Plan your Summer Holiday Early

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Many people will sit tight, wait, and pray the prices drop over time for their summer holiday, but the fact is they don’t. Some of the cheapest summer holiday prices can be found in the winter and January in particular with New Year deals.

You may find that this is rather strange, but hotels want to be booked up early. It makes it easier for them to know the levels their going to have, and the earlier they fill up their rooms, the better.

It can be strange planning a summer holiday when Christmas is just around the corner, but that does not mean it is wrong. If you have a good idea on where you want to go, start looking now because you may in fact be pleasantly surprised.

Here’s a few of our recommendations if you’re stuck for ideas:

  • South Africa
  • Thailand
  • Greek Islands
  • Jamaica
  • Portugal

Travel Trends for 2014

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As this year’s end approaches, thoughts about what the next year will hold begin. Below we’ve outlined a couple of places that will think will be big in the world of safari holidays next year.

Zimbabwe

Back in the 1990s, Zimbabwe was the place to be for a top quality safari and, slowly but surely, the country is making a comeback. With superb wildlife, magnificent scenery and expert guides Zimbabwe is one of the most exciting safari destinations in Africa.  Camps such as The Hide, Hwange National Park, and Singita Pamushana Lodge, Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, have begun to regain their popularity and we expect to see interests in Zimbabwe grow even further next year.

Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

April of 2014 will see the opening of Kubatana Camp in Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park. In the park’s heyday, the 1960s and 70s, it was visited by many safari enthusiasts (including John Wayne!) and the wildlife was so great it was known as the place where Noah left his ark. Following lots of hard work, the park has been restored and is, once again, a superb wildlife area. It’s famous for its incredible biodiversity, making it a great place to visit for people who have been to Africa already. After some time on safari you can head over to one of the country’s idyllic remote islands for some quality R&R – perfect!

Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Congo

There are two excellent camps in Congo’s Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Ngaga Camp and Lango Camp which we are expecting to gain popularity in 2014. There are numerous habitats in the area: forests, savannah, rivers and more. The multitude of habitats means a multitude of wildlife too. So there’s a lot to see, from huge forest elephant to tiny, vibrant butterflies. The main reason for visiting is to track the families of western lowland gorilla that live in the forest and this is becoming an increasingly frequent request. We’re expecting to see the number of travellers wanting to track Africa’s gorilla population to increase again next year.

Conquer Your Fear of Flying

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Flying doesn’t come easy to everyone, and it’s important to let people know of the possibilities that are out there, so they can finally enjoy holidays in the destinations they’ve always dreamed of visiting.

Many airlines provide flying courses (and no this doesn’t mean you get to fly the plane). British Airways were one of the first to provide a flying course, and they can be undertaken at a variety of destinations, such as New York, London, and Edinburgh. Many people delay flying, essentially limiting the number of destinations they visit, perhaps restricting their selves to Europe only.

For those who want to go abroad, but don’t feel prepared enough, flying courses are one option, but we have our own advice:

  • Familiarise yourself with airport scenery, perhaps by visiting you nearby airport. By seeing the planes take off, hearing the noises, it can play a big part in conquering your fear.
  • Statistics are on your side, remember this. Plane crashes or problems are very rare, and when there are problems, this is why they tend to make it on the news.
  • Don’t read too much into the media. This links to the previous point, and it’s important any stories you read in the paper before your flight do not shatter your fear, so it could be worth avoiding the news until you arrive at your destination.
  • Pretending you’re in a car or on a bus can also help, planes are relatively smooth at both taking off and landing, and if you don’t think about it too much, your journey will be a lot easier on your mind.
  • Our final option which we only recommend if it is really necessary, take sedatives. It can work, but it may not fully conquer your fears.

 

Isle of Wight for a traditional British holiday

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History can be found everywhere, and Britain is a country with an extremely rich history, one that still lives today, especially with holidays.

Today it may be cheap to travel to a different country or a different island, but the same can be said about our own islands and the Isle of Wight in particular. Before holidays in Spain and Greece became rather cheap and common, the Isle of Wight was extremely popular for British families.

Even today it can be. Delivering seaside pleasures with stunning views, the Isle of Wight may not be the hottest place to visit, but it can defiantly be known as one of the most attractive British holiday destinations.

You can enjoy walks on the rolling chalk downs, head out in a sailboat, taste the local foods or even time your trip to see the Isle of Wight music Festival. Before thinking about your next Spanish beach holiday, think about spending money in British territory, without needing to change currency. Though do check on the weather beforehand as you may need a raincoat.

 

September Holidays in Greece

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Okay so September is the closing month of the summer holiday season, sadly even for Greece or Greek islands. However, prices drop significantly midway through the month of September, so it could be worth holding off on your summer holiday, plus you’ll miss the rush of the school kids.

September is a great month for couples, because families tend to be restricted to the summer periods, especially with younger children. The weather during July and August is likely to be warmer, but gaining a tan is just as likely in September too.

So what are the downsides? Well as mentioned, it’s the close of the summer holiday season. If you love all inclusive holidays, it may be a little different in September, where restaurants need to budget the last of the food more carefully, and because the number of visitors are smaller, so too will be the range of food on offer.

September may lack atmosphere, even the main attractions such as water parks, but it means no queuing for rides, and seclusion, which could be exactly what you’re looking for in a holiday. Either way, September should not be automatically ruled out just because it’s not quite as hot. So if you want to cut back costs, delay your next summer holiday and head to Greece in September.

Holiday Suitcase Essentials

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Packing for a holiday can be a nightmare for some people. Not only does it have to fit in a reasonable sized suitcase, it also has to weigh under a certain amount, depending on the airline.

Knowing exactly what to pack can also be tricky, and to make sure you don’t forget some essential items, HolidayPlaces are offering you a quick guide. Underwear, unlike t-shirts underwear should only be warned once. If you’re going somewhere hot limit the amount of trousers your taking. They may only be needed for an evening meal, so is there really any need to take too many pairs?

Things that can be purchased cheaply such as a beach ball, lilo, and a bat and ball, should be left behind. If it isn’t n your hand luggage, absolute essential include a phone (and charger), passport, cash, insurance paperwork, hotel details. Health belongings should include pain killers, bug repellent, toothpaste, deodorant, and toothbrush, and perhaps antibiotic cream.

For clothes, shorts, vest and t-shirts are ideal for summer trips, while winter trips should still not require more than four pairs of jeans. Each individual is different, but if you have the belongings we’ve mentioned you won’t be too disappointed, just make sure you find the right balance, without exceeding the limit on the scales.

All Inclusive Vs. Half Board

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There’s no doubt that all inclusive holidays are becoming increasingly popular, but depending on the type of holiday you want to have, they may not always make sense.

Half board is the next best option, and while it does not offer you with unlimited beverages and drinks throughout the day, you’re still usually guaranteed a buffet breakfast and dinner. Therefore, if you are the type of individual who likes to explore, and spend more time outside the hotel premises than in, it could make perfect sense.

It’s clear that to make the absolute most of an all-inclusive holiday, a lot of time must be spent by the hotel, where you can take advantage of the food and drinks on offer throughout the day. Meanwhile, if you’re prone to a lie-in or accidentally missing breakfast, half board would not be well suited.

Drinking in the evenings after a meal is another way of making sure you fulfil that all-inclusive price tag, and again if you’re not the type to worry about this, half board may offer everything you require. Of course, the location itself is important, with some holiday areas charging more for everyday items, even water can be quite costly, so researching into your destination is just as important and it could sway your decision when it comes to choosing a board basis.