Once everything Christmas has been packed away for another year, and along with it all the fun and frivolity of the festive season, the lights have been taken down from the outside of the house (probably to the utter joy of the neighbours as I think the switch got rain in it, and they quite literally went on the blink), the first part of any New Year can seem like a particularly dark and dreary time. Especially the start of this New Year it seems. England, I am not being funny, but this weather thing is supposed to be a stereotype. You really don’t need to live up to it…
Weather and the ghosts of past festivities aside, in other respects I think January can get a bit of a bad rap… I LOVE having a big empty calendar to fill with things, especially when it comes to one of my favourite things – travel…
Of course with the search for a new house and another move on the horizon, it’s meant we can’t book too much up front, but we have a few days in London to look forward to soon (the Small People have a lot of London that they need to catch up on) and I have just booked a few days in Milan shortly afterwards (looking forward to turfing the older two out of bed super early to go on another “first light photo mission” there as we did in Venice. There’s something nice about the three of us heading out and discovering a city before anyone else gets up, leaving Mr R and the Toddler slumbering away. I get to take plenty of photos like the one at the top, which is one of my favourites, plus we always bring back breakfast too!)!
But apart from that, we seriously have nothing planned. Which feels a bit odd. That’s not to say I am not constantly thinking and planning about where we could go – even if we do end up booking something last-minute…
In the meantime I love to scan fellow travel bloggers sites for inspiration for places we haven’t yet been… Here are five of my regular reads for those of you also in need of a little inspiration: –
POD Travels
Charly is an ex-agency Marketing Director with 20 years experience. In that time she’s worked with numerous travel brands having initially cut her teeth at Virgin. Charly is well-travelled, not just in the UK and Europe, but in long haul destinations such as New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, South America and Australia (where she lived for two years). Charly launched her first blog (Multi-Award Nominated parent and lifestyle blog PODcast) in 2012, and family travel blog POD Travels followed 3 years later. I love Charly’s photography, and you can find plenty of it on both blogs. With the Doves travels focused on discovery, adventure and exploration they relish unusual and off the beaten track destinations. Charly lives in Surrey with her husband, and seven-year old daughter. You can follow POD Travels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
One Tiny Leap
One Tiny Leap is an award-winning family travel blog charting the world adventures of Maria, her partner Rob, and their son. Maria, a marketing manager in the travel industry, has been blogging since 2013 when the family decided to pack up their bags, live in Lisbon for a year, and then embark on a year-long round-the-world trip. Now based back in Brighton in the UK, One Tiny Leap continues to share tips, stories and reviews of their travels and adventures, both close to home in Europe, and further afield. I found Maria’s blog through her gorgeous photography and the fact that we were both expats! You can follow One Tiny Leap on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Wander Mum
Not wanting to halt her globetrotting adventures when she became a mum, Elizabeth has travelled with her two daughters (now 5 and 1) since they were a few weeks old. As a journalist, she wanted to combine her love of writing and travel to inspire others and help them travel the world with kids in tow. The family love seeking out luxury escapes and some of their recent travels have taken them to Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and Singapore. Skiing is another passion and they do love a road trip, embarking on jaunts to Sweden, France and Italy. Elizabeth is also a London local, so you can find plenty of inspiration for days out and tips for exploring the capital. 2018 sees them gearing up for a tour of Mexico as well as trips to Tuscany and France’s Dordogne region. You can follow Wander Mum of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest.
Have Kids, Can Travel
Laura (of award-winning parent blog LittleStuff) talks about everything family travel on Have Kids, Can Travel; from wild camping Wales, a sunshine stop in an Italian Villa, or playing with orphaned elephants in the jungle – anything goes. I love her blog as she’s always on the hunt for the best places to stay, ways to travel, and bargains to be had for families on the search for their perfect holiday. Laura is the writer of the family, while her husband Courtenay is a professional photographer. Their four home-educatedkids (aged 19, 16, 15 and 11) are simply up for any adventure. Examples of Laura’s popular posts include: How Easy Is It to Take Your Dog to France, Perfectly Remote and Perfectly Relaxed in the Highlands, and Meeting My Roman Dog in Pompeii (yes. He’s all mine). You can follow Have Kids, Can Travel on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and You Tube.
Practically Perfect Mums
Jane is a video professional, vlogger, writer and mother of three boys, aged 9, 11 and 13. On her websites Practically Perfect Mums and Taking 5, she looks at the highs and lows of travelling as a family of five with school aged children, and offers useful tips about getting the best holiday deals without sacrificing the certain level of luxury she has become accustomed to!
Jane also writes about what’s going on in her local communities of Bristol and North Somerset. She co-founded and co-runs Bristol Travel Massive Chapter, and is actively involved in the Bristol Bloggers and Influencers Group. She’s regularly invited to write and review on behalf of hotels, PR Agencies and leading travel brands, and her reviews are always honest and fun to read – Jane and her family are always up for new travel adventures. Some of her popular posts include How to plan the best family trip to Normandy, find out Everything you need to know about Valleyfest music festival, or discover fun things to do in Bristol, Jane’s hometown. You can find Practically Perfect Mums on twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
I hope you find them a source of inspiration, and as much of a good family travel read as I do…
Mudpie Fridays says
I am aspiring to become more of a Travel blogger so I will be making sure I am following these. We have a couple of trips planned although I’ve not finished yet x
Emma says
Happy planning, and thank you! :)
chichi says
Ah it really gets too gloomy around this time to be up for anything, glad you have got a trip to milan!
Emma says
Thank you! (:
michelle twin mum says
Oh I love a good recommendation, thanks Emma. Three of those I wasn’t familiar with so I am off to a peek now. Mich x
Emma says
Thanks Mich! (: x
Kira says
I’ll be checking out some of these , I actually read a few :)
Emma says
Thanks Kira! (:
Olivia says
I also love having a fresh calendar to fill up with exciting things to do. I am always on the look out for new blogs to read, love reading about other people’s travels! X
Emma says
Thanks so much Olivia! (:
Rebecca Smith says
Ooh thank you for introducing me to some brand new reads – I’ve been looking for some more travel inspiration so this is very timely.
Emma says
Thank you Rebecca! I always love a new read! :)
Su Chanprasong says
There is certainly some great inspiration here. I really love discovering new travel blogs.
Emma says
Thanks so much Su! (:
Claire @ The ladybirds adventures says
I love family travel blogs. Some of these are new to me so I’m off for a browse. Thanks for sharing.
Emma says
Thanks Claire! (:
dena says
Ooo so many amazing families here! I shall deffo be checking some of these out! x
Emma says
Thanks Dena! (:
Amanda says
I love discovering new blogs and sites will check these out. Hope you guys have fun in london and Milan too
Emma says
Thanks Amanda. Yes, looking forward to both! (:
HodgePodgeDays says
Oh I absolutely love the idea of a first light photo mission, what a clever thing to do. I’ll have to try that on my next adventure. Milan sounds awesome, it’s so good to turn over to the new year with a few things booked in to look forward to!
Emma says
Thank you. Yes, definitely worth it in my experience. I did the same at day break when we stayed close to Mount Fuji, watching the sun come up there was a sight I will never ever forget! (even if I felt rough for the rest of the day!) :D
Colette says
A couple of my favourites there! We’re very much in the throes of planning our family travel for the year right now.
Emma says
Thank you! Happy planning! :)
Ami throughamiseyes says
What a great list! I love it when bloggers support one another and I will be heading over to have a read of these as I don’t read any travel bloggers at the moment x
Emma says
Thanks so much Ami! (: I find the blogging community super helpful for lots of different things! :) x
Laura - Dear Bear and Beany says
Ooh some new travel blogs to follow. I love Charley’s blog, her photography is gorgeous and I went to her talk at BlogOn and she is lovely too x
Emma says
Gorgeous isn’t it? Thanks Laura! (:
Midlife Singlemum says
January ‘s not so bad – it’s like a rainy Sunday afternoon. February is the tough one. I call it the Monday morning of the year. Good luck with house hunting!
Emma says
That’s very true… And it looks like it’s going to be a freezing month here too! :D Thank you. I had forgotten what a painful process it was here! :D x
Rebecca | AAUBlog says
Lovely idea for a post. I have followed Wander Mum for a while now, but not heard of the others – will take a look!
Emma says
Thanks Rebecca. They are worth checking out! :)
Cathy says
I quite agree with you Emma about the English weather. We were all mentioning yesterday, enough of this rain. Sounds like you’ve got some fun times coming up.
Emma says
Thank you Cathy. It just seems to be never ending at the moment doesn’t it? Not complaining having seen Paris on the news though!!
Hayley Warren says
I love discovering new travel blogs. I’m dying to plan something fun for this year!
Emma says
Me too Hayley! :D Thank you!
Victoria says
That is a lovely picture! Thanks for sharing the other holiday blogs I’m desperate for a hot holiday but for now I’ll read and dream xx
Emma says
Won’t be long. Maybe we should go together and leave the men to child wrangle? :D xx