10 January 2018

I felt lucky to be invited to visit Britannia in Southampton before her launch in April 2015. She is the latest edition to the P&O fleet and is the largest cruise ship built exclusively for the British market. It was exciting to be among the first to explore Britannia and sample her hospitality, dining and facilities. On entering the ship, the atrium is very eye catching and a lovely space to enjoy a speciality coffee or just sit, relax and people watch. After an introductory briefing in the theatre, we were treated to a glimpse of one of the fantastic shows which guests would be enjoying whilst on board. We then toured the ship to familiarise ourselves with its many facilities. As well as the main buffet dining areas, there are some lovely restaurants to enjoy including Asian and Indian dining. If you are in a hurry, there are also grab and go snack areas on the main pool deck 16. Any wine lovers on board will enjoy Olly Smiths Glasshouse restaurant where you can enjoy a dazzling selection of wines by the glass. During our tour we visited the Cookery Club which has state of the art facilities for anyone wishing to improve their culinary skills. Expert tuition is provided by well-known chefs including James Martin and Mary Berry. A wonderful black-tie Gala Dinner awaited us in the evening, with a cocktail reception beforehand in the beautiful atrium. Our fabulous menu was created by none other than Marco Pierre White, the youngest chef to ever achieve 3 Michelin stars. Needless to say, dinner was delicious! After dinner we headed to the nightclub and danced off a few calories. After a fantastic day and evening, we headed back to our balcony cabins and I must say it felt really special to be the first to sleep in the comfortable beds. The cabins themselves are elegantly furnished and in the morning it was nice to be able to sit out on our balcony. Britannia is an elegant ship with a distinctly British flavour and high levels of service and facilities to enjoy on your next cruise.

10 January 2018

At just under two hours my flight to Prague was quick and easy. Outside the airport it was a chilly November day with a lovely blue sky. I decided to try the public transport to get from the airport to the city centre and this proved to be easy, only taking around 30 minutes using both bus and metro, costing a mere £1.50! Other transfer options include the airport shuttle bus or a taxi. Once in the city I easily found my hotel which was located on the border of the Old and New Town. I decided to head out for the afternoon and found I was only a 10-minute walk along the river from the Old Town and Charles Bridge. Prague is a very compact city so it does not matter too much where you stay, it’s a very easy city to explore on foot. The Old Town is an interesting maze of old cobbled streets, very busy especially in the evening and a magnet for tourists. It’s great to wander the pretty streets while discovering interesting shops selling local wares such as beautiful crystal, marionette puppets and lots of cake! Cake is big business in Prague and a popular pastime is to enjoy coffee and cake in one of the beautiful Art Deco coffee shops around the city and watch the world go by. There are also a number of beautiful churches in the city which host classical music events in the evenings which are very popular. Charles Bridge is very beautiful, and visitors and locals stroll back and forth and enjoy the wonderful views from here, which include dozens of white swans which live on the river banks. The bridge itself is medieval and has 30 Baroque statues along its length. It connects the Old Town with the Lesser Town or Mala Strana which is a lovely area full of colourful historic buildings and traditional shops. Also on this side of the city is Prague Castle and Cathedral which are located at the top of the hill, providing wonderful views of the Old Town and well worth a visit. This side of the river is a little quieter but still very convenient for getting around and I decided it was probably my favourite area. Lesser Town is also the location for the famous John Lennon painted wall which was set up as a protest against war and is popular with visitors today. Prague still has beautiful old trams in service so if you start to feel weary from all the sightseeing you can hop on and take a ride and enjoy this more traditional way to get around. They are inexpensive to use and a ticket will cover you for the tram, bus or metro. A visit to Prague must include trying the hearty food, goulash, roast pork and dumplings and the fried cheese, which is very popular with vegetarians! On chilly days you will have no problem finding hot or mulled wine to warm you up and in the evenings the bars are popular for their beer which is great value. Prague is an incredibly beautiful, romantic city and makes a great short break, so if you only have two or three nights that should be enough to get a feel for the city and enjoy the main sights. Cold and snowy in winter and warm and sunny in summer, any time is a great time to visit. TOP TIPS - Take flat comfortable shoes, the cobbled streets are pretty but tiring for feet! - Try the local food its very tasty - Join a walking tour and find out more about the local history - In love? Take a padlock with you to attach to the railings by the river - its good luck!

26 April 2017

Morocco has long been a destination on my wish list, conjuring up mystery and adventure. In March of this year I was invited to travel to Morocco and experience three completely different aspects of this fascinating country. MARRAKECH First stop was Marrakech, known as the Red City due to the striking colour of its buildings. Our hotel, the Movenpick, was a calm and beautiful oasis in the bustling city, yet only a short journey to the must-see Medina. The hotel is modern and contemporary with a fantastic pool area, a great place to cool off at the end of a busy day sightseeing. The Medina in Marrakech is famous for its maze of alleyways and the opportunity to barter for all kinds of goods including carpets, ornate lights and lamps, leather goods and spices. Remember to leave some space in your suitcase for all the extras you'll no doubt be tempted to buy! We had a guide with us to help navigate our ways through the Medina and I would highly recommend this, as they can show you places you may not discover on your own and also make sure you don't get lost! While there we visited the El Fnaa Square at dusk when it comes alive with all kinds of food stalls and all kinds of wonderful entertainment including snake charmers! There are many restaurants and bars in the area and I would recommend stopping for a drink or a meal and enjoy watching the world go by. We visited the Royal Palm Hotel Resort, part of the Beachcomber group and one of the Leading Hotels in the World. It is located just out of town and offers luxury accommodation in peaceful surroundings, and a top class golf course. The Royal Mansour was another highlight for us too, a stunning hotel comprising Riad accommodation of the highest quality. Very ornate and beautifully decorated, the perfect place to stay and enjoy complete privacy, with outstanding service. The location is excellent too, just a short walk from the Medina. I would recommend a visit to Salama restaurant, just off El Fnaa Square, it has great views from its roof terrace and offers excellent dining and traditional belly dancing! Another favourite is Le Palace, one of Marrakech's premier club-restaurants offering fine dining, cocktail bar and dancing. If you are looking for something different during your stay, just an hour outside the city is Go Karting which is great fun for all. Or why not opt for a cooking lesson to learn how to make the local cuisine and use all the wonderful spices. ATLAS MOUNTAINS The Atlas Mountains can been seen from Marrakech and make a beautiful backdrop. We travelled an hour or so from the city to visit L'Amandier, a brand new luxury boutique style hotel, located in the foothills of the mountains in the Ouirgane Valley. Two British brothers found this land and decided to fulfill a dream by building this wonderful retreat which consists of just 6 hotel rooms and 13 pool villas with rooftop cabanas. Arriving here you really notice the fresh mountain air and tranquility, a perfect place to completely unwind. Walks in the countryside can be enjoyed here or yoga on the terrace or simply relaxing by the pool and soaking up the picturesque views. The food is of the highest quality and they often use traditional clay ovens to slow cook meats for hours, making the food very tender and delicious. Argan Oil is produced in Morocco and it's very interesting to visit one local communities where you can see the process taking place. En route from Marrakech to Essaouira we stopped to see this for ourselves and also saw a very unusual sight, goats in trees! They climb the trees and eat the fruit and this really is a funny sight as you drive through the countryside. ESSAOUIRA Located on the Atlantic coast, Essaouira is a charming place to visit and has bags of character. Blessed with an often breezy, wide expanse of beach, it is a beach-sports lovers paradise and very popular with kite surfers. Our hotel, The Atlas, was right on the beach, and not only offered a great location, but access to a gorgeous spa too. Essaouira has its own ancient Medina and a lovely walk along the wide promenade will take you there. Here it was much more relaxed than in Marrakech, with an interesting choice of shops where you can often enjoy browsing without being hassled to buy. There are many beautiful Riads to stay in here, the traditional houses of Morocco. We visited L'Heure Bleue for the evening, located in the Medina itself. Recognised by Relais & Chateaux for its excellence, it offers luxury and colonial charm. Guest rooms and the restaurant surround the stunning central courtyard and there is also a heated roof top pool with ocean views. The dining here is of the highest quality and a visit to L'Heure Bleue is a must when in Essaouira. Away from the beach area we also visited the Sofitel Mogador Golf & Spa Resort which is about half an hour from the town. It boasts beautiful gardens together with a relaxing spa, a perfect place to stay if you just want to relax or play golf, but also enjoys easy access to the beach and shopping. Morocco certainly lived up to my expectations and it was so interesting to see three completely different aspects of the country. I was surprised by just how clean and well kept everywhere is and the friendliness of the people. At just over 3 hours flying time from the UK Morocco is perfect for a short break or twin centre and with its excellent weather its a real alternative to other winter destinations. I will definitely be recommending it to clients looking for something a little different, and as for myself, I look forward to my next visit.

28 October 2015

I was very lucky to be part of an educational visit to Antigua, St Kitts & Nevis in December 2014, organised by the respective tourist boards. We flew with British Airways and we were unexpectedly upgraded to club class which really got our trip of to a great start! After an 8 hour flight we had landed on the beautiful Caribbean island of Antigua. The purpose of our trip was to discover what different islands have to offer, view hotels and meet managers and resort staff. This first hand knowledge is invaluable and is so useful when helping clients to make their own holiday choices. ANTIGUA is surprisingly unspoilt with swaying palm trees and turquoise seas and boasts 365 beaches, one for each day of the year! The roads are quiet which makes hiring a car to explore a good idea, plus they drive on the left which is helpful. During our time in Antigua we visited many stunning hotels including.... Curtain Bluff...Galley Bay...Verandah Resort.....St James Club.....Carlisle Bay.....Nonsuch Bay Resort Antigua offers many interesting excursions including a visit to picturesque English Harbour with its many restaurants and yachts. Shirley Heights has fantastic views over the harbour and its here that they host a Sunday night BBQ with dancing which is not to be missed! If you are looking for something a little different why not try swimming with stingrays! A colleague and I took a boat trip a couple of miles offshore to where the stingrays gather to meet the boats. We joined them in the water which was initially a little scary as they are very large and quite strong creatures! We were able to hand feed them and they seemed to enjoy interacting with their visitors - a really interesting experience! ST KITTS From Antigua it was a short 20 minute flight to St Kitts which is an island of outstanding natural beauty, very lush and green. There is a train which runs around the whole island which takes in all the sights and takes approximately 2 hours. There are lots of historical sights on the island including Brimstone Hill which is quite high up and affords stunning views of the island. Another interesting place to visit is the batik centre where you can learn about the craft and watch the batik process as well as purchasing these beautiful items from the local people. Whilst on St Kitts we visited Ottleys Plantation which is full of old world charm. Set in the foothills it has wonderful views of the ocean and beautiful gardens full of exotic plants and birds. NEVIS was our next stop, only a short ferry ride away from St Kitts, but can also be reached by speedboat, making it possible to visit as a day trip. Docking in the picturesque harbour of Charleston we had amazing views of Mount Nevis which is a dormant volcano and we somehow felt we had stepped back in time. Nevis is very unspoilt and the type of place to go if you are looking for complete relaxation. There are even hot springs on the island where you can go to rejuvenate. Whilst on Nevis we stayed at Nisbet Plantation which was full of character with beautiful lawns leading down to the ocean. A lovely touch was afternoon tea on the lawn by day and Caribbean cocktails in the homely bar at night. It would definitely be worth considering a visit to these islands during our summer when prices can be greatly reduced and the weather still good. It is worth remembering too that if you prefer calmer waters it is best to stay on the Caribbean side of these islands as the waters are rougher on the Atlantic side. We found the locals to be very warm and friendly and proud of their beautiful islands. The food was of excellent quality, especially for seafood lovers with reasonable prices on both food and drinks. Oh and don't leave the islands without trying a rum punch or two!

21 July 2014

Skiathos is a beach lover’s dream - with over 60 beaches to choose from you will be spoilt for choice! It is a beautiful island, only 12 miles long, very green, clad with pine trees. With just a short flight of approximately 3.5 hours and speedy transfers this is a perfect getaway for a week or two. Skiathos is easy to navigate, there being only one main road from top to bottom. For non-drivers the buses are an easy way to get around. Alternatively car and scooter hire are available and will give you access to secluded tavernas and beaches which are off the beaten track. We visited Skiathos Town several times as it boasts a pretty harbour full of dream yachts, a perfect place to enjoy a cocktail or two and maybe even spot a celebrity! Here you will find the pleasure boats which take visitors on excursions, one of the most popular ones being the Mamma Mia trip as the island was used in the making of the film which featured Abbas hits. We took this full day trip and enjoyed visiting the beautiful church on the hill from the movie as well as the neighbouring island of Skopelos and its picturesque harbour. After days lazing on the gorgeous beaches, we enjoyed exploring the charming cobbled alleyways of Skiathos Town and discovering its wonderful tavernas for a spot of al fresco dining. A nice way to while away a couple of hours is in the designer boutiques and local craft shops with jewellery and local pottery being popular. We decided to spend our last evening at the open air cinema in town which screens the musical Mamma Mia....a fun night was had under the stars, singing along to our favourites and spotting locations we had enjoyed visiting during our week. I discovered that many visitors return again and again to this island and I can see why. If you are thinking of Greece, why not try Skiathos? You won’t be disappointed.

13 March 2014

Rome is one of those places that just takes your breath away! It is truly a feast for the eyes, a must see destination for anyone who enjoys history, culture, good food and more. There is so much to see and do, a few days cannot do this wonderful city justice, however there is much to enjoy in a short break. Choosing a good centrally located hotel is a good starting point which will reduce unnecessary travelling times whilst there. We stayed in a modest hotel close to the main rail station, which we found to be a perfect base from which to explore. Rome is an easy city to get around and if like us you are based centrally, many of the popular sights can be reached by foot. If you prefer to orientate yourself first, why not jump onto one of the open top tour buses which take specific routes around the city, allowing you to hop on and hop off at all the main places of interest. There is also an underground system which is very reasonably priced, however a little limited in that there are only two lines, as the engineers have been hindered in further building due to the number of archaeological sites around the city. Popular attractions are of course the Coliseum, Forum and Pantheon. Piazza Navona is one of my favourite squares, where you can enjoy watching the world go by over a coffee or maybe one of the delicious Italian ice-creams! Anyone who enjoyed Dan Browns “Angels and Demons” will find a visit to Castel Sant'Angelo and its beautiful bridge well worth a visit and from here it is only a short distance to the magnificent St Peters Basilica in the Vatican City. The beauty and sheer size of this church can be almost overwhelming, but definitely not to be missed. For exceptional views of the city, it is possible to pay a small fee and climb to the top of the dome, but it is a tiring climb for anyone not physically fit. If possible allow the best part of a day for a visit to St Peters and the Sistine Chapel, which is next door. The sites are vast and can be very busy. My top tip would be to pre-book tickets to the Sistine Chapel, as we did on our visit. When we arrived near to the entrance to the Chapel we were astonished to see a queue of people stretching endlessly around the streets, all waiting to buy entry tickets. This can waste a lot of time and if the weather is hot it can also be very uncomfortable, so pre-book and beat the queue! It would not be possible to leave Rome without a visit to the Trevi Fountain. It is said that here if you throw a coin over your shoulder into the fountain, you are sure to return to Rome one day. It has worked for me, I have returned three times and look forward to my fourth trip to this beautiful city.

06 November 2013

Having previously stayed at the All Star Resorts in Disneyworld, Florida, this time we decided to try the Animal Kingdom Lodge Hotel, and I am so pleased we did. The hotel itself is an African lodge-style resort and as you enter the hotel the lobby itself is stunning! The hotel offers a wide choice of dining options and a lovely outdoor pool area for relaxing. The hotel rooms have handcrafted African-style furnishings for an authentic feel. The added bonus of staying here is that the hotel has over thirty species of wildlife that roam freely in the tropical savannahs in the hotel grounds. This gives guests a unique opportunity to observe amazing wildlife from their rooms, and viewing areas in and around the hotel. There are even night vision goggles available to guests so that they can view the animals at night time which is a very unique experience! The hotel is close to the Animal Kingdom Park where there's a great mix of animal attractions, shows and rides. We loved this park and particularly the Kilimanjaro safari which takes you on an exciting trip in search of all kinds of animals and is very realistic. The hotel provides complimentary shuttles to all Disney theme parks so it’s very easy to get around. Disneyworld Florida covers approximately 47 square miles so there's a lot to enjoy! Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, it’s not easy to choose a favourite. We have visited all the parks and the parades and shows are not to be missed. We particularly enjoy Epcot where we loved the ride 'Soarin' where you 'fly' over California in a simulated hang-glider journey! Epcot is also educational as it has World Showcase, a collection of eleven themed areas, each a different country, offering a huge choice of delicious dining. During our holiday we made several visits to the wonderful water parks on site, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. These are great fun and a must on hot days, giving you time to relax and take a break from the parks. I absolutely love Disneyworld and some of my best family memories are from holidays here. I hope I get the chance to go back and do it all again one day!

06 November 2013

I visited Dubai for four days travelling in mid-October. We flew with Emirates so our flight was very comfortable, the time passing quickly as they have an award winning in-flight entertainment system called 'ice', with up to 1400 channels available on demand! On arrival in Dubai it was a short 20 minute transfer to our hotel, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, which was directly on the beautiful Jumeirah Beach. Ideal for a luxury break and with so many excellent hotels to choose from, you will definitely be spoilt for choice. Some well-known hotels include The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Mina A'Salam and the iconic Burj Al Arab. We enjoyed spending time on the beautiful beach and swimming in the warm waters. Whilst we were there the Palm Island was being built, but visitors can now stay on the island at the amazing Atlantis The Palm Resort which has its own Aquaventure Waterpark, making it perfect for families. No visit to Dubai would be complete without a visit to the desert, so we decided to take a day trip out of the city, to try some new experiences. We travelled in four-wheel drive vehicles and made our way across the sand dunes, stopping en route to have a go at sand tobogganing which was great fun! We travelled on to a traditional Arabian campsite where we enjoyed a sumptuous meal under the stars. It would be impossible to come to Dubai and not go shopping! The malls are huge and offer designer stores, together with a host of quality restaurants to enjoy. If you fancy skiing while in Dubai, why not go to the Mall of the Emirates where you will find Ski Dubai. Quite amazing, inside the mall there are huge glass windows looking into the ski slope itself, so even if you would rather not ski yourself, you can still enjoy watching everyone else! More traditional shopping can be found near the Creek in Dubai which is well worth a visit. Here you can barter in the gold souks and pick up a bargain as the city is tax free, making it excellent value for money. Dubai really dazzles and is one of those 'must see' places. I for one cannot wait to go back for a second visit.

13 October 2013

I was delighted to arrive at my hotel Grand Bahia Principe Tulum and settle in after a long journey. My hotel was one of three hotels which makes up the Riviera Maya Resort, the other two hotels being Coba and Akumal. I chose the resort as it offers a wealth of amenities and restaurants and guests can use the facilities of all three hotels while they are there. Waking up the next day was a joy, greeted by blue skies, endless white sand beach and turquoise sea. The wonderful beach was backed by lush green jungle which stretched as far as the eye could see and I really felt I was somewhere really rather exotic! The weather at this time of year can be a little unsettled but I was very lucky enjoying temperatures in the mid 30's with the odd downpour which freshened things up! One of the things I love about this area is the amazing wildlife and there was lots to see in and around the hotel itself. There were iguanas, beautiful birds and butterflies, pelicans, and racoon like creatures who were always on the hunt for a snack! My favourite had to be the giant sea turtles which lay their eggs on the beaches along this coastline every year between June and September. It is possible to go snorkelling with these wonderful creatures at Akumal Bay which was the next beach along from mine so I went along to have a go. Akumal beach is picture postcard pretty and there are several operators along the beach who will take small parties out snorkelling with a guide to look for turtles and stingrays. I signed up and went out and was absolutely amazed that we saw 10 sea turtles, lazily munching on the sea grass on the seabed! What an experience to get so close to these lovely creatures, something I will never forget and a must do if you are in the area. Another must see is Chichen Itza, one of Mexico’s great archaeological sites and one of the new Wonders of the World. I visited this site on an easy day trip from my hotel and it really is quite awe inspiring and well worth a visit. On the same trip we visited the colonial town of Valladolid and also one the caves. We were able to have a refreshing swim in the cenote, the water was crystal clear and very cold but the setting spectacular! Another must see in this area and an easy half day trip are the ruins at Tulum. They occupy a cliff top location which is simply stunning. Don’t forget to take your swimsuit when you visit this site as they are right on the beach and it’s a perfect spot for a dip! This area has lots more to offer and has something for everyone. This was my second visit to the Riviera Maya and I know it won’t be my last.

11 October 2013

I have visited Majorca several times before and always enjoyed exploring the island, but on this visit I decided to take the famous train journey from Palma through the rugged Serra de Tramuntana Mountains to Soller. First thing in the morning I made my way to the station in the Plaza d'Espanya in central Palma and purchased my ticket to ride the train. It’s a very popular trip and gets busy so it’s a good idea to get there early with plenty of time to spare. The train itself is full of character and comprises antique wooden carriages which are perhaps not the most comfortable way to travel, but the journey time is only a little over an hour and the scenery makes the trip more than worthwhile. The train set off and I started my journey through Palma itself giving an interesting insight to the backstreets of the city. We then journeyed on out of the city, passing through fields of almond trees, farms and villages. The train began its ascent into the mountains, passed through several tunnels before stopping at the scenic overlook, Mirador del Pujol d'En Banya. Lots of passengers took this opportunity to get off the train here for a quick photo stop and to take in the wonderful scenery. We then boarded the train and continued to the end of the line, Soller station, and strolled into Soller town itself. The town is very picturesque with historic buildings and a lovely square which is bustling with life. I took a wander through the lovely winding streets and discovered many unusual shops and little places to eat. It would have been easy to have spent a few hours here but I decided to continue my journey by the old tram which runs from Soller station to the seaside town of Puerto de Soller. Now travelling downhill we passed orange and lemon groves and soon arrived in the pretty harbour town. I got off at the first tram stop and walked along the length of the lovely promenade which sweeps around the harbour and is lined with many places to enjoy a nice cool drink or some lunch. The beach here is lovely so I decided to enjoy an hour or so sunbathing before setting off on the journey back to Palma. What a lovely way to spend a day in Majorca!