Posts by : Izy Berry

Turkey, an intoxicating mixture of eastern and western culture, draws in millions of tourists each year, all marvelling at the country’s unique culture. You can only truly appreciate the wonders of Turkey by going there and experiencing them yourself. But with the tourism industry so oversaturated, hitting Istanbul’s busy streets can seem like an unappealing prospect.

Fortunately, there are ways to get around the swarms of tourists that descend on Turkey each year. You could always splash out for an all-inclusive holiday. For instance, you could visit Turkey with Club Med and not worry about the crowds. While you do so, be sure to check the less-visited sights of this fascinating country.

GitoYaylası

If Istanbul has become too crowded for your liking, you could always consider an escape to GitoYaylası, a hidden plateau located in the Kackar Mountains. It’s not easily accessible, but if you’re game for an adventure, it’s definitely worth the trip. GitoYaylası will give you the most stunning side of rural Turkey.

It’s really out of the way – you need to take a flight to Trabzon and then drive for an hour to Rize before driving for another two hours. It’s ideal for budding photographers or camping enthusiasts.

Photo Credit: Jean Paul Peters

Polonezköy

Polonezköy is just on the outskirts of Istanbul, an hour’s drive away. Formerly known as Adampol, it’s a small Polish village that boasts some strange architecture, along with some equally strange history. It was the home of Polish refugees who fled their homeland in the 1840s.

The buildings are still decorated with Polish features, which really stand out in their Turkish surroundings. There are some descendants of the refugees still present, albeit numbering less than a hundred.

Lake Van

Not many people have heard of Lake Van, an alkaline inland sea that has been untouched by the passage of time and development. Expect mountainous peaks and loads of gorgeous, historic buildings, like the Armenian cathedral on Akdamar Island. You can visit the island by boat.

There is also a castle high on the hill on the opposite side – ideal to visit if you fancy feasting on some sumptuous views of the lake. Before you leave, make sure you drop in at one of the breakfast halls, famous in the region for local cheese and honey.

Photo Credit: Mustafa Görke Aksu

Mount Nemrud

Out of all the Turkish mountain ranges to visit, Mount Nemrud is the most special. Giant statues of ancient gods surround the mountaintop and archaeologists claim that the site was a tomb for a member of royalty in the 1st century BC. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but doesn’t receive as many visitors as one would expect.

Don’t ever be put off by a visit to Turkey just because you think it’s an overcrowded place. The country has a vast amount to offer, it’s just a matter of finding the sights that are a little out of the way and off the beaten track.

To visit Lanzarote is to experience nature in all its overwhelming majesty, from perfect stretches of bright white beach, to the otherworldly volcanic rock formations left behind from the island’s explosive past. It’s a hugely popular travel destination and it’s not difficult to see why; Lanzarote offers everything you need for a memorable time away.

It’s worth taking some time to familiarise yourself with the sights and pleasures Lanzarote has available, to be sure you don’t inadvertently miss something. If you’re still on the fence about whether to make this remarkable island your next travel destination, an overview of its main attractions should convince you. The prices are appealing too — if you hunt around, you can find some really cheap holidays to Lanzarote.

Credits to: Luc.Viatour on Flickr

Natural features

Lanzarote is an island of contrasts, from lush green vegetation to arid black rock. Its dry climate and unique geological terrain mean it has been registered as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, while the year-round warm weather mean that the island is perfect for relaxing on the beach and taking in some sunshine to the sound of gently lapping waves.

Head inland to find the sparse, Martian-like landscapes created by the island’s volcanic past. It is here you can discover some incredible geology and take in many fascinating views. Check out the Timanfaya National Park, with vast stretches of lava rock. Organised tours are available and probably represent the best way to see the extinct volcanoes.

Sights and activities

The late artist César Manrique was one of Lanzarote’s most famous residents and the attractions that he built can be found in the north-east of the island. These include his studio-home in Taro de Tahiche and the settlement in Haría, surrounded by swaying palm trees. These architectural creations are as eye-catching as the natural rock formations.

Credits to: Luc.Viatour on Flickr

Elsewhere there are some outstanding sports facilities to enjoy, whatever your game, and plenty of activities to have fun with off the coast, including surfing and windsurfing. Cycling is also popular in Lanzarote, while the vineyard belt of La Geria, on the road’s central island is definitely worth a visit for the wine connoisseurs among you.

Where to go

The capital city of Lanzarote is Arrecife, where you’ll find a bustling and friendly welcome. The main resort of Puerto del Carmen is nearby, offering holidaymakers a charming promenade and an appealing line of beaches and bays. If you want some nightlife and shopping to go with your sunbathing, then this is the place to go.

Head in the other direction to find Costa Teguise, a more laid-back and chilled-out alternative. If you have a family in tow, then Playa Blanca is one of the best spots to head for and is a touch warmer, though there’s little in the way of a town centre.

Lanzarote provides a refreshingly original spot for a holiday — high-rise buildings and billboard advertisements are banned — and despite the island’s small size (37 miles long by 12 miles wide) there’s still plenty to do if you want to keep busy. It’s certainly a trip that you won’t regret taking.

Thankfully we live in a world of modern conveniences, which impact all areas of travel from sourcing cheap flights online, right through to the ease of buying online phone cards. I can’t imagine the days of having to go into stores to buy phone cards, only to spend a small fortune on calling home for a few minutes. No emails, instead mail would take weeks or months to reach the destination. That’s one of the benefits to traveling now – it’s SO much easier to stay in touch, which is particularly useful if you’re traveling alone. So what are the best ways to keep in touch overseas? Here are my favourite ways to keep in touch.

Photo Credit: yago1 on Flickr

Photo Credit: April San Pedro on Flickr

Snail Mail:
This is the slowest way to keep in touch, but often the most thoughtful. When I was traveling I would occasionally send postcards or gifts home for holidays or special occasions like birthdays. This can be relatively expensive, but is very personal and thoughtful. If you’re in Belgium enjoying the divine chocolates, why not send a bunch home for your parents to enjoy? Likewise, a beautiful painting from Cambodia would be relatively inexpensive and very thoughtful.

There’s no right or wrong way to keep in touch, but these are my personal favouites. I tend to alternative between a few of these ways depending on who I want to keep in touch with and the time of year. Bare in mind if you want to send packages home for Christmas, it is best to get these sent off as easy as possible. One of the hardest things about travel is missing people, but with these tips for keeping in touch you can minimise that as much as possible.

Holidays don’t have to be hideously expensive in order to be special, memorable and relaxing. In fact, budget holidays can offer you some impressive deals, that will allow you to enjoy places at prices you never thought possible. As a backpacker who’s been traveling for a few years, I am very well practiced at hunting out budget holidays. There were lots of things I learned along the way to keep costs down while ensuring a great trip and I want to share them with you. Here are some easy-to-implement tips that could save you hundreds or thousands off your next trip:

1) Look Into Package Deals
There are a number of companies that offer high value package deals, such as Holiday Gems. Now, often more experienced travellers tend to stay away from package deals as they feel they can do better themselves. Truth be told, these companies have access to high-volume deals that a single traveler would not be able to access, resulting in very reasonably priced packages, often far less than you could find yourself. When you’re planning your next holiday, you should see what package deals are on offer.

2) Travel in the “Off Season”
If you can, take some time off during the off season as it will lower prices across the board: hotels, flights and even sometimes activities, will be cheaper. The other bonus? There will be less other tourists, so you’ll get a bit more time to soak in the attractions yourself.

Photo Credit: eGuide Travel on Flickr

3) Be Flexible With Your Flights
One of the biggest costs in any holiday, especially if you’re venturing far away, is the flight costs. If you scan many of the flight routes and their relative prices, you’ll see that prices are generally more expensive on weekends, Mondays and Fridays. During the week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday tend to be the cheapest prices. The same proves true with hotel prices as well! If you can be flexible with your flights and the dates of your holiday, you can skim quite a lot of the price of your flights.

4) Book in Advance or Really Last Minute
There are a bunch of last minute deals that offer exceptional value – they are simply packages which haven’t reached their quota and need to be filled. This is true with cruises, package deals, hotels and flights. There are also advantages to booking in advance, both in terms of price and being able to ensure you can plan your holiday exactly as you want it. There are benefits to booking either way, so make sure you decide which works for you and get onto it. Last minute bookings are great if you have a bit of room for spontaneity in your plans.

There’s nothing worse than turning up to a flight, especially one on a low cost carrier, and having excess baggage. Often excess baggage costs can add up to more than you paid for your flight, which is a nasty surprise and a sure way to ruin a good holiday. If you’re like me then you probably like to collect gifts and little things from your travels, which can really weigh you down. There are a few ways you can deal with excess baggage – some you might have not yet considered, here are some suggestions:

Use World Baggage:
Instead of paying the crazy fees to check in oversized or large luggage with your airline carrier, why not use World Baggage? You can check on their site how much things will approximately cost, so there are no hidden charges. You can choose the method of carriage, which will affect both the speed and the cost. If you’re not in a rush, you can choose a longer method and save some serious coin. If you’re short on time and need your stuff with you as soon as possible, you can try the door to door method. I spent way too much on carting a giant suitcase around the world with me when I moved to the Czech Republic… it’s not something I would do again.

Photo Credit: Bradley Gordon

Wear All Your Clothes:
This is not a practical suggestion for long trips or if you’re planning to move a part of your house across the globe, but if you’ve just come from a weekend trip away and your bag is too heavy you can simply wear all your clothes. It might be ridiculously, slightly uncomfortable and a bit cheeky – but almost anything’s game in a bid to save money. I think it’s a bit odd that airlines charge more for luggage and not for people’s varying weight. But I guess it was cause a bit of an uproar if airlines started charging by a passenger’s weight.

Ask Someone Else to Carry It:
To be honest, this might not go down too well. It reminds me of a time that the host mother I was staying with in the Czech Republic forgot she had a pocket knife in her handbag. It was an expensive one and she’d already checked in her bag so she asked some random people to check it into their luggage. No one was keen. So she asked the flight attendants if any of them would carry it and were met with the same answer. Obviously this was an unplanned accident, but my guess is unless you know someone personally. they’re probably not going to be interested in carrying your stuff for you, especially with airport security being how it is. If you’re traveling in a big group and your baggage is over, you should ask one of the people in your group if they have spare space as it could save you quite a lot.

Transporting luggage around the world doesn’t have to be a nightmare with a little forward planning.

There are few things better in the world than a little mystery. Why not combine this with an activity that most people thoroughly enjoy: travel. Mystery Trips are a wonderful way to explore somewhere you might not otherwise visit, all while enjoying a bunch of other benefits. Here are my top 5 reasons to consider a mystery trip for your next holiday away.

1) They Are Romantic
When you book a mystery trip, the only thing you know about it is who you’ll be going with. More often than not, the person or people you travel with make the trip. By taking the focus out of the destination, you can focus on your partner instead. This is perfect for anniversaries or just a special escape.

Photo Credit: Jamie Frith on Flickr

2) You Don’t Have to do Much
If you choose to go on a Mystery Package, your flights and accommodation will be taken care of. This means, you’ll barely have to do any planning for the holiday yourself. Some people find holiday planning extremely stressful, managing the location, hotels and flights. With a Mystery Package this is all taken care of and you can just focus on being relaxed.

3) They Make a Great Gift
If you’re trying to buy a present for friends or family, why not consider a Mystery Package? Everyone loves a good holiday and adding in the element of surprise takes the pressure off you. This is a really thoughtful gift for someone you know who might need a break away from the daily grind.

Photo Credit: Jamie Frith on Flickr

4) You Can Decide How Mysterious Your Trip is
Three days before you fly out, your itinerary is emailed to you, but you don’t have to check it! You could print it out (without looking), seal it in an envelope and take it to the airport with you. You could leave the surprise until you get into the check in out counter, if you want the ultimate in a mystery trip. If you’re a little less patient like me, you can check when you get the email and start planning what activities you’ll do.

5) You’ll Save Money
Because mystery trips are organised by a company, they tend to have deals available with companies, hotels and so on to ensure you get a great value holiday. This ensures your holiday doesn’t blow the budget, while still being a fun surprise.

Mystery trips are quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to travel for those of us who crave a little more excitement in our lives.

Once you’ve decided where to stay in Birmingham you’ll want to fill up your time wisely. Here are my suggestions for the top 4 things to din Birmingham, England:

VISIT CADBURY WORLD

In 1824, Birmingham merchant John Cadbury began selling tea, coffee and drinking chocolate in the centre of the city, and nearly two-hundred years later Cadbury is the second biggest manufacturer of confectionary in the world. In 1990, the company opened this self-guided tour at it’s Bournville manufacturing plant that explores not only the Cadbury story, but the history of chocolate and confectionary around the world. It’s one of the city’s largest tourist attractions, and offers visitors a glimpse inside the manufacturing process as well as a chance to create their own sweet treats.

Photo Credit: Elliott Brown

EAT MORE THAN SWEETS

In 2011, the BBC’s food magazine Olive crowned the city as king of the UK’s culinary scene. Plenty of London foodies were up in arms at the decision, but who can argue with Birmingham’s diverse range of Michelin-starred restaurants as well as the plethora of fresh food on show at the iconic Birmingham Wholesale Markets – the largest in the UK. The city also played a key role in the development of Balti cuisine, a style of Indian cooking now popular across much of the UK as well as Canada and Australia. Purists claim that nowhere in the world makes it quite like the West Midlands.

EXPLORE THE CITY’S DIVERSE MUSIC SCENE

Birmingham was the birthplace of heavy metal, thanks to hometown hero Ozzy Osborne and the other members of the iconic band Black Sabbath. It was also the home of members of Judas Priest and Led Zeppelin. Its diverse multicultural population made up of many Indian and Jamaican immigrants also saw the city play an important role in the development of styles like Bhangra and Ska. Birmingham was the home of other iconic acts including Duran Duran, UB40, Ocean Colour Scene and The Streets. Today, the city is home to a new generation of musicians, and several bands from the Digbeth-based “B-Town” scene have been championed by UK style-bible The NME as superstars of the future.

Photo Credit: Brian Clift

SHOP UNTIL YOU DROP

Although most stylish visitors to the UK still have their sights firmly set on the nation’s capital and its plethora of stylish boutiques, Birmingham is making a name for itself as one of the country’s coolest commercial destinations thanks to the ultra-modern Bullring shopping centre located at the site of the city’s historic market district. Officially opened in 2003, it’s home to some of the world’s biggest brands, including Topshop, Apple and Zara – and boasts a space-age Selfridges store designed by award-winning architecture firm Future Systems.