Adventure Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Unique Family Travels

Try our countries game!

Do you know how many countries there are in the world??? Not cities, countries????

Well theres 195.

There are many countries in the world which im sure are on your bucket list and many countries that you dont have any desire to visit. However there is nothing wrong with playing a little game of "How many countries have you visited? There are no rules, it doesnt matter how long you stayed there for or how many times you have been to a country. If you have steped your twinkle travel toes on that countries soil, add it to your list.

So with that in mind, see the below chart of all 195 countries and happy counting.

Personally im at 42 with a doable target of 80.

#	Country	Population (2019)
1	China	1,420,062,022
2	India	1,368,737,513
3	U.S.	329,093,110
4	Indonesia	269,536,482
5	Brazil	212,392,717
6	Pakistan	204,596,442
7	Nigeria	200,962,417
8	Bangladesh	168,065,920
9	Russia	143,895,551
10	Mexico	132,328,035
11	Japan	126,854,745
12	Ethiopia	110,135,635
13	Philippines	108,106,310
14	Egypt	101,168,745
15	Viet Nam	97,429,061
16	DR Congo	86,727,573
17	Turkey	82,961,805
18	Iran	82,820,766
19	Germany	82,438,639
20	Thailand	69,306,160
21	U.K.	66,959,016
22	France	65,480,710
23	Tanzania	60,913,557
24	Italy	59,216,525
25	South Africa	58,065,097
26	Myanmar	54,336,138
27	Kenya	52,214,791
28	South Korea	51,339,238
29	Colombia	49,849,818
30	Spain	46,441,049
31	Uganda	45,711,874
32	Argentina	45,101,781
33	Ukraine	43,795,220
34	Algeria	42,679,018
35	Sudan	42,514,094
36	Iraq	40,412,299
37	Poland	38,028,278
38	Canada	37,279,811
39	Afghanistan	37,209,007
40	Morocco	36,635,156
41	Saudi Arabia	34,140,662
42	Peru	32,933,835
43	Uzbekistan	32,807,368
44	Venezuela	32,779,868
45	Malaysia	32,454,455
46	Angola	31,787,566
47	Mozambique	31,408,823
48	Ghana	30,096,970
49	Nepal	29,942,018
50	Yemen	29,579,986
51	Madagascar	26,969,642
52	North Korea	25,727,408
53	Côte d'Ivoire	25,531,083
54	Cameroon	25,312,993
55	Australia	25,088,636
56	Niger	23,176,691
57	Sri Lanka	21,018,859
58	Burkina Faso	20,321,560
59	Malawi	19,718,743
60	Mali	19,689,140
61	Romania	19,483,360
62	Kazakhstan	18,592,970
63	Syria	18,499,181
64	Chile	18,336,653
65	Zambia	18,137,369
66	Guatemala	17,577,842
67	Zimbabwe	17,297,495
68	Netherlands	17,132,908
69	Ecuador	17,100,444
70	Senegal	16,743,859
71	Cambodia	16,482,646
72	Chad	15,814,345
73	Somalia	15,636,171
74	Guinea	13,398,180
75	South Sudan	13,263,184
76	Rwanda	12,794,412
77	Benin	11,801,595
78	Tunisia	11,783,168
79	Burundi	11,575,964
80	Belgium	11,562,784
81	Cuba	11,492,046
82	Bolivia	11,379,861
83	Haiti	11,242,856
84	Greece	11,124,603
85	Dominican Republic	10,996,774
86	Czech Republic	10,630,589
87	Portugal	10,254,666
88	Jordan	10,069,794
89	Sweden	10,053,135
90	Azerbaijan	10,014,575
91	United Arab Emirates	9,682,088
92	Hungary	9,655,361
93	Honduras	9,568,688
94	Belarus	9,433,874
95	Tajikistan	9,292,000
96	Austria	8,766,201
97	Serbia	8,733,407
98	Switzerland	8,608,259
99	Papua New Guinea	8,586,525
100	Israel	8,583,916
101	Togo	8,186,384
102	Sierra Leone	7,883,123
103	Laos	7,064,242
104	Bulgaria	6,988,739
105	Paraguay	6,981,981
106	Libya	6,569,864
107	El Salvador	6,445,405
108	Nicaragua	6,351,157
109	Kyrgyzstan	6,218,616
110	Lebanon	6,065,922
111	Turkmenistan	5,942,561
112	Singapore	5,868,104
113	Denmark	5,775,224
114	Finland	5,561,389
115	Congo	5,542,197
116	Slovakia	5,450,987
117	Norway	5,400,916
118	Eritrea	5,309,659
119	State of Palestine	5,186,790
120	Oman	5,001,875
121	Costa Rica	4,999,384
122	Liberia	4,977,720
123	Ireland	4,847,139
124	Central African Republic	4,825,711
125	New Zealand	4,792,409
126	Mauritania	4,661,149
127	Kuwait	4,248,974
128	Panama	4,226,197
129	Croatia	4,140,148
130	Moldova	4,029,750
131	Georgia	3,904,204
132	Bosnia & Herzegovina	3,501,774
133	Uruguay	3,482,156
134	Mongolia	3,166,244
135	Albania	2,938,428
136	Armenia	2,936,706
137	Jamaica	2,906,339
138	Lithuania	2,864,459
139	Qatar	2,743,901
140	Namibia	2,641,996
141	Botswana	2,374,636
142	Lesotho	2,292,682
143	Gambia	2,228,075
144	Gabon	2,109,099
145	TFYR Macedonia	2,086,720
146	Slovenia	2,081,900
147	Guinea-Bissau	1,953,723
148	Latvia	1,911,108
149	Bahrain	1,637,896
150	Swaziland	1,415,414
151	Trinidad and Tobago	1,375,443
152	Equatorial Guinea	1,360,104
153	Timor-Leste	1,352,360
154	Estonia	1,303,798
155	Mauritius	1,271,368
156	Cyprus	1,198,427
157	Djibouti	985,690
158	Fiji	918,757
159	Comoros	850,910
160	Bhutan	826,229
161	Guyana	786,508
162	Solomon Islands	635,254
163	Montenegro	629,355
164	Luxembourg	596,992
165	Suriname	573,085
166	Cabo Verde	560,349
167	Maldives	451,738
168	Brunei	439,336
169	Malta	433,245
170	Bahamas	403,095
171	Belize	390,231
172	Iceland	340,566
173	Vanuatu	288,017
174	Barbados	287,010
175	Sao Tome & Principe	213,379
176	Samoa	198,909
177	Saint Lucia	180,454
178	Kiribati	120,428
179	St. Vincent & Grenadines	110,488
180	Tonga	110,041
181	Grenada	108,825
182	Micronesia	106,983
183	Antigua and Barbuda	104,084
184	Seychelles	95,702
185	Andorra	77,072
186	Dominica	74,679
187	Saint Kitts & Nevis	56,345
188	Marshall Islands	53,211
189	Monaco	39,102
190	Liechtenstein	38,404
191	San Marino	33,683
192	Palau	22,206
193	Tuvalu	11,393
194	Nauru	11,260
195	Holy See	799

Dani

Family Friendly Shangri La

I was looking for a weeks break during Easter 2017 for my family –I wanted a resort not too far from Dubai which offered activities in and around the resort, lots of entertainment for the children and a place where we could get some R&R. Virtual high five for me… I found the right place that ticked every box, let me introduce you to The Shangri La Hambantota Golf Resort and Spa.

Overlooking the pristine southern coast of beautiful Sri Lanka, Shangri-La's Hambantota is located along the ancient Spice Route in a city steeped in rich history. Hambantota is known for its natural beauty and wildlife, and allows visitors to explore some of South Asia’s most fascinating nature sanctuaries, including the Yala, Udawalawe, Lunugamvehera and Bundala National Parks.

The luxury resort spans 58.8 hectares, making it the largest resort in Sri Lanka, and boasts 300 spacious rooms, including 21 suites, all surrounded by stunning tropical gardens. It is home to an 18-hole golf course, an expansive spa and an artisan village that celebrates local arts and crafts.

The morning we arrived the kids were blown away by everything they saw, not knowing what to do first. As parents we fell in love with the stunning grounds that we could access from our garden level rooms as they offered so much space and privacy in a controlled environment.

The hotel had three swimming pools. One being the main large pool, the other being a pool with two water slides and shallow enough for the children to stand or for my youngest to jump on her tip toes. The other pool was an adult only, sun set pool and located on the opposite side of the resort which was the quieter, kid free zone.

There is also a baby water park attached to the main pool which the kids loved -running through the sprinklers and up and down the slides.

The beach was pristine, white sand, completely raw and untouched, the waves are quiet rough so sadly we didnt swim in the sea during this stay as the red flag was up during our entire stay.

The hotel had thought about everything and even included a trapeze school were twice daily queues of kids would patiently wait to climb the 7m high trapeze and show off their skills. My eldest was addicted and actually pretty good. I tried it and it wasn’t easy and not a pleasent sight when I landed! The staff were very aware of safety and were extremely hands on and supportive while assisting the children up and down the ladder, putting them in a harness and encouraging them not to be frightened and talking them through how to swing on the trapeze bar.

Since the hotel hadn’t been open for long, I didn’t know what to expect from the kids club aptly named The Cool Zone Kids Club – well, it only turned out to be the best and biggest hotel kids club I have ever been too. It had a brand new and rather big soft play area, amazing activities and crafts and the most amazing, patient and extremely kind staff. When your kids don’t want to leave – even for ice cream – then you know you have a winning kids club.

I also have to thank the hotel, as Sisi was 4 years old at the time and while getting out of the pool she slipped and sliced her chin on the wall. It was a deep cut and still has the scar to prove it. The hotel first aid and medical center were amazing and reacted quickly, being gentle and attentive. Everyday during the course of the week, the nurse would look out for Sisi and ask to change her bandages.

As the kids enjoyed the kids club so much we took full advantage of the alone time by visiting CHI Ayurveda Spa. For 90 minutes we enjoyed one of the many massages and had got ourselves some well-deserved peace and tranquility.

The sun set pool was our fav late afternoon spot to enjoy a dip, view of the ocean and a glass or two of vino. This was supposed to be a quiet zone but with no guests around the kids enjoyed a swim with us as we ordered snacks from the cool food tuk tuks - a nice trendy touch.

For golf lovers, the resort is home to Sri Lanka's premier 18-hole* golf course which is set amid a vast coconut palm plantation, offering spectacular views. The beautifully landscaped par-70 course takes you on a memorable golf experience through three landscaped zones, each with its own unique character.

The hotel had a selection of restaurants from the golf club restaurant to Bojunhala which offered traditional Sri Lankan food. My children loved the all day dining and I have to high five the hotel as every day they offered a kids buffet with children’s character plates and on a counter level where the children could actually reach and see inside the serving dishes. This made dinner with the kids less stressful as they could help themselves to their own food deciding for themselves what they wanted to eat. After dinner most nights they did ‘movies under the stars’, but by this time my three were exhausted and off to bed they went.

Because we enjoyed the resort so much, we only managed to enjoy one excursion outside of the hotel, but it was a great one – An Elephant Safari – click the link below to find out more:

All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Shangri La Hambantota - it was a perfect family get away where we managed to relax, and the children were constantly entertained. This hotel/resort does a fantastic job of finding the right mix for both the parents and the children hence I don’t mind at all putting it near the top of my list for ideal family hotels.

Dani

Family Friendly Couple

Shangri La slide

Sri Lanka - adults pool

Shangri La Hambantota

Snacks from the Tuk Tuk

Shangri la swing

The hotel grounds

Slide

Adventure / Asia / Featured / Relax - 09/25/2018

Paris – With Kids In Tow

Exploring the streets of Paris with 3 little ones in tow sounds like a challenge; one which you may not wish to accept, but let me tell you, we actually had a great time!

Let me start from the beginning. At the time the twins were 3 years old and my eldest was 4. We were traveling to London for a week as a family and of course, I wanted to add another little adventure into the mix by taking the Eurostar over to Paris for a couple of days.

I would have to credit our travel stroller the Mountain Buggy Nano for being the life saver for this trip. It’s the perfect city stroller that is light weight and folds up to fit in even the smallest storage spaces. Believe me I know as there were many times these handy foldable wheels were shoved inside the wardrobe in our hotel in Paris, the over head compartment on the Eurostar and we even folded them and put them in the restaurant corner when dining at those cute al fresco Parisian cafes (where you’re sitting in a line like a sardine cramped into a tin listening to the French couple next to you….)

So with the twins in a Mountain Buggy Nano each and our eldest on daddies shoulders we were off to explore la Paris and with a detour trip to Euro Disney thrown in for extra measure.

This post is certainly not about the best places to dine or the places to be seen at while in Paris, it’s more about encouraging you to enjoy the experience of exploring a fascinating city with kids in tow and to just enjoy the experience for what it is.

We actually walked a lot and when I say walk I mean to the Eiffel Tower, up the Champs Elyees, up the many steps of Sacre Coeur then around the picturesque streets of Montmartre and the trendy St Germain des Paris area. Not forgetting a sightseeing cruise down the River Seine, which gives your legs a rest but fills up your camera with photos. We also walked through the many stunning parks of Paris with special mention for the Jardin des Plantes botanical garden grounds where the kids ran free, stopped at a little café under the trees for light lunch and ice cream and then they passed out in their strollers, allowing us to have a sneaky glass of rose!

We also managed a day trip to DisneyLand Paris. We originally booked a car to take us but for what ever reason the car didn’t show up (Parisian taxi drivers are very particular about timings so keep that in mind..) so we ended up taking a train. This was the only day it rained while we were in Paris, but luckily the kids found wearing their DisneyLand ponchos part of the fun as it kept them dry while in the queues for the rides. My kids were too young to go on most of the rides but the rides they could go on they thoroughly enjoyed, annoying part was the queues

(although you can get Fast Pass tickets for some of the main rides) By the end of the day the kids were bordering on losing the will to live, as their attention spans were zapped, but we wanted to stay in order to watch the Disney parade which is the last big event of the day.

Well I’m so pleased we did – at that time Elsa was at the peak of her career so when she started to sing “let it go” my kids’ faces lit up and they started gleaming from ear to ear. The show lasts about 40 mins with all the famous and favorite Disney characters and princesses in full swing. With a successful day accomplished at Euro Disney the kids literally passed out on the train home.

Whenever we travel and stay in a hotel we always try to book interconnecting rooms rather than adding extra beds to the room - yes it’s means paying for two rooms but it’s much more convenient especially when the kids go to bed, plus there’s space to move around and the kids enjoy sleeping all together in one bed.

Luckily for me, a few of my Dubai friends were in Paris so I put my glad rags on and left the kiddies in daddy’s capable hands and met the girls at Hotel Coste for dinner and a few too many espresso martinis at The Mandarin Oriental. A grown-up end to a magical time in a truly magical city.

So don’t let the fact you have young kids or big families stop you from enjoying big cities like Paris – in fact it adds to the adventure and the memories.

Check out the Mountain Buggy Nano, it now comes in a double stroller!

https://www.babysouk.com/search?search=nano#b

Dani

Family Friendly Couple

Montmartre

Arch De Triomphe Paris

Louvre Paris

Lourve

River Seine Paris

Paris coffee shop

Kids in Euro Disney

Mickey Mouse Euro Disney

Elsa parade

Eurostar

Eiffel Tower

Monmartre Paris

Adventure / Europe / Featured - 09/14/2018

Taj Mahal – A Love Story

I must start this post with the reason as to why the Taj Mahal was built - it really is one of the most moving love stories that was ever told, a story of love, honor and respect:

At a young age Shah Jahan met Arjumand Banu Begum whose name was changed to Mumtaz Mahal meaning ‘Jewel of the Palace’ when they married. Even though the Emperor had many wives, he favored Mumtaz and his love for her was evident. They had so much respect for each other that she would even accompany him on military missions. In 1631 Mumtaz had complications when giving birth to their 14^th child and died. Shah was devastated and wowed never to remarry and to build the largest and richest mausoleum over her grave to honor her. In mourning for over 2 years Shah overtook the task of erecting the world’s most beautiful monument in memory of his beloved. It took 22 years and 22,000 men to build what is now known as the Taj Mahal - one of The Seven Wonders of the World. When Shah died 25 years later his body was placed in the tomb next to the women he loved and cherished.

Another important part to the Taj Mahal story is that it was built by Islamic Mughals yet its not a mosque nor is it a temple - yet it stands proudly in India. This amazing piece of history brings together all religions in one place, where love, god, prayer, worship has no boundaries. Its ONE LOVE and united it stands.

My mums wish for her 60^th birthday was to visit the Taj Mahal, so when she was on holiday in Dubai, I took her to India for the weekend to visit the place she had wished to see for so many years. Her first reaction once she was in front of the Taj was so worth it.

Even through thousands of people visit the Taj Mahal every year and there are constantly groups of people on guided tours and taking pictures, once inside the Taj grounds you feel a sense of peace, love and admiration.

There are certain photographic spots which are marked out with queues of people waiting to take their picture. The most famous spot being the bench in front of the Taj Mahal, which became one of the most seen pictures in the world when Princess Diana visited.

After we had seen every corner of the Taj Mahal we left to visit the Agra Fort which is 2.5km away and offers the most amazing views of the Taj in all its glory. Agra Fort was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. The Agra fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan.

We visited Agra for the day and arranged a driver via our hotel. The drive took nearly 4 hours via the express highway. It’s a smooth drive but I would recommend driving it in day light hours. Take snacks with you as the petrol stations on the way don’t offer the best food for a road trip!

When in Delhi we stayed at The Imperial Hotel set in stunning manicured grounds. The hotel is privately owned and is home to the owner’s vast art collection approx. 5,000 pieces making the hotel also a museum. The hotel is luxurious and rich in history with Raj and colonial style design and architecture. To add to its list of attributes, it is also a Conde Nast award winning property.

During our time in Delhi we toured the city by rickshaw (typical tourist thing to do I know, but when in Rome!) visiting the cities sights such as:

- India Gate

- The stunning mughal gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India.

- Mahatma Gandhi memorial Raj Ghat

- Gandhi Smriti formerly known as Birla House which was Ghandi’s home and where he was assassinated while taking a walk in his garden.

- Parliament House

Top Tips for visiting India:

-Watch what you eat – we only ate within the hotel

- Don’t be too precious about your personal space

- Keep your purse and bag close by and attached to you

- Dress conservatively

- Keep your wits about you and stay vigilant but also be free to take in the unique charm and energy of India

Dani

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal through a window

Taj Mahal copy

India

Street Food in India

The streets of India

Adventure / Asia / Featured - 09/11/2018

Beautiful Boracay, Philippines

In 2012 Boracay was named the best island in the world to visit due to its stunning untouched beaches, however sadly in in 2018 Boracay was off limits to tourists due to the sad effects of over tourism and branded a “cesspool” by the Philippines President – I am glad to say we didn’t witness any of this – thank goodness!

We were lucky enough to visit as a family in 2017 and had a great time. When standing on the beach outside our hotel the peace and solitude takes your breath away. Ahead, the clear blue waters from Puka Shell Beach fan out to meet the sky in an endless expanse.

The sunsets in Boracay have been the most amazing sunsets I have ever seen in my life. The sky would turn from pink, to orange, to red and lasting a good 30 minutes.

Boracay has 13 beaches with the most popular being White Beach which is 4km long and one of the longest white beaches in Asia.

The beach on our hotel doorstep was stunning, with powder white sand and crystal blue water which was so shallow that you really had to walk quiet far out to get the water to come up to your waist.. This was perfect for the children to play and enjoy the sea especially when having their paddle boarding lessons.

There is no shortage of hotels in Boracay, but don’t be fooled they aren’t as affordable as one might think especially if you're looking to stay in a premium luxury property. For us it was a toss up between the Shangri-La and Discovery Shores with Shangri La being the most luxurious property in Boracay.

We booked Discovery Shores, we were super impressed with our room as it was really big more like a duplex apartment with a Jacuzzi on the balcony offering great views of the beach and over looking the main swimming pool. Discovery Shores its more of a boutique property with no hotel entrance as you enter by car off the main road straight into the garage, walk up a couple of stairs and it opens up into a wide open space with the beach straight in front of you. The facilities were great including the spa and they had a vast menu catering for children. We did visit the Shangri –La a couple of evenings as the restaurants were amazing and the setting was very romantic.

We only left our hotel a couple of times to enjoy a few adrenaline activities, visit the shops or in the evening enjoy the nightlife bar hoping!

One of the activities which we loved and I would highly recommend trying it out for yourself, was the Happy Planet Zip-line and Cable Car Station. Located on the highest point of the island, (ask your hotel to arrange a car) the station offers a beautiful panoramic view over the island’s only golf course, resorts and one of it’s beautiful beaches.

Little did we know until we got there that this zip line was a little different to ones we have done before as we’d be flying superman style! That’s right – instead of sitting upwards and holding on –this time we were lying down on our tummies, strapped in from above, arms outstretched! And to add to it, our 4 year old adrenaline junkie daughter Amara sitting upright on our back!

Once strapped in and our Go Pro at the ready (we took our own Go Pro but you can rent them and they also provide a selfie stick free of charge for your phone or camera) we were ready to go.

Looking back at the footage we took, I had to add music over it as I was screaming so much, my husband was laughing loudly and Amara was simply chilling enjoying the view and im sure she was thinking… “Really, is this it??!”

Watch our zip line video here: https://youtu.be/kPzfbushGEY

What was also great about this zip line was that it had two cables so the other family who we were traveling with could do it in tandem with us – I have to admit, they weren’t as loud as me!!

Once at the end of the zip line, your unbuckled and you jump on the cable car back to the start. This was great as you got to enjoy the view and witness all the things we’d missed earlier as we whizzed by head first! The aerial view of the island of Boracay gives you the opportunity to see just how much of a paradise island it really is – everywhere you look, green leafy palm trees, white sandy beaches and turquoise waters!

The next day we booked a private boat trip giving us the opportunity to see the island and snorkel. I managed to capture some great underwater shots of the kids and our friends not to mention the beautiful sea life.

Our boat captain was very proud to point out Manny Pacquiao (Filipino Boxer) million dollar resort which sat on the waters edge and only accessible by boat named Boracay’s West Cove.

We also took the kids parasailing, which we had to take a car to another part of the island. I wasn’t that impressed with the setup, maybe because it was super busy with tourists and after Zip lining this was rather boring – especially because Amara kept asking if it went any faster and any higher! – I guess it wasn’t an adrenalin rush for her!

Getting to Boaracy

I actually wouldn’t recommend the route which we took as the journey went on for hours – which really wasn’t fair on the children. We took a flight – bus –boat and then a hotel car to the resort.

We flew Silkair from Singapore Changi Airport to Kalibo Airport (International Airport)

What we should have done was fly Silkair from Boracay Godofredo Ramos Airport (Domestic flights) which can you believe was located 20 minutes from our resort flying direct into Manila.

Then Manila to Dubai on Emirates.

Update

Im pleased to say after a 6 month tourist ban, Boracay was reopened in Oct 2018 and thanks to the large cleanup the beaches are immaculate and the waters crystal clear, significant work still needs to be done to get the road system up to speed before larger numbers of tourists are allowed back on the island.

Dani

Family Friendly Relax Couple

Adventure / Asia / Featured / Relax - 09/11/2018

Fall in Love in Como, Italy

Out of the five lakes, which compose the Italian Lakes region, Lago di Como is without a doubt the most popular. Shaped like an inverted Y, surrounded by mountains and dotted with charming resort villages, Lake Como is the most picturesque travel destination for travellers of any type and especially for lovers.

We stayed in Cernobbio, which sits right smack in front of the large town square and right on the water’s edge making you in the middle of the action. And there is plenty of action with nightly summer festivals and fates. There are lots of nice restaurants and also a lido. http://www.lidodicernobbio.com/v1/

Beautifully located in the square are two boutique hotels, the interior are a little old fashioned (think Faulty Towers) and the rooms are quaint but the location is perfect and the views are stunning:

Hotel Regina Olga – offers beautiful grounds with a private swimming pool. Prices range from Euro 150 upwards

http://www.hotelreginaolga.it/index.php?lingua=en

Hotel Miralago – a small boutique property on the waters edge. Room prices start from Euro 150 plus

http://www.hotelmiralago.it/en/

The most prestigious villa/hotel is without a doubt Villa d'Este, which has been transformed into the Grand Hotel Villa d'Este one of the most luxurious hotels on the lake and located on the waters edge of Cernobbio. Prices range from Euro 1000 to Euro 3000

https://www.villadeste.com/en/

Traveling around Lake Como is pretty easy by ferry. There are slow boats, fast boats and private boats – we ended up doing all three. For 20 euros the ferry will take you to the following towns of Varenna, Bellagio, Tremezzo, Lenno, Menaggio and Cadenabbia. We ended up taking the slow ferry from Cernobbio to Bellagio which took 2 hours and the fast ferry back which took one hour.

Check the public transport timetable http://www.navigazionelaghi.it

When staying on the lake you must rent your own speedboat and venture out for the day. Take everything at your own pace in order to really enjoy the beauty of Lake Como and all its hidden gems. The lake’s waters edge are dotted with countless restaurants, all serving classic Italian fare – moor your boat, and wait for the staff to ferry you onto shore. A lot of these restaurants also offer water sports too. We stopped for lunch at a great restaurant between Cernobbio and Bellagio called Hotel Albergo Aroura, the food was great, the view was simply stunning and the watersports were awesome.

http://www.hotelauroralezzeno.com/

If you want to take a break from the lake and enjoy Como from above then you should take the funicular to the top of the hills. My husband hiked up to the top of one of the hills, which has a tall tower at the peak. It took him and his friends 3 hours, but they enjoyed a splendid, chilled lunch at one of the cafes at the top, took some breathtaking pics of the view and then got the funicular back down. It’s a medium to high intensity hike but is well posted and the views at the top are well worth any discomfort.

Hiking Trails - https://www.mountainwalking.org

Bellagio is the most popular town on the lake and is bustling. With many shops and restaurants, its beautiful but very busy with tourists coming and going on ferries and private boats. Walk up the long straight flight of steps called Salita Serbelloni that starts behind the harbor and goes straight up the hill. All along the narrow street are small cafes, shops, and colorful houses, each one of them with their own unique story. To really enjoy the town I would recommend a walking tour in order to discover the little-known vantage points and sights that many visitors miss. It’s a 3-hour tour, were you visit a sleepy fishing harbor with rare Larian gondola boats bobbing on the water, a park, and a botanical garden. Then, finish up with a gourmet lunch at a Michelin-listed local restaurant. Another guided tour, with limited daily ticket sales is the beautifully maintained gardens of Villa Serbelloni which occupy a large area above the town and contain a myriad of highlights including plants, statues, small caves and water features.

A few must visit spots in Lake Como are:

Villa Balbianello - Visit the immaculate gardens and this dramatic villa on Lenno.

Villa Carlotta -This is the most visited villa in Lake Como for good reason! Get lost in the extensive and elaborate gardens, explore the museum and grab a bite to eat.

Como Cathedral - Explore Como’s famous church with its impressive facade and ancient history.

Villa Oleandra - Look out for George Clooney’s house – enough incentive!

For the adventurers and thrill seekers, try the following activities:

Paragliding – View Lake Como, from another perspective – the sky. Gera Lario is the perfect place to start this unforgettable experience. It takes about 50 minutes from Cernobbio to the village. A shuttle will take you up to Montemezzo where you can enjoy the breathtaking view before taking a flight that lasts 15-20 minutes and during which you get a chance to drive the parachute!

Jungle Park - The jungle rider park is the perfect family fun activity with 7 paths created depending on people’s ages. From 1-meter high platforms for children and higher platforms for adults that can reach 15 meters of height, Jungle rider park offers other attractions such as Soft Air for fight lovers, archery, canoeing for water and other adventures.

Mountain Bike Tours – There are many biking tours around lake Como, contact

info@lakecomo.bike - a great way to explore the beauty and charm of this place

Nearest Airport is Milan which is a 30 minutes car drive to Cernobbio.

Lake Como is one of those special places that a single visit does not do justice. As many families have done for generations, Lake Como can be an annual summer holiday and each time it can be as varied as the previous one. This was my first visit to this magical place, I fell in love with it and I will certainly be going back many more times again.

Here’s a little teaser…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw0rnRsj8Ko

Dani

Adventure Family Friendly Relax Couple

Villa D'Este

Lake Como

Swanning around

Boating on the lake

Beautiful private villas on the lake

Bellagio Town

Lake Como from the sea

Adventure / Europe / Featured / Relax - 09/11/2018

Picturesque Portofino, Italy

We recently visited Lake Como and decided to extend our vacation so we could drive 2 hours to the Italian Rivera to visit Portofino. We simply rented a car from Hertz in Como (straightforward and easy) and then dropped it back to the airport in Milan (also stress free).

The drive to Portofino is mostly highway driving in the early stages but then you hit the mountains and start going through many winding tunnels until you hit the coastal town of Santa Margherita leading you via the coastal road of Portofino.

Entering Portofino you can’t help be amazed by its postcard level beauty - the ocean on one side filled with massive, private yachts and on the other side imposing mountains all dotted with pastel color houses and hotels. The main road literally ends at the Piazzetta (town square) where the town comes alive with hundreds of tourists, designer boutiques and many restaurants as well as access to all the boats, yachts and ferries. Portofino certainly lives up to its reputation as a glamorous place, especially during the summer, as you can spot many celebrities and palatial yachts that get bigger and bigger. However, it also preserves its authenticity with cobbled streets and tiny stores and an amazing wild side since the village is also the center of the Portofino National Park and Marine reserve, leading to fantastic hikes up and through the mountains.

One morning from literally our hotel entrance (Splendido), we took one of the hiking trails up to the top of the mountain from where we witnessed the most amazing views that went on for miles and then climbing down the other side we ended up straight onto a pebbled beach with a typical Italian restaurant – it reminded me of the restaurant featured in the movie Mama Mia. It was so random but a refreshing beer at the end of our two-hour steep trek was the perfect way to end our adventure. As we were on the other side of the mountain instead of walking back, we jumped onto a super-friendly Canadian family’s boat who kindly offered to take us back to the Portofino port. With a 30 min boat ride is perfect to witness Portofino from the sea and we even got a great view of Dolce & Gabbana stunning home on the cliffs edge..

During our few days in Portofino we stayed in two hotels – both equally fabulous but one being a lot more luxurious that the other.

Hotel Piccolo I really loved as its set in the mountain with its entrance on the main road and right across the narrow street the steps take you down to its private beach and restaurant. It was the perfect lunch spot to enjoy a large glass of rose and enjoy the view, not to mention checking out all the super yachts. While enjoying our lunch, Mr. Zara himself (yes the owner of high street giant Zara AKA Europe's richest man Amancio Ortega) moored his 154-foot yacht right in front of us! We were literally a stones throw away (see photos below) it did cross my mind to swim in front of his boat with the hope he would invite us on board !!! LOL

Even though the beaches are all pebbles, so its an “oh and an arh” to get to the water, but once you’re in the ‘Med’ its just amazing, so refreshing, so clean and utterly perfect.

The hotel has 23 rooms all furnished rather basic in whites or neutral palette with some rooms offering great ocean views. The hotel is just a few minutes walking distance from the hustle and bustle of the port/marina area.

Our other hotel was the Belmond Hotel Splendido which is set in lush terraced gardens on the steep, verdant hillside with fabulous views of the bay. This 16^th century monastery building oozes elegance and sophistication. The interior is traditional with an opulent feel of white marble, antiques furniture and old photos of famous guests who have stayed at this immaculate hotel. The stunning well-manicured grounds are perfect for dining and relaxing by the pool. It’s a hotel where you don’t ever want to leave, as the view is just simply breathtaking that no picture can replicate. Again, you can take a simple 5-minute walk down to the harbor or take one of the walking trails from the hotel doorstep.

Every night we ate in the harbor but people dine early and most of the popular restaurants get fully booked in advance with reserved tables. So if there’s somewhere you want to eat in particular, book in advance but wherever you eat, trying the pasta is a prerequisite and a MUST!

Portofino is Italy through and through. Everything that you want to experience about this magical country you can find in this tiny, picturesque village perched on the ocean-side. Places like these deserve multiple trips back as they really do fuel the soul.

Watch our video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOl0NyrytBc

Dani

Relax Couple

Adventure / Europe / Featured - 09/10/2018

My Honeymoon Masai Mara

In 2010 my husband and I spent our honeymoon in the Masai Mara, Kenya, during September which is the dry season and the perfect time to witness the great migration (July to October) when the animals head back to the Serengeti.

From Nairobi we took a small plane to Mara which took an hour. From the tiny windows of the plane, we could see the runway approaching and waiting on the sides were the hotels 4 x4’s. It felt like a scene from a movie – getting off the small plane stepping onto a dusty runway in the middle of the wilderness, with the game drivers standing by. In next to no time, our suitcases were in the car and off we went into the wild! As it was Africa, I certainly packed for the occasion with neutral and khaki color palate – infact I think I fitted right in with the staff!

A short drive later and we had arrived at The Fairmont Mara Safari Club in the Masai Mara which is surrounded on 3 sides by the Mara river, home to humongous hippos and massive, yawning crocodiles all who made their presence felt each morning before breakfast. This award-winning property is home to 50 luxury tents (glamping on another level) Four poster beds, full bathroom and a veranda for private al fresco breakfast.

The main restaurant is in the hotel which is a short walk from your tents (don’t walk around late at night, you may just bump into an unexpected visitor) There is also a swimming pool and private massage areas.

I have to say the service we received at this hotel was spectacular, nothing was an inconvenience, only a smiling pleasure. The hotel will organize all the activities you wish to do from early morning, afternoon and evening game drives, to hot air balloon rides, visiting a Masai tribe in their village and more.

Our amazing tour guide was Jacob who had a great sense of humor, patience of a saint and his genuine love for nature and wildlife was second to none. He knew this territory like the back of his hand. He would take us on every tour we did and he more or less knew which animals would be where at certain times in order for us to spot the BIG FIVE. Sometimes we were in the car alone with him and other times a few other people would join us. One day Jacob drove for miles in order to get to a point at the river where the animals cross for migration. This was a magical sight and something I will never forget. We sat patiently in the car waiting for the animals such as wildebeest, buffalo, zebras antelopes etc to come charging in their herds in order to cross the river - hundreds would make it across while others would be snapped up by the crocs, especially the stray ones that came alone not knowing what was waiting for them in the river.

If you don’t know what the Big Five animals are, they are rhino, elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard, with the leopard being the hardest to spot. One day we were out with Jacob and my mission for him was to spot a leopard as this was the only animal we hadn’t yet seen. Driving slowly, Jacob spotted a large cat in the distance by the trees, how he spotted it from afar, I will never know as it was so well camouflaged. Its difficult to spot the difference between a cheetah and a leopard as they look alike, just that their spots are slightly different. He drove close and switched off the engine. The cat noticed us and became a little inquisitive and walked over. He walked around the car ever so slowly, looking from the corner of his eye but not making direct eye contact. It was actually a cheetah who then paced up and down in front of the car and before we knew it, he had jumped onto the car bonnet. The 4 x 4 roof and sides were open, so he could have easily jumped right into the back with us. He sat on the bonnet for a good 10-15 minutes and a 1000 photos later– not fazed at all – kind of in control of the situation. It was amazing to witness this wild animal up close and personal, so elegant and poised, it was beautiful I felt so lucky. You really wonder how people could kill these stunning creatures, shame on them, honestly, shame on them!

Once Mr Cheetah was bored of sitting on the car he jumped off and slowly walked into the distance, phew I could now talk loudly and release my excitement. Carrying on with our leopard hunt we came across the remains of a kill, a large carcass sitting on the ground which for sure had been attacked by a pack of lions, the only thing left was a few scraps which the large, nasty looking vultures were pecking away at.

Still on our mission we drove past a BBC TV van full of cameras (clearly filming one of their amazing wildlife documentaries) in front was a large pride of lions - a few males and females with their cubs. It was fascinating to watch them, the cubs would play and annoy their mum (funny that), while the adult lions were lounging around, only getting up to find a cool spot to lie back down.

During our time at the Masai Mara it was my birthday, so my husband surprised me with a hot air balloon ride. We woke up early before sun rise and headed to the balloon site. A champagne breakfast including a full English was set up waiting for us to return from our ride. I had never been in a hot air balloon before and having the opportunity to do it over such wide open space was amazing. We could see herds of animals walking around and giraffes eating from the trees below us. I really enjoyed the sensation of floating freely through the air.

The same afternoon we visited an indigenous Masai tribe camp. This is a camp in its natural habitats but lives off the money received from tourists. The men were dressed in all their glory with necklaces, hats and spheres by their side. Inside the camp their homes are literally mud houses, dark but cool. A few children were playing, and a lady had a young baby in her hands. I couldn’t resist a cuddle at which point and to my delight I received a hello wee wee all over me!

During our time in Kenya we actually failed our mission to find a leopard but that’s ok as we made a pact to visit again but next time with our kids and finally finish our mission to spot the Big 5.

My advice when booking a safari with your children:

· Go when your kids are old enough to enjoy the experience as the drives can be long and tiring and you can’t get out of the car

· Take lots of snacks

· Pack binoculars and fun safari books for each child to get involved

· Book a kid friendly hotel so they can enjoy arranged kids activities and a swimming pool would be a great add on

Safaris, with hotels like the Fairmont, are exactly what they say on the tin – exceptional, memorable experiences that you will simply never forget.

Dani

Adventure Family Friendly Relax Couple

Adventure / Africa / Featured - 09/10/2018

Elephant Safari In Sri Lanka

Visiting Udawalawe National Park was the perfect introduction to an actual safari for my three children who were all under 5 years old. Only an hours drive from the Shangri La Hambantota in an open top 4 x 4 safari jeep the children got to experience safari life patience, having to whisper, use binoculars to spot the animals and most of all enjoy the great out doors.

Udawalawe National Park lies on the boundary of Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces, in Sri Lanka. The national park was created to provide a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir on the Walawe River. The reserve covers 30,821 hectares (119.00 sq mi) of land area. Udawalawe is an important habitat for water birds and Sri Lankan elephants.

It is quite possibly the best place in Sri Lanka to see elephants throughout the year as there are a few hundred elephants within the park, and you can sometimes witness a herd of females and their young moving or bathing together in their natural habitat.

As we had the jeep to ourselves, the driver was kind enough to go around the park at our own pace, waiting patiently for elephants to cross the bumpy tracks on the road so as we could watch them closely and follow his path. When the children spotted a baby elephant they were so excited, they babies were so cute, staying close to their mother but like any young they were walking in a daze and easily distracted falling behind.

This is the perfect opportunity for tourists to witness elephants at one with nature being free to roam as they wish. My children loved trying to spot the elephants using binoculars.

This is certainly a trip I would recommend doing when in Sri Lanka. The hotel will arrange the tour for you offering two time slots to visit the park. We went in the afternoon which was ideal as we caught a glimpse of the elephants bathing in the river late afternoon and the temperature was a lot cooler.

Here’s a video I found which will give you a little insight into the park

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwcQ57iEyVg

Udawalawe National Park costs:

Adult - $150.37    Child (6-12Yrs) $32.50

Fly Dubai takes 4 hours from Dubai flying direct into Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport. The resort is then 35km away. Emirates fly into Colombo and you then have about a 4 hour drive.

Relevant links:

http://www.uniquefamilytravels.com/2018/09/09/boutiqueluxuryatarabellaonboossainsrilanka/

http://www.uniquefamilytravels.com/2018/09/25/shangri-la-hambantota/

Dani

Adventure Money Box Family Friendly

Elephant safari

She cant put the binoculars down!

They were so close but the binoculars came in handy!

What a view!

Hey there captain...

People watching!

Adventure / Asia / Featured - 09/10/2018

Chasing A Geisha In Kyoto

I’m not sure about you, but one of the most important things for me when visiting Kyoto was to see a real-life geisha. Well my friends, let me tell you, I actually did - in fact I was so excited that I literally chased the poor woman down the road in order to take her picture. I know I’m crazy, (my husband was borderline embarrassed and totally mortified) but I was in the moment, disregarding cars, pedestrians and acting like a typical blonde tourist with a camera.

Don’t get me wrong you can see many geisha’s walking around the streets of Kyoto but these are mostly people dressed up as it’s a tourist thing to do – dress like a geisha with your hair and make up applied or people who are working in shows etc.

This geisha however, instantly took my breath away as she stepped out of a typical Japanese wooden house just a few yards ahead of me. She was not only striking and very beautiful and had not one strand of hair out of place, she was poised and petite and ever so elegant. She literally shuffled her way down the busy street at maximum speed in her wooden platform shoes and bright silk kimono, trying not to be noticed and trying to evade, avoid and escape from the crazy blonde girl.

Have you heard of the movie, “Memoirs of a Geisha” which is based on a famous book? While most of the movie was shot in the USA, some parts were filmed in the Gion District in Kyoto as this is where the main character lived. It has a famous bridge called Tatsumi Bashi which was also featured in the movie.

So, we didn’t visit Kyoto just for the geisha experience, there is actually so much to do in this enchanting, culturally rich city that was once the capital of Japan. From numerous classical Buddhist temples, manicured gardens, imperial palaces and Shinto shrines, Kyoto takes you back in time and tradition.

We took the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto which took 2 hours and 20 mins and costs 13,080 yen but if you are also traveling to the likes of Osaka, Mount Fuji, Hiroshima, I would recommend buying a Rail Travel Pass for convenience and to save money.

Once at Kyoto train station we managed to find a tour guide with who we negotiated a day rate and asked him to show us a few of the popular sites and to also show us a few hidden gems which are off the beaten path – away from tourists.

Our first stop was the Golden Pavilion "Kinkaku-ji". This zen like tranquil temple with a gold leaf facade set amid landscaped gardens and a reflecting pond is a must see as it exhibits and exudes the true feel of Kyoto. However there is a constant influx of tourists.

Another thing on our Japan to-do-list was to meet a real-life practicing monk, since we have become much more spiritually aware. We asked our driver to take us to a hidden temple which is not frequented by tourists and where we can see monks in prayer. He answered our request by taking us to this beautiful wooden temple set in large gardens which had many rooms along the path ways, the type of bamboo sliding doors you see in the movies - these were monks private rooms. We were lucky enough to bump into a monk who was leaving a temple, who offered to show us inside. He had a very calm and peaceful presence saying very little even though he didn’t speak much English. We said a little prayer, enjoyed the temple and left the monks to their work.

Friends who had visited Kyoto earlier that year had recommended for us to book tickets to watch a show at Gion Kobu Kapurenjo Theatre. The show lasts an hour and incorporates many of the Japanese traditions such as a Geisha dance, puppet show, a tea ceremony and musical. It’s a busy show with performances twice a day, so book tickets in advance. It’s a nice show which the kids would enjoy too.

Before heading back to the train station to catch our train back to Tokyo we enjoyed a great Kobe beef teppanyaki at one of the restaurants in the area.

All in all it was a really interesting visit to Kyoto, some people stay for a few days, but I felt like I had achieved what I wanted to do and I had so much more to see and do in Tokyo.

Dani

Adventure Couple

A family dressing up when visiting a shrine

Adventure

How many countries have your travel twinkle toes walked on??

I would have to credit our travel stroller the Mountain Buggy Nano for being the life saver of our trip to Paris

Even through thousands of people visit the Taj Mahal every year and there are constantly groups of people on guided tours and taking pictures, once inside the Taj grounds you feel a sense of peace, love and admiration.

In 2012 Boracay was named the best island in the world to visit due to its stunning untouched immaculate beaches.

Lake Como is one of those special places that a single visit does not do justice. As many families have done for generations, Lake Como can be an annual summer holiday and each time it can be as varied as the previous one.

Como Cathedral - Explore Como’s famous church with its impressive facade and ancient history.

Entering Portofino you can’t help be amazed by its postcard level beauty - the ocean on one side filled with massive, private yachts and on the other side imposing mountains all dotted with pastel color houses and hotels.

If you don’t know what the Big Five animals are, they are rhino, elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard, with the leopard being the hardest to spot.

Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka is the perfect introduction to a safari holiday for young ones.

She shuffled her way down the busy street at maximum speed in her wooden platform shoes and bright silk kimono.

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