Owning a holiday home is one of life’s luxuries, which is why many people don’t think that they can afford it. While the initial cost of buying a holiday home might appear expensive, the truth is that it could be a wonderful investment that will be worth it in the end. They are perfect for families, couples and singles alike, and can provide a perfect place to escape to each year. If you’ve been considering purchasing a holiday home but are still undecided, here are five reasons why it’s a good idea.
We’ve all experienced long car journeys, whether for a holiday, to see relatives or maybe move house. For the first part everyone is excited, enthusiastic to embark on the adventure and waiting in anticipation to see where they’re going. Maybe you’ve picked the scenic route and can’t wait to see what’s in store on the way, or perhaps you’ve just bought a new car that you can’t wait try out and test all the gadgets driving on the motorway. Over time the excitement might wear off and you’ll need a game to keep your children entertained and focus their attention away from the journey.
With international travel being very different these days, families are increasingly turning to staycations, and that’s no bad thing. We may have to wait a tad longer to comfortably cruise along the coast of the Mexican Riviera or pack the kids up for a European adventure, but for Floridians, taking a staycation isparticularly appealing because it’s home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the United States. So Floridians, it’s time to pack your overnight bags and fill up the fuel tank to take advantage of some of the best staycation destinations in Florida.
Planning any family holiday takes some time and research to make sure you get it just right, but planning a trip to Orlando, Florid may take that little bit of extra effort. Below we are going to have a look at some of the things you should look at in order to plan the ultimate family holiday to Orlando, Florida.
(AD) Nickelodeon Adventure at Intu Lakeside is a new indoor play venue for kids. We went along to the opening day to try it out, with our children aged 3, 8 and 10 to find out what’s inside.
Nickelodeon Adventure is made up of six zones, with different activities to explore and character to meet. All of these are spacious so you don’t feel crowded together, and there is plenty of room for the kids to run around.
As you first enter, you come to the Paw Patrol Adventure Bay zone. This area includes replicas of the Paw Patrol vehicles that kids can climb into and play pretend, and it also includes the control tower with slide. You will see Paw Patrol characters doing meet and greets here too, sometimes as individual characters and sometimes as a group. Depending how busy it is when you visit, there may be queues for this. However, when we visited the queues were not bad and it was well managed.
Thinking ahead to the new year, I’m already planning to focus more on my exercise and fitness. It’s not always easy finding dedicated time to hit the gym, so I’ve been wondering about some other fun options for exercise that could be enjoyed together as a family, and not feel too much like a chore.
There’s nothing quite like having a holiday to look forward to, but once you add children into the mix, you need to think more creatively. Whether budget is your driving force or the desire to provide an unusual or memorable experience, we’ve found some interesting ways to enjoy time away with your family.
Gold coast is a city on the coast of Australian state Queensland located at around 66 kilometers southeast of the Brisbane state capital. It is a leading business, events, and Tourism City in Australia, and it is commonly known for its white-sand beaches that stretch 57 Kilometers of the coastal line. It is also known for its beautiful parks, gold coast hinterlands top restaurants and luxurious hotels.
Over October half term, we spent a couple of days in Stratford-upon-Avon, staying at the Hallmark Hotel Stratford-upon-Avon The Welcombe who had invited us to come along and try out their hotel (Ad). This was our first time in Stratford-upon-Avon, and being so close to London it made an ideal city to visit for a short break.
We found plenty in the area to keep our family entertained, and with The Welcombe having a selection of seven self catering apartments within their hotel this made it an ideal place to stay in comfort with our gang of kids. We had the space to spread out in our apartment, but also the convenience of the facilities within the hotel (the swimming pool being the highlight for the kids.) The Welcombe is a Grade II* listed 19th century neo-Jacobean mansion, so there is plenty of history and style for the adults to appreciate too!
Things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon
The Hallmark Welcombe Hotel is a short stroll or drive to the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon, where you can find lots to see and do. Of course, Stratford-upon-Avon is home to William Shakespeare and this is a huge draw for tourists. When you visit the town centre, you can’t miss all of the landmarks such as Shakespeare’s birthplace, family homes, school and theatre.
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour has provided Harry Potter fans with a chronological snapshot of the studio’s history, including the production of all eight Harry Potter films.
Provided in the new infographic is all the significant dates in the studio’s history, from the site’s origins in 1939 to the release of the Gringotts Wizarding Bank part of the studio this year. And they’ll longer be any confusion whether The Goblet of Fire came out in 2004 or 2005!
As well as detailing the production history of the famous wizarding franchise, the infographic also details the pre-film history of the studio, which is just as interesting. The story begins in 1939, when the threat of Nazi Germany prompted the Ministry of Defence to convert the site into a production base for the manufacture of aircraft and engines. It served this function long after the war was won, and eventually fell into the hands of Rolls-Royce in 1967. Throughout the 1980s, it was used as a private club by aircraft enthusiasts.
It wasn’t until the 1994 return of the James Bond franchise that film cameras first starting rolling on the premises. GoldenEye proved that the newly rebranded Leavesden Studios was a world-class facility, and hosted the filming of The Phantom Menace and Sleepy Hollow soon afterwards.
The first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, commenced shooting at Leavesden on 29 September 2000 – nearly two decades ago! Among the first sets to be built was the enormous Great Hall, which went on to feature in all but one of the films (the exception being Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1).
New Harry Potter films were released regularly throughout the following decade, culminating in the eventual release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow Part 2 in 2011. In 2012, the public appetite for all things Potter-related remained insatiable, and so the Warner Bros. Studio Tour came to be at the Leavesden Studios site. The experience provides visitors with a chance to sample Butterbeer, go broomstick-riding, and even purchase their very own Ollivander-approved wand.
In 2013, the studio received Royal approval during a visit from HRH the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Prince Harry attended the inauguration, as did the author of the series, JK Rowling.
For the filming of The Prisoner of Azkaban, the set for Hagrid’s Hut had to be disassembled and rebuilt in the Scottish Highlands.
For the filming of The Goblet of Fire, an enormous water tank had to be constructed so that Harry could swim through the Great Lake while performing the second Triwizard Task.
Despite playing a 16-year-old at the time, Rupert Grint turned 21 in 2007. The cast and crew marked the occasion with a children’s birthday party in the studio’s canteen.
Things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon