1. Dublin – The Irish capital is a must-see destination. With plenty of heritage sites, shops, entertainment venues and the friendliest people in Europe, it is a place that every traveller must visit at least once in their lifetimes. Even better, Dublin is easily accessible via ferry and the fares are generally much cheaper than you would find if you chose to fly instead.
2. Barcelona – The most vibrant city in Spain is another of those places that you absolutely must visit at some stage in your life. if the sunshine and warm climate is not enough, there is plenty to do and see, with excellent tours of the city and abundant history to explore. The port in Barcelona is always busy so you can find a route there no matter what time of year you want to visit.
3. Naples – The gorgeous Italian port is famous the world over and an excellent place to land in the Mediterranean. The climate is superb and warm all year round and travelling by ferry is preferable to flying to Naples. Trust me on this one – it comes from personal experience. Visit Sorrento, one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Explore Naples and the shopping there in addition to the fascinating Neopolitan history… and then there is the food! 
4. Dubrovnik – Dubrovnik is the capital of Croatian tourism and is one of the more fashionable holiday destinations going. Not only is it incredibly hot but it is also very peaceful and relaxing. In fact, it is in complete contrast with the lives most of us are living at the moment given the fear that the credit crunch inspires. You can literally forget your troubles there.
5. Copenhagen - The Danish capital is a fantastic place to visit if you are looking for somewhere a little out of the ordinary to go. The climate can be cold but the city is very friendly and welcoming with plenty to see and do for however long you are going there. It will definitely be somewhere that you will want to return to.

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

Firstly, you can cut down your seasickness in a number of ways by regulating what you eat and drink before you get on the ferry and also by managing what you do in transit. For example, you should stay well away from caffeine and alcohol for at least 24 hours before you travel on a ferry if you experience seasickness. Having both in your system can cause nausea, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t eat before you board the ferry because eating can help to steady your stomach. Avoid junk foods and foods that are full of saturated fat because this will also encourage you to feel sick if you suffer from seasickness. Instead, have cereals, porridge or eggs an hour before you set sail. Just drink water to keep your body hydrated without causing you to throw up.

When you finally set off on the ferry, avoid reading like the plague. People that are carsick also find that reading will bring on waves of nausea. This may be difficult if you tend to get bored easily but you’ll feel better for staying away from the books and newspapers. You might also stay inside rather than out in the open air. You won’t get a whiff of the engine fumes or of anything on the sea that may turn your stomach if you stay inside.

Having said that, you should keep yourself distracted as far as possible because distractions will help to keep your mind off how you’re feeling. Chatting to a friend throughout the trip usually works for most people but then so does listening to music or watching a DVD on a laptop. None of these involve reading and provide you with a good focal point.

Finally, use one of the many seasickness remedies out there. There are plenty and enough to choose from, no matter whether you prefer using traditional medical remedies or homemade remedies. Find one that works for you and stick to it. You’ll find that you enjoy travelling by ferry far more and so can enjoy a quick trip across the English Channel from time to time.

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

First of all, make sure to book your ferry to France well in advance. Last minute bookings can lead to disappointment due to lack of space and, particularly since the advent of fluid pricing, you will almost certainly end up paying more if you really do leave it too late.  When you book your ferry well in advance, you can rest assured that your tickets are reserved for the ferry of your choice and that the price is generally not going to get any cheaper after you book.

Secondly, if you have enough time, try to take daytime ferries rather than ferries that leave at night. Unlike car, train, air and coach journeys, ferry trips can provide an enjoyable, restful and welcome break for you and your family. You can enjoy bracing walks on deck or a meal on board, or, on longer ferry trips you can often choose from a vast range of other distractions, entertainments and activities.

Some people worry about seasickness but modern ferries are so smooth nowadays that it’s hard to feel the motion of the waves at all.  However, if you are particularly prone to seasickness, make sure you take the necessary medication at the appropriate time before setting off so that it doesn’t interfere with your enjoyment of the ferry trip.

Not everyone gets to travel on ferries that frequently so, when you take a ferry to France, try to make the most of the journey by staying awake and using the on board facilities. If you happen to carry your camera with you, you could capture some great shots for your album on your ferry trip. When planning to take photos on board, traditional ferries are usually better than high-speed ferries because there is more scope for wandering around outside and there is generally more space inside the vessel.

It may seem obvious but try to plan carefully and take care of everything that is likely to make you anxious during your trip. Carry with you all the necessary travel documents. Double check before you leave home so that you avoid any nasty surprises. If you are planning to stay overnight en-route, make sure that your accommodation is booked well in advance. Do not take pot luck with hotel accommodation, especially in peak season, as this can be a major source of tension, inconvenience and disappointment.

If you are a regular ferry traveller, why not try driving a different route every time you take a ferry so that you enjoy a new experience with every trip?

Finally, avoid drinking too much on your ferry trip. Apart from the obvious legal requirement of staying safely within drink driving limits, the onward journey will be best enjoyed in a state of alertness and sobriety.  You can always look forward to a drink or two after you reach your destination to celebrate your arrival.

Guest Article by Max Rickman

There are many advantages associated with booking ferries over the internet. Take the example of booking a ferry to France.  First of all, we can book our ferries from any part of the world as long as we have a computer with a reliable internet connection. It is no nonger necessary to be physically present at a travel shop to collect our tickets. This allows us to plan our trips in advance and make our bookings in our own time.

Secondly, booking our ferry to France online saves us a lot of time. We do not have to search for a suitable ferry operator or local travel agent who will do the ferry bookings for us. We don’t need to drive into town to visit the travel agent or the ferry operator, which also saves us time and fuel. At times, some travel operators also charge customers a service charge for making bookings and this can also be saved when we book our ferries online.

Another major advantage is that we can book our ferry to France any time of the day or night, weekdays or weekends. This will obviously not be the case when we buy tickets offline. We would need to either call or visit the travel operator’s office during their working hours, which often overlaps with our own working hours. With online shopping, we can book our ferry tickets from the comfort of our homes any time and the online system allows us to book our tickets round the clock.

Ferry tickets are often much cheaper when we buy them online. For instance, on the UKferrytickets site you can easily compare the costs between various routes, ferry operators, time of the ferry, etc and quickly find the cheapest and there are no extra booking fees. With offline travel agents, it’s difficult to be sure that the travel agent has your best interests in mind. They may have strong allegiances with certain operators or be tempted to recommend the ferry that pays them the most commission. The ferry booking engine and cheap ferry tickets comparison tool at Ukferrytickets.co.uk will help you find the very best ferry deals to France (and many other destinations) in the shortest time possible. In a matter of just a few clicks, all the best deals in the market place will be lined up for you to choose.

It makes you wonder why anyone would want  to book their ferries offline ever again!

Guest Article by Max Rickman

There would be nothing worse than going to the port and being delayed or turned away because you have failed to plan for your Christmas ferry trip, aside from maybe finding yourself stranded when you get to the Continent. As such, the list of hints and tips below will help you to get your house in order, so to speak, before you travel:

• Book your tickets in advance. There are enough cheap tickets available on the Internet for you not to rely on last minute cheap fares. Christmas is a busy period because many head out of the country for the festive period. As such, do not risk waiting around at the port for an extended period of time because you are not guaranteed passage without a pre-booked ticket.
• Make sure that you only take what you need. Not only do over-laden cars cost you more for petrol but they could also cost you more for the ferry. All ferry providers reserve the right to charge you for extra weight and can even turn you away from the ferry itself in extreme cases, thus getting your holiday off to a really bad start. You may be taking presents with you but make sure that your car is safe to drive and light enough to pass inspection.
• Always check the weather at your destination. It may be cold and clear here, but you never know what you are going to find the other end. There may be snow that makes driving conditions difficult and you should be prepared for that. There is nothing like a car crash to ruin your holiday. That may sound harsh, but it really is the worst case scenario.
• Plan plenty for the kids. If you are taking your children with you and don’t plan to keep them entertained on the journey then you may feel stressed when you get to your destination. Keep them occupied in the car and you can relax throughout your time away.
• Read the ferry guidelines. Make sure that you are fully aware of all the information given to passengers before you go because they may have issued weather warnings, specific guidelines for travelling on full ferries or other information that governs how you are to travel.

Above all, you will want to get your Christmas break off to a great start so a few hours planning will definitely come in handy and help you to achieve that.

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

The health benefits associated with flying are non-existent. There are actually many side effects that are underestimated. For example, all women out there will know that your skin feels dehydrated after they alight from the plane at their destination. The skin is only dehydrated because the body is. At altitude, the body has to use more water to keep the organs working perfectly. This will also affect fluid retention as your body has to retain it in order to function, which may explain why your ankles may be puffy on landing.

Similarly, flying can also be bad for your circulation. It is no coincidence that DVTs (Deep Vein Thrombosis) is associated with flying. The high pressure your body is put under will undoubtedly cause problems and research has shown that flying is directly linked to it. However, there are more common ailments associated with flying as a result of the air conditioning and lack of fresh air. If you think about it, if someone has a cold and is sneezing then those germs are going to be recycled over and over. As such, if you have a cold a few days after landing then the likelihood is that you have caught it via someone else on the same flight through the recycled air on board.

On the other hand, travelling via ferry is much better for your health. The air on board is fresh as a result of the open vents and access to the deck. You can go outside as much or as little as you like. Similarly, the fact that you are at sea level means that the air pressure is less and so you will not suffer any circulatory or blood pressure issues. As the air is moist, dehydration is also out of the question. All in all, it is much more healthy to travel via ferry than plane. The worst illness you could expect is seasickness, which is simply down to the motion. All in all, ferry is a much healthier way to travel no matter what time of year you go on holiday!

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

1. If you can possibly help it, travel during the week. Weekends are always exceptionally crowded and will most likely annoy you because the ferry will be bustling. Travelling in the week is often much better with Sunday to Thursday being better for outbound journeys and Monday to Friday being better for returning
2. Avoid travelling on the overnight ferry if you want to save money because it is more expensive. Ferries to destinations a little further away than France may go overnight but they are required to provide you with accommodation, which is obviously more expensive. Travelling during the day is much cheaper in many cases as a result.
3. Conventional ferries are much cheaper than the faster ones. The faster services are express travel and you have to pay for that. Think along the lines of a normal flight and travelling on concord – you’d expect the latter to be more expensive than the former so you should expect the same of the ferries.
4. Look for open tickets. Some providers and ferry services offer open tickets so you can return within a week or five days when you want. There aren’t many of these offers around but they do tend to offer real value for money. If you’re going away for a short break then they’re perfect because you can come back to the UK whenever you like.
5. Compare for the best deals. There are so many ferry providers heading to the various destinations so make sure that you compare the fares to get the best possible deals. You can save a lot of money overall so why pay more than you have to?
6. Give all the details the travel provider wants in regards your car. Some will ask the dimensions of you car so give them accurate information. If you don’t then you could end up paying extra when you arrive at the port or not even being allowed to take your car on board.

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

If you always travel on the ferry rather than flying or if you’ve chosen to go by sea to help out the environment then you should give yourself a pat on the back, but did you know that there are ways to offset your carbon emissions before you go and when you’ve arrived at your final destination as well?

If you’re camping or heading off in a caravan, for example, you can now actually purchase equipment that is more energy efficient than any old equipment you might have at home already. For example, you can purchase tents that are made of organic materials and are biodegradable as well as stoves and other similar camping gear that use a small amount of energy during use.

Any good camping store and some of the larger supermarkets often provide information as to which goods will help to offset your carbon emissions. The range of goods will blow your mind! You have food containers, cutlery, stoves, clothes, groundsheets, tents, low emission fire starters, batteries, lamps… The list goes on! It seems that there’s very little camping and holiday gear not available in the environmentally friendly variety!

When you arrive at your destination, you can plan your days out and activities in advance to ensure that you’re as environmentally friendly as possible. Small things like walking or taking public transport instead of using a car will reduce your carbon emissions. Staying in a green retreat, camping site or other accommodation that is near to the local facilities will help with this. After all, if you’re staying further away from the nearest town or facilities then there may not be public transport that’s as convenient as you’d like.

One of the best ways to offset carbon emissions is to choose a resort, camp or hotel that’s accredited as environmentally friendly. There are plenty of them about now thanks to all of the green awards that are available for businesses making an effort to offset carbon emissions and go green. Check out any awards that individual resorts might display to make sure that they’re legitimate. If they are then you’ve found a treasure that can help make your holiday well and truly green by offsetting carbon emissions!

Guest Article by Louise Crowley