COMPARING MARTINHAL SAGRES & PINE CLIFFS

COMPARING MARTINHAL SAGRES & PINE CLIFFS

When we were deciding whether to book Pine Cliffs or Martinhal Sagres for October half term last year, the one thing I really wanted was to find a blog review that compared the two. To help me decide. I couldn’t. So now that we’ve stayed in both, I thought I would write it!…

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THE MAGIC OF MARTINHAL

THE MAGIC OF MARTINHAL

Magical Martinhal, where to start? It truly provided the most effortlessly relaxing holiday our little family could have hoped for. Martinhal have got everything right for a luxury family holiday. Everything. Nothing is missing, nothing is an effort, really it’s perfect. A John Lewis holiday, if that makes sense. It has everything you…

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HALF TERM AT PINE CLIFFS RESORT

HALF TERM AT PINE CLIFFS RESORT

Pine Cliffs Resort is somewhere to which we will return. Peaceful and relaxing it made everything so perfectly simple for a half term getaway.

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FAMILY HOLIDAY AT RIXOS SAADIYAT ISLAND ABU DHABI

FAMILY HOLIDAY AT RIXOS SAADIYAT ISLAND ABU DHABI

Rixos Saadiyat Island decisively changed my mind about all inclusive holidays… Since a less than luxury all inclusive break in Barbados many years ago the thought of staying in another all inclusive sprawling resort hadn’t been front of mind… Thankfully there’s a new breed of all inclusive: or as Rixos promote their luxury…

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CHARMING COTSWOLDS STAY AT THE LYGON ARMS

CHARMING COTSWOLDS STAY AT THE LYGON ARMS

We’ve been lucky enough to stay at the Chewton Glen and Cliveden House a number of times. There are few teams and hotels that know hospitality better. I have for a long time been wary of what’s on offer hotel-wise in the Cotswolds as much of it looks a bit like Little London.…

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BELA VISTA HOTEL RESTAURANT AND SPA, THE ALGARVE

BELA VISTA HOTEL RESTAURANT AND SPA, THE ALGARVE

When I stumbled across the Bela Vista hotel whilst hunting for special places to stay in the Algarve, I saw photos of the most incredible hexagonal stained glass bathroom. I didn’t quite make the booking on just the basis of this one room but it was a factor…  As was the dreamy pool! Quite…

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VILACAMPINA GUESTHOUSE, THE ALGARVE

VILACAMPINA GUESTHOUSE, THE ALGARVE

The symmetrical white-washed moorish architecture and the lone tall palm tree. The remote rural location. The simple and peaceful blue and white pool. Vilacampina has you at hello. It’s a dreamy contemporary villa, the kind you wish someone in the family owned outright! But with the benefits of a hotel thrown in. The perfect…

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P&P RECOMMENDED: LONDON HOTEL DIRECTORY

P&P RECOMMENDED: LONDON HOTEL DIRECTORY

If we stay in London then it’s normally got something to do with work. Or to break up the commuting week. As stays are mainly for work they err on the practical and functional side of things. Sometimes though, we make a London date night of it and have been working our way around…

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P&P RECOMMENDED: OUR HOTEL DIRECTORY

P&P RECOMMENDED: OUR HOTEL DIRECTORY

It is fair to say I can be fussy when it comes to choosing a hotel. Which does mean if we have stayed somewhere we liked, then it comes recommended! Way back in 2015 there was a travel link-up theme about places we can’t get out of our head. In 2015 I picked 6…

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RELAXED WEEKENDING AT TIMBRELL’S YARD

RELAXED WEEKENDING AT TIMBRELL’S YARD

We booked our stay at Timbrell’s Yard after I made a shock discovery… Mr P was away for over half of February with work and he also had a ski holiday and weekend in Cape Town squeezed in. In a very first world way, with no trips planned, I was feeling hard done…

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SUBLIME STAY AT QUINTA DA CASA BRANCA

SUBLIME STAY AT QUINTA DA CASA BRANCA

Arrival at Quinta da Casa Branca is at the highest point within the grounds and there is immediate wow factor. Just metres from the city hubbub, yet shielded from the noise and urban surroundings. All you can see (and smell) are the beautiful tropical gardens and the manor house in its perfectly romantic setting.…

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BOTANICAL STAY AT QUINTA JARDINS DO LAGO

BOTANICAL STAY AT QUINTA JARDINS DO LAGO

A quinta is a Portuguese country estate, typically on the outskirts of town. Inside the walls you find a manor house at the centre, surrounded by beautiful gardens and either a wine or banana plantation for good measure. Space and tranquility in a city. What better place for a boutique hotel. Exactly the…

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A treehouse retreat: elegance and luxury at the Chewton Glen

A treehouse retreat: elegance and luxury at the Chewton Glen

“It’s definitely a treehouse” Mr P squeaked at me last Friday! Since the opening in 2012, I have been lusting after a stay. The Chewton Glen has long been our favourite place to squirrel away near home for some quality RnR. But we have never stayed in the trees. Until now! I didn’t…

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Amberlair: world’s first crowdfunded boutique hotel

Amberlair: world’s first crowdfunded boutique hotel

We all know that I love a boutique hotel… But how about one where the target customer is involved in its design and funding… Enter Amberlair! An inspired idea – the world’s first crowdfunded boutique hotel! Can you imagine just how perfect and truly boutique a hotel designed by boutique lovers could be? The…

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The Telegraaf Hotel: a boutique stay in Tallinn

The Telegraaf Hotel: a boutique stay in Tallinn

[parallax-scroll id=”6422″] When we visited Tallinn in April we were rather impressed! A gorgeous medieval town unspoilt by tourism and some excellent places to stay! The Telegraaf was our base.  It is a boutique hotel located on the edge of the old town.  When we stayed it was part of Small Luxury Hotels. It’s now…

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Lisbon city retreat: Palacio Ramalhete

Lisbon city retreat: Palacio Ramalhete

We arrived at our Lisbon palacio at 12.01. I know this because I glanced at my watch. The sun was ‘past the yard arm’ and I gladly accepted a welcome glass of bubbles. It was pouring with rain outside, this was the bottled sunshine for the day. Our room at Palacio Ramalhete wasn’t…

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Boutique seaside stay: Villa Cascais

Boutique seaside stay: Villa Cascais

We flew to Lisbon, straight from a busy week at work in need of a chilled few days. In fact Mr P met me at the airport having just flown in from Sweden, so it was nice just to see him! Perfect timing – so jetset, meeting in the lounge ? BA in…

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A magical return to Cliveden House

A magical return to Cliveden House

Given the opportunity, I would live at Cliveden every weekend! It’s captivating.   And it is easily understood why Cliveden is repeatedly in the chocolates at luxury award ceremonies… There aren’t many places which have been restored so attentively and can offer guests the chance to stay in such a historical and grand location,…

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47 Jobner Bagh Jaipur – Boutique Hotel Review

47 Jobner Bagh Jaipur – Boutique Hotel Review

I adore a place that is unique and luxurious.  But the real charm is when it doesn’t realise how great it is.  47 Jobner Bagh was delightedly all of these, and perfect.  I would love to have stayed longer, but we were splitting our time in Jaipur between here and the Oberoi Rajvillas.…

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Chewton Glen – a luxury weekend escape

Chewton Glen – a luxury weekend escape

This fabulous hotel is where my love affair with luxury began.  So we return to visit the Chewton Glen like an old friend on special occasions!  In February, in between our birthday’s, we scheduled a staycation as a little treat.  We really couldn’t have planned the timing better around all things work and life…

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Oberoi Rajvillas Jaipur – Luxury Hotel Review

Oberoi Rajvillas Jaipur – Luxury Hotel Review

From the moment we arrived at The Oberoi Rajvillas to the time we dragged ourselves on to Goa (#firstworldproblems) we were spell-bound. I am well aware one gets what is paid for, but sometimes a place and its staff are so special that it is unforgettable and pleasurable in a way that money can’t…

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Alila Diwa Goa – Luxury Hotel Review

Alila Diwa Goa – Luxury Hotel Review

We spent 3 days in Goa and chose to stay at the Alila Diwa hotel near Majorda beach.  It’s located in South Goa – the quiet and sleepy bit of Goa.  There are larger hotels in the area, but this stood out as somewhere a bit more personal and unique. About a 20…

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Je t’adore – l’hotel parfait

Je t’adore – l’hotel parfait

No sooner has Christmas disappeared from the shops than Easter appears, but look carefully and spot the hearts and suchlike for Valentines day!  We are low-key about it, as the other 364 days (365 this year) are the ones that matter.  However, as part of the love-ly travel link up with Emma, Angie, Jessi and guest host Kaelene this…

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Hotels I can’t get out of my head

Hotels I can’t get out of my head

I’m a bit of a repeater when it comes to visiting places – Cornwall, Norfolk and me have had a long love affair, even the Fastnet Rock got a revisit this summer much to both our surprises! There are a number of places further afield that had me “at Hello” that I would…

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Staying in Maine – room at the inn

Staying in Maine – room at the inn

Maine is a gorgeous US state – the little corner of it we’ve seen so far certainly is.  Something of it that reminds me of Cornwall which is one of my favourite places.  Not necessarily the sights and sounds (or the enormous scale of it), but more its pace of life and the…

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