As part of our weekly series Family Travel Tales, we pick the brains of some of the most inspirational travelling families, so they can share their top travel tips, bucket list of destinations and favourite travel memories.
This week, we are introducing you to the Bamford, a family of five from London. Leonora is the Founder at My Baba and has 3 children.
Twitter: @mybabytweets | Website: MyBaba | Instagram: @mybabagram
1. What is the first trip you remember taking as a family?
We went to Capri with my 6 week old and although it was the dreamiest holiday, I definitely didn’t think enough about logistics. Now I am a family of 5, I really try and plan our holidays as a bit of a military operation.
2. Which are some of your most favourite destinations, activities, and hotels?
There is still so much of the world I want to see and someone who inspires me daily is Travelling Babo, who takes each of his children on a solo adventure of their choice every single year. We love skiing in the winter as a family but when it comes to the sun, we love everything from surfing in Cornwall to scuba diving in Caribbean. We went to Zighy Bay last year and I have got to say when it comes to families, they have got it wrapped. We recently went to the Galapagos which was absolutely jaw dropping for the whole family.
3. Any tips you would give to other family travellers?
Always pack a pair of PJs, teddy and spare change of clothes in each child’s backpack. You never know when your luggage is going to go astray.
Check the expiry date on everyone’s passports and keep a reminder on your phone.
Stick to the local time as much as possible and eat meals at the right time, I find that really helps with jetlag.
4. Have you been anywhere which turned out to be totally different to how you imagined? If so, how?
Before I got married, we went to Mauritius. I had seen these pictures of the One&Only in the Maldives and in my mind, that is where we were going. I am very dyslexic and must have got my M’s mixed up, it was a gorgeous holiday but not what I was expecting.
“Check the expiry date on everyone’s passports and keep a reminder on your phone.”
5. Do you have any funny travel stories?
When I was a little girl, we went to the South of France with our cousins. My parents drove with one of my brothers and I flew with the other. Before the unaccompanied minor people would release us to our uncle, who had been waiting at Nice airport for an hour, he wanted to know our birth dates. He asked my uncle who reeled off our birthdays but neither of us has any idea! Suffice to say, my parents got to the house before we did.
6. Tell us something unexpected that has happened to you on your travels
We were going to Split in Croatia for my best friend’s wedding. We had come straight from the school run and were running to a very tight schedule. Our plane got diverted and still to this day I have no idea where we landed, but when we finally got to our destination, they were filming Games of Thrones in the main square which was pretty bonkers.
7. If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?
Right at the top of my bucket list is Giraffe Manor, which is a boutique hotel in Nairobi. The building dates back to the 1930’s and you get to enjoy breakfast with the giraffes.
8. What are your top 3 family friendly hotels or holiday homes?
Anywhere in Italy has to be high on your list if you’re travelling with a family. A few years ago, we rented a beautiful house on the Reschio Estate in Umbria, set on 1500 hectares of wilderness. They have got 10 farmhouses available for rent but the most exciting thing is the launch of their boutique hotel this summer, I can’t wait to try that.
The Four Seasons in Hampshire is a lovely getaway if you’re looking for a staycation. Zighy Bay has got to be up there along with any of the Six Senses hotels.
We are also slightly obsessed with Disney and stay at any of their resorts if we’re passing through.
9. Where is the best family meal you had in a restaurant?
Lo Scoglio in Marina del Cantone is nestled along the Amalfi coast and is run by the third generation Simone family. The food is fresh and utterly delicious and you get to it by boat. I always let the chef surprise us with what is on offer.
10. If you had a bucket list of 5 destinations to discover with your children, what would be on the list?
#1 The Inca Trail in Peru
#2 Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro
#3 Havasu Creek in Arizona
#4 Troncones in Mexico
#5 Anywhere in Australia
If I had an extra one, Easter Island is also at the top of my bucket list.
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