Tag: vacation

Family · Holidays

How to Make Your Family Holiday Stress Free

Jayne1 Comment
How to Make Your Family Holiday Stress Free
Photo by Natalya Zaritskaya on Unsplash

I don’t know about you, but our family is in serious need of a holiday sometime soon. Living through lockdown has been stressful for everyone, and while I have enjoyed the extra time at home with my family, a change of scenery is something that we are sorely craving right now. We’ve been thinking forward to a time when we’ll be able to get away and some of the organisational things that we can do in advance to make any trip we do take stress free, so I thought I would share some of these ideas with you today in case you are in the process of organising your own family vacation.

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Family · Travel

Planning A Unique Family Vacation to Scottsdale

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If you are looking for an ideal family vacation, then you should not look further than Scottsdale. Located in Arizona, Scottsdale stands out when it comes to relaxation. Surprisingly, this mid-sized city has the most spas per capita in the US.

Even if you’re not heading there for a spa treatment, this little factoid can tell you all you need to know about Scottsdale: it’s the perfect place to relax, kick back, and enjoy yourself. Whatever your ideal destination looks like, Scottsdale is it or not far from it. There is plenty to do, and it’s one of the most gorgeous natural spaces in which to do it.

What to Expect

On your visit to Scottsdale, you can expect a wide range of things. Scottsdale has an upscale reputation amongst US cities for its exceptional spas, luxurious golf courses, lavish lifestyle, beautiful scenery, pronounced culture, and excellent transportation system. These set the city apart from other possible destinations you might have in mind.

Scottsdale golf courses are among the most creative in the country. While in Arizona, you can enjoy the popular old sport in a luxurious golf course. The green design of courses and the perfect layout make these courses magnificent.

The culture and scenery of Scottsdale also make the place an ideal place to unwind after long and tedious months of schooling or working by your family. The numerous cultural attractions coupled with the beautiful scenery should make Scottsdale your preferred destination. There is something for everyone to enjoy.

Getting a place to stay and also getting around the city is easier. The numerous hotels and resorts offer a wide range of services that are sure to satisfy the diverse needs your family may have. There are several means of transportation available from private transportation services to free ones like buses and metro light rail. These make traveling easy and convenient.

The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch is one of the most popular hotel choices. It has a world-class golf course in the Gainey Ranch Golf Club. The luxurious Spa Avania offers an immersive and restorative experience. There are also activities like tennis and rock climbing. They also have plenty of activities to keep your kids busy while they learn about arts and crafts, Native Americans, or the various animals of the region. It’s also near boutique shopping spots that are great for spending an afternoon… or a whole weekend at. This Scottsdale Resort & Spa is an all-in-one example of everything Scottsdale has to offer. Click here to take a look at their website to see what else they can provide to make your trip even more relaxing.

Things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale offers plenty of activities that are likely to leave the entire family relaxed and enjoying the vacation. Here some other things you should do while in Scottsdale.

1. Art Walk

For years now, this has been a Thursday routine for locals and visitors alike in Scottsdale. This allows them to get the chance of viewing the art from the Southwest’s leading artists. The showcase is open every Thursday from 7 pm to 9 pm along Main Street and Marshall Way.

2. Grand Canyon

The eye-catching colors and the enormous Grand Canyon is really a bucket list attraction. Aside from its natural splendor, the unique fauna and flora make this attractive to visitors in the region of 5 million people annually. It can be an unforgettable experience for you and the whole family.

3. Sedona

The topography of this tourist attraction site makes it perfect for photography or just exploring. Journey around Native American ruins and hike the mesa. All these are likely to leave unforgettable memories for you and your family.

Scottsdale has been one of the principal tourist attraction cities in recent years. Its numerous sites and options for things to do while on vacation can not only make your family have fun but also make unforgettable memories.

Family · Holidays

Saving for a family holiday? Read this first!

Jayne1 Comment

If you’re anything like me, chances are you’re already dreaming about your summer holiday. It might be the first of many or it might just be the one family treat that you all look forward to every year. We all deserve a summer holiday but saving and paying for one isn’t always as straightforward as we might like. From being bamboozled with deals and last minute options to choosing the location and how you’ll get there , to having enough money to spend when you get there, and not forgetting the whole new wardrobe the kids seem to need and all the other bits and bobs that you’ll end up paying for too…

I thought holidays were supposed to be relaxing! Well, if you’re already pondering how you can save a little extra money before your family holiday, look no further. You’ll find 4 of the simplest ways you can put a little money aside in the lead up to your well deserved break, and you may even end up being able to afford a limo to the airport!

Look at your energy supplier

It’s amazing how many of us still haven’t switched to a cheaper tariff! Whether you’re on domestic oil – for the latest oil prices check out emo oil – or gas an electricity, head online and see if you can get a cheaper deal elsewhere. Most energy providers do all the hard work for you and contact your current supplier too. You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll be able to put away just by switching. Try it now!

Stop your spending

No one deserves that new pair of shoes more than you, but if you’re saving for a family holiday then you need to kerb your spending a little. Try to avoid spending on additional purchases for about 2 months and you’ll notice a big difference in your bank balance. Things like takeaways, meals out, those jeans you really want or a new eyeshadow palette. Put them all on the backburner until after your holiday.

Learn to say no

It’s not easy to say no to the kids – especially when they’re being extra good. But learning to say no will certainly save you a bit of money. Saying no to those sweets or magazines that you usually treat them to, going out for tea – whether that’s at a fast food chain or a nice restaurant – even going out for the day. Instead of paying high prices for an afternoon at a theme park, look for places with free admission, or places of interest that ask for a donation rather than a fixed fee. They might not like it, but they’ll understand!

Don’t forget to set a budget

Make a list of everything you might need to save for. From the holiday itself, to the holiday clothes, toiletries, car hire, fuel money (if travelling in the UK), and anything else you can think of. Make a list and try to budget as best you can. You’ll find that you’re in more control when you’re heading around the clothes shops looking for holiday outfits!

Family · Holidays

Getting Prepared for Your Holiday

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Now that the weather is getting warmer, many of us are finally starting to wind-down and think about our yearly holiday. The problem with holidays is that all the prep can be such a stress that it’s hard to unwind once we finally get to our destination, so I thought I’d share with you a few tips that can make your life easier while you’re preparing for your trip.

Order Medications Online

From regular prescription meds that we need to take every day, to basics like paracetamol and antihistamines, most if us take a few different medications on holiday with us each year. Using an online pharmacy like UK Meds to order everything you need well ahead of time can save you the stress of picking up prescriptions as everything you order will be delivered straight to your door.

Weigh Your Bags

Is there anything more annoying than getting to the airport, realising your bags are too heavy and you’re going to need to pay a hefty fee to take excess baggage on the plain with you? We highly recommend getting a suitcase scale and weighing them yourself before you go so that you can be double sure you’re not going to get stung for fees.

Online Check-In

I’m stilled awed by this one, but the ability to check-in online means less time waiting around in airports and going through all of that aggravation. Doing online check-in means that you can spend your time in the airport enjoying a pre-flight cocktail and perusing the duty-free at your leisure!

Buy it There

Often, we spend SO much time and money shopping before a holiday, when waiting to buy things when you’re there can be beneficial in many ways. Most places you’ll go will have a supermarket nearby (we saw someone online the other day saying they did a Lidl shop in Tenerife!), so you could buy toiletries, nappies, sun cream and other items. They’ll probably be cheaper than they are in the UK, and you’ll also save space and weight in your suitcases if you aren’t lugging these heavy, bulky items along with you. Oh, and don’t forget to pack your holiday cash into a Versapak money bag, just to make sure your money is safe when abroad.

Book in Advance

If you’re planning excursions and day trips while you’re away, there will be lots of things that you can book in advance, like water parks and coach trips. This will save you the bother of doing it while you’re there, can help to navigate a language barrier and means that any money you take with you will be for luxuries and treats!

Holidays

5 Family Cruise Destinations

JayneLeave a comment

When Husband and I were planning our wedding, one of the options was to go on a cruise and get married while we were on board. Ultimately, we chose the Maldives, but I’ve wanted to go on a cruise ever since. What we’ve recently discovered is that family cruises are a great option for a family vacation, and there are loads of amazing destinations that you can choose from. Here’s our top five destinations for a family cruise:

Scandinavia

Husband and I are both big fans of Scandinavian society and their way of life, and the countries we’d visit on a Scandinavian cruise are incredibly interesting and beautiful. Cruises are a great way to see a lot, all on one trip and being able to go from county to country is really appealing. There’s also the opportunity to see the Northern Lights on some of the cruises, which is a real bucket list item for all of us.

Caribbean 

Seriously, who wouldn’t want to go on a cruise around the Caribbean?! Sun, crystal seas and  incredible stops at some of the most beautiful islands in the world. I’ve always wanted to go to Jamaica and all four of us are HUGE Bob Marley fans, so some cultural sight-seeing around the island would be another ultimate experience for us.

Mediterranean

Although Europe is only a hop, skip and a jump away from the UK, I still feel like I’ve seen relatively little of it. I’ve been to Malta twice and really love it, but I’d love to see a lot more of the Mediterranean, like Spain, Italy and Greece. One thing we love about Mediterranean culture is the way it’s very family oriented – kids aren’t expected to be “seen and not heard” like they are in other places and it’s not unusual to see families all out together and eating a meal at 10pm!

China

A lot of people automatically think about cruises being on the open ocean, but river cruises are also an option and allow you to see the side of a country that a regular cruise wouldn’t let you see. China is a country I’ve always wanted to visit, and although the main cities seem fascinating, a river cruise would allow you to see the rural parts that you might not otherwise get to visit.

New York

America is quite a way away and when you’re not a fan of flying, going by cruise is a fantastic alternative. I’ve always wanted to visit New York and doubling it up with a cruise would be make it a really memorable trip!

Are you regular cruisers, or a complete newbie like us?Where are your ultimate cruise destinations? Is there anywhere you’d absolutely love to visit? Do leave me a comment below, I’d love to hear from you.