Cornish walks: Porthgwarra to Nanjizal
The coastline of Cornwall is a complete set of footpaths. So there is no shortage of stunning walks. Each time we visit Cornwall we find a new one – normally one that has been mentioned years ago by my Grandpa or parents. This time, with a windy north-easterly wind forecast, we headed for the south…
View PostA treehouse retreat: elegance and luxury at the Chewton Glen
“It’s definitely a treehouse” Mr P squeaked at me last Friday! Since the opening in 2012, I have been lusting after a stay. The Chewton Glen has long been our favourite place to squirrel away near home for some quality RnR. But we have never stayed in the trees. Until now! I didn’t…
View PostLife’s little luxuries: taking a simple timeout
In the search for the perfect hotel, winter sunshine and glamorous flights it is easy to forget about life’s little luxuries. The things that actually matter. How lucky are we to have what we have? And to already live a life we love. We don’t need to scour the globe for a paradise, there’s…
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 Post10 things: to eat in London
My travel style is discreet and homely. It follows that my food taste would be similar. Working in London, on and off for ten years and more solidly over the last theee, has been a fun foodie discovery. There is such a choice and something for all tastes. Hidden amongst the big brand…
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…
View Post10 reasons to visit: Tallinn
Tallinn is one of the prettiest cities I have visited thus far. It is easy to enjoy – unspoilt by mass-tourism and small enough to get the best of in a long weekend. It was a chance visit to Estonia and a last minute booking. Mr P was touring the Baltics on business and…
View PostSpring walk: the Purbeck coast
It had been far too long since my last visit to the Purbeck coast in Dorset! Perhaps 1996-ish for my Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s award… Which was also the time I route-planned us along an electricity pylon rather than a bridleway! The Easter weekend gave us the chance to go and explore and we…
View PostSpring walk: South Downs lambs and bluebells
A little spring walk in the South Downs turned into the sort of walk that would leave a bluebell-hunter or cute animal lover very fulfilled! I am neither, but I was ‘full of the joys’… We stumbled across this walk thanks to two things. Firstly we had lunch booked with friends at The Bluebell…
View PostLisbon city retreat: Palacio Ramalhete
We arrived at our Lisbon palacio at 12.01. I know this because I glanced at my watch. The sun was ‘past the yard arm’ and I gladly accepted a welcome glass of bubbles. It was pouring with rain outside, this was the bottled sunshine for the day. Our room at Palacio Ramalhete wasn’t…
View PostBoutique seaside stay: Villa Cascais
We flew to Lisbon, straight from a busy week at work in need of a chilled few days. In fact Mr P met me at the airport having just flown in from Sweden, so it was nice just to see him! Perfect timing – so jetset, meeting in the lounge ? BA in…
View Post10 reasons to visit: Lisbon & Cascais
Lisbon gets my vote for a spring city break. A short flight from London. It was somewhere neither of us had been to before. And it’s by the sea. Not hot weather per se, but warm enough to be out doors. Tick, tick, tick, tick. I will put it out there… If you want a city break and you don’t…
View PostA magical return to Cliveden House
Given the opportunity, I would live at Cliveden every weekend! It’s captivating. And it is easily understood why Cliveden is repeatedly in the chocolates at luxury award ceremonies… There aren’t many places which have been restored so attentively and can offer guests the chance to stay in such a historical and grand location,…
View PostThe Kitchen at the Chewton Glen
Visits to the Chewton Glen are always a resounding success. Being invited to dine at ‘The Kitchen’ on its opening night was definitely that. The Kitchen is a new adventure for the Chewton Glen. An exciting and informal one. We loved the hotel as it was – the quintessentially english luxuriousness. It’s somewhere we love to celebrate…
View PostChewton Glen – a luxury weekend escape
This fabulous hotel is where my love affair with luxury began. So we return to visit the Chewton Glen like an old friend on special occasions! In February, in between our birthday’s, we scheduled a staycation as a little treat. We really couldn’t have planned the timing better around all things work and life…
View PostA weekend in the Cotswolds
Last year between May in Tel Aviv and India in December, we didn’t really take much time off work. We did manage to balance the work mania with the odd long weekend in France, Stockholm and Italy. In November we fitted in another of these. This time a weekend staycation in the Cotswolds…
View PostMy Cornwall Directory
I’ve been visiting west Cornwall a few times a year for longer than I remember. My Gran lives there and we head down for long weekends with my parents or by ourselves to explore a little more. Cornwall seems to be growing in popularity and it seemed like a very good time to…
View PostYachting adventures in the Canaries
Mr P did some vital yachting holiday research for us in October… Too kind! I was manic with work and made a passing comment suggesting he go away with his best buddy somewhere nice and leave me in peace. I didn’t ever expect the offer to be taken up. But it’s OK as it was all…
View PostLazing in the Languedoc
What a gorgeous lazy time we had in the Languedoc, the benefit of doing no research… Aside from booking the hotel, all I knew was that Carcassonne was nearish to where we were going and that it’s a board game. So un-thorough was my research that a few days before we arrived I had to email the…
View Post6 things to do in Stockholm
Stockholm is less than 2 hours flying from Heathrow and perfect for a summer city break. A maritime city full of gorgeous architecture, flat for exploring and if you can stay a little longer there’s 24,000 islands in the archipelago to explore. We visited over the August bank holiday weekend, and I took advantage…
View PostInns and cottages for a perfect staycation
One thing I adore about the UK is the plethora of great little inns and cottages on offer. If you want to get off the beaten track and find something a little different when it comes to luxury you’ll find it. The luxury of privacy, space and charming hosts. Here are a few…
View PostWeekend in Milan and Como
When I was travelling too much with work, Mr P always used to ask when he could join me for the weekend. I always deferred as I wanted to get home from a trip as soon as I could. Then he started travelling an incredible amount with work and so started asking me when…
View PostIn search of sunshine – Tenerife
Normally in January we book something long haul and outrageous but this year we didn’t quite get around to it! In early Feb we worked out we could squeeze in 3 days leave and so get away for 5 days adding the weekend. We needed sun, a short flight and safety… The Canary Islands popped…
View PostFlashback Friday Travel 36 – The Cote d’Azur
It isn’t all high glamour and high prices on the Cote d’Azur – we had a fantastic week there in August 2012 and found relaxed and charming places to visit. We did of course go off in search of the glamorous areas, and dine out fantastically on one evening – but life is all about…
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