21 March 2024

I was invited on a fam trip with Princess Cruises on their brand new cruise ship, Sun Princess. This ship has a capacity of approx 4,600 people but it never felt full or busy in any part of the ship. Our Itinerary was: Embark in Rome, Naples, Chania( Crete), day at sea, Kusadasi, disembark in Athens. We flew to Rome airport and boarded the Ship in Civitavecchia which is approx 45mins transfer from Rome airport. Once we arrived at the ship (which took about 20/30mins max from we arrived at the port) we were blown away by the luxury of this beautiful ship. We stayed in Ocean view Balcony cabin, it had a double bed which could be changed into a twin. We had lunch in Horizon restaurant where they have an all day lunch/brunch menu. This restaurant is over 3 floors and it's where the a la carte dinner is served for Evening meals and also your breakfast. If you don't want to dine in the buffet restaurant which is call "The Eatery" The Eatery had loads of different options all during the day and evening. There was pizzas, roasts, Mexican, Asian, Salads ,desserts etc lots for everyone and every age. All around the ship there were several small places where you could sit down and have a drink or eat which I liked because it never felt like any one place was busy. The speciality dining which consisted of "catch by Rudi" fish restaurant (we ate here and it was fab) and we also tried the Umai Teppanyaki, this was a brilliant experience with your chef cooking a show in front of you. They also have Crown Grill, Kai Sushi & Sabatini's. On board there are several bars, cocktail venues to stop and have a drink as well as coffee/tea areas. Our favourite was the Irish Bar O'Malleys that had live music every night. The centre of the ship if called the Piazza and this was one of my favourite places for late evening. There is always live music/entertainment in this area and there is seating over 3 floors where you can sit and enjoy all the entertainment. The technology on the ship was amazing. They have a Medallion which is unbelievable. You set up your account before you travel via their app and you upload a selfie picture of yourself, when you go to the Bar they know your name because via your medallion if picks up the details. Also when you are going to your cabin the medallion will automatically unlock your door when you are at it .

03 October 2022

My trip to Doha and Seychelles was amazing with Qatar Airways. We arrived in Dublin airport, and we were treated to the East lounge in Terminal one that Qatar Airways use. It was a nice spacious comfortable lounge. I was lucky to be travelling on Qatar Airways 787 from Dublin to Doha Business Class. The service is amazing with your fully lie flat beds, it is an extremely comfortable experience. When we arrived at Doha airport, we went through their arrival lounge, and they allocated our bags for us before we did immigration. Our hotel in Doha was the 5-star The Ritz Carlton Sharq Village only 15 minutes from the airport. This is a resort style hotel with beautiful spacious rooms, a spa onsite (extra charge), beach, family pool and quieter pool if you prefer. Their service was very good, and the staff were very friendly. We ate breakfast in the hotel which was a buffet service and they also had an egg station making serving fresh omelettes, poached eggs etc. The centre of Doha is about 15 minutes’ drive away where you will find the Corniche area, the old town with the Souq local restaurants & dhow boats. It is an old and new city that is very historical. You can do kayaking tours, jeep safari tours which are about a 1 hour drive away from the city. We flew from Doha to Seychelles and experienced Qatar airways economy cabin which was very comfortable and very spacious with all in-flight entertainment. We also used the Oryx Lounge in Doha airport before we departed to Seychelles, this lounge can be paid for at the door and you do not need a business class ticket. Doha also have the Al Maha Transit Lounge which you can purchase. In the Seychelles we stayed our first night in the amazing 5-star Mango House Hotel located on the south of Mahe island. This hotel blew me away. It is a small boutique hotel that is only newly opened in 2021. There are 41 sea facing suites and villas, but it has fantastic character and style. The rooms, services and restaurants were amazing. They have a choice of Italian, Creole, Soley (pool side bar) and Japanese. Breakfast is served in the Italian Restaurant overlooking the ocean with an a la carte menu (this is an experience in itself). From here we headed to the resort of Beau Vallon this is a busier part of Mahe located in the north west corner of Mahe. We stayed in the Story Resort Hotel, located 10mins away from the capital city of Victoria. Beau Vallon beach has 3km of white sand swimmable beach all year round. This is a bigger property and has 100 rooms in the property. They do B&B, Half Board and All inclusive. The Fisherman’s Cove hotel is next door to this property and you can use the restaurants with a 20% discount. This is a beautiful hotel with lots of character with amazing views and very friendly staff. They have 2 restaurants and 2 bars. The Seychelles is a very beautiful island with amazing beaches and coves to explore. They drive on the right-hand side of the road so it is very easy to get around if you hired a car. We went on a snorkelling trip, visited the marine park and Anse de Riz Beach which was the perfect way to spend a day. We also visited their Capital of Victoria which is a small old town where you can explore their local markets. We then took a trip to the Botanical gardens where you can see some Turtles and explore this beautiful Garden. On the way home we were booked into the Al Mourjan Business class lounge in Doha. We flew from Seychelles to Dublin with Qatar onboard the Boeing 777 and experienced their amazing Q-Suite.

20 February 2020

I was one of the lucky travel counsellors to win a place on this amazing trip with A Tent With A View and Turkish Airlines to Tanzania (Serengeti), Zanzibar & Istanbul. We flew from Dublin to Dar el Salaam via Istanbul with Turkish airlines. Their service was so good and the aircraft was very comfortable with meals on-board in flight chef and your own TV screen for all in flight entertainment. We arrived into Dar el Salaam and were met by Tent With A View who brought us to our small aircraft for our flight to the air strip Kogatende. This airstrip is in the middle of the Serengeti and your fly right over the plains on the way so fantastic to see. After arriving in Kogatende we were transferred by jeep through the Serengeti to our Bush Rover accommodations. These are amazing range rovers changed into tented accommodation. They have a double room with wardrobe on top with a balcony where you can sit out and have an amazing view over the Serengeti. You have a outdoor shower and bath with a toilet down the steps. They were situated right in front of the Mara river where the Wildebeest were lining up to cross for their migration. When we arrived at the Bushrovers we had time to unpack and have lunch in the main tent and a drink before we headed for our first game drive where we were in perfect time to witness the wildebeest crossing the Mara river (once in a lifetime experience) we also saw lots of animals including Elephants, Giraffes, Hippos, Wildebeest, Crocodiles, Baboons and lots more. We arrive back later that evening where we had time to relax on our balcony before getting ready for dinner. The food was really good. We later sat by the campfire and told stories while listening to all the sounds of the animals. The next morning was an early start for our game drive which took us to the opposite side of the Mara river and this is where we were very lucky to see the lions just after their kill. This was my highlight of the trip. They are huge animals. That afternoon we headed to their other camp called Little Okanagna which is a small bird watching camp with lodge style accommodation. It's very peaceful and quiet and is close to Lake Victoria. We arrived late that night so it was just in time for dinner and bed. We were up early the next morning to head to a local fishing village to see where they catch their fish and sell them to the locals. This was a great experience to see they villages and meet the children so are so happy with so little. We then took a boat trip across lake Victoria to a tower owned by Tent With A View for lunch, it's a large tower where you have a beautiful view of lake Victoria and the surrounding area. After lunch we took a canoe ride back to Little Okavagna before packing our bags and heading to Mwazna airport for 2 small flights to Zanzibar via Dar es Salaam. We arrived in Zanzibar late and transferred to a hotel called The Zanzibari which is owned by Tent With A View. The roads are like Tanzania here and are of poor quality so it took about 90mins transfer. This is a three-star small boutique hotel with a small pool and located on the beach. It has a nice bar lobby area where we had dinner before heading to bed. the following day we had time to relax by the pool and enjoy the beach with some food and local entertainment before heading back to the airport for our flight to Istanbul with a touchdown in Kilimanjaro for appox 40mins. We arrived into Istanbul's new airport and wow, it's really impressive. Even though it's so huge its very easy to get around and the staff are very helpful. The transfer from the airport to the city centre is approx 1hour 20mins. We stayed in a beautiful hotel in the new part of the city called Mgallery The Galata hotel. I highly recommend it as its a great area for exploring the city. Istanbul has so much to offer and is all walk-able, so bring very comfortable shoes. The city has a huge history and the tour takes you to so many beautiful churches, museums and we also did the Bosphorus tour which is a great way to see the size of the city from the water. You can also do this tour that includes dinner on board. I found Istanbul were easy to get around and very reasonable. We visited the Grand Bazaar which is a must see with all the markets and shops inside. We flew back to Dublin direct with Turkish airlines with a meal on board and entertainment. Really nice flight. Really great trip.

21 November 2018

Super excited this year when I won an amazing trip with Rocky Mountain train, Western Canada, British Airways and American Airlines.The excitement started at Dublin airport when we were met by British Airways and treated to Business Class to Heathrow and then onwards to Calgary on their New Dreamliner. The luxury and comfort were amazing from the relaxing lighting, a full flatbed seat, the blanket, pillow and toiletries bag provided to the beautiful food and drink supplier. Arriving in Calgary fully relaxed after our British Airways flight we travelled to our hotel about 25mins drive from the airport to City Centre. We got through emigration smoothly with their new ETA system. off to bed for our full packed day ahead. The following day we had a jammed packed itinerary visiting Calgary Zoo, Calgary Tower, Heritage Park and Winsport. First thing that morning, we headed off on our bus in the snow to Calgary Zoo. We enjoyed breakfast in the zoo followed by a lovely tour of the grounds where we saw the polar bears, owls, penguins and lots more animals. This is a most see for families and zoo lovers. We later headed to Calgary Tower where we viewed the city from a height. They also have restaurant in the tower with a rotation glass. Don't think this is for me but it’s a special treat if anyone likes this experience. Next on our itinerary was a beautiful local restaurant call Rouge. This was a real treat where they grew their own vegetables in their garden and the food was amazing. The Heritage Centre was the next stop which is a large area where you can experience the great history. This is a really nice place in good weather to spend the day with your family. On route to Banff we stopped in Winsport, a multi-purpose winter facility who hosted the winter Olympic in 1988 where the famous Eddie the Eagle made his big ski jump. They have lots of winter sport facilities and a sports hall of fame. Our next stop was Banff for 2 nights. First impressions were amazing, I loved this little town that was between the beautiful Rockies. It’s a nice small town but with lots of character with many bars, restaurants and shops. The following day we were treated to a day bus tour to the national parks, the famous Lake Louise and Emerald Lake (which was my favourite) with lots of other scenic stops on route. The next day was the day I was most looking forward to- boarding the Rocky Mountaineer Train. It was an early start, but we were buzzing. We were picked up bright and early at the reception of our hotel, our bags were taken by Rocky Mountaineer staff and we jumped on the bus to the Banff train station, a 5-minute journey. We were treated to 2 days on their Gold Leaf Service on First Passage to the West and 1 night in Kamloops. All I can say is I was treated like a queen. The comfort of the reclining, heated seats with lots of space around them and you also had blanket if you needed it. The staff were exceptional nothing was too big, they were super helpful and so friendly. The food was first class service and so much choice that you could sit all day and eat! The scenery was more amazing every time I looked out the window, we went through the famous Rockies on day one and with the snow on top of the mountains it was picturesque. When we arrived in Kamloops, Rocky Mountaineer already had our suitcases transferred to our hotel rooms so all we had to do was hop on the bus and be transferred to our hotel in Kamloops, approx. 5 minutes journey. On the 2nd morning of the Rocky Mountaineer experience again our bags were transferred to our next hotel in Vancouver, so we were ready for another day of luxury and adventure. We travelled through the forests, lakes and Fraser Valley which with the autumn colours were stunning. We arrived in Vancouver late evening to our stunning hotel Fairmont Waterfront. This hotel is directly across the road from where the cruise ships dock, so perfect for someone departing on an Alaskan cruise. Definitely luxury and great location overlooking the waterfront in Vancouver. I think Vancouver has been one of the nicest cities I have been to. Clean, beautiful and lots to do, the people are also lovely and so friendly. We packed in lots again today with a tour of Stanley Park, Gas Town, Yale Town and a food tour of Granville island. Granville island is busy but I really loved it. A must see. One of our stops was to the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park a really nice place to spend the day with the family with lots to see and do from Suspension Bridge, Cliffwalk, Treetop adventures and lots more. We finished off our day with a trip on "Fly over Canada". This is a flight simulator from East to West of Canada flying over the famous sights. Definitely recommend it to finish off your trip to Canada. So, as you can see it was a busy week but one of the best experiences I have ever been on and the nicest countries I have been to. It’s a once in a lifetime trip and Canada I can’t wait to return. Hope you enjoyed my Blog. Please feel free to ask me any questions.

01 August 2018

We flew with Vueling airlines which I was very impressed with, it was a lovely flight and staff were very friendly. We stayed in Casp74 apartments in Barcelona. These apartments are beautiful and perfect for a stay in Barcelona. They offer 1 and 2-bedroom apartments with a fully equipped kitchen, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, bathroom kitted out with toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush etc). We chose to stay in a 2-bedroom apartment that had 2 separate bedrooms with double beds, bathroom, kitchen and living room with a couch and extra pull out bed. The apartments are only a short stroll, less than 10 minutes, to the main area of la Ramblas. A taxi from city centre to Barcelona Cruise terminal was €20 one way and about a 25-minute journey. When we arrived at the port it was a hassle-free check in. Once your bags are tagged you can hand them over to the staff to be sent to your cabin and then you are given a number to check in before boarding the cruise. MSC Seaview ship is a new cruise ship that was launched in June 2018. Our first impression of the ship did not disappoint. It was wow and all sparkles when we arrived on board, and it was reassuring that he kids were given a wrist tag for security onboard the ship. We had an Ocean View cabin to fit 4 of us which comprises of king size bed, sofa that pulled out as a single bed and above this a pull-down bunk bed, a wardrobe and also a bathroom with shower. The capacity of the ship was 5119 passengers, and on the cruise, there was so much to do and amazing facilities for kids. There are 19 bars and lounges, 11 different restaurants, a buffet style restaurant serving lots of different food choice for breakfast including omelettes, fruit, hot breakfast, breads, cakes and lots more. For lunch there was everything from fresh pizza, roast chicken, beef, salads, pastas, a children’s station, desserts etc and then again, more food for dinner seating. In the main restaurant you were allocated a seating of your choice, early seating about 6pm and late seating 8pm. There was a different menu every evening, starter, main course and dessert. The portions are slightly smaller than normal restaurants, but the food was very nice. There are speciality restaurants at an extra cost. We tried the ‘Butchers Cut’ restaurant, and the food was amazing. The portions were double the size to the main dining room. You can also pre-book these packages before you go to avail of special offers. We included the drinks package and I really thought it was worth it. Costs approx. €182 per adult for 7 nights and €80 per child for a 7 nights cruise. You have a wide choice of drinks and Italian ice-cream by the pools in all the bars included in this package. There is so much entertainment for children on board. There is an arcade with bowling, 3D cinema, slot machines, air hockey etc. These are an extra cost, but you can buy a fun pass for the kids if you wish. For example, you could buy a €30 pass and you get €5 extra or buy €50 pass and you get €15 extra. There is a forest aqua venture and adventure park also which my kids spent most of the days in. This is a splash pool area with water slides and pool, as well as table tennis and football in this same area. You can register your kids with a wrist band at the beginning of the week and they can then go on the water slides whenever they want. All this area is free of charge. A kid’s club is available for all ages that is free of charge every day. Every evening there is a new theatre show that is showed three times throughout the evening with the first show starting at 8pm. They last about 40 minutes and are a mixture of singing, dancing, and acrobats. These must be pre-booked to ensure you get seats and it can be done via the MSCFORME app, your in-room TV or on any of the boards around the ship. There is a spa on board which is well worth a visit. I experienced a body massage and facial and it was a perfect way to relax and treat yourself during your trip. Getting off the ship was very straight forward. The night before you are given your disembarking time and also tags to put on your bags that would be brought off the ship for you and be in the luggage hall. You are then called off the ship by colour codes to receive your luggage and disembark. After leaving the port we stayed in Barcelona for an extra night in Novotel city centre. This is a lovely 4-star hotel that had a beautiful welcome gift for the kids including a smalll teddy bear, colouring package and a pop. They have a rooftop pool and seating area, situated in a very good location and spotless. I hope you enjoyed my blog please contact me for more information.

24 January 2018

I had the pleasure of sailing on the Celebrity Eclipse Ship for 3 days from Southampton to Le Harve and back, to experience this amazing ship and facilities. From our arrival at the port the experience was wonderful, Celebrity Cruise staff were waiting to take our suitcases and escort us to our cabins. On board the ship was stunning. We stayed in an ocean view balcony cabin which had lots of space including a dressing table area, seating area, large bathroom and a balcony with table and chairs. On board you will not be stuck for choice for restuarants. All had the most amazing selection of food to choose from fresh pizza, roasts, salads, cold meats, fish, desserts and lots more. A highlight for me was our time spent in the famous Qsine. Approx. $45 per person supplement but well worth it as the experience was fantastic, Unlimited selection of food, ease of order, I would recomend you spend an evening here during your trip. Indoors, there is a fantastic Solarium for adults only which is very relaxing and peaceful if you would like a break away from the outdoor pool area, which can be bisy at times. If you fancy a bit of a break and some retail therapy, there are numerous bars and cafe's throughout the ship as well as designer shops. For entertainment there are shows every night in the theatre. One of my highlights was the 'silent disco'. This is a must, really enjoyable and provided lots of laughter! If you are traveling with children or teens there are plenty of kids/teens zones to choose from also. Overall my experience on the Celebrity cruise ship was amazing, very high standard in every detail, and I am already looking forward to my next cruise with them. Whether you want to set sail on a family adventure, dine in gourmet restaurants, relax watching the world go by in quiet cafes, or be entertained by spectacular stage shows, there’s a perfect cruise for everyone. Please do not hesitate to contact me, if you would like further information.

16 July 2015

My trip to Dubai and Abu Dhabi was amazing right from the start. As I was flying business class, I got to experience the Etihad First and Business class lounge for some beautiful food and champagne. The lounge includes a children’s play room, prayer room, shower facilities, a bar, and a restaurant with staff to cater for your every need. The food was incredible and it was an occasion where it was sad to leave the lounge to head for our flight but more luxury was to follow. I have never flown business class before but I will definitely do it again. It does not feel like flying at all. The service of 5 star luxury with food and drink on demand, lie flat bed, blanket and a pillow. The perfect way to fly. We arrived in Abu Dhabi international airport, refreshed from our hotel in the sky and we went straight to our first destination. The first stop was breakfast at the five star St. Regis Hotel on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. After breakfast, we got the opportunity to go around and see what the hotel has to offer. The grounds of the hotel are incredible and everything you could need is catered for on the hotel grounds with 8 Restaurants and Bars along with private beaches, pools and a huge function room. After the hotel visit, we headed to Ferrari world which is the largest indoor theme park in the world. After going on the fastest rollercoaster in the world inside the park, we went for lunch and tour of the Viceroy Hotel to relax and try to calm the nerves after a busy morning of adrenaline pumping rides. We then headed to our hotel in Dubai to drop our bags off and head out for an evening meal. For the duration of my stay in Dubai I stayed in The Jebel Ali Hotel Resort. This hotel is located outside of Dubai and it’s an older hotel but the food service is very good. The pool area is very big and the beach is amazing. It’s a very good family hotel as well as suitable for couples and it’s a 4 star standard. The hotel has live entertainment every night with different themed nights and different drinks promotions. In the evening we had an exhilarating experience Dune Bashing which was located an hour outside Dubai. We then had drinks in the dessert and watched the sunset before we went to a local BBQ in the Sahara Village Oasis. At dinner we were treated to live entertainment and music and a mixture of fine foods to cater for people with all tastes. There is also camel and Arabian horse riding along with henna tattoo painting available at this location. After breakfast we went for a tour of Dubai city which started off visiting Jumeirah Beach and getting pictures beside the Burj al Arab 7 star hotel as you cannot enter the hotel grounds without a booking of some kind. Bear in mind that afternoon tea would cost around €250 per person so it’s definitely a treat. I also took a trip to the Old Town of Dubai where we took a water taxi (Abra) across the river to the Gold Souk and Spice Souk. This area was amazing to see and was a hectic place with spice and gold dealings going on all around you. A must see for any visitor. The old town is a break from the skyscrapers and hotels and is the real Dubai. We then had lunch at the JA Ocean View Hotel which was a lovely hotel and the food was amazing. This was one of my favourite hotels and I really recommend it for anyone. The area is very nice and you have a shopping centre, beach and promenade at your doorstep. That evening we went for a drink in the Atmosphere Bar on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa! If you’re unfamiliar with the Burj Khalifa - it is the tallest building in the world standing at 2,722 feet tall! I really enjoyed a night out on a dhow dinner cruise yacht. We had a beautiful evening meal sailing up towards the Burj Al Arab. It is the only dinner cruise yacht which has a licence to sell alcohol so if you or your group like a drink with your meal this is the only cruise for you. The views are truly breath-taking throughout the whole cruise. After a few days in Dubai, we headed back to Abu Dhabi. We visited the Sheikh Zayed Mosque which is the grand mosque in Abu Dhabi which has a capacity for an astonishing 40,000 worshippers. It is also home to the largest hand knitted carpet in the world. A must see attraction as it is magnificent to see but just be aware of the strict dress code in place for both women and men as this is a fully functioning mosque and visitors must be aware of the strict rules set in place. After the tour, we had lunch in Frankie's Restaurant and looked around The Fairmont Bab Al Bahr which is an amazing hotel with amazing views of the Mosque and private beach with activities for everyone to enjoy. We also went to the YAS Marina Grand Prix circuit for a tour around the Formula One track and buildings including the pit rooms, team villas, the Sheik’s personal area to watch the racing and much more, it was a great experience and a must see for any car or racing lovers. In the evening. We stayed in the Intercontinental Hotel Abu Dhabi for two days and we went to a traditional restaurant called Al Dhafra Restaurant in the fish market area of Abu Dhabi. The restaurant itself was a hidden gem in this area and is a favourite of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan so if you decide to go here; you may even break bread with royalty! We spent some time at the world famous shopping malls of Abu Dhabi. After a few hours getting lost in the maze that is an Abu Dhabi shopping mall we headed over to the Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi for a tour of the hotel facilities and lunch. This is a breath taking hotel which would be perfect for honeymooners on a stopover in Abu Dhabi. It is just luxury at its best and the food was delicious. We took the afternoon off to relax by the pool in the Intercontinental. We flew home economy class and it was very nice where the service was still definitely 5 star and the comfort was also good and spacious.

01 November 2013

In September along with my husband and 2 children, we headed to Fuerteventura. We have been to Fuerteventura a couple of times before because I think it is a perfect family holiday destination and close to home. Our private taxi transfers brought us to our accommodation in Caleta de Fuste. Our first day we decided to relax by the beach which are beautiful white sandy beaches and spotlessly clean where they organise all water sports including a Padi diving school and you can also go camel riding. During our stay we also headed to the Oasis Park Zoo which is a great day out for all the family. There are sea lion shows, bird of prey shows, reptile shows, parrot shows and lots more. Tickets for here are approximately €25 per adult and €16 per child. Down by the Marina you can feed the fish, watch the boats or just relax and have an ice cream and there are lovely walks along the promenade. It feels very safe by day and is well lit up at night time. The resort of Caleta de Fuste is a very nice, relaxed resort with great beaches, restaurants and bars. We will definitely be going back to here next year for our family holiday.

09 October 2008

In September this year myself and my husband headed to Cape Town for a six night trip. This was our first time in South Africa and we were really looking forward to it. We were staying in 3 different hotels. Our first hotel was in Camps Bay called the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa. When we landed in the airport we had pre booked our taxi to transfer us to the hotel. On arrival into the hotel the service and attention we received was amazing. We didn't see our bags until they were left in our room. We arrived very early in the morning and because our rooms were not ready they brought us for a complimentary breakfast and also booked us in to the spa for a massage to relax until the room was ready. The spa was amazing - all built into rocks. For the first 2 days we just relaxed in the hotel, went for walks and ate in their restaurant which served top class food. After 2 nights in Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa we went onto the waterfront (VA) in Capetown and stayed in the Cape Grace hotel. Again once we landed at the door our bags were taken from us and brought to our rooms. The hotel has just been all refubrished and is fabulous ( again would highly recommend it) We went straight down to the waterfront to see what excursions we could book. The first thing we booked, because it was a nice day, was a helicopter tour of the island. It took 30 mins and was really the perfect way to see Cape Town. Unfortunatley the next day was a wash out we were confined to our hotel room looking out at the rain for the day. We chanced going out later in the afternoon to the aquarium beside our hotel which was really nice and would be a great place to bring kids. After 2 nights in the Cape Grace Hotel we then headed to the Commodore Hotel at the waterfront. This hotel is a 4 star and the others were 5 star, and we definitely felt the difference in standard. Anyway when we arrived the concierge booked us on a half day winelands tour to Stellenbosh. This we really enjoyed and the winelands were lovely. That night we ate at one of the waterfront restaurants. The following day we went whale watching. Its a 4 hour tour and I would only recommend this in the warm weather. We were freezing and we were in a small boat on the rough sea for 2 hours before we saw whales. When we came back into the harbour 4 hours later, there were whales in the harbour beside where we left from. Typical, but even with the rough seas, the whales were worth visitng. I'm afraid that was the last day of our trip and we flew back home the following day. We had a ball in Cape Town and would really recommend it and would definitely go back.

15 August 2008

In April this year, my mother, my aunt and I headed to Tenerife to the hotel La Arena in the resort of Los Gigantos for a nice relaxing holiday. We have been to Tenerife 4 times before for some sunshine in our winter months. We arrived at Tenerife airport and our taxi took us to our hotel which was only a 35 minute transfer. When we arrived at the hotel we were met at the door and our bags were taken from us while we checked in. Perfect! The first night we just relaxed and enjoyed dinner. On our first day we decided to treat ourselves and enquired about a spa centre, and were pleasantly surprised that there was one attached to the hotel - we immediately booked ourselves in for massages. On the second day we got a taxi to Playa de las Americas which is the largest resort on the island, to visit the markets and indulge in some shopping. It took us about 15mins in a taxi and cost us 20 euros. This resort was a lot bigger than where we were staying and got quite busy in evening time. For the remaining time of our holiday we went for a stroll every morning around our resort, which had some nice small shops and bars, and we just relaxed by the pool in the afternoon. Unfortunately the 5 night break was too short and over far too quickly as both the resort and hotel were perfect. We had a fantastic time and will definitely return again.

12 November 2008

In April 2008 I travelled to Paris with my work colleague Sharon Kavanagh to stay for 3 nights in Disneyland Resort. We were so looking forward to the trip to learn more and also to experience what it's like so we could tell all our customers about it when we returned. We arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport and got on our shuttle bus to the Hotel at the Park the transfer took approx 35mins. We arrived at our hotel which was only a few steps away from the main gate of the park. It was perfect. Once we arrived into the hotel the adventure started. The Park is so big that we were so excited and didn't know what to or where to go first! There is Discoveryland , Fantasyland (our favourite), AdventureLand and Frontierland. We headed straight to Fantasyland - where we saw "Winnie the Pooh", "Alice in Wonderland", "Sleeping Beauty" and lots more - it's was just like a fairytale. During our stay at Disneyland we went to the Buffalo Bills Wild West Show - this would be great for children because its like a full western show. There are so many other things to do for the family in Disneyland there is also a main street in the Village where you will see a magical Parade every evening this last about 30 minutes and is a must see. You can also go to the shopping village which is only approx 15 minutes away from the park. This is great for the Mums and there are golf courses in the area for the Dads as well. In the Disney hotels they have lots of extra things you can do for the children, you can pre-book a character breakfast, a day as a Princess for the little girls plus many other exciting things. I have to say we totally enjoyed the trip and I would go back again no problem.