The Joys of Multigenerational Holidays

 

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I was chatting with my daughters the other day and reflecting on the summer holidays that we took with my parents and brother when they were younger. It was really interesting to hear that the times we spent with eight of us and a dog holed up in a pretty shabby student house in Bournemouth held more affection in their memories than the times we stayed in plush hotels in a different country. 

There are many benefits to taking a holiday with many generations present, here are just a few -

Able Babysitters on Hand

What a joy to be able to head out for a night with your partner without the worries of who is looking after your kids. No one loves them quite as much as their grandparents and this special time alone is a great way for them to develop their bond and get to know each other better.

Making Memories

Memories really do last a lifetime and being away from the stresses of everyday life is a good opportunity to do something quite different and special like going on a boat ride or climbing a mountain, or equally staying in and playing a board game or baking some brownies provide a brilliant opportunity to talk and get to know each other at a deeper level.

Keeping the Oldies Young

It is so true that spending time with children as you age will help to keep you young. You'll learn all about what is in fashion and what the latest lingo is and there is research to show that spending time with children can help to maintain better cognitive function in the elderly. 

Learning from Each Other

It is so good for both young and old alike to feel like they are learning something new. Sharing your interests, knowledge or skills can be really uplifting and it is definitely a way to continue to feel relevant and appreciated as you age. 

Introducing Each Other to Something New

Whether it is crazy golf or nights at the ballet that you love, family holidays are a fabulous chance to share your passions and introduce your family members to something new. This can be a really fun part of the holiday preparations, as you each choose one activity that you'll all get involved with during your time away.

As you can see there is so much to be gained from taking a holiday with your parents, as well as your children, or you may be lucky enough to have wider family who would enjoy going away with you too. Make sure you appoint one of the family to be the organiser so they can sort out the actual booking and other important things like your travel insurance. You'll have a few different considerations perhaps when you take your parents away too, and you may need to check out over 60 travel insurance with medical conditions, but as long as you spend enough time to shop around and get a good deal you'll be fine. 

Planning Your Next Family Holiday: Here’s 4 Quick Tips

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Planning a family holiday can be both exciting and challenging. Ensuring everyone has a great time requires careful thought and preparation. Here are four quick tips to help you plan a memorable and enjoyable family vacation.

 

Choose a Family-Friendly Destination

Selecting the right destination is crucial for a successful family holiday. Look for places that offer a variety of activities and attractions suitable for all ages. Consider destinations with parks, museums, and outdoor adventures that cater to both kids and adults. If you’re looking for a mix of history, nature, and relaxation, consider staying in Northumberland hotels. These hotels provide a comfortable base with easy access to family-friendly attractions and beautiful scenery.

 

Plan Activities for Everyone

To keep everyone happy and engaged, plan a range of activities that cater to different interests and age groups. Include a mix of educational, adventurous, and relaxing activities. For instance, you can visit local museums, go hiking, or spend a day at the beach. It’s also a good idea to involve your kids in the planning process. Ask them what they’d like to do and try to incorporate their suggestions. This will make them feel included and more excited about the trip.

 

Pack Smart and Light

Packing can be one of the most stressful parts of preparing for a family holiday. To make it easier, create a checklist of essential items for each family member. Pack versatile clothing that can be layered and easily mixed and matched. Don’t forget to bring any necessary medications, snacks, and entertainment for the journey. It’s also wise to pack a small first-aid kit for minor injuries or illnesses. Remember, you don’t need to pack everything—many destinations have stores where you can buy any forgotten items.

 

Keep Flexibility in Your Schedule

While having a plan is important, it’s equally crucial to remain flexible. Kids can get tired or lose interest quickly, and unforeseen circumstances can arise. Build some downtime into your itinerary to allow for rest and relaxation. Be prepared to adjust your plans if needed. A flexible approach will help reduce stress and ensure that everyone enjoys the holiday. Additionally, keeping some unstructured time allows for spontaneous fun and exploration.

 

Conclusion

Planning a family holiday doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By choosing a family-friendly destination, planning diverse activities, packing smartly, and maintaining a flexible schedule, you can ensure a memorable and enjoyable trip for everyone. Enjoy the adventure and make the most of your time together!

Essential Summer Holiday Preparation - 25 Ways to Ensure You are Ready

We've booked our summer holiday already. The kids are really excited and I'm on countdown but we are feeling very well prepared so I thought I'd share with you the things I do to ensure I am fully ready for my family's summer holiday.

Once you've booked the holiday itself it would be easy to just sit back and think that you're sorted but there any many more things you can be doing in advance that will help you save money and ensure that your vacation goes really well.

At Least 3 Months in Advance

1.  Check your Passport and if you need a Visa
Depending on where you are travelling to will dictate whether you need a visa or not. This Gov.uk site is the best place to start. Also make sure you check your expiry date on your passport as travel to some countries will require you to have at least 6 months left on your passport once you re-enter the UK.

2.  Do you need any Vaccinations?
Country-specific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre on the TravelHealthPro website, so make sure you check their about health and vaccination information relevant to the country you are visiting.

Ideas for an Adventure Seeking Holiday in the Caribbean

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If you're a regular thrill seeker, you have probably been there and done that with most of the adventure activities in Europe, so now may be the perfect time to spread your wings, or find your sea legs to be more accurate and head out to the Caribbean for a luxury cruise of multiple islands.  

There is so much adventure to be pursued in the Caribbean, all amongst the absolute beauty of the white sandy beaches and deep turquoise waters. I want to share with you a few ideas for amazing cruise holidays with bags of adventure thrown in.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean is the second-best cruise line for mega-ships (with over 4000 passengers) as voted by the readers of Conde Nast, so you know you can't go wrong when you choose to cruise with them. Their liners cater to all kinds of travellers but Cruise Critic suggests they are particularly good for first-time family cruisers with their ultimate family suites having in-room slides, table tennis, life-size Connect-four, and a personal gaming room. That all sounds pretty darn fun to me. Add to that the SeaPlex, which is the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea, with attractions ranging from roller skating and video gaming to a circus school, complete with flying trapeze classes. 

You can sail for as little as two nights, but for a full quota of thrills and fun, around nine nights is perfect and then you can choose to travel across the western, southern, or eastern Caribbean. The choice really is yours!

Sailing with Royal Caribbean also means you get to stop at CocoCay, a private island in the Bahamas and there is so much to do there. You could experience the island from 450 meters in the air as you take a balloon ride, enjoy the thrills of the waterpark, which boosts Daredevil's Peak, the tallest slide in North America, or even zipline across the blue, blue sky. 

Choosing a Holiday Destination in the Age of Coronavirus

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We all recognise that times have changed over the last six months and it now seems widely accepted that things will be different for quite some time to come. With these changes in mind, it is important for us all to think through our holiday choices before we rush out and make a purchase that could set us back a few thousand pounds. 

Here are a few things to consider when choosing a holiday destination in the age of coronavirus -

Check the Government Travel Requirements

It's always been standard practice to check Government advice when you are planning to travel far afield but nowadays it is not just visas and vaccinations that you need to check. You also need to familiarise yourself with what our Government are saying if you visit one of our neighbouring countries such as France or Belgium. Will you have to self-isolate on return to the UK? Are there specific virus hot spots that you should avoid? Or even is the Government recommending you don't travel to specific countries? There are a lot of factors to take into consideration.

As well as checking what the UK government is saying, you also need to check for the country you'll be visiting, do they require you to take a covid test before you fly, or at the airport. Rapid covid testing is something that has become familiar to us all now. 

Check you're Protected

Booking a package holiday will give you the greatest protection if the holiday can't go ahead or if a travel operator goes out of business, so this is a good option for those who don't mind paying a bit more and are risk-averse. However, if you are happy to do your own research and want a better value holiday with an affordable hotel and bargain flight then it can save you money to book each element of the holiday separately.  If you do this, make sure you use your credit card, so you have some purchase protection from your card issuer. 

There is always the chance that you or one of your party will fall ill with COVID-19 at the time you are due to travel, so before you book check your travel insurance to see how you are covered for this and also investigate the terms and conditions for the companies you are booking with. 

Recommended Self-Catering Accommodation in the South of England

In the wake of this pandemic, many people are rejecting the idea of holidaying abroad this year and will be staying in the UK instead. Whilst many of us are keen to get away and to start feeling a bit more normal, there is still a certain level of caution and worry around being away from home and being around too many people. For that reason, booking self-catered accommodation could be a great option.

Here are some recommendations of places we have stayed, in the south of England, and have really enjoyed, thus being happy to recommend them -

East Sussex - Blue Doors Cottage, Ashburnham Place, Battle

This comfortable cottage sleeps 5 adults easily, has a large private back garden, allocated parking and good WiFi. Nestled in the woods at the 220 acre Ashburnham Place it is a great place to holiday. You can walk or cycle the extensive grounds and enjoy all that Ashburnham Place has to offer.  It's only 8 miles from Bexhill beach and the towns of Hastings and Eastbourne are around 30 minutes away.

Check out the Ashburnham Place website

Booking Your Airbnb Property - 14 Top Tips

Squirrel Hill Court, Bradford Airbnb, where we stayed May 2019

Christmas is over and I hope you had a marvellous time. If you're anything like me, your mind will now have moved onto the need to travel and get some holidays/ short breaks booked for 2020, so you can have something to look forward to.

In recent years we've booked a few stays in the UK in Airbnb properties and we've really enjoyed them. With a family of five, it is so good to have the right amount of bedrooms, some outside space and a lounge/ kitchen, rather than all being cooped up in a couple of hotel rooms.

We've been very lucky with the four properties we've booked and they've all turned into truly wonderful holidays with loads of memories made. Our breaks have been in the UK, but I know many friends who have booked abroad and been very happy. In fact I don't personally know anyone who has had an awful experience with Airbnb, but I know they are out there, you only have to google and you'll come across a load on the Internet (but my advise, don't bother!).

I think with some good research before booking, and trusting your gut when you interact with the property owner you can be as sure as possible of a good stay. Here are my top tips for booking your Airbnb property right now -