Preskil Beach Resort – dive into a dream

Built in typical Creole architecture and situated on a private peninsula, the Preskil is a true haven of peace, with an idyllic white sand beach and beautiful tropical gardens the resort offers panoramic views over the Lion mountain and outer islands. The culinary delights from three refined restaurants will tempt your taste buds and the Ylang Spa will help you relax in true Mauritian style…………………

Ultimate Holiday Destination – Sandals La Source Grenada – opening December 2013

This ultimate new Sandals destination of Grenada is opening in December 2013, but don’t worry bookings can be made now for December and into 2014. Located on the beautiful Pink Gin Beach, Sandals La Source Grenada offers you the ‘luxury included’ amenities and exceptional service that is associated with a Sandals Resort experience. 4 bars, 3 swimming, pools plus 2 river pools ensures that you will have plenty of space to relax and enjoy the Sandals experience…………….

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Punta Cana – an All Inclusive Experience

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana is in a word ‘incredible’. Sitting within 121 acres and fronting the Caribbean Sea the hotel has one of the most breathtaking beaches you could imagine. With 15 pools, 3 swim-up bars, 9 fabulous restaurants and 15 bars you will truly be spoilt for choice. And don’t forget the relaxing Rock Spa, Jack Nicklaus designed golf course and of course the one of the largest Vegas style casinos in the Caribbean, its a prefect place to find your inner Rock Star …….

Immerse in Luxury at Grand Lucayan, Bahamas

Situated on the breathtaking beach on the east side of Grand Bahama and close to the capital of Freeport, the Grand Lucayan offers a wealth of activities. Relax and enjoy the ocean views around one of the 3 superb swimming pools or tee-off at their superb 18 hole, par 72 golf course that caters for players of all levels. With so much for all the family, the Grand Lucaya will allow you to immerse yourself in luxury …….

Dazzling La Palmeraie, Ile Maurice

With it’s dazzling stretch of sandy white beach and the sound of the gentle breeze blowing through the palm fronds, your relaxation starts the moment you reach La Palmeraie. Designed with Moorish domes and beautiful arches, this luxurious and charming intimate retreat evokes the charm or Mauritius………….

Must Visit to 20 Degres Sud, The luxurious hotel

Hotel 20 Degres Sud is perfectly situated in the northwest of the beautiful island of Mauritius. The smallest luxurious hotel on the island offers charm and intimacy in a refined and tranquil setting, The rooms are uniquely designed and everything individually chosen down to the finest detail, giving a ‘just like home’ feel to this charming resort.

Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta- takes you to extremes

The Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta is in the heart of Riviera Nayrit and takes everything to extremes. 348 stylish and chic quest rooms have unsurpassed views of the Pacific Ocean. There is always something to do for all the family with a 7 hole pitch and putt, kids club and nightly entertainment, it’s all here and all yours……..

Hard Rock Hotel Cancun – ‘right in the middle of it’

The Hard Rock Hotel Cancun is ‘right in the middle of it’ and means never being far from the action of Cancun. This 12 story All Inclusive hotel offers fantastic dining options from a superb International Buffet in ‘The Market’ to Italian Fine Dining at Ciao. Stylish rooms and Rock Star suites combined with panoramic views will make this a waterfront experience which is second to none…….

Discover Italy

Fresh pasta, pizzas and good wine are the first things that come to mind when someone says Italy but, then again, I’m partial to really nice food. To others, Italy will be about heritage, culture and customs that date back to before the Romans…I think neither is wrong.
In a nutshell, everyone could find a reason to go to Italy as it has so many things to offer, and for every budget as well.

Getting there

The easiest way from the UK is by air and numerous scheduled and charter services offer a multitude of flights into a wide selection of Italian airports.For most of the holiday options I have explored, flights to Italy are the least part of the price whereas accommodation and transfers are quite expensive.

For those with more time on their hands, train travel may be an option but will be more expensive than flights. A coach trip, as with rail, would give you a lot more sight-seeing opportunities but, once again, takes substantially longer and wouldn’t save any money. One last option may appeal to a lot of people…what about a cruise? There are many cruise options from various ports and this can get you in to see other countries as well.

What to see

A huge draw to Italy is the architecture; fantastic Roman ruins and amazing basilicas abound from Milan in the North to Sicily in the South. The cities of Naples and Venice, on the West and East coasts provide a great opportunity for a twin centre break to see the ruins of Pompeii and then the amazing architecture of the Venetians. Flights are available between most Italian cities but I would suggest a train to get the most out of the landscape.

Italy also has some amazing beach resorts but you won’t find your typical all-inclusive holidays…they just don’t do them. Getting out and about seems to be the Italian way and local dining options always abound, and for all budgets as well. Keep an eye out for where the locals congregate in the evenings…this is usually a good way to get the best food at the best value.

Where to go

Italy isn’t just about beautiful cities and beaches; the fashion outlets of Milan, Lake Garda near Verona or Mount Etna in Sicily are other attractions to be considered. Villa holidays are quite popular and a self catering option gives you the opportunity to get the most from the local produce and to meet the locals at the markets.

Arctic Highlights with Hurtigruten Cruises

With a choice of direct flights from London Gatwick, Manchester and Belfast to Tromsø, it is even easier to access the wonders of Northern Norway and go in search of the elusive, magnificent Northern Lights.
Tromsø – Kirkenes – Tromsø

Day 1 Tromsø
Fly from the UK to Tromsø, the Gateway to the Arctic, and perhaps enjoy the sights of the this famous, compact city before boarding the ship and departing late in the afternoon.
Day 2 Honningsvåg and the North Cape
Following the scenic sailing through Magerøysund and after an early stop in Hammerfest, you arrive in Honningsvåg.
Day 3 Kirkenes, the voyage turning point The last port on the Voyage North is Kirkenes, and at longitude 30°E you are
actually further east than Istanbul and St. Petersburg.
Day 4 Hammerfest and Tromsø
Your first major stop of the day is Hammerfest. Here, you can enjoy an optional excursion including a visit to Hammerfest’s UNESCO
World Heritage site. Transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 5
After breakfast in your hotel this morning, a choice of winter excursions is available before you are transferred to Tromsø airport for your direct flight back to the UK.

To book Call 0114 3273436

Popular 5* Kurumba Maldives

The original Maldivian resort, popular Kurumba offers quality at great value, with a convenient location, traditional style, fabulous dining and sublime hospitality, all in cosmopolitan surrounds fringed with delectable beaches

4* Holidays to the Azores

Nine islands in the Atlantic Ocean make up the Azores. Located about 1,400km from Lisbon, and 3,900km from the United States, they are renowned for their relaxed pace of life and stunning natural beauty.

The Azores were discovered in the 15th century by Portuguese navigators in transit to the New World. They have been under the control of Portugal ever since, save for a spell under Spanish rule from 1580 to 1642, when the two countries were in union. The islands now have a permanent population of just over 246,000 people.

Green Island with an area of 744 square km and a population of just over 140,000, it’s the largest and liveliest of the isles. Its capital, Ponta Delgada, is a lively town with cobbled streets and old Portuguese architecture that offer clues as to its long heritage.

São Miguel and the island of Santa Maria form the Eastern Group of the Azores. Northwest of these two are the five islands that make up the Central Group: Faial, Graciosa, Pico, São Jorge and Terceira. Furthest out into the Atlantic are the Western Group of islands – Flores and Corvo. Because the islands were colonised gradually, over the space of two centuries, there is great variation in their culture and traditions.

The nine islands that make up the Azores are remote, unspoilt and scenic. Located in the middle of the North Atlantic, some 3900km from the east cost of America. They were first discovered by Portugese mariners in the 15th century. Today, holidays in the Azores are a popular choice for those seeking peace and relaxation in a pristine environment

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.

Pure Luxury – St Regis Mauritius

St Regis Mauritius

The St Regis Mauritius is set on the beautiful Le Morne beach in the South West of the Island. Although the hotel only opened in October 2012 the opulent Colonial Style architecture makes the hotel feel like it has been part of Mauritius’ heritage for may years.

The hotel prides itself on excellent service and each of the delightful rooms has beautiful sea views and access to personal Butler service. All rooms have fabulous bathrooms with sensuous egg shaped baths, I made the most of this and arranged for Hugo my butler to draw a luxurious perfumed bath which was very relaxing after a hard afternoon sunbathing.

The St Regis offers 6 restaurants and their Signature dining is at ‘Simply Indian’ where the menus are supervised by the award winning chef Atul Kutchar. We dined in the Floating Market which offers a fusion of Pan Asian cuisine, and it was here that I first tasted Wagyu Beef which certainly delighted my taste buds.

For those that wish to relax and chill, you can enjoy sunrise yoga on the lawn with the sound of the sea to relax you or take advantage of the 2000 sqm spa, where I experienced my best ever back massage.

If you are more energetic then the hotel also has a great Water sports Centre which is a centre of excellence for Kite surfing on the Island. They also offer a PADI Dive Centre and complimentary pedal and sail boats.

For Pampering and Style the St Regis is fantastic – call me for more details.

5* Holland America Line

For more than 139 years, Holland America Line has been a recognized leader in cruising, taking our guests to exotic destinations around the world. If you are looking for some of the most spacious and comfortable ships at sea, award-winning service, five star dining, extensive activities and enrichment programs and compelling worldwide itineraries, you’ve come to the right place. We are committed to our mission: through excellence, we create once-in-a-lifetime experiences, every time.

Today, Holland America Line’s fleet of 15 elegant, mid-size ships offers more than 500 sailings a year visiting all seven continents.

Always at the heart of the Holland America cruise experience is our warm and award-winning style of service that is never in the way and never out of reach. We sail with nearly one crew member for every two guests, providing the intuitive, gracious service that has long defined classic cruising. Our extensive onboard services, from special dining requests to full service laundry and dry cleaning services, are designed with your comfort and convenience in mind. Our specially trained crew takes pride in anticipating and fulfilling your every wish. From our waiters and bartenders to our chefs and wine experts, our spa technicians and fitness instructors to our officers and housekeeping staff, everyone is dedicated to providing you with the gracious and personalized service that will make your cruise vacation memorable. On board the ships of Holland America Line you’ll discover a cruise experience that is modern, fresh and appealing — in an ambiance that is timeless and refined.

SIGNATURE TOUCHES IN EVERY STATEROOM
Spacious, elegantly appointed staterooms, many with private verandahs
Luxurious Mariner’s Dream™ beds and premium linens
Daily housekeeping to tidy belongings and keep staterooms immaculate
Large, extra-fluffy Egyptian cotton towels
Lighted magnifying mirrors; massage showerheads; salon-quality hair dryers
Luxurious terry cloth bathrobes
Elemis Aromapure “Time to Spa” bath amenities
Televisions with DVD players
Generous storage
Safes for your valuables
Complimentary fresh fruit
Complimentary 24-hour in-room dining
Nightly turndown service
Complimentary shoeshine service
Complimentary ice service

To Book Call 0114 3273436 Now