02 January 2025

Magical Lapland ???? If you have been following my Social pages, you’ll know I visited the Northern Arctic region of Finland, otherwise known as Lapland I’ve helped clients of various family ages to book their visits to this stunning region as quality, authenticity and price can vary depending on which tour operator you travel with. It’s most popular of course with families who are making that special ‘once in a lifetime’ journey to hunt for the man we all know and love in the place he calls home - Santa! ???? BUT, Lapland is not just for the kiddies. Having never made the journey with our children when they were young, my daughter (who is now 15) and I set out to fulfil our own bucket list dream of travelling to Lapland (and yes, we did meet Santa ????), however this stunning region offers something for everyone. Activities on offer include: ??Husky Sleding ??Reindeer Safaris ??Skiing/Snowboarding ??Snowmobiling ??Northern Lights search ??Snowshoeing ??Icebreaker cruise and swim We included an amazing sled ride by the Huskys (self drive I may add!)These dogs are born to run and they were so excited to see us! We stayed cosy throughout the day in one of the Yurts with a log fire, warm berry juice and ginger biscuits.. A private, magical sleigh ride took us through the forest and across a frozen lake to be greeted by Elves who accompanied us to Santa’s snowy, cosy cabin ???? After a sleigh ride with the Reindeer ??, we took to a Snowmobile (another self drive!) to head deep into the dark and beautiful forest in search of the Northern Lights. The snow was glistening in the dark and when we stopped at a small campfire with more warm berry juice and gazed up at the clear star lit sky, I knew this was an experience I would never forget ?? I could go on and on about Lapland. My advice? Do it. This is a bucket list experience and I can totally understand why.

23 February 2024

Travel tips: Ways to minimize jet lag With many of us now choosing to visit far away shores – that comes with flying long distances. For many of us, that means jet lag! When we travel through time zones, we usually find that ambient light and other environmental cues can make our internal clocks go haywire. Jet Lag can cause trouble sleeping, and when we do get to sleep, it's a shallow, light sleep. Other jet lag symptoms can include fatigue, irritability, nausea, trouble concentrating, headache, and upset stomach. In general, it takes a day to adjust for every time zone you've crossed, although the older you are, unfortunately the longer the adjustment can take. If you are flying East, this shortens your arrival day and can be more troublesome than flying West, which provides extra hours to catch up in the new time zone. On trips that involve crossing only one or two time zones, you may be able to wake up, eat, and sleep on our home time. There's no sure way to avoid jet lag entirely, but you may be able to reduce its effects and duration. Here's how: Start to shift before the trip. Gradually move mealtimes and bedtime closer to the schedule of your destination. For example, before traveling from the East Coast to Europe, go to bed a half-hour earlier than usual for several nights. If you'll be traveling a few time zones westward, stay up a half-hour later on several consecutive nights. Keep well hydrated. Mild dehydration is common when traveling by air — and being dehydrated worsens the physical symptoms of jet lag. So drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after your flight (water as always, is perfect!) BUT avoid caffeine and alcohol. Both promote dehydration, and while you might think that coffee could help keep you awake — and alcohol, help you sleep — in fact, both can disturb your sleep. Switch as rapidly as possible. If you'll be staying more than a day or two, adjust your sleeping and eating schedule to the new time zone as soon as you arrive (I always adjust my watch on the plane). It can be difficult, but try to stay awake until the local bedtime, to rise in the morning when the locals do, and to get outside in the natural light. Take short naps if you need them. Engaging in social activities can also help your body clock adjust. If you usually exercise, keep it up while you're away.

19 December 2023

1. New Orleans, US Why go in February? For the biggest of parties in the home of good times Old-world streets decked out in green, purple and gold announce the arrival of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The two weeks leading up to Shrove Tuesday see a crescendo of parades and parties by krewes (carnival clubs), with lots of floats, jazz and body paint. It’s a busy time to visit, but much less humid than in Louisiana’s summer months, when temperatures are generally in the high 20s. You’ll find a more local vibe to Mardi Gras away from the heritage facades and tourist traps of the French Quarter. 2. Koh Samui, Thailand Why go in February? For a later start to perfect beach weather Koh Samui and its neighbouring islands in the southern Gulf of Thailand are at their driest in February, after a short but intense wet season from October to December. You’ll find some of the biggest full moon parties on the island of Koh Pha-ngan, while the northeast of this jungle-clad island is quieter, as is smaller Koh Tao to the north, best for diving and snorkelling. Koh Samui itself is a gateway to both and Thailand’s second-largest island after Phuket, so there’s plenty of variety in its beaches, activities and hotels. 3. Lofoten Islands, Norway Why go in February? For a meeting of land and sea under the aurora It takes only three months for the Lofoten Islands, above the Arctic Circle, to catch their first glimpse of the midnight sun after many weeks of 24-hour night or twilight, and February sits in the middle of the period when it all starts to shift. This is the month to balance having enough darkness to hope for a sighting of the northern lights, with at least a few hours of sun to light up these majestic islands, where mountain ranges meet the ocean. 4. Baja California, Mexico Why go in February? For extraordinary wildlife encounters This is a generally dry and slightly cooler time of year across Mexico. Winter sun aside, the best reason to visit in February is to catch some incredible animal migrations. Millions of monarch butterflies are getting ready to fly north after their winter stay in the forested mountains of the Michoacan-Mexico State border. And in the lagoons on the coast of Baja California, grey whales come right up to visitor boats in some of the world’s most well-managed wildlife encounters. 5. Ari Atoll, Maldives Why go in February? For beach time and underwater discoveries in the best conditions The almost 1,200 tropical islands of the Maldives experience their driest month in February. They are grouped into 26 atolls that lie in an elongated loop, like necklaces within a necklace, suspended in the midst of the Indian Ocean. Whale sharks tend to move to the eastern atolls around December and back west again in May, but at Ari Atoll on the western side these gentle giants can be spotted year-round and March is a great time for diving visibility generally and high season for escapes to white-sand beaches. 6. Luxor, Egypt Why go in February? To follow in ancient footsteps along the banks of the Nile Winter in Egypt means packing something a little warmer to wear outside in the evenings. Summer temperatures regularly top 40C, so if your sights are set more on temples and pyramids than diving in the Red Sea, go in February for pleasant conditions under the desert sun. The pay-off gets bigger the further up the Nile you go and in Luxor (annual rainfall: less than 1mm) you’ll find an outstanding concentration of historic sites in and around one of ancient Egypt’s capitals. February is the time to explore the Valley of the Kings without feeling as parched as the mummies its painted tombs once held. 7. Quebec, Canada Why go in February? For joie de vivre in sub-zero temperatures It’s the second-coldest month of the year in Quebec, but the province’s inhabitants are ready to party. In the capital, Quebec City, the Winter Carnival runs over ten days, usually in early February, and features parades, snow sculptures and winter sports such as ice canoeing. Overlapping with this, La Poutine Week glorifies the national dish of Canada — chips, cheese curds and gravy — in a festival that began in Montreal and has spread nationwide. Outside the cities, now is also the season for skiing (downhill and cross-country) in resorts such as Mont-Tremblant. 8. Palawan, Philippines Why go in February? For tropical island-hopping at the most comfortable time of year With more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines defies easy categorisation, but it’s true that apart from along a narrow eastern fringe, February sees the lowest rainfall of the year. It’s still high season and there are fewer tourists than in the New Year period, plus there’s a host of celebrations including Baguio’s flower festival, making February a great time to explore. Inland attractions include the Banaue Rice Terraces and the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, but the call of white sands and turquoise waters speaks loudest. The province of Palawan has world-class wreck diving. 9. Eastern Cape, South Africa Why go in February? For inspiring scenery and safaris in South Africa’s second-largest province Summer in South Africa is both the driest time of year around Cape Town in the southwest and the wettest as you go northeast towards Johannesburg and the Kruger National Park. The picture is more diverse in the province of the Eastern Cape and variety — not just in climate — is key to its appeal. Its boundaries encompass coastal trails at the eastern end of the Garden Route, the semi-desert surrounds of the Karoo inland and wildlife-spotting, including all (with luck) of the big five at Addo Elephant National Park and other preserves. The Wild Coast to the east is green and rugged as the name suggests. 10. Puntarenas, Costa Rica Why go in February? For rainforest wildlife and unspoiled sandy beaches Central America’s ecotourism star gets tropical downpours throughout the year in most places (hence its resplendent rainforest) but if you’re on the Pacific coast, February is a drier time — busy, but less so than January or Easter. Puntarenas Province covers most of Costa Rica’s western shore, including the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, with relaxed beach vibes around the town of Montezuma, and further along, two of the country’s top national parks: Manuel Antonio (small and accessible, and very biodiverse) and more remote but stunning Corcovado on the Osa Peninsula.

11 December 2023

SKIING - one of my favourite holidays! I am fortunate to have enjoyed skiing holidays since I was a child so can safely say I have a lot of 'skiing' experience having skied various resorts ranging through France, Austria, Italy and the U.S.A - I now enjoy watching my own children sail past me down the mountain! Skiing is a fabulous holiday for staying active and letting your mind be free all at once. It's a fantastic opportunity to bond and laugh with your family or friends, no matter what age, both on the slopes and/or during apres-ski time! Not much beats the feeling of gliding down a freshly groomed piste under a clear blue, sunny sky. If you know, you know! If you are a seasoned skier or snowboarder and you're thinking about which resort to try next, be it Europe or perhaps the U.S or even Japan - or if you are new to skiing and need some helpful advice please get in touch!

11 December 2023

Blog coming soon .. My trip to the beautiful Barbados!

05 December 2023

Everyone seems to have been to Turkey! When our plans for a holiday to the U.S collapsed in 2020 due to covid, we looked for another destination to run away too and with most of world closing for business due to increasing covid cases, Turkey still remained open for travel so we went. we stayed in the beautiful resort of Olu Deniz, next to Fethiye and around 1 hour from Dalaman Airport. Olu Deniz is know for it's backdrop of lush mountains, it's calm and turquoise Lagoon at the right end of the main beach and for it's paragliders that come in thick and fast from the mountains and land by the beach. We had a great time here, and the highlight had to be the boat trip we took for the day that stopped and beautiful coves and beaches surrounded by clear, crystal blue and turquoise waters. The children loved diving off the boat and snorkeling wherever possible. Turkey certainly lived up to our expectations!

30 November 2023

This was a much needed few days away with the girls and what a fabulous destination for it! A quick 2 hour hop on the plane and we landed in Palma. Cabin bags at the ready, we sped past those waiting for suitcases and were in a car to our hotel in no time. Ten minutes later and we arrived at our hotel in the centre of Palma. With a rooftop pool, a cocktail in hand and the cities sandy beach just across the road - we relaxed immediately! Palma is a beautiful cosmopolitan city with a delightful old town, filled with buzzing tapas bars and cafes as well as lots of shops if shopping is on your agenda! In the centre of the city sits the massive Santa María cathedral, a Gothic landmark from the 13th century, that overlooks the Bay of Palma. The adjacent Almudaina is a Moorish-style Arab fortress converted to a royal residence. West of the city, hilltop Bellver Castle is a medieval fortress and is well worth a visit. Wander around the marina, ogling the many luxury yachts and finish at the cities beach club where you can be waited on whilst watching the sun set. Reasonably priced and easy to explore by foot - this is a great destination for anyone looking for a few days away in the sun with a mix of city, shops and beach!

30 November 2023

Blog coming soon - watch this space. This was a round the world trip I took way before children and spent 6 months travelling to several destinations. Thailand - we flew into Bangkok, the travelled down south to the islands of Koh Samui, Kho Phangan and Kho Tao, before heading back up north and taking the train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai for a trek to stay with the Karen Tribe and a visit to the elephant sanctuary. Australia - we flew into Sydney, then on to Ayres Rock before flying up north to Cairns where we picked up a campervan. We travelled the coast taking in Port Douglas, snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, Mission Beach, Fraser Island, the Whitsunday islands, Brisbane, Surfers Paradise, Noosa, Nimbin and Byron Bay to name a few stops! Last stop was Melbourne before heading on to ... New Zealand - North and South Islands Fiji - a visit to the islands to meet local families followed by a last stop on Beachcomber Island.

30 November 2023

When many people think of Portugal as a holiday destination, they usually visualise the swanky resorts of Quinta De Lago, famous with footballers and celebrities, especially those that love golf! Or the port of Villamoura or seaside town of Albufeira! But there is soooo much more to Portugal, and the area of the Algarve! Portugal has become a home from home for me now after my parents bought a property in the gorgeous town of Lagos almost 25 years ago. We have visited much of Portugal now, spending time north in Oporto (the real Portugal as some may say!) as well as time in Nazare, Lisbon, Lagos and even heading over to the Spanish border to the tiny, sleepy little town of Alcoutim where you can take the first ever cross border zip line from Spain, across the river Guadiana into Portugal! Nazare, which is approx 2 hours north of Lisbon is famous for big wave surfing, Infact the world record for the largest wave surfed was recorded here in 2020! It's well worth a visit if you want to see the worlds masters at practice. The big competitions and largest waves are here usually in the month of October. Lisbon is charming. A wonderful cosmopolitan city which is reasonably priced and easy to navigate with it's cobbled alleyways and trams to whisk you around. Bundles of resturants, bars and cafes to dine at and watch the world go by. Great for a weekend break, or tag this on as a twin centre to start in Lisbon before picking up a car and driving the 3 hours south to the Algarve for some beach time. The town of Lagos has cobbled streets of whitewashed buildings and trendy bars and restaurants that sit harmoniously next to traditional Portuguese cafes and family-run shops. The many sights and activities to be found in Lagos make it a great destination for a holiday in Portugal. A huge choice of beaches, from long stretches of golden sand to small intimate coves and bays, you will usually always find a nice cooling breeze at this end of the Algarve due to it's position on the Western tip of Europe. The nearby beaches of Monte Clerigo and Carrapateira are hot spots for surfers with Monte Clerigo also offering lessons. Golf courses are everywhere, and it's a key destination both summer and winter for golf enthusiasts. Boat trips leave most resorts regularly for dolphin spotting or visits to the famous caves and grottos that run the coastlines. Water parks, mini golf, fun parks, tree top adventures, shopping, racing, some of the best golf courses in the world ...... it's all to be found in Portugal.

27 November 2023

The best way to see a country is to stay on the ground. Taking a taxi transfer, a train or even a bus if you are feeling really adventurous is a great way to see all there is to see around you. This is particularly true of a fly drive - and one of the most popular states in the U.S for this is California and over to the West. Ideal for couples, single travellers and undoubtedly a great destination for families with teens who are looking for something different that will provide lots of adventure, memorable family experiences and brilliant Insta photos for the teens!! There is something for everyone in this part of the U.S. There is so much to see and do so you need to plan your itinerary carefully. Fly into San Francisco and drive a few hours to the national parks - such as Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and Kings Canyon/Sequoia for stunning scenery and the fabulous adventures in the great outdoors. On to through Death Valley to Las Vegas (with a side trip to the Grand Canyon?) or perhaps head inland from the parks back to the coast to see the whales in their natural habitat at Monterey, then continue down the infamous Highway 1, regarded as one of the most scenic coastlines in America, until you reach the beautiful Santa Barbara before entering glitzy Malibu, Los Angeles (with several theme parks also to chose from including Disney World, and perhaps even on to San Diego. There are so many options to chose from I can help you build the perfect itinerary.

23 November 2023

Blog on it's way, I haven't had time to complete this fully yet. This holiday was an amazing adventure with our children. We flew to Boston, took the train to New York, then flew out of New York to Mexico and travelled down the coastline staying at Isla Mejures (a beautiful island off the coast of Cancun), then onwards to the well known holiday destination of Playa Del Carmen before we took a 4 hour bus trip down to Lake Bacalar, close to the Mexico/Belize border. From here we took a water jet ferry boat from Chetumal in Mexico, across the border arriving on the beautiful island of Ambergris Caye in Belize. We spent time exploring the island and the amazing barrier reef as well as the island of Caye Caulker, before ferrying to the mainland and making our way up to the jungle/rainforest. Here we stayed in the most amazing jungle lodge and explored the ancient Mayan city of Xunantunich before heading in to the ATM (Actun Tunichil Muknal) Caves to discover the Mayan Underworld and National Geographics Number One most sacred site in the word! Please call me to discuss any of our destinations on this trip. This really was the holiday of a lifetime and great for those looking for some adventure!

23 November 2023

Blog and holiday photos coming soon - watch this page! In the meantime if you would like advice and help planning a holiday to beautiful Croatia, please get in touch. We flew into the capital Zagreb where we stayed for a couple of nights before collecting a car and driving cross country to the coast, stopping at Plitvice Lakes National Park. From there we headed to Zadar, Split, then a ferry over to the island of Brac. Back to the mainland and stopped in Omis for some family fun white water rafting, then carried on to Dubrovnik where we dropped the car and flew back to the UK.

23 November 2023

Blog coming soon! I spent 3 days in Boston exploring the city during the summer months, followed by a train trip down to New York. If you would like to discuss a visit to this charming city in Massachusetts please give me a call or drop me an email to discuss.

23 November 2023

New York, New York! New York, or the Big Apple as it’s more affectionately known is 100% a bucket list destination. I love this city so much I have visited 5 times and at various times of the year, including Summer, Autumn and Christmas. I have been as a young footloose and fancy free girl in my 20’s, I have been as a couple with my husband, and I have most recently been as a parent with my teenage children in tow! My last visit was just this year, in the summer of 2023 with my teenagers. We actually stopped in Boston and NY as a stopover on route to Mexico and Belize (see my other blog about our multi centre holiday). My children LOVED it and have decided that want to work and live in NY when they are older! You can’t explain the vibe and feeling of this city until you have been, and I guess that’s what lures so many people here from all over the world – and many return time and time again! There is so much to see and do, not only on Manhattan but also in the surrounding areas. There is a huge choice of hotels to choose from which cater for all budgets. NY has become more expensive, but if you are careful where you eat and what you choose to spend your money on when you are there, it can still be very affordable. Take advantage of the things to do that don’t cost money, such as a ride on the Staten Island Ferry to see The Statue of Liberty, a walk along the Highline or a picnic or afternoon in Central Park enjoying the music, park activities and people watching. With just a 7.5 hour flight from London, by the time you settle down on the plane, have a meal and a drink and watch a couple of films – you’re there! Whatever your budget and whatever you want from your time there, let me know and I will be able to provide suggestions and advice.

23 November 2023

The pressure was on. Friends had been or were going, and our children were repeatedly asking if we could go ‘one day’. Yes – it was the D word … Disney! So 5 years ago in a bleak October, we bit the bullet and I planned our trip. However, I knew that there was so much more to Florida than just Disney, so we decided to make it an extended adventure! We flew directly into Orlando and stayed in an apartment hotel just outside of the Disney Parks and close to the wonderful little town of Celebration. Originally founded by The Walt Disney Company in the mid 90’s, Celebration is a charming little town with tree-lined streets, captivating architecture and a welcoming mix of shops and restaurants. In fact, Celebration was named one of America’s 10 prettiest towns so well worth a visit. There was a free shuttle from our hotel to the parks, but we very quickly decided we would rather have our own car to arrive and leave when we wanted and have the freedom to explore without being tied down to shuttle bus schedule times. Driving is very easy in Orlando with big wide roads and the parks are very close with ample parking at each. The next 9 days were spent visiting all of the Disney Parks and Universal Studios, with a couple of days included at one of the water parks and at our hotel pool resting our legs. There is no denying, that even if you believe Disney isn’t your thing, you will feel the magic of this place the moment you walk through the gates. It has to be one of the happiest places on the planet! It turns even the most mature of adults back into children again … I’m not going to lie, a visit to these parks takes ‘a lot’ of planning with regards rides. Once you have purchased your Disney Passes, you are permitted to book up to 3 ‘fast pass’ rides a day. This is done by downloading the Disney App which gives you access to all the rides and it will very quickly become apparent which are the more popular. I strongly recommend booking your fast pass rides as soon as this opens to you, which is 30 days before arrival to the park for guests staying outside of Disney, or guests staying at the Disney Resort Hotel have privileged access to book fast pass rides 60 days before their check in date for the entire length of their stay. Food within the parks is fairly generic and rather expensive, so we made sandwiches back at our apartment and took these with us most days, along with refillable bottles of water which was a godsend. Once we had finished in Orlando, we headed west to the Gulf Coast of Florida for some beach time and adventure. Our first destination was Sarasota and a hotel directly on Lido Beach. We spent a few days relaxing on the white sandy beach and exploring the local area such as Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. Our next destination was the small and beautiful Sanibel and Captiva Islands, accessed by a causeway from Fort Myers. They are popular due to their low-key, quiet beach settings with pristine white beaches, coupled with a lush tropical environment. 15 miles of beach, 25 miles of bike paths (which our children loved), fish, birds and 250 types of seashell which you can spend hours collecting on the beach! There were some great, relaxed, family fun restaurants here although we were rather baffled being served huge chocolate muffins before our meal in replacement of a bread basket! After a few days of total relaxation, we hit the road again to the bigger town of Naples. So much to do here, lots of shopping, boat trips, markets, the beach and pier. The perfect place to wander and take it all in. Then just a couple of hours further on the road took us into the infamous Everglades. There was no way I was going to visit Florida without spotting a croc, and no better place to do this than the Everglades! Taking an iconic air boat, we ventured through swamps and cypress parks carefully looking for those peeking eyes above the water. As well as crocs, we saw an abundance of other wildlife. The children loved it and once back on land, they even got to hold a baby croc! The drive out of the Everglades was great and within a short time we arrived on the Florida Keys – Key Largo first stop. We made our way along the keys and over the 7 mile bridge towards Key West, stopping at various know tourist spots and other recommended sights along the way. Robbies – a well known fishing depot where we hand fed the enormous tarpon who arrived for their lunch. The ‘No Name Pub’– yes, that’s really what it’s called. Tucked away off the main stretch, this pub was a marvellous site, totally decorated with bank notes from all across the world! Theatre of the Sea – where it’s possible to learn more about marine conservation and see/swim with dolphins. We stayed in Key Largo, Islamorada and eventually Key West which is Florida's southernmost point, lying roughly 90 miles north of Cuba. Famed for its pastel-hued, conch-style houses, it’s very well known for it’s coral reefs and a great destination for diving and snorkeling rather than it’s beaches. Our last journey was heading back along the Keys and up into Miami. We arrived in a heavy downpour of rain, but this didn’t dim the vibe and lights of this city. We instantly understood why Miami is known as a party city, it oozed cool vibes and the trendy gang. Our hotel was directly on Miami Beach which was a perfect place to chill and people watch. We made the most of some last chance shopping and took a ride down Ocean Drive (singing The Lighthouse Family – why not!) before dropping our car back at Miami airport and flying home directly to London.

23 November 2023

We travelled the beautfiul and diverse South Africa, starting in Johannesburg and ending in Capetown, including a safari. I'm still writing this blog so check back soon! if you can't wait and are thinking of booking soon, give me a call or message me for help and advice when planning your trip.

22 November 2023

Weekend Break in pretty Lille When we think of jumping on the Eurostar to get across the channel for a weekend break, most of us think of reaching Paris or Brussels with Lille being hugely ignored! Well I did anyway, until last year when I wanted to grab a couple of nights away with my husband and decided to find out more about about this much overlooked destination. With just a 1 hour 22 minute journey out of St Pancras, Lille is very quick and easy to reach. The Eurostar takes you literally 10 minutes walk from the very centre. Lille is very pretty, typically French with a beautiful square(s), old buildings, cobbled windy streets to roam and get lost in and plenty of restaurants serving delightful French cuisine (welsh rarebit and mussels seemed to feature everywhere!) and some lovely small bistros and bakeries. There is a huge Westfield shopping centre right in the town centre, opposite the Eurostar Terminal and hotels are very well priced in comparison to Paris. My verdict – definitely worth a visit for a night or maximum 2 nights!

21 November 2023

Greak island hopping is a once in a lifetime experience and sat firmly on my bucket list! There are a whopping 6000 + islands in Greece as a whole stretching from the Ionian sea to the Aegean sea, so we were totally spoilt for choice when deciding which to include on our visit. The experience of Greek Ports and boarding ferries is one we will never forget. No country handles organised chaos like Greece does :-) After much a debate and my daughter begging to visit the islands that hosted the film crews of Mamma Mia, we decided that we should start on the mainland in the ancient city of Athens, then hop on our first ferry to the trendy island of Mykanos (I was desperate to see Mykanos Town), then another ferry to the unique volcanic island of Santorini followed by our last hop to the island of Crete, from where we would fly home. Athens: the capital of Greece. Athens was once a powerful civilization and empire. The city is still dominated by 5th-century BC landmarks, including the Acropolis, a hilltop citadel topped with ancient buildings like the colonnaded Parthenon temple. The Acropolis Museum, along with the National Archaeological Museum, preserves sculptures, vases, jewellery and more from ancient times. We were fully prepared for moans and groans from the kids whilst we dragged them around the ancient sites, but to our surprise they were both fairly awestruck by the sight of the Acropolis towering about the city. If you have had enough of sightseeing, you can drive for 30 minutes or catch a taxi and be at the beach. I wasn’t expecting much of the beach, but was very pleasantly surprised to find some great beach bars and beach clubs with nice sandy beaches and warm sea. 2 days is more than enough in Athens with kids and we were ready to leave for the port on our 3rd morning there. Mykanos: A favourite haunt of celebrities and the rich with it’s exclusive hotels, luxury beach clubs and wild party scene … and you can see why. Mykanos oozes ‘cool’ vibes, but I wouldn’t say it’s the prettiest of the islands to explore and not so child friendly as other neighbouring islands such as Paros or Naxos. However, we had a wonderful 4 days here enjoying the pool and local beaches. A visit to Mykanos Town was an absolute highlight, with it’s white washed buildings, small and narrow winding and cobbled alleyways bursting with fabulous restaurants and shops and a seat at one of the waterside bars in Little Venice to watch the sunset – it offers a memorable visit that we will never forget. Another hop on the ferry from Mykanos took us south to the unique island of Santorini. Santorini: I was extremely excited about this island and learning more about its history. A natural wonder of the world, the famous volcanic eruption thousands of years ago gave this island her current crescent shape. The rare natural beauty of Santorini, the breathtaking caldera, the awesome views that you just don’t get bored of and the extraordinary black volcanic beaches are all simply stunning. We decided to stay in the capital Fira, situated on the Western edge of the island overlooking the Caldera. It’s a bustling town with plenty of restaurants boasting awesome view of the Caldera by day and by night. Upon recommendation, we took the bus to Oia to watch the legendary sunset one evening Stunning Oia is carved out of Santorini's cliffs—a panorama of white buildings dotted with colourful rooftops and pretty churches set against the deep blue sea. If you are feeling up to the challenge, you can take the 278 steps (to be precise!) down to the beautiful Ammoudi Bay where you will find the most gorgeous little port and it’s handful of top notch restaurants serving the fresh daily catch! Beware though, it’s still 278 steps to walk back up of course with a full belly of food and wine! Not for the faint hearted, but we still speak today of our climb back up with huge smiles on our faces. It was well worth every step. If you fancy throwing in a bit of history, take a bus, taxi or excursion to Akrotiri, a prehistoric settlement in Santorini which is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. The site is named after the nearby village, while the historical name is unknown. The period of occupation ranges from 4th millennium BC (Neolithic) to 16th century BC (Bronze Age). In pre-history, it was a well connected Minoan port town with a thriving economy. The site was abandoned around 16th century BC due to an eruption of the volcano on the island. However, even today, excavations continue to reveal artefacts and treasures from this unique prehistoric settlement. We were sad to say goodbye to Santorini, it was special, but we were looking forward to reaching our next destination on the ferry, the island of Crete. Crete: is the largest island in Greece, and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Here, you can admire the remnants of brilliant civilizations, explore glorious beaches, impressive mountainscapes, fertile valleys and steep gorges, and become part of the island’s rich gastronomic culture. There are many great resorts on the island of Crete, but we chose to base ourselves in the small fishing village of Elounda. Elounda is a seaside town on Crete’s north western coast. It’s an up-and-coming retreat that revolves around a colourful harbour and the main square just next door. The place is packed with authentic Greek tavernas and friendly bars – it also comes with a sandy beach that looks out to the intriguing Spinalonga Island that was once famously used as a leprosy colony (ever read The Island by Victoria Hislop?) If you want more action, the town of Agios Nikolaos is just 15 minutes’ drive away. We spent the week here in Crete enjoying the beaches, relaxing and local cuisine before flying home direct to the UK.