04 April 2024

Just a couple of weeks ago, I headed off to South Africa with a team of fellow Travel Counsellors to meet our host for the next 7 nights who would show us what South Africa has to offer. She did not disappoint! After the 11-hour direct flight to Johannesburg we were met and taken to our hotel for the first 2 nights. We stayed at 54 On Bath, a beautiful boutique hotel in the Rosebank area of Johannesburg. The hotel was attached to a shopping mall, so very easy to nip out into the mall to buy any bits and pieces that you need. We were greeted on arrival with a drink and then shown to our rooms. Rooms were very spacious, air conditioned with a lovely bathroom. A delicious welcome lunch was then served to our group with champagne! We were really looked after. After a short rest we were then taken by our lovely and informative guide Taki to Constitution Hill, a former prison complex to learn about the history of South Africa. It’s been a prison for women but also held Nelson Mandela! Today the precinct houses the Constitutional Court, one of the highest in the country and one which protects all South Africans. The next day was a visit to the Soweto Township, some of us on bikes and some in tuktuks! The story that the locals tell is a real reason to visit. We bought local produce and ate the street food to support the local businesses. Back to the hotel for a quick change and then we were honoured to be taken to our hosts sisters house for a brai (BBQ) where we met the rest of the South African team from Sense of Africa our supplier that was hosting us. What a beautiful house she lived in, and the food was amazing! Next day we were off to Kruger National Park for the start of our 5-night safari. We flew from Jo’burg on Airlink to Kruger Mpumalanga airport, just 50 minutes away. We were met and transferred to our tented camp where we were going to stay for 2 nights. The Nkambeni Safari Lodge a 3.5* fenced tented lodge – our tent was lovely, air conditioned and a full bathroom with walk in shower – what more could you want? The swimming pool was in lovely grounds near to the waterhole where we could see and hear the hippos happily wallowing in the water. Lunch served near the pool, again a wonderful affair and then afterwards we had time for a quick dip in the pool before we would go off on our first game drive! How excited were all of us! We were split into 2 game vehicles so that we just had 2 people in each row of the seats. So, although you could fit 9 people in, 3 to a row, we just had 6 of us in the vehicle. This is how it would be for any clients too, never all squashed into one vehicle full to the brim! Our first game drive did not disappoint, we saw a small herd of elephant with their babies, so cute, dozens of impalas, zebra, waterbuck, kudu and hippo. We stopped for our sundowner overlooking a lake where hippos were lazing; drinking whatever we wanted that was produced from the mobile bar at the rear of the vehicle, including the local drink amarula – this became a firm favourite tipple amongst our group! Watching the sunset was magical! It was dark before reaching the lodge, but we were still spotting various nocturnal animals and birds including the eagle owl. It was a buffet dinner with a wide choice to choose from including kudu stew! Next day we were up to meet at 8.30am to go on our bushwalk! Our guide Pindi, one of the very few female rangers that is trained to do bush walking; along with her fellow guide Tembi also trained, both with a firearm in hand. We were given the very serious strict instructions of how a bush walk works, single file and in silence. If we see or hear anything we had to tap our side to draw Pindi’s attention. Thankfully we didn’t come face to face with any large animals although there was some very, very fresh hippo poo that we passed! This bush walk was all about the small creatures that live in the bush, including the spiders the termites the snakes and also learning about the markings on the trees; what might have made them and why. It was really interesting and something worth doing when on a safari holiday if the opportunity is there. Back at the lodge, the rain had started so we were shown a presentation on the other properties that Aha hotels feature. Then back out for the afternoon game drive in the heavy rain, but donning our ponchos off we went, the rain did not put us off! The rain didn’t stop the animals being present either and again we saw numerous wildlife. Earlyish start at 7am the next day as we were moving onto our next lodge – The Kruger Gate Hotel, this time we travelled in covered vehicles as our journey was going to take us a few hours and it was still raining! We stopped off for breakfast at Nkuhulu Picnic Site where we were treated to a full English style breakfast and then a viewing of the accommodation here, again I’d be very happy to stay there! En-route we still saw lots of game including warthogs and wild dogs!! As we approach the hotel, we were allowed to walk across the bridge to the property, we stopped for photos keeping an eye out for any wildlife that might be lurking – a lot of baboons hang out on this bridge! Arrival at the Kruger Gate Hotel a 4* property, another lovely welcome by the staff, check in and lunch on the terrace out by the infinity pool that overlooks the open plains and river. A cheeky monkey ran through and stole a slice of pizza, made us all laugh! A very lovely lunch and then we were given a tour of the hotel and viewed the various room types on offer here. They were all beautiful whatever grade you’d choose to stay in! Time to relax, sample the cocktails and have a dip in the infinity pool….bliss! Before dinner, just had time to catch the hippo and a buffalo come right up to the electric fence that protected the hotel! Amazing to see. Dinner was under the stars in the boma which is a circular enclosure with a fire pit in the centre used for social gatherings. It was a buffet style so you could go and sample all the delights of the South African food. Just one night here before we leave at 7.30am with our transport for our first stop at the little town of Graskop the start of the Panorama Route. We stop off at Graskop Gorge where the lift takes you down 51 metres into the gorge with a circular walking route (around 600 metres) through the canopy for beautiful views of the waterfall. This is the world’s 3rd largest canyon after the Grand Canyon, USA and Fish Canyon, Namibia

04 April 2024

Next stop was at The Three Rondavels, wow what a view! Nothing more to say was breathtaking! For the final 2 nights, we are at the 5* Kapama River Lodge on a private game reserve – once again an incredible greeting from the staff! We check in to this impressive accommodation built on land which covers 15000 hectares of African Bush – it’s here that we see all of the Big 5! We are given a quick tour of the of the lodge just to get our bearings before a magnificent lunch is served – of course with all of these meals we are served some of the best South African wines! Just time to unpack before afternoon tea and coffee, then out for our first game drive on the private reserve. This time our safari vehicles are open top, and we have a spotter on the front of the vehicle too! Lots of game around, so good viewing and then we stop off for what turns out to be a feast! A lovely little scene where all the food was beautifully laid out on tables, a choice of chicken drumsticks, pork sliders, spring rolls, cheese, fruit, lots of other African snacks too plus of course an open bar! I can feel that my clothes are getting tighter by the minute!! Anyway, back to the game drive and soon after it is getting dark, we turn a corner and come face to face with a rhino, our tracker studies him and then decides we are not getting too close as he recognises this one to be aggressive, so we back up and give him some space! He just stares at us and so we decide to move on and leave him be. The game drives are so exciting you just don’t know what you’re going to come across! We stay out for around 3-4 hours, and it doesn’t disappoint as we see so much! Back for a wonderful dinner, then a reasonably early night as we get a 5am wake up call, for a 6am leave on the next game drive. There’s a thunderstorm so our departure gets delayed until the storm passes, but still everyone keen to get out and do some more spotting! This time we’re on the lookout for leopard! As we drive through the bush, we’re seeing everything elephant, giraffe, lion, buffalo and of course zebra and plentiful impala, but the leopard is avoiding us, until I think I see something in the undergrowth, so I tell John our guide to stop and reverse up. He asks me what I thought I saw, and I say I think lion but not sure, his eagle eyes then spotted it too and there was our leopard, a very shy one not wanting to come out! But we have at last seen one! Back to the lodge for breakfast, we also have a guided tour of the other room types – all gorgeous and then we have a wonderful 30-minute massage booked in their spa – this was amazing, and I would highly recommend! Before our game drive we visit Kapama Southern Camp. Here we do a site inspection and have afternoon tea. Then it’s onward for the last evening game drive and we concentrate on finding leopard, and we do, and it shows itself in all its glory, so we get a fantastic view of it. We have our final dinner in a private room, with a roaring fire – its is such an amazing scene! The food is again fantastic and lots of South African wine. Our guides join us for dinner and they enjoy telling us their experiences from the bush. Tomorrow is our last game drive, so 5am wake up call, morning tea and coffee and then out at 6.00 on the drive. The wonderful sight of 2 lioness sisters just lazing around before they go off in search of food, what an amazing sight to end our last drive. On the way back we do a site visit to Kapama Karula, a small 5* lodge with just 12 villas, 2 of them family villas – wow what can I say they were incredible. Anyone looking for that extra special place, then this is it! Feeling sad now that the trip is almost over, we go back to have another lovely lunch and then shower and check out before we leave for the 10-minute transfer to the airport at Hoedspruit that will connect with our flight home from Jo’Burg back to London. The week has gone so quick, and we did so much. Time spent with amazing people, seeing an amazing country. South Africa truly stole my heart! I will return…….

30 October 2022

We arrived in Namibia after an overnight 11 hour flight to Johannesburg and then an onward flight to Windhoek. We were met and quickly transferred to our overnight lodge about a 35 minutes drive away. We'd decided to do a self-drive as it is so safe and they drive on the same side as the road as the UK so knew everything would be fine. Our vehicle was delivered to our lodge that night and the hire company went over everything with us. We had 2 spare wheels, a pump and an excellent sat nav. We were excited to set off fairly early the next morning as we knew it was going to be about a 5-6 hour drive. We started on tarmac roads, but it wasn't long before we went onto gravel. We relaxed into the driving swapping the driving between myself and my husband Alan about every hour. The roads changed from gravel to compacted sand and back to gravel, but it was all good fun and actually, quite enjoyable. We arrived at our first 2 night stop Desert Homestead Outpost in Sossusvlei. Our accommodation was in a thatched chalet with a private terrace that overlooked the open landscape. Dinner was served on an outside terrace and it was lovely! Early to bed as next day we were up for the sunrise and our excursion to the Sossusvlei to visit the iconic red sand dunes, one of the most scenic natural wonders of Africa. These have the biggest sand dunes in the world rising to almost 400 metres - 'Big Daddy' - which you can climb to the very top! We had a fabulous morning, first seeing the sunrise and then the climb up the dunes! Afterwards we explored Deadvlei, a white, salt claypan dotted with ancient trees which were hundreds of years old - it was amazing! Our next stop was to the seaside town of Swakopmund another 5-6 hour drive so another early start as it was more of the same road conditions! We found the temperature dropped here and we really needed some warmer clothes but we managed! Swakopmund is a very German town, lots of German named bars and restaurants. We stayed at the Hansa Hotel in the middle of the town where we were very lucky to be upgraded to their suite - it was massive!! Lots of adventure type activities in this town including quad biking, horse riding and fascinating desert tours. Alan did a living desert tour, he was picked up from the hotel and taken in a 4x4 vehicle to the dunes where he had great fun being driven over the dunes. His guide was amazing, he knew exactly where to find the small creatures that live in the sand and Alan had a brilliant time photographing them. Dinner wasn't included here so we went out to a really lovely restaurant on the end of the pier and had the most amazing fish! Next stop was Twyfelfontein for the next 2 nights staying at the Twyfelfontein Country Lodge (again very cold at night and early morning, but the days were wonderfully hot)- the scenery every step of the way changed so much - it could be hilly one minute and then next very very flat and open but so beautiful! Twyfelfontein in the Northwest of Namibia has a lot of important rock art and rock engravings and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area is also known for the desert-adapted elephant, so in the late afternoon on our 2nd day here we went out on an Ephemeral (Dry) River Drive looking for these wonderful creatures. It was very exciting as this was going to be the first time that we'd be out searching for elephants and finally, sure enough we came across a small herd of about 12 elephants - it was magical and they came very close to our game drive vehicle. We didn't want to leave but it was starting to get dark but had to go as on the way back a stop was planned for the sunset and our sundowner drinks. For our next part of the trip Alan was getting very excited (he loves doing wildlife photography, so the remainder of our trip was all around the wildlife). So driving up to Etosha (another long one) but so worth it - on the way we spotted giraffes fairly near our next lodge which was the Etosha Safari Lodge, individual accommodation was on a hillside with magnificent views. The sunsets were stunning! We had an early morning half day game drive into Etosha where we were in a 9 seater vehicle. The array of different animals was just amazing - an abundance of springbok, giraffe, elephants, zebra....the action around the waterhole was fantastic! Our next 2 nights were still in Etosha but way across to the East, here we drove through the National Park stopping off at the amazing 'Pan' which is a flat calcrete depression covering about 5000 sq kms. I felt we were on a different planet! We saw many animals again during our drive to the next lodge which was the Onguma luxury tented camp! When we arrived the most magical thing was an elephant in the waterhole just playing around and a giraffe slowly meandering down to take a drink, it was mesmerizing! Our 'tent' was amazing, only 7 of them all overlooking the waterhole. They don't take children at this lodge as there are no fences to keep animals out, we had to have a guide to collect us and walk us back to the tent after dark. The food and service here was some of the best we'd had, and what we’d had was already amazing! Alan being into photography; as well as an early morning game drive, we'd booked an afternoon in a hide which was water level so we could get some amazing shots, zebra, wildebeest, warthogs and the giraffes didn't disappoint! Next was just an overnight enroute to Erindi. Just a 1 night stay where we visited Africat a cheetah conservation in Okonjima where we learned about the cheetahs and the work they do there. Well worth a visit. I think we saved the best for last - Erindi Private Game Reserve, staying at Old Traders Lodge. The waterhole here always had something to see, it had hippos and crocodiles and at dinner a family with baby elephants turned up, it was amazing! The game drives were fantastic and we finally saw lions and both the black and the white rhino! Our guide was brilliant! One final night in Windhoek before the journey home, we were so sad to be leaving Namibia. Everything was perfect. The supplier that I used were fantastic, checking in via Whatsapp daily to make sure everything was okay. I will always use them for any Namibian trips for my clients in the future as I can't rate them highly enough! I cannot believe what a fantastic trip this was, so much better than I expected and I'd certainly put it up there with one of the best if not the best holiday we've ever been on!

24 September 2019

We wanted to visit Croatia but weren't sure quite where. I came across the perfect trip - island hopping -starting in Split, travelling to Korcula, Dubrovnik, Mljet, Hvar and then back to Split. This was aboard MV Katarina a brand new (came into service in July of this year 2019) 45 metre vessel with just 19 cabins, sleeping 38 people and 9 crew. She was pretty impressive at first sight and didn't disappoint at all. Our cabin was on the main deck near the back so with some engine noise, but as we didn't sail at night this wasn't a problem. It was very modern, double bedded cabin with a spacious bathroom. There was enough wardrobe space and plenty of storage under the bed where the life jackets were stored. The dining room was gorgeous with 5 tables so everyone mixed together. You could sit where you wanted, which was perfect - a great way to make new friends with your fellow sailors. The food which was prepared and cooked in a very small galley kitchen was amazing! Breakfasts were a choice of hot and cold. The usual bacon, sausages, eggs etc. Toast, danish pastries, croissants, cold cheese and hams and always a lovely fruit platter as well as cereals. Hot drinks from a machine, so help yourself which was great - pretty good considering it was a machine. Lunch and dinners were 4 courses - again couldn't fault any meal, plenty of variety each day. Included were 4 dinners and 4 lunches with a glass of wine with your meal. The top deck was perfect for relaxing on the mornings sail to each destination. There was a hot tub (not hot water though) and plenty of either loungers or chairs with both shade and sun. We'd usually stop for a swim from the back of the ship, tied up against a beautiful island in the lovely clear sea with the option of being taken to a beach if there was one in the ships rib, or one day he took us for an exhilarating spin around the bay, great fun! Lunch was generally before we arrived at each destination finishing in time to be up on deck to see ourselves glide into port and have great views from the top deck. Our first stop was Korcula, preceded by some olive oil tasting before arrival and a talk about the process of making olive oil. Korcula was very pretty. When we arrived, we'd opted to join a walking tour of the island, which was the reputed birthplace of Marco Polo, the famous adventurer! The guide was very informative and we were pleased that we'd joined the tour. This was followed by dinner in the village of Zrnovo. The tour was guided by a 17 year old whose family ran the museum and the local restaurant. It was amazing, helped by his grandfather who spoke no English, but it was clear he wanted us to try his home made brandy! Anyway, dinner followed which was just as entertaining - a really enjoyable excursion. The next day we sailed to Dubrovnik where we were having a 2 night stay, so we had plenty of time to explore the city either with a guide or on our own - we did both. It was helpful having the guide to get our bearings and tell us about the different buildings and the war back in the 90's and of course show us where Game of Thrones was filmed. We then headed off on our own to explore. We walked part of the city wall, the views were amazing! You have to pay to get on the wall, but worth it! We were hoping to take the cable car ride up to Srd Hill, but unfortunately we'd had a thunderstorm so for safety reasons the cable car closed. A must do for another time! Our 2 days passed quickly with so much exploring and then it was ready to sail to our next port of call - Mljet. Another very pretty island, where we visited the National Park to see the saltwater lakes and dense forest. We took a lovely boat trip on the lake to a very small island which had a Franciscan Monastery and a lovely little church. Everywhere is so pretty! We'd been told that we must not miss approaching Hvar Island, so on deck again we went, and they were right, the views were stunning as we approached the lovely port of Hvar Town. This is the beauty of a small ship, the large cruise ships can't get into these smaller islands, so not the masses of people that normally arrive off of the big cruise ships! Hvar is definitely somewhere we want to return too, it had a really magical feel to it, buzzy but quiet at the same time - loved it! Sadly, we didn't overnight here, we sailed off to another island to spend the night - an Island called Solta, this was very quiet here. Not somewhere I'd rush back to, but to be fair didn't have much time to explore as it was just for mooring for sleeping. We are almost at the end of the trip as we sail back to Split for a day and an overnight stay. Split, the second largest city in Croatia is very much an up and coming place - a great place for a weekend break. Pretty much everything was centred around the old Diocletian's Palace. But both inside and outside the old city there is plenty to see. Hundreds or bars and restaurants, not particularly expensive for a city either. Again we did a guided walking tour, but if you buy the hop on hop off bus ticket, you get a walking tour included in that too. On doing our own exploring we decided to climb the bell tower - not for the faint hearted; but great views once you get to the top! A city worth a second visit for sure. The day came when we had to check off of the ship, sadly it was time to go home. Checking out was easy, we just left our suitcases outside the cabin and the crew carried them off the ship and then escorted us to a storage place where we could store our luggage for the day as our flight home wasn't until later in the day, so we had a bit more time to explore. When we returned to collect the luggage at our agreed time, there was someone there from the ship helping us and directing us back to the pick up coach for the transfer back to Split airport. All very well organised. The week went so quick! I think if I was recommending this to someone I would suggest staying on in Split for another couple of nights. But with Split being only just over a 2 hour flight from London, it's a great getaway destination. On the whole a great way to see a few places to enable you to decide where you'd like to spend some more time. It certainly helped me and I've come away falling in love with a wonderful country.

03 September 2019

We had the pleasure of booking our cruise through Janet at Travel Counsellors. It’s not the first trip we have booked and we had no doubt we were in good hands. Jan made it so easy for me to find the right cruise company, the right route, and the right service level. What helped me so much is that she knew so much about cruising and I was able to consider lots of different options and chat about what she thought would suit us best. As a family with only one child (aged 6) we had to find something that ticked boxes for us and our daughter. I was particular about where we visited and in the end we decided that an Adriatic cruise in a mid-sized ship would be perfect. Jan couldn’t have been more spot on ! The ship was everything we could have hoped for. Jan had secured us a mid-area cabin and also spoken to me about the benefits of the different packages and upgrades available. What really adds to the service Jan provides is the ease of doing everything. If you find you’re stressing about something and pick up the phone you’ll normally find her saying ‘but I’ve done that’, or ‘don’t worry, I do that’, or ‘I can sort that for you’. The personal touches are something we all love but forget are available. Our route was perfect (the weather not so in places but we can’t blame Jan for that?) and the little touches along the way that make you remember that travelling through a concierge service is a luxury that is very very affordable. We started in Venice and stopped in Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Corfu, Naples and finished in Rome. The staff on board the Celebrity Infinity were just fantastic. The food was amazing, the entertainment was fab and the facilities were just spot on. There was a perfect balance between activities and just chilling out. One particular restaurant had animated plates in front of you watching how your food was prepared. I’d never seen anything like it! I also love the Travel Counsellors app as when you book holidays through TC and Jan everything is in one place. All you need is your smart phone, your passports and your luggage. It also helps with payments too so that you know what is due and when. I love seeing the upcoming trips and the countdown in days. I know people worry that you are paying over the odds. Believe me you’re not. Can you find it cheaper? Maybe if you have the energy to keep searching and searching, missing out on deals and trying to remember if you are comparing like for like but the thing for me is … do you want your holiday to be below budget or extra special? I know what I would chose.

30 November 2018

I was lucky enough to travel to the Seychelles with my husband staying on three different islands, Mahe, Praslin and Denis Island with a day trip to La Digue. We flew on Qatar Airways from Heathrow Terminal 4 on their A380 aircraft changing planes in Doha. Doha is a fantastic airport, very large but easy to find your way around, a few hours stopover gave us time to stretch our legs and then board for the onward flight to Mahe, Seychelles! On arrival in Mahe we were met by our driver Bernard who helped us clear immigration and he then whisked us off to our first hotel where we stayed for two nights – The Carana Beach which is a small boutique hotel. It was lovely, contemporary in style, reception smallish but very adequate. Whilst checking in we were given a lovely cold drink and wet towels to freshen up. It wasn’t long before we were whisked off to our room and how beautiful was that! Large sleeping area and a massive bathroom all very cleverly lit and a lovely balcony with a day bed and sea view. We had dinner in the hotel which wasn’t too expensive compared to the bigger hotels. During our time on Mahe, Bernard took us on a full day tour which included a visit to the capital Victoria, the Bel Air Cemetery, Tea Factory and Mission Lodge. In Victoria we went to the colourful market, the best way to get a feel for the Seychellois and their way of life. Built in 1840 and renovated in 1999, it remains the bustling heart of the capital and definitely the best place to buy fresh fruits, fish, vegetables and spices. The Victoria clock tower is the most prominent feature of Seychelles’ small capital and has acted as a focal point for nearly 100 years. The clock tower is an elegant replica of Big Ben that was first erected in London in 1897. The Bel Air Cemetery, undoubtedly the oldest historic site in Seychelles, was the first official burial ground to be opened on Mahé. The cemetery’s tombs, vaults and shrines contain the remains of some of the island’s most famous personalities such as corsair Jean-Francois Hodoul and the 9ft giant Charles Dorothée Savy. Also, the remains of the mysterious Pierre-Louis Poiret, claimed by some to be the son of Louis XVI who fled the French Revolution and took refuge in Seychelles. From Victoria we headed to Jardin du Roi Spice plantation where we had the most delicious lunch and got to try things that we’d never had before! Plus, we saw giant tortoises up close! The following day Bernard drove us to the Inter Island Quay to board the Cat Coco ferry to take us on the 1-and-a-half-hour crossing to Praslin where we would spend our next 2 nights staying at the Indian Ocean Lodge, a 3* hotel. The food was very good, and the staff were happy to explain what the dishes were and how hot they might be as my husband doesn’t like spicy food. We saw beautiful sunsets here. This island is home to the famous Coco de Mer plant, unfortunately didn’t have time to see much of Praslin as we were booked on a day trip to La Digue, just a 15-minute crossing by ferry. On La Digue we went to Anse Source d'Argent, which is reputed to be the most photographed beach in the world. With its soft white sand, clear turquoise water and huge granite boulders sculptured by the elements and time itself, it is not difficult to see why photographers and film makers still love to come here. The sea is sheltered by the reef, and is very calm and shallow, with only sand underfoot which makes it safe for children. Access to the beach via L'Union Estate requires an entrance fee of SCR100 for non-residents. It was quite crowded here, although understandably so; it was such an amazing place and one that I will remember for a long time. After 2 nights on Praslin, we ferried back to Mahe where our driver was waiting to take us to the airport for our inter island 30-minute flight to Denis Private Island. The best was definitely saved ‘til last! The flight itself was amazing, seeing the islands from the air was breath taking and then landing on the grass strip that runs through the island was another experience that I won’t forget. On landing we were met by the hotel manager and his staff in golf buggies; to take us and our luggage to the main building to check us on, again greeted with a lovely local cold drink. This already was looking like paradise! Soon the golf carts were whizzing us off to our room which was fabulous. Very private, no other room overlooked ours and we had our own bit of ‘private’ beach leading right down to the warm Indian Ocean’s edge. The room was massive, a deluxe beach cottage with a living area and a fantastic outdoor bathroom which extended onto a small garden which had another outdoor shower. Outside we had our own private deck with Sala and day bed as well as beach loungers. Two days to relax in paradise, I really thought I was in heaven! The food here was out of this world and although the restaurant was spectacular you didn’t have to over dress for dinner, you could take your shoes off as you entered and walk around barefooted and men could wear smart shorts for dinner too! The island is self-sufficient with their own farm and they grow their own vegetables which you can go and see at any time. You can do lovely walks or bike rides around the island and they have organised tours by golf buggy to show you round too. There is a library for some extra quiet time and a small games area near the bar. No swimming pool, as unfortunately the ocean has eroded this away – a sad fact of what is to come. But really not required when you’re surrounded by the warm Indian Ocean. Denis Island isn’t for everyone and I don’t think you’d want to stay for longer than 5 or 6 nights. But for complete relaxation, good food and fantastic accommodation I’d highly recommend it. Our 2 nights were over far too quickly and soon we had to head back to Mahe for our onward flight to London. This really was a trip that will stay at the top of my ‘Making Memories’ list and one that I can cross of the bucket list!

26 September 2017

My husband Alan and I are lucky enough to have our own apartment on the Costa Blanca. We, sometimes with friends, like to visit different places in Spain using our apartment as a base. A couple of weeks ago we drove 1.5 hours up the coast to the hilltop town of Altea, just the other side of Benidorm. We have been many times and we stay in a small hotel called the Abaco Inn, just at the foot of pretty Altea. Altea has many hotels down on the coast and a few in the old town which is where I prefer to stay. Both are easily walkable, although it is a very steep walk up to the top of the old town, but well worth it. The beach area has recently been renovated and there are lots of swish bars and restaurants along the coastline. On summer evenings, Altea artists set up along the promenade wall towards the centre of the town (by the sea wall parking) and sell their paintings. At night, the old town really comes alive and has a buzzing nightlife. Restaurants are in abundance and vary in what they offer and in price. You can get traditional tapas, pizza, pasta, Mediterranean food, Indian food, French food - there is so much choice! I have a couple of favourites - a Mediterranean restaurant called La Cappella which has great views over the Sierra Bernia mountain range - it was wonderful. Also, a gourmet tapas restaurant called Xef Pirata where we had a tapas taster menu where the courses just kept coming! It seemed small inside, but there was an upstairs too; a great vibe! Stroll up to the top of the hill to the square overlooked by the church with its famous blue tiled dome. There are hundreds of ancient, narrow cobbled streets and walkways, some with shops and others just with houses. They are all so pretty with the beautiful coloured flowers against the whitewashed walls. Little bars can be found tucked away in the narrowest of streets where it’s nice to stop off for a cold beer or glass of chilled wine and a plate of tapas! If you wander around in the heat of the day, be sure to have your sunscreen on and a hat but always with a camera in hand as there is a photo opportunity around every corner. A terrace off the Plaza de la Iglesia offers fine views over Altea town, the harbour and Albir in the distance and Benidorm beyond - truly spectacular. Just 45 minute drive from Alicante airport, Altea is an ideal weekend away!

26 September 2017

Myself and my husband, Alan have had the pleasure of experiencing a Royal Caribbean cruise around the Greek Islands. What a fabulous trip we’ve had! It was our first experience of a week long cruise. We visited four destinations – Santorini, Mykonos, Piraeus (Athens) and Katakolon on the Peloponnese. We flew to Rome and boarded at the port of Civitavecchia. The whole experience of the check in at Civitavecchia, about a 45 minute drive north of Rome Airport, was so easy and straight forward. The cabin was ready from around 1pm so we had lunch in the Windjammer buffet restaurant and took the time to look around the ship. What a beautiful ship Jewel of the Seas is, simply stunning, with glass lifts over the atrium and the sea! Never a dull view! Our luggage arrived in our cabin during the afternoon so after leaving it on the portside, we then didn’t see it until it was delivered to the cabin. We had a balcony cabin which was worth it to watch the beautiful places go by. After two nights (with a full day and half at sea) we reached Santorini, but this gave us a good chance to get to know the ship and although it got busy around the pool, there was always a place to sit either in the sun or the shade. Pool towels are provided so more room in the suitcase for your clothes or any shopping that you acquire during your trip! At dinner in the evening we chose a table for 10 and ended up with some lovely people, both couples and singles. It was a good mix and we all got on very well together. The food was amazing, I can’t understand how they can serve such quality food for so many people (Jewel can take 2500 passengers). The three courses were all fantastic – there was no meal that I could say wasn’t either up to standard or I didn’t like. In entertainment there was something for everyone – shows, lively bars, quiet bars, games rooms, casino, dancing, late night discos. It had just about anything that you’d want from a holiday! Ports of call Santorini was just breath taking – the scenery was stunning with white washed buildings with blue rooves, perched on top of sheer volcanic cliffs. Black sand beaches and views out over the Caldera from Fira. Mykonos also had white buildings with blue rooves, a labyrinthine of streets that lie behind the harbour front at Mykonos town, and some shops to die for! Piraeus is the port of Athens. There is so much to see here such as the Acropolis, the Olympic Stadium, The Parthenon and shopping in the Plaka to name just a few. Katakolon was our last port of call before heading back to Rome. We just went to the beach here but the ancient Olympia ruins are near here, where the original Olympic Games took place. So it is now Friday and time to leave Katakolon and head back for Rome for our arrival on Sunday morning. Time to relax on board for the journey back to Civitavecchia. Our second formal night of the trip, so it’s good to get the long dress and tuxedo (not essential) out for a lovely dressy night. There is time to get your photos taken, although this happens all throughout the trip if you want to be photographed! You can then view them and pay and collect if you want them – a nice souvenir! All in all, a fantastic trip and one I will definitely do again. It also gave me the insight into the destinations and a holiday in any of the ports of call another time would be fabulous without doubt! Get in touch if you’d like to know more about this cruise or any of the destinations.