Monica

Saint-Cast-le-Guildo was one of those places we accidentally stumbled across and then wondered how we’d never heard of it before. We visited on our final day during our French road trip with Les Castels and I hadn’t done much research for this part of our trip. We’d already seen and done so much that I’d thought we’d …

The Canary Islands are one of those destinations we Brits take for granted. ‘Canary Islands’ may conjure up images of cheap and cheerful package holidays but there’s so much more! Now we all love these gloriously relaxing holidays but today I want to share a couple of gorgeous videos from the Canary Islands that prove …

Today I’m sharing some of my favourite things to do in the Algarve, from must-see attractions to little known beaches and secret bars! I’ve been visiting the Algarve for the past 3 years for an annual family holiday. There is so much to see in the area and part of the fun is hiring a …

Dinan is the kind of town that is so pretty and so quaint I didn’t actually believed existed in real life. Sure, towns like this exist in Disney films and between the pages of fairytales but in real life….not so much. In real life, the modern world creeps in and places that are this beautiful …

I’ve just returned from Almaverde eco-village on the Western Algarve. This was a traditional ‘sun, sea and sand’ kind of holiday and my third trip to the Algarve in three years. I’ve been coming out with Sam and my parents since George was born (and I got to an age where I realised my parents …

No matter how old your children are I think it’s really important to travel with them. I do think kids learn a lot through their travel experiences but it’s more than that. Holidays are one of the only times when parents dedicate 100% of their time to relaxing and having fun. There’s no work, no …

This blog post isn’t aimed at anyone or anything in particular, more at a one thing I’ve been noticing from lots of people recently. And that thing is criticism. I know it’s ironic that I’m criticising people for criticising people but hear me out here because I feel like it’s everywhere and it’s totally unnecessary …

TrekAmerica is currently running an amazing competition to win a 3-week tour around the USA (with flights included!) They’ve giving away a spot on their Westerner 3 tour which looks absolutely incredible. Find out more about the prize and how to enter the competition here. Since TrekAmerica launched this competition I’ve had so many readers …

Dubai is a place that has always intrigued me but it wasn’t until recently that it made it onto my travel bucket list. Elle visited Dubai last summer and her gorgeous photos blew me away. It was the contrast between the sleek and modern and the more traditional side to the city that really caught …

Last summer Elle and I travelled to Southern France. We visited charming little villages, vineyards, gorgeous countryside and amazing restaurants. We were amazed by how much there was to see and do in Southern France. We were expecting to find bright purple lavender fields, world-class wine, and classic French food, the kind you crave for weeks after returning …

This was my favourite day in the Algarve with a visit to Praia da Bordeira Beach… Warning: Reading this post will make you want to immediately book a holiday! Early mornings are my favourite time on holiday. At 6.30am and I hear the faint rustling of a baby waking up through the baby monitor. His …

  If you’re dreaming of a celebrity inspired holiday but you don’t quite have the budget for multi million pound yachts, private jets, road trips in vintage cars, 6* hotels with private butlers and swanky nights out where you’ll wear your diamonds and a designer dress (because we all have diamonds and a designer dress …

I am so excited to tell you guys about this competition with TrekAmerica to win a place on their Westerner 3 tour. This is the trip of all trips if you want to see as many of the USA’s epic national parks as you possibly can in 3 weeks. Go on, take a quick look …

Did you read Tuesday’s post? The one about the incredible new travel brand called Lintenair? Lintenair promised an amazing new way of travelling where you don’t have to queue, get an unlimited luggage weight allowance, can travel directly from city-centre to city-centre terminals throughout the UK and Europe, and can use mobile tickets with the app. …

Today’s blog is all about how to improve your travel photography with these simple but very effective photography hacks! They come from Lisa, a professional photographer who shares her travel photography tips over on The Wandering Lens. Her photography is absolutely stunning so check out her Instagram feed too! Lisa has also contributed to my blogging …

As you guys already know, travel is pretty much my favourite thing in the world – and I’m sure it’s one of yours too if you’re reading this blog. I love discovering new destinations and that feeling when you first arrive and everything is new and unfamiliar. It’s kind of scary but so exciting at …

It took me a long time to realise this golden rule for travelling with kids. It’s the kind of rule that is so simple that I was kicking myself when I finally figured it out. I wish someone had told me about it sooner but it’s probably so obvious that other parents (you know, the …

Hands up if you’ve got a long haul summer holiday coming up!? Oooh you lucky thing, I hope you’re jetting off somewhere fabulous! As your departure date gets closer I’m sure you’re going to start thinking about packing so I’m here today to share my tips. I used to be terrible at packing and would …

If you’ve never heard of Ladakh in India before then don’t worry, you’re not alone. But if you’re the kind of traveller who likes epic adventures and immersing yourself in stunning landscapes and outdoorsy activities then this is a place you’ll want to know more about. Trust me, Ladakh looks incredible and this little known …

I’ve been using the Izmi baby carrier for a few months now. Despite having a couple of baby carriers, the Izmi carrier has become my go-to carrier thanks to the small size, soft structure and comfort for both me and Joseph. It’s soft, comfortable and supportive and we both love using it. Up until recently, Joseph …

In two weeks time I’ll be jetting off to Portugal. It’s been ages since I’ve had a good old fashioned beach holiday. The type of holiday where you do nothing but soak up the sun, read books next to the pool and spend each evening eating and drinking your own body weight in food and …

The thing I love about London is its hidden gems. Of course, you can’t visit this incredible city without visiting all the top attractions but once you’ve ticked off all those tourist sites you can start digging a little deeper to discover all the things that make London one of the best cities in the …

Aldeburgh. This may be a new destination to many of you as this beautiful town on Suffolk’s long and picturesque coastline is somewhat of a hidden gem. But if you’re looking for a weekend break with long pebble beach, delicious seafood, intriguing landmarks, and a distinctive time-warped charm then Aldeburgh may be the place for …

I’ve walked up Snowdon quite a few times now. I’m very lucky to live less than an hour and a half from Pen-y-Pass, which is a popular spot to begin a walk up Snowdon. I’ve done it in the rain, in the snow, in the blazing sunshine and, more often than not, in the chilly …

I’ve got a good one for you today, guys! As you probably already know through reading this blog, Thailand is one of my favourite countries in the world. Thailand has it all, it’s got the gorgeous beaches, beautiful weather, lovely people, delicious food (hello Thai red curry!), cultural attractions, outdoor activities and amazing hotels. Seriously, …

I was unsure whether to write this post. I’ve actually written and then deleted it a couple of times now, but it’s something I’m asked about a lot so I feel like it’s time to blog about it. I get lots of lovely emails from readers who have either recently had kids, are pregnant or …

Last weekend I was set one of the most awesome challenges I’ve ever been set for The Travel Hack. The guys at Vauxhall sent me the new Mokka X and challenged me to see how adventurous I could be in 48 hours. It’s times like this I really love being a blogger! I decided to …

Stretching along India’s south-west corner on the tropical Malabar Coast, boasting everything from expansive coastline and picturesque backwaters to exotic nature and rich heritage, Kerala is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful states in India. Kerala has been a popular place for travellers for years thanks to its scenic beauty and loads of activities available. …

Fancy winning a holiday to the Canary Islands this summer? Yes, I thought you might 😉 We Brits can’t beat the Canary Islands for a good old fashioned beach holiday. The Spanish islands off the coast of northwest Africa are famed for their gorgeous beaches and year-round sunshine. They have long, sunny days and very …

I love using travel blogs to research destinations. Blogs have the personal opinion and authenticity most guidebooks are missing and it’s great finding a likeminded to make suggestions you know you’ll love. I used loads of travel blogs when researching my trip to Budapest. I’ve collated some of the best travel blog posts about Budapest …

[mailmunch-form id=”477226″] Today’s post is a little off topic from my usual travel blogs so apologise to anyone who isn’t interesting in the whole blogging bubble! There’ll be a travel post up tomorrow so please come back for that!   I had a comment on my blog recently from a brand wanting to work with …

It’s been a while since I’ve written a Friday Favourites blog post. From time to time I basically like to share 5 things I’m loving, products I’ve been sent to review or generally just 5 things I’ve stumbled across and want to share with you guys. These products aren’t always travel related but I usually …

Ever since I began travelling way back in 2009 I’ve been looking for a camera that is small: lightweight and easily portable with all the awesome features and image quality of a bigger DSLR. For the past 3 years I’ve been shooting on a Canon 70D and I’ve loved it. I’m not a professional photographer, …

It was Thursday evening and Sam and I had a conversation that went something like this: Sam: The weather’s going to be amazing this weekend Me: Ooo, we should go to the beach Sam: Let’s go to Aberdaron. I’ll see if we can rent somewhere and stay over…..hmmm….the only cottages available are for 4 nights …

Dorset has always been one of Britain’s most popular holiday hotspots. The county on the south coast of the UK boasts everything from scenic countryside to sandy beaches, fairy tale castles and a famed prehistoric coastline. Durdle Door, Dorset Natural beauty is the headline act in Dorset, particularly around the coast thanks to those steep …

Whether you’re just starting out with your blog or you want to turn your blog into your full time career, I have lots of blog posts crammed with my blogging tips and advice. Maybe you’d like to set up a blog as a creative online scrapbook or a platform to advertise your businesses, I cannot …

Today on the blog I’m sharing my guide to visiting Budapest for free. Sometimes affordable city breaks can be boring as there’s not much to do there but Budapest is not one of those cities. To help you along, I’ve put together a list of the 16 best free things to do in Budapest, just …

I’m very excited today to announce the hostel voted as the best hostel in the UK by LateRoom’s Simply the Guest Awards. Simply the Guest is the annual awards from LateRooms.com. They use the 1.5 million guest reviews and ratings published on the site to recognise the highest standards in the hotel industry. Reviews can …

If you’re the kind of person who loves their annual ski holiday and can’t imagine skipping it, but also can’t imagine how you’d cope on a ski holiday with a baby or a toddler then this is for you! We’ve just returned from a family ski holiday to Les Gets in France with our two …

Going on a safari is a bucket list experience for most people. Witnessing Africa’s wild animals in real life (and not just through a lens with David Attenborough’s voiceover), falling asleep to the vibrant sounds of nature and filling your senses with the raw beauty of some of the world’s most striking and exciting wilderness …