2nd stop was Vegas  for 4 nights at the Luxor,   Wow the hotels here are amazing, it doesn’t really matter which one you stay in as you can visit all the bars, casinos and shops in each of them and it’s good to walk to them in the day and have a mooch.  They all have their own theme that runs throughout the hotel so they are all different but whichever you choose to suit your budget will be good.  The Outback Steak house is half way up the strip which serves the best steak I’ve ever had, and cheap too.  The shopping mall at Ceasers Palace is fantastic, Abercrombie is cheaper in here!  Casinos are the main thing in Vegas but there are also shows to see, clubs to go to and pools to sunbathe around so there is enough to keep you occupied for a good 4 days.  The day trip over Grand Canyon by Helicopter is a must if you can.

We then flew to San Francisco and spent 3 nights here at the Hilton Golden Gate Bridge, we hired a car from the airport here to drop off in San Diego.  A sat nav with car hire is important for these areas as you don’t want to get stuck somewhere you are unsure of, there are many areas that you need to avoid in America so I would recommend a sat nav.  In San Francisco we took the trams and did it in true style! we visited china town, Union square and fisherman’s wharf with a day trip to Alcatraz, I loved Alcatraz it was definitely one of the highlights.   Union Square is good for shops and bars.

From San Fran we drove down the coast road to San Diego, stopping off at various places.  Santa Cruz, my hubby loved this place as it is where they filmed the lost boys!! Then moving down we found this little town called Buellton, not far from Santa Barbara.  We stopped for petrol and the lady recommended it as it’s where Michael Jackson and Dolly Parton have their ranch; it reminded me of a little Holland, such a pretty place and a good overnight stop half way.  Next stop was Malibu and then the OC, Newport Beach, we just pulled up at a Motel and stayed overnight, we had a walk down the moorings for a meal overlooking the water, this is definitely a place I could live (if I had the money!!) 

The next day we went on to San Diego for 6 nights at The Solemar, A Kimpton hotel located in the gas lamp quarter.  This is the place to be if you want the cool bars and nice restaurants,  there is the TGIs and Starbucks but there are also some nice Fish Restaurants,  we had one of our best meals in one,  the starter was enough to fill us and we shared that!!   A car is a must in San Diego as everything is very spread out and nothing is in walking distance.  Mission bay and Coronado bay are the nicest beaches, Mission bay is where people have their beach houses, hotels and boats moored and Coronado bay is more like its own little beach town, with a promenade of shops and cafes.   You can do various day trips from San Diego, there is Sea World, San Diego Zoo, LEGOLAND and you can also drive in to Mexico and do some shopping in Tijuana. 

Last June my Fiancée and I fancied a bit of sun at short notice.  We’d normally venture further afield, but we only wanted a quick week away and Sharm seemed to fit our requirements; 4-5 hour flight, a selection of good 5* hotels to choose from and not to forget the 30+ degrees of dry desert Sun.

Our main intention was to be self-contained with no real need to leave the hotel, so we decided on all-inclusive.  We wanted a hotel with fine dining, decent entertainment, good pools, great service and a nice private beach to relax and soak up the sun.  We were also toying with the idea of our first Dive so a hotel with a diving centre would also be a big plus.  So I picked what many regard to be the best all-inclusive hotel in Egypt – The Baron Palms….

I already knew that the Baron Palms was a good hotel as I’ve sold it many times, but In all honesty it still managed to exceed my expectations. Top quality service, great food and a really beautiful stylish Andalucian design throughout make it one of only a few hotels in Sharm that truly merit a 5 star rating. 

The hotel does cater for families, but I’d say it’s predominantly suited to couples and ideal for anniversaries or honeymoons.  The attention to detail is what makes the Baron Palms an ideal place to stay on special occasions. 

The hotels private sandy beach is 600m away and shared with the hotels neighbouring sister property, the Baron Hotel which is also a classy 5 star, with an informal atmosphere.   One example of the high service levels was being able to order drinks from your sun lounger on the beach.  When they brought ours they’d also gone to the effort of bringing us a couple of chilled towels soaked in Rose water to freshen up from the immense desert heat.  One bit of advice I’d give would be to take a few one dollar bills because with such high service levels they deserve to receive the odd tip now and then.

During the daytime if we weren’t on the beach we’d be in or around one of the hotels 2 large swimming pools.  Each pool has its own cascading waterfall.  The hotel run daytime entertainment is pleasant, but I found it could be a bit distracting if had my head in a book.  I’d read a review on trip advisor before going that advised to sunbathe on the loungers near the waterfalls as the noise of the waterfalls blanked out the entertainment, and it proved to be good advice. 

If like me you love your food, then you won’t be disappointed.  The hotel has a nice buffet restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner and you’ll find that they cater for all tastes.  The food looked and tasted delicious.  The hotel also has an Egyptian a la carte restaurant which you have to reserve in advance.  Sadly we never ate there as we ended up going to Naama bay on the night we’d planned to eat there.  I am however aware that the food is fantastic, one of the best Egyptian restaurants in Sharm.

On our penultimate day we decided to take the plunge, and booked to go scuba diving through the hotel’s PADI approved dive centre.  We booked in for a 30 minute dive with an approved instructor from the hotels 150m jetty.  I was amazed by how stunning the coral reef is and also by the variety of marine life we encountered – baby barracudas and sea snakes to mention a few…

In the evenings there is a good variety of hotel entertainment.  Shows, dancing, live music.  There is also a nice little pool hall and a disco where they play mainly western music.

Overall the holiday was great and if your after an all-inclusive holiday in Egypt it's ideal. Also if you fancy visiting the pyramids, or venturing over to Luxor we can arrange Egypt Multi Centre Holidays so get in touch and we'll tailor make you an itinerary.

I decided to get married abroad due to a few reasons – 1) the cost of weddings in the UK 2) I wanted some actual sunshine if possible and knew that there was no way it was guaranteed in Manchester! I looked at a few options and then decided Cuba met the bill in more ways than one. We travelled with 20 of our family and closest friends. We chose to stay at the Melia Cayo Guillermo located on the island of Cayo Guillermo – the Cayo’s are small islands just off the north coast of Cuba, connected to the mainland via a 70km causeway. We flew into the airport of Cayo Coco and transferred to the island, this took approx. 45 mins but we managed to spot some flamingos on the way!

The hotel was amazing, we had stayed at the Sol Cayo Guillermo 2 years prior and knew that the Melia would be something special, and it didn’t fail to please. We had been allocated a Junior Suite in the hotel which consisted of a living area, 2 bathrooms and a king bedroom. We had 2 balcony’s where we could enjoy stunning sea views every evening while enjoying a glass (or 2) of champagne – included in the all-inclusive package of course!


The beach at the hotel has to be the best beach I have ever seen in my life, I felt as if I was in a Bounty advert! Powder white sand, clear blue sea and hammocks in the water! I spent my days sipping cocktails and reading books – not the stressful lead up to a wedding I had seen my friends go through back in the UK!

On our wedding day, we chose to have the ceremony in a private pavilion in the hotel gardens – we chose to get married at 4pm as we thought it may be cooler and more comfortable for everyone, especially the men who were wearing shirts, waistcoats and cravats! The ceremony was beautiful and even I shed a tear!

On our wedding night we had arranged private use of the beach bar and held a BBQ where we had a private chef and staff for the entire evening! We hired a Cuban band and we handed cigars out so that everybody could really savour the atmosphere! The night was over too quickly and I retired to my room now a married lady!!

For the rest of the holiday we mainly spent the days by the beach and our evenings having dinner in one of the 3 restaurant options available to us – Italian, International or the buffet restaurant. Even Lobster was available! We also enjoyed a catamaran cruise and snorkelling excursion which took us out into the ocean and we were dropped at an area where we could go into the water and snorkel away – I didn’t know that fish that colourful existed!! We also enjoyed lunch and drinks before heading back to shore.

The end of the holiday came too quickly – we had made friends with all the staff and said our goodbyes before heading back to the UK as husband and wife. We will return for a holiday in Cuba one day and hopefully the Melia Cayo Guillermo. Our wedding was definitely the best day of our life and I would recommend a wedding overseas to anybody!!

My fiancé & I went on our Thailand Multi Centre Holidays in May of last year. It was the latest in many visits to the Country we both adore. First was the capital, Bangkok followed by the tropical island of Koh Samui.

BANGKOK - An ideal city to spend two or three nights in. A nice way to acclimatise yourself to a different world, which is the Far East. There is a great choice of excellent hotels available to suit all budgets.  Bangkok is a truly Asian City and retains its strong Buddhist heritage. Although there are many high rise hotels and office blocks, you will never feel that you could be in London or any other European City. The people are helpful, though often shy and always polite.

Popular attractions include The Royal Palace – a complex of gold topped buildings of amazing style which has to be seen to be appreciated. The Klongs or Canals can be visited by longtail boats. A trip away from the City itself will take you to the Damnern Saduak Floating Markets which is still charming despite its “touristy” overtones. This can also be combined with a visit to the Bridge on the river Kwai. There are a variety of other trips to be enjoyed including a “City & Temple” tour where you can visit stunning Temples & behold the Emerald Buddha and the breathtaking reclining Buddha at Wat Pho. You can even visit a snake farm! So you will always find something new and amazing to visit.

If shopping is your thing, you will find day markets, night markets, the largest Sunday market in the World, department stores, Malls and many quality jewellery and tailoring outlets - all at incredible value for money.

The eateries available are as varied as everything else in Bangkok. From small, family run often quirky properties to 5* dining in the top Hotels. If you like something different, seek out one of the high rise rooftop Bar/Restaurants…..The Banyan Tree’s “Vertigo” and Moon Bar boasts stunning views of Bangkok’s skyline. But, for sure, it lives up to its name and is certainly not for the faint hearted!

Krungthep is the (shortened) Thai name for the city. They call it the “City of Angels” – for us, it is vibrant, spectacular, fascinating and so welcoming ………in short, a truly must see of the East.

KOH SAMUI - This is the “Island of Palms” and can be reached easily by a short flight from Bangkok. It is also possible to do the journey by road and ferry if you have the time to spare.

The main tourist area centres around the beach of Chaweng on the Eastern side of the Island. It is a delightful Bay with calm seas and tropical sand backed by palm trees. Like us, some visitors may prefer to stay in a Hotel a little outside the centre while still being close enough to enjoy the lively night time atmosphere and restaurants – of which there are many.

You will find a wide choice of restaurants serving both Thai and International foods. Those in search of fine dining would do well to try the Page restaurant at the chic, modern Library Hotel. On the road leading North from Chaweng itself, you will also find other smart restaurants such as Rock Pool which is set on a wonderful decked area right at the sea’s edge and boasts some divine seafood tapas.

If you are looking to stay outside of the Chaweng beach area as we suggest, then you may like to consider quality 4* stars such as Bhundhari  (where we in fact stayed)  or the Peace Resort and Bandara Spa Resort on Bo Phut beach on the North Coast. Slightly more remote are the Luxury options up in the North East tip are the World Class Six Senses & Tongsai Bay.

Round Island transport could not be easier. Songthaew are small passenger open top “trucks” and are intensely regular and VERY cheap. You simply flag one down, tell them where you want to go & jump on. Taxis are available but more expensive and undoubtedly less fun!

As mentioned, at the North of the Island, is Bo Phut (Fisherman’s Village) where you will find Big Buddha Beach - a very pleasant area with a good selection of shops, hotels and restaurants (Zazen being our personal favourite) on a much smaller scale to Chaweng. It is an ideal spot for another reason…..the Island’s two ferry terminals operate from here where you can enjoy Snorkelling, Fishing and Kayaking trips. A great day out is a visit to the Anthong National Marine Park…….a protected area of 42 Islands covered in limestone mountains. It boasts a kaleidoscope of rainbow- coloured corals and tropical fish. Another full day visit that will not disappoint is over to Samui’s smaller sister Island Koh Phangan. This Island is most famous for its Full Moon & Half Moon parties, but it is an excellent excursion destination (indeed, we have been over to it twice in our last two visits to Samui for some elephant trekking!)

For us, Koh Samui has it all. A tropical climate which can be enjoyed most of the year. Superb beaches, great places to visit, a wide variety of activities to suit most tastes. It is a dinners paradise and you can lay your head at the most basic of abodes through to some of the best beach Hotels in the World - what more can you ask?

When I thought of Mauritius, I always had a vision of pure white soft sands and dazzlingly clear aquamarine waters. I envisaged relaxing on the beach in the glorious sunshine until watching the mesmerising sunset in the early evening and being fixated on the ever-changing skies; from turquoise to pink to red to purple, with millions of stars eventually emerging from nowhere. And to be fair I wasn’t far wrong. As Mark Twain said “Heaven was copied after Mauritius”, so whether you’re looking for the picture-perfect honeymoon destination, an island luxury spa retreat or just a well-deserved break in paradise, you will not be disappointed with Mauritius.

As you travel around the island you’ll notice the roads are lined with fields of sugar cane and in the distance the extraordinary peaking Moka Mountain range in the centre of the island. Stay in Trou Aux Biches on the North-west coast for a stunning beach to relax on and to see the best sun-sets. It’s a pretty resort lined with Casuarina trees that is close enough to visit some of the islands must-see places as well as being far enough away to feel like you’re on a remote island. Take a boat trip out and swim with the tropical fish in the coral reef, scuba dive or even do an under-water walk. There’s everything from five-star luxury resorts and boutique hotels, (such as Trou Aux Biches Resort & Spa and Le Cardinal Resort & Spa), to all-inclusive hotels, self-catering bungalows and villas to choose from.

Experience the Mauritian night life in Grand Baie and order one of the many exciting cocktails on offer at Banana Beach Club whilst listening to a live band playing a mix of up-lifting holiday vibes, new & old. The hundreds of restaurants along the main road from Mont Choisy to Grand Baie offer many different cuisines. The islands population consists of many different ethnic groups, including French-Mauritians (originally from France), Indo-Mauritians (from India), Creoles (from Africa), and Sino-Mauritians (Chinese), giving the island a diverse mix of wares to sample. Dining out can be a fairly expensive experience, so it’s always worth asking hotel staff and of course your fellow holiday-makers for recommendations to suit your taste and pocket. Try Le Capitaine with its romantic setting and sea views for some excellent sea-food at a reasonable price.

Take a day trip to Port Louis, the islands capital. Experience Mauritian life and mix with the friendly locals by taking one of the in-expensive, yet frequent local buses. In the city you’ll be reminded of the islands colonial past with the central post-office and its museum, the traffic lights & signs, policemen’s uniforms and there’s even a marble statue of Queen Victoria. The natural history museum houses a Dodo bird exhibit which was native to the island until it became extinct in the 15th Century. Visit the St.Louis Cathedral which is one of the island’s oldest buildings or the Port Louis Theatre which is the oldest theatre in the Indian Ocean.

The Cauden Waterfront is the place to be seen and to mix with the trendy and wealthy locals in Port Louis. With its luxury hotel & marina, shops, restaurants, casino and museums there’s plenty to see and do amidst the hustle and bustle. If you’re in Mauritius during the pleasant winter months, (between May and October), enjoy a Saturday afternoon spectating and people spotting at the Champs De Mars, (Ladies can enter the enclosure for free, gents a small charge). Sip a glass of champagne or have a glass of Phoenix, the local beer, or even try your luck and have a flutter on the horse races; a favourite Mauritian past time.

The main languages spoken in Mauritius are either French or English. As far as religion goes Hinduism is the predominant religion at around 50%, followed by a good mixture of Christians, Muslims, and Catholics. Visit the colourfully decorated Maheswarnath Temple in Triolet, the islands largest Hindu temple and take a guided tour with the High Priest who is never too busy to show you around.

Mauritius has a subtropical climate all year round, averaging 30 degrees during the summer & touristic high season, (November through to April), but also an impressive 25 degree average during the quieter winter months. So along with the faultless weather, the freshest seafood you will ever taste and the unspoiled beaches of powder soft sands, you’ll wonder why you haven’t booked your Mauritius holidays sooner! Mauritius really has something for everyone.