Travel to Norway

For some people November through to March can be a really miserable time if they live in countries where winters are cold, the days are short and the nights are long, and they can't wait until the spring when the weather is better and there's a few sunny days. There's even a recognised medical condition known to many as SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder - where the lack of sunshine in winter time can have profound effects on people's well being and state of mind.

And it's particularly prevalent in northern European countries such as Britain, Sweden, Norway and Denmark where the winters can be long, dark affairs, and special lights can be bought for the home that are supposed to replicate the sunshine seen in the summer and lift the moods of those with SAD. But happily for Europeans with SAD who have a bit of money and a week or two to spare a good natural answer is possible - sunshine while taking a holiday in Lanzarote, one of the Spanish Canary islands renowned for her holidays industry.

Due to the location of the Canary Islands, a winter holiday is just as desirable as one taken in the summer. Water temperatures reach about 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months and 63 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter - not bad when all around at home is freezing! The island is well known with tourists for her volcanic origin. But because Lanzarote is volcanic it doesn't mean that all the favourite tourist activities so prevalent in other parts of Spain aren't possible - Lanzarote is good for golf for example.

The best course on Lanzarote is Golf Costa Teguise. The 18 hole golf course designed by John Harris and built in 1978 challenges beginners as well as expert golfers. The course is located at the base of an inactive volcano and surrounded by all natural flora. Lanzarote offers holiday guests a relaxed atmosphere, and often an 'olde worlde' experience - the common use of camels to transport goods for example, but then the island does have a desert like climate of course, and the Lanzarote weather is such a big plus for the island.

Lanzarote is full time home to more than a hundred thousand residents, and has her own international airport with direct flights from many regional airports in Northern Europe, including her main markets of the UK and Germany. Lanzarote relies on tourism as well as agriculture to maintain her economy, and the fact that it is able to offer winter as well as summer holidays is a real bonus for the island's tourism businesses. A lot of holidays sold are for the resort of Costa Teguise. Costa Teguise is the smallest of the three large resorts on Lanzarote. It is about 6 miles northeast of the capital city Arrecife. The entire resort is built on former lava fields and saltpans. The resort consists of several apartment blocks, bungalows and villas. Primary attractions are the golf course, a marina, commercial shops and entertainment.

But often for a winter holiday a villa holiday can be affordable, and many people who have visited Lanzarote in the past and had a look around the island prefer the Playa Blanca area. Playa Blanca was once a small fishing port. In recent years it has developed into the second largest town in Lanzarote. Playa Blanca is very popular with families due to its size and family friendly beaches. Two more beaches were recently added to Playa Blanca to help make up for the lack of space on the main central beach. Along the nicely manicured streets are a good choice of shops, restaurants and clubs. So if you've had enough of winter - visit Lanzarote, the island that has winter smiles.

Norway is a country that is as beautiful as it is rugged. The best way to sample all this country has to offer is to use a car hire service and head out into the mountainous wilderness. Around the same size as Germany, Norway has much to offer; be it the spectacular coastline or daunting arctic tundra. Just remember to fit snow chains to your hire car.

Touring the striking fjords is for me the best Norway has to offer. The coastal towns, at the foot of imposing mountains offer picture perfect views. When using a hire car, take advantage of the remoteness of these fjords; during the summer months a picnic at the shore in this pristine landscape is a pure joy. As you head up the coast in your hire car it soon becomes clear why the Vikings, who predominantly originated in Norway, were such a hardy civilisation. Not only would you have to be a master sailor to navigate the system of fjords, but head inland to the mountain ranges; and freezing temperatures soon send a chill through your spine.

Skiing has increasingly become a tourism trade in Norway. Despite nearly all Norwegians owning at least one set of skis, it is only recently that tourists have started to flood into the alpine resorts. This can be seen as the perfect excuse to hire a car, complete with roof rack and head for a weekend of extreme sports. The far north of Norway is within the Arctic Circle meaning at the seasonal extremes parts of the country experience perpetual daylight or darkness. Be careful when touring in your hire car as with no dusk or dawn, reminding yourself to take a break while driving can be difficult.

The capital of Norway is a unique city; with the Oslo Fjord on one side and mountain ranges on the other it offers a combination of experiences that would be difficult to best anywhere in the world. If staying in the city I would not recommend the use of a hire car in this instance. Public transport is efficient and you can see much of the city's attractions by foot. The TusenFryd Amusement Park and the Nobel Peace Museum are attractions of note. The Nobel museum has exhibitions on the various laureates as well as information on the life and work of Alfred Nobel.

In the northern extremes of Norway a hire car would be better substituted by a snowmobile as for most of the year the tundra is covered with snow. The chance to go on a 'snow safari' is an experience not to be missed as reindeer and elk are common; whether it is on a snowmobile or dog sled it is extremely enjoyable. One trip that should definitely be undertaken in your hire car while in Norway is a journey to Roros; this old mining city is a world heritage site and has superb examples of well preserved wooden buildings. Wandering the city has been described as like stepping back in time. Roros also has a wealth of outdoor activities including fantastic hunting and fishing while the craftsmen of the city will ensure you return with ideal gifts for Friends and family.

Norway historically has been a nation that has actively hunted whales, this is still true today but eco-tourism is fast replacing the harpoons with cameras. During the summer months there are opportunities to swim or kayak with vast pods of killer whales, this has been described as one of the most humbling experiences imaginable. Minke whales are also viewable in Norway, this does however mean leaving the hire car behind and using your sea legs to head out into the sometimes rough North Sea. Norway is an ideal tourist destination, using a car hire service will enable you to see as much as possible during your visit. With a wealth of activities it is presents the chance for a truly unique holiday experience. Added to the beautiful scenery the history of this nation, predominantly the Viking period gives a fascinating insight into the Dark Age explorers. With such a difference between seasons, Norway will have you returning regularly to experience all this county has to offer.