19 April 2018

Andalucia has so much to offer. I lived in Estepona/San Pedro De Alcantara for five years and loved it. In the winter I was able to ski in Sierra Nevada and within 90 minutes be in the lovely city of Malaga or sat on a beach in Marbella in just two hours. You may also know this southern tip of Spain to be known as the Costa Del Sol (Sun Coast.) This part of Spain is backed by the lovely Sierra Blanca mountain range. Located here are the towns of Marbella and Puerto Banus, they are famed as playgrounds of the rich and famous and offer plenty of designer shops and nightlife. However, not far from here you have some amazing places such as the Alhambra Palace in Granada (approx. 1hr 35min). I recommend a full day or two exploring Granada and the beautiful Alhambra Palace (amazing tapas.) Ronda is another must see, famous for its gorge and amazing views over the mountains. It is a historic city with a dramatic past of outlaws and rebels. Ronda is only approx. 1 hour from Marbella. There are many lovely towns and villages on this southern coast and I can recommend lots of lovely places to stay and some excellent restaurants. On the other side of Gibraltar, you have the superb white long sandy beaches of Cadiz. Tarifa is a great place for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Seville another one of my favourite Spanish cities, not so big and easy enough to walk around. Spring is a lovely time to visit Seville when it’s not too hot. Along with Jerez and Cadiz, Seville is a perfect place to see a Flamenco show. Seville was home to some of Spain’s finest performers from 1860’s to 1910’s. Seville is approx. 2hrs 30min from Malaga or 3hrs from Marbella, although it does have its own airport. This part of Spain is also serviced by Gibralter and Jerez de la Frontera airports as well as Malaga Airport. Being the most southern tip of Spain, I loved the hot sunny climate almost guaranteed for the summer months mid-April to mid Oct (although beginning of April and end of October could be stormy and showery.) This coast has something for everyone, families, couples, group weekends away, water-sports enthusiasts, golf breaks (many great golf courses and golf hotels to choose from.) I would love to help anyone who is looking to travel/holiday in this part of the world.

20 December 2017

What a remarkable country! Split into two islands, North and South, I was fortunate enough to have lived on the North Island for three years. For a relatively small country, the wonderful places to see are endless. I lived in Auckland, a great little city (NZ’s largest) by the coast surrounded by beaches. It’s small enough to easily walk around and has so much to offer. From great shopping in areas like Newmarket, Ponsonby and Parnell to great bars and restaurants at the harbour/viaduct. Auckland is known as the city of sails due to the number of yachts, 135,000 yachts and launches are registered in Auckland, with about one in three Auckland households owning a boat. Wherever you are in NZ you are never that far away from the sea. As you can imagine the fish and seafood are amazing. One of my favourite places in NZ is Waiheke Island, only about 30 mins ferry ride from Auckland. It’s home to many award-winning vineyards, which are popular places to host weddings. It also has some lovely beaches with some great little bars and restaurants. It has a laid back vibe and is a great place to visit whether for the day or a bit longer (plenty of places to stay on the island.) Just three hours’ drive north of Auckland, are the Bay of Islands. If you love the beach, this is a must for you. The bay also has a great historical value as this is where the Maori and the British signed the “Treaty of Waitangi”. There are 144 islands altogether but the main places to visit are KeriKeri, Paihia and Russell. There are great fishing and diving trips from here also. One place I didn’t get around to seeing but will definitely visit when I get back to NZ is the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves, just three hours’ drive from Auckland. You can take a boat ride underground to experience the magic of thousands of these tiny creatures lighting up the cave roof. In the middle of the north island you have Rotorua and Lake Taupo. Rotorua is where you can view the shooting geysers and natural hot springs. With Rotorua being a geothermal wonderland, after a busy day of sightseeing why not relax in a luxurious bubbling mud pool on offer in many of the luxurious spas. Worth a visit on the East Coast are the vineyards of Hawkes Bay and the beautiful 1930’s Art Deco buildings of Napier. South of the North Island, you have the capital of New Zealand, Wellington - recently named the “coolest little capital in the world” by the Lonely Planet. Great views of the city can be seen by taking the historic cable car. The city is also home to the Museum of New Zealand "Te Papa" and has engaging, interactive displays, to learn about Maori and Pacific culture and of New Zealand’s amazing natural life. The South Island of New Zealand is the largest of the two islands but is less populated. The South Island is great for adventurers and thrill seekers, from bungy jumping, white-water rafting to hiking and skiing to name but a few. The Abel-Tasman national park (top of the South Island) even though I never made it here, it is another one on my list to go to when I return. Kayaking and hiking are a great way to view the amazing beaches/bush and nature that it has to offer. The Glaciers include Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier offer a once in the lifetime experience. Queenstown is surrounded by magnificent mountains (skiing on offer) and set on the shores of the crystal-clear Lake Wakatipu. There are a huge range of activities available here and is a great place for adventure enthusiasts. Fiordland is one of the most dramatic and beautiful parts of New Zealand. Boat cruises, helicopter rides or simply hiking the Fiordlands is the best way to see them. There are many more amazing places in New Zealand that I have not mentioned, it really does offer something for everyone, hopefully this has given you a taster of this amazing country. I would really love to help you plan your visit here.

15 November 2017

Having never been to Portugal before, I was really looking forward to this holiday in Lagos. I travelled with my family and two young children for a week in July 17 and I was not disappointed. Lagos is about an hours’ drive from Faro Airport on the Algarve. The resort has a lot to offer families and couples alike. The beaches were very clean, and the town had a nice feel and atmosphere. It has four beaches around the town, and within walking distance from the resort. The Marina There is a lovely big Marina that the main beach backs onto, with lots of lovely restaurants and bars. There is a bridge you can walk across to get to the Marina or further down near the old town you can cross by a little boat taxi which will take a few minutes, and only costs a small amount. From here you can book lots of different boat trips to take in the wonderful coastline and if you are lucky enough to see some dolphins. The Old Town The Old Town is a great place to wander around by day or night and has some great hidden authentic Portuguese restaurants with lovely fresh fish. I can recommend O’Mexilhao Restaurant and Gin Bar (amazing fish.) Here you will also find some great gift shops with the lovely Portuguese painted earthenware available to buy. In the evenings during the summer they have some great street entertainers performing around the main square. Beaches The main beach (Meia Praia) next to the Marina is a beautiful natural beach with small dunes. It has a wide and long expanse of sand. There are two lovely beach bars offering some shelter on a hot day and the added bonus is they both have really great food. The other beaches are smaller than the main beach and are more like sheltered coves, which are great to head to if it’s a bit windy. These are located next to the old town. Another beach worth a visit is Porto Do Mos beach approx 3.5km from Lagos and approx 10 Euro in a taxi. This beach is the second largest in Lagos and flanked by tall cliffs that add to the beautiful scenery. Waterpark Having little one’s we also opted to visit the waterpark Slide & Splash, again we were not disappointed as it had something for everyone and all ages. It is about 20 minutes from Lagos. They had a large young children’s area with lots of little slides and fountains. The park also features a large pool with a wave machine and there are plenty of bigger slides for older children and adults. I found the park was clean and would definitely return if we went back to the Algarve. Where to stay We stayed in a private apartment, but one of the hotels I noted that would be great for families and couples is the Villa Gale Lagos, it has a huge pool and is just opposite the main beach Meia Praia. The Belmar Spa & Beach Resort is a luxury resort that overlooks the lovely beach of Porto de Mós and the sea, it’s a few minutes’ walk to the beach and this hotel would suit families and couples. For couples looking for wellness and spa the 5* Cascade Wellness and Lifestyle Resort is for you. It too overlooks the beautiful Porto Do Mos beach (10 min walk.)