15 March 2024

Top 10 Things To Do In Mauritius 1) TRY THE STREET FOOD - Mauritian Street Food is amongst the best in the world – there, we said it! A unique mix of Creole, African, Indian, and Chinese influences, the dishes offer bursts of intricate flavours. Spices, colours, and flavours come together to form a scrumptious (yet little known!) cuisine. Where else would you find a French bouillon laced with Indian spices? 2) HIRE A CAR AND DRIVE AROUND - Renting a car isn’t a very popular option in Mauritius. Most tourists prefer to move around in cabs driven by local drivers. However we would suggest renting a car if you’re even a tad bit adventurous. There is some serious fun to be had. Nothing compares to discovering a secret beach or stumbling upon an amazing restaurant does it? Just a word of caution – don’t rely solely on your GPS in Mauritius (unless you want to end up in a sugarcane field with a stray rabbit for company!). Ask for directions – English is widely understood and spoken and Mauritians are used to giving directions to tourists. Rent a car with a Mauritian Rental Company for cheaper deals Once behind the wheel, explore the hidden villages and beaches of Mauritius. Make sure you drive along Mauritius’ Southern coast – it’s right up there with the best the island has to offer. Think black rocks, rugged panoramas, crashing waves, windy surfing beaches, and stunning Mauritian countryside. We promise you, you won’t forget the feeling of wind hitting your face as you drive through winding roads to reach the southernmost tip of the island at Gris Gris. 3) VISIT TEA PLANTATIONS - Imagine being the only people on a winding road – a road surrounded by tea plantations and enveloped with fog. As you drive on the mist-laden road, you see tea-pickers at work, rhythmically plucking leaves from bushes. The mise-en-scene at Bois Cheri Tea Plantations is indeed magical. If you’re a tea enthusiast you could take a guided tour through the tea plantation. Make sure you dine at their terrace restaurant – it offers stunning panoramic views of inland Mauritius and an extensive variety of teas on the menu. 4) WALK THROUGH SUGARCANE FIELDS IN INLAND MAURITIUS - Vast expanses of sugarcane fields are amongst the first things one notices about the island. They seem to go on miles and offer a stunning backdrop to drives on the island. Sugarcane has a long history in Mauritius. It was introduced to the country by Dutch colonizers, popularised by the French, and developed by the British as the primary crop in Mauritius during the nineteenth century. Make sure you wander through a few sugarcane fields while you are in Mauritius. It is easy to get lost in the narrow passageways of sugarcane fields, with hundreds of swaying sugarcane plants for company. Better still, visit L’Aventure Du Sucre – a sugar museum with its own sugarcane fields. It provides a comprehensive overview of the history of sugarcane and its importance for the island. It is possible to sample a variety of sugars here. While you’re at it, don’t leave Mauritius without trying a glass of fresh sugarcane juice – nectar, it is that!! 5) TALK TO THE PEOPLE - The highlight of any trip to Mauritius is the people. They are warm, cheerful, welcoming, and very very helpful. We were there for a week and we lost count of the number of times random strangers helped us with directions (did we tell you never to rely on GPS in Mauritius, unless you are driving on main motorways? ), explained the significance of a particular ritual to us or welcomed us to their country. Lovely people all around. 6) EXPLORE CHAMAREL - This little known village in South Mauritius holds many surprises. The Coloured Earth, which is a geological oddity of sorts, is first on the list. Purples, yellows, oranges, and reds coalesce to form an uneven volcanic surface. You can stare dumbstruck at the wonders of nature or make friends with a giant tortoise – the choice is yours The drive to Chamarel is punctuated by a number of waterfalls and gorges. Make sure you stop and walk to the viewpoints for rugged panoramas of the mountainous areas of Mauritius. It’s the sort of scenery that belongs on a photo mug or a canvas print. 7) EXPLORE THE BEACHES - It would be unfair to leave Mauritius’ beaches out of this list wouldn’t it? The country boasts of some of the finest beaches in the world – they’re stupidly gorgeous. Seriously, nothing should be allowed to be that pretty. Some of our favourites include the Belle Mare Beach, the hidden La Cuvette beach in the north, and the rugged beaches of the South, especially Le Morne. If you love kite-surfing, Le Morne is the place for you. 8) RELISH MAURITIAN RUM - While there is no shortage of things to do in Mauritius, your visit is incomplete without having tasted (or shall we say relished ) the variety of rums on offer. Jamaica might be known for producing the best rum in the world, but Mauritius isn’t far behind. It is a secret rum paradise. It has expansive sugarcane fields with rum being produced on site, delightful distilleries, and an amazing variety of rum on offer. We sampled white rums, perfect for cocktails, and premium rums, matured in oak barrels for years.The rich caramel shades of the latter had us swooning for more. 9) TRY UNIQUE WATER SPORTS - The expansive coast-line of the island means Mauritius offers a variety of water sports and activities including snorkelling, deep-sea diving, deep-sea fishing, parasailing, and scuba diving. But it also offers visitors a chance to experience some rather unique experiences – an Undersea Walk. Here one is suspended metres below the sea with a giant visor to provide a continuous supply of oxygen. It’s scary at first but soon you start walking around on the ocean bed, making friends with colourful fish and miscellaneous sea creatures. 10) ABSORB THE CULTURE - Mauritius is an endlessly fascinating blend of varied cultures. This rich diversity manifests itself in traditions and languages.English might be the official language but Creole, Hindi, French, and Bhojpuri are widely spoken in the country. Similarly you will find churches, mosques, temples, and Chinese pagodas scattered around the island. Make sure you explore intricately carved Mauritian temples, educate yourself about colourful Mauritian folklore and festivals, and participate in the energetic Sega dance. Immerse yourself in the culture of the island and you are bound to fall in love with it

19 January 2024

We have travelled a lot but this has been one of our Favourite holidays, Tanzania was a great experience. We travelled with Turkish Airlines for the first time and I found them pretty good. The layover was only short in Istanbul and there is so many shops at the airport its a massive airport so you have a lot of shops and restaurants and bars should you have longer layovers. We started our adventure with 3 nights in the Serengeti at the Seronera Serena Lodge. Great accommodation, amazing views over the Serengeti, good food and the safari guides were exceptional with their knowledge and friendliness. We see everything we were hoping for, such as Elephants, Lions, Cheethah, Leopard, Zebra so many Hippo's and lots of safari life. The tours were for 8 hours and we were out most of the day it was so amazing and I would definitely recommend to my clients without hesitation. Next we flew to Mafia Island for the main purpose of achieving our dream of swimming with Whale Sharks. We stayed at the Kivulini Lodge which was great. There isn't much to do on Mafia but as scuba divers we found it amazing. The lodge staff were so friendly and couldn't do enough for us. The food was great and they even made their own crisps for us as snacks which were lovely. They would drive us to local places if we wanted to go. The managers also took time to talk to us and ask about our day. The diving at Mafia Island diving was great they really looked after us well and we did some great dives with them. Very friendly and professionally run dive school. Our next stop was Zanzibar where we stayed at the Indigo Beach Hotel at Bwejuu. We had a beachfront 2 storey room with amazing views over the ocean. There isn't much around the area but you can walk to a few other hotel bars along the beach or take a taxi into town ($20 return which the hotel will arrange). It was perfect for us as we like it peaceful. We did scuba diving here with a local dive school who were also a great team. We visited Stone town one night which is worth a visit. We had dinner at the Rock restaurant which is built on a rock (funny that) over the Indian Ocean. I wanted to go at high tide so we got to take the boat across to it or you can go at low tide and walk to it. Food was good, nothing amazing but worth a visit as its pretty unique. $30 per meal wine about the same for a bottle. The Indigo beach hotel we stayed B&B which had a few options to choose from on the hot buffet and then you got to choose your eggs and bacon cooked as required. Salad, fruits, cheeses and pastries. It had a lovely pool to sit around and it was always very quiet or you were steps away from the Indian Ocean if you fancied a dip in there. It is tidal on most of Zanzibar so only when tide permits. Dinners were good with a choice of 3 or 4 from the A La carte menu, starters $6 and mains $12 , desserts $6. Drinks approx $8 so not as cheap as I was expecting for Zanzibar. Some hotels did offer happy hours or you could go into Paje to the bars and restaurants. We ate at a very popular BBQ place one night which was dirt cheap. I was blown away by the friendliness of the Tanzanian people wherever we went and can honestly say I felt save at all times. Tops tips. You can use US$ most places and hotels usually charge in $ but for small amounts in shops if its in Tanzanian schillings there are plenty of bureau's to exchange currency. Take strong insect repellent spray along with your Malaria tablets as I clearly have sweet blood with the bites I got when I forgot to apply or didn't apply properly. You can apply for your visa's before travel, they are the same price as getting when you arrive but after a long flight you don't want to be queueing. You will hear all the time - Hakuna Matata - no worries - Jambo - Hello. The internal safari link flights are an experience on small 12 seater planes which can often make unscheduled stops to pick up or drop off passengers but soon you are off again. Be aware of your luggage allowance on the smaller aircraft and plan before you travel. Such an amazing trip of a lifetime I could talk about it all day!!

09 March 2023

After our stay in Cape Town we went onto our safari in the Amakhala Game Reserve. We flew from Cape Town (approx an hour) to Port Elizabeth and then about an hour transfer by road. We were so excited to arrive at the Bukela Lodge for our first Safari trip as its been on my bucket list for a long time. We had lunch and then were shown to our room and at 3 pm met for our first game drive. Game drives last for about 3-4 hours and you stop half way through to watch the sunset and have some snacks and drinks. On one of the stops we were so up close and personal with a Giraffe it was amazing. We got to see Lions, Cheetah, Buffalo, Monkeys, Giraffes, Herds of Elephant along with some cute baby ones. Impala, Hippos, Rhinos just incredible. There is a nice small rock Pool for those hot days but it was quite cool when we went. The food at the lodge was very good and all drinks were included too which was a nice bonus we weren't expecting. We saw monkeys outside our room (be careful they will steal anything left lying around as they are very cheeky). There is a waterhole near the main communal areas where some days you see animals up close and it has a great viewing platform. The Staff are ll very friendly and I have gone on to recommend this lodge to good clients of mine. We then flew from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg about 1.5 hours and then 3 hours by road to Pilansberg National Park. We stayed at Black Rhino Lodge which again was amazing. Outside our lodge there was a mini pool shared with 2 other rooms which was nice after a hot day in the sun. Dinner was buffet style here and there was a nice bar area for snacks and drinks throughout the day. They also had a great local young dance group perform one night which was great to see. There is a watering hole where Giraffe's came up to one day which was great to watch. They have become my favourite animal. We spent 2 nights at the lodge and did 2 game drives each day. It is an early start at 5.30 am but worth it. Very different from the first safari as it was more open and dry land rather than greenery but parts of it we drove to were very green too. We stopped at the mountain top and took in some great views of herds of elephants below us and then we got to drive down and they passed in front of us, including a baby one which was only about a week old. A special moment to treasure. Some of the sunset views from this safari were amazing. We got to see a pride of lions that were looking to prey on Zebra's and it was exciting to see how they plan their catch but I was happy that we didn't actually see the kill as the Zebra's outsmarted them. We got to see Rhinos' having a proper stand off fight as they were fighting over the female. We see Cheetah up close, Impala, Giraffes, Zebra, Buffalo and each drive was incredible as you just don't know what you are going to come across next. Its so exciting. Safari definitely exceeded my expectations and it was the most amazing trip I have ever done. It has to be on your bucket list to do safari. Both lodges were very friendly and knowledgeable about the animals and environment I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either. Nice spacious rooms with outdoor showers and big hot tubs should you want to relax. Morning drives start at about 5.30 am and afternoon about 2.30 pm and they are for 3 - 4 hours each time. Its exhausting and you are ready for bed after dinner but SO worth it.

05 October 2022

I absolutely loved Cape Town and I would now class it as one of my favourite cities. It is so diverse with so much to do with nice beaches, stunning scenery, lovely restaurants, lots of sea life and wild life options close by. Great wine at fantastic prices. Friendly people, what more could you ask for! I didn't expect Cape Town to be so cheap either for example you could get an Uber around the city centre for 36 ZAR which is approx £2 You can walk to a lot of places but I would advise Uber or Taxi during the night time for safety reasons although walking around the V&A area felt perfectly safe. We stayed at the Lux Signature Onama V&A waterfront which was literally a 5 minute walk to the V&A. The hotel rooms were pretty basic but the hotel had a good bar and very friendly staff. We took the hop on & off bus the first day to familiarise ourselves with the City and see the stunning scenery. There are some great stop off points at Camps Bay etc but we chose to stop at Table Mountain and took the Cable car to the top which was stunning scenery. The next day we went on a day trip to Hermanus and stopped along the way at Stony Point Penguin Colony which was so cute. We continued on to Hermanus where we saw Whales & Dolphins from the shore. Our trip then continued onto Gainsbaai where we took a boat trip and saw Southern Right Whales with their babies which was amazing. We saw seals and also Humpback Whales. A really great trip and you get to see stunning scenery along the coast. We took a wine tasting tour to Stellenbosch which was also a good experience, we did the half day which did seem a bit rushed but they do offer full day tours or you can stay overnight as the town is a quaint old town that would be nice to explore. We had a great experience at the Gold Restaurant which I would highly recommend. You get an authentic experience learning to play the drums and it was so much fun as everyone was interacting with the entertainer. It was a 14 course taster menu from around Africa which was fab. All for about £25 so great value too. We spent most evenings in the V&A area as there are lots of restaurants from Steak, Mexican, Turkish and local restaurants and bars. Some great shopping options too although that isn't for me when on holiday as I don’t like shopping at the best of times. I would definitely return to Cape Town and will highly recommend it to clients. Just to give you an insight in what to expect. 11 hours direct flight from LHR Only 1 hour time difference which was great so no jet lag. Wine or a pint of beer less than £3 (but also good taste so don't be put off by the cheap prices). Cocktails also a similar price. I had 6 Oysters and a glass of bubbly for about £6 so a great bargain too and they were lovely. Steak dinners less than £10 but they were really good steaks too. Getting around really cheap, you wouldn't need a car in Cape Town. Its only 20 minutes from the airport so a quick and cheap ride to get to your hotel. Overall a beautiful City with so much to offer. Cape Town totally exceeded my expectations, I always got great feedback from people I had booked there but I didn't expect it to be as amazing as it was. 5 nights was a great amount of time to spend there as any less and I would have felt cheated as there is so much more still to see so I guess I will have to pay Cape Town another visit some time in the not so near future. Thanks for reading All the Best Jenny

27 January 2022

Ellaidhoo is a beautiful Island in the Maldives with a great House reef for diving or snorkelling. Dine under the stars. Explore the marine life in the crystal clear waters, relax on the beach or by the pool or enjoy a Balinese massage at the resort spa. Flying over Male always brings a tear to my eye (of happiness) as it’s so beautiful seeing all the Atolls and the beautiful beaches and Aqua blue seas. We were soon off the plane collecting our luggage and greeted outside of arrivals by our Island Rep. He took us to our speedboat, and it wasn’t long before we were on our way to Ellaidhoo. We were met with a friendly welcome by the staff offering us a cold towel and a refreshing cold drink. Speedboat journey is approx. 1.5 hours. We arrived and checked in and were soon shown to our room. They gave us a personalised cold-water bottle with our names on to use at the refill centres which was a nice touch and to save using plastic bottles all the time as they were doing well to be as Eco friendly as possible on the island. We stayed in room 104 Garden View which was a great location, near to the Pool and a few steps from the white sandy beach. Not that any rooms are too far away from anything as its not a huge island, but it was a perfect location for us as near to the dive school too. We set out to walk round the island to get a feel for the layout and see where everything was. You can walk around the island in about 20 minutes, and we got back to the bar just in time before sunset to enjoy a cocktail and watch the daily feeding of the sharks. Not sure I really agree with them being fed to be honest, but it was quite amazing to watch as lots of sharks gathered round along with some sting rays and other fish. It was so worth the long wait with COVID restrictions to finally get to Ellaidhoo kick off our shoes and not have to put them on again until we left the island. We love the concept of walking barefoot all the time although you can choose to wear shoes if you so wish but its difficult when everywhere is just sand. Our first night at dinner we were allocated our table which would be ours for the duration of our stay along with our allocated waiter. The food was great at the restaurant. It was buffet style but with LOTS of choice, a range of curries, create your own salad bar, soups, live cooking stations every night, create your own Pasta’s and stir fries which were my personal favourite. Usually, a fried food corner with Pizza and fried chicken etc if you prefer more westernised food. Also, a dessert room with a range of fruits, cakes and desserts. You can order dinners on the beach or order an A La Carte meal at a charge. We signed up for diving as soon as we could. Our first dive was an orientation dive from the house reef which was great as we got to see our first Frog Fish which was hidden in the Coral and amazing as we had never seen them before. We went on to do some amazing dives all within 30 mins of the resort. The crew were all great, so friendly and helpful with helping with your kit etc. We got to see lots of different Sharks, Frog fish, Leaf fish (amazing as well) as never seen them before, Turtles and most of the dives were like an aquarium. Ellaidhoo is an amazing resort, and we would return. I could not find fault and it tells you something when an Island has a lot of repeat guests. Food & drink was great with a great choice of cocktails as part of the all-inclusive and beers and wines, snacks at 4pm and 10 pm at the main bar. My favourite cocktail was the Pinky Fresh and I also liked the Ellaidhoo Dream. It was Dean’s birthday whilst we were away, and they made it very special for him with a cake and all the staff singing to him and making up our table outside with flowers etc to make it special. He doesn’t like a fuss, but it was so thoughtful. The beach surrounding the island is pure white powder sand, the sea is just amazing to chill out and relax or you can go to the infinity pool to cool off. There was usually a DJ, a band, Karaoke, or entertainment most nights. Very low key but never expect anything too lively in the Maldives which is perfect for us. We will return one day as we had an amazing time at Ellaidhoo all the staff at the restaurants, reception and bars were always so friendly. I have no negatives to add about this resort its picture perfect and a perfect paradise island to chill out and relax without the high cost of some of the islands. So not only did I enjoy the cocktail this was really my “Ellaidhoo Dream” Tips – Don’t take too many shoes as you really can go barefoot in the sand day and night. I always tip at the end of my stay for room cleaning boys, waiter and certain Bar staff who have offered a great service (which to be honest most of them do anyway). I tip in $ US. I always take $ for tips but pay bills etc with credit or debit card which will be in $. Visas for Maldives are issued on arrival free of charge. Do not take alcohol into the Maldives as they scan bags upon arrival and will confiscate. Always use a high factor sun lotion as you are near to the equator and even on cloudy days will burn. Always drink plenty of water as again even on cloudy days you will dehydrate. Just enjoy, kick of those shoes and relax and chill with your favourite cocktail or 2 ?? No shoes No news is always what I remember from my first trip for my Honeymoon in 1999 and its stuck with me. Feel free to Contact me if you would like a stay at a resort like this for your Honeymoon or special Holiday.

28 January 2021

Our trip to Barbados was during COVID restrictions so we didn’t know what to expect www.visitbarbados.org and the resort were very helpful with any concerns before travel. We used a clinic in Kent called Wren Healthcare for our PCR Covid test before travel and they offered a great efficient and professional service. Airport check in was a breeze with only a few people in the queue and eerily quiet through security so within 15 minutes we were in the No1 lounge sipping our drinks. The Lounge was limited to table service due to Covid but a nice relaxing start to the holiday. Boarding the flight was easy, we were called in number order to maintain distance. Everyone wore masks unless eating or drinking and people kept to their seats during the flight. Time flew by (pardon the pun) and we were soon hitting the tarmac of Barbados and the warm sun was on our faces. A bit of a queue with having to check PCR tests and have temperatures taken and given forms to complete whilst in resort but it wasn’t too long before we were at Sandals (30 minutes car service). We arrived at the Royal by surprise as we were upgraded due to most parts of Sandals Barbados rooms not being open for use. We received a lovely welcome and were then taken into club lounge to cool down with a glass of fizz. Shamara showed us to our South Seas Club level room located near the club lounge. The room had been cleaned and sealed off to show no one had entered since the clean. Lovely bright rooms with massive shower and bathroom area and an outside tranquillity tub. We unpacked, freshened up and headed out for a cocktail at the sky lounge followed by dinner at the Indian Bombay Club restaurant, this was our first experience of an Indian at Sandals but very nice it was too, loved the butter chicken dish and poppadum’s and dips as a side. We felt completely safe during our stay as the cleanliness was impeccable and staff wore masks throughout our stay. Every time you left an area it was thoroughly cleaned down, we were free to use all the facilities of the resort and once you had a 2nd Covid test either by the ministry (taxi ride at own cost) or a test in resort (at your own cost) you could then venture out of resort if negative. There was a bit of a mix up with resort tests at first due to a backlog but finally after a few days we could leave the resort and go scuba diving. Dive boat is approx. 1/2 hour from the hotel by van and then only 15 mins or so by boat to the various dive sites. We were gutted not to see Seahorses as everyone else seemed to but we were pleasantly surprised by the abundance of reef fish on our dives, on some it was like an aquarium and a lot more than I remember when we dived Barbados years ago. All the bars & restaurants were open and you could use all the facilities in the resort and move around freely. You do not have to wear masks anywhere apart from in the resort shop but staff wore them always around resort. Restaurants - Chi was a new concept to us too with a mix of Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese food, the Pad Thai was amazing but such a HUGE plate full I couldn’t eat it all, I also had the ribs as a starter which was a huge portion too (but lovely). Butch’s steakhouse is always our favourite as the steaks are to die for. I also love the shrimp cocktail and the soups. The Manager was amazing and so friendly and we received a great service from Latoyah. We ate here 3 times as we loved It so much as all the steaks were to die for. American Tavern was great for breakfast and we loved the bottomless Mimosa’s on Dean's birthday or on any other day to be fair but the full cooked breakfast was great too but there was lots of options to choose from. Deano’s Chilli Pizza was amazing for an alternative lunch time option and the Jerk shack is worth a try too (just be careful how hot you go). Our favourite lunch spot was Neptune's right on the beachfront, one of my favourite times of the day just watching the world go by with magnificent ocean views and a cocktail or glass of wine and the steak sandwich is delicious. Loved both the pools for different reasons, there is a quiet one at the South Seas which when we just wanted to flop and laze it wasn’t far to walk from our room and it also had a pool bar where staff were so friendly and constantly on the ball with refreshing our drinks without even asking (that’s service for you) the infinity pool had a lively vibe and beautiful views of the ocean with a bar only a few steps out of the pool. Cocktails were all amazing, they sometimes had quizzes at South seas and games and DJ some afternoons at the infinity there are also many other pools. There was nightly entertainment such as DJ, live bands, silent disco and various entertainment throughout the day with a daily activity poster put up every day but it was quieter than usual due to Covid. Overall A fab holiday and I would highly recommend Sandals in Barbados, beautiful gardens, grounds and pools, very friendly staff, great food and cocktails with a great selection of top shelf spirits. Loved the Mimosa, Mudslide and Margherita but beware of having Gin & Tonic they were so strong. Great bonus at this resort is the sky bar with lovely views over the resort & island. The bowling alley was a bonus too and even better that I beat dean a few times. So, we had a few firsts at sandals with the sky bar, bowling alley, Indian & Chi restaurants and we would return to this resort again one day. The resort was a lot quieter than usual but we got great service so it didn’t affect our holiday at all travelling during COVID times as it was so lovely to finally get away. My top tips take your COVID test with the ministry rather than pay the expensive $150 in resort as it was no quicker. Take time to make friends with the staff. Try the fish & chips at the Merry Monkey and have a friendly chat with Jack the Manager. You must have a steak at Butches and try their wonderful Soups or Shrimp cocktail, I can’t choose as they are all nice. Ask for Latoyah and say Hi from me she is so friendly and happy all the time. Try out the bowling alley. Go diving as the facilities on board were great as always with Sandals and staff friendly too. It was great to finally get to visit Sandals in Barbados and I would return one day in the future and despite COVID and it being quieter it was nice and relaxing and just what we needed after the stress of the past few months.

10 June 2019

This was our third visit to the island and it just seems to get better each time. The speedboat transfer from Male is about 40 mins and you are given a cold towel on arrival with a coconut drink to cool you down as it was a long journey with the indirect flights we had (but totally worth it). We arrived late morning and were very lucky to be given our room before check in time of 2pm so we were able to refresh ourselves and go straight to the beach. It was so nice that as soon as we went to the restaurant and bars the staff remembered us from our previous trips and gave us a very warm welcome. The island is sold as being very basic but that's reflected in what you pay for it. The rooms are basic but spacious and clean and you step out onto the powder white sand and a few more paces to the beautiful Indian Ocean which was really hot this time at 30 degrees (it really was like a bath). We requested room 89 again which the manager kindly gave us as it’s a great location for us and on the ground floor. The restaurant is basic but good quality food. There is always a choice of salads, a couple of meat and fish dishes, curry, a couple of vegetable and potato dishes. Quite a range of desserts and a small choice of fresh fruit. You are allocated your table for the duration of your holiday for breakfast, lunch and dinner with the same waiter. You can order the range of drinks on offer at the bar which the waiter will get for you. We were all-inclusive which is well worth it as it can be expensive to pay for drinks whilst you are there, and most people opt for all inclusive. We got the complimentary upgrade from full board which is offered a few times a year which was a big saving. Please ask me for details. The coconut bar is the only bar and as part of the all-inclusive there is a choice of about 8 cocktails (Pina Colada was my favourite and seemed popular with everyone), local spirits with mixers, all soft drinks by the glass or can and beer and wine. The minibar drinks are not included but you can get cans of drinks and bottles of water from the bar and put them in your mini bar. Between 4 and 5 in the evening you can get sandwiches as part of the all-inclusive offer. The dive school is superb and again we did some of the best diving we have done in the 20 years we have dived. We got to dive with sharks, Eagle rays, turtles and lots of your usual reef fish. We were just a bit too early for the Manta Rays which would have been amazing. Some of the diving can be challenging as there are some strong currents but you are always guided, and they are so professional and friendly. The dive school caters for all levels and the house reef is also great for diving and snorkelling. If you walk out from near the bar where the sea grass is, you can often snorkel with turtles. Entertainment in the evenings is pretty non-existent. They have a cultural sing and dance for about an hour one evening and then a disco one night but that's about it so it’s all about meeting people and making new friends in the bar of an evening, with a few cocktails. We liked to star gaze every night as the sky is so clear. We went mid-May and had the most perfect weather we have had in the Maldives as often people worry about the weather as its temperamental all year round as its tropical. It was perfect with about 10 mins of rain the whole time we were there. It really is a paradise island on a budget so no frills apart from the beauty of the islands itself which to be perfectly honest is enough for me as it’s just amazing! We will definitely return to our beautiful island as we were so sad to leave. It gets a lot of repeat guests, so I think that tells you something about the island. People aren't expecting much when they arrive as its Maldives on a budget but are pleasantly surprised by its natural beauty, its amazingly friendly staff and are already planning to return before they have left. We have made some great friends on our recent visits. Starting to think about our return visit again already as we are missing it so much!

27 November 2018

I recently went on an amazing family holiday to Thailand visiting both Koh Lanta and Krabi. Weather Although still the tail end of rainy season (we arrived 27th October) we had great weather and during our 9 days visit we only had 2 days where we had a terrific downpour late afternoon and then back to sunshine so it didn't bother us at all. Crowne Lanta We stayed at the Crowne Lanta in Koh Lanta which was a lovely hotel and worth upgrading to the swim up room (see picture) as you just walked out into a lovely cool pool. There was a great reggae bar on the sea front where you could watch the sunset which was amazing. The pool bar was lovely and served great cocktails - cocktails were about £6 but they had offers on at certain hours at both bars. Location The Hotel was a bit out of town, but the hotel offered a shuttle into Saladan (but not much there really) so we got a Tuk Tuk to Long Beach where there were a lot more bars and restaurants to choose from along the main road or on the beach front cost about £3 pp each way. Local Trip We went on a snorkelling trip to Koh Rok which stopped in about 3 places for snorkelling and then stopped on Koh Rok island for lunch and a bit of sunbathing. Great trip and well worth it for the beautiful sites and snorkelling it offered. It picked up from the hotel and was about 1.5 hours by boat and a full day trip from 8-4 pm and cost was approx. £30 pp and well worth it but take your tablets if you get sea sick. You must take a ferry to get to Koh Lanta which is about 2.5 hours from Krabi airport. It’s great to be able to do a twin centre without having to take a flight between the two so although 3 hours between resorts we stayed at there is no messing around with airports, the taxi just takes you on the ferry which is about 30 minutes and then a further 2 hour drive the other end. Dusit Thani Krabi (their claim to fame is the Hangover 2 had a short filming in the reception area which I had to watch when I got back). An amazing hotel very friendly with well-kept gardens with ponds scattered throughout. On a beautiful beach with great sunsets with a cocktail bar selling 2 for 1 cocktails from 5-6pm in perfect time for the sunset. Cocktails at the hotel were expensive but for a 5* hotel you expect that approx. £8 but if you sign up for Dusit Thani customer you get 20% off everything so well worth it. Thai Massage Great little massage place right next to the hotel at less than half the price - I had a back and shoulder massage for about £10 which was so relaxing, and they offer a range of treatments. Eating & Drinking There are a few restaurants right outside the hotel and to the right of the entrance and a couple of minute walk there was a cocktail bar which was lovely as they were so friendly, and it became our favourite. if you turn left and walk 15 minutes there are many other restaurants and bars and just by the reggae bar where you walk down to the beach which we only found on our last couple of nights were some lovely restaurants and bars where you could watch the sun go down. Our favourite meal was at Sa-Ing which was on Klong Muang beach front we had a variety of dishes and they were all great. Food is great value on both islands a 2-course meal and cocktail/drink approx. £12. Nearby You can get a taxi into livelier AoNang for about £10 (20 minutes journey). Great if you like nightlife as there are lots of restaurants and bars and we went to a great bar called Boogie Bar which had great live bands. We also ate at a great restaurant that was recommended called Jungle Village. We did have to wait 30 minutes for a table as there was 8 of us and its very popular so found a bar nearby and it was worth the wait as the food was great. We had a variety of dishes and all at a great price with it being about £10 pp with drinks and 2 courses. I loved Koh Lanta and Krabi and although the hotels were very different, I loved the Crowne Lanta as it was more authentic and the swim up room was a bonus. The Dusit Thani was a lot bigger with lovely grounds and set on a lovely beach but both very friendly and welcoming and I wouldn't hesitate to return or recommend both. The drive back to Krabi airport from the Dusit was about 35 minutes not a lot to do at the airport just a few shops and snack bars but very efficiently run. We flew with Thai Airlines via Bangkok which was my first time and I couldn't fault them either. Thanks for reading!

16 January 2018

We arrived into Phu Quoc at about 6.30 and transferred to the Richis Hotel. We did have a wait for our rooms to be ready, but we just lazed by the pool. We were welcomed by the friendly front desk staff with a cold flannel and a cool drink. The hotel is set in Lovely grounds with very well-kept gardens, set on a lovely beach-front. It’s also right in the centre with lots of restaurants and bars nearby and you could also walk (20 mins) to the night market or taxi for only 25000 VND (approx £1). When you arrive at the market you realise the traffic lights seem pretty pointless as no one seems to stop for them. It’s like playing Frogger when crossing the road here, with all the mopeds constantly sounding their horns and dodging people. The night market is crazy (but in a good way), it’s such an eye opener. With the locals selling all types of fish which you pick from tanks, (we chose Phu Quoc for scuba diving but didn't expect to see more of the bigger fish in tanks in the markets than we did diving!) The local delicacy is fried chicken’s feet which is equivalent to our pork scratchings but I wasn’t brave enough to try those. We sat with a beer watching the world go by at the market with its tacky souvenirs, its abundance of fresh fish, a few fake goods (don't expect the likes of Thailand fake goods to be on offer here it's still very behind the times and new to all this (which is what I loved about it) You can also try great street food here too. A couple of restaurants were our favourites near the Richis Hotel. One was called May, which made amazing shrimp fried pancake rolls. The noodles and rice dishes were lovely, and they also offered crocodile and snake which I wasn't brave enough to try. Many restaurants do start closing after 9 and we like to eat about that time so we did manage to find a few that stayed open later. Colors near the Tropicana hotel was one of those and offered great food and service. Our favourite bar called Andy's was nearby and the tequila sunrise were excellent. Buy two get one free from 5-9 on everything so I had to have the three of course! It has a pool table and darts and a selection of games should you want to play them. Also, the Rabbit Hole Irish bar also offered buy one get one free to ladies on certain nights. They also had a pool table, darts and games and if you like sports, they had the screens to watch that too and were always open late. The Skye bar at the top of Phu Quoc Pearl Hotel was a lovely bar with great views and well worth a visit. The weather wasn't too great the first few days, so diving was very rough on our first trip out. The second day was so much better and calmer with lots of marine life. We were disappointed we couldn't go south as it was too rough. We have done better diving elsewhere but it was similar to the diving we did near Phi Phi island - a great experience as always. To sum it up Vietnam is similar to Thailand but Phu Quoc is probably how Thailand was 20 years ago and still maintains local charm, very laid back and friendly. There is none of the sleaze you can come across in Thailand so very family-friendly. The people are very friendly and still learning as mass tourism in this part is still taking off. However, there is a lot of development which I think will change this island so I would suggest going soon to capture its authentic side now. Don't expect the people to be rushing abound like crazy as the Thai’s do. Drinks can often take a while and also meals can come all out of sequence from mains to the starters, one person at a time. I hear they only have one hob in each kitchen but it’s worth the wait as the food was amazing and we didn't have one bad meal. There are some weird dishes which we didn't go with, but generally the more basic and authentic the restaurants the better the food, which is mainly the ones with the little chairs where you eat outside. Prices at the time £ = 29,000 Vietnamese Dong (VND) Cocktails average price 120,000 VND = £4 Beers anything from 15,000 to 25,000 =yes that's right between 50 pence to £1 depending on the beer Wine 90,000 VND = £3 We were getting a meal for two which included two starters, two mains and a couple of beers or wine for an average price of 450,000 = £15 between us. Great value and it’s better to explore the local restaurants and bars. Would I recommend it to my clients? Definitely, and I would go back myself to the same hotel.

01 November 2017

We chose Vienna for a short city break in October as we were able to get flights from Southend which is only a 20 minute journey for us. We made use of the airport lounge at Southend which offers a range of snacks and drinks you can hep yourself to. We took a taxi from the airport upon arrival which took about 20 mins and cost 40 Euros with tips. The De France hotel is in a great location with very friendly welcoming staff who in fact upgraded us to a Suite which was nice. Very nice 4 * hotel. We dropped off our luggage straight away and went to explore the city. There was a local market selling local food and drinks and we thought we would try a rather interesting Sturm which you can only buy this time of year and it's a young wine which is freshly pressed grape juice and we rather enjoyed the taste (see picture). If you like designer shopping there are many of the well known brands along with markets and bargain shops too. The famous strip runs from the opera house to St Stephens Cathedral. We found a lovely pub/restaurant near our hotel in the evening which sold traditional Austrian food at reasonable prices roughly 10 Euro for a main, house wine was nice and reasonable price too. They do allow smoking inside in Vienna so if you aren't a smoker then head for the non smoking section like we did. We found the food to be so good here we are here again on our second night, it's called the Leupold at Schottengasse 7. The breakfast was amazing at the hotel and offered everything you could think of cooked breakfast, cereals, eggs made to order, fruits, cold meats and salads and an abundance of Austrian cakes. We set off for the day full up from our hearty breakfast and bought a 24 hour bus pass which allows you to explore the blue and red routes and hop on and off at anytime. I would have to say I thought the Red route was better as there was a lot of culture, history and great architecture to view but the Blue route did allow you stop at the Belvedere Palace which was beautiful and well worth the visit. The bus tickets were 25 Euros each and lasted the full 24 hours so you could use over 2 days but you can also buy them that include entry to museums etc and also to include a Danube boat trip. The Praterstern looked a great place to stop but we were pushed for time as it had a Giant ferris wheel one of the oldest in the world, a fairground and lots of family fun. Overall a great city to explore and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to clients or to return there myself one day as I didn't feel we saw enough in the 48 hours we had.

30 March 2016

Bangkok - Phuket & Khao Lak Our very first adventure to Thailand for Christmas 2015. Bangkok It’s very easy to get taxis from the airport in Bangkok it cost us 600 THB to the Sukhumvit area and a small fee for tolls on the way. Arrived to a very warm welcome at the Park Plaza Sukhumvit and we freshened up and went straight out to explore as we only had 3 days in Bangkok. We headed for some bright lights round the corner to our hotel only to realise it was the red light district called ‘Soi Cowboy’ where parts of the film the Hangover 2 were filmed. It wasn't too seedy as It had a carnival feel to it with bars lining the street on both sides, its pretty easy going and you are left alone to enjoy a beer or a cocktail and just people watch in one of the many bars with music or live bands. Our hotel which was in the Sukhumvit area which was great as only 5 mins walk from the sky train BTS which is cheap and efficient. We headed straight there on the first morning to go to central pier. You can hop on and off the river boats to explore the city. Don’t get the yellow line though as it’s for commuters and very crowded, we went on blue tourist line (150 THB each) with map and guidebook. We stopped at temples, the Grand Palace etc. Tried a bit of street food on our travels and you can get all sorts of fruits, meats and insects (Yuk) I didn’t try those. There are night markets and shopping galore if you want bargains in Bangkok and don’t forget to barter, they won’t be offended they expect it, it’s all part of the fun. We did a dinner cruise from the Banyan tree hotel called Apsara and it was about £45pp but really great food and service and you get to see the lit up city from the river. If you meet at the hotel there is a sky bar at the top, drinks are expensive but it’s worth it for the view and it has a restaurant and nightclub up there too. Taxis can be a bit of a nightmare in Bangkok at busy times so sky train is easier! Loved Bangkok for its craziness but I can see it’s not for everyone I think it’s a love or hate place but you have to try it and see. Phuket - We went on to Phuket for the next part of our trip. We took a taxi from the airport which was about 1000 THB (45 minutes) to the Centara Karon Beach. I would suggest upgrading your room at this resort as we had a superior to begin with but we upgraded as it was very basic and tired. We ended up with the cabana room which has a walled garden with plunge pool. Very friendly staff at the hotel and a nice resort, very central to all the bars and restaurants. Some great restaurants nearby and our favourite was Bamboo. There are a lot of bars and some of them a bit seedy but no one bothers you – there are some with live music or just some quieter café bars if you prefer those. There are a range of different restaurants along the strip serving all types of food. The hotel has a couple of restaurants and had a nice bar, 2 main pools with pool bars and a kid’s pool with slides. The beach was about 5 mins walk. Shops and markets are nearby if you fancy bartering for a bargain. We did the Phi Phi island day trip which was great we went to Bamboo island , then Phi Phi island and had lunch , then we stopped in the lagoon for a snorkel which was amazing the sea was beautiful (see picture). We also saw a few monkeys as we stopped by Monkey Island. Then we went to Maya Bay where 'The Beach ' was filmed with Leonardo. Di Caprio it was a really great day. We took the speedboat option as we didn’t want to take the long boat. We also went on a scuba diving trip from a local dive school in Karon Beach to Phi Phi island and had a great days diving it was like an aquarium with all the marine life and we enjoyed 3 dives that day In total. Khao Lak - The next part of our journey was to Khao Lak which was about 2 hours by road and cost us 3500 THB for a taxi between hotels. The Kantary Beach we chose as in our winter months its adult only so was perfect for us. It is a lovely resort on a beautiful long beach you could walk right along the bay (see picture 2). There is a shuttle into town and back every hour or so throughout the day until about 9pm it’s about $2 pp each way it’s a 10 minute journey or a taxi about $10 each way. There are 2 parts of Khao Lak from the hotel you will reach the market area first (Bang Niang) with the market which sells just about everything you can think of and there are lots of shops, restaurants and bars in the area which also has roads leading to Bang Niang beach. A further 2 miles up the road is Bang La with many restaurants and a great choice of bars. Khao Lak has some great bars with live music and many have happy hour with a great range of cocktails for THB 100 (£2). There are some great diving and snorkelling opportunities from Khao Lak which is why we went there as you can visit Similian and Surin islands but my husband Dean got an ear infection so we couldn't’t do any further dives. Did the elephant trip washed them, fed them and rode on them (but didn’t enjoy that part to be honest) but the bathing and feeding was great. Visited a waterfall on the way back to the hotel. We had a gala dinner on Christmas Eve at the hotel and they really made an effort with food and entertainment. We celebrated Christmas day with a cocktail on the beautiful beach and swimming in the amazing turquoise water, what more could you ask for ? Great hotel, lovely breakfast, polite friendly and helpful staff especially Darren. Had an amazing time and would definitely recommend Thailand and have booked many people and its really helped me have a better understanding of how to sell it in the future when putting itineraries together. Thailand is AMAZING, we loved it and we will be going back at some stage (in the not too near future I hope). Thanks for reading. The Thai people are so friendly and welcoming Sawadee – Ka (goodbye)

11 February 2016

Sandals La Source in Grenada was amazing !!! The transfer from the airport was literally 5 minutes from the airport (shortest I have ever been on) but as there aren't many flights you aren't effected by aircraft noise. We were greeted by friendly faces and a fruit punch and a cold towel, we were then led to the club room where we were given a nice cold glass of bubbly (as we had club level room). We had a honeymoon ocean front room (not our honeymoon however) but it was in a great location looking straight out onto the beach and the beautiful bluey/green ocean. With Sandals club level you get a fully stocked minibar with soft drinks, beer and wine and also fully stocked bar with popular local branded spirits (not that you need it with all that's included anyway). We quickly unpacked and headed down to the refreshing pool in spite of being tired and jet lagged but didn't want to miss a moment of paradise. There are lots of choices or restaurants and we loved Butches Steak house and ate there about 4 times in the two weeks as it was so good. Kimonos which is the Tepanyaki restaurant is always good at Sandals resorts with great food and good fun. We ate in Le Jardinier a few times too with their white glove dinner service the food and service was great. Cucina Romana serves lovely Italian dinners and always nice to finish off with a lovely shot of Limoncello. If you like cakes then you must try Café de Paris but I am not a dessert/cake person as I prefer savoury but I heard its great. We ate at Neptunes most lunch times as they served a variety of food there such as fish & chips, burger, salads, wraps and sandwiches. You could get pizza at Dino's during the day and most days during lunch time there was a hot dog stand and you could choose your toppings... oh my god no wonder I put on so much weight lol., You can get all sorts of drinks at Sandals included cocktails sparkling wine, premium branded drinks, the only thing you will pay for is wine from the menus but the house wines are really good anyway so no need to purchase them. The cocktails are to die for and they will make you anything you want. (hmm no wonder I really did pile on some weight in 2 weeks of over indulgence). The pool in the Italian village is the most lively area with a pool bar which had games and activities during the day but if that's not your thing you do have quieter pools. Turtles bar which serves pub grub and all the drinks you want also has sports on if wanting to catch up on sports like my husband does. There is entertainment every night in the main bar lounge area with usually a disco afterwards until about 12 - 1 am and then you can drink till about 2 in Turtles if you are a night owl. We are scuba divers and we got to do quite a few dives in Sandals Grenada. They did try and take us somewhere different every day and the dive team as always at Sandals is very professionally run. you can do up to 2 dives a day for qualified divers for free including equipment but if you are not qualified you can take a resort course for a small fee. Great diving we did get to see lots and some of the dive sites were like aquariums. Diving at most sandals resorts goes out in the morning and back by lunchtime so if your partner isn't a diver you aren't leaving them all day. Other water sports are canoes, Kayaks, windsurfing, paddle boarding and snorkelling trips so lots to keep you occupied The resort is our favourite so far and we have been to a few but that's not to say they aren't all lovely. The staff were so friendly and helpful , the Beach is lovely and the sea is such a beautiful turquoise colour. We ate great food, had many cocktails, met some great people, did great diving and we didn't have to pay for anything the whole time. Sandals is more expensive but you have to consider what is included as its luxury included. We are even looking to go back this year so that says something Thanks for reading ... until next time

08 October 2014

This was our second visit to Las Vegas and I couldn’t believe when we arrived at 6pm - it was 39 degrees and it was hot! The last time we visited was about nine years ago and it was October so not as hot as it was in June this year. We decided to stay again at the Planet Hollywood. Although this might not be the plushest of hotels on the strip we love it for its location. Its smack bang in the middle of the strip, opposite the Bellagio and the casino just really has a fun and lively vibe to it at all times. Some of the rooms are a bit old and tired but all very clean and do you really spend that much time in your room when you are somewhere as lively and fun as Vegas? I forgot how much I loved the place and it’s just great for people watching. We were one of the first to go on the High Roller which had only previously opened. Just a little bit higher than the London Eye it’s great to see the whole of the strip (and you can get a beer or champagne in the bar beforehand to take up with you). It takes about 30 minutes and we did our flight during the day but I would love to have tried the evening one too when the fountain at the Bellagio is alive. If you time it right you could get to the top when the fountain goes off (didn’t think of that beforehand but my husband suggested it once we were already up, so a bit late). Day time costs $24.95 and night time $34.95. I am still obsessed with the Bellagio fountain, even after seeing it many times, so I thought it would be good to include a photo of that with my blog. I first wanted to stay at the Bellagio but it just gets so busy trying to get in and out of the hotel entrance especially when the fountain goes off so I am happy with the choice we made. The Cosmopolitan hotel was a new addition to the strip since our last trip and we ventured there one night. The lounge bar in the entrance area was a nice hip place to have a drink or two. We went a couple of times to the Venetian for the happy hour between 5 and 7 at the Italian ‘Canaletto’ restaurant in St Mark’s Square. We got some amazing food (Calamari in particular) and The Prosecco and cocktails were good too. We saw the ‘Absinthe’ circus like show at Caesar’s Palace. A bit of a crazy show with a mixture of entertainers but some truly talented acts. We got our tickets half price outside our hotel ‘Planet Hollywood’ and there are a few ticket booths like that on the strip where you can get late show tickets at really good prices and also some great meal deals. We had a good value steak dinner at the Harley Davison restaurant but don’t eat all day if going there as it was a huge meal which we couldn’t eat. We also tried out Cleopatra’s lounge at Caesar’s palace which was a lively bar. The Lily bar at Bellagio was a nice quiet bar if you just want a nice chill out. After finding the roller coaster at the New York New York so thrilling last time we thought we would give it another try but now being 10 years older it was proper scary. I think the look on Dean’s face scared me more than anything as I thought he was going to pass out. Needless to say we didn’t have another go on that. People often say to me “I don’t gamble, why would I go to Vegas?” You really don’t have to be a gambler to go to Vegas as there is so much more to it. Of course I did have a gamble as I do enjoy it and you get free drinks while you are playing which is also a bonus (as long as you remember to tip the waitress). Even playing the 1 cent machines you can get free drinks and of course they want you to drink more so you gamble a bit more but it’s all fun. I never win but I don’t lose much as I am not a big gambler. Overall another amazing time in Vegas and although it isn’t for everyone I love it and can’t wait to go back again sometime.