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5 star hotel

Environment, Travel

Chef, Can You Please Make Some Jam?

Focusing on Nature at Glenapp Castle

Charming Glenapp Castle, all turrets and towers. Tucked away on the West Coast of Scotland, within walking distance of the little coastal town of Ballantrae, this ‘lesser-travelled’ part of the Scottish lowlands is where we kicked off a three week tour.

A somewhat ‘fairytale’ of a place, nestled in the trees, scarcely visible until you are on it, with tantalisingly long and windy gated drives as the only access. How would this first few days of our three week trip unfold…

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October 18, 2024
3538
Environment, Travel

SKI’ing in Lanzarote

Hotel vs Villa: The Princesa Yaiza Experience

Soon as it starts getting into Autumn – darker nights and gloomier skies – my husband’s thoughts turn to ‘where can we go to get some sun over Christmas and New Year?’. Now I am more of a ‘snow and fairy lights’ type of person… well that’s what I tell myself. With a ‘complex’ family structure – thats one way to describe it – exiting the country (UK) is a good way to extract ourselves from seasonal challenges, but it’s more than that. This is our third Christmas and New Year in Lanzarote, first time in a hotel rather than villa. Let’s look at how that went and explore how you can SKI’ing in Lanzarote when there is no snow or snow dome! Read on to find out more….

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January 31, 2024
4106
Travel

Shaping Guest Perceptions Positively

Part 3 of 3: Cliveden House Hotel, Taplow – what a welcome

We had friends from Germany visiting in the summer, with two young energetic children and a baby. It was a long weekend only but I always like to plan activities ahead with several options. Mainly ensuring places to run around for the children. 

The National Trust property, Cliveden House came up in conversation. Beautiful grounds going down to the Thames although the stately mansion house, previously owned by the Astor family steeped in history and political scandals, is now part of the Iconic Luxury Hotels group and a Relais & Chateaux association member.  We wondered what it would be like to stay in this historic hotel? 

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December 21, 2023
3979
Environment, Travel

Getting more ‘Polar’

Part 2 of 3: Scott Polar Research Institute – Polar Museum, Cambridge

Planning  our short trip away in the UK following  some medical ‘stuff’  I had always wanted to visit the Scott Polar Museum at the research centre in Cambridge.  My blog last week, our short stay at The Graduate Cambridge, was part 1 of 3 with this visit being the main reason for the Cambridge trip

2024 will bring a trip to the Arctic for me in June  – totally different of course in every way to the Antarctica trip but still with some common threads through explorers like Roald Amundsen reaching both the South and North Pole, I thought a history lesson at the museum was a good place to start.

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December 12, 2023
4122
Travel

Messing About on the River – Cambridge

Part 1 of 3: Graduate Cambridge Hotel

It’s funny what drives a short getaway, especially in November! Because of some medical stuff that had been going on we wanted a short trip to celebrate a 6 week recovery point. Criteria equalled not going too far in the car – my husband hates being driven, and I was driving! – and places we could easily walk. Combine that with something interesting to do, hmm thats not hard for me, the Scott Polar Museum = tick! A friend had mentioned Cliveden House and the beautiful grounds – a National Trust property but with the house now being a Relais & Chateaux hotel. I can see a mini-break coming together nicely.

This is part one, first stop Cambridge.

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December 6, 2023
4470
Travel

Scotland: 10 Five Star Hotels (mostly), 22 days (Part 6) – The Good!

Champagne Greeting and Welcome Smiles

Find out why some of the most expensive hotels in Scotland aren’t always good value. Read up on hotels that have taken action to be more sustainable, and those that still have a way to go. Use the information to help plan your own road trip up the west coast of Scotland.

‘THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY’

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September 1, 2023
3633
Travel

Scotland: 10 Five Star Hotels (mostly), 22 days (Part 6) – The Ugly!

The Torridon – When a 5 Star should be a 3 Star!

Find out why some of the most expensive hotels in Scotland aren’t always good value. Read up on hotels that have taken action to be more sustainable, and those that still have a way to go. Use the information to help plan your own road trip up the west coast of Scotland.

‘THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY’

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August 23, 2023
3609
Travel

Scotland: 10 Five Star Hotels (mostly), 22 days (Part 5)

Stepping into the shoes of Queen Victoria

Inverlochy Castle Hotel – 10 out of 10 and a gold star!

Find out why some of the most expensive hotels in Scotland aren’t always good value. Read up on hotels that have taken action to be more sustainable, and those that still have a way to go. Use the information to help plan your own road trip up the west coast of Scotland.

‘THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY’

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August 16, 2023
3770
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