19 March 2025

I finally ticked Marrakech off my bucket list – its been on it for years, but with direct flights with both Ryanair and Aer Lingus it was time to sort that out! It's just a short 3.5 hour flight to Marrakech yet you are transported somewhere wonderfully different. A place full of genuinely warm smiles, beauty, incredible architecture, sooooo many beautiful doors and tiles, along with great food and a little dash of chaos. We choose to stay in a Riad in the old town, riads are traditional Moroccan houses with an interior courtyard and intricate décor that reflect the rich culture of Morocco. We stayed in Riad 58 Blu which had just 5 rooms and a lovely rooftop terrace for breakfast. Ismail the manager looked after all the guests with a constant warmth. Our Riad was a 10 minute walk from Jemma el Fnaa square, its central location meant we could walk everywhere. The old city centre is very busy with motorbikes buzzing up and down narrow alleys, along with horse drawn karts and mini diggers (rebuilding continues from the earth quake in 2023). Between the bikes buzzing past you and the uneven ground, you really need to keep your wits about you walking around. If 4/5* hotels are more your thing, there are a number of hotels on the outskirts with shuttle buses into the old city throughout the day. If you are going for longer than a few days these offer a lovely mix of relaxation and a chance to explore the city. Options for day trips include the Atlas Mountains, exploring the coastal city of Essaouira, desert adventures in Agafay, the Ouzoud waterfalls or a hot air balloon ride. We opted for the latter, and it was an incredible experience. The 4.45am alarm call was well worth it, although we were unlucky to miss the sunrise as its was too cloudy, so we had the included Berber breakfast first and then our balloon ride. Twenty four people fitted into our basket and we soared 3000 ft above ground level, but as its so quiet and gradual you don’t feel the height. My parents are in their late 70’s and really enjoyed the experience too. We were back in our riad by 11am so you still have the rest of the day to explore. Highlights for me included Bahia Palace, Madrasa Ben Yousesef, sunset at Koutoubia, the Saadian Tombs, exploring the souks and soaking up the craziness of Jemma el Fnaa square. We also did a Hidden Marrakech walking tour which was fascinating, as its easy to get around to the main tourist sites and everything is close together. We didn’t make it to Badi Palace, Jardin Majorelle or Le Jardin Secret – but that just gives me a reason to come back! Alcohol is not widely available in restaurants and those that serve alcohol typically cater to tourists so they are more expensive but do offer a wider international menu. If you want to book such a restaurant I would definitely recommend booking well in advance. We ate in La Pergola, DarDar, Kosybar and Cafe Arabe and all were excellent – but were turning people away who didn’t have reservations. Prices are similar to home. We also ate in some more local cafes where the price was about 50% cheaper and the food delicious. Top Tips * Book restaurants well in advance if you want alcohol * Download the Medina map from Google maps in advance * Make sure each person in your group knows the name of where you are staying – immigration will ask * Prebook Le Jardin Majorelle well in advance * If you want to go to the iconic Bacha Coffee arrive early to avoid the long queue * Wear flat shoes and watch your step, the ground is very uneven * Dress modestly, especially if visiting mosques and cultural sights * eSims worked perfectly for us for data * ATM queues can be long, plan your cash – but cards are widely accepted * Irish visitors do not require a visa

03 December 2024

Words can’t capture the magic of my recent adventure to Sri Lanka! From the breath-taking beauty, the diversity of both the people and the scenery, the incredible food to the genuine warmth of everyone we met, this country has kept a piece of my heart! I will try and do the trip justice for you, without writing a 20,000-word essay! I travelled to Sri Lanka on an educational trip, so we had just 1 week to pack as much as we could into our itinerary. We got through a lot in a short space of time and couldn’t see everything this fantastic island has to offer. I would definitely recommend at least 10 days to replicate a similar itinerary, ideally even more if time allows. We flew to Columbo via Doha with Qatar Airways with an easy 2-hour layover enroute. Economy class with Qatar is really good, with comfy seats, great entertainment and good food. We had the opportunity to experience Qatar Airways Business Class Q Suites for one leg and they are simply incredible! What I love about Sri Lanka is the diversity of the experience, you have spectacular beaches, you can go on safari, visit tea plantation covered mountains, with countless temples and beautiful towns to explore too. We were escorted throughout our visit by our driver/guide Ananda whose warmth and knowledge added so much to the experience. I cannot underestimate what having your own guide adds to your experience. Ananda was on hand to answer our countless questions, explain the sights as we passed them by, advise on things like tipping and cultural sensitivity, as well as bringing laughter and fun to our trip every day. Our first day of action brought us to Dambulla Cave Temple, the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. After a short climb you must take off your shoes before entering the temple complex (bring extra socks to wear in the temple as the ground can be very hot!). As you work your way through the different caves you can feel how special this place is to the Buddhist community. There are approx. 153 Buddha statues throughout the complex, many intricately painted. From Dambulla we continued to Minneriya National Park to spot our first elephants. Minneriya is home to the largest gathering of Asian elephants in the world, so you have a very good chance of seeing them. We were very lucky and saw at least 20. The guides are excellent at locating the herds and the animals don’t feel threatened by the jeeps, as they are used to them being nearby and are not hunted in the park. It was a really unique experience to be so close to such majestic animals and witness them in their natural habitat. A 4am wakeup call the following morning was worth every yawn, as we climbed the iconic Sigirya to watch the sunrise. Its 1236 steps to the top, ascending some fairly sheer rock face, but you can go at your own pace and anyone with reasonable fitness shouldn’t have an issue. The heat is probably the hardest part, even at 5.30am it was tough going at times. We were at the top in about 45 minutes and watching the sunrise from that vantage point was stunning. We had a guide with us, which I definitely recommend, as they can tell you all about the history of the rock fortress that sits atop the mountain. If you have a fear of heights the steps might be tricky for you, especially on the way down as you notice the height more looking down than up. Allow plenty of time to get up and down, and to enjoy the views and explore different ruins of the fortress. From Sigiriya we headed south to Kandy, and that evening we visited the sacred Temple of the Tooth. The golden-roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth houses Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of the Buddha. We queued for about an hour in the heat for a glimpse of the tooth itself, but to be honest a visit to the overall temple during that time would be fine as you still get to see the temple itself and feel a sense of the sacred nature of the temple to the visitors. Train journeys are another must do on any trip to Sri Lanka, so the following morning we took one of their famous trains from Kandy to Hatton, right up through the tea plantations. The journey took about 2 hours. We sat in 1st class which was air conditioned but as a result you can’t open the windows to really appreciate the view as much. However, you can go back to 2nd class and look out the open doors or jump into an unoccupied seat there, as their windows open fully. Passing through the tea plantations, the colourful clothing of the workers stands out against the fields of green. We spent the next 2 nights in the Ceylon Tea Trials, recently made famous after featuring in BBC’s Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby. The hotel is made up of 6 stand-alone bungalows, each with 4-6 bedrooms and their own staff. You stay on an all-inclusive basis with a friendly team of staff to cater to your every need. From the bungalows you can enjoy a Tea Factory tour, and water sports on Castlerea Reservoir. The increasingly well-known Pekoe Trail can be accessed from here too, or if you are feeling a little less active you can enjoy waymarked 5km walks that bring your through the local small towns– but make sure you wear leech socks! Part two is in a separate blog post (there just isn't enough space in one sorry!)

28 November 2024

Part 2... We departed the Ceylon Tea Trails on the morning of day 6 and headed south. This was our longest travelling day as its a 6 hour journey from Hatton to Yala National Park, but it was broken up with a visit to Nuwaya Eliya and a journey on the fabulous Calypso Train. You can also transfer by sea plane from Castlerea Reservoir to the Yala which will save you hours and offer incredible views of the country as you fly south. The Calypso Train has only recently come back into service and is a beautiful old steam train with a fantastic open carriage mid-way with live music to enjoy. By far my favourite part of this trip was the fact this train travels over and stops on the famous Nine Arch Bridge. You can get off the train for 10 minutes to take photos and it was an incredible experience to see the bridge in such a unique way. We loved our hour on the Calypso Train and it will definitely be going into all my clients itineraries. Travelling on a comfortable mini bus means long journeys go by very quickly and you can sit and watch the towns and people of Sri Lanka pass you by, as you get a little glimpse into their daily lives. Do pack a neck pillow though, as some power naps are important with all the early starts! We were up early the following day for a morning game drive in Yala National Park to spot the elusive leopards. Again our luck held out as we spotted a leopard lounging in a tree, along with lots of other animals including a rare tusked elephant. Yala National Park is located along the Indian Ocean so you have the wonderful mix of safari and beach together. We had monkeys running through reception in our magnificent hotel for the night, the Uga Chena Huts - don’t let the term Hut fool you, they are 5* ‘huts’ with private pools. The previous day an elephant had been right up at the hotel – don’t worry they ring your room to tell you not to leave while there is an elephant on site!. We departed Yala and headed west along the ocean road heading towards our final stop. We spent the night in The Fortress hotel in Koggala and our last excursion brough us to the beautiful fortress town of Galle. Galle Fort was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old part of the town within the fortress walls is home to boutique hotels, markets, cafés, antique shops and lots of beautiful and historical buildings. We only had 2 hours in Galle but were all in agreement that its somewhere you could happily spend a day or two. We had lunch in the fantastic Galle Fort Bazaar Hotel, a little oasis of green within the fortress. Our last few hours were spent on sunbeds between the pool and the beach, as we finally got to have a dip in the Indian Ocean before our late night return flight. I can honestly say we all agreed we would be back to this magnificent island and have no doubt that a wonderful adventure awaits all visitors. Sri Lanka can be mixed with a stop over in Doha or some clients add on a few nights in Mauritius on the way home, to chill out – although there are plenty of amazing hotels along the coast in Sri Lanka perfect for the final chill time before going home. Give me a call if you are thinking about your own Sri Lankan adventure, I will happily talk your ear off about this wonderful country and check our my Instagram Highlight for even more photos. A few tips and packing suggestions… Pack antibacterial wipes (handy for feet too) and gel * Bring a small hand fan – the humidity in temples can be intense * Pack a reusable water bottle – there is a strong focus on sustainability * Bring a light rain jacket, it might rain but it's not cold, you would be very hot in a heavy one * One jumper – even in the mountains it doesn’t get cold at night * Neck pillow for your flight and long journeys (helpful for a snooze after an early start) * Visit your GP for vaccination advice and bring mosquito repellent and creams

25 August 2024

For the past few years our family holidays have taken us to Italy. We have returned 3 years now, I am not normally someone to go back to the same place but for Italy I would definitely make an exception, especially traveling to different areas. The Italians do campsites on a scale like no one else, they can be very large, but this means excellent facilities and with 3 young children we loved the idea of a large site bustling with life and entertainment for all the family. Plus our eldest is a coeliac so this plays a big part in our location decisions, and Italy is amazing for coeliacs, so many choices and a really high level of understanding – it seems both Italy and Ireland have the highest rates of coeliac disease in Europe! (Check out the list of places to eat around Lake Garda at the end of the blog). We stayed in mobile homes which are a great choice for families, more room than hotels, separate bedrooms, convenient cooking and an outside area for the kids to make friends. Eurocamp have some fantastic accommodation options in each of these sites. So here is a quick summary of where we have been and what we loved about each location: Bella Italia, Lake Garda - Summer 24 Fantastic site with loads on offer. We flew to Milan and hired a car, but Verona is a lot more convenient and you could get a transfer, but we like to have a car. The site is large and has loads of family friendly activities and restaurants, as well as a pharmacy, supermarket and shop. Highlights for us included being able to walk into nearby beautiful Perschiera del Garda (there is also a little train from the site daily), pedaloes on the lake (only €10!), Gardaland trip (recommend the evening tickets in the very hot months, shorter queues and less heat!), a day trip to Verona (such a beautiful compact city) and an evening in Sirmione. Only downside was the pool doesn’t have enough sun loungers but chilling in the pool was needed due to the heat anyway. Definitely recommend 9/10 Union Lido, Venice – Summer 22 Union Lido is one of the biggest camp sites in Europe, now this may turn some people off immediately but I have to say we loved it. It doesn’t feel crowded and the large size means there are amazing facilities – but you are not queueing for things! Two big pool complexes, including one with great waterslides, keeps the kids happy and cool. There are also a number of restaurants, a supermarket, ice cream bar, bakery and pharmacy. Its located right on the beach and has easy access to near by towns by bike or bus. We took a day trip to Venice which was a huge hit, we grabbed the bus from outside the campsite and then a water bus right into Venice. We didn’t hire a car on this occasion, which was unusual for us but we didn’t miss it. Venice Marco Polo is an easy transfer to the site. Again definitely recommend 9.5/10 Park Albatros, Tuscany – Summer 21 This was the first of our Italian camping adventures and started our Italian love affair! For this site you will need to hire a car, its about an hour south of Pisa in the Tuscan countryside. Again it’s a large site but not as big as Union Lido or Bella Italia. The pool complex is really impressive with loads of space for everyone and great lagoon pools that are so safe for younger kids. The nearby town is well worth a visit and we loved our day trip to the wonderful walled city of Volterra. There is a huge stretch of beach across from the site, but to be honest the walk in the heat is tough so we stayed by the pool, but there are some nice restaurants along the beach you can walk to in the shade of the evening. We combined our camping with 2 nights in Pisa, which the kids loved too. Again definitely recommend, perhaps more so for families with younger kids 9/10 I could happily live on a diet of bruschetta, pizza, gelato and red wine, and I can assure you I did my best to! Get in touch and we can start planning your perfect Italian family holiday today. Gluten Free favourites around Lake Garda Bella Italia Campsite - La Terrazze Restaurant Perschiera del Garda - Bella Vista Restaurant (almost the whole menu is GF!) and Dolci Sogni bakery 100% gluten free with fantastic bread, cakes and pasta Verona - La Costa in Bra (“best pizza ever” according to my little coeliac) and Grom, a fully gluten free gelato shop Sirmione - Restaurante Pizzeria Modi Useful tools for GF travellers in Italy FindMeGlutenFree app and the AIC app, the Italian Coeliac Society, you can join for 2 weeks, really handy for shopping and restaurant suggestions.

13 May 2024

In May we returned to Croatia for the 4th time. To say I am in love with this country is an understatement. The sea really is as blue as the photos on Instagram, the people are incredibly kind with a similar humour to the Irish and at every turn there is another break taking sight. This year we spent 3 days in Zadar. Just under 3 hours from Dublin, Zadar Airport is a pleasure to travel through as it’s really small and only 15 minutes from the city. We stayed in an apartment right beside two of the main city attractions – the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun. Carved into the steps of the seafront promenade, the Sea Organ is made up of 35 organ pipes that catch the sounds of waves entering and escaping the hollowed out holes, producing a unique soundtrack that has a hint of whale song about it, in my opinion. Located right beside this is the Greeting to the Sun, a solar-powered representation of the solar system that stores power from the sun throughout the day and displays a dazzling light show all night long. This area is a very popular for watching a beautiful Adriatic sun set and a short walk along the promenade to the rest of the Old Town. The ancient, cobbled streets of the Old Town are lovely to wander around, with highlights like the Roman Forum and old City Gates. While we were there, we took a Tuk Tuk tour of the city and also hired a boat for a day to sail around the nearby islands. We made two stops on the island of Ugljan, and enjoyed a lovely lunch in Kukljica, a pretty little town. The water was still too cold for me, but my hubby and father in law enjoyed a ‘refreshing’ swim. I love my food, and we had some great meals around Zadar. Favourite spots… Tri Bunara, Konoba Dalmatina, L’Osteria12 and Morita. Don’t forget to try some Ozujsko too and thanks to its proximity to Italy, the gelato is fab! Last year the hubby and I spent 6 nights further south, 3 in Split and 3 on Hvar island. Split is a larger city than Zadar and has more to offer due to its size. The Old Town was so impressive and a walk along the Riva is a people watching delight. The ruins of the Roman Emperor Diocletian's palace, which date back to the late 3rd century A.D, form the main part of the Old Town and are well worth a visit. The views from the top of the bell tower in the Cathedral of Saint Domnius are so impressive. While you are willing to walk up steps for views… be sure to visit the Telegrin peak in Marjan Park. Easy to access from the end of the Riva (plus 314 steps) there is a bar at the top to sit and enjoy the Adriatic views. We hired bikes for a day to explore Marjan Park further, with our swimming togs packed a dip in the azure Adriatic was welcome after the heat of the cycle. For the non-seasoned cyclist, like me, it is worth going over the hill in the middle to see the views from both sides. From Split we sailed over to Hvar, and spent 3 nights in the Amfora Beach Resort, a beautiful hotel a short walk along the promenade from Hvar town. We were there in September and the town was still buzzing, but July and August can have more of an Ibiza party vibe so if that’s not your thing, visit outside those months. Again, we hired a boat and took to the islands, highlights along the way included snorkelling over the shipwreck by Necujam and a swim in the Blue Lagoon by Fumija. I cannot recommend a boat trip from Split highly enough, we went with a small group boat, offering a more intimate experience with flexibility – some of the large boats are crowded and noisy. Before I bore you with too much Croatia love… we have also been to Dubrovnik twice and it’s a city you have to see to appreciate its beauty and grandeur. But I will save that for another post. Bottom line… go to Croatia! Contact me today to start planning your next Croatia travel adventure!

29 February 2024

Nepal and Tibet had been on my bucket list since childhood. The hubby wasn’t that keen on the trip so myself and my friend Martha jumped at the chance of a girl’s adventure. We spent 8 days in Nepal, taking in the mesmerising city and valleys of Kathmandu. The highlights of Kathmandu included Boudhanath Stupa, Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple and trying to catch a glimpse of the Kumari at Kumari Chowk. From Kathmandu we headed west on a very ‘interesting’ bus ride to Pokhara for the start of a 4-day tea house trek of the Annapurna’s. Waking up to the sight of Fishtail Peak, surrounded by the breath taking Himalayas was genuinely a memory for life. We had somehow missed the note about the number of steps on the Annapurna routes though, but it might be just as well! Pokhara is a beautiful town in its own right to explore and we even grabbed a chance to parasail from a nearby mountain over the lake. After a few days leg recovery from our hike we headed back to Kathmandu and set off on the most incredible flight from Kathmandu to the Tibetan capital Lhasa, which took us right over Everest and gave an incredible vista of the Himalayas. Tibet is truly a magical and unique place to visit. We based ourselves in Lhasa, home to the mesmerising Potala Palace. A world heritage site and the former winter palace of the Dalai Lamas, Potala really is one of those places that even when you see it up close it doesn’t seem real. Another highlight of our trip to Tibet was exploring some of the amazing monasteries, our favourites were the Jokhang and Sera Monasteries. Seeing Buddhist monks pray and go about their daily lives was an honour. The culinary delights included all things Yak… yak butter tea (can’t say I am a fan) and yak cheese pizza (more my cup of tea!). The warmth of the Nepalese and Tibetan people, the breath taking beauty of the countries and the unique insight into Buddhist life made for an unforgettable trip. Let's get planning your next bucket list trip today!

29 February 2024

Last year my dad and I realised a long-held dream to visit Egypt together. For years we had talked about exploring the pyramids of Giza and the valleys of Luxor. If Covid thought us anything it was the importance of spending time together with those we love and that sometimes you just have to seize the day. So, myself and my then 77-year-old Dad took off on our Egyptian adventure. We fly with Egypt Air to Cairo and on to Luxor for 4 days exploring the Valley of Kings and the beautiful temples of this special city. Highlights of the trip included sailing a dhow boat along the Nile as the sun set, soaking up the timeless elegance of the Winter Palace and exploring the burial chambers of the pharaohs. Walking down into the previously hidden chambers to see beautiful vibrant coloured murals that have adorned the chambers walls for over 3,000 years was incredible. Luxor is a beautiful, safe, and easy to navigate city on foot. After our time in Luxor, we took the 1-hour flight back to Cairo to explore the Pyramids. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to see the rest of Cairo or visit the Egyptian Museum, so we focused our time on the Pyramids of Giza, at the edge of Cairo. Arriving to the pyramids through the organised chaos of Cairo city was a little underwhelming to be honest, as the sprawling city of ten million people runs right up to the edge of pyramids. But once you arrive to the pyramids and really take in their majestic size, towering up from the desert for over 5,000 years, you will soon forget the other surrounds. You can go inside the Great Pyramid, right into the centre chamber which was an experience I won’t forget. Despite a lack of warning about just how tight and warm the journey to the centre is, it was an incredible experience – but definitely not for anyone claustrophobic! If you are a history buff like us, then Egypt should be on your list. Get in touch today to discuss your Egyptian adventure.