Holiday Extras Manchester Hotel Airport Stay

Prior to our family stay in Amsterdam and thanks to Holiday Extras we were given the opportunity to stop in a Mecure Bowden Hotel near to Manchester airport from where we were flying.

The hotel was part of the Mecure chain of hotel and they're a very fine chain of hotel , the Manchester hotel whilst being under the Mercure banner wasn't quite up to the usual Mecure standard. This hotel is a 3 star ,We were placed in the basement and the room itself was a little dark and didn't have a good outlook ~ we looked out into the car park. I didn't get the opportunity to look st any of the other rooms , I'd preferred not to have been in the basement Having said that the hotel itself was in a ideal location being in Hale and whilst we could of had simple delicious bar meals in the hotel itself we however decided to wander out. And we glad we did as Hale is a rather lively and pleasant little town hamlet with a quintessential village feel.

The hotel has many facilities it has 87 air conditioned rooms which are complete with flatscreen televisions , hair dryer,trouser press,free wifi , complimentary tea ~ coffee making facilities . An added bonus is that guests are able to make free use of the leisure facilities before for unwinding before your flight. The hotel staff were very attentive and were very friendly and check in was swift and efficient. The cost for the hotel stay and a week in the long stay car park comes in at about £86 . 

We decided to eat at a pizza chain restaurant where we found the staff attentive and pleasant , after a hearty meal we strolled back. We had a good night sleep as the beds were comfortable, the wifi was a little sketchy being in the basement but it's a small quibble. The hotel I must stress is very convenient indeed for Manchester airport.

The parking at Manchester airport was quick and easy with where we needed to be easily sigh posted . And we had the security of knowing that the car would be looked after very well . I wouldn't hesitate in recommending Holiday Extras for your airport hotel and parking needs. One day I'd really like to go for one of those meet and greets just so I can feel like a VIP as we roll up in our new car !

Amsterdam For Teenagers

I Amsterdam sign.

Amsterdam has its cultural side to and is not too much over an eyebrow raised or overload for teenagers too , teenagers can perhaps get a little over awed as can anyone when going round museums but plan your day right then your trip need not be a problem. And you'll enjoy Amsterdam as a family together with not a grumpy teenager in sight or sound .

Bicycles and Canals in Amsterdam.

1. Anne Frank Museum

No visit to Amsterdam is complete without a visit to Anne Frank's House . Anne documented her experience of life in hiding from the annex of this house during the Nazi occupation. The location of the Jewish Frank family hiding place during WWII. Teenage Anne documented her experience from the annex of this Amsterdam house, over 1 million people visit this museum each year so booking before you come is highly recommend . We visited early in the morning and before hand visited the little cafe down some steps to the left of the building for a continental breakfast coffee and hot chocolate. Online booking us easy and really not expensive at all but be prepared to keep looking as the tickets get snapped up quickly . I recommend that you keep looking each day till you see the tickets as it seems the tickets are released in batches , and an early morning sets you up for the rest of the day in Amsterdam.

A typical continental breakfast.

Coffee in Amsterdam.

2. Canal Cruise

The iconic Amsterdam canals are suitable for all ages not just teenagers. The magnificence beauty of the iconic buildings and canals will enthrall any teen. There are many canal trips available out there and you can getbamboozled by all the choice out there , we took advantage of an offer we saw while having breakfast to the left of Anne Frank's house which was 14 Euros for an hour and a half tour , which I thought was quite reasonable. There is a 100 km of canals which to explore which you can either explore on a tour or on one of the hop on hop off canal boats. Characteristically the Amsterdam canals are lined with tall, thin skinny buildings that do have a rather unnerving lean but this is to allow the building to remain undamaged when items are hoisted up and down via the hooks you'll see on buildings. It is fascinating to see the mix of accommodation along the hotel from the house boat accommodation of the 1960s and 1970s to the posh hotels that the likes of pop stars and royalty , politicians stay at.

A relaxing Amsterdam Canal cruise.

No problem if it rains as the canal boots have retractable roofs!

The beautiful tall buildings of Amsterdam.

Canal cruises are relaxing after a lot of walking in Amsterdam!

3. Bicycling

The bicycle of Amsterdam are iconic and they definitely seem to outnumber people , I think that Amsterdam is the bicycling capital of the world 

Bicycles there are more Bicycles than people in Amsterdam !

4. Van Gogh museum is evidence that my teenager does actually pay attention probably more than I do , the museum has a light and airy feel to it which the whole family will love. I was wondering at the museum why the sunflower painting was here as I thought it was else where in the world so how could it possibly be here ? Seems there that Van Gogh painted 5 versions of this so it pays to read the information labels .

5. Museumplein The museum is in an area called museumplein it's a beautiful open area in a city that is short on green space , it is the pinnacle of sophistication and it is 19th century. To the south of museumplein is Vonderpark . It is here in Museum square that will you will find the iconic "I Amsterdam " letters along with everyone else who is looking for them and subsequently finds them ! They are defiantly a must on your photographic click about Amsterdam though if you want to get there and actually see all the letters tourist free then I suggest you go early in the morning and I mean early !

Museumplein is selfie central in Amsterdam!

Have a Jellytastic Picnic and Lunchbox Treat

I love Jelly and it's the perfect picnic treat and lunchbox friend. A healthy lunchbox is must and obviously well balanced and there is so much you can out in it.

Healthy doesn't have to mean boring though there are plenty of foods that you can add to a lunch box /picnic that will add colour and interest as well as importantly being tasty.

Hartley’s Jelly Pots unite the family as everyone who is everyone loves a wibnky wobbly jelly !

Jelly to me screams party fun !!

Jelly Pots are the perfect size for children’s lunchboxes, providing convenience and a wide range of flavours to keep the youngsters ( ps adults as well  ) happy.

Hartley’s are offering consumers of their jellies the chance to collect 12 special edition green lids from across the No Added Sugar Jelly Pots (115g), to claim a free Hartley’s lunchbox and stickers.

Perfect for those adventures and we all know the best adventures end in a jolly picnic !

Healthy bites 

What about some healthy breakfast cookies to take in your lunchbox along side your jelly ?

Also you can pop in healthy bits of fruit ( make sure they're cut up , age dependant on child )

Carrots and hummus ~ is a dipping delight !

Cheese and ham wrap 

Mini pasta pot 

And of course a Hartley's Jelly !!

Kids will love an input into helping with their pack lunches be it from decorating their lunchbox with stickers to helping decide what goes into their pack lunch , who knows they might even make your pack lunch too !!

*This post is an entry for BritMums #HartleysYourLunchbox Linky Challenge, sponsored by Hartley’s Jelly

Salted Herby Chicken

This is a very easy dish to make and brilliant whatever the weather , and it was very welcome after constantly eating out in Amsterdam ; very nice to come home and eat homely food.

Ingredients 

Chicken mine was a 1.4 kg so cooking was around 1 hour 20 plus resting 

4 teaspoons of natural sea salt

Grind of black pepper

And the rest of the herbs make half a tea soon each.

Mixed herbs 

Thyme

Oregano 

Mint 

Marjoram 

Parsley 

New potatoes cut in 2 ( enough for how ever many people are having this )

Rapeseed oil,spray 

Method 

Preheat the oven to 190c

Blend the salt , black pepper and herbs together 

Place the chicken in an oven roasting dish

Spray with the Rapeseed oil spray 

Sprinkle the salt and herb mixture over the chicken 

Cook chicken for 1 hour 20 minutes but do follow the instructions for the weight of chicken you have.

20 minutes into cooking boil the new potatoes for 10 minutes then drain and place round the chicken , spraying the potatoes with the Rapeseed oil spray.

Checked after the allotted time that everything is cooked .

If you like whilst the chicken is resting you could roast your potatoes further.

Served with vegetables of your choice.

Ever Wish You Had An Exotic Name ?

Have you ever wished you had an exotic name ?

When faced with an airport delay at schipol airport I decided to amuse myself with people watching although not quite the setting of a Parsian cafe still entertaining nontheless.

Various people came and went , I sat there imagining their lives , listening to the myriad of languages being spoken . So very truely cosmopolitan is the world of travel .

Imagine my excitement at Starbucks when they got my name right ...

"Claire "

I felt like a jet set celebrity with everyone knowing who I was ! 

And there came over the airport tannoy a request for a lady called Julietta to go to the gate for her flight to Rome.

Awwh Julietta is your life as glamorous as the tannoy made it sound ?