In France parcs and camps are designed with families in mind

Families also love to visit France just to get a taste of the food which has a unique taste and also style. The climate, which is also one other reason why many families love to holiday in France, is just spectacular, temperatures range from 28 – 30 degrees Celsius in summer; the perfect time for a family holiday.

There are so many people who are interested in engaging in adventure and outdoor pursuits. France offers this and so much more. From mountain climbing, hiking, cycling, skiing and even surfing. If you love the outdoors, you will love France.

Fifth on the list is the family focused holiday parcs and camps that are designed with families in mind. These villages and camps can be found all over France but are particularly concentrated in Northern France close to the ferry ports. Another reason why many love to go for a holiday in France is thanks to the history that France has to offer. This is mainly manifest in the old towns, the architectural design of buildings, monuments and iconic attractions such as the Eiffel Tower.

France’s rich art and culture offer a different perspective from the outdoor pursuits and offer another why families love it here. High fashion, there are so many families who just love visiting France due to the desire to shop for a myriad of clothes and also cosmetics, that’s mum sorted.

The final reason why many families love to visit France, is due to the diversity that France has to offer. This means that France has something for everyone. No wander it is a favourite destination when it comes to family holidays.

Written by Dave Jonhson of Family Camping Reviews.

A montage of Washington DC landmarks.

Free Attractions in Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. offers dozens of things to see and do that don’t cost a dime. Chief among these are the 19 area museums of the Smithsonian Institution. You can see Judy Garland’s Ruby Red Slippers from “The Wizard of Oz,” the “Spirit of St. Louis” airplane, the flag that inspired “The Star Spangled Banner,” and thousands of other American treasures that are on display at the Smithsonian.

Ruby Slippers from Wizard of Oz.

Other free Washington attractions include the National Zoo, the National Archives, the Capitol Building, Arlington National Cemetery, Ford’s Theater, the National Postal Museum, Rock Creek Park, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, just to name a few.

Other Things to See and Do in and Around Washington D.C.
In addition to the free attractions, you might want to explore Mt. Vernon, President Washington’s home in Alexandria, attend a concert at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, or take in a Washington Nationals baseball game.

Getting around Washington D.C.
It’s easy to get around Washington D.C. The city’s Metro system has five lines that snake through the city and connect Washington to Reagan International Airport, Alexandria, Arlington, Rockville, and other parts of the Greater Washington area.

Where to Stay on Your Mother’s Day Trip
Washington D.C. has hundreds of hotels available, with rooms in all price ranges. For a splurge, consider the Hay Adams, across from the White House, or the Willard, which has hosted dignitaries from around the world for more than a century. For something more affordable, consider staying across the Potomac River in Arlington or near the airport in Alexandria. Both areas are located right on the Metro line and you’ll pay a fraction of what you would if you stayed in downtown Washington.

Where to Take Mom to Eat in Washington D.C. for Mother’s Day
Washington D.C., and the surrounding area, offer a number of unique and memorable spots for a Mother’s Day brunch. The Mount Vernon Inn, located just outside of the Mount Vernon estate grounds, offers a Mother’s Day buffet featuring Early American fare in a cozy setting with wood-burning fireplaces and servers dressed in colonial garb. For a luxurious Mother’s Day feast, opt for the Sunday brunch at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown. This lavish buffet features Champagne and is accompanied by live, classical music.

Shopping in Washington D.C.
Of course, no Mother’s Day trip would be complete without a little shopping, or maybe treat Mom to a new hairstyle at one of the trendy hair salons? In Washington, head to Georgetown for its art galleries and quirky shops, Dupont Circle for its big name retailers and fashion boutiques, and Union Station, the city’s former train station, now home to 130 retailers as well as a good selection of restaurants and a nine-screen movie theater. Across the Potomac, Alexandria offers interesting antique shopping and the restored Torpedo Factory, now home to a score of art galleries.

With a little planning, a Mother’s Day trip to Washington D.C. can be affordable, enjoyable, and something the entire family will remember fondly for years to come.

Andy Johnson is an avid traveler and content creator for www.usdish.com.

When you’re looking into holidays for yourself, you might be looking at sun, sea, sand and nightlife. The first three might work well for mum but a party resort is probably not the ideal destination. Dads are usually content with whatever, as long as they can still watch the match in peace. That’s why planning a holiday for your mum can get a little tricky.

Get Inside Her Head
In order to treat your mum to the perfect holiday you need to start thinking like a mum does. Think about all the things they have to do day in, day out to keep the family running smoothly. It’s a tough job being a mum, so a relaxing break every now and then is definitely what the doctor ordered. If you were your mum you would love the idea of a spa weekend. A massage and some thermal baths would be a nice way to spend a few days.

It’s Not Just Relaxation
Relaxation is one thing but when your mum is suitably relaxed, then it’s time for a little fun. Mums don’t often get a chance to let their hair down. So a meal in a top quality restaurant and a show is always a good idea. Some more adventurous mothers might even fancy doing something a little more active but you need to be careful with this one. The last thing you want to do is book your mum onto a mountain biking holiday and then find out she can’t stand bikes. This is when asking your dad might come in useful. He might have an idea (from previous experience) of what not to get for her.

Keep The Family Together
The number one thing that mums like is having the whole family together. Whether that’s at a five star hotel or at one of the UK’s many beautiful caravan parks. If everyone is there and having a good time, then you can be sure that your mother is enjoying it to.

The Old Classics
There are certain activities that mums love doing that can make any holiday more enjoyable. Anything to do with flowers, whether that’s in a show, a garden or even a shop, they just can’t get enough. The Chelsea Flower Show or a trip to Kew Gardens will definitely go down well with the matriarch. Topped off, of course, with a bouquet of her own, for maximum effect. That should keep the smile on her face for a while, at least.

Treating your mum is the least you can do for all the things she has done for you over the years. You know she’d do anything for you, so isn’t time you repaid the favour?

To make your Mother’s Day holiday even more special, why don`t you go with a caravan and stay at one of the many caravan parks that are located throughout the UK. Several relaxing options are available, just make your research online.

Haleakala Wilderness Cabins, Maui, Hawaii

Although it might seem like an obvious vacation spot, there is a place in Hawaii on the island on Maui far away from the hustle and bustle of the touristic centers. The location is the Haleakala Wilderness Cabins, and here, you can truly get away from it all and relax your stress away. Furthermore, you’ll love this place even more if you are on a budget, as you can find cabins here for as low as $60 per night! You are unlikely to find prices this low anywhere else on Hawai’i. These cabins are located on the slopes of Mt. Haleakala in Mount Haleakala National Park, and when I say they are far away from the buzz of the tourist spots, I mean it. You even have to hike a couple of miles to get to your cabin! If you like hiking, then this is perfect for you. If you don’t, just think of the price and the beautiful setting! Once you are there, you’ll be able to relax in peace and enjoy what Hawaii’s nature has to offer.

Spa Week

Rancho La Huerta in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico was recently voted “Best for Going Solo”, and it would be the perfect place for a mom to go to unwind. It is a luxury spa and resort that began in the 1940s, and it is only an hour’s drive from San Diego, California (3.3 miles from the U.S. border). This resort has about 3,000 acres of mountains and meadows, and it is located on the slopes of Mt. Kuchumaa. According to their website, they provide “space-that which is most lacking in today’s life, space to breathe freely, to relax, to renew, reflect, and redirect one’s longer living life”. Isn’t that all a busy mom wants? Space to breathe and think in silence, among nature’s beauty? While you are there, there is a very wide range of activities that you can take part in. These include: fitness classes, hikes, evening programs, lectures, cooking lessons, and last but not least, personal spa sessions. Usually, a stay at Rancho La Huerta is a week long, so you will have plenty of time to relax and take part in activities that truly interest you without any interruption.

Travel Abroad

If you want to see the world, or at least part of it, visiting a country you’ve always dreamed of is the perfect mom vacation. Perhaps you are passionate about Italian culture, and no one in your family shares this passion. Going on a vacation to a destination that interests you is a great way of rewarding yourself for all of the hard work you do. Needless to say, there are countless things to do in Italy. Going to Rome and seeing landmark locations like the Flavian Amphitheater (the Coliseum) or the Vatican would be a once in a lifetime experience. If you want to experience the Italian countryside, you can visit Lake Garda, which is the largest lake in Italy. There are a large number of activities that range from hiking and shopping that you can take part in there.

You should never feel guilty about wanting to get away for a while and experience some peace and quiet! Your family knows you love them, and they will most likely be excited for you to embark on your quest for some much needed R&R. These ideas are great for moms travelling alone, but don’t limit yourself to these destinations. Use these locations to get an idea for places that you might be interested in going. Happy traveling!

Zac is a travel writer and a blogger, he recommends cruise deals for relaxing holidays or you can choose holiday packages that best suit your needs.

Save Money with Low Cost Airlines
We have all heard of EasyJet and Ryanair, but these are just two of dozens of low cost airlines that are available. When travelling, make sure you look at prices from all of the airlines that compete on a particular route to find the least-expensive flights that meet your needs.

There are many more airlines than most people realise, and checking the prices of all available flights is a top way to find a good deal.

Source: http://farm1.staticflickr.com/41/104038629_f0a466d474_d.jpg
Image Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/caribb/104038629/

Travel Without Baggage to Save Money
The majority of low-cost airlines are full of hidden charges, and one of the areas where they try to charge is with large baggage. If you can travel without baggage taking only hand luggage, then you could save yourself a lot of money in the process. However, as this is not always possible, make sure you check the baggage costs with each airline before booking so that you do not get caught out.

Avoid waiting at the carousels, and save money! Travelling with hand luggage only has so many benefits.

Source: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2522/3743575079_b86b1d91a6_d.jpg
Image Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/booleansplit/3743575079/

Book in Advance to Save Money
You may get a last-minute deal for a great price, but this is mostly down to luck. In order to get the very best deal you need to book well ahead. Once you have a holiday idea in mind, working out the dates you could take your trip then discovering which one is the cheapest and booking in advance will save you money. If possible do not take a trip in the school holidays because prices are always inflated at these times.

Alternative Cost Effective Airports
Many people feel that they have to fly from the airport closest to them to the airport nearest to their destination. However, if you do some calculations, it may be more financially viable for you to fly to and from alternative airports. The one thing you have to be careful of is your transfer prices.

Trade in Your Airmiles
There are millions of unclaimed air miles people forget about or cannot be bothered to claim on. If you think that you may have these points, then make sure you check to see if you can use them with your next holiday.
Making sure your mum gets the cheapest flight will leave her with the best possible holiday. Finding these flights is as simple as following the steps above but making sure she follows them is a different story.

Boat trip for Mom

Image Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joebart/2569183498/

We have got some great suggestions for you. How about arranging a boating getaway for your mum? You can arrange for her to be on a short boating trip! No, you do not have to do it all by yourself; we will help. We will identify some of the best places to go boating and you can shortlist from the suggestions:

If you are thinking this is way too much for your pocket, not to worry. There are some charter companies that have some great deals to offer. All you need to do is a little research on the internet and zero down on a package you like. Go ahead; we are sure that this gesture is really going to make your mum not just happy but very very proud of you as her child. Good Luck!

South Africa is home to many exclusive health resorts, wellness centres and spas. Visitors have the opportunity to combine their trip to South Africa, whether it is for a wedding, business, safari or sight-seeing, with a relaxing, revitalising visit to a health spa and experience South Africa at its finest.

Spa resorts in South Africa offer the latest holistic health and beauty treatments and techniques which are designed to rejuvenate tired bodies and minds. These are ideal for the traveller in need of relaxation between busy days of sight-seeing or business meetings.

Wellness centres in South Africa offer day and overnight spa packages. These spas define relaxation and rejuvenation, while getting pampered and de-stressed, visitors may enjoy this wonderful and relaxing experience.

Whether a day or overnight package and whether a stones throw away from the city, in the untamed African bush at a game lodge or a drive into the countryside of South Africa, health spas in South Africa guests will feel at home putting them at ease, surrounded by attentive staff and personalized service.

Relax with a spa massage

Spa visitors have the opportunity to select from an exotic list of natural treatments and signature spa journeys uniquely created to uplift, revitalize and recharge both body and mind. Treatments range from skin care, massages (including Thai massages which are done sometimes by Thai therapists), hair removal, hand and foot treatments as well as many others.

In between spa treatments, guests may relax on a deck with a refreshing drink while enjoying a light and healthy snacks or lunch which has been freshly prepared.

Spa etiquette in South Africa

As a spa guest you are expected to:

- Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment (15 minutes)
- Turn your cell phone off or put it onto silent
- Allow the therapist to perform a service as reserved and timed
- Give the therapist feedback as to your comfort and special troubled areas
- Relax … that’s generally why you are in the spa
- Enjoy, benefit and allow others to “do for you”
- Know that you may be silent or quietly talkative
- Share public space respectfully with other spa goers
- Do not bring children and leave them unattended, this is very disruptive to other spa goers and unsafe for children

Selected health & Beauty Tips

The Benefits of Vinegar:

No one really thinks of vinegar as being part of their beauty routine. But it is really quite beneficial. Try adding half a cup of white vinegar to your warm bath for a beautifully soft skin. For dry hair or dandruff, massage a few tablespoons into your scalp. Apple cider vinegar also treats lice. For oily skin, mix 50% apple cider vinegar and 50% cool water, makes a good astringent and helps with acne.

The Benefits of Green Tea:

Green tea is a metabolism booster and helps in weight loss. It is also an immune enhancer and the stimulation of the immune system assists in guarding the body against infection. Green tea removes the toxins from the body, thereby helping in body detox, it also has anti-bacterial properties. Green tea helps in reducing LDL cholesterol present in the body.

The Benefits of Cranberries:

Cranberries have significant anti-aging properties and can help to boost memory power and coordination, both of which are aspects that tend to decrease with age. Cranberry seeds are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as vitamin E. all of these are helpful in counteracting the effects of aging. Oil taken from Cranberry seeds has the lowest amount of saturated fat and can be used in cooking.

Strawberry Hair Mask:

Mash eight strawberries with one tablespoon mayonnaise. Massage into washed, damp hair. Cover with a shower cap, then a warm towel. Wash out with a shampoo/conditioner combination. This luscious mix of rich acidic berries will leave your hair both conditioned and with rich gloss.

Benefits of Coconuts:

Coconut oil has wonderful antioxidant properties which protect the skin from free radical damage. When coconut oil is used topically on our skin, it helps our bodies to absorb other nutrients more effectively as well, such as Vitamin E, another powerful antioxidant nutrient that protects the skin.

Arabella Hotel & Spa near Hermanus, Western Cape / South Africa

One of the best and well know spa facilities of South Africa can be found at the five star Arabella Hotel & Spa which nestles on a magnificent inland lagoon on the Whale Coast near Hermanus in South Africa’s Western Cape. The Arabella Hotel & Spa features besides many first class facilities the beautiful and modern Arabella Spa which has received many awards in the past due to its outstanding facilities and services. The Arabella Spa is a heavenly retreat devoted to wellness.

The Arabella Spa is home to the world-first African Rainforest Experience, which is a two-hour sensory water and steam treatment using African products and inspired by African rains. The exclusive Arabella Spa combines traditional and modern spa therapies, artfully fusing Far Eastern and Western knowledge with innovative beauty products of the highest international quality, leaving spa visitors with a deep feeling of relaxation and a restored natural balance.

The award-winning Arabella Spa in South Africa utilises products that have only the highest quality and professional status that are internationally recognised. Acclaimed brands worldwide such as BABOR and Dermalogica deliver the highest results in skin and body care whilst providing decadent luxury to all treatments.

Manicure and pedicures are performed with OPI and Spalicious products, which bring softness and a gleam to the hands and feet. The Arabella Spa caters for expectant mothers with the Mama Mio range of body care. Pregnancy body care is elevated to another level with these wonderful rich omega oil based products

Hotel and spa guests at the Arabella Hotel & Spa in South Africa are invited to indulge in the heated indoor hydro-pool and outdoor lap pool, sauna, steam room and the crystalline waters of the swimming pool at their own leisure.

Opportunity abounds for the athletically inclined at the Arabella Hotel & Spa. Partake in a spirited game of tennis on the estate’s court or a fitness and training session in the Arabella Spa gymnasium.

This article was a guest post written by Ryan Mackie of South African Hotels.com

Hotel Cheyenne
Located less than 20 minutes (by foot) from the entrance to Euro Disney, the Hotel Cheyenne offers reasonable accommodations for a great price. All rooms have two beds that hold four people in total and reservations can be changed or made directly from Euro Disney thanks to the Hotel Charge Card Facility system. This is the cheapest hotel on the list and doesn’t include a swimming pool, but the money that is saved here can be used to have an even better experience in the theme park. Bunk beds are also available to give your kids a fun feel to the room.

Sequoia Lodge
This hotel offers a scenic atmosphere in the style of a hunting lodge. There are several buildings that comprise this hotel resort, with a main building that offers a taxi service directly to Euro Disney. The rooms here are excellent and suites are also available for those who wish to have a home away from home. The swimming pool is large and beautiful and the view from many of the rooms offers first-class scenery in a secluded environment. There is both a restaurant (Hunters Grill) and bar (Beaver Creek Tavern) on-site that offer delicious dinners and potent potables.

Disneyland Hotel
The premier hotel of Euro Disney and labeled as “European Hotel of the Year” by the British Travel Agents Association, Disneyland Hotel offers the very best in the Disney experience for you and your family. Located directly at the entrance to the park, you will enjoy everything the park has to offer without inconvenience. A special section of the hotel, the Castle Club, is located inside the park and accommodates up to fifty people (please note that this section of the hotel is very expensive). The very best in dining can be enjoyed at the California Grill, the Piano Bar and Inventions.

Newport Bay Club
One of the largest and nicest hotels in the Lake Disney area, Newport Bay offers a nautical-themed experience to your stay in the Euro Disney area. With an extensive hotel shop available, you will find yourself wondering why you need to shop anywhere else. High-end eateries on-site include Cape Cod and Yacht Club which provide great seafood. The expansive complex also has a series of hotel services and options (nightlife, gym, exercise room) that cover three entire floors, giving you access to all the customs and routines of home while on vacation. This is one of the most expensive hotels in the area but definitely worth it if you can afford it.

Newport Bay Club Hotel

Image Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/doevos/4661426959/

Author Bio
Euro Disney is a fabulous place to spend a family holiday abroad. There are numerous hotels available for your lodgings as well as some self catering accommodations in the area too. Owner’s Direct can help you find the ideal place for you and your family.

Mums are great. They take care of us, they keep us on the right track and they do all the things that no one else in the family wants to do. It is because we love mums so much that it is important to give them a break every now and then. Below are five ideas for fun New Zealand Vacations for mums only.

Geothermal Spa Weekend

New Zealand’s North Island is known for its many fabulous and unique geothermal features. These features include hot springs and hot mud pots that are rich in minerals. In Rotorua mums can find day spas that take advantage of the health and beauty enhancing qualities of these natural wonders. Mums can spend the day soaking in hot mineral springs, getting hot mud treatments and getting pampered. At night, mum can relax to a luxurious hotel suite that overlooks a tropical paradise.

Enjoying a Hot Thermal Spa

The Urban Adventure Mom Getaway

Sometimes mums need to have a little adventure to release stress and to recapture her youthful outlook on the world. New Zealand offers several adventures for mums to have. Mums looking for urban adventures, for example, can spend the weekend in Auckland, New Zealand. Here she can take the Sky Walk, go kayaking or climb the Auckland Bridge. In between these adventurous outings, mum can find ample opportunities to shop, dine and relax with friends.

Watersport Weekends for Mums

New Zealand is known for the myriad of watersports that it offers. Mums that enjoy snorkeling, swimming and tropical adventures can focus her minibreak on the North Island. Here she can find plenty of opportunities to interact with local marine wildlife, to swim, to boat and to explore amazing geothermal water features.

Moms that are looking for a more adrenaline pumping watersport weekend can focus her attentions on the southern part of the country. Here she can find whitewater and blackwater rafting adventures, sea kayaking through fjords and high speed jet action on local lakes and rivers. When not in the water, mum can camp out or stay at one of the many comfortable homestays and farmstays in the region.

Cruising New Zealand

Mums looking for a weekend of varied experiences and destinations can plan to take one of the many cruises offered in New Zealand. These cruises can be booked on smaller private yachts or large commercial cruise ships. Cruising weekends gives mums the opportunity to see a lot more of New Zealand than they can if they stay on land. Cruises are usually all-inclusive and provide food, lodging, travel and specially planned activities.

Cruising in New Zealand

Travel Insurance

Before sending mum off on her dream minibreak, make sure she has travel insurance. This will provide her with financial protection in the event that she runs into trouble while away from home.

Author Byline: Madeline Binder loves to write about New Zealand and travel. Her writing includes dozens of articles on how to find good deals on travel and how to find the most exciting attractions in New Zealand.

Depending on the age of your child, you need to be very careful about many safety concerns in your rental home. The lower the age, the greater the number of potential dangers. Therefore, after spending time and effort in making your home as secure as possible, now you need to make sure that even your Tuscany villa with pool or Tuscany Apartments; are as safe as possible.

Since you are going to a foreign country, Italy that is, you will most likely find different child-safety regulations about product manufacturing than your country applies. This could be for better or for worse, but you must be aware of them anyway.

In the kitchen
Make sure your lower cabinets will be latched, otherwise bring a latching system from home or ask if one is available in stores in Tuscany. Ask if there is room for cleaning supplies and chemicals to be stored on head cabinets. Most Tuscan homes have gas burners and there is no burner pilot light in Italy. Ask if there are two rows of burners, so you can use the back ones. Appliances with cords are very similar to those you are used to having in your home, so the same care should be applied.

In the bathroom
Most villas and homes in Tuscany have gas heaters, and water heat may not always be adjustable, so be careful not to leave your child play with the water handle. A bright note is that the water level in Italian toilet bowls is much lower than other countries, making it impossible even for infants to drown in them, should they fall head down. As a consequence, there should be no need to latch the toilet seat.

Living areas
These are somewhat of a challenge. Tuscan villas may have plenty of rustic and antique furniture built decades or centuries ago, when child safety was not exactly a priority. However, modern furniture may also be a hazard, as sharp corners or edges made of transparent materials are often used in contemporary design. Ask the owner if there may be such perils for your child in his home, and ask to secure all unstable pieces of furniture to the wall or to remove them.
A common hazard are blind cords. Although these are a very uncommon indoors upholstery item in Tuscan homes, you can sometimes find them as outdoor sun screens. If your rental home has them, make sure cords are rolled up. Curtains are more common, and the same precautions should be applied. Also keep in mind that Tuscan windows are all casement-type, almost never slide-up or to the side. Make sure you can latch them when you just want to let a draft in.
Door stoppers are not common in Tuscany, but check with the owner if any other toddler-level choke hazards may be present in the villa or apartment.

Nursing amenities
Villa owners will often provide cribs, baby beds, high chairs and other likewise amenities for free. Ask if those provided at your intended villa rental comply with modern safety standards.

In the bedroom
If your children sleep in the bedroom with you, ask the owner to place necessary extra beds away from hanging pictures or mirrors. These should also be removed from above all those beds children will be sleeping in during your holiday in Tuscany.

Swimming pool and staircases
Ask the owner if and how many sets of stairs are present indoors and outdoors. Indoor stairs can be fitted with safety gates at both ends, but outdoor ones will most likely remain unguarded. Extra child supervision will therefore be necessary. If you are looking at Tuscany villas and farmhouses with swimming pools, consider that these are almost always unguarded, increasing your safety concern. Ask the owner if child swimming aids are available, otherwise purchase some, they are quite inexpensive.

Electric outlets
Last generation electric outlets in Italy come with internal child-proof shields, providing no chocking hazards. However, the majority will be uncovered. Ask the owner to mask them for you. You can mask and unmask those you need upon necessity.

After reading the simple tips above, the best thing to do is to contact the owner of the property directly, better if on the phone, asking her to cooperate with you in spotting any possible child hazard, while helping in any possible way to minimize whatever may set your baby in danger. This of course implies that prior to booking you must be able to contact the owner directly. Therefore, try to always choose direct booking Tuscany apartments or villas, as intermediary agencies will not provide direct contact info prior to booking. They will mediate the exchange of information with the owner, fragmenting it and in fact creating a barrier.

Matt writes for ThriftyTuscany.com, the Tuscan villas and apartments direct booking website with higher value properties.