If you’re planning an escape this summer, check out these ten top companies.
Many will save you money on your trip and all are here to help your travels go as smoothly as possible.
They can also recommend hot sightseeing tips and cool travel accessories and offer you loads of advice and options, whether you’re in search of a chill-out break or a thrill-packed time away with the family.
1. Reboot your mind, body and… sole with HF Holidays
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It seems appropriate that the first signs of spring coincide with Stress Awareness Month.
It’s April and birds are cheeping, trees are blossoming – there’s a real sense of the natural world bursting with life.
So what better way to wake up to spring than booking a mood-boosting break with HF Holidays, one of the UK’s leading providers of outdoor, walking and activity holidays since 1913.
There’s a host of different options to choose from to get your spring/summer off to a kicking start, whether it be a UK walking break with full board in one of HF Holidays’ 17 country houses, learning a new skill such as landscape painting or dancing, or an escape to Europe and beyond.
Being away for even just a few nights can be a great way to unwind and feel invigorated.
Click here to book your holiday today or sign up to their newsletter for the latest offers and follow @hfholidays on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
2. Save money on sunnies from Ted Baker
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As well as being one of the world’s best-known fashion brands, Ted Baker produces a highly desirable range of eyewear, including seriously stylish sunglasses.
Take the glamorous, eminently wearable Elvia, a gorgeous statement frame that will give your spring look an instant style boost.
Chic and oversized, it features a fashionable dual-coloured front in a choice of complexion-flattering combinations such as tortoiseshell backed with a pale peachy nude, or timeless navy teamed with baby pink.
The unique gold metal chain-link embellishment on the arms (with brand logo subtly included) adds extra flair, and you can rest secure in the knowledge that the lenses offer full UV eye protection.
Shop now for ELVIA TB1608, and browse a range of Ted Baker sunglasses.
3. Maximise your next city trip with Go City
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With one nifty app, Go City has transformed the visitor experience in leading destinations like London, Rome, Paris and New York.
Choose the pass that works best for you: an Explorer Pass − covering a select number of attractions and experiences, or an All-Inclusive Pass − where you can visit as many attractions as you like within a set number of days.
Either way you’ll benefit from incredible savings and minimum hassle − instead of paying multiple entry fees and juggling paper tickets, you just pay once and use your phone to scan for entry at each attraction.
Local experts at Go City hand pick a great mixture of classic attractions and off-the-beaten path options.
In New York, for example, you might opt to visit the Empire State Building or choose an art walking tour in Brooklyn, while in Paris you could choose to climb the Eiffel Tower or enjoy a perfume workshop or fashion show.
Click here to find out more.
4. Set sail for an island escape thanks to Red Funnel
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The Isle of Wight is perennially popular for good reason. This gem of an island packs a lot in to a relatively small space, and you’re never far from one of its 25 beaches, 50 attractions or hundreds of miles of trails.
And starting your break with a ferry trip from the mainland is all part of the fun. Since 1861, Red Funnel has been moving visitors from Southampton to Cowes, originally in steam-powered paddle ships and today in smart, up-to-date ferries.
The journey takes less than an hour if you’re travelling with your car (or just 30 minutes for foot passengers) and there’s plenty to keep you occupied during the short crossing, with relaxing lounges, outdoor sun decks, and assorted food and drink options.
Click here to book your trip and save 15{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a} off travel up to 28 April with code CHECKLIST15.
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Leisureshopdirect.com is the essential online place for those who love camping, caravans and motorhomes.
Whether you’re an old hand or a recent convert to this kind of holiday, the website has everything you need for your next adventure.
The online company offers more than 30,000 products (many of them ready for next-day delivery) ranging from essential spare parts to fully smart TVs that have been designed specifically for travelling and loaded with built-in Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and more.
You can browse through all the latest tents and awnings (including ones made from 100{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a} recycled plastics), find the perfect cool box for your food and drinks, and pick up all the latest gadgets and gizmos.
So that whatever the British summer weather throws at you, you’ll be prepared.
Click here to find out more.
6. Fun for less in Florida thanks to FloridaTix
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If you’re Florida-bound and want to make the most of its fabulous theme parks and incredible experiences, don’t forget to bookmark FloridaTix.
This online ticket specialist is an officially authorised broker for all the biggest and best attractions and activities in the Sunshine State, including Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens and Kennedy Space Center.
The FloridaTix team really knows its stuff and makes everything as hassle-free as possible, with easy booking online or by phone.
The company also offers the best possible value on all tickets, with no credit card or booking fees and special combo deals that save you even more money.
Click here to find out more and enter the discount code Florida5 to enjoy five per cent off prices across the site.
7. Everyone deserves a break with MindforYou
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Holidays are precious, and you shouldn’t have to miss out on them just because you’re living with dementia at home.
Founded in 2014, the charity MindforYou offers specialist breaks that allow those with dementia, and their family or friends, to experience once more the joy of spending quality time and discovering new places, people and activities together.
The expert staff understand exactly how to create a secure home-from-home environment and can take care of every detail, from transport to specialist equipment. They also go to great lengths to personalise each holiday, even visiting you at home beforehand to get to know your own needs and preferences.
Choose from a variety of holidays around England, Scotland and Wales, all with luxurious, dementia-friendly accommodation.
Click here to find out more or call 01509 351008. Use discount code CHECKLIST20 for 20 per cent off holidays in May.
8. Capital style on a budget at the the St Giles hotel
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If you’re after an affordable central London base, the St Giles London Hotel ticks all the boxes.
It is within easy walking distance of many top attractions (including the British Museum, Soho and Covent Garden); there are excellent transport links right on the doorstep; and on-site facilities include three restaurants and a bar.
The lobby and lounge areas recently had a cool modern makeover (check out the bespoke artwork from renowned street artist Pegasus) and this spring the hotel unveils 200 newly renovated rooms featuring neutral colours, a hint of Scandi style and contemporary comforts such as USB outlets and plasma TVs.
Fancy being one of the first to try them out, whether travelling solo, as a couple, or with your family?
Click here to find the best deals (including savings of up to 20 per cent with the promo code NEW).
9. Rise above the crowd at Tottenham Hotspur FC
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Plenty of football clubs offer stadium tours. But Tottenham Hotspur FC – taking to heart the Spurs motto of “to dare is to do” – goes one better with its adrenaline-pumping Dare Skywalk.
You needn’t be a Spurs fan to enjoy this thrilling 90-minute experience, but you will need a head for heights!
Suitably harnessed in, you climb up, up, up to the very top of London’s biggest club stadium, to see some of the best views over the city than anywhere else.
You then step out on a glass walkway − a dizzying 150 ft above the pitch – where you come face-to-beak with the giant golden cockerel that sits atop the South Stand.
You can choose between daytime and evening climbs, and if you scale the stadium on any afternoon between now and 18 April, you will enjoy live acoustic music during your Skywalk.
You can also add a locally brewed Beavertown Beer or a glass of Fizz to make your experience extra special; perfect for when the sun sets over the city skyline.
Click here to find out more.
10. Take a retro rail ride on the Bluebell Railway
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There’s a rare treat in store at the Bluebell Railway in Sussex this August − the chance to take a trip on the world-famous Flying Scotsman.
This icon of the steam age last visited Bluebell, one of the UK’s oldest heritage railway lines, in 2017, attracting admirers from far and wide.
This year, in the run-up up to its centenary celebrations in 2023 and the new Railway Children Return film, the legendary locomotive will command even more attention, so book now to be sure of a place aboard one of the services that will run between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead from 25 to 29 August.
The locomotive will also be on static display at Sheffield Park from 17 to 24 August and 30 August to 5 September.
Tickets will be available from 1 May. To book, and to find out more about this and other fun events.
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