30 May 2025

It was a magnificent adventure; not something you would do everyday but when you take a trip and come back totally fulfilled you know you did it well. I flew to Zurich, and overnighted in this delightful city before heading off by train to Zermatt. I love Swiss trains, clean and comfortable and usually pretty much on time. The sun was shining heading through the Matter Valley, the mighty Matterho

07 April 2021

Beyond the likes of the well-known Chinatown and Little India, Singapore is home to some more ‘off-the-beaten-track’ neighbourhoods which are well worth exploring! Tiong Bahru: the oldest housing estate in Singapore, this quaint community is an eclectic mix of old and new. Steeped in history, its transformation began in the 30’s and some of the landmark buildings from that era still stand today w

12 January 2020

A short internal flight of about 40 minutes takes you to Kota Kinabalu, the final leg of your adventure where the following day you will visit Kinabalu Park, Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site and is the Centre of Plant Diversity for South East Asia. The Park boasts more than 5,000 vascular plant species and the Park has no shortage of fauna as well, being home to some 90 lowland mammal species

12 January 2020

As you are on an island, we’ll add some more water based activities into the mix today with an exciting cruise along the Santubong Peninsular to spot some of Sarawak’s very own fascinating array of wildlife, such as the iconic Proboscis monkey, crocodiles and even the lively dolphins! Starting at Sarawak Boat Club you’ll head for the mouth of the Santubong River. Here, sightings of the Irrawaddy d

12 January 2020

Just recently we've seen so much media coverage on Borneo, and the plight of the magnificent Orangutan. From Judi Dench's adventures to BBC's Natural World and the latest BBC production, Earth's Tropical Islands. I watch them all, in awe of this charming ape. On my desk this year I have a National Geographic Calendar, gifted to me at Christmas and my January Pin Up, is nicknamed Oscar the Oranguta

12 July 2019

You will not want to miss the charming medieval village of Teggiano which has a maze of ancient wobbly houses and streets and is, in my opinion, the most beautiful of the park’s villages. It dates from Roman times but the Norman Sanseverino castle dates to medieval times. It’s often called a mini-Rome with six churches, shady cobbled streets and four small museums hidden amid its tangled maze of a

12 July 2019

Hidden from the tourist trail for the moment at least, Cilento is one of the best kept secrets in Italy. I’d like to share my experiences of this wonderful area with you. Long a retreat for the chic Italians to holiday and stay cooler than in cities like Rome when the temperatures soar, the Amalfi Coast has kept its traditional Italian seaside retreat vibe with (mostly) rocky beaches, indulgences

30 June 2019

I bet it isn't miles of white sandy beaches, crystal clear water, adrenaline filled activities, delicious cuisine and really affordable luxury hotels? Well if you are planning a late summer, autumn, winter or early spring escape - tune in because this is just for you - there is an Emirate or country in the Middle East that will be right up your street. Bur how do you know which one to choose? I'

26 April 2019

It was International Day of the Penguin on 25th April. Probably a day that slipped past unrecognised to most, but it got me thinking again about Antarctica. If the last time you saw a penguin was at a zoo you really do need to get out more. In February 2016, I sailed a circumnavigation of South America and made several ports of call in the Falkland Islands, Argentina and Chile. Penguins were the

21 April 2019

Sakaiminato This is a really “out there” pick, but I believe visiting a country properly means taking in a few contrasts. In the prefecture of Tottori Sakaiminato's claim to fame is the Matsuba crab – another opportunity for a culinary exploit. Sakaiminato is also the hometown of Japanese manga artist and historian Shigeru Mizuki. Although Shigeru passed away in 2015, his legacy still lives on t

21 April 2019

In the news and media a lot recently, and a country on so many people’s bucket lists…Japan. Slightly mystical and far removed from our society and culture, it sparks the imagination and ignites curiosity. I started planning my own adventure to Japan a few weeks ago after passing the Japan National Tourist Office Master of Japan Certification, so I thought I’d share with you my top 5 cruise ports i

01 December 2018

One of the best experiences of all must be driving somewhere new and exciting. We've all had enough of the M5, M4, M6 by the time we put our out of office on...especially if you have a long commute. But a driving holiday can be hugely rewarding. Read on to find my top 3 destinations... Bella Italia As a specialist in Italy it was inevitable this would come first. The well know SS163, or the

30 November 2018

Just how many parties can one fit into their diary in December – it’s excess gone mad! Another mince pie and that extra glass of mulled wine are outrageously tempting, especially when everyone else is getting into the "spirit" of things. If like me you follow a healthy lifestyle 10-12 months of the year you may be concerned that the festive season is going to send your healthy habits, into a

29 November 2018

So, what's wrong with taking a career break? Apparently, we all live longer now, so we have more time on our hands. I did it a few years ago - and it changed my life. Do you like the idea of a long, mid-career break to go do something really different? India is surprisingly the most popular of these locations thanks perhaps to the film, The First Exotic Marigold Hotel. Whilst this article is no

14 September 2018

Ah Tenerife. What's the first thing that comes to mind? Package holiday hotels, bars and karaoke? Over the years this popular destination with Europeans has picked up quite a reputation for all the wrong things. When we say Tenerife, you are immediately pointed to the south of the island, with the usual big hotels and all-inclusive brands making their mark but if you venture to the north you wi

06 June 2018

I see part of my role as a travel professional is to promote travel to places that take responsibility for their footprint and actively encourage eco-tourism. You may have read in the press that The Beach is Thailand made famous by Leonardo di Caprio and the Island of Boracay in the Philippines have been temporarily closed in a bid to save the corals and give the eco systems time to regenerate. In

05 June 2018

In the 1980's I was fortunate enough to spend some time in Mauritius. I was writing a thesis for my degree in Oceanography. Mauritius is an island in the south west Indian Ocean around 2400km south-east of coast of Africa and 855km east of Madagascar. Back then we didn't know what we were doing to our planet. Plastic was big news in the 80's as it was seen as the new and better alternative to p

30 March 2018

These days we have apps for everything. Some are more useful than others and some you just can’t live without. At Travel Counsellors we have access to state of the art technology - you don't usually see it. When I'm researching and booking your holiday I use real time systems that reach out across many platforms to collate and deliver accurate information to build your holiday. Although it

28 March 2018

Much loved by yacht owners, artists, celebrities, well-heeled visitors from Italy and holidaymakers alike, Fiscardo is one of Kefalonia’s most charming and elegant destinations. It is the northernmost town on the island and is a port (and fishing town) that offers ferry routes out to Ithaca ports of Lefkada and Frikes. It is beloved by artists for its Venetian buildings painted in pastel colours a

28 March 2018

Sweden is beautiful in the summer. It is gorgeous any time of the year! A few weeks ago, some clients asked me to put together a two-week itinerary for Sweden for their summer holidays. Too often Sweden is not even on the summer holiday radar which is such a shame. It offers a powerful combination of city, islands and countryside which offers the opportunity to experience many aspects of Swedis

28 March 2018

Arriving in Korcula you will be taken aback by the vegetation, the proliferation of vineyards, olive groves and small villages. Home to the enchanting old town, the island of Korcula is the sixth-largest Adriatic island, stretching nearly 47km in length. It's made up of dense woodlands with numerous pathways ripe for walking, leading you to quiet coves and small sandy beaches which you'll find alo

28 March 2018

With hundreds of islands, this is an idyllic location to hop on and off ferries and seek a new adventure every day. A green and lush version of the Greek Islands, this charming country offers something for everyone and is a walker’s paradise. On a trip I did in 2017 I flew into Split and took a 20-minute (17km) transfer to the Maksara Riviera and the town of Seget Donji on the Adriatic coast.

24 March 2018

I’m not sure that February is the right month to visit San Francisco but wherever you go you will need very deep pockets. This is one of the most expensive places I have ever visited, and certainly kept my wine habit in check. Visiting anyway in the US shortly after an election you will feel the out pouring of emotion and a certain post-election fever. I always had certain iconic ideals of this ci

24 March 2018

There is so much to Sydney; its young and vibrant population of many cultures. My recent three-night stop off in Sydney was exciting. It was at the end of a cruise from San Francisco, although slightly tinged with sadness disembarking the Queen Elizabeth in the pouring rain (yes it rains in Australia). A swift transfer to our hotel in Darling Harbour was pre-arranged and early check-in meant we ha

04 December 2017

We arrived in Colombo to a colorful sweaty hustle and bustle to start our two-week adventure; met by our enthusiastic driver Sammy we joined our private transport, luggage stowed we started on the hectic drive through the capital of Sri Lanka. Nothing prepares you for the array of colour and smell and the disorder of traffic. A front seat in the bus is not for the faint hearted! Our drive to Ga

04 December 2017

With all trips there is a start date and end date, because we all have commitments and a set time span to do things in, unless we are really fortunate, and I'm not there yet! In working out how best to spend my days I've made a list of all the things I want to do (you will find this list in Part One if you missed my opening article). Norway is a long country with approx. 14,000 miles of coastl

01 December 2017

We will arrive in the small town Kirkenes around 9am, located north east in as far north in Norway as you can go. It's the capital of the Barents Region and the gateway to the east. We are talking Russia and Finland - Lapland country! Guess I would have missed Santa in March? The Kirkenes Snow hotel is my next destination, open between December and April (subject to global warming) it is built

01 December 2017

I took a long look at the huge map which covers an entire wall in my office this morning before I started planning today's article. I often refer to this when talking to clients looking for holiday inspiration. I realised that for as far north I was going to travel on my adventure I would also be moving east. Tracing a longitude of 18.955324 downwards from Tromso I would be in the same parallel as

01 December 2017

When going away on any sort of trip I always look to maximise the time I have by doing as much as I feel comfortable with - I call it top and tailing. In my article "Planning an Adventure Day 2" I wrote about my choice of ship for the coastal exploration side of my adventure. Today I am looking at taking the train between Oslo and Bergen, courtesy of NSB (Norges Statsbaner AS) or the Norwegian

01 December 2017

As I've previously mentioned Hurtigruten are working ships which have sailed along the Norwegian coast since 1893 bringing much needed supplies and post to remote towns. After a few days of taking in the sights of Oslo and Bergen and having spent my first night on the MS Nordlyss we will have already made a few overnight and morning stops. Firstly at Florø (meaning strong stream) once a centre

22 November 2017

As many of you know, I started in travel in 1978 and the travel bug has never really left me. I work at home now and run my own business as a travel professional who "delivers travel solutions to people who want to travel". I'm part of Travel Counsellors Ltd. Every day I have access to hundreds of airlines, suppliers; I attend webinars and supplier days and come away armed with brochures, pens and

22 November 2017

The Lofoten Islands have beckoned me for years; I have absolutely no idea why. The sun will be setting as we sail into Stamsund, but I feel sure we wont miss the soaring Lofotveggen, rough and ragged peaks, misshapen and multi-coloured mountains as a backdrop to the westerly skies. Throughout the night we will drift through this Nordland archipelago making our stops; I think it will be a night

21 November 2017

Arriving into Tromsø, the "Capital of the Artic" 350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle with its large islands and high mountain back drop will spark excitement. It's said Tromsø has a mild climate because of the gulf stream, so somewhere between 0C and -9C isn't that cold... really! I last came here many years ago on a conference in the summer and experienced the midnight sun. This time the

21 November 2017

As my itinerary "topping" continues before the big voyage, I know I need to be in Bergen (Bryggen) for the Hurtigruten departure at 11pm. My train gets in at 3pm so I have a few hours. I'm quite a laid-back person and I don't like rushing things. After a long 7-hour train journey I think I would probably want to chill out and take in this gorgeous city. Bergen has an ice-free harbour sheltered fro

06 September 2017

Darwin was my first Australian experience which really having now seen much more is the real scene setter for this wonderful country. I flew into Darwin from Singapore; the vastness of the landscape strikes you and the colour green is vivid and contrasting to the deep blue sea. This won’t be everyone’s bag, but to say it’s something completely difference won't over egg the stark contrast between D