04 July 2023

In March I was invited to visit ParkLane so I could showcase the hotel to potential clients. The hotel is in Limassol and the nearest airport to the hotel is Larnaca, which is about a 30-minute transfer. I chose to fly into Paphos as the flight times were more suitable for me. The transfer was only an hour from Paphos. I hadn’t been to Cyprus for a while and forgot how beautiful the landscape is. ParkLane doesn’t disappoint upon arrival. The foyer is grand and smells delightful, the staff are welcoming. I was handed a refreshing cool towel and glass of bubbles. The lobby area is large and has a beautiful terrace with chilled music playing. The funky seating and cabanas are the perfect place to sit and enjoy the views overlooking the hotel’s pretty grounds and sea front. First impressions were very good, and I was excited to spend a few nights here. Hotels overview: Park lane has 222 Rooms, 34 Suites, 18 Villas. I stayed in a superior Sea view room which was stunning. I would honestly say it was the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in and it was huge! The shower was incredible with seating area, rain shower and spa facilities. The room was beautiful. I wasn’t disappointed. I also viewed a 2-bedroom villa with pool & The Amphora Suite which is a one-bedroom top floor suite with infinity pool – this suite has the WOW factor. Perfect for a special occasion or a romantic break away. I loved the villa also and is perfect for families that want hotel facilities but the privacy and peace from your own villa. There are 6 Iconic Restaurants. I dined at Lanes for breakfast and lunch. This is the ‘buffet’ restaurant. This is the most luxurious buffet you will ever eat in. The show cooking was fabulous and there was the most delicious array of pastries, fresh fruits, cereals, Mediterranean selection and just about anything you could wish for. The lunch at Lanes was a choice from a menu and oh my gosh the lunch was delicious. I had the most amazing calamari salad, highly recommend. I also had the BEST meal I have ever eaten at LPM. LPM is French Mediterranean inspired restaurant. You can treat yourself to sophisticated Cocktails and enjoy the trendy vibe, its bustling with such a lovely atmosphere. I had a meal fit for a queen; I couldn’t count how many courses we had but trust me when I say it was incredible. You must make a reservation to dine here as its so popular. Even if you don’t stay at Park Lane, you can book a reservation to dine here. There are 4 stunning Swimming Pools (3 Outdoor, 1 indoor). You know you are at a decent hotel when there are comfy sunlounges to snooze on. Travelling in March I wasn’t expecting to have the opportunity to relax by the pool in the sunshine, however I was very lucky with the weather and on Mother’s Day I felt like I had won the lottery being waited on relaxing in the sunshine by the pool. What a treat! If you are like me and like to use the gym whilst away, you won’t be disappointed with this one. The State-of-the-art gym has everything you would need. There are plenty of cardio machines, free weights, and machines. They also have a studio where they run classes. You can book PT if you wish. Of course, whilst visiting a luxury hotel you must try out the spa. Kalloni Spa is stunning. 3,000m² Spa with two outdoor and three indoor thalassotherapy seawater pools that mimic the Dead Sea, as well as 14 treatment rooms. They also have the most amazing Kids club. ‘Park Kidz’ is one of Europe’s biggest kids’ clubs with approximately 3000m2 of adventurous and enjoyable facilities. Open daily all year round from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., it has been styled to offer an adventurous and enjoyable place for children up to 12-years-old. This is the biggest and best kids club I have ever seen. It has a full-on splash park and full play park for the kids to enjoy with the family. They have really thought about the design. There are park benches, lots of shade and plenty of space. The kids would LOVE it. In my opinion it is also in the perfect location because its tucked away from the main part of the hotel. I feel this is also a benefit for those that are travelling without the kids as you won’t see or hear the children. My little girl would love this kids club and area. New for 2023 is Nammos. Think Beach chic with live music, beach cabanas and waiter service. Located on the blue flag beach this is the place to be. They have even opened a shopping arcade with all the designer gear you would need. My stay at Park Lane was amazing. I would recommend s stay here as there is something for everyone. I didn’t have time to venture out to far as my stay was short and I wanted to enjoy the hotels facilities. But if you do want to leave the hotel there is a lovely promenade that runs along the beach, and it’s lined with tavernas and other hotels. We did venture into the old town of Limassol briefly which has cobbled streets, boutique shops and a picturesque harbour. It takes about 20 minutes in a taxi to get to old Limassol. 10/10 from me for the Park Lane Luxury collection.

08 October 2020

Many of my new clients ask me what makes me different and how do I work. I work differently to the internet and high street agents. Firstly, I like to talk to you about what you really want from your holiday as everyone's needs differ. I put a lot of time and effort into finding what's right for you and all of this is done at no charge, yes that's right I don't charge a fee for my service, I get paid when a client makes a booking. I take great pride in looking after my clients, the products I offer are from my own experiences and extensive knowledge I have from my time in travel. Travel is my passion, I love creating itineraries for my clients, and I also love hearing about them upon your return. With us your holiday is fully protected under ATOL and our unique Trust Fund, you don’t have to worry even in these unique times. I have access to 1000's of suppliers enabling me to offer competitive prices, direct contracts with hotels and 24-hour personal contact for you. Whether you are looking for your next family holiday, cruise, city break, honeymoons, UK escape or a more exotic celebration trip I can make a personal recommendation for you. I am competitive on price - but this a bespoke service, I put my own knowledge, care, security, time and industry contacts into every enquiry, plus you have my personal service throughout, 24/7 even when you are away. This is also my very own small business and every booking I make is supporting myself and my family in my dream. So, if you would like a friendly professional service for your holiday from someone who is also available outside of conventional working hours and a small business owner please do get in touch. Be sure to make your next holiday the best it can be.

24 February 2021

A week beside the seaside in Norfolk. We were kindly offered the chance to stay at a friend’s holiday home for a week in Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk and jumped at the opportunity to ‘be beside the seaside’. I had been to Norfolk many times as a child but had never visited North Norfolk. Our friends had already given us a heads up on activities and places to visit that were toddler and dog friendly – However it had an awful lot more to offer and I thought it would share my experiences with you. Wells-next-the-sea is a pretty little seaside town. The main street along the harbour side you can go crabbing and watch the boats come in with fresh fish. I love a tub of fresh cockles and there is a little stall to buy them from right at the front of the harbour. The street is lined with ice cream parlours, fish and chip shops and a few little souvenir shops. There is a long back street with lots of different restaurants, bistros, cafes and coffee shops. Most of these are dog friendly and have ample outside seating. It is lovely just walking all through the little cobbled back streets as you will find hidden traditional pubs and little greens to sit and enjoy the sunshine. Just beside the harbour is a fantastic children’s park – free also. There is a big pirate boat and all the climbing frames, swings and slides to keep the kids happy and for the parents to enjoy a coffee. It’s a huge park and my daughter had hours of fun there. The main beach in Wells is by far one of the best sandy beaches I have seen – It is huge and plenty of space for everyone to enjoy. There are the cutest little beach huts that line the pine cliffs and really is picture postcard cute! The beach has a specific dog friendly section. The tide is low and great for the little kids to have a paddle as it was not too choppy and the water was clear and perfect for a swim. To get to the beach you can either walk along the coastal path (which is about a mile walk) or you can jump on the miniature train which is £1.50 pp each way. It takes about 10 minutes. They take contactless card payments or cash; it is dog friendly and you can take the pushchair. If you want to load up the car and park near the beach there is a car park at Pine hills holiday park. It’s a public car park which by 1030am gets very busy at peak times. Post code for the beach parking is NR23 1DR parking is approx. £7 for the day and is pay and display. As for days out our favourite place to visit was Holkham Hall. It’s about 10 minutes’ drive from Wells. The grounds are amazing, and you can easily spend the whole day there and have an adventure. Parking for the day was £4 and you can use this as a token toward some food in the restaurant if you wanted too. They have the most brilliant woodland play area (for free) for the kids to enjoy. There are little coffee and cake stalls and seating if you wanted to take a picnic and just enjoy the park. We hired bikes for £10 per bike and a trailer for Jessica to sit and enjoy the views. We had a lovely time and enjoyed the huge lake and spotting the wild deer. I couldn’t believe the size of the herd of deer; I’ve never seen anything like it. We also went to food festival that what seemed like all the local classic car enthusiast attended also. It was brilliant to see so many awesome cars (my husband really enjoyed this). They had live music and was a great atmosphere. We thought we would give the sea life centre a try in Hunstanton. It is a small centre, but an hour well spent as Jessica really enjoyed it. I would say its perfect for the little toddlers, but the older children would get around it too quick. I would recommend going but try and find a deal or a voucher code and book in advance, we didn’t, and it was quite pricey for a short amount of time we spent in there. We made the most of Hunstanton and took a stroll along the beach promenade afterwards. There are lots of coffee stalls and ice cream parlours and freshly cooked doughnuts! There is a lovely little park at the end of the promenade just in town, where we stopped and had a picnic. On the walk back to car the tide was out, and we investigated the rock pools. The rock pools are awesome, and they were perfect to search for crabs, seaweed and for having a splash. I recommend a visit to Hunstanton even if you go just for the rock pools and doughnuts. We visited Langham Dome which was once an active RAF airfield for 18 years. It’s a small gunnery training dome which is an interactive museum. It is really is very small but interesting and if you are into the second world war I am sure you would enjoy it. After visiting Langham, we drove through the countryside and there really is some pretty little pubs and walks you can do (we didn’t has had Jessica in tow), but we did visit the ruins at Bingham. It’s pretty and a lovely little walk, again its free to get in and the area is lovely. You can still go inside the old church there. There is a little café to stop and grab some lunch or a coffee and cake. We had a lovely little afternoon exploring.

10 August 2019

Aruba – one happy Island Not many people have heard of Aruba. Well none of my friends anyway. Handy tips to know for those you want to make envy your holiday plans 1) Aruba is the ‘A’ in the ‘ABC’ islands, with its neighbour’s ‘B’ for Bonaire and ‘C’ is for Curacao. They form the Dutch Antilies. 2) The island is off the hurricane belt and has an average temperature 29 degrees. Suitable for all year-round travel. 3)Aruba is 15 miles away from the coast of Venezuela and is visible from the south east coast 4) The island has 70 square miles of happiness 5) The Divi tree is only found on Aruba always points in a southwest direction with the wind. Locals say you will never get lost as you can follow the direction of the tree. This was my experience: Dreaming of white pristine beaches and tropical seas? Look no further than Aruba. Hands down Aruba has the softest sandy beaches with the most beautiful crystal-clear waters that I have ever seen! My husband Charlie and I stayed at the Tamarijn Aruba resort. I chose this all-inclusive resort as the hotel was a low rise and beachfront. Our room was ground floor and was literally 5 steps to the sand. My husband likes to sleep in (all morning), and I like to be up sunbathing as soon as the sun cracks through the curtains in the morning. It was perfect as Charlie didn’t need to come looking for me, I was right in front of our room reading my book. The hotel shares the facilities with the Divi Hotel, so this gave us 10 restaurants in total to dine in. The food was lovely and there was something there to suit anyone and everyone. The location on Durif beach also means only a short bus or taxi ride into Oranjestad, the capital. Or if you’re like us you can hire cycles from the hotel and get on your bike! TOP TIP for the evening is to grab a cocktail and a sun lounger on the beach and sit and wait for the most beautiful sunset you will ever see. It’s a sunset made for Instagram. We decided to visit the Arikok National park on a jeep safari. The park takes up 20% of the island and is spectacular. Its covered in Cactus and amazing rock formations. I 100% recommend visiting. If you wanted to hire a car and do it yourself, you would need to get a ‘off roading’ vehicle as the terrain is very bumpy and rocky. I wish we had done this and went off on a hike with a picnic and watched the crashing waves on the rocks. The national park is so different to the rest of the island’s pretty beaches. It is dark and mysterious and a MUST SEE. We also went on a catamaran and visited the sunken war ship ‘The Anthelia’. The first part of the trip was just what you’d expect from a Caribbean catamaran. We boarded off the shores of powder white sandy beach and the sea was as clear as your bath - truly beautiful. After sailing along the coast visiting the landmarks of Aruba (Including the Californian light house) we went out into deep ocean. Once we reached the shipwreck the sea had turned from crystal clear into deep turquoise blue ocean. I am not a great swimmer so held onto the steps of the catamaran when snorkelling. Oh, My Goodness…. It was like watching something straight from a David Attenborough documentary, the sea life was incredible around the wreck. I was mesmerised and it was an experience I will never forget. Becky’s top things to do whilst in Aruba. 1) Visit the National park and pack a picnic. Go on your own and have an adventure. 2) Visit San Nicolas the second city of the island and visit all the street art. 3) See if you can get a day pass to Flamingo island. Its owned by the Renaissance hotel but they sometimes do day passes. Try and reserve the day before leaving the UK. 4) Head over to the Tivoli Club in Oranjestad for the ultimate Caribbean carnival night out. 5) Snorkelling around the Anthelia shipwreck

09 June 2019

I have recently been on a week break with my husband, Charlie, daughter Jessica and dog Bruce. I chose for us to stay at Landel Darwin Forrest, near Matlock, Derbyshire. I chose these lodges because of the facilities it had to offer if the weather let me down and the journey time was estimated 2 and a half hours door to door! Travelling with an 18-month-old toddler and a dog I needed to choose wisely. From the moment we arrived on at our lodge (Haddon Classic Vogue, sleeps 4) I knew this place wouldn’t disappoint. It was so peaceful and surrounded by trees and forest. I instantly felt relaxed and Jessica just kept on saying WOW which really made me feel happy. I straight away sent Charlie back out again to go stock up on the weekly food shop. There is a local Sainsburys about 10 minutes’ drive away in Matlock so seemed like a good idea to stock up (I later found out I could of done a Sainsburys online shop and got it delivered to my lodge prior to arrival -note to self for next time) and I took Jessica and Bruce out for a quick explore. We managed to find where the Indoor swimming pool, the gym and the soft play areas. I couldn’t resist on picking up the ‘get active’ gym class timetable as I had also sneaked my gym kit into my suitcase in hope for a cheeky hour away! Maybe choosing to go to the Peak District over mayday bank holiday was a bit unnecessary for us as maybe the week later would had been a bit quieter? We choose to head into Bakewell on bank holiday Monday. Bakewell was extremely busy, and I have never been to such a pretty village with such huge queues for fish and chips before. It was packed. Thankfully we didn’t fancy fish and chips and decided to go for the first café that we could find a table and accepted dogs. Randomly we found a lovely Austrian coffee shop/café and had the yummiest lunch. I would 100% recommend ‘Tiroler Stuberl’ and you must try the ‘bratwurst’ toasted sausage in a bun. Jessica even was saying ‘yum yum’ and licking her lips and she is a fussy eater. Bruce was well looked after also as they are dog friendly and gave him some water in a bowl. Its wasn’t the cheapest ‘hot dog’ I’ve ever had but was most definitely the tastiest. I had been recommended a walk that I must share with you as it was fantastic for toddlers to toddle and a super dog walk. Its traffic free as it used to be an old railway line, (except for cyclist so just listen out for them). We parked at Hassop Station café (post code DE45 1NW) and started to walk the stunning ‘Monsal Trail’ (The trail starts in Bakewell). We walked past colourful fields, farm’s and even walked through old railway tunnels. Charlie and Jessica absolutely loved the tunnels and found them fun making echoing noises and playing chase, Bruce didn’t seem bothered by them either. They are about 400m long so if you don’t like the dark, I’d suggest lighting your touch on your phone or taking a torch with you. After about 1-hour walking we reached the Monsal Viaduct and it didn’t disappoint. The views were incredible and took my breath away. We had walked off our lunch at the Austrian café. We saw lots of families out on bikes that afternoon and it inspired us to go back again and try Jessica on her first bike ride, we were 100% living our best lives that day. Charlie was in his element out on the bike and Jessica was basically telling daddy to go faster! Was brilliant fun. We hired the bikes from the café at Hassop and cost us £12 per adult and £4 for the toddler seat on the back. We had the bikes for 2 hours and was well worth every penny for the lasting memories we made. When it rains it pours in the Peak District- we soon realised this! Gone are the days of strappy tops and flip flops, I now pack my walking boots and Burghaus waterproofs! Our week was pretty damp but still off exploring we went. Another walk I recommend with a stroller and dog in tow is the ‘Cromford canal’. You can park at the Old Mill or the café (post code DE43RQ, they are basically opposite each other). The walk is tame, you stroll past livestock, locks, pretty bridges and there is plenty of wildlife to keep the little one happy. We strolled for a good few hour’s and really enjoyed the scenery 9even in the pouring rain). I had researched ‘Heights of Abraham’ before visiting the Peak District and it was top of our list of things to do. We parked up one afternoon in Matlock (Station car park) and thought we would just take a stroll and see where we would end up! We saw a sign that pointed to ‘Hill tor’ and thought it would be a good idea to follow the sign! Jessica was in the stroller and obviously was saying her new favourite word ‘WOW’ every 5 seconds and Bruce was loving life exploring, I however didn’t need my gym classes as I was pushing Jessica in the stroller up what felt like Everest! Whenever we stopped to have a look the view just got better and better. Eventually we had all got to the top of the gorge and we had walked all the way to the top of what the cable car would have taken us too if we had paid to do the ‘heights of Abraham’. The view was amazing, and we could see Matlock river the lovely gardens and Riber castle. It was well worth the workout! My top 5 Tips for peak District with a toddler 1) Invest in a sturdy stroller that you don’t mind getting battered (I bought a second-hand McLaren that did the trick) 2) Landal Darwin Forrest Lodges have a soft play and indoor swimming pool for those rainy days you don’t want to go far in 3) Order your food shopping online and get it delivered to your lodge 4) Hire a bike and go out for a few hours, great fun and excellent value for money 5) Carry change for the car parking meters

24 January 2022

Mexico – My favourite and most visited destination Mexico is one of my favourite destinations for so many reasons. I have been lucky and visited pretty much all the areas along the Caribbean coast (I think I have been about 15 times). I had my honeymoon in Cancun, staying at the Hyatt Zilwa. I fell in love with the hotel whilst on a work trip. Out of all the hotels we looked at this was my favourite. I just knew it would be perfect for us as its walking distance to bars, shops, and restaurants. The beach at the hotel is AMAZING with the lovely cabanas and waiter service. The hotel is adult only with cute sea view rooms that offer 24-hour room service, free daily stocked minibar, jacuzzi, rain shower and my favourite thing of all was the fact we had our own cabana by the pool allocated to our room so no having to get up early to put your towels out. I have stayed many times in various hotels along the Riveria Maya/Playa Del Carman also the new upcoming area of Playa Mujeres. These are my top 10 things to do whilst in Mexico 1) Xel-Ha Eco park – Amazing day snorkelling, zip lining, tubing. 2) Coba Ruins - you can still climb the ancient pyramid 3) Tour Xplor – 6 miles Zip lining above the canopy of the trees plus more 4) Akumal beach -Swimming with Turtles 5) Coco Bongo – show and night club. A MUST DO 6) Catamaran trip to Isla Mujeres – hire a golf buggy and go on an adventure 7) Captain Hooks pirate dinner and cruise from Cancun – very funny night out 8) Xcaret – perfect for a family day out 9) Chichen Itza – one of ancient 7 wonders of the world. Its quite far to get too and a long day out but great experience. 10) Speedboat tour around the mangroves in Cancun Here are a few pictures from my experiences and honeymoon in Mexico ??

29 November 2020

Must do’s in New York! I travelled to New York in May a few years ago and we stayed for 5 nights. This was a perfect amount of time as we crammed in everything we wanted to see and do, but did not have to rush. I made sure to maximise my time in the city and booked the first flight out from Heathrow. This meant we had landed into JFK by midday and were in the hard Rock café by 2pm. I stayed in the Wyndham New Yorker which is in Midtown and just a few blocks away from Times Square. Times square is very busy and noisy so being just a few blocks away was perfect. In my opinion getting around was really easy. I packed comfortable shoes and we walked everywhere! Everywhere we went we felt very safe and the people were friendly. If we stopped to look at a map, then someone would ask us if we needed help or directions. I felt like we were on a movie set as the streets felt familiar from all the TV shows and Movies I had seen. Here are my top tips and places to see: Walk the highline - The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. Saved from demolition by neighbourhood residents and the City of New York, the High Line opened in 2009 as a hybrid public space where visitors experience nature, art, and design. It’s a fabulous area and some great views. Grand central station. This historic world-famous landmark in Midtown Manhattan is not simply a transportation hub—it’s also a shopping, dining, and cultural destination with 60 shops, 35 places to eat, and a full calendar of events all under one magnificent roof. Also have a try at the whispering walls. Its not a big secret but not everyone knows about them. Big yellow water taxi – you board from outside the Intrepid museum, Hell’s Kitchen and it works as a hop on hop off. You get the most amazing views of the city from the river. I would stay on the boat until you get to wall Street and take a walk around. Visit the 9/11 memorial and take a walk over Brooklyn bridge. On the way back sail past the statue of liberty. Full on tourist ticking off all the major sites in 1 day. Plus, it saves your feet for walking. Also, if you wanted to pre book a helicopter tour they mainly go from this area (financial district). Intrepid war museum - The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is dedicated to the exhibition and interpretation of military history, science and service as related to its home aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid, a National Historic Landmark. As you explore the Museum you will be able to examine original artefacts, view historic video footage and explore interactive exhibits. St Patricks cathedral – 5th avenue. Amazing Cathedral right in the city centre on 5th avenue. If I didn’t tell you about it, you would keep shopping and miss it. Go in and have a look, its beautiful. Central Park – you could walk around it all day. Or you could go by horse and cart, hire bikes or do a Segway tour. The Natural history museum is right opposite (where they filmed night in the museum). Its great inside but only add it to your things to do if you have done everything else. Also, if you wanted a treat ‘The Plaza’ (home alone 2 was filmed there) do a lovely afternoon tea which I would suggest pre booking. If you want to visit a smaller park and just sit and enjoy the people watching I really recommend Bryant Park. This was our favourite little spot to grab a coffee and relax with the locals. There are lots of little cafes dotted around also and is far enough away from the Hussle and bustle, but you still feel involved. Woodbury common premium outlets is a must for all your designer gear at discounted rates. Its just outside New York city and takes about 1.30 hours to get there. I can pre book transport for you and it’s a MUST for shopping. The Empire State building is one of the most iconic buildings in Manhattan and is incredible for views of the city, however you also have the Rockefeller centre which in my opinion is better. When you go to the Rockefeller you get to learn about the history of the building, and it is amazing. The views of the Empire state are amazing. I would suggest doing both buildings and do one during the day and one at night-time. When we went there is a fancy little bar outside the Rockefeller and we stopped for a cocktail, at Christmas time it is also famous for the huge Christmas tree and ice skating outside. I personally haven’t been as Hudson yard only opened in March 2020 but they have recently built ‘The edge’ which is the highest sky deck in the Western Hemisphere with a one-of-a-kind design, it’s suspended in mid-air, giving you the feeling of floating in the sky with 360-degree views of the city. You can Look 100 stories down from the thrilling glass floor or lean out over the city on angled glass walls and sip champagne in the sky. Also, at the Yard there is numerous shopping and restaurants. If you like Comedy, then I highly recommend ‘The comedy cellar’. I pre booked before travelling and wasn’t disappointed. We had a funny night out and laughed hard. They have all kinds of comedians that you possibly would have seen in movies or on shows. Chris Rock regularly just turns up there and does a gig. It’s a little gem this place and unless you are recommended it by someone that’s been, you’d miss out!