Never write your home address on your luggage tags.  Additionally, consider purchasing covered luggage tags.  If you are flying, going by boat, or taking the train, make sure that you stay with your luggage until it has been checked.

Never check valuable documents in public or anything that you do not want to lose, such as credit cards, driver’s license, passport, etc.  Be discreet when presenting these.  For instance, you should only show your passport to government officials.

If your children are travelling with you, make sure that you carry current photographs of each one just in case you get separated from them.  Write their names and the hotel name (not your room number) on the back of the photos.

Only stay in hotels that use card-keys to unlock the door to your room.  You also want to make sure that your door has a deadbolt and a peephole.  If you are renting a room on anything but the ground floor, rent one as close to a stairwell as possible in case of fire.

Vary your exploration and sightseeing schedule so that your behaviour is not so predictable.

Familiarise yourself with areas in the city to avoid well before you arrive there.  Be sure to avoid dark and dimly lit areas when you are out late at night.

If you take prescription medications, make sure they are labelled accurately and properly filled.  Also, take a small travel first aid kit that you can easily pack in your luggage.

Quads

Exercise your quads with a leg extension machine at the gym.  Keep your back straight and pressed against the back of the chair.  Aim to do around three sets of 10 to 12 repetitions.

Squat Thrusts

Two footed squat thrusts involve placing your hands flat on the floor with your body in a squatting position.  You then bounce slightly and push your legs out straight.  You should aim to do three sets of 10.

Sit-Ups

Sit-ups are great for strengthening your abdominal muscles.  You should try and hold each sit-up for around three seconds, and complete around three sets of 10 sit-ups each day.

Cardiovascular

As well as strengthening certain muscles it’s important to have good cardiovascular fitness.  The best cardiovascular exercise are jogging, running or cycling.  You can do this at the gym or outside in the fresh air. 

These exercises will help you become fit and healthy before your skiing holiday.

As the biggest county in England there is plenty of places to visit Yorkshire, one of which is the Victorian Spa town of Harrogate. Situated right next to the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Harrogate is in the prime location for enjoying all this area has to offer and there is a great range of hotels and holiday cottages in Harrogate, making it the perfect place to base yourself.

Royal Pump Room, Harrogate

Picture courtesy of Tim Green aka atoach

Harrogate itself is steeped in history, it became known as ‘The English Spa’ in the Georgian era after its waters which contain iron, sulphur and common salt were first discovered in the sixteenth century and used as a popular health treatment, bringing the wealthy but sickly visitors who contributed significantly to the wealth of the town, helping be the tourist destination it is today. You can explore this famous spa history at the Royal Pump Room Museum and even taste the strongest sulphur water in Europe!

Royal Horticultural Society Garden Harlow Carr

Picture courtesy of Robbo-Man

For many visitors to Harrogate it offers a cosmopolitan charm, with small streets and quaint mews that offer marvellous shopping, including many great high street stores and designer boutiques, distinctive cafés, and fine restaurants like the World famous Betty’s Cafe and plenty of green open spaces including The Stray, the Valley Gardens and Royal Horticultural Society Garden Harlow Carr. If you want to enjoy a relaxing break then you should check out the steam and hot rooms of the preserved Turkish Spa Baths which were built in 1897 and restored in 2004.

The Stray

Picture courtesy of jillyspoon

The great thing about staying in this part of Yorkshire is that there is so much to see and do in the surrounding area Harrogate has great links to the City of Leeds which is described as the London of the North and the Viking city of York which has the plenty of great tourist attractions. Also with the Yorkshire Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors nearby, you won’t be short of activities for the whole family to enjoy.

The capital is easy to get to and the most stress free way is by train, all the major London stations have good links to get all around the city no matter where you’re staying. If you’re going for a weekend break you want to get the most out of your stay and one of the most important things to experience (well for women really) is the shopping. You have a wide choice of designer shops to choose from as well as world famous department stores, Harvey Nicholls and Selfridges as well as all the high street stores you can think of.

After spending a whole day on your feet shopping probably carrying many bags of clothes and shoes you would probably grateful to spend a day spa London being pampered. There are many treatments to choose from that will relax you and leave you rejuvenated like a traditional Thai massage London or experience a Thai herbal scrub, you can also treat your weary hands and feet to the ancient technique of reflexology which not only makes your feet fell better but the whole of your body as well a manicure and pedicure to glam up your hands and feet.

Once you have been rejuvenated you can then go and enjoy a gourmet meal in a 5* London restaurant but be warned many ‘it’ places to eat require booking in advance to get in. After which you can go see any number of west end shows like Hairspray, Legally Blonde, Mama Mia and Dirty Dancing, a perfect way to end a great birthday weekend of shopping, relaxation, great food and a exciting show!