Travel – Page 2 – Mediocre Mum

Things to do with Kids in Bucharest, Romania

Travelling to Romania with Kids – Suggested Itineraries

As an intrepid traveler when I was first invited to join Easyjet’s inaugural flight to Bucharest, I jumped at the chance, then it donned on me….

‘Where the h*ll is Bucharest?’

I’ve been to Budapest in 2000 for the Solar Eclipse, but drew a blank on Bucharest, after a quick Google I worked out it’s in Romania and the same part of the world but farther south bordering the Black Sea and is less than 3 hours away by plane. As it’s farther south it was about 5 degrees warmer, so made it very pleasant in late October.

Prior to my visit to Bucharest I knew very little about Romania. I was in my last year of high-school during the revolution and my world didn’t extend much further than my home town. The only other experience I had was the documentary ‘Children Underground’ (2001) which follows a group of homeless youth while they try to survive in the streets and subways of Bucharest, which may have left me with the wrong impression of Bucharest, it’s not to say that this doesn’t still happen, but I felt just as safe walking around the city as I would in any large city.

‘Little Paris of the East’

With the recent investments by the EU I can’t help feeling that Bucharest is an up and coming destination. It boasts large boulevards, lots of green space, loads of museums, the old town is heaving with outdoor bars and cafes and the people are extremely friendly. Definitely a great weekend city destination for couples.

Things to do in Bucharest with Kids

I didn’t have my daughter with me but on any trip I’m always looking at it from a families perspective. Would I bring my daughter here? Yes, I do think the capital city is a great start to any holiday in Romania and will put things into context for you. So, before you dash off to the visit the fairy-tale castles, beaches and small towns spend a day or two in Bucharest.

Although very interesting and informative for adults, I do think a trip to the Palace of Parliament, walking tours and some of the museums may be a bit heavy for younger kids and not overly engaging/interactive but I would recommend a visit to the places below.

The Village Museum is a must. 5o buildings representing the history of rural architecture in Romania have been transported from their original locations and rebuilt giving you an opportunity to explore inside and out. The Museum is set in 30 acres on the shores of Lake Herastrau. Take a picnic and make a day of it.

In summer time, they have tonnes of workshops for children. Handicrafts, weaving classes, music classes, painting Easter eggs, traditional art, religious art (icon painting) and other fun activities. You can spend a half a day there.

I really wanted to go to the Peasant Museum, a collection of artifacts representing rural peasant life in Romania, there is also a display of communist iconography in the basement which also includes one of the very few pictures still remaining of Ceauşescu unfortunately time wouldn’t permit.

The Geology Museum is also a must as they are one of the only museums in Bucharest that has actively put on activities for kids.

The Bucharest parks are quite amazing, with lots of flowers and beautiful trees. Cismigiu is the most central of the parks and boasts 30,000 trees, with a big lake in the middle where you can hire small boats and hydrobicycles and in the winter it turns into a skating rink, open-air cafe’s, and a large children’s playground. Herastrau Park is one of the most popular parks on the northern side of Bucharest covering 187 hectares and home to the Village Museum although it’s busy it’s large enough to swallow up the crowds. And don’t overlook Tineretului and Titan as some of the locals argue that they’re far superior to Cismigui and Herastrau.

There is a small zoo, which won’t compare to some of the larger zoos that you may have visited but has an excellent display of exotic birds and would make a good half day out.

Eating out with kids in Bucharest

In Bucharest , you will find every kind of eating establishment from fast food to Michelin Star. The majority of restaurants are child friendly but do bear in mind many of them still have large smoking sections and can get a bit smoky. To avoid this I’d suggest eating a bit earlier, self catering or find one that is non-smoking.

Suggested Itineraries for Romania

If you’re planning a family holiday to Romania, I’ve quizzed the locals about suggested itineraries for family breaks. Here are two suggested itineraries, you could stretch them out for longer breaks.

Itinerary one (7 days)

Bucharest – 2 days

Danube Delta – 3 days

5 hours drive from Bucharest, also accessible by train is a natural wonder. Children are delighted to see thousands of birds, nenufars and other aquatical plants. While you enter the natural reservation the landscape is truly amazing. Children can learn how to fish or swim in the Danube. Hiring boats is not expensive. The food (based on fish and related products) is great. You can see and explore the point where the Black Sea meets the Danube and also enjoy quite virgin beaches.

The seaside – 2 days

It is two hours drive from the Danube Delta. In Mamaia resort you have lots of clubs and an intense night life. In Vama Veche resort you have a hippie atmosphere.

Itinerary Two (6 Days)

Bucharest – 2 days

Sinaia- 2 days

2 hours drive from Bucharest (if not in the week-end) Sinaia- Peleş Castle, an adventure park suitable for children, the mountains (highly accessible for all ages).

Braşov – 1 day

Braşov – 1 hour drive from Sinaia Braşov- a mountain city, with gothic churches and an excellent Aqua Park. Bran Castle, often named Dracula’s Castle even the history tells us that it has nothing to do with Dracula .

Sibiu – 1 Day

2 hours drive from Braşov Sibiu region- isolated villages with traditional houses, excellent for families as the children can play in big gardens, just near the woods.

A HUGE thank you to Ana-Maria Caia who put these itineraries together for us. If you do take a trip to Romania with your kids or have been already I’d love to hear your tips.

Flights to Bucharest

With easyJet now flying into Bucharest 4 times a week with fares starting from as little as £28.49 including taxes (per person based on two people flying on the same booking) it’s never been easier.

And if you’re just looking for a weekend away easyJet Holidays are offering a two night stay at the Grand Hotel Continental in Bucharest for £140 per person, which includes flights (price correct as of the 15th October 2013) for more details check out easyJet Holidays.

Creating Childhood Memories in London

Things to do with kids in London

In association with Direct Rail

‘We recently took the girls into London and had a fabulously random day! ‘

Taking children to London can provide then with memories that will last well into adulthood. For children, central London can seem like a giant playground. Everything looks like it’s on a much large scale, from the lions in Trafalgar Square to just the sheer size of the buildings towering overhead.

Whereas other cities have their own unique charm, no other UK city can compare to London in terms of scale, history and the ability to create lasting memories.

We love the Natural History Museum!

London also has a lot for children to do, so much so that you could spend an entire week there and still find new things to keep your little ones entertained. Child-friendly museums abound in the city, which is a fantastic way of making learning so fun that children won’t even realise they’re having an educational day out.

The Natural History Museum is a must for children of all ages. Seeing the life size model of the Blue Whale will be a memory that will stay with them for a long time, while kids love seeing the roaring T-Rex. Another popular destination is the British Museum where encountering real life mummies will satisfy most children’s fascination for the macabre. While the child friendly, HMS Belfast offers a unique and fun day out.

Travelling around London with Kids

Even just a simple trip on the Underground will often seem like an adventure for children. The old tunnels will capture their young imaginations, while the novelty of travelling underground provides an extra thrill. It is also a great opportunity to tell them stories about the history of the city and how Londoners would shelter in the dark tunnels during the Blitz.

Children love stories and London’s thousands of years of history provide lots of stories to tell. You can bring some of these to life by visiting places like the London Dungeon and the Tower of London; they will also help to capture children’s ghoulish imaginations.

Sometimes by sheer chance and luck you’ll be in the city on the day of a big occasion or ceremony, but even if this isn’t the case London has a lot of daily traditions that are great to watch. Perhaps the most famous of these is the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, although you will probably have to navigate through tourist crowds for a view.

Memories will also be created at London’s theatre district. Musicals are a great way of introducing older children to the theatre, while if you want to start them even earlier look out for productions inspired by much loved children’s books. Introducing children to the theatre at an early age not only provides them with a special treat, but also means that when they are older a night out at the theatre won’t seem as intimidating.

Children also delight in seeing street performances, so if you get a chance head to Convent Garden, again this is a great way of introducing them to art and culture while also providing them with childhood memories that will stay with them for years to come.

Written by Derin Clark, a writer, editor and blogger

Full disclosure policy can be found here.

Glamping Holidays in Devon near the beach

You know when you go on holiday and you just want to get home to your own bed? This wasn’t one of those holidays. I would have loved to stay longer.

We didn’t go away last half term so we were hoping to have a short trip this break. We started to troll the net looking for somewhere to jet off to. We were started to lean towards a place in the Canary Islands but in the end decided against it as it was starting to get a bit pricey. So, in the end we decided to stay closer to home and went Glamping at Cuckoo Down Farm in Devon.

Call me a wimp but…..

I grew up camping in Canada and do love it, but Glamping definitely is the way forward for me. One of the best things I liked about this break is we didn’t have to bring half of the house with us, especially since we had 3 adults, one dog and a child in the car.

Luxury Accommodation

The Safari tents are very well equipped and sleep 6 (max 4 adults). There are two bedrooms; one with a double and two singles and the sofa bed pulls out to sleep two more. You can also hire bedding (£7), as Duvets are so bulky we decided to splurge. There is an outdoor cooking area with everything you need. They even had a corkscrew! Plus, there is a composting toilet out back and there is a shower block near the farm house with an endless supply of very hot water.

On the Farm there are 3 Yurts and two Safari tents which are nicely spread out so you’re not on top of each other. As we only have one child, it was a blessing that there were other children around for our daughter to play with. She met a lovely set of twin boys, similar in age and we’ve exchanged addresses with the hope of them becoming pen-pals.

Freedom

Probably the biggest highlight for our daughter was the woods at the bottom of the field. They spent ages in their building dens and dams. I was a bit nervous at first as we couldn’t see them and there was a small stream running through it but she absolutely loved the independence. It was also lambing season and she got to see a lamb that was about an hour old, unfortunately, the chickens weren’t laying eggs at the moment but she did get to go on pony ride on Saturday morning (£6).

There is also an honesty shop on the premises so if you forget anything important you can pop down and grab it, plus, there is a very well stocked shop in the local village.

Things to do nearby

There really isn’t any need to leave the farm, but as we were so close to the coast we did visit two beaches.

Beer is about 12 miles away but worth it. It’s a picturesque town with a pebbly beach. My husband and daughter thought they were going on an hour long boat trip but it turned into a fishing trip and they came back with a couple of Mackerel that hubby gutted and fried up back at camp.

On the last day, we decided not to head back too early, as we’d just sit in traffic on the M3 and popped to the beach near Branscombe for a couple of hours. The road down is a bit hair raising. It was a bit reminiscent for us as the last time we went our daughter was 10 days old and we stayed at the Masons Arms where she had her first bath.

We don’t often go back to places more than once as we like to try new things but we would definitely love to go back to Cuckoo Down Farm one day.

Not as expensive as you may think!

I think it was fairly reasonable. Normally you can hire the tents for 3 nights from Fri to Mon but we had to get back for school on Monday, you have no idea how tempted I was to call in sick. Anyhow, as we were only staying for the two nights Becky gave us a discount so for 2 nights. It was £345 but if you divide that between 4 adults it works out to about £85 per adult for the weekend. Well behaved dogs are welcome but there is a £30 charge for them.

Thanks to the Sheaves for a wonderful weekend.

Caravan Holidays in France

Prior to having children I wouldn’t have set foot in a caravan park and to be honest, I couldn’t think of anything worse; spending my holiday with loads of screaming kids and their egg and chip eating parents, I’m such a snob! One day I will have to tell you more about my new best friend ‘Bev’ from Barnsley who liked to nick Stella glasses, she was a right laugh and lovely woman.

When our daughter was first born we did attempt to carry on travelling as we always had, we even took her to a B and B in a pub when she was 10 days old, with cord still attached, to celebrate our first wedding anniversary, not one of my better ideas. What we find, when trying to carry on as we did pre-kids, she really doesn’t enjoy herself and as you know if the kids aren’t having fun neither are the parents.

So this year, when we were offered an opportunity to stay in a Caravan Park in Brittany, France, we decided to give it a go and for the most part it worked out.

We used the caravan park as a base and spent the days exploring the nearby historic villages and stunning beaches. Brittany is beautiful; we were staying just outside of Pont-Aven. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t brilliant, a mix of sun and rain, but we made the most of it.

Our top 5 places to Visit near Pont-Aven (with kids)

Anse de Rospico a lovely sheltered beach, with a picturesque stream flowing into sea. It’s less than 5 miles away from the campsite, turn right when leaving the site. It’s a bit difficult to find but worth the effort.

Concarneau Medieval Walled Town, it may not look impressive from the outside but once you’re inside you can explore the narrow streets lined with shops and restaurants. There are also some great views of the harbour.

Bénodet is about a 30km drive away. One of Brittany’s most fashionable Seaside resorts with stunning beaches. The highlight for us was having Fruit de Mere on the Seafront at a place called Le Transat. Winkles were a hit!

Pont-Aven is an attractive village, full of galleries and shops with some lovely riverside walks. It’s a great place to spend a rainy day as you can dart in and out of all the shops, including the Chocolate Shop!

Trevignon Start with crepes on the promenade followed by a stroll along the sea wall, perfect. If you carry on past the historic house there are some fabulous rocks to climb on and a chance for some rock pooling.

Kid’s Highlight!

However, our daughters favourite bit of the day was coming back to the caravan site. The caravan in itself was a real novelty for her. Plus, there were several play areas, indoor swimming pool with waterslide and kids clubs. Most evenings they have children’s entertainment in the form of the Pirate Club, an experience not to be missed, which all the children love and the parents can sit on the Veranda enjoying a drink or two from the Ocean Bar.

If I’m honest, I’m still not convinced Caravan holidays are for us, but this may have to do with the weather and the fact we went outside of school holidays so it was really quiet. However, our daughter would disagree as she loved it and as you know it’s not about us anymore!

Disclosure: Our holiday stay and ferry crossing were compliments of Siblu Holidays and Brittany Ferries.

Experience the Magic: Eurodisney 2012

We’ve always wanted to take my daughter to Disneyland but we’re not currently in a position to do so. She is nearly 5 so is at the perfect age, old enough to remember it, but still young enough to experience the magic. So, when Auto Trader offered us a trip to Eurodisney outside of Paris we jumped at the chance.

The Journey

The journey was fairly easy. A Subaru Forester was delivered to us on the Thursday night. We drove to Folkestone to catch the Eurotunnel; the crossing was only 35 minutes, followed by a 3 hour drive on the other side. However, the motorways in France are so much better than here in the UK and so are the services.

I know very little about cars and am not a petrol head so can’t say a lot about the car except it was comfortable, easy to drive, much quieter than our own diesel Passat, excellent fuel mileage, loads of room in the boot and we even had enough room for ‘Yellow Bear’. According to my husband ‘it made the journey relaxing’. It had a rather odd locking system, but we eventually worked it out.

The park wasn’t brilliantly sign posted but I’d purchased France maps for my Sat Nav, which proved invaluable!

Accommodation

We stayed in the Hotel Cheyenne which is a Western Themed hotel, which is one of the Disney Hotels. The bonus of staying at one of the Disney Hotels, you get 2 hours in the park in the morning before everyone else. Bliss! Plus, each morning the Disney Characters come to the hotel to meet the kids and take photos, which allows you to avoid the huge queues to see them in the park.

Getting around Eurodisney is a breeze they lay on buses which run ever few minutes all day to run you to and from the Park and only take about 5 minutes. So you can always pop back to the hotel if you need a bit of a break, which we did!

The Park

Now for the Park, it was truly magical! There are rides for everyone. Yes, the queues are a long but to avoid some of the queues you can use the Fast Pass system which is free. Basically visit the ride, take a ticket then come back at your allotted time. Our daughter’s favourite rides were the Flying Elephants, Peter Pan’s Flight and It’s a Small World which we did several times. I still have that song in my head! One of our highlights was the Parade. Do make sure you see one while you’re there.

I have to admit, as slightly older parents it was absolutely knackering. I felt like I’d run a marathon but it was worth every minute. It wasn’t about us it was all about her. As you can see by the video, she had the time of her life and hopefully will remember it in years to come.

Disclosure: The entire trip was courtesy of Autotrader who have been uniting people with their dream cars for over 35 years. We can’t thank them enough for making our daughter’s dream come true.

Autotrader are currently running a fabulous competition where each week someone wins an ultimate driving experience. Simple spin the wheel on the Dream Machine. #MyCarStory