11 April 2023

Never before has the island been on my radar, but following a training course a few weeks ago, I was smitten, and who can deny a 4 day weekend eh!? I stayed at the only 5* hotel on the island, The Old Government House or OGH as its fondly known. HUGE THANKS TO RED CARNATION HOTELS Firstly, I travelled with a new airline for me, Aurigny (Norman name for Alderney apparently?) pronounced 'Or Ree Kn

05 December 2022

Table Mountain: They say when Table Mountain is clear that you should just go... So straight off the plane, dumped bags in the room, Uber to the cable car and Whooooooahhhh what a stunningly serene place with the most breath-taking views. Despite being 3500 feet above sea level the air is crisp and the weather has blessed us with hot sunshine. A definite pinch me moment, and quite emotional. Cou

07 November 2022

Constantinou Bros Athena Beach Hotel sent me an invite to visit them (how kind!) would be rude to refuse! I stayed in an Elite Class Superior sea view room with balcony.... What a room on the 5th floor with a full sea view right in the middle of the hotel facing out to sea!! and breathe! Our package comes with a bottle of wine on arrival in your room, VIP check in, prosecco at reception whilst c

07 November 2022

Barra, the most southerly of the inhabited Outer Hebrides is famous for beauty, beaches and wildlife.. So we decided on a little week away, off-grid, in May, here is what we found: What an amazing place Barra is. The airport itself is one of the most unusual in the world - flights land on the beach from Glasgow.. in between tides! Our first day I managed 15000 steps walking from my front doo

07 March 2022

It was absolutely lovely – thank you for arranging it for us and your recommendation! Some comments from the trip: Sakoa Boutique Hotel, Trois aux Biches – absolutely lovely place – location and facilities were perfect. Nothing was too much trouble for them and the food really excellent. Would certainly recommend. Heritage Kaz’alala, Bel Ombre– this was really interesting – a bit like an upma

12 November 2020

I was determined to travel in 2020 once the travel bans were lifted, not just for my own mental-health, but to see first-hand how life & travel in Covid-times was different to any other year. I was pleasantly surprised! We took advantage of twilight check-in the night before our early flight from Manchester. There was NO-OTHER person in the check-in queue, it was spookily quiet! After our Greek

31 December 2019

It has been 18 years since my last visit to Cyprus so when I got the chance to visit two of the leading hotels on the island in the month after my busy-booking spell it was a no-brainer! March is a cracking time to visit this Eastern Mediterranean island, still divided since 1977, the north being occupied by Turkey, the south Greek- speaking. Don’t get me on the politics but I only visited parts

19 December 2019

Jacob’s Lodge, Egglestone, Teesdale, Northern England. Finding a large cottage of the best standard, the right amount of parking, enough bathrooms, a games room, and in the right location for 15 of us over three generations was never going to be easy, but we fell lucky with Jacob’s Lodge Cottage in the northern part of the Yorkshire Dales. Located north of the A66 not far from the market town of

22 March 2019

I was invited as a guest to the Crieff Highland Games in August 2018 by one of the elderly patrons, so I thought I would make a family weekend of it, why not? I stumbled across the perfect little dog-friendly cottage in nearby Comrie, a 15-minute drive from Crieff. At once I felt the Scottish welcome I've grown to love with the best complementary tea-tray awaiting our arrival! Caroch Cottage ha

07 March 2019

Our trip was wonderful thank you. Brandon Lodge was just what I hoped it would be, nice and relaxed with really good food and accommodation. The activities that we’d booked turned out great. The Dogsledding was absolutely fabulous. We had a stunning sunny day, beautiful fresh snow and keen dogs in the forest…Gorgeous. The provider even had us all in their home afterwards for fika (coffee and cake)

26 February 2019

As Familiarisation Trips go this one was pretty special! A twin-centre COMO hotels trip staying at both Cocoa Island and Maalifushi. As it was my first visit to the Maldives, I was so excited to arrive, so a short 50 minutes speedboat transfer was just what I needed with some fresh air after being on a plane for so long, and great to whizz past other islands en-route. I reached 5* Cocoa Island

07 January 2019

The resort is right next to Sandals Barbados so you can walk freely between the two resorts and they are really just two resorts in one, but we did prefer our side. It just felt more luxurious and typically Sandals. The food as usual at Sandals is amazing, we certainly have some pounds to lose! Thankfully with us being Club Level the concierge made all our reservations, so we didn’t have any p

18 December 2018

A great Easter base for us for access to Perthshire, Sterling with the Wallace Monument and Sterling Castle, and only an hour's drive to lovely St Andrews for the world-famous golf and stunning wide beaches. These lodges - The Woods are in a quiet location on the outskirts of Alva, with super views overlooking the Ochil Mountains, locally known as the Hillfoots were the perfect place for a fe

18 December 2018

This relatively unknown corner of the Greek Mainland had been on my radar for a while as it's a firm favourite of my fellow Travel Counsellor colleagues. It's one of those places that you could go back to time and time again (as many Parga-fans do) and never eat in the same restaurant twice! With accommodation to fit all budgets and tastes from luxury boutique hotels to quaint, typically Greek

16 October 2018

Stunning soft sandy beaches, a huge choice of excellent hotels with superb service. Perfect for weddings, with lush gardens, Caribbean Sea backdrops, relaxing spas, romantic sunsets, Jacuzzis in your room or balcony - or both! We visited four stunning hotels all very different and for very different markets. Here’s a summary: Dreams Riviera Maya, Cancun A great all-round resort for famili

25 May 2018

As you know I was little apprehensive in entrusting the itinerary to anyone else but I have to say the organisation of it all was fantastic. You, the Travel Counsellors team and the Easia company, in Vietnam were all exceptional. Day 1 to 3 - Silk Path Hotel - Hanoi Hanoi is simply one of the world’s best cities. It is so vibrant, busy, interesting and fascinating that it could be a holida

31 January 2018

This is one of my client's reviews following their anniversary trip to the 5* Sandals La Source in Grenada. We had an amazing time, I think I can honestly say the most relaxing holiday I have had for some time! The room was really nice, they had only just been built in July, so it still felt nice and new. It was open plan with the bathroom within the bedroom, which I loved because it was so mod

18 December 2017

It was all perfect! The accommodation was a separate ’block’ at the back of the hotel, three minutes’ walk away and the room was lovely. The hotel was great location for the toboggan run and the supermarket was a 10 minute walk away, where we stocked up on bits for lunches. Scotty treated us to the extra trip of the Husky ride. Not cheap but as Scotty said “we’re only here once”. We went

01 September 2017

I've just returned from a wonderful taster cruise onboard Cruise & Maritime's Columbus. It's a medium-sized ship which is a refreshing change from some of the huge resort-sized ships we see these days. Not too many people and less likely to get lost finding my cabin! Onboard, there is a feeling of spaciousness as there are various venues for guests to be entertained, dined and refreshed, or sim

08 November 2016

I have been incredibly lucky this year I know. Every so often we are offered the chance to visit some fantastic locations around the world to see for ourselves what destinations have to offer. So when I was offered the chance to visit Aruba with a group of fellow Travel Counsellors it was very hard to turn down, especially as it was a Caribbean island I have not visited before. As the island i

15 August 2016

Umbria and Florence: Rolling hills, wide vistas, sunflowers as far as the eye can see, silence... As you may have guessed by now, we love our food. Having enjoyed Italian hospitality on previous holidays we chose Umbria as our summer destination this year. It's been a busy year so a quiet place was needed where we could chill out and recharge our batteries, have some days out in the surrounding

15 April 2016

Sometimes I get a bit blasé about destinations when I am dealing with them day in and day out and you forget how special some places are; so when I had the opportunity to travel to Swedish Lapland I had to pinch myself as I had never been anywhere so special before. We travelled with Scandinavian Airlines via Stockholm to Lulea in the heart of Swedish Lapland and our first overnight was the ‘re

14 April 2016

My youngest daughter is a bit of an adventure junkie (yes even at 8!) so when the opportunity came to visit Portaventura theme park on the Costa Dorada in Spain I jumped at the chance to fill the Easter school holidays. We stayed on site at the 4* Hotel Caribe and although it’s a large hotel it didn’t feel busy this time of year so there were plenty of tables for the huge buffet at dinner and b

09 March 2016

This was to be our last family holiday before my 18 year old decided it's no longer cool to go with us, so I wanted a real family trip for half term with loads of activities for both age groups of my children and I couldn't have chosen better. We went to the 5* Beaches hotel, Negril, Jamaica, mainly for the weather, but also for the beachfront location, the watersports, choices of restaurants

27 October 2015

Not happy with just one Greek island I wanted to pack in three this holiday! I chose these three islands due to their locations, ferry connections and contrasts and wasn't disappointed. We stayed in three very different properties which suited our family perfectly. We flew with Easyjet into Mykonos then home from Santorini, after 10 nights of Greek sunshine. My highlights : Mykonos:

02 June 2015

When it comes to anniversaries and birthdays or I need to leave the rat race for a night this is where I head. Raithwaite Hall Estate. It is a fabulous luxury property only a mile inland from the Whitby to Sandsend coastal road but set in beautiful gardens it is calming as soon as you walk in the doors. The service is impeccable in the restaurants and I rate the breakfast as one of the best Y

02 June 2015

I'd promised my eldest daughter since she was 12 or 13 that I would take her to New York when she was 18. I have no idea where those years have gone but in February 2015 I made the promise into a reality. We arrived in the coldest spell of winter storms they had experienced for years but we were well prepared so it didn't stop us doing anything we had planned, infact the snow made it more magic

02 June 2015

Sometimes we get the opportunity to travel to destinations to 'try them for ourselves' so when I was offered a trip to Jamaica courtesy of he leading all-inclusive hotel group of Sandals I jumped at the chance. I visited 4 hotels on the island, here are my reviews: Sandals Royal Caribbean: I visited this hotel for lunch. It remains one of my favourites of the trip. Beautiful rooms and

05 May 2015

I spent a wonderful Bank Holiday weekend at Basin Howe Farm Cottages in Sawdon Heights, North Yorkshire with my family. I can highly recommend these luxury cottages for a stay in this beautiful part of the world. It's location is perfect for mountain bikers, walkers, people who like the coastal area, it's also set on the outskirts of a peaceful village with a fabulous gastro pub too! We took pl

28 August 2014

Ios is a neighbour of Santorini, in the Cyclades group of Greek islands. Its popularity as a party island for young people should not deter you from visiting it. It is a Greek island of much beauty, un-commercialised in most areas, with beautiful sandy beaches, mountainous hillsides, windmills, history and myth. The fact that it is on the main backpacker route around the Cyclades does mean in July

15 July 2014

This is one of my customer's reviews sent to me on the return from his weekend away, I thought it was perfect to share on here! SAS airlines are excellent, no messing about, no fuss, they just get you there. Also the coffee is OK. Oslo airport isn't bad, we grabbed a decent bite to eat there. Aalesund airport is a bit like Humberside, but hugely efficient, clean and tidy. Car hire is right i

07 May 2014

I promised my children a trip of a lifetime that would encompass all that California has to offer and that's what we delivered. I wanted to see redwoods, the Pacific Ocean, national parks, theme parks (like Disney and Universal), Hollywood, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge - all the icons that sum up the Golden State. Hopefully they'll remember this holiday for a very long time. We travelle

26 March 2014

I've just returned from a long weekend in Barcelona. This beautiful city is quickly becoming another favourite of mine. We stayed in the superbly located H10 Port Vell. It’s a 4* hotel with a small roof terrace for lounging on the warmer days and enjoying a drink whilst overlooking the harbour. Within a block you are into the myriad of streets of El Born, known for the artisan shops, boutiques

03 December 2013

I can't begin to tell you how special and unique the Northern Belle is. The food is outstanding and, for me, one of the highlights of the journey. The surroundings are enchanting with fine linens, silver cutlery and beautiful crockery. The service is attentive, being tailored to the customer, relaxed and chatty, and in no way stuffy or over the top. If you like the finer things in life and appr

16 October 2013

Leighton Hall Farm Cottages, Near Neston, The Wirral, Cheshire was our chosen place to stay for a weekend of quiet countryside where we could access the busy towns and cities close by. We chose these cottages as they were furnished to a high standard and had enough space for a group of 11 ladies all to have our own rooms. We hired all three cottages but one would be fine for a family of up to

15 August 2013

Recently we had a wonderful time staying near Luino on Lake Maggiore, Italy. I could have sat on my balcony forever and never tire of the views over the Lake. I loved how the lake changed colour as the night drew in. We saw some fabulous sunsets and had two unbelievable storms where the lightning was fascinating to watch. We had a week visiting the following places: Our first stop was Lu

10 August 2013

The MSC Divina is great if you’re looking for a family orientated cruise that’s laid-back, casual and full of fun. There’s also a dash of sparkle and sophistication thrown in with lounge bars and tempting menus! The ship’s design was inspired by screen legend Sophia Loren. As a result there are sumptuous lines plush decor with Swarovski crystals embedded in the stairs, and overall the ship

09 June 2013

Once in a while you have to treat yourself. With friends in London and friends in Yorkshire, Stratford upon Avon was the ideal place to 'meet in the middle' for a girly treat weekend. The McDonald Alveston Manor was our chosen retreat. Located perfectly by the river and a stone's throw from the hustle and bustle of the summer street markets and the shops, cafes, bars and bistros of this busy t

06 June 2013

Villars and Les Diablerets are two beautiful resorts with some amazing skiing. My husband and eldest daughter are the mad skiers in the family, so I always look for a little something for me when I book our winter trips. With Switzerland I am never short for non-skiing things to do. I always book a resort with a toboggan run, and the Swiss do this very well. Whole road systems that are unused

06 June 2013

One of my favourite places in the world, I adore this place, it's magical. Once you have visited St Mark's Square, get off the tourist trail and throw your map away. Let the alleyways, bridges and canals dictate your day. Every corner you turn you will be spell bound by a different sight or square or church dome or intricate doorway. Once the sun goes down there is a huge variety of nightl

06 June 2013

I took my 5 year old to Barcelona in October half term and was pleasantly surprised how child friendly this bustling city is. The award-winning zoo was quiet this time of year so very few queues to get into the sea-lion and dolphin shows. It was also warm enough to picnic in t-shirts in the many park areas. We took a hop-on-hop-off 2 day ticket as my little one wasn't up for all the walking. T

06 June 2013

A quick dash over the North Sea from Hull on an overnight ferry allows a full day of exploration before the return journey. Bruges is not just about chocolate but it does feature heavily, if you love chocolate you’ll adore Bruges. I was pleasantly surprised with how pretty this little Belgian town is. It reminded me of parts of York with cobbled streets and ancient buildings. We did a walki

06 June 2013

We had a wonderful family holiday in the Midi-Pyrenees part of untouched France. We flew into Gerona in northern Spain, hiring a car to drive over the border into France. We stayed in a characterful town called Prades which was approximately an hours’ drive to the seaside or up into the Pyrenees in the opposite direction. Prades has market days which are a delight; beware of the smelly cheeses

06 June 2013

If you want the Greek islands where the Greeks go for their holidays, these two islands are for you! An hour's hydrofoil or ferry ride from Athens, it felt like I'd landed somewhere wonderfully relaxed and in total contrast to the capital I'd left an hour earlier. Still relatively uncommercial, during the day Agistri offers laid back beach life with shallow sandy beaches safe for children.

06 June 2013

We wanted to see more of the Emirates after staying in Dubai, so this cruise was perfect for us travelling with two children. The facilities on board are brilliant for families and the free child prices make his cruise company a first choice for me. Must see:- Abu Dhabi – The Grand Mosque - the most amazingly serene place, quiet and tranquil and a welcome cool retreat from the heat. Be prepar

06 June 2013

Baqueira and Beret. These two ski resorts are fairly unknown by English tourists but are popular with the Spanish ski fraternity and more famously with Spanish royalty. The slopes are wide and well-groomed; a great place for my eldest daughter to learn to ski here with an English speaking local ski guide. The resorts are small enough to find your way around easily and there didn't seem to

06 June 2013

Another favourite place of mine, chocolate box villages on the hillsides and a link to The Sound of Music, what more could you want? I've visited Austria in the summer for the lakes and mountains season, as a city-break and in the ski season and equally love it for different reasons. So much so, we got married here in the snow in the Bavarian-style town hall in Zell-am-See. I hold very fond

06 June 2013

I've seen Dubai evolve over the years, and it never ceases to amaze me! Not only known for its designer shopping malls and glitzy hotels, there is so much more to Dubai waiting for you to find. I would highly recommend catching the metro, which is unbelievably good value and clean, or a cab down to Bur Dubai. Take an abra ride (a small wooden boat) on the creek for a glimpse of what old Dubai

06 June 2013

We had a wonderfully sunny weekend in Prague which meant we were able to walk and walk and walk. We stayed in a hotel in the Unicef World Heritage Area around the old square near the gothic cathedral really central for all the sights and sounds of this wonderful city. With limited time to enjoy the Czech capital, we joined a walking tour of the city which covered all the main sights of the

06 June 2013

If you fancy seeing some of the real parts of Spain, this area in the north of the country is for you. We flew into Santander and had a week in Cantabria close to some of the best beaches and equally gorgeous seafood you can imagine, then a week in the mountains in Asturias. A trip to Antoni Gaudi's summer house, El Capricho, in Comillas is well worth seeing as is a day pottering around Sa

05 June 2013

This is a challenging, high altitude ski resort with glacier skiing and guaranteed snow coverage situated in northern Italy. Not the prettiest of resorts but some amazing views from high up the mountains. The slopes are wide and great for beginners as the nursery slopes are close to the resort centre. I loved the snow mobile toboggan runs, great fun! TIP: We took a well earned rest fro

12 May 2013

Another weekend trip with a group of friends, we had a great time visiting the galleries and nightlife of this famous European city. We stayed in the Convent Hotel on a broad street away from the main hustle and bustle of the liveliest parts of town. By day we wandered around galleries and museums, stopping for coffees and cakes when we pleased. By night we found a marvellous Dutch restaur

12 May 2013

Recently, I had my ‘big’ birthday bash in Dublin with a group of my best friends. We stayed in a really funky 4* hotel called the Trinity Capital hotel; it’s close to Trinity College, the main shopping area of Grafton Street, a short walk to the nightlife of Temple Bar area and the riverside. Apart from the Guinness tour (I recommend the steak and ale stew and mash in the Guinness bar!), the m

12 May 2013

This was my first big trip oversees and it cemented my love for travel. Even though it was more than 20 years ago I can still remember it like it was yesterday. I remember flying across the country as the pilot said over the tannoy ' we are now in Australian airspace' the red earth underneath seemed to go on and on for hours. I loved the laid back lifestyle, the love of the outdoors, the B

12 May 2013

My honeymoon destination. It was a strange choice for someone who prefers uncommercialised places, but I loved it! The whole scale of the place made me walk around with jaw dropped, saying 'No! Look at that!' all week! We stayed at the Bellagio. Amazing place once we'd found the way to our hotel room after a 20 minute walk from reception. It also houses the best steakhouse we have ever had the

12 May 2013

I used to escape the busier Zakynthos for day trips onto this neighbouring Ionian island Kefalonia. The drive from the small ferry port took us into Argostoli and up into the mountains usually to a favourite fish restaurant in Aghia Efthimia. This tiny resort with a shingle beach is typically Greek with white washed stone buildings and blue painted window frames. Just lush. Captain Corelli's M

12 May 2013

This trip was a real mix of senses and contrasts, I loved every minute of it. In Kuala Lumpur, I saw the best electrical storm ever from 20 stories high in my hotel room. Thankfully, I was out of the rain, but the sight of the lightning at night over the tall skyscrapers, famous Petronas Towers and the neon of the city will stay with me forever. Fabulous! In total contrast were the delightf

12 May 2013

Stingray City has got to be a 'must do' for anyone visiting this more tranquil Caribbean island. We were taken by speedboat out into the Caribbean sea, no land could be seen for miles yet the sea was shallow when we stopped and delightfully warm. We held chunks of dead fish in our fists for the stingrays to sniff out. Without sight they have to smell their food and slowly come out from nowhere

12 May 2013

I was lucky enough to live on Zakynthos for the summer season of 2005 for 6 months. The island really does have something for everyone. I particularly like the Vassilikos peninsula; hire a car and take the drive down the winding coastal road through Argassi to this wild tip at the point of the island overlooking the mainland of Greece in one direction and Marathonisi, known as 'Turtle Island'

12 May 2013

The whole island's motto should be 'fun, fun, fun'. Anything goes here in this Caribbean island! Music plays a key part of the general lifestyle so make sure you pack your dancing shoes. I managed to squeeze in a trip to Bob Marley's old home in the capital Kingston. It is now a museum, fascinating - even if reggae isn't your thing. His influence on the island is still very evident, although I