Sometimes when you take the children somewhere full of meaning and poignancy, they don’t always appreciate the solemnity of the occasion…
All parents dread that familiar knot of tension in our stomachs whenever the children start playing up somewhere they shouldn’t: weddings, theatres, museums… war memorials. Children giggle too loudly, or run too fast, or don’t listen to the guide, or jump in a bomb crater, or clamber on a statue. (Sorry Canada).
… how on earth do rain clouds know where the Scottish Border is?!
My daughter’s favourite cuddly is a wolf called Storm.
At home, all her soft cuddlies get a fair and equal chance for a night time snuggle with her but when she’s away from home, Storm is The Chosen One. (Storm usually travels with a Minecraft Sheep – for snack?). Continue reading
Agriturismo Al Marnich
Listed below are the 4 best family-friendly B&Bs and small hotels that we have ever stayed in! Our B&B Hall of Fame if you will.
Our family criteria includes a wonderful setting, a friendly welcome or amazing food. These family-friendly places simply made us go WOW so we couldn’t recommend them more highly.
(Price range from 120 euros per night for a family room).
Salamanca, Old Quarter
A drive from Scotland to Portugal (& back!)
c. 2500 Miles through 5 countries.
Children’s Ages: 7 and 3.
[Also see: Why do we inflict these vast road trips on our kids?]
A drive from Scotland to Croatia (via France and Italy) then back again!
3500 Miles
Children’s Ages: 8 and 5
Our friends were staying in Barbezieres in south western France and the grandparents rented a place in Istria, north western Croatia, which, as it happens, is nearly 1000 miles exactly due east. So in order to take advantage of the free accommodation on offer we needed to plan a road trip right across France, through the Alps and across the top of Italy (skimming the corner of Slovenia) before heading for the stunning region around the hill top town of Groznjan.
Then of course, we had to come back… Continue reading
Stonehenge
My children are well used to being dragged to various historic monuments. In the UK, I only need to see one of those little brown road signs pointing off to something ancient just a few miles off our planned route and we veer off ‘to explore’. The older the monument, the better…
What are Pousadas?Pousadas de Portugal are hotels created out of monuments and other historic buildings. They were originally set up by the state to be rustic, genuinely Portuguese and to help preserve these wonderful buildings. Although they are luxurious and historic, their prices seem more than reasonable when compared to the prices paid in Britain for corporate chains such as the Holiday Inn, They are well worth considering… Continue reading
Salamanca Old Quarter
Paradors or Paradores are a chain of state-run Spanish luxury hotels created in the 1920s to promote tourism and preserve ancient buildings. They are usually castles, convents, forts and other historical buildings or more modern buildings in areas of special natural or historic beauty.
Although luxurious, many can be found at similar prices we Brits pay for identikit corporate hotel chains so they are well worth checking out as you may well be pleasantly surprised.
Click here to fill in your own family’s answers
Actual Answers by Ava (age 6) and Sam (age 10) for a Family Weekend Break: DFDS Mini-Cruise to Amsterdam
What countries are you visiting on this trip? Holland
Will you be staying in a B&B , house, tent or with friends? On the ship!
What can you see from you bedroom
window? A lifeboat!
What do you think this area is most famous for? Amsterdam is famous for canals, museums and dancing houses. “7 bridges and load beams,” said Sam. (We’d just completed a very informative canal boat trip).
What foods do the locals seem to enjoy the most? People who live in Amsterdam like cheese and waffles. Continue reading