23 July 2012

BULGARIA – SUMMER TWIN CENTRE 6 nights BANSKO - SKI RESORT & 6 nights SUNNY BEACH – BLACK SEA COAST BANSKO Built 925m above sea level in the Pirin Mountain region, this little ski resort has grown over the last few years to accommodate the masses that ascend during the winter ski season. Now they are realising the potential for the summer which is fantastic for hikers, mountain bikers and climbers. There are many apartments and hotels to choose from at extremely reasonable prices and the town is very easily accessible from all accommodations. The best hotel is considered to be the Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena located close to the Gondola at the foothills of the mountain road and the top of Pirin Street. We spent 6 nights in June 2012 here and enjoyed every minute. Although it is very quiet in the this early in the summer and many restaurants and bars close for this period to re-coop after the winter, carry out maintenance to establishments & roads which take a battering in the harsh winter. The main street in Bansko is Pirin St containing an array of restaurants and bars. There are also a couple of night clubs for those hardy party goers (closed in June) Cost of living in Bansko is amazingly cheap in comparison to other alpine resorts and a perfect alternative for those on a budget. A meal for two with several beers will set you back around £25 in a good restaurant and if you’re self catering you can buy most essentials for pennies. If you’re a keen hiker or biker there are many trails to choose from in the Pirin region and a hiking holiday with guides can be arranged easily. We hired a couple of scooters for 3 days for just £35 each, and had great fun up the mountain roads. I would recommend Bansko in the summer for couples and only for families with active children who like walking, hiking etc. There’s not a whole lot more to see unless you take excursions i.e to the bear park in Razlog (rescue dancing bears), city visit to Sofia etc. Also there is a popular Jazz festival every year in August which attracts many visitors. I would defiantly recommend Bansko for skiers of all abilities as they have many beginners runs as well as some scary looking black runs. Off Piste skiing is also very popular with regulars as it’s known to be very safe and the authorities are less policed than other popular alpine regions. Transport to Bansko – Fly direct from Luton/Gatwick/Manchester and Heathrow into Sofia on and transfer time takes around 2.5 hours. The roads are good all the way and are currently being reconstructed to introduce a new dual carriageway which will cut the travel time by 1 hour. TOP TIPS • Bulgarians love their spa treatments and they are very reasonable. Most hotels have good spas. Or you could take an excursion to Dobrinishte and the natural mineral water spa pool just 6km from Bansko. • Have a meal at the Tavern Bunare on Pirin Street– fantastic local food at brilliant prices. • Service charges are expected at an average 10%. • Toilets in the mountain café’s and some public areas can be a primitive hole in the ground so be prepared! • Temperatures in the summer average at 28oC so take plenty of sunscreen. SUNNY BEACH – BLACK SEA COAST

19 July 2012

BULGARIA – SUMMER TWIN CENTRE 6 nights BANSKO - SKI RESORT & 6 nights SUNNY BEACH – BLACK SEA COAST BANSKO SUNNY BEACH – BLACK SEA COAST Sunny beach could be best described as cheap and cheerful. If you like to party, lay on the beach in 30oC plus heat and eat and drink cheaply this is the place for you. Located on the Black Sea Coast, this resort is one long beach littered with sunbeds and beach bars. Don’t be put off though there are some great family hotels and you don’t have to be with the crowds. We stayed at the 4 star Majestic Hotel located North of the main strip and close to a quieter resort Sveti Vlas. Generally speaking the standard is lower in Bulgaria than the other parts of the med but this hotel had everything we needed for a relaxing stay and was generally very clean. The hotel is situated between a 5 star resort the Royal Helena Sands & Park and another 4 star the Hotel Victoria Palace which also looked quite acceptable. The standard of the rooms are comfortable and acceptable but not luxurious. The sea views are lovely and the hotel is positioned at the end of the busy stretch so not a lot of noise. Balconies are not completely private as you get a wall one side and a wall & railing mix on the other so suitable for families sharing two rooms next to each other. Again this hotel has a Spa - this is located in the base of the hotel and we had a good look round. The Bulgarians love their spa treatments and the spa areas look very serene and inviting. Although I didn't have a treatment their prices are very reasonable and far cheaper than a 5 star in the Caribbean. TOP TIPS • Perfect for families on a tight budget wanting half board or all inclusive. But try and go 4 star plus if you can afford it and North of the main strip of activity. The exception to this is the Barcelo located in the middle of Sunny Beach but has gated entry for privacy. • For those of you with film star tendencies the Dune Hotel is an up market chic hotel with a private strip of beach, decked in black and white minimalist throughout and sporting clientele with fancy cars. • Happy Hour starts around 3pm and goes on all night for cocktails (2for1) so party goers will be happy – especially at around £3 per cocktail. • For a quiet day out head North for the marina at Sveti Vlas just a short bus ride away (costing 50pence) • Head South for the Ancient city of Nessebar (again on the same bus) for a historical day out. Nessebar is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Centres.

28 September 2011

And quite rightly so! I've been lucky enough to visit 3 times over the past few years and have experienced New York City in different ways. My first time was a couples short break - we stayed in the budget Hotel Pennsylvania right near Madison Gardens. A reasonable choice for a budget break - great location. Then on a family trip whilst driving through we camped in Long Island in a motorhome and took the train in to the city for the day. The train was a great choice of transport if you're staying outside the city. The last time was a girlie long weekend in a 2 bed apartment in Stuyvesant Town. This was a great choice for my friend and I as we'd both been to New York a couple of times and didn't feel the need to be right downtown in the thick of it. This was a great way to feel part of the community for a few days and enjoy a less touristy side of the city. SOME OF MY PERSONAL TOP TIPS AND MUST DO'S WHEN VISITING NEW YORK! FIRST TIMERS - If you never re-visit again and only do one thing make sure you visit the Empire State Building, after all King Kong did it!! FREEBIE TIPS - Visit the Metropolitan Museum (or 'The Met' to the locals) go on a Friday or Saturday evening after 7pm and take the lift to the Roof Garden. You can enter for free and buy a cocktail or beer from the bar if you wish. You'll get great views of Central Park and it's great start to a Friday or Saturday night. 9/11 MEMORAL - This is now open for visitors - it's free to enter but you MUST pre-book a visitors pass. Opening times vary but they are open daily till 6pm in the winter and till 9pm from the Spring. If you wish to take tribute items there is a special tribute area in front of the Memorial pools. There are restrictions so feel free to call me if you need guidance. TRANSPORT - New York has an extreme network of buses, subways, bikes, taxis and tours available to get you around. No need to pre-book a cab just stick out your arm, wave it about it a bit and you should get one in no time. GO WALK ABOUT - Walking the streets of New York is a pleasure in itself. Don't just stay in Times Square, head out down to Greenwich Village, Little Italy or Chinatown for some of the best food in town. EATING OUT - You can eat like a King in this city and that doesn't have to be fancy restaurants with fancy prices. Try some of the little food stores that have buffet style hot and cold food that can cost as little as $5 ahead and tastes delicious. You can often eat in the store in a separate seating area. BROADWAY - It's well worth a visit to Broadway and take in a show. Whatever your taste there will be a show to suit you. The Harlem Gospel Choir is amazing but make sure you book well in advance! SHOPPING - Make sure you have enough space in your return luggage!!!! ROMANCE - If you're planning to get married why not look at Central Park there are many packages in place to make that special day run smoothly. TOUR - If you don't want to splash out on just one trip to New York why don't you make it a stop over for a couple of days as part of a main tour either by car, coach or air? CRUISE - You don't have to fly both ways. Why not pop over on one of Cunard's spectacular cruise liners, the Queen Elizabeth or Queen Mary. It takes just 6 days to cross from Southampton and there's no luggage restriction if you take a return cruise back too!!! For many more tips and help planning your ideal New York City break feel free to call or email. Did You Know? The Statue of Liberty's face was said to be modelled after the sculptor's mother, Charlotte. This colossal statuary follows design going back to ancient Greek and Roman civilisations.