Thorpe Park: A review

I was lucky enough to visit thrill-seekers heaven, Thorpe Park last weekend and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Not just by the park itself and the rides available but also by my own resolve in handling the rides and getting through them with nothing worse than a rather hoarse throat!

Spectacular rides are abound here. I managed to ride all of them with the exception of the gargantuan Stealth as it had broken down by the time I had plucked up the courage to sit in one of its imposing carriages.

We started off easy, (or so I thought), with the 50ft drop of Detonator. Rising slowly into the air you begin to sense that this ride is not to be taken lightly. Once at the top of the vertical drop, a countdown commences before the platform on which you are sitting freefalls to the ground, taking your breath away and bouncing your eyeballs to the back of your head before coming to a sharp stop. It's over before you know it and an excellent way to start the day.

Next up was Nemesis Inferno. A free-standing roller-coaster that mixes twisting inversions with near misses and sheer drops. I really didn't think I would muster the courage for this one but the queue was so short that I didn't even have time to jump the railings. This was the biggest roller-coaster I had ever been on and really shook me up to the extent that I had my eyes closed for much of it! By the time I had begun to enjoy it, the ride was coming to a close and it had well and truly beaten me.

Despite my nervous disposition after Nemesis, I decided that I had actually enjoyed it in a strange kind of way. I think this was perhaps due to the fact that I felt a sense of achievement in being able to say that I had actually ridden such a beast of a ride! Collossus was our next port of call boasting an impressively nauseating 10 looped inversions. From the start, this ride did not let up. A long, drawn-out incline was followed by a banked drop down to the left that left one's stomach at the top of the slope. Then came the loops! Certainly not for the faint of heart you find yourself completely disorientated as you attempt to follow the route of your carriage along the track. The crown for best ride of the day went to Collossus with ease after this amazing ride.

Next up were the comparatively tame rides of Rush, Samurai and Quantum - all good in there own right, but not a patch on the big boys.

After getting completely drenched on Tidal Wave we finished the day on Saw (based on the movie of the same name if you didn't know). After a 90 minute queue that only worked to heighten the anticipation further, we entered Saw's inner sanctum. Flashing imagery, murderous noises and moody ride attendants all block your path before you finally board this hell-ride. There's no going back from here and after a short yet nonetheless thrilling journey out into the stark light and cold of the outdoors you begin a vertical climb up to the top of an inverted drop staring at nothing but the clouds. Once at the top the ride really begins. The drop was the single most stomach-churning feature of the whole day and from there on in I could barely keep my eyes open due to the fear as I was thrown around my seat for the next minute! This ride easily took the crown from Collossus due to the sheer terror that it imparted on me before and during the ride.

All-in-all Thorpe park offers one of the best days out in the whole of the U.K and offers great value for money if you book your trip with accommodation. Our tickets along with two nights of decent Travelodge sleeping were just £80 each!

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Bangkok - City of contrasts

With its heady mix of century old history and ultra-modern urbanism, Bangkok offers the discerning visitor a picture of South East Asia that is without equal in the whole of the region.

The phrase 'melting-pot' is often overused to describe many cities, but it perfectly encapsulates Bangkok with its steaming temperatures, famous cuisine and mix of locals and travellers.

You'll need a week to really appreciate sprawling Bangkok. The vast range of ancient temples dotted around the city demand a couple of days alone and you'll need a full day to really appreciate the delights on offer in the gargantuan malls that dominate the city centre.

Hire a Tuk-tuk if you're venturing on the temple tour and make sure you visit the temples of Dawn, Emerald Buddha and, most importantly, Reclining Buddha which is the largest in the whole of Thailand measuring 150ft in length.

Next on your 'To See' list is the King's residence - The Grand Palace. This famous palace was built in 1782 and features grandeur on an epic scale and is the home of many of the most important temples in Bangkok.

For a glance at Bangkok's sporting pedigree, visit Lumpinee boxing stadium for front row seats at Thai boxing. You'll feel the blood and sweat emanating from the boxers all from the comfort of the best seats in the house .

For the ultimate shopping experience head to the Central World Plaza where the World's most prestigious stores are all assembled under one roof. You'll also find a huge food court and a mass of entertainments to keep you interested all day. Beware the tiny independent stores on the top floors as you are liable to lose yourself for days on end in a maze of cheap electronics and souvenirs!

For a different side of Bangkok be sure to visit Khao San Road. This place is the World traveller's paradise. People from every country in the World gather here for a different fix. Visit at night for amazing night-life, great food and endless amounts of street entertainments from uber-talented performers.

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The Maldives - Pure Paradise

With the cold creeping in it's time to start looking into long-haul holidays to escape the Winter blues.

White sands, warm seas, blue skies and glorious heat. The prerequisites for the perfect holiday, but it's often hard to find a destination that encompasses all of these things whilst retaining a feel of untouched paradise.

So, introducing the Maldives – The perfect destination for a holiday that you will never forget.

Whether you're looking for the perfect Honeymoon destination or a far-flung getaway that is custom-made for recharging those batteries, the Maldives are the perfect destination.

The Maldives are actually a series of coral reefs located in the middle of the Indian Ocean. This explains why the islands are so popular with those looking for some of the best diving and snorkelling sites in the world. If you do choose the Maldives, you should take the time to pick up diving qualifications before you go; this way you will be able to take a closer look at the Maldives' major selling point. When you're ready for a spot of diving, head straight for Fushifaru Thila – a dive site where manta rays and sharks are common sights. For another amazing dive site you could float around the eerie remnants of the Maldive Victory – A 110 metre long cargo ship that sunk in 1981.

If diving isn't your thing, there is still plenty to do. The resorts and accommodation are amongst the best in the world and you have a wide variety to choose from. Despite a number of lower-end accommodation options, you will find that The Maldives are still a little on the expensive side, but you certainly get what you pay for in the case of these glorious atolls. We suggest you head to Biyadoo island for a secluded holiday spot that provides you with all of your holiday needs including beach-front luxury accommodation.

For those looking to immerse themselves in the history of the Maldives, there are a number of historical sites dotted around the islands. You can visit Hikkuru Miski in the capital city for an insight into the Hinduism in the Maldives, or visit Sultan park where you can take a stroll around the National History museum. You can also savour Maldivian culinary delights with a visit to the fish market located in Male. You will discover a vast array of species on offer and the often huge fish will make wondering the market a spectacular sight, regardless of whether you enjoy fish or not!

The flight time to the Maldives is around 10 hours. Temperatures are warm all-year-round and are incredibly high in April when they regularly surpass 30-degrees. Search for your Maldives holiday at a big online provider such as direct-line holidays

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The U.K's best family holiday parks

The U.K offers some of the best family holiday park options in the hole of Europe - so why go anywhere else?


Butlins

The stalwart of the British holiday park scene and a favourite for those looking for an action-packed break away. You have a choice of locations, so whether it's Minehead, Bognor Regis or Skegness you will find a a park within decent travelling distance. In our opinion, the best choice of the Butlins parks is Minehead, it offers you the best facilities and the town of Minehead offers you a lovely sandy beach and an arcade that you can explore if you wish to escape the park for a few hours. You can choose from a variety of accommodation and eating options meaning you can customise your trip in almost every way.

Pontins

In the same vein as Butlins holiday park - Pontins offers family breaks geared towards keeping your kids entertained whilst you have the opportunity to put your feet up and enjoy the many facilities available. There are numerous activities to keep everyone entertained and if you feel like getting away from the kids, you can leave them with the well-trained staff at 'Croc Club'. Once again, there are numerous parks across the country but we believe Camber Sands in Wales is your best bet and the most up-to-date facilities.

Centre Parcs

Centre Parcs offers the more expensive holiday park option. The accommodation is unrivalled in the realm of holiday parks and you can rest assured that all facilities are kept in pristine condition throughout your stay. Stays at Centre Parcs are geared less towards children and more towards relaxation and immersing yourself in the surrounding scenery which is always beautiful regardless of which park you choose. For the most picturesque and interesting, choose Nottingham forest.

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The handy travel insurance guide

Sorting your travel insurance out as early as possible is just one piece of advice that is a must when it comes to purchasing your policy. Without a policy you really are living on the edge and tempting fate. It could cost you tens of thousands of pounds if you injure yourself whilst you are abroad and need to make special arrangements to get back to the UK. The British embassy will rarely assist if you get yourself into trouble and do not have adequate insurance to cover you in this case.

With so many excellent deals to be had online, your best bet is to avoid dealings with high-street brokers. Once you have found a range of suitable insurance brokers you need to ascertain what you need to be covered against.

• Firstly, medical and health cover is an absolute must and should be the first thing you look at when choosing a policy.
• For peace of mind, you should also go with a company that provides a 24-hour helpline to assist you if you get into trouble.
• It is also a good idea to incorporate personal liability cover into your policy. This aspect of insurance covers you if you are sued for causing injury to someone else or damage to property.
• Protection against cancellation is also a must as you stand to lose a great deal of money if this were to happen
• If you are taking expensive possessions with you on your trip you should also make sure that you are covered if you're valuables are stolen or if you lose them whilst you are away.
• Looking for adventure whilst you're away? If 'yes', then you should look at the addition of extra cover for activities and sports.

Be sure to shop around for the best priced policy, but beware, you may believe you have found a cheap deal but you should look at the small print as certain vital points are often missed out. When you look into the finer details be sure to check the following...

• Your insurance covers all payments on excursions that have been booked prior to your holiday.
• The full cost of the holiday will be reimbursed by the company in case of cancellation.
• If your trip is cut short for whatever reason then you will receive a payout.

Once you have sorted your insurance you may be given the option of choosing your own excess. If you choose a higher excess your quote is likely to become cheaper, whilst a lower excess will result in a higher policy price. You should play it safe here and choose an amount that is straight down the line. Anything up to £100 is deemed as reasonable.

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