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.

The first thing you need to do is make sure you have all the details of your bookings, your travel details – flights, boat or your map if you are driving, print everything off that you might need and make sure you have it in your hand luggage. It might also be worthwhile to have a spare copy in your luggage just in case.

The second most important item to make sure you have before you leave on holiday is your passport. It may be the most obvious item to have this on you but we’ve all seen the countless TV programmes where people forget them or haven’t checked the expiry date on the passport only to find it ran out the day before they arrive at the airport. Travel insurance documents are up there with passports, forget these and you could be spending a fortune if anything were to go wrong.

It’s also important to leave copies of your itinerary and important documents with friends and family, this will allow them to contact you if anything happens to go wrong at home or if you were to lose any of them and need copies while you are travelling.

Most importantly of all you have to make sure you check you have all your documents before you leave the house so you aren’t stranded on the brink of your holiday and having to head home.

There is one way to take away part of the stress this Christmas season, why not get away from the home and pick a Christmas holiday destination in the UK. Not only do you get the relaxation of the holiday aspect but you can invite as many or as few of the family that you wish. This helps to rule out the arguments over where you are spending the Christmas period and that one set of parents are not offended you aren’t with them.

There are many places in our fair Isles that are perfect for Christmas holiday destinations, there are the wild Yorkshire dales where you can act out a Wuthering Heights theme or feel like you are in Rebecca along the Cornish coast. When picking a Christmas holiday destination in the UK people mainly go to one of two extremes, they head for a bustling city or to a cottage in the middle of nowhere.

If you like the thought of being isolated and away from it all it could be that Scotland is just the place for you, with its many glens there are many cottages hidden away allowing you to be completely at peace with nature and at one with yourself and your guests, though if you pick this type of Christmas holiday destination make sure you get on well with all your guests!

If the hermit lifestyle isn’t quite your style why not head to a city where there are many places to go and things to see, Bath is the perfect example of this. This bustling city looks picturesque in the winter season and with the bustle of the city there is something for everyone.

Paris

Again a very popular place to visit all year round, but the festive season in the French capital is something truly spectacular. At this time of year Paris really does live up to its nickname of the City of Lights – however, being Paris, the city is decorated with a sense of style that cannot be matched anywhere else.

Vienna

One place that perhaps can compete with Paris for Christmas magic is the city of Vienna. During the festive season this Austrian city is home to Christkindlmarkt, which is the oldest Christmas market anywhere in Europe. You can wander through the park where the market is held, to the smell of chestnuts roasting and the sounds of carol singing.

New York

For those looking for a nostalgic Christmas, New York cannot be beaten. The city offers a winter wonderland, from the famed festive window displays in shops such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s, together with the lighting of the huge central Christmas Tree and the giant ice rink at the Rockefeller Centre –all traditions dating back to the 1930s.

Rio de Janeiro

This offers something totally different – a wild and fun packed festive holiday in a warm climate. In addition the city is home to a host of fascinating Christmas traditions, including the largest Christmas tree in the world, which is floated down the Rio Iagoa River and Festival of the Goddess of the Sea.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt offers a great cultural experience for Christmas, with the abundance of museums and the 600-year old Christmas market, which offers gingerbread and mulled wine, as well as ceramic and wooden toy gifts.

Wherever you choose to travel, it is advisable to secure travel insurance, to make sure you are protected. Endsleigh annual travel insurance means you are fully covered for trips made at any time of the year, under a single policy.

It can be hard to remember exactly what it is you are allowed to take on and which you are definitely not allowed, but put simply you cannot take anything on that could cause injury to you or other passengers. With the amount women carry around in their handbags on a daily basis it is important to have a good clear out before you leave the house.

So here is a quick guide. We all know liquids are one of the big no-no’s on flights, but the confusing thing is that certain amounts are allowed. Firstly it is important to know liquids include gels, creams and pastes. These liquids can be carried in containers of less that 100ml, think of the small body sprays you can get and you are in the right size range.

There are other restricted items that might cause some surprise, these include knitting needles, slingshots (a travel must have for most!) and toy or replica guns – though you can get the security guards to prise it from your screaming son’s grasp. Some items you would expect to be forbidden that seem to cause some confusion, especially amongst passengers I’m standing behind are darts, scissors and razor blades.

If you are ever unsure about an item it is best to check on the airlines website or on the government’s website, http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Publictransport/AirtravelintheUK/DG_078179.

It is also important to note many airlines are tightening their restrictions on the size and weight of hand luggage and are clamping down on the one bag per passenger rule so check you are within the guidelines before you leave the house or you could be facing extra costs.

In today’s society, it seems so easy to go anywhere at any time. UK airports are offering more and more destinations, so we have more choice than ever. But, great deals sometimes turn out to be much more expensive than we first thought.

Just how easy is it to find a cheap flight these days? I’ve found that companies like Jet2 and Easyjet end up adding on loads of taxes and fees – even making you pay to check in online! – and so the flights don’t end up being a bargain at all.

There are so many sites out there promising cheap flights – so which one is best? There’s probably not one answer, but here are my favourite places to find cheap flights!

cheapflights.co.uk

This site pretty much does exactly what it says on the tin – it finds cheap flights. I’ve often found deals on here that are much cheaper than booking direct. The site is pretty easy to use but it doesn’t have much info on the destinations, so you’d better know where you want to go!

lastminute.com

I’ve always been a bit sceptical about lastminute.com – it has always seemed more expensive than other sites but there is one way to get some really great deals -book last minute. That’s what this site is designed for and if you are prepared to risk it and wait, you’ll pick up some bargains (like my flight and hotel deal to Rome last year!)

ebookers.com

You can find cheap flights here, but the real deals are to be had when you book more than one thing -a flight and hotel, or a flight and a hire car. Especially good for European flights, but you can pick up some good deals to further flung destinations.

Whenever you go to Paris, focus the first couple of days for sightseeing. You may be tempted to do a little shopping or two, but you can organize a shopping tour later in your visit. There are countless beautiful places to visit in Paris, and the best way to enjoy them is by renting your own vehicle (either with GPS map to guide you or with a driver) to cruise through the city. The investment will be well worth it; you will be able to enjoy more of Paris this way. You may need to look into insurance for your possessions while you are away – obtain a travel insurance quote before you go and weigh up the pro’s and con’s of spending a little more but having peace of mind.

Next, eat! There are several good restaurants spread all across Paris. Take your time and do a little cuisine adventure with your loved one. Both of you will love this because there will be so much to try. Dining in romantic restaurant at the Eiffel Tower is also a must-have in your agenda. You will be able to enjoy fabulous food complimented with the view of Paris at night; simply breathtaking.

Then, go on a mutual shopping spree. You have experienced what Paris has to offer, and you will be able to enjoy shopping with your loved one even more.