 I love whenever we go on holidays and hubby says - man I need to pack. Well yes you do however the packing task for him is quite a different experience than it is for me. I wonder if your household is the same?
Packing for me, as the mum, means packing not only my items but also everything required for the two kids. On top of this I also need to load hubbies clothes into the actual case - he only makes it as far as putting things out onto the bed and they magically pack themselves….. So here are my top five tips from years of experience of packing for holidays that may just help you. Do all the washing before you pack Instead of focusing on getting clothes out and into the case I instead focus on doing the washing. In the 3-4 days leading up to a big getaway I will have the washing machine on nightly. My plan of attack is to have everything laundered and in the wardrobe ready to be packed before I even think of getting out a case. Never pack too early I am absolutely a last minute packer. As per note 1 I like to have all the clothes in their place so I know what is where when it comes to the actual packing task. I have tried packing a week before and I end up taking things in and out of the case all week because I need them and I forget what I have already put in! I like to pack the day before or the morning of. I do it in one quick sweep as everything is in the wardrobes just ready to go. Pack laundry bags I have picked up some great calico hotel laundry bags along our travels, you can never pack too many of these they always come in handy on a trip. I pack underwear into the laundry bags so that they are easy to access. If your trip is taking you somewhere you can completely unpack, like a cruise, packing sections of clothes into separated bags helps with the unpacking task at the other end. Keep a second set of toiletries I don’t like to take my everyday toiletries when I travel, the containers are generally too large anyway. I keep a complete set of toiletries in a travel bag ready to go. All the items you need every time you travel - toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face wash, body wash, shampoo and conditioner - I have a complete set in a travel bag ready to pick up and go. Keep a travel medical kit As with the toiletries I also keep a travel medical kit ready to go. All the essentials including tweezers, bandaids, panadol, hydralite, hand sanitiser, sunscreen, mosquito bracelets, gastro health - in a travel bag, ready to just pack and go. What are your packing tips - do you have any helpful tips to help fellow travellers? Penny - Itchy Feet Family Other Blogs You May Be Interested In: - 24 Hours in Sydney With Kids - Christmas Cruising - Pros and Cons - Getting Dirty in Vietnam - Mud Baths of Nha Trang
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Australia is a great melting pot of nationalities from all over the world. Sydney has a concentration of Asian cultures in China Town and the surrounds - the perfect location for Yum Cha. When we told the kids we were going to Yum Cha for lunch, they decided they wanted McDonalds instead. We compromised by allowing them McDonalds but they still had to join us for the experience. To find a good location for lunch we of course checked Trip Advisor, however then asked a shop keeper in China Town which of the shortlist he actually ate at. It was by this process we decided on Marigold - a choice that proved a winner. In my experience some of the best restaurants I have discovered have not been on main streets or even at street level. But rather on a high floor of a high-rise building in a location that many would never know even exists. When we got out the lift at level four we instantly knew we were in for a treat. What greeted us was a large bustling restaurant with a great mixture of tourists and locals enjoying the culinary experience of Yum Cha. Yum Cha ladies dressed in blue pinafores rolled trollies of delights between the tables whilst traditionally dressed waiters in black pants and white shirts seated guests and served pots of Chinese Tea. Before we even had a chance to sip our tea, the trolly dolly was laying a plate of prawn dumplings on our table stamping our Yum Cha sheet before we had a chance to say Ni Hao! The Yum Cha trolly dolly does not take kindly when you reject her delicacies - especially if it is the last on her trolley and she is wanting to head back to the kitchen for a reload. If you have never experienced Yum Cha the process is this - you sit at your table and a selection of food is paraded around the restaurant on trollies for you to pick and choose what you desire. For every plate that is placed on your table a stamp is placed on your table’s Yum Cha Menu.
You really have no idea what each plate cost - nor really what it is you are actually eating no matter how many times you ask the server what it is she is serving. The food is almost secondary to the experience. However fortunately in this case the Marigold delivered both great food and atmosphere. The kids regretted the burger that had already made it to their stomach and found room to squeeze in a sampling of prawn dumplings, spring rolls, pork buns and Chinese Tea. Miss 7 enjoyed the challenge of the chop sticks and Master 10 surprised us by his natural ability to manipulate the utensils as if they were an extension of his hands. Have you sampled a great Yum Cha in an obscure location? Let us know your top tip for Yum Cha restaurants with a great atmosphere. Penny - Itchy Feet Family Book Your Sydney Getaway Today - We Recommend QT Hotel. Other blogs you may enjoy - 24 hours in Sydney with Kids - Hotel Review QT Sydney - Magical Moreton Island - Getting Dirty in Vietnam  There are a number of “Blue Lagoons” around the world, on a recent South Pacific Cruise we discovered the Blue Lagoon on Santo Island, Vanuatu. The Lagoon is, as the name suggests, Blue. The water is an amazing colour and crystal clear I imagine when there are not 300 cruise passengers swimming around in it! We did not join a tour, we instead opted for a private taxi which we found upon arrival into port. We shared a van with another couple and paid $50 return for the family of four.  There are not many taxis on the island and I am not sure this one really qualified as one, rather an eight seater family van that was earning some cash on the day. Completely unroadworthy for Australian standards - but when in Vanuatu! The Lagoon was approximately a 20-minute drive from the port and upon arrival an AUD $5 per person charge was required to enter the water area. A short walk from the car park past some obligatory markets and we were greeted by the turquoise waters. The locals have put in some ladders and jumping platforms and everyone lines up to swing on the rope like a monkey from a tree gracefully, or not so much, diving into the refreshment from the humidity and heat of the tropical island.  Beware of rusty nails on the ladders, there are no Occupational Health and Safety Officers checking the standards here, and the floating piece of wood in the middle of the lagoon portraying a pontoon had all types of species of algae to discover.
Of all the Blue Lagoons in the world I am sure this one would not rank in the top 5, however it does deliver on amazing coloured water and a unique swimming experience on a tropical island. The lush jungle that surrounds makes you feel like you are in a location out of a movie set and it is an experience not to be missed if you have a cruise port stop in Santo. Have you been to this Lagoon? Tell us about your experience. Penny - Itchy Feet Family Other blogs you may be interested in:
 December 2016 we had a two-night stay in Sydney before joining a cruise. Finding a hotel in Sydney this trip had a few challenges. A) The price of accommodation in December is always at a premium and B) Finding a hotel room in Sydney with a room occupancy for four people also limited our choices. The Itchy Feet Family consists of two adults and two children, Master 10 and Miss 7, and we prefer to only have one room. Many hotels in Sydney require families to purchase two rooms due to maximum occupancy rates of three. However, we stumbled across a flash sale with priority rewards chain and discovered the QT Hotel. Located in Market Street, this boutique hotel is situated in the centre of the CBD right in the thick of the shopping district and almost directly underneath the Sydney Tower.  At $250 a night the hotel offered twin queen beds, perfect for a family of four with young children. And what a surprise this hotel was. The Boutique hotel is actually owned by the State Theatre and the styling reflects the connection. Quirky little additions throughout starting from the uniform of the porters, the wall of vintage suitcases in the lobby and the dress mannequins reflecting pieces of art - we were fascinated by the intricate details of the hotel. The room was spacious for Sydney standards, really funky decor topped off with a large bathroom consisting a his and hers sink, deep round tub and large shower with a rain shower head. In-room we had free Wi-Fi and movies as well as a Nespresso coffee machine that came with fresh milk to warm in the milk frother for a true in-room cappuccino.  The hotel had a tiny in-house gym with a few pieces of equipment, however another great addition to a stay at the QT hotel is access to the Virgin Active Club located just a few minutes walk from the hotel. We were staying on Boxing Day, so it was closed, however from what we saw on the internet anyone that takes their fitness seriously would appreciate the value of this additional extra.
Although located in the thick of the CBD, another great advantage of this hotel was just how quiet the room was. We were only staying on Level 4 and yet not a sound of the outside world could be heard from the comfort of our room. Another rarity for a hotel room anywhere in the world, let alone Sydney. From the hotel you are in walking distance of China Town, Circular Quay and Darling Harbour and on your doorstep you can just walk across the street to be in the Westfield Shopping district with a myriad of choices for shopping and dining. I did overhear a guest unhappy that her room had not been serviced in the afternoon and when we went out in the evening at 5pm we also had to request a room refresh as it had not been done. However given it was a public holiday I imagined they may have been low on staff. To their credit the reception staff were very apologetic and when we returned later that evening the room had been cleaned. If you are after something a little bit different from your typical chain hotel, the QT Hotel in Sydney certainly delivers. Check Availability Today. Penny - Itchy Feet Family Other blogs you may be interested in: - 24 Hours in Sydney - With Kids - Ya'll Come Back Soon - Our Visit to Dixie Dude Ranch - Look Out Zimmer Frames, Zip Lines are Coming Through - Adventure Cruising - Getting Dirty In Vietnam - Visit to the Nha Trang Mud Baths |
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