Last Minute Holiday

So a lot of people’s holiday allowance has just been restarted and now you have a whole lot of holiday to use up AGAIN. Although, maybe blowing it all at once isn’t the best idea. But if you used up all last years holiday too quick and so haven’t had any time off for a while then why not take a last minute break away? Now is the best time to look for amazing last minute deals.

A great way to take a relaxing break is by hiring out your very own villa, whether it be in the middle of nowhere or somewhere in the middle of a busy town, no matter where it is you will be able to get away from everything with your very own villa, which will enable you to have your very own space. Samui Island Villas currently have some great last minute deals on some beautiful villas on the island of Thailand in Koh Samui.  

Luxury Beach Villas

If you’re looking to go on a luxury holiday away from the world of work and the stresses on home life then what better than a luxury beach villa. I was searching through the internet thinking of things I could write about, including tips and ideas, on hiring out the perfect luxury beach villa when I came across a villa rental company: Luxury Villa Rentals, you can probably see why I came across it seen as I was searching for luxury beach villas, and it lead me to a page full of amazing luxury beach villas!

They have first-class choice of luxury beach villas worldwide in amazing destinations including the USA, Asia, Caribbean and Europe. No matter what type of villa you’re looking for it seems as though Luxury Villa Rentals has one suited for everyone! Having your very own beach villa to relax in for a week, two weeks and even more would be ideal for some down time away from work. 

So I suggest you definitely go check out Luxury Villa Rentals as you will be amazed at some of the luxury villas they have available, and by the beach! Who wouldn’t want to wake up to the sound of the calming sea, and be able to go out for a morning swim.

 

 

Disney Land

Disney Land is one of the dream places for any child, well anyone really! Who doesn’t want to experience the magic of Disney Land Orlando!? Walt Disney World attracts an annual attendance of 47 million so this just shows you how many people want to experience the magic as well.

So we’ve discovered that EVERYONE wants to visit Disney Land, but then comes the trouble of finding somewhere to stay with onsite hotels and accommodation sometimes being ridiculously expensive some people just tend to decide to go for it and make it probably one of the most expensive holidays they’ll ever go on. But it doesn’t have to be…

Have you considered renting out a villa? Yes, this will mean you have to buy the tickets separately but this doesn’t mean it will be anymore any less expensive. There are villa rentals from as little as £300 for a WHOLE week close to Disneyland Parks so if is definitely something to consider. Here is a whole range of Villas which have been picked out by a villa rental company called Top Villas of villas that are within 6 miles of Disney World Florida and close to the other parks.

 

 

Miami Nightlife

Going on your first holiday alone? Or perhaps you have organised or thinking about organising a trip away with your friends? Miami is great for nightlife and perfect for your first holiday away or just for a trip away with friends! 

In Miami there are lots of different accommodation types and one very popular type of accommodation is a villa rental. This is because, 1. They make your holiday feel that little bit more luxurious. 2. Self catering when going on a holiday where you’re going to be taking advantage of the nightlife hugely is great, pre drinks are your place and then off to the strip, how good does that sound? Much better than being cooped up in a hotel room!

But anyways enough of all that, it is all about the nightlife! Miami is known for its amazing nightlife, with some amazing rock bars, lounges and the best Latin music scene in America. Depending on what you’re looking to do on your night out in Miami there is something for everyone. If you’re looking to dance and listen to lots of good music then head down to Downtown or Wynwood and this will definitely be your scene.

It is known that a lot of celebrities visit Miami and enjoy the great night life so there are a lot of beautiful people about, but don’t let this stop you, all you have to do to have a good time is be confident and just make having a good time your aim. A few tips when it comes to Miami clubs: 

– Be polite

– Get guest-listed

– Remain confident

– Get there early.

Not only are there some great clubs but there are also some great bars and places you can go to listen to some live music. So if you’re looking for a holiday for partying definitely consider Miami. It has so much to offer, as well as beautiful beaches and villa rentals with their very own private pools!

 

 

Staying in a Villa for the first time?

Decided to book a villa as accommodation for this years summer holiday? If you have never stayed in a villa before or even been on holiday self catering before it is likely you may be stressing out about how the holiday is going to turn out. But, chill. Villas and self catering holidays are great and I can assure you once you get back from this one you will never want to go all inclusive again.

Some tips for staying in a villa would be not to pack so many clothes, you’re in a villa, it is likely there will be facilities for you to clean clothes, yes this may not be something you want to do on holiday however, I’m sure you’d much rather bring back lots of souvenirs right!?

Buy several disposable BBQ’s, they’re always great for bring the family together, easy to set up and can save you from doing a lot of work in the kitchen preparing a meal. Plus who doesn’t love a good BBQ?! Sitting outside your villa, beside the pool enjoying a lovely burger that has just been cooked on the BBQ whilst sipping cocktails.

Make sure you know what facilities will be available in your villa before you go so you know what to bring along. If you’re going with children and there is no television in the villa then think about what gadgets and toys you could bring along to make sure the kids are constantly occupied and not always bugging you.

Last tip, enjoy yourself! Self catering is great, it allows you to visit different restaurants in the evening to try out some of the local cuisine. You’re not waiting around for dinner time like you would be at all inclusive, you can do what you want and at any time you wish.

 

 

Travelling alone

Always dreamed to go travelling, but no one else shares this same dream? Well fear not, travelling solo could be great! Here are some great tips to help you when travelling alone: 

1. Plan in advance; although the excitement of not knowing where you’re going or what you’re doing does sound great, but it may not always end well. Who knows where you could end up.. So doing a little advance planning won’t hurt, you don’t need a detailed plan but for the first night at least, make sure you know where you’re staying and perhaps book your hostel/hotel before you leave.

2. Pack light; carrying massive bags that way a ton around whilst travelling will be tiring and could quite possibly ruin the whole experience for you, so just bring the essentials but enough to last you for however long you plan to be travelling for.  

3. Try to arrive during the day; being in an unfamiliar city and not knowing where you are going can be some what hard, so make sure you try and arrive during the daylight so you can see exactly where you’re going, and don’t risk getting lost.

4. Mix with others; see other travellers? Why not try and start a conversation with them, in the hostel lounges is a great place to meet short-term friends, and could also help you pick up some excellent travel advice.

5. Watch the world around you; whilst sitting in a cafe sipping on a warm hot chocolate watch what others do, how they act and react to certain things, this could help you learn how things are done in that country. 

6. Open up; learn to talk to strangers (even though we’re told not to when we’re younger), smile and start a conversation, making a few friends, short-term, can’t hurt.

7. Go out and enjoy yourself; do as much as you can, visit pubs, clubs, concerts and theatres. You’re travelling alone so you can do what you want so why not make the most of it!

8. Don’t be put off by dining alone; a lot of people actually do this, enjoy it! Perhaps go to restaurants with communal tables or counters, this could make it easier to make conversation with people and then you may not end up dining alone!

9. Sign up for courses; depending on how long you’re planning to stay in one place why not join several courses, language? Why not actually learn the language of the place you’re staying, this could help you make conversation with the locals! 

10. Go on organised tours; going on tours will enable you to meet other people and will give you a chance to relax, let someone else take care of all the details for you.

11. Always have the essentials; when travelling alone it is best to be a lot safer, meaning you’ll need to make sure you remember where you’re staying, so write it down on a piece of paper and make sure you pack it in your bag for the day, have a copy of emergency contacts just incase and any important documents you may need.

12. Save on phone charges; think about buying an unlocked phone and then buy a SIM card for the phone in each country as you travel, as this will save you heaps! 

13; Skype; when you find free wi-fi why not use Skype, its free and will allow you to keep in contact with family and friends whilst you’re away, and will also ensure them that you’re safe. 

14; Be safe; steer clear of dark alleys, being seen and in a public place is always safer than a private place.

 

 

Top Tips on how to Stay Safe Abroad

Firstly, decide where you’re going on holiday and then get it booked! Perhaps you decided to stay in a luxury villa or just fancy going all inclusive at a hotel with water slides perfect for children, whatever takes your fancy, once you have booked your holiday you’ll need to think about what it is going to be like abroad…

Being abroad is completely different to the UK (but don’t worry about any of this, just safety precautions to ensure you enjoy your holiday!), so here are top tips on how to stay safe abroad:

1) Keep an eye on your possessions- make sure that you are not displaying anything valuable, as this will attract unwanted attention.

2) Plan routes to and from where you are staying so it is easier to find where you are looking for and avoids mistakes, therefore less wrong turns will be made, which could potentially lead to danger.

3) Know local customs There are many gestures that you may be accustomed to, but are frowned upon in other countries where they may be seen as offensive.

4) Dress appropriately- learn how the locals dress. If the locals are dressed in a moderate way, you should dress the same, as you do not want to cause offense to the local community and culture.

5) Before leaving for your travels, you should make copies of everything before you leave, such as; your passport, travel tickets, driver’s license, and any other important documents. If anything unfortunate were to happen, having additional copies can make it easier for you need to recover any of your documents if they were to be stolen.

5) Make sure that you get the addresses and phone numbers of your country’s embassy before your arrival to the foreign country as this can help you if you end up in trouble with the law or if you have any important documents stolen.

6) Check if you can drink the tap water- you want to be safe and healthy whilst on holiday; not in bed and unwell because you didn’t know that the water was undrinkable!

Making sure that you prepare for your holiday is a crucial aspect of the planning process before leaving to go abroad! Being safe is usually taken for granted and people over look the idea of being in a situation abroad where they are not safe, however being prepared for worst case scenarios has many benefits which are hugely important if anything bad was to happen.

Tackling problems that may occur on long haul flights Blog

There can be many aspects to prepare for when flying a long journey; below are some hints and tips that can help your journey pass quicker and seem easier; 

1) Knowing what to wear on a long haul flight is a must as you need to be comfortable for the lengthy journey ahead. As the flights get longer, your outfits should be cosier. Making sure that your are warm on the flight is an essential, as there is always air conditioning, and if you are without a jacket  the journey will be most uncomfortable. Another tip to tackle the air conditioning is to moisturise before your flight, as it dries out your skin, alongside bringing a chap stick, so your lips maintain the moisture.

2) Shoes need to be practical as if you have a transfer flight, you need to get from A to B in a specific amount of time, carrying your hand luggage, sometimes collecting suitcases; therefore wearing shoes that have a heel or that don’t fit perfectly could cause discomfort- which if you are wearing them for a long period of time, you do not want to be experiencing the pain!

3) Make sure you get plenty of sleep. Although plane chairs are not the easiest sorts of chairs to relax in, try to get a good amount of sleep, as it will make the journey go a lot quicker! This can be easier if you bring music with you, as you can drift off to the sound of your songs instead of to a baby crying!

4) Keep hydrated! You may underestimate how much the air conditioning affects your system, so make sure you buy a bottle of water at the airport, or buy a drink on the flight!

The destination is well worth the flight, therefore being slightly uncomfortable for a short amount of time, in comparison to the whole duration of your stay abroad will be worth it!

Travel Insurance

Going abroad and don’t know the benefits of getting a reliable travel insurance? 

Although getting travel insurance may not be the most important thing on your list of things to do, it can be essential. Here are some reasons why it can make or break your holiday:

1) With some travel insurance, if you fall sick, you could have some of your medical needs covered, although you have to be careful that your insurance does cover you on this as there are some that have limits and are not covered for everything.

2)  If you have to change the dates of your trip due to an unforeseen circumstances, the travel insurance may cover these changes.

3) If any of your personal possessions such as luggage, your passport or money is stolen or lost during your trip, travel insurance covers this to a degree. Although, like anything, there are limits with how much can be covered, there is usually some sort of compensation for the items that have been lost or stolen. If your passport is stolen, having travel insurance ensures a replacement in a timely manner. All of the small print must be read properly, as there can be large changes which you may not notice.

Making sure that you have gone through all of the information with what is covered and what is not is vital, as if you get injured on holiday, you may automatically assume you are covered with the insurance, however with most insurances, this is not the case if the accident was taken place whilst taking part in a sport which is considered to be extreme. This is a trap that many people fall into, therefore; small print is something that should always be double checked, and then checked again!

Fancy going on holiday somewhere cold?

Fancy something a little different and taking a trip to somewhere cold? Well I have come up with a list of the best destinations to visit if you like the cold!

Russia: why not wrap up warm in one of the famous Russian hats with the ear flaps and a huge jacket to keep yourselves warm in Russia; and (for the adults) why not a take a few shots of vodka with a meal to warm up inside even more! With so much to do in Russia whilst wandering around in the nice cold fresh air and perhaps with snow under your feet, how could this not be the perfect cold holiday destination?

Lapland, Finland: this most definitely sounds like a great place to visit! Not only is it cold but there are reindeers! REINDEERS!? If you have children or if you’re like me and a big kid yourself then you will most likely want to take a trip to Lapland.

East Antarctica: this is EXTREME cold and actually isn’t human-friendly, it is the coldest place on earth and can be around -60 degrees during the coldest months! But hey why not still think about going! Being able to brag about how you managed to endure such a ridiculous climate you would also be able to check out the penguins! Yes, you heard penguins!!!

So these are just three cold destinations in which you can visit. I personally enjoy going somewhere warm but for all those who enjoy the cold I hope you enjoy reading this and find the perfect cold destination to holiday in!