Sure, in an ideal world, our fitness levels would be at their peak when summer comes around. However, with the likes of Christmas, Easter and all of the celebrations in between, it’s often not possible. And if your fitness levels are currently pleasing on both an aesthetic and physical level, you’re likely to want to maintain your physique throughout summer. Of course, summer holidays are often the perfect excuse to unwind and rejuvenate away from the stresses and toils of the daily work and home life. But there are actually
How to Prepare for a Cycling Holiday is a collaborative post. When it comes to planning a trip, you’ll find that vacationers all have different goals. Some want to lie on the beach while soaking up the sun. Others might want to stay indoors and just catch up on their sleep. If you’re reading this article, there’s a chance that you’re the adventurous type who is ready to see all the sites that your destination has to offer. Even in this category, you’ll find that some prefer to be driven
At some point in your life, you may want to have some personal ‘me time’ away from the normal routine. Whether the routine involves taking care of the family, going to work or managing your business, the effects of normal everyday living will eventually create stress and can wear you out. If you feel this start to happen, it’s definitely the time to pamper yourself and retreat to a location where you can recuperate and recharge your human batteries. Going on a holiday specifically for a personal self nourishment retreat
I love city breaks, and if you follow me on Instagram you will know that I’ve recently been on a weekend away to Berlin to see the fantastic new show by Chameleon Theatre, Memories of Fools. I’ve visited Berlin numerous times now, and I’ve spent serval city breaks in London, Liverpool, York and various other cities over the years. Given the number of city breaks on my list it’s about time I talked about what to pack for a weekend away. Space in a weekend suitcase is often
The beautiful capital city of Austria, Vienna, is considered one of the most charming cities in the world. No wonder it is one of the most popular places to visit in Europe among many tourists. Maybe it is its prime location in Central Europe. Maybe it’s because of the fact that it has a long and incredible history in terms of culture and the arts, which is still widely celebrated in the theatres and concert halls not only in Austria, but all over the world. Not only is it a
You work hard all year round to support yourself and those that you love the most. So when it comes time to take a holiday, you want it to be an experience to remember! But how exactly can you achieve that goal? There are several aspects of planning a holiday and they all should be tackled one by one. Firstly, you should decide where you’ll be going. Secondly, you should decide on what time of year, or when you will be going. Thirdly, you should take into account activities and
Agadir is Morocco’s 3rd largest city and is a popular holiday destination on the southern Atlantic coast. There are a wide range of hotels to choose from here, and we stayed at El Pueblo Tamlelt (Caribbean Village) on our recent family holiday. You may be wondering if Agadir, Morocco is safe for a holiday, and I would say generally speaking that it is. However, there are some tips and tricks we learnt during our stay that will help you if you are planning to visit, especially if you are going
Something magical happens in the vicinity of a waterfall — the sounds of crashing water, the enchanting mists, the lush landscape of the surrounding area — which continues to compel travellers to seek out waterfalls wherever they go. The following waterfalls are well worth planning a trip around, just to experience that surreal appeal of falling water all travellers seem to enjoy. Angel Falls Named for the heavenly heights that this water falls from — as well as the divine light that illuminates the waterfall all morning — Angel Falls
As the political landscape of the world changes, borders are moved or removed all together. Sometimes a country’s name is changed completely and as these things happen the list of countries that have disappeared grows longer and longer. It seems crazy to me that a country can be completely lost in time yet it happens and it doesn’t always mean conflict and chaos. Take Czechoslovakia for example. This country split fairly amicably in 1993 to become the Czech Republic and Slovakia mainly for economic and cultural reasons. For those of you that
Our planet is filled with extraordinary places, and extraordinary experiences, just waiting for us to come along and explore them! Unfortunately, however, not all of us can afford to just pick up and take off. Don’t lose hope! There are ways where you can not only see the world, but do it on a pretty tight budget! Traveling is something I honestly believe every human should experience, regardless of financial background. Through my experiences, I’ve been able to put together some pointers to help you save big on your next
If you are planning a visit to Carlisle soon I’m super excited for you. This historic 2000 year old city has a lot going for it and is well worth a trip in it’s own right or adding to a UK holiday exploring the north west of England. With two areas of outstanding natural beauty and one UNESCO World Heritage site to shout about there’s lots of things to do in and near Carlisle during your time here. Carlisle has played a huge part in both England’s and Scotland’s history
Sydney is an amazing city and has so much to offer everyone visiting it. However, Australia is a massive country with so much fun to explore in its entirety. Thanks to this, there are plenty of amazing day and weekend trips that can be taken near Sydney. If it isn’t just a short drive or train away, cheap budget airline tickets are widely available to accommodate some of these awesome trips. Check out some of the best adventures you can take on the east coast! Best Weekend Trips from Sydney
Hundreds of people visit London for business or leisure every single day. We are huge fans of day trips and short breaks to England’s capital as it’s brimming with culture and lots of things to do. It’s also true that residents leave London for other countries for exactly the same reasons. Travel is a popular pastime with many Londoners given the access they have to train and air travel. The Eurostar gives easy access to Europe and airports like Heathrow and Gatwick to name but a few open the door
Getting the best Euro rate on the high street can make a huge difference to your holiday cash if you are travelling from the UK or any where outside of the European Union. The Euro is widely used across Europe, being the official currency of 19 of the member states of the European Union. If you are planning on visiting a few countries in Europe then the Euro exchange rate is most certainly going to be important to you, but how do you get the best euro rate and where
Albufeira is a relatively small town on the Algarve about halfway between Faro and Lagos. It’s a great base for a beach holiday and there’s also lots of things to see and do in the town and surrounding area. For those of you looking for things to do in Albufeira this list will help you choose the best activities for your trip to Portugal. The perfect holiday in Albufeira has a variety of exploring, activities and relaxing in the sunshine. There’s so much potential to make happy holiday memories in
Do you visit gravesites when you travel? Don’t worry, there’s no right or wrong answer. I asked myself this question the other day and it really got me thinking about the different cultural experiences I look for when visiting new places. When I actually thought about it, I’ve visited a number of cemeteries and gravesites over the years, but it probably wasn’t a conscious decision about exploring the local culture. Having given this a bit more thought, I realised that perhaps I should be making more effort to add famous
I can’t believe I’ve not written a ‘things to do in Nottingham’ post until now. I’ve lived in the city for well over 20 years and all three of my children have grown up here. I’d like to think that makes me a bit of an expert on things to do and what to see in and around Nottingham, many of which myself and my family have personally experienced. Nottingham has a lot to offer people visiting here, and it’s great to see more and more tourists enjoying our lovely
A road trip through the UK sounds like a wonderful idea, but you need to prepared. You need to have some sort of idea about where you are going, staying, activities you’re going to be doing, etc. There are going to be some essentials that you must have before you set off on your next adventure. If you don’t know what these are, keep reading because we are going to talk about them in this article. A Dashboard Camera Image Credit The first thing that you need is a dashboard
If you’re a seasoned traveller, the likelihood is that you’ve seen it all. From downmarket hostel dormitories, to great hotels that took you by surprise, you’ve probably stayed in a whole host of different accommodation types. On top of this, you’re likely to have visited some landmarks that were recommended to you, only to find that they were actually awful. When it comes to splashing the cash abroad, there are a few ways to always get it right, so make sure you check these things out before you book! Image
If you are looking for things to do in Lisbon, I promise you that you are not going to be disappointed. Lisbon is one of the most interesting and vibrant cities to visit in Europe making it not to be missed. We are going to talk about where to go and what to do so you can have the very best cultural experience during your visit to Portugal’s capital. If you love experiencing new cultures and have a passion for European history, you might be interested to know that Lisbon’s
Hello readers! How are you? Welcome back to my ‘Win a Holiday’ feature! I hope you have had a great week and you are looking forward to Christmas. I’ll be honest, December has been a bit of a rollercoaster for me and I’m really ready for a break with my family. When I was feeling a little bit low last week, I wanted to do something to cheer myself up. Nothing makes me happier than helping Zena’s Suitcase readers and the first ‘holiday giveaways‘ post was published. The holiday competitions
Travel for me is about visiting incredible new places. In the early part of my life I really didn’t travel very far, but I had this burning desire to see more of the world. The first time I stepped on a plane and left the UK was a life changing moment for me. I really didn’t know what I was going to find at the other end, but I knew it was going to be good. In all honestly we were heading to Spain for a beach holiday, so I
Currently in the news, there’s a bit of a strange political ordeal going on in Spain. It’s not something that has affected very much to Spain at the moment. However, what it has stirred are feelings of great pride in Catalonia. Regardless of your opinion on the Independence Movement, Barcelona is being talked about more than normal. That could be a strange thing to mention because Barcelona’s football team is always in the news. What the city has to offer and what it could be is something you should pay
For most of our lives we will do what is standard. The first time you go on holiday, you do what everyone else has done and currently does. You’re going to use the same travel agencies, use the same websites to book things everyone else wants and you’ll go about your holiday in a very linear boring predictable manner. Well, it isn’t boring to you because it’s your first time doing it. The first time is always the best because you’re experiencing new things and you haven’t ever been through
There is far more to Wales than rugby and sheep. England may boast the most famous landmarks and Scotland may have the most dramatic natural beauty, but Wales has its own quaint charm. If you’re planning a UK holiday, here are a few reasons to not overlook Wales. Breath-taking Hikes Image Source Those that love their walks will love Wales. Hiking is the best way to take in the beautiful Welsh countryside and there are plenty of trails to be found. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path takes you along the
Feature Written By Guest Writer Are you thinking about planning your next holiday? Why not plan your trip around your need for fluffy feline companionship. As a cat lover, there are a few destinations around the world that should be on top of your holiday bucket list. Read on to find out the best places to visit for cat lovers around the world. Japan Japan is the country where a cat lover will feel most at home. The origin of Hello Kitty has to be first on the list when
Collaborative post For those of us who enjoy travelling and holidays the winter is the perfect time to take a break. I bet some of you reading this already have visits to Christmas markets, skiing holidays or trips to warmer climates booked in the calendar. If you are going away this winter these travel and holiday tips are for you! Whether they help remind you to add something to your winter packing list or plan ahead for a situation you hadn’t considered this post is packed with great winter travel
Written in collaboration with Mary J Choosing where and with whom to holiday is always exciting. Getting to research a place and then start to organise the trip is an exciting and thrilling experience that makes the actual trip all the more fun. And although travelling as a family is great, once in a while parents should take a few days to themselves and have a grown-ups only vacation. The key word in the previous statement is “a few days” so finding a location that can accomodate the amount of
Taking a road trip should feel like you’re embarking on an adventure. Your itinerary will most likely be jam-packed with all sorts of activities, ranging from exploring crowded city streets to chilling out on a secluded beach. One day you might be learning about American culture of the past within the walls of a museum, and the next you could be drinking a pina colada listening to the waves crashing on the sand. But whatever your itinerary might include, be sure to arm yourself with car renters insurance from a
This post was written in collaboration with the Trainline App My son has been at university for a year now, but we still aren’t entirely used to him living away from home. When he first left, I tried to prepare him with the life skills that he would need to manage from day to day. I think all parents with a student going to university will be talking to their son or daughter about doing a weekly shop and making student friendly meals, but are you also talking to them
