21 February 2023

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07 June 2019

The Dreams Playa Mujeres all-inclusive resort is situated within a gated community, with an expansive pool area, a sandy beach and a water park. This resort offers what they call ‘Unlimited Luxury’, where everything is included, from drinks and food, to activities. Surrounded by white sand and the Caribbean Sea, it’s the ideal setting for a relaxing holiday – with the excitement of Cancun nearby (although we didn’t venture beyond the 65,000 sq ft resort and its beaches). You are spoiled for choice with three levels of swimming pools - including four Jacuzzis, two kid’s pools and two infinity pools - to enjoy the view. You can cool off at the resorts waterpark or unwind and soak up the sun in the lazy river. Lots of food and drink options offering a great diversity of cuisines from around the world. Unlimited drinks at any of the 13 bars and lounges – my teen/pre-teen loved the two non-alcoholic bars as well as the Core Zone Teen Club where they hung out and made friends. The complementary green fees and transfers to the Playa Mujeres Golf Course made the family golfer happy. We opted for to stay in a Preferred Club suite which offered a host of additional benefits such as access to private lounges, a la carte breakfasts and discounted spa treatments. A thoroughly enjoyable family holiday!

22 November 2017

Vancouver is a city like no other, effortlessly combining the buzz of a chic urban centre with the rejuvenating energy of nature. From the great outdoors of Vancouver's lush Stanley Park, urban markets within Granville Market to the exhilarating opportunity to experience a sea plane flight with the best view of the surrounds - Vancouver has it all! A must-see-must-try is the Capilano suspension bridge and why not try a brewery tour with the Vancouver Brewery Tour Company or a visit to the Vancouver Aquarium? Vancouver Island is a two hour ferry ride away. We headed to Tofino for whale watching, bear watching and guided eco-walks. Vancouver ...... I'll be back!

12 September 2017

Down-to-earth, thoughtfully designed and well-equipped with expensive lush lawns, curved lagoon-like infinity pools, sprawling restaurants (so big that it never felt crowded) and dreamy sea-views through dramatic palms, La Plantation D’Albion is simple, stylish and very family-friendly. The resort is perfect for parents seeking some rest and relaxation whilst their children are kept active and busy in the nautical-themed children’s club if they wish. One of the highlights of this five-star resort is its tropical location in a sun-soaked cove on the wind-sheltered western coast of Mauritius. A teeming coral reef that encompasses 330km of the island further shelters the resort from Indian Ocean waves, providing snorkeling and diving right on your doorstep. The resort has two beaches, two pools and is marked by over-sized, exotic vegetation – banyan trees, cacti and palms – and original ancient ruins, which enhance the charm of the place. It also makes the beach safe for all ages, as virtually not a ripple of a wave. This all-inclusive resort consists of 226 rooms and 23 villas. It looks out onto the Indian Ocean over a sweeping white, sun-drenched and palm-fringed beach that the kids love to play on whilst the parents can enjoy long, sociable meals at the beachside restaurant. The resort is carefully designed with pockets of sun and shade throughout. Be you a family of land lovers or water-lovers, or a happy mix, there’s plenty here to keep everyone happy. There’s sure to be an activity for everyone from the wide variety on offer: archery, mini-golf, sailing, tennis, diving, kayaks, beach volleyball, SUPing (stand up paddleboarding), bocce ball, snorkeling, pilates, water polo and more. Waterfront opens daily 9 am but you can stand-up paddle board from 8 am; there are separate sailing and kayak paddle zones at the waterfront. Lifejackets and UV suits are all provided. For keen sailors, there’s a daily 10 am sailing lesson with the highlights being a weekly sailing race, Armada to the Troux Beach opposite and sailing dinner. Award-winning French chefs produce a smorgasbord of fresh gourmet delights daily, and kids love the ice-cream bar. There’s even a ‘baby corner’, a dedicated baby food station in the main restaurant with baby and toddler appropriate food. But it’s the quality and go-that-extra-mile of the staff, who ratio around two: one with hotel guests, that everyone (including my family) raves about. As with every Club Med holiday, the evening entertainment is great. There’s trapeze, acrobats, singers, fire dancers and no shortage of sequins and singing. For us, the highlights were the swimming pools, child-care offerings, zen-like Cinq Mondes Spa, water sports offerings, Tennis (the coach Ali was excellent and fantastic staff! Receptionist Renata and barman Ray!) Family boat trips to swim with wild dolphins are popular too. At the end of the day, the bar and sparkling fairy-lit beach terrace were the idyllic places to wind down and soak up the amazing Indian Ocean sunsets.

16 June 2017

As one of six lucky Travel Counsellors selected to visit these magical Islands - I have to say The Seychelles did not disappoint. The Seychelles archipelago is made up of 115 islands. Located just beneath the equator and to the north-east of Madagascar, the islands are divided into two categories: the “Inner Islands’ and the “Outer Islands”. The inner islands are located to the north and are scattered around the main island of Mahé. These are the granitic islands, characterised by their beaches featuring large granite boulders. Mahe, Praslin, La Digue, Curieuse, Cousin, Cousine, Fregate, Felicite, North and Silhouette are some of the islands that belong to this group. We visited Mahe, Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette. The main Island of Mahé is the largest island in the archipelago and the gateway to the Seychelles. It is also the economic and political hub of the Seychelles and hosts the international airport, the port, and the capital ‘village’, Victoria. Our first pot of call was The Savoy Resort & Spa situated on Beau Vallon beach (the only beach to allow motorised water sports). This was followed by a stay in The Hilton Northolme Resort and Spa, The Banyan Tree (both stunningly beautiful) and my favourites the Constance Ephelia, offer great family accommodation and facilities and Carana Beach hotel. A 45-minute private ferry crossing took us to the unspoilt Silhouette Island, where we stayed at The Hilton Labriz Resort. Our villa was right on the beach, perfect for couples or families.There are no cars or roads on the 25km spanning island; only a handful of people live there. This was a perfect island for eco-tourists who will marvel at its unspoilt nature. The second largest granatic island of the Seychelles, Praslin is the perfect base for an island hopping adventure. L’ile de Palmes, as it was previously known, is only a 15-minute flight or 60 minute ferry journey away from Mahe. Praslin is home to the Vallee de Mai, a UNESCO World heritage site featuring the famous Coco de Mer trees. We took a guided tour of the Vallee, a fascinating and worthwhile departure from the beach. Praslin has a good variety for all tastes. We visited the 3-star Indian Ocean Lodge; a private 32 room hotel with small villa style rooms facing the ocean. My favourite hotel on the Island was the Constance Lemuria. The staff were fantastic and the location perfect, alongside beautiful rooms and suites - recently renovated to the highest standard. Kids clubs and villas are available for families plus an 18-hole golf course for the golfers. From Praslin, we took a short ferry ride to La Digue. Attractions on La-Digue include the Union Estate, a park full of history, culture and adventure, and of course, the famous Anse Source d’Argent: the most photographed beach in the world. This beach has provided the perfect backdrop for famous films such as Roman Polanski’s 'Pirates', Robinson Crusoe and Cast Away. Adverts such as that for Bounty, Bacardi and Carling have also been filmed on this famous spot. If you're thinking of visiting The Seychelles, consider visiting two or three of the islands, and experience the beauty of the beaches and the warmth of the people. I can't recommend it enough!

22 June 2016

'Relax as hard as you like' pretty much sums up our week in Lemnos with Neilson Beachclubs. First rate location, accommodation, food and activities meant that I didn't need to worry about a thing (other than when I needed to get to the tennis courts!). My children made friends, enjoyed all the activities and are already asking when we can go back. The staff were courteous, professional and friendly - nothing was to much trouble. A very enjoyable family holiday!

10 September 2015

Located 90 miles west of Barbados, St Vincent is one of an archipelago of 32 islands and cays known as “the Jewels of the Caribbean”. St Vincent really is a paradise, an unspoilt tropical haven with secluded coves and spectacular backdrops of high mountain peaks and valleys cloaked in tropical forest with cascading waterfalls. Buccament Bay Resort sits in such a cove. Relaxed environment, friendly staff and wonderful accommodation, this resort really does have it all. Fantastic sport coaching for adults and children alike. I and my family took advantage of tennis, rugby, and football coaching. The former Liverpool players Ronnie Whelan and Don Hutchison made the football experience for my two boys really special. And of course plenty of relaxing by the pool, eating great food and sampling wonderful cocktails! We'll definitely be back!

14 July 2015

A beautiful Tuscan villa in May, with its own a pool, on a private estate, proved a big hit with my family. The Varramista Estate is a stunning, in a lovely rural Tuscan landscape amongst rolling hills covered with vineyards, forest and olive groves. Conveniently situated 20 minutes from Pisa, sandy beaches and an international airport, it is also within easy distance (45 mins) of the historic cities of Lucca and Florence. Wonderful!

13 July 2015

A diminutive Tuscan hilltop village in the heart of white truffle country, San Miniato is about half way between Pisa and Florence and south of Lucca, making it an ideal daytrip destination for serious gourmands. With its picturesque medieval centre and enviable views of the lush Arno Valley below, San Miniato is a wonderful destination year-round. The most popular time of year to visit, however, is November, when the annual truffle festival fills the ancient streets with parades, concerts, artisan vendors and, of course, the intoxicating aroma of the world's most exclusive mushroom. We visited for a friend's wedding, beautifully staged in a private 'grand villa', just outside the village overlooking vineyards and rolling countryside. Stunning!

08 June 2015

Palma de Mallorca comes as a surprise to many people - it is stylish, sophisticated, intimate, yet bursting with life. Located on the southern shores of Mallorca, the island's capital city looks out over the sparkling blue seas of the Mediterranean. Just see the view from my hotel room at The Gran Melia Victoria. Half of Mallorca's population live here, enjoying the island's best restaurants, shops and nightlife as well as a thriving arts scene and a lively cafe society. It is often compared to Barcelona for its architecture and I think it's an equally desirable destination for a city break. I was visiting with a group of friends for one of our 'special' birthdays. We celebrated with an exceptional dinner at Opio restaurant. The following day we really spoilt ourselves by spending a lazy (but luxurious) day at 'Purobeach' which was wonderful. Palma certainly didn't disappoint!

08 June 2015

A holiday and a wedding with all your friends - that's my kind of trip! This picturesque little bay immediately 'wow-ed' us as we sailed in to it for our friend's wedding. A beautiful tiny chapel perched on the rocks just a short climb from the beach. Perfect! Lindos is lovely. The ancient Acropolis sits atop the village overlooking it with pride and rightly so. The labyrinth of shops and restaurants is well worth visiting and the view of the village from up at the Acropolis is amazing. The main beach is so relaxing and worth spending a bit of time on. As it's mainly closed off by the mountains, the sea is very still and a little warmer because of this. A must-visit location if you are heading off to Rhodes.