There’s something magical about driving the Garden Route; the ever-changing scenery, the farm stalls filled with homemade treats, and the promise of beaches at the end. Add a toddler (or two) into the mix, and it becomes a whole new kind of adventure. With the right planning, though, the drive can turn from daunting into memorable. Here are some of my top tips (and places to stop) that will turn the drive from something dreaded into one of our favourite parts of the trip.

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If you’d asked me a couple of years ago if I’d willingly pay to lock myself in a paddock with a bunch of hungry turkeys, one crazy emu and some miniature horses, I might’ve raised an eyebrow. But fast-forward to these past school holidays, and there I was, cappuccino in hand, giggling as my little girl ran wild (in the best possible way) surrounded by all of the above at the new Farmyard Experience at Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, just outside Plettenberg Bay.

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Packing for a holiday with kids is like playing Tetris while blindfolded. You know it can be done, but it requires lists and the question of how to fit everything in. There are often a few tears (probably mine), things that have been forgotten, and a few regrettable choices that sit unused in the bottom of the bag.

On our most recent staycation, we based ourselves at the President Hotel in Sea Point, and while packing the car, I second-guessed myself on more than one occasion if the effort was really worth the reward. But once we were there, the stress was all but forgotten. This is the kind of place that makes travelling with kids feel like a holiday for the adults too. There’s a pool with an ocean view, a jungle gym, and enough space in the family rooms to avoid stepping on Legos in the dark (yes, you know the pain). Plus, it’s walking distance to the Sea Point Promenade, which quickly became our daily ritual: coffee in hand, unridden bicycle in the other, pram in front, and at least one child yelling about ice cream before 9am.

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When you’re travelling with kids, a holiday doesn’t always mean relaxing. It means snack runs, early wake-ups, forgotten dollies, and hoping someone else cleans up the mess. So when we find a hotel that genuinely gets family travel, not just tolerates it, we take note.

On a recent staycation (because let’s face it travelling for long distances in cars or planes with kids simply isn’t fun), we checked into the President Hotel in Sea Point and honestly? It ticked all the right boxes. Here are 10 reasons why we’d happily go back (and why our little one keeps asking if we can “live there now”).

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We’ve stayed in some pretty spectacular places over the years; from ice hotels in Austria to private villas in the Seychelles, but for our 10-year anniversary, we didn’t want airports, transfers or traffic. And to be frank with a needy, breastfeeding, non-sleeping 9-month-old at home, a fancy getaway just wasn’t within the realm of possibility.

But we did want to getaway somewhere special, even if just for one night. Somewhere within flip-flop distance. Enter the POD Boutique Hotel in Camps Bay. Spoiler: it totally delivered. But like any good review, here’s the honest, local lowdown; with our top 10 reasons this was the kind of stay we’ll be talking about for another ten years.

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We stumbled upon Montagu Country Hotel while chasing a last-minute weekend escape in an April filled with multiple school and public holidays. We were all desperately in need of a break that would keep everyone happy, from the baby who still naps regularly to our ever-curious four-year-old princess. What we found was more than a place to sleep. It was a bit of time travel, a lot of comfort, and a getaway we could all enjoy.

Here are 9 reasons we fell head over heels for Montagu Country Hotel:

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When you’re a mom planning a trip overseas with small children, the mental checklist is endless: snacks, toys, wipes, medicine, backup outfits, passports, favourite teddies, and maybe even a specific type of sippy cup you can only buy in one store across town.

There’s no shortage of resources out there telling you what to pack for your kids. But what about you?

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Nestled along a stretch of pristine coastline in the Western Cape, not three hours from Cape Town, the Arniston Spa Hotel is the kind of destination that makes you want to linger a little longer. With its breathtaking sea views, family-friendly atmosphere, and easy access to one of South Africa’s most picturesque fishing villages, it recently provided a dream weekend getaway for us and our young children.

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On our recent trip to the UK, one of our major concerns was staying connected. It was essential that we have fast and reliable data, particularly for booking attractions, paying for parking, and navigating the UK’s intricate roads, full of round abouts and country lanes. But deciding which solution would be best for us was going to take some research. What we did know is that we wanted to avoid high roaming charges but as we’d need a solution the minute we touched ground, buying a local SIM didn’t make much sense. Thankfully we came across KnowRoaming who offered a seamless, affordable, and enjoyable solution to our problems.

more “Navigating the UK with KnowRoaming” …