28 January 2021

Lockdown 3.0 has probably been the toughest for many people. When I cast my mind back a year I was looking forward to attending my first Travel Counsellors Gold Awards Dinner and being welcomed to the club, the highest honour bestowed on a Travel Counsellor. I was planning ahead with thoughts of growing my business and developing the amazing referrals and recommendations I’d been receiving and making 2020 the most successful year yet. Corona was just a light Mexican beer, best served with Lime. Wuhan was still the largest city in the world that no one had heard of (I still can’t believe it has a bigger population than London!) and social distancing was just something Sally made me do after I’d had a curry and was made to sleep in the lounge. Lockdown has created a new phraseology. Unprecedented started the new wave. It was unprecedented the amount of times people were saying the word unprecedented. It also still amazes me that I still can’t spell it and need autocorrect, every time! This has been followed by social distancing, Covidiots, ‘new normal’ and my personal worst ‘side hustle’ Which makes people knocking out some jam or selling arts and crafts through Facebook sound like some black market, underground mafia run organisation. Anyone who invested in Zoom in 2019 doesn’t care if they’re on mute or whether they’re breaking up or if someone needs ‘a hard stop at two o clock’ The last is the new touch base, surely. But one of the new phrases closer to my heart was WFH (working from home) A new phenomenon for most of the working world but something I had started to get used to for the previous 2 years. I’d worked out when I could sneak in a few episodes of Parks and Recreation or the Crown. I’d stopped feeling guilty if I went to the toilet and got lost in a rabbit warren of Facebook videos and returned to my desk 40 minutes later. I'm able to do this and not have to pretend that I didn’t feel very well as I sat back down and make the upset tummy action to my nearby colleague who was looking at their watch and rolling their eyes. But then lockdown happened and my peaceful days of managing my workload had the hand grenade thrown in of children no longer at school and Sally joining the working from home team. It was fine in March and April as I was so busy sorting out all my clients that had been affected, be it rebooking, cancellation or refunds. But as the months crept on I had to balance the prospect of not giving too much away about my normal working day. I had to remain chained to my desk to present this elusion to ensure my days weren’t ruined when we returned to the way it was! You want to keep your spare hours free so you can catch up on the series you’ve missed, do valuable research watching travel programmes and read the odd book. Try doing any of those when your partner is trying to Zoom and your kids are trying to print anything off is tricky! Printers have managed to unite the country, unlike any politician or online movement, in the countries utter contempt for these machines. The cries of ‘just work’ have been a rallying call for home schooling parents up and down the land. We need to protect ourselves from this so that when our partners return to work, and children are back to being educated by professionals and not stressed, clueless parents that are brandishing an HP 8250 inkjet and threatening to throw it into the street as it ‘just doesn’t work, it just needs to work, why can’t it just work’ can return to normal. This will mean not giving anything away so when they call during the day and ask what you’re doing they don’t lead with ‘how many digestives have you had’ or ‘what episode of … are you up to now’ This may give the impression that I sit at home watching Netflix, consuming snacks and generally not doing much. You would off course be incorrect. I work diligently and when required. However, I don’t get to have the half hour chats with Sandra about Robert in accounts by the printer. Printers that always work in the office, by the way, but never at home. There are other problems with everyone being at home. I’ve had to start wearing a mask. Not to protect my family from me spilling my viral load but to stop me from eating. No wonder there were miles of queues outside TK Maxx and Primark after each lockdown, everyone had gone up a size. We’ve also had to deal with the feelings of guilt. How can certain friends on social media’s 4-year-old perfectly bake a banana bread and my kids are running feral and have barely mastered opening yoghurts. I get the feeling of dread when someone drops in their Facebook feed that they’re now fluent in Spanish after an intensive 2-week course and then there’s the Instagram posts of inspirational memes accompanied by their recent jog statistics, highlighting the fact that you’ve barely mustered three figures in your daily step count. But for those that have always been working from home we have a different perspective. There’s no novelty factor and when this finally becomes a distant memory we will still be at our desks fighting the urge to get another custard cream from the kitchen. When I do the big shop, I have to be really strict and not let any of these food types enter the building. We will no longer have to balance our busy working days without the need to factor in the prescribed daily amount of exercise, whilst calculating just how long the neighbours have been out and that they’ve got more bubbles than the Aero I haven’t just eaten! Working from home may become part of the new normal, just saying that phrase makes me squirm, but I hope that I can return to my peaceful days work. Putting together dream itineraries and trips of a lifetime requires a sense of calm and not having to worry that the rest of my family think I’m sat about watching YouTube videos, it’s research of course but try convincing the kids this when you’re limiting their screen time. So I hope you’ve all appreciated being let into the secret club. I bet your bosses are all regretting that fact that they didn’t do it earlier because they didn’t trust you! But guess what when you’ve not got Sandra chatting to you about inane rubbish for half of the day you can get on with the job in hand. Some of you may remain but for those that return to the commute and the office politics I wish you luck and all the best. I’m off to put together a beautiful tailormade trip for a client, but not before I sneak in a quick video of a cat sneezing.

03 December 2020

When is the best time to book for 2021? This is a question I’m getting asked on a regular basis. The quick answer is now. This might surprise some of you, so I will explain. But beforehand I’d like to say that every client and situation is different, and I can tailor the right package, and timings, to fit you and your situation. Why now though, with everything going on? There are three main reasons for my thought process. Firstly, a technical point. During the past nine months when there has been little, or no, travel to most areas. Lots have people have moved and rebooked their 2020 holidays to 2021. This has meant there are already many people booked to popular destinations at busy times like school holidays. I appreciate that’s a slightly boring, but valid point, so number two is about the offers! For destinations that are starting to come back into the swing of things hotels, airlines and tourist boards are desperate to get their businesses and economies back up and running. For places in the Caribbean, Maldives, Thailand and European destinations like Greece and Portugal tourism is such a huge part of the country’s fabric that attracting people back is a key part of their future economic plans. If you’re flexible with your dates then there are some great offers to be had and I’ve already booked people holidays at greatly reduced prices, compared to the prices that they were originally paying for their 2020 holiday. The third is the best though. It’s going to give you something to look forward to. Something for you and your family to talk about. Something to dream about and something that you can put in the diary and plan around. After almost a year of not being able to travel I know who much I now appreciate travel. We probably all were guilty of taking it for granted but I’m now going to most the most of every opportunity and treat it like my first trip away and my last adventure. I will still forgive you for questioning me. But that’s where I come in. I’ve spent the last nine months dealing with this and I’m best placed to help and advise you on all that you will need to know. Entry requirements, restrictions, quarantines and testing are all things that I can add to the standard amount of knowledge and expertise you already get with every booking. With this comes peace of mind. I think this fall’s into two categories. The first is having someone on your side to guide you through, who will be there throughout the whole process, and who is on hand available at all times. The other is the financial side and protection. We are off course Atol protected and along with our trust fund your money is safe. But I can offer much more flexibility by selecting airfares and hotel rates that give us the chance to just pay a small deposit and then push the final payment dates on if required. This means that especially for long haul trips to the USA, Canada, Asia and Africa you can book your dream trip with a small deposit, so you’ve got everything arranged and in place. But all the reassurance you need When the world does start to come back to whatever the new normal is going to be there will be an inevitable rush and this is when we might start to see prices rise and availability drop. By having a trip in the bank at what are likely to be the best prices is a sensible option. I’ve done exactly this with our planned trip to Western Canada and the USA next August. We have flexible flights and hotel reservations booked so I can easily amend if required. The world is however changing at pace. The news of vaccines, quick testing, better treatments and the opening of travel corridors and reopening of many countries has all been welcomed news in the past few weeks. Since starting my Travel Counsellors adventure I’ve always marketed myself for the knowledge and experience I can bring to your trip. This has generally meant suggesting the best times of year, best hotels for your needs, the correct length of stays, how to maximise your holidays with experiences and the best advise for all the little things. This is still the case but probably now more than ever it’s the other things that come with my experience that are going to be more valued than ever. Being here, at the end of a phone, email or WhatsApp message. Understanding the rules, regulations and requirements that will be involved in future travel. The experience of working through the pandemic and the things I’ve learnt about the suppliers that I can trust and rely on. All this goes together with the financial protection and honest advice that I can offer. 2021 is very much on offer and if you’re dreaming of getting away and finally dusting off the passport then make sure you contact me first for help, support, guidance and a level of service that you’ll not receive from anywhere else.

15 September 2020

After having our trips to Thailand and cruise around Italy both fall foul to Covid cancellations the Maslen’s were not be put off getting away completely. Last year we we’re lucky enough to do a self-drive in the States to Yellowstone and around Wyoming and Colorado. It was without question the trip of a lifetime. One of the successes was finding out that my daughters, now aged 10 & 9, don’t mind road trips. In fact, I’d almost say they enjoyed the excitement of different places and experiences every couple of days. They still talk fondly of the hotels we stayed in and the things we did on the way to and from Yellowstone. With this in mind, and my wife’s insistence that Scotland is lovely, we headed up the A1 for a two week ‘stay drive’. We based the trip on two basic principles, 2-3 hours driving maximum and staying wherever had availability at a weeks’ notice! The second of these turned out to be the most decisive given the recent popularity of the North Coast 500, or NC500 to its friends. The Scottish tourism board have done a fantastic job marketing the drive, along with accompanying app, websites and its own hashtag. Many top ten guides and experts list the NC500 in the same company as Route 66 and Pacific Highway 1 in the states, the Great Ocean road in Australia and the Garden Route in South Africa. All iconic and internationally renowned and the NC500 was the ‘unknown’ one that was always seemed thrown in to make it look like the author wasn’t just quoting the obvious. First stop was Edinburgh. Not the official start of the drive, that's Inverness, but a city we’ve never visited. We packed in a full day of walking, Royal Mile, Hollyrood Castle, Edinburgh Castle, gardens, famous cafes and Calton Hill viewing point. We then headed north through the Cairngorms National Park to Aviemore. My daughter Isabelle has made the life choice to be a vet, at the age of 9.. This means every trip must have animal involvement and Aviemore is home to one of the best parks we’ve ever visited – the Highland Wildlife park. With it’s combination of drive through and walk throughs with a wide range of well looked after animals in fantastic enclosures it was a huge hit with the whole family. Aviemore itself is a nice little town with plenty of places for the more adventurous, skiing, walking, kayaking and rope climbs among it’s many highlights. But its set in the foothills of some of Scotland’s most picturesque landscape. The route up the east coast to the hot spot of John O’Groats took us past the stunning Dunrobin Castle and a beautiful coastal drive, hugging the North Sea as we passed Wick. John O’Groats is much known and fabled, but the surprise wasn’t the photo opportunity by the sign but the walk to the Dunscaby Stacks. A stunning cliff edge walk and a lot prettier than the small village itself! Unfortunately, our two nights along the far northern coastline were hampered by the weather, with a low lying haar, as the locals call it, settling in for our stay. The beaches though looked superb. Not deterred by a bit of inclement weather our daughters donned their wetsuits and merrily played in the sea as it were Thailand, sort of. The scenery and driving experience really picked up once we headed down the Western coastline. The roads carved their way through the mountain ranges and Loch’s, we went from driving alongside the coast, to a Loch to a mountain and as the sun came out the B869 was fast becoming one of my favourite roads ever. I’ve been fortunate enough to do a lot of driving in the States through National Parks and some of the best scenery in the world and this little section of road, almost on our doorstep, was as good as any. Achmelvich Bay and the beach it hides away at the end of a long windy road is a true hidden gem. I’m not a ‘beach’ person generally but even I was impressed with how blue the sea was and the sand was pristine in this tucked away part of Scotland, yes Scotland! The next stop on the Western side was Loch Poolewe and Gairloch. Both beautiful in location with a nice choice of boat trips. We saw seals on our trip, along with crabs, lobsters and star fish on the glass bottom boat trip. But trips out to try and see Orca’s, dolphins and even sharks are all possible from here. The next Loch along the coastline is the stunning Torridon, home to the Torridon hotel. This recently featured on BBC’s hotels beyond the lobby series. Although we couldn’t stay we did book for dinner. What a place, experience, location and meal. We finished with a drive over to Loch Ness, no we didn’t, and a trip to the Nessie museum. The town of Fort William, the gateway to Ben Nevis and many other walks, hikes and trails was another lovely place that we weren’t expecting. We choose not to take on Nevis, mainly because the kids baulked at the 7-8 hours of their lives it would consume and opted for a stunning walk alongside the UK’s biggest mountain to a beautiful waterfall. This was our first and only real encounter with the dreaded midges. The thought of midges has been enough to scare many a person off the thought of passing Hadrian’s wall. But we were either lucky or it’s not as bad as people make out. In fairness if you’re camping by a loch at night chances are you’ll meet their wrath. But if you stay in nice hotels a safe distance from water then you should be okay! The rolling hills and mountains, coupled with the dramatic and everchanging scenery make the driving a joy, the beaches were an unexpected find and the food throughout was of a very high standard. We noticed a lot more references to the local produce and producers and a real pride in restaurants, hotels and café’s using locally sourced food. We did have to book a lot of things in advance. Partly because of reduced numbers allowed in venues, and it being a busier time of year. But it’s not a bad idea anyway. Most of the small towns and villages only have a handful of places to eat and tours and trips to do so it’s makes sense to plan where possible. I’ve already added the disclaimer that this was a backup holiday arranged at the last minute. However, for that reason expectations were reasonable, and the trip exceeded every one of them, comfortably. Although I’m sure we will head to far flung places as soon as we’re allowed our trip to Scotland will be fondly remembered, and one day no doubt repeated. So if you fancy taking on the North Coast 500 get in touch.

26 April 2020

Firstly, I hope this finds you all well? The past two months have without question been a challenging time for all of us at home and at work. I wanted to take this opportunity to get in touch with everyone to update you on things from my perspective. Initially, back in March, when borders started to close, and things started to get serious my priority was to get all my clients who were abroad back home. This involved getting clients on the penultimate flight out of Cancun, one of the last out of South Africa and the last out of Adelaide. It was an extremely worrying time for my clients and myself. Fortunately, as I already work from home and because Travel Counsellors are already set up for home working we were able to navigate this testing time and even though I had to drive down to Heathrow myself to pick up my last stranded clients, everyone got home safe and sound. The other huge consideration was for all my clients that we due to travel at the end of March and in April, which of course coincided with the school Easter holidays. As foreign office advice, countries entry requirements and visas were changing almost hourly I was regularly in contact with all those effected. At these times although I wasn’t always able to give an answer, or the answer people were wanting, but I was accessible and always at the end of the phone, message or email. This is something that the rest of the travel industry have certainly struggled with. This has meant that disappointingly many trips and adventures have had to be postponed for now, and personally these are the worst calls and conversations to have. Although I have to say a huge thank you to all my clients for being so patient and understanding in these most difficult of times. As policies, rules and regulations have been changing some companies have been playing fast and loose with the rules. It’s been a tough time to work through. I’ve seen airlines flying routes with empty planes, because if they cancelled the flight they would have to refund. Some operators have used creative wording to circumnavigate their own terms and conditions and others have completely changed the rules as we’ve gone along. This has caused even more confusion and frustration for many and I’ve even offered help and advise to people struggling to get answers even though they’ve not booked their trip through myself. I’ve been working tirelessly to not only keep my clients informed but to do all I can to assist. Where possible I’ve moved final payment dates to help buy us time, I’ve been able to react quickly to help with re booking's and refunds and where possible I’ve tried to be as proactive and caring as possible. This has meant I’ve been in constant contact with all my clients and it’s been interesting to see the questions of the moment changing. From little concern to ‘do you think we can still go’ to ‘its not looking great’ to ‘can you get me home’ and now it’s ‘when do you think things will change’ This is so difficult to predict. I do think that when lock down is relaxed there will be a push from many countries that rely on tourism to get things moving as soon as it’s safe. However, this process, and the logistics, could take time. Trade and travel will form a huge part of the international recovery so I’m confident it will be at the forefront of future decisions. The positive news, and the green shoots, do seem to be appearing though. This week I booked two ‘new’ holidays. The first non-related Covid bookings in the past two months. Interestingly both were for front line nurses working in ICU Covid wings of their respective hospitals. I’m sure having something to look forward to played a big part in their decision to book. We have been sensible in selecting changeable airfares and hotel rates as a precaution. Over the years I’ve worked in a travel industry that has overcome ash Clouds, terrorist attacks, Tsunamis, airline and operator failures as well as recessions and uncertain times. Nothing quite like this though, but we will get through it and when we do I’m convinced that we will all want to get away on our travel again. I already have a virtual waiting list of clients wanting to get away as soon as they can! I will be here to help you through the process as I always have been. If ever a time highlighted the benefits of my service, it has been the last two months and I can’t wait to get back to doing what I do best. If you know of friends and family that have not been able to get the answers or advise they need from their travel provider, please pass my details on to them as I’d be happy to try and help. I’d like to thank you all for your continued support and will leave you with some feedback I received from some clients recently caught up in the recent events. “In the past, I have heard you say that the TC organisation is always available to assist if things go wrong on holiday and while I appreciated the sentiment, it was always taken with a pinch of salt. We are experience travellers and so I always felt that we would be able to sort out most issues faced while travelling outside of the UK. That changed on our recent holiday with the developing situation with Covid 19. Borders were being closed down and flight schedules radically altered as the virus took hold. It was a great relief to us that we had you and the TC organisation in our corner checking routes and managing the communication around options for getting home. The regular updates and communication helped us make informed decisions while still allowing us to enjoy our time away in difficult circumstances. I look forward to booking with you again when the current situation changes and hope that you and the family stay safe during this most testing of times.” Stay safe and I look forward to speaking to you all soon.

17 December 2019

My Auntie Pauline is the jewel in our family’s crown. Direct, blunt and hilarious. When we lost my dear Uncle Mac a year ago we were all worried about how Pauline would manage by herself and without the love of her life. Family and friends have come together and kept her busy and during my phone calls with her it became very apparent she wanted to travel and see the places in the world she’s always wanted to go to. Now my Uncle Mac was a fine man, but he was that tight he would squeak when he walked. So, Pauline wanted to do the thing that he would never have paid for; the Orient Express. Before this, and to set the scene, I told Pauline I would take her on a cruise in 2020. However, in June she got the news the for the third time in her life she was going to have to battle cancer. My Aunt is an incredible woman who has a medical record longer than your arm and has always just got on with it. I always think that people of that generation are cut from a very different cloth in this respect. So, with this news, and with my Aunt’s bluntness that she’d need to do it quickly as she might not be here in 2020, I decided to arrange a cruise to Iceland at a weeks’ notice. It was my first cruise, and Pauline’s 15th! She loved showing the ‘travel expert’ the ropes and was in her element during the formal dinners and meeting the captain. Whilst on the cruise we had time to talk about lots of things. Family history, my Uncle Mac, my dad’s younger years and in true Aunty Pauline bluntness even her preferred funeral arrangements! However, the one thing she spoke about daily was her desire to travel on the Orient Express. This was not a new thing as I can recall her telling me about this amazing train, with the silver service, butlers and fine dining when I was a small child. But Pauline had hoped Mac was planning to surprise her for her 80th. Alas, Mac didn’t and Pauline had one last wish. During the summer Pauline’s treatment continued and reached a critical point. It was then I realised that the Orient Express stopped running in November and didn’t start again until April. This may have been too late so again at the last minute I put together a trip. Her face when she received the tickets and her reaction to going was perfect. Everybody in her home town of Westbury knew that she was going on by the end of the week. She even took her tickets and itinerary with her to her final treatment the week before going to show her surgeon! Pauline wanted to do it all in style. We took the train to London and stayed at the Grosvenor House the night before. We had chauffeurs arranged and got to Victoria in good time. The Belmond lounge was a hub of activity with people excitedly taking it all in with a glass of champagne as part of the check-in process. The first part of the journey is aboard the British Pullman. An absolute classic, Art eco style, train with all the grandeur you’d expect. The noise and smell when it pulled into Victoria took you back to black and white images of steam trains in the ‘olden days’ Pauline couldn’t wait, and I wheeled her out and straight to our cabin, Minerva. There to welcome us was our cabin manager, happily posing for photos, in his immaculate uniform. We took our seats and I think Pauline was quite over oared with the experience, smiling and staring and taking it all in. A welcome glass of fizz and a mid-morning four-course brunch set the tone as we raced out of London and through the lovely Kent countryside towards Folkestone. The journey was everything Pauline was expecting, and we’d not even got on board the main event. A transfer from the Pullman to a fleet of waiting coaches took us through the tunnel to Calais. As we pulled up, there she was, in all her regal glory. Pauline grabbed my arm and looked like a kid on Christmas morning! The staff we all there waiting for us and guided us to our carriage. The cabins were compact, fine for a husband and wife, but Aunt/Nephew combinations have probably been few and far between! A beautiful picture window framed the view and the small vanity unit and shelving made the best of the space. Very quickly our cabin manager greeted us with more champagne and a quick rundown of the cabin and our invitation to dinner. We had an hour or so to get ready and it was black tie, so everyone on board took advantage and dressed up. It was fantastic to see the dinner carriage and walk through with everyone so smartly turned out. It really gave the sense of the whole experience. The meal was superb. A lobster bisque, Dover sole and a cheese board that was the best I’ve ever seen. After dinner, we retired to the cabin which had been turned into our sleeping quarters whilst we were at dinner. A bunk bed yes, but the most comfortable bunk bed I’ve ever slept in. Amazing bedding, soft mattress and the lights of Paris passing in the distance. We both slept well and woke to the sight of the alps. A continental breakfast was served in the cabin. We then headed to the bar, which is one of the most stunning bars I’ve ever seen. Superbly decorated and in keeping with the ambience of the train and experience. The bar started to fill up as people mingled and shared stories as we climbed through the Alpswith snow now falling. Lunch was another culinary delight but Pauline was flagging so returned for an afternoon nap whilst I investigated the rest of the train and spoke to the staff, most of whom had been employed for over 10 years and all clearly loved their jobs. The train sped through the Italian lakes before reaching our destination, Venice. It had been an amazing couple of days. Pauline loved every single minute and it was worthwhile just to see her smile uncontrollably when she got on board! We arrived in Venice in the rain, and although the transfers were perfectly arranged and the hotel stunning, this was very much after the lord mayors show! We returned to Bristol the next morning after an early morning boat trip around the city and a very tired but incredibly pleased Aunty Pauline returned to her daily life after three days of living it up in the finest style. In my job I’ve often helped people achieve their trips of a lifetime but having a ringside seat for this was incredibly special. An iconic trip that is steeped in the annuals of travel and conjures instant images of grandeur. It met every expectation and more. The perfect trip for celebrating an anniversary or special occasion and one that you’d never forget.

17 December 2019

They say that you should never meet your heroes. I worried about this for our summer holiday to Yellowstone. I’d wanted to go for as long as I could remember. I’d watched the documentaries, read the books and spent my days in my previous job trying to plan it to see if we could ever afford it. I’ve also loved putting itineraries together for clients and although I suffer from holiday envy a lot, as I'm sure you can imagine, the envy for trips to Wyoming were always more than most. This trip was only made possible by a Virgin sale fare. When the email alert came through and I saw Denver on the list. Even though it was indirect and from Heathrow, it made it possible. I immediately started to run some dates and within a couple of hours, had them held, Sally called, and the trip was booked. Yellowstone is the world’s oldest National Park. It’s home to some of the most amazing wildlife and diverse scenery on the planet. It has the greatest temperature swing in the world from the mid 30’s in the summer to -30/40 degrees in winter. It was these sort of unimaginable figures, the photos and the stories and a little bit of Yogi Bear that had this firmly on my bucket list. It is remote and hard to get to. Denver and Salt Lake City are the nearest international cities, both in other states. Yellowstone finds itself in the state of Wyoming, bigger than the UK with a total population like Leeds! Space is something they have a lot of! So, from Denver you must plan the drive. We decided on a more leisurely drive, with the kids in mind, taking in the Wild West town of Cheyenne and the stunningly gorgeous town of Thermopolis, famed for its dinosaur bones and state park. We then headed to the real wild west in Cody. A frontier town with a nightly Rodeo, cowboys and horses everywhere and proper saloons with swinging doors. Our stay here was made even more special by our decision to stay on a ranch in the middle of nowhere. The UXU ranch took all our breaths away and was a completely unexpected treat. From here we drove north and into Montana. I had always dreamed of entering the park via the infamous Bear Tooth Highway. This involved driving across a mountain range on a windy road with a sheer drop off. The girls did squeal a bit and I’m sure Sally had her eyes closed for long periods, but it was exhilarating. What an entrance. We needed the park to come good quickly to keep the kids onside! As we descended from the Bear Tooth Highway the Lamar Valley opened and we came face to face with Yellowstone's biggest inhabitants, the Bison. 200 years ago, there were 5 million. But in the 1800’s they were slaughtered to almost extinction for their coats and meat. Now only a few thousand remain and we were looking straight at a large herd of them grunting and majestically moving to where ever they wanted. As if that wasn’t the best start, around the next corner was a bear jam (traffic jam caused by a bear sighting). After a little patience and sharing of the binoculars a small black bear was spotted and this was the first two hours! Accommodation in the park is limited. We'd chosen the Yellowstone Lake Lodge, a basic, but beautifully positioned lodge surrounded by large herds of Elk. This included Elk right outside our front door on arrival and all around the hotel grounds. Elk are like deer but twice the size, as everything is bigger in America! We woke early the next morning with a full day planned starting with the scenic drive to the iconic Old Faithful. A natural auditorium surrounding it with geysers and hot springs dotted all over the horizon. Old Faithful was just that, setting off on time and as expected. The hour walk to Morning Glory, the almost as famous hot spring with its bright blue water and colourful patterns was as picturesque and beautiful as in the pictures I remember in the Geography books at school. The driving around the park was an absolute joy. The change in scenery around every turn was something to behold. On the drive to the top of the park we went through mountains, forest, open plains and lakes to the gorgeous village of Mammoth. Each area has its own visitor centre with knowledgeable staff to help guide you. In Mammoth we listened to rangers talk about park safety and safe distances, 100m for bears and wolves for the record. As we returned to the hotel in the distance I thought I saw a bear but didn’t want to call it too early to avoid the never-ending family mickey taking. But as we got closer it was moving down an open field towards the road. We stopped and watched the most humbling of sights of a huge black bear walking alongside the car and casually to the other side, we created the bear jam this time. Not to be outdone the Bison then put on a show. A herd of 100’s crossing the only road in the park meant only one thing, a two hour wait. As a park ranger explained to an annoyed driver behind us ‘it’s their park and they can go where they want maam!’ which we just loved. Without question the best traffic jam we’ve ever been in. Then it was the turn of the grizzlies. Perfectly placed on the other side of the stunning Hayden Valley we watched as a huge grizzly walked along the riverside. But the best sighting was to be the morning after. Taking the advice from the park rangers we headed out early to a specific area on the eastern side. After an hour’s drive we were rewarded with a bear standing on the roadside. He had just popped out from the treeline as we passed. I shouted ‘BEAR’ Isabelle dropped everything, Lucy screamed, and I swung the car around as we parked up, realising very quickly we were nowhere near the 100m rule. The bear stopped on the other side played in some logs and we had memories that will last forever. After the joy of Yellowstone, we headed back to Denver, with a two night stop in the Grand Teton National Park. The Teton’s are a hidden gem, and for that reason I won’t spoil it and will wait for you to find out for yourselves, but the picture I now have in my office of the beautiful mountain range says it all. We even managed to squeeze in a baseball game before we flew home. The trip of a lifetime turned out to be just that. So, it may be true about meeting hero’s in terms of other people letting you down but not this place and not this park. Family memories that we will treasure forever. When those sale fares do come out, grab them with both hands and make it happen. I will be!

17 May 2019

By now you should just have managed to see through the mountain of chocolate that was sitting on the dining room table, lounge or kitchen side! Easter is now a fading memory. A year ago it was the Beast from the East and this year it was sunshine and 20 degrees!! One difference for us this year is that we were able to get away for the first Easter in memory. This was for several reasons, not least my new flexible working, but its turned out to be a revelation with our family. Easter has always been a time spent wondering what shops were open and if you weren’t in the market for a sofa or an occasional table your entertainment choices were limited! So, our trip to Thailand this year was perfect timing in many ways. Easter is a time where holidays attentions seem to focus on a couple of notable destinations like Disney, Florida and the Caribbean. But there are so many amazing places to go, that will not break the bank and could open a world of new experiences, cultures and holidaying to you and your family. Almost across the board it’s a great time of year to visit Asia. The weather is at its peak, rainy season usually starts in May/June time so is a few months away. Temperatures are in the 30’s so absolutely no need to worry about the weather. There is certainly some value to be found. Whether it’s Thailand, Malaysia, Bali or the Philippines the cost of living when you’re out there is also beneficial. Asia allows you to mix itineraries up. With well-priced and easily assessable flights between destinations so it doesn’t just have to be a beach holiday. Why not add 3 nights in a Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong or Kuala Lumpar. It’s not just cities though. In Bali you add some time in the beautiful town of Ubud in the mountains, with stunning rivers and a backdrop that’s the envy of most hotels around the world. In Thailand you can add Chiang Mai, and see hilltribes, elephants, go to cookery schools and immerse yourself in the local markets and culture. If it’s cities and culture you’re after, rather than the beach, then that can easily be achieved. With Air Asia flights between all the major routes I can create the perfect multi centre trip that can inspire. With local tours you can experience the highlights, back streets and local foods and we can get creative and really tailor your trip. It could be visiting the markets in Ho Chi Minh or having an experienced local guide to take you through the Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia. Street food tours in all the big cities are great fun and of course the boat trips to islands like Phi Phi, the Similan or James Bond island in Thailand are bucket list ticking! I always remember these days as some of the best holiday days I’ve had over the years. They can make a trip, and by arranging them in advance it means you’ve no surprises The cost of living whilst you’re in Asia is also something to consider. Eating out is generally significantly cheaper than Europe, America, the Caribbean or the Indian Ocean. In fact eating out is a big part of the attraction. With only a few exceptions I would always recommend Bed & Breakfast and to get yourself out and eating locally. Many destinations have beach front restaurants with seats in the sand and beautiful sunsets that can be one of the highlights of your trip. I love the adventure of street food and the excitement of finding amazing restaurants, taking recommendations and trying new things. Even with kids this is possible. We have one of the fussiest eaters in our family, but she loved choosing new places to eat, and even trying new things (some with limited success admittedly). Now for the hotels. This is probably the best bit. Having been fortunate enough to travel around the world and spend time is lots of amazing places and hotels along the way it’s my opinion that you get the best value for money in Asia. You can get 5 star for 3 star prices when comparing against the Indian Ocean in particular. I appreciate they are different types of trip but I still think the value is in Asia. Be it city hotels or high beach resorts the service and attention you receive is as good as anywhere. Some of my favourites are in Asia. From the Four Seasons Jimbran Bay in Bali to the Sarojin in Khao Lak and the Tongsai Bay in Koh Samui for honeymooners and couples, to the Sands, Amari’s, Melia’s for families. City hotels like Raffles in Singapore and the Peninsula in Hong Kong are amongst the best in the world but in places like Kuala Lumpar and Bangkok you can stay in beautiful hotels for under a £100 a night. So there really is something or everyone. Let’s change your Easter holidays for ever. Don’t spend the weeks leading up to your Easter break checking long range weather forecasts hoping for a lucky break in Europe. You don’t have to pay more for less in some of the traditional locations. You can get amazing experiences, great value and trips for couples, families, beach lovers and adventurers. School holidays across the country appear to be pretty uniformed this year. Therefore, the peak dates will go very quickly, accommodation for families, particularly families of four and five, will be limited. My best advice is to get in touch as early as possible and so we can start looking at your best options. In most cases small deposits are available and payment plans can be worked out over the coming months. So the only thing you’ll need to worry about is where! When planning your next trip to Asia speak to someone who’s been and challenge me to come up with your perfect trip.

15 April 2019

For our family holiday this year we wanted to go away at Easter and relax. After a busy year of moving house, my new business and new job for Sally we just needed to chill out. Easter is a great time to visit so many long-haul destinations, with Europe 's weather not quite there. I have visited Thailand several times over the years as a stopover and on work trips visiting hotels and was keen to take the kids and Sally as they had never experienced Asia. I wanted the kids to see a different culture, experience new foods, sights and sounds that they will have never encountered before. Thailand could give us all of this and is perfect at Easter But Sally had some of the concerns that I hear a lot when I’m discussing Thailand. Is it safe? Isn’t it going be more expensive than Europe? The elephant in the room question - what about the lady boys and all of that ‘stuff’? So, I thought I’d take the opportunity in this blog to answer those questions honestly and explain how we did it, so perhaps it can answer the questions you have for you and your family. Is it safe? Simple answer: yes. The Thai people are amongst the friendliest, most polite and helpful I’ve met on my travels. Tourism is their main business, and this coupled with their cheerful disposition is the perfect recipe. It’s not just safe it’s caring and thoughtful. Thailand looks after you to make sure you have the best time. Everyone might all work for separate companies, have different angles but they all seem to have an unwritten rule that you must have the best time. When we visited a night market Sally was worried that we would get hassled and ripped off, like in so many markets the world over. Not in Thailand. Respectful, helpful and genuinely happy to be part of your experience. Will it will cost more than Europe? It depends, but if you book early enough, it certainly can present far better value for money. This is particularly the case during the Christmas and Easter School holidays when the weather is at its best, and not guaranteed in Europe. The cost of living when you are out there is also significantly cheaper. Eating out for a family of four set us back between £25-£50 in total. This is almost impossible to achieve in some of the more established European resorts. We stayed at the amazing Sands Resort in Khao Lak. This was just the most perfect place for families. Thailand seems to be alert to the need for bigger family rooms, at reasonable prices. It’s not just the Sands but the Centara and JW Marriott as well as many others in Khao Lak have family rooms, restaurants, kid’s clubs and can accommodate families of four or five comfortably, which is a rarity. I love Thai food and always have done. However, another worry was the kids and particularly if you have a fussy one like we do. The Thai’s haven’t taken offence, they don’t judge and the just seem to understand. So, on most menu’s you’ll see the expected Pad Thai’s, green curries and Tom Yum soups. But to cater for the kids you’ll also see plain pasta, garlic bread and nuggets. Many also offered kids curries and non-spicy versions of their traditional dishes. This just showed to us that they weren’t judging or snotty but just understand that some kids just won’t eat. It’s not bad parenting, it’s just fussy kids that use food as a weapon to make you feel inadequate in restaurants. But not in Thailand. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lucy eat as much. So back to the elephant. I’m sure you weren’t expecting me to mention the ‘ladyboy’ thing in a family blog which has the aim of encouraging you to take your family to Thailand. There are very defined areas in certain cities and resorts, such as Bangkok, Pattaya and Hua Hin that are notorious. So my advice is to speak to me and we can avoid it. There are resorts like Khao Lak and Krabi that are entirely family focused, so there are no issues. There are plenty of hotels in areas well away from the evening scene in places like Bangkok and Phuket that you won’t have to worry about explaining awkward sightings to your wide-eyed children. Let me find the perfect hotel and resort that takes this worry away! But back to the actual Elephant. Thailand is also waking up to the West’s thoughts and beliefs regarding the treatment and use of their national animal. It was great to see a real change in the advertisements and language being used, different to my first trip 20 years ago. No more riding, more ethical and sustainable tours and trips that were proud of their conservation work. You still have to do your research but places like Elephant Hills are wonderful examples of how to embrace tourism and conservation. The elephant trip we did was an undoubted highlight, as was the superb morning spent at the Sea Turtle conservation centre. The Thai’s believe that the safety of their sea turtles is so important they entrust the Thai Royal Navy to protect them. This has increased the odds of turtle’s eggs surviving from 1% to 90% since their involvement. But the undisputed highlight of our trip was a boat ride to the stunning Similan Islands, an hour off the coast of Khao Lak. A protected national park with beaches of such beauty that were hard to believe. The sea was as clear as the Maldives, the reefs as good, if not as big, as the Barrier Reef in Australia and the day out ranked as the best by our family. When we were waiting in the airport for our unwanted flight home, we had the usual Maslen post-holiday debrief. Having been to Disney last year I was hoping that Thailand would nestle into a comfortable second place. I was very pleasantly surprised when all three Maslen’s responded with variations of it being the best holiday ever. Isabelle says that nothing will ever beat walking an Elephant. Lucy thought that the turtles and the food were the best and Sally could happily still be on Island four of the Similan’s now. If your thoughts are starting to turn to next Easter already, and my advice is always to book as early as you can, then why not consider Thailand. It can offer so much. From beach holidays to the sightseeing of Bangkok and cultural experiences in Chiang Mai. You can easily mix it up and combine it with other places and stopovers, it really has so many possibilities. I’ve concentrated on families as it’s a great alternative but it’s great for couples and honeymoons as well. Get in touch and let me help you put together your perfect Thailand adventure.

02 January 2019

So it’s New Year and everyone’s dieting and going to the gym for a couple of weeks. All with the best intentions I’m sure. But for the foodies amongst us it’s probably not going to be top of the New Year’s resolution list, if it features at all. Food forms a huge part of my life so it’s only natural that when I go on holiday part of the whole experience is the food offerings. When people talk to me about the culture of a place all I’m thinking about is food. Dim Sun in Hong Kong, green curries in Thailand or ribs in America! On reflection my clients are probably wanting to know about temples, sightseeing and places to go. I’m usually recommending restaurants, street food and cookery courses! When I say I’m a foodie what I actually mean is I just like food. I can’t pretend to be dining at Michelin starred restaurants every other week and I’m still not sure why a jus is not just a sauce and a confit of something doesn’t sit right with me. But like many of us I always watch Master Chef the professionals and occasionally prepare dinner with a fancy ‘smear’ of parsnip puree across the plate. I eat at Jamie’s or Gino’s and love to buy exotic ingredients that I’m not always sure what to do with from the ‘fancy’ aisle at the supermarket as we call it. Being a foodie doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all about the Michelin stars. In fact, quite the opposite. Part of my blog will be about fine dining, but I’ll start with the street food! In most of the major cities across the world I can offer food tours through a local tour company that specialise in going to the places that locals eat and drink at. They take you through the back streets and genuinely off the beaten track to some of the little tucked away places that you would never find or probably know about. These places tend to be simple, honest and locally produced regional food and always offer fantastic value. They also double up as useful city tours. City tours can be great, but I’d much rather walk around a city from amazing food place to food place than jewellery store to gift shop! A great example of these tours is in Venice. Although Italy is famed for its food and drink, Venice might not be at the top of the list. The Cicchetti & Wine tour will certainly put this right. Cicchetti is like the Spanish Tapas, and this tour takes you to the best places serving seafood, polenta and olives before trying the finest offering from the Bacari wine bars. Prosecco, wines and local beers are all included as you walk through the narrow medieval streets and take local ferries across the canals. Venice is of course a great option for a long, romantic, weekend away. But it’s easy to add a day or two to a trip, the beginning or end of a cruise or the start or end of a trip through Italy. These tours are available throughout the world and I’ve added them to people’s itineraries in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Ho Chi Minh, Tokyo and Madrid. So, don’t forget to ask If I can add something to your next trip. Another big part of some of my previous holidays has not always just been eating but cooking too! In Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Vietnam, I have done some excellent cookery courses. I have found these to be an inspiring and interesting way to experience a country. They take you to the local markets to buy the food, so you get a great experience and tour through the market before being taught the local ways, traditions and techniques of preparing the meals you’ve been eating since you arrived. Learning the basics of a Pad Thai or Vietnamese Spring rolls have inspired me to at least try these at home. They tend to give you the recipes and instructions when you leave so there’s no excuse. It can be a bit tricky to pick some of the ingredients up in ASDA, although it’s certainly easier than it used to be. Then there is fine dining. I have regularly put together trips and itineraries for clients who have gone specially to visit specific restaurants. Many of the top Michelin star restaurants have unique and quirky ways to book, usually involving staying up to midnight on the first day of the month to book a year in advance, when it comes to the number one restaurant in the world, El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain. But this is certainly something I am now able to advise and help you with. A great example is the culinary mecca of San Sebastian in Northern Spain. Widely regarded as the food lover’s paradise with no less than 10 Michelin star restaurants in this small fishing village. But without prior knowledge the traditional long weekend could be a waste as none of the restaurants are open on Sundays or Mondays! San Sebastian varies from the three Michelin star Arzak which is formal and fine dining to the more relaxed and rustic feel of Alameda which is run by three brothers. San Sebastian is a great example of a ‘food destination’ in its own right. Another food destination is the now world-famous Franklin's barbecue in Austin Texas. It’s widely regarded as the best joint in Texas, which by default means the world, for BBQ ribs and particularly it’s Brisket. My mouth is watering at the mere thought. Its fame has now led to regular four-hour queues and even more famously the only person allowed to queue jump was Barack Obama, but he had to pay for everyone’s food in the line he’d jumped in front of. Kanye West thought he could do the same and was told in no uncertain terms to get to the back! Four hours though! Staying with the States and in particular New York one of the most accessible 3 Michelin star restaurants is Eleven Madison Park. You are only able to book a month in advance and for research purposes I’ve looked, and most dates next month can be accommodated. They also have a slightly better value bar menu for those of us who want to experience what three stars tastes like! My next dream food destinations are Buenos Aires to eat steak and drink red wine (not a great place for those suffering from gout) and Kerala for the unbelievable Southern Indian curries, and no doubt cookery course. If food is a big part of your holiday let me know. Whether its reserving a fine dining experience or sampling street food I can incorporate it into most itineraries. I will be putting together some suggested short breaks for foodies to San Sebastian and Venice on my Facebook page so make sure you like a follow it for some more inspiration and make sure you tag and foodie friends!

10 December 2018

You’ve got to be joking Neil? 2019! We’ve not even got this one out the way! However, for those that like to get away at Christmas or who are maybe toying with the idea, the earlier the better. January is generally my busiest month of the year. There are lots of reasons for this, but one of the main ones is people booking for Christmas now that the dates and availability have been released. If you are waiting to get Christmas out the way and then thinking about booking your Summer holiday in January, then the chances are it could be better value in December when it’s traditionally a quieter time for bookings, so the offers and deals are out there. Get in touch. If you’re planning on next Christmas, then January it is. The Christmas holidays have a few things going against them, and so being prepared is always a good idea. The dates for school holidays are pretty much uniformed throughout the country. Everyone generally wants to leave just before Christmas and come back just after New Year. Given the weather and temperatures throughout Europe it also means a long-haul trip. But through all of this I want to help you make the most of what is one of the best times of the year. Where are the best places to go, what’s are the best things to do and where is great to spend New Year? My theme for 2019 is going to be for you to Challenge me. Challenge me to come up with amazing experiences and holidays of a life time. Trips that you might not have thought about, or thought were possible. Holidays that you and your family will remember forever and let’s start ticking some bucket lists off! The first piece of advice I will always offer up with Christmas is to book as early as possible. The dates are always going to be fixed and the cheaper fares are usually gone within a few days of being released to most of the main Christmas destinations. Let me help you plan ahead, and you’ll get the best deals. In all my time in travel I have rarely seen any sale fares over the Christmas period to anywhere anyone would want to go! So, holding out and waiting will only see prices increase and choice disappear! Where is good? As I’ve mentioned Europe is not great weather wise, so unless a ski trip is high on the agenda then Europe can be tricky. The Canaries and Cyprus will offer some warmth and they are certainly nicer than it will be here. If you don’t want to fly too far both can be good options, with hotels and resorts within both that are great for couples or families. Christmas is peak time for the Caribbean. Islands like St Lucia and Barbados offer the idyllic paradise setting, with crystal clear blue water, sandy beaches and great hotels. St Lucia is perfect for those wanting a bit more adventure. A lot of the time I recommend just B&B so you have the freedom to head out and explore Rodney bay and the bars and restaurants, the Rum and atmosphere! Mexico can offer great options for families and couples that want an all-inclusive resort-based holiday. Superb hotels like the Dreams and Secrets provide huge ranges of food options, entertainment, kids clubs, water sports and great weather. For those who want a more varied approach Asia can certainly deliver. The weather is pretty much perfect throughout and if you were wanting to explore and see different places then Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia can mix culture, cities, sightseeing and beaches in equal measure. I love putting these itineraries together as there is so much flexibility and you can really tailor it to your needs. Visiting Angkor Wat, The Chi Chu tunnels in Ho Chi Minh or the floating markets of Bangkok before relaxing on the beaches of Langkawi, Khao Lak or Phuket. The cost of living is also so cheap in Asia that I strongly recommend bed and breakfast only and eating out and enjoying the local cuisine. In most Asian cities there is a fantastic company I work with that arrange local food tours that encourage you to eat like a local and will take you to all the back street, hidden away gems. From the adventure of Asia to the complete relaxation of the Indian Ocean. Mauritius is best at this time of year. It has great hotel options for families, couples and honeymooners and something for everyone. As with the Seychelles and the Maldives although direct flights are available from London you will probably be best flying with Emirates, so this gives you the option of a nice two or three nights stopover in Dubai. The Maldives will offer you total R&R. The best beaches in the world, with house reef’s so you can walk from you beach into the shallows of a reef and snorkel with all the amazing sea life. This must be very high on a lot of people’s wish list! Australia and New Zealand are often the ultimate Christmas destinations. Shrimps on the BBQ for Christmas dinner and New Year in Sydney are a couple of Bucket list items I’ve previously been able to tick off. Australia is perfect weather wise and as it’s the only school holiday time were the weather is great it is always popular. Many can be put off by the long journey in two weeks, but there are certainly ways of making the most of this trip. Seeing the fireworks over Sydney harbour is one of things I love to watch every New Year’s Eve and remember the time I spent New Year there! But there is so much more to see and do and I can certainly help put your ideas into a wonderful bespoke itinerary. New Zealand is always popular in our winter. Although the weather isn’t as hot as Australia it is still the perfect time to travel. Fly drive itineraries, coach tour and motorhome trips are all fantastic ways to explore the islands and there is such diversity the you can be whale watching one day, meeting a Maori tribe the next and cruising around the Milford sound. Spending New Year somewhere different and special is also something worth thinking about. I think the best places, Sydney aside, must be Hong Kong, Dubai and New York. All of them celebrate in style with lots going on and are all possible to do as long weekends over New Year, if you just want to try something different? With, hopefully, lots of ideas and some inspiration get in touch so we can put together your dream holiday in 2019. Whether it is for next Christmas or any other time. Challenge me to come up with something exciting and different next year. Remember to like my page on Facebook so you don’t miss out on my blogs, offers and ideas.

16 October 2018

Last weekend I booked a holiday for my family. Nothing spectacular about that you might think, I’m a travel agent and I like to travel so it’s probably to be expected. However, this trip is a very special one as it is one of my top bucket list destinations, Yellowstone National Park. I’ve wanted to go for years after being inspired by TV programmes, David Attenborough and stories from people who have been. I’ve book countless numbers of clients on trips to the area and every time I have looked enviously at their itineraries. It has always been one I’ve put off because the kids were too young and mainly because we couldn’t afford it! But this year, with the help of an exceptional air fare in the school holidays, we can do it financially, and the kids are just about old enough and interested enough. This got me thinking about bucket lists. What else is on my ‘to do/see list’ and how that differs from everyone else’s. Many bucket list ideas are actually destinations or countries. I often hear people say it’s our dream trip, or the trip of our lifetime when discussing holidays to the likes of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South America. These sort of destinations all have the ‘big trip’ feel to them that elevates them to Bucket list status. There are not much more satisfying things in my job than putting these, often complex, itineraries together and then finding out when my clients get back that it was the trip of their lifetime and did exceed all expectations. But sometimes it is not always the destination as much as the experience that is the pull. These experiences can range from seeing the Northern Lights, which is certainly on my list, to seeing a particular animal in its natural habitat. The animal list is something I always find intriguing. For me it’s a leopard. I’ve been to South Africa, Sri Lanka, Oman and Tanzania and the closest I’ve got is at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. But for others it’s polar bears, orangutans, dolphins, the Big 5 or in one case a honey badger. Yes, I have put together a trip to South Africa and Botswana with the main aim to see the elusive honey badger! If you’ve not heard of these amazing creatures before, look them up on YouTube! Other experiences can be wide ranging. Being in Japan for the cherry blossom in spring or seeing the leaves change colour so splendidly during the fall in New England have both appeared on people’s lists. Route 66 doesn't even technically exist anymore but the dream of driving across America in a red Mustang convertible excites. Sporting events can often be part of the dream. This is now top of my list as an Indianapolis Colts fan. For as long as I can remember, I have always dreamed of seeing my team play at home. Indianapolis I very much doubt features on anyone else’s list you’d think. Maybe not, I once put together a honeymoon where the groom wanted to visit Indy to watch the Colts before flying to the Caribbean. We both looked at each other with a mixture of shock and pride when we released we were probably the only two people in the world that would want to do that as part of our honeymoons. But sport does provide so many bucket list items, whether it’s as simple as going down to London to watch a day’s play at Wimbledon to seeing an Ashes Boxing Day test match in Melbourne. I have sent people all around the world to watch Formula One races in Singapore, Abu Dabi and Monza. Not forgetting Monaco, the ultimate in any enthusiast’s diary. It can also be an event like the Olympics or a World Cup that inspire people to visit. I was lucky enough to go to the Olympics in Athens in 2004 and the atmosphere as well as the sport brought the whole country to life. With the next Olympics being held in Japan in 2020 this could be a double tick for many! But it is not just sporting events that can install holidays to people’s bucket lists. The Rio Carnival is a great example of this. People want to experience ‘carnival’ but then get to add a trip around the country which adds even more, like visiting the Pantanal’s, Amazon or Iguassu Falls which were may not be the reason for the trip but certainly add a lot to it. The same can be said for the Inca Trail or Galapagos Islands. I have often suggested adding more onto to those iconic trips. Like visiting an Amazon jungle lodge or taking an airplane trip over the Nazca lines. These can then sometimes be the unexpected highlight of the trip! The Migration across the plains of the Serengeti is often an animal lovers dream. To see millions of wilder beast march across the parks with all that follow them is undoubtedly one of the spectacles of the animal kingdom. This can be matched by the sight of a Tiger in Ranthambore or Pench National parks in India or a polar bear on an Artic cruise. For places like the Artic, or Antarctica, often a cruise is not just the best but the only way to see it. Silversea's cruises through the Antarctic or a Paul Gauguin cruise visiting Bora Bora and the Pacific Islands might not have been on your list until you read this and google searched them! Like a cruise sometimes it can be the mode of transport which is the bucket list item. Quite often this can be the chance to fly Business Class on the way to your destination. The flat bed, champagne, lounges and exclusivity can certainly add to the trip of a lifetime. But sometimes it’s when your there. The Rocky Mountaineer train in Canada is a stunning way to see the Rockies. Staying with trains the Indian Pacific train from Perth to Sydney in Australia over the course of 6 days or the Oriental Express both figure in a lot of peoples dream list. For me though seeing the Colts and a Leopard remain at the top of my list. Along with visiting Bhutan, Fiji and Argentina in terms of countries and I’d love to see the Northern lights and a Polar Bear! With the excitement of my upcoming Yellowstone trip I’ve also decided to stop waiting and to start doing, so hopefully it will lead to new places and ideas on my ever-evolving list. Let me know what your dream trip is, maybe we can get you there sooner than you thought. Rather than the ‘dream’ let’s see if we can make it a reality.

24 September 2018

So I’m in the family of five club. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but we didn’t realise just how much the jump from 2 to 3 is compared to the first and second! If you’re reading this thinking it’s irrelevant because you smartly took the decision to stop at one or two then congratulations. You are more than welcome to read on to help you reaffirm your decision but also please tag a friend, family member or colleague who is in the five club because it might just help them out! The first thing you usually must change is the car, we went from our beloved Audi A4 to a Vauxhall Zafira. If that isn’t a wakeup call the change of house, or necessary extension, probably will be. Costs of a simple day out to the zoo or theme park seem to expediently increase by way more than just the one extra person and food bills, restaurants and general cost of living never seem to add up anymore. Holidays will be the next thing to bite. You will have probably had to go without for a while, or just until your bank account manages to recover. If you have ventured out, then the third was probably an infant so you were still immune. But when they are all over two the realisation can strike, and it’s a sneaky one the comes at you from out of the blue! You first realise when most hotels and websites don’t even have the option for a third child, I often think a rather smug parent of two is sat behind their keyboard smirking at your fruitless attempt to even get a price. Then if you can, you may fall for the trick of seeing a total cost. That doesn’t look too bad, you may think to yourself, until you get further along and realise it was a trap. It’s actually two separate rooms and the hotel are wanting to place your 6 and 4-year-old in the care of your 8-year-old in the same room. But that’s ok you think, we will get interconnecting rooms or at least they will be next to each other. Think again, you read the small print and the hotel won’t guarantee it either. They are clearly happy to let your rampaging four-year-old loose on the mini bar and TV remote! The traditional package companies can work but do tend to be very limited to their offerings and destinations for five. Some just don’t have the technology and ability to make it work. Here is where hopefully I can help. With years of experience in booking my own family’s trips, I have first-hand knowledge of the perils and pitfalls and can help make it work. There are obvious tricks of the trade. If you have three kids, the chances are you will have greyed earlier than expected but also that you will be taking your holidays during school holidays. There are rarely any offers on during these periods so booking early is the first valuable piece of advice. This is also the best advice for getting the best rooms. The hotels that I would probably be suggesting will have specific family rooms or two-bedroom apartments or suites. Most hotels will not have too many of these because they will probably be the last to sell outside school holidays, so rooms can be limited. When there are five of you every £100 saved is times five so £500. I tend to look at every option to try and reduce the cost. For example, flying indirect may save £200 per person. If it was just the two of you it wouldn’t be a consideration but with five that could be over a £1000! Having said that I do understand the pain of getting a family through a connection, so it would be money very well earnt. Knowing the best hotels that work is also key. There are specific hotels that I know work brilliantly and in places you may not have thought would be possible. Mauritius can be a fantastic option, with several hotels offering family rooms. You also tend to find that if a hotel can accommodate you in an apartment they then very rarely will give you many food options. As previously stated these can add up quickly so getting the most included at an early stage is also vital and Mauritius can help with most hotels offering half board and then upgrades to all inclusive. Thailand can also work and is a great option year-round. So, at Christmas and Easter Khao Lak and Phuket are perfect and have lots of family rooms across the star ratings to hopefully suit all budgets. In our summer school holidays Koh Samui is perfect and although not as many they are still some great options. Thailand also has a far lower cost of living when you are there for eating out, so bed and breakfast in generally all you need. There are some great hotels in both Tenerife and Fuerteventura that will also work well. The shorter flight could also be appealing, and they are a great option for May half term. The hotel I like to recommend in Fuerteventura is also all inclusive, which is rare for the room type we will need! The Melia hotel in Bali is one of my favourites though. A fantastic hotel but they have family rooms with a Mezzanine floor for your bedroom and the kids can sleep below. Because of this room configuration they don’t charge more than they would for a standard room, so it can really work. There are also lots of two-bedroom apartments in Bali, so it can work brilliantly in our school holidays. You can also easily tie in a stopover on the way to Thailand or Bali. Bangkok and Kuala Lumpar both have plenty of options and are more competitively priced than Hong Kong or Singapore! If you’re really brave, then don’t discount America. Fly drives are always an option because hotels will put two doubles and a sofa bed in a lot of rooms stateside, making it a great option. Disney and Orlando also work as there are so many apartments and houses, although the tickets and cost of living can quickly creep up! But if you leave this blog with only one lasting thought it must be don’t despair. There are lots of options for you just get in touch and let’s see if we can put together your family’s perfect itinerary. It might not be that bad after all and hopefully I’ll be able to make the booking process a joy rather than the usual chore. Holidays are a special time for families and there is no reason that slightly larger families should miss out!

14 August 2018

Wow, we haven’t even finished this year’s holidays and already I’m looking at next year. But I’m always being asked how people can get the best deals at this time of year. Historically airlines always raise their prices in July, as do package companies and the low-cost airlines. It’s their peak time for travel so they really try to make the most of it. My best advice is always to plan ahead and book early. The prices only go in one direction so holding out for a sale or late deal never seems to work for the summer. Travelling to Europe seems to be dramatically increasing in cost across the board. Maybe Greece and Turkey are the exceptions. Free child places and early booking discounts are available but can be hard to find and always seem to be on the already expensive trips. I will off course be on hand to help you try and find these deals. One thing to always think about within Europe are villa’s. They can offer great value, especially for larger families or groups. But the best ones always go quickly so you will need to move quickly. With the ever-increasing prices in Europe long haul destinations can not only work out to be a new and more exciting option, but in many cases a cheaper one! I’m going to run through some of the best destinations and itineraries that might surprise you. Asia is often ruled out by many because of rainy seasons. This is true in places like Phuket, Malaysia, Vietnam and India. However, there are a couple of exceptions to the rule. Bali and Koh Samui in Thailand are at their majestic bests in our summer. Low rainfall and temperatures in the 30’s mean they are the perfect places. Bali is a fantastic all-rounder. It has great culture, food and beaches. But not only will the cost of the hotels please you the cost of living when your there puts Europe well and truly in its place. Koh Samui has beautiful beaches and is a lively Island with great options for couples and families. Both can be combined with city stop overs in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpar to make the experience even better! North America is always a winner in the summer. A fly drive through California must be one of the best trips I’ve ever done. The contrasts from day to day are just brilliant. One day you’re in the coolest city in the States, San Francisco, the next your hiking around Yosemite National Park, followed by whale watching in Monterey before soaking up the sun on the beaches of Cambria and Santa Barbara. Add to that Los Angeles or Las Vegas or both and it really is the ultimate road trip with something for everyone. In the same area, focusing on the National Parks, is a wonderful road trip using Vegas as your base. Pick up a car a drive around Bryce Canyon, Zion NP before heading over to Monument Valley via Lake Powell. The drive then heads back to Vegas with a stop at the iconic Grand Canyon. A truly memorable trip. Route 66 is what most people think off when discussing American fly drives. Two weeks of driving through the centre of the country, ticking states off as you go, visiting Amarillo and Albuquerque and getting a taste for the real America. Starting in Chicago and finishing in Los Angeles this trip can be so versatile and each one is different depending on what you want to do. Canada is not to be forgotten either. Often misunderstood because of the distances involved and worries over lengths of stays and what to do. Let me sort all of that out for you. The national parks of Banff and Jasper are the perfect start, visiting the Glaciers, Lake Louise and then driving through the Rocky Mountains. If you are wanting to elevate this to trip of a lifetime status, then the Rocky Mountaineer train journey will certainly do this. When you get to Vancouver though don’t stop there, getting the ferry over to Vancouver Island and visiting Victoria and the little-known Tofino to do some bear watching are amazing highlights of any trip. One thing to consider with North America especially is that it is great in June to. This can mean better prices, availability and not being as busy when you are there. So if you’re not tied to the school holidays I would always advise going in June to get the best weather and deal! In Dubai, and the middle east in general, it is low season because the weather is so hot. But having been a couple of times at this time of year it certainly hasn’t put us off. From May onwards you get the best deals. May half term can be a great option as well. Most hotels will offer free half board and massively reduced rates, so places that you previously thought would be out of reach are now well within. This summer we are looking at staying in Ras Al Khaimah, which is one hour’s drive from Dubai. Here you will be able to stay in a top five-star hotel, all inclusive, direct flights with Emirates and like for like there is not anything that will get close in Europe. Another superb option for a beach holiday is the Maldives. July in particular is one of its better months weather wise and for the perfect idyllic beach holiday there is nowhere better in the world. Luxury and relaxation beyond anything you will have experienced before. It’s the best snorkelling I’ve ever done, and the fact that you can just stroll out of your room onto the beach and start floating over the coral and abundant sea life is something unique to the Maldives. Although I would always recommend going all-inclusive in the Maldives as the costs in resort can be eye watering. However, there are some really good early booking discount and board upgrades already available to make it more affordable. If you think that any more than a week is too much, then Sri Lanka is a great option to mix with the Maldives or on its own. I've been twice and toured around the Sri Lanka using a local guide. They can take you around this fascinating island visiting tea plantations, amazing scenery and at Yala National Park the chance to see the elusive Leopard on a safari. You can then stay in one of Sri Lanka’s many beach resorts or a short hour flight takes you to the Maldives as the perfect twin centre. So please get thinking and let's get imaginative and let me help you come up with the best Summer Holiday you’ve ever been on. The earlier the better and maybe the trip you've always dreamt of might be possible. I will be posting some itineraries in more detail on my Facebook page over the coming days so make sure you like my page to keep up to date.

12 July 2018

I always find Easter tricky. It’s never the same time each year and it always seems to creep up and then can quickly pass by as we await the summer. This year the Beast from the East meant it was still snowing in April and in other years it can sometimes be the best weather we’ll get all year. The inconsistencies in the weather in the UK are mirrored throughout Europe making it a risky choice for a holiday. Some places are just not warming up for a beach holiday. I often look at the Easter holidays as an opportunity to go somewhere different. Although Europe might not be in fine form there are places across the world that most certainly are. Easter also gives you time, with at least two good weeks to make the most of your trip, so the worry of taking the kids out of school, fines and telling’s off are reduced! Usually the response I get when suggesting something long haul is that it will cost too much. Immediately thoughts turn to expensive flights during summer holidays that we are all used to. Although this can be true, for those living in Leeds, it could work in your favour. Leeds schools break up a week or two earlier than others in 2019. This gives you a huge advantage and could mean that this year could be the year for that big trip you’ve dreamed of. Even if you are in the ‘normal’ dates for next year there are still plenty of great options and deals to be had. I would like to look at some ideas that you may not have considered. Over the coming days I will be posting the finer details on my Facebook page, so please like and follow to get an idea of what sort of costs you could be looking at. Hopefully there could be some inspiration that the amazing trip you’ve dreamed of might not be out of the question. Iceland. Not maybe the first place you were thinking when you started reading this! But it’s amazing how many times it crops up in conversations about bucket lists. Going in April will be cold, but you don’t go to Iceland for a tan. The Northern Lights are a real possibility, although never guaranteed, and along with the Blue Lagoon, Volcanoes, hot springs and amazing scenery it has lots to excite parents and children alike. The flights are direct from Manchester and under 3 hours so it’s so easy. With a lot of the tours included it’s an amazing trip for all the family. Also, for all those Game of Thrones fans this is where it is filmed, so there are tours specifically for this! Thailand is next up. During my five visits to this stunning place I’ve only ever had a great time. The beaches are world class, the food and culture is an explosion of the senses and for youngsters to experience such diversity in safe surroundings makes it one of the best family destinations in the world. Bangkok with its temples and history and street food can give you that city break at the start. Then head to one of the beach resorts. At Easter East is best so Phuket, Krabi and the wonderful Khao Lak should all be on the radar. Khao Lak is my favourite. Not as busy or developed as some of the other resorts, but still enough to be entertaining. The nearby Similian Islands could provide one of the highlights of your trip as it’s regarded as one of the best places to snorkel in Asia. Florida, but without Disney! Is this possible? Easter is without question Disney’s busiest time. Regularly they close parks as they reach maximum numbers by late morning. This can lead to 2-3 hour waits for most of the top rides and disappointed kids! However, Florida has so much to offer. Check out my last blog on Sanibel Island. There is also Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Clearwater, Fort Myers and the Florida Keys. You can combine a fly drive with brilliant beaches and cities. Florida has great weather in our spring and is the perfect time to go. Staying in the States, why not fly into Boston with all its history, then get the train down the coast to New York for all the sights and sounds before getting the short train journey down to Washington DC to see the White House, national museums and Arlington Cemetery. This trip works so well with 3 nights in each. You could drive or fly in between each city but the train is quicker, cheaper and loads more fun. For those who may have studied the Leeds School holidays you will have noticed they come back for four days before having the Easter Weekend off. This could give you the perfect opportunity to maybe extend the two weeks. That would enable you to think maybe further afield and my next destination is certainly that. Australia is always on everyone’s wish list. But often people are put off because the only times they can get long enough to go are the Summer holidays when it’s their Winter. Christmas is a great time to visit but also the most expensive. This Easter could be the perfect answer. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and with the extra week maybe a trip up to the Barrier Reef or even stop overs in Hong Kong or Singapore. Because of the savings on the flights it really won’t cost as much as you may think and is there anywhere more exciting in the world? Finally, I’m looking at a beach holiday and a place that is top of my list to visit, Mexico. I love the food and culture and have wanted to take the kids for years. Cancun is the obvious place but I’m looking a bit further south to the quieter and more relaxing Riveria Maya and Tulum resorts. All-inclusive means you are free from worry. The kids can have that ice cream, you don’t have to worry about room bills creeping up or that night cap and can just sit back and relax. Mexico gives you fantastic weather and some of the best facilities for families in the world. There are also some great day trips available and some of the best snorkelling and diving around. A lot of people ask how I get paid, don’t worry you won’t be paying a service fee or any extra. The hotels and airlines pay me, so you can benefit from my knowledge and experience whilst getting the best deals and more importantly the best advice. I will be posting what I like to call ‘real adverts’ on my Facebook pages highlighting the places mentioned. I’m not interested in quoting fares that don’t exist, or at non-school holiday times. I don’t want to reel you in with an amazing fare to somewhere in rainy season. I want to give you ideas at prices you are likely to pay for the times you are likely to go. Just plain old honest. Like and follow my page and get in contact if these, or any other places are of interest.

04 July 2018

After an exhausting ten days immersed in all things Disney we were very keen to fit in a couple of beach days at the end of the trip, to help relax and unwind. After looking at all the many options on the Gulf coast the one that really stood out was the Sundial Resort on Sanibel Island. Having never been before we did a little bit of research and thought it looked nice, but in all honesty, it had been overlooked in the whole package as Disney was the reason for the trip. Not anymore. In fairness it was more luck than design but what an absolutely stunning find for us. The drive was uneventful, roughly three hours from Orlando to Fort Myers. But when the coastline opened up on the approach to the bridge connecting Sanibel to the mainland everyone in the car sat up. The kids put their iPads down, and stared out of the window with wide eyes and big smiles. It looked beautiful from the bridge and when we drove past the seemingly never-ending rows of stunning mansions and beach houses it just got better and better. The Sundial Resort is in a prime location on the beach and spreads out along the coastline. The rooms were lovely little apartments with a kitchen and lounge with a big bedroom. It looked a bit like a motel with car parking bays outside the building. But once you walked out past the sand dunes the view and the beach were amazing. The hotel was great. It offered complimentary water sports, like kayaking and paddle boarding. They had their own sun loungers on the beach and plenty around the pool. The kids club was more of an activity club, where they took advantage of the location on the beach! The pool side bar was reasonably priced and with a daily happy, from 5-7pm if I recall, it was even better value. Sanibel is famed for its Sea Shells and you can easily see why the second you step onto the beach, it was covered. Sundial provide you with a useful shell collecting bag, which the kids had filled in minutes. People were there from all over the world primarily to collect sea shells, we did feel slightly embarrassed that we’d previously had no knowledge of this phenomenon. But several of those shells are now taking pride of place on the hallway table. The Island itself is just a delight. They encourage everyone to walk or cycle. Drivers must give way to cyclists at every junction as cyclists have priority. The hotels all provide cycle hire, which was free of charge at the Sundial. There are no chain restaurants, hotels or shops. Everything is independent, family run and wonderfully original. It has a relaxed Caribbean feel to it and the houses that are all well set back from the roadside are just breathtaking. The ‘drive through’ nature reserve was a real hidden gem. For just $5 entrance we entered the gates not really knowing what to expect. The blue skies and soaring temperatures created a beautiful backdrop for one of the best two hours of the holiday. We moved along the road to different outposts, viewing platforms and stopping points and saw everything from snakes to crabs, an Osprey swooping down to catch fish from the lagoon and one of the biggest spiders I’ve ever seen. The amount of bird life was spectacular with Herons, Cranes and Golden Eagles all in clear view. The kids were excitedly running in between each platform desperate to see what was going to happen next. Sadly, the elusive alligators escaped us, but maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. We found the food on offer still to be the classic American style but with a big influence of seafood. Island Cow was a quirky and thoroughly enjoyable meal, in a very relaxed and brightly coloured old style American Wooden house, with Veranda and outside rocking chairs! But the best restaurant of the trip was saved for our visit to the next Island along, Captiva. Captiva Island is a tiny dot in the Ocean, but what a dot. The houses on Sanibel were stunning but Captiva upped the game. Parking and beach access was certainly harder here and it was easier to either cycle or park on Sanibel and walk over the small bridge. We were just aimlessly driving down the only road on the Island looking for somewhere for lunch. We passed a brightly coloured building that I thought was a gift shop. My wife insisted it was a restaurant. After a small argument and a drive back down the road to see it again she was, of course, right. The Bubble Room was the most spectacularly decorated restaurant I’ve ever seen and was the culinary highlight of the trip. An eclectic mix of memorabilia, local art and craziness with the biggest cakes and portions you’ll ever see. The servers were informative, very happy and clearly proud of their restaurant. The food was plentiful and tasty but the cakes at the end where something to behold. They come to your table wielding a huge try with ‘slices’ of each cake on offer. All freshly made in the morning and served with your choice of accompaniment. The slices would be considered a whole cake in most establishments and you could easily share a slice between a family of four! A wonderful last meal to end the trip on as sadly after lunch we had to head back to Miami for our flight home. Just under 3 hours’ drive through the Everglades National Park found us driving into the City and heading back home. Sanibel Island was regarded as the highlight and biggest surprise by all of us. My wife commenting – “you’re supposed to be the expert and you only booked us here for two nights!”

29 June 2018

The iconic family trip is to Disneyworld Florida. It must be on most family’s bucket list. A genuine “memories for life” holiday that will stay in the minds of children, and adults, for years to come. The consensus is it’s that its expensive and takes a lot of organising. I would suggest that the latter is true. But if you planned your trip well in advance then the chances of doing it on a budget are far greater. As a veteran of five Disney campaigns I’ve experienced most types of Disney holiday. I’ve stayed in a Disney resort, a hotel on International Drive and an apartment. I’d like to think that I’m experienced enough to offer an informed opinion on the pros and cons of each style. Disney is magical and as a Disney-loving family our holidays to Orlando have always been special. In June we embarked on our first time staying in a Disney resort. We have always thought it bumped the price up so went for other options previously. This time though we planned well in advance and the benefits were plentiful. The first benefit of forward planning is taking advantage of the Disney dining plan offer. This can be a minefield as the level of accommodation you stay at determines which offer you get. However, if you can negotiate your way through it with your friendly travel consultant there are bargains to be had. We stayed at Caribbean Beach which is classed as a ‘moderate’ resort. This roughly translates to a 3-4-star hotel. With moderate resorts the free dining offer gives you two quick service meals and two snacks per person, per day. We decided to upgrade this free package to include a waiter service meal. Waiter service meals are in restaurants that can be themed and have character dining. They tend to offer Disney’s ‘all you care to enjoy’ or a buffet! Whilst you are enjoying your meal, Mickey and friends will walk around the restaurant ensuring they visit every table and interact with the kids, taking photos and signing autographs and sprinkling some magic! The cost for this was a mere £240 for a family of four to upgrade for 10 nights. We dined at Chip & Dales Garden Grill in Epcot on the first night. The bill for this meal alone was $220 so within a couple of meals we had more than made great use of it. Conservatively we worked out that over the ten nights we stayed, the free dining plan and the upgrade saved us between £1500-£1800. The true hidden gem though were the two snacks a day each. These could be used for any item with the Disney snack sign next to it. This included soft drinks, pretzels, ice creams or breakfast items like croissants. Disney tickets are always a talking point. The answer for anyone wishing to spend more than three days in Disney parks is the Disney Ultimate ticket. It will pay for itself by day four. Entrance on the day is approximately £100 per person per park. The Ultimate ticket not only makes great financial sense but there are added benefits, Magic hours, park hopping and Fast Passes for starters. Fast Passes are invaluable when you go for the right rides, at the right times. This is where some knowledge and experience of what the best rides are and when to book them is key. I’ve seen people waste fast passes on shows and rides that are never that busy. Then queuing for three hours to get on Avatar Flight of Passage. If you buy an Ultimate ticket and you are not staying at a Disney hotel you get the chance to select your Fast Passes one month prior to departure. But those staying at a Disney resort get the opportunity two months prior. This effectively means that by staying at Disney you get the pick of the rides! We’ve saved money with the dining plan, saved money and more importantly time with the Disney Ultimate ticket. Now let’s look at how to get there. The obvious option is always Virgin/British Airways, direct into Orlando. But sometimes thinking a little differently can save money and enhance the trip. Some agents will just offer you Disney only packages. This is either due to lack of awareness or technology to allow them to tailor a trip. But if you are open to seeing more than just Disney there are some great options and ideas. We took advantage of a BA seat sale. You can never guarantee when these are going to happen, so you might have to react quickly when they do. Orlando wasn’t included in the sale. Miami was though. I had planned to have ten nights at Disney and four nights on the beach anyway. So, an easy change of plane at Heathrow and a flight to Miami saved us £1800 in total against the cost of flying direct. For some people it is a price not worth paying but for us it made sense. Flying into Miami then gave us the opportunity for two nights on Miami Beach. On previous trips to Disney we have flown straight in and started at Magic Kingdom the next day. This was something we were keen to avoid as jetlag had led to a bit of a let down on the first day. An easy three-hour drive to Orlando and we were ready to go. Car hire is next for potential savings. If you are just staying at a Disney resort and only visiting the Disney parks, then it is possible to manage without a car at all. The Disney Magical Express is a shuttle service from the airport to all the Disney resorts. Once you are in a resort there is a bus network which is apparently bigger than New York’s! Every 20-30 minutes you can get to everywhere within Disney World. If you are wanting to visit Universal Studios, Cape Canaveral or Lego Land which are all within an hour’s drive then a car is a necessity. Car hire in Florida is cheaper than the rest of America though so can still be a really useful addition. We all unanimously agreed that it was better than the previous trips. Staying in a Disney hotel with kids under 11 is magical. Disney do a wonderful job of keeping it going through every aspect of your stay. Like the tooth fairy and Father Christmas it’s special and doesn’t last for ever so experiences like this make the most of their age and what a time for any child! Things to bear in mind. On the dining plans tips are not included for Waiter Service meals and can be a surprise so be prepared. British Airways sales can vary on destinations and value so be ready to pounce. Fast Passes are amazing, use them wisely. Or maybe speak to someone who’s been and knows and might be able to arrange not only that but the whole trip for you!