11 June 2025

Sun-kissed shores, turquoise waters, and unforgettable adventures — my latest voyage with Norwegian Cruise Lines aboard the NCL Jewel was nothing short of extraordinary. From a luxe pre-cruise stay in Tampa to Caribbean island-hopping bliss, this journey was the perfect blend of exploration and relaxation. Let me take you with me, day by day, through this spectacular escape. Our adventure began with a touch of class. Flying into Florida a day early, we checked in to the elegant Westin Tampa Bay — a waterfront sanctuary that gave us a taste of coastal luxury before even boarding the ship. With stunning bay views, plush bedding, and an exceptional seafood dinner overlooking the water, it was the perfect way to shake off travel fatigue and ease into holiday mode. On February 18th, we embarked from Tampa, a city brimming with charm and culture. Before sailing away, we had time to explore the cobblestone streets and historic vibes of Ybor City, grab a café con leche at a Cuban café, and soak up some art at the Tampa Museum of Art. But the real excitement began as we stepped onto the Jewel — a floating paradise with endless dining options, Broadway-style shows, sparkling pools, and ocean views at every turn. The next two days were all about pure relaxation. We explored the ship, sipped cocktails by the pool, sampled world cuisines at specialty restaurants, and enjoyed live music under the stars. There’s nothing quite like waking up with the sea outside your window and no obligations — just bliss. Our first stop on February 21st was the stunning Puerto Plata. We took a cable car up Pico Isabel de Torres for jaw-dropping views, wandered through the Amber Museum, and marveled at the 16th-century Fortaleza San Felipe. This city is a blend of natural beauty and fascinating history — a gem in the Caribbean crown. Next up was St. Thomas on February 22nd, where we explored Charlotte Amalie, a harbor once haunted by pirates and now home to vibrant markets and irresistible shopping. We also managed a quick dip at Magens Bay, one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches. Crystal-clear water and palm-fringed sands — the postcard-perfect island experience. On February 24th, we landed in Oranjestad, Aruba. Picture this: white sands, sherbet-colored buildings, vibrant flowers, and warm breezes. We strolled the quaint Dutch colonial streets, browsed local boutiques, and soaked in Caribbean sunshine. Then came Curaçao on February 25th, where we wandered through the pastel-hued charm of Willemstad — a true slice of old Amsterdam in the tropics. Shopping, sipping cocktails on colonial verandas, and tasting the iconic blue Curaçao liqueur rounded out a picture-perfect day. Falmouth, Jamaica greeted us on February 27th with reggae rhythms and vibrant local life. From the colonial architecture of Good Hope Estate to climbing the legendary Dunn’s River Falls, the day was packed with excitement. We rafted down the Martha Brae River, visited Montego Bay, and savored spicy jerk chicken and sweet rum punch. Jamaica’s energy is infectious and unforgettable. Our final port was George Town, Grand Cayman, on February 28th. We basked on the famed Seven Mile Beach, snorkeled with friendly rays at Stingray City, and explored fascinating shipwrecks beneath the waves. It was the perfect exclamation point to our island-hopping adventure. After one last dreamy day at sea to recharge, we arrived back in Tampa on March 2nd, hearts full, cameras full, and already dreaming of the next voyage. If you’re craving culture, sunshine, relaxation, and a taste of the exotic — all wrapped in the comfort of a luxury cruise — the NCL Jewel Caribbean itinerary is an unbeatable choice. With top-tier service, stunning destinations, and plenty of time to unwind at sea, it’s a holiday that truly has it all.

05 June 2025

Nestled on the shores of the peaceful Kata Noi Beach, Katathani Beach Resort was everything I hoped for and more. This luxurious beachfront retreat offers a calm escape from the hustle and bustle of central Phuket while still being close enough to explore the action when you’re ready. The resort itself is beautifully landscaped, with lush tropical gardens, six stunning swimming pools, and beachfront access that’s literally steps from your room. Whether you want to relax in the spa, sip cocktails at the beach bar, or unwind in one of the many poolside loungers, the resort caters to every type of traveller. Highlights of the Resort: Spacious, modern rooms with private balconies and sea or garden views A choice of six restaurants offering everything from authentic Thai to Italian cuisine Multiple swimming pools, each with a unique vibe – from family-friendly to adults-only A well-equipped fitness centre, tennis courts, and beachfront yoga In-house spa offering heavenly Thai massages and holistic treatments Direct beach access with water sports options and loungers reserved for guests Every detail at Katathani is designed to make you feel completely at ease – and it really delivered. A Heartwarming Visit to an Ethical Elephant Sanctuary One of the most meaningful highlights of the trip was visiting an ethical elephant sanctuary – a must-do while in Thailand. These gentle giants are often mistreated in tourism, so I made sure to visit a sanctuary that genuinely puts the elephants' wellbeing first. We spent the day learning about the elephants’ histories, feeding them, walking alongside them (no rides here!), and even helping with a refreshing mud bath. It was humbling, emotional, and inspiring – a powerful reminder of why responsible travel matters. If you’re visiting Phuket, I highly recommend choosing a true ethical sanctuary – it’s an experience that stays with you long after the holiday ends. Island-Hopping Adventure: The Phi Phi Islands Tour No trip to Phuket is complete without exploring its famous nearby islands – and our boat tour to the Phi Phi Islands was absolutely incredible. We boarded a speedboat early in the morning, zipping across the sparkling Andaman Sea to discover crystal-clear waters, towering limestone cliffs, and hidden coves. We snorkelled in colourful coral reefs, relaxed on white-sand beaches, and even got a glimpse of Maya Bay – made famous by the film The Beach. The tour included visits to: Phi Phi Leh – home to Maya Bay and dramatic rock formations Phi Phi Don – great for a laid-back lunch and swimming stop Monkey Beach – yes, there were monkeys! Piley Lagoon – a surreal, calm lagoon perfect for floating and taking it all in Everything was well-organised, and the guides were fantastic – informative, safety-conscious, and full of fun facts. Things to Do Nearby While Katathani Beach Resort offers plenty to keep you entertained, there’s lots to explore just a short tuk-tuk or taxi ride away: Kata Beach & Karon Beach: great for surf, sunset views, and buzzing beach bars Big Buddha: a short scenic drive takes you to this iconic mountaintop landmark Night Markets: taste local street food, shop for souvenirs, and soak up the vibrant atmosphere Thai cooking classes: perfect for foodies who want to bring a taste of Thailand home Final Thoughts Phuket has a way of capturing your heart – from the peaceful rhythm of waves on Kata Noi Beach to the once-in-a-lifetime experiences with elephants and island adventures. Katathani Beach Resort was the perfect home base for it all: tranquil, welcoming, and just luxurious enough to make you feel spoiled without being stuffy. If you're ready to plan your own Thailand escape, I’d love to help you create something truly unforgettable. Let’s bring your dream trip to life – one beach, one island, and one amazing experience at a time!

07 October 2022

I was extremely fortunate enough this month to have been invited aboard Celebrity Cruises new ship Celebrity Beyond. I joined the ship mid cruise in the port of Civitavecchia in Italy for 4 days of training and experiencing everything Celebrity has to offer my clients. My first impressions of the ship were how stunning it is, the decoration is amazing. Very modern with art pieces everywhere you look, including the lifts! The design of Beyond is very captivating, it’s what I call a 'really feel good factor', everything is pleasing to the eye and nothing looks out of place. I was allocated a stunning Infinity Balcony cabin. This is a twist to other traditional balcony cabins where Celebrity have brought the balcony from the outside to the inside, giving your cabin much more space and the ability to flick a switch and your window drops down to give you a Balcony that takes you to the edge. The room itself is beautifully decorated and spacious and the bonus? Tons of storage space which for cruisers, is a massive plus! The bathroom again is large and spacious with shampoo, conditioner and body wash provided and a hairdryer if needed. The room has a control panel from which you can control the lighting, room temperature and the lovely blackout blind for the balcony window. The ship also has a private area just for Suite guests called The Retreat which has its own private Sundeck and pool, lounge and Restaurant called Luminae. I was fortunate enough to get a private tour and believe me it is out of this world! Absolute bliss if you require privacy and the best service! Celebrity certainly don’t disappoint when it comes to dining, I can honestly say that the food onboard is some of the absolute best I have ever tasted. The ship has 14 cafes, bars and lounges, 8 speciality restaurants, 4 main dining restaurants, 4 complimentary casual dining venues and 2 exclusive restaurants so you have so much choice. I dined in the Tuscan restaurant and in Le Petit Chef, the latter being my absolute favourite. There is a cover charge to dine here but the experience is so worth it. A 4d story is projected onto your plate and table and I have to say is probably the cleverest dining experience I’ve ever had. The food in this restaurant was beyond amazing and something I highly recommend you do if you get to board this ship. The service from the staff is also second to none, very attentive, friendly and nothing is too much trouble. We were serenaded by a singing waiter at dinner! How often can you say that? The Entertainment on Celebrity Beyond was also fantastic, some shows were audience interactive and some were just a pure pleasure to sit and watch from your seats and have an amazing story told to you in music and dance. Celebrity have spent an absolute fortune on a new design of stage which give you an amazing view no matter where you sit in the theatre so no rushing to get the best seats because they all are! We were also spoiled for choice in where to go to enjoy a cocktail or two. There is the amazing Martini bar which sits in the centre of the Grand Plaza, this has seats all around it and gives it a very social atmosphere. This area is also where we had a Silent Disco which was such a good night! One of my favourite places on the ship was the Sunset Bar which is at the back of the ship, loads of sitting areas which are so comfy and not overcrowded either giving you a feeling of space and peacefulness. I'd like to say a massive thank you to Celebrity Cruises and our trainer Leon for such an amazing experience. If I had to sum up Celebrity Beyond, I would tell you that it is a ship that needs to be experienced to be believed. This ship has something to offer everyone from couples, friends, solo travelers and families! I for one will defiantly be booking my own cruise aboard this beautiful ship, get in touch today for your own personal quote and be prepared to go Beyond anything you can imagine!

10 August 2019

I have just come home from a beautiful week’s holiday in sunny Majorca. This was my first ever visit to the island and I have to say I was very impressed with it. I travelled with my partner and his family (there were 18 of us in total) to the resort of Playa De Muro which is at the north end of the island near Alcudia and stayed in the EIX Club Lagotel, which is a 3 Star Plus rated resort, on an all-inclusive basis. My first impressions of the hotel on the outside was that it was just another whitewashed apartment block however when you step into the massive modern reception area which is dotted with comfortable couches and friendly staff, you quickly realise that there is more to this hotel than it lets on. We opted for a 1-bedroom apartment at the time of booking and I was so impressed with our accommodation, the apartment is large and spacious and modern as you can see from the attached photos. The bathroom has a massive walk in shower area which was just perfect after a hard days sunbathing! The rooms are serviced every single day by the amazing housekeeping team at the Lagotel. The one bed apartments also have a fridge, microwave, kettle, cooking hob and a cupboard full of gadgets, plates, cups, glasses and cutlery if you decide to go self-catering. The bedrooms consist of two comfortable singles beds which are pushed together, there is plenty of storage for all your belongings as well. Your bedroom and living room lead onto a double balcony which overlooks the main entertainment and pool area. Your apartment is also air conditioned which was a blessing for us as the temperatures during our stay were round about 37 degrees each day! The Lagotel has one main buffet style restaurant, you don’t have a massive selection of foods but what they do, they do extremely well. The food was tasty, and they do vary it day to day usually with a theme. The breakfasts were brilliant with a range of cooked breakfast goods, fresh fruits, yoghurts, pastries and breads. There are also 2 snack bars, one in each pool area so if you were hungry, you were never far away from a decent burger and chips! The one thing I loved about the Lagotel was that they have a private adults-only pool area which is absolutely divine! A massive pool with water beds, a jacuzzi and massaging water jets and a beautiful little air-conditioned bar area serving refreshing cold ice slushies and cocktails. We spent a day here and it was absolute bliss! We also spent a day down on the beach, the hotel runs a courtesy bus which runs every 25 mins, the journey is less than 5 minutes but given the heat it was a blessing! The beaches are amazing, golden sand and crystal-clear seas. There are plenty of nearby shops and restaurants as well should you decide to eat after sunbathing or need a cooling ice cream. There is a small pier on the beach and a few boat trips run from here which sail around the Island, one is a glass bottom boat which takes you on a 2 hour trip and allows you to jump off into the sea for a quick dip. Majorca was never really somewhere that was on my list of places to travel but it is such a beautiful island with plenty to do and see and it caters for pretty much everyone, I will definitely be going back for round two. If you are thinking about going here and need any information, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

10 May 2019

As you can probably guess from the title of this blog, I absolutely ADORE Skiathos. Its just one of these islands where you instantly fall in love with the place and its people. Golden sandy beaches hug the beautiful coastline of this Greek gem, the Island is covered in pine trees which scent the fresh air and its warm crystal-clear waters are ideal for snorkellers to see loads of amazing marine life or just to splash around in with the family. While the island has lots of beautiful resorts, my favourite has to be Koukanaries, which is in the South West of the island, a beautiful little resort dotted with small family run hotels and a whole host of tavernas serving up local Greek dishes such as Moussaka, Rabbit Stew or freshly caught fish from the sea. Its an absolute delight and the families that run these Tavernas are so friendly and welcoming that you almost feel like you are one of the family. The beaches on Skiathos are plentiful with over 60 to choose from, most of which are sandy. The most popular of the beaches is in Koukanaries, this is a golden sandy delight with plenty of space to spread out and catch the rays. This beach is also my favourite, it is very picturesque and peaceful and I like nothing better than grabbing a sun lounger and reading a good book. The island itself is very easy to explore, they have a bus service which runs all day, usually around 5 buses per hour, and consists of 26 stops. It only costs a couple of Euros to get from the first to the last stop (number 26 being Koukanaries beach) so it’s well worth your money. If you fancy a bit of a more lively nightlife, then do as I did and head down to Skiathos Town and check out the plentiful bars and Tavernas. My absolute favourite and one I definitely recommend that you go to is Mojo Bar by the Sea. The food is excellent and reasonably priced but the cocktails are out of this world. Yiannas makes the world's best Pina Colada (in my opinion)! I could literally go on for hours about this beautiful island, there is so much to see and do. If you like relaxing, this is the place for you, if you like nightlife this is the place for you, if you like history, again this is the place for you. But don’t take my word for it, why not go and see for yourself?! I’ll see you on the beach!