Forget sunny skies and postcard views – when it comes to Shimla, this Adventure Seeker is embracing the monsoon magic! Yes, you read that right, you intrepid explorers. My family recently braved the downpours for a trip to this Himalayan haven, and let me tell you, it was an adventure like no other.
Glenapp Castle, nestled amidst the rolling hills of Ayrshire in South West Scotland, transcends its title as a mere 5-star luxury hotel and restaurant. It’s a hidden gem, whispering stories of history and weaving a tapestry of elegance, relaxation, and exhilarating adventures on each visit. Our recent stay, though our first, was an unforgettable symphony of experiences, leaving us yearning to return and unravel more of its magic.
Forget sunny skies and postcard views – when it comes to Shimla, this Adventure Seeker is embracing the monsoon magic! Yes, you read that right, you intrepid explorers. My family recently braved the downpours for a trip to this Himalayan haven, and let me tell you, it was an adventure like no other.
Weaving back down the mountain pass from Val Thorens, our heavenly-high base in the clouds for a week, a clear blue sky, I feel happy, yet so sad to leave the perfect ski conditions behind. May was less than two weeks away and yet at the highest resort in Europe we were skiing powder as fluffy as cotton wool, on almost empty runs. Just over two hours back to Geneva., our Jam Transfers Mercedes minivan speeding us back to the airport in luxury. The journey is as picturesque as any postcard; the lush green meadows in stark contrast to the snowy peaks fading further into the distance.
It seems as if travel has almost become an impossible dream. Fading further and further away into the distance. As lockdown follows lockdown; borders open, then close, new strains of covid appear. It’s been miserable to say the least. One luxury destination has managed to weather the storm of the global pandemic much better than some others, by virtue of its geology. The Maldives, made up of more than 200 islands, many of which are home to a single hotel or resort, has dealt admirably with a disease that could have wiped out their economy almost totally. For tourism is what they absolutely rely on.
Hampshire is a very popular place for Londoners looking to escape the metropolis and breathe in the fresh country air. There are some well-known spots that the masses flock to – the New Forest and it’s ponies and scrub for one, the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth and Winchester are others. Families tend to stick to the same well-known places. The tried and tested attractions are all very well but when I leave my home, I’m looking for somewhere nicer. It’s got to be good. With young children it’s often the case that either the adults or the children must compromise. I prefer to do my homework.
Peppa Pig World is one of those places that’s on every young family’s to-do list. Luckily, It’s situated in a lovely part of Hampshire in the New Forest, from national parks to amusement parks, pretty villages and seaside towns, there’s something for every taste. Just two hours in the car from London, not far from Southampton, Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight, there’s a great place to stay that makes a serious point of catering to children and their frazzled parents in equal measures.
Family skiing in April can be some of the most glorious skiing. Sunshine in the mountains is so strong that without the chill in the air, it’s almost summer! For those of us who prefer winter to summer pursuits, April is just another chance to get some extra family skiing in. If you choose your destination wisely it can be the best of the year.
What people don’t think about is that a) Turkey is a huge country and you might as well be in Greece on the Dalaman peninsula’s Mediterranean coast – Fethiye is 20 Minutes ferry to Rhodes, b) what unrest there is has been has generally been concentrated around the controversial political borders or capitals and 3) even in this day and age of terrorism you are statistically more likely to be run over by a bus than caught up in any sort of attack. Be clever, be informed and don’t miss out due to ignorance. Kalkan is alive and kicking, full of happy locals and tourists alike and is as safe as the next holiday destination.
Sardinia for family holidays is a true winner and Delphina Hotels offer the perfect solution. Sardinia has often been labelled as a go-to destination for the rich and famous, thus putting off the likes of you and me from ever considering it as a destination. How wrong you would be to dismiss it.
