While holidays with family and friends are a great way to see the world, many people “flying solo” and taking a trip by themselves from time to time. Although personal safety is an important issue, even when travelling in a group, those who choose to holiday alone should give some consideration to their personal safety and well-being.

It is an unfortunate fact that those travelling alone may be singled out for theft/attack as they may appear weaker than tourists in a group. Another issue which solo travellers face is falling ill and being unable to get medical help . Neither of these issues should put people off travelling alone, but should make them aware that extra precautions may be necessary.

Top Tips for Safe Solo Travel

One of the most important ways for the solo traveller to protect themselves is to ensure that someone knows where they plan to visit and when. It is a good idea to provide a family member or close friend with an itinerary of your travel schedule and contact details for any accommodation that you have booked. You might also like to leave paper copies of your ID and personal documentation with family, as this may be useful in an emergency situation.

You can also arrange to “check-in” with your friends or family, regularly throughout your holiday. This way your loved ones will be alerted if you don’t make contact at a pre-arranged time, and if necessary, take action to help you. Facebook and Twitter makes this a really easy thing to do, however you should ensure that you limit details to a trusted audience.

Leave valuable items at home, and keep expensive items such as cameras and mobile phones well concealed to avoid tempting theft. If you are travelling to a less affluent area, try to “dress down” to avoid drawing unwanted attention to yourself. Remember that in some countries, dress codes, particularly for women, can be very restricted - take clues from what the majority of people are wearing and dress in the same style.

Consider whether your behaviour is that of a victim - you might feel unnerved walking down that dark street, but statistics show that you are less likely to be followed or mugged if you keep a calm, firm stride, and don’t panic. Some travellers feel more confident if they take a few self-defence classes before a solo vacation and learn the basic skills needed to stay safe.

When you first arrive at your destination, take time to note the location of the nearest police station and hospital, in case of emergencies, as well as the Consulate for your home country.

As with any travel, a fully comprehensive insurance policy is vital and will help you to ensure that you get the help you need if something does go wrong.

Most of us enjoy a glass of wine or two on occasion, whether it is a bottle of white with the girls on a Friday night, a rich red with Sunday lunch, or a splash of champagne at celebrations. However, what many people don’t realise is that most wines will benefit from being decanted before drinking. Read on and discover all you need to know about decanting wines.

What is a decanter?

Basically, a decanter is any wide-necked container which can be used to hold wine. Remains of decanters have been found on ancient Roman archaeological sites, while the Murano glass-makers of Venice became famous for their elegant swirling designs. The basic design of the decanter has remained almost unchanged throughout history, apart from the addition of a stopper for the decanter top, which was first used in 1730s Britain.

What are the benefits of decanting?

The first reason for decanting wine applies to bottles which have been stored (aged) for an extended period and contain a sediment. This sediment forms, usually in red wines, and can lend an unpleasant bitter flavour, as well as unattractive appearance to a glass of wine. Sediment is removed by carefully transferring the wine from the bottle to a decanter. The modern habit of drinking “young” wines, which have not been allowed to age means that sediment is much less frequent these days. However in some white wines, a crystalline type of sediment may form during the filtration process, and can be removed by the same process.

The second, and equally important, reason for decanting wine is to allow flavours and aromas to develop. When wine is decanted, a larger surface area is exposed to the air and oxygen. Oxygen transforms harsh tannins, which can make wine taste overly robust and thick,  and allows a lighter flavour to develop. Leaving a bottle of wine open does not have the same effect as decanting, as the surface area of wine exposed to the air is smaller.

Which wines should be decanted? Are there any wines which should not be decanted?

Some wine experts suggest that all wines can benefit from being decanted, while others say that it is unnecessary. The best way to decide for yourself is to experiment. A young red wine which has a lot  of bite could achieve a much smoother mouth feel if it was decanted for an hour or so before drinking, while a white may need just a few minutes exposure to the air. Generally, champagne, cava and other sparkling wines do not need to be decanted, although some contemporary restaurants offer this option for wine drinkers who prefer a less bubbly tipple. If you are not sure whether or not to decant your wine, try decanting a small amount a testing after a short time to taste for yourself how the flavours have developed.

If you are looking for something a little different from the run of the mill tourist attractions that you usually visit on your holidays, we’ve got a fantastic suggestion for you - and one that all the family can enjoy.

Remember when you were a child and the idea of buried treasure could occupy your daydreams for hours on end? Geocaching appeals to that sense of mystery and magic, the hope that you will indeed find treasure. Described by its creators as a modern treasure hunt, Geocachers use GPS coordinates listed at www.geocaching.com along with clues to find hidden “caches”.

The joy of Geocaching during a vacation is that you’ll find yourself stepping out of the typical “beach, hotel, theme park” trap that it is easy to get into. The nature of Geocaching usually means that you’ll have to walk or cycle to find the cache, and the people who place caches often try to do so in a place which is beautiful or particularly interesting. The caches themselves don’t tend to contain valuable items, and etiquette dictates that if you want to remove an item from a cache, you should replace it with something of equal value.

Although Geocaching involves the modern element of GPS equipment, there is something about it which involves slowing down, refining your concentration and attention and being aware of your surroundings. For anyone who works at 9 to 5 or in a stressful environment, this simple activity can be a release from the strains of every day life. Your younger family members can also join in the fun - and it is a great way to separate them from their Playstations and social media….

Anyone who has a GPS enabled device such as a TomTom or mobile phone can try Geocaching, and basic membership on the website is free, so all you really need to do is decide which cache you are going to hunt for. There are a growing number of caches in locations all over the world, so wherever your destination for your holidays, you are likely to be able to find a cache near you. Give it a try, and join the thousands of people who have found this hobby to be addictive and rewarding!

Desynchronsis is the medical term for what most of us would call jet lag. Usually experienced by travellers who have taken a long haul flight which crosses several time zones, jet lag can leave you feeling out of sorts for several days following arrival at your destination. In order to beat jet lag, we look at what causes jet lag, what jet lag feels like and what we can do to prepare ourselves before a long plane journey. Read the rest of this entry »

Halloween or All Hallows Eve is celebrated on the 31^st of October and is traditionally the night when spooks, ghouls and witches roam the earth. Instead of staying at home waiting for trick or treaters, why not make this Halloween one to remember, by taking a break to a spooky location and seeing if you can spot a ghost or two! Here are our top  favourite five haunted places in the United Kingdom, where ghosts and mysteries abound! Read the rest of this entry »

The next time you go on holiday, you might want to think again before jumping directly into that pristine, beautifully made bed. Since the mid 90s, a worrying trend has come to light - the number of Bedbug (Cimicidae) infestations is on the rise. Scientists link the soaring figures to a resistance to pesticides such as DDT, which had succeeded in almost eradicating the creepy crawlies after the 1940s, and increased global travel. Read the rest of this entry »

Everyone enjoys watching a good film from time to time, but if you want to take the movie experience further, why not be inspired by the locations used in your favourite flick for your next holiday. Here are four suggestions to inspire your choice - from Spanish deserts masquerading as the American West to mystery and magic in New Zealand.

Almeria - Heaven for Spaghetti Western Fans Read the rest of this entry »

Statistics from The International Life Saving  Foundation suggest that internationally 1.2 million people die each year through drowning, and over 50% of those are children. These sobering figures only show one side of the story - many more people are rescued and live to tell the tale.  It makes sense then, to take some time to ensure that your family understand the need for safety around water before you go on holiday. Kids and adults can all benefit from learning how to avoid unnecessary risks and what to do if they find themselves in trouble. Read the rest of this entry »

Whether you are going on a self catering holiday to Greece or spending your summer holidays in the UK, protecting your family from the sun is one of the most essential parts of proper skin care.

Some of our readers may remember that as recently as the 1970s and 1980s, we were largely unaware of the dangers that excessive exposure to the sun can create. You may even have memories of baking in the sun, smeared with baby oil, and even using sheets of aluminium foil to direct the rays of the sun onto your skin to deepen and intensify your tan. Despite a greater understanding of the connection between the sun and skin cancer, according to a quick Google search on the subject, some people are still choosing to fry their skin using the “foil and oil” method.

Excessive exposure to the sun - whether it is from relaxing on a sandy beach during your vacation or mowing the lawn in your back garden - can have devastating effects on the skin. Premature ageing, rough and dry patches, wrinkles and freckles can all be looked forward to by those who don’t use sunscreen or take proper precautions, not to mention the proven link with skin cancer…

Of course, the best way to protect your skin from the sun is not to tan, but, lets face it, who wants to come back from their holiday without a bit of healthy colour? Bear the following rules in mind when you are on your summer break, and protect yourself and your family.

Use Sunscreen

While a small amount of exposure to the sun is good for us (a reaction of the sunlight on our skin produces Vitamin D for the body to use), everyone in your family should be applying sunscreen frequently.

A waterproof skin protection cream with a minimum of Factor 25 has been suggested as a starting point, although parents may choose to use a total sunblock on kids. There are many, many different brands and formulas of sun protection available, from coloured and scented products aimed at encouraging children to apply their cream, to organic based lotions which are ideal for those who prefer not to use chemical based creams on their skin.

Sun protection cream needs to be applied to clean, dry skin 30 minutes before exposure to the sun in order to work properly. One mistake that people tend to make with sunscreen is to apply it sparingly - experts say we should be lathering it on liberally and rubbing it in well.

Throughout the day,  especially after swimming or sweating heavily, reapply your sunscreen as it can rub off and lose it’s effectiveness.

Cover Up

An cover up clothing such as hats, long sleeved tops and trousers can all help prevent sun burn. It is important to remember that if you can see through a garment when you hold it up to the light, the sun can get through! You should also consider investing in sunglasses which offer high UV protection. Wrap around styles are considered to be the best as they offer the most protection.

Shady Spots

Ever heard the saying “mad dogs and English men go out in the midday sun”? This is a good one to bear in mind when you are on holiday and facing scorching temperatures on a daily basis. Take a hint from locals (and sensible dogs!) by staying in the shade throughout the hottest time of the day, usually between 10am - 4pm.

Sunburn and Sunstroke

If you, or a family member gets sunburnt, it is important to get them out of the sun right away - in addition to skin damage, sunburn can lead to a condition known as sunstroke. Focus on cooling the sunburn sufferer down and rehydrating them - think cool(but not cold) showers and lots of water to drink. Pain killers can be given to soothe the sting and it is beneficial to apply an aloe vera gel to assist healing.

Sunstroke is an extremely dangerous condition which can cause rapid deterioration and is the cause of unnecessary deaths every year. Symptoms include cramps, sweating, headache and rapid, weak breathing and pulse rate . Should you suspect that someone has the symptoms of sunstroke, seek medical attention immediately for treatment.

Holidays are a relaxing time, and it is all too easy to be lulled into a sense of security by the sunshine, sea and sand. Unfortunately, holiday resorts and busy tourist attractions tend to be magnets for thieves and scam artists, who take advantage of crowds, distraction and use the opportunity to relieve you of your hard-earned money, mobile phones, cameras and jewellery.

Pickpockets frequently work in gangs and have numerous distraction techniques designed to extract your money. Often as simple someone resting a map over your table as they ask directions(and steal your phone) or bumping into you in a crowded street(and whisking away your purse,  if it happens, it’s likely your money will be the other side of town before you realise it has gone, with little chance of getting it back.
So what can you do to protect yourself?

•    Don’t make yourself  into vulnerable victim – flashing wads of cash around will attract the wrong sort of attention. If you are going to a  local souvenir market for example, it’s sensible to get small change before you set off – rather than pulling out huge notes to pay for small purchases.
•    On the subject of money, it has long been recommended that you take a mixture of cash, credit cards and travellers cheques when you go on holiday. Obviously this comes down to personal preference, but remember whatever combination of spending money you take – don’t carry it all round with you, and keep the excess in a secure place such as a safe in your accommodation.
•    Wallets that peep temptingly from your back-pocket, and handbags which gape open to reveal their contents are just asking to be stolen. Switch over to a money-belt or “bum bag” for your valuables, and ladies, if your bag is vital, choose a style which hangs across the front of body and has a concealed zip. You may even like to use safety pins to secure your bag and make it more difficult to open. Never leave bags sitting on the floor or hanging over the backs of chairs, and maintain physical contact with them at all times. If you are asleep on public transport or relaxing on the beach – do yourself a favour and pop your belonging under your pillow or behind your back.
•    When you are out and about, think about your behaviour and how you might appear to potential thieves. Try to look confident and make eye contact with people around you to show anyone watching you that you are aware of your surroundings and what is going on. If you are going to an area where pickpockets are a known issue, make sure that your clothing and actions don’t scream “tourist” - swap those designer sunglasses for a cheapo pair, leave your Rolex at home and don’t keep your camera in your hand all the time etc. Be alert if anyone you don’t know approaches you or tries to touch you, and feel free to shout and make a fuss if you see someone interfering with your belongings! Remember, if something seems suspicious is probably is!
•    If your passport is lost or stolen during your holiday, don’t panic. The first point of call is at the police station to report the crime, and then you should visit the local UK embassy or consulate who will issue travel documents to help you return home. Super savvy travellers recommend sending a colour scan of your passport to a secure email account, as this will come in handy – just in case.  Other valuables that are stolen should be reported to the police, although  of course it is better to prevent the crime rather than deal with the consequences.

We hope that these tips will be useful to your for your next holiday, and will keep your valuables safe. Have you got any anti pickpocket tips you’d like to share with fellow travellers? Comment, and let us know!