Taking the Road Less Travelled with Simpson Travel

Are you one of those people who get a bit excited when they discover something fantastic? Do you find yourself waxing lyrical about your discovery or the amazing service you’ve received and by the end of the week every one of your friends knows?

That’s me, I just can’t help it. When I make a discovery about something fabulous, be it a bargain bath bomb that smells divine, the AA man (or our angel in yellow as I dubbed him) who rescues your family or an airline that makes sure everything is perfect I just have to shout about it, both via my blog and in real life too.

I don’t want any of my friends to miss out and this is how I feel about Simpson Travel. Despite not yet having travelled with them I feel fully confident that they are the kind of company who will fulfil and even exceed every one of my expectations.

“The road less travelled is about making an effort and going the extra mile” Graham Simpson, Chairman of Simpson Travel

And I have lots of them. It was only two years ago that we first travelled abroad with the children. Prior to having them my husband and I travelled extensively and we loved staying in a gorgeous villa in an exotic Mediterranean destination but then along came three (expensive) children so we stayed in the UK and of course if the kids were having fun then so were we. However once you’ve experienced that glorious sunshine, the deep blue sea, the friendly locals in a Greek taverna and all that amazing fresh food you can never keep that longing at bay for too long.

26 Fabulous Hacks/ Tips to make Flying Easier

Having recently travelled abroad with the kids and the peak summer season almost being upon us I thought it was high time to share some tips and hacks that I’ve learnt over the years and I also asked a few blogger friends to share their wisdom too.

Ahead of Time

1. Booking your flights
Use a site like Skyscanner to find the best flight deals and then head over to your chosen airlines website and book direct, that way you'll secure the best deal possible. I’d always say to void third parties if you can.

2.  Experts seem to agree that Tuesday is the best day to buy flights and that about 6 weeks before you travel is the optimum time to get a great deal. You have to have nerves of steel though, not sure I could leave my flights until that close to the travel date! Tuesday (or even Wednesday) is often the cheapest days to fly as well as it is away from the peak weekends.

3.  Have copies ready

Take photographs of all your important documents, keep a copy on you and email a copy to your at-home contact in case anything gets lost or you have a problem.

4.  Keep track of what you are spending

Download a free app like XE currency, so that whilst you are abroad you can easily work out how much things would cost in your local currency.

5.  Check out the airport lounges

Check out the deals available for day access to the VIP lounges. Why? Because many of them offer free food and drink and if there are a number of you requiring dinner it can work out really cost effective and you have a comfy area to wait too.

6.  Book your parking in advance

Shop around for your airport parking in advance. There are some great deals if you check the voucher sites or go via a cash back site like Quidco. Signing up for newsletters can also secure you a good discount for your first booking. I recently booked via Looking4Parking and got a great Meet & Greet deal through them.

18 Tips for Flying with Older Kids

Having recently taken our first flight with our three children (aged 9, 9 and 12) I thought it would be useful for me to share some of the things I learnt on this journey. You don't want to make the mistakes I did and end up with no sleep in an overpriced hotel when I could have secured cheap airport parking and driven after a good nights sleep!

1.  Plan your flight times - OK of course it is cheaper to fly at 1.00 am but can your child cope with that? You want your first day on holiday to be as much fun as all the others, so book wisely.

2.    Book your seats in advance - we made this mistake this year, having not taken a package holiday for over a decade, I assumed very few people would pay the extra to book their seats. I was wrong. Luckily I found this out and was able to book our seats, if I hadn't the five of us would have been in completely different areas and what child wants to fly alone for the first time next to two strangers?

3.    How will you get to the airport? - this year we opted to travel by train and stay in a hotel at the airport. Yes the train fare was really cheap as we booked a long time in advance but we had so much angst due to the strikes and reduced timetables on Southern Railways. Then we also got no sleep at the airport as it was too exciting for the kids and too hot in the room. Next time we will definitely drive our own car so we are in control of our timings and don't have to struggle with big cases.

Flying with a Young Family – Tips for Travelling With Babies and Toddlers

For most of us, flying is an unavoidable and rarely-enjoyed necessity when travelling abroad. There’s the tedious airport waits, the cramped seating, the turbulence… throw small children into the mix and you’ve got a recipe for real hassle. It doesn't need to be this way though. Follow these tips for travelling with babies and toddlers and reduce stress levels on your next break.

Pack what you think you need…. and the rest! 
We all want to pack as lightly as possible, but don’t scrimp on the nappy bag! Prepare for the worst case scenario in terms of airport/flight delays and pack more than you need when it comes to nappies, wipes, spare clothes and milk. You really don’t want to be left with a screaming baby in a dirty nappy when the plane announces it can’t take off for another half an hour. Toys are an on-flight essential too; opt for small playthings that can be swapped and changed to hold your little ones attention or buy something new as a holiday treat.

Get ready for spillages 
Think you’ve packed everything? Have you packed a tea towel and paper towel too? This might sound like an essential saved only for the kitchen, but sometimes baby wipes just aren’t enough, and it’s usually the case when you’re thousands of feet up in the air! Unexpected travel sickness can be very messy… and it will save yourself time and embarrassment if you have the means to just clean the situation up yourself rather than wait for the cabin crew to assist.

Buy more legroom
If you can afford it, always try to buy yourself seats with extra legroom. You will be so thankful if you have a child on your lap, you may even be able to seat them on the floor for short periods to give yourself a little rest. This extra legroom may be cheaper than you think too, especially if you’re travelling outside of peak season. Use travel comparison site Amadeus.net to compare flight tickets and try and secure that extra space for next to nothing. It will be almost certainly be worth it.

Charge up the gadgets 
For older toddlers, gadgets are a lifesaver. If there’s one time you’ll want to be throwing out the screen-time rules it’s on a plane journey. Make sure your smartphone, iPad, tablet or portable DVD player is charged up and ready to use as soon as those seatbelt signs go off.

Feed baby to ease ear pressure 
A simple tip to avoiding baby fussiness when flying is to help ease any ear pressure during landing and take-off. This tried and tested trick will help small ears adjust and will be just as beneficial whether you opt for a breastfeed, bottle or sippy cup of water. A dummy will also do the job. Remember throughout the flight, if your ears feel uncomfortable then give your baby another drink to aid them too.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

If you like what you have read and want to stay up-to-date then subscribe by email for free and receive blog posts directly to your in-box - just click the link Subscribe to Mummy From The Heart... by Email or perhaps you like to keep all your blog reading in one place, if that is the case you can follow me on BlogLovin too!