Europe and Middle East
Vidago Palace Hotel
The Vidago Palace Hotel is an epic experience for anyone keen to find a five star luxury retreat away from the usual tourist hot spots of Portugal. The spectacular golf and spa offerings are top drawer, the Rui Paula inspired cuisine is delicious and the service is exactly what you would expect from a hotel within The Leading Hotels of the World portfolio. Above all though, for me it’s the palace building itself which binds it all together beautifully, it speaks to me of the glitz and glamour of a bygone era, brought magnificently up to date. King Carlos may have missed out but his legacy lives on. Just an hour or so from Porto, a very special place indeed.
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Languedoc wine tasting: B&B and Wine
It was, it must be said, the perfect evening. Languedoc wine tasting with dark chocolate, a delicious regionally inspired dinner and then sleeping it all off in a 13th century chateau. Such is life these days in the Languedoc-Rousillon, a region reinventing itself from mediocre table wine producer into highly respected vintner of outstanding quality while at the same time embracing the tourism industry with arms open wide.
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Riad Star Marrakech
There was a moment during my stay at Riad Star Marrakech when I thought I had literally died and gone to heaven. It had been a day of tough haggling deep in the souk; even the shopkeepers were emotionally spent such was the drama that had unfolded.
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LEGOLAND Windsor
Driving home after a fabulous day with two small children fast asleep in the back of the car with huge smiles after exclaiming, “that was sooo much fun” is always very satisfying. It was just one of the memories we took home after a full day out at LEGOLAND Windsor.
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Climbing the Eiger by train
The Eiger’s north face was looking particularly sinister today as I peeked out at it from the window of the Jungfrau Wengernalp, the world’s longest cogwheel railway, as it climbed closer, the peak invisible, surrounded by cloud cover. Climbing the Eiger by train was in my view infinitely more healthy than attempting it on foot, after all, there is a pretty lengthy list of climbers who tried and never made it back alive.
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Glamping at Livingstone Lodge. Serengetti in Kent
Sitting out on the decking of The Laapa Restaurant with a glass of decent red, as a herd of giraffes, back lit by the sunset, elegantly strolled past was almost too good. If I didn’t know better, I would have said the whole thing was stage managed, such is the genius of a night glamping at Livingstone Lodge.
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