Essential Travel Tips

Swindon is in the county of Wiltshire has good transport links to the rest of the country.  It is about 40 miles from both Bristol and Reading. Whilst eighty one miles to the east of Swindon is England’s capital, London. 

If you are looking to explore Wiltshire then Swindon makes an ideal base. There are plenty of good quality hotels in Swindon to stay in and also the surrounding area. It is close to Cotswold Wildlife Park and also the Cotswold Water Park.  Otherwise there are place such as Bowood House and Lacock Abbey to visit as well. 

But there are plenty of wonderful sights to see that are slightly closer to this large town and below we take a look at just a few of these. 

The first place of interest that is only around a 30 minute drive from Swindon is Avebury Stone Circle. This is larger than Stonehenge but less famous. And unlike the nearby Stonehenge you are still allowed to wander around the stones and get up close to them. 

Avebury Stone circle encompasses part of the village where it is located. Not to mention the ditches and external banks that form part of this ancient monument. The stones were re-erected by Alexander Keiller during the 1930’s. There is a museum on site including a 17th Century thatched threshing barn and you can find out more about the sites history. The museum is quite hands on and interactive. 

As mentioned above to the north of Swindon is Cotswold Wildlife Park which houses a wide variety of animals from across the globe. There is a pride of Asiatic lions plus rhinos, leopards and assorted primates. Plus when you come to the gardens there are small mammals such as meerkats, penguins and other tropical birds to be watched and enjoyed. Certainly for a family day out this is a wonderful place to go when the weather is great.  For the children to help get rid of some of that energy they have they can try out the adventure playground. And in the summer months there is the chance to get close up with some animals and watch some birds of prey.

Another place of interest for those who stay in Swindon is Lacock Abbey which was converted into a house in around 1540. Fortunately the sacristy ceiling, chapter house, monastic rooms and medieval cloisters have remained largely intact. But along with exploring the abbey and the sixteenth Century stable courtyard there is also the Museum of Photography for you to explore as well. This museum was established to commemorate the life of the inventor William Fox Talbot who resided at the Abbey between 1800 and 1877. If you have a sense of deja vu about this building then it has been used a number of times as location for TV and film productions including the Harry Potter films.

When you next visit Swindon, book your hotel in Swindon here.

If you are travelling with a disability then it has never been easier then now. Agencies, airlines and other forms of transport are always on hand to help. But if you are looking to go travelling this Christmas then there are a few tips that you will want to take with you that will help you enjoy your trip.

1) One of the most important aspects for travelling with a disability is preparation. You should book everything well in advance and then in the lead up to your trip you should get everything ready, such as visiting the doctors and getting any medicine that may be needed.

2) Wherever you are planning to go, you should thoroughly research if these places have local disability clinics and if they do you should obtain there telephone numbers, just in case an unexpected incident does occur.

3) You should try and book your trip through a specialist-disabled travel agency; they will be able to sort out everything for you, ranging from accommodation to transport. They will also be able to guide you to all the local destinations on your trip that has wheelchair/disability accessibility. Therefore you will not have to get stressed while on holiday looking for restaurants or any other amenities.

4) If you have trouble flying and you need anything unique, then you should call the airlines to make sure that they can accommodate this for you. You should also mention to the flight attendants when boarding a plane of any medical problems you may have.

5) Try not to travel alone, invite a friend or a family member that can stay with you. If you cannot speak to anyone then ask the specialist agency if they can find someone to travel with you.

6) Nothing should be left to luck, ring up all the specific locations to make sure everything has been booked correctly. Just to make doubly sure you should also check again a week before you are due to travel.

7) Finally you should remember to arrive early when leaving to go on your trip and travelling back. A lot of airports do get quite busy and you do not want to get caught up in a long entailing queue, which will increase stress levels.

Travelling with a disability does not have to be a strenuous task, by planning everything well in advance you will be able to enjoy your trip without anything unexpected occurring.

For all your Disabled Holidays and Disabled Travel

I have always been challenged in packing for airline travel. I haven’t yet flown under new airline tariffs charged by the bag, so I don’t relish having to scale down while abiding by all rules applying to packing for airline travel that I had already mastered. But I have prepared with lots of tips to make packing for airline travel much less painful.

From experience, I would advise wearing comfy slippers or mules for flight. Not only is it common knowledge that, during longer flights, your feet may swell; but now one is required to show that nothing illegal or threatening is present in the foot area (airlines check shoes for our own safety). You can help to speed your way through this check point if you’re snappy on the shoes and follow the “bag” rule.

Use no larger than a quart-sized plastic bag to store shampoos, lotions, creams, toothpaste, gels, and other items of similar consistency. Have this bag at moment’s reach so that, while barefoot, you can pull it out for inspection. After you have passed through security, you may buy anything to eat or drink for the flight.

So serious are the airlines these days that I was once asked to take a drink of my water by airline personnel after my baggage was checked : but this just goes to show that no matter how innocent-looking and beautiful you are suspicion may follow you. Packing for airline travel is no joke.

Don’t forget to weed out your handbag for lipstick, other cosmetics, deodorants, and the like. For optimal packing for airline travel, these must be in solid form; else they should be stored in the quart plastic bag, taking up valuable space. If you don’t want to carry these, store them in checked baggage (if you still want to go that way–$15 per bag).

While packing for airline travel, keep in mind that the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) bans the following kinds of items from being carried on board: bats for sports, lacrosse sticks, golf clubs, ski poles, spear guns, bows and arrows, and pool cues. These must be checked baggage. Also check sharp items such as straight razors and anything else of that kind. If you have anything not addressed here (and I would do this in any case) check the TSA website.

Of course, there are some other common sense things to keep in mind while packing for airline travel: pack light and “recycle clothing” (you can wash it or have it laundered on your trip). Take locks for your bags—these must be removed at check-in, but you can lock your bags once you claim them at your destination. While packing for airline travel, include an all-purpose and low-maintenance outfit, as well as comfortable shoes. And always plan ahead when packing for airline travel.

Surprises are always a big hit and what better way than to give that special someone in your life a bath and spa gift basket. You can also give these wonderful gifts to a fellow employee for any type of occasion plus it’s not expensive if you get fellow co workers to contribute.

With the many choices of products available it becomes fun to put together a bath and spa gift basket. You can make your own basket or buy one that’s already made. By going to a favorite or popular bath and body store, you’ll get fantastic ideas that offer unique bath and spa gift baskets. Then, when you give these gifts you will surely surprise that special person and they will surely appreciate it.

Idea #1 - Become Creative and Make The Gift Basket Yourself

Making your own bath and spa gift basket is quite easy and fun to do, and not to mention, this is the perfect way to make this gift special and memorable, especially if you are the significant other. The first thing you do is to find a really nice basket, let it be as decorative as you want. Get a lovely effect with your basket by using color tissue or a decorative liner. Place a nice ribbon or lovely lace on it, then fill up your basket with things such as lotions, bath balls, moisturizers,bath salts, manicure sets, facial masks and a massage tool.

Theme your creation such as the fragrant vanilla spa gift baskets. You can even add a little charm by putting gourmet chocolates and don’t forget to finish it off with a spa gift certificate! The idea here is simple, you want that person to pamper themselves with the bath and spa gifts. Now all you have to do is wrap it with clear plastic, put a nice colorful bow and present it at the right moment.

Idea #2 - Do It Yourself or Off the Rack? You Can Always Buy A Gift Basket

If you don’t have enough time to create your own then buying spa gift baskets sets is the easiest way. There are a couple ways to accomplish this. Get immediate ideas by surfing the internet, click on interesting websites and write down your ideas. This will also give you an idea on how much you would like to spend. Second, go to your favorite or popular bath and body store. If you’re not sure where to go, ask your friends or look up a store in the yellow pages.

Get advice from your sales person and have them show you unique products that will make your gift basket a stand out. By walking around the store you can you can touch, see and smell the many products on display. To put the final touch in your gift basket you will need to get a spa certificate and by going to a day spa you can choose different packages of spas available.

The Best Idea: Your Surprise Is A Gift That Gives Back

When you are ready to give your bath spa gift basket to that special person, they will be totally surprised and will be sure to enjoy it. If that person just happens to be your significant other perhaps you can put a few extra items in your basket to really make it a surprise, I am sure the magic will happen. As you can see there are many terrific ideas in offering a bath and spa gift basket and whether you create your own or buy a ready made basket there will always be some special surprise in the end.

The market town of Shrewsbury is situated in the County of Shropshire in England close to the Welsh border. It still retains many of the timber framed black and white buildings that were built during the medieval period and which sit along the sides of its narrow steep streets and alleyways. 

Along with the castle and abbey there are more than 600 listed buildings within the market town of Shrewsbury. Also this is where Charles Darwin was born and raised and where he was educated. The town still has many reminders about Darwin.

If you want to explore Shrewsbury it is worth taking a walk along the banks of the River Severn which almost circles the town. The other choice is to actually take a trip down the river on one of the pleasure boats. Whatever you choose, there are lots of things to do and see when you visit Shrewsbury. Here are a few attractions in and around Shrewsbury that you can look at.

1.     Acton Burnell Castle – This houses the remains of a thirteenth Century fortified manor house, built by Robert Burnell. This gentleman was Chancellor of England a close friend to the then King of England, Edward First. In fact the king was a regular visitor to the house and it is said that in 1263 he convened here one of the first English parliaments.

2.    Attingham Park – This park was designed by Humphrey Repton in 1797 and it surrounds the manor house here that was designed by George Stuart in 1785. It was the home of the first Lord Berwick. The house is furnished with furniture and silver from the Regency period. Or you can wander around the park grounds and take in some quiet country moments.

3.    Abbey Church – This is all that now remains of the Benedictine Monastery founded in 1083 by Roger de Montgomery. The church is dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul. When you approach the church you will see the Gothic design west tower which also has a statue of King Edward the Third. The west window of the church has a coat of arms on it dating back to the reign of Richard the Second. Then there is the altar of 1888 designed by James Pearson to be admired and why not explore the many tombs with some dating back to the 1300’s.

When you next stay in Shrewsbury, choose your Shrewbury hotel here.

As the price of oil and gasoline has continued to climb in the last couple years, just about everything that is dependent on fuel in any way is increasing in price too, and significantly. Airline tickets are one of the many items that have increased in price recently and this fact has many people scrambling to find ways to save money on their travel expenses by searching for cheap plane tickets.

This has made it more difficult to find those really great discounts and special deals on flights around the country and abroad. On top of that, there are more and more people who need to travel by air because the cost of driving has gone up with the increase cost of gasoline. This means that in many cases it is now cheaper to fly, even for short distances, than it is to drive even with the higher cost of the ticket prices.

The fact is that there are several methods people can make use of to locate some excellent travel deals and to get themselves some cheap airline tickets, even nowadays. Because the airfare is often a large portion of a person’s travel budget, the more they can reduce their air ticket costs, the more money they will have to spend when they are relaxing at their vacation destination.

One of the easiest and best methods of finding great deals on tickets is to take advantage of the websites that are so plentiful these days, which can help you to unearth those elusive cheap plane tickets. While you can always go directly to the official websites of the airlines, you can save a lot of time by using the travel websites that will draw the ticketing data from all of the airlines that fly to your destination. Just enter the date you wish to travel and your destination and soon you will have a very complete list of all your options, usually arranged to show you the cheapest ticket prices first.

If you have not yet made a firm decision on the destination of you trip, then you can also spend a bit of time perusing the various airline sites to see which destination have the best ticket prices. Often, a certain airline carrier operates from a few hub cities and it can be less expensive to fly into those hubs than to other destinations. If you compare the cost of flying into different cities, then you will soon see a pattern that will reveal which airlines are using that city as a hub. You can use this information to your advantage to get the best pricing on flights to those hubs. Often the hub cities are also great places to visit for vacations as well.

Many times, one of the best ways to find bargain prices on airline tickets is by signing up for the email newsletters that the various airlines publish. The airlines typically offer their subscribers the first chance to take advantage of their deepest discounts and any special ticket prices they have available. All of the airlines are motivated to fill every seat on a flight, so when a departure date nears and they still have empty seats available, they will offer cheap plane tickets to try to fill the plane.