A couple of friends sharing a little cabin on a weeks holiday, and only a 15 minute boat-ride from Venice, the holiday park being right on a sandy beach, a little town full of yummy restaurants… Bliss!!

And Venice itself – wow! An eclectic ramble of curio shops and tacky souvenirs and stunningly painted historical buildings and smartly dressed men pushing a gondolier around the canals… it doesn’t fail to delight and amaze.

But when you look a little closer, you find the 20% charges whacked on top of a food bill, the exact same snow globes, glass figures and masks in every shop and stall, the excessive amount of other tourists… it wears a bit thin.

Maybe it’s just me, but I’m now at “that age” (only 25!!!) that I want a holiday to be relaxing – not a hodge-podge of dodging persistent traders and fighting my way through crowds on narrow streets, and worrying my purse won’t be with me once I get through.

I never had this feeling on my weeks camping in Scotland….

Canada; one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. But once you drive (or walk) across the bridge to New York state, ouch!

The area around Niagra Falls is obviously a stunning place and well maintained for the tourists (we even took a photo of a piece of litter once, because it was the only piece seen at all on the Canadian side, and the pictures of The Falls itself never do it justice. I could happily have stayed there forever.

But once you’re over the border and in Buffalo… It’s a totally different world. It feels oppressive, and slightly dangerous. I really was not comfortable about parking the rental car there and leaving it unattended.

I’d go back to Canada in a heartbeat, but I’d be staying firmly on that side of the border next time.

I have been to the Canary Islands a number of times, as I do not particularly like flying for long periods of time. With this in mind the Canary Islands is an ideal holiday destination.
Whether you are looking to lounge on a beach all day, or do some sightseeing or even embark on some much needed retail therapy you can do all these things on any of the islands. My personal favourite is Fuerteventura, due to its gorgeous beaches and laid back atmosphere. The local transport is good, and there are plenty of opportunities to explore the surrounding waters on a variety of boat trips.

If you are dashing off on a last minute mini break, or you are not very good at planning ahead. Never fear…….help is a hand!

There are now a good number of “check lists” which can help you organise these things last minute! If you are terrible at packing like me, and struggle to decide what to take it is much easier to have a guide to follow, rather than simply guess. This task is made much harder if you are going to a destination which has varied weather. My own personal tip would be to take one item for most types of weather and that way you are prepared for the unknown. For example if you are going on a sunshine break, always pack a jacket just in case it gets colder in the evenings.

Prior to travelling make sure you contact your network provider and advise them that you plan on travelling abroad to ensure your phone will work once you arrive. I made this mistake once and would not do it again!
Whilst you are on holiday, it is only natural to want to keep in contact with friends and family back at home. However it can often cost a small fortune to ring home from a mobile phone. From personal experience it is not the best feeling arriving back off your holiday, only to find a phone bill on your door step for a stupid amount of money!
If you are on a budget you are probably better off texting people you want to keep in touch with, especially as it is free to receive text messages abroad. If you receive calls however it can cost as much as a pound a minute.

Beware if someone calls you and leaves a voice mail message, you can be charged for picking it up as well as being charged for receiving the message itself.

Once you are on that sun lounger, with a drink in one hand and your favourite book in the other. Do not forget the dangers of lying in the sun for too long.

I know plenty of people who have over indulged on holiday, after lots of great food and a tipple or four!…there is a danger of falling asleep in the sun. Make sure you apply plenty of sun cream in regular intervals. In between alcoholic beverages,  I would recommend drinking plenty of water to keep you hydrated also.

If you spend some time in the sea, always remember to reapply your sun cream.  It can be beneficial to wear a hat and sun glasses as well.

Another tip is to put on an old T-shirt whilst you are on the water and then you have less chance of being burnt. Once back on the beach an umbrella can be used to make sure you have some shade during the hottest parts of the day.