Villa Or Hotel; Which One's For You?

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You’ve probably been on more than a few holidays in your lifetime. Now that you’re the one organising them, don’t they seem a little less relaxing than they should be? If your last trip seemed too noisy or fast-paced, then the issue might be in the accommodation you’re choosing. While there are a few setbacks to choosing a villa holiday, it can make for a relaxing, flexible trip.

First of all, villas have an advantage everyone can appreciate. By and large, they’re considerably cheaper, as you pay for them by the week rather than by the day. Villas also have much lower running expenses than other accommodation options. Of course it varies depending on the location and villa itself, but you usually get a pretty big place for an affordable weekly charge. The value doesn’t stop there though! Choosing a villa gives you a lot more freedom in terms of flights, insurance and vehicle hire. Whereas all-inclusive hotel deals are tied up in an inflexible pack, when you rent a villa you’ll have all the freedom you could want. Less of the planning is done for you, but this can often be a good thing!

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Another great thing about villas is the privacy. You don’t have to worry about getting up early and scrambling for sunbeds. You can also nap long into the day without being disturbed by cleaners and other guests. In short, you’ll have absolutely nothing to worry about when you’re walking around with too much sun lotion and a cocktail that’s far too tall! The locations for many villas adds to this kind of privacy, but can be a slight disadvantage compared to hotels. You might be perfectly happy being surrounded by unspoilt Languedoc villages or quiet, Tuscan farmsteads. However, these tranquil spots will often put you a fair distance from all the beaches and bars. No matter how idyllic the villa looks, make sure to check how far you are from everything and ask your travelling party about what they want to do.

There are a lot of advantages villas have over hotels. Still, don’t book anything before considering the drawbacks. Villas are self-catering, for one. This not only means that you’ll be missing out on some amazing buffets, but can make a nice villa much harder to locate than a good hotel. Unlike hotels, villas aren’t standardised either. This can require a lot more research past looking at the number of stars! Even if two villas have the exact same price per week, they could be vastly different in terms of quality. Also, if you’re thinking of a romantic getaway for two, the villa option could end up being a lot more expensive than travelling with a group.

Despite these disadvantages, hiring a villa can be a wonderful way to stay during your trip. It’s a must if you’re the kind of person who likes every last part of their travels to be under their control. Find the right one, and your next holiday might be truly unforgettable!

Missing A Loved One? Try These Ideas To Feel Closer To Those You've Lost

Bereavement is such a tough and personal event in life. We will all lose people we love dearly. But some of those losses can be so painful it can feel like we just can’t move on. There are lots of different ways to mourn the passing of a loved one. Cultures all around the world have different ideas about how to manage the grieving process. I think it’s down to the individual to mourn in any way that helps them cope with such pain. If you’ve suffered the loss of a loved one, why not try some of these lovely ideas to help:

Photos

Photos of your loved ones help you feel like they are still close by. Even though your loved one will always be in your heart, seeing their face in a photo can help you feel less alone. Some people like to talk to the photo. This is quite common, and it can really help you overcome the huge loss. Loneliness, after someone has passed, is one of the hardest things to manage. It doesn’t hurt to have a photo of their face nearby.

This picture is from cyblor

Lockets

Lockets are such lovely ideas that originated hundreds of years ago. Because the locket is worn on a necklace chain around your neck, it helps you keep your loved one close to your heart. Some lockets contain a photo of loved ones. Others contain a lock of hair. Lockets are used to keep loved ones close to you, both living and passed. They are like little, wearable keepsakes.

This photo is from gracey

Jewelry

Of course, lots of people wear jewelry that reminds them of loved ones. It might be a gift that was given by them to you. Or it might be something they once wore. If you’re looking for something extra special to remind you of your loved one you could try a diamond made from ashes. The carbon in the ashes can be used to create a diamond that can then be set in a beautiful ring for you to wear. Some people even use them for wedding jewelry later on. It’s a wonderful way to keep your loved one close to you.

This picture is from 5demayo

Memorial

Regular memorials give you the chance to remember your loved one. You can gather the family and your friends each year on their birthday or the day they passed to remember that person together. You can say a few words about them. It’s a way to celebrate their life and celebrate the love that you had for them. Sometimes old photos will be shown or video clips. This helps you all remember the person that has passed on.

Losing a loved one is heartbreaking. You can feel like you’re all alone, even when you’re in a room full of people. It’s almost like there is a huge gap in your life, and that can last a long time. But if you can find ways to celebrate the life that is lost, the loss can be a little easier to handle. Having a keepsake or reminder of that person with you also provides a little comfort. There’s no replacement, but having something to remember them by can help bring a smile to your face once again.

The Ins And Outs Of Hosting A Big Family Dinner Party

Whether you’re planning on hosting a dinner party just to get everyone together or are planning in advance for this year’s holidays. It’s important that you’re aware of all the ins and outs of dinner party hosting. There’s a lot more to planning a dinner party than meets the eye, and it’s important to realize that. There’s a lot of stress, planning and effort that goes into organizing a successful dinner party. To help you plan the most amazing family dinner, here are a few must-know planning tips.

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Don’t attempt a new recipe, stick to what you know

It’s only natural that whatever event you’re celebrating, be it a birthday, Friday night, or holiday, you want to wow your guests. However, making a fancy new dish for them is never a good idea, no matter how easy it is. To ensure your food is a success, stick to food that you’ve made countless times before and have perfected. There’s nothing like stressing out about how a new dishes will turn out when you have guests coming.

It’s also essential that when it comes to selecting dishes, that you take any dietary requirements into account. Today, food allergies and intolerances are a lot more common, which means the chances are that at least one of your guests will suffer from one.

Prepare in advance and freeze things

Make things easier for yourself by doing as much preparation beforehand as possible. You should be able to make a few of your dishes beforehand, so that on the day, you don’t have to get every last dish made. If you’re unsure what dishes can be made in advance and frozen, Google it. Pretty much anything, apart from salad and fresh vegetable dishes, can be made, cooked, and then froze.

Start cooking earlier than you should

Make sure that on the day of the dinner party that you start cooking earlier than you normally would. You’re probably not used to cooking for so many people at once, so it’s a good idea to start a little earlier. While people are happy to wait for a delicious meal, they won’t want to be eating too late. That’s why it’s best to start cooking a little earlier, to ensure that everything is done in time.

Have a plan B in place

The chances are that it won’t happen, but should something go wrong; it’s crucial that you have a plan B in place. For example, should the cooker break down while you’re preparing your holiday dinner party feast. It’s essential that you have the number for a company that offers holiday kitchen appliance repairs. As well as the number for a catering company, in case the oven can’t be fixed in time, to cook everything. Reduce your stress and always ensure that you have a plan B in place.

Put snacks out to keep guests going

To prevent your guests from getting too hungry, make sure to lay out some nibbles for them to snack on. Nuts, bread, crisps and dips, cheese and cold meats, and raw veggies, all make great nibbles.

Have a serve-yourself drinks station

Last but not least, instead of serving the drinks yourself, create a drinks station. You’ll be under enough pressure as it is, without having to keep on top of filling people’s glasses. So your best bet is to create a drinks station where guests can help themselves to whatever they want to drink.

Hosting a dinner party may not be as easy as you’d think, but if you take note of the tips above, you can make it less stressful for yourself.

Unique Travel Destinations For Valentine's Day

Valentine’s day is almost here. If you’re thinking of spoiling your loved one this year, why not skip the card and chocolates and plan a mini-break instead. Nothing shows someone quite how much you care as much as a surprise romantic trip, especially if you’ve been together a long time. Plus with so many destinations to choose from you really are spoilt for choice. So use this fantastic guide to inspire you and start planning your trip today.

See the Northern Lights In Greenland

Taking your Valentine to magical Greenland Magical Greenlandto see the aurora borealis is a one in a lifetime experience. You could sit in a cosy log cabin by a roaring fire and watch the supernatural colours light up the sky above. Or you could stay in a glass igloo surrounded by snow for a more unique accommodation option. It’s a natural wonder than many people would love to see as it is so unusual, making it a perfect Valentine's day destination. While you wait for the lights to begin you can also go dog sledding, kayaking or snowmobiling to see every aspect of this beautiful country. Experiencing something so spectacular together will give you a fantastic memory to treasure forever. Just remember to pack your thermals as it can get very cold in winter.

Go shopping in Morocco

If you’d rather go somewhere slightly more exotic, Morocco could be the destination for you. It’s renowned for it’s markets where they sell almost anything you can imagine. You could take your Valentine for a unique and memorable shopping trip where you can treat her to anything she desires. You could even buy her valentine’s day gift in one of the thousands of shops and stalls. Spend time exploring the colourful stalls and trying out the local delicacies such as mint tea and makouda. It might also be fun to try bartering with the locals to see if you can grab yourself a bargain. Afterwards, why not head to a hammam or Turkish bath for an afternoon of pampering with hot mud baths, saunas and massages. This is an ideal trip if you love meeting people and finding out more about a country, and it’s cultures.

Hop aboard a train in London

Travelling by train can actually be highly romantic and a fantastic choice for valentine's day. If you haven’t got the budget for a trip abroad, a luxury train ride may be the next best thing. You can hop on board a sleeper train in London that will take you all the way up to Scotland. You can dine in the lounge car and the retire to your own comfortable room where you can take in all the wonderful scenery along the way.

With only just over a week to go, you need to start planning and booking as soon as possible. The last thing you want is to disappoint your Valentine. Also, remember to give your loved one enough time to pack their essentials and plan suitable outfits for your romantic adventure. You’ll undoubtedly end up in their good books after this.

Fashion and Style Tips Everybody Should Know

When it comes to fashion and style, many people don’t realise that they are two completely different things. Fashion usually refers to the trends that are mainstream at any given time, while style never fades. You aren’t always born with style, but it’s something you can practice and get better at. You just need to do a few things first to make sure you have your style down to a T. Use the tips in this guide to help you:
Only Follow a Trend if You Love it
You should only ever follow a trend if you love it and you know you’ll get your wear out of it. The problem with following trends is that after a couple of weeks, they all become obsolete. So all of the money you’ve spent on new clothes goes to waste, because you stop wearing them! Only if you’re sure you’ll wear a trend over and over, should you follow it. It’s always better to be unique!

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Don’t Buy Anything You Don’t Absolutely Love

You should only ever buy items that you absolutely love. Be vigilant with the items that get into your wardrobe. Be as picky with them as you are with your partners! Don’t buy clothes for the sake of it, or in a panic. You should only spend money on items that you really feel describe you and your personal style. To help you know what will get the most wear, assess your wardrobe currently. Work out what works for you and why, and what hasn’t. Was it the style? The colour? Then aim to buy more things like that in future.

Always Accessorize

You should always accessorize your outfits if you want to make the most of them. Accessories can make an outfit look even better. You don’t need to pile on the jewels either, you can just add a few subtle pieces. Try to fill in a few gaps and see how you get on. Just bear in mind that accessorizing can be a whole different ball game. It might be best if you’re confident styling yourself before you start playing with jewellery.

Know What Suits Your Body Type

There are lots of different body types. There’s the pear, the apple, and petite to name just a few. Knowing what suits your body type is key to looking incredible. Whether you’re wearing an abaya dress or a suit, getting it to suit your body is important.

Use the Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds can make outfits look way more interesting, not to mention flattering. You should never wear an outfit that splits you in half, as it looks out of proportion. You should always wear outfits that work in thirds. For example, a high waisted skirt and tucked in blouse. Perhaps even a long tunic top and a pair of leggings.

Mix Vintage With Modern Fashion

Mixing vintage and modern pieces helps you to create a seriously stylish look of your own. Have fun with it!

Ready to have fun with your style? Leave a comment!