02 July 2019

I am currently organizing some complicated travel itineraries for rugby enthusiasts who are travelling to various locations in Japan during the Rugby World Cup in September and October 2019. I am cooperating with some fabulous Japan specialist suppliers and local travel management companies. I found organizing these trips to be extremely interesting but parts of it a little challenging, too. My clients are lucky enough to be in possession of match tickets for all four England fixtures and were looking for convenient accommodation near the respective stadiums. They wanted to explore faszinating cities such as electrifying Tokyo, cultural Kyoto, historical Hiroshima, Kobe and the former Winter Olympics host city of Sapporo. I created various exciting excursions and activities to fit around the rugby matches filling in the gaps whilst staying in Japan. Due to a huge language barrier and enormous cultural differences, it is extremely important to travel with a reputable Japan specialist who can provide support, organization and advice for all transport arrangements. My clients' dedicated travel pack includes addresses and destinations in Japanese should they get stuck and my supplier's Japanese office together with Travel Counsellors own 24/7 Duty Office offers extra peace of mind. On top of my clients' wish list was a ride on the famous Shinkansen Bullet Train. I have therefore incorporated a few Shinkansen trips instead of using busy, internal flights. My customers are looking forward to visiting a traditional Japanese tea house, stayig in a Ryokan (Japanese guest house) and eating in the famous Robotic Restaurant in Tokyo to name but a few. And with regards to Japanese food, it is important to know that if you are vegetarian or vegan and hence don't eat 'dashi', the Japanese fish stock, which is prevalent in most soups and sauces, then it can be quite challenging to find the right meals or restaurants that cater for these special dietary needs. With this in mind, I have attached a very useful Japan Travelblog for Vegan and Vegetarian travelers. https://www.insidejapantours.com/blog/2018/11/16/vegans-in-japan/ I hope this will be helpful for anyone thinking of visiting the Land of the Rising Scrum (oops, Sun). If you are tempted to explore this fantastic country for yourself, then please get in touch with me so that I can give you expert advice and create your dream Japan itinerary, matching your exact requirements and budget. Get in touch with me on t: 01992 877390 or email: uli.williams@travelcounsellors.com. with us ... it's personal

05 June 2019

I was fortunate enough to be invited to experience Silversea’s ‘new’ Silver Cloud on a recent ship visit. This former luxury ocean liner received a multi-million refurbishment and got converted to the most spacious and comfortable ice-class vessel in expedition cruising. Silver Cloud’s new itineraries offer wildlife and nature explorer tours to exhilarating Antarctica to experience penguins and walruses, to the Arctica to watch exciting polar bears and seals as well as to the Galapagos Island, Africa and parts of Europe. I really feel like this ship offers the perfect mix of luxurious comfort with up-to-date, high tech expedition equipment and suits the discerning client. We were greeted with a glass champagne and enjoyed a most interesting talk delivered by Silver Cloud’s chief explorer guide. I learnt all about a typical expedition day and soon was hooked – an explorer cruise is definitely on the top of my bucket list now! Clients need to be in good health and fairly fit as boundaries of the more mature guests are being pushed by early morning starts with 2 landings each day. Each shore trip takes around 90 minutes and is made in one of the 18 brand new Zodiacs (sturdy, heavy duty and extremely safe rubber boats), in a small group each with their own specialist guide. Embarkation to the Zodiac is made easy by a foldout platform with a steady walkway and staff assistance. However, we were told, that ‘you do get wet’ and that correct clothing is essential. Cruisers are being briefed before dinner about the following day’s adventure. They can attend enrichment lectures by marine biologists, geologists, zoological experts, historians etc. The specific expedition itinerary is always adapted to wildlife sightings and there are no pre-set port visits like on a ‘regular cruise’. The chief explorer guide will make announcements in the middle of the night should he spot blue whales for example, so that passengers don’t miss out on these special sightings. When in Arctica, the landings will always be checked (by drones) and cleared from bears first to ensure clients are totally safe. ‘Dine with Experts’ dinners are very popular, where passengers can dine with the expedition guides. Correct clothing is of outmost importance, with merino thermals, waterproof parkas and boots being available for hire or purchase. Silversea provide a clothing online order option, so guests are prepared when they arrive on board. Silver Cloud’s three most iconic expeditions are to Antarctica, the Arctica and Galapagos. Photographers and film crews on board provide the all-important footage to take home at the end of the cruise. The Silver Cloud offers four superlative restaurants and delicious food, a casino, a theatre mainly for onboard activities and lectures, a spa and sauna, a gym, exquisite bars as well as a large, heated outdoor pool and heated jacuzzis. With just over 100 spacious and well-equipped staterooms, 80% come with veranda for whale watching from the comfort of your cabin. This ship offers a very intimate atmosphere with excellent service. Some of the superior suites even come with their large bathtubs which is a special feature when on a cruise. In short, I was very impressed with this luxurious expedition cruise ship and would love you to experience one of these unique, once-in-a-lifetime voyages. If you have got any questions or would like to find out more about any specific itinerary, please do get in touch with me for more expert advice and to book your dream cruise. With us … it’s personal T: 01992 877 390 E: uli.williams@travelcounsellors.com

05 June 2019

“Cruising isn’t really for me and my family!” “Being stuck on a ship for all that time – what do you find to do?” “Cruises require dressing up in the evenings and aren’t really for kids, they may get bored.” “A cruising holiday can be very expensive when travelling with the whole family.” There is a huge misconception of what family cruising is like amongst those who have never tried it. I know, because I was one of those people who wouldn’t have dreamt of taking my family on a cruise holiday. Now that I am part of a specialist Cruise Accelerator Programme and have several cruises and ship visits under my belt, I am a firm advocate of this great way of holidaying. There is such an incredible variety of ships, experiences and destinations on offer – with truly something for everyone! A lot more holiday makers, particularly families, are moving to all-inclusive resorts for easier budgeting. Cruise holidays enable holiday makers to plan their spending on their all-inclusive floating hotel. This is a great way to ‘explore the world’ from the comfort of your cruise ship, you only need to unpack once and get to experience many different destinations. Apart from fly cruises in the Caribbean, the Med or further afield, there is a trend to ‘staycation’ cruise holidays which sail out of UK ports. Most family friendly cruise lines offer dedicated modular, interconnected cabins for families or larger groups that can comfortably sleep up to 10 people. So what other facilities can cruise ships offer? Apart from numerous excellent restaurants and bars, pool and spa facilities as well as Broadway style entertainment, a cruise ship offers exciting facilities for children and adults alike. Larger cruise ships come with exhilarating climbing walls, ice rinks, sports courts, bowling alleys, waterparks and slides, rollercoasters, sky diving, trampolining, flow riders and bumper cars to name a few. Additionally, children can attend excellent kids’ clubs - some with cookery schools, Lego factory, with creche, toddler and kids’ clubs, teenage hangouts with their own disco and so much more. Cruise companies, such as Celebrity Cruises, are offering educational kids club fun activities. Others, like Royal Caribbean, Carnival or Norwegian, entice your children with electrifying activities and specialist exploration cruise lines, e.g. Hurtigruten, are providing young adults with fabulous shore excursions with a difference. And best of all – most of these activities are included in your package price. Which ‘regular’ hotel can offer you such a large array of family facilities? I hope you can see my point that a cruise holiday can be a fantastic, perhaps even cheaper, alternative to the regular ‘all inclusive’ hotel option – especially for families. So do get in touch with me for more information and a tailored, dream family cruise holiday. I promise you – you will never look back! Call me on t: 01992 877 390 or email uli.williams@travelcounsellors.com With us … it’s personal

24 April 2019

Hurtigruten, the Norwegian expedition cruising expert since 1893, is pushing new boundaries. Hurtigruten is taking adventure travel into the next century and draws on more than 125 years of unparalleled field experience. In this age of mass tourism, this exploration company offers unique experiences, journeys created for adventurers that value learning and personal growth. Highly-trained expedition team professionals host in-depth lectures and arrange safe nature landings and activities such as kayaking, snow shoeing and wilderness camping for the braver cruisers. Included in your cruise is all you need for an adventure expedition - guidance from the expert expedition team, complimentary expedition jacket, loan of boots, trekking poles and equipment and a rich program of included activities. Exciting destinations offered are unique places such as Svalbard (Spitzbergen), Greenland, Arctic and Antarctica, Iceland, Alaska, Russia, the Northwest Passage as well as warm water locations in South America and the Caribbean. The custom-built, smaller expedition ships (with reinforced hulls to tackle the icy waters of the North) can go where the big ships can't reach - closer to nature. Life onboard the ships is of premium comfort and with plenty of relaxation. And the delicious, high-end food comes with a modern twist, drawn for the Norwegian heritage. You will have great food experiences with casual dining as well as fine dining and beverages (beer, wine, sodas and mineral water) included in the restaurants during lunch and dinner. Complimentary coffee and tea are included throughout the day, too. On the recreation sector, you will find an infinity pool, gym and running tracks. Their mission is to offer sustainable nature experiences with several unique destinations from pole to pole. Hurtigruten is the world's greenest cruise company with the first ever hybrid expedition vessels, with the ultimate goal to operate its fleet completely emission free. The Hurtigruten cruise line is also the first to remove all un-necessary single-use plastic across all ships. And with the imminent launch of the new hybrid expedition ships MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen, Hurtigruten truly enters a new era of exploration travel.

15 April 2019

Having never cruised before, I was very excited to experience my first cruise on board the 5* Celebrity Silhouette. Our 'Canary Islands' cruise conveniently departed from Southampton, one of the main UK ports (another one being Tilbury). This made it very hassle-free - with a short drive from London and no need to fly somewhere abroad first to catch your cruise. The embarkation process was very easy - I arranged my check-in (passport details etc) online and then arrives at the port at the indicated embarkation time window. My bag was provided with a 'cabin label' and was delivered straight to my cabin (=stateroom). I enjoyed a glass of Prosecco on the sun deck while the ship was getting ready for departure. We 'cast off' and sailed out of Southampton in time for the most magical sunset, which was a great start to an exciting first cruise! Celebrity Silhouette is a very elegant, glamorous ship with excellent, modern facilities on board. I was staying in a Balcony Stateroom, which in my opinion is definitely worth investing in. It was lovely to sit on our own, private balcony sailing along watching the sun rise whilst enjoying a 'room service' breakfast or sailing into the next harbour sipping a cocktail. I would recommend planning a room service breakfast especially on 'port days' as the mornings in the main restaurants can be busier as everyone is getting ready for their land visit. The main dining room has a truly magical, grand feeling featuring a dramatic, two storey glass wine tower and giant, dazzling chandeliers. I was very impressed by the choice of a-la-care dishes served. The Silhouette offers some of the most diverse specialty dining venues at sea. These normally require a supplement charge. We tried the Petit Chef and The Lawn Club restaurants. The Petit Chef features an animated character who appears on your plate and 'prepares' each course right in front of you before you are served the actual dish. Great fun for children and adults alike. Before you take your seats at The Lawn Club Grill restaurant, I enjoyed a delicious cocktail in a deckchair on The Lawn Club. This is an area of half an acre of REAL grass on the top deck (Celebrity being the only cruise line to offer this, designed exclusively for enjoyment and relaxation). On a sunny day, you can take a picnic or opt for a game of boules on sea, before kicking back with some live musical entertainment. The Lawn Club Grill is a high energy, open-air restaurant celebrating the flavourful delights of outdoor grilling - with cosmopolitan flair. I particularly liked the gourmet salad bar and 'build-your-own-flatbread'. Both specialty restaurants are highly recommended for a special evening out on board. The choice of activities on board is endless - day and night! I really enjoyed some excellent, Broadway like theatre shows, late nights in the casino and 'silent disco' nights which were a great laugh! There definitely was a real party feel around the ship. Celebrity's kids and teen clubs - the Fun Factory with exciting games and activities for younger kids, to the Explorer Academy to X Club, the ultimate hang out for young adults (with their own DJ sets, games rooms and much more) - there is something for everyone. Family friendly dining options, sports courts, pool-volleyball and special family shore excursions really make it the perfect family cruise. After having sailed past the Bay of Biscay and two days on sea, it was exciting to get off the ship for some terra firma on our first stop Vigo, a Galician town and one of the biggest fishing ports in the world! The old town of Vigo with its amazing food, little tapas bars and a beautiful park right in the middle of town showed us all its charm. I love tapas, delectable small bites such as patatas bravas, mini sandwiches with cheese and dried meats, small portions of stews, seafood and fresh olives, which were accompanied by delicious red wine and 'jerez'. Our next stop was Lisbon! I will never forget the spectacular sailing into this stunning city! We had a special invitation to the Captain's champagne reception - on the helipad, at 6am, with the sun ready to rise whilst we sailed underneath the iconic '25th April Bridge', the longest suspension bridge in Europe, a 'twin' of the famous Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco! On our left, we spotted the famous 'Christ The Redeemer Statue', a smaller version of the Brazilian statue in Rio. In one moment, you could think of being in San Francisco and Rio at the same time, yet sailing in to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. After arriving in the central Lisbon cruise port, right at the entrance of the city and in easy walking distance of the old town on the hills above and the famous shopping streets, we decided to take a city bus tour to obtain an overview of this fabulous, bustling city. After sampling the famous Portuguese speciality pastry 'pasteis de nata', we strolled back to our ship. After another day at sea, I finished my maiden cruise in the Canary Island of Lanzarote, where I was able to enjoy some late October warmth and sunshine before flying back to the UK. I really think that cruising represents the perfect holiday option, with a cruise to suit everyone! This type of holiday is ideal for couples, single travellers and multigenerational family holidays alike.

15 April 2019

After our flights from London via Oslo to Kirkenes we opted for a quick bus transfer to the lovely Thon Hotel ( £10 each ), our pre-cruise stay. Thon Hotel is in great location on the waterfront. Comfy room, great breakfast, nice bar area and a restaurant, too. We liked the complimentary ‘help yourself to tea and coffee’ on ground floor, nice touch! We chose the Ritz Restaurant, a couple of minutes’ walk away, for our dinner. Nice atmosphere, with giant pizzas. We enjoyed a lovely view of the Christmas lights of Kirkenes. The next morning our Norway adventure began. The efficient Hurtigruten bus took us to the port. What an embarkation process: roll case from the bus to the ship, ticked off passenger list and up the ramp to the Nordkapp. Luggage, labelled with cabin number, is delivery to your cabin. Lunch buffet was ready as we boarded with huge choice; hot dishes, cold meats/fish, salads, soup, cheeseboard, rolls, desserts, tea and coffee. We booked an Artic Superior cabin on deck 6. Lovely comfy double bed with loads of pillows, lots of storage, tea/coffee making facilities, small but adequate shower room with toiletries. No hairdryer - can be hired from reception. I would definitely recommend staying on deck 6 with excellent ocean view window and no-one was walking past. We walked around deck 5 and had a glimpse into an inside cabin. It had 2 fold-down bunk beds, which may be okay if you don’t spend much time in your stateroom and use it solely for sleeping after exploring and enjoying stunning views. Our cabin was lovely to relax in, read/watch TV/relax. When it was a bit rocky we spent this time napping in our cabin. Dinner: 3-course evening meal with waiter service. Menu is displayed outside the restaurant in the afternoon. There is always a veggie option. Food was fantastic and it was great to try new things e.g. reindeer which was lush. One weekly five–course-gourmet dinner - we had 2 as we were there for New Years Eve gala dinner too! Breakfast: buffet with huge choice, hot cooked breakfast, oatmeal, boiled eggs, toast, fruit, yoghurts, cold meats, tea/coffee, juices. They had thought of everything! Loved the bar with amazing panoramic views at front (bow) of deck 7. Comfy seating. Great bartender. Drinks are expensive, which is to be expected in Scandinavia. Pint of beer/glass of house wine £10. Musician/singer every evening which was nice. Charge points for phones. Well stocked bar, special coffees, cocktails and snacks were available. Bakery/Ice cream Parlour: Located on deck 7. Snacks, cakes, sandwiches, ice cream - if you had space left! Outside decks: Deck 7 offers access to the back (aft) of the ship with covered seating area, heaters and wind shield panels. On the other side is the outdoors smoking area. On deck 5 we walked all the way round the ship with snow underfoot and lots of fresh air! We also found a Jacuzzi at the back. Cruise Card: You can hook up a credit card to your room key and this then acts as a payment card for anything that you purchase on board. This way you only have one card transaction. Or you can pay off the cruise card in cash on the night before you leave. Statements can be obtained from reception. Tea & Coffee package: This was definitely worth it -Thanks for the suggestion, Uli! Our 'Select' package also includes free wi-fi. There are tea/coffee urns at the panoramic bar and the bakery on deck 7, where we spent most of our time - great to grab a cuppa and sit outside in the fresh air. I seem to recall a cup of tea was approx £4, so if you drink a lot of tea like me, the package is worthwhile. Short Stop offs: Most of the stops are between 15 - 30 minutes so you cannot get off the ship, however you can watch the interesting port manoeuvres as well as hustle and bustling of loading/unloading. There were a few 2 hour stops so we did have a wander round - it was nice to hear the crunchy snow underfoot on terra firma and take some photos. I would recommend to book some excursions. Expedition team: There are daily presentations, films and talks in the conference room. The expedition team give advice on the excursions and work very hard to make every passenger happy. Excursions are weather permitting. Sea sickness: We bought seasickness patches and despite the occasional rocking motion we only had one little bout of sickness between us. Another hot tip is to eat plenty of Ginger biscuits … Disembark: We had to leave our cabin by 10am. We left our luggage on our deck by the lift. After exiting from deck 5 we walked straight into the Hurtigruten terminal where our luggage was delivered to. Waiting buses took you to your airport or hotel. Bus tickets were pre-purchased from ship reception (£20 each) to Bergen airport. Dress code: We packed too many clothes. The dress code on the ship is very casual. There is no need for smart clothes at all. The temperature inside the ship is the same as in your house. You need a warm coat/gloves/hat/scarf and (wellington) boots with some grip for out on deck. Layering is essential. If you are doing any outdoor excursions you may need thermals,waterproof trousers and clip-on grips for your footwear. Weather: In the Arctic months there is not much daylight. In fact, on our first day in Kirkenes there was only one hour between sunrise and sunset. When it is ‘daylight’ it’s more like dusk. Bearing that in mind, we spent our time out on deck whenever there was light. The rest of the time you have no idea what the time is. However, it’s really rather nice not to have any deadlines and relax. Northern Lights: Sadly we did not have this experience. The conditions were not right for us. The team announce all over the ship when there is a possibility to see them. One night they announced that there was a clear sky so we stayed on deck from 10pm to 1am eagerly waiting to experience this stunning, elusive phenomenon – but it was not to be! Two days later friends saw the Northern Lights in Tromsøe. Facebook group: ‘Hurtigruten Insiders’ This is definitely worth joining before you go. There is no official trip advisor page for the ships, so the FB group is brilliant. It is a very friendly group of Hurtigruten fans who are happy to answer your questions and share their experiences. I found it really helpful. All in all a very relaxing week and something different, so very happy we went. Could not have achieved it without you Uli. Your service surpassed our expectations!

17 March 2019

On 2nd March 2019, Southampton saw the naming ceremony of MSC Bellissima – a brand-new cruise ship by Italian MSC company. ‘Bellissima’ was the largest cruise ship to be launched in the UK to date, which shows the importance of the British market to the cruise industry. MSC is passionate about providing a perfect cruise to families, as well as couples and groups. The family owned cruise line is also investing heavily in the newest environmental technology to protect the oceans. I was lucky enough to attend the launch weekend, studded with celebrities such as Sophia Loren, the ship’s godmother, and Craig David who entertained the attending travel industry into the early hours. I was then given the opportunity to extend my stay with a personal cruise on Bellissima’s maiden voyage to Lisbon, joined by my husband. This way, I was able to explore the ship in greater detail and experience everything it has to offer. All in the interest and to the benefit of my future cruise customers! I was invited to view the various stateroom/cabin types. You will be surprised by the wide range of cabin options that suit everyone’s needs. The lead-in interior cabins are surprisingly spacious and are great for the budget-conscious clients who don’t plan to spend much time in their room. The next level up are the ocean view staterooms which offer a large window and seating area. If you prefer some ‘outside’ space, then the balcony cabins are great – you can have a little quiet time reading a book on your own balcony, breath the sea air and watch the world go by over a stunning sunset. A big advantage that MSC is offering to its clients is the great number of interconnecting cabins which make it ideal for larger parties or a multi-generational family holiday. You can choose from a duplex suite (over two floors) or a family cabin (with a bunk bed and sofa bed) that sleeps up to 5. And if you really want to treat yourself, then there are several suite types available, too – from interior suites to deluxe suites to the two royal suites that come with their own hot tub and bar. This ship caters for gourmets who won’t be disappointed on Bellissima. There are 7 lovely restaurants with a further 5 fabulous speciality dining restaurants (at an extra cost), such as the French Bistrot, the Spanish Hola Tapas Restaurant, the Butcher’s Cut Steak Restaurant, Kaito’s Japanese and Tepanyaki restaurants. Michelin-star chefs Ramon Freixa and Harald Wohlfahrt (together with Raymond Blanc) are creating exciting, new menues for the MSC ships. Spread around the ship, you find 20 bars & lounges with a big culinary choice and live entertainment. The main buffet restaurant is open 20 hours a day and served a wide variety of food - we were spoilt for choice. The staff was very friendly and attentive. The presentation made the meals very appealing. My favourite speciality restaurant was the modern Spanish ‘Hola’ tapas restaurant, my husband was partial to the delicious steak and matching red wines served in ‘Butcher’s Cut’. Before dinner, we would wander down the beautiful ‘galleria’, the ship’s central promenade, lined with shops and speciality restaurants. On the 80-meter curved ceiling above you could admire fabulous LED display shows in regular intervals. This unique walkway gave it a cosmopolitan and Italian feel. The Jean-Philippe Maury ice cream parlour and chocolate factory along there attracted old and young people with a sweet tooth. The Sky Lounge is great for adults only and is the perfect place to enjoy a drink in the evening when the children are off enjoying all the great kid’s club activities on board. The public areas are spacious and look amazing. Our favourite pre-dinner location was the central Champagne bar, located by the famous ‘diamond staircase'. You can sample a drink in 20 bars and lounges – from outdoor bars to sports bar, an English pub to the Attic Club, the ship’s night club and disco bar. The Horizon Bar is the place for stunning views and sundowner drinks. The main entertainment hub is the ‘London Theatre’ which is tiered for best stage views. The shows were varied and enjoyable -from Broadway-style shows to a mime artist to a famous ‘Frank Sinatra’ style singer. Bellissima is offering two ‘Cirque du Soleil at Seat’ shows – performed in the Carousel Lounge watched over a cocktail or a dinner. The casino opens its door in the evenings until late. The ‘Yacht Club’ is an exclusive area with added privileges and its own lounge and restaurant. It is 'a ship within a ship'. Cabins are in prime location and come with coffee machine and butler service. The main pool area is spacious with lots of different areas to relax, there are also some fast food areas and bars, so you never have to leave your sunbed. The Aquapark area is fantastic for kids of ‘all ages’ and the ‘Himalayan Bridge’ walk high above the ship is not for the faint hearted. The indoor pool area has hot tubs and a retractable roof, so can be enjoyed in all weathers. Here you can find a relaxing bar with comfy chairs, ideal to just read a book and chill out. There is also a lovely, more private pool at the ‘aft’ of the ship as well as a hot tub to relax tired muscles after a day on shore sightseeing and exploring. On board you find a hairdresser, a state-of-the-art gym, a power walking track on deck and a ‘sportplex’ with a multi-sports basketball, tennis, football and volleyball court. I was particularly impressed with the facilities for the children - kids’ clubs for each age group – from the Chicco baby club right up to the teens with a great hang out area complete with their own disco and bar. The two-lane bowling alley, F1 simulator, arcade, kids’ clubs and XD cinema are available for the younger generation. I would highly recommend purchasing a money-saving ‘Fun Pass’ before you travel. During my stay I only managed to discover certain areas of this impressive floating resort. The great choice of activities (apart from lovely excursions in beautiful destination) makes it perfect for couples, groups and multi-generational family holidays. There is a cruise out there for everyone! Best of all – you only have to unpack your suitcase once yet experience many destinations during one exiting cruise! Get in touch with me to find your perfectly suited cruise holiday experience.

11 August 2018

Amazing Amari Resort in the Magical Maldives As part of a recent study trip to Sri Lanka and its proximity as a reason (or excuse), I was stopping over on the mesmerizing Maldivian island of Havodda, part of the Southern Gaafu Dhaalu atoll. The Maldives are enchanting. I never knew there could be so many shades of blue and that they could all enthral me. These islands with their pure white sand and palm trees were even more beautiful with the realisation that climate change is causing sea levels to rise, and they could be underwater within the next 50 – 100 years. With tourism only starting here in the seventies, it is sad to contemplate their disappearance. The fabulous Amari Havodda is a private beach resort situated in the most untouched archipelago in the Indian Ocean. We flew to Male airport from Colombo, which took a mere 50 minutes. Make sure that you get yourself a window seat (preferably on the right-hand side of the plane) for best views of the turquoise dots of islands, surrounded by different shades of blue of the sparkling sea. After arrival, we walked across to the lounge of the domestic airport terminal where we waited for our inter-Maldivian flight. After a 55-minute flight in a smaller plan to Kaadhedhoo we took a speedboat for a speedy 10-minute transfer directly to Havodda Island. We were greeted with an invigorating cocktail and hot towel to freshen up after our journey. The whole management team welcomed us and introduced the hotel and layout of the island. I loved the local feel of the resort with a modern twist – inspired by ‘natural sustainability’. I was handed the key to one of their wonderful over-water-villas, which was a very nice surprise. I enjoyed the convenience of slipping right into the big blue, with the house reef keeping the waves calm for an early morning swim, straight off your private balcony. Another key feature, the villa’s spacious, luxurious open-air bathroom with free standing bath tub, outdoor and ‘indoor’ showers, was greatly appreciated. I loved taking a refreshing shower whilst the monsoon rain was falling into the open bathroom section. The resort is great for water sports, from kayaking, SUP boarding and windsurfing to water skiing and wakeboarding as well as snorkelling and PADI diving. We encountered some bright coloured tropical fish that swam close to your face with no care in the world, spotted some turtles peacefully swimming past and even saw some rays and small sharks swimming underneath our water villas. My favourite part of our stay in Havodda was undoubtedly the sunset dolphin cruise where I managed to catch some spinner dolphins on camera as they were surfing our wake. The hotel also surprised our group with a delicious and very romantic beach BBQ on an uninhabited island and a few cocktails to finish off a fantastic evening. Amari Havodda offers 120 villas, all featuring private terraces. There are two main restaurants and two bars to watch stunning sunsets and enjoy delicious, high quality meals. If you are travelling with children, the hotel offers a kid’s club and babysitting services. Having spent three beautiful, relaxing days in paradise, I agree that few places are still secluded, untouched and completely exotic. Avodda will let you truly get away and leave it all behind. I would recommend this Maldivian island resort to anyone who is looking to return home completely recharged and full of fantastic memories. If you are dreaming of a stay in paradise, then why not get in touch with me for inspirations and information on the many magical Maldivian islands in the Indian Ocean? I am looking forward to helping you find your dream holiday. With us, it’s personal

31 July 2018

Shimmering golden sands, compelling cultural sites and warmly welcoming people make Sri Lanka, the ‘Land of Smiles’, an increasingly popular holiday destination. I was lucky enough to be invited on a study trip to this amazing country in June. As we touched down in Colombo, a lush green carpet of vegetation snaked out beneath us. The feeling that you are in an island nation is immediate, from the coconut trees to barefoot living. But this is a country with a difference. Sri Lanka offers amazing wildlife from elephants to leopards to rare birds, such as the horn-billed toucan, gorgeous beaches (perfect for surfers), mountains strewn with tea plantations and a tropical climate that lasts throughout the year. Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is a really friendly place to visit. A warm ‘Ayubowan’ meets you wherever you go. This means ‘long life’ and people press their palms together and point their thumbs towards their heart as they say this. I soon relished this opportunity to share a respectful greeting. The default setting of strangers smiling at me and making eye contact was strange at first but also very lovely. As soon as we travelled into the centre of Colombo, I noticed the hustle and bustle of tuk tuks weaving their way through busy streets and markets. Drivers use their horns to punctuate a never-ending ‘conversation’. Outside hospitals, however, a picture with a horn crossed out indicates that drivers must refrain from beeping, so they don’t disturb patients. This seems to be the one rule that every driver abides by. Another part that really stands out about Sri Lanka is the many temples alive with song, prayer and the intoxicating aroma of incense and blown out candles. The main religion here is Buddhism but mosques, Hindu temples and Christian churches are also spread across each city. Whilst staying in picturesque Kandy in the mountains North East of Colombo, we were lucky enough to visit the Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) at night, which added a certain ambiance. Tourists are reminded to cover shoulders and knees and refrain from posing in front of images of Buddha. This holy site is for Buddhists from all over the world what Mecca is to Muslims. The Temple of the Tooth is welcoming up to 10,000 visitors a day. The bustling markets are another notable part of Sri Lankan life. They are a delight to your senses, jammed with spices to awaken every palate and stacks of tropical fruit. I was particularly intrigued by the ‘open air’ butchers, a very interesting sight, not for the faint hearted. You may ask what the top reasons are for a visit to Sri Lanka? Apart from the above vivid impressions and experiences, I would say that the rich wildlife must be right at the top. You can see monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, elephants and leopards, as well as rare birds. The hot spot for animal sightings is Yala National Park in the South of Sri Lanka, which you can discover by Jeep tours, although there are other fantastic nature reserves to explore, too. Near Yala NP, you can stay in the exclusive Chena Huts – private luxury cabins with their own private pool, surrounded by unspoilt wilderness, particularly popular with honeymoon couples. Sri Lanka offers interesting turtle hatcheries - a must for eco-conscious travellers who can learn about local conservation work. During my trip I had the chance to adopt a little turtle and then set it free and release it back to the sea. On glass-bottomed boat trips from Hikkaduwa Beach you can see turtles in their natural surrounding as well as spot dolphins and whales. Hikkaduwa Beach is a favourite with families due to its shallow beaches. Galle, the former capital, has retained many of its Dutch colonial buildings as well as the famous Galle Fort, which played an important part during the Portuguese reign. I particularly enjoyed the charming old town of Galle with its picturesque alleyways and traditional bars and restaurants, perfect for a spicy dinner. Sri Lanka is an exciting place to eat, especially if you like it hot. My favourites were their fresh fish and seafood, breakfast Dhal and ‘Hoppers’ (bowl shaped rice flour and coconut milk pancakes, sometimes filled with curry or a fried egg). To digest these delicious meals, I became quite partial to the local Arak spirit – distilled from coconut flower sap. On our ‘tuk tuk safari’ (tuk tuks which were fitted with their own mini fridge stocked with ice cold beers and water and a sound system to play your favourite tunes) in the Galle neighbourhood, our group was invited to a local family where we learnt how to cook a delicious curry with chapati bread. I inspected the fabulous Amari Galle Hotel where I stayed in one of their wonderful superior rooms – most rooms provide stunning sea views. The hotel offers amazing swimming pools, a private small beach area which is regularly used for romantic beach BBQs, a trendy rooftop bar and super friendly staff who always greeted us with a broad smile. The cultural heritage of Sri Lanka also plays an important part in the countries attraction to so many tourists. Sri Lanka blends Muslim, Tamil and Sinhalese cultures and many UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the fortress of Sigirya, perched high on its 650m rock. The local transport system to get around Sri Lanka is an adventure, whether you travel by minibus, tuk tuk, by bike or aboard one of the country’s iconic blue trains, taking you past traditional villages and lush tea plantations. Again, we were very lucky to be invited to one of the largest tea factories in the country, Herman Teas, where we learnt all about the White Virgin tea. I must have sipped about 30 different teas. Sri Lankan Airlines offers direct London Heathrow to Colombo flights, which take about 11 hours. Sri Lanka is also an easy destination to combine with Dubai or the Maldives for an unforgettable two-centre holiday. Which brings me to the second part of our study trip. On our way home, we stopped on the magnificent Maldivian island of Havodda. But that is the story of another travelblog… In short, I would recommend this small, but very thrilling, friendly country of Sri Lanka, in the Indian Ocean, to everyone. Please, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you would like to find out more or if I can tailor your very own unforgettable holiday experience in The Land of Smiles.

03 June 2018

On my recent birthday, I was lucky enough to be travelling to Izmir, courtesy of Mark Warner who had organized a study trip for a small group of Travel Counsellors to introduce their brand new resort in Turkey. After a pleasant four-hour flight to Izmir and a mere 1.5 hours in our air-conditioned transfer coach, we arrived at the impressive Phokaia Beach Resort – new in Mark Warner’s summer portfolio. This beautiful resort is located about 10 minutes from the small, typical Turkish seaside village of Foça – famous for its pretty fishing boats and modern sailing yachts with an array of high quality seafood restaurants right by the harbour with stunning views over the sea. We arrived at the resort late evening and after a very speedy check-in process were greeted by dinner and drinks in the bar. I caught a first glimpse of the beautiful gardens and the incredible free form swimming pool with lovely daybeds dotted around. I stayed in a superior, spacious and well-appointed double (with an interconnecting room, should you travel as a family with younger children) and a walk-in shower. A lovely Juliet balcony invited me for an early cup of tea the next morning and allowed beautiful views over the resort and the sea. After a plentiful breakfast buffet, which we enjoyed on the sunny terrace, we got ready for our tour around the resort, which offers a Turkish Bath, excellent spa facilities, a heated indoor pool, a state of the art gym, a small shop and a carpet seller. What the Phokaia resort is famous for, of course, are the superb water sports, tennis, mountain and road cycling facilities and its outstanding childcare amenities. The engaging and experienced water sports team talked us through the many options of activities when attending our morning ‘beach introduction’ talk. The large bay at Phokaia Beach Resort is perfect for novice as well as seasoned sailors, windsurfers, kayakers, SUP boarders, water skiers and wakeboarders. There’s even a local PADI dive team that offers free ‘pool try dive sessions’. Over the next two days, we tried our hands at all of the above water-based sports as well as an introductory tennis lesson, fitness classes in the modern, open exercise pavilion - and played volleyball with the sports team and cycled to nearby Foça. I had the chance to view the different types of accommodation available at this fabulous resort. Apart from twin, double and superior rooms (most with balconies and some with extra sofa beds or interconnected rooms) in the main hotel building, we viewed the family rooms that are located underneath the main pool area and are made up of a double bed plus spacious bunk beds. All the family rooms are ground floor with a terrace leading out to the gardens. If you are travelling with a larger family, you can choose from one of the stunning 2-bedroom villas for up to 5 people. I liked the fact that a villa holiday doesn't have to be isolated or set in acres of land with only a pool for activities – here customers get all the benefits of a Villa holiday PLUS the added benefits of having all the facilities on site. To finish our tour around the resort, we got to see the excellent childcare facilities on offer. There are childcare clubs from the age of two to 17 years of age as well as a baby club from four months (which is payable). I watched the junior club having their own sailing and windsurfing fun sessions and the mini club playing in the shady fully equipped playground before they enjoyed their high tea and free evening childcare. One of my highlights was our evening bike trip to Foca, where we explored the small shops and discovered a delicious ‘nut shops’. Here I found the best home-made Turkish Delight (in numerous flavours such as rose, pistachio, pineapple and coconut and even chocolate) and mouth-watering nougat. I loaded my small backpack with as much Turkish delicacies that it could hold – a welcomed souvenir for my family and friends back home! Our guide had booked a large table in the fabulous seafood restaurant ‘Sahil’, located right by the harbour, which guaranteed fresh fish from the fish market directly onto your plate. The owner greeted us and even provided some Turkish live music to enhance our lively evening out. After a complimentary, digestive drink called ‘Raki’, we promised to return on our next holiday to Foca! What can I say about the food at the Phokaia Beach Resort? The restaurant offered an array of Turkish inspired dishes (as well as pizza and pasta etc for the less adventurous eaters). Included in the full board option are daily breakfast, lunch served in the main restaurant and five dinners per week. On your ‘two dining out evenings’ you can explore the many restaurants in Foça or remain at the hotel for an abundant Turkish barbeque or some snacks at the beach bar (at an extra cost). My favourite place, however, were the gorgeous daybeds (cabanas) and hammocks where you could relax in the shade and read a book or simply have an afternoon siesta. And not to forget the lively seaside bar where I enjoyed a sundowner drink or two whilst watching the most beautiful and romantic sunsets. One evening, our group took part in the hotel’s quiz night, organized by chief bike guide Alex. After a few very active, yet relaxing, days exploring and enjoying all that this fabulous new resort had to offer, sadly we had to say goodbye to Turkey and return to our offices to introduce this holiday destination to our own clients. If you would like to find out more about Phokaia Beach Resort or would like me to cost up your own active holiday, then please get in touch with me. I can highly recommend it to anyone.

27 May 2018

Mountain Bike Trial in the Italian Dolomites – A Holiday with a Difference… Have you ever wondered what an active holiday in Italy entails? Well, in early May, my husband and I decided to embark on a ‘mountain bike & fitness holiday’ in Northern Italy. After a quick flight to bordering Innsbruck, in Austrian Tyrol, we hired a car and travelled to the lovely town of Brixen in the Puster Valley of South Tyrol (or Northern Italy, as it is officially known as). We stayed in the 4* ‘Active-Bike-Hotel Jonathan’ and enjoyed a wooden cladded, spacious bedroom with an even bigger balcony, overlooking the vast apple orchards and the valley, surrounded by mountains still topped with snow. Luckily, all trees were in full bloom, which made our trip even more special. We decided to go on one of the many hike trails, meandering across orchards, forests and along a little brook, aiming for Brixen at the bottom of the valley. After a scenic 3-hour walk, we decided to sample delicious ‘gelati’ (ice cream) in the beautiful old town of Brixen (Bressanone, in Italian). My husband enjoyed an ice-cold, locally brewed ‘Forst’ beer and a Brezn (Pretzel), which was well deserved. Upon our return to the Hotel Jonathan, we explored the outdoors swimming pool and steam bath/sauna, before we enjoyed a divine three-course dinner, bursting with local delicacies such as ‘knödel’ (dumplings), sausages, venison and delicious fish. My husband excitedly waited for the next morning, when our private bike guide got our brand-new ‘Scott’ e-mountain bikes ready for our tour! We received a quick briefing and then off we went – cycling down forest tracks, along orchards, brooks and ponds, stopping at various view points to hear interesting facts and learn the fascinating history of the Neustift Monastery (famous for its wine cellars) and the ‘Franzens Festung’ (a World War I fortification that also played an important role during the Second World War). We cycled through gorges and passed farms with cattle and sheep – a real treat! And best of all – when the inclines became a bit too steep for us ‘city folk’ we simply switched on the ‘e-bike’ boost button and off we zoomed with hardly any effort at all. We all decided that this was the new way of biking – with not too much effort and a lot of enjoyment as we took in numerous beautiful scenic sights along the way. After our 5-hour biking tour, we eased our sore muscles up with a heavenly sports massage. The following day we opted to drive to nearby Bruneck, the largest town in this valley. Apart from being another beautiful old town with trendy Italian shops, we enjoyed a visit to the famous ‘Messner Mountain Museum’. The museum’s owner, Reinhold Messner, was the first (Austrian) mountaineer to climb Mount Everest without oxygen mask. Medieval Bruneck Castle with its great views over the valley certainly was worth a visit, too. On our way back to Innsbruck, we stopped in Sterzing, which is a little town on the border with Austria, famous for its leather goods shops, jewellery, shoe and bag shops, fancy cafes and restaurants. I managed to find a couple of trendy leather boots at a real bargain price. Before we headed back to the airport, we made a quick detour to the old town of beautiful Innsbruck. We admired the famous ‘Golden Roof’ whilst sipping a coffee and sampling a delicious ‘applestrudel’. Looking back at our short fitness break, which at the same time allowed us to really relax and switch off, I would certainly recommend such a re-charging holiday to anyone. And I would definitely have a go at ‘mountain e-biking’, which was a lot of fun. If you, too, would like to head to Northern Italy and the beautiful Puster Valley and the Dolomite mountain range, please get in touch with me. I can create your very own, personalised fitness holiday that ticks all your boxes.

15 May 2018

We’d always wanted to go to Mexico, and a year ago, Uli booked our dream holiday for us. In the run up to our departure, we heard so much about our destination from friends and in the media. Some media reports were less than favourable, and several people expressed a fear for our safety. Undeterred, we went with open minds and found a paradise location than instantly put us at ease. Everyone we met was welcoming and generous. “Mi casa, su casa” was not just a platitude, it was their cultural imperative. These friendly people were fiercely proud of their country and keen to have us experience the real Mexico. For us, Mexico was a bucket- list destination to fulfil a dream of exploring Chichen Itza. But it ended up so much more than that. As well as the extensive site of the most frequented Mayan city, we managed to visit the hidden away secrets of Coba (think Lara Croft encounters with jungle encased ruins) and the ancient sea port of Tulum (think ancient palaces and temples overlooking the Caribbean Sea). These sites are all archaeological marvels and did not disappoint. It’s hot work traipsing around these cities, but the guides (who do an amazing job of explaining the history and culture) bring plenty of water and always seem to include a visit to a cenote afterwards. If you are not familiar with the geology of the area, you will soon learn, as we did, that the cities were built around sink holes (cenotes) which provided the only water source to the ancient people. Nowadays, they act as stunning underground pools which offer tourists the opportunity to take a refreshing and picturesque swim. The star feature of our holiday was our hotel complex. Maroma Secrets, on the Mayan Riviera, is an amazing all-inclusive resort, where every detail is considered. Our suite was beautiful and overlooked the stunning gardens of the hotel, with the ocean as a backdrop. As the title would suggest, the resort itself was hidden away and far from other complexes. However, the secret part also relates to the fact that you never felt overcrowded and there were lots of quiet spots where you could relax and escape from your fellow travellers. With seven different restaurants and themed outdoor dining almost every evening, we never ate in the same place twice. Likewise, the entertainment programme was full and varied, with something for everyone from dawn to dusk. A pleasant surprise for us was the discovery of the national drink of Mexico. Yes, we knew it was tequila, but our experience of this brew up to that point was sipping eighties style Tequila Sunrise cocktails and grimacing through Tequila Slammers. The Mexicans are amused by our ignorance of their spirit. Apparently, the brands that you can buy in the UK are fit only to clean your paint brushes in Mexico. To ensure we knew our Cava from our Dom Perignon, we attended a tequila class and, after sampling a dozen or so different types of pure agave spirit, we felt more qualified to pass judgement. Armed with our new knowledge, we sipped the finest tequilas the country had to offer for the rest of the holiday. Top Tip: Make sure you try the tequila cream called 1921, which is a heavenly concoction a bit like Baileys. Top Tip 2: Buy a bottle to take home. It is not available in the UK and the internet is full of people like us, bemoaning that fact. Top Tip 3: There is no tax on alcohol, so you may be better off buying Tequila in local shops if you have room in your case. You have a one litre limit in Duty Free. Things we didn’t do: • Scuba diving: Although we are not diving enthusiasts, we could not fail to appreciate the draw that the second biggest coral reef in the world has to offer. You could see it from our hotel and even kayak out to it. Of course, being the Caribbean, the water has a lot of beautiful marine life on show. • High octane adventures and theme parks: For adrenaline junkies, there are various jungle zip wire experiences to be had, as well as the usual motorized water sports. There are also a series of theme parks that offer exciting days out and evening entertainment. We had plenty to see and do in the real Mexico without the need of these pre-fabricated experiences, but they are nonetheless, hugely popular. • Shopping: Apart from Tulum, which had some great shops for souvenirs and a beach market feel about it, we didn’t really do shopping. But we did drive through Playa Del Carmen, which has high end fashion and a glitzy modern shopping mall. I loved all the colourful souvenirs, but those sorts of things generally look out of place and never see the light of day once I get home. Instead, we opted for consumables - Mexican chocolate and locally produced vanilla were our favourite purchases. • Although we were surrounded by jungle, there are some extensive areas of National Park in the wider area and, given more time, we would have gone further afield and seen more of the flora and fauna. As you can see, there was so much to see and do, and not enough time to do it all. No wonder so many people go back year after year. We might have to do the same….

04 April 2018

My family and I have just returned from our well-deserved spring skiing holiday in Tyrol. This March, we decided to explore beautiful 'Skiwelt Soell', part of the Wilder Kaiser Brixental ski region. After a swift and convenient Ryanair flight from Stansted to Innsbruck and a mere 50-minute transfer, we arrived in our friendly, family-run 3* Hotel Eggerwirt, right in the centre of Soell - with a ski bus stop right outside, which allowed us to get to the chairlift in four minutes. When returning to the hotel after a long and hard day of skiing (and some 'apres-skiing' in one of the many bars), we usually relaxed in the sauna and steam room facilities before getting ready for delicious three-course-dinners. 'Skiwelt Soell Wilder Kaiser' is Austria's largest and most modern interconnected ski area, offering 90 cable car/chair lifts and 280 kilometres of slopes from easy blue beginners, to enjoyable reds and a few challenging black runs. This ski area consists of Soell, Hochsoell, Brixen im Thale, Ellmau, Going, Scheffau, Hopfgarten, Westendorf and Itter to make up the famous 'Skiwelt' (ski world). For peace of mind there are sufficient snow cannons stationed across the whole ski region to guarantee plenty of snow, no matter what the weather. During our stay this late in the season, we still experienced powder snow and plenty of snow coverage with up to 2.5 metres. On our first day, we tackled the 'Black Pipe', a black run with a gradient of more than 80% - a pure adrenaline rush for all. I really enjoyed the 'Ski and Boarder Cross' Red Viper as well as the 'speed measuring run', fun parks for skiers and snowboarders alike, a snow igloo village near one of the snow-kindergartens and the numerous 'apres-ski' bars with entertainment until well after ski lift closure. The best thing about skiing so late in the season was no doubt the lovely mild temperatures, which meant we could literally ski in our new, trendy salopettes and didn't have to wear several layers of thermals underneath! Plus, we managed to work on our 'skiers tan' (or panda faces) all week! Apart from slopes for all skiing abilities, 'Skiwelt' also offers two (daytime and) flood-lit toboggan runs for all the family as well as the longest night skiing piste in Austria! Unfortunately, we arrived a little too late in the season for the night time skiing which had finished the week before. The resort of Soell even offers a 'back stage guided tour' of the 'piste basher', learning all about preparing the slopes. My family (particularly our 19-year-old daughter!) enjoyed the 77 ski huts, spread across the ski region, all offering great Tyrolean hospitality with local delicacies, refreshing 'schiwasser' (raspberry squash for skiers) and the odd 'Jagertee' (tea with a dash of rum) and 'Gluehwein' (mulled wine). Our favourite lunch-time spot was undoubtedl the revolving 'Gipfelarm' restaurant on the 'Hohe Salve' peak, which offered a fantastic 360-degree panoramic view across several 3000m summits across the Kitzbuehel and Zillertal Alps. If you are thinking of visiting this ski area as a family with younger children, then look no further! There is a witches themed beginner skiing area, perfect for the very young skiers. 'Kiko' provides supervision and snow clubs for toddlers from 1 year of age. Older children can go crazy in the Crazy Kangaroo Park and Funny Bird Slope. What else can I say? We will definitely be returning to this fabulous skiing resort next season. If you have got any questions at all then please don't hesitate to get in touch with me for more information and help to create your own, bespoke (family) skiing holiday in Austrian Tyrol.

01 January 2018

We were all set to fly out to Miami to join our Caribbean Cruise with Carnival Cruise Lines at the beginning of November. I was looking forward to stopping off in Turks & Caicos, Puerto Rico, St Maarten and Jamaica. Then disaster struck in the shape of Hurricane Irma who decided to leave a band of destruction right along our cruise path. So heavy-hearted we decided to post-pone our cruise and swap it for a tropical holiday in Thailand! The combination of being an adventure travel lover brings challenges in finding the right holiday to suit all. Being a Travel Counsellor carries additional pressures because if I got this one wrong, while I seem to get all my clients’ holidays right, my husband would not be happy! The task for our holiday was to include a top hotel in exciting Bangkok to acclimatise to Thailand, beautiful beaches, villages and restaurants nearby and relaxation combined with adventure in the shape of snorkelling and island trips. My husband wanted to enjoy a hands-on elephant experience. My aim is to embrace different cultures, explore new horizons and get lost in the wilderness. On a rainy Sunday evening we set off to Bangkok, after having enjoyed some dinner and a nice glass of wine in the relaxing Premium Plaza Lounge at Heathrow. We chose to fly Taiwanese airline Eva Air in Premium Economy. Having experienced most major airlines during my career in the travel industry, I must admit that Eva Air may not be so well known, but is definitely ‘up there’ with the likes of Thai Airways or Singapore Airlines. Very generous seat pitch (even in economy class), great friendly service and modern planes. After a smooth 13-hour flight, we were greeted by a brief monsoon downpour. Our private taxi whisked us to the fantastic 5* hotel The Banyan Tree, in the middle of Bangkok – yet in the quiet embassy area and footsteps away from Skytrain, shopping and tourist sights. When in Bangkok, you must visit the ‘Vertigo’ Rooftop Bar on Banyan Tree’s 59th floor with fantastic views over Bangkok’s skyline. Afterwards we enjoyed a delicious Thai dinner at The Saffron restaurant to finish our first day in Bangkok. The next morning a private tuk tuk driver showed us the famous flower market, China Town, the Golden Mount and many other tourist attractions. We enjoyed the breeze on the tuk tuk as the temperatures in the city picked up and reached a stifling 34 degrees. If you would like to visit the breath-taking Royal Palace, I would highly recommend pre-booking this trip. Bangkok’s fashion scene has an interesting combination of high-end boutiques, local hand-made goods and fake designer products in the plethora of malls found there. Similar to some of Bangkok’s markets, malls like MBK Center are just an indoor, air-conditioned version of the city’s famous night bazaars. If you want to explore high-end fashion houses, a visit to Siam Paragon, Emporium or brand new Central Embassy are the malls to look out for. To finish off our whistle-stop stay in Bangkok, we booked a romantic river cruise dinner on the hotel’s own ‘Apsara’ boat, a wonderful former rice barge, converted to a luxury floating restaurant with foods to dream for. We even had a photo opportunity when we floated past the most beautiful Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn). Early next morning, our private taxi picked us up for a short flight to Phuket with Bangkok Air. A little travel tip: if you are enrolling to the airline’s free ‘FlyerBonus’ reward programme, you are entitled to an additional free 10kgs of luggage. We travelled north to the long white beaches of Khao Lak and stayed in the Merlin Hotel, a lovely, friendly family hotel spread over extensive tropical grounds, directly by the sea. As we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary, we received at an upgrade to a villa with private pool access and rose petals and chocolates greeting us in our room. After several relaxing days on lovely beaches, we visited nearby villages and the well-known Bang Niang market, which is an experience in itself. You can buy fresh meats, fish and tropical fruits as well as clothing and gift items. There are some small bars for a cool beer and a popular stall selling dried frogs and cricket. Bang Niang hosts the Tsunami Memorial and Museum, reminding you of the sad events of 26th Dec 2004. Khao Lak is famous for its great diving and snorkelling on Similan and Surin islands. It is worth noting that these islands are only accessible between November and April (no diving visits are allowed the rest of the year). We booked a long tail boat trip to the beautiful ‘James Bond Islands’ with stunning photo opportunities, a meal on a floating Muslim village and a visit to the Monkey Temple on our way back. After a week, we eagerly anticipated our next part of our holiday. We stayed in unique ‘Elephant Hills’ in Khao Sok National Park, approx. two hours north of Khao Lak. This luxury tented elephant camp is located amidst the rainforest – an experience not to be missed. Excellent food, exciting bamboo raft trips down the river, trekking in the jungle and then the elephant experience. We met a group of five elephants who are looked after there. We watched them bathe and then had the opportunity to clean, interact with and feed these gorgeous, gentle creatures. My husband was fascinated by the closeness of the elephants and we found it to be a magical experience not to be missed. Back at the camp, we met many like-minded travellers over the camp dinner. During the night, from our luxurious, comfortable tent, we listened to crickets and monkeys calling. The next day we travelled to Cheow Lan Lake, man-made and spanning over 60 km – covered by numerous limestone formations – perfect for a boat trip, some canoeing and swimming. We travelled on to Cape Panwa, on the most south-eastern part of Phuket. 5* Cape Panwa Hotel is built into a steep hill with gorgeous views over the Andaman Sea with a cute funicular that ferries guests between the lobby and the beach. Its beach is one of the finest on Phuket Island. Built on a former coconut plantation, Cape Panwa Hotel exudes colonial charm with Panwa Lodge, a magnificent white Sino-Portuguese bungalow tucked between jungle and coconut palms, famous for romantic dinners directly by the sea. Having enjoyed this grand hotel with excellent service, sun, sand and sea for a week, we were relaxed and ready to return home. Thailand really has got so much to offer, with extremely friendly people and fantastic hotels and activities! We will definitely be back to Bangkok and explore different regions and resorts next year. Useful tips: • Plenty of mosquito repellents • Take extra empty cabin suitcase • Spare phone • Battery phone charger • Torch & pocket knife • Drybag for water based activities • inflatable pillow for sunbed • Elephant Hills – flipflops/trekking shoes • Rain poncho / waterproof jacket / hat

12 September 2017

This August, I decided to visit my Austrian family for a long weekend. After a short Ryanair flight from Stansted to Memmingen (near Munich), we arrived in Austrian Vorarlberg after a swift 50 minutes’ car journey. We passed the lovely German town of Lindau and Austrian Bregenz, both situated along the picturesque Lake of Constance (Bodensee) which was teaming with sailing boats and people swimming in the warm waters. During our stay, we visited the scenic county capital of Bregenz, famous for its annual ‘Festival on the Lake’ attracting hundreds of visitors from all over the world. This summer, Bizet’s opera Carmen was on the programme for a period of two weeks. We admired the very modern, impressive stage before we relaxed in the ‘Beach Bar’, a popular open air bar, complete with artificial sand, palm trees and deck chairs. My daughter then fancied a pedalo trip on the lake which was great fun! The following day, my family decided that, whilst in Austria, we should do some hiking! So off we went to visit a very impressive gorge called ‘Rappenloch Schlucht’ in nearby Dornbirn. After a couple of hours of easy hiking on shady paths and tackling hundreds of steps and twists and turns, we finally reached the top of the gorge and were rewarded with fantastic views, waterfalls and a deserved ice cold beer and meat platter, served up in a little mountain hut. Vorarlberg is ideal for cycling holidays with all the family, as the whole country is covered by well maintained and connected bike paths, away from traffic, leading cyclists across beautiful landscapes, surrounded by majestic mountains, across wheat fields or along the River Rhine, where you can cross the border to Switzerland and Liechtenstein within a mere 15 minutes. We really enjoyed our whistle stop tour to Vorarlberg, the most Western part of Austria, where us ladies also managed to squeeze in some shopping in numerous excellent boutiques and sports shops in Dornbirn, Bregenz and Feldkirch (which comes with a historic castle dating back to the Habsburg Monarchy and which is famous for its gigantic Wiener Schnitzels). So if you are tempted to visit this little Austrian jewel, then please let me find the perfect break for you, too!

28 June 2017

If you are looking for the perfect French holiday, look no further than the beautiful Ile de Re, where chic Parisians go on holiday! In July and August, mainly French families and affluent Parisians with second homes flock to this island. My family travelled to our favourite French holiday destination of Ile de Re last summer, easily reached by Ryanair, who operate direct flights from Stansted to La Rochelle. Our hotel picked us up from La Rochelle’s two-room airport and we crossed the bridge that arches over the Atlantic. After a mere 20 minutes, we had arrived. The island is a 30km long, flat strip of land with photogenic villages, old ports and pretty sandy beaches. We decided to rent some bikes for the duration of our stay, ideal to cycle round the small island, which is virtually car-free. Tourists are encouraged to park up their cars and explore the island and its many interesting villages, forests and beaches by bike or horseback. On our first evening, we strolled into the centre of Saint-Martin-de-Re, amidst throngs of other pedestrians. The small capital of Ile de Re is a picturesque place with elegantly weathered buildings, scattered around the pretty port. We wandered past old bikes and parked our Citroen 2CV in search of a suitable Bistro. We noticed the many shades of blue and green and found out that the entire town is classed an UNESCO World Heritage site – hence there were no overhead cables or new constructions to be seen. My husband enjoyed the quirky antique shops and art galleries where he found a stunning ‘sailing boat picture’ for his study at home. The next day we decided to cycle to La Flotte’s famous market, where we stocked up on fresh fruit and other local produce. The seafront market, open every day, also sells antiques, bric-a-brac and furniture you wish you could carry home… Ile de Re is world famous for its rock salt that is grown and harvested in Ars-en-Re. After having sampled some ‘steak & frites’ and a nice glass of local wine, we decided to head to the nearby sandy beach for a deserved siesta. Another time, after our hotel owner had told us that there were oysters and wine to be had along the coastal route, we took to the road again. Every few kilometres we found ‘cabanes’, where families cultivate oysters and served them at picnic tables outside little wooden shacks. We tasted the freshest oysters we ever had, accompanied by a fantastic fishy fish soup with Gruyere cheese. We continued our bike tour to the lighthouse on the south-west tip of the island with beautiful views across the Atlantic. My daughter loved her horse riding session on La Plage des Grenettes, whereas my husband and I preferred the quiet spots along the beautiful sandy beach to top up our tans. Where to stay when in St Martin Du Re, you might ask? We loved our stay in ‘Le Corps de Garde’, a small boutique B&B on a quiet part of the quay, offering seven delightful bedrooms overlooking the water. Décor is shabby-chic with lace, weathered wood and old furniture. If you are after a more budget friendly option, look no further than ‘Le Galion’ where small, simple but light-filled rooms have great sea views. We found the best food in St Martin Du Re at ‘Le Serghi’, away from tourist traps, where the stylish terrace let us watch stunning sunsets and overlook the many fishing boats. The food was delicious and great value. Great for a drink or two and some French home cooking in an informal setting was ‘Le Bistrot du Marin’. I would highly recommend a trip to this laid back and beautiful Ile de Re. Please contact me for more information or to book your very own ‘vacances’ on this French island par excellence!

20 June 2017

Last August, my family and I decided to explore the inspiring Island of Crete. Since last summer, I have seen a growing trend for more and more people wanting to holiday on this unique island, part of Greece, but still with its very own ‘Cretan identity’. Crete is the largest island in Greece, and the fifth largest one in the Mediterranean Sea. When friends told us of Crete’s glorious beaches and beach clubs, impressive mountain ranges (still snow topped in the middle of August), its steep gorges (such as the famous Samaria Gorge) and the island’s rich gastronomic culture and history, we couldn't’t resist. After an early morning, 4 hour flight we landed in Chania, the island’s largest airport, situated in the North West. We swiftly picked up our rental car to be on our way to our private villa, located a mere 30 minutes from Chania Airport. We passed Souda Bay, famous for its large British War Cemetery, which is certainly worth a visit. A steep, winding road led us past picturesque beach towns like Kalyves and Almyrida up to our little village called Plakas, offering unforgettable views and sunsets over Souda Bay. The highlight of our lovely, modern villa was our own pool, which was very popular in temperatures reaching high thirties. A pleasant breeze, however, made our holiday very bearable. A must-do is a visit (or two) to the historic city of Chania. We wandered around the bustling harbour with its many trendy bars and restaurant and explored the Old Town’s maze-like alleys with beautiful Venetian mansions, fountains, elaborate churches and even a Synagogue! Crete’s historic former capital is still steeped in Minoan, Venetian, Ottoman and Greek history – a paradise for anyone interested in Crete’s rich history. Chania is a paradise for food and wine lovers, too. We discovered the romantic Tholos Restaurant, hidden away in one of the alleyways with live music and delicious Cretan specialities and genuine hospitality. We were told that when in Chania, you must climb up to the remnant city walls in time for a spectacular sunset! And so we did and we were not disappointed. Back in our little village a plethora of restaurants offered superb, yet rustic, Cretan delicacies, accompanied by live music and Greek dancing. My daughter loved spending her time sunbathing in great beach clubs, with comfy sun loungers, umbrellas and trendy music – all free, as long as you purchased some drinks. Georgioupolis (on the way to historic and bustling student town Rethymnon), Loutraki Beach (near Chania) and the beautiful Stavros Beach were our favourite hang outs. The small village of Stavros became famous when the movie ‘Zorba the Greek’ was filmed here. If you are a nature lover, a day trip to nearby Lake Kournas with its many pedalo boats is a must. It is the only fresh water lake in Crete with clear, invigorating waters inviting you for a refreshing swim. On shore, you can see little terrapins in tanks, an attraction in one of the popular tavernas there. I am certain that families with children will find a vast amount of activities on offer on this versatile island – from visits to cool waterparks to donkey and horse riding through large olive farms to a visit to a ‘fish spa’ or one of the many beautiful shallow beaches, ideal for smaller children. Numerous watersports activities, glass bottom boats and boat trips to countless little islands for snorkelling are available at most larger beaches, too. The famous ‘Aquaworld Aquarium’ near Chersonissos will keep the whole family entertained. For more lovely places to stay, to see and explore, you can also fly into the capital’s airport of Heraklion. This airport serves all the Eastern resorts of Crete. Ágios Nikólaos is a lovely, small cosmopolitan town and resort, and its close neighbour Eloúnda is the home of luxury hotel and villa complexes, and the gateway to the mysterious islet of Spinalónga. Not to forget the party town of Malia which attracts many young people from all over Europe. After a couple of wonderfully hot, sunny and very relaxing weeks on this great island, we finally headed back to Chania for our evening flight home. I can highly recommend a (family) holiday to Crete which really offers the perfect resort for everyone. In short, Crete really has it all! And I am sure we will be back soon. Get in touch with me for more detailed information and recommendations and to book your personalised holiday, tailored to your individual requirements – to make it a trip to remember. T: 01992 877 490 or email me: uli.williams@travelcounsellors.com

17 May 2017

Wondering what ‘Wanderwege’ are? Well, let me tell you about my recent holiday to Tyrol and Northern Italy – an activity, culinary and historic break I can highly recommend. INNSBRUCK After a comfortable 1½ hour flight from London to Innsbruck, the capital of beautiful Tyrol, we headed to its picturesque old town with the world-famous ‘Golden Roof’ building. This late Gothic bay was built for Emperor Maximilian on the occasion of his wedding in the 15th century. Innsbruck is full of historic buildings, shopping opportunities and brimming with lovely, lively Austrian restaurants and cafes, offering tasty Tyrolean specialities such as dumplings (‘Knödel’), sausages and smoked ham (‘Speck’) as well as delicious cakes and patisseries. After an overnight stay in a modern, central hotel near the river Inn, we headed off to neighbouring Italy. SOUTH TYROL / NORTHERN ITALY A mere 20 minutes later, having passed the ‘Brenner Pass’, we found ourselves in Italy. Modern-day South Tyrol, an autonomous Italian province created in 1948, was part of the Austro-Hungarian County of Tyrol until 1918. It was annexed by Italy at the end of World War 1. The older generation still speaks German and their Austrian heritage is proudly demonstrated in various customs, traditions and foods. In Alto Adige/Südtirol, German is an official language as well as Italian. All official acts, place names and signs are in both languages. After another 60 minutes, on our way to our 4* Wellness/Spa Hotel Tyrol in Merano, we stopped at the regional Forst brewery, where an inviting beer garden with traditional oompah music, delicious beer and local sausages, dumplings, ‘Schlutzkrapfen’ (Mezzelune or Ravioli filled with spinach ricotta or meat) and ‘Spatzen’ (little pasta doug pieces, literally ‘Little Sparrows’). After a hearty lunch, we checked in at our modern Wellness Hotel Tyrol in the quiet village called Partschins, located on a hill overlooking the gorgeous valley with Merano in the background. Our hotel offered a great package that included a healthy breakfast buffet and 5-course dinner, free use of its spa and pool area with expert fitness classes and Jacuzzi to relax after having spent an active day exploring the area. WAALWEG TRAILS The next day, in glorious sunshine and very pleasant temperatures, we headed off to a popular ‘Waalweg’ trail down to Merano. We followed this unusual, very scenic ‘Wanderwege’ along the historic irrigation channels, which proved an easy hike, leading through flowering meadows, forests and vineyards. The waterways have no significant slopes and offer fascinating views stretching to the valley. The Merano Circuit Trail stretches over 80 km and is definitely worth a hike or two! MERANO After having arrived in Merano, we made our way to the Mediteranean promenades and parks in the Alpine spa town on our free hire bikes. What better treat than a large ‘Gelato’ and a cappuccino whilst exploring this beautiful Art Nouveau town centre, which used to be a favourite retreat for Sissi, the wife of the last Kaiser of Austria. PARCINES WATERFALL The following morning we hiked to the Parcines Waterfall, an impressive natural spectacle. From a height of 100m, a torrent cascades down over a freestanding cliff into the wide valley below. Having worked up an appetite we headed for the family-run traditional mountain inn ‘Durster Hof’, famous for its extensive raspberry plantations reaching high up the mountains. Sitting on the sun terrace enjoying delicious homemade dishes and a raspberry schnaps brought our day in the mountains to a satisfying end. BIKING On our last day in South Tyrol, we rented some Mountain E-Bikes and enjoyed a beautiful cycling route leading through orchards and vineyards. A handy train, bus and bike combination ticket allowed us to utilise these means of transport as well as a bike shuttle to explore the whole area. We stopped at the ‘Baron Von Tripp Winery’ where an interesting wine tasting session educated us on the varied wines from this region. Here you can purchase your favourite wines at wholesale prices. HIKING Another very important activity offered in South Tyrol is Hiking at various altitudes, assisted by chairlifts and cable cars.Unfortunately, we ran out of time and promised ourselves to return next year, equipped with our hiking boots to discover the imposing mountains and also experience some challenging mountain biking. If you would like to find out more about this fantastic region of Italy, ideal for families, friends and couples of all ages, then please get in touch with me. I can recommend hotels, restaurants, trails and hikes and create your own, personalised activity holiday.

28 February 2017

Today's spotlight is on: MERANO in Northern Italy/Southern Tyrol. I am so excited to be travelling to this great Italian region for an early summer break in May! With easy and convenient flights from London Stansted to Memmingen (Munich airport on Ryanair) or to Innsbruck, we are going to be met by our Austrian friends for a swift and panoramic 2-hour car journey from Innsbruck to beautiful Merano (German= Meran). The poignantly pretty town of Merano (and one-time Tyrolean capital) was a Habsburg-era spa and the hot destination of its day, favoured by the Austrian royals, Kafka and Freud. With its leafy boulevards, birdsong, oleanders and cacti, Merano feels like you've stumbled into a valley Shangri-La, long lauded for its sunny microclimate. Here you will stumble across Jugendstil buildings, famous spas and a medieval town centre. German is spoken widely here, sausage and beer stalls dot the streets and an annual open-air play celebrates Napoleonic-era Tyrolean freedom fighter Andreas Hofer. Despite the palm trees, you're far closer to Vienna than Rome. Apart from shopping, sightseeing and visiting fantastic historic spas, this region is also well known for its more active leisure pastimes. Our little group is going to hire various types of mountain bikes to explore lower mountain ranges on two wheels. Great hiking trails for all fitness levels can be found, too, and you could even 'hire' your own local guide for the day! The area of Merano is also famous for its many award-winning wines and trips to local vineyards along the famous 'wine route' are highly recommended. We will be sampling wines and get them delivered to the UK via their courier company. I can't wait to tuck in to all those yummy Italian specialities and have a glass of the famous South Tyrolean 'Gewurztraminer' white wine after our days out biking and sightseeing. We found a fantastic, very reasonably priced 4* hotel in the villages of Partschins, overlooking Merano down in the valley - offering an outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, spa treatments, sauna and steam room as well as a fully stocked road and mountain bike shop offering bike hire. The half-board option allows us to take in a generous breakfast before heading off for the day and to sample numerous local specialities in the form of a 4 -course dinner accompanied by great wines and gelati. So, if you are interested in more details of this holiday or would like to do a similar trip, please get in touch with me for a personalised itinerary, with many recommendations along the way.

30 November 2016

It’s hard to imagine a bigger Christmas treat than going to meet Santa in his home in Finnish Lapland. A frozen winter wonderland, full of deep pristine snow and pine forests, set above the Arctic Circle. We chose to take our great-niece on a day trip, the week before Christmas last year from Stansted Airport. As soon as we arrived at the airport, our excitement mounted, even the check-in staff, were getting into the festive spirit. It wasn’t long before we were boarding the aircraft – the flight was well organised and the staff were very friendly; we took off on time at 8am. On arrival in Lapland, we were ushered into the clothing hall and were soon kitted out with snow suits, boots and helmets. We then boarded a waiting sleigh drawn by snowmobile and were driven on an exciting 30 min ride through the forest – it was magical, no traffic, no lights, just a subtle grey light in a deserted white forest. We arrived at the location early afternoon, it was still day but almost dark, a sort of blue-tinged twilight. There were glittering lights, lanterns, fires and here we were free to have lunch, explore and enjoy all that was on offer for the day. We went on a reindeer sleigh ride and visited the snow castle, which was amazing. It has various anti-chambers with ice beds, ice tables and sculptures, plus biscuits and hot berry juice. Even more magical was the snowmobile experience, tobogganing in the deep pristine snow and the husky dog sleigh rides, which thrilled us all. You can choose to have your private visit with Father Christmas at any time during the day and you are whisked off on a sleigh to meet Santa and his elves in a ‘kota’ in the forest, decked with a beautiful tree, lights and a roaring fire. Annie’s face as she went through the door was priceless when she saw the big man in red. It was such a fabulous day I still cannot believe it really happened. Yet my lasting memory is of Annie (and my husband) fast asleep on the aeroplane clutching her present from Santa before arriving back at Stansted Airport. I can only recommend this special, once-in-a-life time Christmas experience. If you would like to find out more or book this fantastic trip, please get in touch with me for a personalized holiday.