The Big Apple
Booked through - Expedia
Flights with - Continental
Stay - 3 nights
Month - November
I dream of mine was to go to New York and from the moment I booked it I knew I was going to love every minute of it even if I stayed in a box on the street. We flew with Continental who were brilliant free drinks throughout the whole flight and lots of legroom. We flew into Newark and then got a taxi from New Jersey to New York it took about 45 minutes due to traffic.
First impressions of the hotel were good it has an impressive old lobby with a huge reception desk with attentive staff. The rooms were what I would have expected for the price they were small but clean. The window looked onto the avenues which I loved. I could have sat at those windows all night watching the city come alive I love NY.
The hotel is an old New York hotel but it also a great hotel ok its a little dated but I have seen worse and heard about worse.There was a great little Irish bar on the ground floor where we had breakfast one morning and a coffee one afternoon. The staff were so nice and friendly they would do anything for you.
The location of this hotel is what makes it such a good choice in NY it is literally 2 blocks from Time Square and just over the road from the port authority where we caught the bus to New Jersey.
Things I done other than shop :
1. Evening cruise along Hudson River
2. Mama Mia on Broadway
3. Empire State
4. Ground Zero
5. Woodbury Common (Ok I know that counts as shopping but I did see New Jersey on the way)
6. Horse and carriage ride in Central Park
7. Cocktails at the View revolving restaurant in the Marriott
The rest of my time was spent shopping in Soho, China Town, Century 21 and Macys.
Would I return ? In a New York minute :)
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Sol Tordos - Palma Nova Majorca
Yabba Dabb Do
Booked through - Direct
Flights with - Easy Jet
Stay - 1 weeks All Inclusive
Month - August
This was another sympathy holiday bought for me by my father he said it was because he didn't want me to be alone whilst He, my step mum and sister went away but I know it was because he loves my company. Either way I am not one to turn down a free holiday with my children so I packed our bags and boarded my Easy Jet flight bound for Palma.
The hotel itself has a Flinstone theme and was aimed at children. The lobby was full of screaming kids not quite the welcome I wanted. The room was modern but very cramped with a bathroom a double bed and bunk beds. It was that cramped that the pram had to be folded because it was as wide as the corridor to the toilet.
The hotel was jam packed it was always so busy that we didn't spend any time there at all. In the morning we would go to the beach which was only 5 minutes away rather than stay at the pool that was far to small for the hotel and without fail everyday the pool was closed whilst they fished poo out of there. The hotel would provide a pack lunch if ordered the night before so you didn't have to come back to the hotel to eat in the afternoon.
The food in the hotel was really nice, good breakfast and the evening meals where varied. After our evening meal we would walk along the beach and sit at a little bar at the end of the marina whilst the children rode bikes up the boardwalk. This was an oasis compared to the madness back at the hotel.
I would return to Palma I loved it there but I would never step foot in that hotel again free or not.Sorry Dad x
Booked through - Direct
Flights with - Easy Jet
Stay - 1 weeks All Inclusive
Month - August
This was another sympathy holiday bought for me by my father he said it was because he didn't want me to be alone whilst He, my step mum and sister went away but I know it was because he loves my company. Either way I am not one to turn down a free holiday with my children so I packed our bags and boarded my Easy Jet flight bound for Palma.
The hotel itself has a Flinstone theme and was aimed at children. The lobby was full of screaming kids not quite the welcome I wanted. The room was modern but very cramped with a bathroom a double bed and bunk beds. It was that cramped that the pram had to be folded because it was as wide as the corridor to the toilet.
The hotel was jam packed it was always so busy that we didn't spend any time there at all. In the morning we would go to the beach which was only 5 minutes away rather than stay at the pool that was far to small for the hotel and without fail everyday the pool was closed whilst they fished poo out of there. The hotel would provide a pack lunch if ordered the night before so you didn't have to come back to the hotel to eat in the afternoon.
The food in the hotel was really nice, good breakfast and the evening meals where varied. After our evening meal we would walk along the beach and sit at a little bar at the end of the marina whilst the children rode bikes up the boardwalk. This was an oasis compared to the madness back at the hotel.
I would return to Palma I loved it there but I would never step foot in that hotel again free or not.Sorry Dad x
Monday, 26 December 2011
Marconfort Flamingo Benidorm - Benidorm
Year of the cheesy Holiday
Booked with - Hotel Direct
Flights - Easy Jet
Duration - 1 week all inclusive
I was having some family issues so my dad paid for me and the children to join my family on a holiday to Benidorm. I had not been to Benidorm since I was 13 when I had fancied a spanish boy called Fernando and I wore Fila trainers at every opportunity which to my embarrassment included around the pool. I was really hoping that I would be able to relive the feelings I got when I went all those years back. We flew with Easy Jet which was painless I do not have one bad word to say about Easy Jet. The Flamingo Benidorm is an old hotel that is split into a hotel and apartments we were booked into the hotel. The rooms were really big a living room, a bedroom a bathroom and a kitchen. The rooms hadn't changed since my dad went to Benidorm before I was born in the 70's they are very dated but they were cleaned regularly.
The lifts were the slowest lifts I have ever experienced by the time we got from the lobby to the apartments my dad had grew a beard. Walking the stairs is not an option when you are on the 18th floor.
The food in this hotel is very good there was never any complaints about the food we only ate out once which is a good sign. The queue of an evening to get drinks was a bug bear and you couldn't even stock up because you was only allowed one drink per person.
The pool was quite small for a hotel of this size but it was warm and the kids loved it.
The entertainment was very Butlins but the whole of Benidorm is just Butlins in the sun so you embrace your inner chav and have fun.
The levante beach is lovely but we only spent a couple of hours there before we went into the old town which if I was truthful I would have preferred to stay but I was paying. The old town is beautiful full of cobbled streets and pretty restaurants. I loved the my day out in the old town even if I was attacked by birds and came back covered in bird poo.
Benidorm has never pretended to be anything other than it is and that's why I love it. The Flamingo was a good hotel and I would stay there again if there wasn't another trillion places I would love to visit.
Booked with - Hotel Direct
Flights - Easy Jet
Duration - 1 week all inclusive
I was having some family issues so my dad paid for me and the children to join my family on a holiday to Benidorm. I had not been to Benidorm since I was 13 when I had fancied a spanish boy called Fernando and I wore Fila trainers at every opportunity which to my embarrassment included around the pool. I was really hoping that I would be able to relive the feelings I got when I went all those years back. We flew with Easy Jet which was painless I do not have one bad word to say about Easy Jet. The Flamingo Benidorm is an old hotel that is split into a hotel and apartments we were booked into the hotel. The rooms were really big a living room, a bedroom a bathroom and a kitchen. The rooms hadn't changed since my dad went to Benidorm before I was born in the 70's they are very dated but they were cleaned regularly.
The lifts were the slowest lifts I have ever experienced by the time we got from the lobby to the apartments my dad had grew a beard. Walking the stairs is not an option when you are on the 18th floor.
The food in this hotel is very good there was never any complaints about the food we only ate out once which is a good sign. The queue of an evening to get drinks was a bug bear and you couldn't even stock up because you was only allowed one drink per person.
The pool was quite small for a hotel of this size but it was warm and the kids loved it.
The entertainment was very Butlins but the whole of Benidorm is just Butlins in the sun so you embrace your inner chav and have fun.
The levante beach is lovely but we only spent a couple of hours there before we went into the old town which if I was truthful I would have preferred to stay but I was paying. The old town is beautiful full of cobbled streets and pretty restaurants. I loved the my day out in the old town even if I was attacked by birds and came back covered in bird poo.
Benidorm has never pretended to be anything other than it is and that's why I love it. The Flamingo was a good hotel and I would stay there again if there wasn't another trillion places I would love to visit.
Saturday, 24 December 2011
Blue Star Apartments - Puerto Rico Gran Canaria
Extended Family Holiday
Booked through - My Choice
Flights with - ?
Stay - 1 weeks Self Catering
Month - February
After our Greek disaster we trusted a family member who had been to these apartments and I booked along with the kids and a lot of extended family 13 in total. The apartments are built on a hill as are most in Gran Canaria but I was not expecting to have the option of either climbing the remake of the great wall of china or risk my life in a dodgy looking cable car that belonged in Alton Towers because the lift was out. This was before I even got into the apartments so I was bracing myself for horror. The apartments themselves were very very basic with a living area/kitchen with one bedroom and a bathroom. I did have to complain due to sightings of some cockroaches that seem to have taken some kind of steroid type medicine. The rooms were kept clean but that was mainly by me because the bedding was changed just once in the week.
The pool we took one look and decided that if we wanted to make it home in one piece we should avoid because you couldn't see the bottom. So we took the long walk down to the beach everyday which we loved. The amadores beach is beautiful and clean with all the amenities you would need right on the beach.
Puerto Rico itself is what you would expect from a British tourist hotspot loads of bars, clubs, restaurants and lucky lucky men selling the latest GUGGI or ROLIX watch. We ate every night in Puerto Rico and the food was always good especially in the Las Vegas where you could have a whole cow on a plate for 8 euros. We didn't go to clubs but we would have a few drinks in the family bars and I had some amazing cocktails in the beachcomber.
I liked Puerto Rico some parts are quite tacky but it takes me back to the holidays I had as a kid that I loved and I want my children to experience all different types of travel from caravans to log cabins to a bit of cheese in Puerto Rico.
Booked through - My Choice
Flights with - ?
Stay - 1 weeks Self Catering
Month - February
After our Greek disaster we trusted a family member who had been to these apartments and I booked along with the kids and a lot of extended family 13 in total. The apartments are built on a hill as are most in Gran Canaria but I was not expecting to have the option of either climbing the remake of the great wall of china or risk my life in a dodgy looking cable car that belonged in Alton Towers because the lift was out. This was before I even got into the apartments so I was bracing myself for horror. The apartments themselves were very very basic with a living area/kitchen with one bedroom and a bathroom. I did have to complain due to sightings of some cockroaches that seem to have taken some kind of steroid type medicine. The rooms were kept clean but that was mainly by me because the bedding was changed just once in the week.
The pool we took one look and decided that if we wanted to make it home in one piece we should avoid because you couldn't see the bottom. So we took the long walk down to the beach everyday which we loved. The amadores beach is beautiful and clean with all the amenities you would need right on the beach.
Puerto Rico itself is what you would expect from a British tourist hotspot loads of bars, clubs, restaurants and lucky lucky men selling the latest GUGGI or ROLIX watch. We ate every night in Puerto Rico and the food was always good especially in the Las Vegas where you could have a whole cow on a plate for 8 euros. We didn't go to clubs but we would have a few drinks in the family bars and I had some amazing cocktails in the beachcomber.
I liked Puerto Rico some parts are quite tacky but it takes me back to the holidays I had as a kid that I loved and I want my children to experience all different types of travel from caravans to log cabins to a bit of cheese in Puerto Rico.
Friday, 23 December 2011
Louis Helios Hotel - Kardamena Kos Greece
First Holiday with my son
Booked through - Thomson
Flights with - Thomson
Stay - I week all inclusive
Month - October
I would have wiped this hotel and holiday out of my memory had it not been for the fact it was my sons first holiday abroad. The transfer from the airport was about 1 hr and we were shocked to find it wasn't actually on the beach as sold. I could see the beach but the access to it was quite far away not sure that qualifies for beach front but hey ho the hotel itself looked ok.
We were led to our room which was on the 3rd floor although we requested ground floor as we had a pram. They told us they couldn't accommodate us because it was fully booked so we had to make do with carrying my sons pram up and down 3 flights of stairs. The room itself was tiny with a double bed, bunk beds and a cot so bad we felt it safer to have him in our bed with us. The bathroom was small basic with a dodgy tap that dripped all night and was like greek water torture. We told ourselves that we wouldn't be in the room that much so we would just make do with the constant dripping, greek tv channels and 3 in the bed situation.
The hotel itself seeing as it was sold as a 5 star was more like 2 there was a small pool that every one avoided like the plague due to the temperature and the fungus type skin that lay on the top of the water. To be honest it was like the krypton factor just getting near it, trying not to break a limb on the slippery floor and then trying not to amputate any of your toes on the broken tiles and if you survived that you would have to try get down the steps that often came out the ground and drown the person trying to edge their way into the pool.
The food well put it this way they could have marketed it as a weight loss centre because no one ate it and we would have to walk into Kardamena town to eat I came back and lost weight rather than gained it.
Kardamena was great and I would stay there again it had a lovely marina an some lovely bars and restaurants but I would never stay in the Louis Helios again that is unless I gain huge amounts of weight and need to lose it very quick.
Booked through - Thomson
Flights with - Thomson
Stay - I week all inclusive
Month - October
I would have wiped this hotel and holiday out of my memory had it not been for the fact it was my sons first holiday abroad. The transfer from the airport was about 1 hr and we were shocked to find it wasn't actually on the beach as sold. I could see the beach but the access to it was quite far away not sure that qualifies for beach front but hey ho the hotel itself looked ok.
We were led to our room which was on the 3rd floor although we requested ground floor as we had a pram. They told us they couldn't accommodate us because it was fully booked so we had to make do with carrying my sons pram up and down 3 flights of stairs. The room itself was tiny with a double bed, bunk beds and a cot so bad we felt it safer to have him in our bed with us. The bathroom was small basic with a dodgy tap that dripped all night and was like greek water torture. We told ourselves that we wouldn't be in the room that much so we would just make do with the constant dripping, greek tv channels and 3 in the bed situation.
The hotel itself seeing as it was sold as a 5 star was more like 2 there was a small pool that every one avoided like the plague due to the temperature and the fungus type skin that lay on the top of the water. To be honest it was like the krypton factor just getting near it, trying not to break a limb on the slippery floor and then trying not to amputate any of your toes on the broken tiles and if you survived that you would have to try get down the steps that often came out the ground and drown the person trying to edge their way into the pool.
The food well put it this way they could have marketed it as a weight loss centre because no one ate it and we would have to walk into Kardamena town to eat I came back and lost weight rather than gained it.
Kardamena was great and I would stay there again it had a lovely marina an some lovely bars and restaurants but I would never stay in the Louis Helios again that is unless I gain huge amounts of weight and need to lose it very quick.
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Club Caleta Dorada (Caleta Amerilla) - Caleta De Fuste Fuerteventura
A cheap break away.
Booked through - First Choice
Flights with - First Choice
Stay - 1 week all inclusive
Month - May
This was the first holiday abroad for me with my daughter and I was so excited to experience it with her. Flight from Manchester went smoothly with a short transfer time to our hotel 15 min max. Check in was quick and simple and we were given all inclusive wristbands and lead to our chalet which was right by the pool on side A. The apartments themselves were quite basic with a living room/ kitchenette plus bedroom and bathroom. It was clean and functional but had it seen better days. There was a nice terrace outside where my daughter would do her nightly catwalk of her new outfits.
The pool was freezing it wasn't heated and I good few times I felt I needed a defibrillator poolside to start my heart again. My daughter lips were a constant shade of blue throughout the whole holiday. The pool was also really deep I had to stand on my tip toes to avoid drowning. Apart from the arctic temperature and ocean depths it was kept tidy and the pool was clean.
The food here was not for me it reminded me of my old school canteen minus the semolina, it didn't have the feel of a restaurant. The food was really samey throughout the stay and it started to feel like groundhog day which caused us to eat out quite a bit.
There was no adult entertainment of a day which was fine but they did have a kids club that my daughter loved and the staff were brilliant they done so much with the children pyjama parties and days out. The evening entertainment was ok and what you would expect a little like butlins but I didn't book the Ritz so I was fine with that.
Word of warning this hotel is directly over the flight path and I was woken up numerous times thinking I was in the middle of a major earthquake.
Caleta De Fuste itself is really small and doesn't have that much going on it was still developing when we went and I am sure in a few years it will be a little more populated. We hired a car and went into Corralego for a day which was much busier than Caleta De Fuste. In all the holiday was cheap so I wasn't expecting to be fed grapes poolside it served its purpose but I wouldn't return.
Booked through - First Choice
Flights with - First Choice
Stay - 1 week all inclusive
Month - May
This was the first holiday abroad for me with my daughter and I was so excited to experience it with her. Flight from Manchester went smoothly with a short transfer time to our hotel 15 min max. Check in was quick and simple and we were given all inclusive wristbands and lead to our chalet which was right by the pool on side A. The apartments themselves were quite basic with a living room/ kitchenette plus bedroom and bathroom. It was clean and functional but had it seen better days. There was a nice terrace outside where my daughter would do her nightly catwalk of her new outfits.
The pool was freezing it wasn't heated and I good few times I felt I needed a defibrillator poolside to start my heart again. My daughter lips were a constant shade of blue throughout the whole holiday. The pool was also really deep I had to stand on my tip toes to avoid drowning. Apart from the arctic temperature and ocean depths it was kept tidy and the pool was clean.
The food here was not for me it reminded me of my old school canteen minus the semolina, it didn't have the feel of a restaurant. The food was really samey throughout the stay and it started to feel like groundhog day which caused us to eat out quite a bit.
There was no adult entertainment of a day which was fine but they did have a kids club that my daughter loved and the staff were brilliant they done so much with the children pyjama parties and days out. The evening entertainment was ok and what you would expect a little like butlins but I didn't book the Ritz so I was fine with that.
Word of warning this hotel is directly over the flight path and I was woken up numerous times thinking I was in the middle of a major earthquake.
Caleta De Fuste itself is really small and doesn't have that much going on it was still developing when we went and I am sure in a few years it will be a little more populated. We hired a car and went into Corralego for a day which was much busier than Caleta De Fuste. In all the holiday was cheap so I wasn't expecting to be fed grapes poolside it served its purpose but I wouldn't return.
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Hotel Riu Mambo - Bahia Maimon - Dominican Republic
Our second Honeymoon after our Cancun disaster.
Booked through - First Choice
Flights with - First Choice
Stay - 2 weeks all inclusive
Month - July
I loved this holiday so much, the weather, the hotel, the people everything I think back on it with such fond memories that I would never want to go back in case it doesn't live up to my initial estimations.
We arrived in the Dominican Republic after a 10 hours flight in which my husband had managed to spill a can of coke all over my nice new white tracksuit (eww a white tracksuit I know). I looked like I didn't manage to get to the toilet on time and had lost control of my diarrhoea filled bladder not a good start. Additional to this trauma we expected to get onto an air conditioned coach to take us to the hotel we were wrong we got a tiny bus that looked like it had seen better days and our luggage was put on a rack on the back. I wouldn't have thought that much of it had I not been sitting behind a couple who had heard of a friend being stopped on the road out of the airport for her luggage and there was ours ready to just be picked up like on an airport carousel at the next set of traffic lights we stopped at. I have learnt not to listen to others because we arrived safe and well with our luggage at our very grand hotel. The lobby of this hotel is really impressive and the staff where so friendly. We checked in problem free and was led through the beautiful gardens to our colonial like building. The rooms are huge with beautiful bathrooms a good size balcony and best of all a fully stocked mini bar with optics result. I quickly scanned the tv and thankfully no 24 hr porn channels.
We dropped our bags and went to explore the resort which is huge and includes two sister hotels the Merengue and Bachata. The beach was amazing and hosted many a beach party and BBQ during our stay. The food here was amazing we would have our breakfast at the Mambo because we preferred the layout and knew where everything was. There was a huge range of food for breakfast and it was more like a train station in size than a restaurant. We would have lunch at one of the other hotels for a change but our evening meal we had to have in our own hotel which wasn't a problem because we loved it and the theme nights were great. We ate at the speciality restaurants a couple of times which we really enjoyed. During the day they also served snack at the snack bar if you didn't feel like a huge lunch you could just grab a burger or a hotdog.
The pool at the Mambo was always full of fun games although walking across two canoes and nearly losing my tie side bikini bottoms wasn't. There was plenty of beds around the pool plus you could use the pools at the sister hotels if you felt like a change. The evening entertainment options where:
1. Stay at the bar and drink cocktails
2. Watch the nightly stage show or take part like us Mr and Mrs Mambo don't you know ?
3. Go to the resort disco
We did and enjoyed all three over the 14 nights the shows aren't West End quality but fun non the less. We also used to take a walk down the Caribbean street where there was a range of shops and some games and pool rooms.
The only trip we decided to do was the Outback Safari which took us into the villages to see the living condition and to a local school to see the children which was amazing. The Dominican Republic is such a beautiful country so green and scenic so riding up to the mountain ranch was just full of spectacular views. It really is a good opportunity to see the real Dominican Republic and you wont be disappointed.
I have stayed in many a Riu hotels over the years but this one has been my favourite by far.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g147290-d150850-Reviews-or30-ClubHotel_Riu_Mambo-Puerto_Plata_Dominican_Republic.html#REVIEWS
Booked through - First Choice
Flights with - First Choice
Stay - 2 weeks all inclusive
Month - July
I loved this holiday so much, the weather, the hotel, the people everything I think back on it with such fond memories that I would never want to go back in case it doesn't live up to my initial estimations.
We arrived in the Dominican Republic after a 10 hours flight in which my husband had managed to spill a can of coke all over my nice new white tracksuit (eww a white tracksuit I know). I looked like I didn't manage to get to the toilet on time and had lost control of my diarrhoea filled bladder not a good start. Additional to this trauma we expected to get onto an air conditioned coach to take us to the hotel we were wrong we got a tiny bus that looked like it had seen better days and our luggage was put on a rack on the back. I wouldn't have thought that much of it had I not been sitting behind a couple who had heard of a friend being stopped on the road out of the airport for her luggage and there was ours ready to just be picked up like on an airport carousel at the next set of traffic lights we stopped at. I have learnt not to listen to others because we arrived safe and well with our luggage at our very grand hotel. The lobby of this hotel is really impressive and the staff where so friendly. We checked in problem free and was led through the beautiful gardens to our colonial like building. The rooms are huge with beautiful bathrooms a good size balcony and best of all a fully stocked mini bar with optics result. I quickly scanned the tv and thankfully no 24 hr porn channels.
We dropped our bags and went to explore the resort which is huge and includes two sister hotels the Merengue and Bachata. The beach was amazing and hosted many a beach party and BBQ during our stay. The food here was amazing we would have our breakfast at the Mambo because we preferred the layout and knew where everything was. There was a huge range of food for breakfast and it was more like a train station in size than a restaurant. We would have lunch at one of the other hotels for a change but our evening meal we had to have in our own hotel which wasn't a problem because we loved it and the theme nights were great. We ate at the speciality restaurants a couple of times which we really enjoyed. During the day they also served snack at the snack bar if you didn't feel like a huge lunch you could just grab a burger or a hotdog.
The pool at the Mambo was always full of fun games although walking across two canoes and nearly losing my tie side bikini bottoms wasn't. There was plenty of beds around the pool plus you could use the pools at the sister hotels if you felt like a change. The evening entertainment options where:
1. Stay at the bar and drink cocktails
2. Watch the nightly stage show or take part like us Mr and Mrs Mambo don't you know ?
3. Go to the resort disco
We did and enjoyed all three over the 14 nights the shows aren't West End quality but fun non the less. We also used to take a walk down the Caribbean street where there was a range of shops and some games and pool rooms.
The only trip we decided to do was the Outback Safari which took us into the villages to see the living condition and to a local school to see the children which was amazing. The Dominican Republic is such a beautiful country so green and scenic so riding up to the mountain ranch was just full of spectacular views. It really is a good opportunity to see the real Dominican Republic and you wont be disappointed.
I have stayed in many a Riu hotels over the years but this one has been my favourite by far.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g147290-d150850-Reviews-or30-ClubHotel_Riu_Mambo-Puerto_Plata_Dominican_Republic.html#REVIEWS
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