When you travel as much as I do, beaches seem even more inviting, and part of the charm is that I know I only have a limited time on them before I jet off again. I visited the UK recently, and although it is not the first place you think of when you imagine long summer days by the water, it is certainly due some credit.

I visited the South West during my time in the UK, and spent a lot of time travelling around Devon in particular. On my way around the county I discovered some of the most beautiful locations that I have seen anywhere in the world (the gorgeous weather helped), and so here are some of my favourite beaches in the UK, and the reasons why.

Starting in the North of the county, there is Saunton Sands, a gorgeous three and a half mile expanse of golden sand. This is obviously a popular beach with tourists, but it was also refreshing to see many locals here too. Saunton Sands seems to be the ideal place to bring your family and relax the space here means that there is plenty of space for small families, teenagers who wish to play a bit of beach soccer, and even those who just came to catch a few rays. I also noticed that the beach is backed by dunes, perfect for walking the dog, but be sure to check the restrictions for this!

Further along the northern coast is the ever popular and renowned Woolacombe beach. Voted number two in Trip Advisor’s 2013 Travellers Choice awards! The town itself is one of the UK’s best family resorts, and the beach undoubtedly owes to this. You see many surfers, bodyboarders, and kayakers here, usually regardless of the weather, it’s hard not to spot the amount of surf schools and activity centres in close proximity.

However, between you and me, Putsborough is the hidden gem in the North, and a favourite spot for locals to avoid the abundance of tourists! It is the perfect spot for surfing; backing onto the Atlantic, the swell here is perfect for catching the waves, and the cliffs that surround the beach offer shelter from the elements. For watersports, especially surfing and body-boarding, Putsborough is the place to go. The beaches in the North also have the added benefit of seeing spectacular sunsets compared with the beaches in South Devon.

However, there are noteworthy beaches in the south of the county. Firstly, there is the beach in the quaint village of Beer, close to Seaton. Beer is a stunning place to visit, and a great place to while away the hours and forget about the stresses of life. There seems to be a friendly face wherever you turn, and the beauty of the place makes it seem fictional. Right at the bottom of the village is where you’ll find the beach, a shingle beach with fishing boats and crab boxes lining the edge of the water. The coast path lines the back of the beach and offers great views over the water. My tip is to go and sample the fresh crab from one of the cafes; I’ll bet that it will have been caught in the morning tides.

Finally, another beautiful beach in the South of the county is Blackpool Sands beach, near Dartmouth and on the World Heritage Coast. Blackpool Sands is sheltered by evergreens and pines, which are perfect for games of hide and seek, before running down to the water to cool off. The clean and crystal clear water makes it a favourite with young families, and also means that it has consistently received blue flag status.

When thinking about your next summer holiday, give the UK a thought, there are plenty of accommodation options available to suit all needs including beach-side hotels, or holiday parks. You could even take a tent to explore more of the region!

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A Children’s Book Guide to Travel [Infographic] by the team at Cheapflights

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Here are ten tips for packing light on your travels:

1. Layer up – roll up lots of layers of clothing rather than bulky jumpers and coats.  Fleece is a real comfort if you’re cold and it is super lightweight and does’t crease.
2. Wash – and – go (not the brand the idea) Take products that can multitask in the bathroom so you can do hair, body and shaving (legs not faces) with one product.
3. Shoes – wear your heaviest pair and pack flip-flops or excellent sandals.
4. Jewellery – Unless you feel horrid without any bling, don’t bother; the chances are that you’ll end up buying some bits and bobs on your travels.
5. Make up – If you can ditch the make-up do it! With some sun and fresh air your skin will never glow more and just a quick slick of mascara or a khol rimmed eye will be enough to dazzle on a night out.
6. Wet wipes and hand gel – Get some because you never know when you’ll need fresh, clean hands.
7. First aid kit – Practical and essential, you never know when you’ll need one.  Be sure to include some basics like plasters, painkillers, rehydrating sachets, water purifiers and antihistamines.
8. A small Tupperware container for small things that get lost in the bottom of your bag or for anything you want to avoid crushing.
9. Pack a capsule wardrobe; a small collection of clothing that mixes and matches so you can do a lucky dip and guarantee that you’ll look fine.
10. Travel Insurance – If you have none, get some! Your ID is essential and photocopy everything.

Image from the terrific site www.rantsnrascals.com – Thanks it’s lovely!

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Rome, Paris, London, Barcelona, and Venice are all places that come to mind when you think of a city break in Europe. But what if you want to explore somewhere a bit different? All of the most popular cities have attractions galore, but there are plenty of other cities in Europe to discover, many of which will provide you with a unique experience on your vacation. Here are three of Europe’s best cities  that do not attract excessive tourist crowds but still have much to offer.

1. Utrecht, The Netherlands

This ancient city of canals is everything that you could want from a typical Dutch city. Full of ancient buildings, it is a charming city that still fails to attract anywhere near the amount of tourists that flock to Amsterdam.

The city center is compact enough to easily navigate by foot or bike, and the best way to discover the city is to walk along the Oudegracht, the main canal in Utrecht. This ancient waterway is lined with shops, cafés, and restaurants, all of which you can stop off in as you explore the city.

Another highlight is the Dom Tower, which makes up a section of the Cathedral of Saint Martin, which at just over 112 meters is the highest church tower in the country. Head to the very top and the views of the city are unbeatable.

2. Košice, Slovakia

Many people have never heard of Košice, and yet it has just been named one of the European Capitals of Culture for 2013, along with Marseille. If you decide to visit the city, you will discover exactly why it deserves this illustrious title.

Historic buildings such as the St Elizabeth Cathedral combine with a thriving arts scene in Košice, and the result is a lively and attractive city that is worthy of at least a few days’ exploration.

2013 is a particularly good year to visit Košice, and there will be numerous festivals taking place, from the ‘Use the City’ festival of street art in May to the the ‘Pop-Art Party’ in August, which will celebrate Andy Warhol’s work.

In addition to all of the city’s unique attractions, there are numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites all within easy reach, including Dobšinská Ice Cave in the Slovak Paradise National Park, making Košice an ideal base for a longer break.

3. Lviv, Ukraine

Ukraine is one of the best destinations for anyone who wants to explore the less-visited areas of Europe, and Lviv should be right at the top of the list. Stunning architecture, ancient churches, a delightful old town area and a plethora of small cafés make this city different from many other cities in the country, and visitors can enjoy it all on a budget and free from the tourist crowds.

Head first to Ploshcha Rynok, the main square at the heart of the city, and admire the tenement houses, the fountains, and the Town Hall. Then enjoy a night at the opera at S. Krushelnytska Opera House, and experience the hustle and bustle of Krakivsky Market.

Lviv still remains relatively unknown, despite the fact that it hosted three soccer games in the 2012 European Football Championship. Visitors can also explore the best of the city for a fraction of the price of the more well-known European destinations, making it a very tempting proposition for anyone on the lookout for a fascinating city break.

Discover Europe’s Best Cities

None of the above cities are hard to get to, and all offer visitors a unique experience completely different from anything that the big capitals of the continent provide. So next time you plan a weekend break in Europe but want to choose a destination where you will get to experience something truly different, consider one of the above lesser-known cities.

Jodie Bishop has been travelling to Europe almost every year since she finished college. She is a travel consultant and her articles mainly appear on travel and lifestyle blogs. Visit Travelstart for more destinations and ideas.

Image from visitutrecht.com

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When it comes to paying for certain things in Paris remember that at the fruit and vegetable markets and in the small cafes sellers prefer cash so stash those credit cards for the swankier restaurants and cafés.

Another thing to consider where money is concerned is the tipping, which is not obligatory as it is in the United States. In Paris, the restaurants and the cafes add approximately fifteen percent on top of their bill, thus one should not be worried about tipping on top but small tips are given to ushers at the operas and theatres.

The places that deserve to be seen here include the Arc de Triomphe and the Gothic Cathedral Notre Dame. Among the museums that should not be missed are the Picasso Museum, the Musée D’Orsay, and the Les Invalides Museum. Whatever you do, make time to visit the symbol of Paris, the icon that is the Eiffel Tower.

The city of Paris is a great destination for people who are interested in history and culture and is an Eden for anyone interested in fashion and design.  Food lovers, take not, you will never, ever be hungry here, the French would simply not allow it.   Paris is jammed with delightful restaurants and small family cafés where delicious, home cooked dishes grace the menu and where you can expect excellent service.  If you feel more adventurous, you can go to some of the small side streets, where you can find some authentic restaurants, bakeries and cafés, serving fantastic French dishes and wine.

This post was kindly written by Elena, who had the pleasure of discovering Paris on her last trip to France.  I adore Paris and have found it to be enormous, powerful, elegant and absolutely wonderful.  It’s on my radar again now, thanks Elena!

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When I was living in Urbino I used to diligently write postcards home every week.  I would take pleasure in buying the vintage looking pictures or the proud images of the Ducal Palace .  This led me one day to encircle one of the windows on one of the towers and send it to my dear granddad saying “this is my room”.

When I later bought a call card (there were no mobiles when I was in Urbino, no facetime, no skype – only smoke filled phone boxes)  my granddad was over the moon to have received his postcard complete with the scribble about my room.  He thought it was wonderful that Universities provided such fabulous accommodation and was showing all of his friends and anyone who called into his shop.  He was rather deflated to discover that this was not in fact, my room after all.

If you do travel over to Urbino you can have a tour of the Ducal Palace and no doubt you will get to look out of “my” window over the mountains and the Borgo Mercatale below.  It would have made a fantastic place to stay for a while and t makes me slightly jealous of the Duke federico Da Montefeltro who did actually live there.  

Image from www.italytravelescape.com thank you!

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This post is a bit of a departure from the usual posts on travel stories but there is a purpose for my detour.  Social Media is important and it is also just like making friends in the playground.  Everyone likes to be liked and to feel a bit special and nothing hits the mark like a personal mention, a retweet or a little shout out.  For travellers it can be nice to have a public voice when you’re far away from civilisation (if you even get signal to tweet in the first place!)

Illinois Atlas has just started to tweet as a blog after years of tweeting for pleasure I have put together a handy list of Twitter theme days to remind you how to get involved in a larger community of tweeters and in the process get a few new follows.

Monday is #musicmonday which means sharing your favourite music.  I always think a share of something uplifting is a good idea for a Monday and picking a really good one might get a few more followers!  #EcoMonday is great for eco-friendly people and businesses wanting to connect.

Tuesday is  #techtuesday this is the place to share any techie news with your followers.

Wednesday is #woofwednesday- Think dogs and you won’t go far wrong.  You can give a big woof from your dog or even post a twitpic of a dog doing something funny.

Thursday: #thankfulthursday remember to be humble and thankful for everything you have and share something nice with your followers.

Friday: #followfriday- suggest followers to your followers as a little thank you.

Haiku day is on  April 17th and is usually pushed on twitter although not strictly a twitter theme days hash-tagged theme like the weekly events.  Fun though!

Wordle day is really fun for bloggers. The 2013 date has not been released but it will be and I will be making a wordle.

July 6th International Kissing Day or World Kiss day – Why wouldn’t you send a few kisses to your followers?

#TTOT  Travel talk on twitter (my personal favourite!)  Let’s all get involved with this one it might be one of the best twitter theme days ever!

Travel far and wide fellow wanderlusters and get tweeting!

I.A

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This Guest Post has been written by Christina Oliver who writes for Citalia, a company you might find useful when booking your trip to Italy.  We aim to be helpful whenever possible!  Thanks Christina.

Rome and Verona are two of Italy’s top cities and most popular city break destinations. I have been privileged enough to visit both cities but choosing between the two can be a bit difficult if you are looking for that perfect weekend getaway. I wanted to share a bit about my weekends in both stunning Italian cities and their highlights.

Rome

Rome, known most famously for its Roman history and incredible monuments, is a city that I will never get bored of visiting. To me it sums up the real meaning to the word ‘old’. It’s just fascinating! This city offers the visitor all the facilities of delicious cuisine, from high end restaurants to affordable cafes, bars, mix of shops and many attractions. Rome has a wealth of luxury hotels as well as family run convenient bed and breakfasts. Rome also offers the visitor on top of this knowledge and education of its history. The history that I found truly fascinating and just couldn’t get enough of. I have never visited a place of history that I could picture exactly what went on there, for example the games at the Coliseum. A creepy yet incredible place that left me emotional at the thought of the people that lost their lives there in the name of entertainment.

I have listed my top five must see attractions in Rome.

Must See’s in Rome

1 – Coliseum – The greatest amphitheatre in the world.

2 - Trevi Fountain – Stunning and one of the most famous fountains in the world.

3 - Spanish Steps – Most famous steps in Rome and one of the most popular gathering areas in the city.

4 - Vatican City – Home to fascinating museums and the incredible Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.

5 - Roman Forum – One of Rome most important attractions and is a collection of great marble fragments, triumphal arches and temple ruins.

Verona

Italy is probably one of the most romantic countries in the world but Verona in my opinion has to be the most romantic of its cities. How could it not be when it’s the backdrop of one of, if not the most romantic love stories of all time. Verona is the home of Romeo and Juliet and some of the highlights of this city include the Casa di Guilietta, Juliet’s balcony. A city great for wondering the cobbled streets, admiring the designer shops and stopping off in its it various piazzas’ and watching the world go by. Home to one of the most important open air theatres in the world, Arena di Verona, if you are travelling over the Opera season, you would be crazy not to enjoy one of the performances.

I have listed my top five must see attractions in Verona.

Must See’s in Verona

1 - Casa di Giulietta – Juliet’s Balcony

2 - Arena di Verona – famous for holding the opera’s in Verona. “The most important open air theatre in the world”

3 – Piazza delle Erbe – Used to be the Verona’s forum during the Roman Empire but is now a lovely Piazza.

4 – Castel San Pietro – Incredible military fortifications standing at the top of a hill overlooking old Verona.

5 – Giardino Giusti –These gardens are some of the most beautiful late renaissance Italian gardens.

Weekend’s in both cities are spent going from one iconic landmark to another, stopping in beautiful piazza’s, watching the world go by after a busy day on your feet and trying local cuisine and wine, all surrounded by some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. Both cities offer history, art, culture, romance and a weekend to remember.

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So as you know, Rome was fantastic, it was, as it promised to be, eternal and it left me wanting more.  That distinct feeling of having just a little more space in your heart for another visit is always appealing as I am not of the opinion that you have really seen a place after one visit.  Some places require more investigation, like a mercury labyrinth the alleys, streets and squares seem to give way to new and exciting places every time you change direction.

One place I will never tire of is Urbino; this small city, well town really is built from honeyed stone, carved into beautiful organic shapes with a stout but elegant pride.  The Palazzo Ducale, like a fairy tale castle complete with towers and turrets pierces the skyline and catches the wispy clouds as they float through the sky.  The sunsets of orange, gold and red burnish against the silhouette of the double towers.  Children are ever as enchanted as art historians and renaissance fanatics as they gaze upwards from the Borgo Mercatale peeping with wide eyes to see whether Rapunzel will let down her hair.

Heading through the main gate from the Borgo Mercatale you enter the town and head up the polished cobbles on a steep ascent to the Piazza della Repubblica passing bars, small food shops and boutiques along the way.  Urbino is not a commercial place and rarely will you find an English speaker but you will find an opera singing pizza man who makes a margherita so divine you will struggle to leave and you will find a curious bookshop which by day sells tightly bound, crisp copies of new and ancient texts and by night, like a superhero slides glass covers over the books and belts out music for the delight of the student population of the town.  Its name is Il Portico, sounding it out makes it seem even more like the name of an Italian superhero.

Just off the Piazza you have four streets that stretch out like limbs from the main fountain in the square.  Whichever way you head you will find something beautiful.  Come back soon to see why Urbino quite rightly deserves its place as a World Heritage Site.  Singing Italian Pizza makers, a palace and the birthplace of a Renaissance coming up soon.

Blog about it?  I’d write a tome about it!

Image from uniurb.it

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