London: Winter Wonderland Hyde Park and Christmas Lights in London

If you drove past my house this holiday season, you’d never know that I love the Christmas (holiday) lights as the house is dark.  While I would love to go all “Christmas Vacation” with lights, the technical difficulties are my downfall, that, and no outside electrical outlets.  Seeing the twinkling […]

Winter visit to Reykjavik Iceland wool mittens

Iceland Mitten Memories – A Winter Visit to Reykjavik

I reached into my coat pocket today looking for change and pulled out one of my Icelandic wool mittens, the only souvenir from my trip to Iceland. Putting on the mittens brought back a flood of amazing memories from my quick four day weekend trip to Reykjavik.  When planning my […]

London Aloft Bar

Review: London Aloft Excel Hotel at ExCel Conference Center

For the my first World Travel Market conference (WTM), one of the largest travel events in Europe, held each year in London at November, I knew that I needed my hotel to be easy as convention days are long and exhausting.  As the conference was being held at the ExCel […]

The Grazing Goat Roast Dinner Yorkshire Pudding

London Sunday Roast Dinner at The Grazing Goat in Marylebone

So I took a silly quiz recently to see “How British Are You” based on the list of British foods you’ve eaten.  It was a fun quiz and not surprisingly I scored “you are a picky eater” which made me laugh because I won’t eat haggis for extra points. One […]

Coastal Beach view UK train Edinburgh to London

Review: Train Edinburgh to London First Class on the East Coast

Update: Note that as of June 24, 2018, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) will take over this route from Virgin East Coast (which I used during my travels).  Much will remain (including the great views along the way) the same as I understand it with staff transferring – it will […]

Virgin East Coast First Class Lounge

(Former) Virgin First Class Lounge Edinburgh Review – Stylish with Free Biscuits

Update: Note that Virgin no longer services the East Coast line.  The lounge is now affiliated with the new vendor (LNER) and changes may have been made since my visit when operated by Virgin.  Check your train ticket and talk to staff to see if you have access to the […]

Edinburgh Sheraton One Square Restaurant bar lounge decor

Review: Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel Room with a Castle View

There’s a table full of Scottish shortbread cookies (and healthy apples) that I was drawn to in the lobby at check in – I knew I was going to like it here. Here was the Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa located in Festival Square. My weekend trip to Edinburgh […]