Taking off Travel blog

Last week we started a short photo series on great beaches, kicking off with great American beaches. This week, it’s time to move to Europe, just in case you’re thinking of a trip across the Atlantic this summer. Here are some of Europe’s best beach destinations, according to TripAdvisor and others.

Turkey

Turkey has a diverse climate but in the summer the temperature can rise to a scorching 40 degrees Celsius. That’s beach weather by anyone’s standards. It’s got plenty of beaches to choose from, but among the best are Patara on the Turquoise Coast, Icmeler and Olu Deniz. And let’s not forget the beaches in Antalya. Fun fact: this is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited areas and it includes the city of Troy made famous in Greek mythology.

Spain

Spain has a lot to offer, beach-wise, whether you’re attracted by wall to wall people at Fuengirola or the expansive beauty of Canary Islands beaches such as Playa Las Teresitas in Tenerife and Playa del Ingles in Gran Canaria. Benidorm and Lanzarote’s Puerto del Carmen are also worth a trip. TripAdvisor’s recommendation is Port d’Alcudia in Spain which has beautiful white sand and some nearby Roman ruins to visit. Fun fact: Mount Teide in Tenerife has the world’s third largest volcano.

UK

You don’t expect to see the UK on a list of best European beach locations, but it seems that Bournemouth beach has made the cut. TripAdvisor users put this beach at number 4 on the list of Europe’s ten best beaches. It’s got an  artificial reef and a very nice strip of sand, as well as the traditional pier. Fun fact: In 2007 Bournemouth was named the happiest place in the UK.

Portugal

A trip to the Algarve is a highlight of many European holidays, with travelers enjoying the cliffs, sandstone and beautiful, dramatic scenery. Good beach picks include Sagres and the beaches of Albufeira. Fun fact: Portugal had the world’s first global empire which lasted from 1415 to 1999.

Planning a trip during the summer? Check out Park Ride Fly USA’s latest discount airport parking coupon for big savings on off airport parking.

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Are you considering whether to buy travel insurance for your next trip? Are you thinking of protecting your rental car with an additional policy? Buying travel insurance is your best protection against unexpected events. Here are six reasons why it’s a good idea.

1. Preparing for emergencies is a good idea – and that’s what insurance is all about. Unless you have a crystal ball, and are absolutely sure nothing will go wrong on your trip, then it’s probably a good idea. Suppose something happens in your family and you have to change your plans? Trip insurance can insure you against the financial penalty you would normally incur for altering travel arrangements at the last minute.

2. Health issues can strike at any time. Even if you’re perfectly healthy when you start the trip, you or your loved ones could end up having to be rushed to hospital or flown home. This can be expensive and is unlikely to be covered by your domestic policy. A travel insurance policy with medical cover is a good fail safe.

3. Although you don’t own your rental car, you’re responsible if something goes wrong with it. Dents, scratches and other damage – the kind people do in car parks and then quietly drive away from – will all cost you. Taking insurance about this incidental damage will help your wallet in the long run.

4. While you may have an existing policy, can you be sure it will cover you against every eventuality? What about trip interruptions or cancellations and theft of or damage to your belongings? Read the fine print carefully to see if you need additional cover.

5. One thing you can’t predict is the weather, though goodness knows the weather forecasters make a valiant effort. However, even they get it wrong much of the time. Bad weather can cause delays and cancellations and can even completely ruin your holiday. If you’re taking a winter break and there’s no snow or a summer break where there are rain and storms, it might be better to defer your holiday. Having the right insurance policy means you won’t lose your money.

6. In the last few years, we’ve got used to hearing about companies going bankrupt or folding overnight. If this happens to your travel company, where does that leave you? If you don’t want to be up the creek, then a travel insurance policy gives you some financial protection.

As you can see, buying travel insurance can be a no-brainer under these circumstances. So think about this carefully when you book your next trip.

Planning a trip during the summer? Check out Park Ride Fly USA’s latest discount airport parking coupon for big savings on off airport parking.

Image: brewbooks/ Flickr

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Taking a trip doesn’t have to mean falling off the wagon if you’re on a special diet. Whether you have dietary restrictions because of culture, health issues, allergies or simply the need to lose weight, you no longer have to give up on the eating plan or be on starvation rations. A little bit of planning can help you have an enjoyable trip without going hungry or risking your health.

Check Out Your Options

One of the first things to do is research your diet options and one of the best places to get the help you need is via Twitter, Facebook or another social media site. If you want to know the best places to get gluten free food in San Francisco someone is bound to know – and most people are willing to help. Do a wider web search to see what food options are available when you arrive at your destination or at the airport before you travel. Most places are pretty good about signalling when a meal contains something you may react to. Read more »

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Mother’s Day is Sunday. To celebrate the day, we’ve put together some interesting facts about this observance.

1. Although it may seem like Mother’s Day has been around forever, that’s not the case. In fact, it’s been an official observance for just 98 years. Congress designated Mother’s Day as the second Sunday in May in 1914 at the request of Anna Jarvis, who first held similar observances in Philadelphia and West Virginia in 1908.

2. Even though it was her idea to mark the day, Anna Jarvis wanted it to be a day of prayer and reflection on the role of mothers. She was appalled at the commercialization of the day and actually went to court to try to prevent it – a battle she lost!

3. Mother’s Day is not celebrated on the same day throughout the world. In the UK, Mothering Sunday has been celebrated since the 16th century on the 4th Sunday in Lent. In other parts of the world, celebrations of motherhood can take place in other months, with some taking place in fall or winter.

4. Carnations are a popular symbol of Mother’s Day. The tradition is to honor mothers who are living with colored flowers, and those who are deceased with white ones. Most of the flowers given for Mother’s Day come from California. Read more »

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The sun is out and many of us are thinking about starting a summer run of hitting the beach. The wonderful thing is, you don’t even have to leave the country to do that. Cancun is great, but we have some fabulous beaches right here in the US. Here are some of our picks.

Rodeo Beach, Marin County, CA

Fun fact: Rodeo Beach is made up of unusual red and green chert grains.

Image: Franco Folini/Flickr Read more »

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