Category Archives: Holidays

Sick Of Waiting For A Wedding, Single People Are ‘Solo Honeymooning’

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I’m going to be honest: I find travelling with other people pretty draining.

There’s the compromise. There’s constantly being “on”. There’s the horrifying prospect of someone you love seeing you at your post-airport worst, and the nightmarish possibility of being expected to talk on a plane.

So I’ll admit I’m sympathetic with TikTok’s “solo honeymoon” trend, which cuts arguments, different itineraries, and “active vs resting” holiday discrepancies completely out of the question.

Instead, “solo honeymooners” – often single people who are sick of waiting ’til they find a spouse to enjoy their dream honeymoon – are taking matters into their own hands.

Here, experts from TrustedHousesitters shared how to achieve the perfect one.

What is a “solo honeymoon”?

It’s basically booking a holiday by yourself, but the term seems to have helped some TikTokers to navigate the feelings and motives behind solo travel.

In one video, an app user said she’s calling her trip to Bali a solo honeymoon because “while I’m not married to a human being, I am kind of married to my work”.

She decided to give herself a break after closing an important business project.

Yet another person said they were “travelling to a honeymoon destination as a very single person” because “you don’t have to wait until you’re in a relationship to go somewhere”.

He added, “I never thought I’d be here single, but here I am”.

“Let’s normalise single people taking themselves on a honeymoon,” a separate video stated.

Commenters often said they wish they’d felt OK doing something like that sooner. “I should’ve done this after I finished my master’s degree,” an app user wrote: “You have no idea how you have encouraged me to do let go of the fear and do this,” another stated.

And in response to a TikToker’s video about taking a safari trip for her “solo honeymoon,” a commenter wrote, “This was my honeymoon idea, and now I’m like F it I need to go.”

How can I plan a “solo honeymoon”?

Trusted Housesitter advised people seeking a “solo honeymoon” to consider the following:

  1. Checking flight times: “For those who love sitting back for a long time with a book, make the most of the solo flying time and travel long haul, but if you’re a little more on the nervous side, choose a shorter, familiar route to start your me-moon stress-free.”
  2. Checking the area’s safety: “Make sure to research ahead and make sure where you head to has good contact points.”
  3. Planning activities in advance: “Many activities are designed for couples or groups. So make sure you won’t face extra costs, and don’t be deterred if something is marketed primarily to pairs or groups; you can still participate and enjoy the experience.”
  4. Not worrying about others’ expectations: “Plan activities that support your own well-being. Whether it’s spa treatments, meditation sessions, hiking, or simply time to read and reflect, tailor your itinerary around what makes you feel recharged and happy.”
  5. Choosing accommodation carefully: “Think about the type of place you want to stay and whether it will enhance your self-care.”
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I’m A Sexologist – Here’s Why Sex Is So Much Better (And Wilder) On Holiday

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With June just around the corner, Brits are about to head into peak holiday season.

And according to data from sexual wellness company LELO, 80% of us think some time away from home would reinvigorate our sex life, while 31% say going abroad makes them more adventurous in the bedroom.

We spoke to licensed sexologist, relationship therapist, and author at Passionerad, Sofie Roos, about why going on your hollibobs makes you so much more open-minded.

Part of it is plain ol’ free time

“We simply have more time” and fewer stresses on holiday, Roos says. This leaves us not only more able, schedule-wise, to engage in the horizontal tango, but also more open to be “inspired” (oo-er).

Then, there’s the fact that you’ll likely be in a better, more playful mood.

“We are the best versions of ourselves [on holiday], making it much easier to get passionate [and] wild and put in the energy in the sex that we normally don’t have the time or lust for,” the sexologist tells HuffPost UK.

We also reframe our relationship and our partner as we take in new sights, sounds, food, and even weather, seeing our beau and ourselves in a (sometimes literal) different light.

“We’ve got the sunrise and warmth making us feel better, we eat great food, are travelling and exploring new places,” Roos says.

This “creates a perfect storm that leads to great opportunities for feeling extra passionate, attracted and hornier – making the sex more fun, enjoyable and interesting!”

Can you recreate that at home?

Speaking to Yahoo Life, sex and relationship expert Natalia Baker from All Things Worn shares that you don’t need to wave goodbye to friskiness when you land back home.

Allocating relaxation time, planning spontaneous dates, choosing to carve out quality time together, and openly discussing your fantasies with one another can all help, she says.

“Being transparent about what you both enjoy and want to try can help recreate the excitement and anticipation felt on holiday,” she recommends.

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Travellers To Spain And Portugal Urged Not To Make Costly Mistake

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Large parts of Spain and Portugal are currently facing power outages, resulting in traffic jams, airport lags, and public transport issues.

Reuters reported that Spain’s electricity transmission operator Red Eléctrica expect the issue to persist for hours.

Portugal’s electricity transmission operator Rede Eletrica Nacional said the problem was due to extreme temperature variations, which resulted in a “rare” atmospheric phenomenon, the BBC said.

Work is under way to gradually recover electricity – with reports suggesting power has already returned in some parts of Spain.

Rory Boland, editor of customer advocacy publication Which? Travel, said: “The power outages in Spain and Portugal will have a significant knock-on effect for those travelling to and from both countries.”

For those currently in the affected countries, Boland advised to “follow the advice from local emergency services and government”.

But if you have booked holidays in any affected areas in the next few days or weeks, the consumer advocate said it’s important not to cancel your trip.

Why shouldn’t I cancel my holidays in the next few weeks or days?

“If your flight or holiday is several days or weeks away, the best advice is to not cancel as you will lose money and won’t be able to claim via travel insurance,” Boland shared.

If you are expected to travel to Portugal or Spain over the next couple of days, meanwhile, the expert advised to “check the advice from your airport or tour operator or airline apps and airport social media feeds for the most up to date advice”.

He said it’s the responsibility of the airline to look after passengers on any cancelled flight, no matter why the flight is cancelled.

“That means putting you on an alternate flight to get you to your destination, if needed, or you can accept a refund,” he added.

“You are almost certainly better off insisting on rerouting if you still intend to travel, as flights will be expensive.”

Keep your receipts

Boland advised travellers who are currently inconvenienced by the power cuts, or who will be affected by changes over the next couple of days, to document everything.

“If you are stuck because your flight has been cancelled or delayed and need to buy a meal, or need a hotel overnight, make sure you keep the receipts as you will be able to claim this back from the airline,” he said.

Follow your airline’s guidance and stick to the government’s rules in the meantime.

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Patrick Warburton is Right – ‘Raw Dogging’ Flights Is Masochistic

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Taking to TikTok, Patrick Warburton joked he was “concerned” for what he sees as his involvement in the “raw dogging” flight trend.

The actor said his Seinfeld character Puddy’s refusal of in-flight distractions on the show was “responsible” for the phenomenon, which sees flyers eschew things like headphones and even drinks for a truly “present” flight.

“My concern is that somebody’s gonna get hurt,” the actor, who also voices Joe Swanson in Family Guy and Kronk in The Emperor’s New Groove, quipped.

“If you go into this thing blindly… not reading, not watching something, you’d better be OK with what’s going on up here,” he continued, tapping his noggin.

“I’m not,” he added.

Well, Patrick, nor am I. Are we simply mentally weak – or is the trend (as I suspect) just a bit pointlessly unbearable?

“They’re idiots”

Speaking to the BBC about the trend, which footballer Erling Haaland partook in with “no phone, no sleep, no water, no food,” Dr Gill Jenkins said that those “raw dogging” flights are “idiots.”

In a previous HuffPost UK interview, nutritionist Toby King said: “The trend requires you to sit still for hours at a time and not take in any food or liquids. This is a recipe for disaster that could have terrifying consequences.”

Those “consequences” involve blood clots and dehydration.

But let’s say you’re in fine fettle after an hours-long test of nerves and sanity.

What could you possibly gain from staring at the plastic back of a seat for four hours, I beg to know? What possible mental enrichment can come from hearing nothing but tannoy chimes and baby sobs as your pores dehydrate under fluorescent strip lights?

It’s not the only suffering-focused TikTok trend

Like 2024′s “winter arc” fitness trend (which, like “raw dogging” flights, seems to mostly involve men), the only point seems to be making a hard, annoying thing more difficult and painful.

In the case of the “winter arc,” participants gave up more than just their headphones – some swore off sex, masturbation, hair (yep, really), and socialising, dismissing them as distractions with “no purpose.”

I wish I could pose a grand theory of pointless viral pain and why it seems to afflict so many Gen Z men in particular, but aside from general mumblings about perceptions of masculinity, I can’t really say what this fondness for recreational agony is about.

All I can say is I won’t be taking part, ta very much.

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People Are Realising The Real Reason You Can’t Recline Your Seat During Takeoff, And I Had No Idea

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You know those ominous black clumps you see in the branches of trees sometimes?

Well, it took a Reddit post for me to realise that those aren’t actually bird’s nests.

Nope ― they’re either mistletoe (which is technically a parasitic plant), or a “witch’s broom” growth irregularity spurred on by animal or bacterial invasions.

And now, a post shared to r/explainlikeimfive has inspired me to ask experts why we actually have to recline our chairs on takeoff and landing.

In a recent post shared by u/bishopZ, the site user asked: “Why do airline passengers have to put their seats into a full upright position for takeoff? Why does it matter?”

Here’s what experts at the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Flight Operations Specialist Group taught me:

Takeoff and landing are the riskiest parts of the flight

A now-deleted Reddit account wrote under the original comment: “You’re most likely to have some sort of accident during takeoff and landing. This is also why your tray tables have to be up and you can’t have laptops during these times: ease of evacuation.”

Indeed aerospace safety expert and associate professor of aeronautical science Anthony Brickhouse told Business Insider that 49% of deaths happen during landing, while 14% occur at takeoff.

Speaking to HuffPost UK, a spokesperson for the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Flight Operations Specialist Group explained: “There are two primary safety-related reasons why aircraft seats must be in the upright position for take-off and landing.

“The first is that the seat gives the occupant maximum impact protection when upright, and its structure locks into position accordingly. Being upright also reduces the possibility of the occupant ‘submarining’ under their lap belt in the event of a violent deceleration.”

“Submarining” happens when a person’s seatbelt is a little loose, allowing their body to slip underneath it at high speed. They slide under the belt, increasing the risk of injury.

“The second reason is that reclined seats reduce the space available in the row behind for occupants to escape quickly if an emergency evacuation is required,” the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Flight Operations Specialist Group added.

In fact, people who listen to “boring” plane protocol are more likely to survive disaster

The Guardian shared experts’ research into survivors of plane accidents. They found that people who had survived (rare) catastrophes had some things in common ― including being more likely to have read the plane’s safety briefing.

Knowing where the exits are, keeping your shoes on, and practising both the brace position and undoing your seatbelt can all help too.

And remember, Amanda Ripley, author of The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes, says: “between 1983 and 2000, 56% of passengers involved in serious plane accidents survived.”

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I’m A Flight Attendant – This Is The Safest Place To Park Your Car In The Airport

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Airport parking demand shifts hugely across the UK, Transport Network reports.

Fewer than 1% of travellers through Heathrow look for a parking spot, but 10% of those passing through Bristol Airport look out for one.

That’s partly because of local transport links, they explain. But no matter where you’ve parked your car while on holiday, you’ll want to know it’s safe.

In a YouTube Short, flight attendant Cierra Mistt shared that the most secure place to park your car may be in the spot you like least.

Where’s safest to park in an airport car park?

“If you want to make sure your vehicle is safe at the airport ― especially on those long trips ― park in either the top floor of the [multi-storey car park], or the very back of economy parking,” Mistt said.

Though those areas are far away from the airport and can seem “unguarded”, Cierra said she recommends them for good reason.

“This is actually the parking where all the employees of the airport, along with crew members that are going to be on trips, park,” she explained.

“Security is constantly monitoring that area to make sure that no one breaks into those cars, and the shuttles are over there more than any other place because they need to make sure that their employees get to work on time.”

Some airports have separate parking arrangements for their staff ― but you can usually look this up ahead of time.

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What if I don’t want to go that far?

Airports claim your car will still have lots of protection, like CCTV, number plate recognition, and patrols.

Otherwise, the Met Police suggest following some basic steps will prevent break-ins, at the airport and elsewhere.

These include locking your car, shutting your windows and sunroof, securing your number plates with tamper-resistant screws, and taking out or hiding valuable items inside the vehicle.

And don’t even leave hints of pricey electronic goods, like sat nav mounts, on show, they add.

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