17 August 2022

I’ve never been to the South of France before so when I got the chance to spend a few days in Nice I jumped at the chance. Fast track at Gatwick (would definitely recommend – only £5) and hand luggage made for a very smooth airport experience so in no time at all I had arrived! I was staying just outside the City – in Cagnes Sur Mer which is a pretty sea front village a with a small centre with a lovely market, but is mostly known for Haut de Cagnes where old narrow lanes and steps lead up to the Castle. The beauty of this part of France is it’s very easy to get around on an extremely efficient, clean and beautifully air conditioned train, reasonably priced and very reliable, so firstly I made the short journey to the very pretty walled town of Antibes. It has a lovely relaxed feel about it, with the impressive superyacht port, and lots of narrow cobbled streets leading to lots of cafes, bars, restaurants, shops and ice cream parlours. The train also took me to the oh so glamorous Monte Carlo, with its world famous Casino, designer shops, top hotels and marina, and of course I had to do the touristy thing and have a glass of champagne in the Café de Paris! My bank account didn't thank me :) The last stop before you get to Italy is the truly wonderful town of Menton. Perhaps not as well known as some of the more glitzy resorts of this beautiful coast, but in my opinion it’s simply fabulous. The main town centre leads to the older town, with traditional villas with terracotta roofs, lovely beaches and lemon gardens. You can climb the winding cobbled streets up to the Cathedral, passing pretty coloured houses and stunning villas. I thoroughly enjoyed my few days in France, everything from the food, to the beaches, traditional authentic old towns rubbing alongside glitz and glamour. I would 100% recommend for either a short stay – you can get lots done in a few days – or for a more relaxing longer break. Au Revoir!

06 December 2018

It’s been many years since I last visited Italy, so when the opportunity came for a quick visit I obviously jumped at the chance. First stop Milan. Only an hour and a half from London and a night at the stylish and elegant Rosa Grand Hotel. You cannot get a better location in the city, strolling distance from the imposing Duomo Cathedral – some of the rooms have a view of the beautiful romantic spires – and a stone’s throw from the fashion district with its plentiful chic boutiques, stylish bars and restaurants. A short taxi ride away took me to the hip Navigli district, which is centred around two canals and home to an astonishing number of bars, cafes, shops, musicians, street art, and lots of people. It’s a really great place to spend a few hours – especially if it’s a sunny day! I thoroughly loved Milan – the architecture, the food, the shops, the museums. I cannot wait to visit again. Next was a drive up to Lake Como, though I wasn’t quite prepared for its beauty. I can’t remember saying ‘wow’ quite so many times in one day before! Walking into the Grand Hotel Tremezzo was breath-taking. From the second you arrive, the elegance and warmth and attention to detail just blew me away. From the most beautiful restaurant with stunning views overlooking the lake, to the floating pool, the gardens, and the wonderful spa, this traditional, authentic hotel is very special. The hotel is located across the lake from the extremely pretty town of Bellagio which is easily accessed by boat. Narrow lanes with traditional shops varying from designer boutiques to artisan shops, and the most wonderful restaurants with amazing Italian cuisine and locally produced wine. Lake Como is just simply a truly beautiful, wonderful place – there really aren’t enough superlatives to do it justice and teaming it with a couple of nights in Milan is a great combination.

21 November 2017

It had been on my bucket list to go to Jamaica for a long time, so I jumped at the opportunity for a quick five-night break to look at some of the island’s most luxurious hotels and to see what the island had to offer. My only regret is I haven’t visited before! The first thing I noticed, even before leaving the airport, is the genuine warmth and happiness from the Jamaican people. I honestly don’t think I met a grumpy Jamaican the whole time I was there! My first stay was at the beautiful 110-acre Round Hill Estate, which comprises luxurious private villas and stunning beachfront hotel rooms. There is a spa (I can recommend the hot stone massage), and a lovely kids club with activities for children from the age of three. The food was delicious, and I tasted my first goat curry! A visit to Mystic Mountain en route to Ocho Rios was terrifying/thrilling in equal measures. This tropical jungle is home to the sky explorer (that was the terrifying bit), a chairlift taking you 700 feet above the rainforest. I’m petrified of heights, but at the top the reward is a nature trail, waterslide and pool, and a hummingbird garden, and the most exhilarating bob sled adventure; an attraction inspired by the Jamaican bob sled Olympic effort. With my already wobbly legs I was strapped into a sled and hurtled down a 1000 metre track built into the side of the mountain – solely powered by gravity. Totally exhilarating! There is also a zip line but luckily for me I didn’t have time to try it! Jamaica Inn was the next beautiful hotel, a boutique colonial hotel which has belonged to the Morrow family for more than 50 years. Marilyn Monroe honeymooned here, and Winston Churchill visited (there is a suite named after him). It’s situated on a beautiful sandy beach, and the award-winning spa has the most beautiful treatment rooms overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The food was sublime, and a taster menu gave me the chance to sample more of the fantastic Jamaican cuisine. I was also lucky to spend the afternoon and evening at Goldeneye Resort, a truly fabulous place and where Ian Fleming wrote his James Bond novels. There are villas on a lagoon, cottages and new beach huts. It has such a relaxed cool vibe I didn’t want to leave! A visit to Scotchies to sample authentic jerk chicken, washed down with a Red Stripe was another highlight. It’s very popular with tourists but the locals eat there too which always speaks for itself. Nando’s just won’t seem the same again! A night in Half Moon, set on two miles of beautiful beach was my last stop. This has something for everybody, with villas, suites and plenty going on. There is a fantastic gym with classes, kids village and teen centre, spa, golf, and the most wonderful fine dining restaurant, Sugar Mill, where I was lucky enough to have a six course tasting menu cooked by former chef to our Royal Family, John Higgins. Jamaica really is a special place – it’s very beautiful. The scenery is stunning, the food is amazing – whether eating the most delicious fresh fruit, fine dining, or a chicken wrap at Scotchies. The people are warm, friendly and fun. There is so much to do. I hope to make it to Bob Marley’s house, Dunn’s River Falls, and Rose Hall next time I visit.

11 October 2017

We fancied a quick break without the kids…we wanted a short flight, a city with things to do, small enough to walk around without having to take cabs or public transport - and decided on Madrid where neither myself or hubby had been before. My only regret is I waited so long to visit this beautiful city. We stayed at the Melia Princesa Madrid, and upgraded to their ‘The Level’ room grade. This meant we were able to enjoy a quick check in at their dedicated desk (whilst enjoying a lovely cold Cava), and by the time we got to our room our bags were being delivered. The lounge is open until 11pm and breakfast is served here, and complimentary tapas, coffee, soft drinks, and alcohol are available all day long. Our room was beautiful with a huge very comfy bed, large bathroom, plenty of wardrobe and storage space and a view towards the city. The hotel is about a 10-15 minute wander into the centre of the town – along Gran Via which is the main road into Madrid, and a very pleasant stroll past shops, restaurants, Cervantes Square with fountains and a beautiful statue of Don Quixote (they are very fond of fountains in Madrid we discovered!). We were only there for 3 days but enjoyed visits to Plaza Mayor – a delightful square with cafes/restaurants/street entertainers, a perfect place to enjoy a cerveza and people watch; San Miguel market which (after my husband’s initial disappointment that it wasn’t a market devoted to San Miguel beer) is the most amazing food hall – beautiful fresh tapas, with all types of fish/seafood/meats/breads/cheeses. We were there on a Saturday and it was really busy but with a fabulous relaxed vibe with people sitting or standing around enjoying the food and drink. Not being that knowledgeable about art meant I wasn’t massively excited about visiting the Prado museum but I’m so glad we went. €15 each to get in was reasonable, and after a little aimless wondering around we decided to use the guide provided and go and visit the ‘masterpieces’ on show. Wow – I’m a convert – I loved it! It was quite late in the day when we got to the Royal Palace, and we nearly didn’t go, but I was pleased we did….it’s the most stunning building, and the street ‘busker’ was a lovely old Spanish guy playing the harp which added to the serene beauty of the Palace. The couple of hours spare we had before our flight home meant we had time to visit the Parque del Buen Retiro which is a huge park in the heart of the city. A monument to King Alfonso XII is the focal point and sits behind a large lake where you can hire a boat (we didn’t – it looked like hard work and it was very hot!). I would have loved to have more time to spend in this beautiful city and will definitely return.