Category: Travel

1. 5 Gorgeous Italian Locations You Simply Cannot Miss

   Posted on 11:00am Thursday 15th Jun 2017

   Italy is the must-see country that sits at the top of most bucket-lists. The combination of romance, stunning architecture and delicious food is irresistible.

   I have wanted to go to one of the many gorgeous Italian locations for years and I might add it to my list of things to do before I am 40, so if you have been saving up for a break away this year, Italy could tick all of your boxes. It is a safe, family-friendly destination if you want to take the kids and a romantic getaway if you decide to have a break away without them. Here are 5 gorgeous Italian destinations that you simply can’t resist.

   

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   1. Impressive Rome

   Rome is the glorious capital of both modern Italy and the ancient Roman Empire so you get to see two cities in one. There are so many sights to see in Rome, it is important to get organised before you go to make the most of your time there. European Tours are the easiest way to make sure that you are not missing anything. Your itinerary will be planned perfectly to ensure that you get to experience both the major sights and hidden gems. You get your own tour guide so you can ask whatever questions you like and learn as much as you can from the experience. Obviously, you cannot miss the Colosseum and the St. Peter Basilique in the Vatican but you will also love the Spanish steps of Piazza di Spagna.

   2. Beautiful Florence

   Florence is the classic Renaissance city, packed with charming elegance, architecture, art, and culture. It is hard to pick out the most beautiful aspects of Florence because it is all stunning but the Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria are both places where you can view the highlights of Florentin architecture. They were once the political and religious centres of this historic city and give an insight into the Florence of the past. If art is what you are seeking, you need to head straight to the Uffizi Gallery where you can find the most famous paintings by Leonardo and Raphael. For a taste of modern Italy and an injection of Italian culture, book a performance at the new opera house in Florence for an evening that you won’t forget.

   3. Stunning Cinque Terre

   Translated this means the ‘Five Lands’ and it is a set of five linked villages which are located on a cliff on the Italian Riviera. They are an impressive sight. It is not surprising that this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts thousands of tourists every year who come to see that colourful houses and fortified towers. You can view the houses from the sea or there is a panoramic hiking trail called the Sentiero Azzuro (light blue trail) which connects the five villages. However, be warned, it ends with a climb up 368 steps and so is not suitable for very young children or those with mobility problems.

   4. Unique Venice

   There is nowhere quite like Venice anywhere else in the world. It is built on a lagoon and transport is via a series of canals. There no roads or cars. It’s packed with history and art and is simply the most romantic place on earth. It is best to visit out of season when it is cooler, less busy and you get to avoid all of the cruise ships that visit in the height of summer. On the other hand, in the winter it can be chilly and covered in sea mist so you will miss the beauty of the city. Early Spring is probably the best option. Don’t miss a ride in a traditional gondola but be prepared to pay a high price for it!

   5. Gorgeous Amalfi Coast and Capri

   Here you can combine relaxation with some sight-seeing. The area is steeped in culture and nature and you are never far from the breath-taking rocky coast. The first villas here date back to Roman times and there have been settlers here ever since leaving a rich tapestry of history and architecture. At one point is was one of the four Marine Republics ruling Italy. The three hotspots for tourists are the unmistakable Cathedral of Amalfi, Ravello and Postiano. Then you can head out to the wonderful island of Capris. Dubbed the ‘Garden of Eden’ this island is incredibly popular with tourists and can get very busy.  It was once home to an emperor and a monastery so there is plenty of history to discover. The best view is from the north of the island from which you can spot Vesuvius in all her glory!

   Have you ever been and is there anywhere you would recommend as a must see part of Italy?

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2. How to collect money online for good causes, gifting or girlie holidays.

   Posted on 10:00pm Thursday 18th May 2017

   It seems like we are always trying to raise money for something, whether it is a friends baby shower, teachers present collection or a hen weekend, let alone fundraising for worthy projects, so there always seems to be a need to find a few coins or a £5 note in your purse. Unfortunately if you are like me (or the queen) you never seem to have spare cash in your purse .... usually because the children "needed" it for a school project or something or other. It is worse when you have the organisers instinct inside you (this may be me) and feel the need to take control but be totally transparent too. 

   Can you really create an online money pot?

   With us being able to do most things online now, it makes sense for you to be able to to pool funds together online rather than in crumpled up envelope in the bottom of a bag. This is where Leetchi.com is rather handy! Founded in Paris in 2009 (the same year as the Lilypad), Leetchi.com has quickly become the leading European fundraising website with over 7 millions of users. The platform is now accessible from 150 countries, in 4 languages and 2 currencies! Leetchi provides an easy, secure and inexpensive way for people to club together online for personal projects, nonprofits or group gifts.... basically anything and everything!

   

   That all sounds great in principle but how does it work?

   We have all seen adverts for products that say in just a few clicks you can get started but with Leetchi, this is really true. With just a few clicks anyone can create a personalised money pot and invite friends, supporters ... in fact anyone, to contribute. Contributions can then be made to the online money pot by simply using their individual credit or debit card. Once the target amount of money has been raised, the organiser can choose when and how they’d like to spend it.

   Does it cost anything?

   We are always looking for the most savvy options and so it is good to know that it is totally free to spend on partner sites or there’s a small 2.9 - 4% bank transfer fee. There is also the added benefit of being able to transfer the money pot directly to the beneficiary via email. It is as simple as that!

   

   Is it easy to set up?

   The whole process takes minutes to set up and if you are usually the one who wears the organisers hat like me, whether it’s charity sponsorship, a present, or contributions to a girlie holiday, then Leetchi is definitely worth looking into with help on how to raise funds online.

   What are you waiting for?

    

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3. 20 places to visit to make you feel more cultured!

   Posted on 9:00am Thursday 30th Mar 2017

   In the past couple of years, we have fallen in love with cruising, whether that be on a short weekend break or a family holiday. At one point we did question whether you could comfortably cruise with children and utlimately we agreed that you can. I love everything about going on a cruise and I suppose there is still some elitism about it as a holiday but it is really interesting to read recent research* that reveals hilarious exaggerations Brits tell that relate to food, travel destinations, theatre and literature.

   

   Here are the top 20 places Brits claim to have visited in a bid to appear cultured

   1.            New Zealand  

   2.            New York        

   3.            Australia     

   4.            Rome         

   5.            Paris        

   6.            Iceland  

   7.            Cuba      

   8.            Brazil      

   9.            Venice     

   10.          Jamaica    

   11.          Moscow    

   12.          Dubai      

   13.          Milan  

   14.          Barcelona   

   15.          Morocco  

   16.          Berlin   

   17.          Miami  

   18.          Florence  

   19.          Ibiza    

   20.          Sri Lanka 

   So in an effort to tick some of those off the list (!!) together with our new passion for cruising, I know that I want to look at longer breaks and maybe take a Mediterranean cruise which is a great way to get a taste of a number of different counties, discover differing cultures, cuisines and traditions in a relatively short amount of time

   However and maybe even more hilariously, apparently by liking these top 20 foods, Brits feel that they appear more cultured. (personally I love dark chocolate ........ am clearly soooo cultured!) 

   1.            Sushi                   

   2.            Dark chocolate  

   3.            Rare steak           

   4.            Quinoa                

   5.            Oysters               

   6.            Craft ales            

   7.            Smelly cheese    

   8.            Hot chillies          

   9.            Avocado              

   10.          Granola                

   11.          Raw Vegetables  

   12.          Sweetbreads       

   13.          Kale                       

   14.          Korean food        

   15.          Kimchi                  

   16.          Sashimi                 

   17.          Courgetti             

   18.          Rye Bread            

   19.          Bowl food (Congee) 

   20.          Aged meat        

   

    

   Where are you holidaying this year? Did you choose it for cultural appearances?

   *Independent research commissioned by MSC Cruises. Researchers surveyed more than 1500 people across the UK in an online poll in December 2016.  

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4. Is Lapland suitable for young children?

   Posted on 6:22am Tuesday 8th Dec 2015

   This is a question I wish I had queried more prior to our visit this weekend!

   We booked to go to Lapland for a Winter Wonderland day trip, it wasn't a review or press trip and we paid for the trip with hard earned money and after many friends asking if I would recommend it, I wanted to give a balanced and honest opinion of the trip. We chose to travel with Transun as they are specialist in these experience trips and we were excited by the sales blurb on the website ..

   "Imagine spending the day in Santa's kingdom - flying from an airport near you - and still being home in time for supper. For our Walking in a Winter Wonderland day break, we take you to a magical location in the far north of Finnish Lapland, close to a vast snow-covered wilderness and a million miles from other overcrowded and over commercialised Lapland destinations. Here you will experience a magical and unforgettable search for Santa's secret hideaway and each family will have an opportunity to make a private visit to talk with him in his cabin. Plus, a chance to sample reindeer rides, snowmobiles and husky dog sleds"

   So what did we think?

   The day didn't start well with the computers not working properly at Birmingham Airport and some families being seated far away from each other on the plane. Not an ideal start for a family adventure! The flight was turbulent, but you can't control the weather, so we just sat back and relaxed.

   We arrived in Finland and it was COLD. I know that sounds a ridiculous thing to say but you don't realise quite how cold minus 16 is until you are standing around in it but we had taken our own snow suits, although they were provided by the operator for those that hadn''t got their own. The journey from the airport to our magical destination took a 50 minute coach journey through the picturesque snow covered woodland and we had great fun trying to spot elves and reindeer in the woods, so the time flew by.

   Despite only being lunchtime, the sun was setting and our guide told us that they only had 3 hours of sunlight that day but the reflective light from the snow kept it lighter for just a bit longer.

   

   Our itinerary for the day consisted of:

   • Snowmobile trip
   • Husky Sled Journey
   • Reindeer sleigh ride
   • Search for Santa
   • Private family meeting with Santa
   • Gift for children
   • Two course lunch
   • Snow activities: tobogganing, snowballing and snowman-making

   So once we were suited and booted the girls couldn't wait to get into the snow. We were left to our own devices after our very basic one course meal but the girls soon spyed a real reindeer and the eldest couldn't wait to have a sleigh ride. (The little one was a bit intimiated so she opted out).

    

   We were left for two hours to our own devices, sledging, on the snowmobiles, building snowmen and riding the sleigh but the snow was coming down thick and fast and we were starting to get cold. (it was minus 16 degrees after all).

   We took a little look at the gift shop to warm up a bit although it ended up being more than a little treacherous due to a shiny floor (not ideal for people wearing snow boots) and bought a couple of souveniers because obviously the girls need more cuddly toys!!

   Eventually it was time to go and search for Santa and we walked down to the frozen lake (much less scary than it sounds). The eldest took a husky dog ride that she loved so much, she did it twice but by this point in the day it was so dark that the little one was becoming very tired and a bit scared. We were then told there was a bit of a delay with the sledges to take us to Santa but we could all get round the fire to keep warm but unfortunately a fire big enough for 5 or 6 people is not ideal when you have 20 or so cold children. 

    

   After an hour standing around on the frozen lake, we finally met the "real" Santa and he was everything you could wish for. He was engaging with the children and had some great banter with "Snowflake" the Elf. Both girls received skipping ropes from Santa, with hand carved handles that really could have been made by the elves.

   We eventually got back to the airport amid a snowstorm but were pleasantly surprised to board the plane, everyone assuming that you must get used to flying in this weather when you charter a flight to Lapland, unfortunately we may have boarded the plane on time but we sat on the runway for a further 2 hours. The cabin crew tried to be helpful but soon ran out of drinks and snacks, which was not helpful on a plane full of tired, hungry and thirsty children. The pilot turned the engines off so for a while we sat in the dark with no air con on and in no time the plane became very hot and stuffy with upset children. The cheers and clapping when we finally took off an hour and a half later was a relief to know we were safely on our way home. 

   We paid £1200.00 for the day. Together with the itinerary above the price included the return flights with hot meals on board, all taxes and government air passenger duty, thermal suits and boots. (which we didn't use but useful option if you wanted minimal luggage). There are some people that think that is a ludicrous price for a day trip but when over half of British parents lie to their children to keep the spirit of Father Christmas alive, we saw this as an opportunity to keep the magic alive, especially for my eldest.

   The downsides of the trip in my mind were:

   • A large part of the day felt disorganised.
   • The facilities did not cater to young children.
   • Leaving small children on an ice lake for an hour is not acceptable in my opinion
   • The airline were not sufficiently prepared for the conditions

   I said at the start of this blog post that I wanted to give an honest and balanced view point and feel it is important that I stress that there were some amazing parts of the trip.

   • We got to ride on a real reindeer sleigh
   • We played in knee high snow
   • We got to have a husky ride
   • We survived minus 16 degrees
   • I saw the magic of Christmas through my daughters eyes.

   In answer to my opening question, is the Winter Wonderland experience in Lapland suitable for young children? In my opinion no, the location we went to certainly wasn't and I would say that it is most suited to 6-10 year olds.

   In hindsight, the magic of Christmas can't always be found with a bearded man in a log cabin and as corny as it may sound I firmly believe that it is found in a child's heart and eyes and I should never have gone in search of it anywhere else! 

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