sizzling sharm el sheikh

What can you expect from a holiday in Sharm El Sheikh? That all important combo of sun, sea and sand for one - and plenty of it!

Based on Egypt's beautiful Red Sea coast, Sharm el Sheikh is hot stuff. This vibrant holiday resort serves up a classic beach environment with glittering golden sands (which are generally burning hot by mid-morning, so bring some sandals!), fabulous hotels, a bustling resort centre and plenty of local activities. One thing that Sharm el Sheikh has become famous for in recent years is its superb scuba diving. Join a local group or sign up with the local PADI school and you could soon be dipping beneath the waves, exploring rainbow-coloured corals and getting up close and personal with the Red Sea's spectacular marine life.

If you've got family holidays in mind, Sharm el Sheikh is alive with family fun that's ideal for kids of all ages, and maybe even the parents too. There are plenty of watersports on offer, and more than a few boat trips. Whisk the kids off for a glass-bottomed boat tour of the local shores, where they can peer through the boat into the clear, shimmering waters below, or enjoy a gentle excursion along the Red Sea coast, taking in the sights and sounds of this beautiful corner of the world.

You'll also find a fantastic selection of hotels that are well suited to family holidays. Many hotels in Sharm offer a high standard of accommodation, the majority of which are all inclusive or offer a full board dining arrangement, complete with extensive menus - perfect for little fussy eaters! If you're here for a couple's retreat or a fun-filled group getaway, there are plenty of swanky hotels offering suites and swim-up rooms, along with stacks of night-time entertainment. So whatever you fancy from your Red Sea escape, there's a Sharm el Sheikh holiday with your name on it...

what you should know before you travel to cancun

The world-renowned tourist destination of Cancun is located on the southeast coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. It is somewhere that British tourists are getting to know much better, and being based on the Caribbean Sea, it isn’t exactly hard to see why. There is truly something for everyone in Cancun; the partygoers will fall in love with the super-clubs, the romantic couples will enjoy testing out some of the many restaurants, and watersports enthusiasts will want to spend all day in the choppier waters found east of the resort.

So if you are tempted to enjoy a little (or a lot) of what Cancun has to offer, read on to find out what you need to know before travelling to the Mexican city.

Quick facts about Cancun:

 There is a 22 kilometre stretch of sandy beach to discover; paddle-friendly places are found northwards. Cancun is home to many restaurants and will suit all budgets.
Flamenco and cabaret are just some of the activities you can enjoy after dark.
Boulevard Kukulcan is home to the super-clubs popular with the younger adults.

Practical travel information: You will need a valid passport to travel to Mexico; at this time British citizens do not require a visa. The flight duration is approximately 11 hours from London Gatwick, and there is a 35 minute transfer to the resort from Cancun Airport.

Cancun is in the time zone GMT -6, so you will need to turn your watch back six hours when you arrive. The official language spoken in Mexico is Spanish, however you will find plenty of English speakers in the busiest resorts such as Cancun.

The currency used in Mexico is the Mexican Peso (MXN) which can be found easily in any bureau de change in the United Kingdom.
What months should you travel? The temperatures are excellent all year round in Mexico, meaning any time is ideal for a trip. However if you want to go in the hottest months, you are looking at June to September where the temperatures will sit at an average of 28 degrees celsius. The coolest months are January and February, and they still boast a temperature of 23 degrees celsius on average. The months with the least chance of rainfall are March and April, and the temperatures will be in the mid-twenties by this point. So Cancun could be the ideal destination for you during the Easter break!

Where should you stay? Cancun has a ‘hotel zone’ so there will be plenty of options for you to choose from when it comes to accommodation. Before you book somewhere, check the On Holiday Claims website (www.on-holiday-claims.co.uk) and make sure you don’t choose somewhere that is on its travel illness hotspots list. The last thing you want to do is spend all week in bed with a tummy bug. However you will be able to make an information decision to whether you would prefer an all-inclusive package, or simple bed and breakfast.

*Guest Post*

top reasons to get married on a beach overseas- guest post

(One of Ashley & Brian's photos from their wedding in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico)

I’m getting married next year so I’ve been doing tons of research. My biggest concern was where on earth my partner and I would actually get wed, as his parents wanted us to do it in a local church. This was never my intention as I’m not a very religious person, but I didn’t want to offend them and their views. After a long discussion, we realised we had to break the news to them that we wouldn’t be doing the church ceremony, and that we would be doing it on a beach abroad instead.

We figured that it would be easier for them to accept if we weren’t doing it in the UK whatsoever, and happily they have come around to the idea! After that, it was simply a case of choosing the best destination for our needs. So what exactly makes getting married abroad so appealing? Here are my reasons:

Stunning outfits

Whenever I looked in shops for bridal gowns, I was always drawn to the floaty fabrics. These aren’t ideal in the UK unless there happens to be a sunny day, but they are absolutely perfect for the beach. I’ve now picked my wedding dress - it’s a sort of Grecian style - and I won’t have to wear formal shoes with it either. I’ll be wearing diamante flip flops instead! White and blue looks so beautiful with the sea and sand in the background, so this is the theme for our special day. 

More relaxed vibe

When I think of church weddings I basically think of long ceremonies with lots of hymns and prayers. I want my wedding day to be like any other day with my partner - informal and relaxed. That’s why the idea of a beach wedding really appealed to us: a gentle breeze, warm sunshine and lots of laughter and happiness. We won’t be concerned about all of the timings, we’ll simply show up, get married, toast future happiness and then sit down with our friends and family for some food.

Delicious food

Unless you’re planning a wedding at a hotel that’s made it onto the holiday illness hotspots list on the On Holidays Claims website, you should expect some brilliant food at your reception. We’ve chosen a beach barbecue which I’m already looking forward to! We’ll be having chicken breasts with a spiced rub, seasoned sausages and lots of yummy vegetables. We’re ditching the wedding cake and giving everyone Magnums instead.

The weather

Of course, this couldn’t all be possible unless the weather was cooperating. This might be a problem in the UK, but in many beach destinations abroad, you can pretty much guarantee that there will be sunshine. This means that we can get a tan before the wedding day itself, and then have days together enjoying the warmth once we are wed. This really is the best choice for us, so I’m counting down the days until we get married overseas next year!

*Guest Post from Elizabeth Hill. She loves writing, travelling, and experiencing new things - life is worth living!

occupying kids during the summer holidays: top london attractions

Guest Post*

Most parents will know how difficult it can be to keep kids entertained when they’re off from school and with the six weeks holiday having kicked off, finding plenty of itinerary fillers will help to keep the boredom at bay. While we’re not all lucky enough to enjoy time off when we need it, when you do have the time to spare, make the most of it this summer. 

You don’t have to head abroad to enjoy the summer as a family, either. Say no to overspending on the Costas – not when we have the likes of London on our doorstep. With plenty of family-friendly hotels in London available at rock-bottom prices, you can savour everything that London has to offer and luckily, a lot of it focuses on the kids. 

Don’t just stay around the centre of the city either – Greater London has a couple of attractions that shouldn’t be missed, both within easy access of the city to make them easy day trips to incorporate into your visit. 

Thorpe Park is a thrill-seeking paradise and perfect if you have bigger kids to entertain. With dozens of extreme rides and plenty of milder ones too for the faint hearted, it’s one of the best amusements in the UK and within easy reach of the city via train and car alike. 

Photo

LEGOLAND in Windsor is an all-rounder attraction that caters perfectly for the younger children while also injecting a little nostalgia for the grownups to enjoy. With LEGO being one of the bestselling toys of all time, most people of all ages will have an affiliation for the construction bricks and this theme park is dedicated to them. 

Don’t forget the array of awesome museums on offer that will be able to show children just how fun learning can be – the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and British Museum are all well worth a visit and are completely free to enter, making it an option that is kind to the pursestrings too. 

Combine this with a trip to a family-friendly West End show and you have yourself a well-balanced, fun holiday with the kids – perfect!