The Independent Holiday Shop

Palma City Break Review

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 07:43:00 GMT

PALMA, MAJORCA – SEPTEMBER 2023

Dear Olatz, Thank you so much for your kind message and for all your help! We had a wonderful time and the hotel was terrific. Here are a few comments which you’re very welcome to pass on to other customers:

On TripAdvisor or similar, we read one or two comments expressing nervousness about the hotel’s location after dark. Both Ginny and I think this is nonsense! The promenade along the sea front is a lovely walk and feels completely safe. In a good way, we were unprepared for the more or less universal friendliness and relaxed tolerance of resident Mallorcans towards tourists. Palma feels a very happy city, and two or three times people who saw us studying a street map stopped to ask if we needed any help. At no time was there even the slightest sense of threat to our safety, anywhere.

The Hotel Victoria Gran Melia is next door to some extensive new building works, and you may have noticed one or two online complaints about that. Our ownexperience was that our room balcony and window were screened from any view of the building site and the double glazing did a good job – we slept well (in the widest bed we’d ever seen – a football team could have slept in it!) and used the air con. when necessary, keeping the window shut at night. (One thing I will say is that Mallorcan mosquitoes have a savage bite! Worth investing in some Eurax or similar once through airport security.) N.B: Apparently the hotel is about to close for a major refurbishment; it’s expected to last 4 months but that strikes me as optimistic…. We couldn’t see why the refurb. was needed, to be honest.

One tiny point is that tea and coffee facilities in the hotel room were basic. If you’re happy with instant Nescafé and a kettle, fine, but for 5 stars one might expect a coffee machine and some milk in the fridge. This was the only mini-grumble we can come up with! Excellent ensuite, spacious room, comfortable bed, television, minibar, safe, ample storage space, etc., etc., plus sea view. Breakfast limitless and excellent, with stunning harbour views from the outdoor terrace. Staff all really lovely, in keeping with the wider population. Nothing was too much trouble and their friendliness was sincere and genuine.

The walk into town wouldn’t suit everybody, but is rewarding for anybody happy on foot. We walked miles each day and really enjoyed it. For others, the no. 4 bus goes from just uphill outside the hotel main entrance, and crosses the city very conveniently.

There are limits to what you can do without a hired car. For a first visit to a limited area of the island it was fine without wheels and we caught buses. (Warning: the longer-distance buses are under heavy tourist demand, and if the bus seats are full the driver won’t stop for new passengers!)

We took the 1912 narrow-gauge electric railway up to Soller, but couldn’t have done it if I hadn’t booked online before leaving England.

Deia and Valldemossa are both highly recommended, although both were fairly crowded. We walked from Soller to Fornalutx one day – very hot but the views were absolutely stunning. Fornalutx also crowded, but beautiful and atmospheric. We didn’t use the train lines and kept to the Tramuntana region. The mountains are spectacular.

That’s about all I can think of. We managed to book a taxi to and from Heathrow with Andrey from Winchester Executive Hire, whom you recommended. He and his colleague were professional, reliable and good company. I wouldn’t hesitate to endorse your recommendation.

Thank you again for all your help, friendliness and patience. We were in the very best of hands and hugely appreciated it! Please quote anything in this email if you wish to.

All very best wishes, Francis and Ginny

I’m a travel agent and I have been on holiday!!!!

Sun, 08 Aug 2021 10:16:00 GMT

I got my first taste of travelling overseas when I was about 13. Mum & Dad booked a Clarkson’s (you need to be a certain age to remember them) package holiday to Malgrat de Mar, Costa Dorada, Spain. I was captivated by the different culture and food. Everyone remembers the scene in Shirley Valentine when they sit down to dinner in the hotel. My brother who is 2 years younger than me was not impressed with Hors D’oeuvres (or as he called them Horses Douvres) and Dad said Olive could keep them when the waiter said they were Olives. But, for me it was all magical.

Of course, as many teenage girls did then, I decided I wanted to be an Air Stewardess and travel the World. However, being only 5’ 1” that was never going to happen so I joined an evening class to learn Spanish and decided a Holiday Rep was the life for me. Sadly, Mum & Dad did not feel the same and so I went to College to take a Secretarial Course.

However, travel has stayed in my blood and when I was at home looking after small children, I suddenly saw an advertisement in our local paper for a typist for a local Thomas Cook store. I had no hesitation in applying and that is where my travel career began. The reason for telling you this is because over the last 2 years I have really missed the experience of going away and discovering different countries and there comes a point where you really just long for that, together with the sun of course.

A couple of weeks ago I got the opportunity to go to Guernsey, somewhere I have never been and had wanted to go to for a while. In fact, I was meant to go on two cruises that were calling in there but I had to cancel one and the other became a victim of the Pandemic.

I was very fortunate to pick the week that we had a heatwave here in the UK. I was flying from Southampton Airport and as I packed my suitcase, that familiar feeling of excitement set in. Southampton Airport was very easy and felt very normal, although at the moment only Duty Free is open and there is nowhere to buy a coffee etc. I had completed my Travel Tracker but nothing was checked at Southampton at all. On arrival into Guernsey, there were no queues, I finalised my Travel Tracker, was given a blue wristband and sent on my way. My pre-arranged taxi was waiting and once out of the Airport, it was not necessary to wear a mask anywhere.

I stayed at The Old Government House Hotel which is in the centre of St Peter Port. It is the only 5* hotel on the island so I was expecting great things. The hotel did not disappoint at all. My room was very comfortable and the service was fantastic. What really made it though was the weather which meant that I was able to sit around the pool, read my book, go for a swim and generally relax – exactly what most of us go on holiday for.

As I had not visited the island before, I booked a guided walking tour of St Peter Port on Wednesday evening. Our guide was excellent and showed us many of the historic areas of the town and gave us a really good insight into how the town has developed and also about its unique role as the only part of the United Kingdom to be occupied during WW2.

The following day I took a local bus around the island, for a fare of £1.00, this is a very good way of seeing the whole island. There are some really lovely beaches on the other side. If you decide to get off and explore then when you get back on you pay a further £1.00. Still a very good value tour!!!

My trip ended on Friday evening and my flight back to Southampton was a little bumpy because of the storm that had blown up. However, the Blue Islands pilot avoided it as much as he could which meant we came in over Devon and then flew up the Dorset coastline ending with a very smooth landing into Southampton.

All in all I really enjoyed my few days away and finally feel as though I HAVE BEEN ON HOLIDAY AND CANNOT WAIT TO DO IT AGAIN.

CRUISE & MARITIME FESTIVE CRUISE

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 10:30:00 GMT

In December 2019, I spent a very enjoyable 4 nights on board the CMV ship Magellan on one of her Festive Markets Cruises.

Unfortunately, due to adverse weather and sea conditions, the itinerary had to be changed which meant that we were unable to visit Bruges.

However, we spent a relaxing day at Sea where we experienced many of the activities available on board the ship, including a visit to The Spa.

That evening we sailed up The Seine to Rouen, docking in the early morning. Although it would have been good to have seen the river in daylight, because of the time of year, it looked very pretty in the dark with all the Christmas lights twinkling.

The following morning we walked into the city to explore the small but very festive Christmas Market before taking a guided walking tour in the afternoon of Historic Rouen. We explored the narrow streets with their half- timbered medieval houses and saw the spot where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake for heresy. We visited the modern Church of St Joan of Arc, completed in 1979 and also the beautiful Cathedral of Rouen erected between the 12 ^th and 16 ^th Century.

Our last day was spent in the very pretty coastal city of Honfleur, somewhere I have visited a number of times before. We were very lucky with the weather and spent a few hours wandering the narrow cobbled streets and browsing in the many shops before enjoying a very pleasant lunch in the warm December sunshine in one of the bars surrounding the gorgeous inner harbour.

Actually docking in Honfleur, rather than in Le Havre which is where most ships usually dock, meant that we could stroll back to the ship instead of having to catch a shuttle.

We sailed home overnight, arriving back into Tilbury early in the morning. CMV provide a shuttle service between London Victoria Coach Station and the port which makes getting to and from the ship convenient for people travelling from all over the country.

All in all it was a very enjoyable way to spend a few days at this cold, dark time of the year and also an opportunity to do some last minute Christmas shopping.

Well priced and carefully researched holiday we’ve bought at Independent Holiday Shop

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 08:56:00 GMT

Another well priced and carefully researched holiday we’ve bought at Independent Holiday Shop in Winchester.

Gala Hotel Playa de las Americas Tenerife: we were delighted with how Independent Holiday Shop in Winchester arranged our mid February 1 week holiday in Tenerife. The Gala Hotel is nicely placed close to the beach of Playa de las Americas, (there’s an easy private access on the side of the Hotel through cacti gardens to a small clean and tidy shopping precinct and just over the sea front access road onto the beach). The beach is ‘safe’ in terms of being children friendly with a life guard service and the sea enticing, and especially so with the character of the waves giving everyone a splash without worry of an undertow. Nearby bars offer luxury seating overlooking the beach with, to our ears easygoing ‘muzac’, and in no way too loud. Talk about sun sea and sangria. Hits the spot so to speak.

At the time we were there we had no problems with rowdiness, litter and noise. The sea/ beach front walk in both directions is easy to use for the less mobile and short and longer walks can be attempted. The local bus service is easy to find, use and low cost so outward or return journeys are not an issue.

We liked the 4* Gala: very clean and tidy, staff well trained and attentive. The rooms are well sized and, on the pool/ extensive sundeck side, from the balcony get both a sea view and an inland mountains view, however do not get the sun, which in mid summer might be a better choice.

We enjoyed the lower floor Spa facilities, (worth the extra cost), and the poolside facilities, again nicely laid out, clean and tidy and out of onshore winds to fully enjoy the sun.

The Gala served up an excellent selection of foods at all meal times. Waiters also attentive and helpful. In our view the price of beer and the house wine was very reasonable and the evening entertainments quite attractive.

The one day coach excursion to El Teide the island’s volcanic mountain, (purchased through the really helpful and well trained TUI representative), was worth every Euro and if you feel able to take the cable car to near the summit its an amazing experience.

All in all we are happy to recommend this holiday offering through TUI/ Thomson Air via Sharron and her team at Independent Holiday Shop who we will certainly use again.

February 2019 – Andrew and Fiona

Thank you for finding us a great holiday in Greece last August.

Wed, 15 Nov 2017 17:51:00 GMT

Thank you for finding us a great holiday in Greece last August. I’m sorry its taken so long to email you I’ve been meaning to contact you and tell you how it went and help you with selling this holiday to others in the future.

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF VICTORIA HISLOP ‘THE ISLAND’ – Alison

Fri, 01 Jul 2016 15:57:00 GMT

Ever since reading Victoria Hislop’s ‘The Island’ a few years ago I have wanted to visit the island of Spinalonga and Plaka in Crete where the book is based, and my friend Heather was keen to go too. Looking on a map of Crete Elounda seemed to be the best option. There are many 4/5* hotels along the coast, some all inclusive, but we didn’t want that. We found some lovely 3* apartments ‘The Alykes’, right on the coast, with amazing views, 10 mins walk from the centre of Elounda and they were the perfect base for a week of sun, sea, culture, wine and lovely food!!

We flew out from Gatwick on an afternoon flight, which meant a leisurely drive to the airport, but a late arrival in Elounda, 11pm, then a 2 hour transfer. We arrived at the apartments tired and just wanting to go to sleep. The check-in was done at the bar within a few minutes. We were introduced to the owner George who said our apartment was in the new building which was a couple of mins walk and on the ground floor so no stairs. He showed us the apartment and large terrace, we said ‘nice view’ to which he replied ‘yes nice view’ and then left us. In the dark it looked like waste ground at the end of the terrace so we didn’t hold out much hope, but we awoke the following morning to a wonderful view of the sea and mountains. We were amazed.

We just pottered around on the first day, exploring Elounda itself and finding a good place for lunch along the seafront – meze for 2 plus drink only 10 euros.

The following day we did Spinalonga – 30 mins enjoyable boat trip then about 2 hours on the island. We took an organised tour which for the first visit was worth doing as we found out so much more about the original Venetian Fort, the Turks and of course the leper colony. It really lived up to expectations. Ours was the first group on the island which was great, and you could really imagine what it would have been like to make the journey from Plaka as a leper knowing you wouldn’t be able to leave the island. It was more crowded by the time we left, so worth going early. Its also worth reading ‘The Island’ before you visit Spinalonga. On another day we walked the 5 miles from Elounda to Plaka, which is much smaller than Elounda, just a short street with a few cafes and shops and a church up a side street, but worth visiting especially if you have read the book. We bought one copy and were given a second copy of a lovely book on Spinalonga in the church with lots of old photographs. We also saw an old priest walking along the road and later noticed that he was in one of the photos.

We took the bus along the coast to Agios Nikolaos, very easy to do, bigger than Elounda and more sophisticated, but still pretty and lovely to walk around the harbour, shops and lake (they used to think it was bottomless and some still do). There are plenty of places to eat or just have a coffee. Great for people watching.

We also went up into the mountains to more rural villages. Vouraches which we did one afternoon on the Noddy train. Lovely views and great to see how rural life still is, although its mostly older people as the young tend to move to the bigger towns. We also did a free guided walk into the mountains to Pano (upper) Elounda one morning. An English man who lives in Elounda takes this from the Square twice a week only about 8 people. Very interesting. I bought his book on walks in the area.

If you walked from our apartments in the opposite direction to Elounda, past the salt pans you came to the sunken city of Olous, which you can see when the water is very calm. We did see what looked like the tops of walls sticking out of the sea and there are mosaics on land. You would see more on Snorkelling or diving trips.

Elounda doesn’t have the greatest beaches, quite dark coloured pebble/shingle, but they are fine and the water is very clear.

The restaurants along the sea front and in the main town were the place to be in the evening. The atmosphere was great. Lovely food, Greek or more international, half a carafe of red wine was very reasonable. And we were amazed at how many times we were given a free dessert and shot of raki after we had paid our bill. The Greeks have a lovely way about.

All in all a wonderful experience….I will definitely go back!!!!

SAMOS

Mon, 27 Jun 2016 15:17:00 GMT

I visited the Greek island of Samos for 4 days in June. This trip was an educational visit organised by the Greek Tour Operator, Sunvil Holidays. The idea of the visit was to promote the island against the negative reports by the UK media on the refugee situation on Samos.

Samos is a beautiful island and offers a variety of different holiday options. It has a coastline of 1600 kms and a rugged mountainous interior. You will find magnificent scenery, traditional inland villages, small fishing hamlets and seaside resorts.

The refugee situation on Samos has been sensitively controlled and I did not witness any problems whatsoever during my stay.

Samos is an island for lovers of the “real Greece”. It is very safe with delicious food and wine and the local people are very friendly.

I have no hesitation in recommending Samos for a relaxing and enjoyable holiday.

Minos Beach Hotel

Mon, 19 Oct 2015 07:51:00 GMT

It’s been a month now since I boarded an incredibly early easyJet flight and landed in beautiful sunny Crete, Greece’s biggest island. It was wonderfully hot, relaxed and scenic…a truly blissful week! Naturally, I was also very excited to immerse myself in Crete’s famous cuisine and resolved to eat as many local dishes and delicacies as possible. I certainly did, I came back about half a stone heavier, but that’s what holidays are all about for me, relaxing with amazing food and wine and getting to wear all the (loose) summery dresses that are never practical in the UK.

We stayed in the gorgeous Minos Beach Hotel, found for us by the lovely people at Winchester’s Independent Holiday Shop. The hotel consisted of several traditional-looking white bungalows, dotted around the lush grounds, which were also filled with many different, interesting artworks. And, this is really important….THERE WAS A KETTLE IN THE ROOM! You never see that in European hotels, to the point where I pack my own travel kettle these days (the need for tea grows stronger the older you get!). So I was delighted with there being a kettle and wide variety of teas to choose from every day (it’s the simple things!). The hotel was situated in a perfect location, right by the sea and a lovely leisurely stroll from the nearby town of Agios Nikolaos.

I’m a huge fan of swimming, especially in the sea and it was so warm! I swam most mornings before breakfast. Even when it was tough to get out of bed, I thought of how rare the opportunity for a morning swim in such beautiful water was, and it got me out there!

On to the food! I tucked into fresh Cretan yoghurt with honey, nuts and seeds every morning at breakfast which was delicious and tasted so much better than Greek Yoghurt at home (and definitely better than the diet ‘Greek Style’ Yoghurt I tend to buy!). I also enjoyed halloumi, Greek salad and feta at every possible opportunity! And of course, baklava for dessert too.

We did pay a special visit to one restaurant called Migomis, famous for its food and its stunning views over the marina. The food was equally as fabulous. My starter of Migomis House Salad was so full of flavour, possibly the best salad I’ve eaten (and I eat a lot of salad!)… There was plenty of fish and seafood on the menu too… I can also highly recommend a restaurant called Piato, where we shared a starter of mixed local specialities and enjoyed the best wine of the whole trip.

Every meal also featured a complimentary glass of Raki to finish with, which is a kind of Cretan brandy, strong stuff but we all certainly got into it! Of course there were cocktails (our hotel bartender made some great cocktails) and even a Shisha bar visit or two…
After a crazy busy September at work, it all seems much longer than a month ago now, a distant but happy memory! What is clear in my mind though, is what a wonderful place Crete was, the weather, the people, the food and the wine were all amazing – I’d highly recommend it!

Blog by Fran Weeks

Lake Como – by Hilary

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 13:43:00 GMT

Lake Como, Italy in July is wonderful! And even better when flying from Southampton! So easy!

The drive from Milan airport is straightforward and after about half an hour you arrive at Como. The scenery is just non stop!

Lake Como itself is full of beautiful villas on the lakes edge that you can visit. The ferries run daily and it’s so easy to buy a daily ticket. You can hop on an off at your leisure.

We also made a visit to Milan – the shopping capital of Italy, where the shopping is to ‘die for’! The dramatic Gothic Cathedral is so interesting, along with La Scala Opera House and the Duke’s Palace.

We took a great excursion on the Bernina Express to the ski resort of St Moritz. It’s not only the destination, but the journey that is memorable. Have your camera ready as the little red train snakes up the mountains on it’s breath taking journey through unspoilt Swiss Alps, past magnificent glaciers and black and white lakes.

We visited Bergamo – the ‘Miniature Florence of the North’. One of the oldest towns in Italy. Your guide will enchant you with tales of time long ago. Bergamo is full of unique churches and here you can discover the past in old architecture and intricate artwork.

Lake Como is such a great place to relax, but at the same time there is so much to see and do. A real memorable destination!

STAR CLIPPER CRUISE & ISTANBUL – by Sharron

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:59:00 GMT