Category: City Breaks

So many of us let go a little bit too much when on holiday. It is so easy to get in to the habbit of eating and drinking all day long whilst doing very little exercise. Lots of people spend weeks if not months preparing for a holiday, buying new clothes, getting all documents in place and even upping the exercise or dieting to have the beast beach bod. It may be that you have given yourself a target weight to get down to. Once on holiday this often goes out the window and because your body has been used to a stircted diet you will most likely end up putting on more weight than before.

You may not want to stick to a diet when away as for some people this is there only time to have a bit of enjoyment for themselves, but if possible, try and do some exercise just to keep fit and healthy, especially if you normally do some exercise at home.

Exercise is important for all of us regardless of our shape and size along with healthy eating. Crash diets and over exhaustion can be very damaging to our health so needs to be done in the correct way.

Many of us love holidays – they are a time to relax, unwind and spend time with people we love and care for. Holidays can be very expensive especially if you are a large family and have to go in the school holidays. For this reason alone, many families simply do not get chance to get away but this can have a negative affect on everyone. Having something to look forward to is vital and having time off work to recharge your batteries will really help you be more productive when you return.

If you cannot afford to be able to take a week or two off every year for a long holiday you should try and take a few weekend breaks away. This may be to a theme park, camping in the woods or a B and B by the seaside. Holidays don’t have to be miles away and cost a fortune, a cheap tent holiday to Wales can be perfect and still have the same affect.

Often you do not even need to travel far to reap the benefits of a break away. Some people even book into a hotel a few miles down the road for a few nights just to get out of their own home surroundings and relax and be looked after for a few days.

When planning a holiday there are so many things that you need to check and prepare for it is very easy to miss or forget something which may end up having a massive impact on your trip/

Whether you are staying on a camp site (tent or caravan), Bed and Breakfast or hotel, they will all have their own rules that need to be adhered to if you have chosen to stay with them. Often if they have a website, there terms and conditions or policies will be displayed on there.

If you are on a camp site, you may find that you are not allowed BBQ’s or that children are not allowed to stay onsite overnight  It may be that the gates are locked after midnight and all of these things could potentially cause you unnecessary grief it you are not made aware prior to your stay. You may also find that they have very strict rules about noise and that they have a quiet policy which means you have to be quiet after a certain time at night.

If you are staying in a hotel, then there may be stipulations about when you can use the facilities and what times meals are served. If you cannot find this information then a quick call to the accommodation provider can often sort it all out quickly.

When it comes to booking a trip away whether it be for work or for pleasure, you often have to decide if you are going to stay in a B and B of a hotel.

There are a number of differences between the two and the best way to choose where to stay is to think about what is important to you on your trip away. For example, if you are simply looking for a place to get your head down after a long day at work or out site seeing, then a bed and breakfast is probably the best choice, especially if you want something that is a little more.

If you would rather have the convenience of a 24-hour reception, room service and being able to come and go as you please, without disturbing other then a Hotel is probably more your thing. If staying in a larger establishment such as a chain hotel, you may have facilities such as a spa, bar or restaurant on site. Not all hotels offer the same services, so it is important to check what they offer prior to booking. If you are thinking of checking in late at night or early hours of the morning, then you will need to confirm that the hotel you wish to book offers this.

Getting married should be a very exciting time of your life, but often weddings cost a lot of money so couples end up falling out or worrying about how they are going to afford everything. On average a wedding in the UK is said to cost a whopping £24,000 although many people do not spend quite this much. After you get married it is traditional to go on a honeymoon. A honeymoon is essentially a trip away where you can spend some quality time together as a couple.

People say a honeymoon should be a once in a life time experience, going somewhere exotic and secluded, but these all cost a lot of money and you really don’t have to go mad to find a nice location for your trip.

Many people say that a low cost honeymoon is as enjoyable as other expensive holidays that they may have been on. A honeymoon is not about where you are but about who you are with. Try and pick a place that has some meaning to you and your new husband or wife. If you are struggling for money then why not do a few mini trips throughout the year, splitting your honeymoon up in to affordable breaks away.

Scotland is a very diverse country with some really built up areas and some beautiful un-spoilt countryside. If you are looking for a holiday in the UK then Scotland may be the perfect place for you. Or if you want to stay somewhere a little quieter then there is a wide selection on campsites and farmhouses that are surrounded by greenery.

The weather is often a bit cooler in Scotland than in England and they are more prone to snow, especially during the cold winter months. If this is when you are planning your break it is advisable to make sure you allow plenty of time for travel and be prepared to change you dates should the weather take a turn for the worse.

If you enjoy walking, nature and sight seeing then Scotland is a great place to visit. From the middle of England it can take about 6 hours to get to Northern Scotland so be sure to plan activities to do in the car especially if you have children with you. You may even decide to break the journey up by stopping over night half way to give everyone a chance to rest before continuing.

If you love shopping then you may want to try and fit a bit in whilst on your holiday. There are hundreds of locations all over the world which are perfect for a spot of retail therapy. Whether you are looking for a city break in New York or Paris or a beach holiday in Dubai or Spain, you can be sure to find time for a spot of shopping.

New York is one of the most populated and talked about cities in the world. Being one of if not the ‘fashion capital of the world’, New York City boasts some of the most amazing shopping you will ever find. Take a walk down Fifth Avenue and you will find many mainstream retailers with some luxury designers such as Louis Vuitton and Tiffany’s hidden amongst the pack.

Thailand is another hot spot for those looking to splash the cash, the famous Khao San Road is one of the most famous tourist streets in Thailand, and contains many tourist markets selling clothes, jewellery, and artwork and has many cafes and nightclubs.

There is nothing better than spending the morning shopping for a new outfit that you can model on an evening out in a classy bar or picking up that new swimsuit ready to hit the beach.

If you are in the midst of planning your next trip for 2019 you may decide that you want to explore some of the places that aren’t so popular with the tourists. This doesn’t mean you’re looking for a place that has bad reviews only that you are looking for somewhere that is a bit off the beaten track and has yet to be truly discovered by the masses. There is literally thousands of places that are just waiting to be discovered and enjoyed, some of which may come as a bit of a surprise.
Christmas Island in Australia is just one of these places. It really is an eco-paradise just waiting to be explored and should definitely be on your list for 2019. With tourist figures low compared to other destinations in Australia, this place is a little hidden gem. If you like a bit of sea life spotting then this is the perfect location for you. Not only can you see the magnificent red crabs that migrate here year upon year but also do a spot of dolphin, whale or even shark spotting. There are also hundreds of species of fish swimming around it’s 80km of coastline just waiting to be explored.

Greece is the perfect setting for a family holiday or for couples or friends looking to enjoy some sun. Their climates follow ours but often with their summers being hotter and winters not quite so cold. The best time to visit Greece is from May to September if you want to get the best weather.

With lots of Greek islands to choose from, it can be hard to narrow down your search to just one island. That being said, Kos is definitely one of the islands that you really shouldn’t miss.

Kos is one of the smaller islands so you will find that it is a lot more chilled out and relaxing than Crete for example. That being said there is still plenty to keep you busy and with the warm welcome that you often receive in Greece, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to restaurants and bars.

If you’re in to your history and culture then you should definitely pay a visit to The Asklepieion. The Asklepieion is the ancient centre of medicine and is located near Kos town. It costs around 10 euros to enter but there is plenty to see once inside. There is not a lot of shade within the Asklepieion, so be sure to cover up and apply the sun cream.

The Lake District is a beautiful place to visit and with so many different places to stay then it’s worth travelling around a bit whilst you’re there to get the most out of your stay.

Weather around the lakes, due to the nature of the place, does tend to be quite rainy but this won’t spoil your stay provided that you are dressed appropriately so waterproofs and walking boots are essential. It can also be very changeable though so it’s important to wear layers as you can be in pouring rain one minute then glorious sunshine the next.

There are many different types of accommodation around the lakes such as bed and breakfast places, which are great for short stays if you’re planning on travelling around lots. There are also some beautiful cottages and self-catering apartments available however these generally can only be booked for stays of longer than 3 nights so may only work if you’re planning on staying around the same area during your trip. The nice thing about this style of accommodation is that there is much more freedom around what time you have your meals and what times you choose to come and go each day.

Either way the Lakes are well worth a visit!