Archive for category: Holiday bucket list

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My family holiday wishlist for summer 2016

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So the start of this week was ‘blue Monday’ apparently - the most depressing day of the year. If you follow me on Instagram you’ll see my post about how I keep happy, basically by always having something to look forward to. Yes, I know I go away a lot so this is quite easy, but often, and especially when I don’t have a trip planned, it can be something as simple as having a page in my notebook where I jot down ideas for our lovely new en-suite (when we can finally afford it), or planning a family night out, or a drink with a girlfriend pencilled in the diary. As long as there’s something lovely to look forward to, or something that needs planning, I’m a happy girl.

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Scenic Eclipse: the world’s first discovery yacht

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I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for Scenic. After enjoying a lovely trip on the brand new Scenic Jasper (you can read my Cruise International article about it here) last year, I was really impressed by their impeccable service, gorgeous accommodation and all round feeling of laid-back luxury. I was delighted and excited, then, to be invited to The Ivy on Friday for a top secret announcement (I’ve had to keep quiet until now - can you imagine how difficult it’s been?!) and you won’t believe what I’ve got to tell you.

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It’s beginning to look a lot like… Grinchmas!

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I am SO busy at the moment it’s ridiculous. I’ve taken on a huge project with a really short deadline, but I’m absolutely loving it, although everything else has completely gone out the window: the laundry pile is overflowing from the basket, and don’t get me started on the ironing. No Christmas cards have been written, very few pressies have been purchased, and to add insult to injury, Charlie is learning to drive, so I’m living in a permanent state of ‘OMG I’m so busy!’ mixed with ‘oh god, he wants to go driving again - my poor nerves’. My Dad is also in hospital having had a hip replacement. So… yes, I’m feeling lucky and stressy and busy busy busy! One thing I really must do, though, is tell you about Grinchmas and my AMAZING trip to Orlando last week to visit Universal Orlando Resort and experience their magical 2015 Holidays Celebration.

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Discovering Barbados: Crop Over 2015

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Crop Over really is the highlight of the calendar in Barbados. The festival, which takes place in August, can trace its origins back to the 1700s, when workers in Barbados celebrated the end of the sugar cane harvest. Sadly, as the sugar cane industry slowed in Barbados, the Crop Over festival faded out and in the 1940s it stopped being celebrated altogether. Luckily for us, the festival was reintroduced in the early 70s and now is one of the most colourful and exciting celebrations in Caribbean culture. It’s a wonderful time to visit Barbados as there are loads of things to see and do and there’s a real, crackling energy to the island.

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Discovering Barbados: an island safari

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So last time, I told you all about our hotel, the lovely Sea Breeze Beach Hotel in Oistins, and recommended a few fun things to see and do while you’re there.

Another thing we really wanted to do while in Barbados was explore the rest of the island away from Christchurch, where we were based. Barbados covers about 166 square miles and one of the best (and most fun) ways to do see it is to jump on a jeep and experience an island safari. Here’s how we got on!

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Discovering Barbados, and the Sea Breeze Beach Hotel

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So I’m finally catching up with all my travel notes and can’t wait to tell you about my TRIP OF A LIFETIME, visiting Barbados to get involved in Crop Over festival. The festival celebrates the end of the sugar cane harvest, and it’s a fabulous time to be in Barbados, with parties, dancing, incredible costumes and lots and lots of rum punch, but more of this later! Here’s the first part of my visit to Barbados - a little about our lovely hotel, and a few recommendations of things to see and do. Ready, steady….

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Our table at La Bodega, Seaside Gran Canaria

The Seaside Palm Beach Hotel Gran Canaria - dining

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A little while ago I wrote about our family holiday at the gorgeous Seaside Palm Beach Hotel in Gran Canaria. I’ve saved the best until last of course, with a whole post dedicated to food, glorious food! The hotel prides itself on providing its guests with a really 5* experience, and nowhere is this more apparent than with the dining choices.

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Discovering Picardy

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My travel bucket list is huge, and I’m always adding to it. I love dreaming and plotting, planning my next adventure - it’s really important to me to have something to look forward to. One of the regions I’ve just added to the list is Picardy in northern France. If you’re not familiar with the area, you’re not alone, but the more research I’ve done into this beautiful area, the more I want to go.

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The Seaside Palm Beach Hotel, Gran Canaria

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I wonder if it’s just me, or if all mums of older teenagers approach every family holiday opportunity with a bit of a heavy heart, thinking: ‘this could be the last one EVER’? I mean, frankly, it’s ridiculous, because, as a friend in a similar situation rightly told me recently, ‘it doesn’t matter how old they get, they’ll always be up for a free holiday’. Especially one as heavenly as this one.

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A luxury short break in Paris - Hilton Paris Opera and Le Moulin Rouge

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So last time I was telling you about our luxe short break in Paris: our stay at Le Bristol and a spot of sightseeing. After this, we made our way to our second hotel. The stunning Hilton Paris Opera, which is centrally located on Rue Saint-Lazare, right next to the station of the same name - the perfect base for a bit of exploring!

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A luxury short break in Paris - Le Bristol and Le Marais

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We have these moments, usually when we’re walking the dog and talking rubbish, when we go ‘we MUST go on a break to Paris’. We both adore France, but have never actually been to Paris together, unless you count Disneyland, and it’s been on our to do list for ages. Finally, this summer, we got to plan our trip together, and we decided to go all out: a wonderful, romantic, luxe short break - just the two of us. Here’s how we got on.

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Alternative Florida: Naples

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Naples was the last stop on our Alternative Florida tour of the beautiful south western coast of Florida with Virgin Holidays. After pretty Sarasota, and the heavenly beaches of Fort Myers, it was time to head even further south to Naples. Here, we stayed in my favourite hotel, La Playa, an idyllic retreat right on the beach, and explored the coastline by boat.

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In a bikini at Lido Beach, Florida

Alternative Florida: Sarasota

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So as I mentioned recently, I’ve just spent several days with the gang from Virgin Holidays discovering the sunny south western coast of Florida. Our first stop after landing in Orlando was Sarasota. Sarasota County is a gorgeous destination on Florida’s laid back Gulf Coast. We stayed at two hotels here, the Virgin Holidays 5V rated Resort at Longboat Key and the 3V Sandcastle Resort (an old favourite of mine).

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Frozen Summer Fun and the NEW Frozen Sing-along at Disneyland Paris

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This weekend we were really lucky to be invited to Disneyland Paris for the opening of the brand new Frozen themed Summer celebration, Frozen Summer Fun and to see one of the very first performances of the new Frozen sing-along show in Frontierland. From today until 13th September, guests at Disneyland can experience lots of new Frozen-themed fun, with characters from Frozen appearing all over the place!

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Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Oxfordshire

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This week, Mr E and I got to tick off one of our bucket list items when we were lucky enough to visit Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Great Milton, Oxfordshire. I make no apologies for the amount of photos you’re about to see - this is possibly the most beautiful hotel I’ve ever visited.

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