You probably have a list of dream bucket list destinations that you’re dying to visit. So much so that there are times you procrastinate at your desk Googling far-flung lands of luxury, or spend a few minutes imagining yourself relaxing on a white sandy beach, surrounded by palm trees and sipping on a cocktail. So if money was no object and the possibilities were endless, where could you go?
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3 EXTREME trips across the UK
Skidding down mud trails, falling out of planes, trailing along the fast lane in the car of your dreams – all this is extreme, and it’s available to try anywhere in the UK.
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Deal with Excess Baggage Without Breaking a Sweat
Travelling is a joy, and many of us do it for different reasons. Some do it to sample the cultures of different countries while some are keener on trying out the staple cuisine a place has to offer, whilst some go around the globe just to find bargains that will keep their wallet in a better state! But what do you do when you get carried away with all the great finds a place has to offer? Luckily for you, there are several ways to deal with extra baggage, so here are some tips you might find useful on your next international shopping run!
THINK AHEAD
The ultimate key to avoiding all the hassle of dealing with excess baggage is to plan ahead. Make sure to account for the extra load you’ll be towing home from your travel. Most airlines will give you the option to book for additional baggage for a small fee when booking your ticket. The rule is it’s always better to have breathing room when you check in your baggage as opposed to scouring for last minute solutions for your extra luggage. To give you an idea how much additional baggage fees go for per airline, go to reliable websites like TripAdvisor.
UTILIZE YOUR HAND CARRY
It’s very easy to go overboard with your purchases, especially when you’re in a land where everything is cheap like Singapore, and tipping the scale over to the other side of that red line is something that cannot be avoided at times. If you feel like you’ll go just a bit over the scale with your check-in luggage, turn to your hand carry for salvation. Most airlines actually allow up to 15kg of hand carry baggage (depending on what airline and as long as it can fit in the overhead bin), apart from your usual hand or shoulder bag where you can put all your essentials. So when selecting a hand carry tote, make sure that you opt for a light bag with a lot of room. You’ll never know when you’ll need to maximize that!
CALL FOR HELP
Sometimes, excess baggage is something that cannot be avoided. You get shopping high, you get carried away. It happens. But what do you do when you go overboard the allowance that you booked with your airlines? You can opt to just pay for the excess baggage fee upon check-in but that will probably cost you an arm and a leg as most airlines jack up their prices by up to ten times when you pay last minute. There are other solutions that won’t require you to waste money and still get your baggage through – like third party excess baggage companies like World Baggage. They offer the same services as airlines does but for a fraction of what you’ll be charged over the counter. These companies usually handle worldwide destinations so you wouldn’t have to worry about your baggage getting home unaccompanied.
Dealing with excess baggage doesn’t have to be a stressful venture nowadays. Travel with ease with your purchases in tow and just enjoy what your destination has to offer!
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Car Tyres Safety Checklist – Planning a Road Trip
Journeys in the car that are a bit longer than a run to the shops or the usual commute to work need a bit more preparation. You might want to fill the tank, check the oil level or top up on screen wash as well as planning the best route. However, when preparing a road trip you should never forget to pay attention to your car’s tyres. All successful road trips work well because of the planning that has gone into them, so stay safe the next time you undertake one and remember this car tyre safety check list.
Pressure
All car tyres need to be correctly inflated in order to work to their best ability, according to the AA. On a road trip, which might be over an extended period, this can save you money. Properly inflated tyres, which are set at the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure, will cause much less rolling resistance than either over or under-inflated ones, meaning that your engine has to work less hard which, in turn, saves fuel. Remember to adjust the pressure if the boot is full of heavy items or if you are towing a caravan or a trailer.
Check The Spare
Although not a legal requirement to have a full spare tyre, on a road trip they can prove invaluable if you suffer a blow out. This will mean that you are able to get to a garage under your own steam without having to rely on a recovery vehicle – something that is well worth it if you are miles from home.Inspect The Tread
According to Point-S, the tread of a car’s tyres wears differently depending on whether it is front-wheel drive or powered by the rear wheels. Either way, take time to check each tyre for bald areas where there is insufficient tread and replace any that will not last the length of the road trip. Tread depth must be at least 1.6mm. Remember that bulges in tyres are also signs of wear and that you cannot see whole of the tyre during an inspection without moving the car back and forth.
Winter Advice
Most road trips are made in summer, but if you plan to drive in winter or through snowy areas, then consider snow chains to go over your tyres or fitting winter tyres. These tyres use a different rubber compound to normal ones, making them better at performing in snow and ice. Consider switching to winter tyres in adverse weather conditions to make sure your road trip goes well.
Article above provided by Green Tank Blog.
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Money Saving in Paris – My Top Tips
Paris is exorbitant? Let’s bust that myth right now…
I’ve been visiting Paris on and off since I was little, with my most recent visit being in the late winter of 2014. In the time I’ve been visiting this amazing city, it’s fair to say there’s been a lot of change. Paris like London, like New York, is a true world city, and things don’t stay the same for long.
The biggest difference between my first visit to Paris (when I was in short trousers, and mainly interested in fizzy drinks rather than French language and culture) and now? I guess it would have to be the skyline. When you view the city from a vantage point (like the hill at Montmartre) there are now an awful lot of skyscrapers. A city in transition – constant change!
But one thing has never changed – the idea that Paris is really expensive. Well let me tell you – it isn’t. Or rather, it doesn’t have to be. Just follow these handy tips and you may be surprised how a stay in Paris doesn’t need to mean blitzing your current account.
Accommodation and location are key to money saving
I’m pretty sure anyone would love to be staying in an ultra-swish apartment just off the Champs Elysées every time they visit Paris. II know I would! But accommodation can really be a money eater. And while surroundings are important, there are a great deal of benefits to be gained for choosing somewhere a little less fancy. For one thing, if you stay further out, you get to know more of the city as you traverse it. Stay in the centre and there’s little motivation to head elsewhere.
On one of my recent visits I even ventured outside the Paris’s famous ring road (the Boulevard Peripherique) for my stay. Essentially this road is a kind of boundary between inner and outer Paris. Definitely not as trendy in the area of town outside the ring road – but altogether less expensive. Factor in the amazingness of a private rental (no middle man, no large advertising budget to pay) and let’s just say this – I’ve spent more on trips to supposedly cheaper cities like Leeds and Manchester!
Choose your food on price
Set a food budget and stick to it. If you shop around, Paris actually has decent restaurants serving 10 Euro dinners (and even cheaper lunches). If you want to eat out but you don’t want to splash out, then head somewhere that there are a lot of restaurants in competition – such as in the Latin Quarter. Some will vie for the attention of prospective custom by waving a flier in your face, others do so by having the best-looking dining rooms (all low light and Parisian romance) while yet others get your attention by price.
French supermarkets are also very handy for money saving. If you’re self catering, you can eat like a king – the produce in French shops is second-to-none, and generally not noticeably more expensive than at home. Shops like Monoprix, Intermarche and Marche Franprix are generally very easy to find and there are often branches around the city centre as well as outlying areas.
Watch your shortcuts
It might seem wise to avoid drawing currency until you need it. Feels like saving, right? Well – be careful. Depending on the exchange rate it’s sometimes better to get the money before you go. Plus, if you use an ATM while you’re in Paris, there may be charges for getting currency – these (in my experience, at least) aren’t mega-big, but they can mount up.
No travel cover? Hmm. The EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) is essential – but it has limited coverage and you may still need to pay for certain things. So some form of travel cover is always recommended. There are loads of sites with information about foreign health systems, so it’s always worth checking these out before you head anywhere. This site has good information on French healthcare, for example, while About France has a handy list of numbers for emergencies – worth bookmarking stuff like this on your phone/tablet before setting off.
Cut your travel prices
All the usual rules apply here. If you can pack light and avoid hold luggage, there’s an instant saving right there. Depending on where you’re flying from, you may also be able to lessen the cost of flights by flying to Beauvais airport rather than Charles de Gaulle – although lately it seems as if fewer discount operators are landing at the former. However, even if you are flying to Charles de Gaulle, book well in advance and use one of those price checker sites to make sure you squeeze your air fare to the lowest price possible.
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Welcome to Liverpool!
There are a wonderful array of attractions awaiting you in Liverpool, from spectacular galleries and museums to the most successful football team in English history. The city also has a huge selection of free activities, and a wide selection of stores for shopaholics.
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How to Keep Fit While You Travel
Travelling is one of the best and most life enriching experiences you can have, but passing through different time zones, sleeping on unfamiliar mattresses and long days flights can leave you feeling tired and sluggish. At home you get up for work at 6am, eat three set meals and use an indoor bike in spin class twice a week. Humans are habitual so it’s great to find a constant when you’re travelling. (more…)