Two holiday money saving tips of the day...

Just one more sleep until we head off on our summer break.  Hurray! And after the thrills and spills of Antigua in the February half term, we're staying close to home.  

Tomorrow morning we're heading to Somerset to pretend we live in the countryside, even though it's just for a week.  I'm a big fan of English Country Cottages http://www.english-country-cottages.co.uk/ who guarantee a luxe retreat with no swirly carpets in sight.  

Money saving tip 1: One thing I thought I would share is a money saving tip about the delightful thing that is the Tesco Club Card http://www.tesco.com/clubcard/clubcard/.

Having saved up a ton of points, I had a trawl through the days out section http://www.tesco.com/clubcard/deals/browse.aspx?N=4294967294 and, being the organised super-holiday-mummy that I am (not), found Longleat Safari Park was on the list.   So four passes were promptly ordered and we're looking forward to what is essentially a free day out, which would normally have set us back £85.  Not bad.

Money saving tip 2.  The big, HUGE mistake we have made on UK holiday breaks in the past is to eat out at every vastly-overprices cafe we arrive at.   This year I bought a fab spotty picnic cool bag in the sale at Waitrose for £2.50 and some plastic bowls and plates for £1 each and it WILL be backed in the boot of our car.  

Signing out, feeling smug and pleased with myself that I've saved a few quid.

Sika Lodge in Dorset is perfect weekend getaway

One of the best weekends away we had last year was to Sika Lodge in Dorset.    It's a converted cow shed and all designed to be eco-chic - and that's all part of the fun.  

Illustrator Rachel Bright and her partner Robbie have been amazingly creative with fun posters and cartoons dotted around the lodge showing you what's on offer.  There are recycled bags for the shopping so you don't need to cart your stuff back in plastic bags, a vegetable patch where you can pick your own carrots, lettuce, spuds and other leaves to make yummy suppers, some hens and a brilliant hot tub heated by log burning stove (but make sure to start warming it up early in the day).   Our favourite picture was Rachel's very amusing illustration about how to use the eco-loo.   The kids found digging in the little bucket next to the loo and chucking sawdust into the toilet after you'd done a poo highly entertaining!

There's a fab ladder up to a mezzanine floor where the children slept, so much more exciting than a boring old bedroom.  We had a few wonderful days out - to Swanage where we had a good old fashioned day at the seaside and then the Blue Pool, which has a stunning stroll around the impossibly blue lake suitable for all ages.  We also had a cracking afternoon at Peppa Pig World on the way back home.   www.alphafarm.co.uk

Perfect Antigua

Since I had my two little people now aged four and six holidays have never been what they used to be. The furthest we've ventured is the South of France, but in recent years our getaways are more of a busman's holiday and I still find myself clearing up clutter and cooking bangers and beans on a stove. But having just returned from our first all-inclusive long-haul trip I am now a total convert. We used the February half term holiday to head for some much needed winter sun and booked a break to St James's Club, Antigua. I was slightly nervous about taking the kids on a long-haul flight but needn't have been worried. Virgin Atlantic have little activity bags they give you as you board the plane filled with books, stickers, watches and sweets which got the trip off to a great start. Along with a constant supply of juice, Disney Channel and ice cream at the movies, the seven and a half hour flight was a breeze. And St James's Club proved the perfect place for a family break. The resort was full, but you'd never guess. On several days we headed down to the kids pool with our inflatable dolphin to find we were the only people there. There was a great choice of places to eat - even for Max, our fussy four year old - there was a tasty menu with sausages, chicken, fish and chips. But for those of us who aren't so fussy we also loved the Docksider diner with its amazing buffet and the Rainbow Garden with the most amazing breakfast under the sun. Going back to cheerios at home will not be the same after freshly made waffles, omlettes made with local eggs, banana pancakes and fresh pineapple. But the joy for us as parents was feeling completely safe, allowing our children to step straight from our balcony onto the sand. Being able to read our books in peace whilst the children splashed around. A week was perfect, never time to get bored. In our seven days we took out kayaks, peddle boats, played tag on the beach, tennis, mini golf, watched the sun set at the Shirley Heights barbeque. And we even found time to visit the spa for a massage. The staff were friendly and the service cheerily relaxed. All in all a perfect family break.

Should you let your kids choose where you go on holiday?

How much say do you give your kids when it comes to booking a holiday? After all, holidays are about relaxing and if the kids are happy, parents are happy. Aren't they? I know all about Pester Power and holidays after our first Centre Parcs experience. The brochure came through the post along with a very nicely produced DVD. Soon it was bye-bye to cbeebies and hello to the new favourite programme - the Centre Parcs DVD. They still remember the holiday and still beg to go back. And then there's Disneyland Paris - the ultimate bribe dangled for super good behaviour. I just know it's only a matter of time before we cave it... A new report out today from Teletext Holidays shows that only four out of ten kids aged between 6 and 15 never let them choose where they go on holiday. So there's an awful lot who are able to choose where they go on their annual getaway. Our little ones are three and six and already they are whizzes on the laptop. They are as happy using a mouse as they are a felt tip pen. So when it comes to looking at holidays, they love to get involved. They want to click on the destination videos, make the hotel room pictures bigger and type in the dates. Searching for a holiday has become a multi-media family experience. But at the end of the day, holidays cost a lot of money so it will always come down to finding a holiday where all ages can be happy and at the right price. But as we are about to head off on our first family long-haul trip to Antigua tomorrow, I just know that resisting "pester power" on future holiday bookings is going to be futile.

Holiday home movies could make you a TV Star

Santa brought Hannah a video camera this Christmas. A pink VTech number with all sorts of clever editing gadgets. Now everytime I turn round I'm being filmed. Even in my PJs making breakfast - not flattering! But it will add a new dimension to our holidays this year. At last we'll have some fun, lasting memories of our family travels. It's inspired me to get a video camera of my own - but better still - maybe I'll try and win one. Any globetrotting mums, dads and kids have the chance to win prizes and potentially star in the new Teletext Holidays television advert. They're looking for short clips of families having fun on their hols, on the beach, messing around in the pool, sledging down a mountainside - anything which looks fun and captures the spirit of a holiday. Upload videos at www.teletextholidaystvstar.co.uk

Bluestone in Wales looks good

I'm already planning the O'Reilly summer escape for 2011. At the moment I'm looking around for ideas. As Dom and I are going on our first child free holiday for five years to California in June (Hurray!) we probably need something close to home. Last year's camping holiday with Thomson Al Fresco in the South of France was wonderful, but it did turn out to be expensive for four of us. Not so much the cost of the holiday itself, but the poor rate of exchange makes everything so much more pricy when you get there. I am quite excited about Bluestone in Wales - www.bluestonewales.com which a friend of mine told me about. Adventure park, stunningly designed lodges, gorgeous setting, fab swimming pools. Oh and a spa for mummy. Yippee! I will keep you posted on any special offers and other ideas I spot.

Gruffalo trunki is joining us on holiday

We are now the pround owners of a Gruffalo Trunki. What a superb thing it is. Hannah has it packed and ready for our holiday. She is excited about riding on it through the airport. Ever since they appeared on Dragon's Den I thought they were fab. Nobody invested though after Theo pulled the handle off. Now that seems to have been sorted out I wonder if Trunki might make a good investment opportunity for our travel friends at TUI as both brands appear to have the same logo - a smiley T with a dot!