14 March 2018

Orangutan is a word associated with Borneo but, wow what a destination! We decided on a family holiday to Borneo and Singapore for the New Year Break with eight nights in Borneo and two nights in Singapore. We flew on the 27th of December on Singapore Airlines A380 which is a fantastic airline. On the way out to Borneo we had a lengthy connection in Singapore, however this really was not an issue as Singapore airport is well adapted to these kinds of stopovers and offer complimentary city tours. We embarked on one and found it excellent to get an idea of what Singapore has to offer especially as we were making a two-night stop on our return. The tour covered briefly the major sites the city has to offer, and the guides were very informative and great fun. We arrived into Borneo on the evening of the 28th and had booked a private transfer and we were in resort within 40 minutes. We had booked to stay in the Shangri La Rasa Ria. The staff were very welcoming and efficient, making the check in experience a pleasant one especially when they had made sure we had been allocated interconnecting rooms for the family. The hotel is set on a large beautiful beach and has its own nature reserve where complimentary guided early morning hikes are offered. The noise of the reserve is deafening with the sound of crickets, monkeys and birds. The hotel is a well-equipped family hotel with plenty of activities, from water sports to culinary delights. The entertainment team were excellent, keeping the children entertained should they wish to join in, and there is a very well-manicured golf course with its own club house. The hotel also offers an in-house spa with very reasonable treatment prices. There are a number of pools, and the hotel has a wide choice of restaurants, from Italian to Japanese and Malaysian Street food! You are certainly spoilt for choice and the breakfast offering is one of the best I have seen in a hotel with everything from a full English to a chocolate fountain with marshmallows or Indian street food. We were also fortunate to be there over New Year to experience the beach party which started with traditional tribal dances at sunset and ended with live entertainment and fireworks on the beach. With a hotel as well equipped as this you would ask why you would need to leave the resort. But why come all this way and not explore what Borneo has to offer! Borneo is famed for the rehabilitation of the orangutan and the Sepilok Rehabilitation is in Sandakan which is a one-hour flight from Kota Kinabalu. We booked a full day excursion to visit Sepilok, which was a truly amazing experience seeing these majestic animals in their natural habitat. It wasn't all about the orangutans, we also visited a proboscis monkey and sun bear sanctuary, two animals that I have never had the opportunity to see before! Another amazing excursion that we embarked on was an afternoon boat trip on the mangrove swamps were the proboscis monkeys could be seen in their natural wild habitat swinging amongst the trees without a care in the world. This was the followed by a local BBQ dinner on the riverside which was topped off with the one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had: nature’s real-life pyrotechnics! We embarked on a night boat ride and were surrounded by thousands of fireflies! As a family we are also keen scuba divers and spent the day diving the outer islands off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, a must for any certified diver. Borneo is a truly fascinating destination and makes for a perfect, very memorable family holiday. We then continued our journey onto Singapore for a two-night stop. Singapore has an abundance of activities and excursions that can be enjoyed as a family. We visited the night zoo which is obviously full of nocturnal animals and is really quite lively! We also embarked on a Duck tour which is a land and water city excursion. We also spent half a day on Sentosa Island which was accessible by cable car or taxi. We, of course, took the scenic route which gives you a great overview of the island which has many large hotels and Universal Studios. There really is something for everyone in Singapore. We stayed in the Holiday Inn Clarke Quay which was a very centrally located hotel. It also has a lovely rooftop pool which is a great place to relax and unwind after a full day of sightseeing. The culinary delights are also in abundance and a visit to Momma Kong's to sample the famous Singapore Chilli Crab is a must! The hawkers market was also something special for the taste buds, an abundance of all kinds of delicious street food. We topped our Singapore stay off by sipping cocktails (a Singapore Sling) at the top of the Marina Bay Sands hotel at sunset - spectacular! Borneo and Singapore made a perfect two centre holiday and I would highly recommend it for couples and family adventures. If you would like to experience this wonderful destination please do not hesitate to get in touch for further information!

02 October 2014

Mauritius has to be one of many peoples dream destinations and I was very fortunate to be offered a place on an educational with Club Med. I was part of a group of 12 agents and we spent two nights at each of the Club Med resorts on the island, La Pointe aux Canonniers and La Plantation d’Albion. We flew from Heathrow to Mauritius with Air Mauritius. It was a 12 hour flight with two meals which were very good. The outbound flight was on an older aircraft, but still offered a good inflight service and had seat back TVs, on the way back the aircraft was noticeably modern and also had the luxury of on demand movies. On arrival at Mauritius you immediately sensed the warm welcome and the procedures were very fast and efficient and we were whisked away in a lovely air conditioned minibus to the north island to our first resort: La Pointe aux Canonniers. The transfer time was approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Mauritius is beautifully green due to its climate and is somewhat diverse everything from crops to Palms. We were welcomed at La Pointe aux Canonniers with a refreshing flannel and tropical cocktail and very quickly experienced the excellent service and friendliness from the Club Med staff. This 4* resort has a contemporary, cosmopolitan, relaxed feel to it with open-plan architecture. There are approximately 280 rooms located around the tropical garden alongside a white sandy beach. Accommodation ranges from deluxe to club and suite rooms. Food and wine was of a high standard, very much a French Cuisine experience. There is plenty of fresh fish. Vegetarians are also well catered for with fresh fruit, beans, seeds, spices and vegetables in many shapes and forms. The service from the waiting staff was excellent and very attentive, and one of the simple luxuries is that they would bring a full bottle of wine of your choice which meant you didn't have to keep asking for another glass. The location of the restaurant was also stunning - right on the beach front, which is lovely and relaxing and created a lovely ambience. At La Pointe aux Canonniers there are plenty of activities to keep you busy, everything from tennis to scuba diving. One of the plus points of this resort is that they also offer motorised water sports from the beach. It also has a Spa with very reasonably priced treatments. This resort is also excellent for a family holiday as Club Med's child card really does set them apart from your usual family hotels. It has the most amazing crèche facilities and takes children from 4 months to 17 years. We took a short trip into Grand Baie which has great shopping and the opportunity to pick up some reasonably priced local produce, it also had a very pretty beach. There were a few designer and factory outlets and a couple of beach side cafes. There are also a lot of water sports and excursions from Grand Baie. We tried as many of the activities as we possibly could during our two night stay and thoroughly enjoyed it. We also loved the dining and entertainment/themed evenings organised with great passion by the resort staff. On our third day we were taken by boat transfer to La Plantation d'Albion which is located on the west coast of the island (the airport transfer to this resort takes approximately 60 minutes.) It was a lovely way to travel between resorts and is offered to guests at cost if they would like visit or enjoy a two centre holiday. La Plantation d'Albion immediately is noticeable as an upmarket 5* sister property of the La Pointe aux Canonniers. The resort is a very natural, wooded setting with two white sand beaches protected by a coral reef, one of which is immediately accessible from the resort, has fine, white coral sand. Both beaches are equipped with deck chairs and parasols. There are just over 260 rooms and suites at this resort all with either terrace or balcony looking out over the ocean or gardens. Again there are lots of activities going on here from water sports, land sports and golf to beach volleyball. We had the opportunity to try as many activities as possible and you really are spoilt for choice here! One of the main attractions here is the flying trapeze academy with circus activities (included in the holiday package)! There is also golf, sailing, tennis and archery as well as beach volleyball, water polo, mini football, a cardio and weights room, kayaking and snorkelling. There is also a Spa with 12 individual treatments rooms and a Zen Area (adults only, with a beautiful infinity pool looking out to the ocean). This gave the resort a great sense of calmness and tranquillity as well as a sense of purpose for the overall ambience of the hotel. The evening entertainment was excellent and I have to say it was some of the best hotel entertainment I have ever seen. The food choice in the restaurants was also sublime, something different every day and the presentation was stunning. They also have a very lovely a la carte restaurant which has an ocean front setting. Another factor that sets this hotel apart are the beautifully appointed Butler Villas! Never having experienced a Club Med holiday before I went with a very open mind, but I was suitably impressed and would have no hesitation in recommending either of the properties that we stayed at. First Class service, food and entertainment, not forgetting the warmth of the Mauritians. There is so much on offer for a holiday to the Indian Ocean and Mauritius: from golf and spa resorts to kids clubs and special occasions like honeymoons, anniversaries and of course the complete wedding package tailored made to each and every special couple. One of the main appealing factors is the lack of jet lag with a time difference of + 2 hours in summer and + 3 hours in winter. Mauritius is not cheap, but definitely one of my top ten destinations and I hope that one day I will have the opportunity to return to this beautiful island. If you would like more information on Mauritius please don't hesitate to contact me.

12 October 2009

I have just returned from the most amazing trip to South Africa, and I have to say it is not a place for the faint hearted if you want to experience everything this wonderful country has to offer. We flew into Cape Town on a beautiful morning as Table Mountain stood in all its Glory. I drove just under thousand miles in the week, but wow was it worth it, and sat nav is a must. On day one we headed straight out of Cape Town to Hermanus, which is clearly one of the best places in the world in September for whale watching. You could do from your room in your hotel or take the breathtaking walk along the cliff path, where we sat and watched mothers with their calves playing in the shallows! The following morning we embarked on an early morning trip to Gaans Bay to do Great White Shark Diving. It was the most amazing experience, to be so close to these class A predators, and it comes highly recommended. We then took a trip down to the most Southern tip of South Africa 'Cape Agulhas', where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean. It is very beautiful, but very much sleepy hollow, not a place to stay for those wanting a little more life of an evening. On day three we made our way to The Garden Route Game Lodge and spent 2 days with morning and evening game drives. Again if you want a taste of Africa this really is a must - no its not Kruger but it certainly gave me a feel for Safari, which is now another one to add to the ‘to do’ list! The scenery again was beautiful and the wildlife thrilling to watch in their own natural environment. Accommodation was superb in wooden huts overlooking a watering hole with viewing decks. The next day we made our way back across to the Winelands of the Eastern Cape and stayed with friends in Wellington, where they run a guest house, which is predominantly the best type of accommodation to stay in while in these areas as they are more like boutique hotels. There is an abundance of wine tasting estates which is a must even if you are a wine lover. South Africa does produce some truly delicious red and white wines, not to mention the cheese tasting too! Wellington is right in the heart of the Winelands and is only a 40 minute drive from Cape Town, if you prefer to stay in the beauty of this region very lush and green, rather than the hussle and bussle of the city. On day six we made a trip to Simons Town - Boulders Beach to see the African Penguin in its own natural environment. There were hundreds on the beautiful white sands and they are very funny to watch. We then made our way to Stellenbosch, another famous wine area again still only 40 minutes from Cape Town. We stayed in The Spier Hotel which has its own wine estate, and houses a Cheetah Outreach where we had a personnel encounter with 4 month old cubs (adorable). It is also home to the most fantastic traditional African themed restaurant called Moyo, where there is live African entertainment and tribal face painting along with an amazing buffet. A Great Experience. The Wine tasting too was very good. The following day we made our way back to Cape Town for our last night and stayed in the very Luxurious Cape Grace, one of the best 5* hotels in Cape Town, and it certainly lived up to its name. Our room had stunning views over the famous Waterfront and Table Mountain. The Waterfront is the place to be seen whilst in Cape Town, offering an abundance of shops and restaurants and many other good 5* Hotels, with great night life too. On our last morning we were hoping to Abseil Table Mountain, but unfortunately the winds were too strong, which Cape Town is well known for, but we did mange to take a trip on the Cable Car to the top of the Mountain to view the spectacular views over the city. Then sadly it was time to leave this amazing place with many great memories, but I have to say we did make the most of the time we had. I would recommend for anyone wanting to do it to spend at least 2 weeks exploring this fantastic destination!

27 May 2009

Wow - what a trip! I feel completely honoured to have been on such an incredible educational trip to find out more about this amazing destination. Where do I start? Firstly I Love Dubai! We were very fortunate to experience the Emirates Club Lounge at London Heathrow which was enormous and served a very hearty breakfast. We were also upgraded to Business Class, which was just brilliant. We arrived into Emirates brand new terminal 3, which is very large and impressive. We landed at around 8pm and when we left the terminal building the temperature was still at 28 degrees - heaven. The first hotel we visited was The Desert Palm located only 15 minutes from the airport - a pure haven. Although some 30-40 minutes from the beach the hotel is in a class of it's own, once just a polo ground which has now become a beautiful hotel and gives guests a privileged view of any major Polo Cup games. It would also make a superb relaxing stop over in Dubai - a great combination with Maldives, Mauritius or Sri Lanka. We were then whisked to the Al Maha, and I have to say this is one of the most unique and romantic places I have ever visited. It is a good 40 minutes drive from Dubai - but WOW - in the middle of nowhere, we were literally in the Desert. This has to be one of the most perfect honeymoon/couples destinations ! All private villa's set amongst foliage and sand dunes with breathtaking sunsets and an infinity pool in each villa, hence this place is not child friendly. No children allowed but then again there is nothing for them here. Coming back down to earth we then visited the Park Hyatt in Dubai Creek, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. For a city hotel it had a very calming feel about it, with lots of grounds, fantastic views of the creek and a superb location for a waterfront bar which housed 40 premium vodka's. The hotel is also right next door to the Golf Club. Another hotel that would be a great stopover, as it's only 5 minutes from the Airport. We then visited the Gran Hyatt - this hotel must have the biggest lobby I have ever seen, with 674 rooms and houses 14 food outlets. Then we headed for the beach. The Jumeirah Beach Hotel was our first stop. I personally would choose to stay here purely for the great children's facilities i.e. beach and complimentary access to the Wild Wadi Park, plus the rooms are a good size able to accommodate a family of 4 with children under 12. We then visited the very palatial sister property The Burj, a hotel with a fantastic location and an enormous fountain, which sounds as though you are arriving to a round of applause. Although the lobby is quite brash the rest of the hotel is very serine. We then viewed the Madinat hotels, again this has to be one of my favourites. It is a large resort spread over 3 hotels surrounded by 3.8km of venetian waterways and the hotels are connected by a souk housing 44 outlets. With a superb beach location, it is a resort you would not need or want to leave. I would certainly holiday with the family here. We also viewed the following properties which were all very lovely, The Harbour, The Ritz Carlton, The Westin, The One & Only Royal Mirage ( my favourite) a true Arabian style hotel. Then the amazing Atlantis which makes a most suitable family holiday with it's own water park, shopping and stunning views from all rooms. We also visited 2 of the newest properties The Address and The Palace in Burj Dubai. Dubai has got the biggest of everything - the World's tallest building, biggest fountain, largest shopping mall and will soon have Dubailand - another Epcot but bigger and better. We also visited a resort called Fujarah which is on the Indian Ocean and stayed in the Le Meridian. This is a resort that I can see turning into a very popular and affordable All Inclusive destination - not as plush as Dubai but a great family holiday. I could tell you so much more as the whole trip was exquisite. This fantastic destination really does have something for everyone.

25 November 2008

We landed on a sunny Saturday afternoon into the sunshine state of Florida at Orlando's International Airport. We cleared customs very quickly and collected our hire car, and we were out of the airport within the hour. My husband and I had decided to stay in a Villa for this holiday, and I have to say it was certainly a great option, as the purpose of our trip was to take the family, our 2 children aged 5 and 7, my mother in-law and father in-law to enjoy Disneyworld and everything else that Orlando has to offer. We had hired a 4 bedroom villa with a private pool, and we were in an area called Hampton Lakes, which was literally a 20 minute drive to most of the main theme parks. There is one long high road which has most of the Villa complexes on so they are all within easy distance. The villa was very modern and had fantastic living space and was fully equipped with every cooking and laundry appliance imaginable, which meant I was able to return home with a minimal amount of washing ! Car access to the parks was excellent, every park was sign posted and once you were parked there was always onward transport to take you to gate entrance. We were staying in Florida for 2 weeks and had opted for the park passes that were going to cover everything with no restrictions, which meant we could come and go as we please. We had the 14 day Ultimate Disney Pass, which gave us unlimited access to all the following, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon and Disney Village. We had also purchased the 14 day Flex Ticket which gave us unlimited access to the other major parks; Seaworld, Aquatica, Universal Studios, Universal Islands of Adventure and Busch Gardens. We also, if the above was not enough to be getting on with, purchased tickets for Kennedy Space Centre, which is a must. We loved all of the parks, and each and every one was different, before I went I was not keen on roller coasters, but once you have done them in Florida you will find a new passion for them as I did. My little boy is a big fan of Spiderman so the Universal Parks were amazing for him, and for my daughter the Magic Kingdom is a magical Princess dream come true. One of mine and my husbands favourite parks was Busch Gardens, because it had everything thing from a Safari Park to one of the biggest 90 degree drop roller coasters, Fantastic !! Although we opted for a Villa holiday, Orlando has 100's of fantastic hotels to suit all budgets, even the Disney ones, and if you do not fancy driving over there most hotels offer transportation to the majority of the parks. Depending on the time of year you go most of the parks are open to at least 9pm and the Magic Kingdom on a couple of nights is open until midnight, so you are never short of options of an evening, there are also some fantastic dinner shows to be seen. The cost of living in America was very reasonable, and I certainly did not feel even when you ate inside the parks that you were been ripped off, plus there are hundreds of restaurants to choose from on International Drive and when we ate in the buffet restaurants it never came to over £50 for the 6 of us, and that was including wine, beer and fillet steak. I would also recommend to take some time out to take a look at the shopping outlets, we picked up some fantastic electrical and gaming deals which were working out to be half the price of what you would pay over here. The clothes shopping was also excellent. The people in Orlando were lovely and extremely friendly and nothing was ever too much trouble, they also advised the best time to visit Florida was April, May and September. Not too hot and very little rain. We had a fantastic time in Florida, and it is a holiday that comes highly recommended regardless of age.