So in just over 2 weeks time I'll be returning to this little slice of Sensatori paradise - this time accompanied by my husband (not at all obsessed with holidays) and my now 11 year old son D
(actually knows every Sensatori as well as our house!).  I can't wait for them to see the resort, the Gourmet Village, experience the food and drink, the beach the pools and most of all meet all the wonderful staff there.
It's the first time we have ever taken a long haul holiday in the Feb half term so it's going to be somewhat odd taking off from Manchester in -1 degrees (yes snow is forecast) to land 9 hours later in 29 degree heat.  Utter bliss I cannot wait to get the flip flops on! 
I have to confess to having a LOT of travel paraphernalia but always room for trying out new stuff - this time I have got some packing cubes which I'm going to try out to help with organising all the clothes and general stuff...

I'm also taking a giant pool inflatable in the shape of a pineapple, along with my faithful swim float swim hammock to lounge around in our swim up.  
A new swimming costume for me and D, a check through last years summer outfits (which I did sort at the end of September before storing in the suitcases - honest!) to make sure we don't need any thing else and it's pack and go!
I'm also taking on board some of the top tips from our FB groups - a couple of cool cups to keep things cool on the beach,  a 4 socket adapter so we don't need to take so many travel adapters as we are a family of gadget freaks and my towel clips in case it gets too windy on the beach!

​Finally my splendid new beach towel (surely more than a towel) which I bought with some Christmas gift money which just makes me smile every time I look at it!  

The 'serious' things that need to be sorted

• Tourist Card - this is an entry tax for the Dominican Republic.  You can pay it on arrival but queues can be long at the airport.  In the UK it cost $10 to buy online, you get a PDF by reply email, print and go.  You can also go onto the DR Gov website and order them to be posted to you, this is a more costly option though.  All printed off and ready - check
• Malaria prophylaxis - The Dominican republic is a risk area for malaria, so we are going to take Avloclor tablets just to be on the safe side.  
• Vaccinations - we are making sure our personal vaccination schedule is up to date to comply with Government guidelines.. D off to the nurse on Thursday for Hep A jab much to his disgust.
• Mobile phones - we have international roaming  but will not be using the data while we are there - our network doesn't cover DR in it's abroad packages, so 1 mb costs £6. Roaming off until we hit the hotel wifi!
• Currency - $ are best to take, but with the exchange rate plummeting over the past few weeks I've been reluctant to buy any yet.  I'll also be loading up my Caxton FX card.

That's it for now - next step - getting the suitcases down from the loft...

So a long overdue trip to Rome is happening this weekend.  Last time we went was when I was pregnant with our now 10 year old! A different experience will be had this time for sure, although we still plan to go to all the 'must sees' and hopefully find a few hidden gems along the way. 
Our travelling companions have never been, so it's always interesting and a joy to see others reactions to your own favourite places - I'm sure they will be positive ones.

10 years ago we booked through Lastminute .com.   This time I have booked it independently online of course - because that's what happens now!  I absolutely love the start of the search for the perfect place for us, at this time, for who we are with and that meets a few specific criteria.  To start with there are a LOT of hotels in Rome, and it seems equally as many websites offering hotel deals.  Eventually the shortlist was made, discussions were held and the rather baroque looking Antica Dimora is going to be our base for 3 days.  It looks like the perfect location, not stupidly expensive but not 'horrible' cheap, wifi, and good reviews on Trip Advisor.  Flights are easier to book (and considerably less expensive) than a train to London - Easyjet fly from our local airport for a very reasonable amount, albeit at 6 o'clock in the morning.

So all the information needed to fly is completed online, everyone's passports at the ready, pre trip planning drinking session completed - all we have to do is pack.  Hand luggage only, 3 days, 2 suitcases - is it possible to fit everything in? We (I ) am a habitual overpacker, a lover of bringing along the 'what if' 'just in case' items which inevitably return home unworn, indeed sometimes never even escaping the confines of the case.
This time it is going to be different - I can do this!