Football fans will be waiting excitedly for the start of this summers Euro 2012 competition that is being held jointly by Poland and The Ukraine. Then there are those who will be waiting excitedly to see if they have won tickets to the opening game as part of an all expenses trip to Warsaw. If you want to be a part of it rather than just watching it then read on, as it isn’t really that difficult.

Kia Cars are running the Kia Dubstep Competition that ties in with Euro 2012 where the prizes include the aforementioned trip east, as well as the top prize of a fantastic new Kia Picanto. To be in with a chance of winning these you simply have to do what hundreds of others have done and upload a video of yourself alone, or with your mates, showing your best moves to the dubstep classic ‘I Can’t Stop’ from DJ Flux Pavilion.

Yes, that’s all there is to it. The competition closes on the 13th May so there isn’t much time left, and if you feel you need some inspiration, go to YouTube and have a look at those who have already entered. Here you will Brandon Greathead making the most of the sole light generated onto a dark dance floor, as well as The Yers displaying fancy footwork on a video that only shows their feet and legs.

This also highlights that you can enter both as an individual or as part of a group, but there are obviously a few rules. You have to dance to ‘I Can’t Stop’ only a maximum of two from every entry can claim the trip to Warsaw, and only adults over the age of 18 are eligible to claim the prizes. So either follow the link beneath the video or head straight to the Facebook page of Kia Dubstep and get your entry in now. Enter the competition now!

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Viral video by ebuzzing

For those who no longer have the disposable income that they used to have, but don’t want to give up their annual holiday, summer home swaps is the ideal answer to the dilemma. This is where you, via a recognised website, get in contact with someone either in the UK or abroad and effectively swap houses for the duration of your holiday. As you would expect in the current economic clime, this is growing quickly in popularity.

Your first step is finding a reputable site, of which there are many that are UK based. There will be an admin charge for organising the swap, but offset by how much you will save on accommodation costs, it equates to peanuts. Register your details and you can either browse for houses where you want to go to, or put your request out there and wait for the replies.

A good tip is to keep your options open and try not to be too specific. Try to select and area rather than a specific town or area as this can greatly limit your chances of securing a swap. You should also be realistic; if you live in a two bed terrace with a back yard, your chances of swapping houses with someone who lives in a 5 bed detached residence with private pool are remote to say the least.

Also bear in mind that if you were forking out for a hotel room, you would have very limited space, so a flat or apartment will offer more room that you would have had anyway and is saving you a lot of money into the bargain.

There is also the mutual trust factor; nobody is realistically going to pay for an international flight to rob you off a few valuables when you could be doing the same, you are five times as likely to be robbed from your hotel room as from a home swap, so relax and enjoy your holiday.

The city of Angels is one of those places that you can spend weeks in and not see everything, so if you only have a limited time here, say 48 hours or so, making the most out of this short time is vital. While most guides are for tourists who are spending quite a while here, the tips that follow are very much aimed at the short term visitor, and are a pretty good guide to seeing a lot in a short period of time, and you can adjust the itinerary to suit you best.

Once you have checked into your hotel after having already arranged flights to Los Angeles, stretch your legs and take in the sights and sounds of Santa Monica Pier. This century old centre of entertainment for young and old has many attractions and admission to the pier itself is free. Grab a spot of lunch before heading to the Getty Centre; this stunning art museum is a cool respite from the afternoon sun and also the chance to wander amongst some of the best contemporary art works of the modern world.

If you are a film fan, then the Kodak Theatre, home of the Oscars, and the Hollywood museums are must sees. There are tours of the former daily between 10.30am and 2pm, whilst the latter is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am-5pm. After a long day sightseeing, enjoy a wonderful dinner in one of the many top restaurants in LA, then have a good nights sleep before day two.

Venice Beach, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Griffith Park are great places to take in on your second day in LA. Make time for a little retail therapy on Rodeo Drive and in just a short time you will have experienced life as a Californian whilst also seeing the best of what this amazing city has to offer.

When the mobile phone phenomenon was in its infancy, we were loathe to take our phones abroad due to the enormous bills we would get on our return with ridiculous roaming charges. Thankfully now that we have smartphones and Wi-Fi we can take our phones with us and benefit from all their features without the fear of a bill dropping through our letterbox and landing with an almighty thump.

You must remember that any calls or texts you make or send while abroad will not be included in your allowance, and there will be additional charges for this, so wherever you are going on holiday check out in advance where the Wi-Fi hotspots are. These are generally in public places where you can connect your smartphone to the available Wi-Fi and use your phone freely.

One of the best mobile phones on the market at the minute is the Samsung Galaxy S II on O2, and those who have one are not inclined to put it down even for a minute, so the thought of going on holiday without it is unthinkable.

This Android device is Wi-Fi enabled, and can be connected to all Wi-Fi outlets. Before this, however, ensure that your normal roaming is switched off so you don’t make the easy mistake of being connected to a network instead of the Wi-Fi. This is easily done my going to the main menu settings and choosing the wireless and network tab. If you select the airplane mode it will switch off all wireless connection, and also switch off data connections.

As Wi-Fi hotspots are global, unless you are going trekking in the Himalayas you should be able to find one without any problems and keep connected with your friends at home without the worry of racking up charges on your Galaxy S II. This effectively means you can text, call, browse, keep up with your social media contacts and generally use your phone as you would at home.

If you are in any doubt about using Wi-Fi abroad, there is loads of information available online, as well as many forums, so you can make sure that this is free of charge, and also where the most reliable connections can be found.

In 2010 about four million tourists travelled to the Dominican Republic, but about half of these were from North America alone. While the number may seem large, compared to other top island holidays it is quite low, largely because other countries have yet to discover the charms that the island holds.

Located in the Caribbean the weather is tropical and stays consistently at about 26C year round with a peak during the summer of 32C making it a great place to plan a holiday. Of course, the main reason to travel to any island is the beaches, and the Dominican Republic has plenty to offer with over 1000 miles of coastline a third of which are ranked as some of the beautiful beaches in the world.

Another reason to book a holiday to the island is the fact that it offers over two dozen all-inclusive resorts that are designed to accommodate everyone from the luxury traveller to the budget traveller so there really is something for everyone. The food also will not disappoint as the local flavour is usually appreciated by just about anyone, but for those that are pickier there are plenty of street cafes and diners that offer just about any type of cuisine.

On top of these basic perks, the Dominican Republic also has something to offer everyone as it sports 28 world class golf courses, plenty of opportunities for eco-adventures, deserts, tropical jungles, lagoons, waterfalls, water sports, fishing tournaments, some stunning National Parks.  Toss in a vibrant nightlife and it really does have something to offer everyone.

The Cote d’azur, also known as the French Riviera, is one of the most stunning areas in the whole of Europe. With a Mediterranean coastline, this region has sophisticated resorts such as Nice and Cannes interspersed with picturesque towns such as Antibes and numerous villages where the peaceful and laid back lifestyle gives you a real insight into the French way of life away from the hustle and bustle of the major cities.

If you are looking to take a trip around this area one of the best ways to do this is by train. One of the main rail journeys that runs throughout the Cote d’Azur has numerous stops so you can hop on and off at will. This is also one of the most cost effective ways of visiting this stunning area and is much quicker, more comfortable and more reliable than local public transport.

One key thing to remember is that once you have bought your ticket you must validate it in one of the yellow machines that are on every platform, failure to do this will result in a fine when the ticket inspector checks your ticket on the train. Other than that you are good to go and ready to explore.

Cannes is a must see when you are exploring the Cote d’Azur, if only to take in the opulence of the harbour area where the stars alight every year for the world famous film festival. This beautiful and sun drenched town is where the rich and famous come to holiday, and the luxury yachts moored in the harbour is mind boggling. Stroll along the harbour walkway and take a coffee in the elegant waterfront cafes, and maybe do a spot of star spotting.

Although Nice is the fifth largest city in France, don’t expect any else here apart from consummate luxury and elegance. From the opulent hotels to the yachts in the harbour, from the stunning sea front to the top class restaurants, this city wreaks of wealth and glamour and has to be visited to see for yourself just how the other half live.

You will find reasonably priced places to eat here however, and there is also just about the most attractive branch of a world famous fast food company that you will find anywhere.

When most people hear the word Porto they assume the conversation is about the football team, however, Porto is more than just a football team as it is also a Portuguese city that is so notable that its city centre has been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.  For this reason, the city and its cobbled alleyways is well worth a weekend break for both exciting sites and relaxation.

Porto stretches along the Douro River estuary and is the hills behind it allow a nice cool breeze to blow through consistently. To this end, there is a wonderful walking trail down near the Ribera that follows the river and easily leads tourists towards the old town.

Walking is the best way to navigate Porto, and also one of the best ways to find hidden treasures such as small plazas that seem to pop out of thin air between the staircases and crevices of the buildings. Here you will find some great seafood and some of the best wine in all of Portugal.  For the real adventurous, the Mercado do Bolhao offers plenty of vegetables, fruit, fish, and meat and is filled with plenty of treats.

Those who want to see some of the local museums will want to stop by the Museu de Arte Contemporanea, the Modern Art Museum at Serralves and the Casa de Musica, where you can take in some of the best pieces of modern art in Europe as well as witness some great performances.

Outside of offering some sandy white beaches and plenty of bars, Mallorca has plenty to offer an adventurous traveller that wants to out and truly experience the largest Balearic Island. Its many natural wonders and historical worth make it an exciting isle to tour around; which is why you may want to consider car hire in Mallorca instead of booking a package deal.

After leaving the airport and checking into your hotel, the first stop you make is about 28km to the north the city centre and called Soller. The town is a painting in itself filled with olive trees and orange groves and between the smells of pastries and tapas at the local bakeries the scent in the air alone is enough to make the trip worthwhile. You will also find some excellent museums here that offer collections by Joan Miro and Picasso.

Right next to Soller is Serra de Tramuntana which is a great stop to burn some energy as the entire mountain range offers picture perfect scenery and beauty. You can walk, climb, or simply drive to one of the peaks and see a wide array of animals and plants.

Luckily, after you are done breaking a sweet you can drive downwards towards the Bay of Solller and hit the beach for a few minutes. Dry off quickly however because 25 minutes away is the Valldemossa Royal Carthusian Monastery that is well worth a few minutes of your time. It was here that Frederic Chopin was said to hide away with George Sand.  The ancient monastery will take your breath away and the quiet of the local village is a nice alternative to the tourist activities of Mallorca.

Those with kids will also want to consider spending a day driving over to the Cuevas del Drach which is about 66km from Parma and is a cavern system that leads to the Lago de Martel, one of the largest lakes in the world that is found underground. As if this was not cool enough in itself, musicians play in boats under the ground in the boats rounding out the entire magical experience.

Dubai is one of the seven states, or Emirates, that makes up the United Arab Emirates in the middle east. It is by far the most modern and forward thinking of the Emirates, and is better described as a independent city/state. Sitting in the middle of the desert, this prime tourist destination has progressed at a mind boggling rate, and now attracts visitors from around the world who are fascinated by this mixture of cutting edge technology and some of the best hotels in the world.

A flight of around 5 hours from Europe will have you in Dubai, making it the perfect destination for a weekend break with a difference. On landing, you could be forgiven that you were in India or the Philippines as opposed to an Arab country. This is due to the fact that before the discovery of oil, this was a very poor part of the world and India supplied most of the technology and that was needed to develop Dubai quickly once the oil had been discovered.

Dubai is split into ten different districts or municipalities, and it is in the Jumeirah district that you will find the superb Madinat Jumeirah resort. If you are a discerning traveller who already thinks they have experienced the last word in exclusive accommodation, you will have to reassess the standard of where you have stayed previously. From the moment you enter you will completely immersed in an opulence that most of us can only dream off.

The traditional, Arabian style courtyard summer houses that are spilt into 283 suites and rooms that are spread throughout the lush grounds. Paths and waterways link the houses to the main resort areas and if you are looking for the ultimate intimate getaway, you have found it.

Along with the kind of dining experiences you have always wanted, and the world renowned Talise spa facilities, the Dar Al Masyaf resort is everything you imagined your stay in Dubai to be, and a whole lot more. However long you book your stay for at this resort, it will not be long enough, but you will be guaranteed that you stay here will make you feel better than you have for years, if not ever.

Helsinki is the capital city of Finland and one of the most modern cities that sits alongside the Baltic Sea. The city itself is a city of contrasts that features the best of eastern and western cultures and features plenty of activities and attractions to keep any traveller enthralled.

The city itself is a mix of many different architectural periods, offering natural beauty mixed in with traditional buildings and contemporary modern skyscrapers.  The same contrast can be seen in the actual construction of the city with a city centre that has stunning parks and many restaurants and nightclubs nearby.

Artists, and those who appreciate art, will want to stop by the Ateneum Art Museum where you can view Finnish art that spans between 1750 all the way up until 1960. Many Finnish artists have their work featured in the museum including Helene Schjerbeck and Akseli Gallen Kallela. The Cathedral is another stunning landmark of Helsinki and something worth touring as the neo-classical architecture of the city monument is stunning.

Of course, you will want to indulge yourself while in Helsinki as well, which is why a walk along the Esplanade in the middle of the city may be the perfect course of action. Many cultural events take place here and during the summer you can find plenty of street performers and vendors. The Linnanmaki Amusement Park is also another lovely way to relax with more than fifty rides designed to match every thrill seekers level of excitement.