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7 Of The Best Staycation Ideas

Holidays are a little bit different at the moment. With travel being limited and countries being moving on and off the list like they’re doing the hokey-cokey. Who needs to jump on a plane though, when we have some of the best places right here in the UK to enjoy?! Let’s take a look at 7 of the best staycation ideas so we can still enjoy a break from the old routine.

Cornwall

More than just pasties (although they are flippin’ good!), Cornwall offers so much from beaches and surfing to a cultural and historical side. Visit the Eden Project, head to Lands End or cross the waters to Saint Michael’s Mount. There are incredible restaurants to check out, fantastic harbor towns to explore and countryside with views for days.

The Lake District

Mountains, lakes & lots of inspiration. It worked wonders for Wordsworth to Beatrix Potter. The Lake District can transform you and you can find your own little slice of tranquility in the national park. There are campsites, caravan parks and guest houses all over the place, perfect for you to enjoy some time away from home. The perfect destination for photographers too!

North Wales

There is so much beauty in Wales, but North Wales is something exceptional. Incredible landscape and chocolate box villages. Snowdonia lets you explore and adventure, whilst taking in stunning views. Check out Anglesey for some amazing sights and Llandudno and Colwyn Bay for traditional family holidays. North Wales could be one of the best staycation ideas you’ve never tried!

London

Head to the capital city of England and explore the wonders of London in style. Enjoy a range of fantastic world-inspired food, wonderful hotels and amazing walks along the river. When they’re open, most of the museums all offer free entry and you can connect the landmarks by the tube. If you don’t have a few days to spare, you could even visit for a London day trip.

Norfolk Broads

How about a boating holiday on the famous Broads? Exploring on your own vessel is the perfect way to take in the landscape. The 125 miles of water ways even reach Norwich and Great Yarmouth so you can enjoy some shopping or some time off the water. There are plenty of bed and breakfasts if the way of the water isn’t for you. A must do on the list of staycation ideas.

Blackpool

All the fun of the classic British seaside holiday. Enjoy days on the beach, paddling in the sea, munching away on candyfloss and fish and chips. Take in the sunsets over the water, enjoy the ups and downs of the roller-coasters and walks along the promenade. Take yourself up the Blackpool Tower, pop into the various attractions like the SEALIFE and Madame Tussauds and enjoy the entertainment on the piers. Blackpool has it all!

Scottish Highlands

If you’re looking for beautiful scenery, plenty of walking opportunities and maybe the occasional dram of whiskey, Scotland is for you. Specifically the Scottish Highlands. The Highlands itself is actually bigger than you might think, about the size of Belgium. This means there are plenty of places to stay but also lots of areas you can easily enjoy all by yourself. There are too many highlights of the Highlands to list but enjoy the Cairngorms, the Lochs and the Isle of Skye. You could even enjoy a Scottish road trip!

Which of our staycation ideas will you add to your list of must visit places? Save yourself money on a flight and head to somewhere right here in the UK!

London Day Trips

With more and more countries abroad being placed on the no travel list due to the pandemic, we need to look closer to home to enjoy a bit of travel. When was the last time you visited the capital? There is plenty to explore and loads to see in London. You can easily distance yourself from others too and find your own little place to enjoy. One of the ways to do this is with London day trips.

Buckingham Palace

Many of us don’t want to head into indoor public places. Some venues are still closed or are only allowing limited visitors in. With that in mind most of the London Day trips we’re going to list here are all based around outdoor locations. The first of these is maybe the most famous. Buckingham Palace. Whilst it can get busy with tourists taking selfies in front of the gates, it’s still a great sight to see. You don’t have to get up close and personal with it either, you can view it from a distance from The Mall.

Other Sights To See

Whilst you’ll need to wear a mask on public transport like the tube and London buses, you can enjoy plenty of sightseeing around the city too. Landmarks to enjoy, especially if you’ve never seen them before, or are taking the kids to the capital for the first time, include Trafalgar Square, St Paul’s Cathedral and The Tower Of London. Remember though that London is a big place and you’d be best finding some locations near one another to enjoy during your limited time in the city.

Enjoy The Gardens

If one thing London has plenty of is gardens. You might not think about it because it’s a huge city! Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, Kensington Gardens. These are just a few and there are plenty of other outdoor spaces to enjoy. Battersea Park is right next to the River Thames so plenty of wonderful views to witness too. This is a great way to be able to avoid the crowds.

Do Some Shopping

Whilst we mentioned that most of the ideas for London Day trips will be based outside, lots of us want to do a bit of shopping, especially in the run up to Christmas. Shops are open and there are bargains to be had. Simply remember your mask and keep your distance. There’s perhaps no more well known shopping zone than Oxford Street. You can also find plenty of quirky shops and independent retailers on the likes of Brick Lane. Take a look at this Visit London page for lots of London indies.

London At Christmas

If you’re a big fan of Love Actually, being in London for Christmas might be right up your street. The lights, the singing, the festivities. Whilst some of these might be a little different this year there will still be the excitement. Even if you’re not intending to buy much for Christmas, wrapping up in your big coat, grabbing a hot chocolate and walking through the London lights is a great idea. It could even be a Christmas present between you and a friend. Experiences not things!

Forget Those 2020 Travel Woes & Win A Hamper

If you’ve been missing the excitement of travel over the summer, you’re not alone! This is why ten fantastic bloggers have come together to offer you the chance to put some excitement back into your life. There will be no more frowning faces for a while if you win this competition to wine a hamper worth £50!

This prize has been funded by the bloggers themselves, with money coming out of their own pockets to thank you for sticking with us through the good times and the bad. There are lots of ways to enter the competition and the more entries you do, the better your chance of winning! So, let’s dive right in and have a look at the magnificent ten who have pulled this competition together.

Lylia Rose – A Money and Lifestyle Blogger

Stapos Thrifty Life Hacks – A Money and Finance blogger

Mummy Vs Money -Parent And Money blog

Koody– Money and Deals Blog

Tweet Your Trip– Travel and Lifestyle Blog

Travel Bugs– A Travel Blog

Trinimamabebe– A Parent and Lifestyle Blog

Discover Kent– Everything you need to know about Kent and more

Parent Blogging Secrets– Tips to Start a blog

Tales From Mamaville– Motherhood Parenting and Lifestyle Blog

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Terms and Conditions

UK ENTRANTS ONLY
IF PRIZE IS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE WINNER BEING DRAWN ALTERNATIVE WILL BE SENT OF EQUAL VALUE
WINNING ENTRY WILL BE CHECKED
THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND HAS 7 DAYS TO MAKE CONTACT BEFORE ANOTHER WINNER IS DRAWN
18 YEARS OR OLDER NEEDED FOR ENTRY
ONE WINNER WILL BE PICKED AT RANDOM AND PRIZE SENT DIRECT TO THE WINNER
NO CASH ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE
THIS IS NOT SPONSORED OR ENDORSED OR ASSOCIATED WITH FACEBOOK,INSTAGRAM,TWITTER OR RAFFLECOPTER

***This Giveaway has been funded from the bloggers own cash***

Nine Amazing Family Travel Hacks

Travelling is wonderful for soloists, couples and indeed families. It can be a little more difficult with families though. The added stress of entertaining children, finding a toilet at a moments notice and constantly handing out the snacks can take it’s toll. Suddenly a holiday doesn’t feel like much of a holiday! Use these top family travel hacks though and you’ll be enjoying your travel trip in no time!

Be Comfortable

One of the worst ways to feel on a long trip is uncomfortable. Whether it’s too war or too itchy, it makes the trip feel longer than it is and it can bring annoyance and even tears. Make sure everyone is comfortable before your travel. Be it a pair of joggers and a hoodie so you feel cosy or something a little lighter. If you’re hoping the children sleep on the flight or you’re flying at night, let them wear their pyjamas! Comfort is key when travelling.

Pack By Category

One of the worst things to do is make sure everyone has their own carry on bag with what they need in it. This creates a lot of extra bags! Whilst the kids having their own luggage might seem like a good idea, how long are they actually going to be happy to carry it for? If the grown ups have a bag each (see below) you can simply pack by category. Packing squares are perfect for this, keeping snacks together, entertainment and toys together, spare clothes together and toiletries together. This way you’ll know where to access things when they are required.

Use Backpacks

You might have some wonderful suitcases but suitcases take up space. No one tends to under pack a suitcase, often taking things they don’t need. When you take things you don’t need, you might end up paying to take items with you that you never actually use. A great holiday for a jumper that is never worn! Suitcases also need a hand to pull them along or carry them. By using backpacks, you throw them on your back and you’ve now got both hands still available. Keeping your children close by is very important when travelling, as is the other requirements of being a parent, such as helping them go to the toilet or opening the snack they’ve just asked for! Backpacks could be the ultimate family travel hack!

Pack Some Sweets

If you’re flying, remember some sweets for take off and landing. Children have more sensitive ears than adults and might feel the popping in your ears. It’s the pressurisation of the cabin that you feel through discomfort in your ears and children feel it a lot more. Sucking on some boiled sweets or chewing some gum can counteract this and make the take off and landing process that much more enjoyable for all.

Take Empty Water Bottles

You can’t take liquids over a certain size through airport security. Yet you can take empty water bottles and fill them u on the other side. Many airport lounges have water refill points. Take a couple of empty water bottles with you to make sure everyone can stay hydrated and have access to a drink when they need it.

Keep The Excitement

You might feel stressed or maybe hate flying yourself. But if the children pick up on this they’re likely to lose interest in the travelling side of things.Maintain that excitement by making a big deal about being on the plane, in a positive way. Ask them what they can see, keep them entertained with games or a new toy and some screen time. Excitement and fun will help the time pass too.

Wipes Are You Friends

Be sure that you have some baby wipes in your bag as children will get messy, even when there is no mess to get messy with! From toilet issues in terminals to sticky hands after meals, wipes come in handy everywhere you go.

Buy An Extra Seat

There was a Mummy hack online not long ago showing how with a certain airline carrier, if you booked an additional seat for £100, you got an entire row to yourself. This meant you could take advantage of the fact the special seats fold out to create a bed space. So you can actually get a decent sleep laying down, instead of creaking your neck trying to sleep sitting up. Sounds good to us!

Use Those Services

The final family travel hack is to take advantage of the free airport services that airlines offer. Lots of them offer an escort service, giving you a little bit of extra help getting to the plane. This could be a great idea if you’re a single parent travelling with more than one child, any help is good! You never know, you might even get a ride to the gate or be boarded before other flyers. Ask about these services and take advantage of them!

We hope these nine family travel hacks help you out on your adventures. Happy travels!

Xmas Present Ideas For Travellers

Lots of us know or have a family member who loves to travel. What can you get them for a present or a Christmas gift? If they’re travelling a lot they likely don’t want heavy, bulky or to be carrying things they don’t really need. Let’s have a look at a few Xmas present ideas for travellers that they’ll actually use!

Passport Holder

If you’re constantly on the move, travelling from one country to the next, do it with a little bit of style. An attractive and appealing passport holder can add abit of glamour to your budget flight!

Power Bank

You can never have too many power banks and a brand new one might be one of the most perfect of our Xmas present ideas. Make sue it is powerful enough to charge devices a number of times and fast charging itself too.

Water Bottle

You can’t take liquids through airport security, but you can take an empty water bottle. Then all you need to do it fill it up on the other side. A luxurious water bottle with added filter to ensure your travelling friend is supping on the best water possible is a thoughtful Christmas present!

Headphones

A new set of headphones is a great gift for the traveller in your life. Whether they use them to listen to music or watch films, they help provide the perfect escape from the noise of the journey on your travels. Noise cancelling headphones cost a little bit more but provide that silence of peace when babies are crying on your flight. Take your music with you as you relax and enjoy the best beaches in the world.

Bluetooth Speaker

A portable Bluetooth speaker is also a great addition to any travellers luggage. When they get to their destination, popping on their favourite music to relax to is a benefit. Let them enough the perfect soundtrack to those holiday vibes.

Neck Pillow

You can buy inflatable neck pillows, but they don’t do much good. How about the most wonderful bit of luxury like the Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow? It will help keep your neck straight as you sleep on your flight or train, allowing you to avoid neck pain. It could be the best of all our Xmas present ideas!

Head Torch

If your traveller loves wild camping or heading away into the wilderness, they need to be able to light up the dark. A brand new head torch could be the perfect gift. It provides light whilst keeping your hands free so you can read at night, look through your bag without waking everyone else up or find your way back to your tent. Try and buy one that is high powered and water resistant.

Foldable Bag

Sometimes when you’re travelling you need an extra bag for carrying things you buy. Having a hardwearing and strong foldable bag within your backpack is a great idea. You can always use it to split your gear if you’re staying in the same place for a couple of nights and don’t want to take all your belongings with you. It can also be used as a laundry bag or to carrying your shopping!

Packing Cubes

Staying with the luggage theme, packing cubes are your ultimate friend. They weigh next to nothing and are perfect for keeping the contents of your main back organised. Know where everything is exactly when you need it.

Travel Tripod

For those who are taking a camera with them on their travels, how about a travel tripod for their photography? They don’t have to be huge and can simply fit into your rucksack. Individually movable legs help the user create a level horizon in any situation so they can snap the perfect scene and even use the camera’s timer so they can get in the shot too!

Security Door Stop Alarm

Lost of us worry about our friends and loved ones when they go travelling. Especially if they are travelling solo! A security door stop is a great addition to your belongings. It adds that little bit of extra safety. Simply place under your door before you go to sleep and if anyone tries opening the door during the night, the alarm will be triggered, emitting a loud noise to attract attention and scare the potential intruder off. These can be bought for less than £10.

Portable Luggage Scale

The final item on our list of Xmas present ideas is a portable luggage scale. They don’t weigh much themselves but are a great addition to your luggage. Different flight companies have different luggage allowances before you have to then pay more. Having a luggage scale with you lets you figure out what you’re going to be spending before you get to the airport.

Have lots of fun searching for gifts for your travelling friends.