travel


Planes at Calgary

Tips for travelling with a family – Canada

Have you ever noticed just how stressful it is travelling as a family? If you’re travelling alone or even as a couple, at least you only have to worry about your own commitments, but when kids are involved it makes the whole process of booking a holiday far more difficult. First of all, you have to try time everything with school holidays (unless your family are too young for school yet, or you home educate) which brings all of your costs up, and then you have to look for places that are packed with things to do so you don’t have to worry about them being bored. With all of this in mind, I thought I’d write a quick post today on travelling with a family.


Come fly with us to Kos? 30

Airline food blogger Nikos Loukas of Inflight Feed is calling on airlines, inflight caterers and their suppliers to donate blankets, pillows, toiletries kits, inflight kids packs, food and water to those in need in Greece and France. He then wants to charter a plane from London to Kos to deliver it all, along with volunteers. Loukas is hoping to charter a plane on the 27th September to deliver donations along with 130 volunteers to assist on the ground. The plan? To provide meals and comfort to those struggling in Greece. So far airports and airline caterers across the UK and Europe have quickly offered Loukas free storage space to accept delivery of donations. Whilst donations such as pre packed meals, children’s fun packs and coffee cups have started to trickle in since he started the campaign on the weekend, however he still requires further donations from the airline industry.


Animal friends forever

  We’re a nation of animal lovers. Few things score as highly on the scale of “ahhhhhh” as a picture of an adorable puppy or a playful kitten. YouTube is awash with hilarious videos of animals attacking their mirror images, chasing laser beams and getting themselves into tight squeezes.   And who hasn’t wasted an idle half hour giggling at one of the millions of cute cat compilations that invade our facebook timelines every day? Social media is responsible for giving some animals celebrity status and that’s led to spin offs like books deals, movies and even a clothing line. Yes, animals make us smile. But one of the reasons we love them so much is that they elicit a panorama of emotions in us – fear, disgust, awe, compassion, shock, joy, empathy . . .the list goes on.


My first time at #WTM 1

If you don’t know what #WTM means it’s world travel market. A large event at London ExCel all about travel, with travel agents, airlines, tourist boards, PR folk, press and bloggers. Going in alone was very daunting, it is a truly massive building. I signed in as press and that was it. On my own, no map, wasn’t told (or advised) where to go. I wasn’t aware having the Press pass meant free tea or coffee, nor did I know there is a press room to sit in for a little rest. Nope, I knew none of this, nor where the meeting rooms were. It’s a shame I learnt all that at leaving time rather than on the way in. Anyhow why did I go there? I am not a travel blogger, I am just another mother that blogs right? Wrong! I have worked in travel, well the add on jobs […]


Altomincio family park – Italy 3

A little while back we were chosen as winners in Tots100’s Al Fresco Holidays competition. I could hardly believe it. First things first I had a little cry, and a panic about flying, then I went begging my children’s head teachers to let them have a week off. As Jen is at Infants and D is at a Grammar school this meant two lots of grovelling, of course officially they aren’t allowed to authorise time off anymore but I asked anyway and got the secret nod of approval. It was all rather a rush, from getting a tweet from Sally to travelling to the airport was just a few days. I wasn’t sure what to pack, and what we would need to take so I might have asked Sally some rather daft questions on the telephone. (Sorry again for that!) We flew from Gatwick, with easyJet at stupid O’clock in […]


What I’ve learned at blogcamp (#BCUK) 16

Today I went to Birmingham to chat and have coffee with bloggers learn things. If you’re a blogger and have no idea what blogcamp is, it’s a free bloggers event thingamywhatsit organised by those lovely Tots100 folk. The day centers around coffee, cake and cookies talking sessions such as how to properly use your SLR camera and how to collaborate with other bloggers more successfully. I zoned in on the “travel blogger” focused sessions as I really would love to travel more. I did not swat-up on who was talking, which brands were sponsoring the event (Show Room and Cow and Gate)  or ask loads of bloggers who was and wasn’t planning on coming.


Summer Holidays and in-car arguements 2

Shortly before we went on our little “road trip” camping we downloaded a few child friendly films on to the tablet devices. This meant that when we got stuck in traffic chaos on the M5 on the way we had a secret weapon, and also for wet days in the tent. British holidays or staycations can be a bit of a downer for the lads if it’s all wet outside. One evening we had an in-tent movie night, watching Turbo, Rio 2 and The Lego Movie whilst drinking hot chocolate in camping mugs and ignoring the damp stuff falling from the sky.


Five reasons to staycation this summer 3

So, you’ve got some annual leave to use up and you’d like to make the most out of our summer while it lasts? Naturally, you may be dreaming about a holiday abroad, with sandy beaches and sangria as far as the eye can see, but the cost of such an adventure can soon add up. Instead, many Brits are considering staycations, making the most of what our home turf has to offer, and who can blame them? With so many fantastic destinations available, who needs to shell out on flights? Take a look at the Travelodge Get Up and Go Guide if you need some staycation inspiration and have a read of these five reasons why this type of break is a top idea this summer. 1 · Kinder to the purse – This isn’t always true as it depends on what you plan to do, and where you plan to go, […]


Tiny Me – Yay 12

Last night I went to dinner with Ionela and Ben from Tiny Me and a few other lovely bloggers. Tiny Me sell personalised items like name labels, lunch bags, wooden puzzles, wall decoration stickers, and calendars. The idea is you make a “Tiny Me” or computerised avatar of your child, then use this image on your personal items. You choose either an avatar or a theme like cars or wildlife, then colour options and the total combinations possible comes to millions according to Ben. I’ve not counted, but just bags have 11 styles, several fabric colours, thousands of possible avatars, or quite a few themes instead, and then you can still add any name, and change the background colours in the logo. My head hurts trying to guess wether the exact same combinations have ever been ordered by separate costumers.


WIN – B-Sensible Pillow Case, and Review – Ended 165

The lovely folks at B-Sensible have sent me another product to try out, and one for a Julie’s Notebook reader too. So read what we think, then try and win your own. These are sold singley rather than in pairs, which could be great for childrens beds. Whilst I wouldn’t think of packing a pillow case for travelling, it is a good idea. In hotels it often crosses my mind “I wonder when this was last washed, if ever?” The problem is I often end up sleeping face down, and  accidentally sniffing where a total stranger has had their head isn’t a nice thing.