In Family Time, Women's Interest

Looking For Solo (No Kids) Travel Adventures

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on

I’m all about confessions at the moment and so here is another one. I’ve never been abroad. Not once!

I don’t even have a passport at the moment. I never felt the urge to travel abroad before the kids. We were too busy working, getting married and enjoying ourselves and once the boys arrived any ideas regarding foreign travel went right out the window. Right now we are staycationers, with the boys getting as much out of Whitby beach and our fabulous UK as they would a similar (if not warmer!) beach abroad.

I’m not saying that we won’t travel as a family as we do plan to, when they are both a little older and able to fully appreciate where we go and what we do (we are walkers and history buffs so with the youngest being only four we’d like him to be a little older before we show him the world). We’ve considered a driving holiday (through the Euro Tunnel) and beyond, camping as we go as well as single destination hols where we can plan in advance everything we want the boys to see and enjoy with us.

Right now though we browse the internet and enjoy planning our own adventures, the ones that Roy and I plan to take (on our own) when the boys are older / otherwise occupied! I’ve posted before about the idea of a cruise and I have to say that the idea really does appeal. I’ve seen other bloggers review cruise holidays and was astounded to see the inside of some of the cabins and the range of activities and what not on board. I have to say that this option really does look perfect.

Even better the cruises look easy to customise if that makes sense. I love the fact that there are so many activities and options for a cruise holiday however when Roy and I plan to start solo holidays the boys will be older and have left home so we’ll be likely to be looking at Saga cruise around Europe and therefore will likely be looking at some of the more relaxing (and luxurious!) options available.

Cruise holidays to me look like they tick all of the boxes as you are enjoying your holiday while someone else is doing all of the travel-related work for you, depositing you in fabulous cities around the world. This allows you to take in the sights, enjoy local foods, shows and more before going back aboard to your now familiar and comfortable cabin and setting off in a leisurely fashion to your next destination.

I love the idea of European exploration especially, as does Roy as there are so many fabulous cities to see and we are both architecture and history buffs so will be able to plan in advance what we want to see and do (looking for more authentic experiences rather than touristy ones) before moving on.

Until then our family travel plans are fairly open however we do have definite plans to really enjoy exploring just the two of us later on, no doubt causing mischief wherever we go and loving every minute of it.  What about you? Do you have plans to travel the world later or are you already enjoying exploring? Perhaps we shouldn’t hold off so long and bite the expensive bullet that comes with organising passports for us all. What do you think?

 

In General, Reviews / Sponsored

A Fan of the Man and Van

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on

Some of you will know this and others won’t. Some of you might be shocked and appalled, others more open-minded. Yes folks, I’m a non-driver. You’d be surprised how many people see this as some sort of flaw however I don’t want to drive, don’t need to drive and to date not being able to drive has never stopped me doing anything I’ve wanted to.

I have taken driving lesson you know. I thought I’d give it a go after Kieran was born (you don’t know if you don’t try it) and while I wasn’t a bad driver it confirmed what I’d long since suspected; there are enough idiots on the road and the world doesn’t need another one and so there ended lesson and any inclination towards learning to drive in the future.

I am the queen of public transport, walk miles every week and Roy drives so we still enjoy days out and family visits etc all over without me having to have a car of my own. I have the bulk of my food shopping delivered via a  home delivery service (which actually saves me a small fortune in impulse buys!) and for those larger jobs when Roy’s car isn’t big enough we use a Man and Van service.

I really can’t say how fabulous a man and a van service can be, especially when you live in the middle of nowhere and like buying furniture on Ebay that needs collecting from the back end of beyond. We have a truly beautiful extending table and chairs that I bought from Ebay last year which we all adore. There was NO way that it would have fit in our car, especially with the six antique chairs. Repeat journeys would have cost an absolute fortune, not to mention taken up the majority of a day and so our man and a van fella picked up, delivered and all was well with the world and in particular my dining room.

Being able to use the service like this has saved me a fortune when you consider how much a “new” antique table etc costs. Besides, I like hunting out pieces with a story and a bit of history and character to them.

When we moved a few years ago, a local-ish move we once again used our trusted local man and a van service. They were excellent, professional, insured and moved everything quickly and efficiently (and took their boots off every single time they came into my new house with new cream carpets). The move also cost a fraction of the cost that a “professional” or specialist removal service would have done. I do like a bargain me and this combined with the flexible approach is why I use a service like this time and again without thinking twice.

Have you ever used a man and van service such as Britannia Man And Van London? When this often works out the cheaper option without compromising on quality, care or important factors such as insurance I don’t see the need to look elsewhere. With being able to enjoy a personalised quote based on how many hours you need their services for, the distance you need for them to go as well as having the man power they offer for hefting things around for you has always worked out a better (and more affordable) option than renting a van for the whole day which is often the only option the rental companies offer.

What I would say if you are considering the man and van option is like anything to check out recommendations, get a proper quote and ensure that there is insurance and what not in place. There are some fabulous man and van options however as with everything there are always those who perhaps aren’t as professional as companies like Britannia Man & Van or my local fella so do your homework.

Have you every used a man and van service? What did you think? Did you find it as flexible and as affordable as we do? I’d love to hear.

 

 

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