Grab some (cheap) sun in October half-term

October half-term, in my opinion, is a dull and uninspiring time of year to have a break.  Everyone's still dazed from a sluggish 7 weeks back at school and the monotonous early morning starts are evil, particularly where the clocks go back! 

Therefore, in order to gird your family's loins for the uphill struggle towards the glorious fortnight of Christmas, why not get away on a cheap autumn break for a few days of sunny skies and sangria in Madrid?

Direct flights with Iberia are currently coming in at just £38 return from Birmingham to Madrid for the October week.  And, they're decent flight times too; no early morning starts to worry about!

Madrid has everything for a city break. Football stadium tours for the sports fans, world-renowned art galleries for the creative spirits and perfect plazas for those who'd rather while away an afternoon with al fresco drinks and nibbles in the sunshine.

And, as if Madrid itself wasn't enough of a pull, a mere 50 miles outside of the bustling capital city is Toledo, a gem of a hilltop town with a majestic cathedral and wonderfully meandering cobbled streets leading down to the Tagus river.  Toledo is an easy daytrip by train from the cosmopolitan avenidas of Madrid and makes for a sedate peak into rural Spain.

So, for £150 for a family of four, Espana welcomes you to explore her fascinating culture...

When's your February half-term in 2017?

I appreciate that we're not even halfway through 2016 yet, but the flight prices for next year are already out and there are some 'fun in the sun' bargains to be found for February half-term 2017.

Next winter sees anomalies with school term dates, with more and more schools setting their own holiday dates.  It's worth checking if your school is one of the financially-friendly ones who's breaking up for the last week of the month.

A quick search will show you that flights to Spain that week are in the region of £40 return, Portugal is coming in at under £50 and Italy is averaging around the £60 mark.

Those of you who prefer a crisp and cold city break can get even better deals with return flights to Budapest beginning at £41 or Gdansk at £35!

NOW is the time to start planning.  With self-catering accommodation being plentiful, there's no reason why you should spend any more than £500 for a week's family break, away from the dull winter skies of Blighty.

Holidaying during term time!

As we all know, holiday companies like to make their money and an easy way for them to rack up the profit is to increase prices as soon as the school holidays start.
 
Yes, you could ignore the school dates and take the children out of school a day or two earlier than you should but, potentially, you could incur fines from your local education authority.

A smart way of not being stung financially (and keeping on the right side of the headteacher) is to use the website www.schoolholidayseurope.eu.  This website lists European school holidays country by country, allowing you to see where you might bag a bargain.

If schools are still stuck in education mode in the country in which you're holidaying, you'll be able to find accommodation at half the price and you'll enjoy less crowded attractions.

A few anomalies which can save you money are found in the coolest of destinations.  This year, Denmark becomes cheap for us UK travellers in mid-August, Croatia don't share our Easter dates and Hungary doesn't have a February break. 

It's worth a bit of research to ensure that your Euro goes further this year.

Fantastic Plastic - A Legoland bargain for May half-term!

LEGOLAND: a children's playground; a cornucopia of little plastic bricks; a perfect half-term break.

With flights to Denmark from the UK being as cheap as £27 return this May half-term, why go to Legoland Windsor when you could visit the very birthplace of the phenomenon?  The real deal.

As Denmark's leading tourist attraction, Legoland is literally  a hop, skip and a jump away from Billund airport and, as the Ryanair flight lands, you taxi right alongside the fence dividing the runway from this amazing primary-coloured fantasia.  The kids (and the parents) will be unable to contain their excitement as they soar over the rollercoasters and see the world of Lego open up beneath them.  By the time the family land, the delirium of the whole family will reach fever pitch and, believe me, it's difficult to contain bouncy Lego enthusiasts!

Legoland is everything and more.  A superior relative of its English cousin, Legoland Billund offers all the thrills of Windsor but it seems more authentic and wholesome.  To be surrounded by so many international Lego enthusiasts and to know that the factory where it all started is just over the road adds another dimension to the trip.  When Ole Kirk Christiansen began making wooden toys in 1932, I very much doubt he expected the global success which followed.  The brand name of  Lego is derived from the Danish phrase 'leg godt' which translates as 'play well' and, on our family trip to Billund, this is exactly what we did! 

A sure-fire hit with kids from any country, the lure of Legoland Billund is even better when you find out that, in May half-term, the Danish students are stuck in school, meaning that Legoland becomes deserted.  The day we visited saw us and only a smattering of German families with the same idea!  There were no queues for any rides and the shop was empty.  We could walk onto rides without the tedium of queuing for hours.

Legoland gutschein

And as for minimising costs, I have the perfect plan for money-savvy parents.  Just as we, in the UK, have the 2-for-1 vouchers for venues/days out on cereal boxes in the UK, the Danish and Germans have similar offers and a quick ebay search produces such deals for only a euro.  For our trip, I sourced a fistful of vouchers which meant that our kids went free into Legoland, with lots of vouchers left over to dish out to other families at the payment booths.  If you search www.ebay.de for 'Legoland gutschein', you'll be sure to find a host of sellers who can save you money on the entrance fee.

As for accommodation, it's up to you how much you want to pay.  The Legoland Hotel is adjacent to the theme park and, as you can imagine, it's generally overpriced for what it is.  However, there are good deals at the hotel for UK families if you're lucky enough to visit out of season.  However, just as enjoyable is to find a local hotel in the local environs.  There isn't a lot to do in the town itself but hotels and self-catering places are easily-found on Trip Advisor or Airbnb, offering you an authentic Danish experience. 

Lego-tastic

A few days in Denmark and, I promise you, you'll want to move there permanently.  The fresh air, the sense of space, the big skies and the warm people make this a country you'll want to return to again and again.

So, a jaunt across the North Sea offers the whole family a wonderful Danish delight. Billund is a holiday plan waiting to be built - brick by brick!

Lego Mount Rushmore

Roadtrip planning

Everyone loves a good roadtrip.  Whether it be along the sultry Route 66 or the rugged Welsh coastline, the excitement of not knowing what adventures you'll have along the way is priceless.

A fantastic new website that helps with planning the perfect trip is www.whatshalfway.com.  This excellent tool will enable you to divide up your journey and see what's along the way.  Fancy a museum halfway on your journey between Edinburgh and London?  Want to spin upside down at a theme park on your way from Toronto to New York?  All the possibilities are but a click away.

This website is also handy for arranging meet-ups with friends you keep meaning to see.  Finding a restaurant or an art gallery halfway between your houses has never been easier!

Savvy self-catering

A shared pool in Gozo

Self-catering is the only way, in my humble opinion, to holiday with a family.  It's cheaper, it offers more freedom and the whole family can relax in the knowledge that they are in control of the holiday, tailoring your holiday to the family's specific tastes and save money in the process.  The internet makes the search for the perfect holiday so easy and, between them, websites such as Tripadvisor, Homeaway, Airbnb and Owners Direct have thousands of homes waiting for some temporary tenants.

Complete with our own frogs in Memphis, Tennessee

However, with so many search engines and brochures offering self-catering accommodation, choosing the right property can be time-consuming and ploughing through all the choices can sometimes be overwhelming.  So, how to pick with a wise eye?  As a family, we always self-cater, occasionally interspersing the holiday with a night in a hotel here and there, so I have plenty of experience in the ways of choosing a decent holiday rental.  Dotted throughout this week's blog are photos of properties we've had the pleasure of staying in - houses we could never afford to actually buy in places we've always wanted to live!

A historic shotgun house in New Orleans, Louisiana

So, here are my tips for picking wisely...

Location
Be flexible.  Be willing to hire a place away from the hustle and bustle of the hubbub.  Sometimes, travelling a little down the road from the nearest town can reap rewards, offering a place with more garden space and perhaps a pool for less cost.  Also, don't rule out apartments instead of villas or cottages.  A funky penthouse apartment might offer stunning panoramas from the rooftop garden or a townhouse might put you directly in the action of the city.  Obviously, the exact location of your home-from-home will depend on whether you wish to hire a car or not. 

Original slave quarters in 'The Deep South'

As mentioned in my previous blogs, it's worth looking for flights to random places.  Not only are off-the-beaten track airports cheaper to fly to but these regions also usually offer more reasonably-priced accommodation, with less demand from holiday-makers.

Danish delight

Also, if you're a complete control freak like me, another way to guarantee the perfect holiday rental is to google map the address of the accommodation.  From looking at a bird's eye view of the address you can see what's in the immediate vicinity.  Yes, the photos of the house look stunning but has the owner captured the essence of the landfill site next door?  This extra (okay, slightly obsessive) veneer of research does ensure that you know exactly what you're getting when you land in foreign climes.  This method can also help with transport questions - is there a bus stop nearby or is the rental in the middle of nowhere?

Facilities

Search engines such as tripadvisor are invaluable for the discerning independent traveller.  The search criteria for your rental property can be honed and tweaked until you have selected your preferred combination of preferences.  Need a pool?  Need wifi?  Need a dishwasher?  You can funnel your choices until your perfect composite is realised.

Swimming pools are essential for a fun family holiday and, with a bit of canny research, you can pinpoint your accommodation search to include pools.  Don't always be so quick to plump for a private pool though.  A shared pool in a complex can be just as fun and will ensure that there are other children to entertain your bundles of joy.  Our holiday in Italy last summer was a truly restful week, made perfect when we realised that the holidaying family next door had 'matching' kids.  We took it in turns to watch the children swim whilst we sunbathed, unbothered, for hours, dozing away whole afternoons and reading some truly trashy novels.  Bliss!

Italy, complete with trampoline

Before packing, do check what's included in the price.  Very often, self-catered options provide towels, bed linen and toiletries, saving you space to fit another sundress in your luggage.  Also, do check that utilities are included in the total price.  You don't want to arrive in Madrid in the middle of August and have to pay extra for an air-conditioning unit.  And, more often than not, the kitchen is usually complemented with basics such as dishwasher tablets and condiments.  Many places now offer a 'welcome pack' as standard which normally includes bread, milk, juice and a bottle of the local alcoholic tipple. 

A tip that might, in the first instance, seem penny-pinching can save you a fortune on your holiday costs.  My advice is to find a property rental with a washing-machine.  With this facility at your disposal, you don't need to pack as many clothes.  Not having to pack as much means that you can travel with a small cabin case instead of hold luggage; this simple measure can save each traveller in the region of £50 on luggage fees with carriers such as Ryanair and EasyJet.  Even British Airways European flights now charge for hold luggage so it's advice worth thinking about.

Home made doughnuts from our neighbour in Croatia

Staying in a hot country means that your washing will dry instantly on the line so it's really no hardship to do some clothes washing a couple of times during your fortnight away.  Besides, a couple of loads of washing done on holiday means that you're saved the arduous domestic chores upon your return to the UK. 

If you do pick a place with a washing machine, a further tip is to take some washing tablets/sachets with you in your luggage.  You'll only use a few and it seem pointless to have to buy a big tub of Persil whilst on holiday.  Equally, I always take a few dishwasher tablets with me in my cabin suitcase to avoid the unnecessary cost of a bumper pack.

If TV is important to you, make sure that the accommodation has channels which will satiate your need for entertainment.  Personally, I love the fact that the kids have to watch and listen to TV from around the world.  One of my favourite memories from holidays last year is us all settling down to watch 'Bonanza' in Croatian every evening at 6 o'clock while dinner was being prepared and don't get me started on how excited I was when the 1980's Australian series of 'The Flying Doctors' was found on a channel during our Danish foray!  We've also shared in the televisual treat of the King of Norway's 70th birthday celebrations in 2007 - a five hour 'Big Brother' style coverage that will stay, indelibly, imprinted on our memory; what I can't tell you about the monarchy of Norway ain't worth knowing!

Our own beach in Maine, USA

Reviews
Once you've entered your search criteria, you'll be presented with plenty of places to choose from.  At this point of your search, it's well worth 'sorting' the results by 'number of reviews'.  Anyone can put some fancy photos of their new bathroom on the internet but not everyone can find 100 friends who'll give them a positive review of their property!  Read reviews carefully.  Look for signs of the hosts being genuine and upstanding people.  I always like to see the hosts mentioned by their name in the ratings; I think it shows a genuine approachability and friendliness of the property's owner/manager.   Also, reviews help hugely by giving advice on the locality: bus route advice, local restaurants and even nearby playgrounds.  The independent travelling community is expansive and people will go out of their way to help and advise.  Even complete strangers will answer your queries - I once emailed a woman (through tripadvisor) to ask what her weather had been like in the time of year she'd visited Cape Town.  Her advice beat that of the travel agents hands-down and, seeing (from her profile photo) that she had similarly aged children to me, I was able to ask pertinent questions and she was more than happy to help me out. 

Our cute cottage on the shores of Lake Ontario

And, once you've enjoyed your holiday, don't forget to leave a review of the property yourself.  If you can help fellow mums and dads have a restful (and easy-on-the-wallet) break, then why not spend a few minutes penning a summary of your stay? 

Iceland apartment

Communication

If you're a little wary of 'going it alone' and favour the security blanket of a tour operator, perhaps search for a house whereby the owner lives upstairs or just across the way.  Eager-to-please hosts will help you with travel plans and local information.  Increasingly, in the competitive world of the holiday rental, householders will even pick you up from the airport free of charge.  We're off to Athens at Easter and 'Con' is going to meet us at the airport and even said he'll drop by the supermarket on the way back to his apartment so that we can get provisions for the week.  Indeed, if you pick your property wisely, you'll possibly end up making new international friends. 

For further 'security', look for British owners.  If you're worried or tentative about trying out your Croatian, stick to UK managers so that you can factor out the language barrier.  Having said this, I've never had any problems with my pidgin English and part of the fun, in my eyes, is learning snippets of conversation in a new tongue.  Another bonus of having British landlords is that expectations and standards will be similar.  You know what you're getting and this can be reassuring for some who like their creature comforts and shy away from cultural variation.

Don't leave anything to chance when renting privately.  Ensure that you have contact numbers, full names of the people you're dealing with and addresses of the property in which you're staying before you leave the UK.  Know when and where you're meeting the owner/manager and never be afraid to ask stupid questions.  At the end of the day, you're paying for a service and you expect value for money.

Photographs
Photographs are a sure-fire way to ensure that you pick a place that suits you.  For a week, you can live in your ideal or dream house.  For me, a week in a cluttered house with trinkets and fanciful decoration would drive me wild so I always seek out the sleek minimalistic style which I crave at home.  Sounds silly I know but I always look at photos of the bed linen to ensure that I share similar tastes with the owners - I have been known to rule out a house due to its orange duvet cover and saggy-looking pillow!

Cheers to our Canadian rental

Another aspect that I always look out for when picking properties is photos of children in the owners' profiles, particularly those who look the same age as my own.  If you know that the landlord has children of their own, you know that they'll be understanding of the noise and chaos that will no doubt ensue.  Also, ready-made playmates are not to be sniffed at.  As you sit with the owners, sharing a few bottles of local wine under the shade of the majestic cypress trees, whilst the children race around your new friends' garden, you'll be pleased that you chose the property based purely on its family shot! 

The view from our bedroom window in Italy

Timings

Holiday off-season.  Sometimes, holidaying in the winter months can bring massive bargains.  The weather might not be so hot but the property will be and you'll see the sights without the hordes. 

Another tip for timing holidays well is looking at when your country of choice has their summer holidays.  Scandinavian countries, well known for their expensive accommodation costs, finish the school summer break in the middle of August, leaving the last fortnight of the UK hols to be cheaper.  We stayed in a wonderful chalet right on the beach last summer for a fraction of the cost (£50 a night) it would have been in the summer.  Complete with canoe, bikes and barbecue, it had every facility imaginable for the perfect family break.  After-dinner strolls along our own stretch of Nordic coast made the cost of having our own Danish bolthole negligible. 

A gated community in Gozo

Payment

Obviously, never pay the full amount of the rent up front.  A reasonable deposit will be required but ensure that you have contact details for the owner and exchange a few emails before committing yourself.  Do they answer your emails promptly?  Is the tone of their emails appropriate?  Are they helpful (and patient) with inane questions?  Do you get a good 'feel' for them?  Search engines such as tripadvisor allow you to pay by credit card for your accommodation which is good as you'll be covered should anything go wrong.  Try to avoid owners who insist on bank transfers.  It's time-consuming to get to the bank and expensive to transfer other currencies from your UK bank account.  What appears to be the cheapest deal can sometimes rocket in price once you add bank fees.

Perfecting his backhand in Paris

Other ideas

An even cheaper method of self-catering is to swap houses with friends or trusted acquaintances.  With so many of us living our lives through Facebook, your friends' (and their friends') houses are at your disposal.  Why not offer your house out for a week in the summer in exchange for accommodation elsewhere.  You'd be surprised at how many takers you have of your offer.  Why not target friends you know who live by the coast or a friend who lives in a cool city?

Chantilly cottage

There you have it.  Advice built up over a fair few holidays.  Having your own pad abroad really does add a dimension to the family holiday.  

Oh, and if you fancy a week at mine, do get in touch...

Iceland with the family

For a family adventure, you need look no further than Iceland.  Only 3 hours from the UK and serviced by the budget airlines, this destination will make a massive impact on everyone - I defy any member of your family not to fall in love with this island.

Flights to this ethereal country are dearer than other destinations but the almost other-wordly appeal of Iceland is worth the extra cost.

For families, Iceland is a perfect choice - it is one of those countries who have their priorities straight; children are seen as the owners of the future and, as a result, nearly everything is free for kids in Iceland and this makes this (otherwise slightly pricey country) a viable option for a fascinating city break with 'littlish' ones in tow.

Reykjavik (meaning Smoky Bay in Icelandic) is compelling. This compact capital can be explored easily on foot and, being so tiny, you'll think you'll missed a chunk.  You haven't - it really is that small.  In a couple of hours, you'll feel at home and the village feel of the city will make you feel welcome.  And with only 115,000 Icelanders living in Reykjavik, you'll make friends quickly!

Ambling through the streets of wooden houses, you'll soon come across Hallgrimskirkja, as this beautiful church is a landmark which can be seen across the city.  Designed by Guðjón Samuel in 1937, the design is inspired by the effect of volcanic lava cooling into basalt rock.  To climb the tower offers panoramic views of Rekjavik and the ocean. 

Another attraction of Reyjavik is its very own shoreline.  Blues of every shade cascade into the ocean and a windy walk along the promenade chills your cheeks and warms your soul.  The colours are so vibrant; the whites are pristine and the silvers almost dazzle.

Only 321,000 people live in Iceland and it shows!  There is never a queue, there is seemingly little traffic and the air has a glorious purity that smarts your lungs.  Even the parliament building looks like someone's house!
The population is so small that, in 2013, an app was launched which allows Icelanders to see how closely they are related; an app much-used by the younger generations on nights out!

What this island lacks in citizens, it more than makes up for in wildlife.  There are more ponies than people in Iceland, puffins dart in and out of the water at whim and whale-watching companies touting their fascinating trips line the harbour.  So few citizens to share the most wonderful scenery... 

When visiting Iceland, an absolute must is the Golden Circle day tour.  This guided coach tour leaves from the centre of Reykjavik and its an amazing trip of stunning natural contrasts. This trip (free to children under twelve years) takes you to the very spot where the Eurasian tectonic plate and the North American tectonic plate meet in Thingvellir National Park.  Almost lunar in appearance, Thingvellir is remote and seemingly barren yet, upon closer inspection, it is alive with a million geology lessons rolled into one. This trip allows you to see the original parliament of Iceland, Althing.  Originating in 930, this special location means a great deal to the Icelandic people and, when you see how beautiful it is, you'll understand why.

The Golden Circle trip also takes in Gullfoss, a torrent of the river Hvítá.  The spray from this waterfall alone is enough to soak you through to the skin and the noise of the rushing water is deafening.  And, as if that wasn't enough natural beauty in one day, a stop at the Geysir geothermal area is included in the trip.  Watching the kids' faces as they wait for Strokkur, the most active geyser in Iceland, to erupt is priceless. 

Obviously, another natural phenomenon is the majestic Northern Lights.  Trips leave nightly for nature's laser show and, again, kids under twelve are free.  Tour guides explain  the science bit and the lightshow is unforgettable.  The colours, the hues and the crisp air all combine to bring the night sky to life right in front of your incredulous eyes.

So, practicalities...

Accommodation and eating out are both expensive in Iceland but these costs can be counteracted by renting an apartment rather than paying over £150 for a family room in a hotel.We stayed at Reykjavik Residence Hotel which, just along from the tiny parliament building, offered us a luxurious two-bedroomed apartment with a full kitchen.   Catering for the family is easy as just off the main square in Reykjavik is a minimart where provisions can be bought.  We dined out just the once at a fish and chips restaurant.  Yes, we needed to take out a small mortgage to buy them (£60 for the four of us) but it was by far the freshest fish we've ever tasted.

Looking at flights, April and May seem to be the cheapest months to travel north from the UK.  It's also worth considering Iceland as an add-on to a stateside holiday as airlines fly direct to the east coast of North America from Reykjavik for as little as £170 return!