10 'meh' places I've traveled to...

By 'meh' I mean places that didn't grab me, I didn't enjoy, didn't live up to expectations... If I went again, I might think differently. My experience, my story - not factual.

I wanted to come up with 10, but couldn't. I am appreciative of all the places that I have been, and can always find some positives, but here goes.

1. Karon, Phuket - found the staff at the hotel and restaurants to be not very helpful, got stuck up a mountain for five hours with a baby and toddler due to a tsunami warning (absolutely not Phuket's fault), itchy sea water, not much shopping but concrete city feel. Wouldn't rush back - but rather go to the outer lying areas of Phuket or a different part of Thailand.

2. Tuban, Bali - grey sand, right near the airport... you get the idea.

3. Venice - WHAT? You say. Well, the experience I had there of dark and grey waterways left me somewhat 'is that all?' I also got lost one day and had to walk a very long way back to the cruise liner I worked on. We also picked a lousy restaurant to eat at. I'd give Venice another go, though. 

4. Nadi, Fiji - I'd stay a night if I have to, to get to where I want to go. Although I did find the market interesting to meet locals, there wasn't much else here for me. Let me know if I missed something. 

5. Kuta/Legian, Bali - seems like I'm dogging down on Bali, but I'm not. Just getting fussy. I call this area concrete city with bogans. Lots of hawkers (that I can handle), tourists walking around with a beer in hand first thing in the morning, tourists being crude, tourists being rude...

6. Cruise ship ports - although I've never been a tourist on a cruise ship, I have worked on one. It sounds dreamy, cruising the Greek Islands through Croatia from Venice. But, the reality of being in port with thousands of others for a short amount of time is far from idyllic. If I got off the ship, I would always head in the complete opposite direction to the guests. I like to discover the different things and not be in a crowd of tourists. 

7. Surfers Paradise, Australia - ok, so I have never stayed here, but I did venture through here while holidaying a few suburbs south. It's too built up, too commercialised for me. 

Where is your 'meh' place?

Holidaying without your kids… you have to.

We are back from Lombok. What a great place, and what an awesome holiday. (I particularly love South Lombok, but more on that later.) 

After six years of travelling with a baby and toddler, and in the last couple of years, toddler and child - this was a real holiday. Not just 'travel and experience' as I like to call going away with kids. Or, 'same shit, different place, and hard work. But hey, it was worth it, I got to explore somewhere else'.

There was nothing hard about this trip, except for the overnight flight home with a packet of Gastro-Stop handy. 

My lessons learned why every couple should have a holiday without their lovely treasures? Read on.

1. You actually have time to get bored while waiting for your flight to leave. Especially if one of the crew on your departing flight can't get through customs due to her passport not being accepted. You now have an extra hour to wait for a call-in crew member to arrive.

Hint: if you can't log on to Adelaide Airport wi-fi in the Departure Lounge, stand by the Business Hub, and then log in. Ta da!

2. Happy Hours are actually happy hours - not whinging, 'quick, let's grab some food and go back to the room' hours. Enjoy watching the sunset with a mojito (or Bintang) or two, then meander off to any restaurant that takes your fancy (rather than checking each menu for child friendly options first). You can savour the food and experience too, rather than gulping it down as quick as you can - there are no children to throw embarrassing tantrums in the middle of the restaurant to worry about. Well, not yours anyway.

3. Throw some caution to the wind and hire a scooter for touring. You don't have to think about how to anchor child seats, or if the car will have seat belts. Be free and feel the wind on your face. Southern Lombok is perfect for getting around on a bike - minimal traffic (motorised and the animal kind) and have decent roads at times. Go like the expats and locals do.

4. Get hubby up and start the day with an hour and half of yoga, overlooking the beach. Bliss. Even for people that have never tried yoga. Hubby has never done it, and raved about it. The lap (or thunder, in our case) of waves, the sea air breezing over your body, a well trained teacher… Peace - parents, do you remember what that is?

5. Get a local child to take a pic of you together. Don't worry about focus, getting your heads in the frame is the only idea to strive for. You get the experience and the fuzzy visual memory. And the kids love it.

We had little pups trying to nibble at our feet in this pic of us at Mawun Beach (absolutely stunning with only half a dozen people scattered on the white arc of sand).

6. We are in the era of technology - so if either party misses each other, Skype is the answer. We Skyped our kids daily, and video Skyped them once too. But when we heard our daughter hid under the bed for ten minutes after seeing us, we decided video was finished.

Not sure if this Skype thing benefited us, or them, as we were the only ones eager to talk. :)

Final thoughts...

I'd like to make sure we go away once a year, for some time to do what we want. It felt like we were young again, with no pressures or responsibilites. We could do what we want, when we want - or nothing at all. Some days we lazed the day away reading and browsing the iPads on our beach front patio. Other days we explored near deserted beaches, one after the other. And one special day, I went to the Spa for four hours. Namaste.

What are your thoughts and experiences?

Getting ready to go away without the kids… a checklist.

Octopus Resort, Waya Island, Fiji

Belle is 5, Ashton is 3. They have been to Bali twice, Thailand once, to various places around Australia and now the time has come… for them to stay home. And we are off to Lombok. Shh.

Belle has just started school, which makes it harder to leave. I'm so thankful she is loving it. It would be hard going if she didn't. And Ashton, well, I'm not sure he quite understands what's happening soon.

How do I feel about going without them? I have a strange lump in my chest as I write. It's a lump of both excitement, and a lump of anxiety. So many questions rattle around in my head. 'Will they be ok, what if something happens, will I be ok, what if it damages them emotionally? What will I do if they cry on the phone to me, wanting me home?' Eek. So many horrid voices.

I should just relax and let it the other voices trump. 'It will be good for them. It's going to be awesome. You will love it. Think of the freedom, relaxation, swimming, surfing, reading, un-rushed dinners, nights out.. Time with Ben to talk without interupptions, and actually enjoy eachothers company.' Wow. That feels better.

It's weird packing and organising for just two. We've booked our flights, hotels, and been to the travel doctor. Poor bud Ashton was the only one needing a jab for Hep B - and he's not even going anywhere!

Here's our altered 'parent only holiday' checklist, it's in some ways harder than organising a family holiday. I'm sure the benefits will be worthwhile.

1. Organise people to look after kids, pick them up from school/day care, and keep them alive.

2. Leave Mums a list of how to's/what to's/schedules etc.

3. Organise Skype or other form of contact to home

4. Get reading material together for those lazy arvos poolside or beachfront

5. Research things to do - because you can without child limits!

6. Get an International Drivers Licence - mopeds have just come back on the scene for freedom exploring.

7. Pack some nice clothes because we may actually get to go out somewhere nice, and stay for longer than 30 minutes. You know, enjoy dinner, rather than gulping it down before the kids start getting crazy.

8. Get ready to have one hand free… just one suitcase!

9. Get to the airport in time to enjoy a quiet drink before departure without having to hang out at the playground. 

10. Practice hiding the pity faces when looking at parents travelling with their kids.

What have I forgotten my dear seasoned non-parent travellers? I seem to know how to pack for work trips or family trips… but think I'm missing something.

Dear Hotel, give us what we really need... Please.

* I am not talking about the Hotel in this piccie, I'm talking generally...

Just wanted to say that I really love the ambient lighting, funky fit out and the long room service list, but...

Can I please have curtains that close all the way? I love the view sometimes, but not when I'm trying to sleep in (on the odd occassion that I can).

Could you please have spare phone and laptop charges for loan? So many times I forget one of these, and have to run down to the shops to buy a new one.

Can you put something healthy on the room service menu? When you travel frequently, fresh vegetables and plain food can be the ultimate meal.

Conference rooms. Can we please have them warmer so we don't shiver to death? It's probably just me, but I hate having to carry around a jacket in the middle of summer so I don't freeze when I go inside.

I love staying in hotels, don't get me wrong. But a few little extras would make it all the nicer.

What do you guys love, or want, in hotels?