For many households up and down the country this is reason alone to move abroad and start a new life in the sun, but where? The island of Cyprus just off the Turkish coast is a popular destination for ex-pats to set up home, but what should you consider before making the move?

Cyprus by NASA

Check Out the Island First

When planning for a move abroad it is essential that you do your homework on the prospective destination. You can find out a lot of information via the internet and by speaking to other Brits who have moved out there, but without doubt the best thing to do is to book a week or two in the country in which you can really discover all you need to know.

If you’re planning a move to Cyprus it may be that you have a particular place in mind, and if so you will want to research the town or city thoroughly. If you’ve got a young family then you will need to investigate the schooling options for example, while you may also need to look into employment opportunities if you aren’t going to have a job waiting for you.

Learn the Language?

Cyprus has two official languages – Greek and Turkish – however with an estimated 76% of the population speaking English the emphasis on learning the language is not quite the same as in other foreign destinations.

Despite this, it always helps you to integrate into the culture more effectively if you know the local lingo, so you should give serious consideration to learning the language that is most widely spoken in the region you’ve moving to.

The Cost of Living

When a British family moves abroad permanently it is often the case that they will enjoy a lower cost of living than in the UK. However, Cyprus is the exception to this rule, and you may be surprised to learn that many everyday goods are significantly more expensive than in Britain.

White electronic goods are one example of this in particular, and with this in mind it is essential that you do a full appraisal of your income and expected outgoings to ensure you will be able to afford the cost of living.

Taking Your Car?

One consequence of this higher cost of living is that you will have to consider how many of your possessions you wish to take with you. It may be that after analysing the cost of living in detail that you need to take more with you than you originally planned, but can you take your vehicle with you?

Car shipping by Kirsten

This is actually a lot simpler than you might think, as there are a number of companies who can provide reliable car shipping services to ensure you don’t have to buy new transport once you’ve made the move. Roll-on/roll-off car shipping is one particularly efficient method, where your car is simply driven into the hold of a ship, strapped securely in place and transported to its destination. It is then driven straight off again without the need for any additional packaging or preparation.

Starting a new life in Cyprus is an exciting time for any family and a dream come true for many. To ensure it doesn’t turn into a nightmare prepare as fully as possible by following the above advice.

This guest blog was written by John Rooney on behalf of Auto Shippers, providers of reliable roll-on/roll-off car shipping services.

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Since the Olympic torch was put out in London, it seems that those who had enjoyed welcoming the whole world into their iconic city just couldn´t wait to get away. The surge in holiday bookings, especially for the month of September, has been quite impressive. It seems that the masses are following the sun at all costs, even if it means kids have to miss school.

London Olympics, England, UK by Dan Davison

The fun is over, let´s get away

Brits are well known all over the world for enjoying a good party, and when the Olympics took a hold of their homeland in the peak of the summer, they just didn´t want to miss all of the excitement. But the rainy summer didn´t seem all that glamorous anymore, once the Olympic crowds had withdrawn, and September holiday bookings skyrocketed soon after.

According to a survey by Travelex, Brits will take 5.7 million trips in September. On the other hand, the number of people who revealed that they hadn´t taken their accustomed summer break during the school holidays this year amounted to a significant 45%, while nearly 25% mentioned the desire “not to miss the Olympics” as a reason for not having gone away earlier, and 23% added that it was their first time taking their holidays in the month of September.

Ironically enough, a Travelex survey from earlier this year revealed that 1/3 of traveling Brits had booked a holiday to escape the Olympic hullaballoo, and over 10 million altogether were planning to try to avoid the “chaos” by traveling abroad. It would seem that not all of those plans actually crystalized, and the locals did join in with the Olympic spirit after all.

Follow the sun

The top destination of choice for Britons going away in September is Spain, which maintains its unrivalled popularity due to closeness, pricing (one upside of the Iberian country´s economic crisis, in terms of attracting tourism), nice weather, natural beauty and guaranteed fun, both day and night. Next up are Turkey and Egypt, two countries that attract those who are not only interested in sunshine, but who also possess a flair for the exotic.

While the last week has seen some sunshine and high temperatures in some parts of England, the forecast for the coming weeks is bleak for those staying, and convenient for the masses flocking to Costa del Sol and Majorca, as strong winds, courtesy of Hurricane Leslie are set to hit Scotland, and heavy rains are expected all around.

Holidays for all ages

A surge in holiday bookings was in fact expected, as July had been extremely quiet at the offices of travel companies all over the UK. But bookings have greatly surpassed predictions, especially in the over 50s group, whose travel plans are not affected by the school year. According to a survey by Saga Insurance, this age group´s preferred destination for September 2012 is Italy, closely followed by Greece, Turkey and France.

The endless summer

It appears that Brits of all ages will follow the sun, and the fun, whatever chance they get. They partied it up during the Olympics like few nations could, and nearly half of them are partying it up right now on some beach in Benidorm or Ibiza, stretching that summer to make it last as long as they can. Given the choice between Southern Spain´s paella and sangría in the sunshine, and a dreary English rain, who can blame them?

Article Written by L. Toulson on behalf of https://www.theluxurycruisecompany.com/luxury-cruiselines/

The post The Post-Olympic Escape September Holiday Boom in Britain appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo by Gidzy

That’s why it’s such a good idea to get out there and enjoy your weekends this summer by seeing more of what the UK has to offer. A lot of visitors from abroad are drawn to Britain because of its gorgeous green countryside, rolling hills and quaint rural villages – something that many Brits themselves have barely scratched the surface of in terms of travel and discovery!

It’s worth taking the example of the biker community in Britain when it comes to seeing more of the unique spectacles of wild Britain. Bikers tend to be really active at the weekends and in holiday periods during the summer when they can get their bikes out and go roaming the countryside, enjoying the nice weather and taking in whatever sights they can find.

The journey

The key is to take pleasure in the journey. The fact is that holidaying in Britain is only partly about the destination and your trip may just take you through some of the most stunning parts of the country. Bikers always plan their routes with the scenery in mind and they often throw in a few stops along the way so that every journey is a little more rewarding and a little more of an experience.

Fit more in

Trips, holidays and weekends away are always more memorable when you fit more into them. The great thing about travelling around Britain is that you have a fantastic opportunity to explore from the moment you step out your front door – there is no taxi to the airport, no long wait in the departure lounge, no tiresome flight and transfer, there is only the open road and the promise of bucolic spectacle whatever the weather.

If the British climate can sustain a community of bikers committed to a fuller experience of the country in which they live, then anyone can enjoy the rivers, lakes, forests, moors, hills, valleys, cliffs and plateaus that Britain is famous for. It only takes a little research to throw up a whole host of possibilities whichever part of the country you live in, so next time you get the urge to travel and see new things, channel the spirit of the Great British biker!

Iain Rimmer is a keen biker, often writing on behalf of Club Promoto

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Although this is apparent, it’s very often the case that people think they need to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to find a place where they can truly relax in beautiful surroundings, wanting to feel as though they’ve been whisked away to another world.

Whilst there’s no doubt somewhere like the Caribbean can do just that, for most of us, there’s somewhere closer to home that can meet those needs exactly – and for us in the UK, that place is Sutherland, Scotland.

Serene Scotland

Scotland itself is well-known around the world for its lochs, glens and mountains, but many Brits – particularly the younger generations – seem to disregard the country as a true relaxation destination, when the truth is it is just as beautifully stunning and serene as many other global destinations.

And there are plenty of people who’d say certain parts of the country, such as Sutherland in the north, are more stunning and serene than anywhere else in the world!

One of the country’s oldest, traditional counties and the fifth biggest in terms of size (although it now falls under the Highlands umbrella), it is so sparsely populated that your average-sized Scottish town has more people living in it, resulting in a landscape that appears to be almost completely unspoilt.

Ben Hope

Take the 3,000 foot high Ben Hope, which provides glorious views of the surrounding area (including the Orkney Islands on a clear day), as an example.  Fantastic for amateur and experienced walkers alike (a phrase that applies to the whole of the county), Ben Hope is one of Scotland’s least climbed mountains – purely because of its location – giving it a very magical, traditionally-Scottish feel.

And a discussion about Sutherland can’t take place without a mention of Sandwood Bay.  Often reported as being one of the most secluded beaches in the world, its wonderful sands can only be reached by foot on a four mile amble along a well-trodden track from the nearest town of Blairmore.

But if you’re happy to make the journey, you can not only sample the golden sands and clear blue sea, but you get to view the awe-inspiring Am Buachille, a sea stack just off the coast that gives you a fantastic feeling of being watched over whilst you relax.

Sutherland is just one part of Scotland that oozes beauty and serenity and although every other part of the country does have its similar areas, when you’ve been to Sutherland once, you’ll struggle to convince yourself you need to go anywhere else when you want to escape the hustle and bustle of every day life.

Images courtesy of Cottages and Castles.

Matthew Bettoli writes for Cottages and Castles who offer holiday cottages in Sutherland for your next getaway.

View Scotland in a larger map

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Euro / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Images Money

Better Out Than In?

Many in the UK have been feeling pretty smug over the last couple of years, as Europe struggles to get a firm hold on the future of the single currency. There is no longer any dispute over whether the UK was right to decline entry into the single currency. However, it is becoming more and more apparent that our fortunes are inextricably linked with the health, or otherwise, of the Euro Zone and its member states.

The Advantages of a Weak Euro for UK Tourists

The Association of British Travel Agents recently remarked that there has never been a better time to go to Greece, but the reasons for that advice go much deeper than simply the exchange rate. Greece, which is struggling to elect a new government at the moment, is sitting on the brink of a financial abyss. This means that although holiday prices for British tourists are barely any lower than normal, they can take advantage of the desperation of Greek businesses in the face of such difficult times. Special offers abound throughout Greek resorts as businesses fight for their share of vital tourist income. So, the combination of the weak Euro and the intense competition amongst desperate Greek business owners can make for a very cheap time, for UK tourists going to the resorts at the moment. To a lesser degree, similar situations can be found in other Euro Zone countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy and Ireland.

The Effects of a Weak Euro on the UK Tourism Industry

Unfortunately, the weak Euro has the opposite effect on tourists that would normally come to the UK for a holiday or a short break. They are finding it increasingly expensive, when they look to convert their ailing Euros into UK Sterling. If the Euro continues to decline against the Pound, many who may have previously have come to the UK from Euro Zone countries, could give it a miss and choose destinations within the Euro Zone so that they have no worries about exchange rates.

Wider Considerations

Another factor to consider is the effect the increasing uncertainty about the Euro has on the confidence of the would-be traveller. The issues being raised by the Euro’s uncertainty is also spreading an element of fear amongst holidaymakers. Since the financial gloom descended upon us some several years ago, quite a number of holiday firms and airlines have gone to the wall. The crisis facing the Euro only makes it more likely that other operators will fail before too long.

Only recently, holiday giant Thomas Cook needed a £200 million bail out, after seeing its shares slump dramatically as bookings fell by a third at the end of 2011. The effect this will have on the wider tourism industry has yet to be realised, but a struggling Thomas Cook can hardly help consumer confidence in them, or any other tourism operator for that matter.

Summary

So, while the Euro weakening against the Pound may be great for UK tourists going to the Euro Zone in the short term, it may not be such good news for the industry as a whole as the crisis deepens. A lack of tourists visiting the UK could be to the detriment of our economy as a whole, which could mean that UK consumers may not have the disposable income to take advantage of the strong Pound on holidays abroad in the future.

Guest post provided by ITC Classics luxury holidays, for holidays with a touch of class.

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