29 June 2023

Ever thought of travelling to Italy on an escorted tour? Well look no further than Travelsphere holidays and Just You (solo trips) Travelsphere offers Escorted tours in Italy. Italy is a popular destination for tourists, and escorted tours are a great option for those who want to see the country's highlights without the stress of planning and navigating on their own. When travelling with Travelsphere holidays they include flights, overseas transfers, perfectly located 4/5 Star central hotels, excursions to all the attractions, Meals in authentic restaurants and genuinely amazing experiences, as well as the experience of holiday director and local guide who stays with the group 24/7 who are all passionate about travel. The operator also offers Guaranteed Departures. The age demographic is from 50 +. Popular destinations for escorted tours in Italy include Rome, Florence, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast. It really is VFM- value for money. Just you are the market leader for solo travellers. Italy is a popular holiday destination for single travellers. Just you offer packages specifically designed for solo travellers, which can be a great way to make new friends and explore the country with like-minded people. You will dine as a group every day and best thing of all there is NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT!!!! They also offer Just Woman holidays too! I visited Sorrento and the Amalfi coast in April and then Rome Pisa and Florence in May. I ve also been to Venice a few years ago – I love the people, the food and wine of course! The Amalfi Coast is a popular destination for sightseeing. We went over to Capri and took a boat through the Faraglinoi rocks and the past the blue grotto- great sights! The coastline offers stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and picturesque towns perched on the hillsides. One of the most popular towns to visit is Positano, known for its colourful buildings and narrow streets. Be prepared to be able to walk back up the hill as no other way back! Another must-see is Amalfi, a historic town with a beautiful cathedral and a charming town square. For those looking for a quieter experience, Ravello is a great option, offering breathtaking views and a peaceful atmosphere. No matter which town you choose to visit, the Amalfi Coast is sure to provide a memorable sightseeing experience. Rome, the capital city, is home to iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and the Vatican City. Florence, known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, boasts incredible art museums, historic churches and the Gold Market. Pisa which is famous for the leaning tower of Pisa. the tower is known for its distinctive lean cause by an unstable foundation and soft ground. It remains a tilt of about 4 degrees! ( I tried to hold it up!- see picture!) Venice known for its canals and romantic atmosphere, a visit to Burano is needed whilst here. Lovely place! Tuscany with its beautiful landscapes and famous for its Chianti for all those wine lovers. As you can see there is so much to see and do, Italy is a sightseer's paradise. And when you go on an escorted tour you will not miss a thing!

11 April 2019

What an amazing trip – Just got back from the Seychelles (in the Indian Ocean). The flight wasn’t too bad – I watched 3 films and we were there! Just 9 hours 30 mins from Heathrow with BA. We were met at the airport by our ground handlers and transferred to the Constance Ephelia. A lovely welcome with cold towels and a little cocktail. I was there in March and the weather was very hot and humid. The best time to go (as per the locals) is April and September – hot but not as humid! I was away for 7 nights and stayed on 2 islands and 3 hotels – the Constance Ephelia on Mahe and the Constance Lemuria and the paradise sun on Praslin. We stayed at the Constance Ephelia for 2 nights and whilst there we there we had a day trip to Victoria – worth a visit to see how the locals live! We also participated in zip lining through the trees at the hotel and were lucky enough to watch the sunset from the presidential villa. A ’Constance moment’. We experienced the spa – with a 45-minute massage – bliss! The hotel has lots of different room types including family villas (1,2, and 3 bedroom). The hotel has a north and a south beach which is great as you can see the different beaches and have different restaurants to choose from. Most people go on a half board basis. All the restaurants we visited offered a wide variety of food. After our stay at the Constance we got a little 16-seater plane over to Praslin – not for the faint hearted! We were transferred to the Paradise Sun hotel – I would say it’s a 4-star hotel. Only a couple of restaurants to choose from and one pool but there is a little village about 10 minutes’ walk away with a variety of restaurants. We had a site visit of the Coco de Mer hotel and Black Parrot suite (adults only), a 4-star boutique hotel and very nice! At Raffles hotel we were privileged to experience a 2-bedroom villa with private pool for the afternoon (that’s what I call a site visit!) We visited La Digue and hired push bikes to get us the nearest beach – very idyllic. La Digue is a 20-minute ferry ride from Praslin. Our next stay was at the luxurious Constance Lemuria - one of the leading hotels of the world and wow what a welcome. With a couple of large oak doors opening after the gong and being met by the staff – this is definitely a ‘Constance moment’. A great hotel for beach and golf lovers – as the beach is on one side and the golf course on the other! I stayed in a junior suite – amazing rooms and so spacious. Not as big as the Constance Ephelia but still very nice and not too stuffy! Another ‘Constance moment’ was from the 15th tee - having Sundowners there and hit a few balls too (I’m not very good though!) At the Constance Lemuria hotel there is a guy who is a conservationist - looks after the tortoises, turtles, gardens etc at the hotel. What he doesn’t know about turtles is not worth knowing – a fascinating man (Robert). All in all, I would recommend this holiday for anyone looking for relaxation, it looks just like the pictures in the brochures! I would island hop as the islands are different and offer different experiences. If you would like more information on this let me know.

03 October 2018

Andrew and I flew with Latam airlines. We pre-booked extra leg room seats for the international flights – approx. £75 pp each way – well worth doing! We stopped in Buenos Aires for 3 nights. This is the birthplace of the Tango and we were lucky enough to watch a show one night whilst there. Goodness knows how they move their legs so quickly! We also had a visit to Ricoletta cemetery – where Eva Peron is buried and Canimito – a worthwhile visit. We flew to El Calafate in Patagonia which is situated on the southern border of Lake Argentina. We stayed in a lovely little hotel about 10 mins from the main street - we had afternoon lavender tea in the hotel and they couldn’t do enough for us – really nice! We visited Los Glaciares National Park. To see one of the natural wonders of the world, Perito Moreno Glacier, a massive glacier that’s actually composed of many other pieces of shifting ice. Then off on our journeys down to Ushuaia which is the capital of Tierra del Fuego, classed as the city at the end of the world. We managed to see some penguins here – very cute! Temperature only 10 degrees – bbrrrr it was a bit cold! If you would like to see more pictures, please visit Andrews website http://andrewhoward-photography.com/ It’s such a vast country! We took 11 flights in 13 days – taking 5 hours to get from Ushuaia up to Buenos Aries. Definitely a trip of a lifetime – absolutely loved it!

03 October 2018

II’ve just come home from a great trip to Sri Lanka with Kuoni Holidays. We travelled with Sri Lanka Airlines in economy. The service was good with curry for both meals. Seats were OK for economy and you get a good 30kgs luggage allowance! The ground handler Boulsted Whittam Travel met us, and our guide Tikka was very knowledgeable. He was called tikipedia by the end of the trip! We transferred to Negombo which took about 40 mins to get to the Jet Wing beach hotel which is a 4-star hotel. We had lunch there with the rep and then went on to the Jet Wing sea hotel. We stayed at this hotel for 1 night. I would recommend these hotels for a pre or post tour. Both are quite central to Negombo town. The next day we travelled to Habarana – a 4-hour transfer from Negombo - the roads aren’t great over there. Plus, we had torrential rain so some of the roads were shut which made the journeys longer. This area is in the heart of Sri Lanka where you can explore the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka We stayed at the Cinnamon Lodge – a nice bungalow style accommodation. We went to see the Habarana village which is only 5 minutes from Cinnamon Lodge. Both are nice 4-star hotels. The excursion we went on was the Minneriya National Park which is an Elephant safari. About 55USD per person. It’s not advisable for back troubled clients and takes around 4 hours. The next day was to climb Sigiriya Rock - 1202 steps on four different platforms (so you can have a breather)! It took about 3 hours to get up and down the rock! Then onto Kandy the following day which took about 2 hours to get there from Sigiriya. We stayed at the Citadel Cinnamon Hotel which was very nice in a lovely location. There is a lovely pool and it has a very homely feel. Went to the Temple of the Tooth and watched a cultural dance show at Red Cross Hall. We popped in at Nuwara Eliya. A lovely town to stay in - I would stay here when I go back! The Jetwing St Andrews hotel is a lovely little hotel quite central and quaint. We then went up to the tea factory Heritance hotel - again lovely hotel but out of the way. We were supposed to pick tea at the Glenoch tea factory, but it was raining! We went through the factory to see how tea is made. Very interesting. The process takes four days and only women work at the plantation. We then went to the elephant safari. Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort (where the cricketers stay) has a jungle feel! It’s just a few minutes from the elephant transit and the elephant feeding time is very cute. Finally, we got a beach day at the lovely Anantara Peace Haven hotel in Tangalle. This is 5 stars with a lovely infinity pool, Italian restaurant and lots of choice for breakfast – they even organized a breakfast box for our 5am start on the last day, for our 4-hour journey back to the airport. At Colombo airport coming home you go through security checks 4 times, so you need to get to the airport early. We came home on the daytime flight. There is a quick turnaround at Heathrow. We got off the flight at 8pm, retrieved luggage and then headed for my drive back up north. Just a few pointers… The west coast has a nice beach but rough current. Monsoon season is May to November. The east coast is much better for swimming in the sea. You can get a flight from Colombo up to the east coast – it is quite reasonable too! The best time to travel is December to April. A great and interesting trip! I hope you enjoy the read!

14 December 2016

TThe SkyCouch on Air New Zealand was the best invention ever! Three seats that turned into a bed in economy, oh my god this was an amazing idea! Worth every penny! The cuddle strap that allows you to sleep on a made up bed with fluffy pillows and light duvet and not have to sit up through turbulence! Car hire companies are not at the airport and require a courtesy coach which can take up to 40 minutes due to the traffic through the airport. We upgraded one of the cars and paid for a Mustang, what a dream that was! Worth every penny. Whilst in California you must rent a Mustang! Just a note about luggage – two big suitcases or three medium size cases fit in a full size car – not much room at all really! The hotels were great and hosts amazing. We were met in the Loews Hollywood that surprised me but everywhere else the hosts were fantastic and honestly couldn't do anymore. They made sure we had their contact details and that they would look after our guests if we emailed or called ahead. My favourite in Hollywood was W hotel - worth every penny. The roof top pool was awesome! Views all over Hollywood, I didn't realise how close the Walk of Fame, Chinese theatre/Kodak was! Travelling in convoy to Santa Barbara - a stunning place with a great hotel, Harbour View on the beach. We stayed a couple of nights here and we tried out the bars/restaurants/discos and more! We also hired bikes which was the highlight of those two nights - great fun! They have 30 wine tasting places - we didn’t try them all! We travelled to Santa Monica and stopped off at Paradise Cove in Malibu for a few selfies, a great celeb house-hunting opportunity. I absolutely loved Santa Monica where we stayed at the Le Meridian Delfim and wish it was longer - one night was too short! This is where the real California is and it lived up to its dreams. We did a site inspection of The Loews and it was excellent in so many ways. I have clients that stay in Shutters on the Beach and took a nosey in there and it was amazing - a great 5* hotel on the beach. The hotels here were amazing and in a great location. Also they now have a Metro that you can link up with Hollywood so you can stay here longer and have a day trip. Metro station right outside the W Hollywood hotel Santa Monica has a Ferris wheel on the pier- fantastic views all around – we also hired bikes here and rode from Santa Monica pier to muscle beach/Venice beach – but you can go as far as marina del Rey – all nice and flat! In the evening we watched the sunset from the Erwin hotel – advisable to pre book a table (just drinks). En route to Palm Springs we diverted and went to Rodeo Drive for a couple of hours (two hours free parking in Beverly Hills- who would have thought). We took in some retail therapy and the famous Cupcake ATM. If I am honest Palm Springs was a lot bigger than I expected, with great hotels/resorts and good golf facilities. Most people go here for a spa or golf few days. There are lots of lovely restaurants and shopping outlet malls. We went up the Ariel tramway – four inches of snow and -2 degrees – bit different than down in Palm Springs! It was an experience though. Los Angeles airport is very busy and I do recommend you check in at least 3-4 hours before as the security at this airport is especially keen. The trip was ridiculously awesome - California Dreamin!

08 August 2016

I've just come back off the Azura with a few friends. It was an easy embarkation in Southampton onto the Azura. We ate in the main restaurant (Peninsula) both nights and the food was very good! I'm a rose drinker - only £3.65 per glass - not bad! Plenty of sunbeds on different decks - we were in the adults only area at the front of the ship - near the retreat( spa area) which is a bit quieter! We stayed in a Balcony Cabin which are of a decent size and quite a bit of room for your clothes too! All in all we were very impressed. There is lots to keep you entertained on the ship - from the Electric Avenue show (80's theme) by the headliners to a comedy show or the piano bar. Four of us took a taxi into Brugges - only €100 return (for a 25 minute journey). We spent three hours there (to buy chocolate) and then went back to the ship. A nice little break for a weekend and I would definitely recommend the Azura to my clients.

13 October 2014

Wow - what a fascinating country! It completely took my breath away! 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. We were fortunate enough to experience the very impressive Virgin Clubhouse at Heathrow which is reserved for Upper Class passengers and those with Flying Club Gold status. We arrived in Delhi after our 8 hour flight and were transferred to our first stop, the Lalit hotel. A lovely hotel and the taste of our first Indian meal delights! Then it was off to the railway station for our six hour journey to Amritsar (in executive class). We arrived just before midnight at our hotel - Radisson Blu Amritsar - for two nights. Amritsar means “pool of the nectar of immortality”. It is the spiritual and cultural centre of Sikh religion. This is where we visited the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion. 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. Visitors must remove their shoes and cover their head with a scarf - the guys had a chance to wear a turban! We had lunch and a hotel visit to the Holiday Inn Amritsar then travelled up to the Wagah border to witness change of guard ceremony between India and Pakistan armies. 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 at the Country Inn and Suites followed by a visit to the golden temple which looks lovely at night time. We took an early morning train back to Delhi (a six hour journey) but you can fly this route too (55 minute flight). A unique experience not to be missed is the 'cycle rickshaw', experiencing the sights and sounds of this very busy place. Then we were ready for lunch and went to the Lazeez affaire (a gourmet restaurant) which was very nice! We had a buffet lunch and it was great experiencing all the different dishes and flavours. Then it was off to our next hotel, the Radisson Blu Plaza hotel, for one night where we had dinner in the hotel’s signature restaurant - The Kebab Factory. My favourite hotel in Delhi, and the most traditional, is the beautiful Claridges where we again had a buffet lunch with lots of choices! Overnight was spent at the Radisson Blu Dwarka on the outskirts of Delhi for one night. We then drove from Delhi to Agra (approximately four hours by coach) through countryside so it was very green. We checked into our hotel Radisson Blu – Agra for one night (all the Radisson hotels offer free Wi-Fi) going via a local place to get samosas with chick peas and Jalebi (a sweet dessert). It’s great being with such knowledgeable guides! I was so excited to see the world famous Taj Mahal (meaning ‘my crown palace’). Bear in mind it is closed on Fridays. It is known as the beautiful monument of love! The beautiful Makrana marble, which is inlaid with semi-precious stones, is amazing to gaze upon up close. I kept pinching myself as couldn't believe I was there! We had a Sari lesson that night - don't we scrub up well!? We dressed up for a fabulous meal at the Oberoi Amarvilas, a gorgeous hotel where every room has a view of the Taj Mahal! The following morning we drove from Agra to Jaipur which was about six hours plus stops for sightseeing at Fatehpur Sikri - the abandoned medieval city of Akbar the Great. Today it is known as the ghost city. The journey is on a modern highway but so very different from home with cattle and goats wandering around in the carriageway, bikes riding in the wrong direction, mopeds transporting a family of four (none with helmets) and the odd camel train. We checked into our hotel, Radisson Blu Jaipur, for two nights and then visited the Trident Hotel which was similar to the Oberoi hotels but more traditional. Jaipur was painted pink to honour the visit of Prince Albert of England in 1882. This was the first planned city of India. I really liked Jaipur! We visited the Amber City Fort which is situated 130m high with the Aravalli hills. I would recommend a minimum of four days here! Again I was a tad excited as we were going to ride on an elephant at the elephant sanctuary. Did you know that the sanctuary have mainly females - only two male elephants as apparently if you are wearing aftershave the males go a bit mental and it would be too difficult to ride them! Crazy I know! You can take the elephant up to the amber fort and then walk back down, which doesn't cost much at all - or we travelled up and down in a jeep. 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, where the doorman has a fifteen foot long moustache! We visited Jantar Mantar – the Royal Observatory and Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds, with 1043 windows). It was built for the royal ladies to watch the activities on the market street below without being observed themselves. The top window was for the first wife, next one down for the second wife and so on! The following day we had a very early wake up call for our flight to Mumbai. On arrival we were transferred to the Lalit Mumbai hotel (an airport hotel) for two nights. 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 as our dinner that evening was in the beautiful ITC Maratha Hotel. On our last day we visited the beach to inspect the first beach hotel in India - The Sun n Sand on Juhu beach. It is a lovely traditional hotel. Then we managed to fit in a visit to the Taj Mahal Palace (as seen on TV). It is an iconic luxury hotel in a super position just opposite the 'Gateway to India'. This was a great first trip to India. The combination of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur presents the potpourri of the best of India and Amritsar as a side trip!

04 June 2015

Dubai is a cosmopolitan city with a widely diverse population of people from many different backgrounds. There is much to do here: the city has a vibrant night life, a plethora of restaurants that feature cuisines from different parts of the world, art exhibits from aspiring local artists as well as reputable international artists as well as many entertainment options including concerts and fashion shows. For the avid explorer, there are many places to see; some are popular tourist destinations while others are hidden jewels that are less well known. I stayed in 2 hotels, The Palm Tree hotel and the Ocean View Hotel (JBR) The Palm Tree hotel is just steps from the sea, 208 spacious low-rise 1- and 2-bedroom suites as well as junior suites with private balconies or terraces overlook the beautiful gardens. In addition to the palm-lined beach, spa and four swimming pools, there are several restaurants, excellent sporting facilities and children’s entertainment clubs just waiting to be explored. The 5-star luxurious family beach resort, JA Palm Tree Court offers everything you need for a stay of exceptional luxury accommodation in Dubai. The Ocean view hotel is situated on The Walk Jumeirah Beach Residence, the city’s famous seaside promenade. This contemporary hotel with its comfortable rooms and modern facilities is a superb choice for an unforgettable Dubai stay. All of the rooms and suites have magnificent sea views and spacious balconies, plus free Wi-Fi so you can keep in touch and share your Dubai memories. Relax at our temperature-controlled swimming pool deck that also faces the Arabian Gulf, or unwind with a treatment at Calm Spa & Salon. The health club has modern fitness equipment, a sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi. Hotel dining in the seven restaurants and bars is a sumptuous journey for your taste buds, international theme nights, poolside snacks, sporting action and casual comfort food on offer. With these hotels being part of the JA Resorts – you can use the facilities at the Jebel Ali – you can get a complimentary shuttle bus to the Jebel Ali from the Ocean View I also visited the following hotels too Westin/le Meridien – great family facilities – also great Friday brunch / Jumeirah Zabeel Saray – this is a really popular hotel for honeymooners / the address downtown – right next to the famous fountains / Vida Downtown is a good option too I must stress you need to pre book the trip to the top of the Burj Khalifa before you go as this get booked up Dubai has got a lot to offer for families and couples too – it is very hot between may- Sept then starts to cool a little bit

24 October 2010

Maldives and Oman Shangri la Villingili Island resort and spa If you want Luxury – this is the definitely the place for you!! I was lucky enough to go to Shangri la s Villingili Island and to the Shangri la s Al husn in Oman We flew business class with Oman Air – what an experience – champagne darling and a lovely 4 course meal! We flew from Heathrow – taking advantage of the Oman air Lounge –(very relaxing) Via Oman to male – then a short plane journey to Gan – over the equator ( I have a certificate to prove it) then a 20 minute speedboat ride to the island. We were greeted by cocktails and some canapes – lovely start to the trip then escorted to the golf buggies to take us to our water villas – out of this world!!! Just picture this- As you laze in your Water Villa on a brilliant tropical afternoon, enjoy the subtle breeze as you reflect upon the distant horizon, where the azure waters meet a sapphire-coloured sky. Built on stilts in the resort's lagoon, each Water Villa has an open and airy atmosphere. – Heaven!!! The Water villas are fantastic – very private – they have all mod cons! Complimentary broadband Internet access, a 40-inch LCD TV, a Bose DVD player and iPod docking station. The open air showers were an experience – don’t worry no one could see you!! The Water Villa area is a massive 166sqm We ate at Javvu for breakfast and lunch each day where you are overlooking the sea. - Bliss! We had dinner in the jungle one night – which is very romantic! Or you could take a cruise on a luxury yacht for lunch on the equator. – we took a cruise one evening – but didn’t get to the equator – it takes approx 2 and half hours to get to the equator – by boat from the island. Shangri-La's Villingili Resort and Spa has four bars and lounges, where we had a few alcohol beverages! – Just had to be done! We took a walk through the resort's jungle – to see all the wildlife – we saw some turtles hatching on the beach – so cute! We went on a snorkel out on the reef – so many lovely fish – i can imagine scuba diving being exceptional here – but we didn t have time! Each villa had a push bike – so you could go to breakfast or for a cycle around the island On one of the days we went for a bike ride over on Gan – seeing all the locals – what an experience! There is a Cool Zone for children – where they can find toys, educational activities and lots of land and beach-based activities to ensure a fun-filled vacation for the children. Another option to stay is the Shangri La Oman Al Jissah Resort and Spa Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa comprises of three luxury hotels in Muscat: Al Waha ("The Oasis"), an ideal choice for families and people travelling together, Al Bandar ("The Town"), a deluxe hotel in the heart of the resort, Al Husn ("The Castle"), the most exclusive retreat. – Where we were lucky enough to stay! We stayed in the deluxe sea view room – very spacious – they had a nice balcony you could sit on and watch the world go -My room overlooked the sea and the infinity pool. We had a buffet lunch at the Tapas & Sablah – very nice and relaxed – sitting outside in the courtyard area. On the last night we went to Shahrazad - first time i had Moroccan food – quite spicy – but nice through! They have a Lazy River that takes you between Al Waha, Al Bandar and back again on inflatable tubes. The hotel offers children clubs too and there are also Adults-Only Areas such as the in-hotel bars and CHI, The Spa villas. We did visit the grand mosque on the way back to the airport – the biggest chandelier I ever seen! It was interesting to see it. I would say this is a place to go for 3 – 4 nights maximum – like a stopover onto a different destination. I would definitely recommend going to both of these hotels and also flying business class – the thing is – it spoils you now – and you just want the same standard and every trip you take!

03 October 2018

I was so excited when I got offered this trip – it's one thing that I have always wanted to do. We flew from Heathrow to Vancouver and stayed a couple of nights at the Fairmont hotel Vancouver. I felt very safe in Vancouver, in fact I think I could live out there! We stayed at the Fairmont Waterfront hotel – overlooking the harbour and watching all the seaplanes take off to go over to Vancouver Island – it was great! We visited the aquarium and also the Capilano Suspension Bridge. This was like being on “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’, it was fun though! I met my first Mountie- albeit a bear dressed as a Mountie! We also visited the Grouse Mountain lumberjack show – very funny! We went on the Whistler Mountaineer from Vancouver to Whistler and stayed at the Fairmont Whistler. It took about 3 hours and 30 mins to get there - the scenery is spectacular! We stayed at the Fairmont Whistler Resort Hotel which is a true ski in/ski out hotel – right on the slopes and just a 10-minute walk to the restaurant bars and shops – brilliant location! We actually went in the outdoor spa – bit chilly – but overlooking the mountains all around you – what a fabulous feeling! We then boarded the Rocky Mountaineer to Jasper – via Quesnal. We were lucky to be on the gold leaf service – this is worth the extra money – where you can enjoy the unparalleled panoramic views from the custom-designed bi-level Gold Leaf Dome Coach. Enjoy hot breakfasts and lunches from their a la carte menu, served in the exclusive gold leaf dining room and you also get complimentary beverages and savoury snacks on board whilst listening to the commentary We stopped in Quesnal for the night at the Sandman Inn – a typical Canadian lodge, then up to Jasper to stay in the Fairmont Park Lodge Hotel, a quite big complex so there are little golf buggies to take you to your lodge! All the hotels we stayed in had a fantastic lounge area with big open log fires – just lovely and cosy! We took an excursion up to the Athabasca glacier in one of the big six-wheeled ice explorers. It was completely covered in snow – in September – very breath-taking and very cold! Then we went to the Chateau Fairmont at Lake Louise – (my hotel) I wish! The views are just like the pictures in brochures – again breath-taking! We took a trip to Banff and had breakfast at the infamous Melissa’s restaurant – pancakes and syrup – mmmm! Then off to do a bit of horse riding in the mountains. I felt like I should be on a film - though the trees and the little streams! Good experience! There are lots of places to stay in Banff and quite reasonable too. Sadly our trip had come to an end – off to Calgary to catch our flight home. The Fairmont hotels are fantastic – I would definitely stay in them again! The Whistler Mountaineer is a good way to get from Vancouver to Whistler – the view is fantastic. On Rocky Mountaineer I would definitely upgrade to the gold leaf service – you see so much more!

19 June 2018

We wanted to go to the Caribbean but not stay on one island – so we decided to go to Barbados and Antigua as a 2 centre – and we also wanted somewhere with no children. We flew with British Midland from Manchester in premium class. This was great with extra leg room and upgrade meals – I loved it! We were met at the airport by our taxi driver and taken to the Almond Beach Club, an adults-only hotel. The hotel is not very big and only has one choice for the all-inclusive restaurant, but it was fine. Breakfast, lunch and dinner overlooking the sea – what more could you ask for! We were allocated a superior room – overlooking the pool and the sea – with a nice big balcony. We could walk along the beach past Sandy Lane and up to the Tamarind Cove hotel - Sandy Lane looks amazing! We went to a restaurant called the Tides which was recommend by my client. We had a lovely meal overlooking the sea and this restaurant is only 5 minutes down the road from the Almond beach club. We also went snorkelling for the day and saw a shipwreck (famous diving area). This was just by the Hilton hotel. The beauty of the Almond Beach hotels is that you can take a visit to the Almond Casuarina and the Almond Beach Village hotels and use their facilities – the hotel provided a shuttle bus. We had a nice relaxing time at this hotel. Antigua We flew over to Antigua with Liat – the Caribbean airline. My partner was a bit worried because it is only a small plane, but he managed! We arrived in Antigua and were met by the s=Sandals driver and taken to the hotel. Wow, It’s such a big complex! There are 2 parts to the hotel – the Caribbean village and the Mediterranean village. We were lucky enough to stay in the Mediterranean Village side in one of the Portofino rooms. It had all the mod cons – a 4 poster bed, flat screen TV and Jacuzzi bath. There was a big balcony where you could sit out and have a nice drink before you went out for the evening. We also took advantage of the concierge service which is well worth it. You have a fully stocked (branded) drinks mini bar every day and also the concierge will organise your week for you such as booking the restaurant in advance (you have 11 to choose from) and excursions if desired. We did go on a trip to Nelsons Dockyard, a very nice day out. The guide took us to see mangoes growing on trees and drove past a banana plantation – all very interesting. Antigua is very green and lush. The rooms in the Caribbean village are in the gardens, some overlooking the pool and the sea. This does depend on which room type you go for. We also took advantage of the Red Lane Spa. We had a couple’s massage which left us so chilled out. It’s fantastic - the spa is a place not to be missed! I would definitely recommend the Almond Beach Club. If you were looking for something small, I have clients who go there every year and love it. If you are looking for something on a grander scale, then Sandals Antigua would be perfect for you.