23 April 2024

In November I travelled to Iceland, as part of a group tour. During my first year of business, I had a mentor, my friend Hayley who I met whilst on a work trip, on the Queen Mary 2. Hayley has been a Travel Counsellor for 12 years, and Hayley and her business partner Carla were hosting a group tour. This was a 3 night tour, organised by Obeo Travel. We flew from London Heathrow to Reykjavik. On the day that Grindavik was evacuated due to a possible Volcanic eruption. There were some changes to our itinerary, which Obeo Travel handled fantastically. We were collected from the airport and taken to our hotel, which was approximately 45mins-1 hour. That evening, we had an organised tour, a Northern Lights Cruise. We were collected from the hotel and taken to the harbour for a trip out on the boat to see the Northern Lights. We were able to borrow one of the many overalls available to keep warm, which I would recommend. You can then enjoy the evening on the 360-degree viewing platform taking in the panoramic views, listening to the expert aurora guides. Sadly, we didn’t see the Lights, but it was a fantastic cruise. The following day, we had a free day, some of us explored Reykjavik, first of we walked to the ‘Fly Over’. This is a simulated flight ride. Here we were suspended, feet dangling before a 20 metre spherical screen whilst a film whisks us away on a journey across Iceland. Special effects include wind, mist and scents. It was a fanatic experience. We spent the rest of the day walking and exploring the City. I went inside Hallgrimskirkja church. It’s both a parish church and a national sanctuary in Iceland. The tower is 73 metres high which I went up and enjoyed the views of the city, the blue channels, and the surrounding mountain circle. We then went for something to eat, before we had to get ready for our Lagoon experience. One of our group was brave enough to try fermented shark, this is a national dish of Iceland, which has been cured and hung to dry for 4 to 5 months. Apparently, it wasn’t too bad! That evening we were meant to visit the Blue Lagoon, However due to the possible Eruption, Obeo Travel managed to move us to the Sky Lagoon. The Sky Lagoon was just a short drive from the City, it’s also adult only. It was an amazing experience, Here we experienced the seven steps in The Ritual, these included a cold plunge, sauna with a view, cold fog-mist, sky body scrub, steam room and a relaxing shower. It was such a relaxing experience, floating through a breathtaking canyon and taking in a view toward Mount Keillir, whilst enjoying a glass of something fizzy! Monday, we had a full day of activities planned. This was a Golden Circle tour. We were all really excited about this day. We were collected from the hotel by our very own Super Jeep and an extremely knowledgeable guide. It was dark whilst we drove out of the City, it doesn’t get light until 10am in November. We drove 45 mins out of the City to the Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is where Iceland’s parliament was founded in 930 AD. It also holds the meeting of the North-American and Eurasian tectonic plates, and this is the reason its said you can talk between continents at this specific location. We then moved on to drive off road in the Jeep to Langjokull Glacier. We stopped to be kitted out with overalls, gloves, buff and a helmet and off we went for an hour of adventure on snowmobiles, dashing across snowfields. This was my first time on a snowmobile, and I was a little scared! Afterwards, we continued our journey, on to Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most powerful waterfalls, this was a wow moment for me. We had some lunch and visited the gift shop. On our way back to the hotel, we stopped to see the highly active Geysir Hot Spring area with it’s boiling mud pits and spouting hot springs. What a site it was to walk round and see these springs erupting. After dinner, some of us decided to go on the Northern Lights Cruise again, to try and see the Lights, sadly we didn’t. You receive a voucher if you don’t see the lights, to go back again, free of charge to try again. I would thoroughly recommend a trip to Iceland. There are so many things to do and see. I would recommend taking plenty of warm clothing if you are travelling during the winter months. Waterproof trousers, thermals and comfortable footwear are also a good idea. Even though I didn’t see the Northern Lights, it didn’t take away from having the most amazing time we all had as a group. If you are thinking of booking a trip to Iceland, please get in touch and I would love to be able to start planning this for you.

30 November 2023

I was recently lucky enough to go on an educational to experience a Virgin Voyages Cruise. I was so excited as I had heard so many stories about this cruise operator. I had heard about the exceptional service, exclusively adult experience and all about their many awards they have won. Along with some of my travel counsellor colleagues we flew to Athens and boarded the Resilient Lady for a 7 night cruise around Croatia and Greece. The trip was to experience the Virgin Voyages brand as well as to do some work around Social Media. Virgin Voyages operates differently than your typical big brand cruise line. Included in your cruise price are all onboard dining options, which includes over 20 restaurants and 6 speciality restaurants, essential drinks (branded soft drinks, tea and coffee), basic wi-fi, unlimited group workouts, nightly entertainment and tips. They also have evening stays in ports and overnight stays too. There is a Virgin Voyages App you will have access to. This is where you can book your dinner reservations, shows and shore excursions. Shore excursions are an additional charge, I would recommend pre booking these and when I got onboard the trips I wanted to do, had sold out. I stayed in a Sea Terrace Cabin. The design of the cabin was very modern and spacious with a balcony. There was a tablet that controlled everything in the room and the TV came with movies you could enjoy. The balcony features a hammock. It’s the perfect place for an afternoon nap, once you manage to climb into it! There are inside, solo and accessible cabins as well as Suites, which are called Rockstar Quarters. I did manage to visit all the different room types, I have photos and knowledge I can share with you. We stopped in Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor and Corfu. These were great opportunities to explore the wonderful destinations with new colleagues/friends and take content for our social media pages. The food was just amazing, some of the best food I have tasted. All the restaurants you dine in are included. One of my favourites was the Test Kitchen. It features a preset menu, you don’t know what you’re eating until this is explained to you, it’s pure Theatre. I chose to have the wine paring with each course, which made the whole meal even more memorable (this was an additional charge) Virgin Voyages doesn’t do buffets like other cruise lines. Instead, the food is made to order and brought to you. The Galley is where you go for that quick bite to eat. It boasts a dedicated bakery, a burger grill, a taco shack, a sushi bar and a noodle bar. I used to like going there at breakfast and lunch times, choosing from freshly made omelettes or bagels and smoked salmon. I really enjoyed the Noodles, I could go on and on! Oh, and the ice-cream parlour was another favourite of mine, which I visited daily. Amongst the restaurants, there was a Mexican, a Korean, an Italian a steak and seafood restaurant, there is something for everybody. The drinks are not super expensive, and you can purchase a bar tab before you board the ship. Branded soft drinks, still and sparkling water , standard tea and coffee is included. Alcoholic drinks and speciality tea and coffee you have to pay for. The shows and nightlife onboard were fantastic. After dinner, we would enjoy shows in The Manor, a two-story, three-bar space named after Richard Branson’s first recording studio. The Red Room is the first ever transformational, multi-form theatre at Sea. As a group we liked to visit the Karaoke in the Social Club, where they also serve great chicken wings! For those that like a little flutter there is a casino, and an Arcade. From the very start of your cruise, the entertainment doesn’t disappoint with a sail away party, serving free flowing bubbly, and a pyjama party out on deck after dinner. One of the main talking points of the cruise is the Scarlet Night. A chance to dress up in red, get that glitter on your face and experience the ship lit up red with pop up performances, throughout the bars, and out on deck too. There is something for everyone, the live music in one of the cocktail bars ‘On the Rocks’ was a place we met as a group before and after dinner for a pre or post dinner drink. Virgin Voyages offers a wide variety of fitness classes, from spin classes, boxing and Bungee classes, to yoga outside on the Perch in the mornings, watching the sunrise There is a large gym, with one being cardio and on the opposite side of the deck, a studio with a variety of weight machines and free weights. Of course, you could find me here most mornings, or running on the Runway, the outdoor track. Whilst all of that is included, there is a Spa you can enjoy at an additional cost. The amenities are endless, there is a hair and beauty salon, a barber and a tattoo parlour. There is something onboard for everyone, with plenty of activities, to keep you busy, or quiet places to relax and read a book. I had the best week, experiencing this amazing ship, and can’t wait to go on another cruise.

24 May 2023

Why Fiscardo: A few years ago, my husband and I spent a week travelling on a Gilet, a traditional sailing vessel, visiting the Ionian Islands of Kefalonia, Greece. One of the places we moored in overnight was Fiscardo, north of the Island, we fell in love with, and so we chose this year’s holiday to spend some time in this wonderful place. Kefalonia is such a stunning island. Whilst Lassi and Sami may be more popular tourist destinations on the island, and Argostoli being the capital, Fiscardo is the most popular mooring point for sailors and homes some of the most stunning apartments on the island. We took a transfer from Kefalonia airport with approx. 14 other people and the journey took about 1hr 30 mins in total, including stops. on a mini bus. We visited during the second week of May, for 7 nights. It was the beginning of the season and the weather was unusually windy. However it was still warm during the day, just remember to take some layers for the evening as dining is all outdoors. Accommodation: We stayed in a lovely waterfront apartment, on a self-catering basis overlooking Fiscardo Harbour. It was an ideal location to be able to wander around the lovely quaint shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as watching the sailing boats coming in and out. Things to do: This was a break to unwind and relax, so we didn’t do an awful lot! We read and spent a lot of time watching the many boats coming in and out. We did hire a boat for the day, which was lovely as we were able to take it out and stop off at various little beaches. I even went for a swim, I had my goggles with me and saw plenty of fish and sea urchins. There are boat trips you can take to Ithaca for the day, with swim stops along the way and there is a Ferry that takes you to Lefkada, another lovely island with beautiful beaches. Local Cuisine & costs: All along the harbour in Fiscardo there are restaurants serving fresh fish and local delicacies for you to feast on. We ate out every day, including breakfasts, sometimes lunch and dinner. I really enjoyed eating Greek Yoghurt, Fresh Fruits, Nuts and honey for breakfast. The Chicken Souvlaki, with grilled vegetables and pitta bread was another favourite. The food seems to have really improved since our last visit 4 years ago, as well as the service, which was excellent everywhere we went, attentive and extremely friendly. The cost of food is similar to that in the UK. €18-20 for a main course, depending on the restaurant you choose. There are plenty of less expensive options, such as eating at local bars where it’s a little cheaper. Drinks, are typically €4.50 for a glass of beer, €4 for a glass of wine. We found a wonderful, traditional bakery, called Tselentis. Selling Sour Dough, Olive Breads, pastries, speciality brioche, Kefalonia Meat Pie, Local Lemon Cake, and so much more. Feeling a little more active: As a runner, I do like to run whilst I’m away. It’s a good opportunity to find some trails and perhaps see points of interest that I wouldn’t normally see. One of the mornings, I explored a nature trail that leads from Fiscardo around the peninsula.I popped my trainers on and hopped off to explore a nature trail that leads just off from Fiskardo around the peninsula. Here you come across 2 lighthouse, one of which you can ascend to the top off and also a few ruins. It takes a mere 15 minutes to walk around, is completely sign posted and is perfect for grabbing some fresh ocean air if you’re staying in Fiskardo. Fiskardo has everything you’d want a Greek fishing village. Tranquil, yet busy in the evening. Beautiful, but rugged enough to feel real. Isolated, but with good accessibility to great beaches, places to eat and areas to explore. If you’re considering a trip to Greece, then please get in touch. There are so many beautiful islands to explore, suitable for couples, friends and families.