Budapest sits on more than 120 thermal springs, so the city is home to many different bath houses. Thanks to this, the Hungarian capital has been called the spa centre of Europe – the springs and their ‘healing properties’ have been used for centuries. The first summer I went to Budapest, we’d planned to visit […]
Top things to do in Sicily with teenagers
As a family, we love Sicily, and it’s not just because half our ancestors come from there. The “ball” being kicked by mainland Italy’s “boot”, Sicily has so much to offer and also feels very different to the mainland. If you’ve visited Italy before, Sicily will be familiar but will also feel very different to […]
Six great vegan places to eat in Southampton
This is now my third year of living in Southampton whilst at university, and I’ve been vegan for (almost) the entire time I’ve been here. Being a student in this city has meant I’ve had ample opportunity for sampling everything it has to offer vegans. Along with the classic British chain restaurants that easily cater […]
What to pack for Elephant Hills, Thailand
This post is by my 20 year-old student daughter. If you’ve read this post, you’ll know a bit about what it’s like to stay at Elephant Hills luxury tented camp in the rainforest of Khao Sok National Park in Thailand. Adventure tours There are four different tour packages to choose from when you book your […]
How to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London
During my university Easter holidays, Mum and I went to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on stage in London’s West End. As a life-long Harry Potter fan (we have two copies of the last book in our house, as mum and I both wanted to read it the second it came out) I […]
How to go Interrailing when you’re a teenager
This post is by my daughter, Izzy, who went Interrailing two years ago. It was the first time that she’d travelled abroad without an adult and I was a bit fretty about it, but it was a great experience for her. I wrote a post about how I felt when she left: What to do when your teen goes travelling for the first time. […]
What to do when your child starts university: tips from a student
Following on from the advice from me and from some other parents in what to do when your teen starts university, my student daughter Izzy has written this post with her tips for parents who are going through this: ‘It’s that time of year again – up and down the country, parents are sobbing and […]
Travelling with teens: tips from teens
This post is written by my 17 year-old daughter Izzy. I’ve written an article of advice from parents of teenagers on travel with teens. My daughter has consulted various friends and relations to do the same thing from a teenager’s perspective: ‘What do you want most when you’re on a family holiday?’ Asking this around at school, I […]
Young Driver: driving lessons for kids
By Izzy Schifano My daughter had her first driving lesson when she was 16, and afterwards she wrote this account of how it went. Her lesson was with Young Driver, an organisation which teaches 11-17 year-olds to drive at specialist centres across the UK. When I turn seventeen next year, I plan on learning to drive as soon as […]
The spa on board the MSC Preziosa
Recently I went on a Mediterranean cruise with my daughter. This is her review of the spa treatments we enjoyed while on board. Guest post by Izzy Schifano, age 15. Aboard the MSC Preziosa, the easiest way to get to the Aurea Spa is to walk through the pool area. You make your way through sticky heat […]