The amount of dog owners has increased dramatically in recent times with a staggering population of nearly ten million pet dogs within the UK. Some people are happy to put their pet dog in kennels whilst they are on holiday but for some the idea of doing this is inconceivable and they would much rather find a holiday destination that allows dogs but how easy is it to take your dog on holiday with you?

To answer this question simply it depends on the type of holiday you are taking, for instance if you have a touring caravan or own your own static caravan it is easy  as your caravan is simply an extension of your own home. Most campsites are fine with well-behaved dogs that are kept on a lead or in an enclosed pen and usually provide a field for dog walking always reminding people to be responsible dog owners and to pick up after their dog.

If on the other hand you are staying in self-catering accommodation you will need to check that the property owners allow dogs. Hotels rarely accept dogs unless they are assistant dogs where different rules apply but it is certainly worth checking especially if your dog is a small breed.

If you are looking for a change from the normal holidays that you take you may want to try an idea that a growing number of people are opting for that is a foodie holiday in the UK.

We all enjoy dining out when we are on holiday so imagine the pleasure that you will get from basing your whole break on food and drink.

There is a huge selection of destinations in the UK that offer this type of holiday some are city based and others are on the coast each destination offers a different foodie experience.

The range of activities that you can get involved in varies and depending upon your preferences you could sample homemade wine in a vineyard, forage for wild mushrooms in a forest or even make your own butter and cheese in a dairy. Whichever destination and activity you choose you will be guaranteed an unusual holiday experience.

If you enjoy meeting new people with similar interests to you when you are on holiday a foodie break is a good way to do this as some locations offer group cookery lessons and banquet dining experiences. If on the other hand you prefer to spend your time with your own party, self-catering accommodation is available.

With the summer holidays fast upon us, we all need to consider how to stay safe in the sun. Unfortunately this year has been a bit of a nightmare to say the least and many of us are still in lockdown meaning we are not able to leave our homes to stay away overnight somewhere. Lots of people are concerned about booking holidays as there is still so much uncertainly about.  Unfortunately the UK has not been blessed with great weather of late, but you never know when Over the last few weeks we have been very blessed with some great weather, and with not much else to do but sit outside, many of us have been topping up on our tans. Sometimes it is hard to tell how strong the sun is and its easy to get sun burnt without realising it.  The way to check is to establish the UV factor, this will then tell you whether it is safe to be outdoors in the heat and also if you should wear sunscreen whilst outside.
Children and the elderly people are especially sensitive to the sun, so they should be kept covered as much as possible and sunscreen applied regularly.

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.

When you are travelling away for business you are often travelling alone and that can be quite daunting for people who are not used to it. However there are a few thing that can make it easier to do and actually make business trips more enjoyable.

The fear of eating out alone during your trip can make some people feel nervous and for some they would rather just eat in their rooms than face going to a restaurant alone. However, during the week particularly if you go into a hotel restaurant you will actually see a number of people dining alone so you really wouldn’t stand out at all. You can also do things such as take a book with you or play on your phone to alleviate any anxiety.

Lots of business travellers also struggle with the lack of comfort in a hotel room however by doing things like taking your own pillow and maybe a wireless speaker so that you can put music on you should start to feel more at home.

Boredom can be an issue when your away with work as often the evenings are spent alone in your hotel room however you could venture down to the bar for a drink or you could watch a film and make the most of a bit of chill out time.