Our family holiday in the Costa Calida, Spain

Yesterday we arrived back from a lovely family holiday in the Costa Calida, Spain. We stayed in a villa on the El Valle Golf resort, about 20 minutes from Murcia.

We were blessed with sunshine and pleasant temperatures, the Costa Calida (warm coast) definitely lived up to it's name. With wall to wall sunshine and temperatures ranging between 24 and 31 during the day it was prefect!

We have lots of happy memories of this holiday, you can read them in more detail on the new Holiday Tots blog but Freddie's highlight of the trip, so he tells me, was the visit to the seaside. We went to the Mar Menor (little sea). It is the largest salt water lake in Europe and boasts crystal clear warm water that  is shallow and calm and although the sand isn't golden it is perfect for building and burying!

for more details of our family holiday in Spain and some ideas of places to visit in the Costa Calida visit our Holiday Tots blog.

Our holiday at Coombe Mill

Holidaying in February in the UK means you have to be ready to face the elements and expect the worst in British weather. It really didn’t matter that the sun didn’t shine on Coombe Mill when we visited as life goes on within the farm whatever the weather!

Coombe Mill is a family-run holiday farm located in the North of Cornwall next to Bodmin Moor. It offers a wonderful location to explore this part of Cornwall and is only 20 minutes from the vast white sandy beaches of Padstow and Rock.

Owners Fiona and Nick both holidayed in Cornwall in their childhood days and decided to give up their busy London lives 10 years-ago to live their dream. They bought Coombe Mill with their 3 young children and since then gave birth to triplets, and so it isn’t just the farm animals, guests and 30 acres that keeps them busy!

The day usually starts with the animal feed run at 9.30 am sharp, all children and adults are welcome to join farmer Nick or Ted on the tractor any day of the week. You will see from the pictures that Freddie loved every minute of it!

There are lots of animals to feed...

and pet...

When we were there Fiona was nursing an orphan lamb who had been injured after falling down a cliff.

All children will have their own favourites and Freddie still mentions Farmers Nick and Ted and Dotty the pig every day! His certificate (each child is awarded one at the end of their stay) is proudly displayed by his bed!

Fiona and Nick really have thought of everything to make your stay as comfortable and stress free as possible. There are lots of outdoor and indoor toys and climbing frames, ride-on cars and tractors for all ages. In the reception area you can borrow boots, coats, baby carriers and more toys, dvd’s, books and the freezer is stocked with home cooked meals for you to purchase.

There are a selection of accommodation properties within the grounds including stone cottages and Scandinavian style lodges.

We loved our lodge, it was clean and bright and the fantastic log burner was a great way to end a day on the farm - curled up in front of the telly drinking hot chocolate!

We had drizzly weather the whole time we were there but still had a fantastic time, I can only imagine how fantastic it could have been if the sun had shone!

A farm-stay perfect for kids!
www.coombemill.co.uk 

For more family friendly holiday options visit our website Holiday Tots

Take your own Travelling Nanny with you this year.

Ever thought how great it would be to take a nanny with you on Holiday? Linda and Michaela talk about their travelling nanny company in our guest blog post...

Your ticket to a stress-free family holiday by My Travelling Nanny

Family holidays are the highlight of each year.  Time to spend time together without the daily pressures of deadlines and chores. To be in an environment where your “things to do” list is based on relaxation and exploring, and where (hopefully) wall-to-wall sunshine, a great pool or beach,  and stunning scenery, puts everyone in a good mood.

Undeniably, however, it can be hard work with little ones- keeping them happy and entertained, as well as suncreamed and safe!  And over- excitement, coupled with jet lag or a long car journey, can make at least the first few days very challenging, and normal routines are sometimes not easy to keep.

Having your own holiday nanny could be exactly what you need to make your holiday a real holiday.

Another pair of hands and eyes on the beach, and in the pool.  Someone to walk the baby to sleep in the pram, while you keep your toddler in the shade in the heat of the day.  Someone to sort out the sandy beachbags and get the children in the bath, while you prepare their dinner.  Someone to stay there while you pop down to the local restaurant for your own dinner, and some chill-out time.

My Travelling Nanny, like Holiday Tots, is a small, family-run business with a personal touch.  We hand-pick our nannies just as Holiday Tots hand-picks their properties.  Like them, we understand the needs of families with young children.

It’s so easy to book.  Just a phone call or email to Linda and Michaela.  Then select which prospective nanny/nannies you want to interview. They will come to your home and meet you all.  They will travel with you, so no more nightmare flights/car journeys and arriving at your destination stressed and exhausted before your holiday has even begun.

Most importantly, your holiday nanny will be able to begin forming bonds with your children so that you can breathe a deep sigh of relief, and know that this time you might actually be able to notice the scenery, and maybe even take a little time out to enjoy the sun and sangria.

Holiday Nannies are not only accessible to the rich and famous.  My Travelling Nanny offers an affordable service  - Standard Nannies as well as Experienced/Qualified Nannies – something for every pocket. All personally interviewed, vetted and reference checked by Linda and Michaela.  And as an agency, My Travelling Nanny has many testimonials from happy families and an increasing number of repeat customers. It has also had success and commendations in both national and local business competitions for new enterprises.

Why not consider sharing a holiday nanny if you are holidaying with another family, and share the costs?  Prices start at £325 per week for a nanny working 6/7 hours per day and babysitting for 3 evenings. NB All travel/accommodation/meals costs are paid by the family.

Please visit our website : www.mytravellingnanny.co.uk.  Linda and Michaela can be contacted on 020 8133 3126, or email them at info@mytravellingnanny.co.uk.

Our family friendly property owners enjoy the snow in the Languedoc!

Our families on our Holiday Tots website took a break from preparing your child-friendly holiday properties to enjoy the snow in the Languedoc region a few miles from Carcassonne.

Our newest property owners, Andrea, Mark and Naia who have just finished their conversion for their first holiday season, have had a fun week with the snow. They were snowed in for a few days and made the most of the toboggan as did all the other village children who are still off school. When I spoke to family it was evident that they are enjoying every minute of their village life! 

‘Every chimney has smoke from the over worked wood burners and there is a real sense of community as the younger folk dig paths to the older folks houses...’
Ax les Thermes has had some fresh powder - a much needed snow dump - they've done really well to keep 80% of their slopes in action - as soon as the roads are better we'll head up for another day - its a great resort for families as the blue/green runs are right at the base with the coffee shops so children can play and parents can enjoy a gluvine!
Scenery is stunning as you can imagine - the white rolling hills stretch for miles and against blue skies its really pretty.....it is however a tad cold!!’

Not too far away in the Languedoc are, Mike, Katie, Joelle & Callum, one of our holiday makers favourite families. Their gite complex looks just as beautiful under snow and their snow man skills aren’t bad either!

These wonderful child-friendly properties between them offer a selection to suit any family with babies, toddlers and/or older children. From a detached village house to a cluster of gites...

Mark, Andrea and Naia’s newly refurbished house is going to enjoy it’s first season as a family holiday home. Located in a tranquil French village about 20 minutes from the medieval town of Carcassonne, the house has 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, private garden with swimming pool and play barn. You have the option of self-catering, half or full board, bed and breakfast or just the odd meal cooked for you!

For more details visit Holiday Tots here, where you can contact Mark and Andrea directly

Alternatively Mike and Katie’s offering is a cluster of luxury family friendly gites also 20 minutes from Carcassonne but in the opposite direction. There are a total of four gites, each with their own private terrace, ranging from 2 to 3 bedrooms. In the extensive grounds you will find a fully enclosed swimming pool and great lawn for children to play, which is also fully enclosed. Further afield there are 6 hectares of woods and meadows, ideal for walks and picnics.

For more details visit Holiday Tots here, where you can contact Mike and Katie directly

I run Holiday Tots as a small company offering a bespoke service for families looking for individual family friendly holiday properties. All of our properties are baby, toddler and child-friendly. There are no booking fees and all bookings are made directly with the property owners. If you are looking for a holiday please feel free to contact me any time...