Serendipity Mommy

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How to Plan the Perfect Family Holiday

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We’re all so busy nowadays that it seems there’s never enough time for families to enjoy each other’s company. Parents always seem to be busy working, and when the kids aren’t at school, they are taking part in various activities, playing with friends or glued to their electronic gadgets. There is one occasion that provides the right kind of atmosphere for a spot of family bonding, and that’s a holiday. It’s not always the easiest of excursions to organise, but do it right, and you’ll have memories that last a lifetime. To take the stress out of a family holiday, here are some tips you should follow.

What Accommodation will Suit Your Needs?

There are plenty of options when it comes to holidays with the kids. The most budget-friendly is self-catering, whereas the all-inclusive option will mean you don’t have to worry about cooking while you’re away. However, this does tie you to one spot for most of your holiday. For more freedom, looking at the selection of luxurious villas in the Algarve, on the other hand, allows for you to be more independent. You have the added freedom of being in a private residence, where you do not have to worry about hotel staff or other tourists when it comes to battling for a sun lounger or space in the pool.

What Has Worked Well in the Past?

Think about the holidays you’ve already taken and what has worked well in the past. It’s highly likely you may have had some holiday disasters, so learn from your mistakes. It’s a good idea to keep a journal whenever you travel with family. In it, you can make a note of the things people enjoyed doing, both on their own and as a family. If this is your first holiday, there’s no time like the present to start taking notes.

Hold a Family Conference

Once you’ve got a few ideas, it’s time to run them past the kids and see what they think. Ask them for their impressions of the locations you’ve already chosen and whether they’ve got any ideas of their own. They might actually surprise you with their suggestions. For those of you with children who are studying a language at school, you might want to consider getting them some first-hand experience.

Research the Locations

Planning a holiday is becoming incredibly easy with access to so much information via the internet. Before you leave or even book your flights, check what the weather will be like and whether there are any festivals worth attending. Take a look at the area and see what other attractions there are. This is something you can get your children to help with as well. See if you can find out about the local produce and what the favourite foods are.

Consider Stepping out of Your Comfort Zone

What do you picture when you think about a family holiday? The three S’s probably feature high on your list. Sun, sea and sand seem to be a common denominator when it comes to holidays with children. It’s also very tempting to keep going back to the same place year after year. Why not see if a change in location can add some spark to your holiday, and try something completely different? There is a wide range of activity holidays you could try. Hiking across the Lake District, surfing in St Ives, skiing in Andorra, snorkelling in the Mediterranean or a safari holiday are just a few examples.

Does the Holiday Have to be Two Weeks in the Sun?

Have you thought about taking several shorter holidays rather than cramming everything into two weeks? City breaks are becoming very popular and can be a very cost-effective alternative when money is restricted. This type of holiday is better suited for those of you with older children. If you’re not too keen on spending too much time in a city, why not combine it with a week at the coast? There are many conveniently located near to the sea. Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is one example.

Traveling to different countries can be a very educational experience. You will be introducing your children to different cultures and meeting new people, often with very different habits. They will experience people speaking in a different way and be introduced to a wide range of different foods. It is always very relaxing and fun to spend time in a resort, sat by the pool or building sandcastles on the beach. However, a holiday can be so much more. It will take a lot of planning and is far more involved than simply picking a page in a holiday brochure. The effort you put in will be amply rewarded, and you’ll all have memories you can share with other people and look back on with a smile.

3 Unorthodox Ways to Have a Fabulous Family Vacation

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The family vacation has been done to death. Both in real life and on the big screen, the perils and travails of the “typical” family holiday have been explored to the point of tedium. Indeed, it only takes one such blase trip with your partner and children to turn you off the prospect of traveling entirely. This is unfortunate because, ideally, everyone should cherish new experiences and visiting exotic locales. Fortunately, we’re here to help families in need of some fresh vacation ideas. Here are three outside-of-the box ways to ensure your next family vacation is a memorable one –– for all the right reasons!

Don’t Travel During Summer

We get it; it’s easy to travel with kids during the summer because school’s out. However, traveling during summer –– especially long road trips –– will likely expose you and your kids to some truly blistering heat. And untold family vacations have been wasted at hotel swimming pools because it’s “too hot to do anything else.” If at all possible, try to schedule your next getaway during another time your children are free from school, such as spring break or during the Holiday season. Not only will this open up new possibilities for your family to explore, but it’s also quite the economically sound travel decision.

Avoid Car Travel

Road trips are overrated. In addition to taking up huge chunks of your vacation time, spending hours on end –– with anyone –– is bound to leave some nerves frayed. With that in mind, do everything in your power to get out of your station wagon. Buy plane tickets, go on a cruise –– do anything other than sit in your own car for the majority of your trip. Plus, if you really want to kick things up a notch, consider calling a company like All About You Limos and renting a party bus to explore a new city. Why travel at all if not in style?

Lose the Big Attraction

Far too often, trips are boiled down to one single attraction or destination. “We drove to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon.” Or, “We flew to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower.” Sure these tourist sites are popular for a reason, but if you really want to get the most from your next holiday, think about going beyond the norm. As exciting as national monuments and historical attractions are, there’s nothing quite like discovering hidden gems that only locals know about. Remember: keep an open mind and be willing to immerse yourself in a new location and culture. If you do, your next vacation will be a smash hit for the whole family!

Want a Magnificent Feeling? Climb Mount Kilimanjaro

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Mount Kilimanjaro is a wonderful wilderness that has a range of wildlife to astound all its visitors. It’s the largest mountain in Africa and is located in the adventure filled land of Tanzania. It hosts a range of spectacular safaris and forestry and the magical Mount Kilimanjaro is just one of the highlights of the country.

There’s not just one way up the mountain, this trip is dynamic and can be as challenging, or offer as much ease as you desire. When climbing Kilimanjaro, you want to make it as enjoyable as possible. It’s the journey that everyone would like to take a least one, it boasts of remarkable views and the honour of having the title of having walked on top of Africa.  Here are some of the routes you can take up the mountain.

Marangu

This is known as the most popular route to take when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. This is the route that is lined with hut accommodation and places to buy snacks to refresh you along the way. For those whose aim is to reach the summit as quickly as possible, this route allows climbers to complete it in only 5 days. With a low acclimatization rate, this path has to be trod with caution.  Because of the low acclimatization you have to make sure that your body conditions well to the ascension, you don’t have to rush, add an extra day onto your trip if necessary.

Machame

Located on the south-western slope of Mount Kilimanjaro, this is also a route that is often journeyed by many. Want the scenic route? Then this may be the best choice. Capture an array of habitation: flora and fauna like no other and a host of other beauties from moorlands to enchanting alpine deserts that are striking.  This climb is a bit more intense for those who prefer more of a challenge.

Lemosho

Many like to brave the more remote route offered on the Lemosho trail. Feel rough a ready to go, trapesing through the wilderness of the western part of the mountain. Get the chance to spot some wildlife along these parts, from antelopes to elephants and more.  This route is one that has been carefully designed and thought out with climbers in mind. The trail is slightly longer and has a good acclimatisation rate, enabling climbers to reach the top without the lightheaded feelings.

Rongai

Rongai is another recommended way of getting up the mountain. Get your tents to the ready and pitch your way up to the peak. This hike is preferred during the rainy seasons as there’s less chance of precipitation and therefore your tents won’t get damp. It has an 86-93% rate of achieving the climb, so you have a high chance of seeing the sunrise triumphantly across the lands of Tanzania from the top, as so many climbers desire.

Umbwe

This route is not for the fainthearted and only recommended to those who are well experienced climbers and in a fit state to climb a very challenging route. This route has a very low success rate of achieving, and therefore already sets climbers chances at slim for reaching the top.

Family Finance: No Matter the Reasons for Your Loan, You Deserve the Best APR Possible

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A loan may have all the merits to deliver you from a tight financial situation, but a few wrong moves and you can end up in more trouble than you were before. All lending institutions issue loans with the guarantee that an applicant will pay back the money, along with a pre-calculated annual interest over a pre-determined period.

As the borrower, therefore, the interest a lender charges can make all the difference between getting out of your predicament successfully or sinking deeper into the murk.

So, when you need some money, don’t let desperation rush you into making a damaging deal. Below are some tips that will help you get a low annual percentage rate and avoid a good chunk of cost on your debt.

1. Becoming an Ideal Client

Lending money is risky business, and as a result, lenders typically have guidelines that determine who they approve as their client. The fewer boxes you check, the riskier you become, and that means a higher APR. Applicants with excellent credit and a reliable source of income, such as stable employment or a thriving business always find it easier to get low-interest loans than borrowers in a shaky financial situation.

Before applying for a loan, ask yourself if you would make an ideal borrower. Go online and check your credit score with a major credit reporting bureau. And if your credit isn’t as good as you would want, seek out ways to improve it.

Repairing bad credit can take you months or years of responsible financial planning. Therefore, think about how long you can wait before applying for a loan, and if you have time, consider building up your score first.

2. Weighing Your Options

For borrowers looking for low APRs, big, established lending institutions aren’t the only option. If you don’t like the rate your bank quotes to you, start looking into other choices. Local credit unions, for example, often offer the lowest interests since they’re run by their own members.

Online lenders are also known for their ultra-friendly rates. A company like Loan Review HQ provides unsecured personal loans with low APRs to short-term borrowers, even those with bad credit.

3. Getting Better Terms

 

Most lenders will be willing to offer better rates if you sweeten the deal for them. For instance, securing your loan with a valuable asset like a house or car will almost always get you a low APR, since you will be protecting the lender from loss. Collateral loans are also typically more straightforward to obtain than standard personal loans, especially if your credit history is unfavorable. On the downside, your property will be tied to the loan, and the lender will certainly take it if you don’t pay them back.

Alternatively, consider getting a cosigner on board. Asking a friend or family member with a high credit score to co-sign on your loan will make your application less risky to the lender and will, therefore, result in lower rates. Keep in mind, however, that you will be putting your cosigner’s credit on the line. Before signing up, be sure you can pay back the loan.

Conclusion

A great APR can be a huge money saver down the road but getting one means knowing where to look, and of course, being the client with which the lender would like to do business. Let the pointers above be your guide to landing the best loan rates available for you.

Planning The Perfect Camping Holiday For Your Family

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A camping holiday is something that many Australian families enjoy. With so much spectacular natural beauty available, it is easy to see why camping is the perfect holiday for many Australians. If it is something that you are not familiar with, then here is some advice that can help you to prepare the ideal camping holiday for you and your family. With a little bit of planning and preparation, you can have the trip of a lifetime, in your own back garden. Who needs to fly abroad when you can enjoy the beautiful scenery that Australia has to offer?

Planning your Camping Trip

The first thing that you will need to do is to research where you are going to go camping, the time of year that you are going will also be an essential factor in choosing a suitable location, as well as the equipment that you will need to take with you. You can use the internet to search all the attractions in your closest national park which will show you what you can do on your family adventure, and there are lots of things to keep everyone entertained.

  • Kayaking
  • Hiking
  • Cycling
  • Swimming
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Relaxing

Make Sure You Have The Correct Equipment

You will also need to ensure that you have all the correct equipment for when you are camping to not only remain comfortable but also to prepare for any eventuality. If you are camping during the colder months of the year, then you may need a sleeping bag with a higher TOG rating, than if you are going during the warm summer months. You will need to be able to take plenty of water with you, more than you need for your trip, just in case you end up staying longer than expected for whatever reason. The night time in the bush can also be deadly with some of the poisonous insects, reptiles, and other dangerous animals that can be found in the Australian wilderness. As such, you may wish to check out Hard Korr Australia’s folding camping solar panels which will give you all of the light that you need at night time when you need to run to the toilet quickly or get yourself a drink of water. Another essential piece of equipment that you will need is a first aid kit, and depending on how far in the Outback you are going, a satellite phone may also be a handy addition to your equipment.

Check With The Local Park Authority

It is also a good idea to check the parksaustralia.gov.au website, as here you will not only be able to see a list of all the popular activities that are on offer, but you will also be able to find out about any warning or restrictions that may be in place. If you need some general advice and cannot find the answer on their website, send them a quick email, and they will be able to respond with the information that you require.

If you prepare for any eventuality, you will be ready no matter what your family camping trip throws at you. You may end up taking some kit that you do not use, but it is better to have it and not need it, rather than need it than not have it. With a little preparation, you will be able to plan the perfect holiday for your family and get to explore some of the great outdoors that Australia has to offer.

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