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Planning a trip to Paris in 2020
Next year my lovely daughter will have her sixteenth birthday. I want to do something really special with her to mark this milestone. We plan to take a girls’ trip to Paris. I last visited Paris as a teenager myself. My memories are sketchy ones of the Eiffel Tower and the Sacre-Couer. I should confess now that I missed out on Notre Dame completely leaving the teachers and heading for a market to buy cheap perfume. So as we are planning our trip to Paris, we are researching the places we would like to go on the Voyage Prive website and by reading various travel guides. Notre-Dame It seems only…
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How to make your airport experience less stressful
So, you’ve just booked your trip to that sunny destination you’ve been dreaming about for years. It’s been a long time coming and you can’t wait to be on your way! However, there is something you’re not looking forward to, that dreadful part of the journey that most people dislike, the thing that’s between you and your dream holiday: the airport. The long queues, large crowds, grumpy people and overpriced meals are something that starts to make you feel stressed and overwhelmed even before you’ve reached the airport. But what if I told you that there are ways to make your airport experience less stressful and even … pleasant? Let’s…
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6 of the Best Wildlife Encounters
Incredible worldwide wildlife experiences and adventures in nature. Head out on a wildlife holiday for an experience full of beauty and excitement, striking animals, exotic plants and a once in a lifetime adventures. Thanks to the rising popularity of nature documentaries like Sir David Attenborough’s famous Planet Earth, it’s become apparent that wildlife is a really popular holiday type. The global travel industry, with a renewed focus on sustainability and responsible tourism, now offers worldwide adventures that allow tourists to experience wildlife like they haven’t before. Almost half of global tourism is made up of wildlife holidays, in no small part thanks to the ready availability of long-haul flights to…
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Youth hostels for family holidays
Are youth hostels good for family holidays? Last Wednesday, we set off for a short break at Hartington Youth Hostel in Derbyshire. This was our first time in a youth hostel so we were unsure whether it would suit our family or not. I am delighted to report that we had the most marvelous time and will be becoming members of the Youth Hostel Association because we want more of the same please. Youth hostels for family holidays are about making the best memories. When we arrived in the beautiful countryside of the Peak District, we were already in great moods. It felt lovely to be escaping various stresses for…
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Dream USA destinations for the future
When I was a child, I dreamed of visiting the USA. Of course, Disneyland was top of my list but in those days it seemed out of reach for ordinary families like ours. It was not things like visa requirements that stopped us then. It was simply a case of not having enough money. We should never give up on our fantasies and I did make it to Disneyland and the other Orlando theme parks with my own son. The opportunity came up so unexpectedly and we had to move fast to sort out things like ESTA and our passports. We had a fantastic mother and son quality time together…
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Trips with the girls are good for you
While many of us might be content with eating a little more responsibly and cutting down on our alcohol intake when we’re on a health kick, there is one important thing that we often neglect – friendships can be just as vital to our health as our eating and drinking habits. Indeed, positive social connections have been proven to not only increase life expectancy but can even help us to tolerate greater levels of pain and ward off dementia! Trips with the girls are proven to be good for you! The more time we spend with people whose company we genuinely enjoy, the greater levels of oxytocin are released into…
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Winter in the Sun for happy holidays
Holidays aren’t just a summer activity. Winter is a time of year where it’s easy to get a bit glum, particularly if you’re not getting enough sunshine. If you’re feeling a bit under the weather, then you can deal with it by booking the right winter break. But what does a great winter break look like, and what are the best reasons for booking one? Let’s look for winter in the sun! Winter in the sun If you decide to go away to somewhere sunny during winter – whether it’s a tropical beach resort or an alpine ski chalet, then you’ll benefit from increased vitamin D. Exposure to sunlight will…
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BEST WINE REGIONS TO VISIT
If you are a foodie who likes to taste the terroir whilst on holiday, then don’t miss out on these six destinations every wine connoisseur needs to visit. Here are 6 of the best wine regions to visit in the world. Marlborough, New Zealand Situated in the largest and leading wine growing region in New Zealand, The Marlborough Lodge is a South Island boutique hotel that’s the stuff of oenophile dreams. Part of the extensive grounds is home to a vineyard – growing the world-famous Marlborough sauvignon blanc grapes – and the hotel’s head gardener can take you on a tour that’s a wonderful introduction to the region’s most famous…
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Tips to stay in a positive mindset whilst travelling
I can vouch for the fact that travelling long-term is so different from going on a short holiday. There are joys and challenges to taking that leap of faith in going travelling. Mental health is vital and I was delighted to be offered the chance to share this guest post from Nadia on tips to stay in a positive mindset whilst travelling long-term. “Long term travel is fantastic but it can take a toll on your life. If you plan to take a long term trip, it is very important to maintain a healthy mindset. This can be tricky at times – being away from your family and friends can…
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Places to propose in Europe this Summer
Summer is officially just around the corner, and many of us have been looking forward to lighter evenings, longer days, and some free time spent in the sunshine. Couples all over the world will be getting ready for their summer break and there’s nothing more romantic than a holiday proposal. So, if you’re planning to pop the question yourself this year, Angelic Diamonds have rounded up a selection of some of the most romantic and quirky places to propose in Europe. 1. Places to propose in Europe – Petřín Hill – Prague – Peaceful Petrin is centred around this hillside park, where secluded gardens and winding pathways lead to…
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10 reasons why France should be your next vacation destination
France!!! Just say it out loud and you will start having visuals of Effiel Tower, Notre Dame and Mona Lisa across your mind. Why you should travel to France once in your lifetime? The answer is simple: France is incredibly beautiful. The list of reasons for visiting France will always remain endless. It is blessed with stunning landscapes, spectacular sea coasts, sculptured gardens, and picturesque villages. According to the UN World Tourism Organisation, it was named as the most popular destination with 84 million visitors last year. Along with the amazing hospitality from its people, there are many other things to do that will always leave you ready for your…
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How to save money at the airport with large families
`Planning a trip abroad is always exciting but the more people you have on the trip, the busier and more expensive it becomes. If you are thinking about a large family holiday, here are some tips and tricks to help you get back a little extra money at the airport. Sign Up for Travel Schemes Whether it is an airline frequent flyer loyalty card or a scheme attached to a credit card which earns you potential airmiles every time you shop, there are many ways you can save up enough money to get discounts on your flights. Don’t forget to sign your children up too. There are often frequent…
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Learning through art – guest post
Maria Tecla Artemesia Montessori turned modern education on its head when, at the dawn of the 20th century, she realised that by engaging with kids physically, creatively, and out of doors it did more for their learning processes, growth, focus and retention than those endless hours sitting at a school desk. When kids were free to express themselves, or were emotionally connected with the teachings, they were more open to learning and their brains fully engaged. Despite Montessori’s impact abroad, when Shannon Kenny founded Arte al Sole, there were actually few truly engaging experiences for kids in and around Italy. Shannon, a medieval historian and single mother of two girls,…
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Becoming vegan and helping animals in need – Victoria’s story
Victoria Bryceson is passionate about advocating a cruelty free, environmentally-friendly lifestyle and helping animals in need around the world. She is vegan and organises a series of Vegan Events UK festivals up and down the country. She is also founder of animal welfare and education charity Miracle’s Mission. Here she tells her story of how she became vegan and the benefits of adopting this compassionate lifestyle. From vegetarian to vegan “I became vegetarian 22 years ago when I first fully realised what meat was and where it came from. I also gave up eggs and wearing any leather clothing or footwear. This is the point when I made the connection…
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5 Indian states I would love to visit
India is one of those countries that my friends always rave about when they visit. It is also a country that is very much on my bucket list of places to see. I need to make a plan as I would want to spend several weeks there so that I could really get a feel for such a diverse nation. I want to indulge in amazing cuisine, learn more about the culture and visit historical sites. I have narrowed down 5 Indian states that I would love to visit and can lose myself for hours checking out hotels in Goa and my other preferred states. https://unsplash.com/photos/bWJiSZjIgTM?fbclid=IwAR05QPm885kcNU-9K_3yed-M0P9t05YFGxG109LLxE-kAkebCmSs0Ya4o58 Goa The thought of…
