13 February 2023

A couple of weeks before Christmas I took the chance to grab a few days in the sun with my parents and my daughter - what a treat it was ! I booked us to stay at the Villas Kamezi just outside Playa Blanca - we just wanted a few days of relaxation and heat & it was perfect ! We flew with Jet2 and I can't rate them enough for comfort & service onboard - I booked a package with them so we had transfers included as part of it. Coach transfers are really handy to have included but there is definitely waiting almost always involved and as it had been a few years since I had been on a traditional package trip - I had forgotten about the waiting around ! The Villas Kamezi are a short drive outside of Playa Blanca - about 45 minute or so walk round to resort - or 5 minute taxi ride that averaged around €7-8 each way. We had a villa with private heated pool as well as a roof top terrace and it was perfect for us ! It had a bbq out on the patio and plenty of seating areas. The complex has a gym, spa, deli and onsite speciality restaurant. Every villa has parking spaces available so if you wanted to hire a car and be more adventurous around the island this is a great base for you as well. Staff were super helpful and nothing was too much trouble for them. This was my first time staying in Playa Blanca and I really liked it - we dined out every night and the value for money in the local restaurants was really impressive. It was the first time I have travelled this close to Christmas - but won't be the last - being away in the heat while it was freezing at home was a treat. In fact when we landed back at Belfast International it was so cold that my car was frozen shut !

13 February 2023

Where better to meet up with your girl friends after these crazy few years of being kept apart ? October 2022 I took a trip out to Las Vegas - my first time back in over 16 years ! I lived in Vegas back in 2006 - so this trip was a long time coming :) We stayed in 2 hotels - The Venetian & The Linq. Very different styles of hotel - both with great pool areas.... although the Linq is definitely the loud party pool - especially at weekends ! Vegas has so much to offer - shows, shopping, downtime by the pool, amazing restaurants, karoake bars ... and of course the Casinos ! It has got pretty expensive - so this is worth taking in to consideration when planning your Vegas trip - get the holiday spends saved ! I had a ball & can't wait to go back :)

25 September 2019

Disney Paris is a fantastic spot for any Disney fan! The benefit of getting your Disney fix so close to home is brilliant! We stayed in the Newport Bay Club - I chose it for location for ease of getting to the park but also for it's leisure facilities. It has an indoor and outdoor swimming pool for those times when you want a break from the park madness. The hotel is only a 10 minute walk from the Disney village - around the Disney Lake - however there are also shuttles that take you from hotel to park if you would rather keep your steps for inside the park itself. The whole Disney complex has something for all ages. There are lots of eateries about, however they can be expensive so if you can avail of a half board offer etc then definitely do this. For your next Disneyland Paris trip just drop me a line!

25 September 2019

I was lucky enough to be invited on the first cruise on the new NCL Bliss trip in April 2018 - for a 2 night sailing from Hamburg to Southampton. The ship is of course very large - but has a lovely ambience around every area. We managed to sample many of the different restaurant areas which offer something really to suit everyone. The show on board was the Jersey Boys - which was first class! There are so many different stateroom options within the ship to suit any needs - just get in touch and I can go through them with you :)

25 September 2019

Majorca is an island that really has it all - it caters for families, groups, singles, those looking lots of nightlife or a quieter resort. Just a 2.5 hour from Belfast - Majorca is a top selling destination for me for families and also those looking for a short sunshine trip. We stayed in the Palma Nova area. Don't be put off by the masses of nightlife in the area - families are well catered for as well. The beaches are lovely - we opted for self catering apartments on this one which worked really well for us. However we had access to the Sol Kathmandu hotel and theme park which was fab and a must do for any families in the area. Mini Golf, splash park and much more. There are so many lovely restaurants in the resort along the waterfront promenade that offer great value and great quality options. Get in touch with me to book your Majorcan getaway!

28 March 2017

A couple of weeks ago, I took a few days out of the office to be a tourist here in Northern Ireland! We headed up the North Coast and along the way went to the Giants Causeway, Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge, Portstewart, Portrush, Coleraine and of course the Old Bushmills Distillery. We got lucky with the weather we had. We are so lucky to have some world-class scenery here in 'Our Wee Country' as most of us fondly refer to Northern Ireland by.... so whether you are coming from further afield - or just fancy a wee drive 'up the road' - our North Coast is definitely worth your time! For more ideas on local escapes, get in touch!

21 March 2017

If somebody came along and gave you 30 hours of spare time, what would you do with it? Spend more time with the kids? Make a dent in that redecorating job you’ve been putting off for weeks? A bit of ‘you’ time in the garden, with a good book and a glass of wine? Some research? Ok, maybe not the last one – but recent findings from Club Med suggest that the average UK holidaymaker is spending a staggering 30 hours researching their holiday. From reading reviews to sorting out passports, it adds up to a lot of time. And it’s time you could spend elsewhere just by giving me a call. I’ll ask you about your likes and dislikes when it comes to travel – and that’s your bit done. I’ll construct your perfect holiday, packed with all the things you love and none of the things you hate. You might even wonder how you ever booked travel without me! Holidays without the hassle, and 30 more hours to enjoy? If you think I can be of any help, then please feel free to give me a call.

04 July 2016

In May 2016 I was very lucky to be part of a team of Travel Counsellors that got to travel out to Mauritius and stay in the beautiful Paradis hotel by Beachcomber. We flew out with Emirates and got to experience their business class product. As I flew from Dublin I was able to experience business class on both the B777 & A380 products which were great. Beachcomber were the 1st Hotel company on Mauritius Island and as such have some fantastic locations for their 8 properties there. Sometimes as can be with trips we take for work, we can spend a lot of time seeing lots of different hotels and lots of different rooms types etc... however this was very different. We got to really enjoy our surroundings. Mauritius has lots to offer - for all age ranges and client preferences. We took a tour of Port Louis and saw the local markets, there was a day trip to Casela National Park included, but probably one of the highlights of the trip was a Sunset Catamaran Cruise that was arranged for us. We literally stepped off the beach right from Paradis, into our waiting speedboats, we were then whisked out to open water to meet our fabulous Catamaran that was waiting for us. We got to watch the Sunset in the middle of the ocean, and it was something we will all remember forever. The hotel was great - lovely grounds to walk through to get from your room to many reception and pool areas. We all had our own rooms - and the balconies in Paradis are probably some of the largest balconies I have seen - so much space and are particularly great if you have friends travelling together and want to have a seating area to use for an aperitif etc. The main restaurant in the hotel is buffet style and it really does cater for all tastes - there are of course A La carte restaurants too ! There is free wifi throughout the resort - which is something that is becoming so important for those considering holidays. The service levels at Paradis and the sister hotel Dinarobin right next door really are second to none and from hearing reports on all other Beachcomber properties from colleagues, I can tell that his really is the ethos of the brand. On our last night, our hosts arranged for us to have a private meal together in one of the Private Villas on the Paradis estate - it was amazing. Paradis villas are perfect for those that want more space and some seclusion. We were all left with such amazing memories from our time in Paradis. I have sent clients to their properties before - always having good feedback, but now having experienced this for myself I am so excited to send more clients there - to build some fantastic memories of your own ! Mauritius is great as a single centre holiday - but also works well with a stop in Dubai if you are using Emirates flights. From Northern Ireland or Southern Ireland, this is a great way to go - great airline and good airfares ! Weddings and honeymoons are really well catered for too in Mauritius - and if you do decide to get married in one of the Beachcomber hotels you can be assured that you will be the only wedding that day ! No bumping into another bride around the hotel grounds :) If you like the sound of this and would be interested in experiencing it for yourself - please don't hesitate to get in touch.

08 December 2014

I cannot tell you how many years I have wanted to visit Hong Kong for - and eventually last month that wish came true! I was lucky enough to be the only TC selected to take part in a trip with The Cosmopolitan Hotel, Hong Kong Tourist Board & Cathay Pacific. Cathay Pacific are a wonderful airline - we flew economy there and back and it was probably the most comfortable economy seating I've ever experienced. I was there for 4 nights - staying in The Cosmopolitan Hotel in Hong Kong Island. This hotel is very well located for access to shops, bars, restaurants and the different transport networks. Rooms are really nice and comfortable and now they offer a smartphone service with every room so you can always be online - whether inside or outside of the hotel. I found this invaluable as I was able to keep on top of work while out and about. Breakfast in the hotel had everything to offer you could want and more. Hong Kong Island, in my opinion, has a slightly more Western feel. Times Square shopping area (maximum 10 minutes' walk from hotel) has all sorts of shops and restaurants that you could want. We enjoyed a night out in Wan Chai area and sampled a typical karaoke bar - great fun! Our first full day (Friday) gave us the chance to see a few parts of HK. In the morning we visited Stanley to check out their market and the promenade with its cafes dotted along... a really nice peaceful place to sit, relax and enjoy a morning coffee. From there we headed to 'The Peak', a tram journey up to a look out point that affords fabulous views. Lunchtime on the Friday we enjoyed a feast at the Dorsett Mongkok hotel in their Thai restaurant, Thai Pad and had a tour of the hotel - it is really well located and the rooms are really pleasant. Great for families as well. We then had some free time so I headed to the 'Ladies Market' area in Mongkok and eventually we made our way back over to Hong Kong Island by the MTR, the underground train service. It is very inexpensive - a one way journey from Kowloon over to Hong Kong Island cost little more than £1. Saturday we had a tour planned through the HKTB - 'Sai Kung Coastal Treasures Tour' This gave us the chance to change pace and relax on a boat cruise around the coast - we were able to get off and visit a traditional temple, and ended up in Sai Kung - a traditional fish market town. The promenade was full of fresh fish stalls and bustling local restaurants filled with families and friends chatting together - a really nice place. We were treated to a fabulous lunch banquet in Loaf On restaurant. Dinner on Saturday was over in Lan Kwai Fong area of Hong Kong Island - the place to be on a Saturday night full of hustle & bustle. Sunday gave us a chance to take another tour run by the HKTB - this time the 'Revitalization Experience'. We got to visit a museum that showed different Hong Kong housing developments through time and also make some of our own handicrafts at a local art college workshop. After the Tour we got to visit the Jade Market. Our trip was coming to an end so on Sunday night we dined in Nan Hai No. 1 over on Nathan Road, Kowloon. The restaurant has an outside balcony where we watched the light show from (this runs every night at 8pm). Dining out in HK is a very popular thing to do - with lots of courses to share. We sampled some Peking Duck along with lots of other delights. Once dinner was over we headed to the Star Ferry Terminal that runs between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island - and headed over to our hotel. The crossing was less than £1 and took about 15 minutes or so - it was lovely to be out on the water and get the views of all around. We got off at the Wan Chai stop and The Cosmopolitan Hotel was only about 20 minutes' walk from there - very handy. It was then time to get packed as an early call was awaiting us the next day to start the journey home. My overall experience of Hong Kong can be summed up in one word - fabulous! I cannot wait to go back and bring my family. It has so much more to offer than what I ever thought it would. There are beaches dotted around that are lovely to go and relax at. There are places like Stanley and Sai Kung where you can take a day out to relax and slow down the pace a bit. Getting around is really easy and there are multiple types of public transport you can use. Hong Kong is not just a 'stopover' destination on your way to somewhere else - it is a holiday spot in its own right. I would most definitely recommend to go for a week at least and even make a two-centre holiday out of it - stay in Kowloon part of the time and Hong Kong Island part of the time - and see the difference in the two areas for yourself. The Cosmopolitan Hotel and their sister hotel The Dorsett Mongkok are great hotels for the budget conscious traveller without having to sacrifice on quality. If you have any questions on Hong Kong - or would like me to put an itinerary together for you - please just ask! Flying time took about 12 hours from London and you are 8 hours ahead of UK time, so it is a journey. My best advice if you are going is to take a comfortable pair of walking shoes, a camera and an open mind - and just enjoy every single thing you get to see and do.

30 May 2012

I was recently lucky enough to be part of a small group of Travel Counsellors travelling to Malaysia to 'test out' the area for our clients. We travelled on flights with Emirates from London Heathrow via Dubai to Kuala Lumpur and were very lucky to go business class the whole way. We got to enjoy the business class products on both the A380 & the B777 - and both are FAB! Our itinerary consisted of staying in the following hotels : Ritz Carlton - Kuala Lumpur Pangkor Laut Resort - Pangkor Laut Four Season - Langkawi Andaman - Langkawi Datai - Langkawi Shangri La - Kuala Lumpur Our first night in Kuala Lumpur we stayed in the Ritz Carlton - a very high standard of accommodation with both a hotel and residence all linked together. We then travelled by road for approximately 4 hours to get our speedboat transfer to Pangkor Laut Resort...this is an island not far off the coast of Malaysia and it is a real retreat…the spa is fabulous with lots of treatments on offer and there are numerous restaurants to dine around during your stay. After Pangkor Laut we travelled by road and ferry to Langkawi and the first of our hotels here was the Four Seasons. It is beautiful – located on a fabulous white sandy beach and the resort itself is everything that you would expect from a Four Seasons property. We also stayed at the Andaman and the Datai hotels which are on a different part of the island and are built into the rainforest beside each other. These are 2 very different hotels - but they both have wonderful spas and good dining choices. Finally we flew back to the mainland from Langkawi - which was an approximately 1hr flight and headed back to Kuala Lumpur for the last evening - staying in the Shangri La hotel. This hotel is in a great location for getting about the city. There is a monorail station within a couple of minutes’ walk which can transport you around Kuala Lumpar. The hotel has plenty of dining options and a great club lounge that can be accessed when staying in their club rooms. Kuala Lumpar has lots of shopping choices for the shopping enthusiast - from top end designers to shopping malls with all the big name brands, to local markets with local crafts and goods. As a destination Malaysia has lots to offer and I would recommend it for a wide range of clients. If you have any questions or would be interested to know more about the area please just get in touch!

27 September 2011

November 2009 Uganda – Revisited! November 2009 saw my second trip to Uganda – and again we took some friends with us to show the country off. The only direct flight service from UK to Entebbe is still with British Airways; however there are other options such as Emirates and Kenya Airways that are not direct. Again we did a lot of travelling about the country and revisited Queen Elizabeth National Park for a 3 day safari. We met up with some other people our age staying at the Mweya safari lodge and we all had a great time...topped off by a visit from a hippo on our last night ! We were all kept very safe as there were guards around us – but having such a large and dangerous animal so close to you is simply breathtaking. Jinja was a place that I had been to before – however we had only had a day trip before so this time we decided to have an overnight stay to explore the area more. We stayed right at the source of the Nile at the Nile Porch with breathtaking views from the pool area of the Nile itself. If you watch the TV Programme ‘Joanna Lumley’s Nile’ when she is in Uganda she films from here – the TV crew checked in as we were checking out. Uganda is a wonderful country and I would love to help anyone arrange their travels there.

03 April 2011

On 12th June I travelled to Dubai for 5 nights with 2 of my best friends for a much needed girlie getaway ! I had booked our package through Emirates Tours - who had their fabulous free upgrade to Business Class offer on. So our day started with being taken by our chauffeur from my friends house to Manchester airport. This is a free service when flying business class (subject to a maximum distance). This was the first time I had flown business class and I have to say I enjoyed every second. Our check in was handled with such ease and we were directed to the business class lounge in the airport to relax before we boarded our flight. On boarding the plane the Emirates airline crew could not have provided better service - it was great. Once we arrived into Dubai, cleared Immigration and collected our luggage - we met with our driver for our transfer to our hotel - Le Royal Meridien. The hotel is fab.. right on the beach... it has 3 swimming pools... swim up pool bar, indoor spa and fitness facilities.... I could go on. We were given an upgrade room to a Suite with a Sea View and as we were on a bed and breakfast basis we were shown were our breakfast restaurant was. The staff at this hotel are so attentive and they will do anything to ensure your stay is a great one! Dubai has a lot to offer. The standard of accommodation is good and the range that is on offer caters for any budget. We took advantage of the amazing shopping available - from the local souks to the larger Malls. We experienced a Desert Safari which was a really good afternoon and evening. We were collected from the hotel around 3.30pm and returned at approx 10pm. During this time we were entertained by our driver and guide who took us through Sand Dunes in his 4x4 like we were on a roller coaster... great for the thrill seekers amongst us! After the drive we were taken into the middle of the desert for a dinner and show. We watched local entertainers, sampled local food and had some local Henna artwork. I would definitely recommend this experience. We also went to the Water Park out at the Atlantis hotel and again we had such a fun day. This place is not just for families with small kids - we had a great time on all the waterslides! All in all my time in Dubai was very enjoyable, and I definitely plan to go back!

06 October 2008

In September 2008 along with my husband I travelled to Maroma, just outside Cancun on the Riviera Maya in Mexico. We travelled with Thomson Fly from Manchester direct to Cancun airport - it was a 10.5 hour flight on the way there, and thanks to heavy winds we made it home in just under 9 hours ! Once we got out of the airport we met a really nice transfer representative who quickly arranged our transport to our hotel. We arrived at the brand new 5* Secrets Maroma Riviera Resort. This was about 30 minutes by car from the airport. We were welcomed by the bellboy who took our cases, then the door was opened and we were handed a nice cool towel, along with a glass of champagne! We were then seated at our own private reception desk to be checked in for our week long stay. The resort was only opened one month before we arrived and there was still work ongoing - but you would not have known much work was going on at all - it was all very discreet. The resort is on a luxury all inclusive basis. Pool and beach service was top class, nothing was too much trouble for anyone. The resort had many restaurants and bars to choose from; Italian, French, Asian, Mexican (of course), Seafood restaurants were all very popular. The area that the resort is built in is mainly made up of other hotels, each with their own private part of the beach. If you are looking for a relaxing break where everything is done for you then you have found it here ! However, for anyone who wants a few other options for things to do, it is close enough to Playa del Carmen or Cancun where you can visit all the local shops as well as designer boutiques ! There are also attractions such as Xel-Ha and Xcaret (waterparks) and Chichen-Itza and Tulum (ancient ruins) to visit ! All in all it was a fabulous week - we were also able to have candlelit dinner on the beach one evening for my husband's birthday - very romantic ! It is a great spot for a very romantic honeymoon, you can get married here, or just have a week of luxury in the sunshine !

18 August 2008

In November 2007 I made my first trip to Uganda. My husband is originally from there and hadn't been back in 13 years - so we decided it was time to pay a visit! Together with 2 friends from the UK, and 1 friend flying in from Sydney, Australia, we headed to 'The Pearl of Africa'. Uganda would never have been on my list of countries to travel to before I met my better half, but how glad I am now that I have had to chance to travel to this great country and meet with so many lovely people. We flew directly to Entebbe from London Heathrow with British Airways, approximately a 9 hour flight, and with only a couple of hours time difference, depending on the time of year you travel, then there isn't really a major jetlag problem for us from the UK ! I was in Uganda to meet my new family over there - however I did want to see the country while I was there as well ! We also have built a house there so I was keen to see the progress on it and see what real life there was like ! Our group of 5 stayed together in the 2 bedroom house that we have built for our family over there, making 8 of us sharing all of the facilites - but it was all part of the experience! The Ugandan word for 'white person' is 'Mzungo' and is was so lovely to see the local children running alongside our car shouting in unison at us, 'Mzungo, Mzungo' ! Entebbe is on the shores of Lake Victoria, where my husband used to swim as a child... so our first lunch was at a fish restaurant just outside Entebbe. There was no menu - all you could order was chicken or fish! However, the chicken was freshly killed and the fish freshly caught ! Yes it took a while longer than conventional restaurants - but the taste was worth the wait ! Ngamba Island is an island on Lake Victoria which is home to a Chimpanzee Sanctuary established in 1998. It provides homes for abandoned and rescued chimpanzees from Uganda and surrounding countries. Chimpanzee meat is a delicacy in some countries and unfortunately is sold on the black market. This sanctuary works with other organisations to help save such animals and provide them with a safe habitat. It is possible to do both day trips and over night visits to the Island. There are a number of different National Parks in Uganda, and we chose to visit Queen Elizabeth Park. We were in Uganda at the time of CHOGM and in fact the Duke of Edinburgh had been at our safari lodge just days before we arrived. It is a lovely lodge and we were able to do some great game drives. It isn't possble to see the Big 5 here - but it is still wonderful ! Whilst we were there we also visited the Source of the Nile and again this was breathtaking. As a show for tourists, the locals jump into the fast rapids with only an empty jerican to use as a float. Uganda is a beauiful country, the landscape and countryside can be at times breathtaking, yet the closer you get to Kampala you can feel the tension of a big city setting in. The traffic is no less than unbelievable. Traffic lights are pointless, as it is more of an 'each for themselves' attitude that every driver has. However, the main thing that you take away from this country is that even with the little that most of the country have, manners cost nothing, and they are one of the most friendly nations that I have ever visited. Having family and friends there locally now means I have access to first hand information - so if you ever fancy a trip to the the Pearl of Africa then please do get in touch ! Enjoy the photos !