St Kitts & Nevis trip

I’ve recently returned from the islands of St Kitts (or St. Christopher Island as it’s otherwise known) and Nevis.

If you want to combine history along with great food & lovely individual boutique hotels then consider these beautiful islands.

I’d recommend starting off with 5 nights at Ottley’s Plantation Inn, St Kitts. Ottley’s is a family-run former 17th century sugar estate set high in the hills on St Kitts. It offers beautifully tended gardens and dreamy views . Whilst staying here make sure that you visit Brimstone Hill Fortress National park as well as the Plantations that turned St. Kitts into one of the Worlds largest sugar producers. A trip down to Basseterre, the Capital is also recommended (daily transportation is provided). From Ottley’s there are many great walks on offer and if you are feeling brave even a zip-line adventure. The family and staff here make this place very special indeed!

Next, head to the island of Nevis – just 25 minutes away by boat. Stay 5 nights at the Nisbet Plantation. Nisbet is the Caribbean’s only historic plantation that is located directly on the beach. Every evening a sumptuous 4-course dinner is served in The Great House, it’s very romantic and special. The food here is superb. They also offer a gourmet beach BBQ every Thursday. The 36 cottages are spread throughout the 36 acre estate. Nisbet offers Old-world charm and exceptional service.

To finish off the trip, head up into the hills of Nevis to stay at The Montpellier Plantation for 2 or 3 nights. The Montpellier Plantation is a member Relais & Chateaux so fabulous dining & fine wines are guaranteed. This property offers stylish, chic accommodation and surroundings. The views are truly superb. You can relax by the pool or take the free shuttle down to the beach club. I’d recommend taking out a mountain bike and exploring the local area, you’ll see lots of monkeys and even wild Donkeys ! If it’s a special occasion we can arrange a candle-lit dinner in the 300 year old sugar mill (the only restaurant of it’s kind in the World).

These beautiful islands are very special and am sure they will capture your heart as they have mine

Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita – 5 star

Ohhh the Zoetry, what a gem!  I cannot tell you how much I loved staying at this hotel. The Zoetry is situated on the north of Riviera Maya Cancun Mexico, it is a very unique property on this beach.

From the moment we stepped out of our taxi, the porter personally welcomed us by our names.  I could feel the ying and yang, the zen in this wellness spa hotel.  Everything has been designed to make you feel totally peaceful and relaxed and I felt it straight away.  We arrived early at the hotel so our suite wasn’t ready yet but we could use all the facilities and start consuming food and drinks which were included in the All inclusive package.

We had the lead in beautiful one bedroom suite and it was soooo spacious and spotlessly clean.  Only 64 suites in the hotel and all the suites are sea facing with a lovely large hammock on your balcony or terrace.   The beds are very comfortable, the bathroom is very spacious and more beautiful.

Every morning, at breakfast we were serenated by the beautiful sound from the harpist. He played for hours making us sit at the breakfast table for hours too.   Food and drinks are plentiful all day long.  Food are absolutely delicious at both restaurants and the chef prepares the most delicious paella at lunch time.

The daily activities such as Yoga are also highly recommended and fun to do.  Gabriella is a fantastic yoga teacher and they have the most amazing yoga studio on the pier. We attended all the tequila, wine, cocktail, cigar rolling lessons.  The mayan ceremony and the Thalasso spa are also a must do.  The boat trip to Puerto Morelos was fun.  I highly recommend people to do as many activities as possible as we learnt so much and was so much fun that we cannot wait to go there everyday.

With all these events etc, I would say that the Zoetry is very good value for money.  There are so many free activities for free where other hotels will normally charge.

This place is very special and always will be close to my heart as I had the most amazing time at Zoetry.  I mustn’t forget the lovely people we met there.

Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa

Dreams Mexico – I have been very lucky to have stayed at Dreams Riviera Cancun, the hotel sits on the lovely Riviera Maya stretch of beach.

Dreams hotels are family designed hotels, however I have seen lots of young couples, honeymooners and all sorts of ages.  The hotel has 3 large swimming pools, large enough to accommodate many people without feeling overcrowded.  There are lots of activities such as aquaerobics, volley balls and more activities on the white sandy beach.

What I love about the hotel is all the different restaurants where you can eat and coffee cafe all included in the price.  Service is excellent, staffs are very friendly.

Rooms are very spacious, we have 2 large beds, a double sofa, double sinks, a jaccuzi, a separate shower and toilet in the bedroom and yet we had plenty of space to walk around. Mini bar is also replenished with beers and soft drinks everyday.

In the evening, there are live shows or you can relax in the large lobby with soft live music next to the bar.

I was truly impressed with Dreams hotel, it exceeded my expectations and I find it very good value for money.   I highly recommend Mexico for a relaxing beach holiday or find out more about history and ruins there.  Don’t forget to visit Chichen Itza, one of the seven wonders of the world.

Japan Endless Discovery

Japan is a country which has so much to offer, it is steeped in history, tradition and has some amazing landscapes and a fascinating culture.

It is no surprise then that it is fast becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination, with unique experiences like relaxing evenings at pullman hotel bars in tokyo adding to its charm.

Well known for the Samurai, Sumo Wrestling, Geisha’s, the Cartoon Culture, Tea Ceremonies, Sushi, Bonsai Trees, Mount Fiji, Cherry Blossom and the Bullet Train. It really is a must see destination.

There are numerous direct and indirect flights from the UK to Japan, which takes approximately 11 hours 30 minutes.  UK citizens are exempt from visa’s and are able to stay for up to 90 days.

Japan has a temperate climate and has four distinct seasons, Spring Summer, Autumn and Winter, they are the same months as the seasons in the UK.  As Japan stretches a great distance from north to south the climate is cooler in the north and in winter there is frequent snowfall in the Japanese Alps providing great snow for Skiing.  June and July see the monsoon rainfalls.

The most desirable time to travel is in the Spring and Autumn when the weather is mild and warm and the Cherry Blossom is in bloom from late March to mid-April and the splendour of the Autumn leaves in late October –November.

Travelling around Japan is made easy by it’s great public transport network in particular that of the train network, where trains are always on time!  The Japan Rail Pass is a definite must if you are planning on travelling around as it provides virtually unlimited travel on the entire Japanese Rail network (excludes the new super express Nozomi).

Accommodation is in both Japanese and Western Style and varies  from youth hostels, B&B’s, Ryokan’s (traditional Japanese Inn’s), hotels and even a chance to stay in temple’s. Offering accommodation for budget traveller’s right up to the luxury traveller.

There are 7 regions of Japan Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Kansai, Chubu, Chugoku and Shikoku and Kyushu and Okinawa.

Hokkaido – home to the unspoilt mountain scenery and abundant wildlife.  It is a nature-lover’s paradise.  It’s cool summers bring spectacular blooms of flowers while world class ski resorts mean it is also a great winter destination.

Tohoku – has a rustic charm, with a slower pace of life, rich natural beauty and countless hot spring resorts.

Kanto – home to Toyko is a region which boasts cultural attractions such as the ancient capital of Kamakura and the impressive temple Nikko set among beautiful scenery of lakes and waterfalls.

Kansai – the cultural heart of Japan is its ancient capital of Kyoto, with its many stunning temples and gardens.  By contrast, the city of Osaka offers a taste of vibrant modern Japan.

Chubu – the iconic site of Mount Fiji and the panoramic mountains of the Japan Alps provide well worn hiking trails in the warmer months and fantastic skiing in winter.  The Chubu region is also home to the picturesque towns of Kanazawa and Takayama.

Chugoku and Shikoku – the highlight of this region is the city of Hiroshima and the nearby island of Miyajima.  The inland sea separates this region from Shikoku, Japan’s fourth largest island.

Kyushu and Okinawa – the southern island of Kyushu offers lush greenery, hot springs and mysterious volcanic formations.  Highlights are Nagasaki and the volcano Mt. Aso. Further south, the tropical island chain of Okinawa boasts amazing coral reefs, white sandy beaches and a fascinating cultural heritage that is a mix between Japan and South-East Asia.

Japan is not as expensive as you think and, in fact, compares very favourably with London prices and has something for everyone, whether you are looking at a city break, tour, adventure, island getaway, family holiday, cruise, honeymoon, ski holiday etc.

So all that is left to do is book a trip and let the Japanese people Kangei (welcome) you.

PRESKIL BEACH RESORT HONEYMOON

PRESKIL BEACH RESORT HONEYMOON OFFER

PRESKIL BEACH RESORT

PRESKIL BEACH RESORT

Nile Cruise

I have just come back from a mini Nile cruise on board the 5* MS Grand Rose and yes it was very hot and sunny everyday. However we were very lucky to have free excursions, stay on All inclusive on board, enjoy the sundeck and swimming pool with free towels and free sunbeds after our daily excursions. Food is very nice and plentiful, we had 3 meals a day and freshly cooked pancakes at teatime on the sundeck. You will never go hungry nor thirsty. Service onboard MS Grand Rose is also fantastic, the staffs cannot do enough for you.

I highly recommend this cruise which starts from Luxor, then Aswan with excursions to Abu Simbel. Luxor is very safe, I didn’t feel threatened at all. This country has so much history and heritage to offer. They are still finding treasures buried since 1400 BC.

So, the 7 night cruise on MS Grand Rose, including flights from London, 20 Kg luggage, based on 2 people sharing a cabin, airport transfers, all inclusive meal basis, 10 free excursions. Price for the 2nd June starts from £ 385 per person.

Le Touessrok – Amazing 5*

Le Touessrok is one of my all time favourite hotel in the world.  It is very different, outsanding and stunning hotel.  I love the different areas, such as the hibiscus and the frangipani island.  It is such a private property, you never feel that there are other guests around.

I stayed there when my children were young. They are now teenagers and they still say how much they have enjoyed the hotel and her kids club.  The girls spent hours at the kids club only to be returned at our dining table at 9 pm every night.  They would happily spend more time at the club if they could.

The hotel spa is so beautifully run with amazing treatments. I would happily have a treatment everyday there.

I highly recommend this hotel to everyone, families, couples.

Peaceful Kerala

For a first look at India, if you’re wary of too strong a culture shock, you can do no better than visit Kerala. It’s gentler, wealthier, and calmer than a lot of India and without a lot of the hassle.  A large area of this long, slim state is beside the sea so it offers the perfect holiday destination. The beaches aren’t quite the pale sandy splendour of its northerly neighbour, Goa, but Kerala offers variety and peacefulness. It also has an abundance of Ayurvedic resorts so forget the idea of a spa (which just means someone on site to provide massage and facials) – this is where to come for serious treatments and to go home completely rejuvenated.

Taking in a few places is easy here. If you begin in the pretty and historically interesting Fort Cochin, it’s only a 90 minute drive along relatively good roads down to Lake Vembanad which is stunning. This is where you can take a day (or two) on one of the famous houseboats along the backwaters. They even call you for at the private jetties of the more elegant lakeside hotels.

Inland there are spice plantations at Munnar and wildlife reserve at Periyar to visit. All these are within drives that are relatively short by Indian standards and of course full of interest.

Many of the sumptuous hotel resorts are in the south at Kovalam but closer to Cochin a place dear to my own heart is the Marari Beach. It’s only a 4* – but if it’s good enough for Paul McCartney it’s good enough for me – and you stay in detached thatched cottages amongst the most beautiful gardens, enjoy Ayurvedic massages and other treatments on site, and have free yoga and Pranayama sessions. Plus the food is truly fabulous.

Galley Bay Resort and Spa – Antigua

Loved for its refined rusticity, guests will be thrilled with the additions of a lagoon-side spa, a fine dining restaurant and beachfront suites. Yet the three-quarter-mile beach is still definitely the prize here, lined by a panoramic oceanfront deck and the beachfront rooms. Their rattan furnishings and island-inspired artwork are totally appropriate, although if you prefer the idea of bathrooms with corner-installed soaking tubs and step-down living areas with plasma TVs, then one of the premium beachfront suites are for you.

The quaint garden Gauguin cottages are perfect if having your own secluded splash pool has greater appeal. Sporting facilities include a tennis court, swimming pool, fitness room. bicycles and non-motorised water sports. For dining there is the Euro-Caribbean cuisine of the Sea Grape and eclectic grills of The Gauguin boasting private dining cabanas enhanced by the locally-inspired dishes of the third restaurant Ismay’s. And, of course, you can always watch the sun go down at the unique TeePee Bar.

Breathtaking India

India is a fascinating country and so much easier to travel in than it was even ten years ago.  At the same time it’s the toughest country, bar none, for which to plan an itinerary. Trains aren’t what we  imagine them to be, travelling distances in one area can be a joy while the same number of hours on the road elsewhere is a drag beyond description. Homestays and havelis that look gorgeous in photos, and for which reviews can be hugely positive, are horrendous when you get there – but there are delightful and authentic small hotels like nowhere else in the world.

Escorted tours for the first time visitor to India seem to always include the Golden Triangle but Delhi and Agra aren’t the most rewarding places to visit. Don’t get me wrong – the Taj Mahal isn’t a letdown at all. It’s just that you have to put the hours in to get there and Agra offers little else. What isn’t so well known, possibly, is that tailor made tours are as cheap as group tours. You can tell me the kinds of things you like to do and what pace you like. I will help you design an itinerary that suits the standard and style that works for you and honestly it won’t cost you any more. Plus you’ll be not just safe but really looked after.

The Rajasthan is a popular area for tourists for good reason. The landscapes are dusty but stunning, the light is special, the lakes, buildings, forts, camel fairs and palaces give the visitor a continual feast for the eyes. You can stay in luxury tents and go on game drives to see tigers in Ranthambore. Udaipur, the lake city, is serene and a few hours away the pink city of Jaipur is frenetic, intense and all that we imagine India to be. And have you heard about the Deogarh Mahal in between those two cities? Well, give me a call and let me tell you about it…..

The Himachal Pradesh is home to the old hill stations such as Shimla with their charming old colonial buildings and railways stations; a short distance from there is Dharamsala where the Tibetan refugee population, including the Dalai Lama, settled. Further south in the Himalayan foothills towns like Rishikesh, part of the old hippy trail, still provide meditation and yoga centres and peaceful retreats beside the Ganges where it’s at its clearest and freshest.

Most of us are familiar with what Goa represents – but actually some parts, especially in the South, are still real India so we shouldn’t assume that all Goa has are noisy bustle tourist traps. It definitely has the best beaches so if that’s what you like and you want to know where to stay that suits your needs we can talk about your options.

In India the unexpected happens – always – but it can be encountered in the safety and comfort of your a/c 4×4 and from beautiful hotels. Good service comes from a genuine desire to please and in India people work so hard to do exactly that.

If you’re unsure and don’t want a travel agent who’s going to say ‘go here, it’s great’ but who will listen to what you like to do and work with you then I’m your person. Don’t worry if you’re just finding out. I put together holidays for a living and not everybody books so my time is never wasted.

Luxury Gulet Cruise

Luxury Gulet Cruise

Soneva Fushi Maldives

Soneva Fushi Maldives is the original desert island hideaway situated on Kunfunadhoo Island in Baa Atoll.  It is the ultimate castaway experience,with the motto of “No News No Shoes”, no pretensions either.

From the moment you arrive by seaplane you feel at home, particularly with the impeccable, intuitive service provided by Mr./Ms. Friday butlers who know what you want before you want it.

There are Fifty-five vast villas (with from 1 to 4 bedrooms) including a limited number of private residences, hidden among dense foliage within touching distance of a Biosphere UNESCO protected pristine coral reef.  Vast, sigh-inducing beds induce the sweetest of dreams with intoxicating tropical aromas pervading every bathroom.

Why not try out the Soneva Fushi Villa Suite and Pool with Tree House or the Jungle Reserve, accommodation with an initiative difference.

Many guests stay ‘home’ in their villa, enjoying unrivalled peace and privacy with the best ‘takeaway’ food in the Indian Ocean. Others head out to explore the nine different dining options. To breakfast at Mihiree Mitha, the social hub of the island, or dine in Fresh In The Garden, a restaurant cooled by breezes above the heady scents of the famous organic herb (delicious rocket) and vegetable garden. Try By The Beach, a Japanese Korean restaurant right on the beach or Nine a restaurant that serves dishes aimed at sharing.  The trick is to leave a little extra room to grow into your clothes, the food is so mouth watering it is impossible to resist.

Every visit makes you feel young again. Cycling round the island, never knowing when you might have to swerve to avoid bunny rabbits or lizards. Watching movies in Cinema Paradiso with only the starlit sky above. Counting Saturn’s rings in the Observatory. Deciding between sixty flavours of ice cream. Eleven types of pillow which could have coverings like those from silk pillowcase UK. Five hundred different wines. Or which chocolate to have from the 24/7 chocolate room. The Spa is also a great temptation and a definite must.

Opportunities to venture beyond the island include cruises, picnics on the island’s own private sandbank or three deserted islands, breathtaking diving such as watching the majestic rays feed at Manta Point, or fascinating cultural visits to nearby islands. Soneva Fushi is the ultimate pioneer of memory-making experiences.

Soneva Fushi is committed to the Soneva Group’s SLOW LIFE philosophy; Sustainable-Local-Organic-Wellness Learning-Inspiring-Fun-Experiences.  So why not join in the Slow Life.

For more information or to make a booking please call 07577362392 or email angeleenn@travel-pa.com

Marrakech

Years ago when I lived in Morocco I spent a fascinating ten days in Marrakech working at Hotel La Mamounia – which is still there and still fabulous.

Back then Marrakech was a colourful, lively, pink-tinged town with wide roads, horse-drawn carriages and a view of the snow-tipped Atlas Mountains in the distance. The central point was Djemm-el-Fna square where stalls selling all kinds of under-priced hand-crafted clothes and artefacts lined one side of the square and jugglers and entertainers performed in the middle. The entrance to the main souk was at the far end and snack tents served kefta and harira on the side nearest to the road and cafes.

What’s changed? Nothing! It’s as vibrant and exciting as it was in the 70s. The only difference that I could see was in the accommodation. Riads didn’t exist then. Now we have delightful small refuges, opulently furnished, in the heart of the medina so that you step out into narrow, cool, shady streets lit sporadically by the occasional shafts of sunshine that find their way in. There are also some breathtakingly fabulous new luxury hotels outside Marrakech such as Beachcomber’s Royal Palm Resort.

Prices vary wildly according to the deals we can get on flights so as with most destinations booking early can save you a lot of money. I can do a quick sweep for you to see when would be the best time to go. As always, just give me a call. No obligation.

Royal Caribbean Cruises

Royal Caribbean Cruises offer