Maximising Australia: How To Make The Most Of A Trip Down Under

Australia is a country that is on many people’s bucket list. Because it’s so far away from everywhere else - and not the cheapest country in the world - it can often end up being a once-in-a-lifetime trip for a lot of people. Making sure that you maximise your adventures down under is therefore essential. Below are some tips on how to pack as much in as you can without making it too exhausting or too expensive. Leave yourself enough time You’ll need to spare at least two weeks to visit Australia. Four of those days could be taken up travelling, depending on where you’re journeying from, and jet lag could eat up extra days, so ideally three weeks is what you need to give you plenty of time to explore. Some people visit Australia for several months, but this generally requires having no commitments and lots of money (or being willing to work). Consider the season Visiting at different times of the year will provide a different experience. For those in the Northern hemisphere, it’s import......

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5 Ways to Make Your Home Efficient

Your house deserves to work smarter, not harder. And if you've been hearing whispers about free ECO energy upgrades and wondering whether your home is secretly judging your energy habits, don't worry, because you're in the right place. Making your home more efficient doesn't have to involve dramatic renovations or second mortgages. You don't even have to live like you're camping indoors. You just need to have a few simple tweaks, and you can give your space a glow-up that saves money, energy , and maybe even your sanity. Let's have a look at five ways that you can make your home run like the eco-savvy superstar it's destined to be. 1. Insulate like your comfort depends on it, because it does. Insulation is the unsung hero of home efficiency. It's not glamorous, no one hosts a dinner party to show off their freshly insulated loft, but wow, does it make a difference. Good insulation keeps warm air in during winter and hot air out during summer. Withou......

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Why You’re Always Anxious When You’re Tired (and What to Do About It)

It’s common to think of anxiety as a kind of mental loop - a spiral of “what if” that we can talk ourselves out of. But often, anxiety is less about what is happening in our heads and more to do with what’s going on in our bodies. And one of the most common triggers is exhaustion. When we are short on rest, everything feels that little bit sharper, square pegs won’t go into round holes. Sounds, emotions and even little frustrations hit that bit harder. It’s not a sign of weakness - it’s simple biology. The physical connection between sleep and anxiety During deep sleep, the body runs an overnight repair program. Damaged tissues heal, our immune system rebuilds, stress hormones drop, our neurotransmitters reset, and emotional memories get filed away. Miss that window for maintenance, and like any mechanism, there will be an overload before too long. This is why, after a few restless nights, even a minor stressor can feel like a full-blown crisis. Elevated cortisol and adrenaline make yo......

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What To Think About When Buying Garden Furniture, even in winter

Adding furniture to your garden gives you a simple way to liven it up and get more use out of it. You now have an outdoor area to sit in and relax - or maybe even have dinner during the warmer months - and it improves the general ambience of your home. It’s something you’ve always wanted to do, but your first search for outdoor furniture leaves more questions than answers. Firstly, why are there so many different options?! It’s seriously overwhelming, and you don’t want to make the mistake of buying the wrong garden furniture. Taking that into account, let’s look at some important things to consider when you purchase furniture for your garden:   Quality over Quantity  A preliminary search for garden furniture will show you thousands of choices from all sorts of brands. You’ll also see prices ranging from a tenner up to a few thousand quid. Now, the temptation is to opt for the cheapest garden furniture because you’ve already spent a fortune on furniture inside your home. Howev......

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Simple ways to update your bedroom that gives the wow factor

I am currently in the throes of a much-needed mini upgrade of my bedroom. I'm pulling off the outdated wallpaper, the old carpet is being pulled up (I hate carpet), and hopefully I can repair the floorboards so they are usable as well as repainting the walls and redesigning the space in the hopes of creating a calming and welcoming space.  A lot of the process I am planning to do myself to help keep the budget down and only bringing in tradesmen when needed and I think it's also important to know when to do that as there are somethings that are beyond my skill level and at those times I don't have an issue paying for the skills of a builder or capenter and getting the finish I really want.  However, there are plenty of simple and easy ways to update your bedroom space  1. Make a statement with paint and artwork A fresh coat of paint can do wonders to any space but when adding a bold colour or accent wall, it can really add something special. It's also a room to have a b......

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Harnessing the Power of Special Offers When Travelling

We all know life has become more expensive lately and there was a time when travel was fairly cheap. You could set a budget, jump on a train and find accommodation in most cities at rock bottom prices. Yet that has become less viable as everything from transport to food has suffered at the hands of global inflation. Yet you can still travel without spending the earth, if you plan in advance and harness the power of special offers to great effect.   Compare deals & check if travel agents can offer a cheaper rate Many people believe that when they go online, they are cutting out the middleman to save themselves money. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Many comparison sites operate as a middleman regardless, and can sneak in increased fees and charges without you realising. While you can still find good deals this way, they are not always the best place to visit. A travel agent  also act as a middleman, but can sometimes have access to better offers and discounts as......

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5 budget friendly European destinations for Winter Sun

Even in the current climate, there are budget-friendly destinations for budget-savvy travellers out there and winter is a great time to bag a bargain when popular summer destinations become a lot cheaper and quieter during the winter months, but still offer a milder and sunnier climate than the UK.  Personally, I am a big fan of a winter sunshine break to boost the Vitamin D and sunshine serotonin and offer a much-needed break from the grey skies of the UK. Here are 5 destinations that should be on everyone's list. 1. The Canary Islands With over 3000 hours of sunshine a year you are guarnteed decent weather with the Canary Islands averaging 20–22°C in January, along with golden sand beaches, clear water and plenty of nature, history and culture to explore, along with a variety of islands to choose from with plenty of choice when it comes to accommodation, with the cheapest time of the year to visit Dec-Feb. It's also the perfect place to recharge your batteries, with it's ......

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3 Reasons to Stay In a Hotel Located Near the Mass Transit System in the City Of Bangkok

Thailand has been one of the most popular tourist destinations over the last few decades for several reasons, while if you will be visiting the vibrant capital city of Bangkok in the near future, you should continue reading this insightful article to learn about why staying in a hotel that is located near to the mass transit system can provide you with three benefits that could have a significant impact on your overall travel experience. Indeed, by staying in a hotel that is in close proximity to the BTS network, you could potentially enhance your personal level of convenience, as well as improve your orientation around the city and expand your travelling party’s access to the major attractions that can be found across the city during each and every day of your trip. Practical convenience To begin with, the first major reason to stay in a Bangkok hotel near BTS stations concerns the practical level of convenience that can have a direct impact on how efficiently you will be able to nav......

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