Nothing says rum like Jamaica, or maybe nothing says Jamaica like the rum. Either way, your holidays to Jamaica will no doubt include a little island cocktail and a lazy hammock afternoon while you allow your troubles to drift out to sea.

Due to its diverse landscape, Jamaica is an ideal destination for singles and families to take in great culture, a relaxing atmosphere, and outstanding outdoor activities. A family day hiking to the Blue Mountains at Dunn’s River Falls is one way to enjoy the areas beautiful landscape. A trip to the Grotto Cave at Discovery Bay is a sure way to entertain the kids. 

Your Jamaica holidays will surely see you dive in to the many water sport choices. From scuba and snorkelling to surfing and deep-sea fishing, there is more to do than you will have time for. If you are in the mood for something slightly more low-key while the rest of the group is off, grab a book and your favourite sunglasses and make your way to either Montego Bay or Negril’s beaches. Both offer fantastic sand and swimming opportunities and places to sneak in a private afternoon siesta.

This weekend we booked our family holiday for this year and we’re off to Spain and Mallorca in particular. We found a nice beach resort called Palma Nova which is about 30 minutes away from the Palma de Mallorca airport.

The short journey time from the airport to the resort is ideal as the kids tend to get very restless very quickly.

The hotel we have chosen is right next to the beach and also has a pool, buffet restaurant and entertainment.

Palma Nova seems to have a good selection of bars and restaurants and we will probably hire a car for a couple of days to explore the rest of the island.

Can’t wait to get away and enjoy some proper sunshine

It’s been a while since we saw my parents, so this weekend we’re taking a family road trip to see them. They live about 10 minutes away from Windermere in the Lake District so there will be plenty to do when we’re there.

It’ll take around 2 hours to get there so I have to make sure that the kid’s portable games consoles are fully charged and the portable DVD player still works, as they get bored really quickly.

I would of liked to visit the Windermere Steamboat Museum, but it’s currently closed for redevelopment thanks to the heritage lottery fund. So it will definitely be a place to visit in the future, but I’m sure we can find lots of interesting things to do; probably to do with eating lots of ice cream and playing in the amusements

It’ll also be nice to see my parents, as it’s been nearly a year since I saw them last and of course their dog Poppy, who is just great with the kids.

Hope the weather will hold out as it’s nice and sunny here at the moment.

As you would have read in one of my earlier posts, me and my wife went to Paris last week and it was a great holiday. I have been to Paris before (mainly with work), but my wife hadn’t so we did the usual tourist stuff like The Louvre and Eiffel Tower.

We also walked down the Champs-Élysées, but we didn’t buy much. If you’re ever thinking of going to Paris, using the Metro system is a must for getting around. You can buy 1,3 or 5 day passes and get a handy map of all of the metro and rail lines. Getting around is easy as everything is colour coded and numbered and there is literally a Metro station on every corner.

One of the highlights of the trip was visiting the Père Lachaise Cemetery, a place where I wouldn’t necessarily gone, but my wife wanted to. This cemetery is set in 100 acres of land in Paris and houses some of the most famous bodies in the world including Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison. There are truly some great pictures to be taken there and I’d thoroughly recommend it.

The hotel was also nice, situated near the Eiffel Tower we had great views of the iron beast from our window and the staff were really nice too, answering all of our questions.

The one thing I would say is that Paris on the whole is expensive, much like London here in the UK, so if you’re planning to visit Paris make sure you save up.

I’d definitely go back to Paris again as we still have much more to see, so we’ll be saving up again soon.

Easter is the most important celebration in the Christian calendar, when Jesus died and was resurrected. Along with Easter eggs, Easter bunnies and personalised Easter cards, the holiday marks one of the most beautiful spring traditions.

The week before Easter is called Holy Week and it is a week full of Christian traditions. The most important days to remember are Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the day Jesus rose again.

Easter has no fixed date and varies between March 22 and April 25, so you need to double check when to send your Easter cards. You may wish to send your cards at the beginning of Holy Week or take time designing a card while you absorb the festive spirit. You may even want to get the children involved in the creative design process. 

Keep in mind that while everyone seems to enjoy receiving Easter cards, not everyone is strongly religious. Think carefully about who will be receiving your card. You could pick a card that symbolises a non-religious Easter theme such as a decorated egg or Easter Bunny.

You can never go wrong with a personalised Easter card. Why not take a picture of your own painted eggs and use it to make personalised cards for your family and friends? Paint the eggs with the kids and take some pictures while you are having fun with the family. Surely a personalised Easter card with a picture of the grandchildren will make your mother really happy.

Me and my wife are taking a much needed romantic break to Paris in just over a week and I can’t wait. The grandparents are coming to stay at ours to look after the kids, so they can still go to school and this gives us the chance to go on holiday on our own for the first time in years.

I have been to Paris before, but my wife has never been so we will be doing the usual tourist things like going to the top of the Eifel Tower, visiting The Louvre and the Champs Elysses. The hotel is situated near the Eifel Tower and our room has a balcony overlooking it which is great.

I’ll have to get lots of money changed as I have a feeling that my wife will want to do a bit of shopping and I want to at least spend one night in a top restaurant when I’m there.

My Digital SLR camera is charged and ready to go, so we’re just waiting till Monday now.

I’ll post some pictures here when we get back

I’ve toyed with the ideal of taking a cruise next year but often think that being on a cruise ship for 14 days may be a bit constricting, so I’ve been looking at a cruise and stay holiday instead. Cruise and stay holidays seem to be the best of both worlds and I found a great deal on Imagine Cruising.

The deal I have seen is a 14 might cruise and stay holiday in the Caribbean which starts with a 5 night stay in the Gran Melia Hotel, followed by a 7 night cruise around the Caribbean with Celebrity Cruises and a 2 night stay at the San Juan Hotel to finish things off.

The cruise sets off from San Juan and visits some of the most exotic Caribbean destinations including Barbados, St Lucia and Antigua giving you time to look around and take in the scenery.

Prices for this cruise and stay holiday start from just £1,398 per person and I’m really tempted to book one of these for next year.

Going on holiday is expensive, there is no way around it, obviously if you have the money you can splash out on the best, however for many of us we have to weigh up our options and look for the cheapest way possible, especially since the cost of flying has increased.

Many people say why not stay here in the UK and cut out the cost of flights, which is a great option, however even getting around the UK is expensive. If you drive you’re looking at spending a fortune on petrol. If you take a train you’re looking at costly tickets and cramped surrounding whilst you travel. Finally if you take a bus or coach you may save some money but public transport isn’t ideal for families with lots of luggage and a lot of services have been cut which means you can’t get everywhere by bus.

Plus for me I like to get out of this country even for a week, especially somewhere a bit warmer, we have had quite a poor summer and it would be quite nice to spend a week relaxing somewhere warm. You can use comparison websites to find holiday deals such as cheapest flights and cheapest hotels however booking separately can cost you extra. I have decided instead to look at all inclusive holidays, only because of the ease and the fact everything is paid for up front and you don’t have to factor in eating and drinking costs.

All inclusive holidays are becoming more popular as people look at ways to reduce the burden the cost of holidays cause. If you book well in advance out can find some great deals, plus it gives you time to save before you have to pay it off and finally you don’t have to worry about taking lots of spending money for food and drink.

In these austere times getting the best deal is imperative especially if you really want a holiday and lets face who doesn’t want to go on holiday!

Holidays come but once a year (for me and my family anyway) and next year I would love to book a once in a lifetime luxury holiday that the whole family could enjoy. I’m thinking somewhere like Jamaica or the Seychelles; I know it’s not going to be cheap but to have almost guaranteed sun (at specific times of the year of course) and access to water sports for the kids would be great.

There are lots of destinations to choose from, all with fantastic hotels and facilities that are sure to keep us and the kids occupied for the duration of the holiday. These hotels also have various bars and restaurants serving the best of local cuisine and drink and most have a selection of exotic pools and beaches to relax on.

I definitely think next summer we’ll try something special, it would certainly be a family holiday to remember.

Having heard so much hype about the Royal Wedding for the last few months I’ve decided that a family day trip is in order to get away from it all. Being a long standing Manchester United fan it seemed fitting that instead of sitting in front of the TV all day I would make the hundred mile trip to Old Trafford and take the stadium and museum tour.

I’ve been to Old Trafford quite a few times for over the years, but my kids haven’t been yet so what a great time to take them now that they are old enough to appreciate it. I’ve never driven up before because I’ve always used public transport, but I know the rough area where it is and there is ample parking next to the stadium.

I’m taking a marker pen just in case there are any players in and around the stadium, but I doubt it; they will probably be getting ready for Sunday’s game against Arsenal.

That’s what I’m doing for the Royal Wedding, what about you?