Tasty Treats

When given the option I love to stay in hotels whilst on holiday, someone else making your bed, changing your towels and preparing all your food? Sounds great. However, there are times when staying in a villa or an apartment is preferable, particularly when there's great local produce to cook with.

I regularly take trips to Cascais in Portugal and the fish you can eat there is always a highlight. When I'm catering on holiday I need quick, easy and simple dishes.

It doesn't come much simpler than fish kebabs, quick, tasty and super colourful! Enjoy with a glass (or two) of crisp white wine.

 Darkness descends on Cascais

Spotlight:: Octopus Resort, Yasawa Islands, Fiji

If anyone is concerned that Paradise has been lost, I can tell you where it can be found.

When the days are shorter and colder and darkness seems to set in by mid afternoon in the Northern Hemisphere, I always enjoy reminiscing about trips made to the Southern Hemisphere.

The Octopus resort in Fiji is a beautiful boutique hotel, with plenty of activities to offer, excellent service and a friendly family atmosphere. Fiji is beautiful; breathtaking beaches, wonderful weather and friendly locals. All these factors mean inevitably hotels in Fiji are popular, however often they fall short of the quality and service you might receive in other exotic locations. However, this is not so at the Octopus Resort, clean, tidy but friendly and inviting in its surroundings.

There are a variety of rooms on offer, from shared dormitories (for the budget backpackers- who aren't on quite such a budget as they've stumbled onto the Yasawa islands) to twin rooms and finally luxury beach front cottages.

On arrival there is a typical Fijian welcome, with the hotel workers serenading you. Their happiness and upbeat vibes were infectious and I instantly felt excited to look around the resort. From this point the hotel staff are a huge draw for the hotel, always willing to assist you and accommodate your every need.

By day you can relax by the pool, make your own jewellery or go diving. You can do as much or as little as you want. In my case, it was very little.

There's no shortage of activities at Octopus resort, yet it still manages to maintain a relaxed atmosphere, you can't escape the oasis-like calm.

As evening comes the resort goes from a tranquil haven to a lively bar and restaurant. Everybody congregates in the dining area for dinner, lots of dishes are brought to the table for a family-style shared meal between everyone. Typical of Fiji, the food at the Octopus resort is some of the best on the Yasawas and portion sizes are large too. Meal time and music is followed by team games. It might sound a bit like Brownie Guide camp, but participation is not compulsory and on an island where most rooms don't have TVs and days are often spent reading, having fun (or spectating on it from the side, like me) with fellow holiday guests can actually be surprisingly enjoyable.

Winner of a number of prestigious awards, this hotel is highly recommended. If you don't believe me, why don't you take a trip and check Fiji out for yourself? It's a long way to travel but, it is most definitely worth it. 

Rates for budget options start at approximately £15/ $21, all details here. 

The Beach

I've grown up loving beaches, the romanticism of the sea, the sand between your toes and the inevitable relaxation.

I've been lucky enough to visit some incredible beaches from New Zealand to Thailand, Fiji and the West Coast of America. But, recently on a stay-cation in the UK I realised I don't have to travel so far to find a beautiful beach.

Given the usual UK weather (windy, rainy generally dismal), experiencing the beach below was pretty special.

Salcombe, United Kingdom

Spotlight:: The Cosmopolitan of Vegas

I recently took my first trip to Sin City.

It is an incredibly different place to most of the places I have visited. It is somewhat like the Bangkok of America; bright lights, big shows, lots of people and a big personality. I finally realised the immensity of the place and just how many hotels there are to choose from. Apparently Las Vegas has more hotel rooms than all of Europe, and The Strip is home to 15 of the 20 biggest hotels in the world. If you've been, you'll know the sheer size is incredible.

The Basics
For my trip I chose The Cosmopolitan. This is a relatively new hotel, opened in late 2010, with just under 3000 rooms, set in two high-rise towers, over 52 floors. It's huge. Most definitely the largest hotel I have ever stayed in.

The Location
The location is excellent, it is next to the Bellagio and some of the hotel rooms actually overlook the fountains. It's central and easily accessible, yet being so high you can feel away from the bustle of The Strip.

In the basement of the hotel we were able to drop our car off at the Hertz check-in. This is a great extra to have car drop off at the hotel, though I think most hotels in Las Vegas offer this. Check in was fairly smooth, with helpful check-in guy. There weren't the long queues that we saw at Ceasars.

The Room
I stayed in a One-bedroom terrace suite. This was a large room with a living area, kitchen and bedroom. The other huge plus about The Cosmopolitan is that many of the rooms have a balcony, as ours did. This is apparently very rare in Vegas, but a wonderful addition.

Unfortunately, though we were provided with a small kitchen area, we had no cutlery or crockery, so there were limitations on what we could actually cook for ourselves. The room had a Japanese soak tub, but having been told it had a jacuzzi by the man at the front desk, I was a little disappointed.

As with all hotels in Vegas, the inside is so much more than just a hotel, with numerous restaurants, bars, clubs and shops. There are some world renowned restaurants in the hotel such as STK and it is home to one of the best nightclubs in Vegas, Marquee.

With 3 swimming pools there is plenty of choice, but all were completely packed and it wasn't even peak season. In 96 degree heat, I imagine pool space is at a premium everywhere.

My main criticism would be that our room wasn't as clean and tidy as it could have been. We found a cigarette end on the balcony which was disappointing and the bathroom wasn't as clean as I would have expected.

My Top 5: 
1. The comfort and spaciousness of the room.

2. Chandelier bar: a very chic and stylish space to enjoy drinks with friends. I didn't see many other bars with such elegance whilst in Vegas.

Chandelier Bar

3. Henry for brunch: the perfect place to begin your day.


4. The coffee table books found in the rooms: perfect Phaidon titles to leaf through whilst relaxing. A wonderful alternative to television.


5. Having a balcony to overlook the sights and sounds of Vegas.

View from my hotel room

Final Thoughts... 

The Cosmopolitan is an expensive hotel, but ultimately you are paying for quality. For location, the views and the 'cool' factor, this is a great choice for Las Vegas. 

Rates start at $160.

As every story has 2 sides...

There are some places you visit and you have a fairly good idea what to expect. Going to Istanbul I was very uncertain what I would see, things I would experience and how I would feel about it.

The city definitely reminded me of Budapest and Vienna, but also had the hustle and bustle, markets and feel of Bangkok. The mixture of European influence and Asian atmosphere was an interesting combination for the senses, in many ways it felt like the best of both worlds, since I loved Bangkok but enjoy the style of European cities. 

I went for a 4 day break and definitely could have spent an extra day or two in the city if I had the time to spare. I was fairly out of season (the weather was sunny but it wasn't super warm), yet on the Saturday the city was packed. From what I heard people come from outside the city to do their shopping on the Saturday, so prepare for Bangkok- level busy. 

Take 5: 

1. Wondering around the city at night; beautiful buildings, lively atmosphere and warm enough to wear a light jacket.

2. Climb to the top of the Galata tower for incredible views over the city. 

3. We experienced quite a mixture of food, but by far the most enjoyable thing was the selection of baklava on offer.

4. The Spice Market- a sensory overload, where you are invited to try things first. 

5. A boat trip up the Bosphorus (Istanbul Strait); windy, but a must-do, you get to see both sides of the city.

West Coast Wonders

April was an incredibly hectic month with travels, more of which is to come.

But, for now I wanted to share a picture of one of the best things I did whilst in LA.

A sunrise hike up Runyon Canyon. Breathtaking views, beautiful weather and about as peaceful as it gets. (Not to mention it's free, too!) Sometimes something so simple can make for a truly memorable holiday moment.

Morning Beauty

There are moments when cities can look more beautiful than you ever imagined. A morning view of London from Primrose Hill creates exactly that.

The serenity looking over the city makes it easy to forget how bustling it can be.

Do you have any serene pictures of busy world cities?

Simply Delicious

There are times when I love relaxing on a beach or chilling by the pool. However, often I find it too tempting to get out and take in the sights, sounds and smell of a place.

When I spent some time in Chiang Mai there were so many wonderful things to see and do (including a rather exhausting trek) but by far the most enticing experience was taking a Thai Cookery course. I have long been a fan of Thai cuisine, so the opportunity to gain some first hand experience was something I couldn't resist.

The day started with a trip to the market, followed by the opportunity to cook 3 courses. I went for a cookery course at Asia Scenic. It was a great day, which I highly recommend. The people were lovely and the food completely organic.

The centre was set up beautifully with large communal tables for everyone to cook together.

We headed off to the market where we got the opportunity to purchase fresh produce and see the huge colourful vegetables and huge varieties of food. 

My teacher, Gayray, told us all about the various produce available.

We got the opportunity to cook with fresh authentic Thai produce, with all equipment and utensils provided. 

I made Massaman curry, simply delicious. It was the perfect lunch. I also got the chance to try a Penang curry; I highly recommend it. 

At the workshop they gave us all cookbooks to take home, so I've been fortunate to cook some Thai cuisine since I've been home. I had a great time cooking with Gayray and encourage anybody heading to Thailand to go and take a Thai cookery course.

More information is available on my course at the Asia Scenic website.

St Valentine

I will never be able to decide if I prefer sunrises or sunsets, I think there is a certain charm in each. I've been fortunate enough to experience some pretty incredible sunrises, I have particularly fond memories of trekking to see the sunrise in Fiji from the top of a mountain.

That said, I witnessed a beautifully magical sunrise in Koh Phangan in Thailand. With a romantic colour theme of pinks, reds and oranges the picture was flooded with light. Looking at it now conjures up incredible memories for me.

Where have you seen the best sunrise?

The Clean City

A while back I spent a weekend in Singapore, just a few days. It's an interesting place; a cleaner subway system than anywhere else I've ever visited, huge buildings and ridiculously sleek and fashionable women.

Experiencing huge expansion and growth in previous years, the economy in Singapore slowed up in 2011 and looks to stay much the same in 2012. It's a small country and will inevitably be effected by the economic problems in Europe.

That said, there's a lot of business in Singapore accross various industries, from banking to technology to the tourism trade. It's a popular stop-over destination for people travelling from Europe to Australia and is also popular in it's own right with first class shopping, world- renowned sights such as Raffles Hotel and the interesting island of Sentosa (it's like The Truman Show!).

Here are some of my pictures from the trip:

Thriving nightlife at Clarke Quay

Tiger made of flowers on Orchard Street

 Long Bar at Raffles Hotel, where one can enjoy a Singapore Sling (anyone can visit the bar, even if you aren't fortunate enough to be staying at the hotel.

THE Singapore Sling...

Leopards at the night safari

Bright colours at the Botanical Gardens...

Luging on Sentosa island- lots of fun!

The Dream Team:: Shutters on the Beach

Just the name of this hotel sounds idyllic, which isn't a word I would use for many hotels around the Los Angeles area of California.

Photo, courtesy of Shutters  on the Beach website

Shutters on the Beach is one hotel that I would love to stay at. It is a luxury beach front property in Santa Monica. A boutique hotel which looks cool yet comfortable, stylish yet friendly and of course, it's right on the beach.

Following the spot-on location, the credibility of the hotel is enhanced by beautifully crafted rooms, wonderful food and a wellness spa.

The rooms and suites have the mod-cons and cleanliness you would expect from a Californian hotel, but juxtapose this with a beachy-boutique feel. The clean, light and airy rooms are perfect for relaxing and enjoying the sea views.

There are 3 restaurants to choose from; One Pico, Coast and the Living Room. I imagine a lazy weekend at Shutters, including a wonderful morning brunch of Eggs Benedict on the Sunday down at One Pico whilst reading the papers.

The hotel looks modern, very slick and is quite big, yet what I love most about it is the way they appear to have retained a friendly beach-house vibe throughout the decor, restaurants and character.

Week-day doubles in February start from approximately $510 based on 2 people sharing a room.

See more for yourself at their website, Shutters on the Beach.

5 of the Best in Budapest

Budapest is another interesting European city; capital of Hungary, it is neatly nestled in Central- East Europe. With the river Danube flowing straight through the middle, Buda is the name for the area on the West Bank and Pest the name for the East Bank. They estimate 20 million tourists visit the city each year, and visited for a few days, myself, I can see why. Temperatures in the winter can be bitterly cold between -4C (24.8 F) and 1C (33.8 F), but in summer they can experience blue skies and very warm weather, with highs of 28C (82.4 F).

It's always difficult to sum up all the great things to see in a city if you only a couple of days to visit it, but I've put together my top 5 below. This list takes in my personal favourites and things not to be missed.

1. Gellert Spa and Bath. Go on, spoil yourself.

2. Take yourself to Gerbeaud Cukrászda for a coffee and cake. Spoil yourself some more. The sweet treats here are delectable, delicious and divine.

3. Sit by the Danube and watch the world go by for an afternoon or evening, or even take a boat trip along the Danube.

4. If you're looking for somewhere to go out I suggest 'Rio del cafe' overlooking the Danube river. It's open air so only an option in the summer, but it has a very cool vibe, not too expensive and is a bit different to the other clubs in the city.

5. Go to Castle Hill (Varhegy) for incredible views over the city.

Budapest is a great place to wonder around and get lost in the city. Truly, one of my favourite European destinations.

Happy New Year

Chinese New Year is today.

A couple of years ago I was in Bangkok around the time of Chinese New Year. The city looked more vibrant and colourful than usual,  if at all possible.

Happy Chinese New Year to anyone celebrating!

Planning you next Vacation...

For some people planning a holiday is a complete chore (enter travel agents to do the work for you) but for some of us half the fun is in planning our vacations. Even more rewarding than the planning is the fact that now there are sites which offer fantastic hotel rates, great experiences or even the entire holiday for you, so you can invariably save yourself a bit of money.

I personally like planning holidays and weekend breaks because, that way, I can ensure I know exactly what I'm getting and also exactly in the order/ way I want it. I've compiled a list of a few of my favourite sites to help you get started.

1. Jetsetter
Jetsetter is fairly new to the UK, but it is well established in the USA. The UK site has just partnered with Conde Nast Traveller and are currently offering flash sales at some of the Gold List 2012 hotels. 
What I like: good sales and at incredible hotels, this site offers luxury on a budget (not a small budget, but still). This allows those of us with flexibility on dates and time to spare, the opportunity to experience opulent hotels worldwide.There's a US site and a UK site to try.

My tip: I recommend giving Hacienda Benazuza a try in Seville, it looks incredible. Only a few days left in the flash sale! 

2. Secret Escapes 
This website offers a great selection of worldwide sales and also a host of UK based breaks, I'm fairly certain there is something for everyone.  
What I like: excellent variety of sales, some just hotels, others the entire trip. I also like the fact that you can set a reminder for up-coming sales. They'll e-mail you when the sale has begun. 

My choice: Cuba with flights, £1349 for 13 nights. Bargain!

3. Voyage Prive
 This website has lot of choice in terms of destination, and plenty of options for each place too. For lots of their offers you can choose varying number of nights, room only, room and flights, whole package.

My current pick: Artemisia Palace Hotel, Palermo, Italy. If you can bag some cheap flights they are currently offering a 2 night stay for £62 including breakfast!

So, if you're looking to plan your next get away, take a look at the above.

They call this place 'rad'...

... and if you don't know what 'rad' means, it might just be too cool for you!

New Zealand is a wonderfully varied country, the North Island, the South Island, the warm summers, the cold winters. There are incredible places to visit all over the country from Hot Water Beach, to trekking in the glaciers and spending time shopping in Wellington. However, there is one place which always seems to rank particularly highly with anyone I ask and that's Queenstown. Having been fortunate enough to visit, I can agree this is a great town and a fun place to be, but it's not for the faint hearted.

So, here are my top 5 things to do in Queenstown
1. Ferg Burger
42 Shotover Street is a must visit, speak to anyone who has visited before and they will agree, best.burger.in.the.world.

2. Bungee jump/ sky dive/ canyon swing
You have to take the opportunity to do some adrenaline sports whilst in Queenstown. It would be wrong not to.

3. Take a walk up the Queenstown Hill, to the summit of Te Tapu-Nui.
This walk will take a few hours, but the views are incredible and it is well worth the effort!




4. Take a boat ride.
The Shotover Jet is world famous, but any boat ride is worth doing. It's a gorgeous part of Queenstown to see.




5. Go for a drink at World Bar. It's sure to be a fun night.

Queenstown is an incredible place with lots of fun to be had. So get out and enjoy it!

Tranquil Moments

Today I'm feeling stressed and when this happens I always look to one place to make me feel calm again, my travel photos.

Fiji will always, for me, be remembered as one of the most beautiful, peaceful and relaxing places on earth.

Happy weekend x