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June 29, 2016 by Chase Vandros

Visiting The UK: Why You Should Head For The Coast

When most people head to the UK, they normally end up in London. While there is nothing wrong with visiting the country’s capital, it is still such a shame that many forget about the rest of Britain! Especially its fabulous coastline. There are so many quaint towns and villages along the coast that are well worth spending some time in. Not too sure about your British geography? Here are some of our favorite coastal destinations; we’re sure you won’t be disappointed!

Blackpool

Up on the northwest coast, the town of Blackpool has plenty to offer families and young travelers. Visit Blackpool for its excellent Pleasure Beach theme park. Spend a day in its large zoo, coming face to face with all the animals. And you can spend a few hours on the sea front, playing in the amusement arcades and eating delicious ice creams. One of Blackpool’s most famous attractions is its tower. The Blackpool Tower was based on the Eiffel Tower. Blackpool’s smaller version still has some impressive views of the town from the top. And you can see some amazing dancing in its ballroom.

Image: Pixabay

Brighton

Another popular seaside town is Brighton. You can easily visit Brighton for the day if you are staying in London, as there is a direct train between both locations. While you’re there, you can enjoy fish and chips on Brighton Pier. There are also a couple of bars and souvenir shops located on the pier. Brighton Museum and Art Gallery showcases some notable local art and also gives you a great glimpse into the town’s past. It’s also worth taking some time to meander through the charming streets. This traditional British is sure to throw up a few surprises!

Rock

This small seaside town in North Cornwall is extremely picturesque so don’t forget your camera! This is a popular location for families to holiday. Kids will love roaming through the rock pools on the beach and building tall sandcastles in the sand. It’s also very popular with water sports enthusiasts. The sea is always filled with surfers, water-skiers, and windsurfers. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never tried your hand at these sports before; there are plenty of surf schools waiting to show you the ropes!

Image: Pixabay

Portmeirion

This cute Welsh town might look very familiar to you. And that’s because it was used as a film set for the TV series The Prisoner. The port was created by the architect Clough Williams-Ellis, and it has quite a quirky feel to it. Many people stay in one of the nearby towns and spend their day in Portmeirion. There are many well-manicured gardens that are perfect for an evening stroll.

Penzance

Another Cornish town on the list! It is quite out of the way and not near any other large town or city. However, the journey to Penzance is well worth it. It is a picturesque journey by either car or train. Another place you don’t want to visit without your camera! The Minack Theatre is one of the most popular tourist attractions. This open-air amphitheater holds regular shows and performances. Other historic landmarks include Lizard Lighthouse. For art and culture, visit the Penlee House art gallery.

Image: Pixabay

Cromer

Located in Norfolk, the town of Cromer has an excellent beach that attracts tourists from far and wide. The town is made up of pretty Victorian townhouses, many of which are now charming B&Bs and guesthouses. Amazona Zoo is the town’s Amazonian-themed zoo. Kids will love watching the colorful parrots and monkeys. Felbrigg Hall is a large stately home surrounded by landscaped gardens. This 17th-century residence is open to the public and a great way to spend a day.

Whitby

Whitby is famous for a few things. It’s large abbey ruins sit on the top of a cliff, overlooking the town. It is also where Dracula is said to have roamed and looked for victims. The Captain Cook Museum tells you everything about the life of the town’s famous sailor and his journeys Down Under. Fish and chips is the town’s traditional dish. Enjoy yours while walking down the pier to the tall Victorian lighthouse. Families always book a trip out to see on one of the many pleasure boats. The kids will love it if you pick the pirate ship!

So next time you are planning a trip to the UK, think about its coastline. It is much prettier than London, and you can see a lot of traditional Britain! The coast is so good, even many Britons head there themselves!

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June 16, 2016 by Chase Vandros

Don’t Just Travel Wide – Travel Smart!

A great holiday should be free from stress. But let’s face it: even the best holidays cause a fair amount of anxiety and worry.

Here are some travel smart tricks that should alleviate holiday stress!

Pixabay

Be wary of the ever-changing prices

The pricing of travel tickets is extremely fluid. A lot of people don’t realize quite how fluid it is. In our Internet era, it has always seemed that we can get the best prices by going online. But the data we share online – consciously or not – can actually see us paying more than we should be.

You might be no stranger to the fact that prices for tickets for a given plane or train are always changing. You may even be aware of the fact that two people can check prices online and see completely different offers. But you might not know how it works, or how to deal with it. Essentially, travel sites use the data from your history of using their site to gauge how much you want to go to a particular place. If they think you’re likely to buy tickets, then they’ll ramp up the prices.

Pixabay

Clear your cache before checking out a travel website. You’ll see the fairest and most accurate prices that way!

Book your activities beforehand

Of course, a lot of people know that they should do this already. But you should try looking for a platform that allows you to book several activities at once. Usually, people have to visit several websites in order to get everything planned properly. But there are websites like Travezl Australia that allow you to book things in bulk.

Whichever way you do it, taking time before you leave to plan out the things you’re going to do is smart. It will save you a lot of stress!

Geograph

Explore other travel methods

This wouldn’t be Don’tFlyGo without a quick reminder that you don’t have to take a plane! In case you’re new to this concept, it may be because you don’t know how damaging planes are to the environment. They’re incredible pieces of tech, but we should only really use them if we absolutely have to!

Getting around in a country or even a continent can be done via amazing train rides. If you do have to fly, see if you can fly to a closer location and take another mode of transport the rest of the way.

Pexels

Consider your financial options

One of the worrying things about booking a holiday is how much money you have to spend in one go. Emphasis on “in one go”! It’s not so much that people think it’s too expensive or not worth the money. It’s that dropping hundreds from your bank account can suddenly leave you short. What if an emergency occurs?

You can look into going down the finance route if you want to fund a holiday. This is an option to consider even if you do have the money to hand. But the smartest thing to do might simply be to wait. Here’s an idea: save up 200% of the money you need to find the holiday. (Or maybe 150% if you’re impatient.) Then, once you purchase the holiday, you’ll have an equivalent amount (or half of it!) remaining.

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June 16, 2016 by DontFlyGo

Here’s how to enjoy the ultimate UK holiday!

Planning the perfect holiday to the UK this year is a great choice. We all need to get away and have a break for a while. And it’s important to pick somewhere nice to visit. This is why it’s so important to travel the UK because of how much variety there is. These are some tips to help you fully enjoy the perfect UK holiday experience this year. Often traveling to the UK or around the UK can be expensive; depending on where you are traveling from. We’d advise looking for deals to make it cheaper for you, UK companies like First Choice often have There are alternatives such as getting coaches to places using companies such as mega bus or national express. Prices can be very low from £4 one way making your trip a lot more afffordable.

Image Via Flickr.com

Stay a While

In order to have the perfect UK holiday, you will need to stay a while. And this means you need somewhere to live while you’re there. A lot of people might choose hotels, but these are cramped and expensive. So, you need to consider renting a holiday home. And, in fact, you might even enjoy your time so much you decide you want to move to the UK. Visit EntwistleGreen.co.uk/forsaleoffice/lytham/493/ and you will find lots of listings. You’ll be able to look at homes for sale and to rent in the UK. It’s important to check out what all the options are before you decide to commit to anything.

Check Out Tourist Hotspots

When you visit anywhere for a holiday, there will always be touristy things you can do. And these are an important part of getting the full experience of an area. Bear in mind, there are a lot of tourist hotspots in the UK. And some of these you might never get the opportunity to see again so it’s important to make the most of it now. Make a list of all the things you’d like to see and do on your UK holiday. And make sure you set aside time to work towards doing all of them. This is essential for making sure have a full experience of the amazing wonders the UK possesses.

Try to Spend Time in Each Country

You have to remember that the UK is not made up purely of England. You have Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well. And the best way of having the perfect UK holiday experience is to spend a bit of time in each of these countries. There are so many differences between them, and they all have wonderful things to offer you. It’s important to get the full UK experience by making sure you visit every country. Even some UK residents have never visited every country in the UK. So you can really have a great experience by checking out all these great nations and enjoying all they have to offer.

London

When you think of the UK, you probably think immediately about London. Sure, this is the capital of England, but it’s also the cultural and corporate epicentre of the United Kingdom. And no holiday to the UK would be complete without a trip to London. There is so much to see and do here for the whole family. You will be able to enjoy the tourist aspects of London such as Tower Bridge and the London Dungeons. But, there are plenty of other things to keep you occupied on your holiday too. You will find a vibrant and exciting nightlife in England’s capital. There are lots of wonderful restaurants, award-winning shows and state-of-the-art museums and galleries. London should be top of your list of places to check out if you are serious about a holiday in the UK.

Go to a Game

Sport plays a big role all across the world, and it might play a role in your life as well. If you consider yourself to be a sports fan, then you’re spoilt for choice in the UK. There are so many sports that are professionally played and popularly followed. The main ones include association football (soccer), rugby, tennis and cricket. There are also other sports such as snooker, darts and golf that are frequently played. So, if you would like to go to a game, there is plenty of choice. This would be the ideal way of enjoying the very best of UK sport and observing a very important UK cultural pastime.

Take the Kids to Legoland

It’s important to think about the children whenever you book a holiday anywhere. You need to come up with plenty for them to see and do. Kids need constant stimulation and interest in order to keep them occupied. A holiday away can be a lot for them to come to terms with because they are out of their comfort zone. That’s why you need to make them excited about being on holiday. And in the UK, there is plenty on offer that will keep the kids amused. One of the best things to do would be to take them to Legoland. This is the perfect day out for the children and will keep them interested and out of trouble. It’s a popular theme park in the UK and perfect for children of all ages.

Camping

Though you might not think it, the UK is a great place to enjoy camping trips. There are so many locations like the New Forest, the Lake District and the Brecon Beacons. These are all amazing places to enjoy a weekend of camping in the wilderness. The outdoor landscape of the UK is so varied that this is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. You may not want to spend your entire holiday camping, but you may wish to take a weekend out and really get back to basics. This is one of the more popular holiday choices for a lot of people in the UK and one that can really give you a fresh perspective on the place.

There are so many wonderful places you can visit when you choose to go on holiday. And the UK is certainly one of the best and most cosmopolitan. There is so much to see and do, and there is plenty on offer for the entire family. Planning the perfect holiday to the UK is all about taking the time to enjoy all that it has to offer. Whether you’re travelling on your own or as a family, there is so much to see and do in the UK. So, have a think about where you would like to go, and start planning your trip right now.

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June 10, 2016 by Chase Vandros

Train Journeys Around the World that are Worth the Experience

Train journeys still evoke nostalgia of the bygone era when travelling by train used to be the most feasible mode of transport across the vast landmass of Europe, Africa and America. Steam engines, in fact, became the symbol of the age of industrialization and heralded the modern age. It fuelled the spirit of exploration and adventurism in the 19^th and early 20^th century. New lands were discovered, mountains were conquered, wild deserts were tamed, colonies were established, large scale industries developed and great wars were fought between the rival European powers. Train lines and steam engines played a pivotal role in this dynamic period of world history.

Today, despite the advent of jet travel, trains still remain a lucrative option. Travellers who believe in the notion that the journey is as important as the final destination, can still enjoy some memorable, life-time train journeys across the planet. Check out a few such stunning train journeys from around the world recommended by HolidayMe (EN|AR) that are worth the experience!

Glacier Express, Switzerland

Switzerland is renowned for one of the most scenic train journeys – the Glacier Express! This seven-hour ride from Zermatt to St. Moritz, passes through striking landscape featuring lofty craggy mountains of the Swiss Alps, pine-filled slopes, beautiful green meadows, and fields of bright yellow sunflowers, which add to the charm of this special train journey.

Hiram Bingham Orient-Express, Peru

Peru is an interesting destination that is shrouded in mysticism. Its hidden Inca sites and colonial cities are a sight to admire. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu is the country’s greatest attraction. Enjoy a world-renowned train journey with the famous Hiram Bingham Orient-Express. This train operates between the city of Cusco and the stunning ruins of Machu Picchu. On the way, savour scenic landscapes, a delicious brunch, as well as a four-course dinner!

The Ghan, Australia

The Ghan is the lifeline of the Red Zone of the vast Australian heart. This railway line is also the main connection between Australia’s highly urbanised South, the vast resource-rich North, and the massive Central Zone also known as ‘Red Zone’. This Adelaide to Darwin journey takes three days, and includes a four-hour stop at Alice Springs and Katherine, which gives travellers an experience of a life time in Australia’s famed outback.

Tranzalpine, New Zealand

Tranzalpine highlights New Zealand’s beautiful landscape during its four-and-half-hour journey between Christchurch and Greymouth. The journey includes sights of stunning green meadows and farms of Canterbury, beautiful rivers, viaducts, tunnels and the vast stretch of dramatic alpine scenery.

Rocky Mountaineer, Canada

Rocky Mountaineer is one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. This two-day train journey from Vancouver to the beautiful resort town of Banff, is one of the top highlights of Canada. Relish delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner on-board while admiring the stunning alpine landscape comprising of deep blue lakes, snow-capped mountain peaks, green meadows and pine forests.

The Grand Canyon Railway, USA

Grand Canyon Railway highlights the triumph of human engineering over difficult landscape. Today, a journey on the vintage 1923’s Pullman’s vintage coaches and the observation coaches of 1950s is a testimony to human endeavours. This 2-hour-15-minute journey from Williams, Arizona, to Grand Canyon National Park, offers a rich insight into the region’s history and the time when USA was expanding in the Wild West.

Maharajas Express, India

Maharajas Express, the famous Indian luxury train, debuted in 2010 and joins the established list of renowned luxury trains in the country such as Palace of Wheels, Deccan Odyssey and the Golden Chariot. This new train takes you to some of the most popular destinations of India, like Udaipur, Jaipur, Ranthambore, and Agra. Delicious Indian and continental meals complement these highly luxury coaches that make you feel like royals from the bygone eras!

Danube Express, Europe

Danube Express is Europe’s only international luxury train that travels between Budapest and Istanbul. The train passes through stunning landscapes of Eastern Europe which includes the beautiful Budapest, the picturesque Transylvania countryside, mystique forests and villages, and finally reaches the land of orientalism – Turkey’s crown jewel Istanbul.

The Royal Scotsman, Scotland

The Royal Scotsman highlights the bygone era of British supremacy and the glorious history of the British Empire. The train starts from Edinburgh and during its multi-day journey, travels through the famous Scottish Highlands, glens, forests, green valleys, streams and castles, and more. Period furniture, plush woodworks and a very formal and classy ambience recreate the bygone era’s traditions.

“There’s something about the sound of a train that’s very romantic and nostalgic and hopeful.” –

Paul Frederic Simon

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May 24, 2016 by Chase Vandros

How to Get Around Los Angeles

Planning a trip to Los Angeles? L.A. is one of the most desirable vacation destinations in the world. A city well known for its massive traffic jams and expansive freeways, getting around Los Angeles can be a headache. Whether you are going to enjoy the sunshine, the surf, Hollywood, or Disneyland; here are some tips on how to get around Los Angeles.

Private Car
If you want the convenience of your own car but don’t want the stress and headache of driving in Los Angeles’ notorious traffic try a private car. Blacklane’s LA car service will allow you to relax in the cushy seat of a luxury sedan while navigating the streets and freeways of this expansive mega city. The freedom of a car but without the headaches of driving allows you to go where you please and Blacklane’s sleek Mercedes cars make sure you get there in style (a must when in L.A.) and even if you are stuck in traffic, wouldn’t you rather be sitting in the back seat of a car reviewing your Instagram or taking a nap?

Bicycle
Want to feel the beach breeze and stay in shape while traveling? Why not get around Los Angeles on a bicycle. Biking Los Angeles is a fun way to explore this city on your own terms. Los Angeles has many bike lanes and is adding more, these include downtown commuter routes and beach-side park routes. You can rent bicycle from a private shop, or if you just need for a single trip you can check out Los Angeles’ newest bike-share program. Don’t forget to bring your helmet and have fun enjoying the streets, beaches, and alleys of Los Angeles.

Public Transport
Los Angeles is not known for its public transit but the locals know all about it. Los Angeles’ public transport network includes light rail, subway, and buses. This allows the commuter to get to pretty much any corner of this vast city at a bargain rate via public transport. With seven different lines the metro rail system is your best bet. You can take all the way from downtown to Culver City, Pasadena, Koreatown, North Hollywood, or East L.A. If you want to get to the airport there are frequent buses from Union Station to LAX. Next time you are in Los Angeles maybe give public transport a try.

So are you eager to check out Hollywood’s hottest nightclubs with the style and convenience of a private luxury car, or maybe you want to impress the hipsters with your bicycle skills? Whether you are taking the bus to Chinatown or Hollywood Hills, there are plenty different way to get around the City of Los Angeles making it one of the easiest and most exciting cities to travel to. I hope our tips will help you in finding your way around this major city. Enjoy your next trip no matter how you get around Los Angeles.