17 June 2021

So like the rest of us my holiday plans were ruined, changed, moved destinations 3 times until cancelled! then Crete went on the open list, my husband had worked like most of us through this and was desperate for a holiday to switch off, recharge, rest and relax. So I agreed and we flew to Crete in October half term. PCR on arrival no issue at all, travelling was smooth, wearing masks throughout the airport flight and transfer but once in resort it was like there was no pandemic! The hotel was spotless (Stella Palace) we picked this as it offered a good 4*+ All inclusive option which was just what we needed, some Sunshine, quality food and rest and not having to explore as we were unsure how the actual island was open for tourists, so this was a safe bet! The Hotel was as I say spotless, staff in masks, very attentive, we only needed masks to use the buffet restaurant and also gloves to handle plates and serve, but once seated no issues, sanitizer was available everywhere and people were so happy to just feel normal there were no issues distancing ect! There was no need for mask in the Ala carte as we were served. This hotel ticked the box for our multi generational holiday (80 to 12) and the Water park on site was an added bonus, we did go out for walks and a early morning jog along the beach but apart from that stayed in the resort to comply with local restrictions. I also managed to visit the Stella Island Adult only resort next door as i send lot's of couples here it was good to get a real feel for it ! (us Travel agents always do research on our own holidays!) Was I worried before travel? Yes Was I glad I went? Yes Will I travel again during a pandemic? Yes! Please do get in touch for any questions.

01 December 2019

Well, my husband had a big birthday coming and he has always wanted to go to the Maldives, so it was an easy choice. We flew Premium Economy direct to Male from Gatwick with BA, a great service and the flight was 11 hours. We transferred to our islands' private airport lounge at Male and waited with drinks and food to board our Seaplane to Vilu Reef. The Seaplane was not as scary as I thought it would be it was a fun experience! We arrived to be greeted by staff that really personally looked after us for the next week, their attention to detail was excellent. We stayed on a fairly small island on an all-inclusive basis but did eat in the a la carte one evening, where they offered lobster and many other sea creatures and meats. The island was a barefoot island, no need for shoes which I really loved, I only put on sandals for dinner then removed them again. There were lots of water sports to do like diving and snorkelling off the house reef which was amazing! It was like being part of the Finding Nemo movie! There were the most beautiful fish, turtles and reef sharks, black tip sharks and a 5ft lemon shark, sting rays and manta rays, truly amazing! Days were spent by the main pool or on the beach outside of your own villa or in your Water Villa, (we stayed half in a beach villa and half in a water villa to get the best of both). It was so relaxed and chilled, followed by a paddle board or kayak, there were jet skis, paragliding, Donuts and other high adrenaline water sports too! Evenings were spent eating dinner, watching the fish and sea life that hung around for any bits you didn't want to eat, followed by drinks in the Sand floor bar. Some evenings there was entertainment from a DJ (he was very good), live music and even crab racing! We did a sunset dolphin cruise but the weather was not good to us, we didn't see a sunset this night (no worries we had every other evening!) and unfortunately no dolphins either! Again, not a problem, as we have been so fortunate to have seen them several times before on boat trips in Greece and whilst cruising, it was still a lovely trip. It was one of the saddest times when departure day came, I will have to go back!

04 April 2019

What do you buy your husband who wants nothing? For me in this job it is always travel! So I decided to take him to Amsterdam. My husband has never wanted to go here, he just thought it was a little seedy and full of people on drugs! I have spent years trying to educate him however with no luck! So I decided one thing to change his mind would be to take him! We flew out early morning, arriving into Amsterdam by 10am. A quick train journey to Amsterdam Central and a 5 minute walk to our lovely hotel in Dam Square (NH Grand Kraponalsky 5*). We arrived early and checked in straight away, I could see he was more relaxed now! We wandered the streets via the Flower Market (we went in March so it was full of tulips)! We found a lovely café for lunch and watched the world go by, then I had booked us into the Heineken Museum. This was a really great experience even though I am not a beer drinker really and my husband liked it lots! Then after a bit of wandering we went to the Amsterdam Ice Bar, by far the coolest place in Amsterdam at -10! It was cold as expected but good fun. We wandered somehow through the 'Red Light District' now getting dark, and although yes there were all kinds of ladies in the windows it was nowhere near as seedy as I had expected. We had a lovely meal in CAU, a fantastic steak restaurant, followed by cocktails in our hotel bar. The next day was spent at the Anne Frank Museum, how very sad but interesting it was, and then a river cruise around the canals, a light lunch, a few drinks along the canals in the sun and a lovely Thai meal in the evening. Overall I would give this city a 10/10 with something for everyone. It was so pretty along the canals, the shops were fantastic (from silly souvenirs to high end designer brands) and the old buildings stunning. I think that I proved to my husband that it is as luxury or budget as you make it. It really does offer something to suit every taste. The city we found clean, the people lovely and the food was great as were the pints of beer and cocktails. I would highly recommend this for a short city break.

04 April 2019

So it's been a couple of years since we all got away on a ski trip but this February we decided wee would head to the Mountains. We drove from the UK to France, taking about 9 hours from Calais with refreshment stops myself, hubby, father and youngest daughter (10). We're in our car and my eldest son (20) drove with his girlfriend, my other son (18) and daughter (16). I had booked a stunning chalet, up in the mountains, a perfect dreamy wooden chalet, with a sauna and log fire, a huge open plan kitchen diner and lounge area. We had views of the the town of St.Gervais and it was stunning! (I did not want to leave!) The resort of St.Gervais was in the valley, with the Thermal Spas (some of the oldest in France) this Thermal Spa town is perfect for all the family. We could not ski in ski out we had to drive into the main Gondala car park each day to get the lift up (there were not many ski in out residences here it was mainly village based!) But this was fine, lots of free car parking! (yes Free! we are not used to that in the UK!) The ski area was excellent and you could ski into the next village of Megeve as well. There were lots of blue, red and black runs and they were fun and some challenging! Up the mountain there were places to eat and drink it's never cheap a ski holiday to eat up the mountain, but I would say it offered good value. Our favourite bar was La Folle Douche. There was a live singer, dancer and DJ set every afternoon, the party really got started here! Nights were spent cooking a good hearty meal drinking good wine with the log fire burning and talking about the fun had that day on the slopes, and who had the most epic crash! Chilling out with a shower and a sauna to relax, a couple of evenings we went into the town for dinner, we had to book because it was so busy in the half term after making a mistake of not booking the first time and spent ages looking for a table (there was 8 of us though so not easy to accommodate us all!) This was one of may favourite resorts, the slopes were a fantastic standard, what would have been nice was ski in and out but this is just not typical of this resort but that should not put you off!

11 June 2018

You all know I am a Travel Counsellor but do you know exactly what a Travel Counsellor is? I'm part of a global network of travel professionals established in 1994. With independent access to thousands of trusted travel suppliers around the world, when booking with me - it is travel and customer service like you've never experienced before. If you’re still a little unsure why you should book through me here are just a few reasons: - I have 20 years’ experience in the travel industry - I would NEVER sell a holiday I didn't think was right for you - Full ATOL protection, so your money is safe - 24-hour Duty Office, for support wherever and whenever you need us! No stranded clients with me! - You can contact me via my office landline, mobile, website, Skype, Facebook, email, no on hold music or a call centre somewhere else in the world! - Travel Counsellors have real and unbiased reviews from our own clients who have been on their own real holidays! All I ask is you give me a call before you press that 'confirm' button on a website. If your internet website can do more for you than me, I really won't be offended! 01277 889340. If Travel Counsellors is not for you, you may know someone who would love to experience my expert advice and service for booking their own holiday, so please pass on my details. So what are waiting for? Get in touch with me and experience the difference for yourself - it's time for you to sit back, relax and get your 2018/19 holiday booked.

23 May 2018

As a family of eight ranging from age nine to 77, we decided to do a Royal Caribbean cruise at Easter departing from Fort Lauderdale on Allure of the Seas! What a Ship! I have sailed on Royal Caribbean before and other lines but this ship was not like any other ship. For a start there is a Central Park with peaceful birds singing and little bars to relax in. There is the Boardwalk with a carousel, hot dog bar, donut shop and Jonny Rockets American Diner, not to mention the bars and shops and the Amazing Aqua theatre shows at the back of the ship! Superb! Look up to the overhead zip line, it’s great fun. There’s rock climbing, sports courts, two Flow Riders and golf! Inside you have the lovely theatre where we watched Mama Mia (I have seen it in the West End and it was just as good!) There is ice skating, a casino and a nightclub, not to mention several restaurants and the bar that goes up and down! This ship is amazing and we had a fantastic time. We stopped in Labadee in Haiti and did a boat trip to Amiga Isle. In Jamaica we went to climb the famous Dunns River Waterfalls, then onto Bamboo Beach Club. Then in Cozumel we went to swim with dolphins! Such an awesome cruise! Back on to terra firma we hired a car (a 15-seater minivan actually for eight of us including luggage space!) We drove to Kissimmee Florida to find a beautiful four-bedroom Superior Villa with our own pool! It was huge! Whilst in Orlando this time I wanted to do other things than the parks as we have family there, but the kids won! We did Universal, Disney and SeaWorld again but I must say I loved it all. We last went in 2013 so only five years ago! My youngest was now tall enough for all the top rides and she loved them! I am sure we will go back again soon, and next time I will get to the Keys and Clearwater! Watch this space!

23 May 2018

What can I say? I have just returned from an educational visit with five other Travel Counsellors to Mark Warner's newest resort in Turkey, the beautiful Phokaia Beach Resort in Foca. On an educational visit it is safe to say they pack in a lot for us, but this was the most fun of all! We arrived late Saturday night and on the coach transfer were all handed our room keys and stickers for our cases. A quick fill in of our passport details and the transfer rep collected these all back in! We arrived, put the stickers on our luggage and headed straight for dinner (it was about 10pm!) This was a fantastic idea as there was no checking in, we were simply met with a cold drink then off to relax while the staff do the rest. After dinner we sampled a cocktail or two then headed up to our rooms where our luggage was waiting for us! On Sunday morning met for an early breakfast with excellent choice. We then headed off to the water sports guys on the beach. I decided to paddle board as I have never done this, and some people had kayaks. The guide took us on a four-mile expedition across the bay. I am not unfit by any means but this was hard on my little weak wrists, but I enjoyed every minute! We paddled out to a sandbank where there were seagulls and there can also be flamingos and even seals. Sadly, we didn’t see any! We paddled past an island only inhabited by birds and I cannot tell you how peaceful and relaxing this was, I loved it! Back on dry land we had a chance for a little lay by the pool and a cold drink to recover, then it was lunch time with a lovely selection. After lunch we went to meet our cycle guide Alex who decided (based on everyone's bike skills) we should do a ride into Foca rather than a 15-20k mountainside ride. Foca is a beautiful, traditional real Turkish resort. There are no fake shops, just lots of places to eat and drink al fresco, shops and handmade Turkish delights. There’s plenty to do. It was early season and the weather was hot so after we arrived, so our guide left us to wander. We then all met in a local for a drink before heading back. It’s so lovely with cobbled streets, fishing boats, ruins and a lovely resort full of locals and far less tourists, which was charming. They all made us feel welcome. So as if paddle boarding, kayaks and cycles were not enough, we then had a go at water skiing. I haven't done this in over 10 years but am always willing to give everything a go. I thought I would have forgotten how but I got up first go (thankfully)! So now it’s almost time for dinner which is great as that meant we had time to relax and chat about all the amazing things we had enjoyed. The next morning, I was up even earlier for breakfast as 9am was our first windsurfing lesson! We had excellent teachers and after being taught by the patient and very experienced staff we all did it! We were in a group of about 12 with some actual holidaymakers and some of them were on their own as their partners were either sunbathing or taking part in a class. This is a great activity, even if you are a single traveller as you will always meet new friends! Then it was time for more water skiing and sailing. If we were there longer we would have learned to sail our own boats which is amazing. In the afternoon we did aqua aerobics while some went to do Zumba followed by a tennis lesson. I was scared as I am not really a ball sport person - I have never really liked that even at school! But with a fantastic coach firing balls at us and great tuition I loved it! Then for the best bit! I had booked in for a massage in the hotel’s spa. It was over an hour of relaxation and I think well deserved to relax my aching body after two days of full on fun. I forgot to say we looked at all the room types from two bedroom villas and family rooms to superior sea view and standard garden view rooms. They are all lovely with something to suit everyone! The children's facilities are amazing with clubs from two years to 17, something for every age range. The reps take the older children to learn water sports on the beach, we watched five and six-year olds learning to windsurf! It’s amazing. Not many 17-year olds want clubs but it’s a way for them to meet other friends and all learn new skills together rather than be stuck with mum and dad. Who would I recommend Mark Warner to? Everyone! Singles, couples, families, friends - there is as little or as much as you want to do here and it’s all included in the price. You will only pay for drinks and if you want a private lesson or the spa treatments! This really is now on my list to try other resorts with Mark Warner, I had a ball!

30 January 2018

After a stressful start to the year my husband needed a well-earned de-stress, away from it all break. We decided we needed a few days just us with no kids (well ours are now young adults apart from the youngest, who loved the idea of time with grandad!) Santorini was decided. We started our life together all those years ago - our first holiday was in Thassos, Greece and since then in over 25 years have visited a lot of Greece. We love the food, people, hospitality and the climate. Santorini ticked all of our three nights away mini break requirements, and we were not disappointed. We chose a 4* boutique hotel in Imerovigili, with stunning views of the Caldera. We arrived after a short transfer from the airport, to be warmly greeted. We quickly unpacked then headed to the pool bar for a well-earned drink and lunch. It was spectacular, sitting gazing into the ocean thinking how this it was such a rest from reality. We both noticed the waves forming slowly in a pattern, we kept watching, what was it? It was a whale - it never broke the surface, but we could see its outline and huge tail, then there were bubbles and the waves disappeared! That was the coolest thing in nature I have ever seen without trying! Our hotel was stunning, a picture postcard. Later we wandered the streets to find the local shops selling crafts and other things. The whole island is coloured grey and white with cobbled streets and little blue church domes and old windmills, it’s so pretty. Thira, the capital, was only a 10 minute taxi away, and this was amazing day and night. Although we were only there for four days we did so much eating and cocktail sipping. The food here ranges from traditional Greek to European high end fayre and wines are also very good. There were weddings and honeymooners galore, not surprising on this stunning island. There were also a lot of cruise tourists when ships docked in the harbour and people came to visit for the day. That is a great way to combine a visit, and we love to cruise, but honestly, you need to stay longer. We felt four days for a mini break here was just perfect and, since we left, we haven’t stopped feeling the magic of this beautiful island. If you have done all the city breaks you want for your escape weekends away then do get in touch, so I can plan you a magical break.

07 August 2017

Just returned from one of the Best holidays ever! I travelled with my family including 2 older teenagers 17/15 an 8-year-old and a 77-year-old (my Dad bless him!) We flew with Emirates with a 2 day stop over in Dubai (WOW! What a hotel the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray! on the Palm island) After our short Stop over we arrived in Bangkok then connected to Koh Samui, I picked a small Boutique hotel in Bohput area for 5 nights, this was small clean and right on the beach, we did get a taxi into Bohput Fisherman's village a few nights where there were lots of amazing places to eat and drink on the beach, from Traditional Thai to Western Contemporary, this was very Chilled and great value eating and drinking. Then we headed to the Mainland and onto the National Park of Khao Sok, the oldest Rainforest, where we stayed 2 days in Elephant Hills in a luxury Glamping Tent with a Huge Bed and an outside Bathroom, it was amazing, we went to feed and wash the Elephants at the Sanctuary where they are retired working Elephants or were previously used for Tourist purposes giving rides, Thailand is now educating itself on animal welfare and it was amazing to be up so close to these beautiful ladies, our one was called Gilly, she was 53 years old! The next day we trekked in the Rainforest and did it rain! Wow, that was the best experience in the rain it really made it, we stopped in a Bamboo hut where a Jungle Safari leader made us warm coffee, hot chocolate for the kids, he cooked a chicken and pork meal from scratch using all local herbs and spices, we ate out of Coconuts! it was amazing then finished off with Pineapples! Then we Kayaked down the River Sok, it was a truly amazing experience, one I will never forget. After we went back to Koh Samui for a couple of days, then transferred by Speedboat to Koh Phangan, the hotel was stunning the Koh Panviman! We had a fantastic time here on the Stunning island with some of the best beaches and warm waters I have seen, so peaceful and Wild tropical birds and beautiful colourful Butterflies, I honestly don't think I have ever felt so relaxed anywhere in the world. Then we returned to Koh Samui for 1 night before starting our journey home. I couldn't recommend this holiday enough for any age group, we ate some fantastic meals and not one of us got any tummy upsets, so that was another bonus. If you would like an amazing adventure like this to get in touch it will give me great please Tailor making exactly what you are looking for.

13 October 2016

What can I say? We have done so many types of holidays over the years and I feel very grateful, but this time we wanted something a little different! We picked an NCL Cruise on Epic ship! We travelled as a family with two teenagers and a 7 year old and grandparents. This ship and its facilities really suited everyone! Waking up in a new port every day was excellent although we did not get off and do excursions as it was nice to spend the day relaxing and eating great food sipping excellent cocktails. With West End shows on board, 4 and 5* dining options, casinos, lots of evening entertainment options and during the day too even with waterslides and rock climbing at sea - there was never a dull minute! We stayed for seven days but added a few days before in Barcelona and afterward so we had ultimately a city break, cruise and stopped off to explore other cities and beaches. This really was amazing and will not be our last! If you want to try something other than a beach holiday this really should be on your list!

13 October 2016

There is no place on the planet like Venice! Wow what a wonderful compact city made of several islands! We visited here in October and the weather was glorious. And it's only and hour and half from London. Everything you think of about Venice: Gondola rides, gelato, pizza and pasta, Bellini's and beautiful buildings, this city really did tick all the boxes for a short break. However many people choose to twin this city with maybe a stay in Lido di Jesselo or Verona or the Italian Lakes. Anything is possible so if you fancy a little Italian getaway get in touch where I will be more than happy to help you plan your holiday.

13 October 2016

A lovely city break in beautiful Budapest! With only a short flight from Gatwick I arrived into Budapest, jumped into a private transfer and 20 minutes later arrived at our hotel the Buddha bar 5* in Budapest. What a lovely hotel with a great spa and in a fantastic location. We wandered out and found a nice place to have a glass of wine and spot of lunch in the sun, I went in June and it was very hot. We went to the thermal spa for a day, we hired scooters and whizzed around the city. We ate lovely food, enjoyed the hotel spa and visited lots of lovely buildings and touristy places. Perfect for a few days away. If you would like somewhere close to home, this could be the place! Get in touch for more details.

28 April 2016

I was Lucky enough to Visit Cyprus again this year with 12 fellow Travel Counsellors thanks to the Cyprus Tourist Board and Agean Airlines. My 3 previous visits were as a Younger Me, checking out the nightlife, then another couple of times on Family Holidays, one of which included a Wedding for a Friend that I had Personally organized for them! This time it was learning more about the Island, the History, The Locals and the huge array of things to do. I don't want to Bore you, but I have really learned that Cyprus is way more than a Beach Destination. We visited Monestary's, Museums, Churches, Local Villages, The birth place of Aphrodite the Goddess of Love! Unseco Heritage sites and the Toombs of the Kings. We dined in Local Taverna's and the food was very good I must say! We made Bread in a Bakery in the Hillside Village of Omodos and visited Zambartas Winery! The Wine was very nice indeed! Cyprus offers something for everyone even sport's enthusiasts, You can Dive here with sea temperatures a Balmy 35 degrees there are many shipwreck dives and good marine life, or if you feel more energetic you can hire a Bike, may it be a bit of Mountain terrain or Road Cycling you prefer, Cyprus has many Athletes who come here to train! There is more to tell but I wanted to just give you an insight, So if it is a Budget Holiday or 5* Luxury Holiday Cyprus really does offer it all! Get in touch for more details so I can make your Holiday dream come true! Sarah

20 February 2016

After dreaming of New York as seen in many Movies over the years, this is always a place I had to visit in the Winter! We went as a Family with ages from 76 down to 7! This ticked boxes for everyone! We Ice skated in Central park on the Coldest day in weather history a freezing -18! it was cold like I have ever felt, and we do go skiing! However once we did a couple of laps we were warm and toastie! We shopped on 5th Avenue, Went to the Top of the Rock (Rockerfeller) the views were amazing! We also took a somber look around the 9/11 Memorial museum and paid our respects to all those who lost their lives on 11/9/2001! It was very emotional but I am glad we visited it! We took a walk from there down to the Statten Island ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, However by this point it was Snowing heavily and we just about saw her! This was very magical walking in a wintery Wonderland through Sky scrapers and parks and a few Shop stops! 2 of us were brave enough to do a Helicopter flight over Manhatten skyline, this was brilliant, There was a shopping trip to Woodbury common for a couple of us to get some Designer bargains, this was over an hour on a coach, so the rest of us Shopped in Macy's, The Men found a Bar on 6th Floor, whilst us girls did some Designer shopping of our own then we met in the bar for a few Cocktails! The bar man was excellent even did free refills for the Kids! We also had to take in a Broadway Show, it would have been rude not to! We saw Matilda as we had Kids with us, this was excellent! We went to the top of the Empire State at Midnight, that was fantastic, so peaceful in the middle of the city that does not sleep! The Grand Central Station is worth a visit, great history and the Whispering gallery is awesome! What can I recommend apart from everything??? All of it! Ellens Stardust Diner just off Times Square, is a Typical American food fayre but all the Waiters and Waitresses are all Budding Actors/Actresses trying to hit it on Broadway, they sing in between serving, this is brilliant and they are all very Tallented indeed, the food was good, not excellent but it is worth it for the atmosphere! All in all a fantastic trip for all ages!

09 December 2015

This was our second Visit to this resort and actually the same Accomadation, Residence Aspen. This is a fantastic location for a self catering holiday in 4* Apartments. There is a Indoor pool, sauna and hamman. We had a 2 bedroom apartment with full kitchen, it is located on the slope, you can ski in at the end of the day but need to walk out in the mornings. There are a few restaurants within a 5 minuite walk in the snow and a bar and supermarket. Also and most importantly the Ski hire shop and lift pass booth. This is a fantastic resort with something for everyone from Green to Black runs, part of the Paradiski pass - we even managed to ski to Les Arcs using the Vanoise Express cable car. We went late March as we prefer warmer days and quieter slopes and this is a perfect resort for late season as it is 3250m. (resorts at 1600m/1800m/1950m) If you want to find out more or fancy a trip to the Alps give me a call.

02 December 2015

Cuba was perfect for a family holiday. We took our four children aged 22 months, eight, 10 and 12. We also travelled with our parents so it was a whole age range! We stayed in Playa Pesquero Hotel - it was large and spread out over beautiful landscaped grounds. There were eight restaurants so there was something for everyone. The staff were some of the loveliest people I have ever met, always happy and smiling and nothing was too much trouble. The sea was crystal clear and the sand as soft as talcum powder, it really was heavenly! We did a Catamaran trip over to an uninhabited island called Paradise Island, this was a great day out. My parents did a train ride into the old city of Santiago where they shopped and saw the old American 1950's cars and horse and carts. The highlight was going to a Dolphin aquarium in the sea - if these Dolphins wanted to go they could easily jump the low fences but they seemed to love it. We saw a 19 day old baby with her mum! We also got in and swam with them for about 45 minutes then if you wanted to do a trick you can pay more to do so, which we all did. After this we watched a show and watched the sunset from the floating aquarium - one of the best things I have ever done! Also I suppose I should mention that we renewed our wedding vows on the beach as we were celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary. This was truly a fantastic day having our family with us especially the children who were not born when we first got married! All in all, Cuba the people, the food, the hospitality, the weather are PERFECT!

02 December 2015

We Flew to Marrakech in about 3 hours. I was expecting dirt tracks once we exited the airport, I was shocked! it was very westernised, Wide American style roads with traffic lights and pavements not what I had expected at all. We stayed in a Riad ( a traditional Moroccan guest house) as we wanted to experience the real Morocco and not feel like a Tourist in a hotel. We stayed just outside of the Souk, about 8mins in a taxi. Our Riad staff would call us a cab when we wanted to go there and he would walk us from the riad to our taxi, which was lovely as we were 3 ladies travelling ( we felt very safe) . The Souk was amazing, lots to buy and bartering was great fun. We went to a 4* Hotel one day to visit and used the Spa - that was amazing! The food we had was fantastic, again lots of Westernised Moroccan themed Restaurants. On our last night we went to the old palace which is now a 5* Hotel (Le Sultana), it was like going to the Ritz in London, Red carpets all lit with Lanterns, We ate a lovely meal on the rooftop restaurant. If we had been there longer we would have gone to the Atlas mountains. I would go back tomorrow if I could, Fantastic Holiday.

30 November 2015

After a seemingly quick scheduled flight across the Atlantic we arrived to hot humid summer weather! (Late August) After collecting our luggage it was simple to collect our hire car at the airport, then off to our lovely three bedroom townhouse at Vista Cay, Universal Drive. There was a Publix supermarket literally next door so time to stock up the fridge. Where do you start in Orlando? Well we decided on Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom, having four kids in tow aged 4,11,13 and 15 we sure needed to pack in all attractions for each age group. Disney did not disappoint. We also did Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios and relaxed at the excellent Disney water parks Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. Universal Studios and Island of Adventure were fantastic too so many good rides for all ages, loved the Harry Potter area I actually felt like a "muggle" sipping butter beer (non alcoholic - must try it) SeaWorld was truly fantastic combining the Underwater life with Rides and shows, you really shouldn't miss this! Also the new waterpark by SeaWorld Aquatica is super good especially the not so lazy river that's impossible to get out of once you get in it...try it you will know what I mean, never laughed so much! Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay is well worth the drive 1.5hours away from International Drive area, again some superb rides and again lots of amazing animals to see roaming in a wildlife park environment. The most relaxing day was spent at Discovery Cove, where you can swim with dolphins in small groups (we didn't as we had done this in Cuba but watched others!) Even if you don't swim with the dolphins it's a fantastic day out, arrive for all-inclusive breakfast. Relax on the manmade beach in the hammock or sunloungers, then put on your wet suits and swim with the stingrays, snorkel and see the sharks behind the glass, even our four year old loved it and learned to snorkle here! There is a tropical bird enclosure and otters and a lovely lazy river, then more food, lunch and a few more cocktails in the sun. Just what you need after such a full on holiday! Then there's the shopping too! The malls or the outlets, to be honest we didn't have much time for this and not much interest in it but there is plenty too choose from if that floats your boat. Car parking is charged at all theme parks in Orlando, it's worth noting before you go so you don't get a surprise chunk taken out of your holiday budget! Food is good, we ate in the parks and food was priced well and a healthy selection too, we ate in restaurants on International Drive and the food was good. If you are interested in finding out more, give me a call.