Wine themed river cruise with Uniworld
Having been on a few ocean cruises in the past, this year we decided to try our first river cruise. We chose a Uniworld sailing from Bordeaux on both the Dordogne and the Garonne with lots of wine chateaux excursion's included, it seemed the perfect choice. Our trip started from Wakefield on the train to London, with a short walk to St Pancras for the Eurostar to Paris with a nights stop an whistle stop tour before heading down to Bordeaux on the TGV - it was a great way to make the journey. Another night pre-cruise in Bordeaux allowed us to explore this really pretty/historic city before we boarded the boat. From the moment we did all I can we say is it didn't fail to impress. The standard of the furnishing/size of cabin, outside deck, restaurant, food and beverage were all top notch. Uniworld is an 'all inclusive' concept, so whether it is the drink of your choice, a coffee and pastry - there were no extra to pay at the end of your cruise. We loved being in the heart of wherever we stopped to allow us to wander off the boat at our leisure, or do one of the many included trips or just hop on a bike if that is your thing. Although it is not an itinerary you do a lot of sailing on, it was a lovely introduction to river cruising and will definitely be on our agenda to do again in another part of the world.
I love Croatia and it is probably one place I am happy to visit more than once. A short flight and you are in Dubrovnik which is perfect for a city break or longer to visit the Islands that surround it. The city itself is stunning! Surrounded by the beautiful, old walls steeped in history there is a vibrant centre buzzing with amazing restaurants and bars, people watching is a must! There are steps and alleys in abundance to explore like a rabbit warren of sights and smells. You can get ferries from the harbour to the many Islands, a cable car takes you to the top of the mountain where you can enjoy a beautiful meal (book in advance for a sea view /sunset table..it will not disappoint) cocktails, an open air cinema, museums. Transport links with buses, Uber or taxis makes everywhere easy to reach. We stayed in Cavtat which is about 45 minutes away by ferry, a beautiful place with pretty beaches, fancy yachts alongside simple fishing boats and the clearest sea to swim in. It has a laid back, relaxed feel with plenty restaurants and when you want something more there are plenty ferries to take you away for the day but you will want to come back. Croatia is a must, the people are friendly and proud of their history, the food is fabulous accompanied by their home grown wine, service great and it feels like that extra special place.
This year we returned to beautiful Puerto Pollensa, a charming resort with its beautiful horseshoe bay, stunning mountain backdrop, and relaxed atmosphere. We took the vintage wooden train from Palma to Soller which took us on a journey through Mallorca's scenic landscapes. Soller is a picturesque town nestled in a valley of orange groves, a lovely place with narrow streets and traditional Mallorcan townhouses. From there we travelled on the tram to Port de Soller, another picturesque harbour town on Majorca’s northwest coast. This will not be our last trip to Majorca!
At the beginning of June, we all took a well-earned team trip to Milan an Lake Como for a fun filled, jam packed weekend cramming in as much as we would to explore as much as we could in the short time we were there. With frequent flights from our local airports Milan is a great choice for city break and gives you access to Lake Como which is only 45 minutes by train from the central station in Milan. We used all the transport options the city and the the Lake has to offer, buses, trams, train, taxis & ferries. Whilst on Lake Como we were very lucky to be invited to have a tour and lunch of the Grand Hotel Tremezzo which was a stunning hotel right on the lakeside and was a truly special property which we can definitely see some of our clients enjoying a few nights there - we just know you'd love it. As you can see from the photo above - we even took a cooking class whilst in Milan and made pasta and tiramisu which was great fun. We hope you agree we made a good effort!
A visit to the Scilly Isles has ben on my to do list for around 14 years since I watched a programme on TV 'An Island Parish' which did an incredible job of highlighting what a stunning place the Isles of Scilly are. Luckily for me my sister in law shared the same desire to visit these islands and this May we finally both got to spend a week exploring this special place. We stayed on St Mary's which is the largest of the 5 inhabited islands which are part of over a 120 islands that make of this archipelago. Travelling over on the Scillonian lll ferry from Penzance Harbour (thankfully it was as flat as a mill pond) and then return on the small 15 minute flight back to Lands End Airport we embraced the full travelling experience to the islands. During our stay we hired a golf buggy to explore St Mary's, used the Boatman's Association of Scilly excellent service to visit the other 4 inhabited islands. Having lunch (and a beer or 2) at the UK's most south westerly pub on St Agnes, exploring the gardens on Tresco, BBQ on the beach on St Martins followed by a quick stop at the Fraggle Rock bar where just some of the stand out moments. With white sand beaches all to yourself it truly was a special place to visit. It's not the easiest place to get to get to, but is hands down, worth the effort, and is definitely a place you have to plan in advance to visit which I would obviously love to help any of clients plan a trip there.
I have been to Majorca a few times but a recommendation to Portals Nous swayed my decision of where to go for a long weekend in the sun. Flight is 2.5 hours, transfer from the airport less than half an hour and the hotel Tomir Suites was just perfect. The hotel was fabulous, great rooms, service, food, bars and pool area. Adult only, stylish and accommodating for couples and groups of friends alike. The harbour area is a 15 minute walk away where there are plenty high end restaurants and bars to sit and watch the world go by, shop or take a look at the stunning yachts moored next to the promenade. The beach is nearby, very chilled vibes, nice cafe that serves snacks and more importantly Sangria. There are regular buses and taxis if you want to visit Palma for some sightseeing or Palma Nova/ Magaluf for some nightlife. Portals Nous has everything you need for a perfect trip. I will definitely be going again!
March I think is a lovely time to have a little break and soak up some winter sun, and for me it was Lanzarote this year. We stayed in 2 different resorts this time, 5 nights in Playa Blanca and 4 nights in Costa Teguise - a great way to experience the different resorts the island has to offer. The hotels were both really lovely and would happily recommend, if you are thinking about visiting Lanzarote - give me a call.
In February I travelled to Seville for a 4 night break with my family, I had never been before and it had always been on my wish list to visit. I stayed in the old town of Seville just 5 mins walk from the Cathedral/river front and only 10 minutes from the colourful Triana across the river. The old town is beautiful, the Cathedral is the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world and 2nd largest in the world. I explored the magnificent inside which is home to Christopher Columbus's tomb then I climbed up the Giralda tower which offers fantastic views over the city. Located in the same old town square is the UNESCO site of The Royal Alcazar, the home of the Spanish Royal family, inside the palace are the most amazing gardens that you can explore. The city is really easy to navigate on foot and everything is within a 30 mins walk, there is a good tram service, hop on hop off bus and plenty of taxis for the less mobile. North of the city is the Las Setas area, home to '' the mushroom of Seville '' this viewing platform is one of the largest wooden platform in the world, you can visit during the day for fabulous views and return at night time for the Aurora night show. In the Las Setas area there are many shops, restaurants, bars and it has a bustling feel to it. For any sports fans a trip to the Sevilla football stadium is a must, located 15 mins drive from the old town the stadium, it has one of the steepest stands in football history - not for the faint hearted ! South of the old town is Plaza De Espana, this monumental building which radiates Sevillian and Andalusian character was built in 1929 for the Ibero-American exhibition and has been used in Star Wars movies. It is a fabulous place to spend the afternoon, watching the world go buy or cycling/walking in Parque de Maria Luisa which is located next door. If Flamenco dancing is your thing then across the river where all the colourful houses are in the lively district of Triana, this is where Flamenco first started and can still be enjoyed at one of the many establishments! Seville offers something for everyone, there were 7 of us ranging from 12 years - 78 years and we all had a brilliant time. It is a great city to explore the area with train connections to Cordoba, Malaga, Madrid, Cadiz and beyond.
I think Amsterdam is a wonderful place to visit any time of the year but a nice, crisp Spring morning strolling the streets and canals without the crowds is a delight. There is so much to do or so little if you prefer to simply sit in the many cafe bars people watching. We visited Anne Frank Haus and the Bodyworld Museum whilst there this time. Both 'must see' to be believed destinations, very informative, shocking in places and very thought provoking. There is plenty culture with several Art galleries to visit, Flower Markets or simply hire a bike and pedal around the City exploring, take a boat cruise, walk the 9 Streets area with its fabulous shops and eateries. There is also the seedier sights for which Amsterdam is famous for, which can also be visited or avoided easily depending on the audience. This is a fascinating city for every taste. I have been several times and always love to go back and explore a different hotel in a different area to get the full picture of the place. I would highly recommend as a weekend away, short flight, plenty to do and talk about when you get home!
During the months of January and February 25 we ran our ''Pack your bags'' competition ! Julie picked out the 2 winning customers from the prize drawer on the 1st March 25 and they were both over the moon with the sets of luggage the won ! Thank you to all our amazing customer that booked during this period you certainly kept us all very busy.
New Orleans I visited New Orleans known the locals as the ‘Crescent city’ or ‘Big Easy’ at the end of January with 3 friends, this was during the Mardi Gras period which runs from 6th January each year until Fat Tuesday which is always the day before Ash Wednesday (so changes each year!). On the Saturday night I was able to enjoy one of the Mardi Gras parades that are on selected days during the build up to the big event itself. The parade was huge and went on for over 3 hours, it was a sci-fi parade and great to experience. New Orleans is such a fabulous city with a great vibe, if offers lots of live music, located on the Mississippi river and has lots of history to offer. It is home to one of the largest WWII museums in the world. You can take a tour out to the Plantation Homes for black slave history, the city has a lot of Spanish architecture and French colonial buildings. I visited the Whitney Plantation, this is located hours’ drive out of the city by coach, it was very sad to see and interesting at the same time. During my 5 nights stay I visited the famous French Quarter - home to Bourbon Street, here is the real hub of the city with bar after bar offering all types of live music from morning until night. Frenchmen is where the locals hang out and here you will find jazz bands galore. This area is compact, and you can easily walk around this area, it has many restaurants from fast food to fine dining it offers something to suit everyone’s budget. Another highlight of my trip was taking the steamboat Natchez up the Mississippi river for an afternoon jazz cruise in the sunshine. Here I just sat back and watched the world go by while listening to the band playing in the background. For any sports enthusiasts it is home to the Smoothie King area and Superbowl area, I had the pleasure of attending a basketball game while I was there and this was fantastic to experience even if you’re not a fan like me, it was a night of fun and entertainment! Home to many swamps I did an excursion 40 mins out of town to the beautiful Bayou, here you can board a hovercraft or river boat and head out to see the wildlife of the area including herons, birds, racoons and alligators (depending on the time of the year). This was another great morning. There are trams (street cars) that operate in and around New Orleans, I took the old tram line – St Charles Avenue Line out towards the Garden District where you get a real feel for the community, many interesting, mansions/houses can be seen along the route. It cost 3 euros per day to use all the public transport around the city. On the same day we took the included ferry across the river to Algiers Point, this is a key part of the black slave trade history and is like going back in time and is home to a typical English pub if you fancied a pint! I did the hop on hop off bus tour and guided walking tours of the French Quarter and Garden District which were great and informative. The city is great to explore at leisure as a city break or in conjunction with one of the many cruises that operate from here to Mexico and Caribbean Islands. I absolutely loved this city and I feel it has something to offer everyone! I hope to visit again one day with my family. I flew direct from London Heathrow with British Airways in economy class, the outbound flight took 10 hour 40 mins and on the return I was lucky to book business class which was amazing and the flight home took 8 hours.
