Saint Petersburg, on the western edge of Russia, is a stylish place. The architecture here borders on the sublime. How do you, as a hotel, contend with the style of the streets outside without becoming gaudy, or Vegas-y? Well, DOM Boutique Hotel has managed to do that. Is it style over substance? Read on to find out in our DOM Boutique Hotel review.
Tongabezi is the ultimate luxury lodge along the banks of the Zambezi River. Just upriver from the magnificent Victoria Falls, on a bend of the river, it has prime position for relaxation and adventure rolled into one. However, if you want to take your Victoria Falls accommodation experience and make it entirely magical, you will want to book at least one night on Sindabezi Island. This is Tongabezi’s very own desert island with a whole lot of luxury.
To read all about our stay in the main Tongabezi lodge, check out our full review – A Night in Livingstone – Tongabezi Review
Seeing Victoria Falls is on most people’s bucket list. It was definitely on ours! If, like us, you want to see this once-in-a-lifetime spot, then, like us, you will want to stay in a once-in-a-lifetime hotel. That is why we chose to stay at The Victoria Falls Hotel.
Taking high tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel is a tradition as old as tourism in Victoria Falls itself. Pull up a chair on Stanley’s Terrace and let the afternoon sun, gentle clink of china and distant roar of the waterfall take you back in time. Read on for a full review of afternoon tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel.
At the top of a vast sloping lawn is the Victoria Falls Hotel, in the town of Victoria Fall, Zimbabwe. The hotel was built in 1904 and is a perfect example of Edwardian elegance. The hotel’s Stanley Terrace overlooks the perfectly maintained gardens.
Look past the neatly cut grass and you will see the hillside descend dramatically away towards the Zambezi river thundering below. From the Stanley Terrace, you can see the Victoria Falls Bridge and if the water is high, the spray from the Victoria Falls.
We love afternoon tea! Check out all the other amazing afternoon teas we’ve had
Taking high tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel starts, obviously, with a spot of tea. The selection of teas on offer is great with everything from punchy black Assam to delicate green varieties. There was also coffee on offer, with I opted for. I felt like a nice caffeine boost.
Mr Fluskey is not into hot drinks so we ordered a soft drink for him instead. This is not included so watch out for the extra couple of dollars you’ll have to pay. If, like Mr Fluskey, you don’t like hot drinks, or are celebrating something special, you can upgrade your afternoon to include champagne or a cocktail. In the heat of the day, and knowing we were eating a large dinner, I decided to stick with the non-alcoholic option. (If we hadn’t got evening plans, I would have 100% gone for the bubbles!)
Don’t panic Ladies and Gents, cucumber sandwiches ARE on the menu!
For those of you who are confused by the traditional cucumber sandwich, come and try it here. A perfectly cut, miraculously cooling triangle of delight, I could have swapped all my other options for these. I never knew a sandwich could be refreshing but in 37 degree heat, it seems to be the case!
Our other finger sandwich fillings were:
A couple of edges were starting to dry a little but I don’t know how you could combat this is in such a warm climate. Thankfully, there was no egg in sight. I don’t think it would have survived in the heat.
I wonder if eating teeny-tiny sandwiches is so nice because it reminds us of being children? No clumsy half sandwiches out of a boring grown up cardboard packet here!
Check out all our travels in Africa
I have always been slightly befuddled by the scones on an afternoon tea. If I am taking a cream tea that doesn’t give me four other cakes, then I can munch on two. However, in the three tier situation. I can only have one. Luckily, it was a VERY good scone! I mean, just look at them:
…thinking about it, you could be less greedy and share this tower of goodies with up to four people, in which case, the scone quantity would be perfect.
I do have one gripe with this layer. The cream was whipped, not clotted. I may be a purist but I like the sticky, gloopy consistency of clotted cream with the crumbly scone. It also think it holds the jam more easily.
I wonder if the Cornish method of adding the jam first would be better with whipped cream?
Designed to surprise and delight, these miniature sweet treats really hit the spot. We had:
For a higher octane Victoria Falls experience, check our our blog review about taking a dip in the Devil’s Pool.
Maybe I am terribly British in my love of high tea, but I believe it is a wonderful way to spend a relaxed and elegant afternoon. Oh, I almost forgot to mention the live piano tinkling away in the background!
Taking high tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel is a wonderful way to experience a touch of tradition. Plus, you can take the chance to explore the fascinating curios and memories that line the walls of the hotel; an afternoon very well spent! High tea doesn’t cost an arm and a leg so we think it makes a great addition to any Victoria Falls itinerary.
This post was in collaboration with The Victoria Falls Hotel but all opinions are entirely my own.
Rosie xx
Having never been on a safari before, and never stayed in a game lodge, we had no idea what to expect. We couldn’t have been more blown away by Little Garonga. In this Little Garonga Safari Camp review, I am going to endeavour to explain just why it was so special, and why it would be the most fantastic spot for your South Africa Honeymoon.
When we talk about safari or a South Africa Honeymoon, Kruger gets all the attention. However, Makalali Reserve to the West of Kruger is 25,000 hectares of wildlife packed park. It is very easy to reach from Hoedspruit, but we chose to drive up from Nelspruit, passing along the Panorama Way en route; it was a wonderful drive. Once you reach the gates of the park, it is a 30-60 minute drive, depending on how good the suspension on your rental car is. We had a mini SUV but were very paranoid about scraping the undercarriage so it took us the full 60 minutes.
During the drive (both on the way in, and on the way out) we got to do some wildlife spotting.
Garonga safari camp and Little Garonga safari camp also have their own landing strip and you can catch a charter flight, saving time, and arriving in style.
To see our safari game drives, check out this blog post
Now I say room, but we had a whole lot more than a room. We were in our very own thatched private suite, The Hambleden Suite, and it was incredible!
Our suite was actually a family room and so it had two bedrooms and two bathrooms. We had the kids room shut away behind a curtain during our stay but here is a sneaky peek for you.
In the middle of the suite was our huge king size bed. This is one of those beds that is a whopping three pillows wide, meaning nobody gets kicked by mistake at 03:00. That is quite important when you are getting up at 05:00 for a game drive. It was a lovely mattress and we slept comfortably all night, and that is pretty unusual for me.
The whole thing was surrounded by a mosquito net, which was brought down for us as part of the nightly turn down service.
Taking a look around the suite, we had two double wardrobes behind the bed and between them, a long bench which we nicknamed the wall of shame. Here our clothes exploded out of our bags every morning, getting ready to leave.
Our living room had a cosy seating area that faced the deck. It wasn’t cold, but there was a lovely wood burning chimney for winter evenings. We also had air-conditioning and fans to cool down the summer heat. If you prefer to keep things natural, you can open the glass doors onto the deck and just let the breeze cool you off overnight.
On the side cabinet there was a small selection of books to nose through (Mr Fluskey loved the 101 stories of Kruger).
Then, the mini bar. Our fridge was stuffed full of drinks from water to my favourite South African cider (yum). On the top of the cabinet were all the fixings to mix a great drink. We had a selection of full size spirits in gorgeous vintage bottles, each with their own tag on. We also had a fresh lemon every day. It all felt very grown up and if we hadn’t been so busy with all the activities, we would have indulged a little more.
The aesthetic that ran though the decor was rustic-plush…is that a thing? The art was African and the furniture wooden or in shades of cream, terracotta and neutral tones. I was borderline in love with a lamp that had a wooden snake climbing it. I think the balance of luxury and the sense of being in the wild was very skilfully achieved.
Forget the his and her sinks, forget the pretty bowls of bathroom nik naks, in this room, it is all about the many ways your can get clean. We could choose from:
Whichever we chose, and we used them all, we could use the delicious toiletries provided. I was particularly keen on the smell of the air freshener. It was like mint, coffee and chocolate. We were even given three little tubs of organic insect repellent, sun screen and lip balm (everything you need on a game drive).
Running along the front of our villa was our very own viewing deck. It had another sitting room suite (you can never have too many places to lounge on a holiday).
We spent a chilled out afternoon relaxing on the deck and our very own private plunge pool. After heating up with a cider, I thoroughly enjoyed cooling off in the pool when the sun really started to beat down. It was an infinity pool with views over the game park.
That day we saw giraffes, elephants and monkeys from the deck. The elephants even had a baby. Not your average hotel view.
Check out our other accomodation reviews, including budget, mid range and luxury
Along with our suite, there were just two other suites, the Chiltern Suite and Buckingham Suite. This means that there doesn’t need to be 20,000 square feet. Instead, Little Garonga is small but perfectly formed.
The clubhouse/reception/deck/dining room/lobby are all in one spot. I am calling it the clubhouse.
We were welcomed here with a glass of homemade lemonade before being shown to our room, and from that point on this thatched structure served as the base for our time at Little Garonga.
Out on the deck was a fire pit, around which we sat in the evenings after returning from the game drives. In the day time, we could lounge by the pool and gaze out over the hills (although we chose to use our own).
Dining at Little Garonga also all took place in “the clubhouse”, or just outside on its deck. Aldren and Eric were the ever helpful and friendly waiting staff.
At 05:00 on both mornings, we were up and ready to go on our game drive, but first we got to pick our breakfast from a menu of a la carte options. There were egg dishes, full cooked breakfasts, healthy chia seed bowls and a daily smoothie.
On day one, we both chose omelettes. On our arrival back to camp at around 10:00, we were hungry and ready to tuck in. Imagine our surprise and delight to see a whole buffet laid on as well. There were homemade croissants, a cereals selection, toast, fruit and some fun little additions.
We were pretty stuffed by the time the omelettes came…but we soldiered through!
On day two I just stuck to the buffet and overindulged on those pastries and coffee.
Thinking we would never eat again after breakfast, we somehow made it to lunch. It was a nice light meal with soups, salads and sandwiches.
Little Garonga (as you may have guessed) keeps you well fed. The day is peppered with opportunities to top up your tummy with nibbles. On our drives in the morning, we had hot drinks at a tea and coffee stop. These were accompanied by dried fruits and biscotti. The evening stop comes with a decent bar selection (another cider anyone?). There was an antipasti spread with hummus, crudités, olives, biltong and other addictive nibbles.
Forget buffets, forget menus, at Little Garonga, you won’t need them. Every night, the skilled chef came and talked us through that evening’s menu that she had designed. One of the guests was vegan and she planned a separate menu just for her as well.
Along with food, the waiters suggested a wine to accompany the food. They quickly took on board our preferences and the following night we all had a white or rosė wine that would match the springbok main course, rather than the more traditional red. None of us were red drinkers.
On our first night we selected the bits that we thought sounded most tasty. This was met with a little bemusement and a kind smile. When we sat down to eat, we realised that we were getting the whole selection. We were so happy! Every night we hit the sheets utterly content, bellies bulging with the most wonderful fare, and all washed down by a drink or three from the impressively stocked self serve bar.
OK, here’s the thing, we didn’t know how much we were going to take advantage of the game drives. Mr Fluskey is NOT a morning person, and I am visually impaired, but we thought we may do one or two. Well, we went on every single one and we would urge you to do the same. They were simply fantastic!
Our guide Jeff, and the tracker Richard worked tirelessly to show us the best that Makalali Reserve had to offer. Jeff was a font of knowledge and his calming manner was very reassuring when we were just feet from a pride of lions. Richard was often sent off in search of tracks and other clues completely unseen to us.
Through out our stay, we shared our drives with two other guests from Spain. They had an idea of everything they wanted to tick off but we decided to let them take the reigns and just see what we could see.
We were lucky enough to have encounters with:
It was so much fun and so rewarding. I am a total safari convert now.
If you love animals, read all about our animal experiences, including swimming with whale sharks and turtles.
After a long day of game drives, and chilling out, we decided to take advantage of the bush bath. This is an outside bath that you can luxuriate in during or after the evening game drive. We filled the giant bath with yummy scented bubbles and wallowed in the giant tub drinking our pre-ordered drinks. It was luxury indeed and a very special way to unwind. If you are travelling for a South Africa Honeymoon, you are definitely going to want to do this!
Check out all our travels around Amazing Africa
If you are interested in staying at Little Garonga or their big sister Garonga Safari Camp then here is some information you might be interested in.
It was during our free afternoon that I really got to think about Garonga‘s slogan, “Safari for the soul”, Yes the game drives were exciting, but it was the times in between that Garonga really stood out from the crowd. Their philosophy means that your free time is just as valuable as those important safari moments. There were massages on offer, a valet to help you if you needed anything, an easygoing, all-inclusive atmosphere, and the staff did everything in their power to ease the day along smoothly. We could have stayed forever but sadly, our stay slipped by in a heartbeat and soon it was time to leave. Thank goodness that giraffe came to say goodbye.
We were guests of Little Garonga but we genuinely had the most fantastic time and couldn’t recommend it more. As ever, all opinions are entirely ours.
Rosie xx
Visiting Victoria Falls is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Seeing the smoke that thunders for yourself is an experience you will never forget. How can you top that? Well, you can stay somewhere that is once-in-a-lifetime too….saying that, I really hope that we get to visit Tongabezi again. Read on to see why in our full Tongabezi review.
Johannesburg, South Africa is a city with a reputation. It’s troubled past seems to cloud its dynamic and encouraging present. People whispered “be careful” with serious expressions when we told them our plans, but we were determined to go and see it for ourselves. Our hotel, The Michelangelo Hotel, also has a reputation, be it vastly more positive. When I told people that The Michelangelo would be our Bed in Johannesburg, their faces lit up and we got a unanimous “Ooooooo”. The Michelangelo is known as, “The Grand Dame of Johannesburg” and is part of the Legacy Hotels group which is why we were so excited for the Michelangelo Hotel review.
Contrary to some people’s view, there is loads to see in the City of Gold. Don’t believe us? Just check these awesome things to do in Johannesburg. It was my first time exploring the city and what a fabulous hotel to set out from!
The Michelangelo Hotel is located in the wealthy, upmarket suburb of Sandton, North-East of Johannesburg. This is where the money of Johannesburg comes to shop and do business. The Michelangelo Hotel is set to one side of Nelson Mandela square. Part shopping mall, part leisure hub, and with a 6m high bronze statue of the man himself.
The hotel is just a 5 minute walk from the Gautrain, Johannesburg’s light rail system which connects directly to the airport. This is how we reached the hotel and so we were airport to room in 40 minutes.
Check out our travels around South Africa
Walking in from street level, from West Street to be precise, we were greeted by a friendly doorman in a handsome uniform. We were slightly confused, the huge round lobby was almost entirely empty.
We were pointed to a set of lifts and whisked up one floor to the main lobby and reception. It was quite the entrance!
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It was a breathtaking way to see the lobby for the first time. The red marble, and lions faces growling at us slipped away and the towering ceiling stretched to the sky like a soaring cathedral. It would be hard not to be impressed.
The lift doors dinged and we turned from the view to step out and to the reception desk. The security guard looked none too impressed at the two jet-lagged, backpackers with shorts and t-shirts. We told him about our reservation and he soon cheered up.
The reception got us checked in with cheery smiles and a glass of juice. As it was still quite early, they took our bags. They said that we could use the pool and spa until it was ready . They sounded fabulous (more on those later) but we had a few errands to run and so we nipped out through the hotel’s mall entrance into Sandton City.
Nails freshly filed, and South African sim card sorted, we returned 2 hours later to the happy news that our room was ready. We were shown up to room 2012, a deluxe king room.
The room was such a surprise. I don’t think we have ever had one like it. It was a mini suite, all in red tones ans with dark wood trimmings. Two step led down to the seating area and to either side was a column. We had columns!
Our windows opened like french windows and gave us a great view over the square and the Mandela statue below.
I have been trying to work out how to describe the style of the decor. I know it was meant to be kind of Italianate but it had kind of a Vegas vibe. The carpets, curtains and covers seemed a little nineties so, although they were good quality and perfectly nice, but I think they could do with an update.
Around the room was a lovely coffee maker, surrounded by plenty of milk and a nice variety of teas. Every day we got shortbread fingers on the tray which we loved. By the desk were the only plugs in the room. In a world where we need to charge phones, cameras, iPad and more, there weren’t enough. I am not a fan of plugs that are so far from the bed either.
The bathroom was lined in decadent red marble and had a HUGE mirror. It was palatial. The toilet and showers both had glass doors, blocking them from the central area. The shower and bath were both great and, (and this may seem weird) the extractor fans were epic! We were given a whole raft of useful things, shampoo, conditioner, hand sanitiser and even a sewing kit.
Gym, Pool and Spa
Besides the immense central lobby, this was my favourite part of the Michelangelo Hotel. We popped into the gym to have a quick look. We found a well air-conditioned little space, packed with machines. There was a sign that mentioned the personal trainer. It is nice to know that after your giant buffet breakfast, there are people to help you work it off again.
Out of the window we spied the pool and it looked totally inviting. It was time to dive in!
We head down one floor and head into the changing rooms. They were a good little space that had been well-considered. There were big showers with shampoo and conditioner, and a basket full of handy things like toothbrushes, deodorant….etc. It shows a level of consideration for their guests that I admire.
The round pool is secreted under a giant glass dome. Floating the water you can gaze up to the sky above, whatever the weather. I bet it is amazing during a thunderstorm!
Next to the pool, you will see the main spa area. Here you can get a variety of treatments and up above it, is the sun deck. This is a nice grassed area and there was even a hot tub It was quite a chilly, windy day though, so we stuck to the indoor pool/ There was also a mini sauna and steam room to relax in.
Well, what a stunner! There is absolutely no doubt about that. The ceiling rises seven stories above you and is drenched in natural light. It is exactly what you want from a hotel lobby, an area you actually want to spend time in. It is the first time in a while that it hasn’t just been a place to pass through. If you are in the area, and unable to stay at the hotel, it is worth popping in for a meal or a drink just to see it.
If you don’t want to perch around the bar in the main lobby, you can take a seat in the Il Ritrovo lounge. This classy side area has tables, chair and bunkettes. When we visited, there was a live pianist giving the ivories a tinkle. There was a display fancy whiskey on show.
One floor up from the main lobby is the Intermezzo lounge. We spotted it from above and knew that we had to have a quick nosy. This mini lounge on the first floor mezzanine level is a great spot for a little peace and quiet. We didn’t see anyone else using it during our stay. The sofas are comfy, the magazines current and the natural light lovely. I’d happily spend an afternoon relaxing there if we had the time.
The Michelangelo Hotel is understandably proud of of its business centre. We popped in to have a look and they were so excited to how us about their unique selling points. The things that impressed us most were:
Looking for something to do in Johannesburg? Check out 5 Reasons to Visit Soweto on a Township Tour
As we were out and about in Johannesburg in the day times and evenings, we only used the hotel for breakfast and the odd drink.
Entering the Piccolo Mondo at The Michelangelo Hotel, you are handed a menu. This details all of the special plated dishes you can order to accompany the huge buffet on offer.
First things first, we ordered coffee and then made a dash for the buffet.
My highlights:
Elsewhere you could find the hot options (we didn’t try any as we had the eggs royale coming). Here were the usual suspects of eggs, bacon, sausage etc. There was a nice continental selection with a few things from the continent (smoked haddock, roll mops, good quality salami). I found plenty of fruit and Mr Fluskey enjoyed his cereal.
On our first visit, we wanted to try as much as possible so we both got a buffet plate and ordered an eggs royale to share. It was very different to the kind we have at home. The eggs were boiled rather than poached, with a squishy yolk (not soft or hard boiled). The hollandaise sauce was a bright yellow, and came in a much smaller quantity. It was also served with mushroom and tomatoes. These were not mentioned in the menu so it is worth checking before you fill up on other things. I really enjoyed it as I normally have to ask for my sauce on the side, but Mr Fluskey wasn’t so keen.
On the following morning, I was craving sugar after a long night so picked at pastries and fruit and ordered the waffle with fruit and syrup. It was good but the thin kind of waffle rather than the large Belgian style. That’s great for me, but if you love deep puddles of syrup you may end up disappointed. The fruit that it came with was melting and pineapple, a slightly unexpected but tasty combination.
The bar in the centre of the lobby is the hub of the Michelangelo hotel social life. We decided to stop for a few drinks on our way out to a party. The staff were very friendly and the selection of drinks was good. With each round, we were presented with two little dishes; one contained salted peanuts, and the other had a combination of wasabi peas and totally addictive, crunchy corn things.
At the bar, every day, they have a special G&T offer. For two hours, you can pick an exciting and unusual gin and tonic for a few less rand. It is a good way to end a work day, or start an evening out!
When we first sat down, the bar was a little quiet but over the next half an hour, it started to fill up. We popped out for dinner, and on our return, we saw that the bar was full.
If you are thinking of coming to stay at The Michelangelo Hotel, then take a look at their website here for the best offers.
Looking back on our time at The Michelangelo Hotel, we are slightly confused about their target audience. The pool and spa area are too cool for a busy business traveller, and the whole place seems very grown up. Then there is the slightly costumey feel to the place. The lobby is gorgeous but the giant stone lions are a little bit like overkill. I think it would be amazing for a small conference or series of meetings. The food is nice and the breakout spaces are great, so you wouldn’t feel stuck in the hotel. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay and would happily return.
We would like to thank The Michelangelo Hotel as we were their guests. We genuinely enjoyed our stay and, as always, all opinions are entirely our own.
Rosie xx
Antigua, on the Eastern side of the Caribbean, is completely delightful. Not only do they have some of the friendliest people we have met on our travels, but they have 365 beaches; one for every day of the year. I guess I would be pretty friendly too if I had that many places to relax and recoup. We had one amazing beach for three days, and it was called Galley Bay Resort and Spa. Read our full review of Galley Bay Resort and Spa, the hotel along Antigua’s western shore.
Galley Bay Resort and Spa is nestled in it’s own cove on Antigua’s west coast, it’s beach lapped by the Caribbean Sea. Looking out west you can’t help but be captivated by the sunsets here. It is just a short bus ride from Antigua’s capital, St John’s, from where you can connect on to buses that travel the whole island. We jumped on a couple and went all the way down to English Harbour.
Check out all our travels in Antigua
Reception came as something of a surprise, as we couldn’t see the rest of the resort. All we could see was a large pavilion with the reception desk and a selection of chairs. We filled out the paperwork and were given a sheet of paper listing the activities, the restaurant times and lots of other useful information. Just as the heat really set in (as the last remnants of the taxis air-conditioning wore off) they gave us both a glass of champagne. What a good start! We took a sip and then jumped aboard the waiting golf buggy. We were whisked away on a whistle stop tour of the resort before being driven to our room. It was a great way to orientate ourselves and boy, did we feel fancy!
Our room was bigger than I was expecting; one of the Premium Beachfront Suites. We had our own little lounge area as well as the normal bedroom area. The King size bed seemed huge and the mattress was deep and comfortable. We each had two pillows, one soft and one hard. This suited us brilliantly as we have very different ideas of what makes a good pillow. I like mine bouncy and Mr Fluskey likes his soft. Every night, we were left a cute little note during the turn-down service. They were quite interesting and sparked a little conversation.
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We had a super welcome gift of snacks and a bottle of bubbles. They really know how to make a good first impression at Galley Bay Resort and Spa! With these were the usual tea and coffee making facilities. I adore American style coffee machines, I don’t have one at home so it’s a real treat for me. Along with these bits were two plastic flasks. These could be used throughout the stay and taken home afterwards. All the water in the resort comes from their own desalinisation plant and so you can top up at your sink, or at the water and ice stations. We couldn’t help but notice some of the other guests using them at the bar for their favourite cocktail.
In the wardrobe, along with a safe, laundry bag and hangars were two things that made me smile. The first was an iron and ironing board. Now I know you can get hold of one in most hotels, but not having to call housekeeping and wait for it seems like luxury to me! The other thing was a scuba mask and snorkel for each of us. Again, negating the need to make any extra effort to get hold of one of these is luxury. This way, guests can grab their own masks and walk straight down the beach into the sea to explore the underwater world.
Everything in the room was blue and white, giving it a real nautical feel. Given that it had direct beach access, it was pretty apt. Sitting on our sofas, we could see right down to the sea. We had a terrace with our very own sunbeds, and even our very own sand shower.
The bathroom was bigger than the seating area. It was very bright and spacious with two showers opposite each other. One was lower, for quick body showers, and the other higher for your hair. Better than both of those, however, was the gigantic corner bath. I simply HAD to treat myself to an indulgent bubble bath, especially after the flight down from the USA. An absolute must for for any nice hotel is a large counter top with his and hers sinks. Happily there was a nice set here with a great big mirror.
Galley Bay Resort and Spa has a nice variety of activities to spend your time on. To our relief, none of them were super cringe-worthy. There was no entertainment team to drag you into an embarrassing game or make you jump in the pool when your are trying to keep your hair dry. Instead, this place takes things at a leisurely pace and it is entirely up to you how much you throw yourself into.
Galley Bay has just one beach, it is 3/4 mile of soft, yellow sand with rocky outcrops at each end. In the sea, the beach is quite steep once you hit knee level which makes it great for snorkelling. It was quite wavy whilst we were there so we didn’t get to try everything we wanted to.
Why not check out all our travels around the Caribbean
Right on the sand is the water sports centre. At Galley Bay Resort and Spa, non-motorised water sports are included. They have Hobie Cats, kayaks and paddle-boards. I really wanted to take a boat out and snorkel but it was a little too rough and we had to leave the following day. Time really does fly when you are having fun! It was a shame because there is a shipwreck just offshore that you can explore. We did have a quick snorkel just off the beach and we met lots of curious white fish. One became my Disney-style sidekick. I must be a mermaid after all!
On the first floor of the water sports centre, is the large open pavilion; the spot for morning yoga. During our visit, there was a group of ladies on a yoga retreat and they were up there first thing in the morning, and as the sun set. The view must have been spectacular over the sea. I wonder if the lapping of the waves added rhythm to their practice. We just did a lot of shavasana by the pool…a little yoga joke there.
Looking for a fun trip to see the whole Antigua in a day?! Check out our The Xtreme Circumnavigation – Adventure Antigua Review
Time to work up a sweat and burn off the all-inclusive! If you are planning to use the gym, remember to bring your running shoes. In fact, there is also an outdoor running track that goes around the lagoon so there is even more reason to bring them. In the gym itself, you will find a good selection of machines and a free weights area. It is well air-conditioned but you can still see all that fantastic sunlight through the large windows.
If you are more into team sports, or competitive games, you will find lots dotted around the resort. You could indulge in a spot of beach volleyball, a tennis match, a round of pool, or a little table tennis. They even have a croquet lawn. I have it on a good authority that hipsters are making croquet cool again. Get some practice in here and be ahead of the curve!
Set behind the resort is the salty, serene lagoon. Here, you can try your hand at fishing in the lagoon. It is a strictly a catch and release program so if you want something to eat, you’ll have to join a deep-sea fishing excursion. You can also do a spot of bird-watching. We saw pretty wading birds, and even some crabs. Grab a bicycle from the guest services and you can go all the way around the lagoon.
There is just one pool at Galley Bay Resort. However it’s a free-form beauty with a waterfall to squeal under. Surrounding the pool is a collection of sun loungers set in pairs, each under their own umbrella. Most of them have little tables on which to pop your drinks, and the best thing about lying by pool is that they will bring your drinks right to you. We had a fair few strawberry smoothies and even some bubbles as we caught the sun here.
Oh the Indulge Spa! It was ridiculously lovely. In fact, I started writing and realised that it was too much to include here. I ended up writing a whole separate review.
Read our full review of Indulge Spa at Galley Bay
The Sea Grape is the main restaurant at Galley Bay Resort and Spa, and unlike most all-inclusive resorts, it is mainly à la carte. I honestly thought that this would mean eating less and not putting on those holiday pounds…oh how wrong I was! The food was so good that I ate several courses at every meal.
I am not normally one for a big breakfast but I made an exception here. Breakfast at the Sea Grape starts with a small buffet. There is fresh fruit, pastries, and cheese and ham for those who like a continental breakfast. Then there is a great selection of bread options (mmm, English muffins!) and a small selection of hot bits. Whatever, you do, don’t fill up on this. The Sea Grape’s breakfast menu is interesting and delicious. We tried lots of the à la carte options and enjoyed all of them. Check out those creole eggs pics below; they are seriously tasty!
Come for the view, stay for the food. At every lunch and dinner there is a three course menu to pick from. I don’t know how often the selection is repeated but there are so many options that you need not have the same thing twice. The chefs here use fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs from the resort’s very own kitchen garden. You will find a varied menu with dishes from all over the world. I was genuinely impressed and excited to check the menu posted by guest services every day.
Right on the beach is the Barefoot Grill, open for lunch only. This is a very casual place to eat with a sandy floor and plastic baskets. It is your ideal beach cafe, not just because the sandwiches are gooey with cheese, or the chips crispy and salty, but they have ducks. That isn’t a typo. They actually have ducks!
Here you find a selection of burgers, pressed sandwiches & other grilled delights. You can wear your swimwear here. The other restaurants require swim wear to be dry and covered so this is your post-dip option. Is there anything nicer when you’ve been swimming in the sea than coming out and enjoying an ice-cold drink and a portion of nice hot chips?
The Gauguin is open for lunch and reservation only for dinner. It is the place to come if you want a little more privacy or food that is a tiny bit more special. Each table here gets its very own pagoda. It is the tropical dream. Looking down the menu, you will find a more Caribbean flavour to the dishes, but it is definitely fusion. I had spring rolls, an amazingly tender goat curry and a scrummy tart for dessert. There was also a wide wine list to pick from which you wont find at Sea Grape.
If you’re peckish between meals, need a caffeine fix or just love air-conditioning then spend a few minutes in the coffee shop. Here they set out afternoon tea so you can grab a little cake…or three. There’s tea and coffee all day and a selection of books to relax with. I found it too cold but Mr Fluskey loved it!
Looking for somewhere more affordable on Antigua? Check out Buccaneer Beach Club Review
The Tee Pee Bar is the main bar on campus. It is the best spot to get a drink from if you’re at the beach, the barefoot grill or the pool. There is a great selection of spirits, cocktails and sparkling wine (which seemed to be the favourite of lots of guests). We discovered that their smoothies were seriously delicious and so started having them with a little rum thrown in. Top marks to the bar staff who were totally accommodating and good humoured throughout our stay.
We enjoyed grabbing a drink here and taking it into the restaurants or out onto the deck. This deck is great place to relax and watch the sunset as it faces over the ocean and towards the west.
So we spent three nights at Galley Bay Resort and Spa and on each of those, we found our way to The Rum Shack. Along with the most wonderful staff behind the bar, you will find two shelves. The top shelf is full of sipping rums, and the lower for mixing. Everything is included in the all-inclusive price and so you can travel the Caribbean through it’s greatest export. The person behind the bar will walk you through a tasting and you may just end up discovering that the $80 bottle is just your cup of tea.
Once a week, down by The Rum Shack, the managers throw a little soiree. When we went, they had a great selection of canapes and some tasty cocktails. The folk band was hilarious and it was such a wonderful way to meet both the staff and the other guests. They even had giveaways from the diamond shop and for a whole week’s stay at the resort! It is definitely worth a stop.
Around the resort, you will see nature at every turn. From the ducks at the Barefoot Grill (yes, I am STILL excited by the ducks) to the huge varieties of flowers and the large crabs that live in the lagoon, there is lots to spot. Our favourites were the tortoises that live on site. They have a protective area that would be easy to miss if you weren’t paying attention. We hung out with them for a while until the big male decided it was time for us to leave.
If we have tempted you to visit Galley Bay Resort and Spa then here’s a few things you might like to know.
Our time at Galley Bay Resort and Spa was really special. We found ourselves totally able to relax which is quite unusual for us. We ended up going at such a chilled out pace that we could have done with another week to work our way through everything. Plus, I would have liked to try so many more dishes from the menu! We hope to return one day, or even visit their sister resort, the Palm Island Resort in The Grenadines. If we do, we will keep you posted!
Rosie xx
Galley Bay Resort and Spa is a five star property on Antigua’s west coast. The whole place is dedicated to relaxation and rejuvenation but the absolute best place on the resort to be utterly spoilt is the Indulge Spa. Here you will find all kinds of treatment to pamper you from head to toe. We were lucky enough to enjoy some time here during our stay at Galley Bay and we wanted to share it with you.
Check out our full review of Galley Bay Resort. (I realised that I really wanted to write so much more about Indulge Spa, hence it has its very own post).
As you approach the reception of Indulge Spa, you might think that it is a tiny facility. But as you sit to fill out paper work, you get a glimpse through to the world behind. A few steps in, a mini jungle resort opens up in front of you. Little round huts and tree houses surrounded by foliage, a relaxation deck and even a plunge pool. Lush greenery rustles with occasional ocean breezes, and it is incredibly tranquil.
Looking for somewhere to stay? Check out all our accomodation reviews including budget, midrange and luxury
I always find it slightly overwhelming when I first look at a spa menu. The first things to discount are the treatments I had just before setting out (having my nails done for example). The next decision is whether to go for your face or body. Facials usually result in breakouts for me and so the choice was narrowed to my body. There were so many options; wraps, massages, polishes and a whole host of ointments to be rubbed all over us. I was particularly pleased to see two unusual offerings. The first was an after bite treatment for the poor people like me who are mosquito bait, and the second a soothing after sun concoction for people like me who burn easily. It’s like they knew I was coming!
We chose the Tropical Retreat. The menu told us that we were in for a “…two-step treatment [that] unites the tropical extracts of Mango and Passion Fruit and infuses them with the repairing power of Vitamin C.” After several painful massages over the years, it was a quick decision to go for something a little different. Neither Mr Fluskey or I had ever tried a wrap and tropical yogurt just sounded so good! We were shown into one of the small rooms. It had a “Flintstones spa in Bedrock” vibe.
Changing into our disposable knickers, we self-consciously clambered onto the cling film covered tables. The embarrassment quickly evaporated as we made chit chat with our two spa therapists who were an absolute delight. They were funny and put us completely at ease as they began to exfoliate us. The scrub was intensely fruity, mango and passion fruit aromas filled the space (anyone fancy a pornstar martini right about now?). We were given a thorough rub down and as ever, I was horrified at the layers of dead skin that came off me. My skin was left feeling glowing and pink. It was a joy when the next stage came.
A warm substance was slowly applied to our skin. This was the warm yogurt and tropical fruit mixture and it smelled divine. If the idea of eating warm yogurt wasn’t so off-putting then I may have tried just a tiny bit. When we were completely covered and hilariously slippery they wrapped us up. I felt like a doggy bag of leftovers…in a good way. First came layers of plastic like cling film, followed by tin foil. The final layer, cotton sheets, swaddled us like Egyptian mummies. The two ladies then turned down the lights and left the room. It was so warm, and so comfortable, that I was asleep in two minutes. You could have left me there for the rest of the holiday and aside from the yogurt curdling, I’d have been the happiest person on the resort.
The therapists came back into the room after about 15 minutes to peel us out of our cocoons. I slid off the bed and into the waiting robe feeling a little guilty about the Petit Filous trail that I was leaving. We waddled, giggling, over to the bathroom to rinse off.
We thought it was all done and stood drying off and marvelling at our tropical scent. A discrete knock came on the door and we were led back into the room for even more pampering. We had a ten minute moisturising massage which was just bliss. We felt, and smelt delicious!
Feeling completely supple and relaxed we slid back into our clothes. I was really craving some sort of huge tropical fruit salad so imagine my joy when we were both handed a mango and passion fruit smoothie. I took to a sun lounger to enjoy some serious relaxation. Our skin was so soft and the sweet, sharp flavours were so reviving, I got the feeling of total body rejuvenation.
Our treatment was meant to take an hour but I think we lay around, lazily slurping on our smoothies for another forty minutes or so before accepting that we should head back out into the rest of the resort for….well, for even more relaxation.
Take a quick look around.
Check out all our travels around the Caribbean
Both Mr Fluskey and I adored our time at the Indulge Spa. It is such a lovely setting, the staff were brilliant and our treatment was one of the best I’ve ever had (I am definitely a wrap convert now). If you are staying at Galley Bay Resort, or are staying anywhere in Antigua in fact, Indulge Spa is totally worth a visit. You never know, they may let you enjoy some of the other facilities around the resort as well.
We were hosted by Galley Bay Resort and the Indulge Spa but we genuinely had the most wonderful time and all opinions are my own. Honestly, go there and get wrapped in yogurt, it’s weird but you’ll love it!
Rosie xx
The Maldives ranks as one of the most dreamy destinations on earth. We were lucky enough to try a bed in the Maldives, and tick it off of our bucket list. Read on for our full Kihaa Maldives Review.
Honeymoons, luxury resorts, beaches and sunshine; The Maldives evokes the most perfect images of an island paradise. Mental images of a magical Jackson Pollock, of tropical islands splashed across the turquoise canvas of the Indian Ocean. We were incredibly excited, and probably a tiny bit dubious, to see if it really lived up to the hype. Let me start this whole thing by assuring you that it really is the most stunning place.
“But what about the hotel” I hear you cry, here’s our Kihaa Maldives Review.
When we first booked our flight, we had no clue where to stay or what to see. The Maldives is the most disparate country on earth so there a huge area to pick from. After a little research we found Kihaa Maldives, located on Kihaadhuffaru Island in the Baa Atoll. We flew from London to Zurich and after a few hours wandering around the city got a flight with Edelweiss Air to Malé
Check out our full Edelweiss Air flight review here
The Baa Atoll lies to the West of Malé, the capital of the Maldives and location of the main airport. To reach the island, we took a very short domestic flight with Flyme Villa Air to an island called Dharavadhoo. From there we took a five minute speedboat to Kihaa Maldives. You can also come by seaplane if you are feeling fancy.
Check out our Flyme Villa Air Maldives review – your perfect Maldives Transfer
If you come to the Baa Atoll at the right time of year, you are staying as close as possible to Hanifaru Bay. This is the spot which attracts hundreds of manta rays every year. They come to feed on the up-swell of plankton, and it can also attract friendly whale sharks. If only we had been there two months later!
The boat pulled up to a pier and we stepped up in an excited rush onto Kihaa’s jetty. Ahead of us stretched a swathe of white sandy beach backed by lush greenery.
Note: At this point we had to reset our watches. Kihaa is on “Kihaa Time”, one hour ahead of the rest of the country. (This is to preserve the daylight, a bit like British Summer Time)
We were shown into the reception and main lobby which was sand-floored and timber-lined. It was the perfect beach-side cabana. We were treated to a fresh, young coconut each as we checked in, and had the features and facilities of the resort explained to us. Due to the time change we had to run off and grab our first spot of lunch, before checking in to our room.
Did you know; Kihaa means young coconut. Lets continue with our Kihaa Maldives review
We were staying in one of Kihaa’s reserve beach villas. Approaching it from the one of the tracks that leads around the island, it was hard to tell what was inside. What a pleasant surprise, it was huge! The king size bed was incredibly tempting after our overnight flight. But we resisted and pulled down the mosquito nets ready for the evening.
Looking around the room, each new little touch made me squeal a teeny tiny bit. I loved that there was a can of Raid in the cupboard just in case you need to defeat an insect foe. The tea selection was really very good for in room facilities. If you like cold drinks, there’s Coke, Sprite and beer in the fridge, and drinking water to put in there too. Even better than that, was the bottle of bubbly on the table. That got quite a big squeal!
We had several places to lounge other than the bed. On the side was a reading nook covered in cushions, a table with two chairs and a garden furniture suite outside. A few steps through the foliage and we had our very own sunbeds on a fabulous beach.
Oh the bathroom! It was definitely the fanciest bathroom we have ever had. It was partly outside which was super cool. We had not one, or two, but three showers! There was one outside, one under the cover of the roof and one in our roll top bath. In the shower we got shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. I always love when someone gives us conditioner; Mr Fluskey doesn’t care so much.
Using the toilet almost outside took a little getting used to, but showering with the sun shining through the water was incredible. Mr Fluskey even took a shower in the rain. That’s one for a bucket list.
Note: The Maldives sits in the Arabian Sea, although many people describe it as in the Indian Ocean. Now, on with our Kihaa Maldives Review.
We also got the chance to look around the utterly divine, and totally sought after water villas. There are ten water villas at Kihaa, and two water suites. When most people think of the Maldives, this is what they are picturing, so we just couldn’t leave without nosing around.
These villas are in the best place to enjoy sunset as the pier is pointing West. Every single one has its own little pool and stairs leading directly into the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea. You can relax on your deck and watch the fish below you. The water villas all have HUGE showers and roll top baths. The suites give you a whole extra room and bathroom. You could fit a whole family in there, or just enjoy having all that space to yourselves.
There are two public pools at Kihaa. I say public because there are four kinds of room with their own private pools!
The family pool is a quirky series of circles set back from the beach and surrounded by plenty of seating. The bar is near enough to keep your thirst quenched.
The other option is the infinity pool. This is set right on the beach and looks out over the sea. We spent a lot more time here. I adored the cool seating options around it (sun beds, day beds, cabanas) and thought the tiles were gorgeous!
So if you are coming all the way to the Maldives, then you must like a nice beach. Luckily, Kihaa is set on the stunning island of Kihaadhuffaru which has almost a kilometre of beautiful white sand. We loved exploring along the coast. There were deserted stretches that we had all to ourselves, loads of funky seating options and the water that lapped the shore was just perfectly clear. Below is quite a big collection of beach photos throughout the day.
We made the mistake of ignoring the gym until the last day. Usually the gym or sports centre at hotels are small and sad. How different this was! We were blown away by the size of the room, the variety of machines, and how clean and cool it was. They have free weights, tennis courts and even two squash courts!
We popped in to discuss our option and the staff were very friendly. We ended up booking a short snorkelling trip to Turtle Reef. It was just an hour and a half but they gave us water on the boat on the way out. Then, on the way home we got coffee and cookies.
Underwater, our guide found four turtles, a baby shark and loads of fish. It was a lovely way to spend an hour. The equipment was great quality with not a single mask leak. That’s pretty rare for us.
Had we been at the resort longer, we would definitely have made use of the water sports. Included is paddle boarding and small catamarans. There was also a very tempting jet ski. I am always so worried that I’ll crash though (and am far too excited to let Mr Fluskey steer it). I think we will wait until there is a whole lot of open ocean to try it.
The large water villa near the main restaurant is the resort’s spa. We popped in to have a look around and peruse the menu. The whole place smelled delicious, the perfect mingling of lemongrass and tea tree that always whets my spa appetite. Sitting and looking at the different massage options, we could feel the sea breeze. We chose not to have any treatments but the staff were all very nice.
Feeling Fancy? Check out our other Luxury Accomodation reviews
Our meal plan was the “all meals” plan. That meant three meals a day at the main buffet, with soft drinks during the service. They also offer an all-inclusive plan which covers lots more.
This is the buffet restaurant, which was surprisingly good. We didn’t see any recycled food, which is always a very good sign. The variety of hot dishes was interesting and everything was tasty. We enjoyed the pasta station, which had good al dente pasta shapes cooked in a choice yummy sauces. We have been victim to soggy pasta stations in the past so this was a nice surprise.
Breakfast was pretty good. There was cereal, a buffet and an omelette station. I was quite impressed with quality of the croissants and other pastries. They were crispy and light, not usually the case at hotel buffets outside of France.
We didn’t try the a la carte but considering the quality of the buffet, I bet it is delicious. There is something special about dining on the beach, with the sand between your toes and the sound of the waves as a backdrop.
The infinity pool bar was by far our favourite. Not only was it by the gorgeous pool, but it has SWINGS!!! Such a happy Rosie. We had two cocktails here, both mixed beautifully. They were not the terrible watered-down kind that is often the curse of the all-inclusive hotel. It is worth noting that the all-inclusive package doesn’t cover every drink, about 20% of the menu is still chargeable. When we ordered a drink in late afternoon, it came with a couple of little snacks too, a welcome addition. Let’s continue with our Kihaa Maldives review.
The next bar is tucked behind the family pool. It is fully stocked with alcohol from all over the world. The Cava, the cheapest bubbles on the menu, was surprisingly tasty. They also have mocktails and little snacks.
If you don’t just fancy hanging out on your veranda, sitting in your pool or getting an early night, there are daily evening activities. The first night we were there was movie night. Working our way through our bottle of bubbly, we knew we would fall asleep if we tried to watch a film. So we just relaxed on the other beach, which we had all to ourselves.
On our second evening, we got to take part in a cocktail party. This is a chance to mingle with the staff and enjoy some brightly coloured drinks. We had such wonderful conversations with the people we had seen around the resort.
Later that evening, we also joined in with the karaoke by the pool. Unfortunately we don’t have any video evidence of this. Trust me, you wouldn’t want to see it. It was a very jovial atmosphere and staff joined in as well as guests. It was so great to hear some proper Maldivian songs, as well as our butchering of musical theatre classics.
We hope you enjoyed our Kihaa Maldives Review. Kihaa was taken over by new management a year or two ago. The original management were Italian, the new owners are Maldivian and are making real strives to recapture the Maldivian essence of the resort. We thought that it was obvious that everyone really cares about your experience. If you want to find a place in the Maldives that will welcome you with open hearts then come and discover Kihaa Maldives.
We were hosted for this Kihaa Maldives Review but we had a genuinely wonderful time and as always, all opinions are my own.
Rosie xx
The balloons have deflated, the presents are unwrapped and your shiny new passport has a shiny new surname on it. So what next? Honeymoon! It’s time to escape to paradise. Club Paradise Palawan is a wholly unexpected jewel on the top tip of the Philippine island, Palawan. It is the perfect place for honeymooners and couples. We were lucky enough for it to become our world for three blissful days.
Most travellers know Busuanga Island as the jumping off point for Coron and the islands to the South. However, to the North-East of Busuanga is a small island called Dimiquiat and it is a little slice of heaven. 19 hectares in the middle of a biosphere reserve, around the island is the most magical kind of water; turquoise from afar but crystal clear when you’re in it.
Whether you arrive at Busuanga island by boat or plane, Club Paradise can arrange a transfer. We caught a very, very early morning ferry from El Nido and so it was a welcome treat to arrive at the port and see a guide with our name on a sign. We scrambled in the air-conditioned van and it took us to a small pier on the other side of the island. En route, we got our little welcome gift, a Club Paradise Palawan bracelet.
If you’re travelling to El Nido, check out LIO Beach – El Nido’s Best Kept Secret
Our boat chugged steadily along the river and then out in the bay, towards the distant island. As it came into view, the excitement on the boat rose. It looked so beautiful.
Stepping off the into the edge of the waves, we got the first sweet squish of sand between our toes.
Two staff members handed us a cooling towel and whisked us off to the reception to check in. Within seconds we were sitting, sipping virgin margaritas and listening to a welcome song from the resident band. We felt like complete VIPs.
After we settled into our room, the doorbell rang and two smiling ladies from the housekeeping team were waiting with a collection of strange objects. They asked us to take a seat, and then we were treated to a foot wash, scrub and massage. It was a real unexpected delight.
Reinvigorated by our tootsie treats, we set off to explore the property. Let us show you around…
The main areas of Club Paradise Palawan are stylish, but not a in stark, clean lines kind of way. Here you will find beach hut chic perfected. Quirky lanterns hang from the ceiling, wooden floors underfoot and mismatched furniture gives a beach side coffee shop feel. The beach is dotted with hammocks and funky wooden signs. It is a colourful slice of island life.
During our trip, we were staying in a Garden Suite room. This is a new block of standard resort-style rooms a three minute walk from the pool and between the two beaches.
The room was large and with its tiled floor and air conditioning, felt very open and refreshing. The patio doors serve as the front door and outside you have a small seating/swimwear drying area.
Inside you find a writing desk, with stationary, a mini bar, and tea and coffee making facilities. The wardrobe has a safe for your valuables, a laundry bag and a bathrobe and slippers for you both.
The bed was huge, about a third bigger than a standard double. Every night we were treated to a wonderful turn down service. We were always treated to a lovely bit of towel art (no sarcasm, towel art really makes me smile). Along with that, they leave a traditional little Philippine snack. We tried biscuits, ube cake and below are three perfect little fruit tarts. It was a fun little treat for the five o’clock munchies.
The bathroom had a lovely long counter for getting ready. We both managed to use the mirror without annoying each other, or ending up with an elbow to the eye. The toiletries included shampoo, conditioner and even a toothbrush with toothpaste. You can forget your wash bag and you’ll be fine at Club Paradise Palawan. The shower was hot, powerful and we do love a giant rainfall shower head.
The one restaurant on the resort is Fire Fish. Here you will find a daily breakfast buffet 06:00 – 10:00am.
From 12:30pm it turns into an à la carte restaurant. There is only one menu, but it has foods from all over the world to keep things interesting. We had traditional Filipino dishes, Italian pasta and a pool side classic; a club sandwich and chips.
During your time at Club Paradise Palawan, you may get to meet some of its more unusual guests. The most obvious ones are the resident colony of fruit bats. They hang out in the trees near the pool and every night, they put on a spectacular show at sunset. The whole camp of bats heads off to the mainland in search of food.
Elsewhere on the island you may bump into a monitor lizard cooling off in the lagoon, a butterfly flitting across the path or an aquarium worth of fish on the house reef.
For a thorough rub down, or a serious dose of relaxation, head to the Glow Spa. Open all day until 23:00, the therapists are ready to provide a great list of massage options. After debating it for a day we opted for the Gentleman’s Package for Mr Fluskey (a 40 min massage and express facial) and a full 60 min massage and 40 min facial for Mrs Fluskey.
The treatments were performed in two adjacent beds. The staff just pulled the curtain back so it felt like we were in one treatment room. This means that you can pick anything on the menu and they will treat it as a couples massage.
The staff couldn’t have been more professional. They checked the pressure for each of us and made sure we were as comfortable as possible. My facial used a gentle scrub and then a tea tree infused lotion. It smelt great! The full body massage was just the right level of intensity. It wasn’t too gentle (sleepy territory) or too hard (grimace into the pillow territory). They found my tense spots, going at my knotted shoulders until they started to give. I loved every minute of it.
My absolute favourite activity in the resort was to stretch out on the one of the super comfortable poolside beds and listen to the waves on the beach behind me.
The pool was split into two parts. One was deep enough to swim in properly and was just long enough to use as a lap pool. The other area had fountains and submerged sunbeds. I love submerged sunbeds, they are a fabulously refreshing alternative. This part had quite a few kids in it later in the day but it seemed to be a grown up haven earlier on.
The main beach at Club Paradise Palawan is a 700 metre stretch of perfect golden sand. It faces West and so the sun graces it for most of the day. It is a wonderful place to bronze all afternoon, and enjoy a sundowner cocktail in the evening.
With so much space, you will be able to find a private spot really easily. Whether you want to lounge in the shade of a hammock, laze on a sunbed or build a sandcastle, you will find yourself a secluded spot. There are showers and foot wash stations to avoid spreading the sand all across the resort.
Do a little exploring and you will find your very own spot. Secret Beach gets the morning sun. It is more natural than the main beach, a rough and ready spot.
If you are feeling adventurous, you can play Tarzan on the resort’s own rope course. There are steps, swings, nets and tightropes to tackle. We ran out of time try it, which I was truly gutted about. It looked like it was great fun!
Check out all our travels in The Philippines
To get a wonderful 360 view of the island, especially for sunset, you can take the 30 minute hike up to Eagle Point. The path varies in difficulty on the way up. If you are running out of puff, you aren’t far from an easier section.
The final ascent is up some concrete steps. They don’t seem too steep on the way up, but do on the way down. I climbed down backwards which made it much easier.
Check out the views from the top of the tower:
Remember that reef I mentioned? Well, that is where you can start your exploration of the waters surrounding the island. The Aquasports office by the pool will lend you a snorkel and fins for a snorkelling trip. They can provide a guide if you are feeling a little unsure. We opted to do it ourselves and waded into the waves. We swam for two minutes and found the edge of the house reef. It was teeming with life and we saw fish galore! There were fish of all colours and a nice variety of corals. We even saw a completely harmless but awfully exciting black tip reef shark. It would be the day that our GoPro decided to stop working!
Next door is the Dugong dive shop. They can arrange dives at all the famous wrecks around Coron as well as great nature spots. They told us that most of the dives they do are for those guests who haven’t tried it before, but you can do leisure dives, dive qualifications and amazing adventure dives with them. We decided to do the island tour instead of scuba diving, but the night dives on the house reef sounded very cool.
You can arrange a special dinner down on the beach. We were lucky enough to try out this experience and it was a wonderful treat. There is a weekly dinner on the beach but this is just for the two of you and is so romantic with the sound of the waves lapping just a metre from your table.
We had our own waiter and they couldn’t have been more helpful. I mentioned that it was going to be my birthday in a couple of days, and they even bought me a little cake, and the house band(!) to sing happy birthday.
Speaking of the great service…
The staff at Club Paradise Palawan could not have been nicer. Every interaction we had was friendly, polite and made us feel special. Justin at the front desk told us all about the resorts facilities and how to get the most out of our stay. He showed us all the way to our room and was extremely cheerful. Mr Escobar, the resort manager was out every evening to speak with the guests and check that everything was perfect. I was amazed at the personal touch. It made us feel like VIPs.
During our stay, we saw a wedding taking place. The ceremony was set up right on the sand and I had to go and have a look.
I loved the little details that had been set up. It had a real sense of tropical magic. We watched it from afar and everyone seemed to enjoy the day. It must be a really special place to get hitched (and at a fraction of the cost of a similar ceremony in the Caribbean!)
Check out our our Review of Air Juan from Coron Airport (USU)
We had a truly wonderful time at Club Paradise Palawan. We have been to a few fancy resorts, but the staff here made us feel so incredibly welcome, that it felt like we were meant to be there.
If you thinking of visiting, here are some things you might like to know:
We were hosted by Club Paradise Palawan but we had a genuinely wonderful time and as always, all opinions are my own.
Rosie xx
Browsing through Airbnb, curious to see what was available in Peru’s Sacred Valley, I came across something very special. A capsule hotel in Peru. Mr Fluskey and I were travelling to Peru on honeymoon and I knew straight away that we HAD to book Skylodge Adventure Suites. Who wouldn’t want to hang off the edge of the Sacred Valley in a pod? It’s a Cusco Cliff hotel; so amazing! Even if you just fancy doing some rock climbing or a zip wire with Natura Viva? Read on to see our Skylodge Adventure Suites review!
This post may contain sponsored content or affiliate links that help support the blog. All opinions are our own.
Our trip did not start out terribly well. I suffered a bruised coccyx just three days into the trip after a bit of a tumble from a sandboard in the desert (that’s a story for another time). I was unable to sit down properly, or get myself in and out of chairs. Walking was bearable but I wouldn’t say it was terribly comfortable. The solution? Painkillers taken at regular intervals.
Another three days on and we found ourselves at the base of a sheer rock face, gazing up at the shiny pods, high above us.
Skylodge Adventure Suites is located in Peru’s Sacred Valley, near Ollantaytambo. The company that owns them is Natura Viva. The suites consist of three bedroom pods and one fancy new dining pod (still under construction when we visited in 2016 but now in full use).
The pods are attached to the valley wall with a series of strong metal lines. Each pod is constructed to allow stunning views out over the valley, as it is full of windows. Do you remember the Crystal Maze? You know the large crystal at the end, the bit when they are trying to catch all the money? Well, it’s like that.
We jumped out of Natura Viva’s minibus. I was full of enthusiasm despite my throbbing backside. Mr Fluskey, however, went into free fall.
To reach the bedrooms, you have two options.
Safety equipment is provided for both of these activities. A helmet and harness are given to you and you will be clipped onto safety wires the entire time.
Mr Fluskey didn’t realise that there were options. The other couple that we had been talking to in the minibus were taking the hard way up, the via ferrata. Happily, we were not! However, not knowing this, he panicked.
“We aren’t going to be able to do this!”
After a five minute freak out, we got him a bit calmer and we started our ascent towards the Skylodge Suites.
I’m not going to lie. It really hurt my bottom!! Taking little steps, up a steep slope wasn’t good. This is how we spent our first twenty minutes or so. However, the walk became more of a rock climbing scramble, and those parts were mysteriously better.
We are pretty unfit. We had done no training whatsoever and in the run-up to the wedding, I had been sat at the dining room table making centrepieces, drawing up table plans and doing other wedding-related admin tasks. Going to the gym just didn’t happen.
We were both puffing and panting but we made slow and steady progress, zigzagging across the rock face and ever upwards. The valley is quite high, 2,700 metres above sea level, so the altitude can leave you a little more short of air than normal.
On the way up, we even got a little taster of the zip wire adventure we were looking forward to the next day.
I LOVE A ZIPWIRE!
The whole ascent took around two hours, but the feeling of having a hot poker stuck up my whatsit made it seem quite a bit longer. You know what though? I loved every minute of it!
(I don’t know if “pod” is quite the right name. I think they are probably posher than a “pod” but it is just the name that seems best to me right now.)
We finally made it to the roof of our Skylodge bedroom and by now, I was feeling pretty fearless. The view was so great!
As the wires had kept us safe up until then I took a walk out across the rooftop. From the pictures, it looks totally tame but, honestly, I was a daredevil!
I was expecting the pod to be a bit like a fancy tent but I was VERY pleasantly surprised. The interior was much more spacious than I imagined.
At one end, looking down the valley, was a large double bed. This was by far the most comfortable mattress we slept on during our trip to Peru.
Two single beds to either side of the capsule (ooo, new word for it) served as sofas. This is where your two additional guests would sleep if you had booked it for four. We sat here, with our two little tables, and were served dinner. It was crazy to think that our guide hadn’t just come up with us, but had since been down and hauled our dinner all the way back up in a backpack! It put our little struggle into perspective.
At the other end of the pod is a zipped off area that looks up the valley. Here is where you will find “the facilities”.
I won’t go into details, it does slightly diminish the romance…but then it is quite the novelty. All I’ll say is pee tube, and poo bags.
Considering the whole meal service was carried up to the Skylodge by one of the guides, it was hot and of excellent quality.
We got:
Delightful! Taking a quick look at their website, I have seen that you can now go for lunch in the new dining pod, perfect if you just want a little taster of the experience (pun intended).
Waiting for dinner, I kept getting little tummy thrills. I think that being out of my harness made me feel a little more vulnerable. Mr Fluskey was completely the other way around. I think this is why they give you wine. It definitely calmed that little twanging nerve.
As we tucked in, we noticed movement below us, and the lights of pod down to our left blinked on. The other couple, had FINALLY reached their bedroom. It had taken them an extra hour and a half. We were SO glad we took the easy route.
I cannot recommend staying the night in the Skylodge highly enough. Settling down for bed was lovely. We lay in our super comfy bed and gazed up at the stars through the ceiling.
We chatted for an hour or so, reflecting on the day’s activities. It was the most relaxed and blissed out I felt for the entire trip.
The next morning was very surreal. Instead of eating in our bedroom, we were due to make our way down to one of the other pods to eat on the roof. Having less fuel in my muscles, they were a bit more wobbly than the day before. Taking one sugary little snack to eat as soon as you wake up may be a good plan.
Again, the breakfast was hot and delicious. I can’t remember exactly what we had, but it involved great scrambled eggs and pancakes, as well as lashings of hot coffee. You’ll appreciate the warmth of it when you are sat at that altitude. It was the most amazing place to have breakfast!
A quick pit stop to collect our belongings and we set off again for the ZIP WIRE!!!
Have I mentioned that I enjoy zip wires?
Alternatively known as a flying fox, zip line or deceiving a death slide(!) it involves a tight wire being set up between two points, one higher than the other. You then attach yourself to it and dangle beneath as you speed across from point A, to point B.
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We rode six wires that morning, the longest of which was a mind-bending 700m. It just kept going.
I had such a wonderful morning flying through the air, slowly getting closer and closer to the valley floor. You ride a total of 2800 metres of wire over 7 different lines. I could have carried on for hours. Unfortunately, gravity took its course and within just one hour we were back on terra firma.
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What can I say? If you are travelling to Peru, book Skylodge Adventure Suites!!
It sells out quickly so book it now! Book it here!
If you aren’t going to Peru, maybe it’s time to start planning your trip!? You won’t regret it. Skylodge Adventure Suites is one of the most amazing places (if not THE most amazing) I have ever slept (just in case this Skylodge review hadn’t made that clear). The view is great and even if you are just coming to rock climb or zip wire with Natura Viva, you’ll get the same amazing vista. The mixture of adrenaline and luxury is superb and make this a truly once in a lifetime experience…unless I go back…which is tempting.
Rosie xx
