10 September 2019

I’ve been to New York eight times and could go back tomorrow to do all the things I still haven’t had chance to. Whether you go for 7 nights or 3 nights, it’s never enough time and my advice is to plan before you go what you DO want to see. We’re going back in December as we’ve never been in the Winter and can’t wait to do the Christmas-only activities like ice skating at Rockefeller. There are a few different types of attraction ‘passes’ I can arrange before you travel, and I absolutely recommend having one of them. They give you a set amount of attractions to choose but you can decide when you do them when you get there; it just saves that time queuing for a ticket and most of them include ‘skip the line’ entry too. I always find it’s nice to pre-pay it too as then you can use our spending money on food and shopping! Like most major cities, restaurants will get booked up early too so if you’re visiting for a special occasion and want to celebrate, make sure you get in early and book a table. I have lots of great restaurant and rooftop bar recommendations for you. Location is key; even when you stay near Times Square you can still walk 30,000 steps a day easily; so, don’t be tempted to stay out of Manhattan to save a few pounds as I think you will end up paying it back in taxi and subway fares. It’s easily achievable to do New York for a long weekend and there are some fantastic deals for short durations. Get in touch if you have any questions or would like help in planning your perfect trip!

10 September 2019

I think South Africa is the most surprised I’ve been by any country I’ve visited. I had heard good things but was not prepared for how much I would love everything about it. Let’s start with Cape Town; it must be on everybody’s bucket list, that’s the first rule. Cool, sophisticated, spotlessly clean, modern, beautiful, friendly; there are so many words to describe it. We stayed near Camps Bay; a tree lined beach promenade with restaurants, cafes and hotels along the front with the most spectacular views. It reminded me of Miami with the rollerbladers and runners and its super cool vibe, as well as gorgeous beach. The waterfront is along the bay and about a 15 minute drive from Camps Bay; again, your are spoilt for choice with award winning restaurants but there is also shopping here and lots of people watching as huge yachts arrive and depart all day. One thing that surprised me was how reasonable it is to eat and drink out; much cheaper than the UK, US and the majority of Europe. It was genuinely hard to spend all our money and some of our favourite restaurants of all time were here. We had a few days out and among other things would recommend the Penguins at Boulders Beach and of course Table Mountain and Robben Island, the latter being where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for over 20 years. Table Mountain has spectacular views of the city and coastline and the revolving cable car to the top was fun too. I could talk all day about Stellenbosch and the Winelands. A short drive or train ride from the city and you can experience vineyards on a hop on, hop off tram which travels between them. It’s my idea of a perfect day; gorgeous weather, wine tasting at one vineyard, followed by a picnic at another. I’d love to help you plan your perfect South African and Safari trip so please get in touch with any questions!

10 September 2019

After looking at UK wedding venues that we both liked and wincing at the costs of a three-course meal; my husband PJ and I decided to get married in Las Vegas. We had been many times and got engaged there two years earlier and it was essentially both of our personalities in one city. I think with weddings abroad, it must be right for you two and you can’t think about the guests more than what you both want. We agreed that if it was only us two when we got married, we would be happy. But of course, we were delighted that 26 friends and family chose to come and celebrate with us. We chose the Wedding Chapel inside the Aria Hotel for our venue. We love the hotel and from contacting lots of different options, they stood out as being by far the most attentive and organised. That’s something that really made me nervous about planning something so special from so far away and with an 8-hour time difference so that really put me at ease. As you would expect from Vegas, they have the planning spot on; you get an online account straight away and can tailor make any part of the wedding from uploading your songs to play before the ceremony, to flowers, candles etc. We could also stream the ceremony free of charge live so those in the UK could watch too. We found the whole process very well catered to same-sex marriages too, which some destinations haven't quite mastered. We decided to have a rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding as people were flying in from all over the UK and USA; it was nice that everyone planned their own itinerary to include these nights in Las Vegas with us. Our wedding meal we planned in a restaurant on The Strip that had been recommended to us and again, they couldn’t be more helpful. As people were with us for different durations, and seeing as there is so much to do; we could take advantage of spending quality time with people rather than it just being one day. So from helicopter trips to pool parties and zip lines to gorgeous meals, everyone was part of our special time. I’ve now been to Las Vegas nine times and we will continue to return every few years to get our ‘fix’ of the place. If you’re looking for a stress-free wedding experience; they have it nailed and I couldn’t recommend it more. What’s also great is that you can then fly on and have your honeymoon somewhere else; we chose Miami and a Caribbean cruise! Get in touch if you have any questions or would like help planning your trip!

20 December 2018

In October 2018 I spent seven nights in the beautiful Italian region of Tuscany, famous for its history and of course it’s food and wine. I love Italy and have been to lots of different areas but Tuscany to me epitomises all things that are great about the country. Getting there There are lots of regional flights now to both Pisa and Florence mainly throughout summer. This was for a special occasion, so we travelled Business Class with BA which I’d highly recommend. The BA lounge, extra space onboard and the great food and wine served really made the start of the trip special. Where did I stay? My very favourite place in Tuscany is the walled City of Lucca, just East of Pisa. There we stayed in the lovely 4* Hotel Ilaria which is inside the city walls. The staff here were so friendly and extra touches like the free Prosecco, beer and afternoon snacks between 5-6 were a great touch! You can walk out of the hotel and you’re in the heart of Lucca so it’s a great location, especially if you are only visiting for a few days. At night it means your hotel isn’t too far away either to wonder back to after some fine Italian wine! Why Lucca? I’ve been to many parts of Tuscany as my parents have had a house here for over 15 years; but out of all the sightseeing, Lucca has always been the favourite for most of the family. Outside of the walls, it is a bustling Italian city. Inside, you are transported to the Italy we see in movies or on postcards. A walk around the city walls is a must and takes under an hour; you can drop in and out of the city at any point if something takes your fancy. The streets are mostly pedestrianized, so you can just wander at your own pace. Hiring bikes is common and fun, it’s a quicker way to get around and most residents use them. Getting Around I could stay in Lucca and not leave for three or four nights but if you want to get out and about, most major Italian cities connect through Lucca, so you can usually get a direct train. We visited Florence for the day; the train was every hour and it took just over an hour to get there, costing €13 per person per way. Train travel in Italy is easy and the best way to see the major towns and cities. Hiring a car is also straightforward but beware of the Italian drivers, the Highway Code doesn’t seem to exist here! Eating and Drinking Being honest, this is the highlight of any Italian holiday and Lucca doesn’t disappoint when it comes to great food and wine. ‘Buca S.Antonio’ is my absolute favourite; the service is brilliant and the little extras you get free of charge really make it special. Of course, the food is fantastic too, but I’d make a reservation before you travel as it’s very popular. If you like ice-cream, then it doesn’t get much better than ‘I Gelati di Piero’ – reasonably priced and just irresistible. Lucca is surrounded by some of the best wine regions in Italy, so it would be rude not to venture out and visit some of the vineyards. If you are travelling in a group, then some of the vineyards will come and collect you from Lucca free of charge; otherwise you can drive or grab a taxi. There are some great wine stores in the city and if you’d rather not visit the vineyard, they do wine tasting here and have great knowledge on the local produce. Aside from the wine, Lucca has lots of speciality Chocolate and food deli’s which make great gifts for people back home. In summary… A relaxing Italian break with opportunity to visit other cities and towns with great train connections. Lucca is somewhere I’m sure after you visit you will want to return and will make you fall in love with Italy.