Travelling to Kenya

Accommodation night before flight

We flew to Nairobi from Heathrow Airport on Sunday 11th September with British Airways. The day before we were due to fly we stayed at the Thistle Hotel at Heathrow Airport. We asked if we could have a twin room due to one of us snoring (Mike). We were advised that this would be an extra £30 which we thought was a bit too much as we were still only staying in one room therefore we didn’t do this. To access the rooms from the reception area there was a small ramp which was only wide enough to pull one suitcase up. This wasn’t great as we had two suitcases each and it would have been better if the ramp was wider. The rooms were clean and not too bad a size.

Food and drink at the Thistle hotel

There was a nice bar upstairs with a large outside seating area which overlooked the runway. This could have been an amazing place to sit and have a drink whilst watching the planes but it was a bit dated and in need of a bit of TLC. Despite this it was still lovely to sit outside as it was a nice warm day. We did have an issue with trying to find someone to serve us as there was nobody behind the bar for some time. Breakfast at the hotel was very good with a wide variety including full English, cereals, pastries, fruit and yoghurt. This hotel is well located with a bus stop right outside the hotel which takes you directly to the airport by local bus in under 10 minutes. This hotel could be far better if it had just had a bit of money spending on it as it did look a bit run down in certain areas. We would though still recommend this hotel for its location and value for money. We paid for a one night stay which included 14 days parking.

On the day of our flight we had not booked an executive lounge which we normally do due to no availability. Instead we had a couple of drinks in Wetherspoons which was a bit different to the bubbles and fizz of the lounges.

Flight to Nairobi

We were fortunate to get business class flights with British Airways which is a lovely way to travel. Our excuse was that we were unable to get in to the lounge therefore we made up for the lack of fizz by having a few glasses on the flight. It was lovely to have Champagne before you have even left the runway.

The food and cocktails on the flight were excellent. The comfort of a flat bed on the flight was definitely a big bonus as you don’t wake up with a stiff neck as you are able to lie down and enjoy the in-flight entertainment. The flight to Nairobi was 8 hours and 50 minutes which is not too long.

Passport control Nairobi

When we arrived in Nairobi it was horrendous getting through passport control. It took over one and a half hours from getting off the plane to leaving the airport. Although it appeared to be a pain in the posterior at the time we understood this is for everyone’s safety and security.

Whilst we were waiting to go through passport control we were contacted several times by our transfer. We were a bit worried that the driver might leave due to the length of time it took us to get through the immigration process. As we came out of the airport we were expecting someone to be stood there with our names on a board but unfortunately not! Thankfully our transfer contacted us again and took us to our waiting car. We had booked a return transfer through Booking.com https://www.booking.com at a cost of £35.

Nairobi accommodaton

We stayed at the Boma (Red Cross Street) which is a 20-30 minute drive from the airport. The cost of the hotel was £100 per night. It was almost midnight when we arrived therefore it was very quiet. Check in was very quick with helpful, polite members of staff. The concierge took our cases to the room. We had emailed the hotel prior to arriving to request a twin room which was agreed but when we got to our room it was a double room. Reception quickly rectified this and gave us a twin room. The rooms are very spacious with a desk and mini-fridge in the room. The bathroom was also spacious with a separate shower and bath. Our room overlooked the swimming pool which was lit up at night. Unfortunately we can’t say what the pool was like as we went on our safari the next morning. Breakfast at the hotel was impressive with something for everyone consisting of hot food including sausage, eggs and bacon, cereals, fruit, pastries and breads. Drinks were waiter/waitress service which was a nice touch. All the staff we came in contact with at the hotel were lovely and did their best to meet our needs.

Travel to Safari

The following morning we were picked up at 7.30 by Axis Africa Safari. We had booked this through Safari Bookings https://www.safaribookings.com/. Our driver was Sylvia who was very chatty and made the journey very pleasant. She was also a safe driver which is unusual in Nairobi as everyone seemed to drive in a somewhat crazy manner.  We hit rush-hour traffic so it took us around 40 minutes to get to our destination.

We were taken to an awaiting jeep in the centre of Nairobi. On the jeep there was a family of four and a single man. We then headed on out of Nairobi to start our journey to the safari. The journey to the Masai Mara took around 6 hours with a couple of stops.

The Great Rift Valley

Our first stop was to view The Great Rift Valley. We pulled up at the side of the road along with many other jeeps. We spent around 15 minutes here which gave us time for photos and to get a drink if necessary as there was a small shop. The view was spectacular and worth stopping for. We did see some wildlife too, including some colourful birds and many Red Rock Rats.

Refreshment stop

At the second stop there was time for drinks, food and a toilet break. This was a popular place for tourists to stop as there were many other jeeps here. At the stop there was also a shop selling hand carved animals, paintings and many other interesting souvenirs. This is a very expensive place to buy gifts.  We bought them elsewhere at a fraction of the cost.

The roads to the Masai Mara were of a decent standard and therefore the journey wasn’t too bad. However the last 45 minutes of the journey was on a dirt track which was extremely bumpy. Our driver Geeman said we were getting a free 45 minute body massage!  Geeman was very informative throughout the journey and humorous which made for a fun trip.

Safari Accommodation

When we arrived at our accommodation, the Jambo Safari Lodge, at around 3.30 we were greeted by porters who took our cases. Check-in was very quick and easy. We were then shown to our room, an upgrade to a glass lodge which we had chosen rather than one of the tents which are also available at a cheaper cost.

As we entered the room we were pleasantly surprised – the room was lovely. The bathroom was tiled with a walk-in shower and double sink. The room was equipped with a clean king-sized bed, desk, wardrobe, seating area, toiletries and free water.

On the outside there was a large balcony overlooking the forest where there were many monkeys. We were advised to keep the balcony door locked at all times as the monkeys know how to open them.  We had not paid luxury prices therefore had not expected a room as nice as this. We had booked a mid-range safari for 3 days at a cost of US$570 which is around £470.

The lodge also had a swimming pool which is a nice touch if you are staying a bit longer and not going on Safari everyday. Unfortunately although the pool looked very inviting it was too cold to have a dip in it when we had returned from the Safari. We did see people in it on a number of occasions.

Lodge Food and Drink

Prior to setting off on our evening safari we had our evening meal at the lodge. Meals were included in the cost of the safari but drinks were extra, although very reasonably priced.  Wine was only served by the bottle which we found a bit disappointing as we sometimes only want a glass.  Bottles of Tusker Cider and Lager were around £2.50. The restaurant was fairly basic but we did expect that. The choice of food wasn’t particularly extensive but there was always something to eat that we enjoyed. The quality of the food was also good. It consisted of the usual buffet-type menu, a meat dish, a chicken dish, a fish dish, a vegetarian dish, vegetables, salads, breads and cakes. The staff in the restaurant were very attentive and willing to help.

Safari

The jeep arrived to pick us up at 6.30pm on our first day for an evening Safari. It was amazing to see a range of different animals as soon as we had left the drive of our lodge. There were many giraffes and zebras. Some of the other animals took a bit of looking for. On the first day of our safari we didn’t see all of the big five but did see some wonderful animals in their natural habitat (giraffes, zebras, gazelles, elephants, wildebeest, jackals and buffalos). Apparently early morning and in the evening are the best times to see the animals.

The Big Five

The next day we had an early breakfast and were picked up at around 7.15am for an early start. The hotel provided us with a lunch box which consisted of a sandwich, cake, banana, crisps, yogurt and a drink. It was amazing to see so many animals in the wild and to be so close to them. The safari exceeded all of our expectations of what the safari would be like. We managed to see four of the big five (lion, buffalo, leopard and elephant). Unfortunately we did not get to see the rhino but may be next time.

Warthogs

The Warthogs were very funny to watch. Our driver Geeman told us about them having a very short memory. They would set off running and forget where they were running to and just stop. All the Warthogs are called Pumbaa to Kenyans. Most people would assume that this comes from the film Lion King but it doesn’t. Kenyans called the Warthogs Pumbaa long before the film. Pumbaa means “to be absentminded, careless, foolish, ignorant, lazy, stupid and negligent”. Part of the fun of the safari was looking for the rarer animals.

Wildebeest, Elephants and Buffalo

It was spectacular being in the middle of a herd of wildebeest and buffalos. Just sitting and watching the elephants cooling themselves and their babies with mud was amazing. In fact, just having the time to watch each animal in their natural environment being the creatures that they are was breath-taking. Although we are writing about our experience on the safari we are not sure if our words will truly do justice to what it was like to be there.

Masai Mara River

We stopped at the Masai Mara River and were able to get out of the jeep. We were accompanied by a ranger who had what looked like a tranquilizer gun. This river is where the wildebeest cross from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara. Unfortunately many of them don’t make it as they get drowned or eaten by the crocodiles. It was quite sad to see such a large amount of dead wildebeest in the river.

Across the river on the opposite bank were many hippos who were just laid bathing in the sunshine. We were aware that hippos are the deadliest land mammals on earth therefore we were glad that they were on the other side of the river and we had our ranger to protect us. It is estimated that hippos kill around 500 people a year in Africa.

The ranger guided us on a walk along the river bank where there were many monkeys running around. We even saw what looked like a spiderman lizard but was actually an African Redhead Agamas.

Lunch

We were taken to an area to have lunch which was provided by the lodge. Here there were some toilets but they were not very pleasant. The whole group of seven of us ate together. There were many monkeys hanging around waiting to take the food. Many of the Safari Jeeps had also stopped here for lunch. All of the guides spent their time chasing the monkeys away. We actually liked them and didn’t want them to be chased away but they may have had their reasons. Some of the monkeys would climb in to the open roof of the Jeep. When we were about to leave one monkey jumped in through the roof which scared some of our group but it was soon chased out by our guide.

Lions, Cheetahs and Leopards

Many of the animals are in plentiful supply in the Masai Mara including zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, buffalo, gazelles and warthogs but the lions, cheetahs and leopards are harder to find. When one of the rarer animals is spotted the driver informs the other jeeps by radio. Where there is a rarer animal you will find many jeeps watching and taking photos. We were fortunate to see all three of them.

The Masai Mara borders Tanzania. Our guide advised that it is dangerous to drive on the Tanzanian side as there are restrictions with severe consequences. He informed us that people have been known to have been shot for going in to Tanzania without permission.

Evening Meal at the Lodge

We returned to the lodge at around 6.30pm and changed for evening meal. The food was always good quality and clearly labelled as to what was on offer. Usually we would have a few drinks with our meal and then sit in the bar for a further one or two, or even more! Unfortunately the Lodge did not have a bar but they are in the process of building one. However it did have a nice sitting out area to have a drink. The drinks were very reasonably priced at around £2.50 a bottle. The weather did get a bit cold at night therefore we needed jackets. Due to the early start the following day we did not stay out late.

Masai Village

On our last day we were taken to a Masai Village. It cost $20 USD each to enter the village which is around £16.50. We had read not to take too much money on the Safari as some people had had money stolen. We need not have worried about this as our room had a safe and there were security staff walking around the lodge of an evening. Our itinerary for the Safari showed that the village was an optional extra and not part of the Safari cost. It also showed an early morning Safari on our last day which we did not do which was a bit disappointing. Due to this we had not taken enough money but Geeman (Guide) kindly paid it for us which we gave him back when we went to a cash point.

Tribe Dance

First the tribe showed us their dancing but then asked some of us to join in. They gave us sticks and cloaks to wear. This was great fun but was also very physical. How attractive a male is to a female is based on how high he can jump therefore the dance involved a lot of jumping up and down.

Fire Lighting

The tribe mentioned that they still start fires the traditional way using a stick, dried glass and flint stone. This was a lot more difficult than it looked. It was hard to keep the stick spinning fast enough to generate a spark. We weren’t sure why they didn’t just buy some matches or a lighter as it’s so much easier!

Mud huts

Each of us in our group were taken separately in to one of the homes to have a look inside. The mud huts are made from wood and elephant faeces. Surprisingly they didn’t smell. The tribe member who showed us his home said that he lived in the hut with his mother, father and six siblings. The hut was only small with a bedroom for parents and a bed in the living area for all of the children.

We were a bit shocked to see that there was electricity in the hut as we had thought that they lived in a totally primitive manner. He also informed us that all of the children go to school which they have to pay for hence why they charge visitors to enter the village. The villagers also earn money from selling the jewellery that they make.

Journey back to Nairobi

After our visit to the village we headed back to Nairobi. On our way back we called for lunch which was included in the cost of the trip. It was a buffet style lunch. Drinks were available for an additional cost but were very reasonable at around £2 for a bottle of lager or cider. We arrived at our hotel The Boma at around 4pm after dropping four of our group off at the airport. The other member of our group joined another group at the restaurant as he was going on to join another Safari.

Carnivore Restaurant

We booked the famous Carnivore Restaurant through Viator https://www.viator.com/ at a cost of £52 per person which included dinner and private transfer (drinks were an additional cost). We were picked up at 6.30pm by our driver Francis. He arrived in a very clean new black minibus style car. Francis was dressed in a Tux. We felt quite special having the luxury vehicle and Francis dressed in style. The journey from our hotel to the restaurant took around 30 minutes.

When we arrived at the restaurant we had to go through a security check. The vehicle was checked inside, outside and underneath.

In the restaurant we had our table for two hours of dining. This is a very popular and famous restaurant therefore all of the tables were reserved. When someone left the table was quickly taken by someone else. It is a large restaurant with many tables and hence it holds a lot of people.

Once escorted to our table we were offered the drinks menu. We ordered a bottle of wine at a cost of £25 which is a reasonable price for a restaurant. We were then asked if we wanted the doctor to come and give us some medicine in the form of a drink which we agreed to. The drink was a Dawa which is a traditional Kenyan drink. In fact the Dawa drink is credited to the Carnivore Restaurant. The cost was around £7 each which is also reasonable. We don’t think that we could have drunk many of these as they were quite potent.

Firstly our waiter brought out trays of sauces and salad. Then the meat carvers constantly came round with various meats including steak, chicken, turkey, sausage, liver, ribs, ostrich, crocodile and ox balls.

For each type of meat they brought round on skewers the carvers recommended which of the sauces were meant to accompany them. One of us (Debbie) thought the ox balls were potatoes and asked for five! All the meat is cooked on a huge open fire pit. The steak is cooked as you like it as at the beginning of the meal the waiter asks how you like your steak. The meat keeps flowing until you say stop.

The food, service and atmosphere at the restaurant was amazing. If you are in Nairobi then this restaurant is a must visit as not only was the food delicious but it is also a quite iconic restaurant.

Summary

The days on the Safari were very long with early morning starts and you are out in the wild until evening but it was definitely worth every minute. Our guide Geeman was amazing and his knowledge was extensive and made for a really informative trip. He was a really good driver and knew where to find the animals. He also was quite humorous which added to the whole experience. We are not sure how the other drivers and guides are but we feel that Geeman went out of his way to ensure we all had the best time possible. Due to being on the Jeep for several days with our group we got to know some lovely people and again this added to the experience as we all got on well and chatted and laughed together. This was truly one of the best experiences of our lives. Everything about this trip was amazing.

Things to do in Nairobi

• Go on Safari in the Masai Mara
• Visit the Carnivore Restaurant
• Visit Nairobi National Park
• Visit the Elephant orphanage
• Visit the Giraffe Centre
• Visit Amboseli National park
• Visit Kiambethu Tea Farm
• Visit a Masai Village
• Take a shopping tour
• Take a historical and cultural day tour in Nairobi

Top Tips

• Research Safari’s to ensure you get the best price and the Safari you want.
• Take hand sanitiser, sun cream, hat, mosquito spray, toilet wipes, plastic bag and ordinary wipes when going on Safari (There are no toilets in the middle of the Masai Mara therefore be prepared).
• Wear browns and greens on Safari as apparently insects are attracted to bright colours, blacks and blues.
• If going to a Masai Village take sweets, writing books and pens for the children.
• If going to Carnivore Restaurant via a tour operator check what is included as some only quote for the journey to and from the restaurant and don’t include the cost of the meal.
• When booking any Safaris or excursions check reviews and trust pilot for the tour operator to ensure it is a reputable company.
• When booking a hotel in Nairobi check that it is in a safe area with good security.
• Check out weather below for the best time to visit Nairobi as it has wet seasons.
• Check out other destinations we have visited in Africa. Please click on the following links Diani Beach, Tunisia, Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, Cairo, Cape Verde, Agadir
• Before traveling to Nairobi check the government safety and security advice https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kenya

Weather in Nairobi

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	26	28	27	25	24	23	22	23	26	27	25	24
Low Temp	13	13	14	15	14	12	11	11	11	13	14	13
Rainfall	40	60	90	130	120	30	10	10	20	40	110	80
Number of days	6	4	9	13	12	5	5	6	5	7	16	10

Arriving on Ship

This was our second week on the ship as the week before we had done the Paradise Islands cruise. Please see the following link for full details Paradise Islands

Check in

When we arrived on the ship we were directed to the show room for a safety briefing which was around 20 minutes long. Once we had watched this we then had to go and show our passports and were given our room allocation as we had not booked this prior.

It was several hours before our cases arrived at our rooms but this was not an issue as were free to use the facilities on the ship. Therefore had a few drinks and a bite to eat. Although it wasn’t ideal being in the clothes that we had travelled in we still enjoyed the evening. Due to having a long day and a late night the previous evening we at a relatively early night.

Cabin

Our cabin was on deck 10 with no windows. The cabin’s are quite small but enough for everything you need. We kept the beds as single as this worked for us. There is plenty of wardrobe space and draw space to keep everything in. The bathroom was quite small but adequate with a small corner sink and a small corner shower. Not having a window did not bother us as we were not in there very long. The only downside was that you struggled to dry swimwear as there was nowhere to hang them to dry. The staff that clean the cabin’s were brilliant as it was immaculately cleaned everyday. Towels left in the shape of animals and chocolates left on the pillows which was a nice touch. There is also a turn down service.

Pool Scene

Having been on one previous Marella Cruise around the Mediterranean we expected this to be very similar but it wasn’t. On the previous cruise it was more of a party atmosphere around the pool. The pool was also designed different with places to sit in the pool around the edge where you were sat in a few inches of water to keep cool. Whilst saying this the entertainment staff are brilliant and try to get people involved in various activities around the pool (Trivia quizzes and music quizzes etc.). On most days there was live entertainment which was usually low key as opposed to the other cruise which was very upbeat.

One of the things we did not agree with around the pool was that on occasions they showed movies and gave people headsets to listen to the movie but turned all music off for other guests who didn’t want to watch the movie. Totally agree with people spending their holiday how they want and if watching a movie in the sunshine is there thing then that’s great but there are others who like to have music. Not sure why we couldn’t have both as they had headsets on. There are many area’s on the ship where you can lie in the sunshine and have quiet time.

Food and Drink

There are many places to eat on the ship some of which you have to pre book and are chargeable.

Market Place

Located on deck 11 it Is the usual buffet style restaurant with added bonuses. There is a deli that serves freshly made sandwiches and hot panini’s during the day. Also there is an afternoon tea serving from 3pm. We never tried this but when passing through it always looked lovely. Of an evening regular theme nights which cover cuisine from around the world, including Mexican, Chinese and Japanese. We didn’t eat here much as we found it a bit café like and we wanted more of a dinning experience especially on an evening. .

Nonna’s

This is an Italian restaurant on the pool deck which is open for lunch. You are given an order sheet where you pick either your pasta dish or pizza. There are then choices to add to your pasta for example sources, herbs in the form of tick boxes. There is also a help yourself salad bar. We ate here a couple of times and the food was ok but a bit bland for our taste. It is a small restaurant but there are also seats outside in the shade where you can eat. It is located on deck 11

Snack Shack

This is also on the pool deck and is open during the day from 10 -6. It serves chips, burgers, hot dogs and fish. There is a small selection of salad to add. To one side to the Shack there is a fridge that has freshly made sandwiches and salads. The fish bites here were so nice therefore we ate them on many occasions. It is located on deck 11

Kora La

This is an Asian restaurant which does charge extra. You also need to book this in advance. Unfortunately it was fully booked during our stay therefore we can not comment on the food or service. Guests who had managed to book stated that it was worth the extra.

Latitude 53

We ate regular at this restaurant as you can have waiter/waitress service for every meal (Breakfast, lunch and evening meal). Unfortunately some lunch times it was closed which we found disappointing as we liked to have lunch here.

Breakfast

At breakfast there was a range of options from traditional English to Delhi of the day. Service was usually very good. Food was of a good standard and was served with juices or coffee and tea.

Lunch

Lunch was 3 courses but you could add extra sides should you wish to do so. The menu did change on a regular basis with some items staying the same. The gourmet burger was one that did stay the same each day which we really enjoyed and had this on more than one occasion. During the day this restaurant is pretty quiet therefore service was very efficient.

Evening meal

On an evening this restaurant could get really busy therefore they would give you a buzzer so you did not wait in the queue which was great as you could go and get a drink. The buzzer would let you know when your table was available. The menu did change daily slightly. Again you can have 3 courses should you wish with added sides. The menu has a good choice with fish, meat, vegetarian and vegan choices. The food is always well presented. Even when it is very busy the service is good considering the amount of people that are dinning here.

Vista

On the lower floor of the Latitude 53 this is an Italian restaurant on an evening. We ate here on many occasions as we liked the food here. Although it is Italian you could also have steak. The food changed slightly each day but not enough. Again you can have 3 courses and additional sides should you wish to do so. Our favourite was the Carbonaro which has an additional charge of £4.99 which was definitely worth it. One of the waiters mixes the pasta with the cheese at your table. The deserts are to die for too. If you are on the premium package they offer desert cocktails too. If you are not on the premium package these are chargeable. We strongly recommend that you give these a try especially the Tiramisu Martini

Images of Vista restaurant

Surf and Turf

Prior to going on the cruise we managed to book in to this restaurant. There is an additional charge of £37 per person. Our starter was a sharer starter of sausage, BBQ spareribs and garlic bread. We had surf and turf and a sirloin steak for our mains which was all cooked to perfection. We also had various sides to accompany the meal (onion rings, chunky chips, sauteed mushrooms, mac and cheese). Our deserts were also lovely ( Profiteroles and cheesecake). Throughout the meal the waiters are constantly topping up the wine. Finally we had our dessert cocktails which were even nicer than the ones in Vista. The whole experience was lovely both food and service.

Images of Surf and Turf restaurant

The only downside was that we had booked a time to eat but there was a member of staff that had come on the cruise and was wanting to book. She obviously did not want to book through the usual channels as the guests and thought she was superior. She was also getting cross with the lady who was front of house at the restaurant. We have no problem with this apart from we were stood in a queue for sometime which was getting longer by the minute. Many of the other guests in the queue were also getting cross. In the end we spoke to a member of staff and asked to let us in for our meal and deal with her booking afterwards which they did. This did not give us a good start to the meal.

Indigo Bar

This bar is a late bar of an evening. It is also the venue for some live bands. There is a DJ until the early hours on some days. The music which was played ranged from the 70’s to present. Whilst we were there it didn’t get overly busy but that had its advantages as it didn’t take long to be served. This bar served some great cocktails especially the smoking ones which looked quite impressive. We visited the Indigo Bar on a number of occasions which is not a good thing when you have an early start the next day.

Squid and Anchor

This bar is allegedly to be designed like a modern British Pub. It looked nothing like a British Pub but it did not stop anyone from having fun. Here they host game shows like Mr and Mrs, quizzes and Bingo. It is good fun to watch or join in. As usual there were people complaining that it was more like Butlins than a cruise. There are so many bars on the ship if they didn’t like then they should have gone else where. A lot of people stated that this was their favourite bar.

19th Hole

This was a lovely bar that served great cocktails. As the name suggests this was designed in a golf theme with seats in the shape of golf carts. We liked to have a drink in here each evening as it was a bit quirky. If going on this cruise visit this bar. A lot of people completely miss this bar as it is not stated in the Tui information. We stumbled across it by accident.

Aperitif

This bar is situated directly outside of the Surf an Turk and the Kao Lak. It is a great place to have a drink or two before dinning. An extensive cocktail menu is another reason why this is such a good bar to visit.

Flutes

Flutes is a quieter bar with piano music playing in the background. This bar has a good range of Champagne and Prosecco. So if this is your thing than this is the bar to be in.

Entertainment

Unfortunately we can not comment on any of the shows as we didn’t see them. We did however go and see some of the specialist singers which were amazing. A lot of people commented on a comedian/magician which they said was fantastic and well worth seeing. The entertainment staff work tirelessly day and night to keep everyone entertained.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Bridgetown – Barbados

Day 2 – Kingstown – St Vincent

Day 3 – Fort De France – Martinique

Day 4 – Pointe-A-Pitre – Guadeloupe

Day 5 – Castries – St Lucia

Day 6 – St Georges – Grenada

Day 7 – Scarborough – Tobago

Day 8 – Leave – Bridgetown – Barbados

Barbados

Please click on the following link to see our experience in Barbados Barbados

St Vincent

We only had a short walk around St Vincent as we had not booked any excursions. Near the port it is very busy we lots of stalls selling fresh fruit and vegetables. It appeared like a small market place for the locals. Other guests on the ship went to beaches etc and stated that it was lovely.

Martinique

Please click on the following link to see our experience in Martinique Martinique

Guadeloupe

It was raining very heavy when we arrived in Guadeloupe and continued to rain most of the morning therefore we did not walk very far. In the port of Pointe-A-Pitre there are some lovely shops and little markets to walk round. Unfortunately due to the weather the experience wasn’t has pleasurable as it would have been should the weather have been better.

St Lucia

Please click on the following link to see our experience in St Lucia St Lucia

Grenada

Please click on the following link to see our experience in Grenada Grenada

Tobago

We had a short walk around Tobago but there wasn’t much to see or do near the port itself. We did have a couple of drinks in a bar directly opposite the port. This was definitely a locals bar as we were in the only tourists in there. It only sold rum punch in 2 different flavours and you could only pay cash. It did have a good vibe to it as everyone appeared to be having a good time.

Summary

This cruise was amazing as we managed to see so much in such a short time. Everyone of the staff we came across were wonderful. The cruise was excellent value for money as we paid £1580 for two weeks. We did another cruise after this one called Taste of the tropics. Considering what we had paid the standard of the food and drinks was excellent.

Things to do

• Try the crazy golf.
• Watch the shows
• Watch a movie on deck on an evening.
• Go to the BBQ
• Eat at the specialist restaurants.
• Try the many dinning options on board
• If you like to party try Indigo Club.
• Join in the quizzes around the pool on a day time
• Try the cocktails
• Visit the Islands
• Visit the many bars on ship
• Try the silent disco as it is hilarious.

Top Tips

• Check out the drinks menu before you book to see if it is worth the upgrade. We felt the upgrade was worth it but it depends on what you like to drink.
• Book Al a Carte restaurants in advance as they get booked up.
• Check out destinations and if an excursion is necessary. Most of the destinations had people selling island tours a lot less than Tui $20-$25 US dollars.
• If booking an excursion with Tui book in advance as these get booked up too
• Do research about the destinations you are wanting to see as time is limited when you are there.
• There is a dress to impress night so take your glad rags.
• There is also a white night which is when everyone dresses in white
• Check out temperatures and weather before booking.
• Pack waterproofs just in case as many of the Caribbean islands have a lot of rain in certain months.
• The official hurricane season is from June to November.
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Travel to St Lucia

We arrived in St Lucia on 12th January at the port of Castries. As we had pre booked our excursion with Tui we were directed to our mini bus as soon as we embarked our ship. From experiences with the other islands it may have been better to have done this with a local tour operator as they have been much cheaper.

Sightseeing and Sulphur Springs mud bath tour

Viewing point

We headed to the west coast of the island which was quite a drive away. We didn’t mind the long drive as we got to see a lot of this beautiful island. The guide gives you a lot of information about the island and its history along the way. Our first stop was a viewing a point which looked down on to St Lucia with spectacular views. Here you get an amazing view of the Pitons. The viewing point is a main stop for a lot of buses due to the views. Here you can buy food and drinks and sit and admire the view. There was plenty of time here to take lots of photo’s.

Mud Bath

Our next stop was the sulphur springs mud bath. . As we pulled up in the minibus you could smell the sulphur very strong. On the way to the entrance there are a lot of stalls selling souvenirs etc. You are given some time afterwards to have a wander around the stalls. Entrance fee was included in the cost of our tour. We had put our swim wear under our clothes so it was easy to get changed.

There are benches where you can sit and get changed. Our guide was very helpful and looked after our belongings. He was also available to take photo’s if needed.

There are buckets of the mud which you put on yourself and allow it to dry. The guides joke that you will look and feel 20 years younger when you have finished lol. It does rejuvenate your skin which feels so soft after you have been here. There are various pools to go into which are very warm due to this being volcanic.

There area showers and changing rooms when you have finished in the mud baths. We felt we had sufficient time here to experience the mud baths and feel the benefit. After the mud baths we headed to where we were to have lunch. It was around 2pm when we set off the lunch so we were ready for something to eat by then.

Lunch

We were taking to a lovely place for lunch just a short drive from the mud baths. This was in its own grounds with lots of plants and trees surrounding the building. The lunch consisted of rice, chicken, potatoes and bread. There was also hot sauce which you are advised how hot it is. We like hot spicey food but this was very hot even for our standards. You are also provided with a soft drink and dessert. It is buffet service but there are waiters/waitresses on hand if you need anything.

We ate on the outside balcony with everyone else in our group. It was lovely to eat outside which was in a shaded are therefore wasn’t too hot. This venue is a popular choice as there were many other coaches and mini buses leaving and arriving when we were there.

After our meal we were then driven back to the ship. Although it is a long drive considering we only had 1 day in St Lucia it is very scenic.

Summary

Like a lot of the Caribbean islands St Lucia is beautiful. Many people we have spoken to have been to St Lucia for an holiday and highly recommend it. 1 day to see such a lovely place is definitely not enough. We saw a lot of the island during our short time but would have loved to have been able to experience more of what the island has to offer.

Things to do

• Visit the mud baths
• Visit pigeon island
• Visit Marigot Bay
• Visit one of the beaches
• Visit the Sulphur Springs
• See the Pitons
• Visit Castries Market

Top tips

• f you are only St Lucia for a short time plan your itinerary.
• If scuba diving take a good camera for example a go pro (we did not get the photo’s we wanted on a number of excursions due to poor underwater camera)
• Use the locals for excursions as they tend to be a lot cheaper and it gives back in to their economy (ensure it is a reliable company first)
• Take plenty of mosquito spray.
• Remember currency is in Eastern Caribbean Dollars (XCD) and not US dollars but they will except US dollars.
• Check out other destinations in the Caribbean we have visited click on the following links Mexico , Cuba , Jamaica , Barbados, Martinique , St Maarten , Antigua, Dominica , Grenada
• Check out UK government advice when travelling to St Lucia St Lucia travel advice – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Check out weather below for best time to visit St Lucia. Official hurricane season runs June – November
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Weather

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	29	29	30	30	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	30
Low Temp	23	23	23	24	25	25	25	25	25	25	26	24
Rainfall	92	57	27	66	63	140	171	172	193	192	167	102
Number of days	21	16	16	16	15	20	21	21	19	20	20	19

Travelling to Grenada

We arrived in Grenada on the 13th January on our cruise ship. The port had its usual duty free shops and souvenir shops. Some of the ship had paid with Tui to visit Grand Anse Beach at a cost of $17 US dollars per person. This including transport and a sun lounger. We opted to use local transport to the beach. As we were walking we were approach by a driver who offered to take us to the beach for $5 dollars each one way which was Ok with us. On the mini bus there were other passengers from our ship. As the driver dropped us off he stated a time of 4pm to come back for us. We didnt want to be tied to this time therefore advised we would get our own way back to the ship.

Grand Anse Beach

The Journey from the ship to the beach is only around 15 minutes therefore it is quick and easy. When you arrive at the beach there are a lot of people trying to get you to hire sunbeds and umbrella’s. There are also a lot of people trying to sell you cold drinks. Many of which are served in ice buckets with around 4 bottles of beer in them at an alleged discount price.

Beach

The beach is beautiful with lovely soft white sand and turquoise sea. There are lots of sun beds and umbrellas’ should you wish to be in the shade. Due to people coming round and selling cold drinks you don’t even have to leave your sun lounger. The sea was lovely and warm. There was no hesitation getting in the sea.

Bars/shacks

There are a number of little shack type bars on the beach selling both food and drinks. The drinks are cheaper than what the guys on the beach are selling them for but they are only trying to earn a living.

Outside of the shacks there are a number of tables and umbrella’s where you can have something to eat, a beer or a cocktail. I (Debbie) loved the mud slides. The drinks were very reasonably priced at around $2 US Dollars a beer and cocktails $4 – $7. Some of the prices were in Caribbean dollars which was roughly 1 East Caribbean Dollar to 30p.

It was a beautiful day therefore there was a lot of people on the beach and drinking outside of the shacks/bars.

Umbrella Bar

We had read about the Umbrella bar and how nice the food and cocktails were. When we got to Grand Anse Beach The Umbrella Bar was nowhere to be seen we thought we must have come to the wrong place. We were disappointed as we were looking forward to a meal there. After a couple of cocktails and beers we decided to have a long walk along the beach. At the end of the main hotels there was the Umbrella Bar.

As it was just coming up to lunch time it wasn’t that busy but it soon filled up. Many people were pulling up in cars. It had its own car park which was practically full throughout the time we were there.

Food and Drink

We ordered the Blackened Chicken, fries and garlic sauce. Additionally we ordered some sides of Onion rings. Mains are around £10 – £15 and sides from £3 – £5. The food and the service was lovely.

At the bar there is happy hour Monday – Friday 4-6. There is also a different special drink each day which only costs £3. As it was a Friday we had the Woo Woo. Unfortunately they did not have the ingredients for the creamy cocktails which sounded divine. There were many other cocktails to taste which we enjoyed trying. The cocktails were from £4 – £5 which was actually cheaper than some of the shack bars.

After spending a few hours at the beach we decided to go back to the ship via the small boats which cost around $5 each. It is only a short journey so you are back in around 10-15 minutes.

Summary

Grenada is a beautiful place with wonderful friendly people. We would have liked more time to see more of the island. With a cruise you get to see a lot of places in a short space of time but the downside is you don’t get long enough in some of the places. We had heard of the BBQ at Rogers Barefoot Beach Bar which did not open until 3pm which would make the timing very tight to get back on the ship in time. We would have also loved to have done scuba diving at the underwater sculpture park. Definitely would love to come back to Grenada.

Things to do

• Go to Grand Anse Beach
• Visit Rogers Bare Foot Bar
• Visit Fort Frederick
• Suba dive at the underwater sculpture park
• Visit the Royal Mount Carmel Waterfalls
• Catch a boat over to Petit Martinique
• Visit the Umbrella bar for great cocktails and food.

Top tips

• If you are only Grenada for a short time plan your itinerary.
• If scuba diving take a good camera for example a go pro (we did not get the photo’s we wanted on a number of excursions due to poor underwater camera)
• Use the locals for excursions as they tend to be a lot cheaper and it gives back in to their economy (ensure it is a reliable company first)
• Take plenty of mosquito spray.
• Remember currency is in Eastern Caribbean Dollars (XCD) and not US dollars but they will except US dollars.
• Check out other destinations in the Caribbean we have visited click on the following links Mexico , Cuba , Jamaica , Barbados, Martinique , St Maarten , Antigua, Dominica
• Check out UK government advice when travelling to the Grenada https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/grenada
• Check out weather below for best time to visit Grenada. Official hurricane season runs June – November
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Weather

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	29	29	30	31	31	30	30	31	31	31	30	30
Low Temp	21	21	22	22	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	22
Rainfall	119	86	62	66	114	222	224	216	195	234	253	186
Number of days	14	9	10	7	13	17	20	18	17	17	20	18

Travelling to Goa

We travelled to Goa from Delhi on 31st March with Air Asia at a cost of £90 each, which included extra luggage and a meal on the plane. Air Asia are very strict on weight and will charge you for even being the slightest kilo over. We had 20k each in hold luggage and 7k each in hand luggage. One of the hand luggage cases was only 6K and one of the hold cases was 21k. We were told that we could take 1k out of the hold luggage and put it in our hand luggage or we would have to pay. We decided to pay to avoid the hassle of opening up our suitcases and trying to transfer 1K of luggage. It was a bit over the top given we had already paid extra and the combined weight did not exceed the allowed weight. Anyway onto the plane and the meal we received was basic but edible . The flight took approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Transfer

When we arrived in Goa the temperature was quite high at 32^oC as it was 3.30 in the afternoon. We had booked our transfers with Booking.com. The advice on the booking information was that our driver would be waiting in the arrivals hall with a sign with our name on but unfortunately on arrival he was nowhere to be seen. Eventually we managed to contact our driver who told us he was waiting somewhere else at the airport and not in arrivals as we had been advised. We were carrying 2 large cases and 2 small cases; we finally located the driver who took the 2 large cases and asked us to follow him. We assumed that his car was in a nearby car park. To our dismay he took quite some distance down a road and then over what can only be described as a 3 lane motorway with all of our cases. He could not fit one of the cases through the central reservation therefore he left it leaning against it. The case was only inches away from being hit by a large truck. Luckily we managed to cross both sides of the motorway in one piece.

Accommodation

Finally we arrived at our hotel – the Accron Regina in Candolim. We arrived and were given a nice soft drink while we were checked in. Check in was relatively quick with very polite staff who spoke good English. Our cases were taken to our room by the porter. There were two lifts in the hotel which isn’t very big therefore you do not have to wait long. Our room was a double room overlooking the swimming pool. It had a decent sized bathroom with corner shower. There was adequate room to put clothing (wardrobe with drawers and extra drawers). There were tea and coffee making facilities in the room. We were a bit disappointed that considering the temperature that there was no fridge in the room. There appeared to be a place where a fridge had been previously. The room was nicely furnished although not really to our taste in decour. Each day the room is cleaned to a very good standard which we could not fault. Clean towels are provided each day and toiletries.

The pool was not very big but there were never a lot of guests using it. We only spent a couple of hours round the pool on our first day. The pool has a swim up bar but this was not open although you could order drinks which were brought to you from the bar. Lovely cocktails forapproximately £3 which was good value. There are nice sun loungers around the pool with beach towels provided by the hotel.

Beach Shacks

Most of the days in Goa we spent on the beach where there are many shack bars to visit. Each shack has its own sun loungers which are mostly free of charge as long as you buy a drink or something to eat from the shack. Our favourite shacks were Bob Marley’s and Stringfellows. We were offered massages and beauty treatments such as nail decoration for a reasonable price.

The cost of eating out and drinks at each of the shacks was very cheap and therefore great value. For one lunch we ordered chilli chicken, stir-fry chicken with noodles and chips. We also had a kingfisher beer each and the total cost was £12. A bottle of kingfisher was 90p. Bacardi breezers were £1.50. Cocktails ranged from £3 – 5 which did contain a generous amount of alcohol!

Some days we stayed on the beach into the early evening to watch the sunsets which were amazing. Dusk is a lovely part of the day when the weather is not too hot but pleasant. The shacks were quite busy at this time of day. Most people had had enough from sunbathing and being in the sea.

Food and Drink

We did go down onto the beach to the shacks on a couple of evenings but they are relatively quiet compared to the day. Also there was a lot of red sand around which stains your shoes especially if they are white.

The main street in Candolim has so much to choose from when it comes to restaurants and bars. The cost of eating out is very cheap in Goa no matter where you go. There are some up-market restaurants which do cost a bit more than most but are much cheaper than in the UK. No matter what your taste in food is or budget there is something for everyone.

We ate at the Fisherman’s Cove restaurant on a couple of occasions. It is always busy therefore you may have to wait for a table but not for long. While you are waiting there are seats at the bar where you can sit and have a drink. Each evening there is live music which adds to the atmosphere.

At the Fisherman’s Cove you could also order snacks to the bar if you did not want a big meal which included small pizza’s and fries which were lovely. We were pleasantly surprised that they served Indian Cider.

There are so many bars to choose from that serve great cocktails and beers. It is very interesting sitting in the bars on the main street watching the world go by. At one of the bars we went for a White Russian cocktail and a beer and it came to £3.50. The cocktail was lovely.

Sacred cows

One of the things that was quite strange when walking around Goa was the amount of cows on the streets. We have been to Goa before therefore did expect this but still it takes you by surprise when you are walking along and one brushes past you. Most of the cows seem to be on the main street on an evening.

Although we got used to cows being on the streets and roads it was a bit of a shock when one decided to walk into the bar we were sat in. It was very funny to see it looking to the bar for attention. When we tell anyone it sounds like we are about to tell a joke “a cow walks in to the bar” lol. As the cows are sacred the people of Goa respect and care for them.

Saturday/Sunday Bottomless Brunches

There are a number of bottomless brunches in both North and South Goa. The prices are exceptionally cheap compared to the UK. They start as low as £10 per person. We opted for a bottomless brunch at the 5 star Alila Diwa in South Goa which is part of the Hyatt chain of hotels. It cost £22 each plus £10 each in taxi fare for 3 hours all-inclusive food, drinks and use of the pool facilities.  The journey was about 1 hours drive from Candolim.

When we arrived at the hotel we were not disappointed as this was a much higher standard of hotel than the one we were staying in.  Even so it did lack in atmosphere around the pool which was very quiet. Not sure if this was due to the time of year as it was coming to the end of the season.

Drinks

We made our way to the restaurant where the food was being served. There were plenty of waiters on hand to guide you to your table. As it was such a lovely day we decided to sit outside. There was a waiter there to take our drinks order. When was asked for a menu we were told that they could make any drink that we could think of. Champagne was very popular at the brunch therefore we decided to try a glass or two. It was evident that this was actually Champagne and a decent quality one rather than prosecco which is served at most bottomless brunches in the UK.  There is a cocktail list on the bar but other than that any cocktail you want they will freshly make. There is also a DIY cocktail station where they will show you how to make cocktails which was good fun.

Food

The food at the brunch was very impressive with various food stations inside and several cooking areas outside. The variety of food was immense. Whether you are a meat eater, vegetarian or vegan there was so much choice. The choice was so vast it is impossible to mention everything that was on offer.

Pool

The pool area was lovely with an infinity pool. There were also tables and loungers in the pool where you could sip your cocktail whilst staying cool in the water. Using the pool was part of the bottomless brunch. We had read about this therefore we had come prepared with our swim wear. Towels were also provided by the hotel.

This was definitely the best bottomless brunch we have ever been to.

Goa Tour

We had arranged with the driver we used to take us to the bottomless brunch to take us to the waterfalls but upon speaking to some of the locals they informed us that at this time of year the waterfall was not impressive as it was dry season and the flow relatively low. It was also a good 3 hours away by taxi and then jeep. They suggested we visit the sites of Old Goa. We messaged our driver Miko to inform him of the change of plan which was no problem. He charged us the same as to go to the waterfall which was £19 each.

Miko arrived a few minutes early to our hotel. We explained to him where we wanted to go and that we were also open to suggestions from him as to where was worth visiting.

Old Goa

As we had been picked up early in the morning we hit peak traffic which was a bit chaotic. Our driver Miko appeared to abide by the rules of the road and never went over the speed limit unlike most of the other drivers in India.

Although it was relatively early there were still plenty of tourists in Old Goa.  Many of them entered into the lovely church in the centre Basillica of Bom Jesus. Unfortunately we were unable to enter the church due to wearing shorts so it’s worth taking something to cover legs and shoulders. The church was an impressive building made of red sandstone. Many people were lighting candles at a shrine.

Across from the Basillica is the Catholic Church of St Francis of Assis. This is a lovely white church with well kept grounds which is very picturesque. There is also a museum within the church which you can look round at a cost. As we did not have that much time we didn’t do this and just walked around the grounds.

On entering Old Goa or leaving Old Goa you will notice the St Augustine Ruins. These ruins also appear to be made of red sandstone. The ruins are on a hill. Unfortunately there is no parking here so you would need to walk up from the centre.

Charoa Island

The next stop was the Charoa Island which is a short ferry ride across the Mandovi River. The ferries are very small and only are able to carry up to 5 cars. Our driver was very skilled in parking his car on the ferry to maximise the number of vehicles that could get on. Miko actually lived on the island so he knew his way around. Whilst driving around he pointed out various places where members of his family lived. He took us to some lovely spots along the river where he told us that he went fishing in his spare time. He also took us to his cousin’s bar for a cold drink.

Christ the king (Rei Krist)

This is situated on the top of a hill. This is the highest point of the Charoa Island. The view from here was amazing. Miko provided us with information regarding the statue and the surrounding areas. On the entrance to the statue there are various names of people and the donations they have made for the upkeep of the grounds and the statues.

The island is beautiful with lots to see and do if you have the time. The island is also famous for the bird sanctuary which you can pay to visit.

Coco Beach and Dolphin spotting

After crossing the river back to mainland Goa we were taken to Coco Beach to go dolphin spotting. We paid £3.50 each for the experience so we weren’t expecting much. Usually when going to watch dolphin’s you are on a large boat with a lot of other people but this was not case here; the boats were small and with space for a maximum of 20 people.

As we set off out to sea the driver of the boat pointed out different landmarks including what he informed us was millionaires mansion and the government building.

Once we were out at sea we were lucky enough to see quite a few dolphins jumping out of the water. The dolphins were very quick therefore it was difficult to get clear photos of them. It was amazing to see them playing around in their natural habitat.

After a while we returned to shore – the boat trip lasted in total for about an hour. The beach looked most inviting as we approached it from the sea. The sand was so soft and the sea very clear. Just behind the beach there was a small market selling food, drinks, ice cream and a whole range of souvenirs.

Considering what we had paid we felt the trip was well worth it.

Anjuna Beach and Market

This was our final stop before heading back to our hotel. Our driver parked up and we walked through the market to the beach. The market sells a variety of things from clothing and spices to souvenirs. There is also a bar in the centre of the market with live music. The market is only open on certain days of the week – we went on a Wednesday but it’s best to check with the locals before visiting. There is a fairly smart restaurant at the end of the market looking out over the sea which offers a help-yourself buffet. This restaurant is very popular therefore there was a queue for a table and so we decided to eat at one of the bar/restaurants on the beach.

The beach was quiet rocky compared to the other beaches we had visited. The food we ordered did not compare to other places we had eaten at in Goa. We were very disappointed with the service, surroundings and the food.

Summary

Goa is a wonderful place with lots to see and do. The beaches are picturesque and the people are so friendly. Things are so cheap in Goa that people of pension age often stay for 6 months in the winter due to it being cheaper to live here than the UK. Goa is a place that would appeal to people of all ages. We don’t often go back to the same places as we like to travel to new destinations but we will definitely go back to Goa.

Things to do

• Visit old Goa
• Spend time on one of the lovely beaches
• Check out the best time to visit the waterfalls
• Sample the local cuisine
• Try a Saturday/Sunday bottomless brunch
• Visit both North and South Goa
• Have a cold drink in one of the beach shacks watching the sunset
• Do a Goa tour with a local driver.

Top Tips

• Research your hotel for location and standard as these do vary a lot.
• Don’t wear white shoes or trainers on the beach as these will become stained due to the red sand.
• Take plenty of mosquito spray.
• There are many wild dogs and if you have food they will follow you therefore be aware. However they were in no way aggressive.
• Be prepared for people asking for photos with you as some Indian people are not used to seeing many white westerners in the flesh.
• If booking a transfer from the airport book a taxi at the airport or you could call the driver we used (Miko) on +99 985 646 37 09 to make a booking if he is available. We booked with booking.com which we will never use again as we had issues in both Goa and New Delhi with our transfers. It seems they sub-contract to local suppliers but don’t monitor the service provided.
• Check out the weather below for best time to visit Goa.
• Check out government safety advice before travelling https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india
• Check out other destinations we have visited in India – click on the following links Mumbai , New Delhi
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Weather

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	31	31	33	33	33	32	30	30	31	33	34	32
Low Temp	20	20	23	26	28	27	26	26	27	25	23	21
Rainfall	1	1	1	12	113	868	995	513	252	125	31	17
Number of days	1	1	1	1	4	22	27	13	14	6	5	1

Travel to Mumbai

We flew to Mumbai from Goa on the 6th April via Go First airlines. The flights were £50 which included 15K hold luggage and 7K hand luggage. We were over in weight by 3k and had to pay £25. They didn’t weigh our hand luggage unlike Air Asia. This was a much more pleasurable flight than the flight to GOA with Air Asia.

When we arrived in Mumbai our cases were promptly off the plane therefore we were able to exit the airport very quickly. Due to this being domestic flight we did not need to go through customs.

Transfers

We booked our transfers on line with a company called . On our information regarding pickup we were advised that someone will be in arrivals with a sign with our name on it which they wasn’t. Due to having no signal at arrivals and not being able to connect to the internet we were unable to make contact with the driver. Finally we managed to contact the help line for the company who advised that we need to speak to the driver. They did not appear to understand what we were saying. After 1 hour we decided to get a taxi as we were waiting in 33 degrees heat. The taxi cost less than booking direct. We tried to contact the company on our return but have not been able to do so.

Accommodation

Finally we arrived at our hotel Gordon House which is located in the Colaba area of Mumbai. The hotel is ideally situated within yards to the Gateway of India and the famous Taj Mahal . There were renovations on the outside of the hotel. When we entered the hotel we were greeted by a member of staff and a porter. Access to the hotel rooms is via a lift. We were on the second floor.

Our rooms had a Mediterranean theme. The rooms were clean, spacious and nicely furnished. The bathroom was of a decent size and included toiletries. In our room there was 2 lovely slices of cake and “welcome to Gordon House” written in chocolate icing. This was a lovely touch.

The dinning area where they served breakfast was nice. It is also an Asian restaurant by day. The breakfast is waiter service and included a full English if this is what you require. Cereal, cakes, pastries are all help yourself. A very good breakfast to set you up for the day. The staff in the hotel were very attentive, polite and helpful.

Mumbai Tour

On our first full day we were stopped as we were walking by the Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Hotel and asked if we wanted a tour of Mumbai which we agreed to do at a cost of £30 for both of us. We were taken to a taxi who drove us to the destinations. His English was relatively good and he provided some information regarding the area’s of interest.

Laundry Site

Our first stop was where over a 1000 people was clothes by hand each day. The clothes etc are often laundry from hotels etc. Most of the washing takes place early morning therefore there wasn’t many people washing when we arrived. The drying of the clothes was evident though with items of washing hanging on lines.

Fisherman’s Slum

At the fisherman’s slum there were many men repairing a boat. The water and the land was covered in waste of bottles, packaging etc. It was as the name suggests. Being in India this is something we had expected therefore was not shocked. It was a shame as when you looked out to sea it looked quite nice with the little fishing boats and the sun shining on the sea.

Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach

We were then taking to Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach. The guide spoke to us about the Trident Hotel and how it was hit by the terrorists in 2008. Having read about Chowpatty Beach and how busy it is at night it was strange to see it practically empty during the day. Although the beach is lovely it is not like your typical beach as it nobody is sun bathing, in the sea etc

Sikh Temple

Our next stop was a Sikh Temple. You do not have to pay to enter but they except donations. Everyone has to remove their shoes before entering. Also women have to cover their shoulders and legs. They will provide wraps if you are not covered up. The Temple is only small but very ornate. It wasn’t too busy when we went which was good. Due to its size it didn’t take long to walk around.

Hanging Gardens

From the temple with went to the hanging gardens. Our driver gave us some information about the gardens. It was a lovely day when we visited the garden which made all the more impressive with its lovely plants, flowers and hedges cut in to various shapes. The view from one side of the gardens is spectacular where you can see the whole of Mumbai. There is also the iconic giant boot which the children are able to play in.

Mahatma Ghandi Museum

The next destination was the Ghandi Museum. Although we have read about Ghandi there is so much more interesting information in the museum. If you were to read everything in there it would take you a lot of hours. There are many items that were owned by Ghandi in there including wooden shoes. There is also the original room where Ghandi would pray.

Chhatrapati Sivaj Maharaj Terminal

Although we did not go in to the building we stopped outside for photo’s. This was a hive of activity with lots of people coming and going. The terminal is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is an impressive building

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

Our final stop was the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The BMC which it is often known has is opposite the terminal. This building houses the civic body that govern Mumbai. It is said to be the largest civic organisation in India.

Street Food Tour

We booked the tour with Get Your Guide at a cost of £15 each for 3 hours. Our guide met us at Burger King outside the train station. Unfortunately we can not remember his name but he spoke excellent English and is the only guide that does this tour.

The first stop was within the train station itself at a little stall. We had Vada Pav which is also known has the Mumbai Burger. We do like meat dishes but although this was a vegetarian dish it tasted so nice.

Our guide then took us on a train to Chowpatty beach. The train itself was an experience. The doors on the train never close. Our guide advised that in peak times there are people hanging on the outside of the train. He also advised that some people jump on and off when the train is moving. The only health and safety sign was “don’t travel on the roof”.

Chowpatty Beach

Our next stop was Chowpatty Beach. This was a stark contrast to what we had seen during the day. The beach was full of life with many food stalls and families, couples and friends all having a great time. We tried various dishes from different stalls. As you are trying so much food the guide only ordered food to share which abled us to try a lot more food. Outside the food stalls there are various rugs where you can sit and eat your food. This was lovely over looking the sea. The cost of the food is really cheap with roughly 100 rupees to a £1 food cost less than a £1.

Khau Galli

We then got back on the train and went to Khau Galli. This was a street lined with various street food venders selling traditional Indian food, Pizza’s and Kebabs. There are a lot of places in Mumbai where food is very cheap but this was the cheapest we had seen. Every stall had lots of people sitting on small stools outside. We had a form of chicken wrap, curry and rice. After we had a mango smoothing which was lovely. At this point we were feeling extremely full.

Colaba

This was our final stop. Our guide took us to a Kebab stall called Bademiya which already had so many people waiting to be served. The guide advised that this Kebab stall is open 24 hours and 365 days a year. It has the reputation for being the best Kebab stall in Mumbai. Unfortunately, we were too full to eat the kebab therefore the guide asked for it to take away. It was delicious and extremely good value for money

Food and drink in Mumbai

As we were only in Mumbai a few days we did not manage to eat out at many of the restaurants. There is a good choice of places to eat from street food to nice restaurants. We found a bar called Effingut which is very near the gateway to India . It is an interesting bar with lots of unusual things on walls and ceiling including a motor bike suspended from the ceiling. On an evening it gets quite busy.

The food is good too which is very reasonable priced. Our favourite was the butter chicken curry which was amazing. A typical meal cost around £4.50. One of our curry’s came with lamb on the bone. After informing a member of staff that we didn’t want this they quickly changed it and apologised.

Another bar we went to was called Woodside Inn which had happy hour 4 – 8pm. The cocktails were lovely here and very reasonably priced during happy hour. This is a lovely bar with good service. We never ate here but food did look good.

Summary

We would definitely recommend visiting Mumbai there is so much to see and do. There are some lovely beachside hotels in Mumbai if your staying longer. As we were only in Mumbai for a few days we wanted to stay in the main area of Colaba. There are so many hotels to choose from to meet all budgets. Be prepared to be stopped in the streets an asked for photos as there isn’t that many western people in Mumbai. Obviously there is a lot of poverty in India also be prepared for this. Before we went to Mumabi we were advised to see the elephant caves but unfortunately we did not have time to do this. It was an amazing experience.

Things to do

• Visit Colaba area
• See the Gateway to India
• Visit the Elephant Caves
• Visit Mahatma Ghandi museum
• Do a street food tour
• Visit Chowpatty Beach on an evening
• Visit the causeway market
• Take a tour of Mumbai

Top Tips

• Although there is rules on driving in Mumbai nobody takes any notice. Crossing the road you have to just walk out and keep going hoping the cars will stop.
• Be careful with belongs especially handbags an phones
• Take hand sanitizer and toilet tissues with you especially away from the tourist area’s.
• Ensure you have plenty of mosquito repellent.
• Tipping is not essential but considering their wages have small notes for tipping.
• Book taxi at the airport and ask the hotel to book your return in advance. We were let down by our pre booked transfer by Cartrawler from the airport and have not been able to contact them to complain or get a refund.
• Check out the weather below for best time to visit Mumbai
• Check out the government safety advice before travelling to Mumbai https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india
• Check out over places with have visited in India. Click on the following links New Delhi
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Weather

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	30	31	32	33	33	32	30	30	31	33	33	32
Low Temp	18	18	21	24	27	26	25	25	24	24	22	19
Rainfall	10	10	10	10	10	560	640	520	320	90	20	10
Number of days	2	1	1	1	4	20	28	27	19	5	1	1

Travel to New Delhi

We flew from Manchester to Heathrow the day before our flight to New Delhi with British Airways. It is a very short flight but still it included a meal and a glass of champagne which was very nice.

The night before we flew to New Delhi we stayed at Premier Inn at terminal 4. This was a decent room for the price of £60. On the evening before our flight we decided to have a few pre holiday cocktails at the Hilton which is next hotel. It is a lovely bar where the bar tenders make all the cocktails fresh.

Our flight from Heathrow was very nice as we had business class seats which made the 9 hour journey a lot more pleasurable. The food and the drinks on the plane were also very nice. They had a really good choice on board with spirits, champagne and cocktails. After watching a few movies, having a few drinks and plenty of nice food it seemed that the flight was a lot shorter than it was.

Transfers

We had booked our transfers with booking.com as we did not arrive in New Delhi until 11.30pm and did not know how it would be to get a taxi. The driver was there with a sign with our name on it. He took us to his car which was a small car but fortunately had a luggage rack on the roof. He put the suitcase on the roof and we waited for him to tie them on but this did not happen. Fortunately the case arrived safely at our destination.

Accommodation

Our hotel was the Sky Rich International in Karol Bagh which cost £93 for 3 nights. The rooms were cleaned to a good standard. We had twin beds which had fresh bedding on each day. Clean towels were also replaced daily. The staff were very helpful and on hand 24 hours. Breakfast was basic and served in your room. It consisted of egg, toast, cornflakes, coffee and juice which cost £2.60 each. The location of the hotel is pretty good if you want to be near lots of street food and market stalls. Considering we were in Indian and what we paid for the hotel we were very happy with our stay. Of course there are hotels of a much higher standard but obviously the price reflects this.

New and Old Delhi Tour

On our first full day in New Delhi we had booked a tour of New and Old Delhi. We booked the tour through Get Your Guide which cost £16 each. This included a driver who picks you up from your hotel, a guide, a Tut Tut ride, and entrance fees in to monuments.

The driver arrived at our hotel and took us to meet our guide. He introduced himself Mayanka (not sure about the spelling). His English was ok but we struggled on occasions. We were then taken to a Tut Tut who was take to take us to our first destination.

Jama Masjid

Our first stop was the Jama Masjid Mosque. When walking up to it you can see what a spectacular building it is. When you arrive at the mosque you have to take your shoes off at the door. The entrance fee to the mosque was included in our tour but it isnt a lot to enter. Although I (Debbie) had my shoulders and legs covered I was still advised that I needed to wear what we describe as a gown. The guide provided us with information about the mosque and also about the Red Fort which could be seen in the distance. Apparently both have been built purposely of the same height.

Old Delhi Market

Old Delhi Market is an hive of activity. From the bottom of the stairs of the Jama Majid the market starts and runs down a fair distance. We didn’t walk round the market as it was not in our itinerary but we could clearly see the Hussle and bustle.

Spice Market

Our next stop was the Spice Market which covered street and streets of Old Delhi. When wandering around the smells of the spices were quite strong in some areas which was a nice smell. Delhi is the main trading place of India hence why there are so many streets of stalls selling spices. Our guide then took us to shop which sold spices at a cost which was more expensive than England. The owner of the store gave information about each spice and what it is used for. It was a bit of an hard sell therefore we think the tour guide was given commission if we bought something which we didn’t. This is the only downside to organised tours they take you somewhere where there is a bit of pressure to buy something so they get the commission.

Akshardham

Following the Spice Market the Tut Tut driver and our guide took us to our driver who then took us to Akshardham Hindu Temple. Akshardham means the divine abode of God. As you are not able to take photo’s of the Temple our guide stopped where we could have a photo with the Temple in the background.

When you arrive at the Temple you have to go through security with men in one line and women in the other. In Delhi they don’t see many westerners so you do get a lot of people staring especially if you are blonde and female. You are not able to take any belongings in to the temple therefore we left everything in the car apart from water. When at the temple you have to remove your shoes. The temple is said to be the largest temple in the world. We would say that this is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world that we have seen. The architecture, statues and colours are spectacular. Our guide was very informative about the temple. We were shocked when he told us that it was built in 2005.

Lunch

We were taken to lunch at a very nice restaurant in the Connaught Place area of Delhi. The restaurant was called The Imperial Spice. The surrounding and service at the restaurant was lovely. The food was amazing and reasonable priced for the standard of the restaurant. The meal cost £20 for both of us including soft drinks

Mahatma Ghandi’s Cremation Site

Our next stop was Mahatma Ghandi’s cremation site. This had lovely well kept garden’s as you walked up to the site. You have to also remove your shoes before going through to the site. Our guide explained things to us along the way to the actual site. At the site there are many people paying their respects and praying. The black marble square is inscribed with the words “He Ram” which are alleged to be his final words when he was shot which mean Oh God. There is also an eternal flame burning at the site.

Making of rugs

We thought we were going to see a family business with all the family making rugs as this was what was described to us but this was not the case. When we arrived it is clearly just a shop selling expensive rugs with the smallest selling at £500 and the largest selling at £2000 +. They had a what looked like an hand loom which owner of the shop stated that this is how all the rugs were made by all his family. Although the owner stated we were under no obligation to buy it was uncomfortable saying we wanted to leave at not buy anything. There were other floors to the store and we were encourage to look round which we did not really want to do. We had had booked the tour to site see not go shopping.

Sikh Temple

We were then taken to a Sikh Temple which was very busy. It was compulsory to cover most of our hair therefore a scarf which was tied around our heads was provided. Females have to ensure their legs are completely covered. Trousers are also provided if necessary. The guide explained to us about the times of worship and that food is provided for everyone following worship. He advised that volunteers work 24 hours a day 365 days a year to provide the food. We were then shown to the kitchens where all the food was prepared. It was a constant flow of curries, rice and breads. It is heart warming to see young and old working so hard to provide for the less fortunate.

The India Gate (Formerly known as the All Indian War Memorial)

Our guide explained about the British influence in India and why the memorial was erected. It was dedicated to the troops of British India who died in wars between 1914 and 1919. Our tour was shortly coming to end therefore we did not have much time to walk around the gardens manage to take close up photo’s of the India Gate. It was extremely busy and understandably a popular tourist site.

Parliament Buildings

Our final stop was the Parliament Buildings. It was very difficult to park anywhere near the buildings due to security. Our driver was told to move on on more than one occasion. We did get chance to get out of the car and take some photo’s. The guide advised us that the presidents house is the largest house in the world. Having googled this it does not appear to be true.

Summary of tour

Apart from the times we were taken to buy things we did not want the tour is definitely worth doing. Our guide had a lot of knowledge about the sites we visited. It was interesting listening to some of the facts he informed us of. We would recommend this tour.

Trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort

Again we booked this prior to travelling to India through Get Your Guide. The travel to the Taj Mahal cost £20 each. We were picked up at our hotel by the driver at 6am as we were advised it is best to go there in the morning. Our driver explained to us that our guide would meet us in Agra. The journey from Delhi to Agra is approximately 4 hours. On the way there we stopped at the equivalent of our motorway station and had some Indian coffee. This was a lot sweeter and more milky than our coffee which we did like.

When we arrived in Agra we were taken to the office where our guide would meet us. We then headed to the Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

The driver dropped us off at the gate to the Taj Mahal which is located on the banks of the river Yamuna. There is a walk up to the main entrance where women have to queue in one line and men in another to go through security. The cost of entering the Taj Mahal is approximately £13. You can wander around the lovely gardens and admire the architecture of the buildings as long as you want. The Taj Mahal is far more spectacular and beautiful then any of the photo’s we have seen and on TV.

The Taj Mahal was built in 1632 to house the tomb of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. There are many buildings with in the Taj Mahal not just the iconic ivory white building. Our guide was very informative about the Taj Mahal, its grounds and various other buildings. He was also very good at taking photo’s. He tried his best to ensure that nobody else was in our photo’s which was quiet difficult considering the amount of people who were there.

When you enter the main building of the Taj Mahal you will need to put covers over your shoes to protect the floor of the Taj Mahal. These are supplied just before you enter the building. Don’t think you have to pay for these. As far as we are aware the shoe covers are recyclable. Our guide informed that in Agra the government is ensuring that Agra is environmentally friendly and has put a ban on some factories due the carbon emission.

Agra Fort

Our next destination was the Agra Fort which is also quiet spectacular but nothing compared to the Taj Mahal. The Agra Fort which is also known has the Red Fort was just a short drive from the Taj Mahal. In fact you can see the Taj Mahal in the distance from the Fort It is known has the Red Fort due to it being made from red sandstone.It was very busy around the entrance to the Fort with many people trying to sell you things. The cost to enter the fort is £7.

Most of the tourist places we had visited in Delhi/Agra we have had to remove or cover our shoes but we did not have to do this at the Fort. Again our guide was very informative and took many photo’s of us at the Fort. It was far more interesting knowing actual facts when walking round the Fort as apposed to seeing it on our own. There were other groups of people with guides we didn’t feel that they had the personal touch like we did.

We were given as much time as we wanted to look around the Fort. Every room or outside area we went through our guide gave us information about it. He also had some fun techniques when taking photo’s which are great memories.

Lunch

After seeing the Agra Fort it was around 2.30 pm at this time we were feeling quiet hungry. The driver and our guide took us to a small restaurant. We offered to pay for the guides meal but he advised that he got his free. The restaurant wasn’t of the standard of the one in Delhi but was clean and the food was nice. We ordered two mains, rice, Roti and soft drinks which cost £14 which was very good value.

Hand crafted marble inlays

Our guide informed that we would be taken to a place that sells various products of marble inlay which is all done by hand. He stated that we would be able to watch them making table tops, chess tables, place mats etc. This is a regular tourist place who are brought there by the guides. We were advised that the government states that they must bring tourists here but not sure how true this is. They allowed us to have a go at smoothing out a stone on a piece of equipment that looked quiet primitive.

We were then taking in to a room where there were some beautiful items especially the tables. The cost of the tables were £3000 plus but here were smaller items for sale for example a coaster. The work that went in to the items was evident. They showed us how many pieces went in to one flower on the coaster. Although there were beautiful items we were not on the tour to buy anything. It did not appear to be hard sell like on the Delhi tour.

Finally we were driven back to Delhi which took another 4 hours. We arrived back at our hotel at 7.30 in the evening.

Summary of tour

At the end of the tour we were taking to the office of the tour operators and asked how the tour went by the manager. We informed him this was a lovely experience and well worth the money. The guide Ahmed was amazing with his photography skills and his knowledge. Although we booked through Get Your Guide the operator of this tour was a third party. Strongly recommend this tour.

Food and drink in Delhi

The food varies so much in Delhi from street food to lovely restaurants depending where you are staying. A lot of the more up market restaurants are around Connaught Place where as a lot of the street food is around Karol Bagh. We thought that the Imperial Spice at Connaught Place had amazing food and service. There are not many bars in Delhi but there are a few. Most of the bars we went to were of a good standard and also served food. A cocktail was between £5 – £8 and a pint of beer was between £4 – £5’50.

If you are wanting street food there is so much to choose from in Karol Bagh. We dont like food on the bone but our street food came with chicken and lamb on the bone. Due to the language barrier we could not explain this.

Transfer back to airport

We had booked our transfers with Booking.com many weeks in advance. On the day of our return we were getting worried that the transfer had not turned up. Finally we got a call from the driver saying he was lost. The hotel receptionist gave the driver the directions. He turned up 1 1/2 hours late.

When the car arrived it had more dints then we have ever seen on a car. The boot was full with a large water barrel therefore no room for any cases. After the hotel staff disgusted things we the driver he put the cases on the back seat and we were on our way to the airport. We were already late and were worried we may miss our flight to Goa. As you can imagine we were very angry when he decided to stop and have a wash in a water fountain at the side of the road. We did catch our flight but just by the skin of our teeth.

Summary of Delhi

We were pleasantly surprised with New and Old Delhi. Although you do see a lot of poverty there are a lot of lovely places to visit, have a meal or a drink. The driving in Delhi is ever man for himself. Lanes on roads or motorways are pointless as nobody takes any notice of them. Everyone drives around on their mobiles. I would definitely recommend a visit to Delhi and especially the Taj Mahal. Usually we don’t have enough time in the places we have been to in order to see and do everything we want to but 3 nights in Delhi was enough. Although it was none stop fitting everything in it was worth it.

Things to do

• Try the street food
• Visit the Taj Mahal
• Visit Akshardham
• Visit Agra Fort
• Visit Jama Masjid
• Take a Tut Tut ride
• Visit the spice market
• Visit Mahatma Ghandi’s Cremation Site
• Visit a Sikh Temple
• Visit India Gate

Top Tips

• Do not book transfers in the Uk. It is cheaper, easier and more reliable getting the taxi at the airport and getting the hotel to sort it on your return.
• When booking your hotel ensure you look in to the area you are staying and the standard of the hotel. Area’s that are recommended for Western tourists are Connaught Place, Karol Bagh and Aerocity
• Both men and women are advised to cover their legs in Delhi. Women are also advised to cover shoulders.
• Be prepared for people asking to have their photo’s taken with you as they do not see many westerners.
• Be prepared to see a lot of poverty and people begging.
• Book tours in advance which will help you to make the most of your stay if staying for short time.
• Take plenty of mosquito spray
• Take plenty of hand sanitizer
• Check out weather below for best time to visit New Delhi
• Following UK government advice when travelling to Delhi https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india
• Check out other places with have visited in India. Click on the following links Mumbai , Goa
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Weather

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	18	23	28	36	39	37	34	33	33	31	27	21
Low Temp	7	11	15	22	28	27	27	26	24	19	13	8
Rainfall	23	18	13	8	13	74	180	173	117	10	3	10
Number of days	2	2	1	1	2	4	8	8	4	3	0	1

Travel to Martinique

We arrived in Martinique on the 10th January 2023 on our cruise ship Marella Explorer 2. There is a lovely walk way from the ship. At the end of the walk way there were men, women and children all dressed in white greeting us off the ship. They had flowers and chocolate to give to the cruise guests. This was a lovely touch and made us feel quite special.

Island Tour

We hadn’t booked an excursion as all the other Caribbean islands had tour guides selling them a lot cheaper than Tui. We wasn’t disappointed either as we were approached by a tour guide offering an island tour for $20 US dollars.

The guide escorted us to a mini bus where there were already a number of people waiting. The mini bus did not set off until it was completely It wasn’t long before it was completely full and we were on our way.

The guide on the bus was very informative. Throughout the journey he spoke about buildings, areas, plants, wildlife, culture and tourism.

Eglise Sacre Coer church

Our first stop was Eglise Sacre Coer church which is just a short drive from where we were picked up. The church is on top of hill with spectacular views. It is a beautiful church in a quite a remote location. We were given around 15 minutes to look around and take photo’s. Although the church is relatively small it is lovely to walk around it. There is also somewhere to buy souvenirs, have a toilet break and get a drink her

River in rain forest

After the church we were taken to her river in the rain forest. Although the river looked like any over river the surroundings were spectacular with lots of different species of vegetation and a mountainous background.

Saut Gendarme Falls

Our next stop was the water falls. Again we were given a short time to wander around and take photo’s. There is a short walk from the road to the waterfall which is steep in some areas. We would advise not to wear opened toed shoes as it can be quite slippy. It wasn’t the best of days as we encountered some rain. The falls were nice to see but not breath taking as some other falls we have been to. We like to get in to the water and go under the falls but we were unable to do so as there was nowhere to dry our selves and we needed to get back on the mini bus.

Rum Distillery

Next on to the Depaz Rum Distillery which we were looking forward to. There is a lot of history surrounding this distillery dating back to 1917 when Victor Depaz started up this distillery. This was only 15 years after the Mount Pelee Volcano eruption which killed over 30,000 people.

When we arrived we were taken to the shop selling the Rums we were given a taste of 2 different Rum Punches (Coconut and Tropical). Both of which were very nice. Then we were given the opportunity to buy some Rum if we wished to do so. There was no pressure to buy any and we were able to look around at our leisure with nobody trying to sell anything. We bought the Coconut Rum Punch which does not taste very strong but it does pack a punch lol.

As nobody was rushing us we were able to walk around the grounds of the distillery. in the grounds you can see the large stills (We think that what they are called) of various rums.

Banana Plantation

We were due to go and see the volcano but as the weather wasn’t too great we went directly to the banana plantation. Here we were given a guided tour and informed of how the banana’s taste better than some due to them being organic. We were given 1 or 2 banana’s each to taste. They did taste very nice but not sure if they tasted any different to other banana’s.

Plage Beach

Our final destination was Plage Beach. We were able to go in to the sea if we wanted to do so. As we had brought our snorkels we decided to do so. The sea wasn’t as clear as we had expected or what we had experienced at other Caribbean islands. As the day wasn’t really beach weather not many people got in the sea (only 2 of us from the mini bus).

Where we stopped there was a little stand selling drinks and food. Most people just got a drink and a bite to eat before we got back on the mini bus and headed back to ship.

Summary

As with most islands we have visited on the cruise there is never enough time to do all you want to do. The island tour was worth every penny. We seemed to experience so much in one day. It is a shame the weather wasn’t too great though. The guide and the driver were excellent. The driver did not speak much English but the guide obviously did. There are some lovely beaches in Martinique which we did not get a chance to see. We would also have liked to have a meal and some drinks of an evening too but unfortunately we were limited for time. Martinique is a beautiful island and well worth a visit

Images

Things to do

• Visit the Rum Distillery
• Visit the Banana Plantation
• Spend a day at the beach
• Visit Mount Pelee
• Sample the local cuisine
• Visit Saint – Pierre
• Do an island tour
• For history and culture visit Les Troisllets

Top Tips

• The currency in Martinique is Euro but they except US Dollars.
• If on a cruise ship the tours are cheaper with the local tour operators.
• If you have limited time plan your day in advance.
• Carry a rain coat as we had quiet a bit of rain whilst we were there.
• Check weather below best time to visit Martinique.
• Official hurricane season is June – November
• Check out government travel advise when visiting the island https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/martinique
• Check out other destinations in the Caribbean we have visited Jamaica , Mexico , Cuba , Barbados , St Maarten, Antigua , Dominica ,
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Weather

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	27	28	28	28	29	31	31	31	32	31	30	27
Low Temp	22	22	22	22	24	25	24	24	24	23	22	22
Rainfall	100	80	60	70	70	140	170	200	220	230	200	150
Number of days	11	19	18	15	16	20	22	22	20	20	21	20

Arriving in Barbados

We arrived at Barbados on the 8th January at the cruise port of Bridgetown on the ship Marella Discovery 2. Considering it is Barbados we expected the port to be nice but it wasn’t as nice has other cruise ports we had been to in the Caribbean.

Cruise Port

The port itself has duty free shops has you would expect at a small airport. Outside of the shops the area looks like it is in a commercial area next to a container port.

It was extremely busy with many people not from our ship but had come to the cruise terminal from other ships wandering around with suitcases and looking for transport. It appeared that a lot of people were on there way home.

Swimming with Turtles

Prior to going on the cruise we had read about swimming with the turtles and this is something that we had wanted to do. Therefore we contacted a tour operator called Viator who had offered this at £25 per person.

After going through security we made our way to the boat which was around 25 minutes walk away. Fortunately we had downloaded the map of the island prior to leaving the ship.

It was a Sunday when we were in Barbados therefore all the shops apart from the shops at the port were closed and all businesses. Looking at the buildings alone the way to the marina it was clear that there was a colonial influence.

Marina

We walked to the boat which was moored in a lovely marina with various other private and commercial boats. It wasn’t a big marina but did have a few boats. There are little bars and restaurants near the Marina but unfortunately they wasn’t open as it was a Sunday.

Beach

As we were a bit early we walked along the lovely golden sand of the beach. The sea was a lovely turquoise colour. There were two men throwing water over two horses in the sea. We assumed this was to cool them down. The horses were lovely and appeared well cared for. The beach had what you would expect sunbeds, places to buy food and drink etc.

When we arrived at our boat which was run by Tranquillity Cruises we were advised that we needed to remove our shoes before boarding the boat. The boat was lovely and well maintained. Ourselves and another couple had the full top deck to ourselves which was nice. They were staying in an hotel not far from the Marina. They advised that the hotel was lovely but not much around it.

We set off to where the turtles are usually seen but had to pick up another two guests which were waiting on the beach. It seemed a bit strange that they had to actually swim to the boat.

Turtles

Finally we arrived at the area where the turtles were usually sighted. In Barbados there are 4 different types of nesting turtles. There were many other boats with people in the water also looking for the turtles. The boat crew supplied guests with snorkelling equipment and life jackets. We had brought our full face masks as we preferred them to the snorkel and mask separate.

Getting close with the Turtles

Once in the water the guides were looking for turtles. Once they saw any they directed passengers people from our boat to the area. We saw many turtles at the bottom of the sea which originally we found a bit disappointing then turtles were swimming up to the top of the sea directly in front of our eyes. One turtle came that close it hit its shell on the snorkel mask.

As there were a lot of people in the water at the same time you had to constantly look to ensure that you stayed with the right group and did not get hit by other incoming boats. The guides were very conscious about ensuring we all stayed together. The sea was very calm and with our life jackets on it made snorkelling very easy and enjoyable.

They took us to a ship wreck where there was hundreds of lovely coloured fish. After a short while the numbers of fish diminished. Not sure if they had fed the fish before we had arrived either way it was a lovely experience.

When we returned to the boat we were able to have some free time sliding down the slide which was attached to the boat which was great fun.

The whole experience on the boat was brilliant. All the staff on the boat were very friendly and had great senses of humour which added to the great day.

Summary

Unfortunately with visiting places on a cruise you do not get to see enough of the island but on the plus side it gives you a taste so if you do decide to go back for longer you know this is an island that you want to spend more time on. A lot of people on our ship went around the island and stated out beautiful it was. We will definitely go back to Barbados whether that be on another cruise or a beach holiday as we would love to see more of this island

Images of Barbados

Things to do

• Swim with the Turtles
• Tale an island tour
• Spend a day on the beach
• Visit St Nicolas Abbey
• Visit a rum distillary
• Visit Queen’s Park
• Sample the local cuisine
• Have a horse ride in the sea

Top Tips

• If on a Marella Cruise book your island tour with the locals as their much cheaper
• If booking with Tui book in advance as the excursions get booked up.
• We booked the swimming with turtles and the shipwreck with Viator at a cost of £25 each but had to get our own way there.
• If time is limited plan your itinerary to ensure you see as much as possible.
• Barbados currency is Barbados Dollars (BBD) which are worth a lot less than the us Dollar (USD). Ensue you are aware when paying for something.
• Check out UK government travel advice before going to Barbados https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/barbados
• Check out weather below for best time to travel to Barbados.
• Hurricane season is officially from June to November
• Check out other places we have visited in the Caribbean Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico , Dominica , Antigua , St Maarten
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Weather

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	28	28	28	29	29	29	30	30	29	29	28	28
Low Temp	23	23	23	24	24	24	24	25	24	24	24	24
Rainfall	66	28	33	36	58	112	147	147	170	178	206	97
Number of days	13	8	8	7	9	14	18	16	15	15	16	14

Travelling to the cruise

We flew to Barbados on the 1st January from Birmingham Airport. The night before our flight we had booked in at the Holiday Inn Express which also included parking for the duration of our holiday (15 nights parking). This package also included breakfast. The package cost £78 with Holiday Extra’s which was really good value. The hotel is a taxi ride away from the terminals at a cost of £15 each way.

Next door to the hotel is a lovely little pub called Little Owl. As it was New Years Eve we decided to go in to the pub and have a few drinks but not stay too long due to the flight the next day. Unfortunately a few drinks turned in to a few more drinks. We saw the New Year in and then went back to the room at this point it was 2am. The following day we were a little worse for wear but very excited about the Caribbean Cruise.

Executive Lounge

At the Airport we booked in the Aspire executive lounge as this was the only one available. The lady behind the bar serving drinks was very helpful and polite. The food was appalling to the point it was inedible. The sausage was so hard you couldn’t even bite into them. We reported this to a member of staff who gave us a glass of prosecco. Having not had breakfast at the hotel due to being booked in to the lounge we were very disappointed that we had to board the plane not having anything to eat. This was also reported to Holiday Extra who did not have the courtesy to respond.

Flight

On the flight with Tui to Barbados we were given a meal and a snack. Alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks were also included. Although the flight was 8 hours and 50 minutes the time past very quickly.

It was a bit worrying when we looked out of the window and could see what only can be described has Duck Tape all over the wings of the plane.

We were surprised to hear that when we got to Barbados we would not be collecting our suitcase these will be taken straight to the ship. Another surprise was that we never had to go through customs in Barbados. From the plane we were directed on to mini buses which took everyone to the ship which was around a 30 minute journey. We never actually went in the airport.

Check in

When we arrived on the ship we were directed to the show room for a safety briefing which was around 20 minutes long. Once we had watched this we then had to go and show our passports and were given our room allocation as we had not booked this prior.

It was several hours before our cases arrived at our rooms but this was not an issue as were free to use the facilities on the ship. Therefore had a few drinks and a bite to eat. Although it wasn’t ideal being in the clothes that we had travelled in we still enjoyed the evening. Due to having a long day and a late night on New Years Eve we had a relatively early night.

Cabin

Our cabin was on deck 10 with no windows. The cabin’s are quite small but enough for everything you need. We kept the beds as single as this worked for us. There is plenty of wardrobe space and draw space to keep everything in. The bathroom was quite small but adequate with a small corner sink and a small corner shower. Not having a window did not bother us as we were not in there very long. The only downside was that you struggled to dry swimwear as there was nowhere to hang them to dry. The staff that clean the cabin’s were brilliant as it was immaculately cleaned everyday. Towels left in the shape of animals and chocolates left on the pillows which was a nice touch. There is also a turn down service.

Pool Scene

Having been on one previous Marella Cruise around the Mediterranean we expected this to be very similar but it wasn’t. On the previous cruise it was more of a party atmosphere around the pool. The pool was also designed different with places to sit in the pool around the edge where you were sat in a few inches of water to keep cool. Whilst saying this the entertainment staff are brilliant and try to get people involved in various activities around the pool (Trivia quizzes and music quizzes etc.). On most days there was live entertainment which was usually low key as opposed to the other cruise which was very upbeat.

One of the things we did not agree with around the pool was that on occasions they showed movies and gave people headsets to listen to the movie but turned all music off for other guests who didn’t want to watch the movie. Totally agree with people spending their holiday how they want and if watching a movie in the sunshine is there thing then that’s great but there are others who like to have music. Not sure why we couldn’t have both as they had headsets on. There are many area’s on the ship where you can lie in the sunshine and have quiet time.

Food and Drink

There are many places to eat on the ship some of which you have to pre book and are chargeable.

Market Place

Located on deck 11 it Is the usual buffet style restaurant with added bonuses. There is a deli that serves freshly made sandwiches and hot panini’s during the day. Also there is an afternoon tea serving from 3pm. We never tried this but when passing through it always looked lovely. Of an evening regular theme nights which cover cuisine from around the world, including Mexican, Chinese and Japanese. We didn’t eat here much as we found it a bit café like and we wanted more of a dinning experience especially on an evening. .

Nonna’s

This is an Italian restaurant on the pool deck which is open for lunch. You are given an order sheet where you pick either your pasta dish or pizza. There are then choices to add to your pasta for example sources, herbs in the form of tick boxes. There is also a help yourself salad bar. We ate here a couple of times and the food was ok but a bit bland for our taste. It is a small restaurant but there are also seats outside in the shade where you can eat. It is located on deck 11

Snack Shack

This is also on the pool deck and is open during the day from 10 -6. It serves chips, burgers, hot dogs and fish. There is a small selection of salad to add. To one side to the Shack there is a fridge that has freshly made sandwiches and salads. The fish bites here were so nice therefore we ate them on many occasions. It is located on deck 11

Kora La

This is an Asian restaurant which does charge extra. You also need to book this in advance. Unfortunately it was fully booked during our stay therefore we can not comment on the food or service. Guests who had managed to book stated that it was worth the extra.

Latitude 53

We ate regular at this restaurant as you can have waiter/waitress service for every meal (Breakfast, lunch and evening meal). Unfortunately some lunch times it was closed which we found disappointing as we liked to have lunch here.

Breakfast

At breakfast there was a range of options from traditional English to Delhi of the day. Service was usually very good. Food was of a good standard and was served with juices or coffee and tea.

Lunch

Lunch was 3 courses but you could add extra sides should you wish to do so. The menu did change on a regular basis with some items staying the same. The gourmet burger was one that did stay the same each day which we really enjoyed and had this on more than one occasion. During the day this restaurant is pretty quiet therefore service was very efficient.

Evening meal

On an evening this restaurant could get really busy therefore they would give you a buzzer so you did not wait in the queue which was great as you could go and get a drink. The buzzer would let you know when your table was available. The menu did change daily slightly. Again you can have 3 courses should you wish with added sides. The menu has a good choice with fish, meat, vegetarian and vegan choices. The food is always well presented. Even when it is very busy the service is good considering the amount of people that are dinning here.

Vista

On the lower floor of the Latitude 53 this is an Italian restaurant on an evening. We ate here on many occasions as we liked the food here. Although it is Italian you could also have steak. The food changed slightly each day but not enough. Again you can have 3 courses and additional sides should you wish to do so. Our favourite was the Carbonaro which has an additional charge of £4.99 which was definitely worth it. One of the waiters mixes the pasta with the cheese at your table. The deserts are to die for too. If you are on the premium package they offer desert cocktails too. If you are not on the premium package these are chargeable. We strongly recommend that you give these a try especially the Tiramisu Martini

Images of Vista restaurant

Surf and Turf

Prior to going on the cruise we managed to book in to this restaurant. There is an additional charge of £37 per person. Our starter was a sharer starter of sausage, BBQ spareribs and garlic bread. We had surf and turf and a sirloin steak for our mains which was all cooked to perfection. We also had various sides to accompany the meal (onion rings, chunky chips, sauteed mushrooms, mac and cheese). Our deserts were also lovely ( Profiteroles and cheesecake). Throughout the meal the waiters are constantly topping up the wine. Finally we had our dessert cocktails which were even nicer than the ones in Vista. The whole experience was lovely both food and service.

Images of Surf and Turf restaurant

The only downside was that we had booked a time to eat but there was a member of staff that had come on the cruise and was wanting to book. She obviously did not want to book through the usual channels as the guests and thought she was superior. She was also getting cross with the lady who was front of house at the restaurant. We have no problem with this apart from we were stood in a queue for sometime which was getting longer by the minute. Many of the other guests in the queue were also getting cross. In the end we spoke to a member of staff and asked to let us in for our meal and deal with her booking afterwards which they did. This did not give us a good start to the meal.

Indigo Bar

This bar is a late bar of an evening. It is also the venue for some live bands. There is a DJ until the early hours on some days. The music which was played ranged from the 70’s to present. Whilst we were there it didn’t get overly busy but that had its advantages as it didn’t take long to be served. This bar served some great cocktails especially the smoking ones which looked quite impressive. We visited the Indigo Bar on a number of occasions which is not a good thing when you have an early start the next day.

Squid and Anchor

This bar is allegedly to be designed like a modern British Pub. It looked nothing like a British Pub but it did not stop anyone from having fun. Here they host game shows like Mr and Mrs, quizzes and Bingo. It is good fun to watch or join in. As usual there were people complaining that it was more like Butlins than a cruise. There are so many bars on the ship if they didn’t like then they should have gone else where. A lot of people stated that this was their favourite bar.

19th Hole

This was a lovely bar that served great cocktails. As the name suggests this was designed in a golf theme with seats in the shape of golf carts. We liked to have a drink in here each evening as it was a bit quirky. If going on this cruise visit this bar. A lot of people completely miss this bar as it is not stated in the Tui information. We stumbled across it by accident.

Aperitif

This bar is situated directly outside of the Surf an Turk and the Kao Lak. It is a great place to have a drink or two before dinning. An extensive cocktail menu is another reason why this is such a good bar to visit.

Flutes

Flutes is a quieter bar with piano music playing in the background. This bar has a good range of Champagne and Prosecco. So if this is your thing than this is the bar to be in.

Entertainment

Unfortunately we can not comment on any of the shows as we didn’t see them. We did however go and see some of the specialist singers which were amazing. A lot of people commented on a comedian/magician which they said was fantastic and well worth seeing. The entertainment staff work tirelessly day and night to keep everyone entertained.

Itinerary

The itinerary for the cruise was as follows:-

Day 1 – Arrival – Bridgetown, Barbados

Day 2 – Roseau, Dominca

Day 3 – St Johns, Antigua

Day 4 – Basseterre, St Kitts

Day 5 – Philipsburg, St Maarten

Day 6 – Road Town, Tortola

Day 7 – At sea

Day 8 – leave/second week of cruise- – Bridgetown, Barbados

Dominica

Please see separate Information on Dominica which includes tips, things to do and weather. Please click on the following link Dominica

Antigua

Please see separate Information on Antigua which includes tips, things to do and weather. Please click on the following link Antigua

St Kitts

We hadn’t booked any excursions for St Kitts therefore just had a wander around for short time. There were many local tour guides selling island tours at around $20 – $25 USD when you get off of the ship if you did want to book an excursion last minute. As we had done the first two days with activities we felt that we would just have a relatively relaxed day. There are many shops to look around just in the port including duty free and some designer shops. Other guests on the ship had seen more of the island and said it was beautiful.

St Maarten

Please see separate Information on St Maarten which includes tips, things to do and weather. Please click on the following link St Maarten

BVI (British Virgin Islands)

Again we didn’t book any excursion and just had a short wander around the town. There isn’t much to see or do when walking around but we did come across some lovely churches and an extremely small prison compared to the ones in the UK. You were able to go in and look around parts of the prison. We were informed that if you visited anyone in prison on the island that it was compulsory to dress smartly in a suit.

There are many colourful buses offering tours of the island which are around $20 – $25 US dollars which seems about the average cost of a tour on many of the Caribbean islands. At the port there is a lovely little portable bar called the Crazy Coconuts. This bar served the most amazing rum punch which were in as you would guess coconuts. After only one it felt like it had gone to our heads.

Images of BVI

Weather in British Virgin Islands

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	29	29	29	30	30	31	32	32	31	31	30	29
Low Temp	24	24	24	25	26	27	27	27	27	27	26	25
Rainfall	70	50	50	60	105	75	85	110	145	145	130	80
Number of days	11	8	8	9	11	9	10	12	12	14	13	12

Summary

This cruise was amazing as we managed to see so much in such a short time. Everyone of the staff we came across were wonderful. The cruise was excellent value for money as we paid £1580 for two weeks. We did another cruise after this one called Taste of the tropics. Considering what we had paid the standard of the food and drinks was excellent.

Things to do

• Try the crazy golf.
• Watch the shows
• Watch a movie on deck on an evening.
• Go to the BBQ
• Eat at the specialist restaurants.
• Try the many dinning options on board
• If you like to party try Indigo Club.
• Join in the quizzes around the pool on a day time
• Try the cocktails
• Visit the Islands
• Visit the many bars on ship
• Try the silent disco as it is hilarious.

Top Tips

• Check out the drinks menu before you book to see if it is worth the upgrade. We felt the upgrade was worth it but it depends on what you like to drink.
• Book Al a Carte restaurants in advance as they get booked up.
• Check out destinations and if an excursion is necessary. Most of the destinations had people selling island tours a lot less than Tui $20-$25 US dollars.
• If booking an excursion with Tui book in advance as these get booked up too
• Do research about the destinations you are wanting to see as time is limited when you are there.
• There is a dress to impress night so take your glad rags.
• There is also a white night which is when everyone dresses in white
• Check out temperatures and weather before booking.
• Pack waterproofs just in case as many of the Caribbean islands have a lot of rain in certain months.
• The official hurricane season is from June to November.
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips