08 August 2018

I was really pleased to be invited on this eight-day Emerald Waterways river cruise on the Douro in Portugal. I was one of a group of seven UK travel agents spread across the UK and Ireland along with fellow passengers. The Emerald Radiance can accommodate up to 112 guests. Its style is modern and contemporary. The passenger suites were compact although very well designed, the majority having electronically controlled panoramic balconies. All the crew without exception were some of the best I have ever come across! The quality and presentation of the food on board was first class. Portugal was having a bit of a heat wave when we were there, so it was great to have the pool on the sundeck and one evening this area was transformed into an open-air cinema with popcorn. Our itinerary Day 1, Porto We were met at the airport after our flight from Manchester by friendly Emerald staff who were co-ordinating the many flight arrivals both from the UK and further afield. After only a short wait we were transferred by coach to the ship to enjoy lunch and get to know our new home for the week. Day 2, Porto to Pinhao Today was nearly a full day of sailing through the Douro valley between the many wine estates and small villages. We arrived at Pinhao in the afternoon and went for a walk around the small but pretty village before getting ready for the welcome dinner and cocktail reception. Day 3, Pinhoa to Vega de Terron This morning included a walk tour through the nearby vineyard with port wine tasting before returning to the ship for lunch and the afternoon sailing to Vega de Terron. Day 4, Salamanca A full day in the city of Salamanca home to one of the oldest universities in Europe. We boarded the coaches in Vega de Terron for a two hour drive each way, but a comfort stop was made after one hour each way. There was a good mix of free time and a tour by local guides. Day 5, Pocinho We arrived in Pocinho this morning for a half day excursion to the Coa Valley Museum, showcasing pre-historic stone carvings that had been uncovered during the construction of the nearby dam or for the more active a guided canoeing experience. I did the museum and the view at the end over the Douro was fabulous. Back on board for lunch and the sailing towards Regua for the hosted dinner at a traditional rural wine estate. Brilliant venue with great food and wine. Day 6, Regua Two options were available this morning, an optional excursion to Mateus Palace or a tour and free time in Regua. We had a walk around Regua but I would recommend the Mateus Palace trip from the feedback we received. Regua is a modern town with not the prettiest buildings. Day 7, Porto Back in Porto for a guided walking tour in the morning, lunch back on board and then an optional excursion to Guimaraes. We mainly relaxed and reluctantly packed for our departure home the following day Day 8, Porto After the usual extensive breakfast options and saying goodbye to the wonderful staff and fellow passengers we were transferred back to the airport for our flight back to Manchester. Some on later flights could enjoy lunch on board and further time exploring Porto. My highlights were: • The crew on board, they were superb from the cabin attendants, waiters in the bar and restaurants to the Cruise director and Hotel Manager • It is great to have good wine included in the price for lunch and dinner. The drinks prices were very reasonable, and you could upgrade to all-inclusive from £10.99 depending on your drink preferences • The food was exceptional • The scenery All in all, a wonderful trip and I can’t wait to go back!

20 May 2017

I have just returned from a 4 day action packed trip to Tenerife organised by the Melia Hotel group. The island is very different from the lush North to the more commercial South and the stunning middle incorporating the Teide national park. It has much to offer besides relaxing on its beaches and at the bottom of my review are some of the activities I was able to sample over these four days. I had the chance to stay in three hotels on the Island and tour one further hotel. Gran Melia Palacio de Isora This 5* resort has won many awards over the last 9 years since its construction. It is large with over 600 rooms and one of the largest infinity pools in any hotel with further pool options including an adult’s only pool. There are lots of dining options with 7 a la carte restaurants and the Pangea with its international buffet cuisine. The breakfast options here were vast as were the options of where to sit from spacious inside areas or outside terraces. I stayed in a deluxe double room which was decorated with dark wood furniture with splashes of red in the light fittings, had a large private balcony and a well equipped en suite bathroom complete with Clarins toiletries. There is also the Red level within the hotel which caters for adults only or families with extra amenities and a more personal service. You have a private check in area away from the main reception, private pool, lounge, restaurants and upgraded room amenities The hotel has a well-equipped gym, spa, sports facility and a daily included activity programme offering anything from fitness class to coastal walks. It has a beach front position and has direct access to the promenade running along the sea front and into the nearby village. The transfer time is approximately 45 mins from Tenerife south airport. Melia Hacienda del Conde This is a Melia adults-only 5* resort located in the northwest of Tenerife, near the village of Buenavista and the Teno mountain range. The hotel has been built in the traditional style of a Canary Island colonial home and has stunning views of the ocean. It’s set in a quiet area of the island with only a small sleepy looking village close by. I had a very large sea view room with walk in wardrobe and bathroom with bath and separate shower with Loewe toiletries provided. We had been upgraded to have level service which included the separate check in area, lounge, private Salazar restaurant for breakfast and the level solarium area. The Level solarium is in a private area next to the main pool with views over the golf course with deluxe lounges, open bar from 11.00 to 17.00 and has a pool concierge service. The hotel is surrounded by the Buenavista Golf Course designed by Severiano Ballesteros, and the area has the status of a protected rural park, famous for its mild climate throughout the year. It had a really quiet relaxing feel to it being perfect for couples who want to just relax, maybe play some golf, enjoy the facilities of the spa or for the more active try some of the walks around the area. Sol Atlantis This 4* hotel is located in Puerto de la Cruz, in the North of Tenerife overlooking the black sandy beach and El Teide. It’s an old high rise block building but has been recently refurbished and once inside the decor is modern and stylish including the bedrooms. The 290 rooms are all air-conditioned, have flat screen televisions, private furnished balconies, complimentary wifi and all have bright modern bathrooms with walk in shower cubicles. They don’t have a bath but a room with a bath can be requested as there is one of each of these room types on each floor. There is a gym, spa and enclosed roof top pool if the weather inclement. It’s also a popular wedding venue and one was taking place when we visited the hotel. I did not have the opportunity to stay at the hotel but we had lunch and the staff went out of their way to ensure that everyone was happy and that any dietary requested had been taken care of. Melia Jardines del Teide This 4* resort on Costa Adeje has been completely renovated. It would appeal to both families and couples alike. There are special units for families with the exclusive Meliá Kids&Co. programme, as well as the superior ‘the level ‘ service to please the couples. There are 300 rooms and suites with a contemporary interior, many of which have views of the sea from its slightly elevated position in the bay. All rooms have a flat screen TV with satellite channels, complimentary toiletries, air conditioning, safe, kettle with tea and mini fridge. They also have a private balcony or terrace each. This hotel is really well placed for someone who is looking for plenty going on around them and it's only about a 30 minute transfer from Tenerife South airport. Activities and excursions experienced 3 hour catamaran experience from Puerto Colon. We set off from the harbour on a rather windy day but it was an amazing experience seeing a number of Pilot whales and dolphins along side. We were served lunch by the crew and there had been an open bar throughout the trip. Finca El Lomo Banana Planation. A tour around this amazing site seeing the process from start to finish with bananas being at different stages of development. It’s also set up for someone looking for an unusual wedding venue. Masca Village. Access from the South is not for the faint hearted, single track roads with hairpin bends and plenty of traffic coming the other way but we had an amazing tapas lunch with stunning views at one of the local restaurants and anyone with more time can take a long walk down to the beach at the bottom. Teide National park. We took a drive through the national park and stopped for photos of El Teide. If you have time take the cable car up to the top during the day or towards sunset is also popular.

10 April 2015

I have just returned from a four night river cruise from Amsterdam on Scenic Tours latest ‘Space Ship’ Scenic Jasper. All the Scenic Tours fleet of ships are luxurious and all grades of cabin come with your own butler. They are decorated in a contemporary style with lots of thought going into the design. The balconies have an electric upper glass section that you can raise with the press of a button so that if the weather is poor you are still able to enjoy the view sat on your balcony. There is also at least one member of staff for every three guests so service levels are extremely high. The Panorama Lounge is a great place to watch the world go by with a cocktail or speciality coffee and when the weather is better the Sun Deck offers lots of space with a small heated plunge pool available. The weather was not at its best when we were on board so the Panorama Lounge was very popular but never over crowded. There are several grades of cabin to choose from we were lucky enough to stay in one of the deluxe balcony cabins on Danube deck. They are slightly larger than the standard balcony and a lot of the prices depend on the deck you are on. The higher the deck the more expensive the cabin, all come with L'Occitane toiletries, luxurious bathrobes, crisp Egyptian cotton linen, individual climate control, a pillow menu, a flat-screen HDTV, plus complimentary mini-bar, WiFi internet access, and a personal safe for your valuables. Dining options to choose from are the all-day River Café, Portobellos Italian Restaurant, the Crystal Dining room is the main restaurant. There is also the Table La Rive a speciality restaurant set in an area of the main restaurant. We dined in all the options available except the La Rive due to time constraints of only being on the ship for four nights. We also experienced room service ordering breakfast on a couple of the mornings when we were getting ready for an early tour. All food options were excellent but I really enjoyed the food in Portobellos and would recommend trying that speciality restaurant if you have chance. Our four night river cruise sailed from Amsterdam and back into Amsterdam taking in Antwerp and Hoorn. Scenic offer lots of really good tours included in the price and I did an informative walking tour of Antwerp, a coach trip to see the windmills at Zaanse Schans and another walking tour of Hoorn with a few stops on route with the guide to taste the local produce followed by a meal with locals cooked by locals in the church hall. I really enjoyed the trip and will be trying another river cruise in the next year or two with my husband. I will try another area as there are so many lovely rivers to go at and will pick a slightly warmer time to be able to experience the sun deck.

09 April 2013

I have just returned from a city break in Porto in Northern Portugal organised by the tourist board. We flew from Gatwick with TAP Portugal and after a short comfortable flight of 2 hours and 15 minutes we arrived at the very modern Porto airport. It is just a short transfer to the city centre and there is also a train service from the airport to the city. We stayed in the Intercontinental Palacio das Cardosas. This deluxe 5 star hotel is located on the city’s main square for the three night visit. It had been a former palace and was decorated to a very high standard. It also had such a lovely warm atmosphere and the staff did so much to ensure the stay was excellent. I would love to return back to this hotel. There are many things to do in and around Porto. You can stroll around the narrow streets making your way down towards the river. On your way you can visit the many cultural attractions, vintage shops, traditional markets and gourmet specialities. Try a bike or Segway tour. I did the Segway tour at the side of the Douro which was so much fun. We also did a tour followed by some Port tasting at the Sanderman Portwine cellars. I would recommend a river Douro cruise in one of the traditional ‘Rabelo’ boats. We also went on a guided visit to the Contemporary Art Museum of Serralves. Also, I’d recommend a visit to the Art Deco mansion and farm all set within 18 hectares of parkland. My three favourite restaurants during the trip were: 17 restaurant and bar, Quarenta 4 and Fish Fixe. 17 Restaurant and Bar is on the 17th floor of the Hotel D. Henrique. It has wonderful views across the city although it was raining the night we went and so the mist spoiled the views. An outdoor terrace is available for use in good weather. They serve Mediterranean or Portuguese cuisine. Quarenta 4 is in the Matosinhos area. This would be difficult to come across if you did not know about it. It serves lovely sophisticated Portuguese food in urban chic surroundings. Fish Fixe is located in Ribeira, right at the side of the Douro with lovely views of the river. It is a small cosy restaurant serving good sea products. Porto would be good for someone looking for a city break where you have done the usual cities and are looking for somewhere different. Also many river cruises on the Douro start here and it would be a pity not to spend a few days in the city before the cruise.

06 June 2012

I have just returned from an action packed trip to Cyprus organised by the Cyprus tourist Organisation. There is so much to do and see. From Wine tasting tours to ancient sites. From skiing in the Trodos mountains to relaxing on its wonderful beaches. I had the chance to stay in several hotels on the Island and tour several more. Below are the three hotels I stayed in on the visit. Avanti Hotel The Avanti is a 4 star hotel situated just 250 metres away from the beach in Paphos. I had a good size pool view room; the decor was of a more traditional style. All bedrooms were refurbished in 2010 It would be a great hotel for dance groups travelling together, it has two fully sprung wooden dance floors. Also bowling groups can make use of its six full sized greens. It’s also is well set up for families with children’s clubs, pool and meals. Rooms can accommodate 2 adults and 2 children in bunk beds plus a cot. Interconnecting rooms are also available. Golden Bay Beach Resort This 5 star hotel is situated on a sandy beach in Larnaca Bay. It is just 15mins from Larnaca International airport and 30mins from the Capital Nicosia I had a standard side sea view room which was decorated in a modern contemporary style. All the rooms are a good size with the same modern finish. We had breakfast and dinner in the Yacht club Restaurant. The food was a buffet which can be taken both indoor and outdoor on the wood deck with lovely sea views. The hotel would be good for families being right on the beach and having good facilities for families. Standard rooms can accommodate 2 adults and 1 child but interconnecting rooms are also available for larger families All the hotel’s we visited were well set up for weddings and the Golden Bay also had its own small private chapel. Four Seasons Hotel A 5 star deluxe hotel situated on the beach just a few minutes’ drive from Limassol centre. It is a large hotel with 304 rooms but manages to have a lovely welcoming feeling. I stayed in a standard land view room which was extremely comfortable especially the bed. The bathroom was a really good size with a jacuzzi bath and lots of marble. Breakfast is buffet style taken in the Café Tropical which is a wonderful setting all wood decking, pergolas and water areas. We had dinner one evening in the a al carte Italian restaurant which has won many awards and I can see why. After dinner we went next door to ‘Colours’ the Four seasons ice cream parlour with great indoor or outdoor seating to round off the evening. If you are interested in staying away from the main resorts, Cyprus is busy renovating some of its old unused properties into some lovely tourist accommodation in villages like Tochni. We visited several properties in the village all were renovated to a high standard with air conditioning and central heating. We had a lovely lunch in Tochni tavern with lovely views and a really nice breeze blowing through the valley. It is over twenty years since I last visited Cyprus and I am hoping it will not be long before I am able to make a return visit on holiday with my family.