Travel Sites
A travel sites review blog and travel blog
Surdyke.com – Your Online Harley-Davidson Destination
May 4th
Surdyke is a top online destination for genuine Harley-Davidson parts, accessories and MotorClothes at great prices. Established in 1999, Surdyke.com provides an extensive selection of authentic Harley-Davidson (H-D) products for both men and women riders who want to improve and personalize their Harley experience or are first time buyers.
Apparel for men and women is among the many great products offered at Surdyke.com. You can choose from a huge collection of H-D clothing and accessories to cover all of your motorcycle needs and unique style. Choose from quality items including: helmets, leather jackets, leather chaps, leather vests, gloves, performance eyewear, belts and buckles, heated gear, rain gear, wallets, purses, and much more.
Looking for a new or used Harley bike? Surdyke.com has you covered. You can easily and conveniently obtain information and a price quote about new Harleys, or check out the more than 100 previously owned Harleys for sale in the used inventory database.
Keeping your Harley-Davidson running in tip top shape is important, and Surdyke.com makes sure that all of your maintenance needs are met. From surface care and tools, to classic motor parts, tries, and beyond, your bike will always be in top working order and looking at its best.
No matter if you are in search of Harley Davidson gifts, parts, apparel, or aftermarket products, everything H-D you could want or need – including great sales, superior customer service, and customer loyalty offers – can be found at Surdyke.com.
Packing for a family holiday.
Apr 24th
Packing for a family holiday can be a daunting task, particularly if you’ve got small children. But there are a few items of both necessity and novelty which will make your holiday journey overall much more enjoyable! Here’s a list of some of the things you may want to take on your next trip…
First aid kit – if you’re a weird, organised person like me, you will take a small amount of joy in filling a plastic box with neatly packed and thoughtfully chosen first aid items, safe in the knowledge that minor ailments are taken care of! Plasters, painkillers, antiseptic cream, any allergy tablets, and inhalers are all things that could be essential to your family trip.
Lots of water bottles – Obviously, you won’t be allowed to take a military size supply of water bottles on the plane, but these could be handy if you’ve got a long road trip in store, as buying them bulk from your supermarket is often cheaper from occasionally filling up on expensive service station drinks. And in a hot car, it can be important to keep hydrated.
Tissues and wet wipes – Of course, after drinking all that water, you may need to make an impromptu bathroom stop at the nearest miscellaneous wooded area (something most has experienced on a family road trip!) These are also very handy for general grubbiness cleaning if you’ve got small children.
Activities – Portable games, notebooks, drawing book, pens and pencils, games consoles…whatever the age of your children, and indeed, even for the adults in the family, portable games and activities of some sort are a great way to pass time and make your journey and the occasionally arduous waiting periods a lot more bearable!
A change of clothing and shoes- if you’re going on holiday, you’ve probably got these in abundance (you’d hope), but if you’re on the plane or on a day trip in the car, you never know what could happen…if either you or your luggage gets lost, a change of clothing can be a lifesaver.
Snacks – sandwiches and dried fruit are easily portable. And for a plane journey be sure to take sucking sweets – to avoid the dreaded popping ears!
A camera – you never know what unexpected sights could come up on your journey. Even taking a picture of a sibling asleep on a plane, mouth wide open and head lulling, can be a photo-worthy moment (and excellent family blackmail!)
So there you go, here’s a list of some of most useful things to take when you are embarking on your next holiday! And if you are in the initial stages of your vacation planning, and are just perusing this article for an idea of what to pack for a holiday in the near future, why not take a look at some self catered holiday homes for your next getaway?
Great road trip games.
Apr 10th
A road trip can be a great adventure. It’s also the perfect opportunity to spend some quality family time. Of course, it’s hard to keep sight of this when you have two children simultaneously relaying a chorus of ‘are we there yet?’ in the back of the car. But it doesn’t have to be the stressful experience that many people will recognise and recoil at the sound of. Here’s just a few of some of the top game you can play whilst on a road trip: no cards, small pieces or chunky playing boards to contend with…
- ‘Once upon a time’. This story-telling game is a good chance to be creative, and evoke a few laughs. Get each person in the car to come up with one line of a story, beginning with ‘once upon a time’, and the subsequent person has to think of what comes next. Get ready to hear lots of amazing anecdotes… ‘once upon a time, a pink giraffe went to the supermarket…’
- Speaking of supermarkets, another option is the ‘grocery store’ game. Some may remember playing this at primary school. Starting with the first person who retells their tale of ‘I went to the grocery store’, this game goes round in a circle, with the list of groceries getting higher and higher. The aim is to remember the grocery listed before you, and the one before that etc. The game ends when the list has become too long to be remembered!
- ‘I Spy’ is a classic game, which should not and can not be left off this list! We all know how it goes, and whilst it may be amazingly simple, its simplicity can provide even an hour or so of easy game playing. It is generally played with giving the clue of the first letter of an object, or by describing the object being spied on. One way of making the game more interesting is to have banned words-perhaps simple colours and shapes, for example- that the spy cannot use to describe their object.
- Twenty questions is another classic. Someone will choose an object, and the other players take a turn to ask a question about it, e.g. ‘is it bigger than a tree?’ The person answering the questions can only reply with a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’.
- Lastly, we have ‘rock, paper, scissors’. Yep, another one that we all know- but we know it for a reason. This is a great idea for kids to play in the back of the car by themselves, if you want to keep them occupied for a while. Just make sure the metaphorical battle between rocks and scissors doesn’t get too lively!
These are just a few of the many, many games you could play on a long car journey- with children, or without! A car journey can be a part of the holiday in itself, and doesn’t have to be just a means to an end. But when you are spending a long time in the car to get to a destination, you are probably hoping for a fantastic holiday experience. To make sure this is what you get, why not try a self catered holiday rental. In a holiday home rental you will get more independence, generally better value for money, and you don’t usually have to share facilities- so the family fun can continue from the car seat to the front door of your very own holiday property.
Easter traditions from around the world.
Apr 2nd
Easter is coming up, and all over the UK people will be stocking up on chocolate eggs, enjoying toasted hot cross buns and some will be eating simnel cakes…but in other parts of the world there are traditions of different sorts. Here’s a quick look at some of these traditions…
The Easter tree in Germany - In 1965, the Kraft family in Saalfield put plastic eggs in their garden tree, and ever since people have been embellishing their trees with ornamental plastic eggs and beautifully painted egg shells. This lovely idea doesn’t seem bizarre at all when you think of how we decorate a tree and put it in our living room once a year.
Flying bells in the Netherlands, France and Belgium – As a way of explaining the silence of church bells on the Saturday before Easter, the adults of these countries declare that all the bells have flown from their buildings to the Vatican in order to carry all the sadness surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion, and then return on Easter Sunday with chocolate and eggs. So no Easter Bunnies there.
Flying kites in Guyana – In Guyana there is a rather lovely tradition. A few days before Easter local children will make their kites out of coloured fabric and on Easter Sunday the sky will be bursting with hundreds and colours, and people will congregate to watch the display, and many people bring picnics to enjoy whilst watching. This tradition is symbolic of Christ’s ascension into heaven, and makes for a fairly creative Easter Sunday celebration.
Trick or treating in Sweden – This tradition isn’t actually trick or treating, but it can’t be denied that it’s quite similar. On the Thursday before Easter, young girls will dress up as witches and go from house to house to collect sweets, giving their own drawings and paintings in exchange. This tradition stems from the belief that around this time of year, Judas congregated with witches, meaning that there are also lots of bonfires around this time, to expel him from the local area.
Whipping in Czech Republic – In the Czech Republic, males will lightly tap their wives or girls in the town with a braided whip, called the Pomlazka. Whilst this doesn’t sound the friendliest of traditions, it is actually believed that being tapped with the Pomlazka will lead to the person being tapped to be blessed with health and happiness for the following year. This tradition is meant to have originated in the Christian spring blessing of livestock by hitting with a twig or stick.
Bread in Poland – In Poland it is believed that the male head of the household cannot help with the making of Easter bread, as the dough will not rise and his beard or moustache will turn grey. I wonder which member of the household created this tradition?
So there are just a few of the traditions which will be going on around the world this Easter. Something to think about when you’re tucking in to your hot cross bun. Perhaps you could even introduce a new tradition in your own family? Or if you want to see the real thing, why not take a trip and see it for yourself? There are lots of self catered holiday homes all around the world, so you can explore these Easter traditions for yourself.
Happy Easter!
Holiday photos- some tips on creating and storing your memories.
Mar 26th
Holiday photos are a brilliant thing, a way of carrying on that lovely warm holiday feeling even when you’ve been forced back to reality. After thinking about what might optimise your next holiday album, here is a list of some tips to get that perfect picture…
Photograph people, not things.
If you are the owner of a very fancy camera, you may be tempted to use your whole memory taking photos of inanimate objects using different camera settings- but as one of the main points of a holiday is quality time with your family or friends, the memories you have with them will be one of the things you remember the most. (As well as that cool close up picture of that really weird rock on the beach, obviously).
Don’t make it too formal.
Normally the best photographs are the ones where you can really see things as they actually were. Try and catch things as they are happening, rather than getting everyone inside the frame and demanding a wide grin. If you have children, this could be particularly effective. Catching the moment of excitement on receiving an ice cream or as siblings make a sand castle could be priceless.
A license to be arty.
After nagging about close up pictures and fancy camera settings, these things probably do have their uses! Capturing a beautiful sunset over still waters could trigger a holiday memory, as could a picture of green fields taken from a car. One of the boxes on your perfect holiday checklist is probably a scenic location, so this is something you will want to record as well. So when you look back at that picture of snowy mountains from your ski chalet break, you can remember the exact feeling you felt when you were there.
Storing your memories.
So many people- including myself- keep holiday photos in their original developing packet, but it might be nicer to create a real album for them. This somehow preserves the memory better, and you are probably less likely to lose the album in a random drawer or cupboard. And keeping an album also means you can personalise your photos more. Put children’s drawings and your own words in with the photographs, categorise them how you want, and keep it all proudly on your bookshelf.
With these tips in mind, here’s a short list of some of the world’s most picturesque places to visit. And for your next getaway with newly honed photography skills, why not choose an equally picturesque holiday home rental property? So you can start planning your next getaway- and remember the camera…
• The Tadj Mahall, India
• The Iguazu waterfalls, Brazil
• The pyramids and the sphinx, Egypt
• The Grand Canyon, Colorado, USA
• The Niagara Falls, Canada
• The canals of Venice
• The Coliseum, Rome- holiday homes in Rome
• Milford sound and the Mitre peak, New Zealand
• The Palace of Versailles, Paris
Choosing Domestic Tourism in UK
Mar 1st
Tourism is something that most people look forward to and enjoy; whether it is done close to home or at a distant shore. This aspect of human nature is fueled by the need for adventure, as well as entertainment with business coming in a close third. However, this sort of travel need not cost an arm and a leg, because it can be done within one’s own country. At this point in time, this sort of tourism makes sense, especially with the ash cloud hanging over continental Europe.
With this cloud in mind, as has been previously experienced, the one thing that is more or less guaranteed is canceled flights, and a lot of time wasted at the airport hoping that an alternative route can be found to get travelers to their dream destinations. Instead of wasting time and money at the airport, the one thing vacationers should look into is having their holiday within the country at one of the numerous parks.
For the novice at domestic tourism, all will be pleasantly surprised to learn that there are multifarious activities that various members of the family can indulge in, so as to make the trip as fascinating as possible. As an example, within the UK, the adventure seeker can take part in something known as coast steering. This allows the guest to enjoy the sea on one end of the landscape, and cliffs on the other.
Moving on from there, the second best option for the traveler would be hang gliding. This is not for the faint of heart, but it does proffer the consumer with the opportunity to get a bird’s eye view of the region. This sort of tourism gives the patrons within this region the capacity to take in the sights and sounds of the nation, in peace while circumventing the inconvenience that is the ash cloud.
For individuals that prefer tourism that is on the mellow side of life there is the option of boating, cycling or walking. Here, the punter can choose from several parks that provide these services on their own or as a combination package for group based travel.
With regards to the cost effective nature of the travel, there is nothing that says budget travel like domestic tourism. However, this does not mean that the accommodation or the services proffered to the consumer will be of lesser quality than those they would have experienced overseas. On the contrary, these services are just as good with the tourist having a wider selection to choose from; due to their familiarity with the nation at large.
For those that would like to catch their dinner and eat it, there are parks within the country that offer their clients a spot of fishing or two. However, if the agenda is to simply catch and release the fish then this option is readily availed as well. As expected, there is something for the history buff to relish within this nation. This can be aptly combined with caving, which will leave the individual hankering for more sight-seeing within this picturesque territory.
In short, there are various parks within the UK that the consumer can go to in order to enjoy a relaxing, yet fascinating, holiday like no other.
Tiff Patel works for Richardsons Holiday Parks (previously known as New Horizon Holidays) which is located in the beautiful Norfolk Coast.
Book a Dubai Holdiay
Feb 8th
Dubai is a location that I have been hearing a lot about. The wife and I watch International House Hunters quite frequently, and Dubai had been a location for relocating in more than one episode
I am always int
intrigued by site of the Dubai beaches, both natural and man-made. Well, actually I am probably more intrigued by man made beaches to tell the truth.
Anyway, I was asked to do a review of Lets2Go’s holidays to Dubai services.
Visitors to the site, seeking info about making Dubai holiday arrangements, can find info about short getaways or weekends in Dubai, info about Dubai hotels, restaurants, and activities. I especially liked the All Inclusive Dubai vacation packages, as I am very fond of vacations were everything is taken care of for me. Don’t get me wrong, I do love a vacation that allows me to get out and see the road less traveled as well.
What ever your favored method of travel, I believe that if you use the Letsgo2 Dubai resources to plan your Dubai Holiday, you will without a doubt have a trip that you can brag to friends about.
5 Tips for Budget Dining in the UK
Dec 23rd
So you’re planning your UK vacation and have already lined up all your tours of historical and cultural hotspots. Now how do you plan to feed yourself between all that touring around? Follow these tips and you’ll eat well and stay on budget during your trip.
1. Enjoy a pasty on the go
You’re hungry and want to get going on your next UK sightseeing adventure. What to do? Drop just a couple of pounds at your local pasty shop (I was quite fond of the West Cornwall Pasty Co.) and pick up a Cornish pasty.
A Cornish pasty is a half-moon shaped baked flaky pastry filled with anything from turkey to eggs. Traditional fillings include potatoes, rutabaga, onion, and seasoned beef. They come in varying sizes depending on the size of your appetite. This rich, filling treat can be eaten for breakfast or lunch and is ideal for providing a filling meal while you get a move on your day. They can be eaten with a knife and fork, but the easiest way to enjoy them is to hold them like a hot pocket and eat them out of the wrapper.
2. Grab a baguette any time of day
Like the pasty, the baguette can be eaten whilst on the move. The beauty of the baguette is that it can be filled with whatever you want: chicken mayo, falafel, tuna and bell peppers, grilled zucchini—the combinations are endless.
A decent baguette should never cost you more than three or four pounds. I lived ten minutes away from the nearest baguette shop, and there were easily another ten within a few blocks of that one. Baguettes are the perfect on the go snack if you are between tours or just taking a quick break
3. Sit down to a cuppa and sandwich in a book shop
I lived within easy walking distance of three book shops, and they each had their own in-house coffee shop. These kinds of coffee shops are very big on designer lattes and fancy whip toppings, but they serve basic coffee and tea as well.
There’s usually a panini combo on the menu that includes a hot drink, so you can get the drink and sandwich for a very decent five or six pounds. Plus you can enjoy the added comfort of being indoors (UK shops are well designed for indoor enjoyment during the months and months of gloomy weather). Of course your budget might be blown when you start gazing around at all the phenomenal titles on shelves that surround the cafe, but I’d call that a pretty fair trade for such an affordable lunch.
4. Pick up dinner from a kebob or fish ‘n chips stand
Food stands are the UK’s gift to frugal diners. Street food stands are surprisingly tasty and more than acceptably affordable. At kebab stands, you can usually buy anything as cheap as chips and cheese (less than two pounds) or shell out the big bucks for a doner kebab (be shocked if it costs you more than five pounds). As for fish n chips, you could sit down to the gourmet version at pubs and restaurants, or you could get the real deal: a fried fish slapped over a bed of fries all wrapped up in newspaper.
5. Tuck into a pub dinner
Pubs can be pricey, I don’t advocate eating at them more than once a day. Pub food is hearty and tasty, which means that it is necessarily heavy with greasy goodness. The key to budgeting at a pub is not ordering drinks. You can enjoy a very tasty, affordable dinner (whether chili or meat pies) that are comparable to if not cheaper than any American restaurant dinner. As soon as you start ordering pints of the house lager, though, say bye bye to your budget.
Analise Marcus lived in the UK as a student. Having lived the life of a starving scholar, she searches continuously for the very best to help budgeting travelers satisfy their wanderlust. A Travelocity promo code or Ryanair can save you oodles on your international adventures.
Most Original and Romantic Places to Propose in Europe
Dec 6th
Any man who has done so knows planning a proposal can be just as terrifying and stressful as planning the actual wedding. You have to make sure you have the perfect ring, make sure you set the perfect mood, but what about where you actually pop the question? Venice is too obvious, Paris it too cliché, yet if you get this highly sensitive decision wrong you’re in for a lot worse than a night on the sofa. Luckily, we’re here to help to make sure you make the right call and it’s a moment that’ll live with you both for the rest of your lives. I’m sure you’re planning on only doing this once, so in order to make it extra special, here are our four most romantic hotspots in Europe to give you one less thing to worry about when you’re planning to ask that life changing question.
Charles Bridge
The most intimately illuminated bridge in the world, Charles Bridge in Prague transforms in the evenings into a serene walkway perfect for a hand in hand romantic stroll. By day, the bridge is brimming with street performers, market stalls and tourists, but at night you’re given the privacy you need to ask the all-important question. With the modest lighting offering a perfect contrast to the night-time sky, plus with the backdrop of the stunning architecture of Prague Castle, only the stone hearted would be able to turn down a proposal of this magnitude. The bridge is completely free to visit and gives you the secluded and intimate setting in the evening you need to make a trip to Prague one you will never forget.
London Eye
If you’re looking for breath-taking views whilst you’re asking the question, the London Eye in London is more than ideal with it overlooking all of London in a prime region of the illustrious city. Located on the South Bank of the River Thames, the London Eye towers over such landmarks as Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral and The Houses of Parliament, whilst the view in the evening allows you to see the city beautifully lit up. To make the occasion really special, you can buy tickets that allow priority boarding and with a glass of the finest champagne for around £30 each, which is highly recommended if you want the answer to your question to be a resounding ‘yes’.
Trevi Fountain
Located in the heart of Rome, Italy, the Trevi Fountain is one of the most famous fountains in the world due to its stunning architecture in a city renowned for its rich history. The best time to visit would be in the evening when it’s less busy and more intimate, whilst the low-key lighting and tranquillity of the fountain sets the perfect sentimental tone for you and your bride to be. If you’re feeling particularly nervous, you can always throw a coin in the fountain beforehand for good luck, just make sure you don’t throw the ring in by mistake.
Mount Tibidabo
If your partner is the more adventurous type, Mount Tibidabo of the Serra de Collserola mountain range in Barcelona is the perfect location. After making your way up to the peak of the mountain, you will be rewarded with a wondrous view of Barcelona in this idyllic region. However, you can also use the transportation systems to make your way to the top if you’re feeling particularly lackadaisical. With such a majestic view it’ll be tough for her to say no, yet if the worse does come to the worst you always have the local cafés and amusement park on top of the mountain to cheer you up.
We can’t guarantee your partner will say yes, but if you sweep her off her feet and take her to one of these dream locations you’ll stand a much better chance than if you take her to the local pub. If you are looking to treat the both of you and make it an experience neither of you will ever forget, be sure to check out our Holiday Apartments for your accommodation, including our vast range of London Apartments to give you and your partner the comfort and privacy to make your visit extra special.
Recent Comments