Lisbon 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 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 PostHidden gems and holiday treasures
Finding hidden gems is the raison d’être of this blog. And of me. And my holidays. Luxury and unique hidden gems, with vitamin sea. And fizz. A year wouldn’t be the same without discovering a few of these places. I can’t think of anything worse than regulation issue surroundings or crowded places. I love finding somewhere…
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 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 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 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 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 PostKota Porthleven – tasty artistry
When one finds a restaurant that impresses, it is always risky to go back – will it be as good? Riskier still to take ones parents for a special treat. So we arrived with crossed fingers whether it would be as good as remembered. Well – Kota delivered and gets a gold star, it was…
View PostTickled tastebuds at The Palomar
The Palomar really did tickle our tastebuds! If you have been under a rock or hibernating recently you won’t have noticed that we went to Israel in May and loved it – the place, the culture, the people and the food… For everyone else, you know already! Imagine our delight when we ate…
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 PostTime for a drink?
Being totally honest, in my thirties my favourite place for a drink would be at home or in my own back garden, or perhaps on a picnic in the New Forest, or on a yacht. The novelty of finding a cava that is named ‘Anna’ is yet to wear off – and I…
View Post11 favourite dinners out
We eat out when we can – at weekends, on holiday, with work – and have enjoyed some splendid meals, whether they be gourmet, gastro or just good quality fast food. So rather than give you a summary of my favourite place for a burger (Chalk Valley or Brewhouse & Kitchen in Southampton) or…
View PostJe t’adore – l’hotel parfait
No sooner has Christmas disappeared from the shops than Easter appears, but look carefully and spot the hearts and suchlike for Valentines day! We are low-key about it, as the other 364 days (365 this year) are the ones that matter. However, as part of the love-ly travel link up with Emma, Angie, Jessi and guest host Kaelene this…
View PostHotels I can’t get out of my head
I’m a bit of a repeater when it comes to visiting places – Cornwall, Norfolk and me have had a long love affair, even the Fastnet Rock got a revisit this summer much to both our surprises! There are a number of places further afield that had me “at Hello” that I would…
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 PostA dining treat at Kota Porthleven
We had a delicious early evening meal at Kota in Porthleven during our Easter trip to Cornwall (well known to be one of my favourite places). Over the past few years new restaurants have been springing up all over Cornwall that are well worth investigating. I have a strong preference for supporting a small…
View PostCliveden House – a stately home staycation
Cliveden House is quite possibly one of the most beautiful places we have stayed in. It is very hard to know where to start when reviewing a hotel so wonderful! Is it enough to say that I would happily have moved in and needed encouragement to actually leave? Hopefully the general message and seal…
View PostThe Chedi Muscat
The Chedi Muscat had sat on my bucket list for a long time, well before this little blog and we treated ourselves to a visit a few years back! Happily the whole experience was as good, if not better, than the reviews said! It is an iconic hotel – not least this view. It is…
View PostFantastic foodie night in Winchester – The Black Rat and The Black Bottle
So – last year for Mr P’s birthday we were lording it in 5* luxury in the middle of a desert. This year I had it all to do to try and match that treat – I needed to find a perfect birthday dinner as we didn’t have holiday planned this year to…
View PostCountry weekend at The Crown Inn
#Take12Trips got off to a splendid start this weekend! We enjoyed a thoroughly relaxing time at The Crown Inn, in Elton, on the Cambridgeshire / Northamptonshire border. I hadn’t been able to arrange the Parker diary to visit in December as hoped so we had been looking forward to a wintery mini-break for a…
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