Going on a family road trip is easily one of the best ways to travel. If you are keen to do this at some point in the near future, you are going to want to make sure that you are truly ready for it. In order to ensure that, there are a few key checks that you might want to make first and foremost. Doing that is going to save you a lot of hassle later on, so it’s definitely worth it. It will also mean you can have a safer and more enjoyable journey and holiday with your family.
One of the most important early checks to make is whether your car insurance is up to date on the vehicle that you intend to take. After all, if it is a vehicle that you only normally use rarely for these kinds of events, you might not automatically be aware of whether it is currently insured or not – and if it is not, that is going to land you in a lot of trouble, especially if you have an accident. Go to a leading independent auto insurance broker and get your insurance, should you need to, before you set out on the trip.
Is The Vehicle Clean?
You might not feel that this is quite as important, but it is nonetheless a check that you are going to need to make if you want to ensure you are truly ready for the road trip. If the vehicle is not clean, it is not going to be as nice to drive, and also it might be getting dirtier on the road anyway, so starting out cleaner is going to be very helpful in this way. You also need to ensure it is clean and tidy on the inside – if there is no room in the back for storing what you need, that is going to make things a lot more difficult.
It helps to know where you are going and where along the way you will be stopping – or at least to know a few of the main stops that you will take. This means you can plan your trip a lot more effectively and ultimately have many fewer problems along the way, and that is clearly something that you will want to aim for in general. Get your map out and work out where some of your stops will be now, before you actually hit the road.
Are You Prepared For Emergencies?
You never quite know what will happen on the road, so you need to make sure you are prepared for all kinds of emergencies. That partly includes having emergency items in your car, and ensuring that you are insured and have appropriate breakdown cover. The more prepared you are for a wide range of emergencies, the better. You need to double-check this before you go away, to ensure that you are genuinely ready for it.
From the perspective of holidaying with young children. Winter sun in Tenerife at Bahia Principle Fantasia review – January 2020.
We’ve been very keen to get our children used to travel from an early age (and whilst free under 2!). We took RLT on his first holiday abroad when he was 13 months old, so we were conscious that it was time to show Little E a little bit more of the world, as he is already 15 months old. We visited Fantasia Bahia Principle in Golf del Sur, Tenerife in January 2020 as a family of four (two adults, two children aged 1 and 3). We did a lot of research before we went and ummed and arred about booking because we found so many conflicting views, so I decided to publish my honest review which is not paid for in any way shape or form. (Can only wish given that prices have increased when looking for 2022 even with free child places)
Before booking research
There are so many Facebook groups, trip advisor reviews, google reviews and marketing from the hotel itself that you can take into account before booking this hotel. I looked at the majority of them and now writing this as I am at home, I’m honestly gobsmacked at some of the comments I have read. I can only imagine they are from rival hotel chains looking to do some damage limitation to their bookings, as this is a new hotel.
So what I would say to you is; the Facebook group whose members are previous or upcoming guests is the best one to join for honest opinions. I’m not saying that there won’t be some ‘ringers’ in there, because some of the comments on there are insane too – either that or people have impossibly high standards for a family hotel. Trip advisor is known for rival staff comments and I can tell you from my own personal experience that the hotel has a ‘share your happiness’ event to drive up their google reviews – you get a t-shirt if you post. From a marketing point of view, I applaud this and at no point did I see staff direct anyone to say or give a particular mark, but the numbers are inflated because who doesn’t love a free t-shirt?
Hotel check-in
The hotel itself isn’t that pretty from the outside, but you can’t fail but be impressed by the light and the interiors when you walk into reception. Check-in is prompt, you get bands with NFC tags in them which become your digital passport to your dining and pass to your rooms, no having to take the key card in and out with you, which is great. They provided a map, which showed us where the pools were, which ones were heated (we thought they were still freezing cold) and advised how many shows and meals we could book in the a la carte restaurants based on how many nights we were staying. All seemed fairly straight forward and there was a little area in which the kids could play at the side of reception whilst we were checking in.
What they didn’t tell us at check-in
They didn’t really explain the map at check-in – the map is pretty rubbish. It makes no reference to the fact that the hotel is on four levels and doesn’t let you know which levels anything is on. Reception/lobby bar/theatre/sports bar/shop are all on level 4, the unheated pool, 2 heated pools, towel exchange, buffet restaurant, Asian and Italian restaurants, and castle are all on level 3, the children pools, bar, and adult-only infinity pool area are all on level 2 (or s2 on the lift) and the kid’s club, outdoor football area, running track, gym, spa and exit towards the back of the resort are on level 1. This shouldn’t really matter, but we had a pushchair, so it was incredibly hard to navigate around. Why? because most of the floors are only accessible via lifts for some reason if you cannot take the stairs outside. There were no stairs visible in the hotel itself so everyone in the hotel was relying on lifts, which meant that a wrong turn could take you an age! We got there in the end, but it really was a self-learning exercise that wasn’t needed if they had a clear map (it’s on the digital displays around the hotel too).
All of the information you need in regards to what’s on at the hotel can be found on an app or on the interactive displays in the hotel reception. There is a rolling programme of daytime and nighttime events, but you need to seek out the information through these channels. I’m not sure if we just didn’t get told about a welcome meeting from Jet2, or if this is the ‘all online no hassle’ approach to this resort (great if it is) they just need to signpost people where to get the information.
Food and drink
We were happy with the selection of food and drinks at the bars and restaurants. In fact, as far as all-inclusive goes, I’d say they did these very well. We’re not massively into spirits, so I couldn’t tell spirits apart from premium versions, the cocktails tasted good to me. The beer was San Miguel Especial and the soft drinks were Coca-cola, Fanta, Fanta lemon, sprite. There were fruit juice machines around too. As we had little ones with us we took our own Robinson’s juice and used the water machines to mix as we didn’t want them having fizzy drinks nor drinking fruit juice constantly.
The a la carte restaurants were OK too. Compact menus but a good break from eating buffet every night. The staff were attentive, the wait times for food when ordered wasn’t massive and there were other parents there with children, which was a help to us as we weren’t the only ones rushing against the clock to eat a meal. Staff were nice in all bars and restaurants. I could not fault them at all. I don’t think the quality of ingredients can sometimes be the best in all-inclusive hotels because they’re mass-producing, but everything was fresh, well presented and probably the best all-inclusive food I’ve had, and I’ve been to a fair few different places on AI!
Dreams factory fast food restaurant at the poolside was a nice touch. Food was cooked to order between 10-4 and salad and snacks such as ice cream available too free of charge. Food was obviously always fresh and it was quite a fast service. There was a locked freezer of branded ice creams which was available for a charge.
Rooms
The rooms are clean, a great size and very comfortable. We were most impressed by our junior suite which comprised of a huge bed, another double in an area which could be closed off from the other bed and a travel cot for the little one. The bath was deep, the shower was good and there were two toilets, one with the shower and one close to the door of the room which had a door to keep it separate. There was an included minibar, wardrobe and kettle area which were all much appreciated due to our little one still having a night time bottle. On every floor of the hotel, there were ‘baby stations’ which were equipped with microwaves and bottle sterilisers, which were a great addition. The balcony was also fairly well secured for toddlers too. There were two chairs, a table, and a mini washing line.
Entertainment
There is pool-based entertainment during the day for adults and a kids club for 3-11 years on level 1. I was informed that children between ages 3-4 could go if accompanied by an adult, but when we went to the kids club, I was expected to leave and they could call me if my 3 year old wanted to come out, otherwise, he would stay with them until 4 pm. He wasn’t happy about staying without me and to be honest, neither was I. We were advised the children could use the kids club between 6-7 on an evening if they wished as parents and children of all ages were permitted to be there – but as this was the earliest evening meal was available, we never took them up on the offer. There was a giant chessboard by the poolside and a ‘playground’ which was actually a room with toys and tv in. It is advertised to be open between 9 am-2 pm then between 7 pm-9 pm but what we later found was these are the times that it is supervised and by that I mean that you can leave your children in there with a member of the entertainment team whilst you eat without your children. The room itself is open anytime if you’re supervising your own children.
There was a nightly mini-disco and this was hit and miss depending on the members of staff taking it, there was a man named Carlos who was fantastic and engaging with the children and they absolutely loved it when he did it. Other times it was done by some girls who were just dreadful, they couldn’t have made it any more obvious that they thought this was the short-straw so spent the majority of the 30 minutes allocated to mini-disco getting children to shout 321 music DJ in various languages. It was really quite painful at times, especially for the kids, for whom Carlos and his discos had been the highlight only days previous.
The shows were quite obviously where the hotel put its entertainment budget. They had several during the week (all bookable) all with different storylines and choreography. They were all 8.30-9pm starts, so a difficult ask for little ones to stay up and sometimes the content a little on the dark side. There was a payable show starting the evening we left, tickets were 12 euros each, apparently thanks to the fact that people who lived on the island like to book into the hotel as day guests, so they were trying to tempt them into overnight stays during the quieter winter months.
Conclusion
We had a good week. We were cautious, given the things we’d seen about wind and sewerage smells! The wind was only an issue when we had a tail-end of a storm. The sewerage could be smelt when you were outside of the works, which were close to the sea-facing swim-up rooms, so I’d be cautious if I had one of those rooms. I think that it was possibly more suited to children aged 4+ because of the necessity of the use of lifts, late shows, kids club and size of the waterslides, but this is probably a mindful decision on their behalf as children aged 2 and under are free.
Would I go back? Maybe in a few years. It was a nice week but the customer service isn’t quite as polished as our stays in Iberostar hotels. The Iberostar Malaga Playa is still my favourite hotel that we’ve stayed in as a family and I would pick that one over Bahia Principle Fantasia. If you do have any questions about the hotel, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me via email here.
There are many places to visit with kids in County Durham, including public parks, so selecting which one to visit can sometimes be difficult. One potential option to visit is Hardwick Park in Sedgefield, which is located next to Hardwick Hall Hotel. We visit this park a lot and I would go so far as to say that Hardwick Park is up there with my all-time favourite places to visit with my children, RLT and EET. We have made a lot of memories here. Reasons I think that you should consider visiting Park in Sedgefield, include:
Educational for kids
There is a massive wicker Gruffalo at Hardwick Park, as well as the other characters, so you can do the Gruffalo trail (packs are available at the visitors’ centre). There are also toddler trails, forest school activities and many other things provided by the education team at Durham County Council. They’re very active on facebook, which seems to be the best way of finding out about events happening throughout the year.
It’s open all year
The park is even more beautiful in the winter than it is summer. Opening times of Hardwick Park in Sedgefield stay the same all year and the only fee you pay is for parking – which you don’t mind paying at all because all of the money raised by the parking charges goes into back into maintaining the park.
Fees are:
cars – up to two hours £2.00/full day £3.00
coaches and minibuses – all day £9.00
motorcycles – free
blue badge holders – charges as above
Opening times are:
park gates – 7.30am to 8.00pm
cafe – 10.00am to 4.00pm
gift shop and exhibition – 10.00am to 4.00pm
Play facilities
There are two different play parks for children of various ages. One bigger than the other, both with different sets of equipment for children to enjoy. Picnic benches are also available.
There is hot coffee!
A bonus for many parents of young children is that there is a cafe in the park, meaning that you can grab a coffee for walking around! Likewise, if you wish to stay longer than you’d anticipated they do hot and cold food, including children’s packed lunch boxes. Oh and ice cream for the warmer months (or colder if like R, it’s an unwritten rule that you get one at the park!)
Lots of space to explore
You can go off the track, play amongst the leaves as well as following the paths and trails. Perfect for little explorers.
It is beautiful
Durham County Council has done a spectacular job improving this park to be one of the best in the North East. It is a Visit England quality assured visitor attraction and you can see why when you visit.
Cuba is one of the very last places on earth that I was desperate to go with immediate effect! With Fidel Castro dying last year, his brother standing down from power next year, it was important to me to experience Cuba before the end of that era. There are many things to do Cuba that make the long flight worthwhile! Here is my must do list for things to do in Cuba if you are lucky enough to visit soon:
Visit Old Havana
The tourist resorts in Cuba do not give you a feel for real Cuba, to get this you must experience the older part of Havana. The architecture, winding streets, hustle and bustle and cute pieces of history such as hotel which Hemmingway stayed in on and off for months make this a must. If you just want to go to Cuba for the all inclusive experience – you could go somewhere closer and cheaper. Havana really should be on your visit list.
I’ll be honest. This place creeped me out, but I’m glad we experienced it. Over the otherside of Havana, or La Habana as the locals call it, this hotel has all of the art deco touches from when it was built in the 1930s. It is operated by the Government, as so many of the hotels in Cuba are (they’ve only recently let private companies in to run selected hotels) and the story behind the hotel states that it was the location for the biggest mafia meet there has ever been. Apparently Frank Sinatra played a concert at the hotel as the cover for the meeting. There is a bar which has pictures of all of the famous people that have stayed there, fascinating. Beware that the cocktail prices are the same price as home rather than the rest of Cuba, but they do make an excellent Mojito!
Buena Vista Social Club are the most popular cuban export ever and it is easy to understand why. The music is awesome. Beautiful classical guitar and latin rhythms, although the original band are cracking on, new members have been recruited to carry on the legacy and they are well worth seeing. We organised this through our hotel rep, we paid for a vip package with a meal at a mansion, classic car and a meet and greet with the band (we weren’t aware of the meet and greet and it was a bit ridiculous as the man above with Mark was an absolute diva) but the meal in the mansion made it worth the extra money! The band perform wherever possible – sometimes in conference centres, so don’t be expecting a nightclub where you can dance, but it is still a good experience!
Varadero Beach
This beach is simply stunning and the aesthetic changes drastically based on the weather. Looks out to Florida, which is about 90 miles away. This beach is absolutely beautiful. If you stay in Varadero, you may be fortunate enough, like we were when staying in the Iberostar Tainos, that this is the beach your hotel backs on to. It will always have a special place in my heart as this is where Mark proposed!
Ride in a classic car
This is an absolute novelty. But totally worth doing as you never see cars like this at home anymore. Although I wouldn’t recommend long journeys as there are a lack of seat belts, so it maybe worth just paying the driver for a photograph, if like us, you have small children with you.
Drive a speedboat
There are many organised trips you can do and one to look out for is the one which allows you to drive a speedboat around a large stretch of river just outside Matanzas. Gives you an awesome feeling of being feel in nature! There is a bridge above, which you may also get the opportunity to stop on the side of and it is crazy to be above circling vultures as it is so high!
Kuala Lumpur is a large and frenetic city that in many ways is geared toward shopping and business tourism, yet there are still tons of kid-friendly activities on offer. Secondly, Kuala Lumpur can be quite an expensive place to visit which is often exacerbated when travelling as a family – so this quick guide to free kid-friendly things to do in Kuala Lumpur will hopefully make your life a lot easier and cheaper.
Take a Walk In The Park
The KLCC park is a 50 acre park in the centre of Kuala Lumpur. With its ample seating area, much greenery and open water, it is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur. It’s a place where you can sit and rest next to various water features as well as keep fit with its 1.3km jogging track. It is definitely one of the top free things to do in Kuala Lumpur.
To get there you can take the undercover air-conditioned walkway from Bintang or jump on the metro to KLCC station.
Admire the Petronas Towers
The Petronas Towers used to be the tallest buildings in the world, however it has recently been overtaken by Tapei 101. Going into the tower itself is pretty costly, at around 80 MYR but admiring it from the outside with the thwarts of other tourists taking selfies, is a free experience that is also a great place to sit down with a bubble tea and people watch. The towers are impressive by day, but even better when they are illuminated at night. In terms of getting to Petronas Towers, they are located right next to KLCC Park, which again, is stunning at night due to the free water show on offer.
If you’re looking for a more romantic and more upmarket way to admire the towers (without the kids) going to the Heli Bar (a bar on a helicopter paid with wonderful views of KL) and buying a cocktail to enjoy the Kuala Lumpur skyline, particularly at sunset, is a great way to spend an evening.
Sunway Lagoon Theme Park
Admittedly, this one isn’t free, but it’s such a good family day out it’s worth including. It’s a little way out of the city centre in a suburb called Petaling Jaya, but is worth the journey as it combines a water park, a wildlife park, and a more extreme park with theme park rides. It even has a zoo. In short, this is the place to splash out on with your family – as let’s face it, kids will “put up” with sightseeing but what they really want is a kid friendly adventure.
Watch The KLCC Lake Symphony Show
In front of the Petronas Towers, and the shopping mall of Suria KLCC, each evening at 7pm the fountains turn to life with colour as they dance to the sound of music. This is a very well choreographed show with a wonderful family friendly atmosphere, with people of all cultures, gathering around on the steps around the lake – just make sure not to stand too close to the edge though, as you might end up getting soaked as the fountains lean toward the crowd.
Perdana Botanical Gardens
The Perdana Botanical Gardens is a beautiful park of 200 acres, surrounding a lake. This meticulously landscaped area is great for cycling, jogging, or just wandering around. It has a number if WiFI hotspot points and plenty of private areas to sit with your family and enjoy a picnic. One of the best ways to enjoy, yet at the same time, escape the heat is to find a shady spot with a picnic blanket, load up Netflix, and all watch a film together. Within the grounds you’ll find an observatory, a small deer park, botanical gardens, a children’s play area and a bird park.
There are are a number of sheltered areas that make for a great ‘den’ environment when the heavens open and the rain pours down – it’s a great adventure to make a dash for one of these shelters and watch the lightning storm that often ensues with such heavy rain.
In terms of getting there, it’s a 10 minute walk from Chinatown.
Mosque Masjid Jamek
If you’re looking for a bit more culture, Masjid Jamek Mosque is an important landmark within Kuala Lumpur that has an Indo Saracenic design and is surrounded by palm trees – making it an idea backdrop for photography. There’s an obvious need to dress modestly and to remove your shoes before entering. The mosque is closed to tourists during certain times to allow for prayers – and whilst it is a tourist-friendly religious site, it’s probably not somewhere to take unruly kids.
Free Walking Tour
The free walking tours in Kuala Lumpur are run by the city council. If you’re interested in doing a city tour, log on to visitkl.gov.my to book your place. The walk covers the main areas of Kuala Lumpur and provides plenty of information about the history of the city – and it’s a great way to meet people of all different cultures.
Batu Caves
A short train ride out the city and you’ll find yourself at the iconic Batu Caves, which are formed from limestone and home to one of the most famous Hindu shrines outside of India. You’ll find plenty of monkeys, pigeons, and even bats throughout the cave… indeed, you could find yourself surrounded by monkeys intrigued by the snacks you might be enjoying.
Technically, you can enjoy a free and engaging half-day out at the caves without having to pay a penny – but if you want to explore inside the cave proper, you’ll require a guided tour which is perhaps a little pricey for what it is.
I Love KL
If you’re into social media, then the photo opportunity next to the I Love KL sign is a must. You’ll find this next to the KL City Gallery.
Canopy Walkway
In the treetops of the KL Forest Eco Park, you’ll find a set of rope bridges that take you along the tree line. It’s not exactly in the jungle… it’s more in a city park, but it’s a great free thing to do with the family that provides an amazing contrast of the nine hectares of natural forest with the skyscraper lined skyline in the distance.
Next time you come to add a new holiday destination to your travel bucket list, consider making it Hong Kong. This beautiful, exotic region of China is not only one of the most beautiful and vibrant places on the planet, but it is home to some of the most exciting, interesting and memorable experiences too.
Here are just a few of the reasons, why you NEED to visit Hong Kong at least once in your lifetime:
Have Some Dim Sum
If you love Chinese food, there’s no doubt you’ll be blown away by the flavoursome Cantonese food on offer in Hong Kong. Fresher and a bit more interesting than the Westernised Chinese food we’re used to here, the dishes are a real revelation, especially the dim sum, which is golden, juicy and very cheap! Washed down with a pot of authentic Chinese tea, it’s like your own little slice of heaven right here on earth.
Shop ‘Til You Drop in Causeway Bay
If shopping is your thing, you’ll have the time of your life in Causeway Bay, which is basically a microcosm of Hong Kong’s shopping scene in one place. You can literally find everything from haute couture on the fashion walk to authentic Chinese food, clothing and bric-brac at the bustling Jardine’s Crescent street market. Your senses will be assaulted, and there’s so much to see that you’ll probably want to base yourself right in the heart of the region. There are many hotels in Causeway Bay, which could easily be described as luxurious, so you’ll have a great time.Just remember to pack your credit card!
Ride the World’s Longest Elevator
For the quirky traveller who likes to do something unique, there is the Central-Mids-Level Escalator which is the longest escalator and walkways system on the planet. Thousands of people ride the feat of engineering each day, and it’s surrounded by lots of quaint cafes, bars and restaurants, which you can peruse at leisure. Fans of cinema might recognise the Central for its appearances in classic films like the much acclaimed Chungking Express and comic book adaptation the Dark Knight.
Enjoy a Drink at Lan Kwai Fong
Lan Kwai Fong is the place to go when the sun sets in Hong Kong. Located a stone’s throw from Hong Kong’s Central Business District, the place is literally packed with clubs and bars where the party never ends, and all of Hong Kong’s coolest people go to hangout. Drink, dance and take in the glamorous location for a guaranteed good time.
Do Disneyland Differently
Flying out to Florida to live out your childhood Disney dreams is fine and all, but it’s a bit overdone. If you want to make your Disney dreams come true and do something a bit different, why not head to Hong Kong Disneyland? It has Mickey Mouse, it has the roller coasters, and it’s certainly recognisable as Disneyland, but it has a certain something about it, perhaps an oriental influence, that you won’t find in Florida.
As you can see, Hong Kong really does have something for everyone. It truly deserves a place on everyone’s bucket list.
