Here are our top picks of alternative accommodation available to hire in the UK:

The Treehouse
For a romantic tree house holiday for two in the heart of the British countryside, within an hour of London and seven miles from Tunbridge Wells, head for Bensfield Treehouse in Sussex. It has all mod cons including king size bed, en-suite bathroom, fitted kitchen, sundeck and a gorgeous rope bridge for private access. It will take you back to your naughty childhood days and is set around a large oak tree – making you feel like you’re hiding out in your own nature den. Enjoy breakfast al fresco and recline in the treetops, which have excellent views of the surrounding fields and forests, through the day. In the evening, male for the local bars and restaurants where live music and great, local food are all par for the course. It makes for a great staycation in the UK and perhaps even a low cost honeymoon. Find out more here

The Wooden WigWam
Escape to Central Scotland for a break in a wooden wigwam which will have you expecting grizzly bears and racoons as you shack up in one of these great structures which actually sleeps five. Find a fridge, microwave, toaster and kettle inside and easy access to the River Earn for Rainbow Trout and Salmon fishing – fresh food which can be gutted there and then and thrown on your own allocated firepit. Nearby you’ll find the Crieff Visitor Centre and all-year-round Nutcracker Christmas Village. It promises a great stay and great facilities with even a games room on-site. Local pubs are within easy walking distance and wildlife, including plenty of ducks, is a given as they stumble across your patch in the early hours. Find out more here

The Yurt
Try Yurt camping in Wales – against the backdrop of the Powys Hills for these Mongolian Yurts will transport you as far as mentally possible from the crowded rat race to a place where stargazing, log fires and quiet contemplation rule. Amidst Willow, Ash and Cherry trees, you’ll be in your element as you get back in touch with nature – but don’t worry, each Yurt is insulated with sheep wool and as cosy as they come. Wood burners aplenty and cultural wall hangings adorn these up-market tents, which are filled with scatter cushions and hand-made day and lounge beds. It’s festival spirit at its best – without the loud music and mud. Find out more here

The Gypsy Caravan
Get in touch with your inner gypsy at Wriggles Brook Gypsy B&B in Hertfordshire, where a romantic escape is guaranteed. Although your accommodation will be simple, you can have organic meals delivered to your door and there’s no shortage of hot showers in the nearby heated cabin. Add to that satin and silk on the bed and your own eco-loo and you have paradise on – albeit static – wheels. Bird song is the order of the day and you can expect to be serenaded by night also by the local owls. Hammocks, log fires and local pubs are all there for the taking so what are you waiting for?! Find out more here

The Tipi
London might not always spring to mind as an ideal camping destination but Tipis of London makes it so. Hire a large, cotton Tipi for a weekend to remember and you won’t regret it. Inside you’ll find all manner of hard and soft furnishings, depending on your requirements. Whether it’s pouffes, beanbags or sheep skins you desire, your wish is their command. These native Indian style Tipis can sleep up to eight and are a great party accommodation alternative – combining both vintage and modern takes on the traditional Sami Lavvu Tipi. Find out more here

The Eco Lodge
Eco warriors will love this luxury accommodation in Darlington. It’s the ultimate in private glamping – and you can leave with a completely clear conscious. It’s not far from the motorway but you’d never know. It has everything you might expect from a wooden lodge and is just a short drive from lots of great tourist attractions in the region. Freshwater and bay fishing, hiking, ice skating, whitewater rafting and good cycling routes are all within easy reach. Find out more here

The post Top glamping get-aways in Great Britain appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

1) Carl, how does it feel to be listed as a finalist in the MyTravelMoney.co.uk Travel Blog Awards?
It’s a bit like winning the 100m at school sports day, aged nine – a complete shock but very rewarding and lovely to get the odd pat on your back from friends.

2) Tell us about any other awards you have won…
Last year we were placed first in The Independent’s Top 50 B&Bs which, again, was such a surprise but felt like a huge endorsement for all the efforts we had invested over the previous two years.

3) When did you start travel blogging?
Our accommodation in Eastbourne attracts such a diverse and fascinating range of guests from around the world and is set within a truly beautiful environment, so it would’ve been a crime not to tell people our stories. From day one of starting the business – back in August 2009 – I just had to start typing.

4) Tell us more about your business and how it started…
My wife and I had lived in London for years working in PR and marketing. But when our first child come along, it triggered a sense-check of what was important in life and made me consider what we enjoyed and where we wanted to be – a mid-life crisis you might say! Thankfully, my wife was supportive.

The Guesthouse East has a perfect location, just off the seafront, in a beautiful Grade II-listed Regency villa and has just six suites (each with a separate kitchen for the freedom of self-catering), and we fell in love with it and wanted to share it with people.

5) What makes you passionate about travel?
I’ve been extremely fortunate that, from a very early age, I experienced a whole range of travels – from sunny hols in the Med with my mum and childhood fishing trips in Scotland with dad, through to backpacking years around the globe and swanky business trips. I’ve never lost my sense of adventure and hope it rubs off on my children.

6) What are your future plans for The Guesthouse East?
We want to open people’s eyes to Eastbourne. It’s the sunniest place in the UK, with the beautiful coastline of Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters – all within the South Downs National Park and yet it is still a bit of a hidden gem. It’s the perfect base to explore the wonderful Sussex region and we want to help our guests get the very most out of every precious break – or to simply sit back and relax. We found the demand for quality, contemporary self catering accommodation was so high that we’ve extended by setting up a holiday homes business, Exclusively Eastbourne, to complement The Guesthouse East and this has really taken off. We now help rent 11 beautiful local properties to guests from around the world.

7) What are the main challenges you face in your line of work?
It’s probably that you never know where the next challenge is coming from! Running a small business, it’s important to become a complete all-rounder and be just as comfortable with a spanner as you are with a spreadsheet or saucepan. No day is ever the same so there’s no chance of boredom kicking in. In fact, if the luxury of boredom creeps into any day, I take it as a green light to get out the kayak and fishing rod!

8) Which destination have you enjoyed blogging about the most and why?
Eastbourne without a doubt – and my guests, who never fail to surprise (and often inspire).

9) Do you have any travel ‘heroes’?
Joseph Conrad revealed mysterious travels and heroic adventure to me at school – transporting me far from my Nottingham comprehensive. I’ve been chasing these dreams ever since.

10) What would you like to be doing in five years time?
I would love to own a surf school in Montañita, Ecuador, and spread the word to entice North American and European travellers to hit the waves and explore the dramatic, but amazingly accessible, country.

11) What’s your advice to anyone looking for a career in the travel industry?
I’d say go out and explore before you drop your anchor.

The post Never a dull moment in Eastbourne… as two hoteliers well know appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

We’ve come over all patriotic after reading some of these jolly spiffing British blogs. Congratulations especially to Anglotopia, Smitten by Britain and Discovering London, whose authors are our well-deserving gold, silver and bronze winners.

1) Anglotopia – found tweeting @anglotopia
Now here’s a blog for people who really love Britain – and British culture. It’s a retro smorgasbord of everything that’s fab about our nation, from its cult TV classics like Fawlty Towers and Dr Who, to British literature, days out and staycations. There’s a Dad’s Army type feel about it and you can’t help but be transported back to wartime Britain at the height of the Keep Calm and Carry On era. Whether it’s a bit of nostalgia, the UK’s top camping hotspots, or the new ride at Center Parcs you’re interested in, you’ll find it all here. But most of all, it’ll make you proud to be British. We think it’s a uniquely brilliant blog and have ranked it number one. So there!

2) Smitten By Britain – found tweeting @SmittnbyBritain
This blog is penned by an American travelista, who used to live in England, and celebrates all that is good about dear old Blighty, from current events, including the Olympics; tea, tea traditions and tea accessories; the Royal family, and Britain’s B&Bs, as well as covering life as an ex-pat both in the US and in the UK. It’s colourful, incredibly patriotic and dubs itself ‘Home of the Britophile’. We think it’s a great insight into British culture and can see why those in America would be fascinated. It’s also a great place to get your Union Jack fix. It gets a silver medal from us!

3) Discovering London – found tweeting @PeteBSW1
Yes, Discovering London is a website to promote Peter Berthoud’s London Walking Tours but the blog which comes with it is one rarely seen – despite shed loads of competition from hundreds, if not thousands, other travel blogs. Peter doesn’t just share the highlights of his guided tours but he gives a real insight into historic London, complete with black and white stills. He gives a rare glimpse of the city’s past, depicting Westminster’s street markets, how the Thames once was, and alternative attractions to see and experience. Anyone who’s passionate about finding out more about the city of London should have a read – whether you’re planning a visit, live there or have no intention of going at all. We might also suggest that it’s a great supporting tool for school history lessons. Needless to say, it’s our bronze winner.

4) Britain Outdoors
Hats off to Britain Outdoors for inspiring Brits to get up, out and active in their native country! Britain Outdoors is a blog about all the great things there are to see and do outdoors in the UK and is based on 20-something Rachel’s personal experiences. She covers practically every activity you could imagine, including climbing, camping, cycling, running and family holidays. What’s more, she even provides lots of useful links to other like-minded blogs and features some ace photography to boot.

5) British Travel Blog – found tweeting @brittravelblog
British Travel Blog is a calendar-style journal of things to see and do in the UK’s major cities and beyond. It’s well-written is and a great resource for anyone planning a mini-break, day trip or extended holiday because it’s regularly updated with lots of useful inspiration and advice. It even offers handy insights into the likes of caravanning in the UK, using Smartphones while travelling through Britain, and social versus normal travel.

6) Traveling Savage – found tweeting @travelingsavage
In its own words, this blog is all about ‘exploring Scotland and getting scotched’. Follow Keith Savage as he travels around Scotland ‘with a pen in his hand and fire in the belly’ for great – and often chilling – coverage of this historic land, which has captured its author’s imagination since he quit his desk job in Vancouver. This isn’t just a blog, it’s a journey, but we won’t give too much more away. Have a read for yourself.

7) Travel Like a Brit – found tweeting @travellikeabrit
Travel Like a Brit reveals lots of simple things to do in London that perhaps you hadn’t contemplated. Rather than list lots of attractions, ‘must-sees’ and trendy hang-outs, this blog takes you on a guided tour of enjoying the capital – and parts of Europe – like a local. From where to have coffee, have a picnic, soak up the sun and shop at the markets, this blog is a handy little guide – and we love that its suggestions don’t cost a fortune.

8) The British Traveler Blog – found tweeting @BritishTraveler
Steve Langley, who’s based between Phoenix and London, is the author of this British blog which covers travel to and around Britain. A Londoner at heart, Steve is always looking for new and unique places to feature on the site and encourages people to get in touch with suggestions. The blog is pretty colourful and well penned – even if it does seem to be targeted more at an American audience.

9) The Edinburgh Blog – found tweeting @edinburgblog
You could argue that this is more of a lifestyle or foodie blog and you might be right but it’s one of the best Scottish blogs we came across on the net. Our only concern, however, is that it hasn’t been updated for a couple of months. But we like it so much we’re hoping that this little honour will help propel its author into action once again. After all, who else is going to keep us abreast of all the great up-and-coming places to dine in Auld Reekie?

10) The British Traveller
This blog is jam-packed with great information but the design lets it down a little. However, if you can look beyond the bland layout and limited images, you’ll find a nice round-up of great days out to be had across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We love its honesty and plain talking so just had to give it a mention. Therefore, it squeezes into our list at number 10.

Well done to all our winners and finalists, who are invited to download their badges of honour here.

To flag your blog up for inclusion in our awards, please email lynda@mytravelmoney.co.uk

The post Top 10 Best of British Travel Blogs appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

Here are a few of our favourites:

1) Alton Towers
Alton Towers is Britain’s biggest and best, with everything you might expect from an adventure park… roller coasters, boat rides, arcades, ghost trains and its own water park. Book a short break in one of its own hotels in Alton, or find a budget Premier Inn or the likes nearby to save some cash.

2) Legoland
Legoland in Windsor won the 2011 Silver British Travel Award for Best UK Theme Park and with good reason. It spans 150 acres of parkland and has more than 55 interactive rides, live shows and workshops to keep the kids amused – all via the wonder of Lego. What’s more, families can now stay on-site after the Legoland Windsor Resort Hotel officially opened its doors in March this year. And, if you’re travelling in July you can witness the potential breaking of a new world record for the tallest Lego tower.

3) Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Lancashire is another great park. Try the new Nickelodeon Spongebob ride, test your mettle on the Pepsi Max or famous Big Dipper, or visit one of the Hot Ice shows. And while you’re in Blackpool, which is one of Britain’s best traditional seaside resorts, be sure to visit the Tower, see the zoo and pace the promenade for lots of cheap and tacky souvenir gifts.

4) Paultons Family Theme Park
Paultons Family Theme Park in New Forest is the only one to feature the loveable TV character, Peppa Pig, with her own version of kiddie friendly rides and attractions. But, don’t worry, there’s plenty for the older kids too. Try The Cobra, Raging River Ride or, if you’re intrepid enough, The Jumping Bean.

5) Loudoun Castle
Loudoun Castle is Scotland’s premier family theme park which has lots of thrill seeker rides like the Twist N Shout and the Pirates-of-the-Caribbean-themed Black Pearl. It’s not too far from the seaside town of Ayr, which has a fantastic coastline and plenty of shops.

6) Flamingo Land
Yorkshire’s Flamingo Land is just non-stop fun, with lots of white knuckle rides and even its own zoo. The animals themselves are well worth a visit and range from the Brazilian Tapir to Lemurs and Lions. In fact, there are more than 120 different species to behold at Flamingo Land, which is only open for the season until November 4 – so hurry or you’ll miss the fun!

7) Chessington World of Adventures
You’ll find no less than nine different themed parts of Chessington, which is within easy driving distance of London and is celebrating its 25th anniversary year. The resort has its own zoo and Sea Life Centre, which features Blacktip Reef Sharks, Jellyfish, Rays and more. Perhaps the best news of all, though, is that tickets start from as little as £20 per person when booked at least seven days in advance.

8) M&Ds
M&Ds in Strathclyde, Scotland, is a thrill-seeker’s dream. It’s full of daredevil rides and attractions for kids and adults brave enough to test their mettle. Other attractions include bingo, bowling and Amazonia, M&Ds’ very own indoor rainforest. Find it near Hamilton, just a short drive from Glasgow.

9) Landmark
According to the Scottish Thistle Awards, Landmark near Inverness is the ‘perfect family day out’ and we’d certainly have to agree. Tucked away in the Scottish Highlands, you’ll find this super theme park which is great for families who love the outdoors. It has its own Wild Water Coaster, a Runaway Timber Train and plenty of climbing activities to tackle – like in Ant City, for example.

10) Storybook Glen
Enter the magical world of make-believe at Storybook Glen for a chance to get up close and personal with your favourite nursery rhyme and fairytale characters for there are more than 100 of them on display. Explore 28 acres of gorgeous scenery, complete with secret waterfalls and exotic animals. Although this theme park caters for all ages, it’s particularly special for small children.

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