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A road trip to Sneaton Castle, Yorkshire in a sleek Audi Q5 Sportsback

Back in May our Editor in Chief Laura and I planed an EPIC four-day road trip & staycation around the historic county of Yorkshire. It was actually my first ever visit to Yorkshire and it did NOT disappoint!

The last stop on our four-day Coastal Yorkshire road trip was an overnight stay at the stunning Sneaton Castle (boy did we save the best until last!), from the dramatic grounds to the stunning interiors; which consisted of lots of cladding, beautiful stone and colourful prints to compliment the decor.

We spent one night at the castle which included a delicious evening meal, a soak in the freestanding tub and of course a quick visit to the properties Llamas!

We were both completely blown away by the beauty of the castle and it’s somewhere I’d love to head back to for a romantic getaway!

Plan your visit to Sneaton Castle!

Laura and I took separate cars as we had different journeys heading home, I had the pleasure of driving a majestic Audi Q5 Sportsback for the duration of our road trip, it was such a smooth, sleek drive (with over 500 miles covered from the start to end of our trip – I didn’t ever want the driving to end!).

The Q5 Sportback effortlessly combines family-friendly utility and sophisticated technology with great sporting appeal. Its coupé-like roof line underscores the sporty design language, while the quattro on demand all-wheel drive ensures a fascinating drive every time.

Discover the Audi Q5 Sportsback here!

After an incredible trip exploring Yorkshire, I can’t wait to return one day – if you’re thinking of planning a trip, do it! You won’t regret it!… And if you’re looking for the dream road trip car then look no further than the Audi Q5!

Hayley x

Alicante is in the Costa Blanca region in the south of Spain and is one of the country’s most popular holiday destinations. Alicante’s mix of culture, great food, alluring beaches and lively nightlife makes it perfect for a girls’ trip away. Here are some top tips on how to organise your girly getaway to Alicante.

Choose a date that works for everyone

This can sometimes be the trickiest part of planning a getaway with friends but it’s important that you get it right so everyone who wants to come along can be included. If you all work full-time, then be sure that everyone has had their leave approved and confirmed before booking anything. Likewise, if anyone needs to arrange child or pet care, get this sorted as soon as possible.

If anyone in the group needs to order or renew a passport this should be done well in advance as there are often busy periods, which can lead to long delays and may even interfere with your travel plans.

You should also consider whether you want to visit Alicante during the busy summer season or enjoy a cooler, more relaxing trip during the Autumn months.

Decide on a budget and stick to it!

Decide on the budget for your trip upfront to ensure that you are all on the same page and that everyone will be able to afford it comfortably. Not being clear about how much you’re each able to spend can lead to misunderstandings, upset and uncomfortable conversations later so it’s better to come up with a reasonable figure and stick to it.

Getting there safely

Once you’ve set the date and agreed on a budget, it’s time to book your plane tickets. Consider budget airlines if you’re looking to save money but be aware of luggage limitations. You should also bear in mind that some airlines have strike action planned in Spain, which may affect your travel arrangements. Protect yourself with flight insurance and pre-book an airport transfer to your hotel or car rental if you are planning to drive around Alicante yourselves.

Where will you stay?

The location of your hotel or accommodation will depend on the type of holiday you are looking for. For nightlife and a beautiful beach, opt for Postiguet Beach, where you can stay in hotels that have been beautifully preserved from Alicante’s Golden Age in the 1960s and 70s. For an upscale experience, Albufereta Beach is popular with both tourists and locals and offers boutique hotels and grand resorts.

Plan ahead

Spontaneity is great but to make sure you get the most out of your girls’ trip to Alicante, you’ll want to plan some activities in advance. For a bit of culture, visit the Basilica de Santa María, the oldest and prettiest church in the city or the contemporary art museum.

You could also take a stroll around the oldest part of Alicante, Casco Antiguo. This neighbourhood can be found on the hillside beneath the castle, and after admiring the beautiful homes, painted shutters and decorated balconies, you can stop off at one of the many cafés.

If you fancy going a bit further afield, why not take a boat trip to Tabarca Island off Alicante’s south coast? Or travel west by road for 20 minutes and you’ll reach the town of Elche, where you’ll find the largest palm grove in Europe, Elche Palmeral.

Be realistic

After all your hard work and planning, you’ll want your girls’ trip to Alicante to be perfect but in reality, every adventure usually has a hitch or two. If someone sleeps late or gets a sunburn, it doesn’t have to spoil your whole trip. It’s also important to remember that even though you’ve travelled as a group, you don’t have to stay together all the time. Once you arrive in Alicante, everyone will have their own ideas about how they want to spend their time and it’s totally okay to split up and do some things separately.

Seasoned travellers have their favourite pastime activities in between two destinations. You might be on a 10-hour drive or waiting for a connected flight for 3-4 hours in an airport. While travelling is an adventure, there are days and hours when you could get bored, and it is essential to have things to do in those moments.

It’s great to have activities when the conversation dries out and no new sights come out the car window. Here are some actions you can have while travelling

Edit pictures on the go

If you’re stuck at the airport for your next destination, you could devote some time to organising pictures. Then, whether you have a high-end smartphone, compact camera or DSLR, transfer the images to your laptop and manage them.

For example, you could delete bad ones and categorise them by date, place or other tags. If you’re tech-savvy, you could edit photos with software like Lightroom, Photoshop, GIMP or Snapseed for mobile phones.

The same goes for the video. Outside of the short TikTok and Instagram videos you’ve posted from your mobile phone, you might have a camera, drone or other footage. Again, you can edit source material or create a well-edited video from your journey so far.

Visit iGaming websites

Most iGaming platforms have hundreds of high-quality games. You can browse through modern slot titles with great visuals and features or play with live opponents in live casino games. Whatever you like the most, this complete online casino guide can help you choose a suitable entertainment option.

Complementary with the iGaming websites, you can visit other cloud gaming platforms and play classic video games.

Tidy up your phone

Most of us have a phone in our hands more than we should. A long flight might be a perfect opportunity to clean up the clutter on your mobile device. You can delete problematic or bad photos, some embarrassing selfie shots or videos of you singing karaoke. Organise your apps in folders, delete the apps you don’t use, and if you still have time, you can clean the contact list.

Take full advantage of streaming services

Depending on where you’re travelling, you will need a data connection. Travelling within the country will allow you to spend your data traffic, and if you’re going within the European Union, there is free roaming. You can always buy a local SIM with a couple of GB to enjoy in your streaming services without considering expenses.

Once you settle the data connection, you can spend a lazy afternoon watching Netflix, Disney, Amazon Prime or YouTube. Whether you like Better Call Saul, Peaky Blinders, or you’re more into Star Wars, there are countless options. You could also revisit some of the classic music albums. So put on the headphones, watch outside and see what all the fuss around Stranger Things and Master of Puppets is.

Perfect time for your book

If you’re one of the people who never have time to read a book, waiting or commuting on a long trip is the perfect time to catch up on reading. You can read a novel by a favourite author or read one of the books from Elon Musk or Bill Gates reading list for inspiration. Whatever you decide will be time well spent because few things can beat a book reading experience.

Listen to sportscasters or other podcasts

Podcasts exploded in the last few years. Streaming services are fighting for premium podcast creators like Joe Rogan. Simultaneously, there are countless new podcasts every day. TV pundits have their shows, and sports stars also contribute with their podcasts. You can find quality content on almost any topic. So put in the earpiece, and maybe you could listen to the podcast about your next destination to be better informed.

Learn something new

Wherever you’re travelling, locals will appreciate it if you know a few words in their language. So you can spend the time learning a language. In addition, there are great apps like Duolingo that offer a great learning experience with gamification elements. So you can work on the language of your destination or enhance the knowledge of some other foreign language you already know the basics of.

If you’re attending some kind of education, you could read materials connected to what you’re learning. However, that might spoil the whole vacation feeling.

Get some sleep

Travelling can be an exhausting experience. So if you catch a few hours with nothing to do, it might be a good idea to take a nap. Short power sleep could energise you for the rest of the trip.

Workout

You can kill some time with a workout. Whether you’re into yoga, gym or other training, find a suitable spot and do a light exercise. Just like sleeping, a great workout can energise you for the rest of the day.

Surfers like to try new waves whenever they can. One often overlooked surfing destination is Nicaragua. To make the best of any trip it is a good idea to do a little research in advance and choose the best surfing spots before you leave home. Some destinations are pretty expensive, but others are quite reasonable. It is good to have a list of surfing locations that meet the surfer’s needs ahead of time. As with any trip to a different country, prepare in advance by searching for the traveler requirements for the country.

Getting Ready For the Surfing Trip

The best places to surf in Nicaragua can be found by looking on different websites for surfing travel and for the country a person wants to visit.

First, plan the out-of-country surfing trip to the last detail. How will you get there? Will flying in be the best option? Since Nicaragua is a little hard to get to, flying is the best option. Where will you stay? It is a good idea to make reservations in advance at each surfing location. Depending on your nationality, you may need to meet legal requirements for visas, passports, or tourist cards. Flying into Managua International Airport is the recommended route. Pre-book private transfer to save headaches and inconvenience.

Get all the required vaccines in advance. There are some that are required and others that are recommended. Hepatitis B vaccinations should be on the list. What about COVID vaccines?

Consider Northern Nicaragua Surfing Spots

Some of the best places to surf are in Northern Nicaragua. There are great beaches for surfing for all levels of surfing skills including beginner, intermediate, or highly skilled. a few of the best locations include:

  • Rocky Point
  • Nahualapa is a small lovely bay with nice surroundings and a sandy beach.
  • Coco Loco is a secluded bay with beauty and a bigger swell.
  • Playa Santa Maria del Mar is a longer stretch of sandy beach including beachfront properties.
  • The Boom is very well known for its famous break. It is north of an estuary.
  • Aposentillo is a short distance north of the Boom and is beginner-friendly.
  • The Island is worth checking out for its mystic wave. it is a 5-minute boat ride out.

Surfing for the Wealthy

If a person has the money and a taste for luxury, there are perfect surfing locations for wealthy travelers. Nicaragua is competitive with Mexico and Costa Rica with luxury resorts like the 5-star Mukul Beach & Spa Resort. There is a new airport near the resort called Costa Esmeralda Airport.

The years of war and unrest are over, and this country is now safe for travelers. New luxury resorts are being developed, and the future of this travel destination looks bright.

Surfing locations for those with a larger budget include the following.

  • Playa Colorado has an amazing break and luxurious holiday accommodations. One resort is Aurea Villas.
  • Mukul Beach and Spa Resort is luxury at its finest.
  • Panga Drops offers all-inclusive surf packages for those with higher budgets.
  • Playa Santana Resort offers luxury and great surfing.
  • Playa Manzanillo offers exclusive five-bedroom villa stays at Casa Madera.

There are many beaches that offer great surfing at all levels of expertise. Look for the locations that are good for everyone’s skill level and fit within the vacation budget. Doing a little research and making arrangements in advance help ssurfers avoid travel pitfalls and have a great time on any budget. Be sure to meet all travel requirements for the country, and get the vaccinations that are required to keep the whole group safe and healthy.

Going on a vacation and traveling by bike is a unique experience that can make trips exciting. But if you plan to tour with a bicycle, you need to know how to do so safely. You should also consider other key aspects of bike renting, such as bike type, wheel size, and city parking.

How to Rent a Bike in a New City or Country

Renting a bicycle can be intimidating for first-timers, but it’s much easier to rent a bike than it is to rent a car. Here are 5 things you should consider before you navigate your first bike rental.

1. Bike Type, Size, and Payment

When choosing which bike to rent, consider where you’ll ride it first. Road bikes are best for smooth payment, city and cruiser bikes are suitable for casual riders, and hybrid bikes can operate on roads and trails. All of these bike types come in various shapes, colors, and sizes.

Payment may differ depending on the company, but most rentals charge an hourly or daily fee. You can either pick up and drop off the bike at a charging hub or a physical location. Renters can make reservations online and reserve a pickup if they want to pay with cash instead of card.

2. Local Bicycle Safety Laws

Most bicycle safety laws will apply no matter where you go. For example, you should wear a helmet, use hand signals, and bike in the same direction as traffic. However, the type of hand signals you’ll use and when you should yield will depend on the country and nearby street signs.

The majority of bicycle accidents occur when you’re crossing a vehicle’s path, so you should consider wearing visible, reflective clothing at night. Be alert to traffic at all times and never cut off another vehicle or make sudden movements, as you’re more likely to get seriously injured.

3. Rental Shop vs. Online Rental

As mentioned, renters have the choice to visit a rental shop or rent a bicycle online, but which option provides the most benefits. Going into a shop can be advantageous for casual cyclists, as the owner can suggest specific tours, bikes, and gear and answer any questions you have.

On the other hand, renting a bike online is the perfect option for tourists who’ve already dealt with the same bike shop, know the area, or already have a bicycle type in mind. Online rentals can be convenient for busy or impulsive travelers that just want to pick up their bike and go.

4. Mapping Routes and Weather

Most countries will allow you to bike on the street with other drivers, but you may not be too comfortable with that. Fortunately, plenty of bicycle-friendly cities have hundreds of bike paths, trails, and parks where you’ll be safe from traffic (or at least limit your exposure to vehicles).

Whether you’re on the road or on a trail, always pay attention to the weather. Heavy rain or snowfall can limit your visibility. Drivers may not be able to see you, so install flashing lights on your bike if you’re adamant about cycling. Watch for black ice and potholes during the winter.

5. Bicycle Parking and Treatment

Planning on biking in harsh weather conditions? You might want to think otherwise if you want to avoid a hefty repair or cleaning fee. A damaged rental can cost you hundreds of dollars; some even have to pay for a whole new bike, so always treat rental bikes like they’re your own.

With that said, you wouldn’t park your bike without a lock, so don’t do the same for your rental. If you’re using a regular bike, hook it to a bike rack, a designated bicycle pot, or somewhere else secure. Unfortunately, e-bikes must be parked at a charging station to avoid paying idling fees.

If you’re planning on going on a road trip or a vacation that involves a lot of driving, it’s important that you stay safe while touring.

That means ensuring you keep your eyes on the road and both hands on the wheel at all times, but there are plenty of other things you need to do to ensure you stay safe on the road.

Perform a Vehicle Safety Check Before You Leave Home

First off, before you embark on your journey, you must perform a general safety check of your vehicle or get a mechanic to inspect it to make sure your vehicle is in good working order.

The last thing you want while touring is to break down; especially if you’re planning on heading out to rural areas.

By performing a vehicle safety check, you can also reduce the risk of getting involved in an accident.

You should check things like your tires, battery, coolant, oil level, radiator, and lights.

Learn more about the car maintenance skills every woman should have in this insightful post.

Pack an Emergency Kit

It’s also important that you take an emergency kit with you, in case you are involved in a breakdown or accident.

You should have things like a flashlight, a first aid kit, jumper cables, a jack, a tire press gauge, and basic repair tools. Ensure you have a spare tire with you, too.

Also, make sure you have plenty of water and snacks with you, just in case you end up being stranded for a while.

Don’t Drive While Distracted

When it comes to actual driving, you need to follow all of the rules of the road that you normally would. But you need to pay even more attention than you usually would because you’ll be driving on unfamiliar roads.

For instance, ensure you don’t drive while distracted. That includes not using your cell phone, not doing your makeup, and not eating snacks while driving.

Don’t underestimate how important this is. After all, in the U.S. alone in 2018, there were 2,841 fatalities due to distracted driving.

Check out these distracted driving statistics to find out just how dangerous and damaging driving while distracted can be.

Don’t Drive While Sleepy

When touring, you’re sure to be driving for long periods. In turn, that means you could get sleepy while behind the wheel.

Whether you doze off for just a second or zone out and lose focus on the road, your actions can lead to disaster. You’re much more likely to be involved in a road accident if you’re drowsy while driving.

Make sure you get enough sleep and pull over if you begin to feel tired.

It’s also a good idea to share the driving responsibility with another if you can.

Never Speed

If you’re on a strict itinerary when touring, you may be tempted to speed to get to your next stop on time. Well, don’t.

Speeding is dangerous and is one of the leading causes of road accidents, so it’s never worth putting your life and other people’s lives in danger just so you can get somewhere quicker.

Always follow the speed limit.

Be Extra Cautious in Poor Weather Conditions

When driving in unfamiliar places far from home, it’s more likely that you’ll experience poor weather conditions.

Just like you should do when driving anywhere, make sure you’re extra cautious when driving in bad weather like fog, snow, or heavy rain. You need to be exceptionally cautious when driving on icy roads.

If you find yourself driving in bad weather conditions, slow down your speed, maintain extra space between your vehicle and the one in front, and be very cautious around curves in the road.

If the weather gets worse, pull over until it’s safe to drive again.

Madeira has long been popular with the fly and flop generation and the cruise crowd, in particular, fantastic Funchal with its countless exotic gardens and historical monuments. However, there’s so much more to see on the island apart from the capital. With an increasing focus on sustainability, discerning travellers are increasingly opting to visit the more rural parts of Madeira. Boutique hotel options are boundless depending on what you are looking for. Below, we’ll consider options for food lovers, imbibers and environmentalists.

Gastronomic enthusiasts should put the newly opened Socalco Nature Hotel high on their list of places to stay at. It is situated in Calheta with many points of interest like the lighthouse, Ponta do Pargo and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Casa das MUDAS. The latter is a curious architectural entity that looms over Calheta like a bond villain lair. The hotel is owned by renowned chef Octávio Freitas, who is a true champion of Madeiran regional cuisine. There is a vineyard on site and they’ve recently bottled their first vintage. Most of the vegetables and fruits used at their restaurant are grown on-site. You can partake in jam-making, and bread-making masterclasses and you won’t find a menu on their website, as they are printed daily depending on what seasonal ingredients they can find. It has spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and you won’t fail to be amazed at the ingenuity of Madeirans, who manage to grow countless crops on such steep slopes.

Wine connoisseurs should consider booking into the homely, informal, Quinta das Vinhas. The hotel includes a historic 17th-century house,15 cottages, 2 outdoor swimming pools and an organic vineyard that spreads across most of their 30,000 sq m. They can arrange for a tour of their vineyards where you can learn about the popular Madeiran grape varietals like Verdelho, Malmsey and Bastardo. Their restaurant and wine bar are perfect for conducting wine tastings of Madeira wine or enjoying local specialities like their grilled sea bream. There is a breathtaking view as it is situated on top of the Quinta and you have uninterrupted views of the vineyard and the ocean.

If you are looking for luxury along with sustainability, then the hotel to check out is Quinta da Serra. They proudly proclaim themselves as a bio hotel and you can’t argue with that when you’ve won countless environmental awards such as the green key award. It’s not just about installing solar panels and using wastewater for irrigation but also preserving historic trees, they have monumental eucalyptus trees that are over 200 years old. They also grow plenty of fruit trees and vegetables to ensure there are minimal miles travelled for the ingredients used in the restaurant.

Apart from Madeira wine, the local drink to try is Poncha. It’s a very summery concoction of citrus juice, honey and aguardente. It is typically muddled meticulously in front of you. Most of the aguardente is made with sugar cane from the island which is in abundance along with bananas. The drink is the ideal Dutch courage before you partake in any adrenaline-inducing activity.

In every corner of the island you will encounter dramatic scenery, but none more so than Fajã dos Padres. It is an organic farm and restaurant that is only accessible via cable car. The ride takes you down a 300-metre steep slope where you can admire the beauty of the southern coast of Madeira. Before reaching their restaurant, you will walk through their farmland with countless mango trees (over 20 different varieties), avocado and banana trees. They even grow more tropical fruits which are harder to find in the rest of Europe such as araçá, Suriname cherry and tabaibo.

Their restaurant is all about letting the ingredients speak for themselves. It’s mostly gently grilled local fish like scabbard accompanied by produce from the farm like banana or mango. Tuna fish and octopus are equally popular whilst shellfish lovers will rejoice at the sight of periwinkles and limpets on the menu. The latter items are such a rarity on British menus but they are inexpensive and very much in abundance and should be considered a more sustainable food source.

The cable cars stop operating at 18:00 during the winter and 19:00 during the summer, so if you want to observe the mesmerising sunset, then you should stay at one of their homely cottages. Alternatively, you can hire a sailing boat with the likes of Happy Hour Madeira who can pick you up from the pier and take you on a scenic cruise to Funchal. You will pass the majestic cliffs of Cabo Girao which are some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe.

If you head to the north coast of Madeira, you will come across an even more stupendous landscape which is more reminiscent of scenes from Jurassic Park. One of the most popular beaches on the island is Seixal beach. The fine black scene beach with the lush green surrounding mountains is one of the most photographed beaches on the island. You might spot adventure-seekers learning how to surf there or if you are lucky like us, participate in a yoga class with such a remarkable backdrop. Another must-do activity is to swim in the volcanic, lava-rock tidal pools there. It is a very calming experience, sheltered from the open sea breeze. It is one of the best free experiences on the island especially since there are convenient changing facilities at a nearby bar, Clube Naval do Seixal.

Driving around Madeira sightseeing is one of the true highlights of exploring the rural countryside. With over 44km of tunnels around the island and over 100 tunnels with the longest being 3km, traversing the island is a much speedier process than previously. Whether you want to visit Calheta or Seixal, it takes very little time from Funchal. Increasingly more and more tourists are opting to have a slower pace of holidaying and enjoying the delights of the rural Madeiran countryside.

https://www.visitmadeira.com/

What better way to maximise the rare UK heatwave than with a quintessential summer picnic in some of the UK’s most idyllic picnic locations. Team Coco has rounded up our top three summer picnic picks so you can have a summer to remember House of Coco style.

A regency style picnic at the Francis Hotel, Bath

The Francis Hotel Bath has created a summer picnic offering that will ensure all the family enjoy a day out in the sunshine. Francis Hotel’s picnic hamper includes glassware, crockery and comes with a picnic rug so that you can set up camp wherever and whenever.

The delicious summer menu includes a selection of cheeses, charcuterie, a sumptuous baguette with a range of fillings and all accompanied by a bottle of water. For those with a sweet tooth, strawberries and cream are just the thing for dessert, giving explorers a burst of energy as they continue their recce of Bath and its surrounding areas. The team at Boho Marché also offer bespoke picnic hampers for guests with special dietary requirements.

Set in the heart of Bath, the Francis Hotel is a 98-room boutique hotel that was first opened by Emily Francis in 1884 (perfect for Bridgerton fans!). Emily was ahead of her time and was a leading entrepreneur who merged seven Georgian townhouses to form the Francis Hotel. Located in the heart of a World Heritage Site, the Francis Hotel has plenty to explore on its doorstep.

HOW: Room rates at Francis Hotel Bath start from £139.00 inclusive of breakfast and VAT. For more information visit www.francishotel.com. Francis Hotel Bath’s picnic hamper starts from £15 per person and includes a bottle of water. A choice of drinks are available – including wine and champagne – and will be an additional cost. Bespoke options are available providing the team has 24 hours notice.

A quintessentially English picnic at Castle Hotel Windsor

Castle Hotel Windsor is undoubtedly one of Windsor’s finest boutique properties. The castle is steeped in history dating back to 1528. With just 108-rooms at the heart of Windsor, situated opposite Windsor Castle and the Windsor and Royal Borough Museum – there is no better place to join a Windsor Guided Tour and explore the local sites than at Castle Hotel Windsor. The hotel is also just a short walk from a plethora of wide, open spaces including the famous Long Walk, Windsor Great Park – including the Long Walk – Savill Garden and the River Thames. All of which are perfect spots to set up and soak in the great outdoors whilst enjoying a picnic.

The hamper includes a charcuterie board complete with cheese and rustic bread for starters, followed by a choice of either a healthy superfood or Niçoise salad. Afterwards, guests can indulge in either a Coronation chicken wrap or hummus with grilled pepper vegan wrap. Finally, and remaining very English strawberries with cream offer a final sweet flourish to the hamper.

Castle Hotel Windsor is undoubtedly one of Windsor’s finest boutique properties. The castle is steeped in history dating back to 1528. With just 108-rooms at the heart of Windsor, situated opposite Windsor Castle and the Windsor and Royal Borough Museum – there is no better place to explore the local sites than at Castle Hotel Windsor. The hotel is also just a short walk from a plethora of wide, open spaces including the famous Long Walk, Windsor Great Park – including the Long Walk – Savill Garden and the River Thames. All of which are perfect spots to set up and soak in the great outdoors whilst enjoying a picnic.

HOW: Room rates at Castle Hotel Windsor start from £154.00 inclusive of breakfast and VAT. For more information visit https://castlehotelwindsor.com/. Castle Hotel Windsor’s picnic menu starts from £30 per person and includes a bottle of water.

A picnic fit for royalty at Glenapp Castle

It is easy to get lost within the castle’s 110 acres of private estate and local woodland or escaping to the majestic Scottish countryside for long romantic walks and beautiful views of Ailsa Craig and Northern Ireland. Glenapp Castle offers 65 diverse activities from stargazing, canoeing, coasteering, kayaking, yoga, forest bathing – making sure there is something for every kind of traveller.

One of the main attractions is exploring the west coast on the Glenapp Castle RIB boat. From the local port of Girvan, guests can spend the day on a private boat tour visiting the iconic Ailsa Craig, the volcanic outcrop that is home to an abundance of bird life. While not exactly a summer picnic, you can also enjoy a meal outside your glamping tent, cooked by a private chef. Now this is the kind of picnic that would impress even the most discerning luxury traveller.

The wonderful Glenapp Castle team can prepare a wonderful picnic with freshly prepared sandwiches, delicious salads and fresh fruit to enjoy after a busy day of exploring. There is also plenty of opportunity to spot amazing marine life, from twenty-foot-long basking sharks to dolphins, minke whales, and seals!

HOW: Glenapp Castle offers a private boat trip to the iconic Ailsa Craig costing from £750 for half a day. Picnics cost from £27.50 per person / www.glenappcastle.com / 01465 831212

Going on vacation is exciting. If you’re like most people, you have to save up to go on a special trip once or twice throughout the year, so you want to make it as memorable as possible. While it’s essential to pack the right things, and also acquire the important stuff, like a Dominican Republic eticket, it’s also crucial to take precautions to ensure you have a safe trip. Here are six tips to help you stay safe while on vacation.

1. Research Your Destination

Even popular destinations have crime, which means you need to research each possible trip location. Read reviews to find the safest neighborhoods and hotels and look for crime statistics and particular incidents to help you thoroughly prepare.

You’ll also want to look into the newest ways scammers are taking advantage of people in that area. If you know what to expect, you’ll be much less likely to fall for a scammer’s deceitful ways.

2. Write Down Emergency Contact Information

Whether you’re interested in taking cruises from NYC or traveling to Africa, you should find out who you need to contact if there is an emergency. Because you’ll be upset and unable to think clearly during an unexpected event, it’s best to look up emergency contacts and write this information down before you leave for your trip.

3. Let Your Friends and Family Know Your Plans

Keep your closest family members or friends updated for the duration of your trip. If you have everything planned out, offer a copy of the itinerary; otherwise, let them know your plans daily so people you trust can keep tabs on your location.

Make it a priority to check in periodically with your contacts and have rules in place if your friends don’t hear from you. If your contacts don’t receive that expected check-in, they will be able to alert the proper authorities promptly.

4. Drink Responsibly

Getting drunk isn’t generally a good idea when you’re in your own town, but it can be especially dangerous in an unfamiliar location. Because alcohol impairs your thinking, you may trust people you shouldn’t, resulting in robbery or worse. You may also get lost when trying to get back to your hotel room.

It’s best to pace yourself to ensure you don’t drink too much. If you are with another person on vacation, you should stick together at bars, as being alone can make you an easy target for scammers. Additionally, keep an eye on each others’ drinks to ensure someone doesn’t add a harmful substance to either glass.

5. Attempt To Blend In With Locals

Scammers tend to target travelers, so if you look like a tourist, you’re putting yourself at greater risk. Try to be discreet when viewing travel guides or maps and be careful who you talk to about the area. With this, if you’re looking to shop for a relief map of Africa, our map design services can provide you with high-quality and detailed options to choose from. For example, shop owners and taxi drivers are much safer to approach than a person walking on the street. With this, if you’re looking to shop for a relief map of Africa, our map design services can provide you with high-quality and detailed options to choose from.

Although you may try to blend in, this task can be difficult when you see a beautiful place for the first time. If you’re spotted by a thief who decides to rob you, you don’t want to lose everything you have, so you should avoid wearing expensive, flashy jewelry and carrying a large amount of cash. You can easily cancel credit cards and report theft, but you can’t usually replace cash.

6. Use Trustworthy Transportation Services

Try to find the most reputable travel companies and utilize them to ensure you get from one place to another without issue. While ride-sharing services are getting more popular, you should be careful if you decide to use one.

If you opt to utilize a ride-sharing service, play it safe. Don’t enter the automobile without first checking the vehicle’s, make, model, and license plate number. If you want to be extra cautious, you can ask the driver to verify their name.

Don’t let your excursion be memorable for the wrong reasons. As long as you are careful, you’ll have another great vacation to add to your list of successful getaways!

Being amongst nature and being able to explore them is the most fun and exciting thing you can do in life. It is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Being outdoors can even improve our overall health if we do it on the regular.

Hiking and camping are fun outdoor activities. Most people spend their weekends hiking and camping to escape from their mundane, humdrum life. It is also a great way to escape from the chaotic modern world and connect with nature.

However, this outdoor adventure can also bring a lot of trouble—and can be dangerous too—if you are not prepared for it.

That is why we want to share with you in this article how to make your outdoor adventure as exhilarating, exciting, and hassle-free as possible. We have some interesting tips you can use on your next (or first!) adventure so keep reading! Oh, and if you want to know the best outdoor adventure equipment, you can check them out at TourTheOutdoors.

Tip #1: Plan Ahead

Heading off into the wilderness unprepared, without a plan, can bring a series of mishaps. Planning ahead can actually save you from dangerous situations, especially for inexperienced hikers. You can start planning your outdoor adventure by obtaining a map detailing the trails you plan to hike.

Make sure to locate the campsites on the map and, of course, water sources nearby. Estimate the expected miles you can cover a day, depending on the terrain.

Also, make sure to download GPS and compass apps to your mobile phone; but bring a pocket compass, just in case your phone fails during the trail. Even if you bring a battery-operated phone charger, a lot of things can still happen–you could lose your phone on the trail.

Tip #2: Pack Your Hiking Essentials

You should go light when you are hiking. So, bring only the things you need and leave the things you don’t need. The trick to lightweight packing is to pack the heaviest items in the middle for balance, then add the lighter items around them.

Make sure to pack the items you often need last, so you can put them where you can access them easily. These items can be food, water, and maps!

Food

It is important to never run out of energy during a long adventure. When you go hiking, you will be burning a lot of calories. Pack meals that are simple and easy to carry, like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, jerky, carrot sticks, fruit and nuts, and maybe some energy bars. If you opt to go for a jerky snack, there are a lot of varieties. There are beef, fish, turkey, and buffalo. Check out the buffalo jerky for sale if you want one.

Anything that is well-balanced—protein, fat, carb, and fiber—will help you not lose consciousness for a longer period. Make sure to keep fueling your body with energy-giving food at least every 2 hours during an outdoor adventure. This is why we suggest bringing ‘extra food’.

Clothing and Shelter

Weather can be unpredictable, especially when you are in the mountains. So, it’s important to bring along some extra layers to protect yourself. Pack your pants and shirts made of synthetic materials rather than clothes made of cotton material. Cotton keeps the moisture close to your skin. Your jacket should be lightweight and preferably a waterproof one.

Bring a cold weather hat, a beanie, light gloves, a few socks, and of course your sleeping bag and camping tent. Don’t forget to wear a good and durable pair of hiking boots!

First-aid Kit

One of the most important things you need to have when you are going for a hike is a first-aid kit. However, many hikers underestimate its importance. First-aid kits help you minimize or avoid the risk of infection or severity of an injury because you can treat wounds and ailments on the trail.

You should be able to find items that treat injuries such as scrapes, burns, and cuts on a well-supplied kit. Hiking in the wilderness can pose more risks of these injuries, along with blisters and reptile bites. Having a well-supplied first aid kit away from civilization could actually save your life.

Emergency Gear

Most people don’t realize the importance of carrying emergency items that could be crucial to their survival in the wilderness until something goes awry. Always carry emergency gear such as a headlamp and pocket knife.

Headlamps are mostly preferred by hikers because they are hands-free, keeping your hands always available for other tasks. They are not necessarily heavy; you can get bright headlamps that weigh less than an ounce. Also, don’t forget to bring extra batteries!

Tip #3: Stay Hydrated

Going on outdoor adventures is a good way to get ample amounts of fresh air, sunshine, and exercise, therefore, helping you stay healthy. However, you need to stay hydrated as the exertion required for such activity makes you susceptible to dehydration. But there is more to hydration than just simply drinking water.

Your body also needs electrolytes in order to hydrate your cells fully, especially if you go for a longer hike. Pack some electrolyte tablets or sports drinks, and remember to drink them as often as possible to help you stay on top of your game.

Tip #4: Practice

Before you go hiking and camping, it’s important that you are in good shape and condition. Start practicing your ‘hiking skills’ and here’s how:

  • Prepare your body for your upcoming outdoor adventure and hike on local trails first
  • Use your new hiking shoes (if you have one) and go on preparatory hikes; this helps break in your new hiking shoes!
  • Practice setting up your tent
  • Practice using the water pump
  • Learn how to light your stove

Tip #5: Know How to Use Navigation Maps

Using navigation maps can be confusing. Practice locating your position in safe settings, such as the park. Then you can go on practicing in more challenging situations and in weather conditions like snow or rain. So when weather conditions change during your outdoor adventure, you will be more prepared.