This time last year I remember the excitement from bloggers when the lovely people over at Mark Warner announced that they were inviting bloggers to apply to become an ambassador for their company. I remember reading all of the entries and watching the many fantastic vlogs. Competition was stiff. I have no doubt that the competition will be even greater this year as I have already seen so many amazing entries. However, I have decided that this year we are going to enter too as we would love the opportunity to represent the brilliant Mark Warner.

Holidays are very important to us. As a child I can remember all of our holidays. I have forgotten presents that I had as a child but I have never forgotten a holiday. I have such fond memories of galloping through the New Forest, listening out for bats roosting or huddling round a fire in a cottage on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors. In fact my holiday to Yorkshire as a child saw me falling in love with the county and I ended up moving there as soon as I could. I then committed the ultimate sin by falling in love with a man from the wrong side of the Pennines, he was from Lancashire!

Now we live on Jersey we find ourselves travelling a lot. There is a saying on our little island “to stay sane on the rock you have to escape every three months”. I can confirm that this is true and we like to travel at every opportunity whether it be back to the UK to see family or over to Norway to visit my brother, or round the Canary Islands for Christmas. Jersey is a small but mighty island, a tiny 9 x 5 miles with beautiful beaches and winding green country lanes. It is famous for Bergerac, Jersey Royal potatoes and its cows. Jersey might be lovely but because it so small we feel that it is really important that our children also experience other cultures and other sights so they are aware that there is a big world out there waiting for them

The girls came up with their own mood board but the girls interpreted it slightly differently. They came up with their ten must haves for the perfect holiday. You can watch the outcome below. But first here are ours for #MarkWarnerMum

Pin me! Save these top ten tips for stress-free travels

Camera

Not just for us but for the girls too. A holiday needs to be documented from start to finish. The girls have their own camera and they love the responsibility of capturing the holiday too. We often find that they see things that we completely miss. This sometimes involves them taking photos of everyone in the security line, their lunch at the airport and random photos of people’s suitcases. Now I think about it, isn’t that Instagram? 😉

First-aid box

If there is an accident to be had then my children will have it. This first-aid box has everything: Anti-bac gel, hand-wipes (never go anywhere without hand-wipes!) plasters, sun-cream, calpol etc

iPad or kindle

Sometimes we need to turn to technology. The iPad or Kindle is perfect for travelling especially when you are hanging around at airports. Load it up with books, c-beebies, educational games and music. Hours and hours of fun which means that those possible travel delays can be handled easily.

Notebooks

Notebooks for everyone. Oldest takes after me in that she loves documenting her holiday. She records everything that happens on holiday adding her own photos and pictures. This is also great for travel delays as the book can also double-up as a game of noughts and crosses and hangman etc.

Headphones

Perfect for the kids to watch their programmes on when they are on the plane etc. Also, if you are sharing your bedroom with the kids then you are going to want headphones so that you can watch some TV after lights out. I have spent many a holiday sat squashed in the bathroom, watching the iPad so that I don’t disturb the girls. Headphones are a must!

Map/travel guide

You are going to want to go exploring the local area so take a map or travel guide. This is also a great way of whiling away the time at the airport as you can get your maps out and get the children to plan where they want to go and see.

Trainers

Do not forget your trainers for travelling as it is all about about comfort. You will be carrying luggage, looking after children and possibly dashing from one side of the airport to the other! Trainers are a must.

Battery charger

Take a portable battery charger so that you don’t get a flat phone/ iPad etc.

Suitcases on wheels

With children you want to make it as easy as possible to get those suitcases from A to B. Also the trunki suitcases for children are a life saver. Just sit them on the top and dash across the airport. Just be careful not to take out any unsuspecting grannies!

Stickers

This is a two part one. Before your holiday buy your children lots of stickers. Give them the job of decorating your suitcase with all of the stickers. This will ensure that your suitcase stands out in the airport. Also take the stickers to airport and on plane. If need be let the kids cover you in stickers. This will give them hours of fun and guarantee peace and quiet. It also means that you won’t get lost either 😉

Now over to Oldest and her ten must haves for the perfect holiday

My 10 Must haves for the perfect holiday by Oldest, 7 years-old.

1 x happy family

Our holidays are the only time that we really get to spend time with each other for a long time. It is also the time we make lots of happy memories and I get to do lots of fun stuff with my little sister, Mum and Dad.

A sprinkling of snow

I was born in Yorkshire and if I close my eyes really hard I can remember when one year we had lots of snow and me and Daddy built a snowman and we had to hike down to the shops to get some food in. It was very exciting. However, we then moved to Jersey and we have never had snow in Jersey. My little sister has never played in the snow and I would love for her to be able to play in the snow.

A sense of adventure

What I love about going on holiday is seeing new places and exploring. It’s so exciting. I have already seen some amazing places; I’ve sailed down the Norwegian fjords, I’ve been on a cruise ship for Christmas and I have climbed over moors in Yorkshire.

Some thirst quencher

We love exploring and that means we need to keep hydrated. Mummy’s favourite holiday phrase is

“time for coffee and cake?”

Leave Mum and Dad to enjoy the slopes

Mum is always telling us how she went skiing when she was 15 years-old and how it was the best time ever. She is getting old (don’t tell her I said that) now so I would love her to have another go at skiing. Daddy has always wanted to ski too.

Fun in kids’ club

We love having fun with Mummy and Daddy but sometimes we want to have fun with children our own age that’s why we love a good kids’ club. It also means that Mummy and Daddy can have a power-nap!

Sun

We always need the sun because it makes everyone happy

Good local food

Whenever we go somewhere new we have to try the local dishes. I love trying new food, especially new ice-cream.

Snow ball fights

I want to be able to have a snowball fight like I did with Granny when I was very little and back in Yorkshire. I would also love to beat Daddy at a snowball fight!

Enjoy the sights

Whenever we go to a new country or city, we like to get out by ourselves and go exploring and finding the local sights. In the past this has meant that Mummy and Daddy have got us lost in the food markets of Madeira, taken us up a vernacular in Bergen and down the river in Lisbon.

This is our ten must haves. When I looked at Mummy and Daddy’s mood-board it was very boring. Please help me Mark Warner, I need some excitement and I want to show them that my ten must haves were just perfect!

This is our entry for the Mark Warner’s family holiday ambassador programme. #MarkWarnerMum