Lovely Sri Lanka
Beautiful Sri Lanka!
I’ve had to write a little something about some of the places that many of us visit when we go to this sizeable island. There’s quite a bit of ground to cover on the average tour but, sitting in a comfortable minibus with nine agreeable people on my tour, I barely noticed the time passing.
There’s so much to look at. The ‘wet’ zone goes into the dry’ zone, the foliage changes, the coconut trees stop and cashews are no longer sold by the roadside. Now it’s pineapple and then spices ….
Drop to the south and you’re in tea plantations and further south-west and you’re back to the coast – and if you’re very lucky a visit to Yala National Park where game drives take you out morning and evening in the hope of catching a glimpse of the elusive leopard.
All the resorts down the west coast, both north and south of Colombo, have different things to offer. Some of the villages, such as Bentota and Negombo, are turning into quite the little resorts – as we know them. Cafes, bars and shops are springing up around the better hotels and you no longer feel cut off – just you, the hotel and the beach. As with everything, one person’s idea of the perfect hotel or resort isn’t another’s so we have to hear what you like before we choose one. However the interior towns offer a more limited selection so I’ll mention some of them here.
Unless you head for the north (requiring more hours on the road) most itineraries take you east from Colombo. En route you can easily make a stop at Pinnawala and visit the elephant orphanage and watch the rescued elephants of all sizes tread carefully between the shops and cafes on their way to the river. A couple of hours further east and you’ll be in Habarana. This is where you rest up for a night or two so that you can visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Sri Lanka’s first UNESCO listed World Heritage Site, and Polonnaruwa, the capital of Sri Lanka in the 11th century.
I stayed in the Chaaya Village, a low rise collection of horseshoe shaped little cul-de-sacs of rooms, set in sweeping gardens adjacent to the lake. You can also contact experts from pest control vancouver to make your garden free from pests and to make it more impressive The poor relation to its sister hotel, the Cinnamon Lodge just next door, it offered me everything I needed and the buffet meals were truly great. The pool’s a tad small and the Cinnamon Lodge is more elegant so if your budget allows go for that; it’s not much more.
Sigiriya, inhabited from 3rd century BC, and the medieval city of Polonnaruwa are both way more fascinating and rewarding than they seem to be from the literature! The sophistication of these ancient cities is awe-inspiring. Three of the ten people on my tour actually made the climb to the top of Sigiriya but it’s not obligatory and it’s not for the faint-hearted. The UNESCO site says it better than I can ……
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/201
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/202
From here we drove for about an hour and visited the caves at Dambulla where giant statues of the buddha were discovered centuries ago, and on to the Spice Garden where we walked around the gardens being regaled by Bonny, the most dynamic lecturer I’ve ever known, and where we bought cinnamon oil, sandalwood, lime oil, red oil (arthritis). Then we carried on and within a couple of hours arrived into Kandy, a city built around a large man-made lake and with lush hillsides as a backdrop. I wasn’t expecting anything so stunning. Lovely, lovely Kandy.
We stayed at the Cinnamon Citadel and given that I was on the 3* tour I was pretty impressed with this hotel. It’s a few minutes outside Kandy, overlooking the river. The rooms are luxurious and large. It did have yet another of those large brightly-lit restaurants with self-service buffet but the choice was staggering. At every meal you have a choice of western or Sri Lankan cuisine, meat, fish or vegetarian, vegetables or salad, and so it goes. In the morning you can sit out on the terrace enjoying the view – and the heat of the sun. Best get up early for that experience.
Here you see the Temple of the Tooth Relic (don’t ask), which is cute enough but you wouldn’t want to drive here just for that. It’s Kandy itself which is worth the journey. Walk around in a small group here, though, as you would in Colombo.
South – and quite a drive – you can stop in at Nuwara Eliya, 6200 feet above sea level and right in the middle of the tea plantations. If I try to explain how heart achingly beautiful this part of Sri Lanka is you’ll start yawning but it really, really is. The town itself is scruffy but safe to wander about and finally get down there with the people and know that you’re in Asia but please splash out just a bit and stay in the Tea Factory. The place is a legend all on its own.
And on to Yala, a vast area of forest, scrub and grassland and home to wild elephants, monkeys, leopard, boars, crocodiles, mongoose, and my favourite – the sloth bear. Game drive guides know where to head for but seeing these animals in their own habitat isn’t always easy, even though your morning drive starts at 5am. Still it’s hard to miss the constant stream of creatures at the watering hole if you sit quietly by the pool at the central hotel and anyway you’ll hear monkeys run over your chalet roof at night! There are other interesting things to see in Yala; You can save money and stay in Tissa, about 13 miles away, and just come into the park for the daytime but if you can stay close to the park entrance at Chaaya Wild Yala it’s worth it. They have jungle chalets (so don’t snack on the deck) and beach chalets for anyone whose idea of heaven is jungle behind them and the Indian Ocean in front (me).
And back west to the beaches. I can’t go into all of those here. Maybe I’ll add some reviews in later but if you ever want to ask about Sri Lanka I’m always happy to drop whatever I’m doing and chat about it. You’re never going to be under any pressure to book from me.
Intercontinental Mauritius
I have some great offers to the Intercontinental Mauritius holidays. I am going to give some information here. However, instead of me writing it, I thought I’d get the hotel’s sales manager to put a few words together.
This is from Shane Jameson: Intercontinental Mauritius Holidays
“I think that convenience is a major aspect when choosing a holiday destination. I don’t want to get into barefoot luxury, but you’d be suprised how many people come to Mauritius looking for holidays such as island getaway, that ‘Robinson Crusoe’/’Castaway’ experience and then once it’s on their plate…well, they don’t want it any more. Enter the InterContinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort. In a nutshell, you feel like you are miles away but, in actual fact, are 25 minutes from all the amenities that can cause anxiety when you’re on vacation. Hospitals – that’s plural, shopping malls (also plural) are all a stones throw away so we tick the location box quite well.
For Intercontinental Mauritius Holidays, we’ve got pretty much two of everything in what is a relatively symmetrical resort. Two pools (one heated), two breakfast restaurants (one a la carte), to distinct sides (wings) and last but not least, two nights of the week we have fabulous outdoor dinners that are included on the Half Board, Full Board or All Inclusive packages we have. If it’s wanting to ‘get lost’ then we can show you places you’ll never be found. Alternatively if morning aqua-arobics, a gym workout and a ‘kiki’ by the pool bar are your thing, then that door is also wide open.
Variety is the spice of life, on all the three different meal basis’ we have full dine around in 5 restaurants an three bars. If you don’t like our 14 day rotational menus, then we can apply food and beverage credits against an a la carte menu. All water sports both motorised and non motorised are free with the exception of the Catamaran and the dive centre. We have free wireless internet in all the restaurants, the lobby and the beach – so, if desired, you can update your status, instagram or tweet as often as you want. 120 Deluxe Ocean Facing Rooms, 40 Two-Bedroom Family Rooms, 20 Jacuzzi Suites and 10 Presidential Suites…we love round numbers. Convenience, space, mod-con’s, luxury all in a stunning resort.”
A weekend in Berlin
Berlin is a very interesting city but you need to arrive in the right mindset. The starkness of the city itself and, of course, its history make for a bleak background. The good part is that once you get past Berlin’s grey past there is a plethora of things to do 24 hours a day. The public transportation runs, as expected, like German clockwork and getting around is easy and economical.
These main draws are historical but must be seen as this is what old Berlin is about:
-The remaining sector of the Berlin Wall
-The Jewish Museum
-The Brandenburg Gate
-Checkpoint Charlie
These four locations will take up a full day at least and if you are in Berlin for more than a weekend you may wish to devote more time to them. We spent two nights in Berlin but were able to get a very good grasp of these and I don’t feel I missed anything.
Other main attractions are the Alexanderplatz, which is the main transportation hub, and the fantastic museums and galleries. Photo opportunities are as abundant as the beer and bratwurst. Shopping is a popular pastime in Berlin and the shops range from everyday market stalls to the designers on the Jägerstraße. Another sight for me was the fact that there is a Volkwagen/Bugatti dealership in the centre of the city…a haven for petrol heads in the midst of the shopping.
After a day of sightseeing, I don’t think we were prepared for the fact that many of the bars never close. We discovered that the cleaners arrive in the morning to tidy up around the survivers but the party keeps going on. Berlin has an amazing night life which offers something for all walks of life. The ravers can dance all night but there are, also, bars that are more akin to coffee houses where friends can chat the night away and nobody shouts last call.
Before our night on the town we filled ourselves on traditional German fare and I was pleasantly surprised to find cabbage rolls on the menu. I grew up in a household with a strong German influence and the food was a warm reminder of meals long past. While all the normal fast food joints are available, quick snacks can be had from the bratwurst vendors or great restaurants are abundant wherever you are downtown.
We stayed in the old, Eastern, part of Berlin and found that the food options were fewer and definitely not as good as downtown. While the hotels are cheaper outside the centre I’d suggest dining before you get the train back. I also found that the people were much more reserved in the old town and that English was less spoken but the ambience was more traditional…central Berlin is very flash.
A trip to Berlin is, I believe, a must if just to reflect on the past but the new city has so much more to offer. Flights are available to Berlin Schoenefeld from various UK airports and the train is easy to get into the centre. English is widely spoken and getting around shouldn’t be an issue for even the most reserved traveller. I recommend Berlin for a 2-3 night break but it can also be incorporated into a more comprehensive rail or coach trip.
The Wonderful Le Touessrok
Le Touessrock
Well from the moment I entered Le Touessrock I knew this hotel was special. The warm welcome with cooling towels, fresh fruit skewers, calming sea view combined with the sweet smell of Frangipani was like heaven to me. My room enjoyed views over one of the hotel’s own islands called Ile aux Cerfs and sitting on my balcony I could hear the sea gently lapping below. This beautifully appointed room had a Sea View and fabulous bathroom with the sensuous egg shaped bath that I really love.
Before I visited Le Touessrock I had heard about their other Islands, Ile aux Cerfs and Ilot Mangenie, however, I can only say that you must take the complimentary boat service to visit these Islands and discover a whole new dimension to this hotel.
This is now on my list of hotels that I must take my husband to!!! – call me for more details.
4* Royal Caribbean Cruises from Southampton – Independence of the Seas
The fabulous Independence of the Seas is an amazing floating hotel. Having just undergone some revitalising it is now more amazing than ever. There is something for everyone whether you are a toddler or young at heart. Why not try surfing on the Flowrider ? Or soak up the sun in the above sea level whirlpools. Or take a splash in the on board water park. Or even have a skate on the ice rink. After a hard day around the pool you can then settle down to the wonderful Las Vegas style shows. There are so many shops and cafes on the Royal Promenade that you might not ever want to leave the ship.
With an impressive 3600 passenger capacity and 160,000 tonnage, makes her the largest ship to ever have been based in the UK.
Dining is a plenty onboard from the three main buffet restaurants to the speciality and A la Carte dining. With lots of choice of cafes and bars on the Royal Promenade.
Never tried cruising before? Think its not for you? Cruising has something to offer for everyone. Please give me a call and I can go through all of your questions and queries.
If this cruise isn’t to suit then I have lots more on offer from family cruises to adult only cruises.
To Book or Enquire Please Call: 0114 3273436 or email jackief@travel-pa.com
Le Touessrok 5* Deluxe Hotel Mauritius
Can you imagine a place so wonderful that you wouldnt want to leave it behind?
Well this is exactly what you will feel like at the end of your stay in Le Touessrok. Guests come back time and time again to sample the luxury and charm of this premium hotel – making this an established favourite on Mauritius.
Tranquil blue waters, fabulous white sandy beaches and service like no other. These are just some of things that make Le Touessrok one of the best hotels in the Indian Ocean and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. Situated on the stunning Trou d’Eau Douce Bay and only an hour from the airport.
Rooms
Le Touessrok has 68 Deluxe Rooms and 33 Junior Suites located on the beach. 92 Junior Suites and 6 Ocean Suites are located on Frangipani Island which is over the bridge from the main resort.
All rooms have safe, mini bar, hair dryer, satellite TV, DVD/CD player, telephone, air conditioning, Internet/email access, 24-hour butler service, en suite bathroom with separate shower, in-room multimedia entertainment systems.
Features
An array of Boutique shops, 2 stunning swimming pools, hairdressing salon, luxury Givenchy Spa, activities for 12-17 years, Kids Club 4-11 years , nightly entertainment including resident band, cabaret and shows, 18-hole championship Le Touessrok Golf Course designed by Bernhard Langer, Full range of free land and water sports including bocci ball, floodlit tennis courts, kayaks, snorkelling, table tennis, volleyball, water-sking and windsurfing. All water sports take place on Ile aux Cerf island, a short boat ride away.
Restaurants and Bars
Barlen’s – The wood and thatch beach restaurant and bar on the shore of Trou d’Eau Douce. The restaurant offers a range of dishes, based on a fusion of Asian and European cuisine.
Crusoe’s Restaurant & Robinson’s Bar – On the resort’s romantic private island of Ilot Mangenie, fresh local food and drinks are served on the beach under the trees.
Paul et Virginie & Sands Bar – Lunch is provided at the relaxed, barefoot restaurant Paul & Virginie. The place to relax after taking in the watersports or relaxing by the pool.
Safran – The main feature of this wonderful restaurant that overlooks Hibiscus Bay has to be the open kitchen with tandoori ovens decorated with mother of pearl. Serving varieties of Indian bread, appetisers and main courses.
Sega Bar – The Sega Bar takes centre stage at the resort’s main pool, and is the perfect spot throughout the day for refreshing cocktails, drinks and light snacks.
Three-Nine-Eight – The main restaurant of Le Touessrok is based on three floors. It hosts cuisines of nine countries in a culinary theatre presented by eight show kitchens. This is the place for breakfasts, and sociable and entertaining evenings.
Call 0114 3273436 to Book Now
Western fly drive
Many of my friends and clients have experienced the classic West Coast fly drive but most tend to overlook my absolute favourite San Diego. I always recommend taking as much time as possible to see as much as you can and, when possible, include Las Vegas, San Francisco and Los Angeles. I’ll get to more about the individual locations on separate blogs but let’s just get the itinerary for now.
The glitz of Vegas is always worth a look for at least four nights and, also, to allow for a trip out to the Grand Canyon. Die hard gamblers will want to stretch this out a bit but there is always enough to see as not to move on right away. Exotic shows and bright lights are the normal attractions, but golfers will be spoilt for choice, as well.
San Francisco is the next stop, and you can get there either by road or by air…I’d suggest just getting there by plane and picking up your car on the other end as the 9 hour drive may be too much for some or, alternatively, stopping along the way but this is a wasted night. After about 4 nights in ‘Frisco’, it’s down the coast to Los Angeles and this time it is worth a stop in the Pismo Beach area just to enjoy the scenery.
Los Angeles has a love-hate relationship with tourists; it’s big and smoggy, but there’s a ton of stuff to do, as well. It’s important to consider exactly what appeals to you so a decision can be made as to the length of stay.If you want to explore you’ll need a week but if there are just a couple of points of interest then 3 days will be sufficient.
A short drive down I-5 brings you to San Diego and, arguably, one of the best climates in the world. It’s a busy city with a lot to see but, at the same time, San Diego invites you just to relax. I always recommend at least 4 days but would gladly stay for weeks. Your time constraints may limit you to a couple of days, but at least you’ll get a taste.
In between these major centres, there are other popular options for side trips or stays. The coastline itself has many towns and events to visit, and there are more out of the way choices such as Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and the giant redwoods in northern California. The more adventurous could consider travelling into Oregon and Washington to explore the Pacific Northwest, but you will need to allow more time.
There are numerous other considerations to be had; available time, school holidays when travelling as a family, budget and, ultimately, what you want to see. As I mentioned, I’ll put more detail into individual blogs but this will get you thinking about where to start planning.
If you’d like to discuss a fly drive (or any other holiday), or have these details e-mailed to you, please feel free to contact me at any time.
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- Liberty of the Seas | Mediterranean Cruises | Reviewed 11 Jun 2020
Just a few lines to say a great huge big THANK YOU for organising another wonderful holiday for us! The cruise was excellent. The whole experience was stress free which is a major factor for me! The taxis all turned up on time which was amazing. We also thought the hotel in Barcelona was excellent, so thank you again Tim. You really are a star.
by Ann
Guildford, SurreyAdventure of the Seas | Royal Caribbean Cruises | Reviewed 11 Jun 2020
I thought we'd just let you know what a wonderful time we all had aboard the Adventure of the Seas, and thank you for your part in the arrangements, we enjoyed every minute, no doubt probably our best cruise to date. Also I would say that disparaging remarks or criticism were totally unfounded, we gave all the staff, food, cabins, entertainment, weather and the ports of call, 10 out of 10, its a great ship, managed by a fine Master and very dedicated crew. We may have to give next year a miss to build up the bank balance, but we will come back to you for your expertise, as our Cruise Connoisseur.
by Barry
Pontypridd, Mid GlamorganCala Galdana | Menorca | Reviewed 11 Jun 2020
Thank you so very much for the trip you arranged for us, it was everything we wanted. The hotel was lovely and we thoroughly enjoyed just relaxing in the shade watching the world go by. My wife took four books on her kindle, but only read 16% of the first one because we met and talked to so many lovely people.
by Alan
Broadstairs, KentNY / Disney / Clearwater | Disney Florida | Reviewed 11 Jun 2020
Thanks again for helping us organise the holiday of a lifetime!!! We had an amazing time and really appreciated you assistance with the breakfast in Clearwater ;o)
by Lisa
Birmingham, West MidlandsMilano | Verona | Reviewed 11 Jun 2020
I just wanted to say a huge thank you for organising our trip to Verona last weekend. This was a very emotive trip for my wife & I, as it was our first trip to Italy since my wife's cancer diagnosis 2 years ago. Italy is without a doubt our favourite place on the planet and we were not sure if she would see it again. Thanks to you, she has regained, what I call her Italian smile, it came across her face the minute we touched down. Money cannot pay for that smile!The hotel at Gatwick was literally a 2 minute bus ride from the airport, front row seats on the flight over and chauffeur driven limo to meet us at the airport was an amazing start to the weekend. When you said we were staying in a 3 star hotel, I was, if I'm honest, a little nervous, generally speaking, 3 star hotels in Italy means you are sleeping in a cow shed. Not at the Hotel Milano, what an amazing hotel, slap bang in the centre of Verona, with views of the arena, excellent breakfast, towels changed twice daily, good size bedrooms and very comfortable beds! The air con worked superbly, which was just as well with temperatures in the 30's every day. Thank you for making this trip memorable for both of us.
by Mike
Sittingbourne, KentAzura | Fjords Cruises | Reviewed 08 Jun 2020
First of all thank you for helping our son & daughter to organise such a great surprise trip for us. The only cruise I've wanted to do and it certainly came up to expectations. It really was fantastic and made a wonderful golden wedding present with all the immediate family with us - a rare occasion! A really big thank you for the wonderful bouquet of roses which arrived in our cabin. I was really touched by such a kind thought, they were beautiful and very much appreciated.
by Trish
Oxford, OxfordshireSerenade of the Seas | Worldwide Cruises | Reviewed 08 Jun 2020
There aren't many people I can say this to, but you've totally impressed my mother-in-law. Seriously, thank you for all you hard work in arranging the cruise on board Serenade of the Seas for my in-laws and four other guests. Not only were your clients located in in three corners of the UK, but you had to deal with very late booking alterations, various medical requirements, special dietary requirements and not to mention 6 very experienced cruisers.All arrangements were completed by you with professional calm and flourish and, due to your personal intervention and attention to detail, everything was perfect from beginning to end. The whole party, who have much cruising experience between them, were totally impressed and will undoubtedly be booking with you again.
by Michael
Canterbury, KentRocky Mountains Fly Drive | Canada | Reviewed 08 Jun 2020
Thank you for all your expertise - all arrangements worked superbly - but then again you know that! Definitely our best holiday ever.
by Julie
Canterbury, KentGarden Route Tour | South Africa | Reviewed 08 Jun 2020
Congratulations - you are just brilliant at your job, as we knew you would be. We have just returned from the most amazing holiday. Everything went like clockwork and we cannot thank you enough.The itinerary you gave us was perfect. If we had done Shamwari early on as our companions on the drives were doing then the impact / climax would just not have been the same. The President Protea was a perfect start for us - good swimming pool & very adequate 3 star. Lots to tell you about one day. Terrible drought there, but we just squeezed in before they tightened up. Thank you again so much.
by Jim
Hythe, KentOceania Cruises - Riviera | Mediterranean Cruises | Reviewed 08 Jun 2020
Just back from a fantastic holiday. Everything went really well with your arrangements. The Centurion Palace was great and I would strongly recommend it. It is a great location, very comfortable & very attentive staff. Venice was a trifle hot but lovely all the same and now competing for our favourite Italian city. All went well with the ship, again thank you for picking it for us; a perfect choice. Staff were great, cabin very comfortable and what was so nice is that there was no forced seating. We could eat in a choice of restaurants and there was always a table for two if we wanted it. The food choices were outstanding. The itinerary was very interesting particularly Kotor in Montenegro. We easily got a train into Florence and were bold over by Barcelona. A big thank you from us both for organising this trip, and believe it or not, we both came back a few pounds lighter!
by Andrew
Folkestone, KentGF Gran Costa Adeje | Tenerife | Reviewed 13 Feb 2019
Just got back from a trip to Tenerife organised by Sarah... The organisation was perfect... the flights, transfers and Hotel accommodation all worked perfectly and Sarah kept a look out to make sure we were OK throughout... those little personal touches are really appreciated... on our way to Canada with Sarah's help in September … Can't wait... cant recommend her services highly enough.
by Kevin Russell
Haywards Heath, Haywards HeathBEACHES TURKS & CAICOS | Bahamas | Reviewed 02 Dec 2017
I had never used a Travel Consultant before. Daniel was recommended to me at a number of networking events & when I was thinking of planning a holiday I contacted him. From here I noticed a different level of service than I had experienced with other travel sales channels.2 things stick out; 1. Daniel jumped on my request immediately. I was impressed by how he communicated at every step of the way & acted with pace. This created trust very quickly. 2. Daniel always left a next move. This is a very skilful approach to sales. I was never boxed in, always had an alternative & had options.I recommend Daniel & will be using him for all my future travel needs.
by Steve Knapp
Sheffield, SheffieldThe Palace | Malta | Reviewed 02 Dec 2017
Great 4 days in Malta organised by Daniel! My passport had only a couple of months left on it and I was worried that I'd need to quickly get a new one but Daniel checked Malta's entry rules and was able to put my mind at ease ...saving me a wodge of cash.
by Laura Billingham
Sheffield, SheffieldGrand Hotel Vesuvio Naples | Naples | Reviewed 02 Dec 2017
recently needed to arrange a long weekend break for my partner in Naples. within a couple of days were were able to book, confirm and have the paperwork sorted for us. Daniel took all the messing about which I hate doing and found us a 5*hotel deal. Brillìant service
by Richard Godley
Sheffield, SheffieldMadrid | Reviewed 06 Jun 2017
Hello JillOnce again we would like to thank you very much for giving us such a terrific service. Our recent holiday to Spain with Great Rail Journeys was not quite as straight forward as we had hoped partly because there were days added and two couples - one British and the other Australian.Thank you Jill for filling in all the missing paperwork for taxis. You must have spent considerable time sorting out that problem. For the four of us, nothing could have been more simple. Lovely, executive cars arrived at each designated meeting place with superb drivers.It was pure pleasure to be picked up and delivered so efficiently. There were absolutely no hitches. Thanks must also go to GRJ for providing such excellent transportation. Mr and Mrs Atkinson have asked me to give you their sincere thanks to which we add our own.Thank you Jill Sincerely The Atkinsons and Boylands. June 2017
by Sandi Boyland
Eastbourne, West sussekSanta Maria Suites | Milan | Reviewed 15 May 2017
Joelle arranged this trip for myself and my husband for his 50th birthday. She put a lot of thought and care into selecting the perfect little hotel, close to the city centre and within easy reach of the station. Cannot recommend her skills highly enough!
by Bacon
Bocking, BraintreeMediterranean Palace | Cyprus | Reviewed 16 Aug 2016
Nothing is ever too much for Kristina, no matter how many times we change our mind or budget Kristina still manages to make it work. Kristina goes the extra mile and ensures we are spoilt and well looked after on every trip
by Rebecca
Keen, MarlboroughLe Victoria | Mauritius | Reviewed 11 Nov 2015
Hi Kristina, Everything was brilliant thank you. Mauritius and Le Victoria were AMAZING!! The place was stunning, and the people were so friendly, everyone from the cab driver from the airport to the hotel to the people checking us in on the way home, couldn’t have helped us any more even if they wanted to. I would 100% recommend Mauritius and Le Victoria to anyone asking about it. Thank you for all you done, to help get it booked.
by A Button
Poulton, EssexDREAMS LA ROMANA | Dominican Republic | Reviewed 12 Sep 2015
HiJenny,Thank–you for organising our trip to Dominican Republic everything was brilliant and went really well,as expected when you are organising things, the resort was brilliant much better than we had imagined and we were upgraded to fantastic rooms 7303 and 7304 they were the most recently refurbished and also used for the preferred club.I know its early but sometimes its best to try and sort things early so for next August we are thinking of Dreams St Thomas ? but do not think we can fly there direct from UK so were thinking of 3 nights New York, 12-14 nights at Dreams and then fly back direct if available or via Miami with 2 nights there.Or another thought is Aruba I know the Dreams there does not open till 2018 but I think there are similar chain there.Please could you look at these for August 2016.Thanks again for yet another great holiday this year, how do you manage to ALWAYS get our holidays so spot on ?
by Peter Watts
ESSEX , ESSEXVilla Marija Tucei Croatia | Med & Short Haul | Reviewed 11 Sep 2015
Myself and Harry would just like to say a HUGE thank you for helping us arrange our holiday. It was the most amazing holiday, Tucepi is the most beautiful place. Our room was lovely, a great view right out to the Marina and the beach, and Villa Marija was the perfect location. Thank you again, will definitely be returning, and also will be contacting you again for future holidays!
by K Milner
Tewkesbury, GlosAtrium prestige thalasso spa | Rhodes | Reviewed 06 Sep 2015
Just back from yet another exceptional trip planned for us by Jackie. The hotel was outstanding, fantastic facilities, great location and fabulous service.Jackie goes above and beyond to find the perfect holiday for us each time we've used her services. I cannot recommend her enough.
by Lisa Whitehead
Swinderby , LincsMitsis family village | Kos | Reviewed 31 Aug 2015
Not long back from our 3rd holiday of the year all booked by Jackie, Jackie is excellent at finding great hotels at fantastic prices. firstly we booked a holiday in Mexico at the Occidental Grand Excaret on the Riviera Maya. For the May bank holiday weekend we asked Jackie if she could find us something in the UK with a hot tub for a relaxing break, Jackie quickly replied with a few options and we ended up booking Conifer Lodges at Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway. The price through Jackie was cheaper than what we could of booked it ourselves. Lastly we have not been long back from Kardemeana in Kos, this one proved a bit more difficult to find as we'd been spoilt in Mexico, Jackie spent a lot of time finding us exactly what we asked for and yet again managed to find us a fantastic hotel at a brilliant price. I look forward to booking next years holiday's with Jackie as I know she'll exceed our expectations for what we want.
by linda turner
carlisle, carlisleAegean Village | Kos | Reviewed 22 Aug 2015
I have just come back from a fantastic week in Kos which Jackie booked at very short notice for my daughter and myself. I was a little nervous about travelling alone with my 7 year old for the first time as my husband was working and, to compound matters, I had an injured shoulder. Jackie arranged everything to make the holiday as easy for me as possible. The hotel was lovely and just what we wanted - we had a great break.Before contacting Jackie I had already wasted almost a full day trawling the internet and tying myself up in knots. Jackie did all the research, gave me loads of suggestions and had the whole holiday booked and organised in just a few hours. All I had to do was pack and turn up for the flight. Next time I'm not going to even think about searching online - I'll get straight in touch with Jackie and ask her to sort it out for me! Thanks Jackie! xx
by Claire Mitchell
Darlington, Co DurhamSol Costa Blanca | Benidorm | Reviewed 17 Jul 2015
Hi Kristina The holiday was more than fantastic thank you, they looked after us brilliantly at the hotel, upgraded the room. Best holiday ever, we loved every minute.Thank you so very much for arranging it all
by S Bowden
Swindon, SwindonEl Nido Resort | Faraway | Reviewed 15 Jul 2015
Hi Kristina, We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the fabulous booking you made us, it far exceeded our expectations, it was out of this world. All the hotels were fabulous. El Nido Resort, Apulit Island, was like a piece of Paradise. We would gladly recommend you and your company to all our friends and family, and look forward to working with you again.
by Mr & Mrs K Manning
Greenford, MiddlesexEl Paso PortAventura | Salou | Reviewed 04 Jun 2015
Hi Olivia, Just wanted to let you know that we had a fabulous holiday at El Paso Hotel, It was excellent, the food plentiful and there was a good selection. All geared up for families, with a lovely big pool. Being close to the theme park and water park was the icing on the cake, we even managed to spend one morning on the beach, this was in walking distance. Our private transfer was perfect, no worrying about the childrens seats as they were in our bus. Thank you so much for arranging everything for me and my family, you were so helpful and nothing was too much trouble, you certainly made the whole holiday experience for the eleven of us a complete joy. I will certainly be using you again.
by Susan Brotherhood
Welwyn Garden City, HertsPlaya Pesquero | Cuba | Reviewed 05 Mar 2015
Hi Kristina, We had a fabulous time. The resort had everything you could want, everyone catered for, people really friendly. The restaurants had a good variety of food, beaches & sea. It was lovely. Thank you very much for finding us this gem.
by P Harding
Cirencester, GlosDubai | Reviewed 30 Jan 2015
We have used Karens expertise on at 3 far away trips to-date and each time we have found Karen to be excellent in offering advise and great service, along with competitive pricing. the hotels have always been first class so we look forward to our next two trips with confidence.
by john
redditch, worcestershireTailormade trip | Australia | Reviewed 02 Dec 2014
Everything went according to plan thank you.The hotel in Sydney was in a great location, as was the accommodation in Port Douglas, Darwin and Singapore. The excursions you organised were excellent, we thank you very much for your help and patience whilst organising our holiday. I have a few ideas for some future adventures so will be in touch for your help.
by K Sayers
Nottingham, NottinghamLe Preskil Beach Resort | Mauritius | Reviewed 22 Oct 2014
Just back from our latest holiday at Le Preskil Beach Resort in Mauritius arranged by Dany. Once again every detail was spot on and we had a room upgrade to a "Prestige Cottage". When you travel - Go Dany!
by Jeremy Lillies
Mitcham, LondonWrite a Review... Register /
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