Many people have been tempted by the idea of a break in Wales. An unusual place to go on holiday, but one absolutely recommended for those looking for a contrast of modern excitements and traditional Welsh culture. Being the capital city of Wales – which got some devolved powers from London a decade ago – the city has a rich history with a lot of unexplored places for the avid historian to check out.

If you are planning to do a bit of site seeing a car would be advised. Car hire is pretty straight forward in Cardiff and not too expensive. Certainly nothing that would compare with some of the wallet busting prices in London! The city is easy to drive around and a confident driver will have no problems with the roads in Cardiff.

The airport can be a little tricky at times, often very busy and overcrowded. Certainly you should leave plenty of time to check your backs in and get through customs.

The locals are very friendly and though the Welsh are naturally quite reserved they do tend to like people to show an interest in Welsh cultures and customs and you can get some excellent conversation in some of the crowded Cardiff public houses.

One thing to avoid trying is to speak Welsh – unless you are a master at languages you will most likely fail. Welsh is a very difficult language, though thankfully there are still those who speak it in Wales (some as a first language in more remote parts of the country) and help preserve the culture of this beautiful little country.

When securing a car rental at Cardiff Airport, keep in mind that there are always great deals available for business travels and families alike. If you make your car rental arrangements in advance on this site, you will be on your way even faster, and you will get a better price than you would if you waited in line at the airport car rental facilities.

Once you have gotten your rental car squared away, I recommend spending the night or having dinner at the Egerton Grey Country House Hotel. This fine establishment is just a short drive from the airport, and is a beautifully maintained 17th century structure, which has been beautifully preserved. If you love antiques, you will love browsing around this hotel, and the dining room, which was at one time a billiards room, is elegant and refined. The food is delicious, and the wine list features artisan specialties from around the world.

After you drive into Cardiff, you will find plenty of other great options for dinner as well. The Old Orleans restaurant, located in the center of town features Cajun Creole cuisine. The service is friendly and the food is well liked and tooted as good value for your money. If you are looking for an authentic small independent British brewery, you will want to visit The Watergate Pub, which serves wonderful traditional British pub food. I hear that Claridges Hotel, with its beautiful Art Deco interior, has been recently refurbished, so I plan to visit again next time I am in Cardiff.

As you may already be aware, Cardiff (the capital city of Wales) is also the largest city in Wales. So when you rent your car, be sure to absorb how this stylish town has gained immeasurable confidence in the revitalized Cardiff Bay.

Moreover, you’ll find that in Cardiff you’ll access to the best shopping in Wales. The center is Queen Street and the Victorian arcades really make your vacation fascinating and exciting.

As luck would have it, Wales is blessed with all kinds of marvelous and wondrous beaches. They are so grand and in such abundance, that these are probably more than you’ll ever see in your lifetime.

Cardiff’s beaches are idyllic. You’ll find privacy in the more remote and hard to find beaches. Like rock climbing? There are beaches that will give you the thrill of a lifetime.

Suffice it to say, the options are endless. You only need to pick an activity to determine what beach to visit.

Here’s some details on the most popular beaches in Cardiff:

- Nash point – One of the top 10 places on earth to watch the sun go down.

- Rest Bay – One of the most popular beaches for surfing.

- Witches Point – One of the most amazing beaches for fishing.

- Ogmore – Perfect for hot summer days.

- Caswell – Great beach for family fun.

In the end, driving your rental car to one of Cardiff’s amazing beaches is a smart and ingenious way to spend your trip to Wales. There’s no better way to soak up the fun of the city, connect with nature, and relax at the same time. Go for it…this will be the best trip you’ve ever taken. Believe me.