The second half of my hosted small group trip to Barbados was spent on the vibey south coast, and we had a blast! 😎 During our 4 nights at The Rockley - a newly revamped boutique hotel at Rockley Beach - members of the group enjoyed beach sunrises with horses, swimming with turtles, touring around the island with rum tastings, diving around shipwrecks, wild nights drinking rum punch and dancing in the rain, sunning it by the pool, and so much more - this little montage isn’t even the half of it! Very very sad to have said our goodbyes and headed home. Might have to spend the next week or so on here reminiscing everyone’s best bits! 🩵
Not sure what it is today - the weather maybe? - but I just want to be whisked back to the Danube! 💙
How beautiful is this? I really think I need to do a safari. How can I possibly be expected to sell it using my own words?! 😂 Here’s some of Travel Counsellors’ marketing words though, those guys know what they are doing but I can’t pretend this is me writing this stuff! Anyway, I love planning trips like this and at TC we really do excel at these kind of holidays. Get in touch if I can help! ❤️
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01899 890035 / 07986 527947
4 High Street, Biggar - by appointment service
I guess it’s about time for another goofy Judith Chalmers vlog from me! I love the setting of this hotel. In my opinion the nicest of the beaches in Playa Blanca, Flamingo beach, is a few steps from the hotel and then there’s a 2 mile long flat promenade that takes you all the way to Rubicón Marina at the other side of the resort. Excellent for older folk with the flat walkways, great for families with young children, with the shallow bays, perfect sand and calm sea, and very buggy and wheelchair friendly too. It’s really a great spot.
*Obviously I’m wishing I’d checked how to pronounce Corralejo before I boldly started trying to say it, but I’m nothing if not authentic 😂
Lesley Woodall
Even on the adults only side at Iberostar Selection Lanzarote Park there’s still plenty of activities and entertainment. This weekend - just for once, because it’s really not what I ever do! - the plan is to do as little as possible. A couple of nice long sea swims at the beach and some evening walks along the long promenade but otherwise I just wanted to take it easy. I managed to avoid the yoga, pilates and aqua aerobics yesterday and earlier, and I got back from our evening at the marina too late for the ABBA tribute night over on the family side, but the Sangia making workshop this afternoon caught my eye! Who knew the magic ingredient of Sangria was Fanta Lemon?! 😂
I’ve visited a few of Iberostar’s hotels over the last few years and I really love the feel of their brand. This is Lanzarote. Let’s face it, probably the majority of people in the hotels on this island are Brits, but when in Spain why not stay in a Spanish hotel? It’s still predominantly British guests here but it also feels like a lovely mix of nationalities and learning to make sangria in 4 different languages is much more fun I think than it would be at the Tui hotel further along the beach! 😱
The kindness of strangers on a river cruise, pt.1…
So… when I got pulled out of the audience at our exclusive classical concert at the Palais Lichtenstein last night, the woman sitting in front of us at the concert, a lovely Chinese lady called Lulu, had been filming a lot of the performance on her phone, so I asked her whether she had a video of my embarrassing but awesome moment that she could send to me. It transpired she had only been keeping the odd clip on her phone and had already deleted the rest. Lulu was so sad for me because she couldn’t give me the footage that today, when Scenic had brought in two more mesmerising dancers to do a little show and then a cheeky wee waltz lesson for those of us with two left feet, Lulu made a special plea to yet another handsome Austrian dancer to dance with me, just so that she could record it! I had no idea about any of this… I thought I must just have some new found magnetism that was making all these handsome young men want to dance with me 😝 Anyway, the upshot is, I now have this actual video footage of me waltzing on the blue Danube! 💃🕺 and ok, inevitably I’m a bit clompy and heavy footed, but there was a time when I didn’t think I’d walk again let alone be prancing around like this 😂 and it has to be marginally better than last night’s version would have been - when I was clearly a rabbit in the headlights and spent the whole time laughing and covering my face! What a truly kind thoughtful soul though. Thank you Lulu! 💕
#scenicamber
This river cruise ship I am on this week, the beautiful Scenic Amber, a sister to Scenic Jasper shown here, feels a bit too intimate and boutique for me to be walking around filming and photographing everything, so thought this video might help give some background to the kind of experience this is… I mean, it’s much more of a relaxed atmosphere than I think the video seems and I’ve been surprised that I’m NOT the youngest here at all and there are actually a few people in their 30s and 40s as well as the majority in their 50s and 60s I guess, plus a few older as well. What has surprised me though is how friendly and fun it is. The staff are AMAZING too. So far for me it has the vibes of a luxury catered ski chalet holiday. There’s so much to do in each destination and on the ship and there’s no time to get bored, but equally, the team on board make it all so easy, and being able to visit 5 countries within the space of 7 days without having to lift a finger, unpack a suitcase or take a flight… the whole thing is just sublime!
If anyone has any questions while I’m on board just feel free to ask! 🛳️
#scenicamber
Budapest 🩵 Well what a beautiful city. I saw enough to know I have to come back here soon and do it properly. Too damn hot to write anything sensible about it right now though!
#scenicamber
So, much more information to come, but right now having been exploring beautiful Budapest this morning I’m now having a bit of down time in my gorgeous Balcony suite as we head towards Vienna - just checking up on my current bookings to see if anyone requires my help due to the power outage 😩. I’m always well aware in travel things aren’t always quite this smooth! 🛳️ 🩵 ☀️
#scenicamber
Back to Tunisia… a lot of people have been asking about the food. I can only really speak about the resort we stayed at as we were on a budget and did all our eating and drinking within the all inclusive. For anyone considering this resort though, what I will say is that it’s the best 4 star all inclusive I’ve ever experienced. We had the luxury of 3 table service restaurants which were Italian, Asian and Tunisian inspired, they were in a stunning setting on the beach and you can book dinner there as many times as you like during your stay with no supplements to pay. You get so looked after and especially with teenagers, sometimes it’s lovely to have that sociable time sitting together for a long lingering dinner instead of just grabbing buffet food. They also do lunch at the beach restaurant with a freshly cooked pizza bar and pasta show-cooking to order and lots of variety and great fresh food in the buffets. The snack truck at the pool did burgers, paninis, crepes all day too and the main international buffet restaurant had so much choice and good quality food. Eggs however you like them and cooked to order for breakfast, and much more besides. If you felt like eating Nutella crepes three times a day then this was fine too - thankfully we only stayed a week 😝😂
Guess what, people? It’s National Swimming Pool Day today! Yes, it turns out that’s a thing, and I think anyone who knows me already knows, I bloody love a cheeky infinity pool on holiday. What about you? Are you a pool person? Ready to dip your toes into the most stunning pools around the globe? From serene wildlife settings to luxurious urban escapes, these pools will take your breath away.
🌿 Kapama Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Experience the wild while soaking in luxury. This pool offers a unique view of wildlife right from the water.
🌟 One&Only One Za’abeel, Dubai
Dive into opulence with panoramic views of Dubai's skyline. A truly unforgettable experience in the heart of luxury.
🌴 Alila Ubud, Bali
Nestled in the lush greenery of Ubud, this infinity pool feels like you're floating above the treetops. Pure bliss!
🏖 Daios Cove, Crete
A private cove with crystal-clear waters and stunning cliffside views. The perfect Mediterranean escape.
🏝 Sun Siyam Iru Veli, Maldives
Turquoise waters as far as the eye can see. This overwater pool offers the ultimate island paradise.
🏜 Amangiri, Utah, USA
Set in the dramatic landscapes of the Utah desert, this pool is an oasis of calm and tranquility.
🌺 Secrets Moxche Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Hidden away in a secluded beach area, this pool is perfect for a romantic getaway or a peaceful retreat.
🏙 Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
A marvel of modern architecture, this pool provides a luxurious escape with unparalleled views of Dubai.
🌊 Domes Lake Algarve, Portugal
Situated in the heart of Vilamoura, this stunning pool complex offers a unique combination of azure waters and lush greenery.
🏖 Rayavadee, Krabi, Thailand
A real beauty! The serene waters offer a surreal relaxation experience amidst nature's grandeur.
🌸 The Anam Mui Ne, Vietnam
This pool presents panoramic views of the South China Sea, providing an idyllic and tranquil retreat for a perfect vacation.
I think I’ll dig out
