LUGGAGE
TECHBLUE-SKY THINKING
MAY 2020 T3 19Travel
FIND YOUR FEEL-GOOD FACTOR
If you want a trip away that leaves you feeling fulfilled on many
levels, Tamara Hinson has a few ideas to get you started...Life-enhancing holidays are no longer
about simply chilling at a five-star beach
resort or hi-tech spa – a growing number
of travellers are realising that the most
adventurous holidays are often the most
rewarding ones for mind and body. So here
are some fantastic adventures to plan for
when you’re next able to get away.
Travel is a great leveller, and in some
cases it can also be a good way to give back.
Why not head down under by signing up for
one of Australian Wildlife Journey’s
conservation action trips? (£varies,
australianwildlifejourneys.com/tours) You
could work on South Australia’s wonderfully
rugged Kangaroo Island, planting trees and
carrying out wildlife surveys. Another
adventure that comes with a big dose of
‘feel-good’ is a visit to AndBeyond’s Phinda
Private Game Reserve (andbeyond.com) in
South Africa, where you can help monitor
recently released pangolins. The beautiful
Phinda Mountain Lodge (£421pp a night,
andbeyond.com) makes the perfect base.
Connecting with nature has huge benefits
for your wellbeing, and can help you
de-stress and rejuvenate just as well as a
sun-soaked beach holiday. Here in the UK
we have ample choices of where to head to,
including the lush-green Forest of Dean. Yes
you can do forest bathing and walking
meditations, but you can also take part in a
wild boar safari led by wildlife detective Ed
Drewitt. During the activity – one of several
on offer at the Tudor Farmhouse Hotel (from
£119 a night, tudorfarmhousehotel.co.uk)- you’ll also be searching for bats, deer,
badgers and hedgehogs. Afternoons and
early evenings are the most fruitful times to
go on safari there (£40 per person).
Finally, April through to June are the
perfect months to visit the land of the rising
sun. Begin with a mini-stop in Tokyo for solo
explorations of lesser-known destinations
such as Yanaka, one of the city’s oldest
neighbourhoods. Base yourself at the
beautiful Park Hotel Tokyo (from £114 a
night, parkhoteltokyo.com), where rooms
have been given stunning makeovers by
several hand-picked artists. Follow up your
urban adventure with a visit to nearby Mount
Fuji – more specifically, Hoshinoya Fuji
(hoshinoya.com/fuji), a stunning glamping
resort near the base of the famous
mountain. Activities on offer include
everything from canoe excursions across
Lake Kawaguchi to guided tours of the lava
caves and forests at the mountain’s base.
For more lava loveliness, hop across the
water to South Korea’s UNESCO-listed Jeju
Island, famous for its lava tubes, craters and
caves. There are numerous mind and
muscle-easing hot springs to soak in, and
you can fuel your explorations with hearty
servings of haemultang, a seafood stew
served throughout the island.
AMERICAN
TOURISTER AIRCONIC
SPINNER
We love th is
hard-sided
suitcase
for several
reasons,
including
its lightness
(the smallest
version
weighs
just 3.2kg),
unbeatable
manoeuvrability and brilliant
range of colour options. Don’t
go on holiday without one.
£135, americantourister.co.ukSALTER SOFT TOUCH
LUGGAGE SCALE
These days, many airlines are
quick to apply eye-wateringly
unreasonable fines should our
cabin baggage or luggage flout
their increasingly restrictive
weight rules. Avoid these
unwanted extras by investing
in Salter’s easy-read scale,
which can be used on cases
weighing up to 40kg.
£15, argos.co.ukANTLER CHELSEA
PACKING CUBES
We’re a sucker for space-
saving travel accessories,
particularly Antler’s Chelsea
Packing Cubes. They come in
a range of pastel hues as well
as black, and are easy to wash
in-between trips. Each set
contains six cubes, including
one extra large, one large,
two medium and two small.
£45, antler.co.ukIMAGE^SOURCE:^ JANG^JAE-HYEOK^KOREATOURISMORGANIZATIONIMAGE^SOURCE:^ AMERICAN^TOURISTERIMAGE^SOURCE:^ SALTERIMAGE^SOURCE:^ ANTLER