by Raymond Singleton-McGuire | Feb 7, 2020 | SMGBlog
Raymond Singleton-McGuire states; NORWICH ….. A Beautiful City Steeped In History!
Raymond Singleton-McGuire reports; whilst sailing on the Norfolk Broads we decided to moor-up right in the heart of Norwich City, which couldn’t be a better location. Whilst allowing half a day (which is nowhere near enough time) to explore the city we were amazed at what Norwich has to offer. Norwich is steeped with quaint, beautifully preserved historic buildings and Elm Hill is a must to see, as is the Castle, not to mention the Cathedral. There are of course numerous museums and the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts Gallery.
Raymond Singleton-McGuire states; if, of course, you are young enough, there is ‘Prince of Wales Road’ which is inundated with restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
Raymond Singleton-McGuire reports; little tip….…. If you are travelling on a boat into Norwich the best time to spend a day around Norwich is a Sunday which is when it is at its quietest and is more relaxing.
by Raymond Singleton-McGuire | Oct 30, 2019 | SMGBlog
Raymond Singleton-McGuire states; Barbeque Night is a MUST!
Raymond Singleton-McGuire reports; a friendly family-run beach bar which is an excellent watering hole after one of those long, hot beach walks, which are always a must if you are an explorer.
Raymond Singleton-McGuire states that; once a week, John Raymond’s Beach Bar puts on a night-time barbeque with an authentic Gambian band (dancing optional) which all takes place around a log fire on the beach.
Raymond Singleton-McGuire reports that; all the times we have been to Gambia we have ended up going to John Raymond’s barbeque which costs around 300 Dalasi (£6.00) for all you can eat. Drinks are extra but the local beer is always a favourite and depending where you drink along the beachfront and at what time of the day, can cost anywhere between 30-75 Dalasi.
by Raymond Singleton-McGuire | Aug 21, 2019 | SMGBlog
Raymond Singleton-McGuire states; Good Value – Good Resort – But Staff Lack Common-sense!!!
Raymond Singleton-McGuire reports; having just returned from a week’s holiday at the Majesty Club Tarhan, Didim, Turkey which gives excellent value for money for families on an All Inclusive Basis. The hotel boasts a mini waterpark within a well-catered for family complex. The animation team working very hard throughout the day, but disappointingly, the animation team only staged one good evening performance, the rest were somewhat disappointing and sometimes silly. If you are travelling as a couple there are plenty of sun-beds around the complex and a very nice wooden jetty into the sea away from the maddening crowd, and the constant din of pounding music all day long around the swimming pool.
Raymond Singleton-McGuire states; the spa and massage centre are excellent and for the men, £2.50 gets you a shave and a back massage lasting 30 minutes! If you speak Eastern European you will be better understood than if you speak English. I asked to exchange money and was told where the Italian restaurant was located! At the restaurant, I asked for a bottle of Rose wine and was given a glass!
Raymond Singleton-McGuire reports; beware – the restaurant closes at 9.00pm, this means it closes at 9.00pm so please don’t arrive for dinner at 8.45pm as they switch the lights off at 9.15pm, regardless if you have finished your meal or not! I complained to the Manager about this and they now switch the lights off at 9.30pm! Again, I wanted to exchange money using my visa card and was told they don’t have a visa machine! However on my last day after checking out, I forgot to pay for the room safe and had no remaining Turkish lira. Surprise, surprise a visa machine was quickly produced!
by Raymond Singleton-McGuire | Aug 21, 2019 | SMGBlog
Raymond Singleton-McGuire reports; DISAPPOINTING!
Raymond Singleton-McGuire states; beware – of the chrome safety handrails leading up the steps to Reception where I sliced my fingers in three separate places on the poor workmanship of the rough metalwork.
Raymond Singleton-McGuire reports; when I brought this to the attention of the staff at reception they directed me to the bar even though my hand was now dripping with blood. I later managed to find a roll of sellotape to cover all of the sharp metal areas on the handrail, which encapsulated my own dried blood on the handrail from the accident earlier thinking it would be cleaned and repaired the next day, as a priority. That evening I also informed security.
Raymond Singleton-McGuire reports; the following morning nothing had been done so I informed the Duty Manager. The following day I informed the Hotel Manager. Four days later on leaving the hotel, the tape and my blood were still on the handrail and nothing had been done! (see photo).
by Raymond Singleton-McGuire | Aug 21, 2019 | SMGBlog
Raymond Singleton-McGuire reports; BEWARE!
Raymond Singleton-McGuire states; beware, don’t bother using the lock-up room for your luggage, as when you come to collect it the chances are that it will be missing! We spent 20 minutes in sheer panic looking for our luggage, trying to enlist help from the various staff members. The first person was the ‘bell-boy’ who had put the luggage in the lock-up room in the first place, then two Reception girls and a ‘welcome to the hotel’ member who was situated next to the lock-up room, but all were clueless and did nothing to help us find our missing bags.
Raymond Singleton-McGuire reports; as a last resort, 5 minutes before the coach was due to leave for airport I tried to enlist the help of the General Manager and got the Reception Manager who told me he had placed our luggage in the lobby area ready for us to collect 15 minutes before we were due to depart! After a few choice words, trying to explain how stupid and irresponsible this was, and perhaps it would have made common-sense to inform his staff, not to mention us, his customers, and in future, for the benefit of security, it might be a far more sensible managerial decision to leave customers’ luggage in light of security, in the lock-up room which is what it is designed for!, rather than in a lobby area with approximately 100 people all arriving and leaving at the same time.
Raymond Singleton-McGuire states; one final thing ….. if they tell you that the bus is departing at 7.00pm, it will be at least 30-40 minutes late, not once was the bus on time, not even for our final departure to the airport, which was lucky for us having just lost our luggage!
by Raymond Singleton-McGuire | Aug 21, 2019 | SMGBlog
Raymond Singleton-McGuire states; One of the Best Places to Stay on the Beachfront
Raymond Singleton-McGuire reports; having just returned from one week’s enjoyable stay at the Iberostar, Agadir, Morocco. Large hotel but very pleasant, very clean rooms and importantly a very clean pool area. In general the hotel was always kept to a high standard of cleanliness with a large choice of good food. The Reception staff were also very helpful, the hotel is to the south of Agadir and therefore gives a good view from the hotel’s promenade of the famous Agadir Hill encrusted with arabic writing which is lit up every night.
Raymond Singleton-McGuire reports; it costs 20 dirham (£1.50) from the hotel to the city entertainment area although they will try to tell you it is 30, 40 or 50 dirham! Bars outside of the hotel never want to give you a receipt but will always try and charge you for more drinks than you have had – so be careful!
Raymond Singleton-McGuire states; the main restaurant/entertainment area is about a 20/25 minute walk along the promenade from the hotel, or you can hire bikes at 20 dirham per hour. During our week’s stay the entertainment or animation at the hotel was disappointing and mainly in French. So you may need to frequent the many drinking bars or nightclubs both in the city and also within walking distance of the hotel.
Raymond Singleton-McGuire states; the bar staff at the hotel’s beach bar were a little slow at serving you and perhaps lacked attention when customers were waiting to be served. We mentioned both of these issues to the Manager of the hotel who was pleased to get feedback and guaranteed changes for next year’s season both with the entertainment and the slow service at the beach bar.
Otherwise, Raymond Singleton-McGuire states; a very good holiday and well recommended!
