17 March 2026

Portugal is perfect for a road trip that blends cities and culture, coastline and countryside, and my recent holiday there did exactly that. Over 10 nights in March, we traced a route from Lisbon to Porto, with some magical stops in between that really showed off the country’s character.

05 December 2025

We went to the Phokaia resort ten years ago so decided to go back with the ‘children’ to see how it had changed. The children said it was much smaller than they remember!! Enjoying a prime beachside location, Mark Warner holidays are fabulous for families of all ages - they have great kids clubs (not required anymore!) but we choose this type of holiday for the activities they offer: Water-spor

26 November 2025

Fabulous fam trip to St Lucia!

16 September 2025

Sri Lanka, the teardrop-shaped island nestled in the Indian Ocean, had long been on my bucket list and I travelled with my family in 2023. It offers a treasure trove of cultural heritage, scenic landscapes, and unforgettable wildlife encounters. We were met at Colombo by our fantastic driver, Ananda, who expertly guided us on our journey, taking us to fascinating cities, ancient ruins, and seeing

08 August 2025

Another year, another Neilson Beach Club! This time it was Messini in the southern Peleponnese. Enjoying a short transfer, Messini is located on a huge sandy beach in a fairly rural area of Greece (near Kalamata and ancient Messenia). As expected, Neilson provide a wide choice of water sports; sailing, wind surfing, paddle boarding, water skiing and wakeboarding. The large swimming pool provi

05 August 2025

Japan – absolutely fascinating and very difficult to put into a few paragraphs so here is a snapshot of our bucket list destination! Landing into Haneda airport we caught an early morning glimpse of Mt Fuji from the airplane (I have a photo if you don’t believe me!!). Our first 3 nights were spent in Tokyo – it has a vibrant charm all of its own and we were constantly met with an array of sights

01 August 2025

Having experienced a 4-night cruise to Rotterdam on-board Cunard’s flagship - the gorgeous Queen Anne, I wanted to share just a few photos and memories of the wonderful time I had. I found Queen Anne to be reassuringly Cunard with a modern twist. The last time I sailed with Cunard was on-board Queen Elizabeth II in 1995 – a truly memorable transatlantic voyage. Boarding Queen Anne felt like I was

11 July 2025

I had always been intrigued by Madeira but had never been, so we took the opportunity of a sneaky week away in March. The weather was glorious, if a little windy – which makes for a fun approach and landing into Funchal! We hired a car for the first 3 days to explore the island from a hotel in the village of Estreito de Camera de Lobos – a small village with 2 or 3 very good local restaurants – on

09 July 2025

I was invited by Mangia’s resorts to view 7 of their properties in Sicily. Although it was a jam-packed itinerary, it was a wonderful opportunity to return to Italy and experience the beautiful island for the first time. We flew into Catania and spent our first night at the Brucoli Resort which is situated between Catania and Syracuse. With views of Mt Etna across the bay, 3 swimming pools one sal

09 July 2025

It is the first time we have been to Levante Beach Cub with Neilson and also a first to Rhodes – and actually a first time flying from Bournemouth! Levante beach club sits on a long stretch of pebble beach close to the resort of Kolympia where there is a large choice of bars and restaurants. The spacious accommodation and fantastic facilities are shared with guests from Sweden and Denmark. The Ne

03 February 2023

We planned a last minute whistle-stop tour to Belgium in January. Yes, it was cold, windy and wet (probably picked the worst weekend for weather!) but we still enjoyed our little jaunt around three of Belgium’s famous cities. Bruges is only 1 hr and 20 minutes from the euro-tunnel, so we arrived just after lunch – our hotel was a small B&B in a handy location just a stone’s throw from this UNESCO

03 February 2023

For Geoff and me, Neilson’s Cosmos Beach Club is perfect - Geoff can’t sit still and to be really honest, I find it hard to get off my sunbed! If you are a keen windsurfer, Vassiliki, on the beautiful island of Lefkas is one of the best places to stay. With reliable wind and flat water we can be fairly sure that Geoff will get on the water for a few hours or longer every day. And when there is no

06 November 2020

In October, we took some visitors to Lake Como for an overnight stay. We booked into a simple yet charming and elegant hotel with breath-taking views of the Lake. We managed to catch the last of the afternoon sunshine from the hotel’s private sun deck before enjoying Aperitivo in the busy bar and then dinner in the hotel’s fantastic restaurant over-looking the water. The Impepata di Cozze – s

28 October 2020

‘Franciacorta’ is my new favourite sparkling wine – and sipping a glass in the Autumn sunshine on the shores of Lake Iseo was very special. Lake Iseo is a well-kept secret - less well known than its neighbours (Como and Garda), it is northern Italy’s fourth largest lake and Monte Isola (traffic free and accessible by ferry & boat) is the largest lake island in Europe. We stayed overnight at t

12 October 2020

A few weekends ago, I was invited to experience the fabulous 'Forestis' in the Dolomiti. It was a truly amazing weekend – we were totally spoilt! Forestis is a breath-taking 5* adult only sanctuary @ 1800m in the South Tyrolean mountains – a perfect place to get away from it all and completely relax and re-charge your batteries. From the Suites to the Spa & the beautifully designed restaura

03 September 2020

Turin, Italy’s first capital, is a very walkable city with miles of covered arcades, beautiful piazzas and grand avenues, sophisticated museums, shops, historic cafes and restaurants and all with a magnificent backdrop of the Alps. It is the home of Italy’s car industry, its first cinema, and arguably chocolate; it’s the place in which vermouth and Nutella were invented, and it gave birth to the S

02 September 2020

Set on one of Italy’s most dramatic coasts, there are five fishing villages known as Cinque Terre. Pastel coloured settlements, which date from the early medieval period, seem to cling to the steeply terraced cliffs connected by an ancient system of footpaths, a 19th-century railway line cutting through a series of coastal tunnels or a fantastic boat service. Over centuries, grapes and olives have

26 August 2020

Sardinia exceeded my expectations. It is the second largest island in the Med with stunning white sandy beaches, turquoise water and of course delicious Italian cuisine. We flew into the South and stayed overnight in the Capital – Cagliari. It is well worth a visit if you have time. We stayed in the Castello district and ate in a fabulous fish restaurant in the old town sampling the local seafood

17 July 2020

An hour from Venice and only 30 minutes from Verona Airport lies the under-valued wine region of Soave. We stayed over-night in the pretty little town of Soave itself - a small wine town enclosed by medieval walls, overlooked by il Castello and surrounded by vineyards producing the famous Soave wine. Via Roma is lined with small and cosy inexpensive bars and trattorias – we grazed from one bar t

24 June 2020

On our drive down to Florence a few weeks ago, I worked out that it was around 20 years ago that I had visited the City and not surprisingly I didn’t remember much about the detail. I did remember what a stunningly beautiful City it is. And visiting just after lockdown was lifted here in Italy it was more like visiting a provincial town. We were blessed to be sharing this gem of a City with only

10 September 2019

We took a fabulous road trip down to Southern Italy this summer – this has been on my bucket list for a long time and although the weather was very hot (reached 40!), it was definitely worth the effort. Off the tourist trail, the Tremiti Islands are situated off the coast of Puglia - once used to intern political prisoners they are now a magnet for divers and snorkellers. Although close enough to

09 September 2019

This was my first visit to the northern shores of Lake Garda (the largest of the Italian lakes) and I was blown away by how dramatic the fjord-like cliffs are and how stunning the scenery is! Due to its clear waters and favourable wind conditions, being a keen windsurfer, it is now a firm favourite of my husband’s. However, not only is it fantastic for swimmers, sailors, wind, kite and foil surfe

02 July 2019

Since moving to Northern Italy, I have ventured into Milan on several occasions and at different times of the year and really enjoyed exploring the city in all 4 seasons. In Spring I had the opportunity to join a tour of the Galleria Campari. What a fascinating history about the iconic Milanese drink. And it would have been rude not to have sampled a Campari Spritz and Aperitivo at the neighbouri

28 June 2019

Just a quick visit and therefore short blog about beautiful Bellagio on Lake Como. What a spot! Picture perfect and referred to as the Pearl of Lake Como it is located on a promontory boasting magnificent views of the Lake, tree lined promenades and beautiful villas and gardens. Numerous boutiques and shops selling clothes and jewellery, antiques and pottery are scattered along the cobbled (s

09 May 2019

You won’t enjoy Rome if you try to tick off all the sights in one visit. We spent 4 nights in this historical City in early April and had we been travelling with young children we would have taken advantage of the ‘hop on and off bus’ to get around however with two, fairly fit (!), teenagers and four pairs of comfortable trainers we walked everywhere. In that time, we managed to visit the Vatic

08 May 2019

Having visited the Nieuw Koningsdam in the port in Amsterdam, I was very excited to be invited to sail on Holland America Line’s latest ship, the Nieuw Statendam in December 2018. We sailed from Venice to Rome and took the opportunity of staying overnight in Venice before joining the ship. What I loved about the ship was her size. While many other cruise lines think bigger is better, I prefer t

06 May 2019

Approximately 50 miles from Milan and even closer to our current home is the enchanting Lake Orta with deep blue waters and intriguing Isola San Giulio. The medieval town of Orta San Giulio lies on a peninsula and is packed with charm and character with pastel washed buildings, cobbled streets and a charming lake front promenade where sunbathers lie on wooden jetties and families eat their picni

24 February 2019

More laid back than France and Switzerland, the emphasis in the Italian ski resorts is on relaxation and fun. With amazing coffee, good food, great value and a friendly ambience, we love skiing in Italy! Living in northern Italy gives us the opportunity to ski at weekends and even for the day. We are within two and a half hours of the Aosta Valley and have therefore skied in Pila, La Thuile

21 February 2019

Having visited the Nieuw Koningsdam in port in Amsterdam, I was very excited to be invited to sail on Holland America Line’s latest ship - the Nieuw Statendam - in December 2018. We sailed from Venice to Rome and took the opportunity of staying overnight in Venice before boarding the ship. What I loved about the ship was her size. While many other cruise lines think bigger is better, I prefe

10 February 2019

We are very lucky to be living close to Lake Maggiore and therefore have plenty of opportunity to explore the area. Here are a few highlights! Lago Maggiore Express combines a boat ride with an unforgettable train journey. We embarked at Arona (Italy) and disembarked at Locarno (Switzerland) zig zagging across the lake, past the Borromean islands and calling in at some very pretty ports along t

08 January 2019

Yet another beautiful Italian City, Verona oozes style and sophistication from its cobbled lanes and pretty piazzas. Beyond the kitsch and romance associated with Romeo and Juliet, it has a bustling centre with boutique shops and quirky little bars and restaurants providing regional food and wine. The centre is dominated of course by the well-preserved Amphitheatre (famous venue for the summer

27 November 2018

I was lucky to have the opportunity of spending a few days in Venice (whilst my husband was working) a few weeks ago (mid-Nov 2018). This was my third visit to the city, but the other two visits were so long ago it was like being there for the first time. We were very lucky with the weather and although the city had suffered a recent and particularly bad ‘acqua alta’ – we had blue skies and sunshi

22 October 2018

We love Italian cities and we love Italian food therefore we couldn’t resist sneaking in a quick short break to Bologna over the summer holidays. And, of course, with a car it is so easy to visit Modena and Parma too! Modena, the birthplace of Pavarotti, home to the Ferrari museum and of course the culinary force behind real balsamic vinegar. Giuseppe Giusti is the oldest and most prestigious

19 October 2018

After an overnight stay just outside San Jose, we began our much awaited 15-day Costa Rican adventure on the country's Caribbean coast. En route we stopped for a Costa Rican style buffet breakfast and shortly afterwards we saw our first family of sloths on the road-side! Time seems to have stood still in this part of the north Caribbean coast. The final approach into Tortuguera National Pa

17 September 2018

Starigrad Paklenica is a bustling little town surrounded by rocky shoreline, pebble beaches, old villages, mountain canyons and peaks and green forests. With stunning views of Paklenica National Park and the Adriatic from the roof top ‘Sky Bar’ Neilson’s Alana Beachclub is in a beautiful spot and perfect for keen climbers, hikers, bikers and sailors of course. Not to mention families with ki

17 September 2018

We made a whistle-stop visit to Istria in August. The heart-shaped peninsula on Croatia’s North Western coast boasts crystal clear Adriatic waters with delightful beaches (pebble – beach shoes recommended!), coves and picturesque coastal towns. It has become a popular, trendy region (especially with the Italians due to its proximity to the Italian boarder) known for fantastic restaurants and

17 September 2018

Trieste is an Italian port on the boarder with Slovenia. Bustling with life and clearly a fascinating history it is a jumble of architecture and ethic influences having been occupied by the Romans, Austrians – notably the Habsburgs (buildings and Viennese coffee houses) and the Germans as well as the Italians of course! It was a brief overnight stop for us on the drive to Croatia but worthy o

22 May 2018

A weekend on the Ligurian coast – who knew it was so pretty? Living close to Milan we were able to drive there in two hours; however, Genoa is the closest airport and is just under an hour’s drive or even a ferry ride from this wonderful part of the Italian coastline. We parked in Santa Margherita Ligure and wandered along the esplanade watching the yachts and ferries come and go and soaking

20 July 2017

To give my daughter some Spanish practice we spent a sneaky few days in Madrid at the beginning of the Easter holidays and were pleasantly caught out by the most amazing weather – clear blue skies and warm sunshine every day. Our hotel was located at Puerta de Toledo just a 15-20 minute walk from Plaza Mayor and 25 minute walk to Atocha Station. Not only do we like to explore a City on foo

10 February 2017

It is hard to beat a self-catering holiday in Tuscany! Wonderful weather, stunning scenery, fabulous food and wine, and a plethora of beautiful towns and cities to visit. We stayed in a farmhouse on the outskirts of the walled hilltop city of Volterra – a one and a half hour drive from Pisa. Volterra occupies a breathtaking position overlooking the famous Tuscan landscape and although it

08 November 2016

I have recently returned from a long weekend on a river cruise hosted by Scenic River Cruises. We flew to Budapest to join Scenic Jewel moored opposite the stunning Houses of Parliament. The Scenic ‘space ships’ are beautifully well-appointed ships, accommodating up to 170 passengers on three decks. Facilities include two restaurants and a very comfortable spacious lounge (with bar) and an open

17 June 2016

I have just come back from a fabulous weekend in Amsterdam. It has been a long time since I visited this popular city and I wasn’t disappointed. It is still a vibrant, compact and interesting City and a fabulous place to people watch! We flew into Schipol Airport with KLM and very easily caught a train into Centraal Station. We were staying at the Doubletree Suites for our first night and this

17 June 2016

Having checked into Disney's Grand Floridian & Spa Resort for our 7 night stay we knew we were going to be spoilt. A fabulous hotel and resort offering large rooms with balconies and connected to Magic Kingdom by monorail & boat. With VIP tour guides taking us around Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios we were able to see and experience the Parks, shows, restaurants and

19 April 2016

As they say in South Africa - Sawubona! I am so lucky to have just been on one of the most amazing educational trips. We visited the Cape region of South Africa and it was everything I expected and so much more….an area of contrasting and stunning scenery and countryside which was a patchwork of prettiness, fabulous people, food and wine and to top it all mind blowing ‘Attenborough-esque’ ga

19 April 2016

Another fabulous fortnight with Neilson holidays. This year we chose Club Phokaia near Foca, Turkey, a very smart beach-club with a wow factor Olympic size swimming pool surrounded by day beds and sun-loungers. A walk down the garden path and you are at the (sand and shingle) beach, the water-sports activities, ski pier and the much used beachfront bar! The food in the buffet restaurant was

24 June 2015

Not just a destination for romance and honeymoons this tropical island deep in the Indian Ocean and surrounded by coral reefs and beautifully warm turquoise waters, is a fabulous place to spend a family holiday at Easter. It is also the perfect twin centre for Dubai. We took the Emirates 7 hour overnight flight from Dubai to Mauritius having spent a fun few days in the Emirate. The transfer too

15 June 2015

As they say in South Africa - Sawubona! I am so lucky to have just been on one of the most amazing educational trips. We visited the Cape region of South Africa and it was everything I expected and so much more….there was ’wow factor’ around every corner with contrasting and stunning scenery, countryside which was a patchwork of prettiness, fabulous people, food and wine and to top it all mind

21 May 2015

I was lucky enough to join a group of colleagues on Celebrity Infinity in September 2014 sailing from Harwich. Modern Luxury is what Celebrity is all about and is what they deliver. The service and staff on board the ship was outstanding and the size and quality of the cabins (including the inside cabins) and suites were impressive too. Pre-dinner drinks in the Martini Bar was a delightful

21 May 2015

Having been to Morocco at Easter we wanted to get away for a week or so in August and I had always wanted to go back to Majorca so we managed to find a 2 roomed apartment at the Inturotel Azul Park in Cala D’or. It was functional – small kitchen area where we had lunch most days and the children slept on sofa beds in the living room. We had a nice balcony overlooking the pool and side sea view.

18 May 2015

We flew from Heathrow with Emirates on their spacious A380 aircraft – food was good and in-flight entertainment to die for! After a 30 minute transfer out to the Palm we arrived at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray and were greeted by a truly wow factor hotel lobby and with it’s private beach, fabulously huge infinity pool, sumptuous spa and 10 restaurants this amazing hotel was hard to leave each day!

10 June 2014

After four nights in Marrakech and three nights in the Atlas Mountains (see my journal entitled Marrakech & the High Atlas Mountains) our Moroccan adventure continued with a scenic three hour drive down to the Atlantic coast where we spent five nights in the small village of Sidi Kaouki. The journey was made all the more interesting by our driver who gave us an interesting lesson in Moroccan histo

10 June 2014

Memories of our Moroccan adventure linger as we remember the sights, sounds and smells of our fascinating 12 night holiday. I have written my journal in two parts - 'Marrakech & the Mountains' and 'Morocco – the Atlantic Coast'. We arrived in Marrakech on a late flight and were welcomed to Riad Dar Azure by Samira with the most delicious three course traditional Moroccan meal for our arri

23 January 2014

Having spent a week in the gorgeous La Roque-Gageac (see ‘A week in Dordogne’) we then drove across to the Vendee to spend a week on the Atlantic coast! We booked a week in a villa in Saint Jeans-de-Monts… a French seaside resort renowned for its 8km sandy beach! The seafront has recently been restored and now boasts a network of footpaths and cycle tracks along the front and through the pi

23 January 2014

We spent the first week of our self-drive holiday to France in a delightful house in the beautiful and picturesque village of La Roque-Gageac perched right up on the banks of the River Dordogne. We arrived early afternoon having taken a late afternoon Eurotunnel the night before and stayed at a little motel close to Orleans on the way down. We chose not to use the toll roads all the way down to th

21 February 2013

We started our 16 day journey in San Francisco and spent two days exploring the fun and vibrant city. Our host took us on a sightseeing tour of the city stopping to eat burritos over-looking the iconic Golden Gate Bridge before taking off over the many steep and pot-holed roads! The following day brought fog and the heaviest rain on record in the Bay area! However, we still managed to have fun tra

18 June 2012

The Eurostar train from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord takes just two and a quarter hours and provides a stress free way of getting from one great city to another. We stayed in a small apartment in Le Marais district (traditionally the City’s old Jewish quarter) and were delighted with this bustling neighbourhood. Round the corner from the apartment were streets full of bars and cafes,

18 June 2012

We spent Easter 2012 in Dartmoor and were very lucky with the weather. What a fabulous place to visit in the Spring – lambs frolicking, daffodils and spring flowers in abundance, wild ponies wandering across the road, panoramic views across the Moors and Tors - Dartmoor really does offer great British countryside at its best! Staying in a little cottage in the village of Buckland Monachoru

24 May 2012

New York – a City begging to be explored and sadly few first time visitors have the time to really dig deep and explore some of very different 'villages' within the City. Thanks to living in New Jersey for 2 years, we were able to get into the City for various day trips and wander around a few of the different neighbourhoods which make Manhattan island such a special place. My sister and famil

26 September 2011

Living in New Jersey, and taking advantage of the overnight auto-train from Virginia to Florida meant that we could avoid driving both north and south on this epic east coast trip…something I had wanted to do for a long time. We boarded the train, just outside Washington DC, late afternoon and settled into our family cabin before meeting some friends (also taking the train!) in the lounge car for

15 July 2011

Living so close, we have been able to take a few day trips into New York…all seasons! However, I wanted my children (that’s my excuse and I am sticking to it!) to experience New York at night…therefore we booked a hotel for a night and tickets to a Broadway show! We drove into New York on a sunny Saturday arriving at the Affinia Gardens hotel late morning. We received a warm and friendly

25 February 2011

Philadelphia is the birthplace of the United States. It is the 6th largest city in the nation yet not over whelming. It is a city of neighbourhoods and contrasts – skyscrapers soaring above national icons. With a downtown historic district easy for exploring on foot and a hop on and off trolley bus to tour the rest of the City it is a destination just waiting to be explored. We were only in

17 February 2011

Our second and last Christmas whilst here in the USA and so on Christmas Eve we flew into Denver to start a fabulous Christmas holiday week on the ski slopes of the Rockies! We picked up our car from Alamo and drove the scenic two hour drive up into the famous Rockies Mountain range before arriving in Frisco from where we had pre-booked our skis and boots – and where the nearest supermarket is

24 January 2011

We had heard from many sources how stunning the New England coast was and we were not disappointed! Our first stop was for coffee at the delightful ‘Popover‘s café’ situated in the heart of Portsmouth’s (New Hampshire) historical market square. After a short walk around this lively New Hampshire coastal city we headed off again crossing over the border where the remarkable coast of Maine bec

12 October 2010

We had a wonderful family holiday this year on the beautiful island of Lesvos. My husband, not content with lying on a sunbed and reading the latest bestseller like his wife, enjoys a more active holiday. Our two children (8 & 6 this year) enjoy nothing more than swimming in the pool and sea, joining in with any beachside activities, playing in the sand and making new friends. So we choose to t

12 October 2010

What a delightful town Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is. We wish we were able to spend more time exploring the town itself before heading out to the Battlefields and Visitor Centre. We spent a fascinating couple of hours wandering around the museum and taking in the sights and sounds of the incredible Cyclorama - a 360 degree painting depicting ‘Pickett’s Charge’ – before taking the self guided auto to

21 June 2010

After an amazing boat trip (see Part I for details) from Dana Point we headed North once again on the Pacific Coast Highway (or Highway 1) towards Newport Beach, passing through the very trendy Laguna Beach. Newport Beach oozes wealth with its many yacht clubs and marinas. We walked along the pier and had a quick bite to eat before jumping back in the car and heading North to Malibu (our home f

17 June 2010

The approach into San Diego airport was an exciting start to our Southern Californian adventure. The flight path took us right through the skyscrapers of the city! We drove our hire car to the Old Town Inn – a small oasis located on the Pacific Highway offering excellent value and a good base for sightseeing. We had a large room with kitchenette which, although we did not cook, was very useful

27 May 2010

It was 3 years since our last family ski holiday therefore we decided to take advantage of a road trip to Vermont! The drive from New Jersey was a treat in itself particularly once we crossed the border into Vermont. We drove through some picturesque small towns including the elegant and charming Woodstock – a quintessential New England village begging to be visited again in the Spring or Sum

27 May 2010

It was Christmas Eve and we took a taxi to the St James Hotel – a small boutique style hotel just on the edge of both the business district and 2 blocks from Canal Street in a great location – close enough to walk into the French Quarter and far enough away to escape the hustle and bustle. We had a good size room with original beams and West Indies decor. We spent a wet (but warm) afternoon wa

27 May 2010

Conveniently, Carnival Triumph was sailing from New Orleans on Boxing Day which meant we were able to combine a few days in a fantastic, vibrant and interesting city with a fun and relaxing short cruise across the Gulf to Mexico and enjoy some Winter sun! Day one: A short walk from the James Hotel, through Riverwalk took us to the Cruise Terminal in New Orleans - on the mighty Mississippi River

12 May 2010

Our first Thanksgiving weekend in the USA and we thought we would head to where it all began….New England! Being on the East Coast we were able to self drive to Cape Cod and we stayed overnight in the historic seaport of Mystic in Connecticut. The Hilton Mystic was just 2 minutes off the interstate so perfect for a quick stopover. The spacious room had 2 double beds and good sized bathroom p

02 October 2009

We flew into Washington Dulles Airport on Friday afternoon and caught a cab into the city. It took about 30 minutes to reach the city centre where the roads are noticeably clean, wide and spacious and in some cases tree lined. The Du Pont Hotel is in a great location – right on Du Pont Circle with a metro just across the circle (we would describe it as a roundabout!). We checked into a family

01 May 2009

I was lucky enough to visit Disneyland Paris last year. I travelled in standard class on the direct Eurostar service from the newly opened and very flash St Pancras Station in London on one very snowy Sunday morning. The train takes only 2 hours & 34 minutes and I couldn’t quite believe how quickly the journey went – perfect for over excited young children! I arrived at Marne-la-Vallee Stat