I stayed in a chocolate themed hotel suite that was full of delicious treats – but what surprised me the most wasn’t the edible chocolate in the bathroom.
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I stayed in a chocolate hotel room
Hidden away, just an hour from the UK, is a hotel suite completely draped in chocolate. This is accommodation that money simply cannot buy, but no, you don’t need a golden ticket – you merely have to be the world’s kindest person.
Tony’s Chocolonely has teamed up with the Social Hub in Amsterdam to offer a select few people an overnight stay in this extraordinary, chocolate-themed room. And I was fortunate enough to become the first guest to experience it.
From the cupboards and shelves brimming with chocolate, the overwhelming chocolate aroma, and the inspirational messages scattered throughout, this suite was a remarkable space I won’t forget in a hurry.
However, it wasn’t just the edible chocolate in the bathroom that surprised me the most: it was the deeper meaning behind the competition.
What to expect
I stepped into the room through enormous red curtains to find a personal bartender, who prepared a beverage of my choosing. I opted for the Salted Caramel Espresso Martini, which was incredibly tasty and decadent. The bartender was welcoming, considerate and engaging.
I was then given free rein to discover the suite’s three spaces: the principal red one, a concealed blue room, and an upstairs monochrome room.
Each space conveyed its own theme and function: the red for community and connection, the blue for self-reflection, and the black and white for gratitude and recognition.
In the red room, I discovered a self-contained kitchen featuring a functioning hob, coffee maker, sink, microwave, a create-your-own ice-cream sundae station, a well-stocked fridge containing various beverages, and (crucially) cabinets brimming with chocolate.
Every visitor receives a shelf packed with chocolate which they can take away, to share with the loveliest people in their lives (or someone less lovely, should they wish). Messages about kindness and connection were dotted throughout. There was even a chocolate Jenga available with questions printed on the wrappers.
The blue room features a fortune slot machine, which requires finding tokens scattered around the suite to operate. Within it, you can collect chocolates and discover self-reflective questions. I invited my brother along, who was posed the question: “What’s one belief you have changed your mind about?”
He answered: “That I’m not good enough.” This wasn’t something I anticipated him revealing or knew he’d struggled with, because to me, my older brother is nothing short of perfect.
Finally, we entered the black-and-white room, where visitors can leave a message of kindness for the team or the following guest. Charlie Ayres, head of brand at The Social Hub, commented: “We wanted every part of the room to spark togetherness and encourage kindness, using chocolate to create opportunities to share, interact and above all, be sweet to one another.
“This is a one-off, limited experience designed to celebrate some of the world’s sweetest people, while also telling a more important story. Through our partnership with Tony’s Chocolonely, we hope to spark conversation around exploitation in the chocolate industry, showing how experiences can be both joyful and meaningful.”
My night in the chocolate ‘red room’
The red room, along with the black and white room, was our accommodation for the evening, and the space is, quite frankly, enchanting.
Upon entering, I was met with a delightful chocolate aroma that wasn’t overly sweet but rather nutty and creamy. Everything appears extraordinary, and just when you think you’ve discovered all the chocolate, you open a new cupboard or area, and there’s even more.
The bed felt like sinking into a cloud, complete with a soft mattress and a thick duvet. Personally, I would have preferred the room to be a tad warmer, as it was a large area with only air conditioning and no heating.
However, there were ample blankets available, which kept me snug and warm. One minor issue was the television, which we couldn’t seem to get working, but this encouraged my brother and me to continue conversing.
I awoke feeling incredibly refreshed. We indulged ourselves with a scrumptious sundae before receiving a heartwarming and delightful wake-up call that encouraged us to share the kindness we’d experienced with the wider world.
Reflecting on his time there following the visit, my brother remarked: “Sweetness and warmth even down to the scent wafting throughout the rooms. It had a spacious bathroom, a comfortable bed and an abundance of chocolate as a treat at hand, anywhere you looked. Thought and caring touches sprinkled throughout promoting mindfulness and a reminder that peace doesn’t happen in a vacuum.”
The chocolate-themed room will remain available for the next three days. Enthusiasts in Amsterdam can also visit the space on March 29 from 1 pm.
The message
When the world requires a touch of kindness, this partnership seeks to inspire people to engage with family, friends, and even complete strangers, and to appreciate the significance of making decisions that benefit those in their community.
Trix van der Vleuten, chief marketing officer at The Social Hub, explained: “The world feels increasingly divided. We’re more digitally connected than ever, yet loneliness is rising. We wanted to come together with Tony’s to showcase that sweetness, simple, human kindness, matters more than ever, and that people can enjoy our products while positively impacting society.”
Through this launch, Tony’s Chocolonely aims to spotlight its commitment to aiding approximately 40,000 cocoa farmers in achieving a sustainable income. The firm’s head of global brand and communications, Sadira E. Furlow, stated that the brand’s goal is to eradicate exploitation within the cocoa industry by demonstrating that chocolate can be produced more ethically.
The 18 rooms and five suites combine original features with extravagant modern touches to make for a luxurious stay.
Our dog-friendly Cotswold Room had exposed wooden beams complemented by sleek interior design, including air con and a massive TV.
The bed was enormous and beyond comfortable, while the marble-effect bathroom had a belter of a shower.
There was also a doggy welcome pack, which included treats, toys and a plush sleeping pad.
It was the most wonderful stay in an idyllic village setting. Relaxing, even with our nutter of a cockapoo.
Rooms start at £250 including breakfast. Dogs charged at £30 per stay. See feathers.co.uk.
What is there to eat and drink there?
If the sun’s out, head to the hotel’s cute courtyard at The Aviary and get that Aperol spritz ordered.
For dinner, move inside to The Nest for fine dining with a flourish. Every item was off the scale but the star of the show was the lamb main.
For the lamb dish alone I would walk from my home in South West London.
Make sure to return for lunch as they serve a beautiful afternoon tea.
What else is there to do?
Woodstock is perfect for a genteel traipse, and a visit to nearby Blenheim Palace is a no-brainer.
The signs boast this is “Britain’s Greatest Palace” – and the beauty of the undulating grounds coupled with the striking palace itself definitely put it in there with a good shout.
Is it family friendly?
Two of the suites have sofa beds at an additional cost, for families staying with kids.
Cots can also be rented for £10 a night.
Is the hotel accessible?
The hotel has an accessible room on the ground floor.
I visited a unique British city which has plenty of character, a liberal vibe and a thriving art scene, but it’s often overshadowed by its posher neighbour
The city’s Castle Park is a relaxing place to spend time in(Image: Katie Oborn)
Britain boasts numerous cities waiting to be explored, and it’s remarkable how distinctive each one is, moulded by its heritage, residents, and surrounding terrain. I recently returned to a British city I’ve visited before, and whilst much has evolved in this vibrant metropolis over the years, it frequently gets overlooked because of its more celebrated neighbour.
I’ve been travelling to Bristol for several decades now, and the city conjures up warm memories of the Lakota nightclub from the late 1990s – the night spot is still open.
This urban centre has always possessed a rebellious “soul” with an independent spirit – and in recent years, the Green Party have effectively assumed complete control of Bristol City Council. During my visit to the city, I was struck by how spotless it was in the shopping area – and also how welcoming locals were.
As with everywhere else I’ve travelled to recently, there appears to be substantial construction underway in Bristol as the need for new housing continues to surge, but the city also boasts some striking, well-maintained period buildings.
I observed that many of the historic structures in Bristol were constructed from the same stone as those in the neighbouring city of Bath – and Bristol is frequently overshadowed when compared to the more conventionally picturesque city of Bath.
Nevertheless, Bristol possesses its own distinctive appeal and a progressive atmosphere, the city has a multicultural population alongside a flourishing arts culture, as well as some excellent retail and culinary destinations.
Bristol’s historic structures, constructed from a honey-hued limestone (referred to as Bath stone), contrast strikingly with the contemporary cityscape, whilst numerous modern buildings in Bristol have been decorated in vibrant colours, enhancing its distinctive charm.
A trip to Bristol can often prove more budget-friendly than Bath, and the city boasts excellent transport connections including a train service to London taking merely one hour and 30 minutes.
During my visit to Bristol I was accommodated at the Clayton Hotel on Broad Street, this four-star establishment occupies what was formerly a historic printworks location – with the structure dating back to approximately 1900.
The hotel’s striking Art Nouveau facade was created by William James Neatby, who served as the principal designer at Royal Doulton throughout the late 1800s to the early 1900s.
Broad Street itself proved fascinating, as upon exiting the hotel and glancing right, positioned just at the street’s end stood an ancient church, St Johns, which I’ve since learnt originates from medieval times and sits within the original city walls.
Visitors can pass through an archway of St Johns church (Nelson Street) to reach a main thoroughfare and considerably newer section of the city, creating the genuine sensation of travelling back in time; this district comprises Bristol’s old town.
Stumbling upon remnants of Bristol’s historic quarters is captivating, and nestled within the charming Castle Park in the city stands another church (St Peter’s) which traces its origins to the 11th century, encircled by a Physic Garden – and spending time here allows you to envision the lives that once unfolded in centuries past.
Today, Bristol city centre sits just 30 minutes from Bristol Airport with regular buses and coaches ferrying passengers back and forth – and there are rail connections or coaches to South West locations including Cornwall or Devon.
Many people mistakenly believe that Bristol sits within Somerset, but the city and its surrounding areas are actually an independent county corporate, established as far back as 1373, with a present-day unitary authority council.
The About Bristol website put it clearly: “Bristol is the largest city in the south west of England, with a population of approximately half a million.
“The city lies between Somerset and Gloucestershire and has been politically administered by both counties in part at various times. However, Bristol is historically a county in its own right and is properly entitled the City and County of Bristol.”
So what makes Bristol “better” than Bath, well there’s the Banksy claim to fame and the Banksy trail – and I’ve encountered a couple of these iconic works on previous trips.
Then there’s the nightlife. During this visit I attended an experimental gig at Strange Brew and the vibe was edgy yet inviting (that encapsulates Bristol perfectly I’d say).
Bath is undeniably a beautiful city to explore, but it exudes an air of affluence, whereas Bristol, rich in its own history, has a more down-to-earth vibe – and there are far fewer tourists to navigate around.
Indeed, Bristol made headlines in 2020 when a historical contentious bronze statue of Bristol-born slave trader Edward Colston was defaced and toppled during an anti-racism protest nearly six years ago – and this certainly raised some eyebrows at the time.
Those involved were making a stand and delivering a significant message, despite many labelling the statue’s toppling as vandalism at the time.
This act by protesters will also be etched in history as those responsible spotlighted Colston’s involvement in the Atlantic slave trade, in a manner that brought it to the attention of a wider audience – and I believe Bristol will always possess a rebellious spirit, it’s simply the nature of the city.
It also ranked ahead of heavyweights like Haven, Warner, Butlins and Parkdean.
Steffan Rhys Deputy Content Hub Director
05:14, 14 Mar 2026
My Full Bluestone National Park Resort Review
This remote corner of the UK is magical. It is steeped in history and home to the most beautiful landscapes. Stone burial chambers date back 4,000 years, standing stones inscribed with Latin and Ogham (an ancient Irish) dot the countryside and wrapped around it all is one of the most striking coastlines anywhere, where waves roll in over pristine sandy beaches or smash violently against towering rock faces.
At the heart of it all is the Bluestone National Park Resort, set within 500 acres of wild Welsh countryside. A holiday park it may be, but Bluestone wants you to feel like you are part of the Pembrokeshire panorama that surrounds you on all sides. So well-absorbed is the resort into its surroundings that despite its size and its hundreds of lodges you’d scarcely have any clue it was there until you were well inside.
But that’s not to say it’s not also a modern and luxurious holiday experience, especially where its new lodges are concerned. They took my breath away.
Bluestone in a nutshell
Most of Bluestone is made up of its 300 or so beautiful wooden lodges of various sizes dotted across hills not far from the pretty town of Narberth. The centre of the resort is its purpose-built village home to a couple of dozen charming, colourful stone cottages, a handful of restaurants, some shops (selling a wide range of Welsh foods, beers, spirits and toys), a spa and a pub with a beer garden conveniently a playground.
Also in the resort is a large indoor play area called The Hive (with one of the best features you’ll find in any indoor play area – more on that later), the Blue Lagoon, a large swimming area with indoor and outdoor slides and a wave machine, and the Serendome, a covered indoor-outdoor adventure play area featuring everything from a theatre to an extensive aerial adventure course. Generally speaking, the resort is probably better for younger children rather than teenagers (mine are 10 and under) but you can make your own call on that.
I’ve been holidaying here for a decade. My children have grown up coming here almost every year of their lives so it already holds a special place in my family’s hearts. We’ve just returned from our most recent visit, which coincided with winter turning to spring (though no one told the Welsh weather that). I’d go back tomorrow.
Accommodation: The lodges
There’s only one place to start and that’s with Bluestone’s new Platinum Collection lodges. Immaculate and beautifully-designed, these brand new lodges are on another level to any I’ve stayed in before. We stayed in a St Govan Lodge (named after one of the most striking parts of the nearby coastline) with three bedrooms sleeping six people, two bathrooms including one gorgeous en suite with rain shower, standalone bath, twin sinks and serene starlight effect lighting on the ceiling.
There was a spacious upstairs open-plan living area with a dining room, a “cwtch” (a snug room with two chairs and a TV for relaxing, working or giving the kids some quiet time) and a sun room, a stunning new feature for Bluestone lodges with two fully retractable glass walls. Even at winter’s end we opened them wide to breathe in the Pembrokeshire air and drink in those views. In summer, it would be heavenly drinking prosecco or a cold beer as well as the scenery.
The lodges come fully-equipped with an oven, microwave, fridge freezer, dishwasher and even an air fryer, which we made full use of for breakfasts and an evening meal around the six-seater dining table. After a home-cooked meal on our first night, we settled into the huge u-shaped sofa in front of a cosy electric fire.
The Platinum Lodges also come with their own electric buggy to help you get around the resort. This was the highlight of my five-year-old’s trip as we tootled along in our six-seater at 6mph engaging in the resort-wide game of “beep the horn at everyone you pass”. The lodges also have their own buggy charging point.
All Bluestone’s lodges, which sleep between two and 14 people, come with kitchen and open plan living areas, while the cottages in the village have one or two bedrooms.
Check-in
Check-in is effortless. For most of the park’s guests, it’s a drive-through process: arrive at the welcome lodge, drive around the one-way system to your own lodge, unload your car then return it to the car park at the resort’s edge and forget about it until it’s time to leave. Outside check-in and check-out times, Bluestone is a car-free resort so you can stroll the roads or drive your buggy in peace and safety.
For Platinum Collection guests, it’s even smoother. We had our own exclusive entrance, check-in lodge, car park and buggy pick-up point. There can’t have been more than five minutes between checking in and driving odoff in the buggy after a quick how-to guide.
Activities
A sign on the wall in Bluestone’s village says “there’s no bad weather in Pembrokeshire, just the wrong clothes”. As someone who visited on a weekend when the weather ran its full gamut from blue-skied bright sunshine to howling wind and driving rain, I could not agree more.
Bluestone has masses of outdoor activities for all the family, from stand-up paddleboarding on its lakes to cycling, archery, exploring its woodland trails, zip-lining or rustic outdoor eating and marshmallow-toasting at Steep Ravine and Camp Smokey (which reopen in June after storm damage forced them to close). You also have all of Pembrokeshire and its award-winning beaches on your doorstep.
But even when it rains (and it’s Wales so there’s a high chance of this) there are masses of activities under cover. My kids were entertained every minute of the day. Start the day with a swim at the Blue Lagoon Water Park, an indoor pool heated to perfection (using locally sourced biomass) with four flumes, a wave machine, toddler splash areas and a lazy river which takes you outside for a quick loop before returning indoors. It’s looking a bit tired in parts and could probably do with a bit of touching up in the not-too-distant future as it approaches its 20th birthday but that doesn’t detract from how much fun it is.
The Hive indoor activity centre has soft play, a huge bouncy castle, climbing walls, messy play, and a cafe-bar upstairs where parents can relax while the kids tire themselves out. But the highlight of my trip this time round was watching my two children try Adrenaline, a circular zipline suspended from the roof which they flew around high above the play area. They came off grinning from ear to ear.
The Serendome is an indoor-outdoor adventure play area housed under a giant transparent dome housing everything from a multi-level aerial adventure course in which kids (and adults) can ride a bike across a zipwire three storeys high to an amphitheatre-style theatre in which we watched a local male voice choir perform on St David’s Day and danced along to a silent disco. There’s also a bar and a few pop-up food stalls.
And there’s The Well Spa, a tranquil, adult-only spa offering thermal experiences, hydrotherapy, saunas, steam rooms and a range of luxury treatments. The kids’ mum headed here for two hours of peace while the youngsters used up some energy on the Serendome’s aerial adventure course.
Food and drink
One of the great joys of Bluestone for me is being able to prepare and eat a meal in a beautiful upstairs open-plan dining room with views of the countryside all around. Whether it’s breakfast in morning sunshine or a cosy evening meal and glass of red wine with the wind and rain howling outside, we always plan on having at least one family meal in the lodge.
But there are plenty of options for dining out too. Our go-to is the Farmhouse Grill, a casual and rustic restaurant serving steaks, burgers fish and kids’ dinners. The Oak Tree serves pizza and other Italian food, there’s pub food in the Knights Tafarn (where a roaring log fire keeps you warm on cold winter days and a beer garden lets you soak in the summer sunshine), fast food at the NRG Lab in The Hive and outdoor eating at Camp Smokey. The food’s not award-winning but it’s perfectly decent. There’s more refined dining at the gorgeous Black Pool Mill, a newer addition to Bluestone’s eating options which is off-site and a 20-minute walk along a well-marked path or very short drive away.
Things to do outside Bluestone
We didn’t spend a single second outside Bluestone during our three-night stay. We never do. But if you did fancy a change, Bluestone is the only UK holiday resort situated inside a national park so you’re not only immersed in protected landscapes but have easy access to land, sea and coast. You are spoilt for choice in all directions in one of the most naturally beautiful places in Britain. Five minutes down the road is the gorgeous town of Narberth, which is packed with independent shops, outstanding restaurants and has been named among the best places to live in the country.
The stunning seaside town of Tenby is 25 minutes away and is also brimming with places to eat and drink. It also has no less than four beaches within a few minutes’ walk of the town centre. The less famous, but equally charming, town of Saundersfoot is just a short drive along the coast.
A little further away you have the unique harbour village of Porthgain, which, despite being tiny and at the end of one road in and out, manages to have one of the best places to eat in Wales, as well as one of its best pubs. Also not too far away are Britain’s smallest city of St David’s, with its magnificent cathedral, the harbour village of Solva (yet another place in the area named among the best places to live), and the truly jaw-dropping St Govan’s Head, where a tiny chapel is built into the cliff face just above thundering waves below.
And then there are the world-class beaches: Barafundle, Whitesands, Freshwater West and East, Marloes Sands – it’s difficult to find the superlatives for them.
Better than Center Parcs
I have no hesitation in saying I prefer staying in Bluestone to Center Parcs. Of course, it’s all subjective but Bluestone has also been named the best holiday park in Wales (and third best in the UK) for the third year running by holidaymakers and Which? readers, beating heavyweights like Center Parcs, Haven, Warner, Butlins, Parkdean and more.
Costs
Bluestone’s prices vary by accommodation type and time of year. Here are examples of costs for the upcoming season:
Weekend Easter break (arriving 10 April): from £645 for a 3‐night stay (up to 4 guests in a Ramsey Lodge or Caldey Deluxe).
Midweek Spring breaks: from £300 for a 4‐night stay (up to 4 guests in a Caldey Lodge).
The Mini Adventurer Break (from £300) is a deal designed especially for families with children under five and includes a bundle of free activities and entertainment during select midweek stays throughout the year. For qualifying dates, costs and included activities, visit https://www.bluestonewales.com/offers/free-activities-entertainment
All breaks include unlimited access to the Blue Lagoon water park, free indoor and outdoor play areas in The Hive, Serendome and village. Several activities do cost extra and need to be booked in advance: I would thoroughly recommend the 90-minute Sky Walk aerial adventure course (from £30, there’s also a Sky Walk Mini for smaller kids at £12.95), the Adrenaline circular zipline (£18 for two rounds) and the silent disco (from £5).
A meal for four including drinks at the Knights Tafarn pub cost £73 while a meal for seven including drinks and a bottle of wine at Farmhouse Grill came in at £220.
Access to the Celtic Thermal Suite to enjoy its steam rooms, sauna, ice pod and hydrotherapy pool costs from £20 and a Signature Massage costs from £75.
Leeds Castle in Kent is said to be haunted by two black dogs and the ghost of a woman in a flowing dress – but this luxury overnight stay in Catherine of Aragon’s former home was worth every penny
I enjoyed a royal weekend at Leeds Castle(Image: Matthew King)
There’s something that feels slightly forbidden about strolling through the grounds of a castle after dark when all the day-trippers have departed. The ambience is somewhat spine-tingling, but it genuinely gives you a flavour of what existence must have been like within the walls of these enormous estates in centuries past.
That’s certainly how I felt during my overnight stay at Leeds Castle in Kent, frequently dubbed the Castle of Queens owing to the numerous female rulers who made it their residence. Its somewhat puzzling name derives from Saxon leader Led or Leed, who established the foundations for what would evolve into Leeds Castle, constructing a timber structure on two islands in the centre of the River Len.
This modest wooden dwelling was eventually superseded by a stone stronghold, and through the centuries it expanded into the magnificent castle that subsequently became the residence of Henry VIII’s first spouse, Catherine of Aragon. Yet with that illustrious heritage comes stories of hauntings, the most well-known local myth being spectral encounters with two black dogs, believed to be linked to a previous occupant supposedly involved in witchcraft.
There are also accounts of a phantom in a long flowing dress roaming through the chambers. However, I’m pleased to report that no such spirits disturbed my slumber, and I managed to achieve a solid eight hours of rest in a comfortable four-poster bed.
Our accommodation was situated in the Stable Courtyard, and alongside a beautiful canopied bed, it featured a soaking tub, lake views, and a minibar filled with local delicacies. Certainly worth risking a ghostly encounter for.
Leeds Castle also provides accommodation in its Maiden’s Tower, formerly home to Catherine of Aragon’s ladies-in-waiting, as well as cottages and riverside lodges positioned at the water’s edge. Throughout the day, guests can explore the castle and grounds, and you’ll notice plenty of families braving the elements and enjoying strolls through the magnificently landscaped gardens, but once the gates shut, the ambience becomes tranquil and peaceful.
That evening, we dined at the Castle View restaurant. Located just across the river from the castle, it boasts a vast floor-to-ceiling window that enables you to admire it illuminated at night.
There’s an outdoor terrace which I imagine is stunning during the summer months as you’d be able to watch the sunset whilst dining. The restaurant’s menu features simple, comforting classics with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients and locally-sourced produce.
We were drawn to everything from fish and chips to homemade pies, with my husband ultimately selecting a ribeye steak – which was ‘perfectly’ medium rare in his opinion – whilst I went for the special of cod with chorizo and a butterbean stew. The fish was beautifully flaky and delicate, complementing the robust beans perfectly.
We also sampled a bottle of Pinot Noir from Wildshark Vineyard, located just a few minutes from the castle. My previous encounters with English wine haven’t always been positive, and I’m still resentful about an extortionately-priced bottle that resembled fizzy vinegar, but this red wine may have won me over.
It was velvety, packed with fruity notes, and crucially, I didn’t suffer my typical red wine headache despite consuming half the bottle.
Following a comfortable, spectre-free evening, we tucked into breakfast in the restaurant, which offers a respectable continental buffet alongside hot dishes including a full English and eggs royale. Upon checking out, guests are still welcome to explore the castle for the remainder of the day, so we packed up the car and wrapped up warm to venture out for a wander.
Whilst the castle dates back centuries, its final private owner was Lady Olive Baillie, who is credited with restoring much of the historic property in the 1920s. She also transformed it into somewhat of a party destination, with the elite of transatlantic society, politics, and culture amongst its notable guests.
From Winston Churchill to Charlie Chaplin, numerous famous faces have resided here. Enthusiasts of vintage fashion and style will relish exploring Lady Baillie’s rooms where items from her beaded gowns to chic 1920s shoes and record player are displayed. If you’re a fan of Downton Abbey, you’ll certainly recognise those vibes.
Returning to the grounds, we attempted, and became lost in, the hedge maze. In my defence, it was drizzling with rain, and I likely would have had more patience on a sunny day.
Admitting defeat, we instead visited the birds of prey centre, which featured stunning owls and eagles, and discovered some entertaining family-friendly activities such as adventure playgrounds. There’s even an artificial beach where children can construct sandcastles.
Once again, definitely one for the summer to-do list. And with a 9-hole golf course overlooking the castle, it’s remarkable how much there is to do just moments from your room.
Spending the night at Leeds Castle is truly a memorable experience. It’s rare to find yourself waking up within the grounds of a historic castle, and an overnight stay makes you feel connected to its rich past.
The castle’s team are exceptional, from the warm reception at arrival to the prompt, friendly restaurant staff and knowledgeable guides who patiently shared the building’s fascinating story – it’s evident the castle is being brilliantly cared for in its current chapter.
Rooms at the Stable Courtyard start from £134 per night. For more information and to make a reservation, visit leeds-castle.com.
Holiday Village Turkiye in Sarigerme was named one of TUI’s best hotels – and I visited myselfCredit: TUIIt’s one of the best holidays I’ve taken my family onThe splash park was a hitCredit: TUI
The Magic Life property on the edge of the Aegean Sea has 253 rooms, five pools and four restaurants… and enough activities to keep guests busy for an entire month.
I visited for a week last summer with my 6 year old and was blown away by the offering.
As a Travel Editor for nearly a decade, I’ve slept in some of the world’s best places, from five-star resorts to Disney theme park hotels.
But this flagship Holiday Village property by TUI got a 10 out of 10 for many things, from food and cleanliness to extracurriculars.
I’ve been to five-star hotels with far poorer service and fewer food choices.
On my family’s trip our days were so busy I had to schedule everything.
We filled our days with Go Ape-style aerial adventures, drama classes, inflatable obstacle courses, discos, game show challenges, arcades…
There truly was something for everyone, including football and swimming lessons, or even chocolate parties.
Despite scorching temperatures in August hitting 48C, the staff were amazing.
The entertainment team were always on form, the food at breakfast, lunch and dinner was delicious, the poolside was immaculate and the rooms were spotless.
Breakfast was enormous, with every taste catered for — Turkish pastries, English favourites, about six types of eggs, continental, and a huge fruit selection.
Lunch by the pool was equally impressive, with a huge mezze selection consisting of about 40 different dishes.
But the best meal was dinner, with an even more expansive mezze selection, soups, salads and several hot food stations serving everything from pizza to gourmet to-order dishes, and a pudding buffet of dreams.
They also had themed nights, when the entire menu was changed — our favourites being the Turkish and Asian evenings.
And they had a separate kitchen for kids’ food at all meals.
There were three a-la-carte restaurants too, serving American, European and Asian dishes.
The ropes courses are just as much fun tooCredit: TUIOf course we were grateful for the huge pool to cool down inCredit: TUI
At night, most of the hotel decamped to the 500-seat amphitheatre to watch the entertainment.
One evening towards the end of our holiday, my son and ten others put on a half-hour show that was deeply impressive given the minimal six hours of rehearsals that had taken part in the run-up.
Also part of the evening entertainment schedule were DJs, dance contests, quizzes and a musical.
Admittedly, you have to be a certain type of person to enjoy this hotel.
“Never a dull moment” extends to all times of the day, with a full-on range of activities taking place by the pool during the afternoon.
But if that’s you, then the TUI Village Sarigerme really does offer everything the whole family could want from a holiday.
Seven night all-inclusive holidays at the hotel start from £655pp, with return UK flights.
I LISTEN in pitch darkness as a creature scuttles from one end of my canvas roof to the other.
Huntsman spider? Giant goanna lizard? A giant goanna lizard-sized spider? My mind is racing.
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Sydney Opera House surrounded by the harbour and Royal Botanic GardenCredit: Destination NSWPaperbark Camp is an eco-glamping retreat 120 miles south of Sydney, tucked away in dense woodlandCredit: Supplied
Finally Emma, our Australian host, answers my panicked WhatsApp. “It’s a possum, Stew. No one ever died from a possum.”
Reassured, I snuggle back down under the covers and drift off to sleep with the soundtrack of the Australian forest echoing around me.
I’m staying at Paperbark Camp, an eco-glamping retreat 120 miles south of Sydney, tucked away in dense woodland on the banks of Currambene Creek.
My “pod” — essentially a wooden base with canvas roof and walls — has a sumptuous double bed, a deck with chairs and tables to chill while watching the exotic birdlife and kangaroos, and a delightful bath and shower room at the rear that is fully open to the forest.
And, yes, I did check under the loo seat for spiders!
The camp is our base for a week exploring the delights of rural New South Wales.
Yes, Sydney is a fantastic city but what if you want a little more adventure and authenticity?
It was certainly a chance to get close to the famous Aussie wildlife, with possums trotting up to the bar terrace and mobs of kangaroos grazing just yards away in the paddocks surrounding the camp.
Having honed our canoeing skills with the camp’s boats on the delightfully placid creek, we headed up the road to Kangaroo Valley for a paddle with a twist.
Here, we had two canoes lashed together either side of a picnic table, with two bottles of local fizz chilling and freshly-made hors d’oeuvres. How civilised.
The site is on the banks of Currambene Creek and when you’re bushed relax inside an eco podCredit: Supplied
Our sedate hour-long paddle up the river surrounded by steep tree-covered mountainsides in the morning sunshine was beautiful, with guide Travis acting as wildlife spotter and giving us an education on the ways of the Aussie bush.
Every stop we made shed more fascinating light on the history of the country’s indigenous people and each stop revealed more of their mind-blowing bushcraft and knowledge of the land.
Up in the Blue Mountains — a Unesco world heritage site — local tribal elder “Uncle Dave” gave us a warm welcome to Scenic World and an enthralling introduction to Aboriginal history.
Whether out in the bush or in Sydney, a tour encompassing Australia’s indigenous culture is well worth the time, with more than 300 distinct “nations” living side by side in harmony for thousands of years, each with their own spiritual connection to the country around them.
Uncle Dave had our group enthralled as he talked us through the customs and folklore of the breathtaking landscape around us from a cable car 800ft above the forest canopy.
The same was true as we toured the mangroves and woodlands of the beautiful coastal town of Jervis Bay.
Up the creek with a paddle in the canoeCredit: Supplied
Here, our guide Jacob fashioned a soothing ointment for insect bites from the sap of a bracken fern he’d pulled from the ground in front of us.
No plant goes to waste, he explained, pointing out some of the various unique uses for the wide range of trees and grasses around us.
The plentiful mangrove trees and their twisted branches are perfect for making boomerangs, for example.
If the idea of walking through a coastal forest with stunning views of the ocean is your thing, the 90-minute trek from Hyams Beach to Greenfield is well worth a look, with miles of beautiful white sand — the whitest in the world, the locals claim — and crystal-clear waters.
There are of course snorkelling spots in the area, and a quick boat trip out into the bay will almost guarantee a sight of dolphins, with migrating whales also around from May to November every year.
Jervis Bay’s beaches are also famous for stunning night-time displays of bioluminescence — in which a plankton “bloom” in the water glows in the dark — but that’s not an experience you can plan for!
Snorkelling in Currambene CreekCredit: Supplied
The local indigenous people’s name for Jervis Bay translates as “Bay of Plenty”, and the seafood on offer at renowned local watering hole The Huskisson Hotel certainly reflects that — a perfect way to refuel after a busy day and watch the sun set.
Exploring the stunning countryside of New South Wales will obviously require a car, and the average cost of hiring in Sydney is £45 a day.
And remember, they drive on the left Down Under so it’s easy for us Brits!
Back in the pitch darkness of the forest at Paperbark Camp, I’m woken from my well-earned slumber by a series of shrieks that sound not unlike the Demogorgon from Stranger Things.
I text Emma in the pod next door: “Did you hear that?”
As my ears pick up a rustling in the undergrowth just beyond my deck, her reply comes back: “If I told you that was just a possum, would you believe me?”
I don’t — but at least I know it can’t possibly be a 2ft Huntsman Spider.
A dolphin watching cruise in Jervis BayCredit: Supplied
