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.

 

 

Best Destinations to Travel Alone

Travelling solo means you have free reign over where you visit and what you do on YOUR holiday, so you should definitely take this opportunity to visit the places you have always wanted to but have never had the chance to. Great destinations to travel solo too are Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, USA and Bhutan.

Why Australia? For starters it is the furthest place away from the UK, so if you’re looking to travel solo because you want to get away from everything then Australia is most certainly a GREAT place to do so! Lots of younger travellers choose to visit here to experience life “down under” before getting tied down by a job. Australia has a very outdoorsy culture and a relaxing vibe so you’ll never be short of company out there and you’ll feel very comfortable.

New Zealand… Just like Australia, New Zealand is known for being outdoorsy plus being full of gorgeous scenery. There is a huge choice of hostels, campsites, hotels and wooden lodges for you to choose from when it comes to deciding where you’re going to be staying. You can even see whale and dolphins if you visit the North Island, and the South Island has beautiful waterfalls. Not forgetting Queenstown which is the adventure capital.

Thailand is known to be one of the friendliest in the world; so travelling solo here you will be treated amazingly. Not only that, Thailand is incredibly easy to visit with great transport links, amazing accommodation and there is guarantee that you’ll meet many other like minded solos.

USA is definitely a great starting point if you have never travelled alone before. America has so many amazing attractions for you to visit, plus they LOVE the British accent so it won’t be hard meeting people and talking to the locals! If you’re looking for sunshine Florida and California are ideal, but if you fancy visiting the party scene you should check out Miami.

Finally, Bhutan is one of the most cultural countries in the world and you can actually only enter the kingdom if you are on a pre-booked tour. You are escorted around and put up in a 4* rated accommodation and treated to beautiful cuisine. Bhutan is a very peaceful place, but if you’re looking to meet others Thimpu is great and even has a good nightlife. 

Wining and Dining in California

Going away on holiday it is always essential that you know you’re going somewhere that has some great restaurants and cuisines available for you to try and eat whilst you’re away. California is definitely a good choice. If you’re constantly cooking at home it is always great to be able to go away and not have to think about what you’re going to be cooking and stressing out about it all, as you’ll be getting it cooked for you.

So here are the best restaurants in California:

1. Michael Mina

With a chain of 18 restaurants elsewhere Mina is one of the most successful chefs and restaurateurs in the country.

2. Jitlada 

This restaurant specialises in Thai dishes and many of the specialities and dishes cannot be found anywhere else in America.

3. Boulevard

If you’re looking for some modern and sophisticated American cuisine this is the place to go, especially if you have never been to America before and want to try all the cuisine there is available.

4. Son of a Gun

Fish lover? This is the restaurant for you, and the menu, to keep up excitement is forever changing, so if you’re on holiday for a while you may be in for a real treat if the menu gets changed during the time you are out there so you get the chance to try some different foods.

5. The Bazaar

Serving spanish cuisine it has said to leave you with a “memorable, one-of-a-kind experience”.

6. La Taqueria

Can’t really go to America and not have tacos at least once! Well, La Taqueria are said to serve the “best tacos”. It is one of the more expensive places to buy tacos, but you pay for quality and thats what you’re said to get!

These are just a few of the amazing restaurants America has to offer in the beautiful California! To find out more visit here: http://www.thedailymeal.com/24-best-restaurants-california-slideshow

 

Things to do in Orlando

If you’re looking for a holiday perfect for children and a great family holiday you should definitely consider Orlando. There are so many attractions and places to visit in Orlando so it is definitely the ideal destination, as well as having a wide range of accommodation types, including amazing hotels and some beautiful villas.

As everyone knows the most known type of attraction in Orlando are theme parks. There are several in Orlando, Universal Orlando being a set of some including Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, with other attractions within this clan of theme parks. But there are other things to do in Orlando other than theme parks.

Kayak Eco-Tour, this is great fun, paddling your way through the waters and you may even spot real alligators or eagles on this fun day out.

Orlando Magic, come and see a game of basketball in this 20,000 seat Amway Centre downtown during the season which is between October to June.

(not one so much for the children) But in the evenings why not head on down to some great wine bars.

Orlando are  known for having a great spa. Enjoying a romantic weekend away take time to get pampered at one of Orlando’s world-class spas.

Or why not take a little shopping trip, Orlando is home to two major shopping malls as well as two outlet centres which are great for finding a good old bargain.

Enjoy a bit of golf? Why not spend some time testing your skills on some of the impressive greens Orlando has to offer.

Or check out some of the great foods in some of Orlando’s finest restaurants.

For more information and ideas of places to visit then check out: 10 Things To Do In Orlando Besides Theme Parks.

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!

Jabs Information

Finding information on whether you need injections for travelling or whether you are going to be visiting a destination where you are unsure which injections are needed- making sure you double check and confirm with a nurse or GP to talk about what you are anxious about, if anything, and put your mind at ease and make sure you are prepared for your holiday abroad!

Booking an appointment with a nurse at your local doctors surgery can be a key way to understand what is needed and what you need to prepare for. This can range from injections that cost you, therefore being able to afford them is important! The injections are not all supplied by the NHS, for example, the Rabies injection is not available through the NHS, therefore making sure you book an appointment with the hospital to make sure you have the jabs in the correct amount of time before your travels is essential.

Completing your own research is another thing that should be top on your to do list- for example knowing where there are higher chances of contracting an infection are, as in some areas it may be more likely that there are wild animals, so having certain vaccinations are fundamental. 

Researching whether you actually need the jabs could save you a lot of money, as in some cases, you may be told that you need every single injection (even if you are not needing all of them)! Although in some instances, it is vital to get the jabs- therefore understanding and having a basic understanding of what you need is always good to have. Thailand is one destination in which you may have to get vaccinations for!

The destination you are travelling to may not need any injections at all, however making sure you are safe rather than sorry is the way forward.