Archive for Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations
A unique experience walking with St Bernards on the Great St Bernard Pass
By Ingrid Hoffman
You don’t have to be a serious hiker to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Swiss mountains. This summer, I found the perfect solution for families and people looking for a novel and easy way to go walking in the mountains.
Walking with St Bernards in the Swiss Alps (Picture by Ingrid Hoffman)
The St. Bernard is the Swiss national dog and the Barry Foundation in Switzerland runs the oldest Saint Bernard kennel in the world.
Every year, the St Bernards from the Barry Foundation spend the summer in their place of origin on the Great St Bernard pass and visitors have the opportunity to accompany these wonderful dogs on a 1½ hour walk.
Our children are between the age of 10 and 14 years old and were not very keen on walking. However, when they realised they would be walking with St Bernards, they immediately were very enthusiastic! You can choose to do the easy or the athletic walk. We’re not experienced, but are in good health and quite sporty, so we chose to do the athletic walk. You need a little perseverance, but we found the walk very enjoyable and quite easy to do.
There’s a museum at the hospice and your entry fee is included in the price of the walk. You can find out everything about the history of the pass and the dogs and there’s an interesting exhibition about the vegetation and wildlife in these parts of the Alps.
Prices are €32 for adults and €5 for children. The walks are very popular so be sure you make a reservation in advance via the website.
Thank you to Your Travel Planner member, Ingrid Hoffman, for sending in this review of this very special experience. To find out more, please visit the Barry Foundation’s website: www.fondation-barry.ch.
Filed under: Destinations, Europe, Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations, Travel Tips | Family Things to Do, St Bernard Dogs, Switzerland, Walking|No Comments
A hassle-free, low-impact luxury camping holiday for families and romantics
By Ching Lee
It’s not difficult to see why glamping is all the rage. Luxury camping combines home comforts with the freedom of the great outdoors; it’s a winning formula for families (and romantics) who are looking for a hassle-free, low-impact holiday with a difference.
Your Travel Planner is back from a glorious week in the Ardèche, France. With proper beds, stylish shower rooms, dinner provided and the stunning location of the Ardèche Gorge and Nature Reserve, the yurt holiday provided by Canvaschic is an exceptional outdoor experience for people who want to enjoy home comforts while camping.
After a day’s travelling, arriving at the camp feels like entering a haven. Even in the height of August, the camp feels peaceful and discreet and, best of all, we knew we didn’t have to worry about cooking; your week’s stay during July and August includes breakfast and five nights dinner.
The Yurts
The dome-shaped family yurts are handcrafted from oak and ash wood and covered in natural canvas. The tents are well-spaced throughout the forest and each yurt has its own deck and hammocks giving guests their own relaxed, private area.
There are 9 family yurts and three other more secluded yurts for couples can be found further into the oak forest.
Inside, each of the 12 yurts are individually styled. The family yurt is spacious, with a king-size bed, 2 camp beds for children and a portable style wardrobe. Decorative touches such Moroccan lamps, tealights, mirrors and pictures add to the homely atmosphere.
Shower Rooms
There are 5 spacious shower rooms in the shower block, each with a shower, toilet and washbasin…and there’s no need to bring soap if you don’t want to as locally produced, biodegradeable Savon de Marseille is provided in dispensers in the shower rooms.
Dinner with room to play
It’s a real luxury not to have to cook when you’re on holiday (though guests in the family yurts also have access to a fully equipped kitchen tent). At Mille Etoiles, breakfast and 5 nights dinner (Mediterranean style vegetarian buffet, using locally sourced produce, with one barbeque night) takes place on the outdoor terrace/restaurant and is included in the week’s stay in July and August. The bar offers drinks, local wines and even ice-creams for the children, charged as extra.
For both parents and children, it’s a wonderfully relaxing dinner experience, when you can eat and the children can go and play (within safe view) in between courses. There’s a swing and climbing frame, a pirate boat, a ping pong table, a small plunge pool…and even nets for catching butterflies and grasshoppers!
Things to Do
The Ardèche offers a huge array of things to do for holidaymakers - canoeing, forest adventure and zipwires, shopping in local markets, exploring caves, dining in superb local restaurants, but the hidden gem of staying at Milles Etoiles is the trail from the camp that leads down to the Ardèche Gorge.
After a steep 30 minute walk through the forest, the 35km Ardèche river meandering through spectacular limestone cliffs is a breathtaking sight. All the Mille Etoiles guests agreed that the gorge provided a fantastic, natural bathing area that had something for everyone: younger children were happy with their fishing nets, older children (and adults!) enjoyed jumping off the rocks and cooling off in the fresh water.
Things to Note
- The beds for children are camp beds and these may not suit everyone. One of the guests did end up purchasing an airbed!
- The walk down to the gorge is steep and rocky in places, so sensible shoes are required ie. no flip flops! Swim shoes or jelly shoes are useful for the rocks in the river.
- Each yurt is provided with its own solar lamp, but it’s useful to bring your own torch too.
For more information, visit the Canvaschic website. If you like the idea of a glamping holiday and need need help planning your trip, please feel free to contact me, Ching Lee, at Go2 Holiday Research, www.go2research.com.
Filed under: Destinations, Europe, Responsible Tourism, Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations, Uncategorized | Activity Holiday, Glamping, South of France, Yurt|No Comments
Here’s another review for Your Travel Planner readers from Annette Kirkley, a therapeutic, sports and remedial masseuse and fellow local networker.
This time, she recommends this delightful agritourismo in Puglia, Italy:
Agriturismo Masseria Aprile in Locorotondo, Puglia is an old 18th century “masseria” farmhouse to which traditional “trulli” rooms have been added. The agritourismo is surrounded by its own fields of olive trees, vines and animals, with a beautiful view of the small town of Locorotondo perched on the hill. At 1 kilometre south of the town, it’s a perfect distance to wander up to explore the town, which has beautiful whitewashed baroque buildings, and eat a meal before walking back.
The Aprile family are very hospitable and sometimes invite guests to join them for dinner, after the opportunity to have a go at making the local pasta. We were also lucky enough to witness the first pressing, by hand, of their red grapes in traditional barrels. The daughter, Stephania, runs the business and speaks good English.
The accomodation is good, with great, home-baked food for breakfast, and lots of laughter (mostly at our Italian!) There is plenty of space for children to run around in, all in all a perfect place to just chill out, or to explore the many interests of the surrounding area if you have a car. This is a very unspoilt, undiscovered part of Puglia.
See Annette’s review for Your Travel Planner of Viglatoras Apartments, Crete here. If you have a review of your favourite place, why not share it with Your Travel Planner. Please contact me at www.go2research.com/contact_Go2.php.
Filed under: Destinations, Europe, Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations, Uncategorized | Agritourism, Italy|No Comments
After a family day out in East Sussex, I remembered a traditional pub serving local and seasonal food that had come up in some research I did for a client.
The Pelham Arms is at the top of the High Street in Lewes and we were pleased to see that children were welcome in the pub until 8pm.
Built around 1640, this pub instantly gives you a warm and inviting welcome as you step in through the doors. I’ve been told that the pub was recently updated, but the original oak beams, inglenook fireplace and wooden floors preserves a traditional charm.
The food at the Pelham Arms is sourced from local suppliers and seasonal food seems to be a key criteria. Between us, we sampled the gammon, the pork chops and the brie and mushroom tart. The tart was a little overdone, but overall the food was very good. Mains are around £8.
As well as organic juices and botanically brewed soft drinks, the pub also offers a good selection of real ales.
Lewes is perfectly placed for the walkers exploring the South Downs or the South Downs Way and for families visiting East Sussex attractions such as Drusillas Park and Knockhatch Adventure Park.
Filed under: Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations | East Sussex Pubs, Restaurant Reviews|No Comments
By Ching Lee
There was a moment on the ferry that I thought, ‘families should travel like this more often’. I was looking out across the calm Adriatic Sea, between the Italian and Balkan peninsulas. The sun was warm and we were sheltered from the wind, listening to the sound of our children’s laughter as they played tag on the top deck.
We were in the middle of a two week trip to Greece and Italy (Summer 2009). The aim was to discover how feasible and enjoyable a green family summer holiday could be. In the previous week, the children had seen for themselves the importance of travelling responsibly, when we stayed on the Gerakas Peninsula of Zakynthos, one of the last nesting sites of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle. (Read more about our stay here).
We had flown directly from London to Zakynthos, but now we were on a more relaxed journey back to London, via Italy and Paris.
Our journey had started the previous morning at the bus station in Zakynthos town. With our bags loaded onto the bus, we travelled all of 20 minutes to the port where we boarded the local ferry for the hour long trip to Zakynthos to Kilini. Our bags and the bus were expertly reversed onto the ferry and we would meet again in Kilini.
There’s something very regal about sailing out of a harbour. As we shouted and waved goodbye to Zakynthos, the memories of our wonderful week seemed to stay with us for longer as we sailed alongside the coast of this beautiful Ionian island. Being cocooned in a plane just doesn’t compare. On the ferry, we were still witnessing the hustle and bustle of life in Zakynthos, still feeling the sun on our faces, still marvelling at the beautiful views around us.
It’s exhilarating to sail into a harbour too. OK, so it was only Kilini, but it was a taster of things to come. From Kilini, it was another hour (on the same Zakynthos bus) to Patras.
Patras port was lined with huge international ferries and our hopes of being conveniently deposited by our Anek ferry were quickly extinguished. I don’t think the impromptu game of ‘Find Anek’ was entirely appreciated by the children (nor us for that matter), but our excitement soon returned as, once on board, we were carried smoothly by escalator up to Reception. The ferry was a far cry from the ones we’re used to
crossing the English Channel. Think cruise ship and you’ll get the picture.
Excitement turned to joy as the children saw the bunk beds in our cabin and two sets meant no arguments as to who was going to get the top bunk. The overnight 22 hour sailing meant we had plenty of time to explore (and enjoy) the facilities on board: restaurants, bars, lounges, shops and even a swimming pool. A cabin was definitely the most comfortable choice for a family, although plenty of people had opted for airline seats and even sleeping on deck.
The crossing was unbelievably calm. The mint tea and ginger biscuits I had packed to combat seasickness were thankfully not required. In fact, the beds in the cabin were very comfortable and we woke up the next day, refreshed and looking forward to our next week in the beautiful Italian region of Le Marche.
We spent the last hours before our arrival in Ancona on deck. The journey so far was proving a big hit and a success. We had reduced our carbon footprint and we arrived in colourful Ancona, certain that we would be travelling by ferry, rather than plane, to Greece again.
Still to come: Leg 2 - Ancona to Paris.
Filed under: Destinations, Europe, Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations | ferry, Greece to London, Italy, train, Zakynthos|No Comments
Personal review from
Your Travel Planner members,
Elizabeth Clark and
Martyn Calder.
Elizabeth is a wonderful Colour Psychologist from Colourworks Consulting (www.colourworksconsulting.com).
January 2010
Cuba - land of cigars, rum, sugar, and Fidel. “Go before it changes,” we thought.
Cuban Flags for Sale
Since the collapse of communism, Cuba has started to open up and receive the financial benefits available from tourists from the West - UK, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Canada. But not - of course - the United States; it is apparently still illegal in the States for US citizens to have financial dealings with Cuba, and tourism falls in this net.
It sometimes seems as if Cuba defines itself by its opposition to the United States - the victories of the Revolution and the Bay of Pigs may be well known; a celebrated baseball triumph may have passed non-baseball-loving Brits right by.
Our 1955 Bel-Air at Plaza de la Revolucion
Reminders of Cuba’s long and complicated relationship with the United States remain very visible on the streets of Havana: the Chevrolets, Oldsmobiles, Buicks, Chryslers, and Pontiacs that still form a significant proportion of the city’s automobile population. Their continued functioning is a tribute to the ingenuity of Cuban mechanics, particularly as they are apparently now often fitted with Lada or Toyota engines. Our morning’s tour of the city in a 1955 Chevrolet Bel-Air Convertible was a real high spot.
Havana
Havana - at least Havana Vieja (Old Havana) - is a beautiful city to wander around. The imposing Fort of El Morro dominates the entrance to the harbour which defines the city. The narrow streets are virtually vehicle free (not many Cubans have cars) and there has been a huge effort in recent years by the City authorities to restore the crumbling buildings. Beautiful newly-painted architectural gems juxtapose crumbling ruins which have been split into multiple occupation. Housing remains a pressing need in Cuba.
Plaza Vieja in Old Havana
Our wanderings took us, between stops in numerous street cafes, to the City Museum, the Rum Museum, the Automobile Museum, the Chocolate Museum (oh yes!), and the Museum of the Revolution. The Revolution has, of course, had a bad press in much of the West, but Batista was a desperately bad dictator, and American Mafia money was all over Havana and the then Cuban government.
The Revolution brought education and healthcare, but fifty years on the economy still struggles. Is this because of the US blockade, or is it a structural weakness of the communist system? Certainly most people are poor; a teacher may earn the equivalent of £10-15 a month, and many families struggle to augment a modest diet obtained by ration cards from sparse state-owned shops. Yet anyone in a tourist-related business might make that in tips on a good day. The divide is emphasised by there being two currencies: Cuban Pesos for most people, and Convertible Pesos for tourists and luxury shops.
Exploring Cuba
In the fields
Towards the western end of Cuba is Vinales - farming country. Here we wandered among the tobacco, pineapple, and corn fields where farmers - often with cigar in mouth - still sow by hand. Agricultural machinery is rare, and usually ancient. Tobacco leaf hangs in drying sheds, waiting to be rolled into those famous cigars.
Heading south from Havana we travelled on near-empty roads. Transport and fuel is short, and the government employs yellow-clad wardens at busy junctions to ensure that privately-owned (an ambiguous term in Cuba) cars take on less fortunate passengers - a very imaginative and eco-friendly solution.
Trinidad de Cuba is a UNESCO World Heritage site. A major centre for trade and piracy in the 1700-1800s, not much has changed in the city centre and it would make a wonderful set for Pirates of the Caribbean. We wandered around the cobbled streets and found a thriving craft market - the nearest thing to a private shopping centre we found in Cuba. Now a little way from the town, the beach was a vision of white sand and blue sea with, as is often in Cuba, very limited facilities.
Plaza Mayor in Trinidad de Cuba
Heading back north (and Cuba is much bigger than you think) we came to Santa Clara, site of one of the pivotal battles of the Revolution when Che Guevara led an attack on a government armoured train. The train’s skewed carriages now provide an imaginative museum. Also here is Che Guevara’s mausoleum - a haunting place - and museum. Che is an icon in Cuba, and his image appears everywhere, much more so than Fidel’s.
A Real Gem
Visiting Cuba is a chance to see a society which, though in many ways familiar to us with its Spanish history and art deco development, has also been isolated from mainstream western culture for half a century. There is no McDonalds, no KFC, no Starbucks, and no Coca-Cola, and that alone is worth the trip!
Havana is a real gem, music is everwhere, there is beautiful scenery, and the Cubans are very friendly. It is not, however, a cheap destination and quality and service are not watchwords; food can be unimaginative and mid-range hotels may offer only fading grandeur.
Cuba is now at a crossroads as Fidel hands over the reins. What will it be like in a decade or two? Who knows - best go now and beat the rush!
Thank you to Elizabeth and Martyn for sharing their fascinating travel experience in Cuba. If you have a travel experience to share with Your Travel Planner readers, please do contact me at Go2 Holiday Research. We’d love to hear from you!
Filed under: Destinations, Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations, South & Central America | Cuba, Havana|1 Comment
Zakynthos, or Zante as it is more commonly known, is the most southerly of the Ionian Islands. Its beautiful scenery and excellent sandy beaches make it an ideal holiday destination.
But while the 18-30s brigade head to Laganas, the biggest and busiest resort, I was in search of a more natural Zakynthos, somewhere where my children could see for themselves the importance of travelling responsibly.
As one of the last nesting sites of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Carreta-carreta, the Gerakas Peninsula is the first protected Marine Park in the Mediterranean. Google ‘relaxing holidays’ and you’ll find a group of villas, cottages and studios in the peaceful, south-eastern tip of Zakynthos.
Managed by Yannis Vardakastanis, an ardent conservationist who grew up on Gerakas, Ionian Eco Villagers provides a quieter, more tranquil alternative, away from the mass tourist resorts.
The verdict: a simple and relaxing break in an enchanting part of Zakynthos.
Ionian Eco Villagers is ideal for families and couples seeking a ‘get away from it all’ holiday with a difference.
With the picture-perfect beach, a few tavernas and a mini market only a 200m stroll away from your accommodation, there’s no real need to go anywhere else if you’re after the simplest of holidays.
Accommodation: We stayed in one of the four 2-bedroom apartments in Gerakas House. Our upstairs apartment was simply, but comfortably furnished. A double bedroom, a twin bedroom, 2 shower rooms and a kitchen, it’s ideal for a family of four. Each bedroom is air conditioned and both have a balcony with table and chairs where you could sit and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The kitchen is equipped with a twin hotplate, toaster/sandwich maker, a fridge, an electric kettle and enough utensils and pans to make a simple meal. The garden with olive and citrus trees offers a relaxing alternative to the beach, with its sun-loungers, hammocks and even swings for the more energetic.
Places to Eat/Shops: The 3 tavernas/bars and mini market are a short stroll from the villas and apartments. The tavernas offer excellent, traditional Greek food and the mini market was surprisingly well stocked; as well as food provisions, it was a useful place to get ice creams and inflatables!
Leisure Activities: Gerakas Beach is a stunning, natural beach. With clear waters and soft sand, this shallow beach is ideal for young families.
Away from the beach, the spectacular scenery and rural charm makes Gerakas the perfect place for mountain biking and walking whether you are a serious walker or just fancy a relaxing stroll.
A highlight is to join one of the eco-tourism catamaran cruises (bookable though the Earth Sea & Sky Information Centre) and enjoy a day cruising in the southern waters of Zakynthos, visiting stunning snorkelling sites. There is a chance to spot the turtles, but, as a ‘sensitive’ tour, the crew makes sure that the rules of the National Marine Park are adhered to eg. stay for a maximum of 10 minutes if a turtle is spotted.
The Information Centre, set up by Yannis, was a great place for us and the children to learn about the Loggerhead Turtles and their plight to survive. Guests and tourists are encouraged to find out more about the turtles and other endangered species.
Service: Yannis is always on hand to help you with any aspect of your stay. One big plus is that your booking with Ionian Eco Villagers includes transfers on arrival/departure, so there really isn’t a need to hire a car. As the tavernas and mini market are family run, the welcome we received was wonderfully warm.
Best time to go: May, June or September, outside the turtle egg hatching months, when the weather is warm (25°C) and there are less crowds. The hottest, busy summer months of July/August are peak season for visitors and daytrippers. Although the National Marine Park limits your stay on the beach to 3 hours in Summer to protect the buried turtle eggs, it’s probably best to avoid this time altogether.
Why choosing this holiday makes a difference:
-
By choosing to stay in these locally-owned, small, individual villas and apartments, you are helping local families to make a living. With mass tourism all too evident in Zakynthos, the temptation to sell their land to developers is never too far away, further endangering the survival of the Caretta-caretta.
-
Many of the villas and apartments are solar- or wind- powered and use energy-efficient lightbulbs.
-
£10 from your booking is donated to Earth Sea & Sky to support their impressive work in protecting the nesting beaches of the Loggerhead turtles.
-
Your further donations will also help the current development of a Sea Turtle Hospital in Zakynthos, which will drastically cut the transport time for injured turtles.
-
The Earth Sea & Sky Information Centre is a great education for visitors, adults and children alike, on why we should think more responsibly when making travel choices.
Gerakas was week 1 of a two week trip in Summer 2009, part holiday, part research, to explore how feasible and enjoyable a green family summer holiday could be. More on the rest of this trip, including how to get to and from Zakynthos, to follow.
Filed under: Destinations, Europe, Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations, Uncategorized | Apartments, Beach holiday, Green Places|1 Comment
According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, there are more than 11,000 restaurants in Hong Kong. Locals and visitors alike have a fantastic choice of Cantonese and other regional Chinese food, cuisines from the rest of Asia as well as Western fare.
So after Hong Kong Highlights: Things to Do (28 April 2009), I thought I would share some of the eateries sampled on my recent trip:
Tasty Congee & Noodle Wantun Shop
The Tasty Congee & Noodle Wantun Shop in the impressive International Finance Centre is a far cry from the ‘dai pai dongs’ (open-air food stalls) that traditionally serve congee and noodles.
These days, dai pai dongs are in rapid decline as they are moved into more ‘hygienic’ cooked food centres. They still offer cheap, delicious food, though, and are definitely worth trying.
However, if you find yourself with weary feet in Central’s waterfront and have an urge for wanton noodle soup, the Tasty Congee & Noodle Wantun Shop on Level 3 of IFC Mall could be just the place. As you’d expect being in the IFC, this place is a restful, more refined, but pricier version of the beloved dai pai dong. The food’s still good though; I can recommend the dried fried beef ho fun, wanton noodles soup and red bean soup.
Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine
Another shopping centre, another restaurant. Hong Kong’s famous Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui has around 700 shops, including 50 places to eat. Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine offers just that - Thai food in a traditional setting. Prices are above average, but where else could you eat Thai and watch the big cruise ships dock right by your window?
Sham Tseng Chan Kee Roasted Goose Restaurant
Sham Tseng in Tseun Wan district is famous for its roast goose and there are several restaurants in the area serving this speciality, including the excellent Chan Kee Roasted Goose Restaurant. Our half roast goose was roasted to perfection, with crispy skin on the outside and juicy meat on the inside. The other dishes of fish steamed with ginger and spring onion and a marrow soup (served in the marrow!) were equally delicious. Sham Tseng is in the New Territories and so a little way out from central Hong Kong. However, if you have the time, it definitely is worth taking the trip.
Filed under: Asia Pacific, Destinations, Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations | Hong Kong, Hong Kong Places to Eat, Hong Kong Restaurant Reviews|No Comments
I recently came back from another memorable trip to Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a dazzling, vibrant place to visit. The pace of development means there’s always something new to see and yet, comfortingly, the old attractions still endear.
Lamma Island
The Outlying Islands provide a wonderful getaway from the hustle and bustle of downtown Hong Kong. Lamma Island is popular as a weekend getaway as it’s less than half an hour by ferry Central. It’s also one of the places to go to for delicious seafood.
I’m not usually one for tours, especially in a place that I regard as my second home, but the Lamma Island Romance Tour turned out to be a fantastic way to experience 3 ‘must-dos’, especially if you’re travelling with children or older relatives (as I was).
The tour, organised by Able & Promotion Tours Ltd, included a mouth-watering seafood banquet at the Rainbow Seafood Restaurant on Lamma Island, a harbour cruise to see the Symphony of Lights show in Victoria Harbour and a trip to Victoria Peak via the Peak Tram (see more on this in a previous post: My Personal Top Five Things to Do in Hong Kong).
Ocean Park
Ocean Park is one of Southeast Asia’s largest aquariums and theme parks and is home to two pairs of giant panda cubs.
On a previous trip, the crowds were such that I vowed never to visit Ocean Park again. Well, I’m pleased to report that the crowds were not as bad as before and have to admit that Ocean Park is actually a rather spectacular theme park.
Perched on a hillside on the southern side of Hong Kong Island, you need a whole day to get around the park. The two sites are linked by a jaw-dropping cable car ride, or you can opt for the free shuttle bus.
Lantau Island
Lantau Island is the largest island in Hong Kong. Originally the site of traditional fishing villages, the island has, in recent years, been transformed and is now home to Hong Kong’s new international airport, Hong Kong Disneyland and Ngong Ping 360.
Ngong Ping 360
Ngong Ping is a breathtaking cable car experience that offers stunning views of North Lantau and the South China Sea. To enhance your experience, you can opt to wait for one of the Crystal Cabins - a glass-bottomed cable car! The cable car takes you to the themed Ngong Ping Village (with obligatory shops and places to eat), from where you can walk to the Big Buddha. At 34m tall, it’s one of the world’s tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha.
Of course, Hong Kong wouldn’t be Hong Kong without the food and the shopping and I will be sharing food and shopping highlights with Your Travel Planner readers in my next posts.
If you’re thinking about visiting Hong Kong and need help planning your trip, please feel free to contact me, Ching Lee, at Go2 Holiday Research, www.go2research.com.
Filed under: Asia Pacific, Destinations, Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations | Hong Kong, Hong Kong Things to Do|1 Comment
As well as sending Your Travel Planner a review of Helpful Holidays, Elaine Swift (who provides excellent copywriting, writing and editing services) also sent us a review of this delightful cottage:
I almost don’t want to write this review of beautiful Cot Manor in the delightful Cot Valley, near St Just, West Cornwall. We’ve just got back from a wonderfully relaxing week there and I’m tempted to keep it as my secret.
However, that wouldn’t be fair to Cot Manor’s lovely, generous owners, Helen and Mike Jay. Nor would it be fair to Helpful Holidays who we made the booking through. So I’ve decided to share my secret.
A special place
Standing in five acres, Cot Manor was originally two cottages and was converted into one large house in the early 1800s.
It sleeps nine, and unlike a lot of holiday cottages, it does so comfortably. There are three good sized double rooms, and a room that sleeps three - great if there are children, but it would be fine for a couple. There were four of us so we had plenty of room.
There are two bathrooms, each with a shower, and one en-suite shower room. The downstairs bathroom is glorious!
Downstairs is a very large room that we dubbed the entertainment room. It has a flat-screen TV with Sky, a DVD player and for extra entertainment, there are pool and table tennis tables. There’s even a priest hole by the main door if you feel like playing extreme hide and seek.
When Helen (who is delightful) showed us around she took us into what she called the G&T room. So that’s exactly what it became for the rest of the week. It’s also where a couple of us battled with two of the many jigsaws supplied along with other games.
The kitchen is very well equipped with pans, utensils, cutlery, crockery as well as dishwasher, washing machine and microwave. There’s a separate tumble dryer in the downstairs loo.
Flowers in every room
But it’s the little touches and its owners that make Cot Manor so special. There were camellias and other flowers from the garden in every room. A fire had been laid for us in the G&T room. In the luxurious downstairs bathroom there was an array of different types of Radox - great if you’ve been out walking the coast path all day.
There were towels (nice ones) in every bathroom, and the bed-linen and other furnishings are all of a high standard - not always the case in holiday cottages. Also unlike other places - everything worked!
From the moment we arrived we were encouraged to treat the house as our own. Helen and Mike were on hand if we needed anything. As was Bumble their very sweet sheep dog.
It’s so peaceful - we woke up every morning to birdsong and even heard an owl on a couple of afternoons.
The area
St Just, the local (very small) town is a ten minute walk away through the back gate and across the fields. Bizarrely, it’s also a ten minute drive away. It’s not a quaint or picturesque Cornish town but we really love it. There’s something very honest about it.
A visit to the Cook Book shop for breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea, (or all three) and a leisurely browse of the second-hand books, is a must. St Just has several galleries, the best of which are the Great Atlantic and the Windswept.
Cot Manor sits in Cot Valley which leads down to Porthnaven beach and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s not a sandy beach but it’s full of fascinating boulders which are protected so put any thoughts of garden decoration out of your mind!
If you fancy a bit of a challenge, you can take the coastal path from here to spectacular Cape Cornwall. It’s not too difficult a walk, just a bit steep in places. It takes you past Ballowall Burrow - an ancient burial chamber at Carn Gloose.
You can turn this into a circular walk by walking up a road from the Cape into St Just, stop for tea at Cooks, then carry on across the fields to home at Cot Manor. Ah bliss. I wish we were still there.
For more information on Cot Manor, see the Helpful Holidays website.
Filed under: Cottages, Destinations, Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations, UK & Ireland | holiday cottages in cornwall, review|No Comments
« Previous Entries||
