Summers & Winters

28/11/2023

One&Only Aesthesis is a captivating coastal hideaway that harks back to the golden days of the Athenian Riviera. Set within 21 hectares of protected forest reserve in Glyfada, the resort is just a short drive from the ancient wonders of the Greek capital.

This fabulous beachfront resort offers a range of room options most with private pools, a guerlain spa, kids club and exceptional dining. There really is something for everyone.

30/03/2022

Never has a hotel had such a build up to a visit as . I have been desperate to see it since it opened its doors in 2014, but work things kept getting in the way. Having stayed in other hotels in the group, I was fascinated to see how the Asian architecture and interior would work in an Alpine setting like Andermatt, but it really does.

The first thing that hits you is the sense of space and scale- European ski resort hotels are not generally known for their large bedrooms, but these are huge, from entry level upwards. My favourite touch was the indoor/ outdoor fireplace, which means you can actually enjoy your balcony without the risk of frost bite. Add to that the little touches of smaller pairs of slippers and dressing gowns (which are very welcome at 5’3 and size 4 feet!), enormous beds and wonderful bathrooms and you are in heaven.

Food and wine are also a massive part of Chedi life- with its excellent restaurants where East meets West, the cheese room, private dining spaces and 90 page wine list (not for the faint hearted). Again, the little touches are there from the special (tastefully presented) children’s breakfast area to the details in the intimate Japanese Restaurant.

No visit is complete without a trip to the spa. Yes, the main pool is lovely, but the much smaller, adult-only area is where you want to be. With its multiple bath-temperature pools, take a dip in those and then plunge into the ‘cool pool’ to sort out weary ski legs.

The hotel also takes the ‘boot room’ to a whole different level with their collection of autographed skis to squishy sofas and team of ski butlers on hand to help you into your boots and off to the slopes. There has been heavy investment in the area (and more announced this week) which is evident in the quality and comfort of the lift system. The geography of area means that you ski along the side of valley and should the weather close in, you can just hop on the train and back to Andermatt, or even better, get the special ‘apres ski’ train back.

All in all, worth the wait. Thanks

15/10/2021

Never underestimate the importance of travel in a digital world.

Don’t get me wrong, the internet can be extremely useful when searching for a holiday. However, the information it provides is very cold and 2-dimensional. Yes, it is important to know how many rooms the hotel has, or what facilities are available.

What you don’t get is a real feel for the property- the vibe, the service, how private your ‘private pool’ actually is or even how family-friendly a property really turns out to be, even if it says so. Or, it could even be a simple question of how soft the sand is.

This is why, as a travel agent, it is so important to travel…. to sleep in the beds, to eat the food, to use the facilities, to pick up on the details and meet the teams on the ground who look after my clients. These relationships are crucial to my job. The most expensive hotel is not always the best, and all clients have different tastes. The only way to really know your product is this is to experience it.

I am lucky enough to be part of an amazing travel family, who all have the same exacting standards and share this invaluable experience, all of which allows me to provide a truly private travel service.

.mykonos

08/10/2021

Picture Perfect Paros. Not quite as well known as some of the other islands, but as a result it is laid back, calming and beautiful. The is the place to stay, but watch this space for their sister property coming next year.

05/10/2021

Boy is it good to be back at work. Friends laugh when I say that I have to stay in 5* hotels for work, but it really is so important to know your product. We work with expert suppliers, but need to build relationships and get a real feel for the properties as they are all so different, yet online the seem very similar. Thank you

16/09/2021

Yesterday was a big day- the first time back together with the team for over a year. To top it off we also caught up with some of our favourite suppliers at the ‘Round the World’ event. It was so good to talk all things travel again, in the flesh, with the best of the best. Thank you for hosting us

01/12/2020

22/10/2020

Good news, the Maldives has been added to the UK travel corridor list, allowing quarantine free travel from this weekend. There are some fantastic offers available, and we can include a range of extra perks, all for the same price as booking direct (and of course with the fully flexible terms too). Get in touch for more information. Photo credit .lankanfushi