These are a few of my favourite things …

So this was a difficult one … how do you choose from a lifetime of travel memories?

Favourite Places

I think one of my favourite places anywhere in the world is the Mulu Marriott (https://tinyurl.com/5eyj4jf5) in Malaysian Borneo.

I’m not quite sure why. It’s not the fanciest hotel I’ve stayed in, and it’s not the most spectacular location, but there’s something about it.

From arriving at the quaint little airport (check out the baggage conveyor belt), to walking through the jungle, to the simple yet elegant rooms, I just feel relaxed there. The staff are friendly and super helpful, and the pool is a lovely place to unwind after a morning of jungle walks.

The hotel is situated at the edge of Mulu National Park (https://mulupark.com/), and the only way in is by plane or boat — there’s no road.

Mulu is best known for jungle walks, huge caves, the pinnacles hike, and the amazing evening exodus of millions of bats. Most of our friends saw the bats on their first trip, but it took us 10 attempts. It was well worth the wait.

There’s a longer post about Mulu in both this and my destinations guide - I’ve been so many times I’ve got lots to say!

Favourite Hotels

Rufflets, St Andrewshttps://www.rufflets.co.uk/https://www.itison.com/

This hotel is just outside St Andrews in Scotland and is popular with golfers. It’s set in large, well-kept grounds that are lovely to wander around.

When the weather is good (it does happen sometimes in Scotland), the outdoor terrace is a great place to sit. Rooms are spacious and very comfortable, but the standout is the restaurant, which creates fantastic dishes using locally sourced ingredients. There’s also a cosy bar with friendly and knowledgeable staff.

We’ve stayed a few times, including at Christmas, where the meal is outstanding. We’ve usually booked directly but have also found discounted rooms through Itison.  It’s a little drive or a 40 minute walk from the centre of town but a fantastic place to be if you are happy to be a little further out.

The Datai, Langkawi (Malaysia)https://www.thedatai.com/

Our first visit to this amazing luxury eco-conscious hotel in the ancient jungle of Langkawi was for a significant birthday. Unfortunately, I wasn’t well on that trip, so we had to go back!

It’s been featured in Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby and has been carefully designed so that from the sea, you wouldn’t even know it’s there.

Walking from your room to the beach takes you through the jungle, where you’ll see monkeys and birds, including the fantastic hornbill. Rooms are simple but luxurious, staff are attentive but discreet, and both the beach and adult-only pool are perfect for relaxing.

If you’re a golfer, it’s less than 10 minutes to the Els Club. I’m hoping for another visit for my next big birthday.

InterContinental, Bora Bora

This is the sort of hotel you visit once in a lifetime (although I’d love to go back).

Accessible only by boat, it sits in the incredibly clear waters of the South Pacific. Each room is an overwater bungalow — many with private pools — and they are huge.

It’s a “kick off your shoes and relax” place from the moment you arrive. While there’s a beautiful beach and pool, we rarely made it beyond our terrace. From there, we had direct access to the lagoon for swimming, snorkelling, and canoeing (equipment provided).

Our glass coffee table looked directly into the water below, full of marine life. There are three restaurants, but private dining can also be arranged on your terrace or the beach. The seafood was excellent.

The spa was wonderful, and the excursions were incredible. I didn’t mind swimming with reef sharks, but being surrounded by stingrays wasn’t for me!

Friendliest Staff

Holiday Inn, Aberdeen Airport

This is just a typical airport hotel, but we’ve been coming here for years when visiting family, and the staff are consistently the friendliest we’ve experienced anywhere.

We usually just need a bed for the night, arriving late and leaving early, but the warmth and helpfulness of the staff mean it’s always our first choice in Aberdeen.

Favourite Restaurant

Zinc, Kuching (Malaysia)

We’ve been eating at Zinc for more than 10 years. It’s set in a renovated century-old Chinese shop house and blends history with a modern feel. Restaurants in Kuching come and go and the quality changes but Zinc has been around for a while and is consistently great.  You can choose to sit inside or outside on the terrace.  At the weekend it’s best to book as they fill up quickly.

It’s a fusion restaurant with Mediterranean and local influences. While I’ve tried most of the menu, I nearly always go back to the tenderloin steak. We probably go a little too often — the staff not only know us by name but know exactly what I’ll order and how I like it cooked.

My regular starter is prawns wrapped in bacon, and they also make a great margarita.

The Lighthouse Restaurant, Fingal Hotel, Edinburgh

A restaurant with a difference, located on Fingal — a floating hotel in Leith. It was previously a lighthouse supply ship and has been beautifully converted into an art deco-style hotel.

They offer a fantastic set menu using local ingredients, including my favourites — scallops and venison. Well worth a visit if you’re in Edinburgh. Make sure to arrive early enough to have a drink around the bar before you have your meal.  They do lovely afternoon tea too and it’s well positioned between the trendy bars and independent shops of Leith and both the Port of Leith Distillery and the Royal Yacht Britannia.  As well as talking to you about where the food you are eating is from, the staff are happy to tell you about the history of the ship.

Best Meal

In 30+ years of travel, I’ve had hundreds of amazing meals (and quite a few I’d rather forget), but a few still stand out.

Mes Amis, Maastricht (The Netherlands)It’s been 20 years since we visited, yet we still talk about it. It didn’t look particularly special at first, but the food and wine pairings were outstanding. We really should go back.

Champignons at Oasis, Petaling Jaya (Malaysia)From the outside, this restaurant doesn’t look like much, but it’s exceptional.

Chef Gary Chang creates seasonal degustation menus with wine pairings. I have several food allergies, and instead of offering bland alternatives, the team creates dishes as close to the originals as possible.

If you’re in Kuala Lumpur, it’s well worth the 30-minute drive.

Best Drive

Scotland

The North Coast 500 is a spectacular drive, especially over the Bealach na Bà mountain pass from Applecross. It’s the steepest road in the UK. We didn’t get the best views at the top, but the drive down was incredible.

New Zealand

We did a 3-week road trip covering almost 5,000 km. The scenery was stunning, and the roads were generally good.

One memorable stretch was the Forgotten Highway. It may be shorter on the map, but it’s slow, winding, partly gravel — and has no petrol stations. We made it… just.

Tunisia

One of our most memorable road trips.

From busy cities to desert landscapes, camels crossing the road, canyon hikes, and Star Wars filming locations — it had everything.

We later discovered one area we visited was on the UK Foreign Office “avoid” list. Oops.

Favourite Airline

We’ve travelled on many airlines, but Qatar remains my favourite. The service is consistently excellent, staff are friendly, and Doha airport is one of the easiest to transit through.

The luggage allowance is generous — and they fly from our local airport.

Best Weekend Brunch

We’ve tried quite a few brunches in the Middle East and Asia. They can be expensive, but the quality is usually excellent.

The standout for us was The Chedi, Muscat — incredible service and an outstanding range of food, especially seafood.

Best Club Lounge

When travelling in cities, we often book club rooms. They can be great value, offering breakfast, evening drinks, and sometimes more.

Hyatt hotels are consistently good, but the best lounge we’ve experienced is at Grosvenor House, Dubai Marina — excellent food throughout the day and even hot chocolate with marshmallows in the evening.

Favourite Café

I don’t drink tea or coffee, so cafés aren’t usually my thing, but I make an exception for Commons at the Courthouse, Kuching.

Set in a beautifully restored historic building, it’s calm, elegant, and a great place to sit. Their cakes are excellent — especially the lemon tart.

Best Holiday

I’ve thought about this a lot, and I just can’t choose one.

From caravan holidays as a child to luxury trips later in life, I’ve been incredibly lucky. The destinations have been amazing, but what really makes a holiday is the people you share it with and the chance to properly relax.

Best Location

Now this is a really difficult one but I think it has to be Oman.  It’s a country of contrasts - from rugged mountains and crystal clear waters to the expanse of the desert and the Empty Quarter.  

There’s so much to see and do.  In Muscat you have museums, art galleries, the Royal Opera House, souks, forts, shopping malls, cinemas, water sports and golf courses.  There are lots of lovely hotels and plenty of places to eat and drink.  We spent many weekends in Muscat - attending events, shopping for things we couldn’t find in our remote location or simply having a relaxing weekend after a week of work. 

We usually stayed in the Intercontinental Hotel which was central with a lovely pool and amazing staff.  Hotels had summer deals when the weather got warmer and we often took advantage of them staying at the Shangri-La, Al Bustan, Hyatt and Chedi.

Once you leave the city behind there’s still lots to see and do.  Oman is steeped in history. Ancient forts are scattered throughout the country. Oman was a major trading post on the routes from Europe to Asia.  Traditional dhows can still be seen today and are still being built in the boat yard in Sur. Snorkelling, diving and visiting wadis are pastimes of many at the weekend. Ras al Hadd is a great place to visit the turtle sanctuary at Ras al Jinz - if you are there at the right time of year, you will see the turtles laying their eggs on the beach.  You should also check out if there are any camel races or markets while you are there as these are certainly worth seeing.

And no trip to Oman would be complete without a trip to the desert.  There are lots of different camps to choose from - from the basic to the most luxurious where the title camping can only be very loosely used. Our favourite was Desert Nights in Wahiba Sands.

The Omani people are amongst the friendliest and most hospitable I’ve ever met.

The Personal Touch

Some hotels don’t stand out for one specific reason — they just get things right. It’s not basic, it’s not luxury, it’s just what you need.  

For me, the Radisson Blu, Corniche (Abu Dhabi) is one of those places. I often stay there for work.The location is great, the beach club is excellent, and I love having an adults-only pool. There’s a separate children’s pool, wave pool and lazy river.

But what really makes it special is the staff — from the doormen to housekeeping, everyone greets you with a smile and a genuine “welcome back.” And I love their tuna bowl at the beach club.