Where are the best family ski destinations?

I know its currently summer, but when thinking about skiing, now is the time to put things in place to secure the best family ski trip possible. Choosing the right ski destination can make or break your family's snow adventure. With children in tow, the stakes feel higher – you want a resort that balances easy slopes with engaging activities, whilst making sure everyone feels safe and comfortable. Many parents planning their first or second ski trip feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available, but understanding what makes a resort truly family-friendly can help narrow down your choices significantly. What Makes a Ski Resort Family-Friendly? The best family ski resorts share several key characteristics that distinguish them from purely adult-orientated destinations. Wide, gentle nursery slopes provide the perfect learning environment for young skiers, whilst ski schools with qualified instructors guarantee that children receive proper tuition tailored to their age and ......

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How To Know If A Country Is 'Just Right' For You

*Contains Affiliate links  Most people like to have a rough plan of their lives and what they want to achieve in the future, or at least consider how we would like to live them, it’s very easy to think along conventional lines. Note that there’s nothing wrong with doing this. It might be that you wish to follow in the career footsteps of your parents and that living in your home town for the rest of your life is something you truly find appealing. However, many other people wish to consider just what else is out there, and how they can grasp it with both hands. They might think of moving to the big city and trying to chase their own career. However, there are even more options than this. With hard work and a little planning, you could live in many countries around the world, live many lifestyles, prioritize many pursuits. With a lot of research (and hardly any budget) and securing a job before I travelled, I've been able to live in South Africa, France, Netherlands and the UK. Tha......

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Why you should consider going away for Christmas

Christmas, I'm already starting to break out into a sweat thinking about it. Having grown up as part of a expat family in South Africa our Christmas's were usually very small, with only immediate family on the day and possibly heading to some friends for a party on boxing day but always fairly calm and spent outdoors as the festive period fell during our summer time. Even when we did fly over to the UK every 3yrs or so it was still a small gathering and as children it never made any difference to us where in the world we spent Christmas as long as it was with family. We of course had gifts but growing up we were never over indulged like children are now and I do think we are forgetting what the festive season is meant to be about. My childhood experiences are completely different to the now which has become very manic especially having kids and trying to divide time between two sets of in-laws and to be completely honest I feel exhausted just by the thought as it always ......

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Why France is the perfect Family Destination

The boys in Nice, France France has always been very special to me, especially after living and working in Nice for a couple of months before having children. As a family we love visiting France whether it be a chic city break in Paris or getting a sun tan on the French Riviera or a quick road trip to the Opal Coast - we have always had a fantastic time as a family and it's why I picked France as the country I wanted to celebrate my 30th birthday in a few years ago. I was pregnant at the time with my second and eldest who was four at the time was just coming into his own in terms of his passion for travel. We took the Eurostar from London to Pairs where we spent a few days exploring the array of family friendly museums and gardens before taking the fast TGV down to the South for a week of good food, relaxation, exploring small towns as well as taking in the culture of Nice and Cannes. You can read more about our stay in Valbonne and my 30th birthday celebrations ‘French style......

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Stress-Free Luxury Travel with Kids is Possible

I am pretty easy going when it comes to where, how and who we travel with whether it be inter-railing across Europe, enjoying a chic city break or getting muddy in the countryside, from family friendly glamping to high end hotels as long as you do your research nothing should have to be off limits. John however prefers the comforts of a good hotel with excellent amenities and I really like being able to cook my own meals which is why I often lean towards self catering so we tend do a mixture of both. If you are one who likes the finer things in life you really don't have to worry or feel that because you have children your travel preferences have to change, of course, you may now be more open-minded in your approach but a luxury holiday shouldn't be off the cards especially as travel is such a great opportunity for kids to learn about different countries and cultures. There are also plenty of luxury glamping options such as a private luxury lodge that   give the feeling......

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A family guide to the South of France

Enjoying ice-cream in Antibes  The French Riviera is one of those places that is just perfect for those looking to get away to warmer climates, take in the stylish and laid back Riveria culture, French food and of course stunning beaches. There is also a wonderful combination of countryside and city adventures from small hilltop villages to explore to the designer shops in Cannes, it has it all. It's also a place that makes for a fantastic family break and it's somewhere I keep going back too. I was lucky enough to live and work in Nice for a few months before having children and on my days off I often headed further afield to Antibes, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, St Paul De Vence and Eze Village so it made sense look at a holiday in France with the kids and share this breath-taking coastline with them. For my 30th birthday two years ago I decided that I wanted to spend this milestone birthday on the Riviera and we opted for a stay in a James  Villa in Valbonn......

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Exploring France with Kids - Guest post

France, famous for their wine, their cheese, and their spirit, is one of the richest European countries. Laden with nature, history, and beautiful architecture, France is a must see for families. Even the little ones will enjoy a trip to France, which offers many sights suitable for family trips. Some of the best French regions to visit with families include; Paris, Normandy, Dordogne, and Montpellier. Each with their own charms, these regions will ensure you create wonderful memories, and here are some of my favourite things to do in each region. Paris Disneyland Paris: This is quite the obvious one but if you’re a fan of Disney yourself and you can afford it, Disneyland is definitely worth the trip! Although I would say it’s best for children over eight, as they will actually remember the trip in years to come, and you will avoid some of the rides aimed at really young kids which take forever in the queue. Tip: Pack sandwiches for lunch Les Jardins du Luxembo......

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Nausicaa National Sea Centre, France

Last week I wrote about our experience of taking the short channel crossing P&O ferry from Dover to Calais as well as our fantastic stay at the rural Hotel Du Parc near the small Northern French hamlet of Hardelot. The absolute highlight of the trip was spending the best part of a day exploring Nausicaa , Frances National Sea Centre which is celebrating it's 25th anniversary this year.  Located in the coastal city of Boulogne-sur-Mer, the sea centre sits on the sand, looking across a long beach and straight away you can feel the connection between man and the ocean. This place is so much more than just an Aquarium, they have a real passion for conservation, education and both kids despite the age difference equally enjoyed it.  As soon as you step into Nausicaa you start to get a sense of just how large this place is and can see why it attracts around 600 000 visitors a year, especially as it's only 2hrs travelling time from both London and Paris mak......

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Northern France with P&O and Hotel Du Parc

If you follow our family travel adventures on Instagram you may have already noticed that at the beginning of summer we spent a long weekend exploring the small village of Hardelot in Northern France as well as the fascinating sea centre Nausicaa in Boulogne-sur-Mer.  We have done a fair few short European breaks taking either the Eurostar or Ferry although always as foot passengers so my eldest was extremely excited at the prospect of driving our car onto a ferry and driving off again in another country. The journey from South Wales to Dover  is just over 4hrs so we decided to stay at a Premier Inn on the way down from Cardiff to split up the journey. This meant we were only an hour away from the ferry terminal in the morning making for a far more relaxed start to what would be a long day. Once we arrived into Dover, the check-in service for our P&O Ferry   was very quick and straight forward despite there being cues later in the season our experience......

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