30 August 2023

A very different day at the office as I travelled to Southampton to visit P&O Cruises Arcadia. With a maximum capacity of 2094 passengers, it’s not quite the smallest ship in the P&O fleet, although it didn’t feel small as we navigated our way up and down between the decks, and along its full length! My first impression as I boarded into the atrium was clean and fresh. We spent the morning visiting one of all the different cabin types available on the ship; suite, mini-suite, balcony, ocean view and inside. Different cabin types to suite all budgets and personal preferences. Many with a bath, some had a separate bath and shower, the inside cabins had a walk-in shower. All cabins had tea and coffee making facilities. The sizes varied, but there was lots of wardrobe space in all cabin types. There’s a choice of restaurants; the main buffet and Meridian Restaurant (a la carte) are included. For that special occasion or just a change Ocean Grill is available for a small supplement and the Indian restaurant Sindhu will add some spice to the trip. Whatever your mood there’s a bar to enjoy a drink, pre-dinner, post-dinner, a nightcap or just because.…. The Palladium Theatre was simply amazing – covering three decks, it wouldn’t be out of place in London’s West End and has the capacity to hold almost all the guests onboard! The gym had lots of equipment available for guests to use any time, free of charge. For a small additional fee, they can join one of the many classes available. The spa smelled gorgeous and offers many treatments, there’s even a twin room to enjoy a treatment with a friend or partner. The library is a cosy room to access WiFi or read a book, whilst watching the world go by. And the cinema regularly changes its screenings for film buffs. The shops have all the necessities guests inevitably forget to pack, along with some things they didn’t forget, but decide they need anyway. Before disembarking we were treated to a 3-course meal in the Meridian Restaurant. An a la carte menu with a choice of 4 starters, main courses and desserts, followed by tea a coffee. Something for everyone, with vegetarian and vegan options available. The food was beautifully presented and very tasty. Every area of the ship we visited, every cabin we viewed was spotlessly clean with no visible signs of wear and tear, which is remarkable. In my opinion a beautiful ship, large enough without being too big. As we left the ship, we passed by guests boarding for their holiday to Norway and Iceland. It just left me wondering whether they’d have the time to experience everything on offer as well as visiting the many destinations enroute!

19 May 2023

My first holiday of 2023 in Dubai. A week in the sun and all girls together, a recipe for a great time! Only a 6½ to 7-hour flight makes Dubai easily accessible for Winter sunshine. With our itinerary to hand we set off on a holiday of discovery. We’d been told how beautiful the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is, so that was our first adventure. It only took just over an hour and with plenty of covered parking it was easy to travel independently. The mosque is free to enter, but the dress code is rigorously enforced and anyone not dressed respectfully is denied entry. It’s definitely worth a visit though – it’s magnificent. Dubai has no shortage of shopping malls with many recognisable brands. We visited several during our trip including Souk Madinat. A ‘traditional’ Arabian Bazaar and well worth an hour or so of our time, just browsing and honing our bartering skills for holiday souvenirs. However, bartering isn’t the done thing in Mall of the Emirates or Dubai Mall. No, if you’d like to go skiing or toboggining – you visit Mall of the Emirates, as they have an indoor ski resort within the shopping mall! Or if you’d prefer to go scuba diving, visit Dubai Mall. Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention you can do some serious shopping at both these Malls too! No trip to the desert is complete without Dune Bashing, so we set off for an afternoon and evening of cultural entertainment and playing in the sand! This time we didn’t take a car but were collected from our accommodation. I wasn’t sure about Dune Bashing, but it was great fun, bouncing around on the sand dunes and sliding down the dunes on a sandboard! To complete the desert experience, a short ride on a camel (very strange feeling as it lurches forward), and a bar-b-que in a desert oasis complete with fire eater and belly dancer. Whilst we didn’t visit Dubai specifically for sunbathing and swimming, we did go to the beach for a lovely walk. It was full of both locals and tourists enjoying the beautiful sunshine and getting their daily dose of Vitamin D. The dress code is very casual the whole area had a very relaxed vibe. No visit to Dubai is complete without having Brunch on Saturday. It’s a fixed price for three hours to eat, drink and enjoy each other’s company. We visited The Anantara Hotel on The Palm, what a magnificent place! The choice of food available was vast, beautifully presented and tasty. There’s no pressure to eat and then leave, so it’s a great way to try a little bit of lots of different foods. Bur Dubai is the old part of the city where we enjoyed a trip to the other side of the creek on a Jabra to visit the Gold Souk and Spice Market. This area had a more authentic feel with much smaller buildings and a bustling atmosphere. We took a detour further up the creek on our return trip past the boats loading up to take all manner of good to India and beyond. We then visited one more souk, dodging the enthusiastic traders encouraging us to buy their scarves, handbags and various other goods whilst also trying to impress us with their English, which was little more than “Lovely Jubbly” and “Shakira2 (still that’s better than my Arabic!). I was lucky enough to have bed and board at my sister and brother-in-law’s apartment, however there’s no shortage of hotels and apartments to suit all budgets. Dubai is a wonderful place to visit; it’s got shopping, culture, sight-seeing, good food and very hospitable locals. With guaranteed sunshine to distract us from the dreary, damp UK winter, it’s definitely worth a visit.

04 January 2023

For my husband and I, this trip to Berlin was all about visiting the Christmas Markets as it was our third time to the city. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see the markets on our last visit as the weather was so bad, most markets were closed! We were with my son and his girlfriend on their first trip, so we followed their lead on the attractions to visit. The Christmas Markets don’t generally open until about midday and come into their own when it’s dark, so there’s plenty of time to see other attractions too. Berlin is a fascinating city – we spent a couple of hours in The Checkpoint Charlie Museum and could have spent a lot longer, there was so much to see. It’s home to the Reichstag, the German Parliament Building where visitors can pay to visit the dome in the centre and view the city from a different aspect. The Brandenburg Gate is a must-see attraction, which now represents the reunification of Berlin following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The Holocaust Memorial is a sobering reminder of WWII as are some small parts of the Berlin Wall which have been left standing. There are over 80 Christmas Markets in Berlin and we chose three to visit (although we stumbled into another couple – they’re on virtually every street corner). We’ve found over the years that each market has a slightly different feel. Although all markets have items for sale, people tend to visit to eat, drink and socialise. It’s an age-old German tradition that locals completely buy into, leading to a truly Christmassy experience that I feel is lacking in the UK. The largest market we visited in Alexanderplatz, was also our favourite. Santa Claus flew his sleigh high above the crowds and gave the children a Christmas message (in German, so I don’t know what he said!). The big wheel gave us a beautiful night-time view over the market and the mulled wine warmed our cold hands. The Medieval Christmas Market offered a different ambience, with a hand turned Ferris Wheel for small children, and archery and axe throwing for large children! The mulled wine (with or without alcohol) was always welcome as it was bitterly cold the whole weekend! The one place my husband did ask to visit is the Hofbräuhaus, where it’s all about the ambience. Listening to a live band, drinking beer from an enormous stein and eating giant pretzels – what can be more German than that? If you find you’re lacking the Christmas spirit in 2023, I can’t recommend a visit to a German Christmas Market highly enough. It’s not about how many presents or how much you spend – it’s being together with people you care about – enjoying their company and having fun along the way – priceless!!

27 October 2022

Another holiday postponed because of Covid-19, finally happened! In early September we set off for USA, travelling first to Salt Lake City where we collected a car and headed up to Yellowstone National Park. Enroute, we stopped off at Jackson for a brief visit and I think it’s one of the prettiest towns I’ve ever been to in the US. Beautifully crafted buildings gave me the feeling of being immersed in a movie from yesteryear! It’s only about 70 miles from there to the south entrance of Yellowstone, where we arrived later in the afternoon. Yellowstone National Park is all about, geysers, hot-springs and animals – lots of. With no Wi-Fi and no television, my phone only came out to take photographs, a welcome break from everyday life. Even in early September we had some overnight frost, although by mid-afternoon we were basking in glorious sunshine and the temperature had reached the low 20s Celsius. During our 5-day visit we saw some amazing geysers, including Old Faithful, named because it erupts every 90 minutes (give or take 10 minutes); beautiful blue hot springs, which look deceptively inviting. There were gorgeous chipmunks, not quite so gorgeous bison and elk, and a coyote from a distance. Unfortunately for us, we didn’t get to see any bears, but lots of people did – we just weren’t in the right place at the right time. All too soon it was time to move on – but we couldn’t go all that way and not ‘pop in’ to visit Bonneville Salt Flats. There’s nothing there – except a vast salt pan, crystallised salt as far as you can see, quiet – almost eerie! Monterey Bay was our next stop, flying from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles and driving north. Cannery Row has been re-invented following the collapse of the sardine canning industry. The old canneries now house shops, restaurants, pubs and hotels. There’s also the large aquarium, where we spent a few hours watching and learning about the sea life found in and around the California shores. Our last stop was San Francisco, somewhere I’d wanted to visit for years. We enjoyed three days visiting Alcatraz, taking photos of Golden Gate Bridge, meandering along Fisherman’s Wharf, visiting Chinatown. We walked up the hills and down the hills – then we got on a tram! We packed a lot into our holiday, saw some wonderful sights and made some great memories. The USA is such an easy place to holiday – I guarantee you’ll come home craving some vegetables – but that’s a small price to pay for such a fantastic holiday! Happy travels.

22 July 2022

We finally got there, two years after we’d originally booked, we touched down in the ancient city of Athens. After dropping our things off at the hotel, we headed off – map in hand. Hotel staff directed us to the historic area of Monastiraki. The square was buzzing with sightseers visiting the open-air market to buy souvenirs, before enjoying a meal in one of the many local tavernas. There were many narrow streets leading away from the square – full of yet more shops, tavernas and ice cream parlours! We returned to Monastiraki many times during our short visit and we always saw something different. As well as countless shopping and dining opportunities, there were historic attractions to visit. We couldn’t visit Athens though without a trip to see the Acropolis – the most iconic symbol of ancient Greek civilisation. It was a warm day, so we set off reasonably early with plenty of water. After a lovely ride in a horse and carriage, we arrived at the entrance, part way up the hill. From here it was all on foot with lots of steps, although there were some stopping places along the way. The top of the Acropolis is now accessible to wheelchairs, thanks to a lift up the side and some large concrete slabs laid over the original (very uneven) paving. The Parthenon sits proudly at the top and is the landmark we all recognise; dedicated to the patron goddess of the city, Athena. Currently undergoing restoration there’s scaffolding around some of the building, but it was still a ‘pinch me’ moment to see it for real. There aren’t any archeological finds at the Acropolis, we went to the Acropolis Museum for those, later in the day. It was a pleasure to walk through the air conditioned galleries for a couple of hours and view some of the many sculptures taken from the site. We enjoyed a cool drink in one of the many rooftop bars, complete with an amazing view across to the Acropolis. Walking back through Plaka, we felt like we’d left the city behind and entered a small Greek village – narrow cobbled streets with Bougainvillea clad buildings offering souvenirs, ice creams and traditional Greek food. We took the hop-on-hop-off bus further afield first to Piraeus and then onto Glyfada Marina. It was lovely to feel the sea breeze and walk on the fine shingle into the sea, but far too cold to consider going in any deeper than our ankles! We had a lovely few days together in Athens, the weather was glorious, the food and drink spectacular, the Greek people are warm and welcoming. Two years in the planning, but well worth the wait!

29 December 2021

We usually take a short trip to Germany to visit the Christmas Markets and get ourselves into the Christmas spirit although, for obvious reasons, it hasn’t been possible for the last couple of years. So, we decided to visit Edinburgh. There’s a Christmas Market as well as lots of other things to see and do. We dispensed with any form of public transport (together with face covering, form filling and having to provide evidence of vaccination status), opting to drive 410 miles in each direction which was very straightforward. Our small hotel was very well placed to walk into the city centre – apart from a trip to the zoo in the car, we walked everywhere. No visit to Edinburgh is complete without a visit to the zoo, luckily the weather was kind and although cold, the sun shone, and it remained dry. Edinburgh Zoo’s claim to fame are the two giant pandas currently on loan (until December 2023). With or without giant pandas though, it’s well worth a visit, particularly if you have small children as it’s not too big. Despite a downturn in the weather we pounded the Royal Mile, from visiting the legendary castle at the top of the hill, down to the far end where we stood outside the Scottish Parliament Building and pondered what inspired the architect to come up with quite this design! Perhaps they were looking for a building that wouldn’t outshine The Palace of Holyroodhouse which stands on the opposite side of the road. Originally Edinburgh was one main street (The Royal Mile) with a myriad of small alleyways leading off left and right. On either side of the alleyways (or closes) tall buildings emerged – some as high as 8 storeys, where all inhabitants lived and worked. In 1753 the construction of the Royal Exchange started, and 4 closes were partly demolished, and the lower levels used to provide its foundations. Those 4 alleyways now comprise Mary King’s Close where a guided tour took us below the 20th century streets, back to 17th century Edinburgh. We did visit the Christmas Market which is in a lovely location in Princes Street Gardens, however it didn’t quite have the ‘feel’ of the ones we visit in Germany, so I wouldn’t make that the primary reason for returning. In summary, Edinburgh is a fantastic city with an interesting history and absolutely perfect for a weekend break - but be sure to take your walking shoes!

24 September 2021

After spending the Summer months closely watching the developments with overseas travel in light of Covid-19, we were relieved and delighted when we were able to book a last-minute break to Crete. We had visited the island many years ago with two small children, so this was a completely different holiday, just the two of us. We based ourselves in the pretty fishing port of Elounda about 45 minutes’ drive from Heraklion Airport. Although we planned to hire a car for a few days and travel around and see more of the island, in fact we didn’t get into a car again until our return trip to the airport 10 days later! We spent 10 blissful days, walking, reading, swimming, eating and drinking. Definitely not the type of holiday we usually choose, but absolutely perfect this time. The weather was gloriously warm and after we discovered a great little book of local walks, we set about seeing more of the area. Following a very hot Summer, most of the grass had turned yellow, crisp and dry, but the Olive trees were very much alive and well, bursting with (almost) ripe Olives. We admired their gnarly, interwoven trunks that had stood rooted in the same spot for many hundreds of years – if they could talk, I’ll bet they’d have some tales to tell! The local beach of mainly rocks and pebbles meant a very tentative entry into the water. The sea was so clear we could see the fish even without a snorkel, however with it, we saw the ocean alive with tiny colourful fish coming over to take a look at us. We didn’t need to get into the sea though, to see the ruins of the ancient Minoan City of Olous laying just below the water line, just a stones’ throw away from our hotel. We did need to take a boat to visit Spinalonga, just a short hop, to the small island where Cretans banished Lepers to live and die between 1903 and 1957. First inhabited by Venetians in 17th century, followed by the Ottomans some 130 years later, many of their buildings still remain and were re-purposed for the Leper Colony. There are many tavernas in the town and although we had our favourites, we could have eaten somewhere different every evening. Elounda has everything a visitor needs with no shortage of bars, cafes and souvenir shops. There’s a very pretty harbour and a good size beach with sunbeds and parasols for those who like to lay in the sun. I’d definitely recommend Crete for a holiday, both for those who like to do nothing and those who like to do something. After a stressful 2021, it was great to do what we love and recharge our batteries for the months ahead.

21 September 2020

I don’t need to explain why 2020 didn’t turn out to be the year any of us had expected or planned for. The holidays we’d planned for the year all had to be rescheduled, but we were still keen to get away for a holiday if possible. Italy was the perfect choice as they were managing Covid well and it was unlikely we’d have to quarantine on our return to UK. We chose Lake Garda, an area we first visited nearly 40 years ago. Visiting in early September we were hoping the weather would be good and we weren’t disappointed, beautiful blue skies and sunshine every day. English visitors are very much in the minority in this part of Italy as it’s so easily accessible for much of western Europe. Whilst Lake Garda does have beaches, at best they’re pebbly, but that certainly didn’t stop the sun worshippers, (of which there were many)! For us it was about walking, cycling, relaxing whilst enjoying the good food Italy is famous for. We visited local towns on foot and used buses and ferries to reach those further afield. We visited Verona, which is worthy of a short break on its own. The lakeside towns offer many opportunities for enjoying the view with a cold drink or a meal and a promenade to walk off the calories. There are museums, historical sites, wineries and stunning scenery. We stayed in a lovely hotel on the southern part of the lake between the popular towns of Sirmione and Desenzano. Both towns offer a ferry service to other parts of the lake and on one occasion we hired bikes from the hotel, cycled to Sirmione and took a ferry across to Bardolino, on the eastern side. Many ferries (although not all), are able to accommodate bikes. After visiting a winery and the olive oil museum in Bardolino we spent the remainder of the day cycling back to our hotel, about 20 miles. Lake Garda is exceptionally well set up for cycling, most towns have a beach area and promenade open for walking and cycling. Outside of the towns we used the main roads, however as there were cycle paths on most roads, it was easy to enjoy the ride without cars passing close by. The holidays we had already planned for 2020 didn’t include Italy, but I’m so glad we had the opportunity to visit again. Although we went for 10 days this time, it’s only a couple of hours flight, so well within the reach of a long weekend. Beware though, I guarantee you’ll just keep wanting to go back!

25 November 2019

With destinations all over the world, award winning musicals, full on-board rotational dining and unlimited snacks, soft drinks and ice-cream, what's there not to love about a Disney cruise? The best bit? It's all served up with the legendary Disney service, themed deck parties and fireworks at sea, you might even get to meet your favourite Disney character on-board too! WHERE CAN I GO ON A DISNEY CRUISE? Disney own four cruise liners; Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy offering a choice of destinations and sailing dates. Depart from Dover and sail to Northern Europe or (for any Frozen fan!) experience the Norwegian Fjords. Depart from Barcelona or Rome and explore the sights of the Mediterranean. Fancy travelling further afield? Depart from Port Canaveral, Florida and choose between the Eastern or Western Caribbean, which also calls at Cozumel, Mexico. There’s also a three or four-night cruise around the Bahamas. If you're really looking for adventure depart from Vancouver, Canada and explore stunning Alaska. With a Disney cruise it really is "a small world after all!" Top Tip: For the best value holiday, travel during school term time. STATEROOMS There’s a huge range of staterooms aboard the four ships with plenty to suit everyone's taste and budget. They’re also big on space! All rooms accommodate at least three people, there are even Deluxe Family Staterooms that can sleep up to five guests. The staterooms have been designed with families in mind and sleeping areas are separated from sitting areas with heavy curtains and most rooms offer a split bathroom. Top Tip: For a more practical tip, Disney cruises have laundry facilities, either visit the laundry room with washing machines, tumble dryers, washing powder and ironing equipment. Or have your laundry and/or dry cleaning collected from your cabin. Fees apply. CASTAWAY CAY Did you know Disney owns its own private island? All the cruises taking in the Caribbean or the Bahamas also include a stop at Castaway Cay. It's home to a sports beach, snorkelling lagoon and you might even bump into a few of your favourite Disney characters on the island. There are areas just for adults to enjoy, try Serenity Bay, and plenty to keep children and teens entertained; such as Pelican Plunge with its two water slides. They even have an exclusive teen area called 'Teen Hideout'. Top Tip: Castaway Cay has a post office with an exclusive Castaway Cay postmark. Buy stamps on board the ship and send a postcard, letter or a message in a bottle to a friend, relative or even back to yourself. WHAT'S ON BOARD? Each of the four ships have their own cinema as well as a theatre for West End standard shows. The ships boast a range of pools and water slides for those lazy days at sea. They also have a range of shops and retail, including a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique where little princes and princesses can be transformed by Fairy Godmothers in training and a Pirates League where children who fancy joining Captain Jack Sparrow can get their pirate make-over. Top Tip: There’s a charge for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, but the character experiences are free. Try and book them for days at sea. GREAT! HOW DO I ENTERTAIN THE KIDS? Have a small travel companion? They will love the bright and colourful "It's a Small World" nursery, specifically for children aged six months to three years. There's also loads for children aged 3-12 years with Disney's Oceaneer Club and Disney's Oceaneer Lab. Each ship has an "Andy's Room" from Disney Pixar's Toy Story and on board the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy you’ll also find Star Wars attractions. Teens and Tweens haven't been forgotten, with dedicated lounges on each ship, as well as a Chill Spa for those aged 13-17 years. Top Tip: Plan ahead for the Pirate Night Deck Party. The characters all dress up and guests are invited to do the same but buy your costumes and make up before you travel. WHAT'S THERE FOR ADULTS TO DO? There’s a Senses Spa and Salon and adult only dining on board each of the ships. In addition, there’s also Quiet Cove, the adult only pool area. When it’s time to eat enjoy adult company at Palo or Remy followed by cocktails in Cove Café. Top Tip: Each adult can bring one bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer per person onto the ship. This MUST be carried in hand baggage. THE ULTIMATE DISNEY HOLIDAY Want to combine a cruise around the Caribbean or Bahamas with a stay at Walt Disney World? Well it's easy! You can tailor your cruise and stay package however it works best for you; cruise then play at Walt Disney World, or visit the six theme parks then take a few days to relax. There are even transfers to pick you up from port and take you to your Disney Resort Hotel, or vice versa. Top Tip: I suggest you visit Walt Disney World before joining your cruise. Theme parks are great fun, but they can be tiring, enjoy the cruise catching up on rest and relaxation, whilst still enjoying the Disney Magic.

01 August 2019

Just a short hop from Gatwick and we were in Jersey in the Channel Islands. Although it was my first real visit (I had a flying visit over 30 years ago for 1 day) both my mum and cousin had visited before. We chose a large resort style hotel, which really did offer something for all age groups including an indoor and outdoor pool across the road, two restaurants, evening entertainment or the opportunity to sit quietly in a separate lounge. It took about 20 minutes to walk into the centre of St Helier and the bus station, which gave us easy access to the entire island. Undoubtedly a highlight, was our trip to the Jersey War Tunnels Museum, which tells the story of the German occupation of Jersey between 1940 and 1945. After two hours on our feet examining just about every exhibit, we retired to the quaint 1940s style tearoom for a well-earned rest and refreshments. Another very interesting part of our trip was our day out at Elizabeth Castle. Ideally placed to defend the island, the building on the rocky outcrop started at the end of 16th century and was added to in 19th century. Most recently the Germans left their calling card in the form of a large concrete bunker – not quite in keeping with the remainder of the castle, but nonetheless part of the island’s history! When the tide is in, the castle is cut off from the rest of the island – however when the tide is out, it’s possible to walk from the mainland on a purpose-built concrete pathway. The path is kept clean and free of seaweed and slimy debris and the walk takes about 15-20 minutes. Alternatively, when the tide is in or if you prefer there’s an amphibious vehicle which ferries visitors across for a small additional fee. There are many sights to see and places to visit, however we purposefully took time out to wander, shop, sit and just enjoy our surroundings, that was part of the experience. We had a wonderful few days and the good weather helped too. My impression of Jersey is of a very quaint, English village – in a slight time warp, but that added to the charm. The short flight and temperate weather make it a very attractive holiday destination. I’d recommend it for people of all ages who like to visit somewhere with a familiar feel, but at the same time has its own character. An additional bonus, if you don’t like flying you can always take the ferry from the south coast!

10 July 2019

Determined to spend my birthday away this year, my husband and I decided to visit Rome for a few days. My favourite European city and my third visit, although it was my husband’s first. It took about ½ hour to transfer from the airport in a private car after our flight, which had taken a little over 2 hours. Our hotel was perfectly located in the centre of the city about 100 yards from the Trevi Fountain. One of the things I love about Rome is it’s easy to get around on foot. It’s not always easy to navigate but that only adds to its charm. So, we took a few wrong turns but ambling along the cobbled streets really is part of the experience, and we never got far without finding somewhere to rest and enjoy a drink and/or a snack, or yet more roman ruins to admire. Although we really enjoyed wandering around, we also took a 48 hour ‘hop on hop off’ bus tour for the first two days. This really helped us find our bearings, whilst the onboard audio guide provided some interesting information. The bus also took us further outside the old city walls along part of the oldest Roman road, the Appia Antica (or Appian Way) where we visited the Catacombs of San Sebastian. During our 5 night stay we visited many famous attractions; The Vatican The Colosseum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Baths of Caracalla. However, Pompeii had also been on my bucket list for a long while, so we decided to take a (long) tour from Rome. We opted for an organised tour, which we don’t usually do, so we could just sit back and enjoy the day. It took about 3 hours to get there, but our very lively tour guide kept us entertained en route. The tour also included a climb part way up Mount Vesuvius where we were treated to beautiful views over Naples. Rome is a very popular city, inevitably this leads to crowds and queues. There are tour companies all over the city very persistent trying to sell their wares, by offering ‘skip the line’ entry to attractions. We were told we’d have to wait in line for 1½ hours to get into St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican – in fact we waited only 10 minutes. We bought tickets for our ‘must do’ attractions before we left home, so we had time to consider what we were buying and the price we paid. We knew what to expect with the weather (hot and sunny), so we were well prepared with hats, sun cream and drinking water. Incidentally there are fountains all over the city where you can refill your water bottle free of charge, and it tastes good. To sum up, our trip was busy, hot and there were crowds everywhere. But it’s still my favourite European city and if I got the opportunity to go back again tomorrow, I’d be there like a shot!

12 August 2018

Vienna is a bit further away than some European cities at just over two hours flying time from London. However, the time (literally) flew by as I chatted with my mum and cousin and we arrived about 13:20 local time. It only took half an hour to get into the city by car and before we knew it we had arrived at our lodging, Hotel am Konzerthaus. Check-in was very efficient, and we were given a wallet with lots of pamphlets and details of attractions, which I thought was very thoughtful. Breakfast was a little chaotic – possibly because there weren’t enough staff on duty to clear and re-lay tables quickly enough. There was a good selection of both continental and some cooked items. My only criticism was when food ran out it wasn’t replenished quickly enough! The hotel is very well placed, and it took us just 15 minutes to walk right into the centre of the city. Our first impressions were of a very clean and well laid out city, navigating on foot is easy with a map. It is quite a large city though and I would recommend buying a hop-on-hop-off bus ticket to see the main sights. We had a 48-hour ticket and couldn’t fit in all the routes on offer within that time span. We visited the Prater which is a permanent funfair in the city – with its’ two enormous big wheels. Typically, it had rides for small children, thrill seekers and people like us who just wanted to give our feet a rest and take a trip on the narrow-gauge railway. Although you can buy a book of tickets for the rides to reduce the cost, all rides were also pay as you go which was very helpful. We spent a whole day visiting the former summer imperial residence of the Habsburgs - Schönbrunn Palace. Only 41 of its’ 1441 rooms are open to the public and we chose an audio guided tour to find out more about them. The gardens are magnificent and if it hadn’t been such a warm day we would have walked around them more! We took the land train up to see views over the city from the Gloriette – walking up the hill didn’t seem to be such a good idea! On our way around we got to see more of the wonderful gardens which also house a zoo. The following day we decided to see a bit more of the city and used the hop-on-hop-off bus to visit Grinzing a little further out of the city centre. This is a local wine producing area, still within Vienna city limits, and a very pretty typically Austrian town. Here we found a very pretty Heuriger to sample the local wine and enjoy a delicious lunch in the sunshine. Heurigen are specially licensed east Austrian wine taverns were local wine makers serve their most recent year’s wine for a short time after the growing season. Together with local food and a warm welcome they’re a great way to enjoy a meal. We’d booked a Strauss and Mozart concert at The Kursalon before our trip. It turned out to be just a five-minute walk from our hotel and very easy to find. The venue wasn’t huge, but it was beautifully decorated; the concert lasted a little under two hours including an intermission. Although not a lover of classical music I thoroughly enjoyed the evening which also included a little opera and some beautiful dancing to accompany the music. We had just a couple of hours on our last morning before we were collected for our trip home and Mum was keen to find The Musikverein. Every year on New Year’s Day there is a televised classical music concert which my Stepdad never missed. Although we couldn’t go inside, mum was pleased to see the venue from the outside where she has watched so many concerts broadcast from the inside in the comfort of her own living room!

28 June 2018

We had so much planned for our trip to Uganda and Tanzania that we flew into Kigali in Rwanda to minimise our travelling time as much as possible. After a good night’s rest, we were collected by our guide who transferred us to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest over the border in Uganda for what was undoubtedly the highlight of our holiday – gorilla trekking. We were lucky enough to spend one hour in the company of these magnificent apes. While we had to keep our distance from them, nobody had told the gorillas and they passed by us within arm’s reach, getting on with their daily routine! There was the dominant male silverback, mother and baby, the old boy who had been ousted from his position as dominant male and the youth who just wanted to laze around! Whilst these gorillas are wild animals, over a long period of time they have been habituated to humans and they were very happy to just get on with doing what gorillas do whilst ignoring their doting public. As we had travelled so far, we also opted to do chimp trekking which involved travelling to Kibale National Park where there are many habituated chimps. Once again, we spent an hour in the company of these delightful apes – they’re scarily like us! Many of the chimps we saw chose to remain in the trees, but one young chap posed for quite a while giving us the opportunity to take our pictures. He laid down, sat up, inspected his arms in detail and then scratched himself before laying down again. There were short sightings of other chimps running around on the ground, but we had to be quick to get a picture as they’re much faster than gorillas. En route from Bwindi to Kibale we made a night stop In Queen Elizabeth National Park. We were keen to see the tree climbing lions in Ishasha and struck gold – eight lions up in the branches of one tree, dozing in the shade of the canopy. Whilst visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park we also took a boat ride on the Kazinga Channel for a different perspective on the wildlife. We saw many hippos, all virtually underwater, the tops of their heads just poking out above the waterline. They disappeared every now and again to surface a bit further away. The crocodiles nearby didn’t dare start a fight as hippos are more than a match – so they sat quietly soaking up the warm sunshine. There were water buffalo sitting in the shallow water regulating their body temperatures and just minding their own business. Pied kingfishers flew all around us, in and out of their homes made in holes in the banks of the channel and there were cranes, Egyptian geese, marabou storks (one of the ‘Ugly 5’ – with good reason!) fish eagles, sacred ibis and cormorants. All too soon we were boarding a flight from Entebbe Airport to Kilimanjaro for our next African adventure in Tanzania. We spent our first two nights in Arusha and visited Tarangire National Park on our one full day. Famous for its many elephants, we were treated to many sightings – singletons and in groups with babies. But Tarangire also has lots of other game and we also saw ostrich, giraffes, mongoose and baboons. Undoubtedly though, the most spectacular sighting was of a cheetah with her two cubs. Although the cubs were ‘hidden’ in the grass, every now and then one of them raised their head just a little to give us a glimpse of their beautiful face, before laying down again and disappearing. Mum laid in the grass partially obscured some of the time but sat up regularly to have a good look around at what was going on and giving us the opportunity to take some magnificent snaps. We spent our last few days close to Lake Victoria in Tanzania, just outside one of the many entrances to the Serengeti National Park. We were perfectly positioned to witness the wildebeest migration as they travelled north in search of good grass. However, you can never plan for anything in nature and the wildebeest were still enjoying the grass much further south, although we did see some sizeable herds. There were early signs they were on their way as the zebras (who graze on the longer grass just ahead of the wildebeest) were present in their hundreds. We were fortunate enough to view a family of five lions, two fully grown lionesses and three juveniles. For 45 minutes we sat quietly watching them watching us – no other people or trucks to disturb the peace. But we had to drag ourselves away eventually and we also saw ostrich, warthogs, eland, topi, baboons, elephants, giraffe, hyenas, impala, hippos and waterbuck. For me what stood out most in the Serengeti was the sheer volume of some of the game not just one or two at a sighting. But whether we saw just one or hundreds, the spectacle of seeing them in their natural environment was most special. This holiday really was all about the animals and it delivered on all counts. Our accommodation throughout the trip was beautiful and we woke up to some fantastic views. It was all en suite with flushing toilets and whilst I couldn’t use my hairdryer in some places, I managed fine - and there was always enough power to charge a phone or camera battery. We were fed (far too much) good food and without exception our hosts couldn’t do enough for us. Both Uganda and Tanzania are wonderful countries and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend either for the holiday of a lifetime. We may have ticked them both off of our ‘to visit’ list however they’ve just been added to the list of ‘places we’d love to go back to’. Happy travelling!

12 December 2017

We decided we’d like to go a bit further afield for our visit to the German Christmas Markets this year and visited the bustling Bavarian City of Munich. We chose to stay in a hotel just outside of the city in Dachau where hotel prices are much more reasonable. A train ride back into the city only takes about 10 minutes on the fast train or 20 minutes on a local train. Another reason for staying in Dachau was to visit the concentration camp. It was a 3km walk from our hotel and gave us the opportunity to see more of the town It’s very well signposted from the main railway station (follow signs for KZ-Gedenkstatte) so we had no problems finding it. Although it isn’t something everyone would wish to visit, it is none the less part of our recent history and is very well presented. It’s possible to take a guided tour or self-guided audio tour, however there is a vast amount of information available so it’s possible just to wander around at leisure. Dachau was never an extermination camp; however, its working methods were used as a template for many of the concentration camps which existed during WWII. Dachau has a very pretty old town with cobbled streets with restaurants and shops. The Christmas market in the town was possibly the smallest I’ve ever been to in Germany, however it has the same smells and Christmas ambience as the many others we’ve been to. We spent a full day in Munich; the main pedestrianised area is between Karlstor (medieval gate) and Marienplatz, the central square of the city. This is where the town hall (or Rathaus in German) is located. There is a glockenspiel in one of the towers of the Rathaus where visitors gather at 11:00 and 12:00 to see the historical German figurines twirl on two levels. An exhibition of Nativity Scenes was interesting and also gave us the opportunity to get away from the biting wind and warm up! There’s a very pretty Christmas Market in Marienplatz (one of many in Munich) where the hot Gluwhein helped to keep us warm. Even though I don’t drink beer I enjoyed our visit to the famous Hofbrauhaus. We sat on a big wooden table with our new friends from Russia, even though we’d only just met them. The waitresses dressed in typical Bavarian clothes and carried four or five huge steins of beer with ease. The food available is typically German with pretzels, sausages and chicken. The oompah band had everyone swaying from side to side and the wonderfully happy atmosphere was infectious. The Olympia Park is just a few stops on the U-bahn (underground). We walked around the outside of the stadium where the 1972 Olympics took place and went to the top of the Olympic Tower. On a clear day there are fantastic views of landmarks in and around Munich – unfortunately it wasn’t a clear day when we visited, however it still gives a very interesting view of the city below. For car enthusiasts the BMW museum is very close by and it’s free entry. For those of us who’s only interest is cars is getting from A to B – there was an opportunity to get out of the freezing weather and have a sit down with a warm drink! Munich is a lovely city for a weekend visit – my advice if you’re planning on visiting for the Christmas markets is to take plenty of layers of clothing, hats, gloves and scarves. Outside it was bitterly cold – inside beautifully warm. However, the welcome from Bavarian people was definitely very warm – definitely Germany how I imagined it! Zum Wohl (good health)!

14 September 2017

I was surprised to learn, when I joined Travel Counsellors, that cruising is the fastest growing sector of the market. Most of us think of a cruise as something where you’re told what to wear for dinner and where you’ll sit in the restaurant. However that isn’t for everyone and cruise companies have recognised that. Cruise companies have re-invented the concept and now there’s a cruise to suit everyone however you like to spend your holiday. If you’re thinking about a cruise but not sure if it’s for you, take a look at the guide below to gain a small insight into what each cruise line has to offer. And of course you can always call me for more advice. P&O CRUISES P&O cruises have 7 ships in their fleet: the newest being their flagship Britannia. They are known for offering guests Strictly Come Dancing at Sea and for their celebrity chef Food Heroes on-board ships. They offer the most cruises out of Southampton, including lots of mini cruises and world cruises that depart in January You would like P&O if: • You like home comforts such as tea and coffee making facilities in your cabin and a “British” feel. • You wanted an adult only cruise - 2 ships are for adults only - Arcadia and Oriana • You want to take the family then try Aurora, Oceana, Ventura and Britannia Royal Caribbean Cruises Royal Caribbean have 25 Ships in their fleet and they range from small to super-size!! Their largest ship Harmony of the Seas can take up to 5,400 passengers but don’t let this put you off, the ships may be big but there is plenty of space on board and with things like Sky Diving, Bumper Cars, Surfing, Rock Climbing, Ice Skating and a full-size carousel on board some of their ships there is plenty to do. Independence of The Seas is about to have a multimillion pound makeover that will include the first Trampoline Park at Sea! You would like Royal Caribbean if: • You are a family (the kids and teens clubs are amazing) • You want a more relaxed atmosphere on board • You like West End Show Productions and great entertainment • You are a first-time cruiser as there are lots of different ships, you will find one that suits you Cunard Cruises Cunard are very much a traditional cruise line, I would say more liners than cruise ships, kind of along the lines of Titanic. There are 3 ships, one being the Queen Mary which was built specifically to do a Transatlantic Sailing (Southampton to New York) This particular ship is the only one I am aware of that also has its own deck for dogs, with kennels, a full time “doggy” butler. As well as the Transatlantic Cunard also operate world cruises in January, mini cruises and sailings from Southampton throughout the year You would like Cunard Cruises if: • You like formality and tradition • You like exceptional service • You like to dress up of an evening • You can’t bear to be parted from your furry friend whilst on holiday MSC Cruises MSC Cruises have 16 ships in their fleet, they sail mostly in the Med, The Caribbean, Dubai, Northern Europe and South America. Like Royal Caribbean the majority of these ships are big ones but with lots to do on board including water slides and a bowling alley. MSC are a little different, being Mediterranean you will find that the food, entertainment etc reflects that, however they do have a ship called Magnifica which is sailing from Southampton next year to Northern Europe and this ship will have a more British feel, with Tea & Coffee making facilities in the cabins, British Comedians and more British inspired food. You would like MSC Cruises if: • You have a family with children (kid’s prices are normally very good with MSC) • You want to mix with lots of different nationalities • You want to visit lots of ports • You are price conscious (MSC are very competitively priced) • You drink – MSC have one of the best priced drinks packages at sea! Norwegian Cruise Line NCL have 11 ships in their fleet and sail almost world-wide, Australia, Hawaii, South America, Alaska, Canada, Caribbean, Asia and of course in Europe. On NCL there are no set dinner times, no dress codes you do as you wish when you wish. Great entertainment on board including shows, comedy clubs, Ice bars, bowling alleys, water slides, kid’s clubs. Prices include all drinks and Tips, NCL were also the first cruise line to build cabins specifically designed for solo travellers, cruise lines are notorious for charging high single supplements but on a few of the NCL ships they have Studio Cabins that are very affordable. You would like NCL if: • You are a solo cruiser • You are a couple or travelling with a group • You prefer a relaxed informal style of cruise • You are a family (lots for everyone to do) • You like to budget all your costs prior to your holiday (tips/drinks already included) Celebrity Cruise Line Celebrity are what I would put as a 4* type of a Cruise ship, a bit classier than Royal Caribbean but not as formal or traditional as Cunard, they have speciality restaurants on board, Martini bars, Wine bars, even on some ships a lawn club with real grass where you can have a picnic. In my opinion although they do cater for families and have kids/teen clubs there are no so many things on board for kids to do but for couples or groups of friends they are brilliant and have some amazing itineraries. As well as Europe Celebrity cruise to lots of different places including Antarctica, The Galapagos, India, South Pacific, Hawaii, Australia & New Zealand, Caribbean Asia, Alaska to name but a few. You may have seen in the news about their newest ship which will sail from 2018 called The Edge, the design is like nothing you have seen before and will be a real game changer for cruising. You would like Celebrity if: • You are a couple or travelling with a group of friends • You like to eat out in different restaurants • You want to cruise to different destinations Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Fred Olsen are a family run cruise line that have 4 ships, these ships are much smaller than other cruise lines and generally appeal to the older market. They are well known for their friendliness and levels of service. They sail from lots of ports in the UK including, Dover, Harwich, Tilbury, Liverpool, Newcastle, Southampton and Edinburgh and sail all over the world including Europe, The Amazon, Indian Ocean, South Africa, Norwegian Fjords, The British Isles and many more. Each evening on most cruises there are hosted dance events, so great if you are into Ballroom Dancing etc, there is entertainment and lots of guest speakers and lectures throughout the cruise, because the ships are smaller you do feel like you are getting a more personal service, however if you are looking for lots of activities or to party all night then this wouldn’t be the cruise line for you. You would like Fred Olsen if: • You are of an older generation • You like good service and a very friendly ship • You like to visit smaller ports of call (because the ships are smaller they can access places that the big ships can’t)

10 September 2017

As we were travelling with my daughter, son-in-law and year-old granddaughter, we decided not to go too far for our family summer holiday. Cascais is on the Atlantic coast slightly west of Lisbon – Portugal’s capital city. Our flight from London took a little over two hours and then it was a 40-minute transfer to our hotel – Cascais Miragem. The hotel is well located, just a 10-minute walk into the old town of Cascais and a walk into neighbouring Estoril only took about 30 minutes. The hotel is very cleverly designed with the pool and restaurant on the third floor. Despite the fact there is a road and a railway line between the hotel and the sea, from the third floor we could look out to the sea. Walking from the hotel to the town centre and many little beaches close by is easy as there are underpasses at intervals. A beautiful promenade links Cascais with neighbouring Estoril – I guess it’s about two miles long. Hugging the coastline it passes by little rocky outcrops, when the tide is out, and lots of lovely sandy beaches. Children played and fished in the little pools between the seaweed covered rocks and adults smothered themselves in sun cream and lay in the sun or underneath an umbrella. We dared to dip our toes in the Atlantic, but it was so cold we decided to stick to the pool! There are lots of bars and restaurants along the promenade, some had permanent sun umbrellas on the beach which you can hire if you don’t have one of your own. It’s worthy of note that one of the sandy beaches was set up for wheelchair access. It’s possible to push the wheelchair right onto the beach down a ramp and onto a runner over the sand. This meets up with a gazebo where there is a special chair available to take people to the part of the beach they’d like to sit on. I didn’t look to see if there’s a charge for this service – but this is something I’ve never seen elsewhere. Getting lost in Cascais old town is an absolute pleasure – little narrow cobbled streets packed with souvenir shops, bars and restaurants - although the town isn’t huge so you don’t stay lost for long. There’s a railway station in the town centre as well, which gets you to Lisbon in just 20 minutes. It’s probably no surprise that fish and shellfish are on many menus, my husband tried to eat his way through all the different offerings during our holiday – he failed! If that’s not for you, there are many Italian and Indian restaurants as well. We enjoyed two great meals at The Flamingo in town - the steak was delicious. Don't forget to leave room for the Italian gelato after your meal, the choice is huge. Our hotel was little short of perfect – the breakfast buffet was one of the best I’ve ever seen with beautifully prepared fresh fruit, cereals, cooked food, cakes and breads. It also includes a table of goodies for people with special dietary needs, which I have never seen before. Highchairs are provided for smaller guests. The public areas and our rooms were spotlessly clean – with clean towels every day and clean bed linen every other day. Our standard room didn’t have a balcony – but our daughters’ did and it was more like a small terrace than a balcony! There was a large room on the third floor set up with children’s toys, climbing frames, games and a television for our granddaughter to release some of her energy. We were lucky enough to have beautiful sunshine every day and it wasn’t too hot. It was a fantastic place to take our granddaughter for her first holiday abroad. Whether you’re travelling with children or as adults I can’t think of a better place to go, particularly early in the season or later in the year when the UK is still grey and damp!

05 July 2017

Hosted by Club Med we spent a few days in the sunshine at Club Med La Palmeraie in Marrakech. Never having visited before it was an ideal opportunity to enjoy the Club Med experience and travel to a new place. Landing after a 3 ½ hour flight we could see immediately that we’d landed in Northern Africa, the red square sandstone buildings were visible from the runway. Transfer to La Palmeraie took about 30 minutes - driving around the old walled town to the resort. The sprawling resort with its beautiful gardens is built and decorated in the Moroccan style with red sandstone square buildings. It’s a truly All Inclusive Resort with entertainment and activities all day and evening included as well as food and drink (including alcohol). We took the complimentary shuttle to Marrakech for a morning, when the temperature is a little cooler. It was great fun in the souks bartering for our souvenirs. There’s a great selection of items for sale, however we were also interested in visiting the tannery which we’d seen on more than one television programme. It’s a little bit on the smelly side, but they gave us some mint to smell through if it became overpowering! We were pleased to leave the crowded busy city after a morning to return to the resort. It never felt busy and you’re able to do as much or as little as you like. Marrakech and Club Med La Palmeraie make a perfect combination to spend some time in the sunshine without having the travel long-haul. Enjoying the hustle and bustle of the city centre and being able to return to the peace and tranquillity of the resort. Perfect!

30 June 2017

An interest in visiting Auschwitz was the main reason for choosing to visit Krakow for our short break this year. Our flight from Heathrow to the small Krakow Airport took about two hours where we were met and transferred to our hotel in the city centre. The hotel was very well placed close to the historic town centre and the main market square. The sun was shining and we ate a lovely meal of Polish dumplings outside in the sunshine, watching the world go by. Orientating ourselves to the city was easy as it seems most roads lead back to the main square. We had a group tour to Auschwitz, which was exceptionally well organised. Whilst some people don’t wish to be reminded of the events which occurred during the war, there are many people, including us, who wanted to visit a place we had all heard so much about. All tours were escorted and we found the guides very knowledgeable. In contrast, the Salt Mines in the nearby town of Wieliczka are a celebration of human achievement. The mines were originated in the middle-ages for their. dark salt, although today they are a huge tourist attraction. We were treated to a 2km walk through tunnels opening out into the most amazing spaces including three churches, still used even today. The intricate carvings in the rock are magnificent, well worth climbing down 800 steps for. Luckily we did get a lift back to the top. Wawel Castle sits imposingly on the top of a small hill in Krakow. The home of Polish Royalty in the past, it now houses it now houses medieval artefacts and the Polish equivalent to the British Crown Jewels. To sum up Krakow is a delightful place to spend a few days, the excellent food is very reasonably priced, and it’s a compact city – easy to get around on foot with lots of sightseeing.

19 April 2017

We arrived in Jaipur, our first port of call, following a short flight from Mumbai where we’d landed the previous evening from UK. Nothing can prepare you for the hustle and bustle that is India – people, cars and rickshaws, camels pulling heavily loaded carts, pigs, and cows ambling along (or even just biding their time) in the middle of the road! Amber Fort is the major attraction and it was only about 20 minutes by car from our hotel. Built in the 16th century it stands proudly on a hill overlooking the town of Amer, once the capital of Rajasthan. It’s a vast structure built of red sandstone with intricate carvings, mirror and precious stone works on the walls and ceilings. About a 4 hour drive from Jaipur we moved onto Sawai Madhopur the nearest town for visiting, Ranthambore National Park, famous for its tigers. We had booked 4 safaris and were lucky enough to see wild tigers on two occasions. Definitely my favourite big cat, they were not at all phased by the whirring of cameras and excited visitors, and when they’d had enough they simply walked into the trees and disappeared from view! When we’d had our fill of wild animals we journeyed to Agra – approximately 6 hours by car. Without a doubt the most famous monument in India is the Taj Mahal, and we visited before sunrise to get the best views. It didn’t disappoint – it is the most awe-inspiring place, better in real life than anything you can see in books or on the television. There were lots of people around, however it didn’t feel at all crowded and we had plenty of time to wander around and enjoy the ambience. Delhi was our next stop and it was a relatively short 3 hour trip on a lovely new(ish) toll road. We had a list of ‘must see’ sights in Delhi, so we hired a taxi and driver for the day. For the princely sum of about £12 he took us everywhere on our list which included: • India Gate: looking much like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, it commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the World War I. The memorial bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919. • Qutb Minar: A 1000 year old Islamic monument. • Humayun’s Tomb: Humayun was an Islamic ruler who died in 1556. His is the first garden-tomb in the Indian Subcontinent – similar to the Taj Mahal in style and pre-dating the Taj by about 100 years. • Raj Ghat: commemorates the spot where Ghandi was cremated following his assassination in 1948. • Chandni Chowk: The shopping area in Old Delhi was jam packed with tiny shops and we enjoyed a cycle rickshaw ride through the largely grid-locked streets! From Delhi we took a 2 hour plane journey for our last stop which was in Darjeeling. A 3 hour car journey from the nearest airport took us up to 6700 feet above sea level where the air was fresher and tea plantations stretched as far as the eye could see. For three days we walked everywhere we wanted to visit. Obviously the tea plantation visit was a must (especially when you enjoy tea as much as I do!). We also took a ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway which wound through the streets very close to the houses and shops en route. The zoo wasn’t very large, but we always enjoy seeing animals and they have a successful Red Panda breeding programme there. The zoo complex also houses the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute which has memorabilia from past expeditions on view. The institute runs courses at all levels to encourage people to take up mountaineering as a sport. It wasn’t a physically relaxing holiday; they say “a change is as good as a rest” and it definitely was a change from what we’re used to. There’s so much to see in India it can’t possibly be done in one holiday, but I think for a first visit we got it just right!

20 December 2016

Four and a half hours after we drove off the Eurotunnel at Calais, we arrived in the car park of the Park Plaza Hotel in the ancient German city of Trier. We were there for a three night break, the week before Christmas. Our hotel was really well placed for us to reach all the main areas on foot and there was plenty to see during our stay. The city was originally founded by the Romans in 17BC and they left plenty of evidence of their stay! From the Porta Nigra (Black Gate) which was originally one of four gates into the city, to the Amphitheatre and the Roman Baths. For a small entrance fee, we went inside Porta Nigra and the Amphitheatre and to help us understand what we were viewing we were given a small pamphlet in English. We followed the ‘Tourist Route’, a walking tour around the centre of the city which takes in many of the old and famous buildings and also visited the City Museum which charts the history of Trier. The traditional Christmas market was laid out in the main Market Square and Cathedral Square which is close by. Full of the German Christmas favourites, we enjoyed the traditional Gluwein, Wurst and Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes – my favourite!) The Moselle River forms one of Trier’s city limits and even on an overcast December day we enjoyed a brisk walk along its banks. I can’t think of a better place to start the Christmas festivities, but it would be a stunning city to visit in the summer as well!

12 August 2016

Just over two hours from home and we found ourselves in a beautiful hotel amidst the Somerset countryside. The hotel only has 21 rooms, an outdoor pool and spa facilities (sauna and steam room free of charge and treatments at an additional cost). We made the most of the hotel facilities on our first afternoon as the weather was warm and sunny and enjoyed an evening meal in a local pub. Unusually these days our full breakfast was cooked to order, a major plus in my book. There was plenty of choice included in our room rate, although if you want to push the boat out there were some more indulgent offerings on the menu for a small surcharge. Pastries, fruit and juice were available for us to help ourselves. Although we were a party of adults we visited Longleat which had changed considerably from our last visit. The safari park is available as a self-drive or on a double decker bus (for an extra fee) and there were many animals to see. There are some other animals to see on a short boat journey or walking around the grounds. Longleat House was a little disappointing due to blinds at the windows blocking a fair amount of natural light and only sparse information about the contents and owners. For me the highlight of our trip was the Roman Baths in Bath. When we first entered I thought we would only spend 30 minutes maximum, if we made it last. However we spent nearly two hours exploring the excavated roman baths and the surrounding area. History overload – it was wonderful! There was plenty of written information as you walked around, supporting and adding to the audio guide, which was included in the entry ticket. Bath itself is a beautiful city and we had to stop at the oldest house in the city – Sally Lunns - for an original Bath Bun! All in all a great break, the weather was kind, but the hotel was the star for me!

14 June 2016

Every year we take a ‘girls trip’ to a different European city and this year it was Budapest. I’ve never visited Hungary before, so I felt I was embarking on a real adventure. The flight took just over 2 hours, so it is easily manageable for a long weekend, with a 40 minute transfer into the city. Our hotel was perfectly placed on the Buda side of the River Danube, close to one of the many bridges which gave us great access to the busy, more cosmopolitan Pest. We orientated ourselves with an open top bus tour of the city, taking in many major sites and districts on both sides of the Danube. The weather was glorious, so that was followed by the obligatory cruise on the Danube with English commentary. We visited Buda Castle, set on the side of Castle Hill offering fantastic views over the river to Pest. Originally the seat of former Hungarian Kings it now houses a castle museum and art gallery. You pay for entry to these, however it is free to walk around the outside. Szentendre is a small town approximately 30 minutes outside of the city, known for its many craft and souvenir shops. It’s a really pretty town with cobbled streets, pretty shops and houses. An added bonus is it’s largely traffic free, which made it so much more comfortable to walk around. We visited the Danube Palace one evening to see a Hungarian Folklore Show, where we enjoyed 1½ hours of music and (very energetic) dancing. The dancers wore different costumes for each dance and these were a spectacle in themselves! Budapest is not a huge city and we were able to see everything we wanted to in our 3 days. It is very clean, tidy (streets, hotels, restaurants) and reasonably priced. I did sample Goulash Soup served in a small loaf and it was delicious. Although there was an abundance of Hungarian food, beyond the goulash it wasn’t to my taste, however we were never short of somewhere good to eat. I would thoroughly recommend for a short break if you’re looking for somewhere very reasonable and a little different.

04 April 2016

We began our trip in Singapore for three nights; it was my third visit but it had been 27 years since the last time. I was surprised at how much development has taken place in the intervening years, but it still had the charm I remembered from years ago. With bustling Chinatown and chaotic Little India adding to the general ambience, and of course the obligatory visit to Raffles for a Singapore Sling. Public transport is cheap, reliable and easy to navigate. Since we last visited they have opened a museum dedicated to the occupation of Singapore during WW2; a very interesting but sometimes quite harrowing exhibition. Also new since our last visit are the Gardens by the Bay, two enormous dome structures, one housing plants found in the rain forests and up in the clouds, the other with flowers and plants from all over the world. They’re surrounded by formal gardens which are lovely to walk around to escape the tropical heat. We moved on to Siem Reap in Cambodia for the start of the more formal part of our holiday. We spent two days visiting some of the many Angkor Temples with a dedicated guide. We needed a pass to visit the temples, ours was valid for three days and they were checked each time we visited a different site. Having your own guide is a must as there is a vast amount to see and very little by way of written explanation. Our guide put each of the sites we visited into historical context and explained the layout of the structures and translated the many stories which had been carved into the walls of the buildings. We visited the Angkor Museum whose exhibits had been taken from the surrounding temples, which helped to recap what we had learned whilst visiting the sites. Our visit to Vietnam began in Ho Chi Minh City from where we visited the Cu Chi Tunnels – used during the Vietnam War. They were well presented and very interesting. Ho Chi Minh City was also the starting point for our visit to the Mekong Delta. One of the highlights of our holiday, we sampled some delicious food prepared by a local family (the biggest prawns I have ever seen), had a trip on a small rowing boat on a Mekong River tributary and a larger diesel boat. We saw local fisherman and passed families who spend their lives travelling up and down the river delivering fresh fruit. We visited a coconut processing factory and a brick making factory. We moved on to Hoi An in central Vietnam, a UNESCO world heritage site. A beautiful little town easy navigable on foot, it is also the capital in Vietnam for having clothes made. I had a beautiful dress and top made, ready for the first fitting in less than 24 hours. I also had a pair of sandals tailor made copying a pair I already had. My husband had a buffalo skin overnight bag made and we had two pairs of flip flops made for our children. Probably just as well we only spent three nights in Hoi An, I just couldn’t trust myself not to buy more! Hoi An has some beautiful beaches, we took bikes from the hotel and cycled to have a look. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t good enough for sunbathing while we were there. From here we were driven to Hue the old capital of Vietnam where we visited the Imperial Citadel and tomb of Emperor Tu Doc. We also took a scenic bike ride between huge paddy fields and small villages to the lagoon where we took a small boat weaving in and out of the fish farms to a stilted restaurant where we enjoyed lunch. We left Hue on the overnight train to Hanoi a 13 hour journey arriving at 05:30 the next morning. We had an early check-in at the hotel and following breakfast and a shower we went for a day’s sightseeing around Hanoi, taking in Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, The Temple of Literature and the Ethnology Museum. Our last port of call was to Halong Bay for a junk cruise, a very relaxing way to end a very busy holiday. We had a lovely room with a private balcony, from where we could site and enjoy this beautiful UNESCO world heritage site. It’s impossible to pick a favourite part of the holiday, we have had so many amazing and different experiences. Would I recommend Cambodia and Vietnam for a holiday – you bet!