FAMILY 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 Post12 hours in: Los Angeles
Sometimes the scheduling gods at work smile kindly… A project in Los Angeles, are you keen… I didn’t have to think twice! California in the spring – yes please! And yes, the beaches in SoCal are just about as American as it gets! Whilst Los Angeles is not somewhere I would choose to visit on…
View Post47 Jobner Bagh Jaipur – Boutique Hotel Review
I adore a place that is unique and luxurious. But the real charm is when it doesn’t realise how great it is. 47 Jobner Bagh was delightedly all of these, and perfect. I would love to have stayed longer, but we were splitting our time in Jaipur between here and the Oberoi Rajvillas.…
View PostOberoi Rajvillas Jaipur – Luxury Hotel Review
From the moment we arrived at The Oberoi Rajvillas to the time we dragged ourselves on to Goa (#firstworldproblems) we were spell-bound. I am well aware one gets what is paid for, but sometimes a place and its staff are so special that it is unforgettable and pleasurable in a way that money can’t…
View PostAlila Diwa Goa – Luxury Hotel Review
We spent 3 days in Goa and chose to stay at the Alila Diwa hotel near Majorda beach. It’s located in South Goa – the quiet and sleepy bit of Goa. There are larger hotels in the area, but this stood out as somewhere a bit more personal and unique. About a 20…
View PostRest and relaxation in Goa and Mumbai
It would have been so easy to have spent all our time in India immersed in the culture of Rajasthan. We almost did. But I really wanted beach and pool time and when I asked our agent if we could fit this in the answer was a resounding yes. We were choosy in Delhi, Agra…
View PostTwo days in Jaipur
We loved our time in Jaipur. It was the full package. Clean and ordered (relatively speaking), pretty, blue skies (no fog), we bumped into friends (yes – really), history and views, as well as amazing food and incredible hotels. Jaipur very much got the Parker seal of approval. We had 2 days in…
View PostOne day in Agra
Agra was our second base and was actually somewhere I wasn’t initially planning to visit. I couldn’t fathom how one building could justify a 3 hour drive. But the drive was of course worthwhile, and there’s more than one thing to see! Agra wasn’t our favourite place. Mainly due to us visiting beautiful Jaipur…
View PostOne day in Delhi
Delhi is where our Indian adventure began. Colleagues of mine are always here and told me it was the right city to quickly immerse ourselves in the sights, smells and sounds of India. We had just over 24 hours in the city. Our guide Punam (an expert, she’s shown Ralph Fiennes around) and driver BD…
View PostMy instagram tour of Incredible India
I have so much to tell you about India – one of the most inspiring and enjoyable trips we have ever taken. “So far as I am able to judge, nothing has been left undone, either by man or nature, to make India the most extraordinary country the the sun visits on his rounds.” Mark…
View PostJerusalem & the Dead Sea: Israel day trips
No trip to Israel could be complete without visiting Jerusalem and the Dead Sea? I think it is fair to say doing it in a day is a bit of a mission (for the driver that is – thank you) but oh so worth it! We had a marvellous trip, we were missing…
View PostRosh Hanikra & Akko – Israel day trips
Israel spoils you for culture, history and day trip options – there is an incredible amount to see and so we took a road trip up from Tel Aviv to Rosh Hanikra and Akko/Acre in the north of the country. Israel has some rather exciting borders to the north – both are pretty…
View PostTel Aviv – vibrancy and culture
Visiting friends in Tel Aviv, the city was a perfect base and where British Airways handily deposited us in comfort. I had two favourite cities – Singapore and Washington. I now have three – TLV has vibrancy and culture like Singers, cleanliness and safety like DC and a big dollop of South Beach to make…
View PostBeyond expectations in Israel
We were able to conclude within about half a day (I exaggerate, 2 hours tops…) of being in Israel that we were really glad to have ignored the UK press and any raised eyebrows. As much as I said to people ‘it’s safer than Paris/Brussels/London’, at the back of my mind I did wonder but thankfully…
View PostA taste of Israel
Israel should be at the top of any foodie’s travel plans – the food is incredible, I am licking my lips remembering! Flavoursome, fresh, varied and interesting, everything was delicious and actually we ate so much it could have been an official food tour! Here’s to friends with good taste! As a dairy-free diner,…
View PostFlashback Friday 40 – AP:DC – Washington, my favourite city
I consider myself very lucky to have travelled to Washington 3 times with work, and even luckier to have friends that live nearby (thanks Emily for having me to stay) and family that have been fabulous tour-guides. In my visits I have decided that Washington DC is my favourite city – thinking about…
View PostFlashback Friday Travel 39 – Jamaica
April in Jamaica was a splendid idea, I remember our trip very fondly indeed. I must confess, I was nervous about going to Jamaica – it has a little more ‘edge’ to it than other bits of the Caribbean and Mr P had been there before when gang violence hit Kingston which is more…
View PostFlashback Friday Travel 38 – Oman
Oh – man, or ooo – man – whichever way you say it, Oman is an incredible place to visit – a stunning coastline, beautiful mountains and dunes and some incredible hotels. We rounded off a busy year of travel in 2012 with a week in the Sultanate of Oman. Oman, well more…
View PostFlashback Friday Travel 33 – Singapore
2012 was one of those years – everything was amazing, everything seemed to be pretty darn perfect. Not just the holidays – and there were a few – but the whole country was smiling – first for the Queen’s Jubilee and then for Olympics and Paralympics, and the sun shone too. The UK was…
View PostFoodie delights in Maine
Lobster is plentiful in Maine, but look beyond the lobster and there is an incredible choice of dining for visiting foodies. We found a few treasures that I would recommend whole-heartedly. But first to the lobster… Surprisingly enough, I had never had lobster, and so our first night staying at The Inn at…
View PostStaying in Maine – room at the inn
Maine is a gorgeous US state – the little corner of it we’ve seen so far certainly is. Something of it that reminds me of Cornwall which is one of my favourite places. Not necessarily the sights and sounds (or the enormous scale of it), but more its pace of life and the…
View PostJet-lagged in Boston
Boston is a gorgeous city to visit and the obvious jumping off point for any visit to New England. We’ve spent a few days here before so at the start of our trip to Maine we chose to stay overnight, lose the jet lag whilst pottering, and see some other parts of the city…
View PostInstagraming Boston and Maine
We are back in the real world after our amazing trip to America, visiting Maine for the first time as well as a whistle stop re-visit of Boston – we had an itinerary full of gorgeous views and luxury yet personal accommodation. A real chance to zone out and reconnect. Hours, in fact…
View PostFlashback Friday Travel 30 – East Coast Road Trip
As you may already have read, we are shortly heading back to see a new piece of the East Coast of the USA – beautiful Maine – I thought it was apt to share memories as part of FBF of the last time we visited the east coast. You can read my tips…
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