23 August 2023

This holiday was our first holiday as a 3 and also our first holiday since 2019 and Covid, so it was much needed! I've sent many customers to beautiful Parga on the Greek Mainland. All have come back saying how lovely and traditional it was. I looked at all inclusive hotels elsewhere in Greece with slides and football for my 15 and 11 year old sons but the holidays were so expensive and didn't justify that amount of money. So we decided to compromise on the slides and football and opted for something with a pool and close to the town and beach. Our accommodation Villa Antonis was perfect, small and friendly and a short walk from the harbour where all of the bars and restaurants are located. We were also lucky enough to have a fantastic restaurant next door called Victoria and the food was amazing. There was also a brilliant bakery called The Green Bakery a few more doors down, the fresh bread and beautiful pastries were to die for!! Our room was perfect for the 3 of us, a double bed and single bed, cooking hob, fridge and lovely balcony, much needed air conditioning was included at no extra charge. I'd done a bit of research on the beaches of Parga before we arrived so knew that we wanted to go to Valtos Beach, to the left of the town as you look from the sea. Luckily there were regular boats to the beach from the harbour, for a few euros per person return. There was a walking route too but when we arrived temperatures were in the 40's so we simply couldn't manage it in the heat. Later in our 10 night holiday temperatures returned to normal early to mid 30's so my youngest son and I walked most mornings, it was a challenging walk up steep cobbled streets but the sweat was worth it when we saw the views and beach. There is also a town beach which is quite stoney but you can swim out to a tiny island in the bay, there is also Lichnos Beach too. Valtos is a stunning sandy beach, lots of beds and parasols. We opted for Tango beach right by where the boat drops you, it cost 20 euros per day for our beds and parasol. They have a supermarket too and lovely restaurant with clean toilets. The beach itself has plenty of waterports like pedalos, paragliding, banana rides and paddle boards. In the evenings the harbour is where the action is, people seem to venture out later than usual. Our first couple of nights we found various restaurants but then once we found Piatto Open Cuisine, we never ate anywhere else. Such a lovely family, very welcoming every night. The greek salads were so beautiful it was a shame to eat them and the moussaka was the best I have ever had, I ended up having it most evenings!! I could not fault this holiday, I really enjoyed it because there were not any British bars or restaurants, it was real Greece!! We will definitely return to Parga!

07 August 2019

I recently returned from a short break to San Antonio in Ibiza with a girlfriend. We had planned this trip for a long time to coincide with the Radio 1 weekend. Lots of famous DJ's and great music! It's been over 20 years since I last visited Ibiza and nothing much has changed to be honest. San Antonio itself was exactly the same, although a nice new marina area and walk way from Café Mambo through to the West End was much improved. We stayed at an adult only hotel called Invisa es Pla. It was absolutely superb. Situated opposite Lidl which was ideal for supplies and only a 10 minute walk to the west end of San Antonio. Close enough to the action but still far enough away from noise! The hotel was immaculate, the staff were awesome and made us feel so welcome. I was worried about rowdy youngsters but have to say the hotel was very quiet and if you wanted a livelier atmosphere there was a pool with loud music and entertainment. If you didn't fancy that then the quite pool was also great to chill out. Breakfast was out of this world! Another bonus was it was served from 8-12 so even late risers could still get their breakfast! Having been to other areas of Ibiza I can see why San Antonio does put some people off ever visiting this beautiful "White Island". Do not be put off coming to this lovely island. Other resorts such as Cala Llonga and Santa Eulalia are stunning, hire a car and visit gorgeous coves and the famous markets of Ibiza Town. I would definitely return with my family one day!

06 October 2018

We've been to Lanzarote before and stayed in Playa Blanca. This time we decided to try a different area, Costa Teguise and hotel which our friends recommended. We like all-inclusive with plenty of activities and sports for all of the family and Occidental Lanzarote Mar didn't disappoint. It was a very short transfer from Arrecife Airport, maybe 10 minutes maximum. The hotel was very welcoming, on arrival we were given Cava and the kids orange juice. Our room was ready immediately which is always a bonus! We booked the Family Suite, which incorporated a separate bedroom for the adults, a bunk bed room for the boys and then a lounge area with fridge, microwave etc. The balcony was huge and what can I say about our shower? The whole family could fit in it! With regards to meals, these were taken at the large and immaculate buffet restaurant. I really liked the hand sanitizer on entry, which luckily most people used. The food selection here was very varied, lots of hot stations and always pasta, pizza and chips available for fussy kids! There was a self-serve pool bar too where food such as burgers, chips etc were served during the day and adults could help themselves to drinks and bring out the bartender in them! I found this very dangerous. I have to say the entertainment and staff at the hotel were awesome. Every day at a certain time they paraded by the pool and did the hotels jolly dance and by the end of our trip we were joining in too and the song was engraved on our brain! My kids were never bored, they had lots of activities to do including ladder ball, shuffle board, giant table football to name but a few. Adults were well catered for too, my husband enjoyed water polo, crazy golf, boules and the cocktail making lessons! The kids pool had slides which were always a great source of entertainment for the boys. At night there was a show, these were so well produced, and you could see the effort that had been made. There is also a games room which had table tennis, table football etc. We were sad when it was time to leave as we made some amazing friends with the entertainment staff, they really made out holiday. We would have no hesitation in returning!

06 October 2018

We had never been to Portugal before. Our friends own a property in Vilamoura and encouraged us to go. The prospect of seeing famous footballers certainly proved popular with my two sons! Usually we like to stay at all-inclusive hotels but decided this time to rent an apartment at the fantastic 5* Vila Sol complex in Vilamoura. I organized our own flights, transfers and car hire as I knew the apartments weren't centrally located. I am so glad we hired a car as it gave us a chance to explore the amazing coastline of the Algarve with its many stunning beaches and pretty towns. Praia da Falesia and Loules were some of our favourites. There were also plenty of fabulous restaurants in the area, again most reached by car. We particularly enjoyed Wildfire which is steakhouse located on our complex. Supermarkets were in abundance and a short drive away, prices very comparable with UK prices, and plenty of brands we know and love. I have to admit I was a bit worried about not having the entertainment and other children for our boys to play with on this holiday, but I need not have worried, we had a fantastic time, the Algarve is beautiful and I would certainly return again......if only to bump into Rio Ferdinand in Lidl!

01 January 2018

This was my second Enchanting Lapland Day Trip. This time I treated my 5-year-old son to the amazing experience. As I had been before I knew what to expect and from start to finish the whole magical day was superb. From the Tui airline staff to the Finnish staff in the village where we were based even immigration and security staff in Finland were outstanding, making the whole day run like clockwork. We decided to see Santa as soon as we arrived via snowmobile and carriage, an experience in itself. Once my son had handed over his wish list and received his gift from Santa, we spent the remaining seven or so hours playing in the snow and taking part in the awesome activities on offer, reindeers, husky rides, sledging, snowmobiles, ice house to name but a few. The temperature was -7 and with our thermal layers and snowsuits we didn't feel the cold at all! There are plenty of warm spots dotted around and wonderful food and drinks in the main lodge area, always clean and always somewhere to sit. There’s also a lovely souvenir shop selling Lapland gifts ended the day perfectly. The Christmas dinner on the flight home, brought our magical day in Lapland to an end and is something my kids will never forget.

09 March 2016

I decided to surprise my two boys with a family short trip to Disneyland Paris. Both of my boys love trains so I opted for the Eurostar from St Pancras, the idea of going "under the sea" was a real treat for them. The journey was smooth and I was surprised to see Disney employees on the train and they approached us as we had decided to use the Disney Express luggage service. It was explained thoroughly and when we arrived at the Disney station I cannot say how efficient the luggage service was, and the bonus was we were able to enter the park straight away without delay, rather than go to the hotel, leave bags and then get a bus back to the parks. The security at the parks was high and the guards were quite stern, after the Paris attacks it felt reassuring to know we were being fully protected at all times. We stayed at the Santa Fe hotel which was a short 5 minute bus journey from the 2 parks, the buses are very frequent and efficient. The hotel was basic, clean and themed around the "Cars" movie which was great for the boys. Our first morning we had prebooked a Character Breakfast at Café Mickey, this was superb, the breakfast itself was varied and plentiful and the characters moving round the various tables with photo opportunities was amazing for the kids. The breakfast at the Santa Fe was basic but did the job, the dining room was busy and you had to clear your own trays away, nothing hot so you have to like continental breakfast!! The first evening we had supper at Annette's Diner having being recommended this as waitresses were on rollerskates...this was not the case, only saw the Manager on skates. The food was ok, typical of a diner, burgers, chips etc. Our favourite experience was dinner at "Inventions" in the Disneyland Hotel, we prebooked our table in the UK. It is a buffet but superb food and eat as much as you like. Lots of characters visiting tables throughout dinner, plenty of photos and magical for the kids and worth every penny. Plenty of rides for all ages but be prepared to queue during busy periods!! We found the best time was teatime when everyone else was heading back to their hotels, one ride was at 180 minutes, at teatime 10 minutes!! Overall a truly lovely experience for the kids!!

09 December 2014

From the minute we arrived at Gatwick airport it was superb, at the Thomson Airways check in desk, we were greeted with a sign saying "search for Santa starts here" and a nice man in a very festive jumper directed us to the desk. The crew on the flight were amazing, all wearing Christmas hats and telling jokes and singing carols over the speakers, even the pilot joined in! The flight to Enontekio in Finland was about 3 hours and this went by very quickly with colouring competitions, singing, breakfast etc. On arrival at the airport the staff greeted us with out brand new snow suits, luckily my son and I had our own snow boots, this helped us get through the airport a lot quicker to our snowmobile sleigh waiting outside. We were taken through snowy forests and over frozen lakes to Santa's village which took about 20 minutes and was truly breathtaking. On arrival we were met by friendly staff who asked my son if he'd like to Santa straight away. We were directed to a tea tree lit snowy pathway which we followed and was greeted by an Elf. They took us to a super log cabin and the door opened and Santa greeted us and said to my son "Deion I have been waiting for you, come inside!" His face was a picture and Santa spent time with him asking him questions, we never felt rushed and took photos. The expression on his little face made it so worthwhile! After Santa we then had around 7 hours to enjoy the village. There were great facilities there and very clean restaurant and toilets, the staff were all so helpful. My son and I went on husky rides, reindeer rides, visited the ice castle, snowmobile safaris, sledging, tobogganing, all unlimited. I had expected to pay for our lunch, however this was all included and the food was superb, pasta bolognaise, home made soups, jacket potatoes, crepes, hot berry juice and coffee. You could go up as many times as you liked! When we arrived at lunchtime the sun was just going down, the place is lit by tea tree lights, fair lights and old fashioned gas lamps, making it very special. It was -5 when we went and I have to admit we didn't feel cold once. The suits are superb, you only need to provide hats, gloves and scarfs yourself. When it was time to leave we got transferred back to the airport by coach, the airport is small but very cosy and has a little gift shop. You could visit Lapland without spending a penny! On the flight home the crew were still in high spirits and we were served with a Christmas Turkey dinner, the perfect end to a magical day! I would certainly go again and recommend this to anyone with children aged 4 upwards.

15 October 2014

Having just returned from my own family holiday, I thought I would let you know about a little gem of a hotel we stayed at in Majorca. Part of the Iberostar Group, this hotel was situated in the beautiful natural park of Cala Mondrago, not far from Cala D’or. Surrounded by pine trees and small bays, it really was picturesque. Iberostar Club Cala Barca is ideally suited to active people who enjoy a plethora of sporting activities including tennis, spinning, gym, aqua aerobics, football, volleyball, cycling and horse riding to name but a few. Families are particularly well catered for, with huge family rooms and interconnecting rooms available too. Each cluster of rooms has its own pool area as well as numerous pools in the main area, including baby and children’s pools. The hotel runs a superb children’s club to keep little ones occupied morning and afternoon! A mini disco runs every evening in the main stage area. Being an all-inclusive hotel there were various choices of restaurants; the main buffet, the pizzeria and the Mediterranean buffet. If you’re looking for a la carte table service, then this hotel isn’t for you. A huge variety of different dishes are served, from fresh fish and meat cooked in front of you to traditional paella. The usual children’s favourites are offered including chips, pizza and pasta. The entertainment was superb, the hotel staff really make such an effort every night. They mingle with the guests before delivering varied and enjoyable shows. We particularly enjoyed the magician. I really cannot fault the staff, every member of staff whether working on reception, in the restaurant or cleaning your room were so friendly and attentive. I like to see staff that are obviously looked after and valued, and it really showed! We booked this holiday as a last minute late deal so were not expecting much, it totally exceeded our expectations! A great holiday.

26 August 2013

Fowey, pronounced “Foy” in Cornwall is a beautiful picture postcard harbour town situated on an estuary. This was to be our home for 4 days during “The Fowey Regatta”. Travelling with a 5 year old and 1 year old, we did not think we could combine luxury with family facilities, yet we were so wrong!! Fowey Hall, part of the Luxury Family Hotels, did not disappoint. The original inspiration for “Toad Hall” in The Wind in the Willows, this fantastic hotel is situated high above this Cornish town. The views from the terrace were phenomenal!! From the moment we checked in we were all made to feel very welcome. Our room could not have been better set up with a cot, bottle steriliser, bottle warmer, baby change mat and nappy bin. The children were so well catered for with a kids club called “The Den”, indoor pool, trampoline, badminton, zip line, chickens and of course extensive gardens. Our room was even equipped with baby listening facilities. Children’s high tea was served at 5pm every day and we took full advantage of that, parents could enjoy a drink whilst the kids enjoyed their dinner!! Baby purees also available if you didn’t bring your own. Every evening at 7pm the hotel showed a movie, perfect for our 5 year old. This allowed us grown-ups to enjoy an intimate dinner, knowing the baby was being listened to and our older son was safe with other kids enjoying a movie, table football or table tennis. The food at Fowey Hall was superb – all local produce and fantastic freshly caught fish. I can thoroughly recommend the mackerel and the venison!! Martin in the restaurant is full of spot on recommendations!! We also sampled some local tipples. The Cornish Orchard Cider and Camel Valley Prosecco type wine, are not to be missed!! There are some great beaches in the vicinity of Fowey. The closest being “Readymoney Cove”, a 15 minute stroll away (past the home of Dawn French en route!!). A small sandy cove with bathing pontoon, perfect if the sun shines for you. Other good beaches close by include, Daymer Bay, Bude, Looe and Par. Fowey and Polruan opposite are so pretty you don’t not need to venture anywhere else, but if you do fancy a road trip, other pretty spots include, Megavissey, Polperro, Padstow and Port Isaac. There is plenty around for the kids too especially if the weather isn’t too good, Dairyland, Eden Project, Kidsworld and Bodmin & Wenford Railway. Tickets for some attractions can be booked at the hotel reception to save you queuing too!! Frankie on reception was a fountain of information and always so helpful, nothing was too much trouble. She even played table football with my son!! Overall I cannot emphasise what a fantastic family hotel Fowey Hall is, we will definitely visit again. We are also pleased to learn there are other hotels in the Luxury Family Group that we can’t wait to sample too!

06 June 2013

It’s been a few years since I’ve visited my second home Wadadli, as it was called many years ago, nowadays it’s called Antigua. It was great to see that the new airport terminal has begun construction. Our base this time was a boutique style hotel called Sugar Ridge, located on the West of the island close to the amenities of Jolly Harbour. We spent our wedding night here a few years ago and it’s still a little gem. Although not on the beach, the courtesy ride to nearby Valley Church Beach or Turners Beach a mere five minutes away dispels any worries about not being beachfront. The views from Carmichaels Restaurant high up on the ridge still take my breath away. I can arrange for you to have the perfect wedding at Sugar Ridge and take advantage of the sunsets at Carmichaels, or beach locations close by. Antigua is not Antigua without a visit to the award winning Curtain Bluff Hotel in the southwest, but more importantly, Gilly at the outstanding spa. With a variety of treatments to choose from, in rooms with spectacular views, you really are spoilt for choice, but I can thoroughly recommend the full body scrub! Chill out afterwards on the veranda overlooking the Caribbean Sea; enjoy a well-deserved drink and some welcome nibbles. The drive eastwards takes us through the tropical rainforest. For the more adventurous there is the zip line tour, however with a 5 year old and 10 month old in tow, this wasn’t possible this time. Pack your trainers if this does appeal to you as flip flops and sandals are not permitted! As we drove over Horsford Hill we stopped to admire the view of English Harbour and Falmouth in their full glory. Lots of amazing boats and yachts can be seen, and for the culture vultures we visited Nelsons Dockyard. As the name suggests, Admiral Nelsons historic dockyard, a small entrance fee is payable but worth every dollar. This is the only continually working Georgian shipyard in the world. 18th century charm and restored buildings include some great watering holes! Don’t miss Cloggys Café at Antigua Yacht Club. Although we didn’t visit Shirley Heights this time round, it’s a great spot for photographers. The elevated lookout over English Harbour has stunning views and photo opportunities, not to forget the famous Sunday night party where tourists and locals alike can jam to the sweet sounds of reggae, calypso and soca, whilst sampling some local food and superb rum! Of Antigua’s 365 beaches, I can thoroughly recommend Half Moon Bay on the east coast. As the name suggests it’s a crescent shaped bay with some reef. It can be quite rough as on the Atlantic side of the island, but if you walk further round the waters are turquoise, shallow and calm with shade, ideal for us with small children. Other beaches which are superb and with that picture postcard turquoise water are Valley Church Beach, Jolly Beach, Little Ffryes, Hermitage and Long Bay. An excellent way of viewing the island is taking a catamaran circumnavigation with Wadadli Cats. This well-equipped catamaran takes you round the coastline of Antigua and stops at Green Island for snorkelling followed by a delicious BBQ lunch. When you set sail after lunch the rum begins to flow and the crew get you jamming on board to some sweet sounds. Nothing had changed much since our last visit, although I did notice an increase in prices at the supermarket. Most hotels offer all inclusive or varied meal plans which I would recommend. We ate out about five times with the kids and our favourite haunt was Sheer Rocks. Our good friend, Alex Grimley, owner and chef did not disappoint, the food and cocktails were out of this world and again spectacular views and sunsets. Our kids were very welcome and all of the staff were very attentive. It may be an English favourite, but the pea and ham soup starter was exquisite! Finally, being a smallish island of 108 square miles, it is very accessible. Nowhere is further than a 40 minute drive. Car hire is plentiful and local buses are cheap “white knuckle rides!” My last recommendation would be to make sure you bring home a bottle of “English Harbour five year aged Rum” as part of your duty free allowance. It will not disappoint!