*Explore Canada with Canadian Affair

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Images from Canadian Affair

Lockdown is still in place within Greater Manchester but my wanderlust hasn't abated! There are so many countries and specific sights that I'd love to visit around the world but one country at the top of my list currently is Canada (along with Japan and France). Canada seems to be a mecca for wonderful nature sights, waterfalls, walking trails, wildlife watching and mountain climbing, among many other outdoor activities. 

Before visiting Norway a couple of years ago and walking around beautiful little towns nestled in fjords and seeing a glacier for the first time, I fell in love with hiking and simply being in nature which is something I've been missing after years of working from home as a freelance writer and blogger. Almost all of my time is spent indoors and it made me realise how calming and anxiety-reducing it is to simply be in nature. 

Escorted Tours with Canadian Affair 

Before coronavirus and lockdown began, I loved to travel and one of my favourite travel options were guided or escorted tours. My last escorted tour was in Scotland last year (check out the link for more information) and on every cruise I've been on, the shore excursions which involved a walking tour were always my favourite opinion. Whether as part of a mini day trip tour in the UK or as part of a cruise excursion abroad, escorted tours have always been the easiest option to not only get around a new city or region but also to learn so much more than if we explored on our own. 

Canadian Affair is an award-winning tour company with over 25 years of experience to bring you tailor-made holidays and escorted tours in Canada. They offer a range of escorted tours around Canada from Quebec and Niagara Falls to Vancouver and Calgary, along with many other wonderful cities in-between. The 'rockies trail' is one of their tours that I'm most interested in which travels through national parks and the breathtaking scenery of British Colombia. 

I would love to visit Canada, especially using a tour company, in the next couple of years as I'll be turning 30 soon (which is a prospect I don't want to think about so I'm just going to hopefully use it as an excuse to travel!). 

Have you visited Canada? Will you be checking out the escorted tours with Canadian Affair? Do you plan on travelling in 2020?

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*Solo in Singapore: Prepare For The Trip of a Lifetime

Image from Hand Luggage Only via Pinterest
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links (AD)

For some of us, travel is simply a means of putting some distance between ourselves and the things at home which are causing us anxiety and stress. It’s a reprieve from the pressures of work, family and the household. And while this is a perfectly acceptable rationale for travel, there are many for whom the need to get away goes much deeper. For many of us, travel is an appeal to a restless sense of adventure- a flame of passion that never gutters no matter how much of the world we see and how many times our minds are blown by the new, the exotic and the awe inspiring.

There are those of us who thrive when meeting new people, immersing ourselves in new cultures and imbibing the scents, tastes, sights and sounds of new countries. For this kind of traveller, Asia’s diverse cultural, natural and architectural wonders are a cornucopia of delights- tempting us, daring us to go and explore. While places like Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore are great places to visit as a family, they offer an extra appeal to solo travellers who want to be able to fully immerse themselves in an overseas adventure. In this post we’ll take a close look at the latter as we explore the treasures that await travellers when they’re solo in Singapore...

Is Singapore safe for solo travellers? 

Of course when we’re travelling solo we need to be a little more mindful of staying safe and protected as we explore our new surroundings. The good news is that Singapore is not only safe, it’s one of the safest places in Asia when travelling solo. Indeed, there is a high standard of urban surveillance and a robust police presence that may strike some as almost Orwellian. However, it most assuredly keeps them safe as the city state has one of the lowest crime rates in the developed world. The people are generally extremely friendly and welcoming. The locals are highly educated, and the standard of spoken English is very high- although if you take the time to learn any Malay, Tamil or Mandarin Chinese they will genuinely appreciate it. There is also a thriving community of English-speaking expats with over 50,000 Brits living in Singapore. If you’re looking to make friends with someone who shares your native language and can give you the inside track on where to eat and where to hang out, you can usually find these people in areas like Holland Village, Tanglin, Orchard and River Valley.

Enjoy the city that’s also a country 

Fun fact: Singapore is one of only 3 sovereign city states in the world. The others are Vatican City nestled in the heart of Rome and the Principality of Monaco along the French riviera. Singapore is an autonomous country but it’s also a bustling cityscape roughly half the size of Metropolitan London. This means that you can touch all the bases in a weekend or take a few weeks to explore all that its 721 square kilometers have to offer.

Live like a local 

One of the many great things about Singapore is that when it comes to choosing a lovely place to stay, you’ll be spoilt for choice. There are many wonderful hotels to choose from including the stunning Marina Bay Sands and the more budget-friendly Naumi. However, there are many who prefer to live like a local by checking out the property rental market. There are many awesome condos available to overseas visitors with flexible terms. Perfect for both a long or a short stay. From here, you can explore the city state on your own terms and get to know it like its inhabitants do.

You will never see so much green in one city 

Nature lovers will be stunned by how much green is packed into (and around) this huge conurbation. Indeed, it is known around the world as the “city in a garden” and its landscape is an incredible dichotomy of futuristic architecture and nature. Indeed, as soon as you step off the plane you’ll be treated to the sight of SIngapore’s wonderful sunflower garden. You’ll also get to enjoy visiting the world’s largest vertical garden at the Tree House, as well as the sci-fi looking Gardens by the Bay. An absolute must visit is the Singapore Botanic Gardens. This 60 acre UNESCO World Heritage site is home to over 60,000 plant species including the famously beautiful orchids.

Eat like royalty every day 

If you’re a lover of rice, spice and all things nice, Singapore is most definitely the place for you. Here you can dine like royalty every day without maxing out your budget in a weekend. Seafood lovers in particular will find themselves in heaven when they visit. Be sure to try the national dish- the celebrated chilli crab, invented in Singapore in 1950 by legendary chef Cher Yaw Tian. However, if you’re not into seafood you’ll still find plenty to enjoy. Vegetarian or vegan? Don’t worry! According to the animal welfare charity PETA, Singapore is Asia’s second most vegan friendly city. In terms of quality to cost ratio, Singapore offers some of the most satisfying dining experiences on the continent.

Love animals? Singapore has you covered 

One of the great tragedies of Asia is that while there a great many animal encounters to enjoy, many of them are sadly exploitative to the animals. For instance, you never want to ride an elephant in Thailand because there’s an excellent chance that it has been treated horrendously. Singapore, on the other hand has a range of highly ethical animal encounters. From the farm animals of The Animal Resort to the nocturnal creature showcase of the Night Safari to the vast and extraordinary Singapore Zoo.

Have you visited Singapore? Where do you want to travel when the world returns to normal? 

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*Tips on how to take the stress out of travelling

The excitement of going on holiday is one of those feelings that you just can’t beat. However, for many people, there is one thing in the way of that holiday you’ve been dreaming about for years: travel anxiety. Whether it is the planning stage of your holiday or maybe the long queues at airports, there is always something that pitches in towards your stress levels. According to the Calm Clinic, travel anxiety is very common, and it causes people to feel anxious when preparing for a trip and the subsequent weeks leading up to it. Some people feel anxious during their trip and some even worry about the post-travel experience.

Let’s start with introductions. At Aviation Spares & Repairs, we supply aviation equipment to airports and airfields around the world, which allows us to travel for work quite often. We have been doing this for over 30 years and within that time, we’ve gained a great amount of knowledge of how to have stress-free trips.

Schedule it

It’s easy to get carried away by the cheap flights around Europe and book trips left, right and centre, but it’s also important to consider your schedule when doing so. As an article on the Washington Post mentions, if “you tend to get busy with work at the end of the month or the end of the quarter” it would be best to “schedule around those days so you can minimize stress and worry.”

Research it

Think about what you want to do in advance at your destination and, if you are travelling with others, make sure to share these decisions with your travel companions. Everyone should have a say! Unless everyone has the same likes and dislikes, it’s important to make some compromises and ensure that everyone will have a good time.

Plan it

As an article on Forbes advises, make a checklist of everything you need for your trip: from travel documents to power socket adapters. It is important to note that if you do end up forgetting something at home, like your toothbrush or deodorant, don’t worry - there will be shops at your destination where you can purchase these day-to-day items.

Ace it

Once you’ve researched and planned everything, you’re ready to start your journey.

• Give yourself plenty of extra time before and after your flight. Who knows how the traffic will be or how busy the airport will be? It’s always best to be early.
• Get ready for security. Going through security doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful – have your liquids ready, take off your belt and remember to smile.
• Enjoy your downtime. At the airport, remember to take a deep breath and savour your downtime by reading a book or watching your favourite show. Now that you’ve gone through the airport like an expert, it’s time to board your flight.

Most importantly, enjoy it. Remember to be flexible when travelling, having plenty of free time it’s important. So, don’t plan every last detail of your trip and give yourself time to enjoy each second of the trip. You might want to stay longer at the museum or scratch the restaurant idea and instead go for a picnic at the park. If your plans don’t pan out the way you’d like them to, don’t worry – focus on the positives, make the most of out the things you did do and bon voyage!

Do you have any stress-free travel tips? 

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Exploring Greater Manchester with MegaBus

Last month I published my first post all about sites to visit this autumn in and around Greater Manchester with hotels.com and I promised a second post with more recommendations so if you're looking for places to visit in Greater Manchester on a budget, I hope today's post helps. If you are looking for more recommendations then do check out that post and also head over to my women's gift guide if you want to be in with a chance of winning a £60 gift card!

MOSI, Manchester Museum, Police Museum, Pankhurst Centre & Art Gallery

First up, I wanted to mention all of the fantastic free museums and art galleries I've visited in Manchester that I recommend visiting. They're all free but it would be great if you made a donation when you visit. My favourite museum in Manchester used to be the Museum of Science and Industry which is a museum I've been visiting on and off since I was a child and I visited most recently this summer; however it isn't nearly as a good as I remember from my childhood or even from five or so years ago sadly. Although if you have children, it would be a great rainy day museum to visit.

The Manchester Museum is much more up my street and it's owned by the University of Manchester so it's free, filled with so many interesting artefacts and it's the UK's largest university museum so there's lots to see. If you're looking for an insight into local history then you can't go wrong with either the Pankhurst Centre (it's very small and a quick look around) or the Police Museum, although annoyingly the latter is only open one day each week but if it is open then definitely check it out.

Manchester Cathedral

Another free site to visit is Manchester Cathedral which is where a few of my ancestor were married! There is debate about the origins of the original church but the construction of the church on the site it is today began in 1421 in the Neo-gothic style. Although the cathedral was extensively damaged during the Manchester blitz of 1940 which destroyed all of the stained glass, organ, the roof and medieval chapels. However, it is still an utterly beautiful building with archives dating back to the 1400's and 16th century workmanship. The cathedral is situated in the city centre and is close by other sites such as Chethams Library and the main shopping areas so it's within easy walking distance  and worth a visit.

Dunham Massey & Lyme Park

If you have already visited the city centre and it's sights then why not head out of the centre to the beautiful Dunham Massey or Lyme Park, both of which are National Trust sites so if you have a National Trust membership then you're entry and parking are free. They are both located less than an hours drive from Manchester so they are perfect for a day trip outside of the city, particularly at this time of the year when the leaves are turning and there are seasonal events starting.

I recommend all of the National Trust sites I've visited in the North West such as Dunham Massey, Lyme Park, Gawthorpe Hall, Tatton Park, Quarry Bank Mill and Chatsworth, the latter is a little further to travel but it's well worth it. Of the sites that are closer to Manchester, I think Dunham Massey is my favourite as not only is there a historic mansion to explore but the gardens are beautiful and the deer even more so. If you follow me on Instagram (@ofbeautyand), you'll have seen me exploring Manchester recently and I visit Dunham Massey fairly regularly too.

Dovestones & Hollingworth Lake 

If you want to go for an autumnal walk around Greater Manchester this month then I highly recommend visiting either Hollingworth lake (which would be great for children) or Dovestones (which is a little more challenging, busy and can be more than a bit muddy). Hollingworth Lake is about an hour from the city centre but it's perfect for a break from the city with beautiful views over the lake and areas of children to play.

Dovestones is my favourite of the two as I love the views all around Dovestones and as you can see from the photo above, it's even more stunning during the autumn months. Both are free to visit, although you do have to pay for parking and the car park at Dovestones is tiny so visit during the week, if you can, to avoid queues and crowds.

MegaBus

Today's post is in collaboration with MegaBus which have just launched six new coaches on their London to Aberdeen route with stops including Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Dundee. The coaches all have wireless charging and tables (available on seats at the front of the coach), a new interior design and 24 reservable seats.

I haven't tried MegaBus before but I've always been tempted, especially this summer as the prices are significantly cheaper than trains which are becoming even more expensive or the cost of driving, petrol and parking. I would love to visit Oxford, York, Stirling and Aberdeen, all of which are available on Megabus routes at fantastic prices!

Have you travelled via MegaBus? Have you visited any of the sites in Greater Manchester that I've recommended? 

*Gifted

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*Why you should consider taking time out to travel alone

Image from Gal Meets Glam

Travelling is something that I love for many reasons and I’ve been lucky enough to experience some of the most exciting countries in the world, though I’ve still got lots on my list that I’m determined to get to experience! Travelling with friends and family is always an enjoyable adventure, but there’s something pretty special about having the confidence to take a trip with only the company of yourself.

Whether you’re testing the waters with a weekend away close to home or going all out and jumping on a plane halfway across the world, there are a fantastic range of benefits for travelling alone that can empower you in so many ways, as soon as you’ve done it once you’ll want to do it again and again and again!

Get out of your comfort zone

For many of us, going about our day to day business on our own is second nature, but travelling away with only our own company to enjoy is a completely different kettle of fish. Being away from the all too comfortable bubble that we call home can push you to the edges of your comfort zone and will challenge you in a whole range of ways. It’s good to do something that makes you feel a little nervous every once in a while and chances are you’ll feel revitalised and new sense of self afterwards.

You get to choose your own destination 

With no one else to have to please, travelling on your own means being able to choose your own destinations and plans without compromise. Not only this, you also have the option to select your dedicated routes, accommodation plans and culinary treats without having to share!

It's good for your wellbeing 

Enjoying your own company isn’t always easy at first and it can take time and work to truly reap the benefits of me time. Yet once you’ve mastered the art, you’re likely to see an improvement in your wellbeing. Travelling is good for the heart and the soul, the excitement of a new found location and the relaxation associated with taking time out can reduce stress and calm the body and mind.

Where to start?

If you’re considering taking a solo trip but don’t know where to begin, it’s advisable to start small. The last thing you want to happen is to fork out on long-haul flights and accommodation only to realise shortly after arriving that travelling alone isn’t for you (not that I’d expect this to happen, but you never know!). Start by taking a short break close to home, select somewhere that you can relax and unwind or somewhere that offers the option to explore a new town or city depending on your preference. By starting with a short and close to home break, you’re able to begin to indulge in the world of solo travel risk-free.

If you’re in the North West like myself, the Lake District is a great place to start, being synonymous with relaxation and beautiful scenery yet only an hour away from home. If you’re an Instagram-lover, there are a whole host of super chic and insta-ready one bedroom Lake District cottages available to help you relax. With everything from freestanding baths to open fires, it sounds like a dream to me! 

Once you’ve got your bearings with travelling alone, it’s time to start thinking about that first solo trip abroad. Europe is a continent that is certainly generally safe for solo female travellers and a great place to start, with many of the Scandinavian countries coming out top on the popularity front. Iceland would make for a fantastic first abroad solo adventure, not only is the northern country covered in beautiful scenery and landmarks, the locals are known for their friendly and welcoming nature and there are a huge array of organised trips that you could book onto – you may even make a friend or two along the way!

If the colder weather isn’t to your liking, why not head off on a solo cruise? If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that I have been lucky enough to be on many a cruise and they really are just a fantastic experience. I know many people who have enjoyed cruising alone, the community atmosphere makes meeting new people easy and the abundance of activities and excursions means you’ll never be short on entertainment!

Would you consider solo travelling? Have you visited the Lake District? 

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Hallmark Hotel: Glasgow (AD)

Last week I was lucky enough to visit Glasgow for the first time as part of a gifted hotel stay by the lovely people over at Hallmark Hotels. I haven't stayed in a Hallmark Hotel before but I became aware of the hotel chain last year when they were offering free hotel stays for NHS staff, which is amazing! There are various Hallmark Hotels across the country, from beautiful locations in the north west such as Manchester and Chester to London, Cambridge, Derby, Glasgow and many more. 

I was very torn between visiting Cambridge or Glasgow, both cities are beautiful and I've wanted to visit them for years but I opted for Glasgow. The majority of my mums family are from Scotland and it's a country that I love to visit so I couldn't wait to visit. There are so many sites to visit within Glasgow itself but we went on a tour to Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond and the Glengoyne whisky distillery which you can read about on my blog now. 

Thankfully the train from Manchester to Glasgow was very inexpensive, the journey was easy and it was just over three hours, so I think it's a great destination for a weekend away from Manchester. The trains we booked went from Manchester Piccadilly to Glasgow Central and the latter is the perfect location for shopping, sight seeing and it is a short walk from the Hallmark Hotel.

From the station entrance and exit on Argyle Street, it is only a ten minute walk to the hotel so the location is absolutely perfect, especially if you have luggage or heavy bags. The location is ideal for a few reasons as not only is it close to the station but it is also close to the motorway if you're driving to the hotel and it is within walking distance of the city centre and the sights. However, it isn't too close to the centre to be affected by city noise or traffic which is something that always keeps me awake at other hotels.

*Hallmark Hotel Glasgow - Classic Twin Room 

I was very kindly gifted the hotel stay and we had one of their Classic Twin rooms which came with free wifi, free toiletries, a flat screen tv, tea making facilities, air conditioning and many more additions. The room was a little larger than I thought it would be and it felt instantly very homely which is something I rarely feel within a hotel. The toiletries included, facilities and the room decor itself were perfect and the room was very clean. I'm quite fastidious when it comes to cleanliness but it wasn't something I had to worry about at the Glasgow Hallmark Hotel.

The hotel exterior and the immediate surroundings aren't very...luxurious but I was very pleasantly surprised by the lobby and reception of the hotel which was very clean, sleek and luxurious but also inviting. The exterior of the hotel doesn't match the impressive and grand interior of not only the lobby, bar and reception but the rooms too. However, the interior, the food, the service we received and the amazing location make it a fantastic option near the centre of Glasgow.

Most of the Hallmark Hotel buildings seem to be quite unusual and this one is no different as alongside their classic rooms, such as the classic twin room we stayed in, they also offer a selection of self-catering apartments located in their converted 19th century rice mill which is amazing! One of my favourite things about this hotel is the flexibility and packages offered, for example, you can buy the 'dinner, bed and breakfast' option which is what we were gifted, you can purchase the room only or there are even packages for overnight accommodation, an evening meal, breakfast and a thirty minute spa treatment.

As well as the fancy lobby, clean rooms and variety of packages available, they also have an onsite spa and pool! Right next to the main entrance of the hotel is their spa and pool which features a 15 metre pool (one of the only hotels in the city to have one) and a state of the art gym! The spa has a sauna, whirlpool, steam room and options for beauty treatments from waxing, threading and detoxifying treatments to facials, peels, manicures, massages, non-surgical body lifting treatments and more. The location, spa treatments and inclusive options would make it a fantastic option for a special weekend away, hen party or birthday gift.

Sadly we didn't have time to take advantage of the leisure club, spa or the pool but we were booked in for the dinner and breakfast package. The hotel's restaurant has a great range of options that are included within the package for a range of diets including vegetarian, gluten free and vegan options. With the package we had, we could choose two courses and naturally I opted for a main course and dessert (because who would choose a starter over a dessert!) but you can pay for extras such as drinks or more courses if you wanted to.

You can have a look at the dinner inclusive menu online as well as they Hallmark Grill menu and lounge menu. I had the vegetarian pea, asparagus and leek risotto (which was fantastic and perfect after exploring the rainy city of Glasgow) as well as the vegan strawberry ice cream. My plus one had the crispy calamari, grilled steak and the sticky toffee pudding and she was happy with everything! The food was great, the staff were lovely and helpful and the food arrived very quickly. 

We both had a good nights sleep, the beds were very comfortable and there was no outside noise to disturb us, the latter is something I haven't experienced in a hotel for a long time! Included in the stay was breakfast which we had quite early on as we had to meet the coach for our tour in George Square. The breakfast options were great, from cereal, toast and pastries to English breakfast options and fruit. Both dining experiences at the hotel were easy, fuss free and there was a great range of choice. Also all of the staff from the waiting to the reception staff were all very friendly and helpful. 

I was very impressed with our stay at the Hallmark Hotel in the gorgeous city of Glasgow. The city itself felt quite like Manchester, the architecture was beautiful and there is so much to see and do within the city (including the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art) as well as in the surrounding areas (such as the Trossachs National Park, Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond). I think the packages available, location and facilities make the Hallmark Hotel within Glasgow an ideal option if you're visiting the city and I do not have any complaints! I cannot recommend this hotel enough and if you're looking to explore a new city or rediscover an old favourite, check to see if there's a Hallmark Hotel nearby as you won't regret it!

For more photos, videos and information about the hotel and the tour, check out my Glasgow 19 highlights on Instagram as well as the Hallmark Hotel website. 

Have you stayed in a Hallmark Hotel? Have you visited Glasgow? 

*gifted 

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*Staycation Ideas: Five Berth Caravan

Image from Pinterest

If you've been following me on Instagram (@ofbeautyand) then you'll know that I went to Glasgow for the first time last week as part of a hotel stay review (my review will be live very soon) and it has made me remember how much I love travelling and exploring new places. We had an amazing but very brief time in Scotland; however we were able to visit quite a few incredible locations such as Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond and more.

We both agreed that we'd love to go back to Scotland in the future and I would specifically love to go back to the Trossachs National Park again as the scenery was utterly beautiful, especially at this time of the year. While I adored the hotel, I think I would like my own little space while exploring and I think camping and caravanning are great staycation options.

Location 

The first thing you need to think about when it comes to a holiday or staycation is the location and Scotland is just perfect, especially at this time of the year when the leaves are turning and the landscape is even more breathtaking than usual. Caravanning would be ideal for that landscape as hotels in more remote areas might not be the cheapest option and with a caravan you would be able to visit various caravan sites and explore the surrounding area much more than if you stayed within a hotel.

Activities 

There are so many wonderful sites to visit across the UK and some of my favourites have to include: Tatton Park and Dunham Massey in Cheshire, the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, The Tower of London and Buckingham Palace in London and many more such as the incredible national parks in the Yorkshire Dales and the Trossachs National Park near Glasgow.

Five Berth Caravans

Staycations, in my opinion, are so much easier, more convenient and often cheaper alternatives for a weekend break or a few days away with friends. They also offer the opportunity to visit more sites compared to travelling abroad (unless you're planning on a cruise) and staycations are more flexible in terms of the locations you can visit and the activities you can plan, especially if you have your own transport such as a car and caravan.

A five berth caravan would be the perfect weekend staycation for family or friends as not only would you have everything you need in one place but it combines your transport, kitchen, living space, facilities and bedrooms all in one which should cut the costs down when compared to a hotel stay, restaurant costs and transport.

I have been on camping holidays for most of my life and while I loved camping as a child including visiting some of the most beautiful places in the UK (including Fort William, Oban, Devon and Cornwall), it isn't something I'd want to do as an adult. I think a caravan, particularly a large option such as a five berth caravan, would be ideal.

If caravanning also sounds great to you and you would like more information, check out Bailey of Bristol which is one of the UK's leading caravan manufacturers. They have a fantastic range to choose from of various sizes and brands with a variety of specifications. Visit their website for images, prices or to download their brochure.

Have you been on a staycation or caravan holiday? 

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Glasgow Photo Diary: Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond + Glengoyne Distillery

If you've been following me on instagram (@ofbeautyand) over the past couple of days then you might have seen my Instagram stories of my quick visit to Glasgow! If you want to see more photographs then check out the 'Glasgow 19' stories highlight on my instagram profile. I headed to Glasgow with one of my best friends as I was very kindly gifted a free stay at the Hallmark Hotel in Glasgow - my review will be live very soon so stay tuned. 

There are so many sites to see within Glasgow itself such as the Kelvingrove Museum and Glasgow Cathedral as well as the Museum of Modern Art, the latter we did see on our first day in Glasgow. I did also want to explore a little outside of Glasgow into the surrounding cities and sites so I booked us on a tour with Rabbies (only the hotel stay was gifted - we paid for the travel and tour with Rabbies). 

Stirling Castle 

On the first day in Glasgow we didn't see too much as we knew that the day after would be a very busy and a very long day, including a three hour train journey back to Manchester so we looked through the shops on Buchanan Street (which is such a beautiful shopping street - most of the architecture in Glasgow is gorgeous) and we looked through the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art as well as relaxing at the hotel. 

However, the second day we had a very early start to meet our Rabbies tour in George Square which was only a twenty minute walk from our hotel and thankfully we made it with time to spare. The tour I booked was 'Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond and Whisky' which is a one day tour starting in Glasgow and it returned to the same point in George Square at the end of the day so it was very handy for us as we didn't have much time. 

Before booking the train and hotel, I hadn't heard of Rabbies before but they had great reviews and the price was fantastic considering the convenience of a tour, the location and the number of places we'd visit during the day. The mini bus was ideal for our small group, there were USB ports to charge your phone, the driver/guide (our guide was Iain) was very knowledgable and it was an easy way of visiting numerous places in one day.

We heading north on the M80 to Stirling which is a place I've wanted to visit for a while, not just because of the beautiful castle and history but because a few members of my mums family were from the area. The journey to the castle was quick and we were able to get a discount on the entrance fee to the castle because we were part of a Rabbies tour which is something I didn't know before we arrived at the castle so we saved a little money on the entry to the castle and the distillery.

The drive up to the castle was quite steep but the areas of Stirling that we passed through looked utterly beautiful and the castle was even more so. As we arrived before 10am, there were very few tourists which was great as it meant that we missed the queues. The castle itself is incredibly beautiful as were the gorgeous views! We didn't go on a free tour so we didn't learn as much about the castle as we could have but it was a lovely place to explore (even if it was freezing cold and very windy).

We had just under two hours to explore the castle and I think we only looked through the main sections of the castle - there's too much to fully explore within less than two hours! My only disappointment at the castle (and of the day) was that the castle seemed to be mostly renovated so it looked new which I wasn't expecting and it didn't seem as historic (if that makes sense) as the other incredible castles and royal palaces I've vivid such as Holyrood Palace and Edinburgh Castle. We were able to get some great photographs of the castle and views, visit the three shops and rest in the cafe which did have vegan options although as our next stop was for a lunch break in the small town of Aberfoyle I didn't buy anything but I'm glad there are a couple of vegan options available!

Aberfoyle, Trossachs National Park, Loch Lomond + Milarrochy Bay 

After visiting the castle we headed back on the road to the Trossachs National Park but we passed through a few beautiful villages on the way including Callander (which features a hotel were Queen Victoria stayed), Kilmahog, Balmaha and various smaller lochs in the national park such as Loch Achray, Loch Venachar and lastly Loch Lomond along the West Highland Way.

However, the first stop was for a lunch in Aberfoyle which is a small village in the county of Perthshire and the only vegan option I could find was chips but I'm from Manchester so I was not complaining! The drive from Aberfoyle through the Trossachs National Park was a bumpy one with lots of twisting, stomach turning and sometimes steep roads (so if that's something you are wary of then this might not be the tour for you - I don't get car sick but my stomach was turning).

The drive did feature some of the most beautiful scenery, from the dense woodland of the national park and the gorgeous lochs to the impressive hunters lodges and grand hotels along the route. We did make one stop before Loch Lomond and that was at Loch Achray were there were some rather cute (and also almost rather massive) highland cows!

Lastly, we stopped at Milarrochy Bay which is only one very small area of Loch Lomond and it's one that is sometimes missed by other tour buses but I'm glad we stopped there was it was so beautiful and almost completely empty. Loch Lomond is one of the biggest and most visited lakes in Scotland and it's easy to see why; from the beautiful waters and wildlife filled woodlands to the wallaby inhabited islands (yes, there are wallabies on one of the islands in Loch Lomond) and the plethora of activities to do on and around the lake.

I did enjoy Stirling Castle and the drive through the Trossachs National Park (not so much the bumpy roads but the incredible landscape); however I think Loch Lomond and Milarrochy Bay were my highlights of the day as not only was it such a peaceful place to be but the scenery is perfect, there weren't hoards of tourists and I think I would love to go back to that area as I think the walking trials and woodlands would be perfect to explore further.

Most of my mum's family are from Scotland, for as far back as we can go and I'm definitely proud to be part of such a beautiful country. I've been lucky enough to visit various areas of Scotland such as the Isle of Arran, Mull, Oban, Fort William and Edinburgh and while Edinburgh is my favourite city in Scotland, I think that the Trossachs National Park and Loch Lomond are well worth visiting and somewhere I would love to spend much more time exploring in the future, particularly during the autumn months.

Glengoyne Distillery 

From Loch Lomond we travelled on, you guessed it, more bumpy, steep and stomach turning roads but the scenery made me queasiness worth it! There are so many areas of Scotland that remind me of the villages we have passed through in Norway - I would love to live within Scotland or Norway rather than (beautiful but) rainy Manchester! Thankfully the drive from Loch Lomond to the Glengoyne distillery was fairly quick and again when we arrived at the distillery the entrance fee was reduced as we were part of a Rabbies tour.

I have to start this section with a disclaimer, I don't really drink alcohol apart from on special occasions so I did try the whisky on the tour as it was included in the distillery tour price - you don't have to try the whisky and if you are under 18 then the tour is free (obviously you can't have any of the whisky either). The distillery is almost bordering the highlands and it seems to be in the middle of nowhere but the buildings and surroundings are unexpectedly beautiful.

Growing up, we went camping with our friends every summer to various locations around the UK including Devon, Cornwall, Llandudno and Oban and my dad would drag us around beer and whisky distilleries so it is something I've seen before but until now I've never been old enough to appreciate not only the manufacturing process and machinery involved but also the final product.

As I've said, I don't really drink and I definitely haven't tried any whisky until going on the tour, never mind twelve year old single malt Highland whisky...I did drink all of the shot of whisky and it was surprisingly enjoyable. I didn't know what to expect other than the strength of it might go to my head but it had a tingling warmth to it which definitely helped fight the cold and wind we had experienced all day!

The buildings of the distillery were so quaint and completely unexpected as I thought it would look very industrial and mechanical but it seems like such a pleasant place to work especially with the waterfall, pond and beautiful autumn scenery around it. I only have a few photographs of the distillery and mostly of the outer buildings as you couldn't take photographs inside due to a fire risk because it is a working distillery.

The smell inside the distillery was amazing, it was interesting to learn about the various process involved and how the alcohol changes as it ages. The one hour tour was less than £10 with the Rabbies discount so I'd definitely recommend it and there's a great shop on the site as well where I bought my dad a mini bottle of the whisky I'd tried because I knew that if I didn't bring one back for him to try, he'd be very disappointed!

Overall, as we only had a couple of days in Glasgow I think a tour was the perfect way to explore much more of the country than you would on your own. The tour guide was great, the scenery was incredible (especially at this time of the year when the leaves are turning), the price was fantastic considering the length of the journey and the added discount at both Stirling Castle and the Glengoyne distillery was an unexpected bonus. If you have a day or two in Glasgow then I cannot recommend this tour enough and stay tuned for my review of the fantastic Hallmark Hotel very soon.

Have you been on a Rabbies tour? Have you been to any of the places mentioned? 

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*How to travel and keep costs down at the same time

Image from Pinterest

Anyone who’s ever thought about going travelling has had the same thought – how am I going to afford this? While travelling is one of the most rewarding and insightful things you can do, there’s no denying that behind all the self-discovery and swimming with pigs, there’s always the question of money. Luckily, for the thrifty of you out there, there are loads of ways you can still travel while keeping within your budget. From last minute flights to travel reward programmes, there are loads of little ways you can make some cutbacks when it comes to spending.

Be flexible with your travel dates 

Sure, it’s a pretty big deal to just stop your whole life to travel the world for a few months. You’ll be forgiven for wanting to have everything planned down to the finest detail. However, this can actually be limiting you when it comes to upfront costs. The less flexible you are with dates, the less likely you are to get yourself a good deal on travel tickets. Instead, have a general few days in mind that you’d like to travel on. This way, when a last-minute deal pops up, you’ll be packed and ready to head off to the airport.

Decide where you’re going to stay at night

Undoubtedly, you’ll become a hostel regular while travelling and for good reason. Hotels are your cheapest option when it comes to having a bed to stay in at night. The reduced charges in comparison to a hotel are hard to ignore, just make sure you’ve properly done your research before pitching up. Alternatively, you can make use of loads of new sites that link you up with someone else in the world for a ‘house swap’. Kind of like a foreign exchange, this will give you an authentic and local experience of a new culture.

If you’re travelling with friends or a group and you’re looking for something a little more private, why not book yourself into a villa like the ones from Villa Plus? While a villa might not seem like a traditional travel experience, it will give you that much needed plush break which can be a relief after a few months of hostel hopping!

Chow down locally

When it comes to getting your daily meals, there’s no better way than hitting up the local eateries. Avoid any recognisable chains, if there are any, and instead keep an eye out for where all the locals flock. Not only will this likely save you a few pennies, but it will also give you a foodie experience like no other. After all, if the locals love it, it’s bound to be good!

Hand luggage only 

Would it even be travelling if you didn’t live out of a backpack? If you’re booking last-minute flights with different airlines, you might be in for a nasty shock. While there will be a few airlines you’re familiar with, when travelling, you could end up with a totally random brand you’ve never heard of. To avoid any of those sneaky extra charges for things like bags, stick to just hand luggage. Besides, you don’t want to be lugging a huge suitcase around with you when you’re out on a once in a lifetime adventure.

While you’ll certainly need a bit of cash to head off around the world, there are simple and clever ways to make your money go further. The key thing to take away is to plan, plan and plan again. Make sure you’ve thought of every eventuality to avoid empty pockets on your trip. All that’s left to do now is go out there and enjoy it!

Do you have any tips or advice for travelling within a budget?

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*The Ultimate Night Out in New York

Infographic Design By tickets for broadway

There’s so much to see and do in New York that you can easily feel overwhelmed once you get to this huge, buzzing major city. You’ll want to see the Empire State Building. You’ll want to see the Statue of Liberty. You’ll probably head to the Museum of Modern Art and take a stroll around Central Park. These are just a few of the world-famous attractions on offer! But seeing as New York is world-renowned for being the city that never sleeps, you’re going to want to make the most of the nightlife. If you do visit, you need to make sure you have a night out rather than focusing one hundred percent of your energy into day time tourism and activities.

For the ultimate night out, of course, you should head to Broadway. This strip of theatres is said to be the best in the world and there are always iconic performances on. But when you get there, there’s likely to be so much choice that you may struggle to come to a decision on what one play or musical you should invest your time and money into seeing. Not to worry - we can help you out here. The infographic below on tickets for Broadway will help you to come to the logical conclusion in regards to your personal preferences and tastes! Take a moment to go through it and you’ll quickly find the show or performance that will tick your boxes and leave you with a huge smile on your face.

Have you visited New York? 

*collaborative post

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*Tips For Your First Cruise Holiday

It's that time of the year when we're all thinking about the summer holidays we have planned or we're experiencing wanderlust (I'm the latter) so I thought that now would be the ideal time to write about my experience of cruise holidays and some of my general tips which I hope will be useful for individuals going on their first cruise or if you want to plan a cruise in the future.

I've been lucky enough to have been on seven cruises all around Europe, from Russia, Scandinavia and Estonia to the Mediterranean, Baltic and everywhere in-between. My experiences are based on European cruises with European and North American cruise companies as well as cruises involving flights and cruises from UK ports. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below!

Booking & Planning

Firstly, planning and booking your cruise which can be a bit of a daunting experience, especially if it's your first cruise and the terms are a little confusing. My first tip would be to look at all of the major cruise companies to not only compare prices but to become more familiar with what cruise holidays can offer and to shop for deals.

Cruise holidays are personally some of the very best I've been lucky enough to experience, for so many reasons. For example, you are able to experience so many countries/locations within one holiday, it's a safe and convenient travel option and the excursions offered are always fantastic! In terms of the excursions, they are another aspect of a cruise holiday that you'll have to plan for and sometimes book in advance as certain excursions can sell out before the cruise even begins. Planning your cruise, transportation to the ship or airport and various excursions or packages, all needs to be taken into consideration.

Top Tips: Shop around for the best price (usually within school time), look for last minute deals and be sure to book packages and excursions beforehand to avoid disappointment.

Location, Location, Location

As with any holiday, the location is one of the most important aspects and thankfully with cruise holidays, you're able to visit many locations within one holiday. For example, a couple of years ago, we visited four locations within Norway and a few years ago we were able to visit five or so locations around the Mediterranean. Cruise destinations vary so much, therefore you're bound to find an itinerary that suit you, whether it's a polar regions, European, Caribbean or South American cruises to a North American, Middle Eastern or an Atlantic islands cruise.

Top Tip: Before deciding on the locations, make sure you look through the excursions as sometimes there will be excursions outside of the city or region you are visiting. For example, when I went on a Russian/Scandinavian cruise, one of the excursions for Saint Petersburg was to visit Moscow.

Excursions 

Excursions are some of the best parts of a cruise holiday, even though the ships are always incredible, so it's essential to fully look through the excursions available for each location. There are typically between three to ten excursion options to choose from which vary in terms of the time, location, activities and price. Some of the best excursions I've been on have to be the walking tours (as long as the weather is ok!) and they tend to be some of the cheapest as well. Even if you don't want to pay for an excursion, sometimes you might have to pay for transport into the city, depending on where your ship is located in the port so it's best to put aside a little extra money for additional fees. I would personally always choose to go on an excursion as you are covered if you arrive to the ship late - if you are on your own (rather than with a booked excursion), the ship could leave without you (I have actually seen this happen!).

Top Tips: Save extra money for the best excursions, book in advance and take extras with you on the excursion as well as spending money, a power bank and weather appropriate accessories/clothing. We were caught out in the rain in Finland but our walking tour excursion still went ahead so I'm glad we dressed for the weather and bought umbrellas.

My Favourites Cruises & Cruise Destinations 

There have been so many incredible destinations and cruise experiences over the past ten or so years but I think the best cruise holidays I've been on have to include: waking up to the beautiful Norwegian fjords as well as the sunrise over Mount Vesuvius and entering the magical city of Venice on the ship. Some of my must see locations have to be Venice (Italy), Flam and Olden (Norway), Rome (Italy), Saint Petersburg (Russia) and Ajaccio (Corsica).

I am lucky in that my parents began family cruise holidays for us when I was about 17 so I've been to a far amount of gorgeous European cities and I cannot recommend cruise holidays enough, especially if you are like me and you want to see as many sites as you can and to have the peace of mind of everything you need in one place - a beautiful, state of the art, luxury cruise ship.

Have you been on a cruise holiday? If not, would you in the future? 

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Travel Diary: Edinburgh, Scotland

Earlier this week, myself and my mum headed to the beautiful and historic city of Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland for a belated Mother's Day treat. I have been lucky enough to go on various family holidays growing up around Scotland including Mull, Oban, Fort William and the Isle of Arran, the latter on a geology field trip. However I've always wanted to visit Edinburgh, especially since almost everyone on one side of my mum's family is Scottish (from Aberdeen, Stirling, Glasgow) and from my Ancestry DNA results, I'm 16% Scottish.

None of this trip was sponsored (sadly, it would have been amazing if it was) and we travelled via Transpennine on seemingly the oldest and most rickety train imaginable then on a slightly disappointing Virgin Train. The Virgin First Class Train we went on in February to London was amazing but sadly this one was more than a little dirty and the driver was late for the journey back on Wednesday so our train was delayed from Edinburgh and we missed our connecting train as a result - the reason the driver was late was because of train cancellations...he had to be driven from Glasgow to Edinburgh to drive our train!

National Museum of Scotland  

Anyway, enough moaning about trains (we have asked for a refund as the delay was over 30 minutes) and onto what we did in Edinburgh. We hadn't really planned anything for the first day as you never know if there's going to be a problem with the train so after walking for a while in the wrong direction from the station, we finally found our hotel (it would have been a very simple and short journey but we came out of the opposite side of the station and Edinburgh is a bit of a maze!).

We stayed in the new Premier Inn on the Royal Mail (well, it is actually on East Market Street - a very handy street for the station and to get to most of the main attractions such as Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace). We've been to a few Premier Inn hotels as they're always so clean, inexpensive and the food is great too and this one was no different. The staff were incredibly lovely, the room was much larger than others we'd been in and it was great value for money. If you are looking for a good Premier Inn then I cannot recommend this one enough, along with the Euston Premier Inn.

Enough raving on about the hotel and onto the first place we visited, the National Museum of Scotland which is quite an unimposing building from the outside but the inside is incredibly beautiful. I adore beautiful and unique architecture so this museum was a dream to walk around and photograph! It's such a vast museum and you definitely need to take one of the maps as you'll never see all of it without one - we had a map and still didn't manage to explore everywhere.

Despite the number of people, it was a very pleasant museum to walk around with lots of seating, beautiful spring natural light, so many exhibits to see and a wide range of subjects from the natural world and space to fashion and more. The section I was most interested in was the one that seemed to be hidden away, The Kingdom Of The Scots which I would have thought would have taken centre stage in the National Museum of Scotland....However it was in a far off corner and if we hadn't asked about it, I don't think we would have managed to find it, especially as we didn't have all day to look around. If you're visiting Edinburgh then I'd recommend a quick visit to the museum as it's such a calm, open and interesting museum to visit, if a little confusing in terms of it's layout.

Holyrood Palace 

As I said, on the first day we didn't have anything planned and we seemed to waste quite a lot of time looking for the hotel and on Cockburn Street trying to decide which direction to walk in! However after having a look at the map from the hotel, we noticed that Holyrood Palace (which I thought would be quite a walk away), was only ten minutes or so from our hotel so at four(ish) on the first day we decided to walk to the palace. The palace is across from the fairly controversial Scottish Parliament building (I personally don't like the design and I don't know why they didn't choose a Scottish architect to design it). 

I didn't expect the palace to be open for much longer but we arrived within ten minutes of the last admission and it actually closed at six so I think we were quite lucky with the timing - we managed a relaxed walk around all of the palace within just over an hour. The museum was free to visit but the palace was £15 each - which is a great price in my opinion. You receive an audio/video guide to listen to as you walk around and unlike all of the other guides I've used while visiting other palaces/historic houses in the UK and abroad on holiday, this one was so easy, pleasant and fuss free to use. 

I've visited a fair few historic, country houses and palaces within the UK over the past ten to fifteen years including Kensington Palace (which I visited in February and you can see it on my London 2019 Instagram stories highlights) and Buckingham Palace palace a couple of years ago but I think Holyrood Palace was one of the nicest and most 'user friendly' palaces I've ever visited. The layout wasn't confusing, the audio guide was informative without being boring and the staff were so nice. Sadly, the only downside to the palace is that you can't take photographs inside (apart from the abby/grounds). 

The palace itself is incredibly beautiful with so much history particularly related to Bonnie Prince Charlie and Mary Queen of Scots, you can even go inside her bedchamber. As well as the palace you also see the ruins of Holyrood Abby which was opened in 1128 - I did take photos here (which you can see above) as there weren't any signs prohibiting photography outside of the palace. Overall, I think it is well worth the money and the visit as it's such a gorgeous building with such a vast and interesting history. I definitely want to visit it again in the future and with a little more time so I can visit the palace gardens. If you are visiting Edinburgh then you need to visit Holyrood Palace, you won't regret it!

Edinburgh Castle 

We made a few whistle stop visits to a few other places such as Greyfriars Kirk and St Giles (from a distance was we didn't have much time) but the last main 'attraction' we visited was the famous and impressive Edinburgh Castle which sits atop Castle Rock, the remains of volcanic activity 340 million years ago. We bought tickets online for the castle in advance and it's something I'd definitely recommend to avoid queues and I'd also recommend choosing the earliest slot available (9:30 - 11am)  as we did so you have as much time as possible as there is SO much to see. We went on one of the free guided tours and the tour guide was fantastic!

I didn't know what to expect at the castle but there's so much more than a castle as there's a war memorial, the Scottish Crown Jewels, an 12th century church, various souvenir shops, cafes, a great hall (which was completely renovated by the meddling victorians...) and amazing views among a couple of museums so you need at least half a day to explore it all fully. I think there were around three smaller sections that we didn't have time to see (including the Royal Scots Dragoon Regiment museum) but we still spent over three hours at the castle after arriving there just before it opened. As with Holyrood Palace, I don't think a trip to Edinburgh is complete without visiting the castle and I think you get so much to see for your money.

I have to say that my first visit to Edinburgh wasn't quite what I expected as I didn't know just how steep some of the roads were, how many bloody annoying cobbled streets there would be (which I managed to almost trip over a good few times), how quiet it is, how clean the city would be and how much I would adore the architecture. I also have to mention that there are a fair number of Harry Potter themed shops around the city too which I deeply appreciate - you can easily see how magical the city is and how it could have inspired the wizarding world. Walking the streets of Edinburgh you get such a sense of the vast history of the city, it is almost magical in its narrow steep streets and its beautifully striking architecture. There are so many other cities I want to visit across Scotland and I would be very happy to visit Edinburgh again!

If you want to see more photographs and videos then definitely check out my Edinburgh highlights on Instagram!

Have you visited Edinburgh? If so, have you visited any of the places I've mentioned? Also, do you have any recommendations of other places to visit in the city? 

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*Saving Money for Your Holiday in 2019

Image from Gal Meets Glam

As we edge closer to the end of winter and the emergence of spring, it’s hard not to start thinking of our summer holidays. Instead of paying for your next big trip by maxing out your credit card, now is the best time to start saving. The guys over at Cash Lady have put together a few helpful tips on saving money for your holiday in 2019 which may prove helpful.

Make a budget 

If you already have a spreadsheet for you monthly expenses, you are one step ahead. If not, list all your outgoings, including rent, food, entertainment etc., and how much you spend each week/month. See where you can cut down each month. Maybe you can take a break from going to the cinema, or reduce the amount of clothes you buy. Make a savings target and then you will know how much you need to save each week/month to meet your deadline.

Create a holiday bank account 

Setting up a new bank account just for your holiday money will ensure it builds up slowly over time. Create a standing order that automatically transfers a set amount from your main account into the new one. (Here is a guide on how to do it published by Barclays) You’ll quickly adjust to the lower amount of money coming in (remember, you have also budgeted for it) and before you know it your holiday bank account will have a healthy amount ready to be spent on a luxurious holiday.

Spend wisely 

Shopping, especially when it comes to groceries, can quickly eat up your income. By the time you get to the till and ring it all up you’ll be surprised it costs so much for so little. Always stick to your spending budget and look out for deals wherever you can find them. Use loyalty points on store cards to save money, while shopping online often proves to be cheaper.

Research your holiday 

There are more options than ever when it comes to finding money-saving deals for travel expenses. Keep looking for cheap flights, hotel deals and travel discounts wherever possible. Set-up email alerts so you are instantly notified as soon as they become available. If you are planning on going abroad, keep an eye out for the best exchange rates that will maximise your spending while overseas.

Sell some items 

Fashion trends come and go quickly, and before you know it you have a stash of clothes that are in great condition but just look so ‘last year’. Sites like eBay and Depop are great ways to sell your unused clothes and accessories without much hassle to make some quick money. Every penny counts, and it can just go straight into your holiday savings fund. Even old mobiles, DVDs and CDs could be worth a few bob or two.

Cut back on bills 

It’s easy to get stuck with the same energy supplier every year, instead of shopping around to find the best deal. However, there are some big savings to be had if you take the time. The Energy Saving Trust claim you can save up to £250 a year by using their home energy check tool. This could add some serious pounds to your holiday savings account in a matter of months.

Do you have any saving tips? Are you currently having for a holiday? 

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*10 Ways to Prepare for A Long-Haul Flight

Image from Pinterest

Catching any flight can be an anxiety provoking experience, but even more so if you have a long-haul flight ahead of you. By preparing thoroughly for your trip, you can make your travelling experience run much smoother and hopefully make it stress-free. Some people have concerns and qualms about flying, so being fully prepared can be a great way to lessen your worries about the journey you have ahead of you. Not all long-haul flights have to be boring or worrisome experiences. So here are ten ways to prepare for a long-haul flight that will make your travel a lot more bearable.

Do Your Research

It is important that when planning your long-haul trip that you do as much research as possible. It is likely that your journey will involve different forms of travel in a short period of time, so it is important that you are as organized as possible. A long-haul flight often requires connection flights, so make sure that you research the different routes that are available to you to make your journey as short as possible. Sometimes a quicker journey can cost a little extra, but it is often worth the investment.

Be Savvy

When Booking Your Flight This is one of the more obvious things you should do to prepare for your flight, but it is also the most important. To book your flight, you need to look at the different airlines that fly to the place you want to go to. It is advisable to research airline reviews online and see what experiences others have had when travelling with an airline. It is also a good idea to look at regional airlines, such as Porter, for your connecting flights or transfers to get a better deal. For example, if you are looking for flights to Toronto, then go to flyporter.com to look for regularly scheduled flights between Canada and the United States.

Know Your Luggage

Once you have booked your flight, you should be sure to investigate what your luggage allowance is. Most long-haul flights will allow for a heavier suitcase weight, but you need to double check this when you book. If you don’t think the allowance you have been given is going to be enough, then you can always book extra weight. But try and do this before you arrive at the airport as adding extra luggage last minute can be a costly way to do it. You should be sure to check out the security rules when you are packing your suitcase as there are often rules on what you can take onboard the plane. The rules are less strict for the luggage you are checking in at the desk, but be aware that anything you are taking through security with you that isn’t allowed may be taken off you.

Dress Comfortably

It is important that you wear suitable clothing when you travel, especially on a long-haul flight. Spending a long period of time on a plane can be very uncomfortable and wearing tight fitting clothing and heeled shoes will just make it even worse. Lounge wear is very popular amongst long-haul flyers, and you can get some stylish travel outfits that will allow you to feel cosy while you start off your journey looking and feeling great!

Take Care of Your Health

It is important that you look after yourself during a flight, so you should prepare things you may need while in the air. Flyers can be at risk of getting deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is the formation of blood clots, due to spending a lot of time sat in the same position for a long period. You can get flight compression socks to wear during your journey to limit your chances of suffering flight related DVT. You should also make sure that you keep hydrated during the flight so be sure to buy some water in the airport before you board. You may also consider taking a sleep aid with you to help you get some rest during your flight, though you should discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist beforehand.

Get an Upgrade

When booking your flight, you will be given the option to upgrade to an extra leg room seat or even upgrade into first class. This may seem like a frivolous aspect of your journey, but it can really make your flight a much more pleasurable experience. Traveling in first class will benefit the rest of your trip as you will be able to get more rest if you are comfortable and this can help you avoid the effects of jetlag. In business or first class, you can enjoy the extra leg room, reclining chairs, entertainment and the peace and quiet that you need to start your trip relaxed and comfortable.

Organize Your Carry On

You should make sure that you have everything you need when packing your carry-on luggage. You should remember to pack the necessities such as flight socks, any necessary medication, and your travel documents. It is advisable to check the airline’s regulations on carry-on luggage when you book your flight and also the size of your check-in baggage. There are usually measurements of how big your carry-on suitcase can be, so be sure that you adhere to these otherwise you will have to pay for extra luggage before you board (which can be a costly addition to your journey).

Snacks 

While there is usually food available during the flight, you may prefer to sort out your own snacks. You might not be able to bring food through security but there will be plenty of food options in the airport that you can buy before you board. You may be able to get a hot meal at a vendor in the departure lounge, but if not, then there will be cold snacks available for you to carry onto your flight. 

Pack Things to Do 

One of the worst things about a long-haul flight can be the boredom. So, it is important that you pack things to keep you entertained while you are on board the plane. This can be a great opportunity to start that book you’ve been meaning to read for ages, or the chance to sit through one of your favorite playlists from start to finish. While some airlines have started to have Wi-Fi available on flights, many don’t provide this service, so you need to make sure that whatever content you want to use on your electrical device is available on airplane mode.

Organise Your Transfer 

You may find yourself focusing on planning your flight, but you also need to ensure that you have the correct arrangements in place for when you land. You need to make allowances for possible delays and ensure that you are not left stranded once you land in your destination. While there may be transfer options available to you when you land, these will be a lot more expensive, so it is cheaper to book before you travel. A long-haul flight can be the part of your journey that you dread the most, but by following these simple ways to prepare for your flight, you will be able to start your journey feeling relaxed and refreshed ready to enjoy the rest of your trip.

Do you have any travelling tips? 

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