24 April 2025

I was really fortunate last October to be selected as 1 of 35 UK travel agents to participate in the Cruise Champions Programme – an intensive learning programme launched by the trade body CLIA (Cruise Lines international Association) for the cruise industry globally, to educate agents in one of the fastest growing sectors of the travel market. Amongst the intensive training sessions, I’ve also been meeting the expedition cruise operators, experiencing their ships and learning more about the destinations that they sail to. So, for the last 5 months I have been immersed in all things expedition cruise and I want to share this magnificent way of travelling with absolutely anybody who is willing to listen. I’ve been asked on numerous occasions when I talk about expedition cruise – as this is something I do a lot of – what even is Expedition Cruise? The phrase polar expedition conjures up images of famous explorers like Amundsen, Shackleton and Scott and their race to be the poles. And yes, there are synergies in that you will get to see and experience the magnificent untouched landscapes and wildlife that those pioneers were the first to set eyes upon but there perhaps the synergies end. These were individuals who were living dangerously and on the brink of disastrous consequences on a daily basis. They were explorers and it was in their blood. But for an expedition cruise today, I am pleased to say it is obviously much safer than in the days of those pioneers. And it is far more luxurious too. I’ve just read the book “Endurance” which depicts Shackleton’s doomed expedition to cross Antarctic, the seventh continent from West to East and I can tell you what these pioneers achieved, in small wooden boats in perhaps one of the most dangerous seas in the world and the most inhospitable weather, is beyond imagination. In today’s world of polar expedition, you will be staying aboard state of the art ships – many of which are Polar Ice class enabling them to break through the pack. They not only have gorgeous cabins and suites and beautiful communal lounges but also gyms, saunas, jacuzzi, swimming pools and fantastic dining. Some even have helicopters and submersibles. A stark contrast to the “Caird” which Shackleton and his 4 comrades travelled in from Elephant Island to St George island traversing 1000kms of treacherous seas. Expedition cruise is all about exploration and education to distant regions of the planet where often there is no infrastructure and where you require to board a zodiac in order to land on these remote shores. Expedition is about being immersed in the destination and experiencing wildlife, culture, stunning scenery or perhaps all three at once! And it is likely that you will travel on a ship that has in the region of only 130 to 140 passengers – certainly below 200. This is not a trip where there are thousands of passengers on a massive ship like we might understand traditional cruise to be. This is something entirely different. This is something unique and an experience that is very special indeed. But in expedition cruise terms - size really does matter. Small is most definitely best! You see it’s important because wildlife regulations only permit a certain number of passengers to land ashore at any one time in certain destinations. That magic number for Antarctica for example is 100 people. So, when you are onboard a small ship all passengers can be off the ship at the same time – some landing on zodiacs and exploring the shore, some kayaking, some paddle boarding. For any ships which have a larger capacity then there may not be the option to do multiple landings per day like on smaller ships. In terms of choosing an expedition cruise, there is a huge variety of both destinations and operators which is amazing. However, the downside of this breadth of choice is that it can be really overwhelming trying to decide where to go and which operator to go with. Let’s face it these trips are bucket list stuff and so by their very nature they are reassuringly expensive and so it has to be absolutely right for you. So how do you choose? This is where I come in. With my expertise, I can help. By answering a few questions, it will enable us to hone in on the type of expedition and the type of operator that will perfectly match your requirements. Hot or cold? That means do you want to go polar or not? If you’re the type of person who can’t stomach the cold then you need warm expedition in your life. There is absolutely no shortage of that – think Galapagos, Papua New Guinea, Raja Ampat, the South Pacific, the Kimberley in North West Australia or a culinary cruise around the Mediterranean and so much more. This will quickly narrow down the choice for you. What are your interests? Have you done safari to death but love animals? Or are you more of a historical buff interested in cultural or perhaps you are a seasoned photographer and love magnificent scenery. Perhaps you are interested in all three. Depending on the answer some operators will definitely be more suitable than others. What is important to you about your expedition? Is it all about the immersive experience off the ship and you really see the ship as being just a vessel – a place to eat and lay your head for the night. Or is the ship experience really important to you too and you like the idea of having a butler and a glass of champagne waiting for you when you step off the zodiac or out of the helicopter or submersible. How important are environmental and sustainability credentials to you? The bottom line is that all of these operators tend to be operating in a very sustainable way but some have more stellar credentials than others. So this may impact who you choose to cruise with. What board basis do you prefer? Are you a lover of All Inclusive where you like the freedom of paying one price and then never thinking about having to put your hand in your pocket again for the duration of the trip? Or perhaps the food and drink is not a huge part of your trip? This will definitely have a bearing on the type of operator that will suit you. Your answers to these questions will enable me to easily match the expedition cruise destination and operator to your unique requirements. If you’d like to explore taking your own expedition cruise then please do get in touch for a no obligation chat. It is currently my favourite topic of conversation!

10 November 2023

We’ve always been lovers of a ski-in ski-out resort and have skied a lot in the Alps and the Dolomites but skiing the Big 3 (Lake Louise, Banff Sunshine and Mount Norquay) in the Canadian Rockies has always been on our bucket list. It’s a very different type of ski holiday though as you need to drive to the various resorts but once you have your head around that it’s a breeze. We hopped on an Air Canada flight from London’s Heathrow to Calgary (approx. 8 hours) and had just over a one hour transfer to the beautiful town of Banff. Our lodging for the week was the 5 star Moose Hotel & Suites. Renovated within the last 5 years it’s a very modern hotel but with traditional features. We had a one bedroom suite (ideal for 3 of us) as the sofa in the lounge converts to a bed. Lovely fire in the lounge so a real cosy feel, small compact kitchen and nice balcony. I did get a chance to see the 2-bedroom suites too and these were lovely – ideal if we went again with our family of 5. But the icing on the cake and the reason I settled on the Moose Hotel is the rooftop hot tubs with panoramic views. Just what you need to ease sore muscles at the end of a day’s skiing. As you would expect, it was incredibly cold in the Rockies in February - a lot colder than skiing in Europe. We were lucky the week we were there as I don’t think it went below -20 and many of the days had sunny blue skies. The previous week had seen -30 degrees. So this is a consideration if you are choosing to travel at this time of year. I don’t think we could have done it without having heated socks and heated gloves which we all got from Santa for Xmas. So, I’d recommend taking these if you do decide to take a trip here at this time of year. Banff itself is a wonderful town. Fabulous in the winter but I’d also love to visit in the summer. Great shops and loads of restaurants and plenty of sights including taking the cable car up Sulphur Mountain to watch sunset which is a must do. First day skiing was Mount Norquay, the nearest ski resort to Banff and only a 15 minute bus ride away. Buses are free to the ski resorts and they stop regularly outside each of the main hotels. Early on in our trip we decided to hire a car as we knew there were other sights we wanted to see such as the Chateau Lake Louise. Norquay is very compact and it was enough to only ski it once here just to get your ski legs back if, like us, you’d not skied in a year. Next up was Banff Sunshine Village. A much more extensive ski resort than Norquay and I think we did a total of 2 days here over the 6 days skiing. Some great intermediate runs and great restaurants at the base village. But we saved the best until last. Day 3 we took the 45 minute drive from Banff to Lake Louise. The drive itself through the Rockies along the glacier highway is simply stunning. The highway is regularly punctuated by bridges across the road….not for cars……but for the grizzlies! Lake Louise has plenty of skiing to keep you occupied for around 3 days as you have the back bowls as well as. One of the days we gave snowboarding a try which was fun for a change, although I won't be changing from skis anytime soon! Another great feature of Lake Louise which you don’t have at Norquay or Sunshine is slope side eateries. And some excellent ones at that. Our favourite was Whitehorn Bistro on the front bowls – stunning views over to Lake Louise and also fabulous food and hot chocolate (with a wee tipple in it obviously). Ice skating on Lake Louise amongst the incredible ice sculptures and exquisite scenery was a pretty cool experience. Picture perfect with stunning blue skies and so quiet at this time of year. A visit to Lake Louise is a must do whilst skiing the Big 3. As it was February we knew the chances of seeing the Northern Lights were high. I’d never seen the Northern Lights and suddenly I was eagerly watching all the Facebook updates. Everything was pointing to an event which would be visible from Lake Minnewanka. We set our alarms for 1am, put on plenty of cosy layers and excitedly set off in search of Miss Aurora. It was pitch black and so icy cold and we nervously waited outside whilst keeping car doors open in case we had to make a hasty escape from grizzlies. We did find Miss Aurora that night and she was absolutely spectacular. Thankfully no grizzlies! Skiing the Big 3 is truly unique and very different to your usual European ski trip. For us it was a very special trip as it had so much more than just skiing. And it has truly whetted our appetite for more Canadian adventures including ones that do feature grizzlies…….from a safe distance of course. Fancy something a little different for your next ski adventures?

29 October 2023

BEWITCHED BY BERMUDA Within 24 hours of arriving, this tiny little fish hook shaped speck of land in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean had won my heart! Picture postcard perfect it truly is one of the prettiest and most immaculate tropical islands I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. Dotted with pastel coloured houses atop rolling hills with little stone dike walls and pink sand beaches, this little gem also packs a punch when it comes to golf. A golfer’s paradise with 7 courses meaning it has the highest concentration of golf courses per square mile than anywhere else in the world. Take a 10 day holiday here and you could play them all. We visited in October half term – only 7 hours from London’s Heathrow (5.5 hours on the way home thanks to the jet stream!). Whilst this is the tail end of hurricane season in the Caribbean, importantly Bermuda is not in the Caribbean and indeed the Bermuda Travel Authority actually say that the best times to visit the island is September and October when it is not as humid as it is in the summer months. We were lucky to have some stunning beach and golf days with a couple of unseasonably showery days but on the whole that didn’t stop us from doing anything, When it came to choosing hotels, I wanted something traditional and also something which would enable access to some reasonably priced rounds of golf. We had a week to pack in as much as we could and so I chose a 2 centre holiday to ensure we could take in as many sight of the entire island as we could. We based ourselves out of Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa in the West of Bermuda in Sandy’s Parish for the first 3 days. A stunning resort with gorgeous little pink cottages dotted around the resort every single one with a sea view. This hotel was celebrating its 100th year – it was one of the first hotels on the island and the main reception building is like walking back in time to the 20s. Just incredible. And there are 4 beaches to choose from. Watch the sunrise at the pool or Shoreline restaurant overlooking Mangrove Bay or watch the sunset at Breezes Al Fresco Restaurant and Bar overlooking Long Beach. Just perfect! I am an avid sunset chaser and have seen some gorgeous ones including the sunset in Oia in Santorini which they badge as being one of the best sunsets in the world. I now know that to be a complete fabrication as the best sunsets I have ever seen in my life were my first 2 nights in Bermuda overlooking Long Beach on the West of the island. They were simply breath-taking; at times it looked like the sky was on fire. Our photos all look like they’ve been photoshopped but I can assure you I don’t have the technical ability to do that and all the photos you see here on my blog are originals. Just out of this world! The nearest golf course to Cambridge Beaches was Port Royal Golf Club; a fantastic golf course which hosts the PGA Tour for the annual Butterfield Bermuda Championship with stunning sea views especially on the back 9. The Royal Naval Dockyard, home to the cruise terminal with its historical buildings, shopping, restaurants, arts and experiences was also nearby which made for an interesting trip out. The second half of our trip was spent at the Newstead Belmont Hills Hotel & Spa about half way along the island, near to the capital Hamilton, which has its own golf course too and provides a complimentary first round of golf to its guests (not to be snuffed at in one of the world’s most expensive places to holiday). Unexpectedly (but an added bonus) this hotel also had access to the Coco Reef Beach Club on the south shore with complimentary transfers. In addition the hotel also had a complimentary boat shuttle to the capital Hamilton (literally 5 minutes away across the bay) which is handy for going for dinner in the evening for a change of scene and visiting beautiful Front Street. We took in the sights of St George’s, a UNESCO World heritage site which was the first English settlement on the island (1612). It is full of colonial buildings including the Bermuda Old State House from 1620, the Old Rectory from 1699 and St Peter’s Church and is often described as the oldest continually inhabited British town in the New World. St George’s was definitely worth the visit. Other sights include the island’s most famous beach at Horseshoe Bay with its salmon coloured sand and teal waters consistently heralded as one of the world’s top beaches. Then there is the Crystal & Fantasy Caves to the East of the island near St George’s which are a natural wonder formed thousands of years ago featuring stunning azure underground pools and incredible formations of every shape and size imaginable. I think it will take me a while to get Bermuda out of my mind. It truly is a very special place. Want to be bewitched by Bermuda too? Perhaps combine the beach and golf with a city break in New York? Do speak to me first for lots of top tips and hotel and activity recommendations.

12 October 2023

Just a short 4 hour direct flight with Ryan Air from Edinburgh and you are in Marrakech! A destination which has been on our bucket list for a long time. I reckon Marrakech is bit like marmite. You either love it or hate it. For me I loved the sights, the smells, the chaotic Jemma El Fna and the souks but most of all the incredibly friendly jovial and kind people. Everyone we encountered (without exception) was so kind and helpful especially our driver Abbas. Morocco has it all and I can say that really only having just scratched the surface during our 14 day trip. Due to some unforeseen circumstances on our visit (namely a hospital stay) we didn’t manage to do all of our incredible itinerary but that just means we will definitely have to go back! There is something for everyone, from the beautiful fishing port of Essaouira (3 hours west of Marrakech), to travelling up into the stunning Atlas Mountains, adventures out in the desert (luxury tents, camel rides and dune buggies/quad biking) to playing golf on some fabulous courses in some pretty luxurious resorts. Accommodation wise you’re really spoiled for choice. From small quaint traditional riads to luxury boutique riads to fabulous international chain hotels. I’d recommend La Sultana which is an exquisite traditional luxury boutique riad in the Kasbah. For a stay with kids and to be located right next to the Jemma El Fna (the main square) and the souks then I’d recommend Les Jardins de la Kotoubia. This is a stone’s throw from the main square but after being in the hustle and bustle of the souks, retreating into this hotel is just fabulous. The hotel has 2 lovely pools one of which is on the rooftop with wonderful views of the Koutoubia Mosque. Again restaurant wise there must be hundreds in the centre of Marrakech. Our favourites were the rooftop restaurants at sunset, particularly La Pergola which plays jazz music as you dine. Also, sunset views from Nobu Hotel’s rooftop bar in the newer area of Hivernage in Marrakech (near the likes of the famous La Mamounia and Royal Mansour) were outstanding. However, the two standout places for us were our trip into the Atlas Mountains to stay at the Kasbah Tamedot (just over an hour from Marrakech) and our stay at the Fairmont Royal Palm resort (20 minutes outside Marrakech with access to the Royal Palm Golf & Country Club). Kasbah Tamedot (recently appearing on the BBCs Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby) is Richard Branson’s luxury Moroccan retreat and it truly is a special place. Not just because of the location, the architecture and the food but because of the whole ethos behind this hotel. 100% of the employees are locals. Richard Branson’s mum Eve set up the Eve Branson Foundation (EBF) and her vision was to ensure there was work at the Kasbah for the locals living in the Atlas Mountains. It was fascinating hearing the stories from the staff about how the EBF had helped them for example our waiter Ishmail who had left school at a young age and up until 10 years ago didn’t speak a word of English. The EBF taught him English and upskilled him resulting in one of the best waiters I’ve ever come across. We also took a very special trip with our guide Hassan into the Atlas Mountains. He kindly took us to his house and it was a very special few hours talking with Hassan’s dad about his work taking tourists on hiking trips into the Atlas Mountains and up Mount Toubkal. All whilst drinking traditional Moroccan mint tea. Very memorable indeed. Kasbah Tamedot is a special place. The staff and service were outstanding. It is absolutely stunning which helps but it’s also the little things, from leaving a pair of traditional Babouches (locally made slippers) at the end of your bed to take home as a souvenir to watching Casablanca under the stars on the outdoor cinema screen wrapped up in blankets and eating fresh popcorn. The 5-star Fairmont Royal Palm is a wonderful hotel with all of the facilities such as pools, restaurants, gym and a wide array of accommodation that you’d expect from the Fairmont brand. I am a huge fan of Fairmont and with the Royal Palm they have just got it absolutely right. Right next door is the Royal Palm Golf & Country Club with an 18 hole golf course and a further swimming pool and restaurant. Like Kasbah Tamedot the staff and service were outstanding. This was a fabulous way to end our trip. Inspired to visit Marrakech? I have loads of top tips so do make sure you speak to me first.

10 October 2023

A quick hop over the North Atlantic from Edinburgh and we arrived in the Land of the Midnight Sun. Some call it the Land of Fire & Ice. I can only describe it as other worldly and simply incredible! Iceland has been on my bucket list for many years, but I could never quite choose which time of year to visit. A popular time is Winter for aurora chasing but having been lucky to see the Northern Lights in Canada a few months prior that wasn’t our priority. Another popular time is June when the sun never sets. We had a window in May during my youngest’s exams and with flight prices being very inexpensive we thought why not now? In just 3 days we wanted to pack in as much as we could. So, if you are looking for something similar then read on for some top tips. Arriving first thing in the morning, we picked up our hire car (surprisingly well priced considering everything is so expensive particularly food and drink). We knew we wouldn’t be able to check in to our city centre accommodation and so headed straight to Perlan - “the Pearl” just south of the city situated atop the wooded Oskjuhlio Hill. An incredible building, Perlan houses a permanent exhibition called the "Wonders of Iceland" providing insights into the country’s nature through interactive technology and design. The observation deck on the 4th floor has fantastic 360 degree views over Reykjavik’s surrounding areas - great to get our bearings. There is so much to explore but our favourites were the Glacier Exhibit (world’s first indoor 100m long ice cave), the Forces of Nature Exhibit (learning about volcanoes, earthquakes and geothermal energy which included an insight into the Geldingadalir eruption 50 miles outside Reykjavik in March 2021) and finally the "Arora Show" in the 360 degree planetarium (a fascinating story of the auroras occurring all across the solar system). From there we headed to the harbour area - a stone’s throw from our accommodation. We were booked into Flyover Iceland - if you’ve ever done “Soarin’” over California at Epcot in Disney then this is the Icelandic equivalent and, in my opinion, not to be missed. State of the art technology gives you the feeling of flight and you are whisked away on an exhilarating journey across Iceland. You see the spectacular sights of Iceland in all its glory. As a bonus we also saw Flyover Canada: Windborne with the Call of the Canadian Rockies which is previewing here - equally fabulous. Mid-afternoon and so time to check-in to our accommodation. We chose a 2-bed apartment in the 5 star Black Pearl - Reykjavik’s Finest Apartments with everything you could need for a great break including parking under the hotel and so central to the harbour and the main shopping districts of Iceland’s capital. I’d highly recommend. Not much time to linger though as next we were headed to The Sky Lagoon - an all new Icelandic experience minutes from downtown Reykjavik. Here there is an oceanside geothermal lagoon with views of the North Atlantic Ocean where you can relax and unwind as you take in the dazzling sunsets and moody skies. They also have the unique 7 step Ritual experience which is worth doing. This was a lovely experience and just what we needed at the end of a busy day. Day 2 was the Golden Circle – which will be the highlight of any Iceland trip - and this was just fabulous. Thorofoss, Thingvellir, Erdfingler II, Halkadur Geothermal Area, Gulfoss and Kerid Crater. You can see many of these sights in my photos. Just as you’d imagine the spectacular sights of Iceland to be. Day 3 was whale watching first thing, but sadly the weather put paid to that due to stormy seas. Thankfully we’d been whale watching in South Africa 6 months prior so weren’t too disappointed. So instead, we had a good old look around the centre of Reykjavik in the morning, taking in the sights from the iconic Hallgrimskirkja and grabbed a lush breakfast from Standholt bakery. This one and Brou & Co come highly recommended. Then we headed to the famous Blue Lagoon – usually on everyone’s bucket list - in the heart of a volcanic landscape with a mask bar, sauna and steam room, an in-water bar and even float therapy plus numerous restaurants and hotels. A fantastic way to end our trip. Do I wish we had stayed longer? No - I think this was the ideal length of break where you really can get a feel for the place. Although next time I’d like to venture further afield and so for us it will be a cruise taking in Iceland’s spectacular sights. Planning a trip yourself? Then chat to me first.

04 October 2023

With only a small window to take this trip we hopped on a British Airways flight from Edinburgh to Cape Town via Heathrow. October is Spring in the southern hemisphere and so was a fantastic time of year to visit – blue skies and warm days. After the 12 hour flight it was wonderful arriving somewhere and having zero jetlag! Starting off in Cape Town’s wonderful Camps Bay area with spectacular views of Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles, we stayed in the 5-star Boutique All Suites South Beach Hotel less than 50 metres from the icy cold waters of Camps Bay’s Blue Flag beach. The hotel was very impressive with suites that have access to their own pools and a further infinity pool plus bar on the rooftop with sublime sunset views and just great for sundowners. Restaurants are aplenty in Camps Bay (Zenzero and BoVine Wine and Grill House are both worth a visit). From Camps Bay we took a day trip to the Franschhoek Wine Tram (just over an hour away). We took the Green route around the many wine houses but to be honest I don’t think it really matters which route you take – all of the wine houses are fantastic with numerous tastings and lovely restaurants all with incredible views of the Franschhoek valley. Franschhoek itself is gorgeous and my only regret is not staying longer. From Cape Town we took the short flight down to Port Elizabeth for a 3-day safari! Definitely the highlight of our trip. The malaria free Eastern Cape is a great add on for safari from Cape Town. I chose Kariega Game Reserve – a private game reserve with a huge selection of accommodation to cater for all tastes/requirements and more importantly the Big 5 (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard). We stayed at Settlers Drift – a unique tented safari combined with 5-star luxury comprising 9 tented suites, each with stunning views and secluded viewing decks overlooking the Bushman’s River. Mouth-watering food and a lush infinity pool overlooking the bush to boot. I was fortunate to see all of the Kariega accommodation and Ukhozi Lodge and River Lodge were just lovely too – all very different. The safari set up was new to me but getting up at 5:30am for the first game drive of the day and having coffee watching sunrise whilst looking out for game was just incredible. Our game ranger Gladman was so knowledgeable, and he’d take us out in the open game-drive vehicles to get us up close and personal to a whole host of animals. Back to the lodge for around 10am and after a slap-up breakfast it was time to take a snooze and relax round the gorgeous pool or have a massage at the spa tent – again with those amazing views over the Bushman’s River. Then afternoon tea before setting off again around 4pm for another game drive. Close to sunset, Gladman would stop in a clearing (making sure there were no lions of course) and set up his bar for sundowners. Just fantastic! Often, we’d return to camp in the pitch dark and then get ready for dinner or a boma (traditional South African BBQ). We flew back up the coast to Cape Town this time staying at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in the V&A Hotel. Great rooms with fabulous views of the dock and Table Mountain too. This was our base for the next three days – and we had a lot to fit in. First up, a day trip to Hermanus for whale watching. The drive itself to Hermanus along the first part of the famous Garden Route was just stunning. We were treated to a perfect calm day which made for some incredible whale watching. Next up was another day trip to the Cape of Good Hope stopping off at Boulder’s Beach to see the penguin colony. What funny little chaps they are! We even saw baboons too on our way to the Cape. We’d been keeping an eye on the weather for our trip up the cable car to Table Mountain to ensure there was no low cloud obscuring our views. We were in luck as our last day was gorgeous blue skies. We felt like we were on top of the world. Just awesome! Has this inspired you to take a safari? If so please do speak to me. I think I am officially a safari addict and planning my next one already!