26 October 2016

I was extremely lucky to have the opportunity to travel to Mexico on a trip to experience first-hand what this amazing destination has to offer. My expectations were truly exceeded by all the luxurious all-inclusive hotels, the beautiful white post card sandy beaches and turquoise warm waters. We started our trip with a direct flight from Gatwick on Virgin Atlantic which took 10 hours and arrived in Cancun to blue skies and very warm temperatures. I was in Mexico for seven nights and spent the first four nights at the Dreams Riviera Hotel and the last three nights at Secrets Maroma. There are many different Dreams and Secrets hotels located in Mexico and I was fortunate to visit all of them. I also visited the Now Sapphire and the Now Jade Hotel and the incredible Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita Hotel which I shall explain about in detail later. Unless you are staying in downtown Cancun, all of the hotels along the Riviera Maya are quite isolated and therefore have amazing on-site facilities. The quality of food at all of the hotels is second to none and the choice is incredible. As all of the hotels are sold on an all-inclusive basis, I was especially impressed with the cuisine and choice. In some parts of the world all-inclusive standards are not especially high but in Mexico they are excellent. We had a wonderful time at the 5 star Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa. The Dreams Riviera is a luxury traditional hotel with a modern twist that will suit both families and couples. I loved the entrance to this hotel and the walkway down towards the pool and beach. I also loved the room layout; it was different and really worked. There was a great buzz to this resort and the live music in the lobby in the evening followed by the nightclub was excellent for entertainment. All in all, a very good experience and I would highly recommend it to couples, groups and families alike. We stayed at the 5 star Secrets Maroma Resort & Spa for our last three nights. All I can say is wow! The personal service is second to none and the beach is simply stunning. It is recognised as having the world’s best beach by the travel channel. I was surprised by how warm the sea water was; it was like stepping into a bath! This hotel is adults only but again the choice of food was amazing with plenty of onsite activities. Zoetry Paraiso De La Bonita is a very special and unique hotel. It is a boutique property with 90 luxury suites which are all dotted throughout the grounds. Originally built by a prominent Mexican architect as a private residence, this luxurious and intimate hotel has a very homely feel about it. All of the suites have a different theme and are named after a country that the owner has visited. They are lavishly decorated in different styles and some come with a private plunge pool with direct access to the beach. Many famous celebrities have stayed at this hotel as it is very private and exclusive. It is very quiet so perhaps not suitable for everyone. Of course it doesn’t stop at the hotel experience; Mexico has loads to offer in terms of activities, excursions and historic sites. We swam with dolphins which was surreal. We also visited the Mayan Ruins in Tulum and spent a day at Xcaret, a world famous eco-archaeological site. It boasts Mayan ruins, a dolphin show, horses, a farm with tropical birds, butterflies, bat caves and a stunning beach. We went snorkelling in the famous caves and the well-known underground river. With over 53 activities to enjoy it is a great day out. And of course should nightlife be your thing then a visit to Coco Bongos nightclub is a must. My seven days in Mexico were amazing! I got to visit so many different hotels and cultural sights which have certainly opened my eyes to everything that Cancun and the Riviera Maya have to offer. Magical Mexico I will be back!

26 October 2016

My Husband and I went on a weekend break for 3 nights to Prague and we flew direct from Dublin. From the minute we arrived we were keen to explore this fabulous city. Our hotel, The Caesers Palace was based about five minutes walk from the famous Charles Bridge, so we were very close to the majority of the sights and you can walk to nearly all the attractions. Flat shoes are highly recommended as some of the back streets are cobblestone! Over the three days we visited Prague Castle which has beautiful architecture and is full of character. We also saw Charles Bridge which is said to be Pragues most popular sightseeing destination and has breath taking views of the fully lit Castle in the evening. The Old town is a must with its markets in the evenings sprinkled with vendors selling their local fare and some cooking enormous portions of culinary delights. You have to visit the Astronomical clock in the square on the hour, preferably in the evening time it is an amazing sensation everyone standing in the square and as the clock strikes the hour cameras flash non-stop it's like the paparazzi and the square itself is lit up like a Christmas tree! Other places of interest were Wenceslas square, The Infant Jesus of Prague and St. Nicholas Cathedral, they have music and operas running throughout the day which were worth a visit. When we were going back to the airport we decided to venture on the local train from the city centre to the bus station and then connected with the bus to the airport…all for only two euro each! Prague is a beautiful city and we will definitely be returning to explore it some more.

26 October 2016

I used to be involved in the Scouts during my teenage years and thought going to a mobile/campsite was going back in time, we had a fantastic holiday. We brought our car by Ferry to Roscoff and travelled for an hour and half to Carnac to the campsite Le Grand Metairie in Brittany. The weather on arrival was fabulous and we were all in great form, the staff meeting us on site were super and our mobile home was ready with fresh linen and even "Barry's tea" for the Irish. The Mobile home was a Mercure which had a double bed in one room, kitchen area, bathroom and another bedroom which had two singles and a bunk bed. Barbeque on the deck was also included. The activities on site were endless, with morning clubs for the children, the central pool area with slides and a small pool for the smaller children, table tennis, volley ball, sand area with playground and also a central bar. There were bikes for hire to suit all ages and horse riding activities, endless choices. From Carnac you could travel around the local areas, that was the beauty of having the car as the weather unfortunately changed towards the end of the week, however this did not take from the Holiday, this campsite also had an indoor pool which was super for our two year old. We had a wonderful time staying in a mobile home and have recommended it to many others and will definitely be going back.

26 October 2016

I was so excited to get the opportunity to travel to Trinidad & Tobago in the West Indies so on the 7th October we flew from Gatwick to Tobago via Grenada. After the 10 hour flight we were met on arrival by glorious sunshine and temperatures of 32 degrees. We transferred to the Turtle Beach by Rex Resort were we spent our first two nights. Our first day was a trip to Buccoo Reef, the largest coral reef in Tobago which was designated a marine park in 1973. We travelled on a glass bottom boat trip over the coral gardens followed by a swim in the “Nylon Pool”; legend says “a swim here can make you ten years younger!” After a long day we dined at a new restaurant “The Fish Pot” the food and drink ware superb and excellent value. As this was a working trip our next day was organised by the Department of Tourism. We were based at Muscovados at Tobago Plantations where we were joined by the Department of Tourism, the Hotel Association, the Tour Operators Association and the Dive Association. The workshop gave us an opportunity to mingle and meet with hoteliers and suppliers from the island. In the afternoon we visited Kariwak, Toucan Inn and Stonehaven Villas some three and four star properties. That evening we checked into the Le Grand Courlan where we spent the following three nights. We had an early start the next day for our day trip to Trinidad – Tobago’s big sister island. We flew with Caribbean Airlines at 07.40am a mere 20 minute flight to the Capitol Port of Spain. We began our journey through the Arima Valley in the Northern Range Mountains to our first stop at the Asa Wright Nature Centre. This was established in 1967 by a group of naturalists and bird-watchers, an absolute paradise for Bird Watchers. From the nature centre we made our way to Trinidad’s Capitol Port of Spain where we visited one of the newest and smartest hotels only opened in May 2009, the 5 star Carlton Savannah where lunch was also hosted. That afternoon we had a boat trip on the Caroni Swamp – within which is the Caroni Bird Sanctuary. This large wetland is an important aspect of the Trinidad ecosystem acting as a break-water, a breeding ground and a place of wonder. One of the national birds can be found here, the Scarlet Ibis, which return to roost at sunset in a spectacular blaze of colour, what an amazing sight this was. After our long day in Trinidad we had a relaxing Sunday at Pigeon Point Beach Tobago’s most idyllic beach, with lunch at Renmar’s where we were entertained by local Steely Pan players. Our next day’s trip was to the North of the island to Speyside, famous for its diving, along the Atlantic coast road. We had an exhilarating guided tour into Tobago’s main ridge forest reserve, the oldest reserve in the western hemisphere being established in the 1760’s. There are over 200 species of birds on the island which many can be seen here. From this rain forest we headed to Roxborough and the Argyle Waterfall where we had the opportunity to swim in the rock pool which I definitely availed of, it was a fantastic experience. Lunch was provided in the popular local tree-house restaurant- Jemma’s Seaview Kitchen in Speyside and there were amazing views from here. Heading back towards our Hotel we visited the Blue Haven Hotel a famous haunt of the Hollywood stars in the 40’s and 50’s where stars like Robert Mitchum and Rita Hayworth stayed during filming. Also next door was Tobago’s newest property the Bacelot Beach Club which was very trendy and contemporary. Our last two nights were spent in Coco Reef an absolutely beautiful property. As this was our last full day what better way to spend it then to explore the scenic Caribbean coastline on board the “Island Girl” Catamaran. The day included sailing with an amazing crew, some fantastic snorkelling and buffet lunch. That evening we attended the Itsy Bitsy Cultural Playhouse and Folk theatre which is open every Tuesday night and gives you an opportunity to learn more about the locals and their culture, some of our group even got to play the drums on stage... including me. Our flight home the next day was direct from Tobago to Gatwick. I highly recommend Trinidad & Tobago and I will definitely be back.

26 October 2016

When we booked our holiday, I must admit I was a little sceptical as I had never cruised before and it was our first holiday taking our 13 month old daughter. We flew from Dublin to Gatwick and transferred to the Port of Tilbury to board our home for 11 nights the MSC LIRICA. Embarkation was extremely well organised, from arrival at the port to opening the door to our Ocean view cabin took less than an hour, our cabin was bigger than I had expected even with a cot in the room there was adequate space. We explored the ship straight away and found many activities we could do as a family, children onboard are catered for fantastically. The Pirati Mini Club were waiting for our daughter to arrive, she had a brilliant time. Our itinerary for the duration was an action packed one, our ports of call were Amsterdam, Bremerhaven, Alesund, Honningsvag, Tromso, Bergen and Dover. Excursion possibilities were endless, and everyone was catered for, we took one or two tours during the week being apprehensive with a toddler but we were pleasantly surprised to find we were one of many families on these trips. Some of our excursions included Polaria - Polar experience in Tromso, Zoo at the sea in Bremerhaven, Walking tour of Bergen and the street markets, endless choices. The scenery going through some of the Fjords was breathtaking. Everywhere we went on the ship the staff were amazing, and exceptionally welcoming. They truly made our holiday an extraordinary experience, the food was phenomenal and the choice was great. No longer sceptical, I would whole-heartedly say this was one of my favourite holidays and cruising is definitely on my wish list for future family holidays.

26 October 2016

My Husband and I have travelled throughout Portugal over the last few years because we love it so much and the Portuguese people are so friendly and welcoming, very much like the Irish. We have visited many areas from the Capital Lisbon to Porto and Sintra up north and the Algarve down south. Lisbon is a historic capital, with a fusion of unusual character and charm. We stayed at the 4 star Avenida Palace which used to be a convent and was converted into a Hotel. The Hotel was full of grandeur and the staff extremely helpful. It is located on the Avenida da Liberdade in the centre of Lisbon, walking distance to shops, restaurants and nightlife. With the cobbled streets and small cafes with standing room only we enjoyed an espresso with the locals. We found out that Lisbon nightlife only starts at sunset and continues on till dawn. Sintra is a small town in the hills north of Lisbon, slightly cooler climate than the south but the views are spectacular. Palacio da Pena (Sintra Castle) is very much worth a visit, we took a tour bus from the centre of Sintra, and the castle is full of unique charm and a magical atmosphere. The town of Sintra itself is small and quaint and around the main square there are many little monuments, cafes, and shops. For pure fascination Sintra is worth a trip. Porto to us is like the west of Ireland so much greener and much warmer. Our Hotel was the 4 star Pestana Porto in Pracada Ribeira, the historical centre of Porto. We took a trip on the Douro River and sampled the local port and cheese a journey not to be missed. This area has a real picturesque life style of Portugal with narrow streets and typical houses. I frequented the market are of Bolhao more than my Husband and also some great shopping areas for leather goods and Jewellery in downtown Baixa. Cascais and Estoril are one of our favourite places in Portugal it is only 45 minutes from Lisbon. We found it romantic, cosmopolitan, and full of entertainment. We stayed at the Senhora da Guia on the coast a small but cosy hotel. The resort itself seems to have limited space but with great diversity in nature, culture and heritage. We spent an evening at the Casino de Estoril the largest in Europe, we enjoyed a fabulous meal and show, but we lost a few bob too! Along the coast are some exuberant beaches at Guincho and Carcavelas, smaller than the south of Portugal but totally unspoilt, in the evening time they have small market stalls selling handmade jewellery and crafts. On another trip to Portugal we travelled to the Algarve and stayed in Carvoeiro about 40 minutes from Faro Airport. We stayed at the Tivoli Almansor Hotel, what a fabulous Hotel, sitting on a cliff face with its own private beach. Our room was sea view and the views were spectacular. The Hotel staff all speak English and are extremely helpful. The pool is quite large with ample sun loungers and many activities run by the hotel during the day for both children and adults. The Town of Carvoeiro is beautiful it has a small beach cove and it used to be an old fishing village, but has now become a popular tourist location due to its quaintness. There are numerous restaurants and bars in the area and plenty of nightlife. We are definitely going back to Portugal again soon but to which part we haven't decided yet.