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Monica

Hi, I'm Monica! This is my family lifestyle blog where I share posts about motherhood and microadventures.

I knew Dubai was going to be great for kids but I had no idea just how child-friendly Dubai would be. There’s so much for kids to do in Dubai but everything is aimed at kids AND their parents. Yes, that’s right – child-friendly activities that adults can actually enjoy too. It was seriously a …

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Here are the best Edinburgh Instagram spots and the most photographed street in Edinburgh for anyone looking for the perfect photo opportunity to add to their grid. Edinburgh is a beautiful city and there’s an Instagrammable location around every corner but here are 10 of the best! From the medieval streets of the old town …

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Llangollen, in north-east Wales, is everything you’d want from a quaint Welsh town. It’s so idyllically pretty it’s like Llangollen has stepped right out of the pages of a child’s bedtime story. With steam trains chugging billows of smoke across the rushing river and horse-drawn canal boats gently plodding alongside the water’s edge, Llangollen is …

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I took the ferry from Hull to Rotterdam with P&O Ferries and here’s what I thought about it with some travel tips for anyone planning to do the same. I love this fast paced world we live in. A world where you can fly to the other side in a day, you can speak to …

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Whenever I tell people about our incredible family holiday to Dubai I tell them all about our time at Dubai Parks and Resorts. I tell them all about this incredible adventureland, packed with rides and attractions, thrills and excitement…and I’m usually met with a blank look. ‘Dubai Parks and Resorts?’ they ask. ‘I’ve never heard …

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I’ve been blogging for a long time now and my favourite thing about this crazy online world is the way The Travel Hack is basically my online travel journal and a place to store all of my precious travel memories. I often sit down at my laptop to do some work but end up reading …

Read More about Doin’ it for the ‘gram: Is it such a bad thing?

I’ve just returned from the most incredible 8 days in Dubai! It was a family holiday to Dubai with Emirates Holidays and we found this 8 day Dubai itinerary to be just perfect. It includes staying in two different hotels/resorts and has a really nice range of activities for the whole family. Here’s my Dubai …

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Today Lucy shares an incredible Edinburgh guide with 11 unmissable things to do in Edinburgh during your first trip to Scotland’s capital! Fascinating history, bags of culture, gorgeous views, delicious food and drink – Edinburgh is one of those cities with a bit of everything and my first-timer’s guide to Edinburgh has everything you should …

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There are so many amazing blogger’s guides to Lisbon so I thought it was time to pull my favourites together into an ‘ultimate travel blogger’s guide to Lisbon’. As you all know, I think travel blogs are the best sources of information for travel guides because they’re honest and relatable and have so many little …

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Suzanne has already shared so many amazing blog posts about Lisbon and today she’s got a perfect weekend itinerary for Lisbon. If you’re a first-time visitor to Lisbon and you’re in the city for just 2 or 3 days then this is the itinerary for you! Updated 14 March, 2022 by Mike Seguin of lisbontravelideas.com …

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Michele Frolla is giving us the lowdown on the best places in Rome to watch the sunset. Whether you’re looking for a romantic spot for a special moment, a lovely place for a photo or a peaceful space to enjoy the city bathed in a gorgeous golden glow, here are 5 stunning places to watch …

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I thought I’d try something new on the blog this week and share a chatty, bloggy style post that’s similar to my newsletter – but for anyone who’s inbox is already clogged up enough as it is to subscribe to yet another newsletter. I feel like every blogger and her dog has an amazing newsletter …

Read More about Filming with The Gadget Show and two exciting holidays!

I remember a time when I travelled with nothing more than a backpack, a battered copy of a Lonely Planet I would have picked up in a hostel, a handful of clothes, a few toiletries, a tiny camera and my passport. Nothing more. It makes me feel a bit stressed just thinking about this now. …

Read More about My travel gadgets and how I protect them while I’m travelling

I did something last week that I haven’t done for YEARS. I went to the library. And not just a pretty old library to go and ogle at the beautiful books with cracked leather covers and brown pages with that delicious old book smell. No, I went to a proper, modern library where real people …

Read More about March Reading List: 5 books for your bookshelf this month

Today Suzanne is sharing the best food and drink to try during your trip to Lisbon. She’s also got some great suggestions for the best restaurants in Lisbon for the tastiest trip possible. I hope you’re hungry… When you’re not hurtling around on Lisbon’s trams or Instagramming the alleyways of Alfama you’ll want to tantalise …

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Today’s post is a bit different because I’m chatting to Elle about her debut novel, her book deal and what it feels like to be a published author! Oh yes, if you didn’t know, Elle’s written her first book, The Guilty Wife. She’s got herself a book deal for not just one book but two …

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Michele Frolla is sharing her top travel tips for Rome. Like most cities, Rome can be a little overwhelming for a first time visitor but we’ve got lots of simple insider travel tips to make your trip to Rome easier. Michele’s Rome travel tips will save you time and money and make your holiday as …

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Today’s post is an update on our house renovations and a look at our attic conversion. It was a lot of work but it was worth it! I started documenting the renovation of our home a few years ago and planned to do a new room update every time we ‘finished’ a new room. And …

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Here’s my review of the VAGO baggage compressor, a clever travel tool to help reduce the size of your luggage by up to 50% with a tiny, portable vacuum compressor.   Does anyone else always wish they had just a tiny bit more space in their luggage? If this is you then I have a …

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We live in a world where everyone wants everything to be bigger, faster, stronger, brighter. We spend our lives consumed by wanting more and we’re programmed to spend way too much time and energy on achieving this unattainable ‘more’. We want bigger TVs, faster cars, bigger homes, better jobs, bigger bank balances, more clothes, more …

Read More about Consumerism, overspending and why I love camping

Over the past few years, blogging and being a social media influencer has become big business and the internet is swarming with tips on how to make money through your blog. It’s true that with a lot of hard work and a lot of passion, you can turn it into a profitable career but I …

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I’ve been a big fan of Osprey backpacks since my first backpacking trip way back in 2009. It actually wasn’t my backpack, it was Sam’s but I was so envious. Sam’s Osprey backpack had cost a little more than mine but the extra £50 he’d spent could be seen in the quality and design. His …

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As well as being incredibly cool, Lisbon is also beautifully photogenic and totally Instagramable. The city is built on seven hills which means there are more than a few panoramic viewpoints. Ancient districts are packed with steep cobblestone streets, gorgeous Azulejo tiles and street art. Camera in hand, you’ll be drawn to the sleek lines …

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If you’re looking for things to do in Manchester this weekend then I’ve got a great Manchester weekend itinerary that includes all of my favourite things – vintage shopping, gorgeous cafes, ancient libraries and even the adrenaline fuelled bonus of skydiving! There are so many things to do in Manchester and it can be a …

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A road trip is my favourite way to discover a new destination. I love the freedom of the open road and that feeling as your soar through the countryside with the wind in your hair and your favourite song blasting through the car. I love stopping at road side cafes and every little gem that …

Read More about Road tripping: My Travel Hacks for your first time driving abroad

A compilation of the best travel books – as shortlisted by Stanfords! If you made it your New Year’s Resolution to read more this year then I have some of the best travel books for you. These travel books were all shortlisted for The Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards. Yes, Stanford’s – that gorgeous store …

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Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, makes for a fabulous European city break. There are so many things to do in Lisbon that you can be a busy or as chilled as you please and the city is totally on trend for 2018. There are lots of reasons to love Lisbon; it’s cosmopolitan, colourful, chilled-out and has a …

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I love the fact that travel photography is such an accessible hobby to us all. Even great quality cameras can be picked up second hand for a couple of hundred pounds and virtually everyone has a smartphone in their pocket at all times. We take more photos than even before and it’s only going to …

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The Gothic Quarter, or Barrio Gotico, is at the heart of Barcelona’s old city, and plays host to some of the most beautiful historic sights the city has to offer. For today’s post I caught up with a friend of mine living in the city to find out some insider tips on exploring the Gothic …

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Winter sunshine. Ahhh, it’s like music to my ears. It’s always at this time of year when I start thinking, ‘I wish I’d booked a winter sun holiday! Why wasn’t I more organised back in October!?’ If you’re in the same boat, it’s not too late to book a winter sun holiday for this year! …

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If you’re looking for the best British beaches to add to your summer wish list then you’ve come to the right place! We Brits are often guilty of travelling all over the world in search of white sandy beaches and crystal clear seas while forgetting about the beautiful British beaches we have right on our …

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I’m all about travelling with kids, you guys know that. I don’t think parents should put their lives on hold for 10 years while their children grow up. We shouldn’t stop travelling and taking holidays because 10 years is a long time to stop doing all the fun stuff we love! Some people say that’s …

Read More about Why we won’t be taking any more winter city breaks with our kids