09 April 2019

So my two year old son helpfully pointed out to our fellow Aurora Borealis seekers, as the driver-guide jokingly fretted he could be out of a job. He also merrily declares “I didn’t like the Geysers” whenever he is asked about our recent trip to Iceland. Happily, he loved the waterfalls, swimming in thermal pools, seeing wild dolphins and flying on a plane, proving Iceland really is perfect for a family looking for adventure without a long haul flight. My son was free on every excursion we did and car seats (a legal requirement) were provided free of charge on every tour and transfer. We chose to go in the winter as we hoped to see the Northern Lights, however the summer months mean longer days, milder weather and the option to self drive and explore more of the island (not something that is really recommended in the winter). We had a 3 night stay in Reykjavik which was perfect for a city break with a difference. As mentioned in previous blogs, one of my biggest tips when travelling with young kids is to give extra consideration (and perhaps more of the budget) to your accommodation than you might previously have, as there is a good chance you will be spending more time in it! We stayed in a lovely apartment in the centre of the city with huge windows looking out towards Hallgrímskirkja church. Having the option to self-cater when we wished to helped keep costs down (Iceland is notoriously expensive) and after a busy day sightseeing an evening in the apartment looking out over the sparkling lights of the city was a lovely way to relax. Our first afternoon and the following day were spent exploring Reykjavik on foot. It is an easy city to navigate and surrounded by the ocean and beautiful mountain ranges. The architecture of Iceland is mainly low rise with many buildings clad in corrugated metal and brightly painted. For incredible views of the city and the mountain ranges beyond, a trip to the observation deck at the top of Hallgrímskirkja church is a must. We really enjoyed exploring the beautiful glass-honeycomb building that is the Harpa Concert Hall and a walk along the sea front to The Sun Voyager sculpture is definitely worth doing too. For a bit of a break from the elements we visited the ‘Whales of Iceland’ exhibition in the heart of Reykjavik's old harbour area. With 23 life sized models of whales found in Iceland's waters it is worth a visit, with or without kids. The third day was spent on a Golden Circle tour which took us to several of Iceland’s iconic sites: Thingvellir National Park, the spectacular 2 tiered Gullfoss waterfall, and Strokkur geyser. The fairly lengthy drives (1-2 hours) between them revealed a wild, often bleak landscape where nothing much grows above shrub height; as our guide pointed out, if you ever got lost in a forest in Iceland, all you would need to do is stand up! Thingvellir National Park, home to the world's oldest parliament, lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates - you can actually walk between the two which is pretty cool! Thingvellir is also home to the "Bloody Gate", the pathway to the impregnable Eyrie and where Brienne of Tarth and The Hound have their gruelling fight scene in Game of Thrones – so of interest to historians, geologists and fans of the HBO series alike. We ended our day with an additional stop at Ted's absolute favourite place in Iceland: the 'Secret Lagoon' - a natural geothermal pool surrounded by several hot springs and a mini geyser keeping it at a delightful 38-40 degrees centigrade all year round. This wonderful spot was used by the locals for swimming lessons from the early to mid 1900s - I think if I'd learnt to swim here I wouldn't have complained half as much about having to go to lessons as a child! On our final morning before heading home we took to the ocean in the hope of seeing whales. Sadly, they remained elusive, although we did see some Harbour porpoises and several pods of dolphins and with the sun shining it was lovely to be out on the water. An interesting point that was made on our whale watching trip was about the consumption of whale meat in Iceland. There is much in the media about whale hunting in Iceland and why it continues to happen, so it was a surprise to me to discover that despite whale being on the menu in many restaurants across Reykjavik, Icelanders themselves rarely eat it. It seems the people eating the whales are those visiting the country with the thought that they are 'eating like a local'. The hope is that with increased awareness more visitors will opt for a whale watching trip over selecting whale on a menu. One last thing I wasn't expecting - when we turned on the hot tap or shower in our apartment there was a distinctly 'eggy' smell. The warm water comes directly from the ground meaning it contains sulphur - ideal for bathing but not so nice for drinking. Luckily the cold water runs straight from natural springs and is reportedly some of the purest and most refreshing water on the planet. Great for the environment and your wallet so definitely worth taking a reusable water bottle! If you want to find out more or want help planning & booking your own Icelandic adventure please do get in touch: lisa.savage@travelcounsellors.com 0121 314 3870

08 December 2018

I have always loved to travel, to explore the world and get off the beaten track (that’s why I became a travel agent after all), but since having a kid, most people assume my adventuring days are over, for now at least. But wanderlust doesn’t disappear when you have children and having kids does not have to mean your adventuring days are through. I am a big believer in the importance of travel for families; it introduces us to the world, creates inquisitive minds and gives us confidence. Experiencing the world through your children’s eyes also provides a fresh perspective to more travel-hardened parents. Plus, an adventure together offers an escape from daily life and time to focus on the family. So how do you organise a trip like this now you have children? An adventure tour is a great place to start, whether you are looking for a stress-free, active family holiday or are experienced travellers looking for a unique adventure. The family adventure travel market caters to families of all shapes, sizes and budgets including tours expressly for solo parents and their kids. Some are designed for teenagers and some for younger kids (usually 5+). There are literally hundreds of family adventure tours exploring exciting destinations such as Vietnam, India, Borneo, China, Sri Lanka, the Galapagos, Europe and more. These tours offer the perfect mix of activities and cultural experiences, adventure and education, from bush tracking and cookery classes to river tubing and ziplining. From kid friendly hotels with swimming pools to sleeping in tee-pees, a tuk-tuk ride through the streets of Bangkok to a bubbling thermal pool in Iceland or a safari in Kenya. Who needs the hotel animation team when the whole world is your adventure playground? Maybe your children will groan when you wake them at the crack of dawn to head out on an early game drive in the Masai Mara, but less than an hour later their eyes will be wide open in wonder as you watch a heard of elephants heading to the watering hole. Or imagine their shrieks of delight as they watch you get soaking wet whilst white water rafting in Costa Rica. Of course, it is possible to do all of this independently but that takes a lot more work and there are some real benefits to joining a family adventure tour. Travel with other families and make life-long friends. The clue is in the name: travelling on these tours will be families only. One of the advantages of group travel is the diversity of people you get to share your experience with. Family trips are a great way for children to meet and interact with other kids from around the world of a similar age with common interests. Usually the group is made up of 3–5 like-minded families and often the whole family ends up making lasting friendships, staying in touch long after the bags are unpacked back home. Small groups Generally, the group sizes are small enough to avoid the crowds and reach some off-the-beaten-track places. You can hop aboard local transport, eat at family-run restaurants and sleep in traditional accommodation and homestays. But someone else will make all the arrangements for you – this is a holiday after all! Private Touring If you like the sound of family adventure tours but would rather holiday with just your family and friends, it is almost always possible to arrange a tailormade tour that gets every last detail just the way you want it – but without the hassle of planning and booking it all yourself. This kind of extraordinary travel will create memories your family will cherish forever. What will your children remember about their next holiday?

04 December 2018

Travelling to Thailand with a 9-month-old baby has got to be pretty crazy, right? That’s what everyone kept telling me, but I’d been there 3 times before (admittedly child free) and was confident that with some careful planning it would be an amazing holiday for all of us. And so it was that in March 2017 I set off on a 16 hour journey with my sister and baby boy. I knew that with baby Savage along we would be spending a lot more time in the hotels than usual, so it was important to find the right places to stay. After a bit of research, I settled on La Flora Resort Khao Lak for our first week. As I knew we’d be spending a few hours of every day in our room whilst he napped, we treated ourselves to an upgraded Pool Access room. This lovely hotel has the most wonderful staff, a fantastic beach, and the beautiful pool our room opened out on to was almost empty, despite the hotel being full. Every afternoon, whilst baby Savage napped in his cot, I could open our patio doors and lie on my sunbed or swim in the pool, all within earshot of our room – that upgrade was worth every penny! It was my sister’s birthday whilst we were there and they treated her to a personalised cake in our room and a hilarious rendition of Happy Birthday over breakfast (which she hated but I very much enjoyed!) When we packed our bags after a week we were sorry to leave La Flora, but as we were returning to a favourite hotel of mine, The Slate Phuket (formerly The Indigo Pearl), we weren’t sad for long. I decided against a room upgrade here as the Pearl Bed Suites have a huge balcony (ours had a bath on!) with views over the grounds, so at nap time I could be found on my balcony, book in one hand and drink in the other. We did manage to drag ourselves away from the hotels for a couple of days out. In Khao Lak we went on a boat trip to a stunning deserted beach for a picnic and swim in the sea. Having this idyllic spot to ourselves was such a change from my last experience of the islands off the coast of Khao Lak with multiple boats discharging hundreds of tourists onto the picture postcard sand. From The Slate, we headed out to the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. This amazing place is well worth a visit if you want to see these majestic creatures but are concerned about their welfare in many of the tourist attractions. Obviously one of the biggest concerns people have about travelling long haul with a baby is the flights. Again, with some careful planning, this can be a better experience than you might imagine! I considered various options and found flights that fitted best around his routine (and meant he slept for well over half of it). I also made sure we had sufficient time to transit so there was no mad dash to make our connections and chose an airline known for its comfort and service. All in all, it was a brilliant holiday from start to finish, and I can’t wait for our next family adventure!