Skip to content

Ruby and GINGER Competition winner.

Thanks to all of you who entered our Ruby and GINGER competition.  We are pleased to announce that the winner is…

Claire Woods.

Congratulations Claire! Your funky flower Just Nipping Out Set will soon be winging its way to you.

If you missed out this time, bad luck.  But we do have another competition coming very soon.  And remember, there are a few ways you can keep up to date with all the competitions, travel advice and family holiday info from BabyAbroad:

• Come and like us on facebook at www.facebook.com/babyabroad

• We’re tweeting over on twitter @babyabroadnews

• Of course, you can subscribe to receive our Blog via email here: Subscribe to BabyAbroad by Email

• For more fantastic baby and children travel information, family holiday reviews and more head on over to our website www.babyabroad.co.uk

And, if you want to see more of Ruby and GINGER’s fabulous innovative parenting products, then take a peak at their website: www.rubyandginger.co.uk.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Posted in Competitions.

No comments

By Clare – December 5, 2011

Family friendly holidays in Sicily

We love bringing you new holiday ideas here at BabyAbroad. So this week we’re pleased to hand the blog over to Jack Barker, seasoned family traveller, who tells us how he fell for Sicily one family holiday…

It’s not often that, as a family of four, you get invited to dinner by total strangers. But this happened on my visit to Sicily: a chance meeting over prams led to a pasta feast in the modest home of a fireman and his wife. While the grownups stumbled through the language barrier Will, aged one, and Lucy, aged six, bonded immediately with the other children. At the end of the meal Lucy was presented with a pizza cutter that we still use today.

That is the single best reason for taking your family on a Sicily holiday. Italians as a whole are pretty keen on children but here, warmed by the southern Mediterranean sun, this enthusiasm seems more forceful and pervasive. New children are show-stoppers, treated as little stars in their own right: there’s nothing like this constant, kind attention to put a glow on their holiday experience.

Villas are Best

With a family the best holidays are often in a private villa. Italian hotels in general tend to be expensive and haute cuisine is often wasted on the young: in a private villa mealtimes and menus can be flexible and free. The best villas with pools tend to be the highlight of any holiday, providing hours of exploration and entertainment through long sunny days.

By staying in a villa in Sicily you get to experience Sicily as the locals do. You can track down the best shops selling particular regional delicacies, the olives, pistachios, cheeses and wines that make the Sicilian diet one of the healthiest in the world. Market stalls are pervaded by almost tropical scents while Sicily’s many harbours are thronged with fishing boats of all sizes, harvesting the Mediterranean for shrimp, squid and octopus.

Loaded with local supplies your holiday home can be the perfect haven, with long leisurely lunchtimes stretching late into the day. Children can run around in freedom splashing in and out of the pool and the whole family can relax in peace.

Choosing a Sicilian Villa

When choosing your villa it’s important to appreciate Sicily’s sheer size. It takes over two hours to drive between the two main airports of Palermo and Catania. Where you stay and where you arrive will be closely linked.

Palermo is the capital, an atmospheric city whose ancient centre has an almost medieval feel. There are some wonderful sights here, including the somewhat gruesome Capuchin Catacombs, where hundreds of corpses, still fully dressed in period clothing, are hung up on the walls, waiting for the afterlife. This is a good base to explore the vineyards and fertile farmlands of western Sicily; the mediaeval hilltop town of Erice, the wine-flavoured cuisine of Marsala, and the Greek temple at Segesta. If this enchants – and it usually does – drive further south and you’ll find 12 more temples spread around the countryside of the ‘Valley of the Temples’ by the town of Agrigento. There are countless beaches in Western Sicily, but perhaps the most fashionable are around the elegant resort town of Cefalù, spread out below a glorious cathedral that blends Norman, Arab and Byzantine elements.

Catania is the gateway to eastern Sicily, dominated by Mount Etna, whose brooding and often snow-capped peak is almost always in view. If your children have learned anything about volcanoes, Mount Etna will blow away their modest pre-conceptions. It is so much bigger than any first-time visitor can imagine, and often politely erupting a plume of smoke into the sky. Coastal settlements cling precariously to cliffs as the mountain’s lower slopes plunge into the sea. The most visited resort is Taormina, a beautiful town set above curving crescent beaches, its narrow alleys dense with small, family-run restaurants and exclusive boutiques. There are plenty of amphitheatres in Sicily but the one in Taormina is possibly the best: with views of Etna’s snow-capped peak, it often hosts performances of classical music and opera, the perfect place to enjoy Italy’s cultural achievements and its ancient history.

Out and About

Sicily is far more than just a fly and flop destination. The Mediterranean was the cradle of western civilisation and Sicily was at its heart: it is littered with relics from the last 3,000 years. However tempting the pleasures of your holiday villa, it’s well worth getting out and about to explore. My children are often left cold by the major, well-excavated and more organised archaeological sites, but they love the wilder, neglected ones – and in Sicily there are plenty of these. Their favourite was at Palazzolo Acreide just above Syracusa, where they could run freely around the steps of a huge, deserted amphitheatre and then burrow around in ancient Greco-Roman galleried graves. The archaeological sites you choose to visit are likely to be the ones nearest to your villa – and that’s a perfectly good way of shaping your holiday experience.

Family Friendly Sicily

The family-friendly attitude of the locals will infuse your experience of Sicily, easing your passage through city centres, restaurants and resorts. Even the food seems made for children: few can resist the delicate flavours of freshly-cooked pasta, newly-baked breads or hand-thrown pizza. And that’s before they catch sight of Sicilian ice cream, banked in a range of flavours at countless streetside stalls.

Warm at Easter and hot in summer, Sicily’s also one of the few places in Europe that is also sensibly sunny for all the half-term breaks. For your next family holiday it’s a natural choice.

And if my visit was any guide you’ll be left with lasting memories. And Lucy’s pizza cutter, that brings back a waft of Sicily every time it’s used.

If this has tempted you to take your family to Sicily, visit www.thinksicily.com where you will not only discover a range of villas suitable for the family, but you will find more information about Sicily. There is even a complimentary iPhone app you can download so you can have a guide to Sicily at your fingertips.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Posted in Holiday Destinations.

Tagged with , .

1 comment

By admin – December 2, 2011

Win a Ruby And GINGER Just Nipping Out set

We’ve teamed up with the super stylish Ruby and GINGER to bring you our top dos and don’ts when it comes to the subject of nappies and holidays.  We’ve also got a fabulous competition for you so read on….

Just Nipping Out Set in Wallpaper

Nappies Abroad: Buying, changing and all that what not.

• Do pack enough nappies for the flight, potential delays and your first day &  night and then buy the rest on holiday to save valuable suitcase space. Check the BabyAbroad information for where to buy nappies in Spain, Italy and France.

• Do take a small change bag on a flight.  There’s never enough space in the aeroplane for you, your baby and an enormous change bag.  We have the perfect one for you in our competition so keep reading…

• Don’t expect there to be good changing facilities everywhere you go.  Restaurants particularly maybe lacking a change table, so be prepared to use your buggy; where possible, change baby before you go in.

• Do take nappy sacks.  You’ll find baby wipes in supermarkets and pharmacies abroad, but not all places stock nappy sacks.

• And finally, do always carry a travel change mat (yes, we’ve got one of those for you too…) for baby’s hygiene and comfort.

The Competition

Ruby and GINGER are kindly offering one BabyAbroad Blog subscriber one of their gorgeous yet oh so practical Just Nipping Out sets.  These fabulous sets contain the original nappy purse, travel change mat and a travel wipes case all in one of the beautiful fabrics designed at Ruby and GINGER. They’re perfect for travelling and holidays.

The Nipping Out Set is available in these fabulous fabrics: Funky Flower, Berries or Wallpaper

Just Nipping Out Set in "Funky Flower" fabricJust Nipping Out Set in "Wallpaper" fabric

All you have to do to enter is subscribe to receive the BabyAbroad Blog posts direct to you inbox.  Just pop your email address in the subscription box to the right of this post and sign up.  Don’t forget to check your email box to confirm the subscription.  Then come back and add a comment to this blog post, telling us WHY you want win a Just Nipping Out set and which fabulous fabric you’d like if you do win.   And the bonus to subscribing is that it’s completely free and you’ll never miss out on any of our fantastic competitions and travel advice again.  Closing date is Sunday 4 December. Good Luck!

And a little more about Ruby and GINGER…

Ruby and GINGER design stylish, practical and affordable solutions for modern parenting. With 2 mums at the helm they know how to make life easier especially when out and about with little ones. Everything from the handy Nappy Purse to the clever Toy Tie and the Cosy Car Seat Cover are designed in gorgeous fabrics. For these and more great parenting accessories visit their website www.rubyandginger.co.uk

ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Posted in Competitions, Travel Advice.

Tagged with , , , , .

39 comments

By Clare – November 25, 2011

Choosing a family holiday: 10 questions to ask yourself

When it comes to choosing your first family holiday, you have a whole host of new factors to consider, so here’s our low down on choosing a holiday for your baby and young children.

How far do you want to travel with your children?

Baby holding a Barcelona Street MapFor some parents the thought of a long haul flight is hell on earth, yet some manage it in a breeze. If you’re planning some sun in Europe, then flights are an average of 2-3 hours for Spain and Italy, less for France. If you’re looking for a winter sun destination for the family, then you’ll probably need to venture at least as far as the Canary Islands; an approximately 4 hour flight from the UK.

Consider the transfer time too. Imagine surviving the airport wait, the flight, the baggage collection, only to be faced with 2 hours on a coach with the children before you get there. One BabyAbroader loves Armacao De Pera on the Algarve, Portugal, not only for its family friendly appeal, but after a 2 1/2 hour flight, the transfer is just 30 minutes.

If you prefer to stay in the UK, check your drive times and consider the dates you travel to avoid bank holiday traffic, etc.

You might want to also consider, especially if travelling long haul:

  • average rainfall/temperatures
  • if you’ll need vaccinations before you go if heading outside of Europe (check with your GP).
  • check the www.fco.gov.uk travel advice if you’re considering somewhere more unusual.

Hotel or Self Catering with children?

We think that choosing the right type of accommodation for your holiday is so important. The problem with a hotel is that generally all the family end up in the same room. Either you have to go to bed at the same time as the children, or sit in silence and probably the dark, until they do nod off. Some hotels do have family rooms with a separate bedroom, so look out for those.

A self catering villa or apartment enables you to select one with at least one bedroom. That way, you can put the children to bed and relax. Often with a family villa or apartment, you’ll have more space, a table, sofa, maybe a terrace or balcony etc making your evenings more comfortable.

An aparthotel, can give you the best of both worlds with an apartment with some (sometimes limited) kitchen equipment but the communal facilities of a hotel such as a pool and restaurant etc.

Other questions you might want to consider are:

  • What baby facilities are available in the room/apartment eg. microwave, cot, highchair
  • What facilities are available to entertain the children – separate pool? Play equipment?
  • If there is a kids club, are there age restrictions? Do you have to pay extra for the kids club? Will your children be split into different classes by age?
  • Is the accommodation suitably located? E.g. at the top of a steep hill or a long way from the beach.

Choosing a family friendly holiday resort?

One your old toddling on a beach towards the seaOK – you’ve decided what type of accommodation you want, but still there lies the question as to where to go? If you were adventurous travellers pre kids, you might consider somewhere off the beaten track.

However, if it’s your first holiday with children, a great option would be Spain or Italy.  Choose one of the more touristy areas if you’re worried that language will be less of an issue as many people will speak English.

Still don’t know where to go?

On BabyAbroad we’ve collated these family friendly holiday reviews written by parents. It’s great to have a parents eye view of a holiday resort, so you can get a better idea of its family friendliness and not just what the brochures tell you!

If you’ve been somewhere you think would make a great family holiday, then please do send us a review to share with other parents. You can find the holiday review form here.

Over to you.

What one piece of advice would you give new families in choosing their holidays?  Pop a comment below and tell us; we love to read your tips.

 

Beach photo courtesy of surfcrs via flickr.com, Barcelona baby photo courtesy of Toursten Mangner via flickr.com

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Posted in Travel Advice.

Tagged with , .

No comments

By admin – November 21, 2011

5 unusual hotels for your family holiday

Imagine your children’s faces if you took them to stay in a jumbo jet overnight or would your little explorers love a week in an amazing treehouse? Well, their dream holidays await.  HostelBookers.com are back with some amazing and unusual family hotels to fire up your children’s imaginations. Over to hostelbookers….

How to spice up your family holiday.

Check out some of these unusual hotels from around the world that are still well within budget for all sorts of travellers. Whether you want to treat your kids to a holiday adventure or let your other half feel like a king/queen for a few days there something for you!

And remember every single one can be booked here

 

On a jumbo jet… Sweden

No chance of travel sickness on this one. Jumbo Stay STF/HI is a converted Boeing 747-200 Jumbo Jet parked at Arlanda Airport outside Stockholm. So, if you have an early flight to catch in the morning, this hotel is ideally situated just 10 minutes ‘walk from the airport check-in .You can even stay in the exclusive cockpit suite, the most luxurious space to be converted in to sleeping quarters. Find out more.

 

In a castle… India

In all its glittering splendour, the Umaid Mahal is an awe-inspiring spectacle of ornate furnishings and traditional welcoming Rajasthani hospitality. The luxurious swimming pool is the perfect place to cool off and on request, guests can enjoy a traditional folk dance and puppet show as well as excursions in to the desert, village , Jaipur and around Rajasthan. Luxury for a fraction of the price.  More information.

 

 

In a treehouse… Turkey

Every kid dreamed of sleeping in a treehouse and in the enchanting valley of Olympos in Turkey, such dreams can come true! Kadir’s Tree House has something for everyone. Thrill seekers can enjoy a host of watersports and hiking, others might prefer lounging on the stunning beach complete with turquoise and clear water, also a spot where the loggerhead turtles come to breed so it is also fantastic for nature lovers. There is an onsite bar and pizza restaurant and breakfast is included in the price. Book your treehouse here.

 

 

On a river… Serbia

Floating idly on the river Danube Arkabarka Floating Hotel is a multi-storey houseboat accessible from a small jetty. Out on the water it offers spectacular views across to the Kalemegdan fortress and Ratno Ostrvo (War Island) which you can enjoy from many of the bedrooms as well as the bar and communal balcony. It is moored at the edge of Usce Park, a charming leafy location for your stay in Belgrade and guests can make the most of the free cycle hire. More information on this hotel.

 

 

In a cave…Turkey

Cappadocia is famous for its cave dwellings and there is no better place to experience them than at the Aydinli Cave Hotel in the heart of Göreme. One of the suite rooms would be ideal for families and most rooms have Jacuzzi, walk in showers, fireplaces and hamam sinks. Guests can enjoy their free breakfast on the roof terrace which overlooks the old town and there are also self-catering facilities if guests would like to prepare a packed lunch. Click here to find out more.

 

So, which takes your fancy? Would your kids agree? Leave a comment below, and let us know which one you liked best.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Posted in Holiday Destinations.

Tagged with , , , .

No comments

By admin – November 9, 2011

Family ski holidays: Our top 3 half term finds….

The best family ski deals are of course during term time. So if you’re considering taking the children out of school to ski, check out ski holiday deals from Neilson for New Year dates or browse ThomsonSki’s deals including free kids places.

February Half Term Skiing

…Or with a view to minimising the kids time out of school, have you been trawling the net for family ski holidays for February half term?  Well we’ve done some searching for you, and here are our some of our favourite family friendly ski packages for half term week:

Ski accomodation with children’s playroom:

Schwebebahn Alpine Resort, Zell am See, Austria from Thomson Holidays
This super family friendly ski accommodation offers doorstep skiing right and is right next to the ski school. As well as an indoor pool and spa area, there is a children’s playroom with toys and childrens activities available (check website for prices). For more information, click here to go to the Thomson website)

Family Friendly Skiing in Flaine:

Montsoleil Apartments, Flaine France from Thomson Holidays

These beautiful family friendly ski apartments, offering skiing to and from the door, are just a 5 minute walk from the centre of Flaine Floret in France. With an outdoor swimming pool on site, and ice skating in near by Flaine (shuttle bus offered to the centre) you’ll be able to keep the kids amused on and off the slopes. A private nanny is prebookable at the apartments. Click here to head to the Thomson Holiday website for more info

Family Skiing in Whistler:

Blackcomb Lodge, Whistler, Canada, Virgin Ski

Close to the heart of exciting Whistler Village, Blackcomb Lodge offers fun family ski holidays. With an indoor pool and kids programme, there’s something for all the family in Whistler. Head on over to the Virgin Ski website for more information.

For more Family Ski Advice….

Take a look at our main website for more information on skiing with children, family friendly ski resorts and kids ski wear.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Posted in Family holiday deals.

Tagged with , , , .

No comments

By admin – November 3, 2011

Unusual Family holidays; Travel to Norway with your Children.

We like to bring you new holiday ideas here at BabyAbroad and here’s one for you.  Have you ever thought about taking your children on holiday to Norway? We have the insider low down for you from the fabulous Liz Beaven of Fairy Photo Designs.  Liz is a British expat originally from Yorkshire and has been living in the Telemark area of Norway for 5 years. She has two young sons aged 2 and 3 years old and hopes her experiences in Norway will be useful to  any families considering a holiday in Scandinavia.

So over to Liz…

Tranquil view over a Norwegian Lake…I’m sure there aren’t many people from the UK who would think about Norway as their first choice for a holiday with children.  If you do think of holidaying in Norway the first thing that probably pops into your head would be the famous Norwegian Fjord cruises.

Norway is a truly beautiful country and with a population of just 4.9 million within a total area of 148,747 square miles it isn’t hard to find peace and quiet. Perfect for people with stressful jobs who want to spend some quality time with their family away from the crowds.

Travelling to Norway

At the moment the quickest way to get from the UK to Norway is by aeroplane, although for those who fancy a driving holiday you can take the Dover to Calais Ferry and drive through Europe to Denmark and take the Danish Ferry to Norway’s South Coast.  Or if you fancy seeing even more of Scandinavia you can drive from Denmark along the coast of Sweden to Norway. If you are travelling with children I recommend taking the trip over at least 3 days planning interesting stops along the way.

Things to Do With Children in Norway

Depending on where you holiday in Norway will determine the types of activities you can expect to find on offer. Oslo has the highest population of people in Norway, and as a result has a large selection of indoor and outdoor museums. Whether you are interested in Vikings, Peace Prize laureates, magic tricks or fire trucks, Oslo will have a museum for you. At most museums, you get free entrance with the Oslo Pass take a look at this website for more information http://www.visitoslo.com.
Another large tourist attraction is Kristiansand Zoo (Dyreparken) on the South coast of Norway. Dyreparken is actually five separate parks, including a water park (bring bathing suits and towels); a forested park; an entertainment park; a theme park; and a zoo, which contains an enclosure for Scandinavian animals such as wolves and elk, a large breeding ground for Bactrian camels, and exotic animals such as lions and tigers. In the zoo, the Africa exhibition allows you to move along a bridge observing native savannah animals such as giraffe and zebras. The park is 11 km (6 mi) east of Kristiansand, take a look here for more information http://www.dyreparken.no.
Another popular nature park can be found at Langedrag which lies a 3 hour drive North West from Oslo. Langedrag lies like a fairy-tale castle in beautiful surroundings, with magnificent views of the lakes and mountains between Hallingdal and Numedal. The park is open all year round and you can see Wolves, Arctic Foxes, Lynx, Reindeer as well as a petting area where children can stroke goats, ponies etc. For more information take a look at their website http://www.langedrag.no.
Of course as well as the organised tourist attractions Norway has a huge amount of countryside to explore for free, filled with beautiful lakes, mountains and forests.

Budgeting for Norway

Norway is an expensive country to take a holiday in, although if planned well in advance you can still manage it within a budget.  If you plan to fly to Norway and can be flexible with your dates you can usually get a very reasonable flight with Ryanair.

Child friendly accommodation in Norway

Norway offers the usual hotels and camping sites, they also have a large number of cabin sites where you can hire a wooden cabin on a camping site. These vary in amenities; they begin very basic with no electricity or running water, and go up to others that have more familiar home comforts.

Norway is also very campervan friendly, with plenty of beautiful places to stop.

Climate in Norway

Generally Norway has four very clear seasons. During the winter you can normally expect snow from November until March and temperatures varying from +10 to -28 degrees Celsius. Spring and Autumn are a beautiful explosion of colour and are often comparable with the UK temperature wise. Summer time you can have temperatures as high as 30 degrees, Norwegians love to spend their summers swimming in the lakes and having BBQs with friends.

Travelling with young children to Norway

Here are my travel tips for travelling to Norway with young children:
- If you are travelling with a baby that requires formula my advice is to bring formula with you. Approximately 99% of mothers in Norway breastfeed their children so there isn’t a huge range of formula to choose from, and what they have is expensive. The main brand over here that you would recognise from the UK is Hipp, they do not sell Cow & Gate, SMA or Aptimal.
- You can buy Pampers and Huggies nappies over here, as well as other brands and the price of them is pretty comparable to the UK.
- For babies that are being weaned you can buy Ella’s kitchen baby food in some supermarkets, along with other local brands over here.
- You need to be aware that shops will be closed on Sundays, and on public holidays. Only places that are classed as kiosks will be open, which are comparable to small corner shops in the UK selling food essentials such as milk etc.
- The baby changing facilities in Norway are pretty good in shopping centres however not many restaurants will have them.
- Eating out is expensive in Norway, especially if you are paying for meals for children that are fussy and unlikely to eat it all. There are plenty of beautiful places to stop and have picnics or buy hotdogs and burgers though. If you are on a budget though it is advisable to buy supplies in supermarkets so you can prepare your own food.

Well we hope you were inspired to try a new holiday destination.  See the links below if you want to take a peak at possible Norwegian holiday options.  Please do leave a comment and let us know if you’ll be considering Norway for your family holiday next year.

Useful links:

Try Holiday-Rentals.co.uk for a wide range of Holiday Rental properties in Norway from fairy tale rustic farms to modern city apartments.

And Kelkoo to search for cheap flights.

More about Liz:

Thanks Liz for that helpful insight into holidays with children to Norway.  If you’d like to know more about Liz, she runs a small photo editing Company in Norway called Photo Fairy Designs. Photo Fairy Designs can help you to be more creative with your photos, they offer a large selection of photo editing from photo enhancing, airbrushing, special effects, photo restoration, removing unwanted objects, and they can add some fairy or fantasy magic to photos of your children! On top of this they can present your photos on a photo DVD slideshow set to music – perfect for a special gift. Visit her website www.photofairydesigns.com for more information.

If you have an unusual family friendly holiday destination that you’d like to share with others, please do contact us at claresparks at babyabroad dot co dot uk.

 

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Posted in Holiday Destinations.

2 comments

By Clare – October 17, 2011

Activ Skins UV Suit Competition Winner

 

Hello all,

Thanks for all your fabulous family holiday reviews.  We loved receiving them all and wishing we were there too.

We’re pleased to now finally announce the winner of the Activ Skins UV Suit from the lovely Beach Factory.  Our winner is……

…… Stacey.  YAY!!!

Congratulations to Stacey.  You can read Stacey’s review of her family trip to Barcelona here.

And if you holidayed somewhere that you think other parents would like to hear about, the competition maybe closed, but we’d still love to hear from you.  Just send us your holiday review via this form.  And if you want ideas for you next family holiday, check out our other reviews of child friendly holidays too.  And finally, whether you’re planning for some winter sun or just preparing for next summer, do check out The Beach Factory for UV protection for children of all ages.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Posted in Competitions.

Tagged with , , , .

No comments

By Clare – October 7, 2011

Disney on a budget ….. is it possible?

Mickey Mouse greeting little girl at Disney10 tips to help you curtail the damage to your wallet

If you’ve started planning a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, you’ll be all too aware of mounting costs. First there are your flights to Florida, then your accommodation, and you haven’t even bought the park tickets yet! If you’re wondering how you’re going to budget for it all, stop worrying because American Holidays have given BabyAbroad 10 tips on how to do Disney on a budget.

1. Plan your Disney holiday off season

If possible try to avoid visiting the Walt Disney World Resort during the holidays and weekends; this is when prices are at their highest and the theme parks most crowded. Avoid the main school holiday dates, and remember the US holidays too.

2. Don’t pay gate rates

Check Disney’s special offers page before you buy tickets anywhere else. For example, if you book selected dates in 2012 and stay at the Disney resort your whole family can eat for free!

3. Buy a Disney 14 Day Ultimate Ticket

If your family is planning on spending the majority of the holiday visiting theme parks, it may be worth buying a 14 Day Ultimate Ticket.  This entitles you to 14 days of unlimited admission to: Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney MGM Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. You also receive unlimited admission to Disney’s water parks, Disney’s Pleasure Island, Disney’s Wide World Sports complex and Disney’s Quest Indoor Interactive Theme Park.  Plus, you’re entitled to use of the Walt Disney World transportation system, which includes: the monorails, water launches and motor coaches. The ticket doesn’t have to be used consecutively and is valid 21 days from the first day of use. Each day it is used at any park or attraction constitutes one full day of use.

4. Consider whether you need the extra expense of hiring a car

There are regular free buses which provide transport to the Disney parks and use of them is included in some accommodation and park tickets.  If you’re staying in a Disney Hotel there are buses that take you directly from the hotel to the parks and other area attractions.

5. Look out for discount coupons when you arrive

Free publications such as I Love Orlando magazine, often contain discount vouchers for Disney attractions, restaurants and shops.  You can pick up the magazine in airports and hotels so keep your eyes peeled! It’s also worth checking the back of receipts in the Disney parks, as they sometimes give a percentage discount off your next meal.

6. Bring all the essentials

Most items cost more inside the parks, so try to remember to bring everything you need, such as: spare batteries, sunscreen, mini fans, rain ponchos and sunglasses, so you don’t have to buy them again once you are inside.

7. Bring a packed lunch or snack pack

Food inside the Disney parks costs a premium, so bring a backpack with snacks or a packed lunch. It’s also a good idea to bring a water bottle which you can refill as often as you like from the free water fountains provided in the parks. If you prefer chilled water, you can also get FREE ice water at any counter service restaurant within the Disney Parks – just ask!

8. Dine at all you can eat buffets in the resort

Little girl dressed as Snow White at DisneyFor the days you do want to treat your family and eat inside the parks, all you can eat buffet restaurants can be good option, providing a fixed cost for your family and helping you to budget your spending money. Make lunch your main meal and fill up with an all you can eat buffet, as this is normally priced cheaper than dinner inside the parks.

9. Buy your Disney souvenirs from outlet stores

If you have young children it’s likely you will be hassled to buy souvenirs and gifts for friends back home. Try and hold out buying gifts from the stores within the Disney World theme park, as there are outlet stores all over Orlando which sell Disney merchandise at significantly lower prices.

10. Have the PhotoPass photographers use your camera

It’s not easy getting a photo of the entire family, which is why the Disney PhotoPass is a great option that Disney offers. However, it can become expensive to order all the photos you want. Instead, when you have your photograph taken by the PhotoPass Photographers in the parks, ask them to also take a photo with your camera.  That way you get the advantage of a professional photographer’s eye, as well as a couple of snaps for free!

If you have any Disney budget tips to share, we’d love to read them. Please add a comment below and tell us your tips and tricks to saving a bit of cash on a Disney holiday.

Finally, be sure to check out the American Holidays’ special offers page for great last minute and early booking discounts on Disney holidays and park tickets.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Posted in Holiday Destinations, Travel Advice.

Tagged with .

No comments

By admin – July 7, 2011

Scrunch Bucket Competition Winner

Hello all.

Our Kool Sun scrunch bucket competition has now closed.  Thank you very much to all our entrants.  We were amazed by the variety of beaches that were the favourites of you all.  We loved reading them all. Some of the descriptions of beautiful sands, clear waters and of course fish and chips made us want to head off there for a day with the kids.  Many people selected beaches that were favourites from childhood and that still evoked wonderful memories in parenthood.  We wonder whether our children, as parents themselves, will still love the same beaches we do?

Anyway, back to the prize.  Our winner is Alice, whose favourite beach is Filey Beach in North Yorkshire.  Many congratulations to you Alice, your Scrunch Bucket and Diggers are on their way.

And if you didn’t win, you can head on over to the Kool Sun website to buy a scrunch bucket for your next trip to the beach.

Happy holidays.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Posted in Competitions, Travel Toys.

No comments

By Clare – July 3, 2011