11 December 2015

How exciting! We left Newcastle Airport by Charter with Air Germania - and a pleasant experience it was - all credit to them for looking after all on-board. We headed north to the Arctic Circle, land of the Midnight Sun....but it was late November, and the sun never rises. Our approach to Tromso in Northern Norway was spectacular - over Fjords and snow-covered mountains. Our hosts were Hurtigruten, a Norwegian Cruise Line, but this was not a cruise, it was an "adventure". Sailing out of Tromso, after a brief tour of this lovely town, we headed for the most northern place on mainland Europe....Nordkapp, or North Cape to the language buffs. The sea was calm, and it was strange to imagine the next stop was the North Pole - even more excitement was to follow! That night, in the freezing cold, the top deck of the ship was packed to see our first glimpse of the Northern Lights. It still gives me goose pimples to recollect the startling sky, awash with dancing lights, from horizon to directly overhead. No camera can ever portray what is etched into my mind....it was truly awesome, and something everybody should see. We then saw them another for another three nights! Our next port of call was Kirkenes, the furthest point east in Norway - a lovely snow-clad fishing town, bordering Finland and Russia. Yes, we did go the border to see Russia, then had to turn back to visit the "under construction" Snow Hotel" - fascinating. The Huskies, greeting us warmly, just wanted to be out there running with the sleighs, but were more than happy to seek our fuss and attention. The Snow Hotel will be finished shortly and details can be found on their website - reindeer, hot tubs, Gamays (posh cabins for those who won't sleep under the ice) - they even provide a Husky transfer from the airport! What else could we experience on this short but wonderful itinerary? Whale watching! We were very fortunate to be surrounded by three pods of whales - Humpbacks and Orca's playing and putting on a fabulous display....an awesome and riveting sight. Hurtigruten? Fantastic! This was an adventure not a cruise, but the quality on-board was brilliant. Don't expect swimming pools, casinos, West End Shows – you’re not there for pampering, this is for an "experience". That's not to say, there was nothing on-board - a few of the party did use the hot tub! The best thing about the Midnatsol (our ship, the "Midnight Sun") was undoubtedly the food. First class, including Reindeer, a bit like Venison Game - a mixture of buffet, fish, meat, pasta, and a la carte table service....bring on the best entrecote steak I have ever had! Thank you, thank you Hurtigruten - the most magical experience with memories forever. Don't wait and think about it, just contact me and book yourself the experience of a lifetime, in one of the only places on earth to witness such amazing spectacles.

28 April 2015

If you want to see how Australia was in the last century, go to the outback. Singapore Airlines took us from London to Darwin via Singapore, and the first leg was on the Airbus A380 - smooth, quiet, spacious, and excellent Singapore Airlines service. Darwin was hot, but at least it was the dry season, so the pleasant days and mild nights made it pleasurable and bearable. Darwin as a city, is remote and is very different to all the other major cities of Australia, but it is the Gateway to the northern Territories, and the vast expanse of bush, swamps and ancient rock formations, inhabited by the Aborigines, and their wonderful "rock art". Trips through Lichfield Park, Arnhem Land, and Katherine Gorge, made "Crocodile Dundee" country, an awesome and moving experience, and well worth the visit. A flight to Adelaide, opened up a new adventure, and after flying over Ayres Rock and the vast open outback, Adelaide, brought a different aspect of Australia. A compact, thriving and vibrant city, surrounded by parks, spectacular hills to the East, and pristine beaches to the West. But our stay wasn't long, as we had a schedule to meet to more of the outback and the Flinders Ranges. This was via Clare Valley Wineries....such hardship! Green, fertile, perfect for leisure escapes, as well as wine and beer tasting, the Clare Valley is only 2hrs from Adelaide, and offers the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. The Flinders Ranges are another 3hrs further north, and as the landscape changed the temperatures rose again, but the clear nights were cold. This did not affect our itinerary of experiencing and staying in the real "outback", and staying on a working farm, with Tourist Guides, to see some of the most beautiful scenery. I'll never forget waking up, in the house about 1 mile from the Farm, having arrived there in complete darkness - the next morning bathed in blue skies and sunshine, revealed the most amazing view of Wilpena Pound - we then flew over the Pound, taking in the mountain ranges, stretching as far as the eye can see, and then disturbing the hoards of kangaroos grazing by the runway. For those who have been to Australia's coastal cities and resorts, this is a whole new experience, and a must!

28 April 2015

It was an extremely early start, but Lufthansa were taking eight Travel Counsellors to Frankfurt for the day, to see behind the operations of this worldwide airline. We were booked on the 0610 from Manchester. I was lucky, because I could stretch out with "extra leg room" on our A321, but the benefit was short-lived, because after coffee and a very gooey chocolate croissant, we were landing in Frankfurt. After finding our way to the exit of this vast airport, we were joined by Kevin and Paul from Lufthansa UK, and then by ex-Lufthansa Airbus Pilot, Ulrich. Our guide then took us to see their maintenance hangar, where there were three Airbus 380's parked. They are enormous and on inside inspection, with facts about economy, business and first class, this magnificent aircraft will carry over 570 passengers comfortably, economically, quietly and to the far-flung reaches of the globe. What a feat of engineering. Having lunch, on a beautiful day weather-wise, in the Lufthansa Training Centre, was enhanced by the passion shown by Ulrich for Lufthansa - a retired pilot, who is now involved in the type of corporate hospitality we were enjoying. And his English was better than ours! We studied the inside of the fleet of aircraft, used by staff and cabin crew for the training schedule but disappointingly, we were not able to go in the flight simulator as these "multi-million Euro" machines, are constantly in demand 24/7. We were shown and absorbed a lot, but it was now time to return to the UK after our 12 hour inauguration into the development at Lufthansa. A wonderful day, with a wonderful group of Travel Counsellors. Thank you Lufthansa.

28 April 2015

New York. What can you say? A city that doesn't sleep! So easy to get around. Friendly people. Where do I start? A hotel near Times Square, or at least within walking distance, as most attractions, amenities, shops, museums and theatres are all within 15-30mins walk of Times Square (and it's grid road system), means places are easy to find, and you won't get lost. After people watching, neon sign watching, shopping and the odd street cabaret, it's time to move on from Times Square (you can always come back at night) to Macy's, the biggest store in the World. Then head down 34th Street to the iconic Empire State Building - go to the top for spectacular views across Manhattan, but get there early to avoid the queues. Walking up 5th Avenue, admire the shops and restaurants, off the side streets, until you get to Central Park, passing Grand Central Station on the way - worth a look! 7th Avenue brings us to the Rockefeller Centre, the skating rink, and a trip to the "Top of The Rock" will again give wonderful scenic views of Manhattan and beyond. Take the Metro down to Battery Park ($5.00 return) for the ferries to Staten Island, the "Statue of Liberty" and Ellis Island. A short walk back finds the "9/11 Memorial" - the story of the Twin Towers and that fateful day - an emotional visit, but well worth it. Catch a flight to arrive at lunchtime, and the immigration queues aren't too bad either. Overall, an exciting city, and a great place to spend a long weekend.

28 April 2015

New York. What can you say? A city that doesn't sleep! So easy to get around. Friendly people. Where do I start? A hotel near Times Square, or at least within walking distance, as most attractions, amenities, shops, museums and theatres are all within 15-30mins walk of Times Square (and its grid road system), means places are easy to find, and you won't get lost. After people watching, neon sign watching, shopping and the odd street cabaret, it's time to move on from Times Square (you can always come back at night) to Macy's, the biggest store in the world. Then head down 34th Street to the iconic Empire State Building - go to the top for spectacular views across Manhattan, but get there early to avoid the queues. Walking up 5th Avenue, admire the shops and restaurants, off the side streets, until you get to Central Park, passing Grand Central Station on the way - worth a look! 7th Avenue brings us to the Rockefeller Centre, the skating rink, and a trip to the "Top of The Rock" will again give wonderful scenic views of Manhattan and beyond. Take the Metro down to Battery Park ($5 return) for the ferries to Staten Island, the "Statue of Liberty" and Ellis Island. A short walk back finds the "9/11 Memorial" - the story of the Twin Towers and that fateful day - an emotional visit, but well worth it. Catch a flight to arrive at lunchtime, and the immigration queues aren't too bad either. Overall, an exciting city, and a great place to spend a long weekend.

28 April 2015

Nova Scotia! Beautiful scenery, exquisite seafood and great hospitality. If you want serenity, slow pace of life, with plenty to see and do, then Nova Scotia is just over 5hrs flying time from UK, and gives you the freedom to explore. After flying into Halifax, we caught a short flight in a 16-seater Air Canada, Island Hopper, and headed for Prince Edward Island, and its capital Charlottetown. A tour of this historic town, famous for being the place Canadian unification was first drafted. We headed out to the north of the Island for a bike ride along the scenic coast, then a culinary education in shellfish - the food was an absolute delight from Oysters to Mussels to Crab and finally Lobster, all caught fresh! A vineyard Tour and then a ferry back to Nova Scotia, we headed for Cape Breton, and the quiet, scenic Cabot Trail, which gets busy in the Summer. A Tour of this "Scottish" Island via a distillery - the whiskey was excellent - led us through forests, looking for "Mousse" and along the coast where you can sail out to whale watch although the sea too rough for us. We finally ended up on the Atlantic Coast staying at Keltic Lodge, visiting the Scottish Heritage centre, and ending up at the Inverrary Inn in Baddeck on the gorgeous Bras D'Or Lake. In-between, we went Kayaking on the North River. Exhilarated and full of good memories, we headed back to Halifax.

28 April 2015

Nova Scotia! Beautiful scenery, exquisite seafood and great hospitality. If you want serenity, slow pace of life, with plenty to see and do, then Nova Scotia is just over 5hrs flying time from UK, and gives you the freedom to explore. After flying into Halifax, we caught a short flight in a 16-seater Air Canada Island Hopper, and headed for Prince Edward Island, and its capital Charlottetown. A tour of this historic town, famous for being the place Canadian unification was first drafted. We headed out to the north of the Island for a bike ride along the scenic coast, then a culinary education in shellfish - the food was an absolute delight from oysters to mussels to crab and finally lobster, all caught fresh! A vineyard tour and then a ferry back to Nova Scotia, we headed for Cape Breton, and the quiet, scenic Cabot Trail, which gets busy in the summer. A tour of this "Scottish" Island via a distillery - the whiskey was excellent - led us through forests looking for moose and along the coast where you can sail out to whale watch although the sea too rough for us. We finally ended up on the Atlantic Coast staying at Keltic Lodge, visiting the Scottish Heritage centre, and ending up at the Inverrary Inn in Baddeck on the gorgeous Bras D'Or Lake. In-between, we went kayaking on the North River. Exhilarated and full of good memories, we headed back to Halifax.

28 April 2015

A short city break to Lisbon is the ideal "getaway". I recommend you need three nights and no less. Lisbon is only two and a half hours flight from Manchester direct with TAP Air Portugalia. The airport is only 20 minutes from the city centre which is absolutely brilliant! The people are friendly and it’s a compact city, so it’s simple to get about and very inexpensive. This is perhaps its best trait. The 5* Hotels are mostly based in the Business District as there is no room in the main part of the city – the streets are narrow with old buildings. There is a lovely atmosphere of restaurants, bars, shops, and history which means there is no room for anything other than small boutique hotels. Taxis to downtown Lisbon are cheap and so is the over-ground and underground transport. 15 minutes maximum and you're in the heart of Lisbon. VIP Grand Hotel de Lisboa is a modern, minimalist Hotel, which is 5*, comfortable, clean and practical. This is really all you need, as well as a good breakfast to start your day. The Sheraton, further in towards the city, was a typical Sheraton, but the food was good there, and so was the ambiance with the travel trade of Lisbon mixing in a relaxed atmosphere. My “must-see’s” 1. Terrero Pacu - the main square and a scene of great aura and historical significance. Visit the restaurant Marinho da Arcada. 2. Trams 3. Shopping behind Rossio Square 4. Nightlife of Bairro Alta 5. Harbour Area around Ponte 25 Abril 6. Belem Further afield we found Sintra (Heritage Centre), the mountains, Cabo da Roca (furthest point of mainland Europe), and the beautiful seaside and golfing resort of Cascais and Estoril which is upmarket and classy. We had lunch and a tour of the 5* Palacio, where James Bond came alive! Ian Fleming used to stay and write all his 007 books! The food was excellent and so too were the rooms. There is plenty to do and see and the food and wine is top class. The people are very friendly and all speak English! It’s also the same time as the UK!

28 April 2015

The state of Ontario in Canada is roughly half the size of Europe, so to see it all in six days would be impossible. I recently went on a trip with the Canadian Tourist Authority around Lake Ontario, ending up in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. Our first two nights were spent in Niagara Falls. Our first sight of the falls was from the balcony of our bedroom at the Sheraton-on-the-Falls......wow! Even though it was dark, this iconic area was lit up for all to see. Our wonderful experience continued on our first full day at one of the Great Wonders of the World. We also had the opportunity to visit Toronto, a vibrant city with spectacular views from the CN Tower across the City and Lake Ontario. There is an excellent selection of accommodation, everywhere in the city is easily walkable and the new harbour front is lovely. St Lawrence Market and the distillery area are definitely worth a visit. A train journey from Toronto took us to Ottawa, Canada's capital, with stunning British influenced buildings, and a much more laid-back atmosphere than Toronto. It’s a great city for food, walking, cycling and again, there is a selection of superb accommodation. It's here that the Rideaux Canal, which runs through the heart of the City and into Lake Ottawa, freezes over in the winter and becomes an ice-skating park! Overall, I enjoyed a splendid trip. It is an idea well worth exploring as part of a welcoming visit to a beautiful area of Eastern Canada.

28 April 2015

The state of Ontario in Canada is roughly half the size of Europe, so to see it all in six days would be impossible. I recently went on a trip with the Canadian Tourist Authority around Lake Ontario, ending up in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. Our first two nights were spent in Niagara Falls. Our first sight of the falls was from the balcony of our bedroom at the Sheraton-on-the-Falls......wow! Even though it was dark, this iconic area was lit up for all to see. Our wonderful experience continued on our first full day at one of the Great Wonders of the World. We also had the opportunity to visit Toronto, a vibrant city with spectacular views from the CN Tower across the City and Lake Ontario. There is an excellent selection of accommodation, everywhere in the city is easily walkable and the new harbour front is lovely. St Lawrence Market and the distillery area are definitely worth a visit. A train journey from Toronto took us to Ottawa, Canada's capital, with stunning British influenced buildings, and a much more laid-back atmosphere than Toronto. It’s a great city for food, walking, cycling and again, there is a selection of superb accommodation. It's here that the Rideaux Canal, which runs through the heart of the city and into Lake Ottawa, freezes over in the winter and becomes an ice-skating park! Overall, I enjoyed a splendid trip. It is an idea well worth exploring as part of a welcoming visit to a beautiful area of Eastern Canada.

02 May 2012

As I utilise KLM for customers travelling to the Far East and Africa, last week I was lucky to be included on a trip to Amsterdam Schiphol courtesy of KLM. An early start was the order of the day, as we were travelling Business Class from Manchester to Amsterdam. I was able to experience the Executive Lounge in Terminal 3, which was busy at 7.30 in the morning, but relaxing over coffee and croissants. Leaving Manchester on time on a Boeing 737, there were 14 seats in Business Class and we were served the most exquisite and fresh Continental breakfast you could imagine, by very attentive staff. The only draw-back is on front row, as there is nowhere to stretch legs due to the galley being in front - minor point. On touching down at Schiphol, passengers must realise that whilst the Airport Terminal is a large compact building, the airport perimeter stretches for a considerable area. The Runway, where we landed, meant we had a 15-20min taxiing to the Terminal building! Be aware of this, but KLM do build this into their Transfer time, so no panic about missing connections. A superbly organised Terminal, with big and easy to read signs depicting where you are and easy directions to any connecting flights, with timings from where you are. Re-connecting, or upgrading are also easy, and available on most corners of walkways. Most if not all UK flights arrive at Terminal D, which has easy access to E for USA, and F for Far East. Spacious walkways, with shops, restaurants and bars, enhance a cheery, and friendly atmosphere. Along the way, is a business area, prayer room, sleeper seats at no extra costs and two hotels - all this is airside. Finally, after a super lunch in the "Grand Cafe" on the Upper Floor close to the Food Hall, we relaxed in the "Crowne Lounge" Business lounge, for KLM and Partner Airline Passengers. Many thanks, to a very enthusiastic, knowledgeable and honest Jamie Herrett, who was brilliant, and gave us a great insight in the efficient running of a major European Hub. Schiphol over Heathrow any day!!

12 October 2011

It was the beginning of June, as 10 travel agents and journalists boarded a BA747 (along with the Welsh Rugby Team, who were in Club Class!) bound for Cape Town. Whilst landing in broken cloud, the first sight of Table Mountain was awesome. It was late autumn in South Africa but you wouldn't have known, as the temperature rose to over 70 degrees during the day. Not a big city, the suburbs do sprawl as you would expect in a country of wide-open spaces, but almost every attraction is within 15 minutes of our central downtown accommodation, Mandela Rhodes Hotel - in particular Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and the iconic Table Mountain A day trip to the Winelands of Stellenbosch proved a very worthwhile experience, and this was combined with Quad Biking and an evening at the Spier Hotel with African Entertainment and time with the Cheetahs. In the south of Cape Town, is Constantia, a leafy suburb with Newlands Cricket Ground, home of test cricket. Here are Cape Town’s own wineries, and excellent they are too - bought some bottles to bring home! Our last day in Cape Town saw the "tablecloth" lift from the most-famous Mountain, and our opportunity to ride to the top by cable car, was not to be missed - WOW!! The view from the top of this flat-roofed mountain was incredible, particularly looking down on Camps Bay to the west (beach-retreat suburb) the city, its Harbour and Robben Island in the distance to the north, and my favourite view south to Cape Point. I'll never forget Cape Town - you should try it!