21 September 2017

Ms Koningsdam was docked in Amsterdam ready to embark on a "Jewels of the Baltic" cruise in Northern Europe. I was very privileged to be invited to have a tour of the ship, inspect the staterooms and suites, and experience a lovely lunch! From the outside she looks stunning, launched in 2016 - Koningsdam is Holland America Line's biggest ship to date. She is 975 feet long and holds 2650 passengers plus crew. When you embark you can see how elegant she is with the grand and classical decor and theme of music throughout. She has thirteen decks and is very easy to get around. On board she has a variety of different accommodation options from Neptune suites, Verandah suites, verandah staterooms and inside staterooms. These all vary in size but there are some really spacious options with large balconies along with accommodation big enough for a family of five! The theatre on board "World stage" is set out so that everyone can see and has interactive LED boards all around the theatre. There are a few choices of specialty restaurants that can be booked with a small cover charge, French and Asian being two of them. There are digital workshops, wine blending and America's test kitchen providing plenty to do. If that's not enough for you, you can relax at one of the two pools or have a day in the Retreat where you can hire a private cabana. In the evening you are entertained by BB Kings, bringing the best of Memphis music to sea, or visit Billboard onboard with live musicians charting music from all the decades. I had a spectacular lunch in the main dining room consisting of bread basket, tomato Roma soup, beef tenderloin and chocolate peanut tart which was divine! The meal was served with fine wines too and finished with coffee. Koningsdam was a delight to experience, and I was jealous of all the passengers getting on the ship for their cruise, and I didn't want to get off!

21 September 2017

I was invited to attend a travel agent event in Amsterdam to experience the delights of the city and also visit a cruise ship that was docked ready to embark on a journey to the Baltics! Amsterdam is a great city break option that's only 50 minutes flight from Manchester . On arrival into Schipol airport it is so easy to get to the city centre. You come out of passport control, follow the signposts for the station, purchase a ticket from the machine to Amsterdam Central station and you're there in 15 minutes - the trains run every 10 minutes. We were staying in The Movenpick, only 10 mins walk from the station. The hotel was located away from the main attractions but still within walking distance and right next to the cruise terminal! The rooms were lovely and we were allocated one with an amazing view of the city. Tea and coffee making facilities and great bathroom with all the amenities. On the first day we were taken on a walking tour of Amsterdam showing us some of the main attractions including a fly by of the famous red light district - a must-see! We finished with a lovely lunch in s traditional restaurant. After lunch we walked and walked, admiring all the pretty canals and buildings. We had a lovely drink in the De L'europe restaurant which had a lovely terrace next to the canal where we watched all the boats pass by, one of which included a brass band. Before heading back to the hotel we went to Doubletree by Hilton Skylounge for another amazing drink with views across the whole city! It was a quick dash back to the hotel for a change and shower ready for our dinner cruise on the canal! What an amazing experience this was. The boat was all dressed up with tables set beautifully. We sailed around for a couple of hours passing all the beautiful houseboats and all of Amsterdam looking so pretty lit up in the evening. The dinner was fabulous; a four course affair with our glasses never empty as they were constantly filled. After a hectic day it was straight to bed ready for the next day - a visit on the Holland and America ship Ms Koningsdam.

21 September 2017

This is the second time I have visited Ibiza for a family holiday and it did not disappoint. With thirteen members of my family we arrived at the 3 star Intertur Miami hotel in the Resort of Es Cana late on a Saturday after a pleasant two hour flight and forty minute private transfer from the airport. As it was late we had missed dinner but the hotel opened the restaurant for us to grab a a quick snack of cheese, meats, bread, and crackers. We were staying there on an all inclusive basis, and had booked three premium rooms with sea views and two standard rooms. The views in the premium rooms were just fabulous, either overlooking the pool and sea or just the sea at the back of the hotel, and were equipped with DVD players, PlayStation, tea and coffee facilities plus bathrobes and slippers! The rooms were not huge but big enough for three to share. The other standard rooms were the same size without the extra bits and bobs and view, but perfectly adequate for a week's stay. We had maid service every single day with clean bedding and fresh towels - the rooms were spotless. The hotel at the height of August suffers with that fight for a sunbed scenario, but one of our party was happy to queue every morning at 8 until they released the beds at 9am, which was funny to see. As the resort was located right next to the beach and sea this provided a really welcome opportunity to have a paddle and swim in the warm sea or have a go on the pedaloes, which were 15 euros to hire for an hour! Meal times were fine, there were no queues and no problem finding tables even at this busy part of the season. The food was very good with show cooking fresh omelettes every morning and theme nights such as oriental and Mexican. The children especially liked the chocolate fountain that made an appearance twice. Whilst there we had a birthday and anniversary within our party and the hotel very kindly arranged a bottle of fizz to be delivered as a surprise. The hotel is located at the edge of the resort but easily accessible by beach or road within 5 to 10 mins. Es Cana is a small resort with a few bars and restaurants shops etc. We had a lovely meal in the Marvent restaurant, although service was a little slow, and we also had a great night in Rio's bar doing a quiz and karaoke. We didn't bother with the evening entertainment in the hotel as there was so many of us we made our own, but they had a show every evening and mini disco for the kids. During the day we took part in the darts, archery and cocktail games, and the pool, aqua and water polo every morning and afternoon. The animation team were great in getting people involved but there was no pressure if you didn't want to. Es Cana has a fantastic hippy market every Wednesday which is worth a visit and not too far from Santa Eulalia if you fancied a change. All in all we had a great family holiday which all of our party enjoyed, ranging from ages 9-62. Over the winter the Intertur hotel will be having a refurb and upgraded to a 4 star so it will be interesting to see the difference then.

21 September 2017

They said it couldn't be done and there's too much to see but we did it. Albeit I want to go back and see more but it really is possible to do a quick whistle stop tour! We boarded the Virgin train to London at 8am grabbing some sandwiches and some snacks for a picnic on the train. Two hours later we arrived into London Euston. I had already purchased some travel cards for me and my husband - kids travel free in London. So we made our way to the tube and got off at Charing Cross, this brought us out at Trafalgar Square. Wow - immediately we were blown away by such an iconic scene with the National Gallery, Nelson's Column and the big lions all to see! From here we made our way down Whitehall we we found the household cavalry museum and horse guards parade. We walked through here and out at St James Park which looked beautiful with Buckingham Palace in the distance. It was around here that we stumbled across the Churchill War Rooms. Knowing that Downing St was nearby we went back on ourself so we could take that iconic picture of the road sign! From here we made our way further down Whitehall to Westminster where we could see Big Ben and hear its chimes! We had a little walk along the Thames so we could take a picture of the London Eye and Scotland Yard! We needed a pit stop so had a quick drink then made our way back to St James Park. It was lovely walking through here at lunch time, the weather was perfect and people were just relaxing in their lunch break or enjoying an ice cream. At the other end you come out near Buckingham Palace and the wow factor sets in again, especially when you see the flag raised and realise the Queen is at home! We stopped by here taking pictures for a while with the other tourists from all around the world who were taken in as much as us. To head back we walked down the famous Mall where many a state car has carried royalty for weddings and funerals. We passed St James Palace and the wonderful tribute to the Queen Mother. We found ourselves at Piccadilly Circus and as it was Friday afternoon there was a real buzz about. A street performer was dancing to the sounds of Ed Sheeran which was a real crowd pleaser. People were grabbing early diners before going to see a West End show - it was a great atmosphere. From here we walked to Leicester Square to find somewhere to eat before we headed back to Euston. Stumbling across Convent Garden along the way - the Friday buzz continued with the markets still in full flow - I realised I wanted more time as I was having so much fun. It was time to make our way back to Euston from Charing Cross and we we were home by 10pm. After 25,000 steps we certainly covered some distance and saw lots of major sights. It was a wonderful day but I will be back for more as London definitely had a great vibe, despite the recent events of the year and it felt very safe too with police on show for reassurance. London's calling!

11 June 2017

Wow - what an amazing Greek island Zakynthos is for a family holiday. Having just spent a 7 nights holiday here I can thoroughly recommend this as a perfect family holiday destination. We arrived just in time for dinner at our All inclusive hotel situated in the resort of Kalamaki - only 10 minutes from the airport. How amazing this was to watch the planes taking of and landing over the beach area and was in no way an inconvenience - especially for plane spotters like myself. The hotel offered so much choice for families with lots of activities during the day and evening and an onsite water park - free for hotel guests. The drinks and food were good although it was a lovely treat to sample the local Greek restaurants situated just on the main strip of Kalamaki minutes from the hotel. The main attraction to this island and the resort itself is the fact that it is resident to beautiful turtles who often make appearances at certain times of the year. We were lucky enough to see them when we took a boat trip. The boat trip was a great experience - we got a great deal from one of the local suppliers on the main strip, free kids and only 15 euros per adult. We were picked up and taken to the harbour where we joined the boat for a 4 hour trip. Shortly after our departure we stopped to see the most beautiful turtles swimming in the open sea - the boat waited so we could all see their heads popping up. We were then taken to the Keri Caves - a spectacular phenomenon within the limestone rocks of Zakynthos, providing some amazing scenery. Here we were able to jump off the boat and swim in the water surrounding these amazing caves. Further on we sailed to a beautiful beach area where again we could jump in the sea and swim to an uninhabited beach! A boat shop joined us whilst we were anchored here so we could purchase drinks and snacks - this was really welcomed and a very unusual sight to see. A visit to the beautiful beach was in order during the course of our stay and we had the most amazing time with shallow waters crystal clear and so safe with no water sports allowed to protect the turtles. Finally we took the local bus into Zante town (the capital) here we spent time exploring the local Greek shops and had amazing Greek salad in a local taverna. All in all Zakynthos is a beautiful Greek island only 3hrs 30 mins from the UK and perfect for all ages!

22 April 2017

A mini break to Majorca at Easter was just what we needed after a long and dreary winter! I picked some EasyJet flights flying out on Easter Monday for a 3 night trip. Our flight took off and we landed in Majorca at 10am - ready to get straight into our mini break. Waiting for us in Palma Airport was our private transfer, having taken just cabin baggage this process of exiting the airport was really quick. 20 minutes later we arrived at our hotel - the Intertur Hawaii Palma Nova. A 4 star hotel right by the sea and walking distance to bars and restaurants in Palma Nova. We had a lovely surprise when we arrived as not only were we able to check in at 10.30 in the morning but we had been upgraded to a Junior Suite with Sea view!! Wow just wow - we had booked a standard room with sea view so this was at least a 2 category upgrade. When we walked in the room we couldn't believe the size. It was huge, a really large bathroom, a separate sleeping / lounge area and a huge terrace complete with table, chairs and 2 plush sunbeds! The hotel offered bb, half board and All inclusive which we chose. The range and choice of drinks and food was great with named drinks such as Gordon's Gin, Strongbow Cider to oriental Gala dinners with show cooking! The views from the hotel were simply stunning and every evening before dinner we opted for drinks on the terrace bar. On the last day we decided to try out Fantasia Golf down in Palma Nova! 3 courses of crazy golf dotted around beautiful rocks and streams. This was great fun. I was really surprised at what a good option Majorca is for an Easter mini break - especially as Easter was late this year. In terms of the weather out of the 3 days only one of them was not a pool day, which is when we went to Fantasia Golf. All in all it was a great trip!

10 June 2016

Sorrento was the choice between my friends and I as a destination we would like to visit to celebrate our special birthday year . We were not disappointed . A 3 hour flight from Manchester and private transfer to greet us on arrival , soon had us at our lovely boutique 4 star hotel called The Plaza . The hotel was an excellent choice as it was in the middle of Piazza Tasso where numerous restaurants , shops and bars were all in walking distance . The hotel was a great choice as it had a lovely roof top pool , terrace and bar , giving fabulous views out across to Mount Vesuvius. As we were there for 4 nights , we wanted to pack in as much sightseeing as we could but also have a little bit of chill out time too . After arriving late on the first day we had a leisurely morning over a lovely hotel breakfast and then made our way to the train station which was 5 minutes walk from the hotel. Here we boarded a train to Pompeii. At Pompeii , there is the option to take a tour to Mount Vesuvius which we did . High above on the Volcano provided amazing views , after a couple of hours doing this , we made our way back down . Pompeii was open to the public until 7.30pm with last admission at 6.00pm so a few of us headed back to Sorrento and the rest stayed to visit the amazing ruins - which they said were amazing but would have liked more time . So I guess this would be a full day trip for future reference. With the Amalfi coast all on our bucket list we arranged to hire our own private boat for the day. This proved to be the most amazing day and one that I will always remember. The boat was a great size , with a friendly skipper who provided us with great local knowledge , drinks and lunch on board . Our 1st stop was Capri - here you could if you wanted to visit the Blue Grotto but being pushed for time and an apprehension from a couple of us to go inside this enclosed cave , we gave it a miss. Capri was just beautiful , lots of little grottos , rugged coastline and spectacular little towns with beautiful bathing areas , would highly recommend for a quiet chilled out retreat . The 2nd stop on the list was Positano - it was just as stunning in real life when comparing to the pictures you see . A small town based mainly with lots of steps and would not suit those with walking difficulties but just simply stunning . The 3rd and final stop was Amalfi , a much busier resort and a lot bigger than Positano . Lots of hustle and bustle here but a must do here is having an Ice Cream in. I can recommend the Tiramasu flavour. Bellisimo ! After a long day it was time to hit the sea again , to make our way back to Sorrento which takes approx. 1hr 15 mins from Amalfi. These towns can be visited by car , which is known as the Amalfi Drive but we thoroughly enjoyed arriving to these towns from the sea where we could really see the beauty of them as you see on Postcards . We had lots of amazing meals in Sorrento and the hotel provided us with many recommendations , one in particular was Tasso . Another memorable moment we had was enjoying a drink at the 5 star Excelsior Vittoria Hotel . This is a must do as you can sit and look out to the beautiful bay of Naples which looks amazing all lit up at night . Our last day we had a lovely chill out day on our Roof Terrace , sitting on a sunlounger looking at the amazing views in the distance . Sorrento really was sensational and the memories we made will last a lifetime .

04 April 2016

I wanted a city break that would cater for families so after doing some research I booked a three night stay in Barcelona for myself, husband and 7 year old daughter. It certainly didn't disappoint. Barcelona gave us a great balance of sightseeing with plenty of things to occupy my daughter too. The first day we arrived at 10am, went straight to the hotel to dump our bags and we headed straight to the beach. It was late March but the weather was warm enough for my daughter to have a little paddle. Down at the beach areas of Villa Olimpica and Barceloneta, the beach was spotless with plenty of great restaurants and bars, perfect for sampling some local tapas and admiring some lovely views. It was great to see the influences of the 1992 Olympics too. Our hotel The Novotel Barcelona City was situated a little out of the main drag on Avenida Diagonal, but this didn't matter as we had access to the Metro, tram, buses and taxis to make our way around very easily. Along with the Glories shopping centre where there were numerous restaurants, we certainly didn't feel isolated. The hotel itself was very modern with a lovely roof terrace, pool and bar situated on the 19th floor, which gave great views of the Torre Agbar and Sagrada Familia. The second day we decided to head to Parc Ciutadella where Barcelona Zoo was located. What a fantastic zoo, it cost 50 Euros for the three of us, which is great value in comparison to Zoo's back home. We spent longer than we intended here as there was so much to see. Elephants, Penguins, Tigers, Lions, Crocodiles, Gorillas and the like. Numerous wild birds were flying freely around the zoo. With plenty of ice cream stations dotted around, it was a refreshing treat on a warm day. After here we headed to the beach again which was within walking distance from the zoo, where we stopped off for a late lunch. After a long day at the zoo, we called it a day and went back to the hotel where we had a pre-dinner drink on the roof top bar before we went for dinner at one of the restaurants near the hotel. For our last day in Barcelona we wanted to take in as many of the sites as possible and to save our little legs, we chose to purchase the Hop on Hop off bus tickets, which are valid for 24hrs and for either one or two days. The bus stop was right outside the hotel where we jumped on and took in many of the sites stopping at Place de la Catalunya, where we spent the afternoon walking down Las Ramblas and enjoying the La Boqueria Markets, squares, street performers and the Christopher Columbus statue. We went for dinner at the Hard Rock Café, which was very busy but you could just have drinks whilst you wait with a pager for your table to be ready. It was finally time to head back to the hotel. Hopping on the bus again, we were able to take in the last of the sites we had missed. Barcelona was a great city that has something for everyone and I would definitely go back as it had a great vibe!

04 April 2016

If you are thinking of going on a cruise for the first time then Britannia is a great choice. Having never been on a cruise with my family before, I decided we should give it a go. We drove down to Southampton the night before and stopped off in a local Premier Inn. This was great for feeling refreshed the next morning. Driving into Southampton we were all taken aback by the huge ships waiting for their passengers to dock. It was a very painless check in process in comparison to airports. We drove straight through as we had booked the car parking. We were met by someone who whisked our car away to park for the next seven days. Once through the security check points of the cruise terminal we simply stepped on the ship and greeted by the crew. You couldn't tell that it was a ship as it was that big and everything was so grand. It was like a 5 star hotel. Our cabins were ready immediately and our luggage was delivered swiftly to our room so we could unpack and start exploring the ship. The ship was huge and we were staying in an inside cabin, which had plenty of room for me, my husband and daughter. We unpacked everything and there was a space for everything to be neatly placed. Top of the range toiletries by The White Company were waiting along with a mini bar with some water. A webcam of outside the ship could be viewed at any time through the TV. The next seven days took us across the Bay of Biscay and we visited Guernsey, La Coruna, Bilbao and La Rochelle. When not visiting the cruise ports there was plenty of things to keep you occupied on ship. There are a full programme of activities daily and at night. There are also three pools and a spa. Kids were kept entertained with their own kids clubs, sectioned into age appropriate groups. This was very secure and the children could only be signed out by the person registered. My daughter enjoyed it in here with her friends. Every evening we all ate together as a family and then the kids would go to kids club in their PJs and settle down for a movie. We would pick them back up and hour or so later (after we had a quick drink in the adults only Crow’s Nest bar) and head to the buffet again for a quick supper. The kids loved it. All in all, Britannia catered for all age groups and I would definitely go on again and visit some other destinations.

08 June 2015

I have just returned from a great family holiday on the island of Menorca! With just over two hours flying time, it is a great destination for families. I travelled with my husband and seven year old daughter, and our friends and their two daughters . We stayed in the resort of Cala'n Bosh, a beautiful resort with a gorgeous beach and a marina full of swanky restaurants and bars. Our hotel was called the Grouphotel Turquesa De Mar currently operating as a holiday village on an all inclusive basis. This hotel was a great option again for families as the accommodation is apartments with a lounge, separate bedroom and kitchenette facilities but on an all inclusive basis. Food was great, with plenty of choice along with speciality restaurants including an Italian and a BBQ. This made a nice change from the main restaurant. The facilities for children were amazing, kids clubs for all ages along with a creche for babies too. A full entertainment programme throughout the day and evening, with the obligatory hotel dance that we all got involved in every day by the pool and in the evening. A must see is the old capital of Menorca - Ciutadella , there is a bus stop just outside the hotel, so we just hopped on and had a lovely visit there. There are lots of other things you can do in Menorca if you have time, from boat trips to the waterpark and zoo. All in all it was great destination and one that I would be happy to visit again.

10 December 2013

I have just been to Lapland on Saturday as a surprise trip for my daughter! It was such a lovely surprise for her to go and see Father Christmas. I have to say it was very cold and perhaps too cold for some but if you are used to ski holidays and camping I would definitely recommend this. We only did a day trip but I think it would be just as good to stay for a few nights where you can get warm by a log fire after being in the cold all day. It's a great opportunity to see The Northern Lights too and they did make an appearance on the flight back but I was on the wrong side of the plane! Boo hoo! We did lots of activities such as a husky ride, reindeer ride and of course seeing Santa himself. Rovanieme in Finland, where we were, crosses the Arctic Circle and we came home with a certificate to prove it. It is truly a once in a lifetime experience.

28 October 2013

I was lucky enough to be invited by Disney Cruise Line to a spectacular VIP trip to Orlando and cruising the Bahamas on board "The Disney Dream" cruise ship. It all seems like a "dream" now - pardon the pun, we were well and truly spoilt. After a 9 hour flight on award winning airline Virgin Atlantic, I was whisked by private transfer straight to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Waiting to greet us was none other than "Woody and Buzz”, here I watched "Fantasmic" - a spectacular night time firework show. After having a couple of rides on Rock and Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror (a must do) we headed to The Disney's Caribbean Beach hotel for the night. It was an early start the next day as the beautiful Disney Dream was waiting for us to board in Port Canaveral, ready to set sail to The Bahamas and Disney's own private island Castaway Cay. On the ship I was immediately blown away by the grand atrium, I knew then that a 5 star experience was awaiting. I was given a full tour of the ship and wow she is a beauty. There are numerous restaurants, bars, Walt Disney Theatre, two swimming pools and splash zone for toddlers. Not forgetting the world's first coaster at sea - AQUA DUCK! What surprised me most was the adult only areas - Private deck area with pool and swim up bar and a spa area with Jacuzzi’s. The District is an area of the ship dedicated to adults with bars such as "Pink" (where we had a pink champagne party) Evolution and Skyline. All these areas are to be taken advantage of whilst the kids are living it up in "The Oceaneers Club " an exclusive zone just for kids with fantastic security , so you have peace of mind that they are safe . All of the staterooms are beautifully decorated, plenty of space for families up to 5 and 70% of the staterooms feature a balcony. During the cruise, we visited Nassau in the Bahamas - you could see the famous hotel resort "Atlantis Paradise Island" as you are coming into port. In Nassau we did a snorkelling excursion and some shopping. We also visited "Castaway Cay" Disney's own private island, exclusive to Disney's guests with plenty of activities. All of the restaurants and bars are included as part of the cruise and any purchases are charges to your ship board account. Here you can hire a bike, sunbathe on the fantastic beaches, use the kids facilities, perhaps have a massage by the sea or relax on the adult only beach called Serenity Bay. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CRUISE FOR ME WERE: FOOD-the dining experience is first class, you can dine in a different restaurant each night and have you waiters move with you so they can get to know you. PALO - Adult only restaurant with a $20 cover charge, eating chocolate soufflé whilst watching the moon glisten on the sea. SHOWS - World class shows every evening , equivalent to Broadway and the West End. It was finally time for the cruise to come to an end and we finished our trip by staying at Disney's Wilderness Lodge hotel, going to Magic Kingdom, Epcot and having a private dessert party with cocktails and drinks whilst watching Disney's Illuminations - Reflections of the earth! The evening was finished off by fisting Jellyrolls on Boardwalk - a lively piano bar with audience sing-alongs. The day arrived when we needed to head back home but not before we had time to fit in a visit to Disney's Animal Kingdom where we had a safari and saw lots of animals. We then made our way to Disney's Typhoon Lagoon for a site visit and a spot of lunch followed by a trip to Downtown Disney to stock up on lots of Disney goodies and then on to the airport for the flight back to the UK . I will never forget the Disney VIP trip - it really was amazing and will always be remembered in my "dreams".