14th May 2013

Tips for Travelling with Babies & Children

Tags: Flying with babies, Flying with Children, Flying with kids, SnoozeShade, Tips, Tips for flying with little ones, travelling with babies, Travelling with children, travelling with kids

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We are delighted to have Cara Sayer, creator and founder of the SnoozeShade to share her top tips for fuss-free flying with babies and children to help those of you heading off en famille or reassure those of you who are perhaps nervous of committing to a holiday with little ones in tow. Cara knows more than a thing or two about travelling and ensuring sleep for all parties along the way having invested the SnoozeShade to combat the well known challenge that is getting a child to sleep during the day with mixed success draping muslins, blankets and even jackets over prams whilst out and about at home or on holiday. Being on holiday adds to the challenge sun and insect protection as well as ventilation and keeping baby cool.

Frustrated with the absence of an effective solution Cara launched her SnoozeShade in March 2010 and the original and additional versions for prams, infant car seats and travel cots are now on sale around the world helping parents from London to Sydney ensure they have a happy well rested baby. Here are Cara’s tips for a smooth journey and holiday away from home:

Be flexible and be prepared

When you’re travelling with children everything will take longer so try to make life easier for yourselves so you don’t have to rush. If you can, check in online beforehand, get to the airport well ahead of time so you have plenty of time for toilet, feeding and changing breaks. Be prepared for delays at the airport – keep your pushchair with you until you board, have snacks and some toys or games to entertain your little ones depending on their ages. If your plane is very delayed, a SnoozeShade has been a lifesaver for many a parent in a busy airport allowing baby to sleep easily when needed in the pram or pushchair.

Pack for every event (and then some)

We travelled a lot with my daughter when she was tiny and I found a surprise friend in the humble nappy bag. They are really useful for every situation. A nappy explosion? Seal up dirty clothes. Bottle of milk spills? Seal up in the nappy bag. A pack of wipes is always handy. Take a few sachets of Calpol in case you need it in transit. Buy a small bottle of antibacterial hand gel in case you get stuck somewhere with less than desirable toilets. Pack plenty of spare tops and bottoms as accidents will happen and layers for when it’s chilly that can be taken off when it’s warmer. Pack a spare t-shirt or top for yourself too as you will not want to sit with spit up on your shoulder for several hours.

Timing is everything

If you can try and time flights with naptime and bedtime. Feed babies during take-off and landing as it helps release pressure in their ears naturally. One thing I learned travelling with my daughter is that children can stay awake for the whole flight but it’s quite common for them to fall asleep when the plan lands (an air stewardess told me on a flight to Spain once).

Ask for help

Don’t be embarrassed if your baby cries, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from air staff or other passengers – particularly if you’re flying by yourself with baby. Chat to the flight attendants and see if they have any tips – they will have seen it all before. They can help you in many ways – bring you water to mix up a bottle, dispose of dirty nappies, grab something out of your bag in the overhead and even hold your baby so you can take a trip to the bathroom.

Beat on-board boredom with a goody bag

For babies pack a goody bag of items that they know and love. A couple of small toys, a small puzzle, a pack of crayons and a colouring book.

For older children, have a gadget on hand that can entertain them. I have rented some cheap and cheerful films from iTunes for flights and my daughter has been happily entertained for a couple of hours.

Load up for snack attacks

I don’t think my daughter has ever eaten a plane meal so ensure you have snacks for the journey. You are allowed to take a reasonable amount of baby milk, sterilised water (must be in a baby bottle), and baby food to last a journey. Sachets of baby food are good as they can be resealed. If you’re using baby milk then you can also buy pre-sterilised teats to go into small ready made formula cartons. I always used to take a sterilising microwave bag with me just in case I was able to use it when needed as it takes up hardly any space. For older children you can buy them sandwiches at the airport, yoghurts and other treats so you save on packing it at home.

Save 20% Off, enjoy free UK P&P & chance to WIN a SnoozeShade Classic Plus

We’re delighted to offer www.latedeals.co.uk customers and blog readers an amazing 20% off and free UK P&P on any of the SnoozeShade range of sun and sleep shades that help babies sleep and protect them from sun, wind, chill, light rain and insects. Simply visit www.snoozeshade.com and enter LATE20 at checkout. Offer valid until 1st September 2013. No alternatives available.

To win a SnoozeShade Classic Plus just leave a comment below telling us:

Which holiday destination would you like to visit with a SnoozeShade to protect your little ones?

You can have extra entries just by simply joining Latedeals and SnoozeShade over on Facebook, following us on Twitter and tweeting about the competition too just enter through the rafflecopter entry form below.

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You can find SnoozeShade here:

Website & stockists http://www.snoozeshade.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SnoozeShade
Twitter https://twitter.com/SnoozeShade

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14th May 2013

Summer 2013: This Year’s Travel Essentials

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OK, so you’ve booked your holiday, sorted your insurance, planned your wardrobe and now all you need to do is pack those travel essentials that’ll make your trip all the more enjoyable.

At Latedeals.co.uk we thought we’d save you some time and with our guide to this year’s travel must haves:

Gadgets

Powertraveller PowerMonkey Extreme Charger
Amazon.co.uk £100.00
For the traveller who cannot live without their gadgets – you need the PowerMonkey! Its battery is charged from a solar panel that holds its charge for up to a year, ready to power your phone, laptop or tablet.

Oregon Scientific UV Monitor
Amazon.co.uk 29.99
Avoid the lobster look this year with the help of this pocket-sized monitor, which tells you how long you can stay out in the sun based on UV reading, sunscreen factor and skin type. It has a handy graphic to show how dangerous the sun is at that moment – good if you have young children.

Zomm Wireless Leash
Amazon.co.uk £50.00
You’ll never loose your much-loved Smartphone again with this nifty gadget! The Zomm is a tiny keyring that connects wirelessly to your Smartphone by Bluetooth. If you walk out of a restaurant without it, the Zomm will sound the alarm.

Beauty

Braun Travel Shaver
Argos.co.uk £17.96
Look smooth on the go with this battery powered travel shaver from Braun. It’s small but has SmartFoil technology to give you a close shave in fewer strokes and is protected in transit by a stylish travel lock. It can be used wet, for extra convenience, and is fully washable.

This Works Travel
Boots.com £45.00
This product contains five of your favourite This Works products in one lovely practical, zip-up case with a special detachable inner bag. It is the perfect antidote to travel-weary skin – for style-conscious men and women.

Entertainment:

Playstation Vita
Argos.co.uk £199.99
Splash out on the Vita and you’ll never have a boring airport experience again! The big screen is high-resolution, it has a touch screen and games can be downloaded on the go, so you don’t need to carry games cartridges.

Roberts Solar DAB radio
Robertsradio.co.uk, £80
Brilliant for the pool or the beach, the Roberts Solar DAB looks smart, sounds great and best of all it is charged by the sun’s rays! It can run for up to 20 hours, is super light and comes in a variety of colours!

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones
Currys.co.uk £249.99
Acoustic Noise Cancelling technology electronically blocks out background noise, so you enjoy the pure and clear sounds of your favourite songs – even on an aeroplane! They’re compatible with your iPhone and other Apple devices.

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9th May 2013

Win 2 x SunSense Sun Protection Kits worth £100 RRP each

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We’ve teamed up with SunSense, Australia’s number one sunscreen, to offer two lucky readers the chance to win a family sized collection of SunSense products including best sellers Toddler Milk, which perfect for the little ones, and Daily Tint, which is the ultimate beauty product offering SPF 50+ with an invisible tint finish. The kit also comes with a fun SunSense frisbee and a set of UV wristbands that change from colourless to blue as you go out in the sun, to remind you to put your sunscreen on.

To counteract the common sun myths and help to reduce the risk to children, SunSense is this week launching a UK-wide schools campaign to help educate parents and children on the facts about sun protection. Best advice for protecting yourself and children from the threat of sun damage:

Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outdoors.
The higher the SPF the better (the National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommends at least SPF 15).
Reapply every 2 hours. Teach and remind children how to apply the cream.
Be careful to cover all exposed skin.
Cover up with clothing, hats and sunglasses.

For more information and to get involved with the Sun Sensible campaign visit www.sunsense.co.uk

To win the collection just leave a comment below telling us:

In which country is SunSense currently the number one sunscreen? a) Austria, b) Australia c) Argentina

You can have extra entries just by simply joining Latedeals and SunSense over on Facebook, following us on Twitter and tweeting about the competition too just enter through the rafflecopter entry form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Relevant links
https://www.facebook.com/Latedealsuk
https://twitter.com/Latedeals1
https://www.facebook.com/SunSenseUK
https://twitter.com/SunSenseUK

This competition is listed ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions

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9th May 2013

Blockbusters – A Boost Or Blow For Holiday Destinations?

Tags: Film holiday inpirations, Film locations, Movie Holiday Inspirations, Movie locations

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To coincide with the opening of the new blockbuster film The Great Gatsby, filmed on New York’s Long Island, new research has shown that people are hugely drawn to holiday destinations that they’ve seen in movies and TV shows, even if it’s a disaster movie like Impossible – which tells a story of a family’s horrendous experience during the 2004 tsunami in Thailand.

We quizzed the UK public on what influence movies have when it comes to booking holidays. It found that 84% of people were more likely to book a holiday destination after seeing it on the big screen.

Of those that had watched Impossible, only 13% said that they’d actually been put off by it. 49% of people questioned thought they were more likely to visit Thailand despite the terrifying nature of the film.

Lord of the Rings was the film that has influenced people the most according to the study, having famously showcased the beauty of New Zealand on three occasions. Next up was New York, with a number of people citing Sex and the City and Friends as key drivers in their decision.

Old favourites such as The Sound of Music still inspire tourists to visit the beautiful mountains of Austria, with recent box office hits such as Skyfall sparking a new interest in destinations such as China.

The top ten films that have influenced British holidaymakers are:

Lord of the Rings – New Zealand
Sex and the City – New York
Mamma Mia – Greece
The Beach – Thailand
Skyfall – China
Memoirs of a Geisha – Japan
Vicky Cristina Barcelona – Barcelona
The Sound of Music – Austria
Ps I love You – Ireland
Midnight In Paris – Paris

So it seems we’ve all been under the spell of Hollywood for many years and seeing gorgeous destinations on the big screen has a huge influence on our choice of holidays too. The Great Gatsby is likely to have the same effect – especially as it is a romantic story staring heart-throbs like Leonardo DiCaprio.

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7th May 2013

Insider Tips And Tricks On How To Get Holiday Freebies

Tags: Cash, Competitions, Couch Surfing, EHIC, European Health Insurance Card, House Sitting, Money Saving, Tips for holiday freebies, Travel Medical Insurance, Woofing

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According to the popular sayings “you don’t get something for nothing” and “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”, but if you follow Latedeals.co.uk’s ‘insider top tips and tricks’ from its in-the-know-team you might save hundreds of pounds and never have to pay full price for anything on your holiday again!

The website, that has hundreds of last minute package holidays discounted up to 70%, has compiled its top tips on how to get things for free – everything from spa treatments and upgrades to entire holidays, plus great advice on how to save money when you go on holiday.

Calum Macdonld from Latedeals.co.uk says:

“There was a time when hitchhiking was a feasible means of getting from A to B at no cost, but very few of us would ever consider it now.

“But there are still some viable ‘free’ accommodation options and the terms House Sitting, Couch Surfing and Woofing have become familiar search terms on the Internet.

House Sitting – people are looking for houses to be minded while on holiday or away on business for a period of time. The only cost may sometimes be utilities and of course getting to the house but if you house sit a few months in a row you could organise yourself a really cheap global holiday. www.luxuryhousesitting.com

Couch Surfing – Similar to house sitting, this time being offered a couch to sleep on! This is obviously taken on trust but there are sites to check this out. www.couchsurfing.org

Woofing – World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms – these farms give you the chance to work abroad with free accommodation and utilities for a few hours’ work in return. This is a truly fantastic way to see the world. www.wwoof.org

Calum continued: “In today’s money-saving and discount voucher code savvy world, even if you can’t get something for nothing, there are many ways you can get something at a very large discount! And holidays are no exception.

For free holidays

Get comping! With so many travel operators now on Facebook, with brand websites, and with specialist competition sites aplenty, there are hundreds of chances to win free holidays if you search them out. Try these sites:

www.theprizefinder.com, www.loquax.co.uk and www.competitionclub.co.uk plus www.facebook.com/latedealsuk

For the best discounts on holiday prices

Consider peak / low seasons for your chosen destination and if you have to go peak try to book at the beginning or end when prices are lower.

A late deal, booked within 8 weeks of travel, is a guaranteed way of getting money off as this is when tour operators are selling off holidays that they haven’t sold yet.

Look at night flights; these can be much cheaper due to the unsociable times.

Similarly, check the cost of weekday flights against weekend ones, and of course it goes without saying – try to avoid the school holidays!

If more than one travel agent is selling the same holiday, you can haggle or compare prices. A little bit of groundwork can pay off big time if you get a good saving.

You will be asked if you would like to pay to pre-book your seats, don’t bother, just check in early and chances are you’ll get to sit together anyway.

Before You Go

Get free (or discounted) medical care if you run into trouble or fall ill while holidaying in the EU with your free European Health Insurance Card EHIC. Apply on the EHIC website, by calling 0300 330 1350 or find more info on the NHS website.

Make the most of free mobile phone apps, for example

http://www.navmii.com/navfree turns a GPS smartphone into a sat nav, with pre-loaded maps, route planning and voice prompts.
Xe Currency Exchange http://www.xe.com/apps/iphone/ so you can convert the price of a pint immediately to make sure you’re not being ripped off.
http://www.panoramio.com/ lets you search for the most photographed locations where you are, and the chances are if lots of people are taking photos of somewhere then it’s a sight worth seeing. It’s very easy to use as well, you just pick a location, search, and it brings up lots of map pins and a list of possibilities. This is great for sunset pics in particular.

Plus download free e-books and kids movies rather than paying for books at the airport or for paid versions.

Think about protection, the ATOL kind that is. Make sure your holiday is fully protected, there’s no point in getting a bargain to find something goes wrong and you are out of pocket.

Arrange a package with your mobile phone provider for get the best rate on calls and texts abroad. This is one of the most common ways Brits waste money when they go on holiday.

Connect with bars and restaurants in the resort through social media channels before you go – see if they have any deals and vouchers on, ask them in social channels if they can give you anything free and that you will recommend the restaurant to friends on your return. If you write a blog then this is ideal for getting freebies like this!

If you have your hair done before your travels ask your hairdresser for free samples rather than buying travel sized products, or go to the chemists and get a few free perfume and moisturizer product samples.

Flying

Travel light; most airlines now give a basic luggage allowance of 15kg and charge you for a higher level which you can avoid if you question whether you really need all those pairs of shoes.

There is such a thing as a free lunch if you pack it yourself! On short haul flights, try to avoid buying food on the flight, and take a packed lunch instead. It’s a common myth that you can’t take food through security – it’s only liquid that’s restricted.

When it comes to checking in, ask if they have any free upgrades, for example extra legroom seats or even premium seats, you never know you might actually get something for nothing here!

At The Hotel

Once you’ve arrived at your hotel it’s time to get cheeky, after all – you don’t get if you don’t ask! Enquire as to whether it would be possible to have a free room upgrade, this could see you moved from a basic room to a suite with a sea view that would have cost hundreds more. Yes it really does happen, a hotelier will want you to go home and tell everyone how wonderful his hotel is, so it works in his favour too.

Ask if you could have a tour of the hotel, show an interest and see if you can blag a few freebies on the way round, perhaps a spa treatment or gym session.

Or ask if you can try some of the more expensive on a restaurant’s menu as a taster session, and get top notch nosh for free.

Ask if there is a discount for cash or for certain paying in certain currencies, like USD when in Egypt.

Buy your booze from a local shop and try having a romantic evening on the beach versus the bar one night.

When You Get Home

There are a number of online photo printing suppliers that are offering free prints and free products to new customers – do a quick google search for free prints and get your holidays snaps at a bargain price.

So are the “best things in life for free?” Let us know!

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