20 June 2019

I was lucky enough to spend my Christmas and New Year in warmer climates this year - and swapped my scarf for my swimming costume! We flew to out Miami on Christmas Eve and had an amazing few days in Florida, I spent Christmas Day on South Beach and on Boxing Day hired a car and travelled down to Key West for a slice of their famous Key Lime Pie! Miami is amazing, from the art deco buildings, amazing beach and celebrity spotting bars and restaurants - I could have stayed there for so much longer...but the Caribbean was calling! We took a taxi from Miami to Ft Lauderdale where are ship awaited, The Crown Princess in all her glory - ready to set sail to Bahamas, St Thomas, Antigua, St Lucia, Barbados & St Kitts...what a cruise! From the minute we stepped on-board we were treated like royalty, our cabin maid, our waiters, the barmen, the pool guys - always so friendly and helpful. The food was out of this world, from the buffet dining to their a la carte menu, you were truly spoilt for choice - not to mention the midnight pizza & burgers snacks available on your way back from the nightclub! It is too hard to choose the best port of call - they were all fantastic and the locals were so friendly and welcoming. In Antigua we booked an excursion to swim with the stingrays at Stingray City, which was possibly one the best (if not a little scary!) things I've done - highly recommended! In Barbados we walked into Bridgetown and found a great place for the day called The Boatyard where you can hire a sun lounger, enjoy their free non-motorised water sports and they even included a short snorkelling trip where you can swim with the turtles - amazing! We saw in the New Year with a huge party up on top deck, everybody was dressed up in their formal dresses and suits, they had a DJ playing all the classics and an amazing atmosphere bringing people from all over the world celebrating together - it was definitely a New Year’s Eve to remember. It really was a holiday of a lifetime, getting to experience so many amazing islands in one trip, 5* accommodation and food and no forgetting the sunshine! If you would like to know more or are thinking of a cruise yourself - get in touch and I will be very happy to help you.

19 June 2019

I have recently returned from one of the best cities I have ever visited - Budapest. What a truly beautiful city. Budapest completely exceeded my expectations. It was full of character and charm, old and new. We travelled as a group of 12 and had a beautiful apartment in the centre of the city. From first glance the building was dated and traditional in style, but so modern and luxurious with high ceilings and so much space inside. It was the perfect location for a group of our size and to explore the city by foot. Like with any city I visit - an open top bus tour is always on the list. It is a great way to find your bearings and make a note of places you would like to explore while you're there. We went high up to Citadella which offers some incredible views of the Danube and the city. We also visited the famous Gellert Spa and enjoyed a night cruise along the Danube with amazing views of Hungarian Parliament lit up for all to see. Budapest really does offer so much for a city break. Combined with history, culture, food and sightseeing - you are spoilt for choice. I also found it to be so reasonably priced for food and drink, making it much more affordable than most other European city destinations. If you would like to know more or are interested in visiting Budapest for yourself - get in touch and I will be more than happy to help!

21 November 2016

Santorini is one of those destinations I have always wanted to visit - mainly because of those picture perfect postcard images you see of 'that' stunning Oia sunset and it really didn't disappoint. What a truly beautiful island. We travelled to Santorini during mid-October for seven nights and had possibly the best weather we could have wished for at that time of year. The sand was hot, the sea was warm and the Mythos beers were cold. Perfect. We chose a really lovely beachfront hotel in the village of Perissa near the Messa Vouno rock. Here we had a choice of bars and restaurants on our doorstep and access to the long black beach and water sports. The sea was crystal clear and very calm, making it ideal for us to dive in with our snorkels and get lost with the underwater world. We were lucky enough to experience a full moon beach party where they have a huge bonfire on the beach and everyone gathers around to enjoy the show. There was something very special about being on the beach with a huge full moon reflecting off the sea and a huge fire roaring from the sand. From Perissa we hired a car and made our way around the winding cliff edge roads to the capital Fira for lunch. Fira boasts some of the best views and lined with cobbled streets and local shops and restaurants, it's the perfect place to visit and experience the truly wonderful Greek hospitality. Then, moving on from Fira, we made our way to the magical town of Oia where we spent the afternoon enjoying the fabulous sea views and boutique style shopping experience awaiting the famous sunset views. It was incredible to see the narrow cobbled stairways and alleys lined with people of all ages and nationalities all stood together in awe of the sun setting. The sky was lit up with burnt orange, red and purple colours and rays of sunshine could be seen bursting below the clouds. It is a memory I will treasure for a long time to come. I cannot recommend this destination enough. It is perfect for the romantic couple, active family or even a friend’s getaway. Combined with amazing views, delicious food and friendly locals - Santorini has got it all!

04 October 2016

I recently spent an amazing eight nights in the south of Sardinia and what an incredible place it was. We flew in to Cagliari and made our way along the coast to a beautiful resort called Santa Margherita di Pula, hotel Costa Dei Fiori. Using this as our base we were not too far, by car, from the amazing beaches and towns that Sardinia has to offer. The sea and beaches in Sardinia would be rivalled by those that you would find somewhere like the Indian Ocean with crystal clear waters and sand beaches that stretch for miles. Like anywhere in Italy, the cuisine is always of the highest standard, with plenty of pizza and pasta dishes - along with some of the best seafood I have ever tasted. One morning we set off in the car, unsure where we were heading as part of the adventure and that is when we discovered the beautiful picturesque town of Bosa on the West Coast of the island. Bosa is stacked with pastel coloured houses on a steep hill which meet an impressive castle. Cobbled streets and restaurants galore, it was easy to spend the day exploring this hidden gem. Overall, Sardinia offers something for everyone. Whether you just want to fly and flop with a good book on an amazing beach, take to the water with the huge array of water sport activities on offer or simply enjoy some of the best culinary delights that the Mediterranean has to offer - this is the place for you!