Take a look at our holiday health essentials and make sure you pack them.

Sunburn

Being careful in the sun is a must. Make sure you pack a high factor sun cream for the first few days. Remember to ease yourself in to time in the sun. Hats are important as is a little time in the shade. If you have kids with you choose cream with a factor of at least SPF30 – 40.

If you find yourself suffering from sunburn use an aloe vera gel to soothe your skin.

Insect bites

Most of us suffer from insect bites whilst on holiday. The bites can often get red, sore and itchy. Make sure you pack an insect repellent with you and some cream to treat it in case you do get bitten.

Colds and flu

It sounds weird doesn’t it? Getting a cold on holiday. It’s always something we associate with cold weather, but in reality colds occur whenever exposed to germs. Often on holiday as we start to unwind and relax, it can creep up on you. Illness whilst abroad can be awful, so make sure you pack sufficient nasal decongestant and paracetamol.

Stomach upsets

This is the biggest problem for holidaymakers, with a high percentage of people suffering from stomach troubles when abroad. For the kids, make sure you have rehydration powders on hand, as well as some over the counter medicines for the adults.

Inoculations

It all depends on where you go, but if you’re heading a little further afield on holiday you may need a variety of inoculations. The best way to find out what you need (if any) is to pay a visit to the nurse at your GP surgery. They can advise you depending upon your travel plans and then provide you with a course of inoculations if need be.

It is easier for the establishments that have a history to incorporate this new method into their services than in case of the new establishments.

This is because they have a higher risk associated. In order for a hotel to be able to accept credit cards for reservations there is a set of rules that need to be taken into consideration.

Guaranteed Reservations

The focus of these rules evolves around the program known as Guaranteed Reservation. The main point is that the room is paid for in advance. As a result there will be a hotel room available for the customer in question starting with the time of the check in and until checkout.

In case the customer cancels the reservation before 6 p.m. on the day of the arrival the hotel doesn’t have the right to charge any extra fees. In other cases there will be a charge equivalent to the price of a one night stay.

How to manage the payments?

The procedure of processing credit cards for motels starts with explaining to the customer the terms of the program. The customer must have information regarding the authorization check to make sure that there are sufficient funds on the card and he or she also has to find out about the cancellation fee.

After this the information of the customer is gathered and the reservation is confirmed. The customer must receive a confirmation number. If the reservation is made through the phone, the customer must receive an email containing all this information.

The customer has the right to cancel the reservation. If this is the case the request needs to be processed by the hotel and the customer must receive a cancellation number. If there is no cancellation, a registration card has to be prepared before the arrival of the customer that has a room number assigned to it.

Upon the arrival of the customer he or she must receive a room according to the reservation. If there are no vacant rooms, the customer must get a comparable room at another location for one night without any additional fees. Transportation should also be taken care of and the customer should be able to use the phone for at least three minutes. If there is no cancellation but the customer doesn’t arrive, the hotel can charge a no-show fee.

England, however, is so much more than just London and one shouldn’t be fooled into thinking they have experienced English life and culture without stepping foot outside of the city.

On your next trip to the UK why not leave the capital city behind and head to the North West of the country? There is so much to see and do, and it will save you a pretty penny too!

Lake District

The Lake District is the biggest and most visited national park in the UK, and with good reason. This is picture postcard England at its best, with sweeping green mountains dipping down into crystal clear lakes. This is the landscape that inspired writers such as William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter, both of whom called the area home throughout their lives.

Set yourself up in a quaint holiday cottage in the Lake District and spend some time exploring this beautiful area, a favourite with the English and visitors alike.

Manchester

Manchester is the largest city in the North West of the country and is most famous for its musical pedigree. This is the city that gave birth to the Brit pop powerhouse Oasis in the 90s, but the cities musical heritage is much longer than that. With the popularity of bands such as the Stone Roses and the Happy Mondays the popularity of the city boomed and was soon dubbed Madchester due to its wild nightlife.

Rock clubs and pubs still abound but there is more to Manchester then just the music. The city boasts two top Premier League football teams, Man U and Man City, and the city centre shopping is said to be the best in the region.

Liverpool

Liverpool is one of the largest cities in the UK and is famous for many things – namely its maritime history, football, and The Beatles. It also has a bit of a reputation for being a bit rough around the edges, but over the last decade a lot of effort has been put into shining the city up and making it a top tourist destination.

No trip to Liverpool would be complete without The Beatles, and you have no end of choices on how to commemorate the Fab Four in the city. The Beatles Experience in the Albert Dock area of the city is a museum dedicated to the life and times of the band and is filled to the brim with memorabilia.

The city is also filled with great museums, including Tate Liverpool and the Merseyside Maritime Museum.

Chester

The Cathedral city of Chester is one of the best preserved historical cities in the country, and one of the most beautiful as well. Set along the banks of the River Dee in the county of Cheshire, there has been a settlement here since AD 79. The city still bears the marks of its Roman past, with the largest uncovered amphitheatre in England and the most complete Roman and medieval defensive town wall system in Britain.

You might come to Chester for the history, but you’ll stay for the charm! The city centre is filled with lovely shops and restaurants, and holds its own for a fun night out as well. Chester is also home to one of the most visited zoos in England, which boasts over 7000 animals, including elephants, lions, and a fruit bat experience like no other.

On your next trip to the UK make sure that you visit somewhere a little bit different and see another side to this fascinating country. The North West of England might not be at the top of every traveller’s itinerary today, but it will only be a matter of time until it is!

If you’re heading to the North West of the country on vacation and are looking for holiday accommodation then why not consider a holiday cottage? Self catering cottages are a comfortable and economical alternative to the traditional hotel and with so many different homes to choose from there is sure to be the perfect one out there for you. Visit www.sykescottages.co.uk for a full range of cottage located throughout the UK and Ireland.

Photo Credits:

• Lake District: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rorrison/505747795/
• Manchester: http://www.flickr.com/photos/salford_ian/2438805503/
• Liverpool: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14171139@N08/1498245839/
• Chester: http://www.flickr.com/photos/friarsbalsam/4878447440/

However, no matter how well planned a trip is, there is still the chance that the unthinkable will occur. Given these chances, obtaining travel insurance should always be part of your trip planning.

Before taking out a policy, it is a good idea to shop around and see what the various insurance companies can offer you such as at http://www.endsleigh.co.uk. In this manner, consumers can find the best deal on travel insurance.

Without a doubt the best way to save money on travel insurance or anything really is to just shop around. The types of coverage can vary significantly between insurers.

Even when insurers offer similar types of travel insurance coverage, the premium amounts can vary significantly. Some sites exist on the internet that helps make it easier to compare prices.

Sometimes current insurance policies may cover some aspects of your holiday. Always check your homeowner’s insurance and other insurance for this coverage. Granted, they will not provide all the coverage you need but sometimes they do cover some aspects which would lead you to not need certain rider coverage. This will save you money on the travel insurance. Some homeowner’s insurance policies may cover certain personal belongings no matter where they are used. For instance, a camera or laptop may already have coverage.

Travel insurance can be taken out for a single holiday or to cover the entire calendar year. If you are frequent traveler, taking out annual travel insurance will be much cheaper over the long run. There are some limits on these policies so pay close attention to the policy’s rules. Often, these annual policies will provide coverage for so many days in year. For instance, some annual travel insurance may cover 45 days of holiday dispersed over a calendar year.

Wasting time is all the more difficult to stomach when you have a set number of days in a specific area–why not go all out? That way, when it’s time to head home, you feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to face the rigors of your everyday routine knowing that you made the most of your foray into another world! With efficiency in mind, here are several tips for making your vacation a streamlined, exciting time that you’ll remember forever.

The Ingredients

When planning a vacation, it’s easy to get caught up by one element. People traveling to Hawaii, for instance, love the notion of spending long days on the beach, and may fail to look beyond it should they want a change of pace. A bit of variety in your schedule will leave you all the more satisfied with your time in a culture that is perhaps decidedly different than yours.

Mix in some relaxation, a bit of culture, and a careful dose of adrenaline to give your days a nice pace–taking your excitement in the morning, converting it to exhilaration, and finally letting it become exhaustion as your head hits the pillow.

Central Is Crucial

There isn’t anything quite like being walking distance away from a tremendous host of activities. It can mean the difference between sneaking in that last activity before it gets dark or having to head back unfulfilled. Choosing a hotel that is centrally located will allow you to squeeze every last drop out of the day. Honolulu hotelspresent a whole new dimension of possibilitiesin that they present you with ample opportunities to experience Hawaii vacations with all the ingredients listed above.

Having a loose understanding of local transport systems will also give you an idea of how many things you can accomplish. With some thinking, creativity, and positive energy, your vacations will be all you hyped them up to be!

If you’re travelling from the UK, flights to Las Vegas from London offer surprisingly good value these days and it makes a different first stop on a round-the-world itinerary from the more common US west coast destinations like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Hen and Stag party organisers like Maximise can organise trips that include both wild parties and cultural tours.  Cultural Las Vegas offers it all!

Las Vegas Natural History Museum

Hard to believe it these days, but there was a Vegas before the casinos; and the birth of this small railroad town along with the pre-history of the area is really brought to life at the official state museum, located just 15 minutes from the Strip. There are fossil exhibits of the surprisingly wide variety of life that the Mojave desert supported when much of it was covered by sea many eons ago, including a huge replica of the Nevada ichthyosaur.

You’ll also see collections of Native American clothing and jewelry and of course lots of exhibits about the more recent history too – including a mock-up of Howard Hughes’ Las Vegas home, film clips of the Rat Pack performing and displays of elaborate showgirl costumes.

900 N. Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89109, Tel: (702) 384-3466

Las Vegas Neon Museum

If there’s one city in the world that really does neon, it’s Vegas. Brilliantly creative neon signs have been lighting up the Vegas skies in all shapes and sizes for decades – but what happens to them when they get replaced with something even bigger and brighter? Well, some at least go to the Neon Boneyard at the Vegas Neon Museum.

A rambling park of slowly rusting signs, it’s only viewable by prior appointment, but it’s a fascinating place – particularly for photographers. The rest of the museum’s exhibits are easier to view.

9 of the most iconic signs from yesteryear have been carefully restored and arranged in an easy walking tour which begins in front of the Neonopolis at Las Vegas Boulevard near the first of them – the famous Hacienda Horse and Rider sign. Others along the way include the original Aladdin’s Lamp, the Flame Restaurant, Wedding Information, Nevada Motel and Dots Flower.

821 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV 89101; Tel (702) 387-6366

National Atomic Testing Museum

Recently designated a national museum by the Obama administration, this shrine to all things atomic is ideal for dads and curious kids. It charts the history of man’s manipulation of the atom from the early days of bomb making and testing through the paranoia of the Cold War and into the future of power generation.

When bomb testing first started in the Nevada desert it was welcomed by the local populace who felt it would bring much needed jobs and prosperity.

Video footage of people queuing to watch bomb tests at special viewing points, Ms Atom beauty contests and people doing a dance called the Atom Boogie are just some of the interesting exhibits here. There’s also a huge collection of Geiger counters along with plenty of information about how nuclear energy is actually produced.

755 E. Flamingo Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89119; Tel: (702) 794-5161

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art

OK, you do have to set foot in a casino hotel to see this one, but what you’ll find is far more highbrow than chips and buffets. This gallery of fine art is small and no comparison for the great exhibitions of other major cities in the US, but if you happen to be in town when one of the major temporary exhibitions is on, it’s well worth a visit.

Throughout 2012 there’s an exhibition of some of the French Impressionist painter Monet’s wonderfully colourful canvases on show, along with paintings by a number of his contemporaries like Pissaro and Boudin. On the way out, be sure to have a snoop around the restaurant here too as it houses a number of original works by Picasso.

3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas, NV89109, Tel: (702) 693-7871

Lied Discovery Children’s Museum

Who’d have thought there’d be such a great museum for kids in a place like Vegas? The Lied Discovery Children’s Museum has something for little ones of almost any age. It’s particularly good for stretching imaginations – allowing kids to pretend to work in a bank, a grocery store or even appear in their own TV show. There’s a huge toddler tower to allow your little monsters to let off steam, and older kids can experience what it’s like to get caught up in a hurricane.

There’s even an exhibition about healthy eating habits. Now, time to get back to the all you can eat buffet…

833 N. Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas, NV89101, Tel: (702) 382-3445

- Guest post by Jeremy Head

Here are 10 ridiculous and outrageous travel insurance claims. What were they thinking?

1. There was one man who let his girlfriend drive his motorcycle. She, of course, wrecked it; however, told Progressive that he was driving. He tied to the back of the truck as a friend drove him around so he could look like he had been in an accident. However, he did not realize that his girlfriend had already informed the police that she caused the accident.

2. A girl who did not have insurance had an accident. She had a ruptured spleen, but still managed to call an insurance company to purchase cheap car insurance. Someone overheard the call and reported it to the insurance company. If she had received online cheap insurance quotes, she would have had affordable insurance.

3. One individual called the insurance company to request compensation for whiplash, headaches and a backache. However, the vehicle was parked and he was not even in it when the crash occurred.

4. In England, a gentleman parked his van and fell asleep on the beach. While he was sleeping, the tide rose and washed the truck out to sea. He called the insurance company and wanted compensation for the van.

5. One insurance company reported a claim that stated, “An invisible car came out of nowhere, hit my car and then disappeared.” Yeah right!

6. One driver claimed that, “a camel and an elephant were standing at the end of the road, which caused me to lose concentration and hit a billboard”

7. A man wanted the insurance to pay for damages when he put his hand through the car window. He says that, “I thought the window was down, but I discovered it was not when my hand went through it.”

8. One claim states, “I was on my way to the doctor for my butt when the joint gave way, which caused me to have an accident.”

9. One man stated in his claim, “I ran over a man. He admitted that he caused the accident because he had been run over before.”

10. One driver claimed he had an accident after a bee went up his pants leg, which caused him to hit the accelerator and rear end someone. The bee, however, never stung him.

Fortunately, most claims are legitimate and the driver receives compensation. Drivers should go online to receive online cheap insurance quotes to make sure they have a reputable company in which they can depend to provide excellent coverage.

Pack Less

Well, you have a lot more to handle besides your luggage! Your kids are your first priority to carry (incase of infants) so carry lesser or lighter bags. While you pack, stuff in only those things which you would really use on the trip. And pack your child’s stuff into another bag so that it gets easier to search things during an emergency. Your child’s luggage would certainly include many set of clothes, medication, food, toys, shoes and all his favourite things. You can’t afford to miss out on what your child needs, thus make a packing list before you fly.

Before you leave

Make sure you don’t leave any of your work pending. Pay off all your bills, consult the doctor about your children’s diet and medication, clear your doubts with your travel agency, register with an international calling company and last but not the least make time to say goodbye to your loved ones before you leave home.

Accommodation

Once you reach, it would be tough to find a hotel room if you haven’t done a prior book, especially if the place is a holiday spot. So plan your hotel well in advance with your travel agent. Check for it as per your budget and something in the heart of the city so that you can explore around easily. Remember to carry mosquito nets for baby beds as most hotels don’t provide you with the same.

Keep in touch

Once you have arrived with your kids, your family and friends would be concerned about you. Get in touch and give them an assurance that you are safe and so is your child. You should obviously have a international calling service that could help you to make free calls.

Activity list

Before you go, prepare a list of possible activities depending on the climate and length of time you have in the new place. Accordingly, take your kids to interesting places such as zoos, museums, entertainment zones etc. Don’t miss out the excitement and fun at amusement parks and gaming centers. Don’t bore them by shopping all day long or just sitting in your room. And yes, do carry their story books and board games to enjoy the same at night hours.

 Food and Water

 When eating in countries, always eat at busy places where the turnover of food will be fast. Else a healthy option could be, let your kids have packed food or take them to eat-outs which are immensely hygienic. Don’t take a chance when it comes to drinking water. Let your kids have bottled or boiled water only.

Stories of holding it in and the legendary length of hostel loo queues abound – not to mention cautionary tales of searching for the gents in the basements of Berlin nightclubs.

When you finally get to the ladies or gents, you might find yourself faced with something unfamiliar. While your bog-standard Western toilet is to be found across the world nowadays, there are still variations on the hole-in-the ground which are widespread across the water.

Before we take a look at the potty possibilities below, here’s a bit of advice that will always applies: make sure important documents and your travel money are secured somewhere, not just loose in your pocket. If those suckers fall into a foreign sewer, you’re not going to get them back – and better be privy to your travel insurance details…

Trough Toilets (Japan, China)

Sometimes no more than a gutter in the ground, sometimes with partitions for a semblance of privacy, this experience requires you to straddle the channel and go. Unless you get to the front, you’ll be party to other people’s effluence as it flows beneath you.

Squat Toilets (Asia, France, Turkey)

While they’re not common in the United Kingdom, this kind of commode will be familiar to Asians or mainland Europeans. Many people like them because they say it’s more hygienic than sitting on a loo seat; even if you’re sceptical about that, it will give your thighs a great workout.

Because using them requires a yogic mastery of muscles: you must suspend yourself over a shallow ceramic dip by gripping two handles, leaning back and suspending yourself in a semi-crouch. While your limbs must be tensed to support your weight, you must be relaxed enough to actually go. It can be very tricky for a first-timer; so make sure everything’s tucked out of splash range before you start.

DIY Flushers (Thailand)

Similar in some respects to its sibling above, the Thai toilet (or ‘thailet’) lacks handles, instead giving you enough room to balance in a crouch directly above the ceramic dip. It’s also recognisable for the trough of water and bucket that’s always in its vicinity: this is the flush mechanism. In order to push your waste down the delicate Thai pipes, you must pour a bucket of water down after it (handy tip – if you have something that won’t shift in a regular toilet, this trick will also work).

Splashers (Asia, North Africa)

These look deceptively like Western toilets – but they conceal a surprising secret that’s either unpleasant or pleasant depending on your outlook (and position). Rather than having you go to the trouble of cleaning yourself off after finishing, these hi-tech thrones double as bidets and will squirt a jet of water over your nether-parts. Sometimes it’s quite high-pressure, so forewarned is forearmed.

Wherever you’re going, remember to celebrate a unique toilet experience when you find it! Immersing yourself in a new culture is a huge part of the fun of travel – whether it’s learning a few words in a strange language, getting caught up in a national festival or doing the deed like the locals do, nothing highlights the beautiful, life-affirming diversity of the planet than experiencing small but pungent nuances in universal habits.

If “Eat, pray, love” was placed in the burlesque Rome, “ Under the Tuscan Sun” brought in the Hollywood vision of romance the lovely perspective of living in the most picturesque part of Italy. A house in Tuscany or even better a house in Florence would change completely the perspective over life in general and life priorities in special.

Living in this picturesque scenery can change anybody’s life, not to mention that life looks a lot better and tastes a lot sweeter when you are in harmony with yourself.

But what can one do when living in Florence?

The native city of Michelangelo

If you are fond of arts you can pretty much feel at home in the amazing city where the Renaissance sculpture genius created his many masterpieces. Imagine inviting your friends to visit your house in Florence and taking them to see Michelangelo’s David.

Places to wine and dine

Florence is without a doubt the place to try the perkiest Italian cuisine. If Trattoria dei Quattro Leoni has a special Hollywood style touch, Riflessi is the note of elegance where you would like to take a very special person to dinner. If you are looking for a traditional Florentine dessert make sure you taste the tiramisu from Pangies Bistrot or simply go for a truly seductive ice cream II Gelato Vivoli can offer you.

The picturesque Florentine market

It is said that you never experienced a more burlesque market than the one of Florence. The amazing looking Mercato Centrale will offer you the possibility to bargain and buy the freshest fruit of the fertile Florentine land. It is a new experience every time you shop there and there is a very good chance that you will fall in love with this activity.

Nightlife and fun

You may ask yourself where can you have fun if you choose to live in Florence. The truth is that one would not expect a city so rich in history to be also rich in fun. The nightlife is pretty capable to accommodate the needs and preferences of everyone so make sure you check out Tenax or Andromeda clubs, or swing by Space Electronics for drinks and fun.

So …what do you think? Are you keen on living in Florence? Check out Florence apartments to rent to have and idea of places to rent in the city that will make your life not only better but closer to the idea the occidental mind has when considering good living.