Showing posts with label Places to Visit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Places to Visit. Show all posts

Friday 8 December 2023

Aladdin at St Helen's Theatre Royal - A Review

On Wednesday evening we attended the press night of Aladdin at St Helen's Theatre Royal, where we enjoyed a fun filled night of entertainment, 3D special effects and a magic carpet ride of an adventure. This spectacular pantomime by Regal Entertainments, delivers an outstanding production yet again, that is suitable for the whole family to enjoy this Christmas.

This years festive panto tells the story of Aladdin who lives in his families laundry, along with his brother Wishee Washee and his mother Widow Twanky. Aladdin falls in love with the beautiful Princess Jasmine, but he must help to save her from the evil Abanazar, with the help of a very special lamp and its hilarious genie, along with his family and the beautful Genie of the Mirror, who all play their part in saving the day!   

Image Credit: David Munn Photography

Timothy Lucas stars as the Genie and he is absolutely outstanding, providing plenty of humour and fast paced dance routines which looked spectacular on the stage. We last saw Tim Lucas in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Epstein Theatre a couple of years ago, and my children were so excited to see him again. He really is an all-round highly skilled performer, who excels in entertaining and delighting the audience.

Wishee Washee is played by Lewis Devine, who is one of our all time favourite panto stars. His hilarious personality combined with his comedic skills make you laugh out loud in numerous parts of the show. We all enjoyed his witty interactions with audience members, as well as his amusing collaborations with the genie, where they were both amazing on stage together.  One particular highlight for me was a scene where Wishee Washee wished to be small, and what followed had us crying with laughter.

Richard Aucott also impressed the audience as Widow Twanky, along with his incredibly outrageous costumes that seemed to become more and more extravagant as the show went on. 

Image Credit: David Munn Photography

The role of Princess Jasmine is played by local actress Jess Smith and she looked stunningly beautiful alongside Alex Aram who stars as Aladdin. Their on stage chemistry was superb and there is a lovely scene once they meet, that features a mash-up of many different love songs.

Popular Radio presenter Leanne Campbell stars as the digital Genie In The Mirror, though it's important to note that this is via video projection only and she does not appear in person. However, whilst her appearance may only be via a screen, she still manages to provide a cheerful and charming performance and looks absolutely gorgeous too.

This years panto baddie is the villainous Abanazar played by Liam Fox, who is best known as Emmerdale's loveable Dan Spencer. Every time he entered the stage, there was a devilishly remastered version of the Emmerdale theme tune played and he would be welcomed with a chorus of boos from the audience. He came across well on stage and delivered his evil laugh with perfection, often whilst appearing alongside PC Shameless who is played by Warren Donnelly.

The sound and choreography were absolutely incredible as always and the closing scene of the first half was phenomenal, featuring a Take That medley of popular songs that got everyone singing and dancing along. 

A clever integration of modern technology featured regularly throughout the show, but in the second half this went to another level, when we were treated to a 3D Magic Carpet Ride, which helped you to feel as though you were part of the adventure. This was swiftly followed by the well known panto ghost scene which was also delivered in 3D form. My youngest son absolutely loved this and it was an element to the pantomime that I personally haven't seen done this way before.

Overall we had a fantastic time watching Aladdin at St Helen's Theatre Royal and it is hard to believe just how much entertainment they managed to pack into this production. From fast paced choreography to hilarious comedy sketches, you won't want to take your eyes away from the stage for so much as a second. I would absolutely recommend Aladdin as a must-see pantomime this festive season!

Image Credit: David Munn Photography

To find out more about Aladdin or other upcoming productions at St Helens Theatre Royal, you can visit their website here: www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

You can also follow St Helens Theatre Royal on the following social media pages:

Facebook - facebook.com/St-Helens-Theatre-Royal

X (formerly known as Twitter) - @TheatreRoyalStH

Instagram - @StHelensTheatreRoyal

Listing Details

Show - Regal Entertainments Ltd presents Aladdin

Venue - St Helens Theatre Royal, Corporation Street, St Helens, Merseyside, WA10 1LQ

Dates - 2nd December 2023 to 14th January 2024

Performance Times - Times vary so please see the St Helens Theatre Royal website for the most up to date information.

Tickets - From £21* (*All prices are inclusive of a £1 per seat booking fee. Online bookings are subject to an additional 50p per seat online processing fee.)

Tickets can be booked in person at St Helens Theatre Royal Box Office, Corporation Street, St. Helens, Merseyside, WA10 1LQ (Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm). Alternatively, call 01744 756000 or visit www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com.

Image Credit: David Munn Photography

*Disclaimer - We were provided with complimentary tickets for the purpose of writing an honest review of the production. All thoughts and opinions are my own unless otherwise stated. Images featured within this post do not belong to me and were kindly provided. Details featured within this post are believed to be correct at the time of writing but can be subject to change. I would therefore always recommend visiting the venue's own website in order to obtain the most up to date information.

Monday 22 November 2021

Christmas at Dunham Massey 2021 - A Review

On Thursday evening we had the pleasure of attending the press night for the launch of Christmas at Dunham Massey 2021. My family and I have attended every year since 2017, with the exception of last year due to our local lockdown, so it is fair to say that we were all extremely excited to return to one of our favourite festive events.

Christmas at Dunham Massey is brought to you by Raymond Gubbay Ltd (Sony Music) in partnership with the National Trust and sees the stunning grounds transformed into a beautiful winter wonderland, with a magical, after-dark illuminated trail. Featuring over a million lights accompanied by seasonal sounds, it is the perfect place to make memories with loved ones or friends as you walk around the stunning grounds and take in the creative and mesmerising lights.

Prior to beginning the Christmas Trail you can spend some time in the courtyard, where there is a selection of different street food vendors, along with some vintage fairground rides that included a carousel and a helter skelter. Tokens need to be purchased for the rides at an additional charge and these are available from a kiosk located nearby, if you haven't already purchased them in advance. 


It is important to note that due to the one way system, you don't return back to the courtyard area after you have finished the trail, so if you are wanting to enjoy this area and have a bite to eat, then this needs to be done prior to entering the trail. The food and drinks available looked delicious and were reasonably priced. I also felt that there was a good variety of choices available to cater for all tastes.

Once we had finished in the Courtyard, my family and I made our way over to the giant sized reindeer located at the start of the trail where we were greeted by friendly staff who scanned our tickets. The mansion was lit up brightly and we were captivated watching the sequence of lights across the building. Our favourite part was when Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas began to play and my son, along with some other guests, began to dance. It felt so Christmassy and welcoming and we were excited to see the rest of the event as we began to walk down the path.


Just like previous years we were greeted with stunning displays and my son kept asking how long it must have taken people to create the fascinating arrangements. The fire garden was so relaxing and I could quite happily have stood there for a long time just watching the flames and listening to the music. We were also extremely impressed by the incredible rose garden installation which was absolutely breathtaking as the roses began to change colour. 

There were also plenty of opportunities along the trail to purchase hot drinks and snacks including hot chocolates, mulled wine and tea. The option of a children's hot chocolate was also available and my boys both said it was absolutely delicious. It cost £2.25 and they enjoyed taking sips and keeping warm as we continued our walk together.

Approximately midway through the trail, there is a place to stop and purchase marshmallows to roast on one of the fire pits. The marshmallows were available to buy for £1.50 each which I thought to be reasonable given their large size. My youngest son opted for a candy floss favoured marshmallow, but my eldest son noticed additional cabins that were selling waffles and crepes, with the giant tubs of nutella immediately catching his attention. He therefore chose to buy a nutella filled crepe instead at a cost of £4.50 which he described as the best snack he had ever tasted.


My favourite part of the evening was watching my son speak with Santa, albeit socially distanced. Whilst there are no individual meet and greets, Santa did his best to speak out to guests in the crowd and welcome everyone. It was beautiful to watch his interaction with visitors and the surrounding setting was wonderful and perfectly lit with gentle lighting against the backdrop of the night sky.

Overall we had a wonderful time and it was the perfect start to our Christmas celebrations. The way the event is designed makes it suitable for all ages and whilst it is a lovely family event, I also feel that it is ideal for couples and individuals to enjoy too. All of the staff we came across were extremely courteous and were very friendly each time my youngest son spoke to them. He had taken one of his teddies with him and insisted on showing it to every staff member, who all seemed more than happy to engage with him and have a little chat. The highlight of our evening was the interaction between Father Christmas and my son which was just a joy to watch. We would absolutely recommend Christmas at Dunham Massey to others and if you have already booked your tickets, then you're in for a treat.

For further information on Christmas at Dunham Massey, please visit their website or social media channels which can be found here:

Website - National Trust - Dunham Massey
Facebook - DunhamMasseyNT - Facebook
Twitter - @DunhamMasseyNT

Event Details

Attraction - Christmas at Dunham Massey, the magical after-dark illuminated trail.
Location - Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 4SJ
Dates - 19th November 2021 to 2nd January 2022 (the event is not open on all dates so please check for availability).

The majority of tickets for this event are now sold out, however on checking today (20/11/21) there are currently limited tickets still available for the 1st and 2nd of January 2022. However, the creators for Christmas at Dunham Massey are also operating a new lights trail approximately 40 minutes away from Dunham Massey called Christmas at Delamere Forest. You can find out more details on this event on the blog here.



*Disclaimer - We attended the press evening of Christmas at Dunham Massey and were provided with complimentary tickets for the purpose of writing an honest review of our experience. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Details provided are believed to be correct at the time of writing but can be subject to change. I would therefore always recommend visiting the attraction's own website in order to obtain the most up to date information. 

Monday 2 December 2019

Feeling Festive at Coral Island Blackpool - A Review

If you are a regular reader to the blog, then you may remember that back in April, we paid a visit to Coral Island in Blackpool. We had a fabulous family day out and we all had a fantastic time playing on the rides and the machines, as well as enjoying a treat in the restaurants. Therefore, when I recently saw an advertisement for the Santa's Grotto, I knew that my children would love it, so we organised another visit to this popular seafront arcade.

We began our day with a full cooked breakfast at Peggy's Snack Bar. They have a great choice of breakfast items on offer and having eaten here during our last visit, we knew that the food was good quality as well as being great value for money. Coral Island currently have a 'Kids Eat Free' offer on throughout their restaurants, so children under 10 can get a free children's meal with each full paying adult meal, which is great. We purchased four full english breakfasts since my older children have adult appetites, and Riley enjoyed his free children's breakfast which consisted of toast, beans and sausage. We also bought some hot chocolates, which my daughter claimed was the nicest hot chocolate she had ever tasted, along with some fresh orange juice for me and a cappuchino for my husband. The service was fast and friendly and there were plenty of seats and tables available to choose from.

Once we had finished in Peggy's Snack Bar, it was time for some fun, so after collecting our tickets for the Santa's Grotto, we spent some time in the arcade enjoying some of the games and rides, before heading over to see Santa at 12pm.


For only £7.50 per ticket (or £5 for under 3's), each child gets to spend some quality time with Santa, a goody bag filled with tickets and gifts, tokens for the camel derby and rides, as well as the chance to choose your very own gift from Santa's workshop. Tickets can be purchased in person on the day, or alternatively they can be booked in advance online, however a small booking fee does apply. I thought that this price offered excellent value for money, so we couldn't wait to see if this was just as good as it sounded.


In my honest opinion, it actually far exceeded my expectations and as my children and I joined the queue, Riley excited looked around him at all of the decorations and reindeer. Everywhere he looked there were lights twinkling, mischevious elves hiding and Christmas trees galore. It was beautifully decorated and created a lovely festive atmosphere. We queued for around twenty minutes before it was our turn, which we were quite happy with as there was plenty to look at in the queue and we enjoyed chatting to Riley about what he was going to ask for off Santa. We could also see that families weren't being rushed, so we knew that we were going to get a nice amount of time with Santa to make it all the more special.


Once we reached the front of the queue a friendly and welcoming elf, invited us into Santa's workshop and Riley took a seat on the small bench next to him. Riley absolutely loves dinosaurs and had won a keyring on one of the machines earlier, so he began to show Santa and started talking all things prehistoric. Santa was absolutely brilliant with him and they had a good chat all about dinosaurs and the toys that Riley likes to play with. He asked him what he would like for Christmas and Riley asked for a large dinosaur playset, which Santa said he would try his best to do. The conversation flowed so easily and Riley, who is normally quite shy, really engaged well and thoroughly enjoyed the moment. He had a huge smile on his face the whole time and it really helped to make our visit quite magical.

My eldest two (although now past the age of believing in Santa) also had tickets, so that they could join in with the experience for Riley. My eldest son took his seat on the bench and we had a good laugh as Santa made some jokes and chatted to him in a way that was suitable for his age. This was great for us as it meant that my eldest two also really enjoyed it and each of my children left the workshop with huge smiles on their faces.


However, before we left, we were provided with a gift bag that contained some prize tickets and sweets and each of my children could also select a gift from the workshop. Riley chose a Car Garage Playset, Emma chose a giant Elf on the Shelf which is now perched on the top of one of our Christmas trees, whilst Ben chose a Car Racing Playset which he is donating to charity following a recent Christmas Toy Appeal that he saw before our visit.


Following our visit to Santa, we decided to try our luck at a game of bingo. We had been lucky enough to have won some games on our previous visit, so we were hoping that we could possibly win again. The bingo boards are all touch screen, which really helped Riley as he simply needed to tap his board and the numbers would auto-mark. The prize display looked fabulous and we loved how there was a Christmas and Winter theme with Santa toys and elves in abundance.


Ben managed to win his first game and received a prize ticket worth 50 points. The more points you collect then the bigger the prize you can claim and there is a great selection to choose from. Unfortunately we didn't win any other games, so I was a little worried that he wouldn't be able to find anything for 50 points, but there was still quite a few small prizes that were suitable and in the end he opted for a good quality Blackpool themed pen.


After our games of bingo, the children decided that they wanted to use their Santa's Grotto voucher to claim their free go on the Camel Derby. This is great fun and so simple to play, so it is suitable for the whole family to enjoy. All you have to do is roll balls as quickly as you can and get them into the coloured holes. The more balls you score, then the faster your camel runs in the race, so you have to be quick to compete against the other players and be the first to the finish line. Emma was delighted to win this on her first go, despite playing against several other people and she exchanged her win for a small cuddly toy.

We spent a further hour playing on the various 2p machines and ticket machines, to try and win as many tickets as possible to exchange in the shop. My children absolutely love 2p machines and they could spend hours playing on them. The machines at Coral Island are well stocked with plenty of keyrings or sweets on the edges to try and win. Ben and Riley won 18 prizes from the 2p machines alone and are now the proud owners of various themed keyrings.

Each of my children also had tickets to exchange at the prize shop, so before we left we used the ticket eaters to count our tickets and print a receipt. We then took the receipt to the prize shop and each of my children chose some prizes up to the value of the tickets. Coral Island has such a great selection of prizes that there really is something for everyone.


Due to having a full english breakfast at Peggy's Snack Bar earlier in the morning, we had skipped lunch, so were looking forward to a filling dinner before heading home. We ate in the Buccaneer Family Bar and Restaurant which is located within Coral Island and offers a great selection of family favourite meals to enjoy.

The menu is extensive and the Kids Eat Free offer applies in this restaurant too. It was very busy on the day of our visit, but we asked a member of staff to help us find a table and they soon found one available for us. We each took some time to look over the menu, before my husband went to the bar to place the order. The meals we ordered were 2 x Buccaneer Burgers, Steak and Chips, Scampi and Chips and my youngest had Chicken Nuggets from the children's menu. 

Despite the restaurant being full, we found the service to be very quick and we were served within 20 minutes. The food was absolutely delicious and we were all happy with our choices. A waitress also came over part way into the meal to check that everything was ok, which it most definitely was.


Overall we had a wonderful festive day at Coral Island Blackpool. We absolutely loved the Christmas Grotto and were so impressed with Santa. He was fabulous with the children and knew how to interact well with the different age groups. Riley loved chatting to him about dinosaurs, whilst my older two children enjoyed just having a laugh with him as he told some jokes and a funny story about him and Mrs Claus. His elf assistant was just as friendly and welcoming and this made for a fantastic family experience. I feel that the ticket price offers excellent value for money and there was a good selection of gifts to choose from. As well as the Santa's grotto, we enjoyed playing on the gamesm rides and 2p machines, and we found the whole place to be well maintained and immaculately kept. If you are looking for somewhere fun to visit this winter, that also has a wonderful Santa's Grotto, then Coral Island Blackpool is most definitely the place to be!

Santa's Grotto will be open every weekend until the 22nd December between 11am to 6pm. Tickets are available to purchase on the day subject to availability, or alternatively can be booked in advance online.

If you would like to find out more about Coral Island in Blackpool, then you can visit their website or social media pages on the following channels:

Website - www.coralisland.co.uk
Facebook - facebook.com/coralislandblackpool
Instagram - @CoralIslandBlackpool
Twitter - @LoveCoralIsland


*Disclaimer - AD - We were welcomed as guests of Coral Island for the purpose of writing an honest review of our experience. Our breakfast in Peggy's was purchased by ourselves. Opinions and photographs are my own unless otherwise stated. Details provided are believed to be correct at the time of writing, but are subject to change. I would therefore always recommend visiting the attractions own website in order to obtain the most up to date information.

Thursday 21 November 2019

A Family Visit to the Newly Refurbished Inflata Nation Manchester - A Review

Last weekend we were invited along to Inflata Nation Manchester to take a look at the newly refurbished 'double decker' layout of their inflatable theme park arena. Inflata Nation has a number of sites around the UK, with each one offering plenty of fun for the whole family.

We had booked our session for Saturday morning and the journey from our home took around 45 minutes. It was really easy to find and the sat nav lead us there with no issues. We found that there was on site car parking, but due to it being peak time we were unable to grab a space as it was full by the time we arrived. However, there was plenty of nearby parking available on the surrounding roads, so we had no problem finding somewhere close, within very short walking distance. I noticed that there was also disabled parking bays at the front of the building, right by the main entrance.


As we entered I noticed a large table full of paper disclaimers, which all bouncers must fill in prior to taking part. Alternatively you can also complete these online, which we chose to do shortly after booking. I decided to do it this way as I felt it would speed up the process once we were there and would mean no paper forms, so this worked well for us. We then joined a short queue and made sure that we had our booking confirmation number ready to provide to the gentleman working on the arrivals desk. He was very friendly and welcoming and then explained where we needed to go and what rules we needed to read and listen to prior to bouncing. We were then shown where we could place our items in a locker and we excitedly joined the queue for the 11am group.

There is a non-refundable charge for the lockers which work on an automated system. The cost is £2 for up to 1.5 hours or £3 for 2 hours, so you may wish to factor in the price of this if budgeting for your visit. Alternatively there are some open shelves where items can be left, but this would be done at your own risk.


Our attention was drawn to the rules and safety videos which are in place around the arena and we were then given a safety briefing before being allowed to enter. It is really important to listen to the advice you are given, so if there is anything you are unsure of, then I would recommend asking a member of staff to provide you with the information again before taking part. As with any activity like this, there is an element of risk involved to participants, so by ensuring the rules are followed you can make your experience both fun and safe.

As our time slot began, guests quickly ran through the inflatable arena to take a good look around. My older children ran off in opposite directions, whilst I remained with Riley. The first activity he found was the Inflata Duel and quickly challenged me to a battle on the gladiator platform. He easily won as I couldn't balance very well and kept falling off, which he thought was hilarious.


Ben really enjoyed the large ball pool area and loved jumping from the large inflatables into the balls below. There were also some hoops for you to take aim and throw balls through, so we took part in a 'best out of 10' game to see who could hit the target the most. It was a close call as I was winning at one point, but it ended up being a draw as Ben's hand to eye coordination and bouncy balance skills saw him catch up.

Next to the Inflata Ball Pool was a really fun activity called the Tipping Slide. This slide moves, so as it lowers you need to try and run up the ramp to reach the top and then hold on tight as the slide raises higher. This definitely tests your skills and as it climbs you can't help but slide down.

There were also an incredible four other slides in the arena and I still think it is really clever how they have managed to fit this all in. Two of the slides have bumps, whilst the other two are near vertical drop slides, which are definitely not for the faint hearted. I'm not going to lie, I passed on these as my nerves couldn't cope, but my daughter loved them and went on several times.


Another superb new addition to the arena is the Inflata Freefall, which is sure to interest any thrillseeker. After navigating yourself to the raised platform, you get kitted out with a harness and are clipped onto a freefall device. It is then up to you to see if you a brave enough to step or jump off the six metre platform onto the bouncy floor below. I was really surprised when my son Ben tried this as he is usually quite nervous of heights, so I was very proud when he gave it a go. There was a member of staff assisting participants at the top and another at the bottom who would help customers to remove their harness.

I was very impressed by just how many staff there actually were on hand throughout the arena. Some were supervising the slides and other activities, whilst others were bouncing around the arena collecting stray balls or just simply ensuring that everyone was ok. I also liked the fact that there was a separate much smaller arena for little ones aged under 4. This is in an enclosed area at the very front called Inflata Tots and means that even the youngest of children can enjoy the experience, without having to share with the more active older children and adults in the main bouncing arena.

Other activities also included the Inflata Bubbles which make you bounce really high, an Inflata Race where you can compete against your friends and family, or even take a break from the bouncing and enjoy a moment on the inflatable cars. If you do get tired and need a rest or a drink then it is very easy to come and go off the inflatable arena as many times as you need to. As long as you have your wristband and your hand stamp, you can re-enter and enjoy all the fun whenever you are ready.


If you are not taking part in a bouncing session, then there is plenty of seating available in their large cafe, where you can purchase hot drinks, cold drinks, snacks, cakes, and even meals too. The food prices are really reasonable and some of the seats also offer a great view of the arena.

Overall we had a fantastic time and before we had even left the building my children were asking when we could return. There was plenty to enjoy and we thought that the new slides and the Inflata Drop added a whole new element to the fun. The arena is really big and well spaced out, so although it was busy, it never felt too crowded or unsafe and my kids had a fantastic time. I think the cost of £9.99 for an hour for guests aged 4+ is really reasonable and it is a great way to burn off some energy. If you have the stamina, then you can also add on an additional hour for an extra £7, but we found that one hour was just the right length of time for us. Under 4's cost a lower price of £5.99 for an hour with an additional cost of £3 for an extra hour. Booking in advance is also advised, in order to avoid any disappointment on arrival. It is safe to say that we will definitely be returning again in the future and we would recommend to others who are looking for a fun activity that can be enjoyed by all the family.

If you would like to find out more about Inflata Nation Manchester, or their other locations around the country, then you can visit their website or social media pages on the following channels:

Website - https://www.inflatanation.com/locations/manchester/ 
Facebook - facebook.com/inflatanationmanchester
Twitter - @InflataNation
YouTube - Inflata Nation YouTube Channel


*Disclaimer - We were invited to review Inflata Nation Manchester and were provided with a complimentary booking for the purpose of writing an honest review of our experience. All opinions are my own unless stated otherwise.

Friday 8 November 2019

A Family Day Out at Fantasy Island - A Review

During the October half term, we travelled to the East Coast and spent a week in the county of Lincolnshire. We were really pleased to find so much to do in the area and enjoyed some fantastic days out as a family including a visit to Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells,Skegness.

The weekend prior had brought torrential rain, so we were a little worried that our day could end up rather wet, but luckily the weather was on our side and we were able to enjoy everything that Fantasy Island had to offer, both indoors and outdoors!

We were staying approximately 45 minutes away at Tattershall Lakes Country Park and it was a really simple drive to the attraction. On our arrival we found the car park easily and there were plenty of spaces for visitors. It cost £6 to park all day which we thought was a really reasonable price.

My children's eyes lit up with excitement as they saw the huge rollercoasters reaching towards the sky, whilst Riley was really keen to find out what was inside the large pyramid building. We therefore made our way over to the main entrance at the pyramid to obtain our wristbands and begin our day.


Fantasy Island has over 30 rides to enjoy as well as being home to Ingoldmells Market, which is Europe's largest seven day market. There is also a huge arcade which uses a state of the art i-card that brings a contactless system to the attraction.

Entry to Fantasy Island is free of charge, so you then have the choice of paying on a ride by ride basis, or you can purchase a Ride All Day wristband which offers great value for money. We loved the fact that it was free entry as this meant that my parents could also join us for the day, as although they are unable to go on the rides, they could enjoy watching their grandchildren have fun without having to pay an excessive amount for entry.

The wristbands vary in price depending on the time of the season, but if you purchase them in advance online, you can also get a 10% discount. Online bookings can only be made up until midnight on the night before the visit, so make sure you book in plenty of time if you want to take advantage of the online discount. Opening times vary throughout the year, so to check the most up to date information on wristbands and opening, you can visit their website here.


Once we all had our wristbands ready, it was simply a case of deciding where to go first. We had noticed on arrival that the queues for the larger rides were quite small, so thought it would make sense to take advantage of this, so we made our way towards The Milennium. This is a huge purple and green rollercoaster which stands at 150ft in height and travels at up to 55.9 mph. There are also two loops which my husband and daughter said were fantastic!

Our next ride was The Odyssey which travels at 62mph and has plenty of inversions as well as a vertical loop. It is certainly not for the faint hearted, but my husband and daughter thought it was brilliant and the boys and I watched safely from the ground as they zoomed past at speed.

With the two main thrill rides out of the way, we enjoyed the rest of them at a more leisurely pace and my children would choose between them which ride to go on next. My youngest son enjoys the more simpler rides, but his elder brother always goes on them with him which I think is lovely. Riley thought that the Bouncing Bugs were hilarious and he also really enjoyed the Bizzy Dizzy Beez.


As the day got progressively colder we made our way into the pyramid and enjoyed some of the rides that were on offer inside. The range of attractions was fantastic and there was so much to see and do. Our wristbands included a game of crazy golf which was absolutely brilliant, with a dinosaur theme. We are all really competitive so this was great to have a fun family competition. The 18 holes are spread across two floors and the whole area seemed really clean and well maintained. I was convinced that I had won, especially as I had got two holes in one, so admittedly I was really disappointed at the end to find that my husband had beaten me by two points - he always wins!


My favourite family ride was the Seaquarium which we thought was a fantastic facility to have inside the pyramid building. It was really good fun with lots to see and Riley enjoyed pointing out various fish and figures amongst the displays. Every ride we went on seemed immaculately maintained which not only made them look great in appearance, but also offered reassurance that the rides were really safe too.

In addition to the rides, there were also some shows on throughout the day which provided entertainment. As we were visiting over the Halloween period, the shows had a spooky theme and there were leaflets that provided the show times. This made it easy to keep track of where you needed to be and when.


The arcade was very popular with my children and they really liked the I-Card system. We have used something similar to this only once before and that was in Florida, so it was great to see this modern technology making its way over to the UK. One thing that stood out to me about the arcade was just how clean all the areas were. Also if we ever needed any assistance obtaining our 2p machine prizes, we could always find a member of staff with ease, who would happily help. Like most arcades you can win tickets whilst playing on the machines, which can then be exchanged for prizes. At Fantasy Island there is no need to carry a huge mound of tickets around with you, as just like the cash, your tickets are automatically added to your I-Card which makes things so much easier. My children enjoyed exchanging their tickets for prizes and there was a good selection on offer in the prize shop. They were all happy with their choices and came away with some small toys and sweets.


There were plenty of dining options to choose from on site and we found the prices of the food to be very reasonable. We had taken a picnic for lunch, so utilised one of the many picnic benches located around the site to eat our sandwiches. Later in the day though, we all opted for some burgers and chips which were delicious and the children enjoyed some slush drinks which were only £1 each. Throughout our visit we also purchased both hot and cold drinks and we were very pleased with the service received at each vendor that we used.

We ended our day with a visit to the high ropes course. My only minor complaint here was the length of time that it took for a turn, as there is no time limit in place. It therefore works on a one off, one on basis which meant that my children waited 50 minutes before two people left the course. It would perhaps be better to impose 20 minute sessions to ensure that guests don't have to wait too long to have a go. Once they were up on the course though they really enjoyed it and it was fun watching them complete the challenges on the climb. It is a great facility to have and all in the comfort of the warmth inside, so no need to worry about weather spoiling the enjoyment.


Overall we each agreed that Fantasy Island is a great day out for the whole family and felt that the prices were really reasonable and fair. My daughter said that it was one of her favourite attractions that we have visited as she liked the variation of rides and facilities that were available. There was a great choice of rides to suit all ages and I felt that the wristbands offered excellent value for money. As well as the rides we were able to enjoy crazy golf, bowling, arcade games, plenty of food options and even a large market, which meant that we were able to have a non-stop day packed full of fun. We would absolutely recommend Fantasy Island to others and we will definitely be returning next year!


Fantasy Island

Address - Sea Lane, Ingoldmells, Skegness, PE25 1RH
Website - www.fantasyislandresort.co.uk
Facebook - facebook.com/fantasyislanduk
Twitter - @fantasyislanduk
Instagram - fantasyislanduk


*Disclaimer - We were provided with 4 x complimentary wristbands for the purpose of writing an honest review of our experience. I also purchased an additional wristband, £30 arcade credit and food at my own expense. Opinions and photographs are my own unless stated otherwise.

Saturday 12 October 2019

Day of the Dead Festival at Southport Pleasureland

On Saturday 2nd November, Southport Pleasureland will play host to the spectacular Day of the Dead event, in what is set to be an incredible night of entertainment that is bigger and better than ever before. There will be plenty for families to enjoy including stage shows, stilt walkers, fire eaters, live music, dancers and plenty of surprises too!  A live DJ will be sure to get visitors into the party spirit as the flavour of Mexico will come alive for this traditional Mexican festival.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase and enjoy some Mexican food, or browse the arts and crafts stalls. There will be plenty of rides for guests to enjoy too and for this night only they will be available for the special price of only £1.50 a ride, which offers a great saving.

 Image kindly provided by Southport Pleasureland

Entrance to the festival will commence from 5pm and there will be plenty to enjoy throughout the evening, before the event culminates in a spectacular fireworks display that is sure to light up the sky of the popular seaside town.

This event is ticketed only, so don't miss out on your chance to purchase your tickets now. Individual tickets are priced at only £10 per person (+80p administration fee per ticket) and there is a family discount available for groups purchasing four tickets. Children under 90cm in height can enter free of charge!

They are available to buy in advance on the Southport Pleasureland website here.

Image kindly provided by Southport Pleasureland
Event Details

Event - Day of the Dead Festival at Southport Pleasureland
Address - Southport Pleasureland, Marine Drive, Southport, PR8 1RX
Parking - There are 3 car parks located on the Esplanade and on Marine Drive
Public Transport - Southport Pleasureland is easily accesible by public transport and is a short walk from the park and ride station, the town centre and Southport Railway station.
Tickets - Tickets cost £10 per person (+ 80p administration fee). Family discount is also available for groups purchasing 4 tickets.

For further information you can visit the Southport Pleasureland website or social media pages on the following channels:

Website: www.southportpleasureland.com/day-of-the-dead
Twitter: @SNPleasureland
Facebook: facebook.com/SouthportPL
Instagram: @snpleasureland



*Disclaimer - Details provided are believed to be correct at the time of writing, but is subject to change. I would therefore always recommend visiting the attractions own website in order to obtain the most up to date information. Images kindly provided by Southport Pleasureland.


Saturday 5 October 2019

Dates for your Diary - Christmas at Dunham Massey 2019

Christmas at Dunham Massey has been one of our most favourite winter attractions for the past couple of years. The magical, after-dark, illuminated trail is simply spectacular and it never fails to get my family and I, into the festive spirit. Our reviews from the past couple of years have also proved to be very popular with our readers and I am therefore delighted to provide further details on this years beautiful event.

Christmas at Dunham Massey will be returning to the historic National Trust property in Cheshire from the 22nd November to the 30th December 2019.

Visitors will be able to discover new immersive installations as the magical winter trail is set to be bigger and better than ever before. Now in it's third year, the seasonal trail is established as a much-anticipated experience for all.

New for 2019 see world-renowned light installations as you enter a grand avenue replanted with gigantic illuminated flowers and the house brought to life by festive projections. Walk through the dynamic, glowing Vortex Tunnels and stroll towards the mesmerising reflections made by Fire on Water. Watch out as lights seem to tumble from the undergrowth and light up trees like fizzing fireworks and take time to pause at the delicate carpet of colour-changing blooms.

Favourite installations will also return, including the larger-than-life glittering deer and the towering Tunnel of Light twinkling with thousands of pea-lights. Take in the Field of Light and discover the woodland world festooned with seasonal cheer, accompanied by festive music along the way.

Image from the 2018 event

Have a holly, jolly Christmas and complete your walk under the stars with spiced cider, mulled wine or hot chocolate.* Gather around the fire-pit with family and friends to toast marshmallows* and end the evening in Dunham Massey's well-stocked shop.*

For the young ones there's a Victorian Carousel*, helter skelter*, and other family rides* and keep your eyes peeled for Father Christmas and his helpers along the way.

Christmas at Dunham Massey is brought to you by leading events promoter Raymond Gubbay Limited, a division of Sony Music, in partnership with the National Trust (Registered Charity 205846). The trail is created by Culture Creative Limited.

For further information on Christmas at Dunham Massey, please visit their website or social media channels which can be found here:

Website - National Trust - Dunham Massey
Facebook - DunhamMasseyNT - Facebook
Twitter - @DunhamMasseyNT

Event Details

Attraction - Christmas at Dunham Massey, the magical, after-dark, illuminated trail.
Location - Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 4SJ
Dates - Selected dates from 22nd November to 30th December 2019.
Admission - From: Adult £17.50, Child (3-16) £11.00, Family £54.00
Website - For full details and pricing, please visit the Dunham Massey website Christmas at Dunham Massey

*Additional charges are applicable for vintage rides, food and drink.

Image from our attendance at previous event

*Disclaimer - Details provided in this post are believed to be correct at the time of writing, but can be subject to change. I would therefore always recommend visiting the events own website in order to obtain the most up to date information. This post is a combination of our own opinion of the event from previous years, as well as a press release which was kindly provided to us. Images in this post are my own from previous years.

Sunday 1 September 2019

Our Trip to Domaine Des Ormes with Al Fresco Holidays - A Review

This summer we have had the pleasure of spending a week at Domaine Des Ormes in Northern Brittany with Al Fresco Holidays. Situated near the quiet town of Dol de Bretagne and only a half hour drive from the port of Saint Malo, this site offers absolutely everything you could possibly need for a fun-filled family adventure.

Whether you are looking for somewhere to simply relax, enjoy a spot of fishing, or want a holiday that can provide an abundance of activities for all ages, then Domaine Des Ormes certainly ticks all the boxes. It is also a fantastic base to visit some points of interest such as Mont St Michel or Dinard.

In the weeks leading up to our stay, I spent some time planning our trip and making plans, which I wrote about in a preview post that can be found here. Some of the information I found out prior to our journey proved to be really useful, especially in terms of budgeting and finding out tips from guests who had stayed there previously. This was our fourth press trip with Al Fresco Holidays, but we are also regular customers so it was our 9th holiday with them in total, therefore even if I hadn't undertaken any research, I already knew that we would be sure to have a fantastic time away.

Al Fresco Holidays know that everyone looks for something different when choosing their perfect holiday, which is why they have a fantastic range of sites on offer ranging from the small and quiet, to the large and lively. They specialise in family mobile home holidays throughout Europe in a great choice of locations and with wonderful facilities too. Each site also has a selection of travel options to consider and Al Fresco can help you find the right park to suit your needs, whether you are looking for somewhere that you can drive to in your own car, or would like to take a ferry or flight.


The Journey to Domaine Des Ormes

For our journey we chose to take an overnight ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo with Brittany Ferries. Flying into a nearby airport was also an option, as were some shorter ferry crossings from Portsmouth to Caen, but this would have resulted in a longer drive time in France, so we thought that the overnight ferry would be a fun new experience for us all to try. I will be honest though and say that I was incredibly nervous about staying in an inside cabin on the ferry and I had heard various stories about sea-sickness which did give me a little cause for concern, however I needn't have been worried.

We set off from our home in North Wales at 6am planning approximately 5 hours for our journey to Portsmouth with a breakfast stop along the way. Our ferry wasn't due to depart until 8:30pm that evening, so we made the most of the day and visited Marwell Zoo in Hampshire along the way, before visiting a local restaurant for dinner and then checking in for our boat at 6:30pm. The check in process was extremely quick and simple and despite being randomly selected for a security search of our vehicle, we completed the whole process and were ready to board within half an hour of arriving.

Boarding the ferry was just as simple and a member of staff guided us into a parking space on the boat. We had packed a separate overnight bag so we removed this and our cooler box from our vehicle and then made our way to our cabins to see what they were like. As a family of 5 there wasn't an individual cabin that could sleep all five of us, so we had split into two rooms of an inside 4 berth cabin which was on deck 2 and an inside 2 berth cabin which was located on Deck 8.


We were pleasantly surprised by both cabins, with them feeling much larger than I had expected. They were compact, but not as much as I thought they would be and each of them had their own en suite facilities with toilet, sink and shower. They were surprisingly comfortable and the pull down beds were easy enough to move and put into place. After viewing our cabins for the night, I immediately became more relaxed about the journey and we made our way to the show bar area to enjoy the evening entertainment.

The bar area was really spacious and my husband and eldest son would pop in and out onto the outside viewing deck in between entertainment to admire the views. The seating was clean and comfortable and there were more than enough tables and chairs for all guests. We were treated to a cabaret show, family quiz, children's disco and some kids fun and games, where both of my boys won certificates for telling jokes on the stage. The drink and snack prices were also really reasonable and we ended up staying in this area until around 10:30pm, at which point we returned to our cabins for some sleep.

Although I had been nervous before our trip, the journey was far better than I had expected and every single one of us managed to enjoy a full nights sleep before being awoken by the ferry morning alarm at 6am. This gives you time to pack up your cabin and enjoy some breakfast should you wish to, prior to disembarkation. Before we knew it, we were driving off the ferry and ready to enjoy our week long holiday together.

As we drove off the ferry and into the port, our sat nav app decided not to work, so there was a slight panic that we had no idea which way to go. Thankfully it seemed as though everyone was exiting the same way, so we decided to follow the crowd until we reached somewhere safe to pull over and used our data to obtain some directions. Luckily for us, it was a really straightforward journey to the campsite and only takes around half an hour from St Malo. Approximately 15 minutes into the drive we also began to see signs for Domaine Des Ormes, which meant that we ultimately managed to find the site with ease.


Our First Impressions of Domaine Des Ormes

We arrived on site at around 9am, however it is not possible to check in to the accommodation until 4pm. I was aware of this prior to travelling, so we had already made sure that we had some snacks and drinks ready for the day, as well as planning some activities to do to keep the children busy. We entered the main reception to make the staff aware that we were there and they provided us with our wristbands so that we could enjoy the site whilst waiting. The Al Fresco representative was friendly and welcoming and also provided some suggestions of activities that we could do. He also said that he had made the cleaning staff aware that we were already on site, so should our accommodation be available sooner, then he would give us a call which I thought was great service.


We decided to take a walk around the site first, in order to get our bearings and find out where everything was. The site has a really useful app called Les Ormes which features a map, copies of menus, lists of activities and a diary of events and shows. We therefore used the map to search for areas of the site that were of interest to us, which we found helpful. However, we certainly didn't need the map to spot The Dome, which is an incredible new building that covers a pool, lazy river, slides and wave pool. My children thought this looked amazing and I promised them that we would take a closer look once it was open later that day.


Accommodation

After a lovely morning exploring we received a call at around 1pm to inform us that our accommodation was ready earlier than expected and that we were welcome to make our way to the mobile home. We collected the key from reception and followed the directions that were provided. The site is very large, but it is easy to find your way around and there are signs pointing to each named area.

Al Fresco Holidays mobile homes are well equipped, comfortable, clean and modern. A large proportion of the mobile homes also come with decking areas, sun canopies and barbecues, so you can also make the most of the outdoor space as well. They are perfect for families as some of them can accommodate up to 8 people making them a very cost effective holiday option.


Within a few minutes we had found our Vivaldi Lounge mobile home and parked up outside. On all previous parks we have stayed at, we have been taken to our accommodation and shown around, so I did kind of miss this personal touch that we have been used to before. However, my husband said he actually preferred just being left to it, so I guess that this just comes down to personal preference.


Our plot was a really nice size and we had a large outdoor decking area complete with rattan furniture, as well as a lawned area with sun loungers that gave the children plenty of room to play outside. There was a nice amount of space between each mobile home, so you didn't feel like you were being overlooked and the grounds were all well maintained.


I absolutely loved being able to sit outside on the decking in the evening and enjoy a glass of wine as the sun set in the distance. It was so peaceful and tranquil and it was definitely one of my favourite places to just chill out and relax.

The Dome

Once we had settled in to our accommodation and unpacked the car, my children were excitedly asking for us to return to The Dome. This is a wonderful building which has covered some of the pre-existing facilities, as well as allowing the development of some new pool and splash areas, which can now be enjoyed whatever the weather. At 20 metres in height and 75 metres in diameter, it is quite outstanding and offers a tropical swimming area with water heated to 29 degrees celsius. My children were amazed by the building and my husband and I were equally impressed.


Although it wasn't fully complete during our visit, some slides, a lazy river ride, wave pool and lounger areas were all open for us to enjoy and we were also able to watch the completion of the new lazy river and splash zone, which then opened the day after we left. The staff were working so hard to get everything open as quickly as possible, but it was great to be able to enjoy the majority of the facilities during our stay.


My children particularly enjoyed the wave pool, especially as floats were also allowed. We had brought an inflatable crocodile, unicorn and some rings with us, so the kids were really pleased that they were able to use them to ride the waves. During our stay the wave pool would start at quarter past every hour and then last for twenty minutes. The waves would start off quite slow, before becoming fast and high which was great fun. There were also ropes placed either side of the pool that you could hold onto during the waves and use them to guide yourself out if you needed to, which I thought was a great safety feature.


The slides were also very popular with all of us and were great fun. It was lovely to be able to race down them with my children and make a big splash at the end. There was also a bubble spa area where you could relax on hidden loungers, which we also really enjoyed.


We loved The Dome so much that we actually ended up visiting every single day. On one evening during our stay there was a fantastic pool party that took place in darkness with a DJ and disco lights that lit up the whole building. It was a fantastic atmosphere and everyone was dancing away, including the staff. The pool party was one of our favourite evenings during the holiday and I am sure it will be a memory that my children will talk about for quite some time.

The weather was very hit and miss during our stay so The Dome proved to be essential for us, however if you prefer the great outdoors, then there are also a variety of other pools available to enjoy. These can be found at the Aquaparc which is a short distance from the dome, or alternatively there is an outdoor pool adjacent to The Club House and another at the Hotel which park guests are also welcome to use.


Activities

There are so many activities available to enjoy at Domaine Des Ormes including some that are completely free of charge such as The Pyracord, Aquafit, Football, Slip and Slide, Swimming and Fishing to name just a few.

In addition to the free options, there is also a wide variety of paid for activities, which are all offered at very reasonable prices. Emma and Ben absolutely loved the Zip Wire which cost only 6 euros for two goes. I thought that this was great value for money considering that all equipment is included and training is also provided to ensure guest safety, prior to using the wire. The Zip Wire travels past The Pyracord and over the large grass area, before heading over the pedal boat lake. Ben was a little nervous at first due to his fear of heights, but he absolutely loved it and couldn't wait to have another go.




Although Riley was old enough to take part in the Zip Wire, he decided to give it a miss and opted to go for a pony ride instead. He absolutely adores animals and he was so excited about seeing the ponies at the stables and going for a ride. This activity cost 10 euros for half an hour and there is no staff instruction, so you have to be comfortable at leading your child around a designated track by yourself. For older children aged 12+ you can also go horse riding with an instructor for an increased cost of 21 euros for an hour.


Riley was so happy riding his pony and he literally didn't stop smiling the whole time. The walk was well laid out and easy to follow so there was no risk of getting lost. Our pony was good as gold and we gave him lots of cuddles whilst on our ride. It was such a lovely moment seeing him so happy and he is now keen to start horse riding lessons at home.


Ben's favourite activity throughout the week was fishing and we spent a lot of time at the fishing lake near to the golf course. This was a beautiful and well maintained area, which was surrounded by tree houses and a huge lawned area where we could play with the stunning chateau in the background. There is no licence required for guests to fish on the lake, so as we had brought all our own equipment with us, this made it a completely free activity for us to enjoy. We were also regularly joined by a family of beavers, who would come right up on the bank to say hello, which Riley thought was amazing.



Other activities included a climbing wall, a high ropes course, archery, wakeboarding, golf, archery tag, crazy golf, gyrotrainning, paintball, tennis, pedalo hire, an escape room and a variety of different sports.


If you really wanted to treat yourself, then we also noticed the opportunity to go on a half hour helicopter ride, which looked incredible and we would often see the helicopter taking off and soaring through the sky. This costs 100 euros per person and requires a minimum of three people to take place. We have decided that if we do return next year, then we are going to save and treat ourselves to a special helicopter tour of the area.


Kids Club

Al Fresco and Eurocamp both work together to provide an excellent kids club, which is also completely free of charge to attend for their guests. Each club is split into different age groups with a huge variety of activities available.

We viewed the schedule of activities in the main reception and then went to the kids club tents to obtain some registration forms. These allow you to fill in your child's details, note down any medical needs or allergies and also provide consent for photographs and parent pick up. If they are in the older group then you can also give your permission for your child to sign themselves in and out which I did for my eldest daughter Emma who is 12.

Riley can be extremely shy, so although he wanted to try kids club he was very nervous about being left on his own. I explained this to the member of staff and she showed me to a picnic bench outside where she said I could wait if I wanted to, so that Riley could see that I was still there. This really helped to encourage Riley to join in and he very quickly made friends with some of the other children.

It was great to have a Kids Club available for my children to use and a fantastic way for them to make some new friends. Riley particularly enjoyed the Bubble Workshop and loved creating and popping all of the bubbles.


Food and Drink

A major benefit of the Al Fresco mobile homes is that they contain all the equipment that you need to prepare meals and self cater. We brought a lot of food cupboard basics with us such as tins, pasta, sauces and drinks and then bought some fresh items from the on-site Spar shop. There was also several large supermarkets all within a reasonable driving distance, but we had no need to use these during our stay.

When on holiday though it is nice to be able to treat yourselves and enjoy a good meal out together. Domaine Des Ormes offers numerous restaurant options ranging from a Creperie to a Pizzeria. We used the pizzeria and takeaway a couple of times during our stay and found the prices to be reasonable for resort restaurants.



My children particularly liked the Pink Cabin which served a huge selection of ice creams, waffles and pancakes on a daily basis between 2:30pm to 11pm. I initially thought that 2.50 euros for one scoop was expensive, but just look at the size of them! I am reliably informed by my family that they were absolutely delicious too. Unfortunately the Pink Cabin is only seasonal though and according to the Les Ormes app it is open between the 6th July to the 31st August.


The Club House offer a fantastic menu of French brasserie style cuisine and it is open all year round. The Bar is open everyday from 8am til 9pm and the restaurant is open between 11:30am til 3pm for lunch and from 7pm til 9pm for dinner. The menu features a selection of salads, sharing plates, pasta dishes and popular mains such as Grilled Rib Steak and Chicken Casserole. A kids meal deal was also available at a cost of 8 euros and included a main, dessert and drink which I thought was good value.

A snacking service is also available throughout the day and when the weather is nice, you can enjoy your food on the outside terrace which overlooks the beautiful chateau. Another restaurant was Pizzeria Chez Madeleine which offered views of the outdoor Aquaparc or the shows in the evening. They sold a great range of pizzas, salads, pastas and desserts and just like The Club House, they also offered a children's meal deal of a main, dessert and drink for a slightly higher price of 9.50 euros.

As we had taken a large amount of food out with us, we mainly self catered and also made use of the outdoor BBQ, however we did use the pizzeria and takeaway at Chez Madeleine on a couple of occasions and the food was delicious and plentiful.


Entertainment

Our experience with the entertainment was somewhat affected by the weather during our stay. Domaine Des Ormes has a superb schedule of shows, but the majority of these take place outdoors so sadly several shows were understandably cancelled. We had heard fantastic reviews about a light and sound experience which takes place on the outer walls of the chateau and is preceded by a large picnic party. This is where guests can gather and enjoy a huge picnic together, but a large thundery shower a few hours earlier led to this not going ahead. All was not lost though, as it was replaced with a pool party inside The Dome which we all really enjoyed.


We did manage to watch a couple of the shows though, the first being the Big Show Superhero which saw the likes of Batman, Ironman, Spiderman and The Joker all battle it out around the Aquaparc. It was fantastic and was a much higher standard that what I had expected. This was followed by a firework display, which again was superb and a lovely way to end an evening.

Riley really enjoyed the Kids Disco where the entertainment staff would teach children the dance moves to some popular party favourites. There was also the opportunity to meet the Les Ormes mascot at the end of the disco, which he was very happy about. As Riley is so shy, his older brother Ben always joins him to help offer encouragement and reassurance which is lovely to see.

Other entertainment that was available throughout our stay was a children's mini disco, karaoke, an ABBA night and an 80's night in Bar Du Moulin.


Local Attractions

We had initially planned to spend a couple of days off site visiting some local attractions, but my children were so happy making the most of all the facilities that were available, that we actually ended up staying on the park throughout the whole week.

However, there is plenty to see and do in the local area and some of the nearby towns and attractions looked fantastic. The reception area has plenty of information on everything that there is to do, as well as having plenty of leaflets available on places to visit.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mont Saint-Michel is only a 40 minute drive away and you can park all day for 13 euros, which includes a shuttle service to take you across the bay. At the top of the village streets there stands a stunning abbey, which I am sure offers some incredible views.

If you would like a trip to the beach, then the seaside city of Dinard is also a 40 minute drive and offers great views of the bay. A few kilometres past Dinard is Plage de Longchamp in Saint-Lunaire which offers a great spot for some surfing.

Family attractions such as Alligator Bay near Mont St-Michel and The Grand Aquarium in Saint Malo are also great options for day trips. We drove past The Grand Aquarium on our way back to the port and it looked absolutely huge!

Our Journey Home

We were all so sad when it came to leaving Domaine Des Ormes as the week had quite literally flown by. We left the site just after 8am, so our Al Fresco representative came to check us out the night before and to return our cleaning deposit which meant that we didn't need to worry about waiting around in the morning.

The journey back to the port was really straightforward and we hardly came across any traffic on the way, making it a nice and pleasant drive. On arrival in the port the process was just as quick and easy as when we had arrived and was simply just a case of providing our reservation number and passports, before being guided into our queue line ready to board the ferry.

As this was a daytime crossing we had no cabin booked, which in hindsight I wish we had done, just so we had somewhere private to go and relax and charge our phones in between the daytime entertainment. The journey crossing was due to take around 8 hours and with daytime cabins only costing around £26 for a four berth, then I would definitely book one of these in the future.

We certainly felt the crossing a little more on the return journey and it did get our tummy's turning at times. Riley also suffered with some dizziness, so we did our best to distract him as much as we could with the onboard entertainment. We enjoyed a full cooked breakfast shortly after departure, where the kids were each provided with a goody bag and we then heard an announcement to tell us that there was a cinema on board and tickets were available to purchase.

I went to the reception and was delighted to see that they were showing Toy Story 4, so we booked tickets for the 12:30pm show. This cost us £25 for a family of five, so it was also far cheaper than if we went to a normal local cinema. Riley didn't complain once during this so I think that having something to concentrate on definitely helped him on the journey.

Straight after the film the entertainment staff put on a fantastic pantomime of Peter Pan, so again this kept the kids busy for another couple of hours and made the time pass far more quickly. There was even the opportunity to have your picture taken with the cast after the show.


Our Al Fresco Holidays Experience

Overall we had a fantastic time at Domaine Des Ormes and we are already looking at booking to return next Easter. We loved the huge variety of activities that were available, which meant that we could have a relaxing day just fishing and sunbathing by the lake, whilst the next day could be completely action packed with high ropes, horse riding, swimming and watersports.

The Al Fresco Holidays experience was superb as usual from start to finish and if we ever went to the main reception with any questions, we could always find a representative to speak to. Prior to our holiday I also spoke with several chat representatives online to ask various questions and every advisor that I spoke to was polite, courteous and offered great customer service.

Our accommodation was spacious and comfortable and we particularly enjoyed the outdoor seating which gave us a lovely place to relax in the evening. I felt that the mobile homes were nicely spaced out which also gave you some privacy without feeling overlooked.

If you are therefore looking for a holiday park that offers plenty of activities amongst beautiful countryside surroundings, then I would definitely recommend Domaine Des Ormes!

For further information on Al Fresco Holidays, you can visit their website or social media pages on the following channels:

Website - www.alfresco-holidays.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/alfrescoholidays
Twitter - @AlFrescoHols
Instagram - @alfresco_hols
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/AlfrescoALF

There are currently some fantastic offers available on 2020 holidays, so be sure to check out their deals and availability here - https://www.alfresco-holidays.com/deals-offers-inspiration/2020-holidays


*Disclaimer: This was a press trip, which means that we were provided with complimentary accommodation and ferry travel for the purpose of writing an honest review of our experience. Food, drinks, activities and other associated travel costs were all at our own expense. Opinions and photographs are my own unless otherwise stated. This post contains affiliate links.