on a half board basis, including transfers and return ; ights with Air Mauritius from London Heathrow. Offer valid for travel 8 Jan - 31 Mar 2010. To book please visit: www.mauritiusconnection.com Tel: 01244 355 475 Travel Sense Alice Grif0 n makes sense of where to go, useful products, and helpful services to enjoy winter sun!<br><br> WINTER SUN! As I type this I am looking out of my window to December snow that covers my garden in a thick white carpet and dusts the roofs of stone cottages whose chimneys are working overtime to push out big puffs of + rewood heat. I can 9t deny that this image is unmistakably chocolate-box pretty, and this morning when my two-year-old daughter was so beside herself with excitement she decided to venture out in her PJs, robe, hat, scarf and wellies, it was magical.<br><br> But, after our walk into town to see everything looking Christmassy and jumping around for an hour playing 8catch the snowball 9 with our dog, our toes became numb and the novelty began to wear off. Home for hot cocoa we came. Don 9t get me wrong, I love a good dusting of snow like the next person, but when the pretty white , uffy stuff turns to slush and the grey days begin to merge into one long drizzly winter, I can tell you now that by the time February rolls around I 9m ready for some sun on my face.<br><br> I 9m therefore hoping that this month 9s Travel Sense is going to offer you the perfect remedy for your own winter blues! I have lined up a few destinations closer to home if you are simply in search of a slightly warmer temperature and maybe a stroll on the beach in jeans and a sweatshirt, as well as a further-a+ eld destination for those of you who need a bit more umph in your winter sun. In addition I 9ve thrown a few useful items into the mix to ensure your winter sun break goes without a hitch!<br><br> Kids Travel Packs When travelling by plane it can be dif4 cult with a small child who is not particularly interested in sitting still and becomes bored easily. These travel bags are 4 lled with lots of activities and fun things to keep little hands and minds occupied, but don 9t spoil the surprise by giving them out prior to travelling! RRP: Girls and boys packs start at £7.99 Age: 3+ www.kidstravelpacks.co.uk Miamoo Baby Range Miamoo is the brainchild of BBC TV personality, Saira Khan.<br><br> Favoured by celebrities such as Charlotte Church and Nell MacAndrew, all the products are over 97% natural, perfect for delicate skin. This Travel Goodies set is ideal for holidays if you don 9t want to be weighed down with full size products, or need to take them in your hand luggage. Contains: fresh locks shampoo, huggy lotion, splashy wash, cuddle cream, cheeky cream, nana night cream and baba oil.<br><br> RRP: £20.00 www.miamoo.co.uk 61 HOLIDAY NANNIES If you would prefer to take the stress out of your holiday altogether then you might consider a Holiday Nanny. Imagine what a luxury it would be to have an extra pair of hands on-call throughout your break 3 all the bene4 ts of travelling with your children, without the drama! Try: www.holidaynanny.org.<br><br> Great Deals on Short-haul Flights If you are simply looking for somewhere a little brighter and warmer than the UK you really don 9t need to go far. Why not take a quick 9 ight with Aer Lingus to one of their winter sun destinations, all of which have many fabulous family-friendly accommodation and activity options available: Malaga Daily 9 ights from London Gatwick to Malaga with one-way fares starting from £34.99 including taxes and charges. Faro Daily 9 ights from London Gatwick to Faro with one-way fares starting from £29.99 including taxes and charges.<br><br> Nice From 28th March there will be daily 9 ights from London Gatwick to Nice with one-way fares starting from £29.99 including taxes. Aer Lingus were recently awarded cMost Recommended Airline for Travelling with Babies d at the Holiday Extras Customers 9 Awards. They provide pre-assigned seating on all 9 ights and allow families travelling with infants and young children the option to pre-board the aircraft for added convenience.<br><br> A collapsible buggy/stroller is included free of charge on all bookings for infants. www.aerlingus.com Cushie Traveler by Bebelephant Oh how I wish I had one of these when I 7 rst started potty- training my daughter! This wonderful little invention can be folded up, stored in a small washable drawstring bag and popped into your hand luggage for long or short journeys.<br><br> A home-from-home loo and no more aching arms from holding your child over the toilet! RRP: £12.99. Code: B3583.<br><br> www. jojomamanbebe.co.uk. TALES FROM A TRAVELLING MUM: NAVIGATING EUROPE WITH A BABE-IN-ARMS by Alice Grif4 n I hope you don 9t think it presumptuous of me to plug my own book on these here pages, but my hope is that if you are planning an adventure, big or small, my book might just give you a little inspiration and insight.<br><br> Tales from a Travelling Mum is the personal story of the travels I embarked on with my family to Norway, Greece, France and Spain during the 4 rst two years of my daughter 9s life. Although essentially it is a travelogue, running throughout the book you will 4 nd advice related to feeding, sleeping, playing and pacifying a baby or toddler on the plane, boat, train, bus, as well as in the car. Hopefully this makes the book both an interesting and practical read for new parents looking to travel with their own children.<br><br> You can expect to read about boat trips in Norway, hay-making in rural France, navigating Athens with a buggy, daily life in a small village in the Spanish mountains and a life-changing road trip, as well as stories from fellow travelling mums, both near and far. My hope is that this, my 4 rst book, highlights the fact that travel need not stop when love and babies come along, and can be adapted to suit your dreams as well as your budget! RRP: £9.99.<br><br> Available on Amazon. Find out more: www.alicegrif4 n.co.uk/book. <br><br>

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