Most people experience the joys of staying in a hostel at some point in their life. If you are going travelling or for an extended stay abroad the cheap prices and flexibility mean you can stay longer and experience more. Hostels shouldn’t be overlooked for your normal holiday either as there are a huge range on offer and there is usually a hostel available to suit most people’s needs. If you don’t mind compromising on service and quality then a hostel is definitely a great option.

Take a look at this hostel survival guide to help you decide:

Price Comparison
It is important to research the hostel well seeing how the price compares to other types of accommodation on offer. A hostel is usually the best option for saving money. Try and book in advance to ensure availability.
Facilities
Make sure you check out the facilities, room size and people per room. Also, double check bathroom facilities to see how many people would be sharing one bathroom. It is a good idea to check out review sites but don’t be too put off by bad comments, people have different expectations and standards and even the nicest of places can still attract bad reviews.
Beds
Beds in hostels are usually lower in quality than hotels and cheap mattresses are often used. This shouldn’t put you off though as there are solutions. If you have room in your luggage you can always bring sheets and duvet covers with you for added comfort. If you are travelling light you can buy lightweight silk sleeping bag which are easily folded into a backpack but provide peace of mind if you are unsure of when the sheets were last washed.

Experience
Hostels usually provide a great holiday/travelling experience. If you are looking to meet new people then staying in a hostel is usually a good way to go about it. You can share stories and talking to your fellow hostel buddies is the best way to find out about the place you are visiting. Be open minded and stay there with the right attitude.

Don’t Forget…
Remember to pack earplugs and an eye mask to make your stay more peaceful.

A good night sleep is just what one needs when travelling half-way around the world, and suffering from jet-lag. The soft mattreses, king size bed, and snuggle in Egyptian cotton sheets. Yes, this might be the case for some.
But for those looking for a more adventurous accommodation, or sleeping solution, here’s some great alternatives. They don’t guarantee you a good night sleep, but surely a great experience!

1. Ice Bed, Sweden

2. Space Capsules Bed, Japan

3. Outdoor Beds, Kenya

4. Floating Bed, Paris

5. Prison Bed, Slovenia

Source: Concierge.com | Mail Online

The British summer may be fleeting and it often skips a year, but that’s all the more reason to be prepared for it. Unless you holiday abroad regularly or you use a sun bed and tanning lotion, your skin is likely to be unprepared for any outbreaks of sun that the UK may enjoy. This means that unless you take precautions with your skin buy using sun care products you could burn easily and quickly when the weather does take a turn for the better.

Sun lotion is essential wear during the summer months if you’re going to be outside for more than thirty minutes. It will protect your skin from burning and offer you important UV protection, which is essential to help prevent and avoid skin cancer.

If however you have been caught unawares and without sun cream then you may find yourself the victim of sunburn. If this happens you’ll want to apply after sun care lotion to cool your skin and reduce the burning sensation. People in the UK tend to use after sun lotion almost as much as they use sun cream.

Sun lotion is especially important on children, who require a much higher factor than adults to afford them the sort of UV protection that will keep their skin from burning. You should always apply sun cream to children when they play outside during the summer, even if there are clouds in the sky.

We may all be sailing on choppy waters at the moment with the current recession squeezing our purse strings, but that’s no reason to abandon your summer holiday this year. You needn’t dash off to the Med either as there are some fantastic places to visit all on your doorstep - so what’s stopping you from a Staycation?

If you’re looking to holiday at home but you need to reign in those pennies then let one of the UK’s top Tour Operators help you decide where’s best to go. Enjoy a bargain breakaway in The Peak District where you can walk for miles and take in the stunning scenery. Combine the gentle rolling hills and honey-coloured stone villages of The Cotswolds with two fantastic steam railway journeys. Explore the home of the ‘Fab Four’ and do a spot of sightseeing whilst in Liverpool.

If you’re looking for a traditional UK summer holiday then head to the many beautiful British seaside resorts such as Llandudno, Blackpool, Scarborough, Torquay and Eastbourne. Spend weekends in family-friendly Skegness where the British holiday was born all those years ago in 1936 with Billy Butlin and his infamous holiday camps!

Holidaying in Europe is still achievable even if you are on a budget during this recession era. Whisk the whole family to Disneyland Paris for a weekend break that’ll keep everyone entertained. Explore Monet’s Garden and get some ideas of what plants to grow in your own or spend a few days in Bruges – a chocoholic’s paradise! Cruise the canals and cobbled streets of Amsterdam or spend a summer in the beautiful German Valleys. You won’t just save money on holidays and short breaks you’ll also be able to attend some of the hottest events around without breaking the bank. Ladies don your flares and platforms for a night in the West End with London theatre trips to Mamma Mia or Dirty Dancing for ‘the time of your life’. Hone in your gardening skills and jazz up your garden with tips from the experts at Hampton Court or Tatton Park Flower shows. Or, book your seat for the hugely popular Edinburgh Tattoo, a fabulous evening of military displays held in August using the stunning Edinburgh Castle as its backdrop.

Wherever you end up this summer, we wish you all the best. Have a great summer 2009!

Bon Voyage!

Source: Door2Tour.com

Finally! After record snowfall and cold temperatures this winter, it’s about time we warmed up to the prospect of some decent weather. Looks like the darkest days are finally behind us and thankfully, spring has once again come to the UK.

The blossoms are out. Clocks have returned back (to ahead), where they should have been all along.

Surely, planning your summer holiday cannot be too far behind.

If you are anything like most people, you’ll feel slightly guilty from time to time that you have visited many exotic tourist destinations all over the world but you have sadly neglected to explore the delights of your own back yard. This summer, why not give your skin a much-needed break from its annual sun beating? (Your unsightly tan lines have only just faded from last year, after all). Why not avoid the miserable airline staff telling you your weight allowance only permits you to carry one pair of espadrilles and a bottle of Bacardi? Why not do your bit for the environment and decrease your carbon footprint? This year, shake off those recession blues and stay right here in the UK; explore those places you’ve been meaning to visit for years but haven’t quite got round to it…and have yourself a very merry “staycation.”

You won’t be alone. Much like last summer when over one third of the UK public said that they were switching their plans from a holiday abroad to a holiday in Britain, the very same trend is happening again.

Did someone say, Cornwall? Devon?

The south lays claim to some of the very best seaside resorts in England. If your only memories of the South-West coast are sand pails, plastic shovels and your parents’ 1982 caravan, it may just be the time to revisit. Only 2-3 hours away by train from London, it is no stretch to say that Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Hampshire make up some of the most spectacular scenery in all of the UK. And there is no lack of things to do once you get there.

From Land’s End to Hayling Island, spotted over entire the south-west coast are high end, yet affordable resorts to kick back and let your troubles melt in the best weather in the UK.

Here are 5 recommended places to rest your weary bones:

(1) Sea Acres Holiday Park, The Lizard

Sea Acres’ stunning cliff top position offers spectacular views over Kennack Sands. Spend days exploring the Lizard coastline or try something new and learn to dive at the park’s PADI Dive centre.
In the evenings head to the Family Club House for some great light entertainment or enjoy a glass of wine on your veranda while watching the sunset over the Atlantic Sea. It all sounds pretty good to this blogger!

(2) Torquay Holiday Park, Torquay

Torquay is set in a superb hillside location, surrounded by rolling Devon countryside with stunning views in every direction. This park is a great base for exploring the English Riviera, its stunning beaches and the nearby resorts of Paignton, Brixham and Torquay. Feel as tall as a giant discovering the amazing scale models at Babbacombe Model Village or choose from eight different flumes at Quaywest Water Park.

(3) Sandford Holiday Park, Poole

You’ll be spoilt for a choice of things to do at Sandford. There are superb indoor and outdoor heated pools, a choice of play areas plus fantastic live entertainment. Test your skills on the lanes with a game of mini ten-pin bowling or take in the scenery on the nature trail. For a day out, head to the Nearby New Forest and spot the famous ponies or visit the bustling resorts of Poole and Bournemouth.

(4) Ruda Holiday Park, Croyde Bay

Ruda has it all. Golden sands, world class surfing and excellent park facilities set in the charming hamlet of Croyde. Learn to surf with the school on park, explore the coastal path to Baggy Point for stunning views of Lundy Island or ‘go wild’ in the park’s indoor Tropical Adventure Pool.

(5) Holywell Bay Holiday Park, Newquay

This park is ideal for beach lovers with the famous Gull Rocks of Holywell Bay beach just a short stroll from the park. Nestled in the Ellenglaze Valley, Holywell Bay is the perfect family retreat with an outdoor heated pool and a multi-sports court and fantastic evening entertainment in the Surfrider Club. There’s a great range of facilities at Holywell Bay Holiday Park, you can shoot down the giant waterslide and learn to surf with qualified instructors or enjoy a relaxing walk along the nature trail.

SOURCE: The Times | Cornwall.com | ParkdeanHolidays.co.uk

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