One of my favourite things about travelling is discovering a place that truly surprises me. I thought I’d hate Marrakech but I loved the exotic hustle. I didn’t know Iceland would be so beautiful but I was blown away. I hadn’t expected to fall head over heels in love with Slovenia but it quickly became …
On my first full day in Montenegro the weather was cloudy and dull so I decided to take a day trip to the Bay of Kotor as it’s something that would be incredible come rain or shine. I had a car and this was one of the highlights of my trip! Note: It’s very, very …
I’ve got some exciting news today and I’m so happy to announce I’m going to be working with Admiral Travel Insurance as an ambassador! OK, I know, booking your travel insurance isn’t exactly the most exciting part of your holiday. I’d rather be researching hotels, things to do and places to eat and drink too! But …
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 …