Blog

We all have a holiday that we dream of going on. Whether it be somewhere close by, a first time going abroad, or simply a destination you have always wanted to visit. There will be a reason why you haven’t been yet, and that is normally related to the cost. Not all of us have money to plan dream holidays and it takes us time to save up for even the smallest of family holidays. This is why we are going to share with you two saving tips, to help you save for your dream holiday.

If your online banking allows, set up a goal on one of your savings accounts. This helps you to know how much you need to save each day, week and month to be able to reach your goal. You will also be able to keep track of how well you are doing to reach the cost of the holiday.

You also do not want to forget about your loose change. Have a money box to put this into as this can soon add up and help bring the cost of your holiday down.

We can easily get sucked into the world of only going on holidays to places that we know. Going to places that we went to on our family holidays as children. But, today we want to open your eyes to new holiday destinations. The places we believe you should visit at least once in your life.

Australia
Australia, a place we are bound to have all seen in holiday catalogues, on the television, or just somewhere we all know. What tends to put people off is the long haul flight from the United Kingdom, but trust us, it is worth it. Australia is different to here, it is a country you want to experience at least once in your lifetime. One of the perfect holiday destinations for those who love outdoor water activities, and exploring new places.

Venice, Italy
Another place abroad that we believe everyone should try to visit at least once is Venice, Italy. This is a place full of history, a place that we should all visit to learn about the past. A place we should visit to try traditional Italian food. Most Britains love Pizza and Pasta, but nothing beats Italian made pizza. We should all try and go to Italy at least once!

Scotland, UK
Somewhere more local to us that will not always require a flight is Scotland. This is somewhere within the UK that is beautiful. It is a place you can drive to and road trip around. It is a place within our homeland that has beautiful views and should be visited by all!

British Seaside Towns
There are a wide variety of seaside towns in Britain that we believe everyone should try to visit. There are many that people will think of as tourist destinations, but these are some of the best places to go for a traditional British holiday. These are the best places to get a good portion of fish and chips.

Going on holiday can be an extremely exciting time, but some people panic when visiting somewhere new that they are going to look like a typical tourist. So, today we are going to share with you our tips to help you not look like a tourist on holiday!

Put The Palm Tree Shirts Away!
One of the most commonly worn items of clothing by tourists is the summer, beach, palm tree shirts. Leave these shirts at home and you will be bound to look less like a tourist. You will find that you fit in more if you are not wearing this typical tourist item of clothing!

Bumbags Are A No Go
Tourists will typically use bumbags when they are out visiting a new place. This is because they stay attached to you and are super easy to carry around. So, if you want to look like a local, ditch the bumbag. Use an everyday bag that you would expect someone to be using who lived there or was from the local area.

Know The Area Beforehand
Another way to spot a tourist is to find the people who are using maps or the ones who are constantly asking for help with directions. To make yourself not look like a typical tourist, know the area beforehand. Do your research and know where places are and how to get to them safely. This way you will look like you know what you are doing and not like a tourist.

Photos On Phones Only
You can also spot a tourist by seeing how many photos they are taking. Most tourists will want to take a lot of photos on actual cameras. So, if you don’t want to be a noticeable tourist, leave your camera at home and just use your phone for a small selection of photos.

A golf apartment is one that is based in a golf village, with some of the more premium properties actually overlooking the golf course. This makes for wonderful views, and the village itself will usually have very good facilities and amenities. If you are in search of the perfect golf village apartment for your next holiday, you might want to think about:

• Use of the golf course. If you want to play a game or two on holiday make sure you have access – preferably special access as a resident – to the golf course.
• Swimming pool. This is a lovely spot to relax after a game of golf and is a great option if you are travelling with family too, keeping everyone entertained.
• Food. Look at on site restaurants and check what types of cuisine they offer, and check the apartments have good kitchen facilities if you are choosing a self catering option for your trip.

Golf holidays are not just for friends’ weekends away – they can be a wonderful activity for the whole family to enjoy together. If children and younger members of the family have not experienced a game of golf before, they can learn to enjoy it on beautiful world renowned golf courses (depending on where you decide to take your holiday). There are many great spots for family golf holidays in the UK, as well as abroad and further afield.

Many families choose to teach children to play golf ahead of a holiday so that they are going into their holiday with a good understanding of the basics. This is not essential though, and it is also totally up to you how you approach the whole holiday. If you want there to be, there can be plenty of time for relaxing as a family too, in a beautiful setting; golf courses are often location in beautiful rural settings.

Portugal is a popular year round destination but like with any tourist area, there are high seasons and low seasons. The high seasons tend to be when people will flock to the area, and the low seasons are where the weather might not be as good and as such, tourism tends to slow down. The low season can be a very good time to visit Portugal and the Algarve in particular, so you can enjoy the sights without all of the other tourists.

Portugal is milder than the UK all year, but if you want the warmest weather possible, this will inevitably mean travelling during high season. This is a good time to go if you don’t mind the cost, you want the best of the weather, and you want to make the most of the touristy activities that are on offer. However, for many tourists, the quieter low season is a very charming time to visit the Algarve.

It is usually possible to take sports equipment of some description on a plane. This is one of the options you will be given when booking, where the system will ask you to book additional luggage, carry on luggage and items such as golf clubs, to make sure you get the best prices at this stage.

If you choose to fly with your sports equipment, make sure you have pre- booked it with the airline. They can offer you advice about what is specifically available with them, and whether it will be possible for you to bring your own sports equipment with you on board. The smaller the equipment, the better, and you might have to keep it on you. Larger items such as golf clubs can definitely be taken on aeroplanes but it is sometimes more difficult or expensive. If you prefer, you can hire golf clubs when you arrive at your golf village.

An organised holiday may take many forms. From coach trips in Europe, to group skiing trips, to cruises, there are lots of options and many people from the UK choose to take these kinds of holidays each year. If this is the case for you, then you might find yourself with some choices to make.

The most important thing to consider is destination. Never compromise on destination purely for convenience, or you will find that you are disappointed in your holiday ultimately. Look for the destinations that you want to visit, then find the ways to visit them – not the other way around.

The tour operator is important as well though. Decide on the kind of agency you want to travel with – perhaps one that specialises in holidays for individual people, if you want to meet others like you, or an agency that works with luxury trips and provides beautiful hotels.

When you are on holiday, especially if you are staying in remote, natural places, it’s essential you really respect the world around you. It’s respectful when you are in another country anyway, and it is also important for the health and survival of the wildlife and wildernesses you see before you. These are some of the things you should always do:

• Stay away from wildlife. Don’t get too close, have respect and keep your distance. Animals could be dangerous, and you shouldn’t be disturbing the creatures you want to see anyway.
• Take rubbish with you. Never leave rubbish behind in a national park.
• Go with a guide. When trekking, take a guide so you know where you can go without causing disruption to ecosystems.
• Research animal tourism first. Make sure you are going to legitimate sanctuaries, and they don’t offer animal interactions – these are rarely as good as they seem.

Ecotourism isn’t just about seeing lots of animals and enjoy more natural places – it is also about visiting environmentally friendly places that take responsibility for wildlife and habitats. If you are craving some open spaces, nature and want to do some good at the same time, here are some top eco-tourism destinations:

1. Costa Rica. The main selling point of this small country is its natural diversity. Not everywhere is eco-friendly, but many places include accommodation that is self-sufficient that doesn’t have a negative impact on natural resources.
2. Thailand. Places like Bangkok still have a long way to go, but further north in the country and in various places in jungles and national parks are really taking the lead when it comes to eco-tourism. Think of sleeping in wooden cabins in the Thai jungle.
3. The UK! You don’t have to travel far to find environmentally friendly travel options. Go camping in Wales or hike in the Highlands.