23 June 2020

South East Kent, also known as the Garden of England is nestled perfectly between the bustle of London and the English channel leading to the continent. But as well as providing access to both of these, it has much to offer visitors looking for a staycation break in the UK with often favourable weather conditions compared to the rest of the country. Canterbury is the main city and being fairly compact, more like a large town. History features highly with numerous medieval buildings still visible in and around the town as well as the world famous Cathedral and the St Augustine’s Abbey. The city offers a good dose of café culture and it is good for shopping; as well as the main chain stores, check out ‘The Kings Mile’ for independent traders including artists, jewellers and florists. It is lively in the evenings with many restaurants and bars, several with late licences and a couple of night clubs as well as the Marlowe theatre. From here, all the major attractions are within 30 mins drive of the city centre and there are also comprehensive bus services around the area and rail services too. South East Kent benefits from being surrounded by coastline so you are never far from a beach! Whether it's sandcastles, beach combing, rock pooling or walking, there are some beautiful stretches of coastline. Here are some of my favourites; On the North Kent coast, Whitstable is a small town famous for it’s oysters, there is a fish market in the harbour selling the fresh daily catches, it’s also the town with the highest number of independent shops in the UK. With it’s clapboard houses and colourful beach huts, visit here and you could be stepping back in time. BBQs on the beach are permitted and you could do some grotter building….a traditional pastime to build up a circular tower using oyster shells and place a tea light inside. As it is getting dark, it creates a lovely glow on the beach as you watch the sunset. Just along the coast, Herne Bay is a 'proper’ seaside town with a long promenade, flower gardens, a pier complete with attractions for all the family (think helter skelter, carousel & rock stall, champagne bar, craft beer & food stands) with plenty of amusement arcades, fish ‘n’ chip restaurants & ice cream parlours along the front. These and other towns are all linked by a coastal path and it's possible to cycle also. Many are pebble beaches so are best for beach combing. Reculver is a good place to rock pool and it is easy to find fossilised shark teeth! Along the south coast, the pretty town of Hythe is the start of the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, a miniature steam railway which is a fun day out for children and railway enthusiasts. You can also head in the opposite direction towards Sandgate and Folkestone, be sure to check out the Folkestone Coastal Park, there is a brilliant playground for children and the park features a wide variety of Mediterranean plants, taking advantage of the mild and sunny weather. Folkestone has a pebble beach one side of the harbour and a sandy beach on the other! We love the White Cliffs coastline for walking and in particular the route from Dover to the South Foreland Lighthouse. You get great views and on a clear day you can easily see the French coastline. Samphire Hoe, also Dover is good for fossil finding The Isle of Thanet is the most easterly of Kent's coastline and here you will find Margate, Ramsgate & Broadstairs. All have examples of Victorian architecture and were some of the UK's early beach resorts. They have sandy beaches so these are the best for sandcastles! Stone Bay is a favourite, with White Cliffs backing the sandy beach and nearby Joss Bay is a wide open sandy beach. Dreamland in Margate is a fun day out; a retro funfair with an original wooden Scenic Railway (roller coaster) which has been lovingly restored as well as many modern rides. With miles of coastline and so many beaches, you could literally spend a week or more visiting a different beach or walking a separate area of coastal path everyday! Leaving the coastlines behind and heading inland, it doesn’t take long to see why the area is known as the Garden of England. It is easy to spot fields of fruit orchards and vegetables growing, as well as traditional hop plants and an increasing number of vineyards some of which offer tours and tastings. With so much local produce, it is lovely to shop at one (or more) of the local farmers markets or shops. If you are self catering, it is a great way to stock up on local meats, cheeses, fruit & veg or if you are wanting a snack, there is also a great choice. As you travel around the area, you will also see smaller signs for local produce and in summer, the Kent cherries are wonderful! Being very rural, there are endless opportunities for walking routes and for cycling on quiet country roads, through picturesque villages and usually with a traditional pub or coffee shop en route. National Cycle routes 1 & 2 as well as Regional Cycle Routes 15, 16 & 17 run through the area. For history fans, Dover Castle is well worth a visit and fills a whole day with displays covering the castle’s history across the centuries including extensive World War displays including the wartime tunnels. Leeds Castle was declared the most beautiful castle in the world’ by King Henry VIII. The original boots owned by the Duke of Wellington are on display in Walmer Castle and in Deal, one of King Henry VIII’s fortress castles is built in the shape of the Tudor rose, overlooking the channel with it's cannons still in place. For animal lovers, a visit to Wingham Wildlife Park or Howletts is a must. With gorillas, elephants, tigers, penguins and rhino to name a few of the animals you'd find there. At Port Lympne you can go on a unique guided safari drive and spot giraffes and zebra free roaming along with the local rabbits scampering around the 'grasslands' and the English channel on the horizon. Feeling active? Why not try some watersports, paintballing or an alpaca trek? Betteshanger Country Park has off road cycle trails and on-site bike hire & golfers can test their skill on one of the championship golf courses. Or if you are looking for a relaxing break, we can do that too, in one of the hotels with spa facilities. Whatever type of break you have mind, relaxing, foodie, family or active, please contact me for more information and recommendations to create your perfect staycation in South East Kent.

04 June 2019

Miami has been on my wish list for ages and we were all very excited to travel as a family to visit this iconic city recently. Top Tips – take sun lotion and use lots of it, the sun is very strong, we saw lots of very pink people and nobody wants their holiday ruined by sunburn – ouch! Hat and sunglasses are also a good idea Early morning is fresher and a great time to fit with a run along the beach or the boardwalk which runs 4 miles from South to North Beach. Join runners, cyclists, walkers and babies in strollers all taking the opportunity for some exercise with a great view of the beach and rolling waves. Getting around is easy although some short distances can take longer than expected due to the traffic. We used the South Beach Trolley Bus which is free and runs from 8am until midnight, also Uber taxis which are fast and cost effective. But you need a Wi-Fi signal or data roaming to be online to book. Speaking of which, Wi-Fi is everywhere so you only need to grab a drink at a café or even just hover outside to pick up a signal and log in. Miami has many iconic sights; my favourite was the many brightly coloured lifeguard stations along the beach and also the Art Deco buildings along Ocean Drive at South Beach. Daytime was great for photos. Seeing it illuminated at night was also on my to-do list, but it certainly has a more edgy feel to it compared to daytime. We were fine but I would recommend being aware of your surroundings. There are many police around to maintain the higher standards in this area which has been cleaned up in recent years. The Art Deco area has over 1400 buildings listed, 100 of which you can visit as part of a group tour or a self-guided audio tour from the Art Deco Welcome Centre situated at the end of Lummus Park, you'll also find lots of general tourist info here so worth popping in. Miami Beach has a mix of architecture including MiMo (Miami Modern) more frequently found around Mid Beach area and also several examples of Spanish architecture. Miami offers every kind of cuisine you can think of and to match a range of budgets. In general, it is not a cheap place to eat out and the menu prices are subject to 18% tax plus a service fee in some restaurants (where it is not added onto the bill, the payer is expected to add on a further 15-20% depending on the service received). However, there are plenty of smaller local cafes, Starbucks and Subways to grab a quick snack which doesn’t break the bank. You can easily stock up on bottled water from the local supermarket and refill smaller bottles for days out to keep hydrated. Only a few blocks long but charming to discover is Espanola Way, between 14th and 15th Street. Pavement cafes with a distinct European feel. Expect to pay higher tourist prices here but there’s a lively atmosphere and it is an enjoyable evening. Wynwood Walls (Miami mainland) is interesting to visit with amazing wall art (graffiti!) by a range of artists and these change every few months and years so there is always something new to see plus some indoor art exhibitions. Free to view in the park area and with many more examples of artwork in the neighbouring streets, this is a fun place to visit for a half day. Many cafes in the area, we found they mostly opened at 1130 so breakfast options are limited. However, we found the Wynwood Diner across the road from the Wynwood Walls, serving fresh smoothies and juices which satisfied our tastes with the largest pancakes and plates of waffles and fruit to keep the kids happy. We hired paddleboards for an hour on the water of Biscayne Bay. With the Miami skyline as a backdrop and the smart villas of the Venetian Islands, this is a lovely relaxing place to paddle around. We heard about the houses nearby belonging to the rich and famous, this took the interest of our boys so I’ve a feeling a guided boat trip to view these celebrity homes may be on the cards for our next visit! Miami Beach offers shopping along Lincoln Road with a mix of tourist shops, designer boutiques and general stores. With many restaurants around and shops open later, it is a great place to visit early evening especially if you can’t decide where to eat as many options here. For a smaller town feel, Coconut Grove is south of downtown Miami and situated by the water. As well as the harbour and marinas, and the opportunity to take a fishing boat trip, there are also small cafes and boutiques, park areas, a cinema and shopping mall offering the feeling of a small-town community within striking distance of the big city. For an authentic American experience, check out the baseball game schedule! The local team, the Miami Marlins are not top of the league, but they are well known for having the best stadium in their league! You’ll find plenty of refreshments - hot dogs & burgers, tacos & nachos, popcorn, beers etc starting from only 3 dollars. There’s all the usual merchandise on sale around the stadium and in the Club shop, we saw Fox Sports Florida reporting live on the game and on the night we visited there was a surprise score with the Marlins beating the San Francisco Giants – result! Everywhere you go in Miami you will hear Spanish as much as English, also French from the Haitians that have made it home. But did you know Miami is home to the largest Cuban community outside of Cuba? In Little Havana you will experience the flavours of Cuba through the music, restaurants, bars & shops that line the famous Calle Ocho. Domino Park is a small, local gathering place for an afternoon game under the shady umbrellas, watching the locals play is entertainment as they swiftly lay and claim their dominoes and famous Cuban celebrities are remembered on the Cuban Walk of Fame along Calle Ocho nearby. Whilst Little Havana covers quite a vast area, and is heavily residential, this developed street is more of a tourist attraction but fun to visit nevertheless for authentic dishes, rum based drinks and the strong, sweet Cuban coffee. Our short break in Miami was so brilliant we didn’t want to leave and definitely want to return! The children enjoyed it just as much in this vibrant coastal city with so many palm trees, colour and music all around. If you would love to know more or visit Miami yourself, please contact me, I would love to make your Miami dreams a reality!

24 April 2019

We recently spent a week in the Murcia region of Spain and took advantage of the warm, sunny days to do some exploring around the area, as in the summer heat only the pool or beach beckons! The new Murcia airport is situated at Corvera, south east of the city of Murcia and only 35 mins from the coast where you will find several Spanish resorts and fishing towns along the coast and golf resorts inland. The area enjoys 320 days of sunshine a year so is perfect for a golfing break, spa, relaxation, cycling, traditional Spanish food and drink and some cultural sightseeing too. I would recommend a hire car to get around, it is much easier to drive on the Spanish roads as less busy than the UK. Several hire car companies are located at the airport terminal building and nearby. One of our visits was to Cartagena, this is a fabulous coastal city with a rich historical past having been occupied by the Carthaginians, Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines and Moors and is also an important Spanish naval base. All have left their mark on the city where today you can wander around the harbour and marina, (an increasingly prominent port of call on cruise itineraries), visit one of the 12 museums, admire the mixed styles of architecture (a little Art Deco and early 20th century Bourgeoisie thrown in!) and enjoy a break at a trendy tapas bar or coffee shop. The Romano Teatro (Roman Theatre) is well worth a visit, first uncovered in the mid 1980’s, this structure dates back to the 1st Century BC but over time had been built upon and was one of the later areas of the city to be redeveloped, what a find! After 20 years of restoration, it is open to visitors along with a museum showcasing some of the excavated finds. North of Murcia, we took a day to follow a loop trail from Bullas (natural bathing pool) to Cehegin a sun-drenched, hillside village, Caravaca de la Cruz, one of the 5 holy cities in the world, Calasparra and it’s cave church and round to Archena with it’s thermal baths before heading back to Murcia. The coastline offers quite a contrast, with a stretch along the Med with sandy beaches, cafes and ice-cream parlours (different scale of development to other Spanish costas) the Mar Menor is the largest saltwater lagoon offering shallow and safe bathing and water sports and also some nature reserves and mud baths. You can also find rugged and unspoilt natural beaches on the south Med coast and La Manga strip offers a variety of accommodation, restaurants and leisure facilities, it is a long spit of land dividing the Mar Menor from the Mediterranean sea and in parts, only a few hundred metres wide. We enjoyed eating out and found some tasty tapas bars, prices in this area of Spain of really reasonable and eating out as a family of 4 was around 50 euros for selection of tapas or a main dish each and drinks including wine. For resort style accommodation, there are luxury hotels located on golf resorts which also offer great spa facilities. For city lovers, both Murcia and Cartagena have a selection of centrally located hotels perfect for a short break.

05 February 2019

This short trip to Abu Dhabi was all about family fun in the sun! With temperatures in March around 28C, this is a great time to visit and enjoy all that there is to do and see. First of all, we had the pleasure of staying at the amazing Emirates Palace hotel. This 7* luxury hotel was built as a 'Palace for the People' and reflects the heritage and style of the Emirati. With a breath-taking central lobby with vaulted ceiling and stylish golden decor throughout, the hotel is an attraction in itself and many people come to view it. The naturally welcoming nature of the staff immediately put us at ease, and we were honoured to be staying in a palace! The rooms were spacious and comfortable with the biggest beds and welcome sweet treats, the balconies overlooking the gardens and the shimmering water of the gulf. With several restaurants and bars on site as well as a wonderful spread at breakfast, it was easy to keep the family fed, (the camel burgers at the beach bar were delicious!) The pool area suits all ages with slides and inflatables for the keen kids (and adults) a lazy river for relaxation and a shaded baby pool. Nearby the children can also be kept occupied at the indoor kid’s club, (whilst adults visit the spa) at the playground, playing table tennis and table football. We used the complimentary hire bikes to cycle around the grounds and our eldest son had a wake boarding lesson (payable) at the Beach Club. Being out on the water in a speedboat, cheering him on is a great family memory. There is also a Bedouin tent on the beach serving complimentary teas and camel rides. There is a separate adults pool in a different area of the gardens where you will find hammocks swaying over the water - I didn't get to test them this time although they were very inviting! Afternoon tea was enjoyed by everyone, it is OK to share - the servings are generous, and the servers suggested it was best between 2 people! We had the signature drink, gold topped 'camelcinos' made with camel milk and an array of reimagined British sandwiches, fluffy scones and delicate cakes and deserts, definitely an experience and no evening meal required after that! There's so much to enjoy at the hotel itself but it would be a pity to miss the other attractions that Abu Dhabi has to offer. We spent a day at Ferrari World, the world’s largest indoor theme park, an afternoon at Yas Waterworld and visited the newly opened Louvre Museum. The building itself is spectacular allowing light to flow in through its cleverly designed roof. The Grand Mosque is not to be missed, the sheer scale of it, the beautiful inlaid marble interior and the World's largest carpet. Respectable dress is required, and ladies hire a burqa to wear, everyone removes shoes before entering the mosque itself. We even fitted in a couple of circuits at the Yas Marina - the F1 track opens on several evenings and plays host to residents and visitors on bikes and on foot. As a family, we loved Abu Dhabi! It is quieter than its neighbour Dubai, much smaller so easier to get around due to the traffic flow and although it has a fewer number of attractions, it offers plenty to visitors who wish to visit with Warner Bros also having recently opened. For our busy family, there was not much time to relax on this trip, I think we will have to go back.... now where are those hammocks?

05 February 2018

If you want a city break and to visit somewhere new, Riga has a lot to offer visitors and represents great value despite being in the Eurozone. Cheap flights and a short transfer into the centre makes it an ideal weekend destination! We spent 36 hours in Riga over Independence Weekend in November. The city centre is fairly compact and easy to explore with mostly cobbled streets (comfy shoes required), and a range of beautiful architecture influenced by its Russian and German history and also with a hint of Scandi - style. We were also surprised to find several modern shopping malls discretely hidden in side streets so you are never far away from modern comforts, but they are not glaring at you either. Places of interest include the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, House of the Blackheads, the Freedom Monument and St Peter's Church. The Central Market is an amazing building and is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list along with the Old Town. The Riga railway bridge which stands over the Daugava River has a turbulent history like the rest of the country and having been rebuilt several times, now looks great illuminated at night. With it being Independence Weekend and the Festival of Light, we saw several art installations around the city. The park was lit with candle lamps and we celebrated with the locals during the evenings’ firework display. The following day we could have easily spent more time in the city centre but instead we visited Jurmala, a coastal resort on the Gulf of Riga approximately 35 minutes away, which is known for its wooden art nouveau seaside villas. A bit cold on the beach but a good dose of fresh air to blow away the cobwebs! We ate well over the weekend, from a Viennese style coffee shop to a Belgian brasserie and a traditional Latvian style buffet brunch. All was good value for money with four coffees, three soft drinks and three cakes for €20 and meals being good value too. City breaks are great fun and you can pack a lot into a short space of time. Our family will definitely be planning more soon! If I can arrange a short getaway for you, please do contact me!

09 January 2018

SSkiing in Finland is a different experience to our previous trips to the French Alps and we loved it! There is not a range of mountains in Lapland, just individual fells with a range of pistes. We stayed in Levi which is the largest of the Finnish ski resorts and where the World Cup slalom kicks off the season every November. The town has a few different equipment hire shops and places to buy clothing. This was especially useful as we noticed very quickly how cold it was in comparison to skiing in France, so a few extra items were required. As they all speak very good English, hiring skis and snowboards was no problem and at reasonable rates. It is a great place for a family or beginners to ski because the pistes are quiet, they are fairly gentle with red runs being similar to blue in France and the quality of the snow is amazing. The instructors speak English but if you want to go off an explore on your own, it is an easy network of T-bar lifts, a couple of chairlifts and a gondola. Ski passes were cheaper than in the French resorts, but you may not be out from all day, it will depend on the weather! In December there is daylight from around 10am to 2.30pm and otherwise it is dark and the main pistes are floodlit. This is great fun and the front pistes in the town are open into the evening. It is essential to dress up warmly, this sounds obvious but at -20C it is pretty chilly and handwarmers in our gloves were a must! Across the fell, you will find kotas, which are wooden huts with a fire roaring inside. Take along some sausages to roast (they are all equipped with toasting forks to use!) or simply enjoy the warmth of the fire. There are also a few cafes for hot drinks and snacks, so you can regularly warm up. One of the amazing things was the beautiful colours and scenery around us. As we were mostly skiing at sunrise and sunset (not that much difference in time of course!) we saw the resort and surrounding countryside in some amazing light and the snow heavy trees were magical. The resort offers so much more, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding and reindeer sleigh rides as well as ice fishing, snow shoeing and meeting Santa! When we weren't skiing we also visited a small animal farm and the local Ice Gallery at Luvattumma. We've already decided we'll go back!

08 January 2018

We recently travelled with Finnair from Heathrow to Helsinki on their morning service which is operated by their largest and newest aircraft, the Airbus A330. After Helsinki, this aircraft was going onwards to Tokyo. Having checked in online, we collected our boarding passes from one of the kiosks at T3, similar to using a cashpoint. Many airlines use this method and it was easy as we only had to use our booking reference and name to access our reservation details. On this occasion, the printer ran out of paper, so we didn't get all of our luggage labels but the helpful staff at the bag drop desk, soon rectified that and we were on our way. Economy class on this aircraft type has the option of Economy Comfort Seats which are at the front of the economy cabin and offer extra legroom. I recommend this, it was very comfortable, and the seats are configured 3-4-3. The interior is very cool and calm in pale shades of grey. The seat back TV was a hit with the kids and adults alike and there was a choice of films, TV programmes and music from Scandinavia, UK, Japan and worldwide. There are also cameras and the map so you can track your flight progress. The inflight service offers complimentary tea, coffee, water and blueberry juice (typically Finnish) and there is a choice of snacks to purchase on board from the Sky Bistro menu as well as a selection of Duty Free. We even saw the Northern Lights! OK, so not the real ones on this occasion but as the aircraft was making its descent, there are subtle lighting effects on the cabin ceiling to emulate the Aurora Borealis! Finnair have regular services from London Heathrow and worldwide connections from Helsinki, notably to Japan and the Far East so this is certainly an airline to consider when looking at a short haul flight to Finland to travelling further East.

05 February 2019

For a family or group of friends, accommodation on a holiday park can offer really good value for money. The Isle of Wight has several holiday parks and as an extra break over Easter, it was perfect for our family of 4. There is a range of accommodation on each park, often from lead-in standard category up to the newest modern designer styled unit which makes it hard to imagine you are in static accommodation. Our mobile home had heating and an electric fire, a fully equipped kitchen, and a shower room. The living/dining area could be converted to additional bedding although there was already a double and twin room so this wasn’t put to use overnight. Although compact, it is well thought out with useful storage. The clubhouse with evening entertainment, bar and café were open daily although we only went on one occasion. However, the on site shop was well stocked and was visited regularly as was the indoor swimming pool. Many of the parks have facilities such as these although it is worth checking on the seasonal opening times. I would recommend this type of accommodation as a great way to have a short break or a holiday on a budget. With so many locations nationwide, it provides the opportunity to explore the local area and also have useful facilities on your doorstep.

10 June 2015

We visited Abu Dhabi in the Easter holidays and found this was a great time to take advantage of some sunshine and heat when it was still cool at home and only a 7 hour flight. Etihad’s new A380 was a great experience, the inflight entertainment was extensive with many current films and music as well as some classic TV and favourite movies. There is also a whole listing for children too including electronic games, films and cartoons. Interestingly, the seat back entertainment comprised 2 screens so we were able to watch a film but also display the view from the undercarriage camera and see where we were flying over too! Great for take off & landing As you would expect there was a complimentary drinks service and choice of main meal, the children’s menu was well received and they were also provided with an inflight pack with colouring set and activity book. The adults were provided with a blanket and pillow, although no inflight amenity kit. On arrival at Abu Dhabi, there is a system for entry and forms have to be completed on arrival, 1 per person. This was a busy and time consuming but maybe in time, forms will be distributed on board the aircraft as they are for other destinations. Once in Abu Dhabi however, it was easy to get around the city, which is spread over several islands and linked by bridges. The traffic flowed well and it is not as busy as it’s neighbouring Emirate, Dubai. As a destination, it is often compared to how Dubai was about 10 years ago. This is because the development especially for tourism has not been so rapid. The hotels are no less luxurious and the opulent Emirates Palace Hotel is a great example, it has a vending machine for gold bars in the lobby! Hotels are spread around the city and there is no right or wrong place to stay, it depends what you are seeking. The 5* hotels along the creek are in a good, central location for travelling around but have man made beaches whereas Saadiyat Island which is more remote has one of the best beaches you can find, you would be forgiven for thinking you are somewhere in the Indian Ocean. There are also a cluster of hotels on Yas Island, by the marina, F1 circuit and theme park Ferrari World with the world’s fastest roller coaster. Business visitors are likely to stay in the downtown city area where much of the commerce is located. Abu Dhabi has some must see sights including the amazing Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which houses the largest carpet in the world and can hold 40,000 worshippers. It is stunning piece of architecture and the decorative marblework is breathtaking, even the children were captivated with the scale. It is free to enter and also offers free guided tours, Respectful dress is required but you can hire a galabeya on arrival. There is a modern souk development at Qaryat Al Beri with shops, restaurants and cafes, in a landscaped area of the Shangri La hotel and also a traditional soak with deliveries from Persia for those seeking something more traditional. In an effort to promote better health in UAE, the government have introduced several initiatives for residents (and often open to visitors). One of the best examples of this is the Yas Marina F1 Circuit which is open every Tuesday evening, free of charge for people to walk, run, cycle or roller skate around! It is flood lit and the music is amplified, it is a great chance to visit the circuit and actually get around it. Bikes are for hire for a small fee. This was one of our favourite activities! However, we also loved our trip to the desert! It is easy to visit for an afternoon, evening or overnight and take part in desert & bedouin activities such as camel riding, dune bashing and sand boarding, then feast on dates and traditional Arabic food , often whilst being entertained by a musician or belly dancer. Abu Dhabi is a destination we would return to, it works really well for a long weekend/short break because of the flight length or a stopover, as Etihad has an extensive network worldwide. The people are welcoming, it is family friendly and the weather gives you a boost between October and May.

10 June 2015

This is the latest super ship from Royal Caribbean and sailing out of Southampton for Summer 2015, this is everything you would expect….and more! With dodgems, rock climbing, Flowrider, indoor skydiving and the North Star viewing platform, this ship really does offer some great facilities. And this is just the start. The ship has 18 food outlets including the favourites such as Chops Grill and Johnny Rockets and also introduces some new onboard dining experiences, Jamie’s Italian, Silk (Asian) and Wonderland (think creative!) Each with it’s own identity and fantastic menu. In amongst the great range of restaurants, it was also good to try out Devinly Decadence which offers an indulgent menu (but all under 500 calories) by best seller Devin Alexander, the Juice and Smoothie bar in the Solarium and the Café @two70 which offers a range of salads, paninis and sandwiches, proving that cruising doesn’t have to mean piling on the pounds. Around the ship you will find many art installations to take your attention, from the lightbulb chandelier which is lit using guests energy and flashes in time to your own pulse rate, to the delicate japanese cherry blossom on the ceiling and the quirky pictures of ‘cool’ cocktail drinking animals in the elevators. The spa offers a wide range of treatments which is a great way to unwind or reward yourself after a session in the gym, equipped with all the latest equipment and offering classes to motivate you, overlooking the sea through the floor to ceiling windows was the best view for any spin class! This ship is great for guests who like to have a choice of everything! It keeps all ages entertained and is good for families and groups of friends as everyone can find something to suit them but still enjoy time together over lunch or dinner. Please contact me if I can answer any of your questions about a cruise holiday!

10 June 2015

P&Os newest ship to their fleet is Britannia which was launched by the Queen in March 2015. Along with other Travel Counsellors, I was fortunate to visit as part of the launch celebrations. The ship is instantly recognisable with the union jack paint work on the exterior and inside, the décor is also beautiful. In classic tones of cream, taupe and navy, the colour theme is carried out through much of the ship including the staterooms, which gives a calming feel. The range of restaurants provided choice for every palate whilst the onboard activities will keep guests busy in between the ports of call. The children’s clubs are well equipped and the rooms are divided with age appropriate toys, games and activities for the younger guests. Lego, video games, board games, table football and air hockey are all there!! A unique feature of the Britannia is that it has the first cookery school at sea! Guests are able to book onto courses with the resident chefs or a celebrity such as James Martin or Mary Berry and learn the techniques, recipes and secrets of the professionals. With floor to ceiling windows on one side of the ‘classroom’ it is a great space to learn whilst using all the top equipment, and then enjoy your creations at the Chef’s Table. Based out of Southampton, this is a popular ship designed and built for the British cruise market. If you are interested in a cruise holiday or a short break taster cruise on board Britannia, I’d love to answer your questions!

10 June 2015

Royal Caribbean is a familiar brand to many with a variety of ships located worldwide visiting many ports of call. The Independence of the Seas is currently located out of Southampton which is really convenient for a no-fly family holiday. With so much going on, the ship does tend to attract many families especially during the school holidays which is when we travelled. So this is a consideration if you are not travelling with children yourself. However, guests of all ages were enjoying the on board facilities of this fantastic ship. Sailing with a maximum capacity of 4,200 passengers and 1,300 crew members, it was the largest ship on the ocean when she was launched in 2008. As a family we enjoy cruising because there are so many activities and facilities to choose between and is more than enough to satisfy everyone. You and your travel companions may all have a different holiday experience and you become involved with different activities and can be a perfect choice for a holiday if you have a few family members to keep happy. We enjoyed the gym, spa and specialty dining whilst the children spent time in the children’s clubs and the H2O zone waterpark and Grandma was kept busy in the library and at the various quizzes. We found the Oceanview 4 berth cabin had ample space during the day when the bunks were stored away and was cosy at night time when we were all set up for a good night’s sleep. Our stateroom attendant made the changes so it was all ready for us. For the active cruiser, this ship features a Flowrider surf machine, rock climbing wall, sports court and well equipped gym For the fun seeking cruiser there is an ice skating rink with shows, karaoke, table tennis, casino and swimming pools with Jacuzzis (including adults only area) Or for the more sedate cruiser, a library, games room, classes and quizzes Needless to say the dining options are extensive and will suit every taste, from pizza and burgers to fine Italian food and a steakhouse, with everything in between. For a fun packed activity time away and the opportunity to visit different destinations all in one holiday, it is worth considering a cruise. Contact me for more details!

31 March 2014

Our trip to the two lesser known ski resorts of Valloire and La Toussuire began at St Pancras as we travelled to the Alps by train, first by the Eurostar to Paris and then the TGV service to St Jean Maurienne. The journey whilst long, was very smooth and felt relaxing as the train sped through the French countryside. Quite a contrast to the usual hustle and bustle of an airport. As a group of adults, it suited us well, I could imagine it being more challenging for a young family with luggage to cross Paris by metro or taxi from one station to another. Our first destination was Valloire, in the Galibier Thabor ski domain. It is a traditional alpine town with plenty of bars, restaurants and shops. There is also an imposing baroque church in the centre, and several small chapels on the mountainside which are illuminated at night, it is charming. Our accommodation was comfortable, self-catering apartments in the residence, Les Chalets Du Galibier, two groups of 5 chalets containing apartments of various sizes. One of the main reception chalets also houses a swimming pool, a welcome retreat if not on the slopes. The residence is conveniently located next to a ski hire shop and also across the road from one of the main chair lifts and ski school meeting point. However, it is 1km uphill from the town and the supermarket so a bit of a hike. The ski domain itself offered a range of ski runs for all abilities and the 5th largest snowpark in France, quite an accolade for a small resort! With several restaurants at altitude and also a wonderful snow grotto to explore, it was easy to spend a whole day out exploring the domain. Our next destination was La Toussuire in the neighbouring ski domain of Les Sybelles. We stayed in Les Ecrins des Sybelles, a short 2 minute walk along the road to the main hub of the resort, bars, restaurants, shops and ski lifts. These apartments were very similar in style, with pine furniture, clean bath and shower rooms and well equipped kitchens. They also felt slightly larger in size and had great views from the apartment balconies. The ski domain of Les Sybelles consists of 5 small villages, La Toussiure being the main one. This makes exploring the domain naturally very easy and with many blue runs, enjoyable too! With many of the pistes being south facing, it did offer a very warm skiing experience, handy to know especially if you like south facing resorts or particularly dislike mushy snow. The domain also has a high proportion of drag lifts which can be off putting to some skiers or snowboarders. However, what I did find appealing about this resort is that it sits in a bowl so all the pistes return you to the town for a well-deserved après ski drink. At the foot of the slopes in La Toussuire is the residence, Les Hauts de Comborciere which is a ski-in ski- out residence. It also has a pool and a restaurant on site, and an equipment hire shop underneath so everything is very convenient in this location. There was the usual Sherpa supermarket in the town and it was easy to collect supplies and only around 200 metres to walk back to the residence. However, for guests that don’t want to worry about doing too much 'self-catering' in their 'self-catering' apartment, a local company provides a food hamper delivery service complete with cooking instructions. The hampers contain utility goods (loo rolls, bin bags) as well as food to cater for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some dietary requirements can be catered for and they have recently introduced a wine delivery service also to accompany the hampers. This is a handy way of catering for a family or group especially if everyone has different tastes as the meals can be varied, the preparation time is minimal and leaves more time for relaxation after skiing. Our return journey came about far too soon. As we set off to Chambery station to board the train to Paris, it demonstrated to us that the sheer volume of traffic on turnaround day should not be underestimated and to always leave sufficient time to make a connection. As we finally settled into our seats on the TGV, we could look forward to the smooth return journey to London via Paris, and nod off, dreaming of still being on the slopes!

24 January 2014

There are many ways of visiting Lapland, we decided to spend our family White Christmas in a log cabin in the woods, complete with open fire and a Christmas tree! Our chosen resort of Levi was very festive and offers plenty of facilities and activities, both outdoor and indoor, important as it can be very cold at times inside the Arctic Circle. In fact, we were lucky with the weather, it was mild for the time of year with temperatures ranging between +3C and -5C but still plenty of snow! A direct charter flight of approx. 3 hours and a 15 min coach transfer means the town is very accessible. And although it is only a small town, you will find modern and traditional accommodation in both self-catering apartments and cabins as well as hotels on half board basis. Levi appeals to a range of visitors but is especially suitable for families as children are well catered for. We all had great fun in the snow and there are so many winter activities to do, reindeer sleigh rides, dog sledding, snow mobiling (young children are towed in a covered pod so they are safe and warm), ice fishing, skiing (both downhill & cross country) or simply sledging. Of course Lapland is the home of Santa Claus and there is plenty of opportunity to see the Big Man himself, there are organised trips to his home and workshop or even a private visit to your accommodation, as we chose. Our boys were amazed when he arrived and asked to come inside and meet them! Levi is one of Finland’s ski resorts and home to the World Cup Run. Whilst it is not a vast ski domain like the Alps, it is suited to beginners and intermediates and great for ‘family ski’. The pistes are not overcrowded, the instructors speak good English, and it is a novelty that the pistes are floodlit, as there is only around 3-4 hours daylight during the winter months. Kids Land is one of 3 areas around the Fell (mountain) where it is free to ski, there are 2 lifts and 3 nursery slopes as well as a sledging slope, play area and children’s crèche. Many potential visitors to Lapland are concerned it will be too cold for them. Appropriate warm clothing is required but if you don’t have your own and don’t want to invest, you can hire thermal suits and boots to keep you cosy. You can also warm up throughout the day by visiting a kota, a traditional teepee with an open fire. Inside, there is warm berry juice on offer and you can bring along some sausages to cook. A short drive from Levi we visited the Snow Village and this was our family favourite! It is such an amazing sight and includes a restaurant and bar, a licenced chapel for wedding ceremonies and the beautifully carved Ice Suites. We didn’t stay overnight although you can, but we did enjoy a drink in the Ice Bar! With so much to do, our once in a lifetime trip will probably be repeated before too long! If you are interested in a visit Lapland too, please let me know and I can put together some recommendations for you!

30 May 2012

Antares Meribel is located in the extensive ski area of 3 Valleys which includes Meribel, Courcheval, Val Thorens and some smaller villages at lower altitude. It has a great position at 1700ft altitude and therefore generally has great ski conditions through to the end of the season. It is also located close to the Rond Point and near to a gondola station. It is comfortable and has a welcoming bar area, popular after a day on the slopes. Tea and coffee is laid out with snacks throughout the day so guests can help themselves. The hotel attracts a variety of nationalities, mainly French but because of the bilingual staff, we found no language barrier. It is a social environment and a great example was at the pool table in the bar; it was popular with youngsters who grouped together to play, irrelevant of nationality. Also in the dining room, the tables tend to be larger so that groups of people can dine together and staff often join in too. This can work well for guests who are holidaying alone as there is always someone to sit with. One of the main attractions of this village is the lovely panoramic restaurant with floor to ceiling windows extending onto a fabulous terrace overlooking the slopes. It’s a great place to soak up the spring sunshine after lunch. The food offered in the buffet restaurant was extensive and plentiful. There were several cooking stations with chefs ready to freshly prepare your salad, cook your meat to order or serve your dessert. There was also a range of hot dishes ready prepared and all delicious. It was a high standard of food served and the evening dining experience was amazing with an array of fresh seafood including oysters, mussels, crab, prawns and langoustines as well as a chocolate fountain with fruit skewers, and a variety of strawberry desserts. The attentive waiting staff were topping up glasses and clearing your plates ready to embark on the next course. With it being all inclusive, the bar drinks including cocktails are included (some premium drinks including XO brandies are chargeable) and wine is served with your meals. Soft drinks were also available as well as tea and coffee so guests can help themselves. It can work out to be good value too as the all inclusive basis not only means you don’t have to worry about paying for meals whilst you are in resort, but it also includes ski tuition (age dependent in different resorts) and your lift pass. You only pay extra for optional facilities such as the spa treatments or activities and your equipment. Skis, boards and boots are provided by the in house team which supply top brands and new gear. Antares Meribel has a gym and spa as well as an indoor/outdoor pool which was a novelty when it was snowing! This hotel did not have children’s clubs whereas others offer a range of facilities depending on age. Some are very family orientated but others attract mostly adults or families with older children. We chose to visit this one in particular because of its location and leisure facilities and we really enjoyed our time there.

20 April 2011

St Lucia Hewanorra Airport is located in the south of the island so to reach the many resorts along the north west coast, the transfer by road isf between approx. 1 hour 15 – 1 hour 45 mins. The road has been vastly improved over recent years and now has tarmac the whole way and it offers stunning views of the lush rainforest, banana plantations and numerous towns and villages. We opted to take a helicopter transfer to Castries airport, the capital on the west coast and an onward taxi. The flight was 10 minutes and taxi a further 15 mins. It was a great surprise for our children and we had great views of the atlantic coastline and the island from above. We stayed at Windjammer Landings, a great resort for families as there is much to occupy the children and happy children equals happy parents on holiday! The hillside location is wonderful and there are different villas and suites to choose between. We stayed in a modern 2 bedroom Hibiscus suite with jacuzzi on the balcony. This had great views of the resort and sea and had the advantage of being close to a pool, the beach and restaurants which was important with young children. The pathways around the resort are very steep so not really suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs or anyone with walking difficulties. Minibuses transport guests around the resort and we used this service to dine out at Papa Don’s the Mediterranean tavern high up on the hillside, just one of 5 restaurants at the resort. There is a full programme of daily events for everyone, for example the adults can take part in pool aerobics, yoga, language and dance classes and mixology lessons. Watersports offer complimentary snorkelling trips, water skiing, banana and tube rides, pedalos, kayaks and hobby cats. The inflatables in the sea are also great fun. The Jacquot Children’s Fun Club from 4 years offers many themed activities and is open until 10pm. For our younger children, we paid reasonable rates for a babysitter to supervise them within the children’s club with our older child, they all had great fun at Movie and Popcorn night, Talent Night and a Mini Disco. There are different board basis available at Windjammer Landings, we opted for all inclusive and I would recommend this to others. By paying upfront, you know what the holiday cost will be without worrying what sort of bill is adding up, drinks especially. You have the choice of a la Carte or buffet style restaurant for breakfast, the hotel also holds a couple of buffet style evenings each week. The food was tasty and there is a good range We did venture out of the resort and had a lovely day visiting Pigeon Island and Rodney Bay, taking a water taxi back to resort. We also hired a boat for a day trip to go down to the Pitons for snorkelling, sightseeing and sunbathing. The resort prepared a wonderful picnic lunch for us to take and it was a trip we will not forget.

26 May 2011

Having planned a fortnight in November to visit Walt Disney World Florida, we decided to include a 4 night mini cruise around the Bahamas in order to have a break from the theme parks. First of all, we agreed we could have stayed longer, we loved Disney so much, adults and children alike! However, the short cruise was wonderful and a great way to visit this part of the Caribbean which can be pricey as a land-based holiday destination. Walt Disney World offered so much, not just for children although families do make up a large proportion of visitors especially in school holiday periods. We arranged a Disney 14 day Ultimate Pass which gives the best value over a fortnight holiday. There are 4 theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios & Epcot), 2 water parks (Blizzard Beach & Typhoon Lagoon) and Downtown Disney with the DisneyQuest Interactive Theme Park. You can enter as many times as you like with this pass and it is recommended to spend at least 2 days in each park. As our boys are only 4 and 1, we were limited to the rides we could all go on but we discovered there was still so much we could see and do, frequent shows and parades which we all enjoyed and our days were packed! Highlights for our family (there are so many!) include the Character Greetings and collecting Autographs, the Lion King Show, It’s a Small World ride and dancing in the parade with Woody & Jessie from Toy Story 3! We stayed in a villa which was beautifully furnished and well equipped for the occasions we did eat in. With it’s own pool, spa and games room, it is a very convenient choice for families and good value too. There are many villa developments within a short driving distance of all the theme parks in the Orlando area. The 4 night Bahamas cruise departed Port Canaveral, approx 1 hour drive from the villa. It was well signposted and parking is right outside the terminal so it is easy to unload luggage and cross the road to security and check in. We chose a Royal Caribbean cruise, Monarch of the Seas. It is one of the smallest and oldest ships in the fleet but it was very well maintained, spotlessly clean, with hardworking, friendly crew and the food was delicious. We used the Kids Club for our 4 year old and the Playgroup for our 1 year old. The gym and the spa although small, were both well equipped and offered a range of classes and treatments. The first port of call was Coco Cay which is Royal Caribbean’s private island and reached by tender. It has been developed to offer guests a range of different leisure activities including a traditional Bahamian straw market, a range of watersports including jet ski hire and pedalos, it has the largest aquapark at sea and there are Kids Club facilities too including a racetrack for battery cars and quads – very popular within our family! There are plenty of sunbeds for all guests and different beach areas to relax. Drinks are served at your lounger or from the various bars and at lunchtime, a large buffet is served. The water is so turquoise and looking back at the photographs, they do not do it justice! It was amazing for us and the boys to walk through the shallow water and have fish swimming around our ankles! The second day we arrived in Nassau. We opted for an island tour in order to see as much as possible. As the ship departed at 2330, we also had time to look around Nassau itself and also eat our evening meal at the fish market at Arawak Cay with visitors and locals alike. Our 3rd day was spent at sea which is always a bonus so you can enjoy all that a ship has to offer! It was a great family holiday and we decided that we would definitely like to visit Florida again in the near future – a fantastic destination with so much going on!

26 May 2011

Dubai was a place I had wanted to visit for several years and so I was very excited to travel there in February 2010. The flight with Emirates was excellent and with it only being 6 hours, it is an easy distance with youngsters in tow. Dubai airport was amazing, clean and well signposted and we received our first taste of the exceptionally high customer service levels visitors receive in Dubai. We stayed at the Habtoor Grand Hotel & Spa which is on Jumeirah Beach near to the Marina. It is approximately 40 minutes drive by taxi but this is the best way to get around. Taxis are cheap and plentiful and the driving can be fast and stressful so it is a better option than a hiring a car. The suite at the hotel was great for a family of 4 as it was spacious and the hotel buffet breakfast included in the rate was extensive with Middle Eastern, Asian and European cuisine. I also liked this hotel for families as the pool area is landscaped and there are two waterslides which were great fun. Dubai has so much to offer visitors as it is both a beach and a city destination. It has ultra modern buildings, including the iconic Burj al-Arab and the world’s tallest building the Burj Khalifa but you also hear the call to prayer sounding out from the mosques nestled in between. Our favourite day out was visiting the traditional souks (markets) in Bur Dubai and Deira and crossing the Creek by abra, a traditional open sided boat costing 1 dirham per person each way. The modern malls are also impressive and house Ski Dubai, Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo and Dubai Ice Rink so there is plenty to see and do. There are several golf clubs including the Dubai Creek Yacht & Golf Club and the Emirates Golf Club. It is also easy to travel into the desert or to neighbouring countries such as Abu Dhabi and Oman but an organised tour, experienced guide or driver is recommended. Dubai is not a cheap destination but one of my recommended must-see’s is actually free - the Dubai Fountain, outside Dubai Mall. There are daily shows which are breathtaking. The choreographed fountain system shoots water into the air to a height of 275 metres! It is also set to a range of classical and contemporary world music –very impressive! Dubai is a destination I now recommend to a range of people, including couples of all ages and families because of the great weather, (avoiding UK summertime as far too hot!) wonderful service, many hotels, great range of places to visit and things to see and do. If you are thinking of a trip to Dubai, I would love to hear from you!