Mama and Zara - Travel Blog

Traveling with kids can be so stressful, add in different currencies, visa’s you may need, packing, pricing, food, formula, the list goes on. It can sometimes feel so scary and daunting it almost puts you off even leaving the house, never mind the country!

Hi! My name is Zowie and Im mummy (im not ready to be called Mum) to 2 year old Zara. Im a hairdresser and makeup artist here in Manchester, UK, and travel all over the world solo with my daughter. Some people call me crazy, some say Im brave, I call it living life to its fullest and ensuring we make the best memories. Already while Iv been gathering content for this blog, going through my pictures made me smile as I remember the places we’ve visited, the people we’ve made friends with and how travelling changes your whole view of life. Travelling calms your nervous system, opens your heart and I always say it’s like switching yourself off and on again.

Every day life, especially with kids, running a business, life admin, and trying to thrive and not just survive is a LOT and can sometimes get too much. Last year I found myself at burnout, I felt like I was on a hamster wheel that just kept going faster, I decided I needed a holiday. After a frankly disastrous trip to where I thought was Switzerland (it actually ended up being France) back in 2024, Zara was just 6 months old. I ended up booking a flight home after just 3 days, I had a beyond awful, potentially dangerous experience with an AirBnb host and it dented my confidence in booking anywhere with a child for a whole year.

I decided to write this blog to help people with and without kids explore beautiful places, safely and efficiently with zero early flights home! So far we’ve been on so many successful holidays in a short amount of time, Ibiza, Gdansk, Poland, Scotland and we’ve just got back from Thailand, Phuket and Khao Lak. Later in Summer we are going to Omis, Croatia and New York at Christmas along with somewhere for New Years, Im still deciding on Thailand again or Norway (going away for New Year was the best thing I ever did) and I vowed to do this every year!

Now I hate to use the label ‘single mother’ but that’s what I am, I refuse to be put in a stereo type box, as I work hard to give us a beautiful life. Having said this when you're on your own with a child, every single thing is 100% on you. Every single nappy change, every single bottle, and dinner, every bath time, sniffle, cries in the night, every responsibility is on you. Im so used to it all now and like to think Im actually smashing it, I categorise what needs my energy and stress and love seeing my clients, doing their hair, makeup and beauty treatments, and they let me bring Zara too which they all love! My point is when travelling with kids it’s important you plan strategically, pack what you need and leave behind what you don’t. Iv got it down to a tee now so im going to to share a packing list too!

I hope you enjoy and you can reach out and follow us on Instagram here

Zowie Xx