The Rocky Mountaineer and Alaska Cruise

 

In June of this year some older clients decided to book a coach trip through the Rockies followed by an Alaska cruise. The photos are superb and clients enjoyed the trip and experiences but their feedback is very firmly to advise all guests NOT to travel by coach thinking you'll see more but to Self drive the Rockies, far less waiting for other people. 

Dear Jo 

Here's the feedback you requested.    In hind sight we should have taken the self drive option rather that the coach tours as would have given us more freedom, the coach didn't suit us but the locations were great and we enjoyed the holiday as you see below 

Flights - good  ( British Airways - club class) 

The Rockies..................

Calgary/Delta Hotel - v. good and easy to use.  Trip Calgary to Banff approx. 1.5 hours so rest of day in Banff looking around. Pretty location but full of tatt shops etc. Half day look around and walk by the river was more than enough.  Hotel Caribou good.  Explore Banff/Gondola tour - itself was good but the coach picked up from a lot of different hotels which was a shame.    The  Wildlife evening tour - was a complete waste of time - we didn't see anything.   Lake Louise/Fairmont Hotel V. Good, should have booked a table for dinner as very busy, we eat at  the 'pub' which we did and it was fine. Good walking near the hotel. Enjoyed it.  Discovery tour to Jasper/Glaciers etc - good full day, recommended. The Jasper Sawbridge hotel was a bit out of town would have preferred to spend mor money on the hotel and stay in the heart of the town

Rocky Mountaineer train - excellent including hotel in Kamloops. Really glad we did it. Totally recommended, a great trip.

Vancouver - Pan Pacific Hotel - v good. Vancouver tour of Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Granville Island etc all good and recommended.

Cruise to Alaska

Cruise ship Holland America - very ordinary. Our stateroom was good and comfortable but overall standards on the ship were 'ordinary' as was food and service. FYI we were theoretically scheduled to dinner on a table of 8, it turned out to be a table for 6 and only 2 others ever turned up, a couple from Chelmsford. 

Tours in Alaska were all excellent -

Juneau we visited and walked to Mildenhall Glacier and Falls and did the Mount Roberts Cable car. (Incidentally, this was the only day on which we had rain. Overall the weather for our trip was fantastic.) Skagway we did the White Pass bus and rail tour - a whole day, excellent. Ketchikan - did the Crab fishing boat tour and crab dining at St Georges Inlet - again excellent.  Back to Vancouver - pleasant city to visit, met up with our friends from V Isle before we flew home etc.

A good trip overall but if we would suggest others doing it  fly to Calgary and travel independently/driving etc up to the point of boarding the Rocky Mountaineer and upgrade the cabin on the cruise.

regards

Liz and Alan Petts

 

Amelia Island, Florida - Feedback

A client recently spent two weeks in Florida following a fly drive itinerary  we had planned and thoroughly enjoyed Amelia Island in particular.

 

Flight Details:

Date            Departure Airport             Destination             Depart    Arrive       Airline
16 June       London Heathrow              Miami                        11:15      15:20         BA 207
16 June        Miami                                 Jacksonville              17:45     19:05         BA/AA 4940
30 June       Miami                                 London Heathrow    20:45   10:00*        BA 208
* denotes arrival time the following day

BA =  Flights operated by British Airways  - seats in Economy Class     

Accommodation:

Date        Nights        Hotel                                                   Room Type                            Board
                
16 June    3           Omni Resort – Amelia Island      1 x Deluxe Ocean View Room       Room Only
19 June    3           Shores Resort - Daytona             1 x River View King Room             B & B 
22 June    2          Vero Beach Hotel & Spa             1 x Studio Suite King Bed              B & B
24 June    3           Breakers – Palm Beach              1 x Deluxe  Resort Room               B & B
27 June    3           Lowes Miami – Miami Beach     1 x Superior City View Room          Room Only

Car Hire: 

Date              Vehicle Type                                                                 Collection point:                   
16 June         Standard  SUV – Grand Cherokee Jeep or similar    Alamo Jacksonville airport    
30 June         Drop off point:    Alamo Miami  airport

The Alamo Gold car rental rates includes 3 additional driver charges, the first tank of petrol, unlimited mileage, collision damage waiver, liability insurance, state surcharges / airport fees and state tax.

Thank you to Simon & Olena, for the amazing pictures of The Omni Resort, Amelia Island, Florida.  We look forward to looking at the pictures from the rest of the trip.

For more information, ideas and inspiration for your Florida holidays click the link below:

Link to Florida Holidays

Fabulous Ski Offers with complimentary lift passes

SAVE up to £200 per couple

Complimentary Lift Pass - Two for One

Cristallo Hotel & Spa , Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

Prices from £1285pp

  • 7 nights in a Classic Double Room
  • Return economy flights from London Gatwick to Venice
  • Bed & Breakfast basis
  • Two six day Cortina D'Ampezzo lift passes
  • Based on departure 11 January 2015  (other dates available on request)

Prices are subject to availability. Offer valid 19 December 2014 - 05 April 2015. Book by 30 June 2014. Excludes transfers. Offer is limited and  available on a first come first served basis. Maximum one complimentary lift pass per booking. Complimentary lift pass excludes any   key card fees or insurance

SAVE up to £235 per couple

Complimentary Lift Pass - Two for One

 Crans Ambassador Luxury Sports Resort. Crans-Montana, Switzerland. 

Prices from £1250pp

  • 7 nights in a Forest Room
  • Return economy flights from London Gatwick to Geneva
  • Bed & Breakfast basis
  • Two six day Crans-Montana lift passes
  • Based on departure 14 March 2015  (other dates available on request)

Prices are subject to availability. Offer valid 12 - 19 December 2014 and 04 January - 19 April 2015. Book by 30 June 2014. Excludes transfers. Offer is limited and available on a first come first served basis. Maximum one complimentary lift pass per booking. Complimentary lift pass excludes any  key card fees or insurance

SAVE up to £810 per couple

40% Early Booking Reduction
& Complimentary Lift Pass - Two for One

 Four Seasons Resort & Residences, Whistler, Canada

Prices from £1765pp

  • 7 nights in a Resort Room
  • Return World Traveller flights with British Airways from London Heathrow
  • Room Only basis
  • Private Return transfers
  • Based on departure 02 February 2015 (other dates available) 

Prices are subject to availability. Offer valid 20 December 2014 - 05 April 2015. Book by 30 June 2014. Offer is limited and  available on a first come first served basis. Maximum one complimentary lift pass per booking. Complimentary lift pass excludes any key card fees or insurances.

Link to Time & Place Luxury Holidays

St Regis Mauritius has made it into TripAdvisor's top 8 glamorous hotel pools.

Why not visit the resort and find out for yourself?

At the south-west tip of Mauritius facing out onto the Indian Ocean is The St. Regis Mauritius Resort. The UNESCO World Heritage site Le Morne Mountain provides a befitting backdrop to the resort and with the world’s best diving and kite-surfing spots moments away, it holds the most favoured address on the island. 

Here is just one of the many fabulous reviews of The St. Regis Mauritius Resort:
"The most amazing setting! Beautiful scenery. The swimming pool is the best I have come across in a hotel ever. The water was just the right temperature too. The Butler service was new to us, but very well done and a great idea/concept. Our butler was very friendly and was always on hand for help. Trustworthy and friendly staff helped, and kids really enjoyed the kids club. The staff there were very good with the kids. Food was excellent. The rooms were very luxurious with the most comfortable beds. Excellent stay overall!"

For more information, availability and price please give me a ring on 023 9220 8002 or drop me a message. If you know me, you know I love Mauritius.

Link to Mauritius

Beautiful villa in Bali

Ian & Glynis took their grown up family to Bali at the end of April and hired The 4 bedroomed Villa Sebali with private pool in Ubud, Bali and by  all accounts had a superb time. They spent 12 nights in Ubud and fly with Cathay Pacific via HongKong.  Thanks for the feedback and photos 

Dear Don & Jo,  

 Just to say a big thank you for helping to arrange our holiday in Bali.  Villa Sebali is amazing we had a great holiday.  The only hitch was on the itinerary  it said we had to make our own transfer arrangements so we arranged a taxi to pick us up , only to find when we reached the villa they had gone to pick us up. They were very confused.  I also think we didn't realise we had to tip all the staff at the end.

This did not detract from us having a really lovely holiday made so much easier by you doing all the hard work.  I am sure we will be using you again for our future holidays. 

 

The Maldives for Easter

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For Easter 2014  - as in past years Suzan & Sarah decided to escape to the Maldives for the Easter Holidays. We arranged a complete ATOL package with flights on Sri Lankan Airlines and 10 nights at their favorite island  "Biyadoo"  and kindly sent this feedback

Thank you for the welcome home.  We had another fabulous holiday in Biyadoo and met up with people we met last year (they have been hooked too) and met other lovely people who shared our passion for Biyadoo and scuba diving.  We are well rested but the holiday went far too fast.

Biyadoo have obviously been doing some small improvements around the island and things looked a little fresher than last time. (Well I thought so - Sarah says it is very subtle!)  The gardens also looked lovely with some more plants.  The food was consistent with plenty of choice, but once again some improvements such as the introduction of pizza bread (which was lovely) and more variety in their salad selection, has been made.

They have got rid of the jet skis that appeared last year and this was better too as they were far too noisy and a danger to people and the reef (in my opinion!)

The dive school offered the usual dive sites and the system and instructors offered the standards we have encountered on previous trips.  They have introduced the occasional 2 tank dives on the morning boat and this gave us more opportunity to explore the reefs but still allowing us plenty of time to sunbathe in the afternoons.

The staff were friendly and received us like old friends - they still remember we like a diet coke after our morning dive!

 Thanks again to you and Don for booking us our much needed break to what we think is still a gem of an Island.