04 April 2019

I love last minute trips. The spontaneous decision on a Monday to grab a few days away and head off on Wednesday – absolute bliss That is exactly what I did recently after mid-term when flight prices are at their lowest. I stayed 5 nights in Puerto Mogan in Gran Canaria which has to be one of the most relaxing places in the Canaries. There is a great selection of hotels and apartments available and it’s a very relaxing area. No rowdiness or thumping music - just meandering little bougainvillea filled streets with lovely shops to browse around, a small sandy beach, and a whole marina full of little restaurants and bars to choose from. I love the Canary Islands because there is somewhere for everyone, whatever type of holiday you are looking for.

28 February 2019

When a friend suggested getting away for Christmas, my answer was a very quick YES, YES, YES! For the first time ever, my children were happy to not be home for Christmas and had alternative plans, so I could happily avoid all the shopping (and over spending), the food preparation and cooking and the cleaning up afterwards! We decided on a Caribbean Cruise so we could enjoy some sunshine, and our choice of cruise line was Princess Cruises and the gorgeous Crown Princess. We boarded in Fort Lauderdale for a 10 night cruise of the Caribbean and visited several beautiful islands. My absolute favourite was Bonaire which I knew very little about before this trip. It is a Dutch owned island and is very laid back with magnificent beaches and lovely little villages. I learned you can fly direct to here from Amsterdam so who knows, I might get back for a closer look someday! We also had stops in St. Thomas, Dominica, Grenada and Curacao. Everywhere we went, the people were wonderful and so welcoming. Christmas decorations and trees everywhere and a real Christmas spirit in everyone we met. The service on board the ship was amazing and the crew pulled out all the stops to ensure we were spoiled rotten from day one. The ship was beautifully decorated for Christmas and we enjoyed carol singing on Christmas Eve and a magnificent Gala dinner on Christmas night. Disembarking back in Fort Lauderdale was a sad occasion - I definitely would have gone around again! I would highly recommend getting away for Christmas occasionally and a Caribbean Cruise will certainly tick all the boxes if you like warm weather, blue skies and seas, wonderful food and entertainment and the chance to see new and exciting destinations. Roll on next December!

26 February 2019

From talking to friends and clients, I know that Japan is on a lot of people's bucket lists. It was certainly on mine for as long as I can remember and my wish to go there came true last October. It was without doubt one of my best holidays ever and I would have absolutely no hesitation in going back again if I got the opportunity. I split my 10 night trip into 3 separate locations - Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto and I feel I got the mix exactly right. Tokyo is the biggest city in the world but surprisingly has a cosy feeling. It is so easy to get around using the excellent subway system which is inexpensive, spotless and punctual! The city is split into 6 sections - each one like a city in itself. There is so much to see and do it is difficult to fit it all in but I can help with the pre-booking of excursions not to be missed. I travelled by Bullet Train (which is fabulous!) to Odawara and then the local train to Hakone. Hakone is an Alpine style town in the foothills of the mountains and is absolutely beautiful. From here you can take the local Cable Car up to Mount Hakone Volcano, stopping on the way to visit the open air museum which has a huge selection of 19th and 20th-century sculptures and installations by leading Japanese artists as well as the likes of Henry Moore, Rodin and Miró, harmoniously plonked into the landscape. I would receommend a visit to the huge Picasso Pavilion with more than 300 of his works inside, ranging from paintings and glass art to tapestry. This was one of the real highlights of the trip. Kids will love the giant crochet artwork/playground with its Jenga-like exterior walls, as well as the spiral staircase of the stained-glass Symphonic Structure. Last stop was Kyoto which is a beautiful city full of wonderful architecture. It is a lot smaller than Tokyo but with plenty to see and do. From Kyoto, the excursion to Nara, once the capital of the area and now a UNESCO site where deer roam free, makes for a wonderful afternoon tour. The area has some wonderful Temples and Buddhist statues and is well worth seeing. A wonderful destination ticked off my list but I might just put it back on for another visit someday! If your interest is piqued, give me a call and I will tell you more!

21 September 2017

After this, my second full cruise, I am totally convinced - cruising is my favourite type of holiday! So much to see and do, places to visit, people to meet and you only have to unpack once - magic! To cruise on a 5-star ship on an itinerary that takes in Canada and Alaska is the stuff bucket lists are made of and this is exactly what myself and my daughter had the privilege of doing. 3 glorious days in Vancouver seeing all the sights including Stanley Park, Granville Island, Capilano Park (absolutely amazing suspension bridge) and, of course the great shopping! Can't wait to get back to this beautiful city and next time I will spend a week so that I can get out to Vancouver Island and do a train journey. Boarding the Celebrity Infinity was so exciting and hassle free. Luggage arrived to our gorgeous ocean view cabin before we were finished looking around. Our 7-night itinerary took us up the Icy Strait to see the Hubbard Glacier which is the largest calving glazier on the North American Continent. It routinely calves off icebergs as high as 10-story buildings, sending massive blocks of ice into the sea every few minutes. We got so close it was amazing and the sounds were eerie and magnificent. The trip wasn't all sightseeing though - we had lots of fun and excitement too - kayaking in Icy Strait and ATV driving in Ketchikan - adrenaline rushes galore! The entertainment on board was great too - from silent discos to late night stand-up comedy - it had it all. The food was wonderful - something to suit all tastes. the cocktails were pretty tasty too! If you have ever promised yourself a cruise, now is the time to book it - buy one, get one free offers are regularly available and the selection of itineraries available is enormous - from the Med to Arabia to Japan and Africa - the world is wide open to you.

27 February 2019

A two night stay in the beautiful, romantic city of Verona including an evening at the opera - what a wonderful mini break! The Verona Opera season is world renowned and for very good reason. The venue is unique - an open air Roman arena built in the 1st century and with a coloured and chequered history! Even without an opera visit, Verona is a gorgeous destination for a city break. It is very easy to get around, is very clean and has lots of high-end and interesting shops, wonderful piazzas, churches, bridges and more. The food, as you would imagine, is wonderful, as is the local wine! Of course, it is easy to combine a visit to Lake Garda and Venice with a stay in Verona, so it has lots to offer. I can't wait to go back and the sooner the better. Call me if this sounds like your idea of an ideal getaway and I will take care of all the details.

27 February 2019

How lucky am I to work in this fabulous business and get the opportunity to travel! I was even luckier than normal when I won 7 nights accommodation at the 4 star Gloria Palace Royal in Playa Amadores, Gran Canaria. With my trusty travel companion, Martin (my husband) we availed of this wonderful prize in October and had a wonderful week. The weather was gorgeous, the hotel was fabulous and the food copious. We went All Inclusive which I would highly recommend as it took away the worry of receiving a shocking bill! We were lucky enough to have hired a car and explored the area. We particularly liked Mogan Port which is very pretty with its little bridges and the wonderful yacht marina. I am always amazed at how different the Canary Islands are from each other - each one has its own special features and attractions. So if you have only ever been to one or none at all, consider the Canaries for your next holiday - and remember year round sunshine!

06 September 2010

There is something very special about arriving at a cruise terminal and seeing your ship! No matter how many 5 star hotels you may have been lucky enough to stay in; there is something about the sheer size and brightness of a cruise ship which gets the excitement building! So when our transfer car dropped us at the cruise terminal in Barcelona on the 24th May 2010 and we saw Adventure of the Seas, we were like children at Christmas time we were so excited! The sun was shining and everyone was smiling! What a start to a fantastic cruise around the French and Italian Rivera’s. We were lucky enough to have a stateroom with balcony and every morning we had our breakfast delivered so that we could sit on the balcony and enjoy the start of each day in a very relaxed, spoilt fashion. The facilities on board Adventure are fantastic and we took advantage of them all - a game of shuffle board before lunch, a round of mini golf to help digest the lunch, a spa treatment in the afternoon and a wonderful theatre show after dinner - not forgetting the sing song in the Schooner Bar before bed - we did the lot! Service on board is superb - from our cabin attendant to our head waiter - everyone makes you feel very special and welcome. We celebrated my husband's birthday on board and he was presented with a beautiful cake and a chorus of “Happy Birthday" from all the waiting staff which both embarrassed and delighted him! The itinerary was wonderful too - from Barcelona to the French Riviera to Rome - so much to see and do (or not if you wanted a lazy day, which we did). Cruising is for everyone whatever your age and I would highly recommend it. Roll on the next one!

17 November 2009

The Canary Islands and Lanzarote in particular, have always been a very popular destination for sun holidays from Ireland. The year round sunshine, duty free shopping and excellent accommodation all add up to the perfect destination with a reasonably short flying time. Most people are happy to lie by the pool or on the beach during the day and enjoy the wonderful cuisine and entertainment at night. Lanzarote has a lot more to offer than that though! I personally love Lanzarote and try and go at least every couple of years. There is so much to do and see and we always rent a car for at least part of our holiday. The roads and signposts are excellent and the island is very easy to get around. Some of the things I think not to be missed are; Timanfaya National Park where you are driven around in a large coach (hair raising!) to view the volcanic landscape and see a live volcano; Teguise which is a small town in the centre of the island where there is a huge market every week; the museum of the famous Lanzarote artist Cesar Manrique (you will see his unusual designs on roundabouts all over the island); the Mirador del Rio situated in the north of the island with magnificent views out across the sea to the small island of La Graciosa and lots lots more! For more information on things to see and do in Lanzarote, give me a call. Sherry

27 February 2019

The Costa del Sol in the south of Spain is a second home to many Irish travellers. Everybody knows the resorts of Marbella, Benalmadena and Torremolinos. But there is another side to the Costa del Sol, not as well known but which has a certain magical charm to it and retains a very distinctive Andalucian atmosphere. Nerja is approx. 60kms on the other side (east) of Malaga to the more well known and sometimes crowded resorts. Nerja was a small fishing village which grew! However, they learned from the mistakes of other resorts and kept the building low rise and very Andalucian in style. Consequently, there is still very much a village atmosphere and as it doesn't attract a lot of groups or singles, it is the perfect place for a family or couples holiday. Little cobbled streets, over 300 restaurants serving every type of food imaginable at reasonable rates, clean beaches, small coves, magnificent scenery and friendly people – perfect! Nerja has become popular with wedding parties because there is such a diversity of accommodation available from 5 star hotels to villas with private pools and the church in the centre of town is beautiful. I have been in love with Nerja for nearly 30 years and have been more times than I can count! I have stayed in hotels, apartments and wonderful villas with private pools. I know the town very well. So if you are a fan of The Costa del Sol but just a bit tired of the built up resorts, contact me for information on Nerja – the jewel of the Costa del Sol!

23 October 2008

I was lucky enough to be invited to join a group of travel agents on a visit to Barbados in September. It was my first visit to the Caribbean but will definitely not be my last! I absolutely loved it and one of the things which impressed me the most was the hospitality of the Bajan people. I have never met such open, welcoming and pleasant people in all of my travels. The island of Barbados is so easy to get around, I would advise anyone going to hire a car for at least a couple of days and visit the local towns and villages. Driving is on the left and all the signs are in English. The island is only 27 miles long and 14 wide with very diverse contrasts between the tranquil west coast and wild east coast. We visited lots of different types of accommodation and there is something to suit all tastes and budgets from 5 star deluxe penthouse suites with 25 ft private pools to small boutique plantation house style hotels. The food is wonderful with locally caught fish available everywhere. The rhythm of life is laid back and easygoing and it is perfectly safe to walk around everywhere. Barbados is a perfect destination for a family holiday with great children's facilities in lots of the hotels. It is also an ideal honeymoon destination and can be easily combined with another island (St. Lucia for example) or even the US (Miami would be a good spot). I would be delighted to tell you more about this wonderful destination - give me a call.

18 August 2008

I love my job! How lucky am I to be working at something I am passionate about and be paid for it! In my goal to give my clients the best service possible, I continue always to learn, research and source the best destinations, prices and options I possibly can. To this end, travelling to places I have not yet been is vital, so when an opportunity arises to join an educational trip to a new destination, I grab it. In April of this year I travelled to Abu Dhabi with a group of 10 other travel agents. We flew business class with Etihad on their relatively new direct Dublin to Abu Dhabi route. From the moment we boarded, the service was exceptional. We had barely sat down in our very comfortable “pod” seats when along came the Buck’s Fizz! Lunch was gourmet standard and a movie and afternoon tea later we had arrived in Abu Dhabi International airport. First stop was the beautiful 5 star Shangri La Hotel which is situated outside the city in the Qaryat Al Beri area. The entrance to the hotel is very impressive with a huge fountain and more valets and welcome personnel than I have ever seen! Check in was quick and efficient considering there were 10 of us and I was allocated a bedroom/suite decorated in typical Shangri La opulence with marble bathroom, huge bed, beautiful furniture, bathrobe and slippers and a very welcome fruit basket and cold drink. The private beach although narrow is beautifully kept and the infinity pool is amazing. There is a lovely terrace with pool bar and the service is second to none. Breakfast is buffet style and has to be the best I have ever seen. The freshly made to order omelettes will set you up for the day. Our city tour of Abu Dhabi included a visit to the new Mosque which is breathtaking. All of the marble tile work has been hand painted and laid and the carpeting cost the equivalent of a small country’s GDP! Our next accommodation stop was the 7 star Emirates Palace hotel and a Palace is truly what it is! On its own private beach with wonderful gardens and pools this is the place to stay for a couple of nights either as a special celebration stopover or part of a two centre holiday with Dubai which is just an hour’s drive away. This is the biggest hotel I have ever stayed in with the most amazing décor and service I have ever experienced. Each room comes with a butler and all of the features of the rooms ie television, air conditioning, lights etc. are remote controlled. On check in you are presented with a small bouquet of flowers, a chocolate, a cold towel and a drink – or maybe this was just for me! While sitting by the pool you don’t ever have to get up to get a drink or towel, you just press a button beside your chair and hey presto a friendly attendant appears! I could have stayed forever! We also visited some of the hotels on The Corniche – Abu Dhabi’s up market tourist area with wonderful views over the Marina including The Sheraton, The Intercontinental and The Hilton. There is a hotel to suit all tastes in Abu Dhabi, whether you want to be in the middle of the commercial district or away from the crowds. We finished off our trip with a 4 wheel drive desert safari (not for the feint hearted!). A visit to a camel enclosure, a wonderful feast, belly dancing and good company - what more could one want? Abu Dhabi is a fantastic gateway to Australia, Thailand and India and the perfect stopover destination.