26 July 2023

The McColl family returns to Lapland I’ve always enjoyed looking after Tina’s holidays, who in her own words can be “difficult to impress”. Since her and Gregor‘s honeymoon, their family adventures have included a previous visit to Lapland. This time they opted for different accommodation with evening entertainment for the kids, in addition to the search for the big fella... I don’t think I could tire of going back to Lapland - it is the most beautiful, peaceful place. It holds a very special place in my heart as it was where I got engaged to my husband, and last December was our third time visiting, once without children and twice with. This time we went to Saariselka on Santa’s Magic 3-night holiday, staying in Santa’s Holiday Club on a half-board basis, differing slightly different to the log cabins in which we had previously stayed. There are pros and cons to each; I lean towards the cabin with its inside sauna and log burner, so appreciated after a day out in the snow and its outside hot tub in which to relax and try to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. The children would vote for the hotel with its swimming pool, water slides and jacuzzi, where they went nightly, and which handily kept them entertained, off screens, and allowed me time to get organised for the following day. The log cabin scores higher for me for space and additional drying opportunities for wet clothes although the hotel’s inside restaurant allowed us to pop down in just indoor clothing as opposed to having to get wrapped up and head out into the snow to eat. I guess all things considered, the hotel wins on practicality and provision of entertainment, but the log cabin feels just a little more special. A small point to remember about the pool area, particularly the sauna, steam room and changing facilities, is the Finnish local tradition of enjoying naked freedom - it may be useful to be aware! ?? We flew from Edinburgh to Ivalo; the flight and bus transfer was made extra fun for the children with the elves singing, playing games and behaving mischievously. The check-in and process of getting our outdoor wear was extremely smooth and the hotel staff were friendly and welcoming. On the first day, our morning was spent messing around in the snow, sledding and making snow angels with some scheduled activities in the afternoon, that differed slightly due to the children’s ages but were both equally amazing. My husband and daughter went on a 10km husky sled ride through the mountains whilst my son and I took out the snowmobiles for a two-hour journey through the arctic wilderness. Although he wasn’t old enough to drive it, he was thrilled to be tall enough to sit on the back of the snowmobile rather than be pulled in a trailer behind the instructor. I had the privilege to drive us through the beautiful scenery, observing the wildlife and stopping along the way for some hot berry juice and cinnamon biscuits. I loved every single minute. It was minus 30 degrees at times, but we were suitably dressed and never felt the cold. Although quite pricey, the excursions are worth every penny for the experience and memories. On day two, we were collected in the morning for the forest Santa hunt. There was plenty to do at the site, including husky rides, mini skidoos, snow hockey and fishing, plus an ice bar and warm pancakes by the fires. There were two camps and transport available between each whenever required. The husky sled ride and a restaurant lunch slot were the only things with set times, the rest was yours to organise as wished and we managed to experience all the activities throughout the day. The hunt for Santa’s cabin, the headline attraction, isn’t at a fixed time but on a queuing basis. When reaching the front, you were whisked off by skidoo to a magical little cabin in the forest to be greeted by some singing and dancing elves and taken inside to find the main man. Santa was warm and welcoming, and my daughter’s face was worth the cold journey. I would advise doing this part of the trip early and in daylight. The cold air from the speed of the journey hits your face and pulling our scarves up for protection made seeing the approach to the cabin difficult. The queue for entry is constant all day and although fire pits are lit nearby and naughty elves try to entertain you, it gets darker, colder and makes standing still more challenging as the day goes on. It’s always sad to leave Lapland and on our final day, we wandered around the town, finding some lovely tents serving hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows and local shops to purchase small gifts to take home. I would shop around as the nearby gift shop was full of lovely items but was expensive and prices at the airport are crazy. Lapland has become a favourite destination and I would consider returning again. We have booked many holidays with Gillian, and she was awesome as always, ensuring all the little parts that make a holiday special are taken care of.

15 May 2023

Lucy and Justin are an active pair that I have booked on several ski trips. When seeking adventure in warmer climes, the brilliant BodyHoliday suits them for a perfect mix of luxury, along with keeping up their keen fitness regime. This is a super place and one I am keen to share so asked Lucy if she would be interested to provide some feedback from her visit at the end of last year. She kindly obliged... Having previously experienced a stay at the BodyHoliday, I decided to return but this time with my partner. I enjoyed it last time but this time, I totally loved it! "I am a big fan of and regular visitor to the truly beautiful island of St Lucia and ha After a great direct flight with British Airways from London, Gillian had arranged a private car transfer for us. The hotel is located at the north of the Island and with the International Airport in the South, the drive takes around 90 minutes. However, any tiredness quickly evaporated with a lovely driver, complimentary water, air conditioning and a totally inspiring journey through the lush and gigantic rain forests. It felt like our own private tour through Jurassic Park! The BodyHoliday is an impressive 5* resort. The tone is set with the quality of the arrival cocktail and the welcome pack before being shown to our room. Having a pillow menu was an exciting first and the bedtime herbal tea and cookies were a nice change from the complimentary chocolate on the pillow! A worthy mention at this stage too for the charismatic bar tender who not only visits the beach to provide service for you but who actually comes into the water too - a lovely touch! We went all-inclusive and it was well worth it. The food choice was amazing with all dietary requirements catered for and certainly one of the most flexible places I have visited. If a full breakfast was desired you could, if you wanted to eat more healthily you could, if you wanted to eat early or late you could... The quality of the food was outstanding. Genuine à la carte options along with some more relaxed dining and as for the pizza oven and the deli, they have to receive a stand out mention - the blue cheese and pear pizza was a firm favourite and the deli an awesome place to chill and enjoy fabulous coffee, homemade cakes, fudge to die for and tasty salads/ wraps. Believe it or not, after focusing on the culinary delights, this is an activity holiday – gym, boot camp, combat, dance, Pilates, yoga, tennis, golf... literally an activity available on the hour every hour from 6am to 7pm. The dance studios and the gym are top drawer. There is also a complimentary full hour treatment per person per day – all kinds of massages, facials, etc – each one we had was amazing and you can pre-book your times too, which was greatly appreciated so we did not have to cancel/ rearrange anything else we had booked. Evening entertainment is provided at the hotel by way of a disco or live band but to be honest most people seem eager to simply enjoy the food, the bars, the company of fellow guests and then head to bed in preparation for an early start. Our holiday had also coincided with the 1 mile St Lucia swim week – a themed week with 2 Olympic swimmers. We learned so much, partook in various lessons, group swims and added some extremely worthwhile private lessons. We then took part in the fabulous St Lucia swim of 1 mile – not organised by the resort – it was a public event open to all residents, guests and locals and was great fun. The St Lucians are friendly and welcoming wherever you go and have a great sense of humour! We were also keen to get out and try some tours. There are lots available from gardens, wildlife, forests and local village visits but we opted for the relaxing sunset cruise which was beautiful if a little crowded. More active and far harder work was the Quadrathon - a challenging cross-country cycle ride on top quality mountain bikes, followed by a run, a spectacular abseil down a waterfall, then a 5 mile kayak back to the beach. It was fully supported including several water stops but boy was that tough! This was a brilliant holiday. The weather was stunning throughout and being with an active fitness partner and having enough for both of us to do yet still be able to relax ticked all the boxes. We wish we could have stayed longer but wasted no time in booking it with Gillian again, hopefully for late this year (fingers crossed). We will bring a little more insect repellent and more sports clothes than formal ones this time and just can’t wait. Bring it on! Lucy Bolton

08 August 2023

After their fantastic first holiday together, Mike and Geraldine were keen to satisfy their wanderlust with a multi-centre mixture of adventure and relaxation. Having visited both Sri Lanka and the Maldives some years earlier, Mike was keen to introduce his partner to the delights of these special places and asked for my help... We knew that a trip around Sri Lanka was the next place on our travel wish list followed by some relaxation time in the Maldives. Gillian’s inspiration and advice on the best way to do it was the missing ingredient. Whale watching, a safari, visiting a tea plantation and a general exploration around the island were our major considerations for the beautiful country of Sri Lanka, along with a private car and tour guide for a more personal experience. Gillian’s knowledge and experience came to the fore, as usual, advising we spend eight days to accommodate everything that we wanted to do without rushing, followed by a week’s downtime in the Maldives, staying for the first time in a Water Villa at OBLU Select Sangeli. It sounded idyllic. It was... We flew with Qatar Airways and Gillian had organised VIP lounges at each of the airports we were departing from along with all our transfers throughout, which were seamless. Sri Lanka was magnificent. I had recalled how green it was and how so many views were spectacular, but it was so great to be reminded how special the people are, so welcoming and the nicest I have ever met whilst on holiday. Our private tour guide was excellent, picking us up in an air-conditioned car each morning to take us to the different destinations. He was very knowledgeable, always on time, and most certainly enhanced the whole experience. Our excursions were all memorable and insightful, the nature and wildlife as beautiful as any we have seen. We stayed at four different hotels, all of great quality and unique in their own way, from a beach type and a colonial tea plantation to being surrounded by trees, mountains and spectacular views. The staff at each were excellent, attention to detail was first class and nothing was too much trouble. Food was terrific, especially the local cuisine, and on my birthday, I was presented with a cake by the hotel staff - a lovely touch. After an incredibly enjoyable time touring around Sri Lanka, it was time for the luxurious paradise of the OBLU Select Sangeli, which we reached by a 50-minute comfortable boat ride to the island. The place blew us away upon arrival. Everything looked stunning, from the gorgeous beaches, crystal clear water, spectacular water villas, and all the lovely palms. The bars and the pool looked perfect too, which didn’t take very long to confirm this was the case. Staying in a Water Villa was a first for us and we would definitely do so again. To look out into the open sea was amazing, along with being able to see the fish swimming beneath us through the internal glass floor. Steps from the balcony meant we could climb down into the sea and a short distance out was a drop, so you could see deep down into the ocean and a stunning collection of spectacular fish. The resort service was superb - all the staff went above and beyond even the cleaning team, who would ask daily if there was anything that we wanted in the room. There was no need to leave the hotel at all. We stayed on an all-inclusive basis and the three restaurants, two of which were à la carte, were of a very high standard. We went scuba diving, out on jet skis with a guide to see other islands and to a sandbar in the middle of the ocean, which was a great experience. We also went canoeing, snorkelled outside the villa daily, watched dolphins swim by and saw some gorgeous sunsets - words can’t explain the feelings. It was all over too soon, as it always is when having so much fun. The return trip was fine from the boat to the airport, and after flying back to Doha, we decided to end the trip in style, upgrading to first-class for the seven-hour journey home - another great experience. It was a dream holiday of a lifetime. We were surprised by how beautiful Sri Lanka was with its lovely greenery, stunning mountains and gorgeous beaches, and OBLU exceeded our expectations. Thanks to Gillian’s excellent planning, we managed to fit in everything that we wanted to do. Her attention to detail and thinking of all the little things makes booking a holiday so much more pleasurable and we know everything will be sorted to a very high standard. We can’t thank her enough. #indianocean #touring