traveling with kids

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End of Summer Vacation

BonBon September 8, 2015 16 Comments

One peaceful morning at Sonestra Resort — **One peaceful morning at Sonesta Resort**

There is no secret on when is the best time to travel; timing and information are the keys. We all know peak season is the summer months. Most families with school-going kids are planning getaways in summer and all are looking at the same destinations. Many families in this situation will feel their choices are limited and the best advice is try book your vacation far in advance and hope everyone will have a great time.

The beach is a popular destination during summer and as expected you will be looking at crowded beaches, theme parks, restaurants with unfortunately costly accommodation, plane tickets, transfers and tours. However, if you have the option to delay the vacation to the shoulder seasons (typically when school is out in your state but other states not) you might be in for a good treat. We did!!!

Europe Home Travel

Venice with Kids: Know Before You Go

BonBon July 26, 2015 18 Comments

My husband recently had a conversation with a coworker who is going to Venice with his family. He had a flashback of our unforgettable experience last 2011. Then, he asked me to write a blog about it since Venice is such a beautiful city and families who are planning to go shouldn’t hesitate tagging along their kids. Proper planning is needed.

Flashback… Venice -February 2011 while I was 6+ months pregnant together with our 14-month old boy. Imagine that!

It was our 1^st international flight with our son and I was pretty confident that I got everything covered. However, travel is often full of surprises and its part of the whole experience. Our journey started bad – 1^st flight delayed so we missed our connection from Heathrow to Venice, leading to an unexpected reroute with a bus transfer to Gatwick with 1 bag already lost.

We stayed Venice for a few days and it was magical as expected. Actually, it was more meaningful since we shared it with our little boy.

We made lasting memories in Venice with our boy... — **We made lasting memories in Venice with our boy…**

So, here is a list of few things to consider when traveling to Venice with kids. This is a Must-Do-Check-List.

Europe Home

Top 5 Charming Villages in Madeira

BonBon June 3, 2015 11 Comments

Madeira Island is an exciting destination for all types of travelers. For the venturers who want to discover the unknown, for the dependables who require travel with comfort and for the centrics who can either go for a good challenging adventure or go for anything fun and comfortable. Madeira offers varied activities for everyone. Well, as I mentioned in my previous blog, one of my favorite things to do in Madeira is to go around the island. So many things to see and do… and heeeey…. you can tour the entire island for a day or 2.

Here are my top 5 charming villages in Madeira:

São Vicente

Located north of the island lies this cute little village of São Vicente. You will find the chapel bridge (Capela da Ponte) or saint chapel (Capela do Santo) down the valley by the sea. Built in 1694 constructed right on the very spot where it is believed that Saint Vicente appeared.

Teixeira family - background view is the Sao Vicente chapel by the bridge — **Teixeira family – background view is the Sao Vicente chapel by the bridge**

Europe Home Travel

Beautiful Island of Madeira

BonBon May 16, 2015 7 Comments

Madeira, “Ilha Jardim” (Garden Island) or “Pearl of the Atlantic”,one of the most beautiful destinations in Europe. I fell in love with this small island the first time I visited. It was just me and my husband then; I was totally blown away with its scenery – simply beautiful! This time round, we visited the family with our 2 kids.

My husband’s parents grew up in this island, but they moved to South Africa for better opportunities when they were young. So, in this visit they flew to Madeira to meet us and spend some quality time with the rest of the family. It was indeed an unforgettable trip. We’re glad the kids met their Portuguese family.

Home Travel Tips

BonBon March 15, 2015 10 Comments

Yes, it is possible to travel to distant places with your kids. And yes, it is challenging and can be daunting.

When I got pregnant, I told my husband that we needed to travel as much as possible before the baby arrived; I was thinking it would be so impossible to travel with a little nutter. But when baby Nicholas arrived, we just kept on going. Then baby Arianna came and we said, “this is it, traveling with 2 babies is just too much”. Then again, old habits die hard.

That said we’ve managed to enjoy all our travels with our kids and learn a lot along the way. So let me share with you some important things you need to consider when flying with babies/ toddlers.

Home Travel Tips

Travel Plan

BonBon March 15, 2015 1 Comment

I want to travel and see the world! Where should I go? What should I do? Where should I start? I know… so many places to go, so little time and limited funds. It is overwhelming in the beginning, especially when you haven’t done something like this before.

I would not say I am an expert, but I want to share with you what I have done and learned after making travel plans for over 15 years. This works for me and my family; it might work for you too.

In my family, I am in charge of our travel plans – where to go and what to do. Before I talk to my husband; I already have a place in mind and when it’s a go for him then I start making a detailed plan.

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