04 March 2018

I escaped to the sunshine over Christmas and had an enjoyable two weeks on board Fred Olsen’s ship “Boudicca” sailing the Indian Ocean. The cruise set sail from Port Louis in Mauritius and stopped at the islands of Mahe and Praslin in the Seychelles, Zanzibar, Mayotte (Comoros islands) and finally Reunion Island before returning back to Port Louis. I’ve never been to the Indian Ocean before, so this cruise offered a great opportunity for me to see a little of these beautiful islands. Stunning scenery and fabulous beaches topped with the exotic island of Zanzibar made an interesting and enjoyable itinerary. We decided to fly with Emirates via Dubai rather than on the non-stop flights as we preferred to break up the long journey by stopping off half-way. The connections were good, the flights were on time and it proved to be a good decision. The Boudicca is quite a small ship with plenty of public space, good facilities and entertainment and there was more than enough on board to keep us occupied. Our cabin was very comfortable with a surprising amount of storage space and there was a great friendly atmosphere on board. Drinks on board were very reasonably priced and the choice and quality of the food throughout the cruise was really good. It was the first season that Fred Olsen has offered this itinerary and I feel sure that it will prove a popular choice.

30 March 2016

New Zealand exceeded all my expectations with its spectacular scenery, vibrant cities and unique culture. I made my first visit in 2014 and due to limited time, I restricted my visit to the South Island. Driving around the island was so easy and with little traffic on the roads it was a really enjoyable experience. Every turn in the road produced yet another magnificent view and I lost track of the times I said "WOW" on this holiday. I had such a fantastic time that I went back to New Zealand again in 2015, this time concentrating on North Island. There is so much to see and do in New Zealand and there is something to suit all ages. It really is a "must see" destination and one of the best places I've ever visited. .

08 October 2013

I’ve recently returned from an excellent familiarisation trip to Jordan, organised by the Jordan Tourism Board. When I first mentioned where I was going, most people responded the same way: “Isn’t Jordan near Syria? Is it safe?” It was not altogether surprising that people raised concerns about safety issues as Jordan actually borders Syria and Amman is only about 100 miles from Damascus. However, once there, it may as well have been a million miles away as we felt totally safe throughout our trip. Jordan is the most stable country in the region and the people there are some of the friendliest I’ve ever met. Also, unlike in some other Arabic countries, you can walk around without being hassled. Petra is obviously the main draw for visitors to Jordan and is undoubtedly the highlight of any trip. However, there are so many other wonderful sights to see and this trip allowed us the opportunity of experiencing the diversity that this wonderful and fascinating country has to offer. It was a jam packed week and our group was divided into two, with half of us, including myself, concentrating on historical and cultural sights and the other half concentrating on adventure activities such as hiking and canoeing. Our flights to Amman were with Royal Jordanian and the service and comfort on board was very good. Jordan is only a 5 hour flight from London which is a real bonus. The city of Amman is a blend of old and new and there are many interesting places to visit from here including the ancient Roman city of Jerash which is without doubt a “must see “ on any itinerary to Jordan. After spending a couple of nights in Amman, we headed south to the Dead Sea along the Kings Highway, stopping at Madaba and Mount Nebo en route. The next day we made our way to Petra, then finally to the Red Sea resort of Aqaba. The hotels we stayed at were different in character and all of a high standard. From the modern luxury Hyatt hotel in Amman and the ultra-modern Kempinski City hotel in Aqaba to the more traditional Arabic design of the Moevenpick hotels at the Dead Sea and Petra, they all provided excellent facilities and service. The quality and choice of food was very good but alcoholic drinks were extremely expensive. We enjoyed so many wonderful experiences during our week in Jordan including a “hands on” Arabic cookery class, jeep and camel riding in the spectacular desert scenery of Wadi Rum and floating in the Dead Sea. Jordan really has something to appeal to everyone and my lasting impression is of a safe, fascinating, culturally rich country and the genuine warmth and friendliness of its people.

17 April 2013

Desperately needing to escape the miserable British weather I booked a seven night Caribbean cruise on the Seabourn Spirit together with five nights in Antigua. We flew to Barbados and the night before our ship sailed we enjoyed an overnight stay at the Ocean2 Hotel which is a very attractive all-suite beachfront hotel situated on the South Coast and one that I would have no hesitation in recommending. Seabourn is a luxury cruise line and is fully inclusive. The Seabourn Spirit is a small ship with 104 ocean view suites and we were extremely impressed with our cabin. It was very spacious with a picture window, a sitting area and walk-in closet. The bathroom was very spacious too with a bath and shower and double washbasins. The cabin also had a complimentary mini-bar which was regularly refilled with your preferred choice of drinks. The ship has two restaurants, one of which is bookable and the other open seating, and both are waiter service. The quality of the food was excellent and the service was outstanding. At meals, you are encouraged to dine with other guests which we enjoyed as we certainly met a very interesting mix of people. Life on board was very relaxed and the entertainment on board although low-key was very good. Our cruise called at a different island every day including some smaller Caribbean islands. With less than 200 passengers on board, getting on and off the ship was a breeze. One of our stops was at St John’s in Antigua and as I had clients staying at the Inn at English Harbour, I got a taxi to the other side of the island to surprise them with a celebratory bottle of champagne to mark a special birthday. They were delighted and after a quick look around the hotel before joining them for lunch we took the hotel’s private shuttle boat to Nelson’s Dockyard and spent the afternoon there together. Our last stop on the cruise was Prickly Pear Island in the British Virgin Islands where a beach barbeque and water sports were laid on for us together with champagne and caviar. It was a great finale to a wonderful cruise and one that will be hard to beat. After disembarking the cruise, we flew to Antigua and spent the next five nights relaxing at the Blue Waters hotel. It is such a relaxing hotel and the accommodation, food and service were all excellent. The highlight of my stay was the chef specially preparing and personally serving vegetarian meals for me which was really delicious. I’ve never had such attentive service before especially in the Caribbean. We thoroughly enjoyed our Caribbean holiday and I can't recommend Seabourn Cruises highly enough.

27 January 2013

I spent a very enjoyable week sailing around the Greek Islands aboard the Star Clipper. I flew with BA to Athens and stayed at the Royal Olympic hotel overnight before embarking on the cruise the following day. This hotel is a great choice for those wanting a good quality hotel in a central location, close to the main sights. It has an attractive outdoor swimming pool - always welcome in a city hotel, particularly in the hot summer months. Best of all, the hotel has a wonderful outdoor rooftop bar and restaurant which has fabulous views of the Acropolis. It was extremely hot in Athens so it was wonderful to board the Star Clipper and head out to sea the following day and to feel those welcome sea breezes. The ship is under sail for most of the time and only uses her engines in poor wind conditions. When she is under full sail, she really is a magnificent sight to behold. My first impressions of the ship were good and although our cabin wasn’t very big, it was very comfortable with a surprising amount of storage space. There was a somewhat surprisingly mixed age group on board and life on board was very relaxed and there was a really good friendly atmosphere. The food and service were excellent and the evening entertainment was low key but good fun. We stopped at a number of lesser known Greek islands and with only around 100 passengers on board, getting on and off the ship was a breeze. During the cruise, you’re given the opportunity to help with hoisting the sails and also to climb the main mast to a platform 75 feet above the sea. Sitting on deck late at night, looking up at the stars and listening to the gentle flapping of the sails with the ship gently moving through the waves was so romantic. You just couldn’t help but fall in love-with the Star Clipper experience.

09 January 2012

This trip organised by the Grenada Tourist Board gave us the opportunity to experience the very best the island has to offer and focused on the luxury side of this beautiful destination. We stayed at three very different properties, La Source, Mount Cinnamon and Spice Island Hotel. The WOW factor kicked in the moment we set foot on the island. Seeing a stretched limousine pull up outside the airport we thought there must be a famous celebrity arriving. You can imagine our surprise when we realised the limo was actually for us, to take us to our first hotel, La Source. On arrival at the hotel, we were greeted with champagne before being shown to our rooms, all of which had wonderful sea views. Our hosted dinner that evening was one of the highlights of our trip. Lit by torches, a beautifully laid table had been set up on the beach for us – it looked stunning. With the gentle sounds of the ocean and the sand between our toes we enjoyed a wonderful meal under the stars. We were treated like VIPs throughout our trip and we enjoyed so many wonderful experiences during our week in Grenada including a tour of this beautiful island, with visits to historic spice plantations, waterfalls and rainforest. Other highlights included dinner at “Rhodes” restaurant at the beautiful Calabash hotel ; sailing on a traditional sloop sail boat and a yacht and a visit to the luxury private island resort of Calivgny – an ideal location for clients who are after ultra luxury and total privacy. All the hotels we stayed at were excellent and I will be recommending them at every opportunity. La Source is a quality all inclusive resort with a friendly and relaxing atmosphere and great spa. Mount Cinnamon is a boutique property overlooking famous Grande Anse Beach. The modern, spacious and beautifully furnished apartments and villas all have stunning views and have fully equipped kitchens - perfect for clients looking for a luxury self catering option. The hotel has a friendly atmosphere and it’s just a short walk through the gardens to the beach. "WOW" was the word on everyone's lips when we were shown to our rooms at the Spice Island hotel. Some rooms have their own private pool and garden while others have rooms directly on Grand Anse Beach. This is a beautiful hotel with a relaxing and friendly atmosphere and the personal service here was outstanding. Grenada has so much to offer the visitor and the island certainly has everything to appeal to travellers looking for a high-end experience – from small luxury hotels and pampering spas to fine dining. My lasting impression is of a beautiful, safe, relaxing and friendly island and I can honestly say that this was probably one of the best trips I've been on.

25 May 2011

I had my holiday booked in early December and with Gatwick shutting down a few days before we were due to leave because of the severe weather conditions, the prospects of getting away didn't look good. I was desperate to jet off to some much needed sunshine and we felt really lucky when the airport reopened the day before we were due to leave. We flew down to Aswan, taking advantage of the new direct Thomson charter service, which began in November. It was wonderful to leave the freezing temperatures behind and to arrive in hot sunshine and cloudless skies. Admittedly it was a bit of shock to the system going from -33F at Gatwick to 33C in Aswan! Aswan was nothing like I expected. It’s a really vibrant town with lots of interesting places to visit including the colourful bazaar and excellent Nubian museum. There are also lots of wonderful excursions available including the Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple and Abu Simbel. We stayed at the Moevenpick Resort Hotel, which is in a peaceful location on Elephantine Island in the middle of the Nile - just a few minutes by shuttle boat from the city. It's a very well managed hotel with a friendly atmosphere and excellent service. Our room was spacious and well-maintained and the food we sampled in the Orangerie restaurant was very good. The beautifully furnished Royal Villas are ideal for family groups and are simply stunning. The views from their terrace of Kitchener Island and the Tombs of the Nobles with feluccas sailing closely by are magnificent and it’s wonderfully tranquil. Talking of views, the bar on the top floor of the hotel gives wonderful 360 degree views over the Nile and the city and is the perfect location for viewing the magnificent sunsets whilst sipping a cocktail. We really enjoyed our stay at the Moevenpick and our time in Aswan .So much so we kept our fingers crossed all week that the UK airports would shut down once again forcing us to stay a little longer in this lovely location - no such luck this time! Why do Airports never close when you want them to?

22 October 2010

In early September, I spent three days in Vienna and had a great time. It proved to be a good time of year to visit as we had perfect sightseeing weather and it wasn't crowded. Vienna was once the seat of the Habsburg Empire and still retains an imperial elegance and old world charm but it is also a modern vibrant city with great choice of shops and entertainment. We stayed at the Intercontinental hotel which is in a really convenient location, 10 minutes walk from the city centre and opposite the Stadtpark and underground station. First impressions were that the 60's style building looked slightly out of place in a city with an abundance of stunning architecture. However, once inside everything looked fine and we had an enjoyable stay. Our room was a good size with a view of the park and the beds were very comfortable with a choice of pillows. Vienna is the perfect short break destination as the historic centre is very compact and it's really easy to walk around. The city also has an excellent transport system with underground, buses and trams making all the major sights easily accessible no matter where you stay. You can save money by buying a "Vienna Card", which gives you free travel around the city and discounts at many of the main attractions as well as at certain restaurants and shops. Worth buying the card at the Airport, as we did, as you can save money straight away on the Airport train tickets into the city. As on any short break, you have to be selective in what you do in the limited time available but it's possible to fit in quite a lot in three days. We saw most of the main sights and also made time to stroll around the narrow cobbled streets and the park as well as stopping off at the old coffee houses for which Vienna is famous. I found Vienna to be a very relaxing, friendly and safe city. The locals were very warm and friendly with a ready smile and everywhere we went we were made to feel very welcome. Vienna has so much to offer the visitor and it is definitely somewhere I would recommend to anyone looking for a city break - it really has something for everyone.

31 August 2010

I've recently returned from a wonderful holiday in France. I decided to try a river cruise, something that I'd never considered before but as I was going away in August, it seemed like a good way to see a lot of different places and to avoid the crowds at the same time. To be honest I was a little unsure if a river cruise would be to my liking. I was concerned that I may feel a little claustrophobic on a small ship with limited things to do and was worried about being stuck with the same passengers all week. However, I need not have worried as it turned out be a great choice. I chose Viking River Cruises' " Portraits of Southern France" as the itinerary really appealed to me . We cruised along the beautiful Saone and Rhone rivers from Burgundy to Provence stopping at lots of beautiful towns on the way. The beauty of a river cruise is that the ship moors right in the centre of town so you can just step off the ship and go off and explore. We visited so many wonderful and interesting places- spectacular walled towns with medieval buildings, many with ancient Roman amphitheatres such as Arles the town where Van Gogh lived and which inspired many of his famous paintings. Everywhere we stopped there was a guided tour on offer which was included in the cost of the cruise. Most were walking tours as the sights were all so close. One day the tour included wine tasting at a local vineyard and chocolate tasting at a famous chocolate manufacturer. I heard one passenger say "Wine and chocolate all on the same day -it doesn't get any better than this! " As for the ship, although small, it was spacious and airy and there was a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere on board. The ship had a well designed layout of public areas and a restaurant and lounge with panoramic views. There was also a spacious sundeck where we relaxed in the sun enjoying the beautiful views of the French countryside. All the cabins had a river view, most with picture windows and hotel-style beds. However, as I booked at short notice, the only cabin still available was one of the few standard cabins located on the lower deck. These cabins are smaller with half height windows at water level and a sofa bed and pull-down bed. The cabin was fine but I personally found the beds too hard. The restaurant had panoramic views and the food was outstanding. As a vegetarian, I can honestly say I've never eaten so well on any previous holiday- EVER. I really loved the Burgundy & Provence region and sailing peacefully along the river and mooring in the centre of such beautiful towns provided a holiday with a great combination of relaxation and exploration. I would definitely consider taking a river cruise again as it really exceeded my expectations and I will have no hesitation in recommending Viking River Cruises to my clients.

04 October 2010

MAY 2010 I hardly know where to start telling you about my educational trip to Dubai as we did so much in the course of the week. We stayed at three very different hotels, Atlantis the Palm, the Meydan and the One and Only Royal Mirage, Arabian Court, all of which were excellent. The Atlantis hotel totally lived up to its hype with great facilities on offer and high standards throughout. An ideal choice for a family holiday. The Meydan hotel is a stunning new 5* hotel which only opened a few months ago. It is located at Meydan racecourse in a newly developing area of the city. If you are keen on horse racing, this is the place to stay-you can even watch the racing from your balcony which overlooks the course. The Arabian Court is a beautiful beachfront property with traditional arabic architecture and décor set in beautiful gardens. It's a very stylish hotel with a relaxing atmosphere and high standards. Throughout the week, we also visited other hotels including the Armani, the Ritz Carlton, The Palace, Royal Meridien, Habtoor Grand and the Hilton Jumeirah. It was great to have the opportunity of visiting a range of different properties as first hand knowledge is unbeatable when it comes to advising clients on which hotel to choose. We also visited the Burj Khalifa tower, experienced a desert safari which included dune bashing in a 4x4 followed by a meal under the stars in a desert camp. We also spent a fun morning at the Ski Park , a catamaran cruise around the Palm not to mention a drive in a racing car around the track at the Autodrome. There really is so much to do in Dubai and if you like shopping-you'll be in heaven. There are over 1000 shops in the "Dubai Mall" alone-just one of the many shopping malls in the city. Dubai is undoubtedly an amazing place-it's full of surprises yet at the same time nothing seems to surprise you there. Think this was summed up when I jokingly told our guide how disappointed I was that Dubai hadn't yet got outdoor air conditioning and he simply said "They're working on it".