My guest post from Lara Dunston will leave you longing to visit Essaouria in Morocco, a gorgeous seaside destination that has been on my list to visit ever since I read about it on Lara’s Grantourismo blog. It’s an ideal place to combine with a trip to Marrakech as a place to relax and enjoy a slower pace of Moroccan life.

Why should I visit Essaouria?

Essaouria has that wonderful and unusual combination of Middle East exoticism that you find in places like Marrakech (a tangle of narrow laneways, colorful souqs, carpets draped over balconies etc) and the delights of a laidback seaside holiday town (an attractive beach, salt spray in the air, seagulls everywhere, and even watersports – Essaouira is famed for its windsurfing).

Seagulls and salt spray in Essaouria by Terence Carter

What will I enjoy doing in Essaouira?

Stroll the long wide beach, watch the kids kick a football around on the sand, relax in a steaming hammam, haggle for handicrafts, go watch the fishing trawlers unload their catch at the port, walk around the windswept city walls, feast on fresh seafood, drink cold beers as you watch the sun down, check out a local gnaoua band from a rooftop bar.

Beach at Essaouria by Terence Carter

What will I be eating in Essaouria?

Seafood, seafood and more seafood, and when you tire of that tajines, cous cous and other traditional Moroccan treats. We like Le Chalet de la Plage right on the beach with sea views for plump juicy oysters and tasty fish soup, despite the staff occasionally having a bit of an attitude. The staff are friendlier at Chez Sam, an atmospheric nautical themed place by the port. There are plenty of cheap outdoor stands near the fish market that do fried fish, but they’re unlicensed and we have trouble eating seafood without being able to wash it down with a glass of Moroccan white.

Moroccan tajine in Essaouria by Terence Carter

Where will I stay in Essaouria?

Don’t think of staying anywhere except within the walled medieval medina. It has so much atmosphere and even if you want to spend your days on the beach, it’s only a 5-10 minute walk to the sand. Nothing compares to a stay in a traditional Moroccan riad or courtyard house; see our tips for renting a rhiad in Morocco – they’re so romantic and super-affordable compared to Essaouira’s boutique hotels and you have the added advantage of being able to shop the markets and cook at home. Do take a look at the pretty apartment,  Dar Lazuli where we stayed, which can be booked at Holiday Rentals here. It has cute, colorful apartments, each with their own bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room, spread across a few floors and set around a central courtyard. They’re cool in summer and have open fireplaces for winter. But there are plenty of other riads dotted all over the medina that can be booked through Holiday Rentals.

Strolling in Essaouria by Terence Carter

What will I want to bring home from Essaouira?

Essaouira is fabulous for shopping – you’ll find plenty of Moroccan souvenirs to take home! There are wonderful stores all over the old town, and if you step into the sidestreets you’ll still see artisans, especially woodmakers, at work in many shops. Essaouira is famous for its marble-like thuya wood, and they do beautiful polished wooden trays, dishes, salad bowls, and so on. Bold-coloured kilims, textiles, babouches (the pointy leather slippers), jellabiyas (the long loose-fitting robes with hoods), and silver jewellery are all great buys, and it is perfectly acceptable – even expected – to bargain. Essaouira is also famous for its naïve art movement and the gallery to head to for local art is that of Frédéric Damgardor, just outside the medina walls.

Souvenirs of Essaouria by Terence Carter

Anything to watch out for in Essaouira?

When shopping for handicrafts, carpets and souvenirs, always shop around – no matter how much you love something don’t buy it straight away unless you’re happy to throw money around. It’s best to check the prices at a few places, and then once you’ve made your mind up, start bargaining on the thing you really want. I always start at half the offered price and work my way up to a compromise. Remember the sales guys are never going to settle on a price they’re not happy with, so don’t feel guilty if it does end up being half the price they initially suggested.

The old pharmacie in Essaouria by Terence Carter

How will I get to Essaouira and get around when I’m there?

Most travelers fly into Marrakech and then head to Essaouira for a few days on a side-trip or a longer stay, some drop in as part of a longer trip around the country, while others will fly into Agadir and head up to Essaouira. There are cheap buses from Marrakech, though you can also hire a driver which is more comfortable. You can see a lot in a weekend, but it’s a wonderful spot to really relax for a week or two. Or three. Or four…

Thanks so much to Lara Dunston of Granstourismo for this wonderful guest post – now I want to visit Essaouria even more. Lara and her husband Terence Carter who provided these wonderful photos, are travelling for a year in partnership with HomeAway Holiday-Rentals. They’re travelling slowly, living like locals, staying in apartments and holiday homes to get in touch with the local neighbourhoods they stay in. You can read more about their experiences at Grantourismo

You can also hear more about their travel project in my podcast interview with Lara Dunston here.

All photos copyright Terence Carter and may not be reproduced without permission

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

In February we took a short break to escape the city and breathe some country air and found ourselves on a snowy Welsh hillside in the Brecon Beacons. I hope you enjoy my video below as well as reading about what we did there.

Subscribe to all my videos in I-tunes

If you cannot see the embedded video above, view it on my blog here

Download the video of Laswern Fawr, Wales here [mp4]

As soon as my husband stepped into our Welsh holiday cottage at Laswern Fawr in the Brecon Beacons and saw the wood burning stove in the open fireplace and the cosy red velvet wing chair, he settled in and took charge of the fire while the rest of us made ourself at home. I concluded that it’s a man thing to fiddle with logs, bellows and firelighters and left him to it.

Sitting room at Laswern Fawr, Brecon Beacons, Wales

We’d arrived in two cars from Bristol following the extremely detailed directions, turning off the main road through the valley and up the hill on increasingly steep and narrow, muddy tracks, along an old tramway then down a steep drive to the cottage, built into the hillside. The 16th century stone farmhouse is surrounded by fields of grazing sheep, and above it rose the Welsh hills covered with bracken,  rocky cliff faces with many walking trails. The views from the cottage down into the valley and the small town of Crickhowell were stunning and we soon felt relaxed and at one with nature in a place where walking boots, wellies and waterproofs are in daily use.

Remote as our Welsh cottage at Laswern Fawr may have been, it was certainly not lacking in comforts and was as well equipped as any family home you might find. The owners of the cottage obviously love the place and come here regularly, as there was no trace of that impersonal feel that you get in some holiday accommodation. The furnishings were warm and comfortable with traditionally whitewashed stone walls, plenty of sofas, stools and easy chairs for lounging in comfort and the sort of antique furniture, ornaments and china that you might find in a good country antique shop. To the background tick-tock and hourly chimes of the old clock on the wall, I could almost imagine myself to be a country farmer’s wife, setting the kettle on the blackened range for a cup of tea.

Laswern Fawr holiday cottage, Brecon Beacons

Sheep at Laswern Fawr Brecon Beacons

Upstairs we found three double rooms and two singles, sleeping 8 people in all and ideal for two families or an extended group to enjoy a relaxing break. We’d elected to spend a few days away from it all in the school holidays, bringing two of our children and a gaggle of their teenage friends to get away from the bustle and traffic of Bristol. As well as the large family bathroom with bath and separate shower, there was a smart, slate-tiled en-suite shower room in the master bedroom which we grown-ups managed to bag just in time. Because of the cottage being built into the hill side, we actually had French windows where the occasional sheep might come and peer in.

Our comfortable bed even had an electric blanket and the bedroom was calm and cream with thick crewel embroidered curtans, easy chair and an original fireplace. In the other rooms were twin or single beds, with cheerfully coloured duvets or patchwork quilt bedspreads. The hay-loft bedroom, bagged by our boys had a steeply sloping ceiling , blue patchwork quilts and a cot for those travelling with babies.

Hayloft at Laswern Fawr, Brecon Beacons

Master bedroom at Laswern Fawr

Descending the steep whitewashed stairs with twisty wooden hand-rails there was a dining room at the front with a large Victorian antique table and sideboard and a porch where we could leave all our boots and coats. At the other end of the house, adjoining the large, cosy sitting room was the modern, cream painted kitchen with dishwasher, large fridge and freezer and plenty of storage space. Here was everything you could wish for cooking up hearty meals, with plenty of crockery and pots and pans and a wide selection of cookery books. Awaiting us was a welcome tray with a personal welcome note and tea and coffee and a bottle of delicious local apple juice.

Down in the valley was the attractive small town of Crickhowell,  with several good pubs and food shops as well as an out door activity shop to supply whatever you might need for all the biking, walking, climbing, cycling and all the other outdoor activities for which this part of Wales is well known. We bought some local Welsh lamb for dinner from the butcher and then adjourned for some tea and cakes in the Court room cafe above the Old Market Hall which serves good home cooked lunches as well. Although we’d made plans to try the Bear Hotel, an award winning old coaching inn, for dinner or perhaps the restaurant at the Nantyffyn Cider Inn for something a bit more gourmet, our plans were thwarted by the incoming snow. Although we made it safely back up the mountain to the cottage on snowy tracks , we didn’t feel like risking another drive down in the dark.

Crickhowell in the Brecon Beacons, Wales

Market Hall at Crickhowell, Brecon Beacons

The next day we ventured out on a trip to the Big Pit, the National Coal Museum of Wales which is only a short drive away at Blaenafon but had to abandon our plans when we made it through a minor blizzard to get there, only to find that it had just closed because of the bad weather. I was disappointed as the visit includes a trip underground into the coal mine with helmets and head torches, that I thought the children would enjoy – the museum is also free. After our experience in the blizzard, we gave up on the sightseeing and just enjoyed the walking trails on the hillside in and around the cottage.

The thing that impressed us most were the number of entertainments and conveniences available at Laswern Fawr, clearly showing the owners had thought of everything for our comfort (perhaps they knew that rain and snow are always worth preparing for in Wales). There were two shelves of DVD films, a large rack of music CDs, a chest full of board games as well as WiFi. I have to confess, that as a travel blogger, it was the wifi that sold it for me – sad as it might be, the thought of 3 days with no internet access was unbearable, so I was relieved that it all worked perfectly, despite the remote location! Whatever home comforts you enjoy to spend the evening after a long walk in the Brecon Beacons, our Welsh cottage at Laswern Fawr seemed to be able to provide. If I ever have to shut myself away in comfort from the distractions of the big city to write that long awaited novel, this will be the place.

We booked Laswern Fawr through Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages who kindly rented it to us at a discounted rate. They are the specialist in holiday cottage rentals in the Brecon Beacons and have over 250 holiday properties of different sizes to choose from in this beautiful area of Wales.

Travel Resources for the Brecon Beacons

Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages - specialists in holiday accommodation in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Black Mountains National Park and Wye Valley
Visit Wales – the official Wales tourism website with information on short breaks, weekend getaways and family holidays and things to do in Wales
Brecon Beacons National Park Website – the Brecon Beacons website with information on things to do and places to stay in the Brecon Beacons

Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

In Episode 7 in my podcast series. you”ll find an interview with travel writer and blogger, Lara Dunston who’s embarking on a year long project together with her husband, photographer Terry Carter, which they’re calling Grantourismo. They’ll be travelling the world, staying in different apartments around the world sponsored by Home-Away holiday rentals in the UK and you’ll also hear from Sarah Chambers of Home Away on why the company decided to take this approach to promoting their holiday properties.

To download the interview with Lara Dunston podcast, right click here 31 min [mp3]

To subscribe to all my podcasts in ITunes click here

Shownotes

In the podcast we talked about;

• How Lara first got started in travel writing, working in public relations, film-making and media studies which developed into travel writing, first on a part time and later on a full time basis.
• The realities of being a travel writer - from the fun bits such as eating out in great restaurants, as well as the more mundane bits such as updating guidebook information.
• How Lara and Terry work together as a husband and wife as well as a working partnership.
• How Lara and Terry deal with the practicalities of moving all their belongings, laptops and camera equipment around the world and how they persuade airlines to waive their excess baggage charges.
• The advice Lara has for those who’d like to adopt their lifestyle as a travel writer or location independent worker.
• How Lara and Terry came up with the idea of taking a contemporary Grand Tour for a year, getting into the culture of each place and travelling more slowly and with an authentic flavour.
• What HomeAway Holiday-Rentals can offer travellers looking for holiday apartments, and how they wanted to promote the benefits of extra space and privacy and staying in local neighbourhoods.
• How Home Away wanted to tap into consumers looking for travel information online and to provide them with something that would inspire them to a different way of travelling.
• The Grantoutismo itinerary that includes Marrakesh, Spain, Paris, Montenegro, Puglia, Sardinia, Venice, Asia, Indonesia, New York, Austin Texas, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, South America, Kenya and back to Europe in January 2011.
• The trends that Lara sees in travel writing and blogging, with the recession hitting traditional media, leading to travel writers exploring new ways of working on line.
• Sarah Chamber’s view that more travel companies are promoting themselves through inspirational content on-line and will be experimenting with approaches like the Grantourismo project.
• You can follow Lara and Terry’s progress at Grantourismo and on Twitter @gran_tourismo
• You can find holiday apartments like those Lara and Terry are staying in at HomeAway Holiday-Rentals
• To subscribe to all my podcasts in ITunes click here

Other Podcasts to enjoy

06 Weekend in London at the Mandarin Oriental
05 An Autumn weekend in Lisbon
04 Visiting the Munich Christmas Markets
03 Ecuador and the Amazon Rainforest
02 My Istria Travel Diary

www.flickr.com heatheronhertravels’ London – around London photoset

Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

I’m in the Brecon Beacons in Wales for a short break and this is the snowy scene outside the cottage where we’re staying. We arrived in rain and the next day woke up to steadily falling snow. We ventured out yesterday to see something of the Brecon National Park and just about made it back to the cottage.

Snow at Laswern Fawr near Crickhowell in Wales

The incongruous thing is that although there’s snow up on the side of the mountain where we’re staying, in the valley in the small town of Crickhowell, we can see green grass in the fields as the snow’s only up on the high ground.

Sheep at Laswern Fawr near Crickhowell in Wales

This morning, we had to push my husband’s car up the icy, steep hill up to the road with wheels skidding. Half an hour of gritting and snow shovelling later, he made it and was on his way back to Bristol, where the snow is a once-in-a-blue-moon occurrance. I’m here for an extra day and will have to get up that icy hill tomorrow – wish me luck!

This was posted as part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby - head over to see all the other great Friday Photos.

PS This is the holiday cottage where we’re staying at Laswern Fawr in the Brecon Beacons.

Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

There was once a princess who lived in Bristol with her travelling mother and father and her stay-at-home brothers, who longed for adventure with her friends. Because she was dearly beloved (although she never kept her room tidy) her parents granted her heart’s desire to go camping with her fellow princesses, and waved a magic wand to make it so.

And so it was that the ten princesses set off in the palace mini-van, driven by the king (the chauffeur was on holiday) and arrived at their fairy dell in the kingdom of Welsh Wales. They found a friendly miller and his wife who had an old water mill with a bunk house and an orchard that was perfect for camping. Here it seemed the perfect place to experience the joys of Welsh camping (damp grass, fresh air and camp fires). They took with them provisions for the finest spaghetti bolognaise, tinned tomato soup and bacon and eggs (for everyone knows that you must have bacon and eggs for breakfast when camping).

The king and queen watched over them as they frollicked in the river and chatted around the campfire about things that interest princesses. Soon the next day dawned and the real adventures began. They found a leafy glade and tiptoed barefoot and bikini-clad through the ferns and the beech leaves that surrounded the mill. There in seclusion they bathed in the river, even jumping bravely into an icy plunge pool to prove their daring. No frog princes were seen, kissed, or even thought of, for these were independent minded young princesses.

Then shivering deliciously, they made their way back to warm up with cups of tomato soup and hot showers.

In the afternoon, when they’d had their fill of leafy glades, they visited the nearby town of Hay-on-Wye where people came from far and wide to buy and sell books. There was even a festival held there once a year, where bards and prophets, such as Bill Clinton and Desmond Tutu could be heard to utter wise words. They sought out yet another bathing spot nearby in the river where canoists drifted past and spent an afternoon relaxing and sunbathing. Naturally they kept their sunglasses on at all times, in order to remain incognito. During the evening they toasted marshmellows over the camp fire and sang songs of friendship.

All too soon the adventure was over and they returned to their kingdom of Bristol to resume their princessly duties, vowing that their little adventure was not one that would show up in any paparazzi book of fairy tales, although they might graciously give permission for it to appear on some obscure little blog.

If you would like to take your princesses (or princes) on a camping adventure in mid-Wales, we can highly recommend Trericket Mill, where Alistair and Nicky Legge will offer you a warm welcome for B & B, Bunkhouse or Camping Accomodation, and vegetarian home cooking.

Trericket Mill, Erwood, Builth Wells, Powys, Mid Wales, LD2 3TQ
Tel 01982 560312
Website http://www.trericket.co.uk/

You may also enjoy
An eco-chic birthday party at Fernhill Farm in Somerset
Camping in Sunshine and showers on the Gower in Wales

Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

My Guest post today will take you into the beautiful Kozak mountains near the Aegean coast of Turkey, where Sharon Egin runs a holiday villa in the resort of Dikili, a favourite with Turkish holiday makers. Sharon shares her experiences of  authentic Turkish culture and warm hospitality.

Pine forests in the Kosak mountains

Nothing could have prepared me for my first visit to the Kozak mountains which are situated just off of Bergama on my trip to Dikili in Turkey. I was stunned by its natural beauty as I drove around the gentle curves of the pine clad mountain. This place was lush and green with natural springs and giant rocks scattered all around.  From time time we would past a shepherd herding his sheep or goats and were greeted with a wave and a smile on every occasion.

Kozak women sorting pinenuts

As you drive higher and higher into Kozak you pass the first of villages which continue all the way up and down again the other side. The inhabitants still retain their traditional tribal Turkish culture. The mountain air, organic food and spring water mean a long and healthy life for the locals is not uncommon. In the main the people live of the land and a large part of their economy is the produce from the pine nut trees. These are extracted by hand by the village women in the Autumn. Livestock and crops are another source of income and sadly also the giant rocks, which are now being dismantled for use as pavements in the surrounding towns and cities.

Kozak Grandmother

The Kozak plateau is also famous for its carpet weaving tradition and the high quality wool on wool carpets they produce.

We were visiting the village of a family friend and upon our arrival the children were the first thing I noticed. They gathered all around clearly delighted to see us and made the most of the opportunity to practice some English. We moved on to the house of our friend and were given tea and börek,  a type of Turkish pastie served with a tomato and onion salad and some bread to scoop it up and a side dish of  pine nuts fried in butter.  It was simple but really delicious and our host explained that all of it was produced in the village even the butter which was made from hand milked cows.

Kozak Mosque

We ate in the traditional way on the floor cross-legged with a large tablecloth over our legs to catch the fallen crumbs. After lunch I was taken to see the rest of the village and was fed and watered numerous times. Although fit to burst at the end of my trip the hospitality I encountered left me feeling humble and grateful to have experienced this day and with a deeper insight into the values and culture of rural Turkey.

Sharon Egin runs a holiday villa in the Turkish holiday resort of Dikili – find out more about Dikili and local places to visit at www.villahanorah.co.uk  situated the stunning undiscovered North Aegean region of Turkey as featured on www.yourholidaymatters.com

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

If you like to wear your Wellie boots with style and don’t think that being eco-friendly should mean looking anything but your gorgeous best, then Fernhill Farm, just south of Bristol could be the perfect party venue for you.

Our excuse for a celebration was my daughter Sophie-Anne’s birthday which she shared with her friend Elin and a group of 25 schoolfriends. To find a venue for a weekend celebration involving fun, games, glamour and sleepover to satisfy these young ladies’ exacting standards could have been a headache, but luckily Elin’s mum found out about Fernhill Farm through friends in the area – their accomodation has only been open since Autumn 08.

To get there we passed Chew Valley Lake, where we used to go sailing and climbed up the edge of the Mendip hills and down a muddy pot-holed track. Fernhill Farm is very much a working farm, but the old stone buildings are in the process of being renovated, and the first to be finished is their camping barn. To call it a camping barn is a bit of an understatement, for it is a series of stone former cowsheds which now combine large dining room, cosy drinks parlour, commercial standard kitchen, open barn with a dance floor and crash-out matresses and further private sleeping area.

The whole place is built using recycled stone and wooden beams from the farm with cosy sheepskins from the farm sheep draped everywhere and colourful artwork on the walls. The girls had their own party in the dance barn then crashed out on the matresses while Elin’s mum and I luxuriated on sheepskins in a sort of four-poster bunk bed arrangement, made out of recycled beams.

The day was non stop action of different activities and contests that the birthday girls had devised, including blindfold cheesecake making, birthday cake decorating, a quiz about the birthday girls’ likes and dislikes and an egg throwing contest incorporating a waterfight. We mum’s could only wonder at such energy as we trailed behind clearing up the debris it generated. Finally it was time for some serious glamour with the hair straighteners, high heels and lip gloss coming out for dressing up that I could never compete with, and not a boy in sight!

After dinner (lasagne and birthday cake washed down with Coke) the i-pod was plugged into the speakers for dancing followed by a show from which parents were banned, and we had to resort to pressing our nose against the window from outside to catch a glimpse of the action. Soon we retired to leave the girls to crash out in their own good time and be up in time to provide breakfast and pizzas to a slightly more sleepy group of girls the next day, before ferrying them all home to Bristol.

Fernhill farm would be the perfect venue to a birthday celebration, hen party, or daytime activity with loads of stylish indoor and outdoor space for socialising and room to crash out for up to 30 people if you don’t mind the communal sleeping arrangements. They take their eco-credentials very seriously with heating from a boiler powered with wood from the farm and a wetland ecosystem to filter the water waste through reedbeds just like Prince Charles has at Highgrove. The sheepskins used in the furnishing are all from the sheep on the farm and they sell ther own meat here too. So if you’re looking for a party and sleeping venue within striking distance of Bristol in the beautiful surroundings of the Mendip Hills, then do check out Fernhill Farm (you can keep up with their programme of events on their blog here ).

Related Posts
Breakfast on the Glass boat for Red Maids Founder’s day 
A garden open day at Emmaus House in Bristol
A taste of Spain at Ocean Cafe in Bristol

See all my photos of Fernhill Farm on Flickr

www.flickr.com heatheronhertravels’ Somerset – Fernhill Farm photoset

Don’t miss out – get all my articles through your reader

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

Thanks for this guest post on enjoying Tuscany with toddlers to Amie O’Shaughnessy of Ciao Bambino, the travel site that brings you accomodation reviews and travel tips for enjoying your travels with the family.

Tuscany is touristy for a reason—fabulous food, incredible scenery, warm people that love children, fascinating history—the list goes on and on. When it comes to travel with a toddler—arguably the most difficult age range of all—touristy is a good thing because it means there is infrastructure to handle all of those visitors, which in turn means that parents have reliable resources to ensure travel goes as smoothly as possible. English is spoken almost everywhere—unless you speak Italian, the value of this cannot be underestimated as it ensures your needs and/or your kids needs are understood.

There are a few planning basics that should be in place to fully enjoy the region.

Stay in the countryside for a week or more
Keeping logistics to a minimum is key and nothing creates stress faster than packing and repacking multiple times during a relatively short trip. Moreover, most of the accommodations that are truly family-friendly with kitchens and private living space, have week-long stay requirements running from Saturday-to-Saturday. Happy toddlers are active toddlers and while most Italian cities have parks and piazzas that are great for running around, the countryside is ideal for young kids—especially in warmer summer months where swimming is a prime activity—and overall regional sightseeing is easier when you start from outside of the bigger cities. If time permits, plan on staying in Florence for 2-3 nights in addition to the week-long countryside stay.

Select appropriate accommodations
I wish there were as many great accommodations for families in other destinations as there are in Tuscany! What makes them work so well? For one thing, there are many different options to choose from at different quality levels and price points with room configurations that support families. Apartments with kitchen facilities, multiple bedrooms, plus a living room are easy to find. The key is to determine what other kinds of amenities you want—most properties have pools—other things that are worth considering are an onsite restaurant, fitness center, kids program, tennis, playground and/or staff that can help you do things. Independent villas are wonderful for a few families traveling together—but I prefer what we call “resort” options on Ciao Bambino for smaller groups—they are priced better for the quality than villas and families are not isolated from support and services.

Comprehensive amenity lists are outlined on every Ciao Bambino property profile page. To access an easy list of applicable accommodation options, search for “resorts” and Tuscany on our Extended Search page or you can sort by the accommodation category on our Italy Destinations page.

Set realistic goals for sightseeing
While main highways run through Tuscany and are efficient for getting across the region, most of the charming hilltop villages you will want to explore are down windy, narrow, and very slow roads.Things that look like they are in close proximity on a map may actually take quite a bit of time to get to due to the condition of the road. A classic example is exploring the Chianti towns of Gaiole, Greve, and Radda—the roads between these towns are incredibly slow—definitely worth it—but visiting just these 3 relatively nearby villages will take all day when you include lunch (not a fast affair in Italy), potty stops, parking, and of course, getting lost. A good map is a must—Touring Club Italiano has excellent, detailed maps (the key is maps that show small roads).

Favourite excursions
Italians are the best loiterers in the world and this is one of the things I love most about traveling in Tuscany. Travel in this region doesn’t have to be about “activities”—meaning structured things to do. Our best experiences in Tuscany when our son was very young are those where we explored an area or town without a particular agenda—when we were willing to simply sit in one place and let our son run in a piazza around us, giving us an amazing opportunity soak in the life around us. The reality is that toddlers will not appreciate Italian culture in a meaningful way (with the exception of gelato), therefore, the things on this list are about open space—knowing that happy toddlers are active toddlers—combined with something of interest for parents.

Siena
Once you get through the stress of parking in Siena, the reward is significant. The Piazza del Campo—the main public space in Siena—is one of the most beautiful, dramatic squares in Italy. You will be pleased and your toddler will be pleased by the car less, enormous space with hundreds of pigeons to chase.

Lucca
The historical center of Lucca lies within walls that are hundreds of years old—locals and tourists love to walk, run, and bike on the wide road that extends along the top of the walls. You can use a stroller or consider biking, as there are a number of bike rental shops that offer baby seats

Forte dei Marmi
Forte dei Marmi is an upscale, beach town on the border between Tuscany and Liguria. Unlike the better-known Cinque Terre which is not optimized for a toddler with cliffs, steps, and hazards—Forte dei Marmi has a broad, sandy, flat beach with little surf. The beach clubs are open during the summer months and allow families to enjoy the coast Italian-style with good food, coffee, and wine

Chianti Towns
The sad fact is that visiting hill towns in Chianti are a bit like visiting churches—they may all be extraordinary and different—but at a certain point they start to look the same. That said, there are many wonderful, small towns to explore and appreciate. Greve in Chianti is the one my clients raved most about over the years—the main square is picturesque and home to one of Italy’s oldest and most famous butcher shops, the Macelleria Falorni not to mention excellent wine tasting everywhere. Most of the towns are comprised of a center (centro) without cars, making exploration toddler-friendly (noting some towns are hilly with many steps.

Pienza
Pienza is in the Val D’Orcia (on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites)—a part of Tuscany where the landscape is unspoiled and dramatic.Pienza is a Renaissance town famous for pecorino cheese production. The views of the countryside from here are spectacular and cheese tasting is at every turn—fun for every age.

Florence is one of my favorite places on the planet, but it is not optimal with a toddler. Not impossible—but not amazing since it is very crowded and many of the top attractions like visiting museums and shopping are challenging with an impatient child. It is also worth noting that I intentionally left things off of the highlights list that would be great with school-age kids like Pisa and San Gimignano since the focus of this piece is toddlers.

One thing that is very kid-friendly about all of Italy is the food—the bottom line is that the very things that most kids love—pizza and pasta—are plentiful there. Restaurants do not have kid’s menus per se, but many will prepare whatever you want for your children (assuming it is Italian). The result is that finding kid-friendly restaurants is relatively unimportant. Note, parents should travel with a me-too type seat, since not all restaurants have high chairs.

Travels tips on Ciao Bambino has more general information on traveling with kids. Buon Viaggio!

Related Posts
Street entertainment in Piazza Navona in Rome
Gelato on the island in the Tiber in Rome

Back to Travel Blog Home

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

With Christmas behind us, our holiday season continued with our family gathering at Centerparcs (or Stalag Luft as my husband had affectionately re-named it). The pre-bookings had been changed numerous times to accomodate fluctuating numbers, a food mountain ordered from Tesco, the cobwebs brushed off our bikes and all manner of sporting equipment assembled.

Finally we arrived at the appointed time (3pm) and experienced a warm welcome and efficient check-in, although my sister arriving half an hour later got stuck in a traffic jam and arrived a little more frazzled. Our two adjoining cabins were cosy and well laid out, each one set a little apart and surrounded by pine forest. Getting everything unloaded and cars removed to the car-park in the drizzle and darkness did make me feel a little grumpy. But any bad mood melted away the next day when we woke to find the winter sun filtering through the forest around us and we set out to explore the world of Centerparcs.

First to be investigated was the Jardin des Sports overlooking the lake with facilities for every indoor sport under the sun. The place was buzzing with energetic families and far more tropical greenery than any normal sports centre. Here the teenage boys tried their skills in an American Pool tournament, while the rest of us enjoyed an easy game of badminton.

Next was the pool area, again modelled on some ecuatorial paradise with lush palms, rocky outcrops, a tropical pool, lazy river and waterslides all under the huge dome for which Centerparcs is renowned. A Tarzan call marked the start of the wave machine in the pool, giving you the chance to drift in the gentle surf. The children loved this water paradise, especially the white water rapids slide which took you outside and back in again before splashing you into a deep pool.

There were plently of more adventurous activities for the teenagers, including abseiling and climbing across rope walkways, but as they were quickly booked up we opted for some Laser Clay shooting. Some mastered the shooting better than others – my 10 year old found the gun too big and heavy, but the teenagers enjoyed trying their skill with mixed success. They all seemed to enjoy the grown-up element of shooting, nonchalently slinging the guns over their shoulders like hunters for the photo call at the end.

For New Year’s eve we started with champagne in our cabin and my sister, getting into the Greek carnival spirit produced a box of party hats and streamers for the occasion. We had originally booked for Huckleberries, an American style restaurant near the pool. But when we arrived we decided to change our booking to The Grand Cafe, a bistro which was more attractive and closer to our cabin.

The Grand Cafe was like a converted barn with painted metal beams and a high ceiling open to the rafters.
We all enjoyed the meal which was a mixture of bistro favorites and modern british cooking – full marks too for trying to use local produce. The teenagers mostly had steak and chips – I enjoyed a rather more sophisticated sea bass on a bed of sweet potato and fennel. The staff were delightful, as we found was typical of Centerparcs. We ended our New Year’s eve with a rousing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and a firework display by the lake amongst other happy party goers.

In between the fun and games we managed to do plenty of relaxing and felt fit and rested by the time we came to leave. Even my husband had to admit he had enjoyed himself although I could see his point about Stalag Luft.

Many people enjoy the self-contained world that Centerparcs offers but for the more adventurous in spirit it does have something of the gilded cage about it. As we left I spotted sign for the Longleat stately home just next door – a place I’d always planned to visit. But there was something so cosy and contained about Centerparcs that I hadn’t given it a second thought until it was too late.

The best bits
- Seeing so many families out to enjoy themselves was infectious and put me in a holiday mood.
- All the staff we encountered were lovely – cheerful, friendly, welcoming and helpful
- With such a wide range of sports and activities in an attractive setting, there was something to keep everyone happy, from the toddler to the teenager.
- With no car and having to cycle or walk everywhere, the atmosphere was more relaxed and we felt healthy and virtous.

Must try harder
- The biggest barrier for me was the price – the accomodation was expensive even for peak season and all activities except the swimming were an additional and substantial cost. I would definitely shop around for better value alternatives before booking again (but there seemed to be no shortage of families prepared to fork out, so I may just be a cheapskate and out of touch with reality!)
- Our accomodation, though comfortable and cosy was looking a little tired, although we could see that a renovation programme was going on in some other cabins. Also I felt that for the price, it was a bit much to be asked to provide our own soap and towels.

Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

When she consulted me on the best place for us to gather, I thought about a large country house, perhaps by the sea with roaring log fires and mulled wine to see the New Year in. But the reality of keeping several teenagers entertained cut in and we slightly regretfully settled on Centerparcs at Longleat. I say slightly regretfully because my husband, whose tastes tend towards the wild and windswept places, finds the place somewhat contolled and contrived. We once took a break there when the children were younger which was a great success for everyone but him, except for the hair-raising incident when the bikes almost came flying off the roof-rack on the journey down. The only drawback on this occasion was the price which seemed extortionate, even for New Year, but luckily our parents were feeling in a generous mood to help out.

So we settled on two 6 bedroom chalets to accomodate our two families and parents – our other sister planned to bring her children for a day visit. A scan through the comprehensive web-site gave us much of the information we needed, although suspiciously with little indication of prices. As we hoped, there were no shortage of activities to entertain the children and over ten restaurants to choose from – you could eat your way from the Mediterranean to the Swiss Alps. We planned to bring most of the food with us to feed the hungry hordes, using the on-site supermarket for top-ups, and splurge on a night out on New Year’s Eve. With the initial booking made I awaited the ‘Planning your break’ pack which is sent out a few weeks before the visit.

To be contined ….

More The West Country to enjoy

New Year in the forest at Longleat Center Parcs
Girly Delights at Sassy & Boo in Tetbury
Lunch at The Priory Inn in Tetbury

www.flickr.com heatheronhertravels’ Centerparcs Longleat photoset

Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

 Powered by Max Banner Ads