Kids eat free summer 2024

Banana Tree

Kids eat free Sunday – Friday at participating restaurants between Monday, 19th August and Sunday, 8th September.

Order one adult main course from its All Day menu and get a kids meal for free.

Booking an further details here: https://bananatree.co.uk/kids-eat-free

Beefeater

Beefeater is offering an unlimited all-you-can-eat breakfast including a cooked full English and continental favourites. Two children under 16 eat for FREE with every adult breakfast purchased (£10.99).

More details here: https://www.beefeater.co.uk/en-gb/school-holidays

Bella Italia

Kids eat free all day every Thursday and for £1 between 4-6pm, Sunday to Wednesday at Bella Italia. Full details can be found on the website: https://www.bellaitalia.co.uk/kids

Bill’s

Up to two children can eat free all day when one adult orders any main dish. Bill’s children’s menu features many favourites such as its famous buttermilk pancakes, mac and cheese and fish fingers and chips. Full details here.

Brewers Fayre

As part of the Whitbread group, Brewers Fayre is offering the same breakfast deal as Beefeater where two children under 16 eat free with every adult breakfast purchased. More details here: https://www.brewersfayre.co.uk/en-gb/breakfast

Dobbies Garden Centres

Enjoy a free children’s breakfast with any adult traditional or full breakfast or a free child’s hot meal or pick n mix lunch box with any adult main course.

Offer available everyday in the restaurant and also includes a free child’s drink. Find your local Dobbies.

Dunelm

Kids eat for nothing in the Pausa cafes of home furnishing retailer Dunelm with every £4 spent. For more details go to: https://www.dunelm.com/info/about/pausa-coffee-shops

Franco Manca

Children 12 years and under receive a free kids pizza for every full-priced adult main meal. This is in selected pizzerias though fairly widespread. Check the full details on the site.

Las Iguanas

Kids up to 12-years-old can enjoy a free meal, which includes a main course, two sides and a dessert, with each adult ordering a main from the menu.

Sign up to the app here to unlock the deal.

Morrisons

Available every day at the Morrisons café, get one free kids meal with any adult meal, which costs over £5 from The Breakfasts, The Classics or The Chippy.

Check out full details here.

Pizza Express

Enjoy one free Piccolo meal, which includes three courses, when you dine-in and purchase any pizza or main between now and Sunday, 11th August.

To book go to: https://www.pizzaexpress.com/book/book-a-table-uk

Premier Inn

You don’t have to be staying at the hotel to take advantage of its great breakfast offer. When one adult orders a full Premier Inn Breakfast or a Meal Deal, up to two under 16s eat breakfast for free.

For more details go to: https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/why/family.html

Tesco

Kids can enjoy a free meal with any adult purchase in The Café when dining in.
More details here: https://www.tesco.com/zones/tesco-cafe/kids-menu

TGI Fridays

You can really get that Friday feeling at TGI Fridays this summer. When an adult orders a main you get a free kid’s meal; available all day, everyday.

Full details on the TGI Fridays website.

Travelodge

Up to two children aged 15 or under get a free breakfast for every full paying adult at Travelodge. Again, you don’t need to be resident to benefit from this offer.

Find out more here: https://www.travelodge.co.uk/about/breakfast/

Whitbread Inns

Two children under 16 eat for free with every adult breakfast purchased at any Whitebread Inn. Find your closest one here: https://www.whitbreadinns.co.uk/en-gb/breakfast

Yo! Sushi

Until the 30th of August, children eat free all day and can tuck into delicious bento boxes in all Yo! Sushi restaurants when dining with a full-paying adult (minimum £10 spend).

Find out more here.

Kids eat for £1 summer 2024

There are also many places offering a £1 deal (or in the case of IKEA 95p) for children’s’ meals.

Asda

Originally just for school holidays, Asda’s Kids Eat for £1 café deal is available all year round. No adult purchase is required. More details about the initiative here.

Harvester

The Harvester’s kids eat for £1 deal returns for the summer holidays. From Monday to Friday until the 30th of August (excluding bank holidays) you can get cheap eats for the kids by downloading the Harvester app.

Full details here:  https://www.harvester.co.uk/offers/kidspound#/

Hungry Horse

Children eat for £1 every Monday on selected kids’ meals at Hungry Horse with every full paying adult.
More details here: https://www.hungryhorse.co.uk/deals/kids-eat-for-1

IKEA

Everyone’s favourite Swedish retailer has a Kids eat from 95p special. Children can enjoy Mac n Cheese, soft drink and a piece of fruit for 95p or any other Kids meal for £1.50. Available from 11am in restaurants nationwide excluding Fridays.

Go to: https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/stores/restaurant/ for more details.  

Oxygen Activeplay

If the kids want to get active at Oxygen, they can refuel after their flipping, jumping and bouncing with a £1 meal (when purchasing an adult meal).

More details here.

Kids eat free in London summer 2024

For those that live in the capital or are planning to visit over the school summer holidays, Design My Night has compiled a great list of eateries offering free meals for children in London.

Kids eat free at Angus Steak House

Additionally, children aged eight and under can enjoy complimentary meals on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, as well as every day during half term, when accompanied by a full-paying adult.

Full details here.

Know any places not included where kids eat free (or for £1)?

Comment below with any others that are not included and I’ll add them to the list.

The post Kids Eat Free During School Holidays 2024 appeared first on The Parent Social.

Royal Parks Nature Roadshow

The Royal Parks of St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens are holding Nature Roadshows on Wednesday, May 29th and Friday, May 31st respectively. Head down during half term for a wild nature experience. Engage in a scavenger hunt and get into the spring spirit, use binoculars to observe nature and creatures up close, and participate in interactive, nature-themed games and crafts.

The range of activities are perfect for all the family and all aspiring environmentalists.

Whilst you’re free to drop in at any time between 11am and 3pm and join the activities, Royal Parks asks that you register online so they have an idea on numbers.

Address: St James’s Park, SW1A 2BJ – Marlborough Gate Lawn
Kensington Gardens, W2 2UH – Next to Italian Gardens

Women in Science Tour – Natural History Museum

Find out about inspirational women scientists across history in this award-winning guided tour on Tuesday, 28th May (tour starts at 1.15pm).

You’ll hear about their passions and fascinating work past and present (including scientists who’ve worked at the museum). Also discover the displays and view many treasures such as the specimens collected by Mary Anning. Tours vary slightly, but Dorothea Bate, Sara Russell, Barbara Yelverton, Angela Milner, Miranda Lowe and Nadine Gabriel are amongst those regularly covered. Here’s the full list of some of the amazing people you may hear about:

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/highlights-women-in-science-tour.html

Whilst the museum tries to accommodate walk-ins, priority is given to ticket holders. Find out more and book FREE tickets.

The recommended age for the tour is 11 years and over.

Address: Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD (meet at the 1st Floor Hintze Hall, by Guy the Gorilla, next to the Treasures gallery).

Drop in Design: Experiments with Photography

During half term, the V&A Museum is holding a free drop-in workshop for budding Baileys and Bourke-Whites to experiment with new photography techniques.

From Wednesday, 29th May until Friday, 31st May (11am-4pm) join artists Chahine Fellahi and Kaïs Aïouch from Kimiā Collective. This Casablanca-based collective is dedicated to experimental practices in moving image, photography and media art. Create a wide range of images using materials, tools and skills from early photography to the modern day. Be inspired by their artwork (and the Museum’s new Photography Centre) and experiment with different techniques; make your own camera and create photographs minus a camera.

All materials are provided and all images created can be brought home. More details on Drop in Design: Experiments with Photography.

Address: Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL

Bella Hoare Exhibition – OXO Tower

Emerging artist Bella Hoare’s captivating exhibition, A Different Green, is taking place at the OXO Tower on London’s South Bank from Wednesday, 22nd May until Sunday, 2nd June.

This free family-friendly garden themed exhibition features over 20 beautiful paintings inspired by both the natural world and feminine power.

On display is Hoare’s “Green Goddess” series – a contemporary twist on the pagan figure of the “Green Man,” which celebrates feminine wisdom and strength in the natural world. Also exhibited is her “Glasshouse” series featuring portraits of women from The Glasshouse, a social enterprise, which provides second chances to female UK prisoners through horticultural training.

Bella Hoare is based in West Wiltshire and draws inspiration from her surroundings on the Stourhead Estate – one of the National Trust‘s most popular destinations.

Address: Barge House St, London, SE1 9PH

Make your mark! Half Term Family Drawing Workshops

Join real life artists at pop-up drawing stations at The British Museum on Thursday, 30th May.

Get your inspiration from Michelangelo – the subject of the museum’s new exhibition – and take part in experimental drawing activities, which are suitable for all the family. Use pencils, pens and paper to create artworks to take home. Alternatively, you can collaborate on a large group art project. Whether you prefer small or large scale, artists will be on hand to guide you through techniques. No experience is necessary.

Drop in at any time on the day between 11.00am and 4pm. No ticket is required but places are given on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information go to: https://www.britishmuseum.org/

Address: Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG

Have a great half term, and don’t forget your Zip Oyster Photocards for free/discounted travel for 5-15 year olds.

I would love to hear what free activities you have planned for this half term. Let me know in the comments below.

The post Five Free Activities for Kids in London for May Half Term appeared first on The Parent Social.

Here are a few of my holiday money saving tips along with some from Moneyboat (www.moneyboat.co.uk).

Go incognito/search from a different device

Those pesky cookies mean Big Brother knows where you’ve got your sights set for your next holiday as soon as you start browsing. I usually find that flights are a certain price on my first look online and jump up on a subsequent visit. Or sometimes, knowing your preferences from previous times, you’re automatically quoted something more expensive. Going incognito (privacy mode) can shave a lot of money off. This article explains how. This doesn’t just apply to flights and accommodation it’s on lots of things.

Take early and mid-week flights

This is something I’ve been doing for years and it’s saved us £100s at a time. It is amazing what difference a couple of hours makes to the price of a flight. This is definitely something where the pain (getting up super early) gives a lot of gain! Also there’s a lot less traffic on the roads at this time and you get more of your first day at your destination.

Moneyboat says that mid-week flights, especially on Wednesdays, are usually more affordable than weekend departures.

Tuesday and Wednesday nights tend to be the best times to bag the cheapest flights with midnight being the optimum time to get a bargain.

Spread the costs

Look out for options where you can put down a small deposit and then pay on a monthly basis to spread out the costs. Just make sure that you’re not having to pay a large premium to do this.

Book hotels with free cancellation

Locking in rooms where there’s a free cancellation policy ensures you’re covered and won’t have to pay large admin fees if your plans change. This isn’t the only money saving benefit though. You can also monitor the price of your accommodation. If it drops (and this happens a lot) you can cancel your room and re-book.

Book off-peak season trips

People head to well-known sun-drenched destinations at the height of summer. These same destinations, such as the Greek Islands, the Canaries, the Amalfi coast, benefit from warm temperatures and cheaper costs in spring and autumn (think half term) and in some cases even in winter. This can afford huge savings.

Be an early bird

Plan ahead and book your 2025 holiday as soon as possible before the prices begin rising. As well as grabbing a potential bargain you’ll also have the opportunity to spread the costs.

Compare airline prices

If like me, you’re pre-programmed to check the budget airlines first, you could be missing a money-saving trick. Head to the comparison sites to find the best prices and deals. Skyscanner is one of the big ones. I’ve also been recently introduced to Jack’s Flight Club, a site which lets you know when flights to lots of different destinations are going really cheap.

Also take a look at connecting flights as opposed to non-stop as these are often a lot cheaper.

Evaluate your dining options

While all-inclusive might feel like it takes the sting out of eating costs, it hugely impacts the cost of your hotel accommodation. Do your research and see if there are affordable places to eat in the local area and calculate whether it’s more cost-effective to book alternative options such as half-board or self-catering instead.

Vacuum pack clothes

Adding baggage allowance to your flight really racks up the costs. If you’re paying for four people to have hold luggage it becomes a very significant sum. Whilst vacuum packing clothes doesn’t reduce weight, it does create a lot of extra space, which means you can ditch some of the bags.

Save even more money by only taking hand luggage.

Join travel loyalty reward schemes

Certain airlines and ferry companies as well as Eurostar offer loyalty reward schemes for travellers. These rewards/points can often be redeemed off the price of future travel or offer other money saving perks.

The combo holiday

Half-holidays – where you visit one destination for a week and then move on to a nearby location for the remainder of the trip – are a great way to save money and combine a beach holiday with a sightseeing holiday or city break. For example, you can book a pricier resort holiday for a week, then book a much cheaper hotel near historical sites/city centre. This cuts down on the taxis or hire car that you’d otherwise have to fork out for to visit these sights if you did two weeks at a resort.

Don’t pay in pounds

When making purchases abroad pay in the local currency rather than converting to pounds. This can save a significant amount of money. As Moneyboat explains, often vendors and establishments offer less favourable exchange rates when converting your pounds on the spot. By paying in the local currency, you avoid these additional charges and get the best value for your money.

Reduce your airport travel/parking costs

Many airports have started charging for drop-offs even if your car is only there for a minute. There are however free drop-off points, which are a short walk or bus ride away from the terminal. Check the airport’s website for details of where these are and allow extra time.

If you’re driving and parking for the duration of your trip, look at parking zones that are further out as these are cheaper. Again allow extra time to get to the terminal.

Last-minute offers

If you’re not a planner and so miss out on early bird deals then go completely the other way and book last minute. This doesn’t always work, but you can often bag a bargain if hotels or flights have spaces to fill.

Don’t buy at the airport

You pay a real premium at airports for travel accessories so make sure you buy things like adaptors and neck pillows beforehand. The same goes for snacks.

The other thing that’s extremely expensive to do at the airport is buy foreign currency. I use Martin Lewis’ Travel Money Max tool to find out which local exchange bureaus are offering the best rate.

Book excursions, museums, tours etc in advance

Search what there is to see and do in your destination and plan ahead. Usually you can save a lot of money if you book activities online in advance as opposed to paying on the door. With a bit of research you might even hit upon free events and activities that are happening in the local area.

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Would love to hear your holiday money saving tips. Please comment below

The post 16 Top Money Saving Travel Tips for Your Next Holiday appeared first on The Parent Social.

Getting the most out of a family holiday to Spain

While the idea of taking a family holiday to Spain sounds exciting, travelling as a family has its challenges. A recent Kayak survey revealed that nearly 27% of British respondents find family trips stressful due to the planning, booking and preparation required. During a Spanish holiday, where the sights, sounds and environment may be drastically different, it is important to make sure your child is comfortable and happy. This paves the way for a great holiday for everyone.

Here are some tips to ensure a fuss-free family trip to Spain:

Book family-friendly destinations ahead of time

Since Spain is a top holiday destination, establishments and tourist sights in popular areas can get crowded. This often leads to long queues and impatient children. It’s therefore important to book ahead and check the destination has family-friendly activities to enjoy. Don’t let common preconceptions about locations narrow your options. Ibiza holidays are a magnet for tourists. However, while the island is commonly associated with clubbing, many parts are a popular choice for family holidays. San Antonio Bay and Cala Llonga are home to beautiful beach shores with shallow and calm water that are great for paddling with children.

Similarly, a historical city like Seville might seem the choice for older visitors. However, a little research will reveal that it is actually family-friendly. It boasts adventure parks like Isla Mágica and wholesome art performances at Sala Cero.

Take note of the climate in Spain

According to Spain’s official tourism website, the country experiences around 3,000 hours of sunshine each year. The climate is generally mild all year round, but there are regional variations. Popular tourist destinations of Seville and Madrid experience maximum temperatures in the peak of summer, reaching an average of 35-37°C. A particular hotspot is Córdoba, which hit 50°C last summer, and holidaymakers in Mallorca were warned of “extreme risk” due the Charon heatwave. Make sure climate doesn’t adversely affect your family and trip and prep accordingly. Apart from avoiding particularly affected places, take clothes made from lightweight and breathable materials to help your children stay cool. Shirts made from cotton and linen are good summer choices. Ensure you pack the sunscreen, hats and sunglasses for your children. You could even invest in a rechargeable mini-fan to help them cool down on the go.

Be mindful of local customs

While it’s easier for adults to adapt, younger kids may experience a culture shock that can be confusing. For instance, the siesta – a time when most shops and restaurants close – has been a habit-based tradition in Spain for centuries. The break usually lasts from around two in the afternoon until early evening and can catch you unawares. Therefore make sure you get family essentials such as snacks and prescriptions before siesta time.

Another cultural difference is the dos besos greeting. Generally, most Spaniards greet with a kiss on each cheek. This can be surprising for little kids. Teach them about the custom and let them know it’s part of the Spanish identity to ensure they understand what’s going on!

There are plenty more tips and stories on the blog about family-friendly European trips.

The post 3 Tips to Ensure a Fuss-Free Family Trip to Spain appeared first on The Parent Social.

Ideas for eliminating the January blues and banishing ‘Blue Monday’

Themed Film Nights

We always watch a lot of Christmas films in December, but after Boxing Day that’s it! To fill the void in January, pick a theme for each weekend, such as 1980s classics (I’m really enjoying re-visiting these with my kids) or comedies, and watch a series of films together. Don’t forget the popcorn and cozy blankets!

Plan a Future Trip

Research and plan a big day out, weekend away or even a family holiday. It’s something to look forward to and the anticipation and excitement of planning gives everyone a boost. We had a wonderful time plotting our route and stop offs for a European road trip. Not quite as far afield, but we’re excited about going on the City of London Mystery Adventure, which I got as a family present at Christmas. My mother-in-law coincidentally got me a voucher for another Mystery Guide so we’re thinking that we may head to Oxford for our next adventure and make a weekend of it.

January bakeoff

Get the cookbooks out and try out new recipes as a family. Bake some biscuits, make homemade pizzas or sausage rolls, be adventurous with an unfamiliar country’s cuisine or create a delicious dessert. Cooking together is a great activity plus you get to enjoy the results. I cherished our bake-alongs on Zoom with friends during lockdown.

Arts and Crafts

Gather some art supplies and bits and pieces from around the house – think spare buttons, bits of wrapping paper, ribbon, old cards – and get creative. You can paint, make crafts or even create a family scrapbook with photos and memories.

Games, Cards and Puzzles

Break out the games and cards and have a family games night. It’s something we do regularly. We have lots of favourite board games and play a variety of card games – including poker – but also like more active games.

The surprise hit of 2023/2024 is Chicken vs Hotdog. It’s a silly game, but so much fun, and kids and adults love it equally; it went down a storm at the New Year’s Eve party!

We’re also fans of jigsaws. It’s a great collaborative experience and actually very relaxing.

Home Spa Day

Relax together with a home spa day. Chill out, put your feet up, put on face masks and have some calming music in the background. You could add in some yoga, give massages and have an all round pamper. It’s also a good opportunity to pay attention to those winter chapped hands and lips.

Walks in January

There’s nothing nicer when it’s cold and crisp (and sunny if you’re lucky) than to rug up and head out for a nature walk. Exploring the winter landscape can be really refreshing. There’s still plenty to see even if it seems a barren time of year on the surface; if there’s snow so much the better. Our National Trust membership comes into its own.

Learn Something New in January Hobby Month

My eldest daughter started learning a bit of Italian with Duolingo last year. I want to get the rest of the family doing this too. Knitting is seeing a huge resurgence, and a lot of this could be down to its dopamine-releasing effect. Similarly crochet has become very popular. You could keep it even simpler and learn a new card game together.

Indoor Gardening

Start a windowsill garden with herbs or small vegetables. We did well with our Eden Greens Microgreen Grow Kit. It’s a great way to bring some green inside and maybe sprout an interest in gardening. You could get even more creative and make a miniature terrarium.

Become a Twitcher

The birds really need a helping hand at this time of year. Leaving food out will attract lots of feathered friends, which are fascinating to watch. The Big Garden Birdwatch, which is taking place the 26th to the 28th of January, is a great activity to take part in. As well as helping collect vital data about the UK’s bird population, it’s the perfect opportunity to take an hour out and get closer to nature.

Would love to hear your ideas; please share below!

The post 10 Ways to Beat the January Blues appeared first on The Parent Social.

Why a package holiday this time?

The original plan was to go and visit my family in Italy, but we had three flights cancelled within a few weeks. It showed how changeable the travel situation is with Covid. We didn’t want to rebook flights and spend lots of time searching for a villa when there was a very high chance flights would be cancelled again and we’d lose our money on accommodation. We still had aspirations of going abroad but didn’t want the stress. A fully ATOL protected, package holiday seemed the way to go.

Cyprus as a destination

We took Italy off the table as even double vaccinated people are required to quarantine on arrival for five days. A quick look at the EasyJet Holidays website revealed the European countries we could go to quarantine-free. Cyprus was one destination that came up. It ticked the boxes on travel time, sunshine, warm sea and cuisine.  

A friend mentioned The Elysium in Cyprus, saying it was one of her favourite hotels in the World. We looked it up and could see why. We went back to EasyJet and were delighted to see that the very hotel was included in their package holiday to Paphos.

What the package holiday included

The package was much cheaper than booking the separate elements so it was a no-brainer. We pushed the button. It removed all the stress as we knew it was all covered and didn’t have the fear of a last minute flight cancellation. We also didn’t spend hours trawling the web for accommodation to match our flight dates.

The package included:

• Return flights to Paphos
• 23kg of luggage each (including the kids)
• One item of hand baggage each (including the kids)
• Hotel accommodation
• Private transfer from the airport to the hotel

The Elysium hotel

The Elysium is a very elegant, five star luxury resort with a lovely vibe. It boasts some outstanding staff (special shoutouts to Yannis, Luigi and Kiki), fantastic restaurants and a wonderful spa. It also ticked the other box for the kids: having a pool (well not just one but multiple). I loved the private beach, facilities, good restaurants, amazing air con and having staff on hand to offer advice and make bookings. We phoned the hotel ahead of booking to ask about interconnecting rooms and as soon as we’d pushed the button they confirmed them. The rooms are well appointed and serviced very well. We went for bed and breakfast as we wanted to have the flexibility to eat in and outside of the hotel for lunch and dinner.

We didn’t use the kids club, but plenty of people did. I sneaked a peak and the facilities looked great. I also had a blissful few hours at the spa and was treated to massages, facials, scrubs and all sorts of other indulgences.

The Elysium is well situated for exploring Paphos city (Ktima: old town and Kato, the harbour area/new town) itself as well as the expansive Paphos district. It is also right next to the Tombs of the Kings – a Unesco World Heritage Site.

What were the best bits of a package holiday?

Ultimately, in the current climate, the peace of mind is invaluable.

The generous baggage allowance is brilliant. There was no faffing about adding on extra things and incurring more charges once the flights were booked.

On arrival, it was fantastic having someone waiting for us to take us straight to the hotel.

We enjoyed having the great service and everything taken care of. I loved having breakfast sorted every day and the vast and quality selection available. I may have had Champagne before 10am on a number of occasions! It was a bonus not having to clean up the kitchen every day.

The kids particularly loved chilling by the pool and the younger two liked being able to socialise and make new friends. I love how easily kids do this! I’m more of a sea lover than a pool lounger so for me the private beach – and proximity to other blue flag beaches – was wonderful.

The restaurants were top notch. It was great mixing up a more leisurely lunch or evening meal at the hotel with dining out in Paphos.

We thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I was extremely surprised that such a high calibre hotel would be included in a package. We loved the country, food and people.

Hiring a car

A family holiday should have something for everyone. My husband and particularly me wouldn’t enjoy spending all day, every day at a resort. We hired a car via the hotel – at a very competitive price – so that we could do more exploring.

We were able to head over to lovely Latsi/Latchi on the north side of the island, the Troodos mountains and waterfalls, Polis (and Aphrodite’s baths), wineries, countless beaches and villages and even Aphrodite Water Park.

The Covid requirements for travelling

The UK is on Cyprus’ red list so whilst there was no quarantining, my eldest had to have a PCR test within 72 hours of our departure. She also had to have another PCR test as soon as we arrived at Paphos airport. Interestingly (as of August 7th), the test in the UK cost £150 and €19 in Cyprus. Quite a difference!

My husband and I didn’t need to take a PCR test before travel to Cyprus as we are double vaccinated. Our twins are under 12 so they didn’t have to either. With those criteria in place we then had to fill out a Cyprus flight pass.

Cyprus is on the UK’s Amber list. For our return, we all had to have a PCR test within 48 hours of our flight (the hotel organised this and we had it on site), proof of pre-arranged ‘Day 2’ PCR tests in the UK and a completed Passenger Locator form. A word of warning… many of the Day 2 ‘approved’ test providers on the government website are rather suspect. We never found one that actually cost the displayed price.

…..

Would I do a package holiday again? Yes. Would I do a DIY holiday again? Also yes. However, until travel returns to normal I’d definitely stick with the former. I might have a beady eye on what’s available for October half term…

The post Our first package holiday and I enjoyed it appeared first on The Parent Social.

The girls love beaches; shingle, sandy or rocky, it doesn’t matter. For post-April 12th of the Easter holidays – as restrictions began to lift – we booked a place to stay in St Leonards, East Sussex.

A change from four walls

It was fever pitch excitement all round just for the fact we were getting a change of scene for a few days. Having the freedom to travel for an hour and a half to a different location suddenly felt amazing.

It was wonderful to be right on the seafront and have great views from our accommodation. Pool and ping pong tables really made it for the kids. It was big on holiday vibes.

Beaches

Aside from the beaches at Hastings and St Leonards, which have plenty of facilities, eateries and things to do, we also visited Camber Sands and Pevensey Bay (which is where William the Conqueror landed in 1066).

Camber Sands is unique out of these for having a sandy beach and great dunes to explore and have a game of hide and seek in. We played French cricket and boule and had cocktails, ice-cream and fish and chips on the beach.

Entertainment

Whilst the arcades of Hastings were still shut, there was plenty to entertain. The girls are big fans of adventure golf and the three courses didn’t disappoint. The trampoline park was a hit as was the pier. We were able to go into non-essential shops again so the girls were able to satisfy another wish list entry: visiting an antique shop; St Leonards and Hastings Old Town boast many. It was so nice to be able to peruse.

Hastings pier, which was almost completely destroyed by a fire in 2010, was rebuilt in 2016. It has the seaside attractions that our kids love, but additionally it’s a beautifully designed communal space. It actually won the accolade of Britain’s best new building in 2017.

History

We always like to explore the area and visit places of interest, and when you’re in 1066 country it has to be done.

Battle Abbey and Battlefield (English Heritage)

We went to Battle Abbey and Battlefield, one of England’s most significant historic sites, to find out more about the Battle of Hastings, which took place there.

It’s a great place to visit and you can really envisage what happened with the aide of the information provided (pitched at levels suitable for both kids and adults). We built on our knowledge and the kids had a great time. They learnt a lot, enjoyed the playground and Easter trail (and the sizeable chocolate bar they received for completing it).

Pevensey Castle (English Heritage)

It was through our visit to Battle Abbey that we found out about Pevensey Castle, the actual place William the Conqueror landed in 1066 and one of the last Roman ‘Saxon Shore’ forts. It’s not a ‘fairytale’ castle but it’s really engrossing; the scale is amazing and you can learn everything from its significance in Roman times to its important role in the Second World War.

National Trust – Bateman’s

Bateman’s is a lovely 17th century house set in the beautiful Sussex Weald. It was bought by Rudyard Kipling in 1902 and he remained there with his family until his death in 1936. It was really nice just walking the grounds and doing the activities of the Easter trail (you even got your egg upfront!). We also spent plenty of the time in the natural playground and the girls had their first NT lunch boxes in a long time! We even managed to meet up with a friend, who was in the area at the time

Eating out – al fresco

Then of course there was eating out for the first time in four months… Something we were all very excited about.

As there was still no indoor dining allowed, I’d booked a few places in advance; limited outdoor space makes it rather competitive. We got used to being flexible on the times we ate and adapted to eating al fresco at an average of 7c!

Our favourite places were:

La Bella Vista (St Leonards) – for contemporary Italian food

Gurkha Chef (St Leonards) – for wonderful Nepalese food

The Globe Inn Marsh –  for lovely gastropub grub and a massive gin menu

It was an absolute tonic and we’re looking forward to another trip away when we can.

…..

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The post We Do Like to be Beside the Seaside – St Leonards, Hastings, Camber Sands Beaches appeared first on The Parent Social.

Travelling to France

We took the decision not to fly this year and it was a great one. After a wonderfully uneventful 35-minute crossing on Eurotunnel, we made our way to our first stop of the holiday: Orbais-l’Abbaye in the Champagne-Ardenne region. It’s a great base for exploring the wider Champagne region.

For our first night dinner we headed to nearby Champagne epicentre Epernay. I’d assumed it would all be rather quiet, but there was no room at restaurant after restaurant. We finally lucked out and got a table at a lovely place where the girls had the first of the many steak hachés they’d be eating in France.

Champagne – day 2   

We had a private tour booked with Grape Escapes and were picked up from our accommodation and taken to one of the most traditional Champagne houses in existence – Champagne Henry de Vaugency. A great overview of the history was given and we saw the main processes, which are still done by hand (including the ginormous wooden press). It was a very visual tour and the owner was extremely enthusiastic, so the girls were kept entertained. Then it was on to the tasting The children got as much fizzy orange as they wanted so thumbs up from them!

Lunch was arranged as part of the itinerary and for that we headed into Hautvillers, a really pretty village surrounded by vines and containing lots of Champagne houses. We had a trio of Champagnes to accompany our lunch and then had a mooch around this quaint village. Then it was off to another traditional maker: Champagne Philippe Martin in nearby Cumières where we had another good tour and tasting.

Puligny-Montrachet – days 3 and 4

We then headed to another wine heartland – Puligny-Montrachet in Burgundy. It’s a small and pretty village, which has a really great wine bar (literally opposite our accommodation) serving all the local – and many other – wines. From this base, we visited the wonderful and vibrant walled-town of Beaune, which is the wine capital of Burgundy.

The town is renowned for Hôtel-Dieu (Hospices de Beaune). This fantastic place now hosts the largest charity wine auction in the world. However, it was originally a hospital and refuge for the poor, which was the beneficiary of many neighbouring vineyards through charitable donations. 

This place did not disappoint; it is stunning with it’s amazing Gothic architecture and iconic polychrome tiles. We did a self-guided tour, which we all enjoyed.

After a really top-notch lunch at Le Cheval Noir, it was time to be unashamedly touristy and take the train tour. It was a good way to cover a lot of ground, see some of the pretty cobbled streets and the encasing vineyards of the town, but it wasn’t the most informative of tours!  

Pila in Valle D’Aosta region of Italy via Lausanne in Switzerland – days 5 and 6

We did three countries in one day. We drove from France to the Swiss border at Vallorbe. From here we drove to Lausanne, a city on Lake Geneva. We had a promenade, paddle and drinks at Angleterre & Résidence where Lord Byron was when he wrote The Prisoner of Chillon. The lake is stunning. We didn’t get chance to visit the cobbled streets of the old town, but next time…

We hit the road again and drove from Switzerland to the Valle d’Aosta (Aosta Valley) region of Italy via the Great Saint Bernard Pass, which connects the two countries and lies on the ridge between the two highest mountains of the Alps. It costs 29,50 CHF to pass (£25 at time of writing). It’s a fantastic experience driving round the twisty turny roads, going higher and higher and getting your first glimpse of snow-capped mountains (even in August when it’s over 25c). I can only begin to imagine what it must look like in winter. The journey brought back memories of doing this route as a child.

We arrived in the outskirts of Aosta – the capital of the region – and carried on climbing and climbing. Although our final destination Pila was only a couple of miles away it took over half an hour to reach owing to the zigzagging; it got fresher as we continued our ascent. The 39c of Beaune the day before was a distant memory and this was an invigorating contrast we all loved.

Our accommodation was a proper alpine chalet. It was delightful and nothing like any place we’ve stayed in before. We all thought it was amazing.

Pila

Pila is a ski-resort in the Aosta Valley and has lots of pistes, but obviously we weren’t there for the skiing (though I’m now sorely tempted to give it a go in season). Our host recommended Yeti restaurant, which was a 15-minute walk from our chalet. Even in summer, it’s a hugely cosy place. We had a fantastic meal and the kids said it was the best so far and I had to agree. We had a wonderful evening and stayed until late.

Aosta

Next morning, we had an early dip in the jacuzzi, which the girls LOVED (used for limited periods at a time). Then we got the cable car down into the city of Aosta itself. It was a fab ride and surprisingly cheap (5 euro return for the kids and 7 euro for us). Aosta is a nice Roman town and we had a good mooch about, visited the cathedral, had an aperitivo, bought gifts and had lunch. Later it was more jacuzzi time. Then we built a fire and had a chill out with a film. Despite it being a 10-15-minute cable car ride away there was a 15c temperature difference between the town and Pila in the mountains.

Bordighera (and surrounding towns), Liguria, Italy – days 7-14

A fond farewell was bid to the Aosta Valley and we set off for my family’s place in Bordighera.

We soon hit the Piemonte region. Everyone was feeling hungry, so I found a nearby town off the motorway called Vercelli. We looked for nearby restaurants having done no research and came across an unassuming place called Ristorante del Cin Cin. Oh my! It was fantastic Piemontese food and even had a summer truffle menu. We were all very happy; an M1 pitstop is never going to feel the same! 

Heading back towards the motorway we noticed all the paddy fields. You could have been mistaken for thinking you were in South East Asia. Vercelli, we discovered, is known as the rice capital of Italy. We carried on through Piemonte and then hit the region of Liguria.

Our first night was spent with the family and the next day we stayed local for aperitivos, lunch and beach time.

Bussana Vecchia

We drove to nearby Bussana Vecchia. The town was partially decimated and subsequently abandoned in 1887 due to an earthquake. In the 1960s a community of international artists re-populated it and now it’s a striking, interesting and bohemian spot. I love it. We had a lovely wander and soaked up the sites. We even discovered a huge model railway rig, which was very impressive; the girls were surprisingly taken with it. Then it was off to local restaurant La Casaccia di Bussana Vecchia for panisse (chickpea fries) and arrosticini and roasted potatoes. Yum! We then headed for a nearby beach followed by an aperitivo back in Bordighera.

Triora

We headed high up into the Ligurian mountains to ‘town of the witches’ Triora. This town held the last witch trials (and executions) in Italy between 1587 and 1589. The history is that after two years of poor harvest and subsequent famine, the finger of suspicion landed on some thirty-odd women from the town. They were accused of witchcraft, rounded up, tortured and some were sentenced to death.

It’s a really beautiful and interesting place to visit and steeped in history. We visited one of the museums to find out more about what happened and why during that fateful time. The girls loved all the cobbled passageways, mystery and the curiosity shops (which weren’t too touristy).  

We found an absolute tiny gem of a place for lunch (there aren’t that many restaurants in Triora itself) called Osteria La Loggia Della Strega (Osteria The Witch’s Lodge). It had only been open 12 days, but it was totally on point; the food was fantastic, authentic local Ligurian cuisine. I even felt compelled to leave a review on Google.

Triora is famed for its bread and Bruzzo sheep’s cheese and we bought both before we left – delicious.

Rocchetta Nervina

Whilst in Liguria, we discovered the charming ancient village of Rochetta Nervina, which as well as being picturesque boasts a series of amazing crystal lakes. It was wonderful to be in clear, cold water on a hot day and so different to the sea and beaches we’d been visiting. It was great to swim and paddle amongst the waterfalls, watch the kids jump off the rocks and clearly see all the fish. We had such a fantastic time we decided to go again two days later. This time we took a picnic and goggles (and I took my book) to make more of a day of it. Bliss!

Uzès, France – days 15-17

We travelled back into France (the French border’s only 25 minutes from Bordighera) to Uzès in the Gard department in the south. Having started our journey on the eastern side of France, we were heading back up the west. Uzès isn’t on the coast so we went all out on the accommodation, which had a huge pool, so we could have a bit more of a chill out. I had massive house envy!

Uzès is an elegant town with lots of Renaissance architecture and a lovely old town. It’s very buzzy at night and there are plenty of restaurants and cafés.

It is very close to the famous Roman aqueduct bridge Pont du Gard, which spans the Gardon river. We had a fantastic day kayaking down the river (using Kayak Vert) stopping for our picnic en route and marvelling at the magnificent bridge from down below.

Our next day was all about exploring the town at leisure, which included the hub of Place aux Herbes and the Medieval Garden with its two towers that afforded great panoramas.   

Le Mans – days 19-21 (day 18 travelling)

This was the biggest stint of the trip. We did a seven-hour drive, punctuated by lunch in the lovely medieval village of Sainte Enimie, and had a one-night stopover. The next day we just had a short journey to our friends’ place near Le Mans. We enjoyed lots of eating, drinking and metal detecting.

We journeyed into Le Mans itself. I knew it just for the famous race, but there’s a lot more to it. For the history fans, it’s known as the Plantagenet city – the birthplace of the Plantagenet dynasty. Here in 1129, Empress Matilda (daughter of Henry I of England) married Geoffrey Plantagenet and had their first son Henry II: the future king of England.  

The medieval part of the city, which is home to the very impressive St Julien Cathedral, is lovely and completely separate to the main, modern part, which has plenty of shops.

After a relaxing three-night stay we headed back to the Eurotunnel and home.

What an amazing three weeks we’ve had. We’ve got to quarantine, but absolutely worth it!  

Tips for a driving holiday

• Get a Monzo card! You can take out £250 from a cash point (every 30 days) without any transaction fees and use it for purchases indefinitely without fees. HSBC on the other hand charged me 2.75% of the transaction amount plus a 2% ‘cash fee’ for withdrawing money from an ATM. It also charges 2.75% for all purchases using a debit card 

• If you’re going to have a number of stop offs, I’d recommend three weeks to do a similar journey. Even then, there are places we stopped at, which I’d have liked more time to explore

• Get an Emovis tag. We sailed through all the motorway toll booths and were rather smug about beating the queues

• Take plenty of snacks and drinks
• Have lots of USB charger ports in the car

Read more about the preparations for our driving holiday here.

The post A Driving Holiday in Europe appeared first on The Parent Social.

When I was a kid, we drove to Italy many times so I’m feeling nostalgic.

Driving holiday accommodation

Accommodation in Aosta in Italy

Over a bottle, maybe two, of wine Matt and I plotted our route on the map. As opposed to just burning it down to Italy in the fastest time possible, the drive is going to be a feature of the holiday. 

We’ve booked several self-contained properties through HomeAway, Airbnb and a private rental for on the way there and back in areas we’re particularly interested in visiting. We’re staying for two or three days at each.

Our trip will take us down the eastern side of France, into Switzerland, onto the Italian alps and then onto our final destination: Bordighera in Liguria. Then we’ll travel back up the western side of France.

General holiday preparations

We’ve got our travel insurance in place, renewed our EHIC cards (European Health Insurance Cards), checked passports and are only taking a small amount of Euros we already had.

We’ve topped up our Monzo accounts as this online-only bank doesn’t charge any transaction fees when you use the card abroad.

Covid-19

Because of the current situation we are taking our face masks. We don’t need to fill out any forms relating to Covid-19 for entering France but will have to ahead of our return to the UK.

Driving holiday preparations

We’ve double checked our car insurance cover for Europe and have a European Sat Nav. I have a really comprehensive first aid kit, which is coming with us.  

We’ll also be packing a few pillows so everyone is comfortable in the back and can have a little snooze if they want. 

For driving through France specifically:

Having a breathalyser in your car is mandatory in France; you can get a twin pack for £5.49. It is illegal to have a device that alerts to speed cameras (if caught with one it’s a hefty fine). We will have to disable the alerts on our sat nav.

For driving in France, Italy and Switzerland you must have:

• Reflective warning triangle
• High visibility vests
• Headlamp beam deflectors
• GB sticker

For driving on motorways in Switzerland you need a vignette (sticker).

International Drivers License Reminder

Before embarking on your driving holiday to Italy, you must check whether you need an International Drivers License to drive legally in the countries you’ll be visiting, including France, Italy, and Switzerland. Ensuring you have the proper documentation will help prevent legal issues and ensure a smooth journey.

Emovis Tag

We’ve got an Emovis Tag for travelling on the French motorways. This a great idea as it enables automatic payment at motorway tolls. You beat the queues by being able to use any lane with this symbol and there’s often a tag-only lane:

It means no scrabbling about for change or a credit card; the barrier automatically lifts on scanning your tag and you just drive right through. You’re invoiced and pay by direct debit later. We also received a free GB sticker with our tag! 

Boredom busters for a driving holiday

Car games

We’ve got quite a few games for the car (other than i-spy) up our sleeves. I’ve written about them here: Car Games for Long Journeys. The French car plate game is a must; I’ve downloaded the sheets ready for them to fill. I’ve also got sheets for a ‘motorway treasure hunt’ and ‘minor roads treasure hunt’ courtesy of France for Families.

The girls love traditional Cluedo, so I’ve bought the Cluedo card game, which I’ll wrap up as a little surprise for them to open on the way.

Music

We’ve all created our own Spotify playlists. There’s a nifty little gadget
that lets you play your digital music via the car’s stereo. It’s been trialled already and it’s very good!

Audio books

My eldest tends to feel sick if she reads in the car so audio books are the way forward. The kids are recently registered (via school) with MyON. It’s a personalised digital library that gives access to over 5,000 digital books, which can be downloaded to read offline.

Snacks

We’re taking an arsenal of snackage both healthy and not: grissini, fruit, nuts, sweets, crisps plus plenty of water and Capri Sun Fruity Water (a new favourite).

Digital devices

The iPods and iPad are coming with us so they can play games. We’ll also download a film or two. I don’t mind them spending some time on them as long as it’s mixed up with other activities.

A few little pressies

The aforementioned Cluedo card game is one small gift, but I’ve got a few others that I’ll wrap up for them to open along the journey. I’ve bought them some lovely personalised stationery, a new pack of pencils each in a tin, some hair accessories and some cheapo bath bombs.

Wish us luck!

The post Driving Holiday with the Kids – the planning appeared first on The Parent Social.

Sadly, nothing is normal right now so no trips away and no friends and family over 🙁

Differentiating the Easter holiday in 2020

We’ve just completed our first two weeks of homeschooling. I’ve been fairly strict on routine and they’ve done a lot of work. Part of the reason for my approach is because I want to take our foot off the gas these coming two weeks so the Easter holidays can still feel significantly different whilst we continue to be confined to home.

These next two weeks we won’t get up as early, we won’t be doing Joe Wicks, we won’t be structuring the day and there’ll be no formal learning. It’ll be a time to chill out.

The girls’ ideas for Easter

I asked the girls what they would like to happen at Easter within house and garden. Here’s what they said:

Easter egg hunt

We can definitely still do this whether it’s indoors or outdoors. We’ve had some hunts indoors when it’s pouring with rain or freezing cold and have done others outside very early in the morning when it’s been so hot the chocolate was melting. You’ve got to love the unpredictability of the British weather.

Barbecue

It’s an Easter tradition to get the BBQ and spit out even if it rains. The girls have asked if we can cook burgers, chicken and arrosticini. Arrosticini are small lamb kebabs from the Abruzzo region of Italy. We’ve eaten them for as long as I can remember in Italy but last year I got my husband the specialised trough to cook them on and they were cemented as a firm favourite. We did a big summer BBQ last year and they were a huge hit with everyone.

Mocktails

They’d like to have a mocktail making session and create their own bar. Mum and dad get to sample and choose their favourite drink.

Easter fashion show

Dress up like a bunny, wear your bonnet and other Easter-inspired garb and sashay down the improvised catwalk; take plenty of pictures. Sofia wants to do the make-up!

Games day/night

To include (amongst others): Poker, netball tournament, badminton, Frustration, Cluedo, Monopoly…

Cooking

Sofia wants to make pizzette, Maria wants to make gingerbread shaped bunnies and Gabby wants to make chocolate Easter egg nests.

My ideas for Easter

The Easter display

This has become a tradition in the last four years. We have a small white wooden tree (bought from the wedding section of a department store), which we hang our collection of little Easter decorations from. The tree came with wooden heart tags for wedding guests to write messages on. We’ve used them each Easter for our friends and family to write on. We’ve got a nice collection of them now, which is a great reminder of the people we’ve spent Easter with over the years.

Make a restaurant

We all love going out to eat under normal circumstances so Matt and I are going to try to recreate the restaurant experience at home. Nice table clothes, menu, flowers on the table, our best silver service… you get the idea.

Write some Easter cards

We’ve written and posted some already. I love getting ‘nice post’ and hope these will put a smile on the recipients’ faces. Maria and Gabby are also making some cards for their friends.

Dresses

I buy the girls an ‘Easter dress’ each in the same way I buy them a dress each for their Christmas Eve Box. It’s just going to be the five of us, but we’re still going to make an occasion of it so let’s dress up a bit!

Sow some seeds

I want to get busy in the garden this Easter. According to the RHS, beetroot, carrots, Swiss chard, summer cauliflower, kohl rabi, lettuce, leeks, radish, turnip, spring and pickling onions, peas and perpetual spinach are good to sow in April.

We’ll also do another round of Beebombs. These are wild flowers, which specifically attract bees, in a seed ball. You just scatter the pellets; no gardening skills required.

We can also tend to the fairy garden, which has now sprouted.

Summer challenges

We can’t do all of these right now but there are quite a few we can do on here.

What are your plans over the holiday?

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