A static caravan is an investment, one which you have most probably spent your hard-earned cash on. Like any other asset it needs to be looked after so that it will look good, function well and last for a long time. Just like a conventional house, a certain amount of regular maintenance is required to keep a static caravan in trim. The good news is that this regular maintenance doesn’t have to be backbreaking, seemingly endless work that takes over your entire spare time. Far from it, in fact! It is fairly easy to maintain your caravan by taking a few simple steps.

Here are some factors to consider that will ensure your mobile home is properly maintained.

Anchoring

It is vital that a static caravan is securely anchored. Mobile homes are robustly manufactured structures, and far from lightweight, but many are occasionally overturned in stormy conditions. This usually happens in the autumn or winter months. The root cause of most such accidents is that they have been insecurely anchored. A mobile home suffers a lot of expensive damage if it is flipped over by the wind; regularly checking its anchorage will help ensure that this doesn’t happen to you.

Rust

An area of particular concern in a mobile home is its metal work. This is because the chassis and other metal fixtures and fittings could be susceptible to rust. You need to check for rust in a regular basis and, if you do find it, treat it appropriately and properly. If metal is left untreated, it can rust and as a result may quickly not even be in a fit state to use or to move. This can obviously cause problems when and if, you wish to reposition or relocate it. Rust is metal’s enemy and must be properly treated whenever it is encountered.

Guttering

Blocked gutters are the primary cause of damp in a static caravan. You need to clear the gutters out regularly and remove leaves and other debris from down-pipes and gutters, to ensure they are carrying rainwater away. It is an easy task to perform, and one just as easily forgotten about until it is too late. A planned cycle for clearing your static caravan’s gutters out will help you keep on top of it.

Internal cleans

As with any other home, a static caravan needs to be thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis. This will help ensure the structure’s longevity and also boost your quality of life. You will quickly learn that clutter and static caravans do not mix well; clutter can also lead you to believe that your mobile home is too small.

Energy

Finally, it is important to ensure that gas boilers and electrics are checked out and serviced annually. That will give you peace of mind and help ensure that they are working at the optimum level, which will also save you money.

Author Bio: This guest post was written on behalf of Static Caravans where you can find an excellent range of static caravans and mobile homes.

Travel Photo of the Week: Mousehole Harbour, England

The picture-postcard harbour of Mousehole lies 4km south of Penzance on the very tip of the County of Cornwall. Mousehole (pronounced “Mowzel”) is a very popular tourist destination. A small and very safe beach is located in a sheltered part of the harbour which is popular with families, particularly those with small children – making it an ideal location for family outings. Dylan Thomas (1930) described Mousehole as ‘ the loveliest village in England’, a title that remains true to the present day.

Photo courtesy of Travel Tips Plus reader Lavinia.

But Why the Red Sea?

The Red Sea has for long been a favourite diving destination for many divers across the world. Join any conversation about great diving and the Red Sea just comes up automatically. Most UK divers have visited one of the six different diving regions at some point in their diving careers, returning year after year, and for a very good reason. They have accustomed themselves to such great diving that when attempting to visit a different destination they tend to compare it with their old time favourite.

But why the Red Sea? What is so good about it that divers just keep raving about its diving over and over?

Well, for a very good reason as you are about to find out when reading the next paragraphs about diving the different regions the Red Sea has to offer.

Taba

Still a developing tourist area, the diving in Taba is virtually unspoilt with pristine coral reefs very close to shore which is a massive bonus. This means you do not have to travel very far spending precious time on boats to experience the best dive sites.

What’s even greater about Taba is that the region is sometimes visited by one of the most amazing sea creatures, whale sharks. Yes that right, whale sharks! From around April through to May and again September and October divers have been privileged to spot, swim and interact with whale sharks as long as 12 metres.

Dahab

Dahab is just an old time favourite for divers with great shore diving available as its underwater topography is a continuation from Dahab’s jagged mountains forming seascape valleys, beautiful reefs, canyons and caves.

The beautiful “Blue Hole” is one of Dahab’s most famous dive sites with great colours ideal for photographers.  “The Canyon” is a narrow and beautiful canyon created by volcanic activity home to hard and soft corals as well as rich fauna. The region has something for everyone with a long promenade offering a full range of water-front restaurants and a carefree atmosphere complimenting its superb diving.

Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm El Sheikh is a fully developed resort visited by many divers. The atmosphere here is the total opposite of Dahab’s, the resort is more commercialised and ideal for those looking to combine great diving with very good nightlife. The diving in this area is very famous for the array of dive sites in the Ras Mohammed National Park including Shark of Yolanda, a cargo ship that sank in less than 18 meters of water with a load of toilets.

The Straits of Tiran, 4 underwater islands with around 15 different dive sites is also very famous among divers as the currents in this area are responsible for the healthy corals and resident marine life.

Hurghada

Less developed than Sharm El Sheikh but at a growing stage to become more commercialised, this coastal area is the perfect base to catch a liveaboard and ideal for wreck divers. The huge variety of wrecks laying on the bottom sea, some with very interesting history will keep you busy for a few days during your visit.

With the main wreck location nearby, Abu Nuhas is a shipwreck graveyard and its four wrecks among which are the famous Ghiannis D and the Carnatic will offer great diving opportunities. But is not all about wrecks, Hurghada is also home to diverse marine life ranging from the tiniest nudibraches to the amazing whales hark encounters.

Marsa Alam

Are you looking for an exciting diving location with a myriad of pristine reefs home to stunning hard and soft corals and an astonishing abundance of marine life? Then look no further and book your next trip to Marsa Alam as you will get to experience the best reefs the Red Sea has to offer and if you are on one of your lucky days get a glimpse of the resident Dugong that feeds on the sea grass.

But that’s not all! Marsa Alam is also famous for an absolute must dive site. “Dolphin House”, a large, horseshoe-shaped reef is home to dozens of spinner dolphins, hiding eels, leopard groupers and much more.

Hamata

Last but by no means least; Hamata’s crystal clear water located to the south of the Red Sea is the ideal get away from it all.  Fury Shoals and St. Johns are some of the most southerly reef systems with a number of dive sites accessible only by liveaboard which just like Marsa Alam means you get to experience great reef dives.

If you are new to diving in the Red Sea I hope this article has given you a good insight to this diving destination and encouraged you to think about booking your next diving trip to one of the six regions in the Red Sea.

Author Bio

Keith Barrett is a keen diver and is able to mix business with pleasure: he works with UltimateDiving.co.uk and takes the opportunity to visit many great locations around the world. He also writes extensively about diving experiences.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, visitors to Germany often head for the country’s three largest cities, Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. While all three offer access to important historical and heritage sites and a range of interesting tourist attractions, there is a very different experience awaiting those who decide to explore Frankfurt am Main, more commonly known simply as Frankfurt.

This is the sixth largest city in Germany, with a population of around 704,449 in 2012, while a further 2.3 million live in the urban area. Frankfurt is also at the center of the Frankfurt Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region, the country’s second largest metropolitan region, which has a population of 5.6 million.

Known for its futuristic high-rise skyline, Frankfurt is the business and financial nucleus of the country and also the financial center of continental Europe. A truly global city and a major air, highway and rail transport hub, Frankfurt has Germany’s busiest airport, serving all parts of Europe and further afield. Air France flights operate from other parts of Europe and the US, as well as Russia. Frankfurt also has a diverse population and a rich cultural scene, as evidenced by its many theaters, museums and world-class opera performances.

The city is now becoming more popular with tourists and its central attractions, including the square at Römer, Frankfurt Cathedral, St. Paul’s Church and the museums at the River Main, attract the most sightseers.  However, there are quite a few neighborhoods, such as Bornheim, Bockenheim, Nordend and Old Sachsenhausen that are not on the regular tourist routes and are easily overlooked by visitors. Some of Frankfurt’s best-kept secrets are the beautiful 19th century streets and parks where many of the traditional local eating and drinking places, so beloved by the locals, are to be found.

Getting to know Frankfurt

Unlike other German cities, Frankfurt has a large multicultural population; some 180 nationalities live there. Almost 25 per cent of people living in the city are foreign nationals and 40 per cent of residents have an immigrant background.

Apart from the city center attractions, other popular attractions include the peaceful botanical gardens at Palmengarten, the Mediterranean flora at the River Main in the “Gardens of Nice” and Frankfurt Zoo, which is a particular favorite with local families. With such a compact city center, the best way to get around is on foot. In fact part of the fun of exploring the city is to get off the beaten track, away from the usual tourist haunts.

Palmengarten Botanical Gardens

For example, in Old Sachsenhausen locals gather in authentic and unspoiled pubs in the area around Wallstrasse (Wall Street) and Affentorplatz to enjoy one of Frankfurt’s specialties, Ebbelwol or apple wine; this is not a sweet cider and is something of an acquired taste. Food in Frankfurt is also a serious business and there are several local dishes worth a try beyond the famous frankfurter. There are other sausages, made from beef known as Rindswurst, and a special green sauce containing herbs that is served with meat known as Grie Soss or Grüne Sosse.

Why not take a trip to view the impressive skyline of Frankfurt am Main, to see if it truly does deserve the portmanteau title of “Mainhattan”?