There was a time when hotels or villas were pretty much your only option while on holiday or travelling. We all accepted this and didn’t question if there were any other options available. If you were travelling on a budget you have to stay in a hideous budget hotel and there was very little flexibility. …
Whitehorse is unlike any city I’ve visited before. As the capital of Canada’s Yukon Territory, Whitehorse is home to just under 30,000 people - almost the total population of the entire Territory - and it’s so far north that you need to drive south to reach Alaska. Yukoners who live in Whitehorse value living among nature (which the …
It’s been forever since I’ve written any kind of personal update and I’ve had a few lovely emails asking how I’m getting on with the epic renovation project. It was the end of last year when I told you about my house. Yes, we bought a house! But it’s not just a house, it’s the …
New Year’s Resolutions have had a bad rep for the past few years. The message that we’re all ‘perfect as we are’ is a wonderful and uplifting message that we all need reminding of at times! It’s an especially important message because a lot of the New Year’s resolutions messaging comes from the diet industry …
Hi and thank you for stopping by The Travel Hack! My name is Monica, I’m 33 and I live in North Wales with my partner, Sam, and our three kids, George (5), Joseph (4) and Alba (1). I've been blogging for 12 years and I've been doing this full time for eight years! The thing …
I took a family trip to the Orkney Islands with NorthLink Ferries and had the most amazingly peaceful week in such a stunning area of the UK. Here's what I got up to and my guide to the Orkney Islands. Have you ever noticed the way you rarely realise how hectic and stressful life can …
I’m one of those people who is completely obsessed with hotels. I love everything about them from researching them and booking them at home, to reading reviews, stalking their Insta feeds and then that first moment when you walk through the lobby doors and get a big whiff of fresh flowers and furniture polish. I …
On Wednesday evening, PhotoBox gave a handful of lucky dads an amazing opportunity. They gave them the chance to be featured in London’s National Portrait Gallery alongside other dads like David Beckham and Henry VIII. I couldn’t quite believe it when an email pinged into my inbox asking if I’d like to surprise Sam and …
Elle and I spent three days at Watergate Bay Hotel on the north coast of Cornwall. We enjoyed their Taste of the Bay package which allowed us to dine at Zacry's restaurant, The Beach Hut and Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall. We also had an incredible surf lesson, yoga session, spa treatments and plenty of time …
Last year I was sent two Sandmarc iPhone camera lenses to review and I’m so excited to share this review with you because I absolutely LOVE these lenses. I have the wide angle lens and the macro lens for an iPhone XS Max and they really do take your mobile photography and video-making to the …
Earlier this year I took my second trip to Ghent in Belgium and had an incredible day exploring all the things to do in Ghent. This trip was part of my weekender with WowTrip which was a surprise weekend away (you can read my WowTrip review here) and we ended up in beautiful Brussels. We …
Hello and welcome to my Bruges Weekend Itinerary with lots of things to do in Bruges. In this travel blog post I've documented our whole Bruges itinerary so you can replicate it or use it for inspiration for your weekend in Bruges! Bruges had been on my 'Dream Weekend Away' list for years. I’ve …
What's that? There's a stroller that converts into a car seat? WHAAT!? Yes, if you're looking for a stroller into car seat contraption then I've got just the thing for you. Let me introduce you to the Doona and keep reading for my Doona car seat stroller review. I’ve been putting off writing my review …
It’s over 8 years since I left to go backpacking around Southeast Asia and Australia. I remember the day we left like it was yesterday. I was so excited I thought I might burst but I was so scared I thought I might break down in tears and refuse to board the plane. We had …
It’s just a quick blog today because I want to show you some pics of my favourite new bag from Maria Maleta. It’s a beautiful backpack/handbag that gets even more brownie points because it’s reversible. You can wear it with the red suede or the brown leather on the outside. I’m a handbag girl through …
Update: I've owned the Caribee Fast Track Wheeled Backpack for over a year now and I still love it. I test out a lot of backpacks and suitcases and this is still my favourite. I can't recommend it enough for long journeys, backpacking or any trip where you need a large case! ********** For my last …
Our family had the pleasure of staying at Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds, an idyllic holiday setting with stunning holiday properties. Holiday homes are dotted around Lower Mill Estate across 300 acres of nature reserve and many of them surround the gorgeous lake. We stayed in a lovely little cottage booked through Manor Cottages. …
I’d been planning on writing this post for ages and now I can’t think of a better time to share my tips and advice on working from home with kids at home too! Now that schools have closed and anyone who can work from home is, there are a lot of us trying to plough …
In these crazy times, I feel that now more than ever, we need to be thinking about simple ways to save money, save the environment and buy things that are more sustainable. I'm sure that once this crazy pandemic is over we’ll see a massive shift in our routines and habits as Coronavirus is making …
We’re almost two weeks into our second lockdown in Wales and as England are going into their second lockdown, I thought I’d share some tips that have really helped me this time. I’m sure we’ve all seen lots of tips by now suggesting we go for a daily walk, FaceTime our friends, bake a banana …
This post about travel hacks for Orlando has been created in collaboration with Klook, an online platform to book travel activities such as attractions, tours, dining, transport and more. I’m a big fan of getting these things booked in advance to help pay for as much as possible in advance and make you feel like …
I’ve recently turned 33 and I’m finally getting to an age where I don’t feel like a kid anymore - yes, at the age of 33! For the past 10 years or so I’ve felt like I’ve been playing grown-ups, not like I actually was one. But after the birth of our third child and …
Oh it’s the big dilemma isn’t it. You’ve had one child and you’re starting to think about having a second but how long do you leave it? What is the best age gap between children? Too big a gap and will they ever be friends and play together? Too small an age gap and life …
Today I'm sharing what it's really like to ride in a hot air ballon after my incredible early morning flight in one! It was 5.30am and the field was covered with a mystical blanket of cloudy mist. The sun was rising and streaming through the trees as a group of guys unloaded the enormous hot …
If you’re expecting your first baby and you’re starting to think about the products you need to buy then I’m sure you’ve already realised what a minefield it is! There’s so much stuff! And so many products that are almost the same but just a little bit different. Tiny babies surely don’t need all this …
Alton Towers is a place of childhood dreams so we were really excited to take our kids there last week. After a long and difficult summer, it was the perfect treat before our kids went back to school! But, like many of you, we did have some reservations about visiting Alton Towers during the COVID-19 …
Bristol is one of the UK's most vibrant and creative cities, with plenty to offer a weekend visitor. It's full of history, bright street art and mirror-like canals that reflect candy-coloured houses and intriguing architecture. For families, there's plenty to explore: the Aquarium is a deep blue treasure trove of learning and fun, the SS …
Today's Hidden Gem has been sent in by Jessica Friend from The Weekend Tourist as she'd like to share more about The Rollright Stones, a hidden gem in Oxfordshire and the county's answer to Stonehenge! The Rollright Stones are always the first place that I take anyone who might be visiting us - …
Take a look at these photos below and see if you can guess their locations. Go on, I’ll give you a minute. No cheating and scrolling down! I’ll know if you cheat 😉 If you’re anything like me, you’d probably guess that these photos were taken in far flung, exotic destinations. The kind …
Have you heard the theory that it takes 21 days to form a new habit? There’s evidence to support the theory that you can form a new habit by doing it consistently for 21 days but, to be honest, there’s just as much evidence to say it takes longer. Some studies suggest …
Have you heard about Blue Zones? Blue Zones are areas in the world where people live considerably longer than average. A few years ago I had to do a lot of research into the world’s Blue Zones for a project I was working on for a client. After that I became a …
Welcome to the first in a series of blog posts about the UK's hidden gems. I don't know about you, but since lockdown began I've discovered so many local hidden gems. My local area has even more to offer than I imagined! I've asked some top bloggers to share some of their favourite hidden gems …
Now is a great time to be organising your travel photos and finding some kind of storage and display solution for all those gorgeous travel memories. So many people have memory cards, hard drives and phones filled with photos that will never see the light of day again because they’re hidden away in a chaotic …
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. …
Today Anne shares her review from Yab Yum Resort in Goa, India. So secret is Yab Yum Resort, there are no roadside signs indicating its existence. Even the main gate has no sign, nor does the beach pathway indicate that you have arrived at your destination. Like the Illuminati, it seems this place wants …
Experiencialism is probably something you’ve come across already, but might not have seen it called this. Experiencialism is the thought that experiences make us happier than possessions. If you have a Pinterest account then you’ve probably already seen a billion quotes and posters with this message! If you’re an experiencialist you prioritise experiences over things. …
I’ve finally written this post after lots of requests by my fellow travel bloggers who are having babies or thinking about having children in the future. There are lots of bloggers who love their career, but can’t see how they could maintain their business and travel lifestyle if they had a baby. Everyone likes to …
Last week I had the pleasure of staying at Abbey Hotel Bath and spending some time in this beautiful city. I’d been invited by the hotel to celebrate World Sleep Day and stay in one of their newly renovated boutique bedrooms. What better place to get a good night’s sleep than between crisp, luxury …
One of the best things about blogging is the way you attract a tribe of like-minded people. Of course, there’s always a few people who seem to read each post just to disagree with every thought I have (internet trolls, I’m talking to you!) but on the whole most people are really similar to me. …
It’s just over four years ago that I found out I was pregnant with George. Four years! Most people say time flies when you have kids, but I find the opposite. I don’t mean it drags but taking that pregnancy test four years ago feels like a different lifetime! I can’t even imagine my life …