Competition for a set of Little Jet Setter products

Summer is almost upon us and we all need a bit of inspiration.  How about a short city break with the little ones?  We love this destination and if you can guess where it is, we'll reward you with a set of Little Jet Setter products - amazing baby and toddler products even if you're staying closer to home!

So...where is this?  To enter follow us on Twitter @jetsetmum, facebook Little Jet Setter or add your guess as a comment here!  We'll sort out a winner by the end of June!

Good Luck and Happy travelling!

2011 - a Year in Kids Travel

It may be March, but that is still just the beginning of the year - so get planning for your Jet Setting.  I actually put this list in our latest newsletter, but somehow forgot to post it...better late than never!


Where to go in 2011?  Check out these ideas!


March: It has to be skiing, but this year, the alps are not snowy enough!  How about Whistler in Canada for a break with the littlest travellers OUTSIDE half term.

April:  Everyone in the UK is looking forward to the April of Holidays - head to Goa for a great kid-friendly break from the Royal Wedding hoopla.  Our blog has some great reviews here.

May:  Before it gets too hot to handle, hotfoot it to Morocco for some souks and splendour.  Hotel La Mamounia has hosted A-Listers like Jennifer Aniston, Orlando Bloom and Gwyneth Paltrow.  Why not you and your toddler?

June:  The perfect time to run for the hills.  Perhaps the "Heart of the Old World" as coined by Conde Nast Traveller - Kosice in Slovakia or Bled in Slovenia.

July:  There is no avoiding the tourist rush in July.  Just go with it.  There is little better than the south of France in the heat.  Here's a great "Top Ten" for kids in the "SofF".

August:  How about a break without the spector of an airline strike hanging over you?  If you live in the UK, escape to the Cotswolds - this hotel has a lovely garden to watch the kiddies play while sipping a glass of wine after a long walk.

September:  If your kids are too young for school, take advantage of it!  Jet off in September.  Villas with pools are a bargain later in the month.  Check out www.VRBO.com for some international inspiration.

October:  Getting decidedly chillier.  Thailand is Gorgeous this time of year and still in low season.  Avoid Phuket itself to find the real Thai hospitality on Railay Beach.  Break the bank Rayavadee or cheap(er) and cheerful Sun and Sand bungalows.  With a toddler be sure to go for airconditioning!

November:  End of November is a great time for fun in the African Sun.  South Africa has something for everyone.  Check out these great tips on safaris with kids.

December:  Before the rest of the month is dedicated to holiday chaos, how about getting in the festive mood with a German Christmas market?  The Gluhwein is divine!

Skiing with Babies and Toddlers - What are the options?

I love to ski and I'm very lucky that I have a husband who does as well.  It makes it easy to decide we ARE going on a ski holiday and then it is just a matter of deciding where it is we'll be sipping the warm mulled wine.  That is until Little Jet came along.  Now we have a lot of other considerations to take into account before we wax the boards and dust off the goggles including:

What are we going to do with Little Jet during the day?  

Is she old enough for ski school?

Is she old enough to enjoy it?

Will the childcare be english speaking?  

Do they feed my kid during the day?  Something they will eat?

What about napping - how can we facilitate nap time without getting stuck in a hotel room all day?

Where can I buy kids ski gear without breaking the bank?

Well, we've been through these questions for a number of years, and I think there are really a few options:

1.  Family-friendly packages.  From the UK there are a number of ski companies that provide creche/childcare services as an easy add-on to your booking.  Notably, Mark Warner is an expert in this regard.  We have sampled two of their resorts:  St Anton in Austria and Les Deux Alpes in France.  I would sum them up as being great Chalethotel options if you have kids under 4.  They provide childcare from 9 am to 5pm, baby and kid friendly meals, fun activities including sledging, face painting and swimming, and even provide an evening Kids Club that allows you to settle your little ones to sleep or in front of a film while you go upstairs to dine at your leisure.  The accomodation and the food are not luxurious, but they are adequate and they certainly have the advantage of being ski in/ski out in many locations.  And did I mention the Kids Club in the evening?  And the all day fun and games childcare?  And the spaghetti bolognaise for dinners?

2.  The Chalet experience.  If you can get a group together that know each other well enough to share a chalet and nannies - this could be the best way to go.  If your babies and kids know each other and you can book a nanny with the chalet (like with Ski Famille), your life is simple and the slopes beckon.  Of course, if your kids are older, ski school drop off and pickup is easy with childcare involved as well.  Chalets are typically more intimate and relaxed and evenings can easily be spent with the kids tucked up in bed after loads of fresh air, and a number of bottles of wine for the adults in the sitting room around a roaring fire.  Bliss.

3.  Hotels or Chalets without specific childcare.  I'm an adventurous traveller and Little Jet has been everywhere.  But when the purpose of the holiday is to strap on 1 or 2 planks and head downhilll, you really need to organise someone else to be looking after your little one.  Without something organised for you, this means a creche in the resort or a nanny.  We've done this with Little Jet and I think it is fair to say the success of this strategy is totally dependent on the character of your child and their age.  Babies that are quite happy being left, will have no problem with a room full of toys.  Older children may struggle if there is a language barrier - something you definitely should find out about in advance.  All creches cater for lunches, so there is no need to come back to feed your little ones.  The nanny option is widely available as well, but much higher in cost unless you club together with families you're travelling with.  Nannies do give you the lovely option of having your kids meet you for lunch (at the bottom or for great family photos at the TOP of the mountain), flexibility on what they will do all day, and more one-on-one time than in a creche.

The important thing is to plan ahead and to think about how your child will best enjoy the time.  I personally think ski holidays are some of the most fun travel with kids.  Getting them out there in the snow at an early age is a great way to get them interested in winter outdoor pursuits.  Little Jet is begging to go back and ski "all the way down the mountain".  Well...perhaps just a few meters as a starter...