03 July 2019

It’s been 5 years since our last trip to Florida and we thought it was time to go again! Florida is one of those places that you never get fed up with as there is so much to see and do and of course the food is fabulous! We travelled up to Gatwick the night before our flight and stayed at the Sofitel, this is our preferred hotel as you can walk through to the terminal in the morning without the need for transfers. We flew Upper Class with Virgin and the flight was brilliant! We cleared immigration, collected our luggage and headed to car rentals and we were soon heading towards International Drive in our Toyota Rav4. The roads are really easy to navigate in Florida as long as you remember to drive on the right-hand side of the road and that you can turn right at a junction when the lights are red. We checked into the ES Sonesta Suites; on I Drive. They have been refurbished since our last visit and are decorated in a more light and modern way. The Sonesta, as with most hotels on ‘I’ Drive, has a small pool to cool off in after the parks and also a laundry room which does come in handy as you can’t wear anything twice due to the heat! Our first day dawned and we headed for Universal Studios, a must for any Harry Potter fans! We purchased all our park tickets in advance, so we didn’t have to queue to redeem paper vouchers but went straight through security and into the park. We also purchased the express passes for two days as the heat and the queues can be horrendous. The fast passes made all the difference we barely had any wait times for any of the rides and we rode everything. We took several breaks in the shade for cold drinks and had a long lunch, it was HOT! We took the Hogwarts Express to Islands of Adventure by 3pm and headed back to the hotel pool to cool off. We spent our second day at Islands of Adventure, again we used our fast passes and rode everything without waiting too long, in fact we rode the Hulk three times! Day 3, Animal Kingdom day! There were a few clouds in the sky, and it was oppressively hot, but we were not to be put off! We really struggled with Fast Passes for Disney, staying off site means that you are only allowed to book them from 30 days and there was hardly anything available. I would definitely recommend a couple of days at an on-site hotel at the beginning of your trip so that you can book from 60 days, even if you then prefer to be off site for the rest of the trip. We watched Bugs Life, which is funny, I won’t spoil it for you, you have to go! Unfortunately, the weather was not our friend and when we exited the theatre the sky was black. The park was really busy and it was difficult to navigate the crowds so we decided to buy a poncho if we passed a poncho stand and head for Flight of Passage. We didn’t pass any ponchos and joined the queue for the ride without a fast pass that was showing a 235 minute wait. About 40 minutes in, we were still way outside the ride area at this time, the heavens opened, and we saw rain like you only see in Florida! We were both drenched within seconds and decided to just stick with it and hope it stopped quickly! It didn’t! By the time we reached the inside area for the line we were soaked through to the skin! We waited 4 and a half hours for Flight of Passage, apparently only half the ride was working. The ride itself was amazing, I have never experienced a ride as cool as this one, but I wouldn’t wait 4 and a half hours for it again! Try your best to get a fast pass or be prepared with drinks and snacks and raincoats, umbrellas etc. Day 4 was Magical Kingdom Day! The Magic Kingdom really is magical! I can’t describe how it feels when you see the castle for the first time, I didn’t cry this time. We took the boat across the lake to the Magic Kingdom and bought a poncho on the way in! We arrived just in time for the parade which was brilliant and really puts you in the ‘Disney’ mood. Following the parade, we walked up Main Street heading for the castle and Mickey & Minnie were there with Olaf and Anna and Elsa! I love Frozen and we sang along to ‘Let it Go’, OK so I did get wet eyes here. Then I bought my ‘ears’ (stars and stripes ones) they are so cool! Not sure when I will wear them at home, but worth the $30! Today really was a wash out, it rained and it rained. We managed a few rides and decided after wading through water a foot deep that we would give up and headed for the mall! Our last day in Orlando was bright and sunny and we set off for Epcot. It was much quieter than the other parks and we enjoyed wandering around and even bumped into Mary Poppins! The next 8 nights of our holiday was in Clearwater and we visited Busch Gardens on our way down to the coast. Busch Gardens has the scariest, fastest coasters! The park was fairly quiet, and we had pre-booked the Serengeti Safari trip with a feeding the giraffes experience included! We drove out in an open topped truck around the safari and stopped near the giraffes. Our guide provided us with lettuce and showed us how to feed them by hand. They were so gentle and even taller close up! Clearwater, what can I say?! It has the most amazing stretch of beach with golden sand and clear blue water.We stayed at The Sandpearl Resort, it’s located right on the beach and there are lots of restaurants and shops within easy walking distance. Our room was Ocean facing with a huge balcony overlooking the pool and beyond to the beach and its amazing sunsets. The weather was beautiful every day, perfect for the beach and relaxing after the busy start to our holiday. We spent most days on our lounger dolphin spotting, you can see them from the shore, only leaving to enjoy lunch at Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill where you must try a ‘Super Grouper’ Sandwich or for a swim in the ocean to cool off. We had previously done a Segway tour of Clearwater and we booked this again locally. The Segway is easy to master, and you can see so much whilst whizzing along! You must go out on a dolphin cruise; we took one at sunset and saw several pods of dolphins and watched the sun go down. It was time to leave Clearwater and we drove back to Orlando via the Outlet Mall to pick up some bargains before our flight home. I love Florida as a destination, and I would love to help you plan your own trip. Please do get in touch if you need any help or advice. I’m able to book park tickets, car hire and everything else!

02 May 2019

I was very lucky to be invited by the Moroccan Tourist Board to visit Fez for three nights last week. Having never been to Morocco I was keen to see what Fes has to offer! We flew direct from London Gatwick to Fez Saiss airport with Air Arabia. The flight is just over 3 hours and flies twice a week on Wednesday and Saturday making it a perfect short break destination. The plane was comfortable and the service good, we left on time and arrived into Fez at 11.50pm. We had to complete a landing card before passing through passport control and this was available at the entrance to the arrival’s hall, but all was straightforward and didn’t take too long. The transfer to our hotel, The Palais Medina & Spa was short, and we were checked into our rooms in no time at all. The Palais Medina is a 5-star hotel set in a prime location in the centre of Fes. The Royal Palace and Jewish Cemetery are not far from the hotel and it has a fabulous pool when you’ve walked your feet off all day in the Medina! We began our first day by visiting the Medina.This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest non-vehicular area in the world, and a unique living and universal museum. We had a fantastic guide who took us through a main gateway and warned us to keep sight of each other as it’s too easy to get lost in the medieval labyrinth of narrow streets. The Medina buzzes with colour and life, with stalls catering for every need, from olives and spices to ornate copper work with donkeys and mules carrying their loads as there is no other transport! Make sure you visit the artisans’ shops: coppersmiths, potters, weavers, tanners, turners, goldsmiths etc. It is a fascinating experience watching them working with skills handed down through the ages. We visited the famous Tanneries, where every day the tanners work hard to produce fine quality leather using methods that are hundreds of years old. We took a break for lunch at Riad Myra. Built at the beginning of the last century the Riad was converted and renovated in 2006. It’s located within the Medina and has 12 rooms and suites. We dined on delicious local food in the central courtyard, which is decorated with ornate archways, intricate stucco work and colourful zellijs (mosaics). We spent more time in the Medina after lunch before heading back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. Dinner was at Riad Palais Amani, where we were treated to a traditional Moroccan dinner and lots of wonderful Moroccan wine. This opulent eighteen-bedroom riad provides luxury accommodation and delicious dining. It has a roof top bar that gives fantastic views over the city and you can sign up for a cooking class or a traditional Hammam experience. We returned to our hotel for a good night’s rest before we set off for our second day of exploring! The Atlas Mountains are one of Morocco’s best-known features and they are a great destination for walking and trekking, whether you want to spend a day in the foothills or a full week’s holiday exploring. We visited Ifrane, easily accessible from Fez and the most popular destination of the region, it is known for its cooler summer climate and its Alpine-style village. It’s one of just a handful of ski resorts in Africa and many Moroccans holiday here for the snow sport opportunities from December to February.We spent most of the day at the Michlifen Resort which really does feel like you are in Switzerland, however we didn’t ski, we enjoyed a balneotherapy treatment which was so relaxing! We enjoyed lunch out on the patio and enjoyed some more Moroccan wine, before heading back to Fez via Meknes, one of Morocco’s Imperial cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a modern city with a relaxed atmosphere and a lot of historical monuments that are worth seeing such as Bab Mansour, the enormous Agdal Basin, the Dar Jamai museum of Moroccan Arts and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, who was the second ruler of the Moroccan Alaouite dynasty. Our final evening was spent as guests of the Palais Faraj where we had a tour of the beautiful accommodation before enjoying a gourmet Moroccan dinner at L’amandier which offers breathtaking views of the old Medina. Our last morning was free and we relaxed by the pool and enjoyed the sunshine! Lunch was scheduled for 12.00 and was served after 1.00pm…. I don’t think there is anything hurried in Fes! We only made small inroads into the last Tagine of the trip, but it was delicious! We headed back to the airport just after 2.00pm for our 4.00pm flight back to the UK, it was an interesting journey, especially the roundabout just before the airport, but we made it with plenty of time to check in! You do need to complete another form that you show at passport control, but again everything was straightforward, and the airport is nice and modern with a few Duty Free shops once you are through security. I loved the whole Moroccan experience and would love to return to spend more time in the Medina, it’s definitely on my ‘To Do again’ list. It’s a really unique experience and I felt that I had travelled much further than 3 hours to get there. If you fancy doing something different, please get in touch and I can help you plan your trip.

07 February 2019

This was our second visit to Obergurgl and having stayed higher up in the village previously we made sure that we stayed in the Edelweiss & Gurgl this time! With direct access to the slopes and the gondola only steps from the boot room it made life a lot easier! The village of Obergurgl is the highest church village in Austria at 1930m, set in the Otz Valley – close to the frontier with Italy, and an easy drive from Innsbruck. It shares its ski area with Hochgurgl and the two are linked by road and by gondola. Do those altitudes sound high? They should! With a lift system that extends up to 3080m, Obergurgl offers some of the most snow sure skiing in the Alps. That makes it a reliable choice for early-season skiing, or an Easter family holiday. I am not a natural skier, in fact I would go as far as to say I’m NOT a skier at all but I love the mountains and this beautiful little village so I decided that I would give it another go and I’m so glad that I did! For any first timers or families this resort is brilliant with children’s skischule, kids’ clubs and babysitting facilities in most hotels. We flew from Heathrow with British Airways on Saturday morning, staying the previous night at the Sofitel at Terminal 5. It’s an easy 5-minute walk to the terminal from the hotel, made even easier by the luggage drop service for BA in the hotel lobby! Our flight was on time and we landed in a very snowy Innsbruck at 11.35am. Be prepared for a bit of a scrum on arrival, there are usually 5-6 flights arriving at the same time and the airport is tiny and luggage takes a while to unload. Having retrieved our bags, we were greeted in the arrival’s hall by our Ingham’s rep and he took us to our private transfer. We had travelled in the group coach on our last trip, but it took much longer, and we had to wait for another flight before we could depart from the airport, so we opted for the private transfer this time. Within an hour and a half of beautiful snowy views we were checking in to the Edelweiss & Gurgl Hotel in Obergurgl. The hotel is very traditional in appearance with lots of wood panelling and log fires burning. The reception staff were all in traditional dress and we were warmly welcomed and given the key to our room. Our room was fabulous, slope facing, with a balcony on the top floor! We didn’t unpack but headed straight out for lunch at our previous local, The Jenewein. It offers lots of local Austrian dishes as well as burgers and chips! We opted for half board at the Edelweiss & Gurgl, this seems to be the norm in this resort. Having explored the village and visited the local Spar shop for supplies we headed back to unpack and freshen up for dinner. Dinner each evening consisted of 5-6 courses, with salad, soup, cheese, dessert and three choices for main. You also have the option to dine in the a la carte restaurant and the Fondue restaurant. We didn’t bother with the a la carte, but I can highly recommend the fondue, it was amazing and well worth the €30 supplement per person. Sunday dawned and this is usually where the fun stops for me, we have to ski! Last year we both went to Skischule and my husband loved every minute and I didn’t! I spent three days on the nursery slope with a variety of different instructors before I was put in a group with three other nervous ladies whilst he was whizzing down the slopes in a different group! This year I pre-booked four days of lessons with a private instructor and it was worth every penny! I spent the morning with Sam, my instructor, on the nursey slope, but at the top using the button lift, whilst waving at my husband who was further down the slope on the travellator! We broke for lunch and Sam told me that we would be on the main slope after lunch. I had lessons from 10-12am each morning, had lunch with my husband and then resumed lessons from 1.30-3.30pm. This worked perfectly and my confidence has improved so much from the one to one instruction. I did fall over several times but picked myself up and carried on and I only cried once! Tuesday night in Obergurgl is the night ski show and we walked to the other end of the village to catch the gondola. It was bitterly cold, -18 degrees but the show is fantastic and if you’re brave enough the slopes are lit so you can ski back down. Night skiing and tobogganing is available on Tuesday and Thursday nights throughout the season. We took a day off on Thursday and went exploring, your ski pass covers Obergurgl, Hochgurgl and Solden for over 254 km of slopes and 55 lifts and the ski bus. We went to the top of the Hohe Mut after breakfast, you can see 21 imposing peaks above 3000 metres and play on the swings if the snow isn’t too deep! We then visited the Top Mountain Star, located at the top of 3080-metre-high Wurmkogel. This panoramic restaurant serves a mean Bombadier with great views of the Otzal Alps and the Dolomites. We fancied a change on Thursday evening and bundled back into our snow gear and had dinner at Salt & Pepper, a steak house at the bottom of the village. The steaks were great, and I would definitely return. Friday came around too quickly and we got ready for our last skiing without instructors! Feeling very brave I managed to ski down my favourite (only) blue run with my husband four times! Visibility was poor, it snowed most days, but it was so hard to see where we were going that I decided to call it a day and we went for our last bowl of goulash soup in the Jenewein! I booked a massage for that afternoon and enjoyed a lovely pamper session, whilst my husband relaxed in the spa. He tried the sauna, but that’s another story! We left Obergurgl on Saturday morning, it was snowing heavily, and I half hoped that we wouldn’t be able to get to the airport, but snow doesn’t stop anything in Austria! We loved our week in the snow, and we’ve booked next year’s ski lessons directly with Skischule to ensure that I get Sam again, although I need to get on and book the rest of the

10 December 2018

Thailand is one of my favourite destinations and we have visited several times! Flying from Heathrow direct with Thai Airways we arrived at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport early in the morning and were on our way to the Banyan Tree in Bangkok. Although it is a little way out of the city, it’s within walking distance of Pat Pong night market and the Sky Train and of course tuk tuks are so cheap! We were greeted with cold flannels and Butterfly Pea Flower tea (not my favourite!) and shown to the Club Lounge for check in. Our rooms weren’t ready, so we had breakfast and explored the hotel and then freshened up before we hit the streets! We had pre-booked a half day tuk tuk tour of Bangkok for the afternoon, so as not to waste any of our time there! Our tuk tuks raced us around the city and we visited the flower market, tried some street food and a few temples. Our rooms were ready when we returned, and we were on the 49th floor, what a view! After a good night’s sleep, we left the hotel and transferred to the river for our long tail boat cruise. Seeing the city from the river shows a different side of Bangkok, from the high-rise buildings to the wooden shacks on stilts. We dined that evening at Vertigo, the roof top restaurant at the Banyan Tree, the views of the city are amazing, and we arrived early to enjoy a cocktail at the Moon Bar beforehand. Be prepared to spend more money on drinks here than you would spend all week in the bars on the street! Our last day in the city was spent visiting the temples and the Grand Palace, where everything that glistens is gold. You must dress respectfully to visit all the sacred places and I would advise a long-sleeved blouse to pop on top of your strappy top as its very hot. We also visited the Reclining Buddha, the Jade Buddha and the Golden Buddha, all must see’s if you are visiting the city. We left the hustle and bustle of Bangkok the following day on the lunchtime flight arriving into Chiang Mai an hour later and were whisked off to our next hotel, U Chiang Mai. The ‘U’ is in the heart of the city on Ratchadamnoen Road. At weekends the night market runs right along the road, so bear this in mind if you are arriving in the evening as the road is closed to vehicles! We were shown to our rooms, both overlooked the pool area, great for cooling off after a hard days sightseeing! The hotel offers an all-day breakfast, so you can enjoy a late night and not worry about missing breakfast. Also, there is no check out time, just let the front desk know what time you are leaving, and you keep your room until you leave, a real bonus if you have a late flight. Chiang Mai was a first for of us and we wanted to see as much as we could. We had pre-booked an elephant camp and a visit to the hill tribes. Elephants are a way of life for the Thai people and many of the elephants we saw were originally used in the teak logging camps. We then visited a mixed hill tribe village called "Baan Tong Luang" where different ethnic groups were brought together as one community with the idea of maintaining their way of life and culture together. It was a busy day and we stopped for lunch and a quick tour of the Orchid & Butterfly Garden, before heading for the Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park! This turned out to be the highlight of the trip, you have to visit it to appreciate the enthusiasm of the guide for paper made from elephant poo! Our final stop of the day was at the Tiger Kingdom, where they aim to educate via conservation. I was concerned about visiting this place as we visited Tiger Temple 7-8 years ago and the animals were clearly drugged. They were not drugged here, we had the most amazing interaction with a baby white tiger, ‘Whipped Cream’ she was bright eyed, alert and very playful! We spent lots of time exploring Chiang Mai’s Old City on foot and by tuk tuk. It’s really easy to get around by yourself but our final organised tour was one that we booked via our hotel, it was an ATV tour. 8Adventure’s 3-hour ATV Chiang Mai trip is set up for beginners to intermediate drivers. We started out with detailed instructions and a training course to get you comfortable with your vehicle. It covers roughly 40 km in distance and is a mix of on road and off-road jungle terrain. The kids and my husband loved it, I was a bit nervous but was OK once I got going! We travelled through some really rough terrain and parked up alongside an elephant sanctuary for some amazing photos, before heading further up into the mountains to visit a waterfall which my son slid down with our guide! I definitely didn’t do this! 5 nights was enough in Chiang Mai and we left for our final destination, Centara Grand Beach Resort in Krabi. We took the afternoon flight from Chiang Mai so by the time we arrived at the pier for our speed boat transfer it was dark. We checked in and were shown to our rooms, which were next to each other with a shared balcony. I would advise that this resort is not for anyone who struggles with walking, the rooms are set against a cliff face in a bay that is only accessible by boat or the Monkey Trail and it was hard work at the end of the day climbing up that hill! When I opened the blinds in the room the next morning the view was stunning with the limestone rocks that you only see in this part of the world! We spent most of our time relaxing in Krabi, we enjoyed the beach and ventured into Krabi town a few times, this involved a boat trip and a tuk tuk ride! We took two boat trips, one with a long tail boat and one with the hotels speed boat. Both trips were amazing, we went Island hopping visiting unspoiled sandbanks and the coral reefs of Koh Poda, Koh Kai, and Koh Tap where we snorkelled with Nemo! Our two weeks passed too quickly, and it was time to come home. We flew from Krabi via Bangkok directly to London. Until next time……

02 October 2018

It’s been ten years since we last visited Dubai and were really interested in seeing the changes that have come about since then. We travelled from Heathrow to Dubai with Virgin on the late flight that landed into Dubai at 8.25 in the morning so as not to waste the day and arrived at our hotel, designed in the style of a Sheikh’s summer residence, we were welcomed in style to Jumeirah Al Qasr in time for breakfast! I always pack an outfit in my hand luggage for early arrivals or lost luggage and this time I was ready to hit the beach with my bikini, cover up and flip flops. Our room wasn’t ready until 3pm but it didn’t matter as we could freshen up in the club room and left our luggage with reception. The hotel has been refurbished since we stayed last time and it’s so much brighter and luxurious whilst still retaining its traditional Arabian style. Our room was huge and overlooked the Burj al Arab and the private beach. Al Qasr has everything you need for a fabulous holiday and you need never leave the hotel if that’s what you prefer! With over 50 restaurants, its own Souk underneath the hotel, the ‘Abra’ lake where you can catch a boat to other parts of the hotel, the private beach with water sports, pools and golf buggies to take you all over the resort and to the Burj al Arab and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and with complimentary access to Wild Wadi Waterpark there really is something for everyone. We dined at a different restaurant every night and tried Thai, Indian, French as well as fabulous steaks. There are plenty of bars to choose from for cocktails and we felt that we had to visit the Burj al Arab as we went last time. Fortunately, there is no cover charge if you are staying at a Jumeirah Hotel and we enjoyed a few of the best G&Ts which softened the bill a little bit! It was really, hot with temperatures reaching 45 degrees, but we were determined to explore even though it was a struggle to leave our sun loungers! The Metro train line was completed just after our visit in 2008 and we wanted to check it out, so we took a taxi one morning from the Hotel to the Emirates Mall which was the closest station and bought an all-day ticket that would allow us to travel the whole of Dubai. The train was clean and efficient and lovely and cool, but very busy with standing room only for some parts of the journey. There are also ‘ladies only’ carriages which carry a 100 Dirham (about £4) fine if your husband inadvertently travels in! We saw the sign just before we boarded! We left the train at the Dubai Mall which is also home to the Burj Khalifa, an 830m-tall tower, the tallest building in the world which dominates the skyscraper-filled skyline. At its foot lies Dubai Fountain, with jets and lights choreographed to music. We went ‘To the Top’. Wow! This is a view not to be missed, you can see pretty much all the city. We decided that the 124th floor was a good enough view as the price triples if you decide to go to floor 150. We looked at lots of excursions and decided that a helicopter flight would be an amazing experience and I can highly recommend HeliDubai, we took a 22-minute flight from the Dubai Police Academy and experienced an aerial sight-seeing trip over The Palm, The Atlantis Hotel, The Burj al Arab, The World Islands, and Burj Khalifa. You can clearly see Old Dubai where the Heritage Wind Towers, The Old Souk and Dubai Creek show Dubai’s heritage and where the city ends, and desert begins, just amazing! You cannot believe that you are in the desert when you are surrounded by the city but experience a desert safari in a four-wheel drive jeep and watch the sun go down as you drive through the dunes to arrive at a traditional Bedouin style camp where a delicious dinner awaits (and a camel ride if you want one!) Shopaholics will love Dubai, the malls are HUGE and filled with designer labels, bring your credit card though as there aren’t too many bargains to be had and if you get too hot you can always visit Ski Dubai, it’s the strangest thing to see a ski resort in the shopping mall, in a desert! We considered doing the zip line, but if I’m honest, it was too hot to move from my sun lounger. We had to leave something for our next visit.

27 August 2018

Puglia for my husband’s birthday surprise! With direct flights from London Gatwick to Bari it’s only a couple of hours flight, so really easy for a short break. The heel of Italy’s boot has sandy bays, pretty coves, unspoiled villages and Greek and Roman ruins and Puglia seems to offer a taste of a more traditional Italy. Over 70% of Italy’s olive oil is produced in this region and the countryside is stunning. We hired a car at the airport and drove down to Alberobello, our home for 5 nights. The journey took just over an hour and we only got lost once we were in the town! Alberobello is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is made up of over 1500 white-washed Trulli houses, gorgeous little round buildings with conical roofs, built originally in the 14th Century in this style to avoid the high taxes that stable buildings were subject to. Our little house was so cute! We had a double bedroom, a kitchen/lounge area and a bathroom all converted beautifully. The town now houses restaurants, gift shops, holiday homes and some families still occupy the family homes. Alberobello is a great base to explore the rest of the area from, most places are within an hour to an hour and a half away and we put nearly 1000km on our hire car in the 5 days! On our first day, we explored Alberobello itself and lunched and had dinner in the main square. There was a beer festival over the weekend and there was live entertainment and the town was quite busy. The following day we set off early to Polignano a Mare, the sea-side town offers all the right ingredients for a perfect day out. The tiny old town, reached through the Porta Vecchia gate, combines charming, white-washed streets with beautiful old churches and we wandered through the winding streets before finding a spot for lunch. Seafood pasta really is a must here! We decide to visit Lecce the next day, known as the ‘Florence’ of the South due to its Baroque architecture. We explored the narrow streets and visited the central square, Piazza Sant’Oronzo where a Roman amphitheatre was discovered by construction workers in 1901. I tried a traditional lunch of broad bean mash with chicory, not my favourite! The weather was so hot on Saturday that we decided to have a ‘lazy day’ and spent a lovely afternoon at the beach in Monopoli, we went to one of the Lidos and hired a couple of loungers and a parasol, it was madly busy with local people but the sea was so clear and cool. Our final day took us inland to Matera, another UNESCO World Heritage site, its famous for its 8th-century cave-dwellings, ‘Sassi’ that are carved into the cliff face. Until the 1950s, people still lived in these primitive caves with their families and animals all occupying the same cave. We spent a few hours climbing up narrow, cobbled streets and winding alleys. I would advise sensible shoes as it is very slippery. 5 nights was just enough to explore this fascinating region and we loved living in our Trulli house, I was quite sad to leave it behind! Please get in touch if you would like to know more about Puglia or would like to enjoy your own Trulli House.

27 July 2018

300 years ago this year the settlement of ‘La Nouvelle Orleans’ was founded and there is plenty of history to be found in this melting pot of different cultures and heritage and it’s so easy to get there with British Airways offering a direct flight from London Heathrow. With a new airport due for completion in 2019 the experience should be even better. July may not be the best month to visit NOLA as it’s so hot and humid but if you make like the locals with their slow, southern drawl and just take your time you should be able to cross off most of your list of ‘must-dos’ ! With only 4 nights in the city, we crammed in as much as we could and went straight from the airport, with a very quick freshen up at our hotel on Canal Street, to Bourbon Street, the French Quarters liveliest street! Largely quiet during the day it comes alive at night with bars, restaurants and strip clubs and the occasional souvenir shop. The party atmosphere is intoxicating as are the reasonably priced cocktails! What better way to spend our first morning than with a relaxed jazz brunch at the Court of Two Sisters, the all you can eat buffet had everything from eggs and grits to waffles and pancakes and of course jazz! From brunch we headed straight out on our private city coach tour where our knowledgeable, local tour guide showed us the sights, including a visit to a cemetery! New Orleans is a city surrounded by water and built below sea level and this is why they bury their dead above ground in ornate tombs where each generation moves down a level for the next occupant! The afternoon was spent at the New Orleans School of Cookery where we learned how to make Gumbo and enjoyed eating it for lunch! Day two took us out of New Orleans and into the Bayou where we enjoyed a swamp boat tour, learning about the trapper’s way of life and seeing alligators, turtles and my favourite, raccoons! From swamping to the Plantations, we saw how life was from both the slave and the plantation owner’s point of view, visiting Oak Alley Plantation and then Houmas House with its beautiful gardens. We had a tour of the house and a fantastic dinner in the dining room that evening! Thursday took us into the French Quarter where we inspected some amazing hotels that I can highly recommend and the evening was spent on Steamboat Natchez, the last authentic Steamboat on the Mighty Mississippi River. Our two hour cruise included dinner and of course, jazz! Our final evening was spent in Frenchman Street as an alternative to Bourbon Street .I loved Frenchman Street it seemed more relaxed, the streets were cleaner, the drinks were better, and the musicians and dancers were everywhere! Every good thing must come to an end and we spent our final morning enjoying a carriage ride, pulled along by our mule, Moonshine, through the French Quarter as they would have in days gone by. We managed to fit in one last drink at the Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone and lunch at the House of Blues, a quick trolley ride and some outlet shopping before it was time to leave. I fell in love with NOLA, the people are all so friendly and want to share their city with you and I can’t wait to return!

12 June 2018

Last week I was invited on board Oceania Cruises ship, Nautica for a tour of this fabulous ship! She was in Southampton for the day between cruising the British Isles giving us an opportunity to have a look behind the scenes. Once on board our group was treated to a glass of fizz whilst we were given a presentation by one of the team. I learned so much about the Oceania fleet and all the itineraries and I can’t wait to share some of this knowledge with you! Oceania has 6 ships in its fleet, Marina and Riviera are the larger ships and have a guest capacity of 1250 and 4 Regatta Class ships, Regatta, Insignia, Nautica and Sirena with a guest capacity of 684, making them much smaller and more intimate. At just over 30,000 tonnes they are classed as ‘yachts’. Following the presentation, we were shown around some of the cabins. Veranda staterooms are elegant and spacious with a private balcony. If you want to make your time on board a little more special the Penthouse Suite measuring 322 square feet had plenty of room for in-suite dining. The bathroom was finished with granite and boasted a full-size bathtub! For a special treat the Owners suite or Vista suite are absolutely amazing. Ranging in size from 786-1000 square feet these suites were bright and airy with lovely décor and every amenity you can think of. he private balconies were huge with lovely loungers and dining area. Following our cabin tour, we were treated to lunch in the Grand Dining Room. Oceania’s strapline is ‘The Finest Cuisine at Sea’ and wow, they really mean it! We started with Maine lobster and caviar, followed by Provolone stuffed ravioli, Beef Tenderloin, Papuan Chocolate Volcano and Petits Fours and macaroons, all of which was accompanied by fantastic wine. There are several restaurants on board, three speciality restaurants - the Polo Grill, Toscana and Jacques Bistro are included in the cost of your cruise but do need to be booked as they are very popular. You also have the more casual option of Waves, offering a gourmet buffet, the Terrace Café where you can dine indoors or al fresco and Horizons for afternoon tea. With itineraries ranging from 7-day cruises to 180-day round the world journeys Oceania’s smaller ships are able to access smaller ports of call and they offer overnight stays in many destinations. Nautica was intimate and luxurious with a relaxed atmosphere with an exceptional personalised service and exceptional value with so many inclusions. Now when can I book that 180-day world journey?

15 November 2017

We have just returned from the most amazing river cruise along the Danube with Tauck Tours! Our journey began with a flight from London Gatwick directly into Budapest and we were met at the Airport by a Tauck representative holding a sign with our name on it. We were welcomed at the hotel at a dedicated desk, check in was seamless and we were soon in our room unpacking ready for the evening adventure! Our welcome dinner was held at the Akademia Club in the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, a location not usually open to the public and we were treated to a fantastic evening of music and dance. Budapest is split into the sections of Buda and Pest by the Danube River. Our morning was spent exploring the Pest side of the city on a tour including a special visit to the opulent State Opera Hour. We headed off for lunch and later joined the group again for a walk to the Great Market Hall, our Tour directors treated everyone to Strudel from one of the stalls before we were left for a free evening. Day three began with a tour of the Castle Hill District in Buda, we joined the walking tour of Fisherman's Bastion and Gothic Matthius Church before a traditional lunch with the whole group and then some free time until 3pm when we were on the coach heading for our lovely ship, the MS Savor. We were welcomed on board and shown to our cabin, 107. We had a loft cabin which was fabulous, we were lowest in the ship with a mezzanine floor that was level with the water. We spent a couple of afternoons watching the world go by here, enjoying a drink or two!! We dined that evening in the Compass Rose Dining room, we ate late most evenings and enjoyed cocktails in the bar before and after dinner! The food was amazing and I can happily say that we put on a few pounds as we were fed and watered at regular intervals!! Day four saw our arrival at Bratislava ,we climbed the hill to Bratislava Castle and then found lunch in a dark little cellar! We sailed through the night to Vienna and spoke with Steve, our Cruise Director and he gave us a map and instructions before we set off to catch the train into the city by ourselves. Vienna is a beautiful city and we enjoyed coffee and cake in the Mozart café and lunch in the Naschmarkt, wurst with mustard, yummy!! That evening we enjoyed a gala dinner at the Palais Pallavicini, we were entertained with a performance of Viennese music and dancing alongside a delicious dinner with wine pairing WOW! Day 6 was also spent in Vienna, we chose to visit the Riding School and when we arrived the queue to get in snaked around the building, but we were taken straight to the front of the line and then shown to our front row seats at the ringside. The Lippizanner horses are amazing, as are their riders and we were able to stay and watch for the whole morning training session. One day I will go back to see a real performance as I enjoyed it so much. It was Halloween and when we arrived back to the ship it had been decorated with pumpkins and spiders! There was pumpkin carving in the Panorama lounge in the afternoon and Petr our Czech Tour Guide was dressed as a banana, not scary but hilarious!! We sailed at 7 pm and arrived in Durnstein in the Wachau Valley after midnight. Durnstein is a very small, traditional town and we explored by ourselves, picking up a few souvenirs of apricot schnapps before we headed for wine tasting in a local wine cellar. We set sail that afternoon and the weather was kind so were able to go up on deck for a while as we sailed through some of the most scenic parts of the Danube. The Wachau Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its preservation of its landscapes and medieval architecture. Day 8 saw our arrival in Linz where there was a choice of Salzberg or Cesky Krumlov full day excursions, or of course you could do what we did and stay in Linz! We took the tram to Postlingberg, one of Europe’s steepest tram routes reaching the Pilgrimage church at the top of the mountain at a height of 700 feet. As well as lunch we found time to sample some Linzer Torte, apparently it’s the oldest known cake in the world as it was already mentioned by name as early as 1653. Our last day on board our ship was spent in Engelhartszell where we visited local townspeople. We visited a lovely lady who baked traditional bread with us, showed us her home and answered questions before we sat down to enjoy our fresh bread with her homemade jams and jellies and schnapps and liquors! We set sail just after lunch time and there was an option to cycle to Passau with Milosh one of our Tour Directors. We did consider it, but it was a twenty mile journey and there was beer tasting on board. We stopped briefly in Passau to pick up our intrepid cyclists and then we were off again to Vilshofen. Saturday morning dawned and we were quite sad to leave our lovely ship and head to Prague. We checked in to the Four Seasons in Prague and headed straight out for a short orientation walk with Petr. The hotel is in a great location for all the sights and once Petr had shown us briefly to the main Square he treated us to a sausage and a beer before leaving us to explore! Prague is really easy to find your way round and on Sunday we crossed the Charles Bridge and climbed the Bell Tower at St Nicholas Church for spectacular views over the city. We then headed through the Mala Strana area through all the palaces and were lucky enough to see a changing of the guard ceremony before climbing up to the Petrin Observation Tower. Our final night came round too soon and we glammed up for our final group dinner at the 16th Century Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle. Again this palace is not open to the general public and we were allowed to view the Lobkowicz private art collection and other treasures. We joined some of our fellow travellers for a final breakfast before being transferred to the airport in Prague and the journey home. I must say that I surprised at how sad we were to leave our group! Ordinarily we don’t enjoy too much structure on holiday, but found that we could dip in and out as we wished. We found the tours interesting and informative, the Tauck Tour Directors are knowledgeable and patient and throw in little treats and surprises along the way! If you are thinking of trying something a little bit different for this year’s holiday, why not give me a call, there are so many different regions and themes to explore!

17 May 2017

With change coming in the very near future, I finally persuaded my husband that the time to visit Cuba was NOW! Cuba has been on my bucket list for years and with the travel rules being relaxed by the United States I wanted us to visit before the crowds arrive and the culture of the country changes to please its visitors. We travelled with Virgin directly to Havana from London Gatwick, where we spent our first 3 nights in the Iberostar Parque Centrale. All travellers to Cuba must have a visitor’s Visa, and travel insurance is mandatory. I would also recommend that you bring cash to Cuba as it’s much easier to change your money into CUCs rather than going to the bank. We found that the hotel offered the same rate as the airport and the banks. Take sterling or Euros as there is a 10% surcharge for using US Dollars! Arriving in Havana is like stepping back in time, since 1960 when Fidel Castro put an embargo in place to stop all American imports nothing has really changed and old classic cars are everywhere! We spent our first day exploring and left our hotel after breakfast and walked along the Malecon, the seaside promenade, before visiting the flea market and then the back streets of Old Havana. The old cobblestone streets are lined with Baroque and neo classical buildings that have impressive fronts but very little is left behind the façade. We walked around all day and covered most of the sites, but struggled to find somewhere to eat and drink! Shops are not shops as we know them and the pavement cafes are great for a mojito but lunch is a struggle! We had pre booked a walking tour for the following day, which covered the area that we had already walked - ooops! Still I would really recommend that you do this as we were given a great insight into how the Cuban people really live by our guide. She met us at our hotel at 9am and we set off for The Museum of the Revolution. Unfortunately the museum was closed until 4pm so we headed down the cobbled streets of Old Havana, it’s full of interesting architecture and easily walkable, with most of the main attractions concentrated around four plazas. At 10.00am we visited a coffee and rum café where we were invited to try Cuban coffee, it was the best coffee that I had all holiday! We were then given a glass of rum and shown how to prepare your cigar before lighting it and then how to savour your cigar whilst enjoying the rum. We skipped the cigar, but gave the rum a go! Next stop was a traditional Havana bar where we made mojitos under the instruction of the bar man, great fun! We had lunch in a typical Cuban restaurant, the meal was three courses and perfectly fine, but lacked any flavour. After lunch we set off in our classic American car for a 2 hour tour, about an hour into the tour it began to rain, the convertible roof was more like a tarpaulin and didn’t keep us from getting wet, but we kept on going! We headed for Revolution Square and I really wanted the classic Che Guavera photo, which I did get, but we were absolutely drenched and the rain kept coming! Our little car was not up to the floods and our driver lost first and second gear, so we called it a day and he managed to get us back to the hotel! Day 4 was bright and sunny for our journey in a proper taxi (boo) down to the beach resort of Varadero. We stayed at the Royalton Hicacos and check in was pleasant with a glass of fizz and a cold flannel. We were introduced to our butler who showed us round the resort before leaving us to entertain ourselves until 4pm when the room would be ready. There is no exception to this rule, the room will only be ready at 4pm! What can I say about Varadero? It has the most amazing beach, one of the best beaches that we have ever visited, stunning clear azure blue waters and white sand for miles along the coast line. We walked miles most days, collecting shells as we went! The hotel offered lots of activities on the beach, volleyball, aqua fit and salsa lessons but nobody really pushed if you didn’t want to get involved. Our room was a little bit down at heel, as is everything in Cuba, but it was clean and comfortable. The hotel offered 4 different restaurants that had to be booked by your butler, we tried Caribe and were unimpressed and we visited the Tex Mex beach restaurant 3 times for the same dish of fajitas as it had some spice! We also ate in Varadero town on 3 nights, taking a taxi at a cost of 50 CUCs for the return journey. We also visited the craft market in Varadero and bought several souvenirs, including 2 drinks tables! We were so deprived of shopping that we went mad, they were collapsible tables though! There are some lovely carved wooden cars and crochet lace items. Overall we enjoyed Cuba, it’s vibrant and lively with no shortage of rum or cigars, but I would say lower your expectations and bring snacks in your suitcase, along with a large amount of patience!

31 March 2017

Our myTC app is a 'must' for any traveler! Being a Travel Counsellor means that I have access to cutting-edge technology to help me provide a fantastic service for my customers and since we launched the myTC app for all our customers, both business and leisure travelers, we have already received a great response. Our app is unique and a fantastic addition to my personal approach as your Travel Counsellor and is available to download free of charge! Once you have downloaded the myTC app you will have easy access to all your travel details in one handy place and the best bit, you get a holiday countdown! You are able to see your itinerary even if you're offline, ideal if you are travelling with no access to Wi-Fi. Alongside the itinerary you are able to view all your travel documents and in separate folders you will see all your documentation for any future trips. No need for carrying reams of paperwork! The myTC app is an extension of the personal service that you get when you book your holiday with me, you can call or email me direct at the touch of a button from the app so that means you will always have me with you wherever you are in the world! The myTC app allows you to share your journey with others directly from the app via message, email or social media, great for keeping family and friends up to date with your plans. I build my business through personal recommendations and there is a handy button that enables you to share my contact details, so if you’ve had a great service I would be so pleased if you shared my details with your friends and family. The myTC mobile app is available for both Apple and Android devices, just get in touch with me today for your access code and start your journey!

16 January 2017

We are lucky enough to have visited Barbados before but it’s always great to revisit a tropical island, especially in the dark dismal winter month of November!! Our flight with British Airways was at 11.15am and we decided that rather than get up at the crack of dawn that we would treat ourselves to a pre-night stay at the Sofitel Hotel. I really would recommend this as it really started our holiday off in style! We booked parking for 10 nights and the hotel stay and drove up leisurely the night before, enjoyed a fabulous dinner and a couple of glasses of wine and a great night’s sleep before wandering over to the terminal at 8.30 the following morning! We enjoyed far too many in-flight movies and landed an hour earlier than expected, which was great and were met at the airport and transferred to our apartment. We stayed at Glitter Bay on the West Coast, in a spacious 2 bedroom ground floor apartment with direct access to the beach. It was perfect! When we visited in 2015 we stayed in the same apartment and one afternoon we watched turtles hatching under our sun loungers, we weren’t so lucky this time! It is very tempting to spend all day every day lounging on the beach, but Barbados is such an easy place to get around and I would recommend that you try the local buses, so much fun!! We visited Harrisons Cave, a crystallised limestone cavern reached by tram so even if you are not a great walker you will see stunning stalagmites and stalactites’ that have crystallised over hundreds of years, they are lit in the darkness and sparkle beautifully! The sea really is as beautiful as those picture postcards, clear aquamarine blue, like stepping into the bath! You must take a boat or catamaran trip to swim with turtles, it really is unmissable! We were collected from our apartment and driven into Bridgetown by a local who pointed out lots of interesting things along the way. We spent the day visiting several different dive sites where we were given snorkel masks, life jackets and flippers and a guide went out with bread to feed the fish. We saw lots of fish, but even better, we swam with the turtles!! Such an amazing experience and rounded off with a rum punch on the return journey!! Driving is easy in Barbados as they drive on the same side of the road as us, so if you are feeling brave you can hire a car! The East side and West side of the island are so different, you could be on the coast of Ireland or Scotland when you see Cherry Tree Hill, Bathsheba and Scotland District! Eating out is amazing, our favourite restaurant is Lone Star, but equally Jus’ Grillin’ does amazing ribs!! Barbados is not cheap, everything has to be imported to the island and the prices do reflect this! We are those people who love to visit a supermarket wherever we are in the world and the local store in Holetown, Masseys stocked lots of Waitrose products, just in case you are missing home! My husband played a couple of rounds of golf at Apes Hill and the Westmoreland, he said that they were stunning courses and populated by lots of green monkeys!! Barbados really is a paradise island and I would recommend it for all age groups as there is so much, or so little to do!! We will be back one day, but in the meantime, if you’d like some help planning your Barbados trip, please get in touch with me!!

29 September 2016

We have never cruised before and I thought that this would be the ideal way for my husband and I to find out all about cruising. We decided that we should share the experience with Paul’s parents, so we gave them the same trip as a Christmas present! As first time cruisers we had no idea what to expect and we were so impressed with the whole experience! We live in Dorset so it was really easy for us to drive to Southampton in the morning. Wow! Seeing Harmony for the first time was amazing, she is huge! We left our car with the meet and greet car park guys and only had to cross the road to get to the terminal. Our luggage was checked in before we entered the building and we were checked in on iPads by Royal Caribbean staff as we entered the terminal. The whole process was so slick and before we knew it we were walking up the gang plank! We booked balcony cabins which were spacious with a king bed, a sofa area with a desk/dressing table, plenty of storage, a mini bar and two really comfy loungers on the balcony. The bathroom was compact, but finished to a really high standard with a glass door on the shower (no shower curtain, my pet hate!) We dined in the main dining room on our first night and the food was amazing and service impeccable. On the following evenings we tried two of the specialty restaurants, equally as good! You must have a cocktail mixed at the Bionic Bar and I would recommend the show. Grease was as good a production as when we saw it in the West End! We only sailed to Cherbourg, but we disembarked and had a look around the town, enjoyed some ‘moules et frites’ before returning to the ship to have a go on the Ultimate Abyss, the world’s tallest slide at sea boasting an impressive 100ft plunge! There is so much to do on board and we tried everything on our sea day. For anyone who hasn’t tried cruising I would certainly recommend a 2-3 night trip as a taster! Please get in touch if you would like some help deciding which cruise, or ship is right for you!

29 September 2016

Our US adventure began with flights with Virgin from Gatwick into Orlando. Arriving at Orlando airport is always exciting as you know that you’re already part of the magic that is Disney and Universal! Collecting our luggage was straightforward and we headed down to the car rentals desk to pick up our car. Leaving the airport can be quite nerve wracking after a long flight as everything is on the wrong side of the road and you are sitting on the wrong side of the car, so I let Paul drive and we headed for our first hotel, The Embassy Suites on International Drive! Once you get the hang of it, it’s really easy! We have visited Orlando several times and always base ourselves on International Drive as it’s so easy to reach the parks and it’s great for getting out in the evenings as there are plenty of restaurants, mini golf and of course the Orlando Eye within walking distance. Embassy Suites Orlando-International Drive South/Convention is an all-suite Walt Disney World Good Neighbor® Hotel and guests can purchase Disney Theme Park tickets directly in the hotel lobby and if you prefer not to drive they offer a complimentary, scheduled shuttle to and from the Walt Disney World® Resort. We spent six nights in Orlando visiting our favourite park, Universal on the first couple of days. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is amazing and gets better each time we visit! We have found that May is a good time to visit Florida as it’s not too hot for running round the parks and the queues aren’t too long! We had an amazing day at Discovery Cove and experienced swimming with dolphins for the first time. I can’t recommend it enough and it was worth every penny! Busch Gardens is another favourite - it has the best rides for speed freaks like me, but is maybe better suited to older kids! After six days of full on fun, we headed down the coast to Sarasota where we stayed at the Sandcastle Resort on Lido Beach. Sarasota was my favourite part of this trip. The hotel is rather tired and looks quite run down, but its clean and the beds were comfortable and we were right on the beach. And what a beach, with beautiful white sands and clear blue water. We saw dolphins every day, they were chasing fish right up to the beach! We also watched a manatee swim on by, literally feet from where we were standing in the ocean! One of our highlights was chasing a raccoon round the hotel after a few cocktails one evening, locals consider them to be vermin, but we thought he was cool! The hotel offers a free shuttle bus to St Armands Circle where there are lots of designer shops and fabulous restaurants. We did walk a couple of times in the evenings, but only attempted it once during the day as it was too hot! I didn’t want to leave Sarasota, but St Pete’s Beach was calling us, so we packed up and spent our last few nights at the Sirata Beach Resort. The Sirata was the nicest hotel that we stayed in, but it was big and very busy as we were there over the weekend. We found that it wasn’t as personal or friendly as the Sandcastle, but it was right on the beach, which was beautiful and located well for going out in the evening, we found several great places for dinner as well as the iHop for breakfast! We did a half day Segway tour, which is great fun and a brilliant way of covering a lot of distance and also took a dolphin cruise to Shell key, with lunch at the Sea Critters Café! Florida is a great all round destination, with something for everyone of every age. Don’t think that it’s only for people who want to visit the parks, or for children! We have been several times as a couple and keep going back for more! It’s so easy to get around and explore and we will certainly visit again in a couple of years’ time! Please get in touch if you need any help or advice about planning your own trip to Florida!