Daves Honeymoon In Lombok

What a beautiful, lush tropical island with happy smiling people.

We stayed at the Qunci Villas, in a pool villa room. The resort’s located on Mangsit beach which is lovely and it’s only a 5 minute drive (£1.20 in a taxi) from the main resort of Sengiggi. The hotels staff were superb, so friendly they couldn’t do enough for us. Food in the hotel was excellent and similar in price to what you would pay in the UK (beer approx £2.50). There was a small local supermarket across the road too so if you wanted snacks or drinks to take back to the room you could also go there.



As all beaches in Indonesia are public spaces you do get hawkers, but it’s a great way of getting some cheap souvenirs, well as long as you can barter a good deal! In the evenings we used to go in to Sengiggi where there’s a good selection of bars and restaurants. Away from the hotel food was really cheap, with a great selection of cuisine to choose from. Our favourite bar was Happy Café where we spent several nights listening to local live bands until the early hours.

One day we hired our own private boat with a driver/guide who took us to the Gili Islands. First we stopped at Gili Trawagan where we took a horse and cart around the island, their local mode of transport. We paid around £10 for an 1 hour trip so really good value. After this we jumped back onto the boat and headed for the next island of Gili Meno where we snorkelled and saw some amazing sights, including their famous sea turtles.

We then headed for Gili Air which is the smallest of the islands, we had a late lunch and sampled the local cuisine – absolutely delicious. Around 4pm we took a smooth easy crossing back to the hotel, which took about an hour and we got dropped off on the beach right outside our hotel. The Gili Islands are simply amazing and a must on any trip to Indonesia.

   

After seeing the beautiful Gili islands we wanted to explore more of Lombok, so we organised a private driver for the day to take us around the island. We were picked up at around 8am and headed south to the capital city of Mataram. We passed through the bustling streets and saw local vendors selling everything from bike tyres to apples. We stopped at a local coffee shop for a bite to eat and soaked up the atmosphere. We then headed 40mins further south to Banyumulek to see the islands biggest pottery factory. 

We saw local women making pottery and stacks of pots piled high, ready to be shipped around the world. Next we went to the traditional village of Sukarara where we met local villagers, saw children playing in the streets and watched women using the old traditional looms. We got the chance to go into their local meeting room where we tried on traditional wedding attire and had a chance to buy some of their handmade attire. Next we drove to another nearby village called Rambitan, this was a Sasak village where the houses and rice storage buildings were still constructed with wood, bamboo and thatched roofs. We met more of the locals and were offered the chance to look in their houses to get a true insight in to their way of life. 

We then headed to Kuta for lunch; Kuta is located on the south coast and is a small resort with a stunning golden beach. We had lunch in one of the many beach restaurants and then drove north to the Sendang Gile waterfalls which are 600 meters above sea level. A fantastic site and we managed to swim under the falls in one of the many pools (the water was freezing though). After a couple of hours we headed back to the car for the 2 hour drive home. This was certainly a day we wouldn’t forget as we got to see so much of the island and its culture.

To sum Lombok up, it’s an absolute AMAZING place and we would return in a flash! Contact us for one of our Tailor-Made Holidays and we'll put you a quote together!

Kadie Tours Sri Lanka

I've recently got back from Sri Lanka after doing one of our  Sri Lanka Multi Centre Holidays. Arriving into Sri Lanka at 7am it was an early start but as soon as I left the airport I felt energized with excitement. I was amazed to see the streets already buzzing with people, either on their way to work or walking to school. Throughout the week I travelled around this stunning Island and was fascinating to see all of the different cultures and sights, where else would you see a giant 10ft statue of Jesus on the side of a road apart from in Negombo – brilliant!

  

I stayed my first night in Negombo; around 30 minutes north of the airport. There’s a selection of luxury hotels, as well as more basic properties situated on the Beach. I stayed at the 4+ Star Jetwing Sea hotel (Above Image - left). It’s recently been renovated; the lobby is a large open plan space which leads down to the restaurant and has spectacular views of the Indian Ocean. I stayed in a deluxe room which is almost twice the size of the superior rooms with a large sunken bath and rainforest shower – very plush! All rooms are sea facing with all mod cons. We also visited their sister hotel, the 5 star Jetwing Beach (Above Image - centre), with more restaurants and located on a nicer part of the Beach it's definitely a superior option.

The following day we drove down the coast and visited the Turtle Sanctuary at Kosgada. Over 3 million turtles have hatched there in 30 years. They’re protected whilst nesting and then released back into the Ocean when they’re just a few days old. It’s not expensive and definitely worth a visit.We then drove through Colombo which is a fascinating city; the architecture a mixture of Dutch, British Colonial and Contemporary Modern.

We stopped for a few hours at the Mount Lavinia Hotel (Above Right) which is around 15 mins drive from Colombo. If you’re doing a Sri Lanka Tour, this is an ideal hotel to stay at for a few days, either before or after your tour. It used to be the Governors house and was built in the 18th Century. It has been extended over the years but has so much character and there are still parts of the property which still have the original features. We also popped in to see the nearby Saman Villas which is ideal for honeymooners, a small secluded resort with various suites, some which include private plunge pools.

    

After the Coast we went to Habarana which is a great base for touring the surrounding area. We stayed at the Cinnamon Lodge which is a luxury property, ideal location for touring and also has ideal facilities if you simply want to relax by the pool or enjoy the spa. From Habarana we visited the Sigiriya Rock (Above Image - Left), it was transformed into a fortress around 470 AD and at the summit there are ruins of the old castle, it’s a good half a day excursion as there are over 1000 steps to climb. Inside the rocks there are various chambers which have various artifacts such as the Mirror Wall and ancient traditional paintings. From here you can also visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage (Above Images - Centre).

Next we drove to Kandy; en-route we visited the Heritance Hotel Kandelama which is a beautiful 5 star resort, with stunning views of the surrounding area. From here you can spot a lot of wildlife such as exotic birds, herds of elephants and monkeys. We had a brief stop at the Dambulla Rock Caves to take some pictures of the Giant Gold statue of Buddha. We also stopped at a Spice Market and had a quick tour, which was really interesting - the products were not cheap though!

In Kandy we toured the city, known as the Spiritual Capital of Sri Lanka. It’s home to many temples, most famously the Temple of Buddha’s Tooth. Kandy was the highlight of my trip and I wish we’d had a few extra days there as there was so much going on and it was such a vibrant city. In Kandy there also the Famous Botanical Gardens which was the first place in Sri Lanka to start growing Tea before it was mass produced down further down in the South. We also visited the Millennium Elephant Foundation in Kegalle which is around 24 miles from Kandy.

After Kandy we visited Nuwara Eliya where the scenery is stunning. We commented that it reminded us of the Lake District. You also feel like you’ve stepped back in time, the Architecture being very British in Style. We stayed at the Grand Hotel which is classed as a 3 star hotel, however it is being renovated and the standard you couldn’t fault. The hotel was lovely, in really nice gardens and the food was Fantastic.

Our last day we spent the morning at a working Tea Factory (Above Images - Right), we were walked through the process of producing tea. We also saw how technology is changing the way it is produced with one machine being able to do the job for 10 people which was a shame but it looked a lot safer as a lot of the equipment that is used by the workers looks like it hasn’t been updated in hundreds of years!

Overall an excellent trip – The interior of Sri Lanka is amazing, Kandy and Habarana are such impressive places, with so much culture and sights to explore, with impressive hotels and great pools to relax by during the day. You don’t even need a beach, I could have just spent the whole holiday in Kandy and Habarana. Give us a call if you fancy doing something similar, we can creat your own Sri Lanka Tailor-Made Holiday and it’s a great way to see this country. Don’t just go to the beach as you miss all the best bits.

America Multi Centre Holidays

If you’re going to America then it’s a shame to just visit one place. Multi Centre Holidays allow you to see more and do more, and combine it all in to one holiday.

    

 Images: Left - Statue of Liberty (New York) | Centre - San Francisco Skyline | Right - New York Yew York Hotel (Las Vegas)

You could combine some of the great East Coast cities, visiting places like New York, Washington, Boston and Philadelphia all in one trip. Instead of just going Orlando to enjoy the thrills at the theme parks, why not stop at New York en-route for a little shopping. If California is more of interest, before heading to the popular cities of LA, San Francisco and San Diego, why not start with a little partying in Las Vegas.

With all the excitement of the big cities how about some time relaxing on the beach and again America has a wealth of choices. You could combine your California adventure with a visit to the tropical paradise of Hawaii. If trendy beaches and partying is more your scene, why not combine your New York City Break with some time at Miami Beach. However if you just want time to relax with the family Florida’s Gulf Coast is just perfect. These ideas are just a taste of what’s on offer… the choices are endless!

  

Images: Left - Hawaii | Centre - Yosemite National Park | Right - Gulf Coast Beach (Florida)

Is it going to cost you more than just a standard holiday? A little yes but not as much as you may think. There’s the cost of getting you between the different destinations which is extra expense, but dependent on what you want to do some international flights allow certain stops or offer add on internal flights for just a few extra pounds. Some places are easy to drive between and this can actually become a highlight of your itinerary. If the itinerary is put together properly it can be done cost effectively.

The best thing to do is contact one of our specialists who will advise you what destinations work well together and how to get the most out of your USA Multi Centre Holidays. So if America is on your list of places to visit, get in touch today and have a chat with us. We can give you some great ideas and help you find your dream USA Holiday.

Visiting Cape Town (The Highlights)

Whether you're looking to simply relax, after exciting nightlife, amazing wildlife or adventure sports - Cape Town has it all. So on you next South Africa Multi Centre Holidays make sure Cape Town is part of your itinerary.

    

The scenery is stunning, a trendy city and harbour front with the spectacular Table Mountain acting as a back drop. A vast array of breathtaking beaches and bays dot the coast with lush landscapes surrounding it all. With all the photographic opportunities around every corner you're going to need a lot of film for your camera.

Fantastic cuisine and wonderful wines await you in every restaurant and the wealth of culinary options means you can try something different every time you dine.  Crocodile, Ostrich, Springbok and Kudu are just a few of the wonderful Game meats on offer and it's all cooked in a variety of ways, however my favourite is to simply have it flame grilled as its just so tasty without any sauces. If you want to stick with chicken, beef or Lamb then you won't be disappointed as an array of traditional and unusual dishes await you. The seafood is amazing too - to be honest I'm not a huge fan of fish and seafood but I wanted to try it and I was amazed. The Calamari was just so tender, the fish so tasty and the choice was just so wide. All I can say is if you like your food you will love Cape Town, the choice, the quality is the best I've found from all the places I've visited.

If seeing the local wildlife is at the top of your list then there's a huge diversity of animals you can see on safari as well as in the wild. Everything from Lions and wild cats, to whales and dolphins. Make sure you go to see the penguin on the Cape Peninsula - there a must see.

 

For a bit of retail therapy then you can hit the designer shops at the V&A waterfront. There are also various smaller boutiques in the city bowl or if you're after locally produced crafts then there are various markets throughout the city.

If history interests you then there are plenty of opportunities to soak up a bit of culture; from the numerous museums to the various sites you can explore just wondering around the city. A boat trip to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for many years is also a must.

Now if adventure sports and activities is your thing then there are just too many to name, but a firm favourite whilst in Cape Town is diving with the sharks. If you like watersports then there's a number on offer including surfing or sailing. You should also make the most of the mountain sports which include paragliding or abseiling from the top, mountain biking around many of the trials and not forgetting hiking up and down it.

If relaxing is at the top of your agenda then you can choose to visit one of the many beaches. You can go wine tasting in the Winelands or just wonder around the beautiful streets and have a glass of wine whilst watching the yachts in the harbour.

Whatever you enjoy doing Cape Town can deliver... so when it comes to booking your next Tailor Made Holidays contact us and we can make sure its one of your stops!