Category Archives: travel

My Favourite Holiday Moment

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When our thoughts turn to Spring, a lot of people also turn their thoughts to their Summer holiday. Whether you are planning a long haul trip, something with a short flight, or even a UK break, a holiday is a time to create wonderful new memories, and our choice of destination can often be influenced by previous, fabulous holidays. I have yet to book for this year, but have been browsing and have often found a cheaper deal here. One of the places we have been considering is Cyprus, where we not only spent our holiday over the last couple of years, but also watched my little brother get married.

Cyprus is a place that is full of wonderful holiday moments for my family. For a start, it was the first time my whole family had been together for a holiday since I got married in Rhodes in 2005, and this time there was the added joy of having my son and niece here too. Every element of the trip was fun, from drinking Prosecco on the plane and browsing around the duty free, to the leisurely days spent by the pool, or the long meals that seemed to go on forever. It is a place where I would love to spend a longer amount of time in a five star hotel, it would definitely be a place to spend a bit of money on if I won some money on a bet or bingo game.

Cyprus was experiencing a heat wave, but floating around the lazy river at our hotel, that didn’t really seem a problem, and with lots of mocktails during the day, and cocktails when the night had fallen, it really did feel like paradise. We stayed in Coral Beach, but loved to travel to the Paphos area for the bars along the harbour, and the air conditioned shopping centres, where, lucky for us, every shop seemed to be having a sale.

And then, of course, there was a wedding to attend. On a beautiful jetty stretching out to the sea, with crystal clear waters reflecting the perfect blue of the sky, my brother married his beloved surrounded by family and friends. It was a beautiful, romantic occasion, complete with poems, doves, lots of Champagne, lots of swing music, a just all round lovely occasion. It brought back lots of memories of my own wedding, and was just perfect, in a wonderful setting with an idyllic atmosphere.

 

Travel Tips for Short and Long Distance Trips

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People travel often between different cities and countries and for many different reasons that including business and pleasure. When you are ready to pack your bags and leave, make sure that you are well prepared to pave the way for a smooth trip. The following are some useful tips that you can use to ensure a positive outcome whenever you travel.

Packing

  • Packing is a major aspect of traveling and you should focus on carrying essential items. Whenever you pack your bag or suitcase for a trip, remember that the less you pack, the more manageable your luggage will be.
  • Packing everything that you want will lead to the inconvenience of a heavy bag and the increased risk of losing your items during the trip.
  • Write down what you need in advance and use a checklist to make sure that you have all the important things. Pack what you need according to where you are going and how long you will be away. You may be able to take your pets with you but if this is not an option, make timely arrangements to ensure that your pets are taken care of when you leave for your trip.
  • Prepare the items that you want to have close to you at all times, such as your money, phone, charger, headphones and diary.
luggage full and ready to travel

luggage full and ready to travel

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Research

  • Go online and find out more about your destination, the weather conditions and the activities that are available there. If you have a limited amount of time between bookings and traveling, make sure you know what the current weather conditions are.
  • If you are traveling to a destination where the national language is different, spare some time to learn the basics. This will make it easier for you to communicate, interact, ask for directions and order for food.

Travel Costs

Use online travel guides that provide useful suggestions regarding different activities and costs. The information provided is usually accurate and reliable. Select activities that everyone you are traveling with will enjoy. The earlier you begin planning for your travel, the more time you will have to save money for it. Find out how much you will need for various aspects of your trip and plan for unexpected costs as well. Look at where to save and where to splurge, for instance, if you are travelling for business, it may be worth using a chauffeur service to travel to and from the airport. This creates the perfect first impression for a new client and ensures that you will arrive punctually and feeling great. A chauffeur service like Driven WorldWide also provide WIFI in their cars so you are not going to miss out on important emails and zoom calls on route to the airport, and offer an international service which means you can have an efficient service at both ends of your trip.

Quick Travel Tips

  • If there are special events that you want to attend, it is advisable to make prior reservations especially during busy seasons.
  • Walking around is a good way to learn about your destination while you enjoy scenic walks.
  • Make sure that you have enough leisure time for fun and unexpected experiences that you will remember for years to come.
  • Maintain a cordial atmosphere during your travel and avoid any unnecessary altercations.

 

7 ways to save money when travelling

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It can take a lot of time to save up enough money to go on holiday. 

And when you do, you often end up spending more than you expected or needed to.

So for those of you looking to cut down on travel costs, here are seven super tips.

  • Look for free activities 

If you do a little bit of research, you’ll find that there are lots of fun activities you can do for free whilst travelling. Start by looking at community calendars to see if there are any special events going on, such as festivals and ceremonies. You could also download a free tour app such as GPSmyCity and head on a self-guided walk around your destination. 

  • Use a travel credit card 

When you use a travel credit card to pay for a trip, you’ll earn rewards for your spending which can go towards future travel costs. Depending on your provider, you might also enjoy perks such as lounge access and free seat upgrades. It’s basically like getting money for nothing as you’ll be paying for purchases anyway. 

  • Go incognito 

When you’re looking for flights and accommodation, websites can use cookies to track your visits and inflate the price each time you return to pressure you into purchasing. However, you can avoid these cheeky cookies by browsing from an incognito tab. 

  • Watch where you eat 

Restaurants that are close to tourist destinations often charge disproportionately high prices for food. It’s therefore worth heading a few blocks out and enjoying a much fairer price. 

  • Book accommodation with cooking facilities 

Sampling authentic cuisine at fancy restaurants and other food outlets is one of the best parts of travel. But it’s an expensive hobby, so choose an accommodation with kitchen facilities such as an Airbnb apartment. This way, you’ll have the facilities to cook your own healthy and affordable meals and save eating out as a treat. 

  • Pre-book your parking 

When you’ve got heavy luggage, driving is usually the most convenient way to travel to the airport. However, airports are notorious for changing a small fortune for parking. Thankfully, you can bag yourself a bargain by using comparison site Looking4.com – it has early-bird deals for UK hubs such as Birmingham and Bristol. 

  • Book a hidden city flight

Hidden city flights work on the assumption that fares are determined by consumer demand rather than distance. For example, if you wanted to fly to Boston, you might book Manchester to Boston to New York and skip the last leg, because it’s cheaper than flying direct to Boston. If you can’t be bothered putting the work in, airfare search engine Skiplagged does it all for you. 

Follow these seven tip-top tips and you’ll be able to slash your travel costs in half – you’re welcome! 

How else can you save money when travelling? Shared your thoughts in the comments section.