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Family travel: Readly magazine app review

Travel Accessories and Reviews

6 Sep

This bank holiday we packed our campervan and headed off in search of sunshine, sea and sand. I am sure most think we are utterly crazy to drive from Staffordshire to the Cornish coast for just a long weekend, but in all honesty I love nothing more than a road trip, particularly when the sun is shining. I always have this romantic idea of a weekend with my tribe, relaxing and watching them play happily on the beach. I know it is not always like this in reality, a road trip often sees us stuck in motorway traffic, crawling along at a snail’s pace, slowly losing minutes to hours off our short weekend break (remember our recent drama when we nearly missed our Brittany ferry to France when we got stuck on the M5). So when Readly got in touch with me to introduce their Readly magazine app – I instantly knew that this could be a genius idea and perfect for keeping the family entertained whilst travelling.

Nb: This post has been written in collaboration with Readly

Let me introduce you to Readly magazine app

  • Let me introduce you to Readly magazine app
    • Readly – what we love
    • Eco-friendly
    • Convenient
    • Mobile Reading
    • Our Verdict -Readly

Readly was launched in Sweden in March 2013 and has expanded rapidly with offices in the UK, USA and Germany. It is a digital newsstand service giving customers unlimited “all you can read” access to hundreds of national and international magazines in one app. Readly has a huge range of titles including OK!, Women’s Health, Vogue, Heat, Red, Ideal Home, Autocar, Men’s Health and Time magazine. There are also a few kids’ titles including National Geographic Kids, Horrible Histories and Beano making Readly ideal for all of the family.

Readly – what we love

We spend quite a bit of money on magazines and magazine subscriptions over the year and I am still amazed at what you get for £7.99 a month. Family sharing access allows you to read on five devices all at once, meaning I can be admiring gorgeous kitchen designs in Ideal Home magazine, while my husband is reading Men’s Health and our eldest is working her way through a crossword in National Geographic Kids….. Genius.

Another fabulous feature is that Readly doesn’t limit you to the number of titles that you read (both new and back issues included) and with over 3261 titles to choose from there really is something for everyone.

Eco-friendly

It is safe to say that with the growing awareness of climate change, it is forcing the majority of us to take a look at our own carbon footprint and what we can do to change the way that we live. Despite our busy lives, I am mindful of how we live, and I am aware that even the smallest changes collectively can make a difference. More recycling, less plastic, less paper and less waste. Readly magazine app allows you to download magazines to read on a tablet or phone – without Wi-fi, also meaning less paper…and less waste. The idea of reading a magazine in an eco friendly way definitely has a thumbs up from us.

Convenient

In all honesty, the only time I find the time to read a book is whilst we are travelling or taking a long road trip. I rarely find the time in our busy day to day lives to sit down with a cuppa and a magazine free from guilt…there is always something productive I could be doing, usually washing, cleaning, tidying or general day to day chores. When we travel, I grab the downtime with both hands, and I relish the opportunity to read a book or a magazine at the pool side, on the beach, in a beachside cafe or for half an hour in the car whilst the kids are snoozing. Before we set off on our Cornish coastal adventure I downloaded the Readly magazine app on each of our tablets and devices (available from the App Store). Just a note. – Readly is also available on your computer with the web browser version.

Mobile Reading

Readly is really easy to use and to navigate around. We have set up individual profiles for the adults and the kids and I like the pin code access to stop little eyes entering the profiles for the grown ups. With the handy Article View functionality, Readly is perfectly optimised for smartphones and tablets. I tried it out in the campervan in the late evening, reading the magazine on the iPad or phone meant that I could read it without bedside lamps or night lights – great for camping or when in the car and losing the daylight.

Our Verdict -Readly

I have to say I had not heard of Readly until very recently but we are all really impressed with the choice of titles available, (3621 titles and over 1000 UK titles), the family sharing feature, and the unlimited all you can read access. We are currently enjoying a free trial, but we are really impressed and we will be extending our trial once it ends. I can kiss goodbye to crinkled, ripped and soggy pages before I have even read the first sentence. It is convenient, eco friendly and just £7.99 a month with a 2 week free trial.

Visit Readly online to find out more .

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Family Travel: Readly magazine app review

I love to hear what you think of my blog, do leave a comment. You can find us over on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter

#Disclosure- This is a paid collaboration with Readly. All thoughts and opinions are my own**

3 Comments

Previous Post: « A Coastal Adventure: Exploring Newquay with Kids
Next Post: Our top Autumn walks in Staffordshire and Cheshire with Dickies workwear »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jane Batt says

    September 4, 2018 at 8:33 am

    Looks like an amazing range of titles and a really handy way of accessing them.

    Reply
  2. Daisy (Dais Like These) says

    September 5, 2018 at 8:53 am

    Oh my goodness – this post has just saved me a FORTUNE! I pay over £20 a month for my sons to have a Match of the Day subscription and I have just looked on the Readly app and it is included on there – thank you so much!

    Reply
  3. Ingrid says

    September 22, 2018 at 10:19 am

    We are a great fan of the Readly app too, husband the computer and car magazines, me mainly the cooking and travel ones…so many, sometimes don’t have time to read and the new issue is already there🤣

    Reply

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Vanlife Family • Travel


Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights dotted around a
Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights  dotted around a climbing frame
 
= A few more extra hours outside over the winter months 

Add in a flurry of snow ....

#1000hoursoutside 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #lockdown3


🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages a
🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages asking “where do you all sleep” and where did your toddler or baby  sleep in the camper ?

We bought our #t5 when our eldest was just 2, and we have had to adapt as our family has grown. We didn’t have the roof converted until much later so we tried a fair few sleeping options! 

I thought It might be helpful if I listed all of the sleeping options we have tried in our vwT5 because I often get questions about sleeping options with young kids.

⭐️Our new born baby slept in a sleepyhead in the camper as it was easily transportable and worked as  crib.

⭐️ We then found a deluxe travel cot that fit perfectly at the base of our rib bed and this worked from about 6 months 

⭐️We then moved on to a toddler inflatable air bed placed again at the bottom of our bed. We  found the toddler beds fit perfectly across the width of the van 

⭐️moving on we purchased a hammock that fitted over just the driver and passenger seat  and this worked great from about 3+

⭐️ Finally as our family grew... We  had our pop top roof added and the children slept well in the roof. We had a safety net fitted to the opening  of the roof and this allowed all our children to sleep in the roof safely and gave us some peace of mind - particularly as our son was young.

I’ve linked my post in my stories but do let me know if you have tried any other options that work for young children, particularly if you don’t have an elevating roof! Always here if I can help with anything or if you have any questions.

🌈


A vintage rainbow 🌈

Mucho love tonight - hope
A vintage rainbow 🌈 

Mucho love tonight - hope you are all doing okay x


💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫

💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 

Just popping on to wish all of you a Happy New Year 💕

Here we are .... Still hanging out in tier 4, (but hey I have three lovely days off 🤩) we have all got this🙌🏻

For now I’m going to keep dreaming, planning, doing a bit of vanlife shopping and redesigning our campervan 😂 (so if any of you lovely vanlife peeps can share and tag me in a picture of your interiors I would be eternally grateful). 

Hey I may even get this dissertation done 🤣

If it’s okay I’ll keep sharing the little bits in between, and of course our van life tips and tricks over the new year, until we can explore once again. 

Thanks for sticking with us - happy new year to my faves, lots of love and stay safe 

The Otis and Us tribe xxx


🌲 And that’s me signing off for Christmas. 🌲 

Let’s hope 2021 brings some sunshine, plans, adventures and a glimmer of hope. 

To all my lovely friends, family and wonderful vanlife peeps, thanks so much for all the love and support this year. 

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and New year from Otis and Us xxx

Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing fram
Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing frame, and so grateful to have this wonderful play area in our garden for the kids since the lockdown number two. 

It’s my last day of annual leave today. So we have spent the afternoon adding a few fairy lights to the MultiFlyer climbing frame - sprinkling a bit of magic and festive cheer out in the garden....

Moving on to the the camper next :) it definitely needs some fairy lights and a tree - Don’t you think? 🌲 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #vimage


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Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟 Fairy lights dotted around a Ad🌟Top Tip 🌟

Fairy lights  dotted around a climbing frame
 
= A few more extra hours outside over the winter months 

Add in a flurry of snow ....

#1000hoursoutside 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #lockdown3
🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐 I often get messages a 🚐Vanlife with kids 🚐

I often get messages asking “where do you all sleep” and where did your toddler or baby  sleep in the camper ?

We bought our #t5 when our eldest was just 2, and we have had to adapt as our family has grown. We didn’t have the roof converted until much later so we tried a fair few sleeping options! 

I thought It might be helpful if I listed all of the sleeping options we have tried in our vwT5 because I often get questions about sleeping options with young kids.

⭐️Our new born baby slept in a sleepyhead in the camper as it was easily transportable and worked as  crib.

⭐️ We then found a deluxe travel cot that fit perfectly at the base of our rib bed and this worked from about 6 months 

⭐️We then moved on to a toddler inflatable air bed placed again at the bottom of our bed. We  found the toddler beds fit perfectly across the width of the van 

⭐️moving on we purchased a hammock that fitted over just the driver and passenger seat  and this worked great from about 3+

⭐️ Finally as our family grew... We  had our pop top roof added and the children slept well in the roof. We had a safety net fitted to the opening  of the roof and this allowed all our children to sleep in the roof safely and gave us some peace of mind - particularly as our son was young.

I’ve linked my post in my stories but do let me know if you have tried any other options that work for young children, particularly if you don’t have an elevating roof! Always here if I can help with anything or if you have any questions.

🌈
A vintage rainbow 🌈 Mucho love tonight - hope A vintage rainbow 🌈 

Mucho love tonight - hope you are all doing okay x
💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 💫Still one of my most favourite captures 💫 

Just popping on to wish all of you a Happy New Year 💕

Here we are .... Still hanging out in tier 4, (but hey I have three lovely days off 🤩) we have all got this🙌🏻

For now I’m going to keep dreaming, planning, doing a bit of vanlife shopping and redesigning our campervan 😂 (so if any of you lovely vanlife peeps can share and tag me in a picture of your interiors I would be eternally grateful). 

Hey I may even get this dissertation done 🤣

If it’s okay I’ll keep sharing the little bits in between, and of course our van life tips and tricks over the new year, until we can explore once again. 

Thanks for sticking with us - happy new year to my faves, lots of love and stay safe 

The Otis and Us tribe xxx
🌲 And that’s me signing off for Christmas. 🌲 

Let’s hope 2021 brings some sunshine, plans, adventures and a glimmer of hope. 

To all my lovely friends, family and wonderful vanlife peeps, thanks so much for all the love and support this year. 

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and New year from Otis and Us xxx
Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing fram Ad / We are still loving our @wickey climbing frame, and so grateful to have this wonderful play area in our garden for the kids since the lockdown number two. 

It’s my last day of annual leave today. So we have spent the afternoon adding a few fairy lights to the MultiFlyer climbing frame - sprinkling a bit of magic and festive cheer out in the garden....

Moving on to the the camper next :) it definitely needs some fairy lights and a tree - Don’t you think? 🌲 

#wickeyadventure #wickeyplaytime #vimage
If this year has taught us anything, it’s defini If this year has taught us anything, it’s definitely to not take anything for granted. To take each day as it comes and to enjoy the simple things in life, finding  joy in those ordinary moments. 

I don’t need reminding of this but family and friends are everything. As are good old hugs. (I miss hugs!) And plans. Blooming love a plan. 😍

So ill keep on bobbing on here if that’s okay? I’ll keep planning, writing about our campervan adventures and sharing our van life love and outdoor life. Because we have to have hope and we have to keep dreaming.... 

Hope you are all doing okay, sending a virtual hug if you need one this weekend. My inbox is ALWAYS open, always.
🚐 4 years! 🚐 4 years blogging!! Wowzers tha 🚐 4 years! 🚐

4 years blogging!! Wowzers that has flown by!! 

I’ve had lots of new followers lately so thought I would pop on and say hello and tell you a little bit about us.

I’m Katy and I am behind Otis and us travel blog. I started the blog during my maternity leave - really because I love taking photos and wanted  a place that the kids can look back on and to document our van life adventures. I  am a full time specialist nurse and also currently working on an MSc. I am a whirlwind and life is definitely jam packed but I wouldn’t have it any other way :) 

We love our beautiful T5!! We have made so many memories and taken some wonderful roadtrips over the years. We haven’t managed to get out in the van much this year, but hey I’ve still been dreaming ... hopefully next year🤞🏻🤞🏻

We have three free spirited kiddies who love nothing more than a road trip,  sleeping in the poptop roof, exploring, beach life and toasting marshmallows. 

Mr Otis and Us, what can I say? The chilled one who has so much patience😆. He drives the many miles, lives on coffee and never ever says no to my crazy road trips and ideas. 

So here we are - the Otis and Us tribe, popping on to say hi. 
 
Thank you so much for following along, for all your interaction and love. It means the world. I love to hear from you all, every message and every comment. Thank you 🙏🏻 

Hope you will stay with us for 2021 , 

Stay safe 

Katy xx 🌈

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