Travel

Cairns is a well-known holiday destination in Australia, renowned for its golden beaches, hot weather, beautiful clear water and of course the Great Barrier Reef.

It’s a city but it certainly doesn’t have the look or feel of say Sydney or Melbourne. Life seems to move a little bit slower in Cairns, and depending on where you’re situated, you can feel more in the wilderness than in the city. I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here is filmed not too far from Cairns, and that goes to show just how close it is to the wild!

If the laidback lifestyle isn’t for you, then Cairns isn’t the place to be, but if you love the idea of relaxing in the sun, not spending too much money and meeting people from different parts of the globe, it’s definitely the city for you.

There are many long haul flights, and while some people will take a long haul flight every month or so, others may only have two or three in their lifetime. If you’re taking a long haul flight in the not too distant future, then there are a few things you should know:

1. You need to move your legs – Cramp occurs unless you move your legs about, and you do have the chance to walk up and down, and even if you walk to the furthest toilet every hour, you’ll be doing you legs the world of good.
2. You need to get comfortable. It’s really tricky, but it needs to happen otherwise you’ll be in agony. Keep moving until you’re in a comfortable position, then sit back relax and enjoy the flight.
3. Eat and drink plenty – You’re going to be on the plane for a long time, don’t wait until you’re plane lands to get food, make the most of it while you’re on the plane. We all need fluids to keep the body running nicely.

Shell Island is a little place just up the western coast of Wales. It is near Barmouth and is a popular destination for families, couples and friends. It is called an island because there is only one road that comes in and out and when the tide comes in this is cut off from the rest of Wales making it an island.

Recently, when staying in Barmouth, I took a day trip to Shell Island to see what it was all about. Once there, there is not much in the way of entertainment but the sites are beautiful and the location unspoilt. You have the valleys on one side and the ocean on the other.

You can chose to camp at Shell Island and once you are there can pitch your tent pretty much anywhere as long as you are not within 20 meters of the people next to you (without their prior consent).

If you like crab fishing, then this is definitely the place for you and with a local shop, pub and showing facilities onsite, you really do not need much more.

It sounds so obvious but before planning a trip abroad you need to check your passport. It’s essential to check it with plenty of time to spare in case there are any issues.
You’ll need to ensure that your passport is in good condition and that the picture and all the details on your passport are correct and not too worn or damaged. You’ll also need to check that it’s not due to expire whilst you’re away, particularly if you’re traveling for a number of months or are unsure as to when your trip will end.

As part of the planning of your traveling trip you will need to check if you need to apply for a visa for any of the places you wish to visit and if so you’ll need to get your application in early as it can take a long time to process depending where you’re going.

If you find any problems with your passport or you require a new passport you will also need to do this well in advance of your trip as the application process can take 3 weeks.
If your passport is not due to expire for a few months don’t forget that you can carry over up to 9 months from an old passport onto your new one.

This once popular traveling option has recently gone full circle and become popular again amongst all ages of people after a holiday with a difference.

These vintage vans are fantastic for a camping holiday and are great for touring as you can pack up and stay in a different place each night.

But now comes a new campervan experience, the VW Doubleback. This van is like no other, the camper van whilst in motion looks very similar to the standard VW campers, however once parked up the rear end of the van electronically extends outwards to double the size of the living area!

The stabiliser feet for the extended part of the van also come down to the correct level automatically, gone are the days of a crank and a spirit level! In fact it seems as though Volts Wagon have thought of everything! This van can carry 5 adults and really does have plenty of room for a modern take on a traditional family holiday.

Most of us live day to day doing the same job, carrying out the same mundane tasks in the same boring setting so it’s hardly surprising that more and more of us are opting for a new more exciting style of holiday, an adventure holiday.

Whether it be scuba diving, white water rafting or rock climbing more of us are choosing to spend our ‘down time’ up and about partaking in adrenaline fuelled activities that take us away from the norm. A holiday that can suit all ages, these adventure holidays are our chance for a great escape and can perfectly demonstrate the theory that a change is as good as a rest!

So when deciding on a holiday this year why not put down the book, forget the beach towel and flip flops and get ready for the hair raising holiday of a lifetime, after all, you only live once!

Don’t think you can manage going for a week’s holiday with only hand luggage? Here are a few tips to help you!

Don’t take toiletries – your hotel will likely provide the basics, and local shops should supply the rest.

Most hotels will provide a hairdryer, so check before you go so you don’t unnecessary items.

Decide if you really need to take straighteners or other similar items.

Try not to take too many pairs of shoes and wear your largest, heaviest pair whilst traveling!

Take a kindle rather than several books – you will save a lot of weight this way.

Plan your holiday and your outings and take clothes to suit. If you need to wash your clothes, hotels normally do a laundry service, or you can wash items in the sink/bath and hang dry them. By planning and removing unnecessary clothing you will save a lot of bulk and weight.

The essentials you need to take with you will depend on where you’re traveling and what your plans are whilst away. Essential toiletries will include many items, but make sure you remember sun-cream and insect repellent. Even if you are skiing sun-cream will be a requirement! Depending on where you go you may want to take a range of toiletries with you to cover for the entire trip, but if you know the location well, or if it’s in a well-populated area you’ll be likely to find a supermarket nearby. If you are staying in a resort you may even have a shop on site to cover you in this department.

Decided not to go all inclusive but like to treat yourself to the local beverages whilst on holiday? If you have a fridge/minibar in your room, then why not pop to your local store and purchase some local beverages – you will likely save a good amount on buying in bulk!

If you have always wanted to go to Europe, but have not been able to decide on location consider a trip on a train. There are various companies which sell train tickets taking you from country to country. This would allow you to visit all the places on your list without having to single out just one. You can stop off in places like Paris allowing you to visit all the sights such as the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre and more. Stop in Amsterdam and visit the internationally renowned red-light district. Want to stop off in Prague? How about Berlin? You can tailor these holidays how you wish for as long as you wish allowing you to make the most of your trip. Shop around, and look for all the deals on accommodation and sight-seeing and these holidays can come out a lot cheaper than expected!

Families in the UK are often taking short breaks in the school holidays to avoid the price hike in the summer months.  If you have a family to cater for then you may be looking for something quite exhilarating to keep the children entertained. With theme parks dotted all over the country you have a wide range of places that will hold their interest at reasonable prices.

Alton Towers in Uttoxeter is a great place for children of all ages as well as adults seeking a thrill. With the recent addition of the CBeebies World, where young children can see their favourite characters, even the youngest can now enjoy the park.  There is also a fun themed resort there so if you do not live local and need to travel then you can relax knowing that you do not have to go far in the morning to get to the fun and excitement.