Tin Box family on roof bar terrace Camping Eden - Lake Garda with Al Fresco Holidays

Family travel blog resources for clued up travellers

Looking for pro tips and resources to make travel with kids simpler? This page is stuffed full of goodies from across my UK family travel blog to inspire and point you the direction of things we love or have made life easier for us.

In case this is the first time you’ve landed on Tin Box Traveller, hi! My name is Claire and I’m a mum to two girls and wife to a Royal Navy officer. You can find out more about each of us plus our gorgeous pooch on my about us page.

But in summary, we are from Devon in the UK. We love holidays in the UK and Europe, and are thrilled to have had the chance to explore further while living in the Middle East between 2022 and 2025.

Add to that plenty of outdoor fun and day trips, and we don’t sit still for long.

Our family swimming in the Three Peach area around Cat Ba island in Vietnam

So what’s this page all about? Essentially, it’s a round up of all my family travel blog best bits.

If you’re up for regular travel inspiration, tips and recommendations then you can sign up to my newsletter.

The hottest tips from this UK family travel blog

Packing lists

Clothes for a 15 night Caribbean clothes laid out on bed

Love it or loath it, packing is an essential element of any family holiday. But what should you have on your travel checklist for different types of holidays and destinations? Here’s some of the handy travel checklists you’ll find on the blog:

There’s even more packing lists in my ultimate travel checklist for family holidays.

Family travel tips

We’ve got plenty of tips for travel with kids. Here are some of our top posts:

For even more tips read my post for smashing travel with kids!

Gear for travel with kids

VW T5 with camping kit beside it

When we became parents we found all the advice about what you really need to buy for babies and toddlers a bit overwhelming. Here’s some of the travel gear that we’ve tried and tested, and found most helpful:

Paddle boarding with kids

Child stand up paddle boarding on River Dart

If you fancy having a go at paddle boarding with kids we can highly recommend it. Here’s some tips and paddle board reviews you will find useful:

Caravanning and camping with kids

Children sat at table outside caravan toasting marshmallows on small burner

So many of our mini-breaks and family holidays have been spent on campsites or in a caravan. Here’s some top tips if you’ve got the camping and caravanning bug:

Camper vans with kids

Girl looking out lot front window of camper van pop top

We bough our first camper van (well, it’s actually a day van) in 2019. Here’s our posts about what we’ve learnt and things we have tried while camper-vanning with kids:

Family-friendly campsites UK

Child reading a book cross legged on a sleeping bag in tent

Camping is a brilliant budget travel option for families. Here’s some of the family-friendly campsites we’ve been to in the UK, including campsites with swimming pools, hot tubs, clubhouses and glamping:

You might also like my guides to: glamping in Devon | self-catering accommodation in Cornwall | holiday parks in Cornwall | touring campsites in Cornwall

Family-friendly hotels UK

Family cuddled on hotel bed

If you prefer the comfort of a hotel and are looking for one that doesn’t just tolerate families but welcomes them, here’s some excellent family-friendly hotels in the UK:

Family-friendly cottages and apartments UK

Children running in garden outside cottage
Well Furlong Cottage

We love the freedom of self-catering holidays and can recommend these family-friendly cottages, lodges and apartments in the UK:

Family holiday resorts and holiday parks UK

View of campsite at Perran Sands Holiday Park

More excellent self-catering options for families include holiday parks in the UK. Here’s some we can recommend with swimming pools, kids clubs, evening entertainment and family activities:

Check out our full guide to holiday parks in Cornwall.

Dog-friendly holidays UK

Tin Box Traveller family at Western Meadows Glamping - Dog-friendly glamping in Cornwall

A family holiday doesn’t feel complete without Tin Box Dog.

Here’s some of her recommended dog-friendly places to holiday in the UK:

Why not also take a look at these dog-friendly days out in the UK.

Accessible and wheelchair friendly days out

If you are looking for a day out that the whole family can enjoy then accessibility may be on your mind. Whether you are visiting an attraction with a disabled child or relative, read this round up of the most accessible and wheelchair friendly days out in the UK.

Cruising with kids

Mum and daughter sat on bed looking out of cruise cabin window

If you love a bit of vitamin sea then a family cruise is a brilliant way to introduce your children to a variety of destinations. Explore multiple ports and countries in one holiday while enjoying incredible onboard facilities, food and experiences.

Here’s a selection of our cruise holiday and ship reviews along with tips for planning a brilliant trip:

You can read more tips, destination guides and cruise line reviews the family travel blog Cruising With Kids where I also write.

More cruise blogs

Claire at view point overlooking harbour in St Lucia

We have also cruised without the kids. Here’s a selection of my post from our Eastern Caribbean cruise, including excursions, tips and destination guides:

Family-friendly campsites Europe

View across top pool at Norcenni Girasole Club

In the past few years our family travel blog has been lucky to partner with Al Fresco Holidays for a couple of camping holidays in Europe. Here’s our reviews of campsites in Italy and France:

Family-friendly holidays: UK

Girls stood on steps in front of Plemont Beach in Jersey

Love a UK staycation? Here’s our guides to some top UK staycation destinations for family holidays:

Find more days out in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in my big round up of 101 UK attractions for families.

Destination guides: Africa

Mr Tin Box with his daughters outside Rameses II's temple at Abu Simbel

Moving to Oman gave us the opportunity start venturing further afield. One of our first holidays beyond Europe from here was to Egypt.

Here’s my posts from this diverse melting pot of a continent:

Destination guides: Asia

Family pose with Sigiriya rock in background at sunrise

Another part of the world that became more accessible to use while living in the Middle East is Asia. Our first trip here as a family was to Sri Lanka in 2023. In 2024 we visited Vietnam and then in 2025 we explored Malaysia and Thailand.

Here’s some posts about our itineraries, activities and the places we stayed:

Destination guides: Caribbean

Claire and Mr Tin Box in Caves on Virgin Gorda

To celebrate my 40th birthday Mr Tin Box and I booked a Caribbean cruise. Here’s some posts from this wonderful escape:

Destination guides: Europe

Mountain flowers at Aptera - things to do in Chania, Crete with kids

Here’s some of my top destination guides from our European adventures:

Destination guides: France

Les Chevaliers de la Table Ronde show at Puy du Fou - tips for visiting with kids
Puy du Fou

Here’s some of our favourite spots in France:

Destination guides: Italy

The Grand Hotel in Gardone Riviera on the shore of Lake Garda

We can’t get enough of Italy. Here’s some of the destinations we’ve been lucky enough to visit in the past few years:

Destination guides: Middle East

Claire, daughter and dog at on orange dunes during sunset at Wahiba Sands in Oman

We spent two and a half years living in Oman and I’ve set up a new website called Oman Wanderlust all about our adventures here.

Here’s more of my guides to family travel in the Middle East:

Destination guides: Spain

View of Sant Cugat from bell tower at Sant Cugat Monastery - Costa Barcelona with kids

Spain is a top choice for family holidays. Here’s some destinations we can recommend for family trips:

Gift guides for travellers

Photo gifts under Christmas tree

Wondering what to get the adventurer in your life. These gift guides will help:

Follow our family travel blog

If you’d like more hints, tips and snap shots from our UK family travel blog then why not follow us on social media? You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube and LinkedIn.

Want more ideas for family holidays and days out? Read my tips for smashing family travel and sign up for my newsletter.