07 February 2020

The Constantinou Bros Asimina Suites Hotel in Paphos has changed my outlook on all-inclusive hotels. A luxurious, 5 star, adult focused (over 16’s), all suites hotel with its own beautiful sandy beach and 2 outdoor (interconnected), freshwater swimming pools We stayed just the one night at the Asimina Suites in Paphos, as our villa was not available until the next day. We arrived late (01.30am) but were expected by the hotel; and were immediately given our room key, offered assistance with our luggage (which we didn’t take) and directed to our room. As there were 3 of us, (my 16 year old had decided to grace us with his presence for this holiday) we had booked a one bedroom suite. My son’s bed was the sofa bed in the lounge area of the suite, but it was more than comfortable for the 6ft 2 giant that he is. The suite looked out over the swimming pool, had a partial sea view; and also a balcony with chairs on. The facilities in the room were substantial and there was a jack and jill bathroom, which made it great for when we had gone to bed and closed the door between the bedroom and lounge. We had room service when we got to our room; and the sandwiches that we had were lovely. Are you ever put off by the thought of having to fight for a sun lounger? This was not the case here. After our delicious breakfast, with exceptional service; and a walk along the private beach (not even a couple of minutes away from the restaurant) we decided to go and lounge by the pool. By now it was 11am and there were still plenty of sun loungers available. Staff were attentive; offering drinks regularly which in the heat of the Cypriot sun is needed. We were also offered frozen cubes of watermelon that were extremely cooling; and also cold flannels to wipe our faces. Our son tried out the gym; and then challenged my husband to table tennis. You can hire a private cabana with sunbeds and seats if you wish by the pool or on the beach; or this comes as part of the package if you have an executive one bedroom suite. We were fortunate to be able to have a late check out; and therefore didn’t have to be out of the room until 2.30pm, so we decided to each lunch at the hotel. The food again was amazing; and service was exceptional. This was the perfect start to the holiday; and all 3 of us wished we didn’t have to leave. The service, attention to detail; and friendliness of the hotel was superb. We will definitely visit again in the future. Thank you Asimina Suites for changing my view of all inclusive hotels.

20 July 2018

Weekend wanderings down cobbled streets, an idyllic sense of culture woven through the fabulous island of Malta. Whether you’re headed for shops or a spot of sunshine to break up a gruelling British winter, Malta is a perfect get away spot. Valletta Malta’s diverse and cosmopolitan capital situated in the south east, is bursting with baroque architecture, shops and a real sense of the traditional Maltese feel. I would recommend making the most of Malta’s buses to get to Valletta, the bus station is in the centre of Valletta and has routes from all over the island. Check your hotel desk for further information on numbers and times. When in Valletta explore its many shops, or even head on down to the harbour for a tour. I would recommend going to The Hard Rock Cafe, which is situated along the harbour’s serene water line. Once you have explored the shops why not head to one of its many museums for a touch of culture? Gozo Smaller than Malta, Gozo is a great day excursion and a must see on your holiday. A short ferry trip acts as a time machine to transport you from the north of the island. It is very easy to get to with the hourly car/passenger ferry. Gozo is home to many hidden coves, embedded with crystal lagoons, which are stunning all year round; perfect for beach days. From my trip there, I felt it was more rustic than Malta, away from the hustle and bustle of the big island. It felt very enriched by the history of the island, and a great sense of community and pride could be seen from the people there. Bus tours of the island leave from just outside the ferry port, where tickets can be purchased, either on the ferry or at the port. There are also options to take your car from the main land or arrange a private escorted tour. A tour ensures that you see corners of this enchanting spot, with their hop on, hop off service - great for making sure you make the most of your time on this extraordinary little island.

26 September 2011

We arrived into the very small airport of Carcassonne on low cost airline ‘Ryanair’ from Bournemouth, which is really convenient for people living in the south of England. It was my daughter’s first flight experience so all very exciting! We walked straight out of the airport terminal and across the road to the car hire company, all very close to hand and efficient! Carcassonne: La Cite is a beautifully preserved medieval castle with a drawbridge and a moat. This is where most of the bars, shops and restaurants are situated, in converted old buildings. The city inside the castle walls is not cheap but there is plenty of choice. There are many fantastic photograph opportunities in La Cite, which include the medieval castle walls, quaint walls inside and out, winding narrow streets and the, beautiful, rolling French countryside, visible for miles around. If you want to enjoy some interesting trips in the area the train station and canal trip departures are situated in the Louis Bastide Centre Ville which is about a 25 minutes walk from La Cite, it also has a more extensive shopping area. There are a couple of pleasant walks around Carcassonne but in this area, they will not take you all day! So, if you fancy a walking holiday there are other destinations to choose from. If you are a serious walker you can find lots of challenging walks which take you to other Cathar castles in the district. If you would like to visit Carcassonne and the surrounding area there are plenty of hotels to choose from in this area inside and outside of city walls. After a couple of days we left Carcassonne to travel and stay with friends in the beautiful town of Pezenas, in the department of Val d’ Herault. It is about 100kms from Carcassonne. Pezenas: Definitely take your walking shoes as it is lovely, you can stroll through the narrow cobbled streets of the old quarter of Pezenas, walking right back in time. The buildings go back as far as the Middle Ages, with gargoyles peering down at you from various hotels and official buildings, then moving on to the buildings from the elegant 18th century you can admire their beautiful facade, for instance the Consular House in place Gambetta, with its beautiful wrought iron work. Pezenas is famous for its trade fairs and markets, for the colours, the atmosphere and the extraordinary variety of food produce on sale. The wine industry is very important in this part of the world and I recommend you sample some! There are also many other culinary specialities. The town is also home to several, charming and interesting restaurants, very much suited to all tastes; this all adds to the ambience of this beautiful old town. Montpelier: Montpellier has everything it takes to please. It is lively, vibrant, elegant and artistic. There is so much to see and a great city to walk around. The city has a rich past and there are some beautiful historic buildings to prove this. However, the city feels vibrant and young with the elegant shops and the riverside cafes, former and contemporary glory there is intense cultural life and youthful feel. Montpelier is home to many schools and just walking through the city bears witness to this, many young people riding their bikes and lunching beneath the many statues. We had beautiful days here, the climate is warm and there is a host of things to do. Great for shopping, eating out and entertaining children - there is even a carousel in the centre. Some recommendations for things to do: The safari park at Sigean is a great family day out, (www.reserveafricainesigean.fr). If wine is your interest then why not visit a local vineyard (www.gerard-bertrand.com). Gerard Bertrand sells wine from a grape that only grows in this very small area near Montpelier.

23 September 2011

A girl’s weekend in Marbella! We flew from Luton to Malaga with Easyjet – to stay in the resort of Marbella on the Costa del Sol. We stayed in the ‘townhouse’, an intimate property with a central location in the old town of Marbella, close to Plaza de los Naranjos (the orange square) in the antique area. It was perfect for us - it was a small white washed building, filled with antiques and a mix of modern conveniences as well. It also had an open roof terrace, which was ideal for early evening drinks and canapés before visiting the nightlife of Marbella and Puerto Banus. The property is approximately 300 metres walk to the beach through the little cafes and shops. There are many great little restaurants, from tapas to little cafes cooking delicious ‘sardines’ - a favourite with us girls! We spent two nights in Marbella, the first night we spent at a wonderful tapas restaurant and then walked the length of the beach into Puerto Banus, the St Tropez of the Costa del Sol! If you like to people watch this is the place to do it! There are lots of excursions you can take around Marbella. Flamenco workshops which are great fun, you can try your hand at paella making, wine tasting and much more. You can spend many happy hours shopping whether your choice is designer or antique!