21 August 2019

This was our boys first time to Dubai, and they were so excited! I have been very lucky to have visited numerous times and we wanted the boys to have a holiday to remember. We split our stay between Le Meridien Mina Seyahi and a stay at Atlantis The Palm. We always take a local taxi on arrival as there are always plenty waiting and cheaper to pay locally than pay for a private transfer. I know some clients prefer having a driver waiting to help with luggage and when it’s your first time in a country this can be peace of mind and convenient when unsure where you are going. Le Meridien is a small hotel by Dubai standards, the boys were totally in awe of the huge skyscrapers, the cranes and building work and the new culture they were experiencing. The sand is so white, and the sea is so warm it’s like a bath. We swam with the fish, found starfishes and enjoyed lots of pool time making new friends from all over the world. We took a visit to the Burj Khalifa at night to watch the fountains, I’m not great with heights so we enjoyed the spectacular visual show of the dancing fountains and marvelled at the Burj from the ground. I would highly recommend this experience to everyone when visiting Dubai. I would book into a restaurant next visit and ask for a fountain view to enjoy the night in a buzz atmosphere without the crowds. The Dubai Mall is really impressive, and we ate dinner in one of the outlets to break up the evening. Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to shop with 3 males in tow! Moving on to Atlantis, I cannot put into words how impressive this hotel is! Everything is so superior and luxurious. We enjoyed our 3 nights and made the most of the inclusions of the superb waterpark, the amazing famous fish tank and lost chambers, the stunning restaurants and sunsets. The service you receive in Dubai is outstanding, everyone is so helpful, and I feel very safe being there with my family. We were there for Ramadan, this is the first time I have been in Dubai for Ramadan and I can honestly say that nothing was different to previous visits, if anything it was quieter and calmer. Yes, there were few restaurants closed however this doesn’t take away from the experience and choice on offer. You need to be respectful to the country you are visiting regardless of the time of year. Dubai has a very special place in my heart, it ticks every box for what we look for in a family holiday and we will return for many years. Dubai can be anything you want it to be! A couples romantic break soaking up the endless sunshine in a beautiful luxury hotel, a fast paced wild short break with friends to enjoy the boozy brunches and beach clubs, a relaxing family holiday enjoying the facilities of the hotel, sightseeing to take in the culture and fascinating architecture, visit one of the amazing waterparks with world class rides or shop ‘til you drop in the many shopping malls, take a day trip to the desert for some thrilling adrenaline activities, go sailing, go indoor skiing!

07 February 2018

We chose the resort of Saariselka with Santa's Lapland based on feedback I’d had from families and colleagues, and I was booking so many lucky families to Lapland in 2016 I just knew we had to go as a family before our eldest no longer believed. We certainly were not disappointed from the moment we arrived at the airport and saw the “Santa flight” at check in. During the flight the children were involved in carol singing and games to keep them occupied, on arrival into Ivalo we were met by cheeky elves and reindeer and again Christmas songs on the transfer to resort. A very speedy check in and welcome meeting and collection of thermal suits. The children loved the afternoon sledging in the mountains of snow and sledge runs around the resort. Great accommodation with two bedrooms, basic food but very filling and yes drinks are expensive in Finland, so I recommend you take a bottle of your favourite wine to enjoy in your room once the children are crashed from the day's excitement. The search for Santa day is so magical, you are given an allocated departure time and husky ride time and the rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy all the wonderful activities on offer. My top tip, do not let the children be outside too long, we took warming breaks after every activity so they did not get too cold at any point. We experienced temperatures of minus 23 and a lot of children were very cold and crying. There are warming huts with open fires and the main restaurant with warm drinks and yummy biscuits on offer. Don’t put pressure on to get around everything as I believe it's more important to enjoy the experience rather than crying in pain. We were lucky enough to enjoy the mini ski-doos, tobogganing, Santa's house, reindeer ride, husky, elves workshop and igloo fantasia before the last transfer back to our hotel. We were not lucky enough to experience the Northern Lights while there, but with young children you would find it hard to stay up late when the timing is best. I would totally recommend this experience to anyone with a young family and looking for lifelong memories. You cannot leave Lapland without armfuls of cuddly reindeers and Christmas memorabilia! We believed before we took our trip this would be a once in a lifetime - I would love to go back.

04 July 2017

Favourite Universal Experience Volcano Bay was simply amazing, the sheer scale of the park and the variety of rides was very impressive. I love that a family can experience many of the rides together as well as individually. Great for young families so the little ones can feel safe and happy with family and friends. A huge pool to relax by and sand between your toes when resting to get the “beach feel” Trip Highlights All of it! The first day arriving by water taxi to the famous “Universal” revolving world and the gates was a huge highlight. The pure adrenaline and excitement of what’s to come. Seeing all the characters my little boys idolise and imagining their little faces when I return with them – Simpsons, Transformers, Shrek and Scooby Do to name a few Biggest Surprise How much I love rollercoasters! The rides are just brilliant, Hulk and Rip Ride Rocket were personal favourites. I really enjoyed seeing Universal by night, the city walk has so much going on with fabulous places to eat and drink the night away. I loved being in my Universal bubble? The hotels are all so close to the parks and if you like to walk it’s so easy to get around using the well laid out walkways or take the water taxis and shuttle buses. Top Tips Book a Universal hotel that offers fast passes, you will not be disappointed and will get so much more out of your time at Universal and plan your days to maximise activities Arrive early and beat the queues Upgrade to the dining plan for great value to budget your days in the parks Be prepared for the occasion downpour, no suede sandals as I found out?

10 August 2017

The Dominican Republic has got us buzzing! We travelled as a family in June, although I had never fancied Dominican before and it was a last-minute decision. Wow, we loved everything and booking to go back in 2018. The flight wasn’t overly long for 2 small children, the transfer in the resort to Punta Cana was 30 minutes so again great. The hotel was situated on the most beautiful beach with powder white sand and swaying palm trees. We were totally spoilt for choice by the A La Carte options to eat, slushies all day by the pool for the children, waiter service to my sun lounger and no rushing to get a sunbed at the crack of dawn as plenty for all guests at the hotel. Gorgeous fresh pizzas and giros in the afternoon washed down with a few cocktails and endless hot sunshine. The kids loved the hotel’s resident flamingos, turtles and lizards. They didn’t use the kids club as they were quite happy jumping in and out of the pool making friends, building sand castles, using the sea trampoline and enjoying the beach foam parties. This holiday was everything we needed as a family and so much more, the value for money is outstanding and having travelled back to Portugal in July there is just no comparison if you can handle the longer flight

28 September 2017

One off the bucket list! New York for Christmas shopping with my best friend, a trip we will never forget and can only hope to repeat. We travelled from Newcastle with Air Lingus and cleared immigration in Dublin, I can’t believe how easy this was! We were fast tracked through to catch our connecting flight and once in JFK literally walked off the plane to collect our luggage and beat the queues to the taxi rank. A transfer from the airport is long, the traffic is just ridiculous! It does however give you chance to take in the skyline and your surroundings We stayed 15 minutes from Times Square, you will feel tired when you arrive with the jet lag but it's so important to stay awake and enjoy the evening so you can enjoy the first full time and hopefully not be awake at 4am. We opted for room only and loved exploring the local cafes early morning for a bagel and coffee for less than $5 (hotel breakfasts are so expensive!) Our first night we walked all the way up to Central Park for ice skating, we had this pre booked and it was a surreal experience. Holding hands skating in the dark with my best friend, tired and a little delirious and with the New York skyline all around us. A real highlight of my trip Our first full day in New York was spent shopping, we took a trip to Woodbury common and were not disappointed. This was pure shopping heaven! I recommend this place to all of my customers and everyone is always grateful as 5th Avenue, Macy’s, Bloomingdales etc are not any cheaper than London I would say (exchange rate depending). Of course it’s a must to visit these iconic stores. This trip is exhausting, the bus journey is long but 100% worth it, an empty case is a must The second day was spent as a real tourist, having been before I wasn’t keen on doing the usual tourist sites and we opted for the helicopter tour, and we were totally blessed with the most amazing sunny day with a clear sky. This is a lovely thing to do especially if there for a special occasion. We opted to walk as far as we could and got to see so much of New York on foot before hailing a taxi. We walked through a food market, Chinatown, little Italy and got to see “real New York”. Our last full day we went to see the Christmas lights at Rockefeller and 5th Avenue and all the iconic places on my tick list. Comfy shoes are a must and layers, even though we travelled early December and this should have been cold the sun was shining and actually warm walking everywhere. So glad I didn’t take a big coat and opted for big scarf and layers instead. My biggest regret for this trip was the lack of good food and drink! We didn’t plan at all and found ourselves eating pizza on street corners and drinks in Hard Rock Café. Many TC’s travel to New York regularly and have many great recommendations so please pick my brains for ideas. I wish I had planned better however as I had been before I presumed I knew it. How very naïve! My second time to New York was stunning and I will definitely return with an empty case and planned to perfection.

08 July 2015

I've been lucky enough to travel to Majorca 3 times in the last 12 months, I've stayed in beautiful Pollensa and Cala Millor with the family and Palma with friends for a short break. What is not to like about Majorca, its a fabulous short flight, easy airport and within a 15-90 minute drive you are at any area of the island. It's beautiful, so much bigger than you think with a population of over 750,000, it's green with mountainous scenery and so many resorts to choose from. There's so many beautiful resorts with family friendly shallow areas, calm beaches and every type of accommodation on offer from villa, family all inclusive to luxury hotels. Driving is very simple if you fancy a villa holiday and there are so many on offer in Majorca to suit every budget. We will keep returning as a family and trying other resorts, we've not been disappointed so far and I know we wont be.

07 January 2015

Iceland is simply spectacular. We travelled in January just after the New Year for a short break for my husband’s birthday. Our trip was fast paced and typical of what the majority of first time visitors to Iceland do. On arrival we took the shuttle coaches to Reykjavik centre which is approx. 50 minutes, everyone is taken to the central bus terminal and then your onward journey is by minibus to your hotel. Our hotel was very central just off one of the main shopping streets leading to the central square. Every single Icelandic person we came into contact with was so friendly and helpful. That first night we took the Northern Lights tour, again you travel on a large coach and are driven out to the countryside where there might be a possibility of seeing the lights. It is freezing! In January there is snow on the ground and the winds are vicious, but so worth it when you witness the natural phenomenon above. The tour allows for refreshment stops which are needed to warm up. The second day we spent at the Blue Lagoon Spa for my husband’s birthday, the transfer is about an hour. We chose to hire the towels, dressing gown and flipflops and rent a locker, this can be done more cost effectively by taking your own but you will most definitely need a dressing gown as it is so cold getting from the changing room to the lagoon. The lagoon is beautiful, it’s quite surreal being in the lush warm waters and your breath is cold and the mountains are your backdrop. It’s definitely worth the visit and you can have a facemask with the natural minerals complimentary. Smoothies, Prosecco and beer can be drank whilst in the lagoon (maximum 3 alcoholic drinks!) which are charged to your account from your wristband. Top tip! Pre book into the restaurant if you want to have lunch, we missed out as we hadn’t and ate in the café instead which I was very disappointed with. Look out for the ladies taking your pictures in the lagoon, stunning image captured and emailed to you immediately and complimentary. Staying in Reykjavik you have a choice of beautiful A La Carte restaurants, we chose the Icelandic taster menus to try the local delicacies – Puffin, Mink Whale, Horse and Fermented Shark, not recommended but something I guess I can say I’ve tried! The final day was spent doing the Golden Circle Tour to take in the famous sights of Geysir, Gullfoss waterfall and Thingvellir, we splashed out on this trip and opted for the mountain jeep with 1 hour snowmobile experience. I’m so pleased we did, what an experience. The jeep itself was hair-raising across the snowy paths but the snowmobile through the mountains was stunning. Freezing but you are well equipped. The trip was very tiring as we wanted to experience everything we could in a short break, when staying in Reykjavik you need to be prepared to do a lot of travelling if you are sightseeing. The Icelandics have this down to perfection, your minibus picks you up when they say it will, the coaches leave the terminal when they are scheduled to, and the queues are handled quickly. It all runs very smoothly but I wouldn’t stay in Reykjavik for the full duration if doing this trip again. I would recommend a stay close to the lagoon or up in the mountains and countryside to experience a more unique Iceland. It’s certainly not cheap to eat and drink, prepare and take snacks on the trips and we saw most places offered happy hours in the evenings on your drinks. Our flight home was delayed due to incoming flights delayed but again this was handled efficiently and always with a smile. January is a good month to travel for the chance to see the lights however it is a dark and wet month. We didn’t see proper daylight as there was always a dusk/dawn haze but that added to the charm for me. It wasn’t as cold as I was expecting hovering around the 0 degrees in Reykjavik, I only used my thermals for the lights tour and the mountain jeep tour. February is a good month to travel as there is more sunshine but expect it to be cold. There’s still so much I want to see and do in Iceland, our guide told us to see and experience everything Iceland has to offer you would need 2-3 weeks! My next must do is to go back in summer and do a hike and Whale spotting, what would you do?

29 April 2016

We travelled to Tenerife when our youngest was only 4 months old and it was a complete pleasure. He was happy and content, in a nice routine and had long naps during the day after all the swimming! Tenerife was a complete surprise to me, I wasn’t expecting much but I totally fell in love and can’t wait to go back. We travelled in the October half term and the weather was very kind to us with gorgeous sunshine and warm days. We stayed in Costa Adeje and chose this resort for the short transfer after a long flight with a baby, I loved walking with the baby in the buggy along the sea front past all the hotels into Adeje centre. There are some stunning hotels and really nice restaurants and shops along the front. You’ll see allot of runners and walkers taking advantage of miles of pathway linking resorts. The coast is rugged with not allot of space for beach, the beaches are dark sand but the sea is calm. We prefer the pool so this wasn’t an issue for us. I would have liked to have ventured out in the evening and sample the restaurants however we also travelled with our 3 year old who was shattered by dinner time. Our hotel was amazing and allowed 3 year olds into the kidsclub and cinema night which worked a dream for us. Ask me for me more information ?

21 October 2013

My husband and I spent 4 nights in Rome for our “minimoon” after marrying in Mexico. My husband has a real passion for Roman History and was not disappointed. Everywhere you look beautiful buildings and statues are there to be discovered. We stayed in a central hotel close to the Termini station however walked everywhere, even back from the Vatican! We did use the metro to get there however we liked the exercise and coming across less known places of interest. The metro is very easy to use, clean and has excellent coverage of the city. A guide book is an absolute must if you want to fully appreciate the buildings and statues. I would recommend taking a tourist bus on your first day to get your bearings and decide on a route of where to go. Having 4 nights gave us plenty of time to take our time, if I was to return I would probably spend 2 or 3 after knowing how expensive it is to eat, drink and shop! A lot of places of interest are free - the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Ancient Rome and the Pantheon are the most famous. All are very busy and you must be prepared for crowds and to wait your turn to take a photo. They are also overrun with local sellers trying to sell you anything from a handbag to a rose. If you say no they are not pushy and leave you alone. The Vatican is expensive to enter however totally amazing, you will need to allow at least half a day to visit and explore everything it has to offer. We chose to have a tour guide rather than wander aimlessly around the museum not knowing what we were looking at. There are tour guides on the walk up to the Vatican offering tours, if you take a tour you get to queue jump which, in busy summer months would be totally worth it. The Colosseum is amazing; I was surprised how much of it you can explore. We didn’t take a tour guide however wished we had as we didn’t come away really knowing anything about it. It was too busy to stand and read the various boards with information in English. My top tip when visiting Rome is to do a bit of research into where to eat, there are so many very average and expensive restaurants for the tourists that you could be left feeling a bit disappointed. We ate at a very lovely restaurant on our last night after finding a recommendation close to our hotel on tripadvisor.

25 July 2013

Barcelona has to be one of my favourite city break destinations as it is just so diverse and appeals to such a large range of people. I travelled with my husband and 2 year son for 5 nights in July 2013. Do not expect to get anywhere quickly by road in Barcelona due to the number of traffic lights! It felt like there was a set every 20 metres. As newbies to Barcelona we took an open top bus on our first day. There are 3 routes and central points where you can swap over. The full day bus trip costs about 23 EUROS per adult and 14 EURO per child. We used the bus to travel north of the city and got off at the Nou Camp Barcelona. My husband loved the tour and was in awe of the pitch. He was particularly pleased to catch a glimpse of the youth team training. The Nou Camp Experience costs about 25 EUROS each not including under 5’s. I’d suggest getting there as early in the morning as possible as coach loads of tourists arrive a little later and it gets incredibly busy. Barcelona has more than 160km of bike lanes and the main roads all have a separate cycle path. You can easily hire a bike for a few hours or a few days. It’s a great way to see the city. There are also companies who organise half and full day bike tours so if time is short you could see most of Barcelona and keep fit at the same time. Our accommodation was a 15 minute walk to the Cathedral Familia. Unfortunately we decided not to queue and look inside as it wasn’t feasible with a toddler as it was a very long wait even though we got there at 11am. Even from the outside you can get a very good idea of the building which is simply magnificent and very worth the visit. It is amazing to think they still haven’t finished it, although construction started more than 100 years ago. Around this area you can find your usual Mac Donalds, Starbucks and chain eateries. If you are travelling with children there is a playground opposite to keep the little ones entertained while you capture the splendour of the building. From the Familia, depending on how much exercise you want, it is possible to wander up to Las Ramblas and all the way down to the Marina. It took us between 45 minutes and an hour. The Marina is where the cruises depart and there is a shopping mall, IMEX theatre, a huge number of eateries and lots of yachts and boats to look at. We found it very busy down here and beware if you need to use the toilet you need to pay 1 EURO! In general Barcelona is very clean and green. There are countless parks and children’s play areas. We found it very easy to walk everywhere as we could break up the journey by stopping for an ice-cream. We chose to spend one of our days at the beach and got there via the metro which cost only 2 EURO each. It’s about five stops down to Barceloneta and took us 10 minutes. We arrived early at 10am and found a sunbed and parasol easy enough, which was 15 EUROS. The beach at Barceloneta is very rocky. The beach gets VERY busy, and every inch of sand was taken up by lunch time. There are plenty of cafes and supermarkets opposite where you can get water and snacks. We only ate out at lunch time and found the cost to be reasonable and certainly not extortionate for typical Spanish tapas and healthy salads. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from all over the city and a typical 3 plate tapas meal will cost approx. 10 EUROS pp. The city has very easy transport routes so if you would rather save your pennies for shopping and sightseeing I would recommend a hotel further away from the centre. The metro was very easy and there are buses and walkways everywhere. We will certainly be returning to Barcelona (maybe without the little one!)

13 May 2013

We booked a perfect wedding package and two week stay for all our family and friends at the beautiful resort of Tulum. Whilst the transfer is long if travelling by coach, we were pleased to be away from the traffic and busy beaches of Cancun and the Riviera Maya. I would absolutely recommend a private transfer to be at your hotel within 1 hour and 10 minutes. We also took our two year old son and there was plenty to keep him occupied at our hotel. I would have no issues taking him to Mexico again. I would recommend anyone travelling with children to buy the plug in insect repellents you can get, we used it constantly in our room and none of us were bitten. Our families were and didn't have a plug in! Our resort offered the perfect "ultimate" wedding package to include all legalities, brides styling, flowers, a Mexican band, cocktail hour and canapés, beautiful 4 course meal, cake, video and photos and private location on the beach. I could not have asked for more, the wedding coordinator was by my side the whole time and flexible around my requests. This was my fourth time back to Mexico and I am still in love with it as much as I was the first time, the value for money is exceptional. The standard of hotel, quality of food, weather and friendliness of the people make it a fabulous destination choice for those wanting a piece of the Caribbean but at a cost effective price. We decided to have one night in Cancun and chose a hotel right in the hotel zone and a two minute walk to Coco Bongos, all of our guests loved this and got to experience the Cancun nightlife. We were all pleased to be returning to our lovely hotel and resort the following morning for some peace and quiet! If staying in Tulum and you want a bit of nightlife you have Playa Del Carmen only a 30 minute taxi drive away. We also ventured out and the bars and clubs are very modern, cool and contemporary. The drink prices are quite expensive though! There are so many excursions to take part in and there will be something for everyone. My husband took our male guests on a half day fishing trip but the sea was so rough that they didn’t even hold a rod let alone catch a fish! Not one he would recommend! The sea can be rough in Mexico so watch out for the flags indicating where it’s OK to swim. I would recommend the Xel Ha full day trip for snorkelling and swimming in the sea, there are also wildlife areas, aquariums and you can even take a bike out and explore. A lot of money has been put into Cancun and the Riviera and this really stood out to me this visit. The majority of the bars and clubs have been renovated, the shops are all selling the latest brands, the excursions on offer have doubled with new and exciting experiences including the new xplore which offers zip wiring, rafting, and cave swimming. We didn’t know this existed until too late but we will absolutely be giving it a go on our next trip! The departure tax has nearly tripled over the years, this time we paid £45 (sterling!) per person including children; please bear this in mind especially for a family of four. We will absolutely be returning to Mexico again.

02 October 2012

I travelled to Siena and Tornano for a friends wedding over the August Bank Holiday. We flew from Stansted into Perugia and picked up our car hire for the 60km drive to the castle. Unfortunately our castle did not have a postcode or street name so we ended up driving around and around the Tuscan hillside for 3 hours before finding our destination. This is in no way a negative as the scenery is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful, all of the locals we stopped for directions were so helpful, we were just a little useless! The morning of the wedding we had to travel to Siena for the wedding at the town hall. I was not expecting anything other than a quick "I do" in a little town hall and back to the reception. How wrong was I! Siena itself is a walled city and no cars are allowed in the main square, the square is famous for the "running of the horses" and we were lucky enough to be there on the day they held the celebration for the festival coming to an end. We were treated to 100's of band players in the square and this was so special for the wedding couple. The town hall is steeped in history with beautiful paintings all over the walls and ceilings, the ceremony itself conducted in Italian and translated to English, it was all over very quickly for everyone. After the wedding we had pizzas and peroni in the square while the couple had their photos taken walking through the square and various alleyways. The tourists loved the commotion and I'm sure their wedding pictures will be all over the world. Later on in the afternoon we travelled back to Tornano for the reception at the castle. You could not ask for a more beautiful setting for champagne and canapes overlooking the hillside in the late evening sunshine. The castle produces its own wine which was delicious and we even brought some home with us. The wedding breakfast was served in the castle gardens and stayed true to fine Italian cuisine with an amazing 4 course meal. I absolutely cannot wait to go back and experience more of Tuscany and I will certainly be going back to Siena to learn more about its history and wander through the streets. From Siena you can drive out to Florence and Pisa and even to Bologna for a day trip. For anyone looking for a beautiful location to hold a special occasion I cannot recommend Tuscany more. I'm even thinking I may have made a mistake for my own destination!

30 May 2012

Our first family holiday. We decided to rent a villa for our first family holiday and decided on Portugal due to the short flight for a small baby. Perfect. Staying in a Villa gave us the freedom to feed our baby when he needed it rather than worry about getting to a restaurant or asking reception to warm our milk etc. The Villa itself was a 15 minute walk to the Marina which gave us a nice walk each today to get out and about and see the area. Travelling in low season was very quiet and peaceful, I can imagine in the height of summer the place could become very busy. Vilamoura is very clean and modern. The supermarkets stocked everything you need pampers nappies to English daily papers! You have every type of restaurant you could possibly want from traditional Portugese, Steakhouses, Thai to Mac d's and kebab shops. The Marina has some very upmarket restaurants including sushi restaurants, coffee shops and even a Verve Cliquot champagne bar. The retail shops are also accommodating to the wealthy boat owners. If you want lively bars, behind the Marina there are plenty of karaoke bars, cocktail bars and gentlemens clubs. You have to visit the outside bar of the Peppers Steakhouse at the Tivoli, the bar has beautiful views overlooking the Marina and the amazing yachts. The beach is a short walk on from the Marina and has lovely powdery sand and sunbeds to hire. I would absolutely go back to Vilamoura and recommend to familes, singles and couples.

28 March 2012

The Maldives - the most beautiful place on the planet. Gorgeous beaches, stunning clear night skies, abundance of tropical fish and marine life inches away from you. The Maldivian people are so polite and happy always remembering you by name and having your drink ready when you enter the bar or restaurant. To make our stay even more special we upgraded to a water villa at our hotel, Meeru Island, this really added to the experience waking up and seeing nothing but clear blue skies and crystal clear water for miles and miles. We found it hard to leave our private balcony however the amazing selection of fresh food and drink served throughout the day was enough to entice us on to the mainland! In the evening you could choose from a relaxing restaurant playing background music while you can hear the waves gently lapping against it, to a lively bar playing live music and providing entertainment. Crab racing was our favourite, closely followed by the swimming pool golf night! We were lucky enough to be there over Christmas, this is celebrated on Christmas Eve in the Maldives, the hotel went out of its way to make it special. Santa arrived by speed boat and handed all of the children presents and we were treated to a carol service by the hotel staff followed by our Christms meal. I could of died and gone to heaven with the selection of desserts! On Christmas day we spent the morning in the spa and the afternoon relaxing by the pool, our best Christmas by far. Even on the day it rained we used this opportunity to use the hotels sports facilities playing golf on the driving range and table tennis. My partner loved the weekly football match, guests v staff, it was a great way to meet other people. The Maldives to me is just the perfect chill out destination either for a family, couple or friends. The best part for me was even though I had packed 10 pairs of shoes I didn't end up wearing any for the whole 2 weeks, I was so relaxed and happy by the end of the holiday. Having to leave was heartbreaking, we will be going back without a doubt.

13 April 2012

Singapore is a lovely stop-over city, its actually a lot smaller than I thought it would be! The city is so clean with lots of greenery and bright flowers. The shopping down Orchard Road is fantastic and you have to visit China Town. A visit over to Sentosa Island is also a must if you are not staying there, the island has its own beaches and attractions including Resorts World Sentosa for lots of family fun. If you are after nightlife, why not take a trip to Raffles Hotel, Long Bar at night and treat yourself to a Singapore Sling. The weather in Singapore is hot and humid, I would recommend staying at a hotel with a lovely big pool to cool off in after a busy day sightseeing or shopping.

26 April 2012

I love Barbados, so much so I have been three times, including twice in one year! I have always stayed on the west coast of the island and the weather has always been very kind to me. I have always stayed in the peak season of November to March and been blessed with beautiful blue skies and calm clear seas. There's plenty to see and do in Barbados if soaking up the rays is not for you, personally I like to take out a jet ski and have a nosey at the other hotels along the stretch of beach! You can get aboard the Jolly Roger for a party boat along the coast then hit Harbour Lights open air nightclub. Or if you prefer a more scenic, relaxed view of the island maybe a glass bottom boat excursion or a cultural visit to St Nicholas Abbey is more for you. For the kids or the big kids there’s the Boatyard, a whole day can be spent here enjoying the inflatables in the sea, enjoy lunch in the seafront restaurant and finish the day in the lively Sharkeys Bar. Barbados can be any holiday you want it to be, a total Caribbean relaxing getaway or a lively fun packed holiday. It really is the ideal place for friends, couples and families.