13 September 2024

For a short getaway I can highly recommend a visit to the beautiful French town of Annecy situated on the shores of the beautifully serene Lake Annecy. With flights from the UK taking under 1.5hrs and then a short hop from Geneva Airport - it is the perfect destination for a short 3 or 4 night stay. This gives you plenty of time to explore the cobbled streets and winding canals of the Old Town as well as a bit of time to relax on one of the 11 beaches that surround the crystal clear lake. If you need a bit more of an adrenalin rush, then try some sailing or wakeboarding or just hire a pedalo and while away the afternoon - Annecy really does have something for everyone....

12 August 2024

There is nothing quite like a battery recharge! This time we headed to the beautiful Majorcan sunshine for some girly chats, a good old fashioned romance novel in hand! We hired a car from Palma as our villa was right up in the North in the beautiful countryside, with only goats and chickens for neighbours! We stocked up at the local market for our 5 days of bliss - lots of fruit, salads (we decided we were going to be 'healthy') but also threw in a couple bottles of Gin (just in case)! Day trips were spent at beachside restaurants catching up on each other's news over long lunches and a glass of Sangria. I always like an itinerary on holiday as I want to make the most of the time away but in this case, I was just happy to be the laid-back version of myself and I found that I quite liked her!

12 August 2024

Is it possible to see the very best of Norway in just 5 days? The answer is YES! We started our Road Trip in the beautiful city of Alesund and after a quick tour of the city we waved farewell and headed off to our first stop at Nordfjord where we took the Cable Car to the top of Hoven Mountain travelling 1011 metres above sea level in just 5 minutes - and what a view (I call it 'emotional scenery')...just stunning! Heading off again we checked in to our riverside mountain lodge for the night before our early morning climb up to Nigardsbreen Glacier - what an experience! From glaciers we headed further south through the stunning Norwegian scenery to Flam where we took a trip up the mountains on the iconic scenic railway - Just WOW! From Flam we headed west to beautiful Bergen where we would finish our 1000km trip with a lovely meal and a few celebratory drinks to toast the breathtaking beauty of this incredible country with our Norwegian friends. Norway, thank you!

12 August 2024

If you are short on time, it is possible to visit this beautiful city in just one day. We made our way from Kastrup Airport by taxi and explored on foot beginning with The Little Mermaid statue and walking along the waterfront through the many parks, passing statues, architecture, and palaces and finishing our tour with a meal at one of the numerous restaurants along the canal at colourful Nyhavn. You may wish to consider a tour by Tuk-Tuk, Canal Boat or Hop On/Hop Off bus - either way you won't fail to be wowed by this Danish delight.

21 September 2023

What a terrific place for a two-centre break, combining the dramatic coastline of South West Portugal with some exploration time in lovely Lisbon - it really is the perfect partnership! We based ourselves in Cascais (pronounced Kash-Kise) which is an easy 25 minute taxi ride from Lisbon Airport. It's laid-back luxury steeped in history, with a fabulous marina and pretty winding side-streets full of souvenir shops, and restaurants spilling out onto the cobbled streets. The combination of old and new just works here and you'll be pleased you came, in fact the only thing you need to worry about is which beach to choose and which Sangria to order!

18 September 2019

I was so impressed with Split - perfect for a 2 or 3 night romantic break! A labyrinth of old city streets with cafes and restaurants spilling out into the square, bursting with architecture and history with ruins dating back to the Roman Empire. We found a fantastic little restaurant in the heart of it all and then spent the rest of the evening just wandering - taking in the sights and the smells and soaking up the general atmosphere of this beautiful city. Split - you were a nice surprise!

18 September 2019

Well what can I say about Hvar? Even ''breathtakingly beautiful' doesn't seem to do it justice! This place has beauty and personality in huge doses. Hvar Town with its cobbled streets and maze of alleys holding surprises around every corner. It's hilltop fortress and 13th Century walls are in stark contrast to the shiny new super yachts anchored up in the harbour. It's chilled and relaxed during the day with quirky little coves perfect for exploring with a snorkel or by paddle board. And as the sun begins to set, the vibe begins to change and the island comes to life - this place really does have it all.....

12 March 2019

Bruges is a quaint little 'toy town' steeped in history and just perfect for a short break at any time of year. It's laid-back and relaxed and you can while away the days wandering through the maze of cobbled streets for a spot of window shopping and then stop off at one of the many street stalls selling hot Belgian waffles (yum)! How about hiring a bike for an afternoon - a great way to get around and for burning off those extra 'waffle calories'? If that's all far too energetic then hop onto one of the many boats for a leisurely canal cruise followed by an ice cold Belgian 'Blonde' ale at a chilled-out street cafe while you just sit and watch the world go by? If you are looking for a great hotel then I can thoroughly recommend where we stayed - the 'Hotel De Tuilerieen' - just fabulous and considered to be one of the best in Bruges! Give me a call and I will tell you all about it.......

12 March 2019

For a 'fun packed' short break with (or without) kids then this is the place to be.... We took the direct Eurostar for a 3 night trip from the beautiful St. Pancras station - this takes you straight to Disney and is the perfect way to travel ''stress free''! Disney is not only for the little ones but there is also plenty to occupy the 'big kids' too. There are two parks (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios), where you will find enough to entertain children (and adults) of all age groups. I would recommend a day in each park and be on the look out for the 'New Generation' characters...Nemo, Buzz, Woody, Sulley - they are all there waiting for a friendly hug! In the evening there are a great choice of restaurants at Disney Village. If you havn't experienced it before then try the 'Rainforest Cafe' (my favourite restaurant), or go back to 50's America at 'Annettes Diner' where the waitresses serve you on roller skates! If you still have enough energy then head on over to 'Billy Bobs' and try your hand at line dancing - it's free to join in and afterwards stick around for the live band.... yee hah! For the less energetic then there are plenty of things to entertain you... for some retail therapy then head over to the nearby open-air shopping outlet at La Vallee Village or catch the latest movie at the onsite Imax movie theatre. If you just want to completely 'chillax' then treat yourself to a massage at the 'Celestia Spa' at the Disneyland Hotel. There's ice-skating outside the New York Hotel if you fancy it, or for keen golfers then how about the 27-hole golf course at the nearby 'Golf Disneyland' (ask for my friend Colin)! As you can see - there is something for everyone at Disneyland Paris so give it a go and I will guarantee that you come home with a smile on your face!

12 March 2019

Iceland, it’s not a destination – it is an adventure! It may be freezing cold in the winter but the beautiful Icelandic people will give you the very warmest of welcomes. The air is clean and crisp and every gust of unforgiving wind will feel like it’s blowing away any troubles you may have. The Icelanders have a pride in their island and an appreciation of the great things they have rather than bitterness about the things they don’t. The ‘spirit’ definitely lives here. We explored just a glimmer of this fabulous island – from snowmobiling to surreal sunrises and sunsets. From geyser hopping to stunning waterfalls, from geothermal pool dipping to star gazing – and of course… the Northern Lights! Being the least densely populated Country in Europe, Iceland will allow you to connect with nature and make you feel like the last person in the Universe. In short, Iceland makes you feel ALIVE……

12 March 2019

There are no words in the English Dictionary that can describe the beauty of this enchanting part of Finland, and until you experience it for yourself you will never know. We stayed in Rovaniemi, just inside the Arctic Circle, and at -20 degrees it made it even more breath-taking (literally)! The whole landscape looked like it had been sprinkled with magical pixie dust...just for us! Fun-filled days were spent on reindeer and husky rides, snowball fighting with the elves (they are Olympic champions), sledging and snowmobiling. Quieter times of Lappish tales around a campfire drinking hot berry juice, a visit to Father Christmas and sometimes just standing still for a minute and listening…to nothing but the sound of the snowflakes falling. It was like walking through the wardrobe into Narnia...and just for those few, short, snow-filled days I was 7 years old again and I believed.

12 March 2019

It was 20 years ago that I first visited this wonderful little island and this time I was back with the parents and my 9 year old son and thankfully, not much had changed! Menorca has a real charm about it, from the beautiful stretches of white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters of Cala Galdana & Cala Blanca, to the cobbled back streets of Ciutadella - a great spot for people watching with a plate of fresh Calamari and an ice-cold beer! We hired a car and with Grandma and Grandad strapped safely in the back we headed off to explore the many coves and small villages that Menorca has to offer. There is a slow pace to life here so you just sit back, relax and enjoy the Sangria. Salud!

05 October 2011

This was my second visit to Sardinia and I was wondering whether this time would be as good as the last... may I say that it was even better !! Sardinia is simply beautiful - the crystal clear sea lapping the soft, white sandy beaches - I haven't seen any beaches this good outside of the Caribbean (and I will challenge anyone to tell me otherwise)! We stayed in the South of the Island this time and made the most of our 4 day break with a nifty little Fiat 500 to explore the local area. Once you head out of bustly Cagliari you hit the coast road which takes you to some great little beaches dotted in between the local villages. I can definitely recommend a little beach called 'Tuerredda' (not well signposted so look carefully) with a great beach cafe/bar called 'Poseidon' - we could have quite easily spent all day and night here! Travelling at this time of year can be a bit of a risk with the weather but we were very lucky and enjoyed 4 days of cloudless skies (which was just as well because there was a heatwave going on back in the UK)! The weather was also at a perfect temperature for our little 2 year old who spent his days on the beach, jumping the waves and building sandcastles on the shore. Yes, Sardinia can be quite pricey but remember....you are paying for a 'little bit of paradise' ... surely that's got to be worth every penny!

06 October 2010

''New York, New York - so good they named it twice''.... It's only when you visit New York that you actually realise just how true the saying is! New York has a pulse - an undescribable feeling that you will only understand once you have been here. Yes, there are all the well known sights to take in - The Statue of Liberty, The Empire State Building, Times Square...... but New York is so much more than that - it's the people you meet and the story they tell..... Take the subway to Queens and have a beer in a local bar, try a delicious breakfast in 'Bubby's' in Tribeca, have a barefoot picnic in Central Park, catch a baseball game at the Yankee Stadium - mix with the locals and enjoy their company - they love to talk to you about their beautiful city....... ...... and what a city it is......go see it and FEEL it for yourself......

11 June 2008

Wow.... what can I say about this beautiful little Caribbean Island - it may only be 21 miles by 12 miles but it has certainly managed to find a place in my heart! Grenada has the fabulous climate, the beautiful beaches and the stunning scenery but in my mind - it's the people that make it. The locals greet you like you're an old friend and when you leave ... that's exactly how you will feel - like an old friend! The great thing about Grenada is that there is accommodation to suit all tastes - from a luxury, boutique hotel to a tree house style villa set in lush tropical vegetation with views to die for. So whatever 'Caribbean experience' you are looking for - you'll be sure to find it here in Grenada. A must for your holiday is a visit to ''Fish Friday'' where we were able to sample the local catch of the day whilst listening to the sounds of the steel drum band - go easy on the rum n' coke though - this is Grenada measures! If snorkelling is your thing then don't miss the ''underwater sculptures''. We hired a catamaran for half a day from Grand Anse beach and were able to experience these underwater visions which was truly amazing! If you'd rather stay on land then make sure you enjoy all the island has to offer by hiring a car - they drive on the same side of the road as us so there's no excuse! We took a trip up to Concord Falls - perfect for a quick dip on a hot day followed by an ice cold ''Carib'' beer in the shop nearby. I also recommend a trip over to Carriacou Island which is more rustic than Grenada and part of the 'Grenada Grenadines'. We were able to catch the ferry from St. Georges which takes approx 2 hours - and were fortunate enough to spot dolphins and flying fish on the way! To finish a perfect holiday we joined the gang down at the 'Dodgy Dock' at True Blue Bay Resort and danced the night away underneath the stars............................