Kidventures's Podcast

With living costs rising, people are definitely feeling the pinch. So how do families navigate finding the best deals for their holidays? In the latest episode of the Kidventures family travel, hosts Cathy and Ting chat with Daniela Ridgwell - a deal hunter from Holiday Pirates. Discover more great price holidays on the Holiday Pirates site at holidaypirates.com Find more at kidventures.co.uk or check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com Support the show

Most kids might think family holidays are all about getting away from lessons - but iIn the latest episode of the Kidventures family travel podcast, hosts Cathy and Ting chat to co-founder of Original Travel, Tom Barber, about why all travel is educational. Forget doing homework on the beach though: the new trend for Ed-ventures, or educational adventures, is designed to help kids learn more about the world, as well as picking up new skills, developing their own interests and discovering everything from culture to cuisine, language, history and more. And it's not just exotic long-haul holidays: from a bucket and spade break on a UK beach to a European city break, as well as more far-flung destinations, there are lessons to be learned every time you travel. The best part? This is stealth learning - so much fun that it never feels like school... Discover more about Original Travel's family adventures at originaltravel.co.uk and check out some of the child-friendly ed-ventures. Find more at kidventures.co.uk or check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com Support the show

In the latest episode of the Kidventures family travel podcast, hosts Cathy and Ting chat to owner and co-founder of luxury travel company Black Tomato, Tom Marchant, and discover his thoughts on 2022 family travel trends, as well as the popular and standout destinations for this year. Tom also reveals where the inspiration for Black Tomato came from - plus what's on his travel wishlist for himself and his family. Listen for an insightful and fascinating insight from someone in the know... Discover more about Black Tomato's family adventures at blacktomato.com and check out the new family travel guide Find more at kidventures.co.uk or check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com Support the show

We're back with a new series of episodes looking at the reality of family travel in 2022 - including a catch-up on where our own travels have taken us over the past 12 months. With the world slowly opening up, new restrictions, paperwork and testing to negotiate, what's been the reality of trying to travel with kids once more? Ting and Cathy share their own experiences, from the first post-pandemic flights to plans for the future, as well as a look at how the travel industry is recovering. There's an update on Ting's caravan renovation project - will Dotty also take her first trip this year? And Cathy shares her ambitions for the rest of 2022. Find more at https://www.kidventures.co.uk or check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com Support the show

After months where our horizons shrank to a tiny area around our homes, it's no surprise most of us are desperate to get travelling again. But is it just a self-indulgent wish for a holiday? In this episode, the Kidventures family travel podcast hosts are joined by travel writer, author and fellow travelling mum Laura Hall, in saying a very emphatic no. With Laura's book, One Day, So Many Ways, designed to introduce children to different cultures around the world, the episode covers the lessons which travel teaches our children and why broadening their outlook (and ours!) is so valuable. With Europe starting slowly to open up, we also discuss where might be possible for family travel in 2021 and how the pandemic is inspiring us to try different ways of travel - plus the usual tips on how to get the most from travelling with kids. You can see some of Laura's photos of her family travels and Copenhagen on Instagram while her book One Day, So Many Ways is available on Amazon. Find out more at https://www.kidventures.co.uk or check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com Support the show

Celebrating its 70th birthday this year, the Peak District is a fantastic place to visit with kids - and you don't have to be a hardened hiker to enjoy this. In this episode, sponsored by Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, the Kidventures family travel podcast hosts look at all the reasons why you'll love visiting the Peak District with young kids. Having grown up around half an hour from the edge of the National Park, Cathy shares some of her childhood memories of exploring, including walking and cycling through the Peak District, as well as family attractions in the Peak District, from caves to cable car and trams. And Ting discovers more tempting things to do in the Peak District with kids, from an outdoor pool and walking with alpacas to taste testing Bakewell tart and Bakewell pudding for her own dream trip. Discover more tips on things to do in the Peak District with kids at mummytravels.com/peak-district-with-young-kids and the Peak District tourist board website - including a peek at the fascinating Ladybower Reservoir plughole and walking and cycling routes in the Peak District. Find out more at https://www.kidventures.co.uk or check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com Support the show

From the gorgeous countryside of the Highlands to the fascinating Scottish islands, cities including wonderful Edinburgh, beaches galore and a whole host of family-friendly places to stay, there's so much to discover in Scotland with kids. So in this episode, the Kidventures family travel podcast hosts are joined by Scotland family travel expert Janice Hopper, who writes the Scots2Travel blog Packed with tips on how to plan your own family holiday in Scotland - and why 2021 is the perfect year to do it - there's everything from ideas for road trips around Scotland to quirky accommodation, the best beaches in Scotland with kids (including one which looks like it's in the tropics), the perfect location for a first Scotland family holiday, where to avoid the rain and how to hunt for the Loch Ness monster (plus a side helping of Scottish myth and legend). Find out more at kidventures.co.uk or check out the other podcast episodes and subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com Support the show

The freedom to just jump into your camper van and set off on your travels with kids is a tempting idea, particularly after a year of travel restrictions. So it's no surprise that vanlife is more popular than ever. In this episode, the Kidventures family travel podcast hosts are joined by two experts - long-term vanlife convert Katy from Otis and Us and Jenny from Travelynn Family, who was spurred on by lockdown to finally buy her own campervan. Listen on for really helpful tips and sound advice and what it's really like to travel in a campervan with kids. From the pros and cons, cutting the costs and whether to convert your own, to whether a Volkswagen T5 or Mazda Bongo really is best. Oh, and why you need a Lenor bottle handy, especially if you have boys... Find out more at kidventures.co.uk or check out the other podcast episodes and subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com Support the show

Food and travel go hand in hand. If you really want to delve into the culture and history of a destination, then you have to eat the local cuisine, shop in their local markets and learn about the dishes that have been passed down through the generations. Ting talks about her passion for food and travel, and how her MasterChef appearance spurred her to set up her new food blog Cook Simply. From their first foodie memories abroad to Michelin-starred restaurants, spending all day browsing local food markets, weird and wonderful dishes from around the world and quirky food walking tours, the Kidventures hosts discuss all the things which make their mouths water... plus a couple which very definitely didn't! Be warned, you may want to eat before you listen to this one! Find out more at kidventures.co.uk or check out the other podcast episodes and subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com Support the show

The end to lockdown is finally in sight! And after a year of many sacrifices, where travel has been put on pause, and family and friends have been unable to see one another, we’re discussing what lockdown lessons we’ve learned. We chat about how it was possible to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary by taking up new hobbies including open water and sea swimming to getting fit by running away from virtual zombies! Lockdown has also forced us to explore more of our own backyards and discover hidden gems in the process. And more importantly, we discuss what it means to be able to interact with loved ones and friends once again and how important it is to seize the moment. Listen on for our thoughts and discussions, plus contributions from other travel bloggers about our lockdown lessons. Thanks to Claire from Devon with Kids , Katja from Globetotting and Kirstie from the Family Adventure Project for their thoughts. Find out more at https://www.kidventures.co.uk or check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com Support the show

Finally, there's good news on the travel horizon, with the first news of restrictions beginning to lift across the UK, in particular with the roadmap for England (so far). In this episode, the Kidventures family travel podcast hosts talk about their plans for 2021 UK travel, and what to keep in mind when you're booking. There's also advice on avoiding the crowds in the most popular areas, ways to stay within budget if accommodation is booking up fast and prices are rising, and tips on areas you might not previously have considered... but which should definitely be on your family travel radar. From husky sledding in Wales to a chained library in Hereford, the coasts of Cumbria and Northumberland to get your beach fix plus some travel highlights that did get squeezed in to 2020, it's the start of a planned series of episodes looking at exploring the best of the UK... and a chance to get excited about travelling once again. Find out more at https://www.kidventures.co.uk or check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com Support the show

Ask most parents and they'll agree that travelling with toddlers is the hardest age to manage when you're planning family holidays - but that's no reason to stop. In this episode, the Kidventures family travel podcast hosts share all their top toddler travel tips, from food and routines to ways to cope with long journeys. As well as their own experiences of travelling with toddlers and surviving (with two separate toddlers in Ting's case), there's also more advice in Ting's new free book, available to download at my-travelmonkey.com/tips-for-travelling-with-a-toddler/ or find out more at kidventures.co.uk This episode was originally recorded in February 2020 but - for fairly obvious reasons - has been postponed until families can realistically think about travelling with young kids once again and make the most of the tips. The advice covers travelling with toddlers in general, rather than specifically relating to post-pandemic holidays so as ever, check the latest travel restrictions and government guidance before you book or go. Check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com Support the show

There's only one topic on everyone's minds at the moment - and so only one podcast we could make this week, which is why this episode of the Kidventures family travel podcast is on Coronavirus. Current events are moving almost too fast to keep up, and most of us are worrying about more than how Corvid-19 affects travel. But with many of our future plans in doubt, including Easter travel, we're taking a look at some of the facts about the pandemic as well as how you stand if you've got a trip booked. At time of recording, Italy had just gone into lockdown, and there have already been more travel restrictions imposed by different countries in the past day or two - the comments here are likely to be overtaken by further events, so please check the most recent advice from medical professionals and other official bodies. And while everyone's situation is different, with some more at risk than others, we've tried to tackle the main everyday questions that most of us have. We hope you find it useful. Find out more at https://www.kidventures.co.uk Check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com Support the show

Who's wished their kids would eat anything? There's no question that finding food your kids love can be tricky enough at home - let alone when you're travelling. In this episode, the Kidventures family travel podcast hosts are joined by Emily Leary, author of Get Your Kids to Eat Anything and blogger behind A Mummy Too, to get tips on helping kids to try new things and making food a fun - not stressful - part of travel. We chat about everything from why kids love to say 'NO' to whatever's put in front of them, why getting hands on or heading off the beaten track can help, and why encouraging kids to try different food works in a similar way to potty training or sleep training. And if the proof of the pudding is in the eating, as a result of the podcast's tips, Cathy even managed to get her rather picky daughter to eat curry...! Find out more at https://www.kidventures.co.uk or Emily's blog https://www.amummytoo.co.uk/, while you can buy her book at https://amzn.to/3cgc8Yc (affiliate link) Check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com Support the show

Would you put your kids in a kids' club? For some parents - and kids! - it's a highlight of the holiday, for others it defeats the point of family travel. The Kidventures family travel podcast hosts look at the pros and cons of holidays with kids clubs, and how to choose one. Cathy and Ting discuss the things to know before you travel, what to look out for in a kids club, especially if you're travelling with younger kids, and what questions you need to ask. We share our stories of when kids clubs have gone really really right (and how you persuade your child to leave and actually spend time with you again!) and the times we really don't want to repeat. From fantastic educational activities and coral planting to X-Boxes and late-night movies, there's a huge variety out there - not to mention a few less enticing options with a bit of colouring in a windowless room. Paid, unpaid, drop-in or quickly booked up, here's our advice to navigate what can be a family travel minefield. Find out more at https://www.kidventures.co.uk And check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com. Support the show

You'll never be short of things to do in London. But with kids? And without breaking the bank? In this episode, the Kidventures family travel podcast hosts are joined by Katja Gaskell, blogger at Globetotting and co-founder (along with Cathy) of the London with Kids Facebook group, talking about cunning money saving tricks and why you can visit London with toddlers or teens. We chat about everything from using the tube with younger kids to how to get bargain tickets for West End musicals, how to plan an itinerary, discovering London on a budget, hidden gems and why we've all got a family London wishlist despite living in and visiting the capital for decades. Find out more at https://www.kidventures.co.uk or Katja's blog https://globetotting.com/, while you can check the Facebook group out at https://www.facebook.com/groups/LondonWithKids/ Check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com Support the show

Where's on your 2020 family travel list? Back with new episodes after our Christmas break, the Kidventures family travel podcast hosts are chatting about travel plans for 2020, travel resolutions including trying to fly less and stick to a budget, and how politics might affect the holidays we take. From trying to pack in European trips before Brexit happens (if it does!) and our attitude to risk when it comes to visiting countries in the Middle East and North Africa (among others), to looking at ways to be a bit greener, there are plenty of big questions to ponder. And plenty which are a bit less hard-hitting - how much ice cream IS too much on a family holiday, will Ting really find a bargain if she holds her nerve to the last minute, and whether it's going to rain in Rome in February. So if you've got blank pages in your diary and itchy feet, settle back for some inspiration and plenty of travel nattering. Find out more at https://www.kidventures.co.uk Check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com. Support the show

Sun or snow, the best Christmas markets and whether to go away for the Christmas holidays? In this episode, the Kidventures family travel podcast hosts are chatting all about winter breaks with kids, including tips on a magical break in Lapland. From tales of Christmas dinners abroad with no gravy to why you need more gloves and socks than you think, there's tips and inspiration on the different kinds of winter breaks you might plan and whether you can persuade your kids to swap family traditions for exotic destinations. With ideas for festive ice rinks, Christmas markets around the UK, Christmas escapes to the seaside and why it's worth flying on Christmas day itself, there's plenty of inspiration to keep you going for a bit longer than usual, as the Kidventures hosts take their own short winter break before returning with new episodes of the podcast in 2020. Find out more at https://www.kidventures.co.uk Check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com. Support the show

If you love travel, the chances are you've owned at least one Lonely Planet guide book - and as a family traveller, something from the Lonely Planet Kids range. In this episode, the Kidventures family travel podcast hosts are joined by Lonely Planet Kids' own family travel expert and author Imogen Hall. Chatting about why there's nothing like travel to inspire and teach kids, why you can't beat a sleeper train and what the future of family travel might hold, Imogen reveals some of her own family travel experiences and tips on exploring the globe with kids. Covering everything from slow travel to lessons learned while travelling, not to mention revealing that Lonely Planet is at least partly responsible for her own husband and family, this episode is perfect if you live, breathe and dream travel. Find out more at https://www.kidventures.co.uk or from Lonely Planet Kids at https://www.lonelyplanet.com/kids Check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com. Support the show

Who loves Disney? It's one of the ultimate family holidays, especially with kids of a certain age - but if you've never been, it can also seem pricy and tricky to organise. So in this episode, the Kidventures family travel podcast hosts are joined by Disney obsessive Emma Conway, aka blogger Brummy Mummy of 2, to share her tips. From advice on which park to visit first, how to get the most out of your visit for the least money, and what you might not expect from a Disney trip to Florida, Emma shares what she wishes she'd known before her first trip as well as the best age for a Disney trip with kids. Faced with Cathy, who's never been to a Disney park as an adult or a child, she also reveals one of her magic moments and explains why her family has a special Disney budget fund so they can keep visiting. And Ting, who visited as a child and would love to go back with her boys, discovers that maybe here youngest son isn't too young for some Disney magic after all... Find out more at https://www.kidventures.co.uk or on Emma's blog at https://www.brummymummyof2.co.uk/ Check out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com. Support the show