Empire of the Penguin

1 Meet Puck at Seaworld’s new Antarctica

Seaworld’s brand new Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin attraction is now open. Visit the frozen South Pole with Puck the baby Gentoo penguin, who is ready to tell you all about penguin life in this brand new area complete with icy winds, icebergs and hundreds of penguins in the largest artificial penguin habitat ever built. A new 8 seater trackless ride whooshes you through this frozen land.

2 Feed the giraffes on the Serengeti Safari at Busch Gardens

You might be in Florida, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a proper African adventure. Book the Serengeti Safari and you can travel in an open truck across the 65 acres of Serengeti Plain, spotting zebra, ostriches and all sorts of other wildlife. There’s also an opportunity to hand feed the giraffes – one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had.

3 Drink butter beer at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

A visit to Florida isn’t complete without a visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park, one of two areas that make up Universal Orlando Resort. Stop and grab a butter beer at the cart before charging off to choose your dragon on the Dragon Challenge coaster, or wander through Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on the magical ‘Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey’ ride.

4 Watch the fireworks at Epcot

One of my favourite parts of any Florida trip is watching the beautiful IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth show at Disney’s Epcot. The show is a 14-minute extravaganza of fireworks, lasers and water effects that melts even the hardest of hearts. The show takes place every night at the World Showcase area.

‘Gator spotting at Myakka

5 Spot gators at Myakka River State Park

Of course Florida is so much more than just theme parks. Sarasota boasts stylish shopping, fabulous white sandy beaches and the Myakka River State Park, one of Florida’s oldest state parks, stretching across 57 square miles of woodland, wetland and prairie. The area is great for camping, fishing and cycling, but my top tip is to take one of the amazing boat trips where you can see alligators, eagles and all manner of wildlife. Entry to the park is just $6 a car.

6 Go circus crazy at the Ringling Museum

While you’re in Sarasota, don’t miss the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Don’t be fooled by the title, the Ringling is the most incredible place, with 20 acres of gorgeous Sarasota seafront, the most beautiful, breathtaking mansion, an interactive Circus Museum and a breathtaking model circus.

Me on a segway (oh the shame)

7 Segway around St Pete’s

St Petersburg is located on a peninsula curling out into the Gulf of Mexico and is attached to Tampa by a causeway. One of the best ways to see this beautiful area is to take a Segway tour. Tours are suitable for families (but children need to be minimum 75lb) and will take you both into the city and along the pier.

8 Visit historic John’s Pass Village

While you’re at St Pete’s take time to visit John’s Pass, a beautiful old fishing village where you can shop ‘til you drop, go on a boat tour or even hire jetskis. If you’re lucky enough to visit in October there’s a wonderful seafood festival (October 25/26/27, 2013), but at other times, get your seafood fix at the iconic Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Kennedy Space Center

9 Encounter Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center

Over on the Space Coast there are more incredible beaches, plus the Kennedy Space Center. Take a guided tour, indulge in some astronaut training, watch an entire launch countdown re-enacted in an actual mission control centre, and from later this month you can visit Space Shuttle Atlantis which is going to be permanently exhibited at Kennedy, jam packed with interactive encounters, simulators and exhibits. A once in a lifetime experience.

10 Surfs up at Cocoa Beach

While you’re on the space coast, take time to spend a day at beautiful Cocoa Beach, visit the famous Ron Jon Surf Shop to kit yourself out, then hit the surf! Later on, take a wander along historic Cocoa Beach Pier for dinner and drinks as the sun goes down. Heaven.

For more information, Visit Florida has loads of information about the area.

Monarch Airlines offers plenty of flights to Orlando Sanford airport from London Gatwick and Manchester

The path down to the pool

So I started to tell you a little about the Chateau Saint-Martin when I reviewed their beautiful two Michelin star restaurant, Le Saint-Martin. But there’s so much more to this place than the fabulous food.

Wine tasting in the cellar

View of the Chateau from one of the villas

A 30 minute drive through beautiful scenery from Nice Airport, the Chateau nestles atop a hillside overlooking the French Riviera and is surrounded by 35 acres of gardens, including 300 ancient olive trees (they make their own estate olive oil), tennis courts and a fabulous swimming pool. The ancient ruins, preserved by the Chateau, date back to Roman times, and were once home to the Knights Templar.

Transformed into a luxury hotel by the Oetker family (yes, the pizza ones – they also own the famous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on the Cap d’Antibes and Le Bristol in Paris) the Chateau has 51 luxurious suites and six sumptuous private villas, all available to hire. Staff are discrete and attentive – there’s not a hint of haughty Parisian-type service here.

As well as Le Saint-Martin, the Chateau has a Mediterranean restaurant, La Rosticceria (with shutters open over the most spectacular view of the Riviera) and a summer grill outside in the gardens called L’Oliveraie.

The Chateau boasts a pretty amazing wine list. We were lucky enough to experience a wine tasting in the cellar with the Sommelier, who was far too discrete to answer my questions about the most expensive bottle of wine. The website does hint that the cellar offers ‘some of the world’s most exclusive vintages’ and I certainly spotted some boxes of Petrus and Chateau Lafite Rothschild amongst the dusty bottles on the shelves.

The Spa

The gorgeous spa, taking up two floors on one corner of the Chateau, offers a huge array of treatments featuring La Prairie and Bamford Body products.  I opted for a La Prairie facial and it really was delicious.  Delivered in a futuristic-looking treatment room with customisable coloured lighting (green for revitalising, blue for relaxing) I’m pretty sure I fell asleep, and wafted out afterwards on a heavenly scented cloud, heavy limbed and relaxed with skin that was plumped and glowing.  I was given a sizeable collection of La Prairie product samples to try at home too (I can’t bring myself to use them).

The cobbled streets of Saint Paul de Vence

Vence and Saint Paul de Vence

A short drive away in one of the Chateau’s Mercedes limousines (with a driver straight off a Gaultier advert), is Vence - a lovely little town and well worth a visit.  Queue up for fresh baguettes, warm out of the oven, sit and sip a glass of rosé and watch the world go by, or pick up some gorgeous Provençal tableware in the little shops.

Nearby is the pretty, fortified town of Saint Paul de Vence.  It’s a lovely place to sip a café au lait and watch  the locals play boules, then take a wander up the stone streets and mooch around the galleries and tiny shops, all pretty much unchanged since Picasso and Matisse trod the same cobbles.  Take time to visit the little cemetery perched overlooking the Mediterranean, where Chagall is buried, and follow the meandering streets to a little chapel overlooking the town.  We also snuck a quick look inside the legendary La Colombe D’Or hotel – a great place to star spot, but notoriously difficult to bag a table in the restaurant.

Le Fondation Maeght

The Maeght Foundation is a private art gallery located at Saint Paul de Vence and is a must-see if you’re in the area. Visitors can wander the gardens and view paintings, sculptures and ceramics by artists such as Bonard, Chagall and Giacometti (my favourite is Giacometti’s ‘Dog’, said to have been created by him after getting caught in the rain) and many contemporary pieces too. There are often special exhibitions at the Foundation, which is open every day.

Giacometti’s ‘Dog’

We returned refreshed and relaxed – even our ridiculous delay at Nice airport couldn’t take the shine off, and I’ll be returning as soon as I can.  Not a budget option, admittedly, but three glorious days at Chateau Saint-Martin was as relaxing and pampering as two weeks in the Caribbean, and just an hour away from the UK.

The Knights Templar may have long gone, but they left all their treasure behind.

The island nation of the Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean and consists of a double chain of twenty-six atolls.  Its turquoise waters, white sandy beaches and isolated location makes it an ideal destination for holidaymakers looking to escape the daily grind.

According to the Maldives tourist board, the islands enjoy an average temperature of around 30 degrees Celsius throughout the year with constant sunshine on most days.  What’s more, the balmy mornings, calm evenings and beautiful sunsets make the Maldives a truly special place to visit.

Club Med holidays in the Maldives are perfect for families looking to experience a little piece of paradise.  While kids can enjoy a host of activities like swimming, beach football and kayaking, parents are able to relax and unwind on an immaculate beach next to a soothing ocean.

Kani resort

The resort of Kani is a truly majestic destination, featuring 75 individual suites set amid the sparkling water.  Positioned on stilts, these truly special habitats allow guests to dive straight into the sea from their rooms or simply admire a magnificent lagoon view.

Guests also have the option of staying closer to the resort’s lush foliage in luxurious bungalows.  Dotted throughout the island, these idyllic spaces remain a stone’s throw from the tempting ocean.

Bars and restaurants

With dishes ranging from traditional Asian cuisine to fresh crayfish specialities, you are spoilt for choice at Kani’s fine restaurants.  Low-calorie options are also available to ensure you return home looking even more healthy and refreshed.

The resort’s bars give holidaymakers the opportunity to lounge beside the swimming pool while watching the sun go down.  At night, guests can sip a cocktail while gazing at the starry night sky above.  Families can also have refreshments on the edge of the lagoon or in the shade of a coconut tree. Water, fruit juices, soda, spirits and wines are all fully inclusive.

Activities

With stunning coral reef and plentiful marine life, scuba diving or snorkelling is highly recommended if you visit the Maldives.  Qualified instructors are on hand to introduce beginners to scuba diving, where guests can bear witness to sharks, groupers, manta rays, lionfish and moray eels in the greatest natural aquarium there is.

There are also a plethora of activities available on the beach, including football, volleyball and badminton.  You can have fun in the water with sailing and kayaking, or take part in yoga, aqua fitness and cardiovascular exercise at the Club Med gym.

Wellness Centre

Although spending time with the family is a priority, there is also the opportunity to look after number one, and Kani’s Wellness Centre has a range of treatments available administered by professional beauty and massage therapists.

With packages designed for both men and women, you may want to take advantage of a duo room for tandem treatments!

Pic: (c) Inntravel

So you’ve heard of slow food, right?  Slow food is all about eating fresh, local, sustainable food – thinking about what you eat and how your choices affect the environment and support farmers and businesses.  It’s a great way to shop and eat, and it’s rewarding too – knowing that you’re eating thoughtfully, and making a difference.

But have you ever thought of applying similar rules to how you holiday?  We jet off to foreign climes, race around theme parks and whizz around on jet skis (and yes, as a frequent traveller I certainly have guilt about my own carbon footprint), but it’s not just about the environment – how about considering a slower holiday?

Cycling holidays

Cycling is a wonderful way to really immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of your holiday destination.  Many holiday companies will arrange for decent bikes to be available on arrival, and will either provide a guide, or plan routes and provide maps so you can make your own way around, arranging for manageable rides between hotels (you can choose how far and how challenging the ride will be – perfect if you’re travelling with kids), and transferring your luggage along the way, meaning that you can travel at your own page.  Routes are well thought out and stick to quieter roads and country lanes wherever possible.

I love the idea of cycling around the Loire Valley, taking in vineyards  (with a little wine tasting thrown in, obviously) and châteaux along the way (try Inntravel for cycling holidays like this).

Walking holidays

If you imagine a walking holiday to be a nightmarish daily trudge from one hotel to another, you’re quite a way away from the reality.  Walks are planned for you in advance, with routes and maps provided, and again you can choose the level of walk you’re comfortable with.  Centred walking holidays focus on one or two base hotels, with planned walks of different grades provided from your base location(s) so you can explore the local area.  In Croatia (an area I’ve always wanted to visit), you can explore the Dalmatian coast with walks that take in Croatia’s beautiful olive groves and medieval towns, as well as plenty of time to relax by the sea.

As you can see, I’m not suggesting that we all give up flying.  I know that’s never going to happen, but cycling and walking holidays can be a fabulous way to really slow things down once you reach your destination, take it easy and soak up more of the area you’re visiting.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley

Universal Studios have just announced a huge new project, bringing London, and more specifically, Diagon Alley to the resort in 2014.  Work has already started on the new experience, which will stretch across both Universal Orlando theme parks and offer lots of new experiences including, it’s rumoured, a trip on the Hogwart’s Express to Hogsmeade (from one park to the other) and a ride through Gringott’s Bank.

Also at Universal Studios, The Simpsons’ home town, Springfield is coming to Orlando this summer.  There’s a whole new Simpsons area, with a The Simpson’s Ride, and food too – you might even bump into Krusty the Clown while you’re scoffing your Krusty Burger, or need to dodge Sideshow Bob at Moe’s Tavern.

Seaworld’s new Empire of the Penguin

Open from May 24^th, Seaworld’s newest project mixes a brand new family ride through Antarctica with incredible new animal encounters.  This HUGE new attraction, covering an area over 4 square acres, features icebergs, hundreds of penguins in a brand new area (the largest artificial penguin habitat even built) and an incredible new 8 seater trackless ride that slides through the penguin habitat, plus a new café and gift shop.

Pic: WDW News

Disney’s Brave new Princess

Disney have crowned their newest Princess, Merida from Brave, at a sparkling ceremony held at Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, Florida.  Merida’s meet and greet spot is situated just by Cinderella Castle inside Fairytale Garden, where guests will have a chance to meet Merida and her three ‘baby bear’ brothers and even get an archery lesson!  The area is decorated with beautiful new, original tapestries and artwork inspired by the movie.

If you’re planning a trip to Florida, check out Florida Tix  - a really handy site where you can pre-book park tickets before your holiday.

Le Chateau Saint-Martin

Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to stay for a few days at the utterly beautiful Chateau Saint-Martin in the pretty little town of Vence on the Côte d’Azur.  For a luxury short break, the Chateau really has everything: it’s a scant 30 minute drive from Nice Airport (just over an hour’s hop from Gatwick), the accommodation is luxurious, the scenery breathtaking and the spa indulgent.  Locally, you can wander around beautiful little French towns and walk in the footsteps of Matisse and Picasso.  The Chateau has two restaurants, one of which, Le Saint Martin, has two Michelin stars thanks to the incredible talent of Yannick Franques, former student of Alain Ducasse and Meilleur Ouvrier de France (2004).

We ate in a beautiful private dining room with General Manager Frédéric Picard who happily waved away enquiries about food photography with a smile and ‘but of course – this is why we have a private dining room’.  M Picard turned out to be charming company and happily answered all questions about the French menu.

If you’re not a fan of (badly lit) restaurant photography, I do understand why – it can be intrusive when people continually snap away at their dinner.  However, this food was something extra special and I do feel it deserves to be shared.

We started with an appetiser which was served in a hollowed out, silvered eggshell: scrambled egg with delicate pieces of lobster and a crisp brioche ‘soldier’, and went on to enjoy six spectacular courses matched with some incredible wines.  It’s a meal I’ll never forget:

Appetiser

Appetiser: scrambled egg with tiny pieces of lobster served in a silvered eggshell.

Le foie gras de Chalosse

A crème brûlée of fois gras in a crispy honey tube, crusted with pineapple crumb.

Le mystère de l'oeuf

The chef's 'mystery egg': crispy brioche coating concealing frothy egg white and a perfect runny yolk, with a parmesan cream.

Le Saint-Pierre

A fillet of John Dory with Pitacou lemon (I can't find a good translation for this lemony sauce - almost like lemon curd) on seasonal vegetables with bagna cauda jus (tomato and anchovy).

L'Agneau du Quercy

Roasted Quercy lamb loin served with Rocbaron goats' cheese, black garlic and a cannelloni de courgette.

Les Fromages

Fabulous selection of cheeses.

Palate cleanser

Actually can't remember what this was - icy and coconutty

Le chocolate noir grand cru Kalingo

An iced, marbled bar of Kalingo 65% chocolate with coconut, crusted with crispy passionfruit and served with tonka bean cream.

Next up, more about the Chateau, the beautiful nearby towns of Vence and Saint Paul de Vence and a tour of Le Fondation Maeght.

One of the best things about cruising is the sheer variety of activities offered by this sort of holiday.  As well as enjoying all the amenities a massive ship like the Liberty of the Seas has to offer (theatre shows, water-based fun like the FlowRider, ice spectaculars, fine dining, parades, a casino, climbing wall – I could go on), there is the added bonus of stopping off in different places (indeed, countries) along the way.

Of course there are hundreds of different cruises to choose from, but our itinerary was pretty typical of a five day Caribbean cruise:

Day 1: Embark (pm), then at sea

Day 2: At sea

Day 3: Labadee, Haiti

Day 4: Falmouth, Jamaica

Day 5: at sea

Day 6: at sea, then disembark (am)

Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private peninsular, Haiti

Cast away on Malfini Beach

I’ll be honest, geography not being my strong point, I’d not heard of Labadee.  I had, however, heard of Haiti, in fact, I’d raised money for it three years ago when it was struck by a horrendous earthquake and 1.5 million of its inhabitants were left homeless. Royal Caribbean has done sterling work with the people and infrastructure of Haiti (something it’s too modest to let me talk about), and Labadee is basically RCI’s  own private part of Haiti.

There were all sorts of shore excursions: snorkeling, sightseeing, zip lining… but we finally decided on ‘Castaway at Malfini Beach’ costing a bargainous $65 each and lasting three hours.

The Liberty of the Seas at Labadee

It was absolutely incredible disembarking and getting our first real look at the mind-boggling size of the ship, without all the bits and bobs it was surrounded by at Port Everglades.  We were also struck by just how strong the sun is (us bloggers are a pale bunch – we started sizzling pretty much instantly). After a short walk to a small pier (see what I did there?), we climbed aboard a motorboat and headed out to Malfini, a tiny, privately owned stretch of beautiful white beach, azure water and lush green shady spots.  We lazed, swam, drank Malfini Punch out of coconuts, and basically had the most glorious beach day imaginable.

Sadly all too soon we were heading back towards the harbour, where we were treated to possibly the best barbecue ever (the logistics of feeding thousands of passengers at a beach barbecue make my head spin, but as usual the chefs had everything under control and everyone was fed delicious, hot food (with some AMAZING sticky ribs.. mmmm).  Of course, you don’t have to join an excursion, and the beach at Labadee is lovely if you just want to swim and sunbathe.

Getting ready to ride into the sea

Riding horses in the sea and climbing Dunns River Falls in Jamaica*

I have to say that this was by far my favourite day of our cruise.  We disembarked relatively early and headed through a nice shopping area (making a note to come back later and grab some delicious jerk spices) to rendezvous with our guide and driver. Our guide Wilana was wonderful and soon had us all speaking Patois (Erica was best at this as Jamaica is her spiritual  home, mon) and en route told us all some of the history of Jamaica.  Our first stop, Papillion Cove, was where we saddled up and took an amazing horseback ride through old plantation land.  Our guides were great fun and after a break and saddle-change, we rode our charges right out into the amazing Listerine-coloured waters.  The best experience I’ve ever had.

My view as we headed away from the shore

After a scrummy jerk chicken lunch we were ready to get back in the minibus and head to Dunns River Falls, a 600′ high range of cascades and waterfalls that flow straight into the Caribbean.  Climbing the falls was exhilarating, sometimes scary, but incredibly rewarding!  You need shoes with a decent amount of grip (don’t worry, they hire them there if you don’t have any) and you need to be prepared to get VERY wet, but it’s the best fun.  We often had to help each other up steep ledges, and there were areas where we dipped under waterfalls or where the guides had us falling backwards into the cool water.  Just beautiful.

I scraped my leg, but when we got to the top about an hour later, limbs aching, looking like drowned rats and rinsing pebbles from our shoes, we were all absolutely beaming.  It was akin to the best team bonding exercise ever and we drove back in the minibus chatting happily and even singing a few Bob Marley songs with Wilana.

Erica climbing Dunns River Fall

Of course if you’re not into horses, or don’t fancy climbing the falls, there are lots of other things to do in Jamaica too.  Some of the best excursions include tours of old plantation estates (including ruins of the great plantation houses), dolphin encounters, foodie adventures and plenty of different beach breaks, most with food included. My Jamaica experience was incredible: a wonderful, wonderful day that I’ll never forget.  I’m determined to go back with my family so we can all experience it together.  Thank you, Royal Caribbean.

*The Dunns River Falls/Papillion cove horseback ride, including bareback riding in the Caribbean sea costs $139 including Jamaican lunch and lasts approximately 7 hours

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort: ‘Big Blue’ Pool

If you follow me on Facebook (if not, why not? We’re a lovely gang and have all sorts of waffly conversations), you’ll know that a while back, my chums at Disney offered me the most FABULOUS prize for you, my lovely readers: a 7 night holiday in a Walt Disney World Resort, Florida, complete with park tickets.  I, of course, bit their arms off (not literally – you don’t bite Mickey, it’s just not done), but then, disappointingly, we couldn’t persuade anyone to offer flights (it’s the end of the financial year, times are tough, blah blah) so I faltered.  I wondered if people would be disgruntled with a competition that wasn’t a WHOLE holiday as it didn’t include the flights.  But people commented, in their droves, to say that it didn’t matter, that they’d definitely enter a competition.  And hey, it’s a fabulous holiday, worth a ton of money.  So here it is, in all its glory.

The prize (squee!)

Disney will provide one winner with a vacation package for four people for seven nights and eight days at Disney’s wonderful Art of Animation resort consisting of accommodation (one standard room for four people for seven nights), PLUS four 8-day Magic Your Way tickets with Park Hopper® option (EXCLUDING flights).

How do I enter? I hear you cry!

My favourite attraction at Walt Disney World is Pirates of the Caribbean.  I’ve always loved it.  So just leave a comment and tell me: what’s the attraction you’ll be heading to first if you win this amazing prize?

(New commenters please note yours won’t show up until it’s been approved.)

For an extra chance to win, just comment and let me know that you’ve tweeted the phrase:

I’ve entered @EnglishMum’s Walt Disney World Florida holiday giveaway #visitMickeywithEnglishMum

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort entrance

The small print

There’s quite a lot of small print, I’ll admit, but hey, giving away a holiday is quite complicated, so I’d be really grateful if you have a read through and make sure you agree before entering. Ta muchly

• Usual English Mum competition rules apply.  This competition is open to the residents of UK and Ireland.  You must be over 18 years of age.  The prizes offered are not transferable (and may not be sold, traded, transferred or refunded) or exchangeable for cash.  The winner will be chosen at random.
• Items that are not included as part of the winning vacation package are: meals, hotel room service, laundry service, alcoholic beverages, merchandise/souvenirs etc, local and long distance telephone calls, tips, gratuities, service charges or taxes, all other charges and items not offered as the main prize, and the big one: FLIGHTS. Entrants must arrange their own air travel.
• The winners are responsible for arranging visas, travel insurance, transfers, etc.
• The competition ends at midnight on Saturday 6th April 2013. No entries received after this time will be considered.
• Winners will be asked to provide 3 dates when they can travel, but departure date and accommodations are subject to availability; certain restrictions and block-out dates may apply.  Prize to be taken within a year, subject to availability.
• Disney, its parent, related, affiliated and subsidiary companies and their respective officers, directors, agents, employees and assigns shall be released and discharged from any and all legal claims, losses, injuries, demands, damages, actions, and/or causes of actions that arise out of and/or in any way related to the prize, the receipt, use and/or enjoyment of the prize and/or the promotion.
• Oh and lastly – don’t cheat!  One entry plus one bonus Twitter entry per person The system picks up on duplicate entries

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER, CHOSEN BY AN ONLINE RANDOMISER, IS CAROLINE CAVANAGH – CONGRATULATIONS! THANKS FOR ALL YOUR ENTRIES – MORE COMPETITIONS VERY SOON XX

Exploring the empty park in the dark

It’s my birthday shortly (not a hint, I promise) and although I can remember sunny days, cloudy days and rainy days, I’m pretty sure it’s never snowed before at this time of year.

Yesterday we drove down to Surrey to visit Thorpe Park for the opening party for their new hotel, The Crash Pad, and to experience the new backward twist to The Swarm, their amazing winged roller coaster.  The Death Wish Dude is a coaster nut, so we took him with us as our coaster-tester, along with his friend, James.  The snow was really coming down by 6pm and as we crawled along the M25 at about 20 mph I had visions of us being snowed in and spending the night in the car.

Anyhoo, we made it, and the incredibly friendly Thorpe Park staff made us very welcome. We checked in to our Crash Pad room  and were impressed with what we saw.  Don’t, under any circumstances, expect a hotel room.  The Crash Pad is more like the Yotel in that it really is just a place to lay your head: a double bed, two single bunks, and a small en-suite wet room. That’s it. No floor space, no wandering around room, just a place to crash and go.  Oh, and a word of warning?  The top bunk has no rail.  Do not allow a restless sleeper up there – the Dude came crashing down at around 3am – luckily unhurt!

We thought it would be fab if you have to travel a long way to spend time at Thorpe Park – you can book packages which include two days’ park tickets, one night in the Crash Pad and breakfast included.  There’s also evening entertainment provided and the bar area is lovely.  A fab idea and pretty good value too.  We also thought it would be ace to book an overnight stay during one of the Fright Nights!

In the bar we bumped into Shane Richie, who we’d met at Disneyland Paris when we went for my 40th birthday (you may remember the ‘photograph of the ear‘ debacle). He’s so lovely and we all wandered around the park in a big gang.  Kat (lovely Jessie Wallace) was there too I was a bit starstruck, to be honest, but they’re so down to earth and friendly.  At one stage Shane took over the announcing on one of the rides (then ran away before getting on).

Me with lovely Shane Richie, James and the Dude.

We were lucky enough to have access to the park after closing time, and the fellas went on everything, at least twice:

Riding Nemesis

There was also the small matter of a stolen banana.  This was absolutely nothing to do with me, but these two shifty-looking characters were caught on CCTV:

Theft of giant banana

SWARM is blimmin’ amazing. Hubby and I went on once but the boys rode about five times – both backwards and forwards!

After a fabulous party, with a DJ, entertainment, nibbles and a free mojito bar, we headed to the Crash Pad.  It was really lovely and comfy (bit awkward when one of the kids isn’t yours, but then that’s our fault).  The only problem was when we woke up – no hot water due to frozen pipes.  The staff were amazing again, rushing around and getting us bottles of water, but we decided to head home and save our park tickets for another day.

This really is the perfect place for teenagers.  To be honest, it’s such good value I think I’d probably book a separate room for the teens, then let them loose around the park while we chilled and pootled about a bit more.  The food options are good at Thorpe Park and there are plenty of non-adrenaline-rush things to do too!

And yes, the banana was returned to its rightful place, unharmed.  I promise.

About Crash Pad

Two day packages start from £64pp, including breakfast (based on 4 sharing).  Click here for more info.  The Crash Pad opens 28th March 2013.

 

Radisson Blue Le Dokhan’s Hotel

L’Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe

The Seven Hotel

This hotel has been on my wishlist since I tore an article about it out of a magazine when it first opened.  The rooms are just incredible (and slightly barking), with space age details, amazing lighting, ‘floating’ beds… there’s even a 007 room.