13 May 2024

Has the lovely weather of the last few days got you thinking about spending some time outdoors in a beautiful location? Beach holidays not your thing or you fancy a change? Summer holidays in Europe tend to be largely about the Mediterranean, but what about somewhere more inland? Countries such as Austria and Switzerland are fantastic destinations for something a bit different. When we think of the Alps we think of skiing, but in the summer months are actually the best time of year to visit. With the snow of the winter months largely gone (though trails of snow can still be found on the highest peaks) the Alps become alive with colour and wildlife. Summer is most associated with hiking and walking. But this is not just for serious hikers or walkers. Trails can range from challenging to easy, making it a perfect holiday for families. But it is also a great time to learn about Alpine culture, food, and drink. You can visit picturesque Alpine villages, soak up the views of the many lakes in the region, relax in a thermal spa, or take an Alpine train in a panoramic carriage to take in the stunning scenery. Take a cable car up to the top of a mountain, or take it easy with a Swiss Fondue cooking class. If you love this region for skiing, why not go back in the summer to see a completely different side of life here. Accommodation can range from self-catering apartments to 5* spa hotels. With the Alps covering 8 countries including Austria, France, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy, there really is something for everyone. Prices can vary by country and dates, but even in the school holidays there are some reasonable prices out there. I work with some fantastic suppliers who help me to find the perfect holiday for you and your family. Flights go from both London and regional airports, or you could extend the holiday and see more of Europe and travel by train. If this appeals to you, then do get in touch.

25 March 2024

Interesting news has come out from AITO in their annual survey. 52% of respondents said they would consider rail travel as 'a serious alternative' to flying. This is really interesting. The advent of mass air travel opened up the world in a way that had never been seen before. You could get almost anywhere just a few hours. For example, flying to New York from London takes around 7 hours, compared to anything from 7 to 16 nights on a transatlantic cruise. Of course, you can't take a train across the Atlantic, but you can get across to continental Europe by train and from there can go anywhere. Did you know that it is even possible to get from Lagos in Portugal to Beijing in China purely by train (it will take you 3 weeks though!). We used rail as an alternative to flying last summer - though it wasn't through choice. We were due to fly home from Bordeaux with a flight leaving at 9pm. The plane was late arriving for us to board and when it did finally land we were told - at 00:15 - that the our flight was cancelled due to crew illness. With no alternative flights for 3 days we thought about driving, but it is not possible to rent a car in France for a one-way trip back to the UK. So, our only option was rail. We stayed at the airport till around 4am and then got an Uber into the station in Bordeaux. We then took the 05:18 TGV train (the super fast ones) to Paris. Coming in south of the river we had to get the metro across the city to the Gard du Nord, and then the Eurostar to St Pancras. Unfortunately our car was at Gatwick so we then had to get on another train to the airport to collect it. We arrived back home about 20 hours after we were supposed to and with very little sleep other than what we managed to get on the trains. I should also mention that we did not use a Travel Counsellor for this and if we had then we would have had a lot less stress! Would we do it again? Obviously the situation was less than ideal! We hadn't planned this, and we were tired. And a little bit grumpy. However, we have said we would like to do it again - just planned. For us it certainly would be a viable alternative to flying down to Bordeaux again. It was so nice to see more of France (in between napping) and we would love to do it when we are more awake. And of course there was more leg room than on a plane! I'd definitely consider it for other destinations too. We looked at getting a train from LA to Seattle for an Alaskan cruise. I want to do a European cruise and would love to expand the trip by travelling there and back by rail. And it's not just train from London. You could fly to Thailand for example, and do a multi centre stay using the train rather than internal flights. Or use the train to get around Japan. So, would you consider it? Do you not like flying and don't travel well by coach/bus? Are you just looking for something different? Or do the practicalities of it make it seem scary - changing trains, planning connections? Of course, I can help you with that!

25 March 2024

Some of my time each day is spent learning about destinations that I've either never been to or destinations that I just want to learn more about. The more I know, the more I can help you with your perfect holiday. It is also fascinating and I'm so lucky that my job allows me - and provides me with the resources - to do this. Last week my destination of choice was Greece. This Mediterranean country is made up of over 6000 islands - only 227 of which are inhabited. There are so many different ways to experience this country: the home of democracy and one of the oldest civilisations in Europe (the oldest was the Minoan civilisation, which existed between 3,200 and 1,450 BC on the island of Crete). No matter what you are looking for from a holiday, Greece is definitely a destination worth considering. Want a beach holiday? Did you know that no point in Greece is more than 85 miles from water? This gives you two options. You can stay at a beach resort and still travel to other inland destinations. Or you can split your holiday with some time inland and then its just a short drive and/or ferry ride to a delightful beach resort. Are you more into the history and culture? Greece is home to 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a further 14 are currently being considered for this honour. Philosophy. Theatre. The Olympics. Democracy. All of these played a major part in life in Ancient Greece and if you have an interest in any of these then there are places you can visit. Looking for the sun? Greece has more than 3000 hours of sunshine (or 250 days) per year. This makes it one of the world's sunniest places. Are you a wine connoisseur? Greece has more than 300 varieties of grape and has a wine making tradition that dates back to 4000 BCE. The Ancient Greeks even had a god of wine. Are you a foodie? Greece is well-known for its healthy Mediterranean diet. Naturally, being an island nation, fish plays a large role here, and there is so much more than Greek yoghurt, Feta Cheese, Taramasalata, or Moussaka - as nice as those things are. Are you a cruise lover? If a cruise line sails in the Mediterranean, then it will offer cruises that takes in at least some of the Greek islands along with Athens. The perfect way to island hop and get a taster of what this country can offer you, with fully guided tours on excursions to help you explore. We have a number of hotels in Greece where we have built up a close relationship with, allowing me to add those personal touches and giving you the reassurance that you will be well looked after when you visit. From the hustle and bustle of Athens, peace and tranquillity of watching the sunset on Santorini. Beaches, cities, fishing villages, vineyards, and 5* resorts. Greece has something for everyone. I'm off to Greece later this year. As a teacher I taught Philosophy from ages 11-18, and theatre is one of my passions. I can't wait!

13 March 2024

Yesterday I attended a supplier event in London to meet with some of the cruise lines that I can book with. I love cruising and have sailed with Disney, Princess and P&O. I am also a member of CLIA, giving me up to date insights into the cruising industry (and first class training). However there is a wide variety of cruise lines out there and I was keen to expand my knowledge of them. So I set off at 6:30am and headed down to London: destination ‘The Sunborn Yacht Hotel’ near the ExCel. Yes, a hotel on a yacht – what a perfect place to meet up with some cruise lines and learn about what they have to offer! We had presentations from 8 cruise lines who sail from the UK and around the world. From luxury cruise lines with 180 day sailings around the world, to expedition cruise lines sailing to the Antarctic or the Galapagos Islands. From adult only cruise ships, to family orientated ones. It is events like this that really help me in my business and ultimately help me to help you. Part of what I do is matching you to the perfect holiday, and cruises are no exception. Some people have a pre-conceived view of who is the average cruiser. The truth is that there IS no average cruiser, and yesterday certainly highlighted that to me. If you want to try cruising then there is a cruise line for you. This is why people come to me for help as I can advise them in a way that the internet can’t. I don’t want to send you on a holiday that isn’t right for you, just to get a sale. These events also put me in contact with the regional managers for our suppliers. This gives me a direct contact with the cruise line – and you never know when that might help me give you the best experience possible. So who are you? A luxury seeker? A foodie? An intrepid adventurer? A party loving traveller? A family focused parent? A regular holiday maker tired of the same old destinations? Someone looking for their bucket list adventure? Whoever you are, I can recommend a cruise line for you.

22 February 2024

I am an unashamed Disney fan. So much so that at a previous job one of my nicknames was ‘Disney’. I’m the person that friends and family turn to for advice on visiting WDW (Walt Disney World). So of course, I am very excited about being able to help people plan and go on their perfect trip. One question I always get asked is ‘why do you keep going back?’ These people do have a point. There is the whole world to explore out there, but for some reason this 39 square mile patch of land in a city on the other side of the pond keeps pulling me back. I could make a really bad ‘Moana’ reference here, but I won’t – but if you are now singing that song in your head then, ‘you’re welcome’ (yep, sorry if you are singing that one too, and now you know how my family feel!) I first visited WDW in 1994 after university and had the most amazing time. Only two years earlier I’d returned to the love of Disney that I’d had as a child with the release of ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Nearly 20 years, one husband, and two kids later, I returned to WDW in Oct 2012. The plan was to take the children on a ‘once in a life time’ trip. They were 8 and 5. It was as amazing as I had remembered and the children were in awe of everything. As with a lot of people this ‘once in a life time’ trip turned out to be anything but. We returned in 2014 and have been returning ever since then. We have stayed off site, on site, become DVC members, had an Annual Pass, and in 2016 discovered Disney Cruise line. When you find your happy place, you catch hold of it. For me Disney is my happy place. It doesn’t matter your age, you can feel like a child again and you will find your own way of enjoying it. As my children have grown up our Disney experience has gone from being all about character meets to being all about the rides. And each age that they have gone has given us different memories. Familiarity is also part of it. Both me and my son are autistic and knowing where our favourite spots are and how we can get away from the crowds, is invaluable. Yes, there are new rides and new experiences each time we go, but the essence of Disney remains the same. We sometimes play the game of ‘signs you are a Disney family’. A lot of our shared memories contain in jokes and references to experiences we shared. Like the time we got stuck in Hollywood Studios in a torrential downpour and whilst three of us sought shelter in the entrance of the ABC Commissary, my daughter refused and just danced in the rain. Or the time we got stuck at Epcot in the rain and we joked about my husband running from ‘Germany’ in the World Showcase back to the Mouse Gears shop while we were waiting. Or the time she ran at Goofy when she was five and nearly knocked him over. Or her very first character interaction when there was no queue for Snow White but she was too nervous to walk up to her. So Snow White came over, took her hand, and led her to the spot. Just the other day I was in the car with her and Earth Wind and Fire’s ‘September’ came on the radio. Her first comment was ‘I feel like the car should be spinning’. No, she wasn’t referring to my driving, but the fact that this was the song we had playing during 6 out of the 9 times we rode ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind’ in 2022. Family holidays are made of things that generate a lifetime of memories and Disney definitely does that for us. Disney does what it can to make the experience work for everyone. We have had a lot of use out of the DAS (Disability Accessibility Service) Pass. This allows people – primarily those with cognitive disabilities – to be able to access the rides. I struggle with sensory overload and the queues for rides are themed with lots of stuff going on. Whilst this is great in that it passes the time and there is always lots to see, it is a real problem for people like me. I have my limit on how long I can cope with a queue and being able to use the DAS Pass when I need to means I can keep going. If you have a physical disability almost every ride is wheelchair accessible (and they have alternative options for the very small number that aren’t) and wheelchairs/scooters can be hired in the parks or from other companies in the area. I always remember something I read about the character meet and greets, and when I watch them it is 100% true. When they hug someone – child or adult – they will never let go until the guest lets go. The idea is that they don’t know why that guest needs the hug or what is going on in their lives, and so they let the guest decide. This, to me, is SUCH a big thing. There is a sign above the entrance to Magic Kingdom which sums it up very well: "Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy" So, to answer the original question: there is no one reason why I keep going back. Unless it is to keep the magic going. So where have we stayed? Here are our experiences with WDW and DCL October 2012 – WDW – offsite in a villa October 2014 – WDW – The Grand Floridian August 2015 – WDW – Old Key West and Port Orleans Riverside August 2016 – WDW – Beach Club Villas, Vero Beach, and cruised on the Disney Dream February 2017 – WDW – Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Villas at the Grand Floridian, and cruised on the Disney Dream (adult only trip) July 2017 – DLP – Newport Bay Club August 2017 – DLP – Sequoia Lodge (adult only trip) October 2017 – WDW – Polynesian and cruised on the Disney Dream August 2018 – WDW – Bay Lake Tower, Port Orleans French Quarter, Vero Beach, cruised on the Disney Dream, and cruised on the Disney Fantasy August 2109 – Cruised on the Disney Magic from Dover (Norwegian Fjords) August 2021 – 4 night Staycation cruise on the Disney Magic to try and get my dose of Disney that Covid had taken away August 2022 – WDW - Port Orleans French Quarter, Beach Club, Riviera, Grand Floridian, Vero Beach, and cruised on the new Disney Wish

08 February 2024

This has to be one of my top bucket list things to do - see the Northern Lights. And I'm guessing it is for a lot of people. But unfortunately there is no place you go can where you are guaranteed to see them, so I do get asked for advice on where is the best place to go and when. Here are some of the top locations that people travel to in the hope of seeing the Northern Lights. It will probably come as no surprise to learn that it is the Scandinavian countries which hold the top spot. Lapland in Finland has seen a huge growth in tourists hoping to catch the elusive phenomenon. It's not just the man in red who is the main attraction here! For example the 'Santa's Magic' tour company, who offer trips to Saariselkä, have the option of a resort hotel slightly higher up which gives you a better chance. Other popular spots include Rovaniemi and Inari. Cruises to Norway are also popular ways to try and catch the Northern Lights. If you are planning on a cruise for this purpose then do be aware that a 7 night cruise from the UK will generally not take you far north enough to see them. You really need a 14 night cruise which will take up to Alta or Tromsø. Another popular spot in Norway is the city of Narvik. Sweden also has some great viewing spots, with Abisko and Kiruna particularly popular places to travel to. Also included in the Scandinavian spots is Iceland - in fact there are some lovely cruise itineraries which take in both Norway and Iceland - and the city of Kálfafell is very popular for Northern Light spotting. Moving away from Scandinavia, Churchill, Banff, and Jasper, all in Canada, are popular destinations. Finally, and closer to home, is the Isle of Skye in Scotland. So when should you go? The peak period is late September to late March. Obviously your budget will largely determine when and where you go. It may be the sole purpose of your trip, or you may be wanting to explore the area in general. Perhaps you want to cruise to fjords in Norway, and the Northern Lights would be a bonus. Or perhaps you are tying it in with that trip to see Santa. Whatever the purpose, and however you want to do it, I can help put that perfect itinerary together.