Preparing for your holiday can seem like a never ending nightmare with that last minute dash around trying to make sure everything is in order and where it should be being an absolute hassle and often the worst start to what is meant to be a relaxing week away. With that in mind we’ve put together a quick guide to getting everything ready for your holiday to make sure you don’t leave anything out.

First and foremost is, of course, making sure you have all your details together and ready. The best way to do this is to compile a checklist and make sure you have multiple copies of every piece of paperwork. With that in mind we’ve written a quick checklist.

• 1. Itinerary
• 2. Passport
• 3. Flight tickets
• 4. Hotel booking confirmations

With these items it is better to have multiple copies – two for each person travelling; with one kept in your main luggage and the other in your carry on. Of course you can’t have multiple copies of your passport but you can photocopy it so that if it gets lost you will have the numbers to quickly and easily replace it. Checking this list off twice will make sure you have all the details you need and that you don’t suddenly find yourself unable to travel.

Also when packing, you need to make sure your luggage is not overweight as this can cause large fines to be payable and sometimes result in you having to leave things behind. The best way to do this is to use a luggage scale and check the results against your flight tickets to ensure you are within weight. If you buy a portable luggage scale you can then use when you are returning as often souvenirs will increase your luggage weight dramatically.

Secondly you need to make sure your other arrangements have been made. This should include your cash, your visas and your inoculations. Whilst it is easiest to take cash many people worry about having hundreds of pounds on their person so choose traveler’s checks or credit cards as their main payment methods. This is fine but always be cautious using your credit cards especially in less developed countries where you expose yourself to the risks of fraud. Your visas are of course incredibly important but if you are traveling on a package holiday these should be done for you by most tour providers. If not make sure you apply well in advance to ensure being allowed into your desired destination. Finally your inoculations and any medicines you require – such as malaria tablets – must be taken care of in preparation before traveling. Making sure these are in place ensures you have a great trip without exacerbating any risks of illness.

Finally then we come to the most often rushed and left to the last minute part of preparing for a holiday – packing. Packing is of course less important than having your money and details but it is still, of course, essential to making sure you have everything you need. With that in mind we’ve put together a list of some of the essentials not to forget and then some advice on the actual packing itself.

• 1. Clothes – obvious yes but make sure you have clothes for all weather and occasions so you don’t get caught out.
• 2. Wash things – again obvious
• 3. Back up documents
• 4. Sun tan lotion – getting burnt can really ruin a holiday
• 5. First aid kit – it can be hard to find certain medicines and supplies when on holiday so taking this precaution is a good idea.

These are the most essential things you can pack but a few more things are necessary before you can leave. Firstly you need to make your luggage identifiable and secure. The best way to do this is to tie an identifying ribbon to the handle and use a padlock on the main zip of the case. This prevents tampering and means you can easily identify your case on the luggage carousel.

Ben worked within the luggage claims department at the airport before becoming a travel adviser, a writer and expert on different airlines baggage allowances. He also enjoys plane spotting and also runs blog in his spare time

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Image by laura*b via Flickr

Rome successfully combines thousands of years of history, fine art, architecture, culture, religion and gastronomy with a modern-day café culture, tourism industry, eclectic shopping and contemporary nightlife. Whilst legend has it that the Eternal City wasn’t built in a day, it is still possible for the short-stay visitor to obtain a wealth of enjoyable and memorable experiences from just one day and night in Rome.

If you’re intent on making the most of your day and night in Rome, it’s probably best to start early. Rising before dawn enjoy the quiet streets as you make your way up to Janiculum Hill to admire a panoramic view of the city’s innumerable domes and towers brought to life by the light of the early sun. When you’ve drunk your fill of the splendid views, it’s time to drink coffee. Coffee is treated with reverence by the Italians, and cappuccino is the preferred way to start the day. Nowhere in Rome has a finer reputation for coffee than Sant’ Eustachio café situated between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.

Now it’s time to fill a busy morning taking in some of Rome’s famous sights. In keeping with many historic cities, Rome is best enjoyed on foot but if time is pressing there are regular hop-on hop-off tourist buses and an efficient metro system to save tired feet. The Pantheon is a good place to start the morning especially pre-9.00am when the streets and tourist attractions of Rome begin to swell with visitors. The 2000 year old Pantheon is one of Rome’s best preserved temples and architectural masterpiece, featuring the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.

From the Pantheon a stroll through the Campo de’ Fiori is a good way to pick up breakfast if you haven’t already eaten as it’s one of the oldest morning markets in the city with stalls selling fresh fish, spices, flowers, pork and other delicacies and the most unmissable freshly baked bread. From here you can head towards the Roman Forum. Now just an architectural graveyard containing the last standing remains of ancient Rome’s government buildings, it is nonetheless a fascinating place to stop and breathe in the history. Furthermore, it’s far quicker to buy tickets for the nearby Colosseum whilst at the Roman Forum since queues are shorter.

Now in ruins, the Colosseum was once the most impressive construction of the Roman Empire; a four-storey amphitheatre with eighty separate entrances and seating for 55,000 spectators. Used initially for public entertainment such as gladiatorial battles, sporting tournaments and executions it ceased to be used for such purposes in the early medieval period. Although now partially ruined as a result of earthquakes and stone thieves, the Colosseum’s popularity with visitors remains undiminished.

If it’s not already lunchtime it will be soon, and a good place to take a good Italian lunch in preparation for an afternoon admiring Rome’s finest artworks is Vatican City. Unless you’re super-fit you’ll need to take the metro or pick up a taxi or tour bus from the Colosseum. If it’s a sunny day, an open topped bus would be perfect to take in yet more of the city’s diverse but never uninteresting architecture.

On arrival at the Vatican it’s first things first.  As you might expect at one of the most religious places on earth, a place that is crammed with some of the planet’s finest works of art and a place that contains museums full of some of the world’s most important historical artefacts, the Vatican gets extremely busy. With only one day and one night in Rome at your disposal queuing for hours is not an option. Securing the services of a private guide (for a price, of course) will usually enable you to avoid the official queues at the Vatican’s museums – be sure to check with your guide that this is the case. Set a start time with your guide for the tour to allow you to slip away to for a well-deserved lunch. When in Rome… pizza is a must.  Il Colibri’ in Via Famagosta comes highly recommended, although the Vatican Museums also have their own perfectly acceptable – but inevitably expensive – restaurants.

Last admissions to the Vatican museums are at around 4.00pm, so make sure that you append the next few hours seeing as much as you can of the Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica, Raphael’s rooms and so on.

Perhaps now would be a good time to sit for a while and people-watch in St. Peter’s Square or grab a drink and a seat at one of the nearby cafes. It’s time for a stroll back into Rome and another famous landmark: the Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain is about a mile and a half from the Vatican in the labyrinthine heart of the city, and –this being Rome- there are plenty of attractions and distractions on the way, so you can afford to take a little time getting there. Legend has it that anyone who throws a coin into the Trevi Fountain, which depicts the sea-god Neptune in a chariot drawn by seahorses, will someday return to Rome.

Having got this far you can reward yourself with another classic Italian institution: gelatto – a richer, creamier forbear of the ice cream we know today. San Crispino on the Via della Panetteria is a good place to obtain a few refreshing scoops, which you can take away to the nearby Spanish Steps – another famous Rome landmark- to enjoy. Alternatively you can head down the Via Condotti which faces the Spanish Steps and indulge in some of the finest shopping and historic cafes that Rome has to offer.

As late afternoon draws into evening, your thoughts will inevitably turn to dinner. By whichever method you prefer, make your way to the traditional Roman suburb of Trastevere. This is the place to be for dining out and is popular with Romans and tourists alike, giving the area a vibrant atmosphere. Traditional pizzerias and outdoor trattorias are plentiful here, with Dar Poeta and La Fraschetta two particularly well regarded examples. After a leisurely evening meal, why not take a look at the River Tiber from the beautifully ornate and nearby Ponte Sisto (Sisto Bridge) which dates back to the 15^th century?

With the moon shining down on the river and the lights of the old city glowing romantically, you can reflect on a day and a night in Rome well spent as you think about heading back to your lodgings for some sleep. Or perhaps not; after all Trastevere is famed for its nightlife and there are plenty of cosmopolitan bars, music venues and even the odd Irish Pub that will happily keep you entertained into the small hours…

Amy writes for Easyjet who offer some of the cheapest flights to Rome from the UK and across Europe.

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When it comes to fine dining in Florida, you’ll have a wealth of eateries to choose from. Here are five of the Sunshine State’s top restaurants.

The Beach Bistro in Holmes Beach aims to make the most of American produce, so by visiting here you’ll be able to sample rack of lamb sourced from Colorado and prime American beef served with a merlot pepper demi-glace.

Situated on Gulf Drive, the restaurant has won a wealth of industry accolades since it opened in 1985.

Not only has it received an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine, but it is also an eight-time winner of Florida’s Golden Spoon Award, an annual prize given to the state’s 20 best restaurants, so you can be confident of being able to tuck into fantastic food upon booking a table here.

Starters cost around $10 (about £6) upwards, while most main courses are between $25 and $45.

However, if you’re looking for some Italian cuisine during your holiday in Florida why not head to the Paradiso Ristorante?

By visiting the Lake Worth eatery, you’ll have the chance to try a range of authentic dishes created by master chef and owner Angelo Romano, who honed his skills while working at a range of luxury restaurants in his native Italy.

Among the entrees on offer are linguine served with littleneck clams, garlic and virgin olive oil, prosciutto-wrapped veal tenderloin and penne all norma, which consists of penne pasta tossed with tomato sauce, aubergine, mozzarella and basil.

Whatever you decide to eat, you can be sure of finding a wine to complement your food. Paradiso Ristorante’s cellar holds more than 600 different varieties, including Spanish, Chilean, French and Australian vintages. To get a better idea of the range of tipples on offer, visit the weekly tasting session held by Romano and the restaurant’s sommelier every Wednesday.

Over the years, the eatery has accumulated several accolades including a 2009 Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences and is accredited by the Distinguished Restaurants of North America.

You’ll also have the chance to try great Italian cuisine when visiting Fort Lauderdale’s Sette Bello Ristorante. With owner and chef Franco Filippone overseeing the menu, you can select from dishes such as Milanese veal chop and chicken scarpariello roasted with olives, sausages and mushrooms.

Located on 6241 North Federal Highway, diners are advised to make a reservation at the restaurant in advance and as Sette Bello has won a string of coveted prizes, including a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, it is easy to see why.

Starters cost about $8 (around £5) upwards, with most main courses priced between $18 and $27.

Visit Marina Cafe in Destin, situated on Florida’s Emerald Coast, and you’ll be able to see breathtaking views of the city’s harbour while enjoying award-winning cuisine.

With an emphasis on fresh seafood, among the specialities on the menu are pan-seared scallops caught off the coast of Maine ($29) and ginger-scallion crusted Norwegian salmon served with ponzu butter sauce and cucumber salad ($28).

Alternatively, you can have a hand-tossed pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven or indulge in some sushi, before washing your meal down with something from the restaurant’s extensive wine list.

You’ll also be able to try some fantastic food when visiting Brooks, a restaurant situated in Deerfield Beach, south-east Florida, which focuses on locally-grown produce.

Specialising in French-style cuisine with an American twist, among the dishes on offer are root beer-glazed pork rib chops ($22) and Chilean sea bass, served with a ginger-pineapple mint relish ($31).

The family-run restaurant, which has been open since 1981, puts on a range of opera evenings and other special events for diners, so visiting here could prove to be a really entertaining experience!

As you eat, you’ll be able to marvel at the antique-style furniture and Italian marble fittings.

With so many great restaurants to choose from, you can be sure of being able to dine in style while on a holiday in Florida.

Written by travelsupermarket.com, who offer great deals on Florida holidays.

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In the western part of the benidorm weekend , lies the picturesque coastal city of Benidorm, situated within the Alicante stag activity weekends, and is famous for its water activity actions. Vacationers from all around the world, specifically from the UK enjoy to go to and devote their weekends at the very least when or twice throughout a year.

To travel to Benidorm, it is far better to achieve Madrid by flight after which take the substantial velocity Talgo trains leaving for Alicante. These trains take about 2-3 hrs to reach Alicante terminal. From there, by road it’s just thirty minutes to reach the proper coastal town of Benidorm.

Various Benidorm Flights are also obtainable that benidorm flights from Madrid to Alicante, which takes not greater than 1 hour. From your airport, it takes 30-45 minutes to achieve Benidorm.

Once you have reached Benidorm, you’ll be amazed to seek out out the scenic elegance from the town. In short to explain the elegance, a coastal city surrounded by mountains which might be 1558m large. This coastal town features a nice gentle temperature spherical the yr.

You will find a wide selection hotels, lodges and private guest houses to remain at Benidorm. The barcelona stag parties typical charge per evening keep ranges from $150 towards the higher facet.

To dine out, the seaside side terraced cafeterias are a great provider for getting meals having a ideal pictorial see of the outside. But for conventional Spanish foods, Aged Town location is favored.

Benidorm features a fascinating and a chaotic nightlife so you will find pubs, nightclubs, dwell music joints of almost all categories here. Levante Beach may be the put you ought to be heading for, if you wish to take pleasure in this fascinating nightlife.

Seashores are the crucial attractions due to adrenaline pumping water sports like Scuba diving, windsurfing, jet skiing, stag weekend activities, waterskiing.

One particular can avail the boat trips travelling for the gorgeous Peacock Island. Really feel the beauty of this coastal town’s skyline and also have that colourful encounter of aquatic creatures.

The sightseeing tour contains Mundomar Marine Exotic Animal Park, Aqualandia Water Amusement Park, Terra Mitica, Wax Museum and Property Museum.

When you’ve got a taste for gambling, then head in direction of Casino stag weekend activities . With an region of about 12,one hundred square foot and consisting of 23 table games with 38 slot machines, this casino is mentioned to become one from the biggest casinos current in Spain. To enter the casino, ticket of $10 and passport is required.

Very last but not the least, ahead of leaving Benidorm, have a look inside the Benidorm Palace. Inside the palace, waits for you personally 1 from the most magnificent display you’ll have actually watched. Spanish Dancers, magicians, jugglers, reside music, flame shows are some to title for. Just go there, and feel the enthralling warmth!

Benidorm weekends will surely be a favourite among the youthful generation but when you might have that adventurous nature, then age will not likely be an obstruction to go to this gorgeous put.

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You’re in the military and want to get married – what do you need to do?

Well, if you’re stationed back home, there are no special requirements and you only need to comply with the laws of the State within which you are getting married.  Typically, get a marriage license,  maybe satisfy a residency test and find an authorized officiant to perform the service.

Getting married while stationed in the US is obviously a straight-forward affair – there is no need to gain special permission or clear any hurdles other than those facing civilians.

The issue becomes less straight forward when you are based overseas.  Even more so if your bride or groom-to-be are foreign nationals.

If you are based overseas but marrying a US citizen, the situation is not much more different than getting married in the States.  If you get married on a US base, you are subject to US law in any event and the marriage is viewed as having taken place on US soil in any event.  Getting married on base is fairly common where there is a permanent station, typically in the European or Pacific theaters (not so common in the Middle East for obvious reasons).  Base chaplains are able to officiate in a wide variety of denominational and non-denominational ceremonies, so you can get married however you wish.

There are also no immigration issues where both parties are U.S. citizens, but here comes the real trouble – your intended spouse is a foreign national.

If you are marrying a foreign national, you will be required to complete a large number of forms and embark on quite a lengthy process.

Your intended spouse will be required to undergo a background security check and a medical examination, all in addition to completing marriage counseling course and obtaining the permission of your commanding officer.  Be prepared to spend months on this process, not least because you will have to have the marriage recognized by the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Department of State who will also be responsible for the granting of the necessary visa permissions for your spouse to enter the U.S.

Your spouse is also likely to be a civilian, but irrespective of where you get married or who performs the ceremony, they are now entitled to military rights and privileges which they derive from you.  Use a certified copy of the marriage certificate and register the marriage and your spouse with the Base Personnel HQ.  You will also be able to get a separate military ID for your civilian spouse and have them enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS), which will qualify them for medical coverage, commissary privileges and other military benefits.

One thing to watch for – if you are subject to a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) order – if you get married before the change of station, you can have your spouse added to your orders and the military will cover the cost of relocating them (including their possessions).  You can leave your old base, take time off to get married and have a honeymoon and then report to the new base – the trigger is whether you have reported to the new station.  If you wait until after you report to the new duty station, you end up paying for the cost of moving your spouse.

If you have any issues or questions on getting married while serving in the military, check out the information available from your Base Personnel HQ and the various booklets from the U.S. Department of Defense and your service branch.

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