Choose a Holiday That Doesn’t Break the Bank

Guest Posts - Ross French - June 15, 2011

Guest Post

Time seems to move more and more quickly with every year, and startlingly, we are already well into the month of June, which of course means that we have entered that period of time where we try to convince ourselves here in Britain that it is Summer time! We might get the odd warm day here and there, we might even feel the glow of the sun on our backs, and it is almost enough to persuade you that we live in a relatively warm country. And then it rains. And it continues to rain until we can’t quite believe that it is still raining! Such is the traditional British summer. Of course, this is tempered somewhat by our understanding of what our summer is likely to be like, and most people do something about it ñ namely go abroad.

At the moment finances are tight for a lot of people, and a trip abroad is not a possible option for a lot of people, but even some of the people who really feel that they can’t afford to get away this year could be talking themselves out of a great holiday. Although things are tight, it does not mean that there aren’t opportunities out there.

What you have to do is to find the places that are still affordable, and there are plenty of places that still match that description. As has always been the way,it is still perfectly possible to get a nice holiday in the South of Spain. You are almost guaranteed sunny warm weather, and it is still as cheap as chips once you get down there. Because of its relative close proximity to England, the flights are affordable, and a meal and a drink will cost you nothing in comparison to Britain.

Of course, there are some people out there who may well think to themselves that they have been travelling to Spain on their holidays for years and years, and they want something a little more interesting. There is another option which is a lot closer than you might imagine.

Portugal is becoming more and more popular as a holiday destination, and it is almost as cheap to visit as Spain is. If you start to investigate the country, you will find that it is a remarkable place, which is renowned for giving its guests a warm and friendly welcome. The climate as you would expect is similar to neighbouring Spain, as is the food and culture, but if anything, it is even a little more laid back that the aforementioned.

The way to find the most affordable holidays in Portugal is to source the individual parts of the holiday yourself. Don’t go for a package deal at any cost. Simply search online for Hotels in Portugal and you should come across some absolute bargains. You will find some of the most delightful places to stay, and it really shouldn’t cost you much more than it would to stay in a similar standard place in Spain. You will be able to find similar deals for independent flights, and this means that you save money on the whole of your holiday.

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Reach Your Passion

Guest Posts - Ross French - June 9, 2011

By: Maria Climent Huguet
Maria Climent is a 26-year-old Catalan lady. After studying translation, she decided her life was odd enough to became a humor scriptwriter and by default, a blogger. This is how she’s now a mother of no one and a better person. She also likes to cook!

What is the difference between people who spend their lives unnoticed and the ones everyone remembers after having met them, even if it’s just been for few hours? Why are there people who at the age of 19 are already famous and charming and owners of a couple of Florence apartments and others who fail again and again in their projects and endeavours?
Of course one can be born better looking, more intelligent, taller, stronger than others, but the concept of success is different for everyone. One may want to play in the NBA and another strives to marry the woman of his dreams. So, although there are different aspects that intervene in reaching success in life. For me, passion is the key, and, moreover, passion is something everyone is born with. The theory, for me is: Love what you do more than do what you love, as, by having passion in what you do, you’ll end up doing what you are passionate for.

Of course if you just can’t stand what you do, then give it up, you are doing the wrong thing. Or not being married to the right person. Moreover, being able to make decisions and not fearing change which is a big part of the process towards success.
I have heard many stories about “if you imagine yourself having success, then you’ll have success” or “Adopt the attitude of already enjoying your success and it will finally come to you”. And sure it helps, but I have my own opinion on these kind of statements: From my point of view, this helps in achieving your objectives, because a positive attitude will undoubtedly lead you to better results in life. But, I think it’s not enough to just imagine oneself living a successful life, there is something else one can (and should) do, like taking advantage of opportunities, using intuition, having initiative, believing in oneself and leaving fears behind.

It is of no use imagining oneself being the owner of one of the apartments in Florence, but not having enough initiative to make the decision to buy one.

Well, sure it’s not all about seeming like a crazy overenthusiastic person all the time, just about trying to appreciate what you do and when you do something, do it your best. Things well done and effort are always appreciated, and for sure, people with bright eager eyes and a genuine smile will shine even more.

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Depart From Stress

Guest Posts - Ross French - June 8, 2011

Guest Post

Why does everyone get in such a panic when it comes to catching their holiday flight? No matter how early we leave for the airport – we simply can’t relax until we’re sitting in departures sipping on a beer (or cocktail or whatever you prefer). Sure, you need to be on time and getting to the terminal from home can be a bit of a mission but the good news is it doesn’t have to be quite so troubling.

When I last went away I extended my holiday by an extra day to include the night before I flew. It meant I woke up in a hotel near Stansted airport with nothing but a tasty breakfast and an easy transfer between me and check-in. I found one of the Stansted airport hotels that I thought looked nice (it even had a pool) and booked it just after sorting out my flights. I used HolidayExtras.co.uk and got a good deal on my night’s stay. An evening drinking beer and enjoying an amazing dinner is, in my humble opinion, is better than last-minute packing and the rush to the airport. It made the whole airport experience much more enjoyable because I wasn’t knackered and stressed.

I actually book Stansted airport parking at the same time and conquered another of the problems everyone encounters at airports. Parking came as an add-on to my hotel and I got it at a fraction of the price I’d have paid on the day. These bookings made departure so much better I don’t know why everyone doesn’t do the same! There are plenty of hotels to go around so book your stay and you’ll be sipping on that beer (cocktail) before you know it!

If prebooking your airport hotel and parking doesn’t leave you completely de-stressed (not DIstressed) before your flight then try these tips:

Double check that everything is packed and ready, make sure you have the absolute essentials and remind yourself that its not the end of the world if you arrive and have forgotten to pack your sky blue flip flips, the navy blue ones you did pack will do.
Find your de-stress song! Music is the soundtrack to your life. Pick the right tune and you will soon be feeling serene!
If your the active type, go for a jog. Its very difficult to be stressed when your worn out.
Breathe! Find a quiet spot to go sit and breathe. Concentrating on your breathing will help you forget your stress and it can be done just about anywhere (not under water) with no extra props.
Laugh. Laughing has to be one of the best ways to de-stress. Don’t know what to laugh at? Get on google and search “LOL Cats”. Job done.

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The Best of Ireland

Destinations, Guest Posts - Ross French - June 4, 2011

Slieve League in County Donegal

Guest Post

If President Obama’s recent visit to Ireland taught us anything, it’s that the land of four leaf clovers is regarded so highly around the world. As a tourist destination, Ireland is full of many undiscovered gems, stunning stretches of coastline and of course, the bustling city of Dublin. Here are some of the must sees on any trip to the country…

Slieve League in County Donegal

Between Dublin and Limerick sits the small village of Moneygall, now made famous by the recent visit by the president. Why not enjoy a pint of Guinness at Ollie Hayes’s pub and follow in the footsteps of Mr. Obama? If you would rather taste a bit of Irish history, head to County Donegal, the bastion of the Irish language and Gaelic culture. Donegal castle in Donegal town is well worth a visit. The castle was once home to the infamous O’ Donnell clan who were one of the richest and most powerful families in Ireland in the 1600’s. As well as being ripe with history, Donegal is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque areas of the country. With rugged hills and beautiful beaches, the scenery is nothing short of spectacular. Slieve League is Ireland’s tallest sea cliff at 2000 ft. To get those all important photographs you need to head to One Man’s Path road from Teelin. To enjoy quiet time on the beach Stroove Beach off Greencastle is the place for you. With soft, white sand and sand dunes, this is a lovely place to relax. For water sports, Rossnowlagh or the ‘Heavenly Cove’ as it is commonly known is the place to go. With dramatic scenery, towering cliffs and shimmering waves, this is the perfect place to surf.

Dublin City Centre

For endless sightseeing all at your fingertips there is no where better than the city of Dublin. Ireland hotels are certainly well represented in the capital. For true luxury, you could do a lot worse than staying at the Harcourt Hotel. With contemporary design and great food, this is the perfect base for any city break. For the ultimate pint of Guinness, St James’s Gate Brewery is the place to visit. The famous, Irish beverage has been brewed there since 1759 and nowadays is open to the public as a museum. For a great shopping spree, Grafton Street should be on your list. The street is equally famous for its life-size, bronze statue of Thin Lizzy front man Phil Lynott.

Dublin is home to Trinity College, Ireland’s most prestigious university. Founded by Elizabeth 1st, the college has a rich history and is now open to tourists. You also cannot leave Trinity without viewing the Book of Kells held in the College Library. Containing words from the gospels and richly decorated, it would be criminal not to view the manuscript.

History, fantastic scenery, a good pint, Ireland has it all. With so many places to visit, it’s hard to know where to start. But no matter where you end up, just go easy on the Guinness. It’s a lot stronger over there…

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How Music Can Change Your Travels

Guest Posts - Ross French - June 2, 2011

By: Maria Climent Huguet
Maria Climent is a 26-year-old Catalan lady. After studying translation, she decided her life was odd enough to became a humor scriptwriter and by default, a blogger. This is how she’s now a mother of no one and a better person. She also likes to cook!

Everyone experiences a change of mood thanks to music, a particular song or band. And, even more, it’s very likely that you associate it with a very distinct moment in a very concrete place. This happens for a specific reason and can be useful or disappointing at the time you choose your music for travelling.

One of the clearest cases of music association in my life is when I went to a friend’s home, in one of his Paris apartments, I stayed there while he worked all day during the week, so the moments in which I was not wandering around town, I spent at home listening to the music I had brought with me. The problem was that I only brought two albums (there were no mp3 or mp4 then yet, ok?) one was a Best of Placebo album and the other one was “Veintegenarios” by this peculiar Catalan singer-songwriter, Albert Pla. So, after two weeks of listening to only this music I completely and absolutely associated these albums with my stay in Paris, precisely to that apartment, and most exactly, to the corner where I was sitting when I was listening to it, and even more: I can remember exactly how I felt, what I was thinking, what I ate and what it tasted like if I listen to that songs now and close my eyes.

This happens because through your eardrums, music and its vibes go directly to our brain. These vibes carry on to “give orders” to our brain. Researches have shown that a certain amount of beats per minute activate our left and right part of the brain, and that the simultaneous left and right brain action maximizes the retention of information.

This is how music can make you feel depressed in a matter of 3 minutes, just try listening to Radiohead’s Fake Plastic Trees or, on the contrary, you inevitably cheer up with Artic Monkeys’ Fluorescent Adolescent. This happens because there are different kinds of vibes that songs transmit, which our brain interprets differently (these are basically alpha: rhythm typically associated to a relaxed state; beta: associated to activation states, there are also theta and delta which are linked to sleeping moments).

Basically, we can choose our mood through music, as we can choose which kind of vibes we want to receive. Also notice that, even though you are not going to any of the apartments in Paris, but just a ride to the supermarket in you car, if you put on a song you like a lot, you’ll probably remember that very simple route. So be careful with the music you choose for long trips, or for certain moments, as they possibly will be stuck to this moment forever.

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