Top tips for a hassle-free holiday
Are you planning your next getaway? Organising a holiday is exciting, but the journey itself can sometimes be a little overwhelming. To ensure your trip is smooth from start to finish, here are some top tips from the travel experts at You, Me and Friends to help you avoid common travel pitfalls and enjoy a carefree vacation.
Before You Go
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Know your luggage and its contents
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Before you zip up your suitcase, it’s helpful to make a list of your contents in a notebook or on your phone. Taking a few quick photos of both the outside and inside of your luggage is also beneficial. If your bags are lost or delayed, having a written or visual record makes it easier to recover or replace your belongings.
Make copies of your documents
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It’s a good idea to keep all your essential travel documents - passport, tickets, and itineraries - in one easily accessible folder or wallet. You may want to scan these documents and store them digitally on your email or an app. Having backups ensures that even if something goes missing, you won’t be left stranded.
Choose the right travel insurance for you
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It’s worth spending time finding the right travel insurance policy that fits your needs and the places you’re heading. And of course, remember to double check the fine print to avoid any surprises! Look for coverage that includes things like medical emergencies, repatriation flights, trip cancellations, and lost baggage. Don’t hesitate to discuss your options with your insurance provider - they can help you select the perfect policy for your trip.
Research local customs and etiquette
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Familiarising yourself with the local customs, etiquette, and basic phrases of the country you’re visiting can help make your holiday smoother. Carrying a language phrasebook or using Google Translate can be handy in a place where English isn’t widely spoken. Free language learning apps like Duolingo can also get you started with basic conversations. A little research can go a long way in making your trip more enjoyable.
Think about travelling with medicines
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If you're travelling with medication, it's a good idea to keep it in the original packaging and carry a list of what you're bringing. This can help if customs have any questions. Packing at least three days' worth of medication, along with some clothes and personal items, in your carry-on is also smart - just in case your checked bag doesn't arrive at your destination.
Offline maps and apps
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Before you leave, you might want to download offline maps of your destination and any apps you think you’ll need, like translation tools or public transport guides. This ensures you’ll have access to essential information, even if you don’t have an internet connection. Organic Maps is a great free app that gives you access to city maps offline.
Set up travel alerts and notifications
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Registering your travel and signing up for travel alerts with Safetravel is a useful way to stay informed. Safetravel provides official advice for New Zealand citizens travelling overseas, including updates on travel advisories, emergency contacts, and tips for staying safe while abroad.
Bring a portable charger
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Bringing a portable charger with you could be a lifesaver. Whether you’re out exploring all day or find yourself stuck at the airport, having extra battery power ensures your phone or tablet stays charged when you need it most.
You can pick up a portable power pack from places like Kmart, just be sure to pack it in your carry-on bag.
Research places to visit
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Would you rather hike 10 stairs or 1,000? When researching attractions, it’s helpful to consider your groups fitness and energy levels. You might find that exploring nearby options that are easier to reach, or free of charge, could make your trip more enjoyable for everyone. TripAdvisor is a handy website to check reviews and find information about restaurants, hotels and attractions.
Discounts for over 65’s and kids
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Over 65? Many countries around the world offer discounted rates on public buses and trains, as well as entry fees to some museums and attractions. Visiting the Colosseum? That will be free. Visiting Prague? All transport will be free for tourists over 70. What about the Tokyo National Museum? That’s also free.
Want to take the grandchildren on a trip? The same rules apply, attractions are often free or discounted for children.
Enjoy the journey
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While planning and preparing can help make your holiday smooth and hassle-free, the most important tip is to remember to have fun and embrace the adventure. Whether you’re uncovering hidden corners of the world, sampling new foods, or simply soaking in the local culture, travel is all about creating memories.
So, enjoy the ride, and let your journey unfold in its own unique way. After all, it’s the unexpected moments that often make for the best stories when you return home. Safe travels!
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www.rymanhealthcare.co.nz...
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Neighbourhood Challenge: Who Can Crack This One? ⛓️💥❔
What has a head but no brain?
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Poll: 🗑️ Would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
Aucklanders, our weekly rubbish collections are staying after councillors voted to scrap a proposed trial of fortnightly pick-ups.
We want to hear from you: would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
Keen for the details? Read up about the scrapped collection trial here.
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83.9% Same!
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16.1% Would have liked to try something different
7 tips for buying your Christmas ham
It’s the centerpiece of the Christmas table, so when you’re peering into the supermarket chiller or ordering from the butcher, choosing the perfect ham can feel like a daunting task.
Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing one to bring home with you.
1. What type of ham to buy
You’ve got some decisions to make when it comes to the type of Christmas ham you’re going to buy.
Cooked on the bone (COB) ham is the traditional Christmas ham. If you’re buying a half ham, you’ll have the choice of the shank or fillet end. The shank is the part with the bone sticking out that gives the ham that traditional look. The fillet end is the round part that gives more meat. If you’re deciding whether to get a whole ham or half, consider how quickly you’ll be able to eat it all. You only have about a week to eat an opened ham before it will go off, so it can be a good idea to get two halves. That way you can eat one half during the week of Christmas and save the other for January.
Champagne ham has had the bone removed and only has the hock left on, so it’s easier to carve.
Pressed ham – also known as continental ham – has had the bones removed and has been pressed, so it’s also easy to carve.
2. Check the pork percentage
The label on a packaged ham will say what percentage is actually meat. Hams are injected with brine, to keep them moist, and additives. The brine injection level for manufactured hams is usually between 10% and 35% of the ham's weight. A manufacturer that wants to produce a cheap ham will add more water to bump up the weight.
3. Know how to tell if it’s New Zealand pork
By far, most of the hams bought in New Zealand this Christmas will be from pigs reared overseas. New Zealand imports pork from about 25 countries. It’s frustrating for New Zealand pig farmers because this ham can come from farms that don’t have to meet the same animal welfare standards as we have in this country. As a result, overseas meat is often cheaper.
If buying New Zealand pork is important to you, look for:
words on the packaging like ‘New Zealand pork’ or ‘born and raised in New Zealand’
4. Have a good look at the ham
If you’re going to be glazing your ham, look for one that is covered in a finger-thick layer of fat. This will give you the thickness you need to make good score lines.
New Zealand Pork’s website also advises looking for a ham that has a meaty texture rather than one that looks wet or rubbery. It says the ham’s skin should be smooth with even colouring. “If the knuckle is sunken, it may be overcooked. If the rind is buckled or uneven, it may be a sign of dryness.”
5. Ask a lot of questions
If you’re ordering your pork from a butcher, you probably won’t be able to compare hams like you would at the supermarket. So, make sure you ask lots of questions, now that you know what you’re looking for.
You could ask:
Is the ham made from New Zealand born and farmed pork?
What will be its injection percentage?
What flavours will it have?
You could even ask if there’s a glaze the butcher thinks would work particularly well with those flavours.
6. Know what size you’ll need
If the ham is the only meat on your Christmas menu, New Zealand Pork advises allowing 1kg of ham for five people. Or if you’ve got other meat options, 1kg will feed about six to eight people.
7. Know the best hams in New Zealand
The best hams of the year were awarded at the 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Awards earlier in the year so you can check out which ones got medals. Some of them are only available in the city the butcher is based, but a Farmland boneless ham available nationwide won a gold award and Woolworths bone-in and boneless hams picked up bronze.
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