Unique and Exclusive Holidays

In May 2008 I was lucky enough to visit the beautiful Cayman Islands. Having taken off from Heathrow, leaving a long queue of aircraft behind us, it felt quite special to lower down from a brilliant blue sky onto a serene Caribbean runway, where our plane seemed to be the largest arrival that day.

We flew with British Airways, making a short stop en route at Nassau, Bahamas. At around 11 hours there is no denying that is was a long flight, but certainly well worth the journey. From the sudden surge of heat as the plane door opened, to the welcome of waving spectators on the terminal balcony, to the laid back attitude of the first locals that we met, we knew that we had arrived somewhere quite different.
It came as quite a surprise then to find ourselves caught in rush hour traffic as our bus took us to our hotel!

Despite this busy time of day, we arrived within around half an hour at our home for the next four nights, the Westin Casuarina. Located on Seven Mile Beach on the West Coast of Grand Cayman, our hotel was in the main tourist area, side by side with many other well known hotel names, and within easy distance of a host of restaurants, shops and entertainment. Although we did visit other fine properties on the Eastern side of the island, I felt, for me, we were in the best area, and would certainly recommend Seven Mile Beach to visitors hoping for more than just a sea and sand holiday.

Like many neighbouring hotels, the grounds of the Westin led directly to the white sands and crystal clear waters of Seven Mile Beach, making it an ideal base for those looking for rest and relaxation, or for the more active to indulge in their favourite water sports. Entertainment and dining also proved plentiful and varied in the area, with a wide choice of restaurants and bars, catering for every budget. On the first evening we enjoyed the Mediterranean flavours of Café Med, followed by a sumptuous breakfast the following morning at Icoa Fine Foods. Appearing at first sight as a small deli within a typical American style outdoor shopping mall, we were taken aback at the array of food we received. Our range of dining grew with a visit to Cayman Traditional Arts, where we enjoyed a cultural meal, with local craft activities, forming part of the entertainment. Another evening was spent at the Wharf, a very popular boardwalk restaurant directly overlooking the sea, where, at the ringing of a bell, guests were given the chance to feed the resident fish!

Activities abound in Grand Cayman, and we were lucky enough to experience may of these. We took a boat trip to Stingray City, one of the islands most popular attractions. Our journey took us to a shallow sandbar where we were able to get in the water with around two dozen ‘tame’ stingrays. I wasn’t keen, but I’m pleased to say I did it, and what an experience. A further stop allowed time for snorkelling among the beautiful coral reefs, an activity along with diving, for which the islands are famous. Other visits included those to Boatswain’s Beach, home of the Cayman Turtle Farm, Pedro St James, a historical highlight in the Islands history, and the beautiful QE2 Botanic Park, home to the island’s native Blue Iguana, and the inspiration for the Cayman Islands exhibit for this year’s Chelsea Flower Show.

For me, the highlight of the trip was probably our day trip to the neighbouring island of Little Cayman. Taking off in our 18 seater aircraft was quite an experience, and landing at an airport where the fire engine was almost as large as the terminal building, quite another. We took a taxi to our first visit, Little Cayman Beach Resort – we really didn’t need to though, we could have walked! After touring the complete island within around an hour, we returned to enjoy lunch at the aptly named Hungry Iguana Restaurant. We ate on the restaurant veranda, facing the sea, accompanied by several small iguanas, hoping for a share in our lunch. Though we had to report in good time for our flight back to Grand Cayman, we were able to check-in and then spend the waiting time at our restaurant, enjoying the Cayman sunshine. We were literally just a few steps from the airport. As soon as we heard the whirring propellers of our arriving aircraft, we sauntered over to the runway. The plane stopped, the door opened, and we stepped on board and took our place behind the captain!
The Cayman Islands are made up of three islands, Grand Cayman, and its two smaller neighbours – Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. For any visitor to Grand Cayman, I would certainly recommend a visit to one of the smaller islands, just for the unforgettable experience.

Surrounded by clear waters and the undersea beauty of their coral reefs – which reminds me – we also went down to a depth of over 100 feet in the Atlantis Submarine, another of the island’s major attractions – it is no wonder that the Cayman Islands have become world famous for the diving and snorkelling experiences that they offer. Many tourists visit the islands purely for diving, but for any non swimmers or divers, this is no reason to stay away. On the contrary – as so many guests were out at sea on dive trips, my lasting impression of the hotels was how quiet, empty and relaxing they appeared during each day.

I would certainly recommend the Cayman Islands, I would certainly visit again if I had the chance, and hope I have proved there really is something for everybody in this beautiful part of the Caribbean.
Sun, sand, activities and adventure for those who want it, peace and solitude for those who don’t, excellent dining choices, varied sightseeing, some of the best diving opportunities in the world, and unforgettable memories!

 

Sue Gostling, Medway Leisure Travel Supervisor

Dear Sue,

I must share with you my enthusiasm for the holiday in China you arranged for me. It was just gob-smackingly different!

We were met by our rep opposite the Virgin Atlantic check in desks at Heathrow terminal 3, taken to the Virgin's Upper Class lounge which is amazingly well equipped, including a beauty salon, shower facilities, a library, business facilities, a large bar, televisions and comfortable seating. They also offer a waiter service where you can order anything from a small snack to a 3 course meal. What a way to begin the trip of a lifetime! It began as it continued, and although it was a 12 hour flight, we were really made very comfortable (flat beds included) and arrived feeling surprisingly fresh.

On arrival at Shanghai's Pu Dong International Airport we were meet at the airport by our tour guide "Fan Lei" and transferred to the JC Mandarin Hotel, a 5 star property in the very heart of Shanghai, along Nan Jing Xi Lu which is the busy shopping and commercial district. After a quick freshen up, we were then taken on an escorted trip to the Bund (an area on the old side of the river Huangpu). We walked along the river and looked across at some of the fantastic high rise buildings on the new Pu Dong side of the city which has only been developed in the last 15 years.

The following morning we had a very early start, but it was well worth it! We went to Remin Park in the centre of the city to see The Shanghai Museum, and look at the large Bronze and Jasmine collection. On the way we watched the locals practice Tai Chi. This was fascinating and also quite amusing as one group were dancing to the Venga Boys!!

Later we went to Suzhou (pronounced Suh - joe), a 2500 year old city, about one and a half hours from Shanghai. There we saw the number 1 Silk Factory in the area and walked through the factory seeing how they turn the silk worms' cocoons into beautiful fabric. Of course, afterwards, we succumbed to the temptation to buy the factory's lovely and reasonably priced products!.
Our hotel that evening was The Sheraton Suzhou - the only 5* hotel in the city. The buildings were all very low and looked very traditional, the gardens were very beautiful and included an indoor and outdoor swimming pool and tennis courts.

We went to a traditional Chinese restaurant called Old Suzhou, and our tour guide ordered all the food for us so that we were able to try what the local people would eat. The meal was lovely, although not at all like my local Chinese take away!

We were really glad to have a tour guide with us, as very few people speak English and it can be very hard to do simple things, like order a meal.

Our next stop was a small town called Tongli, an age-old water township with a history of more than 1000 years. This little town was again very different, with its little huts and very peaceful atmosphere. We were able to wonder around and look at the many souvenir shops and also take a boat ride on the narrow canals which were all around the town. I really enjoyed Tongli as it was a very traditional and gave us the opportunity to see how the locals really lived.

I wont bore you with a detailed record of the rest of my three week trip, but I think you will see from these initial experiences that the whole experience was fabulous and quite unforgetable. Even the transfer back to Pu Dong Airport on our way home was unforgetable. We went on Shanghai's new Magnetic Levitation Train. The train runs from the business district in Pu Dong directly to the airport terminal. It is the world's fastest train and reaches speeds of 300km per hour in just 2 minutes. It really emphasised how advanced the city is.

So all I can do is recommend a trip to China for any of Medway Travel's clients, and I guarantee they will become similarly overwhelmed by the history, variety and beauty they will experience!

Katie Garnish
Canterbury

I have recently returned from a short break to Dubai, and now have first hand experience of everything this exciting destination has to offer. Having last visited over 15 years ago, the biggest impact for me was seeing the dramatic development that has recently taken place, and the vast range of facilities and activities now available.

Despite arriving at 8.00pm on an October evening, the heat hit me, just like walking into an oven! The temperature in Dubai is at its hottest between April and October, but even now towards the end of the season, it proved vastly different from the summer days we are used to in this country. Air conditioning is everywhere, though I don't know if I could have stayed outside for too long!

I stayed at the Jebel Ali Hotel, set in beautiful grounds with its own beach, and situated approximately 40 minutes from the airport. This journey in itself was very informative, taking me through the city of Dubai, resembling the Manhattan Skyline with its towering buildings, past the Jumeirah resort area, home to the landmark of Dubai, the 6* Burj Al Arab, and its neighbouring hotel, the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, and on into increasingly desert scenery, towards Jebel Ali – this last part of the journey was how I remembered it some years ago! Just on this initial drive, I was able to see the progress that Dubai has recently made – the airport is currently undergoing construction with a new terminal - with a new airport being planned for Jebel Ali. The main road was being reconstructed all around us, with new buildings rising on both sides, and we were told by our guide of all the projects currently underway. I have to admit though that the construction was mainly visual, wherever we were outside, we were not particularly disturbed by noise.

On the first day I took a City tour, which included an interesting visit to the Dubai museum, a rather dubious crossing of the Creek on one of the traditional wooden ‘abra' boats, and a walk around the market areas known as ‘souks'. As a group we visited both the spice and gold souks, though despite Dubai being world famous for its shopping, we spent very little money! Some of the gold souk windows though, were a picture to be seen! The city itself, with its old charm and Arabic customs, is a must for any visitor wishing to experience the culture of Dubai.

Our afternoon visit took us to the newly opened luxury hotel, Le Meridien Grosvenor House, with its spectacular views of the Dubai Marina from Bar 44 on the 44 th floor.

Other hotels I visited included the Grand Hyatt Dubai, which, set within 37 acres of gardens, is the only resort hotel in the City, the towering Fairmont Hotel, situated in the commercial district and directly accessible to the Dubai International Convention Centre, and the truly enchanting Madinat Jumeirah , the Arabian Resort, a blend of three properties on the beachfront, with connecting waterways, recreating the essence of Arabia. Besides many of the hotels themselves being new and offering state of the art facilities, from their higher floors we were able to view developments taking place in the area, amongst others the construction of the Dubai Marina, the development of the Palm Projects and the World, all man-made islands which will bring much – needed beach areas to Dubai, as well as being home to new housing, hotels and tourism attractions. With regard to the hotels, they all, without exception, offered impeccable service, extremely courteous staff, and where experienced, I can say, truly excellent food.

In my short stay, I was lucky enough to include an evening on Bateaux Dubai, a glass enclosed restaurant boat which cruises the Dubai Creek, offering the ultimate in dining – another ‘must do' experience. The other activity I experienced, which I can wholeheartedly recommend is the Dune Dinner Safari, a thrilling jeep ride across the dunes, passing camels resting in their camp, stopping to view the sunset across the desert, and culminating in a dinner at a traditional Arabian camp.

With a flight time of under 7 hours, and 3 hours time difference, Dubai is the ideal destination for a short break, as well as for longer stays. I managed to pack a lot in to my short time there, but there are a host of things that I didn't do.

Dubai is world famous for its shopping and duty free facilities; it has become established as one of the world's leading golf destinations; it offers a wealth of diving and watersport activities; the winter months offer both horseracing at the Nad Al Sheba track – home to the sport's richest race, the Dubai World Cup -, and the memorable experience of camel racing; with nearly 400 species of birds in the emirate, Dubai attracts bird-watchers from around the world; horse riding, fishing and tennis are all widely available, and due to open soon is the world's third largest indoor ski slope; also many of the top hotels have spas and health clubs to cater for the increasing interest in our well- being.

Dubai also offers the chance to experience the local culture – I made my visit at the start of Ramadan, a time when Muslims fast during daylight hours with celebrations taking place at sunset. Out of respect visitors are asked to observe local restrictions, though this does little to detract from your holiday experience. Add to all of the above the year round sunshine, superb dining, child friendly facilities, and a renowned reputation as a safe destination. As if this isn't enough, I believe Dubai has earned a visit just to see the latest developments – if you want to see the tallest, the most luxurious or the greatest of modern things in the world today , its probably here!

What more can I say – I shall certainly be going back!

Sue Gostling - Medway Travel

One hour and twenty minutes flying from Buenos Aires you will find one of the Wonders of the Modern World. Iguaza Falls is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Iguazu River splits Argentina from Brazil and at points is some 1.5 kilometers wide. The falls line the rim of a crescent-shaped cliff about 2.5 miles long. Around 275 individual cascades and waterfalls plummet up to 269 feet into the gorge below. The thunderous roaring of Iguazu can be heard from miles away.

This stunning natural beauty has to be seen to be believed. Most tours recommend that you visit the Brazilian Side of the Falls first. This gives you a panoramic view of the falls. Your second visit should be on the Argentinean side of the falls where you can get really close to the cascading water. As the locals say 'On the Brazilian side you can see them, on the Argentinean side you feel them'.

After my flight I checked in to the Iguazu Grand Hotel, the only true 5 star hotel in the area. This is a stunning retreat with a triple swimming pool and spa facility. All rooms have either Garden or Pool Views and all have private balconies.

My first day was to visit the Brazilian Side of the falls. I was prepared for a lot of walking and having crossed the border into Brazil arrived at the National Park for the start of my walk. You should also be prepared to get a little wet as the spray from the falls, which creates masses of rainbows along the 2.5mile crescent, does create a bit of a shower in places.

The walking on this side of the falls is quite easy and on the way you will be accompanied by the local wildlife.

The Coati is a hungry and cheeky member of the Racoon family which will quite happily search through your bag for food if you bend down too close. Though not vicious you are advised not to feed them.

From this side the falls are awe inspiring. The cascades seem to go on and on.

There are two hotels on the Brazilian side at the falls, the first is the Sheraton. This is the only hotel to have a view of the falls and as such is expensive. The second hotel here is the Cataras Hotel. Both are four star properties.

It took a morning to see this side of the falls and after taking innumerable photographs returned to my hotel for an afternoon relax by the pool.

My second day was to experience the Argentinean side of the falls. The first stage of this is to take the Green Way through the forest to the train station.

This jungle walk is fascinating and you will find a profusion of birds and butterflies along the way.

The forest train then takes you on a slow journey through the forest to the Devils Throat Station. This is the largest and main part of the falls and is best seen first thing in the morning before the crowds of tourists arrive. From the train station there is a 1.5km walk across the Iguazu River. This you do on metal walkways above the river and these give you a chance to experience the wildlife that abounds in and around the river areas. The whole of the falls area is a genius in engineering with walkways that take you right up and above the falls

La Garganta del Diablo (the Devil's Throat) was made famous in the film 'The Mission' and is truly spectacular. The noise is immense as gallons of water thunder over the rocks into the abyss below.

You have the same walk back to the train station and again a short train journey back before taking the stunning Upper Level Walkway along the tops of the falls. Here you will experience the feel of the immense power of these falls. Butterflies, birds and flowers abound on the walk. Upon completion you take the Lower Level Walk again giving you a fantastic view of the falls as they cascade down onto the rocks below.

From the end of this walk you then have the option to join in the Iguazu Adventure. This is a speedboat ride to the head of the falls, but be warned - you will get wet. Here you are taken up to and into the falls for an original white knuckle ride after which you are whisked down river and eventually driven by truck back through the forest to the main station and restaurant, where you can change into something dry and enjoy a barbeque lunch.

If you wish to spend more time here there are trekking trails and safari rides that you can take into the jungle as well as an adventure camp for the kids.

Myself I felt it time to head back to my hotel and sample the delights of the spa before an enjoyable meal in the restaurant and evening beneath the southern cross and milky way.

Superb.

Stephen Cresswell - Medway Travel

There is only one way to describe this hotel - Superb!

We have just come back from two glorious weeks on the beautiful island of Mauritius. We were lucky that Stephen of Medway Travel had helped us to choose to go there for our honeymoon and to stay at The Residence.

From the moment we arrived, to the time of our reluctant departure, nothing was too much trouble for the staff at The Residence. You are greeted on the front steps with hot flannels to refresh you after the journey and in reception, iced tea is served before you are escorted to your room where check-in is completed.

You are then introduced to your personal butler! The butler will do your unpacking and sets everything out beautifully, shows you how everything works in the room and will answer any questions you have about the hotel. Our butler also prepared the most spectacular and delicious hot baths imaginable, topped with a foot of bubbles and strewn with rose petals. He will also do all the packing when you leave! Now that's what you call service, especially when it is all delivered with a genuine friendly smile.

You can take your breakfast on your balcony (at no extra charge); just leave your order hanging outside your door the previous evening, or in the dining room where an excellent breakfast buffet awaits you. There are either snacks by the pool or on the beach during the day, or a more formal lunch on the terrace.

There are two wonderful restaurants to go to in the evening - one in the hotel and one five minutes walk away called 'The Plantation', which is open on three sides to the beach and the ocean, and is simply a perfect location. Both restaurants offer an excellent 'menu de jour' and full 'a la carte' dining. In the dining room, which overlooks the pool, where the cuisine is a tantalising mix of Asian, Oriental and European, the food is expertly cooked, wonderfully presented. The flavours are superb, incorporating subtle levels of spicing with more European style cooking. Dinner at The Plantation is also a superb dining experience, where the cuisine is a little more locally inspired with plenty of fresh seafood and many of the dishes have an Indian style. Your challenge is choice and they are not always easy. However, the staff in both the hotel dining room and The Plantation, as everywhere at The Residence, are very friendly, very attentive and very helpful. They are keen to help you with your journey through the menu and the wine list, to make your evening as enjoyable and relaxing as possible. In our experience, they succeeded!

As a break from the rigours of lazing in the sun and going for a swim in the pool or the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean, you may want to take the opportunity to be thoroughly pampered in The Residence's own spa, The Sanctuary. Of course, on the other hand, if you want something more energetic they also have their own sailing club, gym and floodlit tennis courts.

Mauritius is thoroughly recommended and The Residence is THE hotel. Thank you Stephen - we certainly cannot wait to have the opportunity to return there!

Christine Alderson

I have just returned from a visit to this marvellous facility courtesy of Wildlife Worldwide and had to write to say what a fascinating and informative visit it was. Having never experienced staying in a Rain Forest before it was with some trepidation that I arrived at Iguazu airport ready for my experience.

After a two hour journey through the forest (this would normally be done by boat when water levels in the Iguazu River allow) I arrived at the Lodge to find a very warm welcome and was immediately taken to my cabin.

All cabins are double or triple occupancy (single occupancy is available on application) and have 24hour hot and cold water and showers. Electricity is available only between the hours of 6.30 to 7.30 in the morning and 6 and 11pm.

Walking down to your cabin you are immediately struck by the beauty of the flora, masses of striking butterflies and irds (tucans, parrots and hummingbirds).

After an excellent lunch, my first afternoon was a walk through the forest with one of the very knowledgeable guides who explained the layering of the forest in between pointing out the various flora and fauna that we encountered. Dinner in the evening was again an excellent experience.

The second day took the form of a float downstream from the lodge in an indian canoe to see the forest from the water. We encountered monkeys, kingfishers and eagles on route finally entering the Iguazu river (some 1.5km wide) and landing at one of the lodges' ports to take a steady walk back through the forest on a different trail, again encountering monkeys and many species of birds.

On my last day we walked down towards the swamp to see the Capybaras rebreeding station. The Capybaras is the biggest rodent in the world and can weigh up to 80 kilos. Although this mammal is not a threatened species, its population in the area has been decreased substantially due to hunting pressure. Finally I planted a Palmito tree as an aid to regenerating the forest.

The accommodation was very comfortable and staff very friendly. The food is prepared by local people and is exceptional - in fact better than many four star hotels.

I would recommend this facility to anyone looking for something a little different, someone interested in environmental issues, bird watchers, or plant enthusiasts. Special Interest groups can be accommodated and activities are flexible and can be organized to suit the requirements for the group.

This would certainly make an excellent add on to a visit to Buenos Aires. (See my reports on Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls )

Stephen Cresswell, Medway Travel