Neal's Yard Holidays Blog

Summer fun on winter sun retreats

Nov12

Winter sun retreats: Image © Richard Walker

No one needs convincing that a doze of bright sunshine doesn’t just help to perk you up on a gloomy day – it’s actually pretty good for you. A winter sun retreat is just the ticket.

In fact, in winter it might be very necessary for your wellbeing. If you’re starting to feel sluggish, low, and struggling to focus, this may be down to the fact that UK winter sunshine just isn’t packed with all that much Vitamin D goodness.

Our answer? Swap the winter blues for the blue waters of our winter sun retreats in Cuba, India, Sri Lanka and the Canaries. You’ll feel the difference. Read more…

Posted in Winter sun retreats

Tagged Winter Sun

Overwhelmed? Here are 5 tips for less stress

Nov06

From the key signs of work-related stress to advice on how to beat it, it seems awareness of one of the gremlins of modern life is swelling. Not just in the media, but in the business world too. Tips for less stress in demand.

Posted in wellbeing tips

Tagged mindfulness, wellbeing, yoga

6 apps to help you get around – Travel apps reviews

Oct15

Travel apps reviews: A walker reading a map © Sakeeb Sabakka

In our second blog post of travel apps reviews, we turn to nifty programmes that turn your smartphone into a sat nav for trips at home and abroad, help you plan a hike, and generally utilise digital magic to stop you getting lost.

A good user interface, turn-by-turn navigation and real-time traffic information worldwide are just some of the reasons why Navmii is giving standalone sat-nav sets a run for their money. The first-ever free navigation smartphone app is still yours for nothing, or you can opt for the ad-free paid version (£1.49). Available on iOS, Blackberry, Android and Windows Phone (free) Read more…

Posted in Travel apps reviews

Tagged Travel tips

Going away? Don’t forget the travel packing checklist

Sep17

A good travel packing checklist might have come in handy © Murgermari/Shutterstock

My grandmother – or a friend, or some wise guy on Facebook – once gave me this travel packing advice: “Always take half as many clothes and twice as much money as you think you’ll need.”

If you’ve heard that one before, you’ll know it’s much harder than it sounds. Much, much harder.

Whether it’s the late-night stuffing of a large cabin bag or the frustration of forgetting your flip-flops and your camera charger, holiday packing is by far the least relaxing thing about going away.

But help is at hand.

Posted in Retreat Travel Tips

Tagged Travel tips, yoga retreat travel packing checklist

Where to go for Christmas and New Year retreats – the top getaways

Sep03

If a hangover and a lazy lie-in are not your idea of a well-spent New Year’s Day, then you’ve come to the right place.

Escape from the usual boozy countdown to midnight, and start the new year as you mean to go on. From Sussex and Norfolk to Fuerteventura, our New Year getaways will let you begin with a fresh mind and a spring in your step.

Think we’re giving you too much notice? Don’t be fooled – it may only be September, but New Year getaways are getting booked up fast, so don’t miss out.

Posted in Where to go for Christmas and New Year

Tagged Christmas and New Year Retreats, UK holiday retreats, wellbeing retreat, Winter Sun, Yoga Holidays, Yoga Retreats

5 apps to help you plan your trip – Travel apps reviews

Aug19

Travel apps to help you plan your trip (c) Keico Taguchi

Booking your wellbeing holiday is one thing; getting ready to go, and making sure you make the most of your getaway, is quite another.

We know most of you are armed with the essential survival kit that is the smartphone. That’s why we’ve researched travel apps to help you reduce the stress of planning, packing, navigating and managing your finances while you’re away.

In a series of travel apps reviews, we’ll bring you details of nifty tools that could make your trip even more enjoyable.

Here’s our pick of apps to help you get organised before you set off. To make sure you don’t miss future posts with travel apps reviews and other travel tips, sign up for our regular email updates.

Trip up stress with travel apps?

Ever struggled to find that flight confirmation, hotel reservation or the details of the car-hire pick-up in the maze that is your overflowing inbox? Ever lovingly prepared a neat stack of printed travel arrangements, only to leave them neatly stacked on your desk? Yes?

Well, this one is for you. Just forward all your confirmation emails to TripIt, and this free app will ‘automagically’ produce your very own personal itinerary to make sure you never lose track again. Start banishing stress before you even land at your holiday destination. Free Read more…

Posted in Travel apps reviews

Tagged apps reviews, tips, Travel tips

12 tips for a cheap travel insurance that works

Jul15

Our cheap travel insurance tips will help travellers to Greece and other destinations near and far © George M. Groutas

Most of us know it’s better to be safe than sorry – even if many still choose not to get good cover when they go away. But how do you find cheap travel insurance that’s right for you?

Flight delays and medical treatment abroad are among the most common disruptions to our coveted getaways, and compensating for those can be pricey enough.

But holidaymakers face other, much wider challenges too. Like financial instability and the threat of strikes in sunny but tumultuous Greece. Or natural disasters, from storms and tsunamis to eruptions of volcanic ash.

So unless your credit-card provider or your bank already covers you for these eventualities (check with them directly), be smart and buy piece of mind in the shape of a good, cheap travel insurance package. Read more…

Posted in Retreat Travel Tips

Tagged Travel insurance tips, Travel tips

The number 1 cycling health benefit

Jun19

So it’s finally summer, with longer and – fingers crossed – warmer days. Time for school and family holidays. And the best time of year for one of our oldest and most treasured of pastimes: cycling. So what’s the cycling health benefit?

Think about it: no need to layer up for that weekend ride with friends or worry about your lights lasting all the way home. Just fresh air, good company, and the feeling of freedom.

And if cycling rolls back the years and reminds you of your younger days, scientists may have discovered why. Read more…

Posted in Healthy Living

Tagged Cycling Holidays, health