Northern Lights by Bridget Keevil

On 15th February we took a group of eleven on a Hurtigruten Voyage in search of the Northern Lights. We set off from Heathrow having to endure two flights to get to the North of Norway, and then onwards to meet the Kong Harald in Tromso.

The Hurtigruten Fleet that operate up and down the coast of Norway is a lifeline to the many small villages that would be otherwise cut off during the winter months. They deliver the post, as well as dropping off and collecting supplies of all sorts. They have developed to include tourists as part of their cargo, and bearing that in mind the accommodation onboard is adequate but not luxurious.

The ports of call are many, some being for minutes only, some for up to three or so hours. The excursions available include the North Cape, snowmobiling, dog sledding, visiting a snow hotel as well as just being able to wander around the quaint little villages that were razed to the ground by the Germans just before the end of the war.

We visited the Snow Hotel – and saw the exquisite head boards of every bed carved out of ice as well as snow carvings on the wall. What an experience to stay here the night!

On the last night before disembarking we got the call through the pa system – the Northern Lights are to be seen off the back of the ship! Every passenger quickly made their way outside – after putting on the several layers necessary to stave off the cold – and what a show we saw! The sky was alight with swirls and whirls, and lasted for over half an hour. Just seeing this was worth coming all this way.

When we arrived back into Tromso we all went dog sledding – and what an experience! It was a fantastic way to end the trip, being pulled at great speed through trees and snow fields by Alaskan Huskies.

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San Francisco & Heavenly (Lake Tahoe) by Cheryl Locke

Upon deciding to spend our first Christmas away from home, the ski slopes of Heavenly on the Californian side of Lake Tahoe beckoned. A short pre-Christmas stop in San Francisco en-route was a great decision. San Francisco in December was fantastic! An enormous lit and decorated Christmas tree and an open-air ice skating rink in Union Square, created a most wonderful atmosphere, not to mention a superb evening activity for the whole family! A 3-day open-top bus pass was a worthwhile purchase and allowed us to see the entire city at leisure, and coupled with the fact we had fantastic sunshine, we were even able to use the open top!
The drive from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe (with a detour taken to visit the ancient Redwood forest at Muir Woods) was a long one (over 4 hours).
I would recommend that the journey is done in daylight hours as the roads into Tahoe were quite nerve-wracking in the dark - as we found out!
The view across the lake and mountains the following morning was worth the journey! Straddling the border of California and Nevada, and located on the shore of Lake
Tahoe, Heavenly is of inspiring scenic beauty. The ski school at Heavenly proved very good and the standard of tuition received was excellent. Our children were booked into Heavenly Children's Ski and Snowboard School which offered an introduction to skiing or snowboarding through to advanced coaching. Full-Day sessions include clinic, lift access, rental equipment, helmet & lunch for children ages 4-13.
I recommend Heavenly as a ski resort and would definitely suggest a stop in San Francisco.


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Madeira by Annie Clougherty

Madeira lies in the Atlantic and has natural beauty and lush plantations of flora and fauna.
I visited in December when the average temperature is 18 degrees centigrade, which is very pleasant. The flowers were in bloom and the landscape was a feast for the eyes because of its pleasant sub-tropical climate. It is mild during the winter, and during the summer it never gets very hot (rarely above 30 degrees). I would like to go back for New Year because of the mild climate and to see the firework display in Funchal which is apparently amongst the best in the world. Funchal is a bustling town with many cobbled streets with pavement cafes, bars and restaurants. The thing I found the best about Madeira are the views from the hillside. Take a cable car from Funchal to Monte and admire the views. Then come back down again in a traditional toboggan — a unique experience!
I would recommend a stay in the Cliff Bay Hotel, which has wonderful views, food and staff. If you prefer something smaller, the 18th Century Quinta, Jardin do Lago would be a luxury and charming option.


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Kenya & Tanzania by Nancy Bagnall

Forget luxurious lodges and luxury tented camps, the trip notes mentioned long drop toilets, basic washing facilities and 2-man tents! Nakuru National Park in Kenya offered fantastic game drives where we saw white rhino, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, hyenas and jackals (with kill), hippopotamus and many gazelles and antelope as well as amazing birdlife – and sharing our camp with a troop of baboons who had designs on our food supplies!
Continuing to Tanzania, driving through stunning scenery, we spent the night at Lake Victoria (warm showers and flush loos!). On then to the Serengeti with its vast open plains and stunning mountains in the distance. On this campsite a buffalo had taken up residence overnight very close to the toilet block. Two eyes in the light of head torches at 5am then a large dark shape appearing in the dawn light! We did not linger. Home to an amazing variety of animals, here we had our first sight of elephants, lots of them, very close! I was not alone in finding the experience quite moving. We also saw 6 young lions – apprentices all! - moving in on a large herd of buffalo. Too ambitious I fear, as the buffalo herd stood no nonsense, and the lions’ chances of singling one out were nil.
The Ngorongoro crater, camping on the rim, we explored in 4x4s – an amazing experience; the crater is quite spectacular, as is the wildlife. Southwest to Arusha and a campsite with a restaurant and bar run by “Ma” – what luxury! On to Moshi at the foot of Kilimanjaro with spectacular views of the mountain where we had an option to base camp or a stroll to Mongyoni Falls with a visit to a local school and several villages included. Skirting the Usumbara Mountains and passing many Masai settlements we arrived at Dar es Salaam for the ferry crossing to Zanzibar.
At Nungwi on the north coast, we had two days to relax on the white sandy beaches and sample the excellent seafood, before returning home. This was a memorable trip, although very basic and not for those looking for any measure of luxury, but an excellent way to feel close to the culture and the wildlife of the area.

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Andalucia, Seville and Granada by Jane Caryer

A world away from the image of the Spanish costas the countryside of Andalucia, with its hill top towns is spectacular and unspoilt. Moorish Palaces and elegant mosques are the legacy of centuries of Islamic domination in this southerly Spanish region. Travel around the area is straightforward and relaxing, with wonderful views throughout.
Airports at Malaga, Seville and Granada give easy access to Andalucia. Warm sunshine throughout the year, even in winter makes this area an ideal short break destination. I visited in September, and the weather was warm enough for an afternoon dip in the pool to be an essential part of our routine. Seville, the Andalucian capital has something for everyone. The Gold encrusted Alcazar Palace and the third largest church in Christendom are in the centre of Seville. Surrounded by lanes and modern shopping streets, interspersed with bars and cafes, exploring on foot was fun. Evening Flamenco is a must with a number of organized shows, or impromptu dancing by locals in bars.
The Alhambra Palace and the Generalife gardens took a whole day of our time in Granada. Spring or autumn would be a fantastic time to visit. The Gardens are spectacular, and being high above the city, the views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains are a wonderful backdrop. Lunch on the terrace of the Parador within the grounds of the Alhambra was a highlight of the trip. Next time I want to stay there!


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Royal Caribbean’s ‘Independence Of The Seas’ by Cheryl Locke

If you have children, from toddlers to teenagers, the ’Independence of the Seas’ has something to offer all.
Royal Caribbean has thought of everything and I am sure that ’boxes will be ticked’ for most children. My 7-year old loved the H20 Zone, with the swimming pools, hot tubs and the sports court where he was able to join in a variety of sporting activities, whilst my 9-year old daughter thought the Flowrider (the world’s first onboard surf park) and the ice-skating rink were absolutely fab! Their 7-year old cousin spent every hour she could in the children’s club whilst her teenage brother loved the dedicated games arcade and all the sports on offer.
The service was good, food excellent and overall, everything was of a very good standard. Travelling as a large family group of 3 generations, we thoroughly enjoyed our cruise. I do feel however, that this ship, given its size and capacity, is better suited to families and young groups rather than more mature, seasoned cruisers.


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Cilento, Italy by Cathryn Milnes

Driving south away from the popular tourist sights of Vesuvius and Pompeii brings you to the Cilento National Park, an unspoilt area with a rugged coastline and quiet bays and beaches. This area is also a World Heritage site. Paestum, which is at the start of Cilento coast, is the site of the only well preserved Greek temple north of Sicily and features 3 major temples all built in Doric style.
The quiet seaside village of San Marco di Castellabate, offers a choice of accommodation to suit all budgets and tastes. Le Favate, a delightful hotel in Ascea perfect for an individual, away from it all experience, ticked all the boxes.
A beautifully restored building surrounded by farmland, olive and lemon groves and vineyards where the staff boasted that all the food served at lunchtime was a product of their land. Home reared meat, olive oil, wine and fresh vegetables and salad. How wonderful is that?
The southernmost point of our trip took us to the tiny village of Maratea approx 200 miles south of Naples, before our journey to Sorrento. Sorrento has lots of shops and cafes and is a good base for excursions to Capri, Naples, Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius as well as the picturesque drive along the coast to Amalfi and Ravello.
I would recommend Cilento for those wanting to see a different Italy, or maybe try a 2 centre break, a few quiet days in the Cilento region followed by a few days sightseeing based in Sorrento.


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Menorca by Sonia Reece

Why did we choose Menorca? 
This year after leaving the tent in the loft we decided to go in search of the sun.  The criteria required were
(1) going on an aeroplane (kids)
(2) not too far (mum)
(3) loads of places to snorkel (dad).
We all decided on Menorca and the resort of Son Bou. The beach is the longest and best on the island it shelves gradually into the bluest sea you have ever seen. At the end near the resort you will find a rocky area which has great snorkelling for both adults and children. There are a couple of beach restaurants which offer the usual paella and fast food although we found the resort centre very quiet considering it was summer holidays. It seems the 2 huge all-inclusive hotels in the centre are having an impact on the local bars and restaurants.
The Hotel Valentin has the facilities to offer self catering, half board and all inclusive. It is a 4 star property and the rooms are a good size for a family with a large balcony and a sea view.
Every evening they had entertainment in the hotel ranging from mini discos to a circus trapeze act which seemed to be well attended. We would often stroll into the resort in the evenings, then take a taxi back to the hotel as it is at the top of huge hill.
On the flight home it was put to the vote - camping or Menorca next year? Menorca won!


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