How to ski with a toddler….#babydestinations

March 19, 2018March 19, 2018 hansjonesLeave a comment

Ok, so I’ll make it clear from the start. We didn’t put Little PB in a set of skis and send him off down the mountain.

Having not skied since before Little PB entered the world, I was very eager to get back out on the slopes. Verbier, Switzerland here we come!

We booked flights to Geneva with British Airways – our go-to airline. Their customer service is always fantastic and the facilities when you have a little one in tow are very beneficial.

We opted for club Europe seats for guaranteed space as well as access to their club lounge which was great for feeding Little PB lunch before the flight and enabled him to burn off some energy watching planes. The lounge also has a dedicated children’s play area which is very convenient.

A short walk to the gate, we had priority boarding and left the buggy at the plane door for collection via the baggage carousel in Geneva – so easy.
The 2 hour flight flew by (excuse the pun, it had to be done!). A set of baby headphones and plenty of Thomas the Tank Engine downloaded on the iPad (guided access turned on of course) kept Little PB engaged. I would recommend encouraging the little one to have a drink or use a dummy to ensure their ears adjust to the change in air pressure – ear popping is not pleasant for adults as well as babies.

We picked up a hire car and car seat at Geneva airport. I must pre warn you that the drive from Geneva to Verbier can be as long as 3 hours so ensure you have enough snacks and entertainment for the drive.

I’m fortunate to have family in Verbier so was able to stay with them. Accommodation is expensive during the ski season so don’t be surprised if you have to stay outside the village and drive in each morning. Furthermore, parking can be challenge so worth considering parking by the station at the bottom of the mountain and jumping on the cable car. Avoids the winding road and gives you some spectacular views along the way.

We hired our skis, boots and helmets from Mountain Air. The best place to hire from by far – excellent customer service and certainly the most pleasant environment I’ve rented skis from in the past! More like a designer store.
We organised a Petit Verbier nanny in advance of our trip. I can’t recommend this service enough. Fully qualified nannies who go above and beyond with activities in the snow and rides on the free bus to visit the duck pond.

We met our ski instructor supplied by ES Snowsports outside Mountain Air and were escorted up the mountain and even though I fell over more than I would like to share, it was great to be back on skis whizzing down the mountain.

A family lunch back at Le Bec bought our morning ski to a close but it was certainly worth all the effort in organising.

To comfort those that don’t ski, the après ski is a great way to explore the mountain and Verbier village. After lunch, we bundled Little PB into the buggy for nap time and wandered past a wide range of boutiques, cafes and bars.

Settling on a bar with a view, with a sleeping baby, Mr PB and I enjoyed a café noir and hot chocolate soaking up the glorious sunshine.

We rounded the day off with a family sledging session – hiring a sledge and baby goggles from Mountain Air, we headed on the free bus to the nursery slopes that has a dedicated sledging area. With a space for Mr PB and Little PB securely strapped in, there were plenty of giggles and smiles.

This day by far exceeded my expectations of what skiing with a toddler is like and I would certainly recommend that you give it a go – the key is to prepare and organise your day.

To be continued…..

x PB x

South Africa will always have a piece of my heart

June 26, 2017July 2, 2017 hansjonesLeave a comment

I first visited South Africa 4 years ago. A Cape Town to Cape Town garden route driving holiday stopping at Plettenburg Bay, staying at Gorah in Addo Elephant Park, Outdshoorn and Stellenbosch. I cried each time I left the places we visited and I cried on the plane home wishing the hubby would turn round and say “shall we stay for another week?”

So, 4 years on, we went back. This time with a little person in tow! A few people thought we were crazy…..”South Africa, with an 8 month old?? Really?” “That won’t feel like a holiday” “you won’t get any sleep on the plane I bet!” Well, you know what, it was the best decision we made and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!

Ok, so the business class flights helped ensuring that we ALL got sleep…..yep, we got 10 hours straight from our little man each way (ear defenders were a must though to ensure that service didn’t disturb him) and everywhere we chose to stay promised a family friendly service and we got it in bucket loads. If you do fly Business Class with BA, be sure to choose the upstairs option on a 747 as the space you get is great for the hoards of stuff you need when travelling long haul with a baby!

First stop – Amakhala Game Reserve about 1 hours drive from Port Elizabeth. We stayed at Woodbury Lodge as it welcomed children of all ages. Arriving at 2.30pm, we were introduced to the onsite babysitter and by 4pm, hubby and I were off in a truck to find wild animals!!!! That was no easy task – in the build up to knowing we would be leaving our little one with a stranger on our first day of holiday was difficult to comprehend. However, Cindy was amazing and, on reflection, it was a great start to the holiday as we had 8 hours each day together whilst Cindy took over – that instantly relaxed us into holiday mode.

The Game Reserve was well equipped for babies with highchairs available, travel cots and always willing to provide most foods if requested for the little one. Cheese sandwiches seemed to be a favourite!

Plenty of animals to spot and a fantastic service from all the staff who couldn’t do enough for us and our little man.

The room was large and very well equipped – it just needs a bit of TLC to make it even more comfortable and enjoyable as you do end up spending a good chunk of the day in your own area between game drives. The addition of a private terrace was lovely and provided shade during the heat of the day. If you want a game drive experience but feel you might miss out because you have a baby with you, then I would definitely recommend Woodbury and we will be going back there in the not too distant future.

Next stop – Lairds Lodge Country House Estate, Plettenburg Bay. We stayed here 4 years ago and it was hard to leave behind so I was thankful that we were able to return this year. Again, very family friendly but they don’t sacrifice the service or style of the hotel as some do when they try too hard to involve families. My heart beats faster when I take in the interior design. I just want to live there….animal print mixed in with textured fabrics and soft furnishings, quirky accessories and beautiful woodwork make this a stylists dream! Our room was HUGE! A mix of dark earth tones, stark white accessories and bold prints! A separate living area and spacious bedroom and bathroom meant lots of room for crawling and standing without too many knocks or bangs……

A beautiful proper cot was in our room upon arrival dressed in gorgeous nursery bedding and the best bit….each night, the turndown service included the cot and a chocolate was given to Tigger!!!

Although no babysitter was available during our stay, we were given the private dining room so it was quieter with the baby in the buggy and when that wasn’t possible, the buggy was left in sight of the waiters and they checked on him whilst we ate in peace…..I mean…..come on…..can you see why I want to live there?? The food is out of this world. A choice of 2,3 or 4 courses (around £25 for 4 courses) and a fantastic selection of wine. After dinner, we enjoyed a game of chess over an Amarula. A must when staying there!

Each breakfast, whilst salivating over the best food I’ve ever had at that time of day (and the little one agreed too!) the hotels PR Manager helps you plan your day ensuring you get the most out of it.

If you are visiting South Africa anytime soon, I highly recommend staying here as part of your trip. You won’t be disappointed!

Hermanus – Harbour House Hotel – a great stopping point on the trip to just relax and be forced to do very little. We opted for a self catering apartment (although you still get breakfast included in the main hotel). A very spacious apartment with a fully functioning kitchen and views to die for. We were off season for the whales but if you stayed there in peak times, you would have the perfect look-out!

Final stop – Mont Rochelle, Franschook. Bestill my beating heart…..a drive down the Franschook pass and following a winding road to the thatched Manor House, we were greeted by the most enthusiastic, passionate Hotel Manager and both hubby and I exchanged looks of contentment.

Our room was…..well I’m speechless. No words do it justice. Large open ceilings exposing the thatch and beams, we had a large living area with a balcony overlooking the Huggenuot Mountains, an expansive bedroom and even larger bathroom! The furnishings were a gorgeous mix of soft creams and bright yellows and limes. The bed was by far the most comfortable I’ve had on a holiday. Beyond our room, the hotel oozed style and class. A beautiful swimming pool, croquet lawn (we used this as the main entertainment for an 8 month old!) and endless views. A babysitter made dinner enjoyable and easy and, although the service could do with some work in the restaurant, the food was tasty.

A perfect end to our first perfect family holiday. Would I go back to Mont Rochelle as a family? Possibly not. Would I go back, just the 2 of us? Try and stop me! Just need to bring a nanny with us so we can enjoy more wine tasting and lounging by the pool.

If you ever have hesitations of going to SA with a small baby/toddler, please be reassured that we both felt relaxed and re-energised after this break away. We were fortunate that our little man was on his best behaviour (travel clearly suits him!) but I would still urge you to tiptoe outside your comfort zone and go for it! It will be worth it and, maybe like me, you’ll leave a piece of your heart behind that you will need to go back and collect at a later date.

This is the first in our series of Baby Destinations….more posts to come…..

Photo credits: Mr PB – https://www.flickr.com/photos/jjddjj/

Recieving a great reception!

August 13, 2015August 13, 2015 hansjones2 Comments

This may be a case of “judging a book by its cover” but those first few steps I take into a hotel lobby always seem to determine how I feel about that hotel.

Mr PB and I love to travel and have had the privilege of visiting many fabulous destinations around the globe. I intend to do separate reviews of those special hotels that we have stayed in but I thought I would share some first impressions.

The Royalton, Manhattan – I love New York. It was a dream of mine to visit since a young age and therefore, when the opportunity arose, it had to be right. Mr PB and I scoured the Internet many times over, trying to find that quintessential Manhattan hotel – with the feel of a Brownstone but centrally located. I was so overwhelmed by our final choice – I even cried when I saw the gallery on the internet so heaven knew what I would be like when we actually arrived. Walking through the statement fire engine red doors, you will be taken aback by how dark it is in comparison to most hotel lobby’s. However, the designers have thought carefully to bring you into a space that is both reception, wine bar and restaurant. With large dark leather sofas that you sink into, statement double-sided fires and a gorgeous modern take on wood panelling adorning the walls, you can imagine this lobby transitioning from day to night with little changes. The receptionists are concealed so that your eye is drawn to the bar area, again allowing it to welcome both hotel guests and residents of Manhattan. I would be quite happy sipping on a tea reading a book by day and then changing it up to a fabulous cocktail perched at the bar in the evening. P.S. I did both!

The One and Only, Cape Town – I will be honest and share that prior to our South African trip, I had concerns about the standard of the hotels – how would they compare with the more salubrious that we have stayed in. However, pulling into the entrance at The One and Only, Cape Town, I soon came to realise that this amazing country knows how to be the perfect host. Floor to ceiling windows in a light and airy space give you a beautiful view of table mountain. Dark wood mixed with cream rugs and colonial soft furnishings, it was pleasantly unexpected. And with a bar that would rival most in London, both from the quality of the cocktails and the decor, it was a superb welcome

The Spa Hotel, Tunbridge Wells – although our visit was only for dinner, I fell in love with the Reception area and have been planning my next visit.

You are greeted by an expansive marbled floor with 3 different areas surrounding a large, gorgeous copper table. Proudly displaying a selection of vases, this table is just out of this world spectacular. Banquet seating in a grey and blue floral, pale grey and steel blue sofas and armchairs and an array of table lamps and coffee tables are complimented by the cornflower blue on the walls. Wrought iron occasional tables sit around the edge sectionning the 3 seating areas providing an opportunity for some stylised placements of magazines, candles and books. I would recommend you book for dinner just to enjoy the reception area!

Where are your favourite hotel receptions?

x PB x

From the sublime to the ridiculous…Our Italian adventure part 2!

July 14, 2015July 13, 2015 hansjonesLeave a comment

Leaving the tranquil calm of Lake Como, we took a 3 hour drive to Venice (Venezia). Hopping on board a vaporetto, we travelled up the Grand Canal which, at times, felt more like a confused motorway with the amount of boats that seemed to dash in front of one another – removal companies, delivery firms and hoards of tourists using the river to it’s full capacity.

We disembarked at San Giglio and made our way to our hotel – AD Place. Tucked away between the winding canal and narrow cobbled streets, the hotel had an unimposing entrance that, without a map, you may well walk past without realising it.

The entrance hall was swathed in heavy Moroccan style fabrics covering the walls and the floor was adourned with lanterns of all shapes and sizes. At night, the candlelight added to an already romantic setting.

Climbing up the uneven stairs, you could only imagine what secret those steps and walls could share, even beneath the bright purple décor. After having to take our luggage up several flights of stairs in Lake Como, I was intrigued as to how this hotel would avoid it without a lift – the answer was in the chairlift type contraption with hugged the staircase!

There was a small bar area with extravagant silver sofas and a fantastic Marilyn Monroe coffee table. This was also where the simple breakfast was served each morning.

The hotel also benefits from a small, almost bijou, roof terrace. We were fortunate to have this to ourselves on both afternoons – watching the sun disappear behind the red tiled rooftops whilst enjoying a bottle of wine and reading our books was the perfect end to the hustle and bustle of the day.

Entering our room, we were greeted by a bold purple and green colour scheme – not something you would naturally expect behind the traditional brick walls. A large room with double aspect windows which looked down onto the canal, I realised I was in Venice when we were treated to a verse of Nessun Dorma by a passing gondola which resonated up the passageway filling our room.

A four poster bed dressed in voile dominated the room and I’m pleased to share that the bed was covered in cushions of varying textures and a throw

A large white wardrobe and matching dressing table were practical and standard but the dressing room chair was just divine – a traditional button back in lime green and woodwork painted a beautiful lilac.

The windows were draped in a heavy purple velvet and the walls were covered in a purple and white stripe fabric. I realised during our stay the walls were padded, presuming that Italian preservation orders don’t allow wallpaper but this added to the eccentricity.

The table lamps and floor lamps were dressed in a gorgeous deep purple voile with crystal accents which reflected across the room – not particularly practical if you want to read at night but I guess its a good job I had my Kindle Paperwhite!

The bathroom was a reasonable size, although the shower was a little cosy compared to the luxury we had in Lake Como.

The piece de la resistance had to be the Granny Smith apple place on a wall bracket. Not obvious at first as so much of the room takes your attention but a bizarre addition that made us both smile…and we aren’t even sure why.

I am sure that this hotel’s décor would not be to everyone’s taste and some may seek the more Venetian style extravagance but I personally swooned at their ability to mix the bold and brash with the traditional. Venice has an ability to embrace a style that most would not dare and for that, I admire this beautiful city that may one day be forever lost.

x PB x

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