30 November 2023

I guess Lisbon had always been on my list of places to visit, but as I didn’t know a huge amount about the city, it wasn’t at the top of my (rather enormous) list. I can honestly say, however, that having now visited the city, it is one of the best surprises I have experienced. We only had 2 nights to spare, but the activities we did really made the most of our time in this city and made us feel like we’d really experienced a huge amount. Getting there is easy – with daily flights from the UK with TAP, easyJet or BA which only take around 2 hours and 15 minutes, this city is well accessed and the local public transport is exceptionally cheap and easy to use. We arrived in the afternoon, so it was a quick turnaround at the hotel before we headed towards the main square to meet our guide. We’d booked a ‘Gourmet Food & Drink’ tour for the first evening and this really was a great way to delve straight into the culture and local food whilst getting our bearings with a knowledgeable local. Our group of around 12 people, along with our guide Filipe, experienced a number of different eating and drinking establishments in the centre of the city from a quick stop for a small glass of ginjinha (a sweet red wine) to some local cheese and quince marmalade, a bifana (a bit like a hot pork bap), a cod cake and finished off with some chorizo cooked over ethanol (!), goats cheese and a scrambled egg & sausage mix! Quite a random combination, but good wholesome favourites of the Lisbon locals and experienced in some lovely small establishments that we would have otherwise just walked past and not even noticed. The hospitality and the warmth of the locals was fabulous and to do this on our first night, it really helped to get our bearings of the city, ask our guide any questions we had and also get a few tips from the other people on the tour who had travelled from Iceland, different parts of the US, Ireland and Wales. The following day we had pre-booked booked a cycling tour of Lisbon. Unlike many other cities in Europe, Lisbon isn’t flat. In fact, many of the city people utilise the numerous lifts and funiculars around the city to get them up into the hills as it can be pretty hard going. Luckily, we’d had the foresight to book an E-Bike tour – there is no way I could have got up those hills otherwise! But what a great experience it was. As with the food tour, the guide often makes the tour special, and in our case, Miguel certainly did. Such a character with fabulous experience and knowledge of the city – a place he has lived pretty much his entire life. The tour was of the ‘Seven Hills’ of Lisbon – 4 of which are to the northeast of the city, 3 of which are to the southwest – but all with amazing views of the rooftops below and the riverfront. The tour wasn’t for the fainthearted, nor for those that aren’t too confident on a bike, but as far as fitness levels are concerned, as we used e-bikes, it wasn’t too tough! We got to experience all of the sights, from the Castle, the monasteries, the intriguing Alfama district, the old quaint trams, the endless cobbled streets, those amazing views and of course a few little stops along the way to grab a local coffee or glass of wine if needed. Doing both of these activities really did make us feel like we had experienced a great amount of the city. Unfortunately our stay was only 2 nights, but we could have stayed for another 2 and returned to some of the places that we briefly stopped at. I would highly recommend doing something like this at the start of your stay – it really helps you get a feel for the city, get your bearings and most of all, immerse yourself into the culture and vibe of the city. I can’t rate Lisbon highly enough for a city break – and would be happy to give you a bit of advice about travelling there…

04 December 2023

OK, so not quite the Canaries or the Caribbean, but to get away from the dreary weather in the UK in November, I would very much recommend this beautiful island. Most UK holiday makers tend to stick to the traditional summer months of May-September when it comes to travelling to Cyprus, and whilst I would probably say December-February may be a little out of season (a higher chance of rain), the shoulder season of March, April, October and November is a fantastic time to visit. Not only will the crowds be smaller (although some establishments do start to close as the season comes to an end), but so will the cost. If you want blue skies and temperatures in the early-mid twenties (and warm enough to swim in the sea), then I’d highly recommend it. I naively thought it would be light into the early evening and we’d have a lot of daylight hours, but it started to get dark around 5pm-ish, earlier the later into the winter months you travel, so remember to take this into consideration when you’re planning what to do! Cyprus is easy though – a flight time of around 4-4.5 hours (depending on where you fly to), there are a number of airlines to choose from, and a handful of airports to fly in to. We chose Paphos, from here we hired a car and drove the short journey to the stretch of beach which is home to numerous large hotels and a good selection of bars, restaurants and shops by the harbour front. You can also opt to visit the old town of Paphos, which has a really cool vibe and many different eating establishments which are popular with the locals. Hiring a car couldn’t be easier, especially in November – it’s cheap, they drive on the left hand side and the roads are really easy to navigate. As we had this flexibility, on one of the days we decided to drive up to the Troodos Mountains (in our trusty Skoda Fabia, that didn’t let us down, despite the hilly terrain and windy roads). On the way we stopped at one of the many local wineries for a spot of wine tasting – at this time of the year the number of tourists is quite low so we had the place to ourselves – the owner was just so sweet. The mountains were lovely, although noticeably cooler than the coast, the locals told us around 10 degrees cooler – it definitely felt like that (although on really hot day, quite a relief I would suspect!). The following day we drove north along the coast and stopped off at the glorious Coral beach. At this time of the year it is hard not to spend a bit of time in the sea here! We then headed to the Avakas Gorge – somewhere I had read about in the guidebook and appealed to my geeky geology-loving side. I was not disappointed – this place is a little off the beaten track (again the Fabia did us proud), and not at all commercialised - it is possible to trek the 1km to the start o the gorge and wind your way through it, spotting the mountain goats along the way clambering up the rocks. From here we headed further north to Polis and Latchi where we enjoyed a lovely late lunch at one of the beach tavernas – I felt so stuffed afterwards that I couldn’t quite fit in one of the amazing gelatos that were being sold nearby – gutted! In the evenings we chilled out at the hotel or strolled along the bustling promenade towards the harbour for dinner or drinks. This really is a great place for a summer break of course, but equally for a later autumn or late spring break to get a bit of warmth.

30 January 2022

A snow-filled holiday, that doesn’t always include extreme sports (in my eyes, skiing and snowboarding ??), was always on my list. Seeing the Northern Lights was another. So, when I was given the opportunity to host a trip to Finland to search for the Northern Lights, how could I not resist? I had assumed COVID was going to affect the trip in some way, but thankfully apart from the forms to complete and the tests to purchase, we were permitted to travel, which was fantastic! The trip itself was provided by Transun; a great company that we, as Travel Counsellors, have worked well with for a number of years. There were a couple of Transun representatives at Gatwick Airport, so check-in was pretty seamless. The flight, with Polish Airline EnterAir was very good too – the plane was relatively new, nice and modern and the service was great. The flight to Enontekio took about 3 ½ hours, but it went really fast indeed. As you can imagine, we were all a little nervous about landing on a frozen, snowy runway, but the pilot was clearly an expert as the landing was pretty smooth, given the circumstances. On arrival we were met swiftly and directed to our transportation – a nice warm coach which would take us straight to the Davvi Arctic Lodge, some 45min drive away. It’s amazing how the drivers and the vehicles in snowy countries seem to just get on with it – the snow-covered roads were not a problem for any of the vehicles we went it – they are super-equipped for the weather. During the journey we were given a few details of what to expect in the days ahead, along with our room/cabin numbers, which would be ready for us when we arrived. One thing that we were told about was the curfew, that had just been changed (!). All bars in Finland were to close by 5pm, and all restaurants by 6pm (!). Luckily, we all had the foresight to purchase a little duty free at Gatwick, to help us sleep a better ;0) and it came in very handy in the evenings. Transun and the hotel were amazing throughout and very accommodating. The staff at the Lodge made sure that all of the mealtimes worked around the (COVID) curfew. There were a number of activities that were included with the holiday, the timings for which were displayed in the small lobby area of the hotel, so it was easy to find out when and where the activities were to take place. There was also a number of additional activities that could be booked including Ice Fishing, Cross Country Skiiing and staying in one of the resort’s own Igloos overnight! We choose to book an Ice Fishing trip on the morning after our arrival as our activities weren’t due to start until the following evening. It was brilliant – not only did we get to drive the snowmobiles across a frozen river, but we also got to drill the holes using traditional drilling techniques and try out fishing. The frozen river was over 50cm thick, so it took a while for us to drill the holes, but it was very satisfying when the drill finally plopped through the ice and the freezing water below rushed to the surface. Unfortunately, none of us caught anything (!), but the whole experience, including me turning the snowmobile over on the way back (!), was just so much fun! We stayed in one of the Cabins at the Lodge, which were dotted within the grounds and just a short walk from the main building where all of the meals were served. It is also possible to stay in the Hotel Rooms (located in the main building), the Fell House Rooms which are located about a 4-minute walk along a lovely snowy pathway or the Aurora Rooms which are right next to the Cabins. All rooms are really comfortable, not particularly luxurious, but clean, comfortable and best of all, nice and warm! The cabin we stayed in even had a private sauna – a real treat! To be continued...

01 February 2021

On 13th January 2022 I will be hosting a 3-night/4-day trip to Swedish and Finnish Lapland to see the magnificent Northern Lights. If this is something that has always been on your bucket list, this could be the ideal trip for you! I have joined together with Transun, an expert tour company that specialises in breaks to Lapland and of course searching for the Northern Lights. You will not only benefit from their expertise, but you will also have your dedicated Travel Counsellor (me!) on hand trip to help with all your needs and support you during your trip – the perfect combination! This really a fantastic opportunity, not only because it is an excellent trip, but also because it is at a great price – just £844 per person, based on 2 people travelling. This amazing price includes: ? Full-board hotel accommodation – a 3-night stay in the Davvi Arctic Lodge in a Twin or Double Room. ? Return flights from London Gatwick, including 18kg luggage per person and Government Air Passenger Duty ? Airport transfers in resort ? A Northern Lights Snowmobile Safari ? A visit to the Reindeer Camp ? A ‘Call of the Wild’ Husky Safari ? A Northern Lights Forest Trek ? The Loan of thermal suits and boots Different room types are also available. For those travelling in a small group (or families) it is possible to stay in a Fell House room, which consists of 2 rooms and a lounge area – great to provide you with a bit more room! Alternatively, you can upgrade to an Aurora House room or even a Cabin for the ultimate authentic experience. Supplements available on request. For more information contact me on 01444 420001 or nikki.mortimer@travelcounsellors.com

12 August 2020

Travel Insurance - not necessarily the most 'sexy' part of booking a holiday, but something I would always advise you to get. I know everyone that works in insurance would probably say the same too, but they really do understand the importance of it. They've experienced its purpose and benefits. They have also experienced what happens if you don't have cover - not something you even want to think about. I work with a fabulous company called Rush Insurance who, in addition to their original brilliant cover, now offer the following: - Cancellation Cover - if you contract Covid-19 before your travel - Cancellation Cover - if you are asked to isolate due to a positive diagnosis - Cancellation Cover - if you are refused boarding at your UK airport due to showing symptoms - Curtailment Cover - cutting short your journey - Medical Cover - if you become ill with Covid-19 when you are overseas - Repatriation is included - Cruises are included So when booking a holiday, getting the right insurance should be at the forefront of your mind. Not an after thought.

21 July 2020

It’s all rather surreal… The drive to Gatwick, on a dreary Tuesday morning at 4am, was as expected, extremely quiet – until we reached the M23 we didn’t see another car, and then it was only 1 or 2. Whilst this whole pandemic and the situation we are faced with is extremely devastating in so many ways, the fact that the roads are quieter is one big winner! On arrival at Gatwick, it was still dark outside, drizzling too, so not particularly welcoming, but last time here we were fighting for a space to pull up in the car to be dropped off – no such fun this time – there was about 4 cars, and no parking inspector in sight – a delight! Only the north terminal at Gatwick is currently open, and my flight was only the 2nd due out today, so the check-in hall was dead. A cleaner on his ride-on mower, a few security guards along with a handful of travelling individuals, all donning their face masks of course. With only hand luggage, and (don’t judge), my first digital flying experience – for the first time in my travelling career, I hadn’t printed off my boarding pass – all quite liberating! I passed through the security relatively quickly. The security seemed slightly higher, and weaving through the dreary Duty Free stands made me feel rather sad – I tried to smile at one of the staff members, but I don’t think she noticed this under my mask. The departures hall, apart from all of the shops closed, is pretty much the same. A few hand-sanitisers dotted around the place, and signs advising ‘maintain social distancing’ – like we could forget? A handful of shops were open – Boots, WHSmith, Dixons (!), but don’t expect any kinds of shopping experience – enjoy the relative peace and tranquillity of an airport…I’m sure it won’t last. It’ll soon become chaotic, frenetic and ultimately quite frustrating, So for now, I’m enjoying the quiet ride… Perhaps it’s because I’m travelling on my own, for the first time in ‘I can’t remember’ but I seem very calm, organised and in control – I might even reach the departure gate on time without rushing at the last minute

21 July 2020

When getting onto the flight, I realised that social distancing isn’t really a possibility when flying – even easyJet that were quoted originally in the press as looking to ‘leave the middle seats free’ – the flights was almost full, so there was no chance of getting a bit of space. It is mandatory to wear face coverings throughout the flight, covering both your nose and mouth (although there were bizarre versions of this – person people didn’t understand the rules?), but you are permitted to these off to eat and drink (phew!) I have never experienced ‘no aircraft queues’ from the terminal to the runway before – this was definitely a treat – we taxied straight from the terminal, turned onto the runway without even braking!) and took off! Travel and flying is in my blood, and I have to admit I shed a small tear when we took off – I’m not really sure why, possibly because I knew this was likely to be the start of a new era of travel, partly because I knew I was one of the first few flights out of Gatwick taking tourists away, not just the ‘essential travellers’ that we’ve been restricted to for the last 4 months almost. Looking out of the window to see all of the easyJet, TUI and BA aircraft lined up, unused at the airport, was really rather sad, but also gave me a bit of hope that soon they would be in the air again. The onboard service was, not surprisingly reduced, however, thankfully there is still a small drinks service. No hot drinks or fresh food was available, but I managed to get a muffin and some orange juice for breakfast. Other limited options included chocolate, crisps, a brownie, a snack box and water – so not extensive, but sufficient given the circumstances. And as with many shops at the moment, contactless payment is the only payment method accepted. I’m not sure whether its because most of the cabin crew have missed people so much, or that they have been told to be super nice to travellers, but the cabin crew today were some of the nicest easyJet cabin crew I have come across! Finally toilets(!) Contrary to belief, these are all open and usable. They advise people not to queue for them (no more than 2 people), to avoid overcrowding in the galley – but other than that, they were clean and all was good! So, all in all, the airport and travel experience were very good. Different, but very good. Don’t expect to go to the airport and do your usual pre-holiday dash to the shops, it’s not really about the airport experience at the moment. It’s more about getting from A to B – and I think it is likely to stay like this for a while. But don’t be frightened of travelling, don’t let it put you off going away – just be prepared for these changes, accept them, even embrace them…for now anyway. Read my next blog for the overseas arrival experience…

22 July 2020

Following our very swift and stable landing, we were advised to disembark row by row (from the front), staying in our seats until the row in front had left. Some people struggled a bit to understand this instruction, but most followed the rules, and the disembarkation was actually relatively swift and easy – why they didn’t do it like this before the pandemic, is beyond me? It took about the same time as a normal disembarkation, but without all of the pushing, shoving and frustration – a lot more civilised! Nice airport was relatively quiet (apart from the obligatory easyJet queue of socially-distanced passengers waiting patiently to board our aircraft back to Gatwick), and the queue for the passport control (no specific EU or Non-EU lanes) was pretty swift too. The Immigration staff glanced at my passport, in the usual way, no questions were asked and I was ushered on my way. EasyJet had sent me (6 times actually) an e-mail to advise that I must complete a Declaration of Travel form and a Health Declaration form (but no other passengers seemed to have these and they were not requested by the Immigration Officers). I’m guessing this information only applied before the FCO ban on non-essential travel was lifted. I was a little unsure about travelling to France as the information pre-travel was a little confusing. I knew I was allowed to travel, allowed to enter France and would not have to quarantine on arrival back in the UK, but the (what now seems to be rather out of date) information on the French Government’s website suggested I may be asked to partake in voluntary quarantine for 14 days on arrival but there was no mention of this on the plane or on arrival at the airport, so I guess this is no longer in place. No wonder we’re all confused about whether to travel or not… After I had gone through Passport Control, everything was the same, from baggage collection, taxi, bus and tram offerings, information desks – just a lack of shops to browse, but this is a small price to pay. I paid for my bus ticket to Cannes at the information Desk (cash is accepted here) and waited outside, thankfully taking off my face covering – it’s the longest I’d had to wear one, and whilst OK, I was glad for the fresh air – I feel so sorry for the key workers that have to wear them all day! It is obligatory to wear face coverings on public transport in France though, so this delight came back 30 minutes later for my short bus ride to Cannes. The public buses all have hand sanitiser to use on them too – again, just another small reassurance. It felt so good to get away, experience a change of scenery, and for me, get back to a bit of normality and enjoy my favourite thing – travel! Read my next blog for the French Riviera experience…

22 July 2020

As you may know, I specialise in long-haul tailor-made and bespoke holidays, ones where I can really add value and provide expert guidance. I am also able to offer holidays to Europe, in particular city breaks, river cruises and family holidays. The French Riviera has got to be one of the best places to visit in the summer and I am lucky enough to have family here so get to experience the very best of what is on offer using the expert knowledge of locals. So, it’d be rude not to give you a bit of a run-down of my brief stay here… My Auntie and Uncle live in Le Cannet, a small town just north of Cannes and a beautiful, relaxed and tranquil place to enjoy a few days R&R. I only had a couple of days, but I wanted to experience what the tourist towns of Cannes and Antibes were like and how they were opening up for tourism. My relatives had told me all about how strict their lockdown had been and how they were only allowed out of their houses with written permission, but they were pleasantly surprised at how quickly things had bounced back. A few events had been cancelled, including the famous Cannes Film Festival, which is a shame of course, some museums and large hotels were not open yet but the majority of services including bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, grocery stores, beaches (of course) and public transport were all up and running. With the exception of people wearing face coverings on public transport and inside shops, almost all services seemed back to normal. Especially the restaurants, something I know that many people are concerned about. The serving staff wear face coverings yes, but this is really the only difference. The tables were not too far apart (although not too squished together) and the service is the same. I guess there was probably slightly fewer people there than you’d expect in July, but it was still bustling. The beaches were open, public toilets were available, beach bars were serving their usual cocktails and all the popular souvenir shops which line the beach road were open. I really was pleasantly surprised at how normal things appeared to be. The same applied in Antibes – we had lunch in the main old town and strolled around the narrow streets, we went to the Marina to ogle at the millionaire’s yachts and I paddled in the sea – all of the things that I would usually do on holiday. I can imagine the rules are slightly different in busier towns and cities, perhaps stricter, but from a tourist-resort point of view, I got the impression that everyone was keen to get back to the way things were before (as much as possible of course) and start to build their businesses back up again. I know some people are a little apprehensive about flying (I can understand that, especially if you are vulnerable) and about perhaps spending a lot of money on a holiday which they may not receive the same experience on, but I have to say, if you’re anything like me and desperate for a change, for the return to some sort of normality (which for me is travelling!), then just do it! Seriously, life is too short… Read my next blog for my Journey Home and UK Arrival experience…

22 July 2020

Without going into too much duplicated detail, the airport at Nice was very well organised and yet again, apart from the obligatory face coverings required, was surprisingly normal! Plenty of people, yes a reduced service of flights of course, but still rather bustling – perhaps it was because it was later in the day, perhaps it was because France is a couple of weeks in front on us with regards to lockdown restrictions. All of the shops on the airside were open, most of the seats were taken, although people were being rather sensible and leaving a seat free between their family group and another one – there was no seating restrictions enforced. Going through security was exactly the same, as was passport control. I thought I’d try the EU Biometric line to see if my passport would still be accepted – and I was pleased to see it was (Phew, for now…). The flight home was nowhere near as busy as the flight out, and I had three seats to myself which was a treat. Initially the air-conditioning was not working (!) and wearing a mandatory face mask made things a little hot and sweaty, but thankfully the engineers soon sorted this out. The air stewards were quick to point out that it was mandatory to cover your nose and mouth throughout, the only exceptions were when you were eating and drinking and also for children under the age of 6. Although I became used to wearing the face covering, it can be rather claustrophobic… On arrival into Gatwick, disembarkation was again very well organised – nice and swift and safe too. Unlike the outbound journey, our flight pulled into a stand which was furthest away from the terminal, so there was still the extremely long walk to passport control. It was quite quiet at Passport Control, a few signs advising you must social distance and sanitise your hands, and notably the sign stating you must ‘show your Contact Locator Form’ – this was something I had not been advised of by easyJet, and quite frankly I should have looked into myself before travelling, but (as I’m sure was the same with many other travellers) I hadn’t completed. I advised the Immigration Office of this, and she simply waived me through – a bit odd I thought. No temperature checks either. In any case, I would recommend completing this locator information online at www.gov.uk/uk-border-control The biometric passport machines were not operational either – perhaps they wanted to properly vet us? Anyhow, the few shops on the airside of Gatwick arrivals were not open (with exception of Boots), so it was rather like arriving back with a bang – things seem a little stricter here than in France. Possibly, as I said before, because the French are a few weeks ahead of us in terms of lockdown lifting, but to be honest, this was nothing that I hadn’t expected. Taking everything into consideration, I am so glad that I took the trip away. To see how Covid-19 had changed the way we travel, how things had changed in the holiday resorts we are so used to. Naturally, my experience is focused around easyJet flights and the French Riviera, but hopefully it gives you an idea of what to experience, generally.

10 June 2019

I’ve been a Travel Counsellor for just over a year now and during this past year I have learnt a huge amount. Starting your own business, regardless of what your product or service is, is hard. It’s very hard. But it is also very rewarding. One of the best things I have learnt is about how to truly value yourself and your experience. I come from a long-haul tailor-made travel background and this is where my strengths lie. This is where my experience is and where I can really add value to a customer’s holiday. I sometimes compare myself to one of the larger supermarkets, rightly or wrongly. These supermarkets can cater for everyone’s needs, although ultimately, they specialise in one thing – good food. This is their core business and what they do well. Yes, they offer other products, whether it’s electronics, clothes or even sometimes furniture; and for those that don’t often have the time to visit specialist shops for these other items, customers may sometimes buy these things. But ultimately, they specialise in food. This is pretty much me. I can sell all types of holiday, across the globe, and I do this well. I will treat you like an individual not like a number and I pride myself on personally caring about your holiday as if it were mine. I do, however, specialise in long-haul tailor-made holidays – and this is where my strength is. This is where I will add value to your holiday, like no other Travel Agent or Tour Operator will do. I have over 20 years’ experience working in the long-haul travel industry and have pretty much covered everything from Africa and the Indian Ocean to Asia and Australasia and the South Pacific, Latin America, North America and the Caribbean. I have also been lucky enough to travel to many of these destinations on holiday so really do have personal experience of many of these fabulous places. I provide honest and impartial advice on where to go and where to stay – not many travel experts are able to do this. I also have extensive experience of airlines, which ones are the best to travel with, which routes are the best value and when the best time to travel is to get the best deal. Yes, sometimes you may be able to get something a little bit cheaper online if you’re willing to put in the hours and search for a last minute week in the Med or a European city break – but when it comes to your special holiday, is it worth risking making mistakes and possibly ruining your yearned-for holiday for the sake of a few pounds? By booking your holiday separately online, you also are unlikely to be financially protected should something go wrong – this is something that I provide all of customers with – 100% financial protection. I guess what I’m trying to say is, if you’re looking for something special, I would recommend consulting a travel expert (like me!) I will get it right for you.

23 April 2019

Utah is not necessarily the first US destination on everyone’s list when thinking about a trip to the States but having been tempted to travel there by the Utah Tourist Board, it quite quickly became one of mine. With mesmerising scenery, endless roads, varying climates and the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere, it was certainly somewhere we wanted to explore. We travelled as a group of eight, our family and our friends and fellow travel-junkies, the ‘Worths’. There are three main cities that you can fly into to start your Utah journey from, the state capital, Salt Lake, the fabulous city of Las Vegas, or the more commercial (and for us, travelling at Easter, cheaper) option of Denver in Colorado. If you’re not a fan of driving, then perhaps this holiday would not be for you as distances are quite vast, but the scenery along the way takes away the boredom (iPads for kids were essential too). We upgraded our car from a smaller 4x4 to a monster truck (well it felt like it), but it was well worth it. Not only did we feel like we belonged on the road (a BMW X5 looked like a Fiat 500 in comparison), but we also had a really good amount of space in the front and back for the long journeys as well as ample boot space for our ever-increasing luggage! After an overnight stop near Denver airport we headed for the adrenalin junkie capital of Utah, Moab, just a mere 350 miles. Here we stayed for three nights at the Aarchway Inn, just to the north of town. Basically, a posh motel, this place was great. We had a lovely spacious room, there was a nice outdoor pool and hot tub for the kids to burn off a bit of energy along with a play area too. One of the nice touches were the numerous BBQs scattered throughout the grounds and the free use of BBQ utensils provided. In Moab there are not only great National Parks to visit including the beautiful Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park but also Dead Horse Point State Park which is worth a visit too. We took a rafting trip along the beautiful Colorado River - a little tamer than we had experienced in the past, but great for the kids! We also hired mountain bikes and battled some brilliant trails which had different ability levels, again great for families. Moab is a pretty cool town, and of all the places we stayed (with the exception of SLC), had the most shops and restaurants. On one of the evenings we had dinner at the Moab Brewery – a cool place that not only brewed its own beer, but also distilled its own Vodka and Gin. As Evie has Coeliac Disease, we were unsure how easy it would be to find gluten free food for her, and although it varied considerably from one restaurant and place to another, she was generally pretty well catered for. After Moab, we travelled to Monument Valley, located south on the border between Utah and Arizona. What an amazing place – if you’re into your Westerns, then this is the place to visit – truly stunning, the images in my head will stay with me for a lifetime. We were lucky enough to do some horse riding here, a tour done by the Navajo local people, and around some of the less-seen areas of monument valley that are not accessible by vehicle – a once in a lifetime thing to do. We stayed at the famous Goulding’s Lodge here, which is a short drive to the Visitor Centre at MV, so a great location. There’s not really much else to do and see in this area (apart from the magnificent Monument Valley) so don’t expect McDonalds or Subways here – you’re in the middle of nowhere! We knew we had quite a long drive the following day, from Monument Valley to Zion National Park, but we split the journey up nicely by stopping in a place called Page on the shores of Lake Powell. From here we had lunch at a great little spot overlooking the beautiful Colorado River and the enormous dam beyond. We also took the shuttle to see the fabulous Horse Shoe Point, and for the Geology geeks amongst you (me included!) it’s such a great example of a bit of river carving. Having managed to get a bit sunburnt in the morning, we then experienced snow storms during our journey over the mountains to Zion National Park – we were travelling in April to be fair, and the altitude for most of Utah is pretty high! We stayed at the Zion Mountain Ranch which is located to the eastern side of the park. Unfortunately, the road between our accommodation and Springdale (the gateway to Zion National Park) had collapsed due to excessive snow fall in the previous weeks, so we had to take a long detour to get into the park. Luckily, we chose monster trucks for our hire cars, so were able to take a short cut to the park along a rocky and dusty track and were lucky enough to witness some spectacular views on the way. Zion National Park did not disappoint – clearly a lot more money has been pumped into tourism here. The roads are great, the Visitor Centre is brilliant (to be fair, all of the visitor centres we visited were great and highly recommended as a stop-off point) and there are endless cool shops and restaurants just outside the park and in nearby Springdale. One tip would be to get there as early as possible so you can take advantage of the free parking by the Visitor Centre. From here you can take the free shuttle through the park which acts as a hop-on-hop-off service between the many points of interest. We chose to visit Angels Landing (along with the rest of the hoards) – a strenuous hike (and scary at times) to the top of one of the escarpments. Not for the faint hearted, the views are pretty spectacular, and we certainly felt like we’d managed to burn off a few of the 5 million calories we’d eaten over the previous few days. Children aren’t allowed to complete the final section of the hike due to the thinness of the track (it’s pretty dangerous), but that was fine by me as I would have been much more scared than the kids!

23 April 2019

The following day we headed for Bryce Canyon National Park, a random and beautiful canyon which appears very fragile as the rock formations look like they’re made of Type 1 rather than the stronger sandstone we had been used to in previous parks. We were quite high up here and there was quite a lot of snow of the ground. This meant a few of the trails were closed, namely the famous Navajo Trail which winds through the canyon, but we still managed to view it from above and make our way into the canyon for a little hike. Our accommodation here was the famous Ruby’s Inn, which had everything you’d ever need for a road-trip stopover – perfect for us. A great big buffet for dinner and breakfast was available, a good size indoor pool, a laundromat and, perhaps the most important, a Western Photo booth which enabled us to dress up as cowboys, priceless. The next morning, we head off towards Capitol Reef National Park, taking a short detour along a long dusty road track towards Peekaboo and Spooky Gulches. This involved quite a strenuous trek from the car park but was a fantastic experience. These ravines, extremely narrow in places, carve their way through the sandstone and are approximately ½ mile long each. I managed Peekaboo Gulch, but Spooky beat me as the gaps were only 10 inches in places (and the ravine was about 100ft high – definitely not for the mildly claustrophobes amongst us! We then headed north for a 2-night stay at the Capitol Reef Resort, located just outside Torrey. There’s not really much to do in Torrey, but we found a fantastic Burger Van, Ian said the Mac ‘n’ Cheese Burger he had rated amongst his top 3 burgers ever! That’s quite an accolade. The following day we headed into Capitol Reef National Park where we trekked through the Grand Wash (a 2-mile trek through a wide ravine) followed by a short trek to the beautiful Hickman’s Bridge – a natural bridge made from the sandstone. Perhaps not as dramatic as Arches NP or Monument Valley, but still very beautiful and definitely worth a visit. We knew we had a relatively long drive to Salt Lake City today, so we headed off early and stopped on the way for a massive brunch at Denny’s (yum). To break up the journey we had pre-booked some zip-wire action just south of the city. Here we tackled 5 different zip-lines, all differing length and speed – but lots of fun. Unfortunately, the ‘Screaming Falcon’, the longest zip line over water in the USA was closed (there had been snow in the previous days and access to the starting platform was impossible) which was a real shame, but we had fun, nonetheless. It was then onto Salt Lake City for a 2-night stay. We found out the population of SLC is only about 200,000 which seems ridiculous as it’s really spread out, but it is a beautiful city with the backdrop of snow-capped mountains surrounding it. We visited Antelope Island, a remote island located inside the Great Lake where we had a picnic lunch and the kids (and dads) did the obligatory floating in the salt lake! We also visited Temple Square in the city centre where the almost Disney-lake Mormon Church stands proud. We were coming towards the end of our Utah road trip. But enjoyed a last stop near to Dinosaur National Monument close to the border of Utah and Colorado. We stayed at Vernal, the nearest and best town to stay in if you’re interested in seeing the cool dinosaur bones that were excavated here during the last century – the best piece being an almost complete skull of an Allosaurus, fabulous! From here we drove the 6 hours (!) back to Denver – but again, most of the scenery was pretty special so meant the journey seemed shorted than it actually was! What a truly amazing place Utah is. Such a beautiful, remote state in the Mid-West, somewhere I have always wanted to explore. Blessed with stunning scenery, this really is a state of great contrasts. Temperatures and climates do vary significantly depending on how far south you travel, and also the altitude. Winter months are probably best avoided, unless you are visiting one of the many amazing ski resorts close to SLC. Summer months can of course be very hot, so visiting in the spring or fall would be the best option, but even here you will need to pack for every type of weather. Whenever you choose to visit though you are guaranteed to have a wonderful trip and leave with many special memories…

06 June 2018

We’d been camping a little bit before, but our preferred choice of family holiday had always been a hotel-based beach holiday. So the decision to hire a motor home and drive the 1000km journey from Melbourne to Adelaide stopping at campsites along the way was quite a new experience for us. The drive south from Melbourne to Geelong (pronounced J’long, one of the many towns and cities that we managed to pronounce incorrectly along the way) was highway based, but once we met the ocean road at Torquay (one of the numerous towns with the same name as those found in the UK) our road trip really started! About an hour along the coast we stopped at Lorne, a lovely small coastal town with boutique shops and cafes along the seafront, and also that all important view of the surfers braving the freezing cold sea to catch the waves. Our first night was spent at a campsite in Apollo Bay – another smallish coastal town. Luckily, whilst our motorhome had all the ‘mod-cons’, the site also had clean hot showers, a camp kitchen and of course that all important kids play area! The picture window view of the ocean from our pitch was awesome. We were up quite early the following morning as we’d decided to drive inland a little to experience the famous ‘Otway Fly’ – an amazing zip-wire and suspension bridge thriller deep in the rainforest and suspended high above the enormous trees. A truly amazing experience, although not for the faint hearted! There was also a canopy walkway suspended within the forest and a cantilever – again, not for the faint hearted. A definite highlight of the trip! From then it was quickly back on to the Great Ocean Road and towards the famous Twelve Apostles. One of the most iconic images of Australia (certainly from our point of view), so we were very excited to see these majestic rock features protruding from the sea. We weren’t disappointed. Yes it’s all very commercialised around there, from the modern swanky visitors’ centre, to the walkway calved beneath the road to allow access to the cliff tops and of course the wooden walkway swarming with tourists of all nationalities. However, nothing can take away the phenomenal views you are rewarded with once you reach the cliffs and sea the rocks for the first time – just beautiful. A few kilometres further north however, we were treated to uninterrupted views and no fellow tourists at the beautiful ‘Boat Bay’ – well worth a stop if you’ve not had your fair share of rock formations! Unfortunately, one thing that you can never guarantee is the weather, and whilst our stay so far in Australia had been pretty warm and cloud free, a full cloud cover descended on the state of Victoria during our stay, so our photos came out a little dull – and do not quite do the coastline justice! We overnighted at Warrnambool on our second night – a pretty big town about an hour from the 12 Apostles. Again, our campsite was pretty good with all the facilities could wish for. And by this stage we had worked out how to use all the appliances in our motorhome, the best sleeping arrangements and where to store things – something which we were rather amateur-like on the first night! The following morning was a little less rushed and we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at the campsite before heading off to Port Fairy – a gorgeous little town about an hour from Warrnambool. Lots of lovely shops and cafes as well as a small marina. Port Fairy is the western most point of the Great Ocean Road, and whilst we continued along the coastal route, the drive was not quite as spectacular as what we had experienced over the last couple of days. We continued our journey westwards, and we’d read about a ‘giant dune slide’ in one of the many tourist booklets that we’d picked up on the way, so decided to stop off at Yambuk to test this out. Whilst this provided some great fun for the kids (and us adults too), what we hadn’t expected was the most amazing beach on the other side of the dunes. A deserted, white sand beach with mesmerising waves – a truly fabulous find. Our next stop, and overnight destination was Mount Gambier – and the beautiful Blue Lake. Our campsite was located right next to this beautiful lake, formed 4-5,000 years ago by a volcanic explosion which left behind an immense crater and deep blue lake below – although we did find out that this changed colour seasonally! Another must-see stop along this famous route. After another leisurely breakfast we left Mount Gambier and continued our journey west towards Robe. We stopped on the way at the amazing Tantalooma Cave - a beautiful cave hidden away just off the main highway and discovered in the 1930’s by a local family showcasing a magnificent array of stalactites and stalagmites! Our next night was spent at the lovely little town of Robe where we enjoyed local fish and chips as the sun set on one of the many deserted beaches that we came across during our trip. The following day was pretty much spent driving along the coastal route towards Adelaide. We were aware there was little to see on this section of the road trip, so put our foot down and powered on through to Adelaide. Stopping off at the picturesque town of Hahndorf before finishing off in the beautiful McLaren Vale for a spot of wine tasting to polish our amazing trip off! We had such a fantastic time on our motor-homing holiday in the South of Australia and would highly recommend it to everyone!

11 June 2018

When I arrived at Marrakech’s Menara Airport I felt not only a sense of excitement but also apprehension. I don’t know why, I like to think I’m fairly well travelled having negotiated the chaotic traffic in Delhi, the distinctive cuisine in Tibet and many an elephant ride in Thailand and Sri Lanka. However, whenever I travel to somewhere new I always get a bit nervous, of the unknown I guess. As with most places I’ve been to, the nerves soon diminished as we drove through the crowded hectic streets of the capital on the way to our accommodation. There was so much to see from colourful carpets hung up against shop fronts to horse and carts dodging the cars and motorbikes and hundreds of street traders selling their goods. Yes, it was safe to say I liked the look of this place. My kind of place – oozing with character. We’d chosen one of the traditional old Riads for our 3-night stay, a popular choice with travellers in recent years. These beautiful old restored homes, many owned by individual families, are a quiet haven away from the hustle and bustle of the maze of derbs (alleyways) that surround them. You really can’t beat them for ambience and, above all, location. Now, as many a friend or colleague (and certainly my husband) will tell you, I am a bit of a shopaholic, especially when it comes to souvenirs from far away countries. Even more so when I have to haggle for them! The souks of Marrakech’s Medina did not disappoint. Whilst there are numerous cobbled streets and alleyways lined with stalls that run up to and away from the central point, Jemma El F’na, the souks really begin just north of this famous square and stretch for what seems like miles. Endless alleyways, narrow streets and indoor corridors teem with every type of souvenir you could dream of. Whether it’s Moroccan leather in the form of bags, slippers or belts; silver jewellery, mirrors or trays, brightly coloured bowls, tagines or pots; or aluminium lamps, lanterns or candle holders; they can be found here. Dare to venture deeper and further into the souks and you’ll start to find more bespoke items. Ones that aren’t repeated on every 4th or 5th stall of those located closer to Jemma El F’na. I’d been warned, and of course had read up on haggling techniques in the guide book on the aeroplane. So, with my dirhams ready I went in search of my wears. It didn’t take me long before I got started. I won’t list everything I haggled for, I’d be here all day, but it’s safe to say the market traders will try their best to squeeze as much out of you wherever possible. As long as you’re aware of this and don’t get offended (they’re simply trying to make as much money as they can out of ‘rich’ tourists), you’ll get on fine. It is almost a written rule that you never pay more than half of what they originally suggest – try to get lower if you can. But always appear cheery. It’s as much as a game for them as it should be for you. The easiest goods to haggle for are the ones that are repeatedly sold across the souk. For example, the traditional leather slippers. They’re everywhere. I wanted to buy some for my daughter and the starting price was 300dhs (approx. £22) I eventually got them for 100dhs which I was quite pleased with. I was even complemented on my bargaining skills by a local which made me feel good until the next day when someone offered to sell me a pair for 50dhs. Oh well, don’t get hung up on it, that’s what I say. Other more bespoke or handmade items are a little harder to haggle for as they are not ‘tat’ (as my husband calls them) but there’s still a bargain to be had and you should expect to get at least a third off the original quoted price. Even if you’re not into souvenirs its worth dawdling through the maze of souks to see the locals go about their daily shopping routines and to take in the wonderful sights, sounds (and yes) smells of this amazing place. One of the most important things to remember is, don’t worry if you get lost (we did numerous times), it’s all part of the fun. Just go with the flow, take it all in your (confident) stride and you’re bound to find your way out eventually, even if your purse is a little lighter at the end of it!