When you think of Amsterdam, there are a few images that come to mind: waterways, flowers and the Red Light district. The Dutch capital is filled to the brim with cultural diversity. There are plenty of museums to visit that have a long and impressive history behind. For instance, you could take a tour of the old house in which Anna Frank and her family hid from the Nazis or take a look at the biggest collection of art works from Vincent Van Gogh.

Although the winters are harsh, Amsterdam is bustling with activity for those who are winter sports lovers. If you are lucky, you will get a chance to see the canals freeze, much like it happened earlier this year, and you will be able to freely skate on the frozen surface which is something that is bound to leave a mark on your personal history. If you are not lucky enough to enjoy freezing temperatures, however, you can always rent one of the many available bicycles and take a tour around the city. There is plenty of trails to discover and you can even follow its one hundred kilometres of canals and waterways as well as ride through the more than 1200 bridges that cross them. Since 1996, the Amsterdam tourist office has gone to great lengths to place markers and street signs around the city that point towards six different circuits that can take any tourists through the most popular landmarks.

Milan, the second most important city of Italy famous for its fashion trends that are later adopted throughout the world, is located on the region of Lombardy. There is more to this place than designer clothing however. The city has both history and adventure for its visitors. There are all kinds of circuits that can cater to a variety of tastes. For speed loving males, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza is located less than an hour away from the city of Milan. The Autodromo is where the Italian F1 Grand Prix is raced and during winter (December, January and February) tourists can go there to feel the adrenaline of high speed racing for themselves. The track also offers a free bike trial for anyone daring enough to try.

Expedia.co.uk, the leader among on-line travel agencies, recommends some of these three stars hotels so you can get a good night rest after all these exciting activities. While you are in Amsterdam why not check out the Eden Amsterdam Hotel, which is located on the Museum Quarter Neighbourhood close to the Holland Casino, or perhaps pay a visit to the Tulip Inn, which has both Internet and in-doors gym and is also close to the Rijksmuseum (get more information about any hotel in Amsterdam here.) If you are travelling to Milan, you can check into the Best Western Hotel City which is a great place to stay at if you are going with your family; or choose the Milano Corso Genova Hotel for a premium experience (get more tips about any hotel in Milan here.)