01 August 2023

When it comes to experiencing unforgettable vacations, cruising has quickly become my go-to choice. The allure of exploring new destinations, indulging in luxury amenities, and being pampered at sea is simply irresistible. After recently discovering the joys of cruising, I am on cloud nine and eager to share my newfound passion with my clients. P&O Iona: The Perfect Introduction My journey into the world of cruising began on the magnificent P&O Iona sailing around the Norwegian Fjords last summer. This state-of-the-art mega-ship left me in awe with its stunning design, exceptional service, and an endless array of entertainment options. From lavish dining experiences to thrilling onboard activities, there was never a dull moment on Iona. Whether I was enjoying a dip in the infinity pool or catching a Broadway-style show, I was constantly in awe of the ship's impressive facilities. One of the highlights of a Norwegian Fjords cruise is the opportunity to witness the famous Geirangerfjord. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its dramatic waterfalls, including the Seven Sisters and the Bridal Veil. As our ship sailed through the fjord, we had plenty of opportunities to snap photos of these cascading wonders. My son is a keen photographer and enjoyed this trip immensely. We loved our cruise so much, we repeated it in May 2023! New to Cruising? Let Me Be Your Guide As a cruise enthusiast, I understand that planning a cruise can be overwhelming, especially for those who are new to this incredible adventure. That's where I come in! I absolutely love helping people plan their cruises, particularly clients who are venturing into the world of cruising for the first time.

12 January 2021

Wow! Where do I begin? As a family, we've stayed at numerous luxury lodges in the UK but this one really was something special. We only went for a short break, but would have happily stayed for much longer. The English Riviera (Brixham, Paignton & Torquay) is our favourite part of the country and somewhere we've visited extensively over the last 35 years! However, this was our first time at this particular lodge. The lodge was set in an exclusive development of 15 lodges in a private area of a country park. Countryside views surround it but you're only 3 miles from the beach too. The lodge we stayed in was clearly very new and the owners had put so much thought into extra special touches that made it a real 'home from home'. The photos really don't do it justice at all! As soon as you walk into the lodge, you can tell it's good quality. A small utility room is the first room you come to, complete with sink, washing machine, cleaning equipment and a little goody bag for any dogs you may have in your party. This is a perfect area to dry dogs off after a muddy (or sandy) walk! The living/dining/kitchen area is open-plan and spacious with a 2 seater sofa, 3 seater sofa and armchair with footstool. The large Smart TV has Amazon Prime and Netflix accounts already on it to enjoy at your leisure plus a DVD player and Wii-U console. Next to the fireplace is a really snuggly dog bed (looked brand new) for your furry friend to enjoy and a chest containing books. The kitchen was well-stocked with two dinner services and two cutlery sets to choose from, numerous pots and pans should you wish to cook and a Nespresso machine for your morning cuppa. The usual suspects of cooker, microwave, hob and dishwasher make this a well kitted out kitchen. There were even additions of foil, cling-film etc. in the drawers. We've often found lodges lack enough cutlery and crockery but this one certainly didn't! The dining table was situated by the patio doors overlooking the expansive countryside views. Stepping out onto the large decking area, the views got even better and we were lucky enough to see an owl on one of our evenings. The hot tub was a lovely touch and used several times. A good patio table and chairs and an area to put disposable BBQ's made this a great family outdoor space. The lodge has two bedrooms but can sleep 6 people as the 2 seater in the lounge is a sofa bed. The master bedroom has a king-size bed (very comfy!) and en-suite shower room with WC and a HUGE walk in wardrobe! Lots of room to hang your clothes plus masses of shelving too. On further inspection, we found binoculars, a good hairdryer, extra fleece blankets, extra cushions, a Dyson plus more crockery! They really have thought of everything! The second bedroom is a twin and has plenty of room (this is where the wi-fi hub was situated, so great for the kids!) with a wardrobe and drawers for storage. Then the main bathroom is just along the corridor. As you can tell, we really liked this lodge and will definitely return soon. The owners have really gone out of their way to make it the perfect countryside retreat. All of the attractions of the English Riviera are on your doorstep too. We visited Brixham, Kingswear, Dartmouth, Torquay and Paignton during our stay. I could go on all day about what the area has to offer, but I'll save that for another blog in the future. If you'd like to stay at this lodge, please ask me for details.

07 January 2021

We loved our stay at the DB Seabank in Malta in February 2020 so I thought I'd share it with you. It's perfect for all ages but particularly families with a kids pool, games room, kids club and a ten-pin bowling alley (we used this a lot!). The food is great quality, they cater really well for food intolerances and even fussy eaters too. There are a number of restaurants included in your All Inclusive. As well as an extensive buffet restaurant, there's a jungle themed American diner, Asian restaurant, Italian, Mediterranean and a Brazilian too! Large pool areas, indoor pool, spa, sports facilities, plentiful entertainment and a sports bar means there's something to keep everyone occupied. Even better is that the family rooms have a separate area for the kids with 'proper' beds (not a sofa bed in sight!). Rooms have air conditioning and ceiling fans too and they are a good size too. We explored most of Malta as we hired a car, but the bus service is fantastic too and you can see most of the island at a very little cost. I wasn't sure what we'd think of Malta as we'd been told it was "just full of churches" but whilst there was an abundance of churches, there was so much more too! Stunning scenery, picturesque quiet bays, areas with nightlife, history and culture galore and really friendly people. Would we go back? Yes, in a heartbeat!

20 February 2016

Our February Half-term short break this year was Lanzarote. It was great to get away from the wind and rain of England and soak up some sun. Our hotel for the break was the 4* Sandos Papagayo Beach Resort in the lovely resort of Playa Blanca. Check in was swift and the staff were friendly and offered a glass of bubbles to start our stay. We'd opted for a Royal Elite room that guaranteed us a sea view, a renovated room and a whole host of extras. Our room didn't disappoint and was lovely and modern with an amazing view. Sweets and chocolates were waiting for our son, a bottle of Cava for us and lots of complimentary toiletries too. The Sandos Papagayo is a large hotel in a beautiful setting and a leisurely stroll takes you to the sophisticated Rubicon Marina with boutiques, restaurants and bars in abundance. Although we did venture out to the marina and a trip to the volcano, we really didn't need to as the hotel has plenty to offer both families and couples. There are adults only areas throughout the hotel including the green bar plus a large pool with bathing area and hot tub. The rest of the hotel is family friendly and includes 2 large pools (one activity and one quieter) and a shallow kids pool too. There are extensive sunbathing terraces offering panoramic views across to Fuerteventura which I liked as it meant you didn't get splashed! Quizzes, Bingo, Archery, Crazy Golf, Tennis and other activities are there to keep you busy during the day but the animation team weren't pushy at all. In the evening, there is low key entertainment in Bar Plaza followed by lively shows by the animation team in the theatre. Other bars throughout the hotel offered pool tables, card tables etc. and plentiful seating areas to chill out. The hotel promises 24 hour all inclusive and it didn't let us down! Alcohol is served until 11pm as per most all inclusive hotels but after this time, there is a snack bar (more like a small restaurant) that offers self-serve soft drinks, hot drinks, beer and wine until 8am!!! The snack bar is open at various times during the daytime too and has hot dogs, burgers, salads, cakes, rice dishes, pasta etc. plus freshly cooked pancakes every afternoon. During the night, the offerings are scaled down slightly but with the addition of a sandwich toaster so you can make your own concoctions! This proved a hit after a few glasses of wine! The main buffet restaurant is large with a lovely sun terrace and offers a multitude of salads, crudités, breads, vegetables, potato options with a paella station and another station offers live cooking of various meat and fish dishes. Yoghurts, Ice-Cream, Cakes, Pastries, Fruit and a couple of different hot puddings make up the dessert counter so it's hard to know what to choose!! Adjoining the main restaurant is the Italian Pizzeria (you can sit in either and have a selection of both restaurants offerings on your plate). The pizzeria is decorated traditionally and offers a buffet of pizzas, pastas and vegetables. The main draw of this restaurant is the freshly cooked pasta station where there are 3 different choices of sauces each night and the chef cooks it in front of you and adds your chosen herbs, seasoning, cream etc. This proved a hit with our family and everyone else we spoke to!! The Fusion restaurant offers speciality dining with Mexican and Oriental nights alternating. These had to be pre-booked but were not limited to the amount of visits during your stay. We tried the Mexican and it was lovely but we never got around to the Oriental as we loved the Pizzeria so much! The Fusion restaurant is also where the Royal Elite guests have their separate breakfast. It is a relaxed and quiet affair with a good continental choice, a large choice of cooked options plus an omelette station where they are made to order. Other facilities at the hotel include a well-equipped gym, Jacuzzis, sauna and hammam. There is also a popular kids club with playground area that is run by the animation team. Our Royal Elite status also gave us access to 2 lounges (one adult only and one family) with self serve premium drinks, snacks, newspapers, computers and the most incredibly comfy sofas to relax on. Also, when drinking in other bars, it gave us access to premium drinks at no extra charge also. The hotel was spotless throughout and the staff were friendly. It's a large hotel that takes a little while to get used to the layout but we really couldn't fault it. We will definitely be back soon!!!

10 September 2015

Having been to Tenerife 3 times previously (2005, 1997 and 1998) I was looking forward to a return visit and seeing how things had changed. I still wasn't prepared for such a big change! Playa de las Americas is known as a lively resort and sometimes a place that people try to avoid due to it's reputation. Yes, there are still nightclubs and bars along the 'strip' known as Veronicas where you can really let your hair down until the very early hours but that is just a small part of a very big resort. We didn't venture to that particular area but passed it in the car (still looks the same as when I was 18!). However, the area around the Parque Santiago complexes has been dramatically transformed to appeal to families and couples looking for a trendy and upmarket area. Miniature golf, Segways, Watersports, Designer Shops, Live Music, Entertainment, Play Areas and fountains adorn the palm lined walkways known as 'The Golden Mile' with the star of the show being the Safari Center. Opposite the Hard Rock Café, the Safari Center has designer shops, cocktail bars and an array of restaurant choices surrounding beautiful fountains that 'perform' in a light and sound show every evening. We had a beautiful Mexican meal in 'Hacienda Miranda' followed by cocktails at 'Harry's Bar' for the ideal spot to watch the show - it's popular though, so go early to get a good spot! During the day, 18 holes of miniature golf followed by a Sangria or two in a pavement café was a lovely way to spend the afternoon. As we're not a beach loving family, we spent several days exploring what the island has to offer. Our car hire allowed us to do what we wanted at a pace that suited us. A trip to Mount Teide was an adventure with lots of winding roads and intense heat. Cameron (my 8 year old) took lots of photos and loved being above the clouds and seeing the lava rock and the stunning scenery. The following day took us to the tropical north side of the island and a visit to the amazing Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz. This was our first visit to the popular zoo and we were blown away by the beautiful grounds, well-kept animals and amazing shows. We saw both the Dolphin and Whale shows and Cameron described them as "Epic!" and they've made family memories to cherish. Flat shoes, lots to drink and sun lotion are a must as it's a long and hot day but well worth it. The zoo was well organized and the pre-booked mobility scooter was appreciated by my Father-in-law. During the middle of our stay we had a wander around Costa Adeje which is at the far end of Playa de las Americas and offers mainly 4* and 5* hotels and very upmarket shops and restaurants with stunning views. On the other end of the scale, we had a brief visit to Los Cristianos but were a little disappointed with the seafront which had derelict buildings on the beach and a slightly 'tacky' promenade area. Siam Park came highly recommended by everyone we spoke to and offers great value for money - waterparks just aren't our thing so we chose not to visit. Our hotel was the 4* Gran Oasis Resort located next to the golf course at the back of Playa de las Americas. It's a good choice for families and has lots to offer with the best choice of food I've seen at an All Inclusive. However, the accommodation was a little dated and the attention to detail on the cleaning was slightly lacking. We had a look around the H10 Conquistador during our stay and really loved it's contemporary interiors and great location - would thoroughly recommend. I'm so glad that we went back to Tenerife and saw so much. It really has changed since our last visit and I'd have no hesitation to recommend Playa de las Americas.

04 March 2015

Having been to the Algarve twice before but not for many years, myself and Graham felt it was time to go back and take Cameron for his first trip there. February isn't hot but it's certainly sunny and far better than the UK! We knew we wanted to stay in Albufeira Old Town as it's one of our favourite areas and we love the restaurants in the Old Town Square. It didn't take us long to decide that Rocamar Exclusive Hotel & Spa was the perfect choice for us. Stunning views, easy walk to the square and funky interiors made it very appealing and we were not disappointed. As it's more of an adults hotel, Cameron felt very grown up at being allowed to stay there and was not concerned at the lack of kids facilities as he knows there are other holidays planned this year with him in mind. We stayed in a Superior Sea View room on a B&B basis and could not have been happier with our room 422. Furnished in a very contemporary style with a cool and calming feel and views to die for, we were very comfortable. As our balcony wasn't overlooked, we were able to leave our curtains open so that we could wake up to a beautiful sunrise every morning - stunning! The hotel is a small boutique style with 88 rooms in total, a lovely spa area, sea view infinity pool, restaurant and bar area. Throughout the hotel there are funky interiors and interesting design touches that make it a really modern but comfortable choice. Once you walk out of the front of the hotel, your eyes are drawn to the fabulous vista in front of you. There are steps or a lift down to the wide, sandy beach where you can take a walk along to the new town area. Alternatively, you can take a walk through the cobbled streets of the Old Town to the main square where you will find lots of lovely restaurants and bars. The streets off the square are like a rabbit warren and each once has shops full of trinkets, souvenirs and specialities. Street performers and live music are not uncommon in the streets of Albufeira Old Town and make it a lovely place to sit and people watch. Sand sculptures are also a big feature on Fishermans Beach. Albufeira also has a new town known as 'The Strip' where you will find a large range of bars, restaurants, shops and a couple of nightclubs. This area is popular but is less traditional than the Old Town but still worth a visit. It's possible to walk between the two towns but is quite a distance so I'd recommend a taxi (around €4 each way) or the land train that takes you around the resort. As we were only on a 4 night break, we didn't venture too far but a trip to Vilamoura Marina is always a must. Top notch restaurants, trendy bars and people watching is the order of the day and of course looking at the beautiful (and very big) yachts. There are some beautiful 4* and 5* hotels in Vilamoura and some equally stunning golf courses catering for varying abilities. Just outside of Albufeira is Guia which is home to many of the villas in the area and also home to Piri Piri Chicken! A large shopping centre with food court and cinema is also situated in Guia plus a vineyard that you can take a guided tour around. The Algarve has lots to offer both families and couples and is one of my favourite places in Europe. Rocamar Exclusive is a beautiful hotel that I'd thoroughly recommend to couples who like stunning views, quirky interiors, nice restaurants nearby and relaxation. I'd definitely recommend upgrading to a Superior Sea View room as they are more spacious, individually designed and the views are worth the supplement! Although the hotel offers Half Board, I would recommend doing B&B as there are so many nearby restaurants to choose from.

04 March 2015

When you tell people that you are going to Butlins for your holiday, you see the look on their face and you know they have visions of people packed in like sardines and something out of Hi-de-Hi. How wrong they are! We first visited Butlins in 2011 when our son, Cameron was 4 years old as we knew he'd love the term-time break that specifically caters for under 5's with entertainment such as Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder, Barney etc. We chose Bognor Regis resort as we liked the look of the Shoreline Hotel which again is more for families with younger children. We knew Cameron would enjoy it but what we didn't expect was to enjoy it so much ourselves! In 2012 we went back to Bognor Regis resort and chose the funky Ocean Hotel that caters for younger and older children alike. Again, we were blown away by the lovely hotel, fabulous entertainment and general facilities and knew we'd be back one day. When the third hotel The Wave opened at Butlins Bognor Regis we knew we'd love it but as Cameron was now a bit older we'd need to go in school holidays so that the entertainment was age appropriate. So we booked The Wave for Easter 2014 for 7 nights. As we were going for a full week this time, we chose a 2 bedroom apartment within the hotel and upgraded to a high floor with sea view. On walking into our apartment on the 6th floor we were blown away by the size of it! A massive hallway with lots of storage led to a smart bathroom with colour change shower. Next to it, a twin bedroom with views over the park, a flat screen tv, hairdryer and lots of personality followed by our room with Kingsize bed (very comfy!), flatscreen tv, another hairdryer and a balcony which went around the corner of the hotel and was also accessible from the living room. The open-plan lounge included a dining area and small but bright kitchen with all the mod cons and even a miniature dishwasher. The lounge area looked out over the park and the sea and although we were in a central position, the room was incredibly peaceful. A large corner sofa and an aquarium theme made it family friendly. A massive benefit with the apartment was the individually controlled air-conditioning in each room so the children's bedroom can be a different temperature to the adult bedroom and lounge etc. making sure everyone is comfortable. On previous years we'd done the dining plan but this year we'd decided to opt for self catering. This didn't mean I did the cooking (although it was well equipped if you wish to), but that we ate in various places both on and off site. On site there are restaurants within the Shoreline and Ocean Hotels, an onsite pub with beer garden, a pizza/pasta restaurant, Turners restaurant (for a more upmarket feel) plus Burger King and a whole host of other snack bars. An American Diner was being built while we were there and looks set to be popular. A new addition this year was the ice-cream parlour which was certainly a hit with us. All the usual activities such as the huge Splash Waterworld complex, crazy golf, go-karts, bowling, fairground, climbing wall, zorbing, football coaching, archery, fencing etc. were on offer plus extra Easter activities. We enjoyed the springtime farmyard with lots of animals to pet and learn about plus the Easter Egg hunt around the resort. Even though the resort was at capacity while we were there, it never felt over crowded (something I'd been concerned about with visiting in School Holidays). We got to see all of the shows that we wanted to and take part in all of the activities too. The popular shows did generate queues but we'd bought Fast-passes in advance (highly recommended) so we just walked straight into each venue before the doors opened to the rest of the holiday makers. In school holidays the entertainment goes up a gear and caters for all ages. The only problem is deciding which shows to see as there are so many to choose from in varying venues. We loved seeing TV favourites Dick & Dom so much that we went back later in the week and watched their show again! Titan the Robot, Scooby Doo Show, Wrestling, Pantomime, 3D Animal show, Olly Murs Tribute, Robbie Williams Tribute, comedians and bands were all of the entertainment we managed to fit in and there was much more than that available! The Bob the Builder shows etc. were still on for the younger guests by 7 year old Cameron is now "much too old for that" although I did see him sneaking a look as we walked past one of the shows! Thoughtful touches such as deckchairs and picnic blankets around the resorts well tended gardens make it possible to have a family picnic whenever you wish. Happy, friendly staff on hand to help with whatever you need: Bicycle hire, character breakfasts, spa day at the Ocean hotel - it's all possible! Our hotel was a delight to stay in and offered a peaceful haven after a day of activities and entertainment. The on-site Soho Café bar at Wave Hotel offers snacks, coffees, soft drinks and cocktails and is a great place to sit and watch the world go by while the kids play on Wii, Xbox, Nintendo DS and a whole host of other technical wonders in the games zone. Easter was made all that more special with complimentary Easter Bunny food to leave outside our door plus an Easter Egg left in its place the next morning. Yes, Butlins is full on fun and exhausting at times but it's also home to modern, clean hotels at a high standard, an array of dining choices, entertainment galore and happy kids! What more could a family want out of their UK holiday. I'm passionate about Butlins (and UK holidays in general) so if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me and I'll gladly talk you to death!!!

21 May 2013

From the moment we stepped off the plane at Larnaca airport, we knew we were in for a scorcher of a holiday. A mini heat wave had hit Cyprus and temperatures were soaring to 35 degrees! Very hot for the beginning of May! After a short drive in our hire car, we reached the outskirts of Nissi Beach and our hotel for the next 4 nights; Olympic Lagoon Resort. We were greeted by friendly staff that whisked us to our room in a golf buggy. Our room was a junior suite with pool view. The suite was quiet, comfortable, had lovely views and a separate area for our six year old son that was partitioned by sliding doors. For the next four days we explored 3 of the 7 pools (some were adult only) and we all decided the lazy river was our favourite! The lazy river was very peaceful and meandered past gorgeous gardens, the adult only Fisherman’s Village accommodation and the wedding venue. The five restaurants served a variety of food from Japanese, Cypriot Meze, buffet and snacks to our favourite; the 50's style rock n roll diner. During our trip I was keen to see some wedding venues as this is one of my specialist areas. Our own hotel, The Olympic Lagoon had a number of options with my favourite being the Olympian Gardens. This is a semi-private tropical garden area complete with pond, cave and bridge and the reception area Watermill Square was equally stunning. I also visited Nissi Beach Hotel and Dome Beach in the Ayia Napa area. As we explored the local area, we found the beautiful Konnos Bay. Stunning views from the cliff top and a lovely beach down below makes it a popular spot and I could see why. The 5* Grecian Park Hotel overlooks Konnos Bay and into the distance, Cape Greco. On day four we started our road trip to Paphos. On our way we stopped by at the popular Elias Beach Hotel in Limassol for a guided tour. As it was Easter Sunday in Cyprus, the hotel was hosting a special BBQ for lunch which looked very inviting! As Elias Beach is one of my most popular wedding hotels, it was great to see the stunning Sunset Pier in real life. It didn't disappoint and was just like the brochure. From Limassol we carried on to Paphos and the Alexander the Great Hotel which was to be our home for the next three nights. The hotel has only just recently re-opened after a major refurbishment. As we entered reception we were thrilled by the breath-taking view in front of us. The hotel staff immediately relieved us of our bags, brought us cold drinks and welcomed us. We made our way to the restaurant for a spot of lunch before checking into our room. Cypriot dancers performed while we ate (a special Easter treat). The choice of food was good and the waiters extremely helpful. After lunch we made our way to room 001. Wow! We'd been allocated a superior sea view room with beautiful views across the sea to Paphos harbour and castle. The room was spacious, beautifully designed with a smart TV, large bed, seating area, stylish fixtures and fittings and a huge bed – the comfiest I've ever slept in. A rain shower, music system and a window to the bedroom gave the bathroom the wow factor too. During our three nights at Alexander we couldn't have asked for better service and with one of the best positions in Paphos, we really couldn't fault it. A few steps from the pool is the promenade that leads to Paphos harbour and only 5 minutes’ walk from the hotel. A trip to Adonis Baths made for an interesting morning - thank goodness for our 4x4 hire car! The roads are dusty and very bumpy and steep. Lizards often run along the roads in front of you and our son compared the scenery to Africa in places. The small museum and beautiful waterfalls were worth the bumpy drive though! While in Paphos (on my quest to see wedding venues but still have a holiday too), we visited Athena Beach Hotel, three wedding yachts and were also lucky enough to see a wedding take place in our own hotel which was beautiful. While in Paphos we would have loved to have visited Paphos Zoo but the heat wave had gotten the better of us and we just couldn't contemplate walking around. Maybe next time...