09 October 2017

Mauritius is one of my favourite destinations. Having been lucky enough to visit twice, there’s so much I still haven’t done. British Airways offer direct flights from London Gatwick (seasonal) and Air Mauritius direct from London Heathrow. There are plenty other airlines you can use which are ideal for multi-centres. One of the popular twin centres are South Africa and Dubai. Flying time from London takes just under 12 hours, if you fly direct. Well known for its beautiful beaches, lagoons and reefs, it’s also offers a mountainous interior that includes Black River Gorges with rainforests, waterfalls, hiking trails and wildlife. The Frederica Nature reserve in Bel Ombre is brilliant for a day out for trekking, quad biking with stunning sightseeing. I would recommend going all-inclusive in Mauritius, unless you stay in Port Louis or Grande Baie as you will have plenty of local food to sample at a very reasonable price, then I’d suggest a different board basis. This island is perfect for families, honeymooners, couples, divers, golfers and among others, adventure seekers. It caters for everyone. Activities include island trips, water sports, hiking, golfing, diving, days out on a catamaran, visits to the local Blue Penny museum and to Casela World of Adventures are a must for all. My favourite was spending the day out on a catamaran. If you’re looking at Mauritius as your next destination, do get in touch!

09 October 2017

Trondheim is Norway’s third largest city located in central Norway. This city brings back childhood memories for me. Last year I had the opportunity to visit with my son as we have family there. We travelled in June and flew with Norwegian. The flight was short and enjoyable, it had inflight wi-fi and a lovely menu. The weather was gorgeous when we were there, the only thing we had to get used to was the amount of daylight during the day! Trondheim is easy to get around, the buses are pretty straightforward and you can pay using an app on your phone! The language barrier is non-existent as Norwegians speak very good English and are really lovely people. Trondheim hosts lots of festivals in genres including jazz, blues, chamber music, world music, rock and pop. Perfect for foodies as you the food is locally sourced and mainly organic. Make sure to visit Rockheim, Nidaros Cathedral, there are a few museums to keep you busy. If you want to travel further afield, book a trip through a fjord, go skiing, hike on a glacier, go mountain cycling or kayaking. If you're looking for an active holiday, or a relaxing time away, there is something for everyone in Trondheim. Get in touch if you would like to organize a trip to Trondheim.

10 July 2017

Going back to Tanzania is always nostalgic for me, for me it's home. This time, I was going back to celebrate my father’s 80th! The family and I organized a safari for Dad. Where I’d had the experience to visit many of Tanzania’s National Parks, Dad hadn’t, as his travels were mainly abroad. I am lucky to get companion fares, this enables me to travel business class, it is always a fantastic experience, especially the on board cuisine!. I arrived in Dar Es salaam feeling relaxed and refreshed. As I was flying Swiss Air, I had to go via Zurich, which is a short connection. The total number of flying hours takes about 9/10 max. Mikumi National park is a mere 5-6 hour drive from Dar es salaam (the Capital city), the roads are brilliant, and tarmacked, so it’s a pleasant trip as you pass through little villages on the way there, I’d recommend departing early, make sure you en route to stretch and experience village life. Tanzanian’s are incredibly generous people and content with the little that they have. About half an hour before we reached our hotel, we came across a pride of lions, two females and three youngsters. I hadn’t been on safari for a while, and was in awe as they just strolled across the road, and settled right in the middle of the road, without a care in the world! Nature at its best. The next day we left camp early, the best time for game viewing is early in the morning. Try and get there as soon as the gate opens as you’re guaranteed to see lots of game, as we did. A couple of minutes into the game drive, we came across giraffe, buffalo, and lots of elephants. The park was heaving with game, it was absolutely wonderful. We all had such an amazing time, especially my Dad, he was really touched by the whole experience. If you are in Dar, have a few nights to spare, want to do a safari, and you don’t want to cover too many miles, be sure to think about visiting Mikumi. It’s perfect for a short safari!

05 May 2017

Cyprus is a four and a half hour flight from London. We flew with Aegean from Heathrow, however, you can fly from Gatwick as well as from other regional airports, using different airlines. Our first stop was Ayia Napa. It’s around a 45 minute transfer from the Airport . The beaches are lovely and there’s plenty to do around the area. I felt really comfortable and enjoyed the stunning views from our hotel. The beach was crystal clear, the swim in the sea was very refreshing. As a general rule, I would recommend going bed and breakfast in the resort areas of Ayia Napa, Limassol, and Pafos, as the local eateries are absolutely fantastic and very good value for money. The food is prepared fresh and tastes lovely, so eat local wherever you can. Transport links are very good as well, as are taxis. You can make good use of the hop on hop off buses while you are there. There are also lots of water activities, and many stunning historic monasteries, castles, mosaics, the list goes on. There is enough to keep you interested during your stay. Cyprus is perfect for all type of travelers, it caters for families, couples, weddings, young and older groups alike, adventurers, historians, beach lovers, etc. It covers so many interests on one island. I would strongly recommend this beautiful island to all travelers. Limassol and Pafos were exciting, again, everything is within walking distance. The harbor was lined with amazing restaurants and bars. All of the resorts we visited were lively and had so much to offer. If you are a wine lover, then you must visit one of the many vineyards dotted around the south west of the country, we visited a fantastic vineyard in Agios Amvrosios and the wines were just spectacular. Again, with Cyprus, if you are looking for something different, then make your way up to Tochni. Halfway between the cities of Larnaca and Limassol. Based on folk tradition, Tochni is among the oldest villages in Cyprus,. Here you will find this small village that has been designated as an “agritourism” site which promotes the restoration of the original village and Cypriot stone houses that once stood in this area. Tochni is rustic and quaint with beautiful scenery, only an hour from the beach, this is a place to relax and enjoy the serene countryside. Great for Yoga, history, hiking, biking etc It was my first time visiting Cyprus and I fell in love with it. I would highly recommend this country as a destination for all travelers.