11 December 2019

Your sense of adventure doesn’t have to come to an end just because you now have a family! Whether you have young children, teenagers who don’t want to leave their friends and gaming stations or are a single parent, don’t be afraid to push the boundaries and open your family’s eyes to a bigger world. So, did you know that you can fly to Iceland in under 3 hours? With abundant activities to stimulate everyone’s adventurous spirit, you can explore this spectacular island in a rugged Jeep tour, or at a smoother pace as you take a dip in the Blue Lagoon, visit the hot springs, go whale watching, hike over glaciers and inside ice caves and if the timing is right, see the magical northern lights. And then there is Borneo, a little further in distance but so worth the effort Discover unique wildlife and landscapes along with the Orangutans rehabilitation into their natural habitat. It is also easy to twin this destination with a beach retreat to the Maldives, but ensure you choose the right island for your family. Island atmospheres differ from energetic through to relaxed, mixing opportunities to explore the marine life and city of Kuala Lumpur with a visit to the Petronas twin towers, participation in a street food tour, and trips to the Batu Caves, home to golden Hindu Shrines. Well, most of us have heard of Vietnam, but as a holiday destination with children? Regardless of age there really is something for everyone here, so as you travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh or Halong Bay to Hue, take time to laugh at the traditional puppet shows, barter in a floating market and explore the forbidden Purple City. The scenery is amazing, as are the ancient temples, but a stroll through the winding streets and the delicious Asian food will really set this destination apart from others. But what about an African Safari as family costs are not always as prohibitive as some originally expect? South Africa is better in our winter months with a visit to Cape Town a must. Combine this with visits to the waterfront, Robben island, a cable car ride up Table Mountain and a trip to see the penguin colony on Boulders Beach, before journeying on to Kruger to stay in a luxury tented camp for a chance of seeing the big five. And in our Summer months, Kenya or Tanzania work better, as the extraordinary spectacular of ‘The Great Migration’ annually sees the movement of around 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of zebras and antelopes. Not forgetting America, this vast country also has an inviting an array of environmental, cultural and adventure activities. Choose from Orlando for adventure parks, Key West with diving, dolphin cove, turtles and beaches, through to San Francisco, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge. You can take a road trip, or just hire a car and stay in a lodge at Yosemite National Park with its breath-taking waterfalls. Then cruises offer a totally different experience. With so much for families such as on-board splash parks, water slides, zip wires, rock climbing, go carts, and ice rinks, they also have world class entertainment and gastronomic food along with the variety of destination stops too. However, for some the UK is favourite and with so many amazing sites and cultural opportunities here, why not make the most of it. Hire a motor home and explore the Scottish Highlands, venture to the West Country with maybe stop off at Stonehenge, hire a cottage or lodge and stay in the Cotswolds, or partake in an all ages activity holiday in the Lake District, the options are endless.

12 April 2019

A magical experience that if you are not ready for the American adventure or want to be able to experience Disney with a shorter travel time, you must experience with your family. It will exceed all expectations. Book a package which includes the Eurostar a door to door service. Travelling from London St Pancras, a central hub that is easy to get to and with children it is easy to move around. Plenty of lifts around and space, essential if you have a buggy and luggage. Hot tip: St Pancras is the best starting point as there will be plenty of space to store your luggage on the train as it’s the first stop. From boarding the train, it will be more relaxed and easier when travelling with children. Getting on at Ashford or Ebbsfleet there maybe less space onboard. The journey will take about 2.5-3 hours so make sure you pack plenty of snacks and drinks and activities to keep the children entertained, I always buy a goody bag of treats that the kids haven’t seen, colouring books, activity books, magazines and small games, easy to pack and transport. Paying for the Disney Express means that the staff will come through the carriage and label your bags relevant to your Disney hotel, a seamless process as once you arrive into the station its as simple as taking your bags to the express check in and leave with the staff and walk straight into the park. Time to start a magical experience. Before you travel, take time to explore the park via the app or the website and work out your must do activities. Work out your plan of where to go and maximise your time. Fast track is a really good way to maximise your time, collect fast passes by the entrance to rides which enables you to take a ticket advising what time to come back so you don’t have to wait in the queue. You can then go and enjoy other parts of the park whilst you wait. When you return make your way to the fast track que a and wait your turn – you can only do this one at a time and have to wait an hour till you can do this for your next ride. It can be quite costly when travelling with the family for drinks and snacks so it is advisable to take your own. Hot tip: Use the water fountains around the park to refill your bottles. Not all work during the winter months so make a note of which ones are if travelling then so you can keep topped up. Take a bag with you when you travel of snacks that you can pack in your bag each day to keep yours and the children’s energy levels up. The parade takes place early evening and you gain more attention if you dress up as one of the Disney characters so take your little one’s costumes to create an even better experience. It does get busy to see the parade so if you want to get key spots you may need to get their early and wait. It is the same parade each day so once you have seen it once this is a good time to go and explore the park and jump on any rides that you haven’t got around to as will be quieter. Pre-booking a character breakfast and Buffalo Bills is advisable. This also ensures that you get to see your favourite character and won’t miss out. Buffalo Bill’s is a fantastic evening for all, lots of excitement that even the dads will enjoy; cowboys, horses and guns! Every area of the arena is a good seat, set out like an amphitheatre around the stage. Dinner served is simple, like chilli and rice for the adults and chicken wings for the kids. The fireworks are amazing and must see at least once. However, it is late so can be cold so on that day make sure you take warm clothes or a blanket to have ready. A few hints and tips to make a magical experience even more amazing and maximise your time to enable you to enjoy your family time.

14 February 2019

A trip to Orlando can be a once in a lifetime trip for most families so it is important to make sure you get the most of your time there, here are my top 5 tips for when planning your trip: 1. Book flights and transfers as early as possible Great deals can be found the earlier you book as the more demand there is for popular flights (such as Orlando), the quicker they increase. Combining with accommodation or car hire can help reduce the cost. Book airport parking as early as possible as again prices rise the closer to your departure date. If booking a package, you will find cost effective deals that will include flights, accommodation and transfers. However, if you are staying in Walt Disney World resort you will be able to use the Disney Magical Express which is a complimentary transfer which includes luggage delivery from Orlando airport. Consider transport whilst in resort as you may want to hire a car and explore other areas of Orlando. 2. Book theme park attractions and tickets before you travel I would imagine that you have a few must see places that you wish to explore in Orlando and as it is such a huge resort and so many options available to get the most of your experience, it would be advisable to make a list of your top attractions. Book these as soon as you can to avoid disappointment and get great deals on park tickets. 3. Plan what you would like to do each day Such an action-packed place, it is hard to get to see everything, so it is important to get the most out of your visit. Make a vague plan of what you would like to achieve by downloading park maps, google theme park itineraries and gain inspiration from others who have visited. Plan four or five must do rides a day. Disney’s free fast pass system enables you to book in advance. If you are staying in a Walt Disney World hotel you can book 60 days in advance using the fast pass online or download the app, if you are staying offsite this can be done 30 days prior. There are also dedicated websites that advise of queue times and when is the busiest time at the parks, well worth checking before you visit. 4. Plan some down time Orlando is an incredible place and also exhausting. It is always advisable to plan some downtime in your schedule, especially when you have small children. After a long flight it is sometimes a good idea to use the first day to relax and get into the time zones and explore your surroundings, children benefit from this time to adjust. Recharge your batteries in between theme park visits, plan a day by the pool or smaller attractions, hit the mall for a spot of shopping. 5. Make some dining reservations in advance. You will never go hungry in Orlando, you will be truly spoiled for choice. Even more important will be to book the character meals – download the My Disney Experience mobile app. Here you can make changes, book last minute or cancel them 24hrs before. Need more help planning your trip or want to find out more please feel free to contact me.

11 December 2019

Perfect for a few days away or perhaps a short city break, St Johns is the capital of Canada’s Newfoundland and Labrador province. Located at the Eastern Tip of the Avalon Peninsular on the large Canadian Island of Newfoundland, it is a vibrant colourful city bursting with character as it brings together both its historic and contemporary influences. As one of the oldest cities in North America, St John’s combines small-town charm with big city luxury, creating a unique destination that can be reached in only 4 ½ hours when flying from London Heathrow to St Johns Newfoundland direct. Then just ten minutes from the airport, you can be checking into your hotel or B&B ready to start your adventure. As you wander down narrow streets that have been naturally created by hundreds of horse and carriage journeys, this historic city comes to life as you pass the colourful jellybean row houses that wedged together line the hidden alleys and steep hillsides. As you explore, be sure to talk and listen to the city’s lively, entertaining and most courteous residents telling stories and sometimes tall tales as to why the houses are painted so brightly. This colourful and friendly city has so much to offer and from downtown St Johns you can use the ‘Hop on Hop Off’ to explore the inner city. With a total of 10 stops and each located next to a major attraction or landmark, this great service provides a flexible way to explore the city at your own pace. Another a unique way to see the city in its full glory, is to enjoy the integrated trail system. Joining neighbouring communities such as Mount Pearl and Paradise, it also links a series of rivers, lakes, ponds, parks and green spaces, to showcase the landscape and immerse you in the area’s beautiful natural features. The East Coast Trail will take you to the top of Signal Hill where you will find a truly spectacular view of St John’s and the North Atlantic, before you visit the iconic and castle-like Cabot Tower. Then taking the famous North Head Trail you can traverse along the Narrows of the harbour, visit Quidi Vidi, a delightful village-within-a-city that retains the old fishing port vibe, before moving on into the vibrant Battery community, where their brightly coloured petite homes bravely cling to rugged cliff-sides. Well known as being one of the best places in the world to view icebergs, a walk further along the coast provides opportunities to spot these glacial giants in varying shapes, sizes and colours, in addition to a plethora of wildlife, birds, orca, dolphins, puffins and rare birds of prey. This magnificent location is a true photographers dream, and after you have had a full day of exploring end the day at one of the many harbour side restaurants complete with an ocean view. Or, perhaps you’d prefer a short walk to the outskirts of St Johns where “The Gut”, a quaint fishing village, hosts the local craft brewery and offers the best seafood and wild game at one of ‘Canada’s best restaurants.’ So as you wander through some of the oldest streets in the New World, take time to peruse the many café’s, art galleries, shops and boutiques. The hand crafted jewellery created by local Canadian Artisans featuring the native Labradorite stone is a favourite for many, but there are so many modern and traditional, colourful and exciting gifts on offer, the only problem will be which to choose.