07 December 2024

Whilst travelling the world is an amazing thought, there are also so many wonderful places to visit that are practically on our doorstep. Now don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing I love more than a week on the beach, in the sun, sipping a cocktail (or two). But… I also love to explore the UK and see what we have to offer. UK mini breaks can be more budget friendly, shorter in duration (so time off work or working around school is easier to manage) and can provide you with some much needed, hassle free time away from everyday life. My boys and I have spent the last two October half terms abroad and so this year, I wanted us to visit London. Gabriel had been showing a bit more interest in the royal family recently and had even asked to see where the King lived. We spent two nights/three days there and pre-planned a few things to ensure that we experienced as much as possible in such a short space of time. I was, however very conscious that I didn’t want us to be rushing from one thing to another and therefore attempted to plan in some down time too. I wanted us to have a chance to just take it all in. Thursday We got the 10am train down to London Euston from Manchester Piccadilly, checked into our hotel and left our bags, walked over the Tower Bridge and along the Thames, ate lunch and visited the Sealife Centre. Tickets for the Sealife Centre were pre-booked so we saved some money and guaranteed our entry. I would recommend this, especially in peak times such as school holidays, as there was a large queue to get in for those who hadn’t pre-booked. It was dark when we came out so we decided to call at the nearest Tesco Express and grab some ‘picky bits’ for tea. We ate these in bed, watching Men In Black (the only movie on the TV!). Kurt and I obviously enjoyed a glass (…bottle) of wine too. Friday We took the tram to Leicester Square to visit the Lego shop, ate lunch, made our way to Euston and took a train to Watford Junction to start our journey to the Harry Potter studios. We literally spent hours exploring and had the most amazing time. Whilst it may seem like an expensive option at the time of booking, it is absolutely the most wonderful place and I would definitely recommend a visit, especially if you are a HP fan. But even if you are not, the whole experience is memorable. Pre-booking is essential and I would suggest booking months prior to travel as timeslots do get booked up in advance. We finished our day by eating up the left over picky bits from Thursday in our hotel room and watched Men in Black 2. Saturday We packed up, checked out of the hotel and headed straight over to do the typical tourist attractions (Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Hyde Park etc). Our train home was at 4pm. Budgeting Overall, our trip was just brilliant and we had the right mix of experiencing key landmarks but also time to chill at meal times and stroll at our own speed. London is somewhere we plan to visit again and as Gabriel gets older then we will plan different itinerary’s based on what he will enjoy the most. London can be a very expensive short break so if you are on a budget then forward planning is key. We stayed very central at The Tower Bridge Hotel but this came at a cost. Personally, whilst the location and the view from our room was just fabulous, there are much more value for money options if you don’t mind being a little less central. I suggest taking your time searching. Just be prepared to do a lot of steps and try to get your head around the tube! We didn’t opt for breakfast at the hotel but instead, took cereal bars and used our spending money for a bigger lunch. Tesco express for our picky bits and wine of an evening also helped keep costs down. Limiting our trip to just two paid events and the rest of the itinerary being free then this also helped with the total cost. As we plan to visit again we will do the same but choose different paid options next time. Tickets for the Sealife Centre and Harry Potter were booked and paid for months in advance so this also helped us spread the costs over different pay days! There are a lot of ‘free’ things to do in London too. If you are planning to travel with children then take a look at groups on Facebook. There are so many helpful tips I picked up prior to planning our trip. The only other thing I’d say is that as a northerner, the pubs in London are extortionate! If you are anything like me and the hubby and enjoy a couple of drinks whilst away, then either plan your spends around this or grab from the shop and prepare to drink out of paper cups in the hotel! #classycouplegoals #thelengthswegotoforavino As always, if you want to get in contact then please do: Laura.bramfitt@travelcounsellors.com or 01706 330052

08 November 2024

Earlier this year we (my husband and 5 year old son) were lucky enough to experience the magic that is Disneyland Paris. Our son is completely mad on anything superhero related and has recently been watching some Disney films too. As an adult, who has never been to Disney, I just wasn’t sure what to expect! I’m a beach, book and pina colada kind of girl and therefore whilst I was completely committed to making this different type of family holiday an amazing experience for my son (and big kid of a husband), I wasn’t totally convinced it was for me. Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good Disney film and knew it would be the most amazing experience. I just thought I’d be stood in the queues, dreaming about white sands and blue seas and being… well lets face it, kind of ungrateful. Well… I couldn’t have been any further from the reality of the experience. The magic of the whole place is just unreal! The attention to detail at every turn adds to the thrill and I never thought I’d feel so emotionally overwhelmed seeing my little boy so excited. At one point during the evening fireworks, Gabriel (sat on Kurt’s shoulders) turned to me with tears rolling down his face. My reaction ‘baby, what’s the matter’. His response ‘mummy, I am just so happy. This is the best holiday ever. Can we live here please?’ Well, that set me off big time. In fact, I still well up thinking about it now. Whilst I’ve only been once (and believe me, we will be back there as soon as we possibly can) then I do feel that experience gave me a good understanding and the confidence to guide you with planning your future trips. There is just so much to consider and so many tips to take on board prior to and during your trip. Far too many to mention now. So I’m going to view this blog as an introduction to Disneyland Paris and then I plan to do some future content focussing on: • Travel Options • Accommodation • Food • Planning • General Tips • Budgets And anything else you may wish to know! The one takeaway (other than the fact the whole experience is just the most magical feeling in the world) is that I’m able to tailor make your trip to suit exactly what you want and need and therefore we can create a plan to fit around a wide range of budgets. There is honestly something to suit everyone. If you are thinking about Disneyland Paris as your next family holiday, or even if you are a couple wanting to create some inner youthful magic then just get in touch. This topic absolutely excites me so you can be assured that I will help you create the BEST experience ever! Email: laura.bramfitt@travelcounsellors.com Tel: 01706 330052 / 07834731402 Love Laura xx

09 October 2024

A topic which I think is so important, (especially at the start of my TC journey) is to highlight a few reasons why I believe that you should book your next getaway with me! Apart from the fact I’m absolutely amazing…(ha ha), there are many reasons why I’d love us to work together on creating that next, one of a kind trip for you. Here are just a few: 1. Stress-Free Experience Most people who are looking to book their next holiday find the thought of scrolling through website after website, researching hotels, and spending hours on trip adviser a big turn off. I can help remove those mundane tasks and do that work for you! Let me spend time researching which hotels offer an adult only swim up pool, where the nearest water park is located to keep the kids entertained or what adventures await in the local area that you plan to visit. 2. Ongoing support and flexibility As well as offering you a stress-free experience, my priority is to provide you with personal assistance throughout the whole journey. Whether it's adjusting plans, answering questions, or helping with unforeseen changes. Something which I feel is so important and makes me stand out from many. 3. Bespoke Itinerary I’ve always believed that it’s the finer detail that makes a good holiday become a great holiday. And that’s why I will always take the time to really understand your wishes, so that I can tailor your travel plans to be as personalised as possible. By being part of the TC community, I can access various flight options, an incredible array of hotels, and various resort transfers (think… no more over crowded coaches that take hours to get you to your hotel). Thus allowing you much more choice and flexibility. I can even build in pre-bookable excursions to allow you to truly explore what your destination has to offer. 4. 100% Financial Protection Your money is completely protected when booking with me. Should anything happen to the companies we use, your money is safe! 5. Added Value Having access to hundreds of other TCs with personal experiences of travelling worldwide, I can tap into that knowledge to recommend itineraries that you wouldn’t find on general websites. This allows me to add extra value to your trip by providing you with insider tips, hidden gems and local experiences available in your destination. 6. I genuinely care And finally (for now). Please be assured that every trip I create for you, I want it to be the most amazing experience you will have. I genuinely care that it meets everything you want it to be (and more). I know how much holidays mean to me and my family. The fact that you are trusting me in this process means the world to me and therefore you will have my all in return. If that sounds good to you then I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and let’s start planning! Email: laura.bramfitt@travelcounsellors.com Tel: 01706 330052 / 07834731402 Love Laura xx