Posts Tagged ‘all inclusive’
Our Eurostar Journeys
Thinking of travelling to France, Belgium, Germany or Netherlands? Eurostar’s high-speed trains are a great way to explore many of the European cities including Paris, Brussels, Lille and Amsterdam, with many connecting services available to even more destinations such us Bruges, Disneyland Paris, Cologne, Bordeaux, Lyon and Nice.
Our team all love Eurostar for hassle-free, comfortable and quick journeys. We asked them about their latest short breaks with Eurostar and here’s what they said:
Taking the Eurostar from St Pancras in London to Gare du Nord in Paris was a real adventure, especially as we live up in Edinburgh. The stress-free travel with fewer lines and procedures than your average airport and clearing the French border in London were real novelties and made the journey feel so much slicker. We travelled in one of the Eurostar Plus carriages, offering a bigger seat and at seat dining. The light meal was fresh and tasty, and the accompanying wine was a treat too. Next time we travel we will have a look at upgrading to Eurostar Premier, where you have access to the business class lounge with complimentary snacks and drinks and a relaxed atmosphere – the perfect start to the trip. You also get priority security, check-in and immigration to smooth your way through the station. On the train you have full fine dining meal service and upgraded drink options. All in all, it’s the best way to get to the continent if you are based close enough to London but we will very much have it as our number one choice even from Edinburgh.
Gareth, Sales Manager
A day trip to Lille is so convenient on the Eurostar. In less than 90 minutes we were in the heart of this charming city and having already completed the border checks prior to departure, we headed straight out of the station ready to explore.
Lille has some amazing architecture and it’s very easy to get around on foot. We spent a few hours wandering around the many picturesque squares and streets filled with shops, cafes and restaurants, dipping in and out to sample some of the local produce. After a lot of walking, we were ready to sit and watch the world go by whilst sampling a Flemish beer or two before heading back to the station for an early evening train back to London. If you haven’t eaten enough great food in Lille there are always options to buy snacks on-board at the Eurostar Café.
All in all, it was a really great way to discover a new city.
Diane, Product & Short Break Specialist
The amazing thing about the Eurostar is how easy it is to incorporate two cities in one trip! I had travelled down from Edinburgh to London and spent a night in London, before making my way to Paris on the Eurostar. I loved how little time it took as it was less than 2 and a half hours, and I was in Paris! I opted for Eurostar Plus which allowed me to have the most relaxing journey with a light meal and drinks included – it was definitely worth paying that little bit extra for. I highly recommend visiting Paris in spring as the tourist attractions are less busy, the flowers are beautiful in full bloom and the temperate weather is perfect for strolls along the Seine and city’s parks and gardens. I spent my few days there rambling through the different districts, cruising down the River Siene and enjoying a Croque Monsieur or two! I have no doubt in my mind I will be back in Paris again soon via the Eurostar!
Amy, Short Break Specialist
To find out more about our trips or request a tailored Eurostar quote, call our team on 0131 243 8098 or email [email protected]. Read our Eurostar feature on our website here.
Gareth Goes to Paris!
Gareth, our Sales Manager, visited Paris where he stayed at Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris – just a few minutes from the Arc du Triomphe and Champs Elysees. Here’s a quick update on his trip:
The hotel is stunning, everything you would expect from a top luxury hotel in a major world city. The clientele were as beautiful as the décor (we fitted in perfectly) and service was exceptional. We had a huge suite; we used the lovely pool and wellness areas and the base for walking the city could not have been better.
We took the Eurostar from St Pancras and upgraded to Premier (now Eurostar Plus) and really liked the comfort, quiet coach, decent meal and wine. We played some Uno, we watched the stats pop up on the overhead screens, with speed and distance noted, and the train seemed to be there in no time. Arriving into Gare du Nord meant that all of the passport checking had already been done so we just had to navigate the Friday evening rush hour and get our way to the hotel. This was a pretty simple job, we went to a ticket window and the rail staff were more than happy to help us. We had a chilled evening so that we were ready to go the next morning – Le Bar Long in the hotel knew how to mix a cocktail! We went to bed happy.
First impressions the next day, Paris was looking good. There was still a lot of work being done around Arc du Triomph, Place de la Concorde with breaking down the Olympics infrastructure but other than that it felt very much business as usual. We walked lots (and lots).
The walk up to and down from Sacre Coeur was lovely – lots of the bars and cafes had happy hour offerings with discounted food and drink and while it was busy, it felt busy in a buzzy way, rather than over busy. We spent hours winding our way up to the Cathedral and then just as long coming back down. We had a pizza in a bar – nothing of note, we were all hungry so we just stopped. Watching the world go by from our pavement table felt great – so Parisian.
The next day we walked a different way, we headed down Champs Elysees with much shopping being done (and a stop in McDonalds too – please don’t judge) on to Place de la Concorde, and into the Jardin des Tuileries just beyond. The cafes in the park were really busy but we managed to find a seat so that we could sit in the sun with a strong French coffee.
We visited The Louvre getting on one of the later slots, not long before the museum closed, and found it quiet. We saw everything we wanted to without being rushed or bothered by too many people.
Later we crossed the river to Rive Gauche and found a lovely little place to eat – it was authentic, charming and reasonably priced. The service was fab and the food its equal. I would highly recommend Café Le Flores.
Our son was desperate to see the Eiffel Tower and I am glad that we saved it to the end of the day as seeing the light show on a lovely Parisian evening was a really great way to finish our trip to Paris.
We flew home on Transavia (part of Air France) and they offered good service and great times between Paris and Edinburgh. We flew from Orly and the new RER train link is a well priced, quick and easy way to get from the centre of Paris to the airport. It is also much smaller and easy to navigate compared to Charles du Gaul.
Overall wasn’t that fussed about going to Paris – but this trip was an amazing family break with so many highlights. It was a brilliant couple of days, and I am itching to go back!
To find out more about Gareth’s visit to Paris or if you’re interested in a similar trip,
give the team a call on 0131 243 8098, send us an email or say hello on live chat.
Living It Up In Lisbon
Day 1
I was recently invited by the Portuguese Tourist Board to visit Lisbon for a 3 day showcase exploring the city and meeting various suppliers alongside other travel professionals from Europe and North America. It was my first time in Portugal and I was excited to visit one of Europe’s most picturesque capitals!
After a smooth 3 hour flight I arrived into Lisbon and after a quick transfer, got to the 5* Montebelo Vista Alegre Chiado Hotel, a centrally located boutique hotel in the Chiado District. I arrived a few days earlier and had the opportunity to visit our hotels first hand and see why Lisbon is so popular.
Lisbon is so small and easy to navigate but flat shoes are essential for the infamous 7 hills and cobbles! I headed up to the main boulevard – Avenida da Liberdade where most of our hotels are situated. The popular Lisboa Plaza and Heritage Avenida Liberdade were both beautiful boutique hotels and centrally located. The stunning 5* H10 One Palacio da Anunciada – a beautiful restored 16th Century Palace set in the Baixa District and the historic Avenida Palace Hotel were a great introduction to my first day.
My evening was spent by the River Tagus enjoying a local meal – Bacalhau – dried salted cod served with potatoes washed down with a lovely local wine.
Day 2
After a huge breakfast of fresh fruit and eggs benedict I headed out for a full day of hotel visits. Walking up the Avenida da Liberdade, you couldn’t help be enticed by all the designer shops located off both sides of the leafy promenade. Lisbon is renowned for revered art and trending fashion and the city didn’t disappoint.
It was a day of contrasts visiting the 4* H10 Duque de Loule, a beautiful boutique hotel with a carefully preserved 18th century façade. The Marques de Pombal, a majestic traditional hotel located on the Avenida da Liberdade was a delight as well.
After an espresso and a Pastel De Nata (a famous Portuguese custard tart), I set off to see some more of our 3 and 4* properties. The 3* 7 Hotel is a popular and great-value hotel in the Baixa District. The Browns Hotel Group has a stunning collection of boutique hotels all centrally located nearby the Santa Justa Elevator. Browns Central is a beautiful 4* property with each room individually designed. Browns Boutique Hotel – a 3* property and book lovers paradise – with many coffee table books to enjoy. Browns Downtown is a beautiful 3-star hotel ideally situated only 150 metres from Lisbon’s popular MUDE Design and Fashion Museum.
That evening I met the rest of the Fam Group and we all enjoyed a beautiful meal organised by our hotel and met our hosts from the Tourist Board.
Day 3
We were taken to the beautiful Palacio Conde D’obidos for a morning of presentations at the Showcase Meeting. We met various hotel and tour suppliers and enjoyed a beautiful buffet lunch overlooking the River Tagus. It was great to meet some of our trade suppliers and make new connections. We had a few hours to explore after the meeting and we headed up to the Belem District to see the imposing Jeronimos Monastery and to enjoy the varied street entertainment nearby.
That evening we were treated to a traditional Portuguese meal of sardines and cod fish in the historical Alfama area – Lisbon’s oldest and most picturesque neighbourhood. Afterwards we listened to some fados music at St Georges Castle – Traditional Portuguese songs, also known as Fado, which speaks of life, struggle and passion. The genre originated in Portugal in the early 1800’s.
Day 4
Just 30 minutes away from Lisbon you find Mafra, Sintra and Cascais. Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Cascais is a picturesque old fishing village with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. We visited Mafra National Palace Convent – designed in Baroque style, it covers an area of 38,000m2 with 1200 rooms, 4700 doors and windows and 156 staircases. We then continued onto Sintra. It’s the perfect fusion between natural richness and magnificence of its monuments, a passionate town that has inspired artiest and writers world over.
After a delicious lunch at the Café Paris in Sintra we headed off to Cabo Da Roca, the westernmost point of Europe’s mainland for stunning views across the ocean. Returning to Lisboa, we visited Cascais and Estoril, two popular beachside resorts which are often popular for a twin-centre holiday. That evening we had a farewell dinner at the amazing Cervejaria Trindade restaurant and reflected on our amazing time spent here in Portugal.
Day 5
As my return flight wasn’t until the evening I went along to enjoy the City Highlights Guided Walking Tour.
We explored the tight cobbled lanes of Lisbon’s atmospheric Alfama quarter, admired the architecture of the Baixa district and strolled through the elegant Chiado neighbourhood. We also passed notable landmarks, such as Rossio Square, Lisbon Cathedral and the Elevador de Santa Justa and enjoyed views across Lisbon and the Tagus River. This was a great 3 hour tour and I would highly recommend it!
After a later lunch I explored Feira da Ladra, Lisbon’s flea market held beside the impressive Santa Engracia church boasting a great variety of clothes and trinket stalls. After an afternoon of shopping and more exploring it was time to head to the airport for my flight back to Edinburgh.
Lisbon did not disappoint. It was an amazing city rich in culture, history, art, fashion and fabulous food and drink. Alongside great hospitality it was a perfect mix and a city to enjoy and definitely revisit.
To find out more about Nicki’s visit to Lisbon or if you’re interested in a similar trip,
give the team a call on 0131 243 8098 or send us an email.
