Holiday Destinations, News and Information

Ever been on holiday and found that everything that could possibly go wrong, goes wrong? You end up at the airport with no passport or eventually get on holiday and found you have forgotten to bring all the money you changed a week before!! Ahhhhhhhh!!

You may find that your holiday doesn’t go quite as planned and it’s not even your fault! Maybe the hotel has double booked or the airline hasn’t given you the extra leg room you paid for. If this does happen, remember you have rights. Here are some tips for if disasters do happen..

• Before you even set off, you may realise that you have taken out the most expensive insurance by mistake. If this does happen, you can, by law, cancel. You will have 14 days to do this and all should go smoothly if you haven’t already travelled or made a claim.
• One of the worst things to happen on your holiday is the plane being delayed. If your flight has been delayed that much that you have missed check in for your hotel, or that it no longer serves it’s purpose, you can claim a refund.
• If you get to your hotel and you are not entirely satisfied, make sure that you report this to your rep. Your rep should be able to sort something out for you, be it a change of room or possibly even a different hotel entirely.

Hopefully your holiday will run smoothly but if it doesn’t, keep these useful tips in mind.

A number of my friends have visited Mexico and have said that it was one of the best holidays they have ever been on. The weather is amazing and the food and nightlife are apparently just as good.

A lot of the hotels in Mexico are all inclusive and it’s obvious why people decide to go for this option. With ice cold beer and scrumptious food on tap, who wouldn’t?

If you have the energy to drag yourself off the sun bed on your private beach after a night of drinking and dancing, then explore the two beautiful coastlines that Mexico has to offer. The white sands and palm trees will remind you of how beautiful it really is.

Cancun is a popular place with it’s mass of bars, restaurants and hotels and is definitely a must for those of you who enjoy the beach and water sports. Cancun also has a large number of shops so that us ladies can get our fix whilst we are away, make sure you haggle for that bottle of Tequila though!!

Have you been to Mexico before? If  so, where did you stay?

Imagine getting your money back from your holiday provider if you don’t get any sun on your holiday break? Well, a company in France has decided to do just this!

If you can prove that you got rain for at least 4 days of your holiday then you will be given a ’significant refund’. This is  a pretty good insurance policy for those who are looking to get away from the hideous weather here in the UK.

The company using this scheme is Aon, a French insurance company. This scheme has boosted the sale of holidays abroad and if it works, agents in the UK and other countries will no doubt take it on too.

A spokesman from the Tourist Office in Nice has said:

‘If a destination is offering itself as a place for a sunshine break, then there is probably no reason why someone should not pay up if it rains every day. The policy sounds like an excellent idea.’

Do you think the money back scheme is a good idea?

Many peoples holidays are now over before they have actually even started. This is because of the outbreak of Swine Flu. Some travellers are deciding to stay at home, with others actually being turned away at the airport because they show signs of the H1N1 virus.

Some airlines, including Virgin and British Airways are turning passengers away if they show any sign at all of the flu symptoms and they have been told return once well with a ‘fit to fly’ certificate.

P&O cruises are even getting staff to assess passengers before they board and are getting them to complete medical questionnaires to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Many passengers at airports are now wearing masks in the fear they could catch the virus and are taking all precautions necessary.

Make sure that you take paracetamol and drink plenty of fluids. Try and stay away from crowded areas and if you know anyone that has caught the virus, stay well clear!!

Hopefully, this outbreak has not affected your dream holiday and you will be able to jet off into the sun as planned.

If you have been affected, let me know!

Florida is one destination where you can guarantee to have fun, fun, fun! With it’s numerous theme parks and shopping malls.

The sunshine state has a large number of theme parks scattered around including Disney, Universal Studios and Sea World, all of them kitted out with thrill rides and ones that even your gran would be happy with. Florida is a destination where everyone would find something to do. Send the kids off to Wet & Wild whilst you spend the day shopping or even take a trip to Miami.

Orlando is the most popular part for holidays where you will find places such as Kissimmee and International Drive.

Wherever you decide to go in Florida, you will be gaurunteed a jam packed, fun filled holiday!

The best holiday I have ever been on is to Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt. This could have been because the boyfriend paid for it or it could be the fact that for the whole week I was there I didn’t see one cloud in the sky…bliss!

The weather was absolutely amazing, the sea was warm and the sand was soft. The hotel (Iberotel Palace) was absolute luxury and whilst we were there we were treated like royalty. If we ordered a drink from the bar we weren’t allowed to take it to our table, the waiter was persistent that he took it over to us along with a bowl full of nuts.

After we had spent a whole day soaking up the sun on the glass bottom boat or seeing the Bedwins in the desert we would make our way back to our room to find a pretty heart made out of towels, this would change each day.

Egypt is definitely somewhere I will be going back and would definitely recommend it. Just wish I had stayed for 2 weeks!!

If you haven’t already been to Ibiza, then make sure you book your tickets and get a flight out there pronto! Ibiza is definitely the place to be for both the young and the old. Many people think of Ibiza as a haven for young, single teenagers who spend all day and night drinking and causing mayhem. I’m not going to lie, in some parts of the island this is the case but there are parts which are away from the hustle and bustle and are what Ibiza is all about.

If you are looking to dance the night away, then San Antonio is the place to go. Make sure you visit legendary clubs such as Amnesia and Pacha and once you are done partying, rest your head at the Ibiza Rocks Hotel.

If you are looking to relax and get away from it all, then make sure that you check out the dazzling blue sea and soft white sands.

For only a 2 hour flight away, Ibiza is a must see destination.

I’ve decided that my next holiday is going to be to the neon city of Las Vegas. I’ve heard many reports of how fantastic Vegas is and how is doesn’t do things by halves. From roller coasters on top of sky scrapers to wedding chapels, Vegas is the place to be.

Renowned for it’s casino’s, Vegas is filled with celebrities who are looking to splash the cash. Everything you need is on one street  and it’s all about glamour on Las Vegas Boulevard. The hotels themselves are just worth the journey with the Bellagio and MGM Grand being firm favourites.

Holidaying in Las Vegas AKA Sin City, is meant to be spectacular, just remember to take your novelty cowboy hat and some pennies for the arcade machines!!

Have you been to Las Vegas? Where did you stay?

The recent economic struggles have seen many holiday goers opting for package holidays rather than booking their flight separate from their hotel. This is partly down to the fact that a number of these package holidays are ATOL protected.

The Air Travel Organisers Licence is a scheme that has been put in place to protect travellers who have purchased package holidays and flights. The aim of the scheme is to provide travellers with a refund if they are affected by something that can cause the airline to be unable to provide travel. Flights can also be arranged for those travellers who are abroad at the time of the event.

At a time when companies are facing massive financial problems, it is important to make sure that if a company does fold, you will be able to get your money refunded. Although you are not always 100% safe with a tour operator as the recent collapse of XL shows, it is far safer.

If you do decide to put together your own holiday just be careful, try using a credit card if you are spending over £100, this way the card issuer becomes as reliable as you for the failure of the company you are meant to be paying.

One of my favourite places to visit is Turkey. If you are looking for a last minute holiday or somewhere to take the kids for a 2 week break, Turkey will suit you. The gorgeous Mediterranean getaway boasts amazing beaches and soaring temperatures, and with endless sea activities, your holiday will definitely be jam packed full.

The food in Turkey has a slight Greek twist with Meze’s being the order of the day and the spices on offer are definitely worth a taste.

Bodrum, Marmaris, Dalaman and Antayla are the most popular places in Turkey and are filled with little cafes, shops and bars.

A couple of years ago, I visited a small part of Turkey called Kalkan. Situated on the Lycian coast, Kalkan has got to be one of the nicest places I have been. This was partly down to the luxurious Kalkan Regency Hotel we stayed at,  a family run establishment with breathtaking views and only a handful of rooms, perfect!

As of yet, Kalkan has not been taken over by tourists and is definitely a place to unwind and get away from it all. Take a stroll into the town where you can pretty much purchase anything from carpets to shoes,  and make sure you try the Apple Tea and Turkish Delight.

If you have been to Turkey before, let me know where and if you enjoyed it!