02 May 2013

On arrival in Singapore we were transferred to the ‘Shangri La Hotel’ a truly beautiful hotel of 5 star world class standard. Service was superb and the hotel décor and rooms were stunning. We stayed in the Garden Wing which has wonderful tropical views plus a private balcony. Rooms have all the luxuries you would expect including large flat screen TV and piped music. The bathroom has a large bath with separate shower area plus all rooms have tea and coffee facilities and a well-stocked mini bar. Décor in the rooms is beautiful, extremely comfortable and relaxing and even have the added touch of luxury with electric curtains at the touch of a button from your bedside table. The hotel offers wonderful dining options from buffet to à la carte. There is the Waterfall Café for healthy dishes with a Mediterranean flavour or baristas for coffee lovers. Plus other exceptional dining options at award-winning restaurants ranging from; international cuisine at The Line, classic Cantonese cuisine at Shang Palace, authentic Japanese cuisine at Nadaman, high tea at The Rose Veranda and many more. Singapore is buzzing with atmosphere and there are shops of all kinds from classy boutiques to large department stores through to market stalls with hosts of bargains. The city is easy to get around by taxi or on the SG railway throughout the whole of the city. There are plenty of bars, restaurants and cafes so you will never be short of a drink or a bite to eat. Whilst in Singapore we took an evening trip to Clarkes Quay which is a historical riverside quay in Singapore, located within the Singapore River Planning Area. The area is full of life and has a wonderful atmosphere with plenty of bars, clubs, entertainment, cafes and places to eat al fresco! Plus it is all undercover so no matter what the weather you can still have a wonderful time. There is also a beautiful water feature in Clarkes Quay adding to the wonderful atmosphere. Back to the airport for our Qantas flight back to Heathrow having enjoyed a wonderful trip in Australia and Singapore – please feel free to call if you are thinking of visiting either of these wonderful destinations

01 May 2013

We left Hamilton Island to catch our flight to Sydney and on arrival we were taken to the ‘Park Royal Darling Harbour’ hotel. The location of the hotel is excellent – just a few minutes’ walk to Darling Harbour where there are numerous restaurants, a Cinema, Sydney Wildlife Park, Sydney Aquarium (one of the largest aquariums in the world), boat trips or a catamaran candle lit dinner plus you could try your hand in the Casino. Whatever your interests Sydney’s Darling Harbour has plenty to entertain everyone! For those looking for nice shops Sydney has everything from designer stores to quaint boutiques or you can wander over to China Town for a bargain. Sydney is a wonderful city with so much to see. We enjoyed a fabulous trip around Sydney on a tour bus seeing all the sights and then continuing to Bondi beach for a short relaxation before heading back to Sydney. Bondi beach has plenty of restaurants and bars for a welcome drink set with the beach a short walk away. In the evening we enjoyed a delicious meal courtesy of Wolfies Restaurant on Sydney Quay whilst enjoying the amazing views of the Harbour Bridge. Food in Wolfies is first class and choice is excellent, plus you can dine outdoors if you wish which is sheltered over the seating area with romantic low lighting, enabling you to relax and enjoy the atmosphere while fine dining. We were off out at 7am today for a trip to the Blue Mountains, courtesy of Australian Eco Adventures. On the way we had a stopover at the ‘Featherdale Wildlife Park’ which was excellent! The park has a huge variety of wildlife with the opportunity to hold a Kuala, mix with Wallabies and hand feed Emu’s. There is everything from Crocodiles to Flying foxes (small red coloured bats) and it is one of the leading tourist attractions in Australia so a ‘must see’. Continuing our journey to the heart of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Region we experienced breathtaking views from mountain terrain, sandstone cliffs, and rock formations that tower above you and waterfalls that run between them, you'll even see water that flows the wrong way! Continuing our journey we stopped over at the ‘Katoomba Golf Club’ who served us a delicious lunch before we head off to ‘Scenic World’, home of the world’s steepest incline railway where you have spectacular views of the ‘Three Sisters’ and a walk through the rainforest. Our last stop was at the Koomurri Aboriginal Centre where we enjoyed a ‘Corroboree’ where Aborigines interact through dance and music with costume. After enjoying time at leisure to look around the art and artefacts shops it was time to depart the Blue Mountains and return to the city and check in to the ‘Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney’. The ‘Radisson Blu Plaza Sydney Hotel’ is close to the ‘Sydney Opera House’ and ‘Harbour Bridge’, the historical ‘Rocks’ area and the ‘Royal Botanic Gardens’ plus it is only a short stroll down to the Circular Quay area where you can catch a ferry to the Sydney Taronga Zoo, Luna Park, Watsons Bay or Manly Beach. Rooms in the hotel are of excellent standard and very comfortable for both business and leisure travellers. Each room has flat-screen televisions and extra deep bathtubs along with a desk/dressing table area. Breakfast was buffet style with plenty on offer for all tastes and the food was excellent. After a tour around the Radisson Blu we set off to the Sydney Opera House for a guided tour which was extremely interesting – especially to learn that the architect Utzon who designed the Opera House left the project before it was finished. In 1965 a new Liberal government was elected in the State of NSW. The Minster of Works Davis Hughes began questioning Utzon's designs, schedules and cost estimates and eventually stopped payments to Utzon who was forced to withdraw as chief architect in February 1966. He never returned to see the finished Opera House. When Sydney Opera House was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on October 20, 1973, Utzon was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of Architects Australia but was not present at the opening ceremony. A really interesting tour and a definite ‘must do’ if you are visiting Sydney! After our tour we headed for Circular Quay to board ‘Sydney Harbour Cruise’ operated by ‘Captain Cook’ taking in the sights of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, Sydney Bridge and all of the fabulous sights of the city whilst relaxing and enjoying a three course dinner and a glass of wine – another ‘must do’ on your trip to Sydney. After enjoying our breakfast in the Radisson Blu we set off for Darling Harbour for a tour around the Wildlife Park and SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. Being one of the largest in the world, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium takes you on an underwater journey through Australia's unique freshwater and marine aquatic environments. You'll see some of the world's most incredible animals, including the beautiful dugongs - 2 of only 5 on display anywhere in the world - huge sharks, massive stingrays, turtles, jellyfish, platypuses, penguins, sea dragons, thousands of tropical fish and much more. After enjoying the Park and Aquarium we headed for the airport to begin out trip to Singapore.

24 April 2013

From London Heathrow we flew with Qantas Airlines on the A380 which was a wonderful plane – the largest passenger aircraft to date. We connected at Singapore and headed onwards to Brisbane before boarding our flight to Hamilton Island which is just over 2 hours from Brisbane. On arrival in Hamilton Island we were met by our representative who took us to check-in to the Reef View Hotel before a wonderful lunch at the ‘Sails’ restaurant. The Reef View Hotel is in an excellent location overlooking the Whitsunday Islands at the Great Barrier Reef and has great facilities including a 35-metre swimming pool, lounge bar, and in-house pool terrace restaurant serving buffet breakfast, light lunches and à la carte dinner menu plus Reef View Hotel guests have complimentary use of non-motorised water sports and the hotel has a tours and activities desk, lobby shop and fully serviced business centre. All rooms have a balcony, internet access and bathroom with separate bath and shower. Garden view rooms have leafy views and part ocean, while each Coral Sea View room has beautiful views over Catseye Bay Whitsunday Island. ‘Sails’ Steak and Seafood Grill overlooks the dolphin pool and out to Catseye Beach - so breakfast, lunch and dinner come with a beautiful view. A buffet breakfast is available in the morning, with lunch and dinner serving a variety of fresh seafood along with Australian premium beef. In the evening we enjoyed a wonderful trip aboard ‘On The Edge’ sailing boat, watching the sunset over the Whitsunday Islands and enjoying complimentary wine and nibbles. We were invited to see the other beautiful hotels and accommodation on Hamilton Island starting with ‘Palm Bungalows’ which are ideal for both couples and families large or small. They are built as Island-Style freestanding bungalows and are excellent if you are travelling on a budget. They are set amongst tropical landscaped gardens offering a ‘back to nature’ experience. The bungalows offer seclusion in a great location, with the island’s main swimming pool, shops and restaurants of Marina Village just a short walk away. After visiting the Palm Bungalows we headed over to ‘The Beach Club’ boutique hotel which sits right on the beach front with beautiful views of the Whitsunday Islands. The Beach Club is surrounded by landscaped gardens on Catseye Beach and is a boutique retreat exclusively for adults. All rooms have a stylish and relaxed beach house feel and have a private courtyard or balcony looking onto Catseye Beach and the Coral Sea. From ‘The Beach Club’ we went over to the Hamilton Island ‘Yacht Club Villas’ which are a short walk from Hamilton Island Yacht Club. The Villas have a wonderful waterfront position with ocean views, each with plenty of space – ideal for larger groups or families but with plenty of privacy and space as each villa has three to four levels according to its position. The four bedroom villas have an open plan living/dining room, an ultra-modern kitchen with Miele appliances, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a separate laundry room, full air conditioning and a private golf buggy for guest use, plus the Villas are located alongside Hamilton Island Marina where there is plenty of dining and shopping outlets. All Yacht Club Villas are also within easy reach of the 18-hole championship Hamilton Island Golf Club. After leaving the Yacht Club Villas our final stop was the stunning boutique adult only hotel ‘qualia’ which won the award for Best Resort in the World, 2012 by Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards. qualia is tucked away on Hamilton Island’s northern-most tip, with 60 private pavilions each one facing the water, surrounded by tropical bushland with stunning uninterrupted views over the sea from every room. There are various dining options in qualia including In - Pavilion with platters of chef-prepared nibbles to share, available 24 hours a day. The most exclusive of the Hamilton Island restaurants for lunchtime dining, Pebble Beach has an island setting where you can enjoy chilled cocktails served by the infinity-edge pool…and to add to this, Hamilton Island has around 14 restaurants so you will never be stuck for choice. Transport on the island is primarily golf buggies, no cars are allowed on the island unless for delivery or residents of which there are around only 1500. A truly beautiful and lush tropical Island. After enjoying the beautiful ‘qualia’ we continued our day with a fabulous boat trip to ‘Whitehaven Beach’ with ‘Cruise Whitsundays’. The journey took around 90 minutes however less time on the return journey as they take an alternative route. Refreshments and nibbles were enjoyed along with the beautiful weather and stunning views from the water of the Whitsunday Islands. In the evening we had the pleasure of attending the Travel Counsellors annual Australian conference which was held at the Yacht Club where we enjoyed wonderful food and entertainment before retiring for the evening back to The Reef View Hotel. After a freshly cooked breakfast in the Hamilton Island wildlife Park Café we had photos holding a Kuala… such a beautiful animal and one which sleeps between 18 and 20 hours per day – quite an experience whilst you’re having breakfast looking at a sleeping Kuala in a tree in the cafe! Wonderful!

04 October 2011

Day 1 After a pleasant flight from London to Edmonton, Canada we headed downtown to the 'Coast Edmonton Plaza' Hotel which was extremely comfortable and well located - after settling in, we walked a few yards to the 'Blue Plate Diner' serving a creative menu, with plenty of offerings for vegetarians and non- vegetarians alike. Day 2 We were taken to the' Pocahontas Cabins' en-route to Jasper, The Pocahontas Cabins are situated at the base of the Miette Hot Springs Road on the Yellowhead Highway 16 (the east-west route through Jasper National Park), These properties feature Short Drive to Lifts - Common Hot Tub - Outdoor Pool (Summer) - BBQ - Games Room - Retail Shops - Seasonal Restaurant - Common Laundry - Playground - Mini Golf. On arriving in Jasper, we checked into Coast Pyramid Lake Resort - a beautiful cabin style accommodation overlooking 'Pyramid Lake'. After checking in we went for a scenic walk near the base of 'Mount Edith Cavell' along the 'Path of the Glacier'. The trail follows glacial moraines and descends to an emerald lake where ice can be seen tumbling from the 'Angel Glacier'. In the evening we had a beautiful meal in the 'Best Western Jasper Inn' which is fine, casual dining with friendly service. Day 3 After a wonderful breakfast in The 'Pines Restaurant' at 'The Coast Pyramid Lake Resort' we headed off to 'Jasper Raft Tours' where we had an amazing 16 kilometre fun filled adventure down the Athabasca River - this tour is excellent for all ages. From here we headed off to the Jasper Tramway which took us on an unforgettable trip with views of the Athabasca Valley and Jasper National Park. We had a great lunch at the top whilst we sat and enjoyed the wonderful scenery! After lunch we visited Marmot Basin - a ski resort set in 1.675 acres and offering 3,000 vertical feet of superb terrain. From here we visited The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Surrounded by mountains and sparkling lakes it is situated in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Fairmont has unique accommodations and Signature Cabins, a Spa, Boutique shopping and exciting outdoor adventures. After our visit we headed back to Jasper town for a Motorcycle tour on a Harley Davidson complete with all the leather gear to create that 'Classic Look'!! The tour took us up into the Rocky Mountains and up to Medicine Lake which is the most stunning site - this trip was with Jasper Motorcycle Tours. From the tour we arrived at 'Cassio's' Restaurant in Jasper where we had a beautiful Italian meal. Cassio's has been family owned since 1947 offering fine casual dining. Day 4 After heading back to Edmonton which is around a 4 hour drive, we arrived for lunch in the Cactus Club Cafe in 'Edmonton Mall' - this is the largest shopping Mall in North America - we enjoyed great food and wine before our tour of the 'Art Gallery of Alberta'. Late afternoon we checked into the 'Fairmont Hotel MacDonald' in Edmonton then headed off for our evening meal in 'Zinc's' Restaurant which offers relaxed fine dining and focuses on fresh Alberta ingredients. Day 5 After our breakfast in the Fairmont Hotel we set off to 'Elk Island' National Park of Canada seeing Bison, Moose and Elk before returning to the city for lunch and a 'Segway' Tour of the River Valley from here we headed off to the airport for our flight to Toronto. Day 6 After arriving into Toronto we set off for Niagara. We had a wonderful trip into the falls on The Maid of The Mist followed by an amazing Helicopter flight over the Falls with 'Niagara Helicopter Tours' and then onto 'Hippo Tours' which is a land and sea bus giving a 90 tour of the city which was excellent. In the evening we headed off for dinner in the 360 degree CN Tower Restaurant - offering excellent food combined with a magnificent revolving view of Toronto more than 351 metres (1,151ft.) below! Day 7 After another superb breakfast we visited 'Jackson Triggs Winery' for lunch before arriving into 'Niagara on The Lake' which is like stepping back in time - old style shops and buildings - a beautiful Canadian town where Niagara River meets Lake Ontario... From here we headed back to Toronto for some free time before heading home... soon to return to Canada!! What an amazing time I had.

15 December 2010

A Christmas Visit To Lapland and what a beautiful place it is too. We stayed at The Yllas Saaga Hotel which was beautiful. The rooms were beautifully clean and food was excellent! Our days were packed with exciting trips including Huskie Rides, Reindeer Sleigh rides, Snow Mobiles, Footbal on a frozen lake and a Christmas Day visit to Santa!! Staff in the hotel were really helpful and friendly. The location of the hotel is excellent - right next to the Ski Slopes and a five minute walk to the cafe bars and shops. There is a cable car which takes you to the top of the mountain where you can enjoy a nice hot meal or drink. Take a look at the photos of the ice around the cable car station and the Cafe! Just be sure you have plenty of warm clothing as temperatures were down to 30- so wrap up well, We took a visit to the Ice Hotel which was amazing - each bedroom is differently designed and there is a Chapel and a real Ice Disco!! all the tables and the bar are solid ice - totally amazing.......... they redo this every year so it is well worth a visit. The scenery is beautiful in Lapland and I would recommend a three to four night break to enjoy all the trips properly.