photo: Thinkstock)

Top 5 Ice Hotels

Make the most of the festive season! Look forward to an exciting and unique winter holiday by booking a trip to one of the world's top five ice hotels:

Jordan celebrates the 200th anniversary of the rediscovery of the ‘Lost City’ of Petra in 2012 (photo: Thinkstock)

Top 10 holiday destinations for 2012

Forget New Year’s resolutions. What are you going to do, see and experience in 2012?

Stonehaven Fireball Festival is as quirky as they come (photo: Thinkstock)

Top 5 quirky New Year's Eve events

Are you looking for New Year's holiday ideas for 2011 but weary with all the disappointing party hype?

Hotel New York is certainly an unusual place to stay

Hot spot: Hotel New York, Rotterdam

The Hotel New York is a 72-room, four-star boutique hotel occupying the former HQ of the Holland-Amerika Lijn.

Glamping is a great way to be close to nature, without the basic accommodation

Top 5 spots for glamping

Glamping – a unique way to experience the world’s natural wonders – has never been so ‘in vogue’.

From the Caribbean to the south of France, check out our pick of the best sailing locations (photo: Thinkstock)

Top 5 spots for sailing across the globe

From the Greek islands to Australia’s Whitsundays, if you fancy taking to the seas for a sailing holiday, Travelbite.co.uk’s pick of five top sailing locations are guaranteed to put the wind in your sails:

Alexander House & Utopia Spa makes for the ideal weekend break

Hot spot: Alexander House & Utopia Spa, Sussex

Having just won a Spa Finders Readers Choice Award, I knew I was in for a treat when paying a visit to Alexander House& Utopia Spa – located in the leafy countryside of East Grinstead.

See another side of Bratislava (photo: Joanna Eckersley)

A tour of post-communist Bratislava

Bratislava's communist relics – the regulated blocs and angular statues – are evocative; you can imagine the past they were created in, a past which many Western eyes can't fully understand.

Fancy jetting off to this idyllic beach in Barbados? (photo: Thinkstock)

Top 5 winter sun destinations

Thoughts turn to a winter sun escape as soon as the days start becoming shorter – and colder. But where are the best places to go for guaranteed sunshine?

You can combine a luxurious stay with outdoor fun

Western Scotland: indulgent places to stay and eat

So much of Scotland is about rugged hillsides and stormy seas that it can be easy to forget how indulgent a visit to the country can be.

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, London, is a popular choice

Top 10 open-air ice rinks in the UK

With the mercury dropping, it’s time for the skates to come out for a spot of outdoor ice skating.

The Queen Mary 2 is the largest ocean liner ever built (photo: Cunard)

Queen Mary 2: A Class Act

Gilly Pickup takes to the seas in the Queen Mary 2 for one of the world’s legendary journeys – the transatlantic crossing

You'll find traditional handicrafts and tasty treats

Top 5 Christmas markets in the UK

One of the best things about the festive season is the gorgeous Christmas markets which pop up across the country offering traditional handicrafts, tasty treats and warming mulled wine.