There is nothing wrong with taking a package holiday with plenty of time on the beach and little hassle. It can be just the ticket, particularly if you can’t get much time away from a hectic job. Holidays can give a little bit extra, though – they can be a great way to pick up a skill and even find a new passion.
A learning holiday offers the opportunity to take home a skill you can use long after the holiday memories have faded. All you need to do is find the right course. There are plenty to choose from, like sailing, art schools, cookery and photography. For example, if you’ve always loved boats, you could take a holiday on the Norfolk Broads or a French canal. But you could also take an RYA course and get a sailing qualification as well.
An RYA ‘Competent Crew’ will teach you the basics of sailing while enjoying the open water. You can find courses in the UK and abroad that include food and accommodation, and you’ll leave with a qualification that you can build on in the future if you decide to try and become the Captain Jack Aubrey you’ve always dreamt of.
Cooking is another popular holiday option as you don’t have to be a budding chef to sample the finest ingredients and have an authentic experience. You can find courses for most tastes across Europe and in Thailand. At the top end of the scale, The Two Bordelais offer holidays including accommodation in a 200 year old stone house in Bordeaux, and needless to say, the finest wine. You’ll source ingredients from the local market and prepare them in a professional kitchen inside the 13th century Chateau La Louviere or the instructor’s private farmhouse kitchen with stone walls and huge fireplaces. Typical meals include duck, seafood, fresh fish and garden vegetables.
If you love the water but sailing’s not your thing, a PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) Open Water course can be a great way to explore the underwater world and can be completed in many exotic destinations, from the Far East to the Egyptian Red Sea. If you find a love for diving you can try the more advanced courses right up to a Rescue Diver course.
These are just a few of the ways you can learn a new skill while on holiday. But if none of these are right for you, there are lots of other options available, such as learning a new language or to dance the Tango.
One way to help you spread the initial cost of a holiday could be by a rewarding credit card, especially if you’ve got a card that offers a 0% period on purchases. It’s important to bear in mind though that if you don’t clear the balance within the introductory period, you will be charged interest.
This is a sponsored post by guest blogger Joe Bond on behalf of Sainsbury’s Bank
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