Days Out & Holidays

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.

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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.

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British travellers are lucky in the fact that they don’t require a visa to travel to the majority of countries. However, there are some destinations you’ll need a travel visa. Here, you’ll discover everything you need to know about travel visas and the countries you’ll need one for. 

Which countries require a visa?

Although Brits can travel to most destinations without a visa, there are some exceptions. They include:

• Australia
• China
• Cuba
• Ivory Coast
• Sri Lanka

Both Australia and Sri Lanka offer e-visas which can be applied for prior to visiting. These are basically easier types of visas to apply for as you typically don’t need to travel to the London Embassy to get them. These are just a small number of countries which require a visa for travel. It’s important to look up the country you’re thinking of travelling to in order to see what its visa requirements are.

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Over the summer holidays, we took the kids for a week in Italy staying in the Lake Garda region. It was the first time in Italy for me and the kids although their dad has been a few times before. We had a brilliant time and would definitely recommend this region for travel with kids of all ages, as there is so much to do. You can have a really busy holiday taking in lots of activities and days out with the kids, or equally you could have a very relaxing week just enjoying the sun, the beautiful scenery, Italian food, and lots of swimming.

Weather

The average weather in Lake Garda over the summer months is up to around 29 or 30 degrees, with a low of 18 or 19. We were really lucky with the weather when we went and it was nice and hot without being excessive. The temperature is great for kids, as it’s hot but not too extreme.

I would recommend packing clothes like shorts and t-shirts or light summer dresses. La Coqueta Kids sent us one of their Girls dresses which was perfect for the summer weather and lovely for a holiday like this.

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Over the Summer holidays we spent a great day at SEA LIFE in London, on the South Bank. SEA LIFE is a lovely day out for all the family and was enjoyed by all ages from our toddler, to our older kids and us parents too. Visiting SEA LIFE allows you to explore and meet the amazing creatures from across the globe, like Boris the Sea Turtle, Belle the Shark, Juno the Penguin and Archie the Dwarf Croc, so as well as being fun it’s a really nice way for kids to learn and expand their knowledge of animals too.

The collection of sea creatures at SEA LIFE London is really wide, much more so than smaller aquariums we have visited. There are huge tanks of sharks and rays…

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Some of the best memories of childhood are from family holidays. Taking a trip together is a great bonding experience and creates memories for the whole family. If you’re planning a holiday for you and your children, it can be tricky to choose the best places to go and what to do, especially if your have children over a range of ages. With some clever planning and simple tips, you can make sure you have a holiday that the whole family will enjoy and remember forever. 

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Almost 40% of vacations in America are road trips.

The main reason for this? Flights are expensive, and once you add a few children into the mix, they can make vacation unaffordable. To still enjoy your vacation time away from home, pack the minivan and embark on an old-fashioned road trip.

There’s more to a family road trip than just playing car games. Keep reading to discover key tips for planning a family road trip.

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If you are looking for both an adventurous and relaxing family holiday then you might enjoy a family friendly yacht charter holiday. Enjoy making your own journey visiting bustling harbours, beautiful beaches and secluded coves. There are many different adventures to choose from. A yacht charter in Greece or perhaps Italy. Choosing a family yacht charter holiday is a great idea for those wanting a different and freedom filled holiday along the coast. 

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