Holiday Time! (Nearly)

The summer is fast approaching and it’s holiday time (nearly) for this family!

We feel truly lucky to have had quite a few fabulous, memorable holidays both here or abroad since the kids have come along, mostly in Europe and the Med with some closer to home in Yorkshire and Wales too for shorter breaks.

Long haul flights pre-sprogs have taken a backseat though but fun and sun have so far, not been compromised (not counting our holidays to Wales of course)!

 Isn’t Yorkshire beautiful?

With our first son, Oliver we did a fair bit of travelling with him from a young age (not counting moving from London to Bristol and then Leeds in his first year too) as I flew solo with him to Cyprus when he was 6 months old to meet my beloved Grandma (no longer with us) which was unforgettable, then our first family holiday as three to Tenerife the following Easter (pics below).

Soon after, Alexander came along and together we enjoyed a joyous two-week break in Portugal last summer as a foursome for beach trips, al fresco seafood dining and fun with other families staying at the same resort. Oliver also learnt to swim last year, it was incredible seeing the boys blossom outdoors, absorbing and thriving in their new surroundings.

We equally love escaping it all with week-long sojourns by the captivating Yorkshire coast, hiring a cottage and stomping down to the beach, wellies on, buckets in hand, for hot chips and sweet Yorkshire ice cream in the sea breeze. Our happy place on home shores.

Time to relax, recuperate and rest from the every day, the hamster wheel of work, pre-school and routine, the chance to slow down and take everything in a little more.

This month, I am away with girlfriends to the South of France for a week at the Cannes Film Festival for film premieres and market screenings, meetings and ‘eatings’ but mostly for some time to feel me again to let my hair down (the parties are incredible).

The last time I went I was unknowingly pregnant with Oliver in 2010 so it’s been a few years and I’m now more than ready to return with renewed energy and a zest to reconnect with the film world.

We are also, of course, considering family holidays for the year ahead, hopefully, to Marbella where relatives live and a week in London now we no longer live there and can be tourists again, taking in the city on double deckers and black cabs to visit museums and art galleries for a culture/fun hit!

Looking overseas, a love of Italy (I lived in Rome after Uni) means we’re seriously considering Villa Pia for late summer; I’m yearning to stay at this award-winning family villa in Lippiano, set against the beautiful backdrop of Tuscany.

A perfect destination for families, Villa Pia offers an affordable luxury holiday that’s family friendly to boot. Their all inclusive, child-friendly accommodation is quite simply a haven nestled between Umbria and Tuscany, Lippiano is a sweet town enveloped in the classic landscape that Italy is famous for: sumptuous green fields, olive groves and vineyards as far as the eye can see and deep blue skies: bliss!

Villa Pia stands on five acres of land, where children can explore and play- with two swimming pools on site, a sand pit, trampoline, indoor soft play room and adventure play space (that will keep them busy).

Beyond the gates lays Lippiano’s 10th-century castle surrounded by stunning woodland ideal for walking, mountain biking and horse riding. Heavenly!

There is also a range of relaxing beauty treatments, adult cookery classes, pilates or yoga sessions, wine tasting and even an on-site babysitting service to help you totally unwind making this a perfect holiday destination for us four. We have to make it happen!

Now where did I put my passport?

So, where are your favourite holiday destinations?

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