Here are five of the weirdest travel tips, and whether you should take heed of them on your next trip.

1. Leave your car unlocked.

Most of us would consider this completely mad advice, but there’s actually quite a bit of evidence to show this titbit has solid standing. Most car repairs in holiday destinations are actually the replacement of smashed windows. Leaving your car empty of anything you deem valuable and unlocked at night means thieves can clearly see that you have nothing worth stealing in your car – without breaking in.

Photo by Tim Lucas

2. Wear a fake wedding ring.

Women travellers are frequently given this advice when heading to countries where they could be targeted by unwanted suitors. Although some aren’t happy with lying, there’s no doubt that a fake wedding band will help avoid or get out of difficult situations.

3. Take allergy medication on the plane with you.

If you’re allergic to cats, you might be used to taking your medication when visiting a friend with the little furballs, but why would you need it on a plane? Even if your flight isn’t one transporting animals in its hold, cat owners will most likely be carrying some hair from their pets on their clothes. Take into account the recycled air in the cabin, and you’ll be glad your meds aren’t in your checked-in bag when you’re half way to your luxury chalets in Verbier.

Photo by kelly

4. Don’t eat street food.

Although hygiene standards where you’re travelling may not be the same as home, and food poisoning is a risk, don’t let this stop you enjoying the culinary delights. Street foods in many places are some of the most delicious and cheap dishes you can buy. Just use your common sense – if the stand looks like it hasn’t ever been cleaned, or the vendor looks ill, move on to the next one.

5. No PDA.

In certain countries, in particular the UAE, it’s not only illegal to have relations in public, but also to hug, hold hands and kiss. Any advice like this should not be taken lightly – there have been many tourists thrown in jail for these kinds of offences, so make sure you save it for the bedroom.

Photo by Marco

What’s the strangest piece of travel advice you’ve been given? Did you act on it? Let us know in the comments!

Gavin Harvey is a fitness fanatic and avid traveller who has been given some very odd advice in the past. He currently writes for Dynamic Lives with travel advice.

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Pierre Vivant’s sculpture, Traffic Light Tree in the Docklands, London by

Travel and Timing

London being a big city is highly busy and crowded and can also be a little costly to get around. Getting a taxi then is not a smart move if you want to keep prices down and avoid a lot of stress (though of course you might like the idea of travelling in a London black cab), which means you need to take the tube.

And this is why I highly recommend going on your London night out earlier than you might do a night out at home. Head into central London for 5 or even 4, and you can this way start drinking early and get a good seat before the bankers and other business men and women start to arrive.

This has several other advantages too – firstly it means you will be there for the happy hor drinks and this way you can save huge amounts of money that you would otherwise spend on even a single drink so you can ensure you’re in good spirits early on. Then you will head to the club for around 9.30 or 10 – missing the expensive entry prices that tend to come into effect around 11, and you’ll be able to head back around 12.30am/1am after a good night of dancing and still get the tube home to where you’re staying very cheaply and with no hassle.

London evening panorama, UK by Alexander Kachkaev

Where to Go

The best place to go for your full London experience is Covent Garden. Covent Garden is a fantastically scenic area that’s within walking distance of some of the other central areas too like Leicester Square. It has plenty of great places to eat, but also a lot of brilliant clubs and bars. A few exciting and different places to visit are Adventure Bar – a bar/club set underground where the staff set fire to things and get half undressed creating a very crazy atmosphere, Roadhouse  – a club with lots of great rock music and cheese, and Foundation Bar – where you can drink cocktails out of teapots and test tubes and enjoy a dance floor with its own live Saxophonist. Alternatively if you want to try something a bit different you might want to sign up for the Medieval  Banquet where you can watch a brilliant show while drinking out of chalices and eating with your hands.

Of course there are plenty of other great areas to visit in London too, such as Camden which has a brilliantly artistic and alternative vibe, or Kingston for a huge Oceana with multiple floors and different themed rooms. If you just want some quiet drinks meanwhile with some atmosphere, then the O2 can offer a lot of brilliant cocktail bars, while you can also get a lot of nice drinks at the Westfield Center in Shepherd’s Bush.

Jeff is an avid blogger. He has keen interest in writing about travelling. He is part of the team www.lanzarotevillas.ie, which is a volcanic island having spectacular scenery and stark beauty.

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Flamenco dance by Flavio (back for a while…)

Types

The first thing that most of us associate with the flamenco tradition is castanets and brightly coloured dresses but these are just two of the elements which make up a flamenco performance. As well as the dancing and castanets, flamenco performers will also sing, clap their hands along with the music and play on the traditional style Alhambra guitar. Flamenco has its roots in the Romany gypsy culture of the southern part of Spain, and the city which is the spiritual home to flamenco performers is Seville.

Performers

The flamenco tradition is alive and kicking throughout Spain but still predominates in the south. Informally, at many weddings you can expect to see an uncle get out one of his Alhambra guitars and start to strum a few chords, accompanied by another family member on vocals. There are also many professional flamenco performers, the best of which have the star status usually afforded to pop stars or movie stars. The genre of flamenco has developed over the years and there are many different styles of the music and dancing, some forming crossovers with other art forms such as ballet or tap dancing.

Duende

The key to a good flamenco performance is “duende” a Spanish word which is roughly translated as soul or passion. Flamenco performers put incredible passion into their performances and try to convey the words of the singer through the dance movements. In traditional flamenco performances maturity is an advantage as it is thought that the “duende” develops with age and that teenagers and young adults do not have sufficient life experience to interpret the moves properly. Flamenco in Spain is therefore very popular with dancers in their 30s, 40s or even older.

Experiencing Flamenco

Perhaps the best flamenco experiences are when you stumble across a bar in a remote village and hear the strains of the Alhambra classical guitar coming from inside. Most visitors to Spain are not so lucky, and it can be difficult to find a performance which is authentic and not simply tailored to tourists’ tastes. Going by car to one of the larger towns and cities away from the coast can make it easier to find somewhere, or ask the staff members at your holiday accommodation to recommend somewhere with an authentic feel to it. Some of the best known and most professional flamenco performances are booked up months in advance, so investigate what is due to be happening before you make your holiday plans. If you get bitten by the flamenco bug, there always classes in the UK which will teach you the basics.

Excellent Spanish guitars, ideal for Flamenco, include the stunning Alhambra guitar which can be found at London Guitar Studio’s wonderful online store.

The post Basics of Flamenco – a deeply-rooted tradition in southern Spanish culture appeared first on Best of European Union.

St Johns Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta

St Johns Co-Cathedral, Valletta

The first destination you’ll want to beeline for out of a Malta hotel is St Johns Co-Cathedral, an ancient wonder over 500 years old. The history of Malta and Catholicism in Europe is intrinsically linked to Valetta with St Johns Co-Cathedral marking one of the most important destinations or piece of property in Malta’s rich history. It was the noblemen of Europe charged with defending their faith against invading forces that led to Malta being a strategic centre in the Mediterranean and after the Great Siege of 1565, Valetta was established, fortified and made a holy place. A mere 12 years later St Johns Co-Cathedral was completed as a destination; no doubt the perfect Malta weather aided this rapid completion. Today St Johns Co-Cathedral acts as a cultural centre for Valetta with many traditional events taking place here which makes it a must-see site in Malta.

The Grandmaster’s Palace, Valletta

The most important modern spot in Valetta also happens to be one of the most important in its history. Travel to this Malta destination if you want to experience the definition of opulence in architecture, because The Grandmaster’s Palace fits many roles. As a tourist destination there is more than enough to awe at, as is houses the House of Representatives and the Office of the President of Malta it is the most important governmental structure in Malta and as a historical building it was once simply the home of Eustachio del Monte built in 1571. Antique weapons and halls of empty knights line the corridors and it’s not uncommon to see a chandelier more elegant and opulent than the last. The Grandmaster’s Palace is amazing to behold and should be a priority to visit in Malta.

It’s clear from these two very good examples, that Malta is more than enough to sate the curiosity of the historic enthusiast. Malta destinations are among the most important in existence with numerous World Heritage Sites dotting the island; it truly is a place of unique importance.

Eugene Calvini has been on enough Malta holidays to know the island is a special tourist spot and enjoys exposing the best the country has to offer.

The post Two Malta Destinations to Visit on Your Historic Holiday appeared first on Best of European Union.

Photo by admin

Book outside of school holidays

The best tip of them all has to be avoiding school holidays as the price of your holiday is likely to rise significantly. To get an idea of how much more it would cost to travel inside term time, when you are choosing a date for a flight scroll back to show earlier dates and see how much more you would have to pay. Travel companies are fully aware how much higher demand is in school holidays which is why they adjust their prices accordingly. However being retired you should normally have more weeks available when you are free to travel. Times to avoid are Easter, half terms and the summer holidays which run from the last week in July until the start if September. Granted this is peak time but if you are going somewhere where it is hot from April to October then it can make financial sense to avoid the school holidays.

Book in advance OR last minute

OK ill explain this one. With some holidays it benefits you to book as far in advance as possible for example if booking cheap flights to a popular European destination. If you know your holiday dates in advance (as most retired people will do) then it obviously makes sense to book early and save. However some holidays are best bought at the last minute as airlines and hotels will have seats and rooms that they need to fill. If you are flexible over your destination and dates then wait to see what last minute holiday deals become available. This used to be done using teletext but most now use the internet to find the latest offers. Of course there is no harm going into a good old fashioned travel agent and doing the same thing!

Use a credit card, not a debt card

The reason for this is that an increasing amount of card fraud is being committed against travellers abroad. If you use a debt card and someone clones your details they can potentially empty your bank account in one go, leaving your with no money whatsoever. However if you only use a credit card, although they can make fraudulent transactions you will see these when you receive your monthly bill which when allows you to inform your card company. In other words you wont have to pay for them and then try and recoupe the money. Some credit cards also provide insurance cover for purchases so that if you buy something abroad that either turns out to be faulty or is not delivered, you can reclaim the purchase amount through the card company’s insurance cover.

This article was produced by Simon who runs pension website Annuity City. Visit them for the top annuity rates on the market.

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Brittany ferries by Mike Cattell

As the airline business-class began to become more about business and less about class, the ‘no-frills’ policy that they have adopted (from air hostess to flight commando) is putting off travelers from booking with them. Travelers like their trip to be an experience, not an inconvenience. Ferries make trips special. And that is why every traveler to the UK needs a quick overview on them to be able to seriously consider ferries as their prime mode of transport for a vacation.

The Money

At first glance, the ferry may seem more expensive than air travel… but ferries have no hidden costs, also the ticket is per car, not per person, so it may cover several people. Also you get the car to come along, which is a huge comfort on trips and you save on renting wheels. Best of all ferries aren’t nit picky about baggage and allow more baggage than airlines anyways. So there’s almost no excess baggage hassle. With your car, you even save on transport to and from the port! A ferry ticket is a full paid deal with no hassles or strings.

Time Well Spent?

Ferries take longer to get there. No doubt. But you’re on VACATION! What’s the rush? Airlines have now becomes grey, clinical and exact. They are more suited to the business world, where travel time is time lost. If you’re traveling for vacation, then by definition you should enjoy the trip… and a ferry is the perfect way to do that. Not dreadfully slow (it’s fairly fast actually) most ferries have sun decks, organized sports, souvenir shops and  à al carte restaurants so the passengers can relax and enjoy both the scenery and the company. Some bigger ferries that cater to longer trips also have a built in cinema for the kids! (how’s that for frills?)

Blissful Cruising:

England is a land rich with scenic beauty and culture. Flying above all that beauty without savoring it seems like a real waste. A ferry trips make for a riveting journey, where port stops are a delight and the journey is so much more that the destination…. Get a chance to see Buckinghamshire, Oxford shire, Berkshire and the University town of Oxford, hike across the coastal trails of Devon and Cornwall, photograph beautiful bare moors, and get enchanted by the art-lovers resort at St Ives. Let traveling be about what it should be… the unexpected delights of a journey.

Article by Channel Ferries.

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“Dove Cottage”, home of William Wordsworth, near Grasmere, England by Strobilomyces

Slate

As you wander around Ambleside and Keswick, two of the most popular towns with visitors, you will notice that a large number of the buildings are constructed from slate and many more have slate roofs. Indeed the slate cottage is one of the characteristic Lakeland dwellings, featuring on many postcards and is a sought after place to stay – you will notice many bed and breakfasts and holiday lets housed in slate buildings. It is of no coincidence that these slate houses occur so frequently in Lakeland towns and villages; within the surrounding mountains there are deposits of slate, which were mined extensively in days gone by. While there may not be many slate mines still open in the Lake District, you are able to visit that at Honister Pass where you are able to take a guided underground tour and can purchase various slate mementos from the shop there.

Stone

Another typical style of Lakeland house is that of stone, again quarried locally, which has had its walls white limewashed to prevent damp – it does rain considerably in the Lake District, so be prepared when you visit. A good example of this type of home is Dove Cottage in Grasmere (a short drive from Ambleside), which was home to William Wordsworth, one of England’s finest poets. As with many properties, including those let to buy, you will notice that slate also makes an appearance on the roof and chimney stack of this cottage, as well as on the floor of the downstairs rooms. A guided tour of the cottage, including what was Wordsworth’s study, provides details of features in each room and is well recommended.

Times gone by

Following your trip to Grasmere, you might like to drive on to Near Sawrey, to visit the home of another famous literary person from Lakeland, Beatrix Potter. The 17th century farmhouse of Hill Top was bought by Beatrix with some of the money she made from the sale of her first books. Holidays to the Lake District as a child inspired her work and she went on to write many more tales of animals after purchasing Hill Top Farm. The site is now owned by the National Trust and visitors can see the interior, complete with the same furniture and possessions, as when Beatrix lived there until 1943. It is worth spending some time in the grounds, as the cottage garden is full of flowers, herbs and fruits typical of its time. The house and gardens can be considered to be a time capsule of the era.

In harmony

There are many more towns, villages and properties with historical interest that you might wish to visit while in the Lake District, each with its own character and style; those discussed here are merely a selection to get you started. Wherever you choose to go, your journey through Lakeland will demonstrate how well the buildings here blend into the surrounding countryside and this factor certainly contributes to the beauty of the area. Features such as dry stone walls, hedgerows and narrow lanes help with the continuum between settlements and the natural environment, but tight building regulations within the National Park have helped to preserve the landscape.

Claire Harrow regularly travels throughout England visiting the many beautiful historic towns and villages where local buildings often reflect locally available stone and construction techniques and styles that go back generations giving them a truly unique appeal.

The post Cottages of Lakeland – Architecture in the Lake District | United Kingdom appeared first on Best of European Union.

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.

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