26 October 2020

Fife October 2020 Following our lock down in the Spring and with a break in work planned, I could at last plan a trip home to Scotland to see family and have a relaxing few days. Usually when visiting Fife I would fly to Edinburgh from Belfast. However, I was aware that Loganair had started a new route from Belfast City Airport to Dundee and thought I would try this as an alternative – and what a super decision that was. This was my first flight since February and Covid-19, so like most travellers I was quite concerned about the precautions for travelling. Belfast City Airport was a lot quieter since my last visit and social distancing was easy. Security was quick and straightforward and there was lots of seating well-spaced out. Unfortunately, only the shopping outlets and Starbucks were open so I recommend that you bring something to fill your time before your flight departs. Boarding our Loganair ATR 42 was easy and with only around a dozen passengers there was lots of room for everyone. Of course, you must wear a face covering throughout the flight, but as this was only 45 minutes it was not any issue. I liked that Loganair included 15kg of hold luggage in their airfare and on board we were offered a small bottle of water and a choice of shortbread or a Tunnock’s Caramel wafer. Great for a short flight and a far better service than most airlines offer nowadays. Unfortunately, it was too cloudy to get any great views on our journey but arriving into Dundee was a joy, it’s a tiny airport with only three scheduled departures a day. Our luggage arrived very quickly and with around 20 steps we were outside the terminal and picked-up for our journey over the Tay into Fife. It was great to see my family albeit a bit strange with all the current restrictions. When not seeing family Gail and I took the opportunity to visit some of the local sites and one of them was the small village of Falkland. This small Royal Burgh is famous for its Royal Palace and as one of the locations used for the Outlander TV series. We had a great couple of hours here, and although the Palace is not currently open to the public, the village is great to explore with crafts shops and quaint streets. During our stay we also visited (as we do regularly) the fishing villages of the East Neuk of Fife, and whilst all these village were great as usual, the popularity of at least one made it difficult for social distancing and so we did not stop here and avoided the crowds. All too quickly it was time to return home and again I was impressed by Dundee Airport, there was loads of space in the small terminal building and the café was kept scrupulously clean with tables and chairs all be disinfected immediately after use. But the best thing about this small airport was that every member of staff was just so friendly and helpful and made the experience so pleasant. Security was straightforward and easy and soon 11 of us boarded our flight to Belfast City. Again I could not fault the flight with the same service as the outbound, although with less cloud we had a far better view of Scotland on the journey home. I was delighted to have this visit to Scotland and was really impressed with Loganair and Dundee Airport. Last year I travelled a lot of times via Edinburgh Airport which is an efficient big airport but offering a less personal service and with higher parking and drop-off/pick-up charges. For my future trips I will certainly consider travelling via Dundee.

27 February 2020

I was very fortunate to recently visit the new Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady in Liverpool prior to her transatlantic crossing to begin her regular sailings from Miami. This was great opportunity to see a new concept in cruising and experience the service offered on board. I loved the experience but have to say that Virgin Voyages is not for everyone. Experienced cruisers will find the concept very different to what they are used to, there are many quirky differences and a minimalist décor throughout. However the best thing about the Scarlet Lady is the amazing staff on board. I have been on many ships and met some amazing people but everyone I met on board Scarlet Lady was eager to help, engage and chat about their roles and how they can help my clients. I was onboard for less than 24 hours, which is really not long to discover a large ship, but I enjoyed everything about Scarlet Lady. As soon as I boarded I checked out my Limited View Sea Terrace stateroom. This was a good size and although Liverpool in February is not ideal hammock weather I loved the hammock on my balcony as well as the wonderful rain shower. I then spent the next few hours exploring the ship from top to bottom, visiting all the restaurants and public areas and getting a real feel for the ‘vibe’ that Virgin Voyages are creating. Most things are included on these adult only ships with meals, gratuities and Wi-Fi all included but drinks are not and there is no plans to include drink packages onboard. Drink prices however are reasonable and there is no service charges added either. There is a huge dining choice and with no supplements for the restaurants making these amazing value. Restaurants include the superb The Wake (steak and seafood), Geonbae (Korean), Extra Virgin (Italian and get some friends to try the Secret Room together), The Galley (an interesting take on the traditional buffet but with street food carts), The Pizza Place, Razzle dazzle (for both Veggies and carnivores), Test Kitchen (part restaurant and part cooking school, ideal for foodies) and Pink Agave (authentic Mexican). After exploring the ship I stopped for a quick beer at the Draught Haus and then it was time to get ready for dinner. I had a fabulous meal at The Wake accompanied with a perfect Old Fashioned and superb wine overlooking the ships stern. Then it was off to see the show in the Red Room, this was called “Untitled Dance Show Party Thing” - yes you can see it’s different. A combination of dance and acrobatics with the audience seated on either side of the performance, it was very entertaining with some great ‘wow’ moments. After a delicious breakfast it was time to leave Scarlet Lady, I thoroughly enjoyed my short visit and wish Virgin and their amazing team every success. Do please give me a call if you want to know more about Virgin Voyages and whether this is the right cruise ship for you?

23 January 2020

Many people believe that by booking online that you will get a better price and sometimes this is true but a great deal of the time it is not. Just this week I booked a great package holiday to Thailand. A great, highly rated, boutique hotel with flights from Dublin (with only one change and a super connection) and private transfers. The total price to the client was under £800 per person. The client needing to find out more details on the flights went online and discovered that the airfare alone on this airline’s website was over €1,000 and this is before adding hotel and transfers! This is because a Travel Counsellor like me has access to airfares which are not published, or sold online and are only for the benefit of packaging a holiday. I should also add that the package is ATOL protected and fully financially protected by the Travel Counsellors Trust, the airfare bought alone is not. I also regularly hear of people who get into difficulty whilst abroad, due to illness, accidents or weather affected issues. Those who book themselves independently are left to their own devices to solve, as legally I can only get involved with bookings that I have made due to data protection. When these issues happen to my clients, I can deal directly with the travel suppliers, change arrangements and more importantly be that person at the other end of the phone to offer reassurance, help and advice. All this support is of course provided free of charge – I care about my clients. Many people think that none of these issues will ever happen to them – until it does! Now some trips are certainly easy to book online, a short flight for example. However, I see some really complicated bookings made where if one component fails the rest of trip collapses like a ‘house of cards’ costing the client huge amounts of money that could have been avoided. Many people think that by using Google they can get all the answers, just remember many airlines and operators pay Google to get the best position on their searches and those companies are not necessarily the cheapest or the best. If you think that you are qualified to put together a complicated long-haul trip then you should know the rules and conditions of a Cat35 ITX airfare. If you don’t then you should use a professional. So, in closing, sometimes it is better to book online and sometimes it is better to use a professional, not only for peace of mind but also price and protection. The best way to find out is to give me a call, my advice is free. I also create amazing holidays, often using suppliers and tour operators that you will have never heard of, I use them because they are the best.

18 December 2019

Marrakech December 2019 Winston Churchill believed that “Marrakesh is simply the nicest place on Earth to spend an afternoon” For our 10th Wedding Anniversary we decided to celebrate with a bit of Winter sunshine and when a new flight was announced between Belfast and Marrakech we decided that was the place to visit as we had always thought about visiting here (especially as I had some clients visiting earlier in the year). The direct flight takes around 3½ hours so after an early start we arrived at our all-inclusive hotel - Iberostar Club Palmeraie Marrakech just before lunch. As our room was not ready for arrival we popped into the restaurant for some lunch and our first experience of Moroccan cuisine, and this is wonderful, Tajine, chickpeas and some saffron potatoes – amazing flavours! After lunch, we were shown to our Atlas View Double room, which was super. The sun was out so we quickly headed down to catch some ‘rays’ at the adult only Zen pool. Weather wise during our stay we encountered a real mixture, it was cool in the mornings and evening (a sweater was essential) during the day when the sun was not behind a cloud it was lovely and warm and ideal for sunbathing, but when cloudy it was a lot cooler. Fortunately, in a place like Marrakech there is so much to do and see you do not have to rely on sunshine all the time. I liked the location of our hotel which was about half an hour away from the hustle and bustle that is downtown Marrakech. It was easy to visit though as the hotel operates a free bus service through the day or just jump in a cab (it costs under £8 during the day or under £12 in the evening each way). The Medina and its Souks are well worth a visit though and be prepared to haggle as the price they first ask for is never the one you should settle for. Having checked the weather we knew that Monday was going to be wet so we arranged had already planned a Tajine Cookery Class. This was great fun as our group met and then shopped in the markets for all our ingredients and then headed to a nearby Riad to prepare and cook our wonderful Tajine meal. This gives a real insight into life in Marrakech. Most of our trip we spent relaxing at our hotel where we were really looked after by the wonderful staff there. I was surprised at how many golfers were staying at the hotel and who all left every morning to one of the nearby courses. For our last day we had booked an excursion to take us into the Atlas Mountains in a 4X4 vehicle. The scenery is amazing and on this trip, there were loads of opportunities to stop and admire the beautiful snow-capped mountains. We had the opportunity to take tea with a Berber family in their home and be given a real insight into their way of life followed by a lovely Tajine lunch in the beautiful Ourika Valley. The areas that we visited would be inaccessible without a 4X4 as some of the roads were just dirt tracks. We were lucky to be able to do this before Winter really set in and the passes become impassable. Early the next morning we were collected by our transfer back to the airport for our return to Belfast. I thoroughly enjoyed our week in Marrakech and want to return as there is still loads to see and do in this amazing place.

22 October 2019

Following the farewell event, I had to be up early with the group to catch our Virgin Australia flight to Adelaide. After a comfortable 3-hour flight we quickly made our way to Majestic Roof Garden Hotel where we had a packed lunch before heading on to Adelaide Zoo. At the zoo we were divided into small groups for our VIP experience, my group could go into the enclosure with a giant tortoise – which was a great experience spending time with the keeper and finding out more about this amazing animal. A quick tour followed including the chance to see the stars of the Zoo Wang Wang and Funi – the Giant Pandas. Following our visit here we then headed to Glenelg, which is Adelaide’s most popular beach area. After a short time here, we then headed for dinner at the Stella Restaurant at Henley Beach. Following this it was time to return to the hotel after a full day. Early the next day we left our hotel to take part on the Adelaide Oval Roof Climb. Here we learned all the safety requirements, were breathalysed (compulsory by law for a climb like this) and then equipped with safety equipment. This is an amazing way to view Adelaide from the roof of the main cricket stadium. Right after our climb we were off to the airport and our flight to the amazing town of Coober Pedy in the outback. Coober Pedy is known as the opal capital of the world where many of its inhabitants live underground and there are also underground hotels, restaurants, bars and a church as well as boasting of golf course which does not have one blade of grass. We had a packed visit which included an opal cutting demonstration, visiting a genuine underground home (or Dugout) before heading out into the outback viewing The Breakaways – a range of colourful exposed sandstone, and seeing the famous Dingo Fence which stretches for 5,300km across Australia. Finally, it was off to our hotel for the night – the Desert Cave Hotel, where I had an underground room for the night. Dinner that evening was in the superb Umberto’s Restaurant at the hotel where the food and service was excellent. Up early the next morning for a couple of tours before heading off to the airport. We visited the mullock heaps for some ‘noodling’ for opals before visiting an opal mine and the Serbian Underground Church – all great fun but unfortunately, I did not make my fortune in opals. Back to the wonderfully small Coober Pedy airport, where we tried to check-in before any of the airport staff had arrived. Soon however we were on our flight to Port Augusta before heading up into the Flinders Range. On arrival at Wilpena Pound Resort, where we were staying in Ikara Safari Camp – these luxury glamping units place you next to the wildlife and in the morning your ‘tent’ is usually surrounded by kangaroos. On arrival we went on a walking tour accompanied by our guide from the Adnyamathanha people who told us about their legend as to how Wilpena Pound was formed. Following dinner, we had an early night ready for our scenic flight over Wilpena Pound the next morning. This was an amazing experience a short transfer to the local airstrip and we were up and seeing the amazing Wilpena Pound from the air. Then back to the resort for breakfast before we then explored the Flinders Range area. This area has some of the oldest rocks and fossils in the world going back hundreds of millions of years, it was great fun being shown around by our knowledgeable guides who took us to lunch at the Prairie Hotel in Parachilna (population: 3). This amazing hotel literally in the middle of nowhere specialises in Road-Kill delicacies including Kangaroo, Emu and Camel. As well as having some great accommodation, ideal for a stop if using the Outback Highway. Visiting more of the Flinders Range we made our way to our next stay which was the Rawnsley Park Station and where I was staying in one of their luxury Eco-Villas for the night. But first a 4WD trip had been arranged to take us up a nearby hill for canapes and sundowners, which was a wonderful end to a great day. Dinner than night was in the excellent Woolshed Restaurant before heading off to my wonderful Eco-Villa. For our last full day in South Australia we were up early for the long drive to the Clare Valley (home of some amazing wineries). The drive took us from real outback to lush farmland and of course some great vineyards. First, we stopped for lunch at Bungaree Station – one of the earliest farms in the area (established in 1841) where we had a great lunch and the opportunity to view some of the new accommodation at the station. One of the surprise attractions was the orphaned Kangaroo Joey which the owners are looking after, and which was so cute. After lunch we visited the wonderful Pikes Wines and Sevenhill Cellars for tours and tastings. For our last night we were staying in the Clare Country Club which was convenient to Seed Winehouse & Kitchen where we had our last meal together as a group. Early the next morning we were off on our flight to Singapore and amazingly our flight path took us right over Uluru – which was amazing to see. At Singapore we had a few hours before our next flight home to London so I spent some time at the airport’s rooftop swimming pool – it truly is one of the best airports in the world. Finally, I could board my Business Class flight back to London, this was on the upper deck of the Airbus A380 and the as you can imagine was a highlight of the whole trip for me, with a lie flat bed and amazing service from start to finish.

22 October 2019

As a Premier Australian Specialist, I was this year invited again by Tourism Australia to attend their Corroboree (from the aboriginal word for gathering) in Perth Western Australia. After which I would be going on a familiarisation trip to South Australia. Flights to Australia were provided by Singapore Airlines, so after my short flight from Belfast City I checked in with Singapore Airlines for the flight to Perth from Heathrow via Singapore with my luggage tagged straight through to Perth. On the outbound flight there was a good connection at Singapore affording just enough time to check emails before boarding the next flight. The service in Economy with Singapore Airlines remains one of the best in the air with good meals, snacks and excellent service. The in-flight entertainment is also great, I watched a complete TV box set in between some naps. After leaving Heathrow on the Sunday evening I arrived in Perth late evening on the Monday, with a packed itinerary for the Tuesday! Our hotel for the stay in Perth was the Crown Promenade, which is part of a large hotel and entertainment complex about 4kms from the Perth CBD. After a very short sleep it was time to see what Perth and the local area had to offer. Our day included a walking tour, watching a live pearl harvest before visiting three (yes three!) wineries in the Swan Valley before joining all the other groups for the Corroboree welcome evening at a fourth winery! So, a short transfer into Perth and soon we were walking around with our guide exploring Yagan Square, Northbridge, the CBD before ending our tour at Elizabeth Quay. Perth is a vibrant young city but one with a bit of history and a city I would like to return to. Our next stop was to see a Live Pearl Harvest at Willie Creek Pearls’ Elizabeth Quay. This was fascinating and a real opportunity to learn more about pearls and how they are brought to market. After our busy morning we were off to the first of our Winery visits for our lunch. A short half hour took us to the Upper Reach Winery where we could sample some wines and have a delicious lunch. We then moved on to Olive Farms Winery for a wine and cheese tasting, and sampled some amazing produce here. If you ever visit, you must try The Duck’s Nuts an amazing blended red wine, or the exceptional Stari fortified wine – which is just like Christmas in a wine form. Then we headed for the Mandoon Estate where we visited their excellent accommodation (The Colony) as well as sampled their wines and beers from their own brewery. I would recommend a stay here if you plan to explore the Swan River area. Finally, it was time to meet all the other groups participating at Corroboree West 2019 and head for the Sandalford Winery for the amazing Welcome Event. All too soon it was time to return to our hotels in readiness for our busy next few days. Over the next three days I met with over 130 suppliers from all over Australia to learn more about their products and whether these would be something that my clients would be interested in. Each evening there was a different event, from a Western Australia Showcase at Perth City Beach, to a casual group dinner at Embargo (a large bar complex on the Swan River) and finally the farewell event held at the Crown Perth (unfortunately this had to be held indoors due to poor weather). At the farewell event they announced a major prize of a Business Class upgrade for one lucky attendee for the return flight from Singapore to Perth and I was gobsmacked to be the lucky winner! I will let you know about my amazing flight home later in this series.

12 September 2019

This week I was lucky enough to visit two cruise ships which visited my home port of Belfast. The contrast between these two ships could not have been starker and underlines the major changes developing in cruising. There are so many specialised cruise lines now developing new markets and niches that is becoming increasing difficult to keep up with. On Monday I visited the Ponant Cruises, Le Dumont d’Urville. This small ship (more like a private luxury yacht) has only 92 staterooms and provides a unique cruising experience with a French twist. All the ships are French flagged so maintaining the shipping traditions of many years although they have an international feel with all announcements in both French and English. These small ships can access many ports that the larger ships cannot and with amazing French cuisine and service you visit some considerable style. In conjunction with National Geographic, Ponant offer amazing expedition experiences and using their own fleet of RIBs they get you up close and personal to nature. You can even experience this without leaving the ship with their amazing Blue Eye lounge which has undersea windows for directly viewing sea-life in their natural habitat. I was very impressed by all I saw on board Ponant and would recommend their exploring itineraries to the right customer, however their product is not for everyone. In contrast I was also able to visit Disney Magic on the first visit of a Disney Cruise ship to Belfast. In contrast to Le Dumont d’Urville the Disney Magic can carry 2,700 passengers and has 875 staterooms but it is also a very different product to many main-line cruises. The biggest difference is, well, Disney! Disney describes itself as an entertainment company, who have cruise ships and not a cruise line. Added to the uniqueness of Disney with their heritage it is a unique and very special cruise offering. Now this is not a Disneyland Park at sea, it is altogether subtler, with lots of hidden logos and messages. The entertainment is taken through to the dining arrangements where customers (and their servers) rotate through three themed restaurants each with different entertainment. Also (as you would expect) the kids’ entertainment (3-17 years) and their clubs are amazing plus there is also a nursery for the infant shipmates (6 months – 3 years). But entertainment is not just for children with special areas of the ship for adults only (including some bars after 9pm). Add in some Disney musical shows, first-run movies and Disney character experiences you can see that this is a unique cruise experience. I was delighted to visit both ships and although they are very different I would recommend a cruise on them, but for very different customers. If you would like to have a chat anytime about the various cruise lines, their ships and differences between them all – just give me a call.

10 September 2019

I was recently invited by Belfast International Airport and Turismo Valéncia to participate in a short visit. As I had never visited Spain’s 3rd largest city I was really looking forward to the trip. With two flights a week from Belfast we were to fly to Barcelona first before taking the train down to Valéncia, returning on the direct flight back into Belfast International. After meeting my fellow travellers, we quickly made our way through security (some big improvements here) and made our way to the Causeway Lounge before boarding our flight. There have been some major changes at the International Airport including the new Northern Quarter bar and eateries. After arriving at Barcelona, we made our way to the Barceló Sants hotel conveniently situated above the main railway station (ideal for our early morning departure to Valéncia). This hotel has a space theme throughout with lots of reference to classic sci-fi movies and even a life-size astronaut in the main lobby. Being above the railway and metro it was easy to get a metro to Placa de Catalunya, where we could have some tapas and few drinks whilst indulging in some people watching. Early the next morning we were on our way on our 3-hour RENFE train to Valéncia. The journey south was smooth and pleasant and took us through Salou, the First-Class seats were very comfortable and the breakfast was great. On arrival at Valéncia-Joaquín Sorolla railway station we were met and transferred to our hotel – the centrally located Hotel Dimar. The Dimar is ideal for a city break with easy access to all the major attractions and surrounded by bars and restaurants. After a quick freshen up we set off on a gastro and cultural walking tour, a great way to get our bearings in the city whilst also getting to sample some great local produce. After our lunch in the super Bar Maipi (just a few blocks away from our hotel) we were off to visit the City of Arts and Science. Valéncia is quite unique in that many years ago the city diverted its river (which was prone to flooding) and replaced the river bed with a park (Jardin del Turia) which includes a variety of attractions all in the city centre. At one end is the City of Arts and Science which contains many futuristic buildings and the Oceanográfic (Europe’s largest aquarium). After an amazing dinner at restaurant Lienzo we then had an Agua de Valéncia sampling at the Lolita Cocktail Bar. The following day we hired bicycles and made our way through the Jardin del Turia to Bioparc Valéncia which is an amazing new generation zoo. This is a wonderful park and unlike any zoo I have ever seen, you get great views of all the amazing wildlife in the three themed areas of Savannah, Madagascar and Equatorial Africa. After returning our bicycles we then made our way to the huge La Malvarrosa Beach for our Paella lunch at Restaurant Balandret. Paella originated in Valéncia and traditionally the meat is rabbit and chicken. After lunch we enjoyed a catamaran cruise and then another amazing dinner, this time at Dos Estaciones. The following morning as we prepared to leave our hotel to catch our flight from Valencia to Belfast we discovered that our low-cost airline had cancelled our flight. Unfortunately, cancellations like this are becoming common and the best protection is to always book a package trip where a tour operator takes responsibility because far too often the airline doesn’t. With not another direct flight until Tuesday we planned to get alternative flights and flying from Reus the following day was the best alternative. So, another train journey (this time to Tarragona) with an overnight before flying Reus to Belfast the following day was the plan. This also allowed me to visit another destination the town of Tarragona just a few miles north of the resort of Salou. I really enjoyed my extra unplanned night here with a couple of drinks and some tapas.

06 June 2019

I had wanted to visit this part of Italy for many years, especially as so many of my clients choose to return there year after year. I had previously visited Pompeii when I cruised on the Crown Princess so my priorities on this trip was to really explore Sorrento as well as visit Capri and have a tour along the beautiful Amalfi coast. With three family weddings coming shortly our budget would not stretch to some of the more amazing hotels available, but we managed to have a super holiday. We flew from Belfast International on a low-cost airline making sure that we had plenty of luggage pre-purchased and our seats allocated. I always recommend pre-paying for the luggage you require to avoid extra charges, the passengers in front of us in the queue at the gate were charged an extra £50 as their carry-on bag would not fit into the measuring basket! Arriving at Naples airport went smoothly through passport control (which was much quicker than arriving back into Belfast) and then we were met by our pre-booked private transfer. Soon we arrived at our destination the family owned La Pergola Hotel between Sorrento and Sant’ Agnello. After a quick check-in and some advice from the helpful reception team at the hotel we were off exploring Sorrento and looking for lunch. We discovered the Osteria del Buonconvento and had an amazing lunch (so good in fact we returned a few more times to eat here again). Sorrento is great for exploring all the small narrow streets filled with great shopping (particularly leather and ceramics) and restaurants and we never tired of wandering around the same streets throughout our stay. The next couple of days we enjoyed sunbathing from the hotel’s rooftop solarium before planning before having our lunch and planning where we should visit for dinner. Sorrento has some amazing restaurants and as I always do in Italy, I accompanied each meal with the restaurants house wine as they all take such a pride in selecting their house wines. We also visited A Puteca E Masanielloas for our lunch one day as this had been recommended to us. Nello greeted us and fed us over the course of the next few hours in his amazing Puteca (or shop) – no menus just amazing food recommended by Nello which he serves in between serving his many local customers in his busy shop. Well worth a visit. We arranged a day visit to Capri and you can either visit independently as we did, or you can arrange an organised trip. An organised trip does allow you to see and be informed far better about this beautiful island. We made our way there using the regular ferries from Sorrento and then purchased funicular and bus tickets as we went along visiting Capri town and Anacapri. The wealth on display on this small island is amazing with practically every major luxury brand on sale on the island. I loved my visit to Capri, especially people watching from the various cafes that we visited – amazing place. The following day we had arranged an organised tour along the Amalfi coast, our small group included another three couples from the USA and Colombia and Monica, our super driver/guide. This coastline is beautiful and well worth a day trip. Our first stop was the beautiful Positano where we had an hour to explore this amazing village with it steep narrow streets – I would love to return here. Then it was off to Amalfi itself via Praiano and Conca dei Marina. Amalfi itself was very busy and filled with lots of interesting lanes and streets full of shops. After a spot of lunch in Scala we were off to our final stop at Ravello – a town I have always wanted to visit after helping to organise a wedding there a few years ago. It is a beautiful village with amazing views, and I can see why so many want to get married here. Unfortunately, our last couple of days were wet, so we got on our waterproofs, borrowed an umbrella from the hotel and made the most of exploring Sorrento even more. This including finding the Pizzeria where the Italians themselves eat at – not fancy but great pizza and prices - Pizzeria da Franco. Overall, I loved my week in Sorrento and wished that I could have stayed longer although my waistline would disagree! We had some amazing meals in fabulous restaurants, met some wonderful people and enjoyed amazing hospitality all in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. Please let me know if I can help you or your friends plan an amazing trip here.

26 April 2019

One of the real growth areas in ocean cruising has been expedition cruising – cruises that take you to exotic new locations away from the usual ports of call. Areas such as Antarctica, the Galapagos and the Arctic have all seen a large increase in visitors on these ships. Expedition ships tend to be a lot smaller so they can visit the smaller destinations that they specialise in, but many offer some amazing luxury with lots included. What differentiates expedition cruising from traditional cruising is the relationship between voyages and ports. Instead of a cruise director and staff, expedition ships are led by an expedition team with the support of naturalists, and education rather than entertainment becomes the key experience. Also aboard an expedition ship schedules and stops may change to take advantage of weather, sea conditions and wildlife sightings. It is clearly not for everyone with the extensive use of Zodiac inflatable crafts as opposed to docks and tenders. Demand for this type of cruising is high so prices tend to be as well, but the experiences offered are simply amazing. One of the bigger operators in expedition cruising is Hurtigruten. This company, famous for its Norwegian coastal voyages, has been exploring polar regions since 1896. They give you the opportunity to view wildlife, culture and incredible scenery from pole to pole. From the polar bears of Svalbard in the north to the penguins of Antarctica in a fleet of advanced expedition ships. But it is not just the polar areas that they operate to, expedition cruises also visit North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe and the famed North-West Passage. Some of the new ships that Hurtigruten are developing for their expedition fleet are hybrid which reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions considerably. It is not just Hurtigruten who offer these cruises National Geographic (in conjunction with Ponant Cruises); Silversea; G Adventures and Celebrity Xpedition all offer a variety of expedition cruises. If you would like to discuss expedition cruises in greater depth to decide if it is the right thing for you, just give me a call.

14 March 2019

Cruising – the fastest growing travel sector. Last year a record 1.8 million people from the UK and Ireland went on a cruise. This was a 9% increase on the previous year and the biggest rise in 7 years. There was a 12% increase on passengers beginning their cruise in the UK and fly-cruise clients were up by almost 5%. The Mediterranean remains the top destination for us, but more people than ever before visited the UK and Ireland through one of the 57 cruise ports dotted around these islands. River cruising also continues to grow with an increase of 8% on the previous year. This growth maybe surprising to some, but not to me, as all cruise lines focus on looking after their clients and providing real hospitality in order to get them to return again and again. Contrast this with most airlines and airports who seem to treat their passengers poorly and only by low prices can they entice them to travel with them again. Most regular cruise clients that book with me tend to return to the same cruise line year after year, as the cruise lines themselves create a loyalty which would be the envy of any airline. Cruising offers relaxed and informal holidays at sea and whilst there is no need to dress for dinner – there are some who offer this for clients who want it. The average age of cruisers continues to drop and especially so on some of the new ships which are filled family-friendly facilities. There are ships designed for couples, families with young children or teenagers, or for multi-generational breaks keeping grandparents, parents and kids all entertained and having fun. I recognised the growth in cruise holidays quite a number of years ago and since then I have trained regularly with all the cruise lines to ensure that I know their products, and which is the best product for my clients I am very proud of the certificates and qualifications, not least of which is my CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) Master Certification, one of only a handful of Travel Consultants who have achieved this. In addition, I have cruised on 8 different ships as well as having visited more than 25 other ships whilst they have been in port. There is quite a lot of jargon and terms used in regard to cruising that many first-time cruisers may be unfamiliar with. I love helping and advising clients about their first cruise and ensuring that they have an amazing time. So, if you ever would like to try a cruise for the first or if you would like any advice or help on the best cruise for you (even if you have experienced some already) then just give me a call.

13 February 2019

Too often people get so focused on the price that they forget everything that goes with it. Travel is still a complicated purchase to make - I know because even using all the amazing tools I have, it is still complicated! For example, is it better to book the flights that I am pricing for my client through the airline's own website, or using a GDS (like Galileo) or using a tour operator/flight consolidator? Each of these offer different prices and conditions (some allow booking by deposit although most require full payment) and different levels of support for my clients. I provide the protection as everything I sell is 100% financially guaranteed. Hotels are similar with variety of choices open to me for pricing and booking and many of these choices are not available to the public online. Returning to flights I am concerned that there are now websites which are booking flights which do not connect, nor do they care if their customers are stranded. The only connecting flights I book are with airlines who interline with their own service or with another airline. This provides an easier transfer as usually luggage can be checked through and boarding cards issued for the entire journey, plus providing protection in the event of bad weather/delays. However, there are websites which are showing connecting flights with low cost carriers where clients must physically collect their luggage, enter the country that they are transiting and then check-in all over again in far too short a window for this. This is something that a professional like me will never offer as being an alternative, no matter the cost saving as the risks involved are just too much and I care about my clients’ journey. In addition airlines don't care about where clients are travelling to and whether they can actually get into the country or not, I recently became aware of someone who booked a flight directly with the airline (as that airline was a few pounds cheaper than me on that occasion) the passenger was then refused boarding of his flight in Dublin as he did not have a full six months validity on his passport. Thereby having his trip ruined and struggling to obtain a refund from the airline - as it’s the passenger's responsibility to ensure that they have the correct documentation for their trip. Contrast that with me - I always check passengers documents and the entry requirements for the country that they are travelling to, it is just the way I was taught! I also help my clients obtain the necessary entry requirements such as ESTAs for the USA; eTA for Canada and just recently I helped one of my clients obtain an e-Visa for India. So, when you are looking at prices online remember cheaper does not usually mean best and rather than take risks why not use a travel professional where financial protection, professional travel advice and passport/visa advice is provided as standard.

31 January 2019

When I was younger (not so many years ago) we were told that new technology (and robots) would allow us all much more leisure time – unfortunately this is not the case as more and more people seem to be working even longer hours. Within travel it should have been that the Internet would open lots of amazing opportunities for travellers to plan and book their trips with ease – which unfortunately is just not the case. When we look at planning a trip there is now an information overload with lots of incorrect data. Review sites are unreliable with not only malicious reviews but businesses attempting to manipulate reviews to suit their own needs. Advice sites on social media where people chat about destinations are full of inaccuracies especially when it comes to basic travel advice such as passport, visa and health requirements. With Brexit this basic travel advice will become even more complex as we will have very different entry requirements compared to the rest of the EU as well as for travel to the EU. As for booking a trip, first it is vital to find a website that can be trusted as online travel fraud is costing consumers millions of pounds every year in the UK alone. But even if you do find the correct one to book with, the process of making a booking is becoming so complicated. Once upon a time if you booked a flight, this included a seat, luggage and a meal or a snack. As every airline offered the same it was easy to compare one airline with another. Now with unbundled airfares all these components are priced separately, and each airline charges a different amount for these – so it is very difficult to obtain a direct comparison. In addition, there has been a huge increase in ‘hand-luggage’ only airfares. These new (principally transatlantic) airfares do not allow customers to purchase a bag and force them to pay perhaps hundreds of pounds to the next available fare if they require a suitcase. I can see a lot of problems this Summer at airports where people have purchased these fares. Finally, more so than ever before there is a huge need for customers to be protected – more important now than ever before as travel becomes ever more complex. Protection should be complete. The reason I chose to be a Travel Counsellor was first and foremost the complete financial protection that I could offer all my clients. In addition, we have a 24/7 Duty Office so clients can be helped at anytime and anywhere in the world. Travel insurance is essential for every traveller and finally travel advice should be professional and backed up by training and experience – you would not ask an unqualified stranger for personal financial advice, yet many plan holidays and trips using complete strangers for travel advice. I always use this quote when people mention what they have seen online - "Don't believe everything you read on the internet." ~Abraham Lincoln So the moral of this blog is - to obtain a better all-round travel experience use a professional, like me!

03 December 2018

Recently I was invited by Belfast International Airport and visitBerlin to take part on a short FAM trip to Berlin. I was really looking forward to my visit as it has been a number of years since I had last visited and I knew that there had been many changes from feedback to me from my clients who had visited. We were given a busy itinerary and using a Berlin WelcomeCard for museum admission and public transport, so I could experience the city in the same way that my clients would. The group all met at Belfast International Airport where we used the bag-drop for our low-cost airline flight and then used the fast-track security before having a coffee in the Causeway Lounge. As we had priority boarding it was an easy walk on to the aircraft for our short flight to Berlin Schonefeld. We were then met by our private transfer and taken to our hotel for the next three nights – Courtyard Berlin City Centre. This modern hotel is well situated just a few minutes away from Spittelmarkt U-Bahn station and about 10 minutes walk from Checkpoint Charlie. As well as a great location this hotel offers good, spacious rooms and is ideal for exploring Germany’s capital. After a late lunch we set off that evening our first visit to the Brandenburg Gate Museum, taking the U-Bahn. This museum located near the famous Brandenburg Gate offers a unique perspective on the last 300 years of Berlin history through high-tech screens and an amazing sound system. From there we took a bus to the Brauhaus Lemke where we had a tour of this micro-brewery and then a great meal including Weiner Schnitzel – lovely! The following morning a sightseeing tour had been arranged whose main topic was about the Berlin Wall which fell nearly 30 years ago. This fascinating tour included the Berlin Wall Memorial where part of the wall is preserved along with the stories of the people who had to live through this. Afterwards we had lunch (Currywurst) in the revolving restaurant at the TV Tower – unfortunately low cloud prevented us from getting any of the amazing views that this restaurant is famous for. Lunch was followed by a visit to the New Museum on Museums Island, where despite the name this is the Museum where ancient antiquities are displayed including their highlight - the bust of Nefertiti! After a quick change we were out again and this time it was for an early dinner at the acht&dreißig (38) restaurant. After a super meal we were off to see the show VIVID at Friedrichstadt-Palast. This musical revue in a mixture of German and English is famous for the amazing costumes and stage sets. Afterwards we found a great Cuban bar – QBA with live music and a super atmosphere to finish our evening. Next morning off we headed (again taking the U-Bahn) to the concept mall Bikini Berlin. This unique mall is a haven for new designers as well as having a terrace where you overlook the monkey enclosure at the zoo. If you are in this area of an evening, I would recommend you visit the Monkey Bar or NENI restaurant next door for spectacular views. We then took the U-Bahn to the Kreuzfeld area for a walking food tour. This visit included craft beers, tofu, dumplings and Goldies Berlin – which is probably the most ‘unique’ chip shop I have ever visited. After our tour we had a free hour and I took the opportunity to visit the Topography of Terror exhibition which is a place of remembrance on the site of the old Gestapo HQ building. This is a chilling exhibition highlighting the crimes committed during the 2nd World War but well worth a visit. For our last evening we had dinner in the popular Night Kitchen followed by dancing at Clärchens Ballhaus. The latter was just amazing – live music and something for all ages combined with great service and a wonderful atmosphere, if you are in Berlin definitely visit, the queue to get in is worth it. I thoroughly enjoyed my Berlin visit, I want to return and would definitely recommend it as a short break to everyone, and for getting about do purchase a Berlin WelcomeCard.

12 November 2018

Hi all, I have just returned from the Travel Counsellors Annual Conference which was held in Glasgow for the first time. It was great returning to Glasgow where I lived before moving to Northern Ireland and it gave me the opportunity to travel to Fife to visit my family for a few days prior to the Conference. For this trip we booked a ferry to have the convenience of having our own car with us (do let me know if I can help you with your ferry reservation and there are some great hotel and ferry deals that I can source). So after a couple of days with family and sightseeing in Fife it was off to Glasgow. By the way, if you have never visited my home kingdom yet then you really should make plans. The beautiful fishing villages of the East Neuk and the amazing Royal Burgh of St Andrews (Home of Golf, Scotland's oldest university and former capital of Scotland) are all brilliant and well worth a visit. The Travel Counsellors conference is a great opportunity to meet my colleagues from around the world, network with some of our biggest suppliers and learn about developments being planned for our business. In addition, we have some of the most motivational speakers in the world. The first afternoon was filled with great workshops to help us all improve our skills and business, and this was followed by our dinner and entertainment, the highlights of which were Craig David and a 'Silent Disco' - all great fun. Down to business the next morning and some real inspiration was provided by our CEO Steve Byrne and then the amazing journey of Nisha Katona who founded Mowgli Street Food. We also heard from the brilliant Dr Paul Redmond on the differences between the generations and how best to communicate to them. Then we had our annual Pow Wow where hundreds of our suppliers, including airlines, cruise companies (ocean and river), hotels, DMCs, tourist boards, car rental companies and tour operators are all represented and where I can grow my contacts as well as learning about any new products or developments. There are some amazing travel products out there and I love hearing about new products to offer to all my wonderful clients. That evening was the Annual Gala Dinner where the best worldwide TC performers are recognised with awards and where we were entertained by the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Marti Pellow (of Wet Wet Wet fame). The following morning was one of the highlights that I had been looking forward to and it did not disappoint. The amazing Sir Chris Hoy and his journey to becoming one of our greatest Olympians - amazing! We also learned about our continuing development of technology and I would urge all my customers to download the MyTC app - which is just getting better and better! So after an amazing few days it was the drive back to the ferry (via beautiful Portpatrick for a bite to eat). #Ilovemyjob

30 October 2018

I was lucky enough to win a prize of a five-night stay at the Hard Rock Hotel in Tenerife in a trade competition held earlier this year. I decided to extend my stay by adding a few nights at the brand new 5* Royal Hideaway Corales Beach. It has been several years since I was last in Tenerife, so I was really looking forward to returning. My wife and I flew out from Belfast with one of the low-cost airlines where I had pre-paid for luggage and priority boarding so the whole process from bag-drop to boarding went smoothly with little fuss or queuing. On arrival at Tenerife airport I made my way to the transfer desk where I had booked a private transfer to our first hotel. Again, without any queues we were escorted right away to our private transfer which was a 20-seater coach – just for the two of us! Very quickly we were at our “home” for the first three nights of our holiday – the beautiful Royal Hideaway Corales Beach. This beautiful five-star hotel has two separate parts – the family friendly Royal Hideaway Corales Suites and the adult only Royal Hideaway Corales Beach. After a quick check-in we were shown to our amazing room, a Junior Suite Sea Front Panoramic View which was beautiful with wonderful views to the sea over the village of La Caleta. After unpacking we walked the short walk into La Caleta for our dinner that evening – this is a lovely little village with a good choice of restaurants around a small bay. We found a nice waterside restaurant to have a relaxing meal. Whilst walking afterwards we met another couple who recommended some of the other restaurants for our stay. The next day we just wanted to relax and used the rooftop pool (there are two pools to choose from in the adult only Corales Beach). A very relaxing day was followed by another great meal in La Caleta recommended by the couple we met. The next day feeling a bit more energetic we took a walk along the coastal path (it is possible to walk all the way from La Caleta to Los Cristianos via Costa Adeje and Playa de las Americas). It was a great walk and after a stop for a spot of lunch we then took a taxi back to our hotel for around €13. I really enjoyed my stay at Royal Hideaway Corales Beach, we received excellent service, an amazing breakfast every morning and a real opportunity to unwind in the peace and quiet offered by the hotel and La Caleta village. I would recommend this to anyone wanting a quiet lovely resort to relax, but also handy enough for the busier parts of the Costa Adeje (if required). All too soon it was time to move on for our next stay at the Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife. I had been so looking forward to my stay here as I had some clients who had stayed earlier in the year and really enjoyed it. Following our short taxi ride from La Caleta to Playa Paraiso we were soon at the hotel where a VIP check-in had been arranged along with a room upgrade. On check-in we were given our ‘smart’ bracelets, which not only act as your room key but also allow you to charge meals and drinks to your room. You keep a tally on your bill using your interactive TV. The Hard Rock Hotel has two towers, the Oasis and Nirvana and our beautiful sea-view room was on the 15th floor of the Oasis looking towards the sea and the Nirvana tower. We had a late lunch after our arrival in one of the many restaurants in Playa Paraiso and then made our way to the 16th floor (the rooftop bar on the Nirvana tower) for the spectacular sunset over La Gomera and the entertainment that accompanied this. The biggest difference between the Hard Rock Hotel and our previous hotel was the amount of entertainment provided at the Hard Rock Hotel, with music throughout the hotel and live acts performing every night. The hotel has three pools, the Oasis and the Beach Club (for families) the Nirvana (adults only) all with great sun loungers and a super bar and snack service. The next morning after a superb breakfast I walked along the coastal path to the nearby village of Callao Salvaje which is only about 15 minutes away, before returning to another day of relaxing and enjoying the great music by the pool at our hotel. The following day we decided to do a little more exploring and took the local bus from right outside our hotel all the way to the end of the route at Los Cristianos and then walked part of the way back through Playa de las Americas. Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas are of course more commercialised and busier resorts, but so convenient to visit if you would like to do some shopping or to have a change of scenery. The rest of our holiday followed a similar pattern with relaxing by the pool interspersed with short trips to other parts of the Coast Adeje. Most evenings after dinner we would spend time in the lobby bar listening to the great musical acts that entertained us each night. Unfortunately, soon it was time to return home. Our per-arranged private transfer (again a large coach) whisked us back to the airport where we returned on a different low-cost airline to a cold Belfast. We had a wonderful time in Tenerife and the weather was excellent – at a time when sunshine cannot be guaranteed around the Mediterranean, it was hot for our entire visit. We did have some cloudy days but most of the time glorious sunshine! I loved returning to Tenerife and if you would like to visit, do give me a call and we can have a chat about planning your ideal Tenerife experience.

29 May 2018

On to Philadelphia where we quickly checked into our home for the next two nights the Cambrai Hotel and Suites, Philadelphia. As soon as we arrived we were straight out for a lovely dinner at the contemporary Asian restaurant – Sampan. Our next day was packed with much of what Philadelphia has to offer, starting with breakfast at High Street on Market followed by a walking tour of historic Philadelphia including the Liberty Bell, Carpenters’ Hall and Independence Hall. After our walk we joined an open-top bus tour which took us to Eastern State Penitentiary and then the famous Art Museum Steps (better known as the ‘Rocky Steps’). Our lunch was at Reading Terminal Market which is home to 80 renowned merchants and where I had a super Philly Cheese Steak. To walk off those calories our afternoon walking tour allowed us to explore the world’s largest art gallery, the Philadelphia Murals. To continue the art theme, we then visited The Barnes Foundation which houses one of the finest private collections of French-Modern and Postimpressionist paintings in the world. Our very busy day in Philadelphia was rounded off with a super dining cruise on the Spirit of Philadelphia. I really enjoyed my short visit to Philadelphia and would recommend it as an alternative to New York for a short break or from where to start a USA touring holiday. After a quick visit to Macy’s early the next morning we were off to our final destination of this trip and another highlight – Nashville. On arrival at Nashville we were taken to our hotels for the next two nights and I was staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Nashville Vanderbilt which was within easy reach of the city centre. That first night in Nashville, all the groups who had been exploring other parts of the USA met for the first time at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum where there was a chance to listen to live music, have some dinner and see all the amazing memorabilia. After dinner we had our first opportunity to visit some of the Honky Tonk bars on Broadway which was a great experience with live music in them all. The next day we started with a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum which tells the story of Country Music and has some amazing exhibits. We were then treated to a music master-class by Carter and Barny Robertson who were in Waylon Jennings band. We also visited Historic RCA Studio B famed for many Elvis recordings – and now one of mine. As a group we recorded a track, although I don’t see a future as a recording artist for me! Lunch was at Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint (yummy) and we also visited the Johnny Cash Museum and Ryman Auditorium. Our day finished with a songwriters evening at Ole Red where they also have a wonderful roof-top bar. Our last day was spent visiting the Gaylord Opryland Hotel – this super resort is right next to The Grand Old Opry where we had a Backstage Tour and the Opry Mills Mall which was our last stop before catching the inaugural British Airways flight from Nashville to Heathrow. There was great deal of interest in this new flight and I was even interviewed for TV by WKRN Nashville – blink and you will miss it. Nashville really is 'Music City' and somewhere I will have to visit again, great people, amazing nightlife and real Southern hospitality. Overall, I had a wonderful trip to parts of the USA that I had never visited before and would recommend a similar trip (albeit with a bit more time to really enjoy these destinations) to friends, family and clients. Why not give me a call to help you plan your next USA trip?

29 May 2018

I was lucky this year to win a place on the annual event Brand USA Mega-Fam, which helps travel agents grow their USA product knowledge. Seven groups from the UK and Ireland explore different parts of the USA before all meeting up in one destination to compare what they have learned. I chose the Capital Culture itinerary as I had not visited any of these areas before and I was also looking forward to visiting the host city of Nashville for the Mega-Fam finale. After an early morning flight from Belfast City to Heathrow I met the rest of my group at Terminal 5 at the start of our action-packed itinerary. After checking in for my British Airways flight to Washington Dulles, I was delighted to discover that the whole group and I had been upgraded to fly out Club World. I had one of the rear facing seats on the BA 747, with lots of room and great service and it seems like it was no time before I was arriving into Washington DC. I wish I could always fly with this level of comfort. On arrival we were transferred by shuttle to our hotel the Intercontinental Washington DC – The Wharf. This brand-new hotel which only opened in October is at the new District Wharf area. This is a great area to stay when visiting DC, with bars and restaurants overlooking a marina on the Potomac River. After a busy day sightseeing in Washington DC you do not have to travel far for a relaxing evening. We were however straight out (after checking into our rooms) to a pre-arranged dinner in the Georgetown area. The following morning, we were up early and off to visit the Trump International Hotel – Washington DC for breakfast and a tour. This hotel housed in the old Post Office building has been tastefully restored and converted into a beautiful five-star hotel. After an excellent breakfast it was time to tour Washington DC and we did this from an open-top bus. We saw loads of the iconic sights before leaving our bus at the Lincoln Memorial. From there we then walked to The White House (where Angela Merkel was visiting the President) before heading on to our lunch at Hill Country BBQ. After lunch it was time for more sightseeing and I was lucky enough to visit the Air and Space Museum where our expert guide Joe, took us around the history of flight and space in a couple of hours. A short walk took us back to our hotel to get ready for our evening at a ball game. We were off to the baseball to see the Washington Nationals (or Nats) against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The atmosphere in the stadium was great and even though the Nats lost 5-4 you would not have thought so from the bands and dancing in the streets after the game. A great evening of entertainment and one I suggest you try if you get the chance. The next morning, we said goodbye to Washington DC and headed off towards Richmond, Virginia via the charming town of Fredericksburg which is about halfway. On arrival at Fredericksburg we had a super lunch at the wonderful Billikens Smokehouse before visiting some of the local attractions. This small town is full of history and character. The main street has an eclectic choice of stores, with no chain stores. We also visited George Washington’s Ferry Farm which is a reconstruction of the first Presidents’ boyhood home and the award-winning A. Smith Bowman Distillery for a tasting and a tour. This is a charming town and well worth a visit on a fly-drive itinerary. Soon we were on our way towards Richmond where we stayed at the Graduate Hotel Richmond. This is a super hip hotel which is famous for its roof bar and great views over the city. As soon as we arrived it was time for us to go on a walking food tour of the Scott’s Addition part of the city, which included a cider tasting, dinner at ZZQ for our BBQ dinner and then a visit to Gelati Celesti for ice-cream. After dinner I visited the hotels rooftop bar – The Byrd House for a nightcap. We were up early the next morning for one of the highlights of the trip – a Segway tour from the historic Shockoe Slip area to Carytown seeing Richmond’s growing street art as well as some of its history. Carytown is a lovely neighbourhood with lots of unique stores (similar in some ways to Fredericksburg) as well as great eating places. We had lunch at East Coast Provisions which was great. Then it was time to leave Richmond after a far too short visit and head towards the Shenandoah National Park. This beautiful park is quite rightly regarded as a national treasure and includes 105 miles of skyline drive covering the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are more than 500 miles of hiking trails within the park including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail. We stayed at Skyland Resort which at 3,680ft is Skyline Drive’s highest point. The next morning, we had an early start as we had a lot to pack in this day. After breakfast we were met by a Park Ranger who took us on a short hike on the Stony Man Trail to a super lookout over the town off Luray below. This was our next destination to visit the famous Luray Caverns. This great attraction is well worth a visit to see the amazing stalagmites and stalactites reflected in clear shallow pools. After lunch at the beautiful Mimslyn Inn we were off to Philadelphia (via Baltimore) a drive that would take us through five different states (Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania). We had a brief stop in Baltimore to visit the beautiful Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, this hotel on a restored pier is a wonderful boutique hotel for anyone visiting Baltimore.

01 November 2017

After around two hours we arrived at Philip Island and our first activity was on the Phillip Island Nature Park Eco boat cruise. After an exhilarating high-speed trip along the coast we reached the protected islet where one of the largest seal colonies makes its home. It was great to see these great creatures relaxing and swimming near our boat. Then we returned to Cowes to check into our accommodation for the evening in the lovely Phillip Island Apartments which are ideal for families planning to spend some time on the island. That evening we were off to see one of the highlights of our trip the nightly Penguin Parade as the little penguins make their way from the sea to their burrows after dusk. This is a great experience and the penguins are so comical especially some who have perhaps ate to much whilst out at sea. I thoroughly recommend you visit here, but make sure you wrap up warm for those colder Victorian nights. The following morning after breakfast we were again on the move, this time heading for the Mornington Peninsula (about an hour away). Our first stop was the Moonlit Sanctuary where we could meet and feed kangaroos and wallabies as well as getting up close with Koalas and see the work that the sanctuary is doing to preserve endangered species. After this we visited the Montalto Winery for lunch and an opportunity to taste their wares. I recommend their Pinot Gris and their Pinot Noir! After lunch we visited the Arthurs Seat Gondola Ride and then headed for the Peninsula Hot Springs. At the Hot Springs you can experience many different bathing experiences and we were fortunate enough to have a guide who showed us how to get the best from many of these, all in lovely hot spring water. This evening we spent in the lovely Quarters which is part of the Flinders Hotel. What was special as well was from the balcony of our lovely room we could see a Koala in the tree just a few yards away. Another early breakfast and we were on our way again this time heading for the Great Ocean Road. Burt first off we had to get off the Mornington Peninsula and we did this by crossing from Sorrento to Queenscliff on the Searoad ferry. This 40-minute crossing avoids having to travel all the way around Port Phillip bay which would take many hours. After a great crossing we had a site inspection at the Big4 Beacon resort before heading on to Barwon Heads and lunch. Our lunch was At the Heads which is located at the river mouth and perfect venue with great views, great service and a great menu. After lunch we were started touring the Great Ocean Road and the spectacular views which go with it. Our first stop was the town of Lorne where we had a site inspection of the Cumberland Resort Hotel. Lorne is an ideal stopping point and a great lively little town to spend some time in. Soon we were on our way again with our next stop being the amazing 12 Apostles, great rock stacks that rise from the Southern Ocean. They are an amazing sight from the great viewing platform. That evening we stayed in Warrnambool at the Lady Bay Resort. The following morning, we had breakfast at the Pavilion where we could see race horse being exercised on the beach and the small Middle Island (made famous from the movie Oddball and the Penguins). Soon we were off again and our first stop was the Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, where we had more opportunities to spend time with local wildlife before making our way into the Grampians National Park. Lunch was at the famous Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld before heading off to see Mackenzie Falls. After Mackenzie Falls we headed up to the Boroka Lookout which gives amazing views over the whole area. This evening (our last in Australia) we spent at Lakeside Tourist Park, Halls Gap. After breakfast at the Harvest Café we had site inspections of two alternative accommodations in Halls Gap – DULC and the luxury Boroka Downs, both very impressive properties. Then we visited Seppelt Wines for a wine tasting arranged with six local wineries. Amongst some wonderful wines my personal favourite was Cliff Edge Shiraz. Prior to heading for the airport, we could add in one last attraction and that was to Sovereign Hill just outside Ballarat. This living museum recreates Ballarat during the height of the 19th Century Gold Rush and is great fun as well as being informative, with a real insight into life back then as well as the opportunity to pan for gold. All too soon it was back to the airport for our long flight home, my connection at Singapore was less than an hour allowing just enough time to walk from one end of the terminal to the other before boarding. Again, the Singapore Airlines service was wonderful with great meals and super service. All in all, I had a wonderful time in Australia and saw and experienced so much – I would love to help you have your perfect trip ‘down-under’ so give me a call.

25 October 2017

As an Australian Specialist I was this year invited by Tourism Australia to attend their Corroboree on the Gold Coast. The Corroboree (from the aboriginal word for gathering) involves around 300 Australian Specialists from around the world meeting with key suppliers in Australia before going on a Famil trip to key destinations. My destination was to be Melbourne and Victoria for ‘the ultimate road trip’. My flight to the Gold Coast was with Singapore Airlines and I had a super flight to Singapore enjoying their wonderful hospitality and great inflight entertainment. My onward flight to Coolangatta was with Scoot (a low- cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines) but my luggage was checked all the way through from London. Singapore’s Changi Airport remains one of the greatest transit airports in the world and if you ever have a few hours between flights it is better here than almost anywhere else. After leaving London on Saturday evening I arrived in Coolangatta early on Monday morning. A short transfer later and I was at my hotel, home for the next few days – The Star Gold Coast. This large hotel with its own casino and is ideal for conferences as it is connected by a walkway to the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre (where the Corroboree was taking place). Soon after checking in I was off on my first sightseeing trip I was visiting MovieWorld. This theme park is smaller than what you would see in Florida but great fun for all the family with three huge big dippers being the main draw. There is also a great afternoon parade with lots of your favourite characters for photo opportunities. After a very enjoyable afternoon, it was back to the hotel to meet some of my fellow travellers and try and catch up on some sleep. The following morning, we were divided into different groups to experience the Gold Coast as a destination. Our group were taken to Point Danger on the New South Wales border and then to Kirra Point for surfing and bodyboarding lessons – all great fun. Lunch then was at Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club where we learned all about the network of Surf Life Saving Clubs as well as having a super lunch. After lunch we visited Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary where I got to meet some of the cute locals, including Parley the Koala who I got photographed with as well as hearing about the work taking place in the animal hospital to save animals caught up in accidents. After returning to our hotel we had a few minutes to freshen up before attending the Welcome Function which took place in a huge marquee set up on Surfers Paradise beach. This was an amazing event where we entertained with music, food and hospitality before finishing early before 9pm as we had a busy few days ahead. The next three days followed the same pattern. Basically, this consisted of 10-minute meetings with over 100 suppliers from throughout Australia including hoteliers, tour operators, airlines, transfer and attraction companies as well as all the individual states and territories. This was quite an intense few days but probably the best way to meet so many diverse and different companies. In the evenings there were a variety of venues for dinner, these being Burleigh Brewing Co. where food trucks were available; BMD Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club, where I had great fish and chips and finally our farewell event which was held in a Marquee at our hotel. So, after an intense few days I am now even better prepared to plan my client’s Australian holidays with a huge contact list for the whole continent. After saying our farewells to people, we met on the Gold Coast is was up bright and early for our Virgin Australia flight from Coolangatta to Melbourne. After a smooth flight and quickly collecting our luggage we made our way to St Kilda. This suburb of Melbourne has a great beach and a bohemian feel to it with quirky shops and restaurants. Our group had a super lunch here before heading back to central Melbourne and overnight stay in the Melbourne Short Stay Apartments on Lonsdale Street. This is a great alternative to a hotel stay and ideal for larger groups and families. Then we were off to see the sunset from the Eureka Skydeck on Melbourne’s tallest building. Following which we had a lovely walk through the bustling riverside area before our dinner in Gazi, a Greek restaurant. After a lovely meal it was back to our apartments using the trams (which are free within Melbourne’s Central Business District). Up early the next morning we took a tram to get to Federation Square (the heart of Melbourne) again there was a great atmosphere as the Melbourne Marathon was taking place. From here we took a walking tour exploring Melbourne’s famous lanes and arcades an experience I would thoroughly recommend. All too soon we were on our way out of the city on our way to Phillip Island, I really enjoyed my short visit to Melbourne and would love to return some day.

22 August 2017

I was very fortunate recently to be invited by Fred Olsen Cruises to take part on one of their Educational Trips on a short cruise around the British Isles. Having sold Fred Olsen Cruises personally for many years I was really looking forward to experiencing their service for myself. I was lucky enough to be able to board my home for the next five nights – the Balmoral from my home port of Belfast. So after a busy morning at work, I made my way to the port of Belfast. Boarding was relatively straightforward and very soon I was in my Balcony Junior Suite on Deck 9. My first impressions of both my Suite and the ship, in general, were ‘WOW’ and far better than I had expected! There was plenty of room in my Suite and on my Balcony to relax in and loads of storage room to unpack my case into. After unpacking I explored the ship taking in the great public areas before stopping for a refreshment in the Marquee Bar looking back to the Sun Deck. There was a lovely mixture of guests onboard with quite a number of families with young children. Soon it was time to meet my hosts and fellow travel agent guests and after a welcome drink, we had dinner (we were booked for the late sitting) in the Avon Restaurant. Our first meal set the standard for all our meals onboard – it was super, with a great menu choice and served excellently by the attentive waiting staff. After dinner, it was off for the evening show followed by a nightcap. Our next day we were spending a short time in Dublin. Fortunately, the ship had made ticket arrangements for the shuttle buses to reduce the amount of queues quayside for all guests. After a short exploration of Dublin, we were off then to our next port of call – Falmouth. We were also very fortunate this evening to be given a tour of the bridge – it always amazes me the amount of technology that cruise ships have at their disposal to ensure that all their guests are as safe as possible. Later this evening the theme was British Night, where guests were encouraged to dress wearing red, white and blue (guests of other nationalities were welcome to represent their own homelands if they prefer). With a sing-a-long before dinner (songs from throughout the British Isles), a themed British menu and then a themed British show after dinner it was all great fun. The evening show with music and dancing throughout the pop era from the 60’s until now was particularly well done and entertaining. For Falmouth, we had a pre-booked excursion to the Eden Project planned. As we did not have to depart right away for our trip I was able to have a quick walk around Falmouth and what a super town it is. I would have really enjoyed spending more time exploring here, but we were soon off to the Eden Project. What an amazing experience this is with a Tropical Biome and a Mediterranean Biome both situated in a crater in the middle of the Cornish countryside. This amazing park was very busy when we visited (height of the school holidays) and I feel I would really need to return to see it fully. However just to see this park for such a short visit was still an amazing experience and I can see why visitors return again and again. That evening we also had a special treat, dining in The Grill – this restaurant specialises in steaks and I must say that my aged Fillet Steak was wonderful. Our next morning we docked in Portland and I took the shuttle bus into visit Weymouth, another town I had never visited before. I really loved this resort town with its great beach and busy marina and harbour. Also a great shopping town and just so much going on, another place that I shall have to return to. Once back on board it was time to dress for our formal night and the Captain’s drinks party. We had another super meal in the Avon restaurant followed by the show. For our last full day at sea, our hosts had organised a fun training session for us on Fred Olsen followed by a treasure hunt throughout the ship following some cryptic clues. The North Sea was very flat - like a mill pond for our last full day and whilst packing to leave the following morning I really did not want to get off the Balmoral. Overall I had a marvellous time on the Fred Olsen Balmoral and would definitely recommend it for many of my clients – call me and I will have a chat with you to see if you will enjoy it as much as I did?

28 June 2017

I was recently invited by Icelandair to experience their new service from Belfast City to Iceland and beyond to North America. The opportunity to visit Iceland and Edmonton (two places that I had never visited) really excited me and I was delighted to participate. The first part of my journey was from Belfast City to Keflavik on an Air Iceland Bombardier Q400. Air Iceland is the sister airline to Icelandair and as well as flying from Belfast City they also fly from Aberdeen and handle all Iceland’s domestic flights and those to Greenland. Unfortunately this aircraft does not have seat back entertainment systems but all passengers are offered a mini iPad with entertainment already pre-loaded for the flight. Icelandair service is similar to a low-cost airline with only tea, coffee and water provided complimentary and all meals, snacks and drinks paid for on-board (using credit or debit cards as they operate a cashless system). Connections at Keflavik are handled very efficiently and quickly and with almost the entire Icelandair fleet arriving and then departing soon after, missing a connection is almost impossible. One huge advantage in travelling transatlantic with Icelandair is the opportunity to stopover in Iceland (this is included in the cost of all tickets). I was fortunate that I was able to spend around 24 hours in this fascinating island. On arrival at Keflavik I quickly passed through passport control and collected my luggage. The pre-arranged transfer took me straight to the famous Blue Lagoon. This huge geothermal pool complex is one the major attractions in Iceland, with the water always lovely and warm despite the season it is easy to see why. There are also a whole host treatments available. I settled for liberally spreading some of the volcanic mud on my face to help clear my pores and a local beer from the pool side bar. After an enjoyable hour or so in the Blue Lagoon, I then transferred to my hotel for the night – Hilton Reykjavik Nordica. This lovely modern hotel is slightly out of the city centre but has some super views out to sea as well as being super hotel. After checking out my room it was time to visit the city centre for dinner at Caruso. This Italian restaurant was just the start of what was an epic few days for me in terms of amazing food experiences. At this time of year (June) Iceland does not really get dark “the land of the midnight sun” really does exist! Unfortunately without using blackout curtains it makes it difficult to get a full night’s sleep, and it felt like I had none before heading out to see the real Iceland outside the capital. My Golden Circle tour offered me the opportunity to maximise my short time in Iceland and see some of this island’s unique character. My tour first of all took me to Pingvellir National Park. It is here that you can see the two huge continental plates (Eurasian and American) slowly moving apart and it is here that the Icelandic parliament first met in 930AD. After a short time walking through this park, and discovering the history it was on to see the erupting Strokkur Geysir, where every few minutes you are rewarded by this fascinating eruption. Nearby is also the amazing Gullfoss and its Golden waterfall – very impressive indeed! All too soon it was time to leave this fascinating island and head onwards to Canada. I was dropped off at the airport and quickly checked in for my six hour flight to Edmonton. The airport at Keflavik is compact and easy to navigate and even with all the flights arriving and leaving at similar times it did not feel as busy as other large hub airports like Heathrow. On the flight to Edmonton I took full advantage of the onboard entertainment system, watching a movie, listening to some music as well as keeping progress on the journey using the ‘moving map’. I was also able to contact home using the on-board WiFi which is available for a small fee. On arrival into Edmonton I collected my luggage and made the short walk to the Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel where I was staying for my first night in the city. Here I also met my hosts from Edmonton Tourism who were to show me their fabulous city over the next few days. After a super dinner in HALO bar and bistro in the hotel, where I also had my first pierogi it was time to catch up on some sleep for a busy first full day. Our first full day in Edmonton also coincided with our worst day weather wise on the trip. It is important to plan what clothes to bring for visiting Alberta as the weather can be changeable, just like here at home! Fortunately I had waterproof shoes and long trousers for the first visit of the day (in the rain) to Elk Island National Park. This park has been key in the successful prevention of bison extinction – from there being only a few thousand left at one point there are now healthy herds throughout North America, much of which is due to work here at the Bison Handling Facility. After a great tour by a wonderful enthusiastic Park Ranger I was then off to visit the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. Much of this part of Alberta was colonised by immigrants from the Ukraine and this open air museum highlights their settlement from 1892-1930 and gives the opportunity to interact with ‘real characters’ from these times. Whilst here I also had lunch which included Ukrainian delicacies such as borscht, perogies, and kovbasa. After lunch I headed downtown and checked in to my hotel for the remainder of my stay the lovely Chateau Lacombe. This downtown centrally located landmark hotel is celebrating its 50th birthday this year (coinciding with Canada’s 150th Celebrations). My room on the 21st floor had impressive views of downtown Edmonton. My next adventure was a Segway tour, and having recently done this in Rome I was really looking forward to another super experience and I was not disappointed. Following this it was out of the city visit Prairie Gardens Adventure Farm. This working farm is becoming a major attraction for many miles around including as a wedding venue. I had an amazing dinner here beginning with Fire Roasters Tasting and all accompanied by great Canadian wines.

28 June 2017

The next morning I was privileged to have breakfast in La Ronde, the revolving restaurant on the top floor of the Chateau Lacombe (which is not usually open for breakfast). After a wonderful breakfast enjoying the great views of Edmonton I was off on my first adventure of the day. This was at Edmonton International Raceway where I was given the opportunity to drive a NASCAR round the track. Following a walk around the track and then some warm-up laps it was off around the track following the pace car driven by a professional race driver – great fun! This was followed with BBQ lunch including super steaks and salad! The next visit was to Rogers Place and the new home of the Edmonton Oilers ice hockey team. I was very impressed by the ‘behind the scenes’ tour of this impressive new stadium and the planned development of the Ice District area of Edmonton. In the evening I was off to the races, Northland Park is the centre for horse racing and it is a great evening’s entertainment with another great meal – this time in Colours Restaurant. Unfortunately lady luck was not on my side when it came to picking a winner, but overall I had a super time. The next morning I planned a walking tour to see as much of downtown Edmonton as I could. After a hearty breakfast I headed up to Sir Winston Churchill Square before heading over to City Market Downtown. This farmers market on 104th Street is vibrant, welcoming and with a great atmosphere. I then walked toward the impressive Alberta Legislative Building (known locally as “the Leg”). It was great to see so many people enjoying this area (including young children playing with the dancing fountains). I then took the High Level Bridge Streetcar (or tram) across the river to Old Strathcona. The streetcar I took had originally plied its trade in Melbourne, Australia and was completely preserved with original Australian adverts inside. Incidentally the conductor on-board hailed originally from Coleraine. After arriving in Old Strathcona I first of all explored the Old Strathcona Framers market, full of food, fun and again a wonderful atmosphere for visitor and residents alike. I then explored the quirky shops on Whytes Avenue – you do not find your chain stores here. Then working up a thirst I visited the busy and popular Situation Brewery where I was able to enjoy a few samples as well as a great chat with the owner about particular beers that he was developing. I enjoyed my walk back across the river to the Chateau Lacombe before heading out for an early dinner at the luxury Fairmont MacDonald. Dinner was on the patio outside, which has a super atmosphere, especially with a wedding reception taking place nearby. After dinner it was off to the Citadel Theatre for an Improvisation Comedy Show – great fun! A few drinks in a local bar ended a great day. On Sunday morning I was off to get a demonstration on how to make the perfect brunch (whilst getting to sample the wares) at Get Cooking hosted by Kathryn Joel and Doreen Prei. Not only did they conjure up this amazing brunch but I then got to sample it fully – yum, yum! Next it was off to Fort Edmonton Park, this park portrays Edmonton through the years, from its early beginning as a fur trading centre to the 1880’s, 1900’s and finally the 1920’s. Interacting with staff in period costume lets you know exactly how life was like in these times. A great fun day out for the whole family. After this it was ‘back to the future’ with a visit to West Edmonton Mall described as the Everest of indoor entertainment, shopping and attractions. Our host met my group on a full scale replica of Christopher Columbus’ Santa Maria, and this was dwarfed by the sheer scale of this place. It is absolutely massive and not only includes over 800 shops but ice rink, casino, movie theatres, an indoor theme park, the world’s largest indoor wave pool, an aquarium and lots of places to eat and drink! Finally it was off for another wonderful dinner this time at Kitchen by Brad where a wonderful tasting menu was prepared in front of my eyes, and it was simply amazing. On my last morning before returning home I had a great breakfast at Little Brick followed by competitive axe throwing at the Rec Room (a great indoor amusement park) – unfortunately I did not win – there are far better axe throwers than me. This was followed by yet another amazing meal with my lunch at Chartier. All too soon it was time to head to the airport for my flights home. I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to Edmonton and found there is loads to see and do in this great city. It really is a ‘foodie paradise’ with loads of amazing restaurants using fantastic local produce to really create a vibrant and exciting restaurant scene. So I would really recommend you include the city in your Canada itinerary. My return flight via Kefvlavik was straightforward with a great connection onto Belfast, luggage being checked straight through. One surprise was that by flying so far North my overnight flight was entirely in daylight - the first time I have ever experienced this returning across the Atlantic.

17 May 2017

Last year I was asked to help organise a wedding in Rome for a nephew and I was delighted to help. I sourced a Wedding Planner to handle all the arrangements and the wedding was arranged to be held in Campidoglio (Rome’s Town Hall) followed by a reception in the countryside outside the city. Being invited to the wedding we arranged to travel out a few days before the wedding to spend some quality time in Rome. Once again Rome did not disappoint, it is a marvellous city to visit, not only for its history but for great wonderful food and hospitality. We flew direct from Dublin to Rome Ciampino with a low cost airline and I had arranged for a private transfer to meet us and take us to our apartment in Central Rome. Arriving in the evening we had a quick look at our apartment before heading out for a lovely pizza for dinner. As usual in Italy I just ordered the house wine and as usual I was delighted with the choice of the restaurant. The following morning we headed out for our pre-arranged Segway tour of Rome. I thoroughly recommend you book this trip if you are visiting. The Segways are a lot of fun but it is also a great way to see the city, especially as you climb some steep hills. Our trip took us pass the Colosseum, the Forum, the Palatine Hill, Circus Maximus and the Campidoglio itself. One particular highlight (which I had never visited before) was the Villa del Priorato di Malta at the top of the Aventine Hill. As well as being huge fun (whatever the weather – it was raining when we started our tour) the great thing about Segways is they cope far better with the hills than my old legs can. Following the recommendation of our Segway guide we walked a few streets to have lunch at L'Antica Birreria Peroni. For an authentic lunch experience, I can thoroughly recommend here, nothing fancy just great food reasonably priced. It is also very popular locally as evidenced by the long queues to get in as we were leaving. We had arrived just after noon, and I suggest you do the same if you want to avoid a queue. We then visited two of our favourite spots in Rome, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. That evening we had another stroll through Trastevere, this is a great neighbourhood, full of local shops and enticing restaurants. After a pleasant stroll we found somewhere we liked the look of and had a great meal. The next morning we headed to the Colosseum for a tour, entry is usually quicker if you are part of a tour group so we had arranged a walking tour of the Colosseum followed by a tour of the Forum. Once again I was fascinated by just how advanced the ancient Romans were, both guides were great full of super stories to keep my interest as well as learning so much more. Rome is also a great city for just having a stroll through the various neighbourhoods and this afternoon we had a lovely walk through Trastevere. That evening we were invited to a pre-wedding cocktail reception at the bar on the roof of the Forum Hotel. This was an amazing venue, overlooking the forum itself and enjoying cocktails as the sun slowly sett was magical. The following day was the day of the wedding. The civil ceremony was due to start at 4pm so we had a lovely lunch in a restaurant just of the Piazza Navona and then got all our best clothes on. Our apartment was only a few minutes’ walk to the Campidoglio so we arrived in plenty of time. This wedding venue is spectacular, Rome’s town hall the Campidoglio is situated on the Capitoline Hill and was designed Michelangelo no less! The actual ceremony takes place in the Sala Rossa a beautiful room covered in red. The ceremony itself was quick and then it was outside for some amazing pictures of the new bride and groom with all their guests. Then we were taken by coach to the Borgo di Tragliata which is a farmhouse outside Rome for the wedding reception. Prosecco and anti-pasta on arrival was followed by a fantastic meal and lots of wine. After the speeches, dancing and celebrating went on until the ‘wee small hours’ before the coach took everyone home. The following morning we spent having a walk round the Piazza Navona, there was a real buzz about this square with lots of families out enjoying the morning sunshine. Street entertainers and stalls added to the great atmosphere. A quick bite of lunch and then we returned to the Campidoglio, but this time to visit the very impressive museum which runs underneath the square above. For our final dinner in the Eternal City we returned to Trastevere. Once again I loved my trip to Rome and I am looking forward to returning again.

10 February 2017

To celebrate my wife’s birthday this year we decided that it would be good to have a short break away. Some of my clients had recently visited Bergamo for a short stay and when we chatted afterwards they told me how much they enjoyed their trip, especially visiting Bergamo Alta, the old medieval walled city which overlooks the modern city below. Encouraged by their experiences, we booked a three-night stay with the plan of having a couple of days to explore Bergamo and then an extra day to spend on Lake Como (the train to Lecco takes only 40 minutes from Bergamo). We flew direct from Belfast with a low cost airline. As we were only taking hand luggage for our short stay I paid extra for ‘speedy boarding’ as this guarantees that our luggage would not have to go into the hold. The other advantage is that we were, of course, first to board the aircraft out and return! On arrival at Bergamo, we purchased our bus tickets for the short 15-minute journey into the city and from there it was a short walk to our hotel, the Mercure Bergamo Centro Palazzo Dolci. We arrived at our hotel quite early and were delighted that they had a room already available for us, allowing us to leave our bags and start exploring. I had paid to upgrade our room to a Privilege room, the main advantage of this being that our room on the 4th floor had a lovely view of the Bergamo Alta. We walked towards the funicular station to get up to the old city of Bergamo Alta. (There are also regular bus services passing right in front of our hotel which can take you up to Bergamo Alta.) The wonderful old funicular is a great way to journey up though, taking you under the impressive city walls. We then started exploring this beautiful old city walking past the lovely squares and piazzas. Finally, we stopped for lunch in one of the many restaurants and had a great leisurely lunch. After lunch, we had a leisurely walk back into the new city and a wander around the shops. In the evening, we explored the area around our hotel, visiting more shops, and then found another lovely restaurant for dinner, the basement restaurant we chose was full of character and locals enjoying their dinner. My wife said that her spaghetti carbonara was the best she had ever tasted! The next morning we headed back to Bergamo Alta, this time armed with guide books provided by the tourist board, and we started a walking tour of the city walls. Again, this area is just packed with history and there is always something new to see. For lunch we had already decided on a restaurant, Vineria Cozzi, where during the day they offer a simple business lunch. It was great value with a super pasta in a wonderful sauce. We enjoyed it so much we returned that evening. In the evening, the menu is completely different as it becomes a ‘fine dining’ restaurant - we both had a wonderful meal, with excellent service, and this is also a restaurant that I would love to return to. For our last day, we had planned on taking one of the hourly trains from Bergamo to Lecco on Lake Como. Unfortunately, due to a railway strike, we couldn't go and so, as an alternative, took a bus to Milan. The bus took us from Bergamo to Lampugnano near Milan, where you take the metro into the city centre. We got off at the Duomo stop and were rewarded on leaving the station with the wonderful view of Milan Duomo in all its glory. We also had a walk through the Galleria, window shopping at the very expensive designer label shops. Unfortunately, there were huge queues to get into the Duomo so we ran out of time so I would recommend if anyone wishes to visit that they arrive as early as they can. All too soon, it was time to return so a quick stop at the bakers to buy some cannoli to bring home and then we were off back to the airport for our flight back to Belfast. We had a super time in Bergamo and I would definitely return, not only to revisit the city but also to use as a base for more exploring of Milan and the lakes. We were also very lucky with the weather whilst we were there, although cold it was bright and sunny everyday – ideal for getting away from our grey skies. I would thoroughly recommend a short break to Bergamo, and avoiding high season also means that you avoid the crowds and queues in the old city. Let me know if I can help you plan your next city break!

18 October 2016

For our main summer holiday this year we planned on visiting Cuba – a destination that had always been on our ‘bucket list’. With all the changes following the normalisation of relations with the USA we thought now would be an ideal time to go. When researching airfares the best I prices were via Toronto, so we thought it would be an ideal opportunity to add in a short break to Toronto and visit Niagara Falls. Booking so far in advance (this was booked nine months before) always gives you something to look forward to. Soon it was time to board our flight from Dublin to Toronto and then after a few hours in Toronto (enough time for a bite to eat and a drink) we were soon on our way to Havana. Our first three nights were spent at the Iberostar Parque Central, a wonderful hotel in the very centre of Havana. The following morning after a great breakfast we set off to explore Havana on our pre-arranged tour in a vintage car. We had booked a beautiful red 1960 Buck Invicta convertible with a driver and a guide to show us the sights. This was a great way to see this fascinating city and we thoroughly enjoyed this experience. We were then dropped off at the famous Hotel Nacional for a refreshing drink. That evening we enjoyed some of the nightlife including a visit to Hemingway’s favourite El Floridita. Everything was within walking distance from our hotel. On our second day in Havana we made full use of the hotel’s rooftop swimming pool to relax in the sunshine whilst appreciating the wonderful views all around. That evening we had drinks in Sloppy Joes before a memorable dinner in a nearby Paladar. Far too quickly it was time to leave Havana and we were transferred to our new home for nine nights the wonderful Blau Varadero. This hotel has a wonderful location on Varadero beach (in my opinion the best part). This beach of white sand is simply wonderful with a gentle slope into the warm Caribbean Sea. We had a great time just relaxing, enjoying the good food and the wonderful Cuban hospitality as well as the glorious sunshine. Blau Varadero is a very well run resort with good food, entertainment, a great events team and wonderful staff throughout the hotel. Many clients were regulars and have made great friends amongst the team here. Food overall was good and we also enjoyed visiting the two a la carte restaurants on a couple of occasions. We also visited Varadero town on a couple of occasions, shopping for souvenirs and also for a night out at the Beatles Bar which is well known for its live music. Then it was time to say goodbye to wonderful Cuba and the last part of our holiday, Canada. After an early morning departure we flew into Toronto and arrived at the Chelsea Hotel, centrally located in Toronto. We then visited the shops at the Eaton Centre for some retail therapy before having dinner and few drinks. The following day we were up early for our trip to Niagara Falls. En route we visited a local winery to sample some products before reaching the Falls themselves. The highlight for me was the Hornblower boat trip (this company has replaced the Maid of the Mist boats on the Canadian side) right up to the falls. I was completely soaked through but it was great fun and amazing to be so close to the Falls. Our tour also included a visit to Niagara on the Lake but in my opinion did not really allow enough time to see this fascinating town. After another full day in Toronto shopping and seeing the sights it was time for us to head home. We certainly packed a lot into this amazing holiday and I would definitely recommend it to others for great value and seeing a lot more than just a beach holiday would provide.

17 May 2016

My wife Gail and I had planned a week in the sun. We booked it last year as we thought it would be good to have something to look forward to during the cold wet winter that we had – something that we were right about. Little did we know that whilst we were away in April it would still be snowing here in Northern Ireland! The holiday was planned for the most convenience and best use of our time so I had booked a low cost airline from Belfast to take us directly to Lanzarote. We checked in early and had a lovely cooked breakfast at Belfast International before our four and a half hour flight to Lanzarote. Service on board was super with a couple of drink and snack services as well sales of duty free items and gifts. All too soon we had arrived in Lanzarote, collected our luggage and were in our private transfer to our hotel in Puerto Calero. A very nice transfer it was too, in a beautiful Mercedes saloon booked of course by me through Travel Counsellors, it was great to experience the standard that I recommend for my clients! The resort of Puerto Calero is a few miles outside Puerto del Carmen (Lanzarote’s largest resort). It is very easy to reach Puerto del Carmen by road (regular bus and taxi), by sea (waterbus) or you can walk there along the coastal path. Puerto Calero is quite small with two hotels, the Hesperia Lanzarote and the Costa Calero (where we were staying), however for a small resort it does have a lot going on, primarily due its large marina which is backed by a good selection of restaurants and shops. We had booked all-inclusive at the Costa Calera as we just wanted to relax and enjoy the sunshine without having to budget for meals and drinks. We quickly checked in and were directed to our large well-appointed room with a lovely sea view (over the roof of the adjacent block). All the meals at the Costa Calero are taken in one of two large buffet restaurants, the La Magdalena where breakfast and dinner is served and the Oyambre which is open for lunch. There was lots of choices at every meals and staff were always around to help and clear tables very quickly. Although the hotel was full there was never any problem in getting a table even at the busiest times of the day. After dinner we usually then went to Bar Matalenas where the entertainment took place, I was very impressed by the quality of entertainment that the hotel had arranged with some great music acts keeping everyone entertained. The next morning allowed us to start soaking up some sunshine and although the Costa Calero is a large hotel the landscaped gardens around the four swimming pools made it feel very relaxing. Also there was no problem in obtaining a sun lounger as there were plenty to choose from right throughout the day. Our holiday then followed a regular pattern of enjoying the sunshine interspersed with regular visits to the bar and restaurants for our meals – a wonderful relaxing holiday! The hotel also has a super Thalasso and Spa, and although we had great intentions to use these facilities we just enjoyed relaxing by the pool every day. All in all we had a super relaxing week in Lanzarote and came back refreshed – just what I wanted from this holiday. I would certainly return to Lanzarote and to the Costa Calero for a great sunshine break.

14 April 2016

I was fortunate enough to recently take part in on an educational FAM visit to Louisiana and a cruise on the Carnival Dream departing from New Orleans with some of my Travel Counsellor colleagues. A short flight from Belfast and I was ready for an overnight stay at London Heathrow. The next morning we joined our Delta flight to Lafayette (via Atlanta). Unfortunately due to crew illness our flight had to stop also in Bostin which put pressure on us making our connecting flight through to Lafayette (especially as we had to clear US Immigration and Customs at Atlanta). I was lucky enough to make the connection at Atlanta, although the majority of the group did not and they had to fly on later flights to Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Atlanta is a huge airport with its own rapid transport system between terminals but I would recommend not using the minimum connecting time and allowing plenty of time between flights. On arrival at Lafayette we took the courtesy coach to our first stay – the Homewood Suites by Hilton Lafayette Airport. I was impressed by these large suites which would suit a family touring Louisiana. Conveniently located near the airport and great facilities. After our long journey it was great to sink into the comfortable bed. An early start the next morning as we headed out to have a traditional Louisiana breakfast at Johnson’s Boucaniere – I had a ‘biscuit’ (not like our biscuits) with boudin and egg, washed down with coffee, and very tasty it was too. Boudin is a local sausage famous in the area packed with rice and spices and very tasty indeed. After breakfast we headed to Champagnes at Lake Martin for a guided tour of the swamp, getting the opportunity to seeing some of the local wildlife. The highlights for me on this tour were seeing Osprey, owls and alligator of course. After our swamp tour we then headed to Avery Island famous for its biggest export – Tabasco. Every bottle of Tabasco worldwide started its journey here in Avery Island and there is a visitor centre, factory tours, gift shop and a restaurant for visitors to learn more about Tabasco. It was great being able to sample some of the products in the gift shop, especially my favourite Jalapeño Ice Cream – amazing! We then made our way to the state capitol of Louisiana – Baton Rouge and our next hotel, the super Hotel Indigo situated downtown and overlooking the mighty Mississippi river. On arrival at the Hotel Indigo the chef had prepared a wonderful lunch for us using only locally sourced ingredients and it was amazing. After lunch we toured the city and university campus both of which included stories about Louisiana’s infamous past Governor - Huey Long. We even managed a stop at a drive-through Daiquiri Shack, which is unique to Louisiana. Dinner that evening was in the famous Poor Boy Lloyds. There are great restaurants and nightlife in Baton Rouge but after my long day I retired to my super room at the Hotel Indigo which had a great view of the Mississippi. Another early morning and off to visit the first of two plantations. The Houmas House Plantation and Gardens was our first stop and is now hugely popular wedding venue as well as offering a real insight into antebellum Louisiana. We then headed on to the famous Oak Alley Plantation (yes that one with the wonderful oak lined picture) which also gave us a great insight into how both masters and slaves lived prior to the American Civil War. Both plantation houses offer guided tours and a real insight into Louisiana history. Our busy morning then continued with a walking tour of the French Quarter of New Orleans. I loved this city, so very different to many other US cities and with a real French flavour to it. Our walk took us pass countless bars, restaurants and shops that definitely warrant closer inspection, and all accompanied by music in the streets and from the bars. New Orleans is a fascinating city and one that I would love to return to. Soon it was to start the next part of our adventure – our cruise on the Carnival Dream.

14 April 2016

The cruise port in New Orleans is quite close to Downtown, but as you can imagine is very busy when boarding and disembarking. Our luggage was collected kerbside and then we just had to join the very quick moving queue through security to get our Sail & Sign cards. By completing the online check-in (something I arrange for all my clients) it was simply signing and handing over a document getting my picture taken and I was ready to board. The Carnival Dream is not the largest ship in the Carnival fleet but large enough with a capacity of 3,646 guests. At the start of the US Spring Break holiday it was also very busy. It was easy enough to find my Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom - my home for the next week and I was delighted with the size of it. It had a full bathroom plus a separate washroom (ideal for a family) and could sleep a family of four comfortably. It was also equipped with satellite TV, wardrobe space and personal safe. My luggage was quickly delivered and after a quick unpack I was up on deck to see the sail away from New Orleans. The ship then spends the next 100 miles or so cruising down the Mississippi before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. There was a great atmosphere on board the ship with lots of families enjoying the views, the entertainment and frequenting the two bars (The Red Frog Rum Bar and the Blue Iguana Tequila Bar) by the main pool. Carnival is a very informal cruise line (compared to some) when it comes to dress, there are two codes Cruise Casual and Cruise Elegant both of which are quite relaxed. Our group were generally dining in the main Scarlett restaurant for our trip and were booked on the late dining at 8.15pm. The standard of food throughout the cruise was excellent, whether it was at dinner, or lunch and breakfast in The Gathering (self-service), it was difficult to fault. We also managed to eat in the Chef’s Art Steakhouse on a couple of evenings, this has a cover charge but it is well worth it for any special occasion that you would like to celebrate. Another must (especially if travelling with children) is the Dr Seuss Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast where you are joined by the Cat and the Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2 amongst others. Our first day at sea was spent training on the Carnival product as well as having a tour of the ship to see some of the facilities on board. I was particularly impressed by the wonderful kids clubs and the popularity of these by the many families on board. Another impressive part of the ship was the adult’s only Serenity area (which unlike other cruise lines) is free to use. I was also impressed by the quality and speed of the Wi-Fi, yes this does cost a bit more but being able to keep in touch with home easily was great. After two days at sea we were looking forward to our first port of call, Mahogany Bay, Roantan Island, Honduras. This is a specially developed resort for cruise passengers with a great beach resort and shopping area just a short walk from the ship. The shops had a variety of tourist souvenirs as well as some wonderful local handcrafted items. Our next port of call was Belize. Due to environmental concerns the ship does not dock in Belize and you have to transfer by tender. We had booked an excursion here to visit the Xunantunich Mayan ruins. This archaeological site is near the Guatemalan border and a two hour coach ride from Belize City, the ruins are very impressive as are the views from the top of El Castillo, the highest point. Our final stop on our cruise was Cozumel in Mexico, this lovely island is large enough to deal with lots of cruise ship visitors (I counted at least five ships visiting on the same day). There are lots to do and see and lots of fun to be had. Our final sea day on our way back to New Orleans also brought with it one of the highlights for me – we took part on the “Behind the Fun Ultimate Tour”. This tour is very exclusive only 16 Carnival guests can take part per cruise and it takes you to parts of the ship that guests do not usually get to see. My particular highlight of this tour was being shown the bridge by the ship’s captain. As this tour is so exclusive it is one that I would definitely recommend that you book as soon as possible. Having cruised with other cruise lines before I was a little unsure what to expect with Carnival, however what they have done is taken all the all the best aspects of cruising and blended it with the best of a land resort holiday to produce a great all round vacation experience. No fussy dress codes just a great value holiday experience, ideal especially for first time cruisers.

20 February 2016

I recently was invited to London by Tauck Tours to take part in their Tauck Academy. It was a wonderful trip and I thought I would share part of the experience for anyone thinking about a short break to London. I flew from Belfast City direct to Heathrow and then took the Heathrow Express from Terminal 5 to Paddington. Which is in my opinion the most convenient and quickest way to get to central London from Heathrow. A short taxi ride later and I was at my home for the next two nights - The Langham London. This wonderful five star hotel is situated across the road from the BBC - so a great place to spot celebrity comings and goings. A lot of our time was spent in the hotel where the rooms, service and food was simply wonderful and I would definitely recommend a stay in The Langham for anyone wanting to celebrate a special occasion in London. During our stay we also dined at Simpsons in the Strand and visited the theatre to see "Kinky Boots". I had forgotten just how good a short break to London actually is - so much so that I am planning my next one. Overall a super trip to our nation's capital city.

22 October 2015

We arrived quite late into the Kruger National Park and made our way to the first of our two lodges that we were staying at – Motswari Private Game Reserve. On arrival at Motswari we transferred into a 4x4 for the short journey to Geiger’s Camp. This camp is part of the Motswari resort but is sold exclusively to small groups – Geiger’s can accommodate a maximum of eight. At Geiger’s there is a cook and butler to cater for whatever the guest requires and private game drives are also organised for those staying at the lodge. Our first game drive was early the next morning with a 5am start. Most lodges tend to offer two drives per day, one early in the morning and the other late afternoon – thereby avoiding the heat of the day, when animals tend to sleep anyway. One tip is to bring plenty of layers for going on safari as the temperature can change quickly and it is usually quite cold on the early morning starts. We saw lots of animals on our first drive, the highlights being lots of elephant and buffalo, it is great being able to get so close to these wonderful animals. In between our game drives we also inspected the main Motswari resort, which is a wonderful and where guests tend to return year after year. With only 15 rooms you get to know your fellow guests very quickly, and all the staff get to know you and what you require. Then later we were off on our evening drive, again seeing the beauty of the Kruger and the wonderful animals that populate it, including a family of hyena before stopping for some sun-downers. Staying in Geiger’s Camp in you are well looked after in between your game drives, you are not only fed (and fed well) but you have access to all the resort facilities such as the wonderful infinity pool and nothing is too much trouble for Octavia and his wonderful team. The following morning we had arranged a bush walk where Henry the Ranger allowed us to leave the vehicle and he escorted us through the bush. This was a great opportunity to see some of the smaller animals and insects that populate the bush. During our walk we also managed to see an elusive honey badger and some hyena. A particular highlight later that morning was when we came across a leopard which had killed an impala and stored it up a tree. It was amazing to be so close to this wonderful animal and see the lengths it went to protect its food. After another amazing breakfast at Geiger’s Camp were off to our next Game Reserve at Kings Camp at Timbavati (also in the Kruger). This beautiful 5 star resort is open to wandering animals so you are escorted to and from your beautiful room during the hours of darkness by the wonderful Benjamin. The standard is as you would expect of a quality five star hotel, with impeccable service and beautiful rooms. Our first lunch gave us an example of this, wonderful food, prepared and served impeccably. In contrast to Motswari there is more to do at Kings Camp when not on safari with a gym and spa both on site. Very quickly we were back into the wonderful routine or early morning and late afternoon game drives. I was also thankful of having brought layers with me as the temperature had dropped considerably since we had arrived in the Kruger only a few days before. On our drives we were able to add rhino, giraffe, hippo and ostrich to our animals that we saw and photographed – unfortunately the lions eluded us (however colleagues in other safari lodges nearby saw plenty of lions). This means though that I have a great excuse to return to wonderful Motswari and Kings Camp, both of which I thought are outstanding resorts. On our last morning game drive we had a surprise and our breakfast that morning took place in the bush where tables and a kitchen had been set up for everyone taking part that morning – this was another wonderful experience which underlines the quality of Kings Camp. Before leaving Kings Camp we also had the opportunity to inspect Waterbuck Private Camp. This four bedroomed private villa is a short distance away from Kings Camp and sleep up to eight people in complete luxury. It is also close enough that guests can use the facilities of Kings Camp or can be catered for just on their own with their own private chef. Unfortunately all too soon it was time to return, so returning the hire car to the small (and charming) Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport. This small airport which only has three scheduled flights a day boasts an outdoor patio area where you can relax and wait for your flights whilst being entertained by the antics of the local vervet monkeys. Overall I had a wonderful trip to South Africa, which I thoroughly recommend as a great holiday destination. With the exchange rate so favourable at the moment South Africa offers fantastic value for money. Whilst driving in my hire car I found the roads to be great quality, petrol was very cheap and better still, they drive on the same side of the road as we do making driving really enjoyable and fun. The safari experience was excellent and a type of holiday I would really recommend for everyone to experience at least once.

22 October 2015

I was recently fortunate enough to win a place on a FAM trip to South Africa with the Tourist Board and the travel trade newspaper TTG. The areas that we would be visiting on the trip were Johannesburg, driving along the Panorama Route and visiting the Kruger Game Reserve. A short flight from Belfast to Heathrow and I was meeting up with the rest of my travelling companions. We were flying to Johannesburg with Virgin Atlantic and they had arranged a tour of the Virgin Clubhouse and an opportunity to see “behind the scenes” of how they handle their VIP and Upper Class travelling clients. The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse is quite amazing with so many facilities on offer to travelling clients, including massage and hairdressers as well as showers and the opportunity to have a meal. The overnight flight to Johannesburg was super with the opportunity to get some sleep or catch a movie before arriving ready for the new day. A big advantage of travelling to South Africa is the lack of jetlag as they are only one hour ahead of the UK. A short transfer from the airport took us to our home for the next two nights – the African Pride Hotel Melrose Arch. This beautiful hotel is set in the upmarket Melrose Arch area boasts a variety of shopping and eating locations all within a short walk. After a quick freshen up it was off to Braamfontein and the Neighbourgoods Market. This was great fun, a food market where you could pick from a huge variety of stalls and then upstairs there was live music, a busy bar and a wonderful atmosphere. I chose ‘bunny chow’ from a local stall and a beer from a local craft brewery and this cost around £7, highlighting the incredible value for money in South Africa at the moment. After a short time enjoying the music it at Neighbourgoods we were off to visit SOWETO for a cycle tour around the township. This was a wonderful experience as we were greeted by children everywhere we went, whilst also learning all about the history of this iconic place. Following our tour we also visited a super local restaurant in SOWETO before heading back to our hotel following an action packed first day in Johannesburg. The following morning we visited Maboneng and visited the Arts on Main which is another great attraction combining food market, arts and crafts as well as galleries and music all in one great location. We then boarded the red hop-on hop-off Citysightseeing bus (familiar in most cities around the world) which took us through the city to the Apartheid Museum. This thought provoking museum tells the whole story of the apartheid system until its successful dismantling and South Africa’s peaceful transition to the wonderful country it is now. Following our visit here we had a picnic in a city park before a walking tour of the Newtown area which is being developed. For dinner this evening we ate at Moyo, opposite our hotel which specialises in African cuisine and where I was able to taste Kudu for the first time. An early morning transfer took us back to Johannesburg airport to catch our flight to Nelspruit where we collected our hire car and made our way to the lovely forestry town of Sabie in Mpumalanga. This mountainous area is picturesque and wonderful to drive through as there are wonderful well maintained roads throughout. Our first stop in Sabie was to visit the local micro-brewery for a tour and a sample of the local produce. Then we made our way to our accommodation at Misty Mountain Lodge. The Lodge has amazing views (especially seen from its infinity pool) down into the Lowveld. It has also nearly completed a 1.7km toboggan ride which will be the first in Africa and will prove to be a great attraction for the area. The next morning we spent exploring the area around Misty Mountain on foot and using quad bikes before we returned to Sabie for lunch at the wonderful Wild Fig Tree Café. This we followed by a walk through the bush until we discovered a hidden waterfall that we could relax by. Dinner was again at the Misty Mountain Lodge, where our hosts really spoiled us with again wonderful food and hospitality. The following morning we were going to drive the entire Panorama Route before heading into the Kruger National Park. There is a lot to see on this drive and I would probably advise anyone completing the Panorama route to complete this over a couple of days. On the drive we stopped off and saw the amazing sights of Mac Mac Falls, The Pinnacle, God’s Window, Bourkes Luck Pot Holes and the Three Rondavels. On the way we also managed to stop for lunch at the amazing Potluck Boskombuis Restaurant, which is situated at the side of a lovely river.

23 September 2015

I was lucky enough to be offered a place on the Canada MegaFam this year. This trip is designed to increase the knowledge of qualified Canada Specialists by taking them to different parts of this amazing country. I was invited to visit the province of Manitoba before joining all the other participants of the Canada MegaFam in Halifax Nova Scotia. My journey started with an early morning coach from Belfast to Dublin Airport before checking in for my Air Canada Rouge flight to Toronto. Rouge is the leisure brand of Air Canada which operates as a "no frills" airline. Entertainment is provided on iPads (you either bring your own with the downloaded app or you can hire one for CA$10). The service on-board was good and after a few movies it was arrival time in Toronto. Immigration and customs were straightforward and I soon had deposited my bag for my onward flight to Winnipeg. A good connection in Toronto meant that there was just enough time to browse the shops before boarding my Air Canada to Winnipeg. On arrival at Winnipeg I met up with the rest of the group who came from France, Germany, China and the UK before heading off to our first stop at Falcon Lake Resort in Whiteshell Provincial Park. At Falcon Lake we were allocated one of the lovely lake side cabins for our stay. The following day we explored the resort, took part in some target shooting (the resort is a training centre for the Canadian biathlon team) and visited the Eco Cabins up at beautiful High Lake where a fresh fish lunch was provided lake-side. Later we visited the nearby Falcon Beach Ranch for horse riding followed by a traditional cowboy dinner around the campfire. Our next morning and we were back on the road again, this time heading back into the capital of Manitoba - Winnipeg. This lovely city has an interesting history and the city tour just whetted my appetite to learn even more. Our tour was followed by a visit to the Journey to Churchill exhibit at Assiniboine Park Zoo. This amazing exhibit allows you to get up close and personal with the Polar Bears who swim and play above you in the amazing Sea Ice Passage it is a wonderful exhibit which covers conservation and offers a real insight into the habitat of these amazing creatures. Finally for dinner we visited one of the amazing restaurants that abound in this "food lover's city". The following morning we were up before dawn for the drive to the small town of Selkirk where we were going to go Cat-fishing on the Red River. This was a wonderful experience, seeing the sunrise whilst on the river and then settling down to the serious business of trying to catch some fish and mine did not get away this time - I caught a whopper! We then returned to the city where after a quick lunch we were able to visit one of the highlights of the whole trip - International Pow Wow Grand Entry at the Manito Ahbee Festival. The sounds, colour and culture of Canada's First People at this amazing event were a joy to witness. If you even get the chance to visit this - please do, it was a wonderful experience. Finally on what had already been a remarkable day I was able to attend the Banjo Bowl - this is the annual contest between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (quite similar to American Football). As this is a local "derby" match the stadium is packed and the atmosphere amazing. After a super game which Winnipeg won 22-7 (Go Bombers!) the fans are invited to stay around, walk on the pitch and just generally enjoy the wonderful atmosphere for as long as they like. Overall this was a real action packed fantastic day! The following morning we reluctantly left Winnipeg (there is so much more to see) and headed out to Riding Mountain National Park (about 3 hours away). We arrived at the beautiful resort town of Wasagaming on the shores of Clear Lake. This is a super resort town with lots of activities such as water sports and wildlife viewing nearby. From here the following day we visited the Lake Audy Bison Enclosure to get up close and photograph these amazing beasts. Later for our last night in Manitoba we had a wonderful picnic dinner along with a bonfire and camp fire songs and this was accompanied by another amazing and colourful sunset. The next morning it was time to say goodbye to wonderful Manitoba as we travelled to Halifax, Nova Scotia to meet up with the rest of the MegaFam groups. Our full day in Nova Scotia, was spent having a city tour of Halifax, followed by a tour of the Citadel (including witnessing the noon gun) before heading to picturesque Lunenburg for a walking tour via Mahone Bay. This managed to give a flavour of what is on offer in Nova Scotia and some place I should like to revisit in greater depth. Our final day was spent presenting the short films that we had made on our trips to the other groups, and the biggest applause was for our short film in Manitoba! In summary Canada is a vast country with loads to see and do, with holidays to suit all kinds of clients - following this visit I feel that I am even better qualified to help you plan your perfect trip.

25 May 2015

I recently had the opportunity to visit Amsterdam on the new KLM service from Belfast City Airport. The trip was designed to show us the new KLM operation, as well as a quick whistle stop tour of Amsterdam. We flew to Amsterdam on the KLM Fokker 50 aircraft and we were lucky enough to be upgraded to business class - which on a short flight like this ensures that you have an empty seat next to you on the journey. On arrival at Schiphol everyone on the flight was presented with a tulip memento of being on the first flight from Belfast City to Amsterdam. Then it was off on our "whistle-stop" tour of Amsterdam, with our first stop being the Van Gogh Museum. Using the audio visual aids you can look at the amazing collection of the great artists work at your own pace. This is a great museum and ideal for art lovers! After our visit we walked the short distance to The Blue Boat Company and joined our canal boat for our tour of the Amsterdam waterways. This is a great way to see this fascinating city and learn of its great history. The commentary on-board is provided in a variety of languages and earphones are included. After the canal cruise we had another short walk to our restaurant the Brasserie Harkema which is in a converted tobacco factory where we had a super meal and superb service. Finally after dinner it was back to the airport for our overnight stay before our flight home the following morning. We stayed at the citizenM Schiphol Airport Hotel which is a new boutique property only a short walk from the airport terminal. This hotel is quite different to traditional airport hotels and perhaps not ideal for everyone, but for single travellers and couples wanting an airport stay it is ideal. The open-plan room is controlled by an iPad and includes free movies. The 24/7 bar/restaurant or canteenM as the hotel calls it is very welcoming with hot food and drinks available whenever you want, ideal for anyone perhaps jet-lagged after a long flight. It was also a very welcoming and popular area for all the hotel guests and I would recommend a stay here. The following morning, a quick breakfast followed by catching the morning KLM flight back to Belfast. Overall I would really recommend a stay in Amsterdam (although I suggest a few days at least as my trip was far too short) and the KLM flights were super, great service and really convenient from Belfast City.

25 May 2015

To celebrate my wife's Big Birthday (and no, I will not say which) we decided to have a holiday in Mexico. Rather than have two weeks in the one hotel we decided to have two seven nights stays, one at Dreams Tulum and then the other at Secrets Capri Riviera - and it was a wonderful holiday. To get to Cancun we flew with British Airways on their direct service from Gatwick to Cancun and booked a through ticket from Belfast City. By using the through ticket we were able to check our luggage from Belfast all the way through to Cancun and we would be looked after if there were any delays. Our Aer Lingus flight arrived in Gatwick on time and then it was just a case of changing terminals and then boarding our BA flight for the ten and a half hour flight to Cancun. The on-board entertainment system with BA with movies on demand helped to pass the time on our long flight. On arrival we then had another hour or so to get to Dreams Tulum. At Dreams Tulum we were welcomed with a cold towel and drink followed by a very efficient check-in. We were then taken to our room in a buggy, we were in room 1201 and were delighted to discover that we had been upgraded to Junior Suite Adult Garden View. This was a terrific room overlooking swim-up rooms in adult only part of the complex. In addition (like many of the rooms) we had a hammock on the balcony. That evening we had our first meal in the resort at the El Patio restaurant which specializes in Mexican meals. What followed was seven days of pure relaxation, with a choice of wonderful restaurants (including Italian, Asian and French) and all without the need for reservations. We received brilliant service from everyone at Dreams Tulum who really want you to have a super holiday. Dreams is a family resort and I was particularly impressed by the kids facilities and the leaders in the 'Explorers Club' who were just great with the children. Most of our time was spent relaxing on the beach and I was also very impressed by the efforts made to keep the beach pristine - which was hard work due to the amount of seaweed that gets washed up daily. We did however visit the ancient ruins at Tulum nearby and I would definitely recommend doing this visit, but make sure you use a guide to get the full benefit of this trip. There is also a full program of entertainment and sports to keep you busy during the day. After our wonderful seven nights here we transferred about 45 minutes north to Secrets Capri Riviera on the Riviera Maya for our next stay. Now I really enjoyed Dreams Tulum, but Secrets Capri Riviera was in my opinion even better! Again we were fortunate to be upgraded to a Preferred Club Deluxe Ocean View. Now although this room was a bit smaller than that at Dreams Tulum the sea-view more than compensated. Because Secrets is 'adults-only' there is a different feel to the resort and one that I really liked. Also this resort is a lot smaller so it was easier to meet and build relationships with the wonderful people who work here. This second week we again spent relaxing, where the big decisions were: where to go for our next meal, or what cocktail to try next? The service throughout our stay was simply fantastic and everyone seemed so eager to please. We did however book one great experience, we went swimming with turtles at Akumal which was just wonderful and an excursion that I would recommend everyone try. Again there was a full program of entertainments and sports and we also took the opportunity to visit the amazing Spa at Secrets. All too soon it was time to return from one the best holidays that I have ever experienced - I loved Mexico and loved staying at Dreams and Secrets. Do get in touch with me if you would like more detail as I am sure you will love Mexico as well.

02 October 2014

I was recently invited to visit India on an educational trip to see many of the super visitor attractions and inspect some hotels. My flight from London Heathrow to Delhi was with Virgin Atlantic and I was very fortunate to be able to experience their Premium Economy service on the flight. This is an enhanced service which includes larger seats and upgraded meals. Prior to boarding we were also allowed to visit the very impressive Virgin Clubhouse at Heathrow which is reserved for Upper Class passengers and those with Flying Club Gold status. Following our eight hour flight we were met for our transfer into Delhi. Unfortunately our arrival in Delhi also coincided with a visit of the Chinese President so our 40 minute transfer became a two hour wait in traffic jams. However this brought an early glimpse of Indian life and the bustle that goes with it. Our first stop was The LaLit Hotel for an inspection of the super facilities and spot of lunch. Then it was off to the hustle and bustle of New Delhi Railway Station for our six hour journey to Amritsar. The station was as you would expect, busy and noisy and it was a relief to board our air-conditioned First Class carriage on the Shatabdi train. Meals were included on the rail journey and we arrived in Amritsar just before midnight and transferred to our hotel – Radisson BLU Amritsar. Our hotel was situated out of the city centre towards the airport and was an excellent choice. A great thing about staying in the Radisson BLU hotels in India is their policy of offering free Wi-Fi to their guests which was great for keeping in touch with home. The following morning we were given a tour of the hotel before heading off to the Golden Temple in Amritsar itself. The final part of the journey was taken by rickshaw – great fun. The Golden Temple is the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh religion and all heads must be covered for the visit. My hosts had kindly arranged for a turban for me to wear. It was amazing to see the Golden Temple itself, but I was even more fascinated by the operation that is mounted to ensure that everyone visiting is offered a meal. A whole army of volunteers prepare, cook and serve the food with another army to clean up afterwards. There is a wonderful atmosphere as everyone works together. After our visit to the Golden Temple we walked the short distance to Jalianwala Bagh where there is a garden of remembrance for the victims of the massacre which took place in 1919. We next headed for lunch and a tour of the Holiday Inn Amritsar (another quality hotel) before heading to the Wagah border crossing between India and Pakistan for the daily ceremony closing the border and lowering of flags. This is an amazing sight and wonderful fun attended by thousands; it’s a pageant of colour, noise and national pride as both countries military display much bravado to each other before the border is closed. Dinner that evening was in the Hotel Country Inn & Suites (a more centrally located hotel in Amritsar) followed by another visit to the Golden Temple to see it in the evening and the daily procession. An early morning then for the return rail journey to New Delhi - we were then taken to lunch at the Lazeez Affaire restaurant before heading to the Radisson BLU Plaza Hotel for an overnight stay. Dinner that evening was in the hotel’s signature restaurant – The Kebab Factory. The following morning we were given a tour of Old & New Delhi which included a rickshaw ride through some of the narrow side streets and which was a great way to see more of this fascinating city. This was followed by an inspection of the beautiful Claridges Hotel and lunch there. After lunch our tour of Delhi continued with a visit to Qutub Minar. Overnight was at the Radisson BLU Dwarka on the outskirts of Delhi. The following morning we were off on our way to visit one the real wonders of India – The Taj Mahal at Agra. On route we stopped to check-in and have lunch at the Radisson BLU Agra before visiting this amazing sight. It is an amazingly beautiful building – a monument to love built by Shah Jahan following the death of his favourite wife. The beautiful Makrana marble, which is inlaid with semi-precious stones, is amazing to gaze upon up close. Dinner that evening was in the beautiful Oberoi Amarvilas Hotel, a stunning hotel where every room has a view of the Taj Mahal. The following morning we visited the lovely Hotel Trident in Agra before starting our journey to Jaipur. On the way we stopped however to visit the deserted medieval city of Fatehpur Sikri which was fascinating. Again we were staying at a Radisson BLU hotel; one of the best features of this hotel though was its rooftop swimming pool which in the evening became a ‘cool Miami style bar’. The following morning we visited the Hotel Trident before heading off for an elephant ride. Then we were taken by Jeep up to the Amber City Fort and given a tour of this amazing place. For lunch we were driven out into the countryside to the very spiritual Hotel Tree of Life Resort and Spa and inspected the amazing villas here. After lunch it was back to Jaipur to visit the City Palace followed by a visit to the beautiful Hotel LaLit Jaipur for an inspection, and where the doorman has a fifteen foot long moustache! We then had an early morning departure from Jaipur for the short flight to Mumbai. We stayed at the Hotel LaLit Mumbai – a lovely hotel near the international airport. Mumbai is a huge city with some very busy roads and I would certainly plan in advance what you would like to see and where to stay as it can take some time moving across the city at certain parts of the day. Our first visit of the day was to the wonderful Oberoi Mumbai where we were spoiled with lunch in their Michelin starred restaurant Ziya. We then had a full inspection of the hotel ending with the highlight of visiting the Presidential Suite which was simply amazing. We then had to get back up to the airport area for our dinner that evening was in the beautiful ITC Maratha Hotel. For our last full day in India we started with a visit to the beach and inspected the very first beach hotel in India, the Sun-n-Sand Hotel on Juhu Beach. We followed this with a visit the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, made famous by the recent BBC TV series ‘Hotel India’. This is another iconic luxury hotel in a super position just opposite the ‘Gateway to India’. Finally our day ended with an inspection and dinner at The Leela hotel before catching our overnight flight back to the UK.

06 August 2014

I recently had the opportunity to cruise on the P&O ship Ventura on a cruise from Venice to Genoa. As our charter flight was due to leave quite early from London for our cruise we took the opportunity to fly to London the day before and had a great day exploring London with a visit to the Tower of London, lunch at St Katherine's Dock followed by some retail therapy in Oxford Street & Covent Garden. A great way to start our holiday. One of the big advantages of using the P&O chartered flights is that you check your luggage in at the airport and you next see it when it is delivered to your cabin on board the Ventura. We had a smooth flight all the way to Venice, followed by a straightforward coach transfer to the Ventura. Our balcony cabin was more spacious than I expected and overlooked the rear of the ship. Once our luggage was delivered we had time to unpack and then enjoy the Venice sail-away which was spectacular, especially at that time of the evening when the sun began to get low in the sky. Venice really is a magical city and each time I visit I want to return. Then it was time for dinner, we had chosen the anytime dining, so we could have dinner whenever we wanted. As long as we were happy to share at table (and we were, it's a great way to meet people) then we never had any waiting time throughout the cruise. Meals were of a high standard and the entertainment was superb throughout our entire week. After a wonderful day at sea and our Captain's Gala Evening, our first port of call was the beautiful little town of Kotor at the very end of the huge fjord which cuts right into Montenegro. As Kotor can only be reached by tender there are queues to leave and re-board the ship. We had arranged an excursion here which took us into the heart of this small country and brought back many memories of when I last visited nearly 30 years ago when it was part of Yugoslavia. Our next stop was Corfu, which is super for exploring Corfu town or taking an excursion to explore the island. This evening we had reserved a table at the Marco Pierre White restaurant - The White Room, and although expensive the experience was amazing. We had an outside table and one of the most amazing meals that I have ever experienced complimented by impeccable service. Our next day was at sea and the highlight of which was passing through the straights of Messina between the 'toe' of Italy and Sicily. Amazing views, especially of the brooding volcano Mount Etna on Sicily. Our next port of call was Rome where we took the train from Civitavecchia directly into Rome to explore the Eternal City on our own. It was great revisiting some of the many sites that we had been previously and reacquainting ourselves with this amazing city by visiting some of our favourites such as the Vatican and the Pantheon. Our final port of call was Ajaccio on Corsica, almost everywhere you see reminders of its most famous son - Napoleon Bonaparte. We joined the small sightseeing 'train' here for a great trip round the sights of Ajaccio. After our sightseeing we joined the sail away party on the lido deck which was great fun with a huge sing-along all orchestrated by the Cruise Director and his team. On the return flight we again experienced one of the benefits on the P&O Cruise charter flight, our luggage which we had left outside our cabin door was next seen by us coming of the luggage conveyer at Gatwick. We had also been given our boarding cards on the ship so on arrival at Genoa airport it was straight to security and on to the flight, with very little waiting time. I enjoyed my first P&O cruise - it is a product that is specially tailored to a British market, bar and shop prices are all in pound sterling and you will see many familiar brands everywhere. The entertainment too is specifically tailored to the UK market and is of a very high quality. It is not a product for everyone, but a great way of experiencing a cruise for the very first time.

10 October 2013

I recently had the opportunity to visit Tunisia for the first time. We stayed at the luxury 5* Royal El Mansour hotel in Mahdia which is about an hour and a half away from the modern airport at Enfidha. The hotel is right on a lovely stretch of sand and walking distance to the centre of Mahdia. When we arrived at the hotel we were given our all-inclusive wrist bands and went straight into the restaurant for our lunch (check-in came later). The meals are taken in a large buffet style restaurant with loads of choice with different serving stations for soups, breads, salads, main courses, sweets, fruit and also a pasta/pizza station – so really something for everyone. Many dishes are prepared right in front of you and there are lots of waiters who serve you drinks and show you to your table. After lunch we were taken to our room, it was on the fourth floor and very spacious, with a flat screen TV, large king size bed, super bathroom, safe and plenty of wardrobe space. We were allocated a city view facing room, which I’m delighted to say was quiet (when the patio door was closed) despite overlooking a busy road. There is an advantage as well, as the city view rooms get the best of the afternoon sunshine on their balconies. It’s a large hotel (390 rooms and 57 suites) spread over five floors with loads of facilities and a full animation team to keep you occupied day and night. Sea view rooms look over the three large swimming pools and on to the lovely sandy beach. During our stay we took full advantage of the many facilities on offer, we enjoyed the entertainment, used the Spa, ate far too much in the restaurant, enjoyed a few drinks and lounged on the beach. There is a super atmosphere in the hotel, with lots of different nationalities and all having a super time. The main reason for this are the hard-working staff, from the General Manager who serves guests orange juice at breakfast in the morning to the cleaning and waiting staff who are always helpful and doing their best to ensure you have a super holiday. The hotel also was spotlessly clean. We visited the Friday market in Mahdia, one of the few times we left the hotel (with so much happening you really could spend all your holiday time without ever leaving the hotel). The market was great fun and it is as much for locals as it for tourists with lots of opportunities to barter. A highlight was the local crafts on sale near the Medina. I would recommend this hotel to most clients looking for a quality holiday in the sun, families (kids were all fussed over by the hotel staff) and couples would enjoy staying here. Don’t go looking for lots of nightlife though, there isn’t any in Mahdia. Brucie’s do’s and don’ts • Do try and change some money as soon as you arrive, small dinars are great for tipping and you cannot obtain their currency outside Tunisia • Don’t use the airport porters at Enfidha they are persistent about taking your luggage but are renowned for overcharging. • Don’t be afraid to barter for goods, it’s expected and is great fun. • Do tip for good service when warranted it is really appreciated.

24 September 2013

As a Canadian Travel Specialist I was recently invited to take part in the Canada Super Fam trip with travel agents from around the world. We visited all the provinces in Canada before all coming together in Niagara to share what we had all learned in the various provinces. My own trip was to Newfoundland, one of the earliest settled parts of North America and the first part of the ‘new world’ to be visited by Europeans (Vikings visited in the 11th Century!) The flight from Heathrow to St John’s only takes just over five hours and it was a super flight, Air Canada do look after you well with a great service and a super entertainment system. From the airport it is less than 20 minutes to downtown St John’s with its colourful houses and super harbour. I stayed at the Sheraton Newfoundland which is ideally located for everything in St John’s and is overlooked by Signal Hill. Some must-see sights in St John’s is Signal Hill (where the first transatlantic wireless message was received), The Rooms (the local museum), the historical town centre of St John’s including the brightly coloured clapboard houses and the nightlife on George Street. We had a great tour of this lovely historic town including a visit to Government House. Also not to be missed is the hugely interesting Geo-Centre and quaint Quidi Vidi Village, both just outside St John’s. During the trip we also visited many of the ‘outports’ or surrounding villages where a great deal of effort is being made through archaeological digs to preserve and understand the amazing amount of history there is on the island. The island’s initial attraction to Europeans and wealth came from the huge fishing grounds just of the coast. Nowadays the wealth of the region comes from the major oil deposits offshore and the huge mineral finds in Labrador. There is a unique culture to Newfoundland, a mixture of the original English and Irish settlers. Amongst the high points of our out port visits were a picnic near one of the iconic lighthouses; a boat trip to see the Puffin colonies (unfortunately, we were visiting at the wrong time of year to see any whales); and a ‘flag raising’ ceremony. During the trip we were also spoiled rotten in terms of food and drink visiting lots of super restaurants. Newfoundland has many local restaurants as well as breweries and distilleries that are unique to the island. One particular brand of beer is made from the water of icebergs which are harvested specially for the purpose, this water is thousands of years old and very pure. With the short flying time from the UK, St John’s is ideal for anyone looking for a short break. It is quite different from other big North American cities and has a unique feel to it. For longer trips there is also the opportunity to hire a car and explore Newfoundland - especially to the Gros Morne National Park on the west of the island. Or by combining a trip to Newfoundland with Nova Scotia and or Prince Edward Island there is a real opportunity for exploring all these maritime provinces using the great ferry connections. All too soon we were on our way to Niagara Falls, I was lucky enough to stay in the Marriot FallsView Hotel with a spectacular view of the Horseshoe Falls. Our trip included a helicopter ride above the falls, an amazing experience that I would recommend to everyone. The views from the air are just fantastic! Niagara Falls has become a very commercial resort with lots of large skyscraper hotels, casinos and restaurant chains taking full advantage of people visiting one of the wonders of the world - the Falls themselves. For a truly marvellous lunch I would recommend eating at Elements at the Falls where the restaurant looks right out over the Horseshoe Falls. On our final day in Canada we were able to visit Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is a beautiful quaint town, in complete contrast to the skyscrapers and neon of Niagara Falls. This Victorian era town has horse drawn carriages and lots of local quaint shops and restaurants – I would definitely recommend anyone in the area to spend at least part of a day here. All too quickly it was time to return to the UK on the overnight Air Canada flight from Toronto – another super flight to end an amazing trip.

27 June 2013

I was recently invited to increase my knowledge of this amazing island even more by participating on an educational visit to the island. The journey started at London Gatwick where we boarded our British Airways flight to Hewanorra airport, which is in the south of this beautiful Caribbean island. My first stay was at the Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa which ideally is only a few minutes away from the airport. This all-inclusive resort overlooks the Atlantic and has two wings. One is exclusively for adults and the other for families. One big attraction for families is the fact that this resort also has the largest waterpark in Saint Lucia. The following day I started my exploration of the island. My the first stop was at the Fond Doux Plantation. This ‘plantation turned hotel’ was recently visited by Prince Charles and combines a working cocoa plantation with some lovely accommodations in a truly tropical setting. Then I visited the amazing Boucan by Hotel Chocolat which is an outstanding boutique hotel. The next place on our itinary was the the Caribbean’s only ‘drive-in volcano’ . We bathed in the therapeutic Sulphur Springs. The mud in these springs is super for your skin. Lunch was served at the superb Sugar Beach (formerly known as the Jalousie Plantation). This amazing resort was recently host to lots of Hollywood ‘A-listers’ for Matt Damon’s wedding vows renewal. It is a simply beautiful hotel! After checking out of our hotel I travelled to the old capital of the island at Soufriere and joined a boat for my trip up the coast towards Castries. On the way I stopped at Anse Chastenet and visited this fantastic hotel and it’s well known annexe – Jade Mountain at Anse Chastenet. Jade Mountain became famous as one of the judge’s venues from the X-Factor, and this amazing hotel with one whole side open to the elements is breath-taking in its design and fantastic views. My boat journey continued with a stop at Discovery at Marigot Bay Resort and Spa. Eventually I reached my next stay in the all-inclusive Smugglers Cove. Smugglers Cove (once known as Club St Lucia) is one of the most popular hotels on the island, with its choices of pools, restaurants and loads of activities. The next morning I visited The Landings, which is one of the newer developments with its own marina and then it was off to Cotton Bay Village. There was a great contrast between these two beach resorts with one on the Caribbean side and its calmer waters and the other on the Atlantic coast with big breakers. Lunch was then served at The Body Holiday Le Sport resort where they say “Give us your body for a week, and we’ll give you back your mind”. An amazing resort with loads of sports and activities available, but also very relaxing for those who would prefer to just chill. My dinner that evening was at the Cap Maison hotel. This beautiful five star property is situated right next to Smugglers Cove but could in fact be hundreds of miles away such is the contrast between them. The architecture of the Cap Maison is very different and the restaurant The Cliff at Cap restaurant is superb. I was able to experience one of the great activities available in Saint Lucia the following day – zip lining! In the rain forest there is a network of lines which are great fun over the gorges and rivers in the area. The staffs are very professional and safety comes first – it was brilliant – when you go to Saint Lucia, you have to try it. I also visited the Coco Palm Resort, Royal by Rex Resorts and the very popular all-inclusive St James Club Morgan Bay Shopping in Castries was great fun; with a Duty Free Shopping Area as well as the hubbub in the Castries markets. My final stay was at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort, right on the beach at Reduit Beach. Then that evening took part in what is a ritual every Friday night - ‘jump-up’ at Gros Islet where each week there is a huge street party – great fun and huge crowds! On my final full day I visited the Bay Gardens Hotel and Inn which are great budget hotels and finally the Windjammer Landings which is another amazing resort hotel with outstanding views of the island. All too soon it was time to pack and return to the UK. If you are interested in a trip to tremendous island I’d love to hear from you as I have lots of tips and insights to share.

15 May 2013

To get away from what seemed like an eternal winter, Gail and I took a short break to Malta at the beginning of the year. It was our first visit to Malta, but a destination that we definitely will return to again. We flew direct from Belfast and then transferred to the 4* Solana Hotel in Mellieha for our three night stay. Weather wise it was just ideal for exploring the island and enjoying a bit of warmth. On our first day we arranged an excursion to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk which has a Sunday market. It was great wandering about the stalls and looking at the brightly painted fishing boats in glorious sunshine. We then had a lovely al fresco lunch at one of the dozens of restaurants around the harbour. When we returned to the hotel we had dinner in one of the many restaurants outside our hotel. We opted to visit the capital Valetta the next day, using the great (and very reasonable) local bus service. We took the bus in to explore this wonderful city - full of history. The high spot was definitely the visit to St John's Co-Cathedral which was so lavishly decorated by the Knights of St John. A wee bit of 'retail therapy' and a super lunch was had before heading back Mellieha. Malta is a great value destination, with friendly locals and amazing history and after a short break I just want to return and see more of this fascinating island. I would recommend it to anyone; give me a call if you would like to know more about it.

29 November 2012

I had taken my Princess Cruise training to highest level of ‘Commodore’ and as such was able to complete my training with a graduation cruise on the Crown Princess. The cruise I chose began in Venice and then continued around the Greek Isles before ending in Civitavecchia. I picked this one as I had not visited the majority of the ports. After an early morning flight into Venice, we were quickly transferred and shown to our cabin on the Crown Princess. A quick exploration of the ship was followed by the shuttle waterbus into the wonder that is Venice. I adore Venice, it is lovely, quirky and you cannot fail to get lost! When you leave St Mark’s square, just enjoy the exploring and look around you. Somehow we managed to find our way to the Rialto Bridge to see the sun going down – magical! The ship spent the night in Venice allowing us to spend plenty of time exploring before we set sail the following day at 1pm. A Venice sail away is an amazing experience as the ship makes its way towards St Mark’s Square before turning and leaving the city on the Canale di San Marco, offering magnificent views of the city. We had taken the anytime dining option on the Crown Princess and this was great as you can turn up at either of the anytime restaurants and be allocated a table. Most nights we opted to share a table; not only do you get a table quicker but you meet lots of fellow cruisers. Every evening meal was a gastronomic delight (including breakfast and lunch which we tended to take in the buffet). There was also a burger bar and pizza parlour on deck during the day. I am convinced that everyone on our ship left heavier than when they started the cruise as the quality of food was just so good. Our next port of call was Dubrovnik. It was super just exploring the city walls before joining everyone in the main street. There was a special food festival and the city was celebrating with lots of local food and drink and a real bustling atmosphere. The following day we were in Corfu and it was great to explore Corfu Town, stopping for a coffee and ouzo overlooking the cricket pitches. Our next port of call was Katakolon, a small village of only 650 people, but where there were three cruise ships in town. The reason for so many ships in this small village is its proximity to Olympia where the original Olympic Games were held and a site of one the original Seven Wonders of the World. We took a local coach out to this amazing site and explored the ruins which date back thousands of years. It was a fascinating trip. Our next visit was to Athens where we hired taxi for a few hours and our driver took us everywhere that we wanted to visit including the Acropolis, the Agora and the Placa. He looked after us extremely well and was great value for four of us. The Greek people as always, made us feel very welcome. The following day we were supposed to go to Mykonos but due to high winds our Captain decided that it would be safer sailing away from the storm – another huge advantage of cruising over other types of holidays – you can avoid bad weather. When this change was made, the cruise director’s team quickly updated their entertainment guide to ensure that there were plenty of activities for this extra sea day. Not only did we avoid the storm but we had a lovely relaxing day sunbathing (in November!) whilst cruising through the Greek Islands. There was so much entertainment on board it was impossible to go to everything. All the details are in the daily newspaper “Princess Patter”. One of my favourites was the “Movies Under The Stars” where they showed movies on deck on the big screen and you were given a blanket, popcorn and even milk and cookies! Our next port of call was Kusadasi in Turkey. We used an organised excursion to visit the ancient city of Ephesus, the home of the Virgin Mary and the church of St John. It was a marvellous experience. We then spent a few hours haggling in the many bazaars of Kusadasi. The following day it was on to Santorini. We took a speedboat to Oia (the most picturesque village overlooking the caldera) and later returned by cable car. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful islands and looking down on your cruise ship is just amazing. We were lucky and ours was the only ship in Santorini that day, as it can be very busy. After a couple of days at sea we reached our final port of call before the cruise finished at Civitavecchia – Naples. This is a brilliant start place to explore Sorrento, Capri or the Amalfi Coast; we chose to visit another of the many attractions nearby and took the train to Pompeii. A guide here is a must as they can explain about the absolute wonder that is Pompeii. Overall I had a fantastic experience with Crown Princess and I would thoroughly recommend this ship to everyone! Every member of the crew was a credit to Princess Cruises, not only in their professionalism but they did everything with a genuine smile on their face as well. This was an ideal time for visiting many of the antiquities that we saw, not only were the crowds smaller but also if you were visiting in the height of the summer months there is no shade at these sights and the heat could be unbearable.

10 July 2012

I have just returned from a super holiday at the Costa Verde Hotel, Cefalu, Sicily and would return again in the blink of an eye. It just goes to show that you should never believe everything that you read on tripadvisor as this is a great hotel and super value for money. I had arranged low-cost flights from Dublin to Palermo and a car-hire from Palermo airport for a week as the transfer costs meant that it was more cost effective to do that than pay for a taxi. From Palermo it took around an hour and a half to drive to Cefalu. One advantage of arriving in the evening was that the roads were a lot quieter and the journey from the airport went really well, motorway practically the whole way. We arrived quite late at the hotel, but they had arranged a light supper for all their late arriving guests, nothing fancy – a salad and some cold meats and a drink, but a lovely touch all the same. The Hotel Costa Verde is a large hotel and our rooms were quite a way from the reception but they were very big indeed, each with TV and fridge and huge balconies. We had arranged to go all-inclusive so we used the restaurants daily. Breakfast is continental style, consisting of breads, fruit juice, ham, cheese, cereals and good coffee it was great! This was the only meal taken in the indoor restaurant The other meals were superb, all eaten in the outdoor restaurant where your table is reserved for your entire stay. At every meal there was great choice, pasta, pizza, always a seafood option and a meat carvery with lovely salads. Service in the restaurants was great, tables cleared constantly and any requests handled promptly. Local Sicilian red and white wines and bottled water accompanied lunch and dinner. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi in the reception area, for all guests and has a full entertainment and sports programme. The majority of guests are Italian and French so the entertainment provided by the young animation team is geared around them. However everyone is welcome to participate and it was great to see my two boys having loads of fun taking part in the daily water-polo matches despite not being able to talk to their team mates. Seriously if you do not enjoy being with other nationalities, or only want a hotel that caters to British/Irish clients then go somewhere else as this is not for you, if you enjoy mixing with others then this is an ideal hotel! Personally I love mixing with loads of other nationalities, this one of the reasons why I go abroad on holiday. Every member of staff in the hotel I found to be extremely helpful and they all made our stay very pleasant. I would recommend hiring car, Cefalu is about five miles away and definitely worth a visit, there is a hotel shuttle bus which goes regularly to the town but the freedom of the car means that you can go as often as you want, when you want. There is also good parking in Cefalu along from the public beach. The narrows streets (where you walk, don’t try to drive on them) leads you up to the lovely cathedral, there are loads of good souvenir shops. The hotel also has its own beach (about a mile away) which is reached by a shuttle bus and there is an Aqua Park across the road. Guests in the Costa Verde usually get one admission to the Aqua Park during their stay but have to pay for their sun bed hire like all the other visitors. For our return trip although we checked out of our own room by 10.30am we were welcome to use the facilities of the hotel until we left and were provided with a room to change and shower in before we left, this was all done without any fuss or extra charge. All inclusive I found to be great value with soft drinks for the kids especially worthwhile. The bar staff like everyone else in the hotel were helpful, friendly and professional. Cefalu is a beautiful town and well worth a visit, the old streets are just full of character. Overall a great memorable holiday and a super introduction to Sicily, I fully expect to return to Sicily again.

30 April 2012

Gail and I took advantage of a last minute offer to sail on the NCL Cruises, Norwegian EPIC. This was a short mini-cruise with four nights on board, enough to give us a sample of on-board life and experience the “third largest cruise ship” in the world! I arranged flights from Belfast to Barcelona and a private transfer to take us to the port. Our first view of the ship was from the taxi and she dwarfed every other ship in the harbour. The car pulled up alongside and looking up at the EPIC from the quayside I could see that she was well named. The Norwegian EPIC has 21 dining venues and 20 bars and lounges. Every night there are lots of choice on which shows to see, which bars to visit and of course which restaurant to eat at. We had pre-booked on-line some shows and one restaurant that had been recommended to us, the rest we decided to do on board. With freestyle cruising you do not have a set time for restaurants and just turn up at a time which suits you. The check-in was very quick and soon we were on-board, a quick inspection of our balcony cabin (very nice indeed) and then off to the buffet garden restaurant for our lunch. The buffet restaurant was very busy and we found this especially the case when the ship was not in port and at the beginning and end of the cruise. The great thing about NCL is that they have a relaxed dress code throughout so ‘resort chic’ is the style throughout the cruise with no need to bring a suit and tie. After exploring the ship we headed back to the cabin to get freshened up and prepare for dinner, whilst the ship left Barcelona on-route to our first port of call – Marseilles. That evening we dined in one of the two main restaurants – Taste and had a superb meal, in truth every meal that we had on-board was that simply superb! We then took in The Blue Man show before finishing our evening at the Fat Cats live blues and jazz club. The following morning we left early on the ship’s shuttle service to Marseilles centre where we took a local tour around the city and up to Notre Dame de la Garde which overlooks the entire city and where the views are spectacular. After our tour it was once again back on-board for our visit to The Manhattan Room for our dinner, followed by the Legends in Concert show. Our next day at sea, we spent sunbathing as we cruised towards Palma, Majorca in the ‘adults only’ pool area Spice H2O. That evening we had reserved a table in the speciality restaurant Teppanyaki which was just an amazing experience as the chef prepares your meal in front of you whilst juggling the ingredients and their knives. Another great night was ended again in the Fat Cats club listening to the super blues musicians in Slam Allen’s band. We arrived the next morning at Palma, Majorca and had a lovely walk along the promenade admiring all the luxury yachts in the harbour. When we reached the cathedral we moved into the town to visit the shops and having a well-earned coffee break. Palma is a great city to walk around in. Back on board we had the opportunity to catch a few more hours of sun before preparing for our last night at sea. I also took advantage of an opportunity to inspect a Family Courtyard Villa in the Haven on board. The Haven is almost ‘a cruise within a cruise’ as these cabins overlook their own private pool area and an exclusive bar and restaurant. Guests here are able to use all the other facilities on the Norwegian EPIC booked by their own 24/7 concierge service. That evening we returned to the Taste restaurant for our dinner and we took in more shows before the end of our cruise. The Norwegian EPIC is simply vast and very busy indeed – the choices of dining venues are great. However I did find the crowds a bit overwhelming at times, especially just after a show had finished and many people were all arriving or leaving venues at the same time. This makes it quite noisy at times at these public areas as everyone is speaking at once. In complete contrast however is how quiet the cabins and the actual ship is. For such a big and tall ship it is extremely stable and hardly felt any movement at all whilst on board. I thoroughly enjoyed this short cruise and would love to travel again with NCL and I would definitely recommend a cruise on the Norwegian EPIC.

16 April 2012

Another early rise for today we were off on our game drive in the huge Hluhluwe-Umfolozi game reserve – the oldest game reserve in Africa. The park opens at 7am and was very busy with lots of safaris getting under way at the same time but the park is so large you occasionally saw other vehicles. This was great for seeing lots of animals such as lion, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and even warthogs. As well as seeing so many animals the park is just so scenic, with beautiful hills and river valleys. We also stopped at Hilltop which has a restaurant and shop and to take in some of the fantastic views. A great experience! Then we were off again on our travels to Amangwane camp which is at Kosi Bay near the Mozambique border. Amangwane camp is quite rustic with the accommodation in tent-like huts and no air-conditioning. But the area is quite simply one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. The following morning we set of for the fish traps that have been used by local fishermen for well over a thousand years. These intricate traps direct the fish to a holding pen where they can eventually be speared. After the fish traps we continued down to perhaps the most beautiful beach in the world at the mouth of the Kosi. Huge sandbanks on either side of the river mouth make this place jaw droppingly beautiful. In part of the river is a coral reef where you can snorkel and see the amazing coloured fish that live there. The current of the tide takes you over this reef so all you have to do is float over this to see these amazing creatures. The water is very warm both in the bay and also where the Indian Ocean crashes against the reef further down the beach. The following morning we had yet another early start to begin our long journey back to Durban. A stop for brunch was held at the beautiful Princes Trust golf resort complex, where we also saw their amazing bedrooms and wedding facilities. There is a huge market in people now getting married in South Africa, and this is a hugely popular venue. Then it was on to Durban where we visited the Moses Mabhida football stadium which has a skycar ride, giving fantastic views of the entire city. Another attraction here is the Big Swing – which is like a bungee but swings through the stadium instead – definitely not for the fainthearted! A trip to Victoria Street Market followed which was super full of bartering shopkeepers selling souvenirs and crafts. We also had the opportunity to visit the revamped Durban beachfront area which was really vibrant with lots to do and see. Finally we ended a long day in the sanctuary of the 5* Oyster Box Hotel at Umhlanga Rocks (just 20 minutes away from Durban city and a real resort town). This hotel just oozes class and almost every need has been anticipated for you. It was great to drift off to sleep with the Indian Ocean pounding on the rocks just below your balcony. Our last day before our flight home that afternoon and we visited the Gateway Shopping Mall, which is the largest shopping mall in the southern hemisphere. With the strong exchange rate there were some real bargains to be had here and it is also conveniently situated in Umhlanga Rocks. Overall I would recommend South Africa as a super destination for any of my customers who would like to experience something different. I found the country to be extremely safe and everywhere I went I received fantastic hospitality from everyone. It offers super value for money for everything, eating and drinking, shopping and accommodation. Whether you want to safari (as we did on this trip), explore on your own (the roads are great) or just relax in a warm climate with super service then I recommend a trip here. If you want to know more – give me a call.

04 April 2012

Through my completion of an online training course I was fortunate enough to be invited on an educational trip to KwaZulu-Natal. The journey started at London Heathrow where I was checked in for our overnight flight to Johannesburg and then onward to Durban. The South African Airways flight was great with a lovely meal and attentive flight attendants – a big plus is the on-board entertainment system where you can watch movies and TV programmes and listen to music when you want to. After clearing customs in Jo’burg it was a quick transfer for the short flight to Durban arriving at the brand new King Shaka International Airport near Durban. This airport was only opened in May 2010. Following a nice lunch in one of the outside cafes at the airport we were soon off on our adventure in KwaZulu-Natal. After a two hour journey through some lovely countryside we arrived at the Protea Shakaland Hotel where we would be taking part in a Zulu cultural experience. This hotel is quite unique as it was originally built as a movie set for the TV mini-series about the famous Zulu King Shaka. It was then developed as a cultural centre for passing on Zulu traditions and a hotel. The bedrooms are all in the shape of traditional Zulu rondavels, but have all modern mod-cons. We were then shown round the village learning much of the Zulu culture and their proud traditions, it was a brilliant experience as we were all encouraged to try things ourselves and everything was done with such good humour and fun. Then later that evening we were walked back into the main Zulu kraal accompanied by the whole village singing alongside it was an amazing experience followed by dance demonstrations which were so energetic it was tiring just watching them. The audience was also encouraged to join in (some needed no encouragement) and a great fun night was had by everyone. After all the dancing dinner was served and once the Zulu chief pronounced the food was good enough to eat we all tucked in. The meals in the hotel are a buffet arrangement with a good choice of local and international dishes. The following morning after breakfast we continued with the cultural programme and learned about Zulu courtship, how their weapons were made and even visited the medicine man. Demonstrations were also given on how to fight as well as spear throwing, both of which were great fun. All too quickly we were then on our way to Umkhumbi Lodge near Hluhluwe (its pronounced shoosh-looey) which was three hours away. On the way to Umkhumbi we passed a great roadside market where crafts and fresh fruit and produce were for sale – the fresh pineapples and mangoes were extremely cheap and great to eat there and then. Finally we arrived at Umkhumbi Lodge, where we quickly changed in our super rooms and met at the bar for ‘sun downers’. The lodge has twelve twin room suites and is located in its own game reserve with animals such Nyala and Red Duiker (from which the lodge takes its name). The west facing bar deck is just one of the best places to watch the sun set into the bush, an amazing place with superb hosts. The meals here as well were so memorable and it’s a place where everyone just mucks in and the craic is superb. After a great dinner and a few drinks it was an early night to prepare for the first of our animal encounters…………………………..

04 April 2012

An early start and it was off to the lovely town of St Lucia where we were to go on a kayak safari. Aided by Justin our guide we set off (a little apprehensively) into the St Lucia estuary. This was an amazing experience and without any boat engines was very peaceful and calming. We saw hippopotamus and crocodile and were able to paddle quite close to them, always being kept safe by Justin. One of my highlights on our paddle back up the estuary was a Goliath Heron taking off from the water just in front of us – an amazing sight. After our kayaking trip we then went into the iSamangaliso Wetlands Park. This park which is the size of Ireland runs from St Lucia right up to the Mozambique border. We were no sooner in the park when we started to see wildlife - rhino, zebra, wildebeest and buffalo. We had a great tour of the park and visited the fantastic beach at Cape Vidal. On leaving the park we also visited the Crocodile Centre and learned loads more about these ancient and frankly scary creatures. Another early rise and we were on our way to the Bayete Zulu Elephant Interaction and there we met the stars of the show Rambo, Rachel and little Jambulani – African elephants! Because Rambo and Rachel were reared by humans they are used to interaction with us. It was an amazing experience to be so close to these magnificent animals, they are so powerful and yet I thought they are also so gentle. The guides definitely added to the experience, telling us so much more about these particular elephants as well as how elephants in general live in the wild. Then we were allowed to hand feed them, placing food directly on to their tongue as well as touching their tusks and ears. Overall this was a quite simply wonderful experience. Our next visit was to the Mbonise village for a cultural visit. We had already experienced Zulu culture and history at Shakaland now it was being brought right up to date as we visited Zulu homes and schools and received a real insight in to how the Zulu people live now. Once again our hosts were absolutely charming and I really enjoyed this visit. Finally on what had been a real action packed day we travelled to the Cat Rehabilitation Centre at Endomeni Lodge. Even after all we had experienced already this was amazing as we saw lynx, African wildcats, serval and cheetah and the work being done to return them to the wild. The undoubted highlight though was going into the enclosure with cheetahs, being able pet them and having photographs taken with them. As we were leaving the enclosure they also went into hunting mode as some gazelle got close to their enclosure and to see them move like that so close to us was simply incredible. Finally it was back to Umkhumbi Lodge for a deserved rest after what had been an awesome day.

09 December 2011

Gail and I along with my sister and brother-in-law spent an early Summer holiday at the Hotel Fiesta Tanit in San Antonio, Ibiza. This hotel is designed for families with three swimming pools (one for kids, one for all the family and a quieter adults only one). All meals are served buffet style and the hotel is all-inclusive. The hotel is out of the hustle and bustle that is San Antonio (especially the nightlife) but only a 15 minute walk takes you right there. The hotel bars all close at midnight, so for families that is when all the noise ends. Overall a great holiday (we met some marvellous people there) without luxury but really good value for money!

09 December 2011

For our honeymoon Gail and I decided to cruise the Far East on the Costa Classica. It was an ideal way to explore the Far East, visit a variety of different countries and cultures whilst not having to pack and unpack on a daily basis. The cruise began and ended in Hong Kong and visited Manila, Kota Kinabalu, Brunei, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh/Saigon, Da Nang and Sanya. The highlights of the itinerary were Hong Kong - an amazing city; visiting the Orang Utans at the Rasa Ria sanctuary Kota Kinabalu; and the amazing Ho Chi Minh/Saigon. Each of which I would love to return and spend far longer exploring and staying. The Costa Classica itself is a large ship, food on board was excellent, but I was glad to have pre-purchased a drinks package as these were quite expensive on board. There was a good mix of nationalities on board the ship and people mixed very well.