Whether it’s a hen party weekend or a stag do week abroad trying to organise either of these can prove challenging. We’re offering a little compassion to the stressed out best men and anxious maids of honour who are frantically running around their local town looking for stag or hen accessories and locations. Check out this list of stag and hen dos and don’ts to avoid tears, traumas and tiffs.

(Image Source: The Creative Commons nav007)

Do…

Plan Ahead – As soon as you accept to be a best man or a maid of honour this first thing you need to ask is the style of stag or hen do they want and on which dates allowing you enough time to plan and inform the other guests with plenty of notice. Get the names, phone numbers and emails of all the possible guests and suggest a few dates but the biggest thing you need to do is to allow enough recovery time for the big day!

Don’t…

Give out too many invites – 10 to 15 people is an ideal number of people to invite. Enough to cure any awkwardness and to cause just the right amount of hen or stag chaos, but not so many that it will become too hard to plan.

Do…

Expect the unexpected – Be prepared for the unexpected. Make sure you have a mobile or some sort of device you can use in the case of an emergency, have access to internet just in case you would like to book on a last minute activity or research some last minute venues. It’s also a good idea to have some strategies up your sleeve to liven up the group.

Don’t…

Leave booking your flights and accommodation until the last minute – Not only does this save a last minute stress but you will generally save money if you book early and you should also ask about group discounts. Some airport lounges do not accept stag and hen dos so always check this before you book.

Do…

Spend a little time choosing your destination and accommodation – Stag and hen dos will differ massively on what they are looking for in their pre-wedding break so make sure you take these into account. Guys may want to focus on a lively city and a basic hotel. Whereas the ladies may want a more stylish hotel as they will spend more time in there.

Don’t…

Although it has been a stressful event for you, don’t leave the bride or groom to sort out any issues, try your best to take it upon yourself to help as they will probably be anxious enough about the wedding! Too help with this make sure all of your events and activities are booked in advance that way it can limit the disaster of having a unstructured mess.

It may seem an effort at the time but once you see and hear the bride or grooms shock, excitement and gratefulness it will be worth every last minute. The biggest tip we can offer is to just enjoy yourself and to take everything in your stride.

June is a month committed the music, with festivals in Glastonbury, Turkey, New York and Italy there’s a massive selection for you music festival junkies to choose from, and you definitely won’t be disappointed.

Sunsplash Festival 2013, 2-9 June, Antalyia, Turkey.

Turkey’s ‘biggest little festival’ returns for the 5^th sun soaked year from the 2^nd to the 9^th of June 2013. SunSplash is bringing back its infectiously friendly atmosphere to the dazzling Turkish Riviera with only a 400 people capacity, a blue flag awarded sea front and obviously a fine mix of cutting edge music.

The beach hosts the SunSplash chilled daytime meltdown sessions followed by a romantic sunset and crazy chilled party. This festival is perfect for those looking for style, luxury travel and a dose of sun, sea and legendary music.

Governors Ball Music Festival, 7-9 June, New York.

The third annual Governors Ball will take place in the beautiful Randall’s Island Park, and will feature the best, indie, hip-hop, electronic music, pop, rock and more. In the past two year the line up and general scope of the festival has grown massively and now features new attractions and activities including a silent disco, games, photo booths and free water refill stations.

Riverbend Festival, 7-15 June, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The Riverbend Festival is an internationally award winning 9 day music festival located in the heart of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Boasting five stages with over 100 bands featuring world class entertainment ranging from jam brands, country, urban and bluegrass. You can enjoy Children’s Village, Bluecross Riverbend Run and Walk, Marketplace, Fireworks Finale and much more!

Nova Rock, 14-16 June, Nickelsdorf, Austria.

From Paramore to Passenger and Kings of Leon to Gentleman the Nova Rock festival has a lot to offer. This is the biggest rock open air festival in Austria. Each year the event draws no less than 90,000-160,000 people from the whole of Europe and this facts alone makes the Nova Rock festival a  once in a lifetime opportunity which shouldn’t be missed.

Peace and Love Festival, 25-29 June, Borlange, Sweden.

The 15^th Peace & Love music festival sees over 150 artists performing over five stages in the charming Scandinavian city of Borlange. The Script, Ben Howard, Knockouts and Witchcraft are just a few examples of the quality music on offer here at the Swedish festival. Diversity and understanding runs throughout the whole event, it started in 1999 and is still running strong…so they must be doing something right.

With these great music events taking place in June it’s the perfect opportunity to give in to an early getaway. We’re looking to assemble the July What’s On Guide, so if you’re an attendee or you’re hosting an event please do get in touch with us via Facebook or Twitter and remember your #whatsonin hashtag!

Below average temperatures, with a notable higher than average rainfall

You may have heard the pessimistic forecasts for this Summer’s weather so we decided to do a little research and find out what was in store.
The UK Weather Forecast site paints a mixed but fairly depressing picture.
‘The main concern at present would be for a slight shift Westwards in the pattern, which may leave the UK open to another very wet summer as the rainfall anomaly across Europe ends up a little closer to the UK’

It does conclude that this Summer could be slightly better than 2012, but last year was hardly worthy of note being the worst Summer in a century according to ITV.com

Maybe the best way of guaranteeing the sun is to book a holiday in sunnier climes and take away the unpredictability of the British Summer.

If you haven’t already considered where you and your family will be venturing this summer then now’s the time to do it! There are some fantastic deals to be grabbed right now and surely having your summer break planned and able to look forward to is the best summer feeling to have! We at SkyPark Secure have devised a list of the top 5 destinations for families this year so take a look here and you’ll be well on your way in no time!

Canary Islands

A familiar favourite with families, the Canary Islands boast every aspect of the perfect holiday destination. With warm temperatures all year round, some incredibly large, beautiful beaches and an abundance of restaurants serving the freshest of Spanish cuisine, each one of the islands continuously entices tourists back year on year. Resorts vary in atmosphere and you could quite easily secure yourself the most relaxing break in Los Cristianos or just a few miles away the incredibly lively nightlife orientated trip in Las Americas on a visit to the popular island of Tenerife.

Florida

Florida is the perfect place to be entertained on every corner. Home to Disney Land, described as a magical Kingdom where dreams come true, and one of the most exciting places to take the kids, you are almost guaranteed the trip of a lifetime.  This holiday offers countless ways to make the whole family smile whilst enjoying the sun and some of the world’s best attractions.

Mexico

Although a fair distance to travel with small children, on arrival it’s clear to see that Mexico has everything to offer every traveller, sun and luxury seeker around. This Caribbean location provides postcard-perfect beaches and the clearest, warmest waters. All inclusive hotels are abundant and serve child friendly food options as well as the richest, freshest Mexican and American cuisines. There is no shortage of activities either, with an incredible water park, the chance to enjoy many water sports and some amazing diving sites. Culturally, Cancun is a must see and is home to historic Aztec sites well worth discovering on your trip to Mexico!

Sri Lanka

This stunning island is great value for money, ideal for those who don’t want to spend too much but still wish to indulge in luxury and soak up the sun on stunning palm-lined beaches. The ideal choice for families seeking a relaxing taste of exotic, cheap and tasty food as well as historical culture, Sri Lanka has something for everyone.

The UK!

‘Staycations’ are becoming more and more popular each year. There is so much to do in the UK and although you can’t always guarantee the weather there is always plenty to do both indoors and outdoors. From idyllic beaches in St Ives, Cornwall, to the incredible shopping scenes of London, historical castles in Edinburgh and many holiday parks that offer activities to be enjoyed by the whole family all across the UK, you can be sure of exciting new experiences wherever your travels may take you.

Doncaster Robin Hood Airport Parking provider, Blue Sky Parking has launched a brand new fully responsive website for customers to book their car parking through.

As well as offering the only park and ride service at Robin Hood Airport, the Blue Sky Parking website also offers customers a special “Unique Vehicle Check Service” which allows them to view their car whilst away.

The fully secure car park boasts 24 hour security and prides itself on being the cheapest parking option available at the airport. The new website allows customers from the Sheffield, Doncaster and the South Yorkshire areas to benefit from cheaper parking and is the first website to offer park and ride parking at the airport.

The “Unique Vehicle Check Service” is an entirely free extra that customers can add to their parking package for peace of mind whilst on holiday. Any worries of vehicle security can be left at the airport, something which enables customers to enjoy their time away from home.

Blue Sky Parking will also be introducing wash and valet services as an extra in the future so that travellers can arrange for their vehicle to be cleaned during their absence. Blue Sky Parking prides itself on going the extra mile with customers and by offering these add-ons, customers can get great value for their money.

Blue Sky Parking’s carpark is located 1.5 miles from the airport terminal entrance and customers can hop on a luxury shuttle bus which gets them to the airport in 3 minutes. By offering different parking options at Doncaster Robin Hood Airport, it allows travellers to get value for money and enriches the airport’s facilities further.

The 23rd of April marks St George ’s Day and the perfect excuse to take pleasure in a few of England’s comforting traditions. Why not get your friends and family together to celebrate in your local pub this year and enjoy a time-honoured pint and pie to mark the occasion? Here we have put together a list of the top 5 traditional pubs in which we guarantee the quality of the food, beers, atmosphere and an all round top quality night.

Canal House – Nottingham
The Canal House is one of Nottingham’s finest examples of canal architecture, boasting one of the largest continental beer ranges in the whole city. The unusually styled venue is unique in that the adjacent canal extends inside the building complete with narrow boats and the ability to house up to 200 people. Each week they serve award winning guest ales from around the world which you can enjoy inside or outdoors on a heated terrace. The menu is updated with daily specials, offers your usual pub grub and a classic old favourite of a ‘posh fish finger sarnie’.

The Guy Fawkes Inn – York

The Guy Fawkes Inn was built on the spot where the notorious plotter himself was born and is perfect for those who love a pub with plenty of historical character. It boasts hearty food, real ales and a fantastic atmosphere created by gas lamps and timber floors. The Guy Fawkes Inn also houses thirteen beautifully styled boutique hotel bedrooms if you wish to stay the night, each unique due to the character of the building but all appointed with antique furniture, Italian fabrics, luxurious beds and some of the best views in the city.

The Philharmonic – Liverpool

A supposed favourite of Mr John Lennon, The Philharmonic is described by many as one of the most splendidly striking pieces of architecture in the city, even famous for the ornate marble decor in the toilets. A part of Liverpool’s musical history, the grandest of interiors, an exceptional variety of real ales and a restaurant commonly described to serve the ‘perfection of pub gastronomy’ The Philharmonic is a must visit!

The Crooked Billet – London

The Crooked Billet, set at the end of a winding lane in deepest rural Oxfordshire has a reputation for its stunning food cemented by one of the area’s best chefs Paul Clerehugh. Paul took over the pub in 1989 and without changing the interior aesthetics of inglenook fireplaces, low timbered ceilings, and scrubbed pine tables, soon developed a fantastic reputation. Voted ‘Favourite Foodie Pub’ and featured in all of London’s main food guides, it’s easy to see why when you take a look at the eclectic menu of modern, popular bistro favourites and a famous full a la carte menu.

Garden Gate – Leeds

Garden Gate, officially Leeds’ most beautiful public house is a must visit for beer lovers, and those who wish to experience a wonderful slice of history. There are a great range of hand pulled ales and a newly introduced food menu served daily. A hidden treasure and named one of Yorkshire’s most remarkable pubs, the Garden Gate is a great atmospheric place to enjoy your night amongst crowds of locals and tourists alike.

SkyPark Secure hope you have a great time wherever you celebrate, however as St George’s day isn’t considered a Bank Holiday, and for those of you with work the next day, we suggest you don’t enjoy the sweet tasting ale too much!

Tenerife is a fantastic family destination because of its safe beaches, warm climate, family friendly hotels and excellent range of attractions. There is so much to do and see that you will be spoilt for choice. If you haven’t been to Tenerife before then it’s useful to know what attractions there are before you go, so that you can pick your favourites and stick to your budget. Here are some of the top attractions in Tenerife for families:

Lago Martianez, Puerto de La Cruz
In Puerto de La Cruz you will find a collection of well-known swimming pools all in one complex. There is a central lake and four sea water swimming pools to explore and you can sit back and relax at one of the poolside bars whilst keeping an eye on the little ones. The kids will love exploring the pools, playing under the waterfalls and swimming through the caves.

For those with younger kids there is a toddler pool with shallow water, a sculpture to climb on and a little slide to go down. You won’t be stuck for food either, so if you don’t have a picnic for the kids you can buy snacks and meals. The complex is open from 10am until about 6pm.

Cost: €3.50 for adults and €1.10 for children.

Siam Park, Costa Adeje
Siam Water Park is located on the TF1 highway in Costa Adeje. If you want to experience something a bit more upbeat, where the kids will be entertained for hours and you can try some of the high adrenaline rides then visit Siam Park.

The water park has a traditional Thai theme and the rides are surrounded by lush vegetation and greenery. Experience the wave pool, rapids and water slides and if you need a break to rest then simply relax on the purpose built sandy beach.

In July 2012 a new section called ‘Sawasdee’ which means welcome in Thai was opened. Sawasdee is a water jungle with slides that the kids can race on.

Cost: €33 for adults and €22 for children aged between 3 and 11.

Loro Parque, Puerto de la Cruz

If your children love animals and wildlife then take them to the Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz. This impressive wildlife park is home to a wide range of aquatic animals and small exotic animals. You can even see killer wales in action and watch dolphin shows.

Children can also learn about some of the endangered species they have at the zoo and see them up close. The park is famous for its collection of parrots dotted around the grounds.

Cost: €33 for adults and €22 for children aged between 6 and 11. Babies and children under the age of 6 are permitted free entry.

Teide National Park, Orotava

This is a must see attraction in Tenerife and something for parents and older kids to enjoy. It’s one of Tenerife’s top attractions and is definitely worth a day trip. Younger kids will also enjoy the cable car ride up the mountain. Teide was declared a national park in 1954 and Mount Teide has the highest peak in Spain. If you don’t want to explore the Park by foot or feel it’s too much for the kids then hire a car and witness the spectacular views.

Tenerife is an ideal family destination because it is very easy to get to from the UK. The average flight time is around 4 hours 10 minutes flying from London Gatwick to Tenerife. Book Tenerife flights with Thomson now and enjoy a family holiday to remember.

Major Resorts
Tenerife South airport is 17.8km from Playa de Las Americas which takes around 15 to 20 minutes by car.
Tenerife South airport is 19.3km from Costa Adeje which takes around 15 to 20 minutes by car.
Tenerife South airport is 17km from Los Christianos which takes around 15 minutes by car.

May is the month when summer actually seems within our grasp and the icy chill of winter and spring eases. There’s also a bank holiday weekend to be taken advantage of and summer holidays to plan! With this in mind, we bring you the highlights of May from around the world and provide you with some of the best excuses to get an early summer holiday in before the peak season.

Monaco Grand Prix 23^th-26^th May 2013

Image source: Flickr Mark Hintsa

If you’re a fan of the Formula1 then this event will probably have already made its way onto your calendar but even for racing rookies, the Monaco Grand Prix can be a fantastic, exhilarating experience. Despite being a perceived as a prestigious event, tickets are very affordable with prices starting at around £30 (much cheaper than the British Grand Prix). This is one of the most important yet affordable events on the Formula1 calendar, but if you’re someone who prefers everything to be taken care of, there are bundles and packages available from tour operators which include race-day tickets, hotels and often flights.

Champion’s League Final Wembley Stadium 25^th May 2013

Image source: Flickr MickBaker

It’s arguably the most sought after trophy in European football (along with the Premier League) and this year it’s London’s turn to host the event at the breath-taking Wembley Stadium. Every year the Champion’s League final promises to be a memorable event; with the stadium of choice hosting some of the world’s best teams and footballing sensations with the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona potentially making an appearance.  Although general public sale tickets have gone, you will be able to get a ticket if you’re a ticketholder to one of the two finalists.

Eurovision Song Contest Malmo 13^th-18^th May 2013

Image source: Flickr Nokia_fan

It’s the cheesiest pop event on the calendar, with an array of artists battling it out to get their country to acquire the most votes and win the contest. It’s not to everyone’s tastes, but for some it’s an annual event they grew up watching with their family and can be a fantastic excuse to combine a trip to Sweden with a feel-good family event. The city of Malmo, although in Scandinavia, has a surprisingly mild climate with average highs of around 20°c in the month of May making it warm but comfortable climate. You never know, this year the UK could do it!

San Francisco Cinco De Mayo 4^th May 2013

Image source: Flickr jocellecruz

This annual event in San Francisco is a celebration of Mexican and culture and pride which can only mean one thing; lively music and atmosphere and delicious Mexican delicacies! The festivities start from 10am and take place in Dolores Park until around 6pm. If you’re a non-drinker or are looking for a family event then this one’s for you as it is alcohol free and prides itself on its family friendly atmosphere. Do you need a better excuse to visit San Francisco this summer?!

With these great events taking place in May, it’s a fantastic opportunity to seize an early summer getaway! We’re already looking to compile our June What’s On guide, so if you’re hosting and event or are attending something exciting please get in touch with us via Facebook or Twitter and let us know so we can feature your idea!

It’s obvious that the range of food available on airlines has improved greatly in recent years. Nowadays, not only are travellers able to choose between meat and vegetarian meal plans, there is also the option to ‘enjoy’ gluten-free, low calorie, low-lactose and even kosher alternatives. Allergies as well as religion are taken into consideration on many of today’s flights but not all. Here’s a guide on some of the most popular airlines who provide the availability of special requests.

These dietary or religious requirements may be subject to the duration of the flight and also must be requested in advance at least 24 or sometimes even 48 hours prior to the flight. The cost of each meal scheme will vary on different airlines and additional extras such as snacks and other beverages are not included.

There are an abundance of websites that are dedicated to the comparison of in-flight meals. You can compare photos, and even give food ratings or stars to those which you would recommend or not. These websites have proven the increase in quality over the years. Comparing images and opinions of passengers from no less than 2010 even, show a huge transformation. Although it’s obvious that food will be more prestigious the higher class you fly, the partnership of celebrity and professional chefs on many economy flights has heavily influenced the in-flight meal reputation. With big names such as Heston Blumenthal creating menus for British Airways and Gordon Ramsey advising Singapore Airlines on what dishes to offer, it is clear that the airlines are attempting to change the previously poor status of in-flight meals with successful outcomes.

The process of overcoming the stereotypical view of airline food being ‘unpalatable and stodgy’ is well on its way, and we believe that it will only continue to progress over the coming years. With both regulations towards food safety and quality being heavily looked into following the ‘horse meat scandal’ and the increasing variety of dietary requests in today’s society airlines will have no choice than to improve their meal plans for future passengers if they want to keep customers satisfied.

We’re just about to shrug off the last few dark days of the winter and welcome spring with open arms – so it’s definitely time to get excited about booking a city break, right?

Spring is the prime time to visit New York City as it happens, as it’s still just about off-peak season and the temperature of the city is still in transition between the icy months of the passing winter and the sticky humidity of the summer. March, April or May could be the best time of year for you to visit the Big Apple, and now is the time to book those flights.

Firstly, where’s the best place for you to buy your flights to New York? Always go to reputable flight comparison website, such as CheapFlights, that will do all the legwork for you when it comes to finding the best deals. With an airline company like Air Canada, you can easily get a return flight from Heathrow to Newark airport for under £400 – and that’s over the Bank Holiday Easter Weekend (there’s still time to book!).

So once your flights are booked, you’ll need to sort out some accommodation. New York has hotels aplenty, but why not consider staying somewhere a bit different from the norm? Local New Yorkers can host their apartments on websites like AirBnB, so you’ll get all the comforts of home and the authentic experience of living on a New York block. Prices are also very competitive on the site, so you’ll be able to splash out a bit more on those all-important cosmopolitans.

What to Pack

Packing is never the easiest part of going on holiday, not to mention the potentially awkward in-between-seasons stage. The average temperature in New York between March and May can vary between 10 and 19 degrees Celsius – or 30 and 65 degree Fahrenheit, if we’re getting into the American swing of things – although you can easily expect temperatures to be much higher or lower. A pretty safe bet would be to take a warm coat and some gloves, and probably an umbrella. If you need help with your packing (or are known for being forgetful) you can check out our packing checklist here and print one off so you don’t forget anything!

Once you’ve landed in the US, you’ll have a million and one things to do. You can spend hours people watching in Central Park, or rent a bicycle if you want to cover some serious distance. If you make it to Central Park in March, you’ll catch the last month of the outdoor ice skating rink, and if you make it by the end of April, you’ll be able to see the first of the flowers coming into bloom.

For Sports Fans

Spring also welcomes the start of the Major League Baseball Season, which runs from April through to November. Get tickets to see one of the big baseball teams of the city – the New York Mets and the New York Yankees, who will both be playing their 2013 opening games in the city on the 1st April.

Once you’re all prepared and have an idea of what you want to do it’s time to get in the mood, relax and take in one of the greatest cities in the world. There’s a reason why everyone who goes to New York wants to go back straight away.