My brother and his wife went to Mauritius for their Honeymoon back in 2003, and ever since I saw their honeymoon photos, it’s been somewhere I have wanted to visit. What’s not to love – Sun, Sea, Sand, Sensational views…..

The main island of Mauritius is surrounded by more than 100 miles of white sandy beaches and lagoons. They are protected from the open sea by the third-largest coral reef in the world, which surrounds the island. Just off the Mauritian coast, there are well over 40 uninhabited islands and islets, which are also part of Mauritius. Nowadays, several of these islands are used as nature reserves for endangered species.

I’m forever browsing travel blogs and holiday websites, so I have plenty of ideas for my dream holiday to Mauritius. For starters, I would love to visit without the kids in tow! In my mind, it’s definitely a place to go to escape – not to chase kids round the pool. There are plenty of child friendly hotels of course, but for me, I would go to relax and unwind – definitely not activities which involve my children.

Plans:

I’d want to spend my days relaxing on a sun lounger on or near the white sandy beaches, with a book in one hand and a cool drink in the other. The breeze coming in off the Indian Ocean keeping me cool, despite the high temperatures.

I’m pretty sure Hubby would want to be out and about most days though, seeing what Mauritius has to offer. I can see us taking a walk around the shops in Port Louis at some point, and I predict us exploring the local villages and seeking out the emerald lagoons as well as the odd boat trip to explore the smaller islands.

The Botanical Gardens in Grand Baie would be a must see for hubby, and I’d have to snorkel over the reefs, without a doubt. I can see us enjoying a cocktail or 3 with our evening meal, enjoying the local food in the process, and maybe a romantic stroll along the beach at sunset, before retiring to our private suite. Imagine waking up to the sound of the sea lapping along the shore outside your bedroom window – life doesn’t get much better than that, in my eyes!

Travelling:

When you visit Mauritius, chances are you’ll fly into Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. The majority of flights from the UK will involve 1 plane change each way, so it’s not a quick journey. You’re looking at around 14 to 18 hours’ travel time each way. That’s not including checking in and collecting baggage, post flight. (See why I wouldn’t take the kids to Mauritius now)? If my sister-in-law and my brother’s tales are anything to go by… It’s the perfect place to go for a romantic getaway.

I think I’d find it hard to leave if I ever get to visit. Mauritius looks like it offers the laid back life I crave. What do you think? Is visiting Mauritius on your bucket list?

Finally, if you enjoyed this post, check out Earth Based Fun’s Dream Holidays!

Back in April, my friend Bex (who blogs at clearlybex.co.uk) and I packed up and headed off to Last Drop Village in Bolton for a much needed spa break!

It was heaven! We booked the midweek Revive in 25 break, which cost us £90 each. For that, we got unlimited use of the spa facilities, 1x 25 minute treatment each, a 3 course dinner each and then breakfast the next morning. We also got a complimentary room upgrade because we booked direct – result!

Spa:

The Last Drop Village Spa boasts an 18m long swimming pool, a hydrotherapy pool, Rock Sauna, Bio Sauna, Steam Room, Aromatherapy Room and a Halotherapy room. There are sun loungers around the hydrotherapy pool, and the hydrotherapy pohttps://www.lastdropvillage.co.uk/spa-wellness/the-village-spa/ol itself is both indoor and outdoor. If you go through to the outside part, there’s plenty of seating, jets, a fountain and an infinity edge, overlooking the Bolton Countryside – it really is beautiful!

Bex and I spent all afternoon relaxing in the spa, before heading upstairs for our complimentary treatments – we were both booked in for facials. The staff were great – they listened to our skin issues and used appropriate products. (I have really sensitive skin, so the therapist went and got some other products which she felt would be better suited for me).

After our facials, we went back up to our room and took our time getting ready for our evening meal. The bathroom was beautiful, and the complimentary bathroom products were great quality too.

Restaurant:

Once we were both ready, we went down to the restaurant. Our break included a 3 course evening meal from the set menu. I’m vegetarian, so they also brought out the menu for specialist diets, and I could choose from that too. This was the main menu, and we could choose items with an Asterix next to them…

I opted for the soup of the day, which was Tomato Soup, the Potato Gnocchi and the Vanilla cheesecake. All of it was delicious, and I was full to the brim once I’d finished.

Drinks weren’t included with our evening meal package. The drink prices were about the same as in any hotel or restaurant in Manchester City Centre. The table service was great, but you could go to the bar to order, if you preferred.

Twin Room:

After our meal, we turned in for a much needed full night’s sleep! Both beds were super comfy, and we both had a great night’s sleep! The next morning, we went down for breakfast. There was a huge buffet you could help yourself from, or a menu if you preferred table service. I settled on a plate full of pastries while Bex had an English Breakfast.

Once we’d eaten, we packed up our bags and then checked out. We kept a small bag each and put everything else back into the car. Bex and I headed back down to the spa for another few hours of heaven. We explored the village grounds next – They are stunning…

Grounds and Village:

We explored the boutiques and stores before stopping off for a much needed tea and ice cream in the Tearoom. All told, we had a wonderful break, and we both felt it was great value. We’re hoping to sneak off again for another Mum’s Night Off once the kids go back to school in September… Fingers crossed for that!

Do you manage to get away without the kids? If so, are you a fan of spa breaks, or are City breaks more your thing? Check out The Willow Tree’s post on planning a family trip to London if you’re considering heading to the capital for a City Break. To read more of my own travel adventures, browse the Travel category!

My husband and I haven’t been on holiday abroad since we had the kids. This is partly due to our son’s Autism and partly due to finances. So far this Summer, we’ve ticked quite a few things off our family bucket list here in the UK… To get the kids used to planes, we went on a small aircraft flight 2 weeks ago. I have taken the kids camping for the first time and we’ve had lots of other adventures as well. After our successful camping trip earlier this week, I am now scouring the net, looking for budget family holidays for next Summer.

My confidence is definitely increasing when it comes to how our son handles new situations, and I am pretty sure that he’d love the flight after our short flight last month too. The biggest hurdles for us to cross will be waiting around in the airport and the hotel transfer to get to the resort. I know that once we arrive and he understands we are staying there for a week, our son will absolutely love his holiday. With it being our first family holiday, I’d prefer to keep flight times as short as possible. With that in mind, it probably makes sense to stay in Spain or the Balearics.

Santa Ponsa

I know the beach in Santa Ponsa would be perfect for our little family. We’ve visited the seaside in the UK several times this year, and I know the kids love feeling the sand between their toes almost as much as I do. The golden sand and clear blue sea in Santa Ponsa (pictured below) is a far cry from Blackpool, though…

I have been to Majorca several times, and think it would be a great place for us to go for our first family holiday abroad, for several reasons… The flight time from Manchester is only 2.5 hours – our son would manage that pretty well. Santa Ponsa is under 20 miles from Palma airport too, so a private transfer should only be around 30 minutes. (For us, it’s worth paying for a private transfer in advance. This means you’re not waiting around on a stuffy coach for other holidaymakers, and you don’t have to visit other hotels before getting to your own. It’s also better than waiting in line for hours for a local taxi).

Cabo Blanco:

If you’re not bothered about the sandy beach, Cabo Blanco is a much quieter resort. Its much less touristy, and much more peaceful. The rocky coast line puts some people off, but you get a lot more for your money here. A 4* All inclusive hotel with a kids club, Jacuzzi for the grown ups and a mini water park on site works out at around the same as 3* without these benefits in Santa Ponsa.

Cabo Blanco has a much shorter transfer time too – it’s only 10 miles from the airport. This means we should get to the resort in under 20 minutes if we opt for the private transfer option. Private transfers cost £24 each way, so they are only £2 more than shared transfers, too.

If you’re still looking for a last-minute getaway for 2018, there are some absolute bargains available. It’ll have to be next year for us though, as we all need passports.

Have you got any tips for planning your first family holiday abroad? I’d love to hear them. To read more of my own travel adventures, browse the Travel category!

This week, the Summer Holidays have been in full swing. We are on Day 10 now, and the sun has been shining every single day… until today. I never thought I’d be so happy to see rain returning to Manchester! My word(s) of the week this week are camping at Lady Heyes….. camping

Camping At Lady Heyes

I took my youngest camping for the first time this week, and she LOVED it! We headed to Lady Heyes park in Frodsham, Cheshire. As it was our first trip, we borrowed my sister’s pop up tent, for ease. We packed up an air bed, sleeping bags, my BBQ, hubby’s camping stove and off we went…! Thankfully the campsite was under an hour away. If you’re heading further afield, these road trip activities for kids might come in handy!

We had a lovely 24 hours camping at Lady Heyes, and did lots of traditional camping stuff…

Setting Up Camp

Yep – we pitched the tent – all by ourselves! (OK, so it was a pop up tent, but we are still claiming it as a victory – especially considering we got it back into the bag the next day, too)!

We remembered to pack milk for a cup of tea. (Admittedly, it was so hot, the milk curdled after this one cup, so it was a bit of a waste, really).

We made cheese and beans on toast for our camping tea – Camping toast is so much better than toaster toast, somehow!

Exploring The Camp Site

We went to the clubhouse, and I indulged in this Malteasers ice cream and a 0% alcohol beer – I know how to party!

Toasting Marshmallows

When it started to go dark, we made a fire and toasted some marshmallows. Did you even go camping if you don’t toast marshmallows? I’ll be researching some more exciting campfire desserts for next time though!

My daughter loved being able to run around and play outside all day and evening. The campsite had a playground right near our pitch, so she spent a lot of time on there making friends. This meant I got some time alone with the camp fire and my kindle…

We had such a good time, I have already booked to go back and do it all over again…. With the dogs and my son instead, though! (I’m not brave enough to take both kids on my own just yet. The inevitable “I need a wee” trips at 3am put me off!

Needless to say, it was a fab camping trip! It far exceeded my expectations, so I was a very happy camper! Check out more of our Travel Tales here.

Finally, find out why camping is good for your mental health here!

Later this month, I’m taking my 6 year old camping for the first time. I’ve not been camping in a good 12 years, so feel like a total newbie. This will be my first camping trip as a parent, so I am trying to plan ahead. I’m hoping this will make my first trip camping with kids a success.

Planning

I have booked the site, and opted to pay for the electrical hook up. I have bought the adaptor so I can charge the tech via there, too. We’ve got a tent and sleeping bags sorted as well as a pretty decent air bed. I’d love for us to be getting right off the beaten track, but I think a gentle introduction to camping will be a better approach.

Camp Site

The campsite we have chosen only has 21 tent pitches so it won’t quite be as away from it all as I’d like, but for an introduction to camping, I think it’ll be perfect.

The campsite has a play area, communal toilet and shower block, an indoor soft play centre and a small disco / bar. I’m sure the 6 year old will love it!

I’m mostly looking forward to teaching her the joys of roasting marshmallows on an open fire and making toast on a fire too.

Some people would laugh at the fact I have bought a camping toaster for just 1 night away, but for me, campfire toast is one of the best bits of camping.

Hopes

All being well, my daughter will love camping and I’ll be able to take her brother camping soon too. Equipment wise, I still need to get a fair bit. Including torches, plates, cups and some small long life milk cartons (I can’t survive without tea)!

I’m pretty excited about our trip, and I’m sure I’ll share a post camping update soon! Do you have any tips for camping with kids for the first time?

After almost 10 years living in Salford, I’m pretty much an honorary Salfordian. So I thought I would share my top places to go with kids in Salford. If you have any other suggestions, do let me know!

Family Friendly Places In Salford

In no particular order…

Salford Museum and Art Gallery

We have been visiting Salford Museum and Art Gallery for years now, and we always have a brilliant time. The Victorian street is currently celebrating the end of WW1 centenary. It has been updated to reflect a Salford street in 1918. The Museum gives children the chance to dress up in period costumes, and join in with life as it was back then. The best bit: Entry is free, although we do always leave a donation on our way out, so take some change!

Ordsall Hall

Ordsall Hall is a stunning Tudor House. It has been painstakingly restored and is now open to the public. Ordsall Hall was first mentioned in records in 1177 – making it well over 840 years old! Today, it is a welcoming historic house, which tells the story of the Hall… And some of the people who made it their home over the centuries.

There is plenty to do and discover… You can dress up as a Tudor or try on some chain mail. Or you can find out about the foods which would have been cooked at the Hall in the 1500s. Maybe you’d enjoy pretending you are having a feast around the table in the Great Hall? You can listen to the story of the 450 year old Radclyffe bed and the ghost who lives there, too!

On a nice day, you can explore the sculptures in the gardens, or visit the allotment. It is growing only things found 100 years ago during WW1, and only tools and materials available then are being used as well… It’s like stepping back in time tending to the veggies on their plot! If you book in advance, you can even enjoy an open air theatrical performance – complete with a picnic!

Visiting the Hall is free, but we do always leave a donation on our way out. So make sure you take some cash along!

Salford Quays

Salford Quays is home to loads of brilliant things. So many in fact that I decided to bundle them all up into one place…! The Lowry is a stunning venue. There are several theatres within the venue, and there’s usually at least one Children’s Show on each weekend and during the school holidays. The Museum is full of amazing art, and children are encouraged to create their own masterpieces. As with previous museums, The Lowry is free to enter, but donations are encouraged.

The Imperial War Museum North stands just across the footbridge pictured above from the Lowry. Again, it’s free to enter, but donations are encouraged. There is a large collection of vehicles, war artefacts and some amazing costumes to be seen in the IWM. You’ll also find plenty of interactive displays and a wonderful eatery.

On Sunny days, I highly recommend exploring the area around Media City, which is a short walk from The Lowry. You can explore the Blue Peter Garden, relaxing in the sunshine. Or you can watch out for stars from Cbeebies and CBBC. You can always do the CBBC Studio Tour too – if you book in advance. It is suitable for children aged 6-11 years old.

There are loads of wonderful places to eat and drink around Salford Quays. Whether you want all you can eat Chinese or fast food, there’s something for everyone. I’d recommend parking in the Lowry Outlet Mall and walking around for convenience. Parking isn’t free though, so do take that into consideration if funds are tight.

Clifton Country Park

If you like the great outdoors, you’ll love Clifton Country Park. It is a country park, which is set in the grounds of what was once a Colliery. Clifton Country Park dates back to the 1700’s. You can walk around a huge lake, and kids love to follow the Fairy Tale Trail on the way. There are wooden carvings of animals and characters from fairy tales hidden along the main path. The lake is open to Fishermen and is a popular dog walking spot, too.

The large playground is a dog free zone, so you can’t go in if you take your furry friends with you. The Play area has a large range of equipment and plenty of picnic benches, so take a picnic! Parking is free at Clifton, and there is a new Cafe opening in August 2018, which will make visiting even better!

There’s plenty of wooded areas to explore as well. Pop into the Visitor’s Centre and ask the rangers for ideas if you’re not sure where to go.

There’s plenty of activities going on throughout the Summer within Salford, so feel free to check them all out in this guide!

There are some fantastic, free ideas to get you through the school holidays over at Earth Based Fun too. So definitely check them out!

Finally, why not check out more of my travel posts!

I am sad to say that I haven’t seen much of the world. Despite being almost 35, I am yet to leave Europe. That doesn’t stop me dreaming, though. With that in mind, I thought a blog post listing the 5 places I want to visit would be a good idea.

Places I Want To Visit…

1). Australia 

Australia is the place I most want to visit. I remember being a kid and saying to my Mum I would be living in Australia by the time I was 25. I had it all planned out – College, Uni to train as a Social Worker and then apply for a Visa and leave England behind. It didn’t happen though. Life (ok Boyfriends) got in the way.

I guess my longing to go down under was inspired by 3 TV programmes…. Can you guess which 3? Neighbours and Home and Away are the two obvious ones, but you may not know the 3rd…. Round The Twist. Remember the family who lived in the lighthouse? I want to visit that beach! Have TV shows inspired any of the destinations on your “places I want to visit” list?

2). New Zealand

I wanted to visit New Zealand long before Peter Jackson plonked The Shire there. My Aunt and Uncle have lived there my entire life, and now my best friend lives there too.

The country itself has always intrigued me – I have long thought of it as a smaller Australia without quite so many scary spiders, and a bit more rain. Lots of my family have visited over the years, and their photos and stories make me even more determined to get out there some day.

3). Ireland 

Despite being less than an hour’s flight from us, I have never been to Ireland. My mum’s family originate from there, and I still haven’t been. My Mum’s grandparents moved to Scotland during the Potato famine. As a kid, I used to wonder if they had crossed the Giant’s Causeway (pictured above). It wasn’t until years later I realised it was impossible! (I wrote more about my family tree obsession here).

Between the Historical landmarks, amazing greenery and Game of Thrones connections, what’s not to love? I am definitely going to get to Ireland as soon as possible! Did it make it onto your “places I want to visit” list?

4). Egypt

Egypt (specifically Ancient Egypt) has always fascinated me. The Pyramids of Giza are right up there on my bucket list. It’s amazing to think they have been standing in the middle of the Sahara Desert for over 4500 years now. I remember learning about the Aztecs and Egyptians in school, and my fascination has never really gone away.

The Pyramids are the only remaining member of the Seven wonders of the ancient world. I think anybody who sees a photograph of pyramids automatically thinks of Egypt. The pyramids are, of course guarded by the nearby Sphinx of Giza – a giant statue, which is made up of the resting body of a lion and the head of a human. It’s almost impossible to get up close to the pyramids these days as they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

5). America

Despite everything which is happening across the pond at the moment putting me off visiting, I would still like to head over to America at some point. (Probably when someone else is in charge of the Nukes, though). So many of the things I want to see are over there, that it’s impossible to skip a visit. The Statue of Liberty, Alcatraz, Niagra Falls, The Grand Canyon, Golden Gate Bridge, Disney World, China Town in San Francisco, Route 66, New Orleans, etc etc.

I could probably spend a year touring America and still not see everything I wanted to. It’ll definitely have to wait until someone else is at the helm though – I would be panicky enough with the American gun laws, never mind Mr Grump having the power to fling all non U.S. Citizens in jail.

What about you? Is there somewhere else you really want to visit? Or somewhere else you’d recommend I add to my bucket list?

Finally, why not check out more of my travel blog posts here.