06 March 2025

We were booked for our second family ski holiday to France and with the “fun and games” of Covid, 5 days before we were due to travel, France closed the border to Brits and our holiday was cancelled! With lots of umming and ahhing we finally decided to take the risk and travel to Italy instead albeit with pre-travel testing at the airport the day before. So, we rebooked our holiday, booked our Covid tests for a drive-thru at the airport the night before and kept our fingers crossed that we didn’t unknowingly have the lurgy! A few days later, negative Covid tests in hand, we were on our way. The hotel we stayed at - Grand Hotel Paradiso - did say it was ski-in/ski-out but I definitely wouldn’t class it as that – we had a short walk up a snowy hill to get onto a flat area of snow but close enough! The rooms were a nice size and the restaurant and food choice were excellent. Our only gripe was the opening time of the restaurant which was a little later for all of us after a long day outside! The hotel had an indoor swimming pool, which between skiing, the kids made the most of! The resort was Passo Tonale, Italy. It’s a much smaller resort than the one we had last stayed at but as it was the children’s second week and considering the circumstances we were just glad to be back in the mountains. Going at Christmas is early in the season but enough slopes were kept topped up by the snow cannons to give us plenty of skiing all week. I think going forward we do need a bigger resort but we loved the village and being in Italy. We took the lift right to the top at 3000m (on foot as the slopes down were a bit ambitious for all of us!) and the views from there were spectacular. Another thing to note on the resort is because of the direction of the slopes in the valley, most of the slopes are in shade for a lot of the day. Overall, I’d say this is a great resort for beginners but I don’t think it’s one for us to return to.

05 March 2025

We really wanted a longer holiday this summer but I also wanted to tick something off my list rather than do another beach holiday and so we compromised on duration to get on a Royal Caribbean ship in the Med for a week and it was 100% the correct decision. I picked the departure based on the ship and the itinerary combined. Ideally I wanted to sail on one of the bigger ships but they were all doing itineraries that covered places I had largely visited and so Explorer ticked more boxes. The itinerary was perfect – we flew into Italy (loved the short flight) and the weather was hot all week, even when sailing with the breeze. Split, Croatia – having driven through Split earlier in the year and got straight on a ferry to another island, I was keen to explore the city. The Old Town was smaller than I expected but in the heat meant we could see a lot of it before wanting to go back to the ship. We just wondered around ourselves rather than doing an organised excursion and the port was within easy walking distance of the town. Mykonos Town, Greece – this exceeded my expectations. I book a lot of customers to the island and it’s one of the more expensive Greek destinations and known to be one for Instagram. I absolutely loved all the windy paths and how the shops were spread out among them. The painted tiles on the floor made it look so pretty with the buildings and I certainly can see the charm of this island even though we only visited Mykonos Town where the ship docked. We had a tender boat for this stop which we all loved. It was very windy that day and a bit choppy so the journey was a little bumpy but a great experience! Pireaus (for Athens) – this was a bucket-list tick for me being able to visit the Acropolis. We went for the early morning departure so it was the only day we set an alarm! Great day out, long enough to see the Acropolis and find out a little bit about it and take some photos. We did have half an hour to explore Plaka area of the city but it wasn’t long enough and so didn’t get to see much! Katakolon (for Olympia) – we weren;t going to get off the ship here but it was tender boat again and so we decided to go ashore almost just for that reason but what a lovely little town, full of nick-nacky shops and great value – we actually did most of our holiday shopping here in the end! We stayed a couple of hours before heading back to the boat and making the most of it being quite whilst a lot of passengers had taken trips to Olympia. As for the ship itself… I took a risk with the cabin to keep the cost down and booked a guaranteed balcony cabin but we got lucky and got a fairly mid-ship cabin with a clear view! The cabin worked better for us than the one we’d had on Iona but that may be down to personal preference. We had an upper berth this time which gave us a bit more floor space and meant we had a sofa to use. We also could keep our cases under the bed which made a huge difference with the wardrobe space! For breakfast we had the option of the buffet restaurant (very busy and hard to find a spare table at peak times) or a la carte. To my surprise the kids enjoyed the a la carte, and I much preferred it too as it was so much quieter and always tables available! It meant I probably ate a bit less too, compared with eating at the buffet! For lunch, we did mostly eat at the buffet but we tried to go early or late to avoid the mad rush and inevitable hunt for a free table. The choice in the buffet at all times was excellent and standard very high. For dinners, we opted for set dining at 6pm – this worked for us and meant we had the same table and staff every evening. We enjoyed the choice and changing menus and it was brilliant that my two children (10 and 13 years) could pick from the kids or adult menu. But what we loved most about our holiday was the on board activities, Flowrider (the surf machine) was all of our favourites and we had a go nearly every session! I didn’t manage to stand up for long but being on the boogie board was brilliant fun! I’ll be trying again next time I go on board a Royal Caribbean ship! We also loved the rock-climbing wall (much harder than I was expecting!), crazy golf and the table tennis. We found ourselves wanting to get back to the ship each time we got off! And we’ll definitely be cruising with Royal Caribbean again.

28 September 2021

Such wonderful news! I'm delighted to say that Travel Counsellors has won the award in the best homeworking agency category at the Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards! These awards celebrate excellence in the travel trade and are highly regarded in the travel industry. At Travel Counsellors we work hard to show our customers the highest level of care and support, so winning this award means a lot. I look forward to helping you with your travel plans in the coming weeks and months too.

06 April 2021

It's not often we receive postcards now, so you can imagine how delighted I was to get this one through the post with a chocolate bar attached! . It was a Thank You from the Grenada Tourism Authority for a booking that travelled just before the first lockdown but this was the first opportunity they had to send it! . Now all I need to decide is whether to keep it for myself or share it with the kids! . Known as the ‘Island of Spice’ on account of it being the home of nutmeg, cinnamon and many other exotic spices, the gorgeous Caribbean island of Grenada has so much to offer for all types of traveller. Home to sublime stretches of cashmere-soft sand beaches, breathtaking waterfalls and unforgettable dive sites, glorious Grenada is a place where untouched beauty meets warm and friendly people, to make a holiday destination that offers a vibrant and enchanting experience.

22 March 2021

Wow-factor accommodation and it's adult only! . This has got to be one of my most favourite wow-factor rooms, doesn't it look just amazing!!! So, where is it? Thailand... . Conceived as though by Nature’s own Architect, TreeHouse Villas, is a visionary new adults-only luxury resort design for those with a love of the environment, beauty of nature and a desire to rediscover their inner child. Set amongst the jungle’s canopy in a treetop location with unspoiled views to the sea and the ancient Jurassic massifs of Phang Nga Bay itself. . This hotel works particularly well with multi-centre itineraries in Thailand and can be twinnned with Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Elephant Hills and other islands - please get in touch for more information and prices - 01304 897810.

10 February 2021

Are you getting married in 2021, 2022 or 2023? Or do you know someone who is? We have honeymoons available to book for all those years for some destinations and our fantastic Gift Registry service is ideal for those who prefer not to have a traditional gift list. Our Honeymoon Gift Registry Service -An easy, stress-free way to manage your dream honeymoon online - courtesy of your personal Travel Counsellor. Our Honeymoon Gift Registry service allows your guests to give you the most memorable gift of all – your dream honeymoon tailor made down to the finest detail. You may already have all the bed linen and towels you need, or you may have a perfect honeymoon in mind but need a helping hand making your dream trip a reality. Whether it’s the ultimate adventure trip, a romantic city break or a luxurious retreat to faraway shores, the Gift Registry means you can have the honeymoon you always wanted. And best of all this service is provided free of charge if your honeymoon is booked through me. Please get in touch for more information - 01304 897810.

11 January 2021

Earlier this month I took part in a Thailand training with Thai Tourism. . As well as learning some top tip ideas for luxury days out whilst in this beautiful country we also had a spotlight on the stunning Six Senses Yao Noi - 56 villas with private pools, their own space and a rustic but luxurious feel. The hotel showcases amazing views and blends in seamlessly with nature! Message me for more info. . A couple of days after the training I was surprised (and delighted) to recieve The Spicery Thai Massaman Curry with Nam Prik kit through my letterbox as a thank you for attending the training. Fast forward a few more days and a shopping trip later and we enjoyed a delicious meal - thank you Thai Tourism and Six Senses Hotels Thailand! . If you'd like to visit Thailand and experience this curry (and much more Thai cuisine) for real, then please get in touch, I'd love to help.

17 December 2020

I'm delighted to say that Travel Counsellors has been crowned winner of the best National Travel Retailer category in the British Travel Awards once again! This prestigious award is voted for by customers, so I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of my customers for your support this year, and I look forward to helping you with your travel plans in the coming weeks and months too. I'll be there for you every step of the way, keeping your safety and wellbeing at the heart of everything I do. Thank you to everyone who voted for Travel Counsellors #BritishTravelAwards #BTA20

05 October 2020

I can’t believe we’ve been living with Covid19 and the massive consequences it has had on our lives for over 6 months now! Travel, as I am sure you can imagine, has been pretty badly affected and we’re not even close to being back to normal. But over the past couple of months I’ve had clients away again and it feels great! The most popular country by far for my current bookings and enquiries is the UK! Please do remember to give me a try. I can offer lodges with hot-tubs (the number 1 request at the moment!) and also hotel breaks (all budgets and types), private cottages and houses, theme park breaks, holiday parks, escorted tours, city breaks, go-active breaks, singles holidays, Belmond British Pullman, rail holidays and a lot more! My knowledge of the counties has definitely been improved over the summer! There are still a handful of places abroad that you can travel to quarantine free (both ends) too at the moment, although the countries on this list has changed frequently and we expect that it will continue to do so. But it is possible to get away and I’m finding most bookings come in very late, usually within a week of departure. I’m happy to book an appointment with you if you’d like a last-minute holiday, just get in touch and we can arrange this. My clients that have travelled abroad over the summer have been so happy that they persevered and were able to get away and the feedback from resort has been excellent. There are other countries you can travel to (some further afield too), where it is possible but quarantine may be required on arrival and/or also for 14 days on your return – this hasn’t stopped many people visiting these places and having a holiday! I think we all need one after this year! There are many more rules and requirements to adhere to but if you really want to get away, let me know and I’ll help you navigate through it all. I’m happy to be available whilst you are travelling and can help whilst you are in resort too if needed, and we have a 24/7 Duty Office available for all of our customers should you need it. So, if you are looking to get away, please do remember to give me a try. I’m on 01304 897810 and would love to chat. (The picture is from May 2019 in Puerto Banus, Spain)

26 February 2020

Last weekend I was very lucky to be invited on board Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady! Virgin Voyages is a brand new product and something very different to anything on the market and Dover was Scarlet Lady’s first visit in the UK after being delivered on 14th February! Over 24 hours we were able to sample some of the restaurants and entertainment and view some of the cabins. The food and restaurant concept I love, rather than having one main dining hall with smaller speciality restaurants (usually at a charge) like other cruise ships, Scarlet Lady has 20 smaller eateries around the ship (6 the equivalent of a speciality restaurant and others more casual) and they are ALL included in the price of your cruise. We dined at Pink Agave which is a Mexican restaurant and the food was really very good (and plentiful!). The service was excellent and we learned from our waiter that Virgin Voyages want the crew to be themselves, so our waiter, who had worked on other cruise lines before, for the first time was able to wear his earrings and face piercing and show his tattoo on his arm. All the crew are kitted in uniform for comfort so most wear trainers. Also included in the cruise fare are tips/gratuities, unlimited WiFi, group workouts and basic bevvies (still and sparkling water, non-pressed juices, soda, teas and drip coffee). We saw most (if not all) cabin types. The décor is clean, modern and I think it’s fair to say in the mainstream cabins no-frills. The bathrooms were compact but the showers were a reasonable size (for standard cabins on a cruise ship) and worked well. Apart from the suites, the cabins weren’t carpeted. The suites were definitely a step up from the other cabins and there seems to be a great choice on board – definitely worth it if the budget can stretch. The focus definitely seems to be on music and evening entertainment with shows starting past midnight and live bands and entertainment in various locations throughout the ship (although we didn’t get to experience this side of the entertainment). They want the feel of a festival where it’s impossible to see all of the acts. The theatre (The Red Room) is a completely different lay out to any other theatre I have seen at sea and is relatively small, almost guaranteeing being up close and personal with the performers. Virgin Voyages wanted their ship to have the glamour of a boutique hotel at sea and took inspiration from yachts to make it feel different to other cruise ships. It is an adult only ship and they used designers who have never worked on cruise ships before to make it elegant and sophisticated. They want their crew to say “it’s the best gig they have ever had” and so give them added benefits that are not available on other cruise lines. They want “eager explorers who want to play hard” on their ship and they want them to enjoy a voyage not a cruise. Virgin Voyages want their ship to be glamorous and luxurious but for nobody to feel out of place and for it never to feel so cool or exclusive that you don’t feel at home, they don’t wish for it to be stuffy or formal They have a focus on wellness throughout the cruise, not just in the spa. Group classes are included on board and they have vegetarian and vegan options in all of their restaurants, they even have a vegetarian restaurant. Alcohol is not included but in every bar you can buy a beer, glass of wine or cocktail for under US$10 – they don’t add on any extra like tax or tips – the price you see on the menu is the price you pay. They don’t have drinks packages but you can pre-pay a bar tab if you wish to have alcohol ‘included’. They also wanted to be carbon neutral from day one so will be off-setting fuel usage from the start. They have no single use plastic on board and encourage you to fill up a reusable bottle at the water stations around the ship. They also have no buffets on board which results in less food wastage (and also means everything is cooked to order so generally of a better and consistent standard). What did I think? I loved the ship and contemporary design but I’m not sure its for me, However, the customers they are looking for will LOVE it, they’ve definitely found a gap in the market and I love what they have done to make it anything but a traditional cruise. If you’d like more information about Virgin Voyages or wish to book, please do get in touch, I’d love to help.

06 January 2020

As a child I was fortunate to travel to Europe 5 times for skiing holidays but until recently hadn’t skied for 20 years! So, I was a little nervous but mostly excited to be taking the family on our first ski holiday just before Christmas. We stayed in Les Arcs 2000 in France in a chalet with 2 other families. None of the six children had skied before and it was ideal as they were all placed in the same ‘learn to ski’ group. We were extremely lucky with the weather (with it being the first week of the season) as it had been snowing a lot in advance of us arriving and the 2 days before we arrived they had almost a metre of snow according to the forecasts! We had a mixture of clear, sunny and windy days for the first 4 days. The wind was a challenge but thankfully not every day and it didn’t stop us skiing, it just meant there were restrictions on which lifts were open. Me and hubby had lessons as it had been such a long time since we last went and it was brilliant as we were taken all over the resort of Les Arcs and managed 19 miles in one of the 2.5 hour lessons! I think if we went again we’d have lessons again but maybe not for the full week! The kids loved the skiing and all passed the beginners class and can’t wait to go again. In the afternoons we did a variety of things. The first few days we didn’t take them out skiing as they were still learning the basics so we took advantage of the hotel’s swimming pool, built snowmen, had snowball fights and just generally enjoyed the snow. One afternoon we took the gondola and cable car on foot up to the top of Les Arcs at 3226m where the views were spectacular – this was included in our lift pass too. The last couple of afternoons after lessons we took the kids out and did a few short runs and it was absolutely amazing to see how they’d conquered the basics! Over the last day or two, we had heavy snow for quite a lot of the time – this was amazing to see and I’m so pleased the kids were able to be out with it snowing properly! Having a chalet was ideal and meant we had our own bedrooms but also a large lounge area where we could relax, eat and play games. It was nice not to have to dress up for meals and for the kids it was perfect, I’d definitely recommend this for a group particularly with children and we’d definitely book a private chalet again! Everything went brilliantly until the last morning of skiing when my eldest fell over and broke his leg! He is in a full leg cast and we are 2 weeks in of the 6 he has to have it on! Even now though when people ask if he wants to go again, he enthusiastically replies “YES!”. He is hopefully on the mend and I’m so pleased it hasn’t put him off as we had such a good week otherwise! If you’d like to take your family skiing please do get in touch, I’d love to help!

11 December 2019

I’ve been booking customers to Sandals and Beaches for the past 20 years but until last month had never made it myself, so when the opportunity arose for me to visit for a few days, I could hardly say no! I stayed at Sandals Grande in St Lucia and booked a Club Level room. So, what makes Sandals different from a regular all-inclusive? For me there were several things that stood out compared with other hotels I’d stayed at in the past. 1/ Restaurants – this is the biggie for me. At this hotel alone there were 12 restaurants and they are ALL included in the price and there is no limit on how many times you can visit particular ones, so over a 6 night holiday we were able to dine at a different one each evening and lunch time and not repeat any of them! The standard was excellent and choice of food was good. For breakfast there was a French café where you could get a continental breakfast, the main buffet (excellent standard and choice for a buffet) and the Italian restaurant served an a la carte breakfast with indoor and outdoor seating. For lunch you could have crepes at the French café (these were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!), hot dogs at Doggies (never got round to having these), pizzas from a wood-fired oven at Dino’s, Jerk chicken at the Jerk Shack (a must!) and of course a buffet lunch at the Bayside. For dinner we dined at Bombay (the Indian, this was my favourite although only had indoor seating and I do like to be outside when away!), Toscanini’s Italian, Barefoot by the Sea (seafood restaurant and as we visited on Thanksgiving they had an extra choice to celebrate this too!), Gordon’s Pier Restaurant (lovely setting, International cuisine), Kimono’s (the chef cooks in front of you, this is great for a lively entertaining meal!) and Soy (the Sushi restaurant) – all of these were included in the price. Three were bookable in advance and we had no problem getting reservations. The rest you just turned up to and we were always seated immediately, there was never an issue with availability. 2/ Tipping – no tipping is allowed at the hotel (with the exception of your butler if you book a butler level room or if you have a spa treatment). Many of the staff wear badges saying “No tips please, my smile is included” - I love this concept and the staff are instead rewarded when they get good reviews on Trip Advisor. Overall the service was excellent and nothing was too much trouble. It was nice not to have the awkwardness of “Should I tip? How much should I tip?”! 3/ Water sports – there was a wide range of water sports, again all included in the price with tuition if needed. I learnt to water-ski while I was there and had 4 sessions overall – this was brilliant fun, a whole lot harder than it looks and I felt such an achievement when I made it up on the skis! The instructors were really patient and wanted me to succeed!! We also took a kayak out for half an hour whilst we were there. They had hobie sail boats, again they could give you tuition and you were then allowed out by yourself with them and they also had paddleboards available. The other biggie for Sandals is the diving, if you are already PADI qualified you can dive for free! They also had jet-skis available from the beach but these weren’t run by Sandals and so they did have additional charge if you wanted to use them. 4/ Club Lounge - as we'd booked a Club room we had access to the Club Lounge which gave us some nice little extras. Three of the evenings we were there they had special events in the evenings - a wine and cheese evening, a cocktail evening and a canape evening. It was nice to go to the lounge before going to dinner and was a good opportunity to meet other people if you wanted to. They also did a free trip to Pigeon Island once a week which was only available for Club guests. The lounge itself was available 24 hours, staffed for most of the day and meant you never had to go to the main reception - having this, made everything really smooth and we enjoyed this side of the room category. --- There are lots more inclusions that I haven’t mentioned but the above were the main ones for me, it meant a very stress-free holiday and no bill from the hotel at the end of our stay. We will definitely visit a Sandals again and hope to take the kids to Beaches too!

09 December 2019

It’s been a while since we’ve visited the Caribbean, in fact I’ve not been since we had children so I was super excited to be going back and even better that it was in our winter! St Lucia didn’t disappoint either. It’s a very green and very, very hilly island. At 27 miles by 14 miles it is more than twice the size of Antigua but the long windy roads mean it’s pretty much a three hour car journey from top to bottom! We stayed in the North at Gros Islet which was a great location, around 1 hour 45 minutes transfer from the airport. Sandals Grande St Lucian is a three minute walk from Pigeon Island so we took advantage of this on one of the rainier mornings! It is US$10 per person to get into the National Park and has a large garden area, old buildings and two peaks, one of which has Fort Rodney on. The first part of the walk up to Fort Rodney doesn’t take too long and although up a slope is sheltered by trees and not too steep and you are rewarded with a viewing platform, even at this level the views are pretty amazing. It gets a little bit more fun from here when the path gets a little steeper and at the top you have to climb a steep wooden ladder with narrow rungs! You can sit on the wall of the Fort here and admire the view whilst recovering from the journey up, a few people who arrived before us had bought picnics and were enjoying those! We then ventured down to the viewing area again and had a look towards the second higher peak (the lookout). It wasn’t clear what was there but we thought we should go and have a look! After another fairly gentle slope the terrain changes and you find yourself climbing, walking amongst rocks and some parts are quite steep! We kept going and some areas looked closed off but decided to carry on as once you’d got past those areas the track was back in place again! The last ‘climb’ was quite steep and over rocks but on making it to the top we were quite pleased we’d made the effort! The views of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean on the other side were pretty awesome and we got a great view of our hotel too! We’d taken our umbrellas so when the showers came we were able to take cover under those and the trees before carrying on again once it cleared which thankfully never took very long! We’d already booked a hike of the Gros Piton for the next day and little did I realise that the Pigeon Island walk was extremely tame compared to the Gros Piton hike! Gros Piton is one of the two famous Pitons you see in all the pictures of St Lucia, they are in the south of the island so it meant an early start (6.30am pick up) so we could do the almost three hour journey to make the start point. The Piton is 2619ft and the starting point for the hike is 600ft. I still didn’t realise quite what I was letting myself in for at this point, I just knew it would take us around 2 hours up and 2 hours down. They break it down into four half hour sections with a rest between each and it was when they said we will see how you feel at the second stop before we decide whether to carry on and that we also needed at least two litres of water per person, that I started to think this wasn’t going to be the leisurely walk in the park that I’d had in mind! So we set off and thankfully it’s pretty much all under the cover of trees and the ‘track’ is around the edge of the Piton and the first section is manageable with some rock climbing. The second section is also manageable and definitely wasn’t the full half an hour with our group. For the first two sections you go around the Piton but sections three and four are more straight up so we knew we had the hardest part to come and we were all a little tired already and getting through our water! The third section was the hardest I found, it was definitely longer than half an hour and the first time we’d done almost all climbing and it was a little wetter up there so we were starting to get muddy too! This was when some of the group (of 12) started to struggle! We managed to keep going and had a longer break at the third stop! I think once we’d got that far we knew we’d make the top and after more climbing and scrambling (you have to use your hands and the well placed rails!!) we made it to the top! The view was pretty spectacular (although you can’t see Petit Piton from the top due to the trees) but it was not what I was expecting at all! I expected a cleared area with picnic benches, that’s normal, right?! But no, the top is a few, uneven rocks so if you want to sit down you have to find a relatively flat one to perch on the edge of!! It was totally worth it and because we’d lost a few of the group we got to enjoy our achievement and the view for a good half an hour or so. A while later though, the rest of the group made it and we were our full group again! So, at the top we’d done the hard bit....or so I thought! But actually coming down is almost as hard, although it isn’t physically as exhausting, it’s steep and was slippery in places so you really had to control every step so as not to slide down the edge of a cliff! My legs were tired by then so I was also struggling with jelly legs! It took us just as long to get down as it did to get up. With four guides for our group, they said it was rare for a group of that size to all make it up and down and with no injuries too so we were proud of ourselves with that achievement!! We were all pretty tired and I’m not sure what the mini bus must have smelled like after our long journey home but we had such a brilliant adventure! If you can manage the physical side of this it is well worth a try and I’d definitely do it again if we ever return to St Lucia! We were only in St Lucia for 6 nights but managed to see a bit of the island and I loved what I saw and it definitely reminded me of why I love the Caribbean so much!

08 October 2019

Today I spent a few hours training with our rep from Inghams, Ski Esprit and Santa's Lapland. It was a really informative training session as it was only a small group so we were able to ask lots of questions! Having already been on a Santa's Lapland trip I already knew lots about the product but it was great to get a refresh and also learn about their Aurora breaks which have more inclusions than the Magic break that I did! They still have availability for this Christmas (this is quite rare but a few circumstances have led to this) so if you'd love to visit Santa this Christmas do get in touch and I'll see what we can find for you. I absolutely loved this trip so more than happy to make recommendations based on our experience last winter. We touched briefly on the Ski Esprit product too and the main learning point that came out of this was that the children's lessons were really very different to 'bog-standard' lessons so it's absolutely perfect for young children and first-time skiers too. Inghams is also one of their companies and it's probably the one you may have heard of. They have been in the past very much a Lakes and Mountains product, whether that be summer or ski. Things have moved along the last few years though and as well as all the well-known destinations they can book, they also have a tour program that includes Iceland and Norway. These are great alternatives for those not wanting to cruise to these destinations but also want someone else to do the organising! They also now offer a fab family itinerary (ideal for teens) in France called 'Peaks of Perfection Activity Week' - this tour includes cycle rides, hiking with a local guide and white water rafting. Inghams also feature Lapland, it's a completely different way to visit compared with Santa's Lapland but this helped cement the difference between the two for me. I'm happy to chat through the options to say which might suit your needs better. Inghams have longer durations available too and feature Lapland through the whole ski season so though to March - so if you aren't worried about seeing Santa this is a great option allowing you more time to enjoy the snow. They also feature a comprehensive Italy program now too - almost all of the itineraries for these are tailor-made. With Italy being so well connected by rail, it's a great country for twin or multi-centres. The rep from Inghams had just come back from a twin-centre, they stayed in Bologna and then went to the Adriatic Coast and stayed in Rimini. She was very impressed with this side of Italy's coast as it's definitely a lesser known part and one that is likely to be up and coming. Not forgetting of course, Inghams extensive ski options - they have a really great ski program covering lots of resorts, a good range of accommodation and all the added extras you might need. Overall, it was a few hours well spent and gave me a really good understanding of the new products they are offering. If you are looking to do a trip with Santa's Lapland, Inghams or Ski Esprit, everything is bookable through me with 100% financial protection and the great service you expect from Travel Counsellors. Get in touch today, I'd love to help - 01304 897810.

20 September 2019

On 15th September myself and 8 other Kent Travel Counsellor's walked the London Monopoly Board for one of Travel Counsellor's chosen charities for 2019 - Reuben's Retreat. We set the date back in 2018 and over the course of the year planned how we would go about it! Several people had done this before so we used their blogs to get ideas and came up with our own route - we decided doing the most economical mileage would be best to accommodation all abilities, rather than in the board order which would have been a MUCH longer day! We did all the streets, the 4 stations, the 'go to jail' (we chose Royal Courts of Justice) and 'in jail' square (we chose Tower of London) and free parking. We estimated it would take us around 7 hours and using google maps we guessed around 21.5km. The number 23 is special for Reuben's Retreat because the Graham family had the lovely Reuben for 23 months and so we hoped to finish on 23 point something kilometres and we'd allowed a little for getting lost, finding signs and so on. But on the day it was not to be, we ended up on 26.9km in the end and it took us 7 hours 22 minutes with only a ten minute pit stop in Regent's Park! We had fun along the way, only went the wrong way once, generally managed to find signs fairly quickly and saw parts of London we'd never seen before! So we knew we'd have a 23 somewhere along the lines we set our fundraising target at £2300. We did however smash that and to date we are at over £4000 with Gift Aid and we've been well and truly overwhelmed with everyone's support, so a massive thank you from all of us. Reuben's Retreat was born out of the loss of a beautiful boy, Reuben Michael Graham in 2012. The charity was set up in his name and to date has supported over 760 individuals. They support families who have lost a child and those who face an uncertain future due to their child living with a life threatening or life limiting condition. They offer counselling, support groups, well-being activities, holistic therapies and respite breaks to families. They are currently renovating their forever home in stages to create a holiday home from home for families to visit together and make precious memories with their children. Every penny & pound donated will enable them to take a step closer to completing their retreat and providing a sanctuary for families who desperately need that special time together. If you'd like to know more this is their website www.reubensretreat.org.

30 July 2019

It’s been a busy month for cruise ship visits and trainings! Earlier this week I was lucky to be invited on board Brilliance of the Seas with Royal Caribbean in Dover. Brilliance is one of Royal Caribbean’s smaller ships, although at 90,000 tonnes, still not particularly small! But Oasis of the Seas is three times the size of Brilliance so it gives you an idea of just how big some ships are now! Brilliance of the Seas is part of their Radiance Class, which along with Vision Class ships are their 8 smallest – they are all fairly similar in style and facilities in these two bands. The other classes are very different. Radiance and Vision Class ships all have a ‘Centrum’ which is the heart of the ship and where many of the events take place. None of the other classes have these as they have the promenade. Radiance and Vision don’t have as many facilities, for example they don’t have the Flowrider, ice-skating rink or zipwire. Brilliance of the Seas did however still have a rock-climbing wall and small splash area with a waterslide, a mini-golf course and a sports court – all included in the price. These 2 smaller classes of ships which tend to do more destination led itineraries and the smaller ports such as the Baltic, Greek Islands and Alaska. Jewel of the Seas is pretty much identical to Brilliance of the Seas as they are sister ships. Jewel is in Dubai in the winter and as Royal Caribbean don’t operate in Europe in winter that makes her the closest ship to the UK for winter sunshine. On all their Dubai cruises, there is at least one overnight in Dubai meaning you can really make the most of this amazing destination and the surrounding area. The cruises also visit other ports in UAE such as Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Oman. On the larger class ships, they have some amazing experiences included (unlimited too!). Flowrider (a surf simulator), ice-skating rink, zip line, rock-climbing wall, laser-tag and carousel. Some ships even have an Escape Room (this is chargeable though at around US$12-15 per person). Another great benefit with Royal Caribbean is that you can re-book on board with extra benefits not available when you come back. But you can still pass the booking back to me to look after - a great opportunity to take advantage of some extra benefits and one worth remembering! A top tip I learnt whilst on board – if you book My-Time dining you can go onto your cruise personaliser prior to departure and book your table reservations, meaning you don’t have to wait on the night if the restaurant is full! The average age across the fleet is around early 40s but some itineraries and smaller ships have a higher average age up to around early 60s. A real bonus though is that everything is always in English. When you sail out of Barcelona it’s English then Spanish. If you cruise out of China, it’s Mandarin then English. Occasionally if they have more than 5% of another nationality on board, they will add another language. Overall, compared with some other cruise lines this is really limiting announcements – some cruise lines do the announcements in several languages and this can get a little boring! Every Royal Caribbean ship has a Schooner Bar – a really nice, spacious area with a great atmosphere. In the evening it can get quite lively! Most of the ships also have an English pub which serves draft beer, shows sporting events on TV and again is really popular, sometimes lively option of an evening! Each ship has a solarium (mostly open air, the odd covered one and some with retractable roof) which is an adult only pool area – this is complimentary – a nice touch as many other cruise lines charge for the adult only area. Chops Grille is a speciality steak restaurant (supplement applies approx. US$50 per adult) which I am told is well worth a visit. The Italian speciality dining (approx. US$40 per adult supplement) is also a really nice choice and actually really great for families with many sharing platters available. Children also pay for speciality dining but at a much reduced rate (usually around US$12 per child) and every restaurant except Chef’s Table has a child’s menu available. Before you go you can take advantage of offers online for the speciality dining so it’s worth a look before you embark. I really liked the main restaurant, it was really bright, open and spacious with white chairs (sometimes the main restaurants can be a little dark on some ships but this one wasn’t at all), the main menu changes every night and you get three courses (a choice of around 6 per course). If you fancy something more casual for a meal the Park Café by the pool is available and included – this is available for breakfast (often much quieter than the main buffet restaurant), lunch and dinner (open till around 2am!) Kids clubs are available and included in the price for 3-17-year olds. The teen lounge which is more drop-in is available until 2am. The clubs for 3-11-year olds are complimentary until 10pm but they also have a late night party zone 10pm-2am where it’s chargeable at approx. US$12 per hour per child. The kids club staff will even take your kids for dinner in the buffet restaurant for you! For under 3yrs there is more of a babysitting service (rather than club), this is available at a charge of approx. US$12 per hour per child. And this is a good one to know, you can leave your children on board whilst you enjoy an excursion providing you book an official Royal Caribbean excursion! And one last top tip – the plugs are American or European, but UK plugs will not work in the cabins! If you fancy a cruise on board Royal Caribbean please get in touch, I’d love to help!

11 July 2019

Earlier this week I was lucky enough to be invited on board Sea Princess at the Dover Cruise Terminal. The thing that most impressed me on board was the outdoor space and two swimming pools - one of which had a large, shallow overflow area which meant you could paddle or sit on the side and dip your toes in - I'm sure small children would love this feature too (and it was warm, even in Dover!) They also have the big screen for Movies Under the Stars. Unfortunately, we weren't on anywhere near long enough to experience this but I can imagine being somewhere warm and tropical up on deck in the evening with a box of popcorn, laying on a sunbed enjoying a movie! It's definitely a thumbs up for Princess Cruises for that feature! The ship was mid-cruise and fully booked so we weren't able to view any of the cabins. We viewed the public areas including restaurants, the gym and spa, The Sanctuary (adult only area available for a small supplement) and the bars. Every Princess ship has a Wheelhouse Bar (English-style pub) which proves very popular and often has musicians playing. All the ships have a similar feel to them and look the same, they use the same colours across the fleet to ensure the vibe is the same - it felt very relaxed although when I was on board, a lot of the guests had disembarked for the day. The space to passenger ratio is important on board so even the 'smaller' ships feel spacious and on the large ships they try to create a small ship feel. All the Princess ships are family friendly but if you want something very family focused, Caribbean Princess is the ship to try. Princess are also one of the only cruise lines who allow parents to go ashore on their excursions and leave the children on board in the kid’s club (one to remember!) Coming soon there is a new benefit for kids too, until now they've not gained any loyalty benefits but going forward this will change! They do limit the number of children on board each cruise though so it's highly recommended that families book early, particularly for school holiday dates! Princess give additional benefits to military and shareholders which are combinable with the current offers. All of these offers are bookable through me too. We also use the same Captain's Circle (loyalty club) numbers you would use directly so you get all the same benefits booking through me. So, if you are interested on sailing on board Princes Cruises please do get in touch, I'd love to help.

01 July 2019

Last month I was very fortunate to be invited on board Cunard’s Queen Victoria for the day. I’ve done quite a few ship visits over the years but until now I had not made it onto a Cunard ship so I was very excited to see it! The ship has a lovely welcoming and homely feel, quite relaxed and understated. The ship is Edwardian in style and is decorated in dark wood throughout much of it. (Queen Elizabeth is lighter inside and has more of an Art Deco style on board and QM2 has a completely different feel altogether). Cunard itself is very much traditional cruising but with a modern twist and at the height of luxury (compared with the mainstream operators). Relaxed and casual during the day but making a real event of the evenings where the ship and atmosphere is transformed into elegance, luxury and indulgence. The staff have very strict White Star Line training that they must pass in order to work on board Cunard’s ships meaning only the very best service is available on board – they are one of the only mainstream cruise lines to maintain a member of crew for every 2 guests on board too. The four values they must show guests are to be charismatic, thoughtful, refined and proud. That leads me onto the dress code. Cunard have more formal nights than other mainstream operators so on a week long cruise you might expect 5-7 formal nights. For men this means a tux and bow tie (or jacket and tie is also acceptable although most do go for a tux so you might want to join in!) and for ladies ballgowns and formal dresses. They often have grand themed nights too such as Cunard Balls, Masquerade Balls, White & Black Theme Nights, Egyptian Nights, Royal Ascot themes and so on. On the other nights, men are expected to wear a jacket but open shirts are acceptable, for the ladies it’s a bit easier with dresses or nice two-piece outfit. So, onto the ship herself. We saw the main 4 types of cabins – Britannia (inside, outside and balcony), Britannia Club, Princess Suites and Queen Suites – each category has its own restaurant. You can’t dine up, but you can dine down if you wish to dine with guests who are in a different category to you. Aside from the suites being larger than the other staterooms there are many more benefits. At the Queens & Princess Grill restaurants things are a little more flexible, there is no set dining and many more tables for 2 guests. There is an outdoor space reserved just for suite guests with luxurious sunbeds. There is also a courtyard restaurant for al fresco dining which is shared among both categories and was really pretty even in the daytime but I imagine it would be lovely in the evenings with the traditional street lamps. Queen suites also come with your very own butler! There is a lounge with a private concierge so you don’t have to queue with everyone else for any questions you need answering or tours you need booking. It is only the suites that have baths available too, all lower category staterooms only have showers. One of the great British traditions of Afternoon Tea happens every day at 3.30pm in the Queens Room with White Glove service, all included in the cruise fare. This room also hosts the Captain’s Cocktail Party. It has a large dance floor and bands often play in here. They also have dance hosts available for those travelling by themselves which is such a lovely touch. If you don’t fancy getting dressed up one evening there are 3 dedicated casual areas – The Lido Restaurant (buffet, where you can get complimentary tea, coffee, juices and water for much of the day), The Winter Garden with its retractable roof and The Golden Lion Bar (one of the busiest places in the evening!). Just bear in mind that a large majority will be dressed up so not everyone would feel comfortable in casual wear on these nights! If you enjoy your cruise and want another voyage to look forward to, they have an onboard special offer too giving you additional on board credit for the new booking – just ask for it to be put back to your travel agent and it will be looked after as normal in the same way – you just benefit from the extras. The desk can get busy though at the end of the cruise so they advise not to leave it til the last 2 days as you don’t want to be disappointed if you can’t be seen! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading a little about Queen Victoria and my day trip – if you’d like to experience her then do get in touch with your cruise enquiries, I’d love to help. I have also posted more photos on my Facebook page here www.facebook.com/VickyDyerTC.

18 June 2019

For our summer holiday this year we had to take it easy on price as we’ve been updating a couple of rooms (including a new en-suite!) at home. We are really lucky to have access to a family villa in Spain and so we were able to get an almost 2-week holiday in the sunshine still! We stay around 20 minutes south of Alicante and, as we’ve been a few times before, the kids had a list of things they wanted to do again. I think we’d been in the villa less than half an hour before they were asking when we’d be going up to the pool (it isn’t a private pool and is positioned a couple of villas up the hill). We had lots of days at the pool and the kids loved the dive sticks and spent hours retrieving them from the bottom of the pool! We took flippers and some skimming balls too which also kept the kids occupied! We also visited the beach which is around a 5-minute drive away. It’s a lovely sandy beach and although it can get busy with locals at the weekend, its generally pretty quiet at this time of year. The sea can be a little rough, but you can go quite a way out and it’s still relatively shallow, so we had fun playing in the waves. Their favourite activity at the beach is to dig a castle and then a huge hole in front of it (close enough to the sea that some waves will go in), then they absolutely love watching the water slowly erode the sand away and eventually taking their castle with it – it’s a full day activity and never disappoints when the final bit of castle falls in! We can never quite work out the tide there, it isn’t like at home, at times there seems to be a small one but just when you think it’s changing it goes the other way again so it’s much easier to do this there, than it would be back home! Benidorm is around an hours’ drive from where we stay, and we sometimes take a day trip up. This year we decided to visit Mundomar which is a sea-life park as the kids love animals. I’d been with my hubby, Chris, long before we had children, but we hadn’t been as a family. It was a brilliant day and wasn’t overly busy, so we were able to do most of the shows twice. We also got our photos with a rather large sealion and a dolphin. The kids loved the dolphins and sealions and I think would have been happy just sitting at the window watching them all day! I’m still in two minds about whether it’s a good thing or not but they mentioned about plastic quite a few times and the kids really took it in – they have asked several times about plastic in the sea since we’ve been back and often ask if their plastic will end up there and they want to do their bit to help, so I guess if every child comes away with that view then that part at least must be a good thing. We are also lucky to have a very local waterpark which we visited twice. This is still the kid’s favourite thing to do and they loved it just as much this year. Now that they are both competent swimmers for their ages, I think this year we were able to make the most of the facilities even more than usual. We all went on every one of the slides available (first time that’s happened!) and we all stood under the tipping bucket which Chloe has never wanted to do before (I’m not saying she enjoyed it but she was brave enough to try it once!) It's amazing how much difference a bit of sunshine makes, so having come back to the rain the week after, we are counting down to the next holiday!

15 May 2019

I'm recently back from Travel Counsellors' annual Gold Weekend, which was hosted in Marbella, Costa del Sol this year. The last time (and only other) time I have visited Marbella was in 2008 at our annual main conference so I didn't get to see much of the area as we were in sessions for a lot of it so it was a great opportunity this time to see a bit more of the resort. I've booked many, many customers to this town in Southern Spain and it's particularly popular among ladies celebrating special birthdays as well as hen parties and now I can see why. It has a beautiful beach that stretches along the coast and a stunning Old Town that very much had a city feel. Lots of narrow pathways full of shops, cafes and restaurants - all full of flowers and joining up with the main square - Plaza de Naranja. We stopped for a drink here and watched the world go by for an hour or so. We stayed at Gran Melia Don Pepe which is around half an hour walk from the Old Town but there is a pedestrian promenade that runs all the way from Marbella, past the hotel and onto Puerto Banus. We hired bikes and cycled to Marbella but navigating the Old Town by bike is not really possible, so we then had to push them around which wasn't ideal, so do make sure you have a padlock if you do this! The hotel itself was really stunning, rooms a modest size but light and airy and the view from the balcony if you have a sea view is really lovely over the pool with great sunsets. The service really was second to none and nothing was too much trouble. The food was also particularly good, the breakfast choice was excellent (although not sure about the sausages and 'bacon'!) I particularly enjoyed the fresh fruit stand with a lovely choice and delicious options. We also had a buffet lunch and amazing barbecue dinner here during the weekend - each and every meal was outstanding at the hotel so even though it's a bed & breakfast hotel, I'd recommend eating here for a meal or two. If you have Red Level access with your room, the lounge (with indoor and outside space) is also of a very good standard with drinks and snacks available at certain times during the day - a nice extra benefit to have. In the other direction Puerto Banus is a bit further, it took us 30 minutes to cycle (very leisurely) and the promenade pretty much takes you straight to the marina. The front is full of designer shops and the odd bar and restaurant. We only had limited time, but I understand if you go one row back there are more affordable options too. As we wandered around the Marina, the catamaran 'bus' service pulled in and so we decided to experience a boat ride back to Marbella. It takes around 20 minutes or so and one way cost us 8.50 Euros each. It was nice to be on the ocean and we got a great view of our hotel from the sea, it was also a little more relaxing than the journey there and rounded of the afternoon perfectly. All in all, a really fantastic destination and I haven't even touched on the many other things there are to do in the surrounding area. Perfect for a short break and leaving the cold and rain behind in England for a few days in the sun was complete bliss! If you fancy staying at the Gran Melia Don Pepe or visiting the resorts of Marbella or Puerto Banus please do get in touch.

02 April 2019

Yesterday evening I was invited to a Caribbean Training event in Canterbury at the Abode Hotel. It was a fun evening and I picked up a few new contacts and a lot of useful information. Here's a very quick snippet of some of the knowledge I gained - ARUBA "One happy island" Aruba is in a great position outside of the hurricane belt making it a great year-round destination. It has many award-winning beaches and is very safe. Locals speak English and you won't be harassed on beaches or at attractions. Due to the many direct flights from the States it's a great island for doing a twin-centre with somewhere more active the first week and a relaxing beach stay for a second week. Barcelo They have lots of hotels all round the world, but we concentrated on their Mexico options last night. My favourite was one of their smaller, luxurious, adult only options - Royal Hideaway Playacar. This hotel is part of 'Leading Hotels of the World' and has a prime beachfront location in Playacar. It has a full-service spa and 24 hour rooms service - what more could you want?! Palladium and TRS Hotels Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort is one of Mexico's best kept secrets. Most resorts along the Cancun coastline are south but Costa Mujeres is north of Cancun and here you can discover virgin beaches, vibrant coral reefs and thriving natural reserves of lush flora and fauna. You can also enjoy an oasis of tranquillity in one of the most exclusive areas of the Caribbean. St. Kitts - "Follow your heart" St Kitts definitely lends itself to a more independent Caribbean. With one main road around the island, car hire gives you freedom to explore and it's almost impossible to get lost (they also drive on the left-hand side too!) Nevis is a short boat ride away offering an unspoilt authentic Caribbean too. Couples Resorts - "Elegant indulgence for discerning romantics" Couples resorts, like so many in the Caribbean, are all-inclusive but there's more than average included here. At Couples Tower Isle and Couples Sans Souci in Jamaica, a Dunn's River Falls Tour is included (I absolutely loved this when we did it a few years back). At Couples Negril and Couples Swept Away in Jamaica you have a trip to a local Sunset Waterside Bar included. There's also a whole lot more included from scuba diving and water skiing with instruction to reef snorkelling and from unlimited premium brand drinks to all gratuities. Bahia Principe These hotels have outstanding locations, excellent satisfaction ratings and many international awards. Their treasure experience offers unique locations, their escape experience is exclusively for adults and their family and friends experience is for just that! They offer entertainment day and night for a variety of tastes and offer an exclusive and delicious choice of culinary options. Elegant Hotels Waves Hotel is one of 9 of their current hotels in the Caribbean and offers wellness all-inclusive. It's recently been redesigned and is a great option for those wanting a mind and body holiday. It offers 2 pools (1 adult only) and up to 4 complimentary spa treatments. Motorised water sports are also included, as is Wi-Fi. Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic I'm not sure there is another hotel quite like this! It is 7000 acres in all, including a full-service marina and yacht club. Live concerts with world class acts take place in a 5000 seat Grecian-style amphitheatre and it is not unusual to see a celebrity or two whilst staying there. It has a pristine and private white sand beach and access to two secluded islands. Golfers will be in their element with 3 championship golf courses and horse lovers can saddle up at one of the best Equestrian Centres in the Caribbean! I hope you enjoyed my top picks from the Caribbean event, but if you have any questions or wish to holiday at any of these amazing places, get in touch, I'd love to help.

15 February 2019

If you haven't already downloaded our amazing App MyTC you really should think about doing it! Here are some of the main benefits and features of it: - -It's free of charge and it's constantly being updated with new features. -Clients rate it 4.5/5 as an average score. -It can eliminate the need for any physical paperwork (but only if you want it to!) -There is a holiday countdown for each booking you have - this is my favourite bit!! -You can nip on any time of day and night and make a payment towards your holiday making budgeting easier - seeing the balance get smaller is very rewarding! -All quotes can be received via the App if you wish -All your booking details are stored here so any time you need to check anything it's all there for you -After the initial set up, any new bookings automatically update on it -If there are any alerts for your flight, they will be sent to you -You have all of my contact details stored here too :) -It's very user friendly and easy to navigate (no manual required!) -You can take part in our preference centre survey, which means offers that we send you (via email, no marketing is sent via the App) will be personally tailored to you -Don't worry, if you have a surprise booking, these won't show on the App. I absolutely love it for my holidays and on a rainy day, it's nice to pop onto the App and see how many days until your next adventure, it's also great for easy reference if you need to check anything whilst out and about. If you haven't downloaded the App but wish to have access to it, do get in touch and take advantage of this great tool we have available to all of our customers.

09 January 2019

There is no other way to describe Lapland other than magical. It felt a bit like I imagine Narnia to feel! It's a trip I've always wanted to do, even before I had kids, so to have been and done it is amazing! We had a cabin for eight of us over Christmas with our own host (you have to register around two years in advance for this so if it's on your list for the future get in touch now!) As a sun-lover and someone who feels the cold very easily, I wasn't really sure how I'd get on in Lapland, so I went well prepared! Thin layers (I wore 7 at one point!), thin gloves, and a couple of pairs of socks under the thermal all-in-one, mittens and boots that they provided helped keep me warm so actually the cold didn't worry us too much - even the kids coped ok with it. On the first day we had a free afternoon, so we went to check out the toboggan run and had some fun walking up and whizzing down that, before heading back to our cabin for our evening meal. The next day was Christmas Day and the day we had our activity day - everything we did was included in our package as we opted for one that included it rather than having to pay locally. There were lots of 'little' activities around the site. We did snow hockey (we all had a go at this, great for warming you up if you were starting to feel the cold). We also went on skidoos which are small snowmobiles for the kids. There were tents where we could warm up around a fire with some hot berry juice and biscuits, a couple of small toboggan runs, an ice bar, fixed skis (I have no idea of their real name, but they were good fun!) and elves were around the site singing and dancing! These things were available all day. We had a husky ride included - for us this was the highlight of the day (sorry Santa!) The adults were given the opportunity to 'drive' and so my husband took on that role, although we could have swapped half way round, me and the kids settled down and enjoyed whizzing through the forest. Search for Santa, although not my highlight, was still brilliant fun. We were taken off in a sleigh (pulled by a snowmobile) and went through the forest to try and find Santa's cabin - of course we managed to find him, and the real Santa really is pretty awesome. The kids were given a pressie too and they loved the elves who entertained us while we were there (they sneakily took some selfies on my camera too! Another inclusion was our reindeer sleigh ride - this was a gentle walk around in the forest, which was nice to do but I'd recommend doing this earlier in the day before the other activities. We also got to go in a snow igloo (a first for me!) and learnt how reindeers fly with a short 20-minute show. There was a real variety of things to do throughout the day. We arrived around 10am and there were rolling buses back to the village from 2-5pm. We were pretty fortunate with the weather as it hovered around -10 C so we actually managed to stay out all day and took the 4.30pm bus back. The next day was our free day and we started early with a snowmobile drive through the forest. Having never done this before, I was a little nervous but as we'd opted to have our own snowmobile each (the kids were pulled behind a tour-leader in a sleigh), I had to give it a go and I'm so pleased I did - it was brilliant fun. The scenery was beautiful and there were no hiccups! After this we went back to the cabin where our lovely host Sonya had fresh pancakes ready and waiting for us. After this, we decided to climb to the top of the toboggan run which takes around an hour. We got lost but we made it eventually and by the time we'd got to the top we were sweating! It was good fun climbing and the trees and views up there were worth it! But we were up there to try a 2km toboggan run and so that's what we did! We had no idea how to get back down again (there appeared to be a few routes!) or where we'd end up! The run itself was fantastic (note to self: next time, as well as bringing the kids goggles, bring mine too!) It’s quite steep in places and very fast. It was from using our feet to slow down that our faces got sprayed with snow and at times I couldn't even see where I was going! The kids loved it too and at the end, by pure chance, we'd ended up at the bottom of the chair lift! I didn't fancy the climb again (not with an 8 and 5-year-old anyway) so we enquired about getting a lift pass. At 62 Euros for 2 hours for the 4 of us we decided to go for it and so did the run another three times. It was cold sat on the chair lift so after a couple of the runs we went into the conveniently placed café at the bottom for a quick hot chocolate to warm up! Our last morning was a quick one before our lunchtime flight home so we made the most of our last couple of hours tobogganing just outside our cabin! We took a few last-minute photos too and decided that we might have just fallen a teensy bit in love with Lapland!

19 November 2018

Travel Counsellors annual conference this year was held in Glasgow and having not been to Scotland before it seemed a good opportunity to extend my stay by an extra night. Despite the forecast being pretty awful, we were really lucky with the weather and didn’t really get wet the whole weekend which was a pleasant surprise particularly on the first afternoon where we opted for an open top bus tour! For two hours we were taken around the city and learnt a bit about the history of Glasgow and the stories the city has to tell. I was pleasantly surprised by the city centre which we spent a few more hours wandering around, doing a bit of early Christmas shopping and enjoying some free time. After a lovely evening meal, we found a local fish and chip shop and tried a Scottish delicacy – a deep fried Mars Bar! Not even the staff asking us if we were sure we wanted one each put us off trying it! And I actually really enjoyed it, I’d definitely have one again! The next morning, we ventured a little further afield as we visited Glengoyne Distillery and Loch Lomond. A few people had recommended we do a distillery tour (even though I am not a whisky drinker at all!) and I’m so pleased we did it – the tour guide was brilliant, and the tour was long enough to see the process but short enough to keep my attention. A whisky breakfast at 10am was also one I won’t forget in a hurry! I’d definitely recommend this tour if you find yourself in Scotland! After that we ventured on to Loch Lomond. The scenery here was stunning and the guide said being there in November was a delight with very few other people (versus the summer where it would be heaving!) We had a wonderful pub lunch right by the Loch with an open fire and Bailey’s hot chocolate! It was then time to head back to Glasgow ready for the beginning of Conference 2018! As always, we were treated to great entertainment over the course of the weekend (including TC Choir singing The Greatest Showman, Craig David and Marti Pellow). For me, it’s always the motivational speakers that I look forward to which this year included Nisha Katona (Mowgli Street Food), Dr Paul Redmond and of course, the truly inspiring Sir Chris Hoy! They were all amazing and gave us an insight into their success and how it can help us in our lives. Directors and team members from Head Office also updated us with what to expect for 2019 and highlighted some of the fantastic achievements in 2018! At our Pow-Wow we had the opportunity to speak directly with our suppliers – this is invaluable for our businesses. It allows us to gain knowledge, ask questions, build relationships, find out 2019 news and generally keep one step ahead of the competition. Another memorable weekend that has left me feeling even prouder to be part of Travel Counsellors and what we can offer to our customers #withusitspersonal #tcexperience

04 October 2018

Our Gold Conference Weekend this year took place last week in Anantara Vilamoura, Algarve. We were very lucky to have around 10 degrees above the average temperature for this time of year, so we enjoyed temperatures in the 30s every day. The Anantara Vilamoura is a stunning hotel with a golf course on-site. The rooms are large with open plan bathrooms also of a good size. It’s around 5km from Vilamoura Marina but they run a free shuttle bus. You can walk it (around 1 hour 15 minutes), some more energetic Travel Counsellors among us jogged it to burn off a few of those holiday calories and we did cycle one morning too. Service was excellent, all the staff were friendly and helpful. Breakfast was included and had a nice choice of good food. The beaches (either side of the Marina) were amazing, very wide, clean and sandy. We did a catamaran trip from Albufeira which was lovely to see the coastline. Although I’ve been before (20+ years ago) I didn’t remember the cliffs at all and there are a lot of them! I even swam in the sea and although cold at first, it wasn’t unpleasant once you’d been in a couple of minutes. The last two days we were faced with glorious sunshine and the option to do nothing – this is a very rare occurrence back home or even on our own holidays as the kids will demand our attention. So, we delighted in doing just that – nothing! We just enjoyed lazing by the pool, a bit of reading and just generally not having anything on the agenda! And we couldn’t have had more wonderful surroundings to do it. I’d highly recommend Vilamoura as a resort, our hotel was set back so ideal if you want a quiet base. The marina was busy with plenty of restaurant and bar options, as well as a few shops. The beaches were amazing. What more could you want from a week in Europe?

20 September 2018

There aren't many companies out there that put on training days and invite your whole family along! Travel Counsellors is one of them though! In the school summer holidays Club Med kindly sponsored a day of training, games and fun for me, my hubby and the kids along with lots of other TCs and their families. We headed up to Norfolk (it was a long day) where we met the Club Med ladies. Games were put on for the kids along with face painting while I went into the training session. Afterwards we have a tasty buffet lunch and then we moved on to Go Ape in Thetford. I'm pretty lucky to have adventurous kids so all four of us headed into the trees for the junior Go Ape course. At 5yrs and 8yrs the kids did brilliantly as we made it round twice and had a brilliant afternoon swinging around like monkeys! What can I tell you about Club Med Ski that I learnt that day? They are an all-inclusive ski product - they even include lessons (if needed) and lift passes. They also include premium accommodation, gourmet cuisine (they can cater for vegetarian, vegan and gluten free diets) and branded drinks. The lift pass varies depending on the accommodation but generally includes a local lift pass with their 3 Trident properties and an area one with 4 and 5 Trident properties. Trident is their own rating scheme with 5 being the best. Lift passes are available for the day after arrival. As well as the skiing they often have other sports and activities available such as a gym, snowshoeing, sledging and maybe a swimming pool. Kids clubs are provided for much of the day and are included in the price for 4 to 17-year olds. They do provide a club for 4 months - 3 years old too but at additional cost and babysitting is also available on request for an extra charge. The kid’s clubs are pretty comprehensive and can provide activities, ski lessons if wanted, sledging, games or general snow fun. They can even stay for lunch and dinner! The durations of their holidays are very flexible from 2-22 nights and their flight packages include transfers in-resort too (which can be tricky to arrange otherwise). Although ski hire is not included they do have ski rental available for an extra charge in the hotels. If you are looking for a particularly family friendly resort then Club Med Grand Massif Samoens is one to look up - it's even good for infants! Whether you fly into Geneva (1 hour 15 minutes) or Grenoble (2 hours) the transfers are relatively short for ski transfers. They even have family rooms with a separate kid’s area including a TV for the kids! Another big plus is that it’s ski-in ski-out. I have fond memories of my skiing days as a child when mum and dad took us all. My dad always got lumbered with our skis plus his own and never seemed to grumble about carrying 5 sets of skis to the nearest ski lift! When I think back on it now, it definitely makes me want to do ski-in ski-out if we ever get around to taking our children skiing (it's on the list for next year though so who know!) All of the kids clubs and ski lessons will have English speaking staff too so a great option for us Brits! If you'd like to consider a Club Med Ski holiday (or any ski holiday) please do get in touch, I'd love to help plan your trip whether it be for a family or just for adults, hope to hear from you soon, Vicky.

03 July 2018

I've tried to remember as much as possible and I hope these tips will help make the most of your Disney holiday! Before you go you can also personalise your band - this includes choosing the colour and choosing the name written on the back. (You'll need to be able to differentiate because of who the fast-passes will be linked to!) You can also buy bands in the shops there if you want something themed, they had all kinds of designs, but we were happy with the ones included. They are also adjustable (it took 3 days before a Cast Member pointed it out!) The grey bit on the outside of the straps peels off leaving a shorter band for those with thinner wrists (of the 3 of us, only my husband kept his full length) and it was a relief when the kids ones were shortened as they no longer had a huge strap flapping around that we never got around to cutting! If you are staying on-site at Disney you can book your fast-passes 60 days before you arrive and if not, then 30 days before you arrive. The benefit of doing this is huge so please make sure you book them as early as possible. Plan before this though! Get a map online and look at where the rides are. When the parks first open you don’t need a fast-pass for most rides so it’s good to book your first fast-pass for around an hour after the park opens. Each fast pass gives you an hour window (unless it’s a show, then it’s usually a 15-minute window for arrival). You can’t overlap any fast-passes (even by 5 minutes). You can pre-book 3 fast-passes per person per day (each person in your party doesn’t have to do the same fast-passes). It’s best to do these early in the day because you can’t book any more until you’ve used them all. Try not to end up with 3 consecutive fast-passes at each end of the park, it’s better to get them closer together! As soon as you’ve zapped into the last fast-pass with your Magic-band you can book the next one so if you then have a small wait before getting on the ride you can get on with booking the next one. Now that there is free wi-fi you can do this via the App or I just used the website on my phone. As much as I hated having my phone out all the time it was well worth it! When booking fast-passes it will give you a selection of times but maybe not a time you want. There are buttons at the top of the page with different times of day (morning/afternoon etc) and then buttons with times (10.00/10.30 etc). Clicking these will give you different available times. What I found though was if you wanted 7pm for example, by clicking 7pm it gave you times much later or earlier but by clicking the earlier or later times e.g. 4pm or 10pm, you sometimes (and eventually if you pressed it enough times) got roughly the time you wanted. You just have to persevere. This won’t work for the very popular rides e.g. Avatar and it wasn’t always successful but many times it worked! If you are having days off-site at other parks or shopping days then it’s great to use your fast-pass for the evening shows, most of them have these available and it meant we got good views with little queuing. You can change your fast-passes if you want to on the day and it doesn’t matter if you don’t use them. Only thing to note is you can only have 3 per day so if you want to change to something else you can’t see what is available until you’ve cancelled one of your 3. You can’t have fast-passes booked for more than one park per day but once you’ve used your 3 in one park you can hop to another park and get fast-passes there (or again as soon as you’ve zapped in for your last one you can book your 4th for another park). Everyone has a Magic-band (3yrs and above) and fast-passes are linked to the individual bands, so the kids had to zap themselves in – they loved this and there was no better feeling than seeing the Mickey Mouse light up green! If a ride closes for any reason and you have a fast-pass booked, they email you to advise you, so you don’t trek all the way over and find out its closed. They then give you the options you have so you don’t lose the fast-pass. We used the fast-passes alongside the queue times App which meant we never queued more than 45 minutes (partly through choice as we chose not to do the very long queues, partly through being smart with the fast-passes and queue times info). Here is a list, by park, of the ones you really needed fast-pass for if you didn’t want to queue more than an hour… HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS – Frozen Sing Along, Star Tours, Toy Story Mania, Rock n Roller Coaster (queue for this was nearly always 90 minutes+), Tower of Terror EPCOT – Mission Space, Test Track (queue was generally 2 hours+), Epcot Character Spot, Soarin’, Frozen Ever After MAGIC KINGDOM – Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain (on sunny days, not so bad on overcast/rainy days!!), Thunder Mountain, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (queue for this was nearly always 2 hours+), Princess Fairytale Hall, Tomorrowland Speedway, Space Mountain ANIMAL KINGDOM – Adventurer’s Outpost, Na’vi River Journey, Avatar (queue for this was nearly always 3 hours+!), Kilimanjaro Safari, Everest, Dinosaur Please bear in mind this was based on the days we were there (May half term 2018) so it might not be the same availability of fast-passes at the time you travel but hopefully gives you an idea of the more beneficial ones to fast-pass! And of course, if you have any fans of any of the rides/shows then definitely fast-pass those so you know you won’t have any problems! Hope you found it useful and if you need help planning your Florida holiday please get in touch, I’d love to help – vicky.dyer@travelcounsellors.com or 01304 897810.

02 July 2018

OLIVIA’S CAFÉ, Old Key West Hotel We ate here at the hotel the evening my parents surprised the kids by arriving for our second week. Their flight landed into Orlando at around 5.30pm and I knew my mum and dad would be bursting to see the children and finally give up the surprise we’d been hiding for the past year or more so we booked a meal here, so we could see them the evening of arrival. It’s a really nice setting and a little quieter than the restaurants in the parks. The food was good too and it’s a good option for an easy evening. Would we go back? Yes, probably but wouldn’t be high on the list and only if we were staying at the same hotel. SCI FI DINE IN THEATRE, Hollywood Studios This was a brilliant theme with all the tables being cars and a big movie screen to watch. With two small children though it wasn’t really ideal. We were a party of six and the table we were allocated was three rows of two facing forward so we essentially didn’t dine together as a party. It was very dark so seeing your meal was challenging! The screens showed black and white movie clips for most of the time with the odd Tom & Jerry show thrown in so had very little appeal to the kids. That said the food here was above average and we did still enjoy it. Would we go back? Maybe as a couple without the kids yes, but definitely not with the children. Matthew - “We got to eat our dinner in a car and there was a big TV screen which was really cool, but it was a bit dark!” T-REX, Disney Springs This had a really good theme. The restaurant was split into areas – an ice cave, under the sea and jungle area. Food here was very good. Every 15 minutes or so there was a rumble, the ice cave glowed bright red and the Octopus on the ceiling moved its tentacles – the kids loved this and though it was brilliant. We opted for the pudding for 4 people which was a volcano, it came out with dry ice spilling over a cocktail shaker – everyone looked to see what it was, definitely one to remember and I'd recommend ordering it for a bit of excitement for the kids! Would we go again? Yes Matthew - “T-REX was my favourite restaurant because the room kept turning different colours and the ice lit up” BE OUR GUEST, Magic Kingdom A few people had recommended this, and it gets booked up super quickly, so it was a no-brainer to try it. It’s an impressive hall with two smaller dining rooms off to each side. We were in the farthest room which was very dark and was a bit of a shame in our opinions. We were expecting to hear the song at some point, so I have to admit I was disappointed that we didn’t. There also appeared to be no reference to or sight of Chip, the Candlesticks etc. The Beast made a five second appearance every half an hour or so to welcome us to his castle. Chloe kept asking when we’d see Belle, so we asked the waiter and was told Belle didn’t live in the castle, so we wouldn’t be able to see her there. I had high expectations and so was a little disheartened with the whole experience. The food however was very good, one of the best meals we’d eaten and of course we tried the “Grey Stuff” for pudding! After your meal you could queue to meet the Beast which was an added bonus at the end too. Would we go back? Probably not although it is being changed to a two-token from the summer so may be worth trying again in the future to see if they have made any changes. Chloe - “They had pretend snow outside which I liked and I liked meeting the Beast too” 50’s PRIME TIME DINER, Hollywood Studios We had been to this restaurant before and had fun so decided we’d go back. You are told the rules of the table at the beginning and if you don’t adhere to them, you will be told off! Nanny and I were told off for playing with our “walkie talkies” at the table (oops, we were trying to get last minute fast passes for Toy Story Mania!) Grandad and Dad got told off for having their elbows on the tables. The kids thought it was absolutely hilarious and regularly reference back to it! Would we go back again? Yep, definitely. YAK & YETI, Animal Kingdom This was the second restaurant we chose to go back to that we had been to on our previous visit. Hubby had great memories of tender ribs cover in a delicious sauce. The food was once again very good but definitely wasn’t as good the second time round. Unfortunately, the kid’s meals came out and ours followed a good half an hour later, so by the time we got ours the kids had finished theirs and were ready to go! This did make it a bit more stressful than needed and was a bit of a shame! Would we go back again? We try not to go back even a second time unless it’s very good but after this, we wouldn’t go back. I’d still recommend it for very good food though and hope that the service this time was a one off! MARRAKECH, Epcot This restaurant was well hidden at the back of Epcot (in Morocco on the World Showcase). We had trouble finding it and we knew it was there somewhere, but you’d never happen across it! As a result, this restaurant was by far the quietest we’d experienced, the majority of others were completely full whereas this was no more than 25% full when we arrived, it made such a nice change and made for a very enjoyable last evening meal. Grandad and Dad opted for the feast too, I don’t know how they managed it all, it was a huge meal even by American standards! It was the first time we paid a supplement (US$10 extra per person for the two of them) but it was good value for what they got. Would we go back again? Yes Chloe - “They had a lady dancing in this restaurant and I wanted to go up and dance with her!”

02 July 2018

GARDEN GRILL, Epcot This was a set menu of meat, potatoes, veggies and mac cheese and it was all you can eat – the food was very good. Four characters came around and we saw each one at least twice. We didn’t realise until a good hour into the meal that the restaurant was rotating! It was expensive so glad we were on the Dining Plan! Would we go again? Yes! Matthew - “We got to meet Mickey, Chip n Dale and Pluto so it was great” THE BOATHOUSE, Disney Springs This was a two-token restaurant and the food did reflect this. I had an amazing lobster and hubby had scallops. The kids’ meals were served in cardboard cars and they got to keep their cups. Next door they had a “car boat” launch where they launched cars down a ramp to sail round the river! Would we go again? Probably not but only as we don’t tend to do many two-token restaurants and there is a big choice so we’d want to try something different, but I would recommend it for something a bit nicer than average. CORAL REEF, Epcot This had a huge wall of windows looking into a ‘reef’. You could see all sorts of sea-life including giant stingrays, sharks, large shoals of fish and a lot more. The kids love sea-life and absolutely loved this. It’s set on three levels and unfortunately, we were right at the back of the restaurant which meant our view was not as good had we been closer to the windows. Kids did struggle with the menu choice here. Would we go again? Yes definitely but would try and get a table next to the window for added wow factor! Matthew - “It was brilliant watching everything swim around but I wish we had been closer!” TUSKER HOUSE, Animal Kingdom This was the only buffet restaurant we did. There was a reasonable choice and the food was actually very good (can you tell I’m not a buffet fan?). It was character dining which is why we chose it. But it was superfast paced, and I felt we were very rushed through the meal, even the character meets were whizzed through (the only time I’ve ever felt like that in a character meet). It was also very noisy, think school canteen! The kids did love it though and they loved being able to go up by themselves to choose their food. Would we go back again? Sorry kids but no, much too noisy and rushed for our liking! Chloe - “Goofy had some musical instruments and danced around the restaurant, it was funny!” CINDERELLA ROYAL TABLE, Magic Kingdom As we went into the restaurant we heard a couple trying to get into the castle and being disappointed they couldn’t as the only way to get in was by eating at the restaurant which was fully booked, so I felt a bit smug walking straight in! It was worth the two tokens just to say we’d been in the castle! We came away with a wand for the girls and swords for the boys (even we got them) and the kids also got a wishing star each. Four princesses came around and with them being so popular in the parks for the general meets it was nice to have a few minutes with each of them at the table. The food here was good but not outstanding, it was the experience and lovely setting that made it worth the two tokens rather than the food although the kids got to decorate their own cupcakes for pudding which went down very well! Would we go again? Yes Chloe - “This was my favourite because I got to meet lots of Princesses and go into their castle” WOLFGANG PUCK, Disney Express I’d not realised the Boathouse was two tokens when I booked it so we opted for a quick service meal one evening to balance out the Dining Plan. We were actually really impressed and the menu choice for the kids was far better here than at most of the other restaurants. It was also much quieter and it was nice to have a ‘normal’ meal for once (pizza and spaghetti Bolognese)! Would we go back again? Yes

18 June 2018

Where to start? Two weeks in Disney (just Disney!), very tired feet, hundreds of photos but definitely memories to last a lifetime. It was my fifth visit to Florida but the first time for my youngest (second for my eldest but as he was 2yrs old last time he can’t remember it!) We booked it over a year in advance and as a result we all had quite high expectations after a long countdown! It didn’t disappoint. We decided just to do Disney to get the best value for money and also, so we could ‘do’ Disney and next time concentrate on the other parks again. However, being back there among all the magic I’m not sure I could go to Florida and miss out Disney, but we’ll have to see! We stayed at Old Key West which has a brilliant location, close to Epcot and Hollywood Studios and just a 15 minute boat ride to Disney Springs. The resort is very spread out and it’s worth bearing in mind it has 5 bus stops, meaning any journey can take a while just to leave the hotel! Staying at Disney you can use their transport to get around (including boats, buses and monorail), which meant for the first time we didn’t hire a car and I can’t say we missed having it. The room (studio) was a pretty good size although a little dated and we would stay there again. We went to the 4 main parks (most we visited on at least 3 different occasions). I can’t pick out a favourite as they are all so different. Animal Kingdom had an Explorers Book available where the kids could collect badges which they loved. We also did the safari, “It’s a Bugs Life”, Everest a few times, Rivers of Light night show plus so much more. Yak & Yeti restaurant is one of our favourite restaurants! Magic Kingdom was great for short queues on a lot of the rides as there are so many smaller rides. We found it busier if we wanted to meet the characters here compared with other parks. The firework show here is still my favourite out of all the night time shows and at 9.15pm it wasn’t too late for the kids! Hollywood Studios has a great new addition with Toy Story Mania and more is due to open later this month. There is a heavy Star Wars theme and we regularly saw Stormtroopers marching through the park with shows going on throughout the day. The Frozen Sing-Along was also brilliant (even hubby enjoyed it despite being dragged in) and not in the way you’d expect. There were 2 presenters who were very comical which actually made the show but we all sang along too! Epcot is great, and we discovered a lot more than we usually do because we had time to explore each ‘country’ properly this time. Test Track was a hit with the kids and with fast passes we managed to get on it a few times! We did lots of character meeting around the World Showcase here and the queue times were no more than 20-30 minutes, some much shorter, which was a real bonus. We also did both of the waterparks and we agreed Typhoon Lagoon was our favourite. The 6 foot wave every few minutes was the clincher! It’s got great areas for smaller children and some rides we could all go on together, but the kids were just happy in the wave pool. We ended up spending 3 days throughout the holiday here! Blizzard Beach was also good, and we loved the surf board type mats which allowed you to go head first down a few of the slides. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t great the day we visited and after the park was shut for the second time because of lightning we gave up and went back to the hotel early in the end! The weather was changeable, the first week it was quite overcast with some very heavy showers as there was a tropical storm in the area. It was still warm though and somehow, we managed to dodge the showers (others weren’t so lucky!) We had a few thunder storms and very often the rain was late afternoon. The second week was sunny intervals and it was much hotter and stickier, but we were glad to see the sun! Would I go again at this time of year? Yep! The only day that the weather affected our plans was as mentioned above when we were at the waterpark and we ended up leaving probably an hour or two earlier than we would have liked. Everything else was adaptable around the weather. They do close the water parks and outdoor rides at the main parks if there is lightning, but if we had a fast pass for a ride that was shut we were able to go back later that day instead. Here are some top tips… 1/ Absolutely book restaurant reservations in advance, we were always seated within 10 minutes of arriving usually quicker. 2/ You can book 3 fast passes per person per day (60 days in advance if staying at Disney or 30 days otherwise). This made such a difference to our day and queue times, take the time before you go to plan your trip 3/ After you’ve used your third fast pass, get onto the App or website to book your next one. Once that one’s been used do the same again and so on. Fast pass queues were very quick compared with standby lines in most cases (if the lines were short anyway, having a fast pass didn’t always help! If the queue was 20 minutes on standby, fast pass would be around 5 minutes, if the queue was 1hr+ on standby you’d probably wait no longer than 15-20 minutes on fast pass) 4/ With free Wi-Fi now available in the parks, I used my phone to check queue times. This meant we could head towards rides with shorter queue times and we could also keep an eye on the busier ride queue times and go to them if we saw them a bit shorter than normal. The longest we queued for anything was 45 minutes which I think is pretty good going in the school holidays! We did also make the decision to avoid any large queues and only went on those rides if we could get fast passes 5/ On waterpark/off-site days get fast passes for the evening shows 6/ If you stay on-site use the Extra Magic Hours – we got so much done during these hours and this is when you could get on those busier rides much quicker without a fast pass 7/ If you need a late check-out room at a Disney hotel, ring housekeeping on the day of arrival (I forgot to ask until 2 days before we left, and they didn’t have any left!) I hope this gives you a little insight into our 2 weeks, if you are planning to go to Disney please get in touch I’d love to help and watch out for my next blog which will review the restaurants we ate at.

24 April 2018

I attended a cruise event at The Old Brewery/Cutty Sark in London last week where we were treated to canapes and cocktails (non-alcoholic ones for me as I was driving!) Several of our cruise suppliers were there and this is a little bit about each of them. Cunard Cunard feature the transatlantic crossing between Southampton and New York. This is such a famous experience and one that features on many peoples bucket lists, including my own! It’s on board Queen Mary 2, the world’s only true ocean liner. Everyone I’ve sent on this trip says it’s a truly spine-tingling moment arriving in New York and seeing the Statue of Liberty and definitely worth the early alarm call. Holland America Line Their spacious mid-sized ships have far fewer guests than many cruise lines and with a ratio of nearly one crew member to every two, you are in for an attentive style of service. They are investing an impressive $300 million in enhancements to secure their position as the leader in premium cruising. P&O So much is included on "Britain’s favourite cruise line" and with many departures from the UK (no-fly meaning no airports) it’s no surprise this is one of my top selling cruise lines. With endless choices on board, guests can enjoy their holiday, their way. All guests can enjoy pools, three meals a day plus afternoon tea and pool-side snacks, air-conditioned en-suite cabins, use of the gym, spectacular entertainment, children’s clubs and dance classes! American Queen Steamboat Company On board an iconic paddlewheel riverboat you will enjoy daily enrichment provided by resident riverlorians, Broadway-calibre entertainment every evening, exquisite multi-course fine dining with speciality and casual options and award-winning, comprehensive shore excursions in each port of call. With amazing itineraries this really should be on everyone’s list for a truly unique and wonderful experience! Royal Caribbean Family fun guaranteed! With an incredible choice of fantastic onboard experiences for all the family to enjoy this really is the ultimate family holiday! Unmissable features include the rock wall, surf simulator, laser tag, escape room, H20 splash zone, roller disco and sports court. They also have award-winning kids’ clubs from aged 3 years up to 17 years. Fred Olsen As they cruise from Dover (the port is around 15 minutes’ drive from me) I also book a lot of clients with Fred Olsen. There are few better ways to start a relaxing cruise than watching the white cliffs drift from view. There are many departures from Dover throughout 2018 and this iconic port is your gateway to some of the world’s finest, most beautiful destinations! Celebrity Cruises In the words of Celebrity Cruises themselves “Celebrity Edge changes everything. The way you experience the world; the way you connect with the ocean; the way you play, dine and unwind at sea. Revolutionary on every level, she’s the ship that’s setting a new standard of luxury and innovation at sea.” They wanted cuisine to match so the ship boasts an impressive 29 restaurants, cafes, bars and lounges! Regent Seven Seas Known as the most inclusive luxury experience! With most cruise lines you’d pay extra for unlimited Wi-Fi, shore excursions, speciality dining, unlimited beverages and premium spirits and 24-hour room service but with Regent Seven Seas this is all included. Massive thanks to Regent as I was also lucky enough to win their prize of the evening - a l'Occitane hamper!! MSC Cruises I was fortunate enough to cruise with MSC last year (see my other blog) and it was great to get a reminder about the fantastic value for money that they offer. With a ship in Southampton for the first time this year, they have made lots of changes to crack the UK market. I could go on for hours talking about the fantastic suppliers we met but instead of reading about them, if you are thinking about a cruise please do get in touch and have a chat, I'd love to hear from you. From the unique to the iconic, from the more budget options to 6* luxury and from no-fly UK departures to – month, round the world itineraries we can book a massive range of cruises - there really is something for everyone.

13 March 2018

This trip was a reward for 10 BA top sellers to experience Dubai like a VIP and we weren't disappointed. After an eventful Friday of snow and disruption in the UK, eight out of the 10 of us made it to Heathrow and with Club World flights and access to the BA lounge we were soon de-stressed and ready for our trip. It was only my second business class trip and very enjoyable, I even managed to get a couple of hours sleep on the lay flat bed! A White Company duvet, blanket and pillow are provided now with Club World and I have to say they were a step up from what I am used to! On arrival on Saturday morning, we were taken to our hotel - The Palazzo Versace. This hotel is amazing, and our rooms were huge (a Grand Suite!) It's in the Cultural Village area and at the moment everything around it is being developed. This does mean there is nothing you can walk to but the hotel itself is a resort style hotel on the Dubai Creek. The breakfasts were great, pool facilities good and service outstanding. Soon after lunch, we were taken to La Perle (currently the only Las Vegas style show in Dubai). It was truly astonishing, I'd highly recommend it and until this trip not something I would have mentioned to clients beforehand. The stage is set up really well and the seating is wrapped around a large part of the stage. The seats are quite steep too, so the view is pretty good wherever you are. After this we were treated to a 'Taste of Persia' at the Palazzo Versace's Enigma Hotel. The food here was fantastic and quite theatrical - we had dry ice and they made the ice-cream in front of us. Definitely one to remember if you would like a special meal. On Sunday we had the thrill of a Yellow Boat RIB Tour, which started in the Marina. The last time I visited Dubai (2006), this area was a building site and I hadn't realized at the time it would eventually form the Marina. It's now a lovely area and although we didn't see it in the evening, I am told it has a great atmosphere for a wander around. Sailing through the marina at slow speed was a great experience before making it out past the "world's largest Ferris wheel" (or at least it will be when it's finished!) We then sped up and enjoyed the bouncing and spray as we went along the coastline in the direction of the Palm. We stopped at the iconic Atlantis The Palm hotel for photos before going off again. We made it to the Burj Al Arab for some more photos and then whizzed back to the Marina. Overall, it was around an hour and a half and it's not recommended for those who get sea sick! I'd love to take my family on it though, I'm sure they'd love it. Of course, the weather helped too, it was around 25-28 degrees most days (a stark contrast to what we had left behind in the UK!) After the RIB Tour, we were taken to Nikki Beach Hotel for lunch (amazing) and a very quick guided tour. Then we had the rest of the afternoon at Nikki Beach Club. This is a luxury, party venue with DJs playing throughout the day, something different and definitely one to tick off the 'to do' list! For us it was lovely to relax with a great atmosphere and enjoy the sunshine. It has a nice stretch of beach too although the sea was a little rough. I'm one to feel the cold and it was a little chilly getting in, but once I was in it was heaven. I sent some photos back to the kids and hubby, just to rub it in a little more! Due to the waves, getting out wasn't particularly elegant but I made it in one piece and was pleased I'd gone in! For dinner we went down to the Walk and went for a casual meal at Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes. It's worth noting that any restaurants and bars that aren't part of a hotel cannot serve alcohol. It was great to see The Walk as I'd heard a lot about it and talked about it to clients but being there helped me put things into perspective in terms of size and location. If you are staying around this location, it's nice to have the option to walk around here and the Marina without having to get into a taxi. They saved the big one for the last day, a seaplane experience over Dubai! I've never been in a seaplane before and I'll be honest and say I was a little nervous. The take-off and landing though were surprisingly calm and smooth and I'm so pleased I did it. Seeing Dubai from the sky is awesome, you can get a really good idea of the size of it and how much of it is still not developed. The Palm had to be the highlight. It was fantastic to be able to see it from up there! We did the 20-minute trip and got to fly up and down the Creek, over the city (we saw the QE2 which lives in Dubai now), up Sheikh Zahed Road past the Burj Khalifa and then over the Palm and Burj Al Arab. I’m truly lucky to have done it and would highly recommend it. There are longer trips as well if you prefer! There was no rest after this, we were whisked straight back to the hotel for a hosted lunch at Vanitas – the Palazzo Versace’s signature Italian restaurant. The food here was stunning and it’s a lovely restaurant. We were hosted by our partner company in Dubai who we use to plan our clients’ holidays. It was great to meet some of them in person and talk to them about Dubai and what they can help with. Although the meal was incredible, spending time with our suppliers is invaluable and it really was a great opportunity for us all! With a free afternoon before our final evening, we decided to venture into the Spice & Gold Souks. I enjoyed just wandering round and even managed a bit of bartering along the way! We took the 1 Dirham (approx. 20p) Abra across the Creek too, just to say we’d done it! Our final evening took us to the One & Only The Palm. This is a lovely boutique hotel (that’s boutique for Dubai anyway!) It’s very tranquil and even when it’s full it doesn’t feel busy. You can see the amazing skyline of Dubai and at night time it was a great sight! They have very high repeat business and I can see why! Overall, Dubai didn’t disappoint, and it had changed a lot since my last visit. I’ll definitely be going back but maybe in a few years’ time to see what has changed the next time round. There’s still a lot of building work going on but it doesn’t seem to affect the overall enjoyment and it appears to just be normal scenery for Dubai. It’s definitely one of those places that everyone should visit at least once! An amazing trip with lots fitted in to a few short days – highly recommended!

20 February 2018

At Travel Counsellors, we are recognised once we get to and maintain a certain level of sales and service, as a Gold Travel Counsellor. Each year there is a trip we are taken on and in 2017 it was a weekend cruise in the Med with MSC. We arrived in Genoa port to a rather spectacular site of our home for the next few days - MSC Preziosa. Despite being late October, the sun shone and the ship looked amazing. We were very lucky to have a balcony cabin, which was a reasonable size and nicely decorated. The ship was beautiful inside with many 'wow' features but what made this trip for us was the stops. We were able to disembark in Barcelona for a day after enjoying the previous night on board. We'd already signed up for an electric bike tour but on waking up we found the weather to be awful - torrential rain that promised to continue for the whole day. The tour had been fully booked but it soon became apparent only a few would brave the weather! I'd never been to Barcelona so felt I should continue with the plans! It turned out to be very memorable and is a day I will never forget! The electric bikes were fab, and we were able to cycle up to where the cable car took us even higher. We had a brilliant guide who gave us lots of information throughout the day and after our descent into the city centre we were rewarded with a drink and tapas stop. At that time the rain got worse but we all decided we would like to take the long route home, so we could see La Sagrada Familia. I'm glad we did as, even from the outside in the pouring rain, it's an amazing place with interesting history. I didn't realise until then that it is still to be finished! After that it was time to head back to the ship, dry off and warm up! We were rewarded that evening with a lovely meal at the speciality restaurant Eataly (where you can order a metre-long pizza if you wish!) The next day we had another bike tour planned for Palma, Majorca so on waking up the first thing we did was look outside at the weather. Thankfully it was a huge contrast - blue skies and sunshine! It was an easy cycle from the port to the cathedral and a lovely way to see the city, ideal for a short trip like ours. I'd love to go back to Palma for a short break and it was great to see it as it isn't somewhere I'd really think of if clients were asking. With the added benefit of the weather, it makes a great weekend away. On our final day we decided to have a day on board the ship enjoying the facilities and as the weather was sunny again, I felt obliged to try the onboard water-slide which is great for the kids if you go with family. Overall, a great trip and as with any cruise, it was nice to see so many places in such a short time.

07 December 2016

I've actually lost count of the number of times I've been to Disneyland Paris but we still love it! OK, so it's really not Florida but for a quick fix of Disney, it's brilliant. We're lucky enough to live fairly close to a Eurostar station so getting there is pretty quick and arriving just at the park gates is ideal! We stayed at the Newport Bay hotel this time which has recently been refurbished and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It's about a 10-15 minute walk (with a 3 and 6 year old) to the park entrances but we prefer this option to the shuttle bus and it takes you through Disney Village which adds a bit of distraction for the kids too. My little girl (the 3 year old) has been before but it's the first time she's been old enough to properly appreciate it and the new Frozen show was a big hit with her, she loved singing along and thought the 'snow' was hilarious! My little boy (the 6 year old) is a big Lightening McQueen fan so despite having sat through 'Moteurs… Action! Stunt Show Spectacular' more than a dozen times already, this was a must for him and he still loves it, particularly the 'remote controlled' car! We love the parades and always make time to see at least one, they bring a lovely atmosphere along with them and having the music adds to the experience. We are the ones who bag our space half an hour before it starts though to make it more enjoyable when it does arrive! Something we do every time and I'd really recommend it, is having dinner at Café Mickey. I don't think it’s the best food available in the park but some of the characters come round to your table and you can have a photo with them and get the all-important autograph, the kids love it and it's certainly something we consider to be a 'must-do'. One last thing to mention is 'It's a Small World', every adult pretends to hate it, the kids love it but one thing is for sure, you'll be singing that tune all day long for days after you've been on (and now maybe again too, after you've read about it)! I do like the fact that it takes a lot of people at a time so the queues are often much shorter than for other rides. So, another successful short trip to Disney, to keep us going until the next big one to Florida!

07 December 2016

This was the first summer holiday we've actually had to take in the school summer holidays, so I was a little apprehensive about what to expect! I was hoping it wouldn't be too hot for the kids (3yrs and 6yrs) and also hoping it wasn't going to be so busy that it made it unenjoyable! We were pleasantly surprised though! The temperatures were ideal, early to mid-thirties every day and the sea was lovely and warm. We stayed in Kalamaki which has the perfect beach for small children. They can walk out pretty far and it still be only up to their waists. The water is crystal clear and there are plenty of shells to be found! We did have a storm in the middle of the holiday which meant the seaweed was disturbed and there was lots in the sea and piles of it on the beach but this was soon cleared away and normality resumed within a couple of days! We enjoyed a couple of lunches in roadside bars/restaurants close to the beach and its pretty good value for money. More recently, we've been to mainland Spain a lot, so it's a while since I was last in Greece, but we found it much cheaper here than in Spain for food and drinks and general souvenirs. The main strip in Kalamaki had the usual touristy shops and a few restaurants and bars. As we stayed at an all-inclusive we didn't venture out in the evening with the kids as they were tired from their sand-castle building and shell-collecting but during the day the Strip was pretty enjoyable to stroll along and not busy at all. Zakynthos is well known for being a turtle-nesting ground and on the beach the nests are protected, if you get up early at the right time of year and are lucky enough you may see turtles hatching and making their first journey into the sea! We took a pedalo out from the beach to try and spot a turtle but didn't have any luck! So we then went on a boat trip from Laganas further along the coast and were fortunate enough to spot two turtles in their natural habitat, which the kids though was completely amazing! The entire reason for this holiday was just to relax and spend time as a family so in the 10 days we were there, we didn't do anything else! We just spent the time at the beach and around the pool and for that it was just perfect (if not great for a travel agent!). I'd definitely recommend and would go back - friendly people, good value for money, not too long a flight and ideal weather.

07 December 2016

When I heard I'd be embarking on a river cruise as a reward for achieving 'Gold Travel Counsellor' status, I was a little unsure about what to expect! We sailed onboard Scenic Jewel and the hosts were amazing. I can highly recommend Scenic, the service was unbelievable, the food was delicious, cabins surprisingly spacious and the scenery was stunning. We were lucky enough to have a cabin with a balcony - I'd highly recommend booking a balcony cabin as we found it really relaxing just watching the scenery go by. Obviously very different compared with sea cruising as on a river cruise there is much more to see. We only had a morning in Budapest so we decided to relax, after a whistle-stop coach tour of the city we were taken to the Szechenyi Baths which had a total of 18 pools ranging from very cold to hot and everything in between. My favourite was the outdoor pool which was a great experience in late October! We then had a 24 hour up-river sail from Budapest to Vienna, it was great to experience a lock aswell which I have never done before. I couldn't believe how close the ship was to the side (see the photo!) In Vienna, we were able to visit the Schonnbrunn Palace which was a great experience and some quite interesting history involved! A must if you ever visit Vienna. We visited on a Saturday and they had a huge food market which we heard was worth a visit too! We were also taken on a 'Scenic Exclusive Enrich Excursion' where we have a private opera and ballet performance at the Palace Liechtenstein - a lovely evening and memorable experience. It was lovely to see the city in the evening as well as the day time. The ship itself was impressive and exceeded any expectations I had. The staff were very attentive and nothing was too much trouble. The food was excellent and varied and definitely a large part of the holiday for me and something I would particularly look forward to if I were to go again. Overall, we had a brilliant weekend and it's definitely something I'd recommend to my clients, particularly those who enjoy cruising and are looking for something different!

14 March 2016

I have just returned from an amazing weekend in New York. This is what we did - Woodbury Common (shopping outlet) which is around an hour away from the city. It was really good, well worthwhile if you want to shop. Although saying that there were lots of offers on clothes etc around 5th Avenue which I wasn’t expecting, thought it would all just be full price. Allow a full day here – even with this we didn’t finish all the shops! We also walked the Highline (disused railway which runs from about 35th to 3rd Street), it is much calmer than at ground level and runs about 3 storeys high between the skyscrapers and is nice for a leisurely walk IF the weather is good – it closes at different times in the evenings depending on time of year but we did it in the dark and during the day – worthwhile if you want an hour or so a bit more relaxed. If you want somewhere nice to eat, Morton’s Steakhouse is very good but look at the prices as it isn’t cheap! We also ate at The Park (Greenwich Village area) which is nice, it has a conservatory so it’s almost like eating outside and the prices here were more reasonable. There are lots of McDonald’s/similar if you just want somewhere very cheap to eat. We enjoyed a nice lunch at Moe’s. Moonstruck Diner is nice for breakfast/lunch – very American with lots of booths and very good value and tasty food. We went to see the show ‘School of Rock’ – this was outstanding. It my choice of shows and I didn’t have high hopes but can highly recommend it. The stars are 10-15years old and boy, do they have some talent! There are lots of shows to choose from and I’d definitely recommend a trip to the theatre. We also went to a Jazz Club which was different, we enjoyed it as something different but it wasn't geared up for tourists so felt a little out of place!! Definitely glad for the experience though!! We pre-booked an Explorer Pass (well worth the money and I would highly recommend this), this included the following 6 attractions (you can get different numbers of attractions with this pass): Empire State Building – a must, views are great and doesn’t take much time – probably allow 1-2 hours depending on what time you go. It opens at 8am and we went shortly after that and there were no queues at all so I’d recommend that if you don’t mind getting up early, we just went for brunch afterwards rather than breakfast beforehand. Circle Line 2.5 hour Best of New York Cruise – this was really good and the views are amazing and you sail past Statue of Liberty. This cruise goes all the way round Manhattan Island but if you are limited for time there are ones that just go past Statue of Liberty and as far as the Brooklyn Bridge which takes you past the Financial District which has a pretty cool skyline and back again. 9/11 Tribute Centre & Walking Tour – we thought we had the museum included so I was disappointed when they said it was the Tribute Centre (didn’t really know about this beforehand) but actually it was brilliant. I would still do the Museum next time I go but the Tribute Centre has a tiny museum (it was hard reading all the things anyway so an hour in there was plenty, it is truly heart-braking) but after that we got a walking tour with 2 people who were involved with 9/11 – one was a journalist who camped there for 14 days as once you were in it was easier to stay in, rather than leave and try and get back in. And the other was a fireman who was on holiday and who had to help with the search and rescue in the days after. It was fascinating and we learnt so much more doing it that way than going to the museum so really chuffed we made the mistake in the first place, we saw the Fireman’s monument which I am sure 99% of people miss as it’s hidden away and found out about the ‘Survivor’s Tree’ which we wouldn’t have known about without the Walking Tour. We also had a quick wonder round Wall Street and saw the NY Stock Exchange and Battery Park which only needed about 30-45 minutes but good to do while we were there. We took a Subway from Grand Central Terminal (good to see if you can) to Wall Street and it was US$3 per person each way. We did this on a Sunday, not sure what Wall Street etc would be like on a working day! Central Park Bike Tour – this was 2 hours and I haven’t been on a bike for about 8 years but it was brilliant and made me realise I need to buy a new bike!!! Again guided, so found out things you would have never have otherwise known if you had just walked around. It’s massive - 4km long and 800m wide - so you wouldn’t have got to see much in 2 hours if on foot. It’s worth going to see, however you do it, but I’d really recommend the bike tour. We even got to cycle in NY traffic (which I was extremely nervous about) back to the depot at the end which is something I never thought I’d do!!! The Ride – bus tour/show. Didn’t really know what to expect and don’t do this if you want a bus tour but it was absolutely hilarious as a show with a tiny bit of sightseeing along the way. I won’t ruin it but if you want something funny and a bit different, then do this!!! You have to pre-book this even with the pass whereas we didn’t pre-book anything else just turned up when we wanted to do it. Top of the Rock. Another observation deck with great views. We did this one at night so we had the contrast of Empire State Building in the day and this at night. People who have done both in the day say this one is better but is less well known. With this pass (or any others) do check before you go when things are available so you can plan your itinerary. I have been in travel 17 years and this was my first visit to NYC but it was well worth the wait and am sure it won’t be my last!

25 March 2013

This was my first visit to Mauritius and we loved it! The hotel was lovely and I would highly recommend it for a good value, good standard and the all-inclusive option. The deluxe rooms are quite large and I would be happy to stay in this room type again. The food and service was excellent! We went with our two year old and the hotel was very family friendly. We also saw a couple of weddings while we were there, so it is suitable for all kinds of clients. We were lucky with the weather as although there was a lot of rain it pretty much all fell overnight and just one morning and one afternoon of downpours during the daytime. We did a day trip to the Chamarel Waterfall and the Seven Coloured Earth. This also included a visit to the Sacred Lake and the Crocodile Park, where we really enjoyed feeding the giant tortoises! A day I would highly recommend!

06 December 2012

This was my fourth visit to Florida, but the first time I have stayed on-site at Disney and the first time I’d been as a family (with a two year old) rather than as a couple. I wasn’t really sure what to expect! We booked when they were offering a free dining plan, which they regularly do now if you book early. Any doubts were soon squashed – it was a fantastic experience. We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and had giraffes, zebras and lots of other animals regularly wandering around outside our hotel room. The dining plan offered superb eating options and we found ourselves eating in much nicer restaurants than the usual Denny’s and McDonalds we’d experienced on previous visits! It’s also the first time we’d arranged an itinerary before we left and I would strongly urge anyone going to Orlando, with a lot to fit in, to do this as it did make more of our time. What can I say - the parks, as always, were fantastic. We also visited Legoland which opened last year and for anyone with a car, it’s worth the 45 minute drive. It’s much quieter than the Disney parks but has a few different bits to keep everyone entertained. We also visited Seaworld , one of my favourite parks, and managed to fit four of their shows into one day! My two year old won’t remember any of it but he had the most amazing time and I’d do it again if I could. For anyone travelling with young children you just need to pace yourself and allow time for naps and quieter days. Overall, another great trip to Orlando – can’t wait for the fifth visit!

12 December 2008

Las Vegas really is one of those places that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime as it is impossible to do it justice in words and pictures alone! Everything is on such a large scale, it is hard to take it all in! It wasn’t our first choice of destination but my husband has wanted to visit Chicago for many years and with Las Vegas we wanted to go and see what all the fuss was about and so we decided on a twin centre. The plan was to have one day relaxing round the pool and then one day sightseeing and so on. After one day seeing what Vegas had to offer we did something every day and just sunbathed in the morning for a couple of hours! It is strange that the attractions are the hotels themselves. I felt like I was on a working trip with my list of which hotels I wanted to go and see! We walked for miles but luckily we stayed in a spa suite at the Luxor Hotel which after a long day meant we could sit in the Jacuzzi and rest our aching feet! We went on the rollercoaster at New York New York, visited the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, watched a comedy show at our hotel, watched the dancing fountains at the Bellagio and walked through almost every casino on the strip (well, at least that is what it felt like!). It is amazing how everywhere you go you have to go through a casino and it is very easy to get disorientated (maybe that’s what they are hoping for!!). One of the things we were really looking forward to was the shopping as we had been saving up for this trip and had not done much beforehand. On our first full day we hit one of the outlets and came back with lots of bargains so we were pleased our patience had paid off! While we were staying in Vegas we took the opportunity to visit the Grand Canyon. Wow! It is just the most amazing sight, even when you are there it is really hard for your eyes to take in the sheer size of it. We walked round about 3 miles of it and even in that small space the colours and sights were spectacular, a must see for anyone in the area. We stopped at the Hoover Dam which is quite an awesome sight too but it is quite sad to see the water level so low at the moment. After our busy week we were off to Chicago next. I am not really a city person but I loved Chicago. There are lots of green park areas and with the Chicago River and Lake Michigan - it feels open and not like a city at all. There is quite a lot to do there too – in one day we were able to visit the Planetarium which we had great fun at, we also went to the Field Museum which is a huge natural history museum – I would have liked more time as there is so much to see! In the evening we wondered along Navy Pier and had a nice evening meal outside as we were lucky with the weather. On the Sunday we went to an NFL game. This was actually the main purpose of our holiday as my husband is a Chicago Bears fan and had always wanted to see a live match. We had a real struggle getting tickets and were very excited by the time it came round! I only had a very basic understanding of the rules and it wasn’t really my ideal day out but I have to say even I had an amazing time! The atmosphere was fantastic and it was very exciting to be there. We had really great seats and although the Bears lost after extra time it was still worth the inflated price we had paid for the tickets! This was the first time we had done a twin centre but the two places were a great combination and as always we enjoyed the plentiful food and welcome that we received from the Americans!

05 August 2008

When they started operating charter flights to Brazil, we must have been among the first to book! The first thing that strikes you about the country is the sheer size. When we started talking about trips to Rio and Iguassu Falls we realised the logistics of visiting both places in such a short space of time were not ideal so we opted just to visit Rio from where we were staying on the coast. Rio is an amazing place and you can see in a fairly short space of time the very poor areas and the very rich areas. We were on an escorted trip and as such felt pretty safe the whole time we were there. Our hotel was a short walk from Copocabana beach, where we spent quite a long time just wondering along watching all the different activities going on. We were there at the weekend so the beaches were packed with locals, it was fascinating seeing a normal weekend in Rio! As part of the trip we also went to see Sugar Loaf Mountain. Access was by two cable cars which take you up to the different levels. Even if you are afraid of heights, it is worth trying to overcome this as the views are amazing. From here Christ The Redeemer looks really small! Next we were back on the coach ready to board the train that takes you up to Corcovado. The statue of Christ The Redeemer is really huge and very high up offering really spectacular views! A 2 hour flight took us back to our beach hotel. The food here was fantastic – we had a choice of restaurants including Japanese. Having never tried sushi before this was a great opportunity for us to try new things! There was also a traditional Brasilian Steak House which was similar to the one we had dined at in Rio. They serve all kinds of meats on skewers and they basically keep coming until you tell them to stop! Our hotel was around 3km from a little village called Praia do Forte. Unlike Rio it was really safe here and we were able to walk along the beautiful beach. Although it is quite hard work walking on the sand in the heat it was well worth it as the beach was really unspoilt and almost deserted. Praia do Forte is a pretty little village, it has lots of shops (some quite expensive) but also has a lot of stalls to get your souvenirs and bargains. You’ll find things cheaper here than at the hotel. There is also a Turtle Reserve, which is only a couple of pounds to get in and although it is fairly small it’s nice to go in and do your bit. Turtles nest on the beaches in this area and like everywhere they have a very low survival rate so this is to try and help their chances. Also, definitely try a ‘Coco Gelado’, we asked for a Coke and this is what we got but we were grateful of the error! It’s an ice cold fresh coconut with a straw and it cost us US$1! Another great day out was the Imbassai River Trip. This took us in a 4x4 with no glass in the windows, (which was very windy!), to a river in the local area. The river is completely safe and there are no piranhas or crocodiles! Then we canoed for about 3km down the Imbassai River in Canadian canoes. We stopped for a quick dip, and the water was very warm and very clear, in fact the locals were doing their washing in it! Then after this we walked for about half an hour along a completely deserted beach as the sun was going down, to a local village called Sant Antonio. It got the name from a statue of Sant Antonio that was washed up on the beach, and that was why they decided to build the village there. The village is very small, and before the tourist road was built about 10 years ago it took them 2 days to get to the next village. Overall, we had a great time in Brazil but barely scratched the surface – there is so much to see and do and I am sure we will return again in the future to see other parts of the country.

21 May 2008

If you want to truly relax and forget about all the stress back home – then you have to try the Maldives. We were unfortunate enough to be in the middle of the plane in row 1 on our outbound journey. While everyone else was admiring the fantastic views before landing we were straining our necks to try and get a glimpse of where was to be our home for the next two weeks. On arrival we waited for our speedboat transfer. It wasn't quite what I had imagined – a little noisy to say the least! But it was worth it. From the moment we stepped out onto the jetty we knew we would enjoy our stay. Beautiful white sand awaited us and as we walked over the jetty we could already see fish in the sea. We opted for an individual beach villa and with a wooden interior and open bathroom; it was stunning. My husband is a bit of a TV addict so with no television in sight it took him a little while to adjust but for me it was great! The open bathroom at first was also a little strange but we soon missed it when we were back home. We spent the first few days just enjoying the peace and quiet and great views. We played the odd game of table tennis before dinner and went for walks around the island but other than that it was just a complete wind down from being away from home and work. While sitting on the beach we had seen a few people go past in canoes and decided we would have a go. We thought it would be really nice to row around the island and would give us a different perspective. We got around half way but when we turned against the current it became really hard work. It was quite funny really as everyone going past looked like they were having a great time and we thought we would give it a go. We were glad we had done it but we didn’t go back out again! The next day I could hardly move – my arms were really aching. We had come across the spa while exploring the island and decided we would book a massage to ease the pain! Neither of us had had a proper massage before so we didn’t know what to expect. They were so good we went back for another two during the holiday! We also went snorkelling a few times as you can snorkel in a couple of feet water and see the most amazing things. We saw quite a few reef sharks just a metre or two from which to begin with was a little unnerving but you soon got used to. They never seemed to be around when we had our camera though and it became our mission to get a close up picture of one – we did succeed in the end! The island offered a couple of boat trips too so we decided to try them out. One was a sunset cruise (a boat takes you out a few hundred metres, the sun sets while you are drinking a cocktail, then you come back!). What they don’t tell you is that there is a great chance of seeing dolphins and we saw quite a few which was quite awesome. We also enjoyed a night fishing trips which is not something we would usually be interested in. We were given a fishing line with a hook on the end and told to dangle it over the edge, we did actually catch a few fish each – most of them we couldn’t identify but my husband caught a barracuda which was quite exciting! With regards to food, there were alternative restaurants but the main buffet restaurant was excellent and the choice was quite varied so we didn’t feel the need to try the others. For us it just the perfect destination where we came home feeling really chilled out. We enjoyed great food, great weather (most of the time!) and great hospitality and will definitely be going back!