Glamping Pods in the UK

If you are looking for a holiday in the UK but fancy something a little different then why not consider glamping in one of the huge number of pods that have cropped up all over the country over the last few years. You no longer need to worry about towing a caravan or setting up a tent in the rain to experience a bit of camping as these pods have been designed to offer you the experience of camping but without the hassle.

Often tucked away in an idyllic woodland setting or a few miles away from a golden sandy coats line, pods are quickly becoming a popular way to holiday for friends, couples and families. The pods vary in terms of what amenities and facilities you have and the price varies accordingly. Some pods offer the ultimate luxury in camping such as their own bathroom, full size bed and even a hot tub outside on a decked area. Other pods are simply a beautifully designed wooden structure which is comfy and cosy but still allows you to feel like you are camping.

As these pods are often located in the middle of nowhere, you will usually find that star gazing is easy and you can sit under the stars at night with little noise around you other than nature.

 

 

 

Planning holidays with children

Going on holiday with children can be a great adventure for all the family to enjoy, but as a parents or carer, the planning and preparation can be very stressful. Depending on how old your children are, you will need to find out that the resort is family friendly and you may have to consider what entertainment there is for them onsite.

Another point to consider when booking the holiday is the travel times. Children, especially those of a younger age, tend to not like to be travel in a car or on a plane where they cannot freely move around for long periods of time. If you really do want to go the distance, then it may be worth splitting your travel over two days to give the children time to relax before having to start travelling again.

If you are going on holiday with a baby or toddler that still has formula milk then you need to find out from the airline how much you can take with you and where it should be stored, you may even want to check if you can get the same formula milk at your holiday destination to save room in your case.

Keep checking your travel plans!

In the news latterly there has been many incidences where travel has been extremely disrupted. The horrific terrorists incidences in London has made travelling on the Tube and the Buses a little worrying and has often meant that it takes longer to get from one destination to another due to increased security and station closures.

There has also been the recent news of one of the major airlines having to cancel thousands of it planed flights due to a staff shortage. This has left a number of people stranded and has also affected millions of holiday goers who were planning to travel in the next few months.

Although it is not impossible to foresee all travel disruptions, it is vital to book your travel arrangements early and then keep checking on them in order to have time to resolve any issues that should arise. Ideally you need to check in the weeks and then days running up to your trip to make sure that all of your travel plans are still valid. If you are unsure as to whether a situation may affect your travel plans then you can always call the company who you booked with and ask them to advise you.

 

Pre arranged travel can save you money

When it comes to travelling for a holiday or for work purposes, it often pays to book in advance. Many companies offer substantial discounts to customers who book their travel in advance and this can knock a huge chunk off any trip.

If you are travelling by train then it is worth checking the ticket prices and also if you are flexible on the dates you can travel, look at prices for other days too as soften certain days are cheaper than others.

If you are travelling by air, then again look to see which airport along with which dates will give you the best price. Travelling to and from the airport, also called transfers, can be expensive. Many holiday tour operators offer a coach to take you to your resort once you have arrived at your destination but if you would rather have your own private transport such as a taxi, book in advance rather than relying on the often expensive black cabs that wait outside.

Some companies also offer discount to group bookings, so if there is a few of you travelling you may want to book altogether to see if you can save a bit of money.

 

Deciding on your accommodation

If you are currently in the process of looking for a place to stay for a night or two then you will need to decide what is important to you in terms of your accommodation. If you are just wanting a place sleep after a good night out then the cost of the accommodation and distant to the town will probably be top of the list but if you are wanting to go somewhere that you can relax in the bar or enjoy a swim then the facilities will probably be important.

If you think you are going to be staying out late, then a B and B may ot be suitable to you especially if it is someone’s home. Some B and B’s and smaller hotels lock the door at a certain time meaning you would have to be in by that time.  Larger hotels have 24 hour reception and check in making them more accessible if you need to check in late in the evening or early in the morning.

Always take some time to research the accommodation and read plenty of reviews to find out what to expect and what other people thought of it.

Using the internet to find holiday packages

When looking for a holiday you will want to get the best deal possible. This may mean to want to find a reasonably cheap holiday, or you may not mind too much on the cost but want to find a holiday that has a lot to offer in terms of choice of entertainment and food, offers all-inclusive packages or has great on site facilities such as a water park and spa.

One of the first places to look is online. Before you even step in to a travel agent, it is advisable to check online to see what sorts of deals are available and where you may like to go. You can look up the temperatures for that area for the time of year you are looking at travelling and also compare costs of the holiday should you chose to go a different day, often up to a week either side. You may find by travelling a day or so earlier or later you can save hundreds of pounds.

If you do decide to go in to a travel agents, I would always request that you have some time to think about it before you book. This will give you the opportunity to do some of your own research in to the areas and also check out reviews, which should always be looked at before booking any holiday.

 

Taking a caravanning holiday in the UK

When it comes to holiday accommodation, you often have a wide choice available to you. You can chose to go back to basics and stay in a tent, glam up the camping a bit with a stay in a caravan or have all the luxuries you are used to at home and possibly more and choice to stay in a bed and breakfast or a hotel. Caravan holidays can be great for families with young children as you often have many of the mod cons you have at home such as microwaves and fridges, many of which you don’t always have in a tent.

When looking to compare prices for caravans, be sure to check the onsite facilities. Prices vary drastically for caravan parks but that is often because some parks have a lot better onsite facilities and entertainment. If this is important to you then you may be will to pay a bit extra for it, if however you only want somewhere to get your head down at night, then a basic site may be perfect for what you need.

If you want to grab yourself a bargain then look online at some of the sites set up for people to advertise their caravan for let, or scour some of the social media sites for some great deals. Never pay in full for a holiday booked privately if you do not know the person, instead pay a deposit and arrange to meet them there to pay the balance.

 

 

Specialist holidays for toddlers

If parents are looking to get away and they have young children then they need to make sure that the resort and location that they chose for the holiday is suitable for the age of the children they are travelling with.

Most children are happy to be able to either play on the beach building sand castles or to be able to play on site in the pool or on site amusements and games areas. Some hotels are simply not designed with children in mind and therefore you may find that you are having to venture out of the resort every day to keep your children occupied. When going to speak to your tour operator, make sure you already know what sorts of facilities you are expecting on site and also what budget you have. If you have a very low budget then you may need to reconsider your expectations for the resort or increase your budget.

Be sure to read other reviews, especially those left by people with young children as often this is how you get the best idea of what a place is really like. You may also want to explore what is nearby in the surrounding areas for ideas of what to do on days that you want to venture a little further afield.

 

 

Holiday planning and preparation

Holidays can be booked in advance or can be taken up last minute if you are prepared and able to travel quickly. For many people, booking a holiday can be a little stressful. It may be that you are booking a resort or location you have never been too before and are purely going off what it states in the brochure. Always read reviews about all resorts and destinations before booking if possible and once you have booked, don’t read any more!

Often the key to a successful holiday is planning and preparation. Planning to make sure you have enough time to sort out your documents, organise time off work and spending money and preparing in terms of packing and arranging transport to and from the resort etc.

If you are nervous about planning for a holiday, then there are some great guides online which will give you tick lists of things to consider or things to pack. Try and pack in plenty of time for your holiday so if you have forgotten to buy something, you have time to go and get it before you have to leave.

Always make sure you allow enough time to get to the airport and that you have all your documents to hand, triple check this before leaving the house.