25 September 2019

I had never been to Aberdeen before, so when Loganair asked me to join them along with some travel agents from the North East to visit for the day, I jumped at the chance. I have to admit that I didn't know a great deal about the 'Granite City' other than there had always been (for as long as I remember) a flight service that took oil and gas workers from Newcastle to Aberdeen. The Scottish offshore industry has taken bit of a downturn in recent years, so I thought it would be interesting to find out if the city has the appeal to drawer in the leisure traveler to bolster the local economy? After a very smooth, short 50 minute flight up from Newcastle with Loganair, we landed at a very wet Aberdeen airport. The first thing you notice is the vast amount of helicopters buzzing about which service the offshore rigs. They use a separate terminal, but the main passenger terminal is modern and has a good selection of facilities to keep most leisure travelers happy. We sampled the Northern Lights executive lounge which was excellent. It was very bright, homely and had a huge window overlooking the runway offering amazing views when it's clear. Staying close to the airport, we headed to our first visit of the day, the Aloft hotel at the recently opened P&J Live events venue. The Aloft, as with other Aloft properties offers a very urban design edge which would appeal to a younger crowd. Directly across from the Aloft and attached to the P&J Live venue itself was our next visit, the Hilton. This is not a Hilton 'Garden Inn' or a Hilton 'Doubletree' that have popped up all over the UK in recent years, but a real Hilton 'Resort & Hotel' offering opulent décor and world class facilities such as a Clarin's Spa and an executive lounge. Now, the main reason anyone would stay out of town away from the city in either hotel is of course to use the neighbouring events centre. It is huge and is capable of holding world class exhibitions and conferences. It is also attracting world class artists to become a real player in the concert events too. For anyone going to a gig, these hotels are perfect. Fly in, check in, walk across to the concert, sleep over and fly out the next day. It couldn't be easier! Next on the agenda was a 20 minute taxi trip in to town to meet up with Autumn, our art walking tour guide. Now this was a surprise! I had never though of Aberdeen as a hotbed of street art. We spent a fascinating hour and a half walking around the city centre to be shown the creations from local and international street artists. The city hosts the annual Nuart festival (in April) where artists are invited to present relevant and inspiring street art to the public. It really was more like Shoreditch that what I expected from Aberdeen! After our tour ended and we said our goodbyes, we headed off to our final visit of the day at the Sandman Signature hotel. Sandman took over the historic Robert Gordon University campus in the heart of the city and totally renovated it in a bold, trendy luxurious style. This hotel is perfect for a city break only minutes from his Majesty's Theatre, shopping centres and Maritime museum. We were lucky enough to sample the on site restaurant 'Chop', which offers an amazing selection of locally inspired food from fish tacos to Haggis bon bons! It was soon time to head back to the airport for our 4pm flight back to Newcastle. There was just enough time to check out the mind blowing selection of whiskies on offer in duty free and sample a couple too. I noted one bottle in a locked cabinet priced at £16,000, which we were not offered. I really enjoyed our day in Aberdeen and felt that it would work as an alternative city break destination. With the brand new events centre it also offers a real alternative to see touring music artists too. The Aberdonians are a warm, friendly bunch proud to show off their city. My only regret is that we didn't have more time! Feel free to get in touch if you would like my help to arrange a city break to Aberdeen (or anywhere else for that matter). All city breaks that I can arrange are 100% financially protected and will be managed personally my me.

28 September 2017

Croatia has exploded on to the world tourism map. Game of Thrones (which I have never ever watched) has probably been guilty of luring fans in and adding fuel to its popularity. There are even calls to control the amount of cruise ships which descend on Dubrovnik daily. I felt like I had maybe missed the boat (no pun intended) and had left it too late to visit. I recently got a chance to visit Croatia earlier this month, so I jumped at the chance to see for myself. It was the city of Split I visited, which sits in a natural harbour on the Dalmatian coast north of Dubrovnik. I have sold this city many times to clients often using it as a jumping on point for the ferries that link the islands along the coast, but must admit I didn’t know a great deal about the city itself. As this was to be a short visit of only three nights, it soon became apparent that due to the very early ferry times I was not going to make it over to the islands, so I decided to concentrate on staying in Split and the surrounding area. This proved to be a good move as there proved to be plenty to do. The old centre of Split is very compact and envelopes the harbour with its olde worlde buildings and marble paved streets. The Old Palace, which is a World Heritage Site, is the star of the show, slap bang in the middle of the waterfront, guarding the port. It provides a stunning backdrop for the numerous bars and cafes which line the harbour edge making it perfect for people watching. You can spend hours wandering around the small lanes and stop at the many courtyard cafes and restaurants within the Palace walls. Just to the west of the city lies Marjan Hill which sits on a very pretty pine tree covered peninsula, surrounded by crystal clear water, making it an ideal escape from the city. You can walk around it to the many bays, where there even a few with beach clubs offering a quick beer or coffee break. I visited Joe’s beach club which is a lovely spot on Kasjuni Beach. The bay at Kasjuni is sheltered from the breeze and the water is calm and cordoned off, making it perfect for swimming. If you want more of a city beach vibe, then I would recommend you head east of the city. If you head to Bacvice Beach, only a short walk for the main port area, you find a large shallow bay with numerous bars and cafes lining the shore. I can imagine this beach will get extremely busy in the high season. There is a well maintained path that leaves this beach and heads along the coast for miles allowing you to discover beach after beach. As Split is so compact it took little time to feel I had seen most of the main sites, so I decided to jump on one of the many local buses up to Trogir for an afternoon. Trogir, just a 30 minute bus ride from Split, is a tiny island sandwiched between the mainland and the larger island of Ciovo. It is linked to both by two very small and congested bridges. Trogir, like Split, is also a World Heritage Site, with a labyrinth of tiny medieval lanes to explore. After you are finished exploring there are a good selection of restaurants along the quayside, which provides a great opportunity for more people watching. My visit to Split was short, but sweet and I would say it has certainly whetted my appetite to return on a longer visit with a plan to give myself time to head out to the Island of Hvar, Vis and Korcula. It wasn't as crowded as I had anticipated which was a relief. If you are interested in visiting this beautiful part of the Adriatic, then please get in touch.

10 November 2016

When telling people that I was off to Malta and Gozo I got mixed reactions. You’ll love it or hate it, why would you go on holiday there, there are no beaches, it’s just full of old churches, and the best comment - Isn’t it just for old people? I’ve been to some far flung places that have rightly caused people to react adversely, but Malta? It’s been on the tourist map for years and still attracts heaps of visitors, so I went with an open mind thinking it must have something that draws the crowds. I headed off with nine other Travel Counsellors as guests of the Maltese Tourism Authority for what looked to be a packed six days of touring. I was keeping my mind open. I have to admit I was thinking ‘how many churches can we visit in 6 days?’ So, what did I think? I have to say I was blown away by Valletta, Malta’s capital and a UNESCO world heritage city. What a place! Five centuries of history, stunning baroque architecture, quaint cafes and wine bars and the majestic St John’s Cathedral, all within the imposing bastions of the old town. From the Upper Barrakka Gardens you get wonderful views of the Grand Harbour, often described as the most beautiful in the Mediterranean and I can see why. Valletta is compact and you could easily get to see a good selection of the sites in one day. Any visit to Valletta would not be complete without a visit to café Cordina situated in an old palazzo. Established in 1837, it’s a bit of a Maltese icon. I loved the place. It was like stepping back into a 1960’s film with its old espresso machines, patisserie counters and waiting staff dressed in white shirts and bow ties. Ask for a table outside in the palazzo, sit back and people watch. Across the Grand Harbour, only a five-minute ferry ride from Valletta lies the old cities of Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua, often referred to as the Three Cities which is often overlooked by a lot of visitors. It’s a shame as it is home to the stunning glitzy marina with its super yachts, gorgeous old Maltese town houses (each one individual and lovingly cared for) and superb waterside restaurants and well worth a visit. The best way to see the Three Cities is by using a company called Rolling Geeks. This company has come up with a very innovative way to draw in the tourists and get the most from their visit. The concept is that you hire an electric self-drive buggy, which is pre-programmed to guide you via GPS around the narrow streets. Its good fun and you get to see much more than if you were walking. The buggies even have a dashboard mounted iPad for you to take selfies! Be sure to stop at the Gnien il-Gardjola for spectacular panoramic views over the Grand Harbour and the bastions of Valletta. Across the other side of the peninsula of Valetta lie the trendy areas of Sliema and St Julians, where a lot of the four and five star hotels are situated (Hilton, Radisson, Intercontinental to name a few). At St Julian’s you’ll find a lovely harbour called Spinola Bay which is home to numerous gorgeous restaurants, the perfect setting to while away the evening alfresco. If you are looking for more lively evening entertainment, then St Julian’s has a host a clubs and bars to keep you entertained. Once you have exhausted the sites around the capital city, you can easily do excursions to the old capital of Mdina with its mix of medieval and baroque architecture. If you want something even older, then visit the temples of Hagar Qim. There’s a lot to do in Malta. What about a bit or R&R? The lack of sandy beaches on Malta does make for a limited selection of beach resorts. We stayed in the resort of Qawra which is nestled along a peninsula along with St Pauls, Salina and Bugibba. There’s no beach, but easy access to the sea makes for great snorkelling and cooling off. Qawra has quite a few charming restaurants and a Café Del Mar for those looking for a bit of stylish sun-worshipping. The high rise hotels here give a bit of an eighties resort vibe if you like that sort of thing. To really wind down a gear, I would suggest taking the 45 minute ferry crossing over to Gozo. The pace of life slows and you get a feeling that Gozo’s isolation from its big brother adds to its charm. Everyone seems to know each other, providing an extremely friendly feel. Gozo, like Malta is lacking when it comes to beaches, but there are some amazing diving and snorkelling sites around the coast. The water is a deep sapphire blue and crystal clear. If getting wet isn’t your thing, then you can take boat trips from the inland sea to the caves of the Azure Window and still experience the colour of the water. If you are still looking for an architecture and history fix in Gozo, then you will not be disappointed with the island’s capital city Victoria and its citadel. In Victoria, you will find the temples of Xaghra, which, dating back to Neolithic times and are the thought to be the oldest free standing structures in the world. For a bit more action I would recommend touring Gozo on a mountain bike, quad bike or buggy, which can be hired independently or as a group tour. We thoroughly enjoyed a half day quad bike tour of the island, which took in some amazing scenery from the picturesque bay at Xlendi to the desolate salt flats on the north coast. So is Malta like Marmite? If you are looking for a fly and flop holiday with a nice beach and stay within the confines of your resort, then I think you would be disappointed with Malta. However, if you are looking for a bit of exploration, good food, history and culture combined with some fantastic weather year round, then you will love this place. Valletta is perfect for a vibrant fun city break or head off to Gozo and unwind for a longer stay. Feel free to contact me to find out more about Malta and Gozo and see how it could be your next break.

02 November 2016

I have been intrigued by the Dutch Antilles for a long time. For many years I have flown clients to South America with KLM briefly stopping en route at the tiny islands of Aruba or Bonaire (they have their own service nowadays). I remember thinking the names sounded so exotic and after looking up some photos of the islands I was taken in by the pristine beaches and turquoise waters. It looked like picture postcard paradise. So, I was of course thrilled when I was asked by the Aruban Tourist Authority to visit the island and experience it first-hand. I was not disappointed. Aruba sits in the heart of the southern Caribbean, just a few miles off the Venezuelan coast. Its position means that it is below the hurricane belt. With an average temperature of 30c along with little rainfall, it makes for a perfect year round holiday destination. Aruba is small, only 19 miles long and 6 miles wide at its widest point. The island’s topography and vegetation are unique for the Caribbean. The southwest coast has miles of gorgeous white sand (Eagle beach is often ranked as one of the best beaches in the world) edged by the bluest of seas, while the northeast coast is rugged and wild. The interior is desert-like with huge cacti and rock formations which reminded me of the U.S Wild West. The island’s most famous tree, the divi divi tree deserves a mention, they are permanently sculpted into southwest-bending shapes, by the ever present trade winds. The Aloe Vera plant grows naturally on Aruba and is a major export. Aruba is safe for visitors. High employment, a minimum wage and social housing make for a good standard of living with little crime. As it is so safe, you really feel at ease exploring the island - hire a car, go for a walk, head to town to shop or have dinner. In Aruba drivers have to stop for pedestrians at all times, so even crossing the road is safe! Arubans are pretty open minded. They welcome LGBT travellers and in September voted to recognise same-sex unions with equivalent benefits. I found this attitude so refreshing when compared to some other Caribbean islands (and other countries!) Naturally, you find the majority of hotels in Aruba laid out along the fantastic beaches of the southwest coast. There are hotels in the capital town of Oranjestad, which are great if you like shopping and visiting Casinos and you’re not too bothered about the beach. You then have two other main resorts, the high rise area and the low rise area. The larger high rise hotels on Palm Beach are represented by big brands such as Ritz Carlton, Hilton, Hyatt Regency and Holiday Inn to name but a few. These are great all-rounder hotels suitable for families, friends and couples. Behind the hotels is a strip with a variety of bars and good restaurants. Away from the beach is a beautiful quirky property called the Boardwalk which offers self-catering studios, one and two bedroom apartments, which are perfect if you wanted a base to explore the island with a hire car. Further towards Oranjestad are the low rise hotels situated on Eagle beach (which, in my opinion is the best on the island). They have a boutique feel and would suit couples or honeymooners. Here you will also find the gorgeous Bucuti & Tara resort (adults only) which was so peaceful and serene. This was my favourite hotel out of all that I visited. The beach area is well serviced by local buses and taxis making it easy to explore whichever resort you were staying at. There’s heaps to do in Aruba. For a small island it packs in a lot. If you can manage to tear yourself away from the beach, then there’s snorkelling, diving (Aruba has some good shipwrecks off shore), sailing, fishing, 4x4 tours to name just a few activities. There’s even a national park to explore. What makes Aruba unique for me are the stunning white beaches scattered with the divi divi trees against the backdrop of the sapphire and turquoise water. I couldn’t stop staring out to sea and quite often found myself transfixed for a moment or two! The Aruban’s laid back friendly attitude makes sense of the island’s strap line ‘one happy island’. Saying that, I guess most people would find it quite easy to be happy if they too lived in Aruba! If you would like to discuss Aruba in more detail, then please feel free to call me. I would love to create your perfect holiday to this amazing place!