There is far more to Portugal than the golden sandy beaches of the Algarve.  The country also has a fascinating culture, many heritage cities and towns and delightfully welcoming people. It has so much to offer, from great gastronomy to beautiful countryside and many outdoor activities for the whole family, all of which can be found no further than a two hours’ drive from an international airport – whether it be Faro in the south, Lisbon in the centre or Porto in the north.

The fourth edition of this informative magazine is now available

Published on line at www.portugal-life.net (just subscribe for free to see the full issue) and distributed in the UK through Foremost’s 185 golf clubs around the country, the magazine brings to life all that is good about Portugal and Madeira.  In this edition there are features about bird watching in the Alentejo, boating on Lake Alqueva, walking the Madeiran levadas or find out all about the delicious Vinho Verde wines.

Property and golf

The issue also includes an interview with Dra. Cecilia Meireles, the young and energetic new Secretary of State for Tourism, in which she describes her vision for tourism in Portugal in the years to come, Michael Blandy explains his family’s long involvement for Madeira, and there is plenty to absorb on property and golf.

If you are thinking of visiting Madeira, then take the chance to join the Madeira Country Club. Membership, which costs only €36 a year, entitles you to discounts off a variety of hotels, restaurants, car hire, leisure activities and more. The list is growing daily.

Go to www.themadeiracountryclub.com and become a member today. The Portugal Country Club will be launched later this year and you’ll be able to read all about it on the www.homesandtravel.co.uk website.

Travellers should make sure they have plenty of time to apply for visas when they are journeying outside the EU

Airport Parking and Hotels (APH.com), the long-stay airport parking specialist, is helping UK holidaymakers plan ahead by compiling a comprehensive guide highlighting the requirements and costs of tourist visas for the major holiday destinations outside the EU. The research is available in the Know Before You Go section of the website at www.aph.com/visaregulations.

It compares visa regulations for UK nationals, including how to apply, the cost to process the application and the period of cover for the visa. The table also details how long travellers will have to wait for documents and visas to be processed, thereby helping travellers plan how far in advance visas should be applied for.

Of the 18 countries featured in the research, nine were found to require visitors to obtain a visa (or the necessary documents such as the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, ESTA) before travelling to destinations including Australia, Cambodia, China, Russia and Turkey. Countries such as Kenya and Mauritius, however, allow visitors to obtain visas upon entry into the country.

With regards to the processing of visas, holidaymakers looking to travel to Russia, Australia, China will need to plan far in advance with the processing time taking up to 10 working days, 14 working days and one month accordingly.

Not many of the destinations were found to offer online applications which enable travellers to complete and receive confirmation almost immediately. Cambodia and the USA are the only two countries allowing online submissions.

For Single Entry Visas valid for under 30 days, there is no cost when travelling to Madagascar and Thailand but a charge of £20 when travelling to Nepal.

The cost of visas was found to vary greatly, with Cambodia charging £13 for the E-Visa when purchased with a credit card and Australia offering the eVisitor visa for free. When travelling to China, the Single Entry Tourist Visa and Multiple Entry Tourist Visa cost £30 and £150 but for the same visas to Egypt, travellers will pay £15 and £18.

Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is the UK’s award-winning airport parking operator and booking agency. APH offers parking at all major UK airports as well as airport hotels packaged with parking and airport lounges. Furthermore, APH is also a carbon-balanced company and has, through support of the World Land Trust, helped purchase more than 1,000 acres of endangered rainforest.

For further information on Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) visit: www.aph.com

A caller in Spain wondered what shoe size Prince Charles wears so they could send him a pair of shoes as a present

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is today reminding British travellers of the role of its global network of Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates as staff continue to be approached for weather forecasts and ticket bookings.

Other enquiries received by Foreign Office staff include:

• A man rang the Consulate in Sydney to find out what clothes he should pack for his holiday
• A Brit in Sofia asked the Consulate if they could sell his house for him
• A man called the Consulate in Florida to report that there were ants in his holiday villa and asked for advice on what he should do
• A lady complained to the Embassy in Moscow about a loud buzzing noise in her apartment – she wanted someone to visit her flat and advise the authorities to stop the noise
• A man asked a Consulate in Greece for information on how to go about putting a chicken coop in his garden
• A man asked Consular staff in Dubai to meet his dog on arrival at customs and help the dog through the customs process, as he would be on holiday when the dog arrived
• A caller asked staff in Malaga in mid-September where she could get a Christmas lunch as everywhere she had phoned was already booked up
• Staff in Greece were asked for tips on the best fishing spots and where to purchase good bait

Jeremy Browne, Minister for Consular Affairs, said: “We will always try to help where we can but there are limits to the support that we can provide. It is important that people understand the level of help we can offer. Our priority is to help people in real difficulty abroad and we cannot do this if our time is diverted by people trying to use us as a concierge service. We need to be able to focus primarily on helping victims of serious crimes, supporting people who have been detained or assisting people who have lost a loved one abroad.”

The FCO set up the Iberia Contact Centre in Malaga earlier this year to cope with the volume of non-consular enquiries received by British Embassies and Consulates in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Andorra. The centre filters calls so that Consular staff can focus their resources on situations where they can provide assistance.

Maria Leng, Consular official in Tenerife, said: “A lot of our time was being taken up with queries that we could not assist with but now the Malaga call centre is making a big difference by filtering enquiries. We can issue emergency travel documents or visit you in hospital but we can’t pick you up from the airport or make private arrangements.”

Full details of how the Foreign Office can provide support to British nationals when things go wrong abroad are outlined in the publication, Support for British nationals abroad: A guide: www.fco.gov.uk/travel

The FCO can:

• Issue you with replacement travel documents
• Provide information about transferring money
• Provide help if you have suffered rape or serious sexual or physical assault, are a victim of crime, are ill or in hospital
• Give you a list of local lawyers, interpreters, doctors or funeral directors
• Contact you if you are detained abroad
• Contact friends and family back home for you if you wish
• Provide help in cases of forced marriage
• Assist people affected by parental child abduction

The FCO can’t:

• Help you enter a country if you don’t have a valid passport or necessary visas
• Give you legal advice or translate documents
• Investigate crimes or get you out of prison
• Get you better treatment in hospital or prison than is given to local people
• Pay any bills or give you money
• Make travel arrangements for you

New York's discount scheme to the Big Apple: CityPass

This fall, take a bite the of the Big Apple for less money. Ever-changing New York City is an ideal autumn getaway. Just as the kids are heading back to school, thinning the crowds at the city’s most popular museums and landmarks, dozens of exciting new shows are opening in theatres on Broadway and beyond.

Leaves are beginning to change colour in Central Park, restaurant menus are shifting their focus to comfort food, and hotel deals are suddenly more plentiful.

A great Big Apple deal is New York CityPASS, which ensures that travellers experience the best of the city at nearly half of the regular price. Each New York CityPASS includes prepaid admission to the Empire State Building, American Museum of Natural History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), as well as two option tickets.

The first option ticket lets holders choose between either a trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island or a Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise; the second, a choice between the Guggenheim Museum and Top of the Rock observation deck.

New York CityPASS costs $79 for adults (value $146) and $59 for kids, ages 6-17. In addition to the savings, New York CityPASS allows holders to bypass most main entrance ticket lines.

Manhattan’s fall visitors will be among the first to see two newly acquired collections of Conceptual art at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). And what better way to end the day than with a little music atop the Empire State Building. The 86th-floor observatory, open nightly until 2am (the last elevators go up at 1:15am), now offers live saxophone music (Thursday-Saturday, 10pm-1am).

New York CityPASS can be purchased online at CityPASS.com or at any of the CityPASS attractions. It is valid for nine consecutive days, beginning with the first day of use. CityPASS ticket booklets are also available for Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hollywood, Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Southern California.

For more information on CityPASS, visit www.CityPASS.com

Fernie Alpine Resort, Canada, Opens Polar Peak Lift, The Biggest Vertical In The Canadian Rockies

At Fernie Alpine Resort, British Columbia, you have a ski destination not to miss this winter

The spectacular Polar Peak Lift will add onto the already incredible vertical at Fernie Alpine Resort, British Columbia, now giving the ski resort a whopping 3,550 vertical feet when it opens this winter. Combine the most snow in the Canadian Rockies, with the most alpine bowl skiing in the Canadian Rockies and the biggest vertical and you have your ski destination of choice in Canada.

With over 2,500 acres of terrain over five alpine bowls, the deepest snow in the Rockies and a year-long celebration commemorating 50 years of legendary skiing and riding and you have a ski destination not to miss this winter!

The Polar Peak lift is the only major new lift installation in the BC Rockies for this winter and one of a few new lift installations in North America. It is believed that it is the only new lift installation going to a mountain-top for this upcoming winter.

The Polar Peak Lift adds an above tree-line Bowl skiing experience with over 22 new runs and the incredible experience of skiing off the summit of one of the highest peaks in the Lizard Range, Polar Peak. In addition to the new Polar Peak Lift, Fernie Alpine Resort offers nine other lifts and 140 marked runs – now having the most Ski Runs in the Canadian Rockies.

The Polar Peak Lift provides quick access to the various ridge-lines above the major alpine bowls. This quicker access for Ski Patrol will speed up efforts to open up terrain following the regular snowfalls Fernie Alpine Resort receives.

For more information e-mail: Eileen Clarke at Tourism British Columbia at EClarke@TourismBC.co.uk  (picture credit: Tourism British Columbia)

The cover of the new app

In the last four decades, thousands of people have bought homes in different countries around the globe. In today’s world, ever-increasing numbers are looking to own a property abroad. A recent statistic showed that 40% of Britain’s 55-year olds long to move away from the UK. And those are just the Britons.

Within the EU there are equally large numbers of people who want a home in the sun. Americans are moving to Europe, Europeans are moving to the US, Australia, New Zealand and now countries such as Brazil and Argentina. People are on the move as never before.

One of most crucial elements of owning a home in another country is being armed with knowledge. Having information at your fingertips can really help you to have a wonderful, life-changing experience.

Going Abroad can transform your life

Thousands of people around the globe listen to www.expatsradio.com on a daily basis. The reasons are many. They include the fact that Expatsradio helps them to keep in touch with their loved ones and the valuable and authoritative information that the radio station gives them.

Recently, Expatsradio has started to spread its broadcasting wings to ever-increasing numbers of listeners. The decision was taken to produce a downloadable app that will work on all of these devices. Produced quarterly and in magazine format, the Expastradio app will be free and will contain articles on topics ranging from buying and selling property abroad, travel, food and wine, music and legal and financial issues. This magazine will have something for everyone.

To get involved, whether as a reader, an advertiser or simply because you have something to say, contact us on: www.expatsradio.com or www.homesandtravel.co.uk

It doesn't matter whether your flight is long or short haul, do make sure you arrive feeling relaxed and refreshed

Summer is the season for extended holidays, often further afield, requiring mid-, long- or short-haul journeys, which can leave travellers feeling extra exhausted and tangled in knots.

Cheapflights.co.uk, the website for flight search and comparison, issues the industry’s top tips for maintaining health, fitness, and beauty in the air, so travellers can arrive at their destination feeling refreshed and ready to dive into holiday mode.

“The last thing anyone needs on a holiday is to arrive feeling the need to recover, before they have even begun to relax and have fun,” says Nadine Hallak, Travel Expert for Cheapflights.co.uk. “Most people are aware that it’s possible to do a mini workout in your chair at work and the same rule applies in the air. It’s not just about keeping hydrated and stretching your legs occasionally, it’s about keeping the circulation going using an actual routine so you arrive looking and feeling like a million dollars,” adds Hallak.

Flight Fitness

There are plenty of exercises that can be done in your seat during the flight that promote good circulation, while stretching and keeping the muscles supple. In fact, these are regular exercises to incorporate into any fitness routine whether in the air or on the ground. The suggested in-flight workout includes:

• Heel and toe pull-ups: Lift the heels up and down while keeping the toes firmly on the ground. Repeat the same exercise keeping the heels down, but lifting the toes

• Ankle and wrist circles: Gently rotate the ankles in one direction then repeat the same exercise in the opposite direction. This can be done one ankle at a time or both simultaneously. Apply the same method to rotating the wrists

• Shoulder rolls: Rotate the shoulders forward gently then repeat the rotation backwards

• Head rolls: Rotate the head clockwise a few times then counter clockwise

• Neck stretches: Look to your left then to your right a few times, then lay the head sideways onto one shoulder then the other to stretch the sides of the neck a few times

• Lower back stretch: Lean forward with your back straight, but without arching the lower back. Stretch your arms down as far as they will go to the floor. This stretches the torso as much as possible, thereby stretching the lower back

• Full back stretch: Sit upright with feet on the ground. Turn to the left and place one hand to your side and the other on your opposite knee then repeat in the other direction to stretch out the back and neck

It's worthwhile following these tips so that you arrive feeling relaxed and refreshed

Hydrate

Drink plenty of fluids, most importantly water, although juices and herbal teas also help hydration. It’s important to minimise caffeine intake and avoid alcohol altogether if possible. Hydration occurs through the skin as well as through the body, so make sure to moisturise well during the flight.

Eat

The pressure that comes with high altitudes can often lead to bloating and general puffiness. To assist circulation and digestion, keep foods light. While research shows travellers prefer to eat strong flavoured foods like curry in the air, such dishes are often high in sodium and lead to water retention. Fruits and vegetables are a better option in the air. Not only do they aid digestion, but their high water content also counts towards keeping the body hydrated.

Sleep

While falling asleep at any time isn’t entirely within our control, there are ways to attempt to induce sleep in-flight. Walking up and down the aisles and doing gentle exercises like ankle circles, wrist circles, and neck roles help to relax the body into sleep. Simple meditation also relaxes the mind and creates mental ‘space.’ Passengers can push their backrest down slightly, close their eyes, and just concentrate on taking deep breaths in and out.

Top Well-being Tips from Top Airlines

Some of the best airlines and airline websites for in-flight well-being tips include:

• British Airways

• Lufthansa

• Singapore Airlines

• Air New Zealand

• Qatar Airways (they have in-flight yoga)

To search and compare travel deals for your summer holiday, visit www.cheapflights.co.uk/

Manuel Canovas

There may well come a point in your packing when you open a drawer and come across last year’s or (horror of horrors) the year before’s swimwear. Doubtless you’ll remember buying it but how did that gorgeous swimsuit that you loved just 12 months ago become a forgotten garment that’s lurking at the bottom of your drawer, neglected and shapeless?

Care for your swimwear

The reality is that chemicals in swimming pools are there simply to defeat bacteria and to protect you from diseases but the one thing that can really ruin your gorgeous bathing suit is chlorine. However much you pay, however well made or expensive your swimwear is, chlorine is public enemy number one. The chemical causes colours to become dull and elasticity is damaged as the chlorine affects the fibres. This can apply equally to men’s swimmers as to women’s.

Jockey Swim Brief 61021

While no swimsuit will last forever, do make sure you wash and rinse yours regularly. Cool tap water should remove the chemical (and salt if you’ve been in the sea). On the whole washing machines aren’t brilliant for delicate fabrics and spin cycles can cause havoc with the material (hand washing with a gentle detergent is best) but above all, avoid putting your swimsuit in a dryer. Hang swimwear out to dry and make sure your costume is completely dry before packing it away for the winter.

It’s worth mention that the ‘balding’ effect caused by the disintegration of elastane can lead to your swimwear becoming gradually more and more transparent! Do look for chlorine-resistant fabrics, don’t dry swimmers in direct sunlight either, and have a pair for the pool and a pair for keeping dry!!! It’s worthwhile looking for quality manufacturers, but the care of your swimwear lies in your hands. Spend some time looking after it and next summer when you go to put it on, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how well it has lasted.

Women’s highlights

Louis F Craud African Bijoux

Women’s swimwear designers use every trick in the book to make a gal look good in next to nothing this year. Colours are vibrant in myriad florals, sultry animal prints, nautical stripes and giant polka dots. Look out for halter neck straps, flattering tankinis and siren swimsuits with dramatic plunging necklines. Bikini bottoms fit the body better with fold-down tops and ruched sides, swimsuits have hidden panels to cinch the waist and flatten the tum. And any woman with more than an A-cup bosom should be looking for cup-sized ranges that may cost a bit more, but earn their keep with fabulous fit.

• women’s swimwear collections have moved on too – to full beachwear ‘wardrobes’ that extend to dresses, hats and even matching knitwear, for the easiest holiday packing ever!
• lots of summer 2011 swimwear is very Fifties – gorgeously glamorous and handily perfect for a curvier shape
• sarongs are marvellous things – practice tying in different ways around the waist as a skirt or the neck as a ‘dress’, even for evening as a pretty wrap

Men’s highlights

Men’s swimwear has come on in leaps and bounds, though to the untrained eye it might look much the same. Clever designs and fabric technology originally reserved for ladies’ beach attire has been adopted for menswear. Colours are crisp and true, linings support and shape, drawstrings go from practical to fashionable. Fabrics dry in super quick time and new ergonomic designs (for example Ergowear from Chile) actually enhance a man’s profile on the beach!

• men it seems are doubling up on swimwear, wearing skimpier styles for swimming and shorts on the beach
• guys are getting in on the act with fabulous solid colours and bright prints from tropical fish to endless stripes
• serious swimmers prefer styles with high-cut leglines for maximum movement
• chaps who like to move swiftly from beach to beach-bar favour clever fabrics that can dry in seconds

Clever Moda Bluxo Swim Brief

Do’s and don’ts

• DO wear the right size, however tempting it is to squeeze into last year’s favourite!
• DO match, match, match: if there’s a cover-up or T-shirt that matches your swimwear, take advantage of the simplest way to look stylish – total co-ordination
• DO take advantage of fabric technology that supports, disguises, lifts and smoothes in all the right places – but only you need know the hidden secrets of your cossie…
• DON’T sacrifice style for the sake of your white bits – after all only you and your loved one will see un-tanned skin and the rest of the beach don’t need to see every single inch you want to brown…

NOTE: the collections featured are offered by these stockists but we cannot guarantee specific styles and colours will be available – however both sell swimwear all year round, so there’s always plenty of choice.

For more information, contact:

www.deadgoodundies.com for men’s swimwear or call 01743 247246

www.sandradee.co.uk for women’s swimwear or call 01242 238427

Stewart Andersen for www.homesandtravel.co.uk

Local markets are a great way of getting to know a new country

Relocating overseas is an exciting experience, yet the flurry of preparation beforehand can overshadow one crucial consideration – how to give your relocation the best chance of succeeding. While there is no way of guaranteeing its success, there are steps you can take to give yourself the best possible start. Kimberley Millhouse, Senior Move Manager at Crown Relocations, has put together some practical tips.

Before you go…

Research

Time is a luxury that many people don’t have in abundance when it comes to relocating, but the more time you can put aside to do some research, the better. While the thought might be off-putting, it will pay dividends later on and help you to avoid mistakes.

Consider what you would set-up if you moved house in the UK, such as a phone line, utilities and council tax, and find out what information you will be required to provide in order to do this in your new location.

Finding local places of interest

Locating places in advance that you will need to visit once you have arrived, such as a supermarket, can be a great time and stress saver. It would be worthwhile marking them on a map so that you can find your way around when you’re out and about. Crucially, it also means you won’t need to rely on the Internet when you arrive. After all, it could take some time to organise phone lines and Internet access for your new home.

This is also a useful way to help you establish elements of your current lifestyle that you wish to continue, such as going to a gym, cinema or restaurants. Doing the activities that you are used to will help you to avoid feeling homesick. If you do find yourself feeling down or disappointed about the relocation, try to be realistic about the issues you are facing and don’t stay at home. Find places you enjoy and establish routines that will work for you.

Learn about your new country

Don't be afraid to try new food and drink

It is perfectly natural to experience culture shock when you arrive so it can be very beneficial to prepare yourself for those differences. You may think that some countries have similar cultures to the UK, but that doesn’t mean you won’t feel the effects of culture shock. No matter how alike the countries are, it can often help to take part in an inter-cultural training course to get a true understanding of the new culture.

The more you know about your new surroundings the better placed you will be to connect with local people and understand the way the country is governed. If you can, visiting your new location before you move will also help you to know what to expect.

Explore every opportunity for employment

Whether you’re relocating on your own or with your family, arranging a job from afar can be tricky, but don’t give up hope. The benefits of a stable job are clear. If you are employed in your new location, you will become accustomed to the local area much more quickly. Working will help you to establish a degree of routine and will build upon your personal contacts. Try to keep focused on what you would like to do.

Finding the perfect pad

You will feel more settled if you have somewhere to call your own, but that doesn’t mean you need to buy a house – certainly not immediately. If you’re relocating on your own and don’t like the thought of renting a property by yourself, look on websites for potential house shares.

Remember to take into account the local area when choosing your new home. Making sure you pick somewhere that has easy access to your job, suitable schools and the local amenities will allow you to familiarise yourself with the area more quickly and get used to your surroundings.

Secure school places

Do try and learn the language!

Routines can be very important for children so attending school shortly after you arrive can help both you and your children to establish a routine and settle in. By arranging a school for your child before the relocation, you will avoid a last minute panic to find somewhere suitable when you arrive.

If you have time to visit schools in the area, you will have a chance to explore the facilities, meet the teachers and get a feel for what kind of school you want your child to attend.

Once you have arrived…

Explore

Once you are over the jet lag, you will undoubtedly be excited and full of enthusiasm about your new destination. You really should harness this energy as much as possible – now is the time to get your map out and explore the local area. This will immediately give you a sense of where you are, which will help to build your feelings of comfort and familiarity.

Don’t let distance keep you apart

Keeping in touch with loved ones can help to reduce the feeling of homesickness which is crucial when you first relocate. Nowadays, there is a wide variety of low cost, quick and user-friendly ways to maintain contact.

The Internet is a great way of keeping the cost of staying in touch down. Software such as Skype allows you to phone people through the Internet so you can make free calls for as long as you like and, if they have a webcam, you will be able to see whoever you’re talking to.

Social networking websites such as Facebook allow you to share photos, have live chats and catch up on what is happening back home. Make sure you keep your profile up-to-date so your loved ones back home can see what you are up to and in turn, keep you posted on the latest from them.

Join expat groups

Simply put, there is nothing quite like research to set your relocation in the right direction

Investigate local expat groups and, when you arrive, make an effort to join as many as possible. The members of these groups can be a vital source of encouragement, practical assistance and information to help you settle in.

Expat groups can also be a great way to build your support network and make friends, which can be particularly important if you are in a country with a different first language to your own. Expats will be able to help you practice the language, as well as learn the local culture. What’s more, you can use their experiences of local services, from dentists to tap classes, to find out the best places to use.

Remember – they have been through the same process as you and will therefore know and understand what you are going through, as well as the needs you might have. Don’t be shy about asking for help.

Make it work for you

Seek as much assistance as you can to help to ease the burden and get your friends and family involved in the process – they will be more than happy to help you get the best start you can.

For more ideas about what you should think about for your relocation, head to www.moveoverseas.co.uk/mymove for an interactive planner and get started on that to-do list.

Clever Moda Sporty Square Swim Shorts £32.50

The snow may have been falling, the winter winds might have been whistling down your chimney and the bottom falling out of your thermometer but just remember, somewhere on the planet, there’s a sunlit beach where the waves are lapping, the sun is shining and there’s a bar serving ice cold drinks.

The fact is that there are plenty of people who own a home in the sun where they have year-round swimming (heated pools in the winter or a wonderful climate) and there are even more who are planning a trip abroad this summer to continue their search for a bolthole in the sun.

HOM Flor Swim Short £40

Whether you are a year-round swimmer or lucky enough to enjoy beach-worthy weather at this time of year, it is essential for all of us to choose top notch swim and beachwear. Recent years have seen a trend towards sleeker, snugger and without a doubt more stylish designs for the men, with the shapeless, baggy shorts of years gone having been replaced with flattering briefs and chic boxer brief style swimmers.

When considering what men’s swimwear to buy, think about what function you want it to serve… Choose a sporty number for your daily laps at the pool, perhaps a solid colour with a contrasting flourish. Beach posers need only worry about eye-catching prints and enhancing cuts, but those who brave the waves might be looking for garments that are slightly more robust. And learn a lesson from the ladies, chaps – yes, white swimwear looks fantastic with a good tan, but without a lining you might end up showing off more than you bargained for!

HOM Vector Micro £27 available during February

Deadgoodundies.com stocks some fantastic swimwear styles for men all year round with something to suit all needs. Fast drying fabrics, sleek design and chlorine-resistantoptions are perfect for the pool while the bright, bold and beautiful choices from DGU’s seasonal collections are beachwear essentials whatever your location. Brand new 2011 collections will be arriving as early as February so keep an eye out for the season’s hottest styles.

And if you want the full monty, no tan lines look, there are swim briefs that are not only minimalist in terms of fabric, but the material also actually lets the sun’s rays shine through so you get an all-over tan. DGU commissioned special prints in their Solar Tan Thru styles – the pattern hides one’s modesty while the sunshine does its work!

For more information, go on-line at: www.deadgoodundies.com

Fancy winning a free return crossing to France? You can, thanks to P&O Ferries!

This competition is brought to you through a collaboration between P&O Ferries, Expatsradio and www.homesandtravel.co.uk

How to enter the competition:

For your chance to win a free standard return crossing – which can be used for a car and up to nine passengers for any length of stay – just answer the question below and send your entry, marked P&O Ferries Competition, to: expatcompetitions@hotmail.co.uk

Entries should arrive by 30^th April 2011 and the lucky winners will be drawn at random by an independent judge on 16/05/2011 [two weeks after competition closing date]. The winners will be notified by telephone or email within seven days.

* Our decision of the prize winners is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the outcome of the prize promotion.

* No purchase is necessary to enter.

Question:

What was the name of the company that the letters P&O originally stood for?

P&O Ferries

P&O Ferries is investing €360 million in the two largest ferries ever to operate the Dover – Calais route. The first, Spirit of Britain, entered service at the end of January to widespread acclaim and here’s your chance to celebrate a new era for ferry travel by winning one of twelve trips we have to give away in conjunction with Expatsradio.com, each for a car and up to nine passengers.

The Spirit of Britain

At 49,000 tonnes, 213 metres in length, and with 12 decks, the new ferries are by far the largest ever designed for the Dover Strait. And at a combined cost of €360 million they’re also the largest investment ever made by P&O Ferries.

On board there’s space aplenty to offer the broadest range of facilities. The family lounge gives commanding Channel views from the front of the ship and dining options include waiter service and self-service restaurants.

There’s an extensive shopping centre offering big name brands at bargain off shore prices. The Club Lounge provides a quiet retreat, or relax in the aft bar which opens onto the outside deck where you can watch the world go by using the binoculars provided at special viewing points.

Spirit of Britain is now in service and sister ship Spirit of France will follow in September. You can take a virtual tour of the new ships at www.poferries.com/newships but if you take a moment to enter our competition, you could win a trip to see the real thing for yourself. The total value of these 12 prizes in peak season is more than £2,000.

For more information, go on-line to: www.poferries.com

Expatsradio

Expatsradio.com began life at the end of 2005 as a small test website to see if anybody would actually be interested in talking to us or listening to what we had to say. The answer? A resounding yes!

Our aim was simple: to create a site which would provide people already living or contemplating moving abroad with information on important issues like finance and law, compiled by our team, experts or the listeners themselves.

The medium of audio proved to be not only useful and practical, but also popular and entertaining.

Entertainment is an important word at Expatsradio for who wants only practical information? We are now able to provide everything from morning stories to music programmes. Regular topics include gardening, cookery, horoscopes and news.

The associated website grew surprisingly quickly and warranted a massive upgrade. This has given the site a new, modern and professional look together with the latest high tech facilities, which in turn has seen a large jump in both site traffic and interest.

With the spring and summer in the not-too-distant future, this competition could open the doors to France

This launch marked a huge leap in not just technology but also what Expatsradio can offer. It has changed the very way in which business is conducted and how articles and programmes are handled.

Starting with a very small team Expatsradio has expanded rapidly to incorporate a host of skilled professionals from journalists to animators and from web developers to marketing specialists.

Today Expatsradio is not just another website but a powerful, free resource available worldwide via computer or mobile phone. It is now relied on by many for its high quality impartial advice offered in text, audio and video format at the click of a button.

For more information, go to: www.expatsradio.com

www.homesandtravel.co.uk

At www.homesandtravel.co.uk we have access to many different information layers throughout the property and travel industries. We include features on the site that examine everything from new property developments in the UK to homes around the world. We cover the latest statistics on the property markets and we look at the progress being made in eco homes.

There's nothing like a visit to a French fruit and vegetable market

Launched in 2010, the site is packed with up-to-date articles that will help you to decide the what, the where and the how in buying a home both in the UK and abroad.

The website, www.homesandtravel.co.uk, is put together in an easy-to-use format and is a simple way for you to gather information about owning or travelling to your homes, whether in the Britain or overseas.

The site is continuing to grow and important features are planned as we head into the spring. Articles that are crammed with information are continually being uploaded at www.homesandtravel.co.uk. These include financial and legal information as well topics such as which destinations are best for investment, money saving tips plus main features that will continue to look at the many aspects of overseas and UK homes and travel.

For more information, go to: www.homesandtravel.co.uk

COMPETITION RULES

• Prizes cannot be extended and are only valid on the Dover – Calais route operated by P&O Ferries
• Prizes cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer
• Normal height/length/width/weight restrictions apply and prize crossings are subject to space availability
• Prizes are valid until 31 December 2011
• No cash or other alternatives for any of the stated prizes will be offered
• The judge’s decision is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into
• Neither P&O Ferries’ employees and their relatives nor employees/relatives of this publication/station are eligible to enter the competition
• P&O Ferries reserves the right in unforeseen circumstances beyond its control to change these rules or alter this promotion at any time without prior notice
• All additional travel supplements will be met by the competition winners and not by P&O Ferries
• All bookings exclude Bank Holidays and are subject to restricted space and availability
• Prizes are not transferable