22 June 2016

I’d cruised with Celebrity Cruises four times before so this 14 night cruise on Eclipse over my 50th birthday looked ideal. Especially with a three day stop in the must see city of St Petersburg in Russia. Other stops included Bruges in Belgium, Warnemunde in Germany, Stockholm in Sweden, Copenhagen in Denmark and Tallin in Estonia. I booked when there was an offer which included pre-paid gratuities and a free drinks package which made the cruise all-inclusive. This equates to a saving of £514 per person. Check in at Southampton was a breeze and with glorious sunny skies we headed straight to the pool, ordered a cocktail and relaxed on a sunbed way before most people had even boarded. After the muster drill we met up with a large group of people we had been in contact with from the Cruise Critic message boards online. On this site you can look at your upcoming cruise and once someone has begun a thread online you can watch and contribute to forums, get tips, ask questions and join up for a Sailaway Party if you are so inclined. This is a great way to meet new people from all over the world and the ones we met we saw many times both on-board and off and even went on excursions with. Celebrity Eclipse is a beautiful contemporary ship with a maximum capacity of 2850 so nowhere near the size of the recent mega ships we often see on TV. I love the dining options which include a main dining room with anytime dining when you can eat whenever you wish and with whoever (a table for two is no problem). Alternatively there is traditional fixed dining where you sit with the same group of people throughout the duration of the cruise. This is also very popular for people who like to meet new people and get to know them over dinner. Other dining options include Tuscan Grill (Steak), Qsine (think Heston Blumenthal), Murano (French fine dining), Bistro on 5 (crepes and sandwiches), Ocean View Café (buffet), Mast Grill (burgers and hotdogs) and in-cabin dining. Tuscan, Murano, Bistro On 5 and Qsine apply a supplement charge to eat there but I think the service and quality is worth the extra. I don’t tend to book excursions through the cruise lines as I find them too large and generally overpriced. Instead I check message boards on Cruise Critic and book smaller groups. This was particularly beneficial in St Peterburg with a group of 16 and Warnemunde with 27. It’s also good to organise a small minivan transfer as we did in Zeebrugge for Bruges. Celebrity charged $49.50 per person whereas I organised a minivan for eight fellow Cruise Critic members which cost just £10 each return. Bruges was very pretty and great to walk around. A canal trip is a nice relaxing way to see Bruges from a different angle and it’s cheap for a 30 minute cruise. Don’t forget to buy some delicious Belgian chocolates. Stockholm and Copenhagen are pricey cities but well worth a walk around and there is a joint hop-on/hop-off bus and boat ticket available locally too. The Vasa Museum in Stockholm is a must do! Warnemunde is a small seaside town of pretty streets with cafes and shops but also a large beach and promenade. Here we did a small excursion to Wismar and Schwerin - worth a trip. The train station is conveniently located adjacent to the cruise terminal with cheap trains to all the major points of interest including Berlin and Rostock. Tallin was another highlight with its medieval streets and square. If you like Drambuie try their version called Vana Tallin. 45% proof and much cheaper. Great in a liqueur coffee too! But undoubtedly the star of the show is St Petersburg in Russia. Nothing could prepare me for how stunning this city is. The royal palaces (there are many) and cathedrals are so opulent and lavish that every different room promoted another WOW moment with either large amounts of gold gilding or masterpieces embellishing vast ornate rooms. For more information about this cruise please get in touch.

08 April 2016

I travelled to Tromso via Oslo to the Malangen Resort Hotel which is 350 kms inside the Arctic Circle. An area considered one of the best in the world to view the famous and elusive Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. The hotel transfer takes just over one hour and runs twice daily and is much cheaper than taking a taxi. For my three night stay I stayed in a Superior Double room which was very modern with plenty of space including a large bathroom and rainforest shower. But without doubt the highlight of this hotel is that every room has astonishing views. I would even go to say it was the most spectacular hotel view room I have ever seen with three floor to ceiling picture windows. Wi-Fi is free and available in the main hotel lobby lounge, standard and superior rooms and apartments but I believe they will be expanding this to the cabins soon. In total the hotel has 86 units ranging from Standard Double rooms to three bedroom Deluxe Cabins all with stunning sea views with mountains in the background. The apartments and cabins can also be booked as self-catering as they have fully equipped kitchens but I went on half board which included a delicious hot and cold buffet and also a set three course dinner. Every meal I ate was excellent although wine is pricey as it is everywhere in Norway. There is a large supermarket en route from the airport which the driver is happy to stop at to pick up supplies if you wish. I pre-booked three excursions before I arrived which were Snow Shoeing, Aurora Lights Watch and Husky Safari. Admittedly these are not cheap but all include expert guides, all equipment and a hot light snack and last at least three hours. All were excellent and an experience I will never forget. The staff are so friendly and keen to share their experiences and knowledge with you and they are a lot of fun. The hotel has a fully stocked boot room which includes snow boots, thermal suits, sock, hats, balaclavas, mittens, snow shoes, sleds, head torches. In fact all you need to bring in the winter is a good coat and good walking boots and of course sun glasses! If you fancy exploring the area just pop into the boot room and kit yourself up and enjoy. It's all free to use when staying at the hotel. Snow Shoeing was great fun. Our group of seven plus our guide Noora went into the hills above the hotel into the powder snow. It's quite easy to get the hang of it and not strenuous. At the top there are the most amazing views and Noora lit a fire and we all cooked sausages and spiced bread and drank hot chocolate whilst Noora told us stories about the Sami people of Scandinavia and how to survive using mother nature. I even managed to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights from Camp Nikka. The excursion starts at 9pm and went on to almost 2am. An experienced photographer/guide takes you up to the camp behind the hotel which is an easy 15 minutes’ walk up a hill. From there he explains the best settings to take your photos and what to look for. Later at the camp fire he cooks pancakes and serves hot chocolate and does some other great things which I won't spoil for you! My last excursion was the husky safari. This again lasts over three hours and included harnessing up the dogs and a quick tutorial on how to drive the dogs (four per sled). Half way through you swap over drivers and return to camp, unharness the dogs and then sit down in the snow to a hot supper of salmon or chicken cooked over the fire...delicious! Inside the hotel they have just opened their own little pub themed as a fisherman's cabin. And they also have a wonderful large sauna overlooking the fjord with huge picture windows and a large outside Jacuzzi. For the summer the manager told me they are expanding their activities to hiking, fishing, cycling, boat trips and three, four and five day tours. I met a few people whilst I was there and a few were combining their stay with a night in Tromso. From there you can visit the museum and the Arctic Cathedral and in December and January you can go on a Whale Watching trip where Humpbacks and Killer Whales are common. I have to say that this trip was one of the best experiences of my life and would thoroughly recommend it. After discussions with the hotel I can now offer cheaper room rates than customers booking directly with the hotel and I can also organise flights, transfers and excursions. There are direct flights to Tromso from Gatwick or indirect from Heathrow, Aberdeen and Manchester amongst others. UPDATE.. I have just heard from Malangen Resort that they have included 4 new excursions for the 2016/17 winter period. These are Snowmobile Safari, Nomad For A Night (Sami Experience), Cross-Country Ski Experience and Fat Bikes (mountain bikes for snow). They are also having 3 special events over this period. Christmas Eve Dinner at Camp Nikka with Santa Claus, New Years Eve Gala Dinner and finally a Valentine's Day Romantic Dinner.

27 July 2010

This was my second visit to El Gouna, but my first on holiday rather than work related. I stayed at the Sheraton Miramar which Trip Advisor rates as #1 and I can understand why it is so popular. Check in was a breeze and cold fruit juice and towels were provided as soon as we arrived. We were given a room in block 8000 which overlooked a circular lagoon and was very central and quiet. A golf buggy was arranged which took us and our cases quickly to the room. My emailed request was fulfilled as I wanted an upper floor in a quiet area. The room was large with a domed ceiling, double bed, large flat screen TV, small mini-bar, large bathroom and balcony with 2 sun beds. The grounds are beautifully manicured with lush vegetation and flowers galore. The hotel has private beaches stretching around it perimeter but the sand is very coarse and gritty. There are two main beach areas, one near the lagoon (Miramar Beach) which has a nice breeze and another is the Relaxation Beach. The pool is enclosed on all sides by buildings and is quite shallow except for one area sometimes used for scuba practice. Loungers are free and comfortable and there are ample parasols again free of charge. Pool attendants stroll around to take food or drinks orders. We went B&B as we prefer the option to eat out in the evenings and El Gouna has dozens of eateries to choose from. Breakfast was taken in the main buffet area and there was a good choice of hot and cold food. One evening we ate in Orient 1001 which serves Arabic food and it was great. El Gouna is man made and consists of dozens of small islands surrounded by lagoon waterways and stone bridges to connect them all. It really is very pretty and very relaxing but not the type of resort where you will find lots of night clubs and rowdiness. There are two main areas in the resort Downtown and Abu Tig Marina. Both are walkable as the area is flat but there is a frequent shuttle bus. You can purchase a weekly water taxi/bus pass for £20 Egyptian Pounds (£2.60 English) from concierge which I would recommend. The Marina was my preferred area as I found the atmosphere and view better. Here there are dozens of super yachts on view from the many restaurants and bars that encircle it. Downtown has a greater range of shops and also a couple of supermarkets where you can purchase all your supplies much cheaper than that in the hotel shops. Concerts and events are put on regularly in both areas which are free to watch. And Friday evening is when they hold a big street party in the Marina and a big stage for live music. Both venues offer cuisine from all around the world from Belgian to Vietnamese, Indian to Greek. And the best thing about El Gouna is that you will never be hassled to enter a shop or restaurant as it is forbidden. This is because El Gouna is privately owned and is really a self contained community. There is plenty to do in El Gouna if you don’t just want to lie on the beach all day. There are plenty of land and water based sports and also excursions to keep you busy. I am sure we will return to El Gouna again. They are already expanding the resort and a new 6 star hotel is due soon as well as another larger marina for vessels up to 60 metres in length. For an upmarket tranquil resort with endless sunshine El Gouna is hard to beat. A couple of points to consider before choosing your date to visit El Gouna... 1.The best time to go is between November and April as the summer months are extremely hot. Over 100 degrees. 2. The resort is popular with large Egyptian families especially from around 9th July for 6 weeks and becomes very busy. For more information go to www.elgouna.com

17 September 2009

This was an educational visit to Dubai organised by Travel Counsellors and the Dubai Tourist board. The itinerary was designed to show us the best hotels in Dubai to suit couples. Our flights had been organised by Etihad Airways between Heathrow and Abu Dhabi which is only about 1 hour away from Dubai city centre and even less to the beaches of Jebel Ali and Jumeirah. Etihad organise free luxury coach transfers between Abu Dhabi airport and central Dubai for all passengers on these flights. They drop you off at their city centre office which is where you can also check-in early on the day of your return flight home. We were lucky enough to be upgraded to business class on the outbound flight which was amazing. The in-flight entertainment system was fantastic with individual touch screen controls allowing Sky Plus style features and a large 23” personal TV. The food was delicious and its service and presentation was faultless. The return flight in economy was on a par to most major airlines with the exception of their in-flight entertainment. Here, the personal TV screens were large 10.4” and also had the same touch screen controls as found in business class. During our 4 night stay, we stayed at the Grand Hyatt Hotel and visited 8 others. These were The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach, One&Only Royal Mirage, Ritz-Carlton Dubai, The Address Downtown Burj Dubai, The Palace Downtown Burj Dubai, Desert Palm Resort, Madinat Jumeirah and Atlantis The Palm. All of these hotels are classified as 5* properties and I would have to say that they were all, without exception, fabulous hotels. Each bedroom was furnished to the highest of standards with large flat screen TV’s, luxurious bathrooms and rich fabrics. They also have the most fantastic restaurants all serving high quality food ranging from buffet service to fine dining a la Carte. And if you are looking to spend some time being pampered then each hotel featured their own amazing Spa’s. Of all the properties we visited I have 3 particular favourites and these were One&Only Royal Mirage, The Address and Madinat Jumeirah; The Address for its uber chic design and location overlooking the world’s tallest building, The Burj Dubai, and also for Neos Bar on the 63rd floor which is listed as one of the best bars in the world. The One&Only and Madinat Jumeirah are located on the beach and are both elegant and sophisticated and hugely popular, especially with couples. Choosing what area in Dubai to stay in is quite important. The popular beach area known as Jumeirah is approximately 30-45 minutes drive away from Dubai airport. The Creek area is good if you like to explore old Dubai with its souks and historical sites. Our visit coincided with Ramadan. During this period rules are stricter when it comes to entertainment, smoking, food and beverages. Most hotels will allow consumption of food and beverages within the hotel grounds but the areas are sometimes screened. However, outside of the hotels it is offensive to Muslims to be seen smoking, eating or drinking between sunrise and sunset and most public restaurants will be closed during these times. Women should also cover excessive amounts of bare skin in public places. The time of year when you travel is also very important. The ideal time is between November and March when the weather is comfortable and warm. There is also the famous Dubai Shopping Festival between December and February when huge discounts are offered. During my stay in September the temperatures got up to 41 degrees Celsius (106 Fahrenheit) and the humidity was unbearable. Apparently, the temperatures get to the low 50’s in high summer (125 Fahrenheit). The hotels even cool the water in the swimming pools to around 28 degrees Celsius but I still did not find it refreshing enough to sunbathe. I had heard about the large amount of building work all over Dubai and was keen to see how this would affect tourists. Yes, there are large areas of development with new towers springing up all over the place, but with regards to the hotels we saw, there was absolutely no disturbance. I think there will be building work on a large scale for several years to come as Dubai has grand plans for the future. But I can only see this as an exciting future as Dubai is a destination where you should expect the unimaginable.

13 July 2009

After a comfortable night in an airport hotel we were transferred to the pier in downtown Vancouver where our ship Celebrity Millennium was almost ready to board. Millennium was beautiful, especially after going through a refurbishment the week before with new carpets, upholstery and bedding. We chose cabin 7000 which was facing the bow and its layout was perfect with much more room than standard outside cabins. After a full day at sea we began to visit the ports in our cruise of Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway and the final destination of Seward. The first three ports are quite similar in size and the shops are heavily influenced by the passing cruise trade, with. jewellery and gift shops dominating the streets. We pre-booked 4 excursions for the cruise:- 2 boat trips, a helicopter flight to land on a glacier and a train ride up the mountains in Skagway. Every trip was well organised and the highlight was the helicopter flight over the snow fields to land on Taku Glacier near Juneau. The main reason for going to Alaska was to enjoy the scenery and wildlife and it would be criminal not to take the excursions. We chose to take the tours organised by Celebrity but you could if you wished book them through the tour operators. Booking through Celebrity gave you the assurance that if you were delayed coming back the ship would wait for you! On our trips we saw Bears, Bald Eagles, Humpback Whales, Sea Otters, Mousse and Seals. I recommend taking a good camera with at least x10 zoom and also a video camera with lots of spare batteries and film. During our cruise we had gloriously warm and sunny weather with most days reaching the high 70’s. In fact, we had to buy extra T-shirts (so much for taking lots of layered clothing and fleeces). The week on Millennium didn't seem long enough to enjoy the full range of her facilities. The food, service and entertainment onboard Millennium was excellent and I would definitely sail with Celebrity again. Arriving in Seward saw the beginning of our 4 day land tour of Alaska booked again with Celebrity. This included overnight hotel stops in Girdwood, Denali National Park and Fairbanks and coach and rail transfers throughout. The good weather stayed with us again and we pre-booked excursions to see the Husky Homestead and a white-water rafting ride both in Denali…great fun!!! The highlight of this segment was the glass-domed train journey from Denali to Fairbanks which took about 4 hours. The scenery was breathtaking and the service onboard was brilliant. This trip was a journey of a lifetime and one which I would recommend to everyone.

07 April 2009

This was my fourth visit to Disneyland Paris, the last time being nearly 10 years ago. So I was eager to see how it had aged and also to see the new attractions. As always we travelled there on Eurostar from St.Pancras although this is now less convenient since it moved from Waterloo. The train left on time at 10:53am with an almost full compliment of excited children and stressed adults. After a couple of quick stops at Ashford and Lille we arrived at Disneyland at 13:31pm. As we only had 2 day passes and we were there for 3 days we decided not to go straight into the park and instead walk the short distance to the New York Hotel via the Disney Village area. The New York Hotel is the second nearest to the park entrance and within 10 minutes we arrived at the hotel with its temporary ice rink outside. This is open during the winter months and usually closes at the end of March. Skates can be hired from a shop by the rink although we hardly saw anyone skating. At reception we were told that we could leave our luggage but that the rooms would not be ready until 3pm so we went for some lunch and a walk around the lake to see the other hotels. Just after 3pm we went back to the hotel and our rooms were ready as promised. We had requested adjacent rooms as we travelled with friends and this was actioned. The rooms were of good size with two queen sized beds in each to accommodate 4 people. There was ample wardrobe space and a very small safe inside. There was also another set of drawers in a unit containing a TV. After we had unpacked we decided to go for a swim in the hotel pool. Pool towels and the locker key were free. The pool is half indoors and half outdoors although the door connecting the two parts was closed as it was still cold outside in late March. The water was fairly cold in the main pool and most people had congregated in the much warmer Jacuzzi section. The following morning we decided to make use of the extra 2 hours exclusive park time for hotel guests. We got down to the breakfast room just after 7am and enjoyed the buffet. There was a good selection of fruit, yoghurts, cereals, cold meats, cheeses, scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, juices and pastries. The following morning we arrived around 9am and had to queue for nearly 30 minutes. As for the parks themselves, they still look great! With a mixture of rides and attractions for both young and old. The addition of the Walt Disney Studios Park has now enhanced the experience and now makes a 2 night/3 day stay much more enjoyable. The Hollywood Tower Of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster add more thrills which I think were missing before. As we went mid-week the queuing times for the rides were very short, with the longest being Crush’s Coaster at around 30 minutes. However, a friend of mine went the next weekend and the queues had dramatically increased. The hotel receptionist told me that the park had around 17,000 people during the week and 42,000 over weekends. One negative point I feel I should mention are the prices once you are there. Food is unbelievably expensive! We went to the Rainforest Café in Disney Village for a 40th birthday treat and a burger with French fries came to £20. This was the same in all the other restaurants, eateries and shops. For example a helium balloon was £7,a Magnum ice-cream was £3.30 and a cocktail in the hotel was £11. So be prepared, especially with the exchange rates being so bad. Overall we had a great 2 night stay and the hotel was fine and the park was clean and enjoyable. I would recommend anyone thinking of coming to try to stay midweek to avoid the queues and be prepared for the high prices.

15 December 2008

I was lucky to be invited onto the Longwood Holidays travel agent educational to Hurghada, El Gouna & Marsa Alam in Egypt. Having already visited Sharm El Sheikh and been on a Nile cruise this was an area of Egypt I was desperate to see for myself. Soma Bay & Abu Soma..about 45 minutes south of the resort of Hurghada. Soma Bay is situated on a peninsula and is home to an 18-hole Championship golf course and one of the largest spas in the region. Abu Soma is about a 10 minute drive south of Soma Bay and is on the coast. Neither has a resort centre and so this area is ideal for people looking for a secluded feel and staying in upmarket hotels. The area has great dive sites with hard and soft corals. Port Ghalib..this is a new and exciting area just a few miles north of the region of Marsa Alam and is home to a stunning new marina development. It features a small selection of shops, boutiques, bars, cafes and restaurants and also features an Egyptian Souk market. However, new outlets are opening rapidly and I expect there will be a much greater selection shortly. The hotels were stunning and I would recommend this area to those wishing for exclusive hotels in an upmarket area and also diving and snorkelling enthusiasts. Hurghada..now one of the biggest resorts on the Red Sea. This huge resort is very commercialised with a huge selection of bars, shops, restaurants and discos but has no real centre. The main area is situated to the south of the resort where most of the mainstream international hotel chains can be found. Once again the area is a mecca for more experienced divers looking for deeper waters. El Gouna..built around a series of man-made lagoons and islands. This was my favourite resort as it had everything I was looking for in a beach holiday. Warm water, relaxed atmosphere, a good variety of bars, restaurants, shops etc but without the hassle you sometimes get from traders in other Arab resorts. Sometimes called the ‘Venice of the Red Sea’ it is about 30 minutes north of Hurghada and is expanding continuously but with a great attention to detail and none of the eye-sore construction sites you typically see. It also operates a ‘dine-around’ scheme which allows guests on a Half Board basis or above to experience the different restaurants in El Gouna. I have sent many clients to this resort and everyone of them has raved about it..now I know why! Excursions Mahmya Island..a great day trip to a desert island. It takes about 45 minutes from Hughada marina to the beautiful clear aquamarine waters surrounding this pristine private island. The excursion includes lunch and the atmosphere is very relaxed and chilled. Badawya Desert Adventure..for the adrenaline junkies. This excursion drove us out into the desert where we first of all were offered a light buffet lunch. Then we were taken to begin our afternoon of fun. It included camel rides and horse rides for a bit of gentle fun to start with (all optional). Then the real fun began. We were kitted up and put on our own Quad Bikes and then lead on a 30 minute expedition into the desert. Driving towards the setting sun across an almost lunar landscape was an experience that will last with me forever. Finally, we were put into small teams and each team given its own Dune Buggy. With spot lights and head lights on full beam we raced off into the once again into the desert like a scene out of Mad Max. We all returned safely with back to camp with huge grins and dusty faces. I think a lot of people have preconceptions about what an Egyptian holiday will be like i.e. substandard hotels, bad food, upset stomachs, poor service and hassle from traders. After my third visit to Egypt I can honestly say that what I experienced on my trip was the very opposite. The Egyptians are extremely friendly and welcoming and the standards were excellent, in fact I put a few pounds during the week I was away as the food was fantastic. I will definitely return to El Gouna soon for my own holiday as I thought it was ideal for my own needs. But I think Egypt has something to offer everyone..just give it a try!

30 October 2008

This was my second time to Crete and the main reason for going again was for the better chance of sunshine as I was going in the first week in October. In fact the weather was great, averaging in the mid 70’s and blue skies for 6 of the 7 days we were there. I chose to stay at the Panorama Blue Hotel just outside the Venetian port of Chania on the western side of Crete. The Blue wing is the adult only executive part of the Panorama Hotel. As the hotel name implies, it has wonder full views of the sea and the surrounding coastline. The hotel has no private beach but a 10 minute walk to its left is an endless beach which connects the resorts of Kato Stalos, Agia Marina and Platanias and probably even further. There are clusters of sunbeds and parasols along its length, some seemed private others charged a small fee but we luckily were never charged. The water was warm as it was the end of the summer and a lot of people were enjoying the waves. As it was quite breezy on the last couple of days there were several kite and windsurfers out along a shallow stretch of sea which were fun to watch. The first day was cloudy but warm so we decided to do an excursion. The hotel reception had a variety of trips available and we chose The Little Fun Train which was a 3 hours ride up through the ravines and gorges to the small village of Therisso. Along the way a guide pointed out various points of interest and facts about the island and its history. We also spotted their famous mountain goats climbing over rocks and even in the trees nibbling leaves. It was good fun and only 15 Euros. Twice during our week there we went into Chania on the bus. The bus runs from the front of the hotel every 20 minutes and takes about 15 minutes for only 1.30 Euros. Chania is a beautiful Venetian port with dozens of restaurants and bars encircling the harbour. It is at its best in late afternoon as the sun goes down and the restaurants and bars start to get busy. Amongst its pretty narrow streets and lanes you will find craft shops and boutiques and even more restaurants. It is quite a busy town but not rowdy and there was a huge variety of nationalities. We found a nice restaurant called Zepos around the harbour. The service was great and their menus have pictures showing each dish which was very useful. We chose not to have a dessert in the restaurant as we remembered there was a fantastic ice-cream parlour in the harbour offering dozens of varieties of delicious flavours. Whilst we were there we chatted to other couples who had hired cars and explored the island and they recommended it. As we were there purely to relax and unwind we were quite happy to spend the days lazing by the pool or on the beach. I would recommend this area to most people except those looking to party all night long.

16 June 2008

My holiday to the USA began with a 2 day visit to our friends who live in Glendale, one of the many cities that actually make up the area most people know as Los Angeles. After recharging our batteries we set off in our hire car for the 5 hour drive north up to Yosemite National Park. The drive itself was easy and we arrived at our hotel mid afternoon. I had booked us into the Yosemite View Lodge just outside the park entrance. The hotel is a nice 3* property which is built adjacent to the Merced River. I had upgraded the room to a River View which fortunately was on the ground floor with a nice terrace literally right next to the river. There are areas next to the hotel where you can swim in the river. We did so one afternoon and the water was freezing, which was a surprise as it was mid September with the temperature in the eighties. Yosemite is one of the most beautiful areas I have ever been to! It’s a deep glacial valley which is heavily wooded with Sequoia trees and surrounded by sheer vertical granite rock formations with names such as Half Dome, El Capitan & Glacier Point. The park itself covers 1,170 sq miles and in it contains 1,600 miles of streams, 800 miles of hiking trails and 350 miles of roads. It is vast, so I would recommend a minimum of 3 nights here. From Yosemite we drove to Las Vegas via Death Valley. It’s was a long 8 hour journey with just a few short stops to take pictures en route and numerous stops for petrol. A tip I always tell people doing this kind of itinerary is to keep topping up with petrol. Some of the roads are very remote and you won’t see civilisation or a petrol station for miles. Vegas was just a night stop on the way to Lake Havasu in Arizona. I have been to Vegas before and although I really liked it we decided not to extend our stay. The following morning we set off for Arizona with a short detour to Lake Las Vegas to see the new luxury resort which is being developed just a short drive away from Las Vegas. 155 miles south of Las Vegas is the town of Lake Havasu. It is situated beside an artificial lake made by a dam and is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts. It is also the home to the world famous London Bridge. We stayed with relatives for 5 days and every day the temperature was well over 100 degrees. Most days we went out onto the lake and had a picnic, what a life! The last leg of our holiday was a 2 night stop near Anaheim, home to the original Disneyland. We had been to Disneyland a couple of times, so we decided to stay near one of our favourite theme parks..Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park which is 6 miles away from Disneyland. Our hotel was the 4*Knott’s Berry Farm Resort Hotel which is adjacent to the theme park. Here we spent a full day in this great park which has some excellent rides including Xcelarator, Ghost Rider and Silver Bullet. It was a fantastic holiday, even with all the driving. If you ever decide to go to the USA, you should be prepared to hire a car as it is such a vast country. Without a car you will be seriously limiting your options. With the exchange rate in our favour, there has never been a better time to visit this amazing country.

03 June 2008

This was my first holiday to Italy so I didn’t know what to expect, but I had heard so many good reports about Sorrento and was really looking forward to it. Arriving into Naples airport was a bit of a shock! The arrivals terminal looked like a warehouse with no facilities at all. Our rep was there to meet me and quickly directed me to my private taxi which I had pre-booked as an upgrade from the normal shared coach. The transfer took about an hour, passing Vesuvius on the way and hugging the cliffs along the coastal road into Sorrento. For the first week I stayed in the Grand Hotel Royal in Sorrento in a sea view room on half board. I think to stay in Sorrento and not book a sea view room is a real shame. Most of the best hotels have room upgrades which afford spectacular views across the Bay of Naples and Vesuvius. The room was large and brightly coloured with tiled floors and high ceilings. The hotel is perched on the edge of the cliffs which gives Sorrento its vistas. It has a lovely garden and seating areas from which we could gaze across the bay and have a snack or drink. If you prefer to swim in the sea rather than use the hotel’s pool you can take the lift down to the hotel’s bathing platform by the sea. Sorrento itself is perfectly situated for those wishing to spend days out sightseeing. The train service is cheap and reliable with regular trains running from the station in the middle of the town to Naples, Vesuvius, Pompeii and Herculaneum. You also have the option of bus or ferry to Capri, Ischia, Positano or Amalfi. All of which are well worth a visit. The centre of Sorrento is based around Piazza Tasso, which is more of a road junction than an actual piazza. I found this the only disappointing thing about Sorrento. There are several restaurants and café bars around the perimeter but seating is at a premium and if you are lucky to find one then most people stay there for the duration. If you like Italian food, then you are in for a treat, with plenty of family run pizzerias and delicious ice-cream shops dotted around. For the second week, I transferred by hydrofoil to the small island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples to stay at the Grand Hotel Excelsior which is in the main town. The hotel is beautiful with lush gardens, grand dining room and a breakfast terrace that looks over the pool. As we wandered through the grounds we came across a small security gate. Passing through it and crossing a small road we came out onto the hotels private stretch of beach with its own beach bar. A walk into town takes about 5 minutes and it is virtually pedestrianised. Here we found plenty of designer boutiques, ice-cream shops, restaurants, bars and small shops selling souvenirs and the famous Limoncello liqueur. In fact, I preferred Ischia Town to Sorrento as it was much more laid back and offered plenty of places to sit and people watch. It also has great ferry and hydrofoil links to all the main tourist attractions in the area. The island is famous for its Thermal Springs which have attracted visitors since the Roman times. A day visit to one of them was great fun and here we relaxed and enjoyed the different treatments, ranging from mud baths to underwater massages. In summary, Sorrento is a perfect gateway for all the amazing tourist sites in the area plus it doesn’t attract many families as there are no real beaches. Ischia is a lesser known destination which is quieter and more laid back than Sorrento. To combine the two destinations in one holiday made my visit almost perfect! Highly recommended.

03 June 2008

My two week Mediterranean cruise on board the Sea Princess departed from Southampton on a warm sunny Saturday afternoon. I arrived at the dock at 11:45am and was checked in and on the ship within 15 minutes. I had booked a balcony cabin as I wanted to enjoy the experience of arriving and departing from the 8 different ports I would be visiting.. Cadiz, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Florence, Rome, Alghero, Palma and Gibraltar. After a brief walk around I decided to have some lunch in the Horizon Buffet. There was a large selection of salads and hot meals and of course desserts, all very tasty. Every evening the daily news sheet would be delivered to my cabin detailing everything you could possibly need to know for the next 24 hours. Including weather forecast, port details and map, entertainment throughout the day, show and film schedules etc. The cabin itself was compact but had plenty of storage space, small TV, fridge, small bathroom with a great shower. The balcony was small with 2 chairs and a small table. The ship I sailed upon was medium sized and one of the reasons I chose her was that Princess Cruises operate an alternative dining system called ‘Anytime’ dining. This enables passengers to decide when they want to dine and who with, instead of the set dining time with the same group of people. I prefer to arrange my own excursions when in port as I tend to find it cheaper than an organised ship tours. Train timetables are easy to source on the internet and we used these for trips to Florence and Rome and the ticket prices were much cheaper than an organised tour, plus the trains are quicker. Another thing to bear in mind is that once you pre-book an excursion you will not get a refund if you cancel. My only excursion was in Alghero which was a 4 hours boat trip around the bay. Unfortunately, it rained all day and I spent $69 getting cold and wet! My most memorable ports were Monte Carlo and Rome. Monte Carlo because the Grand Prix was being staged the following week and I could walk the entire circuit and Rome for the history and amazing buildings. I will definitely go back there soon for a long weekend! Overall, I enjoyed the cruise and would consider cruising again. The staff were friendly and attentive and the food was good. Finally, with all that food available, there is the infamous saying….. ‘You go on as passengers and come off as cargo’

25 April 2008

I had already cruised down the Nile and loved Egypt's history and culture. So I was curious to see what an Egyptian beach holiday would be like. Once I arrived at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel I knew I was in for a treat. Check-in took place on a sofa and cold towels and a drink were brought to refresh us. We were then whisked down to our room in a golf buggy, stopping briefly on the way at the exclusive Club Room for another drink and an explanation of what we were entitled to as we were staying in a club room. The hotel has an air of sophistication and luxury and the staff were smiling and professional throughout our stay. I would highly recommend staying in the club rooms for the added benefits you get i.e. soft & alcoholic beverages, 5 food presentations throughout the day and a little peace and quiet. Sharm el Sheikh itself is a rapidly developing resort with casinos, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, tourist shops and hotels popping up everywhere. The centre of the town is ringed with security checkpoints and I felt very safe walking around. Late afternoon is particularly relaxed especially on the roof of the Camel Bar with its white sofas and chill-out music. As the night progresses, the energy levels rise along with the music and the resort becomes a throng of people. I did encounter the locals trying to coax and even trick me into their restaurants, but a polite and firm ‘NO THANKS’ seemed to solve the issue. To surmise, Sharm is an excellent destination for almost guaranteed sun and an abundance of stunning marine life. I’ve had many clients return after a wonderful holiday and I intend to visit again one day.

25 April 2008

This island is a class act! Chic and sophisticated, with the most beautiful and dramatic sunsets I have ever seen. The island is volcanic and hence most of the popular beaches are of black coarse sand and pebbles. Kamari is a popular resort near the airport with a lovely promenade and great choice of bars and restaurants. Perissa is it's sleepy neighbour just around the headland linked only by a small boat (weather permitting).Oia is a quieter version of Thira. It's main attractions are the sugar cubed houses, blue domed churches and spectacular sunsets out to sea. I stayed at the Majestic Hotel in Thira, a very modern and minimalist property which I would highly recommend. All buses start and end in Thira. They seemed to run about every 30 minutes, radiating out in all directions to the populated areas. They were comfortable and always on time. Thira itself has no beaches as it is perched on the top of cliffs, giving it stunning views especially as the sun goes down. It is extremely popular with couples getting married or on honeymoon. Cruise ships regularly anchor in the sea below Thira and it's passengers have the choice of walking, a cable car or a donkey ride up to Thira town. There is a never ending choice of restaurants offering every type of cuisine and a good choice of bars and a few discos. There is a good variety of excursions with wine tasting and boat excursions being the most popular. I took a boat trip that went over to the volcano in the middle of the caldera where a guide took us up to the summit. It then sailed around the far side of the volcano to let us swim in the warm sulphurous waters. After stopping for lunch it sailed over to Oia before sailing back to Thira. If you are looking for an upmarket destination with limitless places to eat and away from the normal 'Bucket & Spade' brigade then Santorini is it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

23 April 2008

I went to Hong Kong for a long weekend. I arrived early evening and was transferred to the Excelsior Hotel on Hong Kong Island. To my surprise and delight, most of the skyscrapers were decorated in Christmas lights. This must have been a tradition that has been carried on from when it used to be a British colony. At night it has the most amazing harbour views and a 'Happy Hour' made it even better. Breakfast in the hotel was the best I've ever had. Everything from full English, sushi, fruits, pastries, cereals, you name it! If you like shopping you'll love Hong Kong! Gadgets, clothes, jewellery, souvenirs etc. A nice excursion for a few hours is a trip up to Victoria Peak on the funicular railway. It's from here that you will see the best views of Hong Kong. Another nice trip on the bus is to Stanley Market on the far side of the island. It has a great market and some lovely views on the way. The highlight of my trip was the Sound & Light Show which takes place nightly at 8pm. The best place to view it is from the waterfront opposite the Peninsular Hotel on Kowloon. Monday's, Wednesday’s & Friday's have an English commentary, and coloured searchlights and lasers dance across the sky in an unforgettable spectacular. The colony has a very impressive underground transportation system which is easy to use and very safe. Hong Kong is unique, with it's intoxicating blend Far Eastern roots and British traditions that sit happily side by side. If you are planning a long weekend or a multi-centre trip then Hong Kong should be one of your first options. It has so much to offer which I have only just touched on. An amazing destination!