Travel Help

If you’re looking for information on the benefits of self catering holidays then, hopefully the following details will point you in the right direction.

Unlike all inclusive or half board holiday packages offered by the main tour operators a self catering holiday gives you more freedom and flexibility for you and your family. You don’t have to be tied down to meal time slots or have a limited menu each day and evening to choose from, as you can come and go as you please.

There are usually two ways to go about self catering depending on your budget requirements. You can make a terrific saving for you and your family by bringing or buying your own food and cooking it yourself or you can sample some of the local eateries and restaurants and sample a wide and varied selection of meals on offer unlike all inclusive package holidays.

What are the main benefits with self catering holidays?

• They are much less expensive than all inclusive holidays.
• There are a huge selection of self catering holidays in the UK and across Europe to choose from.
• You can come and go as you please, as you’re in control of the times you want to eat.
• You are not fixed to any schedules and available eating time slots.
• You can choose to buy and cook your own food to suit you and your family’s eating requirements.
• You can decide when and where you want to eat and have access to a better range of meal choices.

We all have different needs and everyone has their own individual preferences especially when it comes to camping holidays and making the necessary savings. In today’s economic climate is important to look at ways in which you can save money, but still have a good time and not compromise on quality or entertainment value and a self catering holiday will certainly offer that for you and your family.

The majority of self catering camping locations have great facilities and nearby supermarkets and restaurants to choose from, so there’s never any shortage of choice on food and drink. It is a great way to give you and the family control and flexibility of what you want to eat and at what time you want to eat, something that you certainly don’t get if you book a half board or an all inclusive package holiday.

Sparkling waters, magnificent glaciers and an abundance of wildlife are just a few of the magical things that await travellers to Alaska. Whilst it can seem fun and exciting to travel to the exotic areas of the Caribbean, Alaska offers majestic scenery and will give you a memorable holiday that the whole family will enjoy. When you step outside your cabin, you may catch a glimpse of a brown bear fishing for salmon or you may marvel at the enormous size of a glacier, which is when you will see that Alaska is truly an outstanding place to find magic and majesty. Here are a few of our recommendations for cruising to Alaska.

What is there to do in Alaska?

On the Ship: There are usually two different itineraries for cruises to Alaska; the Gulf of Alaska and the Inside Passage. Both options will give you the chance to view some of the most picturesque spots of Alaska, whilst cruising past glaciers and visiting exciting ports of call. Although there are things to do on land, a large portion of your time will be spent on-board the ship, which will still leave you with plenty of things to do. Depending on which cruise line you chose, there may be live shows, entertainment, clubs, spas and boutiques for exploring whilst on the ship. If you select a balcony cabin, you can simply sit and view the spectacular scenery, and you may catch a glimpse of seals or whales swimming through the water.

On Land: When you reach a port of call, there are plenty of options for sight-seeing and hiking. In Juneau, you can ride the tramway above the city, which will give you a breath-taking view of the area. In Sitka, you can explore historical sites or visit the Alaska Raptor Centre, which is home to birds of prey that are being nursed back to health. The adventurous can fly over glaciers in Juneau or hike through the wilderness in various areas of the region. There are also opportunities for fishing in Ketchikan or Skagway.

What should you pack?

Although Alaska is known for its icy glaciers and cold temperatures, the weather conditions do fluctuate often. The sun’s UV rays are also intense, so it is important to pack sunscreen. I suggest packing a fair amount of clothing that can be layered, which includes both lightweight clothing and warmer fleece clothing. I also recommend taking a camera to capture the remarkable scenery and binoculars, so you can easily spot wildlife during the cruise.

What type of ship should you choose?

Both large and small ships travel to Alaska, so it may seem difficult selecting the best one. Larger ships usually stick to major cities and ports of call, which include ships from Princess Cruise Line and Holland America. Smaller ships will be able to navigate to the hidden areas of Alaska that will give you a better chance at catching a glimpse of wildlife. Silversea Cruise Line is a perfect choice for those who want to go on a luxury cruise, as they have fewer passengers on-board, which mean more personal service and fewer crowds whilst standing on the deck.

Last year, when planning our annual vacation, my husband suggested a self catering holiday which combined walking and camping in France. I have to admit that initially, I wasn’t overly enthusiastic about the idea having been on several self catering holidays before. The thought of long, hard marches, carrying a heavy rucksack full of kit on my  back, definitely did not appeal. However after giving the idea some more thought, my hubby and I came up with an ideal solution. Instead of walking long distances from one camp-site to the next, we’d choose a single location as our base, and do shorter hikes in the vicinity.

When our holiday finally arrived, we took a flight to Perpignan airport in the Languedoc region of France. We then used a local taxi service to take us to the camping site, where we’d booked a comfortable cabin for the duration of our stay. Normally my husband would drive us over to France from the UK for our holidays or hire a car, but as I don’t have a licence this can be fairly tiring for him, so we decided this time we’d focus on exploring the area we were staying in, on foot.

We’d selected a camping site in Argeles, as this would give us ample opportunities to take interesting walks, in the mountainous countryside and on the attractive coastline, as well as in the historic villages of the area. Our first day was spent settling down and deciding on an itinerary of walks, then on day two, it was time to lace up our hiking boots, pack a picnic, camera and maps and get walking.

Although I am not what you’d describe as a “gym-bunny” I do stay reasonably active in my daily life, as does my husband, who plays football with his mates at weekends. We didn’t want to over-do it by choosing walks beyond our ability so we decided to follow the well marked routes listed on a topographical map of the area. Available at Argeles-sur-mer tourist information office, the map lists 9 walking trails, of varying difficulty and lengths. This allowed us to choose which walk to take depending on how energetic we were feeling and what the weather forecast was showing.

Over the course of our two week walking and camping holiday, we completed all of the walks featured on the map, discovering the local fauna and flora, as well as testing the typical cuisine of the area in restaurants and bars we found along the way. We found that in comparison to our usual holidays, staying in a hotel or bed and breakfast, our camping holiday gave us a greater sensation of freedom, and helped us to see an authentic side to France which we had not seen elsewhere.

For anyone considering a walking and camping holiday in France, we’d highly recommend giving it a try. My best tip is to spend a little extra on your accommodation – there is nothing quite as nice as being able to relax under a hot shower after walking all day, and being able to stretch out on a sofa was a real bonus that you definitely wouldn’t get in a tent.

Moving home is always a bit of a hassle, and I say that as someone who has done it a good number of times and with mixed results.

My worst ever move was when I had to transport all of my stuff from South London to the North of the city and decided to do it by Tube. That was a terrible idea which involved spending all weekend going back and forward on the Northern and Piccadilly Lines and bashing a few of my prized possessions along the way.

The idea of moving house can be stressful enough to put us off the idea of the switch before we even get started. The potential for problems is well known and is why it has been one of the staples of sit coms ever since Frank Spencer fell out of his removals van.

Of course, the most fragile household objects are the ones we most need to protect, and among those we definitely need to count the mirrors. This isn’t just because it is believed to be bad luck to break one, but because they can also be pretty expensive items. Anyway, the bad luck idea is a bit more interesting than the cost issue, so let’s take a look at it.

7 Years or not?

Actually, the original version of this superstition is that if you break a mirror then part of your soul will be destroyed. This is because it was believed that mirrors captured part of people’s souls. So it’s all bad news then? Well, the relatively good part is that the belief was that our soul gets renewed every 7 years. This means that unless you are really unlucky and break the mirror just after having your soul renewed then you only need to wait less than 7 years to get a new one. Hey, does it sound as though I am starting to believe this stuff?

Is Your Soul Really in the Mirror?

You may well ask how your soul can be trapped in the bathroom mirror cabinet if your reflection isn’t in it at the time, and you would be quite right to ask this. The superstition actually says that you need to be reflected in the mirror at the time it breaks in order for the bad luck to happen. So if the mirror is in a badly packed removals van and you are having a nervous breakdown in the kitchen trying to pack your dishes then there is no curse. I am hoping that this also covers me for the mirror I broke in my backpack while carrying it up the stairs at Turnpike Lane station.

So Where Does This Leave Us?

Well, it seems that packing a mirror badly is unlikely to ruin the next 7 years of your life after all. That takes us back to the point about the cost and inconvenience of replacing it then. It might not be as exciting as the thought of having a piece of your soul destroyed but it would certainly be a blooming nuisance, wouldn’t it?

As both a huge gadgets fan and a keen traveller I had done a fair bit of travelling with my two laptops and a number of other gadgets.

I often arrive tired, unshaven and, frankly, frazzled. However, to date my gadgets have always arrived safe and sound, a fact I put down to following a few simple rules.

Take What You Most Need

Much as I would like to take all of my gadgets with me everywhere I go I realise that this isn’t always practical or necessary. If I am going on a holiday to the beach then I probably just want something to let me listen to music and maybe read an e-Book. On the other hand, if I am going on a work trip I will need my laptop and my phone if nothing else. After working out which of my gadgets will be earning air miles I then just need to decide which ones will go in my hand luggage for the trip and which ones will travel round the luggage carousel several times before I finally recognise my bag.

Use a Good Bag

This is a bit embarrassing actually, but I once went on a long trip carrying my mp3 player in a plastic bag. I was backpacking at the time and the device was a cheap one, but it shows how not to do things. A nicely padded bag which is just the right size will save you a lot of hassle. Good laptop bags usually have a variety of pockets for storing other gadgets and accessories in.

Don’t Forget the Accessories

Getting to your destination and finding that you don’t have the right batteries or cables isn’t the end of the world but it can be a pain. Depending upon where you are it might or might not be easy to get hold of the accessory you need. However, the simplest thing to do is make sure that you are travelling with everything you might want to use. If you are taking a battery operated gadget then make sure that any ones you are taking with you are full of juice before you head off. Airports and bigger bus and train stations are usually good places to pick up odds and ends if you realise that you have forgotten anything and don’t want to risk having to look for it in a city you don’t know well.

Back Up Information Before You Travel

No matter how many precautions you take there is no doubt that travelling with gadgets is a riskier business than just leaving them at home. If that plastic bag I mentioned earlier had burst and I had lost my mp3 then my entire collection of UB40 and Bob Marley songs would have gone with it. That might not have been a bad thing actually, as listening to nothing but reggae for six months does weird things to your head. Anyway, the point is that you are likely to be carrying about some information which you really don’t want to lose. If you are away from home when you upload the data then you could just pop into an internet café and make sure that you put a second version of it somewhere safe.

Signing up for Dubai Holidays aboard the Royal Caribbean Cruise was a surprising decision for me. I used to prefer European holidays but this time, felt an insatiable pull to go to the Middle East and witness modern day Arabian Nights with its mystery and excitement.

I chose the 16-night tour over the 11-night Arabian Explorer Tour and the 7-night Dubai Cruise Tour because I wanted to see a bit of India, aside from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates.

I could hardly wait to sail away and sample delicious food onboard, spoil myself in the spa and enjoy the “nightlife”.

Beyond Rest and Relaxation

When you take a cruise to beautiful, full of contradictions Dubai aboard the Brilliance of the Seas or a ship of similar specifications, you enter a different world shrouded in mystery. Dubai and the Emirates are stunning with architecture that rivals the best in the U.S. For those who expect sand dunes and other images, add a few more stunning views like the coral-rich blue waters of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, the lush oasis and the state-of-the-art Mall of the Emirates. Just imagine – 200 shops under one roof and an indoor ski slope! Dubai even has man-made islands. As far as architecture is concerned, Dubai has pulled the stops.

As you see more of what the Gulf has to offer, the incredible images of the souks or Arabian markets with its gold, textiles, food and spices bring you back to a past era. You see dunes, forests, mountains, canyons and scenic beaches when you simply expected wide spans of sandy dessert. I was surprised the contradictions blended seamlessly – the cities looked modern yet one could feel its old soul.

The shopping is amazing with its wide array of high quality goods and incredible bargains. Choose to be extravagant or choose the more frugal path – either way, the shopping will please you.

Dubai the Gem

Dubai is fast becoming a destination for many reasons. For adventure and culture buffs who seek the ultimate, this Royal Caribbean Cruise is hard to pass up. It has wonderful weather year-long making it easy for you to book your trip anytime of the year. If you are avoiding harsh winters, Dubai is the place to be. You can also book early and get superb discounts. You can extend your holiday with hotel stays or complement your cruise with land tours.

I wanted a fantastic, stress-free holiday where I could enjoy value for money. Royal Caribbean Cruises offered more than that. My Dubai Holiday was the eye-opener to “a whole new world”.

We all need to say sorry at some point in our lives, and some of us need to do so an awful lot more than once. There is nothing wrong with recognising that you have done something wrong and then wanting to do something about it.

There are plenty of ways of doing this and we will look at some of the best ones here.

Take Them Away Somewhere Special

Somewhere like Lake Garda, Venice or Rome would be a fantastic setting for you to patch things up, and a terrific way to say you are sorry. Getting away from the usual places and the same old routine is highly recommended, and where better to go than somewhere romantic like Italy. Lake Garda holidays are especially good for spending time alone with a special person and letting them know that you have realised the error of your ways.

Choose a Local Restaurant

If you don’t eat out together all that often then making an evening of it can be a nice touch. To avoid any doubts, we aren’t taking about a burger and chips here. If you want to say that you are truly sorry then choose a quality eatery and do it in style. You don’t need to hire a violinist or a mariachi band; just let them know that you have thought things over and regret what you did or said.

Spend Some Time Alone

A cottage in the Lake District, a caravan in north Wales or a boat off the Scottish islands are all valid options for finding the time and space you need to rebuild the trust in your relationship. These are all great places but the most important thing is that you get the chance to spend some time together without any interruptions. This means leaving your laptop and your phone at home and just concentrating on being together and working things through. Even a day or two can be enough to get your point across.

Buy Them Something Nice

If you don’t have the time to head off somewhere exciting then maybe you could just buy them something they will appreciate. This has to be something which shows a bit of thought, so a book store voucher is unlikely to do the trick. Think about their tastes and how you could show them how much they mean to you. Jewellery is a classic choice here but it is far from the only one. Try and find the perfect gift and accompany it with a romantic card.

Write the Truth in a Letter

This is perhaps the bravest option of all but it could turn out to be a good move. If you have reflected on the matter and realised your mistake then you could write your partner a letter explaining how much they mean to you and how sorry you are. Of course, you could easily combine this with any of the other ideas if you really, really want them to know how sorry you are.