Get A Beach Body In Time For All Inclusive Holidays
Lose weight for all inclusive holidays.
It’s fair to say that yet again, Christmas has taken its toll on the waists of us festive folk. Only last summer you were boasting your perfectly toned body, yet that feels like years ago. But you don’t have to be a pudding! There is hope yet, and many ways you can rebuild that friendship you once had with the mirror.
You don’t have to be a dietician to know how to shed those winter pounds, and with constant new and controversial diets popping up all over the show, its best to keep things good and simple. Before you start your long and winding path to recovery, head on down to your nearest travel agent and check out some all inclusive holidays. Pick somewhere you have no choice but to show a little flesh and book a getaway for the upcoming summer. By doing this you are setting yourself a deadline, because who doesn’t want to look great on a beach?
Goodbye Junk Food!
Many have fallen into the routine of snacking on what can only be described as rubbish this winter. As heart breaking as it may be, you’re going to have to say goodbye to those fast food companies, as they are never going to help you lose that weight. Eat healthy meals, a good mixture of all the right stuff, not deep fried garbage and ice cream. Here are a few do’s and don’ts:
Do
- Eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruit.
- Eat some protein, like fish, meat and eggs.
- Eat appropriate sized portions.
- Enjoy your meals at set times.
- Drink lots of water, the more the better!
- Always eat breakfast.
- Exercise, lots!
- Snack between meals.
- Be a slob!
- Eat takeaways on a regular basis.
- Drive if you could walk.
- Expect quick results, these things take time.
- Give in to temptation!
Don’t
Following simple steps can have you in ship shape for the summer. Dedicate at least 20 minutes every night/morning to some light exercise and even assign yourself a rest day, where once a week you don’t have to worry about it.
Sit ups and Crunches are a great way to work out those well hidden abs (or flabs). Set yourself a reasonable target each night, and gradually increase that as it becomes easier. This is a sure way to make a difference on your appearance. For arms, I recommend investing in some dumbbells to lift, or simply do sets of press-ups as part of your routine. Swimming is definitely a great way to work out the whole body, and is highly recommended. A regular swimming session along with the previous steps and you’ll be looking great in no time.
Get Festive This Christmas In Manchester
Not everyone can afford holidays with Christmas being just around the corner, but luckily the UK isn’t too boring this time of year. One city in particular knows how to satisfy its residents needs for excitement in the festive season. Home of world famous football teams, birthplace of some of the most successful musical artists and filled with some of the friendliest people you could possibly meet, Manchester also boasts night-life like no other city. So if a holiday in the sun is out of the window this Christmas then don’t worry, Manchester has a great festive entertainment during the X-Mas period that you don’t want to be missing out on.
Have a Holiday in the U.K this Christmas!
The weeks leading up to Christmas really are when this amazing city comes to life. Thousands of people gather around the historical town hall in suspense as they count down to the illumination of the city. Giant snowflakes, Christmas trees and other Christmas related shapes line the streets and sparkle elegantly through the night. People travel far and wide to visit the annual Christmas German market, and the aroma of hogs roasting and mulled wine brewing creep through the decorative huts and onto the street. A giant statue of Father Christmas takes rest as we approach the eve when he will be needed. All seems nice, and Manchester seems like a quiet and peaceful city, but that’s not entirely true.
As the Markets close, and all the families head home to prepare for the long day that awaits tomorrow, Manchester prepares for a night just as long, as not everyone sleeps when the sun goes down.
On every back street, and every main road, there is always that one place that keeps the lights on that extra few hours. Night clubs and bars own the night throughout the year in Manchester, with a great selection of drinks and all types of music, there’s somewhere to meet anyone’s needs. But winter in particular holds one night time event to rule them all. A place where people from all over the country buy tickets to see some of the best DJ’s around perform at a hidden location.
For twelve weeks, The Warehouse Project claims Manchester’s night-life. It’s where world famous musical artists travel across the world to make each night something to remember. Thousands of people make their way to a secret location that changes annually, usually in a warehouse of some sort. Multiple spaces, each with different artists /DJ’s ready to fill the crowd with music so they can dance the night away. Strobe lights beam through the crowds as bass strikes the chests of all that are in range. The night never seems to end, and no one wishes it to.
Although we are rapidly approaching the end of this year’s instalment of The Warehouse Project on January 1st, there are still so many special guests to expect. Fatboy Slim, Annie Mac, Pete Tong, Magnetic Man, Skream, Netsky and Danny Byrd are just a few names Manchester can expect to see before the end of The Warehouse Project. One name in particular which is sure to bring in an incredible crowd though… Skrillex. On the 6th of December 2012, the king of Dubstep himself is gracing The Warehouse Project with his presence. Not only will he be performing on the night, but he will also be choosing the entire line up for that night. I don’t know about you, but that’s something I’m not prepared to miss…
Set memories in stone with holidays to Petra!
Breathtaking Jordan holidays
Few places in the world are as fascinating as the stone city of Petra. Carved into the mountains of Jordan, Petra is a magnificent display of craftsmanship and architecture, and has been for thousands of years. Petra shows signs of being around as early as 312BC and was not discovered by westerners until 1812, but it is not the history of Petra that interests me.
The location of Petra is awe inspiring on its own. Carved into the slope of mount Hor, Petra has been a gateway between cities and a centre for traders for as long as people remember. Petra has been successful strongpoint in Jordan due to its abilities to utilise water from a stream, for domestic purposes and to make profit. Petra also has built in facilities to utilise water from flash floods, and store it for the droughts in the summer months.
I truly believe Petra to be one of the most amazing places in the world. I would quite happily take a holiday to live in a cave like habitat for a week in Petra if I could, and feel that life would be stripped back to its bare essentials. I find it admirable that people still take residence in Petra and envy the men who were talented enough to build such amazing structures. In the current day, Tourists are led to Petra from the East. Heading to Petra from the east involves walking through an incredibly narrow gorge, known as ‘al-siq’ or ‘The Shaft’. The walls of The Shaft are no more than 3 meters apart at some points and reach up to 182 meters in height. At the end of this dark and intimidating gorge, tourists are rewarded with the magnificent sight of Al Khazneh, also known as The Treasury, one of Petra’s most outstanding pieces of architecture. Carved by hand, thousands of years ago into a sandstone cliff face, The Treasury tells stories of the afterlife in its intricate façade. The Treasury found its name in the legend that bandits once hid their loot in a stone urn on the second floor.While no treasure has ever been discovered in this legendary temple, The Treasury was shown as the resting place for the ‘Holy Grail’ in the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Petra is also home to Ad Deir (The Monastery), an Amphitheatre and many other habitable carved structures.
Finding Cheap Holidays
Apart from your Christmas shopping, finding cheap holidays for the summer is probably the biggest challenge you will have in your annual budget. There are, however, a few systems that you can employ to make sure that your pound stretches as far as it can go.
Keeping a regular eye on the web, and on your local travel agents Thomas Cook’s shop window. Are both a couple of good strategies to start with. There are plenty of cheap holiday deals which crop up on an irregular basis and unless you keep a close eye on the market there is a good chance that you will miss out.
Cheap Holidays
Choosing a popular location is always a good idea. Plenty of people head for destinations in Majorca, Tenerife and Gran Canaria which generally helps drive the costs of holidaying in these locations down. As locations go they have a bit of something for everyone and you can choose a type of holiday to suit you, and your budget.
There are some locations, like Dubai, which offer great deals to attract people during the shopping festival. This will only work out as a cheaper option if you don’t go spending all of your money in the shops. Although it is a slightly mercenary approach there are other locations, like Greece, which are in financial turmoil, and if you can manage to negotiate some parts of your holiday at local prices, you can find yourself with a really good deal. 
There are many different ways of ensuring that you can get the most out of your holiday, without spending the earth. Booking early is always a good way of saving money. Although you might get lucky and find a good last minute deal, you have a much better chance of securing a cheap holiday if you do it well in advance of when you are travelling. If you can negotiate your time-off outside of term time, this will also help to cut costs, but if you are taking (school-aged) children you will need to make sure that you have signed consent forms from their school.
Choosing an all-inclusive deal is another way to make a holiday cheaper. The initial costs per night for these deals may seem a little higher, but when you factor in all of the food and drink that you will consume on holiday, they actually offer a considerable saving. If you do choose all-inclusive it is important that you stay within the resort for your meals and drinks otherwise you will effectively be paying double.
What To Do On Your Summer Holiday
So you have finally had enough the chilly breeze, the seemingly permanent bank of cloud and decided to get away for your summer holidays. A quick spin up to the travel agents like, the popular Thomas Cook will give you some ideas for a host of great places to go abroad in the summer holidays. Places you might not even have considered; Croatia, Egypt or even Dubai, are suddenly on the map, and offering deals that spike your interest.
Heading to the sun makes packing a fairly easy process and thankfully swimwear and summer clothes allow you to fill your bags well within the usual 20kg allowance. It is important to stock up on sun protection and remember to pack all of your liquids safely in your hold luggage. Have a nice secure toiletries bag. It is a useful piece of advice to wrap these items up in plastic bags in order to avoid unfortunate leaks.
Once you have got through the whole process of travelling, which can be an added stress in itself, and you are finally at your location, you then have to find ways of entertaining yourself. Although sitting around doing absolutely nothing might be perfectly appealing for some, for others this can make a holiday incredibly boring.
There are, of course, plenty of things that you can do on your summer holiday to fill up the time pleasurably. Grabbing a few books to take with you is at the top of the list. In the helter-skelter world of modern life there is often scarcely enough time to read a newspaper, let alone a novel. If you want to avoid paying airport prices you should pick up your books before you set off. There are usually a few good deals to be found on the high street and most holiday locations will have somewhere you can trade your reading material once you have finished with it.
If you are heading away with family a deck of cards is an excellent idea. This is a great way of keeping yourself occupied, whether it is with a game of solitaire in the morning by the pool, or a family game of ‘Switch’ on the veranda after dinner. Card games are a superb way of involving all the family and keeping everyone entertained.
There is also a lot to be said for exploring on your summer holidays. Where ever you go there are new sights to be seen, and having a bit of a mooch around actually provides some good healthy exercise. Pick up a local map and plan out a few different places to see. You can set an itinerary and use it to break the time up. It is important not to try to do too much, or to do everything in one day, it is a holiday after all.
Discover New Holiday Deals
Tired of the normal package holiday? Why not go for something different this year and bag yourself one of the great holiday deals. There are plenty of travel agents who can help you find the perfect holiday deals including established brands like Thomas Cook, specialists who will create bespoke packages and even private owners who rent out their homes or cottages across the UK. If you shop around you are bound to get a discounted holiday deal. Especially if you are flexible about when and where you go. Here is five types of holiday to get you in the mood.
So what are the Top Five holiday deals to investigate?
Pack your bag, jump on a plane and discover new holiday deals
1. Off the Beaten track – If you fancy something unusual why not go to a specialist travel operator who can put together a bespoke package for you. From Albania to Venezuela there’s a whole world out there to discover. Decide if you want to go alone, join a group or stay with families in the country to choose. It’s the perfect way to discover the real country you visit. People like Undiscovered Destinations are specialists in this area
2. Staycation- If the thought of long flights fills you with horror why not stay in Great Britain and visit somewhere local. There are hundreds of beautiful cities, villages and hamlets to see in our wonderful country. From B&B to wonderful country homes, adventure holidays to Golf and Spa breaks there’s plenty of great holiday deals in the UK. For family fun what about Centre Parcs where short breaks are available all year round.
3. All Inclusive – Fancy sipping cocktails, watching the sunset and perfect pools? If you want to truly relax an All Inclusive holiday deal could be perfect.There are couple only resorts and family hotels – the best thing is once you’ve paid that’s it. So no more looking for cash machines just sit back, order your drink, jump in the pool and enjoy your holiday. Thomas Cook has a fantastic selection of All Inclusive holidays so check out their site for the latest deals.
4. City Breaks – If you fancy more than one holiday a year why not consider a series of City Breaks from Barcelona to Dublin there is a huge variety of options. There are plenty of incredible holiday deals to be had especially if you are willing to go mid-week. There’s nothing like a cheeky City Break to breathe new life into your relationship. For the best deals look at Lastminute.com
5. Animal Magic – Obsessed with wildlife programmes like Life on Earth? Why not treat yourself to a trip of a lifetime from the lemurs in Madagascar to the Big 5 in Africa there are plenty of holiday deals for people with a sense of adventure. The best thing to do is look online and check out which trips are included before you start to negotiate!
If you need a bit more help speak to someone like Thomas Cook who can give you reviews, feedback and advice for free. When you get back remember to share your travel tips and stories with friends and don’t forget to pack your camera!
How to find a cheap holiday
Whether you want ultimate relaxation or as many thrills as your pound can get you, cheap holidays to suit your tastes are more accessible than ever before…
Money has been tight for many people over the last few years. As it can sometimes be difficult to justify splashing cash on something that is not completely essential. But remember, breaks from the daily routine are as much about reducing stress and recharging your batteries as they are about having fun.
Here’s a quick guide to to help you find a cheap holiday to suit your pocket:
Home or away?
As belts have been tightened across the country, more people are looking to stay in the UK for their holidays. The rise of the ‘staycation’ has been a huge boost for British tourism.
Staying in the UK is one way to maximise your money and take advantage of the attractions on your doorstep, such as the beautiful scenery and coasts of Dorset. Discounted group train fares and promotional coach offers are available throughout the year, cutting travel costs. It can often also be a great opportunity to visit relatives and friends overnight, reducing the price of your trip even further.
Destination, destination, destination
When a lot of people think ‘holiday’, they instantly think of an overseas getaway. If you have to go away, there are some destinations which are cheaper than others.
Portugal, particularly the beautiful cities of Lisbon and Oporto, offers excellent value for money, with cheap food, drink and travel, as well as all of the history and culture you’d want from a city break. The recent political upheaval in north Africa means that beachdestinations such as Tunisia and Egypt are offering a variety of cheap holidays. For more exotic locales, Thailand has long been abudget winner – and continues to have a range of brilliant deals available.
Always use reputable travel companies – and never scrimp on insurance
The past few years have proven the value of using reputable travel agents such as Thomas Cook. Whether you book cheap holidays online or in-store, always choose a provider that is ATOL protected – this means that, should any one of the companies involved in supplying your holiday go bust, you’ll get your cash back.
Similarly, never cut corners when it comes to insuring your trip. Your wellbeing and safety are the most important things and you should never risk travelling unprotected for the sake of a few pound.
Holidays…
Choosing the perfect holiday this summer;
The summer holidays industry continues to grow and to offer more and more options for would-be holiday makers, but with so much to choose from, it can be hard to make that final decision. We’ve put together a few ideas that should help make the process of deciding a bit easier.
Holidays
The beach holiday is the classic getaway idea, and Europe offers many options. You don’t have to fork out a great deal of money either, as travel agents like Thomas Cook are able to offer very affordable getaways because of their size. Of course, you can have a ‘higher-end’ holiday if you wish, by paying more for a better hotel in a better area of a given resort.
As far as UK holiday makers are concerned, Spain is still the king of affordable beach holidays, but don’t forget about Greece and Turkey, as they can offer some fantastic getaways – often for similarly low prices. All these countries possess wonderful coastlines with great beaches. A beach holiday in France, on the other hand, may be considerably more expensive.
where very old architecture, murals and monuments can be enjoyed. Fortresses, cathedrals and castles can be found all along the Mediterranean coast, so a beach holiday doesn’t mean you have to forgo your fix of history.But of course, Europe isn’t the only place to go. There’s a whole world out there, from Caribbean cruises to temple spotting in south east Asia. The flight may cost you more than one to, say, Greece, but many countries – particularly in south east Asia, are very cheap, so you can make up the cost on accommodation and food.
If you really want to budget, you might try backpacking for a few weeks. Modern hostels are often very comfortable and give you the power to move around and see lots of things. They are also very cheap. Marry this to finding out where the locals eat – and traveling by public transport – and you could enjoy a very low-cost break.
10 Top Holiday Tips
It’s come to that time of time of year where the travel agents of the high street try and entice all of those consumers with the 9 to 5 blues. Just like David Dickson’s Real Deal, knowing where to go for the best hotel deals to save money on your holiday can leave you confused. But relax, there are ways to ensure you can compete with the antique dealer’s mahogany glow tan whilst maintaining the Dickinson purchase methodologies to keep things ‘as cheap as chips.’
So what makes a cheap holiday
When it comes down to it, planning you holiday should be an enjoyable experience and it becomes especially fun when you know that you have made a saving. Ultimately, if you are like the vast majority of consumers, you want to find somewhere nice to stay without snapping the purse strings.
Here are some top tips the top tips to save money on your holiday;
- Book as far in advance as possible. The majority of hotels offer great early bird deals. The more availability they have, the cheaper the rates will be. As you move closer to the day, availability for rooms will become less and less and so their best available rates will increase. However, if you have the flexibility of being able to go away the next day, there are some last minute deals to be had if the hotel is to fill its occupancy levels. When you are in that position, be mindful that the majority of hotels would rather have their occupancy levels up to drive their food and beverage spend, rather than charge top rates of their rooms. This will not work in peak season though.
- Which moves me nicely on to my next point. Travel in the off season. Do your research into the typical climate conditions in the off season. Popular destinations, such as the Canary Islands, have year round sun. So, if you are looking to get some quiet relaxing time to top up the tan you’ll not only get an overall better deal on your holiday, but you’ll find that the attractions will be cheaper too.
- Book a package. Many consumers today think that they will get a better deal if they book the accommodation and the flights separately. This is not the case. On most occasions, you will end up paying two sets of admin fees and, in any case, your travel agent should be able to find you a package that combines those costs. A top tip choosing a travel agent is to look at the independently owned agency. Smaller agencies, though they do not have as much clout in the industry, will take the time to find you the best deal. If you can book through an ABTA bonded travel agent, that’s even better. In this case you will be safer against unexpected cancellation. Nevertheless, I would always recommend purchasing travel insurance up to the value of £1500.
- Travel through the week. Remember, that the busiest time for most hotels is on a weekend. Regardless of how early you book, most in-house reservationists will be expecting to fill on a weekend. City breaks though are an exception to the rule, as they see more corporate traffic. To get the best deal on city breaks, take a chance and book as late as possible.
- If you’re planning on being out and about, on the beach or in the town, think carefully about the location of your accommodation. Is it really that important to have that sea view? How much time are you going to spend in the hotel room? Sure, if you are planning on spending the holiday with you partner and the soft tunes of Barry White, then yes, a view across the coast can really set the mood for a night in with room service is essential. But don’t waste money on a luxury that you don’t mind going without.
- Finally, if you can overcome the language barrier, speaking to your hotel reservationists directly can prove very beneficial. Third party agents base their marketing campaigns around being able to offer the cheapest rates available. But the reality is that the hotel itself has the flexibility to offer whatever they want to. They make the pricing, not the agencies. More often than not, if they do not give you a reduction in price, a complimentary upgrade may well be on the cards.
Take these tips on board and you might find that you’ll enjoy your holiday more in the knowledge that you have saved yourself a pretty penny.
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