Lapland on a Budget ~ A Mums on the Run Group!

Oh, you want to travel to Lapland without breaking the bank do you? Long dreamed about a trip to the winter wonderland and home of the original Santa have you? Corrina has long shared her knowledge of how to do Lapland on a Budget on this here blog HERE. HERE and HERE , but of late has been gaining attention in mainstream media too - because she does what we've always tried to do - make the dream accessible for all! 

We've now added Lapland on a Budget to our umbrella of Mums on the Run groups and to say it's exploded is quite the understatement. Almost 7 THOUSAND members in a fortnight. If that's not indicative of a genuine Irish & UK desire to live the Lapland dream then I don't know what is. 

How to do Lapland on a Budget & Make it Feel Like Anything But! (Part 5) Ultimate Tips & Ski Wear on a Budget

I promised I’d let you know where I got our Ski wear for our family of 7 for our trip to Lapland and how much I paid so you can have an idea how much it will cost for your family, so here it is! (If you're not up to date or fancy a refresher on all things Lapland, our posts are HERE)

First things first you really don’t need to go to a specialist shop and spend a fortune to buy branded skiwear as budget alternatives are every bit as good at keeping you warm & dry.

Spike Island Wins Europe's Leading Tourist Attraction 2017 - Peek Inside 1300 Years of History on “Ireland’s Alcatraz”

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Spike Island is prison, as it is said to be “Ireland’s Alcatraz” but peel back the layers of history and you’ll be surprised lies beneath. So impressive is the attraction that it has just been named Europe’s leading tourist attraction at the 2017 World Travel Awards! The former prison was up against some of the world’s most well-known attractions including the Eiffel Tower, Roman Colosseum and Buckingham Palace.

We’ve been to Cobh many times as Cork is one of our favourite counties to visit in Ireland. Every time we go though I am drawn in by the Titanic Museum or the Titanic Bar & Grill or some of the other superb things to see & do in Cobh. This time however we left Kildare in Mammy Van with our sights firmly set on the mysterious Spike Island.

Baby on Board - 10 Things You Need to Know About Flying with Babies!

By now many of you will know that I’m a Mammy of 5 little people and we travel a LOT. The youngest I’ve taken them on a flight is about 3 months old so I’ve oodles of experience with the logistics involved with taking babies & toddlers on-board a flight. So in answer to first time family fliers I’ve decided to dedicate this post to the in’s & out’s of family flights. We have a post on Tips for Flying with Tots that you can read HERE but this is more concentrated on the basics of first time flights.

Killarney Family Fun ~ The Perfect Staycation Spot!

Killarney is one of those places you’ll return to time and again, whether it’s for the stunning views out over the Killarney lakes, the sound of the water crashing over Torc waterfall after a downpour or the clean fresh air that embraces you at the Gap of Dunloe, there’s no end to the reasons you’ll return. Oh and the shopping, how could I ever forget the shopping?! 

If you're looking for a last minute staycation that won't break the bank, let me tell you why Killarney is the ideal spot!

The Ultimate List of Oakwood Tips! ( Oakwood? Oakwouldn't!)

Welcome back to our Epic England Road Trip, this is the final instalment as we’re now over the border back in Wales. When I was planning this adventure I thought a trip to Oakwood Theme Park would be a great way end our trip but boy was I wrong. 

There were some good points but unfortunately not enough to outweigh the bad. If you’re one of the many families who follow our footsteps all is not lost as I’d recommend you go to one of the many castles, gardens, beaches or take a day trip to Folly Farm, the Secret Owl Garden or Manor Wildlife Park instead.

Epic England Road Trip ~ Part 7 ~ Bath!

Hi & welcome back to our Epic England road trip from Pembroke Wales across the South of England and back again. We’ve covered oodles of fantastic spots over the last few weeks but now we’re on the home stretch.

Bath:

One of my biggest regrets of this whole trip was not spending more time in Bath. It’s easy to see why the city is a designated UNESCO world heritage site, the architecture is beautiful and intricate so take time to stop and look up at buildings. 

We had to visit The Circus, a circle of Grade l listed townhouses dating back to the mid 1700’s. The view from the centre is magnificent; I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Bath is a relatively small city and can easily be toured on foot. Download one of the free walking tours from the app store or join one of the daily free walking tours, further information can be found HERE. 

How to get to Bath:

Using Skyscanner to find the best priced flights, I found weekends in September flying from Dublin to Bristol with Ryanair for just €39pp return. I then used Rome2rio to find the best way to get from Bristol airport to Bath. You’ve multiple options, bus, bus & train, taxi or hire car to take you the 20 miles to Bath.

Roman Baths:

A spring was discovered on this spot in 836BC, a temple was constructed between 60-70AD & over the next 300 years the bathing facilities were gradually built. Throughout the ages it has fallen into disrepair but with the stellar work of the council restoring and re-developing the complex it has been brought back to its former glory. My girls, aged 10 were learning about the Romans in school recently so it seemed a perfect time to visit.

The Roman Baths has four sections consisting of the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House & a display of artefacts that were excavated at the site. The natural hot spring at Bath was used by the Romans as a centre of a medical bathing complex. Sick people from all over the UK came to bathe in the waters and pray to the Celtic Goddess Sulis. 

While it’s not recommended to touch the water in the baths there is a spring at the end of the tour where you can drink spa water. We had an amazing time soaking in the history and the children especially loved the kids’ version of the audio guide.

Our visit was complimentary. It’s recommended to buy your tickets online HERE as you can skip the queue by bringing the print out of your purchase to the entrance desk where you’ll receive your tickets. Adult tickets are priced at £17/€19.37 with children aged 6-16 costing £9.80/€11.16. 

Children under age 6 gain free admission. There are also discounted family tickets available and museum saver tickets where for a couple of pound more you can also visit the Fashion Museum and the Victoria Art Gallery however if you’re visiting during summer months I’d advise you wait to visit until after 5pm as The Roman Baths are open till 9pm and they are usually much quieter in the evenings also the torches are lit at dusk creating an amazing atmosphere. 

Included in your ticket price is the use of an audio guide and a guided tour that starts every hour. Unfortunately buggies are not allowed into the museum but you can swap them at the entrance for a baby carrier.

Fashion Museum:

Our complimentary ticket included the Fashion Museum but our time in Bath was running out so my husband took 3 of our kids to go shopping while I took the short stroll from the Roman Baths to the museum with my daughter Aoife (10) & son Seamus (9). As we walked through the museum we saw some exquisite pieces dating as far back as the 1600’s, over 400 years of fashion is represented in just 100 objects on show in the current exhibition which will be displayed until January 2019. 

Our favourite part was where we got to dress up in Victorian and Georgian clothes, there’s a full range of hats, bonnets, dresses, coats etc for young & old to try on and take a picture against the backdrop of the Royal Crescent, we had so much fun!

 

Baths:

You cannot bathe in the Roman Baths but there are two other baths in Bath where you can enjoy a thermal spa experience. Next time we return without the children we’re definitely visiting the Thermae Bath Spa at dusk!

A two hour session at Thermae Bath Spa costs £38/€43.29 at weekends and slightly cheaper during the week. Use of towel, robe & slippers are also included in that price. Children under the age of 16 are not permitted in the New Royal Bath. You’ll have full access to the open air naturally warm mineral rich rooftop pool and the Minerva bath; you can also use the multi sensory wellness suite. An extra hour can be added to your session for £10/€11.39 HERE. 

It’s slightly cheaper to use the smaller Cross Bath, an open air thermal bath with its own changing facilities. A 1½ hour session with the use of towel, robe & slippers costs £20/€22.78pp at weekends. Children under the age of 12 are not permitted and children aged between 12 -16 are only allowed if there is an adult present for each individual child. See HERE.

So there you have it that’s Bath in a nutshell, I’m sure there are lots more amazing places that I haven’t included. If you’ve any recommendations for our next visit we’d love to hear them!

*** Disclaimer: As advised above we received a complimentary family Museums Saver ticket. As usual all thoughts are my own, I was not asked to write this review. As ever neither free services nor payment would ever sway my opinion. ***

Epic England Road Trip ~ Part 6 ~ Stonehenge!

Welcome back to our Epic England road trip across the south of England, last week I gave you all of our tips to help make your visit to Chessington as enjoyable as ours. So far we’ve brought you from Pembroke down through Devon & Somerset as far across as Hastings and this week we’ll bring you from Chessington to (our ancestral home) Stonehenge in Salisbury, just outside London.

The ULTIMATE list of Chessington Tips!

Welcome back to our Epic England road trip across the South of England, over the last few weeks I’ve told you about DEVON, SOMERSET, THE NEW FOREST
and BRIGHTON.This week we’re going to share all of our tips for visiting Chessington World of Adventures on a budget, strap yourselves in! 

Epic England Road Trip ~ Part 4 ~ Fort Nelson & Brighton!

Welcome back to our Epic England road trip across the south of England. This week I’ll tell you about our drive from the New Forest to Hastings stopping off along the way at Fort Nelson & Brighton sea front.

During the 50 minute drive from New Forest to Fort Nelson in Hampshire our daughter Orla let out a squeal as we drove past a huge Porsche dealership in Portsmouth (she loves everything about Porsche) so my husband drove round the roundabout and brought her in for to her to see the luxury cars. 

Each member of staff was really lovely to her giving her a tour of the forecourt and letting her see the vintage Porsches out back before sending her on her way with an arm load of posters. Thanks very much guys, you made her week!

What is Fort Nelson?

Fort Nelson is a fully restored Victorian Fort dating back to the 1860’s, it’s one of 5 defensive forts built along a 10km stretch of Portsdown Hill, the forts were built to prevent a land attack by the French on the dockyard of Portsmouth. Today it is part of the Royal Armouries and it houses the national collection of artillery. There’s 19 acres of ammunition bunkers, ramparts, outer fortifications, barrack rooms complete with a hospital, a kitchen where you can learn all about what life was like for a Victorian garrison. 

We particularly liked exploring the secret tunnels and learning from the interactive exhibitions. Like Edinburgh Castle Fort Nelson have a live fire demonstration everyday at 1pm. Our kids couldn’t believe it when we told them that both my husband & I used to be gun commanders on the 25pdr field gun that was used for the demo during our time served in the reserve defence forces.

How much is admission into Fort Nelson?

Admission is completely free of charge all year round except for special event days. Have you ever wanted to fire a historic artillery piece? Well now you can as Fort Nelson sell vouchers for Gun Firing Experiences, starting from £50 you can be the person who gets to fire the One O’clock gun! For further information click HERE.

Where to eat in Brighton:

After our visit to Fort Nelson we jumped back in the van for a 40 minute drive to Brighton for lunch and some sea air. When I was planning this trip I knew we’d want to eat in Brighton and I immediately decided on JB’s Diner as the kids love rockabilly and all things 1950’s Americana. We luckily got on street parking a block or two behind the diner as it is located right on the seafront overlooking Brighton Pier. Kid’s meals are £5.95/€6.75, consisting of a main, a milkshake & ice cream, perfect to fill little bellies. 

I had hot wings & a cold beer which was divine while my husband had a burger & a shake. The food was delicious & the kids took their time eating as they loved the atmosphere of the diner & listening to Elvis & Johnny Cash on the duke box.  

We had time for a walk along the shingle beach before we headed for Hastings where we were staying overnight.

Where to stay in Hastings:

Travelodge! Would it be anywhere else on this budget trip?! Travelodge Hastings is located just up the road from Hastings castle unfortunately we got there too late to visit as last admission is 4pm and we were leaving fist thing to drive an hour and a half to Chessington. 

The hotel is very well maintained & one of the nicer Travelodge’s we’ve stayed in. At check out I mentioned that the light wasn’t working in the bathroom; the guy behind the desk immediately got up and headed to our room with a bulb. We filled up on the full spread of fresh continental and tasty hot breakfast buffet in the restaurant before we set off for a full day of theme park fun. 

We paid £67.50/€76.63 for 1 night B&B for 2 adults & 2 kids.

Check back next week to see what Chessington has to offer!

*** Disclaimer: 

There is nothing 

to disclose! ***

Epic England Road Trip ~ Part 3 ~ Beaulieu!

So far on our Epic England Road Trip we’ve visited The Big Sheep in Devon & the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovil, this week we visit Beaulieu home to the National Motor Museum in New Forest National Park, Hampshire.

What is Beaulieu?

Beaulieu (pronounced bewley) is so much more than just a motor museum, there’s so much to see and do we just about got it all done in one day. Whether you’re into cars, history, architecture, the Army, Top Gear or just roaming stunning gardens Beaulieu has it all and if you can’t fit it all into one day you can return free of charge within the following 6 days.


What is there to see/do in Beaulieu?

Our first stop on our visit had to be the Top Gear challenge cars, my son Séamus (9) made a beeline for the Dampervan as that was his favourite episode of Top Gear and he was over the moon to get to see it up close. Unfortunately the Enormodrome was closed for filming so we didn’t get to feel what it would be like to be in the BBC’s famous studio.

Unlimited rides on the monorail are included in the entrance fee so we took a ride on it down to Beaulieu Abbey where we learned about the monks that lived there over 800 years ago via various audio visual displays. Then we strolled through the stunning flower gardens as we made our way to the Secret Army Exhibition where Orla (10) was thrilled to learn that during WWII Beaulieu was a secret finishing school for British special agents.

Next we paid a visit to Palace House the Montagu family home since 1538. Aoife (10) was delighted to see the guides dressed in Victorian era costumes, they were so welcoming and every one of them took the time to chat to us. Our two youngest lads Cillian (5) & Lorcan (2) loved getting a go on the open top veteran bus. 

The highlight of the tour for Orla was getting to see the screen cars; she particularly loved Elvis Presley’s Cadillac & the flying Anglia from Harry Potter. The National Motor Museum houses over 250 cars, they’ve everything from F1 cars to a car shaped like an Orange! There are some brilliant interactive displays and we even got to go on the retro pod-ride where we learned about the history of motoring in the UK.

Our visit was complimentary. Avail of a discount on door prices by buying tickets online priced at £19.50/€22.43 for adults & £9.50/€10.93 children over 5 years old, admission is free for children under 5. Discounted family tickets are also available. For further information visit HERE


Where to stay for Beaulieu:

The night before we visited Beaulieu we stayed just under a 50 minute drive away in Bournemouth Seafront Travelodge so we could bring the children for a walk along the pier. We paid £65.50/€73.35 for 1 night B&B for 2 adults & 2 children. The family rooms are very spacious and the breakfast was delicious, that coupled with the lovely staff & perfect location it’s the ideal spot to rest your head if you find yourself in Bournemouth.

When I was planning this holiday I knew we’d need as much time as possible to spend at Beaulieu so I chose a Travelodge quite close to stay after our visit. Travelodge Stoney Cross Lyndhurst cost us £57/€65.57 for 1 night room only for 2 adults & 2 kids. The hotel is located facing a dual carriageway but we didn’t hear a peep as the rooms have two sets of double glazed windows to block out the noise however the hotel could do with a revamp as it’s a bit shabby and run down in places.


Where to eat near New Forest National Park:

Luckily I had asked for recommendations of places to eat from the receptionist as I was checking into Travelodge Stoney Cross as that’s how we found out about The Swan Inn, Emery Down. It’s a traditional countryside pub located in the heart of the New forest. It was a bit on the spendy side with dinner and drinks’ costing us £110 /€126.54 for the seven of us but it was totally worth it as we all thoroughly enjoyed our meals.

Have you been to Beaulieu? Did you like it? Is there anywhere in New Forest you’d recommend we visit next time?

Check back next week where we take to the road again to visit Fort Nelson, Brighton and Hastings!

*** Disclaimer: As advised above we received complimentary admission to Beaulieu. As usual all thoughts are my own, I was not asked to write this review. As ever neither free services nor payment would ever sway my opinion. ***

Epic England Road Trip ~ Part 2 ~ Somerset!

Welcome back to our Epic England road trip across the south of England. Last time I told you about getting the ferry from Rosslare to Pembroke and driving down to Devon to visit The Big Sheep, you can catch up on all the fun HERE. This week I’m going to fill you in on our trip to Yeovil in Somerset.

Expert Travel Tips for Travelling with Babies & Toddlers!

I think we've established at this stage that I've been bitten by the travel bug good and proper, yes? So many people ask me how things have changed since the arrival of our five little ones and the honest answer is, not by much.

Organisation is still key and, while I'm not advocating you feel bad about not venturing outside your door for the first year of motherhood, I am advocating that you give it a shot. Here's my top tips that've seen all seven of us around the world twice over.

 

Newgrange ~ Visiting Ireland’s Ancient East!

Newgrange in Co Meath is somewhere I’ve wanted to bring my kids for a long time, as I remember really liking it when I went on a school trip many moons ago. We tried to visit a few years ago but only got as far as the visitor centre to be turned away as all the tickets were sold out. They limit the amount of tickets sold per day for conservation reasons. 

Tickets are not available to purchase online so it’s first come first served, we needed to be there early if we wanted to secure a place on a tour. That meant booking an overnight stay in the area and in the hopes that there wouldn’t be too many people visiting Ireland’s Ancient East we went off season.

A Weekend in Warsaw - How To!

Due to family commitments we had to take Sue’s annual birthday trip a week early this year but by mid January we still hadn’t decided on a destination well that was until we were invited to the Polish Embassy in Dublin to sample the wonderful hospitality of the Polish people. 

While we were there we learned a lot about Poland as they showcased some of their beautiful cities. We decided there & then we were going to Poland so I started researching the best city at the best price for a visit in early March, I quickly realised Warsaw was our destination!

The Best Way to Visit Warsaw on a Budget:

My first port of call as usual was Skyscanner; it took me less than 2 minutes to work out that Warsaw was the cheapest to visit in March so I booked return flights from Dublin to Warsaw costing just €55.38pp flying out on Friday 10th March at 17:15 returning Sunday 12th March at 21:45.

Where to stay in Warsaw:

I completed the usual search of hotel comparison sites like Trivago, Hotels Combined etc but it was on Amoma.com that I found a great bargain. Two nights B&B for two at the four star Hilton Warsaw Hotel for just £117/€134. The hotel is fabulous; it boasts numerous bars & restaurants along with a swimming pool, spa & gym also onsite. We had a spotless, deluxe room on the 19th floor with beautiful views over the city.

They were so kind to us and sent a bottle of wine to our room when they learned that we were celebrating Sue’s birthday. The bathroom was high end luxury complete with separate enclosed shower unit & bath. Breakfast was one of the finest spreads I’ve seen in a hotel way outstripping other Hiltons we’ve stayed in around the world. The Old Town is a 20 minute walk from the hotel or grab a taxi from the rank at the front door of the hotel for 17zł/€4.


How to get from Modlin Airport to Warsaw:

There are numerous buses operating from Modlin airport, you can buy a return ticket online or directly from the driver for roughly €16pp return for the 45 minute journey. You can also get an Uber but be careful as flights arrive in Modlin the prices increase drastically likewise the wait times. We priced a taxi and were quoted approximately 320zł/€76 by one driver even though taxi fares are supposed to be fixed from the airport. 

Luckily another driver overheard and offered his services for 160zł/€37, having given him sufficient side eye, we arrived to our hotel in style in a luxury blacked out Mercedes van. I made sure to get his card for our return journey, Zbigniew Kolacz, Tel: 0048 512007960 or mail zbyszek0_3@wp.pl to book - Tell him the crazy Irish ladies with the side eyes sent you!


Out and About in Warsaw:

Warsaw is not a city that you fall in love with at first sight you have to learn about its history and then you’ll have a deep compassion for the city & its people. We did just that on an Orange Umbrella free walking tour. It’s a very unusual city unlike most other European capitals. The New Town has a wonderful skyline that could easily compete with parts of New York for the amount of skyscrapers in such a small area. 

The Mermaid of Warsaw, fabled to be a Sister of the Copenhagen be-scaled one keeps watch over Warsaw

The Old Town is actually not that old. It was rebuilt less than 65 years ago by the people of Warsaw under Soviet influence after 85% of its buildings were raised to the ground during WWII. The Old Town is now the youngest UNESCO listed Heritage Site, due to the diligence of the restoration!

In the heart of the Old Town you’ll find Market Square and the monument of the Warsaw Mermaid the city’s symbol. Our guide Martyna was a fountain of knowledge and she held everyone’s attention for the full 2 hour tour of the Old Town. You'll see a clip of our tour HERE. There are lots of other tour routes and indeed other companies that run walking tours of Warsaw but one thing is for sure, you’d be mad not to join one!

On Sunday we visited the Uprising Museum located a 5 minute walk from our hotel. The museum tells the history of the events preceding, during and after the uprising in Warsaw with hundreds of photographs, film footage from eye witnesses and a 3D audiovisual recreation of the destruction of Warsaw during WWII. 

As soon as you enter the museum the sights & sounds transport you back to 1944 Poland. They’ve an impressive amount of artifacts and a replica B-24 Liberator. With men & women recounting their own tales of rebel fighting and their entire city rising up, if you want to learn about the determination of the Polish people this should be on your list of places to visit. Normal admission is priced at 20zł/€4.66pp, entry is free on Sundays.

Where to eat and drink in Warsaw:

During our tour Martyna told us all about milk bars that you’ll still find dotted around the capital, they are small, inexpensive restaurants serving traditional Polish home cooked meals costing about €3 for a 3 course meal. Pop into any bakery for Polish cakes and coffee costing less than €4 each.

We stumbled upon a Bobby Burger joint and decided it looked good for lunch, it was delicious. We had burgers, fries & beers that cost us just €15 in total! 

We were lucky with the location of our hotel as Tapas Gastrobar was right next door; it was so nice we ended up dining there twice with our bill never topping €20 for oodles of Tapas & wine. 

The Pierogi (dumplings, a popular Polish dish) are superb in Karmnik a trendy bar/restaurant in the Old Town. It’s a bit more expensive because of its location but still reasonably priced at €16 for two servings of Pierogi and two drinks.

Well that was our wonderful weekend in Warsaw, have you been? Did we miss anything?

One thing is for sure though; Warsaw was the first of many visits to Poland for this Travel Writer!

Mid-term Road Trip in County Clare!

While looking for places to go with the children during February mid-term I stumbled upon a great deal on pigsback.com, just €159 for 5 nights in Lakeside Holiday Homes in Mountshannon Co Clare. Immediately I thought of the Aillwee Caves and the Birds of Prey Centre as we’d been a few years ago and that visit  inspired a passion for birds and bird watching in my daughter Orla so I knew I’d found our ideal mid-term destination. Now all I had to do was pack up Mammy Van for a road trip in Co Clare!

Give the Gift of Travel this Valentine’s Day!

You might think I’m crazy posting a travel post about Valentine’s gifts on Valentine’s Day but that’s the beauty of these gifts just buy them & print the voucher to slip into your loved one’s card TODAY! Still haven’t got a Valentine’s card? Better nip to the shop or get out the crayola stat!

Under €60

Source

Escapes.ie has a fantastic deal to the Central Hotel Donegal, 1 night B&B for two people comes in at just €59, for that bargain price you’ll also get a bottle of bubbly on arrival, full use of their leisure centre and late check-out and the best part is you can add an extra night & just pay €89 in total! Grab this deal HERE before it’s gone.

Under €70

I found this gem on Dealrush.ie, €69 for 1 night B&B for 2 people at the Clifton Station House Hotel. This deal includes complimentary access to their leisure centre, a free bottle of wine if dining in the bar; late check-out AND 2 kids go free on a B&B basis. There is a 2 night option for just €119, get this amazing deal HERE.

Under €100

Source

Cobh holds a special place in my heart (see HERE) and we always try to grab at least a one night stay there every year as it’s such a beautiful historic town with so much to see and do. Groupon.ie has a perfect deal for a romantic getaway priced at just €99 for 1 night B&B with a 3 course meal and late check out at the Waters Edge Hotel. There’s also an option for a 2 night stay for €149. If you’d like further information or to book click HERE.

Under €200

Source

I’d love this break that I found on Luxurybreaks.ie, hint hint husband if you’re reading this! One night B&B for two on the exclusive Mount Falcon Estate, a 3 course evening meal, full access to the spa & leisure centre and late check out all for just €198 or €309 if you opt to stay an extra night to languish in luxury! You’ll find further information on this break HERE.

Under €300

Our view from Hotel Tropen last year - Check our Amsterdam post HERE

Click&Go.com have a cracking city break to Amsterdam priced at just €148pp, flights are with Aer Lingus and accommodation is very unique to say the least, it’s on a botel yes you read that right it’s a boat hotel situated in the heart of Amsterdam with complimentary ferry connections to the central train station. Further information can be found HERE, but I’d hurry if I were you this deal won’t stick around for long at that price!

**Disclaimer: There are no 

affiliate links in this piece, 

if there were I’d tell you.**