We set off after work on a Friday night, our flight was from Liverpool John Lennon Airport with Easyjet at 18.55, we had checked in online, no luggage required for this quick 2 night break and were settled in the new Aspire airport lounge by 5.30pm having only left work at 4.30!

What an amazing transformation the new Aspire lounge is… clean, comfortable and first class with free wi fi, refreshments, magazines, TV and very attentive staff, the only downside was there were no toilets within the lounge. It was the start to a perfect weekend and cost £17.49 per adult, £9.99 per child with infants going free.

We boarded the flight on time and arrived in Paris Charles de Galle 90 minutes later, you land in terminal 2B, be warned the facilities at this terminal are awful and was a complete contrast to what we have a Liverpool John Lennon!  I had pre -booked a taxi and was so glad we did, the taxi queues were enormous; within 50 minutes of landing we had arrived at the magnificent Hotel Le Bristol.  We felt like royalty, met by a very efficient doorman and escorted up to our room.

Since its opening in 1925 as a “travellers’ hotel”, the owners of Hôtel Le Bristol – first the Jammet family and now, since 1979, the Oetker family – have constantly strived to create surroundings for a perfect stay.

Renowned for its exquisite French garden, Hotel Le Bristol is ideally located on the rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré, famous for its fashion boutiques and art galleries, only steps away from the Champs-Elysées, Place de la Concorde, Louvre and Orsay museums.

Le Bristol is a magnificent 18th century style palace with fine antique furniture, an outstanding collection of Lille tapestries and old master paintings, many of which were acquired from an auction of reserve works staged by the Louvre Museum before the Second World War. Le Bristol has been consistently renovated and modernized since 1980 and every year introduces new improvements to conserve the hotel’s treasured heritage – this year it has introduced an amazing new spa by Prairie.

Our Junior Suite was immense with a balcony overlooking the street with the lights of the Eiffel Tower in the distance.

Facilities at Le Bristol’s include a new gastronomic restaurant, Epicure,  which opens its windows onto the French garden and is very much the a la carte restaurant for that special occasion. There is a more casual restaurant,114 Faubourg, with a menu that reflects creative and authentic cuisine; this is where we enjoyed a delicious dinner.

Le Bristol Bar is the perfect spot where guests will experience an outstanding service and extraordinary cocktails, it all comes at a price though,our bill was 43 euros for a coke, beer and the house cocktail!

We were thoroughly spoilt at the hotel and the hotel really goes out of its’ way to make children welcome – my daughter, Charlie, had cookies in the shape of rabbits, hot chocolate, a mini bathrobe and a cute little bunny waiting on her bed called “Lapin”. There is even an indoor swimming pool and a kids club suitable for younger guests.

This hotel is for a celebration or special treat – you can expect to pay around £300 per night for a junior suite with breakfast. Myriad Travel does have an exclusive offer with this hotel; guaranteed room upgrade, VIP treatment, complimentary breakfast, complimentary one-way airport transfer and an 85 euro credit for the spa.  During the months of July and August you can stay 3 nights and receive the 4^th night free,

Some of Myriad Travel’s more modest hotels would be Le Dokhans, Relais Christine, Hotel Esprit Saint Germain and Sydney Opera.

If you’re planning to travel to Paris, you’ll want to tick off its most famous sights. Naturally you should start with Paris’s most famous landmark of all, the elegant Eiffel Tower, from the top of which you’ll see the whole city laid out before you.  The queues are horrendous so it is imperative you have pre-booked a private tour prior to your visit.  We did and not only did we discover some very exciting facts but we were taken behind the scenes to explore and were able to jump the queue to head right up to the top of the tower – the tour cost us 19 euros each for a 90 minute tour with English speaking guide.

Before the Eiffel Tower became recognised throughout the world as the definitive symbol of Paris, it was first criticised for its modernity within the architectural landscape of 1889 and was built for the Universal Expo held in Paris that year. The panoramic views it offers of the French capital are quite simply breathtaking.

For cultural immersion, hit the Louvre Museum with its futuristic glass pyramid in the central courtyard. The elegant Tuileries garden in front of the Louvre is a peaceful spot, with its beautifully kept lawns and fountains.

Paris is, of course, known to be a hub of fashion and design, and the city’s top creations are showcased every year at the Foire de Paris in springtime. For a glimpse of the world of the Paris fashionista check out the Galeries Lafayette, or just wander down the Rue St Honoré. For an intellectual stroll, the Latin Quarter houses the grand old university buildings, while the literary area of Saint Germain houses a plethora of boutiques and contemporary art galleries. Nearby you will find Notre Dame, of Victor Hugo’s celebrated novel. Paris is the perfect city to discover on foot.

On Saturday night after dinner we took a tour of Paris by night in a Citroen 2CV complete with English speaking tour guide – the tour lasted an hour and was exceptional with the guide answering our various questions whilst driving down the Champs Elysee in this fun, quirky car; the weather was mild enough to have the roof off.

On the Sunday morning we headed off to Monmatre after breakfast, it was a wonderful sunny day with many artists out sketching – Charlie, our 8 year old had a wonderful portrait done and we spent the afternoon people watching over lunch and a glass of wine – the area was full of street entertainers and it really was the end to a perfect weekend.

All to soon it was time to head back home so we jumped a taxi back to Charles de Galle airport, unfortunately terminal 2B is not the best, my advice would be not to go through to the gate straight away as there really is nothing airside.

Paris in springtime is not just for the romantics but a great weekend break for all ages including kids! If anyone needs any advice or further information please do not hesitate to contact me on 0151 738 1393, tiffany@myriadtravel.co.uk

On my recent travels with the family we headed east to Bali via a stop-over in Kuala Lumpur with Malaysian Airlines, a long flight but most definitely worth it! 

Arriving at Bali airport we were greeted by the hotel driver with cold towels and iced water; we drove through picturesque villages and terraced rice fields for 1 hour before reaching Candidasa in the east of the island and the beautiful resort of Alila Manggis.

East Bali is an emerging destination for the more discerning visitor wanting an authentic experience with more natural attractions than any other part of Bali.  With dramatic scenery, dozens of beaches, coral reefs and WW2 shipwrecks for diving and snorkeling, ancient sites and a traditional Bali Aga village where the people cling tenaciously to their traditions the area has much to offer.  You will find tropical forests, beautiful rice terraces, royal palaces, trekking, quiet roads without wall to wall shops – and dominating the whole region is the brooding presence of Bali’s highest and most sacred volcano, the towering Mt. Agung.  The pace of life is slower here without the tacky nightspots and excesses of South Bali.

Alila Manggis is a secluded, stylish resort set amidst a coconut grove near the town of Candidasa.  All rooms face the ocean and are contemporary in design with all the modern amenities you would expect from a resort of this calibre; air-conditioning, minibar, handmade toiletries, tea & coffee making facilities and free wi-fi.  With only 53 rooms and suites housed in traditional two storey Balinese pavilions you can be assured of personal attention and excellent service.

The swimming pool is a central feature of the resort and is designed to create a relaxing atmosphere with comfortable sun loungers and attentive pool service with butlers serving iced cold drinks and bar snacks.  The Seasalt restaurant inspired by the neighbouring organic salt farm offers a diverse range of Balinese and international cuisine with an excellent children’s menu.

Shortly after our arrival we were met by the Leisure Concierge who had arranged the most amazing itinerary for us to ensure we made the most of our time with activities to suit all ages and abilities. The staff at the hotel were extremely attentive and really made the holiday, nothing was too much trouble.  This resort is not 5* prices at £275 per person per week inclusive of breakfast, a complimentary dinner and spa treatment it offers excellent value for money.

We went water rafting, an exhilarating experience and very reasonably priced at US$55 per person with lunch included.  The next day it was a mountain bike ride through villages stopping off at the water palace and ending with a swim off a sandy beach.

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Day 3 started with a trip to Klungkung market with the chef to buy ingredients for our cooking class.  We experienced amazing sights, sounds and aromas of one of the busiest village markets in East Bali.  We learnt how to use the ubiquitous Ulekan (traditional pestle & mortar) to make the embodiment of Balinese cuisine – Bumbu Bali (curry paste), peanut sauce, grilled chicken skewers and the infamous Nasi Goreng.  At the end of the class we sat down to savour the morning’s handiwork over a leisurely lunch – we were even presented with a certificate of achievement and an “Alila” apron.  

The following day it was the organic garden adventure with lunch.  Just 10 minutes from the hotel is the hotel’s organic garden, home to various vegetables, herbs and spices and managed by head gardener Mr Pak.  We were shown traditional farming techniques and armed with boots and rice hats we joined in the action in the padi fields.  Lunch was a healthy affair in a traditional shelter called a “Kubu kubu”.

The teenagers in the family enjoyed the “food for life” experience.  Using organic techniques they made coconut massage oil, coffee bean body scrub followed by a holistic massage.

So as you can tell there’s plenty to do at Alila and we only touched the surface – there’s fishing, diving, snorkeling, cultural tours, trekking and watersports.  The only downside is that the hotel is not located on the best beach but there is a sandy beach close by which the resort will happily take you – accompanied by a delicious picnic.

We went to the local town, Candidasa, twice during our stay, the hotel runs a complimentary shuttle bus to and from.  There are a handful of restaurants and shops there but don’t expect disco’s or clubs as this is not what this part of Bali is about but if you want relaxing, cultural and authentic experiences then this is the place to be.

Those of you who know me well will know I love my spas!  The spa at Alila is excellent and we each received a complimentary massage on arrival to assist with our jetlag recovery.  The setting was very calming and the outside salas provided a peaceful environment, all treatments ended with a delicious refreshing sorbet.

All too soon it was time to leave and as we headed back to the airport we stopped off in Kuta to get a feel for this part of Bali.  I have to say I am so glad we chose east Bali, Kuta was full of cheap shops selling fake goods, busy beaches and the whole area was very commercial.

If we had more time in Bali I would have twin centred east Bali with either Seminyak (luxury hotels, good beaches) or Ubud (central Bali, rainforest country).  We went in what is considered their low season however with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius and rain showers only occurring in the middle of the night it suited us just fine.

So most definitely we would visit Bali again!