Going on holiday with the family is one of the best parts of the year, and for many families, it creates a great opportunity to spend quality time together that isn’t as easy to find during the normal routine. Of course, the first time you take a young child away somewhere new, and they get to experience things like flying for the first time, it can be easy for them to feel a little bit overwhelmed. When this happens, it can also become stressful for you as their parents, and
We hadn’t even reached the reception at Darwin Forest Country Park near Matlock in Derbyshire, before my husband was planning a visit to one of their luxury holiday lodges without us. Don’t get me wrong, he loves our family holidays, but he doesn’t get to experience many child free breaks these days. He was really impressed with the quiet holiday location, especially as it was only 1 hour from Nottingham, and on first impressions, the facilities at Darwin Forest looked impressive. I parked us up and went to the reception
The memories we made together as a family on our Cornwall road trip are going to stay with us all for a very long time. This is why I wanted to share with you our stay in Cornwall including the places we stayed and the things we did, just incase you were looking for inspiration for planning your own child friendly Cornwall holidays. One of the reasons this Cornwall road trip worked so well was because it featured a series of 2 night hotel and accommodation stays in Cornwall and
I’m sure that you’ve realised by now that our holiday to Cornwall was literally packed with fun things to do. I’m going to share a week long travel guide to staying in Cornwall shortly, but before I get to that post I’ve got one more family day out to share with you. While we were staying at Porthleven Holiday Cottages we travelled down to Gweek to visit the Cornish Seal Sanctuary. This wasn’t just any visit to see the seals, as we were going to be enjoying a very special
There’s no doubt that a cruise is a great option for a family holiday. Usually for one payment you can get all your expensive costs covered as you are provided with everything from food and accommodation to transport and entertainment onboard. The only problem with cruising is that there’s so much choice! So, here’s my list of cruises perfect for families to help you guys out. Disney Nothing says family more than Disney and it’s not just their films and rides that are entertaining kids on a cruise. As well
Everyone in the family was super excited about visiting the Eden Project during our Cornwall road trip. For many years I’ve wanted to tick Eden Project, Cornwall’s most famous and iconic attraction, off my UK bucket list. During our Cornwall holiday I found out my husband felt the same way. The kids asked ‘what is the Eden Project’, and seeing as I’d found the best explanation on the Eden Project website, I told them ‘it’s the largest rainforest in captivity’, as well as some other interesting botanical components of course!
During our family holiday in Cornwall we decided to spend some time exploring the beautiful town of Falmouth. Falmouth’s heritage has been largely shaped by it’s relationship with the sea and as such it’s the obvious home for the UK’s National Maritime Museum. It made perfect sense for us to take the girls here to learn a little more about the highs and lows of living so close to the Atlantic Ocean and they were really excited about spending the day here to learn more about life in Cornwall. Is The
Our week in Cornwall really brought it home to me that great holiday vibes are right on our doorstep and there are a few things that make a trip in the UK very special indeed. One box we certainly have to tick when travelling with the kids is looking for the best fish and chips. While we were in Cornwall we were invited to Harbour Lights Falmouth to check out their fish and chip restaurant. We had very much enjoyed a morning exploring the National Maritime Museum, but the kids
When I told the girls they were going to be staying on a farm in Cornwall they were over the moon. When I said they were going to see lambs being born they literally couldn’t contain themselves and I knew our stay at The Olde House Cornwall was going to be a real high to the end of our Cornwall road trip. I was so happy that they were looking forward to this Cornwall farm holiday as I have really fond memories of spending time on a farm as a child.
If you want breathtaking views and an exceptional dining experience I strongly recommend that you book a table at Lewinnick Lodge during your next Cornwall holiday. As restaurants in Newquay goes it’s probably one of the best and will tick all the right boxes if you want a special treat or have an occasion to celebrate during your trip. That’s a pretty bold opening statement but that’s how impressed we were with both the food and the location of this restaurant and luxury bed and breakfast in Newquay. I strongly
As well as being an incredibly beautiful county, Cornwall also prides itself on offering it’s visitors some exceptional family friendly dining experiences. With local fish and seafood in abundance many restaurants are able to offer fresh daily specials as well as their well crafted regular menus. With lots of bars and restaurants to choose from, finding places to eat in Cornwall can start to feel overwhelming so I want to share with you our experience of family dining at Sharksfin in Mevagissey during our recent Cornwall break. Cornwall is an
While we were exploring Cornwall on our recent UK road trip we had the pleasure of spending a few days in Porthleven in the west of the county. Porthleven probably has the most impressive harbour in Cornwall and is beautiful with it so well worth a visit if you are in the area. We were staying with Porthleven Holiday Cottages for 2 nights in one of the Jeroba cottages directly overlooking the fishing boats in the harbour. We really felt in the middle of all the activity to be honest.
The Sands Hotel Resort & Spa near Newquay, Cornwall ticks a lot of boxes for families looking for a kid friendly resort for their holiday. Just imagine being sandwiched between rolling hills with open fields and stunning costal views for a start. I bet you’re feeling relaxed just thinking about it aren’t you? Well that’s exactly what you’ll get when you arrive at Sands Resort Hotel and Spa for your family holiday. The Sands Hotel Newquay has excellent facilities and prides itself on its family friendly service. Both of these things,
Stargazing anyone? Perhaps sitting by open campfires? Imagine being outdoors with the kids tucked up in bed, fast asleep. It’s time for you to jump into that hot tub after a busy day with the family… Sounds idyllic doesn’t it? While this might sound a world away from your everyday routine, Wigwam® Holidays can offer this and much more at their glamping sites across the UK. With over 80 sites nationwide, this leading glamping accommodation provider is perfect for an affordable, comfortable staycation with the family. What are Wigwam® Cabins?
Are you thinking about visiting Italy with kids? Perhaps you are already a huge fan of the country and are looking for some inspiration for your next Italian holiday? I really can’t blame you on both counts as Italy is a country with a lot to offer families with children of all ages. With plenty of homes to rent in Italy, there’s lots of opportunity to explore it’s ancient history, natural beauty and splendid architecture making for the perfect family holiday for all. As well as being the perfect history lesson
When I saw all the family friendly facilities at The Esplanade in Newquay, I absolutely had to say yes to our invite to stay at their hotel during February half term. This was the first stop on our epic Cornwall road trip, and a very welcome end to our 6 hour drive from Nottingham to start our holiday. We arrived at The Esplanade hotel before check in, but decided to wait in the Pebbles Bar until our room was ready. They serve bar food between 12pm and 6pm in the bar
I sit here writing this post just after we’ve just spent a fabulous week exploring the beautiful county of Cornwall during the half term break. The idea of a road trip is something that really excites me. The thought of open roads, amazing scenery and the ability to travel wherever you want are just a few of the reasons why I love it so much. The kids really enjoy the sense of adventure too. There’s no doubt about it that a road trip can be extremely rewarding but you need
Before our visit to Pirates Quest in Newquay, I thought I had best prepare the girls for what might lie ahead. As they are only 3 and 5 years old, they do find some things scary and I didn’t want this to spoil their experience at this Cornwall attraction. We talked about how pirates wore different clothes and maybe even looked a bit dirty long ago. Some of the history that surrounds pirates is of course fact, but it was easier to tell the girls that the Pirates Quest experience
Cornwall is a really beautiful part of the world, and we are going to be spending half term getting to know the area a little bit better. I’ve been very busy putting out travel plans together and I’ve found the very best activities to keep the kids entertained, even when the weather is plotting against us. It could well rain during our holiday, but I’m determined that the weather will not stop us enjoying our family holiday in Cornwall. There’s actually plenty to see and do in the area, even
All Inclusive family holidays are a great option for parents who want a stress free break with the kids. When you know that all your meals, snacks and drinks are included in the price it makes planning for your holiday so much easier. It’s a huge peace of mind knowing that the kids can get an ice cream or a snack when they fancy one, and I know Mum’s and Dad’s really value the wine and cocktails on offer. You are on holiday after all! If you are looking for
One of the reasons I love family travel so much is because children are so open to new experiences. They will try anything, whether it’s a city break, a beach holiday or something more exotic. Variety is a real winner when it comes to planning where you want to travel with kids, and I’m always looking out online for family travel bloggers who will inspire my adventures for the following year. I’ve picked out my top 5 family travel bloggers for 2018, and I wanted to share them with you
Over the years I’ve travelled quite a lot with just my kids as travel companions. I’ve been in both camps in that I was a single parent with my son for many years and now I’m married and we have 2 daughters with my current partner. When I went on holiday with my son, I had little choice but to travel single handed with him, otherwise we wouldn’t have gone very far at all. These days, I travel solo with the kids if Daddy can’t make the trip, usually because
I’m always interested to hear about hotel chains that are making a big difference to the luxury family holiday experience, and Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts are really showing the travel industry how it’s done at the moment. They are keen to provide their little guests with as many wonderful memories as their parents with the launch of the ‘Mövenpick Family’ programme. What’s On Offer? All The Baby and Child Equipment You Need You do not need to worry about packing any baby equipment when you stay at a Mövenpick Hotel
If you are looking for family friendly hotels in Son Bou, Menorca you will not go far wrong with booking a holiday at Royal Son Bou Family Club. We were lucky enough to stay at Royal Son Bou last year and it was definitely one of our favourite family holidays of 2017. If you would like to find out more about our experience you can read our Royal Son Bou Family Club holiday review here. I think sometimes Menorca is a misunderstood island, and ends up carrying the reputation of
If you are planning a family holiday this year, at some point you are going to be asking yourself what you need to take to travel with kids. Going on holiday with the kids isn’t as easy as life before children but with a little planning and a few tricks up your sleeve you can make it easier for both you and them. If you want travel to be a big feature in your family life my advice to you is to start going on trips with the kids as
I would definitely call myself curious by nature, and back in October I decided to reach out to Zena’s Suitcase followers on social media and ask them a few questions about their holiday planning for 2018. I was delighted to get so many responses and the information that everyone one shared with me was really interesting. If you were one of the people who completed my survey, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and I hope you enjoyed your virtual cake 🙂 When Do Families Book Their Holiday From
Morzine is a beautiful little town nestled high in the French Alps and is the perfect destination for families looking for ski holidays. I was lucky enough to visit the area recently to find out more about going on holiday here with TGSki. Excitement was running high as myself and a group of travel bloggers arrived at Geneva airport in Switzerland. We were greeted by our TGSki driver and began our 60 minute journey to the French Alps. Nothing could have prepared us for the magical winter wonderland that awaited
Having discovered what a beautiful part of the world Devon is this year when I visited with Indie I am desperate to go back with the rest of the family next year. I know that Brook will love the outdoors experiences as much as we did and the OH is always happy when we don’t have to fly. As we want to visit for a family holiday this time round I’m already scouting out Devon holiday cottages for us to stay in to give us more room and flexibility. Once
While France and Italy may be higher on your list of must-visit destinations for your next family holiday, you may be missing a trick by not giving beautiful Norway a try. In this post, we hope to change your mind by whetting your appetite and encouraging you to see Norway as the truly great place for family holidays it really is. The People Are Incredibly Friendly in Norway One thing that stands out immediately when you travel to Norway is the fact that Norwegians are incredibly friendly. Every country throughout
This year I have come to realise that Germany is a fantastic destination for family travel. When I was given the opportunity to visit the country again to find out about the best things to do in Hamburg with kids, I knew I wanted to share it with Brook, my 3 year old daughter. We left Daddy and Indie at home for the weekend, and we headed to the Holiday Inn Express at Stansted Airport to begin our Hamburg with kids adventure. I was really looking forward to sharing a new
