22 June 2015

Wengen is located at the foot of the famous Eiger mountain range, in central Switzerland. The town itself is quaint, charming and traditional, with a tranquil feel to it. There are a sprinkling of bars and restaurant which are all located in the village so easy to walk or ski to! The village is also traffic free so in turn it is very peaceful. As well as the usual modes of transport in a ski resort e.g chair lift this is the only ski resort that I have been to which has a mountain railway which acts as a go between the different ski areas. This allows for amazing views and you can sit back in comfort rather than being exposed to all the elements! The ski area itself I felt was more suitable to intermediate skiers/ snow boarders as there are a lot more red and black slopes due to the varied terrain. You have access to 3 different ski areas; these are located at Wengen, Murren and Grindelwald. In Murren there is a famous revolving restaurant, which is situated at the top of Schilthorn, the reason it is famous is because the James Bond movie, “Her Majestys Secret Service” was filmed there, the views were stunning and a must do while in this resort. Having visited this resort twice it really ticks all the boxes for me. It is oozing charm, with high quality bars and restaurants, the friendliness of the Swiss and everything runs literally like clockwork! There really is nothing commercialised about this resort. A must visit if you love skiing. I have been to so many resorts, from budget ski resorts to higher end, that I can confidently advise you on choosing the best one for you. Skiing is one of the best holiday options out there, the exhilaration, the mountain air and the great outdoors will revive you; that I can promise! Call me as I am happy to talk about ski as long as you need me to.

10 January 2015

I was very lucky to be included in a trip of a lifetime to the beautiful country of Argentina. South America is somewhere I have always wanted to travel to and I am so happy to have started with Argentina. I had some knowledge of the country before I travelled and knew that Buenos Aires and Iguazzu Falls are a must see for every traveller. I wasn't however expecting the diverseness and stunning beauty that the country offers throughout the different regions. We had only 5 days in Argentina and spent 2 nights in Buenos Aires and 3 nights in Bariloche which is located a two and a half hour flight from Buenos Aires, in the Patagonia Region. I will start with Buenos Aires - The city is made up of many different barrios or neighbourhoods. Recoleta is the most up market area and is home to many designer shops; high end beautiful hotels and the La Recoleta Cemetery, where Eva Peron (Evita) is buried. I was not prepared for the grand and vast scale of the cemetery and it has a beautiful setting overlooking the green area of Recoleta Square which is extremely peaceful. San Telmo is the oldest and most colourful barrios in Buenos Aires. Cafes, Tango parlors and antique shops line the cobblestone streets, which are often filled with artists and dancers. This part of the city felt like the real heart of Buenos Aires and I loved the atmosphere and brightly coloured buildings. You must visit this area during the day time; everything closes down from 6pm. San Telmo borders La Boca which is home of the football stadium of La Boca Juniors. Maradona used to play for this team. Puerto Madero is the newest and most upcoming area of the city. It is home to modern luxury hotels and some great waterfront restaurants and wine bars, it is a very trendy area. In Monserrat you will find the centre of Buenos Aires' history and culture. It is home to the Parliament Building at the Plaza de Mayo and the famous balcony where Evita appeared to give her famous speech. This part of the city felt very colonial and houses some amazing architecture. You simply cannot visit Buenos Aires without coming here. Palermo is home to the museum of Eva Peron. I am so glad that I visited this museum and learned so much about the life and history of Evita and Juan Peron. During our last night in Buenos Aires we were treated to a Tango dinner show. "Wow", is all I can say, The Argentine Tango on "Strictly Come Dancing" will never be viewed the same again! The dancers were incredible, atmosphere electric and the food (and wine) incredibly good. A must experience for everyone. After our two nights in Buenos Aires where we stayed at the Alvear Art Hotel and the Sofitel, we flew to Bariloche. San Carlos de Bariloche is situated in the foothills of the Andes on the Southern shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake. It is located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park. With a laid back pace that is in complete contrast with Buenos Aires I absolutely loved this part of Argentina. The scenery, fresh mountain air, outdoor pursuits, quaint little towns left me feeling very relaxed and peaceful. Bariloche is the largest town and has many restaurants, bars and hotels. Lots of outdoor shops line the streets as the area is very popular with hikers, skiers, water sports enthusiasts etc. Even though it is the largest town it still retains much charm and a lot of the buildings are designed with an Alpine style and lots of wood. Bariloche is a chocolate lovers’ paradise and is famous for the many different chocolate shops that line the streets. We spent our time here visiting many different hotels around the lake. Each had their own unique design and came with picture postcard views. My favourite village was Villa La Angostura which is located on the northwest shore of the Lake. It takes around 1hour to get here from Bariloche. It feels like time has stood still here and the main street is home to a few boutiques and chocolate shops. The hotels in this area are out of this world and would be a fantastic place to spend a romantic few days. In Bariloche we stayed at the Design Suites. We flew to Argentina with KLM from Amsterdam. The journey time was around 14hours which is long but worth every minute. It really was a trip of a lifetime and I feel very fortunate to have visited this amazing country. I would love to return and visit Igazussu Falls, the wine region of Mendoza and finish off at the beach in Brazil. Here’s hoping!!!

10 January 2015

Toronto Canada, what a fantastic friendly city, we travelled on the inaugural flight from Dublin to Toronto with Aer Lingus. As this was the first Aer Lingus arrival into Toronto Pearson Airport we were given a water salute upon landing which was very exciting. I must say I wasn’t expecting the weather to be so cold and didn’t pack the correct clothing! During the spring months Toronto experiences very unpredictable weather. The week before we arrived the temperatures were very mild and sunny. During my time there I saw snow, rain and temperatures of minus 8! The city is extremely well equipped to deal with cold temperatures, and they need to be, as during the winter months the temperature can drop as low as minus 20. Toronto has an underground city, with 30km of shopping arcades. Many hotels, office towers, shopping malls, and even a railway terminal are connected to the underground city. This means that during the coldest months the streets above ground are relatively quiet whilst underground everyone is going about the business without the need to go outside. It really is incredible, felt a bit like a rabbits warren but I could definitely see the benefit if it was minus 20 outside. We spent 3 nights in Toronto and 3 full days which were packed full with excursions and we saw plenty of hotels. The hotel we stayed in was the Easton Chelsea which has a fantastic location in the city and offered a great base for getting around. Day one – Visit to Niagara Falls, Ravine Vineyard and Niagara on the Lake. After breakfast we headed off to the Niagara region by coach. The journey took around an hour and a half. I have always wanted to see Niagara Falls and they are absolutely incredible. Niagara itself has become quite commercialised and I was surprised to see many high rise hotels and casinos at the edge of the falls. Our guide told us to ignore everything that surrounds the Falls and just focus on the beauty of the water. We were supposed to take a helicopter flight over the Falls but unfortunately the weather was too bad that it wasn’t safe to do so. Instead we took the “Journey behind the falls”. This is a year round attraction that offers a unique view of the Falls from below and behind. We travelled down by lift and entered this maze of tunnels that run behind the Falls. The force of the water as it crashed down was incredible and the sound was so loud. It creates amazing photo opportunities. Afterwards it was time for lunch and we ate at Elements on the Falls which, as the name suggests, is a restaurant with incredible views of Niagara Falls. After lunch we were on the coach again, and a short journey to the beautiful Ravine Vineyard which is located in the Niagara Region. This region is home to a thriving wine industry with over 90 wineries. We were then dropped off and allowed free time to explore the boutiques and galleries in Niagara on the Lake. If I were to travel to Niagara Falls again this is the town that I would stay in. It is a 19th century village where time literally stands still. The main street is home to many quaint shops and cafes. One pub and the more traditional hotel or B&B, this village was in complete contrast to the lights and high rise hotels around Niagara Falls. Back to Toronto then and some much needed rest. Day Two – City Tour, Ripley’s Aquarium & the CN Tower So many big movies are filmed in Toronto and we saw a lot of film vans and sets during our city tour. As the city bears some resemblance to New York apparently film companies choose to film here instead. We saw the city’s main points of interest which included the upscale neighbourhood of Bloor-Yorkville, credit cards needed here as the streets are lined with many designer shops. Also here you will find the Legislative buildings of Ontario and the Distillery District and St Lawrence Market. During the summer months the Distillery District is buzzing with trendy wine bars and live music. Still a great place to visit during the colder months but this really is a place to sit outside and enjoy the surroundings. It is very contemporary. St Lawrence Market is one of the worlds’ best markets and is a great place to wander around sampling the fresh local produce. It is huge and so colourful, I loved it there. The city is home to some fantastic museums and art galleries. Unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to venture inside. There really is so much to see in Toronto! After lunch we headed off the Aquarium which is located next to the CN Tower. Having seen many aquariums I was expecting much of the same, however I was so surprised by how fantastic this place was. The Aquarium had only just opened and is the new, must see attraction in Toronto. So many different species and amazing exhibits where there to assume and occupy us for hours. We then went next door then to the CN Tower. It was so high, with incredible views from the glass floor at the top of the Tower. Not for the faint hearted! There is a revolving restaurant at the top which looked incredible and prices are surprisingly good. I would definitely recommend a lunch or dinner reservation there. We had time to shop and went to the Toronto Eaton Centre which is home to over 230 shops. After that we had dinner and a checked out the Fairmont Royal York hotel. It is a beautiful elegant hotel which hosts many diplomats and celebrities. Day Three – More hotels and home ! Our last day in Toronto was spent visiting a selection of hotels. These ranged from 3 star up to 5 star and has given me a great overview of what is on offer in Toronto. Unfortunately my time in Toronto then came to an end and it was time to head to the airport. Our overnight flight with Aer Lingus departed from Toronto early evening and we arrived back to Dublin the following morning. I had a fantastic time in Canada and will definitely return as I plan to see much more of the country. There are some great connections to other countries via Toronto so this would be a great place to spend a few nights, either at the beginning or end of a trip. Alternatively a visit to Toronto alone would be great as the city and surrounding areas have so much to offer.

17 January 2013

I have just returned from a 12 night Mediterranean cruise and I am now a cruise addict! It was probably the best holiday I have taken to date. Our 12 night cruise started in Barcelona and then took us to Nice, Florence, Rome, Naples, Montenegro, Venice & Dubrovnik. We also had three days at sea which were great to recharge the batteries after all the sightseeing in the magnificent ports. We cruised with Celebrity Cruises and the ship was the Solstice. This is a large ship and she can hold 2850 passengers and I believe the sailing we were on was almost full. The ship never felt busy and there are many different public areas, bars, restaurants on board so you always find plenty of space. The food is exceptional and plentiful and there are 6 different restaurants on board and a creperie that serves the most delicious crepes. Included in the cost of the cruise is breakfast lunch and dinner. Dinner is served every evening in the main dining room or in the ocean view cafe which offers a more casual buffet dining experience. There are 3 a la carte restaurants where you can eat for a cover charge. We ate in the Tuscan Grille twice. This is an Italian Bistro style restaurant which is located at the back of the ship, we had a window table both times and the views were amazing. If you time it right you can be having your intimate dinner whilst watching the sun set as you cruise out of port. Very romantic! There are many watering holes on the ship but my favourite and regular haunt was the Lawn Club which is located on the top deck of the ship. It is as it sounds and there is in fact a half acre of real grass on this deck which is surrounded by comfy wicker chairs. There is a bar at the lawn club and it is a great place to come back to after your day at port and sit out in the fresh air, drink in hand whilst the ship sets sail for the next port. We tried our luck in the casino but trying was the best we could manage, it was however great fun and all part of the cruise experience. Every evening there were two performances in the theatre, an early and a late show. We saw a variety of performances from singers to magicians to comedians. Every show we saw we thoroughly enjoyed and the standard was very high. I was very impressed with our room. We stayed in a balcony stateroom and the size was much bigger than I had expected. Everything was very modern and the balcony was ideal. We had breakfast delivered to our room a few mornings and sat out on the balcony to eat. I won't go into detail on every port that we visited as there are simply too many but the ones that really stood out for me were Nice, Montenegro & Dubrovnik. I had never been to the South of France before so I wanted to see as much as I could. We did an escorted tour of Nice, Monaco & Monte Carlo. I witnessed the Ferraris and Lamborghinis whizzing around the casino square in Monte Carlo and took a walk through the ancient heart of Nice which is much more beautiful than I had imagined. The scenery surrounding the ship as we were coming into Montegero was out of this world. Mountains towered above us and I have never seen anything quite as stunning. The little town of Kotor in Montegro is where we headed when we disembarked. This ancient walled town is beautiful and we wandered for hours through the little cobblestone streets. I have never seen so many churches in one small town, there were too many to count! Dubrovnik is just as beautiful as Kotor, the Croatian scenery and quaint cobbled streets are mesmerising. In the city of Dubrovnik there are lots of little shops, restaurants and places to ease away a few hours. Cruising is an excellent way to visit new places and certainly places that you might not have ventured to independently. I do not imagine that I would have chosen Montenegro as a place on my wish list of places to visit but was blown away by it. I will definitely be cruising again.

30 October 2012

If you are looking for a luxurious all-inclusive hotel, beautiful white sandy beaches and turquoise warm water then look no further than Cancun, Mexico. I was very lucky to find myself on a familiarisation trip to this fantastic country and got to visit eleven hotels that are very popular with Irish holiday makers. Our trip started at Gatwick airport where we boarded our flight with Virgin Atlantic to Cancun. The journey time was around 10 hours and taking into account the time difference we arrived into Cancun that afternoon. We were greeted with glorious sunshine and very hot temperatures which certainly put us all in a great mood! I was in Mexico for seven nights and spent the first four nights at the Dreams Riviera Hotel and the last three nights at Secrets Maroma. There are many different Dreams and Secrets hotels located in Mexico and I was fortunate to visit all of them. I also visited the Now Sapphire and the Now Jade Hotel and the incredible Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita Hotel which I shall explain about in detail later. Unless you are staying in downtown Cancun all of the hotels along the Riviera Maya are quite isolated and therefore have amazing on-site facilities. The quality of food at all of the hotels is second to none and the choice is incredible. As all of the hotels are sold on an all-inclusive basis I was especially impressed with the cuisine and choice. In some parts of the world all-inclusive standards are not especially high but in Mexico they are excellent. All of the hotels have a different style to each other and will suit different people. For example the Dreams Riviera is a luxury traditional hotel with a modern twist that will suit both families and couples alike. The Secrets Silversands hotel is adults only but is extremely modern with clean lines and white furniture. Secrets Capri and Maroma are also both adults only but have a more traditional feel to them. The beach at Secrets Maroma is simply stunning and is recognised as having the worlds best beaches by the travel channel. I was surprised by how warm the sea water was, it was like stepping into a bath! Zoetry Paraiso De La Bonita is a very special and unique hotel. It is a boutique property with 90 luxury suites which are all dotted throughout the grounds. Originally built by a prominent Mexican architect as a private residence this luxurious and intimate hotel has a very homely feel about it. All of the suites have a different theme and are named after a country that the owner has visited. They are lavishly decorated in different styles and some come with a private plunge pool with direct access to the beach. Many famous celebrities have stayed at this hotel as it is very private and exclusive. It is very quiet so perhaps not suitable for everyone. Outside of the hotels and beaches there are many places to visit. These include the ancient Mayan ruins at Tulum, Xcaret ecological park, Chichen Itzia, various water parks, the vibrant town of Playa Del Carmen and of course should nightlife be your thing then a visit to Coco Bongos nightclub is a must. My seven days in Mexico were amazing (and exhausting!) I got to visit so many different hotels and cultural sights which has certainly opened my eyes to everything that Cancun and the Riviera Maya have to offer. If you are planning a holiday to Mexico I would be delighted to hear from you and assist you in choosing your ideal hotel. Mexico, I shall return!

25 May 2012

I travelled with my husband and two sons to Disneyland Paris in March and it is safe to say that we will definitely return if the kids have anything to do with it! We stayed for 4 nights at the Hotel New York which is in an excellent location being only a 2 minute walk to Disney Village and a 5 minute walk to the Disney parks.As we stayed in a Disney Hotel this meant that we could access Disneyland Park at 7am instead of the normal opening time of 9am. I have to say that the earliest we made it in there was 8am and that was on the last day! Every morning various Disney characters would appear in the lobby of the hotel and the children, (or adults!) could get an autograph or have their picture taken. We purchased autograph books for the children and they were so excited chasing the characters for their autographs. You enter Disneyland Park through Mainstreet USA which is lined with beautiful old world shops and little bakeries. This is where the daily parade is located. Once through Mainstreet USA you have the choice of four different lands to visit. Discoveryland is home to Space Mountain for the older children (or adults), the more tame Buzz Lightyear's Lazer blast or Autopia where children can drive their own 1950s car along a track. Fantasyland you can access through the Royal Castle and hosts some smaller rides such as the ever popular tea cups, Dumbo the flying elephant, it's a small world, Alice's curious Labyrinth, Carousel de Lancelot and the Peter Pan ride. In Fantasyland we bumped into the Mad Hatter who was indeed quite mad and very entertaining. Adventure Land is where you will find The Pirates of the Caribbean ride, (which was unfortunately closed when we were there) and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril. We saw Jack Sparrow here and Aladdin. Frontierland is home to the famous Thunder Mountain, and Phanton Manor which is a ghost ride but suitable for younger children. The other park at Disney is Walt Disney studios where you can find the Toy Story Playland which is home to the Toy Soldiers Parachutte Drop (stomach churning!), Andy's racing car and the Slinky dog ride which the younger children will love. There are various shows and productions to see in Disney Studios, we went on a Space rocket and the special effects were amazing. The Hollywood Tower of Terror Ride was excellent albeit slightly frightening as you plummet to the ground in the darkness in a lift that gives the impression that it is out of control. I must go on it again though. Our favourite ride overall was Crushes Coaster which is a roller coaster in water, so much fun. The food in Disneyland Paris is not great although we didn't go for the food. Cafe Mickey was a great experience as all the characters come around and greet the children who are so excited. We also ate in the Rainforrest Cafe which is decorated as if you are in the actual rainforest. At certain times during the meal lightning and thunder would strike and the elephants and lions would all move. (Obviously not real!) On our last night we went to Buffalo Bill's Wild West show which I can highly recommend. We were all given cowboy hats and were placed in the green mountain team and had to shout and yee-ha for our team. The show was good with real horses, cowboys and indians, Mickey, Minnie and Goofie also make an appearance. We were served our meal which was a bbq theme and plenty of drink (beer or coke) . I will certainly go back to Disneyland Paris as there was so much that we didn't see in the short time we were there. I was quite tired when I got home as it is very full on but so much fun.

18 July 2011

I travelled to Portugal with my husband and my two sons in May this year. This was my fourth holiday to the Algarve and in particular the resort of Alvor. What a beautiful village, the cobbled stoned streets are full with little shops and restaurants. These restaurants specialise in fish which is locally caught and so fresh. Each restaurant displays their catch of the day and what a variety, some of the fish I have never heard of before! We stayed at the Pestana Alvor Praia Hotel. This hotel is located overlooking the gorgeous blue flag beach of Alvor. There is a lift or a number of steps that take you directly onto the beach from the hotel. Any time I have been here the beach has been lovely and quiet and not a fast food outlet in sight! Glorious. Our days were spent between the pool and the beach and a pre dinner strawberry daiquiri in the hotel bar is a must! The sliding doors from the bar open out onto an immaculate garden and the children has a great time climbing trees and cartwheeling into the evening. One morning it rained so we decided to take a trip to Zoo Marine in Albufeira. The children were amazed by all the different animals and reptiles. The sun came back in the afternoon so back to the beach we went. There are few excellent restaurants located on the beach in front our the hotel. The children made new friends and happily played in the sand whilst we relaxed and watched from our table. What bliss. This time we stayed in Alvor for six nights but I have previously spent long weekends here. It is an ideal place for a short break as the flight is only 2hrs 30mins from Cork and the cost of living is considerably less than in Ireland. I love the pace of life in the Algarve and will return year after year to the beautiful beaches and delicious fish. Contact me for more recommendations in the Algarve.

18 July 2011

I love Italy, the food, the glamour the ski slopes and the history. I have travelled quite extensively in Italy but I have to say that the capital city is by far my favourite. My husband and I treated ourselves to a four night trip to Rome. We stayed at the Hotel Artemide, a four star hotel which is in an excellent location in the city. The first evening we took a stroll to find our bearings and I was amazed by the beauty of Rome at night. Every corner we turned we found one beautiful building after another all spectacularly lit up. I really felt like we had stepped back in time and couldn't’t believe the beauty that is all around Rome. The next morning we ambled around the city stopping for a Cappucino or two. After lunch we took the metro over to the Vatican. I had booked a guided tour of the Vatican museums before we left Ireland and it is here that we met our guide and the rest of our tour group. The best time to visit the Vatican museums is during the afternoon as this is the quietest time. I am so glad that I had booked a guided tour of the Vatican as I would not have understood everything I was looking at. The Vatican museum is huge and it would have taken days to view all of the different rooms. Our guide showed us the most important monuments and explained the detail in the many Frescoes that decorate the rooms. I had no idea that the Vatican Museums hold so many treasures. Our tour ended up at the Basilica of Saint Peter but before we got there we were taken through the Sistine Chapel. I wish I could have spent hours looking at Michelangelo’s frescoed ceiling however my neck would not allow this! I don’t have the words to describe the beauty and vastness of St Peter’s Basilica. It is truly overwhelming and somewhere I must return to. I was very excited the next morning as once again I had pre booked another tour and this one was the Angels and Demon’s tour of Rome. I loved the book so was thrilled to be doing the tour. We met at the Santa Maria Del Popolo Church and followed the "path of illumination" through Rome. Our guide was excellent and we got to see every place that was written about in the book. She also gave us historical information about all the ancient Churches and sights. Our tour ended up at the Castel Sant’Angelo. That evening we visited the Trevi Fountain. All of the fountains in Rome are spectacular however at night time they are more spectacular. Little gelateria’s are abundant in Rome and the ice cream is delicious. It was wonderful watching the fountain whilst eating ice cream. On our last morning we went to the mighty Colosseum. I hadn’t booked a tour and it is with regret as I felt I didn’t really understand everything that I was looking at. The ruins of the Roman Forum lies near to the Colosseum and again when I return to Rome I will take a tour of this area. The food in Rome is as it should be in Italy. Lots of Pizza, pasta and wine! I liked eating out in the historic centre of Rome and we found some lovely little restaurants. You do need to keep your wits about you as the Italian drivers are crazy! We found it best to follow a native Roman when crossing the roads and hope for the best! This all added to the fun of our trip. I really fell in love with Rome and shall definitely return.