02 April 2019

I’ve recently returned from a fabulous adventure in Canada, touring Ontario and Quebec. Toronto and Niagara Falls was our first stop. After arriving mid-afternoon into Toronto, we were picked up and driven to Niagara Falls, which took us approx. 2 hours to reach. We checked into our hotel for the night, Sheraton on the Falls – the views of The Falls from our balcony were breathtakingly beautiful. After enjoying dinner at Elements on The Falls (which has an incredible location right at the brink of Horseshoe Falls) we were invited to The Illumination Tower and given the opportunity to control The Falls multi-coloured lights, which after a few gin and tonics was great fun. Today we enjoyed 3 of the Niagara Falls excursions; Journey Behind The Falls, Hornblower Niagara Cruise and for sure the ultimate experience was seeing Niagara by air in a helicopter, which is a must for any tourist visiting. If you are looking for late night action there are lots of bars, clubs and casinos which was surprising to see. Late afternoon we made our way back to Toronto stopping en route to an Ice Wine winery – my new favourite drink, it’s delicious! Upon arrival into Toronto we checked into our hotel for the night, Fairmont Royal York. Toronto is so much fun, it’s Canada’s largest city, most visited destination, where people come for big ticket events. The next morning we spent sightseeing, visiting the CN Tower which is Canada’s most recognisable icon, offering spectacular panoramic views of the city. After lunch at Toronto's newest hotel The Ritz Carlton, we visited Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, children will love it here if travelling with the family. Late afternoon we made our way to the train station for our onward rail journey to the country’s capital, Ottawa, which took about 4 ½ hours to reach. I was surprised at how quiet Ottawa was, our tour guide explained that the majority of people who live here, work in the government sector and as it was a Saturday morning when Parliament was closed, locals were more than likely having a lie in. Steeped in tradition and history, a very different scene to Toronto and I envisaged the backdrop similar to the scene of Hunchback of Notre Dame. Ottawa is full of museums, landmarks and national sites. Literally steps from the border of Quebec, there is a definite French influence here. In the winter, the canal freezes over and becomes the world’s largest outdoor rink, literally people ditch their cars and ice skate to work. Mid-afternoon we were picked up by our Quebec tour guide and made our way to Wakefield Mill Hotel & Spa. This is exactly how I pictured the great outdoors of Canada to look like, a place of outstanding beauty. What a romantic setting the hotel has, surrounded by Gatineau Park, which has more than 36,000 hectares of forests, lakes and rivers. There’s much to keep you entertained during the summer and winter months with activities such as canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, biking, cross country skiing to name a few of the outdoor pursuits. Late afternoon we made our way to the Nordik Spa Nature, located at the entrance of Gatineau Park, the largest spa in North America. Quick change into our cossies I was about to experience some serious R&R – there are 2 steam rooms, 7 saunas, 10 baths, relaxation areas and an infinity pool which overlooks the park. We picked up a cocktail, jumped into the bubbling waters and watched the gorgeous sunset, an unforgettable experience and for spa lovers you must come and experience this place. Just 5 minutes up the road is a fabulous little restaurant and was my favourite dining experience throughout my trip, check it out ‘Biscotti & Cie’. The next morning, we had a guided tour of Parc Omega, which is an incredible wildlife park where you can observe Canada’s wild nature in their natural habitat. We saw bison, bears, wolves, moose, deer, plus more. Around lunch time we made our way over to The Fairmont Montebello to enjoy their famous Sunday brunch. This hotel is the world’s largest log castle and represents what you would expect of a ‘true Canadian experience’. With beautiful surroundings and year around activities offering over 40 exciting adventures. Brunch was delicious! We had such fun in the afternoon at one of the countries famous Sugar Shacks, who would’ve thought it. A father and son team at Sucrerie de la Montagne, you are in for a real maple syrup treat – we had maple syrup coffee, maple syrup lollies, maple syrup bacon, we were in maple syrup heaven! Our onward journey bought us to Vaudreuil, which is a suburb of Montreal and we stayed in the most gorgeous lake front hotel namely Chateau Vaudreuil. We sipped our gin and tonics on the pontoon whilst watching another gorgeous sunset. The next day the weather was not so great, with rain for much of the day. We made our way onto Montreal and checked into the newly renovated Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth hotel, for sure this was the best 5* hotel we experienced. After a quick change we went to check out the Observatoire Place Ville Marie, which offers stunning views of Montreal – was a real shame the weather was bad, but I can imagine the views are incredible on a clear day. After dinner we boarded the Montreal Observation Wheel, which again was a shame we weren’t able to see Montreal in all its glory. I feel in love with Montreal, I don’t know if it was just luck we stumbled across a fantastic bar with live music in the evening, but we had a great night. I’ve since learnt that Montreal is renowned for its nightlife and especially for its festivals (more than 100 through summer). As one newspaper writes ‘Montreal has Gallic charm, North America grit and parties like nowhere else’. Day 7 we enjoyed a city tour of Montreal (with a small hangover). There is so much to enjoy in this beautiful French speaking city and foodies will love it here. Felt at times more European than North American, if you catch my drift. The city layout is like Toronto with much of the city found underground featuring tunnels that stretch over 20 miles and are lined with bars, shops and restaurants. Our Canada adventure had come to an end and we made our way to the airport for our evening flight home. What an incredible experience we had, and I can’t wait to go back with my family in the future. Feeling inspired? Get in touch, I’d be delighted to tailor-make your Canada adventure.

19 June 2018

I was invited by the Philippines Tourist Board to join a megaa fam trip to this beautiful part of the world, in order to learn all about it. I was so excited I couldn’t sleep, I’ve always wanted to go. The day was finally here, I met my new-found friends at Heathrow Airport and we were off! First stop Manila – easily reached, with several carriers flying direct. We flew on a night flight with Cathay Pacific, via Hong Kong, arriving early evening next day. My first thought as we exited the airport was ‘wow its hot!’ Our hotel for the next two nights was the Belmont, which is linked by a tunnel from the airport and is part of the RWM complex which is made up of a number of hotels, shopping malls and casinos. This is the best spot to stay if you are simply wishing to overnight in Manila, before jetting off to one of the many islands. The next day we enjoyed a tour of Manila. True its hectic and very hot, but what a delight to understand the history of this city. Almost everybody speaks basic or very good English and can communicate without problem. I could write so much more about my experience in Manila, but let’s save that for another blog. If interested in a Philippines holiday, I will tell you all about it. The moment I’ve been dreaming about, an early morning 6am flight to El Nido, yipee! El Nido, Palawan, is regarded as the most beautiful island in the world. We arrived just before 7.30am and as I stepped off the plane, I took a moment to realise that we’d arrived in paradise. The smell of the unspoilt jungle, the vast areas of greenery ahead of us finally. We made our way to the pier and boarded a boat to take us to Cauayan Resort for brunch. I found my spot on the front of the boat to absorb the beauty that surrounded us, awe-inspiring limestone cliffs everywhere – a fellow agent mentioned that it looked similar to Halong Bay in Vietnam. As we arrived at Cauayan Resort, we were greeted with a smile by the manager who escorted us poolside for brunch - delish. Cauayan Resort is a boutique style hideaway with just 23 rooms, tucked away in a picture-perfect cove, with a beautiful beach. Next boat stop, our home for the next two nights – El Nido Miniloc. I instantly fell in love with this resort. I kicked my shoes off and walked the white sandy beach, absorbing the magnificence of this special place – the feeling was spectacular! Next day I set my alarm and hopped out of bed at 5am. I struggled having consumed one to many Mai Tai cocktails the night before. Off I went with flippers and snorkel mask in hand to explore the beautiful coral reefs and it didn’t disappoint – teaming with vibrant marine life, the highlight was when I spotted not one but two black tip reef sharks. The resident Jack fish were also a wonder. After breakfast, the resorts’ friendly boat team took us on an island-hopping adventure and it was like no other I’ve ever experience before. We enjoyed kayaking in the most beautiful lagoon, stopping off at a sand bar for a Pina Colada (in the middle of the ocean), explored secret coves and had lunch at El Nido’s sister island resort ‘El Nido Lagen’. I should mention at this point that there are four El Nido properties – El Nido Lagen, El Nido Miniloc and El Nido Pangulasian Island all within close distance of each other and all very different. The 5th El Nido property is Apuilt Island which is the other side of Palawan and so I didn’t get a chance to visit but I understand the concept. We finished the day watching the sunset at El Nido Pangulasian Island. This resort is the most luxurious of the four island resorts and I heard on the grapevine Floyd Mayweather was currently staying. I kept an eye out but didn’t spot him. I was exhausted as we finally returned to our hotel after a busy day, but we were advised that we had one more stop to make and to go and quickly get changed. I couldn’t understand, it was pitch black, how could we possibly hop back onto the boat to travel in darkness to another island? I followed orders; quick change, bit of lippie and off we went. I couldn’t believe it, after 10 minutes at sea, I could see in the distance a small island lit with candles and as we drew closer it was clear to see that management of the resort had arranged a private candlelit experience for us. Huge oysters were presented - I didn’t even know you could get oysters this size. The day was perfect and one that I will treasure forever! It was time to say goodbye to El Nido. As we embarked on our boat to take us back to the main island the staff gathered together on the pier to wish us well and waved us off. Half a mile out to see I could still see them in the distance waving like crazy at us – I’ll be back, for sure! As we reach the main island of Palawan we boarded a coach for our 5 ½ hour drive down to Puerto Princesa. A scenic drive it was, but a seriously long one at that. Overnight at Sheridan Beach Resort & Spa – a far cry from the feeling of paradise, but we were here for one thing only. Another moment I’d been waiting for. This morning we were off to enjoy the underground river tour. The boat port just to the left of the resort was ready and waiting to take us to this UNESCO World Heritage site. Wow, I can see why this new wonder has been so aptly named. After lunch we proceeded to our hotel for the next two nights, Puerto Princesa Garden Island Resort & Spa. It’s a beautiful resort, the best in town for sure. The next day we enjoyed some island hopping. We visited three beautiful islands where there was an opportunity for lots of snorkelling and sunbathing. We found another sandbar, which I’ve since discovered are popular throughout the Philippines. In the evening we got to enjoy a kayak boat tour on the lake to see the magical fireflies in all their glory – I’m not going to lie, was a little bit scary when it started to thunder and lightning, but only added to the experience. Our last night was spent back in Manila and our final dinner was hosted by management of the Conrad Hotel in their Chinese Restaurant. If you do go to Manila, you have to experience this - it was delicious. I fell in love with the Philippines. The people are so friendly, and they really care about their country. I promise you too would have a travel experience like no other. Get in touch with me today to start planning your Philippines Adventure. Have a look at my Philippines video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT877PohsOI

19 June 2018

Lucky for me, my son had an extra week off school during the May/June half term holiday and so was looking for a last-minute bargain holiday escape. Somewhere not too far away but with guaranteed hot weather for 3 adults and 2 children, both aged 11. Marrakech was calling. We stayed for 7 nights at the all-inclusive water park resort, namely Eden Andalou which is located just 15 minutes from Marrakech Airport. Not my usual choice of hotel, personally speaking I much prefer a boutique style property, but a good time was had by all. It’s hot during the day, but chilly at night so pack a couple of jumpers (although from speaking to the locals, windy evenings are unusual this time of year). Not one to want to sit around the pool all day, I quickly planned how myself and my son were going to spend our time. Of course, Marrakech is famous for its souks, but there is also so much to see and do; enjoy a horse and carriage tour of Marrakech, ride a camel, horse riding expeditions, visit one of the many tombs, take part in an unforgettable balloon flight experience, Tajine cookery classes, discover the Ouzoud waterfalls, to name just a few of activities on offer. The Atlas Mountains was on my bucket list, just how were we going to explore them was a dilemma; hike, 4x4 tour, buggy or quad? We chose the latter and my goodness what an experience! The views were incredible! We really enjoyed exploring the souks, haggling for handbags and jewellery and people-watching. That said, I did find the medina overbearing at times. Stay calm, keep your cool and grab a bargain. Top tip - don't be afraid to counter offer their original price, I bought a bag which was 80% less than their initial first price...bargain! All in all, I can highly recommend Morocco for all kinds of trips and would love to chat to you further about whether you would also like to visit this wonderful diverse country! We loved it so much we are planning to return to Morocco in October, this time exploring the coast of Essaouira, regarded as the jewel of the Moroccan Coast. October offers wonderful temperatures and is great value for us as UK visitors!

17 March 2017

I recently returned from another amazing holiday in Bermuda with my mum and 8 year old son. As I'm not a fan of long haul flights, the British Airways direct flight from Gatwick is just over 7 hours and is ideal. We departed Gatwick shortly after lunch and arrived on the island before dinner – perfect! Bermuda is often confused with other Caribbean islands - in fact it isn’t part of the Caribbean at all and the seasons are completely opposite. Summer in Bermuda is between May and October, making it a fabulous long-haul summer destination. The island is just off the coast of the US and makes for a great ‘shop & flop’ holiday along with NYC. We stayed at the only all-inclusive resort on the island, Grotto Bay Resort, which is set on its own private beach overlooking a wide bay of calm water. It's perfect for families - my son spent the best part of his days either in the pool with his new friends, or enjoying the inflatable waterpark which provided hours of entertainment. I absolutely love the Grotto Bay Resort – it is regarded as a 3.5 star hotel, however I would suggest otherwise, not least of all because the a la carte all-inclusive plan is amazing. The food is all gourmet, well presented and delicious. Over and above the usual food & drink that is included, guests receive a transportation pass which gave us unlimited use of the public ferries and buses. Not to be missed are the two caves that are on the property - how many times can you say your resort has its own cave you can swim in? The water is crystal clear and we braved the cold to have our daily dips! In the second spa, you can enjoy the most amazing spa treatments over the caves water - what an experience. It's true about the beaches in Bermuda - prior to ever going I always thought it was a marketing trick in travel brochures, but there are beaches that are pink and the sea is turquoise. Bermuda is not cheap, but that’s what makes it so appealing. Salaries and standard of living is high, but so is the cost of living. There is very little crime and you feel completely safe travelling outside the compounds of the resort. Bermudians are some of the friendliest people you will meet. Here are some other interesting facts about Bermuda which I bet you never knew: - There are absolutely no snakes on the island. - Car hire isn’t possible. Public transport is widely used or else you can take a taxi, or hire a scooter and discover the island at your own pace. - Bermuda was a British colony, so you still very much feel the British influence in everything from architecture to afternoon tea. - Bermuda has the most golf courses per square mile of anywhere in the world; the most famous is Port Royal Golf Club Course, home of the PGA. - It is the wreck diving capital of the world, with over 300 wreck sites to explore. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit and/or stay at all the hotels on island; Grotto Bay Beach Resort, Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa, The Reefs Hotel & Club, Rosewood Tuckers Point, Elbow Beach, Coco Reef Resort, Rosedon, both the Fairmont’s and Newstead Belmont Hills and each of them have own star qualities depending on the experience you wish to have. There really is nowhere quite like Bermuda.