Based in Market Harborough

Wendy Farrar

It's Nice To Meet You

My name is Wendy Farrar and I am a Gold Travel Counsellor . I am originally from Cheshire, but moved away 26 years ago due to my husbands job to live in Market Harborough, Leicestershire , well now I am back on home turf, and I love it. I live with my husband Ian and our adored cocker spaniel Ebony.

I have been in the travel industry for more than 40 years, so have a wealth of experience. After many years managing High Street travel shops, I became a Travel Counsellor in April 2002. One of the main reasons I became a Travel Counsellor was that I wanted to give my clients the highest level of customer service coupled with unbiased independent travel advice.

Travel Counsellors is one of the largest independent travel agencies in the UK and provides agents like myself with the latest technology. This technology enables me to work from home which means I'm available to discuss your travel needs when it suits you, and that isn't always during office hours! We also offer the best Financial Protection in the travel business... book with me and your money is safe.

Below are just a selection of the awards that Travel Counsellors have won...

2020 - Sunday Times Top Track 250
2020 - Queens Award for Enterprise
2019 - Winner British Travel Awards - Best National Travel Retailer
2018 - Winner British Travel Awards-Best Independent Agency
2014 - 2019 - Queen's Award for Enterprise
2014 - Sunday Times Profit Track 100
2013 - Sunday Times Profit Track 100
2012 - Sunday Times Profit Track 100
2012 - Red Ribbon Award
2012 - Investec - UK's Hot 100 Fastest Growing companies Award
2011 - Sunday Times/HSBC International Track 100
2011 - Telegraph 1000: Britain's Brightest Businesses
2010 - Guardian Travel Agent of the Year
2009 - Guardian Travel Agent of the Year
2007- Guardian Travel Agent of the Year
2006 - Guardian Travel Agent of the Year
2003-2008 - Queen's Award for Enterprise

Travel Counsellors is the only travel company to have won the Queen's Award multiple times....... An accolade in itself!

In September 2006 I became a Gold Travel Counsellor, which means I am one of Travel Counsellors' top performing agents.

One of my areas of expertise is tailor-made holidays, whether that be in Europe or further afield. I'm also able to arrange all other aspects of travel... that might be a flight to Barcelona, a romantic break on board the Orient Express, ski or golf packages, Mediterranean or Caribbean cruises to name but a few... and all this the from the comfort of your own home, what could be easier?

I am well-travelled myself, so can offer personal recommendations and impartial advice turning that dream holiday into reality!

Hassle free, no more wasted time in travel agencies. I guarantee excellent customer service at better than high street prices, what more could you want?

Please do not hesitate to email or give me a call.

I look forward to hearing from you!

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Contact Me

Whatever your holiday needs I'm here to help you, so simply give me a call or send me an email with your contact details on and I can get things started for you:

My Blog

I absolutely live and breathe travel and I love to write about my experiences! Please take a look through my posts - you might find your own holiday inspiration.

Fab U Lous

27 November 2019

This year the annual Travel Counsellors Gold Conference was held on the beautiful Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean at the Beachcomber, Trou Aux Biches Golf Resort and Spa located on the north west side of the island just above Grand Baie. The Gold Conference is attended by those Travel Counsellors who have achieved the much coveted Gold sales status and excellence in serving their customers. Most receiving 100% customer satisfaction in ongoing surveys. 180 delegates attended the event which began with a welcome drinks reception on the beach and closed with a spectacular seafood buffet Gala dinner on the beach. Beachcomber are a UK based resort specialist for Mauritius. The Trou Aux Biches complex is a 5 star resort boasting a gorgeous white sandy beach, a stunning blue lagoon and a 35 hectare tropical garden area. Accommodation is located in lavish chalet style suites in six crescent areas while private villas are semi hidden in the lush tropical gardens. All villas and beach front suites have private pools other suites have larger pools in the garden of each crescent area. A very large pool sits between the ocean and the main restaurant and bar facilities. In addition the mini club for children aged 3-12 years has a private pool. The resort has six restaurant options, L'Oasis the main restaurant overlooking the large pool and the sea is ope all day for buffet meals. Le Deck open for lunch and dinner offers light meals freshly prepared with excellent fish dishes and Pizzas. Blue Ginger is a pagoda style Thai restaurant for dinner only with a an an open kitchen and a delightful ambience and lovely location surrounded by pools with a wooden walkway to the entrance. MAHIYA is an Indian restaurant for dinner in a Palace style building located next door to the Blue Ginger and provides superb food in an authentic Indian ambience. La Caravelle is open all day and located close to the beach and offers an international choices buffet style while II Corallo is an Italian Restaurant open for dinner and is again located right by the beach. The resort also features a spacious modern spa, priority access to Beachcombers two, 18 hole, par 72, golf courses at nearby Le Mont Choisy or at Le Paradis in the south west of the Island. There is also a wide range of complimentary land and water sports plus a diving centre with highly qualified staff. The Beachcomber Trou Aux Biches Golf resort and spa has warm friendly and helpful staff, a gorgeous water front location a wonderful range of facilities and activities or you can just chill and luxuriate in the amazing peaceful, relaxing aura that is Mauritius. Which is what makes Mauritius one of my favourite destinations in the world.

Paradise

06 November 2019

Ever wondered what paradise looks like, sounds like and feels like? Well, wonder no more because I have just seen it’s stunning views, enjoyed the aura of peace and tranquility and experienced the sensations of harmony and oneness with the universe. We have just returned from a part business/part holiday visit to the beautiful island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. For our short “holiday time”, we stayed at one of the “Small Luxury Hotels of the World” the all inclusive, boutique style Paradise Cove Resort and Spa on the north west side of the island. Recently refurbished to a high standard the resort only reopened on the 6th September 2019. We knew we had arrived in paradise when we were shown to our ground floor junior suite, rolled back the blinds and were greeted by stunning views of this gorgeous location from our patio. If you want all day loud music and lots of party games in the pool etc. this place is not for you! If you want to luxuriate on the lovely private beach where you walk right into the shallow sea or by the pool or in one of the many two person pontoon areas along the water inlet then come here and soak up the amazing aura and ambience of paradise Mauritian style. The resort has just 75 suites, a spa and fitness centre, tennis courts and water sports including water skiing, windsurfing, snorkelling and a flat bottom boat for visiting the coral reef nearby. There are three very different all inclusive restaurants: XO is located on the top floor of a thatched open air structure with the Cove inlet on one side and the main pool area on the other and serves Asian food fusion style, The Peninsular restaurant and bar located a short walk away on top of a hill referred to as the Peninsular has spectacular views of the ocean and the water sports taking place below from the boathouse. The food here is an international mix served tapas style with lots of variety in small dishes. There is also a small pool area with sun beds and also comfy settees and armchairs for relaxing as you take in the views with a cocktail or three! The dining restaurant is where an excellent buffet breakfast is served and is also one of the options for dinner. A Mauritian evening is held every Wednesday and begins with a cocktail party on the private beach with entertainment by local folk,saga, dancers and musicians. This is followed by a splendid three course buffet with music provided for listening to and dancing by an excellent trio. A fourth restaurant called the Cove offers a romantic experience for couples in bays along the inlet and a menu with an allowance against the extra cost. Lunch is also available in the Peninsular restaurant or you can have lighter options served in the bar area up above the main pool. There is also a drinks service to your sun beds which are very sturdy and comfortable with thick cushions and large towels provided. Finally the other element of this fabulous resort is the management and staff who are so welcoming, friendly and efficient, always available and smiling! If you want to see and experience paradise then you must visit the Paradise Cove Resort and Spa in Mauritius. We found paradise, you can too!

Secrets Silversands,... dont keep it a secret!!

22 April 2016

Secrets Silversands luxury adults only, all inclusive, resort and spa, Riviera Maya, Mexico 18 March to 2nd April 2016 In May 2015 AM Resorts hosted our annual Gold conference weekend at their Secrets brand property “The Vine” on the strip in Cancun. (See the review in my travel blog, “Gold weekend in Cancun”) I enjoyed the concept so much that along with my husband we decided to visit another Secrets property for a two week holiday in March as an alternative to our usual Caribbean cruise. We flew direct to Cancun from Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic and after a smooth landing from our excellent lady pilot we were soon arriving at the Silversands resort about twenty minutes south of Cancun in the Riviera Maya district. The resort has extensive grounds extending back from a private stretch of white sand beach with a large main pool area and seven other pools spread amongst the gardens. The suites are the same size throughout the hotel and said to be the largest on the Yucatan peninsular. The only distinction made is the choice of view ranging from garden, partial sea view, sea view or preferred club facility which provides you with a club lounge and beach front location. As with all Secrets properties Silversands offers a wide choice of restaurants and bars. We thoroughly enjoyed the superb buffet breakfast in the World café which was as comprehensive as any we have experienced anywhere in the world. For lunch there are four dining options, a daily BBQ alongside the main pool, the Barefoot Grill which makes burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches to order as well as daily stir fry and a salad bar and you can sit at tables in the eating area under an umbrella in your bare feet! The World café offers a different themed buffet each day and the Seaside grill restaurant by the main pool gives you a substantial a la carte menu to complete the range of choices. For dinner the choice was even more mind boggling with a la carte gourmet dining in seven different restaurants. (El Patio - Mexican, Bordeaux French cuisine, Himitsu for Pan Asian including Teppanyaki tables for which there is a cover charge of $50 per couple including a bottle of wine, Portofino serving Italian dishes, Ratatouille for Mediterranean, Oceana specialising in seafood and the Seaside grill for steaks. There is no reservation system it is first come first served although you sometimes have to wait for about 30 minutes in the bar until called to your table when a particular restaurant is busy. We tried them all and our favourites were Himitsu, Portofino, Bordeaux and El Patio where the meat for Fajitas was served on a piece of extremely hot volcanic rock. If you can’t decide which one to dine in or fancy a quiet night in your room there is always the 24 hour room service! With seven bars you’re never far from a drink and the bars open at 10.00am if your desperate! Again there is a wide choice of options from the pool swim up bar, Manatee, Sugar Reef next to the Barefoot Grill, Baracuda right on the beach looking out to the wedding gazebo and a great place for a quiet sundowner, the lively terrace bar which is open until 1.00am a great spot for pre and post dinner drinks with live music every night at 10.30pm where you can sit around the bar watching the fantastic bar tenders doing their stuff or use the various sofa chairs dotted amongst the garden area nearby, the open air theatre show bar open during the nightly live events from 7.30pm until 10.00pm, indoor lounge bar with large sofas and live music for pre dinner drinks from 6.30pm until 8.00pm and finally the spacious sports bar which becomes the disco night club from 11.30pm until 1.00pm every night. All serve a full selection of premium brand drinks and fabulous cocktails. The pool/sunbed service in the daytime was excellent with our lovely waitress, Karen, delivering bottles of water at about 10.15am every morning and taking any drinks orders and coming back about every hour for repeat orders! What bliss!. If you like being pampered etc., Secrets have world class Spa facilities offering a wide choice of specialised treatments. There is also a vast array of activities available from complementary green fees at two nearby golf courses, keeping fit in the state of the art fitness center, zumba and yoga classes, water aerobics plus pool and beach volleyball and tennis courts, Water sports including reef snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing excursions and motorised water sports can be arranged at an extra cost. Other events on offer included cooking lessons, Spanish lessons, wine and Tequila tasting. There really is something for everyone as you can join in the many lively events or chill out on your sunbed with a book and a drink by one of the quieter pool areas away from the lively and sometimes boisterous main pool area. We had a fabulous relaxing holiday at Secrets Silversands which fully lived up to our expectations in terms of quality facilities, choices of dining options, bars and entertainment. The friendly and efficient service was as good if not better than any we have experienced on 5 star cruise ships. We will almost certainly be back to enjoy a Secrets resort again next year.

Skiathos.....I can see why people go back year after year

20 October 2015

For a one week break in September with my husband and my parents I chose somewhere new for me, the Greek island of Skiathos. The island is quite small being just seven miles long and four miles wide but does have a small international airport which offers some spectacular views when landing on the short runway over boats and a beach! It is also very green due to an abundance of pine forests covering a large part of the island. Following our spectacular landing, a 20 minute transfer brought us to our hotel; the Skiathos Princess located in the village of Aghia Paraskevi on the southern coastline where most of the various types of accommodation are located. The Skiathos Princess is a five star luxury hotel and spa laid out in lovely peaceful grounds leading down to an excellent sandy beach. The collection of 131 individually designed and well-appointed rooms and suites are scattered around the beautiful grounds all with balcony or garden, and views out to the beach and sea. A variety of dining choices include a seafood restaurant on the beach, day time beach bar, pool bar open from lunch till late as well as the main restaurant where the buffet breakfast is served and three different options are available for dinner. The Harmony Club Spa provides holistic treatments for a relaxing and rejuvenating experience. A fully-equipped fitness room, weekly fitness activities and excellent water sports facilities are available and children are well catered for with a separate pool and the Little Seals Crèche and Kid's Club. We used the pool bar for lunch on several days but preferred to eat out in the evenings as there were several very good tavernas just a short walk from the hotel and lots of choice in Skiathos town, which is 20 minutes away on the local bus or taxi. The local bus service was excellent operating from early morning until surprisingly late at night. We had an excellent meal in Skiathos town at a restaurant which had been an old windmill located high up above the harbour. One of the most popular excursions from Skiathos is an all-day boat trip to the island of Skopelos where much of the film “Mama Mia” was shot. The one we chose was on a yacht which comfortably accommodated 40 people. We had time in Skopelos town as well as visiting several locations around the island where specific scenes featured in the film were shot. On our way back we also spent time at Lalaria beach on the north coast of Skiathos and only accessible by boat. We really enjoyed our week in Skiathos and would definitely go back.

Wedding Anniversary in London

22 July 2015

To celebrate our wedding anniversary we opted for a weekend in London to see a show, have a nice dinner and take the updated tour of the Tower of London. We stayed at the Guoman Tower Hotel right by Tower Bridge and a perfect base for what we had planned. Our room was spacious and comfortable with a good view across the Thames to the South Bank and we enjoyed access to the Club lounge for complimentary drinks and nibbles. It also offered a very good all day coffee lounge, several choices of eating options including lunch on the terrace from several concession food outlets. We had chosen to see the matinee performance of Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre. The show was absolutely brilliant and even better and more enjoyable than we expected. For dinner we had taken up a recommendation from friends and booked a table at the Butlers Wharf Chop House Restaurant right on the river on the South bank and just a short walk across Tower Bridge. We had a table on the terrace with a superb view of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London and a memorable setting for our celebratory dinner. The food was excellent with generous portions and the service was attentive and efficient which it should be at London prices!! On the Sunday morning we visited the Tower of London which we hadn’t been to for about 15 years. We were impressed with the relatively new Royal Armoury collection in the Norman White Tower and the moving floor way in the prime exhibit area displaying the Crown Jewels and a video illustrating when and where specific items are currently used for Royal events. We finished our weekend with a walk around the marina in St Katherines Dock where amongst many yachts we saw the Royal Barge Gloriana which was built for the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations. There is a good selection of cafes and restaurants alongside the Marina making it a very popular area. After a leisurely lunch we headed off to St Pancras station for our train home. The Guoman Tower Hotel is a great location for visiting the Tower area and is just a short walk from the Underground system for getting to other attractions. I have visited many cities around the world but London is still my favourite and we had a really enjoyable weekend.

Gold Weekend in Cancun

28 June 2015

I travelled with my husband to Cancun for my annual Gold Conference held in the luxurious all inclusive Secrets the Vine Resort and Spa, one of the many resorts in the portfolio of our main sponsors AM Resorts. With a superb beach location right on the Caribbean sea, it has 495 rooms and suites, seven restaurants, seven bars, all day coffee lounge and 24 hour room service so you are never far from food or a drink! In addition to the magnificent beach there are three separate pools all with plenty of sun loungers and umbrellas. In addition to the conference business, our programme of events included a welcome drinks and buffet reception. We followed this with a dinner by the main pool where we sampled dishes from all seven of the resorts restaurants, a five course gala dinner with different wine for each course introduced by the Head Sommelier and entertainment by Mexico’s version of Il Divo. Our farewell event was provided at the sister hotel Secrets Playa Mujeres where we enjoyed a buffet dinner outside in a large plaza around a huge pool area. We enjoyed entertainment from an excellent guitarist who played “Brian May” style on top of a pavilion plus an amazing fire dancing show. In the daytime we had a choice of excursions on offer including a jungle tour, extreme canopy riding through a forest, catamaran adventure, a visit to the Mayan ruins at Tulum or visits to other local hotels in the AM Resorts portfolio. Complimentary golf was also on offer at the Secrets Playa Mujeres Resort and Spa. Alternatively you could just chill out on the beach or by one of the pools and catch up with colleagues many of whom have become very good friends through meeting at similar events in previous years. I also enjoyed the short sessions provided by the Hotel staff each day learning about and tasting tequila and Mexican wines and a cookery lesson where I made spicy sea bass which was all very interesting and informative. Secrets the Vine is a modern and elegant property with large, comfortable rooms and suites, a great choice of restaurants with a no reservation policy in place. There is a huge variety of bars and areas to relax in during the day and excellent spa facilities. I had a wonderfully relaxing time and will definitely be visiting a Secrets Resort again soon... I have already booked mine for next March!

Anthem Of The Seas - Naming Ceremony- Southampton

26 May 2015

I was one of 60 Travel Counsellors selected to spend 2 days on board Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines brand new ship, Anthem of the Seas. This ship is certainly big at 168,000 tonnes and a maximum capacity of 4180, having said that the design is very clever meaning there are numerous places on board you can go to spend some time other than the obvious sunbathing. The interior design is beautifully done. As you would expect a shopping mall is waiting for to indulge, a lovely spa, an adult only solarium, children and teen centre, plus quiet areas just to sit and relax and watch the world go by. Eating and drinking is equally well catered for (forgive the pun) - a wide choice of where and what to eat, 5 of which carry a cover charge - all of the others are for you to enjoy - you name it you can find it on Anthem, Japanese, Steak Bar, Pub Food, Burger and Chips, Pizza, Fine Dining, coffee and cake, deck side snacks and lots more. Not to forget Windjammer a signature feature on a Royal Caribbean ship - buffet style casual dining available almost all day. Likewise if you are thirsty - various options to choose from here as well, from a traditional pub to a classic wine bar - not forgetting the innovative Robot Bar - you order your drink via an iPad, watch it being mixed and then delivered by the Robot! Anthem is packed with features and activities including the Wave Flow Rider, the Climbing Wall and now the I Fly or skydiving, bumper cars and of course the North Star, a London Eye style pod which is raised up 300 feet above the ship, a real bird's eye view of the ship and everything around her - at the top you are almost the same height as the Statue of Liberty. We must not forget the cabins - again plenty of grades to choose from - these range from a simple inside cabin through to a split level Royal Loft Suite - this cabin even has a Jacuzzi on the balcony. Every budget is accommodated for with a cabin to suit you. You are spoilt for choice when the day turns into evening, a 2 tier theatre more than capable of offering full production shows, Two70 - a stunning lounge at the back of the ship featuring an ever changing back drop of screens, cabaret lounges, smaller show venues, Music Hall and of course the Casino. Anthem is a fabulous ship…there is something for everyone

Fabulous Fort Lauderdale & Celebrity Caribbean Cruise - Equinox

26 May 2015

I was delighted to leave the UK winter behind with a few days in Fort Lauderdale, Florida before joining up with two close friends for a ten night Cruise in the Caribbean on Celebrity’s fabulous ship Equinox which sailed out of Port Everglades. We flew out to Miami with Virgin and picked up a yellow taxi from Miami airport for the 45 minute drive to our hotel in Fort Lauderdale which cost $80 plus tip. We spent 5 nights luxuriating at the Lago Mar Resort & Spa prior to our cruise. This was our eighth visit to Fort Lauderdale and our third time at the Lago Mar having tried other hotels in the area for the past 6 years. It is expensive but the location, ambience and quality of service make it well worth it. Located on the Inland Waterway at the front and with its own magnificent stretch of private beach at the rear and close to the port it is perfect for our needs. Our room was spacious and comfortable with a large lounge area leading to a balcony with table, chairs and a sun lounger overlooking the main pool. There was also a kitchen area with microwave, toaster, and coffee machine etc., if you fancy doing your own catering from the Soda Shop or elsewhere. Free Wi-Fi is available in rooms and throughout the resort. Set in lovely gardens are two large pools leading out to the private beach so there is room for everyone to relax. As there are no umbrellas around the two pool areas we preferred to use the beach where chairs are provided free of charge but there is a $25 charge per day for two sun loungers and an umbrella or cabana. Each morning we enjoyed the excellent buffet breakfast outside on the Palm Garden Terrace which had a wide choice of hot and cold options with omelettes, eggs, waffles and pancakes made to order. The Deli in the Soda Shop is open all day and offers hot/cold sandwiches, pizzas, burgers etc., as well as soft and alcoholic drinks to have in or takeaway. For lunch we used the promenade bar located right by the main pool which offered a choice of light bites, salads or rather substantial fish or meat sandwiches/burgers and cocktails or beers etc., to drink. In the evening we dined al fresco in the excellent Acquario restaurant which has the outdoor Palm Garden terrace as an alternative to the elegant indoor facility and offers international meat and seafood dishes. For a pre or after dinner drink we relaxed in the elegant ambience of the Wine Cellar Lounge although the service when busy would be improved by use of waiter. We loved our time at the Lago Mar. It was even better than we remembered from previous visits and we will certainly use again when next in Fort Lauderdale. Our five days passed all too quickly and it was time to head off by taxi to the port and join the Celebrity’s magnificent Solstice Class ship “Equinox”. See my blog on Celebrity “Silhouette” For specific details about the Solstice Class ships. Our Cruise itinerary began with two days at sea giving more time for rest and relaxation. The first port of call was St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. As we had visited on previous cruises we took a 40 minute boat trip to the smaller island of St John and included a safari style bus tour of the island. It is only accessible by boat and so kept very exclusive with some excellent beaches hotels and villas. Next stop was St Kitts which we had also toured previously so we stayed on board and enjoyed the facilities of the ship while most people were ashore. Fabulous! The following day we docked in Barbados and visited the duty free shop in the port area for some gifts and souvenirs before again enjoying the peace and quiet aboard the ship with the pool and bar tender all to ourselves! Our next port of call, Dominica, was a new experience for us. Dominica is known as the Nature Island of the Caribbean and located between the two French Islands of Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique to the south and about 29 miles long and 16 miles across at its largest point, with an area of 289 sq miles. We went ashore in Roseau the capital and enjoyed a tour of the vast tropical rain forest and visited the Emerald Pool and Trafalgar Falls attractions before driving through the islands botanical gardens which contain many unusual trees and shrubs. Finally we went to the viewing point at Morne Bruce for a spectacular view of the southern half of the island and Equinox in port in Roseau. Dominica is very different to the usual beach and palm tree islands in the Caribbean. On arrival at our final stop, St Maarten we took the water taxi across to Phillipsburg the capital in the Dutch sector. We spent a lazy morning on the beach front promenade in a friendly bar providing free Wi-Fi for customers followed by a long lunch in anther beach front bar restaurant looking back across the harbour to our ship. Following two more very relaxing days at sea we disembarked in Port Everglades and took Celebrity’s transfer to Miami airport where we ended our adventure with a day room at the Sofitel airport hotel before our late night flight back to London. As I said in my earlier blog on Caribbean cruises, Fort Lauderdale really is a great destination to enjoy a few days pre or post cruise. Cruising is a fabulous way to holiday and there is a ship and cruise line for everybody but it is important to choose the right one for you and I choose Celebrity for my cruise holidays as I think they are the best!!!

Magical Mykonos

20 October 2014

I flew out to the Greek island of Mykonos with my husband and my parents for a week of chilling out in hot sunny weather to help us through the winter! We travelled on an Easyjet flight which took just under four hours. A twenty minute transfer from the airport soon had us arriving at our chosen hotel, Myconian Imperial Resort and Thalasso Spa Centre on the South of the Island at Elia Beach. Located in the Aegean Sea 93 miles east of Athens, Mykonos covers an area of just 33 square miles almost all of which is rocky and barren. The main attractions are the excellent climate, several lovely beaches, fabulous bars and restaurants, and the port of Mykonos. Built in 2002, The Imperial is a five star luxury hotel, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World and one of several in the family owned Myconian Collection Hotels and Villas on Mykonos. Built into a rocky hillside above Elia Beach it offers spectacular views from the pool terrace, restaurants and bars. The rooms and suites are located in small blocks above the central buildings and all have views of the crescent shaped bay and beach below and the usual in room facilities you would expect of a five star hotel. The spacious pool terrace has two large pools, hot tub and separate kids’ pools. There is an abundance of sun beds and umbrellas around the pools and on a separate terrace below the pool area. The Thalasso spa offers a wide range of treatments in a very relaxing ambience and for the energetic there is a squash court. The Hotel also has a private section of beach a ten minute walk away down the hillside. A variety of water sports are available on the large public beach and the Elia Beach Restaurant is open all day for drinks and serves very good meals. We enjoyed the international/Greek buffet breakfast served in the spacious Meltemi restaurant and lots of drinks and lunch at the pool side Nostos bar and restaurant which is open from late morning until late afternoon. We loved the Veranda bar terrace which was the perfect place for a pre dinner drink while taking in a spectacular sunset or to enjoy an after dinner Metaxa. We also dined on two evenings in the excellent Celebrities a la carte Restaurant which serves authentic Mediterranean and local cuisine in a fabulous setting with excellent service and ambience. For a change of scene and dining options we took advantage of the complimentary shuttle bus service to Mykonos town provided by the Hotel which operates every hour from 6.00pm until 12.30am. Given that there are only 30 taxis available on the Island and the roads and drivers pretty scary this seemed the most sensible option. However, if you do prefer doing your own thing there are plenty of cars, scooters and quad bikes available for hire. You can also get to other beaches on Mykonos by boat from Elia Beach or Mykonos Town. Mykonos Town also known as Chora is the island’s capital. With so many narrow streets, hidden squares, shops, windmills and whitewashed buildings it is a charming and fascinating place to wander around and also easy to get lost! It has lots of restaurants and bars fronting two separate harbours where you can enjoy the views and behind the harbour fronts there are more restaurants hidden amongst the alley ways along with shops and late night bar/dance clubs. Further out from the town is another harbour where the large ferries depart and visiting cruise ships drop anchor. This does mean that the small town is almost always busy with people but it does create a great atmosphere. We ate in three very different restaurants and had no problems getting a table. However, we were surprised to find that eating in the town cost virtually the same as eating at our hotel. For a change from the sun lounger and Kindle, we took a 40 minute boat trip from Mykonos Town to the small island of Delos to see the archaeological site where buildings and artifacts of early civilisations of historical and mythological significance have been discovered. The Myconian Imperial is an excellent hotel with a lovely location and very good facilities but the real wow factor is the friendliness, quality and quantity of staff taking care of guest needs. As good if not better than the service provided on five star Cruise lines. Wow!

Emerald Princess Ship Visit

20 October 2014

I was very fortunate to have been offered the chance to go on-board the fabulous Emerald Princess. Due to operational reasons (dredging of the channel) the berth was moved to the quintessentially British terminal ”Mayflower”, its like walking back in time to a bygone era and after check in we were encouraged to board the ship…. easier said than done in this case. Me and a few others followed the signs ”to the ship” up a set of stairs and along a corridor only to find in fact there was no exit, no staff were around for assistance, so we went back the way we came and eventually found someone to guide us along to embark. This is in no way the fault of Princess, however ABP or the contractors looking after the boarding should have been more prepared and given us the information, it seemed the staff that were supposed to direct us were more interested in gossiping with each other on the quay side. We made it into the atrium or piazza of Emerald Princess, and as you would expect the ship was gleaming ( for a ship 7 years old) this was very welcomed. We were on before most guests, so no music playing, but during the afternoon when passengers were embarking this would be the case. And we went to grab a caramel coffee in the International Cafe whilst we waited for our host. After our coffee, we were given a map / deck plan of the ship and advised of some cabins to which we could view. So we set off on our way to view a selection of cabins from the adequate inside staterooms to the well equipped penthouse suites. As you would expect the suites had a few extra sq feet but all cabins on the Emerald were reasonably proportioned and you did not feel confined in any of the rooms. After a tour of the rooms, we then thought it best to try out a few of the facilities, and what a wealth of things on offer…. Lotus Spa Gymnasium Hair Salon Wedding chapel Kids clubs Specialty dining rooms ( Sabatini’s and Crown Grill) Disco Arcade room Running track Sports court Crazy golf Movies under the Stars 2 large swimming pools The Sanctuary Full size theatre Casino ( double sized) Well equipped Library Countless bars International Cafe And I am sure there is more…… Maybe you can comment below your favourite areas of the ship! After a pleasant day in the Southampton sunshine, we were then treated to an amazing meal in the Da Vinci dining room. Always a firm favourite is the fettuccine in a cheese basket, and this was followed by a delightful steak cooked just to perfection. I can certainly recommend the food on Princess Cruises, you WON’T be disappointed. A hazelnut souffle was for dessert followed by tea and coffee before heading home. Overall a great ship, in good condition. Well appointed and could not fault the aesthetics in any way. Quality of ship was great, food was immense and service was always greeted with a smile from every member of the team. Would I recommend Princess Cruises? YES is the answer to that,

Gold Weekend Orlando

20 October 2014

I travelled to Orlando in Florida with my husband for the Travel Counsellors Gold Weekend. As it was several years since my last visit to the area it gave me an opportunity to update my knowledge of the hotels and various attractions that the area has to offer. Universal Studios were the main sponsors of our event and we stayed at the spectacular Loews Portofino Bay Hotel right on the Universal Resort. The hotel is modelled on the seaside village of Portofino, Italy with cobblestone streets, courtyards, fountains, outdoor cafes and bars, all located on the waterfront. It has 750 large guest rooms including 45 suites and facilities include eight restaurants and bar lounges and three swimming pool areas. The hotel also provides a complimentary water taxi service to/from the Universal Theme Parks - or it's only a leisurely 10 minute walk away Our packed programme began with an evening welcome drinks/dinner reception in a lovely Piazza within the Portofino Hotel. Next morning we enjoyed a VIP tour of Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure theme parks. Our tour began in the Studios Park and included ride experiences such as Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Transformers, Shrek, the Simpsons, Terminator and Men in Black. We caught a brief glimpse of the live Blues Brothers Show and a new Harry Potter attraction due to open in June 2014 which includes a rail link on Hogwarts Express to the main Harry Potter attractions in the Islands of Adventure Park. If you like getting very wet then the Island Adventure Park is perfect with lots of different ways of ending up soaked on themed rides such as Jurassic River Adventure and the Ripshaw Falls. It also offers some exhilarating/terrifying roller coaster rides. But the star attraction is without doubt the World of Harry Potter section with the Castle, Passageways, School Classrooms, shops and scary rides that really bring the characters and stories of Harry Potter to life.... Fabulous! In the evening we returned to the park for drinks and dinner at Hard Rock Café which was great fun with lots of music memorabilia adorning the walls and a lively atmosphere. Afterwards we were taken to see a live performance of the Blue Man Show which was a unique experience with a lot of audience participation. Then it was back to the Portofino Hotel on the water taxi for a night cap at the Thirsty Fish bar on the harbour side. I spent the next day at Universals Wet n Wild Water Park a few minutes drive from our hotel. With excellent water rides lakes, lagoons, beaches and sun loungers there is something to keep everyone happy and it is a great alternative to the theme parks. While I was getting 'wet and very wild', my husband was playing golf at the Grand Cypress Golf resort about 40 minutes away which offers a choice of three Jack Nicklaus designed courses. In the evening we attended a splendid gala dinner in the Venetian Ballroom at the Portofino Hotel and were entertained by a Motown tribute Band. Next morning a group of us took an excursion to the Kennedy Space Centre. We were given a guided tour of the newest attraction the Space Shuttle Atlantis Building. Two separate film studios provide the story of the Space Shuttle program before you enter the main hall which has Atlantis raised up as if in space along with an exact replica of the Hubble telescope. Elsewhere in the building there are over 60 interactive exhibits, simulators and other attractions for visitors to experience. Over lunch we had a special treat with a talk from an Astronaut who entertained us with some great stories of missions he had undertaken. In the afternoon we visited the Apollo/Saturn V Center which includes excellent exhibits from the moon landing programme and earlier missions. Kennedy requires a full day to do it justice and again offers a great alternative to the theme parks. Our final evening was spent back in the main park with dinner at an Irish Bar/Restaurant and next morning was spent chilling out by the main pool before heading off to the airport for our flight to the UK. Orlando is a great destination with so much on offer as well as a superb climate. There is a wide choice of accommodation to suit all budgets but if you want a luxurious hotel in a perfect location, choose the Loews Portofino. Fabulous!

Celebrity Silhouette Caribbean Cruise

24 October 2014

For a holiday with two very close friends we chose to spend four days in Fort Lauderdale, Florida followed by a seven night cruise on Celebrity “Silhouette” around the western area of the Caribbean. We flew to Miami with Virgin and had a private transfer for the 45 minute journey to our hotel the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. The Hilton offers comfortable spacious rooms, pool terrace, two restaurants and bars and an excellent all day deli. We really loved Fort Lauderdale and enjoyed some quality time chilling out and getting in training for the cruise experience with some excellent meals in the Hilton and other restaurants nearby. On sailing day we used the Hilton shuttle bus to the port about 10 minutes away and boarded the magnificent 5 star plus Celebrity Silhouette - one of our favourite ships. After a day at sea we arrived at the Mexican island of Cozumel, just off the Yucatan Peninsular. The island is just 30 miles long and 10 miles wide so can be explored in a half day excursion or private hire taxi. As well as beaches and jewellery shops, the main attraction is scuba diving due to the superb coral marine life in the area. Having visited the area before, I stayed on board with my husband and took advantage of the peace and tranquillity which exists when most people have gone ashore. Just like having your own bar tender in your own pool on your own private yacht! Next morning we arrived in the port of George Town the capital of the British owned territory of Grand Cayman. The island is again very small at just 22 miles long and 8 miles wide. We took a short excursion around the island before being deposited at one of the main attractions the magnificent Tikki Beach. After a very nice lunch right on the beach we enjoyed two hours on sun loungers before returning to the ship. Being an off shore banking centre, Grand Cayman is a very expensive tourist destination and there isn’t much to see but the beaches really are fabulous. Our next destination was the island of Jamaica, the third largest in the Caribbean, covering an area of just over 4,000 square miles. Being a much bigger island there is a wide choice of things to see and do. We had decided to visit the famous Dunn’s River Falls which rise up 600 feet from the beach below and can be climbed with the help of the compulsory local guide. I made the one and a half hour climb with our friends while my husband followed the route taking pictures of our ascent. The falls are dangerous hence the guide and you must remove all jewellery and wear crocs to sustain your footing on the rocks. Did we make it? Oh yes and I have the photos to prove it! It was a scary but exhilarating experience but it would never be allowed by Health & Safety in the UK! Shame! The island of Labadee part of Haiti was our final destination the next day. Labadee is a lovely private island used exclusively by the cruise ships of Celebrity and Royal Caribbean who have invested in the development of berthing and leisure facilities which also provide some jobs for the local population. With a choice of beaches, water sports, zip wire and other activities available there is something for everyone to enjoy and the option of a barbecue lunch ashore or the usual choices back on the ship. There are some really peaceful spots on Labadee where you can really feel like “Robinson Crusoe” for a day! After a day at sea we arrived back at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. I had arranged a private transfer to Miami airport where I had booked a day room at the Sofitel Hotel to give us a base before our late evening flight back to the UK. We spent the afternoon with a leisurely lunch in South Beach watching the world go by on Ocean Drive. With a great location, choice of hotels, abundance of restaurants and shops Fort Lauderdale really is a great destination to enjoy a few days pre or post cruise. Cruising is a fabulous way to holiday. There is a ship and cruise line for everybody but it is important to choose the right one for you and I choose Celebrity for my cruise holidays.

A Piece of Paradise in Phuket

26 October 2013

I flew from Heathrow on Thai Airways for a 10 night stay with my husband at the luxurious tropical Cape Panwa Resort at the south eastern tip of the island of Phuket. The flight to Bangkok took 11.5 hours and we had a 2.5 hour wait in Bangkok airport before the 1.5 hour flight to Phuket. Phuket is Thailand’s largest island at about 210 sq miles and over the past thirty years has been transformed from a sleepy little island into Thailand’s most popular beach destination. Our transfer to Cape Panwa took about 1 hour through what we came to realise was the permanently busy traffic on the main North – South road. The Cape Panwa Hotel is built on the steep hillside of a former coconut plantation, has superb views of the Andaman Sea and a private 300 metre secluded beach for safe year round swimming and relaxation. A novel funicular tram car to and from the private beach area and a regular shuttle bus, actually a truck with bench seats, operating to and from the village below help you get around the resort!! Accommodation is offered in several separate blocks of sea facing suites and a small number of pool villas spread amongst the lush tropical gardens. Our junior suite had all the facilities you would expect of a luxury hotel. It was spacious and bright with patio windows along one wall and a large picture window on another with excellent sea views from both sides. The private balcony had a double sun bed as well as a table and chairs. The Cape Panwa offered lots of choice for dining, all with charming, friendly and helpful staff. A very good breakfast buffet was served in the Café Andaman which also offered Thai and International dishes at lunchtime and in the evening. Panwa House Restaurant, an old colonial style house on the beach, offered superb fine Thai dishes in a fabulous setting and has been used on many film sets! Our favourite though was the Top of the Reef Restaurant with its continental gourmet cuisine and top quality service. The Bamboo Bar on the beach offered drinks and light lunches. Drinks in the evening were available in Otters Bar, a piano and lounge bar or The Lighthouse a nautical themed pub with live music from a local trio. I loved the selection of cocktails available in all the bars and tried most of them but my favourite was one called De Chai! We also used the shuttle bus to eat in Panwa village where there are a small number of local restaurants, shops and a sister Hotel, The Kantary Bay which has a seafood restaurant, Italian restaurant and an excellent coffee shop which also offers sandwiches, fabulous pastries and ice creams. We ate in two local restaurants, “Sawasdee”, and “Sea Breeze” both serving very good fresh cooked Thai dishes. There was another serving Indian food and a further Thai Restaurant at the far end of the village promenade which we didn’t get time to try. A variety of excursions were available through the hotel ranging from boat trips to other islands, Elephant trekking, off road driving, golf, various water sports or a spectacular Cultural and Heritage show. We preferred to hire taxis to explore some of the island. We visited Phuket Town which is great for shopping with a modern shopping mall plus literally hundreds of small independent shops all jostling for space at the side of busy roads. We also had a fascinating time at Wat Chalong the best known Buddhist Temple on the Island originally built in 1837. On our second exploration our driver took us to see the 45 metre high “Big Buddha” made in white ceramic and located on the peak of a mountain and a visible landmark across the island. We then followed the west coastal road through the resort of Karon which has a lovely beach and several major international Hotels and on to Patong the main and best known resort on the island. If you like wall to wall bars, night clubs and “lady boy” cabaret shows then Patong is for you! We couldn’t wait to get back to the peace and tranquillity at Cape Panwa! The Hotel brochure and website describes Cape Panwa as a piece of luxurious tropical paradise and it certainly lived up to the advance billing! I have never been to a hotel where there were so many repeat guests…I can see why, and I will be one of them!

Vibrant Vienna

31 October 2013

I flew out from Gatwick on an easyjet flight with my husband and a couple of friends for a weekend break in the Austrian Capital of Vienna. The transfer from the airport to our hotel took about 25 minutes. We had chosen to stay at the Das Tyrol Hotel which has member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World status. It has thirty spacious rooms all with air conditioning, Satellite TV, Safe, complimentary Nespresso coffee machine and high speed, LAN & WLAN internet connection. A delicious Viennese buffet breakfast was served each morning. A wellness centre with private steam bath, sauna and therapy shower was available in the basement of the hotel. The friendly staff on reception provided extremely helpful literature and advice covering places to see, recommended restaurants, tours and options for getting around the city to visit the main attractions. It proved to be a great choice not only in terms of the comfort and quality but more importantly its excellent location. Just a short walk from the central area for shops, Coffee houses, restaurants and many of the famous historical buildings. It was just a short walk to the main pick up point for the hop-hop off tourist bus system which in the thirty degree July temperature proved a lazy but necessary help to reach the more distant attractions away from the City Centre. There were also plenty of bars and cafes right near the Hotel for recuperating after a day sightseeing, a pre-dinner drink or a nightcap. From the hotel’s recommended places to eat for dinner, we chose “Ilja” which had a very good selection of meat and seafood dishes, “Umar Fisch” a fabulous fish restaurant right in the Nachsmarket, a huge market area where trendy restaurants are wedged side by side with bars and market stalls. The fish was superb and the portions massive! Being in Vienna we felt we had to sample some local cuisine so visited the Plachutas Gasthaus Oper not far from the famous and magnificent Opera House building. Dishes on offer included the Vienna classic, Wiener Schnitzel also Tafelspitz, prime boiled beef, huge portions of a local grilled chicken speciality plus of course apple strudel. Of the many Cafes and Coffee Houses to choose from I loved one called Café Demel in the central area close to, St Stephens Cathedral, which had been recommended by one of my customers whose husband is Austrian. The cakes were amazing to look at and almost too good to eat! Vienna, a city of 1.7 million inhabitants is modern, affluent and vibrant boasting a much admired quality of life with an excellent choice of shops and entertainment yet retains an air of Imperial elegance and old fashioned charm. Our sightseeing included the Museum quarter one of the world’s top ten cultural complexes and the splendid Museum of fine arts, City Hall and Parliament buildings. At the end of Heroes Square, we saw the Hofburg former home to the Hapsburgs for over 6 centuries and now housing the offices of the Austrian President along with the famous Spanish Riding School and a variety of Museums. The Spanish Riding School is reached through an arched walkway which then leads out into the central area for shops, restaurants and cafes and the Gothic St Stephens Cathedral. Further out from the central area we visited the Schloss Belvedere Palace a baroque masterpiece built in the 18th century for Prince Eugene who had conquered the Turks in the Austro Turkish war. Nowadays it is a huge museum housing artworks both historic and modern. Then we moved on to visit the remarkable Schloss Schonbrunn the opulent baroque residential palace of the Hapsburg family which was originally built in the 17th century and modified many times since. Forty of the 1400 plus rooms are open to the public as are the extensive gardens. From the hop-on hop bus we saw the famous giant Ferris wheel in the park area known as the Prater which also contains a modern amusement complex. To round off our explorations we enjoyed a leisurely two hour river cruise on the Danube. Vienna is a charming city with so much to offer for a city break whether it be historic buildings, classic music concerts, excellent shops, cafes, bars and restaurants there is something to suit all tastes. We were just amazed that we hadn’t thought of visiting it before.

Abu Dhabi - ideal winter break

08 November 2013

I travelled to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates with my husband to attend our Travel Counsellors Gold Conference. We flew out with Etihad Airways one of the sponsors for our event and voted the Middle East’s leading Airline 2013. The Conference provided an opportunity to familiarise with the attractions Abu Dhabi has to offer as a holiday/stopover destination, visit a selection of hotels and of course network with other Gold Travel Counsellors. We stayed at the Bab Al Bahr Hotel which is part of the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts group who were also a sponsor of our event and have hotels in a worldwide portfolio of locations. The contemporary Bab Al Bahr Hotel has a prime beachfront setting right on the Grand Canal with fabulous views across to the spectacular Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the newly opened Ritz Carlton Hotel. It is essentially a business hotel with very good conference/meeting facilities. Situated just 15 minutes from the international airport it also has easy access to the city centre and the tourism development areas of Yas Island and Saadiyat Island. Our events began with a guided tour of the Yas Marina Motor Racing Circuit which staged its first Grand Prix in October 2009 after two years of planning and construction. In addition to a tour of the track, we were able to see the circuit’s high-tech facilities, including Race Control, the unique air-conditioned Support Pit garages, the state-of-the-art 500-seat media centre and the exclusive paddock. We even got to pose for photos on the Winner’s Podium! Following the tour we were treated to a private buffet dinner party in the Skylite- Rooftop lounge at the iconic Vicerory Hotel which straddles the racing circuit and alongside the Marina. We felt like the Grand Prix glitterati at a post-race celebration party! The futuristic design of the hotel includes an LED canopy which constantly changes colour at night making it a spectacular landmark in the area. We had a choice of excursions for the next day and chose to visit Ferrari World. Located on Yas Island, Ferrari World is a Ferrari themed amusement park situated under a 200,000 square metre roof making it the largest indoor amusement park in the world. In addition it boasts the world’s fastest roller coaster ride located outside the main building…….which I went on… never been so scared in my life!! Indoors it offers more than 20 Ferrari inspired rides and attractions for adults and children plus a variety of food outlets and large Ferrari clothing, gifts/souvenir shop. Other excursions offered were a city tour which we had already enjoyed on a previous visit to the UAE or a day at Yas Waterworld which has 43 rides, slides and attractions in a huge area of Water Park. In the evening we visited the newly opened Ritz Carlton Hotel for an excellent gala dinner. This spacious and elegant Venetian style is located in a luxury beach setting along the Grand Canal and opposite the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Hotel. I spent the following day relaxing on the beach/in the pool while my husband enjoyed a round of golf at Yas Links Golf Club. For dinner we visited another new hotel, the Park Hyatt. It is located on a long stretch of pristine beach adjacent to Saadiyat Golf Club on Saadiyat Island a tourism, cultural and residential development project. We ended the evening with drinks at the nearby Monte Carlo Beach Club which is a really up market hideaway for celebrities/VIP’s. On our final morning we visited the stunning Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque the largest in the Emirates and the eighth largest Mosque in the World. It can accommodate 40,000 worshippers and features 82 white marble domes, 1,000 columns in the outer area and 96 columns in the main prayer hall. After an afternoon topping up my tan on the beach and a relaxing dinner, it was time to head off to the airport for our night flight back to the UK. With a great climate, luxury hotels and a variety of excellent attractions Abu Dhabi is a superb destination for a winter holiday away or a shorter stopover break on the way to or from an even more distant holiday destination.

Divine Dubai

29 October 2013

Last year we travelled to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates for the dual purpose of attending the wedding of our niece and to enjoy a short break away from the UK winter! We stayed at the luxurious 5 star Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina which has a superb location on Jumeirah beach. It also has an excellent choice of restaurants ranging from the Blue Orange for breakfast which also offers themed international buffets in the evening, Hunters Grill for steak lovers, Bussola for Italian flavours and the Spice Emporium offering a range of authentic Thai dishes. There is also the Bubbalicious buffet on a Friday lunchtime which is renowned in Dubai and offers unlimited, champagne, and wine and a fabulous choice of food from all of the restaurants for approx. £90 per head. For soaking up the sun, the resort has several swimming pools in the spacious grounds, a private beach and pool bars offering drinks and lunch. For drinks in the evening there is the Senyar bar with TV’s and piped music or the Oeno wine bar which has live music plus outdoors the popular Barasti bar. For a change of scene on a couple of evenings we took a short taxi ride to eat at Chinese & Lebanese restaurants in the Mall of the Emirates which contains 520 shops and 85 restaurants and food outlets. You can’t have alcohol but the food is very good. We also visited the Souk Madinat which comprises of shops, restaurants and hotels situated on a small canal network Venice style. We also explored the Dubai Mall which has a mind boggling 1200 shops and 160 restaurants and food outlets as well as an Aquarium, Ice Skating Rink and Cinema complex. Having visited Dubai many years earlier we had seen the sights in the city area and had dinner on a cruise down the Creek. Therefore we opted for a half day Catamaran cruise which departed from the marina at the Westin resort and sailed around the Jumeirah Palm anchoring for a BBQ lunch before returning to the Marina. We also enjoyed an evening excursion to the Babs Al Shams Desert Resort for a superb BBQ and live show which included an Arabian pageant on horseback plus a belly dancer! Dubai is a great place for a winter break from the UK with excellent hotels, restaurants, shopping and things to see and do as well as ideal temperatures between October and March. Oh I nearly forgot, we also attended the wedding and reception which all took place at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel on the beach in front of the iconic Burj Al Arab Hotel. Fantastic!

Oman........Truly Arabic

21 November 2013

Seeking some sunshine and relaxation to keep us going through the UK winter, I flew with my husband on Oman Air from Heathrow to Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman. The private transfer to our chosen resort, the Shangri La Barr Al Jissah Resort, took 45 minutes and our driver, an Omani, spoke perfect English. During the journey he gave us a fascinating insight into his country. Located in between a dramatic backdrop of rugged mountains and the pristine blue Sea of Oman, Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa is comprised of three spectacular hotels set in 124 acres of stunning scenery. We had chosen to stay at the Al Waha Hotel which is the largest of the resorts three hotels. As it is located at the foot of the mountain range, a man made tunnel was cut through the mountain to provide vehicular access which makes for an unusual arrival by road. The Al Waha has 262 rooms, each with either a balcony or ground floor patio, with sea view and all the usual modern facilities. The name Al Waha means "The Oasis", and has been designed so that the hotel's several swimming pools form an oasis incorporating many date palm trees with plenty of sun beds and umbrellas provided around the pools, or the peaceful garden area amongst the palm trees as well as on the beach. A cool box with complimentary bottles of water for each sun bed was a nice touch. A fun and relaxing facility for adults or kids was the Lazy River which transported you on large rubber rings through the gardens behind the beach to the pool at the Al Bandar Hotel. Getting on and off the rings was a challenge as was staying on along the waterway. Naturally I fell off several times. All part of the fun! The resort’s other two hotels are the Al Bandar located in the centre of the complex and the six star Al Husn which is built on a rocky headland at the far end of the bay. The Al Husn has 180 rooms and suites and is described as one of the most palatial and luxurious hotels in Oman. As a guest in the resort we were able to dine in any of the eight restaurants located around the complex. In the Al Waha, the Samba restaurant provided an excellent breakfast buffet and international cuisine for dinner including themed buffets. Light lunches and drinks were available from Assira the pool bar which also had a happy hour which we made full use of for sun downer cocktails. We also enjoyed, Bait al Bahr a very good seafood restaurant located on the beachfront and Capri Court at Al Bandar is a superb contemporary Italian Restaurant. Our favourite though was the Tapas restaurant on the large courtyard in front of the Al Bandar which offered a mix of Mediterranean and Asian dishes tapas style in a lovely setting. It was so good we went back another night! For something different we took the hotel shuttle bus up to Al Mazaar Souk, also part of the resort. In addition to shopping the Souk area has three further dining options. Zafran Café serves coffee, pastries and light meals and Asia provides contemporary dishes from east and southwest Asia. However, to give my husband a treat, I chose the third option, Fairouz, a Lebanese restaurant with resident belly dancer. The food was excellent and watching the belly dancer was a fascinating experience! A variety of excursions are available through Zahara Tours the main one being a city tour of Muscat which includes the Grand Mosque and the Bait Al Zubair Museum to understand Oman’s history and development. You also visit the magnificent Official Palace of Sultan Qaboos. Other options include an evening Dhow cruise, journeys through the mountains to see ancient forts, canyons and Wadi’s or your own 4x4 chauffeur exploring the desert with an overnight under the stars! Oman is growing fast as a tourist destination and is an excellent alternative to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Development is carefully controlled to retain the Omani heritage and values while providing a 21st century experience and facilities. Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah resort offers a great choice of quality hotels, facilities, restaurants and activities in a spectacular and truly relaxing setting. It was everything we hoped for and more and we absolutely loved it!

Kalkan, Turkey's Hidden Gem

09 July 2013

We decided to indulge ourselves a little for this trip by booking a meet and greet service to park our car. It was a fabulous service - you just drive up, hand over keys and stroll into the airport. On our return someone is waiting for you in the same spot so there is no waiting around or stress. We had also booked the VIP Lounge before we flew which was excellent – the perfect way to start our trip! Although I had been to Turkey many years ago, I had not been very impressed. After being told by many colleagues that I should give it another go, I was actually quite excited about this trip which was an educational so we could visit a number of hotels. We flew to Dalaman and headed to Kalkan where our first hotel was the Oasis. It’s a small and very friendly boutique 17 bedroom hotel which would definitely suit couples. It is situated just a 5 min walk into the centre where there are many restaurants. The food was fantastic, especially when you bear in mind the size of the town. Two restaurants definitely worth a visit are the Aubergine and Kalamaki or if you really want to push the boat out, try Girondella where there are stunning views from the roof top terrace. We visited the Asfiya Hotel, which is great for couples or in my opinion families with older children. It has a massive pool and a cool chill out area, Spa facilities – Sauna , steam room, and Turkish bath. It is on the edge of the town – only a 10 min walk. I’d love to go into detail about every hotel we visited but the truth is that we went to so many! I do want to give a special mention to the truly amazing Lykia Residence and Spa. If Gastronomy is your thing you will not be disappointed here! We did visit quite a number of villas which quite honestly blew me away not only the quality but the locations. A number of these were twinned so would be able to cater for a large group. We took a trip 20km down the coast to a very charming village called Kas – out on the peninsula we got to visit the Kas Peninsula Gardens hotel & spa. It is simply a stunning location. The majority of the suites have plunge pools. In general I’d say this place is perfect for couples or honeymooners. It is quite secluded which is lovely and helps to make it feel very exclusive! In general Kalkan really challenged my thoughts on Turkey and changed my mind completely. It is a wonderful resort, which is still a hidden gem so I will be returning without a doubt

Stunning Crete

09 July 2013

A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to win a stay at this luxury beach resort just outside Aghios Nikaos. We arrived in style by private taxi and were greeted with a welcome drink and a view which was priceless. The hotel is built into a hillside and overlooks its own private bay with a small sandy beach. The rooms are reached by funicular, or golf carts which are readily available outside the main reception The room I stayed in was a deluxe sea view room with its own private pool. The bedroom and living area are open plan and decorated to a very high standard in a contemporary style. The bathroom was amazing with a separate bath and shower and stocked with quality toiletries. There is an infinity pool outside and two indoor pools in the spa area. The spa is amazing a truly relaxing retreat. I am not really a spa person, but I must admit that it did look impressive and there was a huge choice of treatments. As special guests we ate in the different restaurants and each has its own style of cuisine. My favourite was the Taverna serving local specialities. The hotel is wonderful, but it is in an isolated position. There is nowhere within walking distance, so you would need to get a taxi into Aghios Nikolas, which is about 15 mins away. A very relaxing, stay, ideal if you want to get away from it all! While we were there we had the chance to experience many of the beautiful beaches and cultural sights so just contact me for any tips or insights.

Celebrity Silhouette- Italy & Croatia Mediterranean Cruise

05 February 2014

One of my goals had always been to sail from/into Venice on a luxury cruise ship so when Celebrity offered a cruise itinerary doing just that on their fabulous new ship Silhouette I was delighted to book it with my husband and two very good friends. On arrival in Venice it was just a 20 minute transfer from the airport to the Cruise terminal where we were soon being welcomed aboard with a glass of champagne. After unpacking, lunch and the obligatory safety drill it was time to make our way to the Sunset bar on the top deck for a sail away drink and a good position from which to take in the magnificent views as we slowly made our way out of the Cruise terminal and past the iconic buildings of Venice and ultimately out of the lagoon into the Adriatic sea. The fourth of five ships in Celebrity’s Solstice class, Silhouette carries a maximum of 2,885 passengers and 1500 crew giving an excellent 2:1 service ratio. Accommodation comprises a choice from Suites, Balcony, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms. There is also a wide choice of options for food and drink with 12 different restaurants/cafes and 13 bars on offer. We dined most evenings in the main restaurant, Grand Cuvee, but also ate in two of the specialty options, Murano offering fine dining with a French influence and the Lawn Club grill offering huge steaks, chops and seafood outside in the unique lawn area on the top deck. There are a variety of activities on offer each day including superb gym and spa facilities, jogging track, dance classes, seminars, movies, internet café, wine tasting, cookery lessons and more. Or you can relax on a sun lounger with a good book and a cocktail and do absolutely nothing!!!!! In the evening the entertainment ranges from a West End style show or, cabaret in the elegant theatre, trying your luck in the Casino or taking in the live music on offer in many of the lounges/bars in various parts of the ship. The first port of call on our itinerary was the Croatian City of Dubrovnik. We took a shuttle bus into the City and walked the walls of the old town which offered lovely views of the coastline and harbour. Other shore excursions offered the chance to explore further afield beyond the city vicinity. After a day at sea we reached our next destination Civitavecchia the port for visiting Rome which is two hours away by coach or train for taking in the historic sights of the “eternal” city such as the Colosseum, Trevi fountain and the Vatican. Next morning we opened the curtains on the port of Naples and a view of Mount Vesuvius. We chose to tour the spectacular Amalfi coast visiting Sorrento and Positano. Other options include taking a ferry to the beautiful island of Capri or a visit the ruins of Pompeii. Our next port was Catania on the island of Sicily from where we chose to visit the lovely village of Taormina perched high up on a mountainside. We then set sail for the Island of Malta and enjoyed a spectacular early morning arrival in Valletta Harbour. We took a half day tour which included Mdina the old town, St Paul’s bay area, St Julian’s bay area, central Valletta and Barracca gardens from where there are superb views of the Harbour. After a day relaxing at sea we returned to Croatia to visit Split the second largest City. We took the tender ashore to explore the old town area and had an excellent seafood lunch around the harbour. Next day we arrived at the Italian port of Ravenna. The main local attraction was again a tour of the old town area. Other excursions offered included a tour of the Ferrari factory and museum, visiting the city of Bologna or even further afield an all day trip to the city of Florence. Finally it was time to return to Venice with the early morning arrival being just as spectacular as our late afternoon departure as we towered above the historic buildings on our way back to the cruise terminal. A wonderful Cruise experience on a fantastic ship with memories that will last for ever especially sailing out of and back to Venice! Wow!

Mauritius Gold Conference - A Truly Tropical Paradise

05 February 2014

The tropical island of Mauritius was the chosen venue for our Travel Counsellors Gold Conference. An opportunity to relax for a few days as well as network with fellow gold Travel Counsellors and senior colleagues from Head Office. I flew out with my husband via Dubai with Emirates, one of the sponsors for our event. A nice touch on arrival outside the airport was a welcoming performance of the island’s signature dance routine, Sega dancing, by local musicians & dancers. The venue and facilities were provided by our main sponsors of the Conference, Beachcomber Hotels in a stunning location on the Le Morne peninsular on the south western tip of the island and 45 minutes from the International airport. The Beachcomber Golf Resort and Spa Complex comprised of two 5 star luxury Hotels, the Dinarobin and the Paradis with accommodation on a 7km secluded beach, a choice of eight different restaurants, a range of water sports as well as excellent Spa, gym and golf facilities. I had visited and explored Mauritius for a holiday in 2005 so I knew it was a beautiful Island but this location was truly magnificent. I just had to text family and friends to tell them, with photos, that I had arrived in paradise!!! We had been allocated to stay in the Dinarobin Hotel where accommodation consisted of six crescents of suites each crescent having a shared pool as an alternative to the huge main pool. All were only a few yards from the private and secluded beach. We set off for a walk along the beach but as we emerged from the palm trees discovered we were opposite the beach bar so never got any further!!! After a relaxing afternoon settling in and recovering from the long journey from the UK, we were taken across to the Blue Marlin fish restaurant at the Paradis Hotel where we had a welcome drinks reception and very enjoyable seafood dinner. We had a choice of excursions next day and as we had toured the island before we had chosen to take a Catamaran cruise. We were taken out through the coral reef by speedboat to four Catamarans at anchor. We cruised along the coast and were privileged to see some dolphins along the way and anchored for swimming/snorkelling followed by a superb BBQ lunch before returning via the nearby lagoon. Other excursions available include tours to various parts of the island, Sugar Cane Plantations, the Botanical gardens at Pamplemouses, Grand Bassin Indian temple & sacred lake or shopping in the Capital Port Louis. In the evening we met up for cocktails on the beach at the Dinarobin Hotel followed by a superb BBQ at the Le Morne Plage restaurant with entertainment provided by local Sega dancers. Next day I chilled out with friends by the main pool at Dinarobin while my husband played golf at the Paradis Course which he said was a fantastic experience with some spectacular holes and breath-taking scenery with the Le Morne mountain in view from everywhere on the course. In the evening we had a drinks reception in the club house at Paradis Golf Club followed by a black tie gala dinner in the beachside La Ravanne restaurant which specialises in Mauritian cuisine. Then it was back to the lounge bar at Dinarobin for a nightcap to round off the evening. Mauritius really is a luxury tropical destination predominantly for relaxing in the sun, water sports and golf but there are also a variety of places of interest to visit on the Island for those who prefer to see the sights and experience the local culture. Many hotels on the Island can match the quality of accommodation, facilities and service as the Beachcomber complex of Dinarobin and Paradis but few if any can match the wow factor of the stunning location and spectacular setting of the Le Morne peninsular. It is truly a tropical paradise and one my favourite destinations in the world.

Charming Carcassonne

22 June 2011

Charming Carcassonne 3rd to 6th June 2011 We flew with Ryanair from Stansted for a weekend break in Carcassonne in the Languedoc – Roussillon region of France about 56 miles south east of Toulouse. The town of Carcassonne has been a popular tourist attraction for years but since the publication of Dan Brown’s novel “The Da Vinci Code” and film of the same name, which featured Carcassonne in the storyline, along with many other historic sites in Europe, it has seen a huge increase in visitors. Carcassonne is divided into two distinct parts, with the main attraction, the medieval walled castle area known as La Cite, situated up above the modern lower town area and separated from it by the River Aude. La Cite holds World Heritage site status and is one of the most visited sites in Southern France. The taxi from the airport takes approximately 20 minutes and costs €15. The taxi dropped us at the hotel shuttle service meeting point outside the walls of La Cite, as inside is a pedestrian only area, except for service vehicles to hotels, restaurants and shops. We were quickly transferred inside La Cite to our hotel the Hotel Le Donjon. Hotel Le Donjon has 56 rooms and six suites located in three separate buildings, the main Le Donjon, Maison des ramparts and Maison du Comte Roger. All combine medieval architecture with comfortable rooms and all mod cons. There is a lounge, bar and breakfast room in the main building and nearby are a separate brasserie and also an excellent wine bar. We enjoyed wandering through the maze of narrow winding cobbled streets lined with ancient buildings, which are now restaurants and shops. There are only 2 hotels within La Cite, all other hotels are in the modern lower part of the city. We walked along the ramparts of the double fortified walls, which surround the City and contain 52 towers and barbicans and visited the Castle, Chateau Comtal, which was built in the 12th Century and was restored along with much of the City in the 19th Century. We walked into the lower town across the Pont Vieux bridge which crosses the River Aude and stopped off for a drink in the main square, Place Carnot, where a lively Market is held on Saturdays. We also took a short cruise on the Canal Du Midi where you can choose from a selection of cruises from one and a half to three hours duration and offering a spectacular view of La Cite. With so many restaurants to choose from we stayed within the La Cite in the evenings. Seafood, beef steaks, duck and pork dishes featured on all menus as well as the local speciality Le Cassoulet, which consisted of a leg of duck, Toulouse sausages, belly pork and haricot beans all cooked and served in a large brown dish - delicious but very filling so you don’t need a starter! Carcassonne is an unusual and somewhat unique place, ideal for a weekend break or as a base for a longer holiday touring the Languedoc Region. A small piece of advice, make sure you stay within La Cite, rather than outside in the lower part of Carcassonne. La Cite is where all the action is! Hotel Le Donjon is great choice in a fabulous location offering great rates.

Queen Elizabeth Inspection Tour

13 December 2010

At Southampton docks I met up with ten customers who were interested in cruising with Cunard and who had been invited for a guided tour of the new liner Queen Elizabeth. This latest addition to the Cunard fleet, came into service in October 2010 and weighs 90,000 tonnes, is 964.5 feet long and 106ft wide and has a top speed of 23.7 knots. When full it can accommodate 2,068 passengers and 996 crew, and has accommodation and facilities spread over twelve decks. After completing check-in formalities. we were escorted aboard and our tour began. The tour started on deck two in the Queens room, a magnificent ballroom where artwork reflects the Royal theme of the ship and traditional afternoon tea is served by white gloved waiters. Next was the Golden Lion pub which serves a wide range of beers and wine and gastro style lunches such as steak and kidney pie and fish and chips. Across from the Golden Lion is the small Empire casino area, and further forward, in the bow of the ship we saw the Royal Court Theatre where you can enjoy musical productions and other entertainment in a theatre setting. The theatre spans three levels with private boxes on the upper level which are bookable for a small cover charge. Moving up to deck three we saw the Royal Arcade with an excellent selection of shops and the splendid 6,000 book library and adjacent book shop. Also in this area are the Midships bar, Champagne bar, card room and internet centre. Next we were shown a selection of the accommodations on offer.First we saw the fabulous, spacious and luxurious suites in the Queens Grill category with living area, dining area and private verandah and exclusive access to the Queens Grill restaurant, Grills lounge and terrace. The suites in the Princess Grill category are smaller but still superbly appointed with living area and private balcony and access to the Princess Grill restaurant and Grill lounge areas. Britannia Club balcony staterooms have a smaller living area and private balcony and access to the Britannia Club restaurant. The other options of Britannia balcony, oceanview and interior staterooms are similar in size and amenities and have access to the main Britannia restaurant with early or late dining choices. Then we moved up to deck nine which has the Lido pool area at the rear of the ship with pool bar and grill and the Lido restaurant which provides buffet style dining throughout the day. In the evening is provides three separate dining options with Asado a South American style grill, Jasmine offering Asian cuisine and Aztec providing a Mexican theme. Forward of the Lido Restaurant is conservatory style Garden lounge, the Pavilion pool area and the Royal Spa and fitness centre which has an excellent range of facilities including a hair salon. Up on deck ten there is the nautical themed Yacht Club with 270 degree views and compass shaped dance floor for dancing the night away. Forward of this is the Club style observation lounge the Commodore Club with luxurious leather arm chairs and a wide choice of Martinis and special cocktails. Also in this area is Churchill’s a small cigar lounge. Midships on this level are indoor and outdoor play zones for children and teenagers. The beautiful Queens Grill and Princess Grill restaurants occupy deck eleven. The Queens Grill having the option of dining outdoors in a courtyard when the weather permits. There is also a luxurious Grills lounge offering spectacular views and a large terrace which also occupies space up on deck twelve. Using lifts and the spectacular grand lobby staircase we travelled down to deck two for the Verandah restaurant an alternative dining option offering French cuisine where a small cover charge applies. Across from the Verandah is the Café Carinthia providing speciality teas, coffees and pastries. To complete our experience we enjoyed a splendid three course lunch in the main Britannia restaurant which is a two tier dining room with grand staircase and large spectacular art deco chandeliers. Cunard have sought to combine traditional and contemporary furnishings, fabrics, artwork and artefacts to provide elegance and luxury coupled with an exceptional level of service and a choice of accommodation and dining packages to suit differing preferences and budgets. For a five star traditional British style cruise experience Queen Elizabeth ticks all the boxes.

Posh in Portugal

18 November 2010

We flew to Faro from Luton on a scheduled flight with Monarch, meeting up with my parents who flew in from Manchester, for our one week stay in a villa at Parque Da Floresta Golf & Leisure Resort near Salema at the Western end of the Algarve region. We collected our pre-booked hire cars and set off from the airport. Our journey time to the resort took about one and a half hours, with all but the last 20 minutes on a very good Motorway. The resort reception staff were very friendly and efficient and we were soon unpacking in the magnificent villa we had been allocated. Parque Da Floresta (PDF) is a secluded, exclusive, luxury resort located near the village of Budens right off the N125 main road which runs from the town of Lagos 20 minutes away, to Cape St Vincent 30 minutes away at the Western most point of the Algarve. The village of Salema, 5 minutes away on the coast has a superb beach and several restaurants. Accommodation at the resort is available in two or three bedroom village style houses or three, four and five bedroom spacious villas set in their own landscaped gardens with private swimming pools. Some have a golf course view with others looking out on to the countryside. Due to the elevated location most properties have a view of the sea away in the distance. Our luxury four bedroom villa, each with en suite bath/shower, also had a large lounge with dining area, well appointed kitchen and upstairs and downstairs patio areas for al fresco dining. There was a superb sized heated swimming pool with electric cover, plenty of quality sun loungers for use on either the patio or the lovely gardens, a heated Jacuzzi and a brick built barbecue.... stunning We had breakfast and lunch at the villa with provisions from the supermarket in Budens which has most of the things you might want. We ate out most evenings at a variety of local restaurants. All were really good and had been recommended and booked for us by the Resort Reception staff who also arranged taxis for us when required. There are lots of other restaurants to choose from all over the area and especially in the main town of Lagos. The golf course on the resort is spectacularly undulating, interesting and very challenging and residents enjoy reduced green fees. Use of a buggy is recommended! At the clubhouse there is a spike bar serving snacks throughout the day as well as a restaurant which is open for lunch and dinner. Also in the area are the golf courses of Boavista, Palmares, Penina, Morgado and Silves which are 20-45 minutes away. Situated next to the clubhouse is the Spa where facilities include treatments rooms, gym, steam room, sauna, indoor pool and solarium and large outdoor heated pool. Other resort activities include tennis, bowls and horse riding while mountain biking, jeep safaris and various water sports and excursions can be arranged through the reception staff. The western end of the Algarve is well worth exploring as it is quieter and much less commercialised than the tourist resorts that have been established elsewhere. We visited Lagos the main town which is steeped in maritime history and now has a modern marina where many luxury yachts are berthed. It also has a magnificent stretch of beach known as Meia Praia. In the centre of town is a labyrinth of cobbled streets with numerous shops and restaurants which in the evening is really buzzing with atmosphere. The fishing villages of Burgau and Salema are quaint and relatively unspoilt and you can watch fishermen tending to their nets and bringing in their daily catch. We loved the spectacular scenery at Sagres and nearby Cape St Vincent where we visited the Beliche Fortress.and the famous lighthouse both situated on cliffs high above the pounding Atlantic sea. Sagres also has a harbour and several picturesque beaches. North of Sagres we discovered an amazing expanse of almost deserted sandy beach at the village of Carripaterra before reaching Aljezur a market town steeped in history dating back to the tenth century and dominated by a Moorish castle on top of a hill overlooking the town. Parque Da Floresta is an excellent location for a luxury villa holiday with a choice of on site facilities and activities as well as nearby beaches, restaurants and shops and places of interest to explore. We can’t wait to go again!

Tasty Tuscany

09 November 2010

We flew from Stansted to Pisa airport with Ryanair. We chose to add a night in Pisa on our way to a two night stay at a newly opened luxury Spa hotel just south of Siena. We picked up a hire car and set off for the city of Pisa about 20 minutes away from the airport. Driving in the city was challenging due to the one way system and pedestrian precincts but we eventually managed to find our hotel. There is a wide choice of hotels to suit all budgets in Pisa. We stayed in the 4* Hotel Bologna which was very good and situated close to the main area for bars, restaurants and shops. It was also just a 2 minute walk from the River Arno which bisects the city and a 30 minute walk from cities the main attractions, the famous leaning tower and Duomo Pisa is a charming city with lots of old yellow, pink and yellow-ochre fronted buildings and great for a weekend break or as part of a longer visit to Tuscany. From Pisa we headed south towards Siena on a very good two lane motorway.The journey of just over 2 hours gave us some fabulous views of the Tuscan countryside before reaching our destination the magnificent Castel Monastero located about 15 minutes south of Siena. In the 11th Century, Castel Monastero began as a small medieval village. A monastery was built there in the 13th Century which some time later was used as a fortress. The hotel, which opened in 2009 is part of the “eleganzia” group a small chain of luxury hotels in Italy. The hotel consists of the refurbished monastery which houses 75 bedrooms and suites, reception, lounge with bar and two restaurants all set around the old village square which also has a small church which guests can book for weddings. Two converted farmhouses contain the state of the art luxury spa facilities in front of which are three swimming pools and a large lawn with sun loungers All the buildings are situated on a top of hillside surrounded by woods and vineyards a good ten minutes from any major roads giving a truly peaceful setting. Each of the rooms are unique and vary in size and shape but each has excellent facilities as well as unusual features. Our room had a large bathroom with stone floors, a large bedroom with sitting area, walk in wardrobe and several windows giving lovely views over vineyards and the local countryside. Breakfast and lunch was served outdoors in a corner of the old village square.Two options were available for dinner. The Contrada restaurant which our well known chef Gordon Ramsay helped the local chef to set up, offers four courses of gourmet cuisine with a choice of fine wines. The La Cantina restaurant situated in the magnificent old wine cellars provides examples of Tuscan cuisine again with a choice of excellent wines. Alternatively there is a wide range of places to eat in Siena for lunch or dinner as well as a number of restaurants in the surrounding villages. We spent Sunday morning in the fascinating city of Siena. The main part of the city is traffic free so we parked on the outskirts and walked through narrow cobbled streets lined by quality shops and restaurants to the main attraction the Piazza del Campo. Ths is one of the best known squares in the world and is famous for the annual horse race known as the “Palio” which dates from the 13th Century and takes place every year on the 2nd July and the 16th August around the square.The square features a number of unique yellow-brown buildings (“burnt Siena”) the exception being the Torre del Mangia which has a white stone belfry atop a 268 foot tower. There are bars and restaurants around the square. If it is a pampered luxury weekend break or longer you are seeking then the Hotel Castel Monastero is a fabulous experience in a truly tranquil idyllic setting. With a choice of fascinating historical cities to visit or leisurely drives through beautiful countryside Tuscany has much to offer whether it be for a weekend break or longer holiday. Lack of time prevented us from visiting other attractions such as the cities of Florence, Arezzo and San Gimignano and of course the Chianti Wine area, but we will go back sometime soon..

Arabian Adventure Onboard Brilliance Of The Seas

05 February 2014

We flew to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates with Emirates Airlines. We spent a couple of days relaxing and acclimatising ourselves at the excellent Palm Tree Court & Spa Hotel, Jebel Ali before joining the ship for our 7 night Arabian Gulf Cruise. Jebel Ali is approximately 40 mins away from the main Jumeirah Beach/Marina/City area and is more suited to someone wanting a quieter stay in Dubai. The hotel is situated on its own private pristine white sand beach. It has an array of restaurants including a wonderful Asian restaurant. The hotel also has its own marina and 9 hole golf course and is an ideal place to relax. Brilliance of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean's Radiance Class ships. She carries a maximum of 2,500 passengers and 869 crew. There are 13 decks for activity entertainment and accommodation with several formal and informal dining options. We dined most evenings in the main Minstrel Restaurant where both food and service were excellent. One night we went to the excellent speciality restaurant 'Chops Grille' where steaks are one of their many specialities and I can see why! There is also another speciality restaurant, Portofino where the dishes are mainly Italian themed. For breakfast and lunch we used the informal Windjammer Cafe which offers a great range of choices, buffet style. This restaurant is also open in the evening for less formal dining offering a different theme on each night. Accommodation choices range from Suites, Balcony, Ocean View and Inside staterooms. We had a Superior Balcony Stateroom situated at the very back of the ship with a huge balcony... much larger than those on the side of the ship. Entertainment comes in various shapes and sizes, from the Casino to West End style shows, Cabaret or Live music playing in the various bars which are scattered all over the ship. This ship also offer a superb spa and gym. Our first port of call on this itinerary was Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman. A wide range of shore excursions are on offer with the main places of interest being the Grand Mosque and the Royal Palace. The next port was Fujairah, another of the United Arab Emirates. Excursions here included a drive through the eastern UAE coastal area and the rugged and remote Hajar mountain range and a visit to the 300 year old Fujairah Fort with its heritage museum. It was then onto Abu Dhabi, the richest of the UAE where the main excursions covered the main city area, the creek with its dhows and then onto to the magnificent Sheik Zayed Mosque. The Kingdom of Bahrain was the next port of call. Bahrain was the first of the oil rich kingdoms and is a small island joined by a causeway to the mainland of Saudi Arabia. The main highlight here, apart from the lovely beaches, is the brand new Formula One Grand Prix circuit and facilities built out in the desert. From Bahrain the ship then headed back to Dubai where the ship was docked overnight enabling us to enjoy the many activities Dubai has to offer, whether that be sunbathing, shopping in one of the many souks, a boat trip around The Palm or a trip in a 4x4 into the desert for a touch of Wadi bashing!! All in all a great trip. This is an ideal cruise for regular cruisers who have already been to most of the Caribbean & Mediterranean cruise destinations.

Amazing Japan

20 November 2009

We connected to Kyoto and arrived late evening into Kansai International Airport. From there we headed to the Hyatt Regency Kyoto which is located in the traditional and secluded area of Higashiyama Shichijo, the heart of Kyoto. Upon arrival we were treated to the most fabulous meal at the hotels’ Touzan restaurant which consisted of seven courses of typical Japanese cuisine, including many delicacies and of course sake! There is not only the delicious Japanese food, the hotel also offers a Grill and an Italian Restaurant complete with wood fire oven. The hotel itself is contemporary in design with pretty Japanese gardens and I particularly loved my huge comfortable king bed with its kimono fabric headboard. The Regency Executive King Room was my favorite which overlooked the Japanese gardens. It also had a deep wooden Hiba bath tub, plus a Tatami living room with Japanese short table and seats. Very quirky! Several temples and museums can be found literally a stone’s throw from the hotel. We had the opportunity to see Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Kodai-ji Temple which were both breathtaking. You definitely need a good camera! I honestly could have wondered around for hours just looking at the giant Buddha’s and taking everything in. Our guide was also very knowledgeable and explained everything in an entertaining way. After a light lunch we continued our adventures by going to see a typical Japanese guest house or as they are more commonly known as a ‘Ryokan’. Hiiragiya-Ryokan is one of the most reputable Ryokans in Japan. Here our shoes were kicked off and replaced with slippers. We sipped some green tea and then had a tour of the property. The feel is like that of staying in a traditional Japanese home and being treated as family. Meals are served in room once your (surprisingly comfortable) futon has been converted to your dinner table. Rooms are individually decorated and most enjoy a garden view. Next we enjoyed a private Calligraphy Experience. We learnt about the background of calligraphy, about specific Calligraphy techniques and about the correct method to draw strokes. We learnt not only how to write characters with a brush, but also about its spiritual dimensions. We ended the afternoon at the famous Gion Corner. Gion is the most precious district in Kyoto and a popular night spot where tourists can experience an overview of 7 kinds of Japanese traditional arts and entertainment in a single setting: Kyoto style Dance, Flower Arrangement, Tea Ceremony, Japanese Harp, Comic Play, Court Music and Puppet Play. Needless to say we took many photos of this fabulous display. The same evening we experienced a traditional Maiko dinner at the Tea House hosted by Kyoto Traditional Music Art Foundation. This was definitely one of the most magical parts of the trip. We learnt all about Maiko/Geiko (young geisha) from our guide and then literally ate dinner whilst being served by the stunning Maiko ladies, all dressed up like a scene from ‘Memoirs of a geisha’ which incidentally was filmed in Gion. They even put on a private music show for us and we could ask questions about their exciting lives as a Geiko. We didn’t want the night to end so after this truly memorable dinner we went to sing at a Japanese Karaoke bar with no less than 10 floors all dedicated to Karaoke! The next morning we took a short and easy drive from the Hyatt Regency Kyoto to Kyoto Station. We jumped on our Bullet Train and little more than two hours later we arrived in Tokyo. After a quick taxi transfer we checked into the Grand Hyatt Tokyo which is located in Roppongi and is ideal for shopping, eating out etc...There is a wide selection of bars/clubs within walking distance, however these are very touristy and appear quite seedy although once inside are harmless enough if you can cope with the cheesy 80’s music! The hotel itself is well designed and very bright and airy. The bar is atmospheric in the evening with live entertainment and there is a selection of restaurants to suit all tastes, from teppanyaki to Japanese. A number of dining opportunities can also be found close to the hotel. The following day after an early start we met our guide for some more sightseeing. The sun was shining as we made our way to see the Imperial Palace Plaza, Asakusa and Meiji Jingu Shrine. We were lucky enough to witness a traditional Japanese wedding, yet more photo opportunities! After sightseeing we took a leisurely drive to Hakone, an area of Japan which is famous for its natural hot springs (onsens). We stayed at Hyatt Regency Hakone where rooms are either Western or Japanese inspired with Tatami so you can have an authentic sleeping experience. All rooms come with Japanese cotton robes (Yukata) which are worn by guests at all times within the hotel. My room had unbelievable mountain views and was spacious and extremely comfortable. Hyatt Regency Hakone even has dog friendly rooms, so perfect for all of the family. The hotel features Hakone's largest spa with 8 treatment rooms and two Japanese thermal hot spring baths "onsens" which you can bathe in. We transferred from the hotel to the Valley, source of the hot springs and took a walk around the Owakudani area. This area had the most beautiful and breathtaking mountain views. We took a cable car and got the best views of the springs, mountains, dramatic scenery and also a perfect view of Mount Fuji. This was of course another memorable highlight of the trip. We then took a short cruise on Lake Ashi which reminded me of Lake Geneva, very calm and picturesque. The cruise is on a pirate themed ship which felt quite bizarre in Japan but the kids loved it! Our next and final stop took us to the famous Park Hyatt Tokyo. This hotel is located on the 14th to 52nd floors of Shinjuku Park Tower. As you can imagine the views are spectacular and I watched the sunset over Mount Fuji from the luxury of my own bedroom! This hotel has a great indoor pool and you can work out whilst taking in this fabulous city’s skyline. We had dinner at the New York grill with its floor-to-ceiling glass windows offering breathtaking views of Tokyo. Everyone raved about their Steaks, which came as a welcome treat after eating Japanese food for days. The hotel also offers a French and Japanese restaurant however the New York Grill seemed to be a hub of activity and entertainment. Then after dinner there is the stunning New York Bar, Tokyo’s most spectacular venue for live music, featuring jazz and serving delicious cocktails. The next morning unfortunately our Japanese adventure was over and we headed back to the airport for our flight home. The JAL Lounge was busy and offered a wide selection of food and drinks. We flew back in Premium Economy with JAL and it was extremely pleasant, again with excellent cabin crew and comfortable surroundings. Overall my time in Japan was unforgettable and simply out of this world. It is a hard destination to describe as there is so much culture and vibrancy. I now look forward to returning to Japan and to exploring some more of this fascinating and magical place. Sayonara for now.

Romantic Santorini

18 November 2010

We flew to Santorini from Gatwick on a weekly Thomson’s charter flight. Our Hotel in the village of Pyrgos was only ten minutes inland from the airport. Our transfer taxi dropped us at the village square where waiting for us with two donkeys was a lovely old man. He put me on one donkey, the lovely Marika and our suitcases on the other and told my husband that he, like the old man, would make the journey up the steep hill to our Hotel, the Zannos Melathron, on foot! The Zannos Melathron is a Relais & Chateau listed small luxury hotel with 10 lavishly appointed elegant suites located on several different levels accessed by narrow cobbled paths and courtyards. In the main building, a former private house, there is a small reception area, cigar lounge and a dining room with spectacular views of a large part of the island. Pyrgos village centre, a 5 minute walk away down steep narrow cobbled paths has several tavernas and shops. Taxis and a local bus service are available from the square to the capital Fira a 10 minute drive and other main places on the Island which were never more than half an hour away. Santorini has an area of only 37 square miles and its current shape and character was formed by significant earthquake and volcanic activity back in the 16th Century BC. Stunning white walled towns and villages each with blue domed churches have been developed haphazardly along cliffs which rise 300 feet from the 32 square mile lagoon known as the Caldera a legacy of the volcanic eruption on the western side of the island and which provides a safe natural harbour for ferries and cruise ships. We used taxis to explore the island. Fares were reasonable and the drivers very helpful although some drove rather fast on narrow roads making us glad we hadn’t hired a car! Oia at the north western end of the island is a great place to experience the spectacular sunsets which Santorini is famous for. We also visited the nearby village of Ammoudi and had an excellent dinner at one of the several tavernas offering freshly caught seafood right on the waterfront. The best beaches we saw are on the flat areas of the Eastern coastline at the resorts of Kamari and Perissa. As well as the large expanse of black sand beaches there were lots of hotels and tavernas. Akrotiri a village at the southern end of the island is the location for a major archaeological site where excavation began in 1967 and the remains of a prehistoric city have been uncovered. We went into Fira the capital several times both in the daytime and in the evening for dinner. The narrow cobbled streets are full of very good quality shops and eating places which are targeted at the large numbers of cruise passengers who visit from the ship’s which anchor in the Caldera below. There are one or more ships calling almost every day depositing some 2,000 to 6,000 people into Fira and onto excursion tours of the island. Access to Fira from the anchored ships 300 feet below is by cable car or up 500 steps on foot or on a donkey! Depending on the arrival and departure times, Fira is extremely busy for a while and then relatively empty when the ships depart. We also took in an excellent full day excursion on a boat on the Caldera. We sailed to the island of Nea Kammeni where we walked over lava to the rim of the crater. A swim in the sulphur springs off Palea Kammeni was an option for those who were good swimmers. We also sailed to the island of Thirasia where we stopped for a lunch of barbecued seafood.The rest of the afternoon was spent sailing along the spectacular coastline before returning to Athinios port. Santorini is a great and different island holiday destination. The most popular places to stay are Fira, Imerovigli and Oia all of which have spectacular views of the Caldera. If you prefer a beach holiday then Kamari or Perissa will be better for you. Alternatively, like us stay inland at Pyrgos. It is a lovely village and after a good dinner and two large Metaxas you won’t notice the walk up the steep hill back to the hotel!

Fairytale Prague

15 December 2010

We flew from Manchester with Jet 2 for a weekend break with a couple of friends in the beautiful historic city of Prague in the Czech Republic. The transfer to our hotel in the city centre took about 30 minutes. We chose the Hotel Paris which is superbly located in the historical centre, a short walk from two of the cities main attractions, the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square and close to a stop for the tourist bus routes . The magnificent hotel building was built in 1904 and the hotel has been family run ever since, surviving wars and revolutions in the process. It boasts 86 luxury rooms and suites, a Parisian style bar and café, a French/Czech gourmet restaurant and a Spa. Prague has some magnificent historic buildings and is described in guide books as being a City of 1,000 spires and 4,000 monuments. We didn’t count them all but from what we saw they are probably right! The City is quite compact and relatively easy to explore. We mainly walked and made occasional use of the tourist buses that cover the main attractions for sightseeing. Trams operate in some parts of the city and there is also an underground rail system. We began our exploration of the city with a visit to famous Wenceslas Square, a boulevard 750m long and 60m wide makes up the area referred to as Wenceslas Square and was originally laid out over 600 yeas ago. Over the years it has been the scene of political and sporting celebrations as well as anti Communist uprisings and can easily hold up to 400,000 people. Dominating the top of the square is the spectacular National Museum building in front of which is a statue of the Czech National hero good King Wenceslas on his horse. With lots of hotels, restaurants, international shops, bars and night clubs this is a very busy and vibrant area of the city and really lively at night! Our next area for discovery was the Old Town Square which dates back to the 12th Century and was originally the central market place for Prague. Prominent is the 14th Century Gothic Our Lady of Tyn Church which dominates one side of the square and can be seen all over the city. Also the 14th Century Old Town Hall Tower with Astronomical Clock which draws crowds every hour to see figures representing Jesus and the Twelve Apostles come out as the hour strikes. Pavement cafes surround the square where you can watch the world go by and listen to live music concerts during the day and in the evening. Next we made our way through the Old Jewish Quarter to Charles Bridge which crosses the river Vltava linking the two sides of Prague and is the main pedestrian route from the Old Town to the Lesser Town and Castle areas on the other side of the river. The bridge is one of the busiest areas of the city with tourists, locals, street vendors, artists and musicians combining to create a fabulous atmosphere. We also took a boat trip for about an hour which allowed us some magnificent views of the cities buildings on both sides of the river. Then we walked through the charming lesser town area and its Baroque style square and cobbled side streets with shops, traditional Czech pubs and restaurants before making our way uphill to the Castle area. The Castle area is the largest medieval Castle complex in Europe consisting of St Vitus Cathedral, a monastery, several palaces, museums and many other buildings.Once the ancient seat of Czech kings, it is now the seat of the President of the Republic and is the historical and political centre for the City and the state. For a different perspective of the city, we took a funicular ride a 1,000 feet up to Petrin Hill and Park. The views from the hill are magnificent and the park area is very peaceful. Prague is a beautiful city with buildings that would look at home in a romantic fairytale.We visited all the main attractions but there was so much more that we didn’t have time to see in a long weekend. There are hotels and restaurants to suit all budgets and the traditional Czech restaurants recommended to us by the hotel concierge were excellent. Good King Wenceslas looked out _ _ _ _ _!

Budapest - Breathtaking Beauty

28 October 2013

We flew out to the lovely City of Budapest in Hungary for a weekend break with a couple of friends. Our transfer from the airport to our hotel in the City Centre took 30 minutes. We had selected the Corinthia Grand Hotel as it is very well located for many of the city’s main tourist attractions as well as being close to the City Circle sightseeing bus route. First built in 1896 the Corinthia was extensively destroyed in the Hungarian Revolution and has been restored to its former glory bringing together Classic Hotel opulence with modern 5 star luxury as demonstrated by the spectacular hotel frontage, marble floors, sweeping staircase and breath taking six-storey atrium. We dined in two of the hotels three restaurants, the Rickshaw offering a selection of Oriental dishes mainly Thai and Chinese style, was excellent as was the Bock Bistro which offered traditional Hungarian dishes. There is also a Brasserie which provides a mix of French and Hungarian style dishes for lunch or dinner as well as being the venue for breakfast. We also sampled one of the many local restaurants serving traditional as well as International dishes. The river Danube flows through the two parts of the city of Budapest which was formalised in 1873 with the merging of Buda and OBuda (Old Buda) on the West bank with Pest on the East side. Pest, although containing many historic buildings, is the more modern part of the city and the commercial and administrative centre. The two parts of the city are linked across the Danube by seven road/foot bridges and two railway bridges. With so many beautiful historic buildings and viewpoints spread across both parts of the city, we used the tourist Circle sightseeing bus to reach the main sites and then explored on foot. We started on the Pest side of the city with the spectacular Houses of Parliament Building. The building is 268 metres in length and covers an area of 18,000 square metres. Construction began in 1885 and was finally completed in 1906. The layout and architecture is described as a mix of Baroque and neo-Gothic. The main façade overlooks the Danube and the whole exterior is decorated with 88 statues. The highest point of the building is a rib vaulted dome 96 metres above street level and supported by 16 pillars. The building is set out around 10 courtyards and has 27 different entrances and 29 staircases. On both sides of the dome are the two Assembly Halls. The view of the building at night from Castle Hill on the Buda side across the Danube is absolutely magnificent. Also on the Pest side, we visited St Stephen’s basilica the city’s largest church, the Opera House, National museum, Heroes Square and Statue Park which recognise the turbulent history of the City and Hungary. Most of the main historical attractions on the Buda side of the city are in the Castle Hill District which was declared a UNESCO World heritage site in 1988. The Buda Castle/Palace was originally built in the 13th century and rebuilt in the 14th and 15th centuries due to being burned and looted in the frequent wars that were a feature of the period. The area also contains St Mathias Church and Holy Trinity Column which originated in the 13th century and have also been rebuilt several times. A further major landmark is the Fisherman’s Bastion built above an old fishermen’s village and fish market and also providing a fabulous viewing point for the Danube and the Pest side of the City. Also on the Buda side is the area called Gellert Hill the site of a former fortress offers excellent views of both sides of the city. We rounded off our sightseeing explorations with a two hour boat trip along the Danube which gave us an alternative perspective of the City on both sides of the river. Budapest is a great destination for a weekend break or a much longer stay to more fully appreciate the many attractions on offer. Just make sure you take comfortable walking shoes. You will be glad you did!

Venetian Celebration

18 November 2010

We flew to Venice for my birthday weekend from East Midlands airport with Easyjet to Marco Polo airport. You can transfer to the city by taxi, water taxi or bus but we chose to use the motor launch ferry service which leaves from a pier just a short walk or shuttle bus ride from the airport terminal. It takes just over an hour and is a great way to arrive into the heart of the city and links in with the local waterbus system. We arrived near to St Marks square and caught a waterbus for the short journey to our hotel. We chose the Hotel Manin which is housed in a 19th century palace which was built on the site of a 17th century opera house and located right on the Grand Canal and close to the magnificent Rialto Bridge. The Sant Angelo waterbus stop is right outside and St Mark’s square a ten minute walk away. Some of the 55 rooms and suites have a view over the Grand Canal with most overlooking the gardens at the rear. Due to the excellent location it is a great base from which to explore and experience the city. The city of Venice is situated within a lagoon and sheltered from the Adriatic Sea. The lagoon is 30 miles long, 5-9 miles wide and covers an area of 212 square miles. The city measures just 3 miles from north to south and 8 miles from East to West. We preferred to use the waterbus system also known as the vaporetto for travelling around the city. We purchased a 3 day rover ticket which was fun and great value and enabled us to get on and off as many times as we wanted on any of the routes all over the city area. Like using the London underground we had to work out where to change to a different coloured route to reach the particular attraction we were heading for. We walked whenever possible but sometimes found this a challenge due to the labyrinth of 3,000 alleys and 170 canals and although there are said to be 400 bridges we struggled to find to some of them! With so many fabulous historic buildings to see, it was difficult to know where to start. Being nearby we began by visiting the area around the Rialto Bridge. There are some superb shops offering high quality clothes and shoes. I persuaded my husband to buy me two pairs of gorgeous Italian shoes! There is also a range of eating places with the best and most expensive being close to the Bridge on waterfront. We then travelled south down the Grand Canal to visit St Marks Square, where we viewed the 15th century clock and tower with winged stone lion and huge bronze bell. We also ascended inside the bell tower of St Mark which offers spectacular views of the city from the gallery in the belfry. We did the tourist thing and had a bellini cocktail in the nearby famous Harry’s Bar. St Marks square was fabulous to visit after dark to enjoy a drink under twinkling fairy lights listening to a live classical music concert. If you buy a bottle of wine you can stay all night. Expensive but worth it! We also toured St Mark’s Basilica and the Doges Palace the former seat of Venetian Government which are both full of magnificent rooms, sculptures, and artwork decoration. Then we walked to the 14th century Ponte della Bridge and posed for photos with the Bridge of Sighs, the most photographed sight in Venice as a backdrop. We also walked along the Riva degli Schiavoni a wide paved waterfront lined with hotels and coffee shops and lots of stalls and artists on the pavement. The following day, my birthday, we used the waterbus to see the other parts of the city away from the main central attractions. We also visited some of the nearby islands in particular Giudecca where we had Bellini champagne cocktails and an excellent lunch at Harry’s Dolci restaurant which has tables on a terrace on the waterfront with great views looking across to Venice. Venice has to be the most unique city in the world and an amazing place to visit for a special weekend or slightly longer. A beautiful romantic and historic city with fabulous shoe shops, what more could a girl wish for! We can’t wait to visit again.

My customer stories

Sent by Colin Appleton

Wendy is always there for us and prepared to go the extra mile.

Sent by Mark Whitmore

I would always use Wendy for complex travel plans - quick, efficient and insightful all in professional and friendly manner make Wendy an exceptional travel counsellor.

Sent by Stephen Etheridge

Wendy is brilliant we always get the best

Sent by Martin Reeve

Wendy is a supreme professional. I would recommend her to anyone!!

Sent by Roy Mills

We've used Wendy now for a number of years she always listens to our requirements finds the perfect holiday to suit our needs is very professional, always contactable & promptly resolves any issues

Sent by Lesley Walter

I recommend Wendy to friends and family often and no one who has acted on that recommendation has EVER been disappointed. She is exceptional

Sent by Douglas Haggarty

Wendy has booked our holidays for many years, we cannot praise her enough that’s why we go back to her year after year. She is a very caring lady, we don’t have to worry about anything.

Sent by Bobby Swift

Always very helpful and totally understand what I want in a bespoke holiday

Sent by Theresa Bannigan

Wendy's knowledge and advice is priceless and her personal approach made the booking process feel special.

Sent by Dorothy Thompson

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Wendy and already have. I've always received excellent service and wouldn't use anybody else. She has become a good friend.

Sent by Cherrie Lea

Wendy Farrar is a fabulous Travel Counsellor, nothing is too much trouble and she is so efficient . The company wouldn’t be the same without her.

Sent by Paul Coode

A Jedi of the travel world. Never fails, nothing is too much trouble. A great ambassador for the company and a really really genuine and nice person. Thank you

Sent by Charlotte Thompson

So efficient, friendly and professional..I have already recommended her !!

Sent by John Lear

Wendy is the BEST

Sent by Anastasis Kayiatou

I would like to say how happy we are with the service we have had so far from Wendy Farrar and would one hundred percent recommend her to our family and friends

Sent by Maggie Kayiatou

Hi we have never met Wendy Farrar in person but found her to very very helpful and have been very pleased with what she has done for us so far and would highly recommend her to anyone

Sent by Amanda Law

Always a pleasure to plan holidays with.... nothing to much trouble and very professional and helpful all the time...

Sent by Trevor Rowland

Wendy is always helpful and constructive which helps us to plan and execute our holiday in to reality from the original ideas. We would be lost without Wendy

Sent by Helen Walter

Amazing service from start to finish. Wendy made everything so easy and got me really competitive prices. Nothing was too much trouble. I love the app as everything is clearly viable in one place and making a payment is so easy. Would highly recommend Wendy and Travel Counsellors

Sent by Mark Worsley

Excellent friendly service

Sent by Phil Egan

Wendy Farrar is brilliant. Nothing is too much trouble for her and she always provides great service

Sent by Tony Smith

Always willing to advise and help with any problem.. Great knowledge and prompt replies when help needed.

Sent by Amanda Walker

Couldn’t ask for a better service! Wendy has been fantastic.

Sent by David Osborne

Does what you ask for and then supplies extra information, equally valuable, which contributes to enhancing the experience of the holiday.

Sent by Patricia Bown

Wendy is a consummate travel professional with over 40 years experience in the travel industry. She always goes the extra mile, and often beyond to take care of her customers. needs. Her attention to detail and commitment to giving the best possible service to her customers is truly exceptional.. She is also a wonderful person.

Sent by John Poole

We always have a great response to any problems we have and a wonderful service.

Sent by Jennifer Buckle

Excellent service always.

Sent by Pamela Stedman

Wendy is just fantastic. So very speedy and efficient and her knowledge is second to none. A fantastic service, yet again. Thank you!

Sent by Krystyna Walker

Always good personal service and caring of any special needs. Thank you

Sent by Jean Short

always very friendly and helpful

Sent by William Fletcher

Wendy has worked her magic yet again !!

Sent by Jane Holden

Wendy is a superstar! Simply fantastic, and always cool under pressure (and I sometimes put her under a lot of pressure!). Have recommended her to friends, family and colleagues and will continue to do so.

Sent by Biddy Morson

Quite the easiest holiday I have ever booked. Thank you!!

Sent by Geoffrey Garrett

I have used Wendy for our travel requirements for many years and would not use anyone else. I have referred her to others and would not hesitate to recommend her! She is brilliant

Sent by Roy Mills

Always takes time to identify your personal holiday requirements & then tailors your holiday to suit your needs

Sent by Robert Berry

Wendy is a very knowledgeable, efficient and friendly Travel Counsellor and I always recommend her services whenever possible. She is an asset to Travel Counsellors.

Sent by Doug Tedman

I would just like to add that Wendy has always given us the best possible assistance with all our holiday requests and we wouldn't hesitate recommending her to anyone

Sent by Lauren Murphy

Wendy and her colleague have been amazing helping us find the perfect holiday to match our budget! I will definitely be recommending them to family and friends

Sent by Dafydd Hughes

Professional and knowledgeable and making it a fun experience

Sent by Dianne Bailey

An absolute pleasure dealing with Wendy. Would not hesitate in recommending to all my contacts.

Sent by Colin Appleton

Fast, reliable and personable service - always.

Sent by Clive Maund

We have been very impressed with the whole experience of booking with Travel Counsellors

Sent by David Ravenscroft

Always easy with Wendy! Friendly and efficient, nothing too much trouble. Thanks again. Morag and David

Sent by Gillian Scott

Efficient response to telephone calls and emails, and questions answered immediately. Useful suggestions made and advice given to help choose the right holiday for the occasion. An understanding of what is required. Meticulous presentation of travel documents. The accommodation is yet to be tested, but am confident it will fit the bill admirably, and the score of 10 will continue to be justified

Sent by Naomi Gerard

She’s amazing! Brilliant at what she does, very hardworking, always goes above and beyond and is really kind.

Sent by Lesley Walter

Wendy is absolutely brilliant, efficient, supportive and honest when asked for opinions or suggestions. She takes time to know her clients needs and interests and nothing is ever too much trouble

Sent by John Lear

I have recommended Wendy to several of my friends, all of whom have been amazed and delighted by her knowledge, professionalism and friendliness. I will certainly continue to do the same

Sent by Stuart Davidson

Wendy is such a warm fun loving person, we would be totally lost without her experience and knowledge..

Sent by Douglas Haggarty

Wendy Farrar has been our Travel Counsellor for many years & we would not let anyone else arrange our Holidays. Wendy is always there for Advice prior to your holiday & any problems you have when you are away ,she is only a Phone Call away and that means an awful lot to us.

Sent by Pat Wood

Wendy is always willing to give an excellent personalised service to ensure that you get the holiday of your dreams.

Sent by Colin Nottage

Wendy has been extremely helpful and gave us a number of options to look at in the Mediterranean. She listened to what we were looking for and built a process around our budget.

Sent by Gerard Thompson

We have used Wendy Farrar and Travel Counsellors to organise our trips to Australia for the past seventeen years and during that time she has provided us with sterling service, nothing has ever been too much trouble for her and I always recommend her to our friends.

Sent by Judith Gatehouse

Brilliant as ever! Wendy is always quick to respond even though it’s just a small job for her. But - ‘ just wait until I’m on the Seven Seas Explorer Wendy!’

Sent by William Oldfield

Wendy has been really helpful with us. We only had a very vague brief to give her but she transferred that into a realistic itinerary using her experience. She has applied a logical approach to getting the flights booked in first so we can fill in the gaps with accommodations. We found this approach really useful. We are now pulling the whole lot into a sensible package and are really impressed with the service we have received.

Sent by Paul Mitford

The usual well informed and practical support from Wendy that has always led to fabulous holidays so fully confident our latest booking will be no different

Sent by Ingrid Rowland

Wendy is always professional and helpful and has always provided us with a 100%.

Sent by Anita Stonell

Wendy always provides an excellent service and always goes that extra mile to make sure everything is perfect. Thank you.

Sent by John Edwards

I would certainly recommend Wendy, she is extremely efficient & gives wonderful service

Sent by Christine Foxall

Wendy has been great booking our special holiday, responsive,, knowledgeable and caring.

Sent by Patricia Tate

I have already recommended Wendy Farrar to several people who have been delighted with the service.

Sent by John Barry

Excellent, very prompt and reassuring responses. Full marks

Sent by Stella Henbury

i have been dealing with Wendy for about 20 years she is absolutely fantastic and a real credit to her profession i would simple not go any where else in fact if I could score 11 I would

Sent by Christine Garrett

I have received 100 per cent helpful, common sense and friendly personal service from this company. I would recommend it with absolute confidence.

Sent by Nicholas Whatsize

Thank you for all your help in arranging and customising our honeymoon. Your patience was very much appreciated!

Sent by Stuart Shenton

Wendy is very knowledgeable, extremely helpful and so nice to deal with when booking a new cruising holiday

Sent by Colin Appleton

Always excellent service.

Sent by Peter Cole

Wendy sorts out any problems that occur before, during or after our holidays. She checks us in for all flights while we are away, which can be tricky! Keep up the good work please.

Sent by Helen Law

Responsive, helpful - comes highly recommended!

Sent by Martin Van Oppen

Wendy, your assistance - as always - was invaluable

Sent by Trevor Tedman

Wendy does everything to ensure that you have a fab holiday, nothing is ever too much trouble, excellent service .

Sent by Sarah Sutton

Very helpful, friendly and efficient service!

Sent by Catherine Mansell

Wendy provided excellent and speedy responses and solutions and a really easy way to resolve orders and make payment. Excellent service.

Sent by Michael Law

Wendy is always super helpful, efficient and does everything she can to cater our holiday requirements

Sent by Patricia Catchlove

Wendy is always extremely helpful and does all she can to accommodate my wishes, she really does go the extra mile. Nothing is too much trouble for her. I always go to her to book my special holidays.

Sent by William Fletcher

Helpful and efficient as usual

Sent by Douglas Haggarty

Wendy has booked our holidays for many years and nothing is to much trouble for her she is always happy to help with any problems or questions you may have

Sent by Geraldine Gilbert

I have already recommended my sister and her husband to Wendy last year, and they have already booked 4 holidays with Wendy and enjoyed each one tremendously. They would not to seek another agent or company for future holidays.

Sent by Simon Lucas

Wendy is absolutely fab - nothing is to much trouble and she makes the whole experience so easy. It’s so lovely knowing that any queries will be resolved quickly and effectively.

Sent by Paul Allan

Already have recommended Wendy to friends & family. I am sure that when they start to retire and travel further afield they will use Wendy and be very happy as we are

Sent by Amanda Law

Wendy is fantastic - nothing is too much trouble and I love having her in charge of all of my holidays as she makes sure the whole process is stress free and perfectly organised!

Sent by Diane Brown

Wendy is very helpful, efficient and knowledgeable. Nothing is too much trouble in helping us to get the holiday we want.

Sent by Surendra Kamath

Outstanding service!

Sent by Alan Edmunds

Absolutely first class service from Wendy.

Sent by Ian Farrar

Wendy is a consummate travel professional who always goes beyond the extra mile to meet customer needs. Extremely knowledgeable, honest and tenacious. An absolute gem in a world of frequent mediocrity.

Sent by Dafydd Hughes

An amazing professional, knowledgeable and personal service...she always delivers.

Sent by John Edwards

Wendy is really good, offers good advice and sorts everything out as it should be

Sent by Jayne Topham

Wendy has supported us with our holiday selections for quite a few years now and has never let us down. She listens to what we want and is very attentive and professional.

Sent by Jean Short

Wendy is so cheerful and very helpful.

Sent by Craig Sibson

Very good service sorting my wife’s 50th birthday treat to the Bahamas

Sent by John Poole

Brilliant to converse with and always willing to help whatever your problem.

Sent by Judith Gatehouse

Wendy is very quick to make my bookings, really efficient and professional.

Sent by Stuart Davidson

Wendy Farrar's service for us is always 10 out of 10. We always recommend her to our friends and family, who are not already using her.

Sent by Louisa Shaw

Wendy is always very quick in responding, always stayed in very good hotels chosen by wendy. When we missed a flight at a weekend she sorted all the flights out again so we could still fly on the same day

Sent by Zakir Uddin

As always Wendy was absolutely amazing in helping me find the right package for me and my family. Excellent service!

Sent by Michael Davies

Because Wendy has sorted out lots of holidays in the past for us, she knows what we like, so we have confidence in the choices.

Sent by Daniel Sore

Always a friendly and speedy service from Wendy.

Sent by Gary Hostler

Wendy is a wonderfully helpful agent giving excellent advice and recommendations to get the perfect holiday. A credit to the company

Sent by Janet Everett

A friend recommended Wendy to me. I had been attempting to arrange my own travel with the help of a local high-street travel agent, and got very little meaningful assistance. Wendy immediately understood my needs and situation and helped make the booking.

Sent by Christian Warrington

Great personal service.

Sent by Mark Whitmore

Wendy provides a first class personal service and exceeds all expectations. I feel very comfortable that Wendy will always shape the best options for my travel plans.

Sent by Amanda Law

Wendy is excellent - nothing is too much trouble in helping you plan a trip

Sent by William Fletcher

Efficient and reliable as always. Must be nearly 10 years since we first used Wendy.

Sent by Trevor Rowland

Wendy is always helpful, knowledgeable and leaves no stone unturned to ensure our holidays go smoothly.

Sent by Phil Egan

Wendy Farrar is an absolute star. She is always available, even responding when she herself is on Holiday. Her service is top notch and we have recommended her to all of our friends

Sent by Anita Stonell

Fabulous service every step of the way .

Sent by Robert Sutton

Marvelous. Wendy made it all so easy. Would highly recommend. Thank you its been a pleasure, really looking forward to our holiday.

Sent by Desmond O'Brien

Have known Wendy for many years and have booked our holidays and recommended her to other people, all have been very impressed. Don’t let her ever retire

Sent by John Edwards

Wendy was very helpful & informative. This was our 1st time using Wendy, we will certainly be using her again

Sent by Joan Ashman

Couldn’t get better service.

Sent by Patricia Tate

I have already recommended this service to several friends who are also very content with the service

Sent by Laura Towell

Wendy always finds us the perfect location.

Sent by Trevor Tedman

Wendy has always given us a very professional service always going the extra mile to make sure everything is perfect going above and beyond what you would expect

Sent by Geraldine Gilbert

I would have no hesitation in recommending my Travel Counsellor Wendy Farrar to anyone, family, friends or colleagues. For my recent cruise requirements all my criteria was met with speed and efficiency. Having been a client of Wendy's for many years and never encountered a problem, it is reassuring to know that should a difficult situation arise, she is just a phone call away and she would do her utmost to get it resolved to my satisfaction. I would not consider using any other travel agency.

Sent by Michael Neal

Wendy give us absolutely perfect service. Keep up the great work, thank you.

Sent by Patricia Catchlove

Wendy really does go above and beyond what you would expect from a travel agent. She is always ready to help and advise and she will do anything that will help make your holiday special for you. We would absolutely not go anywhere else to book our holidays!

Sent by Emma Shale

Very professional, friendly, efficient and knowledgeable! Thanks Wendy

Sent by Jack Coode

Wendy made making my first holiday booking, as easy as making a cup of tea!!!

Sent by Andrew Parr

Brill as ever, many thanks Wendy.....always recommend you to others!

Sent by Roy Seddon

Excellent attention to detail and always available to answer questions and to solve problems .

Sent by Neil Pargetor

Used Wendy many times over the past 7 years or so. Felt very confident to recommend her and to place business with her recently for a holiday to New Zealand with 2 other couples who were new to TC.

Sent by Duncan Wood

Thanks to Wendy. You went the extra mile!

Sent by Lesa Batten

There really is nothing Wendy wouldn't do for her clients. She's so accommodating and helpful. I would and have recommended her to everyone I know.

Sent by Stephen Etheridge

Service couldn’t be any better, she is brilliant.

Sent by Collette Tupling

Wendy is amazing. So professional and thorough and a lovely lady too. The best!!!

Sent by Stuart Shenton

Wendy is very friendly, extremely knowledgeable, a true travel professional and a great asset to Travel Counsellors.

Sent by Colin Appleton

Always willing to go that extra mile.

Sent by Natalie Denton

This is our first trip to New York so we didn't know how to go about it or what to do and see etc. Wendy has already made our experience the best we could hope for and made us even more excited for New York.. Any issues or queries we've had she hasn't hesitated to help us out anyway way possible. We would definitely recommend Wendy to family and friends.

Sent by Dale Hubbard

How can we comment on somebody that scores a perfect 10? .....It says it all.

Sent by Dafydd Hughes

Wendy's knowledge, patience and attention to detail is second to none along with a bubbly personality. Platinum service as always

Sent by Simon Lucas

Fab service very efficient and personal would definitely recommend!

Sent by Janet McConkey

Its always a pleasure when you have confidence in your holiday organiser, thank you Wendy

Sent by Audrey Simpson

Excelllent customer service, infinite patience, will continue to recommend Wendy Farrar

Sent by Alexander Darling

Wendy was extremely good in helping us with our cruise booking with her knowledge and friendly advice, we feel that we have found the right person for our holidays now, and in the future....

Sent by John Lear

Wendy is the best. Always there when you need her and nothing is ever too much trouble. She's the travel industry's answer to the AA and RAC combined.

Sent by Andrea Dawson

Wendy listens to my request and always comes up with right holiday for me and I know everything will be right and done for me .

Sent by Michael Bhopal

Wendy has been amazing! It was difficult deciding where to plan our honeymoon and Wendy went through all the destinations we were considering with the pros and cons, helping us to narrow it down to a single location. Wendy then went through the same process for the flight and hotel options. Wendy has made the process so easy and painless. Thank you!

Sent by Patricia Hodgkinson

As usual excellent personal service from Wendy Farrar, I would always recommend her to my friends, family and colleagues.

Sent by Peter Holden

Wendy took away all the confusion we had in choosing a very special holiday and came back with easy to follow answers which resulted in the booking being made, a very happy wife and a delay to my retirement age !!

Sent by Maurice Needham

Simply the best travel co-ordinator I have ever experienced.

Sent by Gareth Foden

Wendy was brilliant as always :-D

Sent by Paul Coode

Without question a true genius at her job. Faultless and caring. Thanks!

Sent by Pamela Stedman

I am truly amazed by the service that Wendy Farrar has given me. She is fantsastic! I will always use her in future. I have told many many friends about her and hopefully they will use her too. I cannot sing her praises enough. A brilliant friendly service!

Sent by George Baldwin

Super efficient Wendy always does what she said she was going to do. Five star service with a smile .

Sent by John Richards

The lady knows her stuff and made suggestions that will make the holiday special.

Sent by Stuart Davidson

Wendy is always ready to help with our queries and our bookings. We were recommended to her by my brother and his wife, many years ago, and we have passed her number on to many friends and family members. Most of these are grateful and book with her regularly. Since using Wendy, we haven't used any other Travel Agent, and don't intend to. " Simply the Best! !"

Sent by Graham Catchlove

We always go to Wendy to sort out our travel arrangements. She is brilliant, helpful and has become a friend. We wouldn't go anywhere else she gives 110%!

Sent by Paul Allan

Wendy is so helpful She books us holidays when we definitely want them and pricing up is no problem either ..... even if we don't go

Sent by Michael Neal

I have every confidence that Wendy will provide Carol and I first class service. All our holidays booked with Wendy so far have gone through so smoothly.

Sent by Laura Wilkinson

Communication skills, with timely responses and professionalism throughout. Looking for exactly what suits our needs and what we are looking for during organising a wedding can be a pretty stressful time, Wendy made this process seamless, she was patient and suggested great options for us really listening to what we required. Would certainly recommend this brilliant service. Thank you for such an amazing experience

Sent by Kamal Kumar

Wendy is very efficient and her recommendations are 10/10, She makes every booking a personal experience and focuses on the little things to make your holiday that little bit more special.

Sent by Nikki Kate Heyes

Delighted to recommend Wendy and indeed already have! Excellent prompt speedy service which certainly makes the travel planning a pleasure rather than a pain!

Sent by Pamela Haggarty

We have booked our holidays with Wendy for many years now and her service is so professional and friendly, we would not book with anyone else.

Sent by Frank Murphy

Great service, travel with no worries. Highly recommended.

Sent by Andy Parr

Wendy is so attentive - absolutely the best travel adviser we've ever had!

Sent by Phil Egan

Wendy is terrific. Nothing is too much trouble for her and she always gives us great service. That's why we've recommended her to all our friends. We are very happy clients.

Sent by Sarah Leverett

Wendy is just brilliant! Cannot rate her highly enough!

Sent by Martin Van Oppen

Wendy is always 100% reliable!

Sent by Judith Gatehouse

Wendy is extremely helpful and efficient. Definitely ask her advice because she's got so much experience in the travel industry which you can't put a price on. She was recommended by a friend and I'm really happy to have found her.

Sent by James Conde

Exceptional service from Wendy every time we book, which is every time we have a holiday!

Sent by Margaret Byrne

Wendy has gone above and beyond to ensure we have the best holiday .

Sent by Collette Tupling

Wendy is fabulous. We have used Wendy's services for over 10 years now and she is always so professional, friendly and thoughtful. A perfect combination. Many thanks for all your support.

Sent by Pamela Stedman

Wendy is absolutely amazing. I cannot believe the ease, speed of my booking with her. Her knowledge is so helpful . I will alway ask her to book any other trips I will make. Truly excellent in every way

Sent by Christopher Allen

Great service, Wendy knows the levels of accommodation, service etc that we like and hits it on the button every time.

Sent by Craig Murphy

I have been using Wendy's service over the last 8 years. There is nothing to fault. I trust in everything you advise me and nothing has gone wrong. It will be a sad day if you ever retire! Keep up the good work and my love to your family.

Sent by Roy Mills

Wendy is very knowledgeable regarding the travel business , and takes time to get to know you & your holiday preferences so enabling her to recommend the perfect holiday for you. She is also always contactable

Sent by Gerard Thompson

I would not hesitate to recommend Wendy Farrar to anybody who was thinking of taking a holiday anywhere in the world, she is second to none.

Sent by Thomas Beddow

Never any problems - total confidence .

Sent by Amanda Law

Wendy is absolutely brilliant- she does everything she can to make the holiday booking so easy and fully prepares us for the trip by providing all the documentation- I book all of my trips through Wendy as I know I'll always get a first class service!

Sent by Jane Brighouse

Thanks for your excellent service Wendy. We are really looking forward to Vegas.

Sent by Christopher Warren

Friendly, helpful & efficient service. Certainly helped me with a problem I was unable to solve without the assistance Wendy gave me.

Sent by Linda Speer

She is such an asset to your company....so friendly, personable and great at what she is doing !! " Thank You Wendy!" :)

Sent by Jane Holden

I would give Wendy a 20 if that was possible - she is absolutely brilliant to work with. My travel arrangements are never straight forward, but she always finds a solution in a competent, professional and light-hearted manner. I love dealing with your service and would and have recommended her.

Sent by Tom Lascelles

I've just got back from my trip and wanted to say a huge thanks for all of your help and support with my bookings. Your service really was 10/10, even down to the luggage tags! I look forward to using you again in the future!

Sent by Nigel Finch

Excellent again thanks Wendy.

Sent by John & Pam Lear

I have already recommended Wendy to several of my friends and family and will continue to do so unreservedly. Since we started using Wendy we now enjoy our holidays so much more due to the peace of mind we have knowing that Wendy is only a phone call away should we gave any problems. Nothing is too much trouble for her when arranging our holidays and we now think of her as a very dear friend.

Sent by Brian Tanner

I have already recommended Wendy on numerous occasions and will continue to do so. She is the best in her field that I know of!

Sent by Peter Davies

Excellent service and back-up from Wendy Farrar , and it makes choosing our holidays so much easier and nicer and we have never been dis-appointed yet.

Sent by Angela Shore

Extremely knowledgeable, gives you confidence in your holiday plans

Sent by Christopher Roberts

We have always found Wendy Farrar to be consistently efficient, helpful and working to the highest professional standards, a real pleasure to do business with.

Sent by Paul Coode

Quite simply the best there is!

Sent by Naomi Gerard

Wendy is fantastic!!! My family has been working with her for years. She's so kind, friendly and brilliant at her job.

Sent by Lesa Batten

Wendy is such a professional and lovely person. Nothing I ask for is too much for her. She has arranged so many holidays for me and I would not use anyone but her now! She is friendly and very attentive. Her attention to detail is perfect. Nothing is too much for her and I would recommend her to everyone and anyone. She is simply perfect and makes making memories so easy! By far your best worker! Absolutely amazing, I can't praise her enough I really can't.

Sent by Mike Neal

Quite frankly , I have never had better service from any other travel agent or counsellor, many thanks Wendy.

Sent by Colin Appleton

Wendys service is better than excellent - we have recommended her to dozens of people and will continue to do so.

Sent by Roy Mills

First holiday using Wendy - really pleased with service provided. She has already booked us another holiday would not hesitate in recommending her to our friends as we found her service to be first class attending to every little detail .

Sent by David Wilton

Wendy is so personable and nothing is ever too much trouble. Always quick to respond. I would definitely recommend her to friends and family.

Sent by Roy Seddon

First class service and attention to detail is second to none.

Sent by Christine Garrett

It has always been a pleasure to speak with Wendy, and I have always had a very prompt and positive reply to my enquiry. Very importantly she always makes me feel as though my request matters, even when it may not amount to much in the grand scheme of things!

Sent by Denis Wesley

Easy to communicate with, very helpful and very responsive to any questions you have.

Sent by Tina Cregan

Exceptional service and will definitely use again.

Sent by Douglas Davidson

First class, friendly and personal service over many years. Highly recommended. Never use anyone else.

Sent by Lesa Batten

Wendy has been superb at booking my holidays, I have not had any problems and she is so helpful. I would not book my holiday with anyone else other than her. I fully recommend her to all my family and friends.

Sent by Sam Grimmett

Wendy is great, friendly, very knowledgeable and gets the job done! Thank you.

Sent by Lesley Walter

I am always recommending Wendy whether she likes it or not! She is magic and SO tolerant of my random ideas!

Sent by Paul Coode

The best there is!

Sent by Amanda Law

Would 100% recommend Wendy to anyone. She is helpful, prompt, professional and nothing is too much trouble for her.

Sent by David Patton

We have already recommended Wendy to several of our friends and will be asking Wendy to arrange future holidays for us.

Sent by Roger Hutchinson

Wendy has provided an exemplary service on all of our travel arrangements.

Sent by Penny Lambourne

Wendy has always been great, she takes the worry away and is amazingly efficient. She is marvellous.

Sent by Alan Walker

Wendy is always willing and able to help in any way required. Be it to book our holidays or answer any questions. Wendy also puts her own experiences and knowledge into the advice given as to what to expect or avoid, giving us confidence in each venture we embark on. Wendy is a pleasure to talk to and we have always been highly satisfied with her professional outlook.

Sent by Phil Egan

Wendy Farrar is an absolute star and a real pleasure to deal with. She is an excellent advocate for Travel Counsellors and we have recommended her to all our friends!

Sent by Margaret Brooke

The service given by Wendy is absolutely first class.

Sent by Peter Cole

Always on the ball and knows our expectations.

Sent by Rachel Griffiths

Wendy translates your requirements; comes up with options and ideas that you hadn't even thought of and then makes it all happen, I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Sent by Abigail Gill

Wendy is always very prompt in replying to any enquiries, very helpful and reliable.

Sent by Rachel Morrison

Wendy is fabulous and nothing is ever too much trouble. Her recommendations are always spot on.

Sent by Pam Haggarty

Wendy Farrar has looked after us for our holidays for many years and we have had excellent service on every booking. My Husband & I have both had health issues and Wendy has always covered all our requirements in a professional manner.

Sent by John Lear

We have used Wendy to arrange our holidays for several years now and have always been overjoyed with her level of service and support. I have already recommended her to friends and family and will continue to do so.