04 September 2019

My husband and I arrived in the Seychelles on the 21st May and picked up hire car to drive towards Victoria the capital didn’t take long 20 mins and driving easy and safe in the Seychelles – Victoria is quite small for a capital city but has everything you might need I reckon you could do Victoria properly in one day and include the gardens - the clock view and museums and so on easily – we then drove onto Hilton Northholme about 15 minutes across the mountain very hilly in places wouldn’t like to do this on a bike! Hilton Northolme is an oasis of calm – you are greeted by a lovely cool flannel and a cool juice drink and then taken by buggy to reception or if your room ready directly to your room. Rooms are like wooden villas and all lovely but if you can afford to upgrade to a pool suite can highly recommend - the infinity pool is quite big for a private villa pool and they have the most amazing views, Half board is recommended as very good food here – the breakfast setting is gorgeous and the daily special was excellent each day – can highly recommend the upgrade restaurant food was out of this world and supplement not excessive and nice to be served rather than buffet – although main buffet restaurant very good too. Spa quite expensive but lovely setting and price as expected in SEZ in 5-star hotel. Snorkelling good here saw lots of fish and urchins not a long beach at Hilton Northolme but made up of 3 little beaches hardly anyone on them. Lovely to drive to Bel Ombre beach 5 minutes turn right and have cocktail on laidback bar on the beach great setting for sunset and various little market stalls in the mornings – supermarket walking distance from entrance to the left 5 minute walk, if needed – great resort very friendly staff overall a fab choice for couples! We then flex to Praslin great 20-seater small plane takes 30 minutes easy fly – got taxi very friendly from airport David was a hive of information and I have his card to book people arriving so they can have this lovely friendly welcome! I loved Praslin it really is beautiful clean and just how you imagine SEZ to be, very exotic planting and of course is the home island of the Coco de Mar – you have to bring one of these little things home and David will take you to natural site for them which is licensed and legal as these nuts are very protected you can pay anything from 250gbp for one up to 600gbp depending on shape and how perfect they are! See photo. We stayed Constance Praslin – what more can I say Constance has the most welcoming check in I have ever received and not only specialises in couples but also families – it is fabulous – it also is home to one of the best beached I have ever been on Anse Georgette – a private beach that you can walk to from the main area of hotel located 30 mins walk from reception – or if you’re lazy jump on their hourly buggy going over takes 5 mins much easier! It is worth the journey as only a few people there as its private and although you can go onto this beach if you are not staying on the resort they only allow a few people a day in – this is one reason in many to stay at Constance – it takes your breath away! I did not want to leave. The restaurants at Constance are absolutely fabulous I could not fault them at all, their wine-list incredible and served by some great sommeliers who were very knowledgeable, when you think you are on a tiny little island you just can’t believe the quality of the food wine – I did not find this resort excessive in price for a 5 star and promised ourselves we would definitely go back one day, as it really is a little piece of heaven. After our 3 nights in Praslin we returned to main island by seaplane and transferred to our final night staying at Banyan Tree Seychelles – WOW only one night but they treated us like king and queen and put us in a beachfront room – well worth it if you can upgrade, stunning location, direct beach access and totally private – we really felt like we had our own little paradise unaware of any other guests! The main restaurant for evening dinner was fabulous and again not excessive in price for a 5 star beautiful resort, once you’re there you have to try the spa it was best spa experience I have ever tried we felt like you were in amongst the trees and the flying birds and bats (yes dog bats the size of seagulls) the whole spa experience was amazing and exactly what I expected from a Banyan Tree property if not better than I expected! We flew BA First class out a fabulous treat – got the PJ’s to prove it – and Business back also very good service and direct flying so only just over 10 hours so quick and easy to get to these beautiful islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean, we will definitely go back one day!

13 January 2018

We booked early and spent two nights in Marrakech - right in the heart of the Medina in a typical Moroccan Ryadh, which was beautiful a calm of serenity within the Medina madness! Traditional Moroccan cuisine was served, and we stayed on a half board basis. They do not speak much English, more French and mostly Arabic, but you can get by and the owners (a French family) spoke pretty good English. They do not serve alcohol but didn't mind us having a glass of wine bought in the Medina with our meals. A few facts about Morocco: October is still hot so you will need some kind of pool to cool down in after a hard day walking the Medina's and visiting the beautiful palaces in Marrakech. You can drive in Morocco - but I would recommend picking a car up from the airport to avoid Marrakech madness, and only drive during the day. There are no streetlamps in the country and you will not see potholes if driving at night, otherwise we found driving great! They also expect you to clean the car in a garage before returning the vehicle. You can buy alcohol in Morocco but not on a Friday. All liqueur stores are closed on their holy day. Fair enough, you have to live by the rules! The Medina's like any city market - you need to watch out snake charmers and anyone local will charge you if you take a photo and will be offended if you don't give them a euro or 10 dirhams. Be very careful of scooters in the Medina. They do ride very fast through the Medina and will knock you over if you don't move out of the way. Incredible – I’d never seen this before! You are safe as long as you hide your valuables and take the minimum personal belongings out with you in the Medinas. Of course, there is a lot of poverty and pick pockets etc exist like in any city! You can barter to your hearts content and normally take the price down to about half of original price as a guide. Any guide will take you to their favourite shops where they will be paid back handers but you don't have to buy within these shops. Moroccans, contrary to popular belief, are wonderful, friendly and most of all very kind, courteous people and they will love you because tourism is important to them. You will have no qualms about this lovely calm race of people. After two days trekking around Marrakech with a guide (I think two days is ample to get a taste of Marrakech) we drove to Essaouira. We picked up a hire car from RAK airport. The drive out of the airport was a bit chaotic but after that it was an easy three hours through the desert and through many small towns which were like going back into the dark ages. How they fitted 8/9 people in a clapped out 50 year old Renault which was literally tied together with string and tape was hilarious. If you have a horse and cart there you are top dog and get priority over cars, some even have donkeys and cart and are still dress in traditional costume. It’s fantastic to see - it was like going back in time! Essaouira - the jewel of the Moroccan coast. The beach goes for miles and miles and is empty and beautiful. The resort is generally known as a windy resort but spring and autumn are a fabulous time to go – it’s not so hot and not as windy. It’s known for its surf in July and August and it is a laid back town resort with some great beach activities such as camel rides, horse riding on the beach and quad bikes. They are all situated at the east end and it’s easy to park with some lovely beach bars/restaurants right next door. You can hire a board if you fancy some surfing/windsurfing. We stayed in a typical Moroccan villa which was beautiful and great value but there are some lovely hotels in the resort too if preferred. The Medina in Essaouira is a little less stressful and very pleasant to walk around - I would say less stressful than the one in Marrakech. The fishing port is a must to visit but be careful, stench is not the word and you will see some unbelievable images here. You will only visit once and you will never forget it! All in all, I can highly recommend Morocco for all kinds of trips and would love to chat to you further about whether you would also like to visit this wonderful diverse country! We loved it so much we have booked to go back and do some more exploring in October 2018. 10 nights this time as it offers wonderful temperatures and is great value for us as UK visitors!

22 September 2017

Well my husband and I were to celebrate out 10 year anniversary and take first trip since our honeymoon 10 years ago without children. It was wonderful - uh the trip and going away without my little darlings! We really spoiled ourselves and went for central hotels and one of the top suites, as I guess we probably won't do it again for another 10 years! Rome We stayed at the Suites Sistina, a very romantic couples only hotel just down the street form the Spanish steps. Breakfast served in your suite ordered daily and a very romantic suite tucked away in a side street near Le place do Pocollo, amazing! We bought the 3 day Omnia pass - this gave us access to 3 major tourist attractions and included an escorted half day tour of the Vatican, which was spectacular - plus we didn't have to queue half a day to get in! This was worth its weight in gold as wasting time was not an option when only having three days to do everything. The Omnia pass also included unlimited use of local transport and open topped bus which we made great use of - I have many time saving tips using this pass. We also visited the Castello Saint Angello, and saw the Pope giving mass out of the window of the Vatican - whilst on top floor of this Castello - what a chance we had! We visited the forum gardens and the Colisseum of course! It was all wonderful and I have to say we found Rome not over priced - we had a quick lunch opposite the Colisseum with a glass of wine and wonderful view for 26 euros for both of us - which I think is fabulous. We had some lovely meals in Rome but really loved a little Hosteria di Pietro; 5 minutes walk from Spanish Steps, very Italian family owned, not cheap - 50 euros a head with wine but very Italian family feel about it! We did walk until we were almost dead so good comfy shoes is my top tip for Rome, as walking was best way to get the feel of the city and see all the little streets you would miss if on buses and taxis. We would definitely go back sometime! Venice Venice - oh my lord we loved it we arrived just before the main weekend of carnival. This wasn't planned but rather luck in our planning but February is a good time to go as lots of locals walking around in local costume which is fantastic and lovely to see. Venice surely has to be the most romantic city in the world - take a gondola ride; you will pay 80 euros for this but it is wonderful and the gondola guys are so lovely. You can waste days walking around the streets and around every corner you will find something different and beautiful or unusual. There are so many little surprises which make you ask yourself questions like; how on earth do they collect rubbish in this city, how do they do building work in this city - it is so different I would say it is one destination everybody should put on their travel must do list. We stayed in a wonderful hotel right in the heart of the small canals about five minutes from Rialto and St. Marks - Ai Cavaliari hotel. It's a fabulous four star but I would say it's a five star - the only reason it is not is because they have no proper restaurant, but their sister hotel - 3 minutes walk away - have a wonderful restaurant and the front desk can recommend fabulous little trattorias nearby with a few minutes and you can totally trust their recommendations. You can also jump on a water bus and visit the closer islands or the lido beach area to get off the main group of islands. Arriving into Venice by air I would recommend using the water taxi service. It's very romantic and costs 120 euros if not pre-booked or about 150-160 euros if you pre-book a meet and greet service. It's well worth it, takes about 25-30 minutes and you can see from my photos a wonderful way to arrive in Venice. Cost whilst there - well of course if you want to sit in St Marks square for a drink you will pay 3 times the price but wander 2 minutes away and I was surprised at how reasonable food and drinks were and great service and didn't have a bad food experience in either city - I was surprised considering some of the stories I had heard. Restaurant recommendation - 2 minutes from Rialto Bridge, Trattoria Madonna is in a tiny side street. It has a fabulous Italian family feel, non stop service - very busy and everything done traditionally - great fish dishes, a lovely evening Italian experience - two courses and wine 30 euros a head and well worth it! You will have to ask the way as you won't find it without asking, and it is closed on a Wednesday! Overall I would highly recommend both cities and completely know how I would direct each client depending on their needs to plan their trip to these cities - I look forward to hearing from you soon and preparing your perfect itinerary to Rome and Venice.

09 November 2016

We recently visited the beautiful Domes of Elounda in October Half term this year. It is a wonderful resort for families or groups of friends with children. We had a pool suite connected to a Jacuzzi suite. The children and us loved being able to come back at the end of a day on the beach or visiting and jump in the pool or the Jacuzzi to finish off the day. The buffet restaurant is of fantastic quality with a different theme night each evening and even a crèche corner to give children who don't like complicated food plainer pastas, chicken, fish and vegetables with no sauces. The children loved the children's club and used this twice whilst we were there. The ladies were lovely and the facilities kept them busy and happy. The beach area is lovely overlooking the island of Spinalonga. The beach restaurant and snack bar are great and food was freshly cooked and very tasty and not overly priced. A day out on Spinalonga is a must - very interesting and even the children loved exploring the island and old fortress. The history is amazing to find out about how this island worked as a colony. The boat leaves from Plaka, a 10 minute walk from the Domes every 30 minutes or so and cost €8 return per adult. We then took the boat back to Plaka for a really lovely lunch overlooking the sea. Plaka has a lovely shopping and restaurant area to spend half a day in. We used the spa for a couple of hours and the steam room experience which was lovely. They also offer children and parents’ spa sessions. Also if you hire a car there are so many Cretan villages you can visit within 30 minutes’ drive. I’d recommend driving to Aghios Nikolaos for half a day and have a drink overlooking the lagoon in Ag' Nik'. Overall I can thoroughly recommend a trip to Crete and the Domes of Elounda for a relaxing luxurious family trip to Greece and feel totally pampered and spoilt at the end of your stay.

07 July 2016

Four nights of complete whirlwind city exploring and enjoyment. I have recently returned from a visit to the fantastic city of Hong Kong, and I would say it is the perfect destination for city adventure and relaxation all in one visit. You could do a two week holiday, starting with a city stay for five nights to make sure you have time to see all the sights of this buzzing city. The Peak Tower is an absolute must for fabulous views over the amazing skyline of Hong Kong, and you can pre-book this to avoid queues. Take a trip over to Hong Kong island on the Star ferry and a visit to Stanley market to get those lovely souvenirs, and make sure you bring an extra bag to take all your purchases home with you! Taking a walk around ladies market in Mong Kok and a visit to Nan Lian gardens, just off Diamond Hill UTR metro is a must- an absolutely beautiful oasis in amongst the madness of this city with beautiful Chinese temples and gardens, which are immaculately tended too, free to get in too. Eating out in Hong Kong is easy, with all types of international cuisine available right on your doorstep. We were staying at the Cordis Hotel Langham place, a fabulous new hotel in a great position for visiting – you walk through the doors of the crazy city and instantly feel relaxed with the coolness of the entry and the faint smell of essential oils as you arrive. They have some lovely restaurants here and breakfast is served at reception level - what a wonderful choice you have. Plus, the Spa on the 38th floor is an amazing space - not to mention the open top roof top pool which is needed after a hot day in the city. Going around the city is very easy using the UTR Underground, and it’s very clean and organized. Or, you can take the crocodile buses (due to their green bumpy roofs) - a great way to see a bit of the city. You can also take a bus to Sai Kung – the weekend retreat for locals to visit the fresh fish markets - and have a wonderful view overlooking the marina area and walk along the sea front. You could also take a junk boat out for the day to one of the smaller islands for a visit and beach experience day. You can even visit Macau, a small island off Hong Hong which you can reach by ferry. It’s the Las Vegas destination of Hong Kong, with fabulous modern, tall, glittering buildings by night and lots of history and an old town to visit by day - definitely worth a stay for a night or two. Then, how about a beach stay on Lantau island or many of the other Hong Kong city beaches for some relaxation? Hong Kong really is an exhilarating along with relaxation destination, with Cathay pacific and other airlines flying directly, easy to get to. Call me for any advice on your trip to Hong Kong! Thanks Debbie

07 July 2016

Kwa Zulu Natal – more affectionately known as KZN or Zulu Land I was lucky enough to visit this wonderful part of South Africa in February this year with a small group of travel Counsellors on a fam trip supported by Qatar Airways – Your Africa and the KZN tourist board We had amazing time in KZN with adventure fun and history all rolled into one! It really is a destination for all ages even young families, despite the myth of South Africa not being safe – it is safe as long as you go to the right places and you wouldn't’t want to visit the other places there anyway, like in London you wouldn't’t visit the non safe areas there either, it’s the same in South Africa. I will start with Durban the capital city of KZN and the airport most people will start their trip from, Qatar airways have a new connection from Doha to Durban. The city of Durban is great for families they have invested heavily over the last few years in getting the coastal part of the city improved and now looking fabulous with a huge expanse of lido area to walk along safely and wonder along the beautiful coastline of Durban. The restaurants are fabulous and of course great value with the pound being strong at present we get great value you can eat easily by the sea for £5-10 a head with drinks depending on what you want great service always a smile! You have Umshaka Marine world in Durban too a fabulous waterpark and Aquarium great value and lovely day out for all ages, casinos if you like that the wonderful coastline, there are not too many cities boasting a coastline like this. Drakensburg Mountains – we stayed at the Drakensburg Sun Resort a beautiful ranch style resort offering either rooms or cottage style accommodation for family stays, the setting is amazing and from here you could easily spend 3-5 nights with a car and discover the area – very relaxed resort great service beautiful setting. If you’re an adventurer you would love the Canopy tour whistling through the Drak’ mountains on a zip wire overlooking the amazing rain forest – literally take your breath away, then after this you may to visit Cathedral Peak for a glass of beautiful South African wine to get your breath back. All sorts of sports can be done in the Drakensburg area if you like the outdoors you will love this area. Midlands – Where Nelson Mandela was captured you can visit this site and view the stunningly designed piece of art to commemorate this place and visit the museum too. You can visit Howick and the beautiful market town and water fall very laid back and lovely place to meander around the shops and have a drink – before maybe visiting Ardmore Art studio, if you like art this has been made into its Internationally known art studio in a smallholding housing some of the most stunning African art I have ever seen, which now sell for thousands of dollars a piece and some pieces taking more than 6 months to complete, it also supports the local community with a percentage of their sales going directly to the person who made each piece, outstanding quality! The Zululand and the North – we stayed at Isandlwana Lodge in the Battlefields you can take a tour from this beautiful lodge with the resident historian there and he will transport you back in time to the 1800’s when the battles took place a truly amazing historic experience and one that won’t be forgotten. We also stayed at Ghost Mountain further up North a gated retreat that offers peace and tranquillity in a beautiful lush surrounding with a crocodile enclosure if you dare to visit it onsite. You can visit a Zulu town from here and see how the Zulus lived and still do today to a certain extent in some areas you will also enjoy an evening of Zulu dancing so invigorating an amazing site. Up to some of the best game reserves in the area once of the oldest and largest in South Africa is Hluhluwe which we visited here you can see the big 5 and so much more you can drive yourself or take one of their guides very reasonable and a fabulous safari experience I would totally recommend the local driver to take you around and get the knowledge and history that they offer too, they know where to see and get the best views, the park is immense and could take days to drive around the whole place. Finish your stay with a bit of luxury before going home with a stay at Beverly hills hotel in Umhlanga Rocks area, the beach area here is second to none and have views of the lighthouse right on the beach in front of the BH hotel and the Oyster box hotel another well-known boutique resort here - a fabulous ending to a great trip. Give me a call for more advice on this area. Debbie

25 April 2008

If you haven't been to Bermuda, then now is the time to visit this wonderful country. Most people have heard of Bermuda, being situated in the Bermuda Triangle, and maybe a little put off by this but believe me, you are in for a surprise when you visit this fantastic country with its friendly people. Situated in the Atlantic, in a gulf stream about 200 miles off the coast from New York, Bermuda enjoys the same seasons as the UK, but many more degrees warmer! In fact even in winter, the average temperature is 60 degrees. Bermuda is only 27 miles long and is made up of many different islands linked together by bridges and it really does have pink sand beaches, due to the many corals situated in the crystal clear waters around the country. I stayed at Cambridge Beaches; my favourite place in the world, situated in Sandy’s in the South of the Island. Cambridge Beaches is made up of many typical Bermudian cottages, which remind me of small iced cakes with their white ridged roofs typical of the Island. There is a fabulous newly built spa and a wonderful pool area looking over Mangrove Bay. The restaurants serve fantastic food and dining over looking Mangrove Bay at night with the tree frogs in the background must be one of the most romantic places in the world! Or alternatively they will arrange beachside dining where the waves will lap as you dine. There is so much to see on Bermuda and the Bermudians are extremely friendly and welcoming, and with crime rate very low it really is a perfect destination for families or couples alike. I would love to advise you on this destination as Bermuda holds a special place in my heart, and look forward to sending you there in the near future.

25 April 2008

After travelling to Jamaica a number of times this experience was my most memorable. I love Jamaica and its people, and it is a vast and amazingly beautiful place. Admittedly if you’re travelling around the island you have to be cautious, but that is where I can help you to go to the right places and see the island safely. This particular trip took me to 2 completely different accommodations on the Island, the first hotel in Negril called Ten Sing Pen, it really is a very special place situated on a rocky out crop along from some fabulous beaches, Ten Sing Pen is a place unlike any other I have stayed in. It is a small group of cottages built on and into the rock face with direct access to the sea, great for people who like simplicity and quietness. The staff are wonderful and the accommodations bring you back to the basics, but beautifully decorated using locally made furnishings. The food is served in a restaurant where you can see the kitchen and real home cooked Jamaican food, it really is an escape into paradise and very romantic! The second part of holiday was spent in the Tryall Club in Montego Bay, a fabulous resort made up of privately owned villas set around an 18 hole world championship golf course. Not being a golfer myself this did not matter, although I did take a few lessons with the onsite golfing school, great fun and I could even hit the ball by the end of the holiday! There is a fabulous beach marina area that will give you the chance to do some water sports. You go around the resort on a golf cart which comes as part of your villa! The restaurants are exquisite! One in the great house and one at the beachside serve excellent Jamaican dishes and you mustn't miss the weekly barbecue, great fun with great entertainment. You will never feel like you are surrounded by too many people as the resort is so spacious. My personal experience here at The Tryall Club was where my 'now' husband popped the question, aided by the Head Chef and Manager who helped my husband set the scene for the proposal. We married last year in Bordeaux. The Tryall Club will always hold a special place in my heart. Do give me a call if you think you like the sound of the amazing place!