The German capital city of Berlin could well be considered an icon of the 20^th century for its place in the forefront of world-changing events throughout those troubled years. From its undeniable place as the world’s Sin City during the century’s first 40 years through the Nazi terrors of WWII and its subsequent Communist/Capitalist division to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the rise of the reunified country to head the Eurozone, Berlin has long been at the very heart of world events.

Massive damage took place across the entire city during and at the end of WWII, destroying the majority of its architectural heritage, with worse befalling the fine historic landmarks in East Berlin during the years of the Cold War. However, the reunification push since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 has seen much restoration, with pockets of the city’s medieval history now seen in all their former glory.

Nowadays, Berlin is a fascinating mix of old and new, with the best of modern architecture standing side by side in the central district with remnants of many periods in its long history. Traditionally, as a result of its tumultuous past, the city is set as a number of distinctive neighbourhoods, each with its own individual charm. Its 12 boroughs lie across six main districts, each with its own downtown area.

The delightful chore of locating fascinating historic landmarks in Berlin must surely begin with the Berlin Wall itself, or rather what remains of it. The world-shaking fall of the wall heralded the end of old-style Communism in Europe. This event is commemorated both by several sections of the wall and by the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse, which is dedicated to those who died while attempting to escape to West Berlin. Checkpoint Charlie can also be visited, although it’s touristy.

Churches form the mainstay of Berlin’s historic landmarks, with the largest of them all the Berliner Dom, a vast late 19^th century megalith built to express the imperial power of the Kaisers, the country’s kings. A climb to the highest point of its dome gives a fabulous view over the city as well as an appetite for lunch and sore legs. Marienkirche is one of the oldest religious buildings still standing in the central district and has the tallest tower in the city.

The Synagogue Oranienburger Strasse is now home to the Centrum Judaicum Foundation, an organisation pledged to the preservation of Jewish tradition in Germany. It’s a study and teaching centre for the present Jewish community in the city and was the first Jewish synagogue attacked during the infamous Kristallnacht pogrom.

The Brandenburg Gate and the nearby Bundestag, home to the German Parliament, are must-sees as regards historic landmarks in the city. Opening up into famous Unter den Linden, the gate was one of several giving access to the city and was commissioned as a sign of peace in the late 18^th century by Frederick William II of Prussia. Of course, during WWI it was anything but a sign of peace, particularly when the Russian Army entered the city.

Many of Berlin’s vast arrays of museums are housed in splendid historic landmarks, especially those set on the Museuminsel (Museum Island). One of the loveliest, reaching out into the river, is the Bode Museum with its fine collection of Byzantine art and sculptures. Others for those who wish to understand the city’s history are the Deutsches Historisches Museum and the Topography of Terror, a series of excavated prison cells under a remnant of the Berlin Wall, and the DDR Museum, which gives an insight into life in East Germany before reunification.

Amy is a guest blogger from Easyjet who operate flights to Berlin from 13 countries across Europe. See more of her tips on visiting Berlin on a budget and Berlin nightlife. Berlin Wall image by Carolyn Conner

When you decide to go to Orlando for your next holiday, you know that you are going to have a good time. However, nothing takes the fun out of a trip like being unprepared.

Reserve Accommodations

There are those who enjoy the spontaneity of traveling without planning. While this can be exciting, it can also be a recipe for disaster. Orlando sees between 50 and 60 million unique travelers every year. There are three peak tourist seasons in Orlando. These peak seasons fall between March and April, from mid-June to mid-August, and during the winter holidays. Throughout these peak seasons, it can be difficult to impossible to find a clean, comfortable hotel room or Florida villa. It is best to reserve accommodations well in advance to guarantee an adequate place to lay your head.

Arrange Transportation

Most of those who arrive in Orlando do so via the Orlando International Airport. You can easily start your vacation on a bad note if you haven’t thought through how to navigate the city after you arrive. Perhaps the best method for transportation is to arrange for a car hire at the Orlando Airport. Hiring a car allows you the freedom to move about the city as you wish without having to wait on shuttles or pay taxi expenses, which can sometimes be exorbitant.

Research Entertainment Venues

Walt Disney World is the largest draw to Orlando, but is not the only option for Orlando holidays. Be sure to look into other entertainment venues as well and plan accordingly. More and more visitors are choosing to forego Disney completely and focus their energies on Universal Studios Orlando. The complex is smaller, but so are the crowds. Other entertainment venues include SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Gatorland, and the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum. However, there are many more avenues to explore. Hot air balloon rides, parasailing, and even race car driving can be arranged during your stay. Don’t wait until the last minute to plan for these experiences as many require reservations.

Plan Meals in Advance

The most popular dining spots in Orlando require reservations and many of them accept reservations several months in advance. Even if you are not certain you will keep the reservations, it is a good idea to make them. However, please remember to be courteous. If you do decide to dine elsewhere at the last minute, call to cancel your reservation so that someone else can take advantage of the open seat.
Pack Accordingly

Of course, you will want to make sure that you are packed adequately for the holiday that you have so carefully planned. The weather in Orlando is warm much of the year, and during the summer months it can be very hot. Pack loose clothing, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and don’t forget your camera to capture all of the moments you will want to relive again and again.

Amy is a guest blogger from Alamo car rental USA. Main image credit

We’ve all heard the saying ‘it’s not the destination it’s the glory of the ride’ (or something similar!) but, on the whole it’s fair to say that most of the world’s roads tend not to live up to this kind of expectation. However, there are some routes out there that don’t simply travel through towns, past tower blocks or via endless green fields, but that are set in scenery so spectacular that it is likely to take your breath away. For anyone looking to do some driving with a serious backdrop, here are a few of the world’s most scenic roads.

Florida Keys, USA

If you have ever had something of a Jesus complex and wanted to drive over water then the Florida Keys overseas highway is the one for you. This road is made up of 42 bridges that thread across the Florida Keys and it takes around 4 hours in total to drive. The road was built in 1938 and covers the site of a former railroad that was destroyed by a hurricane. It is a hugely unusual road in that it is mostly over water. If you are a fan of sunrises and sunsets then this is a fantastic spot, as the views at dusk and dawn here are stunning.

Atlantic Road, Norway

The 8km of tarmac that makes up the Atlantic Road in Norway was named the country’s ‘construction of the century’ in 2005 and is a wonderful route to take between the Norwegian towns of Kristiansund and Molde. It only takes 30 minutes to drive the Atlantic Road, which covers all the little coastal towns and villages along the edge of Norway’s Atlantic coast, but it is well worth the effort to get here, as the views are stunning. Look out for the 14^th century Kvernes Stave Church along the way and, if you have time, stop off for a spot of peaceful fishing in the sparkling clean waters of the Atlantic.

Combe Laval, France

Nicknamed ‘the most magnificent road in the French Alps,’ Combe Laval was originally built in the 1800s as a timber road, and offers fantastic views out over the Vercors region for those drivers who set out on its 13km long route. The road links the towns of St. Jean-en-Royans and Col de la Machine and climbs high up into the Alps, cutting into the side of the cliffs and running drivers through a series of tunnels that drop away to incredible views on one side.

Icefields Parkway, Canada

The stunning natural beauty of Canada is showcased at its best for those who take the Icefields Parkway through the Canadian Rockies. The Parkway (also known as the Alberta Highway) links Jasper and Lake Louise and is surrounded on all sides by some of the most breathtaking natural scenery in the world. The road travels through the Banff National Park, which is a riot of sparkling blue lakes, snow capped mountains and verdant valleys, the perfect picture of Canadian wild landscape.

Yungas Road, Bolivia

Whilst not for the faint hearted, there is no denying that the Yungas Road is one of the most scenic roads in the world. Also known as ‘the road of death’, the 69km route reaches from La Paz to Coroico and is lined with sheer drops that provide drivers with stunning views out over the surrounding landscape. The road has no barriers and there have been accidents here that have earned the road its scary name, but careful drivers make it safely through and it is worth all the white knuckles for the views when descending down into the heavy, luscious Amazon rainforest.

Whether surrounded by mountains, gorges, sea or sky, the world’s most scenic roads make for a pretty fantastic driving experience. For anyone looking to take travelling to another level, planning a journey along one of these routes really will be the trip of a lifetime.

Amy wrote this guest post for National who provide car hire and van hire for whatever road you’re taking! Main image is of Yungas valley road in Bolivia taken by Jimmy Harris

Driving in another country can be a pretty daunting experience, particularly if you are going to have to drive on the other side of the road. Add to that the signposts in a different language, unfamiliar roads and the potential for some fiery French temperament from the other drivers and you might be put off the idea altogether. If you’re planning to do some driving in France but you’re finding the idea a bit intimidating, then you can rest easy, as all you need to do get the hang of the roads here is drive like a local with the help of these tips for driving in France.

Watch your speed

You won’t be a very welcome visitor in France if you drive dangerously and getting caught speeding is one way to really ruin your trip. The speed limit is 50kmph in most towns, 90kmph on main roads, 110kmph on a dual carriageway and 130kmph on the motorways, and the French are not very forgiving of foreigners who don’t respect these limits. Find out more about driving regulations in Europe here.

Look out for roundabouts

Even if you have never driven on the right hand side of the road before you shouldn’t find this too difficult, as long as you keep reminding yourself not to drift over to the other lane (although if you do, a sharp honk from a French horn will no doubt soon send you back over to the right side!). However, it is often at the French roundabouts where confusion sets in for drivers used to driving on the other side of the road. There are two rules for French roundabouts – one: where you see the words Vous n’avez pas la priorite or Cedez le passage then traffic on the roundabout has priority, but where there is no sign then traffic driving onto the roundabout has priority; and two: make sure you go anti-clockwise.

Don’t use your phone at the wheel

Just like in the UK, it’s not a good idea to use your time behind the wheel to start making calls and catching up with old mates. Not only is it very dangerous to try driving whilst on the phone, but you will also get yourself an on the spot €130 fine if you are caught, which can eat significantly into your holiday money…

Avoid the tolls

Most of France’s motorways are toll roads, which means that during your trip if you decide to use the motorway you will no doubt find yourself having to pay a small fee in order to continue on. The French word for these tolls is ‘peage.’ They will usually either be manned by a human being or by a machine and in both cases you should be able to pay with cash or credit card. You can plan a route that avoids the toll roads by simply staying off the motorways – if you are planning a trip of some distance this can be a good idea, as it can get expensive. For example, Le Havre – Bordeaux, via Paris will cost you around €72.

Slow down and relax

Unless you are driving through the frenetic streets of Paris, you should find that most of the French roads are much more pleasurable to drive on than those in the UK. The size of the country means that driving distances are longer, but also that there is less congestion, as the population is spread out over a larger area. The motorway and road network is maintained in excellent condition and many of the roads a long, straight lines that are very easy to drive. You can help yourself by avoiding peak times like rush hour, and steering clear of major cities like Paris wherever possible.

French breathalyzer law

As of 2012 it is now law for all cars and motorbikes to carry a breathalyzer or alcohol level test with them – even those visiting from abroad or being driven by foreign nationals. The law comes into force from 1 July and from November onwards there will be an €11 fine for everyone who is stopped and does not have one. You can buy the tests for around €1 from supermarkets, garages and chemists, so it is worth stocking up when you arrive before setting off on your trip.

Getting behind the wheel of a car in France doesn’t have to be an intimidating experience.  With a little common sense and these tips for driving in France you will be driving like a local in no time.

John is a guest blogger from Alamo who provide cheap car hire in France. Main image shows the drive to Col d’Aubisque