Last year Harriet and I stayed at the Premier Inn in Margate for our few days by the sea. This year we went to Brighton as the lockdown conditions were lifting. Here are our thoughts.
On a recent visit to Paris, Harriet and Anne Coates stayed at the Normandy Hotel right in the heart of Paris. Perfect for sightseeing but how did it rate as a child-friendly hotel?
On a press trip to Bodrum, Anne Coates was a guest at La Blanche Resort & Spa at Turgutreis, just outside this major tourist destination. The hotel made a perfect base from which to explore the area as well as offering a range of amenities to enjoy.
Travelodge's Get up and Go Campaign highlights the new look, being delivered through a £57 million hotel modernisation programme. This includes the installation of more than 37,000 new bespoke king size Travelodge Dreamer beds. Anne Coates stayed at the Travelodge Manchester Central Arena.
Book Travelodge Early Autumn Saver rooms £25 or less. Choose from 500 locations across the UK to plan the perfect autumn retreat, half-term break or last minute weekend getaway.
With its great weather, perfect beaches and laidback lifestyle, the Algarve is, well, just perfect for families, writes Anna Selby who reviews the Martinhal Beach Resort.
Staying in a hotel with children can sometimes be stressful so an aparthotel which offers the facilities of a hotel with the advantages of self-catering is a perfect compromise. Anne Coates stayed in the Residhome Caserne de Bonne on her recent trip to Grenoble, France and was delighted with the accommodation.
The Algarve in Portugal is beautiful with so mucch to commend it. Anna Selby visited the Vila Vita Parc and discovered a fabulous family-friendly destination which offeres everything from beach to golf, children's clubs and spa.
On her recent visit to India, Anne Coates stayed at three Mahindra Homestays. An anitdote to anonymous hotels, Homestays offer the chance to stay with Indian families and learn more about the culture and the area. In Jaipur, Anne stayed at Cosy Home.
Lifehouse Spa & Hotel isn't for families with young children. Guests have to be 16 plus so this is a perfect place to chill out and celebrate after A level and GCSE results. Plus it's great for couples and friends taking a short break together!
Overlooking the breathtaking Lake Achensee on one side and the Alpenpark Karwendel – Tirol's largest nature park – the Hotel Wiesenhof offers the best of winter and summer vacations – it is truly a holiday destination for all seasons as Anne Coates discovered on a recent visit.
Being prepared for summer ailments is the best way to stay healthy during this sunny season. But how? Dr Nisa Aslam, a GP, shares her simple self-care hacks borne out of nature and usingPuressentiel products.
To celebrate the 45th anniversary of the mice of Brambly Hedge, we have ten copies of the Nature Colouring Book to be won. Perfect for adults and children alike, embark on a colouring adventure with author and illustrator Jill Barklem.
Published by HarperCollins Children's Books, two engaging picture books: The Day the Crayons Made Friends by Oliver Jeffers and Drew Daywalt and Michael Rosen's Snow White and the Seven Bears, illustrated by David Melling.
From exploring out-of-this-world objects throughout the museum to a sleepover in our galleries, from tales of spcae toileets to watching A Beautiful Planet, there’s a galactic adventure for everyone at the Science Museum this summer.
Urban Pubs & Bars has announced a major new partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity). The ambitious new initiative will raise £250,000 over the next two years in support of GOSH Charity’s fundraising appealBuild it. Beat it – tohelp build a world-leading new Children’s Cancer Centre at the hospital.
A new studyundertaken by Dr Matthew Cook at the University of Worcester, involving 600mg of CurraNZ taken daily, has stunned experts after researchers found that New Zealand blackcurrant extract can supercharge fat burning up to 200 per cent and has greater effect in women who carry more body fat.
My toddler granddaughter loves music and singing so I saved this set of wooden musical instruments from Lehoo Castle for a time when were were all together as a family for hilarious renditions of nursery songs with us all singing and playing, writes Anne Coates.
Lizzie loved the first two Wow! books we received and was equally delighted with Wow! Look at Me! and Wow! What a Party! illustrated by Alberta Torres and looking at life through a toddler's eyes, writes Anne Coates.
Getting rid of things you no longer need, unwanted gifts, clothes you bought and never wore, bags you bought for a special occasion and never used since – it's a wonderful feeling being able to clear the clutter and do some good as well, writes Anne Coates.
Shark PowerPro Pet Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is, according to Anne Coates, a brilliant machine which is easy to manoeuvre, cleans well, and is versatile from cobwebs in high corners, to stairs, and it knows the difference between hard and carpeted floors adjusting accordingly.
Chronicles of Whetherwhy The Age of Enchantment by Anna James and The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon published by Harper Collins Children's Books are now available in paperback.
Every family – especially those with babies and young children – needs a reliable thermometer in their medicine cabinet/first aid box. Anne Coates reviews the Ear Thermometer from Femometer Family which gives an accurate result in one second.
These Balance Stepping Stones from Maycoly are great fun for kids – and adults, as Anne Coates discovered with her two-year-old granddaughter, Lizzie, when they used them indoors and in the garden.
When I saw Nature by Mamon Bucciarelli, with its attractive illustrations showing the natural world, I thought it would be ideal for our nine-year-old grandson who loves finding out about interesting facts to explore and we were not disappointed, writes Christine Mayle.
Hydration is key to good health and is especially important when exercising or being out in the sun. Here's a great way to to keep your water or drink ice-cool for 46 Hours – with the b.box 1 Litre Insulated Flip Top Bottle, writes Anne Coates.
Parents of 16 to 19 year olds who are staying in education or training need to extend their Child Benefit claim by 31 August or payments will automatically stop. Follow the advice from HMRC.
Banwood, the classic outdoor toy brand, has just launched a new Eco collection of scooters and helmets in fresh summer colours at half the price of their classic range. Anne Coates reviews and her granddaughter, Lizzie, is delighted with her new mode of transport.
Christine Mayle's grandson fell in love with the Jay Franco Minecraft Fox Plush Pillow. And if Fox isn't your child's favourite Minecraft character, Tuxedo Cat, Creeper, My Hero Academia Deku, Buggy, Luffy, Purple Tiger and Bee are also available.
Author and grandmother of three toddlers, Julie Newman, puts the b.box Roll+Go Mealtime Mat to the test for parents who look for convenience as well as functionality in their feeding accessories. Read her report here.
Anne Coates reviews The Thrashers, a compelling YA thriller from bestselling author, playwright and actor, Julie Soto. After you read this, you might not want to be in with the elite crowd at school.
Anne Coates had been impressed by the quality of the Sofia Grainge Collection at Amazon Essentials. Here she reviews a two piece swimsuit with factor 50 sun protection.
With GCSEs and A levels imminent, families across the UK facing one of the most stressful times of year. Many parents of teenagers with ADHD feel at a loss when it comes to supporting their child during the revision phase. Here The ADHD Centre offers ten simple and effective ways to support your teen.
The Mumgaroo Baby Sling is lightweight and easy to wear making carrying a child a lot more comfortable and convenient than some other brands. Anne Coates and granddaughter Lizzie tried out the sling – and both are delighted with it!