Newcastle has gone from strength to strength in recent years and it has become the key visitor destination in the north east of England attracting an incredible number of visitors every year. Millions of pounds of investment have revitalized the city centre turning it into an appealing place to live and also work and helped to produce thousands of brand new jobs.

There are numerous reasons to visit Newcastle and it’s been voted the UK’s favourite city break for 4 consecutive years in The Guardian/Observer travel awards. In fact Newcastle provides so many terrific attractions it can be tough to know how to start but let’s start out with sport.

It is well-known that the north east is a hotbed of sporting fanaticism and seeing that Newcastle United are back in the Premier league there are certain to be a large number of football fans from throughout the nation making the trip to St James’s Park. The Great North Run which is organised each year is another occasion which attracts a huge number of participants and spectators and also raises tens of millions for charity.

The shopping amenities in Newcastle are first rate with a myriad of leading names in the city centre and its shopping arcades. The MetroCentre contains the biggest shopping centre and complex in Europe with a myriad of top name brands in one location. With the Newcastle Quayside Market starting in July 2010 as well as the already established Grainger market, Jesmond market and the Farmers & Country market you’ll be hard pressed not to grab a good deal somewhere.

Newcastle is well-known in the uk for its nightlife and it has something to offer everybody to guarantee a terrific night out. The Quayside and the Bigg market appeal to a lively, young crowd and for the slightly more mature you can find lots of traditional pubs, theatres as well as high quality dining places. No trip to Newcastle would be complete without trying at least one bottle of the famous Newcastle Brown Ale that has been brewed in the area for more than 80 years.

When you are looking for accommodations you will discover a fantastic selection of hotels in Newcastle to select from. From B&B’s to five star hotels there is accommodation to suit every pocket and I can personally recommend the Rosebery Hotel in Jesmond as a great place to stay.

Going on a luxury cruise has stopped being the sole preserve of the famous and rich and now lots more people than ever are experiencing the delights that cruising gives. It has shaken off its impression as being solely for the rich and today is attractive to a wide array of tourists.

Going on a cruise trip gives you the chance to experience a number of places along with experiences and there are many wonderful cruise offers out there at this time. Whether you’d like a quick 7 day cruise trip around the Mediterranean, an extended cruise in the Caribbean or go through the fjords of Norway there is a cruise package deal for everyone. To obtain the finest cruise deals available you have many choices from which to choose. You may either book in advance to be certain you receive your choice of accommodation and bonuses from the cruise firm or leave it to the last moment in the hope of picking up one of the cheap cruises which become available as the departure time gets near. All these choices have their particular benefits and drawbacks. If you leave it to the final moment you’ll without any doubt get yourself a cheaper package but may be stuck with second-rate accommodation. Making reservations for cruises 2011 now gives you reassurance, bonuses from the cruise company as well as gives the time to properly prepare your vacation. Prior to booking any cruise vacation it is important that you look at a variety of cruise reviews to make sure you are getting the right cruise for you. Consider quality of food, kid’s amenities, excursions and on-ship activities to be certain that you’re going on the trip that fits your needs. Mediterranean cruises are hugely popular with families and offer some of the most varied cruising around with 22 nations bordering the med and a huge selection of destinations to visit. Med cruises are popular with old and young alike and offer brilliant value because they tend to be shorter than cruise trips in other areas of the world.