09 November 2023

I recently had the incredible opportunity to visit Reykjavik, the charming capital of Iceland, and embark on a journey that combined breath-taking natural wonders with delightful culinary experiences. From indulging in a food walking tour through the city's vibrant streets to chasing the elusive Northern Lights on a boat trip, and exploring the wonders of the Golden Circle, my Icelandic adventure was nothing short of magical. Food Walking Tour: One of the best ways to immerse yourself in the culture of a new destination is through its cuisine. Reykjavik offers a diverse culinary scene that reflects the country's unique flavours and traditions. I kicked off my visit with a food walking tour, wandering through the city's colourful streets and stopping at local eateries to savour traditional Icelandic dishes. I decided to pass on the the iconic fermented shark and black death shot! From the Plokkfiskur Stew to the creamy skyr and hearty lamb and artic char, every bite was a delicious introduction to the country's culinary heritage. The tour not only satisfied my taste buds but also provided insights into the stories behind each dish, making it a truly enriching experience. Boat Trip to Hunt the Northern Lights: As nightfall descended, I embarked on a thrilling boat trip in search of the mesmerizing Northern Lights. The dark, Icelandic sky served as the perfect canvas for the ethereal dance of green and purple lights. Cruising along the coast, the guide shared fascinating tales of Icelandic folklore, adding an extra layer of enchantment to the experience. Though the Northern Lights are famously elusive, luck was on my side that night, and I was treated to a breath-taking display that left me in awe of nature's wonders. It was a surreal moment, standing on the deck of the boat, surrounded by the cold Icelandic air and the dancing lights overhead. Golden Circle Exploration: The next day, heading out on a super jeep I embarked on a journey around the Golden Circle, a route that showcases some of Iceland's most iconic natural wonders. From the powerful Gullfoss waterfall to the geothermal wonders of Geysir, each stop was a testament to the country's raw and untouched beauty. Standing on the continental divide at Thingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, I marvelled at the geological significance of the area. The Golden Circle is a must for anyone visiting Iceland, offering a glimpse into the forces that have shaped this extraordinary landscape. Snowmobiling on a Glacier: For an adrenaline-packed adventure, I ventured onto Langjökull, Iceland's second-largest glacier, for a thrilling snowmobiling experience. Zooming across the pristine white landscape, surrounded by towering ice formations, was an exhilarating and surreal experience. The panoramic views from the glacier were nothing short of spectacular, offering a unique perspective on Iceland's vast and untouched wilderness. It was a moment of pure exhilaration, with the chill of the wind and the adrenaline rush combining to create memories that will last a lifetime. Sky Lagoon and Blue Lagoon: To unwind and relax, I visited both the Sky Lagoon and the famous Blue Lagoon, two geothermal spas renowned for their healing properties. The Sky Lagoon, a newer addition to Iceland's spa scene, offered a modern and luxurious retreat with its stunning oceanfront location. The Blue Lagoon, surrounded by lava fields and steaming geothermal waters, provided a surreal experience of floating in the warm, mineral-rich waters while surrounded by the otherworldly landscape. Both lagoons offered a perfect ending to my Icelandic adventure, allowing me to soak in the therapeutic waters and reflect on the incredible journey. My visit to Reykjavik was a perfect blend of natural wonders and culinary delights. From the thrill of hunting the Northern Lights to the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Golden Circle and the adrenaline rush of snowmobiling on a glacier, every moment was a chapter in a story of exploration and discovery. Iceland's unique charm and beauty left an indelible mark on my heart, and I left with memories that will stay with me forever. If you're looking for a winter wonderland adventure that combines excitement, relaxation, and the best of Icelandic culture, Reykjavik is the place to be.

19 July 2023

Flying from Heathrow with WestJet - who??? That was my thought before I booked this trip as I’d not come across them before ?? Can’t fault the journey across with them, landing in Calgary and pretty much off the plane and clearing customs in 10 minutes - boy does our border force need to take some tips from the Canadians! E-gates scan your passport, you fill in a few questions and that’s pretty much it - a couple of questions from Canadian immigration and then go grab your bags. We picked up our car from the airport and headed towards Banff - the scenery is just amazing! Arriving in Banff we dumped our bags and headed out for a bite to eat, stopping off at The Grizzly House - famous for its fondues - ranging from your standard cheese to the exotic with alligator and rattlesnake. A short wander around town before heading to bed as we were starting to feel jet lagged. Up early the next morning we headed out for breakfast and stopped at Touloulous for some French toast and pancakes. We then headed out to walk off the calories?? heading to Bow View Falls, and then a fab walk around Johnson’s Lake and a trip to Lake Minnewanka for yet more amazing views. A visit then to Banff Hot Springs and then the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, and dinner at Sky Bistro - the views alone are stunning and the food was outstanding. Banff itself is a gorgeous town with loads of amazing bars and restaurants and plenty of exploring to be done, a year round destination, perfect for hiking the trails in the summer and enjoying the piste in the winter. Leaving Banff and head out West on the Highway 1a, I was desperately hoping to spot some bears along the way and thankfully I wasn’t disappointed ???? The journey to Lake Louise yet again was stunning and the lake itself is just breath-taking. Leaving there, and back in the car we had the long journey to Jasper ahead of us, what a journey along the Icefield Parkway and the Athabasca and Columbia Glaciers, never mind the numerous lakes we passed along the way as well - if only we had the time to stop and take them all in - the colours are just amazing. This is one of the most spectacular drives in the world, with stunning scenery. Along the way we were lucky enough to see another bear just happily mooching along the side of the road ??. Arriving into Jasper which is a total contrast to Banff, Banff is your cosmopolitan town and Jasper is slightly dated but perfect for white water rafting, canoeing, and trekking with again skiing in the winter months. We stayed the night at Tekarra Lodge which has the most amazing back drop of Athabasca River, no bears to be spotted but we did see some Elk along the way. A quick stop here in Jasper as we were then jumping on board Via Rail for our journey through the Rocky Mountains and heading to Vancouver. Our next 24 hours was spent on the train traveling through the Rocky Mountains and our journey ending up in Vancouver. Yet again the views have been stunning with every turn, (well apart from the last couple of hours as we headed into the city ??). There is not much more to say about this leg of the journey so far, but I can't stress how fantastic the journey was - for me it has to be the highlight of our trip to Canada.

22 November 2022

We picked up our hire car in Cape Town and headed out on the road - driving is on the left hand side and has felt safe on our journey so far, even I’ve been happy drive. Leaving the city we headed to Cape Point, well worth the journey but I had failed in my research that there is an entrance fee to the National Park - roughly £15 each so not too bad especially if you are going to spend the whole day there which you could quite easily do. We didn’t as we wanted to visit Boulders Beach and see some penguins, ok I wanted to see the penguins ,again the drive there was spectacular, the scenery is stunning every way you look. Cape Point and penguins ticked off the list we then headed to Franschhoek, - more gorgeous scenery, passing loads of vineyards on the way - even some names you would recognize back home. Arriving at our next place to rest our heads L’Ermitage Chateau and Villas has not disappointed - great location with about a 10 minute walk into town with numerous restaurants - the main theme of the restaurants is French dining. We ate dinner at La Petit Ferme which was about a 5 minute drive, and had the most amazing meal in a gorgeous setting, with some fantastic wine. Up bright and early the next day, breakfast by the lake and a walk into town we headed on our Wine Tram Tour - there are various different routes to take so it would be a good idea to do a bit of research so you have an idea of where you want to visit. We took the orange line and visited 4 vineyards out of a total of 8 that we could have visited - to be honest to fit them all in you would only get 30 mins at each place and it’s not worth rushing lovely wines on stunning settings. We had lunch at Babel which is on the Bablyonstoren vineyard, this is one of the earliest working farms that replenished ships passing the Cape back on the day, you could quite easily spend the whole day here. If you are planning on spending a few days here I would recommend doing the tram tour for 2 or 3 days and heading out in a couple of different routes and not rush the tastings - all are very reasonably priced at around £3 per head.

08 November 2022

South Africa Trip - Day’s 1-3 Cape Town - we had an enjoyable flight from Heathrow and flew with Virgin, at the time of writing this Virgin don’t fly direct into Cape Town but will do from November so we had to transit through Johannesburg - that was all seamless and stress. I had pre booked a cab from Cape Town and our wonderful driver met us and we were soon on our way to our Hotel. We were very lucky to be able to see Table Mountain shrouded with a blanket of cloud known to the locals as the tablecloth that afternoon - a truly wonderful sight to see. On arrival at our hotel, The Commodore which is perfectly situated in the V&A Waterfront area, (very reminiscent to me of the San Fran waterfront) we checked in, had a quick freshen up and then headed out to explore. The Waterfront has everything you could need, numerous shops and some amazing restaurants that serve some fantastic wines - happy days ???? After a wander and seeing some Cape Fur Seals?? on the quayside we grabbed a quick snack and then took a champagne sunset cruise in the bay, we were lucky to be joined by some dolphins along the way ??starting to feel a bit tired from being up over 24 hours we headed back to our hotel for a snack and then some much needed sleep. Day 2 up bright and early for our trip to Robben Island - this needs no introduction I am sure. This is an experience not to be missed, we were taken around by a former political prisoner. I didn’t expect it to be emotional but it was a truly moving and humbling experience, after seeing where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of life we got to walk in his footsteps down ‘The Long Walk to Freedom’ before boarding the 30 minute ferry ride back to the Waterfront. In the afternoon we took an Uber to Signal Hill, the views are amazing up there but even better when you take a tandem paraglide from the top ?? This was my husbands idea and one I agreed to a few months ago whilst having a glass of wine in the garden and planning our itinerary - at the time it seemed like a really good idea, as the time got closer I was a bit nervous but I did it and am thankful he came up with the idea as it was amazing - seeing Cape Town and being as free as a bird for 10 minutes or so was just amazing - an experience I won’t ever forget. The evening was spent down on the Waterfront again, sampling more lovely local wine and fish for dinner. On our final day we took a hop on hop off bus tour of the city which I would highly recommend. The red route stops at the terminal for the cable car to take you to the summit of Table Mountain, not something I was looking forward to but it was only 5 minutes and afforded some fantastic views on the way up, yet again another must see and do - the clouds were coming in as we were heading up but still the views were outstanding. Back on the bus and out of the city we headed toCamps Bay, a hang out for the rich and famous with a beautiful stretch of beach. the drive along the coast road was stunning and we even spotted a Southern right whale breaching ??. Later that evening we headed to Gold restaurant - this was a great night, we took part in some drumming, ate dishes from all over Africa (think tapas style) and watched some fantastic dancing - a perfect way to end our time in Cape Town. ??

31 May 2022

Day 3 and the last ship visit of the CLIA Conference 2022 – tired from the gala dinner the previous night, and up bright and early again we boarded Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas, another amazing ship and totally different once again from the other two visits over this weekend. Heading for a much needed coffee and quick snack for the day ahead, the Two70 bar was calling, during the day a chill out area to watch the world go by with views from floor-to-ceiling windows, which then turn into a curtain call when its time for entertainment. We were given an amazing show of the virtual concerts that are held on board – it say’s something about what is on offer there when we were all clapping for the performances given – all virtual, not a ‘real’ person in sight. Not only the virtual performances were amazing but the ‘robot’ screens that put on a masterpiece in their own right – you could spend hours being entertained in this bar alone. Heading on deck the sun was shining and it was glorious to walk around, taking in the numerous bars serving some amazing looking cocktails, the water park which looked great fun and would keep the kids and I’m sure adults entertained for hours. Anthem of the Seas is a perfect ship for families, there is so much to do for all ages, from toddlers to teens, they will not get bored, soft play to science experiments, basketball, bumper cars, sky diving and flo-rider, and then to top it off the North Star, the tallest viewing deck, taking in some amazing views over 100 metres above sea level. After a brief tour of yet again amazing spa and gym facilities we headed back inside for a bite to eat, no fine dining today – which we were all thankful for ?? but a trip to The Windjammer to sample the buffet style dining, here you will find something to tickle your taste buds. We didn’t get as long on board Anthem of the Seas as the other two ships but I can tell you this, you won’t be disappointed, from the numerous bars, restaurants and entertainment, from the live orchestra, We Will Rock You musical, Spectra’s Cabaret, you will have a blast. Another amazing cruise ship, and yet again confirmation that there is a cruise out there for everyone. From my mis-conception at the beginning of this weekend to ‘You won’t ever catch me going on a cruise’ to coming home absolutely buzzing about this industry and guess what ……………………….. I am going on a cruise soon!!!! Watch this space for an update on this. ??

28 May 2022

Day 2 of CLIA Conference 2022 was a ship visit onboard P&O’s Iona, well where to start on this journey. From stepping on board Iona just oozes charm, relaxation, peace and tranquillity. She is just stunning, from the pastel furnishings, the soft wood, the décor, the light and spacious feel with deck to floor windows letting in light everywhere you go. There is no where on board Iona that you will ever feel cramped – stunning is an understatement. A completely different cruise ship, but with all the facilities you could ever want on board, and more. Our journey started visiting some of the cabins and suites, the first was described as a cabin with an obstructed view, I was expecting a life boat or similar blocking the view, but from the balcony all I could see was the sea and also a small whirlpool on deck – if that is obstructed then I will be having that one! The inside cabins still feel spacious, the light airy feel is kept throughout with the light wood and furnishings everywhere. Suites are just wow – some have amazing wrap around balconies giving you so much space if you didn’t want to leave your suite on your journey you wouldn’t have to – apart from to go and get a G&T from one of the many bars. Our next stop was the spa and gym, again blown away by the facilities that can be put on board a cruise ship, it is just a pity we weren’t able to experience any of the facilities, a dip in the thermal pool would have been amazing, or to experience some hot sand therapy treatment would have been divine. The gym again has everything you need to keep your fitness goals up and also there is a running track on one of the decks if you want to the fresh air in whilst getting the steps in. Another dining experience today, thankfully not another 4 course lunch as I don’t think I would have been able to eat that amount of food again – today’s lunch was Sirloin of Beef, Tomato and Bacon jam, Sweet potato fondant with a Bernaise sauce, followed by a totally amazing Coconut and Silken Tofu Budino, Passion Fruit and Cassava Crisp, again all washed down with wine paired by the Sommelier. Along with fine dining on board there are numerous other restaurants and buffet areas to go and try something different, there is no doubt on a cruise you will never go hungry. The numerous bars to go and have a drink and watch the world go by are second to none. The 710 bar even has a couple of signature cocktails chosen by Gary Barlow – it is just a shame he wasn’t on board to mix them for us! Entertainment again was amazing, from aerial shows to theatre productions, there is no time to be bored on board! From stepping on board Iona I was totally in awe, I do think I fell in love a little bit with her, and I cant wait to take a cruise and experience all she has to offer. As I am learning and it is still true – there is a cruise out there for everyone – I think Iona is my cruise!

27 May 2022

Cruising is not my ‘bag’ or so I thought until I attended the CLIA Conference in Southampton in May 2022 and started to learn all things cruise and listen to some of the cruise leaders talk about this exciting industry. I have had for a long time the pre-conception that cruise is just for a certain demographic, how wrong I was!! My first steps ever on a cruise ship took me to onboard the MSc Virtuosa and those first steps blew me away! I honestly thought I was walking through the shopping area of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas; the opulence of this ship is totally amazing. I could have walked up and down the main staircase all day imagining I was some famous movie star as each step is made up of 8000 Swarovski crystals! Walking around MSc Virtuosa she has everything to cover all your holiday needs, kids’ clubs from babies to teens, bowling alley, aqua park and even a full-sized MSc Formula Racer along with a multi-sensory experience in the interactive XD cinema. The entertainment on board was mind-blowing, the brief snippet I saw of the show that day, well you would have thought you were either in the West End or Broadway. The dining experience was second to none, we had lunch in one of the main restaurants, a standard 4 course fine dining experience! Pana Cotta with White Asparagus, daikon sprouts and truffle caviar, followed by Pansoti with Wild Greens and Ricotta, with walnut sauce – just about everyone has said this is the best pasta dish they have ever eaten, following on Grilled Tournedos & Perigueux Sauce, zucchini, buttered carrots and roasted rosemary potatoes, by now I was feeling rather full but when desert of Chocolate Royal Cake arrived it just had to be eaten, all of this amazing food was washed down with a few lovely glasses of wine suggested by the Sommelier – a perfect dining experience. Along with the main restaurant, there is a buffet with a variety of astonishing dishes, speciality restaurants from Vietnamese, Teppanyaki, Sushi, Steak House and Latin American – something on board for everyone. A visit to the spa after lunch, if only for a look, was amazing, the sauna, steam room, whirlpool bath, salt room to name a few areas, were fantastic, an area for some ‘me’ time, time to chill, get a traditional Balinese massage, time to feel rejuvenated. If you are feeling energetic or just need to burn some of those calories consumed at lunch then the gym on board has you covered, this takes your work-out to the next level with amazing panoramic ocean views whilst exercising. There are plenty of bars to relax and enjoy a drink, even a robot called Rob in the Starship Club who will mix you your favourite tipple! Overall MSC Virtuosa is a truly magnificent ship and one I cannot wait to go on and experience her to the fullest. There is a cruise out there for everyone as I am learning.

27 April 2022

Already 3 months has gone by since I started my travel counsellor journey, and I am loving every minute of it! I thought I’d share some myths that I have come across from clients either asking me about or using someone else as they assumed I wouldn’t be interested. So here are my top 10 Travel Counsellor myths: 1. We have a minimum spend – I am happy to look at any enquiry regardless of my client’s budget. I get a real sense of achievement when a client unnecessarily apologies that they have a small budget and I manage to find the perfect holiday for them. 2. We only book long haul travel – a large part of my business is European holidays. 3. We don’t book UK holidays – I get special deals for UK holidays for short breaks and longer stays including dinner, bed and breakfast packages. 4. We only book hotels not lodges or villas – I have access to lots of supplier for villas and lodges both in UK and worldwide. These are great alternatives to hotels especially when larger groups want to travel together, or for more privacy. 5. We don’t just book 1 night in a hotel – I can look at over night hotel stays and usually get better rates than online booking websites. 6. We don’t do theatre packages – I have several suppliers who offer theatre packages for London and other cities that include hotel and sometimes other excursions too. Great prices and great seats too! 7. We don’t do sport packages – I have lots of supplier for various sporting event such as Grand Prix, Tennis, Rugby, Football etc. I might not be a sport buff but if a client asks me for a package it’s a great opportunity for me to learn about it. 8. We don’t do ferries and train – I have included ferries and trains in some of my travel itineraries for clients. Sometimes train and ferry timetables are not available at the time of booking but it’s easy to add on later. 9. Our best deals are with flight only – I find that when asked for flight only my prices are not much better than buying direct online but we do get special rates with airlines when we can package a flight with hotel and car hire or other components. 10. We only work with a few suppliers so are limited what we can offer – I have access to literally thousands of suppliers for hotels, excursions, flights, transfers, cruise, train, ferry, airport parking, fast track, airport hotels, airport lounges and travel insurance and other travel items so can reach into my network to build the perfect holiday. Being independent means, I can get the best offers and pass them direct to my clients. Besides flying to the moon we can pretty much source any travel requirements … and who knows we might add the moon to our destinations one day! If you are not sure if it’s something I can help with just ask, it’s very likely that I will be able to help. And if not I’ll point you in the right direction. With us it’s personal!

08 February 2022

Thankfully we managed to get away on a long awaited trip to Thailand in December, overcoming all the hurdles of testing and filling the paperwork needed by the Thai government – that was a stressful time waiting for the Thai passes to arrive in your inbox! We spent 14 nights spending Christmas there, how lovely to be by the pool or on the beach in the run up to Christmas and not have to get stressed about getting the shopping done. PLACES TO STAY Staying in Phuket for the first 7 nights at The Old Phuket, Karon Beach, a great hotel just a short stroll from the beach, not that that mattered as we had opted for swim up rooms which was fantastic, no stress of having to get a sunbed on this holiday. The next 7 were spent just along the coast in Khao Lak, staying at the Khao Lak Bhandari Resort & Spa, a gorgeous resort with beautiful gardens where you can even come across monitor lizards going about their daily business. TRIPS WE WENT ON We took a tuk tuk one afternoon to Phuket Old Town with its beautiful brightly painted Sino-Portugese townhouses, wandering the streets and hunting souvenirs. Bizarrely that evening we took a break from the normal of eating Thai food and opted for some amazing Turkish food at Efe Turkish Old Town. We learnt Thai Cooking at Kata Cooking School, – Jim was just amazing in his teaching and we all thoroughly had a blast and made some tasty dishes – ‘Scoop Scoop’ became a bit of a catchphrase after that experience! Trekking through the jungle up to the Big Buddah was the idea from our son Josh, we certainly burnt some calories getting up there but decided on the easier option of a tuk tuk back down. The highlight for me, an afternoon spent with the elephants at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, Phuket, learning about these gentle giants, feeding them and then getting up close, personal and extremely ‘muddy’ (not quite sure it was mud we were bathing in) washing and cleaning these magnificent animals. One final excursion we went on was a speedboat trip to the Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea, these islands with the most amazing blue sea and softest white sand, snorkelling amongst the coral and seeing the colourful fish, a fantastic day trip and one I would happily go on again. EATING OUT Eating most days local food, with my favourite dish of Pad Thai being consumed so many times on this trip I lost count and not having to spend lots if just going in where the locals were eating – you can’t go wrong – lunch for 3 including a large Chiang beer – no more than £10!!