21 November 2024

I was fortunate to be invited to visit the Centre of Portugal by Visit Portugal, Centre of Portugal and TAP Air. We flew direct to Lisbon with TAP Air, my first time to fly with TAP and I would HIGHLY recommend them! We arrived to a sunny Lisbon and we were welcomed with the MOST delicious and warm Portuguese tarts that I have ever tasted. Within an hour’s drive north of Lisbon, we arrived at the 12th century quaint, medieval town of Óbidos. This stunning, walled fortress has winding cobbled streets, whitewashed houses, museums, churches, and plenty of bookshops!!! Obidos is a perfect stop while travelling north of Lisbon. We were then spoilt rotten with a magical sunset on the coast at Santa Cruz Beach. Sipping Prosecco looking over the endless white sandy coast! What a fabulous day one! We then enjoyed a delicious dinner in Távola Lagoa Restaurant. Our boutique hotel for the night was Rio do Prado. This unique eco-friendly space blew us all away with its refreshing design and style! Having a greenhouse as a conference room where they grow their own organic produce and offer workshops and events too. After a very comfortable sleep, and a delicious breakfast the following morning, our next stop was the incredibly special town called Tomar. This beautiful town located on a lazy river offers great charm and it is known for its artistic and cultural wealth. Home to the astonishing Convent of Christ a World UNESCO Heritage site. We set off on an interesting walking tour of the town. That afternoon we set off to Fátima approx. 30 mins drive away. Firstly, a stop at the Luz Charming Houses tourist development, a unique space that consists of a “small village” whose architecture was inspired by the ancient villages of the Fátima region. The Luz Houses is a retreat to unwind with yoga, massage, heated pool, organic produce and the most stunning décor. On arrival at Fátima, we checked into the Hotel Estrela de Fátima before dinner at Apollo Privée Restaurant. We then set off for a Candlelight Procession at the Shrine. This was a very special, healing and spiritual moment for me! The next morning we set off to the coast, Nazaré. We stopped on our way on a Biking tour by A2Z, this was 14km cycle of magical coastal beauty which was a real highlight for me! We then arrived at the famous Nazaré beach, which is also a world-famous surfing location, home to the Big Wave Challenge in Praia do Norte. We wondered through the back streets for an authentic feel of the area. I could have sat and stared out at these magnificent and mighty Atlantic ocean waves for hours. But, we had to move on to check into the 5* Praia D’El Rey Marriott Golf and Beach Resort. All rooms have private terraces or balconies offering views of either the Atlantic Ocean or the 18-hole championship golf course and gardens. We began our journey back towards Lisbon the following morning along the coast. We stopped at Baleal Beach, another surfer’s paradise, then a walk through the cute Fisherman’s Village at Peniche before arriving at Óbidos Lagoon for our boat trip back to Foz do Arelho. The bird life here was unbelievable with a treat seeing Flamingos! After a delicious lunch we were back on the bus heading for our final stop, Quinta do Gradil Wine Tourism. Here we were treated to a tour and wine tasting. I could not resist buying a few bottles of delicious and tasty wine while here! (excellent value for money!) We now had our final evening at the Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto Hotel. The best airport hotel I have stayed in, and only 5 minutes’ walk to the terminal. The hotel had breakfast ready bright and breezy for us, and we departed for our direct TAP Air Portugal flight home. Before boarding we had a chance to stock up on freshly baked Portuguese tarts to take home with us! This particular trip was completely my cup of tea- abundant with outdoor experiences, delicious food and wine, plenty of sun and wonderful days spent in nature. My heart felt full after this trip, and I cannot wait to go back and experience more of lovely Portugal!

04 June 2024

When I was informed that I had been one of the lucky winners of a trip to Universal Studios Orlando, I must admit that I felt very uncertain. You see, I am not much of a “thrill seeker” and the thought of rollercoasters sends me into a state of terror! However, at our annual Travel Counsellors Conference, when the official announcement was made, the true magic begun! We were approached at our tables by the very “Mystical Harry Potter” (Graham Hennessey from Do something Different),who personally came to my table with his magical wand to let me know that I was one of the lucky ones to be joining a group of Travel Counsellors on the adventure of our lives to Orlando. It did not feel real! The excitement was buzzing at Dublin airport, and we felt incredibly spoilt to have a visit from our Aer Lingus representative who joined us for a drink before we departed. As we had precleared security at Dublin airport, getting through Orlando Airport was super quick. On arrival at our Hotel- Cabana Beach Hotel, we just knew that this was going to be a fabulous few days! We were spoilt from the moment of arrival with wonderful cocktails (delicious rum!) and an assortment of starters at the Sapphire Falls Hotel. The food from start to finish was absolutely perfect, my favourite was being able to have mac n cheese as a side which was delicious. We were wined and dined daily with many treats in between. The service was out of this world! It is very important to keep hydrated during your long days in the sun while in the park. This is simple as I purchased a refillable cup which you can refill throughout the park (as many times as you like). The following day, I reactivated my cup for a small fee. Day one involved a VIP guide showing us around the Park. My eyes were popping out! You certainly do not need to be a thrill seeker to enjoy Universal!!! Of course, we had a few brave souls on our trip who could not get enough of the biggest rollercoasters, steepest drops, and biggest thrills that you will ever find! For me, well I felt like I was walking through a movie set. I was blown away by everything Harry Potter, the recreation of Springfield where “The Simpsons” lived as well as a visit to the famous “Moe's Tavern.” We had the privilege of boarding the Hogwarts Express Train on Platform 9 ¾ which would take us from Universal Studios to the second park- Islands of Adventure. This was a big highlight for me, and we even got to experience the spell that allowed us to walk through a wall magically. We explored the Village of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley with a visit to Gringotts Bank. The detail was immaculate, and it felt like we were inside of the book! Day two was all about the third Park- Volcano Bay. This is fun filled water park and is just a few minutes’ walk from Cabana Bay Hotel which is super convenient. Here the excitement rose as the music and the drums began prior to the waves arriving after a scheduled Volcano eruption! We felt like we were on a South Pacific Island reliving the “The Waturi Legend” (again lots here for the thrill seekers including the Ko’okiri Body plunge-200 feet tall!) But lucky me, there was the Lazy River as well as the Kopiko Wai Winding River which provided plenty of excitement and refreshment from the heat! We spent the day in and out of the water and waves, had some chill time on the very comfortable loungers with wonderful views of the Volcano. The perfect end to a perfect day with cocktails and a catch up on our highlights of the day. Day three was very much a day to ourselves where we could return to the park, relax at the pool, have a wonder in and out of the many Universal shops and take it all in. Day four we were fortunate enough to have time to visit the Factory Outlets for a quick shop before heading to the airport for our trip home. To sum this up, as a “non-thrill seeker”- Universal was the most magical few days- including endless shows, the wonderful ET adventure, Jimmy Fallon Race of New York (this was very brave for me as it is a 3-D simulator but glad that I did it), endless Harry Potter magic and so much more! I loved every moment of this trip, and I cannot wait to go back and experience it all again with my daughters.

01 June 2023

I was EXTREMELY privileged to be invited on an Educational Trip to explore the “Wild side of Abu Dhabi!” A small group of Travel Counsellors met at Dublin airport at 7:30 where we were warmly welcomed by our “Etihad Airways” representative. The excitement was buzzing as we checked in for our business class flight to Abu Dhabi. After a fabulous tour and breakfast in the East Side Lounge at Dublin Airport, we were on our way to start our adventure. Etihad business class was unbelievable- prosecco on take-off, delicious menu to order from, the most attentive and friendly staff and a flat bed with the fluffiest of blankets ensured that we got some rest! On arrival in Abu Dhabi, we were transferred to port where we were warmly greeted by the staff of Anantara Resorts before boarding our very own luxurious private speed boat! This was a super exciting 20-minute transfer to the lovely “Sir Bani Yas Island”. Here, we were greeted by friendly the staff at the Desert Island Resort and Spa with delicious snacks and drinks. Being 1am local time, we all then headed off to our magnificent rooms to freshen up for the next day of our Adventure. The Sea Facing rooms were simply luxurious and classy. I felt like I was in a Palace and not in a hotel. The Décor was tasteful and absolute perfection! One of my most exciting moments of this adventure was waking up on that first morning on Sir Bani Yas Island, having arrived at night we had no idea of the beauty that surrounded us. I ran to the window and opened my curtains to be greeted by the bluest sky, and the most magnificent sea views! I could not wait to get out there and explore! After the most delicious breakfast, we headed off for a Safari Drive. Being South African, my expectations were low. (I mean how on earth could we be going on a Safari Drive in Abu Dhabi!?) I was completely mistaken here – this turned into the most unique experience where we had the most spectacular views of the entire Island. We were surrounded by Arabian Oryx grazing in their natural environment. We saw Ostrich, Gazelle and my highlight was being able to walk with the Giraffe! (You would not get this anywhere else in the world!) After a delicious lunch at Al Yamm Villa resort, we had the opportunity to inspect the properties that Anantara have to offer on this magical Island. We all agreed that we felt like we were sitting in the Maldives and that these Private Villas that we viewed were spectacular and that they would be extremely easy to sell to our clients. We then went back to the hotel for cocktails at the pool, sundowners and then we had a Traditional Arabic Meal brought to us at our own private table set up for us on the beach! Here we ate, drank and laughed underneath the stars! It was wonderful to share this time with the with the lovely staff of Anantara and our incredible Etihad Representative who all made us feel like Royalty! Some of the unique selling points that stood out to me about this magical Island were that it was not too big, which makes it easy to explore the entire Island, it also gives you a sense of feeling like you are away from EVERYTHING, yet you still have complete luxury around you and plenty to do! I will certainly be going back! On day three we woke up and started our transfer to Anantara Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort. This drive took us three hours, and I found it very interesting as we passed through many local towns and it was fascinating to see the local buildings as well as a little glimpse into everyday life in Abu Dhabi. On arrival at the resort, were we surrounded by the never-ending spectacular flame-coloured dunes like a mirage that stretch into Saudi Arabia. We felt like we had been transported to another planet! We then had delicious welcome drinks, a site inspection (every single room has amazing views, and the level of luxury is something that I have never experience before!) The big surprise was then revealed - we had each been given our own Private Villa with a Pool for the night and the following day! We were then escorted by golf buggies to our luxurious Villas where we were given some time to chill! The views were magnificent, the Villa was pure luxury, the attention to details was unbelievable, and I could not help myself but jump straight into my own private pool! I then spent some time taking it all in from my very own veranda. The pool area in the resort was fabulous and we spent an hour here ordering snacks, taking in the desert views and enjoying a much needed cool down! That evening as I was heading out, what struck me was the incredibly clear skies and stars that lit the entire sky- truly magical! After a delicious dinner that night, involving wine tasting and much laughter we were taken back to our Villas by golf buggies for the best night sleep ever! Early morning on day 4 we headed out into the desert for a one-hour Camel Ride- I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and highly recommend it! We learnt so much about the environment around us and our Guide was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. (and also very patient as it took some courage, laughter and squeals to get us ladies up high onto those Camels backs!) The rest of our day involved relaxation at the pool, a delicious lunch and enjoying our beautiful Villas before it was time to pack up and head to Abu Dhabi. That night we were privileged to inspect the Famous “W Hotel” which is located on the Formula One track in Abu Dhabi! The atmosphere here was bustling with nightlife and I would love to go back and spend a night. Sadly, our adventure had now come to an end as we made our way to the airport to pick up some Duty Free and enjoy a luxurious trip back with Etihad Airways. What an extraordinary trip that completely exceeded my expectations! With the direct 7-hour flight operating from Dublin, the guarantee of fabulous hot weather and the most delicious food and friendly service - Abu Dhabi I will certainly be back to share a piece of your magic with my family!!

17 September 2021

The excitement! I was buzzing in Dublin Airport after a year and half of travel ban during the Pandemic. We were a group of very fortunate Travel Counsellors who had been given a fabulous opportunity to cruise onboard the Norwegian Getaway along the Mediterranean. Check in at Dublin airport was much simpler than I had imagined and our EU Digital Covid Certificates scanned easily and within no time we were on our way. After arriving in Rome we were met by our transfer, and within an hour we arrived at the beautiful port ready to board. One last Covid hurdle was an Antigen Test which took only 10 minutes and after receiving our negative results, the adventure began. We headed straight to our balcony cabin (I will never book an inside cabin again after this!), quickly unpacked and headed for the buffet lunch and of course a gorgeous glass of Italian wine! After an afternoon on deck in the sun, our ship set sail and the party began. The atmosphere on board was fabulous as we headed off towards Spain. We had a delicious three course dinner served to us in the main dining area, followed by a few drinks on deck. One of the other highlights was the fact that we could have a quiet moment on our little balcony whenever we chose to gaze out at the ocean and soak it all up. The next day was full of swimming, sun, laughs, prosecco at the top deck and finished off with a speciality meal in the French restaurant, and a couple of hours of dancing on the top deck. Day three we woke up in Palma, it was so very beautiful waking to look out at this lovely little port! I still could not believe that we were now in lovely Spain! We spent the morning wandering the very pretty little streets of Palma and the afternoon on the beach with a lovely swim in the Mediterranean. After a quick cocktail in the most gorgeous Spanish seaside pub we were back onboard for more Norwegian luxury. There truly was something for everybody on board - waterslides, bowling, shows, comedy club, quiet lounges, gourmet restaurants, cocktails at the pool… bliss. The highlight for me on Norwegian was the fact that we did not need to book any of the main dining areas which meant that we could relax and be spontaneous. If we felt like an extra hour by the pool, we could lazily make our way in for dinner when we felt like it! When you have a busy life run by the clock, this style was truly for me! Our last day we spent in Rome soaking up the local atmosphere, and of course trying out the local wine and pizza and Gelati ice cream at the Trevi Fountain! I will certainly be booking my next Norwegian Cruise for summer 2022 to share this fabulous experience with my teenagers! Thank you NCL for the fabulous service, friendliness and most importantly the memories and lifetime friendships made that I will keep forever.

09 December 2019

The excitement had been building in our home for weeks! The temperature had turned cool in Ireland and we had had the wettest October in years with nonstop rain. Fortunately, we had a week in sunny Spain booked for the October mid-term school holidays. Many had advised that the weather might be unpredictable at this time, but we took our chances and off we set with a positive mindset! We were warmly greeted by Aer Lingus staff at Dublin airport- how I do love the warmth of the Irish, being a South African myself this still thrills me. After a couple of glasses of wine at the airport we jetted off to Barcelona. This would the first trip to Europe for my girls, so they were bursting with excitement. After a very quick 2-hour flight we arrived without dela, collected our car hire and off we set to Costa Daurada, south of Barcelona. We arrived at around midnight, however security was waiting at the entrance to our Eurocamp with the keys for our little camper which would be home for the next week! Everything came together very easy for us - After a normal day of work and school we were in Spain sipping on a glass of wine at midnight that very same day! In a new country, new language and great weather- this felt unreal to us. The next morning, we woke up to full sun and 24 degrees – which was just heaven! We headed straight off to hire 4 bikes as we soon realised that this was the best and simplest way to get around camp. What followed was a simple daily routine involving swimming pools, sun, lazy afternoons on the most beautiful beach on the Mediterranean and fabulous Spanish wine and food every night! We could choose if we wanted to eat simply in our little well equipped chalet- this would be fresh bread from the onsite bakery, meats/cheeses and lots of Spanish wine, or we could hop on our bikes to the local restaurant which was well priced and of an extremely high standard. My girls would not get enough of the fresh Calamari so we kept going back to the local restaurant. The staff got to know us very well! Spain would not be Spain without Paella and Sangria so of course we enjoyed these while watching magnificent Spanish dancing under the stars. There was the option of morning outdoor Zumba daily, Spanish style! The locals came in for this and the vibe and the music was incredible! Constant kids entertainment was on offer, water slides, tennis courts.... in fact, you did not need to leave your Euro-camp as absolutely everything you needed and more was on your doorstep. We will certainly be going back next October and do you know what- we had sun and blue skies every day! Perfect time to visit Spain and it gave us the energy boost that we all needed to face the Irish winter! If you’re interested in planning your own family holiday whether it be for summer or winter why not get in touch to find out more!

11 June 2019

I remember my first ski holiday like it was yesterday! My then fiancé and I decided to go to Austria, and I was feeling slightly nervous as I am the furthest thing from a "dare devil", while Andrew likes to push everything he does to the absolute limit. We flew into Vienna and caught the train to a small town called Semmering. The train trip was spectacular! We both could not believe the beauty of our surroundings as we made our way to Semmering through the snowy capped mountains. On arrival, we immediately realized that we were not full prepared for the weather conditions! (Being South African, we were pretty unprepared!) First stop was the local ski shop where we invested in some decent warm, waterproof gear. We then proceeded to check into our gorgeous family run Hotel. We were treated to a traditional meal and we headed to our cosy beds. The plan was to get up early the next day hit the ski slopes. I was excited to get started at this point. The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, we headed straight to "Ski School". It didn't take long, and as predicted Andrew headed off on his own to hit the big slopes. I was enjoying "Ski School" and I felt it was important to get the basics right before venturing down any form of slope. From the corner of my eye I could see Andrew flying/falling/wiping out down slopes as I was steadily growing in confidence. What I learnt from this experience, was that skiing is what you make of it, if you want to fly down the big slopes that's great, however if you prefer the slower ride (like myself), then that's fine too! From dinner in the Igloo Pub, to watching the Alpine World Cup on the slopes sipping Gluwein, this holiday turned into a magical experience that we will never forget! We cannot wait to return to this exact resort with our children- and yes, we did still get married after going on a beginner ski holiday together!! If you interesting in hearing more about picturesque skiing destinations, contact me to plan your next ski trip.

11 June 2019

Eight months after my family and I moved to the beautiful Emerald Isle we decided to plan a quick trip back to South Africa to see family and tie up a few loose ends. I’ll not deny that getting through our first Irish winter was quite a challenge as South Africans and by the time April arrived we were longing for our dose of Vitamin D! We decided to spend our first week in Cape Town, and then head to the glorious Kwazulu Natal Coast in order to enjoy the warmer climate of the Indian Ocean. While in Cape Town, we visited the famous Boulders beach (we had a magnificent 27-degree day in Autumn!). We ran up the famous Chapmans Peak and treated ourselves to a luxurious 5 start “tea” at the luxurious Mount Nelson Hotel in the heart of lively Cape Town City Centre! My husband even managed to fit in a game on a magical golf course. We also ran the world famous beautiful 2 Oceans Marathon. Well to be honest we did the 21km half marathon- but the scenery was magnificent! At the end of a very busy week of magnificent meals out and a few glasses of Cape Town Sauvignon Blanc we jumped on a short 2 -hour flight to Durban International. We arrived to humidity and heat and the magnificent Indian Ocean! After a short 20-minute taxi drive we arrived at our resort in Umhlanga and it was heaven. We were greeted by friendly staff with welcoming drinks and headed straight to our air-conditioned rooms to unpack. What followed were 6 lazy days of beach, pool, gorgeous and affordable restaurants, swims in the warm Indian Ocean, glasses of delicious Cape Wine and a trip to Us haka Amusement Park, which was a must for the kids! We even squeezed in a trip to the biggest shopping centre in Africa to pick up some treats to bring home. Our home is very much in Ireland now, but we were lucky enough to be able to visit the sunny shores of Kwazulu Natal in South Africa to get our dose of vitamin D, good food and wine again and plan to do the same next year! If you are interested in planning a South African adventure, I have a wealth of information and would love to plan a unique holiday experience for you.

11 June 2019

My husband and I had been dying to get back to the “Bush” since our Honeymoon to Victoria Falls. This trip certainly wet our taste buds but 3 days at Victoria Falls just did not seem enough! We walked through the bush and had experienced a traditional outdoor “BOMA” meal under the stars and we had enjoyed warm evenings sipping sundowners watching the “Big Five” slowly meander down to their drinking hole. However, at last we had now found ourselves back in a position to visit the “Bush” again. We booked our self-catering chalet in the Kruger National Park and organised a “self-drive” trip for us which meant that we could do our own Game Drives whenever we wished! We arrived mid-morning at Crocodile Bridge Gate, we didn’t even make it to the Gate before spotting a group of Buffalo grazing along the banks of the Crocodile River! We walked into an air-conditioned reception at the Gate and we were greeted by very friendly staff. We jumped back into our car and headed into the Park in order to make our way to our Camp. Excitement was building in the car especially when we spotted lazy Hippos lying in the water- it felt like their big eyes were following us. Being the heat of the day at this stage we did not expect to see much Game. The plan had been to get to our Camp as soon as possible, settle in, rest up and head out for a Game Drive early evening when things cooled down and the Game become more active. However, we still managed to spot the most beautiful Giraffe, a massive herd of elephants crossing the road, a huge number of Impala as well as our favourite White Rhino at the turn in to our camp! What an exciting start to our week! Our next very exciting moment was early the next morning when we were fortunate enough to spot a Lioness and her cubs, we spent over an hour watching them in the coolness of the morning with not another soul in sight! This was one of our most magical moments in the Park watching the playful cubs just doing their thing in total tranquility. It felt like it was just us and them! During these magical 5 days we spotted the big 5, braaied (barbequed) every night under the stars, enjoyed daily swims in the many pools offered and left the Park with colour in our cheeks feeling totally rejuvenated! Bliss… If you dream of seeing the “Big 5” why not contact me to plan your very own Safari experience.