Family Friendly Travel Blog

We've found the perfect portable potty for toddlers

Brilliant solution for potty training on the go...

 

 

 

 

This week My Carry Potty is going to come into its own as the family Shand embarks on filming for ITV’s Tonight programme...and a journey into deepest Derbyshire to visit 2 pig farms.  Nothing to do with baby friendly holidays I know so more of the filming in another blog…

My most pressing concern however is less to do with pig slurry and more to do with the toddler equivalent.  Monty, (2.5) years old is mid-potty training and like everything 3rd time around (with a substantial gap between child 2 and 3), I had quite forgotten about this bit.  (I write as the sofa covers are rotating around the washing machine, freshly doused with little boy pee.)

This time around however, there are a myriad of new piddle-related products.  Among them a potty with a pouring bit (inspired, why’s it taken so long to add this vital addition?) and a seemingly endless supply of new nappies (are they all really necessary?).  My favourite however is ‘My Carry Potty’ designed by award winning mum of 3 Amanda Jenner and  Monty is now the proud owner of this clever little ‘slurry suitcase’ which will definitely be with us on our journey to see the little piggies.  It’s well designed, sturdy (no worries about leakages here) and most importantly seems to go down a storm with the little chap in question.  Thumbs up all round!

To buy My Carry Potty visit the Family Travel Shop (link) from Tots to Travel.

Thursday's Top Travel Tip

Today's two top tips could not be simpler.

Two words: Book early to ensure you don't miss out!

 

Well it sounds simple enough doesn't it but we all have busy lives and it's easy to let booking a holiday slipdown the 'to do' list....but put it off for too long and you could be giving yourself a headache down theline.

 

FACT 1: 50% of holidays are booked between January and March, so it will come as no surprise that thebest properties in the best locations with the best facilities are the first to go.  

Tip 1: If you want the pick of the family friendly crop then the time to act is right now.  
 
Booking early is even more important if you want to travel in peak season.  June, July and August arealways the most popular months and the best child friendly holiday properties get snapped up early on. 

FACT 2: It's a myth that last minute flights are cheaper.  

Tip 2: Prices increase day by day so we consistently find that the earlier you book your flight (or ferry forthat matter) the better deal you'll get.    
 
Don't leave it to the last minute.  Now is a great time to book your perfect family friendly holiday.

Our team are on hand to talk to you and help find you exactly what you're looking for.
 
Phone for help and advice on: 0845 2694126
email us: enquiries@totstotravel.co.uk
Or let our new look website inspire you: www.totstotravel.co.uk

As recommended by The Telegraph

We’re thrilled to bits to have been featured in The Telegraph as part of their Good Value Holiday Guide last Saturday.

That’s the second year running the Telegraph have selected Tots to Travel as a top tip for family friendly self catering holidays!

Tots to Travel is described by the Telegraph’s Fred Mawer as one “….of the best and most interesting travel companies specialising in holidays to France”.

This is because we...

• Provide peace of mind: We are the only family friendly holiday company that goes to such extreme lengths to give you safe, family friendly accommodation 
• Offer the largest choice: We have the largest collection of visited and approved family friendly holiday homes available 
• Save you time & stress: Our award winning ‘parent friendly’ customer service saves you stress and time.

Click here to read Fred’s recommendation in The Telegraph.

Or, cut to the chase and get on with finding your dream family holiday!

• Click and have a look: www.totstotravel.co.uk

• Phone and get help: 0845 269 4126

• Email for advice: enquiries@totstotravel.co.uk

Happy holiday hunting!

Look what we're unwrapping!

Just a quick note before I dive headlong into the Christmas festivities and get buried in a flurry of discarded wrapping paper!

My team and I are committed to delivering the very best (and safest) family friendly holiday homes around.  In our quest to ensure that you can find no better, we've been beavering away behind the scenes to burst into the new year with something that is even better! 

For the moment though our plans are under wraps but watch this space...I hope you like what's coming!

Merry Christmas!

Best month ever! More holiday homes added than ever before...

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that this month we will be adding more fantastic, family friendly holiday homes than ever before - all approved and visited by my team to give you peace of mind when you book.  

This means that families like yours now have a bigger choice than ever before and the best ever chance of finding just the right place in which to spend quality family time together on holiday.

...And because we visit every property and know every house owner, my team is well placed to save you time and stress by matching you to the holiday home that meets your requirements - that's something you won't find anywhere else.  

Click here to save you time and stress

We take our responsibility for finding you fabulous, safe, family friendly holiday homes incredibly seriously, which is why we go to extreme lengths and that we keep pushing forward to find you more and more magical places!

So do come and visit the site, coo over our new family friendly holiday homes and get in touch so that we can help you find the perfect venue for your next holiday!

How to travel stress-free this Christmas

For many of us, next week will see us packing the cases and heading off to visit family or friends for the festive season.

Whether it be by plane, train or automobile, travelling with little people can be a challenge at the best of time, never mind when Santa must be factored into the equation too!

Here are our top tips for keeping the season stress-free if you'll be travelling this year...

Deliver direct...

Don't try to fly with presents - worse case, you could end up having them all unwrapped at security and at best you could end up being charged for the extra weight.

If you can't order them to be delivered direct, it's worth shipping them yourself en masse beforehand. Just remember to factor in how you'll get yours home afterwards...

Plan for delays...

With winter weather, traffic jams and everyone seemingly going the same way as you, it's worth preparing for delays. Pack entertainment to keep everyone occupied and all your travel details easily to hand, so you can make calls easily if you need to let anyone else know you're held up.

Tots track Santa...

Talk about how many miles you are travelling - just like Santa himself! You could make a map of the route, or even a Christmassy treasure hunt for the journey.

Leave a note...

Make sure they leave a note at home letting Santa know of your temporary location so he can be sure to find you on Christmas Eve. If he won't have access to a chimney, let the kids leave suggestions for alternatives. And of course, don't forget to leave out a little tipple and a mince pie (or perhaps a local equivalent!) at your destination. He's sure to be hungry after the extra trip from your house!

Enjoy the relaxation...

Being away from home means no racing around on last minute visits, no sale shopping, no 'let's use the time off to decorate the spare room' - just chill out and enjoy the time as a family!

Happy travelling!

Handpicked Collection - exclusive Tots offer on gorgeous gifts

When my friend and former Red Travel Editor sent me the details for the Handpicked Collection website, I knew that it was going to be jam packed full of deliciously lovely pressie ideas... 

...and on a recent surfing trip in search of Christmas presents, I found myself completely absorbed by the dozens of  beautiful things for me!  

The concept is a fab time saving device. Here I have a team of media experts, writers and presenters, ready to be my personal advisory panel on what's hot, chic and stylish.

So tearing myself away from the 'Her' section, I found (and bought) a cool micro scooter number plate for my 3 year old nephew, resisted spending a fortune on myself and  noted the nautical knot doorstop for my sailor-brother-in-law.  In fact my list is quite long so I won't bore you... why not have a look for yourself?

HANDPICKED OFFER

Tots friends get a 15% discount on The Handpicked Collection this Christmas - just enter TOTSTO at the checkout at www.handpickedcollection.com or call 0844 482 9708 to order.
 
Happy shopping!

Momymoo 'On the Go Changing Mat' Review

I’ve always been a fairly practical mum, often with practicality and value for money winning over style considerations.  

Third time round, and 7 years since having my first baby, I decided that I was going to take an altogether more chic and stylish approach to child rearing.  Moreover, the addition of a third child meant ‘hoiking’ our levels of household organisation to hither to unseen levels and a growing intolerance for products that just add unnecessary levels of clutter to our home.  

Add to that several years of helping families to achieve the most child friendly and stress-free holidays possible, and you get the picture...

...I’ve become a much more demanding customer.

So when I came across the Momymoo On The Go Changing Mat (www.momymoo.co.uk) I spotted a product that met both multiple requirements.  I opted for the Pink Flamingo design (although I struggled to choose as the patterns are all gorgeous) and I have to say that I’m thrilled.  

That’s my ‘stylish’ criteria sorted.

Now for the practicalities...

The changing mat is big enough for a wriggly two year old and there are just enough pockets to get the essentials in..nappy sacks, wet wipes and nappies.  I like the simplicity and efficiency of this, exactly what you need on your travels, nothing more nothing less...and no temptation to fill it up with odd socks and half eaten packs of Marmite rice cakes.  

It’s also easy to see when you need to restock, something that I have been hopeless about in the past.

On the downside, the front zipper pocket is quite small, probably big enough for your Oyster card, but I think it’s the paired down nature of this baby changing mat that lends itself to the greater levels of efficiency that I was striving for!  

I really love this ‘grab and go’ approach and for £28.00 I think you’ll have a stylish product that you are proud to use and fits the practical requirements.

Let me know what you think of this product and the designs, I’d be really interested to hear what you think!  Do comment below...

No more empty weeks: how to use social media to fill your holiday home

Holiday property owners - free training alert!

No More Empty Weeks: Discover how to harness the power of Social Media to fill your holiday home ... without wasting your time with stuff that doesn't work

The problem with using the likes of Facebook and Twitter in the same breath as marketing is that many of you probably switch off instantly.

Facebook is what the kids use, all day and all night it seems.  Merrily sharing photos of what they did last night and flirting with people they haven't even met (scary stuff for parents to get their head round .. and being one myself, I know this all too well!)

Twitter seems to be what celebs and famous footballers use to get themselves in trouble.  Newspapers are continually using tweets and making them into headlines, only to be caught up in some silly legal case.

So why on earth would you want to even consider using sites like Facebook and Twitter to promote your holiday home?

Surely social media is a waste of time?  And you just don't have time to spend tweeting, poking and sharing funny videos of cats!

This is why I am really excited to have persuaded Karen Skidmore to share some Social Media secrets with us all.

Karen Skidmore is a leading web tech marketing specialist based in the UK and I have spent time learning from her on how Social Media can make a difference to our own marketing here at Tots to Travel.

Karen is hosting a live session on Thursday 24th November where she will be teaching you how to use Social Media to help fill those dreaded empty weeks.

Click here to check out the details.

Even if you have been dabbling with various Social Media tools for the past few months (or even years), then I know you will learn stacks that will make a difference to your online marketing.

Marketing on the web allows you to reach out to new customers right around the globe.  And having spent time with Karen, I know that using the right Social Media tools in the right way, can make a big difference to your online marketing success.

If you can't make it live, then make sure you register so you can receive the recording and watch back at a time to suit you.

Here's the link and make sure you register - see you there!

Bag a T-Rex of a Deal on Christmas Presents from Trunki!

If your challenge is travelling with your tots this Christmas, or finding practical, fun Christmas presents that your kids will love is proving tricky... 

...then meet the Trunkisaurus pals, Rex and Rox! 

Complete with marbled scales and ferocious teeth, you’d better beware because these suitcases bite!

Whether it’s Christmas at Granny’s or a round the world trip, Trunki is the ideal companion.  This fab 3 in 1 ride on suitcase teaches children to take responsibility for their own belongings. They can pack up their toys and ride along, whilst parents can keep them in tow easily! 

Trunki was designed to beat the boredom so often suffered by families in transit. 

Check out these monstrous Christmas Trunki deals on the all new Tots to Travel Family Travel Shop!  

Ultimate T-Rex of a Deal!

Click here to bag Rex or Rox with all their accessories (Tote bag, Saddlebag, Stickers & the Travel Chums Set Washbag, Pencil Case & Purse) for £72.50 (normally £78.95) + P&P 


Bite-size T-Rex Deal!

Choose Rex or Rox with Tote and Stickers for £49.97 (normally £52.97) +P&P 

 

 

 

Rex or Rox all alone

Click here to bag your very own Rex or Rox for just £37.99 +P&P

 

 

Trunkisaurus features...

Locking catches ✔
Teddy bear seatbelts ✔
Bits pouch ✔
Two carry handles ✔
Secret compartments ✔
Multifunctional carry-tow strap ✔
Passport for downloadable activities ✔

Dimensions 46 x 20.5 x 31cm

PS. There are limited stocks available and orders need to be received by 8th December 2011 so 'snap' yours up now!