Paris is of course said to be the most romantic city in the world, just imagine waking up to croissants and coffee in the mornings, a walk through the bohemian streets  popping in and out of art galleries and finishing off the day with a walk along the Seine or viewing the Eiffel Tower lit up in the moon light sipping the best red wine France has to offer. However, Paris can be quite expensive during the romantic period so there are many other options out there to whisk your loved one away to.

It might not be the first location that springs to everyone’s mind but Moscow can be a very romantic city. Cuddle up in bars sampling the many different types of Vodka the city has to offer with an amazing number of restaurants and bars, or talk a walk through the Square of Europe with its spectacular fountain display.

Lapland might seem like a place for children to go and visit Father Christmas in December but it can make a really romantic destination with its log cabins and husky sledge rides you can spend an energetic day in the snow and spend your evenings curled up in front of a roaring fire. Or why not take a night ride out to view the northern lights one of the most romantic trips anyone can take.

As everyone knows it is not the location but the company that really makes a trip but it doesn’t hurt to book a romantic location!

Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf is in the west of Berlin and has something for everyone. It contains the sandy banks of the Havel, the Olympic stadium and Charlottenburg Palace. This district also boasts the German Opera house as well as numerous shopping streets and tranquil squares with everything from boutiques to discount designer stores.

Another popular of Berlin is Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg placed in the heart of Berlin alongside the River Spree. This is considered to be one of the most interesting and diverse districts containing the listed Oberbaumbrucke Bridge and the longest remaining section of the Berlin Wall. The state museum of modern art, photography and architecture as well as the German Museum of Technology is also situated in the district. This vibrant district is a must for any visitor.

Marzahn-Hellersdorf is a district defined by its contrasting architecture; modern multi-faceted buildings sit alongside listed historical buildings from the 19^th century. This surprising district also has the longest green corridor in Berlin containing the Wuhletal valley. With its gardens and manor houses this is a relaxing district containing a number of cafes, restaurants and bars as well as golfing ranges.

Neukolln is seen by any visitors to Berlin as a bohemian village. This was once home to bohemian refugees and to this day is a melting pot of cultures containing the opera house, Britz garden and castle as well as the amazing Turkish market at Maybachufer which is a must see for any visitor. These differing cultures mean that you can find almost any cuisine in the Neukolln district and in addition to the cafes, restaurant and bars there is a vibrant creative scene which keeps on growing meaning each visit you’ll find something different.

Using your mobile phone abroad can be expensive, but it is something we seem to do on a regular basis even if it is just to check in with people at home to let them know you arrived safely. This christmas many are planning to go away so that quick ‘merry christmas’ text to friends and family could end up costing you a fortune. Luckily there are a few ways to help save when you use your mobile.

The first important thing to note is that it is free to receive texts, so if people want to chat they can contact you and you can find a cheap way to call them. If you do need to contact someone it is around 50p to reply outside of the EU so make sure you keep your texts short and sweet. Inside the EU it is around 10p/min to receive calls as costs are capped, outside the cost is much higher.

If you are a frequent traveler it can be worth asking your mobile service provider if they offer special packages that lower the cost of using your phone. Even if you only travel abroad once a year it is worth asking your provider what they offer. Many offer free ‘add ons’ for packages abroad where others charge monthly, if your provider is one of the latter always remember to cancel the package when you are home. If you are on a contract don’t assume your free minutes are included in use abroad, usually texts will cot up to 3 SMS worth per text, but it is worth checking.

It is often worth buying a pay as you go SIM and popping it in your phone once you arrive at your destination. This will allow you to make calls at the local call rates of the country you are in.

It is also important to turn off ‘data roaming’ when abroad, if you need to access the internet use the free wi-fi hotspots which tend to be dotted around but avoid downloading anything as this can cost a lot. If you are in a country with free wi-fi hotspots and to be honest there aren’t many out there that don’t have them you can use these to make free phone calls. Systems like Skype allow you to make free calls over the internet as long as the other person has Skype as well.

Having said that there are some really good moisturisers out there with suntan lotions in them, it is important when choosing one that you make sure it not only protects against both skin ageing UVA rays as well as cancer causing UVB rays. Many of the cheaper types of suntan lotion and moisturisers containing it do not protect against the latter. Here are a few of my favourite protecting fluids.

Ultrasun containing SPF30 is recommended by dermatologists, this is great for dry skin and is a no-nonsense sun block. Crème de la Mer SPF30 UV Protecting fluid is a bit of a mouthful and one of those most expensive at £52 for 40ml, but it has a great texture and make up applies over it wonderfully. This is great to apply over serum before applying moisturiser

Shiseido Urban Environment UV Protection Cream with SPF50 is a slightly cheaper cream at £30.50 for 50ml. This is a perfect base for make up. If you are one of those people who hates the feel of sunscreen on their faces the perfect answer comes from Shu Uemura Under Base Mousse with SPF30 is the perfect answer for you. This moouse is feather light on your face and is the perfect primer for your make up.

First of all, pay your bills. I find it irritating to come back from a long trip only to find most of my bills are overdue. Sort monthly bills out and pay them before you leave. If it is possible, budget a certain amount of money and ask a friend or family to help you pay bills as they are due.

Pets is another thing you need to take care before leaving on long trips. Make sure someone is taking good care of your pets while your gone. If needed, hire professionals to help you take good care of your pets.

Mails can sometimes be an issue, but this is not a major one. You can opt to stop your mails or reroute them to post office box so that they are well-organized until you get back.

If it is possible, empty your fridge. At least, sort things according to their expire date and leave items that may go bad while you are away.

With all of these things properly taken care of, you will be able to enjoy your long trips without worries.

Bring clothes with basic colors, two colors at the most. You are keeping it simple so that you don’t have to carry too much accessories and shoes. This first tip alone will help you pack lighter bags for holidays. Seek information about laundering at the holiday destination and reduce the amount of clothes you carry by considering laundering as part of your holiday.

I know you may think that jeans are great for holidays, but they are actually heavy and hard to maintain. They dry slowly and handling them in your holiday can be too much of a problem. Stick with lighter, often more comfortable, pants instead.

Packing efficiently for trips can be tricky as you may still get tempted to bring additional items. Just ask yourself if you really need the item on your holiday, and put it out of your suitcase if the answer is no. Besides, you are going on a holiday and you should enjoy the trip more and stumble with your suitcases less, right? With lighter suitcases and less items to worry about, you can have an even more enjoyable holidays.