The Story So Far...

Growing up, my family holidays tended to be about loading us kids in the back of the car and driving around Europe. I remember throwing coins in the Trevi Fountain in Rome, looking at all those piles of wishes and wondering if they’d really come true, how proud I was that I could ask for an ice-cream in Italian, making a wish under the Pont Marie in Paris (one which did come true and cemented my belief in bridge wishes!), squeezing four in a bed in small guesthouses and piling on top of one another in the back seat of the sedan, sleeping like puppies, as we traversed miles of winding Alpine roads.

With adventure also came horror: Waking up one night to find the shells we’d diligently collected on a beach in Spain crawling around the bedroom floor, the painful sting of sunburn and one of us needing the toilet on an autobahn in Germany and deliberating whether or not to do it in a bag, while the rest of us squashed ourselves on the other side of the back seat in dreaded fear.

One standout year we ventured off for a more exotic break in the Dominican Republic, and, needless to say, the white sand and swaying palms left a lasting impression.

As I got older and started holidaying with friends, I’ll never forget the excitement of lounging poolside in Kos when, purely by chance, I caught sight of my best friend from home…she was inter-railing around Europe and I was Greek Island hopping. We celebrated by going on simultaneous donut rides, pulled along by racing speed boats. It still makes me smile now when I think about how I watched, unable to contain my giggles, as she was propelled into the air and landed in the water with a look of pure fright, pointing downwards and yelling, ‘I am a marine biologist and THAT is a shark!’

After graduating from university came the trip I’d long been waiting for: A round the world jaunt with three girlfriends. As we sat in the tray of a pick up truck hurtling through a coconut plantation towards our beach huts in Koh Samui, I had a feeling of pure exhilaration. We danced at a full moon party in Thailand, tried roti canai for the first time in Singapore (oh the deliciousness!), ate breakfast off banana leaf ‘plates’ in Indonesia, shared a beach with komodo dragons in Australia, camped on tropical islands in Fiji, drove along Route 66 in America and partied underground in a nightclub converted from a silver mine in Mexico.

Being back in London seemed almost surreal, everything was just how I’d left it, yet I felt indelibly changed by all these amazing experiences. There was a whole crazy world out there, full of beauty and contrast, and I made up my mind not to stagnate for too long.

Meanwhile, my mother had just moved from Bali to Fiji, so I headed back to the South Pacific to spend Christmas with her. I was excited for us to share some quality time and intrigued to know what everyday life was like in Fiji, away from the tourist track. Unbeknown to me, this journey marked the start of a whole new era: I met my husband-to-be and never went home. We married on a beach in Samoa and spent our honeymoon touring the two main islands, Upolu and Savaii. They were some of the most magical, memorable days of my life. Soon after, we went on holiday to New Zealand and Australia. As we drove around the North and South Islands of New Zealand, I was awestruck but how stunningly beautiful it was, like scenery from a fairytale. In Australia, we took a road trip from Melbourne to Sydney, lapping up the breathtaking coastline.

When I was pregnant with our first child, we moved to Auckland in New Zealand, which gave us a great opportunity to get better acquainted with this beautiful country. I found New Zealanders to be hardy, salt of the earth, laid back, friendly people and I admired their can-do approach to life.

Two years later, when our second child was just five weeks old, we moved back to Fiji, the land of sun and smiles. Every time I fly over the country and take in all that undulating green, I’m struck by how lush and fertile it is. The little palm tree lined islands sparkle in the turquoise water like stars in the sky. One of the major benefits of living there is having a plethora of tropical escapes right on your doorstep. Even though our home was in the capital city, Suva, we had a waterfall trail through a tropical rainforest just ten minutes down the road and would often spend weekend days trekking there and jumping in the fresh water pools. Forty-five minutes in the other direction took us to a beautiful beach at Pacific Harbour. Further along is the Coral Coast, scattered with beachfront hotels, until you reach Nadi, the tourist capital, where Denarau Island (separated from the mainland by a causeway) is filled with five star resorts, along with shops and restaurants geared towards international guests. The really stunning beaches in Fiji, though, are out on the smaller islands, where you can snorkel in crystal clear water and relax on powdery sand as gentle waves lap on the shore. Fiji definitely has a certain magic about it. Fijians are some of the warmest, most gentle people you could ever wish to meet and the pace of life there is refreshingly slow.

Living in a small island nation can sometimes feel a little isolating though, so we relished overseas travel and went on some fantastic holidays. While my husband was on a work trip to Brisbane I spent my days exploring the city with our two young daughters. A few months later we were having fun in Los Angeles on our way to visit family in the UK and Portugal. After the arrival of our third child, we enjoyed a wonderful trip to Hawaii, which turned out to be my all time favourite holiday destination, and, when I was pregnant with our fourth child, we enjoyed another Californian holiday, complete with a daytrip to Tijuana in Mexico.

When my husband was offered a job in Qatar it seemed a world away and offered a stark contrast to the life we were enjoying. After much deliberation, we decided that we would embrace the experience and packed our bags to head to the Middle East, with four children and two dogs in tow. Qatar is ideally placed near to some very appealing holiday destinations. I’m a fan of ancient archaeology, so a trip to Jordan to visit the city of Petra was high on our agenda. It’s an incredible country, steeped in fascinating history and was very educational for the children. Next up was Goa, in India, which we visited when I was pregnant with the twins. We loved mooching around the markets, lazing on the beaches, eating delicious curries and petting young cows on the streets! Our first holiday with the twins, as a family of eight, was a visit to my sister in Dubai. We drove there through Saudi Arabia, which was surprisingly straightforward, so we’ve done the same trip many times since. When the twins turned one, we visited Sri Lanka, which we adored. Aside from the beautiful beaches there’s an abundance of cultural attractions and it’s a very easy country to navigate. The highlight of the trip was an elephant safari in Habarana…framed photos of those elephants now take pride of place in my home and are a constant reminder of that very special day.

A few months later, we went on a Thai adventure. Flying into Bangkok, we headed down to Hua Hin before making our way over to Koh Phangan. It was a wonderful family holiday which provided lasting memories for the kids. The following summer we decided to head back to Sri Lanka and explore different parts of the island. From feeding wild giant sea turtles to spotting a leopard on safari in Yala National Park, it was a brilliant experience from start to finish.

Our next journey was to the Maldives, an extraordinarily beautiful country where the tiny islands, dotted like jewels in the Indian Ocean, reminded me of Fiji. Our hazy days merged into each other with the same agenda: eat, drink, sunbathe, snorkel and relax. The most memorable moment was when a school of reef sharks visited the shore and we walked right alongside them in the shallows.

The subsequent summer took us back to Thailand, where we stayed in Phuket, making the most of visits to the many temples and markets, and heading out on fantastic day trips to nearby islands. After that, we paid a visit to Oman, a country renowned for it’s stunning mountains and wadis. We enjoyed a great trip and it was really interesting to see how different the culture is to Qatar, despite the close proximity. Finally, our last family holiday was to the Philippines. I’ve always wanted to go to Boracay, an island that frequently features on bucket lists, so when I spotted an irresistibly cheap flight deal we made an impulsive decision to go. I’m so glad we did. It’s an absolutely beautiful country with incredibly friendly people and we all loved every minute.

I feel exceptionally lucky to have enjoyed all these experiences. I love exploring new countries and cultures and showing my children, who share my passion, how enthralling, diverse and vibrant our world is. I’m also regularly struck by how travelling highlights our commonalities and what unites us as global citizens…we all have shared goals, we’re all doing the best we can to provide for our families and, ultimately, we all want to be happy.

However settled I feel, I’m always thinking that there’s a whole planet under our feet just waiting to be explored. I often find myself daydreaming about our next port of call…Costa Rica has been on my wish list for a few years now, the idea of an African Safari fills me with excitement and I’m waiting for an opportunity to go and visit the pyramids in Egypt.

While taking holidays with six children undoubtedly involves a lot of forethought and meticulous planning, I don't see travelling with a large family as an impediment to our adventures. On the contrary, our children make me more enthusiastic about exploring new countries and opening their eyes to the world beyond our city limits. They're certified globe trotters who are unphased by cultural change and embrace new experiences.

In this blog I intend to detail my reflections on our family holidays, while more specific details of our accommodation choices can be found in my Trip Advisor reviews (click on the ‘My Web Links’ tab above). I hope that it’ll provide a wonderful treasure trove of memories for my children in the future, as well as offering a helpful resource for those families considering a trip to one of the same destinations.

So grab your passport and raise your glass…here’s to Travelling Large!