13 December 2023

As most of you know I recently visited Canada and spent 2 1/2 weeks staying in Banff and then a road trip beyond including Lake Louise ,Jasper and drove all the way over to Vancouver for the last few nights. The main reason for the visit was for our cousin’s daughter’s wedding, which our two girls MJ and Ruby were bridesmaids along with their other cousin Abi. This trip was meant to happen in 2020 but as we all know due to COVID we were unable to travel so this trip was 3 years in the making. 20 of us flew out to Calgary for the Wedding itself and we all stayed at the Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff. From there we went on various day trips and excursions to explore the local area and beyond. This week and next I will be blogging in more detail on the places we visited to give you more in-depth knowledge and inspire you to travel to Canada. It was truly awesome! We spent 8 nights in Banff at the Buffalo Mountain Lodge, www.crmr.com/resorts/buffalo-mountain/ The lodge itself was lovely, beautifully designed in a Log Cabin feel, very homely with open log fire in our room and under floor heating for a bit of extra warmth! The reception, staff and food all were great and would have no doubt to recommend this hotel for future clients, in fact I have booked Clients there for next year already! Banff is something special and deserves more time so I will be blogging about Banff in the next week. Banff is a great place to visit and perfect place to base yourselves in if you are travelling around the area, from here we visited Johnston's Canyon, the Athabasca Glacier, Banff Gondola, Lake Louise, Banff Hot Springs, The Wolf Dog Sanctuary, Lake Minnewanka and Banff itself. As you can see, we crammed in a lot that week however the main reason for going as I said was to attend our family wedding so it can offer as much as you wish, or you can spend a relaxing few days/week in Banff just absorbing the delight of this beautiful picturesque town. The wedding was held at the Fairmont Springs Hotel www.fairmont.com/banff-springs and was truly beautiful. It was a gorgeous day, the weather was good, the sun was shining, and the snow was on the ground, all be it cold with a little bit of a wind on top of the hill where the Fairmont is positioned however the wedding was beautiful. It was a very intimate wedding, and the room was just perfect for the number of guests. The staff at the Fairmont were brilliant, exceptional food and the room and décor were beautiful! I can highly recommend the Fairmont springs for a wedding and have lots of knowledge with all the different rooms that are available to hire for a small wedding such as ours which was 20 people or to much larger wedding parties too, there were of sorts of rooms available to fit any size of Wedding party. Canada itself is just vast and a 3-hour drive in between places is no big deal out there as these are the distances between places most of the time. The roads are superb to drive on, having the right vehicle I guess helps and if you do Canada- I’d highly recommend a beast of a car! We had some fun in ours for sure! I guess the only thing it leaves me to say right now is that I would return to Canada, it was truly incredible, and it is only from writing this and looking at all the photos, I’ve realized that we were so lucky to have experienced such an amazing country. My Thoughts – I would 100% return to Canada however at a different time of year, for two reasons really 1. To experience different scenery and wildlife, and 2. As things were closed moving into the Winter, we did miss out on a few key places that I would have loved to experience however that will wait until next time and seeing Canada in different seasons would be a complete privilege. What we did have was the snow in Banff which was priceless! My Next Blog- WestJet… to be continued.

15 December 2023

We travelled from London Heathrow to Calgary with WestJet on the 787 Dreamliner. We travelled in economy class, and I have to say I'm really impressed with their seating and the aircraft itself. It was a new aircraft with smart and comfortable seating with headrests that offered an extra head cushion that bent towards your head so if you are sleeping it offered extra head support. They also offered the usual blanket to keep you warm too. The windows were extra-large and self-shading, so you don't have the sunlight in your eyes and then went into night mode which is good. The service was excellent and staff very chatty and polite, food was as normal what you'd expect for an airline meal. What I do know do is that WestJet only sold beer and wine (no spirits ) on board. We did ask but it is only beer and wine given on board as complimentary and no spirits were available, which in fairness I believe is a good option. I can only speak if sitting in economy. On this particular aircraft Premium Economy and Business class seating was available too. I would have no hesitation in recommending WestJet in fact I will be promoting WestJet as a preferred airline to Canada, as not only a great airline but the pricing was very competitive an overall really good service. www.westjet.com/en-gb/aircraft/boeing-787-dreamliner

20 July 2022

My Travel Blog to Croatia July 2022 Departing from Birmingham on an early morning flight we decided to have a airport hotel for the night making things easier in the morning. With Jet2 they offer a twilight check in, so we checked our luggage in the night before with no queues, leaving us with hand luggage and a small overnight bag. In the morning this was perfect as we got to the airport and literally went through to security. Saying that on this morning, there wasn’t much queuing at check in anyway. Security took 40 minutes and before we knew it, we were boarding. The Flight was on time, and we were off. Jet2 cabin crew were very good and the aircraft also good. We landed in a split on time and collected our luggage right away. We were met by Jet2 ground crew who quickly showed us the way to our driver for our private car transfer. The journey was seamless, and the car transport was very comfortable. The hotel Horizont was perfectly clean and a good 4 star, the cleaning staff worked hard and were brilliant with fresh bedding and towels every 3rd day if I remember rightly and the rooms were spotless, and the beds were comfortable and had a fridge. The staff throughout the hotel were pleasant but not over friendly however having been to Croatia before, this is their manner. We were on a breakfast basis and the food was varied. Plenty of continental and fruits and cooked if desired, all very fresh and buffet style. The pool areas were clean, and the spa and gym also however didn’t use the pool as the sea was much more inviting! The girls and I had a 30min back massage and i have to say it was very good, a male masseuse and he knew his stuff and was around 25.00. As the holiday went on the hotel remained spotless and the staff were helpful when we asked them questions. My only disappointment was the spa facilities. The hydro pool jets did not work and when I asked, they told me they hadn’t worked in 4-5 years! however they advertise as being one of the best spas in Croatia! This was a disappointing as I really wanted to use the hydro pool often. The spa itself was very lovely but given how large the hydro was and took up lots of room you would have thought they would have fixed it by now. I didn’t use the saunas, but they had at least 6-8 different ones on offer. Baska Voda Resort was unchanged since the last time we visited back in 2014 which was pleasing as it was lovely then. Very traditional, popular with Croatians on holiday and nationalities from Poland, Austria, Swiss and Germany. As before there wasn’t many English however most staff speak good English as the Croatian language is not easy to learn in 12 days. Croatian food is superb with many seafood options and great for vegetarians or vegans and pescatarians! If you like pizza and pasta too, there was a massive Italian influence. We ate seafood pretty much daily, catch of the day, scampi- (langoustines) Tuna steak, Seabass, White fish, mussels, and lobster! We were in heaven! If you are a meat eater, I would say more limiting, chicken is a favourite on the menu as is steak and veal, but that’s about it. Plenty of salad options and sharing plates. The sea, of course is a big draw and the beaches can be busy however the area we went to most days was quiet in noise considering the number of people. The sea was crystal clear and refreshing. This isn’t a sandy beach it is pure pebbles so wore beach shoes which we’re a problem at all, however The Croatians are a little more hardcore and didn’t need them! Sun beds were 50Kn per day and umbrellas 30kn - we bought foam beds and used these whilst there and were perfectly comfortable and convenient to carry too as very light (we were only 50m) from hotel anyway. These widely available and were 120Kn Inflatables were 150Kn There are many beach and souvenir shops and a range boutique clothing and jewellery shops to wander. Plenty of restaurants to choose from and a couple of supermarkets if self-catering. The staff in all the shops were very friendly and helpful. Although the supermarket staff seemed unfriendly or perhaps unhappy! ?? We visited the next resort along Makarska for the day and wandered around d the old town area and visited the daily market stalls and ate there. A very pleasant day out. From here you can catch the ferry to the island of Brac. A lovely island to visit (as we have been before) Baska Voda, is a multi-generation resort, lots of families, couples and groups of friends, always a lovely relaxed atmosphere and very safe! The nightlife is good with a couple of beach bars and one larger beach bar/Club offering cocktails, music, and DJ sets but all very relaxed and a great atmosphere for all ages. Baska Voda, offers boat trips, water sports such as jet ski, paddle boarding, Paragliding, inflatable rides, fishing trips, part- submarine adventure and island hopping too. It also offers, day trips involving buggies, River rafting and adventure tours into the mountains and national parks. It is a perfect location for a great family holiday wanting something a little ‘Non-English’. All Inclusive doesn’t really exist in this area however I know of a couple of hotels in different parts of Croatia now offering this but eating out is a big thing here and well worth it. It’s the most beautiful scenic area and great for walking and exploring. Car hire is not required however also a great option to see more of the country! This is the 4th time we have visited Croatia and it did not disappoint. We love this country and i can highly recommend it. Currency – 100HRK = 12.00 GBP 500HRK = 61.00 GBP 1000HRK = 122.00 GBP 5000HRK = 610.00 GBP Excursions - Rafting down Cetina River Plitvice lakes Boat trip to Brac Quad/Buggy tour Zipline https://splitoutdooradventure.com/quad-tours-from-split Travelling to Croatia Travelling time -Flight 2.5 hours from UK Transfer time from split to Baska Voda- 1hr15mins in private car. Cost of meals- Pizza- 55Kn Pasta - 80Kn Seabass fillet - 120kn Prawns in shells - 140kn Mussels- 80kn Lobster (for 2) - 900Kn Tomahawk steak for 2 = 380kn

19 October 2020

New York What a fabulous trip we had spending the New Year of 2020 in the city that doesn’t sleep! New Year’s Eve in New York was incredible and everything I wanted it to be it was. Its busy, its bustling, and yes there is security and police and crowds but everyone is in high spirits including the police and we had a fantastic evening just on the streets full of people taking in the countdown of the ball drop near times square where they had big screens to look on and count the New Year in. For people wanting to stay indoors then there are so many options to choose from however for me it wasn’t something I was happy to spend 150.00 dollars minimum per person doing. It was about the atmosphere and just being present. Apart from the New Year celebrations that we wanted to go for, I must say and a Top Tip- you really must be prepared for peak season crowds and queuing. This is by no means an easy city at this time of year and everything takes twice if not 3-4 times longer than usual. Probably anything from mid-December right through to 4-5 January, you are talking a lot of people, however the last couple of days of our trip we noticed a huge difference and no queuing at all which by then was a blessing however even though busy, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. We went for this reason and we survived and enjoyed it so much it was a fantastic experience and a memory that will last for many years to come so for us a must do at Christmas and New Year! Just go for it! Forgetting the time of year for a moment, the bright lights of New York is spectacular. We stayed at the Hilton Midtown, a perfect hotel for families, Couples and Friends. The smell went you walked through the revolving doors was amazing! Each time we entered to go in and out it gets you and that is the first thing I remember about this lovely hotel. Then, the service, the staff were fantastic, it was cleaned thoroughly each day, spacious rooms and a great choice for location. There wasn’t anything I would change about this and I highly recommend this hotel and have done already! New York is mostly geared for families with older children, (mine are 15 and 13) or groups of friends and couples. This city offers so much to see and do, and it took us 9 days to see the main sights due to the busyness however travelling outside of peaks, a 4 day trip would be great as you can fit a lot in each day. Before we went in true “Travel Agent” style, I planned an itinerary and so glad we did as this was vital for making sure we covered everything we wanted to see and do. It did change of course due to weather, distances and the mood we were in but overall there wasn’t anything we didn’t do that we had on our list. The perfect way to plan and again this is something I offer when booking New York is the New York Pass or the Sightseeing Pass. This allows you to experience over 100 attractions and discounted meals and tours. The pass is pre-booked and Pre payable in the UK (I can book these) and it covers pretty much every attraction NY has to offer and you don’t pay a thing in NY. Its an app on your phone with a manual guidebook (if required) the passes are loaded on the app and scan as you go. There are some attractions you don’t have to book in advance and just rock up and scan however there are a few tours (due to numbers) you pre-book on the app before you go and you have a time and day booked to do the tour you wish. Its easy but its all in the Planning so another recommendation is to Plan, take a few nights at home to sit, talk and plan your trip. Its essential! Here are some of things we experienced, and I recommend – I would highly recommend “The Ride” (I don’t want to spoil it, so I am choosing not to say anymore but it’s fun!) Fun for any age group. We did it in the evening but there is day tours too. I liked the evening as you get the full effect of the lighting. The movie and TV tours are a definite must! There are several on offer so make sure you read the details as you really want to make sure it includes your favourite locations in those sitcoms and movies! Outlet shopping- there are a couple of options however we went for Woodbury Common and it was a great choice, we literally shopped all day and the prices were crazy and we came away with some amazing bargains with some really good brands. The usual must sees are definitely statue of Liberty ferry and seeing the Manhattan skyline , the empire state building during the evening as you can see all the lights of Downtown New York and then my favourite was Top of the Rocks during the day as you can not only get a perfect view of the empire state building and on the other side the far view of Central Park and the Hudson river and beyond! We also visited, Rockefeller Centre and Radio City where we had the absolute privilege of the Christmas Spectacular! WOW this truly was the most magical show I have ever seen and one we will never forget! We are also honour to have spent the day at Ground Zero and the Memorial, this is a special place and having been to New York some years ago having seen the Twin Towers and then back again when the ground was still being cleared from this devastating event and now to see a true memorial of impact this terrible event caused was truly heart pulling. This truly honours every life and you do really get a sense of that awful world changing day. We also did some unusual experiences that maybe perhaps on a short trip you wouldn’t do but as we were there for 9 days, I wanted to experience more the “Must do’s” and we certainly did. One of them was a Graffiti walking tour of Brooklyn which although it was pouring down with rain on this day it was great to image the graffiti art that is appreciated rather than painted over! There are some amazing pieces and meaningful images that allows people to express themselves to the full. The other tour we did was a Gospel tour of Harlem on a Sunday morning and taking in a Gospel Sunday morning worship which was incredible too. We also experience a bike carriage ride around central park and ice staking too which was fantastic way to end our incredible 9 days. We would not Have changed anything, the smells the culture, the shopping, the people the crazy busyness was wonderful! As you can see we literally did so much and had a fun filled action packed time in New York and cannot wait to return.

17 July 2018

What can I say. Do you remember a time when looking at pictures in travel brochures or on the internet of beaches that have turquoise sea and white powder sand and think - I wonder if there is a place that really exists? Well, I can confirm there is - Turks and Caicos, the most beautiful beach and sea I have ever seen and as you know I have done some travelling. Each morning I would have to pinch myself to make sure I was really taking a holiday here. I travelled in May 2018 with my family and took to the skies with BA with a touchdown in Antigua for an hour to get to Providenciales on Turks, “Provo” for short. On arrival (as expected really) there is a small one terminal airport, with one baggage reclaim and 2 maybe 3 security and whole bunch of friendly people to welcome you to this beautiful island. We were quickly greeted by the Beaches staff and escorted to our minivan and taken to the Beaches Resort (10mins drive). From landing, I think it took a whole 40mins. Perfect! Beaches Resort welcomed us with cool refreshing towels and check in was a pleasure. As the resort is split into four villages with walkways to many restaurants, pools and facilities it was suggested that we did a familiarisation tour of the resort first thing in the morning which we took advantage of. This proved to be so valuable as we didn’t waste any time finding anything and knew pretty much all the areas to explore and enjoy. Beaches Resort is located on Grace Bay and is the most pristine beach I have seen and is voted one of the best beaches in the world. A little walk down the beach is home to a reef and is abundant with marine life right at your feet. Snorkelling is fantastic! The island itself also hosts many other snorkelling sites and dive sites too and there are plenty of opportunity to take advantage of these trips. We stayed in the Caribbean Village and the accommodation was very spacious and modest with a lovely view of the gardens, pool and sea in the distance. We would enjoy a lovely sunset from here. I was able to look around all the villages and many room types here as a travel agent, so I can advise on all the villages, whom they are suited for and the layout which is valuable information if anyone is wanting to travel here. As for the restaurants, bearing in mind we have never done an all-inclusive before, this was exceptional. A la carte breakfast to dinner and lots in between the food was fresh, well presented and delicious. It was the bar staff at the Caribbean Pool bar that made us laugh every day. They were very entertaining, so much fun and had the best time talking to everyone and socialising. The saying from the very funny "Bishop" the bar staff was - Why...why..why not! As for facilities, I would like to say how great the kid’s facilities were. Located in one area so our girls could go off and explore on their own knowing we were close, the waterpark was a great asset and teen club too. The staff work so hard at this resort constantly and tirelessly servicing the resort and the people. They work long hours and always had a smile and a lovely greeting for us from the restaurants to the groundsman to the reception to the cleaners. They were all so lovely and very good at their jobs. They are a credit to the resort and I would definitely return.

17 July 2018

I was lucky enough to earn a place on an Educational trip to Southern California April 2018. This was a self-drive trip with 4 fellow Travel Counsellors and we were to experience the delights taking in various places such as Huntington Beach, LA, San Diego and Palm Springs. In each place we experienced the local excursions, local food and hospitality from the local tourist office and hotels that hosted the trip. Firstly, starting in Heathrow, we flew on the direct service in economy to LA with American airlines. AA as an airline I thought were great with good seating, good variety of entertainment and service. I would definitely recommend and fly AA again. On arrival at LA we collected our car and headed to Huntington beach which should have been 1 ½ hours’ drive but given the time of day 5-6pm this took a lot longer. I think my top tip would be for anyone driving in this area would be to avoid this time of day and take an earlier flight. On arrival at Huntington beach we checked in at the Hilton Waterfront hotel and this was a great hotel with views of the beach. Our first experience was to hire bikes and ride along the beach paths. What a great experience and a lot of fun! Firstly, I don’t often ride so this was the fun part likewise a couple of my colleagues didn’t ride much so we pretty much spent the time laughing at each other’s lack of bike skills! I can say though this is the best way to see the area. Our second experience was a boat trip along Huntington Harbour thanks to “Captain Doug” and Duffy Boats! We had a private charter with drinks and nibbles. Captain Doug took us all through the harbour pointing out various local interests and explaining the area, we took a very interesting turn that I can only describe as scene from “Only Fools and Horses” where Del and Rodney hire a boat and take it across the seas to Amsterdam! To tell the story, whilst in the harbour a US military ship was in dock and we quietly sailed past when the military raced up in their rib boat to instruct us to stay clear (we were nowhere near) but they were doing their job I guess. We passed the ship and went towards the opening to the sea where Captain Doug turned around and started to head towards the harbour dock where we started, before you knew it, we had the military once again instructing us that we had to go out to sea and was not allowing us back as the US Ship was going to depart! With that we headed out to sea. This is the bit where Rodney is sick overboard! The boat we were in wasn’t exactly for the high seas and with the waves crashing over the sides and us rocking around Captain Doug handed it amazingly (we could not stop laughing) and took us back to a harbour nearby and docked at a completely different area. With that we had a drink on dry land and his lovely wife came and drove us back to where we had to be. It was the funniest thing ever! Great service, Great experience and again lots of fun! After a great stay at Huntington Beach we headed off to san Diego driving down the Pacific Coast Highway (scenic route) and loved it! Arriving in San Diego we took advantage of the Downtown area on that evening and took in the local Baseball game! It was a brilliant night with the local team Padres vs. New York Mets. We literally got with the locals and enjoyed the game. There was a fantastic atmosphere and the stadium was buzzing! The following day we visited the harbour area of San Diego taking in the USS Midway. Great day exploring this amazing aircraft carrier. This is a must see whilst in San Diego. The afternoon was spent exploring Seaport Village whish was a great place to eat. Now having left San Diego, we headed for the desert, Palm Springs and on arrival took in the Ariel Tramway. Now, given I do not like heights, I did extremely well (I didn’t look down). This cable car can take up to 80 people at one time! Once at the top the view is stunning at the front and a fantastic view of all of Palm springs and the windmills, however at the back was pure forest, mountains and beauty. Our final experience of the trip was Indian Canyons Tour/Desert Adventures Jeep Tour and again this is a real highlight! Travelling into real Indian country, learning about the history, culture and getting a real sense of authenticity. We did a mile trek through the canyon and the views were amazing. To sum the trip up in a few words, I felt we had experienced the best of these places. The tours/experiences we did were fantastic. The people we met were great. So much passion for their country, the willingness to show off their homeland shone through. It was a fantastic trip and I would urge anyone to go there and take in some of the things we experienced.

08 June 2015

After winning a three night trip to Dubai with Qantas and One and Only Royal Mirage we jetted off to have a luxury weekend away to enjoy the hot sunshine and fantastic service and food that Dubai has to offer. We had travelled here before en-route to Australia three years ago with the girls but this time it was a trip just for the two of us, so experienced a very relaxing break. The hotel is stunning and the service is outstanding. All sea-facing rooms and amazing restaurants to eat in, the atmosphere is totally exceptional. Dubai certainly holds it price when you are there especially in the hotels however walking to the famous marina area "The Walk" you can find more reasonable options for eating. If you like shopping then this is definitely the place for you with big malls to suit all tastes. Eating in the Malls offer amazingly good food at good value. The Dubai Mall also offers the famous Singing Fountains overlooked by the Burj Khalifa. With a seven hour overnight flight on the outbound and return flight we were able to get the most of our three night stay and had four full days to enjoy. Perfect for a long weekend.

08 June 2015

For a surprise for the family and as my eldest daughter was leaving primary school this year it would be my last chance to enjoy the magic that Christmas brings so I decided to look out for a good deal to Lapland. It didn't take long before I had booked the four of us on a day trip departing Exeter departing middle of December 2014. A very long day but the best surprise ever, Waking the girls up at 4am, they were in total shock and really didn't understand that they were off to Lapland. We departed Exeter with a slight delay (the aircraft was frozen) and three hours later crossing over the Arctic Circle into Swedish Lapland. A very remote and unspoiled area and very surreal. The aircraft landed on runway that was covered in snow and everything was white. It was snowing most of the day so we didn't get chance to see the Northern Lights but enjoyed the snow falling as it was nothing like we have in the UK, Soft, fluffy and lots of it! It was truly magical. We started the day with a Husky ledge ride through the forest ending up in the wilderness over a frozen lake. We then had a traditional hot drink in a Teepee with reindeers outside. A traditional Lappish lunch was next and this was lovely and served in a beautiful log cabin. We then went on to the exhilarating snow mobiles and this was brilliant. I have never been on one before let alone driven one and had the most amazing time, the girls did not stop laughing! We ended the day (well evening as it is dark by then with a reindeer ride and a lovely walk into the forest to see Father Christmas in his log cabin. He spoke to the children and they handed there letters over and we said our goodbyes. A traditional goodbye song at the airport from the Lappish people was the perfect ending to a magical day.