So last year we started off all frugal with talk of saving money with the aim of refurbishing our main bathroom & downstairs cloakroom. We were absolutely, definitely not going abroad. But then Alan started on his mission to bag us a Florida bargain. £8K later (oops) we returned from an amazing holiday but not only ran out of dosh for the bathroom had a hefty credit card bill to boot. Still it was a fun trip!
This year we made the same plan but are determined to stick to it. My bathroom is looking more dated and I now hate it! So we need to stick to ‘budget’ this year. Still, we have plenty of mini breaks and road trips planned so here’s our plan for travel in the UK this year.
Butlins for Easter

We are massive fans of Butlins and have been coming annually since the kids were little. This Easter we have a full crew consisting of Alan’s Mam, my parents, and our friends The Speed family travelling up from Norfolk. The girls are pretty excited to have their grandparents & their best pals at their favourite place. For me, the spa always has a place in my heart and the dining plan is awesome for a break from the cooking & washing up. Alan is super excited to see Cirque du Hilarious the stage show from panto legends

Pods at Pooley Bridge

This will be our third trip to Pooley Bridge in the May half term. Last year we were a little unlucky with the weather but still managed to have a fantastic time with good friends. For us, Pooley Bridge is the perfect Lake District location, it’s on the ‘right’ side of the Lakes to get to quick from the North East, has some brilliant pubs & lush Lakeside walks.
We had a bad experience with a leaky tent a few years ago and haven’t looked back since discovering the ‘pods’ at the Hillcroft Campsite. They might not be much more than a glorified garden shed but you can’t whack a carpeted floor, a plug for charging phones and the extra drinking time of not pitching the tent up and down!

Glamping in Lancashire
We have been kindly invited on a press trip to Stanley Villa Farm in Preston as the weather (hopefully) warms up in May. These pods take the Lake District ones to the next level with single beds installed. No airbeds deflating in the middle of the night here. I love the idea of the packages to make the holiday more special. Sign me up for an Illuminations package. My two girl
Illuminations Package – Light up fun for the family – Includes; S’mores Kit – Biscuits, Chocolate & Marshmallows, Glow Wands, Sparklers, & Multi-Coloured Fairy lights put up in your Pod! – £14.00
Couples Package – A Nice Surprise – Includes; Rose shaped Fairy Lights in your Pod, Rose petals on bed, a melted Belgian chocolate dipping tray, & marshmallows – £15.00
The farm is just a
Summer in Burniston

We will be spending the week at my parents holiday home in Burniston in the summer holidays. Plans are pretty loose at the moment but we are thinking about Flamingo land for a day trip. The girls love the sea front for the traditional seaside fun so sure these will figure in the plans too. Even though we have been coming to these parts for years we always find somewhere new to discover.

Road Trip to Wales

On our second week of the holidays, we will be heading to Wales. Inspired by Samantha from NE Family Fun’s Stratford review we are thinking of spending a day or two here en route as it’s an area we haven’t explored before. The main reason for Wales is to visit Alan’s Auntie Hazel in Lampeter who is a complete legend. Even though she is in her mid 90’s she still manages in her own cottage in rural Wales and tells some brilliant tales. We haven’t managed to sort accommodation in Wales yet but hoping to find a nice family friendly B&B or maybe some more glamping?
City Break to Liverpool
Another little press trip which coincides perfectly with our return from Wales. This time to the city of Liverpool for the night with an itinerary of events planned just for us. We last came to Liverpool before we had the girls and really enjoyed mooching around Albert Docks. Looking forward to this one and it’s all a bit of a surprise! We’ll need to get planning things to do in Liverpool.
Is that it?
Well, if everything goes as planned we’ll have our bathrooms finished and our mini-breaks will keep us entertained. There is still the temptation of Disneyland Paris at Christmas though… Keep the focus Hoopers!
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