Llandudno promenade, North Wales, UK by Denis Egan

Llandudno is a relatively small town with just 20,000 residents, but often swells during spring and summer months from visitors that are keen to see what Llandudno is all about. In this article, we’ll give you a few ideas for things to do and see whilst in Llandudno for a day. Whilst we always suggest staying a few days to get the full experience, visiting the town is always worth going to, no matter when or for how long.

Hopefully you will be in the town in the morning, meaning you can start the day with a spot of breakfast in one of the hotels in Llandudno overlooking the bay or one of the towns many friendly café’s. After you’ve stocked up on some energy, it’s time to start enjoying the town.

In the morning, you should get yourselves over to the tram station at the base of the Great Orme. From here, you can jump on the tram which will give you a scenic, easy and pleasant ride up to the summit of the Orme. You can also drive up- or even walk instead, but you must know it can take a while due to the steepness of the hill. Once you reach the top, you can take in the breathtaking views, ramble through the land, visit the Bronze Age Copper Mine and get a bite to eat or something to drink at the Summit Complex. Kids will love the opportunity to play in the park at the summit and with a mini golf course; you can’t go wrong with a visit to the Great Orme.

Llandudno Pier, North Wales, UK by Denis Egan

Heading down the other side of the Orme will take you back to the main town. We’d recommend taking a wander through Happy Valley and visiting the Victorian Pier as the next point of call. The pier is famous and remains a prime attraction of the town and is home to a range of shops, amusement arcades and bars & eateries. After you’ve checked this out, you could take a wander across the promenade, trip to the artificial ski slope and toboggan run, sit on the beach, browse the extensive selection of shops located on Mostyn Street, Parc Llandudno Shopping Complex and the Victoria Shopping Centre. You can even see if there’s something on at Venue Cymru, where an exceptional range of shows take place throughout the year, allowing the locals and visitors of Llandudno is enjoy some world class entertainment.

Llandudno can be seen in a day, but as you can now see, should most definitely be given a little longer. To experience Llandudno properly, book in at a hotel in Llandudno, providing the perfect base to your memorable adventure.

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Going away for a week or two can be quite a stretch to your (already overstretched) budget and your priorities may change whilst trying to find something suitable. Whether you are looking for sun, sea and sand or tracking down an action adventure holiday overseas- everyone is out to find the very best when booking their summer break. Whilst budgeting isn’t usually fun, it has to be done, so here is a rough guide to the best ways to budget whilst you are on holiday.

Elche, Palm capital, Spain / Photo by admin

Determine how much you can afford to spend

Before you start to book anything, sit down and work out how much you can afford to spend. Try breaking this down into flights, accommodation and living costs whilst you are there. It may be cheaper to consider a self-catering apartment rather than a hotel if eating out is going to be expensive. However if you are going somewhere like Eastern Asia, dining out is cheap, cheap, cheap, so your budget will probably stretch a bit further than it would in the US or Europe.

Check out the free attractions

Most destinations will have a variety of free museums, galleries and other attractions to keep you amused during the day. Pick up a travel guide from your local book shop- these will usually tell you what is free and the ones that will blow your budget. Some European countries like Amsterdam or Berlin, have one day a week when all of their galleries etc are free, so be sure to check that out before you go. If you are lucky enough to be a student- remember to take your student cards as many museums and public transport are free to students and young people.

Check out last minute deals

If you don’t mind where you go, but just fancy a few days away from it all, there are plenty of cheap holidays available online, as part of last minute packages. Discounted rates are offered on hotels and flights to fill up spaces still left unsold. If you are willing to take a chance on a lesser-known city, or if you are lucky enough to have flexible working hours- leave it to the last minute and take a look online

Consider travelling at a different time of year

If you are looking to catch some rays whilst you are away, consider going a little later in the year when peak season has died down. Many places will still be relatively warm all the way through to October. Holidays in Turkey for example, will enjoy plenty of sunshine if you are willing to hold off for just a few more weeks. If you go during the summer, you will be faced with paying peak prices, for both your flights and your accommodation, so seriously think about where you want to go and if you can wait until later in the year.

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Photo by William Murphy

Mini cruises are a great option if you want to sample a destination or area, without committing a whole fortnight to it. You can relax and unwind for a long weekend, or enjoy a mid-week getaway to many destinations. Just because you can’t spare much time doesn’t mean your choice of cruise ships is limited either. The majority of cruise companies now have a short break option, often sailing from ports within the UK so you don’t waste any time travelling to ports in resort.

Stroll along the canals in Bruges, relax in a cosmopolitan cafe in Rotterdam, or explore a traditional fishing village in Spain – whatever takes your fancy, there’s a mini cruise to suit you even if you only have a few nights to spare.

With so many fabulous ships to choose from, some people opt for mini cruises just to enjoy the wide range of activities on board. Try your luck in a casino, take a dip in a refreshing pool or sing and dance the night away at a cabaret show – all without stepping foot off your chosen ship!

If you’re planning a birthday surprise, a hen do or a romantic long weekend away, mini cruises are a fantastic option. Holidays away with groups can sometimes be more stressful than they’re worth, as it’s hard to have your own space and keep everyone happy. This is where short cruise escapes are ideal, as you can spend time together, or go off and do your own thing for a while, whilst still all being onboard the same magnificent floating hotel.

With mini cruises available for a range of durations and destinations, there really is no excuse not to hop aboard and treat yourself to a few days of escapism…

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Photo by admin

Choose your travel companions

Holidays can be stressful; they shouldn’t be, but sometimes they are.  It definitely helps if you are travelling with people you know you’ll get along with, and who will give you space when you need it. Staying in the same hotel room, or even a house, with a bunch of people you aren’t used to living with – even if they are your best friends – can be taxing on a relationship.

Plan ahead

Arriving in a new country or city can be overwhelming. There are so many new things to do, so many things to see; you could get overwhelmed by all the different activities you want to do. You could always dive in headfirst and go with whatever takes your fancy, but I find it’s better to plan out a rough schedule to avoid time constraints and ensure that you do everything that you want to do.

Conversely, if you arrive somewhere and aren’t sure of what you can do there, a little research in advance can’t hurt. Who knows, you might find a new favourite activity or restaurant. Knowledge is power!

Save up

For maximum enjoyment and to reduce stress, budget your trip beforehand. This is especially useful for long and/or overseas trips. The last thing you want to have to worry about on a holiday is how much you can spend. Estimate how much you want to spend per day – think about the types of meals you want to eat (will you be dining out every day, or are some “home”-cooked meals on the menu?), are you planning on purchasing any souvenirs? Or going to any attractions that involve buying tickets?

It’s best to work out a budget for your trip as soon as possible, so you can start putting aside money in preparation for it. That way, you can focus on having fun, rather than balancing the books.

Accommodation

Where you stay plays a fairly important role in your enjoyment of the holiday. After all, it’s the place you’ll come back to at the end of the day to unwind and to sleep. If you envision lazy days by the pool, choose a place with a pool. If you some private time in the bathroom, make sure your room has an en suite. It’s also a good idea to choose a hotel or hostel that’s close to the city central or somewhere close to public transport, so it’s easy to get around.

Sarah Paige is a travel expert currently living in Vale, in Western Australia, until her next intrepid adventure.

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Loket has 3 000 inhabitants and it is located in the Sokolov District in the Karlovy Vary region of the Czech Republic. Most people visit Loket as a day trip from Karlovy Vary, but it’s also a sleepy place to ease off the travel accelerator for a few days.

Loket means “elbow” in English. The town is named this due to the town centre being surrounded on three sides by the Ohře River, and the shape the river takes is similar to that of an elbow. The town centre itself features Loket Castle, a 12th century gothic castle. The town centre is a national monument and as such is preserved from modern developments.

There is an annual opera festival in an open air amphitheatre with the castle as a backdrop.

View 12th century gothic Castle Loket with historical village in Czech republic in a larger map

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