Category: Travel

Photo by Simi Iluyomade on Unsplash

The UK offers visitors a wide variety of things to do, from visiting castles and historic mansions to going on safaris or camping in the countryside. There are many opportunities for families with children of all ages as well as travellers who have less interest in children’s activities like amusement parks or zoos.

Visitors often come to Britain for its natural beauty, including the Scottish Highlands, the Lake District in England or Wales’ Snowdonia National Park. Unfortunately, some visitors often find themselves in for a rough ride, especially when they make simple vacation mistakes before leaving their home country. Here are five common mistakes visitors make while travelling to the UK: 

1. Not planning ahead and booking your flights in advance.

One of the most common mistakes travellers make is not planning ahead and booking flights in advance. There are a number of reasons why people don’t plan ahead. Some people are afraid of missing out on deals and prices, others forget and book their travel on short notice, or some just don’t know how to do it. However, if you’re deciding to come to the UK on holiday, it helps to book your flights in advance, so you have a good idea to expect while travelling. 

2. Not researching travel visas and other immigration information.

Before you travel to a new destination, it is important to educate yourself about the laws and customs of that country. The UK has a wide array of immigration rules and regulations that need to be followed before entering the country. For example, ensuring that you have the right visa if you’re visiting, ensuring that your passport is valid or ensuring that your indefinite leave to remain expiry isn’t up if you’re a permanent resident. These issues could result in you being turned away. Getting in touch with an immigration lawyer or visiting the UK Government website should give you the information you need.

3. Not doing enough research about the trip.

No matter where you go in the world, it’s essential that you research your trip. Whether it’s about the culture, laws, or even local transportation, doing research could give you the information you need to ensure that you have an enjoyable trip without any worries. 

4. Forgetting that the British drive on the ‘wrong side of the road.

Traffic laws are completely different in the UK. While most countries drive on the right side of the road, British motorists drive on the left, which could cause some confusion. However, if you familiarize yourself with traffic laws, you won’t make that mistake when driving in the UK. 

5. Spending too much money on souvenirs from department stores instead of paying more attention to local gift shops.

It’s perfectly normal to someone to want a souvenir that will be a momento for your British adventure. However, it’s important to remember that local gift shops can give you a unique experience and momentos that you can’t get from department stores. So look around and check out what these local stores have to offer you, and stop spending way too much money on department stores. 

After the last few years of being in lockdowns and restricted travel, the world is finally starting to open up again. Yes, it is happening very slowly, but it is happening. If you have been thinking about travelling after this is all over, here are some reasons why you should get ready to book those tickets.

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It is surprisingly easy

You may have looked into travelling and wondered if it is possible, and sometimes it can seem very complicated, but it can be easy. If you have never travelled, you could break yourself in slowly by using a travel agent to help you plan some weekends away. Then, once you are more comfortable with travelling, you could begin to arrange your own trips. Once you have worked out the basics of travelling, there will be no stopping you! Your next destination is just a few clicks away.

You will create new relationships

If you ask anyone who has travelled, one of the best things they will tell you about travelling is the people that you meet. Many people form lifelong friendships with the people that they meet on their voyages. Many people have even met the love of their life and needed a spouse visa application for their new love interest. And we aren’t talking about holiday flings, although they do happen too. Travelling can be the ultimate way to expand your social network.

You will learn new skills

When we talk about new skills, everyone assumes that we mean learning a new language. And this is true, learning a language is definitely an impressive skill, but you can pick up other skills such as cooking, crafting skills, or even learning a new physical skill such as surfing. When you travel, you open yourself up to a world of opportunity to learn new things. You may never use these skills again but it is always nice to know that you can navigate a camel if you have to.

Trying new foods

Believe it or not, but culinary tourism is a growing industry and is one of the top reasons that people choose to travel. You may have seen the travel programmes that are centered around food and thought about sinking your teeth into what is on the plates. Dining out and trying new tastes is one of the simple pleasures that we can enjoy wherever we are, so can you imagine how amazing it is to sample an exotic cuisine where it is made locally? Your tastebuds will thank you for the adventure that they are about to go on.

Gets you out of a rut

Everyone feels like they are stuck sometimes, and sometimes all we need is a fresh perspective. We would like to stress that this is not the same as running away from your problems, but putting some distance between you and what is bugging you can help you deal with it. Even just having some new experiences under your belt can help you handle any potential problems that may arise in the future.

If you want to move to another country, then you’ll be glad to know that this is actually very easy to do, if you know the steps you need to take. If you want to find out more, then simply look below.

Do your Research Beforehand

This may sound obvious, but so many people leave research until the last minute. There’s no reason for you to avoid doing your research, so make sure that you dedicate a good amount of time to it if you can. You need to look up career prospects, the cost of living, health services, transport and more. If you do all of this then you will soon find that it is more than possible for you to get a fantastic result out of your move.

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Tie up Any Loose Ends

When you arrive in your new home, you will need to make sure that you get the best start possible. This could mean making new friends, doing your bit to find work or just getting settled in. Either way, you don’t want any distractions that are not necessary. Phone calls about your bills, or letters from your ex-employer are not what you should be dealing with, so put in the work to try and finalise everything before you go. If you can do this, then you’ll soon find that you are able to get everything done.

Book a Homestay

Homestays are ideal when you want to move abroad. They are available for both long and short-term stays and you also have a host as well. They will help you settle into your new destination, while also providing you with tips on transport, amenities and where to eat. This is a great way for you to settle into the city before you go and hunt for your own property. If you are moving to another country permanently, then hiring immigration lawyers may be a good idea, as they can help you to file all of the appropriate paperwork.

Shop where the Locals Do

If you want to make sure that you fit in with the locals then you need to shop where they do. Make yourself feel at home by shopping for groceries in the local area and also check out some of the local restaurants and cafes too. You will feel way more at home when you shop where they do, and you may also find that you are able to adapt to the new way of life, much easier as well.

Get yourself a Mobile PhoneBeing contactable at all times is crucial when you are setting up in a new city or country. If you take the phone contract you have now, then you may end up creating a huge bill for yourself, because of roaming charges. On the first day or so you arrive, make sure that you pick up a new mobile phone or a SIM pack. If you can do this, you will be able to save a small fortune.