When you’re doing anything remotely outdoorsy in the UK there are two things you really need: A good quality coat that is warm and waterproof Good quality shoes that are comfortable and waterproof (There’s a waterproof theme going on here!) For everything else you can make do with anything you already have or by begging, …
Monica
When I was younger I watched hundreds of American movies and TV shows about kids going to summer camp. These idyllic summer woodland camps set next to a lake looked like the most amazing places to spend the summer and I was so upset we didn’t have them in the UK. The kids stayed in …
Our team trip to Edmonton already feels like a distant dream. But one of those gorgeous dreams where you keep remembering fragments of it and having flashbacks for years to come. A smell, a taste, the way a person says your name can bring back memories that instantly transport you there. And in my …
Do you want to travel more? Is the expense of travelling the main thing that stops you from travelling as much as you’d like to? Do you want to take part in a fun, monthly challenge to save more money to travel and win prizes? Hells yes! (I hope this is your response, anyway!) OK, …
Over the August bank holiday weekend we joined the masses and headed to North Wales for a camping adventure in the forest. It was George’s first camping trip and the lucky little guy had the most perfect weekend you could wish for! I’ve been camping many times in North Wales but I’ve never been lucky …
We’ve all seen kids scooting gleefully around the airport on their Trunkis. While we’re standing in queues feeling stressed or bored they’re having the time of their lives as they race each other along those smooth corridors shouting ‘giddy-up’ to their tigers and ladybirds and zebras. I’m not going to lie; on more than one …
Once a year I like to give The Travel Hack a revamp and a shake-up. I like to refresh old posts and get planning and plotting for the future. September feels like the perfect time of year to do this. It’s something that’s been ingrained in my since school. The new school year begins in …
If you’re looking for a weekend break in the UK that’s not far from home but feels like a million miles away from your normal routine, then I can’t recommend Northern Ireland enough! Northern Ireland is one of those places that’s so close but so far. It’s just a hop, skip and a jump across …
Whether you’ve got kids in full time education, you’re a teacher limited by holiday periods or you simply want to travel when the weather is at its best, then travelling during the peak holiday season is mostly unavoidable. Travelling during the peak season, during the school holidays or on public holidays comes at a cost. You'll …
The USA is home to some of the world's oldest and most beautiful national parks. Their epic landscapes with jaw-dropping scenery having been filling up my Pinterest boards for years. I visited my first couple of national parks in 2013 during my Trek America trip when I went to the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. I was …
I have 50 pairs of cinema tickets to give away for the preview screenings of Captain Fantastic! About Captain Fantastic Captain Fantastic looks like a film for anyone who has ever thought about giving up on society and going to live in the woods. This is a film about a family who actually …
Hang on a minute. You hadn’t heard? Yep, slippers have suddenly become cool. Slippers are no longer the unwanted Christmas gift you get every year from your nan. They’re not just the things your granddad wears in front of the fire. And they’re not those ridiculous novelty things you loved when you were 12 with …
This week's Travel Hack of the Week comes from Asma, the blogger behind Jet Set Chick. Amsa is sharing her top tips for hiring a car abroad to make it a smooth and hassle free process. Road trippping is the best way to see a new destination so massive thanks to Asma for her helpful …
We all love to travel here at The Travel Hack (obviously) but something we love even more is winning epic and amazing holidays! That’s why we’re so excited to share Booking.com’s latest competition. It’s a good one so read on very carefully…. Booking.com now have one million properties on their site. They have everything from …
It's been a couple of weeks now since Game of Thrones left our TV screens for another season and left a gaping hole in our Monday evenings. What did we do on Mondays before GoT? I aimlessly flick through hundreds of channels in search of something half as captivating and dramatic as Game of Thrones …
If you’re anything like me you’ve already read approximately 8 billion blog posts about how to save money to travel. Most articles offer practical advice about cutting your spending. Yea, it’s all good advice but it’s all so boring. Cutting out coffees and doing overtime at work is fine at first but it’s difficult to …
I’m very excited to be working with Jet2.com to judge their latest competition to win a city break to Barcelona for two people! It’s city break season and with Barcelona’s gorgeous beach summer is the best time to visit. So it’s time to dig out your best travel photos for your chance to win.. …
It might not feel like it right now but it’s summer holiday season and it’s time to get out and about to explore the UK. Don't worry if you don't have the time of money to take a full week in the sun as we've put together 8 gorgeous places in the South of England …
I wrote this post after many requests from new mammas, soon-to-be mammas and people considering being mammas in the very distant future. “What’s it really like to travel with a baby?’ they’ve been asking. “Come on, tell us the truth!” So here goes, the good, the bad and the ugly when travelling with a baby …
This week's Travel Hack of the Week comes from one of my favourite travel bloggers, Abigail King from Inside the Travel Lab. Abi mentioned this travel hack to me years ago and it's something I've adopted myself so I'm really pleased she's shared it with us this week. The last few years of careering around …
This week's travel hack of the week comes from Angie Silver, the gorgeous blogger behind SilverSpoon London. Angie is an expert at finding the best places to eat and drink in London and around the world so who better to tell us their top tips for finding great restaurants while travelling? As a dedicated food-lover, finding …
During my recent trip to Southern France I spent an amazing day in Avignon in Provence. I fell head over heels in love with Avignon and it's now firmly on my list of 'Places I need to go back to ASAP!' (Yes, I actually have this list) Avignon is a historic city best known for …
Hands up if you’re a stationary geek. Go on, don’t be shy. You’re not alone here! I’m the biggest stationary geek ever. I genuinely get excited over fresh notepads, colourful pens and picking out my diary for the New Year. Everything I do for work and for this blog is digital and based on either …
When many of us think of tourism in the UK, we imagine historic manors and blue plaques – but every corner of the UK you look to for a holiday has some adrenaline-heavy options. If you’re ready to discover a more adventurous you, we've put together a sample of what you can get up …
My favourite thing about a luxury hotel is that first moment when you enter through the enormous doors. The doorman wearing a top hat and tails is like someone from an old-fashioned film. He greets you warmly while you step over the threshold into this luxurious world that feels a million miles from the busy …
I recently visited Feather Down Farms, luxury glamping tents for a gorgeous getaway that's close to nature...just not too close! Regular readers of The Travel Hack will already know how much I love a good glamping holiday. I love the side to camping where you’re close to nature, always outdoors and where you’re woken …
Ardèche in Southern France may not be an area of France you're familiar with. Ardèche wasn't on my radar until I visited last week and was absolutely blown away by how beautiful it was. A combination of dramatic scenery and quaint villages had me in love with the area as I drove through the winding roads. …
Balazuc, in Ardeche, Southern France, is the kind of village French dreams are made from. The medieval village has been named a ‘Village of Character’ and officially classified as one of the ‘Most Beautiful Villages in France’. If I asked you to picture a typical French village this would be it, but with about 50 …
I don’t know about you but I’m always searching for bucket list inspiration. I love it when I scroll through my social media feeds and stumble across something that makes me stop and think, ‘Wow, that looks incredible, I really want to do that!’ Chances are I’ll pause for a few seconds, maybe mention it …
Do you fancy staying in one the towers of a medieval town wall, facing the Menai Strait in Wales? Read on to find out about Monica’s weekender with The Landmark Trust at Bath Tower in Caernarfon’s fortified walls. One feeling I’m sure will never get old is the amazing feeling you get when you step …
This week's Travel Hack of the Week comes from Wanderluce and she's sharing her top beauty hacks when you're travelling with hand luggage only... Travelling with carry on only is THE best way to travel in my book. You whizz through the airport feeling smug, never get the dreaded ‘backpack backache’, and channel those minimalist …
The Landmark Trust is probably something you’ve vaguely heard of but don’t know a lot about. It wasn’t until I was invited to stay at a Landmark Trust property that I started looking into it and realised I’ve been seriously missing out. Why haven’t I stayed in a Landmark Trust property before!? Before I go …
Hold up a minute. A weekend? In Menorca? Hmm, that’s probably something you hadn’t thought about before. But with short and affordable flights from the UK combined with a small and easily accessible island, there really is no reason why you can’t visit Menorca for a long weekend. Actually, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t …
Applications to join The Travel Hack team are now closed. Thank you so much to everyone who applied. I will be contacting everyone before July 8th. If you applied via the Google form below then I will have definitely received your application. After last week’s announcement that I’m expecting my second baby I’m sure it’ll …
A couple of weeks ago I was invited to London to test out a new app called PicCities, an app that works as a walking tour around London and also shows you the best places to get photos and selfies. Before I begin I’ve got to tell you (and many bloggers will agree) I’m invited …
When I ordered the Maclaren Mark II I was so excited for it to arrive. I’d done all my research, read a few reviews and couldn’t wait to take it on holiday and test it out. The pushchair ticks all the boxes and does everything I wanted it to do, so why am I left …
I’m writing this post sat in Montana Airport. I have a short layover before I fly to Minnesota for a 7 day trip exploring some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. I had the usual grilling with US security as they questioned me about why I’m visiting the US. I usually lie and …
Are you going away for a week and planning to just take hand luggage? It's going to be a squeeze but it's more than possible if you follow a few simple tips! Packing light for a weekend away is relatively easy. If you’re away for 3 days you’ll only need to pack 2 outfits and …
The second #BloggerCourse Twitter chat will be Tuesday June 14th at 7-8pm UK time! We’re going to be chatting about ‘Blogger Struggles’ and how to overcome them. Yes, this will be a chance to have a bit of a rant about what’s difficult in the world of blogging. Do you ever try and chat to …
In case you missed this announcement in my weekly newsletter…. As many of you have already guessed, the exciting announcement I’ve been hinting at is a second baby! I’m 21 weeks pregnant with another baby boy!! 🙂 I went to the hospital last week for the second scan and was told he’s a healthy (and …