Spain is one of the most popular holiday hot spots with tourists from around the world. Graced with idyllic beaches and over 5,000 miles of coastline Spain is a convenient location that is home to a thriving tourist industry.
Author Archives: Katie-Anne
Tips for Purchasing Travel Insurance
The potential of something going wrong and causing a negative financial impact on your life is why many people choose to protect themselves with travel insurance. There are a number of factors you will want to look into before getting any form of travel, health, or life insurance before you leave for your trip.
The good thing about most of these forms of short term insurance is that they are relatively inexpensive but knowing a few insider tips can save you big.
The first thing you should do is be aware of exactly what you’re looking for and what you want to be covered for. A lot of people get over-insured and end up paying too much.
Second, it’s usually not a good idea to buy travel insurance through a travel agency. This is not always the case but it can often be quite an expensive proposition so look at outside providers and see what kind of deal you can get.
Many consumers buy this form of insurance because it’s easy but it’s often better to look to independent providers instead.
Speaking to a trained insurance broker can help you answer any questions you might have regarding your policy. This smoothes out the entire process and will get you traveling easier and without having to worry about what you’re covered for.
The best part is that you can get a relatively inexpensive plan because you’re not being covered for an extensive period of time so for many people this is a great thing. Shop around and you’ll be on your way in no time.
Efficient Holiday Credit Card Management
The best management strategy will largely depend on what your current financial situation is. For example, people who are building credit should use their credit cards differently than those who are aiming towards credit card debt elimination. Credit builders may want to show a revolving history of personal responsibility, so charging your entire holiday purchase may be appropriate.
However, those with a high debt load may be better served to use their debit card. If you do go that route, be sure to have it run as a credit card to ensure that all the fraud protections are in place. You could also use a standard credit card, keeping the cash on hand to pay the bill when it becomes due. If that isn’t an option, make a budget that accounts for eliminating the holiday debt completely within four to six months.
There are other things that you may be a factor in your lifestyle and situation that you can take into consideration when managing your holiday credit card debt in an efficient manner. The first thing to look at is what type of credit cards you own. If you have several, you might want to favor the one that offers rewards.
Because holiday debt usually adds a large chunk to the balance at one time, you can earn significant rewards. Keep in mind that many rewards cards give users a bonus for shopping with affiliated retailers, so be sure to favor those stores when you are out and about. Also, don’t forget that your rewards won’t post to your account until the balance is paid, so work that into your financial plan.
Another type of card to consider for holiday shopping is the store-issued credit card. You can usually receive a discount or cash back just for signing up for these and can save on each purchase made as well. However, don’t take advantage of these offers unless you are in a sound position. These should be paid in full every single month, as the interest charged is generally excessive. They can, however, be a good idea if you manage them efficiently.
The holidays are a time when many people are traveling. What better time to catch up with family and friends, after all? If you are leaving home, you need to keep a close eye on your credit cards and use smart strategies. It is recommended that travelers always use credit cards.
Debit cards just don’t have the same protections in place, and it could be weeks before you are keeping a closer eye on the accounts that you have left at home. In addition, using a debit card to book hotels or rent cars can cause your bank balance to be held for a period of time. When using a credit card, it’s your credit limit that is affected and not your personal cash.
Bed and Breakfast on Hadrian’s Wall in Cumbria
Bed and Breakfast on Hadrian’s Wall in Cumbria, UK
Tantallon House – 4 star luxury Accommodation
Situated on the border of Cumbria and Northumberland, Tantallon House bed and breakfast on Hadrian’s Wall overlooks one of the longest stretches of Roman Wall, which was built over 2000 years ago to protect the Roman troops against the Scottish tribes. Tantallon House itself is a stunning old Victorian building set on top of a hill, with a path leading you up through the beautiful gardens to the front door. The rooms are spacious and decorated in a style which matches the period of the house, whilst being comfortable and very easy to relax in after spending your day exploring the surrounding areas and attractions.
Bed and Breakfast Facilities
The accommodation has been graded as 4 star with silver accolade, and as a guest, you will quickly see why Tantallon House has earned it. The full english breakfast was delicious, and the second day it was great to have the option to a lighter start to the day – fresh fruit, creamy yogurts and hearty muesli. Tantallon House has wifi in every room, widescreen televisions, a lounge to relax in and full size snooker table.
Places to visit on Hadrian’s Wall, Cumbria
The hosts are extremely welcoming, and provided me with afternoon tea on arrival. Their knowledge of the local area and Hadrian’s Wall helped me to plan my time I spent staying there, getting the most out of the surrounding area. Tantallon House has a large amount of resources to help guests, including maps for both walking and cycling on Hadrian’s Wall and in the surrounding areas of Cumbria and Northumberland. Some of the local places of interest include Biroswald Roman Fort which is especially close to Tantallon House, as well as Lanercost Priory and Carvoran Roman army museum.
Tantallon House on Hadrian’s Wall – luxurious accommodation in an ideal location
Tantallon House deserves the high praise its guests have given it on Trip Advisor, from national newspapers including the Times Online and from the official tourist boards. The accommodation is an ideal spot to explore Hadrian’s Wall and well worth a visit.
What Is The Securest Way To Travel?
Travellers are used to putting their guard up when it comes to visiting ‘suspicious’ unknown locations, but perhaps they should also be wary when it comes to simply booking their flights! Earlier this month, employees at Flyline, a British Airways (BA) operation in Bremen have been accused of misusing confidential credit card passed on to them through the booking process.
When it comes to booking flights, it’s not only these extreme security breaches that might end up hurting your finances. Many airline providers charge extra for credit cards bookings, such as British Airways and BMI, who add an additional charges on top of their fees. While these can easily be avoided by using a debit card, others are more churlish when it comes to any form of card spending. Monarch and Jet2 force customers to pay a 5% fee and a minimum of plus 2.25% for credit card, but don’t worry there is an escape clause…..
If you are worried about relying on your regular credit card to pay for your excursions, why not rely on a special pre-paid travel credit card? Especially for a small business, credit cards can be a luxury. A prepaid card can help curb extra expenses for you or your business. I know I can spend more than I can afford if it is handed to me, especially on holiday, so i have found one of the impulse spender who’s afraid of wasting a few dozen pounds on gaudy souvenirs; not for responsible users who don’t want to be tied down to a limited budget.
Peter Harrison, the travel-money expert at moneysavingsupermarket.com has some sobering words about the state of the industry: “Unfortunately there is no one product that ticks every box, so customers who are unhappy with their current provider need to understand their requirements and shop around to ensure they are using the most appropriate product.”
Blackpool: The Las Vegas of England
Droves of visitors come to Blackpool year round to sample some of the local delights and view the one-of-a-kind Blackpool Tower. Here is a brief guide to some of the must-see attractions currently on offer in Black-Vegas!
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
This famous family theme park will titillate the whole family for as many days as you care to spend there. The historic rollercoasters, including the Wild Mouse, the Revolution, the Big Dipper, Infusion, and the Pepsi Max Big One, will leave thrill-seekers of all ages thirsty for more! Popular for more than a century, the fun-filled atmosphere, the short lines, and the resonating sound of happy screaming have established Pleasure Beach as the premier theme park in England.
Blackpool Tower
If you’re looking for an enormous tower and excellent views of the nearby area, you will love the fun-packed Blackpool Tower. Don your dancing shoes on and enjoy a slow waltz in the beautiful Ballroom, then unleash the kids in the generous Jungle Gym to burn off some energy. Before you leave, take a climb to the top of this magnificent tower, and scan the beaches, the people, and the coasters below.
Blackpool Illuminations
Before you sample the local casinos, you might want to take a ride on one of the illuminated open buses or trams to view the spectacular illuminations. The glitz and glamour of over a mile of dazzling light shows will delight kids and adults alike. Especially around Christmas time, the lights are a popular attraction – just be sure to dress up warmly.
Blackpool Casinos
The magnificence of Blackpool’s luxurious casinos certainly rivals anything Las Vegas has to offer. The Circus Casino, the Paris Casino, and the G Casino are easy to access from town and make for an enjoyable evening. If you’ve spent the day negotiating Pleasure Beach theme park, there is no better way to wind down than by hearing the ching-ching of the jackpot!
Blackpool offers a vast array of activities, ranging from the serenity of the beaches to the non-stop thrills of the rollercoasters. Be sure to budget your time wisely or even consider an extended stay to allow you ample time to fully appreciate the attractions of this Vegas-like party city!
Things to do in Blackpool, England
Here is a list of some of Blackpool’s most exciting must-do activities:
1. Visit Blackpool Pleasure Beach Theme Park – Pleasure Beach, Blackpool is an innovative family theme park that offers an adrenalin-pumping good time for people of all ages. Whether you aim to conquer the Pepsi Max Big One, or simply to enjoy the unique Wild Mouse rollercoaster, theme parks don’t come much bigger, better, or faster than this one!
2. Dance in the Ballroom – If you fantasize about donning your ball gown and taking a slow-waltz around a decadent ballroom, you will find dancing heaven at Blackpool Tower. The little people will enjoy playing in the Jungle Gym, and the whole family will marvel at the sights from the top of the tower itself.
3. Improve Your Poker Game – Blackpool’s casinos are among the most popular in Europe. There is nothing quite likes ending your evening with a fuller wallet, and you may want to take a chance with these luxurious nightspots that might make you a millionaire.
4. Look at the Lights – Blackpool Illuminations 2009 is even bigger and better than ever before. Six miles of light show await the whole family if you visit between September and November. Be sure to watch out for the fantastic firework displays and the late night openings at Pleasure Beach family theme park too!
5. Take a Dip – If the ocean is a little too cold for you, consider traversing your way down some seriously thrilling water slides at Sandcastle Water Park. There are 18 different adventures to choose from, making it England’s largest indoor water park.
6. Tour the Sea Life Center – If you want to meet a true blue-blooded creature, you will be amazed to see the color-changing octopus at this educational center. Slender pipefish, cuckoo wrasse, rays of several different varieties, and starfish all adorn the spacious tanks. Blackpool’s Sea Life Center offers a fabulous experience for visitors of all ages.
7. Wander Around the Waxworks – Celebrities aplenty can be found at Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks, located opposite Blackpool’s Central Pier. If you’ve ever wanted to get your picture with an A-list star, you can choose from hundreds of models in nine enormous themed rooms!
Whatever you do in Blackpool this year, you are certain to enjoy excitement and quality family time in this stunning English city!
The Thrill Seekers Guide to England
Here is a guide to the top ten thrill seeking activities that you can enjoy right outside your own doorstep!
1. Ghyll Scrambling, Derwent Water– If the name doesn’t ring any bells, Ghyll scrambling is also k
nown as gorge scrambling. Basically, you get to scramble into, out of, and through the middle of a river. Don your wetsuit and helmet, and enjoy the natural waterslides!
2. Mountain Climbing, Lake District – Scafell Pike, England’s tallest mountain offers a challenging climb for most enthusiasts. There are plenty of technical rock surfaces to cut your climbing teeth on, and the scenery from the top is amazing!
3. Rollercoaster Riding, Blackpool Pleasure Beach Theme Park – If you’ve never heard of the Pepsi Max Big One, you’re seriously missing an adrenaline rush. Europe’s tallest rollercoaster is nestled into this fantastic family theme park, and it stands at a whopping 235ft high. The three-minute ride will feel like a lifetime as your heart races to keep up with the speed.
4. Paragliding, Lake District – There are an increasing amount of venues available for paragliding in England, but the Lake District is best. The peaks are higher, and you get the added excitement of climbing to the top of a mountain before launching yourself off (with wings attached!)
5. Kite Surfing, Lancashire – The expansive beaches of Lancashire are home to this fantastic water-borne activity. You get to surf at great speeds across the ocean, then defy gravity as the wind thrusts you into the air! This is not at all for the faint-hearted!
6. Laser Combat, Manchester – If you like the idea of paintballing, but hate the bruises the day afterward, laser combat offers an awesome similar alternative. You get the thrill of the chase – without getting bruised every two seconds by exploding paint.
7. Drag Racing, Wellingborough – If you fancy reaching speeds in excess of 170mph in just 8-seconds, you will love riding the “two-seater†dragster. This is the experience of a lifetime!
8. White Water Rafting, Various Locations – There is nothing quite like the thrill of conquering a loud, gushing river in a rubber tube. You will be holding onto the rubber handles for dear life as the river shows you no mercy!
9. Bungee Jumping, Various Locations – Leaping from enormous heights connected to what, in essence, is a giant elastic band is an immensely scary proposition. When you reach the summit, you’ll be wondering what you were ever thinking, but the thrills on the way down will make it well worth your while!
10. Extreme Mountain Biking, Derbyshire – Look out for scary trails, rocky scrambles, and unchartered territory – it’s just you and your bike now! You will love this adventure, and it will also keep you in great shape!
Get your thrills on ten different ways in sunny England this year, and enjoy the thrill of mastery and accomplishment! Pleasure Beach family theme parkis THE place for extreme coaster sports, but the great outdoors offers just as many exciting options!
Modern Day Treasure Hunting – Geocaching Holidays
The word Geocaching is two parts, with the Geo meaning “geography” and Caching “hiding cache”. As a part of geocaching, there are wonderful camping and hiking adventures as people search for the hidden treasure. The first thing you need to do is purchase your GPS and then learn how to operate it, paying specific attention to the method of entering waypoints.
As far as the rules for geocaching holidays, while traveling, items are hidden so other people traveling can go to your hidden location and find the treasure. Every cache would also have a logbook, which would include your information and small notes of friendship. You will also find that as different people find the treasure, they would also sign into the logbook, leaving their information so you end up with names, contact information, and notes left by people from all over the world.
The exciting part of taking geocaching holidays is that you never know what treasure you will find. Of course, food would never be a good cache item but you could leave a book, photographs, toys, and souvenirs from the state or country where you live, or even more expensive items.
Each geocaching holiday will be unique, taking you to a new location and connecting you to new items. Additionally, many wonderful friendships have been formed from geocaching holidays. Keep in mind, caches can be placed in the mountains, under water, in prairies, and virtually any wilderness or urban environment you want. Once the cache has been found, it is important that if an item is taken, the log be completed and a new item of equal or greater value be left for the next treasure hunter.
The great thing about geocaching holidays is that entire families can experience the adventure together. If you want a vacation like none other, something where you can get outdoors and do something unique, a geocaching holiday is an excellent option. This activity is constantly, evolving and therefore, always open to new interpretations of the game.
To get started, you would need to visit geocaching.com where you learn about the rules and post your cache. With this, people interested in geocaching holidays can choose the locations where they want to travel and the game begins. Because it would be impossible for every posted cache to be verified, this community relies on trust. Unfortunately, some people will find upon arrival that a cache is not there. In this case, the cache would be logged on the website so other people do not go to that location.
Taking a Road Trip Through Europe
First, traveling to Europe by car can be safer and more enjoyable during certain times of the year. Remember, while Americans drive on the right side of the road, Europeans drive on the left. Therefore, if visiting a busy city where everything is new, to include which side of the road to stay on, you would have an easier time when visiting during off-peak tourist seasons. Now, if you want to plan your trip in the summer, you can but we recommend going during the early part of the summer season.
Second, it is important to choose the right destination for a European road trip. For instance, some of the easier cities in Europe to drive around include Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. The streets of cities such as these are extremely easy to navigate whereas cities to include London, Paris, and Berlin are more challenging. The key is to take time to learn the different rules of driving in a particular city.
Third, you want to learn all you can about the requirements for renting a car in a European country. Every country will have different types of automobiles, different currency, and different regulations. This type of information can be researched online or you can talk to a professional travel agent that can provided all the inside tips to make renting a car an easier experience.
Fourth, you also need to understand the laws for driving in any city you plan to visit. For instance, in the United States, you know that you will get a ticket for speeding, not wearing a seat belt, and making inappropriate lane changes but European laws will often differ. Therefore, spend time before heading to Europe to read about the different regulations and laws so you do not end up in trouble.
Taking a road trip to different European cities is an excellent way to experience history and culture in a more personal way. With good planning and research, you can be sure that every trip will be everything you wanted and more.