27 July 2025

One of my own bucket list trips was to visit Alaska and the best way to do this is by taking a cruise. The cruising season is May to September with peak season being June- August as outside these time the weather conditions and icy seas are not suitable for non expedition ships. I was staying on the beautiful Seabourn Quest, Seabourn are one of the top end cruise lines and I'd hand selected this ship given her small size (only 458 passengers) which allowed us to stop at ports of call the larger ships can't dock at and of course the quality of service. The Seabourn Quest has just 229 beautiful suites and is the epitome of understated luxury and with The Restaurant, The Colonnade, Solis and The Patio/Earth & Ocean offering fabulous dining options plus Sushi at The Club and an extensive 24/7 In Room Dining Menu you’ll be spoilt for choice. For relaxation there were multiple Swimming Pools & Whirlpools, the Spa & Wellness area and one of the best cruise ship equipped Fitness Centres I’ve seen, plus golf nets and putting green, table tennis, shuffleboard and even a casino, card & games room! Entertainment was low key but enjoyable with a mix of itinerary related lectures from guest speakers, quiz nights, a show each evening plus live music from quartets to a club band. On a more practical level there were also Conference Rooms and a self serve laundrette that I took full advantage of. I embarked the ship in Vancouver and Day 1 was all about getting familiar with the ship and enjoying a sea day heading through the Charlotte Sound and north up the coast. For Day 2 we docked at Ketchikan and I booked an excursion that encompassed a quick visit to the surrounding area of Ketchikan to visit the waterfall, Herring Bay and the Saxman Village Totem Park which was founded by the Tlingits in the late 1800’s and was actually named after Samuel Saxman, a Presbyterian teacher who got lost at sea searching for a new village site. The village features 25 totems, which are authentic replicas of totems that were left in an abandoned villages as Native Alaskans moved into towns. Totems were symbols of cultural and economic wealth telling stories passed through the generations. I then enjoyed a few hours free time in Ketchikan itself, and what a fabulous port of call and one I’d definitely include on any Alaska itinerary. It's a really picturesque and culturally rich town and know as the "Salmon Capital of the World" in addition to having more totem poles than anywhere else on earth, so this small 14,000 person town packs a big punch. Day 3 we took a quick tender to get over to Sitka. Once called the “Paris of the Pacific”, Sitka offers a full array of natural beauty and cultural richness. The town was built around Russian fur traders and the local Tlingit people. Set between steep forested mountains and the fjord of the Sitka Sound. Sitka is Alaska’s fifth largest city with a population around 9,300. You can still see the Russian influence with the onion domed cathedral and Tlingit heritage within America’s smallest national park the hugs the coast and has trails that meander through towering spruces and is bursting with hand carved totem poles. The next stop was on Day 4 and the jaw dropping Hubbard Glacier, one of Alaska’s most magnificent natural wonders! The glacier is the largest tidewater glacier in the North America and stretches over 76 miles long, 7 miles wide and goes 250 feet below water! We hopped onboard a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) and managed to see a various wildlife including a colony of sea lions and also a couple of the infamous calving events where chunks of ice break off and crash into the water. The glacier flows from the Malaspina Icefield which is the largest piedmont glacier in the world! Day 5 continued with it's amazement with a true bucket list adventure as we boarded a smaller boat at Icy Strait Point and headed off on a mammal searching expedition and I finally got to spend some real quality time with a pod of humpback whales in their natural habitat. These majestic mammals were just stunning and gave a fantastic display of fin slapping, spouting, breaching (jumps out of the water) and fluking (deep diving and raising its tail). For Day 6 we pulled into the great little town of Haines, known as the “Gateway to the Klondike”. Perched on the edge of the Lynn Canal, one of the longest and deepest fjords in North America. This area is A haven for outdoor enthusiasts, the scenery is stunning. Today we explored the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. The preserve is not accessible by road and as such has abundant wildlife. We sailed in a flat bottom boat due to the river being only a couple of feet deep in places. What an incredible time spent observing a brown bear mother and her three cubs! We also saw plenty of bird life including multiple Bald Eagles which is one of America’s largest birds of prey, is its national bird and can have a wingspan of up to 8ft! We also fleetingly saw a moose in the woods but wasn’t quick enough to photograph it. It was an another amazing day and created memories for a lifetime. Day 7 and the end of our cruise we pulled into Juneau. Alaska’s capital is inaccessible by road as it’s surrounded by steep mountains and dense rainforest. Originally founded as a gold mining camp by Joe Juneau and Richard Harris in 1880, it became the capital in 1906. The second largest city in Alaska (by area) it has a small, frontier charm about it and vibrant arts community. I only had a few hours to spare as I was flying out that day so I explored the downtown area which had a good mix of boutique art shops and galleries, the Alaska State Capitol building plus the Alaskan Brewing Company and spent some time watching all the sea planes and helicopters whizzing around. If you had more time and could travel further afield then key highlights and well worth a visit would be the Mendenhall Glacier, the Macauley Salmon Hatchery or you could take one of the multiple hiking trails including the Mount Roberts Alpine Loop. Alaska blew me away, if you love culture, stunning scenery and wildlife this would take some beating!

18 July 2025

Turkey has so much more offer than golden beaches (although they are gorgeous!). I just got back from an 8 day tour around some of the historic sights that this culturally rich country can offer. First stop was Istanbul, and we enjoyed two nights at the very centrally located Port Bosphorus Hotel which is located directly across from the Galataport. Taking to the water is a great way to see both the European and Asian sides of the only city that straddles two continents. Our city tour then took us to the ancient Hippodrome the social and sporting centre of the old Constantinople before moving onto the Blue Mosque, built in the Ottoman era around 1609 which is beautifully decorated and unique for its 6 minarets. The Topkapi Palace stood as home for royalty for over 400 years, it was built between 1460 and 1478 and is one of the world’s largest surviving palaces. The iconic Hagia Sophia was originally constructed between 534 and 537 as a Christian church in the Byzantine period and then later was converted to a mosque in the Ottoman era, now a museum it’s a wonderful example of architecture and artistic works. The Basilica Cistern is the largest surviving Byzantine cistern in Istanbul and is over 1,500 years old, it was designed as an underwater reservoir and has been used for multiple movies including Dan Brown’s “Inferno”. The Grand Bazaar dates back to the 15th century and originally just sold fabrics and silks. Today hundreds of thousands of visitors enter via 22 gates offering access to 58 streets and can buy anything from gold jewellery and spices to souvenirs aplenty. After Istanbul we headed east to the Anitkabir mausoleum complex in the capital Ankara, is the resting place of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder and first president of the Turkish Republic. Construction commenced in 1944 and took 9 years to complete. The “Peace Park” surrounds the monument and features nearly 50K plants from all over the world. “Lion’s Alley” is 262m long and features 24 lions representing power and peace. The large ceremonial ground fits 15,000 people and guards are positioned at each tower swapping roles every 45 minutes. From here we headed further inland and south to Cappadocia. We stayed in the Evanthia Suites a lovely cave boutique hotel, 2 minutes from the centre of Urgup. Saturday we had an early 3.30am start for our balloon ride and in order to catch the sunrise for an absolutely amazing experience. Over 50 hot air balloons floating across the Cappadocia landscape and hovering over the iconic fairy chimneys. The next day was all about exploring the sculptural volcanic landscape. Goreme Open Air Museum is a fascinating complex of cave buildings dating back from 2nd Century AD. Founded by monks who lived a hermit lifestyle in the region of Cappadocia and made Goreme their base. St Basil also known as as “Basil The Great” devoted himself to the monastic lifestyle and the site flourished with multiple chapels, churches and cafeterias. Next was Imagination Valley so called due to the whimsical rock shapes which resemble various animals like the “camel”. Its official name is Devrent Valey and thousands of years of erosion has created the unusual formations. We then continued to Pasabaglari otherwise know as Mushroom Valley which is crammed full of fairy chimneys that look like a forest of chunky woodland mushrooms. You need about 45 minutes to 1 hour to explore the site and it’s definitely worthwhile. We completed the day with a visit to Kybele Boutique Ceramic for a pottery demonstration. For every piece there are 3 masters involved, the pottery throwing the piece, the firer/glazer and then of course the artist who decorates the pots. It takes masters 10 years to perfect their craft! They have an amazing 9 room showroom with all different handmade pieces from unique giant plates to traditional vases. Our tour continued the next day with a drive to Uchisar Castle. One of the areas most prominent landmarks and the highest point in the region offering fantastic views. The castle was built by Byzantine settlers in the 4th century in a volcanic outcrop. Riddled with tunnels, villages used to hide in the fortress to avoiding invading armies. There are 275 steps so it’s a bit of a trek especially in the blazing sun, however there are multiple resting points along the route so you can go at your own pace. From here we did a quick pit stop at Pigeon Valley and Red Valley, these are smaller valleys with Pigeon Valley offering fabulous views and Red Valley is named after the beautiful red colour the rocks change their hue to at sunset. You can pitch a tent to enjoy the views and there is a hiking trail or you can horse ride or enjoy a quad bike tour. Tonight was extra special as we went to a local village house where the owner's wife cooked a delicious three course meal using the tandir method. Next stop on the tour took us back west to the stunning and very unique UNESCO World Heritage site known as “Cotton Castle”. They are hot thermal springs located on the outside of Pamukkale and adjacent to the ancient Roman city of Heirapolis which offered a Greco Roman amphitheater and necropolis. The pools lie on white travertine terraces which are formed from calcium carbonate as hot mineral rich water flows down the hillside. Thought to have therapeutic properties visitors used to travel miles to bathe in the cool blue waters. Guests today are only able to walk barefoot through the remaining pools in order to preserve them. This evening we stayed at the recently built Adem Pira Hotel which offered a large rooms, a fantastic swimming pool and spa. After dinner we enjoyed a private performance with the Mevlevis or Whirling Dervishes. Practiced by some of the Sufi Muslim order, the whirling is a type of meditation and worship in remembrance of God and was founded in 1207. The Sema ceremony takes around 1 hour and is divided into 7 parts accompanied by a singer and instruments. Our final stop was Fethiye on the south coast where we chartered a traditional gulet and enjoyed a lovely cruise, anchoring off an island to swim and enjoy a sunset dinner and drinks. These wooden sailing vessels were originally built for fishing and transporting goods along the rugged coastline. The food was amazing and while cabins are a little snug they have everything you need including AC and an en-suite! If you're looking to combine sightseeing with a little adventure and chill time, add Turkey to your list

28 June 2025

If you're looking for a city that offers pretty much everything you can think of in a bite size portion that's very clean and safe, then Vancouver needs to be on your list. I recently stayed in the city for 3 nights prior to an Alaskan cruise and always include Vancouver as part of a clients multi centre tour of Canada if they're heading to the west, as its such an easy city to get around, its very walkable, lots of cool neighbourhoods and easy access to water and mountain activities. The downtown area is the perfect place to stay and I enjoyed time at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia which offered gorgeous accommodations and one of the largest suites in a city hotel I’ve stayed in. The hotel provided impeccable and discreet service, a great mix of bars and restaurants and an unbeatable central location and while in the luxury hotel sector it was good value. One the the can't miss attractions is Stanley Park which consists of 400 hectares of beautiful rainforest and scenic trails. It's Vancouvers largest and first urban park and features the Stanley Park Seawall that is part of the world's longest uninterrupted waterfront pathway at 28km long! There's the chance to view local wildlife, explore beaches, enjoy a picnic, visit the aquarium and First Nation totem poles. Downtown Vancouver is a great mix of neighbourhoods - from China Town with its plethora and of restaurants and eclectic mix of residents, Gas Town which feels like a mini NYC SoHo with it’s independent shops and bars plus loft living and Canada Place infamous as the cruise ship port. Gastown Steam Clock was built in 1977 but looks Victorian. It weighs two tons and is powered by steam, piping its time every 15 minutes to the sound of the Westminster Quarters. On the turn of each hour it changes tunes to Back Home Again Indiana. It’s said to be only the second steam clock ever constructed and was built as a monument to where the original town of Vancouver grew from plus it was placed over a steam grate to keep the homeless from sleeping there! Granville Island is right on the waterfront and easily accessible by bus, ferry or car, its the perfect place to wander around, visit the extensive indoor market full of local produce and then grab a craft beer and a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants. One of the great things about the city is that each area has its own distinct personality. Yaletown in the south west used to be warehouses and railyards and is now like TriBeCa in NYC with its hop restaurants, indie fashion boutiques and fair share of poseurs. From there head north west and hit English Bay Beach the cities most popular spot for chilling after work, playing volleyball or walking the dog, before heading back to Davie Village, Vancouver’s vibrant gay district with bars and clubs galore and the infamous rainbow crosswalks. Look out for the giant inuksuk at English Bay, these stone landmarks were built in Northern Canada, Alaska and Greenland by the Inuit and other Artic people. They had a number of purposes from marking hunting grounds between tribes to warning of danger through to guiding travellers between locations. Bute Street was one of my favourite walks - this 1.5km route cuts north to south through the city connecting False Creek to Burrard Inlet. It’s part of a city initiative that aims to prioritise walking, cycling and rollerblading while offering places to sit and socialise and host community events. Street murals and artwork are prevalent all over the city and add some great pops of colour. Olympic Village has a street art tour to visit some of the larger art pieces. If prefer to visit more art in more traditional settings then I can highly recommend the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art, Bill was a legendary Haida master artist (1920-1998) and this gem of a gallery celebrates contemporary Indigenous art, plus take an hour or so to wander around the Vancouver Art Gallery, founded in 1931 its one of North America's most innovative visual arts institutions and has regular rotating exhibits. One top tip is to purchase a DayPass, this allows you unlimited use on all buses, SkyTrains, Seabuses and HandyDART for the full day (ending at 4am) and you can travel through zones - so really handy if like me you were trying to see as much as possible each day. If you want to escape the city then you can drive or hop on the passenger Seabus over to North Vancouver, the Seabus only takes 12 minutes and travels from Vancouver's Waterfront Station to Lonsdale Quay where you can connect to buses heading to places such as Grouse Mountain with its cable car ride or Capilano Canyon with its high suspension bridge both of which are popular day trips and in winter the buses take you right to the ski resorts. If you want to stay local Lonsdale Quay itself is a newly renovated waterfront district with a mix of shops, bars and restaurants plus an outdoor performance area. I thought I'd enjoy Vancouver but this city really packs a big punch!

25 May 2025

After visiting Disney World in Orlando last year I was so excited to now visit Universal Orlando and see how the theme parks, attractions and hotel offerings differed. We stayed at Cabana Bay Resort - such a fun retro vibe at this bright, funky and very family friendly hotel. With two huge pools (one with a slide plus mini beach and one with a lazy river) this hotel has 4 buildings totalling 2,000 rooms! With a diner offering US classics, shake shop, arcade games room and bowling alley this is paradise for kids! Parents will love it too with family suites available with two queen beds plus a sliding door leading to a lounge with sofa bed. Suites offer two TV’s, separate shower and toilet plus a small kitchenette with fridge and microwave. The resort offers a frequent shuttle bus to the Universal Parks and City Walk (only 5-7 minutes away!) and you can even walk to Volcano Bay waterpark! If you’re looking for a fun day in the sunshine, Volcano Bay is a fantastic destination! Open daily and offering 1 hour early park access if you stay in onsite Universal hotels this park caters for everyone, from thrill seekers to sun worshippers. On entry you receive a TapuTapu wristband that allows you to add yourself to a virtual queue at a lot of the rides. With three different villages plus the central volcano, there are free fall slides, body plunge, racing slides, log flume-esque rides, a winding river and wave machine to name just a few. What’s nice is that there are lots of different beach areas, tons of sunbeds and dining outlets so while it gets busy you can find your perfect spot. If you’re wanting to stay on park then take a look at Loews Sapphire Falls and Loews Royal Pacific - both offer early park admission, water taxi transfers to the parks, walking path to Volcano Bay (Sapphire Falls) and shuttle bus to the parks (Royal Pacific). As Loews Royal Pacific is a Signature Collection hotel you also receive complimentary Universal Express passes!! Great family hotels with lagoon style pools and sandy beaches, Sapphire Falls is tropical themed while Royal Pacific draws inspiration from the islands of Polynesia. For those looking for a higher end hotel experience then Loews Portofino Bay is the perfect escape. Inspired by the Italian village, the resort centres around the wide open plaza that leads to the waterfront where guests can hop onto a water taxi to the parks or Universal City Walk. This relaxing resort offers three swimming pools and multiple dining options (can highly recommend Mamma Della’s Ristorante). Again take advantage of early park access, complimentary Universal Express passes, priority seating at restaurants throughout Universal and additional shuttle bus access to the Universal theme parks. We were lucky to spend 3 fantastic days in the parks and on day 1 were sooo lucky to have a VIP Guide, Brian was a rockstar and got us to the front of so many rides, from Minion Land and Despicable Me to Transformers, Hollywood Rockit to Revenge of The Mummy and Fast & Furious Supercharged plus Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (my favourite!) plus Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure! For day 2 we used our Express Passes to skip the line at lots of rides and covered off some of the huge thrill rides including VelociCoaster and The Incredible Hulk Coaster. We also went to a couple of the shows in the Hollywood section with the Horror Make Up Show being pure comic genius and enjoyed the Wicked exhibition with tons of props from the movie. Next up was Dreamworks Land, targeted at younger fans there’s everything from nostalgic ET to Shrek, Trolls to Po’s Kung Foo Training Camp and is a short walk to the very fun Simpson’s home, Springfields. It was Mardi Gras time when we went, which consists of around 12 floats beautifully decorated floats manned by flamboyant characters who throw multi coloured beads into the crowds. Between the floats stilt walkers and dancers get the crowd energised. The parade started at 7pm and lasted around 30 minutes and if you wanted a front row places get there at least 30 minutes prior. Proud of my cricketing skills as I dove and collected about 30 strands of beads - me competitive? Of course not Islands of Adventure is walking distance from Universal Studios or a quick hop on the Hogwarts Express. Consisting of 6 themed lands, here you’ll find Marvel Super Hero Island, Jurassic Park, Skull Island and Harry Potters Hogsmeade plus kiddies favourites Seuss Landing and Toon Lagoon! In this park you can meet Blue and his baby raptor, fly on a “broomstick” through Hogwarts, get soaking wet on the River Adventure and Ripshaw Falls and help Spider-Man save New York City! One of the nice surprises I found with Universal Orlando was how easy and quick it was to walk between parks and also their entertainment district “Universal City Walk”. Packed with bars, restaurants, takeaway treats (Voodoo Doughnut is off the charts!), gift shops and every type of attraction from crazy golf to cinemas and escape rooms this is the place to come at night. If you’re looking for a fun night out away from the parks, head down to International Drive and check out Icon Park. This place radiated FUN with a plethora of attractions from the iconic Orlando Eye with pre board bar service and you can pick your own soundtrack. It also offers stunning views all the way to the newly opened EPIC Universe and its hotels Helios Grand Hotel, Stella Nova and Terra Luna Resorts. Check out the Museum of Illusions, Sealife or Madame Tussauds or for dare devils Sling Shot and with free parking it can’t be beat! Then for dinner with a difference head to Chima for an unbeatable evening of Brazilian inspired cuisine. If you're looking for a fun, family holiday that offers something for absolutely everyone then Florida and Orlando is a sure bet - being able to mix and match theme parks, with lazy days by the pool or twin centre with a beach stay or even a Caribbean cruise and you'll make some amazing memories

22 May 2025

I recently got back from a great holiday in the Netherlands. My mum had always wanted to see the infamous tulips fields so we booked a river cruise departing and returning to Amsterdam which had a fantastic mix of ports of call including that all important trip to the tuilps! We sailed with Scenic, this was our second time and they once again were brilliant, from our huge veranda stateroom complete with butler, all inclusive gourmet food and drink plus all the excursions included as well - so we really didn't need to spend a Euro. Our itinerary covered some lesser known Dutch towns and also touched in Belgium - we selected this trip as we love medieval buildings and historic sights, it was pretty flat (important as I was pushing my mum in her wheelchair) and allowed us to sample the best of Dutch food, from cheeses to waffles galore. Our first stop was to the infamous cheese town. The Dutch select their cheese by the age rather than a particular variety (unlike the French) but have 100’s of flavours from beer, pesto to truffle! Gouda is a beautiful small town of around 75K people with lots of well preserved medieval buildings built around a meandering canal. The market square is the hub with the cheese market taking place every Thursday along with local crafts. The very impressive town hall built in 1450 used to be the prison and execution zone but now has gigantic colourful flags and a mechanical chime with puppets on one of its facades. Gouda is known for its food, with cheese options galore, hands down the best waffles we’ve ever eaten and don’t miss the Stropwafel shops! We sailed overnight and the next day visited the very quaint town of Veere in the SW Netherlands, it boasts a population of 1,500. A beautiful historic town with a small bustling harbour, it’s a lovely place to wander around for a couple of hours. Many of the houses date back to the 15th and 16th century and the town was founded on the Scottish wool industry so you’ll see blue and white flags on lots of the buildings. There’s a small museum and town hall plus the oldest hostelry in the Netherlands and lots of boutique shops selling local produce. For day 4 we were offered either diamond centre Antwerp but plumbed for he Belgium city of Ghent or the “City of Three Towers” which is a great alternative destination to Bruges, rich in culture and has historic buildings galore. This large university city was a major powerhouse in the Middle Ages and still retains its marketplaces and large public squares. Top sights include The Castle of The Counts, the Ghent Belfry and St Bavo’s Cathedral plus the many waterways connected by small bridges and dotted with bars and restaurants. Next up was Arnhem and just a 20 minute drive away is the Netherlands Open Air Museum. Spread out over 108 acres of beautiful parkland, the attraction won European Museum of the Year in 2005. A tram connects the 6 various areas of the museum and you can travel back in time and visit historic houses, farms and factories from different parts on the country to experience the lives of the working class from days gone by. Arnhem is immortalised in the epic war movie “A Bridge Too Far” which recounts the story of the failed 8 day Operation Market Garden in WWII, where Allied forces deep in Holland tried to capture strategically important bridges to advance in the occupied territory against the Germans. The Germans destroyed the bridge and pushed the Allied Forces back. Today there’s a replica bridge and a small museum on the port side and then the larger Arnhem Airborne Museum with original uniforms and weapons and the associated cemetery. The city itself was decimated but retained a few beautiful historic buildings but the centre is mainly modern with a large shopping centre. One of my favourites stops was the very picturesque town of Hoorn. With over 300 monuments dating back from around 1357 in the historic centre, Hoorn was part of the Dutch Golden Age and a base for the Dutch East India Company who leveraged its harbours (one of which is horn shaped and thus the town is named after). With two medieval churches, the old town hall (dating from 1613), a gate from the original fortifications, Bossu houses from the 17th century and an almshouse to name just a few - this is a beautiful town to wander around. Finally it was back to Amsterdam. The photos really don’t do justice to the Keukenhof Gardens. Dating back to the 15th century these were originally the hunting grounds for the castle, transformed to its modern day reincarnation in 1950 when it opened to the public. The gardens are around a 50 minute drive from the city. Only open 2 months of the year (late March to early May), these stunning gardens feature 7 million tulips and other flowers including an orchid pavilion. The riot of colour is just breathtaking and the range of tulips from feathered varieties to waist high flowers is mindblowing. There’s a lovely boat ride you can take, sculptures scattered throughout the park and a life sized windmill you can climb to see the surrounding tulip fields. This is a must visit attraction but get there early as from 12noon visitor numbers can swell to up to 40,000! Amsterdam never fails to make you smile. It’s been around 4 years since I was last here and it hasn’t lost its appeal. If you want the perfect destination for a city break that’s very walkable (or great for getting on your bike), with stunning architecture, great museums, lots of shopping opportunities plus amazing food and fun, fun, fun nightlife add this to your list. Oh and did I mention canals? They are omnipresent! River cruising is fast becoming one of the fast growing holidays and with itineraries like this, you can certainly see why they are getting so popular

21 November 2024

I've recently returned from a fabulous 9 day tour of Saudi Arabia. Starting in the capital Riyadh, key attractions here include the imposing Kingdom Centre Tower which incorporates a Four Seasons Hotel, shopping mall, cinema and the Sky Bridge at the top, 99 floors up and 65m long, this is a fabulous way to view the city. The National Museum of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh offers a wonderful collection of exhibits that date back to BC and all the way through to the modern kingdom, while the King Abdulaziz Historical Centre features 6 parks and key buildings like King Abdulaziz Mosque and Murraba Palace. Al-Dirah neighbourhood in Southern Riyadh dates back to 1737 as well as the Al Masmak Fort, other sites of interest include al Hukum Palace, Alsafat Square, Iman Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque and Deera Square (also known as Justice Square where public executions used to take place). The next day we drove over 400km north to Buraidah. On route we enjoyed an interesting tour around Ushaiger Heritage Village. The Bedouins first settled here 1,500 years ago as it was a popular stop for pilgrims travelling to Mecca. The extensive area is now a living museum with a small community who live on site in the maze like houses adorned with beautiful white shuraf (embellishments) on top of each building and intriguing small triangular windows. About a 30 minute drive from Buraidah is the small town of Unaizah which has a lovely restored souk plus a stunning renovated heritage house. The Buraidah Camel Market is the world’s largest camel market and also sells sheep and goats from all over the Middle East. Next up was the date market, it’s out of season so there were only a handful of sellers but at prime harvest time the giant car parks are jam packed with 1,000’s of individual farmers selling their product, then we continued onto Hutaymah Crater, formed by a volcano, this 600m wide and 150m deep crater sits in an expansive field of volcanic tuft grass. Faid’s strategic location made it a key stopping point on the Arabian trading routes and later on the Iraqi Pilgrimage Route which connects Kufa and Mecca. The fort was built from volcanic lava and used as a place where travellers could rest and trade their goods, then from here we had a scenic drive through the mountains to our overnight stop in Ha’il. Qishlah Palace lies in the centre of Ha’il and was built in the 1940’s as a military barracks, weapons store and prison. A’arif Fort, Ha’il is the oldest building in the city and was constructed in the 17th century to guard the city against attack. The next day we explored the rock art of Jubbah. Dating back to prehistoric times the mountain range surrounding the desert town is an ancient art gallery depicting wildlife, hunting scenes, symbolic motifs and dwellers names. Dedicated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015, Mount Umm Sinman is one of the oldest inhabited sites in the region with stone tools and artefacts dating back 120,000 years ago! Tombs and stone circles have also been discovered from the Neolithic period (7,000 - 4,500 BC) From here we travelled to the infamous AlUla, Elephant Rock stretches 52m into the sky and is hewn from sandstone eroded by wind and water. We then enjoyed a 2 hour hop on hop off tour of Hegra, founded by the Nabateans as their southern capital in the 1st century AD, there are over 100 tombs carved out of the rocks spread across the vast desert landscape. We then continued to the ancient Kingdom of Daden which features the Lion Tombs and was once on of the most developed communities in the whole of the Arabian peninsula before visiting Jabal Ikmah across the valley and its impressive rock art. AlUla’s Old Town Market Street comes alive after dark and is an historic marketplace with local handicrafts and restaurants. Next stop was Medina and The Prophet’s Mosque (the 2nd largest mosque and holiest site in Islam after Mecca only allows Muslims to enter). The mosque contains the tomb of Muhammad and can fit 1 million pilgrims. The International Fair & Museum next door was one of the coolest museums I’ve ever visited - chock full of the latest technology. We then continued to The Blessed Grave of Hazrat Hamza (know as the Lion of Allah) next to Mount Uhud. We then took the bullet train down to Jeddah which travelled as up to 300kph. The Central Fish Market, Jeddah was fun to walk around and see all the different and colourful varieties of seafood, some of which are only available in the Red Sea. There’s even a large area where you can get the fish prepared how you want after purchase. We then enjoyed a coach tour around the city including seeing part of the upcoming Formula 1 track and visiting Al Rahmah Mosque more commonly known as the “floating mosque” as once the tide comes in the structure seems to float on the water. The mosque was built in 1985 and is one of the most visited in Jeddah. Combining ancient and modern Islamic architecture, the structure compromises of a main dome, 52 outer domes, 23 external umbrellas and a single minaret. Next up was the very scenic and immaculate corniche, the waterfront stretches for 30 kilometres! In the cooler evenings, families come and hang out on the lawned areas and kids play in the multiple playgrounds. Home to numerous 5 star hotels, restaurants and cafes aswell as the highest fountain in the world (King Fahad) it’s a beautiful place to while away a few hours. I’ve had a lot of amazing meals during this trip but Irth Boutique and Cafe, Jeddah was hands down the best. Launched by the Culinary Arts Commission and situated in a 120 year old building in the old town, the restaurant celebrates young Saudi Arabian chefs. Traditional dishes are given a modern twist and the flavours were off the charts! The final stop and one of my favourite places was the historic old town of Jeddah (Al Balad) which dates back to the 7th century! Originally a walled city, the old town consists of 650 traditional, wealthy merchant houses in the Hejazi style, built with coral stone and featuring iconic wooden balconies (rawasheens) which allowed ladies to view suitors and the goings on outside without being seen by the men. A UNESCO Heritage Site, the buildings feature three colours of balcony - the traditional brown, emerald green and sapphire blue. The maze of alleyways also feature mosques and a network of handicraft shops. Saudi Arabia is definitely going to become a major tourist powerhouse within the next 10 years!

14 September 2024

If you've never tried cruising, but may be put off by giant ocean liners - how about a river cruise? More personal, they usually have around 150 passengers and because they are much smaller, they can dock right in the heart of the cities. They offer high levels of service, lots of interesting excursions and the food offering is amazing! Here's a short overview on the recent French river cruise I took along the River Seine. I was taking my mum on this trip and as she's not too good at walking we were taking her wheelchair and it turned out to be the perfect adventure! Day 1 We flew to sunny Paris and boarded the stunning Scenic Gem, part of their Space-Ship class. We were staying in a Deluxe Balcony twin cabin which is very spacious and had a fabulous walk out balcony where the full width window slides down. Quick change, safety briefing and then down to restaurant for a lovely 3 course dinner Day 2 What a fabulous first day visiting the very charming Auvers-sur-Oise. Situated just over 27km from the centre of Paris in the NW, the town is synonymous with several artists, the most well known being Van Gogh. Van Gogh lived in the town from 20th May 1890 until his death aged 37 on 29th July of the same year. He lived in the 7m square attic room of the Ravoux Inn and paid 3.5 francs per day for full board. During that time he was prolific, painting 74 pieces of work including Portrait of Dr Gachet, Irises, Tree Roots, his self portrait, Wheat Field with Crows amongst others. Van Gogh loved this part of France and is buried next to his brother Theo in the cemetery here adjacent to the wheat fields he painted. Day 3 A quick tour around Conflans-Saints-Honorine named after its geographic position at the confluence of the River Seine and River Oise. Well known as the capital of inland water navigation for 160 years, the town still has a Maritime College. Its history dates back all the way to Neolithic times and the castle constructed in 876 was built to ward off the Viking - the Tour Montjoie shown in my reel now stands close to where it stood. In later years it exported telephone and telegraph cables and you can still see many barges docked and sailing through. The Paroisse Saint Maclou church sits atop the town and dates back to the 10th century Then onto the beautiful Medieval town of Rouen, the capital of Normandy. Infamous as being the place Joan of Arc (The Patron Saint of France) was held, and after a 6 month trial finally burnt at the stake for being a heretic in May 1431. There’s a simple cross that marks the spot, her statue and a modern style church. With the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral immortalised by Monet and Gothic churches such as Saint-Maclou, the town has a significant religious past. Nowadays the many cobbled streets and artisan shops are popular with tourists Day 4 A fascinating and memorable day learning all about the D Day operations on 6th June 1944, where 160.000 Allied soldiers assaulted a 50 mile stretch of the Normandy coast, that turned the course of the war. Focusing on the American offensive, we visited both Utah Beach where the 4th Division and Omaha Beach where the 1st & 2nd Divisions participated in the Allied invasion under Supreme Commander General Dwight D Eisenhower. We also saw the wider area where the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions parachuted in. Visiting the Utah Museum and various other monuments in the area we finished our exploration to pay respects at the American Cemetery where nearly 10.000 US servicemen who tragically lost their lives were laid to rest. Day 5 A little tour around Caudebec-En-Caux, a small town on the banks of the River Seine. The historical centre dates back to Medieval times and you can still walk down La Grand Rue, built along the old Roman road from Lillebonne to Rouen. The half timbered houses are some of the last ones remaining after the town got hit with multiple fires. In the Middle Ages Caudebec was a fortified town surrounded by stone town walls, 3-4 metres thick with towers at the corner and you can still see part of these today. The gaol was built into the fortifications and is one of the only Medieval prisons still surviving in France. The courtyard in front was used for the trials and the gallows located on Mont Calidu. The white building is the oldest in town and known as the Templar House, although it’s never been proven it was used by the Knights Templar. It was used as a Protestant meeting house and now houses a museum. Day 6 What a lovely day visiting Giverny which Monet called his home from 1883 to 1926. Over the 43 years he was there he moved to the pink Caribbean inspired mansion and created 3 acres of stunning gardens from the Clos Normand garden to the infamous Japanese inspired water garden, where he painted the water lilies over 500 times. Monet annoyed the local farmers as he diverted the river to flow through his garden. The impressionist painter is laid to rest next to the local church A whistle stop tour around Vernon. With a population of 25,000 the main tourist attractions include Tourelles Castle which was built to protect the entrance to the Medieval bridge and later became a prison. Then one of the most picturesque buildings, The Old Mill originally built in 1204 and later had windmills added before a dam stopped the water flow and made milling impossible. Heading into the town centre there are multiple lovely examples of Medieval buildings on La Rue Potard named after a wealthy family and La Rue Bourbon-Penthievre named after the last Lord of Vernon. The town hall and Notre Dame church are also worth a visit Day 7 & 8 When it rains in Paris, what better than to go to one of the cities phenomenal art galleries. I’ve visited the Louvre previously so this time headed to Musée d’Orsay and was not disappointed. The extensive collection over 5 floors features sculptures through to an amazing range of Impressionist paintings. With works from the world’s greatest artists ranging from Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, Manet and Monet to Gaugin, the collection includes some of their most famous pieces. It was fabulous after visiting the homes of Van Gogh and Monet this week to see their masterpieces in person. For the final morning I took a stroll through Paris to of course visit the iconic Eiffel Tower, Flame of Liberty and the Arc de Triomphe while enjoying the beautiful bridges and historic buildings that make up this fascinating capital

25 August 2024

So the cherry on the top of my visit to Disney World was the chance to enjoy a private tour around the Disney Wish who was docked at Port Canaveral, ready to pick up passengers and set sail to the Caribbean. Disney operates cruises from the US for 3, 5 and 7 days, and closer to home you can set sail from Southampton this summer on 3, 4 and 5 night itineraries on the magical Disney Dream, or in 2025 for the first time ever on the Disney Fantasy with bookings available now! The Disney Wish is the newest Disney ship and if you take the best of the Disney resort hotels, dining and theme parks and jam pack it onto a cruise ship you’ll get the picture. Disney Wish hosts 4,000 passengers and 1,500 crew, she draws inspiration from a fairy tale castle and little touches likes complimentary wands given to children on arrival to the chandelier in the main lobby transforming into a light show at select times. Staterooms are geared for families with Disney films represented in the décor and practical touches like elevated beds so you can store your suitcases out of the way, with a choice from the entry level Inside cabins to Oceanview and Verandah to the very luxurious and spacious Royal Suites part of the Concierge class where guests can enjoy a private sundeck, lounge with snacks/afternoon team, desserts and complimentary alcoholic drinks (set times). For kids the facilities are beyond amazing, from the “it’s a small world Nursery” for little ones aged 6 months+, the “Oceaneers Club” where young kids enter via slide, “Vibe” for tweens that opens until midnight and the uber cool “Hideaway” for 14-17 year olds. There’s the “Marvel Super Hero Academy” where you are digitally scanned for your own super suit, the interactive “Star Wars Cargo Bay”, the “Imagineering Lab” with hands on magical activities based on behind the scenes are 10 pool and water play areas, a giant waterslide, the Hero Zone with high tech sports court, movie theatre and playground, plus the Walt Disney Theatre with the live production of “The Little Mermaid” and “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular”. For food, you’ll never get around them all, from “Mickey & Friends Festival of Foods” which offers multiple counters of food around the world, from Adult Only bars and restaurants like “Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge” with moving galaxy backdrop and signature drinks, “Beauty and The Beast” inspired “Palo Steakhouse” and “Enchante” restaurants to the theatrical “Arendelle” dining experience, or visit the interactive “Avengers: Quantum Encounter” for dinner – there’s even “1923” which drew its inspiration from old Hollywood and even has original sketches of Disney cartoons. For downtime, the ”Senses Spa” is a paradise like oasis of calm and there’s even the “Quiet Cove” with infinity pool and poolside lounge. A little nerdy but important there’s even a high tech laundry with washing machines and irons galore! Top tip: Look out for the Disney Treasure which will be the next addition to the line at the end of this year! If you're a cruiseaholic or a Disney fan who has never cruised, Disney Cruises are definitely worth taking a look at

25 August 2024

Disney’s Magic Kingdom with the infamous Cinderella’s castle I’d always thought was just for kids, but it really does offer something for everyone. "Tomorrowland" has thrilling rides like “Tron” where you board a lightcycle and shoot off at 60mph and “Space Mountain” a high speed rollercoaster in almost total darkness, plus “Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin” where you fire lasers in a shooting gallery. “Frontierland” has the brand NEW Tiana’s Bayou Adventure an entertaining water based ride and the well known “Big Thunder Mountain Railroad” where you board a runaway train through a gold mine. “Adventureland” has “Pirates of the Caribbean” a boat ride with pirate ship battles, and “Fantasyland” is great for younger children with “Peter Pan’s Flight” where you board a boat and go to Neverland and “It’s a Small World” where you visit iconic countries of the world, and for thrills, hop onboard the “Seven Dwarfs Mine Train” to race through a diamond mine. “Main Street” links areas and where you’ll find the “Town Square Theater” where you can meet Mickey and enjoy a whole range of shops and restaurants, while “Liberty Square” offers “The Haunted Mansion” a fun ride with ghostly projections, amongst other attractions. Do not miss the daily 3pm Character Parade and the world famous “Happily Ever After” night time show which is a jaw dropping firework, digital projection, laser and music spectacular that brings Disney stories to life ! Walking into EPCOT you can’t fail to miss the giant, beautifully crafted geosphere, Spaceship Earth which hosts an attraction narrated by Dame Judi Dench and covers human communications all the way back to the Stone Age! The World Showcase is an exciting zone of 11 pavilions featuring countries around the world, with replica buildings, traditional food and hosted by native speakers, and some fun rides like "Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure" where you sit in a giant rat and shoot around a 3D simulated kitchen and the enchanting "Frozen Ever After" where you board a Norwegian ship and explore Arendelle and meet all its infamous characters. If you love science, head to the World Discover zone and for thrill seekers, don't miss “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind” rollercoaster in the dark with its reverse launch and 360 spins. “Soarin’ Around the World” in the World Nature zone is an 80 foot high IMAX digital projection lifts you up on a seated hang-glider and whizzes you off to well known sights across the world. Definitely don’t miss “Luminous – The Symphony of Us”, the evening dancing fountains, music and firework spectacular over the lagoon with a lovely inclusive message. Disney’s Hollywood Studios. To start with, don’t miss “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge”. My jaw literally dropped with the life sized Millennium Falcon and Oga’s Catina which just looked so realistic, however “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance”, where you get to be part of the Resistance and go head to head against the First Order and avoid stormtroopers galore – simply the BEST RIDE EVER!!! “Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run” was also brilliant as you’re actually in the cockpit heading to hyperspace. Finally don’t miss the stores here….from full outfits to handbuilt lightsabers! For buckets of cute, heads to “Toy Story Land” and have fun on the “Slinky Dog Dash” rollercoaster and my favourite “Toy Story Mania!” a 4D game where you get to laser shoot moving targets for points across different games. Other highlights were “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway” where you take centre stage in an old skool cartoon, “Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” with some great tongue in cheek acting and blasts of snow into the audience and the “Twilight Zone Tower of Terror” too traumatized to speak about as my stomach is still in my throat. The evening show here is “Fantasmic!” held in a giant amphitheatre, Mickey himself battles all the evil Disney baddies with pyrotechnics, water jets, light displays to a heart thumping music score and which culminates with a celebration with all the Disney characters. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the largest theme park in the world at 580 acres! The iconic 145ft high “Tree of Life” features more than 300 animal carvings and is located on “Discovery Island” which features highlights such as the 3D film “It’s Tough to Be Bug” and where you can meet Mickey and Minnie at the Adventurers Outpost. Pandora – The World of Avatar is the most recent addition to the park and was hands down my favourite area, with weird and wonderful plantlife, the “Na’vi River Journey” which was a gentle boat ride through the planet and best of all the “Avatar Flight of Passage” 3D ride where you actually get paired with an avatar and ride on the back of a banshee through the jungle and across the oceans! Africa was well created with life like markets and restaurants, the amazing “Festival of the Lion King” with its carnival like atmosphere and the really fun “Kilimanjaro Safari” where you get to hop a jeep and ride through the savannah to spot lions, rhinos and lots of other animals. Asia features a thrilling rollercoaster ride, “Expedition Everest – Legend of Forbidden Mountain” which speeds up and down the mountains to avoid the Yeti, while I enjoyed the soon to be replaced “Dinoland USA” with its fun “Dinosaur” ride where you go on a crazy, rickety mission in the dark back to prehistoric times to bring back a dinosaur to save it from extinction! Disney Springs is a huge on park shopping, dining and entertainment complex around 25 minutes via complimentary shuttle bus from the Grand Floridan Resort & Spa and the Polynesian Village Resort. With over 96 shops, there’s a great array from standard high street stores and pop ups selling jewellery, clothing, gifts and homeware to specialist shops. There are over 69 places to dine and drink and these include Disney Quick Service and Table Service restaurants, plus every type of food and beverage you can think of from food trucks, to bakeries and chocolate shops to coffee shops, wine bars and Irish pubs. Add to this 25 shows, attractions or events so you can watch live bands, see the latest movie, go bowling, meet artists etc and the star of the evening, is the 10 minute magical light show, “Disney Dreams That Soar”, where 800 drones take to the sky above Lake Buena Vista at 9pm and 10.45pm. If you're looking for a holiday to create happy memories for all the family then check out Disney as I guarantee you'll all be grinning from ear to ear

25 August 2024

This was the first time flying Aer Lingus internationally, so I was keen to be able to compare with some of other well known carriers. Well I have to say I was really impressed, I lucked out securing an emergency exit seat on the way out and the leg room was HUGE! Lunch was ample and offered a good choice and the wi-fi worked really well for me to clear up some last minute work emails. On the return I was treated to an Business Class upgrade, and wow, if you have the funds, I’d definitely recommend. The configuration meant that some of the window seats were single person ones given them a double work space, I was in the middle on the right hand side and got a little extra space too and it looked like a wider seat width. Complimentary amenities in a handy little bag had everything you needed for an overnight flight and the lie flat bed was one of the longest I’d been on with ample room with your feet. The service was some of the friendliest and best I’ve had, the attendants were so attentive, drinks placed as you literally finished the last one, the food was super nice too with smoked salmon and a decadent chocolate tart. The choice of entertainment was broad and as this was a US flight you could watch some of the latest blockbusters – I managed to cram in 5 movies across both legs! I’ve you been to the US before either via ESTA, visa or indeed like I did have a US passport – I’d highly recommend downloading the MPC (“mobile passport control”) app which is valid at most major US airports and some cruise ports. You can pre-populate some fields prior to travel and then once you landed submit the 6 declaration questions and capture a photo of each traveller. You are able to add up to 12 travellers on one submission. Once processed, you receive a receipt and then can head to the signposted CBP processing lanes. To give you some idea, I only had one person in front of me and got through security in less than 5 minutes, whereas those without took over 45 minutes. One thing to note is that the MPC receipts are time sensitive so only submit once you get your luggage as you have a think 4 minutes to then get through border control. I was staying at the new renovated and absolutely stunning Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Harkening back to the Victorian Era and with rooms inspired by Mary Poppins, this Deluxe Resort is the top hotel at Disney World. The rooms are splits into low level blocks with beautiful scent pumped in and the squishiest carpets ever. The rooms are huge, my room enjoyed two queen beds plus a double sofa bed, a lovely furnished terrace and immaculate bathroom with rain shower. One thing I loved was the amount of plug sockets including USB ports, the quirky touches like bird shaped light bulbs and a proper powerful hairdryer, plus every TV Channel known to man, from all the Disney Resort and Disney+ shows to ESPN, ABC etc. One of the resort’s main bonuses is that the monorail to the parks goes straight into the hotel on the 2nd floor, there are boat transfers to Magic Kingdom and you can even stroll back in 10 minutes from the park along the lake. For dining, we ate dinner at the Grand Floridian Café (table service restaurant), with an extensive choice and giant portions and then grabbed breakfast and snacks the next day Gasparilla Island Grill – that’s also where the free drinks refill stations are located. If you really wanted to push the boat out try Victoria & Albert’s fine dining restaurant with its tasting menu and wine pairings or for romance, enjoy a cocktail in the Enchanted Rose bar, inspired by Beauty & The Beast. For days when you want a break from the parks, enjoy one of their two pools, the beach or get active in the fitness centre, basketball courts or arcade games room. Whilst on site, we wanted to see how other Disney resort hotels compared to each other and enjoyed a tour of a wide range of Deluxe, Moderate and Value Hotels. For Deluxe, we visited in addition to the Grand Floridian & Spa, the Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Village Resort and the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. For Moderate we toured the extensive Caribbean Beach Resort and then for the Value hotels, visited both the Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts. Given the size of Disney World (47square miles), there are actually 25 resort hotels you can select from and on park perks include 30 minutes early park access and for Deluxe Hotels/Villas extended evening hours in select parks on select nights, plus of course you can take advantage of the Disney dining plans (currently FREE with bookings for 2025* t&c’s apply), complimentary Disney transportation to the parks varying from the Skyliner, monorail, boats and buses plus free on-site parking if you’re hiring a rental car and lots more…. If you’re staying on park in a Disney Resort hotel you have the ability to book a dining plan (Currently FREE with bookings for 2025*t&c’s apply). These are a fantastic way to budget for meals upfront so you don’t need to worry about feeding the family while away as your meals and snacks are already pre-paid. There are a mind blowing over 170 locations across the resort hotels, Disney Springs and the theme parks and you’re able to pre-select whether you prefer “table service” or are more a “quick service” type of family and you can make reservations up to 60 days in advance and over 21’s can even enjoy an alcoholic drink with their meal. They basically work the same way, your meals & snacks are pre-loaded on your Disney card or Magic Band (if you have one) and then every time you make a purchase you just touch card/band and you get a receipt showing your latest balance. With a plan you also get the resort refillable mug! I think what surprised me the most was the quality and variety of the food, we ate across multiple different locations so we got a great sense of the choice – want to grab a giant turkey leg no problem, prefer to enjoy huge plates of pasta or juicy burgers we got you, need a dole break (legendary pineapple whip) we have those too or if you’re trying to stay healthy pick a humungous fresh salad or grilled salmon with green beans. Don't get me started on the fun food - I never ate so many Mickey Mouse shaped foods in my life – ice cream, ice cream sandwiches, waffles for starters! If you want a unique experience why not book an action packed Character Breakfast and meet your favourite friends or enjoy high end Signature Dining, some of which can rival Michel Starred restaurants.

23 June 2024

New Zealand is 11,500 miles from the UK, so like myself most of clients head to this beautiful part of the world on an extended bucket list trip. I'd always recommend given the long journey to enjoy a stop over for 3 nights enroute which will also help to ease your jetlag as New Zealand is between 11 and 13 hours ahead of the UK depending on the time of the year you go. New Zealand has four distinctive seasons, so is really a year around destination but peak season and the best weather is December to February. A lot of my clients prefer to self drive either in a car or motorhome, as you drive on the left and the roads are clearly sign-posted and much quieter than the UK. I was travelling solo and wanted to be able to enjoy the scenery so I opted for an escorted coach tour that would cover both North and South Island across a pretty intensive 14 day period. One of the things I learnt was don't be deceived by the size of the country, there are so many things to see and do, that after visiting myself, I'd always recommend a minimum of three weeks if you want to cover both islands. My tour started off in Christchurch, also know as the "Garden City", reinvigorated after the 2010/11 earthquakes the city is a lovely blend of artsy shops, independent restaurants with a beautiful and expansive botanical garden and a fun tram that runs through the city. After a couple of nights here, we set off to jump aboard the TranzAlpine train and enjoyed some spectacular scenery through gorges and over viaducts. We had a quick pit stop at Hokitika, the heritage and cultural centre of the west coast renowned for its jade and then continued onto Franz Josef and its infamous glacier, the glacier has retreated over the years so the best views are by taking a flight over this natural wonder. The next day we hit the Haast Pass and the Southern Lakes, including ice mint coloured Lake Hawea and Lake Dunstan, then drove onto Arrowtown a very cute historic town with its gold rush buildings, before hitting Queenstown with Lake Wakatipu (an inland lake with a restored steamship) and the infamous The Remarkables mountain range and popular ski area. Queenstown is the adventure capital and I loved this laid back town, there are so many activities to do, so I chose the Skippers Canyon Scenic Tour and invigorating Jet Boat ride on the Shotover RiversKI, plus took the gondola up to the observation deck and enjoyed an hour at the Kiwi Park being lucky enough to see young kiwi birds in their blacked out enclosure. Froom Queenstown, we headed through the Cleddau Valley to Milford Sound where we enjoyed a cruise through the Fiordland National Park with its thundering waterfalls, before travelling to Te Anau, one of the South Island's largest lakes and onto the "Edinburgh of the South", Dunedin which had a really interesting museum, the Otago Settlers Museum, lovely art lined alleys and is also know for Speight's Brewery and the nearby Lanarch Castle. Next up was heading across the Canterbury Plains with a stop at Omarama, this quirky little town is the headquarters of Steampunk and the museum is really fun and unique, plus there's a Victorian style street with boutique stores and a great farmers market. Then it was back heading north and up to Picton, where we caught the Interislander ferry across the Cook Strait to North Island and its compact capital Wellington. Wellington has a stunning waterfront with restaurants housed in reclaimed warehouses, colourful street art and one of the best award winning museums I've been to, Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. Don't miss the funicular for some great views across the city and you'll be spoilt for choice with lots of uber cool cafes, bars and restaurants. Continuing through North Island, we drove along the Kapiti Coast, past the humongous Lake Taupo and onto Rotorua, the home of bubbling geysers and Maori Culture. We enjoyed a fantastic evening at Te Puai, enjoying hangi-inspired cuisine, a cultural performance with haka and then a tour around the thermal valley with its steam jets and bubbling mud pools. The next day we headed off to Hobbiton, to see Middle Earth for ourselves and enjoy a magical tour of the Lord of the Rings 12 acre movie set including actually exploring the new human sized hobbit holes - I can't tell you how much fun this was! Our next to the last stop were the Waikato River's Waitomo Caves where we took a fascinating boat ride in the darkness before it became literally radiant with thousands of glow worms! Then it was onto Auckland, New Zealand's largest city and home to two yacht filled harbours plus some great tourist attractions like the Sky Tower which you can bungy jump off, the All Blacks Experience and the not to be missed Weta Workshop Tour where you can get hands on and immerse yourself in a wacky world of special effects, props and larger than life sets. New Zealand gave me some long lasting, wonderful memories and I'm sure you'd love it just as much as I did!

16 June 2024

If you're looking for a fascinating stopover for an Asian or Australasian multi centre this should be on your list! Singapore—known as both “Lion City” based on the story of Sang Nila Utama's sighting of a lion on their shores and “Garden City,” due to its many parks and tree-lined streets is a wonderful melting pot of cultures brought to it by immigrants from all parts of Asia Singapore has a plethora of attractions and is perfect for couples, solo's and families - there really is something for everyone. Singapore is really easy to get around, the subway system is clean and efficient, taxis are a plenty or you can walk from neighbourhood to neighbourhood. The city is a a combination of the hyper modern and the traditional. For stunning views go to the Marina Bay Sands Observation Deck, 56 floors up and enjoy an amazing 360 view, then a short walk from here you can explore the expansive Gardens by the Bay including the wow factor Cloud Forest with its 35m indoor waterfall, plus the Flower Dome and Supertree Grove, which is best viewed after dark. For a stunning view across Marina Bay head to Merlion Park and take a photo with the infamous statue, or take whirl on the Singapore Flyer, one of the largest observation wheels in the world and view the route of the Formula 1 race track! If you're interested in history, head to the Civic Centre with the impressive City Hall, St Andrew's Cathedral, Victoria Concert Hall, National Gallery and National Museum of Singapore. Looking for somewhere to eat? You will be completely stuck for choice, from Michelin starred restaurants to some of the best street food globally. Take a stroll along Boat Quay and Clarke Quay with its scenic setting and multi-coloured restaurants or head to Chinatown and after dining visit the Thian Hock Keng Temple or the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. If architecture is your thing - definitely don't miss Tiong Bahru, named as one of the coolest neighbourhoods by Vogue, its a complex of art deco buildings and has a fabulous hawker centre. For culture vultures, head to Arab Street and Haji Lane in the Kampong Glam area and enjoy the traditional shops and impressive Sultan Mosque. Also don't miss Little India with its extensive gold, spice and fabric markets and the breath-taking Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore's oldest and largest Hindu Temple with its ornate carved deities. For shopping, head to Orchard Road and one of the mega malls, like ION and Paragon - aswell as all the high street and luxury branded shops they also have great basement food courts If you fancy extending your stay in Singapore then I recommend heading over to Sentosa, a short taxi ride away and enjoy this island's charms including its pristine beaches, tropical gardens, skywalk and amusement parks

02 June 2024

After sending multiple clients off on their bucket list trips to Lapland, I thought it was time to go an experience this winter wonderland for myself. Lapland is not a country but a region that covers vast areas of northern Scandinavia and part of Russia. For my trip I selected Finnish Lapland and took a direct flight to Rovaniemi. The airport while small was very efficient and had a lovely winter scene create in the baggage claim area. While you can catch a taxi, it's easier to pre-book a transfer and my lodgings were only a short 30 minute journey. I was staying in a gorgeous Panorama Hut, these newly built cabins are in the forest surrounded by nature and piles of snow. Set about a 5-8 minute walk from the reception/dining area, while only compact, they are furnished immaculately in traditional Scandi style and have everything you need, queen sized bed, kitchen area, floor to ceiling windows and a cute shower/bathroom area plus are always toasty warm. On arrival I was provided with a thermal over suit that would keep me warm even if it went down to -30 degrees (thankfully it was pretty mild while I was there), wool socks and scarf and waterproof boots, I was allowed to keep these for the duration of my stay. I'd booked an action packed 4 day itinerary. I'd arrived early afternoon but as the sun sets so early I simply unpacked and then went and had a lovely hearty dinner in the restaurant. The next day I enjoyed breakfast and then joined the group and walked down the the husky kennels, where we had chance to meet the husky puppies and were give an informative talk about their lives, how far they can travel, how long they work for etc. We then partnered up and enjoyed a thrilling 5km Husky Sled ride across the frozen lake and through the snowy forest, while one person sat in the sled, the other drove and shouted "mush", it took a little practice to get the hang of breaking and keeping the speed consistent as the dogs love to just run and run. Later that night, it was then time to head in a coach for a trip towards the border with Sweden on an Aurora Hunt, we seemed to drive in the middle of nowhere but it was actually an area of frozen lakes and we got the chance to walk into the middle and given there was no light pollution we were able to witness an amazing light show and I'm glad to say the Northern Lights came out to play! The hunt took us to three locations and each one offered a different perspective on this natural phenomenon. The next day was probably my favourite activity, after a short coach ride into the centre of Rovaniemi, we got kitted out with our helmets and gloves and walked down to the frozen river, we had a detailed safety briefing and then took off in formation, I absolutely loved it, it gave me a real adrenalin buzz as the instructors allowed to you let the throttle out so you felt like you were flying, we also went up and down into some forested areas and part way through the 3 hour Snowmobile expedition enjoyed hot berry juice. The final day I got up early as the sunrise was too good to miss and went on a walk over to the island where you could take a few different snowy trails off varying kilometres and see native flora and fauna, plus at select points there were outdoor fire pits so you could stop and have a warm drink or smores and warm yourself up. After a couple of hours, I then headed back to the reception area and met the group to go and walk down to meet our Sami herders who would take us on a magical and gentle Reindeer Sleigh ride through the snowy forest, before treating us to hot berry juice in a real Lavvu (teepee). After all the action my final activity was a wonderful and relaxing Private Sauna experience to warm up. While the trip I'd booked was more adult focused, children were welcome on all activities and there was also the option for kids to go and have a private meeting with Santa...and while I was very tempted, I thought I was a little too old now :)

29 September 2023

Historically known as Siam, Thailand is centrally located in South East Asia and is bordered by Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia After being given a place on the Travel Counsellors Gold Trip which is awarded to the top performing travel agents, I was keen to extend my stay to see as much as possible of this diverse country My 12 day itinerary allowed me to visit 5 key destinations, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Khao Sok and Khao Lak, taking me from bustling cities to the dense jungle and finally to golden beaches. Travelling around Thailand is really easy, their domestic flights are extensive, trains, metros and buses are efficient and tuk tuks or cabs are easy to secure, and with English widely spoken and signs in both Thai and English in the major tourist areas you can’t go far wrong. Bangkok is the main getaway and while it can get a seedy rap, I loved exploring the busy capital. I stayed in the Banyon Tree Hotel with a gorgeous rooftop pool and easy access to the main attractions. Don’t miss sights include The Grand Palace and the beautiful temples of Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho and Wat Arun which is across the river and easily accessible by the local ferry. If shopping is more your style, you will be spoilt for choice with huge malls sitting side by side local street vendors. Food lovers you’ll soon realise Pad Thai is just one of 100’s of delicious local dishes – but watch out for the number of chillis as your tongue can soon go numb! If you want to escape the city for a day and get out into the countryside, I can recommend a visit to the Meaklong Railway Market where the vendors have to pull back their goods 8 times as day as the train passes through and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, where you take to a paddle boat and weave through a myriad of waterways where the locals sell all manner of goods direct from their boats. Chiang Mai and its smaller neighbour Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand are a short 1hr 30 minute flight. Located in the mountain region, Chaing Mai was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom until 1558. I stayed in the Old City in one of the many cute boutique hotels. Known for its infamous night and weekend street markets and Thai boxing stadiums, the city also has a plethora of stunning temples, including Wat Chedi Luang dating back to 1385 with its 80m high chedi, the immaculate golden Wat Phra Singh and Wat Sri Suphan completely covered in solid and painted silver. For a fascinating cultural day trip head north to the Chaing Dao natural cave temple and visit some of the local tribes like the infamous Karen Longnecks to learn about their way of life. Next I flew down south to Phuket Island, a mountainous island Phuket offers some of the finest beaches along its 90 miles of coastline combined with lively towns. I was staying at the new Melia Phuket Mai Khao a short 15 minutes from the airport and known for its serenity and wellness programs, perfect if you want to get away from it all. For my fourth stop I wanted to experience Thailand’s rainforest so headed into the Khao Sok National Park to Elephant Hills, a luxury tented jungle camp for 2 nights. This animal welfare and sustainable camp is all about taking care of rescued elephants and educating people about these gentle giants. In addition they offer unique nature activities from mangrove explorations to kayaking and jungle treks and offer one of the only floating tented camps in the world. After all the excitement of jungle life, my final destination was the luxurious beach retreat, the Devasom Khao Lak. Built between the natural lagoon on one side and the stunning sandy beach on the other, this beautiful boutique hotel with Michelin star restaurant, a whole program of local experiences from cooking classes to sound bathing, features fabulous accommodation including the jaw dropping Two Bedroom Sky Villa Pool Penthouse. Thailand is the perfect beach stay destination, but also offers so much more!

04 August 2023

With the world now fully open and ready to be explored, lots of clients have been asking me to create their bucket list trips for them, from safaris in Tanzania, Australia and New Zealand combo’s to touring around Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. One of my favourite trips from a few years ago was my 12 day tour of Peru and now that the political unrest from start the year had died down, its now back on people’s radars. The biggest pull is of Machu Picchu, standing at 2, 430 metres above sea-level in the middle of a tropical forest in the mountainous Andes region, the complex dates back to the Inca Empire and is definitely one of the greatest architectural achievements anywhere in the world. With over 200 structures hugging the mountain and divided by steep stone terraces, this ancient city combines a mix of residential, ceremonial, religious, agricultural and astronomical buildings. Best visited in the dry season (May to October) when you can enjoy sunny days and clear, the peak tourist season is June through to August and the best time to do trekking and the infamous Inca Trail. But Peru also offers so much more. Most people will fly into Lima (“The City of Kings”), the capital while offering all the trappings of modern day life is a World Heritage Site with a historical centre and while its been severely damaged by earthquakes it still offer great colonial buildings, museums and the Government Palace and it’s the only South American capital on the coast! Make sure to also visit the archaeological sites of Huaca Pucllana and Huallamarca with their pyramids and excavated mummies. After spending 2 days in Lima, I flew to the red roofs of Cusco which is the historical capital of Peru to start to get acclimatised. With it’s open plaza and cobbled winding streets, this beautiful town has history around every corner. Make sure to visit Andahuaylillas known as “The Sistine Chapel of the Americas” – you will be blown away with the inside décor, gold is literally everywhere! If you like souvenir shopping, head to the San Blas neighbourhood, here you’ll find every type of artisan craft. Cusco is also a great stepping stone to fascinating archaeological sites such as Sacsayhuaman with its gigantic boulder walls. From Cusco, I headed into the Sacred Valley which runs through the Urubamba mountains, again this area offers a plethora of archaeological sites and picturesque villages such as Pisac renowned for its Inca architecture and handicraft market plus chance to try roasted guinea pig! As you continue through the verdant valley, make sure to stop at Ollantaytambo built over 3.500 year ago to see the imposing fortress and climb to the top of the terraces for wonderful views. From here you can then take the train to Aguas Calientes with its thermal baths, plethora of restaurants and the gateway to Maccu Pichu. From here you have the choice of taking the bus up (about 30 minutes) to the site or walking the 9km (about 2 hours).

08 July 2023

Just back from a marvellous cruise on the Rhone River in the South of France where for 7 days we enjoyed fabulous sights in Burgundy and Provence. We flew into Nice and then had a two hour transfer to Avignon where we boarded the MS Shakespeare. Multiple operators offer the Rhone but I wanted to try Riviera given its staterooms offered full sized sliding windows and all the excursions were included, plus my mum wanted a hairdresser onboard! River cruises are the perfect introduction for clients not sure if they’d like to cruise. Great for multi-generational families, you unpack once and get to visit lots of interesting places 15 minutes from where you dock, all while enjoying gourmet cuisine and making new friends along the way. Our cruise started in Avignon, a medieval city anchored by the imposing Popes Palaces, the largest Gothic palace in the world and the Pont d'Avignon immortalised in the French song. Next was Arles, home to the magnificent Roman Colosseum and multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites, plus the inspiration for Van Gogh's Sunflowers and The Night Café. The next day we took a coach ride to the beautiful Ardeche Gorge featuring sheer 1,000 ft limestone cliffs, expansive forest and a snaking blue water river with the infamous Pont d'Arc natural arch. The Rhone River offered views of chateaus, red roofed villages and vineyards aplenty before we arrived into Tournon, home of the first suspension bridge over the Rhone and then Vienne, another Roman stronghold with well-preserved amphitheatre and temple dating back to 10 BC. From here we continued upriver to the very cute Chalon-Sur-Saone with its cobbled streets and half timbered houses and birthplace of the inventor of photography. Our final stop was Lyon, the 3rd largest city in France built on the back of the silk industry, has a lovely Old Town with antique shops and traboules (narrow passageways enabling merchants to transport goods to the river without getting wet), it's also the gastronomic capital with over 20 Michelin starred restaurants.

15 May 2023

Japan has finally removed its Covid travel restrictions and bookings for this country that had its borders closed for so long are now booming! I was lucky enough to explore this fascinating country as part of a two week small group tour, given I was travelling solo for this trip I thought it would be more fun to join a group of like-minded adventurers to discover a new country. Our itinerary was jam packed but allowed me to immerse myself in 5 key destinations, Tokyo, Tsumago, Kanazawa, Hiroshima and Kyoto, taking me from urban jungles to mountain villages. Japan is a complex mix of ancient traditions and modern wizardry and it was so fun to see the juxtaposition of these in the main cities. To travel around Japan, you really need to leverage their highly efficient train system, which allows seamless connectivity from the metro to the local and rapid express trains to the high speed Shinkansen “bullet trains”. I can also recommend their bus service and in places like Kanazawa there’s even a tourist bus that offer two loops to the main attractions and is very easy to use. As expected, English is not very widely spoken especially outside the main tourist areas but you can get by with some sign language and residents were always pleased to try and assist, plus lots of signs are in dual language. Like any modern country, the array of accommodation is extensive with all the major brands having hotels, plus lots of local Asian companies, however one of the things that is unique are ryokans – these are traditional Japanese guesthouses where you sleep on a futon on tatami matting and for a fun experience, I’d definitely recommend staying a night or two to experience. For foodies, get ready to experience a taste overload, from sushi, udon and ramen to dumplings, shabu shabu and okonomi-yaki Japan’s best soul food, and for dessert lovers try strawberry sandwiches and red bean paste pancakes! There is too much to put into this short article but here are some don’t miss highlights: For Tokyo, visit the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa and also the Meiji Jingu Shrine in Harajuka, while one is in the bustling centre the other is located in a beautiful park. For entertainment, head to Shinjuku and the neon, then explore Kabukicho with its love hotels and Golden Gai a district of 200 small bars. Tsumago is a protected cultural town dating back to the Edo period where motorized vehicles are prohibited. To get to this charming location we had to walk through the countryside passing rice paddies and waterfalls. Enjoy soaking up the atmosphere and don’t miss the heart pumping walk to the Tsumago Castle ruins. Kanazawa served at the seat of the powerful Maeda Clan up until 1870 and became a centre of culture with gold leaf, tea ceremonies and lacquerware all having significance. Make sure to visit the Nagamachi Samurai Residence District with preserved houses and compact but fascinating museums Shinise Kinenkan and Maeda Tosanokami-ke Shiroykan. Also worth visiting is the Myorinji “Ninja Temple”, Kenrokuen Gardens, Kanazawa Castle and the Kaga Yuzen Kimono Centre. Hiroshima is famous for the devastation caused by the very first atomic bomb. Pay your respects at the minimalist designed Peace Memorial Park and thought provoking Museum. For a great day trip head to Miyajima Island with its Itsukushima Shrine, iconic floating torii gate, free roaming deer and cable car accessed Mount Misen. Kyoto the old capital is great to act as a base, take a trip to World Heritage Site, Himeji Castle widely considered Japan’s most spectacular castle, stroll through Gion (the Geisha District), visit cute, pedestrianised Sannenzaka and the Yasaka Shrine. Finally, don’t miss the Imperial Palace, Nijo Castle, the Samurai Museum and Kinkakuji “Golden Pavilion”. Japan is back on the tourist map and it really won’t disappoint!

01 April 2023

I just got back from a fabulous 4 days in Palma. Mallorca is a popular Mediterranean island for beach holidays, but if you’re looking for a city break that is rich in culture, has an amazing food scene and is compact enough to explore in a long weekend...the island’s capital is perfect! We stayed in the old historic centre at the 5* Nivia Boutique Hotel just off the Passeig Des Born which is similar to Barcelona’s Ramblas (although Palma also has its own Ramblas too!) and is the main promenade flanked at one end by the fountain, lined by shops and scattered with outdoor dining options. A great way to get your bearings is to book the Hop On Hop Off Tour, with 18 stops when all are operating, it operates a wide circuit around the city and allows you to jump off when you want to visit a particular point of interest. I used the bus to get to Castell de Bellver which is perched on a hill about 3 miles from the city. Built in 1300 this royal residence and fortress, later became a prison. It’s a Gothic circular design, features an interesting museum and offers amazing 360 views. Two more iconic buildings are the Le Seu (Palma Cathedral) and Palau de L’Almudaina, standing next to one another and overlooking the bay of Palma, these imposing buildings date back to the 14th century. The cathedral dominates the skyline and you can clearly see Gaudi’s influence. One of the most impressive sights are the giant stained glass “rose” windows which cast beautiful rainbow reflections across the interior. The palace once an Islamic fort with its beautiful interior courtyard, imposing Gothic Hall and quaint chapel is still used today by the Royal Family to host state receptions. If you love architecture, don’t miss Can Casayas and Pension Menorquina, a charming pair of buildings designed by Francesc Roca i Simo or Can Roca, which was one of the first Modernista buildings to use ceramic decoration on its façade. One of the nice things about the city is the number of pedestrianised shopping areas, so starting in Plaza d’Espanya, head down Calle Sant Miquel to Placa Major and from here walk in any direction to enjoy local boutiques and stores selling traditional goods - for popular El Corte Ingles and high street shops it’s an easy 10 minute walk over to Avenida Jaime III. After all that exploring, make sure to enjoy tapas in one of the hundreds of local restaurants and finish off your meal with an ensaimada, a typical Mallorcan pastry. Missing the beach? Don’t worry, stroll east along the seafront promenade and you’ll arrive at the city’s urban beach with beach clubs at either end!

13 December 2022

If you're looking to jet away for some winter sunshine and enjoy active day trips as well as relaxing on beautiful beaches...then look no further than Mauritius! Mauritius is located in the Indian Ocean just off the coast of east Africa and is just 61km long and 45km wide. You can fly direct from London or from Manchester connect in Paris or Dubai. I was lucky enough to spend 8 days here in December and one of the first things you notice is just how genuinely friendly and helpful everyone is. There’s a fantastic array of accommodation on the island from deluxe villas on 5 star resorts to smaller eco-friendly all inclusive properties. The resorts are of a high standard and while it might be tempting to simply lie in the sun on your lounger all day, there’s a wealth of fascinating places to go and explore. If you’d like a quick snapshot of the island, I’d recommend taking a north or south east island tour – lasting a day you can do this in a small group or as a private tour. The north and north west is the more developed and touristy part with the capital Port Louis and Grand Baie town. Port Louis was larger than I expected and had a vibrant downtown area with a great Central Market with wonderful fruit and vegetables and a new Caudan Waterfront area with international stores and craft market. On the outskirts it’s worth a quick visit to the old stone Fort Adelaide built by the British with its impressive views over the city and then drop down to Aapravasi Ghat to learn about the 500,000 indentured labourers who came to the island to work on the sugar plantations between 1834 and 1920. Don’t miss L’Aventure du Sucre, a former sugar factory restored after 200 years into a fascinating museum with 10 interactive areas and the chance to taste local products. The north is also renowned for its lovely sandy beaches, swimming and watersports and it’s worth visiting Mont Choisy, Trou aux Biches and Cap Malheureux which also has the iconic red roofed Notre-Dame Auxiliatrice church. For a completely different experience of the island, head to the centre and south west for beautiful natural landscapes including the Black River Gorges National Park. The centre has a much slower pace of life and as its higher the temperature is cooler. Trou aux Cerfs offers a stunning view of the island and is the dormant volcanic crater. From here you pass the huge Mare aux Vacoas reservoir and can head to Ganga Talao also known as Grand Bassin. This was one of my favourite places and is important for Hindus being a place of pilgrimage for the Maha Shivratree festival which brings 500,000 Lord Shiva devotees to the area for a week long celebration. There’s a traditional temple on the crater lake surrounded by colourful Hindu gods and you won’t miss the gigantic 33 metre high Lord Shiva and Lord Durga statues. Finally make sure not to miss a visit to La Vallee des Couleurs Nature Park, which offers thrill seeking activities from quad biking and ziplining and the opportunity to view the unique volcanic 23 coloured earth attraction.

19 November 2022

If you’re looking for a weekend break but don’t want to travel too far, I can highly recommend the beautiful city of Lincoln, just over a 2 hour drive from Manchester. Probably one of the most under rated city breaks, Lincoln is a small city that packs a big punch for tourists. The most popular draws are Lincoln Castle and Lincoln Cathedral. While smaller in scale to places like Windsor, the castle built in the late 11th century by William the Conqueror is well preserved and as well as exploring the grounds, you can visit the Victorian Prison and walk the medieval walls for some great views over the city. This is also the only place in the world where an original 1215 Magna Carta and 1217 Charter of the Forest can be seen! Lincoln Cathedral an easy 5 minute walk from the castle has a history spanning over 950 years. First built in 1072 you’ll be blown away with its Gothic architecture and intricate stone and wood carvings. If it looks familiar, this is because it’s served as the backdrop for a number of movies including The Da Vinci Code. I was staying in Bailgate one of the most historic areas, with cobbled streets, quaint independent shops and some of the city’s best restaurants. Look out for the crooked house on Michaelgate and then defy gravity walking down Steep Hill to the new part of the city. Other points of interest include The Guildhall which was built in 1520 and is still used by the local council and the 16th century Stonebow arch over Lincoln High Street. After all that history, its nice to know the new part of the city also doesn’t disappoint. There are multiple shopping centres with all the major high street brands and the Brayford Waterfront offers a whole host of restaurants and bars with great views across the water. This area is also home to the University of Lincoln. If you prefer guided tours rather than self exploring, you can hop on the sightseeing bus or book one of the popular walking tours that commence in the Castle Hill area.

19 November 2022

I’ve just been fortunate to spend an amazing 4 days in Verona. A short flight from Manchester, this beautiful Italian city and UNESCO World Heritage Centre is definitely well worth a visit. In terms of attractions, this city can offer something for everyone. For foodies, enjoy crispy pizzas and al dente pasta with every topping under the sun, 100 flavours of gelato and this is Prosecco and Aperol Spritz territory! The most popular tourist attraction is Juliet’s House, the fictional home of Romeo’s amore. Shakespeare never actually travelled to Verona but based his tragedy on a local tale. The city dates from Prehistoric times but rose rapidly in importance in the 1st century B.C and there are a number of Roman sights from the Verona Amphitheatre which used to host 30,000 for gladiator battles, to the smaller Roman Arena across the river, plus the remains of old city gates including Porto Borsari. Verona was a strategic location on the road between Milan and Venice and allowed access to up into Germany so had a turbulent past. The city thrived in the 13th and 14th century as noble families including the Scaligers vied for power. Their legacy still lives today as you can visit the Castello (fortress), uniquely designed Castelvecchio Bridge and even the Scaliger Tombs. Church lovers will be spoilt for choice, I enjoyed visiting Santa Anastasia which was built in the 11th century and is adorned with amazing works of art. If you prefer palaces, walking down Corso Cavour every other building is adorned with marble sculptures, from statues of gods to coats of arms. For people watching, head to Piazza Bra and Piazza delle Erbe, Bra is by far the largest with cafes lining the outside, the town hall and a park in the centre, while Erbe is smaller but more picturesque and is surrounded by stunning historical buildings with original fresco’s and has a lovely fountain. Here you can find the Torre Del Lamberti that dominates the skyline and you can climb the 368 steps to the bell tower for commanding views. Alternatively cross the infamous Ponte Pietra (bridge) and take the funicular up to St Peter’s Castle that sits 781 feet above the city.

24 April 2022

New York, New York…so good they named it twice! I was fortunate enough to live here for 12 years and I’m actually writing this article from my hotel room as I’m visiting to see how the city is post Covid. New York is such a fantastic place to visit and there’s something for all the family. For this trip I was staying in Chelsea, it’s a great neighbourhood being very centrally located without being in the middle of the usual tourist traps. In terms of accommodation the city offers so many wonderful options, from 5 Star hotels with Michelin starred restaurants through to good value 3 Star chains. It’s critical to plan your trip in detail as the number of tourist attractions is mind boggling, from standard ones like the Empire State, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, Times Square, Grand Central, Rockefeller Centre, Central Park, South Street Seaport, the 9/11 Museum & Memorial the list goes on and on. There are also a number of new attractions I’ve just visited that are also well worth adding to your hot list, Hudson Yards features The Edge (an amazing viewing platform) and the Vessel (a funky interactive sculpture), the extended Highline (an old elevated railway line that stretches down to 12th Street), Little Island (an urban park on the Hudson River), Summit One Vanderbilt (an interactive viewing experience) and The Colour Factory (perfect for Instagram moments). But one of the great things about New York is just simply exploring the neighbourhoods, from Soho and Little Italy, Chinatown to the Lower East Side, Meatpacking to Hell’s Kitchen, Brooklyn to the Upper East Side, part of the cities charm is how the city changes between blocks. I like to walk as much as I can, but the subway is easy to navigate or simply hop in a cab. Ready to explore?

24 April 2022

I just got back from a fabulous 5 days in Seville. If you're looking for a city break that has one of the best sunshine records in Europe, wonderful architecture, amazing food, great shopping and easy access to explore Andalucia...this is the place for you! The city has such a lovely warmth and charm, from the old Jewish district Santa Cruz to the lively and authentic Triana district home to flamenco dancers and matadors, just across the river and connected via the Bridge of Isabel II. With outstanding historical buildings from the Royal Palace (Real Alcazar) which is the oldest palace in Europe and has stunning interior filigree decoration and an amazing garden complex complete with maze, to the striking 104 metre tall The Giralda which is the present day bell tower of the Santa Maria de la Sede Cathedral. One of the most recognised attractions is the Plaza de Espana built for the 1929 World Exhibition with central pool and stunning ceramic tile benches that represent each region in Spain. Down by the river visit La Maestranza Bullring and the Torre del Oro (Gold Tower) which previously was an observation tower and prison and now houses a maritime museum. Then for something more contemporary, Metropol Parasol or "mushroom" as it’s known locally features a panoramic terrace offering amazing 360 degree views over the city. If you fancy a day trip from the city, coastal Cadiz with its lovely urban beach flanked by a traditional white pavilion and two ancient fortresses, the old Roman city of Cordoba with its wonderful labyrinth of streets filled with brightly coloured plant pots and the Mezquita-Catedral, The Great Mosque of Cordoba dating back to the 8th century, and Granada with its infamous Moorish Alhambra fortress complex are all well worth a visit.

07 March 2022

The next day we headed south to Kandy which is at an altitude of 500m and is the cultural centre of Sri Lanka. En-route we stopped at Dambulla Royal Cave Temple and Golden Temple. A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery consisting of 5 giant caves is the best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. It’s a bit of a hike to get to the top, there are paths but they are very steep before plateauing out. Standing on a rock mass at 350ft the series of caves were turned into a magnificent rock temple by King Valagambhau. The highlight was the 47ft long Buddha cut out from the rock, hundreds of deities on the walls and ceilings dating back to the 15th century and no less than 150 life size statues of gods. Truly impressive! After Dambulla we continued on to Kandy, the capital of the last Singhalese Kingdom and a relaxed hill station that was once captured by the British. The town is dominated by a huge lake and the royal palace complex which runs alongside. Security was very tight here and we had to go through scanners and show passports as it attracts a lot of important military and political leaders. Its home to the infamous Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (brought from India around 310 AD, the tooth is the symbol of Sri Lankan Kings and preciously guarded in a special shrine within the royal palace). The temple is stunning and adorned with intricate carvings of silver, gold and ivory, it attracts thousands of visitors every day and we timed it perfectly to watch the traditional drummers announce the opening of the shrine and devotees carry out a pooja ceremony. Our hotel for the next couple of days was the beautiful Amaya Hills Kandy, right at the top of one of the mountainous switchback roads it offered stunning views over Kandy and the surrounding area. The service here was unbeatable with a glorious welcome ceremony and amazing food. For our second day we decided to go shopping and I think my credit card wished I’d stayed by the pool. Kandy offers everything you can desire, we picked up beautiful wooden handicrafts and masks, the brightest batik work and gold jewellery adorned with sapphires (Sri Lanka is known to have the highest quality in the world). Our final destination was Kalutara, a 4 hour drive away and a major city sited just south of Colombo. It’s one of the most popular holiday resorts in Sri Lanka and is known for its picturesque beaches and historic buildings. Most of our time here was spent relaxing by one of the two pool at our gorgeous hotel, Anantara Kalutara and being waited on hand and foot. The grounds of the hotel are extensive with the lagoon on one side and the ocean on the other, there’s activities to do on site including a zip line, watersports and a giant chess set and the rooms were fabulous – ours was one of the largest rooms I’ve ever stayed overlooking the ocean and the secluded beach. We did enjoy one day trip out as I wanted to see a little more of the south coast. We started off driving to Galle, which is an old fortified city founded by the Portuguese in the 16th century and known for its fort, lighthouse, Dutch church and lovely boutique shops and restaurants. Then we headed off to pay a visit one of the local turtle sanctuaries where they protect the eggs and allow them to hatch before releasing the baby turtles into the sea. Turtles are caught by local fisherman to be sold for eating, so the sanctuaries pay the fishermen over the asking price, tend any injuries and then release the turtles back. Our final stop of the day was Ambalangoda, a small town famous for its ancient devil dancers and traditional wooden mask artisans. There’s a really cute little museum here, where the 5th generation owner takes you through the history of mask making and you can even have a little go at wood carving in one of their workshops. Then all too soon it was time to head back to Colombo Airport for our flight to the UK.

07 March 2022

Sri Lanka lies in the Indian Ocean just off the tip of India. With a fascinating albeit turbulent history, it’s a great destination whether you’re a beach lover, culture vulture or thrill seeker. I recently returned from a 12 day tour visiting some of the top tourist attractions. We flew from Manchester with Qatar Airways who we couldn’t fault and had to transfer at Doha, the airport is huge and immaculate given the recent investment for the upcoming World Cup. We arrived in the early morning and after having our PCR test, health form and vaccination certificates checked we headed to the arrivals hall. You can’t take Sri Lankan Rupees into the country, so the easiest thing is to change your money at one of the counters in arrivals hall (and then change any extra currency back at one of the lenders before you check in for your return flight). Given the expanse of the country it’s a good idea to hire a driver/guide for your trip, so we were welcomed by Roshan who would be with us for most of the trip and was invaluable and a true joy to be around. Our first stop was Negombo a bustling, fishing town on the west coast, close to the airport and ideal as a resting point before the start of any tour. We arrived early morning so we were staying at one of the JetWing properties for one night to rest after the overnight flight and acclimatize (Sri Lanka is 5.5 hours ahead of the UK). Leaving the next morning we headed to the northern Matale District and the village of Sigiriya, best known for its proximity to the magnificent ‘Lion Rock’ ancient fortress which rises 200 metres from the jungle and offers a breath-taking climb to the top. En-route we headed to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, an archaeological treasure trove with countless fascinating ruins. This was the second capital of Sri Lanka for three centuries, the kingdom of Great King Parakrambahu and is now a World Heritage site. It’s an expansive site and highlights include the Gal Viharaya which features three huge stone monoliths of the Lord Buddha, in a sitting, standing and reclining position. We were staying at the stunning Aliya Resort & Spa in Sigiriya for two nights, nestled in the middle of the countryside with wonderful views of the distant mountains. The hotel has a grand staircase entrance, jaw dropping infinity pool and was decorated with an elephant thematic, with one off paintings and sculptures. The next day it was an early start as I wanted to climb the rock fortress and to avoid the crowds and hot sun we wanted to be there for the opening at 6.30am. Considered the 8th wonder of the world, Sigiriya was built in 5AD by patricide King Kasyappa and at one time had 500 hand maidens living in the palace. Leading up to fortress you pass through landscaped gardens before starting your climb. There are over 1,000 steps and it’s not for the faint hearted, the metal staircase has open treads and is quite narrow in places but if you keep looking up when you get to the top the view is well worth it! On the summit are the remains of the ancient civilization including old bathing pools and even the King’s throne carved in rock, and then part way down you get to see the famous cave frescos which amazingly still retain their colour after all those years. Late morning we headed to Anuradhapura the 1st chronicled capital of ancient Ceylon and a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site due to the Bo Tree and the 2nd Century Ruwanvaliseya Temple, one of the world’s tallest monuments (100m tall, 77m wide and 300ft in diameter). It’s one of Sri Lanka’s premier ancient attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site and really does live up to its reputation. The sheer scale of the site where all you can see for miles are giant white stupas in every direction was awesome. To enter any religious site in Sri Lanka you have to take off your shoes, our guide advised us to keep on our socks as the ground was absolutely scorching especially as we’re not used to walking around barefoot! We were lucky enough to be there for the local pilgrims chanting prayers and reciting mantras and giving offerings to the Bo Tree, you have never seen so many plates of fresh fruit and flowers. The sacred tree was planted in 288BC and legend says that this tree grew from a branch taken from the holy Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India under which Buddha became enlightened. For the afternoon, we decided to take a break from history and we went on safari in the Minneriya National Park – the jeep was a little rustic but the 3 hour trip was really fun. The driver/guide was ex military and had a real passion for wildlife, we saw over 60 elephants including calves and a huge pregnant female, plus mongoose, peacocks, crocodiles and too many birds to name.

29 September 2019

There are so many rivers in Europe to choose from, from the Danube and Volga to the Loire and the Elbe. Selecting which river to cruise on really depends on what type of destinations you’re looking to visit. We selected the Rhine, home of medieval towns, castles and wineries. This river is also critical to the European economy, moving over 500MM tonnes of coal, cars and other goods along its 766 miles, from its source in the Swiss Alps through Germany and the Netherlands to the North Sea. Our cruise was to take in some fascinating ports of call: Amsterdam: A cultural kaleidoscope that offers something for everyone. Dozens of excellent museums and historic buildings, a winding maze of canals and exciting nightlife. We enjoyed a narrated canal boat ride, passing beautiful merchant houses, Ann Frank House and ended up at the Gasson Diamond centre. The rest of the day we people watched in the red light district, visited museums featuring artwork by Van Gogh and Vermeer, saw beautiful churches like Westerkerk and marvelled at the scale of the Central Station. Arnhem: Set in wonderful countryside, while only small, the town has been well preserved and features lovely independent shops and quirky art installations. The Battle of Arnhem directed by Montgomery was part of Operation Market Garden in September 1944. Despite scores of British parachutists dropping into the town, the bridge of Arnhem was never captured and the troops suffered devastating losses. In the area museums tell the dramatic WWII stories and the town proudly displays flags to remember the valiant efforts of the British soldiers. After sombre moments, we moved onto Doorwerth Castle, a beautiful medieval castle with gardens and moat built in 1260, it’s worth an hour exploring. Dusseldorf: Today we joined a walking tour. Setting off from Rheinpark, we passed one of 26 museums, the Kunst Palast which has a fun sculpture of a Rhino, saw the rotund Town Hall and one of Wolfgang Kliege’s lovely sculptures. Next up we wandered around Altstadt (Old Town) nicknamed “the longest bar in the world” due to its hundreds of pubs, explored Hofgarten and then Ko-Bogen, featuring upscale shops in striking, modern architecture. Finally, we ambled back along the Rhein Promenade giving a great view of the Rhine Tower. Cologne: Infamous for its Cathedral, this bustling city offers over 100 art galleries, 12 Romanesque churches, multiple museums and a history that harkens back to the Romans. Cologne is also well known for two liquids, Kolsch (a local beer) and perfume. Cologne Cathedral or Kolner Dom is simply stunning with its 13th century Gothic interior and the golden “Shrine of the Three Magi” (1220). Street after street offered glimpses of lovely architecture, medieval alleyways, fun statues and of course pubs galore! Our tour touched on only a part of the city, but we enjoyed strolling through the Old Market, past the Town Hall and the old Roman road before ending up at the imposing cathedral. Koblenz: A 2,000 yr old city formed at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, the city was occupied by France during WWII and heavily bombed. First up was a visit to German Corner and the giant monument of German Emperor William I astride a 14m high horse. The statue was destroyed by US artillery but replaced by the German president. Next up we passed the Jewish Monument, the Ludwig Museum and St Castors Basilica, before walking through the historic old town and seeing the beautifully preserved Jesuit College and the Schangelbrunnen “spitting boy” Fountain (watch out you don’t get wet!). In the afternoon we took the cable car up to the imposing Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, 118m above the Rhine, the castle features extensive grounds, battlements and high walls. There is a museum on site but the best reason to visit is for the incredible panoramic views. Rhine Gorge: The top of the Rhine isn’t that pretty to be honest, think lots of industrial scenery and freight vessels. However, the Middle Rhine Valley (65km) is chocolate box pretty, think narrow gorges, imposing hillside fortresses, quaint villages and rambling vineyards. A UNESCO World Heritage site, on average there’s a castle every 1.5 miles, most being constructed to collect tolls from traders during the 12th century. Lots of castles suffered severe damage in 1689 by Louis XIV troops but were since restored, we especially loved Marksburg and Stolzenfels Castles. Rudesheim: This is one of the prettiest towns I’ve ever visited, renowned for its wine, vines have been cultivated here for two millennial! There’s a plethora of shops selling local wine and you can also visit the Asbach Distillery, plus don’t miss having the speciality coffee made with flaming brandy and whipped cream. The town’s made up of cute houses and cobbled streets and is also known for its Museum of Mechanical Instruments and Christmas market. Eltville am Rhein: Quite simply beautiful! Street upon street of timber framed houses in immaculate condition on cobbled streets leading down to the river. Known as the “City of Wine and Roses”, this was the perfect place to sample a few of the local specialities from dry Riesling through to sparkling wines. The Electoral Castle is one of the town’s highlights, erected in 1345 the castle was home to the archbishops of Mainz and features a well tended rose garden. Mainz: Our final stop, the city was a key stronghold for the Romans who recognised the potential of the surrounding region for growing vines and as a critical trade route. Mainz’s most famous resident is Johannes Gutenberg who combined several innovations to develop a printing press using movable type that made the written word available to everyone. There’s a fabulous museum that takes you through his techniques and displays samples of his priceless Latin Bibles. Across the square (that houses a fabulous daily local produce market), is the vast 12th century St. Martin’s Cathedral. A huge, red sandstone edifice, the original construction started in 975 and 45 archbishops are buried here. One thing not to miss is the Nail Men tower, a form of propaganda and fundraising for the forces in WWI, these wooden statues had nails driven into them creating works of art in exchange for donations. In the afternoon, we took advantage of the large pedestrianised shopping area and enjoyed a few hours spending our last Euro’s. The Rhine was amazing and certainly didn’t disappoint!

29 September 2019

Cruising is now the fastest growing holiday sector in the UK and there’s a plethora of cruise ships and destinations to choose from, so I knew I wasn’t going to be spoilt for choice, it was more a case of how do I pick the right one for me. Given river cruising is the new comer and I’ve always been fascinated with castles and medieval cities, I plumped for a cruise down the infamous Rhine. There are a number of operators who offer tours, but I was enticed by Avalon’s full width sliding windows and the fact she offered an “Active Discovery” cruise so there were lots of great trips included as part of the price and in addition we could pre-pay for gratuities. My mum was coming along for the holiday, and cruising is perfect for multi-generational family holidays as it offers something for everyone, no matter what your age or interests. We flew to Amsterdam direct from the UK, a very quick flight and once you land it’s only a short taxi ride to the port. Once you get to the docks it’s a little confusing as there were a number of river cruise ships all docked but we finally spotted our ship and took our cases up the gangway. I think the first thing that struck us about the Avalon Panorama was her size, she was much bigger than expected, especially for only having 148 passengers on board and at no point during the course of the cruise did we ever feel crowded by people. In addition to two dining areas, there was a choice of three indoor/outdoor lounges and multiple areas to sit, we loved the expansive top deck the most with lots of chairs and loungers, a hot tub, giant chess and backgammon game plus a small pitch and putt area. Check in was quick, we enjoyed a complimentary drink while our room was prepped (if we hadn’t had booked our excursions there was an excursion desk where we could have sorted them) and then the staff brought our luggage down. The room was lovely, twin beds facing huge 12 ft windows, bedside cabinets, under bed storage for your luggage, a desk, full wardrobe, mini-bar, great sized bathroom with shower and a lovely settee and chair in front of the balcony. Later that afternoon once everyone was on board, we all met for a Welcome Drink, said hi to the crew including the captain and went through a mandatory safety briefing. Each evening thereafter, there would always be a Port Talk and Disembarkation Brief by the Cruise Director so you understood what was happening the next day, where to meet etc. As with all cruises all your meals are included, so get ready to indulge on a daily basis, full cooked breakfasts with a buffet fit for a king, multiple buffet options for your 4 course lunch and then al la carte 5 course dinners with waiter service. Plus if you were peckish in the afternoon, they also served cakes and hot drinks at 4pm to help you bridge the gap until dinner at 7pm. The nice thing was you also enjoyed wine, beer or soft drinks with your meals so it meant our bar tab was really very small at the end of the trip. It was also great to see that it wasn't fixed dining, so you could decide when to eat (between a couple of hours) and were free to sit at whichever table you wanted - so we ended up dining with different people each evening and made some wonderful friends from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I have to praise the staff on board, what a wonderful group of people from all over Europe, always friendly with a welcoming smile, nothing was too much trouble and they worked so hard. Some of the staff had some really interesting backgrounds , for example our waiter one evening was the Hungarian youth kayaking champion. Prior to the cruise Avalon give you access to a cruise personaliser (this isn’t as comprehensive as an ocean cruise) but allowed us to input our emergency contact details, gave us access to pre-select not only the included excursions and any optional excursions, gave us details on which dock the ship would be harboured at and also instructions of how to download the Avalon app (a nifty little app that gave you local maps for each port of call, attraction information and a ship finder). Every night in your room you also received a printed Daily Newsletter, this was brilliant as it gave full details as to what was happening the next day, what time the ship was sailing, meals times, excursion options etc. Our cruise was to take in some of the best ports of call, starting off in Amsterdam, next we’d visit Arnhem, followed by Dusseldorf, Cologne, Koblenz, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim before disembarking in Mainz. See my next blog for some of the great sights we saw. The excursions were really well organised, at the start of the week we received lanyards and ear pieces and then every day collected a newly charged speaker unit so we could listen to the local guides. Walking sticks were on offer for anyone needing assistance as were giant umbrellas for any rainy days. It was nice that there were multiple tour options each day which meant that the group size was never larger than about 20 people, so it was conducive to making friends and logistically easy to enter all the various attractions. Disembarkation day was really smooth, while we had to be out of our rooms for 9am (as the ship was taking on new passengers for its return journey to Amsterdam), we were able to leave our cases on the ship and have another day exploring Mainz before the reception team arranged for a taxi to the airport for us. If you’re unsure about cruising, taking a river cruise is the perfect introduction to this popular type of holiday. Being able to unpack just once and yet be able to visit multiple destinations was fantastic, enjoying 5 star service and fine dining every day, being able to relax on board or go off ship and explore each port of call made the trip extremely flexible. I can’t recommend cruising enough, so much so I’m already researching where to go for 2020.

23 June 2019

Once you arrive in Male, the seaplane check in desks are right outside arrivals and the actual terminal is only a 10-minute drive away. You simply check in, drop your cases off and the next time you see them they’re in the room at your hotel. I’ve always wanted to experience a seaplane journey but wasn’t sure what to expect. Relaxing in the hotel's private lounge, I enjoyed some lovely refreshments and got the chance to use the complimentary wi-fi, then we were called to Gate 1 and quickly whisked on board. The planes seat around 15 people, it is a little cosy inside, with a very narrow aisle and your luggage is stacked at the back of the seats. Also don’t worry about the pilots being barefoot, that’s completely normal! Seaplanes are more expensive than speedboats, but I promise the views more than make up for that, it was like I was in the middle of a Yayoi Kusama painting, random paint splats of ice-cold blue, gold and green scattered amongst the vast expanse of ocean. Niyama is a much bigger resort. Spread over two islands interconnected by a wooden bridge, “Play” (aimed at surfers and families) and “Chill” (aimed at couples and larger families) offer a wealth of activities for all the family. Niyama is a much more active resort, with a daily calendar of activities ranging from aqua Zumba and beach volleyball, to coconut painting and bracelet making. With one of the largest water based offerings, you can gain your Padi qualification, go snorkelling, parasailing or jet skiing to name a few, plus it’s one of the only resorts in the Maldives with a surf school, the chance to try a Seabob and even the new craze; jet packing. There’s a 24/7 fitness centre on site, a games room with everything from Xbox stations, pool table and table tennis to a mini cinema and even a golf simulator (both for private hire). For children, the kids club is extensive, with a water zone, climbing wall, stage and trampoline etc. At USD $20-30++ per hour it’s not cheap but with children accepted from 12 months and babysitting also available, it offers a nice respite if mum and dad need some alone time. One of the strong points about Niyama is its restaurant offerings, they’ve been creative in developing unique environments. Epicure is an airy indoor restaurant that's perfect for a leisurely breakfast and then there's a fantastic outdoor beach restaurant called Dune that offers a wide-ranging menu at lunchtime. Fancy dining on elevated walkways in the rain forest? Try “Nest” with its eclectic Asian influenced menu, visit an African village setting at “Tribal” and enjoy a 72-day dry aged steak. How about dining offshore at the seafood restaurant “Edge” and then going 6m under water and having cocktails at Subsix. For late night drinks you can also relax in the rooftop lounge Fahrenheit which features live music and DJ's in the evenings. I was lucky to be spending 4 nights in a beach pool villa and I have to say I was thoroughly spoilt. A humongous main room with king sized bed, private deck and pool with direct beachfront access beautifully screened behind masses of vegetation. The outdoor bathroom once again was beyond words, Bali inspired with two outdoor showers, soaking tub and lovely amenities. There’s a huge array of accommodation on the islands, from water villas to beautiful two-bedroom pavilions. Larger families will love the 3-bedroom beach pool pavilion with secluded beach, two giant pools and spa treatment room. For large groups (up to 14 adults and 8 children), you can even rent The Crescent, 5 overwater secluded villas with their own walkway, private chef and 2 dedicated butlers plus a whole host of other benefits. With a whole host of celebrities and royalty known to frequent Niyama, you know you'll be in great company. I always knew that a trip to the Maldives was going to be special, but my preconceptions of this being for honeymooners only has been well and truly turned on its head. The Maldives is the perfect luxurious holiday destination for anyone, whether you like complete relaxation, fun packed days, crave seclusion or are part of a group, there’s an island and a resort to suit you perfectly.

23 June 2019

The Maldives located in the Indian Ocean is an archipelago of over 1,000 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls, less than 2 metres above sea level. Historically known as a luxurious retreat for the rich and famous, given expansion of the airline network and resort offering, this beautiful part of the world is now available to discover for a whole range of visitors. Flying from the UK is easy with an Emirates regional departure to Dubai and then a quick layover to catch the direct flight to Male. Male is the entry point for everyone to catch their speed boat, domestic flight or seaplane to their island home. The Maldives are divided into North and South Male Atolls, so it’s important to understand where your island is located and how best to get there. I took a 35-minute speedboat to my first destination, the trio of Anantara resorts, Dhigu, Veli and Naladhu Private Island. Arriving after the hair blowing boat ride, you’re warmly greeted at the jetty and the first thing you notice is the sheer intensity of the colours, the bright white sand, the azure blue ocean, the striking greenery. Quickly whisked off to your room, you know immediately upon entering your beach villa that this is going to be a wonderful holiday. Dhigu offers 110 beach villas and the iconic over water suites and is targeted at families. The hub of the resort centres around Aqua Bar and the large infinity swimming pool with sandy walkways leading off through tropical jungle to your accommodation. The beach villas are ideal for 2 adults and 1 or 2 children, offering a private sun terrace and direct access to the beach with your own reserved sun loungers. The wow moment was opening the bathroom door and entering the luxurious garden courtyard which featured a giant outdoor bath and rain shower. If you’re after rest and relaxation, this resort is perfect. Despite 97% occupancy the resort felt extremely spacious and quiet, often I was lying on the beach and it was completely deserted. Anantara Veli is the hideaway adult only resort and is slightly smaller with 67 over water and ocean bungalows. A favourite for honeymoon couples, the island fringed by a turquoise lagoon and golden sands can’t help to inspire romance. The over water villas are located on a walkway to one end of the island, if you’re looking for a special treat, these are for you, with spacious terraces leading to your own steps into the ocean you really don’t need to leave your room. Out of all the resorts, Naladhu was my favourite. This small and exclusive private island is home to just 20 stunning houses all with private pools, 24 hour dedicated butler service, private dining and in-house spa service while still offering access to all the facilities at the sister resorts. The resorts dining facility, the Living Room is open 24/7, its ethos is that the resort is the guests’ home and as such they are able to access what they want, when they want. As most guests come to the island for privacy and relaxation, it’s common for guests to stay in their large and luxurious villas and therefore you really feel like you’re the only ones on the island. If guests want to explore, they can walk over the bridge to Veli but only Naladhu guests can gain access back to the island. The resorts offer 6 restaurants and 2 bars between them, while each offers a different menu, they all offer spectacular views and the finest dining you could wish for. I enjoyed a sumptuous 5 course dinner at Sea.Fire.Salt located at the water’s edge, with Asparagus Cappuccino as an amuse bouche and Maldivian Tuna Fillet on the menu you know this is going to be a great dining experience. The next night we decided to enjoy pre-dinner cocktails at Dhoni Bar and then to dine at Origami, a modern Japanese restaurant on Veli which provides live theatre with its teppanyaki kitchen. If you’re celebrating a special occasion the resorts “dining by design” program offers you a choice of unique and intimate dining experiences from torchlit beach side dinners with movie for 2 experience to an on the water private floating pontoon. If you’re not the type of person to just sunbathe for 6 hours a day, the resort offers a range of activities. Whether you’d like to try water-skiing, wake or knee boarding, take a snorkelling trip to look for turtles or sharks or sail off on a sunset cruise, enjoy a game of tennis, the gym or a meditation session, there’s something for everyone. Children don’t miss out either with the Dhoni club offering an exciting indoor and outdoor playspace while for under 3’s, babysitting services are available. One of the highlights at Dhigu is the spa, located over the water I can attest that the Signature Massage is 60 minutes of pure bliss. What sets these resorts apart are their service levels, Thomas the Resort Manager at Naladhu and his staff go above and beyond, whatever you want or need, however weird and wonderful, at whatever time of day, they will provide. With over nearly 40% of their guests being repeat customers and some guests returning for their 20th visit, you know they’re offering something special. After a blissful three days, unfortunately it was time to leave and head back to Male to catch the seaplane to our next destination.

05 November 2018

Zanzibar or "Spice Island” is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania and located 25kms off the mainland in the Indian Ocean. The area is made up of the main island “Unguja” or Zanzibar, Pemba Island and lots of smaller islands. I was staying at the Zanzibar Serena Hotel, located in Stone Town about 15 minutes from the airport. The hotel has been lovingly transformed from an old colonial building and it’s got one of the best swimming pools in the town. For day one I booked a walking tour to understand a little more about the history of this World Heritage Site. First stop was Freddie Mercury’s place of birth and where he lived until age 7, unfortunately you can’t go inside but it was cool to see where this amazing musician got his start in life. Next up was the Old Fort (Arab Fort), it's mainly ruins with a couple of turrets but worth a quick visit as it’s also the site of the Zanzibar Film Festival. Close by is Forodhani Gardens, the site of the original port and behind is the House of Wonder, once owned by the Sultan and used for ceremonial duties while next door is the Sultan’s Palace, you can go inside and take a short, guided tour. Moving along the seafront you’ll pass the Customs House, used to collect customs duties from merchants and then the Old Dispensary which are now government offices. Across town the Central Market, trades all manner of products from spices and cloth to fruit and vegetables. The most interesting area were the meat and fish sections – while the stench of live butchering was not for those with weak stomachs, it was interesting to see the auctions taking place. The Slave Market and Cathedral are main tourist sites. The museum explains about the slave trade and its impact on the local people and culture of the island. Originally developed by the British, they later pushed for abolishment with Dr Livingstone being one of the key advocates. Outside in the grounds is a thought-provoking statue of oversized slaves in chains, you can also go down into the cellar and see the holding pens where slaves would have been held prior to sale. The Cathedral is built on the site of the market square where the tree stood which the slaves were tied to. The tour ended at Tipu Tip’s house, the famous Arab trader who built up a large empire in Eastern Congo on the back of slave trading. To lighten up my mood after all the deep and dark history, I took a stroll down Kenyatta Road and Gizenga Street to purchase some lovely handcrafted souvenirs. Zanzibar has such rich history that it seemed a shame to just lie on one of its stunning silver sand beaches for the duration of my holiday so I hired a local driver to explore the island's West coast. Our first stop was the Mtoni Palace Ruins located just north of Stone Town. The name which means “place by the river” is the oldest palace in Zanzibar and was built between 1828 and 1834 for Sultan Said. The palace is in ruins after a fire in 1914, but large walled areas still remain and a guide showed me photos and floor plans as to what the palace would have been like in its heyday. Up to 1,000 people would have been linked to the palace and the Sultan used the property to entertain VIPs. At the back of the palace is a large enclosed grassed area where the Sultan’s daughters would have taken pony rides and where peacocks and flamingos roamed. Circling this area were the Sultan’s bathhouse, aqueduct and outside lavatories. Close by are the Kibweni Palace Ruins, the building looked lovely but unfortunately, it’s now Presidential Offices so you’re not allowed to visit. Carrying on up the west coast you pass through Bububu, a fairly lively town, whose name is derived from the noise of the railway locomotives that ran between 1904 and 1929 covering the edge of the clove plantation to Stone Town. 20 minutes further up the coast close to Mangwapani (Arab Beach) is Coral Cave. After the British made slave trading illegal in 1845 with a treaty with Sultan Barghash, several slave traders were determined to keep their livelihood going in secret. The cave is a very deep, natural underground chamber, the entrance has been widened now for tourists to enter and handrail added to the steep stone carved steps. We took torches down as it was absolute pitch black at the bottom, my guide took me down through the slippery coral rock to the tunnel that led underground to the sea, so that the slaves could be secreted away without being seen. A few minutes away are the Slave Chambers, a man-made concrete prison where illegal slaves were held in same-sex pens with only small skylights to let in some light. You can still see the holes on the wall where their chains were attached. Both these places were chilling but fascinating to visit. We continued north passing Mikokotoni, a bustling fishing village with a market was in full swing selling fruit and vegetables. Our final stop was the idyllic Kendwa Beach which stretches for miles, offers pure golden sand and is extremely clean. There are your usual hawkers selling all manner of goods and the beach is lined by high-quality hotel complexes. Kendwa has become known as the place to come for the monthly Full Moon Parties. Just a word of warning, the beach is not accessible at high tide so make sure you get back to your location as otherwise you’ll be stuck trying to navigate the back roads or paying out $20 for a boat trip back. On my final day I visited Cheetah’s Rock located near to Kama Village. This once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done! Cheetah’s Rock is a rescue and conservation centre, in addition to meeting rescued wild animals, you also get in-depth information on their welfare, wildlife conservation and get an insight into the work the team are doing around the world helping to protect and conserve endangered species. What’s different about this centre is that you actually get up close and personal with the animals. Imagine hand feeding a 290lb male lion and hyena, sitting in a white lion’s enclosure as Savannah a 90lb lioness prowls around brushing your legs or sat in the enclosure with Maktoum and Sharqi, two Cheetah brothers as they showcase their hunting skills. None of the animals have been drugged, declawed or defanged – they have had hours of time spent with the team learning that with 100% positive reinforcement man and animal can get close without either party being stressed or come to harm.

05 November 2018

There aren’t any direct flights from Manchester, so I flew with Emirates to Dubai and then onto Kilimanjaro. I’d pre-arranged transport and after a 70-minute drive reached Arusha – my home for one night. I stayed at the Four Points by Sheraton in the centre of town near the Clock Tower, which marks the spot halfway between Cairo and Cape Town. A good-sized town, Arusha’s Central Market is a hectic but interesting place to visit, here you can find unusual spices and foods or if you enjoy bargaining, visit the Masai Market. If you enjoy shopping, there are three main malls with food courts and entertainment. I would recommend visiting the Cultural Heritage Centre which is on the outskirts; there’s a host of curio shops here selling jewellery, antiques and local crafts. I was picked up at 8am to head out on the long drive to the Serengeti. I was pleased to see the Land Cruiser was robust with a raised ceiling for great game viewing and cushions on the seats to prepare for the rocky roads ahead. On the way you pass through small town after small town of ramshackle shops and ladies wearing the most beautiful and bright outfits you’ve ever seen. The first national park we hit was Lake Manyara known for its large flamingo population. We continued onwards, climbing steeply through rainforest and along bumpy roads up to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. This national park has one of the highest density of animals in the world. The crater is a huge depression in the landscape and jaw-dropping to see. After a quick photo stop we continued to a picnic site and bumped into a giant marabou stork and watched a Belgium couple get dive bombed by a black kite! After lunch we continued around the crater, passing Masai tending to livestock and saw our first few game sightings – a group of zebras and a giraffe. Continuing along uneven terrain we finally reached the gates of Serengeti and entered for an amazing 4-hour game drive. From giant impala to warthogs, buffalo and elephants to crocodiles and baboons we were spoilt. The two best parts of the day were the hyena who were stopped in the road and the pride of lions we saw cooling off in the shade. The dirt tracks can be pretty precarious so expect to be bounced around but it’s all good fun – we actually ended up rescuing a pair of honeymooners whose jeep had broken its chassis and dropped them off at their lodge. I stayed at the Sopa Lodge with amazing views over the Serengeti plain – the rooms were large and comfortable, the restaurant served high-quality food and the staff could not have been more welcoming. After an early 7.30am start, the animal viewing started pretty much immediately with a herd of over 30 elephants passing by the vehicle. From there around the next bend we came across zebras and multiple types of antelope. We were out for a full 11 hours today so I hoped that we’d see a lot and the Serengeti didn’t disappoint. We were fortunate to see a lioness with four cubs resting under a bush, a group of 10 lions hanging out on a rock and then a couple of hours later we spotted a cheetah and her two cubs with a fresh kill. Next up were herds of water buffalo which can be fairly intimidating when staring right at you! We drove around various water holes and saw some amazing birdlife from the giant secretary to plovers, storks and a kori bustard to name a few. We also spotted groups of hippos wallowing in the mud – at one point there had to be well over 50. We saw a hyena chase a baboon and jackals, at least three types of monkeys including the velvet monkey, plus a ringed mongoose and tree hyrax. An unbelievable day today! Set off from the lodge and immediately came across two male lions and a short distance away the remains of a water buffalo carcass that was being attacked by vultures and a hyena. Next up was a herd of elephants that were busy breaking tree branches and surrounded the jeep as they walked across the road. We had a quiet spell as we drove around the vast plains but then the driver’s walkie-talkie blasted to life – he spun the jeep around and we got there just in time to see a leopard lounging in a tree before he took over after a group of gazelles. Then we had another call and raced over to a small river to watch a group of lions who headed our way and came within two feet of our vehicle! The rest of the day we saw plenty of other animals and birds including an eagle and watched c.400 water buffalo take ownership of the plain as they headed to a waterhole. In the afternoon we headed to the Ngorongoro Crater where I’d be spending one night. We stopped at a Masai village on route which was something I’ve been longing to do. After a $50 donation to the village, I was thrilled to watch a welcome dance and song by both the village, then I was taken around by the chief’s son, and he explained how the Masai live, showed me inside their huts, I met the children in the school house and then purchased some handmade souvenirs. The hotel was perched on the rim of the crater with amazing views down into the game viewing area and only 15 minutes from the descent road. The crater has a much different weather pattern than the Serengeti so heavy mist/cloud cover hangs over the area and makes the temperature very cool with a good chance of drizzle. The crater is home to an amazing collection of animals, that thrive with the great vegetation and constant access to fresh water. As soon as we entered the park we came across a family of baboons busy grooming one another, then close by we had to stop the jeep to allow what seemed like 1,000 water buffalo and wildebeest cross the road. While the variety of animals we saw in the crater didn’t seem to match the Serengeti, the sheer number of animals we came across was immense. From large dazzles or herds of Zebra, groups of roaming elephants and at least five different prides of lions (including a poor male who had been in a recent fight). The birdlife was amazing with pelicans, grey-crowned cranes and masses of flamingos. You won’t find giraffes actually in the crater itself, but we saw three amble across the rim way above us. The highlight of the day was spotting a black rhino and her baby, while too far away to take a decent photograph, just being able to see them in their natural habitat made my day. After a great final game drive, it was then time to head the three hours back to Arusha to rest up and get ready for the next part of my Africa adventure.

05 November 2018

If you want a short break away in a picture postcard city, then Bruges has to come top of the list. The capital and largest city in West Flanders, Bruges is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe and a 90-minute train ride away from Brussels Airport. The city centre is so picturesque, think cute winding streets, cobbles galore and a network of canals that criss-cross the city and give it its nickname of “Venice of the North”. The historic city centre claims the distinction of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you can still see today why it was once one of the world’s greatest commercial cities. My accommodation was the beautiful 4 Star Grand Hotel Casselbergh, created from three historical residences known as “Cassellbergh”, “Zeven Torens” and “t’Fransch Schildt”, which were previously owned by local aristocracy. For the first day I’d booked a walking tour and was meeting in the main market square (Grote Markt) close to the iconic clock tower or the “Belfry of Bruges”. Originally housing the treasury and town’s archives, today you can climb the 366 steps up to the top (warning the staircase is narrow and steep) for wonderful views. Make sure to get there early though to miss the crowds. The main square is flanked by the Provincial Government Palace, the Historium and cafes selling all your traditional Belgium favourites like Flemish Stew. The Historium is a fun, interactive experience that takes you back to the golden age of Bruges through seven historically themed multi-media rooms. Wandering past the belfry you come to the old cloth halls, where market traders used to sell their wares, from here it’s easy to get lost as a lot of the winding roads all look the same with pretty, red brick coloured houses. One of the many interesting buildings is the Gruuthuse Museum, while currently being renovated (opens Spring 2019), this luxurious city palace houses an amazing collection of silver, furniture and sculpture. A few minutes round the bend you come to Sint-Janshospital, over 800 years old, the hospital used to be managed by monks and nuns who took care of the sick and poor. It’s definitely worth wandering around the complex and visiting the old dormitory and pharmacy. From churches, monasteries and abbeys the city has an amazing ecclesiastical heritage. Two of note well worth seeing are the Church of Our Lady and St. Saviours Cathedral. Crossing the canals, you come to a lovely little street called Wijngaardstraat with the old horse head fountain and some of the prettiest houses. Crossing the bridge you come to Beginhof, a walled community inhabited by the Order of St. Benedict nuns featuring a serene garden and white coloured houses. On the return pass by the masses of infamous swans chilling out by the canal side. Swans are revered in Bruges but the reason for their existence is subject to debate. The most gruesome tale is that of Pieter Lanchals, the right-hand man of Emperor Maximillian of Austria. The story goes that the emperor lost his wife in a hunting accident in Bruges and as such heavily taxed the city. On visiting the city years after he was taken captive and was forced to watch the beheading of his advisor, whose surname meant “long neck” in Old Dutch. He eventually was released but ordered the city to pay penance by decreeing they must always keep “long necks” in its canals. The city continues to honour this tradition and ensures the number never drops below 100. Looping back, it’s worth a quick visit to the De Halve Maan brewery, down a little alley there’s a glass window where you can see the beer pipes under the ground and you can taste the locally brewed Zot beer. A fun way to see the city is to take a horse and carriage ride (€50) or a boat trip (€8). I took to the water and enjoyed a leisurely 30-minute tour of the canals with a comedic Belgian captain. Bruges features a wealth of outdoor sculptures, some of the best I came across were by Rik Poot, created 1981 – 87, “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” are simple yet striking bronze pieces in the museum quarter. Also not to be missed is “Skyscraper” (The Bruges Whale), a gigantic sculpture sited in the canal near the Jan van Eyck statue. Constructed from waste plastic collected from Hawaii beaches, US artists Jason Klimoski and Lesley Chang are trying to raise awareness of the universal problem of ocean pollution. Make sure to visit Burg Square if you love architecture. The buildings are in a wide variety of styles from Neo-Classicist to Renaissance and dating back to Gothic and the beautiful Town Hall or Stadhuis that was built in 1376. The square was one of the earliest inhabited areas of the city and also features the Old Civil Registry/Old Court House, the Palace of the Liberty of Bruges and the Basilica of the Holy Blood, my favourite building of all with its gorgeous golden statues and medallions of the Flanders Counts. Bruges features some of the best restaurants in Belgium and its fast food is also a cut above the rest. With lovely crispy fries, golden waffles available on every corner topped with fruit and cream or dripping with chocolate sauce, and arguably the best (and in some cases the strongest) tasting beer in Europe, not to mention the sumptuous chocolate shops selling everything from truffles to chocolate tools, it’s definitely not good if you are on a diet! For the final day we decided the explore the east side of the city. Our first stop was St. Anna’s Church, built in the 17th century, the architecture reflects its simple Gothic influence but surprisingly holds a wonderful Baroque interior with carved wooden panels and the largest single painting in Bruges – courtesy of past wealthy patron’s donations. Just round the corner you can stop at the Kant Museum (the lace centre is housed in the renovated old lace school) and the Folklore Museum (housed in a row of cute, whitewashed 17th-century dwellings, you can explore an old pharmacy and classroom and even see old costumes). We continued further east to our final destination. Close to the old city walls four windmills line the river bank. There used to be 29 mills in Bruges, the majority being grain mills. Sint-Janshuismolen is a hollow post wooden mill and was constructed on the orders of 26 bakers in 1770! If you pay €4, you can actually climb the steep steps and go inside to see the millstones and giant wooden cogs. Bruges you’ll be in my memories and on my waistline for a long time!

15 July 2018

My favourite artist Ed Sheeran was playing in my home town, but I just wasn't quick enough to secure tickets, hence why I'm now at Stockport Station and in less than three hours I’ll be in the land of the Toons. Newcastle. One of the most iconic cities in the UK with its industrial heritage, scenic bridges and lively nightlife. I'd booked a three-day weekend – plenty of time to explore the sights and sample the infamous Geordie hospitality. My hotel, Hampton by the Hilton was literally across the street from the train station and while it’s 1970’s dreary façade was a little off putting, inside the friendly staff, clean and modern bedroom, 24/7 bar and help yourself breakfast made up for it. I’d brought along my mum for the trip and promised her an afternoon of shopping. What’s nice about the city is that everything is close by and very walkable – a quick 5-minute walk to Grey’s Monument and you were in the middle of shopping heaven. Whether you prefer the big high street retailers on Northumberland Street or in the Intu Centre at Eldon Square, the infamous Fenwick or the independents in Central Arcade or Grainger Market you’re spoilt for choice. Newcastle is known as a creative hub so make sure to look out for local street artists work. Check out Sean Henry’s “Man with Potential Selves” consisting of three bronze, 2.5m tall statues. Admire the region’s “Famous Faces” mural by miner turned artist Bob Olley and don’t miss “Nine Things To Do On A Bench” glass etchings on the back of various benches, a lovely collaboration between Cate Watkinson and Julia Darling. Being on holiday gives you license to dine out and the difficult part was deciding where to go. Newcastle offers every type and price range of dining option. Given it’s a university city there’s the usual plethora of fast food joints but also fine dining establishments. We dined at Jamie’s Italian, Mr Oliver’s franchise and then found a great hole in the wall Italian joint called Roberto’s La Dolce Vita. The décor was typical, and it needed a spruce of paint but what amazing food and service – huge portions (pizza’s like flying saucers!), fresh ingredients and quick service. After dinner, we hit the row of bars on Westgate Road/Collingwood. The area is made up of the usual UK big city chain pubs so don't expect anything unique but with a mix of lovely stone facades, outdoor seating, live music, fruity cocktails and hearty pub food you can’t go wrong: The Mile Castle – A Wetherspoon’s pub, in the imposing Grade II former National Savings Bank, download the app so you can order drinks from your table. The Waiting Rooms – a modern narrow style pub stretching nearly a whole block, eclectic seating, known for specialty gins and award-winning pies. The Union Rooms – with bars set over two floors this venue packs in a crowd with its Sky Sports offering. The Laundrette – a Manchester implant, think cocktails and carbs, more of a restaurant, you have to order food if you are drinking. Revolution Bar – another bank conversion, 30ft ceilings, marble pillars and leather banquettes with a lounge like atmosphere. On Sunday I’d booked a tour through Newcastle Gateshead Tourist Information with a local volunteer, meeting outside the JG Music Store. Brilliant value at £5 for a 90-minute walk with a wonderful narrative of the local history. My “avourite sights: Grainger/Grey Street Grey’s Monument – Grade I listed monument built in 1838 for Charles Grey, ex British Prime Minister who gave his name to Earl Grey tea! You can climb the 164 steps to the top on a guided tour but book early as slots sell out quick. Grainger Town – beautiful development of 1830’s classical buildings that are part of Newcastle’s Central Conservation Area. Built by Richard Grainger, the 450 buildings are mainly four storeys high and feature a mixture of turrets, domes and stone columns. Theatre Royal – designed by brothers John and Benjamin Green, the theatre opened in 1837 but was sadly ravaged by a major fire in 1899, now restored to its former glory the theatre hosts national British tours. Old Newcastle St Nicholas Cathedral – Over 900 years old, this Church of England place of worship is the seat of the Bishop of Newcastle, look inside at the wonderful craftsmanship of the alter carvings and stained-glass windows. Castle and Keep – Dating back to Roman times, the site has seen a turbulent past evolving from a timber fort to its current stone incarnation built by King Henry II. Today you can visit the Black Gate and Castle Keep, which have been lovingly restored and it’s a great place to learn about how the city got its name. Old City Walls – the defensive walls date back to the 13th century and helped secure the town from Scottish invasion, originally 2 miles long, large areas were demolished over time but check out the remains on the western side near Stowell Street. Bessie Surtees House – close to the quayside, this 16th century Jacobean merchant’s house holds the tale of requited love as high society Bessie climbed down from the first-floor window to elope with John Scott, a lowly coal merchant’s son who eventually became the Lord Chancellor of England. The Quayside Sage Gateshead - you can’t miss the imposing silver snail like structure that dominates the skyline and is one of the premier live music venues in the UK, offering a whole host of concerts, festivals and workshops. Millennium Bridge – the winning design from a council competition in 1996, is the world’s first and only tilting bridge. Spanning the River Tyne, the bridge allows pedestrians and cyclists access to the Gateshead’s Quays arts quarter. Make sure to get quayside for 12noon to see the bridge in action. Baltic Centre – a former flour mill, now a centre for contemporary art, featuring frequently changing exhibits from international and local artists alike. Don’t miss the 6th floor rooftop restaurant for amazing views. Sunday market – check out the artisan market selling all manner of tasty local treats and handcrafted goods. Highly recommend New Vintage Boutique where I picked up a lovely summer top. St James’s Park Football Stadium – home of Newcastle’s Premier League Football Team. The 52,000-seat stadium is only a 10 minute walk from the centre and as well as football matches, also hosts major international music acts and conferences. You can even don a hard hat and enjoy a rooftop tour! And as they say up north “seeya, gan canney fre noo!”