MSGC Fitness Travel

This year my husband and I decided that we were going to spend Christmas in another part of the world. England is incredibly beautiful in the winter, but after the chaos of last December we wanted guaranteed sun and soft sand. As a younger couple we travelled the world after university, and in a way I think we needed to rediscover our more adventurous selves.

We searched and searched for the perfect place to spend Christmas and eventually stumbled upon the Bahamas as a destination. Immediately my eyes lit up and at that moment I knew that I had found our perfect winter holiday. It didn’t take a lot of persuasion for my husband to agree and we started to look forward to a festive week in the sun.

We weren’t disappointed. The weather, for one, was amazing and as soon as we arrived on the beach I knew we had made the right decision. Many friends and family couldn’t understand why we went so far to find the perfect Christmas, but as soon as they saw our holiday snaps they understood. Our perfect week in the sun came to an end too quickly, but we are already planning our next Bahamas holidays.

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Accessorising on a teen-sized budget isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible either. Whether your style is trendy Fendi or hip and high street, you can make any outfit look like it’s just stepped off the catwalk with some clever accessorising.

Your search should always begin in your local charity shops: although they might be full of naff, tatty old gear that you wouldn’t be seen dead in, they can be a goldmine of fabulous vintage cast-offs and cheap, but fabulous high street necklaces.

Failing this it’s time to hit the streets, but avoid the cheap and tasteless wear of budget high street shops. Head for the independent jewellery stores which often stock limited edition and highly fashionable laser cut necklaces from the likes of Tatty Devine and may also play host to bags from up and coming designers. Although these shops will be slightly pricier than budget fashion stores, you know your accessories will be made to last and will immediate set you apart from pack.

If you have your eye on that fashion must-have from the catwalk this season, such as one of the beautiful designer bags trotted out by Mulberry and others, then you might need to save a little longer. These bags will last a lifetime and go with almost any outfit, but might be slightly outside your monthly allowance! If you lack the will power to save, and you’ve been a very good girl this year, you can always pop one on your Christmas wish list and hope ‘Santa’ is feeling generous!

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Barcelona’s architecture is world renowned due in part to the work of local architect, Antoni Gaudi, who gave his distinctive “Modernista” touch to numerous buildings in the city. Gaudi’s work is observable all over Catalonia’s capital, and widely admired by architects from all over the world, owing to its individuality, influences from nature and spirituality.

Perhaps one of Gaudi’s best-known works is the incomplete Sagrada Família, which is an imposing Roman Catholic Church in Eixample, and also the site of Gaudi’s burial crypt. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site (along with six others in the architect’s repertoire) and consecrated in by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

Tourists can visit the church museum to learn about the church and Gaudi, who it is said was profoundly religious, and climb the tall towers for a spectacular view of Barcelona. A famous vignette involves a carving of a donkey which decorates the main portal: it’s thought that Gaudi was presented with the finest donkeys in the city to use as models but instead selected an old, haggard beast that belonged to an old woman selling sand.

Gaudi is admired for his use of colour in mosaic patterns, shaped stonework and twisted iron sculptures. Sites of interest include his former home in Park Guell, and two buildings on Passeig de Gracia, the ‘skull and bone’ home or Casa Batlló, and La Pedrera or The Quarry. Get flights to Barcelona to explore Catalonia’s unique and colourful architecture.

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Barbados is in the Lesser Antilles, the most eastern West Indies islands, measuring about 34 kilometres in length and 23 kilometres in width. The landscape is relatively flat and slopes gently towards the central highland region, with the high point at Mount Hillaby, about 340 metres above sea level.

There are beaches all over Barbados. Along the east coast, they tend to be wide, with fine sand that is blown by breezes, and in the north, there are coral and sandstone cliffs that rise from the sea, reaching one hundred feet in height, and which shelter sandy, hideaway coves.

The south and west coast beaches stretch for kilometres of unbroken white sand, met by fascinating coral formations. As a result, these are the most popular places for swimming and water sports such as scuba diving, snorkelling, surfing and water skiing.  One of the most popular beaches among locals and visitors is Rockley Beach, where vendors ply a variety of wares that range from local jewellery and clothing to handicrafts. There is a very gentle undertow, the sand is soft and there are sea grape trees that provide shade, making this beach both beautiful and comfortable for a day spent in the sun.

There are about 130 kilometres of beach landscape on Barbados. Buy cheap holidays to Barbados and explore the gorgeous beach scenery first hand.

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Booking flights during the peak holiday season can be a heart-in-mouth experience. There can be a lot of competition, particularly close to a flight’s departure date, and as result airlines tend to hike their prices.

It can be exhausting clicking through pages of information trying to find the right package or flight-combination to suit your pocket. Use flight comparison to quickly scan prices and select that right-place, right-time, type of deal.  The Internet is a great resource for quickly and conveniently finding information. Use it to your benefit, and consider the following tips:

Package holidays often undercut DIY trips: If you’re planning to travel for 7, 10 or 14 days, take a look at the package holidays that include flights, accommodation and car hire. Not only do these holidays take the stress out of negotiating your way through each of these money pits, you can save by pre booking as well.

Flexibility is great, but only if it’s absolute: Travel tends to peak on the weekend and slump midweek, while earlier flights tend to undercut midday ones. If you’re flexible on your dates of departure and return, you can save cash by simply adjusting your schedule. But beware; if you need to change your dates in an emergency, sometimes the fee can be exorbitant.

Use flight comparison tools to research the flights and packages that go to your destination, and save your money for the things that count this festive season.

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The Maldive Islands are an island nation in the Indian Ocean which is formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls. This group of atolls is found off India’s Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and the Chagos Archipelago. The Maldives are famous for their stunning locations and fantastic beaches. People looking to holiday here will find a peaceful place, which is perfect for honeymooners or travellers looking for a bit of peace and quiet.

There are busier centres in the Maldives; the one is the Maldivian capital of Malé. This is the only island with traffic and a built-up commercial centre. While the capital moves at a quicker pace the islands dawdle along. There are several things to see on the main island, including the market and the main mosque.

There are, however, many things that will keep you on your own island. The region is famous for its diving, fishing and snorkelling trips. There is a wide array of fish in the region and the Kaleidoscope of colours will take your breath away.  Many people when mentioning these islands refer to Robinson Crusoe and you can certainly see why, some of the islands are not inhabited and anyone wanting to separate themselves from the world for the day could just lie on the beach and relax.

The islands are perfect for anyone wishing to get away from it all. Many people come to the region on honeymoons, and you can certainly see why. The islands are perfect and the paradise like region will have you booking your next  cheap holidays to the Maldives within days of you arriving home.

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Although Cape Verde may be known for its relaxing, beautiful beaches and mournful, “morna” blues, every so often the islands come alive with religious festivals, music events and feasts. Located about 600 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa, Cape Verde is an archipelago nation consisting of ten small islands that are popular holiday destinations for outdoor enthusiasts.

The São Vicente Creole Carnival is held in February and resembling the legendary carnivals of Brazil, it’s a tribute to the Portuguese settlers who landed in Cape Verde centuries ago. Many of the festivities are held in Mindelo, in São Vicente, where carnival participants dress as kings, queens, ballerinas, witches and many other legendary characters to take part in parades and performances.

The São Vicente Baia das Gatas Festival is held in early August, usually over a long weekend, and attracts many artists and bands that perform on or near the natural bay near São Vicente. Although it began as a local music festival, it quickly grew to include international acts as well as cultural programmes, horseracing and nautical sports.

Music, parades and processions, feasts and dancing; in Cape Verde, festivals are an integral part of island culture. Swimming, horse racing and public balls also factor into the annual celebrations that are held on the islands. Browse cheap holidays to Cape Verde take part in these unique religious, musical or municipal festivals.

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Costa Dorada, meaning gold coast, is in Catalonia, Spain, in the province of Tarragona. Best known for its numerous sandy beaches, Costa Dorada also offers world-class vineyards, beautifully preserved Roman ruins and charming villages. However, nearly 800 hectares of flat, sandy beaches and sky-blue water make this southern niche in Catalonia a prime beach holiday destination.

In the north of the region is Mot-roig, with the holiday resort area of Miami Platja. This flat coastal plain consists of secluded, tree-lined coves and is dotted with holiday apartments and villas. The region becomes more mountainous towards the south at popular fishing ports such L’Ametlla de Mar and Vandellos, where the beaches are steeper and narrower.

Beaches near the Ebro Delta (Delta de l’Ebre), are a mix of marsh and salt pan as it is one of the largest wetland areas in the western Mediterranean region. Abundant with animal life (in particular, bird life), the delta is also used for rice and citrus crops. The beaches in the delta are long and wide with fine sand that is typical of the region.
In the south, Les Cases d’Alcanar (Houses of Alcanar) is the southernmost town in Catalonia in the Tarragona province, offering tourists long beaches filled to the brim with clean, heavy sand. Book your holidays to Costa Dorada and explore the different kinds of beaches that stretch from north to south on this golden Catalonian Coast.

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Our last post got us day dreaming of great hiking locations. To help you visualise these great trips here’s a picture of the Matterhorn in Switzerland – a peak that can be seen on many great hikes.

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There’s really no better way to exercise than by going for a long trek into the countryside. This gives you great exercise over a long period of time – this will quickly get you into tip top shape and let you get some much needed fresh air. Here are three excellent spots for trekking holidays.

Nepal

Nepal is the ultimate place for a trekking holiday: this Himalayan country has some of the most stunning peaks in the world and you will be able to witness some of the most famous mountains in the world if you come here. It is also home to lovely verdant valleys that are a pleasure to stroll through. Come here and do a week-long trek to Annapurna.

Switzerland

Switzerland is a lovely country in Europe that contrasts green alpine meadows with jagged peaks. Walk through farms and isolated fields as you work your way up towards easily climbable peaks. At the top you will be rewarded with an amazing view of this gorgeous country.

New Zealand

Kiwis are ardent hikers and it’s easy to see why: this country is full of well-developed trails that wind through the country’s varied scenery. You can spend some time in the mountains or walk around the coastline through the fern shrouded forests – this is hiking country of the highest order.

If you enjoy hiking you should definitely check out these three countries, but don’t confine yourself here. There are so many great spots to explore and you can try something new every holiday you get.

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