vacation Archives - Serendipity Mommy

Your Norway Northern Lights Vacation

August 15, 2018 by Mandy

The natural phenomenon called Aurora Borealus or Polar Lights can be observed in both Arctic and Antarctic regions in a number of places around the world. It usually happens in the night sky, and the different color lights look phenomenal against the dark background. Interestingly, Northern Lights are a type of Aurora Borealis which happen near the North Pole. Apart from countries like Canada or Scotland, Northern Lights in Norway, and other Scandinavian countries also offer grand, life-altering experiences, which usually feature as a bucket list activity. No wonder, people travel far and wide to witness it. Read on to know more about places where you can observe Northern Lights in Norway.

1. Svalbard

There isn’t much North left further than Svalbard. This Arctic island is between the 74th and 81st parallel and is undoubtedly one of the best places to see the surreal Northern Lights. A lot of people also come to see the Polar Night, a period between mid-November and early January, when Svalbard does not see daylight and is in a permanent state of spooky blue twilight.

2. The Lofoten Islands

In the Norwegian Sea, way above the circle that marks the Arctic region, the Lofoten offer another great abode to not just see the green shimmers of the Northern Lights but also hear their unreal sounds. In the more conventional viewing places such as Scotland and Northern Canada, the sounds of the Aurora are often lost in the din of civilisation. Not so with Lofoten. You can also bring out your cameras for brilliant shots of the Lights being reflected off the water on beaches of Flakstadøy and Vestvågøy here.

3. Trondheim

Don’t want to leave civilization? Go to Trondheim. Besides being known as the quintessential university town with excellent Norwegian food and culture (especially that of bicycles), Trondheim is also one place where you can enjoy the great Northern Lights show. Again, it is completely possible to view the Lights from within the city limits. However, the brightness and contrast of the colors increase the further away from the city you go.

4. Tromso

The town of Tromso is often called the capital of the Arctic area, and because about 217 miles into the Arctic, it offers one of the best opportunities to experience the freaky and beautiful Northern Lights. The biggest city in the northern regions of Norway, there are plenty of northern lights camps and safaris that depart from here. Things like dog sledding and snowmobile rides are also popular here.

5. Alta

The city of Alta is located between mountain peaks and is shielded from the harsh cold that many of the coastal cities on this list experience. Its extreme northern latitude also makes it one of the prime locations for viewing the Lights. Also, the mountain peaks on the horizon provide a spectacular contrast making for some really gorgeous snaps of the Lights and the mountains.

If you too wish to witness the natural wonder of Northern Lights, Norway is the perfect country for that. So, when are you planning your trip?

How to Plan the Perfect Family Holiday

July 18, 2018 by Mandy

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

July 17, 2018 by Mandy

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!

6 things to do at the Exumas

July 1, 2018 by Mandy

Everything great starts with something small. The fact that the Exumas have got to the point of great renown has been one of the most surprising things. These little bunch of islands which lie to the outer part of the Bahamas is not what you think would be famous. However, Exumas are one of the best places to have a vacation in.

Filled with beautiful sandbars and beaches that stretch around for miles, these small group of islands houses a surprisingly large number of beautiful sceneries. While the Exumas first become famous for the opportunity, it offers to people that of swimming with pigs at the bay it offers much more.

Want to have your adventure? Book yourself one of the Exuma vacation rentals, and read on to get a sense of what you should do.

1. Visit a sandbar during low tide

The Little Galliot Cay Sandbar is what dreams are made of. A long stretch of sand that stays afloat only during low tide is something that you would fall in love with. This is one of those places with exquisite beauty that you must keep photographing to keep in your memories. Jott down on the sand which has no footprints and read a book, or build yourself a pretty sandcastle before the high tide sets it.

Visiting in the morning is recommended since that is the time when most of the sand is visible, and you can walk along the sandbar for a longer time. It also provides you with the unique opportunity to have a cuppa in between the seas.

2. Have a bit of a party at Staniel Cay

The only marina at the cays, this little island holds all the buzz that the Exumas can offer. Restaurants and bars line the beach and are perfect for your short visit all around the place. Remember to try the conch salad made with live conches and to try out the seafood at the Cay. If you do make it on a Saturday, enjoy the Chat N Chill, where everyone in the Bahamas comes together to celebrate. You will find all the advice you need about visiting the island here, and some of the freshest seafood in the world.

Pro tip, the weekly Chat N CHill also hosts a large Pig roast, so, if pork is your go-to comfort food, try it out for yourself.

3. Enjoy the waters at Thunderball Grotto

Imagine this, low hanging cavern which hugs everything around you, a water-filled diving experience, and all the fish you can ever imagine seeing. The Thunderball grotto is what an adventurer’s dreams are made of. However, be careful while, navigating around here, it brings with the adventure a sense of trickiness too, since, navigating this place without having some experience is snorkeling can be quite dangerous.

However, once you make it through and the sun hits your eyes again through the sea, you would find yourself in a bonafide Disney movie, with fishes all around. Sure, not all of us can have the perks that James Bond has, but, there’s nothing wrong with sharing some of his adventures.

4. Try your hand at Conch Shell Diving

One of the things you must try at the Exumas is their excellent Conch salad. However, when you are buying them at the restaurant, why not get some conches yourself to. At various points in the beaches, it is easy to dive in and grab some conches and have a treat as you mix them with a salad. Sure, it’s not exactly hunting but, where else would you get to swim with the fishes and arrange for your little breakfast.

Ask the guides for help regarding the places, some places near the Starfish Reserve are perfect for finding the Conches you would need. These conches also make beautiful gifts for your family back home.

5. Wander at the Shroud Cay

An often forgotten stop in the usual tourist itineraries, Shroud Cay, is the answer to your dreams. This small marine place just offshoot of the Exuma Sea and water park is a bit difficult to navigate but, once you get there, there’s a huge trail that you can walk through. This is one of the trails that we recommend since it takes you through shoulder-deep water and gets you to the highest point at the Cays.

The cliff is where things get interesting. You can look around and see the entire sea stretching out before you and feel accomplished. Filled with beautiful mangrove vegetation, the Shroud Cay is a treat to the eyes as you follow the tracks that lead you to the highest point.

Remember to carry a second set of clothes and a waterproof camera since there are sceneries that you would not want to miss out on. Pro tip, this place falls under the protected reserves so, it is recommended that you do not disturb any of the natural flora at fauna when you visit.

6. Explore a crashed Drug Plane

If your adventure of choice includes the Gangster movies of the 80s, Norman’s Cay is where you should be heading off to. Back in the days, a drug plane crashed just off the island and had laid there since. Then, a symbol of a booming drug business, now the drug plane is home to hundreds of marine life forms floating around.

The water here is shallow so you can quickly go in for a long session of snorkeling as you explore a real-life wreck of an airplane. Who knows, maybe you will discover a mystery all to yourself?

Packing Essentials For A Weekend Away From The Children

June 21, 2018 by Mandy

Let’s face it, parenting can be exhausting. There are some days where we really feel like we could do with a break, so it’s relieving when you finally get the chance to jet off, even if it’s just for the weekend. Though you’re bound to miss the little ones, there’s no denying you could do with some much needed down-time. Check out our list of essentials for a weekend away from the children:

Itinerary

No doubt you’ll want to plan your weekend, so you make the most of your well-deserved break! If you’re globe-trotting to another destination, then take a look at where’s best to visit, the best landmarks and the tastiest restaurants. It’s good to have at least a rough idea of what you’d like to get out of each day, as you won’t be there for long. However, for those enjoying a staycation or spa weekend break, you’re probably looking forward to a more relaxing time. Think about plenty of walks with a scenic view and idyllic bars and restaurants you’d like to visit.

Swimwear

Wherever you’re visiting, whether it’s a Spa resort or luxury city hotel, you’re bound to be able to enjoy the facilities. Remember to pack some essential swimwear pieces, such as your favourite swimsuit, swim shorts and kimono cover up. Even if you don’t plan on going swimming, it’s worth packing at least one swimming costume just in case you change your mind!

Comfy Clothes

The reason you’re taking a weekend break away from the children is to relax, so make sure you do just that! Exploring the local bars and restaurants is always a good idea, but for the times you are back in your hotel room, you’ll want to make the stay as comfortable as possible. So, make sure you pack your women’s loungewear for the ultimate chilled-out nights, as well as mens loungewear for bedtime.

Chargers

Yes, you’re enjoying a weekend away from the kids, but will you want to talk to them daily? Yes! So, pack a couple of chargers and travel adaptors to ensure you can stay connected with the family. Best to pick a hotel room that comes with free Wi-Fi to save on extra data costs. Also, leave any emergency numbers with whomever is taking care of the kids, including hotel number and your insurance policy details in case of any accidents or emergencies.

You’re prepared!

You’re just about ready for that amazing weekend getaway from the children. Have fun, make memories, and most importantly – remember this is a well-earned break, so no guilt involved. Lastly, and arguable the most important essential, leave enough room in your suitcase for all the children’s presents on your return!