There’s only one thing that beats cheap days out – and that’s free days out. By collecting Airmiles you, your family and your friends can enjoy a choice of hundreds of free activities across the UK. They include rally driving, hot air ballooning, spa days, London shows, theme park trips, zoo visits and much more.

People think Airmiles can only be spent on free flight tickets. While many people collect them for this purpose, there are so many more things they can be used for. There is no end to the number of free activities on offer. What’s more, no-one has to know they’re free – so if you’re looking for an extra special gift for someone, why not choose something from the Airmiles collection There’s bound to be something that will suit them, and the only one who will know how much it really cost will be you.

The number of Airmiles needed for each activity varies, but you can enjoy free days out for as little as 210 miles. This will get you an adult’s entrance ticket for the heritage site Warwick Castle. A children’s ticket is even less miles, meaning you can have a family day out for four, for less than 700 Airmiles. If you prefer something with a bit more action, then 300 Airmiles will get you a paintballing experience for two and 355 miles gets you two tickets to a motorsports event.

Alternatively, why not visit a theme park? With Airmiles you can have free days out to Legoland, Thorpe Park, Chessington, Alton Towers and Diggerland. These are just a few of the free days out families can have with Airmiles.

Camping in France is so incredibly popular, and not just with the British. Regardless of where you choose to stay you will find that there are Dutch, German, French and lots of people from the Eastern European countries on campsites in France. You may not speak the same languages but it is amazing how quickly all the kids start to play together; football seems to be universally understood.

Making a success of your family holidays is simple because it is largely a state of mind. The pace is whatever you want it to be. You can eat when you like, get up when you choose and sit outside until the small hours just having a glass or two and talking. Of course booking a mobile home on a good site is pretty essential if you know that you would hate being in a tent. Mobile homes come with everything including the kitchen sink and even the most basic come with a good bathroom, a cooker and a fridge. Most camping holiday companies offer various levels of home and some of them are downright luxurious.

There will be holiday reps on the site to help you if you need any advice or have any problems and if a holiday company has invested in putting mobiles on to a campsite it is because they know that it has something special to offer. Whether it is a fantastic pool complex or direct access to a stunning beach you will find that they are perfect for family holidays. In fact once the children have left home you will probably find that you are still going to a French campsite because you will love just being able to relax and go with the flow.

With so many cheap flights to Rhodes available you would be silly not to visit. There are so many things to see and do in Rhodes, Greece it’s the perfect holiday destination. We hope you enjoy our top 10 things to do in Rhodes to give you a taste of what you can enjoy!

Pefkos Beach

This stunning beach is a prime example of mother nature’s beauty. The colour of the water shifts through every shade of blue throughout the day, simply begging the visitor to strip off and dive in for a refreshing dip. There are 35 miles of golden sand, and the beach is certified blue flag which is only awarded for high standards of excellence. There is also the opportunity to partake in a variety of water sports.

Palace of Grand Masters

The delightful Palace was constructed in the 14^th century by the Knights of the Rhodes who occupied the area between 1309 and 1522. The current structure is a restored version of the original Palace which suffered a great deal of damage in 1856 because of a ammunition explosion. However the building remains a must see as it is enormously impressive.

The Aquarium of Rhodes

Praise has to be granted to all of the people at this aquarium which do such a great preserving species of the Mediterranean Sea. There are 28 tanks in total, which all manner of species such as turtles, dolphins and seals are housed.

The Church of Panagi

The church is a remarkable sight to behold. From the outside the building has a white washed appearance, with a domed shape with red tiles. The floor inside is a beautiful black and white mosaic which is common feature of the Lindos area.

Faliraki Water Park

This exciting water park is one of the largest in Europe. The selection of slides, lazy river rides, rafting, wave pool, aqua-gym and many other thrills and spills which can cater for the entire family.

The Acropolis of Rhodes

Many years ago when constructing a settlement, they were often constructed on a hill for defense purposes. This original area is referred to as an Acropolis. Overtime more buildings would spring up stemming from the acropolis turning the original settlement into a town or a city. This extraordinary site consist of a temple, stadium and a small theatre.

The Medieval City of Rhodes

6000 inhabitants live in this mysterious world of shops, cafes, restraints and museums. The giant walls surrounding the city serve as a constant reminder to the intriguing history of this fascinating place. 500 years ago a group of Christians lived here trying to avoid the Muslim Ottoman empire which controlled all of the surrounding area.

Archaeological Museum of Rhodes

This museum was constructed by the crusaders as a hospital in the 15^th century. This grand structure took 50 years to build. The museum contains 13 collections of different artifacts, some of them are over 2000 years old.

Ostrich Farm Rhodes

The ostrich farm makes a fantastic day out for the family. Children will certainly love the wild and exotic animals on display in this safe and friendly attraction. There are Camels, Goats, Donkeys and over 120 Ostriches.

Valley of the Butterflies

During the summer months butterflies seek out areas of high humidity in order to reproduce. This is why this beautiful valley situated on situated on the river Pelekanos attracts so many wonderful butterflies every year.

Greece is a popular destination for holiday makers looking for sun, sand and sea and you can get some great cheap flights in the peak holiday season. Cheap flights to Greece can be found at most of the major UK airports making this beautiful holiday location easily accessible. If you’ve never been to Greece you may be wondering what delights await you. Here are some fantastic ideas of things to do whilst in Greece:

Try to catch the Hellenic festival that runs from June to September. You will be able to enjoy a mix of dance, music and theatre performances, which can be seen at the Odeion of Herodes built in 2000 AD in Athens. The amphitheatre at Epidaurus also shows classical Greek dramas throughout the festival season.

Greece is the place where you will find a beach that meets with every mood. Some of the top beaches include the pristine and white pebbled shores of Skiathos and a beautifully untouched stretch of beach called Plaka on Naxos.

Take a boat and sail the myriad islands of Greece. If you are an experienced sailor you can travel bareboat where you simply charter a boat or flotilla and you are lead by an expert yachtsman in a group or for the novice you can be skippered.

For the more adventurous, there are plenty of great spots to go windsurfing. Try some of the prime areas such as Lefkada’s Vassiliki, Kefalos on the island of Kos or Ialisos at Rhodes.

There is simply so much to be enjoyed in Greece, with such great cheap flights, you’ll want to keep coming back for more.

Cornwall has remained one of the most popular destinations in the UK for family holidays. Cornwall has a style of life all of its own, with its glorious beaches, quaint cottages, spectacular coastlines and Cornish cream teas. Cornwall holidays offer something for everyone, whether you’re looking for action packed surfing holidays, relaxing walking holidays or fun holidays for the kids.

Some of the best places to visit on your Cornwall holidays are:

Crealy Great Adventure Park
Cornwall’s Crealy Great Adventure Park is an amusement park for children of all ages. They have waterslides, climbing frames and activities for toddlers and teenagers alike.

The National Maritime Museum
Those looking for some culture from their Cornwall holidays can try the National Maritime Museum, where some of the great shipping history of Britain’s past can be enjoyed. As well as learning about the history of Britain’s maritime, you can also witness shipwrecks first hand!

Blue Reef Aquarium
The Blue Reef Aquarium will appeal to both children and adults alike. Here you can witness some of the most beautiful creatures found in the ocean, and some of the most deadly! You can even see and interact with dolphins as they swim up to you, just as curious about you as you are about them.

The Eden Project
Cornwall holidays aren’t complete without a trip to see the largest greenhouse in the world; the Eden Project. The Eden Project is a contained tropical environment covered by giant glass domes, covering the size of 30 premiership football pitches. The Eden Project offers both beauty and science under one, giant, roof.

The recession is affecting everyone’s holiday plans in the UK, causing more people to stay at home rather than take their usual holidays abroad, or city breaks in Europe. This doesn’t have to be the case though, as you can earn free flights and free stays in hotels across the UK, Europe and worldwide by collecting Airmiles.

When you spend money using a Lloyds TSB Airmiles Duo Credit Card account, you’ll be collecting Airmiles and, when you collect Airmiles, you can save up for free flights to many city break destinations. So, Airmiles are a great way to save money on a city break.

For a short trip to Europe, for example to Paris, Rome or Madrid, it wouldn’t take long for you to collect enough Airmiles to exchange for the free flights.

If you’re not an Airmiles Duo account holder, you can still collect Airmiles when you shop at Tesco, by swapping your Tesco Clubcard points for Airmiles, which can be used for free flights. Spending your Clubcard points on free flights is much more enjoyable than getting money off your weekly shopping. Other ways to collect Airmiles include shopping at hundreds of online stores, such as eBay.co.uk and johnlewis.com, via the Airmiles eStore. You can even collect Airmiles while filling up with fuel. If you sign up for a Shell Drivers’ Club card, you can convert your Shell Drivers’ Club points into Airmiles.

More and more people travel abroad ever year for leisure and business purposes. Suffering an accident or injury overseas can be very distressing. If you are unlucky enough to suffer an injury when you are travelling abroad, there is a chance for you to claim the injury compensation you are entitled to.

Insurance companies cover different types of accidents abroad. If you suffer an injury or accident abroad you can get legal help from your insurance company. The insurance company has to work on your case and try to settle your claim.

Making an holiday accident claim can sometimes be a long and difficult process. First of all, if you make a compensation claim abroad this is usually subject to the law of the country where the injury occurred. This affects your right to compensation and the value of your injury claim.

Secondly, the time limits in which a claim can be made vary throughout the world, therefore it is very important to contact a solicitor and seek advice as soon as possible. If you happen to have an accident abroad it is advisable to gather as much information at the time as you can and file a report. This report may go to the local police officers, other parties involved in your injury your accident such as the hotel or travel company. This is recommended especially if the accident occurs in the hotel’s premises and reporting to as many people as possible will give you an advantage in your compensation claim because these can give testimonials on your favour.

Usually if you suffer an injury in a foreign country you can claim compensation for the following:

- Compensation for your accident or injury
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Loss of income as a result of not being able to to work on your return
- Other expenses incurred by you because of the accident

In addition to these, you could be eligible to claim additional compensation based on individual cases. Your injury lawyer can give you advice on what you can claim based on your particular situation.

In recent years, there have been recent changes in UK and European legislation which have made claiming compensation for accidents or injuries sustained abroad much easier. If your claim is successful, you will be awarded financial compensation which will depend on the individual circumstances of your case – like the extent of your injury and financial losses you have sustained because of the injury.

If you’ve suffered an accident whilst being abroad and would like to see if you are eligible to make a claim for compensation then don’t hesitate and contact your injury lawyers now!

Holiday accidents and injuries

Suffering an accident or injury on your holiday can be very distressing. If you are unlucky enough to suffer an injury when you should be enjoying your holiday, there is a chance for you to claim your deserved injury compensation.

Making a holiday accident claim can sometimes be a long and difficult process. First of all, if you make a compensation claim abroad this is usually subject to the law of the country where the injury occurred. This affects your right to compensation and the value of your holiday accident claim. In some cases you may be able to recover compensation for both your accident and, where appropriate, the fact that your time was ruined.

It is easier to make a compensation claim if your injury abroad happened on a holiday that was part of package tour. This is because package tour operators have to respect the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tour Regulations 1992.

Holiday tour operators, hotel staff and all other staff connected with the package holiday have a duty to provide you with a good quality and safe service.

Holiday accidents range from accidents occurred in a hotel to accidents on boats, planes or by doing various sport activities.

The main causes of holiday accidents or illnesses are the following:

- Wet floor or misplaced object
- Injury on foreign transport vehicle
- Food poisoning from the hotel restaurant
- Illness because bad hotel hygiene
- Problems with rental car that lead to a holiday accident
- Water or winter sports accidents

The time limits in which a claim can vary throughout the world, thus it is very important to contact a solicitor and seek advice as soon as possible.

If you happen to have an accident abroad it is advisable to get as much information at the time as you can. Our recommendation is to take photos of what caused the accident, writing down or sketching the scene, and taking note of the names and numbers of witnesses – as well as any injuries which have been sustained. It’s best to gather this information straight away, as it would be hard to do this at a later time.

In recent years, there have been recent changes in UK and European legislation which have made claiming holiday accident or injury compensation much easier. If your claim is successful, you will be awarded financial compensation which will depend on the individual circumstances of your case – like the extent of your injury and financial losses you have sustained because of the injury.

If you’ve suffered an accident whilst being on holiday abroad, it is imperative that you get the compensation you are entitled to. Don’t hesitate and contact your injury lawyers now!

Accommodation is one of the most important deciding factors when going on holiday. Getting a good night’s sleep is paramount for a relaxing and enjoyable break. There is a huge range of accommodation on offer but choosing to stay at a bed and breakfast is often overlooked.
Check out these Pros and Cons to help you decide:

Pros
1. Meeting New People
The smaller numbers and relaxed atmosphere often enable you to meet more people and discuss your holidays. You can even discuss your plans for the day with fellow guests over breakfast.

2. Comfy and Cosy Rooms
Rooms in bed and breakfasts are often less clinical and cosier reminding you of home. Bed and breakfasts usually provide a comfy home style mattress for their beds, which is another bonus.

3. Cost
Bed and breakfasts can in some circumstances be more economical. They’re definitely worth checking out as an option for your holiday accommodation, as they may well be cheaper than a hotel.

4. A More Unique Place to Stay
If you’re visiting a new area in the UK or abroad then staying at a B & B can also help to give you a better feel for a place than staying in a hotel where you are far removed from everyday life. You can also stay in some more unique buildings full of character. You could end up in a castle, a lighthouse, a former jailhouse, or even a treehouse.

Cons
1. Less Facilities
Although you will hopefully find yourself in a cosy room full of character it is unlikely you will have facilities like a fridge, kettle, trouser press and you may not even have a TV. However, if these are items you won’t require then there is no problem!

2. Slower Service
Although not the case for all B & Bs, service is likely to be slower than a hotel. There is unlikely to be a 24 hour reception and if you have a problem in the night you may either have to lump it or go and wake up the owner!

3. Privacy
You will probably have less anonymity in a bed and breakfast than a hotel. If you want to keep yourself to yourself and not interact with other travellers it might not be the best place to rest your head.

4. Food
Not all bed and breakfasts will have options for an evening meal/snacks etc. If your bed and breakfast is located in a remote area then you may have difficulty finding food and a hotel might be an easier choice where food is always readily available.

Don’t miss out on the Christmas Markets!

We may only just be heading into our summer but it’s never too early to start considering tours to magical Christmas Markets in both the UK and Europe. Believe it or not but these tours are extremely popular and are sure to be a sell-out so don’t miss out and book your place today!

Absorb yourself in the festive magic of Valkenburg where century old caves provide the setting as you follow a candle-lit cobweb of corridors to the beautiful velvet scene of this wonderful Christmas Market. Not only will you get to see the variety of stalls and their festive ware, but you’ll also have plenty of free time to explore Valkenburg itself. Head over to Belgium and see the stunning Christmas Markets held in Ypres, Ostend and Bruges. The wonderful festive season begins here in December with the St. Nicholas celebrations where shops display all sorts of fantastic sweety treats such as marzipan, ‘klaasjes’ (flat hard cakes) and ‘speculoos’ (gingerbread moulded into the shape of St Nicholas). In Liege, you’ll be able to wander around 155 decorated wooden cottages that form the magical ‘Christmas Village’. You’ll also be able to see the annual European Christmas Market in Brussels that is held on the Place St. Catherine. Belgium has something for everyone with fairy-lit nativity scenes and decorative stalls selling a wide variety of ornaments, decorations & wonderful local delicacies to sample – your short break to the Belgian Christmas Markets will truly be a magical one!

If you’re looking to shop beneath a twilight sky then choose coach tours to Germany where you can explore the traditional Christmas Markets in Cologne, Berlin, Rudesheim and Aachen. Here you’ll certainly escape the commercialism of Christmas and enjoy searching for original festive handicrafts, souvenirs and tree decorations such as crib figurines, wooden carvings, candles & lambskin shoes. Don’t forget to sample the local festive cuisine of hot chestnuts, grilled sausages, gingerbread and much more!

Join escorted tours to the Czech Republic where you can visit the Christmas Markets in Prague. Soak up the traditional festive atmosphere where the Christmas Markets light up the city with their twinkling fairy lights. Walk around the many brightly decorated stalls selling all sorts of Czech handicrafts and local specialities that will leave your taste buds tingling for more.

Cross the Channel to France where you’ll come across one of the largest markets in Northern France – the Lille Christmas Market. The children will simply love Disneyland® Resort Paris at Christmas as all the characters dress up in their festive gear and the resort itself transforms into a fabulously magical winter wonderland that will surpass any child’s imagination!

You won’t have to travel to Europe to visit Christmas Markets because we have plenty on our doorstep here in the UK too! The Bath Christmas Market is definitely one that you won’t want to miss. Here you’ll find 123 wooden chalets that cover the streets of the city between the stunning Abbey and the Roman Baths. Each chalet offers a wide range of festive items to buy such as handmade gifts, decorations and tempting food items. Not forgetting the German Christmas Market held in Edinburgh, the festive delights available at Chatsworth House, the St Nicholas Fayre in York and many more! Don’t miss your chance to experience Christmas Shopping with a difference and book your place to some of these wonderful Christmas Markets.

For the full range of UK and European Christmas Market tours available, visit www.door2tour.com.