Enjoy August: what’s on this month in the UK

There’s plenty to see and do in August and whether you can spare an hour or a whole weekend, here is a round-up of what’s on this month in the UK.

Read the rest of the post here: http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/2011/08/04/enjoy-august-what-s-on-this-month-in-the-uk

August bank holiday ideas

Another bank holiday weekend (August 26th-29th) is on the horizon, so make the most of that extra day with this selection of holiday ideas, from a weekend seaside break in Wales to an indulgent spa break in Austria.


Read the rest of the post here:


http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/2011/08/08/august-bank-holiday-ideas

Top 5 Elvis-themed destinations around the world

The whole world adored Elvis – the snake-hipped, velvet-voiced singer who serenaded the world with unforgettable songs like Always on my Mind, Suspicious Minds and Blue Suede Shoes. All over the world, the memory of Elvis is being kept alive. This week (August 10th-16th) marks Elvis Week in Memphis – an annual gathering of fans from around the world, looking to celebrate the life of this iconic artist, a.k.a ‘The King’.

If you’re an Elvis fan then don a glitzy jacket and head out to one of these Elvis-themed destinations:

http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/2011/08/11/top-5-elvis-themed-destinations-around-the-world

Read the rest of the post here: 

Top 5 garden-themed breaks

Garden-fever has gripped the nation once again - after the highly anticipated Chelsea Flower Show once again opened its doors to the public - housing a huge variety of show gardens, from Bermuda's Honeymoon Garden to Diarmuid Gavin's inspired Irish Sky Garden.

Horticulturists can gain inspiration, not just at these events, but from all over the world and there are plenty of themed holidays allowing you to do just that.

Check out Travelbite.co.uk's pick of garden-themed breaks:

http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/feature/europe/portugal/top-5-garden-themed-breaks-$1381716.htm

Summer 'staycation' holiday ideas

The UK is set to enjoy another spell of glorious sunshine after an exceptionally dry April, so why go abroad? Enjoy the UK as its very best this summer with a 'staycation'.

According to a recent Travelodge survey, over a third of Britons (35%) will holiday in the UK only this summer, suggesting that the 'staycation' phenomenon is far from a one-off. The figure is up 10% from last year; the economic climate, combined with the especially good British weather, being the main factors.

Check out Travelbite.co.uk's 'staycation' holiday ideas:

http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/feature/uk/summer-staycation-holiday-ideas-$1381609.htm

New Travelbite competition! Win a stay in a Devon holiday cottage

Travelbite.co.uk has teamed up with http://www.myfavouriteholidaycottages.co.uk/ to offer one lucky Travelbite reader the chance to win a short stay in a charmingly renovated stone cottage in Devon (sleeps 6!).

Set in 17 acres of peaceful woodland, Swallow Cottage has three bedrooms (a double en-suite, a twin and a bunk) and bathroom, a spacious open plan living room and kitchen spread across the first floor overlooking a beautiful, private walled garden and stunning countryside beyond.

Swallow cottage is only three miles from the glorious beaches of Woolacombe and Putsborough and the holiday resort of Ilfracombe. The rugged coastline around Mortehoe offers many great walks whilst Barnstaple, 10 miles away, provides excellent shopping. The Pannier Market has interesting bargains and fresh local produce on Tuesdays and Fridays.

How to enter:
SIGN UP TO THE NEWSLETTER TO ENTER. A name will be selected at random on June 18th 2011 and notified by email.

Keep up to date with all the latest features, news and competitions by liking Travelbite on Facebook and follow us @travelbite.

More details about the holiday cottage:
Swallow Cottage also offers:
- Secure, enclosed walled garden
- Picnic tables & BBQ
- Large lawn
- Washing machine & drier
- Large Satellite TV
- DVD & Music system
- Great walks on 17-acre estate
- Rural location abounding in wildlife
- Easy reach of beaches and coast
For more details on Swallow Cottage and other charming UK self-catering Holiday Cottages visit http://www.myfavouriteholidaycottages.co.uk/.

Terms and Conditions:
1. The prize includes 3 days/nights rental of Swallow Cottage for a midweek or weekend break and must be taken between September 1st and October 31st 2011. The prize is subject to availability of the Cottage. If the cottage has already been booked, the owners reserve the right to offer Tawny Cottage which has the same facilities as Swallow Cottage.
2. This competition is NOT open to employees of Adfero, or any agency connected with this competition or family members of any of these organisations.
3. Only one entry per person and you must be over 18 years old.
4. The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
5. The closing date for the competition is June 18th 2011. The judges cannot accept responsibility for late entries. Proof of sending email or postcard is not proof of receipt of entry. No entry can be accepted if all details are not provided.
6. No cash alternative for any of the prizes.
7. Entrants acknowledge that their entries may be released or displayed to the public by travelbite.co.uk or any agency connected with the competition and as such sign all rights necessary for promotion, publication or of such entries to travelbite.co.uk. Winners agree to grant travelbite.co.uk or any agency connected with the competition the right to use their name and likeness for advertising and publicity purposes without any additional compensation.
8. The competition shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales.

Enter now to not miss out on this fantastic prize!

Follow us @travelbite

Top 5 things to do during the May half term

School will soon be out for spring and there's plenty to see and do during the half term break - which this year is May 28th to June 5th 2011. From historic-themed fun to foodie festivals, take a look at Travelbite.co.uk's pick of fun family events and attractions in the UK:
Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/feature/uk/top-5-things-to-do-during-the-may-half-term-$1381465.htm

Top 5 things to do on Father's Day

Forget buying Dad another tie this Father's day (June 19th 2011) and treat him to a fun-packed day out. Whether he's a classic car enthusiast, culinary maestro, sporting fan or just really likes a pint or two, here are some ideas that are bound to please:

Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/feature/uk/top-5-things-to-do-on-father-s-day-$1381556.htm

Londoners set to endure more tube strikes

Tube strikes....again?! Unfortunately so.

It was announced today (May 4th 2011) that London commuters are to face disrupted tube services in the coming months, due to planned tube strikes.

Tube workers are to take strike action after a row broke out over the sacking of two drivers - Eamon Lynch and Arwyn Thomas. The Tube Union RMT believes it was due to their trade union activities.

To see planned tube strike dates click here:
http://www.travelbite.co.uk/travel-news/uk/england/londoners-set-to-endure-more-tube-strikes-$1381421.htm

NEW TRAVELBITE.CO.UK COMPETITION!

Travelbite.co.uk has teamed up with CoPilot Live to offer two lucky readers the chance to win the latest CoPilot Live European mobile app, which turns your phone into a turn-by-turn satnav.

CoPilot Live - worth £37.99 - takes full advantage of today's GPS-enabled touch screen phones to deliver the same level of performance as a standalone navigation system - perfect for helping you find your way around, by car or on-foot.

How to enter:
Simply sign up to the Travelbite.co.uk newsletter and two names will be selected at random.
The deadline is May 31st 2011.
The winners will be emailed and also announced on Twitter and Facebook - so make sure you 'like' our facebook page and follow us @travelbite.

Fore more details visit: http://www.travelbite.co.uk/travel-news/europe/competition-win-a-copilot-live--$1381387.htm

Terms and Conditions:
1. The prize is one of two CoPilot Live mobile apps.
2. This competition is NOT open to employees of Adfero, or any agency connected with this competition or family members of any of these organisations.
3. Only one entry per person and you must be over 18 years old.
4. The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
5. The closing date for the competition is May 31st 2011. The judges cannot accept responsibility for late entries. Proof of sending email or postcard is not proof of receipt of entry. No entry can be accepted if all details are not provided.
6. No cash alternative for any of the prizes.
7. Entrants acknowledge that their entries may be released or displayed to the public by travelbite.co.uk or any agency connected with the competition and as such sign all rights necessary for promotion, publication or of such entries to travelbite.co.uk. Winners agree to grant travelbite.co.uk or any agency connected with the competition the right to use their name and likeness for advertising and publicity purposes without any additional compensation.
8. The competition shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales.

Enter now to not miss out on this fantastic prize!

travelbite.co.uk staff


Follow us @travelbite

Top 5 bargain summer holidays 2011

Do you want a memorable getaway this summer, but without the hefty price tag? Fear not - there are affordable destinations, near and far, offering bargains by the bucket-load.

Check out Travelbite.co.uk's most affordable destinations this summer, according to the Post Office's new holiday costs survey:

http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/south-asia/sri-lanka/top-5-affordable-summer-holiday-hot-spots-$1381364.htm

Chernobyl: enter the exclusion zone

Today (April 26th 2011) it is the anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. But did you know you can visit the exclusion zone? What once was a normal town - with primary schools and leisure centres - now is an eery reminder of the nuclear destruction.

Charlene Mitchell visited the exclusion zone and wrote about her experience. Read her article here:
http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/europe/ukraine/chernobyl-entering-the-exclusion-zone-$1381318.htm

The ultimate summer festival checklist!

Love a good summer music festival but never know what to bring? Check out Travelbite.co.uk's handy festivals checklist:

DAY TRIPPING
Day festivals are a great way to enjoy the music and fun, but without the backpacks, dry shampoo and baking hot tents. You still need to be prepared though, so make sure to bring:
- Tissues and toilet roll: don't be caught out- even at day festivals the portaloos can run out of paper within hours.
- Sun block: hopefully you'll need plenty of this!
- Camera: great for capturing those festival memories, but try not to lose it! Make sure it has a strap and a sturdy case for protection.
- Warm clothing: when the sun goes down the temperatures can drop, so wrap up warm with plenty of layers.
- Cash: most festivals have cashpoints, but these often go hand-in-hand with hefty queues so plan ahead and only bring as much money as you need; you can even consider stashing some cash in your sock. Leave a note of the card numbers at home to make cancellation easier should your wallet be lost or stolen.
- Raincoat: your best friend should it start to pour (especially if you're in the UK) and it also comes in handy for sitting on.
- Anti-bacterial hand sanitiser: because portaloos aren't the nicest of places!

There's plenty more tips and lists here:
http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/festival-holiday/summer-festivals-checklist-$1381258.htm

5 beaches made famous by movies

With plans for a Baywatch movie now underway, it is likely that many tourists will flock to Santa Monica beach to re-enact the famous slow motion run, perfected by beach babe Pamela Anderson. However Santa Monica is not the only beach made famous by the movies. Travelbite.co.uk reveals its top 5:

Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/beach-holiday/top-5-beaches-made-famous-by-the-big-screen-$1381255.htm

Family fun this Easter

(photo: National Trust)

Chocolate-lovers' favourite holiday is around the corner and there's plenty of family fun to be had - from egg-celent Easter egg hunts to medieval-themed mayhem.

Do you love a good Easter egg hunt? Or if you're counting the calories, how about a chocolate-themed spa treatment?

Read more about Easter events and activities here: http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/uk/family-fun-this-easter-$1381218.htm

Top 5 dog-friendly hotels

Do you hate to leave your precious pooch behind when you go on holiday? You may be surprised to know that there are many great hotels willing to cater for both you and your dog. Since it's National Pet Month (April 2nd - May 2nd 2011) we turn our attention to 'dog-friendly' hotels and have picked out five of the best in the UK:
Read the rest of the post here:
http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/uk/five-of-the-best-dog-friendly-hotels-in-the-uk-$1381147.htm

Travel deals newsletter out today!

Are you thinking about an Easter getaway or some early summer sunshine? This week we have last minute Easter breaks in rural Mallorca and Tuscany, a hot ticket to Hawaii and great deals to Egypt and Tunisia.

Have you signed up to the newsletter? if not then sign up here:
http://www.travelbite.co.uk/newslettersignup.aspx

All the late deals can be accessed here:
http://www.travelbite.co.uk/travel-deals/

Top 5 spots for stargazing

Astro-tourism is on the rise and it’s not hard to see why — there is nothing more magical and mysterious than the night’s sky. From the deserts of northern Chile to the highest peak of Hawaii, here is Travelbite.co.uk’s pick of the world’s best spots for stargazing:
http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/feature/dest-south-america/chile/top-5-spots-for-stargazing-$1380993.htm

Royal getaways: make the most of your bank holiday weekend

This year we have the luxury of an extra bank holiday weekend – thanks to the royal wedding – so whether you’re watching the ceremony or not, make the most of those precious extra days with a long weekend break.

Check out Travelbite.co.uk’s selection of weekend break ideas:

http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/feature/uk/royal-getaways-make-the-most-of-your-bank-holiday-weekend-$1381075.htm

Mother's Day 2011 - make it memorable

Don't forget it's Mother's Day this weekend!

Make the most of Mother's Day and give mum what she really wants- some precious family time. From flower arranging to afternoon tea, it's time to make Mother's Day memorable.

Check out Travelbite.co.uk's top 5 things to do on Mother's Day in the UK:

http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/feature/uk/top-5-things-to-do-on-mother-s-day-$1380877.htm

Last minute Easter holiday ideas

Haven't booked an easter break yet? No need to fret, there are some great last minute travel deals on offer.

Check out Travelbite.co.uk's selection of holiday ideas- from a ski break to an Eastern European Easter:

http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/feature/holidays/short-breaks-city-breaks/last-minute-easter-holiday-ideas-$1381052.htm

Spring has sprung!

Winter is finally over and the first signs of spring are beginning to appear. From vibrant azaleas to canary-yellow daffodils, it's time to enjoy the great outdoors as it springs to life.

There's nothing more pleasant after months of dull and misty skies than spotting spring's first offerings, lighting up the landscape with splashes of colour- so make the most of Mother Nature's prettiest season by visiting some of the UK's best gardens.

Check out Travelbite.co.uk's pick of the best spring gardens in the UK:

http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/uk/spring-has-sprung--$1380952.htm

Japan Earthquake: latest travel advice:

On March 11th 2011 Japan was hit by a mega-quake which registered 9.0 on the Richter scale. It struck 250 miles (400km) from Tokyo at 1446 local time (0546 GMT) and was followed by a tsunami that devastated north eastern Japan.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is advising against “all non- essential travel” to Tokyo and north eastern Japan.

Check out the rest of the FCO's latest travel advice here (last updated March 17th 2011): http://www.travelbite.co.uk/travel-news/north-asia/japan/japan-earthquake-travel-advice-update-$1380867.htm

Congratulations to all our comp winners!

It's been a bumper competition start to the year for Travelbite.co.uk readers! Mandy Mason won the Oakley snow goggles and sun mousse winter sun protection. Jodie Yorke and Sarah Laycock won free double passes to the Destinations Holiday and Travel Show at London's Earls Court. And Nicci Cowdrell-Murray's next holiday should be a little bit closer as she won the £100 one4all gift card from the Post Office.

There are still a few competitions open so be in to win and keep an eye on the site for new competitions coming up!

Right now you can enter to win one of five Eat Pray Love DVD plus Berlitz Handbook to India or Italy:
http://www.travelbite.co.uk/travel-news/europe/italy/win-eat-pray-love-dvd-berlitz-guide-$1380287.htm

Or win one of 50 ForeverMap offline European map apps for your iPhone/iPad: http://www.travelbite.co.uk/travel-news/europe/win-european-offline-map-app-$1380192.htm and enjoy sophisticated maps with no roaming charges.

Good luck!

Late deals newsletter out today

Some great travel bargains to be had, including some last minute Valentine's getaways for all you romantics out there: http://www.travelbite.co.uk/travel-deals/

On the home page, look out for our top 10 places to go in the UK for the January/February snowdrop display: http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/uk/top-10-spots-for-snowdrops-$1379647.htm Spring is on its way, really.

And where should you go on holiday to get your reality TV fix? Here's the top 5 reality TV destinations. From I'm a Celebrity... in Australia to The Only Way is Essex: http://www.travelbite.co.uk/holiday-ideas/oceania/australia/top-5-reality-tv-destinations-$1379644.htm

Managed to catch the 2nd half of #TToT, great fun, think limiting it to 5 questions makes it more manageable. Met some new people and got to know others better.

Today is late deals day, more amazing bargain holidays out there, especially ski hols - the chalets must be empty.

1st #TToT tomorrow!

Can't wait for inaugural #TToT (Travel Talk on Twitter) tomorrow at 9am and 9pm. Looks like it's the new #TNI but at the right time for us Euro tweeters. Travel talk with like-minded people - it'll be like being on the road again! Find more details here: http://www.facebook.com/TravelTalkOnTwitter?v=info