Junior Design Awards 2016

Luxury Family Holidays Handpicked for Parents

Guest blogs

Luxury dog-friendly hotels with Nicholas Kynaston

As one would expect, Grazia’s travel editor Nicholas Kynaston has experienced some seriously fabulous places during his career as a travel journalist. He’s flown all over the world, but he’s never happier than when travelling with his Labradoodle baby, Barney and his partner Ben. And the results of his travels with his canine kiddie are the subject of his fantastic blog, Novarover.com. He chats to kodomo.com about the beauty of the Cotswolds, his travel essentials for Barney and exactly what to ask when looking for a luxury, dog-friendly hotel.
Grazia's travel editor Nicholas Kynaston and Barney
Novarover is fabulous. How did the idea come about? 
Being a travel editor means I need to travel a lot – both at home and abroad. The downside of foreign trips is leaving my partner Ben, and after we got him nine years ago, Barney, our wonderful Labradoodle. When travelling in the UK, I obviously want to be with them both. It’s never a problem taking a partner on a review trip, but dog-friendliness is so random (as I think child-friendliness is, too); it really just depends on the individual attitude of the owner or manager. I’m very lucky that most hotels I review are at the higher end because of the publications I write for. Asking if a place is dog-friendly is a great way to edit down invitations – if they d0n’t allow dogs, another member of the team will go. If they do then Ben, Barney and I will visit.
After a while I thought that it would be quite useful to collect these reviews together as there wasn’t another blog around about luxury travel with your dog. I wanted the site to be a source of information for people who were planning a special weekend away and wanted to take their pet with them. I think nowadays we see pets as part of the family and people don’t want to check them into kennels when they go for a weekend away.
Grazia's travel editor Nicholas Kynaston and Barney
What is your earliest childhood memory of travel?
 
I can remember as a very young child going abroad with my parents and brother for the first time. We hired a villa in Spain but my Mum was scared of flying so my Dad drove us all the way down from the north west of England in a couple of days. We got lost in the Pyrenees and ended up in a remote Spanish village at two in the morning trying to find the way. Everyone tried to help us, in spite of us not speaking Spanish and them not speaking English. I can just remember thinking how friendly everyone was. Afterwards, when we got on to the motorway, I can remember my mum saying there must be a very big town called Salida because there were a lot of signs for it, but she couldn’t find it on the map – it was only later we realized it was the Spanish word for ‘Exit’!
 
What is the best holiday you’ve ever had with Barney?
 
We’ve had some amazing holidays with Barney, but I think my favourite was when we stayed in a property managed by the Vivat Trust. They save historic buildings that would otherwise go to rack and ruin and turn them into holiday lets. The particular place we stayed in was an old 18th century folly built in the style of a Greek temple in Shropshire (it’s called ‘the temple’ on their website). That would be amazing enough, but what was even more incredible was that it was, in effect, in its very own private river valley. Barney absolutely loved it and it felt as if we’d stumbled upon something totally unspoiled and special.
And the worst?
 
It has to be when we went to Brighton for the weekend. Nothing wrong with that, but the weather was awful – howling wind and rain. The British seaside is very depressing when it’s like that. Barney didn’t care though and he still wanted walking  – even in the driving rain, thunder and lightning – not pleasant!
Favourite hotel ever?
 
Favourite hotel has to be Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quatr’Saisons in the Cotswolds. We went before it was dog-friendly and again recently now that they have dog-friendly rooms. It is an incredible place and clearly a labour of love for Raymond Blanc, who owns it, and has a hand in every detail – from the variety of tomatoes used in the kitchen to the works of art on the walls. Then there is the food. They don’t get two Michelin stars for nothing. The dinner I had there is simply the best I’ve ever tasted. Add to that staff who are kind and attentive, plus the glorious Cotswolds location, which is one of my favourite parts of England, if not the world.
 
Favourite city in the world?
 
It has to be Buenos Aires in Argentina. Imagine a mixture of Paris and Milan, then add a bit of crumbling Havana, plus that unique Argentine character. They say an Argentine is an Italian who speaks Spanish and thinks he’s English, which all made sense once I was in the country! Walk around the La Boca district near the banks of the River Plate and you will see the most incredible tango shows happening on street corners that make the professionals from Strictly Come Dancing look like they have two left feet.
And your favourite rural retreat for a quiet weekend away?
 
As I said before, I love the Cotswolds, but if we have a little more time I like to get the ferry down to the Isle of Wight. There’s something about that little stretch of sea that makes travelling to the island seem as if you’ve travelled back in time just a little, to when the pace of life was gentler and people friendlier. It has great beaches too – the one at Ventnor is my favourite.
 
Favourite restaurant where you can take Barney?
 
We are very lucky that we have a lovely bistro just up the road from us in Clapham called Gastro. Being totally French-owned and operated there’s never been any question that Barney is allowed in the restaurant. France is generally is a lot more dog-friendly than the UK. We love the oysters and steak tartar there and Barney is often given a bone to take home with him!
 
How do you handle travel with Barney? Any top tips for other travellers with canine kids on how to keep life as simple as possible?
 
When we bought our car one of the considerations was whether it would be suitable for Barney. As it is a ‘cross-over’ type Qashqai he goes happily in the boot and we can keep an eye on him. When travelling, we break every three hours so he can stretch his legs. Being part Labrador, he’s very adept at dealing with new situations and takes most things in his stride. However, when we are in a new place we put him in a special harness which stops him pulling on the lead as this is something he does when he is excited. This saves his neck being strained and our shoulders from dislocating!
 
How do you handle tricky travellers nearby who get funny about dogs (as they often do with kids, too).
 
We’d never want to upset people who had a genuine fear of dogs. If they do, the easiest thing to do is reassure them that he is friendly and keep out of their way.
Any top tips for luxury travel with dogs?
 
Always ask initially if the place you want to go to is dog-friendly and which areas dogs are allowed in. Some places bill themselves as welcoming dogs but then you find out dogs are limited to very few parts of the hotel. Keep a couple of old towels in the car just in case that lovely walk in the woods becomes a mud bath. Don’t forget to take things your dog is familiar with like his bed and a couple of toys as these will comfort him in an unfamiliar environment.
Any products you absolutely can’t travel without?
 
Barney is a ball obsessive so we always take a ball thrower with us. This is a device that helps you throw the ball further (a tired dog is a happy dog) and means you don’t have to bend down to pick a slobbery ball up as the ball can be picked up with the thrower. I always have to have a roll of poo-bags in my pocket, too; I think picking up after your dog is an absolute must. I also carry a bottle full of water in case he is thirsty on those long walks and there is no water nearby.
What are your predicted travel trends for the coming 12 months. Any places or hotels in particular that you think will really sing?
 
I think the “stay cation” will continue to be popular as people are still cautious about spending vast amounts on holidays.
More and more people are using sites like HomeAway and Airbnb to rent private flats and houses, both in the UK and abroad, as they provide better value for money and people enjoy the feeling of experiencing what it’s like to be a local rather than being on the tourist trail.
I think we are going to start seeing a lot more of Eastern Europe coming into fashion, too. Albania has a very similar coastline to Greece and the Italian Adriatic, but at the moment is as undeveloped as Spain was in the 1950’s. Transylvania in Romania is known as the home of Dracula, but it has so much more – some of the best preserved Medieval towns and villages in Europe are here and the last genuine European wilderness – the Carpathian Mountains – where it is possible to spot bear, wolves and lynx.

Role Models

Role Model with children

Role Models‘ Managing Director Hugo Shepherd chats with kodomo.com about this fantastic new company, which provides a unique form of creative childcare.  Aside from the usual prerequisites we all want in those looking after our children, part of the Role Models’ service is also to offer fun, engaging child carers to accompany families abroad and ensure the holiday is even more relaxing for everyone involved.

Based in Wimbledon, they source talented musicians, actors, teachers and even artists who are also highly experienced childcarers, and pair them up with children who have keen aspirations in the same area. As parents, we can’t be all things to all children, and the idea is that adult role models have a massively important role to play in child development. And they are happy to travel abroad with you so their engagement can extend to your holidays, too. Genius.

Role Model with children in swimming pool

How did you come up with the idea for Role Models?

The idea for Role Models first came about when my lovely French au pair refused to play cricket with me in the garden!  I realised then that tailoring the child care to the child is vital. More recently, two good friends of mine started looking after local, part-time children whilst they were training to be a doctor and teacher and it became apparent there was a huge demand for engaging, talented childcare.

How do you find your carers? How do you thoroughly and safely research their backgrounds?

Most of our Role Models are referrals through word-of-mouth.  We also have close ties with particular public schools such as Wellington College, whose ex-pupils tend to be an excellent ‘fit’ for our service.  All our Role Models are interviewed, DBS / CRB checked, reference checked, over the age of 21, fluent English speakers and loaded with extensive childcare experience.

And if parents want a Role Model to take abroad, how would the process work?

We start by having a discussion with the parents to understand their children’s character and interests so we know who might fit in well with that particular family.  We then contact those Role Models who we feel meet the required criteria.  The profiles of Role Models who are available are then sent to the family, so they can decide who they’d like to interview before their upcoming holiday.

Role Model playing board game with child

Have you had any really odd or interesting requests?

We’ve been asked to find a babysitter in Gstaad, Switzerland for New Year’s Eve (which we found) and a Role Model on Christmas day (which we were less successful with!).

What is the starting age of children that you provide role models for?

We have looked after children from 3 months to 18 years old.  We always ensure the Role Model has the necessary experience, based on the child’s age, needs and interests.

What are your hopes for the future of the business?

We’re looking to grow exponentially over the next 3 – 4 years, both in terms of our private childcare and our special educational needs holiday camps.  We’re also developing resilience and well-being courses for children in Year 5 before they take their 11+ exams or start having school interviews.

How specific can parents be in their request for a role model regarding gender etc….?

Very specific.  We now have 79 Role Models on our books so the ability to cater for a range of specific requirements is becoming increasingly do-able.  Requests for male, sporty Role Models to look after young boys is particularly popular.

 

When your baby is aboard and you live abroad, part 2

Gabriel O'Rorke with husband
What with Kate and Keira sporting baby bumps, 2015 seems to be the year to have a little one. But what about being pregnant on foreign shores? Travel writer, kodomo.com contributor, and ex-pat Gabriel O’Rorke discovers what it’s like having a baby aboard abroad…
Ever heard of a baby souvenir? You know, a personalized bottle of fizz, a little placard tied with a bow or a something sweet to munch on – all with your baby’s name on it, of course.
 
No, I had no idea either.
 
Pregnancy has been filled with the unknown for me, from technical terms and now to a whole minefield of prenatal etiquette that is apparently known by all Latinos. So, in Chile this is how it goes. When your baby is born your husband sends a note to the office delivering the good news. So far so good; all familiar enough. But, rather than just saying ‘It’s a boy! Both mum and baby doing well,’ the Chilean norm is to share the hospital room number so that the entirety of your office can come along to congratulate and meet the new little one.
 
As if the thought of having a herd of colleagues arrive before you’ve even had a shower wasn’t enough (it might almost be okay if we could all do a Kate Middleton and have our hairdresser turn up for a quick blowdry), you’re expected to present said intruders with a souvenir.
 
“A friend of mine went into labour two weeks early,” a Paraguayan friend told me the other day, “and she was beside herself because she hadn’t had time to sort out the souvenirs. Her husband ended up spending the day on the hunt for souvenirs when she headed to the hospital!”
 
My husband’s expression when I told him this confirmed my suspicions that we won’t be doing souvenirs. “Let’s just pretend we don’t know,” he suggested. “I wouldn’t even be comfortable visiting my sister-in-law in the hospital!” There are times – we hope anyway – when the foreigner card delivers a free round.
 
And this brings me to baby’s name. I’m now used to people holding their hand on my stomach as we talk – I no longer hold my breath and smile awkwardly – but we still stumble on the second of two questions all Chileans ask a pregnant woman.
 
1: Is it a boy or girl?
 
2: What’s his / her name?
 
Luckily we both wanted to find out; I’m not known for my patience and having to wait 9 months to find out whether this little passenger was a girl or boy was out of the question. What is more, finding out was wonderful; it made the whole thing feel much more real and exciting. Call me a simpleton, but for me not knowing made it feel more like an alien was inside me, rather than the little boy we are now very excitedly expecting.
 
So, as luck would have it we pass question number one with flying colours. In fact, we come out with brownie points for the fact that it’s a boy. Very Latino. However, when it comes to announcing the name, we are clearly from another planet. I have never met anyone in the UK who rubs their tummy and introduces you to their bump by name, but in Chile this is entirely normal. “This is Celeste,” announced my new yoga teacher as she introduced herself and her unborn baby to the class.
 
At first we said we hadn’t decided on a name yet, but recently I began to admit we have a name but we’re saving the announcement until the birth. Clearly from people’s expressions, this is a very odd thing to do. My only saving grace is to steer the conversation back to the joys of one’s first born being a boy…

 

When your baby is aboard and you live abroad

What with Kate and Keira sporting baby bumps, 2015 seems to be the year to have a little one. But what about being pregnant on foreign shores? Travel writer, kodomo.com contributor, and ex-pat Gabriel O’Rorke discovers what it’s like having a baby aboard abroad…
“Oye,” a man is waving at me from further down the queue. “You’re pregnant?”
I nod.
“What, and the guard didn’t notice? Come in here, you shouldn’t be standing in line!”
 
I move forward into the space in front of him. I’m 24 weeks and my bump is finally beginning to show, bringing to the surface a whole new side of Chileans. From the 18 year-old lad at the Sunday fruit market to this 30-something guy in the queue now behind me, Chileans simply love a baby bump.
 
I have lived in Chile for two years. My husband and I moved here after several years working in London, looking for somewhere new, somewhere different, somewhere Spanish-speaking. Chile fit the bill.
Gabriel O'Rorke and husband
 
When we announced the incoming member of our family, the reaction from most was: “So when are you coming home?” Having a baby abroad was never something we proactively planned to do, but nor is it something we want to avoid. Especially when we are doing it somewhere as safe and stable as Chile.
 
As a first-timer at all this, I’ve never experienced baby-bearing under the NHS (although I do sign up for their very good weekly emails). However, one ex-pat friend who had her first baby in London and the second in Santiago, described the Chilean version as “like having your baby at the Ritz,” so I suspect I may be able to handle it. I must add here that we are lucky enough to have private healthcare – needless to say there’s no NHS in Chile – so the comparison may be an unfair one.
 
Speaking of the Ritz, however, as a passenger aboard a travel writer this little bump is already rather well travelled. In the first four months alone we ticked off the U.S.A, England, Scotland, Morocco, Argentina and Chile, including a gnarly Che Guevara-worthy road trip on Patagonia’s Carretera Austral.
 
But the truth is, I’ve been incredibly lucky health-wise and able to continue life at, pretty much, a normal pace. I still ride around Santiago on my bike – causing many a Chilean to stop and stare in disbelief – and we are planning a cruise to Cape Horn for week 30 of my pregnancy.
 
My experience with morning sickness is limited to being sick three times on a plane to the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile, a one-off incident that I suspect was the work of a dodgy airport breakfast rather than anything maternity-related. Our main stumbling block has been pregnancy vocabulary and, so far, we’re learning the hard way. When we turned up for our 8-week scan, we waited patiently like well-trained Brits for three hours before realising we were in the wrong queue. On the upside, the word for scan (“ecografia”) is now etched in my mind for all eternity.
 
And now, as I trot towards week 25, we have just signed for a new flat so the next few weeks involve moving, investigating baby furniture and working out how to survive 34 degree heat without ten ice creams a day. Oh, and signing up for maternity yoga is on my to do list (most likely another stretch for my vocab, as well as my limbs), while investigating the rumour that Chile has a very high number of Caesarian births, and how to avoid one myself, if at all possible. I’ll keep you posted….

 

Things to do in the Home Counties

Jemma Slevin is a mother of three, and founder and editor of The Little Book. Despite being one of the busiest women we’ve ever met (she single-handly produces The Little Book herself), Jemma lives in Windsor with her family, making her the perfect parent to advise us on things to do in the home counties with kids. The Little Book is the family lifestyle magazine for parents with young children covering Berks, Buck, Oxon and Surrey.

Jemma Slevin and children

Cliveden. 

I’m always excited to arrive at Cliveden. Sweeping along the drive through beautiful parkland and catching the first glimpse of the majestic house, it never fails to overwhelm me. So, whether it’s because Mr. S and I are escaping to enjoy a few hours together over dinner, or simply popping over en famille for a walk before Sunday lunch, it’s always a treat to go there. The maze is a highlight for our children; exquisitely pruned and one of the best examples of a maze I have ever seen, it enchants and entertains them for hours. And the gardens are breathtaking. Each visit is completely different to the last, as they change with the seasons and provide a fabulous backdrop for hide ‘n’ seek. The National Trust have a wealth of family events lined up throughout the year, including outdoor theatre in the summer and Christmas decoration-making in the winter. And, if this all gets too exhausting, head to the house for a sumptuous high tea by the enormous fireplace.

Cliveden House maze

The River and Rowing Museum, Henley-on-Thames.

Toad, Ratty and Mole enthusiasts, (and anyone with an interest in The Thames), will adore this spacious and very family-friendly museum with it’s light and airy cafe. It provided the perfect introduction into Wind in the Willows for our children who have loved the various themed events and workshops that are regularly held during the year. From crafts to animation, there is something for all age groups and the finale of the year for children up to age 11 has to be Toad’s Christmas party – poop, poop!

The River and Rowing Museum entrance

The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, Great Missenden.

I’m a huge advocate of enhancing a child’s reading experience by making stories come alive and, at The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, they do just that. This is where Roald Dahl lived and wrote for 36 years, and it’s true to say the magic of his imagination is well and truly alive there. Children who are familiar with such classics as The Twits, James and the Giant Peach, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, will marvel in delight as they recognise props and paraphernalia from the stories. Daily events are catered for children aged 6 to 12 and include crafts and other activities based on the books: how can they not be enticed by Witchy Wonka biscuit bars and Bogswiffling cloth bags? The village itself is charming and provides the perfect backdrop for a weekend walk with kiddies in tow.

The Roald Dahl Museum exterior

Windsor Great Park, Windsor.

Living in Windsor, we are fortunate enough to have the great park as our back garden – and not because we live in the castle! The park is so vast that anyone living in town or the neighbouring villages is only ever a few minutes drive from this immense estate and, for many, it is visited daily for dog walking, exercise and, in our case, the school run. This time of year is particularly special, as the children love to walk under the trees collecting conkers and kicking up the fallen leaves. It’s magical; the colours are breathtaking and, sometimes in the early hours, there is a low mysterious fog; every morning I feel so lucky to experience this and the children arrive at school so happy.

Windsor Great Park and castle

The Long Walk is easily accessible from Windsor town, but the park also offers a number of other locations where you can park and set off on a gentle walk, family cycle or intrepid ramble. The Savill Garden offers the perfect venue for a leisurely stroll, the perfect place to enjoy a coffee or even Sunday lunch. Close by, Virginia Water is a wonderful place to explore the antiquity of the landscape, including ruins imported from Tripoli in 1816. It is enhanced by the scattering of some of the great ancient oaks for which the Great Park and its forest are renowned. Two good family pubs for a welcome rest bite are The Fox and Hounds (reviewed in our latest issue) and The Baliwick, both in Englefield Green and backing onto the Great Park itself.

The Thames.

As it meanders out of London and becomes non-tidal, the Thames River passes through some delightful villages and towns with beautiful countryside in between. It’s heavenly spending a summer’s day pottering on the river. There are many locations where you can hire a boat, and the river is full of little islands and creaks that create a Wind in the Willows-esq adventure, as well as the perfect place to picnic. A lovely lunch destination up river from Windsor is the Oakley Court Hotel, with its sprawling lawns reaching down to the water and mooring facilities. You’ll be assured of a friendly welcome and a great lunch on the terrace during the summer months, where the children have space to play on the lawns next to you, or inside the main hotel for the wet, colder months.

Oakley Court Hotel on the Thames