03 February 2025

Joyeux Noel! Just back from a few days in Paris to visit family and check out the Christmas markets. Yummy food with a bit of a mix from Greek, French and Korean!

03 February 2025

So easy with flights from London Southend Airport with easyJet to Geneva and then 1 hour transfer with Ski Lifts Airport Transfers to the lovely resort of Les Gets in France Yummy mountain food from raclette, fondue and hot stone. Good ski conditions even though we did get very wet one day! Les Gets is a lovely family friendly resort that links up with the Portes du Soleil so there's lots of skiing.

23 April 2024

Just back from 6 days in Crete, Greece. Had a lovely time. Flights with Ryanair to Chania then about 45 min transfer to our resort in Georgiopolis a village with several hotels, tavernas and a small church out on rocks that you can walk to. We stayed at the Mare Monte Beach Hotel, about 10 min walk along the beach to the village. The hotel had a stunning pool and right on the beach with sun loungers. There’s a water sports place right in front of the hotel and opens weather permitting for paragliding, renting paddleboards etc. We opted for the all-inclusive board at the hotel which included breakfast, lunch and dinner, drinks and snacks too. You could opt to eat in the main restaurant or on Friday and Saturday at the Taverna. The food was good and lots of choice. We arrived quite late at the hotel and received a warm welcome from reception. Once checked in we had a quick drink (or 2!!) at the bar then headed up to our rooms to find a tasty plate of cold meats/salad with bread and some cakes. Such a lovely touch. Next day we headed down to breakfast and lots of choices from continental, fresh bread and different hot choices. Today we opted for a relaxed day and spent some time at the pool and beach then walked into the village. We walked on the rocks to the church then had a much earned beer in a bar overlooking the river and beach. We spotted a lovely Taverna in the village on the square and opted to have lunch there. It was delicious and lovely local cuisine from grilled cheese, Cretan salad and grilled gyros. Then walked back to the hotel in the blaring sun and chilled by the pool having some tasty beverages. Cleaned up for dinner and headed down to the main restaurant after some aperitifs in the main bar. A good selection of Greek food on offer in the main restaurant and lovely views of the sea. Next day I’d booked an excursion of wine and olive oil tasting so we had a early breakfast and met our guide for the day in reception at 8.30am. Off we set in a jeep for a full day exploring Crete. We started with wine tasting at 10am then headed to a monastery where we were given raki and cakes then off to an olive oil factory via some bumpy off-road tracks in the jeep. Final stop was a local Cretan lunch in a village in the hills. We had a local salad to start with feta style local cheese, then bread and dips followed by a local pasta like orzo with tomato sauce and shrimps (prawns really!). Very tasty washed down by some local beer and wine. The staff and one of the guides also did some Greek dancing to entertain us too. Then back to our hotel to reminisce about the day. Dinner tonight we’d book the Taverna. It was nice and started with a plate of Greek meze then followed by a mixed grill and finally some baklava and ice cream. Next day was a ‘rest’ day we chilled by the pool in the morning, had lunch in the main restaurant then decided to hike up to the lake for a bit of a reccy for the next day. Slight wrong turn and double the time we’d expected we arrived very hot and in much need of a cold beer. We sat in an open Taverna right on the lake, lovely. Had a wander about the lake then took the shorter route back to our hotel. Arrived back at the hotel, again very hot, so needed a few beverages. Tonight, we opted for the main restaurant. Next day as we liked the look of the lake we decided to head up there (in a taxi) after breakfast. We arrived and took a pedalo out on the lake hoping to see turtles. Amazing we saw quite few. It was a lovely day for it and beautiful sun with the stunning mountains around the lake. After the pedalo we’d built up an appetite so headed to a taverna on the lake for some yummy BBQ lamb with salad and tzatziki. Yum!! Then after lunch bit of a wander then taxi back to our hotel to chill for the rest of the afternoon. Again dinner in the main restaurant for our final night. Last day and the hotel kindly let us keep a room (at no extra cost) until 6.30pm as we had a late flight. It was a very windy day so we went for a wander along the beach then decided to head into the village for a wander and for a late lunch. We found a Taverna overlooking the sea that was sheltered from the wind and enjoyed some meze, grilled gyros and salad. Then headed back to the hotel to chill for a bit then cleaned up ready to head to airport for our return flight. Had a lovely time, can’t fault the hotel as was very friendly and good food. Only minor issue which didn’t affect us was the animation team (kids club/entertainment) were geared for French guests.

13 December 2023

I have had a fantastic long weekend in Romania with great friends. We flew from Stansted on Friday morning; flight was 3 hours. Arrived in Bucharest early afternoon and they approx. 40 min transfer to the hotel. We stayed at the Hotel Central which lived up to its name and was very centrally located. Dumped our luggage and they set off for the Christmas market. This was one huge market outside the constitutional building with lots of huts, stage with entertainment, some rides and food and drink stalls too. As we were a group of 8, I booked dinner at a local Romanian restaurant not too far from the hotel. We tucked into a hearty dinner of wings, pork belly, polenta, schnitzel, and pork knuckle at Vatra restaurant. Entertainment by Romanian dancers too. After dinner we headed back to the hotel via a tiny craft bar for a night cap. A lovely bar with just a few stalls and max capacity of about 12 people called No Room Tap Room. Early night tonight as an early start tomorrow (as well as 2-hour time difference). Breakfast at the hotel at 7am then met in reception at 7.20am to walk a short distance to meet our guide. Then off we set in a minibus to Peles Castle, approx. 2 hours drive. A good opportunity for a nap or to look at the scenery whilst the sun was still rising. At Peles Castle our guide Ionut was great at whisking us through the queue, so we weren’t hanging about. So, in we entered the castle and Ionut gave us a commentary about each room. It was interesting and the perfect length tour. The castle is amazing, no expenses were spared to make it a show castle including the retractable roof in the room where they greet guests. After the tour we had a little free time to wander the gardens and take photos then back on the bus to Brasov. The journey was under an hour. At Brasov we were given a couple of hours to explore and find lunch. They also had a Christmas market. First things first we found a lovely craft bar for a refreshment and convenient stop. Then we wandered down to the market. Few food stands but still nice for a short visit. We then found a local pizza slicery place so a quick lunch then back to the bus. Then we set off to Bran’s Castle, yes the Dracula castle. Once we arrive it was short walk from the car park so the view of the castle on the hill were great. It’s not a pretty castle like Peles Castle but more a gothic and quite eerie castle. Lots of narrow staircases and small dark room including a torture chamber. I personally didn’t linger in that room for long! Interesting to see the castle but definitely not as impressive as Peles. After the castle visit a bit of free time then back on the bus for the long ride back to Bucharest. Depending on traffic it could have been 3 or 4 hours, but we got lucky so not too painful. It was a good opportunity to have a pre-supper nap. Then back in Bucharest a quick change, aperitif and then off to dinner again at a nearby and local Romanian restaurant. Some of the meals were good and we mainly tucked into the starters and were full before mains but think we’d been spoiled by the yummy food the night before. After dinner night caps in the other local craft bar called Ironic then back to hotel for sleep. Next day was a day at leisure and breakfast was until 11am so a bit of a chilled start to the day. After breakfast we went for a wander then ended up at the Christmas markets. As the loos on the Christmas markets weren’t overly pleasant, we had to find a weestop. We stopped at a Mexican bar with lots of cats running about so I was happy. After this we headed to the Old town for a bit of a bar crawl and lunch. We shared some platters of meat, cheese and accompaniments. Very tasty. Then we either wandered back to the hotel slowly via some bars or headed back to the Christmas market for the final shopping. Then back to the hotel to quickly drop off shopping and quick clean up and off to dinner for our final night. This night we headed to a highly rated Italian meal. Good pizza (huge!), cordon blue with mash, chicken in creamy mushroom sauce with mash and prawn pasta to name a few of the dishes we ate. Then as it was our last night and the birthday eve of one of our party, we headed to our favourite tiny craft bar called No Room Tap Room. They even stayed open to welcome us back. Several drinks later and lots of singing it turned midnight, so we sang happy birthday in English and Romanian and they back to the hotel for some much-needed sleep. Final morning and breakfast in the hotel then ready to be collected to return home at 10.45am. Then flight home to Stansted. Great weekend, lots of fun and several beers. Good food if you like hearty meat dishes. Christmas market was good but only the one, but it was large. Excursion to Peles Castle, Brasow and Bran’s Castle was really good and very interesting, just be prepared for long journey in mini bus.

04 October 2023

Leftovers came in handy for breakfast then off to pick up our hire car. Avis, of course! Love checking in for car when the ask for my last name! The off we drove up to Deep Cove for some paddleboarding. We couldn’t go a whole 11 days without paddleboarding!! Amazing experience and such stunning scenery. Slightly challenging with a speedboat/water-skier getting quite close and making lots of waves! Then back to car and headed for the ferry to Vancouver Island. 1.5 hours on the ferry from Tsawwassen to Victoria. Then approx. 30 min drive to hotel in Victoria. Stayed at Oswego Hotel in Victoria. Managed to get upgraded to 1-bedroom suite. Very nice with views over the sea. Headed out to explore and find somewhere for a much-needed refreshment. Found Darcy’s bar which overlooked where the seaplanes landed. Great choice of beers and great views watching the seaplanes. Then back to hotel to clean up for dinner. Dinner booked at Nautical Nellies. Lovely meal and great service. Had some sushi, duck and halibut. Only 1 night in Victoria so after cooking a bacon roll in the suite headed off on 3.5-hour drive to Campbell River. Had a quick stop in Qualicum to visit the brewery and pick up some take-outs. Then on the ocean road to Campbell River. Arrived at the Comfort Suites for an overnight stay as part of the Knight Inlet (bear lodge) package. Headed off to explore Campbell River, and found a lovely bar called Session Bar for lunch. Had some fish tacos and poke cups. Very tasty. Then did a bit of exploring but due to it starting to rain had to find a brewery to shelter! BeachFire Brewery was a great find and some tasty beers to sample! Then back to hotel to clean up ready for some dinner. Found a pub nearby called RipeTide and had some tasty wings and ribs! Yum! Watched a bit of American Football too.

27 September 2023

Just back from an amazing adventure in British Columbia, Canada. This was a trip that’s been postponed since 2020 due to Covid. It didn’t disappoint. Flew from Gatwick to Vancouver (approx. 9.5-hour flight), slight delay out but not too painful. Arrived Vancouver mid-afternoon. Bit jetlagged but after checking in to central hotel, Sutton Place, headed out to explore and for some food. Booked table at Stanley Park Brewery, which was about 30 min walk, thought the walk might help wake us up a bit. Lovely to see a bit of Stanley Park and the lakes. Brewery was great, delicious beers and lots of choices. And the food was good too, we had some tasty fish tacos and some chicken wings. Then headed back to the hotel for an early night. Woke up very early due to jetlag so decided to get up and check out the sunrise. Ok might have got it slightly wrong and missed the sunrise but still got to check out English Bay. Then headed back towards the hotel to find somewhere open for breakfast. Denny’s good old-fashioned diner was the perfect choice, open 24 hours too! Had my first benny! That’s an eggs benedict. Yum! Then back to hotel ready to be collected by LandSea Tours for a good orientation of the city. Went to Stanley Park (again) but this time to see the Totem Poles, then Granville Island for a bit of exploring. And would you believe it we found the brewery and a bar! Then back on the bus for a bit of a tour around the downtown areas of Chinatown and Gastown. Off the bus near Canada Place and now a bit peckish so found a place called Chopped for a tasty burger. Then rushed to catch the bus to Capilano Suspension bridge for a bit of tree top exploring. Then back to hotel to clean up and dinner at Fanny Bays Oyster restaurant. So we had to have some Oysters, there was a whole menu of them! And some sashimi followed by pork belly with scallops. Very tasty and great restaurant. Next morning (last day in Vancouver) headed out to find breakfast and came across Cora. Had to try the breakfast poutine, a Canadian favourite. Poutine is made with thick beef gravy on french-fried potatoes with fresh cheese curds. Then off to Flyover Canada, utilises state-of-the-art technology to give you the feeling of flight. Great experience with beautiful scenery. Then off to the Lookout for views over Vancouver. Looks of great photos. Back down to Gastown to check out the steam clock. A must do in Vancouver. Then would you believe it that it was lunchtime and there was a micro-brewery bar right nearby. Spent the afternoon in Commercial Drive area checking out the many local micro-breweries. Some amazing beers and great set-ups. Tried Container Brewery, Powell Brewery, Storm Brewery and East Van Brewery. Back to the hotel in an Uber to clean up for some dinner. Headed to the nearby highly rated Korean for some tasty kimchi pancake and KFC, of course! Back to the hotel with a doggy-bag. Leftovers came in handy for breakfast then off to pick up our hire car. Avis, of course! Love checking in for car when the ask for my last name! The off we drove up to Deep Cove for some paddleboarding. We couldn’t go a whole 11 days without paddleboarding!! Amazing experience and such stunning scenery. Slightly challenging with a speedboat/water-skier getting quite close and making lots of waves!

28 October 2022

Just returned from a short break cruise from Southampton on P&O cruises Britannia. The cruise began and ended in Southampton and was 5 days in duration. I booked parking at Southampton which meant we could drop the car right at the port and it was valet parked for us whilst we entered the cruise terminal to check-in for our cruise. We dropped our luggage off outside for it to be delivered to our cabin. Once through check-in and security we were ready to board. First stop was the muster station to be checked off then to our room to pick up our ‘set sail’ pass and dump our hand luggage in our rooms. Set sail pass is very important as it is your room key, your credit card on board and lets you on and off the ship … it’s also pretty useful if you’ve purchased the ultimate drinks package too! Once on board and inducted we headed up to the pool deck and bar for our first drink of the day to start our holiday off. Up on the pool deck there are 3 pools, 2 bars and 3 snack bars. The snack bars during the daytime are continuously serving pizza, burgers, hot dogs, chips etc. As we were a bit hungry, we decided to check out the buffet restaurant. A good selection of different hot and cold food and lots of serving counters. A bit more exploring of the ship after our late lunch found an adult only pool, 2 whirlpools, jogging track, sports arena, a sunset bar, golf driving range and lots of games such as ping pong. Back to the cabin to clean up ready for dinner. The ship set sail in the evening heading to Rotterdam our first port of call. We were on the open dining package so when the restaurants open, we were free to join either a real or virtual queue for our preferred choice. Some restaurants were included in our package, and some had some supplements. Tonight, we selected The Meridian one of the included ones and enjoyed a lovely 3 course a la carte meal on a table for 2. After dinner I’d booked the late show in the Headliners theatre at 10.30 so we went via the bar for a drink to take to the theatre to watch the show. It was a 45 min show with a range of song and dancing. Next morning, we headed to the buffet restaurant for breakfast and enjoyed a full English. We did a bit more exploring of the ship but less outdoors as it was a bit wet. The ship arrived at Rotterdam about 2.30pm and it was approx. 10 min walk to the city centre. We visited the cube house (a must see and very unusual) and the market with apartments that overlook the market. We wandered about by the river and stopped for a drink then headed back to the ship. On the way back to the ship there was lots of photographers setting up tripods … then we spotted the amazing red sky. Wow!! Back on board we stopped for a drink then back to the cabin to clean up for dinner. Tonight, I had booked a speciality restaurant called The Beach House. The food was more relaxed style of ribs and skewers etc. Good food and a window seat. Again, I booked the late show in the theatre so via the bar for a drink to take along then to watch Rock On! Good music and good voices. Next day the ship stayed in Rotterdam until later in the afternoon. We booked breakfast in the a la carte restaurant early. Then we met our excursion to Gouda with some cheese tasting and a visit to the city of Gouda which is the market town where they sell the cheese. The guide was interesting, and the owner of the cheese farm was funny too. We got dropped back in the centre of Rotterdam so a bit more exploring then back to the ship. Tonight, I’d booked the ‘posh’ restaurant The Epicurean, so we put on our posh clothes and headed to the Crows Nest for an aperitif then to the restaurant for dinner. Food was amazing – really well presented and soooo tasty! Again, another show in the theatre this time was Sound of the Underground, a journey around Britain. Then we popped to the bar to hear George playing the guitar and taking requests – great voice. Next day we were at sea so we just headed to the buffet restaurant after a lay in. It was quite busy so think everyone had the same idea. After breakfast we joined bingo … unfortunately I didn’t win but was fun to do. Then we headed to the pool area for lunch of pizza and burgers and thought about swimming. It was a bit chilly. Tonight, was gala night so back to the room to get glammed up. We then head out for aperitifs in the Crows Nest bar then joined the virtual queue for the Peninsular restaurant. Another lovely a la carte meal. After dinner we headed to the atrium bar to listen to George singing and playing his guitar. Early morning, we docked at Zeebrugge. We joined the virtual queue for a served breakfast, so we were ready for a excursion to Gent at 10.15am. We then disembarked and boarded coach for about 1 hour journey to Gent. Our guide was very informative and walked us to the centre of Gent then left us for a few hours to explore. We did some shopping of some of Belgium’s best goodies – fries, beer, chocolate, waffles, and noses (raspberry sweets only made in Gent). And also bought some mustard at a cute shop that still produce the mustard in their basement. Stopped for a tasty lunch of burgers, fries and beer … 2 of our 5 goodies! Then met the guide to head back to the ship. Back on board to chill at the bar. Tonight, we took a chance and stopped at The Glass House restaurant. The menu looked great and luckily, we got a table, and it didn’t disappoint. Another lovely meal. Back to the bar for digestives and farewells to fellow passengers and staff. Arrived back to Southampton early in the morning. Joined the virtual queue for breakfast then grabbed our bags and headed off on our way home. Verdict: great ship, lots to do and lots of entertainment. Great for families, couples, or groups. Good opportunity as a taster for cruising as only 5 nights and get to see 2 ports with lots of choices for excursions. Food was excellent and lots of choice of restaurants.

12 October 2022

Israel – Jerusalem (Part 3) After an early start as we needed to disembark from the Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas by 7am (see Israel part 2) we headed to the station. Located very conveniently right next door to the ship. We managed to buy one-way tickets to Jerusalem for about £20 from the very helpful and good English-speaking lady at the ticket desk. Then waited about 5 mins for the train to arrive for our 2-hour journey to Jerusalem via Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv where we changed trains (and made use of the Wi-Fi while we waited for about 5 mins). The journey was interesting with sea on one side and passing a few towns/cities on the other side. There were a lot of young people in uniform, Israel still has national service. There were also older soldiers with machine guns, something I’ve not come across on a commuter train to London before. Once we got to Jerusalem our hotel was about 10 min walk along the min Jaffa Road towards the famous Machane Yehuda Market. We checked in about 11am and lucky for us our room was ready. It was basic hotel with a car theme. Our bed was a car bed frame. We then dumped our luggage and headed off to the market in search of food. The market was really interesting and busy. It was a mix of everything from fruit, butchers, fish mongers, spices, tahini stalls, restaurants, bars and lots more. Then headed toward Jerusalem old town. I don’t think I was quite prepared for Jerusalem, but it totally blew my mind. So, I grew up going to Sunday School and attend church annually at the Carol Service, but I wouldn’t say I am overly religious but … I know all the stories about Jerusalem, Jesus, Mary, Herod, Bethlehem, Nazareth, the dead sea etc. but to actually see the place and to realise that they do exist or thereabouts is pretty amazing. We arrived in the Old city and had a couple of hours tour with an old but knowledgeable guide. He whisked us around on a whirl wind tour of just about everything. We saw the wailing wall, where Jesus had the last supper, where Jesus is buried, the route where Jesus carried the cross etc. It was fascinating. It was also interesting that with every stop with another interesting story that we were told “here was where Jesus had the last supper” and then trailed off with “or somewhere near here”. Obviously with such an old story and written many years after it happened it is hard to be 100% accurate. We finished our tour with some much-needed lunch, we were starving. We had some humous, falafels and salad … washed down with a delicious cold beer. We then headed back toward our hotel stopping for a couple of refreshments on the way. We got cleaned up and headed out for aperitifs and in search of dinner. We found a lovely place with a bread oven. We then choose an Israeli feast with lots of salad and meats with humous and tahini, so yum! Back to the hotel for 1 night stay. We then headed out in search of somewhere amazing for our final Israeli breakfast, it didn’t disappoint. A lovely place right by the market with a full Israeli breakfast and Shakshuka. We will miss these. Then the rest of the day to explore the few bits that we missed the previous day. Off to the garden tomb where Jesus was buried and was then resurrected. Back to our hotel ready to be collected but after 1 last beer in the market and some empanadas to keep us going. Then an evening flight from Tel Aviv to Luton. Verdict on Jerusalem: Be prepared for information overload, read up on the stories before you go. Great for exploring either with guide (very useful) or with a guidebook. Wear comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing (my husband was wearing shorts so had to borrow a skirt… and no I didn’t get a photo of it!. Again, lovely food in Israel. It was pretty pricey but no where near as expensive as Tel Aviv. A place to tick off the bucket list.

12 October 2022

Royal Caribbean cruise from Haifa to Limassol and back on Rhapsody of the Seas Our transfer from Tel Aviv to Haifa port took just over an hour and we were dropped right near the baggage drop area. It was well organised that our luggage was taken from us, and we were free to board the ship. We went through security, passport control and checked in to receive our Set Sail passes. Then it was along the port to our ship. As I am new to cruise the ship seemed massive, even though it was a pretty small ship with only a couple of thousand passengers! Once on board we popped to our cabin then immediately off to explore the ship. Obviously first stop to check out the bars. So, we went to the pool deck and sat watching out over Haifa. Then as we were a bit peckish as it was lunchtime, we went to the Windjammer café. This is the buffet restaurant with masses of choice. There were fresh salads, a counter where the chef prepares dishes fresh then lots of other options from burgers to roast dinners and then an amazing selection of desserts. Staff were friendly and checked on us. There was also a chap with an ice trolley with cold beers. After lunch it was back on deck (after our safety demo) to watch as we set sail and join the sail away party. Then back to our cabin (our luggage waiting for us outside) to get cleaned up ready for dinner. I’d booked our dinner in the Edelweiss restaurant each night at 7.45pm. We popped by the Schooner Bar for an aperitif. Dinner in the Edelweiss restaurant was delicious, and our serving team were friendly and helpful. Obviously back to the Schooner Bar after dinner for digestives. Next day we arrived in Limassol. After breakfast on board, we disembarked. Once off the ship there were coaches waiting to take passengers to either the shopping mall or marina. We took the marina coach and then walked along the sea front to the beach and found a bar to cool down in … with a beer. Then back to the ship for lunch in the Windjammer restaurant with some Greek delights. Afternoon was chilling by the pool then cleaned up for another fantastic dinner in the Edelweiss restaurant. We then popped to the Schooner Bar again and a slightly messy (but fun night) with various other passengers resulting in Karaoke. Bit of a slow start the next day but it was a day at sea so a deserved rest day. Today we had breakfast in the Edelweiss restaurant then headed out by the pool. Lots of activities happening including a belly flop contest that we just had to watch. So, our final night was another lovely dinner in the Edelweiss restaurant and a farewell to the fabulous bar staff at the Schooners Bar then an early night as we had to disembark by 7am! My verdict on the cruise: it was fun probably more suited to party people and families. The food was lovely, and we didn’t even try the speciality restaurants. Staff were all friendly and happy. It was a good taster to cruising. There’s always something happening on board from the entertainment, games around the pool, climbing wall, art gallery, shopping or just chilling with a cocktail.

11 October 2022

Israel – Tel Aviv (part 1) I booked early morning flights from Luton to Tel Aviv, so we arrived early afternoon. We then stayed at a central hotel in Tel Aviv for 2 nights in the main street called Dizengoff Street. It was a good location for the beach and exploring. As we arrived early afternoon after 5-hour flight we decided to explore and find somewhere for some local food. On a road towards the beach was a nice-looking café with outdoor seating (and serving beer). We didn’t realise it was a vegetarian restaurant until after we ate but as we wanted humous and shakshuka it was perfect. Lovely meal and friendly service. After this we walked to the beach to watch the surfers and stopped at a beachfront bar for a beer. Back to the hotel to get cleaned up and ready to find somewhere for local Israeli food. And use of the hotel Wi-Fi to help locate a TripAdvisor worthy restaurant for our dinner. Found a lovely place with outdoor seating just off the main street. We tucked into a feast of salads, lamb, and chicken shawarma with lots of tahini dressing, very delicious. Next day we had to have a proper Israeli breakfast and found a lovely place that didn’t disappoint. The breakfast consisted of egg (how you like) various salads and bread with some pastries and the Shakshuka was really garlicy. We then headed off on a long walk to wear off breakfast. We headed to the main market, the spice market, Jaffa then back via the beach. Stopped for a Chicken Shawarma wrap on the way back. Then a few stopped along the beach before back to our hotel to get cleaned up for dinner. We usually like to try different restaurants but after checking out a few we decided to go back to the same restaurant as the first night, there were load of options we wanted to try. Again, it didn’t disappoint. Next day was another Israeli breakfast then transfer to Haifa Port for 3-night cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas. See Israel part 2 for more details of the cruise.

26 September 2022

Madrid long weekend Sept 2022 After a 2 year delay my family holiday with my parents and sister and her husband to Madrid for a long weekend happened. The holiday started with an overnight stop at the Hampton By Hilton at Stansted then Ryanair flight to Madrid. I booked a private transfer from the airport to our centrally located hotel, The Pestana Plaza Mayor for 3 nights. Lovely hotel right on the square with a roof top pool and a basement spa. Rooms were small but worth it for the location. The hotel has a beautiful courtyard restaurant that is also the breakfast room. The breakfast was fantastic with an a la carte menu for eggs or special breakfast included in the price. I booked a couple of excursions, the first one being a wine tasting tour. We met our guide and rest of the group, only 11 of us in total and boarded a mini bus. The journey was about 45 mins then we reached a small village. We had a short walk to the winery and then met the owner. He didn’t speak English but our guide did a great translation. We got to have 2 tasting in the cellar then back up to see the wine making process then a further 3 tastings in the main part of the winery. The owner and his wife were really friendly and gave us lots of nibbles to enjoy with our tasting. After the tasting the guide took us to the bullring where there were bars open and the opportunity to look around the bullring or visit the church. We returned home later than planned but after a great excursion. The 2nd excursion on our 2nd full day was to visit the Royal Palace. We met our guide near the Opera House. She pointed out some interesting facts and statues on the way to the Palace then gave us all headsets in the Palace and talked us through the 35 rooms that we visited. The group was about 16 people which was a good size. During our stay we sampled some local delicacies from roasted pig to tapas. We watched flamenco dancing and a band that played local Spanish music. Some highlights for a trip to Madrid would be to stay local, have a tour either on a hop-on-hop-off bus or with a tuk-tuk to get your directions. Eat the local food and sample the tapas. Try Churros and hot chocolate. Visit the park and take a boat on the lake. It’s a great city and lots to see.

29 July 2022

Here are some things I’ve learned in my new sales career. I’m new to a sales role and one where it’s my business so I really care about making people happy and making my business successful. I’ve learned a lot so far, to become more ‘thick skinned’ and not take things to heart. It’s taken me out of my comfort zone but in a good way. Thick skinned – do we grow more layers? When I speak to potential clients, I hope they hear how passionate I am about travel and how excited I am to help them plan their holidays and adventures. So when I put together exciting itineraries but hear nothing back and have to chase people I’ve started to learn that it’s not me but them that has the problem. Maybe they’ve changed their mind since I spoke to them? Or maybe the cost was more than they expected? Or they’ve booked it elsewhere? But I just wish they’d tell me. Or at least make an excuse rather than complete silence. I put a lot of time and effort into my holiday quotes. I want to try and make it just right and to meet budget requirement so in return if it’s not right please just tell me. You can call me, email me or text me, anyway, just put me out of my not-knowing misery. Comfort zone – step outside I’ve been to networking events in my previous career as a marketing professional and didn’t have too many nerves about going alone. It was a much easier ‘sell’ to tell people about the organisation that I worked for and how we could work together. But as a Travel Counsellor, running my own business it’s so much more personal. You want people to like you and be interested in what you do and as Travel Counsellors say ‘with us it’s personal’. It really is! I think it’s the not knowing what questions you might be asked and how you might be tested about your geography, covid travel requirements or hotel knowledge. But as I’ve found out, everyone in the local networking groups I’ve attended are in the same position as me. Trying to make a living and trying to sell the reason that people should use their services. So please if you’d like a quote please get in touch but if I provide a quote and you change your mind or it’s not right then please just tell me. With me it really is personal. Oh and ‘sales’ really isn’t a swear word! Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far. I really appreciate it.

05 July 2022

Just back from an epic roadtrip around England on a mission to reach the Lake District in our 1998 VW campervan called Kermie. And we succeeded! Yay! Part 1 - Lincolnshire We set off on Thursday 23 June from Essex with our first campsite for the night in Brant Broughton in Lincolnshire. We had a few quick stops to stretch our legs including services, visit to Brewster’s Brewery to collect supplies and a quick #weestop in Newark. Then we headed to small campsite in walking distance to a pub and not too far off the motorway as our first stopover. Nice campsite and lovely pub with amazing food. Found a mobile butcher in Brant Broughton so couldn’t resist some Lincolnshire bangers for breakie. Part 2 – Yorkshire Dales Then off we set for our 2nd campsite in Pateley Bridge in the Yorkshire Dales. A quick stop to stretch our legs in Wetherby then on to our Riverside campsite for 2 nights. As we drove in we spotted that the Yorkshire Festival was setting up in the field opposite with local stall including a brewery and distillery. Interesting! We went for a walk around the town then headed back to our campervan before the heavens opened which tested our pop top patch up repairs … some leaks but better than expected. On our first night we popped to the local curry house. We managed to #weestop at both pubs in the town, visit both butchers and also the fish mongers. We had a walk to Glasshouses (which does not have any glass houses, they lied!) and then we had to visit the Yorkshire Festival to sample the local beer and gin. Not too bad! On our 2nd night we attempted to ‘outdoor casserole’ (the alternative name for BBQ to not tempt fate). We did manage but it was a bit drizzly. Part 3 – Cumbria, The Lake District And off we set for our 3rd and furthest campsite via the Yorkshire dales and Lake District. Who would have thought it would be hilly? Poor Kermie coped so well and even had to climb some very steep and seemingly endless hills (felt more like mountains) in first gear. It included a hill start with traffic lights due to half the road falling away in a landslip. Stumbled across a lovely town called Kirby Longsdale which was just perfect timing to stretch our legs and a #weestop. Ooooooo and completely by chance there was a brewery! We did also see the sites of Kirby Longsdale with a visit to Devil’s Bridge and to climb the radical steps. So off we continued to Lake Windermere and our campsite for the next 2 nights Park Cliffe. Bit of a wet arrival so popped to the pub on the campsite to form our plan and have a #weestop. Order a taxi and headed to Bowness and Windermere for a bit of a mooch and to #weestop when needed to shelter from the rain. Found a crafty bar aptly named Crafty Baa! Then had a delicious Thai meal before another taxi back to our campsite. Next day the weather improved so decided to tackle the climb to Gummer How. Fantastic views of the lakes and all the way to Morecombe. To reward ourselves we descended to a rural pub for lunch with amazing views at the Mason Arms and of course #weestop. Then we had the climb back up to our campsite. Dinner cooked in the van and resting our sore feet. Part 4 – Lancashire We had leftover frittata for breakfast then off we set back in the direction of home. We headed to Bury in Lancashire to visit family friends with a stop at the newest RHS garden Bridgewater and walk along the canal. Then to Bury to catch up with friends including an honorary #weestop at the local Bay Horse pub followed by fish and chips. In the morning we had bacon butties then had a guided tour of Bury including the market for crumbly Lancashire cheese, pies and black pudding. Also to see the home of Bury Athletic who are sadly currently ‘out of action’. Then farewells and off on our travels again. Part 5 – Derbyshire, The Peak District Next stop was a bit of a treat to stay in a gastro pub in Derbyshire in the Peak District with a dinner, bed and breakfast offer. Stopped on the way at Buxton, obviously not for the water but a #weestop! Then on to the Devonshire Arms in Beeley on the Chatsworth Estate. Not too shabby! Lovely room including our own front door to a huge and beautiful suite with a separate lounge. Popped to the pub for #weestop then a wander around the village before scrubbing up for a romantic dinner. Lovely food and amazing company! In the morning a full English breakfast served in the Bistro overlooking the stream. Yum! Part 6 – Cambridgeshire And onward for the final part our a roadtrip to Cambridgeshire. Popped to the Chatsworth farm shop and butchers for some supper supplies then on to Ferry Meadows near Peterborough. Lovely campsite where we were allowed to pick our pitch. Short walk to Nene Valley Railway and Nene park. Lovely lakes and walks and you can feed the very friendly ducks. First evening we outdoor casseroled our supplies of chicken thighs and pork ribs. It was a lot more successful than our last time as the weather was kinder. Next day we set off in search of a pub on a long walk along the railway and river. And a successful #weestop with beers from the local brewery. Back to the van to scrub up to go out for dinner at Windmill in Orton Waterville. Yummy last night of the roadtrip talking about the fantastic time we’d had over the last 10 days and the fact we actually made it to the Lake District and back without the AA’s assistance … well we probably should have made a visit to the other AA! Fabulous trip and totally recommend holidaying in the UK so many beautiful places to visit on our doorstep and so easy!

22 April 2022

It’s been nearly 3 months that I have been loving my job as a travel counsellor and I thought I’d share some myths that I have come across from clients either asking me about or using someone else as they assumed I wouldn’t be interested. So here are my top 10 Travel Counsellor myths: 1. We have a minimum spend – I am happy to look at any enquiry regardless of my client’s budget. I get a real sense of achievement when a client unnecessarily apologies that they have a small budget and I manage to find the perfect holiday for them. 2. We only book long haul travel – I have passed my training for Australia, Canada and South Africa but a large part of my business is European package holidays. 3. We don’t book UK holidays – I get special deals for UK holidays for short breaks and longer stays including dinner, bed and breakfast packages. 4. We only book hotels not lodges or villas – I have access to lots of supplier for villas and lodges both in UK and worldwide. These are great alternatives to hotels especially when larger groups or for more privacy. 5. We don’t just book 1 night in a hotel – I can look at over night hotel stays and usually get better rates than online booking websites. Only this week I manged to get a good deal for a 1 night stay in London for a client. 6. We don’t do theatre packages – I have several suppliers who offer theatre packages for London and other cities that include hotel and sometimes other excursions too. Great prices and great seats too! 7. We don’t do sport packages – I have lots of supplier for various sporting event such as Grand Prix, Tennis, Rugby, Football etc. I might not be a sport buff but if a client asks me for a package it’s a great opportunity for me to learn about it. Earlier this month I had to research the Grand Prix to understand my client's requirements. 8. We don’t do ferries and train – I have included ferries and trains in some of my travel itineraries for clients. Sometimes train and ferry timetables are not available at the time of booking but it’s easy to add on later. 9. Our best deals are with flight only – I find that when asked for flight only my prices are not much better than buying direct online but we do get special rates with airlines when we can package a flight with hotel and car hire or other components. 10. We only work with a few suppliers so are limited what we can offer – I have access to literally thousands of suppliers for hotels, excursions, flights, transfers, cruise, train, ferry, airport parking, fast track, airport hotels, airport lounges and travel insurance and other travel items so can reach into my network to build the perfect holiday. Being independent means, I can get the best offers and pass them direct to my clients. Besides flying to the moon we can pretty much source any travel requirements … and who knows we might add the moon to our destinations one day! If you are not sure if it’s something I can help with just ask, it’s very likely that I will be able to help. And if not I’ll point you in the right direction. With us it’s personal!

07 April 2022

In November 2015 I finally managed to convince my husband we should travel around South Africa. He was reluctant but agreed. We arrived in Cape Town and checked into our guest house. They were so friendly and welcoming. We then set off up Table Mountain …as they say if you can see Table Mountain then you should climb it. We took the gondola up which rotated so everyone had a good view. It was amazing views from the top. Lots of Dassie’s running about which are apparently part of the elephant family. In Cape Town we also took a tour of the beautiful Botanical Gardens. Next our car hire (Avis of course) arrived and off we set on our driving adventure. Luckily, they drive on the same side of the road as us Brits so it was nice and easy. Our first stop was at Betty’s Bay to check out the penguins. So many of them and so cute! I have recommended the penguins at Betty’s Bay to a client of mine but when they visited there weren’t many so be careful when you visit. We then set off for Hermanus where we were staying for a couple of nights. Beautiful guest house with ocean views and a cute sausage dog. Had a lovely weestop watching the ocean then we actually left our drinks to check out the whales, absolutely amazing! And luckily our drinks were safe! Phew! This morning in Hermanus my husband was quite snappy with me. I’d booked the shark cage diving and he was a bit nervous. We drove to the port and were welcomed by a one-legged man in a road called ‘Shark Alley’. Not a good start!! We then got kitted-up and boarded our boat. This was when I remembered I get very seasick. It was quite choppy! My husband was loving it though watching the sharks swimming around the boat. We were in the water 2nd and with masks on pulled ourselves under to see the many sharks. It was amazing. Might have helped that my breakfast decided to revisit and feed the sharks! Back on dry land and seasickness subsided we headed back to Hermanus to tell the bar man about the massive sharks we had seen … his comment was ‘Oh babies then!’ Off we set to Franschhoek, the wine region! Yummy! Again we stayed in a guest house just of the main road and had some amazing meals and a few weestops of course! We did the wine tram tour. It was fantastic! You select a tram route and then the tram leaves you for 1 hour at each winery. Some wineries include tasting or you can buy tastings (all pretty cheap) or you can have lunch. Great fun! You can’t go to South Africa without visiting the wine region! From here we went to Sabona Wildlife reserve. It was a long drive and then even further inside the reserve to get to civilisation. We then boarded a jeep, and our guide Donny took us to our camp for the night. Again, a bit of a grumpy husband today as I’d booked the ‘Walking Safari Tour’. Some of his comments were ‘Who books a walking tour in the safari? And I thought it would be a posh tent with an ensuite bathroom? Errrrrrrrr no it will be fun I tried to convince him! Well we arrived at camp and were shown our basic tent with camp beds and a portapotty for night time! The Loo was across the camp in the open air but shielded from the view of other campers. And the shower was a hose from a tree again sheltered from other camper’s views. We set off that afternoon in the jeep then on foot to see some action. Donny our guide had a gun to protect us … much to my husband’s annoyance as to where his gun was! The walking safari was amazing we got to see Cheetahs, Giraffes, Buffalo, Zebras etc. The camp was great, only us and another Swedish couple. Dinner was cooked on an open fire and tasty. And there was a makeshift bar so plenty of weestops! Really recommend this to get back to nature and see some action. The Swedish couple were keen to see Zebra’s so on our final day at breakfast Donny announced he keen where a zebra was … but unfortunately the white lion had found it first. We headed out in the jeep to watch the lions eating their prey, pretty gory for a squeamish person like me but amazing to see the lions up close. So onward from the Safari with a stop over in Oudtshoorn. We visited the caves and the ostrich farm. We did some fun ostrich activities such as riding one, standing on a egg and my lucky husband got to have a massage from a couple of them. He loved it!! And then for some rest and relaxation and we arrived in Plettenburg Bay or Plett as the locals call it. We stayed in a lovely apartment near the sea. Had some lovely walks along the beach but after knowing their were sharks in the water decided against swimming in the water! Had some amazing meals and just took some time to reflect on the amazing adventures we’d had over the last few days. Fabulous trip, lots to see and do and great food.

16 March 2022

A client asked me where he could take his 16 year old son on holiday in June after his GCSEs. My client is pretty active and didn’t want to just stay on a beach and wanted lots of distractions to stop his son being glued to his phone. So here are my 6 suggestions including budget friendly and also including a bit more extravagant. 1. Greece - it’s not only the food that makes Greece one of the best places to vacation with teenagers. With so many islands to explore, you can easily get swept away hopping from one island to the other, swimming in the sea and relaxing in the sun. Good opportunity to try out sailing too! 2. Dubai - enjoy the adrenaline rush of a desert 4×4 safari, or why not take a camel ride across the dunes. The sand-dunes are so beautiful, you'll all be awestruck! Had enough of the sand? Head to the beautiful beach where you can kill some energy. 3. California - great place for people of all ages but there are lots of different attractions that teenagers will love. You can visit the Yosemite National Park which offers hiking trails and places to launch a kayak. You can visit Lake Tahoe which is popular for its stunning beaches. Take a trip around the Universal Studios to experience the thrill of making Hollywood movies. You can camp, hike or mountain bike in the Death Valley National Park. A few other locations to visit are Palm Springs, San Diego, Griffith Park, and Knott's Berry Farm. 4. Morocco - the walled city of Marrakech and rent a traditional Riad to stay in. This traditional home has an interior courtyard or garden in the centre of it that is great for relaxing at the end of a long day. Spend your day exploring the exciting markets in Marrakesh where you can wander through a labyrinth of streets and see wares for sale, like pottery, jewellery, and brightly coloured materials and rugs. You will also get to see exciting sights like snake charmers, entertainers, and fortune tellers. For the ultimate why not take a multi-day trip out to the desert and you can try camel riding or trekking in the Atlas Mountains. And if you are after an extraordinary adventure such as climbing Mount Toubkal with your teens you can do it in this amazing country too. 5. Sri Lanka - offer a variety of experiences for teenagers with many outdoor activities. Sri Lanka also has a lot of historic sites to visit. Explore the Temple of the Tooth, which houses the tooth of Buddha. A visit to Sigiriya, a rock fortress that is accessible by steep stairs will tire you out. You can also visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage to feed and clean up after the elephants or hop on one of the many safaris to see what wildlife you can spot. Be sure to visit Arugam Bay where you can relax on the pristine beach or give surfing a try. 6. Cancun, Mexico - offers an unforgettable experience for the whole family. The combination of surreal natural beauty, fascinating history and a lively atmosphere makes Cancun a top choice for your next teenage holidays with parents! Between exploring the sea life in the remarkably blue waters, swimming with the dolphins at Isla Mujeres and tasting the spicy, flavoursome cuisine of Mexico, your teens will have very little time for much else! The only time you’ll see your children on the phone is when they are snapping away at the unbelievable scenery. In addition to countless outdoor activities, Mexico is also rich in culture and heritage. When not snorkelling in the clear waters, you can enjoy the archaeological wonderworld.

14 February 2022

I have had some amazing adventures and experiences, studying in Pennsylvania and working in The Philippines but of my adventures my greatest ones have to be … 1. South America 2018 This was amazing, I loved planning it almost as much as experiencing it! We covered Chile, Patagonia and Argentina (and Brazil – sort of). People were great, food was great, scenery was out of this world. There will be a blog on this adventure coming soon! 2. South Africa 2015 This was pretty epic and so great to feel safe enough to drive from Cape Town to Plett Bay. Great experiences from Table Mountain, wine tasting, shark cage diving, safari (walking one at that!!) and relaxing on the beach. 3. Vietnam honeymoon 2010 Should this be number 1? It was amazing and we were so well looked after and treated like royalty but I think South America and South Africa slightly topped it! We travelled from Hanoi to Nha Trang. 4. Sicily 2019 Most recent in my mind and a lovely holiday and felt there is still so much more to explore. Visited Catania, Gardini Naxos, Cefalu and Palermo. Lots to do from City culture, hiking, swimming/beach, boat trip, wine tasting, Etna and fabulous street food. 5. Kerala and Goa 2008 11 years ago but still vividly remember the holiday. Kerala is such a beautiful place. We had a night on a rice boat with a massive storm, it was so romantic but terrifying. So want to go back to India to explore more! That’s my top 5 I could have had top 1000 and still that wouldn’t have been enough. So many amazing place in the world and I have only scratched the surface. So many places I can’t wait to visit but so little time (and money) to do it all.

08 February 2022

So, we had planned to ski for 4 nights in Les Gets in France but since we weren’t allowed into France we settled on a small UK road-trip. Suffolk fun with friends and family For the first 2 nights I hired a youth hostel in Suffolk to celebrate with friends and family. It was great fun! And I even manged to organise a p**s up in a brewery! Northampton rest and relaxation We headed off from Suffolk to Northampton. We stayed in a lovely hotel with a spa and indulged in well-earned rest and relaxation. We had a lovely dinner and slept well in a four-poster bed. Cotswolds charm From here we set off for the Cotswolds and stayed in a small town called Burford. We stayed in a cottage and enjoyed a pub crawl, walks and great food. Burford was a fantastic location as the gateway to the Cotswold. Close to great walks with pubs and a short drive to beautiful towns to explore. Splendid Surrey The final night of our road-trip was back towards home staying and eating at Jose Pizarro’s pub in Esher. On the way here we popped to Guildford to admire the architecture. Food at Jose’s was amazing – a simple tapas menu but very tasty treats! After a lovely breakfast we headed home visiting RHS Wisley on the way for gardening inspiration. Who needs to go skiing with the fabulous British countryside and beautiful walks?