Girls holidays are pretty much a right of passage. My first one was in May 2001, when myself and my two best friends headed off to Faliraki on a Club 18-30 holiday. I was 17 and a half at the time, and my friends had both turned 17 that week. We learnt a lot that week, and in the many girls holidays which followed. So today I am sharing some tips on staying safe on a girls holiday. Read on for some great ideas and suggestions.

Staying Safe On A Girls Holiday

As a group of 3 young girls, we definitely stood out in the crowd. I always looked a lot older than I was, but my two friends looked younger, if anything. So naturally, we got a lot of curious glances and attention from the groups of guys we inevitably met.

The first piece of advice is pretty obvious, but it needs saying nonetheless… DRINK IN MODERATION. I was terrible for drinking so much I’d lose my memory. Binge drinking was a huge part of my first girls holiday, and it’s not something I’d recommend. It was only when we’d got home from our holiday and one of my friends asked me how my rendezvous with the hot holiday rep was, that I realised how little memory I had of our first night.

I was lucky – anything could have happened to me. To my knowledge, it didn’t but that’s not to say you’ll be so lucky.

Watch Your Drinks

I discussed this recently, but it needs mentioning again. Don’t leave your drink unattended at any time, as it can easily be spiked. It’s not just drugs you need to watch out for either. When you’re on holiday, the measures are a lot bigger, and the cheap local spirits can affect you differently too. So pace yourself and drink water in between.

Remember Where You’re Staying

Again, this sounds so obvious, but you’d be surprised how difficult it can be to remember the name of your hotel after a few drinks. My friends and I always left our mobile phones in our hotel safe and just took out whatever money we wanted to spend each night. So it was old skool methods for us. I’d write it on a piece of paper and put it in my shoe so it wouldn’t get lost. (I usually took just a small coin purse out with me – no handbag. Another friend always put a note inside her purse (But she lost this note, often).

Emergency Funds

It’s easy to get lost when you’re in a strange place. So make sure you have enough cash on you for emergencies. I carried one of these keyrings, with a spare €20 note inside, just in case. Additionally, I also made sure I had cash in the hotel safe, just in case.

Leave The Key At Reception

If you’re staying in a hotel, they usually offer a key holding service at reception. This is a great option for several reasons. Firstly, you don’t need to worry about losing the room key. Additionally, if one of your friends has the key, then gets lucky, you won’t be forced to sleep on a sun lounger when you get back to the hotel and realise you can’t get in. *Speaking from experience*

Finally, even if paying €50 to hire the safe for a week seems steep… pay it! It’s far cheaper than replacing lost mobile phones / passports / bank cards / cash will be.

When you live in the UK, it’s almost expected that your first family holiday abroad will be to Spain. Mine certainly was. So it’ll come as no surprise that I am currently planning a family holiday to Salou. Lots of my family have been there, and have recommended lots of accommodation and attractions. So with that in mind, today I’m sharing my tips for planning a family holiday to Salou.

*This is a partnered post

Planning A Family Holiday To Salou

The first thing you should do is decide what type of accommodation you would like. If you hate cooking, then an all inclusive hotel may well be the way to go. However, if you enjoy exploring local establishments and eating somewhere different each night… Self catering accommodation will be best suited for your break. Alternatively, you can always hire a villa and cook your food in your home away from home, if you prefer. Holiday Village Spain offer a great range of self catering accommodation.

As a family, we love to go camping in the UK. So I had to consider camping Spain style. There are clamping, camping and touring caravan options, so you can pick the option which best suits your family.

Family playing at the beach

Location Location Location

My Aunt and her family have been to Salou many times, and her top tip is to choose accommodation close to Llevant Beach. She says its super clean, not mad busy and perfect for chilling out, away from the crowds.

Alternatively, opt for Playa de la Pineda for a more upmarket feel. This area has plenty of bars, restaurants and amusements, but isn’t as “tacky” as other areas of Salou.

Money Money Money

When it comes to planning a family holiday to Salou, it’s worth considering your budget well in advance. If you opt for self catering and plan on eating out a lot, you can expect to pay at least £8pp for a basic evening meal, not including drinks. So it’s realistic to assume you’ll need £50 for your evening meal each night, with a couple of drinks each.

Personally, we always save money by buying in cereal or chocolate croissants for breakfast. Given the constant stream of ice creams, drinks and snacks, the kids will probably opt to skip lunch most days anyway.

Closeup of Spanish omelette served with bread slices on table in restaurant

Things To Do In Salou

The local water park costs €25 per child and €29 per adult, when booked in advance online. There is also a theme park and Ferrari Land close to Salou, and all 3 are owned by one company. So if you love having days out when you’re on holiday, it’s worth considering getting their 3 day passes. That way you’ll get 3 days out for a reduced price, when you book in advance.

Transport

Most families opt to book a hotel close to the beach so they don’t need to travel at all once they’ve checked in to their hotel. Alternatively, others choose to hire a car so they can explore the local area. Additionally, you can use public transport. There’s a good bus route in Salou, which will get you to plenty of other areas.

The water park is approximately 3km from the main Salou beach, so it is walkable. The bus is around €2 pp and the bus runs every 10 minutes, so it’s perfect if you want to avoid the walk.

Finally, if this post on planning a family holiday to Salou has been useful, why not check out my post on planning a budget family holiday to Majorca.

Travelling: a great chance to broaden your mind and experience an entirely different culture. However, if your partying days are behind you and you’re looking for a more tranquil holiday experience, there are so many amazing countries you can explore. With that in mind, today I’m sharing the top 5 quiet travel destinations.
*This is a collaboration post

The Top 5 Quiet Travel Destinations

So in no particular order… Here are the top five countries you and your loved ones should visit if you prefer quiet travel destinations.

1). The Northern Mariana Islands

Photo by Vincent Camacho on Unsplash

When it comes to a peaceful holiday, nothing beats a trip to The Northern Mariana Islands. With a small population of only 69,000 people, peace and tranquillity are guaranteed which might be why the islands have seen a 37.3% growth in tourism over the last few years.

The landscape is simply breathtaking and everywhere you look, you’ll see an eclectic mix of lush greenery and domineering mountains. Simply surrounding yourself in the beauty of nature is enough to unwind and enjoy a more tranquil travel experience. With 14 very different islands to choose from in the area, go on a boating adventure and explore them all.

Quiet Travel Destinations – Where Should You Go?

2). Canada

Photo by Ali Tawfiq on Unsplash

If you’re looking for culture, adventure and a really relaxing getaway, then look no further than the amazing country of Canada. The country is well known for its art museums and exhibitions, which you could easily spend hours exploring and analysing.

The Royal BC Museum is the largest in British Columbia and contains artefacts that date back to the ice age. For a truly quiet travel experience, hire out a car and roam the winding roads of Saskatchewan and simply enjoy the tranquillity of the journey.

3. Laos

Photo by Ioana Farcas on Unsplash

This country is like Thailand’s quieter cousin. So it’s a great destination for travellers wanting to get away from it all and relax. Laos is a particularly popular hiking destination for those looking for an endurance challenge with some great views on the way.

Many solo travellers take on ‘the 100 waterfalls’ trekking route that is littered with varied landscapes and cascading waterfalls. The health benefits of yoga and meditation are innumerable, which is why more people are opting to go on a wellness holiday. If you find yourself in Laos, why not practise yoga for yourself on the stunning beaches or mountainous peaks?

4. Austria

Photo by Joss Woodhead on Unsplash

Austria looks like it’s been plucked straight out of a fairy-tale. Firstly, everywhere you look there are rolling hills and even picturesque castles. Additionally, Movie buffs will be in their element in Austria… Who wouldn’t want to leisurely explore the country where ‘The Sound of Music’ was made.

If relaxing with a glass of wine in hand is your idea of a perfect holiday, then Austria is the place for you. Wine tasting is the most popular tourist activity in the country.

5. Iceland

Photo by Nicolas J Leclercq on Unsplash

If you prefer a more snow-filled adventure, then Iceland has to make it onto your travel bucket list. Here, you’ll get to witness one of the natural wonders of the world. Of course, that’s the Aurora Borealis, and even stay a night in an iconic ice hotel. In Iceland, it’s really hard not to feel relaxed and at one with nature.

Finally, if you’ve enjoyed this post, why not check out more of my travel posts here.

Today, I’m sharing my Coleman Valdes 4 tent review. If you read my blog regularly, you’ll know that I enjoy taking the kids camping. One of the biggest issues I face when camping is the fact I take the kids by myself. Hubby isn’t a fan of camping, and pitching a standard 4 man tent alone is borderline impossible. When I was asked to review the Coleman Valdes 4 air tent, I was thrilled to accept!

Coleman Valdes 4 Tent Review

If you aren’t familiar with the air tent concept, the basic idea is that rather than fibreglass or steel poles, the tent is held up by air beams. This makes pitching your tent faster and less stressful to pitch. Additionally, it means one adult can easily do it alone!

Pitching the Coleman Valdes 4 Tent

Last month I made this video of me pitching the tent for the first time. It was a very windy day, so excuse the noise!

The tent comes packed in an oversized tent bag, complete with pump and instructions. It weighs around 21kg, so is not light. I managed to lift it in and out of our SUV easily enough though. With an RRP of £665, this tent is an investment. It is extremely well made though, so feels like it’ll last for many seasons.

We went camping with it last weekend, and I bought a large tarpaulin sheet to go underneath the tent. This serves two purposes… Firstly it keeps the bottom of the tent clean and prevents mould. Secondly, it adds an extra layer of insulation between the ground and the tent, so your tent is a bit warmer.

Camping With The Coleman Valdes 4 Tent

We went camping at Royal Umpire in Preston last weekend. It took me around 40 minutes to get the air tent up, then another hour or so to unpack everything else and sort out the air beds…

Once we were unpacked, I was really impressed at how much space we had inside. The sleeping area has a dividing wall which is removable. We took this down to allow us to block one of the doors with a chair. There was sufficient space for our camping table, two camping chairs and the dog’s large dog bed in the living space. We used the space under the table to store our cooking equipment and food.

Fab Features

There are a few things which make the Coleman Valdes 4 tent stand out in my opinion. Firstly, the hinged front door! If you’re anything like me, the constant zipping open and closed of tent doors is frustrating. Coleman have addressed this with their hinged door. It takes less than 2 minutes to pop the fibreglass poles into the door, thanks to the zip closure. Once they are in place, you can close the door to with the velcro fasteners, or the toggle which holds the door open.

The Sleeping Space

In the bedroom, we had a double camping bed the first night. Unfortunately, the double air bed didn’t fit very well, as the frame pushed out the back of the tent. I read the measurements for the tent, but failed to take the sloping rear wall into account. This wasn’t a problem the first night as we just spun the bed around so it used the space for both bedrooms.

The second and third night, we added a double height, double airbed to our setup for my son. This fit nicely into the space, but the double camp bed was pushing into the tent fabric as we had to push it over as far as we could. There was no footpace at all once it was in situ.

The thing I loved most about the sleep area is that they are Coleman’s Patent Pending Blackout Bedrooms. Once the windows and doors are closed, the sleep area is pitch black – even at noon!

The Weather Test

During our 3 night break, we had a fair amount of wind and 24 hours of rain. The Coleman Valdes 4 tent stayed upright through it all, and didn’t let in any rain. One thing to remember is to pitch your tent so the porch isn’t facing the wind. It was pretty windy when we arrived, so I pitched the tent side on, with my car alongside it. This definitely seemed to help.

The temperature was around 13-16 degrees throughout our stay, and dropped to 8-10 degrees overnight. The tent was toasty warm on all 3 nights. The kids had 3 season sleeping bags, and were both so hot they stripped to their underwear. I had 2x 1 season bags, and was perfectly happy in my PJs.

Packing Up

When the day came to pack up, it was, typically raining. Despite that, it only took 20 minutes to pack up the tent once we’d emptied all the gear. Impressively, I even managed to get it back into the bag!

All told, I highly recommend the Coleman Valdes 4 tent. It’s not cheap, but it is 100% a case of “you get what you pay for.” The tent feels like it’ll last a long time, so it’s a good investment.

Finally, if you’ve found this Coleman Valdes 4 tent review useful, check out more of my camping posts here.

Last night, I went along to the opening night of Home, I’m Darling at The Lowry. Home, I’m Darling comes to Salford for one week only, from Tuesday 23rd April until Saturday 27th April. Tickets are available from £24.50 per person.

What Is Home, I’m Darling about?

Every couple needs a little fantasy to keep their marriage sparkling. Judy and Johnny are no different. Both of them are huge fans of the 1950’s. So much so, they decide to fully submerse themselves into the 1050’s ways when Judy is made redundant. However, behind the gingham curtains, things start to unravel,. It turns out being a domestic goddess is not as easy as it seemed.

The show follows Judy, Johnny, her nest friend Fran and her husband Marcus – who are also huge 50’s fans. Judy’s Mum, Sylvia and Johnny’s boss Alex add an extra dimension to the story, too.

Home, I’m Darling opens with the set looking like the below image. It transforms when the kitchen wall is opened up and the front door is pushed to the left of the stage. The set is absolutely amazing, and a real nostalgic trip!

Who’s In Home, I’m Darling?

Katherine Parkinson (from The IT Crowd and Humans) reprises her acclaimed role as Judy. She is joined by Jo Stone-Fewings as Johnny, who is a West End regular. He’s been in a huge array of Shakesperian productions as well as War and Peace and 39 Steps – One of my favourites!

The happy couple’s best friends, Fran and Marcus are played by Siubhan Harrison and Hywel Morgan. This pair have accolades from plenty of UK theatres and TV shows including Eastenders, Holby City and Doctors.

The final two characters – Sylvia and Alex are played by Susan Brown and Sara Gregory, respectively. Brown has worked extensively in the West End, as well as on Broadway! Her TV accolades are vast, and include Game of Thrones, Call the Midwife and BroadChurch – 3 of my favourite shows! Sara Gregory has been in a range of theatre, tv and film productions too!

My Thoughts

I found myself torn between loving the comedy and jokes, to feeling somewhat annoyed at the backwards steps Judy was making. I’m all for doing what makes you happy, but where do you draw the line? Without giving too much away, I found myself feeling a little cross at times with a couple of the characters. It definitely wasn’t all frilly skirts and jiving, that’s for sure! I was in awe of the costumes, and the frequent costume changes – It must have been crazy backstage!

Home, I’m Darling is a great insight into the 1950’s dream, but with a healthy dose of reality on the side! It’s well worth a watch! The scene changes and dancing were amazing to watch, and I loved the play’s soundtrack. My foot was tapping at several points, despite being an 80’s kid myself!

All told, I’d say get down to The Lowry and watch it if you are a fan of the 50’s, feminism or rock n roll.

Finally, if you enjoyed this post, check out more of my Theatre posts here.

PS I was given a pair of tickets for the purpose of this review, but all words and opinions are my own. 

In case you haven’t noticed, I am a big fan of taking photos. Admittedly, I am no photographer, but I still love doing it! I have decided to share some of my favourite photos from last month’s Mum’s Night Off trip to the Last Drop Village, in Bolton. My friend Bex and I headed off for 24 hours of peace, and we had a fabulous time! Today, I am sharing my favourite snaps and a little information on our trip.

Mum’s Night Off At Last Drop Village

If you read my blog often, you may already know that as well as working full time and owning two boxer dogs, I am also a mum of two and a wife of one. My son has Autism, and life is pretty challenging around here. We get 3 nights a month overnight respite, so I try to get a night away whenever I can. Last April, Bex and I headed to Last Drop Village, and enjoyed it so much, we booked again!

We snapped up this amazing wowcher deal, which got us both an overnight stay, full use of the spa, a treatment each, a 2 course evening meal with a glass of Prosecco each and breakfast for a total of £149 (£74.50 each)! It was bliss!

As soon as we got there, we unpacked and headed down to the spa. We set up camp by the pool to begin with and relaxed with our kindles, watching the world go by…

The Last Drop Village Spa

We ventured into the spa area after a while, and were very happy to see the Hydrotherapy pool was still as amazing as ever!

We spent a lot of time in there, but we did pop into all of the steam room, rock sauna, bio sauna, aroma grotto, halo therapy and aromatherapy rooms as well. (They are too dark and steamy to get decent photos of though).

I love that the hydrotherapy pool starts inside, but you can go through a little walkway and suddenly, you’re outside! There’s something incredibly peaceful about being submerged in body temperature water, while your face feels the January chill.

We both opted for the hot stone back massage, and it did not disappoint!

Once we’d got changed for our evening meal, we headed down to the restaurant…

The Food At Last Drop Village

I’ve been vegetarian for 15 years, and am trying to make the move to veganism due to my dairy intolerance. In the end, I decided I’d have the day off, and definitely over indulged on dairy. I didn’t regret a single mouthful, though!

For my main course, I had the Mushroom Paella, while Bex opted for the sirloin steak. Both were delicious, but dessert was an absolute show stopper! We were presented with a platter of mini desserts, and every single one of them was amazing! The mini brownie was my favourite, though!

I had my complimentary glass of Prosecco alongside mine, and was beyond full afterwards!

After a wonderful night’s sleep, Bex and I headed down for breakfast. Neither of us was hungry after our belly busting evening meal, but I couldn’t turn down the Eggs Royale…

Last Minute R&R

We headed back down to the spa after breakfast, for some last minute relaxation. We were amazed to find we had the entire pool and spa to ourselves! Nobody else joined us until almost 11am! This allowed us to sneak in a couple of stealth selfies without fear of our phones getting wet…

Needless to say, we had an absolute blast! I am now trying to work out the logistics to get hubby down there for a day of much needed R&R. If Spas in Yorkshire are more your thing, check out Yorkshire Wonders blog post.

Finally, if you want to book a stay, phone the hotel directly on 01204 873519 and quote “Mothergeek”… They will price match the wowcher deal, and you’ll benefit from the complimentary upgrade by booking directly. (The hotel automatically upgrades guests who book directly to better rooms if there are any available). Plus, if you book directly, you know you’ll definitely get the dates you want before you pay.

It is no secret I am a huge fan of the Theatre. I love singing along to musical soundtracks, but you can’t beat the thrill of seeing a show live. With that in mind, I wanted to share my must see UK Theatre Shows of 2019. The list contains several different style of performances – not just musicals! Read on to find out more!

Must see UK Theatre Shows of 2019

Here we go then – in no particular order…

Grief Is The Thing With Feathers – LONDON

This is on at the Barbican Theatre, London from March to 13th April. The show stars Cillian Murphy (Better known as Peaky Blinders’ Tommy). I love quirky shows, which make you think, and this definitely sounds like it’ll do that. Cillian plays both a bereaved father and an imaginary crow (come counsellor) in this adaptation of Max Porter’s novel, of the same name.

Unfortunately for me, the show is sold out, so I don’t think I’ll be seeing it any time soon. I’m crossing everything it comes back soon though! I”m sure I’m not the only one who would put it on their must see UK Theatre Shows of 2019 list!

Blood Brothers – Salford

I studied this play as part of my English GCSEs, and was gutted I didn’t get to go to see the theatre production with my classmates. (I lived out of town, and would have missed the last bus home). Since then, I have been fascinated with the story. Blood Brothers is at The Lowry from the 9th to the 13th of April.

The play was written by Willy Russell, and resolves around twins who were separated at birth. The brothers grow up on the opposite sides of the tracks, and when they meet again, things spiral for them both!  

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – London

I am a massive Harry Potter fangirl, so when I heard about Harry Potter And The Cursed Child back in 2016, I was desperate to see it. Unfortunately, tickets are like gold dust, so I haven’t managed it yet. (I’d need to stay overnight to fit in both shows at The Palace Theatre in one day, too). You need to watch part one and part two, so it’s a whole day thing! The show has no end date, so you can book up to September for now, with more dates available to book soon.

Image credit

I have read the screenplay, so I know what to expect, at least! The show is the 8th instalment in the Harry Potter series, and follows Harry and Ginny’s youngest son Albus’ experiences at Hogwarts. It’s definitely worth a watch – if you can snag tickets!

Dirty Dancing – Manchester

April seems to be an amazing month for UK Theatre. Dirty Dancing is on at the Palace Theatre from 22nd to 27th April. The show is packed with the same music, emotion and sexy dancing as the film.

Dirty Dancing the musical has already been by millions across the world. The musical follows the classic story of Baby & Johnny – Though I’m sure you knew that already!

Mary Poppins – London

Who doesn’t love Mary Poppins? She will be arriving in London’s Prince Edward Theatre in October, and the wind won’t change until March 2020.

Image Credit

The show is described as having, “dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs“. Zizi Strallen is returning to play the title role, following her massive success on the show’s recent sell-out international tour.

PHEW! So there we have it! My 5 must see UK Theatre Shows of 2019! Which shows are on your list? Motherhood The Real Deal shared some ideas recently, too!

Finally, if you enjoyed this post, why not check out more of my travel content!

I am always dreaming of adventure, and that doesn’t stop when Summer ends and Autumn creeps to Winter. When I received an email offering some fantastic sports travel ideas earlier this week, I began planning our first ever Ski holiday.

Why A Ski Holiday?

I have never set foot on a ski slope in my life, so I think some lessons before we book anything will definitely be in order for all of us. Rather than hoping to whizz down the piste at 100mph, I think my ideal ski holiday would involve a bit of snow fun with the kids. I’m thinking building snowmen, sledging, having snowball fights, romantic moments with hubby, etc…

At least one skiing or snowboarding lesson would happen of course. It would be more about making memories than dreaming of earning GB a gold medal in the next Winter Olympics. After much research, I have come up with 5 things for rookie skiers like myself to consider before booking their first ski break…

Things To Consider

Guests: Are you travelling as a couple or with children? It’s worth checking out well in advance what’s on offer for children if they are travelling with you.

Budget: Set a budget before you plan your trip. It’s pointless looking at luxury all inclusive resorts if your budget is under £500pp. Prices will be pretty much double if you want to travel over the Christmas period.

Ability: If you are a total skiing newbie, make sure your chosen resort offers lessons for beginners – or better yet, try to get in a couple of lessons on a local dry slope or indoor ski venue before you travel. We are lucky we have Chill Factore literally 3 miles away, so lessons on real snow will be fairly easy for us.

Equipment Hire: If you don’t already own your own ski equipment, make sure your chosen venue either includes everything you need, or that you include hire costs or purchase costs in your budget.

Resort: Different resorts have different peak seasons. Most European and American / Canadian resorts are open from late November until early April. If you’re wanting to ski in Australia and New Zealand, ski season tends to be from June until September.

Northern Lights: For me, one of the biggest attractions to a ski holiday is the chance to see the Northern Lights up close. While nobody can guarantee you’ll see Aurora Borealis during your holiday, some places have better odds than others… Finland, is definitely the best place within Europe to go if you want to catch a glimpse of them during your holiday. Imagine how magical your trip would be! Finland also means LAPLAND…. We could even double up our holiday with a visit to Santa – if we time it right!

What Now?

Budgeting is definitely the biggest thing for us. Realistically, it’ll be at least 2 years before we can hit the slopes. I won’t be booking anything until much nearer the time, and it’ll be a case of wait and see. For a first trip, I am thinking just 2 or 3 nights would be a safe bet. Long enough to get a taste for snow holidays, but short enough to avoid boredom.

Have you been on a skiing holiday? Did you take the kids? I’d love to hear any tips you have.

You can read more of my Travel posts here.

Australia – it’s one of the most popular tourism hotspots in the world, and for good reason. It’s diverse, it’s beautiful and, perhaps best of all, it’s a whole lot of fun. Here are five tips to keep in mind when you visit – shared by a blogging friend of mine; Lena. 

Don’t be overambitious with your travel plans

You might not realise it, but Australia is big. So big, in fact, that getting from one side to the other could take hours on a flight. It’s important you’re not being overambitious with your travel plans when in Australia, both for monetary and time purposes.

Plan a trip that considers travel time as well as distance, as you may not be aware of just how massive Australia is. If you’re trying to budget, a flight elsewhere in the country may be out of the question. In that case, plan to visit destinations reachable by car. It might be a few hours’ drive to get to where you want to go, but exploring Australia is incredibly rewarding. Cities such as Sydney and Melbourne (the latter having some of the world’s best coffee according to 1Cover) are just as exciting as the less-developed parts of the country.

Embrace the Australian culture

Australia actually has an abundance of culture to be discovered and embraced during your trip. In the current day, that culture is irreverent and sport-obsessed for the most part – but that’s not to mention the diversity and profound history to be uncovered in its roots.

In fact, Australia is home to the oldest surviving civilisation on Earth. The indigenous people of Australia make up for 650,000 of the country’s current population (roughly 2.8%). It’s safe to say, then, that Australia’s history remains incredibly important. Visit the Australian Museum in Sydney to learn more about the indigenous people who shaped the culture you’ll experience today.

Get away from the cities for a while

Although Australia’s cities are certainly something special; there’s also a wealth of natural beauty to be seen throughout the country. The sheer number of national parks gives it away. With spots such as the well-known Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef; to hidden treasures including the Pinnacles and the Bungle Bungles… Getting away from the bustle of the country’s major cities is highly recommended.

Be sure to explore one or more of Australia’s national parks during your stay. They’re all considerably unique but all extremely beautiful. The aforementioned Bungle Bungles is home to a sandstone range as well as tropical pools and caves, and Grampians National Park is home to MacKenzie Falls.

Slang is prevalent in Australia

One thing you’ll need to bear in mind before visiting Australia is that their slang is very extensive, and almost everyone in the country uses it. Expect to hear terms such as ‘crikey’, ‘sheilas’ and ‘going walkabout’… The latter will certainly apply to you, as the term essentially means ‘going travelling’.

Be sure to brush up on your knowledge of the local lingo, so that you’re not left in the dark once you arrive. The locals are very friendly and laid back, so they won’t hesitate to use slang with you in conversation.

Tipping isn’t necessary

People are often used to tipping waiters and waitresses when on holiday. In the vast majority of countries around the world, it’s the expected thing to do. In Australia, restaurant and bar staff are usually paid so well that tips simply aren’t needed.

The obligation in Australia is to tip much less than you would in other countries, as the minimum wage is much better. Of course, it’s polite and always appreciated to leave a bit of change. Round your total fare up to the next dollar in a taxi, for example – but you don’t have to splash out on tips.

You can read more of my travel blog posts here.

The summer holidays are finally over, and I am happy to report we survived! Now the kids have been safely deposited back in school, I am planning operation Hubby turns 40. (Shhh… don’t tell him I told you)! I think we are well overdue a romantic overnight break.

Time for a break

We have 2 kids, and one of them has complex needs, so we don’t get out as a couple much. (The last time we had an evening date was for my 30th birthday – I’m 35 in November)! I have managed to sort out overnight respite for him, and am now on a mission to find an overnight break for hubby and I.

We live in Greater Manchester, and ideally I want somewhere within an hour or so of us. I have a budget of around £300 for our break, and I am torn between options…

There’s plan A: Which involves a cute cottage in Lancashire. Think private hot tub, peace and quiet and countryside for miles. Just us.

Or Plan B: A Spa break in a hotel, which includes meals etc.

If it were my choice, I think I’d pick the spa break every time. Knowing my husband’s love of peace and quiet and the great outdoors, I suspect the latter would be his top pick. After seeing the image above, I can see why!

When Am I Booking The Romantic Overnight Break?

I’m going to price up putting the dogs in kennels for the night, and then try to sort out a sleepover for our youngest before I can get anything booked. Fingers crossed I get it sorted and booked this month – we could both definitely do with 24 hours of peace and quiet! It’ll be amazing to spend some time as a couple, rather than “mum and dad”. We’ve not had a night off parent duties together since 2012!

I think this week will involve planning to arrange a sleepover for our youngest, while pricing up kennels for the dogs.

Packing?

Assuming all goes to plan, I’ll definitely be travelling light. It’ll be a swimsuit, PJs and a change of clothes for coming home in if we opt for the cabin. If we go for the hotel, I’ll add a smart – casual outfit for our evening meal in too. My Make Up bag will carry the bare essentials and I won’t be taking half a dozen pairs of shoes. (It’ll be flip flops for the hot tub or spa which will double up as slippers, and 1 pair of smart shoes for travelling / eating in). I am definitely not an over packer – unlike my husband!

Have you planned a surprise romantic overnight break? I’d love to hear any hints, tips or suggestions you may have!

You can read more of my travel blog posts here.