Our Year of Travel in 2018
Last year I wrote a post all about our travel plans for 2018 and although we succeeded in travelling to the places we had already booked, plus a couple more, we didn’t manage to achieve any of the places on our wish list.
This time last year we had planned holiday’s booked with Martinhal Resorts in Lisbon, Portugal, Camp Bestival and Christmas at Coombe Mill to look forward to, but this year we have booked nothing, mostly due to the fact that Hubby was threatened with redundancy at the end of the year and we only learned that he had a job to go to in late December.
Where we visited in 2018
It feels like we have had a quieter year of travel this year, until I look back and see where we have been.
Portugal
We started the year with a visit to Lisbon, Portugal for February half term and spent four days with Martinhal Resorts, staying at their Cacais Resort for two days and then moving to their Chiado Hotel in central Lisbon for a further two days.
Both hotels were very different, but the perfect base for family holidays and we fell in love with Portugal, which was unseasonably warm for February. We got to explore Sintra, Cabo de Roca and as much of the city of Lisbon that we could squeeze into two days. The first day saw us exploring the local area on foot, but day two we boarded a tram and the underground to find the Torre De Belem and Oceanaria de Lisboa.
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is really close to us here in Bournemouth, so we normally just head across the water on a day trip, but in April we were invited over to stay with the newly refurbished Rookley Park.
It is a beautiful location with lots of fun activities for the kids to enjoy, plus is the perfect base to explore everything the island has to offer and we made visits to Carisbrooke Castle, Osborne House, as well as family favourites Blackgang Chine and Robin Hill.
Yorkshire Dales
Half term saw us heading to Yorkshire for a family walking holiday with HF Holidays.
We stayed in Newfield Hall, a grand 19th century country house with magnificent views of the Yorkshire Dales and took part in daily walks and activities organised by the leaders.
The kids walked an impressive 6-7 miles per day, across some quite challenging terrain and we got to see some amazing natural wonders including Ingleborough Cave, Gordale Scar and Malham Cove.
Puy Du Fou
In June I was invited on a press trip to Nantes, France with Britmums to a little known theme park called Puy Du Fou in Les Epesses.
Calling Puy du Fou (pronounced “pwee de foo”) a theme park is actually doing the park a disservice as it is so much more. There are no rides and no tacky merchandise, just pure entertainment in the form of spectacular daytime and evening shows and four period villages.
I still struggle to describe just how brilliant France’s top rated theme park is, even now, and cannot wait to take the kids back to visit this year to stay in their themed hotel see the amazing shows that are packed full of action and entertainment. The finale, La Cinéscénie literally blew me away.
Camp Bestival
After 2017’s Camp Bestival being a bit of a washout, we had high hopes for this years festival as we were enjoying a heatwave and it started brilliantly.
The kids got to take part in a world record attempt, try their hands at tree climbing, met some of their favourite stars of kids TV as well as rocking out to some cool bands.
The weather dramatically changed on Saturday with high winds overnight, leaving our tent in a sorry state of repair and when we returned to it after a day full of fun, we decided to abandon ship – a very good decision as the weather got so bad that they cancelled Sunday’s activities all together.
A Summer of Fun
We stayed local for the summer holiday’s but enjoyed lots of days out, making the most of our English Heritage Annual Pass by visiting Old Wardour Castle and Stonehenge.
We also attended Countryfile Live, a very wet and windy New Forest Fairy Festival, Victorious Festival and Dorset County Show.
Manchester
September saw us heading to Manchester and Media City, where the kids got to explore the Blue Peter Garden, Imperial War Museum and the Football Museum.
London
Hubby and I got a rare day away from the kids and headed to London with Red Letter Days for a meal and to see Les Miserables.
Paris
I have wanted to visit Paris for years and in October we headed to France with Al Fresco Holidays to stay at their La Croix du Vieux Pont park, situated just outside Paris.
We used the site as a base to explore the surrounding area and enjoyed a day trip to Paris, the Palace of Versailles, Disneyland Paris and Parc Asterix.
Coombe Mill, Cornwall
Our final trip away was to Coombe Mill for Christmas.
What sets Coombe Mill apart from other cottage and farm holidays, is that it is set on a working farm and the kids are invited to join other guests to take part in the feed run everyday at 9am, where they get to meet and feed the animals which includes ducks, chickens, pigs, a herd of fallow deer, alpaca and even a wallaby!!
There is plenty for the kids to do onsite with numerous indoor and outdoor play areas, a daily train ride, games room and a new crazy golf course!
Plus, you have beautiful Cornwall to explore whilst you are there too!
So, now my focus is planning and organising our holiday’s for 2019 and we have Northern Ireland, North Wales, Iceland and Florida in our sights for this year, although we may postpone Florida as Hubby wants to go for the new Star Wars themed land and its launch has been postponed until the Autumn.
What are your travel plans for the coming year?
Lily
Woah! Look at all those places you guys have been to!! I’m so jealous! It looks like you all had a blast visiting places like Portugal to Paris, Manchester to Cornwall! You all must have made some fantastic memories while out on your adventures. I hope 2019 brings you lots more exciting and interesting adventures. X
Elizabeth Keene
Omg these places look amazing! I especially want to visit Manchester sometime, and I love that all of these places are perfect for the family!
Xoxo – Elizabeth
http://www.akeenesenseofstyle.com
Luz I Getting It Right 2Day
It is so great that your family gets to travel! That is my goal for 2019, to travel more with the kiddos. Beautiful pics especially of the Eiffel Tower. Thanks for sharing!
Kim Seghers
Wow!! Your family has traveled to some amazing places! What great memories you’re creating with your children. I enjoyed looking at your beautiful photographs from your many adventures!!
Stacie
Oh wow! Your family took some amazing trips! We didn’t do as much traveling this year as we usually do, but we were okay with it. It was sort of a “break” year. LOL
Charlotte Marsh
Wow you went to some wonderful places in 2018. Here is to an even more adventurous 2019!
Danielle Wolter
OMG you guys went to so many places! I have been dying to go to portugal, but would also like to go back to paris for a visit. have fun with your 2019 planning!
MELANIE EDJOURIAN
Oh wow so many lovely places that you managed to visit last year. Lets hope you get to do even more this year I’m sure they are all great fun for the whole family. I love going to the theatre in London 🙂
Emma Raphael
I have so many to list right now, I always go a bit mad at this time of year for booking travel! 😀 Sounds like you had a really happy productive year full of exploration, hope 2019 is equally so! 🙂
Lydia Smith
You did a good job with exploring in 2018. You just didn’t stick to plans. But i love how you made do with what came your way. Guess, that’s one of the beauty of travelling. I created a 30 places before 30 bucket list as one of my goals, hoping I hit it. Have a great year ahead.
Brianna
Wow you travelled so much last year! It looks like you all had so much though! Stonehenge is on my travel bucket list. I can’t wait till I can mark it off!
Jeany
What an amazing experience, I cant imagine traveling with my littles yet but im hoping to book a Disney trip soon. I look to traveling the world and seeing these beautiful sights in person one day
Karisa
What a fun year! I’ve always wanted to visit London and hope to make time one day soon!
Sara
Looks like 2018 was filled with blessings for you and your family! Wishing you the best for 2019!
Lydia Smith
You did a good job with exploring in 2018. You just didn’t stick to plans. But i love how you made do with what came your way. Guess, that’s one of the beauty of travelling. I created a 30 places before 30 bucket list as one of my goals, hoping I hit it. Have a great year ahead.
Rhian Westbury
Some great trips from 2018, I’m quite jealous of Portugal as it’s somewhere I’ve been meaning to go for a long time x
Laura Dove
What a great year! I really want to do Florida this year too but not sure whether to wait one more year until my youngest is a little older?!
Elizabeth
What a wonderfully adventurous year you have had! I travelled a fair bit too, despite taking six months off for health issues. We’re kick starting this year with a Carribean Cruise press trip – and I get to take my husband this time!
Sophia
This looks like an amazing family vacation.
Bella and Dawn at Dear Mummy Blog
You’ve had some really cool adventures! We remember the IOW post and of course seeing you briefly at Camp Bestival. Hope you have an even more fun-filled 2019 full of adventures x
Karla
What a fun year to look back on. The travel looks like fun.
Anosa
Another incredible year of travel, congrats and good luck with the future plans. I am focusing more on UK travels in 2019
Fashion and Style Police
2018 was a busy year filled with travel for you and your family. Very nice.
Sincerely Miss J
Omg 2018 looked like it was a great year for you and your beautiful family. Best wishes in 2019.
Erica D Ardali
WOW! If your family travels like this often can you adopt me?
Rhiannon-Skye A Boden
I’m glad you had fun in the dales! I have so many fond memories of going there with my family as a kid, and this round-up has inspired me to make the trip again sometime soon!
Jasmine Hewitt
you guys went on some amazing adventures in 2018. cant wait to see where 2019 takes you
Nazrin
Anmaaagad Yorkshire dale looks absolutely amazing I have to add that to my list this year! I hope that 2019 brings you and your family even more adventures fun and love!
Super Busy Mum
Wow, that a year of travel for you guys! The Yorkshire Dales isn’t somewhere I have ever visited, but WHOA….how beautiful is that place?
Angela Ricardo Bethea
Wow! 2018 would be a year of travel to you and to your family. It seems that you are having so much fun in Puy Du Fou. Wish we can visit that place too.