My last holiday was at the end of August – a week in France which (and I know I shouldn’t complain, but…) wasn’t the most restful or enjoyable holiday for me.  On day 2, I had an unfortunate run-in with some gravel which not only injured my foot and meant I couldn’t go in the pool all week but also managed to infect me – my foot started to swell at the beginning of our mammoth 24 hour journey home, which was uncomfortable to say the least.  Thanks to this, I feel like I need another holiday already and I have a wishlist rapidly building; a wishlist that I will be unburdening here: I would like to visit America; it has come up in conversation more than once recently.  I’d like to throw some things in a backpack and set off on a US adventure.  I want to stay at Clickstay villas in Orlando with my children, to spend Christmas in New York, to drive from one end to the other and soak up the …

What is it about snow and Christmas that just belong together so perfectly? For as long as I can remember, as a nation, we have collectively been bursting for it to snow on Christmas Day.  I don’t remember if it has ever happened in my lifetime (other than the odd solitary flake that apparently still counts but is in no way as exciting as a blanket of pure white), in fact it generally doesn’t snow a lot where we live on the south coast.  But I still have that dream of experiencing a snowy Christmas, and it is one that Jasmine appears to have inherited.  For the last couple of years, she has been asking if we can visit Norway for her birthday (which, incidentally, is today), to be snowed in and hopefully catch a glimpse of those elusive Northern Lights.  One day, I hope to make that dream of hers come true. Another way to get that festive flurry fix would be to book a ski holiday.  Mark Warner Christmas ski holidays look particularly …

When you think about Las Vegas as a tourist destination, the first thing that typically pops into a person’s head is the casinos. Las Vegas is known for its sprawling casinos, each with their own theme and their own experience clustered along Las Vegas Boulevard or The Strip. But what happens if casinos and gambling aren’t really your thing? Does that mean you should cross Las Vegas off your list of destinations to visit? The short answer is no.  The Las Vegas tourist board has been working hard to inform visitors about all the casino attractions, but also make clear the fact that the city is so much more than just a casino destination. Today there are attractions and sights meant to appeal to a wide range of tourists, including families who are looking for that perfect family getaway.   Here we’ll take a look at five entertaining things to do and see in Las Vegas that have absolutely nothing to do with the casino and gambling.  Venture Outside the City to World Famous Landmarks  While …