Days Out & Holidays

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 or choose one of the spectacular cars available at Sandown Mercedes 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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If you and the kids are looking forward to the latest Toy Story movie coming out, then don’t miss the fun Toy Story 4 Party event this Saturday at your local Smyths toy store. This free party event sounds like it will be great fun for the family with activities including face painting, DJs and giveaways like FREE Toy Story 4 minis, stickers and posters.

I know I can’t wait for the next instalment of Toy Story – I’m looking forward to it just as much as the kids! It will be great to find out more about the new characters and of course catch up with old favourites Buzz Lightyear and Woody! I’ve spotted some new Toy Story 4 toys being released too so Smyths is the perfect place to check these out and have a browse. There are even some Smyths exclusive Toy Story interactive figures out too.

With the bank holiday weekend, and the half term holidays following right on afterwards, it’s great to have free events like this to keep the kids busy and having fun on a budget!

You can go along to Smyths stores this Saturday 25th, from 9am on wards, to join in with all of the fun.

Find out more here on the Smyths site: https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/in-store-events

The summer holidays are just around the corner and with the kids breaking up from school, it’s time to start thinking about all of the days out you could have. Whilst often you may feel as though days out are the most exciting part of summer, before you know it they can become incredibly stressful. Whether it’s not having the weather or your side or forgetting to pack the essentials, days out never turn out as great as they’re supposed to. With that in mind, here are some tips and tricks to ensure you have a great day out with the kids:

• Plan What You’re Going To Do Well In Advance

The first thing you need to ensure when you’re planning a day out with the kids is that you’re planning everything out well in advance. Whilst you may not be able to make solid plans until you know exactly what the weather is going to be like, putting together a couple of potential options is much better than having no plan at all. Think about weather appropriate days out, as well as ones that will let you enjoy the glorious sunshine should it make an appearance. For a guide to planning a family day out, you can visit this site here.

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