12 November 2019

If when planning a holiday you hear the words ‘Group Tours’, what springs to mind? A coach crammed with 50 people? A guide holding a microphone sat next to the driver? How about the umbrella? You know, the closed umbrella held up by the tour guide with a massive group trying to push to the front in order to hear what’s being said? Well, my first experience of a small group travel adventure with Intrepid to Cambodia was anything but that. Our group consisted of 11 people (although 10 is the average group size for Intrepid), ranging from 21 to 60-year-olds from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities. There is a real misconception that Intrepid is for the youth traveller and that you'll be staying in budget accommodation. I can assure you, this is definitely not the case. Travelling with Intrepid means you are making a difference to the world so there’s an added feel-good factor, which comes free of charge of course. I loved travelling with Intrepid and felt proud to have done it. So will you. Here’s why… Discovering the Highlights of Cambodia Coming out of Phnom Penh airport and into the humid Cambodian night air, we were greeted by our lovely local leader ‘Bun’, who took us to our air-conditioned coach. Here, he introduced himself and quickly had everyone in hysterics, helping us to feel at ease and welcome in his home country, before taking us to our comfortable and centrally located hotel. Our journey began with a trip to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields, where Intrepid had arranged for a very passionate, official local guide to explain in detail about the gruesome history of Cambodia. Although this brief history lesson was heartbreaking to take in, it seemed fitting that the experience started here, as we gained an understanding of the importance of this beautiful country’s history. There were numerous wonderful experiences in Cambodia. We explored by day and awoke our senses at night, sparked by the sight, smell and touch of everything vibrant these local markets had to offer. Flowers, fruit stalls, meats, beautiful clothes and incredible street food to name a few. We took part in a cyclo tour around the city as the sun began to set in Phnom Penh. We witnessed the harvesting and extraction of silk, which then got woven into beautiful scarves by local women. The group also had the privilege of standing next to and walking into excavated archaeological sites, half buried beneath the dirt, while overgrown trees quite literally wrapped around the temples in Sambor Prei Kuk. We got on paddleboats to visit a village that sits upon the water with a floating market, and also tried a variety of unconventional foods that might make one’s eyebrows raise. One of the most memorable highlights from the abundance of tours we did during our stay in Cambodia has to be the golden sun illuminating the skies and rising behind the mammoth Angkor Wat. Our guide Bun knew the best times to leave to avoid the massive crowd of hundreds that later followed us, as well as showing us the best position to stand to capture that perfect selfie angle for Instagram. Going into the Bayon temple, which is vastly underrated by the way, Bun knew all the shortcuts to this marvel of a maze, again delivering us the best positions for photos as well as breathtaking views. All in all - Cambodia is a must see for all ages and Intrepid can make that experience not only rewarding for the traveller but also for the local communities you will visit on your once in a lifetime trip.

19 January 2018

I have to tell you about our trip to the Highlands of Scotland this January - a cold, foolhardy trip you would think but a more beautiful place I can't imagine. In 2017 after the collapse of Monarch left us without a snow break (Lapland) my son was so disappointed I planned a UK short break for a touch of snow fun. We left on a Wednesday night from London Euston - you can get on the train at 8.30pm and it departs at 9.15pm. We were so excited - you walk along the platform at Euston for what seems like 2 miles and it’s the longest train we have ever been on. A guard takes your name and asks if you want tea, coffee or juice and your breakfast order, then shows you to your cabin. We had standard class cabins with bunk beds and an interconnecting door. Lovely pillows, sheets, a vanity kit with earplugs and an eye mask - all very exciting. My son was hysterical with joy. Warning it is very small and cramped - like a larger airline toilet but that's part of the fun. We slept quite well considering the shaky train and the fact that I had to have the top bunk. Much to my son's disappointment they don't allow children in the top as they can fall out. Our breakfast and drinks were delivered at about 8am but you could choose the time. Then we got up and went to the lounge car. The view was like something from the moon - we had uncoupled from the rest of the train in Edinburgh and there were just three cars left and we were trundling slowly through the Highland's on the way to Fort William. On arrival at Fort William we were met with the hire car and set off to Glencoe - about 20 minutes away. The hotel I had chosen was The Isles of Glencoe - mainly because it was directly on the loch and also it had bunk beds in a little side room ( with its own TV - deep joy for son). The view from the room was outstanding - we were awe struck. The hotel also has a lovely family friendly pool with Jacuzzi and sauna so ideal after a long, cold day out and about. In fact, my son would have ditched any sightseeing and spent all his time in there if he had the choice (he didn't). Over the next few days we went up various mountains. 15 minutes from the hotel there is the Glencoe Ski area with an open chair lift - and at the top there is a mountain restaurant for food and drinks with a ski school, ski runs and also free sledges. My son had great fun (as did we) but then we got cold as it was a balmy -7. The next day we headed for the coast - we were so lucky as the weather was really cold but very sunny the whole time. We drove through stunning scenery for about an hour and found the little port of Mallaig near Lochaber. In high season there is a smokehouse where you can get smoked fish but unfortunately it was closed after Christmas. From here you can also see the mountains on Skye across the water. The next day we again headed up a mountain and took a gondola up the Nevis Range - another ski area. You could see for miles and as it was the weekend it was very busy with skiers. This area is just on the outskirts of Fort William which would also be a good base for a short weekend or ski holiday. On Sunday night we went to the train station to get the overnight sleeper home. I won't say this was as good an experience as on the way out and I would probably recommend flying home as not much sleep was had by us all on the way back. The whole experience was worth the lack of sleep and arriving back in London on a cold Monday morning in rush hour felt a world away from the peace of Scotland.

19 January 2018

Did you know? When you book your holiday with me, you get the following - Peace of mind. I always have my customer's back! It’s so important, especially these days! It counts for a lot that my customers will always speak to me. I know their booking, so they don't need to explain who they are. - I am available 24/7. Can you call/text/email your travel agent late at night and get a prompt reply? - I pass passport information where possible onto the airlines, allocate your seats for you where possible and check you in coming home where possible. (Coming home saves you from having to go online to sort it yourself). Does your travel agent do this for you? - I personally contact hotels to let them know if it is a special occasion rather than just putting a note in the booking. Upgrades and special extras are never guaranteed but I always try, it is then down to the hotel. I have a lot of customers who have had upgrades and special extras in the room due to me trying for them. Does your agent personally contact the hotel you are staying in? - I am not owned by a Tour Operator so I have the flexibility to shop around for you for the best deal/best option to meet requirements. - When I search for holidays for my customers I take time to research the hotels I am looking at and check out reviews so that when my customers receive the details from me they can be assured that I have checked whether it would meet their requirements. - I am happy to meet to discuss your holiday requirements over coffee - my treat! - If something was to change with the holiday such as the airline cancelling a flight, changing it, hotel issues etc. I am the one to personally help you and sort it out, you won’t be waiting on the phone trying to sort it yourself. Again, I will always have my customers' best interests at heart. - All customers have access to their own 'myTC' app which enables them to see all their holiday details on their phone on the app and allows payments to be made this way too. - Customers can pay a deposit, and pay the holiday off as and when as long as it is all paid by the balance due date. - Everything you book with me is financially protected, no if's, no but's! Your holiday is also ATOL bonded. - I genuniely care about every booking and it means a lot that my customers choose to continually book with me and refer me to others. I haven't needed to pay to advertise because my customers are doing this for me and I am so thankful to now have customers all over the UK and world and it's a big thanks to everyone supporting me. Does your travel agent appreciate your business as much as I value my customers' business?

14 January 2018

You don’t want to stop travelling overseas just because you now have children and what’s more, you still want quality accommodation, great facilities and a little time for yourselves to relax. Great kids’ entertainment and occasional supervision for your children can be important. Plus, top tips on how to avoid the having a stressful journey with the kids. 1. Pace yourself. Go with the flow and don’t pack in too much. Build in rest days and be realistic about what you might see and do. 2. Travel is great for broadening the mind, even if you’re a five-year-old. Start getting your little ones prepared for their holiday by treating it like a project. Read a guide book to them or watch a DVD or perhaps even try some of the local traditional dishes you may expect at your destination. Encourage them to keep a holiday journal, collect photos, ticket stubs and draw pictures of what they have seen and record new words they may have learned along the way, and give things a try. 3. Research and prepare a “things to do and places to go if the weather isn’t great” list. This is particularly good if travelling out of season in the February or October half terms. 4. If possible check in online as knowing you are sat together will give you piece of mind and you can often turn up a little later to airport if you have checked in, leaving less time to entertain your child before boarding. 5. Choose a hotel that caters for children. Kids clubs can give parents a welcome break but make sure you check what ages they take, what hours they operate and that they are running at the time of year you are visiting (many only run for the high season). 6. Taking a buggy or pram, even if your child is now walking, can be handy as they can double up as places to rest from the heat or if up a little later than usual to rest in a restaurant, for example. 7. Check the hand luggage restrictions before travelling, including the latest rules on carrying liquids, gels and creams, which will more than likely include milk and nappy cream for example. Chances are you will be able to carry them, but they may have to be stored in a specific way and not carried over a certain quantity, as the rules change so often it’s always worth checking close to travel. 8. Requesting a ground floor room if available is often a good idea many rooms lead onto gardens giving extra play areas 9. When flying it’s helpful to have something such as a boiled sweet to suck on to drink during take-off and landing. Make sure you have plenty of ways to entertain your little one such as crayons, books and their favourite toy. 10. Enjoy. If you book with Travel Counsellors we can do many of these things for you.

30 January 2017

I am lucky that my husband's family all live in Kenya and Tanzania. Therefore, every year for the last decade or so I have travelled to one or both of these countries. What a privilege! Africa has something special about - I can't put my finger on it - there is a certain buzz in the air. I get excited when I am there. It's a land of extreme beauty and extreme poverty but whereever you go, the people are friendly and the landscapes take your breath away. About seven years ago, we had a child and of course he needs to meet his relatives. Taking a baby to Kenya - well, my parents were horrified! I can't say I wasn't worried but he has cousins there and his own Dad was born and raised in Kenya, and he survived, didn't he?! So, for the last seven years we have been to Kenya on holiday many times. My son has been on safari four times, he doesn't even know how lucky he is. The last time we went to Lewa Conservancy and stayed at Kifaru - an experience we all won't forget. It's so stunning, with far reaching views where you can just sit and spot animals. The service is amazing and, yes, my son ordered spaghetti bolognaise for every meal but they didn't mind! But, a safari holiday is all about early morning game drives, with everyone up early to spot as may animals as possible. I must confess that one morning I was just too tired so off my son went with his cousins and guess what - of course they saw a lion kill, a cheetah, and nine baby lions! Or so they tell me. It can get quite competitive, this safari lark! How does a child cope with the heat, the flies, the travel, the long hours in the car, scary internal flights on small planes, possibility of malaria, different foods...? Very well, strangely enough! We have had no problems at all. They take it all in their stride and just accept it as the new normal. So, my advice - travel broadens the mind and travelling with small children long-haul and to the Third World is more than manageable, it's downright fun!

13 October 2016

This summer I took the plunge and with my six year old son Arthur we went off on my first ever cruise. Why did it take me so long to go on one you ask? I don't know. I assumed it was for my mother’s generation but since becoming a Travel Counsellor I have had my eyes opened up to a whole new world. I chose a Carnival Cruise on the brand new Carnival Vista departing from Barcelona for eight nights and I was so excited, as was Arthur. You have to fly in the night before a cruise (in case your flight is delayed or cancelled) so I booked the wonderful Duquesa de Cardona hotel directly on the seafront, a short walk from Las Ramblas. Arthur decided it was "the best hotel he had ever stayed in" as there is a lovely rooftop swimming pool with bar and restaurant and the views are amazing. The next morning we were back in the pool and we could see the Carnival Vista in the port - it was massive. We could barely contain ourselves. We dually jumped in a taxi and arrived at the port. Now this is the confusing bit. Where to check in? Where to drop your bags? Which queue is which? But they are used to this at the port and there were plenty of helpful people on standby to direct us. Next onto the ship. They give each of you a card with your details on it that access everything from your room, to drinks at the bar to which restaurants you have booked for the evening meal. That day we explored the ship and couldn't believe what facilities it had, especially for Arthur. There was a fairly large waterpark on the top with slides, three or four swimming pools (all saltwater - Arthur didn't like this at all), a sky climb (aerial climbing) a Skyride (bikes around the top of the ship) mini golf, bowling, a cinema, a kids club for all ages. In fact there are too many things to list here. We headed to our cabin after a lunch in the Lido restaurant. I had chosen an interior cabin - not as some kind of punishment - but because I wanted to experience the most reasonable and value way to do a cruise and do you know what it was great. No window. But I figured we wouldn't be spending too much time in there and I was right. It was small and cosy and we slept really well. There is a nice hum when the ships is moving overnight and it's very soporific. But I can see how it would be lovely to have a balcony and have somewhere to escape from the rest of the ship as it can get quite frenetic. So first day was at sea. Everyone finding their sea legs. Arthur tried every activity known to small child and then happily went to Camp Ocean - which was the very well run kids club. Considering there was 1200 children on the boat on our sailing, it was very calm and everyone seemed very happy. So next day we arrived Messina in Sicily. There were various excursions offered up volcanos but I decided a short walk into town would be best as it was hot and his attention span is short. From that day on we stopped along the coast of Italy in Naples (where we had a lovely trip to Capri) then Pisa (well 20 mins away from Pisa in a port) then Citavecchia (closest to Rome) then we headed to Majorca and onto Marseille. Typically we would get off for 4-5 hours at each place but you could do 7-8 hours if you have the energy. The ship usually arrives at 6am and departs around 7-7.30pm for the nights sailing. I loved this part of the day. Everyone grabs a drink and watches the port as we glide away in the sunset. Always special. Every evening there were a choice of restaurants and bars and there were two formal nights where everyone got dressed up. But you don't have to if you don't want to. There are plenty of places to grab a pizza and a fabulous outdoor cinema every night with popcorn and sunbeds with fleece blankets. I liked the fact that they themed the movies. As we were sailing away from Rome, they played Roman Holiday followed by The Da Vinci Code. We went to a few shows, but as Arthur was too young I didn't quite make the late night parties and the nightclub but I can see you can have a really goodtime on these ships. Finally we were heading back to Barcelona. This is the bit I was dreading - how do you get 4000 off a ship at one time? But yet again it was slick. You chose your departure time. Put your bags outside your door at 10pm the night before. Got up, had breakfast and then disembarked. Picked up your luggage from its designated area and voila - you are off. Taxi - Airport- Home. Now a lot of my friends and clients asked me would I do it again. And the answer is yes. I can see why people cruise year after year. What are the pros and cons? Well cons are - you are surrounded by people all the time - there are very few quiet places to hide. But you can find your peace somewhere - there are moments of sheer bliss but also you can get overwhelmed by being on a ship with so many people. To be honest it’s not for everyone - my husband would hate it. But if you have a relaxed spirit, enjoy visiting lots of different places but still have all the amenities of a massive floating hotel/ entertainment centre it’s a great holiday.

30 January 2017

I decided to celebrate my birthday (a big one!) with a few of my best friends in late September in Mykonos. True, the island was starting to shut down after a busy busy summer but there was still a buzz about it and the prices of flights and notoriously expensive hotels had come right down. We arrived after a very early flight and were met by the hotel, the Princess of Mykonos - they hosted us for four glorious nights. On arrival, the very stylish and serene reception staff opened the first of many lovely Greek wines to toast our arrival... all of the wines we tasted (and there were a few) were amazing. The weather was glorious, the view was glorious, even the waiters all looked glorious, and within half an hour I felt like I had been on holiday for ever! Now Mykonos - what to do. Well, we were about 20 minutes out of the main town/harbour area but there was a shuttle bus into and out of town provided by the hotel. Out of season you can always get taxis; this can be tricky during July and August as there are only 39 taxis on the whole island. Mykonos town (and the whole of Mykonos in fact) is possibly one of the most picture-perfect places I have been in the Greek Islands. Everyone got the " white walls-blue roof" memo and I didn't see any rubbish or anything really ugly and touristy in my whole stay. I would say that the prices are similar to those in London but as long as you are prepared for it, that's fine! The thing to do during the day is to visit one of the many achingly trendy beach restaurants and bars, where come four o'clock the music is turned up and the party goes on till the early hours. Us being eight tired mothers wanting a lovely rest didn't quite make a full night like this - preferring to come back to the hotel and relax and catch up on sleep and gossip. One of the best things we did do was a catamaran trip around the island - a full day of sailing, a beautiful lunch, unlimited wine, snorkelling (not a good thing to mix!) and then we were dropped off in Mykonos town to make the most of the evening. An absolute must in my book. All in all, we came back rested, tanned, full of the most amazing Greek food ( I ate feta cheese about three times a day, even breakfast) and we all agreed a short, late summer Greek island break is now going to be an annual thing. Yamas!