Wikitude App of the Month October 2014

While we wait for Google Glass to become the travel accessory of choice, Wikitude allows us to use our mobile devices to explore the world around us in full augmented reality (AR to those in the know) glory!

Wikitude Logo

Wikitude – what is it?

It’s an AR (augmented reality) app. This essentially means that you can hold your phone up in front of you and what you see through the camera will be annotated with information about your surroundings.  This means the app has the power to tell you everything you don’t know about the place you are in – perfect when you find yourself in a new city!

Wikitude Smart Search

What does Wikitude do?

Wikitude integrates information from Trip Advisor, Facebook, Twitter, Yelp and the like to:

  • Show nearby hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes
  • Highlight last minute deals
  • Offer up reviews
  • Find attractions
  • Locate hotels, restaurants and transport
  • Give important information about what is nearby

Essentially, it allows users to visualise the world around them and actively engage with it in an easy and convenient manner. It’s like having your own pocket tour guide!

The interface has a ‘worlds’ tab, which users can use to select where their information comes from, say Wikipedia, Trip Advisor, YouTube, and content from that stream that is relevant to the location will show as an overlay on your camera.

Wikitude Reviews

This is one AR app that has been deemed worth using by many. It is free and available on all operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows… The open-source nature of the platform does mean that there is the occasional bit of irrelevant information that gets included, but the many ‘worlds’ to choose from makes it easy for users to find the sort of content they like and trust to be added to their view.

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Travelling In Europe With Pets

Whether you are thinking of taking your pet on an adventure, or you need logistical advice for a home move, we share essential tips to make sure you and your pet aren’t parted along the way.

Travelling to Europe with a pet is becoming more common. It helps avoid costs at kennels and catteries, and it allows everyone to enjoy the companionship of the family’s ‘best friend’. As well as holidaymakers taking pets across borders, there are also many people with second homes overseas that want to keep their pet with them at all times. Here’s what you need to know to travel with yours.

Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)

This scheme allows cats, dogs and ferrets to be taken from the UK to Europe and back again without the need for quarantine. There are, however, entry requirements that need to be met.

  • Your pet must be microchipped
  • The rabies vaccination must be up to date
  • You must have a pet passport
  • Dogs must have been treated for tapeworm
  • If you have 5 or more pets, you will need a ‘fit and healthy travel certificate’
Getting Your Pets Ready for Travel

Make sure youe Pet Passports are sorted with the PETS scheme! – Image courtesy of Brittany Ferries

Ticking Boxes

Note that your pet must be microchipped prior to vaccination, or the record won’t count. Also, be aware that you must wait 21 days from the date of the rabies vaccination before travelling. Finally, to make sure that your dog is allowed back in the UK, a tapeworm treatment must be administered one to five days before you are scheduled to arrive back in the country.

The Pet Passport

This is a collection of paperwork that has your pet’s microchip number recorded on it and details of any vaccinations and treatments your pet has had. Each time you visit the vet, it is essential that your vet updates and records the chip number on the vaccination record.

Modes of Transport

To comply with PETS, you must use an “authorised carrier and an approved route”. Fortunately, pet travel is quite widely accepted and you will find that most mainstream ferry companies allow pets, as does Eurostar, and many airlines. Note that budget airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair do not offer facilities for pets, although guide dogs may be an exception.  There are two downloadable lists available that cover approved routes, these can be found by searching for: gov.uk pet air routes and gov.uk pet sea and travel routes.

Check our Brittany Ferries’ guide to travelling with pets on their ferries:

Pet Welfare

Before pushing Pooch onto the next ferry, you should carefully consider if the trip is suitable. Sub-zero temperatures in the Alps, and baking hot beaches in southern Spain could cause your pet extreme discomfort. If you do decide that your destination is a good place for your pet, it is also recommended that you take a trip to the vet for a pre-travel check.

  • Discuss what the health risks are for your pet at your chosen destination
  • Arrange a clinical examination to ensure your pet is fit to travel
  • Check vaccinations are up to date
  • Ensure that the microchip is working
  • Take preventive measure to guard against parasites

The Animal Welfare Foundation have an informative downloadable leaflet on pet travel Taking your pets abroad.pdf and further information can be found on the pet travel overview on the gov.uk website.

Don’t forget your pet insurance! You’ll find all the info you need on our dedicated pet insurance page!

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10 Ways To Slim Down Your Suitcase (what not to pack for girls)

Girls, it is time to lose some weight before holiday, and we don’t mean getting trim for a bikini body, we mean cutting down on what you cram into your suitcase! Making more room in your suitcase means getting to your destination will be less of a struggle, but it also means you have plenty of room to pack trinkets and treats to bring back after – now if that isn’t an incentive – we don’t know what is!

What Not To Pack

1. Bulky Novels

Books take up loads of room! Instead opt for a Kindle or download the app onto your phone. If you don’t want to swap paper for pixels, then just take one book with you, not a selection!

Kindle Versus Books

Save Precious Suitcase Space and Weight with a Kindle – Image courtesy of http://blissbubbley.blogspot.co.uk/

2. Shoes, Shoes and More Shoes!

Difficult we know, because you never know what you might want to wear! Let’s be honest for a moment though, you are probably going to spend the whole holiday in just 3 pairs: ones to suit the weather – flip flops if it’s a hot destination, warm boots if it’s not, a comfy all-purpose pair – usually a pair of trainers, and one dressy pair – a pair of heels that go with just about any outfit.

Travel Smartly with Just Three Pairs of Shoes

Pack Smartly with this Simple Shoe Guide, courtesy of http://www.hithaonthego.com/

3. Clothes You’ve Never Worn Before

These are likely to cause overpacking because you just won’t be sure what really goes with anything, so you’ll pack EVERYTHING! Take tried and trusted clothes combos, and if you have done a pre-holiday shopping spree, make sure you only take what you have tried on and liked!

4. More Than 3 of the Same Thing (not including undies!)

Even then, it depends what it is. Three hoodies might be excessive, as may three pairs of jeans. But three dresses, three strappy vests, three skirts, three pairs of shorts and three t-shirts or tops should offer sufficient variation throughout your holiday. Along with three choices of swimsuit. Note that we have already included three pairs of shoes, and this is based on a two week holiday not a weekend break!

Packing a Capsule Awrdrobe

Take tips from this smart traveller with a coordinated, streamlined capsule wardrobe! Umage Courtesy of travelfashiongirl.com

5. Fluffy Bath Towels

They are big, they are bulky and they take time to dry. Invest in a travel towel, or a thinner beach towel. These will take up less space in your suitcase and will be easier to keep clean and dry while on holiday.

Travel Towel v.s. Normal Towel

Investing in a good quality travel towel can save so much space and weight – image courtesy of thetravelgearreviews.com

6. Phrase Books

They say there is an app for everything, and that includes phrase finders and translators. Make sure you download before you go away and ensure the offline feature is on so you don’t rack up excessive data charges.

DuoLingo Travel Phrasebook App

Duolingo is rated by many travel experts – image courtesy of imore.com

7. Travel Iron

To avoid looking like a vagrant, choose clothes that won’t, or are less likely to crease and learn a good folding technique. Rolling clothes is actually space saving, and it causes less creases than folding!

8. Expensive Jewellery

Take a couple of key sparkles, but leave the heirlooms at home. Expensive jewellery collections do indeed take up space in your luggage, but they also make you a more attractive target to opportunistic thieves.

9. The Contents Of Your Bathroom Cabinet

Painkillers, a small first aid kit and contraceptives should be all you need. Leave behind toenail clippers, hard skin removers, facemasks, buffers, brushes, and all the other things that occupy your bathroom. If you really need any of them, there is bound to be a chemist nearby.

10. Your Entire Beauty Regime

Out of everything in your makeup bag, you probably only use 10% of your products. Take key items, and consider decanting into smaller pots to keep down the luggage space. Take travel size shampoo and conditioner, or if you are travelling with friends or family, get one person to take shampoo and conditioner while you pack the sun cream and aloe vera.

Packing Toiletries Smartly

Keep things simple and compact by taking just your everyday essentials. Image courtesy of http://everyday-simple.blogspot.com.au

Other than packing your cases for you, we’re not sure how much more helpful we could be when it comes to packing smartly!

Don’t forget we offer travel insurance which is one holiday essential you do not want to leave behind!  Get a quick quote online or call us on 01892 628530.

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Feelin’ Hot Hot Hot! October Beach Holidays for Sunseekers

While the weather in Blighty has been unusually warm recently, the nights are drawing in and it is only going to get colder, so what better time to jet off somewhere hot? October is a great month for sunseekers who want to avoid the crowds, but don’t want to miss out on a beach break. Here are our top destinations this autumn!

Dubai

Hot and dry! With temps positively unbearable during July and August, Dubai is a top hot destination in October. 

Temp: 29°

Rain:  1mm

Daylight: 10h

You’ll never be short of things to do in Dubai. It is known for sports, such as skydiving, kite surfing and indoor skiing (a nice break from the heat some would say), and for shopping. Dubai Mall is the largest shopping centre in the world, and just one of 70 in the city – so credit cards at the ready! If you are heading to Dubai to soak up the sun on the sandy beaches, be prepared to pay a hotel to access their private beach, or head to public beaches: Al Mamzar, Jumara Beach Park or Kite Beach. The latter is free, but as you might have guessed is popular with the kite surfing crowd, so likely to be busy.

Al Mamzar Beach Park in Dubai

Beaches in Dubai: Al Mamzar Beach Park, United Arab Emirates. Photo by Fabio Achilli

Canary Islands

A modest but not outrageous temperature and a slight chance of rain makes The Canary Islands a preferable option for some October sunseekers.

Temp: 24°C

Rain:  18mm

Daylight: 7h

Many islands make up the archipelago, which means there is an astonishing amount of beach to go round, 930 miles of it to be precise! Tenerife is the largest of the islands, and home to party paradise Playa de las Americas and the wonderful Mount Teidi, a fabulous volcano and popular tour destination. Gran Canaria is the third largest island, and the place to head for glorious sand dunes. If you are looking for a quiet getaway, we would heartily recommend skipping the sought-after Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, and head for either La Gomera, La Palma or El Hierro.  Whichever beach you end up at in The Canary Islands, you can be sure to find plenty of swimming, surfing and places to relax on the sand.

 

Playas de las Americas in Tenerife

Playas de las Americas in Tenerfife, Image Courtesy of todotenerife.es

 

Hawaii

Warm, tropical, blessed with natural wonders and a truly vibrant culture… welcome to Hawaii.   No wonder it attracts around 8 million visitors a year!

Temp: 26°C

Rain: 45mm

Daylight: 8h

There is 750 miles of coastline to explore in Hawaii, as well as volcanoes, lava plains, hula dancing, whale watching, surfing, snorkelling, and, well, the list goes on. While it may have some of the most fantastic beaches in the world, this destination is really wasted on those looking for a nothing-but-sunbathing holiday. A trip here should include taking in all the natural wonders and experiencing the incredibly rich culture. Choosing to do it in October just means that there will fewer of those 8 million people to negotiate on your travels!

 

Waialea Beach, Hawaii

Hawaii has almost too many gorgeous beaches to choose from, like Waialea Beach! Image courtesy of lovingthebigisland.wordpress.com

While these are our favourite places to head this October, other fantastic places to go include Cape Verde, Cyprus, The Red Sea and Tunisia. Whichever you head for, just make sure you don’t forget your sun cream (and your sarong!), and make sure you call us for a competitive insurance quote, especially if skydiving is on your agenda!

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WeSwap Review – Travel App of the Month Sept 2014

Imagine a dating-type app for converting currency, and you get WeSwap – a P2P currency exchange platform that unites travellers looking to get a great bargain!

2014 is all about getting social online, and now you can use the same peer-to-peer model to avoid high exchange rates, secure low commission, and avoid making a trip to town to get your cash before you go on holiday. Welcome to WeShare – the new way to convert your cash to the currency of your choice! 

WeSwap– how does it work?

It is simple. Sign up, wait for your Prepaid MasterCard® and then put the money you want to exchange into your account. When you are ready to exchange, WeSwap matches you with another member who wants to convert their currency too. If you want to swap your GBP to USD, you are matched with someone else who wants to swap their USD for GBP, and the rest is automatic magic!

WeSwap Mantra, Load, Swap, Spend

Their mantra is simple! Load, Swap and Spend!

Does WeSwap do anything clever that traditional currency exchange can’t?

Firstly, WeSwap are really proud of their transparent pricing: 

  • It is just a 1% flat fee for swapping with someone else, but once you are matched with someone who you can swap with again in the future it is actually FREE forever!
  • Withdrawal overseas is also FREE, up to twice a day, as long as you take out more than £200 in one go, for withdrawals less than £200 they charge £1.50, which seems reasonable!
  • In the unlikely event that you can’t be matched with a swap-buddy, WeSwap offer to step in, at which point the 1% fee becomes 1.5%, which is still very good considering there aren’t any other charges to be sprung upon unsuspecting swappers!

The really clever thing about WeSwap is that you can load your card with a whole range of currencies, perfect for globetrotting business-types and other frequent travellers.

WeSwap is currently able to exchange the following currencies:

  • British Pounds (GBP)
  • US Dollars (USD)
  • Euros (EUR)
  • Norwegian Kroner (NOK)
  • Swedish Kronor (SEK)
  • Danish Kroner (DKK)

… and plan to add more in the not-too-distant future.

What the WeSwap community think

The reviews and customer feedback available hails WeSwap as convenient, and praises them for excellent customer service. Media reviews have given a hefty nod to the money-saving benefits for consumers, and declared the service revolutionary.

As the first ever currency exchange service of its type, we will watch this space with anticipation, it seems as though it could be a service to get very excited about! 

Available on iTunes and Google Play, go to WeSwap.com to download.

WeSwap Security

WeSwap takes security and the safety of customer’s money very seriously.

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Dragon Boat Festivals – From Tonbridge to Taipei!

Tonbridge may not be the most exotic of locations, but this is where Worldwideinsure.com’s Søren V Nissen and his team, the Bidborough Dragons, recently placed 3rd in the annual Tonbridge Dragon Boat Race. The fun and frolics of the event featured in the video below inspired us to find out where adventurous travellers can go to experience the excitement of Dragon Boat Festivals around the world!

This race was just one in a Dragonboat Weekend Challenge (September 13 & 14) for Bidborough Primary School PTA raising money for Demelza House Children’s Hospice. It is easy to spot Søren and Co. because they always wear their children’s yellow school caps. It’s a tradition they are reluctant to break!

It’s not too late to donate! Please visit justgiving.com/bidboroughdragons2014 to help a good cause!

Dragon Boat Festivals  – where to go!

Hong Kong

HK is the oldest host of International Dragon Boat Festival Races, with HKIR 1976 being credited as the beginning of a modern era in Dragon Boat racing. As such, it should be the destination of a lifetime for anyone who has a passion for the sport.

Stanley Dragon Boat Association runs an array of events on throughout the summer and into the autumn at Stanley Main Beach in Hong Kong. Alternatively, revelers can head to Tai Wan To beach on Lamma Island for a one day Dragon Boat extravaganza! The next Lamma 500 International Dragon Boat Festival will be held on Sunday 26th April 2015.

Stanley International Dragon Boat Races

Competitors in the Stanley International Dragon Boat Races – Image Courtesy of hongkongextras.com

Vancouver

Back in 1945, Vancouver was chosen to be the first city to hold a Dragon Boat Race outside Asia, but due to some political problems, the first race wasn’t held until 1986. It’s position as the North American gateway to Asia made it the ideal location to spread the joys of Dragon Racing, and it is still a great place to go to take part in festivities!

Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival is just one of many events held in Canada throughout the summer. This year’s event at Toronto Centre Island saw over 5,000 athletes take part, and next year’s (the 27th as Tim Horton’s TIDDBRF) will no doubt be just as impressive. Although the season for racing is coming to a close, should you find yourself in Cayuga on 04th October 2014, you’ll get a chance to see the Lively Dragon Cayuga to Dunnville, Grand River Run.

Toronto International Dragon Boat Racing Festival

Action at the Toronto International Dragon Boat Racing Festival – Image courtesy of isetang.ca

Taipei

Sunny Taipei is an idyllic location for Dragon Boat Festival celebrations, marked by a public holiday by the name of Duanwu Festival. Typical activities include preparing and eating zongzi (aka sticky rice dumplings), drinking realgar wine (a rather worrying mix of wine and arsenic-laden mineral!), and of course racing Dragon Boats.

Duanwu Festival is held on the 5th day of the 5th month of the traditional lunar calendar, which is why the date for Dragon Boat celebrations worldwide varies throughout the summer. In 2015 it will be held on June 20th, and the following year it will fall on June 09th.

Dragon Boats at Duanwu Festival in Taipei

A Rainbow of Dragon Boats at Duanwu Festival in Taiper – Image Courtesy of asiarooms.com

You can find out more about where Dragon Boat Races and Festivals are taking place at:

Worldwide Dragon Boat Race calendar

International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) event calendar

Wherever in the world you fancy taking part in celebrations or races, we are sure you’ll have plenty of fun.

Don’t forget we offer travel insurance to suit spectators and partakers!  Get a quick quote online or call us on 01892 628530.

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30 Ways To Use A Sarong – Essential Advice For Travellers

About to jet off on holiday? Never mind packing your toothbrush, just don’t forget your sarong!

A sarong is undoubtedly the most versatile piece of holiday kit going…  Here are some traditional and creative ways you can put yours to good use on holiday, along with some more unusual applications in the event of an emergency!

OK, so the obvious ones first:

    1. Tie round the waist for a beach skirt
    2. Wrap around the waist for a long skirt
    3. Fold in half and wrap around the waist for a short skirt
    4. Tie at the top of your chest for a simple beach dress
    5. Or over one shoulder and around your waist as a toga style dress
    6. Wear as trousers,no pins needed and takes less than a minute
Check out this awesome video from Friendships with Benefits YouTube channel:

  1. Keep warm by wearing a sarong as a scarf
  2. Or as a shawl
  3. As a blanket it can keep chills away too
  4. Worn as a headscarf is a fashion statement
  5. Wear as a kiffiyeah to keep dust out of your face
  6. To use as a bag simply wrap your things in the sarong, and tie the two ends together
30 Ways to Use a Sarong, as a headscarf

A stunning boho fashion statement, image courtesy of trailofinspiration.com


Now some innovative ideas you may or may not have tried before:

  1. A sarong is a perfect beach mat
  2. Ideal as a picnic blanket
  3. Works well as a lightweight towel
  4. Use as a curtains to cut out the light
  5. Or keep out light by making an eye mask, just wrap the sarong around the top of your head and over your eyes
  6. Sarongs are also great when made into a papoose for carrying small children
  7. Some people fashion them into a hammock for their babies
30 Ways to Use a Sarong, Curtains

Perfect to brighten up a bedroom – courtesy of brightestplanet.blogspot.co.uk

Next up, the sarong as a lifesaver!
  1. Use as an emergency bed sheet if your hostel mattress is a bit grim
  2. Sarongs are pretty good as a tourniquet in case of an emergency
  3. They make a great sling in an emergency too
  4. Also perfect as a bandage until you get medical help
  5. Sarongs can be used as emergency rope if needed
  6. As an emergency sail on a boat
  7. You can catch food when used as a fishing net if needed too
30 Ways to Use a Sarong, as a tourniquent

Great demonstration of improvising with a sarong in an emergency. Image sourced from 101usesforasarong.com


Did you know that a sarong has culinary uses too?

  1. Sarongs can be used as a colander
  2. Use as a coffee strainer when filters are nowhere to be found
  3. Wear it as an apron while cooking
  4. Or use as a tablecloth as a treat while on the road
30 Ways to Use a Sarong, as a tablecloth

The perfect stand in for a tablecloth, image courtesy of mexicalibluesblog.com


We don’t sell sarongs, but we do provide comprehensive travel insurance, essential for all holiday emergencies that sarongs just can’t fix. Get in touch with us today to get a quote!

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Alternative Aquitaine: Sun, Sand, and Surf’s Up in South-West France

Do you like sun, sand and surf? How about paragliding from sand dunes with views of pine forests as far as the eye can see? Oh, and the views include the Atlantic Ocean too. It may sound like something from a dream, but this is actually what it is like along the south-west coast of France.

So, if you find yourself with a week on your hands, and you want action and adventure mixed with a chilled surf vibe (without heading to distant shores) we suggest you hop on the next flight to Biarritz and check out these three fab destinations!

 

Contis-Plage

Just over 1 hour drive from Biarritz airport, you’ll find the fabulous seaside surf heaven of Contis-Plage.  After the small and unassuming town, towards the beach you’ll be greeted by timber shack-style shops that look in danger of being swamped by the sand dunes. Among the shacks are purveyors of surfboards, fine foods, and of course fabulous beers. The feeling is laid back, rustic, and unassumingly cool.

Contis Plage Beach, South West France

Contis Plage Beach – Image from 1000gites.com

The beach is long, and even in high season, you can find yourself somewhere quiet to sunbathe, or find your own stretch of sea to take on waves that attract surfers from far and wide. To the right of the beachfront “town” you can find a new type of development rising from the sand. Weathered wood is replaced with modernist architecture, but still with a vibe that keeps true to the laid-back roots of the area. Only a huge sand dune separates these houses from the sea, which have private paths over the dune to reach the beach, and many are actually available to rent as a holiday let.

Highlight: There is a restaurant bar on the other side of the rising sand dunes, overlooking the sea. It is open to the elements but perfect for replenishing lost energy after a morning or afternoon at the beach.

 

Dune du Pilat

If the sand dunes of Contis-Plage left you yearning for an even bigger beach, there is only one place to go – Dune du Pilat. The drive is just 1.5 hours through huge pine forests and along the coast.

There is no way of explaining to someone how vast this sand dune is… sure, it is over 3 kilometres long, half a kilometre wide and reaches more than 100 metres above sea level – but can you really imagine that? The best access to the dune is actually from Dune du Pyla campsite. You can choose to circumnavigate the dune to get to the beach, or take it on at a moderately easy level to get to the top.

Dune of Pilat Beach, South West France

Dune of Pilat, Image from travelioo.com

If you choose to attack the dune from the designated tourist spot, give yourself plenty of time. The ascent is breath-taking, and so are the views! Even the fittest don’t seem to get to the top in one go. Top tip is to take it easy, take some binoculars and use taking in the view on the way up as an excuse to have a rest.

At the top, you’ll be rewarded with astonishing views. To one side, all you’ll see as far as the horizon is pine forest. The trees are huge, but you’ll be way above the canopy. To the other side, the Atlantic Ocean glistening in the sun.

Highlight: Paragliding! The conditions are just perfect. Whether you book a flight yourself, or just come to watch others hanging around in the air, it somehow gives the dune an added sense of magnificence.

 

Lacanau Ocean

The final paradise in this beach trilogy is Lacanau Ocean. While the town itself feels like an end-of-the-line tourist destination, it is simple, welcoming and has some amazing food on offer. It also has a big wheel if you really like that kind of thing, but what really attracts people is the long sandy beach and the near-perfect surf. The drive from Contis is just over an hour – Warning: do not confuse with Lacanau, a nearby, and very pleasant town bordering lakes and pine forests.

The beach here, and the aforementioned fabulous surfing conditions make Lacanau Ocean a prime spot for professional surfers to have some fun. The waves are good all year round, and all day long, but August is the time that Lacanau Pro comes to town, an annual surf competition that is also the oldest in France. Should you happen to be here at the same time as the event, you’ll be able to see just how surfing should be done as the top 44 surfers in the world take to the waves.

Highlight: It is all about the watersports, and the best thing is that it doesn’t matter if you can surf or not, there is always a wave to suit. The shallow water means you can skimboard by the shore, bodyboard a metre or so in, paddle board a little further out, or go all out to catch the really big waves.

Lacanau Ocean Beach, South West France

Lacanau Ocean – Image from francethisway.com

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Coppertone MyUV Alert Review – Travel App of the Month

We’ve all been there – you’re off on your holiday as white as a glass of milk, eager to prove that you do and can tan to anybody on Facebook who might take the time to look! But alas, it’s never the case, and our insatiable need to be a gorgeous gold inevitably ends in sunburn disaster, which not only looks unsightly but is also very bad for your health. Never fear, faithful sun-worshippers, we’re on hand to offer you the best in safe tanning apps.

Coppertone MyUV Alert

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MyUV Alert – What Does it Do? 

Essentially, Coppertone MyUV Alert (despite boasting the least catchy title in the history of apps) is an unbelievably smart, health-conscious app that identifies the risks of sunbathing in your particular location and helps you to monitor and manage the situation to avoid any risky behaviour.

Features Include:

  • UV index levels for your current location (and for the precise time you’re using the app, rather than a peak figure for the day)
  • Multiple user profiles
  • General weather updates
  • Advice and guidance on protecting yourself and others from sun damage
  • Helpful reminder system to nudge you about applying sun cream, drinking water etc.

This app is the easy, responsible way to manage sun protection for your whole family, and its interactive nature means that you can tailor it to suit each person who has a profile – because everyone has different skin and different needs.

You can’t put a price on the preservation of your skin and general health, but this app is free anyway so you’d be wise to snap it up whilst you can!

MyUV AlertReviews 

Available for both iPhone and Android users, this app caters for travellers with all sorts of technological  preferences, and owing to its uncomplicated nature it functions well on most devices.

iPhone users have given it a respectable 3.5 out of 5 stars, whilst Android users have remained largely quiet about how useful it has been. This app does, however, feature on a number of respected websites and is a regular name in holiday-based articles, being strongly recommended by sun-health enthusiasts and regular trip-takers. And you know what they say – trust your peers!

Download  Coppertone MyUV Alert

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10 Ways To Beat The Stress of Bank Holiday Traffic

With as many as 18 million cars predicted to be on the road in search of a bank holiday break, travel between the 23rd and 25th August this year has the potential to be stressful! Here are our top tips for keeping calm, so you can carry on! 

Image Source - FortyThree Photography

Image from http://www.fortythreephotography.co.uk/

1 – Research your journey

Check for road works, and try and avoid roads that take you near areas of heavy congestion such as airports.  Apps for your phone and online journey planners show numerous ways to get from A to B, sometimes the scenic route during busy times can be faster!

2 – Time your journey well

While you may be off on a break, others will still be going to work, so make sure you avoid rush hour traffic. A good tip is to leave early in the morning before many other people are on the road, or after the evening rush, when most people want to be at their destination.

3 – Keep your ears open for traffic reports

Unfortunately accidents do happen. To make sure you avoid tailbacks caused by unfortunate events, enable the Traffic function on your car radio. If you have passengers with you ask someone to use a traffic app which will show real-time incidents and tailbacks with enough time for you to divert your course.

4 – Pack food and drink

If you do get stuck in a jam, being hungry or thirsty just won’t do. It is very important to have plenty of liquid to hand, especially in hot weather. Regular refreshments will help avoid dehydration and fatigue.

5 – Avoid motorway service stations

They may be convenient, but they are costly and full of people! When you plan your journey, find somewhere just off the motorway to stop. A more relaxing break will leave you better refreshed when on a long journey.

6 – Plan a pit stop somewhere nice

Breaking up a long journey by visiting a landmark, beauty spot or a place of interest can be a fun way for everyone to have a rest from being in the car. If you didn’t leave first thing in the morning (or after dinner), it is a fun way to avoid rush hour traffic.

Image source - Ant at FortyThreePhotography

Image from http://www.fortythreephotography.co.uk/

7 – Avoid a breakdown

Of the mechanical kind! Check your vehicle before travelling. Oil, coolant, wiper blades, screenwash and tyres should be on the list. If you have air-con you might want to get it checked before you travel, so you can be sure it will keep you cool on a hot day! If you are hiring a car, consider taking out car hire excess insurance – just in case.

8 – Take in-car entertainment

Whether it is I-spy, or your favourite CD collection – making sure that spirits are high on the journey will make for a more pleasant experience for everyone. Restless children might appreciate magnetic travel games, colouring books and pencils, or even an electronic device to play games on or watch films.

9 – Share the driving

Tiredness causes accidents, and increases stress levels. It is recommended that drivers take a 20 minute rest every 2.5 hours, but for eager holiday makers on a long journey, this advice is often overlooked. If there is another driver in the car, ask to share the driving responsibilities, so when you stop, they can carry on!

10 – Consider public transport

Shock, horror! Catch a train, coach, or maybe even fly! While bank holidays are a busy time for all forms of transport, sometimes being able to sit back and relax while someone else takes care of the journey can be a refreshing experience indeed!

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