Travel 2014

On arriving for the first time, visitors to the enigmatic islands of Japan can feel like they have landed on another planet. There’s an otherworldly mix of old and new and the culture and traditions of Japan can seem strange to new comers. Whether you’re after culture, sightseeing or amazing food, a two week minimum trip is a must to get a flavour of Japan.
The futuristic capital city of Tokyo is a must, with loads to see and do and stunning views of iconic Mt. Fuji. The old capital Kyoto has some beautiful shrines and temples juxtaposed with stylish modern architecture. Make sure to research what you want to see before you go so you don’t miss anything. Top attractions include Sumo matches, Kabuki theatre, a wealth of shrines and incredible gardens, delicious cuisine like sushi and sashimi, beautifully preserved Edo era towns…the list is endless. A stay at a Ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn, is also not to be missed. It’s worth noting that most establishments are cash only and cash machines are not always readily available. Make sure to research local customs and manners before your trip.

If you are looking for a fun adventure here in the UK for all the family then look no further than The Forbidden Corner. As its name suggests this is an intriguing place that is described as ‘the strangest place in the world’.

Located in Tupgill Park in the Yorkshire Dales this 4 acre site houses a huge maze of tunnels, chambers, hidden pathways and surprises at each turn. You will find yourself trying to work out where to go through the vast labyrinth of twists and turns whilst the children enjoy the numerous attractions such as water-shooting statues and hidden giants!

The park is not open to the public all year round so before going it’s always worth checking the website. Children under four get in free and it’s ideal for children around this age where their imagination will be captured by this well thought out mysterious place. My advice would be to take the children a change of clothes as it would be a miracle if they manage to stay clean and dry!

Glamping is the new trendy holiday choice of the masses with thousands flocking to numerous destinations around the UK to take part in this glamorous form of camping.

One fabulous way to take part in glamping is to stay in a luxury Yurt. A yurt is basically a large tepee style tent that you can stay in, a luxury yurt will come complete with a fitted floor a large (usually 4 poster) bed and a log burning stove to keep you cosy in the winter. Some companies also offer Swedish style yurts which take a similar shape to normal yurts but are made out of wood and are more like a log cabin.

The Yurts come in many sizes but most of the luxury ones are built to sleep one couple. You can hire large yurts for wedding receptions and private parties which is great if you’re after something a bit different that will definitely be a talking point.

Holidays are something that almost all of us look forward to every year. It is the one time when we can get away from the challenges of daily life and really enjoy quality time with our friends and loved ones.

Affording a holiday is often the thing that stops many of us going away more often and can mean that we end up going years without having a proper break away. I would recommend budgeting for a holiday as if it was an essential item such as your rent. Obviously if things got really tight then you may need to use the money elsewhere, but it is important to have that time away.

Holidays need not cost the earth, sometimes a few long weekends away in the UK are just enough to recharge your batteries. Some newspapers offer great budget camping holidays that can cost as little as £5 per person per night, and often these turn out to be great fun.

Lots of holiday makers chose to go on a few weekend breaks throughout the year to be able to enjoy a number of different locations and types of holidays. These people often chose to stay in the UK, due to the smaller amount of travelling to be done meaning they can spend more time in their location. The UK has some many different things to do you could go somewhere new every weekend for years and still discover something or somewhere else to explore.

If its shopping that you are in to why not take a trip to London, England’s capital with ranges of shops from high street, designer and little boutique shops that sell amazing clothing and home ware that you will be pushed to find elsewhere.

Maybe you fancy somewhere a little more romantic and relaxing, then look no further than the picturesque landscapes of Strathyre in Scotland.

The hobbit trilogy was filmed entirely in New Zealand. And it’s not hard to see why, with its breath taking views and magical landscape it is the perfect setting for any story.

If you are a fan of the films then there is no doubt that you would want to go to the place where it all happened. The location of Hobbiton was filmed in a place near Matamata, with hills stretching as far as the eye can see it was the perfect setting. This location was also used in the The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The make believe village of Hobbiton has remained open as an attraction for Middle-earth fans all over the world. Why not take a sneaky peak peering over the famous Hobbit’s front gate, dancing under the party tree or sampling some of the ale at the Green Dragon Inn. This is a holiday of a lifetime and a very unexpected journey.

When getting ready for a trip back into nature you need to make sure you have the right equipment to deal with different situations you may encounter. Unless you are Bear Grylls take heed to the suggestions for your camping trip.

Before you leave you should create an inventory of all your equipment and check it off when packing up as well. These could include:

Medical Supplies

Have a well stocked medical kit with antiseptics, tissues, tweezers, allergy tablets and insect repellent. Spare bandages and plasters may come in handy too.

Shelter 

Your tent and its contents will be your home for the duration for your trip so kit it out with sleeping bags, ground sheets, pillows and a windbreak. Add an inflatable mattress and a duvet for additional comfort if you have the space.

Other Supplies

Stock up on your personal items and cleaning aids to stay as fresh as possible so you can maintain hygiene with relative ease. Make sure you have a good supply of suitable food and means to cook it as well as utensils. Paper towels and toilet paper will be something that you cannot leave without as well as a basic tool set and Swiss Army knife.

On the other end of the spectrum for a Safari there is Ski trips. As you may rightly already know the packing requirements will be vastly different. You will be trading scorching heat for a deep freeze yet will still have scope for some great sun.

If you are a beginner or generally prefer not to take equipment. Most (if not all) sites offer the option to rent boots, ski’s and boards. Boots will be a big thing to get right as they can end up hurting your feet and even cutting off circulation to them. Try on as many boots as you deem necessary until you find the right ones. Alternatively purchase some before you go.

On your days out it may be worth taking a rucksack for all the little bits you may want to carry including your music player, water and some food for the day. Helmets and other safety apparatus could be carried in there too.

For your clothing on the slopes it may worth getting it all before you go to save some money. All of your clothing should be specifically designed for slopes keeping your both warm and protected from the elements including glasses, goggles, jackets and salopettes.

Safari trips are some of the most breath-taking experiences of ones life. Beautiful animals and awe inspiring landscapes with beaming sun can be an enjoyable experience provided you have planned and packed correctly.

Since you will be out in the sun most of the day you should have comfortable footwear and  a combination of short and long attire. Having long sleeves and trousers allow you to be able to roll up and down when additional protection from the elements as required. Just having short attire gives you more limited options for elements, it means you have to pack additional clothing such as a light jacket for the cooler periods.

Hats, glasses and sun lotion will be essential accessories as they will protect you from the suns harmful elements, while allowing you to bask in the glorious weather.

Other accessories you may consider taking would be binoculars and a camera to both see more of the landscape and capture memories as you so choose.