16 June 2014

My journey started on my flight from Manchester to Ho Chi Minh City with Qatar airlines. After a good flight with a changeover in Doha it was so exciting to arrive in this famous city, I couldn't believe how busy it was and everyone seemed to be on a motorcycle of some kind. Only having two nights there we wanted to see as much as possible so after checking in at Intercontinental Asiana, which was in a great location, we unpacked and went out to dinner at a traditional Vietnamese Restaurant and also did some exploring around this fascinating city. The next day we decided to do a day tour on a Vespa where we had our own driver and I must say we saw so much and I thought it was a great way to see everything in one day followed by dinner at a lovely restaurant on the river. Next day headed back to the airport for a short flight to Danang in central Vietnam where we stayed at Palm Garden Resort for five nights. It was a fabulous hotel right on the beach and Hoi An is so pretty it is difficult not to fall in love with it. There is lots to do in central Vientnam including fishing, a visit to a local orphanage, exploring the countryside on a bicycle and of course the shopping was fabulous. We then decided to travel to Hue by motorcycle which takes you over the scenic Hai Van Pass and I have never seen such stunning scenery. We also visited Marble Mountain and checked in at Pilgrimage Village for two nights which was like a retreat with spa facilities, massage and total chilling zone. Chilling over, we flew to Hanoi in the north which was so different from Ho Chi Minh; still very busy but a lot more modern than the south. We stayed in the French Quarter which was perfect for everything with lots of great shopping, restaurants, tours and a great base to visit Halong Bay where we did a night on a Junk Cruise. It was a great experience and we chose one of the Dragon Pearl boats which I would recommend. There are lots of things to do off the boat including kayaking, floating village or simply swimming in the clear blue water, then dinner on the deck under the stars. Then we went back to Hanoi for our flight home. Vietnam is a lovely country with friendly people who go out of their way to make you feel welcome. There is lovely food, lots to see and do and such good value.

23 September 2013

I departed Manchester with my daughter Gemma for a 5 night trip to Dubai on Emirates overnight flight which arrived in Dubai early morning for our stay at the 5 star Al Qasr resort. Al Qasr means 'The Palace' and is the centre-piece of Madinat Jumeirah and is designed to reflect a Sheikh’s summer residence. Approached via a tree-lined avenue and adorned with beautifully sculpted Arabian horses, Al Qasr is simply breath-taking. It boasts a huge swimming pool and lots of choices of bars and restaurants. The staff cannot do enough for you and as we lay by the pool they would come round with cold flannels and fresh fruit which was so refreshing. The first evening we took an Abra (little boat) to the Souk which is part of the Madinat and has a selection of restaurants, cafes and shops. We ate at Toscana, an Italian restaurant serving a selection of pasta and pizzas. On the second evening we took a 10 minute cab ride to The Marina which is lovely in the evening, we ate a traditional Arabian restaurant and the food was delightful. The night we decided to opt for The Dune Dinner where we were transported out into the desert and driven up and down the sand dunes before watching the sunset. We were then taken out to a camp where we relaxed on comfortable low cushions in Bedu tents and quenched our thirst, had our hands painted with henna designs, experienced a camel ride and enjoyed the aromatic shisha. All in all it was a very worthwhile evening and I would recommend it. The fourth evening we took a golf buggy to The Jumeirah Beach Hotel where we enjoyed drinks on the spectacular rooftop terrace before taking a Abra to The Souk for dinner at The Meat Company which is a steak house with every variety of steak on the menu that you can think of! On our final evening we opted for a trip to The Gold Souk in the city which is definitely worth a visit. You can wonder round for hours and if you enjoy bartering this is the place! There are also lots of other shops selling a variety of items from shoes to electrical equipment and of course you must wander through The Spice Souk to experience the aromas that come from the different shops and stalls. In my opinion Dubai has something to suit everyone.

14 June 2013

I have visited the Gulf Coast of Florida several times and it is a place that I always love going back to. I always stay in Sarasota which is a lovely town with award winning beaches and lots of art and culture. I flew into Tampa which is about a 50 minute drive away or you can fly into Orlando which is about 2.5 hours away. The thing I like most about Sarasota is the great selection of beaches available. If you want to, you can go to a different beach every day. My favourite is Siesta Key with its powder white sand and lots of trendy local restaurants where you can always get delicious fresh fish. I also like Turtle Beach and no stay is complete without a visit to one of my favourite restaurants 'The Sand Bar' at Marco Island which is right on the beach. I would also recommend a trip to St Armands Circle which has some lovely boutique style shops and great restaurants. There are lots of great places to visit for a day trip including Tampa for shopping or Busch Gardens. There are also day trips to Venice, Captiva or Sanibel Island, which I always think has a Caribbean feel to it and of course, more beautiful beaches. I would definitely recommend this area of Florida where you will be guaranteed to have a great holiday.

14 June 2013

I decided go to Kalkan on holiday after hearing some great reviews from my colleagues. I decided to stay at the Likya Residence & Spa which is a beautiful boutique hotel. On arrival I was taken aback by the lovely views from the hotel, every room has a sea view and the rooms, staff and first class restaurant make this hotel very special. The staff simply could not do enough for us and as well as the lovely pool area they have their own beach club which is just a short walk down some steps. On our second day I decided to use the hotels spa and took advantage of an offer they had on for a Turkish Bath combined with a full body massage…bliss! Kalkan Town is simply beautiful. It is only small and has a lovely harbour where you can sit and have a drink and a meal, but if you wander a bit further you reach the old town which is filled with lovely boutique style shops and amazing rooftop restaurants. Every evening we would choose a different restaurant and we were never disappointed and with so many to choose from it was a shame we were only there for a week. On our fourth day we decided to do the lazy day boat tour which was a lovely way to spend the day sailing around the med and stopping at different coves to have a swim. The trip was such good value at around £25.00 including lunch. I would certainly recommend Kalkan.

11 October 2012

I have visited a lot of the larger Caribbean islands but this time I wanted to visit one of the smaller and more remote islands. I was not disappointed as Grenada is absolutely beautiful. We opted to stay at the Calabash which is a smallish boutique hotel in Prickly Bay. We chose one of the Whirlpool Suites which was a stone’s throw from the beautiful and clean white sandy beach. The service at this hotel was outstanding; we were personally met by the manager on check in and every morning a lovely breakfast was served on our balcony. I would definitely recommend the hotel to anyone travelling here. As we only had 7 days, we wanted to make the most of it and so we hired a car for a couple of days so that we were able to tour the island. It is such a small island which makes it easy to get around. We visited the capital of Grenada, St. George, which is great for shopping. We then made our way to the beautiful Etang National Park, stopping en route at the Cricket Museum, a must for any cricket fan! We also visited the spice museum where you can purchase lots of unique and exotic spices! We spent the last couple of days relaxing on the beach and I decided to go out on an organised snorkel trip which was truly amazing. I even got to see the islands famous underwater statues! I was so sorry to leave this lovely island with its friendly people, delicious cuisine and perfect climate. It’s a perfect place for both those who love nothing more than relaxing on the beach as well as the more adventurous explorers amongst us. Grenada made us feel so welcome and I will definitely treasure the memories and the experiences forever.

06 October 2010

SATURDAY EVENING - I met group of 5 other Travel Agents and South African Travel representative at London Heathrow for overnight flight to Cape Town... SUNDAY MORNING - Arrived into Cape Town and yippee no jetlag, which was just as well as after collecting our luggage we were met by our driver and straight on to Camps Bay which is an affluent suberb of Cape Town for a site inspection of The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa which stands at the edge of the Atlantic. On one side, you have views of the mountains and on the other views of the ocean....Then onwards for lunch at The Bay Hotel, which is superbly designed with only 78 rooms and suites offering 5-star luxury in an unsurpassed setting in Camps Bay. Our driver was then at hand to take us the 15 minute drive to Cape Town for check in at The 5 star One and Only Resort...Wow, It takes your breath away...The hotel stands at the foot of Table Mountain and is within walking distance of the fashionable Victoria and Albert waterfront. We then had a couple of hours to relax then off for a wonderful dinner at The Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfron. And so to bed! MONDAY - Up bright and early for a delicious breakfast at the One and Only Resort then we set off to explore the area known asThe Winelands, stoping off at one of the most beautiful place's I have even seen...The Franschhoek Country House and Villas. It has the most stunning views of the surrounding vineyards and mountains....It is just so peaceful...After another delightful lunch we headed onwards for an overnight stay at The Constantia, which is situated in the heart of the Cape’s oldest wine region. The Last Word Constantia is an elegant and luxurious boutique hotel offering a unique and special holiday experience.....I don't think the scenery can get much better...It is truly breathtaking. TUESDAY- After a delicious breakfast our driver meets us to transport us for the two and a half hour drive for our 2 night stay at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve which is one of the largest privately owned game reserves in South Africa - Check in at Gondwana Lodge then we meet our ranger Rudy that explains what goes on at Sanbona and tells us some amazing stories about life in the reserve. At 6pm we met for our evening game drive, which was amazing. We saw Hippos, Rhinos as well as Springbok and Rudy explains about all the different species of Flora and Fauna...Then after sipping wine watching the sun go down it is back to the lodge for a hearty supper and optional scorpion spotting. WEDNESDAY- An early start for our morning game drive....Lots to see this morning including a family of elephants, giraffes, zebra as well as a family of baboons, then back to our lodge for a hearty breakfast. By now it's time for some relaxation so I treated myself to a massage at the lodges onsite spa. THURSDAY - Unfortunately time to head back to the airport...Our driver takes us back through the winelands for a stop in Stellenbosch which is the oldest town in South Africa next to Cape Town. Walking through the streets of Stellenbosch, one can almost feel the history, as if strolling in days of old. The town is packed with many historic buildings dating back to the early 1700's. Then onwards to Spier which is a hotel and spa with its own craft market and cheetah outreach, for a traditional South African themed lunch, before heading home to the UK. What a wonderful trip! I will certainly be returning to this wonderful country.There is so much to see and do and the people are so friendly.

03 December 2008

I travelled to Bangkok and stayed 3 nights at The Penninsula Hotel which overlooks the river...It is a fabulous hotel in a great location. I loved Bangkok it is such an exciting city with lots to see and do, in fact I could have done with staying another couple of days....The cost of living is so cheap and the people are very friendly and can't do enough for you. I took a long tailed speedboat excursion on the Chao Phraya River which gave me a great insight into the local life...Bangkok is great for shopping and there are lots of different night markets to barter for bargains. I also treated myself to a Thai massage which is great for relieving italic and at under £10.00 for an hour it is a must....The easiest way to get about is by the sky train which is a very efficient system...I also used the local Tut Tuts (taxis) which are great fun. Next was on to the beach resort of Hua Hin. I took a bus from Bangkok which is a 3 hour journey...this was the cheapest form of transport and a great way to travel long distance on a budget. I stayed 7 nights at The Sheraton Hua Hin which is a lovely property just outside Hua Hin town... Hua Hin as lots to offer with plenty of restaurants and not as commercialised as some of the islands. I went up into the mountains and did elephant trekking..Wow, what a experience!! Also worth a visit is Khao Takiab Mountain which is 6 km from Hua Hin...monkeys roam freely and at the top of the mountain is an ancient buddhist village. Once up there you get fabulous views of Hua Hin....Again Hua Hin is fabulous for shopping offering lots of night markets where you can pick up some fantastic bargains.... All in all Thailand is a fabulous country where you will always receive a warm welcome.