VIEWS OF CRETE – JACOPO VILLA REVIEW
Jacopo Villa has the most magical views of Crete, a wonderful pool and is just 20 minutes from the coast. Let me show you around.
View PostHOLIDAY ESSENTIALS FOR A 5 YEAR OLD
Packing the right holiday essentials makes for an easy trip. We squeezed a lot of good things into our suitcases this year that were ideal.
View PostGORGEOUS BEACHES OF CRETE
After two magical trips to Crete, I'm keeping a list of the fabulous beaches. There's far more to Crete than the resorts it is known for.
View PostARE YOU LOOKING FOR A FAMILY FRIENDLY POOL VILLA IN CRETE?
Then I have just the place for you! Dimokritos villas in central Crete are the perfect place for a relaxing family holiday.
View PostHOLIDAY PACKING FOR A 4-YEAR-OLD
Packing the right things to keep a 4 year old entertained on holiday is key to a relaxing break for all, here's some tried and tested ideas!
View PostHALF TERM AT PINE CLIFFS RESORT
Pine Cliffs Resort is somewhere to which we will return. Peaceful and relaxing it made everything so perfectly simple for a half term getaway.
View PostMY TODDLER-IN-TOW BUCKET LIST
My bucket list for my toddler is about adventures and experiences. Sure, I can't wait to show him the world but to experience new things.
View PostTHE POST-COVID FAMILY HOTEL DREAM
Staying in a hotel again does feel like a dream right now! I've created my dream hotel from the places we've loved on our travels. I really loved writing this, we've been lucky to stay in some amazing places and when the time is right I can't wait to start showing Little P the world again!
View PostTRAVEL WITH A BABY – 65 TIPS
With research, learning and practice, stress-free travel with a baby is possible! I did a lot of research - friends, blogs, google and learning by doing. 65 handy tips for other new mums anxious about taking their first trip with baby.
View PostFAMILY HOLIDAY IN ABU DHABI AND 32 TRAVEL TIPS
It’s daunting booking a long haul flight and family holiday with a six month old… More daunting, given our history, was booking it before he arrived, when he was still a dream. When we found out we were pregnant we had an amazing trip to Kerala planned and paid for… We backed out…
View PostFAMILY HOLIDAY AT RIXOS SAADIYAT ISLAND ABU DHABI
Rixos Saadiyat Island decisively changed my mind about all inclusive holidays… Since a less than luxury all inclusive break in Barbados many years ago the thought of staying in another all inclusive sprawling resort hadn’t been front of mind… Thankfully there’s a new breed of all inclusive: or as Rixos promote their luxury…
View PostA MARK IN THE SAND: HOTEL WISH LIST
A hotel or few as a mark in the sand. We might not go to any of these any time soon but it’s a set of pretty pictures and a wish list of sorts.
View PostHAVE BABY WILL TRAVEL: FLYING
To say I was nervous about our first attempt at flying as a threesome would be an understatement. A lot was riding on it. We love flying and travelling and we really want Baby P to love travel and adventure as well. Turns out he did like flying on his first attempt! Especially if…
View PostTHE BABYMOON – TRIED AND TESTED
The babymoon – it’s fair to say we took a few… Not just the “last jam before the pram” before the arrival, but at regular intervals through 9 months of growing the baby. Our choices were around Baby P and to be sure I got the relaxing and de-stressing breaks I needed to…
View PostA SLEEPY WEEK IN THE ALGARVE
Our week on the Algarve was just what a doctor would have ordered. Warmth and sunshine. 10 hours sleep a night, a few more hours dozing on loungers by the pool each day, plenty of fruit (especially oranges), veg and fish and some excellent pampering too. We also added in a teeny bit…
View PostBELA VISTA HOTEL RESTAURANT AND SPA, THE ALGARVE
When I stumbled across the Bela Vista hotel whilst hunting for special places to stay in the Algarve, I saw photos of the most incredible hexagonal stained glass bathroom. I didn’t quite make the booking on just the basis of this one room but it was a factor… As was the dreamy pool! Quite…
View PostVILACAMPINA GUESTHOUSE, THE ALGARVE
The symmetrical white-washed moorish architecture and the lone tall palm tree. The remote rural location. The simple and peaceful blue and white pool. Vilacampina has you at hello. It’s a dreamy contemporary villa, the kind you wish someone in the family owned outright! But with the benefits of a hotel thrown in. The perfect…
View PostP&P RECOMMENDED: OUR HOTEL DIRECTORY
It is fair to say I can be fussy when it comes to choosing a hotel. Which does mean if we have stayed somewhere we liked, then it comes recommended! Way back in 2015 there was a travel link-up theme about places we can’t get out of our head. In 2015 I picked 6…
View PostMADEIRA: 10 GREAT IDEAS FOR YOUR VISIT
Madeira was the icing on the travel year cake for us in 2017. When we arrived on the stunning mid-Atlantic island, the only thing we knew was that Madeira was the perfect place to select for a week of RnR. The tears from cancelling our India trip because the government/tourist board had hidden…
View PostHIKING MADEIRA: AWE-INSPIRING PICO RUIVO
When we flew into Funchal there were some stunning mountains poking out of the fluffy clouds. Spectacular. I have only seen cloud inversion once before, and so this sight was magical. I studied meteorology at school and university, so to see it ‘in action’ was pretty special. One of those peaks I saw…
View PostSUBLIME STAY AT QUINTA DA CASA BRANCA
Arrival at Quinta da Casa Branca is at the highest point within the grounds and there is immediate wow factor. Just metres from the city hubbub, yet shielded from the noise and urban surroundings. All you can see (and smell) are the beautiful tropical gardens and the manor house in its perfectly romantic setting.…
View PostBOTANICAL STAY AT QUINTA JARDINS DO LAGO
A quinta is a Portuguese country estate, typically on the outskirts of town. Inside the walls you find a manor house at the centre, surrounded by beautiful gardens and either a wine or banana plantation for good measure. Space and tranquility in a city. What better place for a boutique hotel. Exactly the…
View PostAirbnb in Greece: a Crete retreat
We almost didn’t go to Greece this summer. We had toyed with the idea a while ago. But it was too hard to choose the island, expensive flights, a plethora of accommodation choices… It was in the too difficult category. Then a friend mentioned he had booked an enormous villa and they had plenty of…
View PostPink sand paradise: Elafonisi, Crete
[parallax-scroll id=”6416″] For our trip to Crete I did very little research. We only booked the flights 10 days before we flew, joining friends in a villa in the hills above Chania. Our plans were to relax: spun out from work and moving house. The little trip to Tallinn in April was feeling a…
View PostThe Telegraaf Hotel: a boutique stay in Tallinn
[parallax-scroll id=”6422″] When we visited Tallinn in April we were rather impressed! A gorgeous medieval town unspoilt by tourism and some excellent places to stay! The Telegraaf was our base. It is a boutique hotel located on the edge of the old town. When we stayed it was part of Small Luxury Hotels. It’s now…
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