04 January 2018

FFor some holiday makers, the thought of taking a cruise is ideal; visiting different destinations all in one holiday or maybe the appeal of having everything you need all in one place. To others it’s a very daunting task of finding the ideal cruise. As a Travel Counsellor I like to match my clients with the right ship, with the right cruise line in the destinations they want, to the budget they have and at their date requirements. With everything taken care of so all they have to think about is having fun. All cruise lines and cruise ships have food, drink, entertainment, activities and most of the time the sun too! However, picking the right cruise ship on the right cruise line can be the hardest choice of all; and if you get it wrong then it could put you off cruising forever! Not all ships in the same fleet are identical – cruise lines have certain ships for certain markets and some will have something for everyone and some maybe adult only. As general rule of thumb, all meals and activities are included in the cruise fare and sometimes it’s possible for the drinks to be inclusive too! Some couples may argue about what they want from a holiday, one may want to relax and the other may want to sightsee or explore the destination during the day. With a cruise this is possible. Why not even turn your holiday into a twin centre holiday to include with maybe a city break or an activity holiday. That way everybody gets what they want! Cruise companies will say that their cruises are for everyone, this to a point is true but some suit some people but not others. For example; if you are a family with young children, it wouldn’t be the best idea to go on a cruise where there are no kid’s clubs and the average age of passengers are over 60! At the same time if you are over 60 you wouldn’t really want to be on one of the bigger ships with a load of kids running around. You may want to take three months away and sail around the world or you may want to just soak up the sun with everything at hand for a week or two. Want to go to the Caribbean or New York, but don’t want to fly? Not a problem at all! There are ships for everybody, whether you are a family, a retired couple or a single traveller. You may want to visit certain places on your holiday and you may want to do certain activates. Sailing around the South Pacific for example has a speciality cruise company. Likewise, partying around the Caribbean has one too. Do you want to explore the wonders of the Galapagos Islands? Do you want pure luxury and your own personal butler? Is seeing Mickey Mouse a must do? Do you want to learn to cook with celebrity chefs? Visit a private island in the Caribbean? See the Norwegian Fjords? The possibilities are endless. Everything is possible in the world of cruising. As your Travel Counsellor I can help you make this happen. Feel free to call me on 0113 350 1590 or email ian.myers@travelcounsellors.com for more information and let’s find your perfect cruise experience!

05 January 2017

Last summer I was invited to visit a ClubMed property in Palmiye, Turkey - set in a beautiful bay, surrounded by the Taurus Mountains in the Antalya region. We stayed in an amazing hotel, with 684 rooms divided into bungalows and suites set in beautifully maintained gardens. After a 4-hour flight from the UK, I was greeted by ClubMed staff with refreshments and was escorted to the coach for the 1 hour transfer to the hotel. ClubMed operates a ‘fully inclusive’ which not only does this include food and drinks but all sports and activities that each particular resort offers. From Water skiing, to paddle boarding, archery, Tennis, Circus skills and sailing are to name a few. All the activities are staffed with trained multi-lingual coaches and lessons are provided to those first timers. For the adults, there is a spa and 2 Zen pools to relax whilst the kids are in the kid's clubs, which is fully included in the cost and suitable for all ages. And with 5 pools to choose from, there are plenty of areas for the families to relax too. All the evening entertainment is themed each night, with food and drinks to match, and shows in the Amphitheatre. For those that aren’t too tired by the end of the entertainment, the night club on the beach was open until the early hours. The food, by the way, was out of this world. From the taste to the variety everything was perfect! For those that are a little put off with the idea of Turkey at present… Whilst in the resort I never felt there was anything going on outside the resort, and the discreet presence of security puts you at ease. In the afternoon, I ventured out into the local town of Kemer and again, I felt the same way. ClubMed operates many properties globally with plans of much more in the coming years. From Europe to America and The Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Indian Ocean. And, sun properties are not the only thing that ClubMed excel in. They also offer Ski resorts in France, Italy and Switzerland, which are again fully inclusive – and yes that does include ski passes and lessons!! If you are interested in this type of holiday or have stayed with similar companies and are looking for a change (they are way above the rest), then please give me a call on 0113 3501590, or drop me an email at ian.myers@travelcounsellors.com

29 December 2016

This summer our family holiday was a cruise on the brand new Carnival Vista, sailing out of Barcelona around the Mediterranean Sea. First, we had a couple of days in Barcelona to try sample some of the delights this beautiful and cultural city has to offer. We stayed for 2 nights very close to the heart of the city and visited the main areas of the city from La Rambla at one end, and then to Barrio Gotic (Gothic Quarter) and to some of the lesser known areas which are just as important along with their culinary feasts. On day 3 it was time to head to the port to board the Carnival Vista for our 8-night cruise. Being VIP’d on to the ship made boarding a breeze as well as the little extras on board the ship! – This, by the way, is something I can arrange for all my clients travelling on any Carnival ship at no extra cost!! The ship was 1st launched in May 2016 and served its maiden season in the Med being based out of Barcelona and Athens. As we entered the ship we were amazed at the interior and for a ship that can carry four thousand plus passengers it never felt crowded! We made our way to our cabin, which was tastefully decorated, spacious enough for 4 people. It had a very generous balcony and a full-size bath! – A rarity on some cruise ships! On board the ship there was plenty to entertain all members of the family from the Skyride where you can ride around high above the water and race the person next to you before heading to the waterpark! Mini Golf and Mini Bowling are available too alongside a running track and basketball courts for the sporty types. An adult’s only Serenity area is the perfect place for the adults to chill whilst the kids enjoy time in the various kid's clubs for all ages. On the inside of the ship, a few more innovations come to light with the 1st ever IMAX at sea with the latest release movies and The Red Frog Brewery also a 1st! ;) The ship set sail and after a day at sea the 1st port was Messina in Italy a lovely little village with excursions to Mt Etna or take the train to Taormina. The next 6 days saw us visit new places to us such as Naples, Rome, and the beautiful Florence – somewhere which is now so high on my bucket list to return to for longer! Then it was onto Marseille and Palma before we returned back to Barcelona to transfer to the airport and return home. Sadly Carnival Vista has made its way across the Atlantic to its new home in the Port of Miami where it is taking passengers on 6 and 8-night cruises around the Caribbean. Carnival Vista was the 25th addition to the Carnival family sailing to and from various ports in the United States visiting places from the Caribbean to The Bahamas to Alaska and Hawaii, Mexico, New England and the Panama Canal. Carnival have also placed an order for a sister ship to the Vista so fingers crossed there may be more European itineraries in the future! These itineraries make it the perfect opportunity to visit new destinations as a full holiday or why not turn your holiday into a twin-centre and add a shorter cruise onto the beginning or end of your holiday for the perfect chill out before you head home. If you would like any more information on Carnival Cruises, any other cruise or holiday then please contact me on the contact details below at a time to suit you and I can discuss the options and your requirements to create that perfect holiday. 0113 3501590 or ian.myers@travelcounsellors.com

09 June 2015

For some the Disney Dining Plan can be a bit confusing so hopefully this quick guide will be able to help answer any questions. Q: What is the Disney Dining Plan? A: Disney has created a cost effective way of pre-paying for your meals when you book your holiday. For the past few years Disney have run promotions where depending on which resort Hotel you book they will include a dining plan for free. This is only available to guests staying at any of the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels. Below are the 3 packages available to choose from and a description of what they entail: Quick-Service Dining Plan (per night stay) • 2 quick (counter)-service meals • 1 snack • 1 refillable Resort mug per person Dining Plan (per night stay) • 1 quick-service meal • 1 table-service meal • 1 snack Deluxe Dining Plan (per night stay) • 3 table-service or quick-service meals • 2 snacks • 1 refillable Resort mug per person So if you have 4 people in your party then each person will receive 1 credit per day (2 credits for the Quick-Service Plan). Most restaurants are 1 credit with the exception of the Signature Restaurants and Fairytale Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table which are 2 credits. Q: How does it work? A: Upon ordering you will present your Key To The World (either MagicBand or Card) and they will deduct the credits for your allocation. You will then get a reciept for your purchase which tells you how many credits you have remaining. Q: What is included? A: A lunch and dinner meal is classed as a main course and dessert, both for quick service and for table service. Or 1 full buffet meal. Soft drinks are also included as long as they aren’t served in souvenir container. The snacks available are the likes of ice cream, popcorn, a piece of fruit, a hot drink, soda fountain drink or bottle of soda/water and croissants. This depends on the location you are purchasing from. Q: What’s not included? A: Gratuities are not included (except for dinner shows and Fairytale Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table) and are added to the bill, these can then either be paid for there or charged back to your room. Alcoholic drinks and food and beverages that are sold in a souvenir container are not included. Q: Do I need to book: A: Personally I would advise booking your meals, some restaurants will fill their reservations sheet the day they are released! You can only book table-service meals and you can FastPass+ some counter service restaurants. Q: How do I book? A: Reservations can be made either by phone or on the MyDisneyExperience website & App. www.mydisneyexperience.com Simply create an account and enter your booking reference, this will then bring up your hotel reservation and the ability to pick and choose the restaurant you require and enter the date, select the time and book your table. The MyDisneyExperience app is also there for you to book your FastPass+’s. Q: When can I book A: You can book tables 180 days in advance, if you are a hotel guest you then have the ability to book for the first 10 days of your stay. As I said above the most popular venues do get booked up 180 days in advance. Some restaurants will allow “walk-ins” but these are not guaranteed. I have been visiting and planning Walt Disney World holidays for the last 15 years and if I can help you in any way when you are planning your Walt Disney World holiday then please do not hesitate to give me a call on 0113 3501590 or email me at ian.myers@travelcounsellors.com and I will be happy to provide the details you require.

04 June 2015

I recently spent a fabulous week away in small village in Cornwall called Polperro. Polperro is a small fishing village on the south coast. With a fairly central location it was the perfect base for a week of exploration and walks with the dog! Cornwall has some fabulous beaches and some great walking opportunities or we could veg away in our cosy holiday cottage. Then wondered around the village trying out the many pubs along the way. Dogs welcome in all!! We took some small boat rides from Polperro into the neighbouring town of Looe. With a huge beach, great shopping opportunities and a Cornish Pasty lovers heaven. One of the days we drove to Wadebridge on the north coast (only around a 40 minute drive) and intercepted the Camel Trail. The Camel Trail is a dedicated cycle route from Bodmin to Padstow, running over the hills and down from Wadebridge along the coast into Padstow. We hired some bikes from one of the many hire shops and took the “flat” part into Padstow only a distance of around five and a half miles where we sampled some of Rick Stien’s fish & chips. Padstow is a lovely town with again many shops of differing styles and offerings. Plus you can visit one of Rick Stein’s establishments. Our main aim for the week was to chill out and that is all we did. The UK has many amazing destinations to offer. So if you are thinking about getting away without having to go to the airport, then give me a call or drop me a message.

04 June 2015

Monday 20th April 2015 saw Royal Caribbean International name their newest addition to the fleet Anthem of the Seas and I was one of the lucky agents to get a taste of this Magnificent ship has to offer. I spent two nights on board the ship is see what delights and offerings are to be had. Anthem of the Seas is the second of the Quantum Class of ship. Also dubbed as a ‘smart ship’. It is packed with innovative features including a robotic bar, the North Star observation capsule which towers above the ship and out over the sides! Anthem of the Seas has everything you would expect from a luxury 5 star resort, with the difference of never having the same view twice! Waking up in a different destination every day. With a ship this size – 4,180 passengers – you would expect to be having to walk miles to get to where you need to be but I didn’t find this the case with Anthem. Royal Caribbean have managed to slot everything into place which is easily accessible from anywhere else. There are many grades of cabins to choose. From your entry level inside stateroom with a virtual balcony; agan an amazing bit of technology that displays the view from the outside of the ship onto the wall making you feel like you have a balcony. Then to the top level of cabin where this is split on two floors and you even get your own Jacuzzi on the balcony. When it comes to eating and drinking there is so much to tickle your taste buds. From Japanese to a steakhouse and Jamie’s Italian to fine dining. With the Royal Caribbean favourites of Johnny Rockets’ and Windjammer – the buffet restraint open pretty much all day. Then there are the many bars on board from having a pint in the Pub or sipping champagne in the Sky Bar whilst watching the world go by as you sail to your next destination. For the children there are the kids clubs from toddlers to teens. As a family you can visit the SeaPlex and try out another first at sea and have a go in the bumper cars or play basketball and go roller-skating. Just outside from there is the new iFly where you can try skydiving or try out some surfing on the WaveRider. Maybe a bit of rock climbing too. As the nights draw in you can head to Two70 a multi-tiered venue with its transformational screens and back drop which transforms this venue from a relaxing bar during the day. Or you go to the theatre and see the full production of We Will Rock You – and it’s free!! Anthem of the Seas is sailing out of Southampton until October 2015 and then it will be making its way over to its new home of New Jersey where it will offer sailings to the Caribbean and beyond. You might think with all this new gadgetry and innovation there will be a cost but prices are starting from £349 per person for 3 night cruise to Paris and Belgium. If you would like any more information on Anthem of the Seas, Royal Caribbean or any cruise then please give me a call or drop me an email and I will be glad to help.

08 October 2014

I have just returned from an amazing five days in Turkey visiting the sights of Istanbul and the Cappadocia region of Turkey. Some amazing sights and some hotels that will take you into relaxation mode instantly. I started off at London Gatwick flying to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. Having never flown Turkish Airlines before I was totally amazed at the standard of service of the crew, the freshly prepared food and the in seat TV with on demand channels was a bonus too. On arrival into Istanbul I was picked up and taken to the Kent Hotel in the Old Town of Istanbul. The hotel was clean, tidy and again the staff were very attentive. The Kent hotel is located just a short walk away from the main sights and even closer to the Grand Bazaar. The next morning I was taken to Sultanahmet Square and given a tour of the sights. First we visited the Hagia Sophia Museum. The Hagia Sophia dates back to before the Ottoman Empire where it was a church, then became a mosque and now a museum. Across the square is the Blue Mosque. The Blue Mosque is still an active mosque and a dress code applies for you to visit but don’t worry if you’re not adequately dressed, they will provide you with anything you need and also a plastic bag to carry your shoes in! The mosque is open daily but closes for 90 minute periods around the five prayer times in the day. It is not a problem if you turn up during prayer times as there is plenty to see in this area. The next on the list was the Basilica Cistern. This is an underground cistern that was used as water storage. Inside you can see and learn of the history around it and the many uses it has had over the years. Can you find the two Medusa heads carved into the pillars? If anyone is a James Bond fan then “From Russia With Love” was filmed here. After lunch it was time to visit some hotels where I got see three hotels all very located to Sultanahmet Square. The first was the Hagia Sophia Hotel Old City. A recently refurbished and modern boutique hotel. Then a short walk to the Hotel Celal Sultan. The hotel was more traditional, although clean and modern in décor. On the fifth floor there is a terrace and restaurant that overlooks the wonderful Blue Mosque. The next hotel again conveniently located to Sultanahmet Square was the Four Seasons Sultanahmet. This beautiful hotel is a mix of traditional and modern. Dating back this hotel was a prison and some of the original walls are still in place today. All 65 rooms have been brought into the 21st Century without disturbing the original character of the building. Dinner this evening was served at the Ritz Carlton Istanbul. What a fab hotel this was. A very spacious, light and modern hotel located in the new city. As you would expect all rooms have a good view of either the old city, the new city or the Bosporus Sea. They are building a new football stadium where some rooms will have an amazing view of the game when construction is complete. The next day I visited the Topaki Palace, this was the principle residence of the Ottoman Sultans, set in large gardens this palace is now a museum and has collections of jewellery and clothing form the 15th to 19th Century. After I continued to the Istanbul’s second biggest market. The Egyptian Spice Bazaar. A great place to look around and take in the pungent and savoury aroma of the different stalls selling different spices, fruit, nuts and traditional sweets. Next was one of the highlights of the trip and this was a cruise along Bosporus. A strategically placed stretch of water. It forms a boundary between the European and Asian parts of Turkey. On this cruise I got to see some of the wonderful sights that can only be seen by water. The beautiful mosques, palaces and residences and mansions. Passing some of the cruise ships that come and visit Istanbul on regular basis. I got to look around a few more hotels, this time in the New City. These hotels are more modern than the old city and you could actually come and stay at any of them and not have to leave. The Ciragan Palace Kempinski, Four Seasons at the Bosporus are both resort type hotels. With amazing views over the sea, swimming pools and both are great location for weddings. The Kempinski having more grandeur and the Four Seasons having been extended to be in keeping. Again both hotels live up to their reputation. That evening I visited the Shangri-La hotel. This hotel was so beautiful, again a great wedding venue with its magnificent Ballroom. The hotel was at 99% occupancy that night and I wasn’t able to see many of the rooms. The room I did see was a deluxe rooms and was very spacious with modern fixtures and fittings. The traditional Turkish meal was amazing! It was time to move on to Cappadocia. Off to the airport to sample Turkish Airlines’ domestic lounge, a small lounge with dedicated check in desks and transport to the gate. A short flight of an hour and we were in Kayseri and then an hours transfer to the heart of Cappadocia. This area has some of the most inspiring sights I have ever seen. With natural rock formations created by air and water. In the foothills of extinct volcanoes, the majority of hotels here are built into caves or are renovated buildings. I stayed in the Alfinia Cave Hotel. This hotel, as the name suggests, had cave rooms. Some were quite small and very warm. The service I received again was good but the breakfast was very restrictive. I visited many other hotels in this area with Argos in Cappadocia being my favourite. This hotel was set in renovated buildings with each room separated from others. Depending on the rooms type you could have an indoor private swimming pool, wine cave or a view over the hills. Two other hotels in this area, the Museum and CCR Hotels were of a similar standard but more attached to the reception and communal areas of the hotel. Any of these three hotels are a perfect place to just arrive, relax and stay put. There are some amazing sights to be seen in this area. The open air museum in Goreme, the underground city in Kaymakli are all sights well worth seeing. Unfortunately by now it was time to head home. After the flight to Istanbul I sampled the massive Turkish Airlines Business Class lounge. With food freshly prepared for you, a games area for the children – big or small. Free Wi-Fi and computers for you to use to catch up on work before your flight. On the flight I was in business class and with a Chef on board the freshly prepared food was completely different to anything I had had before on a flight in business or economy.

29 July 2014

Walt Disney World – May 2014 - FastPass+ This trip was just a short 9 day holiday, flights with Virgin Atlantic and staying off-site at the Lake Buena Vista Resort and Spa. A nice condo hotel within a 5 minute drive of Walt Disney World. A great pirate themed swimming pool which the kids loved! With time being of a premium we decided just to do the Disney parks and leave the rest of Orlando and Florida alone. I wouldn’t advise a 9 day trip here if it is your 1st time but if you know what you want to do then it is a breeze. The only downside is the jetlag and the unpredictable weather that central Florida has. May isn’t meant to be that hot!! Although I’m a fairly regular traveller to Orlando and the Disney parks, this trip was a big learning curve for us as Disney have completely changed the way that their FastPass system works. For those who haven’t been for a few years you’ll remember that you could walk up to an attraction enter your park admission ticket into a booth and get a Fastpass ticket to return at a later time and have a minimal queue. Now Disney have introduced the FastPass+ where you can decide which attraction you would like to do at what time and what day up to 60 days before (30 days if you are not staying in a resort hotel). To do this you can log in to the Disney website or use the MyDisneyExperience app on your smartphone or tablet up to either 30 or 60 days out and pre book your time slots up to 3 per day. After your last one has expired you can get more if they are available. Now your park ticket is also your Fastpass+ ticket and your Photopass+ (more on that another time!) If you are staying at Disney resort hotel then you get given a wristband at check in which has all of the above and a charge card and your room key! At 1st we thought that this was going to be a bit restrictive having to plan which park we go to on which day before we even leave home. Then we had a second think, we always like to have an idea of where we are going as some parks are busier than other on certain days. After the 1st few days of looking at the app on our phones (Disney now being fully kitted out with Wifi!) we got used to the new system and the majority of times it all worked smoothly. If anyone would has any queries on any of the above or on Orlando itself then I would be happy to talk them through the options.