28 March 2025

We flew into Innsbruck due to the short transfer to Seefeld as only skiing for a couple of days. We took the ‘F’ bus to the railway station EUR3.00 tickets can be obtained from the machine by the bus stop. We stayed in an aparthotel - Torri Seefeld which was conveniently located close to the centre and @10 minute walk from the station. The apartments also offer a continental breakfast. There were a choice of bars and restaurants close by and 2 supermarkets within a short walk from the apartments. There is a free skibus with a stop @2minute walk. There are 2 ski areas a south (lower) and a north facing. We went up the north side - ROSSHÜTTE which has some good length blues and some reds. Only a few blacks, not really a suitable resort for advanced skiers especially if there for a week. The resort is also popular with cross country skiing. There are a few ski rental places and we chose one near the station who were very helpful and reasonably priced.

04 May 2020

Two weeks in Australia. It is often thought that longer than 2 weeks is required to visit Australia. You are able to have a 2 week holiday still see some of the major sights and sample the Aussie way of life. Sydney, Rock and Reef 5 nights Sydney – a great city to recover from your jet lag with plenty to do and at your own pace. You have the Sydney Tower with amazing views over the city, a good time is at dusk seeing the city in both lights. Walking the Sydney Harbour Bridge – needs to be pre-booked prior to your arrival). A walk along the coast from Bondi Beach to Bronte and Coogee. Day tours out to the Hunter Valley and/or the Blue Mountains. Walking around city harbour, The Rocks area have great weekend markets. Take a ferry over to Manly or to Taronga Zoo or round to Darling Harbour. Fly to Alice Springs 1 night in Alice Springs, visit the Royal Flying Doctors and explore the town. Take a tour or drive from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock (about 6 hours and stop en route). 2 nights Ayers Rock, visit Uluru and the Olgas taking in the Aboriginal Culture. Dinner in the outback. Fly onto Cairns 4 nights – Cairns Area. You can stay in Cairns, Cairns Beaches or Port Douglas. Have time on the beaches (beware you are unable to swim from the beaches during the summer months due to the blue bottles – jellyfish). Take a trip out to the Great Barrier Reef – snorkel, dive or take a glass bottom boat. A trip out to Karuda and take the train one way.

27 November 2018

This summer we visited the North Coast of Cornwall near Redruth for our week summer family holiday. The north coast is great for body boarding which is what the kids enjoy and also the mum's! Dad's watch. There is a wide variety of accommodation from camping, various Haven sites and numerous cottages, as well as a choice of hotels and B&B's. We stayed in a cottage, giving us more flexibility as travelling with another family we choose a small complex with some things for the kids to do. Luckily this year the weather was slightly better than usual. We mainly spent the time at the beach, such a great choice of unspoilt beaches to choose from - Portreath, Godrevy, Gwithian. We did a couple of excursions - to Land's End, arriving late afternoon (to miss the crowds) and had time to see the various attractions on offer and then stayed for the firework display which they have a couple of nights a week. Another must visit is St Michael's Mount, if you time it right you can walk across the causeway both ways, be prepared to queue to get into the Mount when you have walked all the way to the top. Don't forget to have a Cornish Cream Tea while in Cornwall. Other excursions close by are Truro for shopping, St Ives, take the train in (park and ride) as extremely busy during peak season. The gardens at Helston are lovely.

15 November 2015

We went in search of Father Christmas. We flew with Jet 2 from Manchester, as this was a chartered plan the seats were allocated for us and are required to check in at the airport. As the plane is mainly all families with younger children many of us were seated separately, many of the families were divided up being seats apart. On arrival in Ivaho we were met by the Elves who provided the entertainment, which passed the time while we waited for our bags. The transfer to Saariselka is about 25 minutes. Saariselka is a small village, a few souvenir shops, supermarket, ATM machine and a few restaurants. One main high street so can’t really get lost. Some other operators have a longer transfer and this is get further into the National Parks, Saariselka is further north, a small town and closer to a National Park. There is a choice of accommodation – Holiday Club which has a pool and an ‘Angry Bird’ activity centre. The Tunturi – rooms are based in separate buildings and walk to the main reception area for the bar and restaurant. The Gielas is opposite the Tnturi hotel and the Riekonlinna Hotel is opposite the Gielas in the central square area. The cabins – are dotted around the resort, they are divided into 2 sections and sold as 2 twins with a bathroom, our cabin had 2 rooms upstairs and there were 2 rooms downstairs and the shower was downstairs for all of us. All meals were taken in the Cabin, similar to chalet catering, excellent food with a Christmas dinner the last night. The cabins offer a great relaxed family atmosphere. The search for Santa day, you have plenty of activities available to avoid the queues there are Kota’s (large tipee’s) with hot berry juice and free pancakes throughout the day to warm up and lunch is available between 11-3. We saw Father Christmas early and had no queue, also no queue for any of the activities, never really felt that there were many people around. There are 3 main activities, the Husky rides you are given an allocated time and get to change drivers half way. The Reindeer sleigh ride is fairly short and leads you to an igloo with an ice bar, selling hot chocolate and drinks. You have a magical sleigh ride to visit Father Christmas. You have time for a Northern Lights trip, which can be very cold and the morning before you leave can visit a Husky farm and have another Husky ride. We ended up staying an extra night and were put up in the Tunturi Hotel as the weather was much warmer than usual it snowed the day we left and the planes were unable to land so sat for awhile in the airport but well looked after well. Was an amazing magical trip and would recommend to any family.

05 October 2015

This was a short break to catch up with an Australian friend who had been playing hockey in Holland. I flew from Birmingham, flight very easy and used the mobile boarding pass for the first time, as just myself travelling and what an easy experience. When I arrived in Amsterdam, I caught the train from the airport out to The Hague. Very easy everything all in English and the station is just underneath the airport. Tickets and their ou carte (travel cards) can be purchased from the ticket machines. I was off the train and in a coffee shop with friends in The Hague within an hour of landing. The Hague is a large town with old parts with narrow streets. we stayed in a hotel close to the Royal Palace gardens. The Hague has a tram system which is very easy to use with their travel cards or pay the driver at the front. All stops announced. Also good city for shopping. The next day we took the train to Leiden @15 minutes on the train. Leiden is one of the oldest towns in the Netherlands and the 2nd biggest canal system, only by accident as they started to infill some but ran out of money to do any more. Leiden has the oldest university in Holland and near this is the Botanical Gardens with the Observatory next door. The Botanical Gardens is where the tulip was first cultivated, it had been given to a scientist from Turkey. Close by is also the birth place of Rembrandt’s and can also see a replica windmill of the one his parents used to live in as millers. We went round the De Valk Windmill EUR4.00, one of a couple left in Leiden, was used for milling flour and very interesting with the different levels going through the ages as you go up to the top. We took a trip on one of the cruise boats around the canals, EUR9.00, saw the various decorated houseboats and also the contrast with the old and new parts of Leiden. The various bridges and lampposts were colourfully decorated with floral displays.