01 March 2019

MS Thomas Hardy. 16-21st December 2018 I had such a lovely time last year on my Godship, MS Thomas Hardy that I decided to do it again! This time, we flew to Budapest for a trip along the Danube, taking in Bratislava, Vienna and more of Budapest along the way. In the early evening on the 16th we boarded the ship, had a smooth check in to our cabin and then went off to dinner. It was so lovely to see lots of familiar faces from last year! Food on board is fantastic, offering guests a good selection of well-presented culinary delights. As for the staff, they cannot do enough for you and are part of the delight onboard MS Thomas Hardy! On our first morning we were given a wonderful city tour of Budapest, concluding with a stop at the spectacular castle on the hill offering the best views of the city. It was bitterly cold being -5, complete with snow on the ground. After a walk around the castle grounds, the frosty weather drew us back on the ship. Just in time for lunch at the Bistro, fed and watered we were ready to set sail for Bratislava. Arriving at our next destination when we woke, we were greeted with a delicious breakfast. After our nourishment, we set off on a Noddy train to do a city tour of Bratislava. The temperature had gone up to 1, so it was a bit more comfortable to walk around in. It was a lovely, small city, with some interesting buildings. We went into a quaint tea shop, which was very ornately decorated. The Christmas markets were sadly disappointing I thought, as there was more food and drink on offer than crafts. Nevertheless, we did try some traditional street food and were pleasantly surprised. It was at this juncture that we then got back on board for a little rest, before getting ready for happy hour followed by another sumptuous meal while departing for Vienna during the evening. Excited for the day ahead, we were up early the next morning for a city tour by bus and foot. During our free time, we went to a lovely cafe for coffee and apple strudel! We then went to the Christmas markets. These were my favourite markets of our trip because there was lots to browse and buy. Lovely glühwein. The city of Vienna is simply beautiful with its stunning architecture and endless activities. Another cold day saw us sheltering from the biting wind back on board to get ready for the evening entertainment of a wonderful string quartet. We set sail just after 10pm and arrived back in Budapest around 2.30pm the next afternoon. Lucky enough to have some more free time to explore the Christmas markets there. They were very different to Vienna, more Bohemian! Bigger and better than Bratislava, but not as classic as Vienna. We also found Hard Rock Cafe Budapest, so popped in for a drink there! The last night on board was the Captain’s dinner, where we as guests were introduced to all the wonderful crew. The meal was amazing and finished off with a ceremony around the Baked Alaska! On the last morning we had a bit of time to fill before our flight, so we walked along the river front to find ‘The Shoes’. A very sombre and moving memorial honouring the Jewish victims killed by the fascist militia, Arrow Cross during WWII along the banks of the Danube. All in all, another very successful cruise! We will be back!

07 July 2017

I have just returned from an amazing FAM trip to Marrakech, flying from Luton with Ryanair. It was a great flight, complete with lovely crew, who ensured that we arrived on time. The pilot was even kind enough to allow me to photograph my TC Ted in the cockpit! Marrakech airport is very clean and modern, although it is quite disorganised when going through customs. This is due in part to the need to fill out boarding cards on arrival and departure. The Club Med is a stunning resort with low rise accommodation, which is about a 20-minute drive from the airport. The rooms were adequate in size, the beds were comfortable and there was a large sofa, which could convert into a bed if required. The room featured traditional and exotic Moroccan style, with vibrant coloured walls and flooring. There was a large walk in shower with a hairdryer and 2 full sized wardrobes with plenty of hangers. The Club room which I stayed in came with a small terrace and a flat screen TV. The Deluxe rooms have a small seating area, a fridge and tea and coffee making facilities, bathrobes and slippers. Interconnecting rooms can be guaranteed here. The gardens around the resort were beautiful, fragrant and well kept. The staff were very friendly and extremely helpful. The language spoken in Marrakech is predominantly French. However, most of the staff spoke English, so there was no issue in being understood. While the entertainment was in French, I was told if there is a high number of English speaking guests staying that both languages would be reflected. There were lots if activities to take part in if you so wish such as; tennis, golf, horse riding and archery. Plenty to do for those who like to keep fit while on holiday including Zumba and Pilates classes. For the daredevils, there is even juggling classes or the flying trapeze! You are not forced to do anything; you can do as little or as much as you please. I decided to try Pitch and Put. I wasn’t very good at it but really enjoyed playing. I laughed all the way around the course! All the activities and lessons are included in the price. There is also a gorgeous spa available but you do have to pay for treatments. Sadly, I didn’t get a chance to sample any of these this trip. Every evening there is a theme night. For example, Monday was Blue and White night. It is not compulsory, but lots of people like to join in. Wednesday was our last night and it was White night. They held a massive garden party, with jugglers, dancers and a band! Barbeque food was served and it was fantastic! The Club Med resort is ideal for families. The Kids Club ranges from 4 months up to 16, complete with plenty of trained staff for the little ones. You don't even notice the children on the resort, they are kept so well occupied! This is an all-inclusive resort. The main restaurant on site is buffet style, serving a vast array of well-presented, delicious and satisfying cuisines. There is also an A La Carte specialty restaurant which serves a traditional 4 course Moroccan meal, for those who wish to sample the local delicacies. The main pool is huge and built in an unusual shape. It is quite lively around mid-morning! However, if you’re looking for a more secluded and quieter swimming and lounging experience, there is the gorgeously tranquil Zen pool. Whilst lying in this pool area, the staff come round with water, juice and fruit during the day. Both pools have very comfortable, padded sun loungers to soak up some sweet Moroccan rays. There is a separate deluxe area called the Riad. The rooms are all suites and come with concierge service. They have a separate pool and dining area but of course, guests can use the facilities in the rest of the resort as their whim. The weather was very good, although maybe a little too hot for me. I think I would avoid it in July and August as the temperatures reach over 50 degrees! Club Med resorts are worldwide and all have the same concept - lots to do and the most amazing atmosphere. I would definitely recommend them!

06 March 2017

This February I was excited and honoured to be chosen to be Godmother to Riviera Travel’s new river cruise ship - the MS Thomas Hardy. When the big day arrived, I was flown to Amsterdam for the naming ceremony, arriving around 9.30am. There were a number of other agents and travel press at the meeting point. We were then taken by coach to the port. There were two ships to be christened that day - the MS Thomas Hardy and the MS Emily Bronte. They were floating proudly together. The christening festivities were being performed on the Emily Bronte. We walked up the red carpet and were shown into the lounge. After a welcoming drink, I was given a tour around the Emily Bronte. She is beautiful; the cabins are a good size, very comfortable and offer everything you need. There is even a small spa and gym on the lowest deck! There are 2 restaurants - a larger à la carte and a bistro bar. Both ships have exactly the same layout, but the decors are a different colour. I am a bit biased and prefer the MS Thomas Hardy. At midday, we sat down for a lovely lunch. Smoked salmon, beef tea, rack of lamb and crème brûlée - it was amazing and just melted in your mouth! After lunch, we had speeches followed by the cutting of the ribbon and actual naming ceremony. I had to say my speech in German. It all went well and both champagne bottles smashed! Fortunately, it was a nice sunny day, although a little bit windy. The chefs had made a fantastic cake. Christina (the other godmother) and I cut the cake, which we then enjoyed with a glass of champagne. Christina and I were presented with a bouquet of flowers, a Thomas Sabo pendant in the shape of an anchor, and the scissors we used to cut the ribbon. The scissors are inscribed with the name of the ship. We then had a look around the MS Thomas Hardy. The colour scheme is brown, beige and burgundy - very warm and inviting. I’m really looking forward to sailing on the MS Thomas Hardy in December. I had booked my trip along the Rhine visiting the Christmas Markets before I knew I was going to be the Godmother. I will feel so proud to show ‘my ship’ to my husband and friends!

09 March 2016

Iceland is a small volcanic country in the North Atlantic Ocean. There are only 331,000 inhabitants. The towns are mainly around the coastlines, as the centre of the country is inhabitable. It is mountainous and covered in lava and moss. Reykjavik is the capital, it is relatively small with 122,000 inhabitants. People go to Iceland to see the Northern lights, Blue Lagoon and The Golden Circle. We arrived on Friday morning. The journey from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik took around 45 minutes. The landscape between the two is rugged and bland- miles of dark grey lava and moss. We stayed at the Reykjavik Centrum, a small, traditional hotel in the centre of Reykjavik. It has 89 rooms. The rooms are compact, clean and modern with a small shower room. The breakfast was quite basic. There is a small bar, which sells lunch and evening meals and a full restaurant. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The hotel was in an ideal position. Very near to the harbour. There were numerous varsity and restaurants nearby. The trip to the Norther Lights was on. The forecast was reasonable. We set off on an hours trip to find the best location and waited. The sky was clear and there was an abundance of beautiful stars. We waited and waited........alas, the lights did NOT come out to play! The tour company say if you don't see the lights the first time, you can keep going until you do see them. This promise lasts for up to 2 years! Saturday morning, we set off on a trip to the Blue Lagoon. This is one of the 25 Wonders of the World. It is not far from the airport. As we got close to the lagoon, we saw the steam rising and lots of chalky blue pools at the roadside and were engulfed by a strong smell of sulphur! As, we got to the entrance, the awful smell subsided. The lagoon itself is amazing. It is very well run, and they offer various different packages including towel and bathrobe hire. There is a spa and massages available. There is a bar at the side of the lagoon, and you purchase drinks by scanning an armband. There is also a lovely restaurant onsite called the Lava. The water in the lagoon is around 38degrees. Once you are in, you really don't want to get out!! There are face masks at the side for everyone to try, full of properties to make your skin look younger. We stayed in the lagoon for over 3 hours and felt thoroughly chilled. In the evening, we decide to go out for a nice meal. Note make sure you pre book a restaurant. There was 6 of us and we struggled to get a table. Saturday evenings are extremely busy! Another note food and drink is quite expensive, so be prepared for this. A beer is around £7. A glass of wine is around £11. A meal (1course) is around £20-£30. Whale is one of the local delicacies and tastes pretty good. Fish and chips are really good and very light in texture, not like the stodgy we get in the UK. The Northern lights trip for Saturday night was cancelled due to bad weather! On Sunday we did the all day tour to the Golden Circle. We had woken up to to thick snow. The journey was picturesque! Beautiful snow covered mountains, it looked like a Christmas card. First we visited a glacier, beautiful views and a small church in the distance. Then on to the Golden falls. They were truly spectacular! We went to the restaurant next to the falls, where we enjoyed Icelandic lamb soup, it was yummy! Next we went on to see the Geysirs . By now it was bright and sunny with gorgeous blue skies. We had fun dodging the exploding Geysirs! We also visited a beautiful church and a horse farm. The guide told us the Northern lights trip would be on, so we attempted to book it though the guide and by phoning the depot ourselves. To no avail, it was fully booked. Note: book it every day in the morning, if you miss it and hopefully you will get to go! We were due home early Monday morning. Seeing the lights would have been the icing on the cake. We will just have to come back another time........an amazing weekend!

22 February 2016

Our choice of holiday for September 2015 was Bali. As it is a long way to travel, we decided to break up the outbound journey by stopping in Hong Kong for 2 nights. We flew with Cathay Pacific and stayed at the Harbour Grand Kowloon in Hong Kong. The Harbour Grand is a large modern hotel with a fantastic roof top pool and stunning views of the harbour. We spent 2 jam-packed days sightseeing in bustling HK including a trip to the Peak, going up to the top on a tram. We then flew on to Bali. Our first stop was for 5 nights at the Royal Beach Seminyak hotel in Seminyak. A beautiful, typical Balinese hotel set directly on the beach. The rooms were large and clean and received fantastic service there. This is one of the best beaches for watching the stunning sunsets! The Balinese are very artistic; they are in to wood carving, stone carving, painting and silverware. We went on a day tour where we looked at the various arts and visited a temple. Our next 2 nights were spent at the Villa Mandi in Ubud; this was a small basic property overlooking the paddy fields. Whilst we were there, we visited the Elephant Safari Lodge: what an amazing experience! You can actually stay at this lodge and spend time interacting with the elephants. We then went into Ubud village where it was very cheap to eat- 2 course meal and drinks for around £10pp. Our last 3 nights were spent at the Mulia Resort in Nusa Dua. Wow! One of the most exquisite hotels I have ever stayed in. The rooms, service, grounds, staff and food were all amazing. This was topped off by the picturesque sunrises! We never left the hotel grounds until we returned home. This is truly a beautiful place to visit, the only downside is the long journey.

15 July 2015

I have just returned from an amazing Educational trip to Barbados. Barbados is 21 miles long and a smile wide! We flew in World Traveler Plus with British Airways. The journey took around 8 hours. We were met at the airport with a Bajan band and dancers! The flights were good both ways, with excellent service and food on board. We spent the first 2 nights at theTamarind hotel on the West coast. It’s a lovely property with 104 rooms, 3 restaurants and 3 swimming pools. The rooms were a good size, and the food was great and varied. This hotel overlooks the beautiful beach and calm Caribbean Sea. It has a typical Caribbean feel and is ideal for couples and families. The last 3 nights were spent at the Turtle Beach hotel, another Elegant hotel resort. This offers an all- inclusive option and is in St Lawrence Gap on the south, west coast. All the rooms are Junior Suites. This is a larger more modern resort and more lively. The sea is a bit more choppy on this coast. Again, ideal for couples and families, this hotel was more lively than the Tamarind. This hotel has 161 rooms and 3 restaurants. During our stay, we looked at 19 different hotels, ranging from 2 star self-catering to the amazing 5 star luxurious Sandy Lane! We looked at various areas of the island and experienced some of the nightlife. It’s very safe and great to get out and meet the locals. The west coast has the best beaches and more opulent hotels. Whereas, the south coast is more lively. There really is something to suit all budgets. We also went on some excursions, including Harrison’s Caves, Go kart racing, the Mount Gay Rum factory, Harbour Lights Beach Party and a Sunset Cruise. We even went to a cricket match, which was very entertaining! Barbados is a beautiful island, it is warm year round and I would definitely recommend it.

28 October 2014

I have just spent an amazing week at Neilson’s Messini Beach club in the quiet and secluded southern Peleponnese area of Greece. I flew British Airways direct from Heathrow to Kalamata, which has a generous baggage allowance, ideal if you are taking any sports equipment with you. It’s only a short 20 minute transfer to the resort, perfect for families with young children. I arrived around 2.30pm and after a quick lunch I checked into my room. The hotel allocated me a standard twin room, which I found to be bright, airy and spacious. The resort had a modern contemporary feel to it, which had a nice ambience to it. There is plenty of open space around the resort that you can explore, or take a walk along the beautiful beach for a spot of exercise, or to just take in the lovely views. The hotel runs a bus to nearby Kalamata. Or you can visit the Dyros Caves or the Poliliminio Waterfalls. There are a few tavernas within walking distance, if you want to try the local cuisine. There was a host of activities to sign up to, and I mainly signed up for tennis and fitness classes. The fitness classes included Boxercise, Yoga, Zumba, Body conditioning, Tabata (high intensity training, not for the faint hearted), Legs, bums and tums and even an 80’s dance class, would you believe! There were various levels of cycling routes, jogging and walking. The water sports included Dingy sailing, Hobie Cats, Kayaking, Paddle Boarding, Wake boarding and Water skiing. The complex also has a huge 50m swimming pool, which is great for doing lengths or Aqua Aerobics! All the activities are included in the cost of the holiday, which is a definite added bonus. There is also a lovely spa- great for pampering, or a nice massage, after taking part in all the activities. The resort is great for families and they have a kids club, which caters for children from 4 months up to 17 years. They have trained nannies for the babies from 4-22 months, and have a staff ratio of 1-2, but this club does carry an additional cost. All the other clubs are free, apart from a specialist group, the Hotshots (8-13 year olds), where they can gain sailing qualifications. The meal basis at the resort is called Club board, which includes 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 4 evening meals. On the non- inclusive evenings, they do a themed night, which you can pay extra for, or you can go out and try a local taverna in the town. They do this, so the local tavernas/ restaurants are not getting put out of business by the all-inclusive concept. The food in the restaurant is buffet style. There is a great variety and it changes daily. There is also light hearted entertainment, like karaoke and Messini’s Got Talent! There is no pressure to join in the activities on-site and as Neilson’s slogan states ‘You can relax as hard as you like!’ Great choice for families and not one ‘Mum, Dad I’m bored!’ There really is something for everyone, so if you fancy it, give me a call...