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.
Here is the infographic! To find out more about the history of the Studio Tour, you can find it over at https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/our-history.
Did You Know?
There is nothing quite as exciting as packing up the whole family for a well-earned holiday that affords everyone time away from the daily grind to spend quality time together and make some fun memories.
The problem is, many of your neighbours are probably gearing up to head off, too, which means that if you are going to any of the Canary Islands, then the chances are that you’ll be spending time in a place that feels just like home.
You don’t want that. However, an incredibly worthy alternative is also on your doorstep. Scent of Sicily Villas facilitates holiday rentals on the island of – you guessed it – Sicily, just off the coast of Italy.
When we think of travelling the world, we tend to think of school leavers and uni students making the most of their relative freedom and heading off to places far and wide. We see their pictures plastered across our social media feeds and see them having a great time. When you have kids, travel can seem like a far off plan that doesn’t fit into the grand scheme of school runs, after school clubs, hobbies, and more. Family life is great and you are going to have a lot more responsibilities. But it doesn’t mean you can’t travel too! There are plenty of different ways to incorporate holidays into your family life without things being a big deal and a lot of trouble and hassle. Here are just a few different steps you can take to simplify the process and land yourself a family holiday that you’ll all look on fondly for a lifetime!
If you are planning a vacation abroad then choose Vietnam this time. Vietnam has a lot to offer if you check out bookaway.com, but you just can’t afford to miss these 6 things to make it a cherishable trip in your lifetime.
You just can’t miss a trip to Hoi An while in Vietnam. Hoi An is a sought after tourist place. This ancient tourist spot is full of amazing restaurants which will serve you the authentic and the best Vietnamese cuisine you can ever think of. Clicking a lot of lovely pictures is a must while in this bright city full of mirth and gaiety. Visit the lovely beaches at Hoi An, Try the Egg Coffee which is quite a famous delicacy here, don’t miss out the beautiful lantern market, nightlife of Hoi An is so much happening that once you experience it you’ll crave for more, there’s a lot more to do in Hoi An such as you can take cooking classes, get a relaxing massage here and explore the corners of this beautiful city steeped in rich culture and tradition.
Top tips when visiting London Zoo with the kids
A trip to the capital as a family is almost a must-do while the kids are still young. So much to see and do – and plenty for the kids to learn about, too. Along with the usual suspects like Big Ben and the Tower of London, London Zoo sits as one of the most popular attractions the city has to offer.
Of course, a trip to the zoo is bound to provide a day of fun and memories no matter how you do it, but there are a few ways to make the most of your big day out. Here are some top tips for getting the best from your animal adventure.
If you are planning your next holiday, you have lots of great places to consider. The Canary Islands are certainly popular with a lot of people, and it is not difficult to see why! Read on to discover more about where you should stay if visiting this part of Europe.
Lanzarote has long been a popular holiday destination because of its uniqueness. The island is a volcanic one and this means that Lanzarote is filled to the brim with beautiful scenery, captivating sights, and intriguing stories. Not only is there an array of wonders to feast your eyes upon, but there are lots to do as well.
The same goes for another popular Canary Island; Tenerife. Luxury Tenerife holidays can enable you to unwind on the beach and catch some rays, you can experience some thrilling water sports, and you can enjoy relaxing whilst playing a great game of golf.
Nonetheless, in order to benefit from all the Canary Islands has to offer you need to find somewhere fantastic to stay. Most people tend to rent holiday villas in the Canary Islands for the duration of their break. Not only are there some beautiful villas in the country, but you get that added sense of privacy too.
Thus, read on to discover how you go about finding the best holiday villas in the Canary Islands for you…
Decide whereabouts in the Canary Islands you want to stay
The first thing you need to decide upon is whereabouts in the Canary Islands you want to reside for the duration of your holiday. Lanzarote, for example, is small in size and thus you won’t have to spend hours considering an array of different locations. After all, the island is only a mere 13 miles in width from the east side of the country to the west. Nevertheless, this is not to say that you do not have an excellent selection of options available. The conventional Spanish town of Arrecife tends to be the most popular option. This is Lanzarote’s capital and there are many villas situated in the centre of Arrecife as well as those that are located slightly outside. Nonetheless, it is worth considering the holiday villas in Lanzarote that are situated in lesser-known areas. As mentioned in the introduction; Lanzarote is well-known for being somewhere full of beauty and scenic possibilities. Because of this, you will be able to find villas offering the most breathtaking and magical views.
Search for holiday villas in the Canary Islands on the internet
Rather than visit a travel agent or ring up the number on a brochure, the best thing to do is use the internet in order to find your dream holiday villa. The internet will provide you with a much greater level of choice. Not only this, but you tend to find that villa rental is a lot cheaper online too. After all, most companies tend to offer online discounts. The reason for this is quite simple; there are more travel companies and accommodation rental websites available online. This means competition is of a much higher level and thus companies know they need to keep their prices low if they are to attract as many customers as possible. And remember; if you find a villa you like then do not be afraid to email and ask for more pictures or ask any question or concern you may have.
Make a list of pros and cons for each villa
Once you have looked online and found several which appeal to you, you should then make a list of pros and cons for each villa. One of the main things you obviously need to bear in mind is the price of the villa. It is likely to have a budget in mind and thus you will be able to cross any villas out that do not fit into your price range. Once you have considered the price you should then narrow down your search based on the facilities offered by each villa. Does the villa have a private pool? Does the villa have air conditioning? What cooking facilities are on offer? Is the place suitable for children? Is there a barbeque area outside? How many showers are there? Is there an outside shower? And so on and so forth…
By following this guide you should be easily able to locate the best holiday villas in the Canary Islands for you. Remember to firstly decide whereabouts you want to go, and then look online in order to discover your options, and finally narrow down your search through considering price and facilities.
Packing for a family holiday might be a task that you dread every year, but with a few simple tips and tricks in your arsenal, you’ll find that it becomes infinitely simpler, and even enjoyable.
The main things to remember are that packing smarter and lighter will yield the best results, but if you’re not sure how to translate this into practical terms, read on and see which of these recommended hacks could solve an existing issue for you and your family.
