This family house in the Western Cape of Cape Town is truly amazing. It is a 4 bedroomed home with ocean views, in the exclusive & wind-free suburb of Fresnaye. Read more...
‘In the afternoon the baboons come down from the mountain to steal our grapes’, says Anton de Cock, one of the owners of the Blue Gum Country Estate. As we speak, we take in the splendid views of the imposing rock formations looming up in the late afternoon sun directly behind our family suite. As soon as they hear the word baboons our daughters’ faces light up immediately, and they run indoors to grab their binoculars. They had not yet checked baboons off from their Field Guide. Read more....
In the early 1990s Michael en Dorothee Lutzeyer acquired a farm on a stunning plot of land located between the villages of Stanford and Gansbaai. What started as a modest B&B ultimately grew into one of the most highly acclaimed five-star ecologically friendly accommodations in all of South Africa. The name Grootbos, an Afrikaans word meaning ‘Big Forest’, is derived from the nearby ancient indigenous and endangered Milkwood forests.
Just imagine: where else in the world can you sit on a terrace, sipping a cold drink in the shade of a huge parasol while watching whales frolicking about in the distance, spraying jets of water from their blowholes. Read more...
‘Well, that was a pleasant drive’, says our youngest daughter, who has clearly mastered the art of understatement, when we return to the main lodge of the Gondwana Private Game reserve after a two-hour game drive. It’s now around 8.30 am and we’re perfectly on time for breakfast. The terrace offers splendid views of one of the most stunning landscapes we have ever seen. The Langeberg mountain range and the Outeniqua mountains are just becoming visible when the last bits of fog disappear from around the mountain tops and we can now see the indigenous ‘Fynbos’ (fine-leaved plants) in every direction of our gaze. Almost at once, we spot a giraffe near the farthest row of fourteen suites built in a style clearly inspired by the traditional Khoi-San style of architecture. Read more...
After a warm welcome we are given a tour of the premises of what may very well be the most iconic hotel in Spain: the Marbella Club. Elated, we walk through the lovely, park-like estate with its many rooms and suites built in charming single-story architecture, interspersed with one gorgeous free-standing villa after another. All of this beauty remains entirely unnoticed by our children: all they have eyes for is the 5,000m2 Kids Club. Their mouths are hanging open in astonishment and excitement: ‘Dad, this looks like a children’s village. No, it’s more like a children’s city!’ Read more...
Take a stroll down the artificial pier curving into the Mediterranean Sea for a stunning view of this amazing resort right on the beach. At the end of the day, as soon as dusk approaches, hundreds of twinkling lights create a fairy-tale atmosphere.Our path illuminated by the first soft rays of moonlight and the still-warm sand beneath our feet, we return to the resort to nestle ourselves on the outdoor terrace of the Sea Grill restaurant with a glass of good wine. The children continue doing what they’ve been doing all day: playing to their heart’s content on the almost deserted beach. We watch them play, assuring one another that everything is fine. Read more...
Searching for the right family vacation spot often feels like a grand adventure. What we're after is a mix of comfort, fun, dining, and of course, activities that our teenagers would love. Right now, we’re immersing ourselves in a gem on the Dutch coast – the Vesper Hotel in Noordwijk. Read more…
How about celebrating your birthday at the five-star Okura hotel in Amsterdam? It’s a 78 metres tall building, rising high in this part of borough Amsterdam-Zuid (Old South) and flat surroundings. Nice detail is, that when completed in 1971, it was the second-tallest building in the city of Amsterdam. Read more…
If you’re looking for a child friendly hotel with a historic character, you will surely love Masseria Torre Coccaro as much as we did. The property is a genuine masseria and this is reflected in the old buildings and beautiful “village square”. Read more...
The last rays of sunshine caress the cream-coloured buildings of Borgo Egnazia. Soft music resounds through the narrow streets of what resembles a traditional Apulian village. Walking towards the central square, the Piazza, the heart of the Borgo, the music grows louder and, at the point where the buildings give way to the Piazza, we briefly imagine ourselves to be on the set of a film by the Italian director and film maker Federico Fellini. People from all ages have gathered here, glasses in hand, some seated on the chairs at the centre of the square and other on a semi-circular low wall that appears to embrace the Piazza. Everyone has their gaze trained on a group of opera singers who are presenting a fantastic small-scale opera production, without any need for scenery or other decorations. Even our children hold their breath, watching the performers with their mouths open in astonishment. Read more...
This is one of the most special places we have stayed as for it’s an unique experience to stay in a traditional trulli house. The trulli’s at Trulli Paparale have been beautifully restored, with attention to detail, making it very comfortable. Read more...
Our faces are kissed by a cooling breeze, as we lie down on the sumptuous outdoor sofas at the Notios Restaurant. The children’s’ hair is still damp from swimming. That’s hardly surprising, as there are hardly a dozen steps from the pool to any of the three restaurants. The grilled octopus, special kiddie pizzas and a giant platter of Sushi – courtesy of a Japanese chef – are all delicious. The stunning view of Paphos Bay helps to heighten the atmosphere.
Almyra being ranked highly on a culinary ‘coolness’ scale is no wonder. Read more...
A big smile underscores the words of Thanos Michaelides, “We see guests and staff as one big family”, and his hands make a gesture encompassing all of idyllic Anassa. His very own Anassa. One of the three hotels which make up the family business his father once founded, and which Michaelides himself and his sister now run together. As we sit at a table on the Pelagos terrace – one of the four restaurants within the resort grounds – his sociable personality is never out of touch with his staff and passing guests. “We encourage our staff to stay true to themselves, we want them to be authentic no matter what. Obviously, we do train them in a range of skills, but letting them use their own mind is absolutely key.” A beautiful seabass and delicious Carpaccio are set before us. Read more...
Beautiful nature meets luxury camping in Portugal Nature Lodge, where we step off the beaten path. Read more…
While my wife and daughters slowly start to wake up, I saunter towards the resort’s main square, enjoying the early morning sun. Although the square is the resort’s main entertainment hub, it’s virtually deserted in the early morning and I enjoy a peaceful moment at the Mercado Deli & Bake, where I order a freshly brewed cappuccino, a newspaper and a croissant. Basking in the first rays of sunshine, I wait to see what today will bring. Read more...
In several ways Le Cap Est Lagoon Resort on the eastern shores of the island of Martinique competes with other elite destinations we have enjoyed in the Caribbean. Read more...
This is your place when you want to submit yourself to a different Caribbean experience in an authentic plantation setting. Read more...
Just when we conclude, by mutual consent, that we have definitely taken the wrong turning, a sign with ‘Crescent Moon Cabins’ shows the opposite. Let’s be clear: this is not a luxurious accommodation. If this is what you come for, you will fall short of expectation. But, oh, how beautiful it all is. Read more...
The very first thing our daughters see when we walk onto the beach in front of the Windjammer Landing Resort is the giant bouncy castle with slide that is floating in the calm sea. Before we can set out to discover the rest of this family resort, we are all in the sea literally screaming with laughter. Read more...
The Cotton Bay resort provides the best of both worlds – comfortable self-catering accommodation with unobtrusive & attentive service on tap if required. Read more...