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.

Issue No. 4 Where Next?: Where to go in November

So the bag is packed, the passport is at the ready and the airport is calling you, but where to go?  November is a great month to go a little further afield, especially if you want beautiful beaches and tropical weather.  And frankly, who doesn’t want that when all we can see ahead of us is endless winter nights in front of the television.  Here’s some ideas if you want to shorten the winter a little this November.

How about bronzing in the Bahamas?

The Bahamas is the jewel at the top of the Caribbean scattered across 700 beautiful islands, and hopping from island to island couldn’t be easier, either hop in a fast boat, jump on a plane or sail it, but if that all sounds too much like hard work, why not just book a nice Caribbean cruise taking in an island or two?

November sees the end of the rainy season and you can expect temperatures of 27 degrees C° around this time of year too, so topping up the tan, shouldn’t be a problem, especially with over 300 days of sunshine each year.

Whether you’re golfing, diving, fishing, sunbathing on the beach, sailing or cruising, the Bahamas is sure to keep you occupied.

Check out www.bahamas.co.uk for more information about this fabulous, country.

Marvellous Malaysia

Set in the South China Sea, Malaysia is home to some spectacular sites, whether you prefer giant skyscrapers or tropical rainforests, blissful beaches or cloud topped mountains, everyone is likely to find something to discover here, as long as you don’t forget your suntan lotion and mosquito repellant

Surrounded by Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Papua New Guinea and relatively close to Australia, Malaysia is a great option for hopping around South East Asia and beyond.

For three completely different Malaysian experiences, start with the modern capital Kuala Lumpa and dare to venture up to the top of the Petronas Towers, then explore the delights of Borneo by trekking into the rainforest in search of the rafflesia the largest flower in the world.  When you’ve trekked through the rainforest enough, hop on an hour long flight to Langkawi for a bit of rest and relaxation.

Check out http://www.tourism.gov.my/en/uk for more information on this fascinating country.

Dive into Mauritius

If you’re looking for somewhere to dive this time of year, have you considered Mauritius, which is more or less totally surrounded by an amazing coral barrier reef? Key dive sites are located around Flic-en-Flac in the North and Trou aux Biches and the Northern Islands.

If you’re not a great diver, then there are still plenty of things to do, whether it is trekking through the forests or climbing the Mountains, Black River Gorge National Park is a good place to explore.

There are also plenty of cultural and historical sites to discover along the way so don’t forget your camera.  Mind you, the biggest challenge of all will be pulling yourself away from some of the most spectacular beaches in the world.

Check out http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/planatrip/destinations/africa/mauritius for plenty more ideas for things to do in Mauritus.

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. 3 - Holiday in Focus: North Wales

Holiday in Focus: North Wales

With concerns of global warming and increased flight costs, one might start to consider some holiday options closer to home.  I think that we, in the UK, spend a lot of time travelling abroad, often due to the unpredictable weather, and can be at risk of missing out on some amazing places closer to home.

I recently went on a short break to North Wales to discover some hidden gems that you may want to check out if you are ever in the vicinity.

Llangollen

Having arrived in North Wales early we decided to take a detour to Llangollen to visit the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, it was a beautiful day and we spent a leisurely couple of hours walking across the aqueduct to enjoy the views.  I have to say at this point, I was holding onto the handrail like grim death all the way across and back, which caused some hilarity amongst other less nervous walkers, of which there were many.  In my defence, there was a large drop to certain death on one side and a dip in icy cold canal the other, so I’m not sure that I was being entirely unreasonable!  There is an option to go across the bridge by narrowboat which would also be nice, but then you wouldn't be able to stop and enjoy the view. I'm given to understand that Llangollen is a bit of a Mecca for walkers, so don’t forget your walking boots.

  

Lion Quay in Oswestry

Our next stop was our hotel, the Lion Quay inOswestry.  I know, it isn’t actually in Wales but it is on the boarder.  My husband likes a good round of golf and I thought I would give the spa a go, so next day, having off-loaded the husband, I made my way to the spa for their Coffee Morning package.  This includes access to the spa until 2.00pm and a couple of treatments.  Having been to a lot of spas over the years, I was pleased to find a couple of things that I had not come across before, firstly, a vitamin D room designed to make you feel like you’ve been out on a sunny day and a snow room complete with 2 foot of snow.  I found this surprisingly pleasant after having cooked in the sauna for 20 minutes.  I then made my way upstairs for coffee and cake before relaxing in the chill out area before my facial and a fabulous back massage - great, and my husband enjoyed his golf too, so all was well with the world.

Y Bala

Next day we headed for Y Bala on a road shrouded in fog, whilst we got a vague feeling that we were going upward, it wasn’t until the fog suddenly cleared did we realise that we were half way up a mountain and we were driving along a cliff edge.  The views from the top of the mountain looking down into the sheep filled valleys below, served to remind us that there are more sheep in Wales than people, or so I've heard. 

Having topped the mountain and dropping down the other side we drove once again, down into the fog as we arrived at Y Bala, which according to the map was set on a large lake, however, the fog was not letting us see further than the road, so we decided to go for a coffee and to check out the village of Y Bala which was strange.  I know, I’m being enigmatic here but I guess if you want to know what I mean by this you will need to go there yourself, and if you have been, perhaps you can articulate what I mean a bit better than me in the comments section below? 

After an hour or so, we headed back to the car to set out on our roadtrip again but by this time the fog had lifted off the lake and we were rewarded with a phenomenal view (above right) which stayed with me for days.  Yes, this picture is me, and believe it or not, it was taken with a mobile phone, so imagine what it would have looked like with a decent camera.

Borth Y Gest

Next we headed off to Borth Y Gest an absolutely charming coastal village, just around the corner from Portmerion.  Whereas, Portmerion is very commercialised and full of fish & chip shops, Borth Y Gest feels like it has been protected in an Agatha Christie like time warp, complete with a lovely coastal path leading to some beautiful sandy nooks.  We spent a lovely couple of hours picking out which house we would buy, when we win the lottery.  Borth Y Gest is a real gem, so please don’t tell anyone…

Some other places

Other places we dropped into see along the way was Bangor, which we found to be a bit rundown, Conwy which is a surreal sight on arriving as it is enclosed by imposingly high castle walls and finally we took a look around Llandudno which is very Victorian in feel and full of ropey hotels, my advice would be to visit for the day and stay somewhere else.

Summing up, we found North Wales to be beautiful, spectacular, well kept, and well worth a second visit.  We are currently considering hiring a cottage for a week next year to do some serious trekking up the mountains.

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. 2 Country by Country: Norway is number 1

Country by Country: Norway is number 1.

You may be wondering why I’m starting my country by country virtual tour with Norway.  Well Lotus Travel Essentials is all about finding the best of everything travel related and according to the 2013 Human Development Report commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme, Norway is the best place to live in all of the 196 UN recognised States.  And if you’re looking for some comparison, the UK ranks 26th and the United States of America ranks 3rd just after Australia.

According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Norway has a population of around 5 million, that’s just 16 people per square kilometre, compared to the UK’s 262.  This means that you can expects lots of spectacular countryside to explore.

With just a short two hour flight from the UK what else can we expect if we visit Norway? Well, sharing the same latitude as Siberia, Alaska and Greenland, we’re not going to be expecting tropical weather anytime soon but according to www.visitnorway.com  temperatures in July and August can surprisingly reach 25-30°C and sea temperatures can reach 18°C making swimming a popular pastime, so don’t forget your swimsuit.

Borgund Stave Church , Lærdal.

So what is there to do in Norway?  Well, the staggeringly beautiful countryside suggests that activities should be kept firmly outside and skiing, hiking, cycling and kayaking are all here for your enjoyment.  But if you want to take things at a more leisurely pace, why not take a coastal cruise of the fjords.   Or for a more spiritual experience, why not visit the medieval Borgund Stave Church located in Borgund, Lærdal. (photo right).

I think that we would be remiss if we didn’t mention that Norway’s national sport is skiing with alpine ski resorts and cross country skiing throughout the country.  The ski season here, lasts from November to the end of April and even into early May so if you visit Norway in the winter months you must give skiing a go.

If you are looking for something a little different, why not visit the Nordic Light festival held annually in Kristiansund.  Attracting some of the most famous photographers from across the world, this is surely not to be missed if you are a keen photographer.

In April 2012, the Earth Institute,
Columbia University, published the World Happiness Report, commissioned for the United Nations Conference on Happiness. According to the report the third happiest country in the world was Norway.  The report stated that political instability and civil disturbances has a major influence on the happiness of a country.  No surprise then that according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, Norway rated 165th out of 165 for political instability.

Perhaps then, Norway is worth a visit to see what all the fuss is about…?

Thanksfor 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.