The Nickelodeon Experience Summer 2022

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Disclosure - We have been gifted tickets for the experience. 

The world of Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. is arriving this Summer at The Nickelodeon Experience. Enjoy areas and activities based on all your favourite TV shows, suitable for all ages and a fun day out for all the family. The Nickelodeon Experience is an immersive outdoor adventure jam-packed with multi-sensory, interactive zones where kids can have lots of fun.

the nickelodeon experience
When and Where?
The Nickelodeon Experience will be at 

Heaton Park, Middleton Rd, Manchester M25 2SW
23rd July - 5th August

Knebworth House,  Old Knebworth Ln, Stevenage SG1 2AX 
14th - 27th August

The nickelodeon experience map


What To Expect?
THUNDERMANS' SCHOOL FOR SUPERHEROES
Be a superhero at The Thundermans' School for Superheroes!

Are you ready to save the day? The Z-Force needs you! Kira Kosarin is dialling into The Thundermans' School for Superheroes to set you the ultimate superhero challenge…to win back your superpowers that have been taken by the Dark Orb!

But hurry, you’ll need to work together in your teams and be FAST to win! 

(For 7 - 14 years old.)

LOVE PAW PATROL?
Then you need to come on down to Adventure Bay!

There’s lots of fun to be had, as well as an opportunity to meet everyone’s favourite PAW Patrol Pups, Chase & Marshall.

PAW Patrol is on a roll... 

(Recommended for 2-6 years old.)

HENRY DANGER'S MAZE
Push your superpowers to the limit as you brave your way through the Henry Danger Maze! But be careful, this cave is full of twists and turns, puzzles and passages and you’ll need to get through the cave unscathed - or face transportation to another dimension!

But don’t worry, Jace Norman will be on screen to give you the low down and tips on getting through! 

(For 7 - 14 years old.)

CRAWL THROUGH THE TURTLES' LAIR
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live underground?

There's a subterranean adventure to be had in The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ lair! Head underground, crawl through the maze and play the interactive TMNT based games.

(Suitable for all ages.)

HUNTER STREET ESCAPE ROOM
Can you unlock the mysteries of the missing painting at Hunter Street’s very own museum?
As soon as the door locks – the countdown begins! Work together with your super-star friends to solve the clues and see if your team can unlock our escape room... 

( For 7 - 14 years old.)

SANTIAGO OF THE SEAS' TREASURE COVE
Set sail on an adventure aboard a giant pirate ship with Santiago of the Seas!

Your little ones can play around in this interactive world and uncover hidden treasure in a sandy paradise! 

(Recommended for 2-6 years old.)

SLIME TIME PARTY!
It’s time to get SLIMED… The ultimate Nickelodeon honour!
Join other privileged VIPs and experience real-life Nickelodeon slime just like the superstars before you. Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, David Beckham and Sir Andy Murray are all part of this elite club – and now it’s your turn!

Kids 7 and under will also be able to take part in the fun with our slime confetti simulator. 

(Suitable for all ages.)

BIKINI BOTTOM BEACH
Completing The Nickelodeon Experience is hungry work! With plenty of delicious street food options to choose from you’ll be spoilt for choice…

During your visit, make sure you join us at Bikini Bottom Beach, a central zone for the whole family to spend time, relax and grab a bite.

There will be plenty of hot and cold food and drink on offer, as well as vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. 

(Suitable for all ages, even the grown ups!)

The Nickelodeon Experience

The Nickelodeon Experience will provide lots of fun for the kids this Summer. You can head over to The Nickelodeon Experience for more details and to book tickets.

Will you be heading to The Nickelodeon Experience during the Summer holidays? Leave us a comment below and let us know.  

You can always keep up to date with us on our socials, give us a like on FacebookTwitter and Instagram or if this post has helped you, you can Buy Us A Virtual Coffee to say thanks.

Michelle
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5 Ways To ‘Seas’ The Day And Be More Eco-Conscious On A Beach Day

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Disclosure - This is a collaborative post

With summer holidays starting or just about to start, we are all planning to spend a bit more time on the beach, soaking in some much needed sun. However, while we are planning to have all this fun, it is still extremely important for us to continue to do our best for the environment and be conscious not to cause further damage while we are at the beach. Here are 5 ways to #SeasTheDay and have an eco-friendly trip.

cornwall beach


Prepacked Meals
According to the Marine Conservation Society, their volunteers who attended the Great British Beach Clean found 385 pieces of litter for every 100 metres of beach on average. Although these numbers were down from 425 in 2020 and 558 in 2019, there is still progress to be made to ensure our beaches are kept clean. 

We might be tempted to get meal deals or even a takeout while we are at the beach, however, with a bit of preplanning, we would be able to pack lunches with reusable tupperware and utensils and leave no wrappers, containers or packaging behind.  

Don’t Feed The Birds
Interacting with wildlife can be a wholesome experience, but it is important to be aware of how our actions may affect these precious and delicate creatures. When we encourage birds to take food from us, it is encouraging unnatural behaviour which could result it them not hunting for food themselves, or be fed with non-nutritious foods. Our foods could also cause birds to get sick, this is why we should try and refrain for sharing our food with the birds, saving more for ourselves! 

This is also a useful tip to keep in mind to make sure you and your family stay safe and don’t get injured by the sharp peck of large seagulls or pelicans. 

Non-Toxic Sunscreen
The blazing hot sun means that we should stay protected and prevent ourselves from getting sunburnt or sun damage. Many of us might not even think twice before reaching for a sunscreen of our choice, but there’s more to consider about your sunscreen especially if you are spending a day at the beach in the waters. 

Ocean-friendly sunscreens are free of chemical ingredients, including oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene, which are known to cause damage or even kill coral reefs in the ocean. By using a sunscreen that isn’t full of harmful chemicals, it can not only protect your skin but the ocean too!

Educate Yourself
There is a huge amount of resources out there for us to try and better understand what we can do to help and protect our oceans. To name a few, there are documentaries like Seaspiracy on Netflix and Oceans by Disney Nature. However, if you are looking for material to help you educate younger ones, Oceans Free Plastics also created quiz and puzzles for a fun and interactive way of learning all about our oceans. Feel free to give these a go:


Choose Sustainable Swimwear 
Being green is a conscious process that might extend to our habits outside of our beach day. It is often recommended for you to wear what you have from your closet, however, should you need to buy a new set of swim costume, why not try and look for a sustainable brand?

Sustainable swimwear are often crafted from recycled fibres, employing circular or zero waste processes. Some of these brands might even be committed to charities and organizations that help improve our oceans. 

With these 5 simple steps you'll be able to #SeasTheDay at the beach, make sure you share any other tips you might have for an eco-friendly visit. Leave us a comment.  

You can always keep up to date with us on our socials, give us a like on FacebookTwitter and Instagram or if this post has helped you, you can Buy Us A Virtual Coffee to say thanks.


                                 Michelle

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Our Top 5 Merlin Attractions From Buyagift

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Disclosure - We were gifted a Buyagift experience, however the idea for this post, photos and any opinions are our own. This post contains affiliate links. 

We have been Merlin Pass Holders for as long as I can remember. Being a Merlin Pass Holder allows us to visit Merlin attractions up and down the country and it’s a great way to spend a day, a weekend or even a week. Other than the a few Sealife centres and Shreks Adventure we have visited all the Merlin Attractions and they are by far our favourite day out. Recently I came across a collaboration between Buyagift and Merlin where you can now purchase Merlin experiences through Buyagift.

I love this collaboration because we are really big fans of Buyagift and we’ve used them many  times in the past and it’s nice to know now that we can buy Merlin experiences for our friends and family.

So what attractions can you purchase? Buyagift offer over 20 different experiences that you can choose from and I’ve listed just a few of our favourites. 

wicker man at alton towers


So if you follow our blog and socials you will know that Alton Towers is probably our favourite place to go for a day out. As a family of four we all absolutely love rollercoasters and Alton Towers is definitely the place for thrill seekers offering a huge range of thrill rides. If you have little ones it is also suitable as Alton Towers is home to CBeebies land and David Walliams World. Through Buyagift you can now purchase an experience that offers day entry to Alton Towers for two.

Madame Tussaud’s in Blackpool is a fun day out. John and I went just recently and we had a really good time. We went during the week when the children are in school, it was so quiet. We pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. This allowed us to take our time, look at all the different waxworks, and see the Marvel section which was fantastic. 

Blackpool Tower


Whilst in Blackpool you can also now buy the Blackpool Tower Eye entry tickets for two. The Blackpool Tower is an iconic landmark in the North and is a must see for any visitor to the city. The Blackpool Tower Eye is more than just a tower inside you can enjoy the 4D cinema, check out the tower ballroom, circus and mini golf. Travel 380 feet above the ground to the top of the Blackpool Tower and will you be brave enough to walk across the SkyWalk?

London Eye


From an iconic landmark in the North to an iconic landmark in the South. The London Eye is a 'must see and do' experience if you are in London. We’ve been on it many times and now Buyagift offer an experience where you can purchase London Eye tickets and a river cruise. The river cruise for two allows you a full day out in London with unlimited sightseeing trips on the hop on hop off with 10 stops in 24 hours. Check out the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Modern. The experience also includes a ride for two on the London Eye.

Warwick castle


It’s been a few years since our last visit to Warwick Castle and we are definitely overdue. The last experience that I would recommend from Buyagift is entry to Warwick castle for two. The castle boosts almost 1000 years of British history, Birds of Prey shows and lots more. The popular Julia Donaldson book Zog now features throughout the castle and grounds with a new Zog Playland, Zog Live show and a Zog quest for a golden star. 

You can check out more Merlin attractions by visiting Buyagift

Have you bought an experience from Buyagift before? How was it? Leave us a comment below and let us know.  Also if you are looking for more posts about Merlin attractions visit our Merlin page

You can always keep up to date with us on our socials, give us a like on FacebookTwitter and Instagram or if this post has helped you, you can Buy Us A Virtual Coffee to say thanks.

Michelle
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Thor Love and Thunder Review

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As a huge Marvel fan I was really looking forward to the release of Thor Love and thunder. When it comes to the Thor movies I’ve never really understood where they fit in with the Marvel Universe. Obviously Thor is such an important character in The Avengers and Marvel movies in general however I always thought that they were a little stupid, the characters were silly and whether the script was actually supposed to be tongue and cheek, especially when you compare them To the Captain America and Iron Man movies. when they are I am serious movies especially Captain America. However I was looking forward to Thor Love and Thunder and it’s nice to have a new Marvel movie to get excited about. 

Thor Love and Thunder


I’m not one for spoilers however Thor Love and Thunder did not disappoint I found it so funny, probably more funnier than it should’ve been. It was extremely cheesy and stupid in places, but it was great to see Chris Hemsworth play the character Thor again well and I absolutely loved the fact that the Guardians of the Galaxy featured in the beginning of the movie.

So a little bit of the film without giving too much away. Thor Love and Thunder begins with a recap of Thors life, snippets from his childhood and previous movies. Thor has been finding himself and is generally unhappy although still fighting and saving worlds. He reflects back on his time with Jane Foster. The one time in his life where he loved someone, was loved back and truly happy. His reflection doesn't last long as Thor and The Guardians of The Galaxy start to receive thousands of distress calls including one from Asgardian Lady Sif. Thor and The Guardians go their separate ways as Thor heads to save Sif and The Guardians go to try protect the galaxy.  Sith tells Thor about a 'God Butcher' who has been cursed and is travelling around the worlds slaughtering gods. Thor is next. Thor must stop the God Butcher and with the help Valkyrie, Korg and Jane Foster they set off to finish their mission. 


Michelle
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Keeping Busy This Summer With Books2Door

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Disclosure - This is a collaborative post. Books2Door referral scheme gives us both £5 off our orders by buying through this link

Summer is almost here and like most we will be filling our Summer holiday days with day trips, short breaks, PJ days but most of all trying to keep our children entertained for the six weeks. Little J is now at the age where he doesn't play with toys anymore. He would much rather play games, football, do quizzes and word searches or read a book. He's getting older which means I have had to prepare for Summer Holidays a little differently this year. Luckily I found Books2Door last year as they have a large range of books for all ages and also lots of activity books that I know will keep him entertained. 

selection of books from Books2Door


We are going to be travelling so I wanted to order books that could travel with us and keep him occupied whilst on the move. Usually he will ask me to make up quizzes, crosswords and word searches however I sometimes run out of ideas so activity books where definitely top of my list. 

There are lots of activity books to choose from however I opted for the Clever Kids Brain Games book Collection Set aimed at 6-12 year olds. Brain Games For Clever Kids, Word Searches for Clever Kids, Maths Games for Clever Kids, 10-Minute Brain Games for Clever Kids, Travel Puzzles for Clever Kids
and Logic Games for Clever Kids. The books are so handy and are roughly the size of an A5 piece of paper however they are packed with lot of different activities to keep the brain ticking over this Summer.

selection of books from Books2Door



Brain Games For Clever Kids
Brain Games for Clever Kids proves that learning can be fun. The book is full of puzzles and also includes battleships and spot the differences. 

Word Searches for Clever Kids
Over 150 different themes of Word Searches to complete and four sections which all increase with difficulty.

Maths Games for Clever Kids
Anything maths related is popular in our house and this book has everything from times tables to mental arithmetic 

10-Minute Brain Games for Clever Kids
No doubt we will all enjoy these as we travel around. The books contains 90 ten-minute puzzles, to help train your brain. 

Travel Puzzles for Clever Kids
Airport mazes and round-the-world logic games to capital city conundrums and safari-themed sudoku, there's plenty of exciting puzzles to solve over the school holidays.

Logic Games for Clever Kids
This will really get the little ones thinking as they have to solve Logic puzzles and games. 

selection of books from Books2Door


Each book has illustrations to make the books more appealing to children and I love the 'time' at the top of the book. This is for little ones who want to time themselves for each puzzle. 

selection of books from Books2Door


So that's the kids sorted but if you want some 'me time' whilst the kids are busy, Books2Door also have a range of young adult and adult fiction. As many of you know I joined a book club last year and it has really helped me enjoy reading again and I love taking myself away from the screen. Instead of flicking through pointless social media posts before bed I now read and it has really helped me sleep better. 

books2door leaflet


Why Choose Books2Door?
- A huge range of books from best selling authors and offering bestselling titles 
- Deals and discounts all year round with up to 80% off.
- A loyalty scheme earning book points every time you shop
- 18,000 customers giving a 5* rating
- A new delivery service 

Books2Door PLUS+
Books2Door PLUS+ is a unique delivery service offering you free delivery for 12 months, on every order.

With two options, Silver or Gold, customers can pay an annual fee, starting from only £6.95. It’s easy to get started, simply add the ‘PLUS+ Silver’ or ‘PLUS+ Gold’ delivery to your cart and your membership will be activated.

PLUS+ SILVER = Pay a £6.95 one-off fee and get all orders delivered for the next 12 months (standard shipping, 3-5 working days)

PLUS+ GOLD = Pay a £9.95 one-off fee and get all orders delivered for the next 12 months (express shipping, 1-2 working days)

Have you shopped at Books2Door before?  Leave us a comment below and let us know.

 You can always keep up to date with us on our socials, give us a like on FacebookTwitter and Instagram or if this post has helped you you can Buy Us A Virtual Coffee to say thanks.

Michelle
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Julia Donaldson Superworm Trail at Delamere Forest

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New for 2022 at Delamere Forest is the Julia Donaldson Superworm trail. The Superworm trail is based on the popular Julia Donaldson children’s picture book Superworm. These trails are really popular and are a lovely way to take you on an adventure through the forest.

boy looking at superworm poster


What To Expect At The Superworm Trail, Delamere Forest, CW8 2HZ
The Superworm trail takes you on a path through the forest on the lookout for six Superworm activity boards. Each activity board represents an animal from the Superworm story. You will find out the animals super power, a variety of different facts and an activity for you to complete. 

Superworm activity board

wood rubbings


There is a trail pack to purchase from the visitor centre for £3.50. You do not need to purchase the pack to enjoy the trail however it does contain a mask, fact cards for the animals along the trail, an activity booklet and crayon. The activity booklet has an exclusive activity you can complete along the trail. 

boy with the gruffalo statues

boy with the gruffalo statues


There are lots of 'Gruffalo' statues still in place along the trail such as the mouse, owl and fox.

boy walking along a log


Along the trail there are many opportunities for you to go off the beaten track and explore the woods. There are lots of open spaces with logs to walk across, bugs to find and dens to be made. 

There are benches along the way to enjoy a picnic or just a rest. 

The trail takes approximately 40 to 60 minutes however this will depend on how fast or slow you take it. If you head into the woods, enjoy a picnic and do the activities it could easily fill 2-3 hours. 

visitor centre at Delamere Forest

visitor centre at Delamere Forest

visitor centre at Delamere Forest


Whilst there is no cost for the Superworm Trail, Delamere Forest is part of Forestry England and therefore there are car parking charges applicable. There are a few car parks around the forest however the purpose built car park next to the visitor centre and cafe is huge and I would recommend it.

The new visitor centre and cafe was built during 2020 and is a huge improvement on the old centre. There is a huge toilet block, cafe with indoor and outdoor seating and visitor centre. There is a wide range of hot and cold meals, snacks, cakes and ice cream. 

You can also access a range of walking trails close to the visitor centre. If you fancy heading up in to the trees you can also visit the Go Ape Tree top Challenge

We have visited Delamere Forest many times over the years and it was once home to the Gruffalo Trail and The Gruffalo Orienteering Trail. However the Gruffalo statue is now in need of repair and restoration due to weather damage and wear and tear. The Gruffalo statue has now been removed but it has made way for the Superworm trail which I know will be popular amongst fans of the book and short film.

Superworm trail at Delamere

Superworm trail at Delamere


You can join in with the Superworm trail at the following

Alice Holt
Bedgebury Pinetum
Beechenhurst
Cannock Chase
Cardinham Woods
Dalby Forest
Delamere Forest
Fineshade Wood
Gisburn Forest
Grizedale Forest
Guisborough Forest
Haldon Forest Park
Hamsterley Forest
Haughmond Hill
Hicks Lodge
High Lodge
Jeskyns
Kielder Forest
Moors Valley Country Park
Salcey Forest
Sherwood Pines
Thames Chase
Wendover Woods
Westonbirt Arboretum
Whinlatter Forset
Wyre

Have you visited any of the Julia Donaldson trails? Leave us a comment below and let us know.

 You can always keep up to date with us on our socials, give us a like on FacebookTwitter and Instagram or if this post has helped you you can Buy Us A Virtual Coffee to say thanks.

Michelle
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5 Essentials To Pack For A Disney Holiday

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Disclosure - This is a collaborative post. All thoughts for this post, photos and opinions are my own. 

When it comes to packing for a Disney holiday your essentials may be suitable footwear, clothes, suncream, passports and money however my packing essential list is completely different. When I pack for Disney there are five essential items I must take on a Disney holiday.

woman wearing a disney loungefly bag


Loungefly Bag
Whenever you go into a Disney park you are most certainly going to spot a Loungefly. If you don't know what a Loungefly is then it is a brand of backpacks, cross body bags, wallets and wristlets. Loungefly have collaborated with brands including Disney, Harry Potter and other TV and Film favourites.

Over the years I have collected lots of Disney Loungefly bags so it actually makes it harder for me to choose just a few to take on each Disney holiday. I will usually try and choose few bags each trip and select clothes to match the bag.

Loungefly bags are a must have for any Disney fans and if you don’t have any with you’ll be sure to pick up one or two whilst at the parks.

Disney Ears
Disney Ears are also an essential for me. Whenever we go to Disney I’m sure to be wearing a pair of ears throughout our trip. There are so many ears to choose from either from Shop Disney or you can visit Etsy or Instagram sellers who can make you custom-made ears which are usually at a cheaper price than those in the parks or shops. 

Wearing ears in Disney really makes you feel part of the magic and they’re not just for grown-ups, you can also get them for little ones.

woman standing under a captain marvel statue


Disney Clothing
I personally don’t need to be in a Disney park to wear Disney clothing, most of my wardrobe is Disney branded however it is nice to wear T-shirts or Disney branded clothes when you're in a Disney park. There are so many shops that offer Disney branded clothes that are easily accessible including your local supermarkets such as Asda, Sainsburys and Tesco. Whenever I’m doing my weekly shop I will always head to the clothing section to check out what Disney clothes they have in store that week.

If it's your first trip to a Disney park or a big family holiday you may have seen families wearing personalised T-shirts and personalised hoodies to mark this occasion.

I have also Disney bounded in the past and if you are unfamiliar with Disney bounding it is choosing and wearing an outfit in the colours of one of your favourite characters. For example if Snow White is your favourite character you will want to wear blue, yellow and red outfit. Disney bounding is great for those who want to dress up, as the Disney parks do not allow adults to dress up in Disney dress up costumes so Disney bounding is the next best thing.

Disney Pins
Disney pin trading has been very popular even since big J was little. Collecting Disney pins can be a big part of your Disney holiday experience. There are many ways to collect pins. You can go to the stores and buy them, take pins that you already have or you can approach cast members wearing pin lanyards to trade.

Pin trading is such a fun thing to do and it’s nice to find out the history of some of the pins, as when you trade the cast members will always tell you when and where they got the pin.

character signing at Disneyland Paris


Autograph book
Having an autograph book when you’re in Disney is a must have essential. Over the years we have waited until we’ve got into the parks to buy an autograph book but what we have found is that we usually end up rushing to a store to buy one because we have spotted a character close by. To save this stress and chaos it’s so much easier to purchase an autograph book before you go. You can actually buy official autograph books on Shop Disney however there are other places that you can get Disney branded autograph books too. I would also recommend taking a pen with you as it’s been known for Disney pens to run out quite quickly and you don’t want to get stuck without a pen whilst a character is trying to sign your autograph book.

What are your packing essentials for a Disney holiday? Leave us a comment below and let us know what you are looking forward to. Also if you are looking for more posts about Disney holidays you can check them out visiting our All Things Disney page. 

You can always keep up to date with us on our socials, give us a like on FacebookTwitter and Instagram or if this post has helped you, you can Buy Us A Virtual Coffee to say thanks.

Michelle
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PAJ All Round Finder 4G Tracker

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Disclosure - We were sent the products below for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own unless stated. We were also compensated for our time.

The PAJ All Round Finder 4G tracker is a modern tracking device that you can use for many reasons.  Think ‘find my iPhone’ without the expense of an iPhone to track. PAJ offer a number of GPS tracker products, and the one I wanted to try out was the ‘All Round’ tracker that can be used for tracking people, cars, deliveries, luggage, anything really. 

PAJ All Round Tracker


The All Round Tracker comes with 4G enabled and works in most countries so you really can use it anywhere. The 4G network is more reliable and gives better tracking than less powerful 2G or 3G networks. It has a SIM built in which does need a subscription to be used. Subscriptions come from as little as £4 per month. 

When you set up the tracker you install the PAJ app onto your device which shows the location of the device and allows you to select your preferred settings. Here is where you can really personalise your device to be used how you wish. 

You can set alerts to be sent to your device if the tracker goes out of a certain radius or moves at a speed higher than you select. Great for tracking young drivers who don’t have a black box fitted. There is also an SOS button on the side of the tracker that will send an alarm to your device when pressed. An alarm can also be sent if the tracker is moved or shaken. 

PAJ All Round Tracker


We have been using the PAJ in the car however we are really looking forward to using it over the Summer when we are travelling. It will be ideal for our luggage and also as a people finder when our eldest is out exploring.

With a battery life of 40 days and a short charge time, you don’t have to worry about the tracker running out of power. The tracker will send an alert to your device when the battery is low. 

The tracker is about the size of a first or second generation iPhone, and a little heavier than the phones of today, so it wouldn’t be ideal for little ones to have in pockets for example, however PAJ do make a smaller tracker designed for people. 

PAJ All Round Tracker


All in all if you are thinking about a tracker, the PAJ All Round Tracker is a good choice, with a decent price and low subscription fees. 

Have you considered using a tracker before? Leave us a comment below. 

You can always keep up to date with us on our socials, give us a like on FacebookTwitter and Instagram or if this post has helped you you can Buy Us A Virtual Coffee to say thanks.

Michelle
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