Tag Archives: summer holidays

May Day, May Day – It’s Time to Book a Holiday!

Posted on by
Reply

White Rabbits and Pinch Punch, the 1st of May has finally arrived and it is time to pack away the winter woollies, spring clean the house, and start thinking about that summer holiday!

The winter seems to have gone on forever this year, but with the cows back in the fields (it’s an Austrian thing), the daffodils in the garden, and the sun raising its head for more than a few minutes each day, I feel like summer is just around the corner.

May Day, May Day – It’s Time to Book a Holiday!

My favourite season of the year, summer is all about picnics by the river, sneaky weekends away, and barbecuing with friends, and unless you are one of the unlucky ones who suffer from hay fever, it provides us with the perfect opportunity to move outside, enjoy the fresh air, and dust off those winter cobwebs.

Then, of course, there is our summer holiday to think of.  With just 3-weeks until half term, and 12-weeks until the schools breakup for summer, now is the time to start browsing online for that dream holiday somewhere warm and exotic.

A recent report by TravelZoo indicates that two-thirds of us are still to book our summer holidays due to ‘nerves out finances’, but thanks to the UK narrowly avoiding a triple dip recession, the British pound is getting stronger by the day, and the outlook is somewhat brighter than we might have hoped.

So whether you are spending the day at work, dancing around a Maypole with friends and family, or spring cleaning the house and garden like me, don’t forget to spare a few moments to search for your summer holiday, after the ghastly winter we’ve had – you most definitely deserve it!

 

Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve – Home of the Luxury Safari Holiday

Posted on by
Reply

With just five weeks to go until we get on our bikes (literally) and cycle South Africa in the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, I can hardly wait to feel the warm sunshine of the southern hemisphere on my bones after what has been a long, cold, and snow-covered winter in the Austrian Alps!

The training is not going as well as the training for Kilimanjaro went (it’s hard to cycle in a metre of snow!), but we are hitting the gym four to five times a week, and hope that those long hours on the exercise bike will pay off and that we will complete the 109km Cape Argus in the 7-hours allotted…

Fortunately, the Argus forms just one part of our trip to South Africa, and after spending 2 weeks in our beloved second home of Cape Town, we are heading on up to the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve for a spot of safari action.

Sharing its borders with the world-famous Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands is not only the oldest private reserve in SA, but it is also referred to as “the birthplace of sustainable wildlife tourism in Southern Africa”, and homes a vast population of wild animals, including the Big Five.

While the Sabi Sand Reserve used to be fenced off, it now shares a 50km unfenced border with the Kruger Park, which allows the wildlife to move freely in-between the two areas, and as it is in the process of opening more areas within the Peace Park concept, this magnificent wildlife reserve will soon integrate and amalgamate with protected areas of Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Taking its name from the two rivers the flow through the game reserve, the Sand and the Sabie, Sabi Sands enjoys one of the highest and most bio-diverse wildlife populations in all Africa, and so it is no surprise that the world’s most luxurious safari properties, such as Chitwa Chitwa, have set up base in this immense reserve to provide travellers with unique game viewing holidays.

So while I count the days until our next South African safari adventure, I will leave you with some pictures shared by the many luxury properties in Sabi Sands to give you some inspiration on this cold February Sunday…

Chitwa Chitwa Luxury Safari Reserve Sabi Sands Kruger Park South Africa

Chitwa Chitwa Luxury Safari Game Reserve South Africa Kruger Park

Chitwa Chitwa Luxury Safari Game Reserve South Africa Kruger Park

Chitwa Chitwa Luxury Safari Game Reserve South Africa Kruger Park

Chitwa Chitwa Luxury Safari Game Reserve South Africa Kruger Park

Chitwa Chitwa Luxury Safari Game Reserve South Africa Kruger Park

Chitwa Chitwa Luxury Safari Game Reserve South Africa Kruger Park

Chitwa Chitwa Luxury Safari Game Reserve South Africa Kruger Park

 

 

 

Want to Live Longer? Holiday More!

Posted on by
7

If you love to go away on holiday but feel guilty about spending your hard-earned cash on exotic trips abroad, you will be pleased to know that the results of a recent survey carried out by Nuffield Health and Psychotherapist Christine Webber, indicate that regular holidays are not only good for our health, but they can also make us live longer.

Holidays that make you live longer - Melia Hotel Zanzibar, Tanzania

The study involved 12 people who were given health assessments, psychological tests, lifestyle and dietary advice, and heart monitors to wear before being split into two groups.  One group went on with their everyday lives at home, while the other group were sent on holidays to Thailand, the Maldives or Peru.

Holidays that are good for your health - Fiji Islands Tailor Made Travel

Two weeks after the holidaymakers returned, both groups underwent medical and psychological tests, and the results showed quite conclusively that those who had been on holiday had lower blood pressure than those who had not, and that their mood, energy levels and sleep quality had improved significantly.

Additionally, the holidaymakers were found to have a higher resilience to stress than those who had stayed at home, they had decreased blood glucose levels and that their body shapes had improved (lost weight around their middles).

The holidays that were ‘road-tested’ during the survey included a small group escorted tour, a volunteer holiday, and a beach break in a luxury resort, and while they all had slightly different effects on those taking part in the survey, the results were all positive.

Holidays, it seems, really do improve our mental and physical health, and as many of us make life changing decisions while away or implement lifestyle changes that we learnt in a foreign land when we get home, the benefits could last long after our two weeks in the sun have passed.

So if you are feeling down, tired or ill, book your next holiday abroad – it’s good for your health and you might just live a bit longer!

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Destinations that are likely to make you Heavier!

Posted on by
5

If you are one of the many who spend several weeks or even months dieting and training to get in shape for your bikini clad beach holiday, then there are certain destinations you may wish to avoid.

A recent survey by one of the UK’s largest Travel Agencies shows that we can put on anywhere between 0.65kg and 3.27kg while on holiday, and that those heading to Cyprus or Turkey this summer, are more likely to pile on the pounds than those travellers heading elsewhere.

Frequent eating out, lack of sport and exercise, and increased alcohol consumption are to blame for our holiday weight gain, and when you combine that with the delicious Kebabs and sugar-packed Baklava found in Turkey and Cyprus, it is easy to understand why the average tourist will gain 1.5kg during their summer break.

All-Inclusive resorts that offer 24-hour snacks and all-you-can eat buffets certainly do not help those battling the bulge, and if you have ever been on a cruise ship, you will have witnessed firsthand how difficult it is to resist a midnight chocolate buffet!

Portugal and the United States will see you gaining 1.30kg and 1.08kg respectively, but do not worry Ladies – men’s waistlines fluctuate the most, and the average man will gain 2.53kg while on holiday.

Those looking for a “healthy destination” should consider Canada, German or Ireland, although with the delicious breads and pastries in Germany, the Guinness and Irish stew in Ireland, and the Quebec Poutine (French fries covered with cheese curds & chicken gravy) in Canada; I’m not too sure where they got those stats!

If you cannot stretch to a beach holiday abroad this year, you will be pleased to know that those who opt to take a “Staycation” this year will remain the slimmest of all, putting on a mere 0.24kg.

Holidays are all about relaxing and over-indulging so don’t be too hard on yourself; the New Year’s Resolution Diet will be here before you know it, so eat, drink and be merry!

Five Hotels, Five Countries, Five Fabulous Holiday Destinations!

Posted on by
Reply

If you have left planning your summer holiday until the very last-minute, now is the perfect time to search through those shiny travel brochures or scour the internet for that special holiday you have been dreaming about since your last trip somewhere warm and exotic.

With our busy lifestyles, it can be easy to put things off, but with just 168 days until the end of the year (sorry!), you may find that if you do not book your trip soon, another year will pass you by and your bucket list will be getting longer rather than shorter!

The world is big and the choice is vast, so to help you get in the holiday mood, we thought we would share some of our favourites – with 5 Hotels, 5 Countries, and 5 Fabulous Holiday Destinations:

Mondrian Hotel, Miami Beach, USA

Miami Beach is a wonderful destination at any time of year, and while you may see some rain during the next couple of months, the temperatures remain warm and there is still plenty of sunshine around.  The Mondrian Hotel is an uber-cool luxury hotel on the bay side of Miami, far enough away to relax and unwind, but close enough to enjoy everything the gorgeous sunshine state has to offer.

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, Gansbaai, South Africa

It may still be ‘winter’ in the Western Cape of South Africa, but there is much for the traveller to see and do.  Safari’s, wine tasting tours, and shark-cage diving are just some of the activities waiting for you, and if you treat yourself to the magnificent Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, you will stay in one of the finest hotels in all Africa.

Vila Joya, Algarve, Portugal

The Vila Joya (Jewellery Box) Hotel is one of Portugal’s best-kept secrets.  Perching on the cliff tops overlooking the Mediterranean; it is a fantastic destination for those looking for something truly unique.  Upon arrival, you are greeted with the words “welcome to paradise”, and once you have dined on one of their exquisite 7-course menus, you will understand exactly why they call it that!

Meliá Zanzibar Hotel, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Zanzibar, also referred to as ‘The Island of Spice’, is an enchanting island sitting in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.  A short hop from Tanzania mainland, this island in the sun is perfect for those looking for a romantic getaway, and if you are looking for luxury, look no further than the Meliá Zanzibar Hotel.  A five-star all-inclusive property with private beach, it is simply breathtaking.

Sofitel Hotel, Costa Do Sauipe, Brazil

While we usually avoid large chain hotels in favour of smaller, locally owned properties, the Sofitel Hotel on the Costa Do Sauipe coast of Brazil is certainly worth a mention.  Combining the luxury of a five-star hotel with a huge expanse of coastline, this is a wonderful destination for beach bums who enjoy nothing more than sipping an ice-cold Caipirinha while listening to the soft sounds of the waves and the Samba!

Wherever you are heading off on holiday – we hope you have the time of your life!

Excess Baggage – How Much is Too Much?

Posted on by
4

I have said it before and I will say it again, there are two types of people in this world – those who can pack light, and those who cannot!

Falling miserably into the latter category, I have to admit that I find it incredibly difficult to pack light when travelling abroad, and a recent survey by Tesco clothing line F&F confirms I am not the only one!

According to the survey, the average woman changes up to four times a day on holiday (one in ten confess to getting through seven outfits a day!), and as a result, we pack a whooping 28 different outfits for a one-week holiday.

The surplus clothing, it seems, is down to the variety of activities we indulge in while on holiday, and when you think about it, four outfits per day is not unreasonable if you:

  • a) Go to the Gym
  • b) Go to the Pool/Beach
  • c) Go sightseeing
  • d) Go for dinner

So Ladies, you no longer need to feel guilty about packing those extra shoes, bikini’s and summer dresses – you are just one of many!

One in 20 of the Ladies surveyed admitted that they changed their clothes several times per day just to get through everything they had packed, and eight out of ten confessed that they didn’t manage to wear every item in their suitcase, but that is mainly due to buying new items of clothing or shoes while they are away.

Packing and suitcase weight restrictions are one of the biggest problems we face when going on holiday, and with many airlines now charging extortionate amounts for every extra kilo, it is wise to check you allowance before you leave for the airport, and if you are overweight – squeeze a few items into your other half’s suitcase!

Beach Bag Essentials – Protect Yourself this Summer

Posted on by
Reply

Holiday season is officially upon us, and if you are one of the many millions of holidaymakers heading off somewhere warm and exotic this weekend, we are sure you are busy washing, packing, and trying to squeeze those extra summer essentials into your shrinking suitcase!

A great time of year to get away from everyday life, relax on the beach or by the pool, and indulge in more cocktails, ice creams, and desserts that one would normally dare, summer is all about fun and frivolity, but it can be easy to forget to protect ourselves from those UV rays.

Every year over 80,000 people in the UK, (2 million in the US) are diagnosed with skin cancer, and while it is considered one of the most treatable cancers if caught early, it can be very serious indeed, and even though we are not Doctor’s, we are pretty sure that “prevention is better than cure!”

Lying in the sun is soothing, revitalising, and relaxing, but without the right protection it can lead to all types of skin problems, so to help you stay sunburn free, and bronzed to perfection, we have compiled our list of Summer Beach Bag Essentials:

Suntan Lotion or Sunscreen

Contrary to popular belief, applying suntan lotion does not prevent you from getting a suntan; in fact, we feel we get a better tan when using a high-factor sunscreen and never use less than SPF 30.  Apply 20-30 minutes before you head off to the beach for the day, and then re-apply regularly (especially after swimming), and you will soon be a bronzed goddess (or god!)

A Hat

Thankfully, the wide-brimmed straw hats trimmed with artificial flowers have now been replaced with modern, cool, cowboy hats and trilby’s!  A great way to prevent your head, ears, nose and face from those scorching summer rays, a good sun hat should be squeezed into every beach bag.

Sunglasses

Having lived in the sun for many years, we can hardly go outside without a good pair of sunglasses! Protecting the eyes from UV rays, sunglasses are ‘a must’, and every cool beach babe needs to own a pair with high UV protection lenses (that prevent squinting – i.e. wrinkles!)

Water

A bottle of water will help prevent you from dehydrating, and while we are not saying it should replace tropical cocktails, it’s definitely worth keeping a bottle in your beach bag!

Doctors will tell you to avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm when the sun’s rays are most harmful, and, as that just happens to coincide with lunchtime – that is good enough for us!

Rainy Days = Summer Holidays!

Posted on by
Reply

If you do not live in the UK, you only have to look at the weather report to see that it is very wet indeed!

Half the country is already flooded, and as the Met Office has issued a “severe weather warning” for the next few days, it looks as though the other half will soon to be water-logged as Great Britain declares the wettest April – June on record.

While us ‘hardy’ Brits are used to rain, it seems paddling to the local supermarket is not as much fun as paddling in the sea, and as a result, the demand for last-minute summer holidays has sky rocketed by up to 20%.

ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) spokesperson Victoria Bacon said, “The UK is a beautiful country with exceptional holiday appeal but the weather this year has been setting records for all the wrong reasons and it’s no surprise that millions are looking to head off overseas for more reliable weather and high temperatures”.

The Mediterranean is proving popular, and there are many late offers to The Balearics, Northern Africa, and cash-strapped Greece, so if you have booked a family camping trip to the Lake District, it may be time to re-think your holiday options!

If the Mediterranean is not your thing, long-haul destinations such as Thailand, Bali, Costa Rica, and Cabo San Lucas are enjoying hot and steamy temperatures right now, and while you may still see some rain, it is a whole lot warmer than that falling in the UK.

With just weeks to go until the London 2012 Olympics get underway, one can only hope the weather will improve in time, and if you are one of the 4-million foreign visitors expected to visit the UK this summer, you might want to leave your shorts and sunscreen at home, in favour of wellies and a rain hat!

Holiday Prices Soar as the School Summer Holidays Begin

Posted on by
2

With the School summer holidays fast approaching, many hotels and airlines are already bumping up their prices to make as much profit as possible from cash strapped parents who are only able to travel during this period.

The average 2.4 family can expect to pay up to 40% extra for their summer holiday during the school holiday period, and if you are heading to the Mediterranean, look out for resorts in the Algarve, Crete, and the Canary Islands, who are said to the be the worst offenders.

As always, the price hikes are a result of ‘high demand’, and as more and more families book their two-week break somewhere warm and exotic, the prices of peak season holidays inflate even further.

A report by Santander shows that families travelling from London can expect to pay the steepest premiums of around 48%, while those in Manchester will pay an extra 38% for their summer holiday if they choose to travel during the school holidays.

However, the news is not all bad!  A recent survey by Fly.com shows that many European destinations are actually cheaper to visit during the school summer holidays, with the Italian cities of Milan and Venice dropping their prices by up to 65%, and Paris, Toulouse and Valencia all offering great value deals for families travelling during the school holiday period.

Combine this with a strong British Pound, and you may find that your holiday spending money will go a lot further in 2012 than it did in 2011, so those extra ice creams and souvenirs are now within everyone’s reach!

If you cannot stretch to a family holiday abroad this year, why not join the millions of others who are set to take a ‘Staycation’, and holiday at home instead.  A way to support the local economy while enjoying family time, it is a great way to spend part of the school summer holidays, and it will give you at least a week or two before you hear those dreaded words –  “I’m bored!”

Summertime Cocktails – What’s Your Favourite Holiday Tipple?

Posted on by
2

There is nothing more exciting than booking a summer holiday to somewhere warm and exotic, but if you have to work right up until the last-minute, have literally hours to pack, and cannot fit that 7th pair of shoes in your suitcase, the process can leave you feeling somewhat exhausted, and definitely in need of a break!

For me, the holiday really starts once we have unpacked, changed into tropical coloured bathing suits (that we wouldn’t dream of wearing to the local swimming pool!), and secured our prime location next to the pool armed with a great book, and most importantly, a fruity summertime cocktail!

From Piña Colada’s and Mai Tai’s to Caipirinha’s and Rum Punch, there is nothing that says, “I’m on holiday” more than a huge colourful beverage decorated with fresh fruit, flowers, and of course, the all important umbrella, and as they generally pack quite a punch – you will be in the holiday mood in no time!

Something we do not generally drink at home, a cocktail feels far more ‘summery’ than a glass of red wine, so if you are heading off somewhere exotic soon, why not try one of our favourites:

The Mojito

If you find piña colada’s a bit heavy, we can highly recommend you try the Mojito instead!  Crisp, refreshing, and light, it includes simple ingredients of fresh mint leaves, sugar, ice, white rum and a splash of soda water.  Some add fresh lime, others do not, but either way – it’s delicious!

Sunset Beach

We found this deliciously fruity cocktail at Maya’s Bar in Shoal Bay, Anguilla.  A delicious blend of ice, orange juice, mango juice, white rum, and Cointreau, it is both refreshing and thirst quenching, and the perfect cocktail to drink on the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean.

Long Island Iced Tea

This cocktail really does taste just like Iced Tea, but it packs an almighty alcoholic punch so beware!  Made from a blend of crushed ice, gin, white rum, tequila, vodka, triple sec, lemon / lime juice, a pinch of sugar, and a splash of coke, this is one powerful cocktail.

The Margarita

Lastly, the Margarita is a holiday staple, and if you are visiting Mexico or the Caribbean it will be impossible to leave without trying one.  The traditional recipe includes tequila, triple sec, lime juice and salt, but most bars and restaurants offer a whole range of different flavours including Strawberry, Mango and Peach.

So wherever you are heading on your summer holiday, we wish you a wonderful trip and plenty of fruity cocktails! Cheers!