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Obviously, I enjoy all new travel experiences but I also get a great buzz from writing about them afterwards. Not only is it nice to keep a personal record, I also get a kick out of finding and passing on hints, tips and travel hacks to family, friends and anyone interested.
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Now, I completely understand that not everyone will be able to exploit the hints and tips I include for a variety of reasons; work commitments, financial priorities, family, health etc. but others will. So, on the basis that someone out there may benefit, I’ll continue to include as many as I can.
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I also hope this blog is different from others; I avoid advertising and formal affiliations with commercial entities, and I’ve designed it so there are no annoying pop-ups or promotional undertones. If I think I’ve found a great deal, I simply share the details without there being any suspicion of bias. The only exception to this is the link I’ve provided to Holiday Property Bond (HPB), which gives both the interested person and us a very small introduction bonus. Even on that page, though, I explain how to circumvent that process, as I’m keen to share why I think it’s a good deal rather than have anyone think my judgement is clouded.
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As for these newsletters, I had every intention of writing them monthly, but life, planning and travelling got in the way. So, here goes, albeit a couple of months late…
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Below are a selection of my posts over the past few months. It’s impossible to highlight a favourite (they were all great) and always difficult to summarise, but if I had to summarise it would be:
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- Albania - for its raw beauty and incredible value for money.
- Les Arc 1800 - awesome après and great ski experience with my kids.
- Arcachon Basin - a solo cycling trip and stunning place to unwind.
- Yorkshire - for some of the most amazing history and scenery in England.
- Valencia - one of the best kept secrets in the Mediterranean.
- Rio Formosa - our go-to slice of paradise, we’ve been here a few times!
- Bearded Theory Music Festival - our fifth on the bounce and favourite!
- Cambridge - my first visit, a stunning city.
- London and Kent - a few posts highlighting my closest region.
So, until next time, I hope life treats you well. Enjoy the summer, and happy travels.
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You can find a selection of the last few posts below.
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Three nights in Valencia - solo trip
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Emma booked a getaway to Rhodes with my sister and our mutual friend Meera. They’re off to visit my nephew who lives there. So, I thought I’d head off for a few days on my Jack Jones. Somewhere, anywhere… I really wasn’t fussed about where I went so long as it wasn’t too far, so I searched all the Wizz Air …
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CAMBRIDGE - TWO STATELY HOMES, A WEDDING AND A REUNION
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Surprisingly, I have never been to Cambridge so, when we were invited to a wedding in the nearby village of Longstowe, we thought we’d make a full weekend of it. And what a weekend it turned out to be! MADINGLEY HALL AND GARDENS As we pootled down the long drive towards this historic house, I could sense we were in …
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Bearded Theory Festival 2026
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The Wednesday get-In This was our fifth visit to Bearded Theory Festival, one of the highlights of our year. We arrived on Wednesday, for the first of five nights of live music, great performances and DJ sets. The latter added to our tinnitus woes - hey ho! Getting here early means less faff and a guaranteed spot at the corner …
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The travel hack we stumbled across a few years ago has brought us to Albania for £0 (flights and baggage). There is no mystery to this hack. If you’ve read any of our previous blogs, you’ll know exactly how we do it…. and if you haven’t, there is more about this in the hints and tips section of this post. It …
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London - Greenwich and The Wharf
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Looking over towards Greenwich from our vantage point on the Isle of Dogs, we decided to head there for the evening after spending a day on the Wharf with Lofty, one of Emma’s good friends from Lancaster University. It was perfect weather for catching up on news and spending time in each other’s company. It’s been a few months since …
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Arcachon Basin and Bordeaux
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A short five-day trip to the southwest region of France. A beautiful corner of the country. I feel so incredibly lucky to be able to come to these places at the drop of a hat. However, I’ve got to be honest, the £17.99 flight made this trip all the more attractive. Why would I stay at home when tickets are …
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London Docklands - Passport collection
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Given I only had one empty page left in my passport (for entry and exit stamps) and it was fast approaching it’s expiry date, I thought it wise to get the thing changed before I fell foul of an airport official… So off to London’s Docklands and the passport office, where I handed over my old burgundy EU passport and …
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Kent - The Garden of England
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Turn right from our front door and, within ten minutes, we’re smack bang in the middle of phone-snatch central, or Croydon, as it’s also known locally. Stab vests optional! Ten minutes in the opposite direction and we’re wandering the green fields and wide-open spaces of the Kent countryside, having already passed through leafy Surrey. Indeed, we live on one of …
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It’s my first time exploring this region with Emma. We shall be back! Four days is nowhere near enough time to do anything other than scratch the surface! DAIRY COTTAGE – BOYNTON HALL (NEAR BRIDLINGTON) Perched on the edge of the Boynton Hall estate is a quirky little cottage overlooking woodlands and open countryside. Originally built in 1770 as a …
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Portugal March 2026 - Sunshine and Solitude.
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We keep finding our way back here, the southernmost tip of mainland Portugal. There’s something reassuring about returning to a place you know like the back of your hand. Familiar, yes, but never dull. And when flights come in at a modest £27.50 each way (incl baggage), along with accommodation sitting around £24.50 per person per night, it becomes even …
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Skiing Les Arcs 1800 and La Plagne – A Long Weekend in the Paradiski Area
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Great snow, quiet runs, and a few unexpected adventures along the way. Travel Snapshot Where: Les Arcs 1800 & La Plagne, French Alps Ski Area: Paradiski (one of the largest ski areas in Europe) Duration: 4 days Flights: Lyon - £30 each way (including baggage) Drive: Lyon Airport to Les Arcs - about 2.5 hours Highlight: Skiing from the summit …
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