Rachael
It’s here! The summer holidays have finally crept up on us, and now is the time that parents need as many days out ideas and vouchers as possible. Plenty of theme parks, zoos and attractions are offering discounts for the summer period, so this post will highlight some of the best, and also offer a few tips on how to make travelling with kids a tad less stressful…
Discounts at Theme Parks, Attractions and Child-Friendly Restaurants
Thorpe Park: Named ‘The Nation’s Thrill Capital’, there is wonder more than 12 million adrenaline junkies visit each year. With rides like SAW- The Ride, Nemesis Inferno and Colossus, a trip to Thorpe Park is fantastic for the older kids, but with a range of rides for younger children the whole family can have fun here. Make sure you’re armed with Thorpe Park vouchers before you leave; you can currently get 6 free tickets for every 10 people that visit, fantastic if you’re arranging a big family day out.
Chester Zoo: Chester Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the UK, home to more than 4000 animals. Along with the lions, tigers and bears you can also go back in time to the Jurassic period and come face to face with life size moving dinosaurs, including the infamous Tyrannosaurus Rex! You can currently get free child tickets for Chester Zoo on MoneySupermarket’s vouchers site.
M&D’s: M&D’s is Scotland’s Theme Park, so if you’re heading north this summer this voucher may come in useful. M&D’s has some fantastic attractions for the whole family, including Amazonia (an indoor tropical rainforest), Cosmic Bowl, the Krazy Congo soft play area and Devil’s Island mini golf. There is plenty to do to fill up the whole day, and you can get £10 off a family ticket, meaning it will be a little cheaper too.
Bowlplex: Bowling is an active and fun way to keep the kids entertained this summer, and you can join in too. Grab the whole family and get competitive! Bowling alley’s usually have some great all-day offers on over the summer period, perfect if the Great British weather isn’t up to scratch. Throughout summer you can get 2 for 1 on games of bowling at your local Bowlplex venue, so you can enjoy bowling together for less.
Frankie and Benny’s: If you’re wondering where to take the kids for something to eat this summer, take them for a bite for free at Frankie and Benny’s. Frankie and Benny’s is an American/Italian 50’s themed chain restaurant and is a firm favourite with kids. Whether they’re into burgers, pizzas, pastas or even salads, Frankie and Benny’s won’t disappoint. Make sure you use the Kids Eat Free printable voucher next time you visit.
Advice on Travelling with Kids
One thing about travelling with kids is that it can be stressful for not only the children, but you too. The phrase ‘are we there yet?’ will probably crop up a few times (even if you’re travelling a relatively short distance!) making it hard to keep them entertained for the duration. Here are a few tips on how to travel with the kids in the most stress free manner…
Let them pack their own bags/hand luggage
Letting them pack their own travel bag will not only teach them how to pick the most essential things to take on their travels, but they’ll also be able to pack their favourite toys and books meaning they’re less likely to get bored in the car or on the plane/ferry. Making them responsible for their own hand luggage is a good way to teach them about prioritising but will make sure they’re taking the things that will entertain themselves for a lengthier period.
Take snacks
Never underestimate the importance of taking good snacks in your bag/hand luggage. Kids can become hungry at sporadic times, so by carrying granola bars, nuts and seeds is a good way to keep hunger at bay whilst giving them slow-release energy and nutritious snacks. This may also save you a fortune on snacks on public transports (like planes and trains) and at theme parks, where prices are highly inflated.
Pack the right toys
Take a range of toys with you so the kids don’t get bored- you can gradually introduce new toys as the day/holiday goes on. If you’re travelling with more than one child, invest in some travel board games so they can play together. These just so happen to use up the most amount of time too, meaning less boredom and less irritability. Also take a range of books and magazines, and be sure to pack an MP3 player with their favourite music on.
Put your mind at rest
If you are going abroad, minimise the risk of extra stress by getting a good family travel insurance policy. The risk of cancellations, delays, loss of baggage, theft and injury may play on your mind, so put your mind at rest by getting a travel insurance policy that will cover you for all of these things. Compare prices on policies first to make sure you get the best deal.
Image courtesy of Daimen Richards on Flickr.
For a great hotel deal including family entry to M&D’s Scotland’s Theme Park have a look at the Abington Hotel, Biggar. Other family deals include entry to ScotKart, Drumlanrig Castle & Hidden Treasures Museum.
The Abington Hotel is a great location in a quiet village yet within easy reach to Glasgow and Edinburgh.
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