The Talking Suitcase

Cruise & Curated Travel Specialist

24 Hours in Bath, England – Fun Things to do in Bath with Tweens

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Bath, a World Heritage site, is famous for it’s beautiful architecture and fascinating history. This lovely city is located only a 2.5 hour drive west of London or just a 90 minute train ride from Paddington Station. The city became a spa in 70 AD when the Romans built baths and a temple in the valley of the River Avon.   Today, Bath is well known for these Roman baths and attracts millions of visitors every year.   If you’re planning a day trip to Bath or plan to make it your home base for a few days, take a look at our family friendly guide to things to do in Bath. It’s a city we didn’t get to spend nearly enough time exploring, but I think I can get you off to a good start with these helpful hints!

We had intended to spend more than just a day in Bath. Unfortunately, we experienced our first major travel emergency the morning of our second day.  Lucy fell and broke her wrist. This accident and it’s aftermath took up almost 2 days of our travel time. We spent a significant amount of time at the medical facilities in Bath and now have first hand experience with the Royal United Hospital. The staff was great.   My poor baby broke two bones in her wrist and needed a pin inserted surgically to ensure it healed properly.   We drove straight from the hospital to London, so we only had the chance to explore Bath for one day.   Thankfully, Lucy is recovering nicely.

Things to do in Bath, England

 

exploring-bath-from-the-avon-river

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Getting Up Close With the Animals at Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens

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If you’re searching for Cotswold’s attractions for kids, look no further than the Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens in Burford.  A mix between a zoo and a safari park, the Cotswold Wildlife Park will delight visitors, young and old. The park boasts of over 260 different species of animals & has the largest privately owned zoological collection in the UK.

As you walk around the grounds, you’ll notice spacious enclosures for the animals that blend in with the natural environment, taking advantage of the beautiful Bradwell Grove Estate. Visitors can get closer to animals than in many of the other zoological collections we’ve visited. Even the kids noted how nice it must be for the animals to have so much space.

The park is divided into several sections, each with it’s own unique plant and animal life. Our first stop was at the Large Animals section, home of the giant tortoises and the parks oldest resident, both in age and duration. These massive reptiles were fascinating to watch. They may be slow and ponderous but their size amazed us when compared to their smaller turtle cousins we were used to seeing. We had seen the giant tortoises at only one other park.

 

Next, in large paddocks you’ll see the white rhinoceros up close and personal.  Never have we been this close to one. They are usually so far back at our home zoo that you need the long-range camera lens to get a good picture. These guys were just hanging out, having breakfast near the moat.  While we were safe from the animals (and they were safe from us), the design of the wildlife park made feel it like you could just walk right up to the them.

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*CLOSED* Fall Getaway at the London Plaza on the River + 30,000 Club Carlson Hotel Points Giveaway

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Have you planned your Fall getaway? My family trip to London is just around the corner. We plan to spend 1-week on a road trip visiting Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Thornbury and Bath.  Then it’s off for a visit of Windsor Castle before arriving in London for a week of fun in the big city.

Finding accommodation in London has not been easy. What area should we stay?  Are there any central hotels in our budget?  Is pubic transport within walking distance? The questions are endless.   That’s why I love how easy it is to visit the Club Carlson site for booking.  No more shopping around on multiple sites trying to find the lowest hotel rates.  Simply go directly to Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group website to get the best rate plus save up to 10% more by being a member.  You’ll save time not having to search around for hotel discounts as well as money.

Plaza on the River Room

About Park Plaza, Plaza on the River in London

I found the perfect hotel on the Club Carlson website – Park Plaza, Plaza on the River which is located on the banks of the River Thames.   You can’t ask for more stunning views than of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben!

This London hotel is just a short walk from Vauxhall and within easy reach of the financial district, the West End, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye and several other attractions. The location will make it perfect for my family to get around to hit all the London hotspots.   After exploring the attractions near the hotel, our other must visit sites such as the Tower of London, London Bridge and the British Museum will be a short tube ride away.

Food at Plaza on the River

 

Booking one of the 128 suites will give us amenities such as FREE Wi-Fi (a must for my family), a fitness centre, business services and the Pan-Asian Chino Latino Restaurant & Bar – YUM.  Also, children ages 12 years and younger stay free of charge when sharing with an adult. This is super important when traveling as a family. I’ve lost count of the number of places that wanted to charge extra for the kids!

Why Join Club Carlson?

The new Members Only Rate Exclusive (MORE) from Club Carlson gives members the exclusive opportunity to save up to 10 percent more off the lowest available rate at participating hotels when booking directly on Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group (Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites By Carlson) brand websites, mobile sites, and mobile apps.

The Members Only Rate Exclusive complements the collection of exceptional benefits, services and privileges Club Carlson members already enjoy, including

• 20 points per U.S. dollar spent on rooms and food and beverages purchases
• Award Nights starting at 9,000 points with no blackout dates
• food and beverage discounts
• Elite status after just 10 Eligible Stays

Members also have access to a wide range of partner redemption opportunities including airline miles, retail gift cards, as well as TSA PreCheck® application fee (U.S. residents only), and more.

Plaza on the River

Enter to Win 30,000 Club Carlson Hotel Points

*CLOSED* The winner is Elena

I’m excited to give away 30,000 Club Carlson Hotel Points to one (1) lucky reader.   I want you to have your dream getaway this Fall as well.   Since hotel stays start at 9,000 points per night, you could end up with 3 nights of accommodation at a Club Carlson hotel!

Rules: The winner will be selected at random and will be contacted via email after the close of the giveaway. The lucky participant will have 24 hours to respond to my email or a different entry will be selected. Entry for this giveaway will close on October 10th at 12pm EST.  I will provide your email and Club Carlson membership number to the sponsor.  Club Carlson will deposit the points into the winner’s Club Carlson account. 

**Leave a separate comment for each entry!  You can complete one or more entries (after becoming a Club Carlson member) to increase your chances of winning.

Mandatory:   Sign up to become a member of Club Carlson (if you’re not already). You MUST be a member of Club Carlson to enter and be eligible to win the 30,000 points.

1. Leave a comment on this post telling me where you’d like to get away this Fall.  See the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s site for ideas.

2. Head over to The Talking Suitcase on Facebook.  Leave a comment here telling me you visited the page. (optional)

3. Follow The Talking Suitcase on Instagram. Leave a comment here telling me you follow.  (optional)

4. Follow The Talking Suitcase on Twitter. Leave a comment here telling me you follow.  (optional)

 Good Luck!

Photo’s used with express permission from Carlson Rezidor.

How to Pack Lightly for a Vacation Without Living at the Laundromat

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How to Pack Lightly for a Vacation

It’s taken me YEARS to get over being a serial overpacker. I was famous for throwing in a few extra outfits and shoes “just in case.” Ninety percent of the time I’d come home after the trip and still have those extra outfits tucked away, never worn.

Once we moved to Europe, I had to learn how to pack lightly for a vacation. Hauling huge suitcases on and off trains & paying double the ticket price to check a suitcase just wasn’t going to happen. We really didn’t need all that extra STUFF anyways.   Seriously, it’s okay to only have 2 pairs of shoes.

So how do you go from overpacking to packing light? A lot of practice and planning.  Have you ever heard the phrase, “take half of the stuff you were planning to bring and twice the money?” It’s a true statement. Most travelers overpack and under budget.  The budgeting tips are for another time, we’re going to get into ways to help pack light for a vacation.

How to Pack Lightly for a Vacation

 

First, pick your suitcase. The challenge is to accept that you can only bring what fits in your cabin luggage. Period.

I’ve even managed to pack for a 2-week holiday and get all the clothes for 4 people in a single carry-on sized suitcase. Granted, the toiletries went in another bag, but you get the idea.  It can be done.

My European modus operandi is to pack for our family of four,  in 2 or 3 carry-on suitcases plus a backpack.  Typically, the European airlines only allow one carry-on per person. Some don’t even allow a personal bag, such as a purse in addition to that bag. Make sure to check the size allowances before making the trip as well.  US and European carry-on size restrictions aren’t always the same!

Think in layers when laying out potential outfits. Find a light sweater or jacket that can go over your tops. If chilly weather is forecast, pack a thin top to wear under your clothes for added warmth. You can always remove layers and throw them in the backpack as the day heats up.

If you pack it, you must be able to wear it more than once. When picking out what clothes to pack for your next holiday, think about what can be worn multiple times. You don’t need 3 sweaters.   Stick with the one that can work with multiple outfits.

I also try to stick with the same color palette when packing.  Personally, I tend to pack black with a few colorful tops to change things up. You also want to pack items that won’t show stains. The key is to be able to wear it multiple times before washing. Drinking white wine instead of red can also be helpful!

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How to Get From Nice to Eze: Fall in Love with Eze, France

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Eze France Travel Ideas

Perched on a rocky hill in the South of France, situated between Nice and Monaco, is the picturesque village of Eze. Populated around 2000 BC, Eze experienced a turbulent history.  It was occupied by many strongholds including the Romans, Moors & Turks until becoming part of France in 1860.

 

 

The medieval charm of Eze village is evident at every turn, from the winding cobblestone paths to the ancient château ruins. Plan to spend a couple of hours touring the village to take in all its history and beauty.

Store front in Eze
Local shop

Walk the narrow streets and browse the quaint shops and art galleries.  However, keep in mind that while the shops are intriguing and the local artistry compelling, the prices are expensive.  Many items caught Lulu’s eye, but the prices were all above her budget.

 

 

During your walk through the village, visit the cemetery, war memorial and lovely Baroque church (Eglise Notre Dame de l’Assomption). The church was undergoing renovations during our visit, but it’s still a charming place to reflect.

 

 

Do NOT skip Le Jardin d’Eze (the gardens) perched at the very top of the village. Not only are the exotic plants a sight to behold, but you will experience incredible 360 degree views of Eze and the Mediterranean. We were able to see all the way to the Nice airport!

We almost didn’t spend the 4€ per adult fee to gain access, but I’m so glad we did. Kids are free, so it was definitely worth the 8€ for the views. *The entrance fee is 6€ in peak seasons.  See the remains of the château walls and gaze at the sparkling waters below. After taking pictures, we sat on the ruins to take in the view and snacked on oranges purchased at the Nice market.

Succulents and cacti line the twisting pathways of the garden. Blending in seamlessly with the landscape are statues, “The Goddesses” by Jean-Philippe Richard.

Relaxing in Eze

Don’t miss heading down to the Espaces Contemplatifs (Contemplative spaces) within the Jardin Méditerranéen.  Here you will find over-sized wooden lounge chairs next to a small waterfall with a spectacular view of the Mediterranean Sea and Eze beach.  We sat for 30 minutes, relaxing next to the tranquil sounds of the waterfall and feeling the heat of the sun on the chilly winter afternoon.

Pack a picnic to eat on one of the trails at the base of the village or dine in one of the many restaurants in Eze village.  We visited during the winter, so most of the shops and restaurants were closed for the season.

Another popular destination in Eze is Fragonard or Perfume Factory.  If you are traveling with girls, a tour of the perfume factory might be worth your time. I am sensitive to perfumes, so we opted not to take the tour in case my allergies couldn’t handle it.

With it’s stunning beauty and tranquil setting, it’s no wonder that Eze is a popular destination for honeymooners & tourist alike.

How to get there from Nice:

 

Train From Nice to Eze:

If you arrive by train, you will need to make a steep climb up the Nietzsche Path that will take approximately an hour.  I don’t recommend this with young kids –  some of the path is narrow, there are some steep steps and rocky trails.   Older kids should be fine.  While it won’t be easy with kids, mine would be able to make the hike.  Ensure you have water and comfortable shoes.

We enjoyed the hike & plan to go again, hiking higher than the village.  It was great exersice with lovely views of the hillside and sea.   It took us about 1.5 hours as we stopped for breaks, to chat with our friends, and to to take pictures.

The cost of the train is 3.50€ each way.   You can either hike back down to return by train or catch the bus at the base of the village to return to Nice.

Bus from Nice to Eze:

Bus #100 will drop you off near the train station, down by the water. Again, you will need to walk up the Nietzsche Path.

Town of Eze from Bus Stop

Bus #82 & #112 will drop you off at the base of the village. It is a bit of a climb up to the village from town but not overly strenuous. This is the closest you can get to the village of Eze by public transportation.  This is also where the public car park is located.  The cost is 1.50€ each way or 10€ for a 10 ticket pass which is valid for both buses and trams.

Please note that the buses do not run frequently.  Take a picture of the schedule, so you know when to be back at the bus stop.  Buses only run about every 2 hours.

If you’re not feeling adventurous, I recommend taking bus #82 to Eze then walking down the Nietzsche Path after you have visited the village. This will allow you to explore the beach area before hopping on bus #100 for a ride back to Nice.

Side view from Eze

Best time to visit:

Winter is a wonderful time to visit Eze.  The village won’t be overcrowded with tourists, and you will feel like you have the entire place to yourself.  However, most shops, galleries and restaurants close for the season.  If you are interested in shopping and eating in the village, you want to consider visiting another time of year.  Spring or Fall would be perfect for shopping & the flowers will be in full bloom.  Summer would also be lovely, it’s just the busy season.

Have you traveled to Eze, France? Share your Eze travel ideas.

If you have several days in Nice, you may want to consider a visit to Cimiez.

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