15 February 2024

Recently I was lucky to be invited aboard MSC’s newest ship into their fleet, Euribia. One of their larger ships and probably the biggest cruise ship I have had the pleasure to explore (currently the 12th largest cruise ship in the world), the well designed areas and entertainment comfortably accommodates all types of guest from babies through the tweens and teens, multi-generations, groups, solo

13 August 2023

It is always exciting when a new product appears in the world of travel and last week I was lucky to be one of the first invited onboard the brand new ship, Explora 1. Straight from the factory in Italy, not only is she a new vessel, but also the first (and currently only!) ship for new brand, Explora Journeys. Set to transform luxury cruising and with an ethos ‘’Discover the ocean state of min

11 June 2023

Sustainability has long been a passion of mine and I am thrilled to have been chosen to take part in the 2023 Travel Trade Gazette Sustainable Travel Ambassador programme, following my commitment to promoting and practicing sustainable and responsible travel. The Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) is THE travel industry publication and along with their six Sustainable Travel Heroes – Avis, G Touring, Gre

09 June 2023

What a joy to be back in Antigua! You may recall 12 months ago we packed away ‘Ghost’ in Jolly Harbour, having sailed from the Canaries to Barbados and up through the Caribbean chain, stopping at many lovely islands along way… Grenada, the Grenadines, St Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe, Barbuda and Antigua. Roll on a year and we are back in Antigua reassembling Ghost -

09 June 2023

Our first proper Caribbean sail of 2023. Leaving Antigua behind and knowing our next few islands are close together, we decided Ghost needed a good run, so at first dawn departed Five Islands Harbour and headed for the southern end of Monserrat. Unfortunately the weather would not allow us to stop in Monserrat, having been warned the anchorage can be pretty uncomfortable with big swells. Howev

09 June 2023

A pretty island to approach by sea, Nevis Peak stands at over 3,000 feet and is often shrouded in cloud, tumbling down the sides like snow. Christopher Columbus named it ‘’Nuestra Senora de las Nieves’’, Our Lady of the Snows. Fought over by the Spanish, French and English, home to Alexander Hamilton, where Horatio Nelson married Nevisian, Fanny Nisbet and with a long tradition of sugar product

09 June 2023

Saint Barthelemy (St Barths), WOW what an island, oozing chic and money! Winding our way through the dazzling array of superyachts anchored in the bay, we entered the pretty harbour of Gustavia. A lovely long inlet, with pretty red roof buildings nestled around the harbour and creeping up into the surrounding lush hills. A favoured hot spot for celebrities, reflected in the shops and faciliti

09 June 2023

Sailing up through the Caribbean has been interesting to see how totally different the islands are. Although you can often see one island from the next, depending on their history, governing nationality and accessibility by big planes, they wildly vary. It has also been fun to hear the local quirky tales, which whilst possibly not always true and/or may have been exaggerated over the years, add

09 June 2023

Having sailed from the bustling Dutch side of Sint Marteen into the calmer French side of Saint Martin, we were amazing how different the two sides of one island can be. Grand Case on the northern coast is known as the gastronomic capital of the island. The small town runs along a beautiful long sandy beach, with a cute high street dotted with small shops, bars and restaurants catering for all

09 June 2023

There are two types of island in the Caribbean, mountainous and towering and low and flat. Although some of the lower islands are a result of tectonic plate movement, I also remember from A-Level Geography that some are actually much older than their younger mountainous friends and they too would have once been soaring but over the years they have eroded, sometimes falling beneath the sea and acq

09 June 2023

Ah, the beautiful BVI! I am lucky to have visited these waters a couple of times previously and they never disappoint. My last visit was just pre-hurricane Irma, which sadly raged through the islands and whilst there are still some signs of damage, the local community have worked hard to rebuild their beautiful islands and it’s great to see tourism booming again, a major source of income for the

09 June 2023

Originally occupied by the French and Danish, the US Virgin Islands were finally sold to America in 1917 and whilst today they have all the feel and facilities of America such as highways, fast food joints, shops and bars, much of the architecture and town names have a European feel - Frenchtown, Christiansted, Frederiksted and Charlotte Amalie. The USVI are comprised of three main islands, dotte

09 June 2023

Located between Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, the Spanish Virgin Islands are a fabulous tropical paradise. Delightfully quirky with their Spanish feel and often referred to as Puerto Rico’s best kept secret, whilst popular with Puerto Rican and American tourists, they are ‘’rather off the beaten track for Brits’’ as locals told us! The two main islands of Vieques and Culebra have a ver

09 June 2023

Capital of Puerto Rico, the old town of San Juan is a fabulous maze of cobbled streets, vibrant coloured buildings and brimming with old style elegance, interesting historic charm and a wonderfully sassy feel! Having left our boat on the east coast of Puerto Rico for a couple of days, we booked an apartment in a lovely old colonial style building, with large interior courtyard and huge shuttered

09 June 2023

‘’Saba rises from the sea like a fairytale picture of a forbidden land. If there was ever a hidden Shrangri-la in the Caribbean, it is Saba.’’ - Doyle Leeward Islands Cruising Guide Approaching in the early hours, we could see lights glistening way up high against a black backdrop and as the sun rose, the rock that is Saba appeared in all her glory. At only 5 square miles but a whopping 3,084

09 June 2023

Part of the Dutch West Indies, St Eustatius (Statia) was once a trade capital and one of the worlds busiest harbours. Dealing in everything from fabric to gold and tobacco to guns, whilst the rest of Europe were fighting over Caribbean islands and trying to quash the American rebels, the Dutch remained neutral, opened a free port and happily liaised between counties not allowed to deal with eacho

09 June 2023

St Kitts is known as a green and fertile island, with a long rainforest clad mountain range leading down to large flat plains, perfect for farming and for many generations a major player in sugar cane growth. Today many of the old plantations have been turned into boutique hotels and restaurants, with tourism now the islands main income. Arriving to Port Zante in the islands capital, Basseterr

06 January 2023

Only 28 miles off the coast of mainland Britain, the Isles of Scilly had long been on my bucket list to visit, so when offered the chance to sail there, I jumped at the chance! Comprising of 140 islands and rocky islets, only 5 islands are inhabited, each offering their own uniqueness. St Mary’s is the main island and about as busy as it gets, Tresco is the stylish and cosmopolitan one, St Marti

06 January 2023

Arriving to Lima after our long flight, it was lovely to be greeted by our enthusiastic local guide, Paola, who swiftly ushered us to our awaiting transfer and straight into the throng of morning rush hour traffic. Not too sure what I had expected from Lima, but a culture surprise to discover locals take traffic regulations as advisory and not mandatory, squeezing through non-existent gaps, turni

06 January 2023

Leaving the hustle and bustle of Lima behind, flying over the soaring peaks of the Andes it was fabulous to see the ground below slowly turn from a stark mountainous landscape to a lush green carpet of rainforest, with meandering rivers, beautiful lakes and the odd settlement dotted about. Puerto Maldonado is one of the main cities in the Peruvian jungle and gateway for tourists visiting the Amaz

06 January 2023

Once the ‘navel of the world’ for the Incas and capital of their Empire, Cusco is a beautiful city situated high in the Peruvian Andes, brimming with fascinating history, beautiful avenues and squares, magnificent Incan and Spanish architecture and a fabulous mountain feel. Arriving late afternoon, we were immediately taken on a wonderful orientation tour with our guide, Ale, learning about the f

06 January 2023

One of the new 7 Wonders of the World, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on most people’s bucketlist, Peru’s top destination and for the fifth consecutive year named as South America's Leading Tourist Attraction by the World Travel Awards… I don’t think Machu Picchu really needs much introduction! Boarding our early morning train in Ollantaytambo, there was an air of great excitement amongst our gro

08 November 2022

I was thrilled to have recently been invited to Peru by the Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) and Intrepid Travel as part of their sustainable travel programme, educating agents about ‘creating positive change through the joy of travel’. From the mighty Andes to the majestic Amazon rainforest and from lively Lima to the spectacular Machu Picchu, we had an unforgettable journey, meeting many locals and l

28 July 2022

The new kid on the block in the world of cruising, this year Virgin Voyages have been changing the traditional view of cruising and won ‘Best New Cruise Ship’ for Scarlet Lady’s ''standout new concepts and designs to give guests witty and smart features and options''. I was therefore very excited to be invited aboard her sister ship ‘Valiant Lady’ for her MerMaiden Mediterranean voyage in May – t

13 July 2022

January has been a little different for me this year, fulfilling a long time ambition of sailing across the Atlantic! Setting off from Lanzarote, we made landfall in Barbados 18 days later. A mixed bag of weather and some fairly confused seas, but we generally enjoyed fair winds, fabulous fresh fish straight from the sea to plate, awesome star spotting and swimming in the middle of nowhere with

13 July 2022

I last visited Grenada 15 years ago, not long after devastating Hurricane Ivan. Touring around the island then felt sadly barren in parts, with much of the established vegetation having been destroyed and whilst fresh growth was emerging, it was not the lush green I had been expecting. However, roll on 15 years and what a gloriously lush island! Basing ourselves in the pleasant Port Louis mari

13 July 2022

I love the The Grenadines, the small chain of reefs and islands running between St Vincent and Grenada. With over 30 islands in total but only 9 or so inhabited, it is not hard to find a secluded spot and can often feel like you’re living on the edge of the earth, with only a reef separating you from the wild Atlantic! Many people will have heard of Mustique, holiday destination to the rich, fa

13 July 2022

Arriving to St Lucia felt like sailing to some mystical land, with the mighty Pitons rising high on the horizon, shrouded in cloud. Fortunately by the time we arrived the cloud had lifted to reveal the towering peaks in all their glory - what a welcome to St Lucia! In the shadow of Petit Piton is the lovely little creole town of Soufriere, which is a great base for exploring the south of the isl

13 July 2022

My first visit to a French Caribbean island and what a delight. I love France and I love the Caribbean, so a combo of the two is a real treat! Although I have known of Marin from my yacht charter days, having arranged many bareboat holidays for clients from here, I had not quite appreciated the full size and beauty of ‘Cul-de-sac du Marin’. A huge bay lined with mangroves, surrounded by hills,

13 July 2022

Soaring peaks, deep valleys, lush vegetation, 365 rivers, hot waterfalls, boiling lakes and an abundance of nature… Dominica is said to be one of the last unspoilt islands in the Caribbean (mainly due to no international flights and limited large hotels) and boy, she did not disappoint! Arriving to Prince Rupert Bay, we were immediately welcomed by the locals, who love meeting outsiders and pr

13 July 2022

A stunning reef lined volcanic archipelago comprising of seven islands south of Guadeloupe. Think of a French Isles of Scilly in Caribbean sunshine! With only two inhabited islands and just one small town, there is lots of beautiful countryside to explore and many deserted beaches to discover, plus the odd exciting high peak to conquer! Bourg des Saintes, is an adorable seaside town, offering F

13 July 2022

Shaped like a butterfly, Guadeloupe is two islands in one: Basse Terre, which means the low land although actually the larger mountainous island, and Grande Terre, meaning the large island but actually the smaller lower island… somebody had a good sense of humour! We were lucky to arrive to the town of Basse Terre, the capital of Guadeloupe, for the final night of Carnival season and boy what a

13 July 2022

Approaching Barbuda by sea it was not land we saw first, at only 125ft at the highest point, but the change in colour of water from deep Caribbean blue to the most mesmerising turquoise, even giving the clouds a slightly blue tinge. Shortly after, the dazzling white sand beaches came into sight, fringed with swaying palms and backed by huge blue skies. If you could design the quintessential Cari

13 July 2022

Antigua is a fabulously diverse island. From historic Nelsons Dockyard at English Harbour to the modern day superyacht glitz and glamour at Falmouth Harbour, from 365 beautiful beaches to rich mountainous forests and from laid back lodgings to exclusive and luxurious hotels – Antigua has it all! Whether a sailor or not, Falmouth Harbour is an island highlight. Full to the brim with magnificent

04 November 2020

With 2020 ‘the year of the staycation’ we decided to embrace a Scottish autumnal roadtrip and hiring a small campervan, headed north! Arriving to the Cairngorms we navigated the 90 mile ‘Snow Roads’ traversing the 2 highest roads in the UK, the Cairnwell and Lecht Passes, and with (responsible) wild camping accepted in Scotland, spent our first night outside Balmoral Castle. Autumn in The Highlan

19 February 2020

Having skied a number of times in The Alps and Canada, I will admit that Poland was not particularly on my radar for skiing. However, always up for a new adventure I was intrigued at a friends suggestion to give it go for a girls ski break. Flying into Krakow, we were to be basing ourselves in Zakopane, a lovely traditional town a couple of hours from the airport. Once we had broken free from Kra

18 December 2019

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Krakow is filled with a delightful mix of architecture old and new, wonderful medieval towers, quintessential European squares and a varied history. Visiting in early December, we felt as though we had walked into a fairytail entering Rynek Glowny, the Old Town main square. One of the largest squares in Europe, the old buildings and churches had a light dusting of sno

29 August 2019

Singapore is a real melting pot of culture, history, innovation, business and tourism. Many people will visit as a stopover on their way to/from another far flung destination, as we did, although it also makes a great holiday destination in its own right, as a city break or mixing a couple of days touring the city with a few days at one the nearby holiday destinations such as Sentosa or Batam Isla

19 June 2019

Choosing a skiing holiday can be daunting, especially if you are a beginner or trying to please a mixed ability group. However, having been skiing for many years and often being holiday organiser, I know there is a perfect resort for everyone! Whilst skiing doesn’t have to be expensive, transport, accommodation, lift passes, ski rental, boot hire, food and drinks (someone has to pay to get the pr

30 May 2019

Having spent the previous 10 days basking in glorious North Island sunshine and anticipating the great beauty of Marlborough Sound, we were disappointed to arrive aboard the Interislander from Wellington in pouring rain, barely able to see one end of the ship from the other, never mind the dramatic Sound. However, the rain and our moods soon lifted as we approached one of the highlights of our tr

30 May 2019

New Zealand had always been high on my list of places to visit ever since I understood ‘Coromandel’ was not only the name of the house I grew up in, but a beautiful peninsular in some far-flung land. So finally deciding 'to take February out to do New Zealand’, boy we were not disappointed! Quite simply one of the most naturally dramatic countries I have experienced, New Zealand not only boasts s

03 February 2019

Having worked in yacht charter for many years I have had the opportunity to sail in many beautiful places around the world, with one of my favourites being the British Virgin Islands. With no direct flights from the UK it is not the easiest of destinations to reach, but the flight to Antigua and quick hop up the Caribbean island chain to Beef Island Airport is soon forgotten when slipping into the

18 January 2019

Arriving into Venice for the first time is spectacular enough, although speeding through the lagoon in a private boat towards the emerging floating city and entering the backstreet canals with locals going about their daily lives on floating trucks is like nothing else. Couriers, supermarket deliveries, laundry, rubbish - you name it, the Venetians have a boat for it! As the canals grew narrower,