How Do You Pack?

Do you stuff your case with things you don't need or carefully fold every piece of clothing you own? 

Love it or hate it, we all have our own way of packing for holidays. More than half of us neatly fold and roll our clothes, a survey of travellers found, but a fifth create packing chaos, flinging things into a case with no attempt at order. 

Then there are more fastidious travellers who wrap clothes in tissue paper (14 percent), stack in size order (six percent), or even vacuum pack (five percent). All this takes as long as a long-haul flight 52 percent of those going away this summer say they will spend seven hours packing. Even then, they will spend an average of £26.50  to buy items left at home, most often swimwear and cardigans. Two-thirds regularly come home with up to six unworn outfits and three pairs of shoes. A third pack favourite foods such as teabags, brown sauce, pies, biscuits and marmalade. 

The survey of 2 000 adults by Travelodge found a fifth rely on their partner to pack, while one in ten aged between 25 and 34 still get their mothers to do it for them. 

Budget Good For Long Haul Travellers

In the recent budget, George Osborne announced an overhaul of Air Passenger Duty (APD) and end what he called a "crazy system" where more tax is paid China or India than to Hawaii.

From April 2015, the tax on long haul flights will be reduced by £14 per person  on flights of between 4001 and 6000 miles, while on flights over 6000 miles, the tax will be cut by £26.

When travelling to such destinations as India, Thailand or the Caribbean, a family of four could save up to £56 or £104 when travelling further such as Australia or Singapore.

So, check out your budget guide and if booking long distance destinations next year, you may want to hold off booking until the tax year starts, but keep a close eye on the Travel Companies - they may offer further savings for early bookers.

For Long distance Travel Insurance check out our website HERE.

Best Places To Visit In The UK

Elgol, Skye...included in The Telegraph's list...

Well....see if you agree...

According to Trip Advisor, London is the top place in the UK to visit as measured by the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings for hotels, attractions and restaurants, Edinburgh is in second place and the seaside resort of Torquay lies in a surprising third.

The full list is here:

1. London
2. Edinburgh
3. Torquay
4. Liverpool
5. Belfast
6. York
7. Bristol
8. Llandudno
9. Leeds
10. Birmingham

It seems quite an old fashioned list to me...memories of holiday camps, knotted handkerchiefs, and donkey rides and other 50's and 60's attractions seem still relevant to Trip Advisor users perhaps.

The Telegraph sees it differently, with places as far flung as Elgol on Skye, Brighton and Hay-On-Wye featuring in its list which seems a touch more modern:

1. London
2. Edinburgh
3. Elgol, Skye
4. Chester
5. Hay-on-Wye
6. York
7. Bath
8. Brighton
9. Harrogate
10. Manchester

With my own home town featuring in the polls recently (HERE), I'm quite interested in these and still believe that the UK offers superb choices when it comes to holiday times - and, of course, many can be reached for day trips or weekends away. 

For holiday travel insurance at home or abroad click HERE...

Deal - Ghosts of the past

Deal Town has been listed as one of the top 30 best places to visit for a weekend retreat by The Times newspaper.

The Times commented on the town’s view of France on a clear day and its award-winning High Street as voted by the Daily Telegraph, with a busy Saturday market and numerous bars, cafes and restaurants.

The Times commented on the cottages in Middle Street, Deal

It also mentioned the cottages in Middle Street, a conservation area, just metres from the beach and picked up on Smugglers Cottage in Dolphin Street, a two-bedroom property currently on sale for £249,500.

Deal is known as one of London weekenders favourite places to visit with St Pancras only an hour and a half by train.

The town has recently announced its high speed services to London will continue with new plans to introduce high speed stops in Martin Mill and Walmer.

Deal town mayor Marlene Burnham said: “After Deal won the High Street of the Year award out of the whole country, then to hear that Deal was 17 out of 30, well, what an accolade.

“It’s the real Deal, that’s what they’re getting. It’s splendid news and extremely exciting.

“I’m very interested in tourism for the town and it seems Deal is on the up and up. Perhaps next year, we’ll be in the top three. Well done everybody.”

Peter Jull, chairman of Deal and Walmer chamber of trade, said: “It is pleasing that Deal keeps coming up top in a number of these polls.

“Earlier in the year it was the High Street and now it’s a great place for the weekend.

“Our members will be pleased that their dedication to good customer service has been recognised.”

Broadstairs also made it on to the list, featuring at number 21. The town has been long primed as the next Whitstable with its cliff top promenade and was once described by Dickens as “our English watering-place.”

(With thanks to KentOnline)

 I might add, personally, that Deal is my home town - my family moved here when i was in my early teens and I have many fond memories. It's a warm, friendly seaside town, oozing with history and legend. The ghosts of smugglers, miscreants and rogues still walk the centuries old alleyways, side roads and hidden shanty properties of the town and the pier is still open, accessible and always busy. It offers more pubs per hundred yards than many places in the UK and each of these caters for all tastes and requirements, and, if that was not enough, it has three (yes three) castles along its entire seafront.

Take a trip down and see for yourselves, but if you feel a draught, it's probably not the sea breeze, but the loitering remnants of an ancient mariner or the mischievous shadow of a 15th century smuggler sneaking past.

Holsure offers Travel Insurance for your UK trips too....HERE