Stays and Vacays

10/09/2026

Exciting news – I’m off to Cape Town and South Africa this October, as part of a familiarisation trip with five other Travel Den team members.

I’ve been heavily involved in shaping the itinerary and choosing the activities, so this is a brilliant chance to actually experience what I’ve been recommending to clients.

Here’s the plan: we depart London on 27th October, spend 2 nights in Cape Town, 1 night in Stellenbosch, and 1 night in Langebaan, before taking an internal flight to Tshukudu Private Game Reserve for a further 3 nights on safari.

I’ll be sharing plenty from the trip itself once we’re there – but for now, the planning alone has taught me so much. Follow along for the countdown.

08/09/2026

If a Christmas market city break has ever crossed your mind, now’s the time to start planning – the 2026 dates are landing, and the good hotels sell out fast.

Here’s what’s confirmed so far: Vienna’s Rathausplatz market opens earliest, from around 13 November. Munich follows on 20 November, Cologne’s Cathedral market from 23 November, Dresden from 25 November, and Nuremberg’s famous Christkindlesmarkt from 27 November. Most markets run through to 23–24 December, though Prague, Budapest and Vienna’s Schönbrunn market stay open into early January.

Whether you fancy mulled wine in a fairy-tale German square or a full multi-city adventure, the window to book the best availability is genuinely now, not December.

Which market’s calling you? Let me know and I’ll help you plan it.

03/09/2026

River cruising doesn’t always get the credit it deserves – so let’s change that.

Unlike a big ocean ship, a river cruise takes you right into the heart of a city, often docking within walking distance of the main sights. You unpack once, wake up somewhere completely different every day, and everything – dining, excursions, drinks in many cases – is typically included.

It’s also one of the most sociable ways to travel solo, and one of the most relaxed ways to travel as a couple or family, since there’s no packing and unpacking between stops.

I work regularly with Riviera, Scenic, Emerald and Viva Cruises – four of the best operators in this space – and each has a slightly different style, so there’s genuinely a river cruise to suit most kinds of traveller.

Curious whether river cruising could work for your next trip? Let’s talk it through.

01/09/2026

October half term is coming up fast (26–30 October in England, Wales & NI; 12–16 October in Scotland) — here’s where’s still warm if you want some autumn sun with the kids.

☀️ Canary Islands — around 24°C, just a 4-hour flight, warm pretty much year-round

☀️ Costa del Sol, Spain — around 23°C, easy short flight, endless family resorts

☀️ Algarve, Portugal — around 22°C, gentle pace, brilliant beaches

☀️ Cyprus — around 26°C, longer daylight hours than most of Europe

☀️ Turkey (Antalya) — around 25°C, fantastic all-inclusive value for bigger families

☀️ Egypt (Hurghada/Sharm) — around 29°C, guaranteed sun and real value for money

Fancy some half-term warmth? Message me and I’ll find the right fit for your family.

30/08/2026

I’m so lucky to work with clients who take the time to leave a review – and this month’s have genuinely made me smile.

From family holidays to honeymoon plans to more than one Maldives escape, thank you to everyone who’s trusted me with their trip and shared their experience afterwards. It means more than you know.

If you’ve travelled with me recently, I’d love to hear from you too – a review helps other people find Stays and Vacays, and it means everything to me personally.

28/08/2026

I’ve just returned from destination training in Sri Lanka, and I’m buzzing to share what I learned.

Sri Lanka is one of the few destinations that genuinely combines culture, wildlife and beach in a single trip – ancient temples and tea plantations one day, leopard and elephant safaris the next, then finishing on some of the most beautiful, uncrowded coastline I’ve seen. I visited a range of properties across the island so I can now recommend exactly the right base for each stage of a trip, rather than guessing from a brochure.

Thinking about Sri Lanka? I’ve just walked it – message me and let’s talk through what would suit you.

27/08/2026

More people are booking to travel alone this year than ever before. Skyscanner’s data shows hotel searches using the “solo” filter are up 83% year on year – and it’s not hard to see why. Travelling solo means going exactly where you want, at exactly your own pace, with zero compromise.

Here’s what most people don’t realise though: solo doesn’t have to mean isolated, and it definitely doesn’t have to mean paying over the odds. Many tour operators and cruise lines run no-single-supplement deals on selected departures throughout the year – they’re rarely advertised loudly, and availability comes and goes, so it’s always worth checking before you assume solo automatically means a higher price.

Vietnam, Portugal and river cruising are three of my favourite solo-friendly picks right now – safe, sociable if you want it, and genuinely easy to enjoy alone.

If solo travel has been on your mind, whether it’s your first time or your fifth, I’d love to help you find the right trip – and check whether there’s a no-supplement deal going at the time you want to travel.

Fancy a chat about where a solo trip could take you?

25/08/2026

One of the bookings I’m proudest of this year – a beautiful Maldives trip for one of my longest-standing clients: a father and his adult daughter, travelling together at Dusit Thani Maldives.

My team visited the resort in person recently, so when it came to matching this particular trip, I wasn’t working from a brochure – I was working from real experience. We knew privacy and personal space would matter just as much as time spent together, which is exactly why we chose a 2-Bedroom Beach Pool Villa. And because of our relationship with the island’s General Manager, we could also arrange some lovely behind-the-scenes touches – the kind of detail this client genuinely loves.

That’s the difference first-hand knowledge and real relationships make. It turns a good booking into the right booking.

If you’re dreaming of the Maldives, I’d love to help you find your version of this.

18/08/2026

Did someone say FREE CARIBBEAN CRUISE?

Just follow the link below for your chance to win!

Tag a friend in the comments who you’d take with you and follow for more amazing travel tips!

No catches - you’re welcome ✈️

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