Where to Take Your Crazy Aunt on Vacation
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Everyone has that one Auntie who always wants to go on vacation with you, and as much as you love her, it’s can be a painful experience. Here’s a how to guide to avoid the stress and boredom, and simply be able to enjoy the time with her..or any family member really. The best places to visit in the United Kingdom when traveling with a slightly unique or older family member and of course tips for how to survive.
Tip One, Flying is probably your bests bet, as sitting in a car for hours will not be ideal. Airports and airport parking have made life so simple for parking and flying, or picking up your rental car upon arrival. Pick smaller airports, with fewer crowds to worry about. If you are traveling in or around London perhaps Bristol or Luton, with either Bristol Airport Parking or Luton Airport Parking conveniently located. Or if you head further north, there is always Liverpool with Liverpool Airport Parking .
Tip Two, Tea. It’s almost a moral imperative when traveling with an aunt to stop for tea. Let them immerse themselves in the great ritual of tea. When in Bristol, be sure to take the Ferry over to the Beeses Tea Garden to partake a tea tradition that has been going on since 1846. Or while in Liverpool, The London Carriage Works serves afternoon tea daily with to die for home baked treats.
Tip Three, Shopping. There’s nothing more fun that window shopping while on vacation. There are always little trinkets to pick up for the nieces and nephews, or grandchildren. Bristol has several shopping centre’s, including Avonmeads. There is also St. Nicholas Market which is a permanent market that sells everything books to fresh food. The Bluecoat, in Liverpool, located in the heart of the shopping district is filled with a diverse mix of products sure to please even the most picky purchaser.
Tip Four, Rest. The important thing to remember when traveling with an Auntie, or Grandmother, is that they will need adequate rest. There’s no point in burning the candle at both ends. Vacations should be fun, not stressful and over-exhausting. If you go on vacation, and come back needing one, it seems just a little pointless.
Tip Five, Bed and Breakfasts. Leave the resorts and hotel chains for your honeymoon, or spring break, B&B’s allow for a charming little oasis away from home. They usually have rooms with different décor, and provide an amazing selection for breakfast and even afternoon tea.
Travel Tips: The Mini City Break – The New Pre-Holiday Treat
City breaks are great. You get to experience a new and exciting culture, and also get to explore the many sights, landmarks, restaurants and bars the city has on offer. So why not begin your holiday before you even arrive at the airport and embark on a mini city break by staying in an airport hotel and discovering a new city before you depart.
HolidayExtras.co.uk offer a wide variety of airport hotels you can book to make your departure process much easier and simpler, offering rooms at discount Manchester airport hotels, and at a variety of Stansted airport hotels among others.
However, if you stay in one of the many Dublin airport hotels or book a Gatwick hotel and parking deal, you could turn the beginning of your holiday into a mini city break! If you have to book into an airport hotel the night before an early morning flight, why not book two nights in advance and give yourself two holidays instead of one?
Stay in one of the many Dublin airport hotels and experience the sights and attractions of one of Europe’s most visited cities. There are a host of city walks you can go on, as well as visiting some of its main tourist attractions along the River Liffy as well historical monuments including St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle. Oh, and do not leave Dublin without visiting the Guinness Store House to get a real taste of Dublin, quite literally.
And if you stay in a hotel as part of a Gatwick hotel and parking package, with London only 30 minutes away by train you can discover all the delights and history of one of the world’s most famous cities. Go on the London Eye to look over the spectacular views of the city, visit the Queen at Buckingham Palace, wander through some of the best green and leafy parks, and try and pick one out of the hundreds of museums dotted around the city to learn about art, culture, science and history.
With all this on offer, why would you not book into an airport hotel and give yourself a holiday before you have even left the country? I know I would.
