Wellness has become just as much a part of holiday planning as the destination itself, and a little preparation keeps that side of the packing simple. Knowing which items sail through customs and which need extra care turns a stressful moment at the border into a formality. With the groundwork done in advance, all that’s left is the trip itself, not the suitcase’s contents.
Every trip begins with a suitcase spread across the bed and a list of items that feel essential in the moment. Toothpaste tubes, mini shampoo bottles, and single-use wipes often make the cut without much thought, and most end up in a bin before the holiday is even over.
Frequent travel changes how a person packs, and years of catching early flights teach lessons no packing list ever fully captures. Every trip adds a little more insight, and most seasoned travellers end up with a personal set of items they never leave home without.
Family holidays are amazing for making memories that last, but let’s be real, they can also be super stressful. When you’re busy juggling schedules, keeping the kids happy, and figuring out new places, it’s easy for your own well-being to get pushed aside.
From the moment your toddler turns two where they’ll need their own plane seat, to when you’re paying the adult entry fee to a theme park for your 12-year-old, holiday costs that were once inexpensive or non-existent can begin to creep up on you. By 16, any child discounts you’ve relied on largely become a thing of the past.
In the world today, more and more travellers are turning to eco-tourism and cultural exploration. People are no longer satisfied with just sightseeing. They want to truly understand a destination’s natural environment and ethnic culture, and at the mean time, travel in a more sustainable way.
A while back, I wrote about the differences in skiing holidays pre- and post-motherhood. If you missed it, you can read it here. Despite the extra planning and effort required for a family ski holiday, I’ve always believed it’s completely worth it. Our latest trip to the mountains only reinforced that for me. There are so many benefits of skiing with children, from building confidence and coordination to creating unforgettable family memories. If you’re wondering whether to take your children skiing, here’s why I think it’s one of the best holidays you can give them.
A few years ago, we decided to tackle the Eurostar Snowtrain from London to Bourg St Maurice as a family of six—two adults and our four young children. We wanted a convenient, child-friendly way to reach the French Alps, and we found that taking the Snowtrain was surprisingly relaxing compared to flying. Below is our account of going on the Snowtrain with kids, how it all went, plus some tips if you’re considering the same journey.