The UK is officially overworked. UK workers face longer weeks than their continental counterparts, and barely even take any time off for lunch. Compare this to countries such as France whose workforce enjoy a leisurely, drawn-out lunch hour, or the Spanish who even take an afternoon siesta, and us Brits can rightly say, we need a holiday!

While a high rate of productivity is important to help drag us out of the recession, time off is crucial for maintaining motivation, and above all, sanity! What a frustration then when holidays, intended to be a relaxing, stress-free getaway, come with their own set of worries. We have all heard horror stories about dilapidated hotels, flights to isolated airports and poor quality, but often it’s the little niggles that add up to turn a blissful break into a vexing vacation!

Picture the scene, your alarm clock doesn’t wake you up in time, you are late to the airport, your bags are overweight, a newborn is screaming in your eat for the entire flight, then you arrive at your destination only to realize you have forgotten something small but vital such as a mains adaptor. Already the holiday is off to a poor start and you are uptight instead of chilled.

Luckily there are a number of new gadgets ready for the Summer, targeted at easing your getaway gaffs. One of which is a portable luggage scale, this allows you to weigh your bags before you arrive the airport, eliminating the chance of paying the extortionate fees charged by money grabbing ‘budget’ airlines for your bag being a gram overweight.

Using the potable scale also means you can be as generous with your luggage as you can cram in everything you’d possibly need, you might even be able to fit that extra souvenir in on upon your return! This is a gizmo that would be universally handy to all, the only people I can’t think of that would need one are the England football team, their luggage is so devoid of accolades that it could probably all be flown back using an RC Helicopter!

Even if you were to find your bags overweight before you get to the conveyor belts, a quick swap of items between friends or family members, then measured by the portable scale could save you a handful of cash. Products like this would make great gifts for holiday-makers looking to remove the clutter and stress from their dream vacation. For a small investment you could save hundreds on baggage charges, money that would be better spent on an extra jug of sangria by the pool!

France is renowned for its high quality of wine and is a very popular tourist destination for this reason. The country is the world’s largest manufacturer of this alcoholic beverage and is second only to Spain in the amount of land covered by vineyards. If you have decided to travel to France to sample the laid back lifestyle while tasting some of the finest wine you will ever taste then these are the regions you will want to choose from. Remember that the correct wine glasses will help you to get the most out of your wine tasting experience.

For those who want to sample some great wines whilst also being able to see some sights and relax on the glorious beaches in the south of France Provence is a must. Provence is full of small medieval villages and was where Van Gogh based himself for a period of his life.

Located in Eastern France close to Germany is Alasace famous for its white wine. The grapes that they use in this region are the same varieties they use over the border in Germany to produce many of their wines.

For the red wine fans out there Bordeaux should be a stop on your travels. Bordeaux predominantly produces red wine although does also have some well known and very sweet white wines. Sitting alongside the Atlantic Ocean Bordeaux is ideally situated to export its wine to the rest of the world.

Burgundy is a area for those who want like wines both red and white, as they are produced in equally measure across the region. Of course everyone will know Burgundy for its famous red wine of the same name but there are also a lot of high quality white wines to sample in the area as well. Burgundy produces a wine called Beaujolais Nouveau, which is the only wine that can be consumed within the same year as its creation.

When people think of French wine one wine everyone remembers is Champagne. The coldest wine producing region in France, Champagne does produce a variety of still wines but is of course famous for its sparkling wine.

The Loire Valley produces mainly white wine alongside the Loire River. The region is split into a further 4 wine producing areas where the Upper Loire Valley produces the well known and popular Sauvignon Blanc.

I hope this article has provided you with some good ideas of where to travel in France dependant on your wine tasting needs.

The Isle of Wight is an excellent destination for everyone from honeymooning couples to families just on the lookout for a great time. With a rich history and unsurpassed scenery, there is much to experience on the Isle of Wight. The following are just 10 of the many great things you can do while visiting this beautiful place.

1. The Isle of Wight Steam Railway is world-famous. Run by volunteers, this is a popular attraction for tourists of all ages. It is not surprising, because you can experience a true blue steam locomotive and rich railway café. Taking a ride on this railway is a classic way to experience the beauty of the Isle of Wight. It is possible to take a day trip or to participate in one of the many gala events.

2. Ryde Castle is an excellent place to visit with its interesting architecture, said to have been originally commissioned by Henry VIII. The Castle’s original purpose was to defend Spithead and other areas from attack or invasion by the Spanish. During World War I, the castle was used as an infirmary for troops wounded on the Western front, and during World War II, it was often a headquarters for the army.

3. Another great place to visit is Dinosaur Isle. This is one of the most unique and famous museums in the world. The museum is a Paeleontologist’s dream – with mass appeal to both adults and kids alike. Opened in 2001, it claims to be the first custom museum of its type anywhere in the Britain. In Dinosaur Isle, you will see dramatic life-sized recreations and some of the most important fossilized relics ever discovered in Europe.

4. Fakenham Farm is a great place to go for a complete family treat, were you can see a wide variety of animals. Perhaps the most popular of the resident species are the Shetland ponies, emus, and water buffalos. You can see the farm’s hatching house, stroke some amazing animals in the barn, and probably learn something new with each visit.

5. While visiting the Isle of Wight, I would recommend taking part in some of the unique festivals held there. The Isle of Wight International Jazz Festival and Isle of Wight Festival for rock music are well established events. More recently, Bestival has grown in popularity, and is great fun for those who love to mix the vibrant music scene with the colour of the fancy dress themes. Here, you can experience some of the best music in the world.

6. If you want heady relaxation then travel over to Shanklin Chine. This is one of the most special areas of the island and guarantees some tranquil moments. Look out for the rare varieties of vegetation and wildlife, and enjoy the constant flow of water over the waterfall.

7. Even if garlic is not your thing, a visit to the garlic farm can be quite a joy. You can gain some insight to how this ancient is grown and what its uses have been throughout the years. Additionally, there are delicious cloves and plants of garlic to purchase for consumption or for planting.

8. The Needles Rock and Lighthouse is one of the most iconic elements on the Isle of Wight. You can take a ride in one of the chairlifts, if you dare, and experience some spectacular views as you descend to Alum Beach below. Arguably the most special part of this place is the unusual hues in the sand, and the wonderful turquoise colours in the sea. Additionally, there are other activities to enjoy such as the Jurassic Golf, a nine hole course set amongst dinosaur scenes. You should, of course, take the time to visit the Sweet Manufactory to see how some of the nation’s traditional sweets are made.

9. The Isle of Wight coastline is rich in opportunities to enjoy sailing adventures. Visit Cowes to take advantage of the world-famous sailing facilities. Here, both beginners and experts will find what they need to improve their sailing techniques. Additionally, there are many opportunities for those who love windsurfing, paragliding and other outdoor and water-focused sports and activities.

10. The island is famous for its speedway team – the Islanders – which is a great attraction for locals and mainlanders alike. Every single year, thousands of car and race enthusiasts stop here to see some stunning action. The best riders in the world have all visited and raced here.

For further information, dates and prices visit Island Breaks.