22 May 2017

My trip started from Manchester flying Business Class with Turkish Airlines – with their onboard chef, the food was amazing and great service too. Once I left Istanbul with two colleagues, I was glad of my lie-flat bed for our overnight flight, heading towards one of the world’s most buzzing and exotic cities, Hong Kong where our Travel Counsellor’s Gold Weekend was being held. Hong Kong is home to the spectacular Victoria Harbour and boasts a gastronomic and cultural scene with something to occupy any visitor. We spent four nights at the 5* Cordis Hong Kong at Langham Place, a stylish and contemporary hotel where everything is devoted to your well-being. In the heart of the bustling Mongkok area with a two-Michelin starred restaurant, world-famous spa facilities and a breathtaking rooftop pool, Cordis Hong Kong makes for the perfect city retreat. The hotel is also attached to a 14-floor shopping centre – so a perfect addition if you do like to shop! On our first day we discovered Ladies Market, just a short walk from the hotel, and enjoyed a morning of bartering and haggling. In the afternoon, a Hong Kong based colleague took us off the beaten track to Nan Lian Garden which is a Chinese Classical Garden in the Diamond Hill area – a very peaceful oasis amongst the myriad of high-rise apartments. The garden, designed in the Tang-Dynasty style, has an area of 3.5 hectares and has stunning water features, trees and beautiful wooden structures. We took the local bus to Sai Kung which is about 30 minutes away and is known as “Hong Kong’s back garden” because of the beautiful hiking trails and beaches in the area. The village of Sai Kung is also noted locally for its array of seafood restaurants, many of which are congregated along the seafront. There were so many highlights over the few days we were there, it’s hard to know where to start but certainly watching the laser show from the balcony of the Ozone Bar; the highest bar in the world on the 118th Floor at the Ritz Carlton, is something that I will cherish forever. The Hong Kong skyline is truly breathtaking and the cocktails were amazing, if a little pricey. We also enjoyed two very lovely hosted dinners – one at the Harbour Grand Kowloon which has the most amazing views, with our last dinner at the Michelin Star Hutong restaurant where we had the most fabulous Chinese banquet I have ever tasted. Hong Kong has so much more to offer, whether you want to get outdoors and climb the Peak (but try and avoid the queues), ride the historic trams, use the Star Ferry or Island Hop or just enjoy the amazing cuisine and shopping opportunities the city has to offer. I would love to go back some day and explore more of the stunning skyline and get lost in the city streets again. I would definitely recommend Hong Kong as either a standalone exciting City Break or as a short stopover when travelling further afield.

22 May 2017

I visited Hard Rock Hotel, Tenerife with a colleague for 4 nights at the end of April this year – for a few days relaxation after a busy start to the year, and to see if the hotel lived up to the Hard Rock brand. From the moment we arrived, we were treated like royalty, greeted with a refreshing drink and shown to our room. Every staff member went above and beyond – their customer service is exceptional and their staff are an absolute asset. The newly opened hotel, which has 637 rooms across twin towers (Oasis & Nirvana), is located on the southwest coast near Adeje, in the quiet resort of Playa Paraiso, with great sunset views over to the neighbouring island of La Gomera. There are a small amount of bars and cafes in the resort and a handy supermarket across the road which sells anything you forget to pack! It’s also just a 20-minute taxi ride to the nightlife of Playa de Las Americas. The hotel has state-of-the-art facilities, and peerless amenities for children, teenagers and adults alike, combined with the hippest of styles and a classic rock soundtrack. Features include three heated swimming pools include an adults-only pool and the beach club lagoon, both with swim-up bars, partially submerged sun loungers and DJ booths, four restaurants, outdoor terraces and entertainment venues. In-room treats see guests getting free guitars for jamming sessions and playlist downloads at check-in, with a Rock Spa (with a separate pool) for pampering and a Body Rock gym. The public areas in the hotel are very tastefully decorated. We were upgraded to a Silver Suite which had a side Seaview with a spacious balcony. The rooms were very modern with an open bathroom, with two sinks plus a separate shower cubicle and WC (no bath). Quality linen and towels were all replenished daily. Breakfast was very plentiful, although we did prefer to eat outdoors, as I felt it was very “canteen like” and noisy inside the main restaurant – and the hotel was not at full capacity. It was great outside as we were entertained each morning by music of some sort, including “live” guitarists. We only had dinner in the hotel on the first night at the Teppanyaki Restaurant, Narumi, which was good, but quite pricey for what we ate. Our favourite places were the Beach Club during the day, with a DJ there every day – which led to a great atmosphere around the pool area. Our favourite place for sunset cocktails, and one night a Gin and Burger Night, was the Sixteenth Bar on top of the Nirvana Tower – which was awesome with superb views and sunsets. And, when the sun went down then no problem, the staff brought out heaters and blankets out. Although maybe not in the best of locations in Tenerife, it certainly did not disappoint - I was sorry to leave after just four nights. I’d highly recommend the hotel for families due to the hotel’s incredible family facilities which includes: TeenSpirit, Roxity and Lullaby clubs from six months to 16 years-old with simulators, Xbox competitions, guitar and DJ lessons in the mix, as well as a Disney-esque swimming pool with pelican fountains and an adventure playground. Adults don't miss out though with a separate adults-only zone and pool next to the Nirvana block. I’ll certainly be back!

26 November 2015

We arrived early for check-in as we’d stayed overnight in Southampton. Check-in with smooth, although those who arrived later did not enjoy such a smooth transition through security. On board, the scale, grandeur and luxury were apparent from the moment of boarding. From the stunning outdoor pool and Jacuzzis on the top deck – number sixteen – to the half-acre of lush green lawn on the top deck, to the themed Speciality Restaurants which are fitted out to the highest standards and present food of Michelin Star quality, all the way through to the impeccably presented staterooms. With, fellow Travel Counsellors colleagues we were taken on a highly informative and comprehensive tour of the ship. The stylish Library on Deck 10, overlooking a real tree suspended in the Atrium was my amazing, as was the Cellar Masters; this plush, leather-festooned, wine bar stocked everything from a reasonably priced Pinot Grigio to a bottle of Screaming Eagle, an American offering which will set you back $5,500! Although one of my absolute favourites was the Ice Bar with their literally “ice topped” bar and amazing cocktail making! We thoroughly enjoyed an entertaining wine and cheese tasting led by Oz Clarke in the afternoon and the daily “Celebrity Today” magazine ensured you were always aware of what was happening, where and when. We all opted to upgrade to the Premium Drinks Package; normally retailing at $77 per day, this ensured we could drink pretty much anything we wanted – except Screaming Eagle! We also opted to upgrade our dinner in the evening and visit one of the Speciality Restaurants, the Tuscan Grille, which was truly amazing. There was a Casino and a Night Club for the energetic and insomniacs (not us!). All in all, a great start to our whirlwind cruise. After an excellent breakfast, we headed off for a two hour Business Update on all things Celebrity. The team of presenters majored on why we should book the Celebrity Brand, highlighting 10 key reasons ranging from the luxury marque and quality of the brand to the innovative cuisine and the 280 destinations across seven Continents which variously comprise their Itineraries. Very impressive! Following Tea and Cake in one of the many Bistros and Cafes throughout the ship, we contemplated and pulled together a plan for the rest of the day. At a four hour round trip, Paris would be one step too far so instead, four of us decided that we would set off on a “Discovery Tour” of the Normandy region – and what an inspired choice this turned out to be! We opted for a five hour trip in the company of our excellent and highly entertaining and informative driver, Jamie. The “flowery coast” was stunning and in full bloom. We crossed the impressive Normandy Bridge and visited Trouville and Deauville, the latter sitting proudly upon one of the northernmost Normandy beaches which featured in the D-Day landings. The seafood market in Trouville is an absolute “must see” – just don’t forget your wallet! Whilst the langoustines were HUGE, the price ticket of £50 per kilo was a bit scary! We visited a 17th Century church and a stunning 5* Country House Hotel on our way back to the beautiful town of Honfleur. Tightly knit and incredibly narrow buildings surround a stunning harbour, littered with restaurants specialising in seafood. The huge portion of local mussels in white wine, along with the customary frites, rounded off our afternoon. An excellent tour, inspiring itinerary and first rate company, what more can you ask for – all in all, a great day! In the evening, back on Eclipse, we were invited to a VIP Cocktail Party followed by another outstanding dinner in the shadow of the two-storey, crystal wine store in the main dining room. We all agreed that it will be much easier to sell Celebrity in the light of our experience; we all had a great time and left inspired – and as always, it was great to spend quality time in the company of fellow Travel Counsellors and share experiences and ideas……………………….as well as a few gin & tonics!

26 November 2015

I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to visit the wonderful city of Istanbul at the end of October with some Travel Counsellor colleagues. We travelled from Manchester with Turkish Airlines Business Class service into Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport which is on the European side of the Bosporus. Turkish Airlines have direct flights from Manchester, London and Birmingham and, with great links to LOTS of long-haul destinations. Twinning Istanbul with other destinations opens up a whole world of possibilities... and with the bonus of flying with a great airline. I was extremely impressed with their modern fleet of aircraft, great food on board (via Do & Co) and excellent service. Their choice of seat back entertainment was some of the best I have experienced, and all this together made the four flight an excellent experience. Turkish Airlines also has what has got to be one of the best Business Class Lounges worldwide. It has everything from a cinema, an amazing F1 scalextric track, to a Golf Simulator to keep you amused between connecting flights! They also have bedrooms where you can rest if your connecting flight is between 4 and 7 hours. Turkish Airlines have some of the best business rates around so it’s definitely worth considering when planning your next trip, with most of their long-haul aircraft having lie-flat beds. Our hotel was centrally located making it easy to get out and about to see the sights. Although we weren’t staying directly in the old city, it was only a stone’s throw away. Staying in the Sultanahmet area you can literally step outside the front door of your hotel and be surrounded by beautiful historical buildings, with so much history. Our guide from the tour company, Karavan Travel, gave us an excellent insight into how life would have been back then. It was fascinating learning about the history of the Hagia Sophia, for example which dates back to the 6th Century, whilst the Sultanahmet Mosque (otherwise known as the Blue Mosque), was built in the 17th Century. A spectacle with its 6 minarets and massive dome. As well as the Mosques I would definitely recommend visiting the Topkapi Palace. Incredibly interesting learning about the Sultans and their Harems and the Ottoman Empire. Aside from a wealth of history and architecture, there is a real fun side to Istanbul too. Everything is colourful and there is nothing more exciting that visiting the Spice Market or the Grand Bazaar for some bartering and bargain hunting. Whether its leather goods, ceramics, carpets or simply some delicious Turkish delight or fresh spices, you will lose yourself in the hustle and bustle. We also got to experience “behind the scenes” at Do & Co (who provide excellent cuisine the majority of top-rated airlines), as well as the Crew Training Centre for Turkish Airlines – what a fab facility that was with no less than 12 flight training simulators! Another great reason to visit Istanbul is to sample the cuisine. You cannot fail to love the mezes, the wonderful fresh vegetables, fish and lamb, or the very sweet baklava, all syrupy with nuts and pastry. You also may be surprised to know despite being a Muslim country, Turkey produces some excellent wines. I highly recommend Istanbul for a city break or for a short stay before joining your cruise.