Great Britain is a most popular tourist destination. The "United Kingdoms" are England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and each country has it's own distinctive identity making each considerably different. The population of each country are, in the main, fiercely proud of their roots and happily declare their relevant nationalities while also calling themselves to be British. While most people in the UK are happy to remain part of the Union there are a large number, especially in Scotland, who would wish to become independent.

When most folk think of Scotland pictures of a tartan clad piper, or something similar, spring to mind. Much of what we see as wholly Scottish was, in fact, a Victorian creation with influential characters such as the famous novelist and poet, Sir Walter Scott, did much to promote Scotland and all things Scottish. While the majority of Scottish Highlanders did indeed wear tartan it was not until the marketing exploits of a Lowland company, William Wilson, that specific tartans were assigned to the different clans or regions. Unfortunately a great many patterns for historical tartans that were in existence before 1746 are now lost forever having been replaced with newer patterns. So what is truly Scottish, well to discover this we need to study the history of the nation and understand a little more about the different regions and cities of Scotland which can differ considerably within only short distances.

Sir Walter Scott took much of the culture of the Highlands of Scotland and recreated it into a presentable form to the English nobility. The tartans, kilts and bagpipes are essentially from the Highlands and if you visit the area today you will still see many wearing the traditional plaid. However the Highlands, and especially the islands, are heavily influenced by the Gaelic culture and as you move further north and west it becomes more prominent. As you move through the glens and arrive at places such as Inverness and Fort William you begin to notice the differences between the Highlands and the Lowlands. The Highlands of Scotland are extreme with huge mountains and massive expanses of glens and moorland. As you move further out to the West the islands such as those of the Outer Hebrides become even more dramatic and it is in the Hebrides that the Gaelic language is most common.

The capital city of Scotland is Edinburgh and it's roots can go back thousands of years. Surprisingly there are still some fine examples of old buildings to be found in this thoroughly modern city of culture. Of course the city is dominated by Edinburgh Castle but there is much, much more to entice the tourist not least the incredible number of festivals spread throughout the year from the Edinburgh Festival in the summer to the New Year's Hogmanay celebrations in the winter.

Glasgow is vastly different to Edinburgh, it is certainly larger (Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland), but the architecture is more Victorian with little any older. This is due to the fact that the city developed extremely quickly from a small village to a large town and then a city, during the industrial revolution. The Act of Union in 1707 opened up markets which had previously been closed to Scotland and the tradesmen of Glasgow took full advantage, especially the tobacco merchants who made massive fortunes in a very short space of time. Many of the merchants invested in the building of wonderful civic buildings which are still used today and can be seen throughout the city.

Obviously there are plenty of other cities in Scotland that are well worth visiting. If you enjoy castles then scotland has plenty of fine examples and one of the best is Stirling Castle in Stirling. If you enjoy sports you are spoilt for choice with plenty of opportunities to enjoy mountain biking, skiing and other sports, including, the most popular Golf and fishing.

Scotland is such a diverse country that a small article such as this can not do it justice and can only introduce you to the most basic. The country as a whole is incredibly geared towards tourism with a multitude of interesting tours available. There are typical historical tours, including ghost tours of Edinburgh, and the ever popular whisky tours. In fact Scotland is capable of providing the perfect vacation for almost anybody.

As a specialist for exotic and romantic luxury holidays, Free2.co.uk has some great deals for holidays to some of the most incredible destinations on earth. Whether you are looking for an exciting trip to the Far East or a romantic honeymoon holiday to Zanzibar, Mauritius or the Maldives, Free2 has something to suit even the most discerning of travellers.

The Free2 website has feature pages for romantic luxury holidays to the Indian Ocean islands of the Maldives, Mauritius and Zanzibar and special offers for exotic luxury holidays to Thailand, Malaysia and East Africa

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Bali is known as the ultimate island experience. This one place is world renowned for its diverse activities, scenery, culture and atmosphere. If you are thinking about getting away from it all and seeing an exotic land brimming with passion, pleasure, peace and perfection then Bali is the holiday destination for you.

Regardless of when you are able to travel, Bali holidays are perfect at any time of the year. You don't have to worry about weather conditions or anything of this nature as Bali remains at a warm 70-90 degrees F. through every season. During the winter storms do come in usually during the night hours and are gone during the days.

The scenery is so unique that Bali holidays are truly set apart for other island retreats. As far as natural wonders go Bali is home to active and impressive volcanoes that are amazingly majestic. The island itself has everything you could ever want to see all in one place. The white rapids of the rivers that flow inland, sacred caves, and exotic animals are only the beginning. There are a wealth of tours by land, sea and air to facilitate your sight seeing needs which are all very affordable.

If you thought that Bali holidays are going to be the same old song and dance, think again! Here are a few of the things that can excite and inspire you on your Bali holidays: Submarine, marine and wildlife safaris- day, dinner and island cruises- white water rafting, ATV and buggy tours, visit the zoo, play around at the water park, test your skills in paintball war games, Bungy jumping, get your adrenalin going by paragliding, or take part in any of the normal vacation activities like: golf, diving, snorkeling, tennis and more.

The Ritz Carlton is one of the most secluded and convenient places to stay. Right at the facility they have currency exchange for the ultimate in expedience. Relax in a private cove, or enjoy fitness workouts and sporting activities while you send the kids off to their very own pool area equipped with fun water slides. Your Bali Holidays are anything you want to make of them.

Accommodations at Oberoi will definitely make you stand up and take notice. Guests can benefit from their own private pools and choose which setting they would like their villa to have a view of. The visual options include the lush tropical gardens filled with fragrant blossoms or the enchanting deep blue sea. Bali holidays can't get much better than this!

The Legian offers cottages and hotel rooms; both have service and quality that are superior. Parents can count on exciting and romantic Bali holidays by taking advantage of the trustworthy trained child care providers that they have available. Each villa has their own private pool amidst an aromatic array of blossoms and blooms.

The nightlife in Bali is extraordinary. If you love to party hard at night and travel the exotic scene then there is no place you'd rather spend your holidays. The culture is very different so you can find karaoke, disco and dance clubs, body painting parties, singles bars, pubs with live music that can often times be culturally significant and of course other places offer jazz, reggae and rock.

So, no matter who you are, who you are traveling with, where you are coming from or what you enjoy doing, Bali holidays can provide you with spectacular settings and a vast array of activities for everyone.

Trying to find the definitive tropical paradise to enjoy luxury holidays can sometimes seem a daunting task. Well, not any more. Become introduced to Maldives, a series of more than eighty islands perched in the warmest waters of the world and home to the most brilliantly colored marine life anywhere. Luxury, quality and affordability can all be yours if you wish.

People come from all around the globe to gaze upon the natural wonder and brilliantly colored life in this marine territory. So naturally, water sports are some of the best activities to enjoy. Take pleasure in surfing the challenging tide areas on certain beaches, parasailing to get a better look into the entrancing sparkling sea below, snorkel the reefs to get an up close look at the natural biological wonders, dive down deep and feel the serenity of the silent abyss or take a tour in a glass submarine to learn more about the underwater ecosystem.

The monsoonal flux is what decides what rain will fall on these islands. Because this is monsoonal territory it means that all year long great weather is in store. Rains come quickly and move out just the same while maintaining the same perfect temperatures. April happens to be the hottest month of the year and December is the coolest but other than that the perfect climate remains year round.

If you enjoy scenic views you'll soon find that Maldives holidays are superbly unique. The array of the islands gracefully perched out to sea in the clearest blue green waters is only the beginning of this panoramic escapade. Tropical gardens are a delight to wander through as time slips you by and the realization of just how beautiful nature is consumes your very being. There are no points of these paradise islands that will disappoint your yearning eyes

Deluxe Beach Villas at Huvafen Fushi Maldives is one of those resorts that you will never forget. This is truly the ideal honeymoon spot! Just a few of the amazing things they offer are plasma screen televisions, private pools, glass floors, and great views of the ocean. This resort is one of the most exotic around.

Baros Maldives is a resort right on the beach that not only has a private garden but has so many unique accommodations such as outdoor showers, private sun decks, and coconut thatch roofs. They also have of course the basic amenities such as mini bars, spacious decks and indoor/outdoor living areas. This is another wonderful resort to go to for honeymooners.

White Sands Maldives is located right on the beach with its own lagoon. It has large amounts of marine life that you can take pleasure in looking at and is one of the most adventurous places to be. You can take advantage of the island village and the water village; it all depends on what you want.

Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu offers you that most needed feeling of comfort! Relaxation and security is what you will find here. It offer private gardens, splash pools, private terraces and so much more you can fully take advantage of. If you are looking for that escape, they can help you enjoy it!

So what are you waiting for? Experience a place that passion is rekindled, love blossoms, and families find a neutral ground of happiness and fulfillment. The enjoyment is endless on Maldives holidays.