Vietnam

A country with so much to offer, with its fascinating history, spectacular landscapes, delicious food and a warm vibrant energy.  For me it by far exceeded my expectations and completely different to any other Asian Country I have been to.

I found the Vietnamese people to be some of the nicest, friendliest and happiest people you could meet. I never found them pushy only ever helpful and charming.

Crossing the road was a crazy adventure particularly in Hanoi, nobody is going to stop for you and there are no such things as pedestrian crossings, you just have to pick your time and go for it and whatever you do …. don’t stop!!

Hoi An

My favourite town in Vietnam was Hoi An, such a picturesque town by the river.   I stayed in the Old Town and loved this part of Hoi An. It is  such a mix of era’s and styles from the Japanese covered bridge to the colourful French colonial building to the wooden Chinese shopfronts, it really is a photographers dream. The shopping was great and the food in Hoi was sensational and cheap!   You also must try the coconut iced coffee, very tasty!

We did an amazing bike tour through  winding village roads while enjoying the  beautiful countryside scenery. We visited the village of Tra Nhieu  which has retained many typical features of Vietnamese livelihoods including farming, fishing, poultry and livestock breeding and mat weaving. We learnt  about the local plants and herbs and visit the homes of some local families to observe how they make rice wine, rice noodles and rice paper.   We finished our trip at a local restaurant where we chose to treat ourselves with a 30min foot massage before savouring lunch.

The nearest large city, Danang is about 45 minutes away and is another beach-side town popular with families and those looking for a little relaxing time by the pool.  There are some amazing resorts there.  We stayed at the Fusion Mai Resort and would highly recommend adding this at the end of you trip.  Part of the room rate included a minimum of 2 free spa treatments per day. Accommodation is all pool villas and the Day Spa is like nothing I have seen before.

Hanoi

I feel like Hanoi is a city you must experience when visiting Vietnam.  At least once!

Often referred to as the “Paris of the East” The capital of Vietnam is a mix of noisy, traffic filled tree lined streets, scenic lakes, street vendors and beautiful historical colonial buildings.

Your trip would not be complete without sampling some of its famous food delights such as the Banh Mi sandwich and my favourite Chicken Pho.

Another must do in Hanoi is a cyclo tour through the famed Old Quarter known for its ‘36 streets of 36 wares’ named after the original 36 artisan guilds that date as far back as the 13th century.  A wonderfully eclectic glimpse into Hanoi street life.

A highlight for me was the Hanoi Street Eats Tour. Eating on the street is a very typical activity for Hanoians and makes up an important part of the city’s unique culture.  Try some famous Hanoi snacks such as Pillow cake, fried sweet cakes. Next stroll through the streets lined with many food vendors and make your way to a steaming bowl of Pho Ga (Vietnamese noodle soup with chicken). This is practically Vietnam’s national dish and is a dish enjoyed morning noon and night.  Lastly the night is not complete before experiencing the Beer Corner in the old corner to try a cold glass of Bia Hoi (fresh draft beer) like a local.

Ha Long Bay

Breathtaking emerald green waters, filled with limestone islands and caves Halong Bay also needs to be added to your itinerary. I would highly recommend an overnight trip on a junk boat. On this two day itinerary you will take in the floating villages, kayaking, visit the archaeological site of Tien Ong Cave. Admire the sunset over Halong Bay while the boat anchors overnight. The evening will offer cooking demonstations, try your hands with authentic Vietnamese food followed by an amazing buffet dinner.

Awake early and start your day with a Tai Chi lesion on the sundeck.

It is worth spending the extra money on a good quality boat and have this amazing experience.

New York

ACTIVITIES:

I recommend buying the NYC City Pass:

  These are all my must do activities, some of these are included with the CityPass  

•         Empire State Building (at sunset) – ignore people on the street selling you ‘fast track’ tickets!),  

•         Top of the Rock – amazing views

•         Walk the High Line – great walk,  followed by visit to Chelsea Markets

•         Se a show on Broadway  

•         Buy a 48-hour hop-on-hop-off bus – great way to see the city,  

•         Walk Central Park and see Boathouse, enjoy a meal.

•         Horse and carriage ride through Central Park,  or take a bike tour.

•         Walk into lobby of The Plaza Hotel – or have a cocktail in the Rose Bar,  or High Tea.

•         Do the Circle Line Ferry cruise to see Manhattan from the water including Statue of Liberty (best view from the water),  

•         Visit the ‘Met’ Metropolitan Museum, have a coffee on their outdoor terrace café – amazing view over Central Park.

•         Visit Freedom Tower (must book)  

•         Visit Madison Bakery (famous from Sex and the city), eat NYC baked cheesecake (YUM),  

•         911 Memorial (must book) 

•         See a sporting event at Madison Square Garden , ie.  Ice Hockey or Basketball

•         Sit in Times Square on stair case – watch the world go round

SHOPPING:

  •     Tiffany’s – walk through store and go up lifts to every floor.

You can now actually have “ Breakfast at Tiffany’s “  at the Blue Box Café on the 4th Floor

•     Visit Saks 5th Avenue

•        Go to M&Ms store in Times Square,  

•         Visit FAO Schwarz toy Shop - 767 Fifth Ave.  

•        Book to spend a whole day at Woodbury Common Shopping Outlet (must book bus trip there and back) – spend day there and take a suitcase to fill (or buy one there) – MUCH cheaper prices than stores in NYC! Do all your shopping there! http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/woodbury-common/stores

RESTAURANTS:

 Tao – Uptown or Downtown.  (Asian)

This enormous, clublike Pan-Asian eatery is known for a huge Buddha centerpiece & a trendy crowd.

https://taodowntown.com/

Eaterly - Branch of the famed Italian market, offering counters, restaurants & cooking demo https://www.eataly.com/

 Balthazar Soho - Iconic French brasserie with steak frites, brunch & pastries in a classy space with red banquettes.  (go during the week as prices double on the weekends) http://balthazarny.com/

Bagatelle http://bagatellenyc.com/about/

Awesome French Restaurant - Meatpacking District

Address: 1 Little W 12th St, New York, NY 10014, US

Tribeca Grill:  http://www.myriadrestaurantgroup.com/restaurants/tribeca/

The Vine: http://www.eventihotel.com/nyc-restaurants/the-vine.html and  http://www.thevine.nyc/

BARS:

 Hell’s Kitchen

The Press Lounge: http://www.thepresslounge.com/ The MOST amazing views!

This is at Ink48 – a hotel in the Hell’s Kitchen area of NYC (this is where I stayed last time). The restaurant there is also fab – if you book to eat at the restaurant, they will let you go up to rooftop bar for pre-dinner drinks.

  Bar 65 – Rockefeller Centre http://rainbowroom.com/bar-sixty-five/

Lower East Side (LES)    

Pianos

Beauty and Essex

East Village  

The Blind Barber  

Chelsea - Rooftop

Dream Downtown Hotel – PH-D Lounge

Top of the Standard

Opulent penthouse lounge atop Standard Hotel with expansive views that becomes club after 10 PM.

Address: The Standard, High Line, 848 Washington St, New York, NY 10014, United States http://www.standardhotels.com

CLUBS:

Top of The Standard – rooftop at The Standard hotel) – big queue so get there early.

http://www.standardhotels.com/new-york/features/top-of-the-standard

Plunge – the rooftop bar/lounge at The Gansevoort Meatpacking (easier to get in than The Standard) http://www.gansevoorthotelgroup.com/hotels/gansevoort-meatpacking-nyc/

Italy

The Splendours of Italy  - AUG 2015

From the beautiful and always fascinating cities of Rome, Florence & Venice to the amazing scenic coastline, the glitz and glamour of Capri, the picturesque Tuscan countryside to the rugged and untouched Italian Riviera showcasing the spectacular Cinque Terre , to  the stunning alpine heights of northern Italy …  there is so much to see and do and I loved every minute of it.

My Tips  :  Italy Do’s & Don’ts ………

• Try and avoid peak season due to crowds and heat and overpriced accommodation. The best time to travel is May or September. Even the Italians go away during July/Aug for this reason.

• Hiring a car is for experienced drivers only particularly in the cities and if you venture further south drivers tend to be even crazier. Trains, private tours or escorted group travel is much more enjoyable. We travelled with Insight Tours who I would highly recommend.

• Pre-book tickets to all the famous churches, museums etc.  Line-ups for the Vatican, Colosseums etc can take up to two hours in the busy months. 

 Food in Italy

• Here are a couple of tips… go for what the city is famous for, choose the speciality dish.  Parma for prosciutto, Capri for ravioli caprese, Umbria for truffles, Tuscany for steaks, Liguria for pesto genovese.  Beyond that, every town has its own specialty.

•  Drink the local house wine, it’s delicious and almost laughably cheap for the quality that you get.

• If you are on a budget try to avoid the main squares and plazas where prices can be nearly double of what you pay if you choose one of the back streets where it is not as touristy.  Usually any restaurant named after a touristy statue, artist, church etc is geared towards the tourist and prices reflect t his. Be prepared to pay if you want to sip a cappuccino in St Marques Square, lovely view but you will pay for it… EUR8 a cup!!

 Rome

• Visit the Jewish Ghetto  - where you can sample some real authentic Roman Jewish Food.

• Don’t visit the Vatican on a Sunday as it is closed, also try to avoid Monday ‘s so you don’t get the overflow from the people that missed out on Sunday.

• Go to Trastevere at night for dinner to experience typical Roman life, away from the tourist crowds. A charming medieval neighbourhood.

• The best sunset view is from Castel Sant’Angelo, overlooking Saint Peter’s Basilica.  

• Visit the Tiber River by night as it comes alive in summer, lots of restaurants and also bars if you just want to have a drink and soak in the atmosphere.

 Florence

• Visit the famous Duomo, climb all the way to the top if you are up for it.

• Of course visit Michelangelo’s David in the Galleria dell’Accademia but you need to reserve ticket.

• Visit the famous Santa Croc

  • Restaurant recommendation - Go to Il Latini for the best Tuscan meal and lots of hidden gems in the winding streets  between Piazza della Reppublica and Piazza Santa Maria Novella.

  • Florence is where you should stock up on souvenirs — leather and gold are the best quality here.

 Tuscany

• If you have the time, rent a villa and live like a local for a week!!   One of my favourites regions is the Chianti region.  October is harvest time and just beautiful. Must try the local wine.

• If you don’t have much time, Fiesole is the easiest Tuscan day trip from Florence — just a 20-minute ride on the public bus.

• Easiest way to get around is the rent a car and you can easily see 5 towns in one day. 

• A highlight for me was San Gimignano, a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena known as the “city of beautiful towers”.  They also have world famous Gelato shop, in summer queues can be out the door.  Well worth a visit.

 Venice

• Crowds, crowds and more crowds. If you plan on going in summer be prepared.

• Gondola’s can be arranged on arrival, the price is per Gondola is not per person but per gondola and you can fit up to 6 people in. It is a massive tourist trap, but a visit to Venice would not seem complete without it.

• If you get the chance do a boat tour through the grand canal at night, without all the crowds and the beautiful buildings are all lit and it is a magical experience

• Explore beyond the Grand Canal and take the boat to the island of Murano for a glassblowing demonstration. They will do the hard sell, but you can be assured it is quality.

• Explore the island of Burano and admire the picturesque fishermen's houses painted in bright pastel colours. Famous for lace, browse local shops and find lace on display at a museum dedicated to the craft of lace making.

Cinque Terre

• A string of 5 little seaside villages which are centuries of years old along the Italian Riviera. It is like stepping back in time, beautiful colourful houses and vineyards, lemon trees on steep hills, fishing villages. UNESCO protected.  You use to be able to hike along the coast but a lot of these walks have been shut down. There are train and boats to get in between the towns. Trains link all 5 villages. The more scenic but more expensive are the boats, weather permitting.

• Very unique Italian charm that should not be missed

 Capri

• Must see is the famous Blue Grotto -  a famous underwater cave and when the sun is shining you will see the most amazing shade of electric blue.

• It is a very popular day trip for the cruise ships so during the day can be crazy in summer. But at night they have all gone home and you get a completely different feel for the place. I would recommend staying at least 2 nights. Visit the  Piazza Umberto at night, the centre of life on the island and the best people watching ever.  Amazing high end shops and “place to be seen”

• Visit Anacapri — hike the island and take the chairlift up to Monte Solaro on top of the island.  The most amazing view.

The Lakes District

• Probably most famous for Lake Como.  However, we visited Lake Maggiore, on the south side of the Swiss Alps.  We stayed in Baveno which is a small lake side town a few miles from Stresa.  Our hotel was the Grand Hotel Dino and it was spectacular very grand and opulent and loaded with history.  You must get a lake view room!!  Only complain was not enough time here to really enjoy the scenery which is breathtaking.

Cook Islands

WOW, WOW, WOW... ticks all the boxes!

I was absolutely blown away by the Cook Islands.  Hands down the best lagoon I have ever seen. A beautiful mix of coral atolls and volcanic islands. Perfect climate, stunning scenery of palm fringed blue lagoons and white sands. It is perfect for honeymooners, couples and families. The people are friendly, the food is fantastic, and it’s safe, clean and easy to get around. It is a natural paradise with no big hotel chains, not a high-rise in sight. The currency is New Zealand Dollars which also make it a very affordable destination.

The snorkelling and diving is amazing and there are also more adventurous activities to discover if you are up for it. You can hire a moped and drive around Rarotonga in less than an hour. There are also 4WD tours available, see breathtaking panoramic views, and visit the waterfalls and ancient maraes. If you are there on a Saturday you must visit the local markets in Raro for some great local food and souvenirs. For a great cultural evening I would recommend the new Te Vara Nui Cultural Village, an amazing night of food and history set up on an over water stage. Fantastic food and entertainment!

If you decide to visit the Cook Islands, be sure to include a visit to the island of Aitutaki, which is a 40 minute flight from Rarotonga. I would highly recommend doing a full day lagoon cruise to really take in the beauty of this magical island. Get your passport stamped when visiting One Foot Island. Simply spectacular!  

Getting there:

Air New Zealand currently offers a direct service from Sydney to Rarotonga (5hrs 50mins) which is a seasonal flight.  Other option is via Auckland with Virgin Australia.

Where to stay:

1. Rarotonga 
For couples I would recommend The Little Polynesian or the Te Manva Luxury Villas & Spa.  For families I would suggest The Pacific Resort which is in a great location on the beautiful stretch of Muri Beach or the Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa which has great kids facilities.

2. Aitutaki
For couples The Pacific Resort Aitutaki or Aitutaki Escape or the ultimate indulgence. For families – The Aitutaku Beach Lagoon and Spa. I would recommend the overwater bungalows if budget permits. This is where Catriona Rowntree from Getaway chose for her own honeymoon.

Tahiti

Tahiti, is it really as good as it looks in the pictures?

This was the question I have always asked myself and I can honestly answer YES, in fact even better than what I had imagined Tahiti to be.  I have been lucky enough to visit many of the pacific islands and I have to say Tahiti touched me in a way I wasn’t expecting. It has so much to offer the traveler, the most amazing tranquil water that showcases so many shades of blue, truly spectacular and very hard to explain until you see it yourself, it just takes your breath away.

With this spectacular water comes a huge array of water sports; snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding, canoeing and probably the most well known water activity is a boat trip geared around swimming and feeding of sharks and sting rays, which is a must do in Tahiti. I have to say I was a little hesitant at first but once you see how tame the sharks are I was put to ease and it was definitely a once in a lifetime experience I had to do and was so glad I did.

Not only is the scenery beautiful but all the people I met along the way were equally as beautiful. The level of service from the staff is exceptional, nothing is a problem and they are always smiling. (I think I would too if I got live in this beautiful part of the world.)  Forget 5 star service, a lot of these resorts are 6 star plus! The other stand out for me was the food and culture.  The perfect combination of French sophistication with the French Polynesian culture.

A lot of questions I get asked (not from the honeymooners) is there enough to do without getting bored?  Well if you like a lot of activity on your holidays and less relaxing time then I would recommend a visit to Moorea where they offer a lot of great hiking, there are so many majestic mountain peaks to explore, waterfalls, deep sea fishing and 4WD tours and much more!!  The best thing about Moorea is the easy access, only 30mins from the main island by high speed ferry. For families I would highly recommend staying at the Intercontinental Resort Moorea which is home to the Moorea Dolphin Centre. They offer educational and interactive experiences for guests that the kids love.  The other resorts that really stood out from the crowds was the Hilton Moorea Resort & Spa and the Sofitel Moorea La Ora Beach Resort - both stunning resorts with amazing facilities.  Moorea certainly does offer affordable luxury without the price-tag of Bora Bora.

Everyone knows Bora Bora and many have heard of Moorea but some of the lesser known islands that I was lucky enough to visit were Taha’a and Vahine Island. These islands tend to be less expensive, they can sometimes offer as much as 50% off the room at certain times of the year and are generally less crowded. Fantastic choice for second time or repeat visitors looking for something different, especially if it is privacy you are after.  Le Taha’a Resort and Spa was absolutely gorgeous. Other islands were noting Rarutu where you can swim with whales or Huahine that is famous for surfing.

As beautiful as all these islands are there is something magical about Bora Bora, not only once you arrive but the journey there is just as impressive. The flight over from the mainland in itself is exciting and the birds eye view just puts it all into prospective and it doesn’t stop there.  Once you arrive in Bora Bora you step out straight from the airport onto a boat and arrive at your resort by water. Straight away you are in holiday mode!  Bora Bora didn’t disappoint and was certainly a highlight.  There are so many gorgeous resorts it is really hard to have a favourite here.  But in order of personal preference is St Regis Bora Bora, Four Season Bora Bora and Intercontinental Thalassa Resort Bora Bora. Unfortunately, the Hilton and Le Meridien were closed for renovation but I have heard these are also amazing.

TRAVEL TIPS

• Tahiti is a really popular destination from May – October because of the great weather, you can avoid paying peak prices and less crowds if you look at going Nov-April when the weather is still very good. I was there in March and the weather was perfect!

• Keep in mind flights from Australia arrive into Papeete late at night so you will need to overnight before you can transfer to the islands of Tahiti. On the way back flights leave in the morning so again you are required to overnight in Papeete.  Flights from Australia go via Auckland (Qantas, Air New Zealand, Emirates ) and then connect with Air Tahiti Nue which was very good.

• Papeete – best to place to buy pearls! For a great cultural experience, dine at the Roulotte’s, which are bustling food trucks with tables and chairs set out outdoors, great mix of food to choose from – French, Tahitian and much more.

• Mix and Match Rooms – if you can’t afford to stay in an overwater bungalow the whole time keep this for a few nights treat at the end and stay in a garden room or beachfront room at the start.

• When flying over to Bora Bora be sure to sit on the right-hand side of the aircraft (in front of the wing) for the most spectacular view of Bora Bora.

• Book in advance!  There are a lot of great early bird deals available, so the earlier you book the better deal you will get and same goes for flights.  Because they do not offer daily flight connections from Australia flights do tend to fill up quickly, so I recommend booking at least 6 months in advance.

• Savings can also be made if you stick to the same hotel chain when island hopping. E.g. Intercontinental, Sofitel & Le Meridien. They often will advertise multi-island discounts.