28 December 2018

River Cruising was a new experience for me and one I thoroughly enjoyed. Uniworld have introduced their new brand “U by Uniworld” which is River Cruising aimed at the younger market. The minute I stepped on board I knew we were going to have four fantastic and fulfilled days. U by Uniworld have two ships “the A” and “the B”. My 4-night Christmas Market cruise was on board “the A” cruising along the Danube. The décor was very modern and chic with funky dining areas, great staterooms and the most comfortable bed ever. Our 4-night Christmas Market cruise took in Budapest, Bratislava & Vienna. These were cities I had never been to and the beauty of a River Cruise is that you get to see multiple places in one trip. We had one overnight in Budapest and one overnight in Vienna which gave us the chance to explore the local nightlife and the Christmas markets by night. Most of the sailing took part during the night which meant we could get off the boat during the day and take in the wonderful sights of these cities. Your cruise is based on a half board basis, so your breakfast and evening meal is included. They serve a light breakfast of pastries and tea/coffee in the lounge from 7am however if you prefer to get up a little later you can avail of brunch from 9.30-12.30. Your evening meal will be buffet style some nights and A la carte on other nights. The menu does vary daily and often typical dishes from the destinations you are visiting will be served. While on board you can avail of a drinks package which can work out at great value for money and you have up until your third day onboard to decide if you would like to purchase this or not. There are 50 bikes on board so taking a cycle through the old streets in Budapest would be a great way to see the sights however I didn’t chance it in the snow! Yoga, stretching classes and a gym can also be found onboard if you are feeling energetic. There are excursions included in your cruise fare which normally consist of walking tours, bicycle tours, organised group evenings off the cruise. As well as this, there are also optional excursions that you can book while on board. Overall, we had a fantastic few days and we got to meet great people from all over the world! If you would like to find out more about which River Cruise would suit you best don’t hesitate to get in touch.

28 December 2018

For a long time, the Maldives has been on my bucket list and I am one happy girl to say I got there to experience the pure beauty of this destination. We flew with Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi is an extremely efficient and easy airport to transfer through, so the journey was seamless. The minute we stepped off the aircraft the Indian Ocean heat hit us and considering we had left a 3-degree Dublin behind the heat was very welcomed! We then boarded a speedboat to take us to Kuramathi Island Resort. The speedboat takes roughly 1hour 30minutes however there is also the option to take a seaplane which will only take 20minutes. It is difficult to put into words how I felt when our speedboat pulled up at the jetty and we disembarked. It was an amazing feeling and I knew that I had arrived somewhere quite special. Picture perfect clear turquoise water and the nicest white sand I have ever seen in my life. Kuramathi Island Resort is one of the most comprehensive all-Inclusive resorts in the Maldives offering 9 A la carte restaurants, 3 Buffet restaurants, 7 bars and 11 villa categories to choose from. I was lucky enough to stay in a Deluxe Water Villa which are set in the middle of the lagoon. Waking up to pure turquoise water every morning was heaven. Over the 4 days I spent in Kuramathi we enjoyed time in the spa, snorkelling, walks on the sandbank, a sunset cruise and amazing food. I can honestly say it was one of the most relaxing, enjoyable destinations I have ever been to. As they say in Kuramathi, relaxation isn’t just about peace of mind or enjoying a hobby, relaxation is a process that decreases the effects of stress on your mind and body and you will 100% relax here! The Maldivian climate is tropical equatorial, generally humid and warm so it is an ideal destination year-round. Browse through my photos to give you an idea of what Kuramathi is all about but do feel free to get in touch for a chat about what the Maldives offers for you! “On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it” - Jules Renard

01 June 2016

This year, we decided we needed a little sun on the bones early on in the year so in April we travelled to the Costa Del Sol in Spain to the small town of Nerja, positioned at the eastern tip of the Costa Del Sol about 50km from Malaga. Travelling with two small children, we decided to take an all-inclusive package and we stayed in the 4* Marinas De Nerja Aparthotel. This complex was ideal for our family and taking the all-inclusive option meant all of our meals, snacks and drinks were included in our package price. We had a 2 bedroom apartment which was very spacious with all mod cons. Located directly on the beachfront with the tourist area of Nerja only 2km away, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and I would highly recommend this resort. The heart of Nerja is its spectacular Balcón de Europa the "Balcony of Europe", a magnificent promenade along the edge of a towering cliff, once the site of the great Moorish castle, with sweeping panoramic views of the Mediterranean and the small coves and beaches below, against an awesome backdrop of hazy blue mountains. There is plenty to do around Nerja besides just soaking up the sun. You can travel to the Nerja Caves which include archaeological treasures such as paintings over 20,000 years old and other pre-historic remains. Rambling the shops, the little alleyways and people watching from the many bars and restaurants was my favourite thing to do along with walking the beautiful white sand Burriana Beach. One day we took the local bus into Malaga City which was a fabulous day out. Malaga is full of cathedrals, art museums and some amazing shops. We had a beautiful lunch in the city and strolled down the port with some ice creams. We really enjoyed our day trip and I would highly recommend Malaga for a weekend break. Nerja is definitely the prettiest town in Spain I have been to.

13 March 2013

We decided to stop off in Dubai on the way back from our honeymoon in Mauritius and it really was the perfect combination. After spending 10 nights on the beach in Mauritius it was an easy decision to stay in downtown Dubai but of course we did visit Jumeirah Beach on a couple of occasions. We booked into The Address Hotel downtown for 5 nights. This hotel is in a fabulous location with very easy access to the largest shopping centre in the world “The Dubai Mall”. I think I could have spent the whole 5 days in here and I still would not have managed to get into every shop. There is over 1200 shops and over 160 food outlets. There is also plenty of entertainment including an Aquarium, an ice rink and a cinema. The Address downtown sits right at the Burj Khalifa Lake. The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world with and it is over 170 storeys high. The Dubai fountains play in the lake every 15 minutes and this is really something spectacular. You could spend many an hour in this area just people watching and soaking up the fantastic atmosphere. No trip to Dubai is complete without a visit to Dubai’s first 7* hotel The Burj Al Arab. You need to have a booking to gain entrance to the hotel so whether you make a reservation for dinner, afternoon tea or a drink at the bar with fabulous views it is well worth it. We choose to have afternoon tea which consisted of about 7 courses and to say we were fulfilled would be an understatement. Everything is completely luxurious and gold is a massive feature throughout the hotel. On another evening we booked an evening Desert Safari. This was an amazing evening with our fantastic driver who got such a thrill out of seeing us being thrown around his jeep. Of course everything is completely safe and these drivers and very skilled and trained in what they do. We started off with some dune bashing followed by a barbeque and a dance show. Everything was included in the price including a couple of very amusing pictures. We didn’t make it to Ski Dubai but this is the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East so if you are keen on the slopes this is another great family day out. Jumeirah beach is about a 15 minute drive from downtown Dubai depending on traffic. There are lots of fantastic hotels situated along the beach so if you do prefer to be right by the sand I can certainly recommend a few. All in all I can now completely say I understand what the fascination with Dubai is and I do hope to return some day. Dubai is great for a winter sun destination with direct flights from Dublin and some fantastic hotels to choose from.

13 March 2013

Mauritius……….WOW !! I absolutely adored every second I spent here. Mauritius has so much to offer for couples, friends and of course families. Being a travel agent who specialises in Honeymoons is not so easy when it comes to planning your own honeymoon. I personally think your Honeymoon is one of the most important holidays you will ever take and of course your first as husband and wife so it has to be spot on. We knew exactly what type of honeymoon we wanted so after many evenings of discussion we finally decided on Mauritius. Mauritius enjoys a tropical climate with year-round heat which makes it a great destination any time of year. Winter runs from May to October with summer being November to April. We got married towards the end of May so I knew with temperatures in winter getting up to 26 degrees it would be perfect for us. We chose to head to Belle Mare on the east coast and the minute we arrived at our hotel we were instantly met with the kindest, gentlest and friendliest staff who made our stay completely perfect. We had booked one of the hotels private villa’s which came complete with our own butler and private heated pool. It was complete luxury and a very special time which is just how we wanted it. The hotel we chose came on an All Inclusive basis which is always something I recommend to clients. The value for money to have all your meals and beverages included is certainly worthwhile. You can really have the best of both worlds in Mauritius with days lazing on the tropical white sand & turquoise water beaches or you can fulfil your days with activities. There are lots of tours and day trips you can take which will take you through the South West of the Island with some amazing scenery. There is also the Casale Nature and Leisure Park where you can do quad biking and zip lining. Water sports will include kite surfing, fishing, diving and of course swimming with wild dolphins. Wellbeing is also very much part of most of the hotels with some even offering yoga and retreats. We also completed a cookery course one morning and even though my husband is a chef it was great fun making lots of yummy foods. We were completely amazed at how beautiful Mauritius was. It was completely lush and definitely a destination I would highly recommend and who knows I may return someday!

14 February 2011

In June 2010 I was lucky enough to be selected to travel to Mexico on an educational trip to visit many of the fabulous hotels. I was totally blown away by the place and will hopefully return some day. Mexico is very easy to get to with a new direct flight from London as well as many others routes. There is something for everyone in Cancun whether you are considering it for an active holiday with friends, a relaxing break with the family or indeed hugely popular for your honeymoon. I spent six nights in Cancun and each night was spent in a different hotel……tiring but it is great to be able to provide my clients with firsthand knowledge of the different areas and hotels that are suitable for you. If you are looking to have an active break with friends then “hotel zone” is the place to stay. Right in the heart of all the activity you will find some of the best hotels with an abundance of facilities along with restaurants, shops, bars and many nightclubs. Definitely check out “Coco Bongos” for one of the most memorable nightclubs you have ever been to. If you are looking for more of a relaxed holiday with family or a romantic Honeymoon Riviera Maya is definitely the area to be in. Most of the hotels are set amongst fabulous garden areas with direct access to private beachs and lots of facilities on site. Some of the hotels can be quite a distance from Hotel Zone but there is also Playa Del Carmen for some nice evenings of restaurants, cafes and fabulous night markets. We took a day trip to The Mayan ruins of Tulum which, only an hour from Playa del Carmen, undoubtedly has one of the most breathtaking settings that I saw. The only significant large scale Mayan ruin on the coast, it is perched on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. This was a great day out with lots of history, fabulous scenery and amazing views. We also took ourselves to XCaret which is located along Riviera Maya and it is the only Eco- archeological park in Cancun. You can come here to enjoy a fantastic day out with underground river rafting, tropical jungle trails, butterfly pavilion, coral reef aquarium, marine turtle area and plenty more. I had a fabulous day here and it is definitely worth while making the day trip. I experienced The Dreams Hotels, Secrets Resorts, Now Resorts and many more. If you would like to talk to me about any hotel in particular or indeed if you are looking for some suggestions just let me know and I will be delighted to help you in your search to finding the perfect hotel and area for your trip of a lifetime!!!

25 May 2010

Fabulous weather, unique culture, great food, amazing beaches and luxury hotels! Thailand really has something to offer for everyone whatever you enjoy doing. When planning my holidays I concentrate on value for money along with some luxury thrown in. Thailand certainly proved to meet all my expectations and I definitely plan to return some day. We started our trip in Bangkok and spent out first 4 nights in The Shangri La Hotel which was just amazing. Bangkok is generally just a stop off point on your way through Thailand but I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of day trips and tours you can avail of. Some of my highlights can be seen in my photos - be sure to check them out. The floating markets, The Grand Palace, The Reclining Buddha, The Bridge Over The River Kwai and of course the famous Tiger Temples. There is lots of shopping to be done in Bangkok and you can certainly pick up lots of bargains. Next stop was an hour’s flight away to the island of Koh Samui. Although Koh Samui is very commercialised nowadays there is some fantastic beaches there and plenty of wonderful secluded hotels to get away from it all. We spent 6 nights there and experienced both sides of the Island, the quiet part and the hustle and bustle of Chaweng Beach. Koh Samui is also a gateway to many islands such as Ko Phangan which is famous for its full moon parties. There are plenty of boat trips you can take along with elephant rides and a must is an afternoon of Thai cooking lessons. We then headed for the southern province on Thailands Andaman seaboard to Krabi and Phi Phi. When we arrived into Krabi Airport I knew I was really going to love this place. You are surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and fabulous scenery that is out of this world. Ao Nang beach is full of shops and lovely restaurants so definitely not to be missed. From Ao Nang pier you can take some fabulous boat trips to famous beaches such as Railay beach and Phi Phi is only two hours away. It is truly wonderful to see it buzzing with so much going on now. The beaches here are definitely one of the nicest and I would highly recommend Phi Phi for anybody who is looking for clear blue skies, fabulous diving and again wonderful scenery. Overall this was without a doubt this was one of my favourite holidays to date and I cannot wait to share so much more information with you. I have lots of tips for travelling around Thailand and saw some wonderful hotels along my way. The whole Thai culture inspired me and the people were just so friendly - I can’t wait to return!!

25 May 2010

July 2009 and I was fortunate enough to attend the launch of the new Celebrity Cruise Ship “Equinox”. Celebrity Cruise Ships are part of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and are known as the 5 star product – they certainly proved it to me. I always had a perception that a cruise was an expensive way to holiday and perhaps something you do once you retire. I have certainly been proven wrong and I would now encourage all of my clients to try and take a cruise as there is something for everyone and a great way to see many parts of the world on the one trip. Cruises are now also great value for money. I flew direct from Dublin to Southampton and with the port only ten minutes away it was a very smooth journey. The check in process at the port was extremely efficient and after a short time we boarded “Equinox”. I had never been on a cruise ship before so when I boarded I admit I was completely blown away. The ship can accommodate 2850 passengers and it’s huge! My Stateroom was a Deluxe Ocean View with balcony and as all the staterooms have been designed by woman all the little touches were absolutely fantastic and made me very comfortable. 80% of the staterooms have balconies which are wonderful to relax or even enjoy an evening drink before dinner. I now know that a cruise has so much to offer and I would highly recommend you consider one. There is a wide range of activities on offer with something for everyone including a real grass lawn on the top deck, a Martini ice bar and excellent entertainment in the theatre. Other features on board were the Aqua Spa by Elemis, a gym with classes you can participate in if you are feeling energetic, relaxing sun lounger's by the swimming pool and fabulous shops for browsing with very good prices for buying. There was also a fantastic library for reading in relaxation or a casino for all the late night spenders. There is a wide range of dining facilities with something to suit everyone and speciality restaurants for something extra special. With service that treats you like you’re a celebrity and one member of staff for every two guests you will never be long looking for something. The variety of restaurants and bars was amazing. You would certainly never go hungry or thirsty! I found the whole cruise experience unique and an exciting way to holiday. I am already looking forward to my next cruise!

25 May 2010

It’s so good they named it twice! Although this was my second visit to New York I had a list of places to see and things to do the length of my arm. As I was travelling with my partner Peter and friends of ours I knew we would be busy so I decided 5 nights would be just perfect. Arriving into Newark Airport instead of JFK Airport can sometimes be quicker to transfer into Manhattan. You can take the airport tram to the airport train station and within 30 minutes you are in downtown Manhattan having missed all the traffic. Travelling Transatlantic can be a very long day so my “TC Top Tip” is not to go to bed on arrival. After dropping our bags at our hotel located on the Upper East Side on Lexington Avenue we jumped into a yellow cab (they are everywhere) to bring us to our first stop, Battery Park! This is located near the financial district and ground Zero. All the tour boats depart from Battery Park so we boarded a 2 hour boat ride to catch the best views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan Skyline. This boat trip was a great way to see a lot from the water. Another “TC Top Tip” If you would like to climb the Statue of Liberty - make sure to pre book! As Ground Zero was also in this area we took a few moments to visit “St Pauls Chapel”. This old church situated beside the Twin Towers remained undamaged and today hosts a memorial for the many firefighters who slept here during the 9/11 aftermath. If you are in this area and like shopping make sure to pop into one of New York’s best discount stores “Century 21”. Feeling sleepy after our first afternoon in Manhattan we decided to work our way back to our hotel. Dinner in little Italy and a stroll through China town finished our evening. When everyone tells you the shopping is great in New York believe them! I was in my element. Monday morning we took a bus from the port authority to the shopping outlet Woodbury Common. There is over 220 designer shops here all at discounted prices. If you are travelling with someone who does not like shopping be sure to leave them behind. I was blessed! And then there is Broadway, you simply cannot go to New York and not see a show. We choose to see “Chicago” and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There are many shows to see and something to suit the whole family. Purchasing a 48 hour hop on hop off ticket was worth every penny. These tours will take you all over Manhattan. Uptown, downtown you name it, you’ll see it. Other highlights of my trip were the Empire State building by day and Top of the Rock by night, a horse and cart around Central Park will make great memories for you and you may even spot a star. You will also see the John Lennon memorial in Central Park. If you like me, are a true fan of Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte & Samantha you will love the Sex & the City Tour. I was also lucky enough to get a sneak preview of Sex & the City Tour film 2! There are so many restaurants and so many bars in New York so it can be hard to choose but do make sure to take a night out in Greenwich or the Meat Packing District. Both of these areas are now very popular with gorgeous restaurants and bars. Times Square by day and by night will just make you smile. The lights, the crowds, the naked cowboy, the street performers and many other things will complete your trip to New York. New York has a lot to offer for everybody and it is definitely one I hope to return to!

25 May 2010

WOW, that’s what I call a holiday! After deciding our holiday for May 2007 was going to be Hawaii I tried my best to narrow it down to one Island. Hawaii is made up of six islands and it was a difficult choice. After doing thorough research into the various Islands I decided on Oahu & Maui. Flying direct from San Francisco to Oahu, Honolulu took just over 5 hours with a 20 min transfer to the hotel on Waikiki Beach. Arriving at our hotel our bags were brought to reception while we strolled through the tropical gardens of the hotel, bypassing a Hula Class. Aloha, we were in Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is full of surfers and water sports activities. Lying on the beach sipping a cocktail, surrounded by fire torches, watching the sunset was truly a blissful moment. One of the main reasons I chose Oahu was to take a trip to Pearl Harbour & the USS Memorial. We took a local bus across the road from the hotel and after an hour we were at Pearl Harbour. We spent 5 hours here and this was a fantastic historic place to visit. Three nights on Waikiki beach was just enough for us so time to leave the “Wacky Waikiki” and off to Maui! Maui is only a short 30 minute flight from Honolulu so very easy to transfer between the magical islands. We took a taxi from the airport to our hotel and our driver was more like a tour guide than a taxi man. It was wonderful to take in so much of the island history and we got all the top tips on where to go. After staying in a large resort on Waikiki beach to stay in a small intimate hotel at Kihei was more my idea of paradise. I felt extremely happy that we were going to stay here for ten nights. Although Maui is quite small we decided to hire a car. When I’m on holidays I like to be able to explore and with the cost of car hire being reasonable in Hawaii we decided this was the way forward. I have many memorable days and nights from Maui but I guess my two favourite would be “The Hana Highway” and “Our Maui Luau”. The Hana Highway - People say “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey” and I completely agree. The Hana Highway begins at a small town called Paia and finishes at Hana Town. It is almost a 60 mile stretch which connects Hana to Maui. Our tour guide had phenomenal knowledge to share with us along the way whilst playing all his favourite music for us all to have a giggle about. There is nothing quite like the scenery with waterfalls and eucalyptus groves and mile after mile of bamboo stretching from the Hana Highway while on the other side is bordered by the Pacific Ocean offering panoramic ocean views from any spot our driver parked. Swimming off a black sand beach and walking on red sand beaches was something I had not done before, wonderful. If you do decide to drive it make sure your tank is full because you certainly won’t find a petrol station along the way! On one of our nights in Maui we took the locals advice and decided to book ourselves a place on another of Maui’s most popular activity “The Luau”. Luaus are a typical Hawaiian night of buffet food, drink, music and dance. Most of the hotels host them so we chose a 5 star hotel on Wailea which also gave us the opportunity to see the hotel. Your evening begins with a shell lei popped around your neck and a Mai Tais in your hand! We experienced everything here, from fabulous cocktails, delicious food, and spectacular scenery around the hotels grounds, Tahitian dances, Hawaiian Hula, The Kalua Pig and most of all the breathtaking spectacular Maui Sunset. Maui has a lot to offer for everyone. There are backpacker’s beach huts, 5 star hotels and family Villas. There are Spectacular beaches and the Shops at Wailea will no doubt keep you occupied for a day with shops of all sorts from Gap to Guess to Tiffany’s. I really believe that your holiday experience should be as stress free from beginning to end. As I’m sure you can see from my diary that travel is my passion and I won’t stop until I see the world.