The Best kind of Nature inspired Escapes

A week or two spent in nature can be a great antidote for the stress that comes with life in a big city. Being surrounded by awesome scenery, plants, and animals can make a holiday truly memorable. But there are many different kinds of holidays that offer exactly this – and it might not be obvious which of them makes the best match for your needs. Coastal Retreats: Luxury Villas by the Sea Of course, it’s difficult to beat the allure of the sea especially as many of us feel a sense of calm and relaxation when spending time along the coastline. Pick the right coastal location, and you’ll be able to enjoy opportunities for watersports, the freshest possible seafood, and the constant sound of waves lapping at the shore. There are plenty of European destinations that offer all of these things, from the Amalfi Coast in Italy to the Balearic Islands in Spain. For best results, you’ll want to pick the right accommodation. This is where beachfront villas in Spain tend to be so appealing. Pick......

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Our Stylish Family Stay at Cotswold Grange Hotel, Cheltenham

If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter you may have seen we headed off to the beautiful spa town of Cheltenham for a weekend break away. The last time I had been in Cheltenham was around 7yrs ago when I was shooting a wedding and it was as wonderful as I remembered. We took a slow drive from our home in Cardiff, first stopping off in Chepstow and visiting Chepstow Castle (which I highly recommend) and then driving up through the Wye Valley, along the Severn River to the historical town of Cheltenham on the edges of the Cotswolds. While I know Cheltenham makes for a fantastic adult break away, with its boutique stores and stylish eateries, we were a little concerned there wouldn't be a lot for the kids to do but we needn't had worried as we had a great time from start to finish and I will be writing a separate post about family-friendly things to do there. For this post however I want to focus on our stay at The Cotswolds Grange Hotel as it was such positive experie......

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Cofton Holidays Devon - Family Travel Review

During the last weekend of summer we jumped into the car and headed down to Devon, a place we have passed through many times but haven't stopped to explore properly until now so we were really excited to discover what makes Devon such a popular family holiday destination. As we managed to see and do so much during our 4 days stay I have decided to spilt this across two posts with this one focusing on Cofton Holidays , a holiday park offering an array of accommodation from camping to cottages and stylish apartments right in the heart of South Devon After we got stuck in some pretty bad traffic around Bristol we were so happy to get off the motorway and drive through the pretty windy roads of Devon towards Cofton which is near the quaint seaside village of Dawlish. Checking in was a breeze and the staff were really helpful, handing over a welcome pack with all the information we needed and our park passes for the weekend. We were staying just off the main site at their newe......

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A weekend guide to Historical Durham

Following on from my review of Hotel Indigo Durham I thought I would put together a little weekend guide to the beautiful and historical town of Durham as we had such a fantastic time and I was really surprised at how much there was to see and do and all very accessible by walking making it a great weekend destination. Firstly Durham is well connected by rail and road and we arrived into Durham by train from Cardiff and with it being a small station you don't have to pull luggage very far, in fact within about 2 minutes we were into a taxi and on our way. Yes you can walk down into the town but with the station on quite a steep hill we decided to take the easy route to the hotel via taxi (only cost £4). As Durham isn't the biggest city is the perfect place for a weekend break so here are a few ideas of what to do if your planning on visiting. What to See 1. Durham Cathedral The UNESCO world heritage sight that is Durham Cathedral simply cannot be left out, even if......

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Our Stylish stay at the Hotel Indigo Durham

If you follow me on Instagram or any of my other social media platforms you will know I recently headed up to Durham for a weekend adventure and some much-needed child-free time and to explore a city we hadn't been to before. I had been invited by Hotel Indigo Durham to spend two nights in this Northern gem of a city and to discover what makes Indigo's boutique hotels stand out from the pack. You may have seen a couple of weeks ago I tried out the Afternoon tea at the Marco Pierre Restaurant in Hotel Indigo Cardiff and have been suitably impressed with both the service and the setting so we were really looking forward to what the weekend had in store for us. I am going to be doing a separate post on our time in Durham and what we got up to but with this post I really want to focus on the actual hotel as honestly is deserves that and you will see why. Firstly the hotel is perfectly located and is a very quick taxi ride from the station in the friendly and chic Trinity ......

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Una St Ives, Cornwall - a Luxury Family Getaway

We were recently invited to spend a few days in St Ives courtesy of Vist St Ives to immerse ourselves in the laid back Cornish lifestyle and explore this popular seaside destination. After a smooth but longer than expected drive down (always surprised by how many times kids need toilet stops) it was with much excitement that we pulled into Una St Ives , a rural and relaxing retreat only stone's throw away from the bustle harbor town of St Ives. Despite it being quite late in the day at this point, in true Cornish fashion the sun was out and shone over the beautifully crafted wood clad self-catering homes. We had been left with an access code to our 4 bedroom property which we would call home for 3 nights and from the moment we stepped through the front door it became somewhat of a sanctuary for us. If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know we love self-catering when it comes to family trips as it offers more flexibility especially when your trav......

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The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide and Giveaway

Wearing my Poppy Appeal Jumper  Are you still running around searching for a few unique and original gifts for your loved ones this Christmas? Well look no further as I have an array of ideas from pocket money budget gifts to larger luxury ones. Don't forget you have until the 21st for first class postage and the 22nd for special delivery. For Her I have put together a collection of both useful and practical ideas along with some stylish and luxury items. The Pukka Tea tea comes filled with herbal organic teas and is a great way to store your bags. I can also personally vouch for the new Tiana organic skincare range and The Oral Kiely Poppy bag donates a portion to the Poppy Appeal. If your really stuck for a gift pop over to BuyAGift which has a range of vouchers offering afternoon teas, adrenaline experiences and spa days. Gifts for Her 1. Parks Winter Wonders Candle £30 2. Oral-B Genius 9000 Electric toothbrush £89.99 3. Pukka Christmas Collecting Ti......

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