Based in Shoreham by Sea

Joanne Parsons

It's Nice To Meet You

Hi

My name is Jo and welcome to my personal Travel Counsellors page.

I joined Travel Counsellors in December 2001 and I have never looked back.

I offer a bespoke service to my clients that you won't find elsewhere. I want to find the best holiday I can for you, one that you will remember always. I care about my customers and feel that they are more than that - they are my friends too.

Joining Travel Counsellors has given me the opportunity to offer fantastic holidays at great prices. I have a huge client base which is growing through referrals. I am very proud of this as it proves that my customers are happy with my service.

If you are a new customer, looking for someone who cares about you and your travel arrangements, make me your first port of call.

Every penny you spend with me will be protected by either ATOL or the Travel Counsellors unique financial trust which offers the best financial protection in the industry.

I believe that it is important to be available to all new and existing customers to discuss their travel arrangements, including the finer details, at a time to suit them. Therefore you can contact me out of normal office hours, either by phone, email or in person.

I specialise in the USA and particularly Orlando but I also have great knowledge of most destinations so I can find the right holiday to suit your needs.

I thank you for taking the time to visit my page. I very much look forward to hearing from you in the future and making your holiday 'dreams' a reality.

Best Wishes
Jo

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My Blog

I absolutely live and breathe travel and I love to write about my experiences! Please take a look through my posts - you might find your own holiday inspiration.

Bears, Whales and Wolves

18 June 2019

Brian has wanted to visit Yellowstone for a long time and this year we made it - combining it with Seattle and Lincoln City in Oregon. Our journey got off to a bad start as our flight to Salt Lake City was delayed which meant we would miss our connection to Bozeman. Luckily, we were transferred to Minneapolis and arrived just a few hours late. I am glad I booked us to stay overnight though as it meant Brian could have a good night's sleep before we collected our car for the 90-minute drive to Yellowstone. We were staying at the Mammoth Hot Springs hotel in a frontier cabin as part of the "Spring Bear and Wolf Discovery" package that I had booked. This included 4 nights’ accommodation, breakfast and lunch daily and one evening meal with our group, plus the services of a very knowledgeable guide for our 3 days looking for various wildlife which as well as bears and wolves included elk, bison, moose, pronghorn, mountain goats and various birds. We concentrated our searches in the Lamar Valley which is home to the Junction Butte Wolf Pack. Spring is a great time to visit as it is less busy than summer and many of the animals have young, our favourite being the Red Dog (baby bison). You can experience 2-3 hour waits to get into the park in the summer if you are staying outside. Mammoth Hot Springs is home to the Terraces; an area of colourful limestone and hot springs which have developed over the years. Our accommodation was fairly basic - no TV or Wi-Fi in the cabins so if you need comfort stay in the hotel which was being refurbished when we were there. You can get Wi-Fi in the hotel lobby if you need it. We did not miss it though as herds of elk and bison wander through the grounds regularly. There is a restaurant on site as well as a fast food/snack place plus a shop where you can get pretty much all you need. If you want to venture out to eat, the town of Gardiner is just outside the north entrance. Our next major stay was in Seattle, but to break up the driving we stopped off in a few places on the way. We could have flown to Seattle from Bozeman but we wanted to see some of the country that you would not normally see and the scenery was spectacular. Our first stop Butte which was one of the biggest suppliers of copper in the world and still has an active mine. Unfortunately, a lot of the toxic waste went into the river system and the town has been busy cleaning it up so that it is safe to use again. You can do a tour of the Berkley Pit and Old Town which we did and was a great way to see everything. Another main attraction here is "Our Lady of the Rockies", a 90-foot statue of the Virgin Mary which sits atop the east ridge overlooking the town. The story behind it is that of a resident whose wife was seriously ill - he vowed that if she were to survive, he would build a statue of Mary in his garden, but it turned into the huge monument that can be seen today. You can only reach it on an organised tour and only in the summer months. Next up was Missoula - famous for the film "A River Runs Through It". It’s a lovely place, great for hiking and biking. You can also surf on the river. After Missoula was Spokane - a much bigger town. We were staying in a centrally located motel, so it was easy to walk into the centre where they had a large shopping mall. Next to the mall was a lovely park with lots to do including a carousel, a skate and scooter track and the sky ride over Spokane Falls. Our last stop before Seattle was Yakima - wine country. There were lots of vineyards offering wine tasting. I should also mention that both Montana and Washington have numerous craft beer breweries. There are lots of ales to try but they seem to be much stronger than those in the UK. We arrived through the mist and gloom in Seattle. It is like San Francisco in that the mist seems to hang around in the morning but is gone by the afternoon. We were staying at the Thompson Hotel, which was well situated for the Waterfront and Pike Street Market. Seattle is also home to a multitude of coffee shops and is famous for the first ever Starbucks which has hordes of tourists taking photos of it (no I didn't!) Like San Francisco, Seattle is quite hilly - I have never gone up and down so many steps! The waterfront has lots of attractions and is home to various cruise terminals as many ships leave here for Alaskan cruises. The best way to see the famous Seattle skyline is from the water - there are a multitude of boat trips you can take. We did a cruise round the harbour - one during the day on a small boat and the other a sunset cruise on a yacht. We also took a water taxi over to West Seattle and walked along Alki Beach. You get great views from here and can also sometimes see seals and whales. A longer trip we took was on the clipper up to Friday Harbour in the San Juan Islands (4 hours). This is a great area for whale watching and is home to the southern residents (orca). We did not see them unfortunately but did see some humpback whales, seals, sea lions and bald eagles. We also got to have a look round Friday Harbour and visited the whale museum which was very interesting. For sports fans Seattle is home to the Seattle Sea Hawks football team and the Mariners Baseball team. They have 2 huge stadiums just outside the city - there are also soccer and rugby sides. If you want to get out of the city you can take a day trip to Mount Ranier or Snoqualmie Falls - most trips pick up from your hotel or close by. Our final destination was Lincoln City, Oregon - an odd choice you may think as we in the UK don't tend to visit Oregon. My reason was that it is home to Depoe Bay (just 20 mins down the road) which is known as the whale watching capital of the Oregon Coast. Gray Whales migrate up to Alaska from Baja California, but some have decided to stick around in Oregon. We did a trip from here and within minutes saw some Gray Whales. You can also see whales from the coast - we saw them from Boiler Bay and also from our hotel balcony! Oregon has great scenery - the beaches go for miles and miles offering wonderful walks. We stayed at the Coho Beachfront Lodge which was lovely with great facilities. we had an ocean view room with a balcony. Lincoln City is a small town but has plenty of shops and restaurants and is only 2 hours from Portland. If you want something different - Oregon has it all.

Nowegian Coastal Voyage

21 September 2018

08.30 Sunday 9th September and I meet up with my fellow travellers at Gatwick for our short flight to Bergen, Norway's second largest city. It is here we are joining the MS Richard on her northbound voyage to Kirkenes. We have a quick look round Bergen before we embark and are amazed at how quiet and clean it is. We have been allocated arctic superior cabins which are nice enough but quite compact and a little dated (the ship is due to be refurbished in November.) We depart on time at 2000 hrs and our next main port of call will be Hjorundfjorden, one of Norway's most beautiful fjords. What I did not realise was that there are a few other stops on the way - but these are literally just stops to deliver post and goods and to let passengers just going from A to B to get off and on. These are through the night and at first you do wake up every time the ship stops as there is quite a bit of noise with the loading and unloading - you get used to it though! Hurtigruten's ships are working vessels so you need to take this into account. We arrive at Hjorundfjorden at 1130 and have a few hours here to look around. We take the tender to the little village of Urke which is very picturesque and has beautiful houses with grass roofs. Or next stop is Trondheim where we take a tour of the city with our guide Claudia who is from Germany and very matter of fact. She takes us to Nidaros Cathedral which is famous for being the most beautiful building in Norway and where all of the kings and queens have been crowned. We finish our tour at the home of the only bike lift in the world - to be honest it looks like more work than just pushing it up the hill! We are back on board for our 1200 departure - the views from onboard are stunning and we are very lucky to have warm dry weather. The ship glides serenely through the fjords whilst you sit out on deck and watch the world go by. There are various excursions that you can book on board but would suggest booking the most popular ones before you travel to avoid disappointment. There are expedition leaders on board who take various level hikes at certain ports - you can purchase these separately or book a pass which gives you access to a certain amount. They also give interesting talks on board in the conference corner where you can learn about the Northern Lights, the Sammi People or the Vikings etc. One of them even played guitar in the bar a couple of evenings and gave a poetry reading. Most cabins on board come with tea and coffee making facilities and depending on the fare you pay - full board is included but drinks are extra - these can be very expensive but then Scandinavia is. Breakfast and lunch are buffet style, while dinner is a set three-course menu. We are up early the next morning to watch as we sail above the Arctic Circle. Later in the morning there is an Arctic Circle Ceremony where people have ice shoved down their back! This was for those that had not been above the Arctic Circle before, so I was excused as I have been to Lapland. Nest stop – Bodo. While most of the group go off on a level 4 hike - Mike a fellow agent and I decide to take the Rib excursion to Saltstraumen, home to the world's most powerful tidal current. On our journey we see a harbour porpoise but no sea eagles which are known to abound here. The tidal current flows very fast and creates many whirlpools which we zoom across and around. The other excursion to Saltstraumen is by coach and we see the people watching from beneath the bridge but they will not get as good a view as we did. In the evening we had our final excursion at Svolvaer, part of the Lofoten Islands and home to the Lofotopils Brewery - Lofoten's first and only craft brewery. we were shown around the factory and learned how they make their beer before getting to taste a few. Afterwards we were back on board for our last night. We had seen a slight glimpse of the Northern Lights the night before but tonight we were treated to a much stronger display and one which I did not think we would get to see as it was so early - the season is usually from 1 October to 1 April. This really was an unexpected highlight and one I will not forget. Our final stop was in Tromso - the ship would continue up to Kirkenes but we were leaving here. We had a night in Tromso which is a great city alternative to Reykjavik - being further north you are more likely to see the lights here. Again, it is a spotlessly clean city. There is loads to do - fjord trips, whale watching (certain times of year only), there is a wilderness centre close by where you can visit the huskies - or take them out for a hike or on a sledge. There is a cable car up the mountain where you will have amazing views over the city and landscape below. I would certainly come back here if given the opportunity. We flew home via Oslo as there were no direct flights that day, but this was seamless and only put a couple of extra hours on our journey. I can thoroughly recommend Hurtigruten to anyone considering a Norwegian Coastal Voyage - this is not a cruise so do not compare it to the likes of P&O etc - their ships only go a short way up the fjords as they are such large ships. Hurtigruten are smaller and therefore can access a lot more places. Yes, they are expensive but more than worth it if you have the chance.

So Much to See and Do in the Golden State (part 1)

25 July 2018

I have been wanting to do this trip for a long time, especially after seeing "the big blue" on the BBC a few years ago. We started off in San Francisco, a must-see city full of interesting places to see like Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf and China Town. You can do all of this by getting an all loops tour bus ticket which gives you 72 hours of travel on four different loop tours around the city. Also included is your excursion to Alcatraz which is a very interesting place - the audio tour is excellent and really gives you a feel for how things were when it was in operation. It is a good idea to book before you go as it gets very busy - especially in the summer months. We stayed at the Zephyr Hotel which is right opposite Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 where there are a plethora of shops and restaurants and great views of the local sea lions who gather together on pontoons sunning themselves and fighting for the best space. The Zephyr is a funky hotel with interesting décor - some of the walls are made from metal lorry containers. They have a caravan in the garden area selling beers, snacks and ice cream and there are nice seating areas with firepits for the cooler weather. Speaking of weather, San Francisco has its own micro climate and can be quite chilly. We were there in June and the winds were very cold so make sure you take warm clothing as well as your t shirts and shorts! Other ways to get around the city include bike rental and the go cars which are small vehicles which take you on a self-drive tour. There are lots of boat trips round the bay and plenty of museums, gardens and galleries to enjoy. From San Francisco we drove to Yosemite Valley (around 4 hours) where we were staying at the Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal. This is one of the closest hotels to the park entrance (around 15 min drive) and has spectacular views of the Merced River (we had a river view room) and the valley. We regularly saw humming birds from our balcony. The Yosemite View Lodge is very comfortable but is quite dated décor wise. It has a small pool and some spas dotted around. There is a shop where you can get basic groceries and souvenirs. If you don't want to use the cooking facilities in your room, there is a restaurant (some people complained it was expensive but no more so than the restaurants in San Francisco) and a pizzeria. There are no other shops in the vicinity and the nearest town is over an hour away. Parking is free. Yosemite itself is spectacular. We were glad we chose to go on an organised tour our first day as we got to see all the major attractions - El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls etc. Our guide Ira was extremely informative and brought along his telescope, so we could see the climbers on El Capitan and the people that had hiked to the top of Half Dome. My only disappointment with Yosemite was the public conveniences which were very poorly maintained which was most surprising. There are lots of camps in Yosemite if you prefer that option or there is the luxury of places like Tenaya Lodge which is located at Fish Camp. We drove up to Tenaya Lake on our second day which was beautiful and very peaceful. They do recommend that you set out early to get into the park as any time after 10 there are long queues with tour buses etc arriving. Our next stop was Monterey and the place I was most looking forward to visiting. We stayed at the Portola Hotel and Spa which was in a great location close to Fisherman's Wharf and only a 20-minute walk to Cannery Row. There was also a free shuttle bus right outside if you didn't want to walk which goes from downtown to the aquarium. The hotel is quite large and has a couple of nice restaurants and also a microbrewery selling a host of different lagers and ales. They have both self and valet parking here. Our main reason for being here was whale watching and our first trip did not disappoint. We went out with Monterey Bay Whale Watch on the Black Fin, a 65ft Catamaran. They have marine biologists on board who tell you all about the whales you are likely to see. In this instance we sailed around an hour north of Monterey Bay to Moss Landing where there were so many humpback whales feeding on anchovies that we did not know where to look! This is literally just off the coast and if you stood on the shore you could see whales from there. Again, the weather here was not as warm as we expected. Apparently, they call it "June Gloom" as it can be very misty and murky, especially out at sea. Monterey is a nice town and again you can rent bikes here to get around if you don't want to drive. You can also rent kayaks and go out into the bay and get close to the sea otters which abound here. You are only allowed to get within two metres so as not to disturb them though. One drive I do suggest is the 17-mile scenic drive through pebble beach to Carmel. It has stunning scenery and a couple of golf courses if you are that way inclined. There is a small fee to enter as it is a gated community, but it is well worth it as the views are amazing and there are lots of stop off points, so you can get out of the car and take it all in. We loved Carmel. It has a long sandy beach, some quirky houses and charming shops and cafes. I could live here! On our last day in Monterey we had our second Whale Watching trip with Fast Raft. This is a small Rib which only takes six passengers along with the two crew. This went from Moss Landing, so we were soon in the thick of a host of humpbacks still here feeding. Apparently, there is a two-mile-deep canyon here which makes it an ideal place for the whales to find plenty of food. We saw some spectacular breaches and pectoral flapping and the two kayakers out at the same time had the experience of a lifetime! Some days are better than others for seeing the wildlife - we were lucky and saw plenty of whales but I would suggest if you are serious about seeing them book more than one trip.

So Much to See and Do in the Golden State (Part 2)

25 July 2018

Our last destination was Santa Barbara, a short hop down the coast. Unfortunately, we could not take Highway 1 as part of it was still closed after the mudslides, but Highway 101 was still a nice drive. Santa Barbara is a lovely town with a long sandy beach, wooden pier (that they call a wharf) marina, great shopping area (State Street) and lots of good places to eat. We stayed at the Harbor View Inn right on the main coast road and corner of state street so a great location. The hotel has three main buildings. We started off in the west building which is the lowest room grade and had views over the car park, but we could also see the beach. We had two nights there and two nights in the east building which looks over State Street and had a lovely big balcony to sit out on and drink our coffee in the morning. It also overlooked the beach area. If you want a full beach/harbour view, then you need to stay in the south building. The Harbor View has valet parking only which was $25 per day. Santa Barbara is also good for whale watching - we went out with Condor Express and were lucky to see around six or seven blue whales as well and some Fin Whales and a super pod of common dolphins. Whales come here to eat in the Santa Barbara Channel located between the coast and the Channel Islands. People go out to the islands for day trips or to camp and there are lots of options to visit - generally from Ventura or Oxnard a bit further down the coast. These are a must for birdwatchers. On our last day we took a sunset cruise from the Marina - this was the perfect end to a fantastic trip!

Cornwall, a doggy heaven

14 March 2018

We decided to take a holiday in the UK for our last trip as we are saving up for a big one next year. We have been to Cornwall a few times and love the North Coast and particularly Perranporth and Padstow. We booked a Hoseasons Holiday at Leycroft Valley in Perranporth - we had a studio cabin which came with a hot tub on the patio. It was very compact, but clean and had all the facilities we needed. Leycroft Valley is, as the name suggests, in a valley to the rear of Perranporth and can be found by taking a long and winding lane. Some people seem to complain about getting there but it was quite straightforward in my opinion. A short car ride or 30-minute walk would take you to the town and spectacular beach where the dogs could run and play to their hearts content. Perranporth is very popular and while we went in September it was still extremely busy. The sea can be very rough but is manned by lifeguards in the summer months and is great for those wanting to learn to surf, paddleboard or kitesurf. There are lots of places to visit in the vicinity - Newquay is just down the road and Padstow is also a short drive away. There are lots of dog friendly beaches here and we visited a different one every day - we particularly liked Watergate Bay, Morgan Porth and Holywell Bay. While we were in Holywell Bay they were filming Poldark which was fun to watch. We also got to see some seals whilst on one of our walks here which was lovely as we are big animal lovers. We did not have the best of weather on our trip but have to say it did not stop us having a great time and we will definitely be back.

A Whale of A Time in Tenerife

28 February 2017

We decided to go to Tenerife to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. Having got married in San Diego on a whale watching boat, I booked us a trip on our anniversary with Tenerife Sailing Charters - a UK-owned company based on Porto Colon. They offer a smaller group experience, which is what we preferred to the big catamarans and so on offered by other companies. They pick you up from your hotel and take you to the port where you board your sailing boat and are taken out to look for whales and dolphins. This trip was very bumpy as the sea was particularly rough and we only saw a couple of dolphins before Jose our skipper decided it was too rough to continue and took us to calmer waters! Because of this, we decided to book a second trip and we were so glad we did as we got to see a small pod of pilot whales, one of which was a baby. I think the only way to see whales and dolphins is in the wild and we had a fantastic time. We stayed in the resort of El Medano, which is on the South Eastern coast rather than the west where the main resorts are. We stayed at the Arenas Del Mar which is an adult-only all-inclusive hotel which had a mix of clientele - being older couples and cyclists in the main. It has a buffet restaurant - the food is good but if you're staying for longer than a week, I'd suggest exploring other restaurants in the area. There was an a la carte restaurant that offered a tasting menu for 25 euros per person, though we didn't try it on this occasion. I would recommend booking a sea view suite - we were upgraded to a one-bedroom suite with a side sea view, which was very nice as we overlooked the beach and the coast. There is one outdoor pool, which is a seawater pool and there is an indoor pool in the spa. Due to the winds the resort gets, it's well geared for water sports enthusiasts. There are lots of apartments to rent and the town of El Medano itself has a quaint hippy vibe to it. There are not so many of the tourist souvenir shops here - more surf shops and cafes. The beach is nice and you can walk to Mount Roja fairly easily.

Florida - Boats, Boats and more boats!

29 September 2016

I have been to Florida on many occasions but mostly to Orlando so it was nice this time round to see a bit more of what the Sunshine State has to offer. We started off in Orlando as we wanted to meet up with our son Josh who had been working as a lifeguard at the Hard Rock Hotel, Universal for the summer. Unfortunately our budget did not allow for us to stay at the Hard Rock, but we did get a good rate at the newly opened Sapphire Falls, another Lowes property on the resort. Having arrived at the hotel after a long flight we were disappointed that our room was not ready, but after a short while and being given complimentary breakfast vouchers for our two night stay we were able to settle in. As I said this is a new hotel, it is nicely decorated in a bright Caribbean style and has amenities including a large pool, games room and gym. You can either take the boat taxi or a short walk to the theme parks - you get in an hour early if staying on resort but not the fast pass which is only for guests staying at Portofino Bay, Hard Rock and Royal Pacific. After our two days in Orlando we collected our hire car and drove up to Crystal River on the Nature Coast where we would be staying at the Plantation Inn and Golf Resort for four nights. This was in stark contrast to Sapphire Falls as it is an older property and looks like an old southern plantation house. Our room was adequate although a little dated but was in keeping with the image they wanted to convey. We were right on the river here and took the opportunity to take an excursion where you can swim with the local wildlife - being Manatees - this is the only place it is legal to do this. We also managed a couple of kayaking trips here and also a sunset cruise which I can thoroughly recommend. The resort also had a lovely pool which we made good use of as it was so hot. For the golfers there are two courses, one nine hole and one 18 hole. At the time we were there, there were a couple of Manatees stuck on the course in a small lake as our visit was just after hurricane Hermione. They were having a great time though as there was plenty of food for them and they were rescued a few days later. As the name Nature Coast suggests this is an ideal location if you and your family are into wildlife - we saw dolphins, manatees a small alligator and numerous birds. There are also a number of fishing trips you can take here. From Crystal River we drove down to Madeira Beach on the Gulf Coast - we have been here before and were looking forward to going back. Madeira Beach is a small resort between Clearwater and St Petersburg. It has a laid back feel to it and nothing is done in a rush. We stayed at the Madeira Bay Resort in a two bedroom condo as our son Josh and his girlfriend were joining us here for the remainder of our stay. The accommodation is well maintained - as well as the two bedrooms you get an open plan kitchen, diner and lounge area with all mod cons. Our apartment looked out onto the marina where we regularly saw dolphins and manatees. Across the road is the wonderful sandy beach and the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. We would walk the beach early in the morning before it got too hot and often see dolphins not far out. Madeira Beach is home to John's Pass Village where you will find lots of quirky souvenir shops as well as some great restaurants and bars. You can book lots of trips here too from dolphin watching to parasailing. Busch Gardens is a must if you have not been and is only a short distance away - we had a day here and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We did the Serengeti Safari where you get to feed the giraffes which was fun. And of course Busch has some of the best coasters in Florida. Again here we took a number of boat trips - including a sunset cruise where you go out via the inter-coastal waterways to the gulf. This is an inexpensive trip and "Captain Shaun" was a mine of information. You also get free beer and wine so great value for money. We also kayaked here in the bay where you can get up close to the dolphins that frequent this area. Another day another boat trip - this time we drove down to St Petersburg where we took out speedboats - they were small boats but you could drive yourself so great fun! We went out in a small group and followed our leader through the inter-coastal waterways and across the bay and back - going full throttle where allowed. I have to say our best boat trip was on our last day. We travelled a short way up to Tampa Bay for an airboat trip with Kevin our guide. His boat is brand new and only seats six, we were lucky enough to have it to ourselves. Kevin took us across the bay and through the mangroves to the inner bay where again we saw manatees and many different birds. We stopped at a small beach and were amazed to see the ground moving! On closer inspection it was hundreds of fiddler crabs! The highlight of this trip was coming across a mother dolphin teaching her baby to fish - we were so lucky to witness this and it made the trip really special. Back home and Madeira Beach is forever in my heart and I am missing it already - can't wait to go back!

Barbados the Acitivity Island

20 September 2013

I was lucky enough to be offered a place on the first Travel Counsellors 'Ambassadors' trip to Barbados. We would be visiting the hotels in the Elegant group, who are in our portfolio of preferred hotels which are available through the Travel Counsellors in-house tour operator, Suitcase. We travelled out with British Airways and were lucky enough to be upgraded to Club World so enjoyed a first class service on our flight out. On arrival at Grantley Adams Airport we were met by our tour guide Dorial and driver Jason from St James Tours who were with us throughout our trip. Our first hotel was Turtle Beach, an all -inclusive family hotel located on the south coast. This is a large property with 161 rooms and offers all-suite accommodation at a reasonable price. It has two freeform pools plus a children's pool and includes non-motorised water sports e.g. Hobie Cats and Kayaks in the price of the accommodation. There is a kids club for 3 -11 year olds. On our first night we ate at the hotel which offered a buffet style Caribbean range of foods including jerk chicken and flying fish. The next day we were off to CRS Recording Studios to record a CD. We were all a bit apprehensive at first but in no time we’d relaxed and had fun putting the finishing touches to our version of "Going to Barbados". I’d recommend this, as it was a great fun morning and is ideal if you’re looking to do something unique and fun. Next, we were off to the Mount Gay visitor centre where we learnt how rum was discovered back in the 1700s. They say that Mount Gay is "the rum that invented rum" which I can well believe. We had lunch here before returning to Turtle Beach. That evening we were taken to Champers, a local open air restaurant offering panoramic views of the ocean and fine cuisine. It was beautiful and a great place to spend an evening. Our next day involved leaving Turtle Beach and going along the south coast to silver sands which is a well-known beach for surfing. Here we met Brian Talma, an ex pro windsurfer who has dedicated many years to bringing surfing, wind and kite surfing and stand-up paddle boarding to many countries. He and his colleagues showed us a great time. I gave the stand-up paddle boarding a go even if I could only do it on my knees!! Our next two nights were at Crystal Cove, a premium all-inclusive hotel with only 88 rooms so there was a more intimate feel than Turtle Beach. The cave bar was fabulous, as was the service and entertainment. An island safari was our next adventure. Charles our guide was extremely knowledgeable and took us all over the island - sometimes off road so this is not for those with bad backs etc. We saw some stunning places including Bathsheba beach on the East Coast which is home to the international surfing events which are held in Barbados. Our evening was spent in Oistins for the "fish fry", a must do when visiting Barbados. Lines of shacks cook various fish dishes along with some market type stalls and karaoke. It was a fantastic experience. A more relaxed day followed as we took a catamaran tour up the west coast - stopping off to snorkel at a local ship wreck and to swim with turtles. This is a lovely way to spend a day just relaxing and swimming. Our last three nights were spent at Tamarind Cove, another premium hotel offering bed and breakfast or half board. This hotel is well located for Holetown where there are an abundance of shops and restaurants to suit all budgets. Our next day was a visit to Apes Hill Polo and Golf Club where we were kitted out and had a polo lesson from Jamie and Pablo. This was great fun and something I have never tried before. We had lunch here and then a quick tour of the last nine holes of the world renowned golf course. Our last excursion was an Aerial Trek. This involved seven zip lines through Jack in the Box Gully and was fantastic fun. We also had a visit to Harrisons Cave located in the central uplands of the island. So as you can see there is more to Barbados than just lying on the beach. If you are interested in any of these activities or would like more information on any of them just let me know!!

Dubai a family destination

21 September 2011

I had never really considered Dubai as a family destination so I departed on this fam trip with interest. I have to say that by the end of my trip I can see why families would enjoy this destination there is just so much on offer ! Two hotels that most people would consider family hotels are the Atlantis The Palm and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, both of which have a waterpark attached- this is true but to be honest the majority of the other hotels all offer facilities for children eg child pools and kids clubs and most will include shuttle buses to the water parks/beach. Dubai has many shopping malls including the largest in the world, but where they differ to the ones we have here are what they offer for children. Dubai Mall for example has an aquarium, a small zoo, sega world, plus the amazing kidzania - a whole city just for kids where they can experience various jobs like being a fireman or a nurse. They earn their own money which can be spent at Kidzania. You can happily leave your kids here all day while you shop ! Also a good thing in the malls is that they group shop types in the same area so if you are looking for jewellery or shoes all those particular shops are in the same place so no going from one floor to another to compare items. At Mall of the Emirates they even have an indoor ski slope ! I had never really considered Dubai as a family destination so I departed on this fam trip with interest. I have to say that by the end of my trip I can see why families would enjoy this destination there is just so much on offer! Two hotels that most people would consider family hotels are the Atlantis The Palm and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, both of which have a waterpark attached - this is true but to be honest the majority of the other hotels all offer facilities for children with children’s pools, kids clubs and most will include shuttle buses to the water parks or beach. Dubai has many shopping malls including the largest in the world, but where they differ to the ones we have here are what they offer for children. Dubai Mall for example has an aquarium, a small zoo, SEGA world, plus the amazing Kidzania - a whole city just for kids where they can experience various jobs like being a fireman or a nurse. They earn their own money which can be spent there too. You can happily leave your kids here all day while you shop! Also a good thing in the malls is that they group shop types together in the same area so if you are looking for jewellery or shoes all those particular shops are in the same place so no going from one floor to another to compare items. At Mall of the Emirates they even have an indoor ski slope! We also visited Mirdif Mall which has I-Fly where you can experience what it is like to sky dive. I have to say this is a must do - absolutely great fun. Another must do excursion is the Jeep Safari - the sundowner is great as you get to go "dune bashing" this is done in 4 x 4 closed top vehicles and consists of your driver taking you up and down various sand dunes at break neck speed - not for the faint hearted. You then get to watch the sun set before heading down to a Bedouin Camp for a barbecue and entertainment including belly dancing. We also visited the Burj Khalifa the tallest building in the world. My advice on this is to book in advance as it is only 100 dirhams against 400 if you buy on the day. For a bit of culture we visited Jumeirah Mosque, this gives you an insight on what it is to be a Muslim and is told in an informative way. We also visited the gold, spice and textile souks which are a mass of various shops and stalls selling all manner of things. The spice souk for example has just about every spice you could want and the smells were amazing. One thing that people think when you mention Dubai for a holiday is "oh no too expensive" that is not the case many hotels offer deals throughout the year - for example free half board options or kids eat free. Also it is not as expensive to eat out as you may think - there are many places where you can eat for a reasonable amount - the malls especially (the only thing you will find is that you cannot get alcohol here) and also the various bars, cafes and restaurants at the marina or in the old town (here you can get alcohol as they tend to be associated with a hotel in order to have a licence to sell it). If you have never considered travelling to Dubai because you thought it was not for families - think again - there is plenty to keep the kids happy and mum and dad too!

Jamaica not what I expected!

28 November 2009

I was fortunate to be chosen to visit Jamaica on a fam or educational trip with the Jamaican Tourist board. I and 13 of my colleagues flew out from Gatwick to Kingston with British Airways. Being a 10 hour flight I was not looking forward to it but it went quite quickly and the staff and service were very good. On arrival in Kingston we were met by Torrance from the Tourist Board. Going through customs and immigration took a little while but by the time we got through our bags were there waiting for us. We were taken to our bus for the two and a half hour transfer to Ocho Rios - this will be cut to an hour once the new expressway that is being built is completed. Our first two nights were at Sandals Dunns River Falls. Our rooms were in the main building with views to the front. It was a good size and a lovely big balcony to sit on. When we did our inspection the rooms opposite with the sea views turned out in most of our opinions to be the nicest although there were higher categories available. We were lucky enough to experience Dunns River Falls (where we got very wet) and Dolphin Cove where most of the girls swam with the dolphins and I got to sample some of the local rum! There is plenty to see and do in Ocho Rios - a lot of the cruise ships come in here and there are lots of shops and restaurants to check out. Our next three days were at the Half Moon in Montego Bay - this is a huge property on 400 acres of land. It does not make you feel like you are in a massive resort though, as the accommodations are spread out and consist of cottages, suites and villas. It has 52 swimming pools so you are never going to be crowded whilst getting your tan. Again a lot of cruise ships come into Montego Bay and you can visit the "hip strip" at night if you are looking for evening entertainment. There are lots of championship golf courses in Jamaica - the Whyte Witch at Half Moon being one. This one though has a superb restaurant attached called the Sugar Mill which does exceptional food. We also visited Rose Hall, one of many plantation houses found in Jamaica which has quite a story to tell. I have to say that Jamaica was not what I had expected - it has many attractions and suits all types of holiday maker from families to honeymooners to the rich and famous. I felt extremely safe at all times even when out in the evening and would urge those who have never considered it to be an option to rethink and give it a chance - I for one can't wait to go back. As the slogan for the Tourist Board says "Once you go you know!"

Australia’s Sunshine Coast and Top End

04 June 2008

I have just returned from a fabulous trip to Australia's Sunshine Coast including Fraser Island and the Northern Territory. We left on the 14th May flying with Qantas in premium economy ( a must if you are not having a stopover!) We flew via Singapore and Sydney, finally arriving in Brisbane late on the 15th for our transfer to Mooloolaba. Most people have heard of the Gold coast, but few know the Sunshine Coast. It is a more laid back destination with a lot of the resorts not allowing buildings to be more than 3 storeys high. It was great to have our first couple of days here just to chill out and relax - there are beautiful beaches and plenty of activities like shark diving to keep you occupied. We stayed at the Mantra Resort which is a suite complex consisting of 1, 2 and 3 bed apartments (all privately owned) and each is equipped with a fully functioning kitchen - plus tv, stereo etc. From Mooloolaba we travelled by train to Maryborough West, for our coach transfer to Hervey Bay and Catamaran to Fraser Island - the world's largest sand island. We stayed at King Fisher Resort which is beautifully built into the landscape. There are various room types ranging from standard rooms to villas and houses. We had a full day ranger guided tour of the Island which took in the Maheno Ship Wreck, The Pinnacles and Lake McKenzie amongst others. Unfortunately, although Fraser is renowned for them we did not see any Dingoes. From Fraser we took the catamaran, coach, and train back down to Brisbane for an overnight stop before continuing on with a flight to Darwin. Darwin is a city full of character - it is not a big city and is easy to get around. Be warned though it can be extremely hot in the summer - we were there in winter with temperatures of 30 degrees but little humidity - perfect! We stayed at the Sky City Resort and Casino, located just out of town, but the only hotel right on the beach and therefore perfectly located for spectacular sunsets. They have a starbeque here which anyone can go to and at AUD26.95 it is very reasonable. The next part of the trip was an APT tour of Kakadu and Katherine - 3 days and 2 nights - I would recommend doing it this way as day trips from Darwin are just too much as the distances are so vast. We visited Ubir Rock, went crocodile spotting on the South Alligator River, and took a cruise through Katherine Gorge. The camp sites were basic but adequate and our guide Craig made our stay a memorable one. Another night in Darwin was followed by one of the thrills of the trip - taking the Ghan from Darwin to Alice Springs. Travelling not just in any carriage - we stayed in the Prince of Wales carriage - this had been specially arranged for our group - and can be booked by anyone. It was a fabulous way to get to our final destination, built in 1919 to accommodate a visit from Edward, Prince of Wales, it was luxury beyond compare. The journey took us via Katherine again, where this time we got to see the Gorge from the air in a helicopter. It certainly gave us a different perspective. Our last two nights were in Alice Springs where we crammed in the most. Staying at Voyages Alice Springs, a well located hotel with easy access to the town. Our first afternoon was spent quad biking, an experience I was apprehensive about as I don't drive, but once I got going there was no stopping me !! We followed this up with an evening outback; a bush bbq dinner where we learnt about life on a remote cattle station, Aboriginal culture and enjoyed a talk on the stars which can be so clearly seen in this area. A very early start today for our hot air balloon experience - something I have always wanted to do. We were taken out to a suitable spot where the balloons were inflated and we cruised off over the MacDonnell Ranges. Absolutely fantastic and something I would thoroughly recommend doing. We finished off back at the hotel with a champagne breakfast. Our last adventure was taking a camel to breakfast. An hour journey on a camel finishing back at the farm for a hearty breakfast and tour of the museum. All in all a fantastic trip.

Orlando and the Keys

19 May 2009

My family and I have visited Florida on several occasions, but always just to Orlando. This trip we decided that we would have a week in Orlando and then travel down to the Keys - it was time we saw more of the Sunshine State! We travelled out with Virgin Atlantic and were met at Orlando Airport by the taxi company I had prebooked our transfer with - much easier than getting a cab on arrival and we weren't having a car until our second week. Our hotel the Wyndham was well located on International Drive and offered free shuttle buses to Sea World, Universal and Wet and Wild. You could also get buses to Disney but these had to be paid for. The Wyndham is a large hotel spread widely over a major area so it can take a little while to get yourself oriented. It has 3 swimming pools. a pool table, table tennis, 2 restaurants and a bar. There are numerous restaurants and shops nearby up and down International Drive with 2 big shopping malls Festival Bay and and the Prime Outlet. The easiest way to get to these if you don't have a car is on the trolley bus which goes up and down the drive from the Malls to Sea World and is $1.25 for a single fare. You can buy anything from 1 to 14 days passes if you are likely to use the trolley a lot which will save you a fair amount. As well as the parks there are many other attractions in Orlando, we love the pitch and put golf courses Pirates Cove and Congo River which are great fun. We, well Josh my son and I experienced the Slingshot Ride on International Drive, this is great if you are not afraid of heights as you are shot very high into the air and they record it all for you to watch again and again ! Park wise we did not do Disney as we have been so many times before, but being big fans of roller coasters we could not miss out going to Univeral Islands of Adventure and Busch Gardens - we bought the 5 days flexi pass before we left as this is the best value - it gives you unlimited access into both Uinversal Parks, Sea World, Wet and Wild and Busch Gardens and if you don't have a car you get a free bus to Bush you just book it when you are there for the day you want to go. For our second week I had booked us into the Mariners club in Key Largo - on arrival we found that they had no reservation for us and we were put in the Key Largo Grande which I was not keen on but I think it has been renovated since we were there. We did eventually get into the Mariners Club and were given a better room due to our inconvenience. It was fantastic a huge apartment with all mod cons ! This is a great place for families as you can self cater here - eating out is more expensive in the Keys than Orlando. There is plenty to do too. We took a trip down the Key West for the day taking their trolley tour on which you could get on and off as many times as you liked. The drive down is spectacular and not to be missed. Josh and Brian my husband took the opportunity to swim with Dolphins in Key Largo there are a couple of places you can do this. They did it a Dolphins Plus - they offer different types of swim. Brian and Josh did the Natural Swim where you go in a small pool with only a few other people (there were 4 in their group) and you get to interact with the Dolphins only if they want to. Of course they generally do and they had a great time for almost an hour. I got the impression this is less commercial than Discovery Cove and more intimate for the swimmers. We also took the opportunity of taking a kayak trip - this was an organised trip of which there are many where a guide took us through various waterways - a must for nature lovers !! I have to say I love Florida and could spend much more time there if I could - it definately makes me feel sunny !! Jo

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