We’re John, Kelly, Ronnie and Quinn—a family of four from Yorkshire trying to make the most of our holidays without killing each other in the process.
With two kids—although Kelly would argue three, given the way John behaves—at different life stages and with different interests, it isn’t always easy. We don’t always get it right, but you live and learn.
Why “Collect Memories, Not Countries”?
Life is too short and too expensive for bad holidays.
We had fallen into the trap of letting the destination dictate the holiday, until a cruise to the Norwegian fjords helped us change our perspective. We realised that it’s the memories and experiences that make holidays so special, not where they happen to occur.
Collect Memories, Not Countries was born from wanting to share this experience-led approach and help other families get more from their holidays.
How We Holiday
Our holidays aren’t rinse-and-repeat; after all, variety is the spice of life.
We can be found in fields up and down the UK, huddled inside a tent trying to convince ourselves that three days of constant rain is part of the experience.
We can also be found somewhere in Europe, with the girls trying to relax while ignoring John’s complaints that it’s too hot, he’s bored and we haven’t travelled all this way to sit around doing nothing.
If we’re really lucky, John and Kelly sometimes manage a parents-only city break—rediscovering their identities outside being Mum and Dad and reconnecting with each other. That’s much easier when you haven’t got a little gremlin asking how much further she has to walk or demanding that you play mermaids for the tenth time that day.
Real Family Travel
There are no rose-tinted glasses here—not every holiday or experience will be perfect.
We’ll lay all our cards on the table: what we loved, what fell short, how much things really cost and any lessons we learned along the way.
We know the value of a pound. All our holidays come out of our own pockets, so value matters.
What you can expect
- Honest family travel reviews
- Practical cost and planning information
- The mistakes and compromises we made along the way
- Clear answers to the question: would we do it again?
The Gang
John—The Miser
The tight one. He spends his time weighing everything against the cost, sometimes at the risk of missing out on some top-quality experiences.
John enjoys holidays that leave you shattered at the end of each day. He won’t ever be found lounging on a beach or sitting by the pool soaking up the rays.
Kelly—The Balance
The Dreamer. A deep-dive pre-holiday planner and researcher, often as if money were no object.
Kelly is the yin to John’s yang, ensuring cost isn’t always the deciding factor. She appreciates all things in moderation: she can be found poolside but also enjoys getting out and doing things.
Ronnie—The Reluctant Participant
The Worrier. Everything that could go wrong will go wrong. Despite this, she is the most likely to surprise herself on holiday by trying new things and enjoying experiences she didn’t think she could even attempt, let alone do.
She’s also starting to enjoy having some freedom away from the family, taking herself off to read in a quiet corner or grabbing a boba when the rest of us get too much.
Quinn—Lady Muck
The Diva. Quinn’s idea of the perfect holiday involves as little walking as possible and spending the maximum amount of time in a pool. If food and drink could be delivered without her needing to move, all the better.
Quinn is the least likely to try new things, especially foods. She knows what she likes and likes what she knows—which, as you can imagine, is a constant battle.
Come Along for the Ride
Right then, that’s us and what we’re about: four people with different interests, different ideas of relaxation and very different opinions about how much walking is acceptable on holiday.
We don’t always agree and we don’t always get it right, but we’re learning how best to navigate travel so that we all come home with memories that will last a lifetime.
So, if honest family travel—with all the costs, compromises and occasional arguments included—sounds useful, or you just want a five-minute chuckle at our misfortune, get comfy and enjoy the ride.