Author: Debs and Mike

We are a couple who live to travel far and wide and we love to share our experiences and knowledge of travel with others

Highlights of the Mediterranean

Posted on by Debs and Mike

Mediterranean Cruise

Travelling to Palma Majorca to board the ship

We flew from Norwich to Palma Majorca to board the ship on 9th July 2022. We booked the cruise with Tui at £628 each but with drinks upgrade and choosing seats it came to £718 as a last minute deal. This was our first cruise therefore did not know what to expect and we were both a little apprehensive.

We flew from Norwich due to Mike’s daughter being at University in Norwich therefore we could see her before we went and when we came back. We stayed at the Holiday Inn which is a short taxi ride to the airport. Unfortunately we were informed by Holiday Extra’s that the hotel provided a shuttle service but this was not the case. Taxi’s are very hard to get in Norwich due to lack of drivers. As we were setting off to the airport at 4.30am we pre booked it and it arrived on time.

Norwich Airport

Upon arrival at Norwich Airport and we were told at check in that we had to pay £10 each just to enter the airport (not to park or take a car but to go to the gate). We had never heard of anything like this before nor had we been informed about it. We paid the money as we had no choice in this.

The airport is a very small airport with Duty Free. 1 shop, 1 bar/restaurant and 1 executive. We had booked in the executive lounge which had basic breakfast, cereal, pastries, toast, crumpets, yoghurts etc. Unlike most executive lounges we were only allowed 2 alcoholic drinks. We were delayed by 3 hours therefore we had to purchase any further alcoholic drinks but we were allowed unlimited non alcoholic drinks. Jane was working in the executive lounge and looked after us so well. Norwich has to be the most stress free, easiest airport we have ever travelled to and from. We normally find that going through security the staff can be quite grumpy but not in Norwich.

Flight

When we got on the plane we were given a free snack and drink due to the delay. The flight is only a short flight (2 hours 30 mins) so it is not long before you reach your destination. It didn’t seem that long from getting off of the plane and on to the coach. The coach is for passengers going on the cruise only therefore it wasn’t full.

Checking in

We were on the Marella Discovery 2. Check in on the ship was quick and easy. We were then given a welcome drink and asked to go to the entertainment room where we watched a video on safety etc which was approximately 15 minutes long . Our cases were taken to our cabin by the porters.

Cabin

We had a floor 3 cabin 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.

Pool Scene

Our first full day on the ship was at sea. We worried about being around the pool as it was a small pool with 1500 guests on board but we had not needed to worry. Because there were plenty of sun beds around the pool with most people spending the day on them and not in the pool. Also there was a lot of people sat around the edge of the pool and in the Jacuzzi. There was a wide age range around the pool, children, adults aged 18 to 80 +. Predominantly we would say that the main age range was from 40 – 55. The entertainment around the pool was none stop all day long. The entertainment staff got all the ship involved with quizzes etc. It was a great day with everyone no matter what age they were having fun.

Food and Drink

The drinks were great as well with branded drinks. We upgraded to Premium drinks package but not sure if it was worth it. We paid £60 each for the week but not sure what we got for that. Other guests who had not paid this appeared to have the same drinks as us. The staff at the bars and even the waiter service around the pool were brilliant and could not do enough.

During the day there is a snack bar around the pool which services, fish bites (which are amazing), burgers, fries etc. You can also go to the buffet restaurant.

We preferred the Gallery 47 restaurant. We tended to eat here for breakfast, lunch and evening meal. The food here is excellent and the service was even better. Breakfast at the restaurant has a menu you can choose from and is waiter service. Lunch and evening meal is 3 courses with additional sides if you want to.

Gallery 4y

We did here people moaning about the food but could not understand why. We have stayed in many 5 star all inclusive hotels and the food nor the service has not been has good as this cruise. Our favourite food in the Italian restaurant was the Cabanara (This cost a little extra but was worth it).

A lot of people said how much they loved the A la Carte restaurants which you have to pay extra for. You have to book these in advance which you can do via an app prior to travelling. Unfortunately we hadn’t booked any in advance and couldn’t get in any of the ones we wanted. The wine at the restaurants wasn’t too bad either. A lot of all inclusive the wine is practically undrinkable.

The Glass House is a bar at the side of the indoor swimming pool and serves deli-style light bites during the day and tappas in an evening. On one occasion we went in the Glass House at midnight and had a curry and a drink before we went back to our cabin.

Entertainment

The entertainment on the ship caters for most people. The Squid and Anchor bar is designed to be like a British pub. There are interactive games every evening including Mr & Mrs etc. Some people moaned it was like being at Butlins but we actually liked it. One evening they had a silent disco in the Squid and Anchor which was so funny. You put head phones on and there was two types of music you could listen to Dance or Rock. Basically we hit the dance floor listening to Dance music. As we are not the best singers in fact we are terrible so singing with headphones on was a bit of a shock to other guests.

Silent Disco

Surprisingly we only watched a couple of the shows in the Broadway Show Lounge and each of them was good. Again people moaning that it was like Butlins. I do wonder what some people expect for what they have paid.

The Atrium Bar has low key live music every night so if you want a quiet drink with a bit of back ground entertainment then this is the place to be. There is also another bar through the Atrium Bar which has a small Casino and live music. The live music is a bit more livelier than the Atrium Bar with a lot of people up dancing.

Atrium Bar

There is a late night bar called Bar 11 that stays open until 2am. We often went up to this bar which is not a good thing when you have a busy day the next day although it was great fun at the time. This bar plays a lot of Dance music which is right up our street. All the bars serve amazing cocktails which are made in front of you from scratch. The only trouble is that this can create a bit of a queue but it is worth it. We have been on many all inclusive and been served the sugary cocktails that are pre made and do not taste like what they are supposed to do.

Itinerary

The itinerary for the cruise was good for what we had paid. We like to travel a lot so seeing so many places in 1 week was great.

  • Day 1 – Palma Majorca
  • Day 2 – At sea
  • Day 3 – Ajaccio, Corsica
  • Day 4 – Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy
  • Day 5 – Livorno (for Florence and Pisa), Italy
  • Day 6 – St Raphael (For St Tropez and Cannes), France
  • Day 7- Barcelona, Spain
  • Day 8 – Palma, Majorca

Ajaccio

Ajaccio is the capital of Corsica . It is also the home of Napoleon Bonaparte. It is only a short walk from getting off the ship to the birth place of Napoleon. The Place de Gaulle is a large square with a statue of Napoleon (in fact there are statues everywhere of Napoleon). The Square is also a short walk from the ship. Also there are some nice beaches in Ajaccio which are a taxi or a decent walk from the port. There is a train that takes you around Ajaccio too. There are many other interesting places to visit in Ajaccio which we didn’t get to see. The temperature was 30 degrees in the morning so by mid afternoon we wanted to go back to the ship.

Home of Napoleon Bonaparte

Civitavecchia

Civitavecchia is also a small port with a lot of history. The ship docked here mainly for guests wanting to travel to Rome. We had spent 4 days in Rome only a few years ago therefore felt there would be nothing more to see therefore did not book the excursion. The most famous landmark in Civitavecchia is Fort Michelangelo which you can see as soon as you reach the port. If you are just wanting to walk around the port there isn’t that much to see but if you are willing to go further afield there is places of interest. We had a cold drink at a lovely restaurant which has a lovely view over the port. It did not take us long to walk around Civitavecchia therefore headed back to the ship.

Pisa and Florence

We booked an excursion for Pisa and Florence. After Breakfast we got on the coach and had a lovely tour guide who was very knowledgeable. Please click on the following links for full details of Pisa and Florence Pisa , Florence .We returned back at the ship at about 6.30. It was a long day but worth it.

Pisa

St Raphael

Before we travelled we were informed that you could get on a boat from the ship to Cannes and St Tropez from someone who had been on the same cruise a few years prior but this was not the case. Obviously things had changed since she went on the same cruise. We didn’t book an excursion due to this information therefore we were disappointed that we did not get to see these places. There is a small boat which takes you from the ship to St Raphael which is a lovely sea side resorts. The beach is lovely with soft sand and turquoise sea. It is nice to spend a day on the beach rather than sight seeing or around the pool. There are a lot of nice restaurants and bars around St Raphael. There is a small marina which you can walk round to.

Barcelona

There is no need to book an excursion for Barcelona as there is a coach from the ship that takes you to the centre of Barcelona where you can get on one of the hop on hop off buses that takes you to all the places of interest in Barcelona. There are buses leaving from the ship all the time and return all the time up until 5.30 so you can please yourself how long you need in Barcelona. Please click on the following link for full details of Barcelona Barcelona

Barcelona

Summary

You can go on organised excursions every day that can be booked with TUI prior to travelling or you can see destinations on your own which some guests did. We only booked one excursion which was Pisa and Florence. We regret not booking at least one more (St Tropez and Cannes).

On the last evening the entertainment crew did a farewell show in the Atrium Bar with everyone watching from inside balconies. It was lovely and a nice end to the cruise.

Farewell Show

This was our first time on a cruise and it definitely wont be our last. There is nothing negative we can say about the cruise. Every member of the crew went out of their way to make sure we enjoyed our holiday. They all seemed happy in their work and nothing was too much trouble.

The food was better than we expected. Additionally we like to have waiter/waitress service for our meals and are not too keen on buffet restaurants. We were able to have waiter/waitress service for every meal which made this a better dinning experience. The cocktails were amazing too. Cabins are small but it is a cruise ship and to be expected. There were some people who were moaned about the food and entertainment. We couldn’t understand why but we had nothing to compare our cruise to. Some said that the bigger cruise ships were of an higher standard. We are looking in to our next cruise around the Caribbean.

Making Carbonaro

Images

  • Marella Discovery 2
  • View of Palma Majorca from Ship
  • Climbing wall
  • View of Palma Majorca at night
  • Piano bar
  • Cocktail Bar
  • Silent disco
  • Heading to port
  • On deck for the sunset
  • Amazing sunsets
  • Waiter making Carbonara
  • Delicious deserts
  • Cocktails
  • Farewell show

Things to do

  • Try the crazy golf.
  • Try the climbing wall.
  • Watch an evening movie on deck with popcorn
  • Watch the shows
  • Eat at the specialist restaurants
  • If you like to party try bar 11.
  • Join in the quizes around the pool on a day time
  • Try the cocktails
  • Go on the excursions

Top Tips

  • Check out the drinks menu before you book to see if it is worth the upgrade.
  • Book Al a Carte restaurants in advance as they get booked up.
  • Check out destinations and if an excursion is necessary.
  • If booking an excursion book in advance as these get booked up too
  • It isn’t necessary to book excursions with Tui as some other operators are cheaper but read reviews before booking.
  • 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.
  • Check out temperatures and weather before booking. All our destinations were 38 degrees plus at mid day which was very hot and uncomfortable for sight seeing at times.

Venice

Posted on by Debs and Mike

Venice is famous for its canals and gondola’s. The Grand Canal is the main canal which is the main water traffic route around Venice. It is also home to the famous St Marks Square and the Rialto Bridge.

Travelling to Venice

We flew to Venice from Leeds and Bradford Airport in the month of July. We flew with Ryanair to Treviso Airport which is a 1 hour bus ride from Venice centre. Ryanair provided a free bus to the centre. If you fly to Marco Polo airport the transfer is only about 20 minute’s. The cost of flying to Marco Polo was a lot more expensive hence why we flew to Treviso. The bus dropped us right next to a Kiosk where you can buy tickets for the water buses. We were in Venice for 4 days therefore we bought the tickets for the full duration of our visit.

Accommodation

We stayed at a budget hotel on the Lido (Unfortunately does not exist now). This was a short waterbus ride from Venice Centre. The Hotel was a short walk to the water buses and the beach. It also had a supermarket opposite which was very useful too.

Site Seeing via Waterbus

On our first day we caught the waterbus in to Venice centre and went to St Marks Square. This is a beautiful square with lots of bars and restaurants around the square.. It is a very busy square with lots of tourists which you would expect. The architecture of the buildings is quite spectacular. There are a lot of restrictions in Venice regarding building work and renovation which is lovely that it still keeps its charm. Should renovations be needed then a sheet is put up in front of any scaffolding with a picture of the building on it to appear that it is the building itself.

St Marks Square

At St Marks Square the bars and restaurants are quite expensive compared to other area’s of Venice. Many of the bars have live classical music which adds to the atmosphere. As it was a lovely sunny day despite the cost we decided to sit and have a drink or two watching the world go by.

Bar/Restaurant in St Marks Square with Classical Music

There were also some lovely restaurants and bars at the side of the canal. We had lunch here and a couple of drinks watching the world go by. The food and drinks were much cheaper than at St Marks Square.

Bars and Restaurants near Rialto Bridge

If in Venice then a visit to the Rialto Bridge, There is an amazing view of the Grand Canal from the Bridge with bars and restaurants lining either side of the canal. Both day and night it is a lovely place to visit.

Rialto Bridge

After spending most of the day in the centre of Venice we got the waterbus back to our hotel to get changed for the evening. We then got the waterbus back to Venice centre for the evening. It was nice seeing it all lit up at night time. We wandered along some of the back streets and found lots of little traditional bars which were nice to sit out at of an evening.

Day at the Beach

The next day we decided we would organise a picnic and go to the beach for the day which was 10 minutes walk from our hotel. As it was a hot day the beach was very busy. Unfortunately some of the more expensive hotels own parts of the beach therefore it is only residents that can sit in those area’s. There is still a lot of the beach that anyone can sit it. There are as what you would expect from any beach places to buy food and drink if you wanted to. We went in the sea quite a lot as it did cool you down a bit. The sea was really nice clear and warm. We spent all day on the beach having drinks and food.

Unflattering photo at The Lido

We decide to stay on the Lido for the evening and went to a local bar/restaurant for something to drink and eat. The prices were at least half of what it was in Venice Centre. Some of the bars got quite lively. At 11 O’clock nobody is allowed to dink or sit outside of the bars therefore everyone came in doors. Apparently it is a crime to do so.

Grand Canal

On one occasion we caught the water bus to the end of the grand canal where there is a glass factory, shops and few small places to buy something to eat and drink. We had a wander around the glass factory and the shops etc which did not take very long as it is only small. Finally we then got the waterbus in to the centre of Venice and wondered around some more of the back streets.

Grand Canal at night

Summary

Although our hotel was not have a high standard it was always clean and the service was good. Also we thought the destination of our hotel was great. This was because could visit the beach etc but also we were only a short waterbus away from the sites of Venice. We would definitely go back to Venice. We would also stay on the Lido again.

Images

  • Grande Canal
  • Gande Canal
  • Gondola’s
  • Classical music St Mark’s Square
  • St Mark’s Square
  • Smaller Canal
  • Ponte di Rialto Bridge at night
  • Venice Street
  • Venice Lido Beach
  • Grand Canal at night

Things to do

  • Visit St Mark’s Square
  • Visit Ponte di Rialto Bridge
  • Go on the water bus down the Grande Canal
  • Go to the beach on the Lido.
  • Visit the Bridge of Sigh’s
  • Visit San Giorgio Maggiore

Top Tips

  • Remember there are two airports to Venice Centre with Marco Polo Airport being the closest.
  • Food and drink are very expensive around St Marks Square and other tourist attractions.
  • Book your waterbus ticket for the duration of your stay as this makes it cheaper and gives you a lot of flexibility to travel around Venice.
  • Cost of hotels vary so much check out comparison websites.
  • If you want to combine a beach break and city break then the Lido di Venezia is the place to stay.
  • Check out other places in Italy we have visited. Click on the following links Ravello , Florence , Pisa , Rome
  • Check out the weather below for best time to visit. Please remember these are averages therefore could be higher or lower
  • Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Weather

Temp – Celsius
Rain – mm		JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High Temp 681216212428272418117
Low Temp014812161818151041
Rainfall405060607090707070808050
Number of days868131111899101110
Average daily temperatures and rainfall

Florence

Posted on by Debs and Mike

Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region. It is also home to Michaelangelo’s famous sculpture “David”. The center of Florence was declared a World Heritage Site in 1982.

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Travelling to Florence

We went to Florence on 13th July 2022 via coach from our cruise ship. Please click on the following link for full details of the cruise and our itinerary Highlights of the Mediterranean. It took about 1 1/2 hours to get to Florence from the port of Livorno. We had our own guide on the coach who talked us through various area’s we travelled through on the coach. She was very knowledgeable about Italy. It was a bit strange finding out that area’s of Italy do not like other area’s of Italy. For example our guide was from Livorno in Italy and she spoke negatively of people from Pisa although it be in a jokey way.

Places of interest

It was a very hot day 39 degrees with bright sunshine. Later met another guide who took us around various places of interest in Florence. The Guide was also very knowledgeable about Florence. She spoke at great lengths about the The Cathedral of Sana Maria del Fiore and Piazza Duomo. We were at the Cathedral for over an hour. Fortunately we were stood in the shade whilst listening.

The guide took us to see some extremely interesting tourist attractions in Florence including Ponte Vecchio bridge and Michael Angelos David to name a few.

Ponte Vecchio bridge

Florence is a beautiful and interesting place to visit. There is so much to see and do that you could spend more time there but unfortunately we had to go to our next destination which was Pisa, But before we left Florence we were taken to the viewing point which over looks the whole of Florence. The view is absolutely spectacular.

View of Florence from View Point.

There is also Michael Angelo’s David at the viewing point, Should you be in need of a cold drink and a bite to eat there are stalls selling food and drink.

Michael Angelo’s David

Food and Drink

We had lunch at a little side restaurant and watched the world go by. It was a typical Italian restaurant serving traditional food and good wines. Due to the heat of the day the restaurant had good fans which kept you cool. There were a lot of people in the restaurant drinking Aperol Spritz. We just stuck with water and soft drinks as we had a long day.

We had an ice cream in a lovely little bar/restaurant and sat eating it on an upstairs balcony other looking the streets of Florence. The ice creams cost 16 Euro’s for 2 but the surroundings and where we were sat made them worth every penny. The ice cream was very nice too.

Shopping

Florence has a commercial are full of many designer shops but it also has a lot of traditional narrow cobbled streets with nice little bars and restaurants. Florence has the best of both worlds the old and the new. You could spend days in Florence and still not have enough time to see everything.

We then had to head back to the meeting point and wait for our guide to take us back to the coach. We had to wait in intense heat for people who were not back in time. This is always the problem with organised excursions.

Summary

Florence is a beautiful place with so much to see and do. We would like to return in the future and do the things we have not managed to do on this trip. Also it would be nice to have the freedom to go where we want as apposed to an organised excursion.

Images

  • Baptistery of St John
  • Florence Cathedral, Giotto’s Campanile, Piazza del duomo,The Baptistery of St John and Loggia del Bigallo
  • Florence Cathedral, Piazza del duomo,The Baptistery of St John and Loggia del Bigallo
  • Palazzo Vecchio
  • Replica of statue of David in the background
  • Piazza della Signoria
  • Ponte Vecchio Bridge
  • Basilica of Santa Croce
  • Piazzale Michelangelo
  • View of Florence from View Point
  • View Point

Things to do

  • Visit Ponte Vecchio Bridge
  • Visit the Cathedral
  • Visit Basiica of Santa Croce
  • Visit Baptistery of St John
  • Visit Piazza della Signoria
  • Visit Piazzale Michelangelo
  • Visit Piazza del Duomo
  • See the statue of David
  • Visit the view point.

Top Tips

  • If you are able to get to Florence on your own do.
  • Take hat, sun cream and lots of water when it is hot.
  • If not on an organised excursion plan what you want to see.
  • Allow lots of time in Florence to see things
  • Check out other places in Italy that we have visited. Please click on the following links Ravello , Pisa , Venice , Rome
  • Check out the weather below for best time to visit. Please be aware that these are averages therefore could be higher or lower.

Weather

Temp – Celsius
Rain – mm		JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High Temp 121215192429313127211511
Low Temp346913181918161274
Rainfall6349697972503148769610272
Number of days11891398569121413
Average daily temperatures and rainfall

Pisa

Posted on by Debs and Mike

Pisa is a city in Tuscany and is famous for its leaning tower. Although this is the most famous building Pisa does have a lot of other historical places to visit.

Travelling to Pisa

Firstly we were picked up by coach from Florence as we were on an excursion from our cruise on 13th July 2022. Please click on the following link for full details of cruise and itinerary Highlights of the Mediterranean. It is a short walk from the coach park to the leaning tower. Also there are a lot of people around all doing the same thing. However we had a tour guide who put up a sign for us to follow her as it was very crowded even on the streets. Before we were left to do our own thing the tour guide told us where the meeting point was and when to be back to get on to the coach.

Cruise Ship

It was a particularly hot day reaching 39 degrees at times . Consequently even the dogs had shoes on as the ground was too hot for them to walk on. On the way to the tower etc there are several stalls selling things souvenirs, drinks, food etc. Surprisingly there is even a Mc Donald’s on the way too. Despite expecting Pisa to be very touristy we were shocked to see how busy it was. Also we found it a bit of a let down with a Mc Donald’s not far from the tower itself. It was certainly very hard to take any photo’s as there was always someone walking in the way.

Places of Interest

The leaning tower and the Pisa Duomo Cathedral are in beautiful ground. Undoubtedly the architecture of both buildings are absolutely spectacular. Also you can go in to the Cathedral each day form 10am – 7pm and look round. Subsequently you can ago up the leaning tower but you have to book on busy days as there is always a queue.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Baptistery is also located on the same grounds as the leaning tower. Unquestionably this also has spectacular architecture. The building are stunning and definitely worth visiting. You cant go to Pisa without visiting the leaning tower.

The Baptistery

Time in Pisa

Unfortunately we didn’t have much time in Pisa as we had booked an excursion which allowed us to spend a lot of time in Florence but not has much in Pisa. We would have like to have more time and see more of Pisa not just the leaning tower site. It would have been nice to experience some of the other places of interest and evening time in a nice restaurant and bar.

Food and Drink

Because of the intense heat a lot of people were trying to find shade. The stalls selling cold drinks were always busy even Mc Donald’s had a long queue. The stalls selling souvenir’s etc were reasonably priced. Water did vary from place to place form 3.5 Euro’s to 1 Euro.

Finally we waited at the meeting point for some time until all the coach was back. Because it was so hot and just stood still with very little shade the time seemed longer. Unfortunately this is the downside to excursion’s as there is always someone who is not back on time. Saying that we had a great time and saw some wonderful sites.

Summary

Although we did see the main sites of Pisa but felt it had a lot more to offer and would have liked to have spent more time. May be to have something to eat and drink in a traditionally restaurant. We definitely feel that there is a lot more to Pisa than what we have managed to write about.

Images

  • The Baptistery
  • Typical photo
  • leaning Tower of Pisa
  • Angelo Caduto
  • Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
  • Learning Tower in background
  • Stunning Buildings

Things to do

  • Visit the leaning tower of Pisa
  • Visit the Baptistery
  • Visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
  • Visit the Botanic Gardens
  • Sample the local cuisine
  • Visit Messo Bridge
  • Visit the city center for shopping, restaurants and bars

Top Tips

  • Take plenty of sun cream on hot days and a hat.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Check out days that may be less busy.
  • Try to see other area’s of Pisa
  • Check out other places in Italy we have visited. Please click on the following links Ravello , Florence , Rome , Venice
  • Check out weather and rainfall below for best time to visit. Please remember that these are averages therefore may be higher or lower.

Weather

Temp – Celsius
Rain – mm		JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High Temp 111215172126292926211511
Low Temp336811151718151264
Rainfall7060701107060305011015011080
Number of days1191111984510131614
Average daily temperatures and rainfall

Travel Tips

Posted on by Debs and Mike

Travelling Light

If you are wanting to travel light there are ways to maximise the amount you can take for carry on baggage.

  • Buy toiletries in airport – this means that you can take what ever size you want and are not restricted to the 100ml rule .
  • If needing more than one jacket/coat wear them – you can always take them off when you are in the airport.
  • Wear coats/jacket with pockets where you can put items in them (not creams or liquids).
  • Travel Vacuum packs are a good investment as they come with a light weight mini USB pump vacuum which enables you to fit triple the amount of clothes in a suitcase. (always check the weight of the case when full to avoid additional charges).
  • If you want to take toiletries with you instead of buying at airport, buy the empty travel bottles/tubs (can buy for as little as a £1 per pack) and fill them with your own products.
  • Mosquito repellent is expensive at the airport and some of the bottles are over 100ml. Mosquito repellent wipes are ok to be left in your hand luggage and have worked fine for me in the past.
  • If you have more than one carry on bag and are limited to one bag. Get a duty free bag and put things in that as it is not counted as a carry on bag.

Train Travel UK

  • Using the Train split website is a good way to save money on most journeys – just enter your details in to the website and it will calculate the savings for you. You don’t have to change trains to get the savings – https://www.trainsplit.com
  • If there is more than one person travelling together it may be worth checking out getting a Two Together Rail card which costs £30 for a year. I have bought more than one of these as I have used one with my friend and another with Mike. You just need a photo of each of you to add onto the railcard – https://www.twotogether-railcard.co.uk
  • Booking in advance can save a lot of money. You can usually book up to 3 months in advance.

Cheap Flights

  • When airlines advertise a sale try to be ready to search at the time they state the sale starts to bag a bargain.
  • If you are flexible with where you want to go and dates try skyscanner – https://www.skyscanner.net/skyscanner/flights. In the search specify the month you are wishing to travel and leave the destination as Flexible. This will bring up all the destinations with the cheapest price for that month.  We have had return flights to various places including Prague, Portugal and Poland for under £45.
  • Booking flights in advance is good too as when the demand for the flight goes up so does the price.
  • Be aware of additional costs with certain airlines as although the headline price of the flight may seem cheap, when other elements are added, such as hand luggage or reserved seating, it can increase the price considerably and if you are on a tight budget that’s the last thing you need. Certain airlines now charge for a small suitcase. Other airlines may charge a bit more for the flight but include hand luggage and therefore could work out cheaper.

Airport Lounges

Different airports and terminals in different countries all have different choices of Airport Lounges. Search the following to weigh up if it is worth the amount that is being charged.

  • What is the cost.
  • What is available in the lounge (wifi, Tv, newspapers etc).
  • What drinks are available (alcoholic and non- alcoholic).
  • What food and snacks are available (hot and cold).
  • How long can you be in the lounge prior to your fight departure.
  • re you able to stay in the lounge should your flight be delayed (some lounges offer this at a small cost).
  • Search for discount codes prior to booking . We have used discount codes in the past for airport lounges and have saved up to 12%.

Considering the cost of food and drinks in airports we have found that the lounges are often good value for money and the whole experience more relaxing than being in the main terminal concourse.

Airport Transfers

There are so many transport companies in every country to choose from with various prices for the same journey.

  • Check prices for more than one company.
  • Look for discount codes before booking.
  • Check the companies reviews as some companies have been known to take the money and not turn up.
  • Check if your accommodation offers airport transfers as this can often be safer and cheaper.
  • Ensure you have your flight times and address of accommodation prior to booking.

Accommodation

Again there are so many companies to choose from that offer the same accommodation at various prices.

  • Check price comparison sites such as Trivago and Tripadvisor.
  • When comparing websites always check you are looking at the same hotel with the same board details. For example one site may offer the hotel at a cheaper price but this may be on a room-only basis, whereas another site may offer you the same hotel at a slightly higher price but this may be on a bed and breakfast basis.
  • If you have a disability or children do check whether the hotel can accommodate your needs.
  • Always check package holidays for price as it is not always cheaper to book accommodation, flights and transfers separate.
  • Check out reviews but be aware if you are paying 3 star prices you are not going to get 5 star accommodation.  Take any extreme views with a pinch of salt and look for common elements of feedback from a number of reviews.
  • Secret escapes – https://www.secretescapes.com/luxury/hotels is a good site to look at if you are wanting a bit more luxury in accommodation but without a large price tag.

Package Holidays

Many companies can offer the same package holiday’s at different prices.

  • Check out what the package includes (does it include baggage and transfers)  and if it doesn’t include everything research the cost of the additional elements.
  • Check out reviews of both the package holiday company and accommodation.
  • Check if the company is ATOL and ABTA registered.
  • Check price comparison sites.
  • Some hotels offer various board bases – do check to ensure that the board basis is what you want before booking.
  • If booking all-inclusive check out what is included as all-inclusive varies from hotel to hotel.
  • Some all inclusive finish at 11pm others may be later. Many offer 24 hour all inclusive. Always check that the all inclusive is within the times you want. If you like to have a drink in to the early hours and the all inclusive finishes at 11pm this may put added cost on your holiday.
  • Many travel agencies advise to book in advance which can work better for a lot of people. We have found booking around 2 weeks before we want to travel as saved us a lot of money. For example 2 weeks to Egypt 5 star was £1200 we paid £680 last minute.

About us

Posted on by Debs and Mike

Introduction

Let us introduce ourselves! We are Debbie and Mike and our passion is travelling and enjoying life experiences. As we both have grown up children and no pets we are able to travel when we want (work permitting) although we do travel sometimes with family and young children. We also consider ourselves to have quite a young, optimistic outlook on life therefore our experiences on our holidays reflect this.

Reason for setting up the site

The reason we have set up our website is that we want to provide down to earth views, advice and tips for some of the destinations we have visited. Many travel websites focus solely on expensive experiences of far and exotic destinations. Although we do visit some of these destinations we also visit more affordable destinations which are closer to the UK, including places of interest in Europe. On our site we will also include many all inclusive package holidays and cruises.

Unfortunately we are now of an age where the back packer scene and the club scene are no longer for us, but we do like to have a good time! Undoubtedly we like to have fun, sometimes having a drink well into the early hours while meeting many different people. We also like to join in with games and activities when staying in a holiday resort. As well as the fun side of travelling we also like to experience the cultural side of travel and spend a lot of our holiday time sightseeing. Basically we aim to get as much as possible out of our holidays. On this site we will try to cover weather, destinations, places of interest, things to do, entertainment (if in holiday resort), food and drink and nightlife.

We aim to provide advice for travellers who are on a tight budget and also for those that wish to spend a bit more on their trips. Some of the tips we provide at the end of each destination review come from our learnings from our experiences in those locations and which would have been useful to know before we travelled. Many are money-saving tips and we all like to save a bit of money – we believe that if we keep the cost of our trips as low as possible we can afford more travel experiences in the future!

We are new to writing about our travel experiences

Being totally honest we are new to producing a website and writing about our travels so we are sure the site will come with some flaws – we are not professional writers! In addition we are not influenced by or receive any payment from any hotel or travel provider. We are simply here to provide our honest views and opinions on the locations that we have visited. Our main hope is that this site will provide you with a bit of an insight into the locations that we have visited and to provide some ideas and tips should you wish to visit any of the destinations. Over time we have visited so many places which have provided many unforgettable memories. We have written about all of the places we have visited over the past few years.

We hope you enjoy reading our posts on the various destinations we have visited, including package holidays, far away destinations and cruises. Please do let us know what you think by using the feedback function on the site, and also please do share this site with your family and friends. We aim to keep adding to the content of the site as we continue to travel to new destinations.

Please click on the following links in green or use the search function at the top of the page to read about some of our trips to the following destinations – Africa – Tunisia . Sharm El Sheikh , Cairo , Hurghada , Agadir , Cape Verde, Safari/Nairobi, Diani Beach America – Miami , Las Vegas , New York , Washington DC , Los Angeles , Bali – Bali , Brazil – Rio de Janeiro , Foz Do Iguacu , Praia do Forte , Bulgaria – Borovets , Sunny Beach , Caribbean – Antigua , Barbados , Cuba, Dominica , Grenada , Jamaica , Martinique . St Lucia , St Maarten , Croatia – Zadar , Cruises – Highlights of the Mediterranean , Taste of the tropics , Paradise Islands , Cyprus – Protaras , Hong Kong – Hong Kong , Italy – Florence , Ravello , Rome , Pisa , Venice , India – Goa , New Delhi , Mumbai , Poland – Gdansk , Wroclaw , Portugal – Madeira , Singapore – Singapore , Spain – Barcelona , Thailand – Bangkok , Koh Samui , Turkey – Kemer , Lara Beach , Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City , Nha Trang United Arab Emirates – Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah

Madeira

Posted on by Debs and Mike

Madeira is a region in Portugal. It comprises of 4 islands. Its capital is Funchal. The cable car in Funchal is a big tourist attraction along with the Christiano Ronaldo museum for Football fans.`

Travelling to Madeira

During Covid we were unable to travel to many countries. Fortunately Portugal was allowing travelers who were fully vacinated. Therefore we decided to book an holiday. Due to the demand of holidays to Portugal/Madeira we felt the cost of holidays were high compared to higher standard holidays outside of Covid. We booked with Tui costing around £1000 each for 10 days.

On the 21st May 2021 with flew from Birmingham Airport to Madeira. Birmingham Airport felt really strange due to it being very . Although it was quiet it did take some time checking in due to having to show a lot of documentation. At one point we were the only people in the Weatherspoon’s.

On the journey to the hotel there had been a minor bump. Instead of moving the cars out of the way they just left them there which prevented our coach and other coaches getting to their destinations. Many of the people on the bus decided to walk as the hotel wasnt that far from where we had stopped. The journey from the Airport is only around 15 minutes.

Accommodation

Finally we arrived at the Riu Madeira which is all inclusive. The hotel had only opened a week or so before we arrived. Surprisingly It is advertised with Tui as a 4 star plus. The rooms were very basic but fit for purpose. They were always clean with fresh towels each day. This hotel is definitely not a 4 star plus and would be a 3 star plus at its best. Previously we have been to many 4 star plus hotels and this hotel does not compare. . Unfortunately some of the facilities were closed and the reason given was Covid. The only restaurant open was the buffet restaurant.

Pool Scene

There was no entertainment of any sort at anytime during our 10 day stay. Tui never informed us that these facilities would be closed. We appreciate that Covid has and did effect a lot of things but we feel that Tui should have given us full information as to what facilities were available at the hotel. Given this information we would have been able to make an informed decision whether to go to this hotel or not.

Food and Drink at the Hotel

Fortunately the buffet restaurant had a lot of choice. It seemed to cater for most tastes. There was always fish, meat, pasta, meats , cheeses, vegetables, fresh salad, chips, and pizza. We always found something we liked. The staff at the beginning of the holiday were very attentive therefore you never had to wait long for a drink but has more guests arrived there wasnt enough waiters/waitresses therefore the service diminished. During the day it was lovely having something to eat at the buffet restaurant with a glass of wine overlooking the sea. Also during the day there was a snack bar serving sandwiches and cakes. As the day went on the sandwiches became less edible.

Eating lunch over looking the sea

Bar staff did their best considering they were under such pressure with being understaffed. They always smiled and tried to serve everyone in order even though the bar sometimes was 4 deep with people wanting to get served.

Management

The pools were very small and were too cold to actually get in to so we spent our time on sunbeds or at the outdoor bar. On an evening there was no entertainment etc in the hotel. If we had not met a lot of lovely people in the hotel I think we would have wanted to leave this hotel.

The management were extremely rude to a lot of the guests. On one occasion he asked a group of us for our room numbers as we were said to being too loud. We were not causing any nuisance or doing anything we shouldn’t just a group of 40+ adults having a few drinks and a laugh. We could understand if it was late/early morning but it was bearly 11pm and we were on holiday. The rules and restrictions continued throughout the holiday which actually spoilt it. We had been to other hotels in the peak of Covid and not had this treatment. Covid appeared to be an excuse to many things in this hotel.

Seeing the Island

On one occasion we went to the centre of Funchal by bus just to have a look around. Unfortunately it was a bit later in the afternoon so we were time limited. Afterwards a taxi driver came up to us and handed his card for future trips out. Subsequently we called him a couple of days later and he came and picked us up at the hotel (Unfortunately can not remember his name).

Funchal

Firstly the driver took us to Funchal to get the cable car up to the top where there is a church and botanical gardens which are lovely. Also the view is amazing.

Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte
Botanical Gardens

We then got on the basket toboggan where you sit in obviously a large basket and tow men run pulling you down the road. It is great fun but not has fast or has scary as we had thought it would be.

Toboggan

He then met us at the bottom. He then took us to a viewing point at the other side of Funchal. The view was amazing and well worth going to. He took around the island for most of the day. The driver was very informative about the island and had a genuine love and passion for Madeira. He explained to us about the various festivals throughout the year in Madeira which sounded great fun.

Group Tour

We had met a lovely group of people in Madeira we informed them of the tour with our private taxi/guide. Several people were keen to have a tour around the island therefore we arranged for two taxi’s to take a group of 8. They took us to several destinations around the island including the viewing area (Gabo Girao Skywalk) which is the 2nd highest cliff in the world and the highest in Europe. We stopped at Porto Maniz on our way back and had a meal at a lovely restaurant over looking the sea appropriately named Sea View Restaurante. We also had a dip in the natural pools of Porto Maniz but it wasnt that good weather therefore didnt stay in the water that long. It was a lovely day with good company though.

Gabo Girao Skywalk

We stopped at Porto Maniz on our way back and had a meal at a lovely restaurant over looking the sea appropriately named Sea View Restaurante. We also had a dip in the natural pools of Porto Maniz but it wasn’t that good weather therefore didnt stay in the water that long. It was a lovely day with good company though.

Porto Maniz

Just a short walk from the hotel there were some lovely little bars that often played live music. The food in the bars we tried were of a decent standard but not where you would go for a special meal. The Portuguese traditional drink Poncha was absolutely one of the best drinks we had tasted all holiday, It is quite a sweet drink and not to everyone’s taste.

Man making Poncha

Summary

We don’t think we will be going back to Madeira any time soon. There are a number of reason’s for this but mainly due to the hotel and the rude management. The weather wasnt great either which changed how we spent our days when not out and about. Usually we lounge around the pool and have a swim now and then. The pool was too small and due to the weather it was too cold. Unfortunately the indoor pool wasn’t open. Regardless we do have some good memories of Madeira but this was due to the people we had met and not down to the experience of staying in this hotel.

Images

  • View from Cable Car Funchal
  • Funchal Cable Car
  • Toboggan’s
  • Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte
  • Ready to go in Toboggans
  • Finish of Toboggan ride
  • Botanic Gardens Funchal
  • Botanic Gardens Funchal
  • View looking down from Gobo Girao Skywalk
  • Gobo Girao Skywalk
  • Gobo Girao Skywalk
  • Making Poncha

Things to do

  • Go up in the cable car in Funchal
  • Do the toboggan run
  • Visit the Botanic Gardens
  • Go to the glass view point (Gobo Girao Skywalk)
  • Swim in the natural pools at Porto Moniz
  • Have a drink of Madeira’s traditional drink Poncha

To Tips

  • Do some research on the hotel before booking.
  • If you want a lot of nightlife this is not the place for you.
  • Check out the festivals as they sound great fun.
  • Do the basket toboggan ride as it is a unique experience.
  • There are a lot lovely places to visit in Madeira a private taxi was a good way to see a lot in one day.
  • Check out weather below as Madeira is very seasonal. Please be aware that these are averages therefore could be higher or lower.

Weather

Temp – Celsius
Rain – mm		JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High Temp 181819192123242525232120
Low Temp141515151618192020191715
Rainfall1087252601596336909081
Number of days139101085449121216
Average daily temperatures and rainfall

Cuba

Posted on by Debs and Mike

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean. Havana is the capital of Cuba and renowned for its old American cars.

Travelling to Cuba

On the 10th January 2022 with flew to Varadero from Manchester Airport. Not sure how it happened but Escape Executive Lounge had over booked therefore we had to eat and drink elsewhere. Fortunately we managed to get a table at San Carlo Restaurant. The breakfast there was lovely, it was well presented which was much better than the Executive Lounge. The service was also very good with a nice Italian waiter who was very attentive. Additionally they served a nice Italian Cider (Angioletti) which was very nice.

Accommodation

Our accommodation was the Royalton Hicacos all inclusive for 11 nights. . Due to having several cancellations during Covid we had a Tui voucher to spend on another holiday. As we had booked last minute the cost of the hotel had been reduced a lot therefore we decided to upgrade to the Diamond Club at a cost of £200 each which brought the holiday up to £980.

Not sure if the rooms in the Diamond Club were any different to the other rooms. The rooms did have a Cuban feel with her large double bed and a seating area. The bathroom was a decent size with a large jacuzzi bath. Each day the rooms were cleaned thoroughly and fresh towels provided. Not wanting to encourage leaving valuables on display but we did on more than one occasions and nothing was ever taken.

Pool Scene

They also arranged for the large Jacuzzi bath in the room to be run just before we went back to change with petals in the shape of a love heart, petals on the bed and a bottle of fizz which was a lovely touch for Debbie’s Birthday.

All the staff work tirelessly to provide everyone with a wonderful holiday experience. Wages are low in Cuba therefore it is worth tipping the staff.

Diamond Club

The Bali beds in the Diamond Club area were lovely. They were made up with clean sheets, cushions and towels as soon as you got there. You also had sun lounges and chairs put up outside your bali bed if you wanted to be in the sunshine. The beach was beautiful white soft sand. The sea was a nice temperature too.

Cocktails at Diamond Club Beach Bar
Bali Beds

There was also a cocktail evening for Diamond Club guests only. There was canapes, champagne (may be prosecco lol), cocktails and a live band. When you arrived at the cocktail evening you were given a raffle ticket for entry to prize draw. There were a lot of prizes of rum and chocolate. In fact most people won a prize. We won the star prize of a massage for two. Not sure if this was because it was Debbie’s birthday.

Diamond Club Cocktail Evening

Food and Drink

There are 4 al la carte restaurants (Italian, Mexican, Cuban and Sea Food) which can be booked by anyone on an evening but during the day only the Diamond Club can use them. The Italian had the most amazing steak which I had a few times at lunch.

Steak for lunch

The buffet restaurant has a lot to choose from and was always of a good standard. The Diamond Club has its own section of the buffet restaurant to sit in. The staff are very attentive and never waited more than a few seconds before someone came to ask what we wanted to drink. There is also a Beach Grill Restaurant for all guests. There are BBQ lunches on the beach but these are for Diamond Club Guests only. The food was of an higher standard than we expected considering we were in Cuba.

Cocktails in 24hour lobby Bar

All though we thought the Diamond Club was worth it I am sure that if we hadn’t booked it we would have still had a great time and lovely food. There was always enough sun beds around the pool for everyone.

Entertainment

The swim up pool bar served freshly made cocktails which were very nice. Although we didn’t watch a lot of the show’s on an evening the ones we did were very good. Also in the lobby bar they often had live music on in the evening. During the day in the lobby bar some people played bingo,

End of show photo’s

They had a Cuban day which had various stalls we Cuban food and a Cuban live band during the day. It was excellent day with great weather, food, music and atmosphere.

Cuban Day
Hog Roast

Location

There is isnt much around the hotel but there is a hop on hop off bus that stops outside the hotel which you can get on to go to Varadero center with lots of shops, restaurants and bars. Taxi’s are also in expensive should you want to go to Varadero in the evening.

Dolphin Experience

We went on a trip to swim with dolphin’s which was included in our Diamond Club (cost was usually £70 each). When we did this several years ago the Dolphin’s were semi-captive which is why we did it. The Dolphin’s were free to leave but chose to stay as they were treat well and there was plenty of food. Some of the Dolphin’s did leave so they trained other’s. Although we are not sure if this was the case with these Dolphin’s. We would do more research before doing this excursion again.

On the morning of the excursion we were picked up at our hotel by coach and taken to where the Dolphin’s are. The Dolphin’s put on a bit of a show and even sang happy birthday. Additionally we were then able to go in to the water with the Dolphin’s. The last time we did this we had a lot more time with the dolphin’s. We swam with them and they put their noses under our feet and pushed us up out of the water as though we were standing on water. They are amazing creatures and deserve to be in their natural habitat.

Dolphin Show

Catamaran

Finally we were then taken on a Catamaran to a small island. Unfortunately we were supposed to be able to go snorkeling on our way to the island but they advised that the sea was too rough ( It did not seem it to us). We arrived at the island where there was a large bar and restaurant. The drinks were all inclusive and very strong. They served a buffet style lunch (chicken, rice, salad, pasta, bread etc). On the island there were large Iguana’s roaming free.

Iguana

Crab Race

We were then asked if we would like to do a crab race which seemed a bit strange. Everyone stood in a circle and then they put a bucket of Hermit Crabs in the middle. The person who one of the Hermit Crabs crawled to first was the winner (not sure what the prize was). Then we were then given time to relax on the island. It was a beautiful island with white sand and turquoise sea. After a couple of hours we were back on the Catamaran heading back to the coach to our hotel.

Crab Race
Island Beach

Havana

We booked a trip to Havana through the hotel. We had a private car and tour guide. Our guide Caesar came in an old American car which was lovely. Ceasar was very informative on our journey to Havana (approximately 2 hours journey). He spoke about different areas as we passed through them. He also knew a lot about the history of Cuba.

When we arrived in Havana he took us to the centre where we parked up and he walked with us speaking about various buildings, statue’s etc. We now understand why people spend more than one day in Havana as there is so much to see which can not be done in a day trip. The list of tourist attractions is endless. There were a lot of ladies dressed in traditional Cuba clothing asking for money to have your photo took with them (Usually £1-£2). One of them was asking for more money when we had given her £2. Ceasar told her she wasn’t getting any more money.

Cuban traditional dress
Cristo de La Habana (Christ of Havana)

Lunch in Havana

When we had seen a lot of the sites in the Centre of Havan Ceasar took us to lunch. It was strange arriving at what looked like somebodies house but when we went through the side gate was a large dinning area. There was a live band playing traditional Cuban music. It also had the strangest chickens wandering around. They looked like balls of fur not feathers. Ceaser had asked us what we like to eat and we informed that we like a lot of spicy food. He advised that Cuban food is not spicy. We had chicken, rice and fries and a couple of glasses of wine.

The food was reasonably priced £25 for two for the meal including drinks. The Waitress also brought us tabasco sauce as Ceaser had advised her to. We invited Ceasar to dine with us but he stated that he gets his free and he will see us when we had finished our lunch. We were then taken to Revolution Square which is a must in Havana.

Return from Havana stop

Pina Colada’s

On our way back to the hotel we stopped at what looked like a motorway station but has the most amazing Pina Colada’s we have ever tasted. On a previous visit to Cuba we also stopped here therefore we knew how good they were.

We like to buy art work from countries we visit therefore we asked Ceasar to drop us off in the centre of Varadero so we could have a look around. After looking for a while we got a lovely painting of an old car. The artist personalised it for us too. He changed the colour of the car to mustard in order for it to coordinate with the decor of the bedroom. Finally he put a personal number plate on it “DM 2022” (Debbie and Mike 2022). After an amazing day we gave Ceasar a tip of approximately £15 as he was so good and did not get paid that much.

Club Tropicana

There is so much to see and do in Havana which you do not have enough time for in one day. The last time we came we were picked up very early in the morning to go to Havana we saw the sites and had lunch. In the evening we were taken to hotel to get changed and have Dinner (they advise you to bring toiletries and a change clothes) . We were then taken to Club Tropicana which is the most amazing show we have ever seen. Bottles of Rum was placed on each table which was included in the price. We were then taken back to Varadero in the early hours of the morning. It was the most amazing time. Unfortunately due to Covid this excursion was not available.

Summary

We have now been to Cuba twice both times staying in Varadero. If we were to go again we would try somewhere different. Other area’s in Cuba you often have to fly to Havana. We would definitely recommend this hotel if staying in Varadero for adults.

The only downside to the hotel was that the pump for the water around the hotel had broken and they were waiting for a new one to arrive. They had been waiting for several months for this pump. When it rained the stagnant water attracted a lot of mosquitos. We were both bit a lot even though we had put repellent on.

Images

  • Cuban Day
  • Pool Scene
  • Diamond Club Cocktail evening
  • Cocktail’s in the lobby bar
  • Italian Restaurant
  • One of the shows
  • Dolphin Show
  • Dolphin kissing Mike
  • Cathedral Square
  • Photo in Cathedral Square with traditionally dressed lady
  • Revolution Square
  • Plaza Vieja (Old Square)
  • Revolution Square
  • View over Havana
  • Cristo de La Habana (Christ of Havana)
  • Photo overlooking Havana
  • Pente de Bacunayagua Bridge
  • personalised Painting

Things to do

  • Visit Havana (If you have time spend more than one day. )
  • Take a trip in a classic car
  • Visit Varadero Centre
  • Swim with the semi captive dolphins (not the ones in captivity).
  • Try the Havana Rum
  • Go to Club Tropicana

Top Tips

  • Take GBP
  • Change your money outside of the hotel as you get a better rate. We changed in the hotel and got 38 Cuban Peso’s to the pound. Outside of the hotel we were being offered 98.
  • If wanting the Dolphin experience check out the ones where they are semi captive.
  • Do not expect the standard of other Caribbean destinations as they do not have the same import facilities.
  • If wanting to go to Cuba go soon as things are likely to change in the near future and it will not be as unique as it is now.
  • Obtain a Cuban visa (Costs around £20)
  • Take lots of mosquito repellent.
  • Check the Government website for information when visiting Cuba https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cuba
  • Check out other destinations we have visited in the Caribbean. Please click on the following links Jamaica , Mexico , Dominica , St Lucia , Martinique , Grenada, St Maarten , Barbados , Antigua
  • Check the weather below for best time to visit Cuba. The temperature and rainfall are averages therefore could be higher or lower. This is also for Varadero, other area’s of Cuba may vary.

Weather

Temp – Celsius
Rain – mm		JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High Temp 272728293031313131292822
Low Temp171817202021212223221917
Rainfall202010102030302030401020
Number of days55557141111131277
Average daily temperatures and rainfall

Tunisia

Posted on by Debs and Mike

Tunisia is the smallest country in North Africa.

It is one of the most visited countries in Africa. Tunisia attracts more than 10 million visitors a year.

Travelling to Tunisia

On 21st September 2019 we flew to Tunisia from Manchester Airport. There was a group of us which included our Daughter, Son in Law and two Grandchildren aged 6 and 16 months old. Basically we just wanted a cheap and cheerful week away. Therefore we only paid £330 each for the week as we had booked flights and accommodation separate. We booked our flights with Thomas Cook and the accommodation with Travel Republic. Also we arranged our own transport from the airport (Holiday Taxis) which was also very cheap and efficient. Our driver was waiting in the airport when we arrived with our name on a sign. The journey to the hotel took about 40 minutes.

Accommodation

The hotel we stayed in was the Marhaba Beach Hotel in Sousse. Must remember it is only a 3 star so was what you would expect from a 3 star, We did not pay 5 star prices so was not expecting that standard.

In general all the rooms have modern but basic furniture. Everyday the rooms are cleaned with fresh towels provided. Also the rooms have a mini fridge and TV. We have been to some 3 star hotels which do not have a mini fridge.

The day after we arrived Thomas Cook announced the company was folding. Subsequently it was absolutely chaos in the hotel following the announcement. Unfortunately the hotel refused to let Thomas Cook guests use the facilities if they did not pay them the money for the accommodation. Furthermore they were charging guests more than what they had originally paid.

Meanwhile some guests tried to leave the hotel but were stopped from doing so by the Police. There were people in tears many with young families who had no way of paying again for the accommodation that they had already paid for. It was really upsetting to see families in this predicament and being unable to help them as we were prevented from speaking to any of them. We did not have any issues as we had not booked our hotel with Thomas Cook. Finally it was sorted and the guests were allowed to remain and use the facilities.

Pool and Beach

Pool Scene

The hotel was basic but met our needs. There is a lovely swim up pool bar which was shallow enough for children to go in and a large pool which is deep in area’s. The waiters behind the pool bar were lovely and very attentive Surprisingly there was always enough sun beds no matter what time of day it was. The Beach is lovely with soft white sand. The children loved to play in the sand after lunch.

Food and Drink

Dinning in Buffet Restaurant

There is a snack bar on the beach which was really nice to sit and have lunch whilst children able to play safely in the sand. The snack bar serves the usual – Burgers, Pizza, Hotdogs, Chips and Salad. The food in the buffet restaurant was what you would expect from a 3 star but always enough choice and always able to find something we liked. There was always meat, chicken, pasta, meats, cheeses, chips, chicken nuggets and salad. There wasn’t a great choice on deserts but always something.

Drinks were strong if ordering a spirit and a mixer. If you wanted a sort of cocktail these were very sweet and each cocktail did not taste much different to the other.

Since we had only paid 3 star prices we did not expect 5 star food and drink.

Entertainment

Foam Party

The entertainment on a night was pretty low key with not a lot of people watching. We did wonder where everyone went on a night. There was a sister hotel that had a lot more happening on an evening than in our hotel. The age range seem to be younger too. On one of the days at the sister hotel there was a foam party on the beach which was great fun. We took our 6 year old granddaughter who absolutely loved it.

Location

If you are wanting to go to bars outside of the hotel in Sousse then you are in the wrong place. Because we like to walk most days we do like to call at a bar along the way and not once did we find a bar outside of the hotel. Although we did find a lovely little cafe bar which served amazing Kababs. The owner agreed to deliver to our hotel when ever we wanted something. When the bar shut in the hotel which was around 1pm we would order our food prior to this and sit and eat our takeaway with a drink by the pool which was quite nice.

Excursions

On one occasion we went on a Pirate ship excursion which was probably not the best idea. Our daughter gets sea sick so she was not enjoying it. It was too hot for the children so we were trying to keep them in the shade. They did have walk the plank which was good fun though. Lots of people were jumping off the boat and having a swim in the sea including us. Overall we enjoyed it but probably best to do it without children or anyone who gets sea sick.

Previous visit to Tunisia

Previously we had travelled to Tunisia but stayed in another area. On one occasion we got a taxi to the train station, got on a train to the capital of Tunis. Straightaway we then got on a tram to a zoo. Whilst at the Zoo we were asked if we wanted to feed the lions which we declined lol. It was clear that we were the only tourists there.

When we got off the train in Tunis we had asked a young man where to go and he took us to the zoo. He spent some time with us but then went on his way. Finally we went for something to eat in a locals cafe bar. We had a meal and a drink each which entailed a sandwich and a soft drink. After having a wander around Tunis we headed back to the hotel. Finally we got back to the hotel we worked out that the whole day had cost us £10 in 2013.

Summary

Overall we did not find that much to do in Tunisia outside of the hotel. Would we go again? not sure. If we did we would definitely ensure we went to a higher standard of hotel with more dinning options and better entertainment. We would also do more research as to what to do in Tunisia.

Images

  • Pool Scene
  • Pool Scene
  • Pool Bar in the evening
  • Evening entertainment
  • Watching the entertainment in an evening
  • Dinning in Buffet Restaurant
  • Marina
  • Marina
  • Centre of Sousse
  • Foam Party
  • Foam Party
  • Pirate Ship

Things to do

  • Visit Port El Kantaoui and wander around the marina.
  • Take a boat trip
  • Visit the Medina
  • Take a trip to Tunis.
  • Visit Sidi Bou
  • Visit Carthage (some trips do Tunis, Sidi Bou and Carthage in one day). We did a similar excursion several years ago and enjoyed it.

Top Tips

  • Higher standard hotels have more entrainment and dinning options.
  • Research things to do if you are wanting to get out and about.
  • Tunis is worth a visit
  • If you visit Tunis be aware of pick pockets
  • Boat trips not suitable for young children
  • Check out the Government website before travelling to Tunisia https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tunisia/safety-and-security
  • Check out other destinations in Africa we have visited. Please click on the following links Morrocco, Hurghada , Cairo , Sharm El Sheikh
  • Check out the weather as it can get very hot in the summer months

Weather

Temp – Celsius
Rain – mm		JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High Temp 222326252628303029282522
Low Temp891113141718181715129
Rainfall3729251371011222963
Number of days531211011335
Average daily temperatures and rainfall

Sharm El Sheikh

Posted on by Debs and Mike

Sharm El Sheikh is renowned for its spectacular coral reefs. The great weather, lovely beaches, night life, high standard accommodation makes Sharm a popular tourist destination.

Travelling to Sharm El Sheikh

We flew to Sharm El Sheikh on April 21st 2022 from Manchester Airport. At the time of the holiday there were a lot of issues with airports throughout the UK regarding not enough staff in security, baggage handling etc. There were often queue’s of up to 4 hours getting through security. Therefore we dropped our cases off the night before which was brilliant. Subsequently we then drove to the Airport Inn where we staying for the night. We arrived at the Airport several hours early where there was already long queue’s waiting to go through security. Fortunately the queue went down pretty a quick compared to what we had read and seen on the news. We had booked in to the Executive Lounge and I am glad we did as there were queues outside of every bar and restaurant. Also there was a slight flight delay of 45 minutes.

View of desert from plane

Consequently we arrived in Sharm El Sheikh slightly later than was expected but not too much. The private transfer we had booked to the hotel was waiting for us with a sign with our name on. The Journey from the airport was around 15-20 minutes away which cost £20 one way.

Accommodation

Pool near beach

We stayed in the Coral Sea Holiday Resort which is a 4 star plus with Tui but Egypt’s official rating is 5 star. The holiday cost £680 for 13 nights booked through Tui just a couple of weeks before which was great value. Some friends booked for 7 nights as they only could take a week off work and paid £670.

The rooms are nicely furnished with a large double bed and an extra single bed. Unfortunately the bathroom has a shower but no bath. Subsequently the bathrooms could do with a bit of updating. Also some of the rooms are swim up rooms which would be nice but we felt that the cost was not worth it as it was another £350 per person.

Quiet pool

There are several pools throughout the hotel grounds. One of which is a quite pool if you want to chill out. Close to the beach there are two pools where the daily entertainment and music is. We preferred these pools.

Food and Drink

Fajitas at American/Mexican Restaurant

During the day there is a waiter service American bar on the beach which serves what you would expect Burgers, Hotdogs, Nacho’s (Not American I know), Fries, Sandwiches etc. The food was of a really good standard and we liked the waiter service. Also you can eat at the buffet restaurant during the day which is open most of the time. On an eventing there are several Al a Carte restaurants, Indian, Asian, American/Mexican. The food in these restaurants were amazing. The food actually tastes of the food from the specific country and not Egyptian interpretation. Every member of staff at this hotel was brilliant and very attentive.

American dinner at night

The only thing that let the hotel down was the standard of drinks. we not particular about branded drinks but we want cocktails to taste like cocktails and not alcohol with a sugary drink. The beach is lovely with lots of area’s to sit with a lovely beach bar too. There is a large water park across the road which is part of the hotel and free to go into. It is great for children and adults.

Entertainment

Each day there is a range of activities around the pool and on the beach which include aqua aerobics, darts, water polo to name a few. Regardless of not being good at any of them we decided to join in which was great fun.

On an evening there is live music in both the Terrace Bar and the Lobby Bar. The music varied from low key to quite upbeat which got people up dancing. Surprisingly the later the evening got the more people got up to dance lol.

Start of foam party

It was brilliant when they had a foam party on the beach. There was great music and everyone.

Boat trip including snorkelling and scuba diving

Shortly after our arrival in Sharm we booked a boat trip with Falcon Travel which had been recommended to us by some other guests who had been to the hotel several times before. The cost of the boat trip for two of us including a scuba dive was £60. We were picked up from our hotel and taken to board the boat.

Inside Yacht

Surprisingly the boat was not like any other boats we had been on in Egypt as it was a lovely new Yacht. Straightaway we decided to go to the top deck where there were sun lounges. Unfortunately we were too late as they had al been taken. We were able to sit at the front of the boat on bean bags. We stopped at various destination where you were given the opportunity to snorkel and scuba dive. There was also an opportunity to get off the boat and go to a tiny little island in the middle of the sea.

Tiny island

Snorkelling

The coral reef and the colourful fish were beautiful to see. Once we were told we were stopping to snorkel we wore a life jacket which made it so much easier to just float with minimum effort whilst you are snorkelling. Unquestionably we could have spent so much longer just doing the snorkeling.

Snorkelling

Scuba diving

Scuba Diving

Furthermore the scuba diving is also a short time therefore would have liked longer. We Scuba dived at Farsha Beach which has a great coral reef. As we do not have our PADI licence we were not able to go too deep. Basically it is an amazing experience and well worth the cost of the excursion. We will definitely do it again. May be the Great Barrier Reef at some point.

There was also an opportunity to get off the boat

Lunch on the Yacht

There was a buffet style lunch served mid day which was what you would expect on a boat trip chicken, fish, salad, bread, rice etc. Soft drinks were provided free through out the day. The boat has its own photographers (one for on the boat and one for under the water). We paid £40 for our photo’s which we were happy with. The file of the photo’s is down loaded to your phone. The boat trip was a full day and defiantly worth it even with paying for the photo’s.

Dune Buggies and Bedouin Meal

Dune Buggy

We also booked with Falcon Travel a desert ride in either dune buggies or Quad bikes cost £40 each. We chose the Dune Buggies. Because of the sand blowing in your face you had to wear a scarf around your head and face and sun glasses or goggles. If you dont have these they provide them at a cost.

When you are allocated your Buggy or Quad it takes some time in setting off as you all have to go in a line and follow the guide. It was hard sometimes to keep behind people that were driving a bit slower than what you are wanting to go. Overtaking people was not really permitted but we did it anyway lol.

After we had driven around for some time we stopped for a drink at a little purpose built Bedouin tent. We then had a camel ride which was offered to us by some children.

Some of the people then went back to the hotel but included in our excursion was more time on the buggies and entertainment. We got back on our Buggies and were taken to where the entertainment was.

Additional Ride

Our guide then offered to take us back out in to the desert and go fast on the Quad bikes. Debbie was on back of the guide and Mike was on his own. The desert obviously has no tracks or lights. The guide drove off fast on the quad with Debbie leaving Mike behind. Mike was stuck in darkness in the middle of the desert not knowing which way to go. Debbie and the guide finally turned round and found MIke. We were then driven back to the entertainment.

The entertainment venue was a large place with lots of seating area. It was very full not sure if this is usual or if it was because it was Eid. There was traditional dancers and a belly dancer. The belly dancer got Debbie up on the stage and the guide filmed it. There was a evening buffet at the venue chicken, salad and rice. Soft drinks were also provide (No alcohol served here). This was great fun to do and for what was included was good value.

Cairo

Due to the previous excursions and value for money we booked to go to Cairo with Falcon Travel at a cost of £175 each. Please click on the following link to view information Cairo

Journey Home

On our journey home we were taken to the airport. We were not allowed to go through check in and was told to stand or sit to one side of the airport. We were sat there for several hours before someone came to advise what was happening. There were some families with very small children and some elderly people to. There was nowhere to get a drink or something to eat where we were sat.

Eventually a Tui Rep came to the airport and advised that due to an issue with baggage handlers at Manchester airport the Pilot had run out of flying hours therefore we were being flown to Kos in Greece. It was very unfair on the Tui Rep as there were a lot of angry passengers. Eventually we asked politely why we just couldn’t stay in Sharm instead of going to Kos but he didn’t have the answer.

Stop over in Kos

At the time we were due to land in Manchester at midnight but landed in Kos at 4am. Eventually we were taken to an hotel until 7pm that evening. The hotel they took us to was the Kipriotis Village. The hotel rooms were very dated and extremely cold. We had dead insects in the bath. As it was early in the season for Kos the weather wasnt very warm. There was no heating in the room and no additional blankets. It was impossible to get any sleep. We had left all our toiletries in Sharm as we were supposed to be going straight home and there wasnt any in the room not even any shower gel.

We appreciate that things happen outside of Tui’s control but we believe this was a cost saving exercise as it was Eid and the hotels in Sharm had gone up dramatically. When we finally got home over 24 hours later than we should have done we were exhausted and in need of a shower.

Summary

Sharm El Sheikh is a great place to visit. It is great value for money and the people are lovely. Some people are a bit apprehensive due to the stories of upset stomach’s. We ate anything we wanted to and never got an upset stomach whilst we were there. Sharm is a great place for good standards at lower cost than a lot of other destinations. It is one of the cheapest places to go for winter sun. Should we want some winter sun on a budget then we would definitely go back to Sharm. We would also recommend this hotel especially for the food and service.

Images

  • Pool Scene
  • Aqua aerobics
  • Yacht
  • Boarding the Yacht
  • Scuba Diving
  • Dune Buggies
  • Dune Buggies
  • Dune Buggies
  • In disguise
  • Bedouin Entertainment
  • Hotel Beach
  • Foam Party
  • Lovely deserts

Things to do

  • Try scuba diving
  • Snorkel around the Coral Reef’s
  • Visit the old Market
  • Visit Naama Bay, Sharks Bay and Soho Square on an evening for nightlife and good cocktails.
  • Go to an aqua park
  • Ride a camel
  • Go for a ride in the desert on a quad or a dune buggy
  • Visit to Cairo

Top Tips

  • Check out reviews on hotels before booking as they vary so much.
  • Take medication with you just in case of upset stomach (We never needed them)
  • If you are wanting somewhere lively on an evening outside of hotel Naama Bay, Sharks Bay and Soho Square are all lively at night.
  • If scuba diving ensure that travel insurance covers you for this.
  • Ensure excursions are with a reputable company.
  • If visiting Cairo check out our Tips and information in the following link. Cairo
  • Snorkeling and scuba diving are a must in Sharm as the Coral Reef is one of the best in the world.
  • If Snorkeling and not such a great swimmer ask for a life Jacket if on an excursion. It also makes it easier to float and get to see the spectacular Coral Reef and colorful fish.
  • Check out Government information before travelling to Sharm https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt/safety-and-security
  • Check out other destinations we have visited in Africa Hurghada , Cairo , Tunisia, Morrocco
  • Check out temperatures below for best time to visit Sharm as it can get extremely hot in the Summer months. Remember the temperatures below are averages therefore the temperature will get higher or lower on some days.

Weather

Temp – Celsius
Rain – mm		JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High Temp 192325303437383736312723
Low Temp131316202426272826231815
Rainfall121110000234
Number of days111110000111
Average daily temperatures and rainfall