06 May 2025

Best Family Hotels with swim up rooms! I get asked to search for swim up rooms for families a lot. Why is this? Swim up rooms may seem like a luxury but they are sooo worth it especially when travelling with a young family. • If your little one still naps this is the perfect set up, you can safely get your little one to sleep and pop them down in their cot while you return to the pool or to just sit and chill on the terrace. • If you have more than one child, the smallest can sleep while their older sibling doesn’t have to miss out on pool time. • For those who like to keep to the same routine you will have a deck or terrace to chill out on in the evening while the children go to bed so you are not stuck either in the room or on a small balcony. • You are always close enough to the children while they are in bed, so they feel safe and secure. • Normally these types of rooms are larger suites, so the bedroom is separate from the living area, another bonus we found, is you can move the cot into the bedroom for daytime naps so its dark, quiet and cool. Below is a list of great family friendly hotels that offer swim up rooms. Should you wish to get a quote for any of these please get in touch with me. Greece. • Atlantica Aegean Blue Rhodes. Several different options for swim up rooms available. All inclusive, 5 bars, 4 restaurants, waterpark, kids pool and kids club and mini disco, children’s buffet, playground and soft play. • Holiday Village Rhodes. Several different options for swim up rooms available. Hotel has 5 bars, 7 pools, kids pool, 4 restaurants, waterpark, activity programme for children, dining options for children and an ariel adventure park. • Tui Sensatori Atlantica Caldera Palace Resort Crete. 5 bars, 8 restaurants, 5 pools, kids pool, kids club, baby club, evening entertainment. Balearics. • Zafiro hotels in Majorca, most of the Zafiro hotels offer swim up suites which also come with kitchenettes, which is super handy to have a fridge for milk and food. Zafiro offer board basis from B&B up to all inclusive. Kids pool and slides, playground, soft play, mini disco, kids club, kids buffet options, children’s entertainment. • Holiday Village Cala Millor Majorca. All inclusive, swim up one bedroom apartments, 2 bars, 4 restaurants, 6 pools, 1 kids pool, toddler splash pool, evening entertainment, playground, kids club, ariel assault course, football and drama camps for older children. • Viva Sunrise, Majorca. Selection Club apartment with plunge pool. Half board or all inclusive, splash park, children’s pool, kids clubs, children’s buffet, 3 bars, 1 restaurant, evening entertainment. Turkey • Liberty Signa Dalaman. Rooms with pool access and private pool rooms available. All inclusive, 10 bars including a beach bar, 9 restaurants, children’s dining options, 3 pools, aqua park, 2 indoor pools, kids clubs, teen clubs, entertainment schedule. • Lara Barut Collection. Deluxe Lagoon swim up room, all inclusive, 6 bars, 12 restaurants with children’s options, 2 outdoor pool with children’s section, aqua park, indoor pool, kids club and daily entertainment. • Barut GOIA Antalya. Swim up Deluxe Room. 5 bars, 4 restaurants, children’s buffet, 2 outdoor pools with children’s section, indoor pool with children’s section, pool with slides, games room, arcade, cinema, playground, adventure play area.

05 March 2025

Traveling with Small Children: Tips to Make It Easier Let’s face it, traveling with small children can be a bit of a nightmare! From tantrums to spills, the unpredictability is enough to make even the most seasoned traveller feel a little stressed. But fear not – it doesn’t have to be a total disaster! Here are some tried-and-true tips to make your journey with little ones go a bit more smoothly. Remember: Don't stress too much – what will be, will be. Kids aren’t perfect, and that’s okay! 1. Be Prepared One of the best ways to avoid stress is to get organized. Pack your hand luggage with all the essentials you’ll need during the trip. Start with the basics: spare clothes! If you have young children, you’re likely to deal with at least one spill or, if you're anything like me, a bout of unexpected sickness. Be sure to toss in a change of clothes for yourself, too – trust me, you’ll thank yourself later. 2. Pack Essentials for the Kids Wipes, nappies, snacks, and drinks are non-negotiable! Keep it simple – avoid sugary drinks (because let’s face it, you don’t need any more hyperactive kids running around) and go for water or milk instead. If you’re traveling with a baby, you’re allowed to bring milk through security, so don’t worry about having to ditch the bottles at the security. If you have an older child who still loves their milk, an easy hack is to bring an empty cup through security and then buy a pint of milk once you’re through. It’ll save you some hassle while keeping your little one happy and hydrated. 3. Stay Calm and Enjoy the Journey Finally, remember that things may not always go as planned – and that’s okay! Kids can be unpredictable, but staying calm and relaxed will make a huge difference in your stress levels. Focus on the fun aspects of your trip and embrace the chaos that comes with traveling with little ones. 4. Snacks, Snacks, and More Snacks! When it comes to snacks, moderation is key. Avoid packing too many sugary treats, as they can lead to a sugar rush (and possibly a meltdown later). Instead, opt for a variety of healthier snacks to keep them satisfied. There are some great snack boxes with dividers that allow you to pack a little bit of everything – fruit, crackers, cheese, and more. The variety will keep them occupied for longer! 5. Screen Time – It’s Okay! Let’s be real: sometimes, screen time is a lifesaver. If it keeps your child entertained and calm, don’t stress about limiting it. A little Peppa Pig or their favourite cartoons can go a long way. But here's a key tip – take headphones! The entire airplane doesn’t need to hear the sounds of Peppa’s adventures. Trust me, you’ll be doing everyone a favour! 6. The Magic of a Plane Bag One of my kids’ favourite things to look forward to is their “plane bag.” I make a surprise bag that they’re only allowed to open once we’re onboard. This helps build excitement for the trip. To make it last longer, I’ll pull out a few things at a time. Simple, quiet toys like colouring books, cars, or other non-messy toys are perfect. The goal is to keep them entertained without causing a mess. As a former cabin crew member, I can’t stress this enough – nobody wants to deal with a chaotic mess in the cabin! 7. Pre-Boarding Energy Burn If your little one still takes naps, try to let them run around a bit before boarding. Giving them a chance to burn off some energy can help them relax and hopefully fall asleep once the plane takes off. A well-timed nap can make all the difference in keeping them calm and happy during the flight. While traveling with small children may not always be easy, the right preparation can make all the difference. A little planning, some fun surprises, and a few tricks to keep them entertained will help make your journey smoother. So, take a deep breath, stay flexible, and enjoy the adventure. Happy travels!

03 February 2025

Santas Lapland There is so much choice out there for Lapland Santa visits. If you are flying from a northern airport then my personal favourite is to use Santas Lapland. They offer great deals, some dates include free child places, the flight times are very good and the flights are chartered for the trip. Trips are either 2 or 3 nights. All trips include half board accommodation, snowsuits provided along with snowy activities, flights and transfers. They offer two types of trip, Santas Magic or Santas Aurora. So what’s the difference? Santas magic, this is their classic Lapland adventure including an activity day packed with husky sledding, a reindeer sleigh ride, snow hockey, mini skidoos, igloos and other winter fun. Enjoy a private meeting with Santa and a festive dinner. Santas Aurora, this is a more premium experience staying in your choice of accommodation both with place to relax and view the northern lights should you be lucky enough. Enjoy a snowmobile safari, a wilderness dinner followed by a reindeer sleigh ride, and an activity day featuring extended husky sledding, a visit to Santas workshop, followed by a magical reindeer sleigh ride taking you to a private meeting with Santa. Both options are fab for families and include everything you need to make this once in a lifetime trip a memorable experience. If you are looking to visit please get in touch with me and i can take care of it all for you and help you choose the right package for you and your family. The price you see on the website is the price you will pay with me, so take advantage of having my service at no extra cost!

10 December 2024

Spend the day with me on the Queen Mary 2. I was very fortunate to be asked to spend the day aboard the Queen Mary 2 for a champagne afternoon tea. (Fun fact the Queen Mary2 is not a cruise ship but a British Ocean Liner.) Our experience was started off by being guided through the ship to view the main dining room with its stunning 2 levels and exquisite table settings, then onto the Grand Lobby with its two sweeping staircases, like something out of Titanic with a new floral centre piece on show each week, on this visit it was a stunning peacock display. Then onto the Champagne Bar where we were served our Laurent Pierre champagne and afternoon tea, whilst being entertained by a harpist. The afternoon tea was divine, cucumber sandwiches, patisserie delights, including a hand crafted gold decorated Cunard biscuit and of course scones with jam and clotted cream, all accompanied by a cold glass of Laurent Perrier Cuvee Rose, Brut or Demi Sec. Then we went off on our guided tour visiting the Royal Court theatre, walking around the deck area and even getting to see where your pets can stay if you wish to take them on your transatlantic crossing! I absolutely loved the lamppost and firehydrant they have on deck for the dogs to erm.. use. Visiting the Queen Grill which is for the exclusive use of the Queens Grill suite guests only. Every little touch is thought of, you have your own waiter who gets to know you, so when you arrive for dinner if you have any specific requests, likes or dislikes this will have been catered for. You can also ask the chef to cook you up anything you like! If you’re missing home cooking you can ask for your favourite dish to be cooked the way you like it. We also visited the library, which is the largest at sea! Containing over 10,000 books in six languages! The pool deck and indoor spa area are defiantly places I would be spending my time onboard, the spa facilities are gorgeous. Entertainment wise you won’t get bored. 11 bars in total, including the Golden Lion Pub which is set out like a traditional English pub. Cunard even have their own gin onboard in 4 different varieties. There is also a ball room and G32 their onboard nightclub. The first ever Planetarium at sea, cinema, casino and the Royal Court Theatre which is where all the main shows take place. We were lucky enough to stay to watch that evenings entertainment which was fantastic! If you are looking to do a transatlantic cruise you can’t go wrong with a trip on the Queen Mary 2.