View from an old bridge in Bergerac by Lionel Allorge (creative commons)

Bergerac is a popular region of southern west France, also known locally as Purple Perigord (Perigord being the ancient name of the area and ‘purple’ referring to the local grown wines!) It was once a trading port and is situated alongside a river, with easy access to wine making areas and beautiful countryside – it is surrounded in fact by over 120 wind producers, making it a great location for wine lovers and only 90 minutes’ drive away from the famous wine-producing region of Bordeaux. Bergarac and the Dordogne region have both grown quickly in recent years, thanks predominantly to an influx of British holidaymakers and a rising number of affordable flights from various UK airports, including Birmingham, Edinburgh and Southampton flights. Bergerac’s popularity shows no sign of waning and many of its visitors return year after year, staying in cosy guesthouses or traditional French gites – or even camping in the beautiful countryside.

Getting there

As mentioned above, many UK airports fly to Bergerac and the town’s Airport is just 5 km south of the centre – with a five minute taxi transfer. Some visitors also choose to take advantage of Eurostar or the Channel Tunnel and drive across the France (click here for Eurostar discounts), taking in various sights and regions as they go. There are also good high speed rail links to other areas of France.

Bergerac Weather

A good time of year to go is in early Spring and early Summer, when the terraces and town squares come alive for al-fresco dining and drinks and the temperature is balmy. Harvest time in October is great for wine lovers – the region has a real air of anticipation and buzz – and Christmas in France generally is a lovely, family focused and traditional affair.

Bergerac Attractions

Bergerac is a lively and buzzing town that nevertheless is sometimes overlooked by visitors who head to the Dordogne’s traditional villages and castles. Even for day-trippers it affords a good day’s exploring, with a delicious local lunch thrown in and a trip to one or two of the town’s museums or other attractions. The old town runs up in a section from the river and it has a wide number of impressive and culturally important medieval buildings and open squares to relax in. There are several restaurants and cafes to take advantage of, offering everything from a la carte gourmet food, to simple pizzas and pommes frites so is definitely a different option than the more traditional trip to Paris.

Bergerac

Other highlights of Bergerac include the Maison des Vins cloistors, the Wine Museum… or find out more about the region’s important tradition of tobacco cropping at the Tobacco Museum. Art lovers may also enjoy the Costi Museum with many lovely sculptures.

The great thing about Bergerac however is that there are many quirky highlights hidden around corners and it’s well worth finding a nice pub or cafe and speaking to the locals to find out their recommendations. The locals are very proud of their town and are generally happy to point out its best spots! Also make sure to ask your travel agent about the best areas to go to when travelling as they will usually have a whole list of information to provide you.

Gone are the days when international travel was only a dream. Today, you can go anywhere in the world in the shortest time possible hassle free! While some things change, some things still remain the same like the part of being human and making mistakes. No matter how advanced we are technology-wise, there are still so many ways you can mess up when going on holidays. Here are some of the most common EPIC mistakes that people make when travelling.

Overpacking and then paying fees for excess baggage. This is something that can be easily avoided with a little bit of forethought and a lot of common sense. To avoid this, make sure that you know how much the airlines will allow you to carry and weight your bags before going to the airport. Remember that excess baggage is not one of the things that you plan for when planning your holiday so keep your baggage within limits.

Excess baggage (creative commons)

Forgetting to check the customs of the place that you are planning to visit? Many travellers forget about this and find themselves stuck in the middle of some festival or event. Worst scenario being the places you planned to visit is closed! When planning your holiday, always check and double check the local celebrations and make sure you keep this in mind.

Cultural shock is also something that when not planned, can cause unnecessary frustration. Keep in mind that although English is considered to be an international language, you shouldn’t expect everyone to speak it! Make sure you are aware what kind of customs and language you will be facing on your vacation in order to avoid disappointment.

Not planning for a long flight is another seemingly ‘unimportant’ thing but can cause you a lot of unnecessary worries. Imagine having to sit for eight hours straight with no reading material or gadgets to keep you company- a nightmare!

Long flight (creative commons)

Wanting to do everything at once is another snare to be aware of. Although it is understandable that you want to make the most of your vacation, you do a lot of cramming in your life already so why do the same on your vacation? Plan your time wisely so that you aren’t left exhausted after your trip.

Forgetting to double check the visa requirements is another epic mistake. Usually, your passport needs to be valid for six months before you are issued a tourist visa so if you aren’t aware of this, you just might find yourself in trouble.

Provided you wisely plan your trip in advance, these mistakes are definitely not going to ruin your vacation.

With what appears to be a school holiday every other week, it can be really difficult to keep up with the holiday planning, and you may find yourself running out of ideas before long. Kids definitely need stimulating, but get bored very easily so choosing something new and refreshing for the family can be hell unless you opt to travel further away each time.

Another thing to consider is that many activities don’t necessarily suite the whole family, so it can be quite a challenge in itself getting the right balance of fun, education, entertainment and of course relaxation for mum and dad. The difficulty in many cases is that travelling anywhere with the kids can be so hectic and stressful that it takes the fun out of the trip.

What you need is a solution to give you the break you need but allow the kids to have a fun-filled, action-packed holiday doing all the activities they love, without the hassle of you organising it all!

Holiday camps may just be the perfect solution for the little ones. With a huge variety of activities to choose from, there is a package to suite even the fussiest of mites. Whether they prefer a week of dancing and singing or perhaps a multi-activity of archery, football, horse-riding and more, the kids camps are great for entertainment, education and of course socialising, having fun and meeting new friends! The chances are they won’t want to come home.

Activities for the kids are really important in developing many much needed skills. Children can benefit enormously from taking part in fun activities, and in many cases they just see it as having fun when in fact they are constantly learning as well as exercising. Obviously there are great things for the kids to do wherever you go, but it can be time consuming finding all the information you need and planning the itinerary for your trip.

Places such as Camp Beaumont are a great place to start looking at package camp holidays for the kids. Day trips are also available, which may be a good idea to ease them into being away from home, before a residential week away. And everything is included in the trips, including dedicated and trusted staff, pastoral care, and even pick up points so you don’t even have to put up with the excitement in the car all the way to camp!

Are you looking for a new travel destination? A place where you can relax with lots of activities and attractions? Then do not look further and check out the beautiful city of Boston. I know that when you hear about America, the more popular cities to visit are Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York or Miami, but unknown to many, Boston city has actually lots to offer to tourists and anyone who visits Boston will surely love it. This article is like a travel guide to Boston, everything that you need to see and visit will be written here.

First of all let me give you a brief background about Boston. The best seasons to go to Boston are during spring and fall, avoid going there during winter as it will surely be miserable and cold! Boston is also one of the of the oldest cities in America and the biggest in New England. When in Boston, the first place to go to is the Freedom Trail. It is a 2.5 mile stretch showcasing 16 sites about American Revolution. For the ultimate in privacy and freedom, look into Boston Vacation Rentals rather than check into a hotel.

Guided tours are available for the Freedom Trail but if you want to check it out by yourself ensure to download a map to not get lost. Going to the Freedom Trail will definitely enlighten you on the things that happened in the American Revolution. Now if you love the nature, then you will surely love the Boston Public Garden. During spring, swan boats are available for a more relaxed sight seeing of the Boston Garden. Of course shopping is a must do when travelling, make sure to also stop by Quincy market. Aside from the souvenir that you can buy, if you get hungry there are also dining places at the market.

Even if you are not a fan of the Red Sox, it is still worthwhile to visit the very famous Fenway Park. And of course, Boston also offers world class museums. One that is perfect for the kids is the Museum of Science. This is actually the most visited museum in Boston as it showcases more than 400 exhibits which include a planetarium.

Another museum to go to is MFA or Monet. If you are travelling with family, one must-see site is the New England Aquarium, your children’s enjoyment will surely be guaranteed! Be sure to also visit these landmarks and attractions like Boston Common which is a city park, Bunker Hill Monument which is one of the most famous landmarks in Boston city, Old State House, City Hall and South Station.

Boston is definitely a great place to visit not only once but many times. It is a place perfect for family and friends of all ages. There are definitely lots of places to see and visit in Boston, a few days would definitely not be enough. A travel guide to Boston is really needed as there are many places to see, we would not want to miss the best attractions right? So do not think twice, plan your next vacation and go to the beautiful city of Boston!

Saint Tropez, a town in French Riviera, was considered a sleepy place until it was made famous by Brigitte Bardot. Very soon it became a hot destination for the young and the rich. The place suffered major damages during the second world war but much of it survived the bombings and it still retains the popularity and glamour. St Tropez for many years had a reputation of being a kinky town which attracted the wilder sections of the crowd. But this is not entirely true. The place has a reputation of being a wonderful holiday destination for the families and with a wide range of luxury St Tropez villas to choose from, there’s no reason you and family can’t have a wonderful time here.

Things to See

1) St Tropez Beach – The Saint Tropez beach is one of the famous beaches in the world. The 5 km long white sandy beaches look beautiful in the backdrop of glittering blue waters. The sea is quite shallow and there is a sand bar which makes it ideal for children to swim and play. The beach boasts of good facilities like bars, restaurants, showers and toilets. Coastguards are deployed to maintain safety and security of the beach. There are also private beach clubs along the beach but entry of the children is severely restricted.

2) House of Butterflies – The house of butterflies was established in 1993 and it houses more than 4,000 species of butterfly. There are lots of rare species and each one is kept in beautifully re-created natural habitats. The place is very popular among children and this is usually the first stop for families traveling with kids.

3) The Citadelle St Tropez – The Citadelle looks over the sea as it is located above the town. It has a museum but will not find takers among the young children. The view from the citadelle is absolutely stunning and rekindles memories of the past. The walk to the citadelle is very steep and you should allot a full day for this tour. There is a beautiful ground where you can have a small picnic or the children may run around and burn their energy.

4) Luna Park near St Tropez – The Luna Park is a big and noisy fun park which the kids will simply love it. There are roller coasters, water slides, horse rides, fast food and even crazy golf. You can spend loads of fun-filled hours here with your kids. There is a huge supermarket next door which has lots of shops and restaurants but you may need a taxi to reach there.

Things to Do

Ideally you would love to spend countless hours on the beach for relaxation. But to enjoy the place thoroughly it is suggested that you explore the town on your own by taking a stroll. You can walk through the narrow alleys and find the quaint little homes and a number of historical structures. There are a few cafes around where you can sip a beverage to rejuvenate yourself. If you are a connoisseur of art then walk to the Musee de l’Annonciade which houses an interesting collection of art. It has works by Bonnard, Dufy and Derain et al. The windows of the museum afford excellent views of the harbor and the town.

I’m old enough to remember when travelling was mostly a massive exercise is personal security. I blame American Express, mainly, and their chillingly effective commercials depicting young honeymooners tearfully calling their parents after her purse had been artfully lifted from the back of a chair in an outdoor café, or befuddled senior citizens asking “what WILL we do?”

So naturally packing meant a solidly uncomfortable and, really, totally impractical money-belt with your traveler’s checks and tickets and passports and reservations and traveling meant stripping down and exposing your valuables whenever you went through security or boarded a train or had to pay for something.

ATM cards and just general experience have eliminated the stranglehold the evil geniuses at American Express held on the imagination and the traveler’s check is, thankfully, a thing of the past. Indeed, unless you’re making off with the proceeds of a jewel heist, there’s no reason to have a money-belt anymore at all. Whatever you might have been tempted to put in one has been replaced by the cloud:

ATMs and the Euro are the new currency traders

I still see those dead-eyed money changers at airports and train stations and I wonder who’s left to prey on. Who can still make it to an international airport with nothing but a wad of cash and no way to access their bank account in local currency? In fact no one, as far as I can tell, and by and large their tellers appear to be reduced to the role of ad-hoc information booth.
So don’t ever change your money. The trick is this; whenever you leave somewhere for a destination that uses a different currency than where you are are, be completely out of money. Take cash out of the ATM in small, safe amounts that you can afford to lose and you’re certain to spend or can donate to the World Wildlife Fund at your departure gate.
Incidentally the currency traders still have a revenue stream in their own ATMs. If it need be said, do not use them. Any ATM is going to charge you to access your own damn money but for the currency traders this is all they’ve got left and they can’t let go of the glory days when they had you at their mercy.

The cloud is the new tearful call home

Before you go, scan or photograph your passports, credit cards (just the front, if you’re concerned about hacking) and all your tickets and reservations and either email them to yourself or, even better, upload them to Google Drive or Microsoft Skydrive where you can access them from any computer with an internet connection (ie, any computer). By all means have printouts of whatever tickets or reservations are more convenient as hard-copies but above all know that nothing bad is going to happen. You can lose pretty much everything and so long as you can get online and to your bank or embassy you can get it all back again in 24 hours. The real objective here is not to travel physically lighter but psychically lighter.

E-Tickets are the new tickets-tickets

Just about all western travel can be done these days without issued reservations. There remain some archaic peculiarities, such as the very German train ticketing system in which a ticket entitles you, in practice, to buy a seat. But even these amusing cultural curiosities can be accommodated online and you can almost always select some variation of print-at-home.
I remember when I first encountered print-at-home tickets and being utterly perplexed: what was to prevent me from printing all the tickets I wanted and inviting my friends for unlimited free travel? Of course, apart from the fact that each ticket has a unique and irreproducible code and a scannable motif — usually a QR code — I just wouldn’t do that and neither would most people. This is the evolution in thinking that facilitated e-tickets — the realization that the comfort and convenience of the vast majority of passengers was a more important objective than catching the few cheats.
Refer above to the cloud. By all means print your tickets but don’t have a regularly-scheduled freak-out when you forget where you put them because it doesn’t matter any more — you can print them again or, as often as not, just show the conductor the confirmation on your phone.
Airline e-ticketing tends be even more convenient these days and self check in should be nominated for some sort of Nobel prize. Typically you arrive at the airport (as usual, way, way earlier than you should need to — security theatre has only gotten worse) and scan your passport through a machine which offers you seat selection and prints out your boarding pass. Self check in is such a sea change from the rote torture that, really, wasn’t that long ago that it can seem a little suspicious at first but it’s actually as simple and convenient as it seems.

Carrying a little less paper isn’t going to make your luggage much lighter but that’s always a secondary objective to enjoying where you are and the time spent getting there. So take a little weight off your mind, put it in the cloud, and it’ll follow you wherever you go.

While Iceland may not be the hot spot for the tourist trade, many people want to see this wild country.  It is not overly populated, and the wilderness offers great sites such as the many glaciers as well as volcanoes which not many people are aware of.  So how does the novice Icelandic traveller know what to do when abroad?  The following are three tips for travel in Iceland:

Best Time to Travel

The best time to travel in Iceland is definitely in the summer because the weather is warmer and there are more daylight hours.  However, any time of the year can offer some fantastic sites, and hotels are open all of the year round.  There is no need to worry about animals that are in or out of hibernation as there are really no dangerous species in the country.  Some birds are a bit protective of their eggs and young so avoiding nests is the best way to circumvent them. Other than that though you will be fine in Iceland.

Is the Food Good?

There are many restaurants that serve up cuisines that can be found all around the world.  You can also find some that serve traditional Icelandic fare if you are feeling more adventurous.  Also look into the shops to find ingredients to come up with your meals if you rent a flat or home for your trip.  There is no need to worry, there is plenty of variety, and you will not go hungry.  And do not mind about the water there, it is very fresh and clear and unlike other parts of the world, the tap water tastes better than bottled. Tap water in Iceland is among the cleanest in the world. The locals also eat a lot of fish and fresh produce so the menus will not see you gaining extra holiday weight.

Cost of the holiday

It is a bit more expensive in Iceland than in other holiday spots but if you budget and rent your own jeep, you can save some money.  Remember that the roads are not well paved so you need to have a skilled driver on the trip.  Also, make sure to schedule a trip to one of the many spas as they are much more affordable than some of the other activities.  It is a great holiday to take with a group of people as opposed to on your own. It’s the type of holiday experience that can offer you memories for the rest of your life.

A trip to Iceland can be a wonderful way to spend a holiday, and it has a great deal of beauty to offer.  You can take a driving tour on your own or visit one of the many great spas.  You can go at any time of the year, but the summer is typically considered the best. Make sure to make the most out of your holiday to Iceland and don’t pay full price on your travels.

One aspect of travel that many people overlook is handling their finances whilst travelling. Many people assume that what happens in their home country where finance is concerned will also happen abroad but this is simply not the case. There are a few things that you might want to consider before leaving home, which when handled correctly will help you save money that can be better spent on enjoying your travels.

Withdrawal fees

When abroad you may find that you incur charges either from your bank or the ATM/cash machine you use whilst abroad. There are a few things that you can do to reduce costs like these. First of all do a little research into cards that don’t charge you to withdraw money abroad. The ATM may still charge you but this will help. In terms of ATM charges, often you won’t be able avoid these but by withdrawing large amounts in one go rather than visiting the ATM several times for small amounts will help you to reduce the charges you incur.

Exchange rates

Many people make the classic mistake of accepting the first exchange rate they are offered and most people don’t realise that getting their foreign currency in the airport will get them the worst deal around. If you want to save money when buying foreign currency then it’s worth doing your research to find the best deals around. Sometimes this will mean ordering your foreign currency in advance so you might need to plan ahead but the extra planning can mean extra money for your holiday fund.

Sending money abroad

Running out of money on the road can happen to the best of us. Having money sent from home to wherever you are can be more costly than you might imagine but it doesn’t need to be. There are many ways that you can transfer funds internationally that will allow you to withdraw money abroad. Setting up an international money transfer is a quick and easy way to ensure that you don’t have to pay fees to access your own money whilst travelling.

Sometimes the costs involved in spending money abroad can feel unexpected and therefore unplanned for, however with a little research and planning, many of this costs can be avoided or greatly reduced.

I’m from an American family where holidays are very important. Like, biblically important. Despite living on (and perpetually traveling around) an entirely different continent than the rest of my family, I honestly cannot imagine not coming home for the holidays.

I’m not sure what it would look like – but it wouldn’t be pretty.

The joys of coming home for the holidays are twofold. First off, I can rest easy knowing my mother won’t begin the process of disowning me in the new year. Secondly (and more importantly,) I get the chance to be home with the people I love. It’s hard to keep in touch when I’m away! But coming home often also elicits the oft-asked question of what the heck I’m supposed to do with all this downtime?

Here’s a list of things I generally do when I’m home for a prolonged amount of time in between travels. No promises they’ll work for you, and I can’t say I’m proud of all of them. But they all kind of average out to a mildly productive holiday break.

1. Download, edit and upload photos

I take approximately four million pictures per trip (roughly) and then they take up space on my memory cards for up to months thereafter. I guard those little gigs like precious rings, but it takes me a while to muster up the energy to truly sort through them, edit them and then create Flickr sets or Facebook albums or whatever. Being home is a great time to do this, plus it’s a nice segue into sharing pictures with family and friends.

2. Watch obscene amounts of television 

Besides Barcelona football matches in bars, I rarely (if ever) watch television while I’m away from home. So when I make my epic return to the epic flat screen at my mom’s place, I somehow turn into a total TV junkie. I am frankly blown away by how easy it is to waste incredible amounts of time in front of a television. And I am totally not better than that.

3. Hang out with my grandma 

My grandma is awesome, and I really do miss her when I’m away. Plus, she’s definitely the matriarch of our family, meaning that quality time with her goes along way to reestablish my cred in the family. So I am open to all manner of help she may need around the house, which often comes with pea soup and a genuine feeing of love and warmth that kind of makes me never want to leave.

4. Bake

I love to bake, but it’s a luxury (in terms of time, money and space) i really can’t afford while on the road. So when I’m home for the holidays (a perfect excuse to bake if there ever was one,) I really go to town. Chocolate chip cookies, apple pies, and French macarons are suddenly cooling on every available surface space of my mother’s house. Plus then I have all these great gifts to give for Christmas, which serves as an excuse to visit old friends and also saves me from eating my way into a bigger pants size before I leave again.

5. Plan my next trip

Nothing like being stagnant for weeks at a time to motive a chronic under-planner to start breaking out the guide books and maps. I create wildly ambitious future plans for myself for the first half of my stint home, and then spend the second half paring them down into realistic adventures. It’s awesome to have the time to plan like that, and usually means my first trip back on the road is the best planned of all.

Photo Credit: John-Morgan

You’ve spent countless hours researching the perfect destination for your big holiday. You have taken every precaution to acquire and pack everything you may need, from common over the counter remedies for ailments you may across while on holiday to every type of garment you may possibly need. You arrange for transportation, arrive at the airport early, and set out on your marvellous holiday. So what’s wrong with this scenario? You’ve forgotten the most important thing needed in any holiday: travel insurance.

Many travellers roll their eyes or let out a sigh at the mention of it. As mentioned above, you’ve been exceedingly careful in planning and executing every bit of your holiday. What on earth could you need travel insurance for? For the unexpected! Because no one ever expects to be left with no luggage on a tropical island, or to be forced to pay full price for a pre-booked holiday that was cancelled at the last minute by the travel company who now gets to keep your hard-earned money because you didn’t read every line of the booking agreement you signed. Or worse, to find yourself injured and in need of medical care in a foreign place that wants to charge you thousands of pounds just to provide with medically necessary treatment. If these are not scenarios you want to face on your next holiday then keep reading.

Holiday insurance isn’t a big block of unnecessary protection on things you care nothing about. Contrary to popular belief, travel insurance can be altered to fit your exact needs. You can chose specific amounts for your baggage, health, and cancellation insurance to fit your budget and keep you perfectly protected. This way, if your luggage is lost, you need medical treatment, or have to cancel your trip at any time for any reason, you are protected from potentially thousands of pounds lost or spent in bills.

On your next holiday, be sure not to forget the most important step in your travel planning to ensure you enjoy your holiday with the peace of mind that comes with being protected.