Travel News

Lovers of Wimbledon can catch more tennis action this year in the capital of France when the ATP Masters Series hits the city.

Paris will be alive with athletes and rackets between October 27th and November 2nd when stars from around the world descend on the Palais Omnissports de Paris-Bercy.

The city will play host to the final round of the series, meaning spectators will see the ultimate champion of the competition.

The series is the highest ranking in the world after the Grand Slams and this year has stages in North America and Europe.

Last year David Nalbandian won, with people staying at the best hotels in Paris able to see the victor again this time round.

Other winners at the final Paris stage in previous years have included Stefan Edberg, Boris Becker, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.

Etienne de Villiers, the executive chairman and president of the governing body of men's tennis, recently said he has exacted change in the sport.

He told the BBC he had modernised the contest which has led to "unprecedented levels of investment".

Included in the alterations is the use of Hawkeye, which monitors whether balls are in or outside the line, and an increase in prize money.

Cinema lovers are set to head to Madrid this November for the annual film festival, which promotes the Spanish industry.

According to Whatsonwhen.com, the event is gaining in popularity each year, with the 2008 edition expected to attract high numbers of attendees.

It is to be held in Alcala de Henares, which is the birthplace of Cervantes, and is known locally as Alcine.

According to the source, the festival promotes filmmakers who might not otherwise be considered in the mainstream and who produce "experimental works".

In addition, short films will be focused on, with the European Competition of Short Films set to return after its debut last year.

On the agenda for 2008 is a film cycle about racism, in addition to short pieces on toys.

There will also be a film poster exhibition on display.

People staying in cheap hotels in Madrid may also want to explore the area, with Spain Info advising there are many other art and culture activities to be enjoyed.

Included in these are gothic-style churches and renaissance buildings for history buffs to explore.

Those who like to visit museums are advised to head to the Paseo del Arte, which consists of three museums close together.

People heading to the best hotels in Prague this year may want to note down the Strings of Autumn Festival.

The 13th version of this annual celebration of music, the event aims to provide attendees with an experience they "will have no chance to see and hear elsewhere".

Currently promised for appearances are guest artists from Czech Republic and performances from Joel Frederiksen and Jiri Pavlica, along with their ensembles.

Another part of the festival aims to promote young musicians, in the spotlight section.

This area concentrates on the under-25 age group, which will feature debut appearances from many musicians.

Martin Grubinger will be the first to take the stage in these appearances, having recently won the Leonard Bernstein Award for his multi-percussion music.

The festival runs from September 28th to November 19th, featuring on a number of dates.

Each performance is categorised into different areas, including inspiration, crossover, luminaries and spotlight.

While visiting the festival, tourists may like to explore Prague, which has many attractions, recognised in its European city of culture status in 2000.

For nature lovers, the capital has numerous rivers and was built on nine hills, which means there are stunning vistas and idyllic scenes to enjoy.

Motor racing fans will be heading to the Spanish city of Valencia in October as Moto GP hits Spain.

The location will host the final round of the championship, which is being held at the Ricardo Torno circuit.

According to the official website of the motorbike sport, the title race has been "closely contested" so far this year, meaning this Spanish leg could decide the ultimate victor.

Tickets for the event are currently on sale, but the site advises it is sure to sell out and urges fans to book ahead.

The track has a mixture of left and right turns, in addition to a 65-metre straight run. It folds in on itself, meaning it is visible from all areas.

People travelling to cheap hotels in Valencia can also visit landmarks like the Cathedral of Valencia, which stands on the site of the original temple for the Roman city.

Other attractions include the Plaza de la Vrigen, which has the Basilica of La Virgen de los Desamparados and the Royal Convent of Santo Domingo.

Those who like to explore churches and religious buildings can travel to the historic quarter of the city to see Santa Catalina, San Nicolas and San Martin.

The cultural city of Venice is to host a month-long International Theatre Workshop event.

Starting at the end of October, the workshop is a great attraction for budding actors and gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy some amazing and unique performances.

After booking in to one of the cheap hotels in Venice why not take the chance to see productions set in key open-air locations such as the San Trovaso, San Maurizio and Santa Maria Formosa city squares or attend a lecture on world theatre techniques.

This year's event is based around the central theme of the Mediterranean and will link in with the 2009 International Theatre Festival as Venice continues to welcome some of the world's most-talented performers.

Visitors to Venice should also consider making time to see some of the city's wealth of art masterpieces by ensuring they visit the key museums of Palazzo Grassi, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the Museo Correr.

Venice is regarded as one of the world's most beautiful cities and there are wonderful examples of architecture quite literally on every street corner, with many tourists opting to spend a day exploring the narrow back streets and alleyways discovering the rich cultural secrets of the city.