2017 – Looking back at our year of travel

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I love writing this post which gives me the chance to look back at our travels for the past year. In 2017 we managed 14 trips of 1 night or over. 2 of the trips have just been myself and the husband, 1 has been a girlie night away, 9 trips with the family, and the kids have enjoyed 2 school trips.

2017 - Looking back at our year of travel

February

Our first trip of 2017 was to the beautiful city of Bath. Staying in a luxurious 3 bedroom lodge at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat, it was the perfect base to explore the city. We enjoyed visiting the Roman Baths, wandering around the stunning Bath Cathedral, and enjoyed a bus tour around the city.… Continue reading

Things to do in Maui, Hawaii with Kids

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Maui, Hawaii with kids

Maui is an island in Hawaii that is blessed with 30 miles of beautiful beaches, making it one of the best family destinations in Hawaii.  There is an abundance of activities to explore here, and fun filled activities for the whole family. Families flock to this Hawaiian island to enjoy the Polynesian culture and those pristine beaches. As Maui is not packed with tourists, families can head just about anywhere and explore the adventure that is on the island. You can choose to stay in one of the beautiful homes for rent in Maui and enjoy a comfortable stay.… Continue reading

Travelling with kids to Dubai ? Don’t miss out on these places

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With the holidays nearly upon us, it is that time of the year when a family vacation becomes just one of those unavoidable things. And if you have kids who are not prone to mid-air meltdowns, you may actually even look forward to it. Planning a holiday with kids has got to be meticulously planned – and I say that from ten years  experience. Your holiday must revolve around their interests (at least some of the activities) and respect their body clocks. I try to mix things up a little, with things that are both fun and educational.… Continue reading

Our little trip to Northumberland

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Up until our little Northumberland trip we had only had 1 night away during the summer holidays, so our 3 day break to Slaley Hall was very much needed.  After our traditional stop at Tebay Services on the M6 (the BEST services as it’s like your favourite farm shop opening up on a motorway) we arrived at our 3 bedroom lodge.

3 Bedroom Lodge at Slaley Hall

I knew what to expect as we had stayed at Slaley Hall last year, but you still get the wow factor when you first enter. We have stayed in A LOT of lodges over the years, and Slaley wins hands down for the biggest lodge.… Continue reading

School Trip to Iceland

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About 6 months ago the teen arrived home from school clutching a letter which was promptly handed to me. Now this in itself is extraordinary as school letters often remain crumpled and unloved at the bottom of his school bag. And judging by the hopefulness spreading across his face, it was something he desperately wanted to do.

School Trip to Iceland

The letter was from the Geography department about an October trip to Iceland. A beautiful country where he would experience Plate Tectonics and Glaciation, all supporting his learning towards his GCSE Geography exam next year. And yes my husband and myself were very jealous of this amazing opportunity.… Continue reading

36 Hours in Edinburgh

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A few weeks ago I was browsing through Facebook and something caught my eye….. The Virgin Train Sale. In less than 20 minutes I had booked and paid for our next adventure, all whilst my husband had been at the gym. He often jokes that he should never leave me alone with the laptop and the credit card, and that evening was no exception. But how could he complain when we had a trip to Edinburgh to look forward to.

Scottish Bag Piper

 

Edinburgh had been on my travel list for ages, and last Friday we had a very early train to catch at 7.30am.… Continue reading

Making the Disney Dining Plan work for YOU

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We have visited Disneyworld 3 times, and twice we have taken advantage of the Disney dining plan. Both times we have benefitted from the ‘FREE Disney dining’ that is offered at certain times of the year, and for us the dining plan has always worked out really well.

Disney 2

The key to a successful dining plan is being prepared. If you are staying at a property in Disneyworld, your reservations can be made 180 days before. Start by booking the most popular restaurants first, such as Be Our Guest located at the Magic Kingdom. On our last visit Be Our Guest had just opened, and we were extremely lucky to have got a reservation.… Continue reading

Dining and Activities on offer at Sani Dunes

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During our 4 night stay at Sani Dunes we wanted to experience as much of the Sani resort as we could. At Sani you can choose to be on the go from early morning through to late evening, or simply relax around Greece’s largest pool. Thankfully we struck a happy medium where we had plenty of pool relaxation, whilst still experiencing the amazing dining and activities on offer at Sani Dunes.

Pool at Sani Dunes

The Sani and Volvo Experience

Now this is an activity not to be missed, a 2 hour tour around the Kassandra Peninsula in a chauffer driven Volvo. Our driver stopped at 3 different locations, each unique with breathtaking views and picture opportunities.… Continue reading

Welcome to Sani Dunes

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Last week I had the amazing opportunity to experience Sani Dunes, the latest luxury hotel to be built at the Sani Resort in Greece. Located in beautiful Halkidiki on mainland Greece, the resort is around 50 minutes from Thessaloniki airport.

Sani Dunes Hotel at Sani Resort

The impeccable service that Sani is renowned for starts at the airport. Being greeted with a bottle of water and led to an air conditioned car was certainly welcome in the heat. And forget standing in a large queue to check in. At Sani Dunes you are welcomed with a cold towel, a refreshing spray of cold mist to your face, and of course a welcome drink.… Continue reading

Family Road Trip – Car Safety and 5 things you need to do

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Following on from my post about my top tips when taking a road trip, today I am writing about car safety. Over the years we have taken many road trips around the UK, from Scotland to Wales, Bath to Northumberland. We love exploring new destinations as a family, and my trusty car of 14 years has never let us down. Whilst I concentrate on packing clothes, food and basically anything else that will fit in the boot of a Citroen Picasso, my husband deals with the car maintenance.

Car Safety

Top up your windscreen washer

The last thing you want to be faced with is a dirty windscreen and NO water left.… Continue reading