Posts by : Izy Berry

So we’ve booked our flights to Bali and we’re in the midst of finalising our trip’s itinerary. We’re planning to head to Europe for a few months before probably relocating to Central America – exciting! We’ll literally be traveling across the world. While we’re in Europe, I really want to revisit London although I’ve been there a few times before. I have a lot of friends living in London, both New Zealanders living overseas and also friends I met across the globe traveling. It will be my partner, Ben’s, first trip to Europe so of course London is a key destination.

When we head back to London, this is what we’re planning to get up to:

People Watching in Hyde Park:
Unfortunately when I was in London last time the weather was pretty miserable, which apparently is quite normal, so I did a quick dash through Hyde park and admired it in a bit of a rush. I’ve seen photos of Hyde Park on a summer’s day and it looks so lovely. I think it’d be really fun to grab a picnic, pop down on a nice patch of grass and people watch. The next time I’m in London, I’m hoping to stay in a hotel close to Hyde Park, because I love the feel of the area.

Tate Modern:
New Zealand is seriously lacking in good museums and galleries – sorry to be frank – so for us kiwis traveling to London is a real treat. Tate Modern was highly recommended to me by numerous friends who live in London, but I simply ran out of time and didn’t make it here. One thing that I really love about many of the museums and galleries in London is that they are free – perfect for the budget traveller who’s trying to keep costs down.

Going on the London Eye:
I know this is so touristy and cliche, but I think the view would be unbeatable. Last time I was in London I was literally living penny to penny so skipped a lot of the touristy things I figured I could do next time. Fortunately, the flight I took out of London provided me with a pretty incredible view of many of the famous landmarks, but I think it’d be very special enjoying London from the London Eye – also a little bit romantic.

Visit More Markets:
London has a wonderful reputation for excellent food markets as well as high quality second hand clothing stores. I visited the Borough Market which I really enjoyed – there were so many delicious things to sample, but I feel I missed out on so many. I’ve heard so many great things about Camden’s market that I am determined to go on my next visit. The vintage shopper in me also has her eyes on Alfies Antique Market. I love the feel of visiting the markets in a new city, I think it’s a great way to really experience the culture of the city and to find some great bargains, too.

London is such a diverse and interesting city that has a lot to offer. Choosing what to do when you’re only there for a few days can feel really restrictive, but I think it’s good to make a shortlist so you can pack in as much as possible.

Do you have any suggestions of places I must see in London? Let me know!

On my first trip around South East Asia, I decided not to take a cellphone which I generally used while at home to set alarms. It was a liberating trip; it was so nice to not always be contactable and to spend my time engaging with the people around me, rather than using a smartphone to constantly check Facebook and what others were up to. There were downsides to not having a phone, though and the main thing was not having an alarm feature. Not long into my trip I decided it wasn’t possible to travel without the time, especially with a large number of early morning flights, and eventually settled on buying a watch.

Get a Watch:

Many of us no longer use watches because we constantly have our smartphone with us. However, there are lots of times when watches are simply invaluable, both on the road and back at home. For starters, watches tend to last indefinitely longer than cellphones, especially smartphones. I currently have an iPhone 5s and the battery barely lasts a day if I am using a lot of apps on it. Because of this battery inefficiency, for the purpose of timekeeping watches are simply a lot more efficient.

Set a Few Alarms:

There have been a number of times when I’ve had an early morning flight, train or bus to catch and accidentally slept through my alarm. Thankfully, I’ve not missed anything yet but there’s nothing worse than waking up when you were planning to leave, having to pack, get dressed and sort out how you’re getting to your place of departure. I have a wonderful talent of being able to turn off alarms without even realising I’m doing so and remaining asleep. Setting a few alarms helps alleviate this problem.

Switch to Your New Time Zone:

If you’re traveling across time zones, especially by way of plane, it can be very disorientating. Before I’m even on the plane, I like to set the time on my watch to my destination’s timezone. This allows me to start adjusting much quicker than usual and ensures it is less stress on my body. The day before I leave I will start thinking about what time it is in my destination, whether I should be sleeping, awake, eating or having dinner. Once you’re on your flight, and your watch is set to your destination’s time, spend some time glancing at it. If your watch says 2pm, start thinking about the sunshine at that hour, how long until you’ll have to go to sleep and even try to organise your sleep and wake times on the plane in accordance with your destination’s timezone. Using a watch to switch to your new time zone is one of the biggest things you can do to minimise jet lag.

Watches can be a very simple tool that makes traveling easier, more comfortable and just a lot less stress! Do you travel with a watch? Let me know in the comments below.

For many people, money is the biggest barrier to holidays. Holidays are often thought of as a luxury and the first thing to go when the budget gets tight. For me, personally, I think travel is a bit more important than that. You can learn so much from exploring the world, about how other cultures work and what you want from your future. Saving for travel doesn’t have to be a nightmare or a big stress; small changes can quickly add up to a big difference over the course of a year. Here are my 5 tips for saving for your overseas holiday:

1) Ask Yourself Can I Afford It?

Take a closer look at your budget, what are your biggest expenses? How much money are you actually spending each week? Where could you cut back? I have started tracking my spending in the past few months and I was so surprised by how much I was spending on eating out – it was really a crazy amount of money. Since realising how bad my grocery bills were I’ve started asking myself if I can really afford it before I spend my money on frivolous things.

2) Cut Down Your Coffee Consumption

I love a well made latte or mocha from a cafe. The full milk drink seems so luxurious compared to those made at home. The coffee itself tastes bolder, creamier and just overall more delicious. At £2.50-4 a coffee, they quickly add up. I started buying coffee for at home and a takeaway coffee cup that I can reuse and the majority of my coffees are now made at home for a tiny fraction of the price of buying coffees.

3) Sort Your Priorities Out

I love shopping, new clothes, make up, handbags and all of those things. I could have easily frittered away a lot of money each week on buying things, but I know for me, personally, I value experiences more than stuff. Whenever I’m tempted to buy something new, I ask myself how far that money would go overseas and then weigh up where I’d rather spend it. Most of the time, the holiday wins out.

4) Open a Separate Account

I have a separate bank account called “Overseas Adventures” that I funnel money into when I can. I don’t actually have an automatic payment set up – but if you get a regular pay cheque that can be a really easy way to save the money before you’ve even had a chance to spend it. I personally find that keeping my money separate makes it a lot easier for me to build up a good amount of savings.

5) Get Excited

It’s much easier to be dedicated to saving when it’s something tangible. In my room right now I have a large map of Europe with a little tact on where we’re planning to go. Every day when I get up, I see it and it really motivates me to save for my trip. You mind find it motivating to print out pictures and stick them on your wall, or just have photos of your destination on your phone, if you can visualise where you’re going it will seem a lot more real and easier to save for.

Saving is one of the biggest barriers to travel, but when you get past it you’ll be able to travel more often, for longer and to unique destinations. Do you have any saving tips? Share them in the comments below!

Living in New Zealand, Australia is one of those destinations that is so close that you kind of take it for granted. I’ve spent a bit of time in Australia, but just visiting friends and family in Sydney and Brisbane. There are so many different places in Australia I’ve never been to but would really love to. Someday soon I’d love to set aside 6 months to do a road trip across Australia. I’ve seen friends posting photos of their trips across Australia and I can’t get past how diverse the country is – from lush rain forests to stunning beaches and of course some of the world’s greatest cities.

So where would I go if I had six months spare? I’d head straight to Queensland and get started there. I love Queensland’s warm climate; it barely deviates from summer temperatures even in the winter, making it the perfect road trip destination. I’d fly into Cairns and collect a rental car at DriveNow car hire Cairns airport and get my trip started.

The Great Barrier Reef

This is one of Australia’s most famous destinations and for good reasons, if you love diving or snorkelling you’ll be absolutely spoiled for choice as this is one of the best diving destinations in the world. Rich with marine life, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral system, offering a striking, alien-like landscape. A large part of the reef is protected to ensure that it is not too damaged and retains it’s splendour. I’d love to spend a few days here enjoying the great dives, great weather and hopefully spotting a turtle or too!

The Whitsunday Islands

In the heart of the Great Barrier Reef there are 74 little islands that are absolutely gems. From the photos I’ve seen, they are as close to paradise as you’ll ever come; bright white sand, contrasted against the deep blue ocean. Many of the islands are not inhabited, which makes for a very special escape. Whitehaven Beach is routinely voted as one of the best beaches in the world and I’d love to spend some time working on my tan there. There’s no better way to enjoy the Whitsunday islands than by boat, as you can tour around the different islands easily.

Paronella Park

For something completely different, I’d head to this beautiful natural reserve. Here you’ll find a Spanish castle hidden amongst over 13 acres of lush rainforest. There’s also the striking Mena Creek Falls as well as a number of excellent walking tracks for you to enjoy. This is a completely different side of Queensland, but is worth a visit too – it helps showcase the diversity of Australia.

Brisbane

Not quite as famous as Sydney, but Brisbane has its own charm and is a wonderful place to visit. My favourite area of Brisbane is Southbank, which is near the river, has a fake beach and is dotted with high quality cafes and restaurants. It’s a great area to stroll around. Not far outside of Brisbane there are also the theme parks located in the Gold Coast, which are a must see for any thrill seeker! The great thing about traveling to the theme parks is they cater to all ages and make for a great family holiday destination.

There’s so much to do and see in Australia that you might find it a little overwhelming planning your road trip around this large country. Use these tips to get your dream Australian holiday started!

If you are jetting off alone for the first time, there can be so many things to think about it becomes almost overwhelming. From booking flights, to online check in and from keeping baggage within limited weights to packing an emergency first aid kit. With everything else that is going on it can be easy to leave your travel insurance until the last minute.

However getting the right travel insurance is almost as important as getting the right flight, as when trouble strikes you want the reassurance that you are covered in all circumstances.

Pre Existing Conditions

Another big problem for travellers can be trying to travel with pre-existing medical conditions. Everything from eczema to heart attacks will affect your travel insurance and needs to be declared prior to travel. This may mean paying an additional excess to cover your for those conditions or you may end up having to take out insurance that covers you for emergencies but doesn’t cover you for those pre-existing conditions.

Before you decide, take a look at some specialist offers such as the policies at Able 2 Travel and other specialist insurers.

Activities

If you are an adrenalin junkie and know that you will be taking part in extreme or winter sports activities then again you will need to check that you are covered for this. For example it is often the case that simple snorkelling is covered but scuba diving requires you to pay an extra premium. If you are taking part in winter sports such as snowboarding and skiing, make sure that your policy covers you for mountainside rescue and repatriation if necessary.

Destination

Where in the world are you going? Most premium current accounts come with some form of travel insurance nowadays and this can lull you into a false sense of security as often these policies cover the world, but not the USA or Canada or at worst cover Europe only. Double check the small print and make sure that all of your destinations are covered in the policy that you pick.

Things to Think About

Where in the world are you going? Most premium current accounts come with some form of travel insurance nowadays and this can lull you into a false sense of security as often these policies cover the world, but not the USA or Canada or at worst cover Europe only. Double check the small print and make sure that all of your destinations are covered in the policy that you pick.

Whether you’re a seasoned fishing enthusiast or a beginner, a fishing holiday provides a perfect opportunity for you to reconnect with the natural world. There are so many fishing destinations in the UK that you don’t even have to get on a plane to experience something wonderful. For example, Sutherland in Scotland, Northumberland and Chesil Beach in Dorset, are all rated very highly. There is nothing more relaxing than casting your line and sitting back with a couple of cold beers, telling stories with your friends and family members.

Despite what many fishing guides suggest, a fishing holiday can be a great choice for families, allowing you to spend quality time together.

Preparing

It is important to do your research before you book a fishing holiday. Think about your skill level and which destination is best suited to your needs. Try to brush up on your skills before you go, by reading books or online tutorials that will help you improve. The internet holds a wealth of information, allowing you to increase your fishing prowess without even picking up a fishing rod. Make sure that you have a good understanding of basic procedures including casting your line, tying knots and adding fish bait to hooks.

Fishing Equipment

It’s essential that you choose the correct fishing equipment to suit your needs. Although rods and reels can be quite expensive, there are plenty of online retailers such as Fishing Hut that provide more reasonably priced equipment. If you’re a beginner, make sure that you find out which rod is suitable for someone just beginning to cast. You should avoid open-faced fishing reels and go for something simple and sturdy. Although you can often hire fishing equipment while on holiday, you may prefer to bring a rod that you’ve become used to in terms of how it operates.

Packing for Your Fishing Holiday

It is essential that you have a sturdy pair of waterproof boots and a waterproof coat with you at all times. If you are planning your fishing holiday in Britain, remember that the weather can be unpredictable even through the summer months. It is very important to pack a hat to keep the sun off your face and to also bring sunscreen, as sunstroke on your holiday will not be pleasant. Wearing layers of clothes is a practical solution as the weather may alter during the day. Leaving your rods unattended is forbidden in many locations, so you should also bring plenty of food and drink with you. Remember that riverbanks often attract mosquitoes, so keep some bug spray in your backpack.

Finally, we hope that you get the most out of your fishing holiday and share with us any ideas that have helped you with your fishing hobby.

While it may have been the impact of the Great Recession that forced British citizens to holiday in England and its neighbouring countries instead of destinations overseas, it is fair to say that households throughout the UK have since rediscovered their love for all things patriotic. Although it is easy to see how exotic and sun-kissed destinations throughout Europe and the rest of the world remain alluring to us as individuals, we should overlook the fact that England remains a fascinating island nation with a rich history and unique cultural heritage.

The 3 Benefits of Domestic Travel

This is true whether you are a British based holiday-maker or someone who is looking to visit the country from overseas, and there are multiple benefits to considering the UK as a holiday destination. For example: –

1. Learn about your Cultural Identity

If you are a British resident who is considering local travel, destinations throughout the UK offer a unique opportunity for you to learn more about your countries cultural heritage. The nations’ of the UK are unique both in terms of their geography and historical narratives, and visiting its most renowned spots can help you to understand more about Britain and your own cultural identity. After all, you will have been raised with multiple beliefs and behavioural traits, and many of these will stem from an historical teaching that is unique to the UK.

2. Access a Diversity of Terrain and Activities

While there is nothing fundamentally wrong with European city breaks or beach holidays in foreign climbs, these trips can be fairly one-dimension and unsatisfying. Britain therefore offers a rich and potentially more diverse alternative, as it features stunning mountainous landscape, picturesque beaches along the south coast and luxurious countryside retreats such as the Barnham Broom Hotel. Britain is also a relatively small and compact nation, meaning that travellers can enjoy more attractions and adventures within a short space of time.

3. Beat the Summer Rush and Inflated Prices

While Britain has considerable allure as a tourism destination, it is not always the most popular destination among international visitors. This is particularly true during the months of summer, where people would generally prefer to visit a country with a sultry climate and excess sunshine. The benefit of this is that you will usually be able to stay in your destination and resort of choice when visiting the UK, as the demand for accommodation is lower and the comparative cost of travel is far more competitive than those associated with countries such as France, Italy and Portugal.

Caravanning has always been a major British pass time, and since the recession, holidays within Britain have become more and more popular. And why not? Britain has some truly beautiful spots, and many of its campsites are award winning – not to mention very affordable.

If you have yet to embark on your first caravan holiday, or if you are a stalwart caravan fan, May is your month, as one lucky winner is given the chance to win a holiday home with Park Resorts and park fees for two years (worth a massive £50,000). As well as this, they are giving away 12 holidays to park resorts across the UK. Even those who prefer holidays overseas will find a campsite to suit them and Park Resorts have some great locations across the country, which provide an economical and enjoyable way to take a holiday in the UK.

If you’re trying to decide on where to escape to on your next getaway, Park Resorts offer a diverse range of holiday homes and accommodation is available in 6 grades, including the luxury platinum lodge pictured here. The ample choice available means that there is something to suit every family and budget.

If you are set on seeing the famous White cliffs of Dover, then St. Margaret’s Bay in Kent is your best bet. Set just beside the landmark, you can easily make the short trip to see them during your visit. Also nearby is the town of Deal, which boasts an unspoilt seafront, conservation area as well as an attractive beach. On-site, you can take advantage of the fully equipped gym or relax by indulging in a range of beauty treatments that are on offer.

If Wales takes your fancy, the Ty Mawr resort on the North Coast is a gorgeous spot to visit. Set at the foot of the mountains, the Park is just a 10 minute stroll from the seaside resort of Rhyl, which has a lovely sandy beach. With stunning views and walks, an indoor pool and adventure playground, there is something for all of the family.

Venture up North to Scotland to make the most of the beautiful Sandylands resort, which is set on the picturesque Ayrshire coast. There is plenty going on here day and night, from swimming and water sports, to dancing and cabaret, ensuring there is lots to keep the whole family entertained.

Ben and I are planning our trip to Europe for the summer, we’re looking at flights and I’m feeling a little bit nervous about traveling as a couple. Travel can be really hard, especially when you’re traveling with someone else, flying through various timezones and spending days cramped up in a plane. I’ve navigated a few long haul flights, with the longest being around 40 hours of transit. It’s not fun, it’s not pretty, but it’s necessary to get to your destination. Here are some simple things I do to ensure travel is as comfortable as possible.

Pay a Little More:

Whether it’s for a better class of train, airline or bus ticket, investing a little more into a long journey can make all the difference. I’ve flown “cattle class” a number of times and I don’t really mind it for shorter trips, but for 12+ hour flights it can be quite painful. Ben and I are looking into Executive Travel this time around as we are going to be flying all the way from Christchurch to Spain. I want extra legroom, more of a recline and just more comfort in general. Access to the lounges would be a big bonus as we’d be able to work while we wait for our connecting flights. If your budget is too tight to upgrade your flights or travel, make sure you take a travel pillow with you – I swear by them.

Bring Snacks:

This is more important for budget airlines, or land journeys, but make sure you bring snacks! I’ve been on far too many trips where I have thought I would be able to buy snacks onboard or would be provided with them, only to find my stomach churning the whole trip. Airport food tends to be pretty average, and at some airports there’s no food court which means a very hungry wait. Be organised, learn from my mistakes, and take snacks. Dry food like muesli bars, a roll or wrap and chips can be a good option.

Keep Yourself Entertained:

If your transport doesn’t have entertainment onboard, then make sure you bring your own. I have a Kindle which I am madly in love with and it is perfect for reading on a plane, especially as it has a gentle backlight so you can use it when the main cabin lights are off. I use my iPhone for music and bring my laptop to write onboard or watch movies on. If you’re trying to sleep, put on a boring Disney movie or something that you’re not very interested in watching and it’ll put you to sleep. If you put a movie you actually want to sleep, you might find it very hard to drift off.

I love travel, even the uncomfortable long haul stuff. Do you have any tips for traveling across long distances? Let me know in the comments below.