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Where to Stay on the South Downs Way

By Chris Columbus on Wednesday, June 13, 2018

The UK has a number of spectacular long-distance footpaths and bridleways, spanning the length and breadth of the country. With so much amazing scenery, bucolic countryside and well-maintained footpath to explore, it’s no wonder more and more people are venturing out on walking holidays.

Whether you’re looking for a chilled out, B&Bs and light hiking option, or more of a camping and long distance trekking vibe, the South Downs Way can cater for all that and more. With so many great campsites, hotels, B&B’s and public transport links, there’s no reason to not enjoy a fantastic walking holiday.

The South Downs Way

South Downs Discovery

Running one hundred miles from Winchester to Eastbourne, the South Downs way is one of the most spectacular long-distance national trails in the UK. Consisting of linked paths that have been walked for over 8,000 years, with plenty of interesting sights to attest to its long history (including the beacon that spotted the Spanish Armada in Tudor times, The Long Man of Wilmington, the medieval village of Lomer and an ancient battlefield).

As well as all that history comes beautiful landscapes and scenery, and plenty of pubs to keep you fed between hikes. Walking the South Downs Way can be a great achievement, whilst also making for a fun holiday!

Hotels and B&Bs

The South Downs Way has plenty to offer in the way of hotels and B&Bs. This can be the perfect option if you’re looking for a walking holiday, but aren’t feeling like roughing it! If you want to combine a little bit of luxury and relaxation with your hiking, and want to enjoy a lengthy shower at the end of a long day of walking and pub lunches.

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What to Take When Glamping in the UK

By Chris Columbus on Wednesday, May 9, 2018

What Exactly is Glamping?

There is a good chance you may have heard of Glamping. Even if you are not too familiar with the concept, you might guess from the name that it is a mixture of camping and glamour. Your bedroom will become a tent, but in more luxurious settings then a normal camping session! Not only can you expect your bedroom surroundings to be more glamorous, the facilities will be too. Unlike the other style of camping, you will not just be in the middle of an average field, with a typical tent and very limited facilities. Glamping could suit, for example, those who want to take a trip somewhere and camp out, stay at one of the increasing amounts of beautiful glamping locations, and still have all their home comfort facilities to hand. You get to use the services of the campsite, but also provide for yourself using your own equipment, sort of halfway between camping and your home!

What do you Pack? Glamping The Essentials.

Okay, so some of the things you might like to pack for your glamping adventure may not be too dissimilar to a typical camping trip, but you also have other options.

Firstly, and perhaps most obvious you should take a good bag. One that is durable and can hold plenty is ideal but is not too heavy for you to carry, a rucksack type could be ideal. You might want a large one for the bulk, then a smaller one to carry with you during the day.

You might like to bring some extra smallish containers to keep safe any odds and ends. To keep drinks or certain cold foods cool, an ice chest is a great idea, and if you are glamping when the weather is very warm, you’ll be very thankful for it!

Now you need to consider what bedding to take, a tent cannot measure up exactly as a regular bedroom, but you can do your best! Pick a sleeping bag, pillows, duvet, etc. You might like to take an air mattress, it will be a good idea to take a repair kit though as they easily get punctures! You can take folding furniture if you have room for it (like everything on this list, do check what you glamping accommodation already provides first). Although you will want to recreate a bedroom that is as cosy as you can hope for, you are limited space-wise!

Take plenty of spare batteries for any electrical equipment you may want, such as torches or other lighting devices. Remember to take sufficient supplies of food and drink-items that are suitable for camping and will not go off, as well as cooking utensils, and items for cleaning. Bring a wash bag full of all your washing essentials and enough clothes to last for the duration. Think about what tools you might need, such as a swiss army knife, a compass, a fire extinguisher, watch/clock, a fishing rod for example. And finally, but also importantly, think of any entertainment to take like a good book, cards, crosswords, magazine, kindle, radio, football/cricket set to play, etc.

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Unique and Underrated Tourist Destinations

By Chris Columbus on Sunday, October 15, 2017

Maybe you’re a fan of travelling and experiencing new things, but visiting famous cities and seeing iconic buildings isn’t that interesting to you. If you’d prefer to discover the unknown and see some spectacular sights that aren’t so overwhelmed with tourists, consider some of these unique options.

Pancake Rocks, New Zealand

New Zealand as a whole is a stunning yet underrated tourist destination, partly due to its distance from Europe. However, Pancake Rocks is a prime example of an incredible sight (millions of years in the making) that you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

Sichuan, China

Home of The Giant Buddha (a 233-foot statue carved into the side of a mountain over 1,200 years ago), Sichuan is one of China’s most impressive tourist destinations, but it isn’t one of the most mainstream. If you’re interested in Chinese history and culture, consider a trip here.

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Ideal Destinations for Travelling On A Tight Budget

By Chris Columbus on Friday, February 17, 2017

There are expensive options and cheap options almost everywhere, but sometimes knowing a few simple tricks can allow you to visit and enjoy places around the world that you never dreamed were within your budget.

Here are some of the best destinations to consider visiting if one of your main priorities is keeping the cost of the trip to a minimum.

Portugal

A European gem that isn’t talked about much, Portugal has a huge amount to offer the budget tourist. It has a fascinating and unique history, plus very friendly locals. The capital of Lisbon is quieter than most similar cities, which gives you a great opportunity to explore its charming streets, eat out every night and travel on the historic trams for hardly any money.

China

As an up-and-coming international tourist destination, many parts of China are starting to cost more than they used to for tourists, but that doesn’t stop it being one of the more affordable Asian destinations. This is especially true for cities deeper into the mainland.

South Korea

Another Asian holiday destination that’s slowly growing in popularity, people are becoming increasingly fascinated by the unique personality of South Korea. Food and drink are extremely affordable and there’s a huge amount of nightlife to enjoy, plus a rich and complex culture to immerse yourself in.

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Sweden’s Incredible ICEHOTEL

By Chris Columbus on Friday, December 2, 2016

For those on the hunt for a truly special holiday destination, and with a preference for cooler locations rather than scorching hot beaches, we think we have the perfect option. ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden is the Artic’s most impressive hotel by a mile, given that it’s entirely constructed from ice and snow. First constructed nearly 28 years ago, you can visit it every winter for a completely unique experience, since it has to be reconstructed every year!

ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden Sweden’s largest river, the Torne, is what makes the ICEHOTEL possible. During the winter, the river begins to freeze and huge quantities of natural ice have to be collected. Rather than importing or creating ice artificially, the naturally-formed Arctic ice is the preferred choice by those who work on creating ICEHOTEL every year. Creative artists from all over the world gather annually to produce the hotel in its new frozen form. The artists are chosen through a global selection process where they submit creative new ideas and come up with even higher standards than were set in previous years, despite the fact that their project can only stand for a few short months before eventually melting again.

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Underwater Hotels

By Chris Columbus on Saturday, October 22, 2016

Are you getting bored searching through pages on the likes of Trip Advisor hunting for the most practical hotel to stay in during your holiday? Maybe you’re looking for something a little more exciting and impressive for a change of pace. Something you may not have considered is an underwater hotel… surely there can’t be many of those within your reach? In fact, you may be surprised just how many incredible choices there are. Take a look at a few of our favourite choices and see if you fancy visiting one of these for yourself.

1) Lovers Deep

Join “The Mile Low Club” with a romantic undersea voyage on Lovers Deep, the submarine/hotel hybrid that takes you from the location of your choice on an exciting journey beneath the sea. It may be a little pricey, but in terms of uniqueness there’s no beating this. St. Lucia is the most common starting point for this luxury undersea trip, and the company running it specialises in honeymoon packages.

2) Subsix

Part of the Maldives’ high-end Niyama resort, the Subsix is a decadent and glamorous destination for sophisticated tourists who love a high-end party. Serving fancy cocktails at the impressive and futuristic bar below the Indian Ocean, this place offers one of the most fabulous undersea experiences in the world for its visitors.

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Game of Thrones Inspired Holiday Destinations

By Chris Columbus on Friday, August 5, 2016

If, like millions of others around the world, you are a huge fan of the TV show Game of Thrones, you will probably have wondered how the show’s creators managed to find some of the incredible locations used for the filming. Bringing the story to life as vividly as we see on the screen requires a great deal of thorough searching, but fortunately some incredible destinations were selected. Even better news is that you can actually visit most of them for yourself! Here are our top three picks if you want to take your devotion to the show to the next level of and see some of the spectacular destinations yourself.

1) Mdina, Malta

In the first episodes of GoT, the fictional city of King’s Landing needed to be represented by a real place in order to really capture the vision of the show’s creators. Fortunately, Mdina’s Medieval architecture (complete with a network of hidden underground tunnels) made it the perfect candidate. It’s a fascinating place to see in the real world since it was the original capital of the country.

2) Dubrovnik, Croatia

Replacing Mdina as the main set for King’s Landing in GoT’s second season, the older areas in this Croatian town are ideally suited to the show’s requirements. The historic features of the town have been looked after spectacularly well over the centuries, making it a real standout location in the heart of the Adriatic Riveria.

Europe France

Luxury Catered Ski Chalets in La Plagne

By Chris Columbus on Tuesday, July 19, 2016

In the popular Savoie region, you will find the breathtaking French ski destination La Plagne. Set in the perfect location for snowy natural ski slopes, the whole area is surrounded by picturesque mountains as far as the eye can see. In fact, the entire valley is known as one of the most spectacular locations in Europe for skiing. The Paradiski area comprises of both La Plagne and Les Arcs, two neighbouring resorts forming a single ideal destination for ski holidays in France.

chalet One of your best options if you’re considering staying here is to opt for luxury catered ski chalets, and La Plagne offers some of the best you’ll find. We’ve managed to locate some real hidden gems that are a little more traditional and different compared to the newer, tourist-focused accommodation you’ll find across most ski resorts. For example, Chalet Genepy is one of a handful of large Catered Ski Chalets which is large enough to accommodate up to 13 people. It’s right next to the ski lift which takes you right up to the ideal location for practising your skills, allowing you to ski all the way back down to your accommodation! This is the kind of thing we would recommend looking for to get the most out of your holiday in the region.

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France’s Beautiful Island of Corsica

By Chris Columbus on Thursday, June 25, 2015

If you’re a beach lover, then Corsica will definitely be one of the ideal places for you to go on vacation. Situated off the Western coast of Italy in Sardinia, this French territory is a brilliant location for both hikers and divers. It has sparkling waters packed full of sea life and an island with hilltop chalets, dense forests, tiny seaside villages, valleys, beaches, bays and mountains. It’s a beautiful Mediterranean hideaway for anyone that’d like a little break from reality and the chance to explore an environment that’s both totally new and stunning.

One of the biggest reasons why people visit Corsica is to take advantage of its amazing beaches. Grab yourself a place on the white sand in the sunlight, and take a swim in the ocean’s cool waters. Corsica is also home to the Fesch Meseum, a fine arts museum made by the uncle of Napoleon I, Cardinal Joseph Fesch, which is inclusive of a huge collection of Italian paintings from the likes of artists such as Bellini and Botticelli. Another great aspect of Corsica is that the city of Calvi is located just to the northwest coast, offering plenty of art galleries, shops, restaurants and cobblestone streets.

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All About The Beautiful London Docklands

By Chris Columbus on Wednesday, February 25, 2015

London’s Docklands are situated primarily north of the River Thames and are east of the City of London. They cover a large area between Woolwich and Tower Bridge, serving as an active legacy of the British Empire’s trading power. The Second World War caused the docks to go into decline, but the 1980s saw a huge regeneration, turning them into one of the most sought after property locations in London.

At the heart of the Docklands in London is Canary Wharf, and its facilities make it a brilliant hub to start exploring the area from – as well as offering an amazing selection of parks, bars, restaurants and shops. It’s connected to Stratford to the north and Central London to the west by the very efficient Jubilee Underground Line. As well as this, there’s some fast riverboats that boast a scenic and regular connection to the piers within Central London.

You can choose from a variety of well known hotels including the Hilton & Marriott, or opt for one of the luxury serviced apartments available locally.