Exploring the Norfolk Broads

Many people are fascinated with the Norfolk Broads. There are many reasons for this: some people are enchanted by the history of the Broads. Others come for the wonderful diversity of wildlife as well as the fact that the Broads is a protected wetland. Most, however, come to the Norfolk Broads for the wonderful holiday that it promises.

For the ecologically aware visitor, there are also various activities that will satisfy your keen interest. The Broads is home to the most loved and spectacular wildlife – from birds and fish to otters and butterflies. The plant life is also worth seeing and appreciating.

For holiday-makers there are many attractions and options. The first consideration, of course, is the place where you’ll rest your head after a full and exciting day. There are many different kinds of accommodation on the banks of The Broads, as well as in the nearby towns and villages. The prices of these lodgings vary according to type, but are mostly very affordable. You can choose from B & B, self-catering to hotel accommodation. There are also several camping sites for caravans and tents.

Once the accommodation has been sorted out, you now need to plan your days. There are movies, kids’ theme parks, interesting place like Wroxham and the Wroxham Barns. The villages around the Norfolk Broads are picturesque and offer beautiful views of ancient ruins, dated houses and cottages etc. You can also explore The Broads on the very popular steam locomotive. Other activities include walking through the wetland, strolling through the village markets, going to the local shopping malls or exploring the churches along The Broads by boat.

Your itinerary will determine what kind of transport you will need. Although it’s not necessarily easy to get to The Broads, it is quite easy to get around. It is easy enough for you to cycle to the spot that you want to see. Eco tourism is greatly encouraged at The Broads in order to minimise pollution, noise and other negative factors that could upset the delicate ecology of the wetlands.

You can also opt to use a non-motorised boat trip along one of the many arms of The Broads to explore the views and see the wildlife. If none of this appeals to you, you can of course also opt to spend the day lounging on the banks of The Broads with a picnic basket and a good book. Remember your sunscreen, hat and shades!

There are so many options for the holiday-maker that you might want to come back a second and third time in order to take in the sights and activities that you missed out on.

Holiday Parks UK: Secluded Lodges

Springtime is a popular time for short holiday trips, especially for couples looking for a romantic weekend away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Believe it or not, travel statistics show what industry experts have known for a while: country lodges have surpassed seaside accommodations in terms of holiday popularity. Whether or not that means the average family of four will prefer a secluded forest lodge over any one of the many seaside holiday parks UK travel experts know that couples will. In fact, the tourism industry is already steering in that direction with weekend packages aimed at short, Easter holidays for couples.

 

Secluded lodges offer the peace and quiet of nature along with the adventure of discovering all the wondrous beauty the UK has to offer. For example, the historic Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire provides the setting for several secluded lodge getaways that are ideal for couples. Every summer, the annual Robin Hood Festival celebrates the old legend, along with the history of the forest itself, but couples planning to go in the spring still have plenty to discover as they wander carelessly through Sherwood.

 

There are quite a few holiday parks in the UK which include not only sections for caravans, campers, and open cottage areas, but also secluded sections providing cabins that are far enough apart to give you the sense of complete seclusion. A self catering holiday in a secluded forest lodge virtually guarantees complete privacy during your stay -- if that's what you prefer.

 

Then there are many travellers who enjoy both the secluded lodge experience and being able to spend time on the water. For them, lodges located on the banks of one of the UK’s many waterways provide the perfect setting for weekend or summer getaways. Sitting on the deck first thing in the morning, enjoying a cup of tea as a boat drifts lazily by, is the ideal scenario; almost picturesque enough to be put on a postcard.

 

Perhaps you've done the hustle and bustle of the seaside resorts and Great Britain's major cities. Perhaps you're looking for a romantic escape for the weekend; or maybe the first holiday with your spouse since the last of your children moved away. Regardless, a secluded lodge is one of the best ways to enjoy a peaceful and quiet holiday with no distractions to keep you from the company of your loved one. Take a look online; you'll be pleasantly surprised how many holidays are out there waiting for you.

 

As for all of the high energy coastal holiday parks, UK travel experts promise they'll still be there next year. For now, just go ahead and enjoy the seclusion of a forest lodge and a romantic getaway. 

Making the Most of Your Gap Year: Volunteering Abroad

University places are becoming more and more competitive, with the point requirements for some courses seeming to go up year on year, whilst tuition fees are now becoming more expensive, so it’s no wonder that ever more students are foregoing the traditional ‘gap year’ to either get started in academia or to earn extra money to fund their forthcoming studies. However, if you do want to have a breather but also have something ‘different’ to offer at your university interview, or on your fledgling CV, you could seriously consider volunteering abroad as a way to do both!

 

  • Volunteering abroad doesn’t have to be as far flung as it sounds: many parts of the globe are offered as locations for gap-year volunteers, including Europe and the USA, as well as parts of Africa and Asia.

  • Projects offered could complement your proposed line of university study, giving you additional experience to enrich your studies. For example, if you want to undertake a degree in Environmental Science, volunteering abroad on an environmental project may well support both your application and your knowledge.

  • Projects could also appeal to your personal qualities, so if you’re a ‘people’ person, you may want to consider community projects, whilst an animal-lover may sign up for a wildlife preservation project.

  • Environmental or ecology-based projects are extremely popular as nowadays most people are more eco-conscious. This could be a good opportunity to make your own contribution or find out more about how environmental issues affect other cultures and climates – perhaps of particular interest if you aim to study philosophy, geography or anthropology.

  • The high profile charitable volunteering organisations, such as VSO may not consider undergraduate volunteers as they usually require specific skills and qualifications for many of their projects, such as voluntary help from lawyers, teachers and physicians or nurses. However, volunteering elsewhere whilst you are an undergraduate may improve your chances of getting onto your ideal project with one of the bigger organisations later on.

  • Do be careful not to be misled into thinking that there is no cost involved because you are being kind enough to volunteer your services. Almost all of the organisers of such projects request that you fund your trip yourself – it’s not a freebie! Happily, if you volunteer through a reputable organisation, your travel costs should be minimal because they can arrange this on your behalf, often at a discount, whilst if they are sending a whole group en-masse across to a single destination, this may bring individual costs down. It may help to think of any required payment as being (along with your time) a donation to a worthy cause plus an investment into your own future. So good luck!

Car Hire Malaga Airport - How to Find the Offices

When you arrive at Malaga airport, you will find 23 car hire companies waiting to help you, unless you have pre-booked and made all the arrangements before you left home.

Ten of them are in the terminal building, the rest of them are outside and around the airport on the Avenida Garcia Morato which is right next to the airport - in fact, parallel to the airport. Most of these off site car hire companies have courtesy buses that will transport you to their office. Remember that you have to have the credit card with which you made the booking with you, and that you need to check that you were aware of the extras like, tyre insurance and windscreen insurance.

Car hire Malaga airport can be very busy during the summer months, so plan to have the person who is not driving to stay at the terminal building to collect all the luggage, then to join you at the car hire office, by which time, you will have completed all the official document signing and be all ready to depart. During the peak summer months, some of the car hire companies have fleets of up to 4 000 cars! And because Spain is so popular as a tourist destination, there is very much competition between the 23 companies, as you can imagine. So make sure you shop around, do your homework, and get the best deal possible as there are always specials on the go in summer.

The earlier you book your car, the better price you will get and the greatest advantage you will have over all the other holiday makers who did not do this. You will probably also get to book the exact make and model you want. When organising your hired car, think hard about the number of people going with you and the amount of luggage you will have. There is nothing worse than trying to squash into a car that is far too small! Also, take into account child car seats and baby restraints that you need to reserve well in advance. Between July and September, you have to have a car with air conditioning.

At the airport in Terminal 1, the car hire offices are found on the left right before you walk out of the building. When you have your keys, you are told where your car is parked and you are on your way! Most of the hire cars are parked across the road in the Car park on Level 1, 2 or 3. If you have arrived in Terminal 2, the car hire Malaga airport offices are sign posted from the arrivals hall, to the area downstairs. Once you have the keys, you will easily find your car parked outside this hall on this level which is Level -1.