logo
Chance to win family holidays by taking part in Around the World challenge at The Centre, Livingston

Chance to win family holidays by taking part in Around the World challenge at The Centre, Livingston

Daily Record01-07-2025
It will run for five weeks from Monday, July 7 until Sunday, August 10
The Centre, Livingston is inviting families to take part in a free 'Around the World' travel trail this summer.
It will provide the opportunity to learn fun facts about 30 different countries, through a variety of different puzzles and games at six stations located around the shopping centre.

Visitors can pick up a free Around the World passport at the check-in desk, situated next to New Look, and get it stamped at every station, which will change every week, with Kenya, Brazil and Australia included in the first week.

Passports which have been stamped can be entered into competitions to be in with a chance of winning a variety of prizes from retailers, which includes a family travel voucher worth £4,000 from TUI, £3,000 from Hays Travel and £1,500 from Barrhead Travel.
Other prizes include a £100 Voucher from Aerial Adventures, a suitcase from Ryman, and four £25 Gift Vouchers from Primark.
Beach themed activities and games and storytelling sessions will also take place at the check-in desk every day and a variety of different travel and holiday-themed arts and crafts, which includes making animal wind chimes and an Egyptian wooden bookmark.
Tess Sundberg, Marketing Manager at The Centre, Livingston said: 'We are really looking forward to hosting our globe-trotting, Around the World travel trail free activities at The Centre, Livingston this summer.
'The five-week event will provide a great opportunity for families to take some time out over the holidays and learn some fun facts about 30 countries by participating in lots of puzzles and games in the trail, located around the shopping centre, and also join in the daily travel-themed arts and crafts activities.'

Around the World will run for five weeks from Monday, July 7 until Sunday, August 10 from 11am to 4pm.
Article continues below
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'We're swapping £2,000 mortgage for £260 Airbnb - we've had enough'
'We're swapping £2,000 mortgage for £260 Airbnb - we've had enough'

Daily Mirror

time8 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

'We're swapping £2,000 mortgage for £260 Airbnb - we've had enough'

Emily Hough, 28, and Jamie Elbeck, 31, were left disheartened after they couldn't find a three-bed property for less than £300,000 - meaning they would be paying £2,000 per month A couple are ditching their hefty £2,000 monthly mortgage in the UK for a life in a Vietnamese Airbnb that costs a mere £260 per month. Emily Hough, 28, and Jamie Elbeck, 31, were on the hunt to move homes but were taken aback when they couldn't spot a three-bedroom property under £300,000 - equating to £2,000 each month. ‌ With yearly nursery fees of £500 for their three-year-old Edison and one-year-old Nola, plus a £600 monthly shopping bill and £712 for utilities, the family was "tired of spending money". Jamie, who supervises a warehouse, was also "fed up" with his long workweeks and scant time with his children. ‌ The pair made the bold choice to sell all their possessions - now sitting on a travel fund of £90,000 after offloading their three-bedroom house for £70,000 and their furniture and clothes for £20,000. They're currently serving their notice periods, gearing up to embark on a one-way trip to Vietnam this September - with no plans to return. ‌ Emily, a Sunderland-based travel agent, said: "We're going to be living from a backpack - all our family and friends are saying we're crazy, but our kids are going to be world-schooled. It came about after realising we weren't spending any quality time together, nursery fees were going up and the mortgage was going up. "I thought to myself: 'This isn't the life I wanted'. Jamie pulled me aside one day and just said: 'Let's just sell everything and go travelling'." The couple first developed their wanderlust after meeting in Tenerife in 2017, while Emily was employed by Tui and Jamie worked in a bar. They subsequently had Edison and Nola in 2021 and 2023, respectively, secured full-time employment and settled into a nine-to-five routine. ‌ In 2025, Emily and Jamie were considering securing a mortgage on a new house - but were stunned to find they couldn't obtain a property cheaper than £300,000. Emily added: "We were looking for a three-bedroom house, when Jamie randomly said: 'I need to talk to you'. He told me he was fed up with only seeing the kids on weekends due to his 40-hour work week. ‌ "Then he said he had a mad idea - to just sell everything and go travelling. I was in no doubt I wanted to do that, I'd become so bored of the routine." The pair handed in their notices, with Emily working four weeks and Jamie working three months. In order to fund their travels, the couple have sold their house for £70,000, as well as other possessions, like furniture and clothes, bringing the travel fund total to £90,000. Their new nomadic lifestyle will see each family member living from a rucksack as they journey across South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Apart from spending £130 for the first two weeks of accommodation in an Airbnb in Da Nang, Vietnam, and £1,600 on four one-way tickets from Heathrow, Emily and Jamie have no clue what they're going to do when they arrive. ‌ "We're just going to see where the wind takes us," she added. "We know it's a big risk - and we find it more exciting that we haven't got a to-do list. "I can't wait to immerse the kids in the culture; try them with new foods like octopus, take them around the night markets and get up with the sun." ‌ After the first year, Emily and Jamie plan to sustain themselves through various freelance and part-time jobs. Emily has completed a level five TEFL course, which will allow her to teach English as a foreign language in different countries. Jamie is hopeful of finding work creating and editing content for clients. The couple have pledged never to return to the UK, opting instead for a life on the road. "I've taken the kids out of nursery - you can educate your kids on the world around them," Emily said. "We're excited to spend time with the family and really connect - with the nine-to-five routine, you only get a couple of hours together per day. "Our plan is never to come back to the UK, we're just going to find a country we fit in with. We're just a normal family and we want to make it work."

I take my family of four on holidays abroad for less than a weekend in Wales
I take my family of four on holidays abroad for less than a weekend in Wales

North Wales Live

time2 days ago

  • North Wales Live

I take my family of four on holidays abroad for less than a weekend in Wales

As a mum of two and a lifelong bargain hunter, I've made it my mission to prove that you don't need to spend a fortune to make unforgettable family memories. In fact, with a little flexibility and some clever planning, it's often cheaper for my family of four to jet off abroad than to holiday right here in the UK. While others are booking pricey cottages or UK resorts, I'm tracking flight deals, exploring European holiday parks, and uncovering little-known ways to stretch the family budget without compromising on fun. Because for us, holidays aren't about luxury, they're about connection, culture and quality time together. Whether we're eating street food in Greece or camping on the French coast, I've learned one universal truth: kids don't care how much you've spent. They care that you're there. And with that mindset, here's how we make European getaways cheaper than a British break, and how you can too. 1. Rethink holiday parks abroad Start by finding cheap flights from your nearest airport (you can use The Travel Mum website for this). Once you've landed a bargain flight, look for nearby holiday camps. Don't be put off by the word camp, most offer mobile homes with air conditioning, pools, kids' activities, arcades and more. We've got a few lined up along the south of France this summer, and I'll be sharing the trip on Instagram stories. These sites offer so much more than a basic UK caravan park, often for a fraction of the price. 2. Use last-minute holiday finders If you've got nerves of steel, tools like TUI's Last Minute Holiday Finder can land you incredible deals. Sure, planning in advance lets you spread the cost, but if you're flexible on destination, you could bag a full-package break for less than a long weekend in Cornwall. 3. Try house-sitting Want to travel without paying for accommodation? Housesitting could be your answer. We've stayed across Europe for free by looking after people's homes and pets, from dogs and cats to house rabbits, lizards and even alpacas! It's not for everyone, but it can save you hundreds if you're happy to take on some light responsibilities while enjoying a local experience. 4. Travel before the school holidays start If your kids can miss a day or two of school, departing just before the official break can save you hundreds. You won't be fined for the odd day off, and this small shift can make a big difference to your budget. 5. Use the right cards abroad A lot of people overlook this, but it's a big one. Avoid transaction fees by using a travel debit or credit card. Many offer near-perfect exchange rates, which means more for your money. It's one of those small swaps that makes a big impact over the course of a trip. 6. Sign up for deal alerts Get ahead of the game by joining mailing lists (like The Travel Mum!) to receive handpicked flight and holiday deals straight to your inbox. The best bargains often don't last long, so it pays to be ready to act fast. 7. Final thoughts We've done luxury. We've done budget. And honestly? The best memories, the laughter, the adventures, the real moments, have almost always come from the simpler trips. So, if you're weighing up a £1,200 weekend in somewhere like Wales, Devon or Cornwall versus a £900 week in Spain with pools, sunshine, and new experiences? You know what I'll be choosing. Travel smart, travel often, and don't let the idea of 'abroad' scare your wallet.

I take my family of four on holidays abroad for less than the cost of a UK staycation
I take my family of four on holidays abroad for less than the cost of a UK staycation

Daily Mirror

time2 days ago

  • Daily Mirror

I take my family of four on holidays abroad for less than the cost of a UK staycation

I'm a family travel expert, mum of two and a lifelong bargain hunter who has made it my mission to prove you don't need loads of money to have an unforgettable family holiday As a mum of two and a lifelong bargain hunter, I've made it my mission to prove that you don't need to spend a fortune to make unforgettable family memories. In fact, with a little flexibility and some clever planning, it's often cheaper for my family of four to jet off abroad than to holiday right here in the UK. ‌ While others are booking pricey cottages or UK resorts, I'm tracking flight deals, exploring European holiday parks, and uncovering little-known ways to stretch the family budget without compromising on fun. Because for us, holidays aren't about luxury, they're about connection, culture and quality time together. ‌ Whether we're eating street food in Greece or camping on the French coast, I've learned one universal truth: kids don't care how much you've spent. They care that you're there. And with that mindset, here's how we make European getaways cheaper than a British break, and how you can too. ‌ 1. Rethink holiday parks abroad Start by finding cheap flights from your nearest airport (you can use The Travel Mum website for this). Once you've landed a bargain flight, look for nearby holiday camps. Don't be put off by the word camp, most offer mobile homes with air conditioning, pools, kids' activities, arcades and more. We've got a few lined up along the south of France this summer, and I'll be sharing the trip on Instagram stories. These sites offer so much more than a basic UK caravan park, often for a fraction of the price. ‌ 2. Use last-minute holiday finders If you've got nerves of steel, tools like TUI's Last Minute Holiday Finder can land you incredible deals. Sure, planning in advance lets you spread the cost, but if you're flexible on destination, you could bag a full-package break for less than a long weekend in Cornwall. 3. Try house-sitting Want to travel without paying for accommodation? Housesitting could be your answer. We've stayed across Europe for free by looking after people's homes and pets, from dogs and cats to house rabbits, lizards and even alpacas! It's not for everyone, but it can save you hundreds if you're happy to take on some light responsibilities while enjoying a local experience. 4. Travel before the school holidays start If your kids can miss a day or two of school, departing just before the official break can save you hundreds. You won't be fined for the odd day off, and this small shift can make a big difference to your budget. ‌ 5. Use the right cards abroad A lot of people overlook this, but it's a big one. Avoid transaction fees by using a travel debit or credit card. Many offer near-perfect exchange rates, which means more for your money. It's one of those small swaps that makes a big impact over the course of a trip. 6. Sign up for deal alerts Get ahead of the game by joining mailing lists (like The Travel Mum!) to receive handpicked flight and holiday deals straight to your inbox. The best bargains often don't last long, so it pays to be ready to act fast. 7. Final thoughts We've done luxury. We've done budget. And honestly? The best memories, the laughter, the adventures, the real moments, have almost always come from the simpler trips. So, if you're weighing up a £1,200 weekend in Devon versus a £900 week in Spain with pools, sunshine, and new experiences? You know what I'll be choosing. Travel smart, travel often, and don't let the idea of 'abroad' scare your wallet.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store