Tips For Finding The Ideal Travelling Companion

Travelling with a companion has obvious advantages in terms of security, cost reduction and companionship.

But the disadvantages, if one is unfortunate enough to be stuck with an incompatible travelling companion, far outweigh the advantages. If things go wrong people could find themselves fighting over everything from who should drive to who gets what room in a hotel.

In the end you might return from a trip that was meant to relax, entertain and de-stress you, with clumps of your hair missing.

So how does one decide whom to travel with?

1. Look at the interests
If you like rambling and your companion wants to cycle, you will spend your holiday making compromises.

2. Look at the budget
What a nightmare it will be if you have budgeted for a bed in a hostel and your companion wants a five star hotel!

3. Look for compatible temperament
You may be boisterous and noisy while your friend may want to travel in peace and quiet. On the other hand, you might want to hear bird sounds when your companion may think his jokes are more interesting.

4. Look for a person with matching levels of physical fitness
You don't want to spend your entire trip trying to keep pace with a marathon runner nor do you want to find yourself wasting all afternoon because your companion is tired and needs a nap.

5. Look for a person who can be independent
You don't want to baby sit through your holiday. Your companion should be able to manage his affairs, be it money, reservations or alone time. You companion should not feel offended if you decide to take and evening off by yourself as long as it is not at the last minute that you have decided to change plans.

6. Look for someone who is as punctual as you are
Missing buses, trains or generally getting late because one's travelling companion does not respect time, is very annoying and you don't want such irritations to be a part of your holiday. On the other hand if your sense of punctuality leaves a lot to be desired then you will face a lot of embarrassment making excuses every time you are late.

7. Look for someone who can compromise
If your companion cannot make a compromise or two according to the demands of time and place even a slight disturbance to your schedule will turn into a major crisis.

Happy travelling!

CHEAP, BUDGET ACCOMMODATION IN HOTELS AND HOSTELS IN THE UK

ACCOMODATION IN ENGLAND, SCOTLAND AND WALES INCLUDING LONDON, EDINBURGH, MIDLANDS AND THE COUNTRYSIDE

Depending upon the number of travellers in a group (individual or families), there is a wide variety of budget accommodation available in England and Scotland.

FOR FAMILIES AND GROUPS-

1. TRAVELODGE

The best choice by far. The cheapest accommodation I have been able to book for my family is a private room for four with en-suite bathroom and free linen and towels for as little as 15 a night! Yes that is TRAVELODGE for you. Excellent quality rooms, clean hygienic surroundings, family friendly atmosphere, Travelodge is the best choice for any family or a group of four visiting the UK. But one must remember that these saver rates are available only if you book at least 21 days in advance and they are given out on first come first serve basis till the allocated number of rooms is given out. For late bookings various other tariffs are available and can be checked along with availability on their website. All bookings can be made online which makes life very easy indeed for travellers, especially those who plan to visit various places around the country. Travelodge has more than 200 hotels all over the UK, which means you can find one almost anywhere you go. Please note breakfast is not included in the room tariff though linen and towels are.

Website: www.travelodge.co.uk

2. PREMIER TRAVEL INN -

Premier Travel Inn also provides very good value for your money. Here again you can get family rooms at the same price as regular rooms. The rooms start at 47 per night and like Travelodge are clean and the atmosphere is family friendly. Premier Travel Inn has over 470 hotels all over the country and the rooms provide very good value for money. Breakfast is not included in the tariff and online booking is available.

Website- www.premiertravelinn.co.uk

3. WELCOME BREAK (DAY'S INN) -

Welcome break is a smaller chain of hotels with only 21 hotels in the country. If there is one in the place you want to visit, then it is a reasonably good choice for a family. Rates vary according to the rooms and can be checked along with the availability on their website. Online booking is available.

Website: www.welcomebreak.co.uk

4. YOUTH HOSTEL ASSOCIATION, UK.

YHA, UK has more than 200 hostels spread across the UK. You can stay in a mansion, a castle, a thatched cottage, a modern purpose built Youth Hostel, a bunk house or a camping barn. Accommodation is usually in comfortable bunk-bedded rooms, sharing with people of the same sex. Guests may be able to book a private room for themselves. Over 100 locations are suitable for families and family rooms are available for those with children aged three or over. Many have en-suite facilities, some with double beds. Most locations have small rooms with bunk beds, which you can hire for private use. Facilities and daytime access may vary between hostels. Laundered bed linen, pillows, duvet and blankets are provided free of charge for you to make up your bed. Many of the YHA hostels will also have a self-catering kitchen, sitting area, drying room and cycle store. Full meals service is also available at many of the hostels
A wide variety of tariffs are available at the YHA. For example you could rent a barn at 5 PP or hire a cottage at 380. The best way to find the cheapest and the best option for your family is to visit their website.

website www.yha.org.uk

5. BED & BREAKFASTS

Bed and breakfasts are extremely popular with the tourists but they are not necessarily the cheapest options for families. A family room in a bed and breakfast costs about 80 but the rates vary depending upon the season in which the rooms are being booked and also on the size. Bargaining is always a good idea whatever the season. Full English breakfast is almost always included but this must be confirmed at the time of booking. Thousands of bed and breakfasts can be booked online. Search google with the keywords budget B&B UK' or something similar.

FOR INDIVIDUAL TRAVELLERS-

1. HOSTELS

Youth Hostels Association- Individual travellers wanting budget accommodation find that their best choice is to rent beds instead of rooms. The best places to rent beds are the YHA hotels which are almost always in great locations and are safe and hygienic places. Prices range from 5pp for a camping barn to 20pp for a cottage accommodation. Facilities also vary. The hostel of your choice may include some of these facilities- laundry, sitting room, self-catering kitchen, free linen and blankets, cycle hire, drying room etc. To find a tariff just right for you and to check out the facilities available in a hostel of your choice visit the YHA website.

Website- www.yha.org.uk


BACK PACKER'S HOSTELS-

Another fantastic choice of hostels for travellers to the UK is backpacker's hostels. Like YHA these hostels also rent out beds in dormitories with shared bathroom facilities Check out the website for the facilities available in the hostel of your choice.

Website- www.backpackers.co.uk


2. BED AND BREAKFAST -

Many bed and breakfasts offer accommodation for singles at reasonable rates with full English breakfast. The best way to search for cheap bed and breakfasts is to search Google. Most B&B's can be booked online and those that cannot be booked online provide contact details like phone numbers that can be used for bargaining and booking.