Sometimes in life you’re onto a really good thing if you can successfully combine two of your favourite things. Think chocolate and peanut butter or the internet and cats. In this case it’s travel and books. These are the top 5 travel destinations for book lovers.

The Hobbit Motel – New Zealand

If you’re crazy about the Lord of the Rings then you don’t want to miss a chance to live like a Hobbit in your very own underground Hobbit cabin. Set on a working farm, the motel is made from a combination of natural and recycled materials. The underground Hobbit cabins are made from natural timbers and natural materials for the curtains. And if you’re worried about the bed, don’t be, all the beds are ‘regular’ size so you don’t have to worry about hitting your head or your legs hanging off the end.

Shakespeare and Company Bookshop – Paris

Whether you’re a big fan of Shakespeare or not (who isn’t?) if you’re a book lover then you won’t want to miss out on visiting the Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris, France. The bookshop is extravagantly cosy and quirky and has English-language books (not just French). It’s only 3 minutes away from the Notre-Dame Cathedral too, so if you’re planning a trip to the French capital anyway then there’s no reason to miss it.

Hay-on-Wye – United Kingdom

Every book lover needs to visit the charming little town of Hay-on-Wye at least once in their lifetime. As the most famous book town in the world it has only 1,500 inhabitants and has as many as 24 bookshops. Each and every bookshop in town is well worth a visit but you definitely cannot miss the open-air bookshop in the Hay Castle. Try to visit during the Hay Festival of Literature & Arts which is held between May and June every year. Hay-on-Wye is on the Welsh-English border, just a little over 3 hours drive from London or 1.5 hours away from Bristol.

The One Room Reading Cabin – New York

All book lovers know that nothing is better than snuggling up with a good book. And the architects at Studio Padron are certainly book lovers themselves. They created a one room reading nook in upstate New York. The little tiny wood cabin library in snuggled in the middle of the woods and features walls lined with books, a cosy bed and chairs and a little fire place to keep warm. Nothing could be better.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter – London

Of course we can’t make a list of the top places to travel to for book lovers without including the Warner Bros. Studio Tour of The Making of Harry Potter in London. Get up close with the movie sets, costumes and props used in all the Harry Potter films. You’ll even be able to step inside some of the famous locations including the Great Hall, Dumbledore’s office, Hagrid’s Hut, the boys’ dormitory, the potion’s classroom and Professor Umbridge’s office at the Ministry of Magic.

You are on holiday surrounded by spectacular natural beauty and unique cultural and historic buildings. Much of this stunning scenery can lose its impact seen from the ground only, and some of it may be awkward and time consuming to reach overland. The solution to this suddenly comes to you, you could see so much more in a more time efficient way from the air. A helicopter tour seems to meet your needs. But, before you rush off and book one, here are some points you would be wise to consider.

Is It Beyond Your Budget? Maybe not

• Helicopter rides can cost a significant amount of money, and booking one for just you and your party could be way over your budget. Look into local providers and get in touch with them in advance to get better deals.

• Try to make up a group to spread the cost out a bit more. You may be on a cruise, or staying at a hotel or resort. See if other passengers or guests are interested in sightseeing by air. You could all save in the end.

Is Motion Sickness A Problem?

• The movement of a helicopter differs greatly from other forms of transport. It has been described as like mounting a camel on a zip line in a gale. Some people do experience motion sickness on a helicopter. You know if you’re prone to it, so make sure you take the appropriate medication.

• It is generally agreed that, because helicopter move by pushing air down, turbulence is not a problem on them.

Check the Weather Forecast

• Poor weather conditions could mean your tour is postponed. It could also limit your opportunities to take photographs. You’d be well advised to look at local weather reports to prevent being disappointed.

• Climate could also be a factor in what you should wear during the trip. Talk to the tour provider as you don’t want this airborne experience to be marred by chattering teeth and a runny nose.

Don’t Miss Out on Exclusive Locations

• It may be that there is a dazzling, but remote and isolated sight near your holiday location. This is suddenly a lot more easily seen – and from stunning angles- if included in a helicopter tour. It is a sad fact that a lot of visitors to Egypt have gone as far south as Aswan, but declined to visit the awe inspiring nearby Temple of Abu Simbel because of the long bus or taxi ride it takes. A helicopter tour solves this problem.

• Don’t feel limited to the sights a tour offers. A little negotiation can make your tour take in all the sights you want.

Ensure The Helicopter Tour You Take Is A Memorable Experience

Your friends will be intrigued, and not a little envious of the photos you take on your helicopter tour. Some advance planning and consideration of the factors above will mean that the experience remains ion your memory in even more vibrant colours than your camera could capture.

If you are backpacking around the globe, you will be stuck with the same clothing and accessories for a relatively long period of time. In addition to this, you will also be away from your loved ones and home comforts.

So, although you will constantly be visiting different countries and racking up an extensive list of new experiences, the monotony of your travelling gear and being away from home will probably get you down from time to time.

With that said, there are ways that you can help alleviate this issue to an extent. One such way is by personalizing your travel accessories. Read on for some inspiration with this jazzing-up-process.

Customize your luggage

Your standard luggage bag is generally mundane in its appearance. Admittedly practicality is at the forefront of a travel bag, but this doesn’t mean you can’t add a bit of personality by sewing in some added details for your enjoyment. Plus, did you know that some businesses can even print a full-size picture of your choice on a suitcase?

This doesn’t stop at just your bags, either. Everything from your luggage tags to passport holder can be customized in some way by specialist companies.

Refresh your technology

No, this doesn’t mean buying new pieces of technology to replace what you currently own – that money is best served for your actual traveling!

However, what you could do is change up the backgrounds of your phone and laptop. Use a wallpaper maker or a personal photo – or a variation of both – to freshen up for your technology when travelling. To go that extra step, you might also consider adding some stickers to the external parts of your devices.

Patch up your clothing and bags

Got a plain jacket that is begging for some revitalization, or maybe your bag is in the same situation? Well, you could always attach some patches to items like these. Not only will it make you stand out with anoriginal design and display your interests, but it can also prove to be a conversation starter with others – an ideal thing if you’re traveling solo and staying in hostels.

Add pictures

Including pictures on your travel accessories is not only a nice way to jazz up your items, but also a great morale booster. Plus, as aforementioned with the picture suitcase, nearly everything can be customized with a photo. So whether it is a travel mug or a drawstring bag, plenty of specialist companies provide travel items that are available for customization with a picture.

Get your game on

Okay, so this might not be adding personalization to an item you currently have in your travel repertoire, but including games is recommended.

While you might have games downloaded for your phone/laptop, don’t forget to add some physical gaming items like a pack of cards into your travel essentials. As well as giving you an alternative option for entertainment during journeys, it is also another way to interact and have fun with others.

Travel insurance is a prerequisite to be bought before you start your trip, excluding the fact for how long you are traveling.

Travel insurance is an emergency care when things unexpectedly go wrong. It depends on the policy you buy, whether it’s when your luggage is lost by the airline, or you fall from hiking, or you need to cancel or cut your trip short under some uncertain circumstances. It’s not to be confused with health insurance.

Is travel insurance just health insurance?

Travel insurance is much more than health insurance. Except a medical emergency, travel insurance covers you for trip cancellation, trip interruptions, and emergency transportation you may need to get to the nearest hospital fast.

How does the insurance actually work?

Contact the emergency assistance team and they can help make arrangements and approve costs if it’s a major medical emergency needing overnight hospitalization or emergency repatriation. You need to claim reimbursement from your insurer for all other situations, including day admission to hospital. Be sure to keep all documentation, file any necessary police reports, and save all receipts. Companies don’t reimburse you based on your word.

Is the travel insurance necessary if my Credit Card offers some risk coverage for traveling?

Yes! Some do offer protection against stolen goods, medical emergency, and trip cancellations if you have booked a trip with that credit card but even the best credit cards offer the least risk coverage. You must dive deeper to understand every bit of the company’s policy in case, you want to trust credit card risk coverage. You might be paying a huge amount for a limited coverage. Also, make sure that the policy is activated before the trip.

Does Travel insurance work in my Home Country?

Well, this depends on the policy you opt and where you can travel to. You need to check this carefully with your insurance company and you might ask for a suitable policy that covers risks as per your requisite. Some travel insurance policies, do cover you at home, but you need to check for limitations.

Why do the online reviews of all travel insurance sucks?

It is generally observed that after buying the policy people make assumptions about the coverage without reading the policy. So, they yell on the company when something isn’t covered or when lacking supporting documents to support their claim and write a nasty review online.

No offense but if you’re going in with no documentation, no proof you owned what you lost, or you want to make a claim for something that is specifically excluded from the policy, you should expect to get denied. Is the reimbursement process fun? No. It’s a lot of paperwork, but when you have all your ducks in a row, you get reimbursed. It doesn’t mean insurance is a bad idea while you read the reviews by users who didn’t read their policy well. It just means people don’t follow instructions.

Stretched across 7 miles, San Francisco is packed with activities that would please foodies, outdoorsy types and curious wanderers of all ages. Some of the San Francisco attractions include – the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Ferry Building Marketplace, Twin Peaks, Golden Gate Park, and many more.

Golden Gate Bridge

The orange arches amidst the rocky seascape of the San Francisco Bay have made the Golden Gate Bridge the most popular San Francisco attraction. The name has been referred to the body of water it spans. It was built to travel between San Francisco and Marin Country. The best shot of the bridge can be seen from the Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point which is situated on a hill overlooking San Francisco. One can find some scenic trails which lead to secluded beaches – Kirby Cove and Black Sands Beach.

Ferry Building Marketplace

San Francisco attraction, the Ferry Building Marketplaces, is popular amongst foodies. It is a public food market featuring small restaurants, grocery stores and snack stops. You can find variety of staples such as Mexican food, seafood, burgers, Japanese delicatessen, nut shop and a cheese and dairy bar. It is an impressive fact that despite having the formal restaurants, the visitors love to pick up to-go meal and enjoy it along the scenic waterfront. Just avoid coming on the weekends as you will end up standing in long queues. The market is open from 10am to 7pm, the farmer market from 10am to 2pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 8am to 2pm on Saturdays.

Golden Gate Park

This San Francisco attraction is equivalent to California’s Central Park, about 174 acres bigger. It takes a full day to experience so many things offered by this park. Within its evergreen borders are trails, playgrounds, sports, picturesque picnic spaces, gardens, sports courts, museums and more. The best part is the Japanese Tea Garden, serving as the oldest Japanese Garden in the USA. The Conservatory of Flowers is another standout which is the oldest existing public conservatory in the Western Hemisphere.

There is the California Academy of Sciences that features – planetarium, an aquarium, natural history museum and the Osher Rainforest that houses 1,600 live animals.

The Exploratorium

Also known as “a learning laboratory”, this San Francisco attraction consist of 600 hands-on exhibits covering various subject matter – psychology, engineering, biology and geography. There are six main galleries, highlights include – the tactile dome, the pitch-black sphere, the colored shadow area, and the 10,000-toothpick sculpture of San Francisco. It not only attracts children but also people of different ages.

Cable Cars

The Cable Cars is one of the most popular San Francisco attraction seen in a television show or a movie. It has been given the title of a National Historic Landmark in 1964. The history reveals that the cable car was conceived by Andrew Smith Hallidie after he witnessed an accident involving a horse-drawn buggy trying to climb a steep San Francisco hill and failing. Approximately, nine million visitors ride the cable in a year.