Issue No. 12 - Holiday in Focus - The Holy Land - Road Trip Israel

The Dome of the Rock

As this is the last issue of my blog before Christmas I thought it might be rather seasonal to visit the Holy Land, which is of course now known as Israel.  I remember my visit to this fascinating country around 25 years ago, when I was back packing round the world.  I actually flew there from Athens after my trip to Australia and Singapore so I definitely went there via the scenic route!

The Western Wall

Over the centuries, tourists of all faiths have visited Israel, Jews head for the Western Wall, Christians to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Muslims to the Dome of the Rock, so there is definitely something for everyone in this diverse country.

As Israel has experienced it’s fair share of troubles over the years, it is worth while checking out the  current Foreign Office advice on travel before planning your trip, but the current advice is to avoid Gaza and the area close to the Lebanese border, which is pretty much what you might expect.   However, despite being in an active state of war with her Arab neighbours (apart from Egypt) since 1979, she still boasts a free press and an active democracy.

Tel Aviv

As you might expect, Israel has got a rich past and that means that there are lots of interesting and exciting things to do in this fascinating country.  As most visitors are likely to be flying into Israel (going by boat is not advised) the logical place to start is the capital Tel Aviv. This modern capital is rich in café culture and modern shopping malls, and it’s ancient neighbour Jaffa has plenty of antiquities to keep you busy.  Try out Jaffa’s Museum of Antiquities to get you started on your cultural odyssey.  Back in Tel Aviv the large hotels on the beach will house you comfortably while you top up your tan on the beach.  

Caesarea Amphitheatre

Once you’re getting fidgety and want to explore further afield, head a little north to Caesarea to check out the Roman Amphitheatre which is well worth a visit.  Heading further north still will bring you to the historic port of Haifa and heading inland from Haifa brings you to the Sea of Galilee.  I once camped overnight on the water’s edge and was rewarded with a mystical mist rising off the lake in the morning.  Some things just stay with you forever.  I also recall driving through bombed out villages in the neighbouring Golan Heights,

The Golan Heights

which was the result of regular bombing by the Syrians.  Hopefully this area has now fully recovered from it’s injuries and has been resettled.  The area around Galilee is also where you will find Nazareth, reputedly the home town of Jesus, so no doubt you will also want to make a visit to this historical town too.

 

Head back down south from Galillee and you will

Sea of Galilee

arrive at Jerusalem, possibly the jewel in Israel’s crown.  It’s all here in this impressive walled city which dates back to 3000 BC. Don’t miss the famous Western Wall, The Mount of Olives, The Road to Calvary, The Via Delarosa, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mary’s Tomb and the Dome of the Rock to name but a few.  I strongly suggest two or three days in this amazing and special city.  I recall staying in a youth hostel within Jerusalem’s walls on Shabbat (the Jewish day of rest) and hearing the wonderful voices of a Jewish boy’s choir echoing through the walls, it was quite stirring to say the least.

The Dead Sea

From Jerusalem I would suggest you head for the Dead Sea to swim in it’s amazingly buoyant waters (or at least float in its waters).  Just a short distance from the Dead Sea is the fort of Masada, one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in Israel.  This is the site of the epic siege between the Jewish and the Romans. In 66 AD some Jewish rebels seized the fort from the Romans, this then became the last Jewish stronghold against the Romans and it wasn’t until 73 AD that the Romans returned to regain their stronghold.  When the Romans finally breached the walls of the fort to retake it, they found that just short of 1000 Jewish men, women and children had killed themselves rather than give themselves up to the Romans.

Masada

I have barely touched upon the riches that Israel has to offer, but I certainly think that this may whet your appetite.  If you have been and done all the other Mediterranean countries, then Israel may well be worth putting on your list of places to go in 2014.

If you have been to Israel or are planning a visit, perhaps you would like to share your itinerary with the readers of this blog via the comments section at the end of this blog.

As I mentioned earlier, I am taking a short break between now and the New Year to enjoy the Christmas festivities, but I will be back in the New Year with more travel ideas to whet your appetite  In the meantime, www.lotustravelessentials.co.uk will be open for everything you need to take on your trip.  Have a great Christmas and I’ll see you again in the New Year.  Happy and safe travels.

Issue No.11 Country by Country - Thailand

The King of Thailand, Bhomibol Adulyadei

The King of Thailand, Bhomibol Adulyadei, has ruled since 1950 making him the world’s longest reigning monarch.  He recently celebrated his 86th birthday on the 5^th December, when he called for unity amongst his people after days of violent protests in Bangkok.

Most of us are familiar with the key attractions of Thailand, particularly the beautiful beaches and fantastic tropical islands that surround the mainland.  But are there some things that we ought to know about this wonderful spot before we decide to go?  Well, in short the answer is yes.  Corruption is wide spread and civil unrest is currently on-going in Bangkok.  The Foreign Office is currently stating:

“A number of political demonstrations have taken place in parts of Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand since the start of November 2013.  Some of these were violent and resulted in casualties.  Further protests may take place with little warning.

On 25^th November the authorities in Thailand implemented the Internal Security Act in all districts in Bangkok and Nonthaburi as well as the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan and the Lat Lum Kaeo district of Pathum Thani, which will lead to an increased security presence and possible disruption to traffic.”

Recent protests in Bangkok

However, they are not restricting travel to most parts of the country (apart from the Malaysian border) but do suggest avoiding all political protests.

It is also worth knowing that of the 800,000 British travellers to Thailand last year, most visits were trouble free.

This all seems rather gloomy doesn’t it?  Well political instability is pretty standard for Thailand and whilst this does seem rather alarming, I have travelled there on numerous occasions and have never encountered anything but lovely, polite, charming people.

If all this has not put you off travelling to this beautiful country, and it really shouldn’t, then here are a few of my  top Thai travel secrets.

Don’t just head for the islands, whilst these are truly gorgeous, you would be missing out if you didn’t take a couple of days in Bangkok either on arrival or on departure.  We find that after 10 days lazing on the beach recovering from jet lag we're ready to hit the shops, sites and smells of Bangkok for a couple of days before coming home.  Here are some of the things I like to do in Bangkok.

Chatuchak

Shopping in Bangkok is amazing, and it's difficult to know where to go first.  My advice is to visit the vast Chatuchak weekend market.  I’m guessing that you should be able to find something you want at one of the 6000 stalls.  However, get there early before the crowds and the heat kick in and give yourself enough time to cool off with a nice swim back at the hotel in the afternoon.  Be warned though, it's very easy to get carried away here, everything is so cheap you end up buying 10 of everything and then having to buy another suitcase to get everything home!  Like many other places in Thailand don’t expect anything to be genuine though.

Lumphini Park

Lumphini Park is a tranquil idyll in the middle of frenetic Bangkok and if the jet lag is still causing you to wake up at ridiculously early times of the morning, then a visit to Lumphini at around 7.00am can reward you with hundreds of locals doing their Tai Chi around the park.  You can take the morning air and look out for the 6 foot long monitor lizards lazing by the lake or watch the turtles playing on floating logs.  This all ends on the dot of 8.00am with the national anthem.  If you stand to observe the national anthem, you will be rewarded by the smiles of locals acknowledging your mark of respect.  Then in the evening take a walk through the park, pass the zoo to the night market where you can be fed and entertained, massaged and sold too all in one place, I love it.

Eating in Thailand is a bit of an adventure, it is one of the most diverse cuisine’s in the world, so you should find something to your taste.  My husband loves his chillies, so he is in absolute heaven here, whereas, I only like a little bit of spice in comparison.  I still manage to find something to eat, somewhere along the line and out in the islands, you can find everything from Thai, Chinese, Seafood, Brazilian, Italian, McDonalds and Starbucks so no one ever goes hungry.  My advice is to give something a try though, it is normally really cheap, so if you don’t like it, it’s no great shakes.

The Thai’s drive on the same side of the road as us Brits, so I really recommend hiring a car when you are visiting the beach resorts, as there are often hidden gems just around the corner.  We have come across deserted beaches, wonderful temples, authentic food and local markets that we would not have seen had we just stayed in the resort.  However, driving at night can be really hairy though, as street lights and road markings are not widespread.

Thai massage

Finally, find a good place to have a massage, going to Thailand and not having a massage is like going to Paris and not having crepes.  Don’t expect an easy ride though, a proper Thai massage is more like a sports massage than one you are likely to get down the local spa in England.  It may hurt a bit at the time but it will leave you feeling great.

If you’ve been to Thailand, let us know your favourite spots and travel tips.

Thanks for reading, see you next week, don't forget that you can get everything you need for your trip to Thailand online from: LotusTravelEssentials.co.uk happy & safe travelling.

Issue No. 10 - Where Next? - Hull named the City of Culture 2017

  

The Iconic Humber Bridge

A couple of weeks ago saw Hull named as the UK’s next City of Culture 2017.  It did this by seeing off robust competition from Leicester, Dundee and Swansea Bay.  But just what is it that the judges saw that made them want to choose Hull, and why should we consider a weekend in this north eastern city next month?

Firstly, getting there couldn’t be easier, hop on a train from London Kings Cross and you can be there in around 3 hours, buy your tickets in advance from Hull Trains can mean that you can find yourself a bargain.  If you’re driving, take the M1, M18 and M62 East and it will take you right to the door.

Philip Larkin greets you at
Hull Paragon Train Station

There are hotels to suit just about all pockets ranging from the five star Village Hotel to the usual suspects of PremierInn, Holiday Inn Express, Mercure Hull Grange Park Hotel and the Ibis to name just a few.

So what is Hull famous for?  Well, poet Philip Larkin (1922-1985) for one, he was Librarian at the University of Hull’s Brynmor Jones library for 30 years and William Wilberforce the English politician who was the leader of the movement to abolish slavery originated from Hull.  Sadly he died before the Act could be passed through

William Wilberforce

parliament.  To explore the history of slavery, abolition and the legacy of slavery, you can visit the Wilberforce House Museum in Hull’s Museum Quarter.

Other notable but perhaps less worthy celebrities originating from Hull are Maureen Lipman, the Housemartins and the Fine Young Canibals’ Roland Gift. Not forgetting John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minster during the Blair administration.

Heres a shortlist of what to do on your weekend away:

The Hull Fish Trail

Walking the Fish Trail will help to get your bearings visit http://mediafiles.thedms.co.uk/publication/YS-EY/cms/pdf/Hull%20Map.pdf for the route.

You may also want to go in search of the cream telephone boxes unique to Hull

The Deep Aquarium

Along the Fish Trail you will find The Deep aquarium.  To find out more visit: http://www.thedeep.co.uk/

What about a premiership football match?  You can get your Hull City tickets from: http://www.hullcitytigers.com/tickets/

For a bit of culture prior to 2017 why not visit the Ferens Art Gallery. Recent exhibitions have included Andy Warhol, Leonardo Di Vinci and local artist David Hockney.  Visit http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/ferens to find out more.

In the evening try out Hull Truck Theatre http://www.hulltruck.co.uk/book-tickets/buy-online or the Hull New Theatre http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase or for something a little less cerebral, what about a pubcrawl?  There are heaps of inexpensive pubs in Hull, most of which do food.  For a suggested route, check out http://www.barcrawl.co.uk/pubcrawl.aspx?Crawl=2547 

What are your essentials for a weekend away?  Well, don’t forget your:

Weekender bag, Toiletry Bag, Book, Frock, Shoes, Towel and your 

Walking Shoes you can purchase these all from www.lotustravelessentials.co.uk

Thanks for reading, see you next week and in the meantime, happy & safe travelling.

No. 9 What's Hot - Last Minute Christmas Gifts for the Discerning Traveller

Well, believe it or not, there are only about three weeks left until Christmas and what you need, in order to get the shopping done in time, is a miracle!  Don't fret though, I have the very things to stop a divorce in the New Year, you being disinherited from the in-laws and shunned by your friends forever.  Take a quick look at these ideas and order them from www.lotustravelessentials.co.uk 

What about this fabulous red leather birkin bag made in Italy by Carbotti.  As you well know by now, a girl can simply never have enough handbags and this one will be taken absolutely everywhere over the Christmas season.  This bag also comes with a detachable strap and a padlock and key closure.  Just think of the Brownie points you'll score with this one!


Ladies, are you sick to death of him pulling on the same old Christmas sweater each year and wish you could finally get him into something more stylish?  If so, perhaps this gorgeous red Dolce & Gabanna 100% virgin wool jumper will put the fizz back into Christmas?  Just imagine yourself on his arm in this one.  Or better yet, in your arms!

Okay the in-laws are coming, you want to make a good impression but what with I hear you ask?  Well what about 'his and hers' e-readers, you never know your luck, they may be so stuck into the new book that they've down loaded, they may give you a few minutes peace and quiet.    

Now own up, have you given your friends a bottle of bubbly and a box of biscuits every year for the last five?  If so,  you might want to change your strategy before they decide to take you off their Christmas list. How about a nice toasty pair of gloves to ensure that they venture out into the cold to visit you this party season?  And don't forget, there are hats and scarves at Lotus Travel Essentials too, so everyone will stay nice and warm this winter.

Don't forget that there are nearly 2000 products on the Lotus Travel Essentials website, so there is bound to be something there that takes your fancy.  It will certainly save you traipsing round the shops and will leave you more time to do the stuff you like to do over Christmas, like deciding where to go in January...

If you find something on Lotus Travel Essentials site, why not post a comment on who you bought it for, to give others some inspiration?

Thanks for reading, see you next week and in the meantime, I hope that you can take sometime to check out LotusTravelEssentials.co.uk happy & safe travelling.

Issue No. 8 - Holiday in Focus: In for the long haul; surviving long flights.

It strikes me that those of us who like to travel, enjoy the journey as much as the arrival, and nowhere is this more apparent than when we choose to fly long haul.  Where the great and good might choose to fly Business Class or First Class most of us mere mortals make do with a standard flight.  That doesn’t mean to say that without a little bit of planning, you can’t make your flight a lot more bearable, here are my ten top tips for surviving long haul flights with your sanity intact.

Drink lots of water

I know, you hear it all the time, but this is a real must.  I recommend at least 1 glass of water or juice for every hour you spend in the air.  Don’t count coffee or tea (unless it’s a fruit tea) as these will dehydrate you.  If you do this, you will avoid travel headaches and digestive problems (you know what I mean…), you will reduce the feeling of tiredness and jet lag and keep your skin from looking dull and lifeless.  Failing to drink enough water may also lead to deep vein thrombosis (DVTs), so there are really good medical reasons for staying hydrated.

Wear something comfortable

It’s all very well wanting to look stylish when you arrive at your swanky resort but if

you spend 10 hours freezing to death on the flight, you will soon be coveting your neighbour’s chunky cardigan.  My advice is to wear loose fitting clothes that are unlikely to crease easily (no need to look like a dish-rag when you arrive!)  It might be that you leave England in the snow, travel on a flight which is a cool 10 Degrees C° and arrive in the tropics, if this is the case, layers are good as they will allow you to put on and take off clothing dependent on the temperature.  Also wear dark colours, there is nothing worse than dropping coffee down white trousers and then having to walk through customs.  Thankfully this has never happened to me but I have seen it.

Keep occupied

Unless you are that rare breed of person who falls asleep before the plane takes off and only wakes up to eat and drink at meal times, then you are going to need something to pass the time, in-flight entertainment can vary hugely on long haul flights so it is as well not to rely on it.  A ten hour flight is a long time without anything to do.  An e-reader will avoid finishing a book mid-flight without having something else to start.  Laptops or Tablets can be loaded with the favourite films or games to keep you occupied and uploaded music can drown out that screaming baby sitting two rows behind you.

Avoid alcohol

I know, you’re on your holidays but alcohol really will dehydrate you and can reduce your tolerance of other people.  Not to mention, alcohol won’t taste great at altitude (something about our taste buds at altitude I think).  I’m not saying not to have one to launch your holiday, but much more than that is likely to leave you feeling ropey.

Get comfy

Make sure you have your travel blanket and cushion, eye mask and ear plugs to block out unnecessary noise and light.

Make sure you take some mints with you

After 10 hours on a flight, our breath may not be as minty fresh as we would like it to be.  Moreover, not will your neighbour’s: a friendly offering of a mint, may well save being knocked out by someone else’s halitosis!

Take lip salve, eye drops (or spray) and tissues

Air conditioning on flights can be ferocious and this will dry out eyes, lips and sinuses and turn you lips and eyes sore and set you’re your nose running by the time you take off.  Be prepared, and have these things to hand, perhaps in a little plastic bag in your seat pocket and you’ll be glad you brought them along.

Be polite to the people you are sitting next to

If you are going to be in their company for 10 hours or more, you’ll not want to upset them.  I try to at least offer to get them a drink, if I am going to the galley for one for myself, I like to offer sweets occasionally if  I have them and I try to make small talk for a short period if the opportunity presents itself.  There is nothing wrong with being friendly, just make sure you have an exit strategy in case your neighbour turns out to be able to talk the hind legs off a donkey.

Stretch you legs occasionally

Apart from helping to reduce the risk of DVTs, it will also help get the blood circulating

around other parts of your body especially bits that you might be sitting on!) There is sometimes a walkway at the back of the plane for a bit, but you may need to move out the way for staff occasionally.

Make sure you have everything you need before you sit down

There is nothing worse than having to constantly go to the overhead lockers for things you need.  This can disturb other travellers and may lead to something falling out onto other people.  I once saw a bottle of whiskey drop onto someone’s head – ouch!

 Well, you're now equipped with everything you need for your long haul flight, have fun and enjoy your travels.

Thanks for reading, see you next week and in the meantime, I hope that you can take sometime to check out some of the great items on LotusTravelEssentials.co.uk happy & safe travelling.

Issue No. 7 - Country by Country – France

Just a twenty minute train ride from the UK, France is our closest neighbour, the butt of many a joke, France has long since been the country we have loved to hate, but I wonder if the joke might actually be on us?  The reason I say this is because, for me France just about has it all: spectacular mountains, wonderful countryside, chic city life, and stylish beach resorts.  And if that’s not enough, the roads are practically empty and the food is superlative.  If you don't believe me, you'll just have to try it out for yourself...

So where to go in France?  The answer is just about anywhere!  Put a pin in a map of France and away you go.  We did just that a couple of years ago and the pin landed on Limoges in the Auvergne region, so we booked a cheap flight and hired a car from the airport.  Equipped with just a map and a ‘Where to stay’ guidebook, we proceeded to get lost in France (Didn’t Bonnie Tyler do a song about that?)

Uzerche

Medieval Town of Uzerche

First stop was the medieval town of Uzerche, looking like an out-take from a Harry Potter movie, this Hogwarthian village nestled on the top of a small hill is absolutely charming.  

Having searched high and low for somewhere to eat, we wandered past what looked like the open doors of a small bar, thinking we might get a drink and ask for somewhere where we might be able to get something to eat we walked in and found that it was a veritable tardis of a place, which served the most delightful of local dishes whilst we sat on their balcony looking down at the river passing by below.  A few glasses of excellent table wine later we sauntered back to our hotel for a good night's sleep.

Tulle

Day two took us to Tulle, home of the famous lace, we dropped down into the town early before anything much was open, as a result we found ourselves looking around the cemetery – I know, its a very strange activity, but we often find ourselves doing this on holiday, it's amazing how much you can learn about a place by spending a couple of hours wandering around their cemetry.  Tulle's cemetry turned out to be something of a find however, as it is known as the Martyrs Cemetery.  On the 9^th June 1944, 99 men were killed by the Nazis and strung up around the city from lamp posts and balconies in retaliation for a number of German soliders having been killed.  Apparently a further 149 civillians were also sent to Germany as slave labour, of which, 101 never returned. The town has produced a fitting memorial to those who died in this terrible event. 

Oradour-sur-Glane

For an even more harrowing experience along these lines, you might like to visit Oradour-sur-Glane which is just north of Limoges airport.  This is the site of a much larger massacre taking place just one day after the Tulle massacre.  Here a whole village was rounded up and killed.  642 men, women and children were killed by the German SS and the ruined village now stands as a visitor centre and memorial to those who died.  Be warned. I left sobbing… Don't say I didn't warn you.

Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne

Beaulieu sur Dordogne

Day three took us to Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, this village is absolutely charming, set unsurprisingly on the Dordogne, there is a veritable cornucopia of activities to delight everyone and which is why we stayed here more than one night.  Whether you like messing about on the water, camping walking or just plain eating, everything here will delight you.  We spent a lively couple of hours watching the locals play boules in the Market place and I wouldn't have needed much persuasion to join in.

Carcassonne

Carcassonne

Back on the road after again, we headed for Carcassonne another fortified medieval town, which has been occupied by man since the 6^th century B.C, so there is plenty here for the history buff. Carcassonne is now a designated world heritage site. Surrounded by the Canal du midi there are plenty of ways for boat lovers to sample the delights of this region too.

The Hotel La Chapelle St-Martin 

The Hotel La Chapelle St-Martin

Finally we headed back towards Limoges and found a beautiful chateau just a ten minute drive from the airport.  The Hotel La Chapelle St-Martin was extremely tolerant of us turning up out of the blue having just kayaked around a local lake and thus looking a little frayed around the edges.  

At dinner, the waiter steered me diplomatically away from the local delicacy ‘eel’ and on to safer territory for British tastes, but if you want to be a little more adventurous, you will certainly find something interesting on the menu.  

As we checked out, I noted a letter from Hillary Clinton’s security staff thanking the hotel for their hospitality.  Well if it's good enough for Mrs Clinton, it’s probably good enough for me...

I know that this should have been an article on the whole of France but I think it's just impossible without writting a book.  So much has already been written about the key tourist areas, that I’m not convinced that I would be able to add much of value to the discussion.   However, if you really do want a list of must do’s to tick off, here are a few more for you:

A weekend in Paris – TimeOut will help you plan your weekend: 

http://www.timeout.com/paris/en/things-to-do/your-perfect-weekend-in-paris

A walk around the walled town of St Malo – The Independent will help you plan your activities. http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/48-hours-in/48-hours-in-stmalo-1973058.html

People watch in St Tropez – Cool Hunting will give you the down and low on all things cool in St Tropez:http://www.coolhunting.com/travel/word-of-mouth-saint-tropez.php

Pose in Cannes at the Film festival – visit the official website for details:

http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en.html

Camp in the Vendée – for more information visit:

http://www.holidays-in-vendee.com/Tourism/Vendee_Tourist_Information.htm

Visit the amphitheatre in Nimes – for more information on the history of this amazing site visit:http://www.historvius.com/nimes-arena-1335/

Thanks for reading, see you next week and in the meantime, I hope that you can take sometime to check out LotusTravelEssentials.co.uk happy & safe travelling.

Issue No. 6 - Where Next? – Where to go in December

Wondering where to go in December?  Here are a few ideas for the holiday season.

Lapland - Finland

I guess the most obvious choice for somewhere to go in December is Lapland.  Everyone knows, Santa lives in Lapland – but where is Lapland and what is there to know about the spiritual home of the great man himself?  Well, Lapland which is the largest and most northerly region of what we know as Finland.  Lapland is now home to 3.4% of the Finnish population and is very sparsely populated.  In fact, its population is only around 169,000 and has been in decline since 1990.

Santa Claus Village is an amusement park near
Rovaniemi in the Lapland region of  Finland

But where exactly does Santa live?  Well, he lives in a town called Rovaniemi, where it is Christmas all year round. Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland and is located on the Northern Arctic Circle and from here you can go on safari to see the famous Northern Lights.

Located just two hours flight from London, it’s possible to take a day trip to see Santa and all his elves hard at work in Santa’s Village.  So this is a definite must do if you have children.

For more information about Lapland visit: http://www.visitfinland.com

Mexico

Next up is Mexico, sandwiched between the United States of America in the north and Guatemala and Belize to the South, Mexico is divided into temperate and tropical climates by the Tropic of Cancer which slices through it’s heart.  According to Wikipedia this gives Mexico one of the most diverse weather systems in the world.

Endangered Green Sea Turtle

If you’re into all things nature, Mexico is definitely the place to head, as it is the most bio-diverse country in the world for reptiles.  Apparently there are around 707 species of them hanging out.  I know, who knew?  Not only that, it is also home to between 10-12% of the whole world’s biodiversity, which is pretty impressive.

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Mexico received 23.4 million international tourists in 2012 second only to the USA for the whole of the Americas.  Peak season is in December when people flock to the beach resorts on the Caribbean coast but there are plenty of cultural sites to visit for those of us who get fidgety sitting on the beach.

Mexico is also the largest Spanish speaking country in the world, so if you want to try out what you learnt at school, Mexico is definitely the place to visit, for those of you not so familiar with the lingo, there is always the trusty phrase book.

Chamonix - France

Mont Blanc

Finally, what about a bit of Skiing in Chamonix?  Skiing in December is generally a little early in the season but there are still a few places that can usually be relied upon to deliver the white stuff.  The advice is to generally opt for a ski resort that can offer a range of ski areas.  Chamonix is perfect for this as it has an impressive 11 separate ski areas.

Never Summer Proto HDX Snowboard

The Chamonix Valley stretches from Servoz to Barberine on the Swiss border.  Chamonix has 5 ski resorts and one off piste lift (the Aiguille du Midi) for more information go to: http://www.chamonix.net/english/chamonix

Whatever you are into; skiing, snowboarding, mountaineering, cross country skiing, paragliding, dog sledging or ice climbing, it is all here, so you definitely won’t get bored.  You can even climb Mont Blanc if you’re feeling really energetic.  Just don’t break anything and keep warm!  For all your ski apparrel and equipment visit www.lotustravelessentials.co.uk

If you have some good ideas on where to go in December, please send me your comments, I would love to hear them.  Also if you have plans to visit somewhere in December please let me know, I am sure to get envious!

Thanks for reading, see you next week and in the meantime, I hope that you can take sometime to check out LotusTravelEssentials.co.uk happy & safe travelling.

Issue No.5 What's Hot? Christmas Gifts for the Discerning Traveller

This week I thought that I would go Christmas shopping for the discerning traveller.  We all have someone in our lives who appears to have everything, so I thought that this may give you some seasonal inspiration.


What about a travel blanket that has built in speakers? This is a great gift for a family with children, they will never have to go without their your favourite tunes whilst having a picnic again. It comes with a clear plastic MP3 player pouch to protect your device from damp grass or sand and has a handy earphone jack for when you want to block out the world and relax.

That special man in your life deserves a little bit of luxury and what better way of reminding him of you everyday than buying him the very best in British style an elegance.  Handmade in England from the finest calf leather, this Ettinger of London wallet will last a life time and add a touch of eccentricity too.



When I first saw this water bottle down the gym I thought it was a real fire extinguisher! Made of stainless steel with a food safe coating , this 600ml water bottle features a twist flip sport lid for easy drinking.  It is lightweight and perfect for travelling, outdoor pursuits or exercise.  It also comes with a handy carry loop for practicality and ease of use.  In addition, 50p from each sale is donated to WaterAid so there is no better reason than this to purchase this fabulous little gift.

I love this Menscience travel kit for men, designed to comply with the latest Transportation Security Administration rules, I thought it was a great idea.  This wash bag comes complete with; shave, aftershave, cleanser, moisteriser, shampoo, deodorant, lip balm and more.  Menscience produce professional grade products which are designed to visibly make a difference to the man in your life and will cover all his skincare and grooming needs.

Christmas is all about eating lovely goodies, well, it probably isn't but that doesn't stop us wanting to indulge a bit around the holidays.  If you want to ensure that your host is well stocked with the very best goodies this Christmas, this gorgeous hamper may well be the answer.  Made from high quality wicker and fully lined in tartan, it includes wine glasses, napkins, china plates, stainless steel cutlery, a bottle opener, chopping board, and an amazing array of yummy food, including caviar, gents relish, pickled quails eggs and some lively chocolates.  I'm dribbling with anticipation just thinking about it...

As we head for the party season, the lady in your life maybe looking for that perfect pair of shoes to go with that amazing party frock.  Well, what about these cheeky little numbers?  Not only would they be perfect for all those Christmas parites, but when you jet off somewhere in the New Year they could go along too.  Whether you are in your party frock or sipping Sangria on the beach, these Colori Women's Flip Flops are absolutely essential.  And remember, a girl can simply never have enough shoes, its the law.  (Well, it should be!)
Of course there are literally hundreds more gifts available on the Lotus Travel Essentials website, and whatever your loved ones are into this year, I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for.

Finally, if your loved ones really do have everything, why not consider giving a gift of mosquito nets to families in real need.  According to the Global Fund, every year there are around 219 million cases of Malaria worldwide resulting in a horrific 660,000 deaths.  Currently Malaria elimination is being pursued by 32 countries worldwide.  ActionAid is currently offering a gift of mosquito nets for two families costing just £20. I can't think of a better way of providing peace and goodwill this Chrismas.



Thanks for reading, see you next week and in the meantime, I hope that you can take sometime to check out LotusTravelEssentials.co.uk happy & safe travelling.