30 June 2023

Amo l’Italia! Italy holds such a special place in my heart - an affection forged in my teens when I was an Au Pair in Lugano on the border of Italy and Switzerland. A very special and most wonderful time. Quite simply, I think I fell in love - with Italy, it's people and, basically, all things Italian. Over the years I have visited this stunning country many times. In particular, I have spent many weeks in and around Lake Garda, my children competing in sailing events on this stunning lake with its challenging thermal winds and awe-inspiring alpine back drop. It’s a country famous not only for its glorious landscapes, rich history and vibrant culture, but also for their hearty Italian food and family centric culture. What's not to love about their lifestyle - their passion for life, style, family (and spending time with them!!), religion and maintaining Catholic traditions, and the pleasure of eating good meals prepared with time, love and dedication. With its natural beauty, incredible food, art, and style, Italy is a destination where one visit is not enough. You will be left wanting to come back for more. More culture, more history, more velvety tiramisu, more piping hot melting cheese on your favourite fresh pizza, more gelato - just more Italy. Yes, Italy can be busy and chaotic. So why not join an escorted tour, with like-minded people, getting the very best from a holiday, taking you to the iconic landmarks and enveloping you with the local lifestyle, traditions and flavours. Travelsphere and Just You (for those wishing to travel as singles or women only small groups) offer excellent escorted tours, boasting experienced local holiday guides that are on hand to share their knowledge of Italy's hidden gems and fascinating insights that you won’t find in a guidebook. And these trips are great value - with flights, transfer, hotels, sightseeing and incredible experiences all included – with of course, full ATOL financial protections! Now is the time to create your very own, lasting Italian memories. Travelsphere/Just You believes that every holiday should be an adventure to remember. That's why each tour is carefully curated to include incredible experiences that showcase the very best of Italy. Whether it's exploring the ancient ruins of Pompeii, cruising along the romantic canals of Venice, or indulging in a wine tasting in the Tuscan countryside, you'll be at the heart of the adventure, creating unforgettable memories with like-minded travellers. The camaraderie and shared experiences on an escorted tour foster new friendships that can last a lifetime. Fall in love with Italy - like I did all those years ago. I look forward to helping you plan your own Italy trip and beginning your own special relationship with this very magical country. Ciao!

23 September 2019

I just love Antigua, 365 white sandy beach, relaxed way of life and super food - what is not to like? It is only a 8 hour direct flight from the UK - daytime flight out and overnight on the way home on BA or Virgin - making it a perfect winter get away. Or combine with Miami, as we did this summer, only 3 hours from Miami direct flight. The island is easy to get round, car hire is very safe - though you do have to watch out for the pot holes! or the taxi or local bus is cheap and a great experience! All hotel ranges from apartments, villas with private pools to boutique hotels or 5* such as Carlisle Bay Hotel all on the clear turquoise warm water. I have been travelling to Antigua for 15 years so please do give me a call to find out the perfect holiday for you.

11 September 2019

My family’s first cruise ( with teenagers of 16 & 18 yrs) was going to be an experience on way or another! It was a 5 night cruise out of Miami - we chose this cruise as it fitted with our holiday dates and included Havana. Unfortunately Mr Trump then with 1 month of departure date - declared that Cuba was off limits to Americans and American cruise ships - we were very disappointed. However the cruise really was fun as they promised - the cruise director being a very talented, funny humble man who made the cheesey announcement - that we first cringed at but in the end would open the cabin door so we could hear him: “Hi di ho sensation family - Deon your cruise director here popping in to let you know what is going on on the ship today. Hi ho and I gotta go, thank you and love you carnival sensation families bye". This is a small ship with only 2,500 passengers - more like a older fashioned liner really - but I less like the fact that you would see people again around, it could get into the smaller ports - Havana Grrr). We found the Americans seemed to know what to do in a cruise, arrival in family group with matching t-shirts - they seem to meet up with family and friends from all over the country. They are very dressy for the first night (prom dresses and black tie - really) for the formal photo opportunities. They're very good at having fun and joining in. The cruise directors informal cabaret sessions were brilliant , the adult comedy excellence, martini bars stylish. The food was good, not excellent but you can find plenty of salads along with the high quantity of American food. Unlimited ice cream - self service from the soft scoop machine was a hit. Half Moon Cay, Bahamas was our favourite port of call, the most fabulous beach with crystal clear turquoise waters with soft white sandy beach. Dappled shade from trees with hammock was idyllic (once we walk the extra few hundred metres away from the rest of the passengers). Grand Turk - the Havana replacement was horrible. There were two cruise ships in at once in a poor beach and little else to see or do on an unattractive island. The only interest part was a very small displace about the Apollo landings there in the 60’s. We bought the drinks package - but had to work hard to make it worthwhile - if you like cocktails then it's worth it but 6 cocktails day (to break even on days with shore visits) is a challenge! The pool and water slides, mini golf and deck games are all good fun. Wi-Fi is an extra but not as expensive as I imagined - $60 per device for the cruise although we found it nice to keep the teenagers off this and play games again. My teenagers liked the cruise and enjoyed the Americans, and would consider doing one again but carefully choose the destination ports of call and research what to do there, and choose the right cruise line for you and your families fun, food, social group. We will look at cruising again especially integrated with touring holiday.

11 September 2019

It had been 20 years since I had visited Miami and going back with our now teenagers was going to interesting ... well it doesn’t disappoint. Hot, clean, friendly and definitely iconic. Getting around is so easy with the free trolley buses (with air conditioning and free Wi-Fi). Download the app so you can see where the stops are and when the next trolley is coming. Tip - using only electric golf karts and Uber - you can get about easily and cheaply (pre-load the Uber app with your foreign exchange card. Revolute or the post office or similar card to avoid exchange rates with each transactions. The Art Deco buildings are restored from my last visit and still stylish giving the welcoming relaxed feel. The food is still twice as much as you need in each portion - Brunch being almost the only meal you need a day! We stayed at the Eden Roc, the oceanfront rooms have a great view of the three pools and the beach and ocean. Watch the morning runners on the boardwalk as the sun rises. I found the lobby always seems to have live music in the evenings , loud and trying to give the hotel a trendy feel for visitors to the Nobu restaurant - not so great when checking in from a long flight and the 1.5 hours of queue at American immigration! We pre-booked the high speed power tour of the Miami’s waterway - this was superb. My husband loves power boats and the kids loved the fun of the guides and tour of the rice and famous iconic houses of the islands. Speeding past the cruise ships as they leave Miami and racing along South Beach - this a a trip I would really recommend. It's easy to get to with Uber, $12 for the 4 of us from one side of Miami to the quay. This is Biscayne Bay side so very close to the cruise ship port and hotels like the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay - which are very close for cruise access. Shopping on Lincoln Road is great. Come with space in your suitcase as you will find everything you need here for the warm sunshine - great shopping in amongst palm trees, pedestrian only outside amongst Art Deco style buildings. A visit to the Everglades with pick up from your hotel is a nice half day tour. Though the pick up and drop off takes most of the time on the quick tours - I would recommend visiting the Everglades National Park further south west for a true experience. A must is Wynwood- this is an cool area with the wall murals, street art everywhere, I cool restaurant and bars. Visit later in the afternoon/early evening when it is cooler. You can trolley or Uber here. Again allow time for airport security - a good 3 hours for departure. American Airline this year have introduced luggage purchase at the airport (for Miami at least). Miami airport has an outside check in service - this is payable in tips only - worth while as often busy inside the terminal. Off to Antigua.....Miami is a perfect destination to cruise from and to twin with any Caribbean island or central/South America.

24 September 2019

What a lovely day out we were treated to with Aurora Expeditions - kayaking in the Solent and a high speed rib ride to the Needles, spending time with the passionate staff from Aurora Expeditions. What is expedition cruising? The first expedition voyage to Antarctica was some 25 years ago for Aurora and their spirit of adventure still burns just as bright. There are limited group numbers to ensure voyages remain intimate and as bespoke as possible. As a small-ship expedition, they have the flexibility to take advantage of fantastic opportunities as they present themselves, such as unexpected wildlife displays or spontaneous shore landings. The thirst for adventure shows no bounds and offers activities and experiences like no one else. From polar diving with penguins, sea kayaking with whales and rock-climbing in Greenland, Aurora Expeditions have it all. Small ships = greater freedom and flexibility. At Aurora Expeditions, small groups make a big difference. Ships boast one of the lowest passenger capacities in expedition cruising and treks take a maximum of 20 hikers. This leads to smoother transitions, longer and more relaxed landings, and a more personal experience with nature. No matter where you are exploring, they aim for two excursions, and in some cases, it can be up to three excursions per day. The ship is also built for expedition cruising with sea-level Zodiac-launching platforms, special adventure preparation spaces and fantastic viewing platforms. You’ll be whisked ashore on an adventure or be cruising in a Zodiac in no time. What is very exciting is their new ship, one of the X-Bow hulls. I would love to go on this new modern amazing ship with all it's high tech and eco credibility. The Greg Mortimer, named after the co-founder, utilises some of the latest advancements in naval design and technology to revolutionise the small ship expedition cruising experience. The X-Bow® hull makes sailing smoother and faster, and the new virtual anchoring system uses GPS and high-tech steering to hold the ship’s position so that sea floor is protected. Shore excursions are also made easier with four sea-level Zodiac-loading platforms and an activity preparation area, designed in close consultation with world-renowned expedition and activity leaders. The ship is due for completion in October 2019. Contact me details of all their destination, Falkland, Antarctica, Patagonia, Iceland and Costa Rica - 20% discount and no single supplement on special cruises.

30 March 2019

I recently had the chance for a ship visit on the classic ex Transatlantic ocean liner The Astoria. Having watch this ship sail majestically into Poole Harbour I look forward to seeing the cabins, and accommodation on board. A great size ship taking only 550 passengers with 2 restaurants, 5 lounges, bars and Calypso Show lounge, nightclub and outdoor swimming pool it certainly is comfortable. The cabins are comfortable, very few have balconies which make the pool deck very sociable. The biggest surprise was the food, we had an amazing lunch - all 7 courses were top restaurant standard and presentation, with wines at incredible value – and cocktails at £4.75 I would have been please to stay on board. This ship sales in the Spring from Poole to Iceland, Northern Lights, Baltics and Scottish Lochs. There are often amazing deals with the company Cruise & Maritime, with buy one get one free at some times of year. Please do ask me. Cruise & Maritime currently have 6 ships: Columbus (offering world cruises), Magellan, Marco Polo, Astoria, Astor & Vasco da Gama, they have established offering exceptional value cruising holidays in traditional-style, smaller to mid-size ships.

23 September 2019

Family or Friendly French ski resorts The Portes du Soleil ski area is one of the biggest winter playgrounds in the world, with 12 linked resorts on either side of the French-Swiss border. In the heart of the French and swiss Alps, the ski area Alps is located between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc, skiers come for the excellent snowfall - more than 8 metres every year! The Portes du Soleil offers 400 km² of skiing and 286 pistes: 32 black, 101 red, 119 blue and 34 green. It also has 196 ski lifts and 30 snowparks/bordercross/ski-cross. Choose a family ski resort for skiing holidays in Portes du Soleil ski Area and discover another way to ride Alps. Les Gets is the resort in this area I know so well, it is perfect for family and those wishing to access the full PDS and stay in a lovely villa where you ski right to the village. Great restaurants, bars and shops will keep you entertained. An ice rink in the centre of town is lovely for the children, along with all the entertain the village put on. I have been coming here with my family and adult weekends for many year so can help the best accommodation for you.

07 September 2018

This trip was arranged by Visit California, with 10 groups all visiting different areas of California. My group visited the northern region from San Francisco. I would say this is an area of specialist interest for those who like a road trip and want to see the unusual California. The Redwood Forest are amazing, and these are now my favourite trees. I love the way they grow a little family around them and feed these saplings for 10 years and the stories of the great Navigation Tree on the hills above Oakland. They guided all the ships into San Francisco Harbour, cut down by loggers causing many shipwrecks in the following months and the start of sea charting navigation from that point. We visited Mendocino, home of many film location including The Birds and Eureka to the north and a couple of fantastic vineyards including Saracina Cave tour and tasting. It was very sad that during our stay the forest fires claimed so many of the vineyards and property - it also meant we had to cut our trip short and travel down the Pacific Highway 1 back to San Francisco. Stunning coast line which I would love to cycle, and it is single carriageway so quite slow to drive in a bus. Oakland welcomed us with open arms on our safe arrival. They showed us amazing hospitality with a party night on the river. We visited the Warrior stadium (basketball and American football) so interesting and such a part of USA culture. Then finally a Gala night with dinner in the Oakland Zoo and the best nightclub evening down town. Thank you visit California, I pray for safe recovery from the fires and look forward to another visit the south and east of California.

07 September 2018

What is this.... well if you haven't heard of Ras al Khaimah it is one of the 7 United Arab Emirate states, only 40 minutes from Dubai airport along some very new road. Ras al-Khaimah, historically known as Julfar, is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. Its name could be taken to mean "headland of the small huts", which can be attributed to the indigenous buildings that existed along the coast. Ras, as it is affectionately known, is how Dubai was 20 years ago but slightly more relaxed. Drinking alcohol is more acceptable and a huge benefit is that it is around a third cheaper than Dubai! Benefiting from the great weather it is particularly attractive in the Autumn and Spring for a short break being only 6 hours very comfortable flying time from the UK. I stayed in the huge Waldorf Astoria hotel on the beach front, I had one of the biggest hotel room I have every had! This hotel was apparently built with the hope that the Americas Cup would come to race here so the hotel was built in the shape of a cruise ship. It is huge, opulent and lovely, with the famous Peacock Bar with the famous clock that all Waldorf Astoria hotels have (based on the story of the hotel’s owner surviving the Titanic and arranging to meet under the WA clock in New York). Defiantly worth considering for you stay with its own golf course. We then had the most luxury stay in The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert camp - they also now have the Al Hamra Beach front, which you can visit for the day from the desert camp (a former Baynon Tree property). Al Wadi is set within the sanctuary of a protected nature reserve. The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert is a unique remote getaway just 45 minutes (17 miles) from Dubai. We were lucky enough to have a Tented Pool Villa each so enjoyed a private swim under the stars on the last night. Ideal for families and travellers seeking a remote getaway, the private resort offers adventure and tranquillity combined in a desert oasis. Intimate pool villas, world-class destination dining, an award-winning hydrotherapy spa and an extensive range of family-friendly and outdoor activities add a luxurious touch to a traditional desert experience. Desert explorers and affluent travellers alike appreciate the beautiful surroundings and immersion in the traditional Bedouin lifestyle while still enjoying creature comforts. Each one of the 101 villas feature a private pool and deck terrace complete with sun loungers, spacious bedroom and cosy seating area, fully-stocked mini bar and tea/coffee maker, spacious bathroom with luxury Asprey® amenities, complimentary Wi-Fi and LCD TV. An award-winning well-being experience awaits at Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi Desert, featuring the region’s only rainforest circuit and a range of Asian-inspired treatments for a journey complementing serenity and tranquillity. Hydrotherapy facilities and a fitness club are available for guests and visitors. Other hotel we visited included Double Tree by Hilton & Sap Marjan Island, The Cover Rotana Resort and Rixos Bar al Bahar Ulbra All Inclusive. I have to say the food in Ras is some of the best I have had anywhere in the world, especially the Prince's favourite restaurant to the top floor of the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Activities include sunset mountain picnic, Bedouin camp, golf and the new Jebel Jais Via Ferrata - the longest zipline in the world! Please give me a call to talk though a holiday in lovely RAS. Helen . 01202 069770

07 September 2018

How lucky to win a place on a Travel Counsellors trip to Thailand. I love traveling and to travel with my super colleagues to an amazing place is such a bonus. Thank you so much to Emirates and Centrara and EXO. I flew with Emirates to Bangkok via Dubai staying at the Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao. A busy time in Bangkok, somewhere I haven't visited for 25 years! The roof top bar/restaurants are all new since my last visit and what an amazing way of enjoying the view of the city and its night life. Our Thai partners arranged an extensive action-packed itinerary for us including a taste of the history, temples and how the Thai people live today, a long boat tour on the Chao Phraya River (aka River of the Kings) then through canals (klongs) to capture the slower pace of life in the canal villages, the crazy mad bustling city and skyline shining down from above. From there, our journey took us to the Royal Barge Museum with its spectacular, intricately carved and decorated with gold leaf and mosaic. Finally, on to the Chao Phraya to see Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), a 79-metre-high temple built in the style of Angkor Wat. After a full day of culture, some retail therapy and Thai street food, it was a great way to pass the early part of the evening followed by a live Muay Thai boxing show. Just a three-hour drive south for our beach stay at Hua Hin. This is great for those not wanting onward flights in Thailand and an interesting area for the local culture as a slower pace than Bangkok. Enjoy Thai shopping, massages, and fantastic Thai cooking courses - we had a half day course and made and ate the most fantastic Thai food. We stayed at Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas, right on the beach. This colonial style resort hotel is an oasis of calm right in the centre of a busy seaside holiday resort with markets, restaurants, bars and the same Thai welcome. River Kwai was our next destination, only accessed by long boats. We were speeding up the river where we found our rustic bungalows set out amidst lush greenery and wildlife. A visit further up river to the Mon Village where people from Myanmar have settled was fascinating. A complete little community with a village school, temple and hand built wooden houses on stilts in the jungle. They even have a resident elephant. Their lives are simple so to buy a few little trinkets is a great way to help. After our Mon Village visit, it was back down the river for us and what better way than on bamboo rafts just like the traditional way of the Mon people. Such a fun experience! Jungle stay over and time to head back to the bright lights of city but not before a visit to the Bridge on over the River Kwai and a very emotional stop at Hell Fire Pass which is part of the Death Railway which cuts through Stone Mountain to Burma. Thousands of Asian workers and allied forces’ prisoners of war lost their lives during the construction of the railway in the Second World War. A moving few hours but essential in learning about Thailand’s history. So, finally, back to Bangkok for some fun and what better way than an 11 tuk tuk convoy, racing through the night streets to China Town for some Chinese Thai cuisine, ending with crazy Patpong night market for a last bit of retail therapy. Our final hotel was Centara Grand Central World. A beautiful city hotel that’s well located for sightseeing and shopping. A brilliant trip, from our super partners and meeting more of my amazing colleague Travel Counsellors, love you all.

07 September 2018

I visited Lonesome George in February 2008. Galapagos is such an incredible place with an amazing variety of wildlife. Many of the creatures are endangered species protected by the Darwin Research Station. Our Galapagos ground agents were kindly able to provide a detailed history of Lonesome George, we hope you find this an interesting read. Celebrating the Life of Lonesome George, the world-famous tortoise who never managed to find love! When the Galápagos Islands became a National Park in 1959, conservation priorities were a top priority for the world’s scientific community. Giant tortoises, who gave their names to the remote archipelago, ranked high, together with the need to eradicate introduced animals (rats, goats, etc.) from the archipelago’s days as a pirate bolt-hole. Hundreds of thousands of giant tortoises had been killed for food during the intense whaling years of the 18th and 19th centuries. Conservation reached Galápagos too late for some. Floreana and Santa Fe Island Giant Tortoises had disappeared long ago, and the only known living tortoise from Fernandina Island was killed and preserved in the name of research and conservation during a United States expedition in 1907. The La Pinta Tortoise was, officially, another species wiped out, while the island itself was plagued by introduced goats, the tortoises’ direct, warm-blooded competitors for food. Inadvertently, in December 1971 a young snail expert, Joseph Vagvolgyi, while squatting over the resident Bulimulus spp snails of La Pinta Island, was startled by moving shrubbery. He expected goats to have caused the commotion, but instead saw a male tortoise emerging from the foliage. His report went unnoticed until 1972, when a team of park wardens went to La Pinta Island to hunt introduced goats. On that visit an Ecuadorian field biologist, Manuel Cruz, took the opportunity to analyse the stomach content of goats to understand better the effect of goats foraging upon the fragile flora of the Galápagos. Cruz once again stumbled upon the last living tortoise of La Pinta. But this time he opted for rounding up wardens to help him lug the weighty (200-pound/90-kg), reptile down to the beach. A few days later the tortoise was happily ensconced at the Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island. The relevance of this ‘animal rescue’ didn’t become evident until much later. In the 1970s, each island’s tortoise population was taxonomically seen as a subspecies – with only subtle differences among them. In subsequent years, scientists agreed that they were all different species. The only remaining living tortoise of La Pinta became a “living extinct species”, unless a female was found. From that day forth, the search began to find another female La Pinta tortoise. Officially, a monetary reward still exists for the person who delivers a female La Pinta tortoise to the National Park authorities. In the meantime, one of the wardens from the 1972 team on la Pinta, Fausto Llerena, took over the care of the all resident tortoises at the Charles Darwin Research Station. George, as he called him, became better known over the years as “Lonesome George”, possibly named after the American comedian George Gobel (1919-1991) who used this nickname in some of his shows. As the last living tortoise of La Pinta species, Lonesome George soon became a living icon for conservation not only in the Galápagos but also internationally. His image is the logo of the Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Research Station, and he is possibly the world’s most famous reptile. He even has an entry as the rarest animal in the world in the Guinness Book of Records and a clothing line named after him. As author Henry Nicholls puts it: “His story echoes the challenges of conservation worldwide; it is a story of Darwin, sexual dysfunction, adventure on the high seas, cloning, DNA fingerprinting and eco-tourism.” His departure is felt worldwide. A faint flame of hope remains, following a recent study in northern Isabela (where species with Floreana Island DNA were found), with the tortoises presumably removed in whaling days that carry George’s species DNA. Perhaps George’s death is not entirely the last page of a chapter initially stained by human greed, later redeemed with dedicated efforts towards the preservation of endangered species. As for the old male from La Pinta, he will be remembered for generations to come, and his story will serve to shed light on our responsibility towards the other species on our planet.

04 September 2018

Hong Kong what a city! Busy, vibrant and some serious shopping to be done! Start with the Star ferry for the famous bay crossing, an institution for the locals and a mythical voyage that the national Geographical Traveller magazine lists as one of their 50 experiences of a lifetime. From the boat you can appreciate what some consider as being the most beautiful skyline in the worlds, where the skyscrapers are set against the city's highest hills. The small Tramway museum is part of the city's colonial heritage that has been functioning for more than 120 years. Ascend by the tram to Victoria Peak which take around five minutes (sit on the right for the best views). It is a steep 27 degrees! The peak is the highest point in Hong Kong (552 metres) and is truly a great place to come to escape the summer heat. There’s a magnificent 360 degree view from the Sky Terrace 428 where, when the weather is good, you can see both the tip of Kowloon and the neighbouring island of Lantau and Lamma - both worth a visit if you have a few days.

04 September 2018

The Terracotta Warriors are on everyone's bucket list - they are incredible. However, I would like to prepare you if you are planning a visit, the Chinese Government now allow 80,000 visitors a day in the site! It is madly busy in the viewing of the pits of the warriors, so be prepared for queues, jostling and the heat. Standing in battle-ready formation and numbering into the thousands, the Terracotta Army is Xi'an's most popular sight and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. Discover this imposing army by visiting the archaeological site and visit the clay workshops specializing in replica figurines of the Terracotta Warriors. Xi'an also has an ancient city wall which surrounds the old city and separating the historic centre from the newer suburbs that have developed around it. The city walls are one of the first landmarks you encounter. We explored these ancient walls on a bike ride, stopping at the corner watchtowers to admiring the defensive ramparts along the way, and have a selfie with the Chinese! Xi'an has a fantastic food market, vibrant and full of all types of food which the locals love - worth visiting day and night. The Tang Dynasty Show is a traditional music, song and dance show which is well worth seeing. We travelled from Xi'an to Beijing on the bullet train in 5 hours - at a speed of 300 km per hour - so smooth and comfortable.

04 September 2018

A short stopover in Singapore on the way home was not long enough! I love this city and would have liked to have a few days to explore and take in the sights and sounds. If you have a flight layover - the airport offers a free tour of the city, with two options. Depending on the time you have you must be in transit for this though. As we were travelling on a NON through ticket we had to collect our luggage and re check in to BA flight back to the UK - which you can do very early allowing us time to take the easy train to the city. We went straight to the Marina Bay Hotel to see the amazing views from the top with the swimming pool across the three towers - some 200 metre long! From there we could see the city and the 8pm light show of the Bay of Trees - I would really like to have spent more time but we needed to get aback the super clean airport for our flight home.

04 September 2018

Visiting Beijing is a must when in China - it is busy, with a population of 20 million! I have been some 28 years ago to China and Beijing but don't remember much apart from bicycles everywhere. That had really changed and now the car is king, and the roads are really busy. Use of the subway is recommended as the fastest way to get about. Though funnily enough, they are now trying to reintroduce the bike with 'Boyce bikes' - yellow or orange free bikes within the city. Tiananmen square is the one of the main attractions. It holds 1 million people and it is surrounded by iconic buildings such as the chairman Mao Memorial Hall (the Chinese queue for five hours to have their picture taken here), the Great Hall of People, the Museum of Chinese History and leading to the Forbidden City. Visiting the Forbidden city is superb, they operate a one-way system so there are no queues. I recommend doing this on a tour so that you can have a guide help explain all the different areas and how and why it was built. Take an umbrella, the best thing for the sunshade! A fun afternoon spend visiting the Hutongs of Beijing, the old area of low level streets. We went about on bicycle rickshaw which was a lot of fun and visited a home of a traditional family. Early morning the next day we set off the Great Wall of China, some two hours from the city. It is still amazing - a steep climb to the top but the views are worth it and there are picture opportunities. Other places to visit: The Bird's Nest stadium, Yi He Yaua, Su Zhou Jie, Temple of Heaven. Make sure you get involved in the local eating as I loved the Chinese food. We were on a group trip with On The Go and benefited from have lots of meals included and the itinerary including the main sites, and a very efficient fun way of seeing the heights.

04 September 2018

A week of relaxing in Bali. This was my first visit to Bali, (I know, how have I missed this special place!) We picked Bali as I have always wanted to visit and the climate seemed perfect for August, which so many places in Asia are not at that time of year. The weather was a super 28 degrees, sunny and not too humid - the dry season. We had one day of rain in the hills of Ubud but that didn't matter as it made it fun seeing the rice fields and coffee plantations and shopping under umbrellas. Club Med's Bali is excellent: three pools, including a lovely adult-only infinity pool with swinging double sunbeds, two restaurants, buffet and a la carte. Great food from all geographical areas so something for everyone. The days become quiet as most kids disappear to the kid’s clubs. All activities are available throughout the days, six hole golf, many tennis courts, football, windsurfing, snorkelling trips to the reef, trapezes (yes I did have a go) and yoga and Pilates every day. Great value and the biggest beach and garden areas along the stretch and walking distance to the shopping centre in Nusa Dusa.

25 October 2018

When my children were 6 and 8 years old, I felt they were old enough to join me and my husband on one of my research trips, combined with a family holiday to Costa Rica. They loved it and a great highlight for them was Arenal Volcano near Lake Arenal, the largest volcano in the world, erupting every day since July 1968 until 2009. The local Costa Rican guide had the children in the front of the vehicle, so he could explain all about the geology of the Arenal Volcano to them and answer all their millions of questions. What a scoop for their next school project! Hotel Kioro in Costa Rica The children loved swimming at the beautiful Arenal Kioro Hotes hot springs and watching the smoke streaming out from the volcano. They enjoyed playing in the hot springs while spotting the different birds and animals, also horse riding around the different sides of the volcano stopping for a swim in a waterfall. We white water rafted, zip wired (youngest watched this one) and filled our time with great activities - even when it rained we had an adventure. It is an all year destination as its 21 - 27 degrees. December to March is the dry season, and the rest is green season! This is what makes this little country so special with the array of nature and wildlife, and some rain generally in the afternoon. September and October are the wettest months, so a great place for most school holidays. Hotel Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica The second part of the trip was a great relaxing family holiday on the beach at Hotel Manuel Antonio. We stayed at the luxurious Arenas del Mar hotel, with monkeys playing in the trees at breakfast and Jesus Christ lizards and iguanas to see all day. Costa Rica is such a special place, perfect for a family holiday, with adventure and education for all. With the direct British Airway flights from London, Gatwick your adventure is only 11 hours away. Engaging with the 'Essential Costa Rica' training course with personal knowledge of 15 years working with Costa Rica - I would be delighted to help you plan your exciting holiday in this very special destination.