Although on a scale of all the undesirable events and emotions we might have to endure, boredom might seem to be fairly benign; but being bored really is a waste of life. When you are bored you feel that there is nothing for you to do and you have no interest in the things that surround you. Another word for boredom is ennui, which is also synonymous with a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction. Philosophers and psychologists have produced many books on the subject of boredom and how to overcome it, but the answer is very simple: do something different and treat yourself. Forget any concerns that doing so is too self-indulgent; a little self indulgence can work miracles for our feeling of well-being and general health.

So what does turn your pages? We have already mentioned city breaks, and although a trip to Paris in the spring might sound a little clichéd, spring really is a great time to visit that city, and it is only a short train journey away. Prague is another exciting destination, especially if you have never been there. There is so much to see and do, and the Prague night life is legendary. Amsterdam is another popular destination and can easily be reached by either train or plane. With its canals, art galleries, museums and night life there is never a lack of entertainment. There are many exciting cities all over Europe where it is well worth spending a city break.

The ultimate in treating yourself is by taking a spa break and indulging in some of those delicious spa treatments. A spa break can really be a life enhancing experience from which you will return feeling like a new person. There are many locations in both cities and in the countryside where you can enjoy the ultimate in spa luxury, especially if you share the experience with a group of friends.

It seems that just about everybody loves getting away for Easter and it is the favourite time of the year for long weekend breaks that make the most of the double bank holiday which includes Good Friday and Easter Monday. Despite the fact that the winter of 2012 has been one of the mildest winters in living memory, there is still a tremendous sense of relief as the long nights and short days give way to the warmth and longer days of spring. This year the medium term weather forecast is predicting an early spring with record breaking temperatures over the Easter period, so make the best of it.

When you plan your Easter break, if you intend to stay in the UK then two places that you should consider are Cornwall and the Lake District.

Easter is one of the best times for a visit to the Lake District. The region is the wettest in England though it is during the winter months when most of the rain falls; in summer there are frequent rain showers too.   The driest months are between March and June and April is often the sunniest month of the year.

Cornwall also tends to be sunny over Easter. There are many great destinations in the county but one that is difficult to beat is St Ives which is on the county’s north coast. It is said to be one of the sunniest seaside towns in England and palm trees are a common sight. The town has several beaches including ideal family sun-traps and a favourite surfing beach. Although to a large part the barmy climate of St Ives is due to the town’s proximity to the Gulf Stream, be warned that the sea temperatures are still very low; a wet suit is recommended for all but the very brave.

If you plan to travel abroad, then there are many ideal destinations all over Europe for an Easter break. What could be more romantic than Easter in Paris or more exciting than Easter in Prague? If you prefer to spend Easter basking in the sun on a foreign shore, then there is no shortage of beach holidays; the most popular destination for an Easter beach holiday is Spain though if you are willing to travel further afield then Florida has a lot to offer too.

Taking an Easter break is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family. It is a great time to get together, to shake off those winter doldrums, and to set yourself up for the rest of the year.

If you are seeking to save a little money, then the best way to pick up an excellent bargain is to be flexible regarding your destination. At this time of year hotels do not like to have too many unoccupied rooms and often they will offer big discounts in order to fill vacancies. Last minute hotel deals can save you a lot of money, especially when ski passes are included in the price.

If you do not want to travel aboard but would like to stay in the UK for your Easter skiing, then it is getting a little late for the Scottish ski resorts. There has been some snow, but not really enough for the resorts to justify reopening; certainly not unless there are some serious snowfalls in the next couple of weeks.

That does not mean that you can’t enjoy snowy British slopes. Perhaps you do not associate skiing with the city of York, but just 30 miles away from the city centre lays the town of Castleford and in Castleford you will find SnoZone which is an indoor skiing and snowboarding centre. There is never any need to worry about the quality or quantity of the snow, which is refreshed every night by an artillery of snow cannons that fire snow onto the slopes to create an ideal ski environment. The slopes are covered with around 1,500 tonnes of snow all year round. The centre was constructed inside a huge freezer and the temperature is maintained at -5 degrees C. Lessons are available and there are slopes that are suitable for both the novice and the expert; the Yorkshire ski Championships are held there every year during June.

For your accommodation, why not stay in the City of York?  There are many excellent hotels in York for any budget, and if you visit outside the peak season you will find some excellent deals and York is a great city to explore too.

Similar ski centres can be found in several UK cities, so whether you want to ski overseas or closer to home, it is never too late with a last minute deal.

It is far too easy to settle down into a routine.  We get up, go to work, come home, have dinner, put up our feet, watch TV or browse the web, go to bed and repeat ad infinitum. We wear routines just as we might wear an old pair of slippers. They might be boring, but at least they are comfortable. There is nothing wrong with routines per se. Without routines life would be very difficult just as without slippers our feet might get cold. The problem arises when routines are all there seem to be in our lives. So, get away from your routine and try out some new adventures, visit some new places, meet new people and have fun.

Have you ever travelled on Eurostar? It really is a great way to get into Europe and there are some great destinations. Eurostar breaks to Paris are particularly popular. Not only do you travel in comfort without any hassle, you arrive right in the heart of the city and within walking distance to some great Paris hotels.  Brussels is also a great Eurostar destination and from there you can take the train to dozens of other European cities, for instance Amsterdam.

If you don’t wish to travel so far, then there are plenty of places in Britain where you can let your hair down and have a great time. The most popular get away destination is London. Out of the main season hotels in London generally offer really cheap rates, which make is a great place for an out of season city break. Other popular cities in Britain include Manchester with it famous night life and where it is said that weekends start on Thursday; Birmingham, a rejuvenated city now famous for its canal side wine bars and classy restaurants; Edinburgh for if fabulous architecture and scenery and wonderful shopping; and Liverpool which is famous for just about everything.

These are just a few suggestions for stepping out of your routine. You don’t need to spend too much money if you don’t want to, you can enjoy the things that you enjoy at your own pace, you do not have to do what everybody else wants to do. The important thing is that you do something different, something simply to get away from your routine.

Although in any year we do get a fair amount of sunshine, many other places get much more. On average the UK gets 1,476 hours of sunshine a year which in Europe is the third lowest only to Ireland, which has 1,397 hours, and the Netherlands, which have 1,414 hours. The sunniest country in Europe is Spain which has 2,665 hours, almost twice as much as the UK. After Spain Italy gets 2,356 hours, France gets 1,967 hours and Denmark 1,706 hours. As well as enjoying almost twice as much sunshine, Spanish workers also get almost double the amount of annual leave as British workers. Who said that life was fair?

So, if you want the best chance of sunshine in Europe, then you should head out for Spain. Many cities claim to be the sunniest cities in the country, though anywhere on the Costa Blanca is likely to enjoy more than twice as much sun as the sunniest place in the UK. The Costa Blanca climate is also renowned for being the healthiest climate in Europe and it has extremely low levels of pollution. For the best chance of enjoying the first rays of summer sun, just keep your eye on the local weather and book one of the last minute offers to wherever the sun shines the brightest.

If you are looking for a little more than sunshine, then you might care to compromise a little and head out for one of the many interesting Spanish cities. Some of the more popular Spanish city tourist destinations are Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia, Seville, Granada, Cordoba, and Zaragoza. At each one you will find a wealth of history and tradition and many exciting things to see and do. Spain is also renowned for the high quality of its hotels and some gothic Barcelona hotels located within the old city are particularly fascinating.

But there is far more to the Lake District than peace and tranquillity and wonderful scenery. Many of the towns, though a little crowded peak season, offer everything the tourist might wish for with many excellent shops, restaurants and pubs, though the best time to enjoy them is during the quieter months with the additional advantage that off season you can find many cheap breaks to the Lake District which include discounted travel tickets and hotel accommodation.

Another major attraction of the area is water sports of all kinds. Sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, diving and water skiing are some of the more popular pastimes and there are many places where you can hire equipment and receive tuition. The many lakes include the twelve largest lakes in the UK, though not all of them are available for water sports and others have strict speed restrictions, so you are advised to check before you go.

There are plenty of other things to do too and many attractions that you should try to include in your trip. Many artists and poets are associated with the region and one of the more famous is William Wordsworth. He was born in Cockermouth and you can visit his birthplace in Main Street and sample what 18^th century life really was like. You can also visit Dove Cottage in Grasmere which was his favourite home.

John Ruskin was also an inhabitant of Cumbria and his house at Coniston, set within 250 acres of grounds, is well worth a visit. Also, near Sawrey, is Hill Top, the home of Beatrix Potter who was one of the most famous children’s writers. You can explore her house and gardens and view some of her original watercolours.

If you love wildlife and nature then the region has many excellent nature reserves and gardens and the Lakes Aquarium at Newby Bridge near Ulverston is an exciting experience for all the family. Whatever the time of year, there is always plenty to do and see on a weekend visit to the Lake District.

But with the recession showing no sign of abating, the cost of a long-awaited break may well be at the forefront of your mind.  You may find an affordable holiday but can you afford to enjoy yourself when you’re out there?

If you’re worried about the idea of going on holiday and spending more than you can afford or intend (and being left with a lot of debt to repay on your return) then you should consider booking an all inclusive holiday.  You don’t have to spend a fortune by booking a five-star hotel:  there are plenty of cheap hotels that offer all-inclusive deals so it’s worth shopping around.

The initial cost of a flight and cheap hotel can be a lot less than that of an all-inclusive holiday, but don’t let that put you off.  Think honestly about how much you’re likely to spend when you’re over there (count how many meals and drinks you’d normally buy on a holiday of that length – probably costing at least £450 for a fortnight) and you’ll probably find that an all-inclusive deal works out cheaper.

An increasing number of people are turning to all-inclusive holidays (numbers are up by 50% over the last four years, making up a third of all holidays taken) because they enable you to budget properly for your holiday.  When you’re out there enjoying yourself, it’s very difficult to deny yourself meals out and entertainment in the evenings – and why should you?  You’re on holiday!

Booking an all-inclusive holiday (particularly if you choose a cheap hotel) can give you the peace of mind of knowing that everything you’re eating and doing has already been paid for, so you can relax and enjoy yourself.

For cheap all-inclusive holidays, you’ll have to head for the tourist hot-spots like Tenerife, Benidorm and Majorca or some of the Greek islands.  Choose your hotel carefully, book the tickets and then have everything paid for by the time you fly. There’ll be no nasty credit card bills waiting for you when you get home!

If you’re considering booking a hotel in London, first think about your budget (search online to get an idea of the range of prices available from different standards of hotel) and then think about what facilities you want.  If you’re going to treat yourself and want to spend time relaxing in your hotel as well as exploring the sights of London, then choose one that offers plenty of facilities such as spas and luxurious, designer rooms.  If your sole purpose in staying in the hotel is so that you have somewhere to store your belongings and go to sleep at the end of a long day of sight-seeing, then a more basic hotel will suit your needs just fine.

Think about who’ll be travelling with you.  If you have a young family and need a Family Room, beware that there aren’t many in London – since most tourists travel as couples or in adult groups and young children are a rare sight in central London, hotels just don’t cater for many families.  You’ll need to book early if you want to secure a Family Room – these usually have a double bed and a pull-out sofa bed.

Choose your location: do you want to be right in the centre of London or are you happy to be on the outskirts and travel in each day on the tube?

Finally, choose whether you want a chain hotel that has the level of comfort and service you’re looking for, or an individual hotel which generally offer a little more personal service.  Since the latter are normally smaller and have fewer rooms, the prices are normally a bit higher than the large chain hotels in London.  You know what you’re getting with a chain hotel, but you can also find out more about individual hotels through customer reviews online.  Choose your hotel wisely and you’re sure to have a great city break.

Now there’s an even more advantageous way to travel, though, since the introduction of a partnership between Arriva and My Ice, a customer reward programme that specialises in offering rewards to customers who choose to use sustainable, eco-friendly products and services – like Arriva bus services.

My Ice points are awarded whenever a customer chooses to use one of the partners of Ice for their products and services, and those points add up to enable customers to get money off (or pay in full for) other goods and services from companies partnered with Ice. It’s a way of encouraging and rewarding people for making responsible choices when selecting goods and services. It’s free to join and the points soon add up, with each Ice point being worth 1p but being awarded generously on different products and services.

With Arriva, points are awarded when you buy your bus pass (or ticket) and you can use those points to get money off your next ticket or bus pass or to get money off with any of Ice’s other partners. You can choose to save your points and spend them when you have enough for a real treat, or top up their value with cash if you want to spend them right away.  There’s no minimum number of points you need before you can start spending them. Check out www.myice.com to register for the loyalty scheme, start collecting points by buying your Arriva bus pass online through the Ice site – you’ll be rewarded with 3 Ice points for every £2.00 you spend through Arriva.

Even so, people are considering cheaper alternatives to the traditional fortnight abroad, all-inclusive hotel package holidays.  If you are considering your alternatives at the moment, then take some time to think about the cheapest way to travel.  You won’t have to think for very long before you realise that with the ever-increasing cost of petrol and car insurance, and the ever-increasing taxes placed on air travel, that travelling by car and plane might not be affordable any more.  That leaves you with: walking (obviously rather limiting in terms of how far you can travel), the train and bus.

Trains and buses are both excellent forms of transport, being easier on the environment than most of the other options.  Trains are a little limited, though, in terms of where they can take you, whereas buses tend to have more stops and access more areas.  Buying a bus pass will save you money if you are a regular traveller, so check out Stagecoach’s website for full details on how to get the best value for your money.

If you choose Stagecoach buses, there is an amazingly cheap option: the Megabus.  You’ve probably seen their distinctive blue and yellow buses travelling up and down the motorways and their familiar large-print offers advertising almost unbelievable prices for their intercity travel (Leeds to London for £1.00 plus 50p booking fee???).  Although it might seem too good to be true, it really is true.

Megabus.com is an intercity coach operator that is based here in the UK and in the USA.  Launched in 2003 it has already transported millions of people safely and cheaply to their destinations.  It operates in around fifty cities in the UK

Bus travel is cheap, safe, and environmentally sound (check out Stagecoach’s Carbon Trust Standard Award for details).  And even better, Stagecoach has teamed up with Ice, a customer reward programme designed to encourage and thank people for choosing environmentally-friendly travel options and other goods and services.  Visit www.myice.com for details on how to sign up (it’s free, you earn points per pound spent with their partners, and you can use those points to pay for goods and services with any of their partners – no catch!)