There is nothing quite like the uniqueness of visiting Mexico and a lot of the time it is always losing to its bigger brother, the United States. It is in my opinion even better than the states and I wanted to talk a little bit about why I love it even more. So sit back, relax and enjoy reading about one of the best places to travel on the planet.

The Riviera Maya

This is one of the best if not the best parts of all of Mexico and there is so much on offer here, from diving and snorkelling, to restaurants, nightlife and shopping. This is one of the premier diving destinations in the entire country and the world. You can see tropical fish, coral reefs, whales sharks and other amazing wildlife too. The Riviera Maya vacation rentals aren’t bad either, especially in this part of the world with some of the best beaches and weather that you can possibly imagine.

The diversity

Mexico is a large place with a lot to offer in terms of landscapes, climates, food, culture and people. There are so many ways to experience it, from the beaches of the gulf of Mexico or in the gritty streets of Tijuana, near the California border. There really is something for everyone here, which is one of the best things when it comes to travel. Everyone should do it and enjoy it in their own way.

The historical sites

Mexico has an interesting history with the Aztecs and Mayans, which were two different people that had very interesting cultures and beliefs for their time. These two civilisations have left their mark on Mexico with a huge number of historic sites that dot the country. The Mayans are very famous for their stepped pyramids and intricate cities that they built, many of which have been well preserved and you can visit to this day. My favourite is definitely El Castillo pyramid.

The beaches

These are without a doubt one of the highlights of Mexico and the country certainly benefits from its huge coastline and ideal location, it also has a very warm and beautiful climate to enjoy the great beaches. The beaches of the Gulf of Mexico are my personal favourites, as these are your typical white sand beaches that have the most amazing deep blue water that you could only dream about. If you wanted to you could combine a visit to Tulum beach with the adjacent Mayan ruins, which was absolutely perfect for me on my last trip there.

When people think about Argentina, they usually associate it with mountains, falls, gauchos, wine, football, drama, and an endless inhabited bunch of remote lands. Sometimes, when speaking of a remote place, people refer to it as “La Pampa”.

Then, when the time comes to plan a real visit to Argentina, it can result difficult to squeeze every location in one trip. Let’s have a look at some of the most common doubts, and the tips to cope with them:

With so many attractions, how to decide what to choose?

After making a first research, familiarize with the popular destinations and the minimum days to visit each one of them; and locate the destinations on a map. It will definitively help you have a better panorama about the distances, and to trigger new ideas about how to combine them with the main attractions in the neighboring countries.

Then, check out when is the best time of the year to visit them all, and how many flights you would need to do it. You will realize that some destinations are not really worth the visit in some months of the year, which will help you set priorities.

Many flights for just a few days

You don’t have to swing by Buenos Aires to rejoin every other place. For instance, Córdoba is a good hub, or there are even some direct flights between the main regional cities (you just need to check which days they operate).

Some destinations can be joined overland (or by Fjords), through singular sceneries, demanding the same time than doing it with a long stopover flight. For example, you can go from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas in a full day bus or a private transfer. Or you can go from Bariloche to Puerto Montt, through the “Cross Lakes” excursion. This opens up a new world of possibilities to combine many of the regions in one trip.

What to do on the arrival/departure days at the different destinations

Those who don’t have the chance to leave those days free (in order to enjoy the places in a more relaxed way, which is suggested) come to a very common doubt: is it possible to go on an excursion on the day of my arrival/departure?

Well, even though it depends on many factors, it’s useful to take the following into consideration:

If it’s on the day of your departure, there are no major inconveniences apart from being aware of the airport location and the time that you need to reach it. If it’s on your arrival day, have in mind that flight delays in Argentina are very common, so either calculate a big gap between your arrival time and the beginning of your excursion, or go on a private tour.

You can actually visit a lot of “essentials” under this scheme. The only disadvantage, maybe, is that in some places it is better to set a particular order for the attractions to visit (a matter of leaving the best for the end ☺).

If you take an evening flight on your day out, for example, you would be able to visit: Brazilian falls (Iguazu), Tierra del Fuego National Park (Ushuaia), one of the navigations to the Glaciers Upsala & Spegazzini (El Calafate), Short Circuit (Bariloche), and many other places around the country.

One way or the other, don’t miss out your chances of getting the best out of your visit, by asking a local travel expert for advice.

Airports can certainly be a stressful place, but they don’t have to be as long as you know all the tips and tricks for navigating them successfully. I thought today would be a good day to write about all the things I know about getting through any airport as quickly and as easily as possible.

Getting there and getting to your final destination

One thing you need to understand about airports is that it can be an absolute nightmare to get there and also to get from the airport to where you need to go. This is generally a problem that is very underestimated and often the stress starts from getting to the airport. I would highly recommend an airport transfer because it is fast, efficient and much more comfortable. I recently tried out an airport transfer company called Blacklane and it was great because it was comfortable, fast and professional. The best thing was that my flight was 45 minutes late and there is one hour of included waiting time included in the price!

Ask

When you don’t have a lot of time, simply speaking to airport employees can be a very big help. Nobody wants to miss their flight and simply saying something can go a very long way. If this fails, your fellow passengers may show some sympathy and let you go ahead of them in the queue. Remember that if you don’t ask, you don’t get!

Be ready

When going through security it is always a good idea to remove any items that you need to before you reach the front of the line. This includes metallics objects, laptops, etc. For some reason people always tend to do this at the very end and it holds people up. If you do this while you are waiting you can simply have your things scanned and then walk straight through. This is not only good for you, but for the others that just want to get through security and get onto their respective flights.

Don’t line up to get on the plane

There is always that feeling that you are going to miss your flight, but the reality is that the flight won’t leave without you and you can quite simply stay seated and watch the line for the plane. The most important thing to remember is that your seat cannot be occupied by somebody else. If you do have a slightly bigger bag as carry on luggage then it may be a good idea to line up ensure that you get enough space in the overhead lockers on the plane.

I am all about making travel quicker, easier and more convenient and I have learnt many of these things along the way. Here are five quick tips for improving your travel experience and making it so much easier than before.

No more rushing to the airport

By staying in Stansted airport hotels you can greatly reduce the stress involved in rushing to the airport.
Airport hotels are the perfect place to chill out and save you so much time because the airport is extremely close. This is great for flights in the morning or for those that don’t live especially close to the airport. I really enjoy doing this too because I can take my time and not get stressed out about things.

Noise cancelling headphones

These are a literal godsend when it comes to traveling and are something that you will thank me for recommending. Noise canceling headphones, of course, don’t get rid of sound completely but they dull out the most annoying parts of this. This is particularly the case for the droning sound that planes make. You will actually notice how much less fatigued you feel at the end of the journey.

Wash your face and feet

I find that traveling makes my feet swell up and my face just feels hot and flushed. The best way to deal with this is to wash your face and feet whenever you get the chance. Wash your feet with cold water to get the circulation in your legs going, especially for those long flights. This is something that I love to do whilst in transit and have a long layover.

Top up on your prescriptions before you leave

It is always a great idea to go to the pharmacist and get some more of any medication that you take before you travel, this will definitely save you the trouble of finding it all yourself on your trip, when really you should exploring an amazing new place and not worrying about your health. It is a good idea to keep medication in the original packaging for customs reasons, as some countries may be stricter on certain types of medications.

Have some backup money

This may sound pretty obvious, but there are a huge number of people that don’t look after their money situation when they travel and this can definitely become a problem. Don’t just travel without a backup, because things do happen and you will end up in tears. It is always great to have a spare card or some extra cash that is stashed separately from the rest of your money and main cards.

Polzeath is a beautiful little village located on the north coast of Cornwall. It’s world famous for it’s spectacular surfing opportunities and superb beach. The beach is one of the best in the UK, it’s golden sands stretch from Pentire Head all the way west to Highcliff. It’s most famous visitor has to be Sir John Betjeman who mentioned it in more than one of his verses.

Polzeath is the ideal location for surfers and anyone that loves the beach. I love it because if the sea is swirling and the surf is good you can sit back and watch the surfers battle with mother nature. If you’re a keen swimmer then you’ll be pleased to hear that during the summer months there are always life guards on duty during the daytime.

There are so many amazing reasons to visit Polzeath; the sweeping beach, dolphins, bird watching, coastal paths for hiking, waterfront restaurants with tasty food and amazing views, plus Polzeath holiday accommodation is fantastic. Whatever budget you’re working with or type of holiday you’re on; couple, family or friends, you can be sure to find it here.

So once you’re there, what should you do? Well, you will be spoilt for choice and that’s one of the main reasons why people are drawn to this village year after year. Here are my top 3 things to do when you arrive.

– Enjoy a fun day out on the beach. This has to go top of the list because it’s definitely the best thing to do. At the beach you’ll find a number of activities; rock pooling, building sand castles with the kids, body boarding and you can also try your hand at surfing by taking a lesson or two.

– Eat until you can’t eat anymore. With so many restaurants and cafes dotted along the coast, there’s no better way to spend a few hours than eating good food, sipping on a coffee, reading a book or taking in the views.

– Going for a walk is such a great activity. You have a number of coastal paths to choose from, all of which offer you superb views. Taking in the fresh ocean air all day will build up a great appetite for eating out at night.