Ultimate Vacation Spots

Before rushing off to book that equine adventure - make your checks!

It’s not so simple to just book yourself onto a week long horse adventure without a care in the world - it’s not like a normal all inclusive, although your food will normally be included here too.

So, here’s a few things to consider before making that booking:

Are You Insured?
Check you holiday insurance details before you make a booking just incase your full trip or part of your intended journey isn’t covered.

A short ride along a beach is probably ok for most; but 4 days trekking through the Andes or wandering across the Sahara for a week might not be a sure thing!

Are They Insured?
And, are you liable for any injuries to the horse or pony while you are riding it? 

And what if the horse you are given for the ride becomes unsuitable for riding - do they have to supply another one for you?  Make sure you know before you go!

The last thing you need is an extra bill at the end of the trip - or a few days riding missed as they have no backup plan!

Are You Ready?
Just because you love horses and riding, is that enough to think that you can sit on one for several hours a day, and for several days in a row?

Sitting in the saddle for a 2 hr trek seems fine - but what about 6 hours at a time - day after day?

And 6 hours of riding can be very tiring for someone who isn’t used to it - and what about all that cantering across huge fields and along beaches.  Can you keep up?

Are You Dressed?
You need to find out what equine equipment is available to you, or whether you should bring your own - or whether you are allowed to bring your own.

For example, it is always advised that you bring your own hat as you cannot guarantee that those supplied (if any) are up to your own countries safety standards, and that they even fit you!  A riding center can’t supply several of every sized riding hat in case you turn up with your very small head!  And a wrong sized hat will not do the best job in terms of your safety.

Some centres might like you to bring your own gloves and boots, but can you use a crop, spurs or other preferred equipment?  You need to find out the stables policy on anything you like to use when riding to see if it all adds up.

Are You Hungry?
Most all inclusive and full board vacation packages supply vegetarian options or have buffet meals to give you the freedom of choice - but vegans, celiacs and any other allergy sufferers might have trouble unless they plan for this in advance.

By making your food preferences known before booking or as soon as possible afterwards you will find that you will be eating without any problems.  I mean the last thing you need on an active holiday is to go hungry!

Are You Alone?
Many activity holidays share accommodation, rather than give single rooms to everyone.  Some times they are 2-shares but sometimes depending on the age of the group, you may all share bunks in the same room!

If you want your own space in the evenings check that there is the opportunity for this on your trip.  If it is in a remote location this might not be possible - so do this before you book anything!

Are You Still Up For It?  Then get that vacation booked!
 

It’s funny what annoys us - but why don’t we do anything about it?

I think that we assume that the staff should be doing something - and that what really annoys us.  Why do they set these rules and guidelines if they aren’t seen to be upholding them?

There are a lot of things that we think are just a waste of time in terms of the whole ‘getting through the airport’ process.  There are endless queues and tickets and checks - so it’s no wonder we get so annoyed when we find that they don’t really care if you do what they ask of not!

Especially if we have to wait for longer because of it!

So here is a quick summary of the winners of the most annoying things on a plane!

Seat Backs:
We all know how annoying it is when someone immediately leans their seat back on entering the plane.  The ‘rules’ are that you need to have your seat back upright for take off - so why put it back before we take off?  However there is nothing you can do until the steward tells them to move it back - which they don’t always do!

And - why would be people be so inconsiderate to leave their seat back during meal times.   It leaves you with the smallest amount of space to eat your own dinner - as you need to lean forward to reach your tray!

AND - why do people leave their seats back if they are laying down across several seats asleep?

Seat Belt Sign:
Why do people wander about the cabin when the seatbelt sign is on?  Nobody seems to tell them off for doing it - yet they get to the toilets before everyone else after take off!

Raffle Ticket Sales:
Why do certain airlines spend the whole flight blocking the aisles?  They start by bringing around duty free trolleys, then raffle tickets, then drinks and chocolates, then the free meal, then more raffle tickets, then more drinks and chocolate!

When can we stand up and move about the cabin?

Kids And Babies:
I know they can’t help it - but noisy kids near you on a plane can really be annoying - even if they are just talking the whole time - you just can’t concentrate on anything else the whole time!

And kids tend to kick the chair in front all the time just because they have short legs!  Having your seat continuously banging forward for several hours really couldn’t be more annoying!

Drunk or Noisy Groups:
Just like the kids above - it really is most annoying to be near to a group of noisy drunk adults!

Regardless of whether the stewards have already spoken to them about the noise - it is still really annoying that they are not made to quieten down like the rest of the passengers!  Knowing that the stewards aren’t really stopping the huge distraction is the main annoying part of this.

I would imagine if I started singing out loud from the score of Mary Poppins, I would soon be asked to stop - but when there are more than a few people together, it seems like they can just do whatever they want!

Seat Stealers!
These are the people who see that a few seats near you are empty before take off and then move into them before the doors are even closed!

We all want a bit more space on these flights - but if the seats are next to you - then you should get first dibs on them - not have someone else rudely plonk themselves down in them!  I find myself now moving across a seat if no one else is there first - so that way no one else can get in it instead of me.  And if the real owner of the seat comes along at the last minute - I can just move back into my own seat having not lost anything so to speak.

I know it’s all a bit petty - but when you feel that someone is getting a better deal than you - or that you are getting a worse one because of someone elses actions - it can make your 8 hour flight even more painful than it already is!

If only people weren’t quite so selfish…….

Well, it has certainly been a very cold month here and across many countries - so what can we offer to numb the cold!

And as if the cold wasn’t enough to worry about - what if you have a small baby too?  So, if you are planning a trip with your young baby but aren’t sure if you could cope, then take a look at Emily’s short introduction on Traveling With a Baby, and see if you feel better about travel after reading it.

Next we have some light-hearted list of ideas to fill those short vacations, staycations, bank holidays, weekends and every other afternoon if you and your family are bored! So here’s Emily Moser with her list of 100 Painless Resolutions for a Healthier, Happier, Fitter New Year!

And if you want an unhealthy money-wasting but possibly fun day out - then have a look at Carl’s article discussing World’s Largest Entertainment McDonald’s and PlayPlace! wit some great pictures!

Maybe after a complete spring clean and de-junk you are looking to have a yard sale or a car-boot sale to boost funds and entertain the kids for the day - so take a look at some tips for getting out there for the day with Top Tips For Your Car Boot Sale.

And finally, an article filled with things kids do that make us laugh - although the first picture isn’t suitable for kids to look at really!  So, have a look at what witty jester has to offer in Kids Will Be Kids - I bet you read them all like I just did!

Enjoy……

Regardless of whether you have breakdown recovery - you need to check your own car!

Yes, they will come and help you out of a sticky spot if you break down or get a flat tire, but they can’t help you see that car behind you, or make your seat-belt save your life in an accident!

This means that there are certain things that you should check yourself before heading off on your vacation in your car, van, or RV.

Obviously, making sure that you have enough ’spares’ can go a long way to keeping you on the road as well - so a set of spare bulbs, a roadworthy spare tire and the jack to help change it, a warning triangle, spare gas, spare oil and water all in suitable containers and blankets and waterproof clothes just in case!

But the list below is for those little things that only take a second to check for yourself, giving you time to put them right before heading off:

Tires:
Make sure that they all have a decent depth of tread on all used and spare tires and that they are fully inflated to the recommended pressure.

Lights:
Check that they are all working as they should when it’s not sunny - whether this means getting a friend to stand outside and watch them all be checked, or reversing up to a window in the evening and checking them yourself: front and back!

Windscreen:
Any cracks or chips in the front windscreen should be treated by an expert to make srue that they stay the same size!  Untreated cracks and chips can easily spread at any time into something that makes seeing out of the front window impossible and/or dangerous.

Getting a chip fixed is usually free with your insurance - but a new windscreen isn’t!

Your window-washing liquid and wipers should be checked too as they can make driving impossible under some conditions.  My windscreen got totally covered in road grit during a cold spell, and it didn’t seen a problem until I turned a corner into bright sunshine - I couldn’t see a thing - not a thing: then I found out that my windscreen water was empty and I literally had to put on my hazard lights and stop there and then, right in the middle of the road!

Seat Belts:
Make sure that all your seat-belts work properly even if you are not intending to use them, as you never know when you will need them - and you could be very far from a garage!  And of course, seat-belts are a way of saving lives - so your friends and family will be a lot safer with them working correctly.

Doors & Windows:
For your own safety and comfort, you should make sure that all doors and windows work correctly as you never know when you need to get out of the car quickly and when you might need to open your windows.

Both have happened to me, as my drivers door was being fixed over a period of a few days as the electric windows had stopped working.  Then I pulled up at a busy motorway toll booth!  I had to get out of the car using the passenger door (!) and walk all the way around front of the car to pay the cashier, then walk all the way back around with more than 5 cars I could see watching me!

I will certainly make sure that never happens again!

Yep.  Right in the heart of the Bronx is an exciting and beautiful park, woodland and deep gorge to explore.

We all know the Bronx Zoo, but how many of us have spent time wandering along the many paths and trails of the the Bronx Park?

The sheer size of the Bronx park and the variety of flora and fauna found here make this natural area one of the real hidden gems of New York - well worth a visit.

A Natural Secret?
The Botanical Gardens here also holds a historic secret - a 50 acre woodland.  Not so exciting? 

Well, what if I told you it was the exact woodland that was here when the land was first brought in 1891?  So it has been undisturbed for over 130 years!

It was part of the continuous woodlands that covered the whole of the the area when the European migrants first came over in the 17th century. And when you stand among these giants in the peace and quiet - can you imagine the whole of New York city covered in it? 

Water World And More:
There is the Bronx River running through the centre of the park and it is the perfect place for water sports.  There are several launch points for kayaking and canoes.

The river runs through a deep gorge with waterside walks and some amazing plants and trees lining the way.

There are also basketball courts, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, cycle routes and skate parks to name a few of the extensive facilities supplies to the parks users.

There are also dog runs for those with pets, and playgrounds for those with kids!

And, of course, a zoo full of tigers!