29 March 2022

Following on from our whistlestop tour in Lisbon, we headed about 25km over to the Lisbon Coast for a 9 night stay in a luxury villa. The Villa was situated in a residential area with the lovely Praia Fonte da Telha beach about 5km away. Within walking distance we had a small local supermarket, cafes, a children’s playground, tennis courts and a butchers. For a ‘big shop’ however, I recommend driving to Aldi, about 10mins drive and huge supermarket that had everything we needed. Perfect! We booked the villa with one of our Villa suppliers, The Villa Agency who were really helpful and responsive from the start. I loved the layout of this villa as all but one, of the four bedrooms had a view onto the outside space and swimming pool. There was a large, open plan living/dining room which spills out onto the outside dining terrace overlooking the pool and lawn area. It had a modern kitchen with a central island which looked out through glass doors to the swimming pool. The villa had 4 spacious double bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. In the past we’ve always stayed in a hotel but fancied a change this year, especially given we were still in Covid times and thought a private villa would be great for us all. We had a pretty relaxing stay, generally chilling out in the villa most days whilst the four kids enjoyed themselves in the pool. We enjoyed a lovely day at the Fonte da Telha beach. It’s a gorgeous sandy beach with great waves to jump over. There are a number of lovely beachfront restaurants and cafes too that we tried including drinking Sangria at the Aroeira Beach Bar and sampling a huge lobster at Marisqueira Sotavento (which included choosing our own live lobster from a tank which was a highlight for the kids!) We had a great and relaxing Summer break and look forward to experiencing more Villa holidays now the kids are a bit older and enjoy sampling the local cuisine. Here at Travel Counsellors, we work with various villa suppliers who offer villas of all budgets around the world. If you are thinking of a villa holiday for your next trip, why not get in touch and let me help you find that perfect villa getaway?

29 March 2022

I recently stayed in Portugal's colourful Capital and highly recommend it as a city break destination. You can even twin centre it with a stay on the Coast, which is what we did! (Read my other blog on the 2nd part of our Portugal visit) We stayed at the 5* The One Palácio de Anunciada which was pretty central. We booked a family room which was huge, the hotel had beautiful architecture; it was originally an old 16th Century Palace, a stunning courtyard where you ate breakfast outside, and a rooftop pool. What’s not to love. Here are my top tips whilst in Lisbon: - Take a ride on a Funicular Tram. One of the most famous activities to do in Lisbon, partly for people who want to skip walking up the steepest hills! - Head to Time Out Market. If you're a lover of all things food and drink and great vibes, you will experience the best of the city under one roof! - Climb aboard an open top bus. An easy and quick way; if time isn't on your side, to take in all the sights of a city, where you can hop on and off as you please - A Tuk Tuk ride is a must in Lisbon! A fun and fast way to navigate up and down those cobbled hills. - Drink, eat and dance the night away on Pink Street; the old red light district is now a highly popular Instagrammable spot! - Sample a Pastel de Nata at a pavement cafe - Lisbon's best known cake, served hot and sprinkled with cinnamon on! - Drive over 'Ponte 25 de April Bridge' - an iconic landmark in Lisbon. With it closely resembling the Golden Gate Bridge; you'll get excellent views of the hilly city. Lisbon; the only disappointing thing was not booking to stay longer here. But we will be back again one day. If you’re thinking of visiting Lisbon, get in touch and let me help you plan you stay.

02 October 2021

If someone had told me a while ago, I was going to go on a Disney Cruise – without my children – I would have said ‘no chance’ but last month – I did just that! Due to the pandemic, Disney are offering UK Cruises this Summer sailing from Newcastle, London Tilbury, Southampton, Greenock and Liverpool. A perfect opportunity if you’ve never cruised before as it gives you a little taster without having to leave the UK. I chose a 2-night Liverpool sailing with my two sisters and 13-year-old Niece on the Disney Magic. I have never cruised before with Disney so it was all very new to me. Prior to setting sail, we knew that over 18s needed to be double jabbed and guests under 18 had to have a negative PCR test within 5 days of travel. This was organised with Randox which was all relatively stress-free and simple to do. On arrival at the port, we were all required to undergo an antigen test (paid for by Disney) before getting onboard. Within 15minutes our results were back negative, and we could get onboard! From the moment we set foot on the ship, we had impeccable and personal service from start to finish. Onboard Disney Cruise Lines, they offer their innovative rotational dining, so you have the same servers throughout your stay. This is such a lovely touch as they really get to know you all personally, they remember what you like to eat and drink, and offer recommendations suited to you! There are 3 main dining rooms onboard, Lumiere’s, Rapunzel’s Royal Table, and Animator’s Palate. Including our breakfasts; we got to eat in all three. I could write a whole blog on the food alone but instead I’ll describe in one word – incredible! Each restaurant is themed and without ruining the surprise too much; Animator’s Palate is my favourite – it’s a real interactive, personal, and unique experience. There were plenty opportunities for character meets during both the day and evening, where you could have a character selfie too. The show ‘Disney Dreams’ is not to be missed. It’s beautiful from start to finish with a whole host of favourite Disney films in one sitting. We particularly enjoyed the adult shows too – they were interactive and really funny; I think we all got up on the stage during our time on the ship in various shows. There’s also a separate adult pool and pool bar should you have no children and want to relax on the top deck where its much quieter. There was plenty to do onboard for guests of all ages. In fact, I felt like I missed out on a lot as there was simply not enough time to experience everything. So moral of the blog – I best book another one. And next time, I’ll take the kids with me!

01 April 2021

Are you getting married in 2021, 2022 or 2023? Or do you know someone who is? Did you know we have honeymoons available to book and for some destinations, as far as 2023! It's never too early to get planning. We even have our Honeymoon Gift Registry Service. An easy, stress-free way to manage your dream honeymoon online - courtesy of your personal Travel Counsellor. Its also ideal for those who prefer not to have a traditional gift list. The gift registry is perfect for your wedding guests who want to contribute to an amazing honeymoon for the happy couple. You would have a dedicated and personalised website where your guests can log on and gift give you the most memorable present of all. You may already have all the bed linen and towels you need, or you may have a perfect honeymoon in mind but need a helping hand making your dream trip a reality. Whether it’s the ultimate adventure trip, a romantic city break or a luxurious beach retreat to faraway shores, the Gift Registry means you can have the honeymoon you always wanted. And best of all this service is provided free of charge if your honeymoon is booked through me. If this is something you want further information on please get in touch.

01 April 2021

Does anyone else have a list of places to visit, once-in-a-lifetime-adventures, or different experiences you want to do? I do! I truly believe if you write down your goals they are more likely to happen. So for now, here is my holiday bucket list. As I write this blog today, you’ll see there are some I have already booked. See it really does work! So in no particular order.. ** See the Northern Lights in Iceland (booked for later this year) ** This has been on my list for ages and we are going by cruise which is the best way! We have also booked a Whale watching cruise, a visit to the Blue Lagoon, a trip to the Golden Circle by Super Jeep & a Snowmobile on Langjökull Glacier! ** Visit Elephant Hills in Thailand ** This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the all the family to enjoy. Take a look at the video I posted. **Take the family to Florida (Planning for 2023)** This has been out back another year because of Covid but actually it gives my daughter another year to grow and more chance of getting on more rides! **Cruise round the Greek Isles (Summer 2022)** We'll be cruising on Odyssey of the Seas; one of Royal Caribbean's Quantum Class ships. It departs from Rome and includes visits to Santorini and Mykonos. I cannot wait to see my children's faces when they see what's onboard the ship! **Stay in a overwater villa** I think I need to wait until the kids are a bit older and leave them at home so I can have complete peace and quiet in one of these! **Road trip in Canada** They say Canada is a road-tripper's dream. Its big and beautiful and I want to be able to pull over and take in the scenery along the way, or break up the journey with active activities such as hiking or kayaking. There’s also the renowned Niagara Falls which is also high up on my list. **Visit magical Lapland** (December 2021) The kids don’t know they are going yet but when I do tell them, I don’t know who will be more excited – them or me! Its definitely a must-do whilst the kids are young – a memory maker that’s for sure. **South African Safari** (I did actually do this as a 12yr old but I want to experience it as an adult!) I have fond memories when I was younger and its something I want my children to experience too. South Africa is great for families, the ‘Malaria-free’ game reserves allow you to bring your little ones without having to worry about them taking malaria tablets. **A multi-centre trip to Bali** Adventure, culture and exploration. That’s 3 reasons why Bali is on my list. There’s so much to see and do so I would start with a multi-centre trip to Ubud, Seminyak and Nusa Dua. **Experience the German Christmas markets** I love visiting our local Manchester markets but never been to a traditional European market where they were founded. And what’s not to love? A Bratwurst and a mug of Gluhwein! I have printed this list out and stick it on my noticeboard. It’ll give me much satisfaction when I tick them off. There are SO many other places to visits and countries to see but I didn’t want the list to become endless. Instead my plan is to try and keep it to 10 at a time which I will keep updating as I tick them off. So… look out for my blogs of these places of when I do go. In the meantime, why not get in touch and let me help you tick off your bucket list plans. It’s never too early to get planning.

24 March 2021

When you think of the crystal clear waters and sugar sands of the 700 islands that make up the Bahamas, you may think of bronzed bodies sunning themselves on an uninhabited beach, but they aren’t the only ones enjoying the good life in the exotic Exuma cays…. Welcome to Pig Island… These swimming pigs appeared upon Big Major Cay mysteriously. Although they are now hot to trot, no one seems to know how these hungry hogs made their way to Pig beach, Bahamas in the first place. It’s thought they may have been the sole survivors of a nearby pirate shipwreck, whereas legend has it that they were dropped off on the island by passing sailors, who planned to come back and cook them but when they didn’t return, the pigs survived by eating scraps from passing boats. Either way, these delightful inhabitants arrived and settled quite comfortably in their new digs, and have started a new life for themselves. Not a bad spot to find “refuge!” While the pigs look right at home along Big Major Cay’s beach, originally they roamed around the forest in the centre of the island, foraging for food. But thanks to the growing interest in tourism to the island, the pigs slowly started to make their way to the shore. They mostly spend their days beaching, awaiting the arrival of tourist, and ultimately a snack! While the swimming pigs are feral, they are incredibly friendly. They’ll let you swim right up to them if they don’t get to you first. Gently touching and petting the pigs is acceptable, but as a general rule treat the pigs with respect and they will do the same. The pigs are wonderful, intelligent creatures and they’re used to human company, despite their island having no full-time human inhabitants. When is the best time to visit the pigs? The months of November to mid-December are the best times to visit the luxury islands of the Bahamas. The weather is fantastic, and the islands are relatively quieter. Peak season is during the months of December to Mid-April. During this time the islands are swarming with tourists and your time with the pigs could be somewhat sparse. The summer months from June to August (also known as the rainy season) from June to November will likely guarantee you a more personable interaction with the pigs, due to fewer crowds. That said, when a dangerous storm is brewing, the pigs are usually taken to shelter by a local water sports company. How do I get to see the pigs? There’s only one way to reach the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay and that is by boat. As the pigs are world famous, nearby all-inclusive resorts such as the Sandals Resorts Bahamas arrange trips to see the delightful swimming piggies. Exuma is the only place in the world which offers this unique experience, and Pig Beach is the go-to hot-spot for this unusual vacation activity - it’s definitely one you’ll remember for a long time to come. Get in touch if you fancy a trip to Pig Beach?

28 January 2021

I was fortunate to spend a weekend away in Krakow with my two sisters just before National lockdown began in March 2020. It's a great city for a weekend break - a short 2-hour flight from the UK with plenty to keep you busy and excellent value when you’re there. I would recommend staying even longer if you could as there is so much to see and do. We arrived mid afternoon on Friday and after checking in to our lovely Bed & Breakfast Apartment Style Hotel just off the Main Market Square in Stare Miasto, we dumped our bags and went to check out our new surroundings! I would highly recommend staying in this location, near to the Main Square, as your close to the many shops, bars, and restaurants. Architecturally, it is very impressive everywhere you look and includes St Mary's Basilica and the Renaissance Cloth Hall – an indoor market where you can pick up some souvenirs to take home. Around the Square, there is an abundance of hotels, shops, restaurants, bars and clubs and it is certainly busy in the evening. It’s lovely in the daytime, but it is even more stunning in the evening, as its all lit up by the night market, it has food stalls in the middle, along with horse-drawn carriages all lined up waiting for customers. Such a vibrant buzz! It is a bit more expensive to eat in the square then when you are off the beaten track, but still excellent value and great to people watch. Away from the Main Square, is the Old Jewish Quarter which is also popular. It is more relaxed here, and a bit more peaceful. There are a few Vodka Bars dotted around and these are excellent, with a menu of shots of various vodkas, spices, and other ingredients and cheap too. Our favourite one was the ‘Wodka Bar’ just off the Main square. It was so tiny with a handful of stools – a very cosy ambience and a real experience, and of course I felt like I had to try the various flavours on offer! We’d had a recommendation to visit ‘Moo Moo Steak & Burger Club,’ a fantastic Steakhouse restaurant which we went to on Friday evening. If you love a good Steak, it doesn’t disappoint! On the Saturday, we’d pre-booked tickets to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, the site of the former German Nazi concentration camp. It’s a full day’s trip as it takes about an hour each way to the memorial. We were picked up straight after breakfast outside of our hotel and taken in a minibus by an English-speaking guide. The weekends are very busy, so I recommend booking this in advance to avoid disappointment. It is possible to book locally through local agents, but they all offer different times, some will have availability, and some won’t, and the prices do vary quite a bit, so it is definitely something to arrange prior to going. Although the trip to the memorial was heart-breaking to see, it was the absolute highlight of my trip to Krakow and a place where everyone should visit once in their lives. We arrived back at the hotel about 4ish where we freshened up and changed before heading back out for our final evening in Krakow – more vodka bars, and a lovely meal at Novo Resto in the Jewish Quarter, another lovely restaurant I would recommend. Think chic, contemporary, atmospheric, and scrumptious food! The Jewish Quarter is filled with great restaurants and bars. Our last day before we flew back Sunday evening, we planned to do a bit more sightseeing on foot and hire one the electric buggy cars (golf cart). A great thing to do on your last day of a short weekend as its easy to fit in a lot of sights in such a short space of time. We had a friendly guide who drove us round for a whistle stop tour in 90 minutes to see some culture including the Ghetto where the symbolic empty chairs are scattered. The golf buggies have shelter if it rains and are heated too for the winter months! We arranged ours on the main square, you will see the staff in red t-shirts and a clipboard who can book them for you. We didn’t have time to visit the Salt Mines and Schindler’s Factory but our guide took us the door so we could at least see the building. Another reason to return! My top tip for travel in Krakow? Watch your step! The streets are shared by cars, trams and buses so stay alert! Krakow is an easy city to love. With its rich history, bustling nightlife, the many museums and sights, outdoor adventure, and all in the same place. If you do fancy spending a weekend or more in Krakow, get in touch for more advice and guidance. I would love to help you plan your next City break to this unique place.

21 December 2020

We were supposed to have travelled to sunny Cyprus in the Summer holidays but due to Cyprus not being on the travel corridor list then, I had amended it free of charge to October half-term. When October came, we could not wait to swap the gloomy Northern weather for a bit of R&R at a lovely All-inclusive! We expected that travelling abroad during the Covid-19 pandemic would be a different experience, but we agreed that it would be worth it. To enter Cyprus, we needed to take a PCR test within 72 hours of our departure. This appeared at first to be a daunting prospect, but I located a testing centre just a 10 min drive from our house who guaranteed results within the required timeframe, and who could offer flexible appointment times. We were booked in first thing on a Sunday morning and flying the following Wednesday morning. The kids didn’t need to have the test due to their age. The testing process was quick and efficient, and we received our negative test results on the Monday evening which was within the agreed timeframe. I uploaded the negative results and completed the online Cyprus flight pass. We were then cleared for travel! On the day of departure, we made our way to Manchester Airport ready for our flight just after 9am. Face masks were worn at all times and hand sanitiser was readily available. Most of the bars, shops and restaurants were open and we had our usual Airport breakfast. When the time came for us to board our flight, they were boarding people in rows at a time to reduce queues and crowds. All crew and passengers were required to keep their face masks on at all times during the flight (except when eating or drinking) and movement around the cabin was kept to a minimum, although we were still offered refreshment services throughout. Upon landing, the passengers disembarked one row at a time – this meant a little bit of a wait for passengers at the back of the plane, but it was a far more civilised and safe way than everyone jumping up and grabbing their bags as usual. It also meant that the queue through airport security flowed more easily. Once inside Paphos airport, you had to show evidence of your negative Covid test before going through passport control. We then took our coach transfer to the resort. All in all – a quick and seamless airport experience. We were not disappointed with our choice of hotel, a lovely 5* hotel located in Coral Bay that was relatively new; the Atlantica Mare. It was an impressive looking resort and the check-in process was friendly and efficient. Our suitcases were left outside whilst they sanitised them before taking them to our room ready for us, whilst we checked in at reception with a glass of bubbly. We were given an excellent modern and very large room with plenty space for the four of us. Masks, gloves and hand gel was also supplied in the room. All staff at the hotel wore masks at all times, and guests were required to wear masks when entering the restaurants and indoors. We would sanitise our hands on entering the restaurants and plastic gloves were provided each time we entered the buffet restaurant which we were asked to use when getting our own food. Our rooms were cleaned every other day and fresh towels were provided each day. The resort was surprisingly quite busy, but we felt comfortable in the knowledge that all of the guests had to be in receipt of a negative Covid-19 test in order to enter Cyprus. This coupled with the health and safety procedures in place meant we were able to fully relax and enjoy a week of excellent weather, food, drinks and entertainment. Mid way through our holiday, we received notification that the Cypriot Government had implemented new Government measures, this included wearing masks both indoor and outdoor and bars and restaurants to close at 10:30pm. This was a little disappointing to hear but we certainly didn’t let it impact on our holiday. If anything, we just went out earlier in the evening! Our journey home to Manchester from Cyprus was just as smooth as our journey out, and it was agreed that travelling during the pandemic was an easy, safe and generally positive experience. We are so glad that we had the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic family holiday with no need for quarantining on return. If you have any questions at all about travelling during the pandemic, then do get in touch and I will happily help.

05 December 2020

We surprised the kids with a visit to Disneyland Paris in the lead up to Christmas. And what a magical time it was! There are a variety of options you can choose to get you there you to there – a flight, self-drive or Eurostar. We opted to fly. Quick, reasonably priced, hassle free and who doesn’t like a ride on a plane?! Once you arrive at the airport you have three transfer options to Disneyland. Shuttle bus, train, or taxi. We chose the latter. I booked this before we went, and it was great service. Efficient, a lovely clean minibus with a DVD player that the kids could chose a variety of Disney films to watch to get them in the mood. Perfect! There are lots of choices of hotels as you would expect, to suit all tastes and budgets. We opted to stay at the Disney’s Newport Bay Club for 4 nights. We had a lovely room overlooking the lake which we had paid extra for. It had a nice pool, and the staff were very friendly. With two double beds, the room was large enough for the four of us. Different Disney characters visited the hotel lobby each morning for photos, two different characters each day. Its worth getting up early for breakfast, anytime from 8am onwards is very busy! The hotel is HUGE – and my kids said it ‘took forever’ to get to our room at night! If you have little ones, its worth contacting the hotel and requesting a room a bit closer to reception for little legs! We enjoyed walking from the hotel, along the lakeside to Disney Village and on to the Disney Parks. It is about a 20-minute walk. Alternatively, the free Disney shuttle bus was frequent, every ten minutes or so between our hotel and the entrance to the parks. The kids always wanted to get on this at the end of the day after they had walked miles! Disneyland Paris has 2 parks - Disneyland Park and the Walt Disney Studios - both are fabulous with lots going on and are suitable for all age groups. My personal fave was the Studios as I loved the Behind the Scenes tour and the Stitch Live! Tour. If you’re character spotting and autograph hunting, Toy Story Land and the Marvel characters are located at the Studios along with other attractions and rides. Disney princesses, Mickey, Minnie, and friends are all in the Disneyland Park. An advantage to guests staying at Disney hotels is the early access in the mornings. You have 2 hours from 8am until 10am before it is open to the public. Although only certain rides are open for these two hours (there is an app to tell you which). We took advantage of this on one of our days and we got to go on some of our favourite rides during those two hours, it was definitely worth it as some of the queues for over an hour long and it’s a long time to wait around in the cold when you’re four! However, the bonus is that a large proportion of the rides’ queues are undercover. I got to experience most of the rides, including the Indiana Jones, Big Thunder Mountain and Buzz Light Year’s laser blast. I chickened out on the Hydro Space Mountain! There are also some dining experiences and I would highly recommend these are booked in advance as they do sell out really quickly, especially the princess lunch at Auberge de Cendrillon and Inventions (where you get to dine with some of the Disney Characters). We were fortunate to get a Free Disney Plus Meal plan by booking early and therefore had a buffet breakfast in our hotel each morning and then either lunch or dinner at a choice of many restaurants. We ate at Captain Jack’s, The Steakhouse and Cape Cod. Again, these get booked up so quickly and you need to book it months before you go. I loved the parades, they were so magical and enchanting, and the kids were mesmerised. A good tip – get there early as crowds do start to fill up. They usually start around half 5pm. We would get there about 4pm and stand on the corner somewhere next to/in front of a bin. (Sounds daft I know but read on…) My husband would go and get some hot chocolates for the kids to keep warm and bring them back to us. Once the parade starts, crowds can push and shove (even fully grown adults to get in front of small kids which did used to irritate me). However, the kids were then stood in front of the bin and nobody could push them, and they had a front row view! Marvellous. The illuminations and fireworks in the evening are on another level. WOW! As soon as you step through the gates and walk down Main Street, the children’s faces light up (and probably yours). We took my daughters lightweight buggy with us and I was so glad we did. She was 4 years old at the time and whilst it was not being used at home anymore, when you’re expecting them to walk around for about 10hours a day its definitely a good idea! I would definitely go again in the run up to Christmas, but I would also love to go when it’s not so cold! A stay at the Disneyland Hotel would be the ideal hotel at Christmas as it is the closest to the park gates – not as far to walk if the weather is snowy, raining, or cold in December! The big question is often when the best season is to visit, however there isn’t one! Each season offers something different, Summer holidays, Halloween, and Christmas – they all have their own exciting offerings. Don’t delay booking your magical Disneyland Paris Holiday, if you would like to know more then please contact me. There are so many tips I could share! It would be my pleasure to help you.

03 December 2020

If ever you decide to travel to Australia or somewhere far – planning is key! We have friends over in Mandurah, just outside of Perth who we wanted to visit with our 9-month-old. Whilst we were trekking to the other side of the globe, we thought we may as well stop off and see some of it! Most people said we were crazy to even go that far, and it’ll be too much like hard work. My son had a cow’s milk allergy and he was also still weaning. Well that just added to the fun! After lots of research, I’d decided we would stop over in Singapore on the way there and Hong Kong on our return. Why Singapore? The airport is one of the best airports to transit with kids – they have the most incredible facilities. Singapore is super clean, green, organised and incredibly safe. It is one of the most family-friendly destinations in Asia. Everything from the immaculate, buggy-friendly pavements to the spacious hotels makes traveling with kids easy. It has a clean and efficient public transport system and its relatively compact size which makes it easier to navigate around using prams and strollers. Its also got loads to see and do for families! 4 nights there just wasn’t enough. Why Hong Kong? Unlike Singapore, Hong Kong with kids can be a challenge. If you are travelling to Hong Kong with a toddler or baby, you will find that hardly anywhere is stroller friendly, as it is hilly and there are steps everywhere. But we just carried the stroller up and down the steps, that wasn’t an issue for us but its worth knowing. The Hong Kong Metro is great. It’s clean. It’s easy. It’s fast. It’s cheap. And extremely accessible for people in wheelchairs or people with strollers. Its also full of luxury malls that have clean accessible changing rooms. In both these places, the staff at the hotels were fantastic with us and our son. Nothing was too much trouble and they were so very attentive. We had connecting flights from Manchester to London so all-in-all it was six flights over 3 weeks. My top tips for flying long haul: 1. If the purse allows – purchase an extra seat on the aircraft. We did for our long haul flights and it was a dream. Especially when they were night flights. My son would sleep in the middle of us on his own seat and we would be able to stretch out without having a large lump on our knees making the flight super comfortable! 2. Avoid flights with long stopovers or try an airport transit hotel Don't go for the cheapest flight if it involves a long stopover in an airport - it's just not worth it! But also give yourself enough time with the connecting flight for e.g., our flight out from Manchester to London was late to depart, therefore when we got to London we had to run very fast to the gate to board our connecting flight. We made it of course, but sadly our luggage didn’t which was left in Manchester. We found out when we landed in Singapore that our luggage was still at London airport! Thankfully they were great and 24 hours later we had our suitcases sent to our hotel room. 3. Bring extra baby’s milk in your cabin baggage if not breastfeeding. Especially if they have an allergy to cows milk like mine! Thankfully I had, therefore with not having our luggage for 24hours I still had enough with me. 4. Prepare for popped ears. Try to make sure you have a bottle available for take-off and landing (or a dummy if they use it) to help their ears to pop. This definitely worked a treat for my son! 5. Keep to routine If it’s a night flight – pretend its bedtime and do your usual routine. Our flight to Singapore was a night flight. I took my son to the toilet and changed his nappy, brushed his teeth and put his Babygro. He then had a bedtime story and a bottle of milk and away he was for the night... Zzzzzz We sat watching movies together, it felt like a date! Kids feed off routine. 6. Pack a new toy They instantly are engaged with anything new so if you need to kill some time, let them see what’s inside the bag… Create excitement and build up the suspense before producing something new for them to play with. 7. Snacks, snacks.. and did I say snacks? This is dependent on age – but you can never have too many snacks. Also remember that when you arrive you may still have 40 minutes to get to your destination and they are bound to be hungry again. And best tip of all? Travel to these places whilst they are young and are happy to sit in their pram for hours gazing up at the tall buildings and sights. Because as soon as they can walk, most want to get out of their pram and walk for themselves! Flying long haul or exploring the world can be overwhelming when you’ve little ones and many people just don’t think they can. Or they worry about what could go wrong. Would I do it again? Absolutely 100%. Take everything in your stride, prepare for the bumps in the road but you will find it’s a much more pleasant experience than you imagined. And best of all, think of the world of adventure you are introducing your children to. If you are thinking of going long haul and want some tips, or maybe you have tips to share with me – get in touch, I would love to hear from you.

24 November 2020

West Coast America has always been on my bucket list and I knew it had to be done by road trip! This was pre-kids and on a fairly low-ish budget back then. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to do all the sights along the way – but we weren’t too fussed on where we stayed – as long as it was clean and had car parking. Part of the experience I wanted to capture was spending the night in a motel which we just happen to come across. I wouldn’t do that again. Not only do we have kids, but I’m far too organised and love a plan. I also love luxury and comfort! We flew direct with Virgin Atlantic into LOS ANGELES and picked up our SUV at the airport ready for our road trip. My husband did 99% of the driving whilst I read the map! Our SUV didn’t have a Sat Nav so it was all down to me and my map reading skills to navigate us around America. Los Angeles is a monster of a city. The traffic is chaotic, and some roads have eight lanes – just to prewarn you. We visited Santa Monica Beach, and Venice Beach which is a buzzing beach town known for its street performers and funky shops. Muscle Beach is also here, where the fitness fanatics use the outdoor gym, and you can sit and watch! We included all the typical tourist sights which everyone should when they visit LA including Rodeo Drive (so many expensive shops!), Hollywood Studios and Universal Studios. My top 3 attractions in no particular order would be: Hollywood Sign – anyone can see it from certain points of the City but by walking up the Hills enables you to have a great view of the city as well as seeing the sign. There are different walking routes so be sure to check before you go. The second attraction would be the Celebrity Homes Hollywood Tour. The route took a couple of hours or so and drove us through Beverley Hills, Hollywood Hills and Mulholland Drive where we spotted some beautiful celebrity millionaire mansions. One can dream! The third ‘attraction’ I highly recommend, which I arranged for a surprise for my husband was tickets to see a LA Dodgers Baseball game. It was an evening game and we sat drinking beer and munching on a ‘Dodger Dog’ and Garlic Fries. Great night! 3 nights was enough for us in Los Angeles and we felt we saw everything we wanted to see. Next stop was SAN DIEGO. The drive is 120miles south from LA so around 2 hours. We ate at the notorious Hard Rock Café, visited San Diego Zoo and spent hours exploring Balboa Park. After such a hectic and busy stay in LA and knowing where next stop was; we slowed down in San Diego and chilled out. One highlight was driving over Coronado Bridge onto Coronado Island. The beach is breath-taking there, we saw the iconic Hotel del Coronado from the 1950s film Some Like it Hot. Next stop was LAS VEGAS. This is about 340miles from San Diego and takes around 5hrs or so. We had already decided we were going to stop over for the night but hadn’t decided where and hadn’t booked anywhere. We ended up stopping near Bullhead City, Arizona for the night. Here we found a roadside motel with free parking and a swimming pool - where we took a dip after the drive before eating Steak and Ribs at Black Bear Diner. The following morning, we made the final 100 miles to Vegas. I had booked us a Spa Suite at the Montecarlo Hotel for 4 nights. We had a large jacuzzi bath in our bedroom, right next to the window overlooking the strip. Perfect! We got lucky in the Casinos, saw the dancing fountains outside The Bellagio, had a gondola ride at The Venetian, watched the fantastic ‘Mystere’ Cirque De Soleil at Treasure Island, braved the roller coaster ride at the top of the Strat Hotel, and simply strolled up and down the Strip taking in all the sights. You name it we did it! However, the absolute highlight and a must for everyone is the Grand Canyon Overnight Stay and Helicopter Tour. We were picked up in a taxi from our Hotel and taken to the Helicopter. We flew over Hoover Dam and Bypass Bridge before descending into the Grand Canyon for a night at a ranch with our own en-suite wooden cabin. After dinner and beers enjoying the panoramic views, we had a horseback ride up the mountains along the Grand Canyon rim to watch the sunset. Then we had a campfire, S’mores and live cowboy entertainment under the twinkling Arizona stars! In the morning, breakfast was included before climbing back into the helicopter which took us back over the Strip before returning to our hotel. This was a real bucket list experience and a must for anyone going to Las Vegas. Non-stop but amazing 4 nights, and memories we’ll remember forever! After American pancakes for brunch at IHOP, we were heading for SAN FRANCISCO. We went up Route 95, slightly longer route but we wanted an overnight stopover at LAKE TAHOE on the way. This was a long but scenic drive; 460 miles so took about 7hrs. Lake Tahoe is known for its winter sports, summer outdoor activities, and scenery enjoyed throughout the year. We were there to get a bed for the night and soak up the scenic views! We arrived at San Francisco the following day for our remaining 4 nights, its 200miles from Lake Tahoe and took us about 3.5hrs. Seeing the iconic Golden Gate Bridge was a magical moment. I loved the culture here and felt it was a completely different vibe than the other places we’d been to. If you have a car, you must drive down Lombard St, one of America’s crookedest streets. My top 3 highlights of San Francisco were: Alcatraz -We bought the tickets prior to going to guarantee availability. After a 15min ferry ride, it was a guided tour around the prison where you could take as many photos as you wanted. I found it quite eerie but fascinating! Fisherman’s Wharf – Its full of tourism and has the usual tacky shops with souvenirs but you must visit the various eateries’ and order Clam Chowder. Delicious! Cable Cars – Unbeatable views on the city’s busiest streets. Its inexpensive and lots of fun. The best ride, if you’re able to, is to stand and hang on to the pole. You get an unobstructed view (unlike the people you're standing in front of), feel the wind in your hair, and can appreciate how close you are to the other traffic on the street. But hold on tight! If you are planning a road trip anytime soon, please get in touch with me. I'd love to help you plan your adventure and book a memorable trip of a lifetime like we had!