Fairy Travels

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Back in 2015 we touched down in Amsterdam to hear the very sad new my wonderful granda had passed away. I was distraught. We departed on the next flight back to Dublin. For a long time I had a mental block about Amsterdam, about going back there. The association was tough.  However a press release popped in my inbox this week and made me think. You know something perhaps a return visit is just what I need, a closure of sorts.

I see that KLM has reached an agreement between themselves and Dublin headquartered Stobart Air which will see Stobart provide an E195 jet on an ACMI contract (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) for the purpose of operating up to eight flights per day from Amsterdam, including Dublin to Amsterdam. I was intrigued to read that Stobart employ over 500 people.  You might not realise that Stobart are the airline that operates the Dublin-Donegal and Dublin-Kerry Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes, on behalf of the Irish Government, under the Aer Lingus Regional brand. 

I use the Donegal – Dublin route very frequently and its incredibly convenient, for work reason we are split between Dublin and Donegal and this makes it a lot easier. Another huge plus is the view from Carrickfinn runway on departure. The runway literally disappears before your eyes! If I recall correctly it was voted the Worlds most scenic runway in 2018. That is quite the accolade.

Back to Amsterdam! I did so much research before my trip and had it all planned out, Heineken Factory, canal boat cruise, copious coffees along the canals. My youngest was only young at the time we went in 2015 so Nana very kindly offered to take him while we took my oldest, who was 3 at the time. Being the ultimate hoarder I no doubt still have all my notes.

Perhaps 2019 will be the year we pay another visit to this intriguing city. Time will tell.

Generally we like to try new places, countries, cities etc when we travel however that said the only place where we have routinely returned year on year is Alvor Portugal.  We didn’t make it for 2018 for family reasons and as we closed out 2018 and rang in 2019 one thing we did agree on was that we missed our annual family trip to Alvor. You see its not just the immediate family, we go as a party of our extended family. For our first trip we were a party ranging in ages from 6 months to plus 60 years and hand on heart every single person enjoyed.

The beach at Prainha Credit: Clickstay

For us and the age range of our party Alvor has it all, beautiful beaches, friendly locals, seriously good food and wine and a lovely chilled out vibe. Given our party size we always opt for a villa preferably with a pool and bonus points if its a covered/ sectioned off one as my crazy crew have little fear around water. Don’t get me wrong that’s not a bad thing id just rather that they were aware of the dangers of water and that I didn’t need 300 pairs of eyes for the daredevils! Thankfully holiday rental companies such as Clickstay offer a number of accommodation options from 2 beds upwards.

With young kids having the ability to cook for them and just have some extra space for chilling is pretty invaluable, again with a large crowd rooms for a breather are very useful too!

I would have said im not a creature of habit but maybe am I after all! Our resort of choice from our first trip is Prainha Village for a couple of reasons:

• Location – location just outside of the main town area means it quiet and peaceful and a stunning secluded beach is just minutes from the properties
• Size of property – we choose the 4 bed option and its perfect for our needs. See for example see this Clickstay villa in Alvor
• Pools – there is an incredible salt water pool in this complex. The setting over looking the sea is breath taking
  

  View from Canico Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy

• Canico bar – this deserves a special mention, quite honestly the highlight of our trip whether having coffee while the kids place on the beach or sipping champagne as the sun goes down on the ocean. There is a magic here that’s impossible to convey.
• Miss Pasta – my kids just love this place. The staff are just brilliant and go out of their way to make all ages fell welcome and valued. This is something I find very important in any resort.

Atlantic Salt Water Pool Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy

While there are many fantastic properties on offer with sites like Clickstay in many different destinations throughout the world, every year I leave a piece of my heart at Prainha Village. The great thing is given the size of our party its very budget friendly that’s both the accommodation and the eating and drinking!

Honestly you will not regret a visit to a place like Prainha, we have been very fortunate to have travelled to many countries around the world, however Alvor is currently the only place we have gone more than once and that is a true testament to the calibre of the place you are going to.

So Prainha we will see you later in 2019 and young and old members of The Mamma Fairy house cannot wait.

Note: This is a collaborative post however I retain full editorial control, pic’s and memories are my own too!

Pic credit: Pixabay

If you’ve long dreamed of heading out on a US getaway, then maybe it’s time you stopped thinking about it and actually did it! When you do decide to do it, to ensure that you experience everything, make sure to plan your vacation down the to a T.  To see what should figure into your US getaway plans, read on.

Choose a wide range of places to visit

When it comes to planning the perfect US getaway, you really are spoilt for choice. What with there being so many states and cities for you to choose from, it’s a near impossible task to whittle your journey down to one American destination. This means that, if you have the luxury of being able to travel for a considerable amount of time, you really should experience as much as the US has to offer by heading to as many different places within the country as you can.

To save yourself from missing out on anything in America, you should seek to experience it all! From partying in Miami to camping in Big Sur, your goal should be to do it all, whether it’s all in one go or not.

Be strategic when it comes to your itinerary

You don’t want to miss a thing on your US getaway, which means that you have to put some real thought into your itinerary before you head out on your adventure. This means deciding what you’re going to see on each day that you spend in the US, and putting plans into place that will see you remain in top condition to ensure that you lose none of your vacation to illness.

In regards to the latter, depending on where you choose to head to, there are going to be different environmental challenges for you to take into account. In Miami, for instance, the party, quite literally, never stops. There’s always something happening in the 305, no matter what day of the week you decide to paint the town red. From Monday night beats to Sunday Fundays on the beach, there’s always something going on. This means that, if you like to get a bit wild from time to time, then this should be the place for you. 

Don’t forget the natural beauty that country has to offer

When planning a US getaway, it can be easy to get caught up in the glitz, the glamour, and the partying. By favouring places like Los Angeles and Vegas over Yosemite and Big Sur, however, you will truly miss out on the beauty of this country.   When you decide to head to National Park in the US, make sure to pack your walking boots and make sure to set suitable camping arrangements in place prior to arrival. This will save you having to sleep rough in your car for the night while you wait for a camping space to become available. Or alternatively if you are more like me and camping  really isn’t you thing but you enjoy the outdoors, what about glamping?  If you haven’t heard of glamping there are some fantastic resources available on how to glamp.

To get the most out of your next trip to America, make sure to incorporate the above advice into your getaway-planning process.

Note: This is a collaborative post

Pic Credit: Pixabay

We often joke in our house, wondering how many miles we do a year. We love to travel and we spend quite a bit of time in the car.  Therefore ensuring the health of our car is as important as our own health, after all the cargo is precious!!

One thing I will commend the Dada Fairy on is that he is very thorough and cautious about checking the car, you can never be too careful. I am by no means an expert and always talk to a professional, never taking any risks when it comes to the road worthiness of your vehicle, if its NCT or MOT get your certification for example in London from Iversons.

Some tips we have gleaned over the years of travel in all types of weather conditions and often all terrains:

• Protect your paintwork, harsh weather conditions like ice, snow, grit and dirt can impact the paintwork so it is important to use a wax coating or similar to  form a protective layer
• Inspect your car before setting off, always check tyres (brakes), and windscreen, and wipers before setting off and not forgetting ensuring all lights are working correctly.
• Anti freeze, in harsh conditions antifreeze is an important component in protecting engines 
• Fuel, in winter we would never travel with the bare minimum always ensure you have plenty in case of emergencies etc
• Emergency kit, ensure your car is well stocked in case of unforeseen breakdown, safety kit should include a good first aid kit as well as hi-viz, triangle, cones, flash light and its not harm to stick in some energy bars. Just in case. Its important to be prepared.

I can’t stress how important it is to have your car serviced regularly. At this time of year makings sure your vehicle is able for the inevitable harsher conditions is so  important.

Note: This is a collaborative post however I retain full editorial control.

I know lots of people think we are insane to take young kids skiing but with the right precautions we haven’t had any issues going on family ski trips. Actually dare I say it we gravitate towards winter holidays rather than sun holiday. We were in Canada last year and are off to Finland, more precisely Lapland in 3 weeks and counting. Having done this a number of times both pre and post kids I have set out some tips and advice below:

• Preparation is key! Shop around for good quality durable ski wear it is worth spending money on this as they will really be put through their paces and will last a couple of seasons or be handed down between the kids too! While it doesn’t get particularly cold around these parts there have been days where the thermals have come in useful for the kids! One thing I am very strict on is kids ski helmet. A lot of research goes in to selecting top quality ones for us all. 
• No helmet no ski rule: This one is strictly enforced so everybody knows not so much as a foot allowed on the slopes until the helmets are on.
• Good socks:  You will thank me later, good socks are essential.
• Layers: Layers and lots of them is what works for us as you will be in and out places and can adjust them as necessary.
• Insurance: Call you insurance provider to see if you need an upgrade for winter activities many often do.
• Skincare: Temperatures can get very low so make sure you moisturise, especially the delicate skin of younger kids. We favour the Eucerin Dry Skin Range and used it on our recent trip to Iceland.
• Choose wisely: Resorts can vary so much so do your research to ensure it is kid friendly including providing cots, high chairs etc if needs be. Some resorts offer some child minding and clubs.
• Manage Expectations: Pre kids you might have been able for hours on the slopes and lets faces it as much as they might enjoy skiing they will need more breaks and down time during the day. There is nothing worse than tired and grumpy kids on the slopes. 
• Tech: Phones aren’t keen on the cold so keep them in inside pockets

Hopefully the above will be some help in getting you set up for your first or repeat ski trip.  And if like us, you like to chill after a touch time on the slopes have a look at some of the best apres-ski spas in Europe for some inspiration for your next trip.

Check back at the end of the month for trip reports on our upcoming Finland trip.

Note: This is a collaborative post however I retain full editorial control

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Road trips are romantic, fun-filled and exciting ways to travel and expose your children to new and interesting parts of the world – whether you stay in your country or you choose to cross some borders. They also require a certain level of planning in order to go off without a hitch, and it’s the purpose of this article to help you extract the best experience from your family road trip. From the vehicle itself to what you should pack and where you should go, we’ve got you covered when it comes to road trip planning.

The Car

The most essential component of your road trip is, of course, the car you choose to drive in. Some families already have the perfect vehicle at their disposal, while others prefer their traditional family car to stay home. If you’re in the latter camp, you’ll be able to search for used cars to buy on finance online, securing yourself a great deal on the deal family wagon to take to the roads. Before you set off, do a comprehensive check of your vehicle, and make sure the oil and water is filled up for the kilometers you’ll soon be eating up.

Keep your car interior neat and tidy. One easy way is seat protection for all those crumbs, spills, dirt particles, and anything. Find protective seat covers that fit your car and are comfortable for those hours on the road. Organizers, dash covers, and other accessories can make the task easier too.

Documents and Policies

Depending on the level of ambition your road trip has assumed, you’ll need to secure a number of policies and documents before you set off. You’ll, of course, want insurance that covers your trip, and the breakdown cover that’ll provide peace-of-mind should the unthinkable happen. If you’re crossing borders, you’ll almost certainly need some paperwork in order to do so; search online for what you’ll need to avoid any last-minute frantic searches or any long waits at border crossings. Travel insurance is also recommended if you are going further afield on your road trip.

Itinerary

Pic Credit: Pixabay

If you’re road tripping with your family, you’ll know that you shouldn’t attempt any monster 10-hour drives for risk of causing bedlam in the back seats. Instead, take it slow and schedule regular stops in order for you all to stretch your legs, have some food and drink, and see the places that you’re driving through. Make sure that you’ve booked ahead the hotels you’re planning on staying in, and don’t overstretch yourselves – road trips shouldn’t be stressful, they should be liberating. Your children will quickly rebel if they feel the trip is no fun.

What to Pack

Aside from the essentials, your packing should largely take into account what you’ll be able to bring to entertain your kids. You might choose to download films onto an iPad, or to buy some CDs or audiobooks that’ll be entertaining for all the family. Bring plenty of snacks and drinks so that the family is refreshed and well-fed throughout, and bring all the equipment you expect you might need for the places your visiting – be that beach stuff, warm winter clothing, or even a tent and stove for families who love to adventure in the great outdoors.

Family road trips are some of the most memorable holiday options available; make yours a success by fully considering the tips above.

Note: This is a collaborative post

We arrived in beautiful Iceland after a short 2 hour WOW air flight from Dublin on a Friday afternoon, grabbed our bags and quickly headed towards the meeting point to meet the rep from the car rental service company.  Having carried out a lot of research we choose Lagoon Car Rental for our trip. Lagoon are a family owned business with offices at both  Keflavik airport and Reykjavik.  Some of the key factors which influenced our decision to go with Lagoon were firstly; their cars are all less than two years old, there was a huge selection of options and additional extras.  While getting value for money is important one thing I will never scrimp on is car safety.  That is even more important in a country where we are driving on a different side than we are accustomed allied to the fact the weather conditions in Iceland have the potential to be unpredictable.

The Car

Pic Credit: Mamma Fairy Blog

We met the Lagoon Car Rentals in the arrivals hall of Keflavik airport and took the short trip in their mini bus to their desk just outside of the airport grounds.  We were lucky it was nice and quiet at the time being later in the afternoon so the entire process was quick and seamless and we were sitting in out Kia Sorrento in a very short space of time.  The kids loved the hot chocolate in the waiting area! We went for a 4*4 automatic and added on the 2 car seats and gps.   The vehicle itself was immaculate inside. We took our time going through the condition before signing off to take it away. This is something I would strongly urge anybody to do. I took a lot of pictures too in case of any disputes, of which thankfully there were none! And with that we hit the road for our hotel in Reykjavik.

We spent the first night relaxing at the hotel and get to bed early so that we could depart early for our Golden Circle tour. I had read loads and done a lot of research so I had it more or less planned out so that we could make the most of it.  We were truly blessed with the weather. While it was cold it was bright and crisp without a drop or rain or snow in sight! There is a saying in Iceland that if you don’t like the weather wait 5 minutes.  Iceland is prone to huge variations in the weather conditions even within the one day so my advice is to have the car well equipped.

We had changes of clothes, food, rain gear and walking gear.  Just in case! But that is the luxury of having a car you can just dump all in the boot!.

Golden Circle Stop 1- Thingvellir

Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog

Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog

We departed Reykjavik bright and early. The sky was so clear and so blue, we were so excited. Stop one was Thingvellier National Park which is a UNESCO listed site which once housed the Icelandic Parliament. The kids were particularly excited to see the rift in the landscape cased by the separation of the 2 tectonic plates. Its quite remarkable to think where you are standing and what is going on in the ground beneath you!

We parked up and walked one of the trails, which is a little uneven so do bring good walking shoes. It wouldn’t be buggy or wheelchair friendly the particular section we choose so do plan your route in advance.   The entire landscape here is breath taking. I actually don’t thing any photos could even do it justice.  No matter which way you look its simply stunning. One thing I did notice was how crisp and fresh the air felt.

You could spend hours here, looking at the old stone ruins and walking the trails but we were on a tight enough time scale so departed after maybe 2 hours and a hot cup of coffee!

Mamma F Top Tip– Parking needs to be paid for in the visitors centre as apparently they read the registration on the way out. Loads of toilets and coffee shop there so well worth a quick stop.

After a quick coffee and rest of the legs we headed back to the car to get to our next stop – Fontana Thermal Spa.

Golden Circle Stop 2 – Fontana Thermal Spa

Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog

Fontana is ideally located about half way along our Golden Circle route.   It serves as the ideal spot for some lunch and a total relax in their geothermal baths.  We opted for the buffet lunch upon arrival and it was so good. The food was tasty, fresh and plentiful with something for everybody. However I cannot forget the bread. In fact im drooling right now thinking of it.  It was incredible. It is baked underground for 24 hours in the hot black sand.   It is no exaggeration to say it was quite possibly the tastiest bread I have ever eaten. (Quite the accolade for a bread loving Irish family!)

Lunch eaten and we headed to the changing room to get ready for our dip in the geo thermal pools. One thing to bear in mind is that you must shower before you go to the pools and not doing so is viewed as being very disrespectful by the locals.  The changing rooms have lockers and plenty space to get organised.  The layout and setting of the pools is really lovely. There are a number of pools each with different temperatures. Onsite there are also sauna and steam room and for the brave amongst us you can take a dip in the ice cold lake. Its apparently very good for the body and heart to alternate the temperature but im quite happy to take somebody else’s word for this!!

Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog

We met a lovely couple here who were doing a similar trip to us but in the reverse direction and advised us of a lovely farm with home made ice cream just before our next stop. He mentioned salted caramel ice cream and I was sold! We dried off and hit the road again for Geysir via the ice cream stop!)

Mamma F Top Tip – have lunch at Fontana and follow up with home made ice cream at Efstidalur II, you will not be disappointed. So so so tasty and the setting is lovely looking out over the farm.

Continue Reading

Since I was a kid I have been fascinated with Iceland, I can’t quite say what specifically it was that interested me but the curiosity to visit has been there for some time. I’m very excited to say I finally ticked this item off the Mamma Fairy bucket list.  Getting to Iceland is remarkably easy with WOW air offering 2 flights a day from Dublin during peak times and with prices starting from €49.99 each….as I told the Dada Fairy “sure we would be mad not too!!”.

WOW air – History

Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog Location: Keflavik Airport

Most people have heard of WOW air and know their striking purple livery but who are they?!!  They seem to have exploded on to the aviation scene as a solid budget airline.  Curious to know more myself I did a little digging…..WOW air is an Icelandic airline who operate out of Keflavik airport. They were founded in 2011 and the airline made its inaugural flight in 2012.  Flights commenced from Dublin in June 2015 when WOW began expanding into North American and Canada connecting parts of Europe via Iceland.

The man behind the airline is a well known Icelandic businessman and financier called Skúli Mogensen.

I understand that as of 2018 WOW air operates to 36 destinations from Europe, North American to the Middle East. Quite remarkable for an airline which is still really in its infancy having only commenced in 2012. According to media report, they have a fleet of 20 and carry over a million passengers a year.

Our WOW air flight

Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog Location: Dublin Airport

We departed Dublin on the 11.45 flight on a cool crisp Friday morning. Timing wise this flight is perfect. My pair love their sleep and the earlier option while it would have provided us with more time in Iceland in reality would probably have just meant id have a grumpy pair on my hands by 3pm. Boarding was efficient, we departed on time and the services on board couldn’t be faulted.

I do have to give a specific mention to the pilot on our outbound flight as my kids are still talking about him.  Before the cabin crew ran through the safety demonstration he urged the passengers to watch and pay attention or else he would be out to ask questions!! Now my 6 year thought this was just the funniest thing ever! Throughout the flight he was engaging, witty and set a great tone for the holiday. Similarly the cabin crew were friendly and efficient and seemed to genuinely wanted to make the flight as pleasant as possible for those on board.

Coming home again we opted for the 12 o’clock afternoon flight which again is perfect timing. No crazy early starts! Similarly we left on time despite Keflavik airport being incredibly busy that morning.

On board 

We had the xl leg room seats on both flights and I wouldn’t hesitate to pay for this.  I’m not tall, the Dada Fairy is and he was very impressed with the comfort of the extra leg room. Our flight over didn’t have the USB chargers however our flight home did. The certainly was not an issue for a short flight perhaps if you were en route to the US you might need to charge your devices particularly if you were travelling with kids. We didn’t sample the food offering on either leg but there looked to be the useful fare at usual airline prices.  Again for a short flight we usually don’t bother.

On board the aircraft the purple theme remains with the seats and floor covering.  The aircraft on the flight home to Dublin had some hilarious slogans for the call bells which when you are six years old is pretty funny.

Child friendly 

Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog Location: Dublin Airport

My kids are very used to travelling despite their young age therefore an airline who are child friendly is something that would be very important to us. No matter how used to flying kids are they still could be prone to tantrums, sore ears, being upset etc.  I have to say from start to finish the cabin crew and ground staff were fantastic, helped with buggy, getting them settled and getting on the aircraft early to get them settled with little or no queuing. Sometimes I feel there is a perception that budget airlines may be less child friendly or even welcoming of kids. Hand on heart I can’t say this wasn’t the case with WOW air.

In fact we were so impressed not just with WOW air but also with Iceland (yes I have left a piece of my heart there – lots of posts on our adventures there in progress) that we are intending to use them for our long haul trip to Chicago in April.

Our next Adventure – Chicago

We have been fortunate enough to have been invited to experience Chicago as a family friendly destination and what better way of doing it that combining it with a long lay over in Iceland.  I hope on that trip to completely dispel the myth of taking kids on budget flights.  Funny enough my pair were the only kids on the aircraft both ways.

WOW air offer flights to some US and Canadian cities from €99 so that’s some serious value combining that with a trip to the land of fire and ice what more could you want.  I also read recently that WOW will commence flights to Orlando in December this year, making the elusive trip to Disney that little bit more affordable.

The ability to add the layover to the US flight tickets is an impressive add on.  Having spent time in Iceland I can highly recommend making a stop over. I am currently drafting posts on our adventures there.  We spent a day driving the Golden Circle which was in a word….breathtaking. Sneak peak below but do check back for full post which ill link below when it completed.

Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog Location: Thingvellir Park

Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog Location: Gullfoss – Golden Circle

Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog Location: Geysir – Golden Circle

***********update************

Wow have flights from €29.99 one way one way (ex charges/bags) between now and end March, plus its Northern Lights season!! We are currently planning a second trip in March and we cannot wait, we didn’t see the Northern Lights the last trip so figures crossed we have more success this time! For more see www.wowair.ie 

Note: Thanks to WOW air for the support on this trip, all words my own and I retain full editorial control over the content above as all opinions and views are mine or the boys where appropriate.

Pic Credit: Pixabay

This is a big year in the Mamma Fairy house, my parents are 40 years married and my husbands grandparents 60 years married. Added to that 2 big birthdays (ill be in trouble if I reveal their ages!) and a family wedding, not the wedding itself rather a family get together in advance.  What we really wanted to find was large group accommodation  where we could all be together but yet have our own space. Somewhere not too far away and somewhere that had the option of different activities for the range of age groups that would be attending.

The conservatory at Charnwood Forest Estate Pic Credit: www.partyhouses.co.uk

Due to the age range we would also need somewhere child friendly and accessible friendly and if at all possible pet friendly!  I know this sounds like a seriously tall order and a  mission impossible. However no task too daunting for a travel obsessive like myself and…..(drum roll please…..)…..we found partyhouses.co.uk.

Party Houses have a range of properties available to rent catering from 12 people up to 80 plus thus making them ideal for family celebrations right up to corporate events or perhaps even weddings. For me the huge benefit is they are spacious properties allowing us to all be under the one roof yet have the luxury of some privacy. I have fallen completely in love with Charnwood Forest Estate. Have a nosey, you will not be disappointed. It is situated on  over 13 acres of land in the East Midlands. With 17 bedroom it can accommodate 48 guests, (the bedrooms – wow). For some added luxury there is an indoor spa pool, treatment suite, spa garden, and a hot tub. The sounds absolutely ideal.

It would also make a great location for a relaxed hen party or corporate team building day or night away. What I really like is that via the site you can book additional activities such as in house treatments, chauffeurs, cocktail making or even musician or entertainer hire.  The beauty of this is that you can tailor the offering to really meet the needs of the guests which can be a very important consideration when you have a group as diverse as ours.

I know people think im crazy taking on the task of organising such a mammoth gathering of getting a wide of family members together all under one roof!  We lost the main man of our household in late 2015 and since that point we have vowed to mark all the celebrations and milestone the family members reach. We have been determined to keep his wish and this for sure is what he would have done and thoroughly loved.

Family was at the heart of everything he was about and he was the backbone of our house, the glue that held us together. In the spirit of the man who was our world we will and always will maintain his wish for us to celebrate all that’s good about life. After all….”Life is not measure by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away”.

Note: This is a collaborative post however I retain full editorial control