2013-06-19T07:26:44-04:00 Mark Hodson http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=mark-hodson Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Mark Hodson Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3006906 2013-04-07T19:00:00-04:00 2013-06-07T05:12:01-04:00

Mark Hodson http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-hodson/
That drop is affecting both the cost of your holiday abroad and the value of your spending money. And it's not just Europe and America that are affected: many hotels in regions such as the Caribbean, South East Asia and the Indian Ocean set their rates in US dollars. A strong greenback means higher prices for Brits.

This is particularly unwelcome news as the UK economy festers in the doldrums and household budgets feel the financial pinch. However, by selecting your destination with care you can drastically reduce the price of your next holiday.

Here at 101 Holidays we commissioned some research which found that some popular destinations are markedly cheaper than at this time last year. In South Africa, for example, your pound will buy 16% more rand than 12 months ago. Argentina and Japan are 10% less expensive than they were in 2012.

On the other hand, some countries are going the wrong way. Sweden - already an expensive destination - has got 10% pricier over the past year. Neighbouring Norway is up by 4%, while prices in Iceland rose by 5%.

The best deals in 2013

According to our survey, the best short-haul destination this year is Egypt with prices 6.5% less expensive than a year ago. This comes at a time when the entire Egyptian tourism industry has been badly affected by publicity surrounding the Arab Spring, with many hotels offering deals. At tourist sites such as the pyramids in Cairo and the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, the usual crowds have vanished. This is, in short, a great time to visit Egypt. Just make sure you avoid the sweltering hot months of summer.

Further afield, South Africa is a great-value destination, once you've paid for the airfares. Sure, you'll find expensive five-star hotels but prices on the ground are very reasonable and this could be a good time to treat yourself to a safari. Just remember that you won't find sweltering weather in their winter (our summer).

We also like the look of Japan this year. Although it has a reputation for being expensive, it's possible to find modest hotels with lots of character - particularly outside the big cities - at very sensible prices. And eating out is surprisingly cheap in Japan. This is partly because many Japanese eat out every day (some commuters eat out three times a day) creating a plethora of cheap restaurants all serving great food.

Argentina is another destination worth considering. Although airfares are not cheap, prices on the ground are sensible. The food is outstanding and you'll find well-priced hotels across the country. Basic Spanish will be a help once you get out of the main tourist centres.

Read between the lines

There is, of course, more to finding value than simply looking at which currencies are up and which are down. The Thai baht, for example, has strengthened against sterling by 8% over the past 12 months. But Thailand remains far from expensive. There is a vast range of accommodation for every budget, much of it high quality, and food and transport are both cheap.

On the other hand, Switzerland has fared relatively well over the past months. It is only 1.8% more expensive than a year ago. However, nobody with any sense would expect Switzerland to be cheap. It's not.

It's a similar story in Australia. Although it only got 3% more expensive over the past year, the Aussie dollar has been steadily rising against sterling over a number of years. Historically, now is an expensive time to visit.

* Mark Hodson is editor of 101 Holidays]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2800683 2013-03-06T19:00:00-05:00 2013-05-06T05:12:01-04:00

Mark Hodson http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-hodson/
For most of us, however, getting family holidays right is all about making compromises. You won't please everyone all the time, but you can ensure that all ages have at least something going for them. Ten things that should definitely go into the equation are:

1. Water
Whether it's the sea, a lake or a swimming pool, most children (and plenty of adults) consider swimming an intrinsic part of every holiday.

2. Food
Don't skip the local flavours entirely, but always ensure there's something on the menu that kids know and like.

3. Friends
Opportunities for interacting with other children of their own age is particularly important for tweens and teens and organised kids' clubs are usually a big hit with children and allow parents some adult time.

4. Gear
Plan and pack with military precision to ensure you've got everything you need, especially if travelling with a baby.

5. Versatility
Research your destination, accommodation and activities carefully to make sure they meet the needs and ages of everyone in the family.

6. Challenges
Banish boredom by ensuring there are plenty of new experiences and adventures available for both you and your children.

7. Money
Don't feel you have to spend a fortune to have a memorable family holiday. Boat trips and sandcastles, surfing and rockpooling, dangling crab lines off a harbour wall... it's the simple (and inexpensive) pleasures that often make family holidays a success.

8. Attitude
Children quickly pick up on stress or anxiety, so try to stay relaxed, particularly during long journeys.

9. Expectations
Keep them realistic; remember that what you might find interesting might bore your children senseless. Don't chastise them for ignoring the architecture in Venice's Piazza San Marco in favour of feeding the pigeons.

10. Fun
What it's all about. Travelling with kids might not always be easy, but try to keep the stressful (or just downright miserable) moments in perspective. You'll laugh about them in years to come.

* Mark Hodson is Editor of 101 Holidays]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2549757 2013-01-29T19:00:00-05:00 2013-06-17T10:07:47-04:00

Mark Hodson http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-hodson/
That surely is the most annoying thing you can hear on holiday. But arriving at the wrong time of year is an easy mistake to make, particularly on a long-haul holiday. You could land in the middle of a tropical cyclone. You may find you've paid over the odds to travel in the peak season, when the 'off' season would have been just as good.

To ensure you have perfect timing, here are six tricky destinations - and some (slightly unconventional) suggestions for the best time of year to visit them.

The Caribbean

Best time to go: May or June

Peak season in the Caribbean runs from Christmas to Easter - that's when the likes of Simon Cowell and Cliff Richard can be seen parading in their swimming trunks at five-star hotels such as Sandy Lane in Barbados. Although it's a great time to visit, hotel rates and airfares can be frighteningly expensive.

July and August are also popular months, because that is when families want to travel. However, visitors in the summer should be prepared for high humidity, frequent rainfall and even the (slight) possibility of hurricanes.

If you're not tied to school holidays, it's better to go in May or June when the weather is still fine, the beaches are empty and prices have plummeted. It's not unusual to find 40% off brochure prices at this time.

New York City

Best time to go: last weekend in November

Even if you can find a cheap flight to New York you will struggle to get a good-value hotel room at most times of year. The exception is Thanksgiving weekend when Americans traditionally go home to stay with Mom and Pop.

With no guests, hotels in the big cities drop their rates dramatically.

However, this is actually a great time to be in New York City: all the big department stores have unveiled their Christmas window displays, you can go ice skating in Central Park and the traffic stops for a colourful Thanksgiving parade through the streets of Manhattan.

For example, I found a double room at the stylish Paramount Times Square for £120 a night over Thanksgiving weekend at Hotelclub. The same room would have cost £210 a night the following weekend.

Safari in Kenya

Best time to go: November

The peak season in the safari parks of Kenya is July to September when half a million wildebeest migrate north from the Serengeti. It's also when masses of tourists turn up, particularly in the Masai Mara where temporary camps have to be set up to house the crowds.

Although the stampede is an amazing spectacle, experts recommend going instead during the 'short rains' in November. Rain falls in quick bursts, sparking spectacular electrical storms. This causes the dust to clear and green shoots to appear across the plains.

November is also the time when the wildebeest begin their long march back to the Serengeti. Lines of animals can be seen stretching for miles, without another tourist bus in sight.

Mauritius

Best time to go: May

Many people wrongly assume that because Mauritius lies in the southern hemisphere, the best time to go is the northern winter. Although the weather during January, February and March can be excellent, there is a risk of cyclones which can seriously mess up your visit.

July and August are also unreliable, as temperatures can be cooler than at home. The best months to visit are April, May, October and November. Of those, May is the smartest choice because it's the month when hotels roll out their best deals.

The Red Sea

Best time to go: June

The Red Sea is advertised as a year-round destination, but frankly it's too hot in August - when the temperature can top 40ºC - and it's too chilly in January and February for guaranteed sunbathing. The best times to go are the 'shoulder season' months of May, June, September and October.

In September the sea is deliciously warm, but if you want to dive or snorkel, June is the best month. A plankton bloom brings out the big fish, including whale sharks, hammerheads and huge manta rays.

South Africa

Best time to go: August

There is no right or wrong time to go to South Africa. Peak season is our winter, with prices rocketing over Christmas and New Year. But there is a good argument for going to the Western Cape in August, particularly for families with school-age children.

Hotel rates are around 40% lower than in peak months, and airfares are reasonable. August is the height of the whale-watching season in Hermanus, which is a short drive from Cape Town. It's also a great time to visit Kruger National Park if you want to include a safari.

* Mark Hodson is editor of 101 Holidays]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2471226 2013-01-15T19:00:00-05:00 2013-03-17T05:12:01-04:00

Mark Hodson http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-hodson/ Inside Claridge's, you might have been amazed at the lengths that a luxury hotel will go for its guests. In one episode, staff were filmed ripping out a bathroom suite and replacing it with a Jacuzzi for a particularly demanding guest.

Rock stars, royals and the mega-rich habitually test the patience of hoteliers, and it's not (only) because they're spoilt prima donnas. It's because they understand the purpose of a five-star hotel: to provide its guests with whatever they want.

In contrast, ordinary folk tend to be a little overawed by such luxury. They're simply happy to be there.

Staying at a luxury hotel isn't cheap but it needn't be shockingly expensive. At Laterooms.com, I found several London five-stars reduced to around £200 a night, including the Westbury on Bond Street, where a double room was down from £470 to £202. Admittedly this is January, one of the quietest months of the year. But if it's luxury on a budget you want, this is a great time to get a deal.

So what can you expect when you turn up? Five stars above the door doesn't just mean plush carpets and marble bathrooms. Service is what you're paying for, and if you're smart you will take full advantage.

The pinnacle of service at a true five-star hotel is the concierge, a highly-trained and well-connected fixer whose services are at your disposal throughout your stay. He (or she) is often the key to squeezing the most out of your five-star hotel stay.

Once you've made your booking, contact the hotel to let staff know how they can make your stay more comfortable. Perhaps you prefer a particularly hard mattress or a certain type of pillow, or you favour a certain variety of tea. Exchange emails with individual members of staff to build a rapport. Once they see you're a discerning guest they'll go to great lengths to ensure you're happy - and you won't be fobbed off with a sub-standard room.

If you plan to combine your stay with a night at the theatre or a concert, don't buy tickets from a tout. Phone the concierge desk well in advance of your arrival. Often they can secure the best seats in the house at face value.

On check-in, ask about any events or activities offered free to guests. There may be a wine tasting, a yoga class or a manager's cocktail party.

When it comes to finding places to eat, throw away your guidebook and speak to the concierge, who can make personal recommendations and ensure you dine at the best tables. Even at the famous Danieli in Venice, the concierge found me a great-value local trattoria away from the tourist hordes.

A good concierge will rise to any challenge, whether it's retrieving lost luggage from an airline or finding a tailor to copy a favourite shirt. If you don't want to lug around shopping bags, leave them at the store and ask the concierge to pick them up.

At the hotel bar, ask to taste a few wines before ordering a bottle. A good barman will happily talk you through the wine list, give you free samples and throw in some posh nibbles. And it never hurts to be on first-name terms with the barman, does it?

Want your shoes cleaned? Leave them outside your door at night. Fed up with cartons of UHT? Call room service for fresh milk with your tea or coffee.

If you're lucky enough to have a butler, put him straight to work as soon as you check in. Ask him to unpack your bags while you enjoy a drink at the pool or explore the hotel. Although not a service widely advertised, many five-star hotels that don't have butlers will find a member of staff to pack or unpack for you - if you ask.

Butlers will also iron shirts and skirts, press suits, run shopping errands and generally act as your executive PA.

If you want some exercise, ask for a jogging map. And if you don't fancy doing the route alone, ask for a member of staff to join you. Sometimes one of the gym staff will accompany you - treat it as a free personal training session.

Whatever you do, don't feel bad at asking staff to go the extra mile. Why let the rich and famous have all the fun?

Mark Hodson is editor of 101 Holidays

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Mark Hodson http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-hodson/
So why are some experts suggesting that we visit during the rains? It's not just because the game parks are uncrowded and the prices lower. "The rains bring an incredible sense of replenishment to the region, with an explosion of vibrant colour, thriving vegetation and swollen rivers," says Will Bolsover, a former guide who now runs his own safari company. "In countries like Zambia there is still plenty of game to see, plus you have the added excitement of electric storms, colourful birdlife and more of a sense of adventure."

In Zambia's South Luangwa Valley some operators close their camps between January and Easter, but a few are now keeping them open throughout the wet season, which they have cunningly rebranded as the "emerald season". In the first week of April towards the end of the rains, I arrived at Nkwali, a luxury camp on the banks of the Luangwa. It was full, mainly of khaki-clad Brits swapping stories of the big game they'd encountered that morning.



Although it was the wildlife we had all come to see, it was the river itself that became a constant source of fascination. During the dry season between May and November the Luangwa is little more than a trickle, much to the distress of the thousands of hippos that live in it. All night you can hear them grunting and squealing as they squabble over wallowing rights.

By April the river is close to bursting its banks. Dead trees are swept along in its slick currents and, beneath the surface, herds of hippo harrumph contentedly, only their snouts and small round ears visible.

At Nkwali, where the Luangwa is as wide as four football pitches, our morning and evening game drives began with a boat ride to the opposite bank, the entry point to the South Luangwa National Park. There, we would climb into open-topped, open-sided Land Cruisers, hoping the rain would hold off.

We were lucky. Not only did we dodge the showers but we were treated to the most startlingly beautiful African skies: fiery orange sunsets, cloudscapes that could have been painted by Magritte and, after dark, lengthy electrical storms that strobed the skies with sheet and fork lightning.

With the vegetation running riot, I had been cautioned not to expect to see many animals. But again we lucked out. Just five minutes into our first drive we turned a corner to find a pride of lions stretched out on the road in post-prandial bliss, rolling on their backs and licking their paws. Our driver killed the engine, and humans and cats all eyeballed each other silently for several minutes before the lions sauntered off.

Close encounters with elephant, giraffe, puku and zebra all followed. Then, as darkness unfolded and a dazzling view of the Milky Way appeared above, our guide switched on a powerful arc light that revealed owls and genets, hyenas and hares. We didn't spot any leopard, nor the wild dogs, but there were no complaints.

If the animal count was down a tad, the bird count was soaring. I've never quite understood the appeal of birdwatching but even I was struggling to remain blasé in the face of such ornithological extravagance. The colourful local population - many of them strutting about in their full breeding plumage - were joined by dozens of species of migrating birds. One birder in our group was almost hyperventilating with excitement, ticking off lilac-breasted rollers, paradise whydahs and southern crowned cranes. "Incredible," he panted, "whole breeding colonies... thousands of them."



Further up the valley is another camp that stays open throughout the wet season. Tafika has just six rustic cottages in a remote riverside clearing three miles from the nearest village. With the surrounding roads impassable, the only way to reach the camp is by motor boat.

The two-hour journey upstream from Nkwali had a Conradesque quality to it. Each bend in the river took us deeper into the wilderness, the only signs of human life a couple of fishermen paddling dugout canoes. Every now and then the boatman would cut the motor to point out crocodiles lurking in the shallows or African skimmers darting across the surface of the water, their beaks wide open to catch small fish.

John Coppinger, who owns and runs Tafika with his wife Carol, met me at the jetty with a muscular handshake and a warm smile. He showed me to my cottage - hand built using thatch and bamboo - and we lunched on chicken and mango salad, spinach tart and home-baked bread.

Coppinger is a pioneer of rainy-season safaris. Between February and April, when the river is at its most swollen, he cancels his usual programme of game drives and instead runs river safaris. Guests travel by canoe or dinghy across floodplains and seasonal lakes to remote spots where, with a guide and armed scout, they head off walking deep into the bush.

Later that day I joined the only other guests - two middle-aged sisters - on canoes and we paddled gently downstream, slowing to watch fish eagles, malachite kingfishers and a pair of watchful buffalo. A newborn hippo trotted along the bank behind its mother - evidence that even the least attractive creatures can have cute kids.

Stephen, our guide, showed us how to tap the bottoms of the canoes with the paddles. "It's to warn the hippos," he explained. "When they come to the surface they can't see what's above them. If they tip your canoe over and you fall in, the crocodiles will get you." This is not a happy thought, so we did as we were told and tapped.

Soon after dawn next morning we moored the dinghy downstream and hiked through the chest-high grass along what, at first glance, looked like well-used footpaths. In fact, they were trails cleared by hippos on nocturnal food hunts. Stephen pointed out lion droppings and the velvety-soft elephant ear that local villagers use as toilet paper for babies.



After an hour and a half we reached a colony of yellow-billed storks that return each year to hatch their chicks in the same half dozen ebony trees. We sat nearby under a winter thorn, drinking tea and eating ginger cake, as hundreds of the huge birds flapped, squawked, squeaked and scrapped. They made such a din we could barely hear each other speak.

Back at base camp a treat lay in store. Coppinger, a former commercial pilot, is the proud owner of a two-man microlight and, providing conditions are good, he will take guests on spectacular low-level flights over the valley.

Strapped into the passenger seat, a huge involuntary grin broke across my face as we bounced off the grassy airstrip and soared skyward. It was an awesome sight, the whole valley laid out beneath us, the course of the Luangwa, its tributaries and oxbow lakes suddenly clearly visible. "Look at it," said Coppinger over the intercom, "the last great untamed river in Africa."

We flew to a height of several hundred feet where we could see a rainbow and distant storms, then dived down through the treetops to watch baby elephants bathing in a riverbed. We passed over the yellow-billed storks - taking care not to disturb them - and Coppinger pointed out giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck and eland. "Amazing, isn't it?" he sighed. No further commentary was required.

Mark Hodson is editor of 101 Holidays]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.2236513 2012-12-04T07:27:38-05:00 2013-02-03T05:12:01-05:00

Mark Hodson http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-hodson/
Tourism to the Maldives is relatively new - the first European visitors stepped ashore in 1972 - but the growth has been phenomenal. Kuoni Travel reports that the Maldives is now its number one honeymoon destination for British couples, and this year - the 40th anniversary of tourism in the country - the government hopes for the first time to welcome a million foreign visitors.

One reason for this phenomenal success story has been the Maldivian policy of "one island, one resort". Each hotel has its own slice of paradise, accessed only by speedboat or seaplane.

This suited the strictly muslim establishment as it kept alcohol and skimpy beachwear away from the resident population, but it also satisfied the Robinson Crusoe dream of late 20th-Century luxury travel. When in the 1990s other destinations started bragging about "barefoot luxury", the Maldives could retort that it offered little else.

Even despite the global economic downturn, tourism to the Maldives continues to grow, with the number of island resorts recently topping the 100 mark. Many of the world's leading travel brands are now represented including Shangri-La, Four Seasons, Six Senses, Hilton and One&Only.

Few visitors are disappointed. The sheer natural beauty of the Maldives is astonishing, and the colours - the dazzling white sand, the turquoise lagoons, the cobalt ocean, the lush emerald vegetation - look like they have been Photoshopped. It's one of the few destinations in the world that looks better in real life than it does in the brochures.

This is a huge upside if you're on a budget. Stay at a modest three-star resort and you'll have the same iridescent sea, the same orange sunsets, the same cooling sea breezes as at the most expensive luxury hotels. Wherever you stay, the Maldivian staff are gentle and charming.

This has presented a challenge for the owners and managers of five-star resorts: how to stand out from the every increasing crowd. What can a luxury hotel do to attract attention from the "been there, done that" high-spenders of the 21st Century?

The answer has been innovation: creative, architectural and technological. One of the first great innovations was the water villa. Rather than stay in a glorified beach hut, guests could sleep in luxurious wooden villas built on stilts over the glimmering lagoons, with sea views in every direction.

Ironically, water villas were first conceived in order to sidestep planning laws, which limit building to 20% of the islands' surface area. However, they quickly became a must-have amongst well-heeled tourists. Now about half of all the rooms in the Maldives are built on stilts. Some even have glass floors so guests can look directly down at the sealife below.

With planning laws forbidding building above the height of the palm trees, the next direction to go was underwater. The luxury resort Huvafen Fushi kicked off the trend by opening an underwater spa. Although you might question the value of this to guests (who were mostly face down staring at the floor while getting a massage, and unable to see the passing fish), it went down a storm with magazine editors.

Next came an underwater restaurant at the Conrad Rangali Island where guests could dine in an all-glass pod buried 16ft below sea level. This year, Niyama Resort went a stage further by opening Subsix, billed as the world's first underwater nightclub, launched with an appearance by the rap star Tinie Tempah.

This year also saw the launch of the super-luxe Beach House at Iruveli, which boasts an extensive underground wine cellar. Built 10ft below ground level and lined with igneous rock, it features a grand dining table where guests can feast on a five-course tasting menu surrounded by $1million worth of floor-to-ceiling fine wines.

Meanwhile, there is a growing emphasis on creating new experiences for guests. Many resorts now offer "desert island" excursions where guests are "stranded" for a few hours or even overnight on an uninhabited island. With cool boxes stuffed with champagne, sunloungers and shades, this is nothing that Crusoe would have recognised.

Some hotels are looking to the sky for inspiration. The Hadahaa by Park Hyatt, which lies 10km from the nearest island and suffers from near zero light pollution, guests can take a stargazing cruise where they are coached in astrology as they munch on canapes.

Arguably, the most encouraging trend is in local island visits. Several resorts are catching on to the idea that guests are interested to see how local people live, and may want to support their island economies.

Vilu Reef resort is working with a local school and the charity, Pack For A Purpose, to encourage guests to make room in their suitcases for some much-needed books, stationery and CDs. Guests can hand over the donations in person on a visit to the school.

The Beach House at Iruveli, which is located in the remote northern atoll of Haa Alifu, has moved its cookery classes from the resort restaurant to the local island of Mulhadhoo (population 350), where guests can chat with the locals before preparing a lunch of cocount and pumpkin salad and spicy fish curry. The islanders are directly benefiting: the resort's owner has already made donations to pay for street lights and a new jetty on the island.

It's even possible to combine a stay in the Maldives with some environmental work. The Conrad Rangali is working with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme to offer a two-week voluntourism project that will include helping with photographing and measuring whale sharks, and assisting an outreach programme at a local school.

While it can only be a matter of time before the first underwater villas are unveiled, it's great to see hoteliers and resort owners looking to their local communities for inspiration. Sun, sand and sea are wonderful, but ultimately it is the people that give a destination its value.

* Mark Hodson is editor of 101 Holidays]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.2143608 2012-11-16T16:43:27-05:00 2013-01-16T05:12:01-05:00

Mark Hodson http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-hodson/
So I believe the key to reducing the stress of flying is in taking control of the experience. At least, control the controllables.

First, let me admit that I am a bit of a control freak. I prefer to watch movies at home rather than in the cinema because I like to be able to set the volume at my preferred level, and not to have to listen to my neighbors snacking all through the quiet scenes. I like maps and timetables.

So I prefer an aisle seat, not just because I feel that I have more leg and elbow room, but because I don't want to ask anybody else's permission to go to the bathroom or fetch something from the overhead locker.

However, I'm not an anxious flyer. I don't much like airports but I enjoy being in the air. I like the views from 30,000ft and the feeling of excitement and anticipation before arriving in a new place. Some frequent flyers get jaded or fearful. I'm neither of those.

It starts like this. A couple of days before a flight I will check Seat Guru to find the optimum seat. I like to be as far forward as possible in the cabin, to reduce noise. I believe ambient noise is a major cause of stress on long-haul flights. However, I'll try to sit a couple of rows back from the bulkhead seats as this is where families with babies are usually seated.

Most airlines allow you to check in online 24 hours before departure. I'm on the website, right on the dot.

For the flight I dress as smart as I can without compromising comfort. The temperature on aircraft -- particularly on overnight flights - tends to fluctuate wildly so layering is the key. A combination of inactivity and low cabin pressure causes your feet to swell, so comfortable shoes are essential.

I arrive at the airport in plenty of time. When I was younger I would cut it fine, believing my time was valuable. Now I realize that it's less stressful to get there earlier, go through security and relax.

I also do a lot of walking in airports. If I'm going to be sitting down for the next 10 hours I don't want to be slumped in an airport chair. If I can find a quiet corner I'll do some yoga stretches.

Now for the most important thing: my travel kit. If I'm only away for a few days I try to avoid checking luggage, but realistically that's not always possible.

Anybody who flies a lot will have experienced the annoyance of arriving at the end of a long flight to find their checked bag didn't make it on the aircraft. So I always carry enough clothing to see me through the first 24 hours: spare underwear, sunglasses, a pair of swimming trunks / shorts, swimming goggles. At least I can relax on the beach or in the hotel pool while the airline tries to locate my checked bag.

As a journalist, I always carry a laptop (a rather bulky MacBook Pro). And, of course, I take a charger and a universal adapter in my cabin bag. Plus a surge protector, just in case.

One of the small pleasures of flying business class is the little amenity kit you are given. In reality these aren't anything special: a cheap toothbrush, a pen, a thin pair of socks. As I don't regularly fly business, I pack my own amenity kit and it's better than any I've been given by an airline.

Here's what my amenity kit contains:

• Earplugs. I never travel without earplugs. I like the foam variety, which I buy in bulk on eBay. They're very cheap. Some airlines hand them out, others don't (which I suspect is because crew get fed up with trying to talk to passengers who can't hear them).



• Eyeshades. I have a really good quality set.



• Flight socks. Aside from the fact they may help prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT), they stop your feet swelling and keep your toes and legs warm.



• Spectacles case. So I know my glasses are safe while I'm sleeping.



• Blow-up pillow. They aren't perfect, but better than nothing.



• Toothbrush and toothpaste.



• A small tube of moisturiser and eye drops to combat the dry cabin air.

Another key part of my kit is a pair of decent noise-reduction headphones. I like Sennheiser PXC 250-II, which cost about $120 in the US. I also have a headphone adapter so I can use my Sennheisers to watch a movie, rather than use the cheap pair provided by the airline.

I board the aircraft as soon as I can, to ensure I can put my bag in the overhead bin above my seat. I check the seatbelt works, and that I have a blanket. Anything in the seatback container that I don't need (airline magazine, duty free catalogue) I throw in the overhead bin and replace it with my own kit. If there appears to be a empty seat nearby I might discreetly grab the "spare" blanket. One is rarely enough.

What about meals? I actually quite like airline food but I'm careful what I eat if I plan to sleep. I avoid anything with caffeine (including chocolate), stay away from sugary desserts, avoid carbonated drinks (which cause bloating) and restrict alcohol to a single glass of red wine. I take my own snacks - usually muesli bars - and a large bottle of water.

When I've finished eating I don't wait for the cabin crew to collect the tray - I take it to the galley (another advantage of an aisle seat) and ask if I can help bin the trash. This makes a good impression with the crew, which can come in handy later, and means I'm first in the bathroom. By the time my fellow passengers have their trays collected I'm settling down for a sleep.

One of the reasons people feel exhausted after a long flight is dehydration, caused by the thin dry cabin air. To combat that, I drink a lot of fluids throughout the flight. Yes, that can mean a lot of bathroom visits, but I'm in an aisle seat, so it's not a big deal. And it means I can regularly stretch my legs, reducing the risk of a DVT.

Another reason for exhaustion is jet lag. There is no cure for this, but on boarding the flight I always set my watch to the time of my destination and start trying to think myself into that new time zone. I pop a melatonin 20 minutes before trying to get to sleep. I'm convinced that helps to reset my body clock and ensure I hit the ground running.

Mark Hodson is editor of 101 Holidays]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1951704 2012-10-11T07:00:00-04:00 2012-12-11T05:12:01-05:00

Mark Hodson http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-hodson/
--Mark Hodson, Editor of 101 Holidays


]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1929640 2012-10-02T07:00:00-04:00 2012-12-02T05:12:01-05:00

Mark Hodson http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-hodson/
A recent study estimated that 99% of the population of America and Western Europe never see a clear night sky unobscured by dust, smog and light pollution. In cities such as London, the firmament simply never darkens.

Now imagine yourself reclining in a desert oasis on a clear moonless night, the air still and silent as you stare up at velvety black heavens carpeted with stars. Linger long enough, and you'll see satellites inching across the sky and glimpse shooting stars (which aren't stars at all, but the dying embers of space debris as it breaks up on entering the Earth's atmosphere).

You'll spot the difference between stars and planets (stars pulse, planets emit a constant glow). Best of all, you'll feel calmed, humbled and uplifted -- and it won't cost you a penny.

It's no coincidence that some of the best places for stargazing are also among the most ravishingly beautiful: rugged mountain ranges, empty deserts and tropical islands. More and more hotels in these destinations are installing telescopes -- and in a few cases, amateur observatories -- to give guests a closer view.

And you don't need to cross oceans to surf the skies: Tenerife, Mallorca and even the Welsh valleys offer brilliant nocturnal light shows.

The best time of the month for viewing is at or near a new moon. A bright moon will flood the sky with light, destroying the view. Before booking a trip, study a chart of the lunar phases to find the best dates.

Namibia

The arid desert air and endless vistas of the Namib Desert make for stunning night skies. One of the best places to aim for is Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge, which has its own observatory equipped with a 12in computerised telescope, plus a resident astronomer who is ready to help you photograph celestial images and burn them onto CDs.

The setting is magnificent: close to the world's highest sand dunes and surrounded by the largest private nature reserve in southern Africa. Each room has its own private telescope, and the lodge offers game drives, quad-biking and hot-air balloon rides.

Mallorca

Beyond Mallorca's tired and tawdry resorts lies an unspoilt, unpolluted island. Take, for example, the rural village of Costitx, home to an international observatory since 1991. Although not widely known, the Observatorio Astronomico de Mallorca has a working planetarium and offers public skywatching using telescopes sufficiently powerful to study Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus and Mercury. The observatory offers viewings from 8pm every Friday and Saturday.

Chile

Several factors place northern Chile's Atacama Desert near the zenith of world stargazing sites: high altitude; near-zero light pollution; and the complete absence of moisture in the air -- the Atacama is among the driest places on Earth.

Astronomers love it. The spectacular mountain scenery is speckled with observatories, and the world's biggest radio telescope, Alma, is being built there at a cost of £280m. In the charming oasis town of San Pedro, you'll find the five-star adventure lodge Explora en Atacama, an ideal base for both exploring the desert and gazing skywards. The hotel has three electronic telescopes, the largest of them 12in across, which are set up at night in the corner of a nearby field and can be used to view up to 68,000 stars.

Australia

High in the Flinders ranges of South Australia, a two-hour flight from Adelaide, lies the village of Arkaroola, one of the best amateur stargazing spots in the southern hemisphere. It has an observatory with two 14in telescopes and each evening, visitors can join a 90-minute guided tour that includes an introduction to the southern night sky.

Arkaroola Astronomical Observatory offers tours and the chance to sit in a "star chair" which resembles a dentist's chair with a telescope attached. There is plenty more to do by day, because Arkaroola is at the heart of a 240-square-mile wilderness sanctuary, where you can go walking, bird-watching, or explore the mountain scenery on a 4WD safari.

Hawaii

Along with their bathing costumes and sunscreen, visitors to Hawaii's Big Island should pack warm hats and fleeces, because one of the most memorable things to do is take a nocturnal sortie up Mauna Kea, the highest mountain on the island at 9,300ft. Here, above the clouds, the air is clear and dry and temperatures sometimes plummet to freezing.

The peak of Mauna Kea is dotted with a galaxy of telescopes, but visitors should head for the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy, which offers free views of the night sky at its visitor information station between 6pm and 10pm daily, using a variety of powerful hardware.

Kenya

Several African lodges promise the chance to sleep under a blanket of stars, and the most sensational is Loisaba in Kenya. It has two four-poster "star beds" under mosquito nets, positioned five miles apart and far from the lights of surrounding buildings. You can reach them either on foot, by camel, by horse or by 4WD, and they are looked after by Samburu tribesmen, who prepare your dinner and tuck you in at night. You can opt to spend all night in the open, or wheel your bed under a thatched roof.

Tenerife

The rugged interior of Tenerife in the Canary Islands is one of the best short-haul destinations for stargazers. Far from the crowded beaches, the island's serious astronomical action takes place at the Teide Observatory, 7,900ft up in the spectacular mountains of the Parque Nacional de las Canadas del Teide.

The place to stay is the nearby Parador Las Canadas, a cosy lodge with views of volcanic peaks and a mobile telescope that gets wheeled out for guests after dark. To visit the observatory, contact the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias.

Mark Hodson is editor of 101 Holidays]]>