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How would you like a “Private” guided tour of the wonders inside Vatican City & The Sistine Chapel ?

My “secret” spot for the best Café Latte in Bella Roma. 

“UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN”

Happy to share it with you when we book your trip to Italy!

We had 5 days in Paris and got to see and do so much. After arriving into Gare du Nord Rail Station on a cold & snowy morning in January with a wife, 3 children, 5 large cases & 2 scooters I have never been so glad to see our waiting guide & car transfer, the station was jammed packed with the morning collection of commuters and travellers from all corners of Europe & Africa, we were whisked outside and soon arriving at the Victoria Palace Hotel – our first home in Paris. Located in Montparnasse this is a small charming hotel, decorated in a true French flavour with a collection of eclectic furniture and works of art, rooms are a good size and most have the traditional red velvet wallpaper. Set in a semi residential area close to all the boutique shopping, small quaint restaurants & cafes the hotel is very typically Paris.

After our two nights at the Victoria Palace we move over to the ultra-modern, Design Hotel.. the Bel Ami. Located is a small cute laneway in St Germain. A few paces from Bvd St Germain is this gem of a hotel, clean lines, bright colours, happy friendly staff, this is a cutting edge hotel in a perfect setting.  We got to sample some fantastic French restaurants, traditional cafes with perfect coffee & cakes, stylish boutiques and glamorous shops. So off we set to explore a different part of this famous city. The Eiffel tower was first on our list but as it was the coldest January in 35 years and snowing the lift to the top was closed so after a few photos it was on the metro to the Arc De Triumph, up 75 stairs to the top to get a bird’s eye view of all of Paris …. And on a clear day this was spectacular … more photos then we’re on the bus this time to Opera area.. Another coffee & cake and a detour to Galleries La Fayette – one of Europe’s largest and most famous department stores.

Next day we had a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the Musee de Cluny with our private guide Elizabeth – a French Historian based at the Sorbonne. Elizabeth took us to parts of the Museum that are closed to the public, to see works of art in closed rooms, and gave us the full history of one of Paris’ most famous museums. After this it was more exploring time and trying out our limited French and the chance to use more busses, trains and walks along the boulevards.

Euro Disney was another must for the kids – they had been overloaded with culture and history so a theme park was part of the deal. We had pre-paid our Entry & Train Tickets so in the heavy snow with parkas and gloves, hats & scarfs we set off to the outer suburbs to Euro Disney. With the same plan as Disneyland you have all the favourite rides, parades , photo stops and shows ( only in French) and even in the snow things operate , have to say this was the coldest day we’ve ever had …but like all the other Disneyland’s it’s so much fun and you really do feel like a kid again .. Just for one day.

There is so much to do in Paris for everyone.. Art lovers, historians, food & wine lovers and even the kids ….

Let me arrange your unique Paris Experience with your own Private Guide and have a behind the scenes experience , then wander around on your own and soak it all in . Paris is an amazing city and to can be done really well on a budget.

For help in getting to Paris and the best Parisian experience, call me.

“The Big Apple”

As soon as you arrive into New York you know that you are somewhere special. There is no other place like it…..

It has it all. Times Square is as busy at 2.00am as it is at 9.00am. Cycling in Central Park, Eating is little Italy, The view from the Top of the Empire State Building, A shot over jet down the Hudson River past the Statue of Liberty, Museums, Galleries, A game at Yankee Stadium, Broadway shows, Soho, Greenwich Village, an early morning walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and of course the World Trade Centre site.

Located 45 minutes by high speed ferry from Singapore airport is the tropical Indonesian resort Island of Bintan. A haven for Singapore based expats and locals for a weekend escape and home to the very popular and deluxe resort of Club Med Ria Bintan.

Set on its own private beach, 20 minutes’ drive from the Ferry Terminal is the club village and quite secluded. It’s the perfect location if you want to get away, relax but still want the comforts of a 5 star resort.

As with all Club Med villages – Ria Bintan is centred around the beach, the pool and the tropical and well-manicured gardens full of colourful flowers and green plants. The main buildings are all open sided, allowing the ( sometimes ) cool breeze from the South China Sea to float in , a welcome relief from the tropical heat ( Bintan is very close to the equator ) .

Choice is the big thing at this resort… and quite often too many … not a bad thing for a family holiday. From the many many choices for breakfast , the ranges of meals for lunch that blends into the all-day dining and then rolling into the  never ending International choices for dinner to the daily cocktail choices , the activity choices , the spa choices .. arrrr so many choices. 

While the rooms are basic – this was the very first resort I’ve been to that I wouldn’t pay more for a better room. They all have great views, either the garden or the ocean, they are all the same size and quite large, they all have TV, phone, large tropical showers, but as you spend very little time in them the lead in Superior rooms are great. The only time we spent in the room was between 4.00pm – 6.00pm during the afternoon thunderstorm and getting ready for dinner.

As with all the Club villages there is an abundance of activities that cater for all ages , from archery lessons for kids to water aerobics in the main pool , tennis , golf , football games , snorkelling , diving lessons , kids clubs , teens clubs , craft activities.. It’s all there.. If you want it… if not there are numerous lounges by the pools or on the beach for you to laze in and watch the day pass, working your way from breakfast to lunch to dinner… and if you haven’t eaten enough then there is the all-day dining, where you can graze on anything and everything.

Open bar is a big bonus – no more frightening resort bar accounts at the end of your holiday as your package includes all meals, all drinks, all activities and all entertainment.. So no matter what time day or night, just walk up to the bar and order your drink … champagne anyone?

With 3 children in tow this was the best family holiday we’ve had.. the kids all loved it so much they didn’t want to leave at the end of our 5 day stay ….. and kept pleading. Can we have just one more day. Please Dad ???

I can’t stress enough the excellent value of the Club Med package.

Your total package costs have everything included and if you don’t visit the spa or use the in room phone, there is nothing else to pay.

At the end of our 5 day package we checked out without our spending a cent. We had no room account, no bar bill and no extras … and with 3 children that’s a blessing.

If you would like to know more about the Club Med packages.. Please call me.

Thinking of a holiday in Bali and want total privacy? 

Want a pool villa that won’t break the bank?  But you’d like all the features of a hotel?

Then The Elysian is for you. Just off Jalan Sari Dewi in Seminyak you will find a tranquil paradise. From the warm smiling welcome of the front desk staff – to the happy housekeeping staff your holiday will start the moment you arrive.

Each room is a 1 bedroom villa with large bathroom, bedroom with smart TV, a separate lounge/dining room with a wet bar, day bed that opens onto a large decked garden and your own lap pool – all behind a large door and high walls – to give you total privacy .

The hotel has a small trendy bar that mixes up some amazing cocktails – a restaurant that is open for breakfast , lunch & dinner serving local and international meals with their very own unique sense of style – all set around the resorts main pool .

There is a small library and business centre to catch up on your emails or to grab a book and relax by the pool. If you are feeling energetic , take one of the two mountain bikes and explore Seminyak or venture into the heart of the Seminyak / Legian shopping strip only 10 minutes’ walk away .

5 minutes’ walk from the resorts entrance you’ll find Seminyak Beach , La Lucciola , Ku De Ta or  The Lounge room and a 7 minute taxi ride will have you at Potato Head Beach Club , Sardine , or the Woo Bar at the W Resort .

If you are after a 5 star experience without breaking the bank then talk to me about a Bali Holiday at The Elysian…

Iceland -isn’t all covered in ice!

For something totally different in a holiday head off to Iceland – you’ll feel like you’ve landed on the moon.  With the interesting landscapes, rugged volcanic mountains, large open plains and thermal pools – you’ve landed in Iceland. Its capital Reykjavik leads the way for tourist to explore this amazing place.

 Our arrival was met with amazement at the landscape and my children all thought we had landed on the moon. Our first Icelandic experience was on our Iceland Air flight from Amsterdam , initial thoughts were they are a little ‘ frosty ‘ but when you get to talk to the Icelandic people , they are warm and friendly . The hour drive from the airport got us to our hotel in Reykjavik just before dark – and it was only 3.30pm. We got settled into our hotel the Radisson Blu and decided to explore the area around the hotel, however at 5.00pm it was -15 degrees and pitch dark …. Our first stop was to join a long line of people waiting outside the worlds famous Icelandic Hot Dog stand… if all these people are waiting it must be good .. During the 45 minute wait, more and more people kept arriving to line up… some even in taxis. The hot dogs were quite amazing, very tasty and very different… one with the lot included dried Tuna , dried onions , a sauce we still don’t know was it was and mustard like we’ve never tasted.

Our next introduction into Icelandic life was the most popular tour – The Golden Circle. This you get to see 3 of Iceland’s most extraordinary natural wonders – Guillfoss, Gyesir & Pingvellir all in one amazing day.

Starting out in the dark at 9.00am you head off to Gullfoss – a spectacular rainbow tinged double cascade that falls 32m down a narrow ravine, however in January this was frozen solid in the -16 degrees and cold like we’ve never felt before. 10 kms away is Geysir, after which all spouting hot springs are named .The Great Geysir is the main attraction that spouts every six minutes, when it spouts into an impressive 15m – 30m plume. 

Then it’s off to Pingvellir National Park, one of Iceland’s most important historical sites. The Vikings established the world’s first democratic parliament here in 930AD. It also has a superb natural setting on the edge of an immense rift caused by the separating North American & Eurasian tectonic plates. Pingvillr was made a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2004.

As Reykjavik is the world’s most northerly capital, it offers a combination of small town experience and hip and trendy escape. Nature adds an extra dimension with the rugged snow covered mountains that fringe the city. Reykjavik is an easy city to explore , with its streets easily marked and getting your baring’s are all very easy , it has lots to offer with some of the most interesting shopping,  trendy cafes and very hip bars , this is not a city that sleeps .

Add this to your list of MUST SEE PLACES   so for more information or how to arrange your Iceland Experience – call me.