It's Official - Britain Needs Another Holiday!

So the chances are, if you’re British, you haven’t had a holiday in far too long. Yes, you have time off work – but it’s pretty likely that you rarely go anywhere, spending a good deal of your annual leave at home. And if you’re anything like me, being at home leads to all manner of unexciting things such as doing the washing and (kill me now) ironing. It’s not good. And now there’s a name for it. Vacationitis.

When was the last time you had the chance to jet off into the sunset?

A recent study by Hilton has found that, on average, us full time workers in the UK only spend 8 of our 24 day leave allowance actually enjoying ourselves. The other 16 days are when we tackle “domestic admin” (a phrase that’s making me feel itchy already). Worse still, half of us haven’t had a holiday in over a year, with a jaw-dropping 5% being holiday deprived for 10 years or more. Of course, there’ll always be times when we’re redecorating, or waiting for a new bed/wardrobe/fridge to be delivered. But 10 years without a holiday? Not good. Last year I posted about the findings from a study by the British Heart Foundation which showed that not travelling enough was the top regret among us Brits. Better to regret something you did do than something you didn't.  And it seems to be no fluke that the people who do travel don’t tend to ever regret it. So what are we waiting for?

The current climate of economic struggles and the need to cut back on our disposable spends can certainly mean we’re unable to do all the travelling we’d wish, but with commitment and savvy planning you can still go on holiday! And if you can, you should! I’m a firm believer that a change of scene is one of the best ways to forget about the worries of trudging life’s treadmill. 

If you physically take yourself away from your problems, you can learn to let them bother you less. And there’s no better distraction than a beautiful view, a new city to explore, or the feeling of the ocean supporting your work-weary bones. A trip away is chance for you to remember that you’re more than your full-time job (even if it’s a job you love).

Two weeks of this? Don't mind if I do!

And before you start to wonder how you’ll afford a two week break in the sun – well it won’t work for everyone. And if two weeks away seems like far too long for you to be away from your reality (or possibly just from family who rely on you), the odd overnight break or weekend away can truly work wonders. Look at budget airlines and consider European cities other than the usual suspects of Paris and Rome. These are beautiful places, but it’s entirely possible you’ll get a better bargain flying to somewhere like Lisbon in Portugal or Bilbao in Spain.  Both are on my radar for bargain flight prices, and in a few months I’ll be posting about just how far I can make my money go on an upcoming three night break to the Portuguese capital.

There are also your local travel options to explore. Have you been to the museums close to where you live? Have you ever stayed in a hotel in your own city? You might be surprised by what’s on offer – many city hotels do excellent deals, and if you take a Monday off work, there’s every possibility of a cheap Sunday overnight stay, with dinner often thrown in too.

You don't necessarily need to travel far to just take the time to enjoy the good things in life

So there you go!  You really don’t have to go far to make the most of a holiday (though if you can, good for you!). It’s much more about making the choice to do something, or go somewhere purely for the purpose of enjoyment, and then to make sure you stick by your decision.

Don’t be a vacationitis statistic!

And don’t stay home doing the ironing on your day off!

Have you ever felt like you wasted your time off? And where would you suggest is a good place to visit if you can only manage a few days off work? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Weekend Picture Pick: Come to the Cavern

I haven't spent much time in my home city of Liverpool recently, but I'll be rectifying that soon.

One place that's always worth a visit for anyone making a first time trip to the city is the famous Cavern club.

The place oozes with character and is a must see for any one who has ever hummed along, or sang along, to a Beatles song...that'll be everyone in the world, then!

Memorabilia on the walls of the Cavern club.

You Might Not Know It Yet, But Munich Loves You!

When I recently visited Munich, I thought I only really went for the Christmas Markets. Yet only a couple of hours after arriving, I unexpectedly found myself walking around the centre of the city, telling my husband I could totally live there. And he completely agreed.

Looking out across Munich's historic centre; the New Town Hall to the right, Frauenkirche Cathedral to the left

So what was it about Munich that I found so mesmerising?

Well, for starters, the standard of living is exceptionally good, so there's no doubt life can be pretty peachy here. Crime rates are also low which means it's a safe place to call home. For me though, it was more of a feeling. And it's only since I came home that I've discovered the city's motto is "Munchen mag dich" which means "Munich loves you". Prior to 2006, the motto was "Weltstadt mit Herz" or "World city with a heart"  - You get the picture. And as a visitor, that's exactly the impression I got.

The wonderful building of the Old Town Hall

Of course, I think it helped that I could pull off looking local too. You see, I spent much of last year's holiday time in Greece and Italy and this classic English Rose (ok, milky white) glow and blonde hair combo really screamed tourist! In Germany however, I could fit right in. And I quite enjoyed it when the locals started up conversations with me in their native tongue, so much so that I felt a pang every time I hit my language limit and had to start speaking in English.

Looking up, as always, through the trees

One thing that didn't surprise me about this city was that everything just worked. And the S-Bahn and U-Bahn trains were a shining example. I hadn't been to Germany before, and I really wanted to experience public transport efficiency, given that it's often a sore point in the UK (It's good here, but I always think it could be better). I was not disappointed in Munich. Getting around the city was simple and super fast. Another box ticked for me!

Postcard worthy German street scenes

It was also an easy city to get to know by walking - and I have to thank the fabulous Julika from Sateless Suitcase for pointing me in the direction of Sandeman's New Europe walking tours. With an enthusiastic guide, we wandered the streets; learning and looking up. Let me tell you, this is one very pretty city! Best of all, the tour is free! It works on a tips only basis, so your guide is sure to do a good job.The walk was hugely satisfying and I completely recommend it. You'll discover heaps about Munich's history (and heaps about German beer)!

An unexpected sight on our walking tour!

City colour in Munich's buildings

Moving on to the drinking...Well, Munich is famous for beer! And if I ever return, I'll try to visit the beer gardens in the Summer sunshine. In December, we stuck to the brauhaus option. And again, I fell in love with Germany! Not just for the beer, but for the whole experience - shared benches and tables mean mixing with other people and this completely confirms that Germans are a friendly and welcoming bunch. 

As for the the food they serve? Well, it got the thumbs up from me in terms of winter comfort - pork shoulder and dumplings with sauerkraut? Traditional and oh so tasty (yet another box ticked for me and my meat loving man)!

Happiness found in a hearty dinner and a half drunk beer. Munich magic!

This was a trip largely driven by a wish to go anywhere in Germany that would be cheap to get to whilst fitting into a very tight window of dates. But as it turned out, Munich was one of my biggest city break success stories, and a place I'd love to return to. 

Oktoberfest anyone?

Have you been to Munich? Did you enjoy it?

Weekend Picture Pick: Kittens in Kos

It's Friday, and if you're anything like me, you're relieved that you've made it to the end of another week! So what better way to cheer you up than by looking at something cute?

And what could be more cute than kittens?

These were photographed on the Greek Island of Kos last summer. And they were adorable.

Yeah, I know I'm cute. 

The Lake District and a Birthday in Beautiful Bowness

We pass by the Lake District in the North of England every time we make the journey to visit our family in Scotland. But the motorway exits usually serve no purpose besides punctuating the long and often monotonous drive. 

Sometimes, I even visit the picturesque town of Kendal for work meetings. But again, there's nothing much for me to see besides the interior of a meeting room before I need to hurry back to my office in Manchester.

When I reached the end of my twenties, I decided it was only fair to mark the occasion, so instead of passing the Lakes by as usual, this time we booked a two night stay in Bowness-on-Windermere. We were keen to see more of the Lake District than just the bland, blue signs of the M6 motorway junctions.

Evening falls on Lake Windermere

Bowness is a perfect spot to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Lake Windermere, and is a wonderful English village that harbours a bustling, cosmopolitan vibe.  In truth, we'd barely travelled two hours by car to get there, yet we felt a world away from our Monday to Friday routine.

From Bowness, you can explore more of what the area has to offer, including taking a boat trip on the Lake, which I highly recommend, come rain or shine!

My Birthday Girl boat trip

Bowness offers plenty to do (especially when it comes to eating and drinking - no complaints from me, then). We enjoyed Spanish tapas, outstanding traditional fish and chips, and some of the best Italian food I've ever had in England. And of course, being something of a shopaholic, I was more than happy to meander the shops - especially those selling beautiful silver jewellery.

All in all, it was a fabulous birthday. But the real lesson for me was in learning that the change of scene you need, can sometimes be closer to home than you think. You too may have so far overlooked it without even realising.

One thing is definitely for sure; we'll be making time to discover more of the Lake District in future. It's the perfect escape from city life.

Have you been to the Lake District? Do let me know in the comments! And check out the Go Lakes website for activity ideas should you be either returning to this part of the world, or planning your first visit.

We stayed in The Cranleigh, where boutique hotel meets B&B hospitality. Our stay wasn't sponsored, and this recommendation comes purely from my own opinion.

Understanding and Underestimating the Power of Photographs

In the beginning, writing about my travels and the thoughts that they provoked was all for me. It was a way I could keep memories alive; a way to take me back to places I loved without the need to go anywhere at all. Only when I turned my writing into this blog, did I realise something pretty fundamental. 

My photographs were rubbish!

They were mostly holiday snaps. You know, stand in front of a vaguely acceptable view with a cocktail in your hand, grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat. And while pictures like that are great for your own mementos, they just don't cut it when you put them in a post. 

A photo taken with my old camera - I still love it for that view of Venice

I've always watched other people with their cameras, and I'm guilty of thinking that maybe taking photographs was easy. It's not. But taking good pictures means you're rewarded. And in more recent trips, I've come to appreciate the mosaic of memories I've created through my snapping more than ever before.

My favourite photo of the poet Dante, in Verona

Reading travel blogs makes you see that although words can indeed be enough, a photo has an instant impact and the power of a strong image pulls the reader into the page, hungry for more. I know this because it happens to me all the time. I'm engaged by a photograph, and the words that seem to sing alongside it, manage to paint me into that picture. The combination makes me want to be there, or sometimes, believe I already am.

Trying to capture the colours of Munich, in the street outside the Cathedral

So I've upgraded my camera. And even though it's still a compact point and shoot, it's infinitely better than the digi-dinosaur I was using before. I'm also learning. When I look at the photos of blogs like Adventurous Kate, or Eurotriptips, I know I've got a long way to go, both in terms of shooting and in editing, too. So I scour travel sites I love in search of tips on photography and I try harder (even if it slows us down) when we're out and about. These days, my camera comes out with me almost all the time. Just in case. 

And when I don't have my camera, I'm using my smartphone - the potential in this is phenomenal. And with a plethora of helpful apps, I've plenty to keep me busy.

A different look at Liverpool - and a photo from a smartphone

I've started to see the world with a different eye, and it looks good! Maybe good enough for you to start to see the difference. I can only hope! In the meantime, while I'm writing up my travels from the past, don't be too disappointed with the photography (or lack, thereof). It's a learning curve, but I'm improving, I promise. 

And if you've anything to teach me I'll be entirely grateful for your photography tips!

How important is photography to you? And what advice would you give this eager to learn amateur? Let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear from you!

Weekend Picture Pick: Faces of Rome

If you like museums, you can't afford to miss a visit to the Vatican City.

The queues may seem intimidating during the main summer tourist season, but you can book tickets in advance. It's worth devoting half a day to explore the museum, maybe longer, depending on how long you want to spend staring at the ceiling of the Sistine chapel at the end of your visit.

Faces of Rome in the Vatican Museum

Have you been to the Vatican Museum?