Lapland seems to be a very romantic destination, who could fail to fall in love in the snow and pine forests. I didn’t realise how different Lapland could be; it has the big cities, which are perfect for those hen and stag do’s, as well as the beautiful snow fields with their traditional huts and, of course, Father Christmas!

Now Ibiza isn’t the first place you think of when you think of weddings, the stag and hen do’s yes, but tell everyone you are getting married there and it might raise a few eyebrows! But Ibiza isn’t just about clubs, with intimate caves and panoramic views, it can give you a unforgettable wedding venue.

My final potential wedding destination isn’t technically abroad, though you do have to cross the country boundary to get there. Scotland has to be one of the most magical settings for a wedding, with the backdrop of the highlands and civil ceremonies being held in the country houses. It is true that you aren’t guaranteed the weather you would be in Greece, Ibiza or even the perfect winter of Lapland, but then the glens look so beautiful with the rain and mist coming in, why would you want it any other way?

While this may seem like a brilliant idea with the vast majority of us thinking we can pack light enough to only need the one bag when it comes to the date we tend to hit a major problem. Since the rules and regulations have been changed you cannot bring liquids over 100ml on flights, this includes shampoos, moisturisers, hair sprays and perfumes. Although it is easy enough to get these products in other countries many of us like to stick with the brands we know and as such want to take with us. Let’s have a look at the typical toiletries we want to take with us.

Make up is a debated topic but if you stick to the simple rule of liquid and gel it is quite straightforward. Items such as liquid foundation or eye liner, mascara, lip balm and lip stick all count as needing to be in 100ml bottles and must fit in a small plastic bag. However powdered foundation, baby powder and talcum powder are fine and can be packed away in hand luggage.

As mentioned before items such as shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, body lotion and mouthwash are classed as liquids and must be in bottles under 100ml and fit within the plastic bag. Gels such as toothpaste, deodorant and lip balm are under the same restrictions.

It is important to remember that just like drinks you can take these on the plane if you buy them the other side of the security barriers so if you are planning a short weekend away why not grab a travel pack while you are waiting to board and have all your favorite brands or be adventurous and try something new while on holiday.

There are certain conditions that are needed for a successful hot air ballooning trip, the winds need to be just right, not too strong and obviously heavy rain is not worth going up in. Because of this it is important to book a trip for a time of year where perfect conditions are more likely to occur such as June or July.

Other unusual activities to take part in within the UK include zorbing. This is a relatively new past time which places participants within a plastic ball and they then roll down a hillside. While to many this may not sound like very much fun to a number of people it is actually a fast growing activity so why not give it a go and see what all the fuss is about.

If you want to get away somewhere different this summer why not pick an alternative accommodation choice such as a windmill, castle or lighthouse. There are a great many choices out there if you are looking for something a bit different this summer.

There are a growing number of people who are starting up this tradition once again, not because the wine is so much cheaper, although it does tend to be cheaper than here. But because of the adventure and sense of fun the road trip provides. If you don’t live close to Dover these trips tend to involve either a very early start or a set off the day before. While this may not sound fun you get a certain sense of comradely with this, making sure everyone is up on time and betting who will be last there. Then you have the journey to Dover, the jokes that are told, the adventures along the way – often based around whether the car will break down or not!

The shared experiences of motorway service station food, or if you’re very organised have picnics there as lorries roll by and the petrol fumes fill the air.

Then you have the ferry crossing itself and finally you are in Calais and you have the nightmare of trying to find your way to and from supermarkets. The arguments when you get lost and the worry you’ll miss the ferry home.

Now this may not sound that fun on paper but once you go on one of these trips you’ll look back with very fond memories of the day, no matter how it turns out. It might be eccentric but it is a very British past time and something we shouldn’t lose.

Every tour follows the same basic process with its own take on it; the tour tends to be conducted by their chief whisky maker. They take you on a journey around their distillery for an in depth look at their domain and the barrel warehouse, this tends to be a tour that takes around two hours. After this you will have time with the chief whisky maker as you sample the whisky made in the distillery and often they will also ask you to compare their whisky to those from around the world.

If you have a passion for whisky or bourbon undertaking a tour of a distillery is a great way to spend a wet and windy Sunday afternoon and lets you really get under the skin of the distillery and the whisky making process. Tours on average cost £20, for the most part children are allowed on these tours but of course cannot partake in the tasting part although you might be able to get a few more samples for yourself! Distilleries tend to have set days they run their tours on so if you have a specific distillery in mind to visit or if you are visiting a specific area simply ring up the distillery to book on to a tour or visit their website for more details and book yourself in.

This is possibly due to the fact that hefty medical expenses won’t be on par with that of the medical expenses in another country. This is because we are already covered by the health care system in this country.

Most insurance companies in the UK do however allow their customers to take out some form of travel insurance for trips made in the same country.

The question that arises from this comes in the form of ‘Is UK travel insurance really worth the added expense?’

Events such as delayed departures, cancelled or missed flights and the loss of personal items can all still occur in the UK. This is why it is certainly wise to think bout investing in a little extra cover, especially since the above items are most certainly not confined to travel abroad.

UK breaks travel insurance covers policyholders for the likes of missed and delayed departures, personal items, transfers to hospitals if needed and curtailment and cancellations.

Another form of insurance that people may neglect is study abroad cover. You may not class this as a holiday but at the end of the day, you are still in another country and anything that does go wrong will come at a hefty expense.

Most specialists will provide cover for both you and your possessions whilst studying abroad, this could also include the likes of work placements.

Things that you can expect to be included in the cover come in the form of medical emergency costs, pre-paid course fees, landlord fixtures and fittings, trips home to the UK during your period of cover and mobile phones and laptops.

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.

Fancy heading to the Netherlands? Here are my top picks for some briliant sightseeing in Europe’s brightest city.

Flower Market

Amsterdam (and indeed Holland) is famous for it’s amazing array of flowers. It’s not all tulips though – something you’ll easily see as you stroll through the amazing Flower Market in the city, alongside the equally famous canals!

Anne Frank’s House

The story of a girl and her family hiding from the Nazis in the city has captured the minds of people around the world for generations, but it doesn’t quite hit home how extraordinary Anne’s story truly is until you step foot inside the house where she hid in the cramped flat behind the bookcase. A must see to remind yourself of the power of history.

Canal boat tour

The canals of Amsterdam are world renowned and the best way to see them is by boat! Hop on one of the many tours for a day out you won’t forget.

The Red Light District

In case you didn’t know, prostitution is legal in Amsterdam. Whatever you think about it, the loud, bright, brash neighbourhood of the Red Light District is certainly an eye opener and if it’s bars and clubs you’re looking for, then head here (Although it is pricey!)

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.

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.