12 September 2019

I’ve always tried to get away in November. With no school holidays I find beaches, hotels and flights are quiet. Many destinations offer tempting discounts in what is traditionally a quiet window ahead of the Christmas rush. November is also a fairly miserable month at home – grey, cold and raining – never a better time to escape to the sunshine aboard. Here are some of my tops picks for a sunny break in November California A fabulous and underrated time to visit California. With temperatures still in the 20s, it tends to be sunny this time of year. The crowds are long gone, and you’ll find flights and accommodation cost are significantly lower at this time of year. Antigua November marks the beginning of the Caribbean summer with temperatures of 30C and the beginning of the dry season. Antigua is a perfect beach destination – in fact the island boasts 365 beaches, one for every day of the year! Buenos Aires The gateway to Argentina, Buenos Aires is a fantastic city. A cosmopolitan melting pot of old European grandeur and modern Latin passions. With temperatures in the mid twenties November is a great time to experience everything the city has to offer – whether that’s some steamy tango, the grand architecture, the enchanting neighbourhoods or the famous Argentine steak! Dubai Offering year round heat November is one of the more pleasant times to visit this glitzy emirate as temperatures sit around a modest 30C. With it’s almost infinite choice of hotels Dubai really does offer something for everyone. Tenerife The Canary Islands offers a closer and reliable option for winter sun if you don’t want to travel long haul. Temperatures rarely drop below 20C all year round. Tenerife, the largest member of the archipelago, is famed for the beach hotels of the Costa Adeje area. If you fancy more activity, you’ll find some fantastic hiking trails in the volcanic interior of the island.

07 October 2019

A year ago, Sri Lanka topped Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2019 list. Tourism was booming, with visitors attracted to the country’s golden sandy beaches, stunning highland scenery, diverse wildlife and rich heritage. The Easter Sunday suicide bombings killed more than 250 people – coming as a bolt from the blue and threatened to wreck Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. In the weeks following the attacks, arrivals dropped by 70%. However, since then Travel Advisories have been lifted and visitors are starting to return. In fact, there has probably never been a better time to visit Sri Lanka. British visitors can now obtain a free visa, the hospitality has never been more welcoming and many of the hotels and resorts are offering extremely good deals with up to 50% off the normal rates. For a relatively small country Sri Lanka boasts an incredible diversity of sights and experiences. In just ten days you could discover the historic delights of the Cultural Triangle, enjoy an elephant safari in Minneriya National Park, mix with pilgrims in spiritual Kandy, trek though the luscious green scenery of the Tea Country and finish up on a stunning beach! Let’s discover more… Commonly referred to as the ‘Cultural Triangle’, the central plains area boasts no less than four UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the striking rock fortress of Sigiriya, Dambulla’s incredible cave temples and the crumbling ancient capitals of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. With the added bonus of viewing elephants at wonderful Minneriya National Park, a stay in this region is a highlight of any trip to Sri Lanka. Away from the heat of the coastal regions, the Hill Country contains some of Sri Lanka’s most stunning scenery. From the rolling tea plantations of Nuwara Eliya to the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the Hill Country is a land unto itself, pulsating with adventure and charm. Watch out for monkeys in the mist-filled jungle, and the sounds of waterfalls nearby. The most famous of Sri Lanka’s national parks is Yala, located on the South East coast of the island. Yala is home to a variety of animals and boasts the highest concentrations of leopard in the world. You can also see elephants, sambar and spotted deer, wild boar, wild buffaloes, macaque and langur monkeys, sloth bears, jackals, mongooses, pangolins, porcupines, rabbits, wild cats, and crocodiles. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, sitting on a peninsula on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, Galle Fort is surrounded by water on three sides. The enchanting small streets are a delight to explore, with dozens of restaurants, cafés and quirky shops nestled amid decaying colonial buildings and grand fort walls. Soak up the atmosphere with a stay in one of the fort’s boutique hotels. With 1,340 km of tropical coastline, Sri Lanka is certainly not short of beautiful beaches. The south and East coast are driest during out winter, while the West coast is dried during our summer so any time of year is a good time to visit a Sri Lankan beach.

30 May 2019

Here are just a few of the great things that I can do for you... 1. I will save you so much time and stress Sure, dreaming about your next holiday is fun — but planning a trip is hard work, and the choice can be overwhelming. Your time is valuable, and you shouldn't have to spend it searching for the right holiday, when I can do that for you. After a quick conversation, I can quickly narrow down the options and find you the perfect trip for you. 2. I have first-hand knowledge I’m lucky enough to have travelled the world extensively. Very often, I’m able to give you first-hand advice on the destination you’re visiting and will even have been to hotels you’re choosing between. If I haven't personally been where you want to go, I’ll certainly know someone who has. 3. I will often save you money — and if not, I’ll deliver more value II can often save you money based on my supplier relationships - or at least match the price you find, while saving you time and effort. I will also add value in other ways. Ever wonder why the couple in the room next door have a better view and got champagne on arrival? They probably booked through me! 4. I will be your advocate If something goes wrong on your trip, I will help, no matter who is at fault. Whether it’s a volcanic eruption, an airline failure, a national strike, or just plain bad weather I’ll do everything in my power to help resolve the issue and get you where you need to be. 5. I will get to know your preferences As we develop a relationship, I’ll get to know your travel preferences. I’ll be able to suggest hotels and holidays you’ll love, and holidays you might not even have though of. Equally I’ll be the first to tell you when something isn’t suitable for you. 6. I am a human being who you can trust I am wholeheartedly invested in my clients' happiness and satisfaction. I want to make sure each and every trip is packed full of positive lifelong memories. I will listen to what’s important to you, make suggestions, understand your reservations and adjust things accordingly. I care about you and you’re your holiday significantly more than an internet search engine! 7. Like any professional advisor, I have years of expertise and experience You could cut your own hair, fix your own boiler or do your own taxes but you don’t because a professional can do it better. You could plan your own holiday too, but I will add value, provide insights and smooth the process, leaving you to sit back, relax and enjoy your holiday.

28 March 2019

I don’t need to tell any parent that kids get grumpy (and therefore loud) when they’re hungry, tired or bored. So, the key to surviving a flight is to do all possible to avoid your kids being hungry, tried and bored. As with most parenting, planning is key… 1. Think about the flight time. For short-haul fights mornings are generally easiest as kids are less tired. I try to plan a flight over a meal time, as this is a good activity. For long-haul flights I find the absolute ideal is to take off about 2-3 hours before bedtime. This gives them time to get over the excitement of being on the plane, so they’re able to settle down to sleep when the time comes. 2. Food – take a lot of snacks. Don’t stress about proper balanced meals today, take easy to eat, hold and clean up snacks. Kids are generally happy when they’re full, and chewing helps keep their ears equalised which avoids pain. Kids meals on airlines are generally unpalatable, so assume the worst and bring everything you need. If you’re using formula for a baby bring lots of spare. It’s so easy to spill it due to the restricted space, stress or unexpected turbulence. 3. Activity – both before and during the flight. Get to the airport nice and early to allow the kids to have a good run around. Where possible I’ll use a soft play, but if there isn’t one, I’ll find a relatively quiet corner and let them run. I find the tablet a lifesaver on flights as it keeps their attention for long periods of time. Younger kids often want to walk around. I always let them where possible, as keeping them contained just leads to frustration. Cabin crew understand that you’re just trying to keep the littles ones happy and won’t mind you getting in their way sometimes. 4. Sleep – for long haul flights this is a must. For small babies you can book a bassinet cot but bear in mind these are never guaranteed and are small. Both my two children outgrew the BA cots at about 3 months. After this you can still have the bassinet seats, but it’s a chair rather than a cot on the little shelf. For my two this was far too exciting to even contemplate sleep. For babies I recommend taking a baby carrier. Babies will easily fall asleep and then you can sit down with them on your front with your hands free to eat, drink, read etc. For toddlers and above think about getting something you can put in front of their seats to create a small bed. There are plenty of products like this on the market. Or you could just stick a large piece of hand luggage in the gap! 5. Spare clothing – for you as well as the little ones. Think how many potential puke/poop accidents are likely, then double it and prepare for that. I don’t know why, but for some reason travel really beings out the puke/poop in kids. It’s bad enough having projectile vomit all over you, but it’s significantly worse if you have to spend the next 12 hours sitting in vomit covered clothing. 6. My last piece of advice is probably the most important – don’t care about everyone else! It’s stressful enough dealing with a screaming baby or a toddler meltdown without worrying about the rest of the plane. Stories about mothers giving out gifts or ear plugs to other passengers are not helpful. It’s a child, they make noise, other people can just deal with it. There are far more annoying things that can happen on a flight than a screaming child. Most people on the flight have probably been in your situation while travelling with their own kids and actually only have the utmost empathy with your situation.