Giveaway: win a holiday in Walt Disney World Florida with park tickets! (COMPETITION ENDED)
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
Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas: our amazing adventure
As I sit here at my desk, slightly groggy with jetlag and with cankles the size of tree trunks, I can hardly believe that this time last week I was joining the cruise ship Liberty of the Seas with five friends to start the adventure of a lifetime.
I have so much to tell you! I surfed the Flow Rider, sunbathed on a private white sand beach in Haiti, rode horses in the sea and climbed Dunns River Falls In Jamaica. I saw incredible shows, including an ice skating spectacular (yes, there was an ice rink on the ship), a gasp-inducing modern dance production and bellowed along to Saturday Night Fever in a massive theatre. I got pampered in the spa, drank cocktails, sipped fine wines and dined out in restaurants that would give the Titanic’s chandeliers a run for their money. I even shook my booty in a nightclub!
I also stood alone on the top deck of a ship containing 3000 people and felt like I was the only person in the middle of a glittering turquoise ocean.
I cried tears of laughter (and some of sheer emotion) and came to realise that holidays aren’t just holidays. If you choose wisely, they allow you to really relax – I mean, deep down, fall-asleep-with-your-mouth-open – type relax, discover new things about yourself, discover the world (and bookmark a couple of places to come back to) and return full of enthusiasm and a new-found appreciation for everything around you.
Now until my head stops moving to the rhythm of the ocean (yes, even though I’m in Buckinghamshire), and these ankles return to their normal size, I’ll leave you with a few snapshots. Enjoy!
Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private peninsular, Haiti
Liberty of the Seas, docked at Labadee, Haiti
Myself and my fellow cruise buddies with the Captain (Laura, Erica, Liz, Karin, Me, Capt Per, Tara)
Afternoon tea at Royal Horseguards Hotel with Royal Caribbean International
This week, I travelled into London to meet up with a few of my blogging buddies and the lovely chaps at Royal Caribbean cruises. We were there to hear more about the fabulous facilities that Royal Caribbean can offer families on board their fleet of cruise ships.
First, though, there was the matter of a rather delicious afternoon tea, complete with champers! There were plenty of ‘ooh, posh!’ type exclamations as the terribly polite (and spookily stealthy) waiters appeared with stacks of dainty finger sandwiches, savoury choux pastries, pretty macaroons and teeny tiny mini cupcakes. After that there were fresh scones with home made jam and Cornish clotted cream.
While we were scoffing, we heard more about the Royal Caribbean fleet, including the fact that one of the ships, the ridiculously huge Allure of the Seas can carry over 6000 people (6000!) and has a ‘central park’ area with over 12,000 live plants and trees. plus two ‘FlowRiders’, which are basically on-board wave-machines where you can body board and even surf! Oh, and did I mention the zipwire? Yup, really.
The ships travel around the Caribbean (the clue’s in the name), but we found out you can also travel to Canada, Alaska, Asia and even Australia and New Zealand. For families, Royal Caribbean have teamed up with DreamWorks so you can see plenty of Shrek (on a huge screen, in 3D) and Kung Fu Panda, with plenty of opportunities to meet the characters while on board too.
I’m really looking forward to learning more about Royal Caribbean (we’re launching a new #RoyalMums ambassador programme soon) and hopefully I’ll be heading out to sea shortly too (well, I need to know EXACTLY what it’s like so I can report back to you. Right?
If you want to follow us on our journey as Royal Caribbean ambassadors, check out #royalmums and @myroyalUK on Twitter.
A winter wonderland at Center Parcs this Christmas
What does Christmas mean to you? For me it’s the scent of pine, frosty walks, tinsel and glitter, cinnamon and spice, the odd present or two and food food food! It’s different for everyone: maybe you’re planning a big get together, musing about going away or maybe it’s just the two of you, planning a quiet day.
If you’re undecided, I think I’ve found the perfect Christmas break. Center Parcs open right through the festive season, so you can go for a weekend to build up a bit of excitement for the big day, meet friends and family, or stay over Christmas. They’ve got really lovely festive things going on across all the Parcs, including *gulp* real, live reindeer!
You can stay in a villa, a luxury lodge or even – and I’m seriously tempted by this – a treehouse! (at Sherwood Forest and Longleat Forest). All the different types of accommodation have well equipped kitchens, but if you don’t fancy cooking, the different restaurants, including Café Rouge, Bella Italia and the Grand Café, to name but a few (they differ depending on the parc) have special menus, including Christmas lunch and New Year’s Eve dinners.
Each parc is planning their own pantomime (Christmas wouldn’t be the same without a bit of ‘he’s BEHIND you!’), the kids can visit Santa in his very own Woodland Workshop, and there are spectacular fireworks to round off a magical stay.
Now who’s going to take me to Center Parcs for Christmas? Come on, hands up…
For more information on weekend breaks and Christmas holidays at Center Parcs, just follow the links.
Guest post by Bella Franklin: how to look great on holiday – celebrity makeup artists’ holiday beauty essentials
Getting ready for your holiday can be a stressful time. Some people go to extremes of having tummy tuck surgery, breast reduction (also known as mammoplasty) and other drastic measures to get themselves beach-ready, whilst the rest of us simply struggle with what beauty products to pack.
Most people aim for natural beauty on holiday, but this can hard to pull off unless you have the right products. You also have to think about protecting your skin from the sun, protecting your makeup from melting in the heat and protecting your hair from humidity-induced frizzing. In short, packing your holiday beauty bag can be a bit of a nightmare.
Luckily, a few of the most renowned make-up artists in the world have revealed their top tips for holiday cosmetics:
Kristofer Buckle recommends… waterproof mascara
Kristopher Buckle, who has worked with Blake Lively, Charlize Theron and Jennifer Lopez, to name just a few of the famous faces he has made up, recommends waterproof mascara as his top holiday cosmetics tip. You need to get a really good one though, which won’t smudge or flake in the heat and which will give you a fresh, wide-eyed look. You don’t need to spend a fortune though, as there are several great waterproof mascaras available from top high street brands like L’Oréal and Maybelline.
Eugenia Weston recommends… SPF foundation and a good eyebrow kit
Eugenia Weston, whose most famous collaborations have been with fashion photographers Helmut Newton and Herb Ritts, has two top recommendations for your beach beauty bag. The first is protective SPF foundation or tinted moisturiser, which evens out your skin tone and covers flaws whilst also shielding your skin from sun damage.
Eugenia’s second tip is a good eyebrow kit. She says that because the rest of your makeup tends to be pared down on holiday, your eyebrows need to be in top condition. Get a multi-tasking, compact eyebrow kit complete with tweezers, shading colours and liner, and you will have brows that give definition and frame your face.
Marietta Carter-Narcisse recommends… a daring lip colour
Marietta, who has most famously worked with the US singer Jordin Sparks, believes that as your tan deepens, a vivid lip colour will look great. Pack a shade that suits you and this will be all you need to liven up your makeup for the evenings.
Et voila! You’re all set for a gorgeously glam holiday. You’re welcome!
Getting ready for holidays – my top toiletry tips
It’s just six weeks – SIX WEEKS! – until we’re off on our holidays with my Disreputable Dad and his partner to Gran Canaria for a week. I think we’re probably at the stage where, with Sam being 17, our days of enjoying holidays as a family are numbered, so I’m determined to enjoy every second, especially as there’ll be three generations all holidaying together. When we booked a few months ago, we went through different websites to find the perfect holiday in Spain that would suit ages 14 to 70*coughsomething* and in the end we found ourselves back at our old favourite First Choice‘s website, for something that pleased everyone: lovely pool, scrummy food, short walk to a lovely beach.. you name it.
I’m really excited and, as always, I’m enjoying the planning (and purchasing) almost as much as the holiday.
Here’s my current tick-list:
High factor sun cream. I always take a variety of brands as different family members like different things. I prefer non-sticky and spray on. Remember you should use at least a shot glass per application.
Facial sunblock: I suffer from hyperpigmentation so always pack a sunblock specifically for the face. And a hat.
Multi-use items. I like the Lavera organic shampoo/shower gel, and Dr Bronner’s liquid soap is brilliant – you can use it for shampoo, shower gel and even to hand wash your clothes.
Conditioner: treat your hair to a nightly conditioning treatment to combat all that sun, sea and chlorine.
Solid antiperspirant stick – much smaller and easier to transport than a spray. Plus you can pop it in your beach bag to freshen up after a swim, too.
Wipes: great for travelling and handy for removing make-up. If you get the non-greasy ones they’re quite useful to remove spots on clothes too (if you get messy with your bolognaise). There are also some lovely freshener/perfume wipes about. The 4711 ones are gorgeously fresh and remind me of my childhood.
Perfumed candle: not really toiletries, but an essential for me – lovely to light in the evening to scent your hotel room.
So I’ll be the sweet smelling one smothered in suncream, with freshly conditioned hair (and hat), second sunbed to the left.
Sunvil’s sunny baklava recipe
Sunvil are a lovely travel company who have over 40 years’ experience and an amazing amount of expertise on all aspects of the Greek islands. They’re passionate about their destinations: their people, their culture and, of course, their food, so they’ve decided to start posting a recipe every month on their website to celebrate the wonderful food of the area. Baklava hails originally from Crete and seems a rather lovely place to start. I’ve never actually made baklava, so when Sunvil challenged me to give it a go as part of the new Sunvil Supper Club, I jumped at the chance.
First of all, I’d say don’t be daunted by filo pastry. I think I dithered a bit too long trying to make sure that every part of every sheet was brushed with the butter/oil mixture, which allowed the waiting pastry to dry out a little bit. Cover your pastry in a piece of damp kitchen towel, and you’ll be fine.
This lovely recipe really doesn’t take long to prepare and is a total showstopper. I also loved bubbling away the sugar syrup to make the final caramel-coloured honeyed syrup which is spooned over the warm baklava. Utterly delicious.
If you’d like to have a go at making the baklava yourself, the recipe is on the Sunvil Supper Club page on the Sunvil website, and for more information on holidays to Crete, click here.
Embarking on a holiday to Florida with under 5s
Florida is famous for beaches, sunshine and, of course, the theme parks. Children and adults alike will love the chance to be able to explore the world-renowned resorts of Disney, Universal, Epcot, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the others. All the theme parks are great at catering for families, especially those with young children who may be too small to ride on a lot of the rollercoasters.
Each of the Disney parks has several great attractions for young children. Head over to Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom to ride on Dumbo, the Flying Elephant. This gentle ride is a lovely experience and kids will love being able to control how high their Dumbo can fly. Also in the Magic Kingdom is The Barnstormer. This junior rollercoaster is a great ride for any little daredevils in your family as it has a few twists and turns!
If your child loved being able to fly on an elephant, you could try Cinderella’s Golden Carousel, a charming old fashioned merry-go-round where the children can sit on horses, and there is an option of a bench carriage if they prefer. Fans of Nemo can go and visit Epcot and search the seas to find him in a ‘clamobile’ . From there you can visit the seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion, home to one of the largest man-made ocean environments in the world.
Kids love seeing their favourite characters come to life, so why not head over to Hollywood Studios to see Playhouse Disney, an interactive live performance that combines awesome effects and puppetry and gives your children the chance to sing and dance along with Mickey!
If you want a slightly more relaxing break, there are plenty of beaches in Florida for kids to run around on, making sandcastles and splashing in the waves. Clearwater, Florida is home to some beautiful white beaches and is very family-friendly. Children of all ages will love the chance to be able to jump aboard a pirate ship on Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise. Or visit Destin on the Emerald Coast for a quieter and more relaxing family-orientated beach.
Cosmos’ holidays to Florida give you the freedom to tailor your trip to your family needs. You can choose to spend your entire trip exploring the theme parks or opt for a Twin Centre holiday and split your time between two different parts of Florida. The possibilities are endless and you can guarantee that you and your family will never have a dull moment in the Sunshine State.
Cosmos Holidays are a leading UK tour operator. Find out more about Disneyland holidays with Cosmos by visiting their website.
Five things to photograph in Berlin
If you were asked in which European cities you’d find interesting architecture, art galleries, monuments, fountains and statues, you’d probably reply London, Paris or Rome. Berlin would probably be somewhere down your list.
However, when it comes to thinking about where to go on your holidays, Germany’s capital city is an extremely under-rated tourist attraction. Those who visit will discover a past unlike anywhere else in Europe. From its tree-lined boulevards and sprawling parks, to its historic buildings and network of waterways, Berlin really is a magnificent city with which to spend a few days.
It doesn’t cost much to visit the city either – particularly if you stay in one of the many campsites in Germany on Zoover.co.uk.
With that in mind, we thought we’d put together a list of Berlin’s five most important sights worth photographing. From the things you really must see to the most important palaces, viewpoints and memorials of the capital’s hidden places.
Photo #1 – Brandenburg Gate
Perhaps the most famous of all Berlin’s sights, the only remaining city gate of Berlin used to represent the separation of the city between East and West Berlin. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 the Brandenburg Gate has now come to symbolise German unity.
Made of sandstone and built in 1791, the Gate one of the finest examples of German classicism. On both sides, there are six Doric columns supporting the 11 metre-deep transverse beam, which divide the gate into five passages. Since October 2002 the Brandenburg Gate has been closed for traffic, including buses and taxis.
Photo #2 – Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz is one of the most famous squares in Berlin and certainly the largest.
Named after the Russian Tsar Alexander I, who visited the capital of Prussia in 1805, the square became a traffic hub when a train station was established there in 1882. Alexanderplatz took on its present form in the 1960s after it had been largely destroyed in World War II. During this time, Alexanderplatz was converted into a pedestrian zone with traffic being diverted round it via a four lane street. Also during this time the former Centrum department store was built as well as the Alex Passages and the Berliner Fernsehturm (Berlin TV Tower).
Photo #3 – Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie is a must-see – the scene of several thrillers and espionage novels ranging from James Bond’s “Octopussy” to “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold”.
The most famous East German-West German border crossing, Checkpoint Charlie was a a transition point for the members of the Allied forces. In 1961 it was the scene of a famous tank ‘stand-off’ between the USA and USSR. Nearby you can find the Berlin Wall Museum – Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie, which has a replica of the first Allied guardhouse set up on the median strip of the Friedrichstraße.
Photo #4 – Charlottenburg Palace
The Charlottenburg Palace is the largest palace in Berlin and is the only surviving royal residence in the city. Built at the end of the 17th century and expanded in the 18th century, it includes exotic internal decoration in both Baroque and Rococo styles.
Behind the Palace you’ll find a large formal garden surrounded by woodland. Designed in 1697 by Simeon Godeau, who was behind the design of the gardens at Versailles, it’s the perfect place for a leisurely stroll.
Photo #5 – The Reichstag
The final sight on our list has to be The Reichstag – a scene of so many important moments in history. Built in 1894, it was the scene of the declaration of the new Weimar Republic in 1918. On 27 February 1933 (under mysterious circumstances that still have yet to be explained), the Reichstag was set on fire, paving the way for the Nazi Regime to take hold.
After being destroyed in WW2, the Reichstag was rebuilt in a much more simplified form. Between 1994 and 1999, the Reichstag was redesigned and expanded with today’s glass dome by the British architect Sir Norman Foster while retaining its extensive, historical dimensions. The dome, which initially generated a lot of controversy, has since become one of the landmarks of Berlin. Since 1999, the German Bundestag has been convening in the Reichstag building.
So there we have it – five of the most sought-after photos from Germany’s capital city. If you’re planning your holiday, why not give Berlin a whirl?
English Mum’s holiday snaps: Ice’s family Eurostar giveaway!
So this is very exciting!! In the run up to the peak holiday season, Ice, a new and exciting loyalty scheme, has decided to give English Mum readers the chance to win a family Eurostar ticket to the destination of your choice!*
About Ice
Ice is a flexible and generous loyalty scheme that rewards shoppers for buying from companies carefully selected for their environmental credentials. Ice identifies sustainable products and services, which range across a variety of sectors such as food, fashion, beauty, and of course travel, presents them to customers in a one-stop shop (www.myice.com), and rewards customers generously with Ice points that can be redeemed against future purchases. **
Customers will get the same or cheapest deal available from the retailer for the particular product or service they are purchasing, and will also collect Ice points to spend or put towards, other products available on myice.com. What’s more, customers can collect up to 11 points for every £1 spent, making it all the worthwhile.
About the competition
To be in for a chance of winning, all you need to do is send me your fabbest holiday photo and email it to me at english[dot]towers[at]gmail[dot]com, telling me who you are and where the photo was taken. Entries must be received by midnight on the closing date, which is 8th June, so basically you’ve got the whole of half term to send me your perfect holiday picture!
If you’re a blogger, please link back to this post, and if you’re a tweeter, please use the hashtag #englishmumsholidaysnaps
Extra points will obviously be awarded if you can get food in your picture somewhere 
The small print:
*Eurostar is a brand partner of myIce.com and the family ticket comprises 2x Adult and 2x Child
tickets, up to the value of £400
** every Ice point collected is worth 1p
There is no cash alternative to the prize. The winner will be chosen at random after midnight, 8th June 2012.
My Florida diary, part 2: Clearwater, St Pete’s and segway madness!
Next stop on our whirlwind tour of Florida was Clearwater. Driving across the Frankland Bridge from Tampa, we were all struck dumb by the beautiful turquoise water, with the fabulous waterfront homes gleaming on the shores. Our first stop was Clearwater Marine Aquarium, home of ‘Winter’, the dolphin made famous by ‘Dolphin Tale’, the movie. The poor creature got caught in a crab line when she was just a tiny thing and was rescued by the CMA. Sadly they couldn’t save her tail but have helped her with a permanent home, physical therapy and a succession of prosthetic tails, kindly donated by a company that usually makes human prosthetics. At first sight, it’s a little saddening to see her bobbing around (she doesn’t wear the tails all the time), but the staff love her with a passion and give her the best life possible, and of course now she’s famous, everyone wants to come and visit:
After visiting Winter (and the miriad turtles, otters and other dolphins), we stopped in the utterly gorgeous St Petersburg (think white sand beaches, Riviera chic palm-lined streets and sun-drenched outdoor cafés) for lunch. The Cassis American Brasserie is something of a St Pete’s institution, with a famous bakery attached (apple tart TO DIE FOR) as well. We worked off the excesses of the previous night’s lycheetinis and karaoke (another day, I promise) by diving in to gorgeous fresh oysters, bloody marys and mahoosive burgers. Everything was delicious and the location, right on the sidewalk on Beach Drive, shaded by enormous umbrellas, was just fabulous:
Fully restored, we took a gentle sunny amble along Beach Drive to the Chihuly Collection where lovely director, Wayne Atherholt, showed us around these frankly stunning glass pieces. If you’re around St Pete’s you MUST visit. I promise you’ll stand awestruck in front of these phenomenal, complex glass sculptures:
Another quick drive took us to the amazing Dalí Museum. Our wonderfully eccentric and terrifically knowledgeable guide, Janice (complete with Dalí inspired shoe hat) steered us around hundreds of Dalí pieces, pointing out specific things in the paintings we would never have spotted, and explaining the thinking behind the paintings. Without a guide, you’ll still have a great time, but trust me when I say I learned more than I ever thought possible with Janice’s help. Don’t miss the beautiful gardens, cleverly named, of course, the ‘Avant Gardens’, with the enormous Dalíesque moustache and Wish Tree, where people have been writing their wishes on scraps of paper and tying them to the tree for years. By the way, if you want to add a wish to the tree, the museum will do it for you if you tweet your wish to #Daliwishtree.
We fell in love with Janice. In fact, so much that we couldn’t bear to leave her at the Dalí and persuaded her to join us (after a slight altercation between her car and a bollard – the bollard won) on our segway tour of St Pete. The segways are a little tricky to master, but with the help of the wonderful David Boston from St Pete’s guided segway tour company, Gyroglides, we were soon whizzing along in a happy troupe along St Pete’s pier, Janice merrily shouting explanations for her Dalí shoe hat as we glided past stunned passers by. Here I am looking utterly ridiculous on a segway:
And here’s Janice. In her multicoloured coat. On a segway. With her shoe hat on. Surreal (Dalí would surely have loved it):
After all that excitement, we were delighted to check into our evening accommodation, the delightful Sunset Vistas Beachfront Suites, located smack bang on the gorgeous Treasure Island beach, and chill on the balcony overlooking the ocean, sipping a cold glass of champagne generously left in our fridge (the condos are huge and really well equipped with washing machines, huge kitchens and two large bedrooms and two bathrooms as well as a sofa bed (three bed apartments are also available).
The condos are a fab idea if you want to go to Florida and have a bit more freedom. Self catering is a breeze with a café on site plus a huge supermarket within half a mile and plenty of lovely restaurants within easy walking distance (I highly recommend Sloppy Joe’s – order the firecracker shrimp – you won’t be disappointed!). If you’re staying a little longer in the area, George Hoch, the General Manager, recommends a trip to John’s Pass village, a lovely historical fishing village with loads of things to do and some fabulous seafood.
Here’s the inside of our condo:
And here’s the view from the balcony. With my cankles:
For more information, visit the St Petersburg/Clearwater Facebook page, or the Visit Florida Facebook page.
I travelled to Florida with Visit Florida and Virgin Holidays. If you’d like to recreate my trip, here’s some information about a very similar seven nights in Orlando from £949.
Seven nights in Orlando with Virgin Holidays, including scheduled flights with Virgin Atlantic from London Gatwick or Manchester direct to Orlando, two nights accommodation at the 5V Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, two nights accommodation at the 3V+ Sunset Vista Beachfront Suites, two nights at the 5V Longboat Key Club & Resort and one night at the 5V Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotel, all on a room only basis with car hire included starts from £949. Prices are per person based on two adults travelling and sharing a standard room, price includes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. Prices are based on departures 12 – 14 Nov 2012.
Start your holiday before you’ve even taken off in the v-room at Gatwick Airport or Manchester Airport; Adults £20, Kids £12
Virgin Holidays is a member of ABTA and is ATOL protected
To book: www.virginholidays.co.uk , 0844 557 3859 or visit one of our 90 stores located in Debenhams and House of Fraser stores nationwide.
My Florida diary, part 1: Orlando and Universal Studios including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
I have so much to tell you about our trip. This means that it’s probably best to break it into several sections to prevent you falling asleep at your laptop and waking up with little keyboard-shaped indentations in your forehead.
First stop, then, was the fabulous Virgin V Room at London Gatwick Airport. I met up with a couple of my fellow travellers, Kash from Budget Traveller and Victoria, otherwise known as Pommie Travels, plus Claire, our lovely and long-suffering PR. We started as we meant to go on with enormous plates of eggs benedict and a refreshing 9am cocktail (what? we were on holiday):
A very comfortable flight and a very sweaty queue through US immigration later and we were reunited with Laura, and met Lily from Visit Florida, our guide for the weeks’ adventures.
First stop was the Hilton Bonnet Creek. The place is enormous (1000 rooms!) and sits next to its twin, the equally fabulous Waldorf Astoria. Here’s my room, already becoming sullied by the contents of my somewhat overstuffed suitcase. The bathroom had a gorgeous double width/wetroom shower thingy (a thing of beauty) and possibly the biggest, most comfy bed ever:
We ate in the beautiful La Luce restaurant, created by the very famous Napa Valley chef, Donna Scala, where I nearly died and went to heaven sampling the crispest, most delicious frito misto with a crunchy, sweet, beet salad (sigh):
There was also a butterscotch dessert so gorgeous and so heavenly that there was total silence around the table apart from the odd contented sigh. The dessert is so amazing it even has its own Facebook page (I kid you not):
The next day, we were very excitedly heading out to Universal Studios. The studios are split into three main areas: the City Walk, which is an amazing strip of all sorts of bars, shops and restaurants before you get to the main entrances, then the Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Our absolute faves were:
The Incredible Hulk Coaster – just amazing (and a bit scary)
The Jurassic Park River Adventure – fab dinosaurs and whooshy raft action – be warned, you get wet!
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
The Dragon Challenge – a feet-dangling-free terror ride upon a dualling dragon
Butter beer – taste it and immediately fall in love (oh, that frothy topping…)
Top tip: ask the guard of the Hogwart’s Express where he’s from!
Seuss Landing
If you’re a fan of Dr Seuss you’ll love this whole area – it’s like being dropped into the set of The Cat in the Hat
And at Universal Studios:
We spent far too long at the Islands of Adventure to properly check out everything at Universal, but don’t miss:
The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit – my neck STILL hurts (this is my own fault – I didn’t want to take my hair clip out so rode the entire vertical-up and vertical-down section of this terrifying ride craning my neck away from my headrest. What a dunce.)
Universal’s Superstar Parade: check out the parade, if only for Spongebob and the dancing Minions from Despicable Me. Hilarious and gorgeous.
Next up is beautiful St Petersburg, the bonkers Dali Museum and some unseemly horsing about on segways. Stay tuned, viewers!
I travelled to Florida with Visit Florida and Virgin Holidays. If you’d like to recreate my trip, here’s some information about a very similar seven nights in Orlando from £949
Seven nights in Orlando with Virgin Holidays, including scheduled flights with Virgin Atlantic from London Gatwick or Manchester direct to Orlando, two nights accommodation at the 5V Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, two nights accommodation at the 3V+ Sunset Vista Beachfront Suites, two nights at the 5V Longboat Key Club & Resort and one night at the 5V Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotel, all on a room only basis with car hire included starts from £949. Prices are per person based on two adults travelling and sharing a standard room, price includes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. Prices are based on departures 12 – 14 Nov 2012.
Start your holiday before you’ve even taken off in the v-room at Gatwick Airport or Manchester Airport; Adults £20, Kids £12
Virgin Holidays is a member of ABTA and is ATOL protected
To book: www.virginholidays.co.uk , 0844 557 3859 or visit one of our 90 stores located in Debenhams and House of Fraser stores nationwide.
Back from Tenerife!
I have SO much to tell you that I just don’t know where to start. Undaunted by his first ever ‘alone in the house’ time, the Mad Professor actually managed to keep the place tidier than I ever do (and not burn it down OR kill any of my baby plants) so I’m feeling rather a lot of parental pride. The Dude spent the week with his Grandma and threw up the whole time, still Grandma handled it like a pro (she’s used to vomit – she’s got three kids and seven grandchildren after all).
So until I can download photos, whilst simultaneously loading the washing machine, unpacking my suitcase, paying bills and opening mail, I shall leave you with a few photos of the highlights of my trip.
More soon.. promise.
Firstly, here’s my cabin at the Yotel in Gatwick, where they very kindly put me up before my trip (thanks guys!). I had a wonderful sleep in my space age pod, complete with bed (with VERY nice bedlinen) that moves back to give you more room, desk, flat screen TV, WiFi and amazing wet-room shower and loo. I slept like a baby and the pillows were lush. This is my second stay and I love it just as much. Brilliant way to catch an early flight – just drive there the night before and stay at the Yotel. Sorted! For more info, check out Yotel.com.
And here’s just a glimpse of what turned out to be one of the most amazing, unforgettable (and deafening) nights of my life: the ‘firework wars’ in the town of Los Realejos. More of this later. As you can see we were on someone’s roof watching the display. Mind boggling.
And finally a glimpse of the gardens at the Hotel Botanico, possibly one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever stayed in. Pure luxury (and again, more of this later):
Until then, I’m off for some hard labour. Serves me right, really…
Great British Weekends
What do you do at the weekends? After our lie in (that bit’s non-negotiable – I usually have to start crashing about or hoovering at about 11am or they’d sleep all day), we generally head out. We’re big on brunch and have tried most of the establishments in the area. Other than that, the Death Wish Dude is often at a skate park, near or far, the Mad Professor likes to socialise, or there’s cricket practice, chauffeur duty from various parties, a bit of baking for me… and then the large glass of wine and some trash TV to finish it all off.
Pretty boring, I suppose, but then apparently as a nation, Brits are pretty boring, weekend-wise.
Recent research has shown that over half of us rate our weekends as ‘average’ and, more shockingly, 18% say that their weekends are, and I quote, ‘boring’.
Going through this research has been a revelation. You’d think we’d love our weekends: an opportunity to spend time with our family, have a lie in, go out t eat… visit a local beauty spot, maybe? But no, apparently we’re a nation of boring old moaners who spend their weekends at home.
Shockingly, even though 91% of us said that we’d be prepared to use our cars for the weekend, the average we’d be prepared to travel is just 58 miles. 58 miles? That wouldn’t even get me to the seaside!
And even those who enjoyed their weekends didn’t get up to very much, the top weekend activity being, well, staying in.
Happily, the chaps at Allianz have decided that this has got to change, and have launched Great British Weekends, instilling us all with a fresh sense of adventure. And who can blame them, with this, the year of the Olympics AND the Jubilee (and those extra Bank Holidays), we should be out and about, enjoying our beautiful country – especially now summer is around the corner.
First off there’s the Allianz Your Cover Find & Drive Smartphone app which helps locate essential services when on the move, plus Allianz Your Cover Insurance is running a competition for two lucky Twitter followers to win an annual family National Trust membership. Just follow them @YourCoverUK to enter and use #GBweekend to find out more.
So what’s stopping you? Join the Allianz Your Cover Insurance Great British Weekends campaign by joining their Facebook page and get more out of your weekends!
To find more out about Allianz Your Cover Insurance visit www.yourcoverinsurance.co.uk
Video of our fabulous weekend at Disneyland Paris 20th birthday celebrations
So I’ve already told you about our marvellous trip to Disneyland Paris. I think one of the best things about it was spending a whole weekend just with one of my children (the other was rather happy to have some alone time with his Xbox AND without his little brother, don’t worry). The Death Wish Dude and I had an absolutely blast and really enjoyed each others’ company. And let’s face it, when they’re 14, the opportunities for ‘quality time’ are few and far between. We whizzed on rollercoasters, whooshed on rockets, oohed and ahhed at amazing sound and light shows and got all competitive zapping in Buzz’s Laser Blast, but more importantly we laughed. And laughed.
Here’s a gorgeous video that the lovely chaps at Disney made for us. I’m not ashamed to say that I cried buckets!
First Choice’s all inclusive calculator – it all adds up y’know!
So what sort of holiday do you yearn for? We were recently debating this as we’re planning on taking a trip with the Disreputable One and his good lady later on this year. All was well until the subject of board came up: ‘of course, we’ll be going half board’, said my Dad.
‘Oh’, I said, ‘only we really like going all inclusive’.
My Dad was a bit surprised as, being a food lover, he thought I’d be happier to get out and about and try different places for dinner. The thing is, though, as I explained, when taking a beach break with kids, it’s easier to go all inclusive, given the constant stream of requests for cokes, ice creams, snacks and more cokes. It’s so much easier to budget when you know everything’s paid for in advance.
It’s also rather nice for them to have the independence to wander off and get their own snacks and drinks rather than constantly having to ask. On our recent trip to Mexico, the Mad Professor would alight from his sunbed, have a stretch and then say, rather magnanimously, ‘right, it’s my round then’.
And yes, I am a food lover, and on different holidays we’d maybe choose B&B or self catering, then eat out – especially with city breaks – but on a good old ‘slob out on the beach’ holiday, the last thing I need is to be constantly badgered for my purse.
Interestingly, then, First Choice, the holiday company who have recently changed all their holidays to all inclusive only, have come up with a new ‘calculator’ tool so customers can measure the cost implications of self-catering versus all inclusive.
First Choice say that recent research has shown that choosing an all inclusive holiday can save a family of four £500 compared to going self catering over a week’s holiday.
If you want to have a go at First Choice’s new all inclusive calculator, click on http://blog.firstchoice.co.uk/all-inclusive-calculator/ - be warned, you have to let it do its bit before you can enter your own information. It’s an interesting guide, though, and will even let you enter how many fizzy drinks or meals you think you’d normally use on your hols.
It’s a clever app and pretty thought provoking. Now, whose round is it?
The Thomson and First Choice blogger lunch
Over half term, the Death Wish Child and I popped to the Rainforest Café in London to meet up with the lovely team from Thomson and First Choice for their family blogger event. They’ve got some fab stuff going on at the moment, what with First Choice’s move to all inclusive from summer 2012, and loads of new family initiatives. Here’s the stuff that took our fancy:
Thomson also have a range of family holidays (all decent-rated 4 and 5T) with kids’ clubs, interconnecting rooms and lots of family-friendly entertainment. The 5T Atlantica Aegean Blue in Rhodes caught our eye, with its sparkly new waterpark, lovely restaurant with an open-air section so you can dine under the stars and a gorgeous taverna right on the beach. It also offers deluxe rooms which are in smaller buildings on the ground floor.
More info:
Thomson offers seven night family holidays to Rhodes staying at the Thomson Families 4T Atlantica Aegean Blue, on an all inclusive basis, from £1009 per person with the first child from £580 and second child from £730. Price is based on two adults and two children sharing, and includes flights departing from London Gatwick airport on 02 June 2012 and transfers. To find out more about this holiday or to book visit your local Thomson travel shop,Thomson.co.uk or call 0871 230 2555.
Ooh. A new Wet’n'Wild Kids’ Park at Universal
Interesting news reached the English Mum Newsdesk (okay, the kitchen worktop, but just use your imagination, okay?) this week. Turns out that Universal are opening a mahoosive big new attraction this summer.
Contained within the site of their huge Wet’n'Wild Florida waterpark (where you can experience every sort of water-based ride known to man), the new Kids’ Park will cover more than an acre and feature all sorts of fun including slides (17 of them), water cannons, jets and all manner of water-based fun. They’re paying attention to the surrounding landscaping too (think ‘lush and tropical’ (perfect for the parents to hang out while the little ones go and get wet) and the entire sandcastle-themed area will have one separate entrance, meaning it’s nice and safe and an easy way of keeping track of everyone too.
Tickets for Wet ‘n Wild cost from £27 for adults and £22 for children at Attraction Tickets Direct (valid for up to 14 consecutive days) or you can visit all of the Universal Orlando packs with a ‘ 3-Park Bonus Ticket’ costing from £113 per adult which covers entrance to Universal Studios, Wet ‘n Wild, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal CityWalk.
Where should I go on holiday? Year round climates.
I think I’m quite annoying. Alright, I KNOW I’m quite annoying. I’m one of those ‘yay, it’s January! Let’s make plans!’ type people. And while the rest of the family (and possibly the world) are mired in depression about putting on weight or going back to work, I’ve got a fresh notebook, a new pen and am busy planning where I want to go on holiday this year (Boston, France, Cornwall and possibly back to Goa, if you must know. Oh and maybe Greece? Ooh and Italy? Sicily! Oh I can’t decide.)
Thomson have come up with this nifty little infographic (which I’ve stolen for you – I’m good like that), where you choose the month you want to travel, how hot you want it to be, and then it’ll show you the cities that match your requirements. Magic.
Oh and if you book anything, I’m happy to come along as a consultant, or something. You’re welcome!
Click image to open interactive version (via Thomson Holidays).
2012 will be all about snapshots. And not about stuff.
So here’s a question for you: what did you get for Christmas last year? Go on, think hard. And your birthday? Hmm, thought not. I can’t remember either. And that’s not to belittle my beloved and family, who obviously shopped mindfully and thoughtfully and bought me gifts they knew I’d love. I just honestly can’t remember.
Now I’ll ask you another question: where did you GO last year? What did you experience? What memory makes your heart soar? Yup, now I bet you can remember. Me? I stood on the observation deck of the world’s tallest building in Dubai. I had lunch with Jimmy Doherty, walked in the footsteps of the Mayans at Chichen Itza and shared amazing tapas and cocktails in a bar in London with some of my closest, dearest friends. Oh, and I stood on the bow of a beautiful cruise ship as it docked in the Bahamas, gasped as the Red Arrows whooshed over my head at Goodwood and got my apron on at Leith’s (among other things).
So, beginning to see my point? We (and I’m one of the biggest culprits here) are all about stuff: buying stuff to wear, buying stuff for our homes, a new handbag here, a new face cream there. I wonder how much money I spent on STUFF last year. Actually, it’s probably best that I don’t wonder. I’d be horrified.
What will my teenagers remember when they look back on their ever-decreasing childhood years? Will it be the HMV vouchers and the trainers? Maybe. But I’m also hoping it will be the amazing adventures that we’ve shared: watching pelicans fishing on the Riviera Maya, playing Xbox games with their creators in Cologne and whizzing about a skate park under the Westway flyover.
So this year (and this is my resolution, if I dare call it that) will be all about experiences. And not about stuff. I will step away from the Buy It Now button and stash my cash for that city break… that coveted wander around Borough Market… maybe even a holiday. All those memories, ready and waiting to be made. And cherished. Snapshots of a life lived well, ready to be brought out on a gloomy November day, and many November days to come, and replayed for my enjoyment.
So here’s wishing you a very happy New Year. May you create many new snapshots for your own collection x
Food glorious food: stuffing my face on the Disney Dream
So I keep meaning to tell you about part two of our journey. It seems such a long time ago now. But back then…
After a mahoosive party to celebrate sailing away, we settled into an endless round of eating, drinking and sunbathing (what? It was research). We slept like babies and awoke to a beautiful pink sunrise in Nassau. An hour later we were gliding into the dock:
Our day was spent exploring the beautiful resort of Atlantis, where we wiggled our toes in the sand, and swam in the clear, turquoise water:
If I was to go back, though, I’d spend the day exploring Nassau, which looked amazing (and that’s nothing to do with the fabulous shops we caught a tantalising glimpse of *cough*).
Back on the ship, exhausted after all that exertion, we came back just in time for cocktails before dinner.
The Disney Dream has some amazing restaurants. The adults-only Palo was, I have to say, my hands down favourite. Our dinner there was spectacular. But first, being girls, obviously we had to check out the bathrooms. We weren’t disappointed – gold sinks!:
The food was as spectacular as the bathrooms (not often you get to write that in a sentence), and we started with a selection of yummy nibbles: olives, little pizzas and charcuterie, before moving on to a delectable starter (I chose a trio of crispy calamari, prawns and portobello mushrooms (apologies for the photos – always the way with restaurant photography):
Moving on, my main course was a delectable tuna steak (it looks really pink in the photo, but it was cooked to perfection):
… and this was all rounded off with possibly the best chocolate soufflé I’ve ever tasted:
To say we were completely full was the understatement of the century and we waddled back to our staterooms before collapsing in a big heap.
The next day, we docked at Disney’s own private island, Castaway Cay. Sadly the weather wasn’t on our side and it was a bit grey and drizzly (but still lovely and warm). Here’s me in front of the ship in dock at Castaway Cay:
Still, we had a wonderful day – we did a bit of snorkelling, fed the stingrays (an amazing experience), indulged in a delicious barbecue (ribs to die for) and bobbed in the balmy bathwater-temperature water, collecting shells and having a good cackle.
That evening it was time for a pirate party. There was a fabulous firework display (check out Liz’s video here) and plenty of silly pirate antics. Arrrrrrrr.
TIP: Make sure you’re up on decks 11 and 12 for the firework display – you can’t watch the show from your cabin for safety reasons (being smashed in the face by a stray firework would be very Disney now would it).
My favourite, favourite thing of all though (if I was absolutely forced to pick one) would be the champagne brunch at Palo. We met Sarah there for a final blowout and my, was it worth it. The brunch is not only a mahoosive buffet of everything you can possibly imagine, sweet and savoury…
…but they also serve fantastic Mimosas and gorgeous eggs benedict. As we sat, replete and burping, feeling a bit like Mr Creosote, the waiter was determined to bring us something else. I actually worried about exploding.
Oh wait, no, my favouritest thing of all was the ‘Pink’ Champagne bar, where the decor is to die for and they serve scrummy pink champagne with a panacotta chaser…
Oh, I can’t decide.
This was actually our final day and we couldn’t believe it had gone so quickly. Saying goodbye was sad, but we had one more surprise to come. We were met at Port Canaveral by our very own VIP guide and town car, to have a private tour of any of the Walt Disney World parks we wanted to go. More of this very soon!
Big huge hugs and thanks go to the amazing team at Disney Destinations. Mwah xxx
11-night Caribbean Stay, Cruise and Stay from £999
Virgin Holidays Cruises offers seven nights at Rosen Inn Orlando on a room only basis, before joining the Disney Dream for four nights from Port Canaveral, Nassau, Castaway Cay and back to Port Canaveral. Prices are per person based on two adults travelling and sharing an inside cabin on a full-board basis and includes Virgin Atlantic flights from London Gatwick and car hire. Based on departure date 15 Jan 2012. Offer is subject to availability andincludes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change.
Start your holiday before you’ve even taken off in the v-room at Gatwick Airport and Manchester Airport…adults £20, kids £12.
To book: Visit www.virginholidayscruises.co.uk, call 0844 573 4398 or visit one of our 70 stores located in Debenhams and House of Fraser stores nationwide.
If you want to see all the pictures from our trip, check out my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/englishmumdotcom
Back from our Disney Dream
I am home. Jetlagged, knackered and with very attractive puffy ankles. Luckily, English Dad has coped magnificently while I was away (a bit too far magnificently if you ask me) and I came back to an immaculate house complete with fresh flowers and an empty washing basket. I think I’ll leave him more often.
And what an amazing time. I’ve got so much to show and tell. But while I gather my thoughts and get rid of my old lady ankles I’ll leave you with this… our view as we sailed in to Nassau in the Bahamas:
and here’s me by the ship at Disney’s own island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay:
The Gatwick Passenger Panel and a Disney Dream come true!
Okay before I start writing, I want everyone to step away from anything sharp or heavy. If you’re going to throw things, make it soft, mkay?
I’m off on an amazing journey – a real dream trip – on Saturday I’ll be heading to Gatwick with my lovely friend and fellow blogger Liz.
This is quite timely as I’ve just received some really good news – I’ve been appointed one of a new panel of ‘independent experts’ *cough* by Gatwick Airport and I’m mega excited!
The new Gatwick Passenger Panel has been created to help London Gatwick really look at the passenger travel experience, from lots of different perspectives. For example, a business traveller will have different needs and expectations from that of a family travelling together. We’ll be discussing our different views and experiences to give a really honest and unbiased picture of airport life. Hopefully, learning about how different people travel – from getting there, through the airport itself and finally off on their journey, will enable Gatwick – and other UK airports – to tackle any problems and devise suitable solutions to make travelling a better experience for everyone. I’m in some really rather fabulous company too – one of my fellow panel members is the legendary John Carter from Wish You Were Here – I can’t wait to meet him.
I’m so excited to be involved and will obviously keep you up to date with developments.
So onward from Gatwick, then, we’re heading to Orlando and (after a quick stop at Walt Disney World – and those fabulous Illuminations), we’re straight on to Port Canaveral where we’ll be boarding Disney’s newest cruise ship, the Disney Dream for a cruise to the Bahamas, with a stop at Disney’s own island, Castaway Cay. Apparently the food on board is To Die For. Squee!
Obviously I’ll be working, so I won’t be enjoying myself at all… and I’ll see you in a week’s time with, of course, lots of photos.
Until then, be good xx
The Sensatori Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico, part 2: face stuffing
So you know me and food. I just can’t help myself. I am well known, amongst friends, for slapping their hands away from their food until I have taken an adequate picture. My family are used to this quirk and sit expectantly, knife and fork in hand, while I finish framing their plate. They’re well trained, bless ‘em.
So the food then. Oh the food. The fooooooood. On the resort, there were loads of restaurants: a basic all-day buffet of absolutely everything, a Mexican, a Caribbean, an Italian, a tapas, a posh, Heston-style snail porridge affair… add in a fabulous beach-side barbecue and 24 hour gourmet room service and you can imagine I didn’t stop eating from sun up to sun down every day. Off we go on our culinary tour, then. Close your eyes… (oh, but open them when you need to look at the pictures, natch):
Breakfast
There is something about an an enormous buffet that brings out my inner binge-eater. The main restaurant hosts a breakfast selection that is, quite simply, beyond my wildest dreams. Yes, you can have crispy bacon, sausage and egg if you want (there is a man who will do your eggs any way you like – I recommend an omelette with ham, chilli, cheese and mushrooms but that’s for another day), you can also have pastries, fruits, yoghurts, that weird European thing of having cheese and cured meats… any of fifty different types of breads, pastries and doughnutty things, hell there’s even a chocolate fountain, but you can also have proper Mexican breakfast. And just for you (purely for interesting copy, you understand), I throw myself headfirst into everything I can find:
Here, clockwise from left, you will find: sweet beans (kind of like baked beans, but home made, a tad smoky and much, much nicer), spinach with cream, scrambled eggs with green chilli, refried beans and tortillas with onion cooked in tomato and chilli sauce with a cheesy topping. Da brevren obviously question the sanity of eating spinach for breakfast, but hey, when in Rome I say.
Oh wait, and then after I’ve been to Rome, I still have a teeny hole, so I go to the pancake man, who makes me lovely pancakes. He practically forces me… honest… oh and then I have to walk past a man making those lovely sugary churro things, so I have to try one (it’s okay, I grab some fruit too, which cancels out all the calories)…
… and then I discover that those churro things are really nice, and I have to go back and try a few more. Just for research purposes, obviously…
After our mammoth breakfast, we waddle poolside, and remain there, replete and burping, until our breakfast has gone down enough for us to bob gently to the swim up bar for a morning margarita (what? we’re on holiday). After that, we have another margarita, or maybe a daiquiri, and decide where we’re going to have lunch.
Lunch
The Mexican restaurant is a big favourite. The Tequila mussels are flippin’ awesome, as are the quesadillas made with chicken, Manchego cheese, enormous prawns and mushrooms. This little beauty is a starter of spicy chicken tostadas: a mixture of shredded spicy chicken layered with blue corn tortillas and refried beans (the blue is a reduction of Blue Curacao, which contrasts superbly with the tongue-sizzling spicy chicken).
And this is grouper in a traditional achiote spicy rub with plantain, served on top of a lovely fragrant coriander mash:
The enchiladas are also a favourite: the tender chicken is flavoured with the same achiote spices, and there is cheese and a delicious spicy red tomato sauce… sour cream… green onions… (oopsy, drooled a little there):
The Caribbean restaurant is also beautiful. It has huge conch shell lights hanging from the ceilings that give the whole place a magical glow (this is the view from below):
…and some very worried-looking lobsters in a huge tank (shifty glances are thrown in their direction whilst ordering: ‘I’ll have the…erm… the lob… the… erm….’):
Dinner
It’s a toss-up between the tequila mussels again, or a return visit to the Caribbean restaurant… (don’t look at the lobsters!!) or wait, there’s the yummy tortillas in the Spoon restaurant too… decisions, decisions…
And don’t get me started on the desserts… peanut tart with white chocolate and Mezcal (a kind of agave tequila)…cakes… gateaux… Take your pick:
A word of warning, though. Do not, I repeat DO NOT eat the chillies that garnish several of the dishes. Tentatively nibble an edge and your mouth will burn with the fire of a thousand suns until at least the next day, regardless of how many frozen lime margaritas you devour.
A quick bath, then…
And it’s off to the mojito bar…
… where you can choose from over 30 different varieties. But don’t worry, if you drink too many, there are lots of beds handily positioned right outside the door.
So anyone fancy a trip to the jungle, then?
Oh, and don’t forget it’s Shrove Tuesday tomorrow! You can find my easy pancake recipe at Readyforten.com
Our amazing trip to Thomson’s Sensatori Resort Mexico, and packing for holidays, with a little help from The Online Stylist
So it’s just one more sleep until we jet off for our fabulous holiday in Mexico!
It’s an amazing opportunity – we’re going to check out Thomson’s 5T Sensatori Resort Mexico (it’s a funny link – scroll down). Located on Bahia Petempich beach, the spa hotel and resort is Thomson’s flagship Sensatori property in a long haul destination. There are six restaurants in the property, and I’m planning on visiting each of them at least once – especially the Mexican restaurant… well, when in Rome, eh?
I’m not just visiting for the luxury though, oh no… The Sensatori Resort Mexico has achieved ABTA’s coveted Travelife Gold standard. The businesses with this award ‘display a very high commitment to sustainability. They encourage others to get involved, constantly seek new opportunities for improvement, and actively communicate their progress to others’ and I’m looking forward to seeing this sustainable approach to hospitality in action.
While we’re there, we’re going to have the most amazing experience: a visit to the villagers of Chumpon to see first hand how their new ‘jungle jams’ project is getting on.
Thomson recently helped this co-operative of Mayan women to set up their own jam-making business. They supply local hotels and tourism businesses and the best thing is that they can earn an income without moving away from their village.
I promise I’ll take tons of photos (and maybe even a vlog *cough*) so you can hear all about our big adventure.
But wait – what to wear to such a fabulous location? Being somewhat fashionably-challenged, I’m very lucky to have a most gorgeous and stylish friend in the form of The Online Stylist, and – excitement! – she’s written a blog post just for me to give me lots of advice for my trip:
‘Dear Wardrobe Mistress’ - The Online Stylist
It’s a hand luggage only affair – we’re only going for seven days and we’ve got to fly from Dublin to Gatwick to catch our flight. This has caused a bit of head scratching, and sadly the inflatable dolphin has had to go back in the cupboard, but I think I’m there. Plus, of course, travelling light isn’t just handy for avoiding the dreaded luggage carousel, if a third of holiday makers left that extra 25% of unused luggage at home it would save 7,537 tonnes* of carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere each year. This equates to taking a staggering 2,216 cars family cars off the road each year.**
Here’s my guide to packing light for a week away, with fantastic suggestions by the Online Stylist:
Clothes:
Daytime: hopefully I’ll be on the beach, so I’m taking two bikinis (one drying, one to wear – see below), a couple of cover ups (check out the gorgous kaftans in the Online Stylist article), vest tops, t-shirts (I’ve just been told that the lovely chaps at EcoCreeper are going to send me some of their fabulous 100% organic t-shirts), and a pair of linen shorts. I’d usually take a denim skirt, but weight is an issue (the bag, not me. Cheeky).
Shoes:
Don’t go mad. I don’t wear heels, as I look like a drunken giraffe when I do (it’s something about the leg to body ratio – don’t ask), but will be taking a pair of sparkly sandals to do me for evenings. Add my flip flops (below) for the daytime, some Converse trainers for travelling and for our trip and I’m done.
Beachwear:
The best people to talk to about the world of swimmers are the lovelies at Figleaves. They always know what’s going on, and I grilled gorgeous Hayley to find out what’s going to be big this summer:
‘In terms of this season, green is a massive beach trend – across all shades lime to grass!’ So these Havaianas from Office should be just perfect:
Hayley mentioned that ‘floral prints were also big news on the Miami swimwear catwalk’, which is good as I have a flowery bikini from Next, and that ‘the nautical theme is always a good bet’, which is also a bonus because it just so happens that I already own Monsoon’s ‘Stella’ stripy tankini top.
I’ve got plain blue bikini bottoms, but they do the complete set too.
Lastly, ‘…the fashion catwalks were big on bright colours, clashing bold shades’, which is fantastic if you want to mix and match a little.
Evening:
dresses are the order of the day – nice and light to pack, easy to wear and you can choose what suits you, from a cover-all maxi dress to a little strappy cotton number. I got this beauty from Asos.com (free delivery, even to Ireland. Magic).
I also got a gorgeous stretch jersey wrap from Zara, which I shall be using as an extra layer on the plane and a quick cover-up on the beach, plus I’ve got a cardi in case it’s nippy. I’m going to do as I’m told and wear lightweight trousers for travelling and also for our trip into the jungle. Sadly, I haven’t got the bottom (or the budget) for Houlihans, so I got some linen ones from Vero Moda instead. I hope the Stylish One approves.
And so to packing. Here’s my top tips:
Roll don’t fold – everything’s going to get squished, but if you roll a couple of items together, it minimises creasing. Hang it all up in a steamy bathroom when you get there and it’ll soon uncrease.
Stuff all the little edges with your underwear (keep it neutral) and add a sun hat.
Stick your shoes in plastic bags to stop them making your clothes dirty, and pack them next to the wheels at the bottom (if you’ve got wheels).
Electrical items:
Don’t forget the appropriate travel adaptor, and all your chargers – in our case, that’s about 20 with all the phones, iPods, PSPs, laptops, etc…
Skip the straighteners. In fact, skip the hairdryer. Most hotels provide them and if there’s not one in the room, you’re bound to be able to borrow one at reception. Pack some hair clips and be creative!
Toiletries:
Remember that everything in your hand luggage has got to be under 100ml.
Make use of multi-use items. My favourite is Dr Bronner’s liquid soap, which can be used for everything from shampoo and shower gel to washing your smalls. You can even use it as toothpaste (the minty version is obviously best for this!). They do a travel size of 59ml too.
Decant! It’s always cheaper to buy bigger sizes, so buy travel bottles (check out www.icklebockles.co.uk) and decant into 100ml measures.
Don’t take the mini antiperspirant sprays, they’re a waste of money and don’t last the week. I like the solid antiperspirant sticks, but if you prefer a roll on, take one of those.
Pack wet wipes. They’re great for freshening up when travelling, and taking make-up off when you get there too.
Before you fly, split your make up and toiletries into a couple of different clear bags. Remember each bag can’t be more than 20 x 20cm and must seal at the top.
I’ve been using Marks and Spencer clear toiletry bags with no problems for several flights, but in Cologne they made me throw them away and use plain ziplock bags, which was annoying.
Towels:
The decision on whether or not to take a towel will depend upon where you’re headed. I got a fabulous thin hammam wrap/towel from The White Company that doesn’t take up much room but does the job.
Suncream:
I’m sure you can buy 100ml suncreams and after sun lotions, but honestly, if you’re headed to the beach, you know you’re going to need loads more than that – at least 1 bottle per person per week, in fact – so I’m going to buy them at the airport – that way I can buy decent sizes. My friend, Poppy’s Mum told me recently that she buys ALL her toiletries when she gets to the resort.
Add your camera, sunglasses, a bit of jewellery, a bag for the beach and a small first-aid kit (this will depend on the age of your travellers – I got a little ready-made one from Boots and just top it up when necessary) and you’re done!
My little luxury is a gorgeous travel candle to make the room smell nice (I adore the Jo Malone shop at Dublin airport – I wish I could live there).
So that’s me, then. I am packed, waxed and ready. I’ll see you very soon xx
*Based on 1/3 of Thomson’s airline, Thomson Airways passengers packing 25% less luggage. Fuel and carbon calculations based on popular mid haul route flying 223,724 hours.
**Source:http://communicationcentre.thomson.co.uk/2010/07/21/packing-tips/
