18 October 2018

As the title says, Thailand really is a place for 'foodies'! The food is simply scrumptious! During my 10-day trip to Thailand I was so lucky to visit and stay in some fabulous hotels in the Phuket and Khao Lak region and of course eat some amazing food. There really is something for all budgets. Personally, I love a villa with private pool, so the Banyan Tree ticked that box or a swim out room and the Sands by Katathani in Khao Lak got my vote for that one! But if you want something beach based and close to nightlife you will have a great selection around the Patong, Karon Beach area. The Amari Phuket was a lovely hotel overlooking the bay and a short Tuk Tuk ride to the bars and restaurants. A real wow factor was the Luxury Eco Friendly Santhiya Resort on the island of Koh Yao Yai. 20mins from Phuket Marina and you'll arrive at this fabulous tropical beachfront retreat. I love being on the ocean and the highlight of the trip for me was speedboating around the different islands. Including the famous James Bond Island and the floating village of Koh Panyi. You can also take a canoe ride around the caves, rock tunnels and lagoons. The water is crystal clear and the most amazing tones of blues. Don’t forget your GoPro or camera. A truly stunning day out! If you prefer a little culture you are never far from an amazing temple and of course Big Buddha is located in Phuket. Now, for those that know me, I’m no chef! So, the Thai Cookery Class was going to be an experience. By the end of the day I’d cooked a starter, main and pudding from scratch all by myself and best of all it was edible! Eating and drinking is so reasonable. From £2-4 for a good Pad Thai, Chicken Curry, Stir Fry, Fish Dishes or any main dish really. Street food is even cheaper, so you won’t go hungry. If you see the locals eating in a restaurant you know it’s going to be good. Soft drinks approx. 40p a can and a local beer £1-2! Eating and drinking in hotels will normally cost a little more. The weather was lovely, hot and humid with very little rain. But if you want the best weather, head to Phuket from Oct-April. The weather does vary across Thailand so best to check the weather if you don’t want to be there during the wet season. This was my first time to Thailand and I’ll most certainly be going back. I just need to decide where to stay as I saw so many lovely hotels I’m now spoilt for choice!

03 March 2016

I didn't need asking twice when I was invited to fly to New York with La Compagnie on their inaugural flight from Luton to Newark. Myself and 3 other agents were invited to attend this prestigious event with 3 night in New York staying at the Knickerbocker Hotel. La Compagnie are a brand new boutique airline, offering 74 seats in an all business class cabin on their 757 aircraft. Flying from Luton was amazing, I'd never flown from Luton before but was so impressed how stress free the process was. From arrival at the Car Park, Check-In, Fast Track Security and to the Executive Lounge took just 30 minutes!!! We had a relaxing hour in the lounge, enjoying the complimentary snacks and bubbles! At the gate, prior to boarding an official Press Conference and naming ceremony took place, including speeches from Franz Yvelin the CEO of the airline and Nick Barton the CEO of Luton Airport. Boarding the shiny new aircraft I immediately felt as if it was a private jet. The pastel blue interior was very calming and gave a light airy feel in the cabin. My comfy lie flat seat was fitted with USB ports, all important for charging my iphone and ipad!. Lots of space and a handy ipad pocket. But for those without an ipad or tablet, your in-flight entertainment, menu and general information is provided by a hand held Samsung Galaxy tablet. A complimentary bottle of water in it's own cubby hole was a nice touch and good use of space, along with the luxury amenity pack including Caudalie products. I also spotted the massage function in the seat, so I enjoyed a little massage after dinner before enjoying a few hours sleep before arriving in New York. Once I'd settled in my seat, the immaculate Flight Attendant offered me a drink followed by a lovely selection of Hor D'Oeuvres...and more drinks and more drinks...Then dinner... WOW..Dinner, I cannot tell you how amazing the presentation and food was, it was superb!! Who ever said their food on a flight was like a top class restaurant..I and the other agents and passengers were impressed it was a talking point. The food continues to amaze people and possibly the most photographed aircraft food ever!! On arrival into Newark we went straight to the executive lounge, where we attended another Press Conference and Welcoming Ceremony and of course plenty of drinks and snacks for us. All passengers travelling with La Compagnie have complimentary access to both Luton and Newark lounges. Formalities done dusted we headed off to our hotel located on Times Square. I found the journey time from Newark to Manhattan quicker than my previous flight into JFK. 30minutes later we arrived at the luxury Knickerbocker Hotel. My room was huge!!!! Most hotels in New York offer small rooms, but this was superb. I dashed over to my floor to ceiling window, opening the electronic blinds to be completely blown away by my view...Times Square in all it's glory. Oh I thought, what about the noise, but I didn't hear a thing. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The bathroom was a dream and the attention to detail was great, it was no surprise to find out it was designed by a lady. A black flannel with 'make up' embroidered on was genius. Ideal for ladies to remove their make up with ruining their white ones!! The Bellboys uniform was in keeping with the history of the Knickerbocker Hotel, and for you guys who likes a flash car, the Aston Martin house car might impress you. The car will run you within 10 blocks. Due to the flight times, it works really well because you arrive in time get to your hotel and have a good night sleep, waking early as you do when you fly west, but I didn't suffer the jet lag like normal do. And so my time in New York for 3 night began.....It was lovely to do things I'd missed previously. Visit Grand Central Station, walk across Brooklyn Bridge, see the new Freedom Tower at Ground Zero and of course do what I do best...SHOPPING!!! During our stay we also visited the Grand Hyatt at Grand Central Station and Hyatt Times Square to have a show round and a meals with the Sales Manager. The time flew by and before I knew it I was back in my spacious seat ready for take off. The 22:20 departure time not only means you have a full day in NY on your last day, but by then you are ready to sleep and the overnight flight enables you to get a good night sleep. My friend Zoe fell asleep before take off, whereas I wanted to sample the in flight meal. I'm glad I stayed awake, it was scrummy. Then it was time to settle down and sleep, the quiet cabin and soft lighting meant most passengers snuggled down and sleep. I slept so well I woke 30 minutes before landing! It all sounds very flash and something short of a lottery win, most of us could only dream of....BUT you'd be wrong...La Compagnie offer this amazing service for a fraction of the cost of it's competitors business class seat. Follow my me on Facebook to see the amazing prices I can offer you, or email me to add to my mailing list. The DUO OFFER was £1,300 for 2 return!!!!! Which other airline offering this service would get you to New York for less than £1,000 return? Would I fly with them again.....A BIG YES!!!

19 August 2014

I was fortunate enough to go to Hurghada twice in a couple of weeks. My first holiday was in June with Darren and our two friends, then I was home for a week and went back again with my daughter Gaby and our friend Kirsty. You know I have a passion for the Caribbean but wanted the weather and warm sea but not the flying time! So Hurghada in Egypt fitted the bill. Just a five hour flight from Gatwick and a short transfer. On arrival at Hurghada airport I have to say it was a little overwhelming and didn't seem very well organized, but we were soon in our private taxi to take us on the 20 minute transfer to our hotel, Sunrise Grand Select Crystal Bay. Upon arrival at approx. 9:30pm the temperature was still 31 degrees. Excellent! The hotel was spotlessly clean and the staff were very attentive. We were greeted with a welcome drink and shown to our Deluxe Room, which overlooked the perfectly manicured gardens. We woke up to pure sunshine, 40 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. That's how it remained for the week. Ours days were spent around the pool, mostly under the pool cabanas, as the sun was intensely hot and very little breeze. However the pool bar ensured we were kept well hydrated. Come the afternoon a little cocktail was very welcome! The pool area was huge and spacious, however you did need to reserve the sunbeds early in the morning, something we were not use to doing but hey 'when in Rome...' as the saying goes! As an all-inclusive hotel we had a selection of places to eat, the main buffet restaurant had plenty to choose from and did cater for all. There were quite a lot of European guests so the selection catered for them considerably. We enjoyed the specialty restaurants, the Indian in particular. After a couple of days we were upgraded to the Pool Suite. Wow, this was amazing! The Pool Suites have their own private pool, located on the beach with your own private beach Cabana and butler to supply drinks during the day. Anyone thinking of staying here really must stay in a Pool Suite. Not only is the suite huge and luxurious, the benefits totally change the overall holiday experience. Most of all not having to worry about getting up early to reserve your pool sun loungers! You can also rent the beach cabanas daily if you are staying in the main hotel rooms. They are approximately $25 per day. The Sunrise Grand Select is ideal for couples. Families are of course welcome and there were a few families there during our stay but the children's entertainment is quite low key. So I guess great if you have kids but don't want the full on 'Butlins' vibe! I always like to check out the Spa and have a treatment whilst I'm on holiday. During my stay I had two facials and they were amazing, I would highly recommend having that done at some point. Would I go back to the Sunrise Grand Select Crystal Bay? Yes, but in a Pool Suite without doubt. So after a week back home and just enough time to do my laundry and repack, I was heading to Hurghada again. This time I stayed at the Sunwing Waterworld Makadi with Gaby and Kirsty. The airport didn't seem as bad second time round as I knew what to expect. This holiday was quite different as the Sunwing Waterworld is a family orientated hotel with its own waterpark. I was highly impressed with the design of this hotel, which opened in 2012. Within the Makadi complex, which hosts the Makadi Spa Hotel, Makadi Palace, Grand Makadi and the Makadi Mall which includes some of the all-inclusive specialty restaurants. Our Junior Suite room overlooked the Lazy River. The room itself was a good size, with a separate lounge area and massive bathroom. Another plus point, there were plenty of mirrors. So many hotels I notice lack mirrors! As you'd expect from a waterpark hotel, it catered really well for families. The waterpark for the younger children was a big hit and meant that younger children stayed around this area. The Lazy River was great for all ages, the three waterslides catered for the older children and the wave pool was a hit with all ages. We were happy to spend our days around the main pool, taking a dip every 10 minutes to cool down. The hotel is located on the beach so we'd also nip down to the sea for a quick swim. The girls would be happy doing their own thing and I was only too happy to stay on my lounger reading my Kindle whilst they went on the slides or in the Lazy River. Kirsty was great at waking early to pop to the pool and reserve our loungers. Again I didn't feel happy about doing this, but it was a case of having to! The beach was lovely with plenty of sun loungers with rattan shades. The sea was crystal clear and like walking into a warm bath; perfect for swimming and snorkelling. Being so clear, the fish were easy to see without actually having to snorkel. The hotel has plenty of dining options. Each restaurant you had to book in advance apart from the buffet restaurant. Thankfully we only had to eat at the main buffet restaurant once, as we weren't keen on it. The other restaurants were great: Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Egyptian, French and Mediterranean. During the day there was also a pancake and waffle station which was very popular. So plenty to choose from unless of course you're a fussy eater! During June, July and August the weather really is hot and the evenings very warm too, not dipping below 30 I noticed. But unlike the Caribbean it's a very dry heat, so if like me, you have unruly wavy hair naturally and straighten it daily, you don't have the worry of it going frizzy in the humidity! Another plus point for me! Being so dry also we didn't have the worry of mosquitos! Although some people had more to worry about - Egypt tummy. However if you go prepared like we did using Antibac hand gel and watch what you eat you'll be fine. So if you want a holiday with guaranteed sunshine, good standards of hotels, all inclusive, close to home then consider Hurghada.

05 December 2013

After months of my daughter nagging me about going to New York, I finally gave in! A few months of planning and we were off, we had an action pack itinerary with all of our sightseeing trips pre booked before we left. This not only saved us time but money as well, as it didn't eat into our spending money - which of course we needed every penny to shop shop shop! So we flew out to NYC early on the 21st Nov, after a 7hr comfortable flight with BA and after an hour in a cab from JFK we arrived at our hotel in Midtown Manhattan. No sooner had we checked in and dropped our bags off we were back out again. The 5hr time difference meant we had all afternoon and evening to explore. No time to feel sleepy - we were in the city that didn't sleep! And only being there for four nights we didn't want to waste a second. Our location was perfect, situated on West 57th we were just a short walk to Times Square, Broadway and 5th Ave. Walking down Broadway to Time Square really was a WOW experience. It was just like I imagined it and as you see in the movies... yellow cabs, horns, sirens, bright lights, buildings as tall as the eye can see and even steam coming up from the man hole covers in the roads...this was NYC...what a place! Our days were busy and long, we did the MOVIES & TV SET TOUR, TOP OF THE ROCK, EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, STATUE OF LIBERTY, CENTRAL PARK and on our last day we went to the 9/11 Memorial site. All of these I would highly recommend and it's worth pre booking. A couple of tips: We took the Staten Island ferry to see the Statue of Liberty as it's free, runs every 30mins and you get just as good a view! When you visit the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock, do one during the day and one at night. Shopping...needs little introduction. We loved going to MACYS and BLOOMINGDALES and seeing their Christmas windows and of course making some purchases inside the store! Luckily some of the BLACK FRIDAY sales had started so we managed to get some bargains. However NYC isn't as cheap as other cities in the US. Food and drink...in typical New York style we often ate 'on the go', grabbing a $.99 cent pizza slice and a Starbucks to keep us going. One place I'd highly recommend is ELLENS STARDUST DINER, we ate breakfast there and it was just amazing. Such a great atmosphere for 9am with the waiters taking it in turns to sing to the restaurant whilst serving us. You Tube/Google it…you'll see what I mean. Eating out can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be, like any place really. You certainly won’t go hungry that's for sure! Getting around in NYC is really easy, cabs are readily available and they charge by the block so not too expensive, if you take the bus it's so cheap $2.50 per trip no matter if you go one block or 30! Or if like us you choose to walk most of the time, make sure you wear comfy footwear otherwise by the end of the day you'll suffer. I don't think I've ever walked so much, I even joked to Gaby that I would recommend people doing a few weeks training on a treadmill before they come to NEW YORK!! Our 5 days flew by, we were glad we had an itinerary to ensure we did everything we wanted to otherwise you could run out of time. Lastly we need to pack before we left, thankfully we both had the wisdom to take very little with us to make sure we had room for all of our shopping. Pleased to say we just about squeezed everything in and was up to our 23kgs allowance! One nice little surprise as we left, the hotel had upgraded our yellow cab to a LIMO back to JFK! That just finished our trip off a treat. Will I be taking another bite of the Big Apple?...never say never!

09 July 2013

I think it’s really important to give my clients advice and information based on first-hand experiences. That’s one of the reasons I love being part of Travel Counsellors because I get the opportunity to go on a number of educational trips. I’ve been very fortunate to travel to some amazing places. I have recently returned from a trip to Mexico with 9 of my Travel Counsellor colleagues. We met at Gatwick to begin our exciting trip to Cancun. Having already checked in online I had my boarding pass and just needed to print my luggage label from the self-service check-in point and drop my bags off. This process is so simple, quick and really efficient. Upon arrival the first thing to hit you is the temperature and humidity. During my stay the humidity was around 85% and hot hot hot! From the airport to downtown Cancun is approx. 30mins, however the start of the main ‘hotel zone’ is around 15mins. A highlight of the short journey was the amazing view – just like a postcard! The sea is so blue and the beaches are bright white and so long. This was a real WOW moment. Before I knew it we had arrived at our first hotel, the Fiesta Americana Condesa. Like most of the hotels in Cancun this is a 24hr all inclusive hotel which offers a range of dining options and plenty of activities as well as entertainment. My room was spacious and had fantastic views of the ocean. The second hotel we stayed in was the Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Resort & Spa, located in the heart of downtown Cancun. This all-suite property is near a great variety of shops, bars and restaurants. Whilst we stayed on a B&B basis, it offers two restaurants which are beautiful. My room was well appointed and large. If you like a spa hotel you will not be disappointed here. I have to say this is by far the largest spa I have ever seen in a hotel. Another WOW moment! Our final hotel was the adult’s only Live Aqua hotel which again is very central and is opposite the Isla Mar Shopping centre. It has a very calm and relaxed atmosphere. The rooms were modern and contemporary and as a nice touch every room has an oil burner. Each night a selection of oils are provided and you can choose your favourite. During the turn-down service, they burn the oil for you and run a bath ready for your return. It’s fantastic – a perfectly tranquil end to the day On the second day of our trip we went to XEL HA in Riviera Maya. It is classed as one of Mexico’s natural wonders and is the world’s largest natural Aquarium. The natural water park is about an hour and a half drive from Cancan and has many beautiful inlets, lagoons and caves. If you want you can snorkel, swim with dolphins, experience the zip wire, have encounters with stingrays and even cliff jump. Alternatively you could just relax and sunbath in one of the hammocks around the lagoon or ride the lazy river on one of the many inflatables provided. There are over 400 species of plants and fish living in this area. The park is all-inclusive and there is a choice of 2 restaurants. Towels are also provided for and there are full changing room facilities with showers to freshen up at the end of the day. Our next stop was the natural park XCARET. It may appeal more to families with younger children as there is lots for them to do including a butterfly pavilion, coral reef aquarium , beach area, flamingos, spider monkey island , deer shelter, Tropical Jungle trail, Manatee and stingrays Lagoon, as well as a wildlife breeding farm. There is also the opportunity to swim with sharks. You can swim through the underground caves and rivers. That evening I experienced the Xcaret Mexico Espectascular show. It’s acted out by 260 performers and portrays the traditions and history of Mexico through the ages right up to modern times. Another excursion I would highly recommend was a day out on the Albatros Catamarans to Isla Mujeres. This is a beautiful idyllic Island which boasts crystal clear waters and pure white powdery sands. We spent the whole day on the Catamaran. During the course of the day our group enjoyed being able to snorkel, power sail, and swim in the amazing clear warm blue sea which was fantastic. If activities aren’t for you, then just lying on deck and taking in the sun and the scenery is a fabulous day out in itself. If you like a bit of history head to Tulum. Tulum is the site of archaeological ruins and is about an hour and a half by bus from Cancun. Tulum means wall or fence and it is in fact the old walled Mayan city. Unfortunately it did rain. June – November is actually classed as the rainy season. However, this was the only bit of rain I had seen since arriving in Mexico having enjoyed glorious sunshine prior to this. Fancy a night out, then head to Coco Bongos! This was an amazing experience! It is a show and disco in Cancun that starts at 11pm and goes through to the early hours. If you like loud music, a few drinks and some great entertainment then you’ll love it. There are acrobats who fly across your head, landing on your tables, several different themed shows and waiter service for the drinks (depending on your type of ticket). I loved it! And for those that know me...I was lucky on this trip I only got a couple of mozzie bites whilst at Tulum. This was due to the rain and being surrounded by jungle! So as you can see there's more to Mexico than just mosquitos and mojitos! If you are interested in a trip to Mexico then just get in touch as I’d love to have a chat with you about. I now have plenty of insights and tips to share. I look forward to hearing from you!

29 May 2013

Having booked many clients to stay at this hotel I thought it was time to see it for myself. I can see why everyone loves it! We flew from Gatwick with BA. The flight was 3 hours and 15 minutes and the transfer to the hotel was approximately 30 minutes. Upon arrival we were met with a glass of champagne and we quickly checked in and were taken to our Sea View Junior Suite in a golf buggy. We were shown the features of the room such as how to use safe and the mini bar. Before unpacking was sat on our balcony with a nice cold drink, took in the view and enjoyed the warmth of the sun on our faces. After a stroll around the complex we very quickly felt at home and all of the staff to welcoming and friendly. Oceania Club is a 5* ultra-all-inclusive and drinks include champagne and proper Pepsi from a bottle! We ate in two of the three a la carte restaurants, the Asian and Italian. Reservations are required but the system they have is simple and easy to book, so you shouldn't miss out. The main buffet restaurant was bright and spacious and has an adult’s only section. Overall the food was excellent, however if you are looking for a more basic all-inclusive this isn't the hotel for you. The whole complex is kept to a very high standard and the pool areas (where we spent all of our time) are kept spotlessly clean. Lounging by the pool overlooking the infinity pool and the sea was bliss; their waitress service around the pool meant you really didn't have to move. After the second day we didn't even have to tell Tonia what we wanted - she just kept coming with fresh drinks! The main pool and the separate children’s pool areas do get busy. If you are travelling as a couple I would recommend you opt for the Deluxe Junior Suites, which gives you access to a private adults pool. One day I did manage to drag myself up from the pool and take an hour out to check out the spa and have a massage. Compared to some hotels their treatments are well priced and I was able to get an appointment quite easily, however I know it does get booked up in peak seasons so it's worth booking in advance. The beach is narrow but the hotel has quite a long stretch, it's shingly but again you don’t have to venture far as they offer waitress service. Included in your price are non-motorised water sports such as pedalos, windsurfing, canoeing and a free trial scuba dive. They do offer other water sports at a supplement. Children are kept well occupied in the mini club between the ages of 4 and 12 years. They offer soft indoor and outdoor play grounds as well as movie nights in the evening. A massive bonus was the free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, including in our room and around the pool. This kept the adults happy on their iPads and tablets! One evening we did venture out of the hotel to have a short walk to the local village, this took just 15 minutes along the beach path. Overall we had a lovely relaxing break, the weather was fantastic and I couldn't fault any of it. For a quick week away on a fairly short flight I'd definitely recommend it!

30 May 2013

For our 10th wedding anniversary we wanted something a little different from our normal all-inclusive holiday. The resort of Kalkan in Turkey looked perfect, with its picturesque harbour and choices of bars, restaurants and old cobbled streets. It was traditional Turkey, sophisticated, charming and not a fast food chain in sight! Our hotel, The Asfiya, was again traditional in style but to a very high standard. I wanted a boutique small hotel so this ticked all the boxes. The rooms vary in design and size but we were able to book the exact room number we wanted, as you can view all rooms via the Discerning Collection website. We had a deluxe suite overlooking the pool, and the most amazing bathroom with a raised Jacuzzi bath. As it is a small hotel with just 42 rooms it was very quiet and relaxing. Perfect for what we wanted. The Asfiya has a poolside bar, breakfast and lunch was al fresco by the pool. In the evenings we'd walk the 15 minutes to the harbour for our evening meal, as I said before there was plenty of choice and the food was excellent and reasonably priced. Our personal favourite was Doy Doy, we also enjoyed watching the sun go down on one of the rooftop bars. Our 5 nights flew by; we could have stayed a month and still not tried all of the restaurants. On our actual anniversary day we went out on a Gulet cruise, with just a handful of other guests. We set sail for a day relaxing on-board with the occasional dip in the sea to cool down. You really can't go to Turkey without going on a Gulet cruise! If you're after the real Turkey, then Kalkan is the resort for you. Likewise the Asfiya Hotel is a perfect choice if you want a touch of charm and relaxation.

22 November 2011

This was my second visit to Jamaica and I can't wait to go back! It's just over nine hours from the UK it's well worth it and for the duty free shopping! For those looking for lots to do on holiday, Jamaica has it all and for those looking to just sit back and relax then you can do that to on the fine beaches Jamaica has to offer. Of course Dunns River Falls is a must and makes for a great photo snap as well as the Bob Marley Museum. For Reggae fans you won't want to miss Reggae Sumfest during July/August or the Bob Marley week in February. Chukka Tours has a range of activities such as swimming with dolphins, zip line/canopy tours, Rose Hall House, 4x4 jeep experience and horse back riding. During my time on this visit, I was treated to an afternoon at H'Even Scent with the owner...Mr Motivator! 2,000ft up in the air was fresh and cool, which was a nice treat from the hot humid weather on the sea level. H'Even Scent offers 3 zip lines, ATV rides, paintballing and the screamer ride - Jamaicas highest swing! Needless to say with my back I let the others enjoy the rides - I was happy to take the photos! However it was lovely to meet Mr Motivator and have sandwiches and drinks in his home. As you can see your days can be filled full of fun or simply relaxing on the beach, with a rum punch it's up to you. Whilst I was only there four nights I visited ten hotels and stayed at two Sandals Hotels. I won't go into detail on each hotel but have listed below all hotels I visited so by all means if you would like more information on any of them, please do get in touch. Sandals Montego Bay (stayed for 2nts) Half Moon Iberostar Rose Hall Beach Hotel Sandals Royal Caribbean Riu Montego Bay Sandals Carlyle Wexford Court Sandals Grande Riviera Resort (stayed for 2nts) Sandals Royal Plantation Hermosa Cove Villa Resort & Suites Sunset Jamaica Grande Beaches Boscobel Sandals & Beaches always have fantastic offers throughout the year, contact me for the latest offers. If you would like more information on Jamaica or any of these hotels, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

29 September 2008

The 8hr flight with Virgin from Gatwick to Barbados flew by! The choice of in flight entertainment kept us all occupied and not once did I hear the words..."Mum are we nearly there yet??!!" Within an hour of landing we were at the hotel and sipping our first cocktail. One of the many plus points of staying at the Almond Casuarina Hotel is that the transfer is 15mins from the airport. Many people would worry that being so close to the airport you would be disturbed by aircraft noise. Don't be. Whilst the flightpath is over the sea in front of the hotel it doesn't pose a problem. The hotel itself...Almond Casuarina Hotel is set in ten acres of tropical garden. Located on Dover beach and just a few minutes walk into St Lawerence Gap. All 267 rooms are newly refurbished as the hotel opened early 2008. We had the choice of 4 room categories from a standard room to a one bedroom suite. We chose a Superior Deluxe Garden/Pool View, which was larger than the standard rooms and close to all amenities. One thing that is important to me when I choose a hotel is that the pool and beach are next to each other. We were delighted that the pool was a nice size, with a pool bar and the beach was lovely ~ as you can see from one of my pictures. There were plenty of beach activities to keep us busy, from kayaking, windsurfing, sailing and snorkelling. Casuarina also offered a fitness centre, tennis courts as well as a spa. All watersports, tennis courts and fitness centre were included within our all inclusive package. We only paid extra for the Spa and Jet Skis. The hotel has two other pools within the garden area and were ideal for our children especially as they were a little more shaded by all the trees. Almond operate a childrens club from 2-12 years as well as a nursery and teen centre for the older children. A great chance for us to relax and enjoy time together knowing the children were off having lots of fun under the careful supervision of the club staff. We had a great choice of 3 dining restaurants (Waves, Enids & The Dover Grill) We never went hungry! I personally loved the Dover Grill as it was located on the beach and had a great seafood menu. Once a week there was a Caribbean buffet, and all other evenings were table service with a different menu in each restaurant every night. For children they offered a buffet if they were not keen on the menu. As Almond have two sister properties on the island they operated a courtesy shuttle bus between the hotels, great for us as we were able to sample the dining options at Almond Beach Club & Spa (Adult Only) and Almond Village. Out and About...to be honest as we were only there a week we didn't venture far. We did opt for the Sunset Cruise & Swimming with Turtles trip which left the hotel at 3pm and returned at 7:30pm. This is a MUST do trip. Swimming with the turtles was amazing and the sunset stunning! If you are not keen on the swimming with turtles, it's still worthwhile doing and just relaxing on the catarmaran and sipping on a cocktail as you watch the sunset is heaven. We did wander into St Lawerence Gap. There are plenty of local bars and restaurants and offer a change to the hotel for an evening. We also saw the famous Pisces fish restaurant. Shopping in Barbados was excellent! Worth a trip to Bridgetown as they have Duty Free outlet shops. Finally...not forgetting my little friends the MOZZIES!!!! Yes they joined me again on this holiday as they did in St Lucia! So once again, go prepared as I did this time, loaded with repellent and after bite cream...... If you have any questions or would like to find out more about Barbados, please do get in touch.

27 September 2008

As a fan of the Caribbean I knew I would love St Lucia! Flying into St Lucia was an amazing sight....so lush and green, The Pitons in clear view and of course the clear blue Caribbean sea below us, I couldn't wait to touchdown! As the plane doors opened the heat was intense...but very welcome after leaving a cold wet England. I decided to opt for two hotels for our 10 night family holiday; firstly we stayed at the newly opened (May 2007) Cotton Bay Village followed by the refurbished Almond Smugglers Cove. Both properties are located in the north of the island, around 2hrs 15minutes from the airport. Whilst it is a long transfer the scenery from the airport through the mountains is beautiful. However, for those that don't like long transfers or winding roads you may wish to opt for a helicopter transfer. We did this on the return and were so pleased we did. From the north of the island it took 20mins to the heliport followed by 15mins helicopter ride to the airport. I would highly recommend this option as it's a fantastic opportunity to take some super arial photos and a much quicker option than by road! Cotton Bay..WOW! 5* Pure luxury! Cotton Bay is made up of private villas and townhouses. Some villas have private pools and the others are located around a main pool area, it also has it's own beach. We stayed in a 2 bedroom villa round the pool. Our villa was equipped to a very high standard and included butler service, you are even provided with a mobile phone to contact your butler 24/7! The beach isn't the best in the world to be honest, however the pool area was so quiet and secluded that it suited us better and was just a couple of steps from our terrace. Children are kept occuiped as well, as Cotton Bay offers a low key children's club and babysitting service. Cotton Bay is perfect for a relaxing break and has a lovely Spa. After our 3 night stay at Cotton Bay we moved a few minutes down the road to Almond Smugglers Cove. Again set on it's own beach with 3 pools (children's, adult only and mixed). I loved the fact that the main pools and restaurants were located next to the beach. Unlike a traditional hotel block, ASC is resort style with rooms in single storey blocks spread throughout the gardens, some are beachfront. As a family we booked the One Bedroom Garden Suite, which gave us a separate living area which turned into Gabrielle's bedroom at night. Again our children were well catered for as they offer an action packed childrens club. The food was very nice and unlike a lot of All Inclusive hotels we didn't have a buffet every night. It's table service with a good menu. Breakfast and lunch was buffet style and plentiful! Don't wait until the airport to buy duty free, we headed out one morning to the capital Castries to do all of our shopping there. Not only did we have the big daily market but also the 'Duty Free Village' shopping mall. A place to grab your branded items at a fraction of the cost from the UK. Don't get caught out...Sadly I did get some nasty mozzie bites. Unless you want to spend a morning at the doctors and a nice bill at the end of it, go prepared with some repellent!! Overall this really was a holiday to remember and I would love to return. Please, if you have any questions about my holiday or would like to find out more about St Lucia then do give me a call or drop me an email.