Book a room early, because the best hotels in Nantes are likely to get snapped up between January 28th and February 1st next year. The town is hosting Le Folle Journee de Nantes, one of the largest classical music festivals in Europe.

In total there will be 1,800 musicians, 270 concerts for a weekend of compelling performances centred around a particular era or composer. Special litanies will focus on north German composers from 1650 to 1750, such as Heinrich Schutz and Johann Sebastian Bach.

Visitors can enjoy some most feted work as well as rare pieces, which the festival claims have never been played before in public. Contemporary interpretations of Bach's music will also let rip, two of which have been especially penned for La Follee Journee de Nantes by Bruno Mantovani and Uri Caine.

The Pays de la Loire region

The Pays de la Loire region stretches from the Atlantic coast to Le Mans and is crossed by the River Loire with its many tributaries and waterways. Unique landscape and intriguing heritage provide for bus, bike and walking tours, suitable for every budget, according to the local tourist board.

Natural Nantes consists of the Martinere Canal, which went into disuse no sooner than it was built in the 19th century. However, this makes the area perfect for visitors. Tourists can walk, fish and sail along the 15km with the L'Ile du Massereau hosting more than 80 species of birds for ornithologists.

Hotel de la Gare de Nantes

Well suited for European visitors is the Hotel de la Gare de Nantes, which is five minutes from the Cite Internationale des Congres- the convention centre housing much of the music - and across the road from the train or TGV.

French, English, Spanish and German are spoken at this two-star hotel, which is just one example of the affordable accommodation in Nantes, with sights like the Cathedral St Pierre, the Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne and the Botanic Gardens close by. The Museum of Fine Arts and Lieu Unique are also near.

A must see

Jules Verne's imaginary world combines with Leonardo da Vinci's mechanical inventions and the industrial history of Nantes to give birth to the les Machines de L'Ile.Giant squid, crabs, fish and manta rays are mechanised for visitors who can take turns controlling animals and fish. A 45-tonne Giant Elephant takes visitors on a ride around the isle of Nantes. Sound weird? Check out the workshop where these machines were created and find out more about the industrial history of this town in a fun way.

Eat and drink

Nantes specialities include seafood and fresh market garden vegetables as well as the fruits of the vineyards of Muscadet and Gros Plant. There are tasty dishes to be had which have been caught in the lakes and marshes, including eels, ducks and frogs legs. Watch out for the tourist office's restaurant recommendations from L'Academie Charles Monselet. However, there are plenty of eateries to choose from with bars like the Lieu Unique playing international and local music, and featuring poetry.

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They are taller than a man, weigh as much as half a Mini and will fight for food. Despite this, a Slovakian tour company is offering bear tracking breaks for brave tourists from the affordable accommodation in Levoa.

Stunning Slovakia is offering visitors the chance to watch a brown bear - one of the largest land carnivores in the world, second only to the polar bear - with the aid of a tracking device. Book a break at a hotel in Solvakia's bear tracking territory to find out about these grizzly mammals.

Hike the High Tatras

The High Tatras is otherwise known as the smallest alpine mountains in Europe. Watch the brown bear in its natural habitat of 2,500 metre high mountains, valleys and unique flora and fauna. This is the perfect environment for the brown bear, which fishes for its meals. Depending on the season, brown bears also eat grasses, fungi, insects, rodents, sheep, moose and even bison.

Take in historical Levoa

Levoa is one of the medieval towns in the High Tatras with many of the 19th-century brick and wooden buildings still standing, preserved. There are historic squares and antiquated churches to look around as well as a selection of good hotels in Levoa.

Stay in Hotel Satel

The Hotel Satel is one of the best hotels in Levoa because of its location. It is right next to St Jacob's Church on the main square of the town and is traditionally Slovakian in style. There is a terrace and atrium with fountain in the hotel, which features antiquated touches and original architecture, which presents a traditional feel. Hotel Satel sports modern facilities like Wi-Fi for business tourists. There is an aperitif bar and tickets on sale to the thermal pools and water park in Poprad.

Swim Poprad's thermal poolsAcquaCity is at the foot of the Tatras Mountains, which are also perfect for hiking and skiing as well as bear tracking. It is built over a thermal spring with water rising from 1,400 metres. There are outdoor pools, slides, steam rooms and restaurants with an evening laser show. It recently received Europe's Leading Green Resort at the Green Travel Awards. Owner Jan Telensky said: "At AquaCity we're saving around 27 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere each day by using geothermal water and solar energy to heat and power the resort."

Track the bears

The Tatras Mountains are home to what is believed to be 80 bears, one of which has been tracked by GPRS by Stunning Slovakia to enable visitors to observe his habitat. Lucky guests in January may be able to see cubs being born as female bears start to have litters of up to four at the beginning of the year. The tour package includes flights, break tracking, trekking and visits to the medieval town of Levoa. Other animals to watch include wolves, roe, red deer, marmots and chamois.

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The Lake District has come top in a poll of most romantic breaks, according to a survey by Hotels.com. The study published in the Independent revealed more women choose where couples go on their first romantic break together at 73 per cent with men expected to foot the bill by 84 per cent of them. This meant greater demand for Cumbrian hotels among couples.

On average first-time holidaying British couples spend an average of £351 on the holiday with men paying for the best hotels in Windermere or other locations in the scenic English tourist spot. However, women apparently spend almost as much, £322, on buying clothes and make-up for the trip.

Most new couples go on their first break away within two to three months, but ten per cent of men said they would take their partners away for a week if they thought the relationship would last.

Lake District top spot for new couples

The Lake District is currently bidding for status as a World Heritage Site with towns like Keswick, Ambleside, Windermere and Bowness playing key roles for their craggy, fields and fell scenery. Countryside hotels in Windermere prove particular favourites for those people who want to walk and stay by the famous Lake Windermere.

Artists, poets and thinkers of the Picturesque and Romantic movements lived in Keswick and Ambleside while Windermere was famous for the emergence of the Conservation Movement. Attractions like the Old Stamp House, Greta Hall and the Salutation Hotel have been flagged for the proposal.

Finding a romantic hotel most important for men

Finding a romantic hotel for couples on first time breaks was polled as most important for men, according to the survey. Meaning men would be doing most of the searching for the best hotels in Windermere or most romantic place to stay in Kendal in the Lakes.

A pleasant setting was most important for couples from the south-west of England while it was least important for pairs coming from Ireland.

Downsides of first-time breaks

According to the poll, snoring and flatulence were the biggest problems among couples. However, one person reportedly managed to break a rib after slipping on a puddle of champagne.

It is also bad news if you are a couple aged between 20 and 25-years-old, according to a report by the Telegraph. Only one in four said they had treated their other half to a candlelit meal compared with almost half of those people over 50. Half of older men have also surprised their partners with flowers, perfume or chocolates, the survey said.

The study by Warner Leisure Hotels, found a third of men over 50 had surprised their partner with champagne on ice while one in four had written them a poem. Other gestures included pampering breaks, like spa holidays.

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Famous writers are an integral part of Portuguese history. Several had a dramatic impact on the country, such was the force of their writing. Tombs to the greats can be found in Jeronimos Monastery and the National Pantheon. Book into accommodation like top-rated Hotel Real Palacio and take the time to sit at the same table as Lisbon's literary greats to pick over the pages of this fascinating city.

According to eturbonews, Portugal harboured such great writers because it had an early flourishing education system and was one of the first countries in Europe to designate a stable native language. While other countries were still recovering from plagues and pestilence, Portugal was well on its way to producing some of the best writers - arguably in Europe. See Lisbon travel news for the best sights to visit.

Master of disguise

Writer Fernando Pessoa is considered one of Portugal's finest and produced work as several alter egos. He wrote not only in different narratives but also under different names; at least 72 are known. The most common are Alberto Caeiro, a shepherd, Ricardo Reis, a man of letters, and Alvaro de Campos, a free spirit. A statue of Pessoa sits, where he used to drink at a table in Cafe a Brasileria, which is now a trendy watering hole. Pessoa's former house has since been turned into a museum. True fans can stay in one of the cheap hotels in Lisbon nearby.

The poet with two tombs

Legend has it that the last words of poet Luis Vaz de Camoes were "all will see that so dear to me was my country that I was content to die not only in it but with it". Camoes lost an eye and an arm in service to the King and is alleged to have vented his patriotism by reading a poem to King Dom Sebastiao in 1572, urging him to restore Portugal to decency and glory. Apparently the King scoffed and continued plans to invade north Africa, where he was crushed. The Spanish army invaded Portugal as Camoes lay on his deathbed in 1580. Camoes has since become a national icon with tombs at the National Pantheon in Lisbon and the Jeronimos Monastery. However, his body lies in neither, as searches for his final resting place have come up: unknown.

The Nobel Prize winner

A tale about Portugal's most important baroque monument won Jose Saramago the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998. He blends fact and fiction when he talks about Mafra Palace. It has six organs and a library with 38,000 books and is one of the best examples of architecture in Lisbon. Saramago's winning text, Memorial do Convento, talks about the palace during the period of the Inquisition. He introduces readers to a soldier and clairvoyant and a priest Bartolomeu, who actually existed. The palace used to be the official residence of the Portuguese royals before the country was declared a republic in 1910. Stay in one of the best hotels in Lisbon to remind yourself of royalty.

Father and son hold fort

Near the affordable accommodation in Barcelos is a statue of a father and son standing with swords drawn, ready to meet the enemy. They signify the two characters in Alexandre Herculano's bloody tale of a duo determined to defend Faria Castle to the death against the Castilians. The tale peaks when the enemy takes the father captive to prevent his son from continuing the battle, but the senior warrior tells his son to fight until the end. Such was the praise met by Alexandre Herculano's penned text Tale of Honour, which is read to Portuguese schoolchildren all over the land, that his body lies in a majestic tomb at the Jeronimos Monastery near to the empty sarcophagus of Luis Vaz de Camoes.

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For many tourists it is the countryside not the city that makes a country and one of the most popular places of this ilk is the United Kingdom. Botanists, horticulturalists or landscapers have been tending gardens here for two centuries. A holiday in one of the cheap hotels in London, Edinburgh, Somerset and Surrey would not be complete without paying a visiting the surrounding natural splendour.

Kew Gardens

The best English gardens among visitors to TripAdvisor are these colourful spaces in Richmond upon Thames in London. The Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew attracts 1.3 million visitors each year, who come to visit sights like the world's largest compost heap, a water lily house, carnivorous plant den and palm plantation. Other highlights this autumn include an Ice House, winter woodland, holly walk and arboretum and grassland. Children can sleep over at special educational events and Kew will host an ice rink at Christmas time.

Royal Botanic Gardens

Edinburgh is teeming with fascinating sights for tourists, but a trip to this historic Scottish city would not be complete without paying a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Although Kew also shares the same classification do not confuse the two, they are hundreds of miles apart for a start. However, these 70 acres are only a mile's retreat from the cheap hotels in Edinburgh and castle in the city centre. Don't miss the architectural splendour of the Glasshouse or Inverleith House nor the special events, which include an apple celebration day and time for meditation in October.

Groombridge Place & Enchanted Forest

So magical are the grounds at this stately house in Tunbridge Wells in Kent, that it has become a garden in the filming of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice . Then again, Groombridge Place has proved inspiration for many a film, documentary or book for hundreds of years. Don't miss the chance to see shy deer, drunken topiary and peacocks. Groombridge is running special events for families and children over the half-term period, including Halloween and Bonfire Night.

Stourhead House and Gardens

Walks around a lake and two hidden Iron Age forts in woodland will enchant visitors to Stourhead, which is overlooked by one of the finest follies in Britain, King Alfred's Tower. The 49-metre triangular structure originally marked the meeting point of three counties: Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset. The National Trust describes Stourhead as the finest landscaped gardens in the world, containing the Temple of Flora, the Pantheon Temple of Apollo among other Gothic ruins.

Hampton Court

It is important not to confuse this Hampton Court with another in Wales. This is fifth most popular on the list of English Gardens to visit and it is worth seeing. The world famous maze is one of the best places to visit in Surrey if not the world, for its half a mile of paths. Originally designed for William III, it remained a private garden until the 20th century. Costumed tours and ghost tours are available for visitors, as well as Henry VIII's great theatre hall.

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The Considerate Hoteliers Association has announced two new categories for next April's awards ceremony: green team of the year and green champion of 2008, hailing a new direction for hotels.

The ceremony at The Cavendish London Hotel will reward hoteliers who have made energy, waste and cost reductions, chairman of the Considerate Hoteliers Association Liam Lambert told Travel Mole.

An ecotourism survey of more than 1,000 people across the world found a quarter were planning an ecotourism trip and more than a third thought travelling green was important.

TripAdvisor found 38 per cent had stayed in environmentally-friendly hotels and nine per cent specifically sought out eco-friendly practices at hotels. Energy ranked most important, followed by conserving water and using recycled paper.

Eco-accommodation

Where is most environmentally friendly? According to Google, the greenest town in Europe is Vaxjo, a three-hour drive from the affordable accommodation in Malmo, Sweden. However, British people argue staying in one of the cheap hotels in Sheffield is better for you because of the abundant amount of trees whereas the Germans say the greenest city is Hamburg.

Practices to enquire about include how often hoteliers change the sheets. A total 78 per cent of people said they would decline to have their sheets and towels changed after they had been provided, according to TripAdvisor.

Apex, which has hotels in London, Edinburgh and Dundee is one of the most responsible chains in the UK. Hotels are monitored on an individual hotel-by-hotel basis and overseen by an environmental director, who implements eco-friendly policy. More hotels are planned next year and in 2010.

Green transport

With the increasing cost of fuel, most people are turning to modes of transport other than aircraft anyway. But one of the most polluting ways to take a holiday is by going through the sky. Don't forget there are cheap deals with Eurostar and fresh air to enjoy on European ferries. Taking a cycling trip has become less of a novelty now and would be a great way to stay in shape on your break.

According to TripAdvisor, 24 per cent of respondents believed air travel should be avoided where possible. More than a third would pay more for an eco-friendly flight and a quarter would pay up to ten per cent more.

Paying extra

A third of travellers would pay more to stay at an environmentally-friendly hotel with a quarter willing to spend up to ten per cent more and 12 per cent prepared to pay up to 20 per cent. The majority of people polled thought environmentally-friendly measures in travel were making a difference.

Green spots

The Eden Project shows off prize-winning horticulture alongside bio diverse nature at Bodelva in Cornwall. In Paris the Air and Space Museum has displays about pollution and the natural environment. The Museum is in a park overlooking the city for those that would like to spend the day in beautiful surroundings with a picnic.

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Travel News brought to you by Eurobookings, the experts in cheap hotel bookings for all major European cities including London.

London's official tourist board has revealed how you can do one of the world's most expensive cities on the cheap.

The advice from VisitLondon is go to museums and scan parts of the city that are further afield from Westminster.

PR manager for VisitLondon Hannah Collingbourne said: " London is really good at providing lots of free events and things to do. All the museums for example are free, so if you're visiting London or have some time off you can always do things."

Over Christmas time there are festive lights, special markets, carols and events to put you in the mood.

Look out for events in the small collections of towns that make up England's capital city, which also put activities on for free.

Backpacker gurus claim visitors can stay in London, travel and eat for as little as £40 a day, whereas VisitLondon calculated visitors' average daily budget as £61 last year.

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Ready for the holidays? Browse cheap hotels in London.

The beautiful Maltese archipelago lies at the centre of the Mediterranean.

And the five stunning islands here offer tourists a wealth of beaches, sun and attractions.

Having gained independence in 1964 and joined the European Union 40 years later, Malta has gone from strength to strength.

With a fascinating history, evident with the remaining architecture from the third millennium BC including the megalithic temples, the islands have been described as one large open-air museum.

The mythic land masses have something for everybody, which explains why the summer months see tourists flocking to Malta and tripling its normal population.

Sandy beaches and clear blue seas are perfect for a relaxing holiday. And those who are looking for a good night out can revel in Malta's thriving nightlife. This will mainly be found in the district of Paceville, west of St Julian's.

Other sights to lure visitors include the Dingli Cliffs, the Grand Master's Palace and San Anton Palace and its accompanying gardens.

Malta's national drink is called Kinnie, which is a fizzy beverage made from bitter oranges.

From the trendy bars of Hoxton to the delectable curry houses of Brick Lane, east London is fast becoming one of the hotspot's for London's young and stylish.

Once best-known as the setting for Eastenders and the site of a few crimes, the area has firmly resurrected itself from the doldrums of its recent past and now sits firmly on the 'up-and-coming' pile of the UK's capital.

With a range of museums including the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, the Geffrye Museum of interior design and the modern White Cube art gallery, there is plenty for the cultured.

And for those looking for a good night out, the bars of Hoxton and Shoreditch buzz with the young and famous, particularly around Hoxton Square where venues such as Trafik, Bluu and Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen, which are jam-packed with trendies most nights.

For a fantastic curry, head a little further east to Liverpool Street station and make a trip up to Brick Lane. There is a fantastic selection of curry houses in this long-running home to an established Asian population.

For those who are fans of BBC's Eastenders, the 'real' Albert Square, on which producers based the popular soap, is Fasset Square close to Dalston Junction.

Exciting plans have been announced for a brand new dance festival in the UK.

The beginning of July will see Dance Festival take the nation by storm as revelers head to the heart of East Anglia for the outdoor festival.

Covering a mixture of house, hard dance, trance, hardcore and old skool, some of the UK's most prestigious club brands will be represented at this electronic music event, including Kiss FM, BIG, Slinky, Natural Born Ravers, Raindance and Bedbug & Fierce Angel.

And like all good festivals, the fun won't stop at the musical entertainment, with a fun-fair, food village, chill-out area and trade stalls.

Alastair Morbey from event organisers, Tiger Promotions said: "The event is set to dwarf anything else seen in East Anglia and we're hoping to make it an annual event and a prominent fixture in the music festival programme."

The activity will all take place from July 5th-6th in 120 acres of private land just outside of Ely in Cambridgeshire.

Other top music festivals in the UK this summer will include Reading and Leeds, V Festival and the infamous Glastonbury.