Holiday Planning – Top Tips for a Great Holiday

Planning a Great Holiday

A selection of top banana tips for great holidays.

The web has plenty of resources to make planning where to go and what to do on holiday.

Specialist travel blogs can give you plenty of ideas of attractions to places to visit when you are on holiday.  Many of these sites give excellent information that will help you get more from your holiday and save you money – for example anyone planning to visit Britain will find this article about free tourist attractions in UK cities helpful – both as a guide to discovering  interesting attractions that are not always included in guidebooks and a way of making your money go further – we especially liked these tips which were featured on the Guardian’s I’ve been there Free things in Blackpool

But what about getting travel information and ideas whilst you are away?  Travellers are able to hook up to the internet and web access is generally very good in most places around the world.  With the arrival of improved computer technology netbooks are being developed that are perfect for browsing the web but small and light enough to carry in your pocket.  .

Cheap netbook computers are ideal for travel and prices continue to drop making them an affordable option.  More and more travellers are able to make the most of these netbook computers but sometimes there is no substitute for a good old guide book.

Holiday Travel Books

Save money on travel guides by looking in second hand bookshops – many travel guides are used once then given away to charity shops.  Although travel guides are updated regulary we find that the majority of information remains the same and some online retailers of second hand books go to the trouble of highlighting which edition the guide is so you can judge if you are getting up to date information.

Arrange holiday car hire in advance

If you know where you plan to visit it could be worth booking car hire in advance online.  Why waste time at your destination trying to find a car when you can arrange everything in advance and have a car waiting for you when you leave the airport arrivals hall. This year it is especially important to get your car hire sorted well before your holiday as there are lots of reports that there is will be a chronic shortage of cars in popluar locations.

Hunt around for car hire voucher codes and you can often save at least 10% – sometimes as much as 25% – just enter the promotional code when you make your booking and see the price drop before your very eyes.

Medical Insurance and First Aid Kits

The cost of getting well can be frightening in some parts of the world and full health cover is recommended when you buy travel insurance.  European countries have reciprical agreements and citizens can take advantage of this by carrying a free EICH health card which replaced the E111

For less serious incidents carrying a carefully stock first aid kit can be a time saving, economic way of dealing with minor hiccups.  The first aid kit should be packed with your destination in mind – insect sting relief, aftersun, lemsips as well as the usual plasters and bandages you find in the ready made first aid kits.

Blood Pressure and Age – Adult Blood Pressure Readings

Blood Pressure in Adults

• One in three adults in the UK – 16 million ­– has high blood pressure, but one in three don’t know they have the condition.
• High blood pressure (diagnosed as readings consistently at or above 140/90mmHg) is the main risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart attack, heart failure and kidney disease.
• High blood pressure is responsible for 60 per cent of strokes and 40 per cent of heart attacks.
• It is a symptomless condition – that’s why it’s called the ‘silent killer’.

High blood pressure and age

Blood pressure has a tendency to go up as you get older, but it can develop at any age. For example, in the UK:

• 20 per cent of people in their 20s have high blood pressure;
• 40 per cent of people in their 40s have high blood pressure;
• 60 per cent of people in their 60s have high blood pressure.

Even if you have a healthy normal blood pressure now, you should be taking action to maintain this, as this will slow the rate at which your blood pressure rises, and could help you to avoid high blood pressure, and the need to take blood pressure lowering medication, later in life.

High blood pressure and women:

UK BP charity holds it annual event – Blood Pressure Testing Week – every year in the second week of September read about last years testing week

Blood Pressure Testing Week 2009 runs 7-13 September.
This is the nation’s biggest blood pressure testing event – last year almost 250,000 people had a free blood pressure check during The Week.

Other stats from last year’s Testing Week reveal:

• 34 per cent of women who had a free blood pressure check had a high blood pressure reading.
• 72 per cent of women did not know their blood pressure numbers before they had a free blood pressure check

Get a free blood pressure check!

This year during The Week thousands of ‘pressure stations’ in supermarkets, pharmacies, health centres, workplaces and health clubs nationwide will again be offering free blood pressure tests and information to hundreds of thousands of people.

And if you miss out on Testing Week (7-13 September), don’t worry – you can always nip down to your GP’s for a free blood pressure check, and many high street and supermarket pharmacies also offer this service.

Beds – Up the Wooden Hill to Bedfordshire

Choosing Beds – Bed Sizes and Types of Bed

By Elena Price

One of the keys to getting a good night’s sleep is to make sure that you have a suitable and comfortable bed.

Recent research shows that poor sleep is a significant contributer to poor health and previously on top banana we discussed how more sleep is good for you that regular proper sleep helps avoid high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

A study in 2008 investigated the question – can more longer and better sleep improve blood pressure and the conclusion was yes, certaibly

This top banana guide to choosing beds looks at some of the factors you should consider when buying a new one.

Bed Sizes

One of the first things to think about is the size of bed that you need. You will usually be able to choose from several different sizes but, in the UK, the sizes of beds aren’t standard, so one manufacturer’s single bed, for example, may be a slightly different size from the single beds produced by another manufacturer.

According to The Sleep Council, beds are commonly sold in the following sizes:
•    Single (approximately 3ft by 6ft 3in, or 90cm by 190cm)
•    Double (approximately 4ft 6in by 6ft 3 in, or 135cm by 190cm)
•    King Size (approximately 5ft by 6ft 6 in, or 150cm by 200cm)
•    Super King Size (approximately 6ft by 6ft 6in, or 180cm by 200cm)

However, it’s important to check the measurements of any bed that you’re considering before you buy it.

If you are trying to decide between two different sized beds, it’s usually better to buy the bigger of the two, as this will give you more room to stretch out and you’ll get a better night’s sleep.

Types of Bed

There are a number of different beds that you can choose from including divan beds, bedsteads, hideaway beds, bunk beds and sleep stations.

A divan is essentially a base for a mattress and has a wooden frame. Some divans have firm, rigid platform tops without springs whereas others feature spring units, so you will need to decide which type you find most comfortable. Generally, divan beds aren’t as firm as beds with bedsteads. You can buy divan sets, which consist of a divan and a mattress, meaning that you can be sure that the mattress is the perfect size for the divan and that the divan and mattress will have a uniform look. Some divans have built-in storage drawers, which can be handy if space is an issue in your bedroom.

If you choose a divan bed, you’ll also need to decide whether or not you want a headboard, as you will usually need to buy one separately.

A bedstead consists of a headboard and an endboard, with a base made out of wood or metal on which the mattress sits. They come in a range of styles and colours, so you can choose one that suits the style of your bedroom. You could choose traditional wood for a cottage-style feel, brass for a Georgian or Victorian look, or a fabric or faux leather covered bedstead for a more contemporary look. If you are buying a bedstead, you’ll usually need to buy the mattress separately.