Top 5 Weekend Travel Destinations

January is a tough month for us all. Still stuck in the realms of the Christmas break and so fed up of the English weather, but in fact, now is the perfect time to set yourself something to look forward to – a weekend getaway. Whether it is something that you fancy at the end of the month (after exams maybe?), or a summer break so you are guaranteed for some sunshine, either way now is the perfect time to book something up.

But where should you go? Well coincidently enough, I have been looking at weekend breaks with my housemates at University, so it only seems right that I give a little taste of where we’ve been looking and the Top 5 Weekend Destinations.

Paris, France

Paris is so much more than the ‘city of love’, there is so much more that you can get out of Paris than a romantic weekend away. Of course, if that is what you’re after then don’t let me stop you, but Paris is the top destination for weekend breaks and I couldn’t agree more! Personally, Paris is somewhere that I have visited a number of times, but it is one of those places that will give you a new experience every time you go. So a few sights to tick of the list: obviously the Eiffel Tower is a given, the Sacre Coeur or Notre Dame and even take a boat trip down the River Seine. The capital of France really is the home to some stunning sights.

Barcelona, Spain

Spain’s second city – although I wouldn’t let the locals here you say that! It’s the home of architecture and the hub for some of the most famous attractions. Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera are just a couple of the more well-known master pieces, but there is so much more to offer other than a bit of sunny weather! A busy city, famous for Las Rambalas and home to FC Barcelona (if that’s something that takes your fancy!) This is another place that I have been lucky enough to visit myself so believe me when I say don’t forget to taste the culture through the iconic tapas selections and enjoy some of the traditional Spanish nightlife, aka. Flamenco dancing!

Prague, Czech Republic

Now, correct me if I am wrong, but Prague is definitely a destination that has become more popular over the past 10-15 years as a holiday destination. The Czech capital appears to have become one of the busiest cities in Europe and is home to some of the most beautiful stone buildings. Prague is certainly somewhere to set your eyes on and easy to cram many sights into one weekend. Despite the cold weather at times, there is always a Czech beer to keep you on your toes.

Rome, Italy

Pizza, Pasta and the home to some of the most incredible food in the world, Rome is a city that is packed with the most historic sites in the world. Famous for the Roman heritage of the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Forum, Rome draws crowds all year round to see its wealth of ancient history. But going away for the weekend is not all about the history. There are a few things that need to be ticked off the bucket list. Firstly, you must throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain (just like they did in The Lizzie McGuire movie) and you have to visit a restaurant for the calorific pizza and pasta dishes.

Dublin, Ireland

And finally, a city not so far from home. Dublin is the place where party meets culture, and is the perfect spot for a few dreamy Irish accents. Probably most appealing for its bars and lively nightlife, you can’t visit Dublin without visiting an Irish bar and being fronted with a pint of Guinness (whether you choose to drink it or not, that’s up to you!) You might not think it, but Dublin is actually a perfect place for shopping and is home to one of the most popular rugby teams. An all-rounder in terms of cities to visit – it must be the luck of the Irish!

So why not treat yourself? Get together with a few friends and send yourselves away on a weekend getaway. Set a budget so you don’t go too overboard, everyone knows what you’re like once you’ve had a drink (or four!), escape the cold weather and be free of the January gloom!

Page 365 of 365

The final page in the book, the last chance for this year, the remaining few hours. Its time to say our goodbyes to 2014 and open our eyes to a brand-spanking-new 2015. But this all just a standard really. I’m sure you are prepared for the thousands of photos, videos and snapchats that will be filling the internet in the next 24 hours. It’s New Years Eve and everyone wants to make sure that you never, ever forget that. So it’s been a whole year since the last one – has this year been ‘your year’?

It’s been celebratory for the Royals. Prince George celebrated his first birthday, whilst Wills and Kate announced that there is soon to be another royal bundle on the way. Ellen DeGeneres broke records with the most celeb-filled ‘selfie’, Kim and Kanye made it to the cover of Vogue and David Beckham pleased us all with his ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. But obviously not forgetting the sad loss of Robin Williams, the undiscovered missing Malaysian Airlines flight and the horrific outbreak of Ebola.

How cute?!

So how would your verdict stand?

For many, I’m sure this has been the year where everything has started to fall into place. You’ve started University, you’ve walked into a new job, you’ve bought yourself a new house and maybe you’ve found someone, too. The feeling of success and achievement is something that you can most definitely take forward past midnight. And it’s good have a reflection on the past year and make sure that you take with you the best parts of the year, and just leave the others behind. They were made for 2014 – they’re so last year!

But you might be reading this and thinking to yourself, “No, that certainly wasn’t me”. But that’s okay. Things might not have worked out the way that you had hoped. Maybe you’ve lost, maybe you’ve put on a few pounds, or maybe you’re just not content with the way things are rolling. But there’s no better opportunity to turn things around than a whole new year and a fresh smile.

Every January you hear of these New Year’s resolutions that are going to turn everyone’s lives around and make everyone the happiest they’ve ever been, ever ever ever. And that may be so, but only if they are realistic. Joining the gym – usually at the top of a many people’s lists but often only lasts a month. Saving money is quite often up there as well, but then you realise there is January sales, followed by Summer sales, followed by Winter sales. Woops! So if these are the kind of goals that you want to reach, go for it! .. But stick to it! No one wants to see you in December next year setting yourself the same resolutions are you are doing now. Be brave, prove someone wrong!

Keep that gym membership past January!

So before the fireworks are set off and the champagne is overflowing, make sure you know what you want to get out of it. But most importantly, before it reaches 12am, stuff your face with the last chocolates, sweets and turkey because no one wants to see you make the same resolution twice!

Happy New Year!