Europe and Middle East
Macdonald Randolph Hotel. Oxford’s magnificent Grande Dame still has a tale to tell.
As I arrived at the Macdonald Randolph Hotel I was greeted like a long lost friend; not hint of superiority anywhere. Now my imagination was running riot. Perhaps with my shabby chic look they thought I was a visiting college lecturer, perhaps a world expert in paleontology, with the Ashmolean Museum just opposite?
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Vidago Palace Hotel
The Vidago Palace Hotel is an epic experience for anyone keen to find a five star luxury retreat away from the usual tourist hot spots of Portugal. The spectacular golf and spa offerings are top drawer, the Rui Paula inspired cuisine is delicious and the service is exactly what you would expect from a hotel within The Leading Hotels of the World portfolio. Above all though, for me it’s the palace building itself which binds it all together beautifully, it speaks to me of the glitz and glamour of a bygone era, brought magnificently up to date. King Carlos may have missed out but his legacy lives on. Just an hour or so from Porto, a very special place indeed.
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Languedoc wine tasting: B&B and Wine
It was, it must be said, the perfect evening. Languedoc wine tasting with dark chocolate, a delicious regionally inspired dinner and then sleeping it all off in a 13th century chateau. Such is life these days in the Languedoc-Rousillon, a region reinventing itself from mediocre table wine producer into highly respected vintner of outstanding quality while at the same time embracing the tourism industry with arms open wide.
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Riad Star Marrakech. Enjoy a 5 star stay in the heart of Marrakech’s medina
There was a moment during my stay at Riad Star Marrakech when I thought I had literally died and gone to heaven. It had been a day of tough haggling deep in the souk; even the shopkeepers were emotionally spent such was the drama that had unfolded.
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Review of LEGOLAND Windsor. Experience a terrific family day out.
Driving home after a fabulous day with two small children fast asleep in the back of the car with huge smiles after exclaiming, “that was sooo much fun” is always very satisfying. It was just one of the memories we took home after a full day out at LEGOLAND Windsor.
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Climbing the Eiger by train. Discover an umissable adventure.
The Eiger’s north face was looking particularly sinister today as I peeked out at it from the window of the Jungfrau Wengernalp, the world’s longest cogwheel railway, as it climbed closer, the peak invisible, surrounded by cloud cover. Climbing the Eiger by train was in my view infinitely more healthy than attempting it on foot, after all, there is a pretty lengthy list of climbers who tried and never made it back alive.
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