30 December 2023

I recently returned from a seven night Mediterranean cruise on board the MSC world Europa and Wow it exceeded my expectations. The ship has a capacity to take 6762 passengers and I was a little worried that this might be a bit overwhelming for me but to my surprise the ship is so big that it really didn't feel that crowded. We stayed in a promenade Seaview balcony cabin which was great for being able to watch the light shows on the promenade from your balcony but also have the side Seaview. We began our journey in Barcelona and the check in was very straightforward and very well organised We arrived around midday but you cannot check in to your cabin until 1:30 PM however this gave us time to have a little look around and have lunch on board before heading into our balcony. I was overwhelmed with the size of the ship there is so much to see and you definitely need your walking shoes on !!! There is something for everyone on board, whether you are a family with children or adults only you will not get bored but again if you just want to relax there is plenty of space to do that too. Our ports of call were Marseille, Civitavecchia, Palermo, Valletta and Genoa which we prebooked 3 of the excursions and made our own way on the others. My favourite ports of call was Civitavecchia where we booked a small group excursion to Rome and again an excursion in Valletta Malta, I would love to return and see more. MSC World Europa is the first LNG-propelled ship in the MSC Cruises fleet and features a new generation wastewater treatment system, as well other cutting-edge environmental technology: another significant step forward in MSC’s commitment to environmental stewardship. MSC World Europa features breakthrough green technologies and brings MSC’s fleet a lot closer to the ultimate goal of “zero emissions operations”. The MSC World Europa has a unique y shaped open aft which leads to a 104m long outdoor World Promenade, the promenade also has the longest dry slide at sea which is called the Venom drop at 11 decks high !! So I would have loved to have gone on this but only recently having a spine operation didn’t think it was a good idea !! This ship has the largest waterpark in the MSC fleet and 7 swimming pools spread across the ship, so it really didn’t feel crowded even though we went in the winter the pools are heated. There are 13 dining venues, some which have to be prebooked and paid for but we just used the buffet restaurants and the restaurant in the evening which was included in our price and a couple of times we ended up eating pizza at 1 in the morning !! There are a collection of 20 bars and lounges so plenty to choose from if you fancy a drink. Overall I would definitely go on an MSC cruise again and my top 3 tips would be: (1) Prebook drinks package, dining, excursions, wifi, and any other activities that you would like to do before you go, as once you are on the ship the prices rise considerably. (2) Take medications with you, you might want to take things like paracetamol etc because again the prices are very high to buy any type of medication on board and very limited. (3) Download the MSC for me app as this will come in very handy before and during your cruise, here you can see your itinerary, billing, anything that you have prebooked and whilst on the ship you can book the shows on your app too. Thankyou for reading and if I can be of any help at all please do get in touch.

13 July 2023

I am very lucky to have a Portuguese husband, his family live in a beautiful historic town called Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo in the district of Guarda, close to the border of Spain. The village Castelo Rodrigo that overlooks the town has the ruins of a medieval castle, for a very small fee we took a stroll around the ruins learning about the history, we explored the narrow cobbled streets and visited the boutiques for homemade jams, honey, nuts and wine, bags or purses that are made locally from the tree bark (cork). I love sitting at one of the cafes and enjoying a cold drink admiring the views of the mountains and landscape surrounding this village and overlooking the town. We always visit the Adega Cooperativa winery for their award winning wines that are made locally. Take a short drive to Barca da Alva, where often you will see the river cruises that offer excursions to Figueira Castelo. Barca da Alva is surrounded by vineyards and olive and almond groves, we love to walk across the Almirante Sarmento Rodrigues bridge to truly appreciate the views of the river Douro and the surrounding hillside vineyards, here you can see all the river cruise boats lined up along the dock. This is one of my favourite places to visit and have some wonderful food or take a stroll along the river and just enjoy the relaxing way of life. Almeida is another beautiful place to visit again just a short drive away, this fortified town when seen from the air has the appearance of a star, the fortress is built around the medieval castle and you can take a walk around the fortified circuit and visit the museum. Wander through the cobbled streets and learn about all its history. I love to pamper myself at the Termas De Almeida Fonte Santa (Almeida Hot Springs), where the mineral waters of the Thermal Complex spring slopes of the valley where the Coa River flows at an altitude of 560m. I often have a massage followed by a relaxing swim in the hot water with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the landscape. Well worth a visit is the museum and archaeological park of the Coa Valley in an open air complex of where there are over 80 sites with rock art of the different Paleolithic periods. The museum sits on top of a hill overlooking the Coa valley which offers interactive information. If you like a bit of retail therapy with the views to go with it then Guarda is the place to visit. Guarda is the highest city in Portugal, the Torre de Menagem known as Guarda Castle is an imposing stone tower located at the highest point of 1056 metres altitude. The towns main square is where you can visit Guardas cathedral and a statue of Dom Sancho I, who founded the city in 1199. There are a number of cafes around the square to sit back and relax. Guarda is a beautiful city not to be missed. There are also a number of beautiful lake shore swimming areas a short drive away, which on a hot day is a wonderful relief. To explore all what I have wrote about and so much more, a self-drive would be perfect. Whether you want to hire a car, mobile home, caravan or take your own, I can help you plan your perfect Itinerary including the hiring of vehicles, flights, ferries, hotels river cruises and more. Please do get in touch with me if you feel this is for you.

09 May 2023

Well what can I say about this beautiful island !! Truly amazing. As we flew over the islands to the capital Male you can appreciate how small these islands are in the middle of the Indian ocean. It was a postcard picture ! My husband and I wanted a relaxing holiday after a very busy previous year and I have always wanted to go to the Maldives. We reached our resort by a 45 minute speed boat to Summer Island in the North Male Atoll, next time I would like to try the sea plane transfer. My expectations were high and wow this Island just blew me away!! As we approached Summer Island all you could see was sand, sea, and beautiful sunshine highlighting the palm trees. We were greeted with a refreshing drink and taken to our room which was a Superior Vista with a balcony overlooking the ocean. It really was a dream come true , I couldn’t wait to get unpacked and do some snorkelling. The sea was so clear, I could see the tropical fish around my feet and the snorkelling was amazing. There is diving facilities if you want to venture out further or take a beginners course. Summer Island has the worlds largest 3D printed coral reef located near to the resorts coral nursery. One thing I will say is to put plenty of sun cream on, I burnt my back snorkelling a lesson to be learnt! I packed way too many clothes, I ended up just wearing my swimsuit all day and very light clothing. We chose to go all inclusive which was ideal for us, so much choice to choose from, I found myself trying everything!! I treated myself to the spa overlooking the sea and had the most wonderful massage, in fact I feel asleep it was that relaxing. There were themed nights, which we did pay extra for and was well worth it, we had a bbq on a separate part of the beach which was all lit up in the evening, very romantic. There are several other activities or excursions available such as a picnic on a sandbank, sail around the island on a traditional sailboat and watch the sunset go down. Try your hand at fishing or visit a local island and meet local families to appreciate where people have thrived for hundreds of years. You will not want to leave any of the beautiful Maldivian islands that are on offer, you will not be disappointed. Please do get in touch if you would like any more information or would like to go to the Maldives.

09 May 2023

One of my favourite places I have been fortunate to go to is Singapore I have been a few times now before going on to either Thailand. Bali or Australia. This time we stayed at the Hotel Miramar along the stunning and historic Singapore river. The vibrant city has so much to offer that I always find something different to see or do each time I have been there. One of my highlights was going to Marina Bay in the evenings and watching the light and music show it really is truly an amazing experience. If you enjoy shopping like me this is the place to be, Marina Bay, Orchard Road, Vivo City, the markets and many more, there is certainly something that you will find. If you love gardens take a leisurely walk around gardens by the Bay where you can visit the Cloud Forest which has a spectacular 35 metre indoor waterfall or the Flower Dome offering themed gardens with an array of exotic plants. For lots of fun head to Sentosa island for plenty of activities and the glorious beach. I had an amazing day at Universal Studios, some of the rides definitely made my hair stand on end !! I took the plunge and tried zip wiring for the first time and I am so glad that I did it. We also visited the Art Science museum which has different interactive exhibits throughout the year. A must is to take a lift to the top of the Marina Bay Sands Luxury hotel with the world’s largest Infinity rooftop pool, the spectacular views of the city just blows you away. For our anniversary my husband and I ate at Ce La Vie rooftop restaurant and bar on the 57th floor in the evening and wow! The food was amazing and again the views at night time all lit up was incredible. There are many beautiful parks to be seen such as East Coast park where you can take a leisurely stroll have a picnic and just relax. Getting around Singapore is very easy, the subway will take you everywhere and it's not expensive at all. One of the most popular attractions in Singapore is to visit Merlion park, the Merlion statue is a mythical structure with a head of a lion and the body of a fish and is known as Singapores official mascot. I have to mention Changi airport, we always make a point of stopping for a night if we have an early flight because this airport has so much to offer you. Hours can be spent here discovering , stroll through the butterfly garden or around the canopy park, try the bouncing nets, hedge maze or go the cinema and so much more. You can even go for a swim too! One of my favourites is visiting the HSBC Rain Vortex at the heart of the Jewel, the worlds tallest indoor waterfall located in the heart of the forest valley. it's just hard to imagine all of this is in an airport it really is a magical experience for everyone. I really could go on and on, Singapore truly is an amazing experience so if you fancy a trip to Singapore and have any questions please do get in touch.