Short Breaks UK

With valentine’s day just around the corner many peoples thoughts are turning to romantic getaways somewhere that isn’t the UK. But is going abroad really the most romantic destination or does the UK have a few romantic locations to beat the likes of the Eiffel Tower?

When you think about the most romantic ideas for dates the beach has to be up the as the most romantic possible. Think cuddling up near a roaring fire, walking hand in hand along a deserted beach what is not to love? So why not book a B&B on the coast and enjoy a simply romantic weekend away hoping the weather holds!

One getaway in the UK that cries of for wet and rainy weather is a trip in to the wilds of the moors. These areas have to be Britain’s unsung natural habitats and are an unusual choice for a getaway, but they can be the perfect place to rekindle the romance. Play out your own Heathcliffe and Cathy scenes across the moors then curl up with a delicious afternoon tea or soak in a luxuriously warm bath while listening to the rain outside. This is ideal for those who want to hike across the moors and those who want to relax in luxury.

Another location many won’t have thought of are local hotels. Many people have some amazing hotels right on their door steps but because they are so close to home we never bother to try them out. Valentines day is the perfect opportunity to try these places, especially if you are unable to take time off work! Many have valentines offers on meaning you can try luxurious hotels in areas you know well providing you with the best of both worlds, an ideal valentines getaway in luxury and knowing the best places in town for food.

We’ve all heard the theory that that later you book the better deals you get, but is this always the case? Do you get bargain holidays if you book early as well?

There is no denying you can get some great deals if you book a package holiday late on, by late we mean eight to ten weeks before departure. Of course if you have nerves of steel and book a few days before you can get some amazing holidays for next to nothing. The reason why holiday are so cheap this close to departure is because tour operators don’t want to loose money. When planning their holidays tour operators book seats on flights and rooms in hotels, if they don’t sell the amount they’ve bought in a specific timeframe they lose their money. The closer you book to the departure date the lower the prices as they are desperate not to lose the money on the holiday.

If you are looking just to go somewhere hot and cheap then leave booking as long as possible, booking the week before you want to go means you can get some amazing trips for dirt cheap prices! Of course there are certain disadvantages to booking late; you need to be flexible on dates, times of flights and even locations. If you need specific hotels or services like crèches then it is best not to chance it with a last minute deal.

If you do want to stay at specific hotels on your holiday or need a hotel with certain facilities don’t fear you are missing out on bargains, there is another way to save. If you know when you want to go on holiday you can book early, that is up to nine months in advance and get some great deals. Tour operators tend to offer early booking brochure discounts which tend to be £100 couple discounts and buy one get one free weeks. These early sales help them to plan how many holidays to book themselves so they are keen to get people booked in early.

It is drilled in to us since we are small, if you are out in the sun for prolonged periods of time get the suntan lotion on and many of us dutifully follow those rules. But while we follow this unbreakable rule how many of us know the differences between the many products on offer to us?

Walk in to any shop and you’ll find row upon row of suntan lotions all offering different things and trying to grab our attention. But which is the right one for us and what do the different levels of SPSF actually mean?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, this factor measures how much ultraviolet, or UV, radiation it takes to burn your skin when it’s unprotected compared to how long it would take to burn in the same level of radiation when you have the suntan lotion on. The higher the SPF level the more protection it offers against sunburn.

It is a common myth that SPF levels relate to how long you can spend in the sun, for example if you stay in the sun for 30 minutes before burning and are wearing SPF 10 you should be able to stay in the sun for 300 minutes or 5 hours before burning. This may sound daft when you read it but people do believe this. SPF doesn’t just relate to the duration of sun exposure, it also relates to the amount of sun exposure. The intensity of the UV radiation also impacts on the amount of time you can spend in the sun.

The are other factors involved in the amount of time you can spend in the sun including the skin type of the user, the amount of suntan lotion that has been applied and the frequency of  the reapplication. What you do while wearing the suntan lotion also impacts, swimming tends to lead to loss of suntan lotion unless it states it is waterproof. The amount of sunscreen the skin has absorbed is also a factor.

You’re all set. You have your tickets, hotel booking and your passport ready to go. Now comes the hard part –packing! It can actually be quite difficult to pack a suitcase, especially if you want to make the best of the space you have. With that in mind, here are my top three methods for packing a suitcase:

The Rolling Effect

This is one I picked up while backpacking. There’s nothing worse than creased clothing and rolling your clothes actually creases them less than folding them. It also seems to take up much less space too. Lay flat and fold in the sleeves of any tops, then roll into a neat package. It’s also worth arranging the space into different sections – one for tops, one for bottoms, one for dresses etc.

Fold your clothes together

Taking 5 different vest tops? Lay them one on top of the other in a pile and then fold them all together, this can help to minimise the space that they take up and helps to reduce wrinkling.

The Bundling Method

This one is a bit trickier to explain, but it is well worth it. First of all you need to create your bundle, which should be around ½ the size of your suitcase. This could be all of your underwear and socks for example. Pop in a cloth bag or pillow case. Next start laying your clothes in the suitcase.

Start with the piece of clothes that wrinkles the most, or your biggest piece of outerwear. Lay the collar or waistband flat against the edge of the case and then let the remaining fabric drape on the outside.

Repeat this process but alternate which way you lay the clothes. When all your clothes are laid down, put your ‘bundle’ in the middle of the suitcase and then fold the draped fabric back into the case, over the top of the bundle. Do this in reverse order and you will end up with a large bundle that doesn’t waste any space in your suitcase and because they aren’t folded too much, your clothes should stay fairly wrinkle free!

Blackpool is one of the UK’s most famous cities and it’s thriving seaside atmosphere draws thousands of holidaymakers every year. But what is it about the city that keeps people coming back time and again? Here are a few of the best things to do in Blackpool.

Pleasure Beach
If you like rollercoasters and rides that get your adrenalin pumping, then Blackpool is one of the few places in the UK where you can get your fill of thrills. Set your pulse racing on one of over 125 rides, plus plenty of shows and attractions too. A new Nickelodeon area is coming to the resort, so it’s a great day out for kids – soak your friends on Sponge Bob’s Splash Bash or explore the world on Dora the Explorer’s World Voyage. For the adults there’s one of Europe’s tallest rollercoasters – the Pepsi Max Big One or head into the dark on the Valhalla.

Arcades
Blackpool is a bit like the UK’s answer to Las Vegas – full of bright lights and plenty of opportunities to gamble and enjoy the arcades. The seafront and around is crammed with neon lights, arcade games, coin machines, fruit machines and toy grabbers galore.

Sandcastle Waterpark
If you like your time at the seaside to involve lots of splashing but don’t fancy dipping your toes into the freezing British seas, then head to Sandcastle Waterpark. There are 18 slides and rides to choose from and there’s no chance of being chilly, with its 84º tropical climate. There’s an adventure area for the kids, the wavepool and of course the tranquil shimmer shadows for when you need a break.

Madame Tussauds
You don’t have to visit London to get up close and personal with wax statues of all your favourite celebrities. Wander amongst Hollywood royalty, music legends and sports stars and take snaps with your favourite famous people.

Amsterdam is a popular travel destination amongst people of many ages. With something to do there for everyone it is well worth a trip. One thing to think about before booking your holiday is insurance and with many cheap travel insurance policies available it shouldn’t be hard to find one that suits your needs. Here are a few of the attractions that Amsterdam offers:

Anne Frank’s House
Anne Frank is arguably Amsterdam’s most famous resident. Her diaries have been translated all over the world, and the museum is dedicated to her and her family who lived, hidden away in an annex, during World War II – outcast for being Jewish. Anne’s bravery, her life and that of her family make for an emotional tour of this museum.

Red Light District
Amsterdam is famous for its red light district, and it’s one of the few European places where prostitution is legal. It’s the oldest part of the city and well worth a wander, no matter what your poison (if any) – check out the colourful windows of ladies on display, the cheesey sex shops and the huge array of sex toys and tourist tat.

Flower Market
The Netherlands are famous for their tulips, which come in an amazing array of types and colours. Visit the Bloemenmarkt, or Flower Market, where hundred of flowers are displayed on floating stalls, for a truly unique experience.

Canal Tour
Amsterdam is famous for it’s canals and it’s a great way to see the city, so it only makes sense that you should hop on one of the many canal tours that are on offer. The 165 canals were declared a UNESCO monument back in 2010, but as well as being picturesque, they also played a vital role in defending and supplying 17th Century Amsterdam.

Stedelijk Museum
If you’re an art fan then you can’t go far wrong with the Stedelijk Museum. Housing pre-war paintings from the likes of Picasso, Cezanne and Chagall this is one not to be missed. But as if that weren’t enough, you can also get your fill of modern masters including Litchenstein, Judd, Nauman and Warhol. Another great art museum is the Van Gogh Museum which holds over 700 drawings and paintings by the troubled artist.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat was the first official musical of the formidable team of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. It is based on the biblical story of Joseph from the book of Genesis and is a continuous medley of songs.

The show was first presented as a fifteen-minute pop cantata at Colet Court School in 1968. It was received so well that they formed it into a full-length show. It then hit the West End and Broadway with rave reviews and had countless stars playing the main role of Joseph. Perhaps one of the most well known Josephs was Donny Osmond who also starred in the straight-to-video film of the show.

The show is sung throughout meaning there is no spoken dialogue apart from one line delivered by Potiphar’s wife! This makes it extremely accessible and combined with its family-friendly storyline, universal themes and catchy music; it has become a hit for schools and youth groups to perform as well. According to the Really Useful Group more than 20,000 schools and amateur theatre groups have successfully put on productions.

This very popular and outstanding musical has won and been nominated for countless Tony and Olivier awards, including Best Musical. Its popularity also rocketed after the TV show ‘Any Dream Will Do’, where Andrew Lloyd Webber himself chose a brand new, unknown, Joseph for a re-release of the colourful show in the West end. This production was at the Adelphi Theatre and starred Lee Mead as the new Joseph. This re-birth of the show increased its popularity and introduced it to younger generations.

It is safe to say that this musical is a classic. Nearly everyone can hum a few melodies from this vibrant show and most people in their child hood will have been apart of a Joseph production of some sorts. I myself had the honour of playing a sheaf of corn and a cow in Herod’s dream! Memories that stay with us forever are thanks to Andrew Llyod Webber and Tim Rice who created this masterpiece. Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat will never get old or be forgotten.

Sister Act the movie was a successful comedy film released in 1992, starring Whoopi Goldberg as Deloris Van Cartier. Deloris is a disco diva, who unfortunately witnesses her gangster partner Shank commit murder. She is put into protective custody by the police in the one place they’re sure she will never be found – a convent! During her time with the sisters, Deloris has to deal with limited conditions preventing her from smoking, drinking or contacting the outside world. However, when she is given command of the convent’s choir and succeeds in breaking the nuns out of their shells a bit, Deloris begins to feel right at home, to the shock of the Mother Superior, who is horrified by the change her formerly strictly traditional convent has undergone.

Disaster strikes, though, as due to all the publicity the convent has been receiving due to their innovative choir, Shank spots an image of Deloris in the paper and recognises her. When she finds out Shank is after her, Deloris initially leaves the convent, but she soon realises the life she led before is no longer the life she wants. She heads back to the sisters and Shank invades the convent, but is faced with a wall of defensive nuns. Police officer Eddie enters and saves the day, leaving Deloris and the sisters to realise they were never so different after all.

The appeal of Sister Act as a modern musical is clear. Like many more modern productions, it relies on cheerful comedy to draw in its audience and keep them smiling throughout. Underneath the happy surface also lies a real, moral message about adapting to the passage of time and not judging people for the things they have done in the past. Showing at the Palladium Theatre in London, the current run of Sister Act will be ending this October, so be sure to catch it before it’s too late! Check out tickets at http://www.reallyuseful.com/ now!