Category: Uncategorized

April 15, 2025 Uncategorized Post a Comment

Pubs with play parks in The New Forest…

Pubs with play parks in the New Forest

It can be hard sometimes to keep the kids entertained when you fancy a nice pub stop. There’s only so much a colouring book will do and you don’t always want them just stuck on their iPads. So finding a pub in the New Forest with a play park for the kids is a winner for all the family.

Matt and I love nothing more than a relaxing drink in the pub. It’s safe to say and understandable that Emily and Jack don’t always share the love of a peaceful drink! So we embarked on hunting down pubs in The New Forest that have play areas to keep them entertained and us happy.

So here are my favourite pubs in The New Forest with Children’s play areas. They tick all the boxes when it comes to keeping kids and grown-ups entertained…

 

The Plough Inn, Tiptoe, SO41 6FQ (01425 610185)

On the edge of The New Forest, The Plough has a proper old traditional feel to it with low beams and an open fire. The garden is huge and has a nice kids play park which can be viewed from pretty much any seat outside. Food is served 12pm – 8pm Monday to Thursday, 12pm – 9pm Friday and Saturday and 12pm – 7pm on Sundays. Family events are run throughout the year with barbecues and a bouncy castle in the garden during the summer months.

 

The Rising Sun, Bashley, BH25 5SF (01425 610360)

One of my favourite pubs in the forest, The Rising Sun has a sunny beer garden with a huge outdoor play area. The garden has sunny and shady spots, a large decked area and covered areas too. The forest is right on the doorstep, perfect for a pint after a stroll. There is a small shady area in the car park for horse riders to tether up their equestrian friends and enjoy a drink too. Open from 11am and midday on Sundays. Food is served from 12pm to 9pm and until 7pm on Sundays. There’s no need to book a table in the garden, just turn up and wait for the next available table. Call or book online to reserve a table.

 

The Smugglers Inn, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QE (01590 644414)

Located in my home village of Milford on Sea, The Smugglers is a very friendly pub. It has a lovey garden complete with outdoor play area by the Danestream River. The play areas are fenced off so kids are safe from the water. Food is served from 12pm – 9.30pm, Monday to Saturday and 12pm-9pm on Sundays. This is a lovely pub in the heart of Milford on Sea village and a good spot to stop all year round. Book a table online or call.

 

The New Forest, Ashurst, SO41 7AA (02380 292721)

On the edge of The New Forest in Ashurst this pub has a huge garden overlooking the forest and a great play park for kids to burn off some steam. The pub itself is a cosy spot for a Sunday roast or cider in the summer sun. You can watch ponies grazing in the distance too. The pub has a selection of board games indoors to keep everyone amused on rainy days. There are covered areas in the garden and open spots too, book a table online or call the pub. Food is served Monday – Thursday  12pm – 8pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm – 9pm and 12pm – 6pm on Sundays.

 

The Drift, Beaulieu Road, Near Lyndhurst, SO42 7YQ (023 8029 2342)

In the heart of the New Forest, The Drift is located right by Beaulieu Road train station and is full of rustic, laid back vibes. There are two play parks in one here, one for bigger kids and a smaller one for toddlers. Colouring packs, highchairs and changing facilities are all here too. Dogs are welcome, towels are provided for muddy paws and there’s dog treats available. The menu is locally sourced and has a nice selection for kids. The pub has plenty of tables in the garden, perfect for a summers day.

 

 

I hope my guide to child friendly pubs in the New Forest has helped you find a little sanctuary for a drink and 5 minutes peace while the kids are running around! I’ll add more to this as and when I visit more! If you’ve got any recommendations I’d love to hear them, please pop them down in the comments below. Cheers!

March 3, 2025 Spain, Uncategorized Post a Comment

Bournemouth to Lanzarote with Jet2 Holidays…

Jet2 have a new base operating from 2025 at Bournemouth Airport. This is great news if you live in the South West of England. Bournemouth Airport is only a 20 minute drive from my home in the New Forest so when I was invited to go on a trip to Lanzarote with Jet2 on one of their first flights from Bournemouth Airport I couldn’t say no. Holidays to Lanzarote with Jet2holidays from Bournemouth can be booked all year round.

My trip was complimentary in exchange for this review, all words and opinions as always are my own.

Flights with Jet2 from Bournemouth Airport

Bournemouth is a great airport to fly from, its compact size makes it easy to navigate. We found the whole process to be so smooth and quick from check in, through security and boarding the aircraft. The Jet2 ground staff and cabin crew were all so helpful and friendly. Security were great too, especially with our son Jack who is a Type 1 Diabetic. They really put him at ease while they did their necessary checks. Always really reassuring when you’re travelling with a medical condition. Jet2 were great with this as well. They added a note of Jack’s medical condition to our booking and when I had a problem online with selecting our seats, they were so quick and helpful to resolve the issue.

One thing I love about Jet2 is the generous baggage allowance which is included with their holidays. 10kg hand luggage and 22kg hold luggage allowance per person is an added bonus. Plus transfers to and from your booked accommodation make the whole process a relaxing one.

Flights to Lanzarote with Jet2 from Bournemouth Airport are scheduled all year round, departing on Monday, Thursday and Friday. Lanzarote is found in the Canary Islands and around a 4-hour flight from Bournemouth Airport. It lies 80 miles off the north coast of Africa with beautiful beaches and volcanic landscapes. Plus, it is warm all year round, great for escaping the winter weather in the UK.

Where we stayed in Lanzarote:

We spent 4 nights at the all-inclusive Sol Lanzarote during February half term. I can report that the sun was shining and the weather was glorious. We were able to spend time on the beach and in the pool and returned home looking sun kissed! February is a fantastic time to leave behind the rain in the UK for Lanzarote. The climate makes it a perfect holiday destination all year round.

The hotel:

Set on the sparkling shores of Matagorda Beach, Sol Lanzarote is in a perfect location, just 10 minutes from Arrecife airport. It was around 20 minutes for us as we were on a coach transfer with other hotel drop offs. The bustling town of Puerto del Carmen is 10 minute’s drive away and it is ideally placed for all of Lanzarote’s main attractions.

Matagorda itself is a great area. It has a beautiful beach promenade lined with a few bars, shops and restaurants. We loved the fact that you can walk and cycle for miles along it. The area is clean and clearly well looked after, also it’s not overrun with bars or high-rise buildings.

Sol Lanzarote has three pools, a play park, a games room, kids club and a gym on site too. The hotel has one main buffet restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and a pool bar open from 10.30am for drinks, snacks and light lunches. It was nice to have the pool bar as an extra option for lunch as we found the 1.30pm opening time in the main restaurant to be a bit too late for the kids. It also has the most beautiful, shaded terrace area overlooking the beach. The self-service drinks bar open during the day is in a handy spot by the pool. The bar near reception opened from 6pm. This is where the nightly entertainment took place with a children’s disco starting at 8.30pm. A tad on the late side for our kids but we actually ended up getting into the swing of later evenings so we could make the most of everything on offer.

Sol Lanzarote do a great job at sustainability. Towels in rooms are only changed if they are placed on the floor and no single use plastic tableware. On arrival you get given one token per person for cups, return the cup for a fresh one or in exchange for your token. Such a great idea to reduce waste.

The only thing we didn’t enjoy was guests placing towels on sunbeds to reserve them. We found on our first morning we weren’t easily able to get sunbeds as they had all been ‘reserved’ at the crack of dawn by others! The hotel staff were really obliging when I mentioned this and appeared with extra ones for us. Don’t be shy to speak with staff if you find this to be a problem on your stay. Although we did subsequently follow suite and put our own towels by the pool early on other mornings as we didn’t want to miss out!

For any extras you might need to buy the hotel has a souvenir shop in the reception area and a mini market just out of the main entrance to the right.

The room:

On check-in we were upgraded to a junior suite which was a lovely surprise. The large, bright and airy room was split into two and had two balconies overlooking Lanzarote’s beautiful volcanic interior. The sunset views were so pretty. Watching parrots glide between palm trees on a balmy afternoon with a G&T in hand was just such a wonderful February treat! The kids shared a roomy sofa bed in the lounge which also included a mini kitchen area with a microwave and a fridge stocked with soft drinks and beer. Matt and I had a king size bed big enough for four, lucky for us as we’d often wake to find the little ones snuggled up with us!

I loved all the little touches we found on arrival, like the welcome note, bottle of bubbles and snacks along with flip flops, reusable tote bag and wooden games for the kids.

The food:

The main restaurant caters for all tastes and had different themes every night. Breakfast was great with fresh fruit, cereals, pastries, cooked breakfasts and omelettes. I also spied some guests with avocado on their plates, so this is possibly an extra to ask for. We found sitting outside on the decking near the pool to have a slightly better ambience than inside when it was busy. So, my top tip would be to take your time to explore and pick the seating area that works best for you.

Valentine’s evening was our favourite with welcome drinks at the door for adults and children, a huge selection of fresh sushi and desserts to die for! As well as nightly themes there was always standard food choices of pasta, fish, loads of salad dishes and always a variety of meat dishes. The pool bar was our favourite shady spot for a drink overlooking the ocean. You could also have lunch there with choices of toasted sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, fries, calamari and salads. Along with snacks, fruit and ice cream to help yourself to all day. The lunchtime barbecue set up there on a Friday was nice too.

With 4 days to enjoy, we chose to make the most of everything the hotel had to offer and took our holiday at a slower pace than we usually would. We spent time by the pool, on the beach and exploring the local area. There were some great activities at the pool during the day for kids. Ours loved their daily ‘water mat’ fix. The entertainment team rolled out a huge floating mat in the children’s pool for running along into the water. Aside from sunbathing, there were poolside exercise classes and spin classes too for anyone wanting to be a bit more active.

Things to do in Lanzarote:

Matagorda Beach area:

We had a lot of grand plans for this trip but actually just followed the kids lead and had a wonderful time. They spotted a family bike for four. So we did some research and hired one from Fliston’s bike shop. It was a short walk along the beach promenade from our hotel. At 15 Euros per hour or 25 Euros for two hours we thought it was a bargain! I really recommend doing this, it was great fun and a fantastic way to explore the area. We pedalled along the beach to Arrecife Airport to watch the planes flying in over our heads, which was so exciting! In the opposite direction towards Puerto Del Carmen, we stopped off to look at the shops and for beer and ice cream on the promenade. A great few hours of family fun!

Around Lanzarote:

If you have more time on the island then hire a car. There are so many adventures to be had including Timanfaya National Park, full of volcanoes and geothermal activity. There’s also the chance for camel rides! Stop by El Golfo, an incredible green lagoon. La Geria wine region is popular for wine tasting, long lazy lunches and vineyard tours. This one is probably better saved for a trip without kids! For something completely different check out the salt pans at El Janubio and Cueva de Los Verdes, caves formed from lava tubes. On the water there are so many boat trips to choose from and exciting submarine safaris for underwater exploration. The island has two waterparks so there are plenty of adventures to be had! Take a day trip on a ferry across to Fuerteventura, one of the neighbouring Canary Islands. Family holidays don’t get much better than this!

Also not forgetting simply just some beach time. Even in February it was warm enough to swim in the sea and build sandcastles. The pools at the hotel were a little on the cool side but made for a very refreshing dip to cool down from the heat of the sun!

 

We’ve not done a lot of All Inclusive holidays in the past, usually opting for self-catering options. We found on this family trip it was so relaxing knowing everything was included. From the flights to the transfers and the food, drink and entertainment at the hotel. Being able to help yourself to food and drink whenever we fancied and not having to worry about budgeting for anything was a real novelty.

Lanzarote, we will be back!

October 21, 2024 UK, Uncategorized 1 Comment

Celebrating the arrival of Jet2 at Bournemouth Airport…

Glass of gin and tonic with copper gin still in background

Making gin with Jet2

I was recently invited to attend a gin making event and cocktail masterclass at Wyrd Spirits in the New Forest. The event was hosted by Jet2 to celebrate the upcoming arrival of their new base at Bournemouth Airport.

The day kicked off with some interesting information on the history of gin distilling. Mark the creator of Wyrd Gin (pronounced weird) is an expert at blending flavours. He explained how he crafts his gin to create a perfect product. It was then time to have a go at distilling our own. Working together with a fellow Bournemouth blogger was a great opportunity to come up with something we’d like to drink on holiday whilst watching the sunset over the ocean. We kept it simple, after the juniper we added orange peel, coriander, cassia and cubeb for a light, zesty taste. Exactly my style of holiday drink and perfect for feeling all the holiday vibes.

After watching our own blend magically flow from the copper still and into the bottle it was time for the most delicious lunch, washed down with a Negroni. The afternoon continued with a cocktail making masterclass. This one was really fun and included a cocktail shaker! I got to make a Tom Collins cocktail using my own gin and the ‘Gin Jetsetter’, created especially by Wyrd Spirits for the day.

Jet2 at Bournemouth Airport

Whilst blending flavours it was the perfect opportunity to find out more about the arrival of Jet2 at Bournemouth Airport. Taking-off from February 2025, Jet2 will be flying to: Mainland Spain, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Portugal, Turkey, Greece, Prague, Austria and Iceland.

My favourites from this list have to be Iceland, there’s nowhere else like it for winter adventures. From spotting the Northern Lights to taking a dip in a natural hot spring pool and so many more. For the sun, my favourite destination Jet2 will be flying to from Bournemouth are the Balearic Islands. You can’t beat the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean and balmy evening sunsets.

Jet2 Holidays pride themselves in offering low deposits and return transfers to and from your holiday accommodation. They are ATOL and ABTA-protected and there’s 22kg of luggage included in bookings. I have flown with Jet2 from Stanstead and had a great experience. I’m looking forward to having a short 30-minute drive to jump on a Jet2 flight again very soon!

*AD | PR invite. Thanks to Jet2 for inviting me to this event.*

March 24, 2023 New Zealand, Uncategorized Post a Comment

Cool things to do with kids, South Island, New Zealand…

New Zealand is the ultimate outdoor adventure playground for kids and big kids too! The winter season is my favourite time of year in New Zealand. There’s nothing like cool mountain air and endless snow capped peaks. From skiing near Queenstown, helicopter trips over the West Coast mountains, snow tubing at Lake Tekapo and road tripping with awesome mountain views.  Looking for cool things to do with kids in the South Island in New Zealand? Then read on…

Skiing and snowboarding in Cardrona:

Skiing and snowboarding are great activities for all ages and New Zealand has some awesome slopes. Cardrona is a 45 minute drive from Queenstown and is a must visit for mountain lovers. There’s ski and snowboard lessons available for all ages. For skiing, lessons are available from ages 5 and upwards and snowboarding from 7 years old. Group and private lessons are available. Ski lessons are also available for under 5s at Cardrona’s Ski Kindy children’s daycare.

Keeping safe on the slopes is such an important thing to teach young ones. The Piste X Code is a fantastic campaign aimed at creating awareness around staying safe on the slopes. The list covers 8 ways to keep safe. Centred around awareness of others, respecting piste signs, skiing and snowboarding within your ability and planning where you stop to prevent accidents on the piste. The quiz is a useful reminder for everyone and a great way to get kids engaged in keeping safe in the mountains.

If you’re not skiing but fancy seeing the mountains, buy a sightseeing pass and jump in a gondola to the top to explore the snowy peaks. Kids under 6 can go for free.

 

 

 

Helicopter ride over mountains and glaciers:

You can’t miss a trip to the glaciers. This is one of the very cool things to do with kids on New Zealand’s South Island. Fox and Franz Josef Glacier are both on the west coast with the towns a short drive apart. If you have small kids and don’t want to go on a hike to the glaciers, then you can catch mesmerising views of fox glacier from the roadside. If you have older kids it’s a short hike to the base of Franz Josef glacier.

Another fantastic option if you have older kids a helicopter ride; it is an incredible experience. Flying right over the top of both glaciers and landing on a nearby mountainside is unforgettable and well worth the cost. Seeing Mount Cook from the air and all the incredible mountain views is awe inspiring. I booked a trip with Glacier Helicopters, it’s an experience I’ll never forget.

 

Snow tubing at Lake Tekapo:

Lake Tekapo is a brilliant spot for kids. The scenery is breath-taking and the lake is perfect for stone skimming! Tekapo Springs has something for all the family with hot pools, a children’s aqua play area, an ice rink and snow tube park. The snow tubing is so much fun and is open from July to September. The ice rink opens from April to August. Tekapo Springs has a cafe and bar with awesome views of the lake.

 

Milford Sound boat trip:

To see the mountains from another angle, jump in a boat from Milford Sound. The road trip itself is a majestic one. The drive takes you past towering snowy mountains and through mountain tunnels. From the water you feel tiny in comparison to the huge mountains with waterfalls cascading down.

 

Te Anau Glowworm Caves:

This is not strictly a winter activity but seeing glow worms is such a magical thing to do, I couldn’t not include it. The journey begins with a boat trip to the caves where a guide takes you deep underground to explore a magical grotto. The best part is the boat ride in the darkness, don’t be scared, look up and the luminous light of the glow worms will light the way. It’s an incredible sight like no other, surrounded by silence and nature it’s another unforgettable moment!

 

There are so many cool things to do with kids on the South Island, New Zealand. Whatever you choose to do there are plenty of adventures to be had in the mountains!

I’ve written this post as part of the Ski Safe Blogger Campaign by AliKats Mountain Holidays and Piste X Code. By posting this blog and creating awareness of the Piste X Code I am entering into a competition to win a stay in a self-catered chalet in Morzine, France. If you are a blogger and would like to do the same head here for more information: Ski Safe Blogger Campaign.

April 4, 2020 Uncategorized 1 Comment

Things to do with kids during lockdown…

Emily writing her name during lockdown 2020

Things to do with kids during lockdown

It’s strange and scary times we are living in right now, if you’ve got young kids, you’ll know how hard it is to keep them entertained all day while we’re all in lockdown during the Coronavirus outbreak. 

I am loving being able to spend so much time with Emily especially before baby number 2 arrives, but I’m not gonna lie some days are hard work. Some days I feel guilty for letting her watch too much tv because I’m feeling knackered or mentally, I’m just not having a good day. These are exceptional circumstances that none of us have been through before so it’s ok not to be ok all the time. It’s also ok if your little ones have watched Frozen twice in one day followed by a ton of crap on YouTube…that’s what I’m telling myself anyway!  At the end of the day they are safe, well and happy and that’s all that matters right now!

There are without a doubt good and bad days and of course every day in isolation isn’t going to be fun but I’ve found that having a bit of structure helps.

Finding things to do with kids during lockdown can be exhausting, you might be running out of ideas for daily activities so hopefully there’s a few things I’ve listed here that you’ve not tried yet..

 

Things to watch:

Although we all try our best not to let kids watch TV or their tablets for too long, it’s inevitable that there’s always going to be some screen time; especially during lockdown! For your own sanity and five minutes downtime with a cuppa it is necessary! There are lots of people out there doing some fun and creative things online, here are our favourites:

  • If you’ve not heard about him already, every day at 9am Joe Wicks, The Body Coach is doing live workout sessions aimed at families. We’ve done P.E with Joe a few times now and I’ve got to say my muscles have been aching for a few days afterwards. Emily loves joining in too although we never quite finish the full 30-minute session.
  • If your little ones attend Baby Ballet classes our local franchise have moved their classes online, so you can do ballet every day of the week if you like and join in with all the different classes. It’s so nice for Emily to still be able to see her teacher Miss Claire and maintain a little bit of normal in all this madness!
  • For five minutes of entertainment head to Google, search for an animal and click on ‘view in 3D’. It brings your camera up and thirty seconds later you have an animal in your room!
  • Over on their YouTube channel Jiggy Wrigglers have moved their fun classes online so your kids can dance and get active at home.

 

 

Fun things to do outside during lockdown:

If lockdown rules allow it there are so many fun things to do outside as a family, most of the time these are really simple too and don’t need many resources.

Scavenger hunt

This one is really simple and can be done in the garden or out on your daily walk from home. I found a gift bag and then came up with a list of things to find, a feather, a stick, a petal and a leaf. It kept Emily entertained for at least 15 minutes or so anyway!

Garden potions

My clever friend Sam, who is a teacher, came up with this lovely idea for the garden. All you need is some bottles or something to put your potion in, food colouring and things from the garden to chop up and add to your mix, grass, petals sticks etc. If you don’t have food colouring to add, then plain old water works fine and is just as fun.

Volcano experiment

This has to be purchased but is a lot of fun: Violent Volcano. Since writing this Galt aren’t currently taking on any online orders but I’m sure you can find something similar on Amazon.

It is recommended for ages 8 and above. Emily is three so I added most of the ingredients to the volcano while she watched and wore the safety goggles that were included, which she loved! Following the instructions once everything has been added in stand back and watch as it explodes into the air!

 

 

Online resources:

There are some great free downloadable resources out there, these are some of Emily’s favourite lockdown activities:

  • Orchard Toys have some nice activity sheets aimed at younger children.
  • If like me you are missing the sea The Wave Project have some great ocean themed activity books to download with a new one every week.
  • Twinkl is a huge educational resource, create an account for free during school closures and download worksheets. Everyone is catered for from pre-school to secondary.
  • The Sussex Wildlife Trust have a some lovely indoor activity sheets which I’ve just discovered.

 

Five Minute Mum book: Everybody going through lockdown with kids needs this book in their lives! It has an amazing collection of activities to do indoors and out. Our favourites are the restaurant game and the toy tombola game. Follow her Instagram handle too for more genius activities to do at home. There are tons of fun things to do with kids during lockdown in this book, I don’t know where I’d be without it!

 

 

Indoor fun:

There are so many fun things to do as a family inside while on lockdown. It can be hard to keep the momentum going, especially if it’s a rainy day and you can’t get outside. Hopefully this list will give you some inspiration to get through those potentially dull days!

Make a rainbow

Make a rainbow for your window: Orchard Toys who I mentioned above have a downloadable rainbow colouring sheet. You can of course just go free hand with your own design. We jazzed ours up by adding cotton wool clouds and stuck it in our lounge window.

Use household recycling to make something crafty

Save up toilet rolls, cardboard and egg boxes to make something fun, for example a crocodile. Paper plates are also an easy thing to get creative with, even if you just stick a load of glitter, beads and sequins on. We’ve also got a new addition to our cardboard family in the form of a rocket! It has captured Emily’s imagination about space and she now wants to be an astronaut…

Mask making

Emily’s favourite superhero character is Owlette from PJ Masks, so we designed and made her own mask. She loved running around the house in her superhero costume with it on!

Zip line

This is very entertaining and a bit educational too. All you need is some string, hangers with clips on and soft toys. Find a spot to fasten the string and turn it into a zip line. Attach the toys to the hangers and send them down the zip wire. I asked Emily which of the cuddly toys travelled faster and explained it was because that some of them were lighter than others.

Ice painting

Add food colouring to water in ice cube trays, pop some lolly sticks in and put in the freezer. When frozen you’ve got a new fun way to paint. 

Scavenger hunt

This is the indoor version and an opportunity to get creative with hunting for things around the house. It might even give you five minutes to grab a cuppa. I focused on things all over the house to give Emily a bit of variety and get her up and active. This one didn’t last for as long as I had hoped, Emily did it twice and then I was left with a huge pile of crap to tidy away! She had fun though!

 

Hope you found this list useful and I’ll update it with more activities as we do them. I would love some more suggestions if you have any? Let me know in the comments below….

 

 

 

 

February 26, 2020 Uncategorized Post a Comment

Cruising the Baltic Sea…

A flat lay image of my travel must haves: Baltic Sea Ports Marco Polo Travel Guide, sunglasses and camera

Cruising the Baltic Sea:

Marco Polo travel guides have recently published a range of cruise guides offering insights into ports around the world which are very useful for deciding on what to do at each destination. The guides come with handy pull out maps, perfect for planning your adventures at sea. The range includes ports in the Baltic Sea, Canary Islands, Caribbean and Mediterranean. The lovely people at Marco Polo sent me a guide to help with my future cruise planning. I chose Baltic Sea cruise ports, as I’d love to explore this incredible area of Europe.

Ad: This post has been produced in collaboration with Marco Polo Travel Guides.

Here’s my dream itinerary:

  • Firstly I’d choose Southampton to depart and arrive back into as it’s near to where I live so would eliminate having to get flights anywhere. This would make cruising the Baltic Sea very relaxing from the word go!
  • Helsinki – Finland: The scenery is something that draws me to this part of the world and I’ve heard it’s a scenic journey into the port, past small islands and craggy coastline. I’d make sure I’d be up on deck to take it all in. I would jump on a vintage tram ride to see the city’s top sites and visit the Old Market Hall to buy some Finnish cakes.
  • Stockholm – Sweden: I love an old town and Stockholm’s Gamla Stan sounds like it ticks all the boxes for me; cobbled streets, quirky buildings and cool coffee shops to sit and watch the world go by in.
  • Gdansk – Poland: I’d love to stop in Gdansk to try out traditional Polish food and to take some photos of the picture perfect streets. I’d also like to climb to the top of St. Catherine’s Church Tower to take in the city views.
  • St. Petersburg – Russia: I have never been to Russia so a stop in St. Petersburg would be firmly on my itinerary. I’d love to see the historical buildings and beautiful architecture. The colourful domes of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ are something I’d like to see in person.
  • Tallinn – Estonia: The capital of Estonia, this lovely looking city has plenty of charm with Gothic landmarks and an old town full of cafes and cobbled streets. If I had time on my day there I’d head slightly out of the city to the Teletorn TV Tower. There is an outdoor viewing platform right at the top and on clear days you can see across to Finland.

Why you need to go on a cruise:

These days cruising isn’t just for the older generation it has become popular with younger people in a big way. Cruise companies have modernised their ships, upped their marketing and onboard itineraries to appeal to not only younger couples and singles but families too.

A cruise is certainly something on my travel wish list; Matt and I got a taste for the cruising lifestyle after we went on a mini-cruise to France last year. I can definitely see us enjoying a longer cruise at some point in the future.

 

In case you need some persuasion here are my reasons as to why you need to go on a cruise…

  • It’s such a fantastic way to see the world; you get to wake up in a new destination everyday.
  • Enjoy complete relaxation on sea days. While there’s nothing but blue horizons all around it’s the perfect opportunity to kick back and relax with a book, enjoy the entertainment onboard, go to a fitness class or enjoy all the food if you are on an all inclusive package.
  • A lot of cruise companies have removed formal dining in favour of a more relaxed experience, so while formal dining may still exist there are now other options such as buffets and fast food restaurants onboard. This means you won’t have to pack your bow tie and tux if you don’t want to.
  • This also applies to dress codes; whilst there are still opportunities to don your bow tie many cruise ships have a less formal dress code making cruises much more relaxed.
  • There is so much going on onboard that you’ll never want to get off! From cinemas to shows, casinos to coffee shops, spas, climbing walls and waterslides, not to mention kids clubs if you have children with you. It’s like a floating city!

 

I spent a day on MSC Preziosa as part of a press event, head over to my post: My Day on a Cruise Ship with MSC Cruises to read all about it. For more on planning a cruise, Cruise Critic is a great website to discover cruise itineraries, they have a section just for Baltic Sea Cruises. Cruise blogger, Emma writes all about life at sea over at Cruising Isn’t Just For Old People; check it out for all you need to know on cruising.

 

December 31, 2019 Uncategorized Post a Comment

My 2019 travel highlights…

Apart from travelling with work, I hadn’t planned on actually doing much personal travel this year. Matt and I moved and renovated a house; I’m also expecting baby number two so I had intended to slow down. But writing up this post I’m surprised how much I’ve managed to squeeze in. I just get itchy feet and being grounded from my job as cabin crew while I’m pregnant has meant that I’ve been living a ‘normal’ life for a while. Whatever that is?! Anyway too much of normal and I get a little bit bored so I’ve been lucky to have a few opportunities to jump on a plane and fulfil my wanderlust!

 

January: Mexico 
2019 started off with a mini adventure in Mexico. I had a work trip to Cancun falling over New Years Eve, so it was the perfect opportunity for Matt to come away with me. One of the perks of my job is discounted flights and getting to take Matt along while I’m working is so nice. We arrived on New Years Eve, got some room service and gorged on enchiladas, guacamole, tortillas and all things Mexican. We were so tired that we didn’t make it to midnight in the end but it was still a great evening! The following day it was time for exploring so we jumped on a local bus to a nearby ferry terminal and boarded a boat to Isla Mujeres. If you are going to Cancun I really recommend a trip to this little island. We hired a golf buggy and whizzed around the island, you can cover the whole of it in a couple of hours. The main town has brightly coloured buildings and beachfront bars, there’s mangroves and secluded beaches to relax on as well as a small turtle sanctuary. Don’t miss the drive through garage, perfect for picking up Coronas to have on the beach. My favourite beach is Playa Norte, although it was really busy on New Years Day so not as peaceful as I’ve seen it in the past.

 

 

February and March: Dubai and Fort Lauderdale
In February Matt and I moved house it had been a long painful process so it was amazing to finally get the keys. Although it needed a lot of work so we stayed with my lovely in-laws while we did it up. A new boiler, radiators, bathroom, electrics, plastering, decorating and new carpets were amongst the many things that needed doing.
The day after completing on the house I went to Dubai with my Mum! I hadn’t planned it that way, as we should have initially completed in November 2018 so it all felt a little bit stressful but it was lovely to have a little getaway. Dubai isn’t somewhere that’s really appealed to me in the past but we wanted to go somewhere with a bit of sun that wasn’t too far to fly so it ticked those boxes. I can honestly say I loved it, we crammed so much into the three days we were there for and there’s still so much I want to see. My highlights were a desert safari, going to the top of the Burj Khalifa and strolling along ‘The Walk’ on the beachfront at JBR.
For more on my new favourite part of the world head here: A mini guide to Dubai…

 

 

A work trip to Fort Lauderdale in the middle of house renovations was a fun adventure. It was a layover, which meant two nights and whole day to explore. Famous for its waterways lined with million dollars houses, it only seemed right to jump on a water taxi and take in the views. The water taxis are really easy to use and you can jump on and off to spend time along the route. I loved the bars and restaurants that lined the waterfront, we enjoyed food and drinks overlooking the sparkling canals in between checking out the local area. It also happened to be Pride the weekend I was there so we had a walk around the festival on the beach. I also got some time to chill out by the pool and catch some sun before flying home.

 

 

April: Dominican Republic and the Isle of Wight
In April I had my first work trip to the Dominican Republic, staying in an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana it was a very relaxing experience! I had a day and a half to sunbathe, have a beer or two and swim in the warm, sparkling ocean.

 

 

My brother and his girlfriend bought Matt and I a voucher to walk with alpacas as a Christmas present so April saw us heading to Hensting Alpaca Farm in Ottterbourne  Hampshire. It was a really relaxing two-hour stroll through a meadow by the River Itchen. The alpacas were gorgeous and it was such a different thing to do. For more on this unique experience click here: Walking with alpacas in the Hampshire countryside…

 

 

On Emily’s 3rd birthday we went on a day trip to the Isle of Wight. We went as foot passengers on the Wightlink ferry from Lymington and used the open top buses to explore. It’s such a fun and easy way to see the island, there are different routes and regular buses so you can hop on and off at your leisure. We chose the route that went to the Needles and were treated to incredible views of Alum Bay and the mainland on the journey to The Needles Battery. After a few more stop offs we went back to Yarmouth for lunch at a pub and an ice cream and a walk along the pier before catching the ferry back to the mainland.

 

 

May: Toronto
I got to go to one of my favourite cities in May, Toronto. Another work trip, I had two nights and a day and a half to spend there. Having been a few times before it was nice to explore some new areas. I visited Graffiti Alley, which is a really cool spot to take photos. Kensington Market for brunch and my first proper experience of Poutine. Canadian comfort food at its best: chips, cheese curd and gravy. If you’ve not tried it before, you should. I also visited a pop up gallery called Eye Candy, the perfect place if you love taking photos for Instagram. It has small rooms all individually decorated in bright colours and different themes.
I’ve written a blog post all about things to do in my favourite Canadian city: Planning the perfect trip to Toronto… 

 

 

June: Yorkshire
Matt, Emily and I had a mini break to Yorkshire; Matt had some work there so Emily and I tagged along. We stayed at Woodland Lakes Lodges in Thirsk, our lodge had a hot tub, there were ponds full of friendly ducks and geese and it was a great base for exploring the local area.

 

Hot tub, Woodland Lakes Lodges, Yorkshire
Hot tub, Woodland Lakes Lodges, Yorkshire

 

Summer hit the UK so it was all about time at the beach in Milford on Sea and HIghcliffe, paddle boarding and barbecues.

 

 

July: UK
July saw us spending lots more time on the beach and Emily sitting on my paddle board with me for the first time.  We discovered the Cliff House in Barton on Sea. It’s the loveliest bar on the cliff top over looking the Solent, Isle Wight and Dorset. We also went on the hunt for pubs in the New forest with play parks for kids. The Rising Sun in Bashley is our new favourite, not only is it 10 minutes drive from our house, but it looks right out onto the forest and has an awesome kids play park. I feel like this should be a future blog post!

 

 

We moved into our house after 5 months of renovating, it was such an amazing feeling after all the work we put in and a couple of weeks later I found out I was pregnant with baby number two. So all in all a very exciting month!

 

 

August: Warmwell, Dorset
I love having my birthday in the summer; Matt took me on a surprise trip to Dorset. We stayed on the same glamping site as last year in a shepherds hut. We had typical British weather, one day full of rain and the next sunshine, but we didn’t let it stop us enjoying our mini break away and it inspired me to write this post: What to pack for a glamping trip in the UK. It was super cosy listening to the rain in the hut and the log burner was all it needed to keep it warm. Our glamping retreat consisted of three shepherds huts, the main one had a double bed, seating area and log burner, while the other two housed a kitchen and a bathroom. A fire pit and hammock completed the set up. Thankfully with the weather being nice on day two we sat out all evening by the fire. We went on some lovely walks and being just the two of us enjoyed a bit of quiet time reading magazines and having long lazy lie-ins, a rarity when you’ve got kids!

 

 

Back at home and being the height of the summer we spent a lot of time on the beach, paddleboarding and meeting up with friends from school.

 

 

September: West Bay, Dorset 
In September we crammed in our final beach visits and headed off for four nights in West Bay in Dorset. West Bay has an incredible cliff formation that has been made famous by the TV series Broadchurch. The imposing cliffs are found on East Cliff Beach. The tiny fishing town is full of quintessential British charm, fish and chip huts line the harbour front and seagulls keep a beady eye out for ice creams. The George is a good pub for a drink and Rise does the best poached eggs and smashed avocado on sourdough for breakfast. This coastline or Jurassic coast as it is known is famous for fossil hunting; Charmouth Beach is a popular spot for uncovering treasures. We spent hours on there hunting for fossils and sea glass. It’s such a fun thing to do even on a wintery day.

 

 

October and November: France and Bermuda
October and November were exciting months with a mini cruise to France with Brittany Ferries and a trip to Bermuda. First off France, two nights on the ferry and a whole day to explore France. We got on the ferry in Portsmouth and sailed to St Malo. The mini cruises run over the winter months and are really good value for money. What’s more you get to keep your cabin so you can leave your luggage onboard while you spend the day in France. Highlights of the trip were walking to Mont St Michel, lunch in the pretty town of Dinan and shopping in the huge supermarkets! The crossings were so much fun with evening entertainment, bars and restaurants. For more on this unique trip head here: A mini cruise with Brittany Ferries…

 

 

Next was Bermuda, while pregnant I am ‘grounded’ from my job as cabin crew, I was missing crew life so took the opportunity to join one of my good work friends on a trip she was rostered to Bermuda. It was lovely to catch up with work friends and spend time in one of my favourite parts of the world. My friend and I had the loveliest little break, being cold and rainy in the UK it was so nice to spend some time in the sun. We went to the beach, did some paddle boarding, ate good food and explored the pretty streets of the capital Hamilton.

 

 

December
No travels in December just getting into the festive spirit and enjoying lots of family time. We took Emily to see Father Christmas at Stewerts Garden Centre in Christchurch, every year they have a winter wonderland walkway and a really great Father Christmas. Matt and I hosted Christmas for my family in our new home, we enjoyed chilly beach walks and I’ve eaten far too much chocolate!

 

It’s been a year of highs and lows but the highs have definitely out weighed the lows and I’m really looking forward to seeing what the new year brings.
I’m not going to worry about resolutions for the year ahead, looking back through previous years one of my aims is always to write more blog posts…but I’m not going to put any pressure on myself for 2020 as I think I’ll be pretty busy with a new baby! I’ve worked on some cool brand campaigns this year and have worked with more companies on sponsored posts than last year, so if I can carry on building my freelance writing business then that would be my aim for 2020.
The first trip for 2020 is a holiday to Fuerteventura; this will be the last time I fly before having baby number two in April. We’ve got a trip to Center Parcs in Longleat booked for June and who knows after that but we’re definitely aiming to travel again more once we’ve settled into being a family of four.
Happy New Year to you all and happy travels for 2020!

 

April 8, 2019 Uncategorized 3 Comments

A mini guide to Dubai…

Me, mid air jump on top of a sand dune in Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
Dubai has never been somewhere that has really appealed to me, I don’t know why but it’s not been at the top of my list of places to visit. However, having now spent 3 nights in this vibrant city I can safely say that my mind has well and truly changed. I loved my time there and can’t believe how much there is to see and do. The locals are friendly, the streets are clean and the climate in February when I visited was perfect; warm, sunny and a steady 25°C. I also presumed that there wouldn’t be much to do in Dubai, how wrong I was! For those that like adventure there’s the desert, ziplines, ski slopes and skydiving. For sun worshippers there’s the beach. If you’re a shopaholic the shopping malls are out of this world and then there’s the sightseeing; so much of it that I didn’t get to see it all! Read on for the lowdown on my adventures in the UAE and what you need to do on your trip there…

 

From the airport:
Catch a taxi, red roof taxis are all over Dubai, ignore people trying to usher you to the more expensive cars. There is an official taxi rank so once you’ve got your bags follow the signs outside the airport. Taxis are metered, I paid AED 105 and gave a AED 20 tip for the journey to JBR Residence, which took around 30 minutes.

 

What to wear:
I wasn’t sure what to pack for Dubai as I didn’t know how strict the country was on dress code. Dubai is a Muslim country so dress conservatively, ladies should keep shoulders and knees covered. The JBR Residence and the marina area seemed to be a bit more relaxed when it came to dress code. I was surprised to see people wearing all sorts, tiny shorts, skimpy tops and little beach dresses. I believe in dressing respectfully depending on where I am so went for maxi dresses, floaty trousers and tops covering my shoulders. Although dressing conservatively does seem to be less of a need than I expected.
Swimwear is fine on the beach or by the pool but cover up modestly when leaving and take something to change into, wet swimwear under clothes is classed as inappropriate.
When visiting a mosque covering up head to toe is a must, pack scarves and pashminas or hire when you visit.
I went on a desert safari and would really recommend comfy, closed toe footwear. I’m a flip-flop girl but I’m so pleased I wore my converse in the desert; the amount of sand I emptied out of them after sand boarding was incredible!

 

Transport:
Taxis are everywhere and pretty cheap. The metro and tram are all easy to use and there’s a monorail which goes to The Palm. Sightseeing buses are a great way to see the city, more on this below.

 

 

Where to stay:
Dubai Marina and JBR
I stayed in this area and absolutely loved it. The beach, Marina Mall and The Walk; a mile long ocean side promenade with shops and restaurants are all there. I loved sipping on mocktails in cafés overlooking the ocean and browsing the market stalls. Yalseah Arabic Lounge and Cafe was my favourite, stop by for mango smoothies and crêpes. There is a public beach area too so there’s no need to pay to go on a private beach if you don’t want to. For daredevils there’s a zipline, XLine is the world’s longest zipline. It’s super pricey but looks like an incredible experience, zoom from 170 metres high down to ground level at exhilerating speeds with awesome views.

 

Downtown
Downtown is a good spot to be for some of Dubai’s top sights, the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Fountains and the Dubai Mall are all there.  It’s around 20 minutes drive from the airport, Dubai Creek is also nearby. Most of the hotels in the downtown area are within walking distance of all the attractions making it a very convenient place to stay.

 

Jumeirah Beach
The Burj al Arab, the Wild Wadi Waterpark and La Mer are all on the doorstep of Jumeirah Beach as are some amazing hotels. It’s a beautiful spot with most of the hotels having their own private beaches. This is the spot for sun worshippers and those looking for beautiful hotels with gorgeous ocean views. Jumeirah Beach is also only around a 15 minute drive from Downtown Dubai.

 

 

Things to see:
Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa stands at a height of 2716.5 ft making it the world’s tallest building. Work started on this incredible structure in 2004 and was completed in 2010 with up to 12,000 people working on it everyday. Step into the worlds fastest elevator and take in the views of Dubai on the 124th and 125th floor, at 456 metres up it’s well worth a visit.  Be prepared for long queues. I booked an 11.30am slot and must have spent an hour queuing to go up in the lift and then back down again. Book a mega early slot to watch the sunrise and enjoy breakfast afterwards. The views from ‘At the Top’ are amazing and what a thing to be able to say you’ve seen Dubai from the world’s tallest building.

 

Dubai Fountains
These fountains reminded me of the fountains outside the Bellagio in Las Vegas and they are in fact created by the same people. Set to music the water show is mesmerizing, with the dramatic backdrop of the city skyscrapers and the Burj it’s a really nice experience. The show only lasts for a few minutes so time your visit to the Dubai Mall to see one. There are shows during the day and evening, check on the website for times. Watch them at night and marvel at the Burj Khalifa illuminated in a dazzling  fashion.

 

Desert Safari
This was one of my favourite parts of the trip, a morning dune drive with camel riding, sand boarding and breakfast in a Bedouin camp. We were collected from our hotel at 7.30am and driven to the Dubai Desert Conservation Area. After the tyres on the 4×4 vehicles were lowered we set off in convoy into the desert. Driving up and down the dunes was thrilling. We stopped in the dunes to take photos and then continued on the adventure. After the drive we arrived at a camp and had the opportunity to try sand boarding. Next was a short camel ride and finally a sit down in the Bedouin camp along with Arabic coffee, dates and breakfast. I booked the trip with Arabian Adventures,they have a load of other fantastic experiences including a ‘Sunset Dune Dinner Safari’.

 

Bus Tour
A bus tour is a great way to see Dubai. We used City Sightseeing Dubai; with a one-day pass you get to travel on all four routes as well as a boat trip. We unfortunately didn’t have time to go on the boat trip but I think it’s really great value for money at AED 300. Water was provided on the buses as well as headphones to listen to the guided tour. I found it really informative and it was nice to see different parts of the city you don’t get to see in a taxi. My favourite routes were the blue route covering sights such as the Jumeirah mosque and the Burj al Arab and the yellow route, this went around the marina and onto The Palm.

 

 

Where to drink:
Being a Muslim country alcohol is only permitted in hotels so you’ll find that cafes and bars only serve soft drinks. Shishas are very popular; you can’t go far without spotting someone smoking one. But bars are aplenty, head to a hotel for G & T or cocktail with a view. Pick a hotel with a rooftop bar, I really recommend visiting one at sunset. Jumeirah Beach Hotel has an amazing bar overlooking the ocean and the Burj al Arab. I stayed at the Ramada Plaza at the Jumeirah Beach Residence. The rooftop bar had  amazing views of the marina, ocean and The Palm. The Sofitel downtown has a chic rooftop bar with infinity pool, it’s open during the day as well as the evening and has incredible views of the Burj Khalifa. Pure Sky Lounge at the Hilton on The Walk is another perfect spot for sundowners with views of the Arabian Gulf and The Palm, time your happy hour drink for sunset.

 

Shopping:
This wasn’t high on my agenda for Dubai but the UAE certainly knows how to do shopping malls! The Dubai Mall has it’s own aquarium and ice rink and you’ll find the Dubai Fountains right outside, plus the Burk Khalifa next door. The Dubai Mall app has a map to help navigate this vast shopping extravaganza, it’s really useful for finding your way around. Mall of the Emirates has ski slopes with an alpine lodge you can stay overnight in and ski lifts to get up to the top of the ski runs. If you have time they really are worth a visit.

 

Mosques:
The only mosque open to non-Muslims in Dubai is the Jumeirah Mosque. Tours run 6 days a week at 10am and last for 75 minutes. Plan a visit here while on a bus tour; the City Sightseeing Dubai buses stop nearby. Further afield is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi which is around a 1 hour 30 minute drive from Dubai. If you have a day spare in your trip you should put this in your itinerary. One of the world’s largest mosques it has an open-door policy and is just incredible. Huge white domes   house not only the prayer hall but also the world’s largest hand-made carpet and chandelier. Entry is free.

 

Happy Dubai planning!

 

October 10, 2017 Blogging, Uncategorized 4 Comments

My day on a cruise ship with MSC Cruises…

I’ve never been on a cruise but it’s definitely something I’ve always wanted to try, so when the opportunity to spend a day on a cruise ship popped up I jumped at the chance to go.  Arriving at Southampton City Cruise Terminal I was blown away by the size of MSC Preziosa and couldn’t wait to meet other bloggers for #BlogCampOnBoard.  Hosted by MSC Cruises and organised by Sally Whittle from Tots 100 the day consisted of blogging workshops, lunch, a tour of the ship and a Q & A with the MSC marketing team and Antonio Paradiso, MD of MSC Cruises for the UK and Ireland.  It was a fantastic day and I loved having the opportunity to meet bloggers from completely different niches to my own, family, food, cruise and lifestyle to name just a few.
Now for a bit about the ship, Preziosa is part of a fleet of 16 owned by MSC Cruises, is 333 metres in length and can hold 4345 guests; which is mind-boggling!  The luxurious interior is incredible, one of my favourite parts was the Swarovski crystal staircase, just so sparkly!  I loved touring the ship and got to see plenty of aspects of cruising life.  Preziosa has an incredible spa with indoor and outdoor pool, jacuzzi and comfy sunbeds, plus gorgeous treatment rooms with floor to ceiling windows and a gym at the stern with uninterrupted views of the ocean.  All things I would love to indulge in if I was cruising.  There’s a theatre, a 4D cinema, a casino, a library and a huge selection of bars and restaurants to choose from too.
I was really interested to find out what was onboard for children, as having Emily who is now 18 months old means a slightly different kind of planning when it comes to deciding on trips.  Cruising is often misconstrued as a holiday choice for the older generation, but visiting the ship I got to see a whole new side.  MSC has worked hard to create a huge variety of activities for children onboard.  Kids club Doremi, a mini aqua park, a partnership with LEGO and Chicco and web series ‘Kelly & Khloe Onboard’ mean there is an endless amount of activities for children.  All day entertainment runs from 9am-11pm so parents can take some time to relax while the kids have fun!
MSC have just announced that they will be introducing kettles in cabins on MSC Magnifica, (something pretty important to us tea loving Brits) the addition of afternoon tea and most importantly a new partnership with yorkshire tea, who will be providing the perfect brew whilst at sea.
From March 2018 MSC Magnifica will be setting sail from Southampton as well as Preziosa.  Climb aboard for Northern European and Mediterranean adventures with a laid back and luxurious twist.
After spending a day on MSC Preziosa I think cruising could be my new thing!
August 26, 2013 Blogging, Uncategorized 2 Comments

To travel or not to travel?

I stopped to get fuel for my car on my way home from work today.  As I was in my uniform the lady in the garage asked what I did.  I explained that I worked for an airline as cabin crew, to which she replied, “I couldn’t do your job!” I asked if it was because she was scared of flying?  She went on to explain that she wasn’t scared but that she had never been on a plane in her life.  I told her she should go for it, she simply said “oh no thanks” and seemed pretty content with her answer.  It just got me thinking that of course not everyone has the want or need to travel, but when I think about my job I realise how lucky I am to fly overseas to different countries every week; along with countries I have travelled to in my own time.  I feel so privileged and lucky to have done so and can’t imagine not ever wanting to travel, to never having that urge to step on foreign soil, to taste different foods or to experience a new culture.  I’ve learnt so much by travelling to different countries and feel I am a richer person for doing so.  Like I said this conversation showed me that there are lots of people who are happy with not seeing other parts of the world, but boy does our world have so much to offer!  I am thankful for the opportunities and experiences I have had so far and look forward to the new experiences I will continue to have through my love of visiting pastures new.  Be it in the UK or further afield I never want to stop exploring…And I encourage with all my heart everyone to do the same…Hope you agree with me?….