This might not sound like a very tempting holiday to most of us, but it’s becoming more and more common amongst Western travellers. Whether they’re heading off on a hiking holiday, taking in the beauty of potentially volatile regions such as North Korea (which sees a surprising number of visitors from the UK and Europe), or even travelling for work-related reasons (numerous reporters and photographers are tasked with heading into extremely unpredictable areas such as Iraq and Libya).

If you are planning on heading to a region that could be considered hostile (either due to the political situation, the weather or the terrain), then you need to ensure you’re properly prepared and equipped. We don’t all have the resources to employ a close protection team, but employing education in order to prepare yourself is within reach of the majority of travellers. Hostile environment training can prove to be invaluable if you’re planning on heading off to somewhere potentially dangerous, particularly considering they are usually tailored to the region you’re visiting.

Let’s say for example you’re planning on heading out to somewhere like South America to visit the jungle, or hike in the beautiful terrain surrounding the populated areas. You might be an experienced hiker and feel comfortable in this area, but what happens if you’re involved in an accident (either on your own or with fellow hikers) and you’re a long way away from the nearest hospital? In this instance, prior medical training could be the difference between life and death (as could the right kind of equipment such as trauma bags or satellite phones).

Beyond this you will find a number of high quality national parks to visit such as Glacier Bay National Park. Of course many people visit Alaska every year not just for the beautiful and unusual scenery but also for the fishing that goes hand in hand with a holiday in Alaska. Many of the cruises will stop in port for a full day allowing you to hop off and spend a day fishing is you so wish; returning once you’ve had your fill. The majority of cruises will set sail from either Seattle or Vancouver giving you the chance to arrive a few days early and enjoy some of the treats these impressive cities have to offer before setting out on your wilderness adventure.

The main things you probably look for within a family resort are as follows; does it include Swimming Pools,
Sport’s activities such as Basketball courts Kids’ and clubs? And most importantly how close to the beach is it?

Northern Brittany

Carantec Parc les Mouettes

If the kids love to swim and parents are taken away by beautiful scenery then this is the location for your family. The main attraction is a fantastic swimming pool complex, overlooked by the terrace.  Children can grab a dingy and whizz round the waterslide in minutes along with being surrounded by pretty trees and flowers. A relaxing and safe environment!

There is also a crazy golf course and extreme activities available within the complex. You can even take a family kayaking trip.

Languesdoc- Roussillon (South of France)

A resort that is close to the beach and walking distance of the lively bars and restaurants. Canet Place, is the one of the safest beaches that offers water sports for all the family along with a range of fishing villages so Dad won’t get bored. If you are an energetic family and love cycling then the Roussillon’s nature reserve made up of winding roads, crossed with cycle tracks.

Catalonia

Salou; Cambrills Park

Cambrils Park offers a fantastic range of pools that are themed to suit the interests of kids with different personalities. Some of the pools include animation and others simply offering a vast amount of sporting activities, competitions, aerobics, discos and shows.

If you and the kids are chasing an adrenalin rush, then the Port Aventura themes park is only 3km away from this location. Definitely a fun day out for all the family!

Greece

Neos Marmaras- Camping Areti

Family holidays don’t have to be loud and crazy with masses of people in one place. It is sometimes nice to escape from this and head for a more private resort. Camp Areti is a more laid back, relaxed and fairly quiet resort which includes private beaches. Really live outdoors by cooking on the communal BBQ or take a trip to the on- site restaurant. There are plenty of sight-seeing opportunities available in beautiful Greece and fun things to do such as horse riding, karting and water sports.

USA

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Thinking further afield? Myrtle Beach, South Carolina can offer you a family holiday of a life time. Packed full of exciting events and available excursions you simply want to stay for ever more. The resort is situated within walking distance of two amusement parks miniature golf courses and live music theatres. There are some of the most beautiful beaches in this location which makes the holiday even more worthwhile.

Written on behalf of Keycamp Family Holidays.

To ensure you’re fully prepared, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office has instigated the Know Before You Go campaign, attempting to highlight to UK travellers the importance of prior preparation and planning. The campaign advocates the following before travelling to any foreign country:

• Make sure you’re fully aware of any medical requirements well in advance of your date of travel. If you need to get injections or other medicine prior to travelling, make sure you have this organised before you go.
• If you suffer from any serious medical conditions, make sure you have details of your conditions on you at all times, as well as a sufficient supply of any necessary medication.
• Make sure find out the most suitable travel insurance for your needs, and that you’re fully insured before travelling.
• Ensure you know all local laws and customs, even if you’re travelling somewhere that doesn’t seem that different to the UK – for example, different American states have different laws, so if you’re planning to travel to more than one state in the US you need to make sure you’re aware of the law. The last thing you want is to have to deal with getting arrested or needing a criminal law solicitor while abroad.
• Make sure you have a copy of your passport, and that it’s stored in a safe place (in case of loss or theft).

This wasn’t a week in bountiful Butlins nor a hazy weekend playing pub golf in Bournemouth.  My friend James had just taken out van finance on a wonderful Volkswagen camper he named daisy.

Daisy was a beautiful old girl who just been restored; even though she couldn’t pull the skin off of a price pudding but she was hot stuff and had plenty of style. The van really got people’s heads turning whenever we pulled up at camp sites along the way.

Fitting three grown men is this camper did prove to become quite a problem, luckily we bought a spare tent along for the ride just so we could all get are heads down somewhere.  We took turns sleeping top-to-tail in the snug little van while the straggler or most drunk slept in the tent.

There was one downfall to sleeping inside the van, this which meant having to fold up the bed to access the pathetic excuse of a kitchen which laid underneath.

Our journey took us from our home town of Chichester in West Sussex to the small but beautiful town of Bos Castle on the western coast of Cornwall.

Our five day journey across south western counties of England was terrific fun!  Of course we went for a night out in Bournemouth; it would of been rude not to. We did however go and see many sights along the way  that we wouldn’t of normally of gone to as they were easily accessible to us.

One stop off that really fascinated me was our tour around Kents Cavern in Torquay.

Undoubtedly the most spectacular cave in the United Kingdom.  Kent’s Cavern is shrouded from roof to the ceiling in mind blow geological architecture.

                      Stalactites haning from the cave roof and  stalagmites rising from the cave floors

Geologists date this cave to be hundreds of thousands years old and still to this day it looks absolutely fantastic.

We also went to see remains of the Okehampton castle, which sat on the famous Dartmoor dreary bog lands.

It’s said this is one of the oldest castles in the United Kingdom and has even been mentioned in the Domesday Book.

On our arrival to Boscastle we were pretty relieved that the wagon made it the entire way without breaking down once, however we did take it easy on the old girl!

A beautiful sunset the evening we reached the beautiful town of Bocastle. The holiday was fantastic, we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

If you’ve got children, then chances are you’ll be ensuring you’ve got everything to keep them safe from the sun, such as sun cream designed for kids, burn cream just in case, suitable shading (umbrella, car window cover, etc). But many people overlook their children’s eye safety, forgetting to take suitable sunglasses with them for their kids.

You mightn’t think that sunglasses are an important consideration for a child, but they’re just as crucial for them as they are for adults.  Many high profile opticians, including Vision Express and Direct Sight, have stated that young kids should be introduced to eye protection and sunglasses as early as possible, reducing the possibility of damage to their eyes as they’re growing up. The RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind) has echoed this advice, suggesting that children need to have their eyes protected from prolonged exposure to the sun, whether you’re travelling abroad or staying in the UK this summer.

Although experts disagree on the exact figure, it’s generally accepted that somewhere between 50% and 80% of sun exposure (both the eyes and skin) takes place before we’re 18 years old – suggesting that it’s these earlier years that we need to pay the most attention to the protection of our children’s eyes.

Many opticians are also warning about the dangers of buying fake designer sunglasses (both for yourself and for your children) when travelling abroad, particularly those sold by market traders or any proprietor without a permanent establishment. Many British people are tempted by the fake designer goods available in many popular holiday destinations, particularly given the prices are often hundreds of pounds cheaper. However, the lenses in these sunglasses are almost always sub-standard, meaning they offer little or no protection from the sun. This is particularly pertinent when it comes to children, as people are often tempted to buy cheap sunglasses for their kids, especially when the traders are selling fake brands and frames that are often targeted at younger markets.

Guest post from Zara, who works for a company specialising in designer eyewear, including Carrera, Oakley, Ray Ban sunglasses and many, many more. She’s also hugely interested in eyecare and optical health, and dedicated lots of time and effort to educating people on looking after their eyes.

1. An Emergency Kit. Nobody plans for disasters, but you can be prepared for when they occur. When travelling long distances by car, always pack an emergency kit. This kit should contain, first aid, jump cables, full petrol can, car jack, flash light, spare tyre, pressure gauge, water, oil, road side flares, high-visibility jackets and a small portable tool kit.

2. Take Regular Breaks. One of the most common causes of fatal road accidents is fatigue. Take regular breaks, get out of the car and have some fresh air. Should you feel tired whilst driving, open a window to allow cold air in until you find a place to pull over and have a quick 40 winks.

3. Road Service Membership. We’ve all seen the adverts on television, but road side services such as the AA can be an absolute lifesaver when stuck in the middle of nowhere.

4. Get your car serviced. Prior to any long distance car journey, you should always have your car inspected and serviced appropriately, especially important for used cars. This will ensure that your car is prepared for the long distance you have planned to make.

5. Plan for the unexpected. As with any long distance travelling, you are sure to have ups and downs. If you are driving new car, familiarise yourself with all its functions and equipment, test drive the vehicle to become confident in the way it handles. If you are travelling with small children, make sure that you think ahead and bring plenty of activities to keep them busy. Plan your trip in advance and familiarise yourself with your route. Bring a paper map (in addition to GPS devices) and know where all of the safest rest stops, restaurants, hotels and historical sites are along the way.

With this in mind you will have peace of mind that you prepared as much as you could, and can get on with enjoying your time and creating those wonderful family memories.

The UK has a huge amount to offer as a holiday destination, and many of us just don’t take advantage of what’s right on our doorstep. Not only is there a huge variety of holidays on offer in the UK, but compared to travelling abroad you could save yourself a considerable sum of money.

So, for those considering a UK breaks this summer, here’s a few ideas for holiday destinations in the UK:

1. London
If you’re heading off with your wife or husband, or you’re taking a holiday with friends, why not consider taking a shopping trip to the South of England. London is the obvious main destination, offering one of the most eclectic shopping experiences in the world. No matter what you’re looking for, whether it’s vintage gems in second hand retro shops and market stall or designer fashions from top boutiques, you’ll find what you’re looking for in England’s capital. On top of this, London has a huge amount to offer in terms of sights, attractions and activities, ensuring you’re never short of things to do. Catch a Premier League football game at one of the City’s numerous top-flight football clubs, take in the Houses Of Parliment, Big Ben or the London Eye, take in London’s iconic architecture, enjoy a picnic in Hyde Park, take a boat ride town the Thames or visit the world famous London Zoo – the list goes on and on. The down side of a visit to London is the price of accomodation and general living in the capital, making it more suitable for a weekend visit.

2. Brighton
If you’re down South, why not head to Brighton – the most eccentric, colourful and welcoming seaside City in the country. Like London, Brighton is a fantastic destination for shopping, featuring every kind of shop from expensive designer boutiques to tiny vintage shops. What Brighton offers that London doesn’t however is a beautiful stone beach and wonderful sea air. Brighton Pier is famous worldwide and the shopping and attractions along Brighton Seafront make it a fantastic location for relaxing in the sun with the family. Brighton is also a renowned destination for holidays with friends, including stag do’s and hen nights. This is largely due to the extremely vibrant night-life in Brighton, with bars, clubs and restaurants abound throughout the City. Unfortunately Brighton can also be fairly expensive, depending on where you’re happy to stay and spend your time. If budget isn’t an issue then you’ll be able to take advantage of any 5 star guest house in Brighton, many of which are world renowned, but for those on a tighter budget you’ll find numerous B&B’s and guest houses which will be more suitable.

3. Edinburgh
Arguably the most popular holiday destination in Scotland, Edinburgh has a huge amount to offer to holidaymakers, regardless of the type of break you’re looking for. Edinburgh is a fantastic destination for sightseeing and taking in historical monuments, with numerous attractions for tourists. The City is also a great location for shopping, featuring a huge range of boutique fashion houses, vintage stores and high street retail chains. As well as the city itself, there is a wealth of wonderful countryside to explore around Edinburgh. One of the best ways to do this is by motorhome, as it affords you the freedom to travel and stop whenever and wherever you want, and you can experience the real wilds of Scotland

But with the increase in people doing these long distance runs, I have made it my mission to increase the adoption of yoga as a method of preparing your muscles for the runs and making sure they are in top shape for your next long distance run.

Whilst running is good for your cardio training and builds strength to the muscles, it tends to leave them contracted and shortens them. Whilst the perfect antidote for the tightness of long distance running are the abundance of positions in yoga that are perfect for stretching out and lengthening the muscles.

The usual suspects that are good to work for runners are the hamstrings, the glutes, the hips and the buttocks and with a whole range of suitable postures to give these muscles a good work out, there are of course many other stretches and exercises that are good for runners. The best beginner/intermediate yoga postures for runners are as follows.

The “Downward Dog” is the first on our list as it is a good stretch to aid the muscles in the legs whilst also giving a good amount of exercise to the shoulders and back. This is great for alignment and can help with the posture and key elements to ensure fitness whilst running and is a great warm up for getting a lot of the muscles warmed up and lengthened.

This position is good for lengthening the muscles but there are some more positions that are beneficial to runners also as they will help with circulation, breathing, flexibility and ultimately strength.
A typical runner with have a flawed running technique and will experience too much pounding, tightening and shortening of the muscles and not enough focus is put on restorative and elongating muscle exercises.
If you feel you could be in need of a break in a warmer climate and for those that are interested in a yoga spa holiday, the tutors in charge will be able to take what you enjoy the most and give you exercises as a means to help your muscles for repairing.

SOUTHLAND Camping Park, Newchurch, PO36 0LZ (Tel: 01983 865385)
This is famous for many camping attributes and has been the beneficiary of many industry awards including the AA Best Campsite in Southern England. When you get here it is easy to see why, as the whole site is absolutely immaculate and offers top notch facilities.
Both touring caravans and motor homes are welcome on this site alongside over 120 pitches – all very generous in size, and all with electric hook-up.
What is attractive about this place is that it appears to be quite remote, so it quiet at night for those who like to get their rest after a tough day exploring.
Despite this, it’s easily walkable to the nearest village of Newchurch where you will find the hospitable The Pointer Inn, and only three miles by car from the immaculate sandy beaches of Sandown and Shanklin which are great for the kids.
On site facilities at Southlands are excellent – and much effort from the staff is invested into ensuring that the toilet blocks and showers are kept clean at all times.

If you find that you are unable to get the pitch that you wanted, you can try the extensive list of Isle of Wight bed and breakfast accommodation. Going down this route is guaranteed to take the strain from you break, and give you more time to spend enjoying yourself with your partner or your family.