Posts by Charmaine Hallmark
Another Award for us as a Bellini Member of Orient Express (video clip)
ANOTHER AWARD FOR US AS A BELLINI MEMBER OF ORIENT EXPRESS What can be better than enjoying what you do?…..only to win an award for doing it as well! That’s exactly what happened to us, and our thanks to Orient Express! If you were at our “Taste the Experience” evening earlier…
Read MoreEastern and Oriental Express
EASTERN AND ORIENTAL EXPRESS If you’ve dreamed of “something different” a journey on the Eastern Oriental Express is special, memorable, unique and wonderful. There are not enough superlatives to describe my recent journey through Thailand on the world’s most famous train. We left Bangkok, amidst noise and confusion, a busy and…
Read MoreLadies who lunch
LADIES WHO LUNCH Just as I was about to start my diet, I received an invitation to have lunch on the Orient Express. It didn’t take much persuading (well none at all, actually!) to postpone my diet for yet another week. (Diets always have to start on a Monday!) I…
Read MoreDashing off to Discover Dubai (video clip)
DASHING OFF TO DISCOVER DUBAI Palm Island, The Lost City of Atlantis – and the latest, most fabulous hotel in Dubai – The Atlantis! As I boarded the new Emirates A380 super jumbo I could hardly contain my excitement, I was off to Dubai! The A380 is a new league of aircraft, and Emirates have…
Read MoreDo Buy in Dubai (video clip)
DO BUY IN DUBAI Dubai is a city of skyscrapers and shopping malls. Dubai changes, so quickly and so amazingly! We are all familiar with the Jumeirah Beach Hotels and the Burj al Arab. Make way for the Burj Dubai – the world’s tallest tower and the Atlantis Hotel on Palm Island! Dubai Marina is…
Read MoreRas Al Khaimah ….or RAK! (video clip)
RAS AL KHAIMAH OR RAK Think of all the things you need to make a great holiday: Sunshine and blue skies Warm seas and cool pools A variety of choices to eat great food A villa with a garden on the beach A beach! Long and sandy! A little bit of culture – sightseeing A…
Read MoreTaba and Taba Heights
TABA AND TABA HEIGHTS Taba and Taba Heights are two of Egypt’s Red sea resorts located on the Gulf of Aqaba. As there are no compulsory vaccinations and charter flights available from Gatwick with a flying time of only 5 hours it is a short haul destination with long haul weather! Arriving at the airport,…
Read MoreThe Kingdom of Jordan – and its Jewels (video clip)
THE KINGDOM OF JORDAN AND ITS JEWELS Jordan – a dry desolate desert? I wouldn’t blame you for your misconception. Isn’t that in a troubled Middle East war zone? I wouldn’t blame you for that wrong idea either… I myself ventured off with a little band of (more) adventurous travel agents wondering what I’d find.…
Read MoreDiscovering the Treasures of Egypt and Jordan
DISCOVERING THE TREASURES OF EGYPT AND JORDAN Sitting in the extra leg room section of Monarch airlines made my 5 hour journey to Taba hassle free – then just 30 minutes later we were sitting outside in the warm evening at the Marriott Resort and Spa, with a cold beer admiring the beautifully illuminated hotel…
Read MoreFujairah – the Little Known Emirate (video clip)
FUJAIRAH THE LITTLE KNOWN EMIRATE There are 7 Emirates in the UAE and even though Abu Dhabi is the capital, Dubai must be the most famous! Fujairah, in complete contrast, is a little known Emirate, about 2 hours across the desert, on the shores of the Indian Ocean. It’s quieter here, no shopping malls or…
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