Whether you’re day-tripping at home or jetting off abroad, sun cream is an essential item to pack.

So in honour of the upcoming summer (the sun's there somewhere) and the half term holidays, here are some facts that will help to keep your skin safe from the sun when you’re out and about.

1. SPF stands for sun protection factor, and the numbers next to it indicate the level of protection time the product offers from the sun.

2. Higher factors offer a longer (not better) protection. This is because the SPF value refers to the number of minutes you can spend in the sun without getting burnt – in other words, the quantity of protection rather than the quality. So wearing an SPF 15 means you can stay in the sun for 150 minutes before turning pink, while an SPF 25 fends off harmful rays for 250 minutes. This is why regular applications are crucial.

3. Despite popular belief, putting an SPF 20 over an SPF 10 does not equate to wearing SPF 30, but does count as a reapplication.

4. Although the first form of sun cream is said to have been invented in the 1930s, the SPF scaling system was first introduced by Swiss chemist Franz Greiter in the 1960s. This measurement helped people work out how long they could spend in the sun without burning.  

5. On average, suncream lasts about three years before becoming significantly less effective. So if you can’t find an expiration date on the bottle, be sure to keep track of how long you’ve had it!

6. If you’re skiing, be sure to slap on the SPF. Although it might not feel like it, the sun is seriously strong in the snow, and it reflects 80% of light compared to the 17% reflected on sand. Don’t forget to wear lip balm with sunscreen in it either when hitting the slopes.

7. The difference between sun cream and sun block? Sun cream falls under the category of ‘chemical sunscreens’, which absorb UV rays. Whereas sun block is a ‘physical sunscreen’, which is packed with ingredients that reflect rays, making for a stronger shield from the sun.

8. Waterproof sunscreen offers double the protection time of water resistant creams, protecting you for up to 80 minutes in the water compared to the 40 minutes that water resistant cream provides. However, as it’s better to be safe than sorry, we recommend reapplying right away after going for a dip.

9. Although most SPFs range from 2-100+, the NHS recommends using a product with at least a factor of 15. Across the pond the suggested minimum factor is 30. Perhaps we need the extra Vitamin D a bit more than the Americans!

10. You can still burn on a cloudy day so lather up, as 30 to 50 per cent of the sun's UV rays can still come into contact with your skin. 

Where will you be taking your sunscreen next?

In honour of national Canary Islands Day on 30^th May (or Día de las Canarias as the locals call it), we thought it would be seasonably fitting to outline a few facts about the lovely Canaries. From Tenerife to Lanzarote and Gran Canaria to Fuerteventura, here are 10 fascinating facts about the Atlantic-based archipelago.

Image credit: greenacre8

1. Not only does the national day celebrate the country’s rich culture, but this year marks the 30^th anniversary of their parliament being in place.

2. Locals throughout the islands celebrate the day in a number of different ways from going to church to hosting celebratory parties, while some also go to dog shows and attend concerts playing the national music.

3. Despite popular belief, the Canary Islands get their name from the Latin for dog, ‘canaria’, so the direct translation of the country is in fact, ‘Island of Dogs’ – nothing to do with the birds! Does that name sound familiar? Similarly, London’s Isle of Dogs is named after the large shipments of goods that were imported from the Canaries, which is also how the name Canary Wharf came to light as well.

4. The group of islands have double the amount of capital cities than most destinations, as Tenerife’s Santa Cruz and Las Palmas in Gran Canaria both share the title.

5. Not only is Tenerife’s Mount Teide the Canary Islands’ largest volcano and Spain’s highest point, but at a staggering 3,718 metres tall, it’s also the third biggest volcano in the world.

6. The island is a major producer of wine and as English grapes were not up to standard in the 16^th and 17^th centuries, the sweet white wine was imported from the Canaries. In fact, Shakespeare was a fan of the beverage and references Canarian vino in both his Twelfth Night and The Merry Wives of Windsor.  

7. If you can’t make up your mind between a day at the pool or a stint on the beach, Tenerife has the ideal happy medium in the form of both. Based in the island’s town of Puerto de la Cruz, The Lido Martianez or Lake Martianez is a natural salt water swimming pool designed by local architect César Manrique. With seven different pools to choose from, there’s plenty of room for a dip.

Fancy visiting? Have a look at our cheap hotels in the Canaries.

Cornwall is one of the UK’s most popular holiday destinations.

Visiting this picturesque county doesn’t have to cost the earth, and if you’re heading there on a budget, you'll find countless things to see and do which won’t cost you a single penny.

So to help you along, we've compiled 25 free things to do in Cornwall. Some of the best things in life really are free…

Land's End in Cornwall by Paul A.R. on Flickr

1.       Cornish Camels - Get up close to a number of charming camels in this delightful farm - great for kids.

2.       Mousehole Bird Hospital - See the work done by this hospital that cares for injured birds in order to heal and return them to the wild.

3.       Mount Edgcumbe House - A magnificent stately home set in pretty Cornish gardens.

4.       Land’s End - One of the most famous sites in the UK, and the most south-westerly point in the country.

5.       Tintagel Castle - Believed to be the birthplace of King Arthur, the castle here is set in spectacular surroundings.

6.       Godolphin Estate - Discover the fascinating history of this stylish house and 16^th century gardens.

7.       Heartlands - A World Heritage site - home to various exhibitions, sculptures and a play area for kids.

8.       Truro Cathedral - A beautiful 19^th century cathedral with a Gothic revival architectural style and three spires.

9.       Falmouth Art Gallery - See some of the most impressive artwork in Cornwall including pieces by Victorian artists, British and French Impressionists and children's book illustrators.

10.   Trenance Chocolate Factory - See a range of luxury handmade chocolates being made here, which are available to buy.

11.   Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange - Home to a variety of national and international contemporary art.

12.   Beaches - The coastline around Cornwall stretches for around 250 miles and boasts numerous beaches and coves.

13.   Fowey St Catherines’ Castle - A small artillery fort that was built by Henry VIII in the 1530s to defend Fowey Harbour.

14.   Salt Fest - A vibrant dance and music festival taking place between July and August.

15.   Carn Euny - This ancient village is one of the best preserved in the south-west with the remains of numerous stone houses still standing here.

16.   Cornish Goldsmiths Centre - See a stunning collection of jewellery or take part in a workshop.

17.   Tehidy Country Park - A large woodland in west Cornwall with lakes and streams and home to an old estate.

18.   Marconi Centre - Discover the remarkable history of this site that conducted the first transatlantic radio transmission.

19.   Roskilly’s Ice Cream Farm - A must for ice cream lovers, see Cornish ice cream being created in front of your eyes.

20.   South West Coastal Path - The longest coastal path in the UK allows you to see spectacular scenery at almost every point.

21.   Pendennis Castle - An incredible castle, built in 1539 for King Henry VIII.

22.   Trelowarren - See this Iron Age hill fort situated on the highest point on The Lizard.

23.   Healey's Cornish Cyder Farm - See where award-winning ciders are created at the largest cider-makers in Cornwall.

24.   Lydford Castle - Another impressive castle and one of the most famous landmarks in the area.

25.   Dawlish Warren - A beautiful nature reserve with over 600 species of plants.

Researching a trip? Download this list here.

Have we missed any of your favourite free things to do in Cornwall? Let us know below!

With the UEFA Champions League final coming up this weekend, we thought we’d share some juicy sporty facts with you.

From the track to the tennis court and the football pitch to the swimming pool, we’ve rounded up some fascinating things you might not have known about some of the world's top athletes.

Image by londonfilmgeek via Flickr

1. Despite being raised in Denmark, the famous footballer Jesper Grønkjær was actually born in Greenland. It’s probably just as well he left when he did as despite what its name might suggest, the ex-Danish colony cannot be part of FIFA due to a lack of grass grown in the country in addition to unfavourable weather conditions.

2. Golf legend Tiger Woods always wears the colour red on the last day of a tournament for luck as his mum believes it’s his ‘power colour’. Who said that the pros weren’t superstitious?

3. The Jamaican athletics star Usain Bolt didn’t always want to be a sprinter. As a kid Bolt aspired to be a cricket player like his idol Sachin Tendulkar, a veteran batsman for India.

Image by carine06 via Flickr

4. Scottish tennis ace Andy Murray attended Dunblane Primary School during the time of the 1996 school shooting where 16 of his classmates and a teacher were killed.

5. Basketball maven Michael Jordan has a dining room table with 32,292 holes in it – to symbolise the number of points he’s scored on the court throughout his career.

6. UK Olympic medallist Jessica Ennis isn’t just a great track athlete. The record holding heptathlon champion, who was just married over the weekend, also has a psychology degree from the University of Sheffield.

Image by nathanf via Flickr

7. While the former England captain David Beckham just announced his retirement, he also suffers from OCD and has admitted to arranging his belongings in a straight line or in pairs depending on the item. 

8. Serena and Venus aren’t the only Williams sisters. The world-famous tennis stars have two others - Lyndrea and Isha. In 2003, their eldest sister, Yetunde, was killed in a shooting in the LA suburb of Compton.

9. Not only does the US Olympian and world-record-breaking swimmer Michael Phelps have flippers for feet (which measure in at a size 14 and rotate 15 degrees more than the average person’s), but he also consumes up to 12,000 calories a day to help optimise his peak performance in the pool.

10. Rugby ace Jonny Wilkinson isn’t the only one in his family with a knack for sport. His grandfather Phil was also a pro and played for Norwich City Football Club during World War II.

Heading to Wembley for the final this weekend? Grab a last minute hotel deal in one of our London hotels.

This year on Saturday 18th May, Eurovision is kicking off in Sweden’s Malmö – the fifth time this country has held the flamboyant event.

In celebration of the 58th annual contest coming up this weekend, we thought we’d take a look at some of the most memorable performances to date.

Image by zeljkojoksimovic via Flickr

UK

Believe it or not, we’ve managed to win the contest five times since it started in 1956 – that’s the same number of times as Luxembourg, France and this year’s host, Sweden. Here are some of our proudest victories.

• 1969 was the year of Lulu's ‘Boom Bang-a-bang’: This Scottish singer’s performance racked up an impressive 18 points. 

• Britain’s Katrina & The Waves took home the gold with 227 points – one of our greatest triumphs to date. 

• We’ve had some less successful stints on the stage too. In 2007, Scooch's ‘Flying the Flag’ got us 23rd out of 24 acts in 2007 with the unusual aviation motif – yes, that’s second to last.

• However our worst ever act was this dud duo, Jemini, with their 2003 flop ‘Cry Baby’, which had us wailing for them to stop. Not only did we come last that year, but the disaster cost us our first ever ‘nil points’ in Eurovision history.

Finland

• In terms of bizarre, this winning Finnish sensation from Lordi (the ‘Hard Rock Hallelujah’) in 2006 gets our vote with their heavy metal, zombie-esque monster show.  

Israel

• ‘Diva’ Dana International made headlines back in the late ‘90s for being one of the first transsexual performers to grace the stage with the glitzy number ‘Diva’ which won her the 1999 contest.   
   
• A year later, she fell flat on her face while presenting the 1999 winners with their trophy before running off stage.   

Sweden

• Finally, we couldn’t possibly leave out the most successful of all Eurovision wins – the 1974 hit ‘Waterloo’ from none other than Sweden’s very own ABBA.

• Not only did their iconic performance get them a hefty 24 points, but they went on to be global, well known pop superstars to boot. A definite "win".

For places to stay in these and other noteworthy Eurovision destinations, check out the latest deals from Hotels4u.

Originating from the city of Limerick in Ireland, limericks are a witty or humorous verse or poem, which were made famous by Victorian writer Edward Lear.

Sunday 12th May was National Limerick Day, and a time to celebrate these popular five-line poems. It also gave us the chance to have some fun in the office and think of a few travel-related limericks featuring some of our favourite destinations...

The Limerick countryside (image via Flickr)

Despite a more than welcome bit of sunshine this weekend, we haven’t exactly been blessed with fantastic weather so far in 2013 - unless you’re a fan of wind, rain and snow!

But with half term approaching, families have the ideal excuse to pack their suitcases and head off to warmer climes.

Finding the ideal place to suit all tastes can sometimes be tricky, but don’t stress; here’s a look at some of the best holiday destinations that the whole family will love.

Image by Popofatticus via Flickr

With spring in full swing, and the bank holiday weekend coming up, we thought we’d give you some pointers as to where to go to soak up some sun.

Whether you’re planning a weekend trip or happen to live close by, from England to Scotland, here are some of our top sandy (and hopefully sunny) spots around the UK.

Image: shining_darkness via flickr 

After the Queen celebrated her 87th birthday at the weekend, we thought we’d commemorate this special occasion by taking a look at some of the things you may not know about Her Majesty.

From receiving an elephant as a gift to breeding a new type of dog, it’s fair to say the life of Queen Elizabeth II has never been dull…

Image by Foreign and Commonwealth Office via Flickr

1. Puppy Love

Her Royal Highness is famous for her corgis and she has owned more than 30 of them during her reign. She received her first corgi - named Susan - as a gift for her 18th birthday in 1944, and she currently owns three, Willow, Monty and Holly. A new breed of dog was also introduced by the Queen, when a corgi mated with a dachshund, and is known as a dorgi!

2. On the Ball

The first football match the Queen ever attended was the 1953 FA Cup Final between Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers. Rather than Her Majesty though, it was a certain Stanley Matthews who stole all the headlines after a magnificent performance, inspiring Blackpool to win the game 4-3. Clearly impressed by his display, Matthews later received a knighthood from the Queen in 1965 for services to football.

3. That’s a Wrap

During her time on the throne, Her Royal Highness has received a number of expensive gifts, from diamond brooches to necklaces. But some of the more unusual presents she has been given from across the globe include an elephant from Cameroon, two tortoises from the Seychelles and two black beavers after a visit to Canada. You won’t be surprised to hear that none of these live at Buckingham Palace!

4. Horsing About

One of the Queen’s biggest passions is horse racing and she regularly attends the Derby at Epsom and the Summer Race Meeting at Ascot. She owns and breeds horses which have been victorious at Royal Ascot on a number of occasions, as well as other racing events around the country. The Queen’s racing colours are similar to those worn by King Edward VII and consist of a purple body with gold braid, scarlet sleeves and a black velvet cap.

5. Picture Perfect

If you’re known for shying away whenever a camera is brought out, then spare a thought for Her Majesty. The Queen is one of the most photographed people on the planet and has sat for 129 portraits, the first of which was in 1933, when she was just seven years old. Two of her portraits are together with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, while in 2004; she sat for the world’s first hologram portrait, created by artist Chris Levine after taking over 1,000 images to give it a 3D effect.

Tell us your best Queen facts over on our Twitter, Facebook or Google+ pages.

This year, April 19th doesn’t just fall on a Friday. It also happens to be National Garlic Day – an occasion dedicated to spreading awareness of the many uses of everyone’s favourite bulb-shaped plant. In honour of the occurrence, we thought we’d pick out some of the best places to go to grab your garlic fix.

Image by swanksalot via flickr