It’s amazing how little we tend to know about the countries we live in, especially when it comes to tourism. We are so keen to go abroad nowadays that we often turn down the opportunity to get to know what is on our own doorsteps.

If you are in the position to have two holidays in a year, it makes sense for one of them to be at home. Pick somewhere that comes highly recommended where you can relax, enjoy the food and drink, enjoy the outdoors and experience a particular flavour of the region.

People are often surprised by how good a time they can have when the holiday at home.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with deciding to go on a beach holiday in the summer when that is what you really fancy. Sometimes the idea of going to a festival abroad, travelling around different cities, enjoying various adventurous pursuits or voyages of discovery and so on and so forth just seems too much like hard work when all you want is to relax.

In this event, you should indulge your instincts and go for a holiday that genuinely allows you to unwind. Prioritise the things that matter to you in terms of relaxation. These might include good food and drink, a quiet place by the sea, a good climate, great views and few other holidaymakers among other things.

There is definitely something to be said for visiting a city more than once. It is often the case that you will go on a city break and then tick that destination off your list of places to go when you get home. However, city breaks are not just about seeing the sights. They are also about experiencing the flavour of the city.

This is something that you can only do in part on your first visit. After all, the flavour of the city could be entirely different in a different season when other exciting things are going on and the mood of the city changes.

It can be hard to choose between a trip abroad and a music festival when you can only really afford to do one of them in the summer. However, it is a good idea to combine the two by going to a music festival abroad.

This is a fantastic way of making sure that you get plenty of sun, sea and sand, at the same time as getting your fix in terms of live music. Until you can afford to have it all your own way, it makes sense to try and pack as much into one trip as you can.

It is really nice to be able to get to know a city particularly well. If you live in the UK then there are certain cities around Europe that are very easy to get to. Places like Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam and other famous cities are easily reached via inexpensive airlines.

What this actually means is that you can go back time and time again. It might seem odd that you should visit one city over and over again when you have not seen some of the other cities around the world, but it is difficult to get a full appreciation for what a city has to offer unless you get all the touristy things out of the way first.

Then you can focus on really soaking up the vibe of the place and getting to grips with its less obvious charms.

City breaks are incredibly enjoyable because they give you the opportunity to relax and get away from your concerns at home, but also to stay active and to see some fantastic sights. One of the most exciting cities in the world to visit is Los Angeles (otherwise known as L.A.).

Among L.A.’s chief attractions are things like Universal Studios, Venice Beach, the Hollywood Hills, the L.A. Lakers, and all the shopping fun you could ever wish for on Rodeo Drive. There’s so much to see and do – you’ll be spoilt for choice!

If you’re on a bit of a budget then it might be worth seeing if you can win a trip to L.A. through one of the promotions at Posh Bingo. Posh Bingo is a bingo site that offers a range of special offers and in a few months there is a trip to L.A. up for grabs.

Even if you miss out on the trip, there are loads of cash prizes that could help you to get away for a city break anywhere in the world, with Posh Bingo or with any number of other bingo sites. To keep tabs on the most recent promotions available, check in with ohmybingo.com from time to time.

For Turkey Holidays, I always suggest going around July to September. My preference is usually August as the weather is hot but bearable and the sun shines until late into the evening. I’ve been to a few resorts in Turkey over the years and I love swimming and snorkeling. The sea averages around 20 degrees Celsius in most places although some resorts see even warmer water, and the average heat of the day is around 28 degrees throughout the summer. There’s a pretty good website online that can give you the lowdown on the weather and temperatures for various resorts if you’re looking for weather in Turkey before you book your trip.

It’s been pretty warm in the UK recently but it’s always best to get abroad in my opinion if you want value for money and there are loads of websites offering cheap Turkey holidays nowadays. My preference is 11 days, as a week is never enough, and 14 days tends to sometimes mean that you’re running out of things to do, unless you’re after pure relaxation. Northern Cyprus is also nice during the summer and temperatures are similar to those in Turkey.

If you’ve got an suggestions for websites that you think are good for information on weather, hotels, resorts or flights, please feel free to post a comment on this blog. We can then all ensure we get the best possible deals and have a great holiday!!!

The excitement of getting away can build for as long as you’re planning or saving for the trip itself. But what happens once you’re in the mad dash to find all of your belongings, stuff them and the souvenirs into your bags (and still keep them under the weight limit), and get checked out on time and in a taxi/etc to the airport on time, and checking in and boarding to go home?

Are you excited about seeing people you’ve missed, or are you dreading the experience of having to go home? Have you fallen in love with the place you’ve visited, and find yourself madly checking the local papers, etc, for jobs and houses to rent?

I’ve never lived abroad. But I want to…

When planning a holiday, we tend to start with price – how much can I spend? – or what temperatures we’re after. But when do we stop to consider the destination itself? Is it a well travelled, tourist hot-spot, full of issues and problems relating to high tourist volumes? Or is it a quiet and isolated place where the locals barely realise its there?

Which would you want to visit most? How would you even go about finding the remote, untravelled one? Its not like they advertise!

When we go away, how much thought do we put into actually relaxing or enjoying new scenery, etc? Do we just book something, and assume that everything will happen because we’re no longer at work or home, and can immediately relax?

I don’t think so. I think a holiday takes some effort and certainly planning and, most importantly, a willingness from all parties to enjoy something new.

Over the years, transport has changed. From being something only the rich could afford, to being something that a significant percentage of the population can afford.

But once the flights are booked and paid for – how do you get there? With enough time, all your bags, and no added stress?

Do you drive? You can now leave your car securely parked at the airport – yes, there are some horror stories in the papers every now and then, but I’ve never yet met someone who has experienced it first hand. But parking can be costly, plus the fuel to get you there…. Or you could have friends drive you – but then that’s 4 times the amount of fuel to get you there and back (so maybe not, unless the airport is close….)

Do you use buses? Well, they’re really cramped, very slow, and not a lot pf space for your bags… this is my least favourite option.

Trains? Luggage sections, more often than not they have seats or you can book them, they’re fast and generally on time… but costly too. The rise in websites offering discounted tickets has made this easier to do, and a more cost effective method.

I think the train is the winner.