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Get out and about whilst on holiday and hire a car More and more people are hiring a car on holiday. *It’s a way of visiting your local area, getting out and about further than just your immediate resort.*You can also sometimes save money by hiring a car at the airport and dropping off at the airport on your return than going on a transfer coach.*It is quicker getting from A to B than waiting on public transport or sometimes than on shared coach transfers.*You can choose anything from an economy priced car to a convertible or minivan. Or, you may choose to enjoy a self drive holiday, spending a few days in each town/city. DRIVING LICENSE All drivers must produce a full driving licence upon collection. In some destinations you are required to have held your licence for a minimum of 5 years. COLLECTION DETAILS You can choose to collect at the airport or in resort. Why not book a one way rental, full holiday duration or just a few days by collecting in resort and drop off at airport? FUEL AND MILEAGE Many suppliers allow unlimited mileage. Fuel – Usually the best option is picking upfull and returning it full. ADDITIONAL DRIVERS You can choose to have just 1 driver or add on others. Some rates include additional drivers. FUEL SAT NAV/GPS & EXTRAS All extras can be requested in advanced. Some packages you can include Sat Nav. Child seats are booked at the time of booking and paid locally. INSURANCE Mandatory insurance such as CDW (collision damage waiver) is included, but excess varies. Top-up policy can be added too as required. Why not get in touch for a quote to enhance your holiday? Email: Julie.Batchelor@brillianttravel.co.ukTelephone: 07944 542 640

Known as the ‘Happy Island’ and now even easier to travel to with direct flights from London, Amsterdam and Frankfurt with only the 1 connection flight from Glasgow making it very accessible.   There are 2 international airports – San Jose and Liberia. Enjoy its incredible climatic diversity, exemplified by the contrast in temperatures, being warm all year round.  Costa Rica can be found in South America between Panama and Nicaragua, with the Caribbean coast on 1 side and the Pacific on the other. Costa Rica attracts honeymooners, families, couples, anyone looking for a bit of adventure and looking to get out and about. GETTING ADVENTUROUS You can immerse yourself in a broad variety of adventure activities like sportfishing, scuba diving, surfing, mountain biking, zip lining, horse riding, volcano treks, fishing, waterfall canyoning and whitewater rafting.  Swim on 2 coasts in a single day.  Experience calm or exciting adventures. RAINFORESTS, NATIONAL PARKS & NATUREWith so many to choose from, you can see many species of  birds, the great diversity of flora and fauna, sloths, monkeys, crocodiles, green turtles and more.  Tortuguero Canals National Park & Rain Forest, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano and National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve and Vorcovado National Park are just a few.   Enjoy Butterfly gardens, refreshing waterfalls, small pools with hot springs and solfatric lakes. FOOD N’ DRINK Chorreadascorn pancakes served with natilla cream. Made by literally mixing mashed kernels of corn, milk, and spices, and then pouring this wondrous mixture over a griddle, these corn pancakes make an excellent breakfast or mid-afternoon snack. CevicheIf you love sushi or seafood for that matter, then you will adore this raw fish dish. Ceviche, which is said to have originated in Peru but has found a soft spot in Costa Rican diets, is raw fish cooked in lime juice, mixed with minced onions, cilantro, peppers and maybe even some Fresca. PataconesThese fried and smashed plantains are a very popular boca or appetizer in Costa Rica. Best equated to a thick potato chip, patacones are served with cheese, guacamole and bean dips. SMALL BOUTIQUE TO LUXURY HOTELS Offering lodging options for all tastes, from friendly ‘boutique’ mountain inns to five star luxury hotels on the beach, near the rainforest or in the city.

One of the key things we should be packing along with our passport is our Travel Insurance and an EHIC What is the European Health Insurance Card scheme for? The best way to apply for an EHIC or E111 renewal is online. No more paper forms to carry about – just a small plastic card to take with you when you travel outside of Great Britain. Just show your European Health Insurance card renewal whenever you need health care abroad. It’s quick and easy to apply with our help, and you’ll usually have your card within a fortnight – often it’s a lot sooner than that. Do I still need travel insurance as well as an EHIC? An EU health card is not the same as travel insurance. If you require airlifting back to the UK, cover for stolen or lost possessions, or a service such as mountain rescue, the EHIC will not pay for these. It’s still very important for you to purchase travel insurance as well as organising an EHIC Renewal. You may even find that your travel insurance provider demands that you have a European health insurance card before providing you with cover, making it even more important that your application is submitted quickly and accurately through a company who understands the application process, just like EHIC Applications UK. Who can we help gain a European Health Card? Anyone who’s resident in Great Britain can apply for a european health insurance card through EHIC Applications UK. The NHS will check eligibility based on the information you provide, so it’s important to give as much information as you can. An NHS number (Called a CHI number in Scotland, or Health & Care Number in Northern Ireland) and National Insurance card are the two main forms of identification which will be requested. If you’re worried you might not have some of these documents, get in touch with us, and we’ll be happy to advise on the alternatives. We understand how the application system works, and our specialist knowledge and experience is a great reason to submit your application through us today. If you’re not a British citizen, don’t worry. Other forms of evidence will be accepted as proof that you’re currently resident in the UK. You’ll commonly be asked for a visa, a letter from the Home Office, an A1/E101 or S1 document, or even just a letter from your employer. Everyone who’s traveling, even children, requires their own european health card. If the applicant is under 16 years of age, a parent or guardian will need to apply on their behalf. How long is my EHIC Renewal valid for? Each card is valid for five years. You can start the renewal process six months before your old European health insurance card renewal is due to expire, and EHIC Applications UK will be able to help you with that. Don’t gamble with your health care choices when abroad – trust EHIC Applications UK’s team to check and place your application for an EHIC card today.

Buy a lightweight suitcase Don’t assume that buying the most expensive designer suitcase will get you an upgrade, instead, it’s more likely to attract thieves at the airport and on your travels. It’s better to be inconspicuous and go for a lightweight option. If you’re using a hardshell suitcase, this can add up to 4 kilos of weight before you’ve even started packing, so expensive isn’t always best. Remember some airlines charge per checked-in bag. Do you really need 20kg each? Could you check in a 20kg bag between both of you. Remember you still have hand luggage you can use for clothes etc… Be Organised Write a list so you don’t forget your essentials. Don’t’ leave packing till the night before. Ideally 4 – 7 days prior. Packing too early can mean you pack more as you forget what you packed. Divide and rule One rule to ensure everything fits is when you have your selection laid out on your bed, just cut it in half. Drastic, but it forces you to focus and just remember all the items you have taken on holiday before and never worn. Consider everything you might be doing (tennis? posh dinners? hiking? swimming? city explorations?) – then put your favourite items for these scenarios on your bed in piles of tops, bottoms, dresses, shoes, beauty favourites, jackets/coverups, swimwear. Anything that doesn’t have a specific use doesn’t need to come without you. Colour code your clothes – look at everything and choose items based on the fact they will work with lots of other items. Thinking of a colour palette makes this even simpler. Make use of ’empty’ spaces such as shoes When it comes to packing, you need to make use of every little space you can. Roll tops/underwear/socks and other small items and stuff them into your shoes to make sure every possible space is filled. Packing clothes Don’t arrive at your holiday destination and be faced with a pile of ironing. To save space and stop creasing, roll your clothes instead of folding them or leave them flat. Slip in some scarves Scarves add very little to your load and will multi-task on holiday like a pro. Use to double over as a mini skirt on the beach, as a cover up over a bikini en-route to the bar, turban style on your head to protect hair during serious sun bathing and, of course, conventionally around your neck to brighten up a plain top or protect shoulders from sun during lunchtime. Dress for success Dresses are very hard-working and also scream “holiday glamour” – a good choice for slimming down that suitcase. In the day, wear with flats, beach with flip flops and sunglasses, then use the same piece by night with heels and lipstick. Luggage scales will save you money This is the secret weapon to help you avoid being charged unnecessary fees at the airport. Invest in some luggage scales and make sure you weigh your bags on both legs of the journey to see how close you are to reaching the weight limit. If you’re close to the limit, consider wearing some of the heavier items or cutting down on what you pack in the first place (especially when it comes to heavy toiletries as you can just buy them at your destination). Some hotels also rent towels than taking them with you. Flying home Remember when buying items on holiday to take home that you have enough luggage allowance. Alternatively, you can contact the airline to buy more allowance in advance than waiting till you get to the airport as more expensive.

Having returned recently from a trip to Holland, I thought I would share my experience with you. I travelled with my partner and daughter aged 12 with easyJet from Glasgow to Amsterdam – flight was excellent there any back. Great luggage allowance to of 20kg per checked in bag. They also now have a service where you can check in your hand luggage for a small fee at the airport. We were staying with Al-fresco holidays at their Duinrell site not too far from Amsterdam in a Rossini Lounge 2 bedroomed mobile home. It was very comfortable and spacious with lovely decking and bar-b-que. http://www.alfresco-holidays.com/campsites/wassenaar/hl012-duinrell/introduction.html Duinrell | Camping in Wassenaar & Holland | Al Fresco Holidays www.alfresco-holidays.comThe action-packed Duinrell campsite in Holland is a 4 star resort offering families spectacular swimming pools, water slides, entertainment, and a theme park! We decided not to drive whilst on holiday, so took the train and bus to the campsite which was very easy, however also reasonably costed for taxi from Leiden central train station straight to the park. Many people choose to take the ferry from Newcastle and drive over. We stayed there for 4 nights and tried to pack in as much as we could. The park has amazing facilities including its very own Theme Park with FREE UNLIMITED ACCESS whilst you are there. Duinrell has one of the best water parks in Europe. It has a total of 11 unique slides to get everyone excited, from the extreme Typhoon to the chilled out lazy river. If the adults want to chill out there is also a jacuzzi and (sauna-payable) for some much-needed rest and relaxation. This fantastic waterpark, aptly named the Tiki pool, is open all year round, so even if you do get a touch of wet weather, there’s always something to do. Duinrell is located next to the lively town of Wassenaar, just a few minutes’ walk from the site, with a great supermarket, amazing ice cream shop (with its own factory on-site) and various other shops, café’s, restaurants and old windmill. It is an ideal base for exploring further afield via public transport or bicycles, such as with a trip to the bustling city of Amsterdam or the local beaches! So, you can’t come this close to Amsterdam and not travel in for the day. We used local transport which is very easy to use. We visited Anne Frank’s house http://www.annefrank.org/ (which should be booked in advance) and well worth seeing, went on a Canal Cruise, seen Dam Square and a bit of retail Therapy and dinner as well as taking in other local sights. Anne Frank Museum Amsterdam – the official Anne Frank … www.annefrank.orgAnne Frank, the Diary and the Secret Annex. The most complete and current information with unique photos and film images. As Amsterdam is so flat, many people choose to cycle and is easily accessible to hire on-site or in Amsterdam and reasonably priced too. There are many cycle paths near the park.I would go back and hire a car to see more local sights. Holland is a beautiful country with lovely, friendly people and well worth a visit.These types of holidays are reasonably priced and offer a great value family holiday with loads to do on your doorstep.

Call Julie to discuss your future cruise on 07944542640 or email Julie.Batchelor@Brillianttravel.co.uk