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Top 10 travel must haves with a teen and tween

Travel

26 Feb

A few weeks ago, bloggers up and down the land were eagerly awaiting news on Mark Warner’s Family Ambassador programme. Since starting blogging back in 2013, I have heard only glowing reports from people who have been on Mark Warner holidays.  And last years Ambassadors showed us how to holiday, ski and sail…. Mark Warner style.

Lightbox

Mark Warner has been around since 1974, which coincidentally is the same time as me. Though I am sure Mark Warner has fewer wrinkles and grey hairs. In those 43 years the holiday company has grown and evolved, and it got me thinking of how much our family holidays have changed with time too. Soft play has been replaced with wifi, and kids entertainment has been swopped for sophisticated meals.

Dining out

Daughter drinking coffee

Having a teenager in the family, I am well aware that one day our family holidays will end. Family holidays that have seen us smile, laugh, explore, dance, relax and have fun together over the years. I want to hold on to those feelings for as long as I can, and treasure every single holiday moment we have together.

Mark Warner challenged us to come up with our Top 10 travel must haves.

Eating out together (8)

Morgan

It came as no surprise that Morgan’s ‘must have’ is his phone. We all know that teenagers must never be a metre away from their phone at all times.

Teenager on phone

And when he has caught up with friends, checked in on facebook, and instagrammed his holiday pictures, it’s time for him to explore. Him and his dad are the explorers in the family.

Greek Church

Dad on a bike

Roman Baths - Bath

Katie

It was only last year that Katie discovered kid’s clubs. She loved her little bit of independence, creating her own fun and making new friends.

Daughter on holiday

Whilst her and her brother can bicker like cat and dog at home, during the holidays it’s about them coming together and sharing new experiences.

Halkidiki Beach

Ikos Olivia

Hywel

There is something about holidays that inspire you to start a new book. This is definitely top of my husband’s travel must haves, and you will usually find him in WH Smiths at the airport.

The Girl on the Train

Me

My travel essential would be time in the Spa. Whilst I love everything about family holidays, I do think it’s important to have some time to yourself.

MW5

We all agreed that whilst it’s important to give each other space on holiday, we have the most fun when we are together. If one piece of our family jigsaw is missing, it would make us incomplete.  I know that this will eventually happen as the kids get older, but for the time being I want to keep our little jigsaw together.

Kids on holiday

Dining out on holiday

bath15

This is our entry into the Mark Warner Family Ambassador programme for 2017. Thank you Mark Warner for a wonderful opportunity.

Family selfie

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20 Comments

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Comments

  1. Sarah Christie says

    February 26, 2017 at 10:22 pm

    Aw I have been watching out for this all day, yes like s you are on borrowed time, a few years maybe? Its os precious isn’t it? But its just the most wonderful thing when you are all together somewhere fab, best of luck lovely lady, I love the mood board too, it shows how you are all so different yet have overlapping loves. xx

    Reply
    • Tracey Williams says

      February 28, 2017 at 8:54 pm

      Aw thanks Sarah. I think with us having older kids you just appreciate every minute that you spend with them. And holidays become even more precious. I have learnt that we all need our own time on holiday, but ultimately the time we spend together is the best time x

      Reply
  2. lorraine says

    February 26, 2017 at 11:12 pm

    Great post, good luck you’d be the ideal family ambassadors for Mark Warner hols.
    x

    Reply
    • Tracey Williams says

      February 28, 2017 at 8:55 pm

      Thank you Lorraine, that is such a lovely thing to say x

      Reply
  3. Sarah MumofThree World says

    February 27, 2017 at 10:01 am

    We’re getting to the stage with my eldest where our holidays aren’t enough for him and he always wants to be doing something different. It sounds like you’ve got the recipe for a perfect holiday with big kids there! My boys too must always be very close to their phones and the Wifi. My eldest in particular can’t sit still for five minutes and always wants to be off exploring something. I’m the reader in the family. My daughter is just happy to be with Mummy and Daddy – and long may that continue!

    Reply
    • Tracey Williams says

      February 28, 2017 at 8:59 pm

      Morgan is always the first to make sure his devices are connected to the wifi, hence why he has the title of ‘chief wifi hunter’. I think over the years I have learnt that we all need our own space on holiday, yet there is plenty of time to do things as a family. Katie loved going in the kids clubs last year, which meant that hubby and I actually got some time to ourselves on holiday x

      Reply
  4. Hannah Spannah says

    February 28, 2017 at 1:31 pm

    What lovely pictures and great pics. It must be tricky to please everyone but Mark Warner do seem to have something for everyone. Good luck!

    Reply
    • Tracey Williams says

      March 2, 2017 at 9:58 pm

      I totally agree Hannah. It seems they offer the perfect family holiday x

      Reply
  5. Alice says

    February 28, 2017 at 9:01 pm

    I’m totally with you on wanting time at the spa!! Lovely post x

    Reply
    • Tracey Williams says

      March 2, 2017 at 10:01 pm

      Thank you Alice. I think all holidays should come with amazing spa experiences, or just relaxing on the beach for a few hours with a good book x

      Reply
  6. Lara jarvis says

    February 28, 2017 at 9:24 pm

    Ahhh the spa!! it’s so nice that MW have such great kids clubs and I love the thought of my own children making little friends at them! Good luck lovely x

    Reply
    • Tracey Williams says

      March 2, 2017 at 10:10 pm

      Thank you so much Lisa. Kids clubs offer so much, and it was lovely to see my daughter enjoying herself last year. I have heard so many good things about the amazing kids clubs that Mark Warner offer x

      Reply
  7. Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely says

    February 28, 2017 at 9:49 pm

    Love your Venn diagram, Tracey!! Such a lovely post. Good luck! Mark Warner holidays are brilliant.

    Reply
    • Tracey Williams says

      March 2, 2017 at 10:28 pm

      Thank you so much Rachel. I have heard only amazing reviews about Mark Warner. The food, the activities, the beaches, the kids clubs…. everything looks brilliant for families x

      Reply
  8. HelpfulMum says

    March 1, 2017 at 10:36 pm

    I have books high up on my list too. Loved your post. Good luck!

    Reply
    • Tracey Williams says

      March 2, 2017 at 10:29 pm

      Thank you Sian. It is the holiday law that you have to take at least one new book on holiday don’t you x

      Reply
  9. Notmyyearoff says

    March 4, 2017 at 8:33 am

    Aww love your mood board and the photos. We only recently discovered kids clubs too and z loves them. Best of luck Tracey, I haven’t entered so am just cheerleading all my favourite people 🙂 xx

    Reply
    • Tracey Williams says

      March 4, 2017 at 4:21 pm

      Aw thank you so much Tas. I trust you have a cheerleading costume and fluffy pom poms 🙂 x

      Reply
  10. Hayley @hayleyfromhome says

    March 4, 2017 at 12:50 pm

    What a lovely read Tracey, your holidays must be so different now that the kids are older but it’s so lovely to see you still enjoying them as a family. Such beautiful photos and would be lovely to see you as Mark Warner ambassadors, love seeing where you are off to on your travels xx

    Reply
    • Tracey Williams says

      March 4, 2017 at 4:26 pm

      Thank you so much for your comment Hayley, that means a lot. Yes holidays are certainly different now they are older. Easier in many ways and it’s nice they have an opinion on where they want to travel to. Though Morgan’s list is Australia, Japan and Hawaii (hmmm maybe a little over ambitious) x

      Reply

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The Williams World – Blogging about travel and life with teens

Sani Asterias

I am Tracey and together with my husband and two teenagers we are The Williams World. Blogging our travels and family life since 2013.

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Our 20th anniversary trip has been pushed back to Our 20th anniversary trip has been pushed back to October from May. Trying not to get overly excited at the thought of going away for our first trip abroad since we had kids. But I have definitely woken up a little brighter today. Have you got any holidays that you are tentatively planning ?
What is making you smile at the moment ? I know th What is making you smile at the moment ? I know that’s a really tough question as some days are incredibly hard going. Yesterday these little beauties made me smile. I added them to my online food shop with @morrisons at the bargain price of £3.33 obviously left over from Valentines Day. They are definitely having an impact on my mood this week
Back to posting food pictures as to be honest ther Back to posting food pictures as to be honest there’s not much else to post at the moment. How colourful does my @graze.2.go box look. I’ve wanted to order one for ages and treated us to one for Valentines. Since the pandemic I’ve loved finding new local companies to use, definitely a positive of the last year
Happy Valentines Day Mr W. Nobody I would rather b Happy Valentines Day Mr W. Nobody I would rather be locked down with....well maybe Bradley Cooper !!! 21 years of Valentines and still smiling together
Amazing afternoon tea collected from @thebakehouse Amazing afternoon tea collected from @thebakehouseruncorn and yes I do plan to celebrate Valentines all weekend as what else can we do at the moment. Will you be celebrating tomorrow ?
Still dreaming about the curry we had last Friday Still dreaming about the curry we had last Friday night. I mean look at the size of those onion bhajis
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