French Holidays: The Country of Love

Some say that it is just Paris that is the city of love, but i have to disagree. I think the whole of France is stunning and anywhere you go is perfect for couples of all ages to rekindle their romance. Indeed, Paris is a great city to visit, but it is so busy and constantly “alive” that it isnt exactly great for chilling out and having some downtime with your partner. Try Lyon or Cannes for a more relaxed atmosphere.

The French just seem to have it sorted when it comes to knowing how to make things romantic. I havent been to another country that offers the unique vibe that France does. It has character, charm and romance oozing out of its little streets’ pores.

Italy comes a close second, but for me, France really is the country of love, and i highly recommend taking some French holidays to truly experience this vibrant country.

Gap Year Travelling: Is It Worth Doing?

I have always wanted to know what the general consensus on gap year travelling is. I didn’t go travelling for my gap year, but i sometimes wish i had. I think its a good “life experience” for those that haven’t really had any other preparation for University. Going gap year travelling will mean you find a lot out about yourself, different cultures and how to live on your own. I think its great for people that need some independence and nearly everyone comes back from travelling saying it was a worthwhile experience.

So, is gap year travelling worth doing? You need quite a bit of money if you;re going for the full year, but some banks provide you with a gap year loan to make your travels much easier. The choice is up to you, but i think its really great for people to take time out and focus on themselves. University is hard work and i think you are much better prepared if you go gap year travelling first.

Go Walking: It Will Help Shift The Fat

If you’re struggling to shed those pounds after Christmas, make it your mission to go walking and really burn those calories!

You dont have to walk miles and miles, but even just round the area that you live can really benefit you and help get you fit. Go walking this month and see the weight fall off.

Walking gets your heart rate going and you’ll flop back at home feeling great and totally revitalised. Just give it a go; go walking today and burn those calories!

Valentines Day Getaways: Splash The Cash

I know things are a bit tight for all of us at the moment, but when it comes to Valentines Day, you have to be prepared to make time to rekindle the romance with your loved one. Don’t just pretend it doesn’t exist – try and plan a romantic Valentines Day getaway and it will make both of you feel better about things. Sometimes you need a pick me up to get through the bad times.

Check this site out for a load of great last minute Valentines Getaway Deals: VALENTINES DAY

Cycling: The Best Sport For A Flat Stomach?

A few months ago, i was working with a guy that had a bit of excess weight. He decided to take up cycling and within 3 months he had lost the stomach fat and was looking really trim.  He didn’t even diet that drastically – it was pretty much all down to cycling. I then decided that cycling really was a good form of exercise and a great way of travelling and keeping fit.

So, if you want  a flat stomach, i firmly believe that cycling is the key.

What Is A Travel Consultant?

A travel consultant is someone who helps plan your holiday for you so you can take some of the stress of from doing it yourself!

There are travel operators all around the world and one of the big names in the UK is easily Thomas Cook.

A travel consultant will help arrange your holiday and discuss with you some of the important bits that you might otherwise forget, like travel insurance for example. All in all, a travel consultant is definitely worth speaking to.

Snowboard Holidays – Great Fun!

Have you ever considered snowboard holidays? If you are an athletic sports-loving individual then this may just be the perfect trip for you.

Snowboarding is, undeniably, only appealing to those who like the thrill of trying something new and doing something fun and exciting – on snow! I cant say it would be my first choice of activity holiday, but i know a lot of people that have snowboard holidays annually. Once you’ve done it once, it is quite often very hard to give up the addiction!

Snowboard holidays can take place anywhere around the world, but there are some snowboarding hotspots that you might be interested in knowing about:

ANDORRA
AUSTRIA
CANADA
FRANCE
ITALY
SWITZERLAND
USA

The above destinations are great for going snowboarding, so check out your local travel agent for some advice of where best to go. For me, it would be the rolling hills of Austria that would send me weak at the knees and i would be off there like a shot! Apart from the fact i cannot snowboard

Maybe i should take up some snowboarding lessons…

A snowboarder...not me

Ryanair Cheap Flights to US for £10?? Surely Not!

When it comes to travelling, we all know how expensive it can be. Even just driving your car seems to cost the earth and you feel like you’re at the petrol station every 5 minutes filling up again!

Ryanair is a well-known airline. However, they have just reported a 47% tumble in their first-half profits to €215m (£170m). It is thought more low-cost airlines are going to be going bust over the coming months and it is predicted that the airline industry in Europe will eventually just be dominated by four main companies, one of which will be Ryanair. Check out the Guardian’s article on this here.

The boss of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, has revealed plans to launch a transatlantic low-cost operation within about two to three years with economy fares of just £10. Imagine flying to the US for £10?!!

What i find interesting is that this could actually work. I mean, Ryanair must really know that they will be encouraging people to book flights with the £10 offer, but will that last forever? probably not. It will be like an enticement. Environmentalists won’t be happy if there is an increased number of people flying and polluting the air. The thing is though, even if they offer flights for £10, for many people, there is still only a limited time when they can fly and take holidays. That’sjust the way it is. The only thing cheap flights might increase is the number of people taking holidays, being lured by the cheap prices.

However, take myself for example – i am not particularly fond of flying, so even if they reduce the flights to £1 per person i will probably not be any more inclined to use their services. Not only that, but i have some friends who have never been on a plane all their lives, so to them, any reduced flight prices will have no effect. Its probably only the hardcore travellers that will want to take up this offer.

Its great if you have relatives abroad that you need to see regularly, though. Cheap flights means more opportunities to visit those that you love, so thanks Ryanair – people will really love it if you reduce the flight prices! Something to look forward to!

Ryannair Logo

Travel In Style With Children’s Designer Luggage!

I found this great children’s designer suitcase luggage set from http://www.designeronline.com.au/prod1090.htm. It is designed by Catherine Manuell and is absolutely gorgeous! Perfect for the little boy or girl that likes bright colours and ladybugs!

Ladybugs Suitcase!

 Children can now be as stylish as their parents with some great designer luggage. These cost AU $160.00 and also come in other varieties! Check these out below:

Funky Spots

Black Planets

How To Travel In Style With Designer luggage

When i go on holiday, i like to travel in style. I’m not talking about splashing the cash on first class, I’m thinking more of the luggage department.

We always see celebrities with their Louis Vuitton luggage and think “wow, they must be so rich to be able to afford that”, but it doesn’t have to be the case. I mean, we could save our wage for a month or so in order to purchase the ultimate in designer luggage, but then i just think it seems to look ridiculous when non-celebrities parade around with their Louis Vuitton designer suitcases

My solution is to start a new trend and i have to share some great designer luggage with you that will make people jealous and you won’t be like a “sheep” with your Louis Vuitton designer luggage.

Check out this gorgeous Coach suitcase. Coach is a big name in the US, but not so well known over here in the UK. This suitcase is really classy and ooses chic. You can find more info here.

Lush Coach Suitcase

Walking Tours – Scottish Serenity

Walking Tours - This Guy Loves Them!

 

If you are considering taking a more adventurous holiday, then walking tours in the Scottish highlands could be the perfect choice.

Not everyone wants an expensive holiday abroad. You have to have the funds and get time off work for a start. It might be that you just fancy a little inexpensive weekend break, where you can meet up with a few friends and go on a walking tour. Perhaps you’ve never seen Scotland as the sun sets – this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Most companies organise the event and give you the choice of a relaxed, paced walking tour, or an active, challenging trip. Decide which you want to do, according to what you feel you can achieve. There’s no point going on a challenging trip only to discover you can’t finish it or hate every second of it!

Walking tours can be great fun, especially if you arrange a small group of friends to go with you. I think Scotland is one of the best places to fully experience a walking tour, due to its stunning location. Views from nearly every hill, stretching miles and miles is what makes this such a great place to visit on a walking holiday.

More walking tours information!

Driving Tuition – Get Learning To Get Driving

 

Driving Car

Everyone knows that driving is one of the best ways to get around, mainly for ease of use. I love driving and would be lost without my car. If you are just approaching the legal age to start having driving tuition, then i recommend starting as soon as you can…you won’t regret it.

My mum left learning to drive until she was in her late 20s and i think it gave her a disadvantage. All her friends had been driving years before, and i think she felt as each year passed that it wasn’t really worth learning. I think a lot of people don’t bother learning to drive when they are in their teens and don’t think twice about it. I have quite a few friends that have had a few lessons recently and then stopped, simply because they don’t have the patience to learn, or the inclination anymore. I think you lose that ‘desire’ to want to drive as you get older – either that, or you start to find that you just don’t have the funds to warrant driving tuition anymore.

Driving can open up a world of opportunities and will give you freedom, choice and independence. As a young person in today’s society, these are more important than ever to grasp. To go travelling (at least around the UK) you will find the ease of taking your car far more preferable to taking a long expensive bus journey, and train prices are costlier than ever. Throw your holiday luggage in the car and set off; no waiting for others, making unnecessary stops or having to sit in a cramped area. Driving tuition is so important if you want to be able to go travelling and enjoy life.

But what if you fail your test?

If you fail your test for the first time, don’t panic. Try again. I recommend booking in your next test as soon as you hear that you have failed, because this will keep your mind focused on what you are trying to achieve and prevent you from losing confidence and all hope that you can do it.

It took my friend 6 weeks in-between failing first time and passing the second time. Her failures on the first test were still fresh in her mind and she was able to correct them with a few more driving lessons before doing another test. You have to believe in yourself and don’t get too despondent if you fail the first time, as there is a well-known saying that “better drivers pass their tests second time!”

Ladies Cycling – Female Fun? Not For Me

Lady Cyclist

 

One of the best and cheapest ways to travel is by bike.

Cycling can be an exhilarating experience for many and i am curious to know if ladies cycling is more popular than we might think. When it comes to travelling, cycling is quick and easy and obviously eliminates your carbon emissions due to not using your car. I like cycling, but i don’t necessarily like the cycling clothing that many seem to wear. As a woman, it can often feel unattractive to wear Lycra clad clothing and still feel fashionable.

Despite the popularity of cycling, you don’t see that many women doing it. Certainly on my way to work, i see more men cycling than women. I started to wonder why this is.

I think it is just impractical for most women to get on a bike and ride to work, when they have their handbag etc to think about. For men, it is just ‘easier’.

David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party, has definitely helped raise the profile of bikes. Living in London, cycling is far more crucial than it is to someone living in a village or small town. If you live in a village, your place of work might be a few miles out, so it may feel like the car is the only option. However, i do think it is good that some of the Conservatives, such as Cameron and Boris Johnson, are trying to show the initiative and use their bikes. Cycling is definitely the “green” option.

Ladies cycling needs to have its profile raised, i think. I remember seeing a Channel 4 programme called “The Woman That Stops Traffic” which was very interesting. One lady tried to get people to leave their cars at home and cycle to work, but i don’t think she was very successful. I think this programme just came across as annoying, because lets face it, people hate being told what to do, and they get very protective over the cars. I also believe that work is stressful enough; getting there, being there and returning home, so the last thing people want to do is to be told to make their days more stressful by cycling to work instead. If people want to cycle, they will, and the same applies to women, i just feel that a bit more publicity on ladies cycling wouldn’t go amiss. We need someone to show us it is ‘cool’, because i am sure i will be speaking for many women when i say the car is always a more preferable option to cycling to work.

I would like to think we will all one day abandon our cars for the favoured “green” option of cycling, but in reality, i just don’t think it is going to work. As long as you still do your bit for the environment, does it really matter if you don’t travel by bicycle?

Sailing Holidays – All The Rage?

Sailing Boats

 

If you like travelling then you’ve probably considered a sailing holiday. This is a great alternative to flying and will no doubt be a lot more fun!

I found a great website offering sailing holidays on the Cornish coastline. This is a beautiful area of the UK and by sailing around you can really take in the best views. Freewinds is a company that seems to know all about sailing holidays, so make sure you give them a call if you are stuck for your next holiday activity. They can provide superb 8 berth 38ft sailing yachts for your holiday and can offer the following:

Day sailing trips
Bareboat yacht charters
Corporate sailing days
Skippered yacht charters

If you fancy going abroad though, why not try a Mediterranean sailing holiday or one in Greece. There are so many choices.When it comes to sailing holidays though, it may be helpful to Google search this word: Flotilla.

Flotilla Sailing consists of a small fleet of ships sailing ‘together’. There is a lead boat which everyone follows. This is a great sailing holiday idea because you can have some real fun along the way, racing the other yachts if you feel daring! There’s a youthful side in all of us, so flotilla sailing is sure to be lots of fun. Plus, if being sociable is top on the list of your holiday plans, flotilla sailing is guaranteed to introduce you to loads of people with similar interests and a zest for life! It is a great way to make new friends. Or, why not organise for a group of you to experience flotilla sailing. Instead of double dating, go flotilla sailing together!

I think i may try flotilla sailing next year. There’s a few of us that would like to give it a go and i think it will definitely be a worthwhile sailing holiday. Luckily i don’t suffer from sea-sickness, which is good.

The Fear of Flying and Possible Reasons Why

Landing Plane

 

Having a fear of flying doesn’t make you abnormal or anything, it just means that flying doesn’t come as naturally to you as it does to others, and i sympathise with anyone who can’t go travelling because of it.

My mother used to be an Air Hostess and she loved flying. One day, the plane suffered severe turbulence and suddenly dropped, frightening everyone on board. After that day, my mother has not been able to get on a plane again. I am sure many of you will sympathise with my mother’s fears, and i have tried for many years to reassure her, but it is just no good. It destroyed her confidence in planes and she opted for a different career path in the end.

Some believe a fear of flying stems from the fact you cannot see where you are going, and the lack of control puts you on edge as you try and figure out ways to regain that control. Heavy breathing and palpitations can be common symptoms brought on by the fear. My friend hates planes so much that she refuses to fly even a short distance. Last time she went on a plane she had to have the air hostess hold her hand throughout the hour long journey to France, and even after copious amounts of free wine on board, she couldn’t handle the fact she was so high up with so little control.

Naturally, i think after the events of 9/11 there is some anxiety in all of us before we get on a long flight. However, i know some people that just say “well, if you’re up there and something happens, there’s nothing you can do but accept that your time has come”. I can’t adopt this perspective before a flight, but i can try and calm myself by taking some Rescue Remedy which i find works great. Travelling anywhere involves an element of risk, but people don’t often think of that when they get in their car for work on a morning. I remember my dad telling me that statistically, you are more likely to be in a car crash than a plane crash, but i don’t know one person afraid of getting in a car. It just doesn’t ‘feel’ like it carries more risks, or if it does, we feel more in control because we can see where we are going.

One of my friends at University was in a car crash when she was younger and she was the only one to survive out of four people. If this wouldn’t put someone off travelling in a car, then i don’t know what would. Nevertheless, she is a confident driver these days and is happy travelling anywhere. I think this shows remarkable control over her thoughts and anxieties and i admire her.

Interestingly though, she has a very bad fear of flying…

Men’s Outdoor Clothing; Choices Choices

If you like to travel and need some suitable men’s outdoor clothing, then it might be hard knowing exactly where to shop. The high street doesn’t tend to cater for specific outdoor clothing as much as it used to.

Millets is a great place to shop for all those clothing must-haves if, for example, you’re going camping. But perhaps you want some men’s outdoor clothing that is a little more chic and adaptable enough that you can wear it anytime, not just when you’re travelling. In this case, i suggest you take a look at Lands End.

Lands End is a great place – for men and women – who want stylish yet practical outdoor clothing. They have a great selection of men’s outdoor clothing and the prices are reasonable. You have to pay for quality and Lands End really is good stuff. I like the 3-in-1 Squall Jacket, which comes in a variety of colours. If you’re planning on being outdoors a lot then this is the jacket for you.

Lands End Jacket

Finding men’s outdoor clothing online is also a great way to pick up the right gear, just check out the sites below:

• Winwood Outdoor
• Blacks
• Ultimate Outdoors
• Jackson Sports
• Field & Trek

If you want some classic men’s styles, then don’t forget to visit Orvis for a great selection of men’s practical and stylish clothing; perfect for the discerning gentleman. If you enjoy outdoor activities such as fishing and shooting then Orvis will cater for you.