Filming locations – The Canary Islands

We filmed four episodes for Channel 5 with singer and travel presenter Jane McDonald, travelling to Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, using the ferry to move between the islands and staying in hotels situated in popular holiday resorts.

TENERIFE

Hotel – Spring Hotel Vulcano & Up – Playa de las Americas Hotel Playa de Las Americas – walking distance to main beaches, bars and restaurants. All rooms overlook the pool which gets very busy, and can be very noisy with the resident DJ. If you like peace & quiet to read your book this hotel is not for you. You can pay extra to access the private roof terrace and pool.

Activity – Siam Water Park Siam Water Park just a five minute drive from Spring hotel where you can spend all day on the water rides, high slide and fake beach with wave machine.

Nature – Banana Plantation Banana experience great place to learn all about bananas and try banana products such as wine and jam

Culture – La Oratava La Orotava beautiful old town showing the ‘real Tenerife’ in the cooler climate of the North of the island. Take a walking tour round some of the old sites including Victoria park with the mausoleum and end with a traditional barraquito coffee.

LA GOMERA

Take one of many regular ferries across to the neighbouring island of La Gomera for a day trip, you can walk round the old town of San Sebastian, learn about the whistling language of Silbo, where the shepherds used to communicate across the mountain ranges. Learn about sustainable crafts like basket weaving up in the mountain village La Laja with Zdenka. Expedia Zdenka basket weaving

GRAN CANARIA

Hotel – Seaside Palm Beach Hotel, Maspalomoas Seaside Hotel very convenient for the long Maspalomas beach, sand dunes, restaurants and bars all within walking distance.

Activity – Tour of North of the island with Fabien & Olivier Trip Advisor Fabien & Olivier we visited the small village of Firgas, famous for the patterned tiled steps, waterfall and association with watercress. Watercress restaurant Firgas

Nightlife – Ricky’s at the Yumbo centre in Masapalomas for the Drag show that takes place every night, around 11pm, club opens at 8pm until 4am Rickys Cabaret Bar

Nature – Sand Sculpture Masapalomas beach – sand artist Abel can be found down near the lighthouse, there is an annual sand sculpture competition up in the north of the island around Christmas time in Playa de las Canteras known as the Las Canteras Beach nativity. Abel Sand Sculptor

Sport – Golf lessons all over the island, we had a lesson with Angel at Maspalomas Golf where you can play right next to the coast.

Shopping – Puerto Mogan market – held every Friday across the pretty coastal town from 9am to 3.30pm, this market is dedicated more to souvenirs, clothes and shoes with some food stalls. Puerto Mogan is a man made place a bit like Puerto Banus in Spain, but a pretty place for a half day visit.

Activity – Jet skis – Jet Skis Aquasports zip about on jet skis for an hour to see the Gran Canaria coastline and pump up your adrenaline.

LANZAROTE

Hotel – Radisson Blu Adults only hotel, Costa Teguise centre, with three pools and easy walking distance via coastal path to main beach in Costa Teguise. Lanzarote hotel

Activity – Swimming lesson – ironman and swimming coach Paul Cardwell Hounam holds open water swimming lessons on Playa Grande or one of his team will come to your hotel and teach you there https://swimlanzarote.com/

Activity – Playa Blanca Spoon hunt the famous spoon in concrete has been a local phenomena since the 80’s, although recently mysteriously removed, the spoon is now back in place. Trip Advisor Spoon in Concrete

Vineyard – Bodegas Rubicon see the grapes growing in the volcanic ash and then taste the local wine in the shop. Cafe also on site https://bodegasrubicon.com/en/winery/

Nature – Timanfaya national park visually dramatic park created from the volcanic eruptions that last for six years in the 18th & 19th century. Also take time to visit El Diablo restaurant where the chicken is cooked by the heat of the volcano

Culture – Villa Teguise the former capital of Lanzarote before it moved to Arrecife, and the oldest town in the canaries. Home to the timple museum, plus a good choice of boutiques and cafes. Villa Teguise

Nature – Mirador del Rio Mirador Del Rio spectacular view over the 8th island in the Canaries, La Graciosa, reach by ferry to see the streets lined with sand, plus local restaurant

Nature & Art – Jameos del Agua Jameos del Agua where art and nature collide, artist and architect Cesar Manrique turned this volcanic lava hole into a must-see destination.

Activity – Pottery lesson with Pottery master, Juan at the Casa Museo del Campesino

Fuerteventura

Hotel – Barcelo Fuerteventura Royal Level – Barcelo Hotel Adults only, small apartment type rooms connected with a red path and slightly complicated numbering system. Buffet style meals and easy access to the huge beach, although more gravelly than sand.

Activity – Lobos Island boat tour Lobos Boat Tour Info only 400 people allowed on the island, morning and afternoon to book in advance to secure your position on the boats that take you the 15 minute journey across to the island where you’ll find some lovely beachs and two places to eat.

Culture – El Cotillo – El Cotillo info very cute village up in the north west section of the island, bars and restaurants right on the waterfront and the Clean Ocean Project started by Wim Geirnaert near the centre of the village.

Tour – Simon Go Go Tours – Go Go Tours energetic British expat Simon will take you off the beaten track round the island, we created a bespoke tour that included the Aloe Vera farm, the Statues of Bettancuria and a walk across the sand dunes at Corralejo.

Nature – Horse mindfulness – Fanny at Tara Fuerteventura will teach you mindfulness through communicating silently with horses, the ranch also offers horse rides in the area and treks along the beach Tara Stables Mindfulness

Food – Goats Cheese – Goats Cheese Farm popular cheese farm to meet the goats, learn how the cheese is made and buy the cheese.

Activity – Naked holiday retreat with Karie Naturist retreat Naturism is very popular in the Canary islands and particularly in the south of Fuerteventura, we visited Karie when a yoga retreat was taking place but it’s primarily just a holiday home for people who like to live naturally.

48 hours in Copenhagen – December

Copenhagen – a city where you are never far from a bun, a bicycle or a bridge

Day 1 - Lunch / Hotel check in / Culture - Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen was the tune playing in my head as I took the 15 minute train from the airport to Copenhagen Central Train station then straight onto the 7A bus to Frederiksberg, home to the highly rated Hansens Gamle Familiehave, a cosy family restaurant complete with checked table cloths and mature waiters, recommended for its traditional Danish fare. A confetti of paperwork arrives with a choice of hot food from the main menu or a long list of Smorgasbord. Hotel check in next at the Villa Copenhagen, newly renovated and opposite the Central Train station, Tivoli gardens and a five minute walk to Stroget, one of the longest shopping streets in Europe. The hotel also has the only outdoor heated 25 metre pool in Copenhagen, perfect for a morning dip all year round.

Late afternoon, the Metro line with a standard cost of 24 kk (£3) per journey up to Kongens Nytorv ‘The Kings New Square’. This is the popular public square at the end of Stroget, home to the posh 5 star Hotel D’Angletterre and one of the many Christmas markets scattered all over the city serving mainly hot dogs, Glogg & hot chocolate. Evening at The Old Stage Theatre, situated in Kongens Nytorv to see the Nutcracker suite accompanied by the Royal Danish Orchestra, considered one of the worlds oldest orchestras.  

Day 2 – Sightseeing / Shopping – Morning, time to start ticklisting those photo opps with the Hans Christian Andersen statue in City Hall Square, opposite Tivoli Gardens. The Danes love a bronze statue and this was created by Henry Luckow-Nielsen and erected in 1965. Across the square, and just into Stroget, for a Pistachio Croissant at Buka cafe, so utterly divine I went back again the next day. The filling is a light and delectable mix of pistachio, heavy cream and white chocolate. 

Heading from Buka, upto the boho/secondhand shopping street Larsbjørnstræde which has a feel of Notting Hill before it became expensive, lots of second shops and vegetarian style cafes.

It’s easy then to keep walking from Larsbjørnstræde to Rosenberg Castle, built by one of the most famous Danish Kings, Christian IV, in the 17th century. The beautiful castle features 400 years of royal treasures, the Crown Jewels and Royal Regalia. At 11.30am you can follow hot on the heels of the Danish Royal Guard as they march from Rosenborg across to Amalienborg palace for the changing of the guard ceremony that takes place every day at 12pm. If the flag is up at the Queen’s palace, you will experience the marching band as well.

From Amelienborg castle, it’s an easy flat 15 minute coastal walk up to see the   Little Mermaid, bronze statue again, that was unveiled on 23 August 1913, a gift from Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen to the City of Copenhagen. Head along the coast from the Little Mermaid back to Nyhavn, the iconic strip of multi-coloured houses, originally a commercial port and full of restaurants, bars and in winter, lined with Christmas markets as well. 

Nyhavn is also where you can pick up one of the Canal boat tours, that go for 60 or 90min trips round the waterfront and canals, a great way to get a feel for the geography of the city and learn about the history as well.

As the light fades, it’s the perfect time to head over to Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagens city central theme park that was said to inspire Hans Christian Andersen and Walt Disney. I think it’s best seen at night when it’s wall to wall fairy lights and twinkliness, plus for the thrill seekers some pretty scary rides.

Day 3 – Culture / Shopping – Start your last day with a visit to the Niels Bohr Institute to hear about the fascinating life of Danish physicist Niels Hernirk David Bohr, as told by resident archivist Robert Sunderland. He tells the life and loves of this Danish genius who made foundational contributions about the atomic structure and quantum theory, and received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922.  Before the flight home, a visit to the district of Norrebro, Copenhagens culturally diverse neighbourhood and the location of Hans Christian Anderson and Niels Bohr’s gravestones in Assistens Cemetary. Just over the road from the cemetery, take a walk down Jægersborggade a wide cobbled street with some cool looking coffee shops, restaurants and arty shops.

Nørrebrogade is the main thoroughfare not far from Jægersborggade, and a good bet to try some of the best schwarma in the city. We headed back to Central Station along Blågårdsgade, a narrow street off Norrebrogade, full of cafes, bars and second hand shops. In summer this is a great place to sit outside with a drink.  

TRAVEL TIP: With a Copenhagen Card in hand you get free admission to Tivoli and over 80 attractions as well as free public transportation in the whole capital region. 

http://www.visitcopenhagen.com

Zest Life, Plas Cadnant, Anglesey

Luxury yoga & wellness retreat, North Wales

The last time I shared a room with a complete stranger was on a school trip to France when I stayed in a dormitory with five other giggling teens.  Sleep was lowdown on our list of priorities so, when 40 years later, I was requested to tick a box stating that ‘I would be happy to share’ I was filled with slight trepidation. 

I had booked a three night wellness retreat staying in Plas Cadnant, an historic country estate close to the Menai Bridge, Anglesey offering yoga, wild swimming and relaxation.   After settling into our rooms and deciding who preferred which bed, we were called onto the lawns for our first group session – outdoor restorative yoga. Stretching and relaxing as the sun slowly set behind the Welsh mountains was the perfect start to the weekend.  

After a delicious freshly prepared vegetarian evening meal, a feeling of dread filled the room as it was announced that we would be doing introductions.  Thankfully, it was a painless and enjoyable experience that involved playing a game to memorise each others names. A great icebreaker, and then time for bed, and my first communal sleepover. My new room-mate and I quickly settled into an unspoken routine where one of us used the bathroom and the other got undressed.   I read with the light on, my new friend instantly fell asleep, it was if we had known each other for years.

Pre-breakfast, a yoga class was scheduled out near the lawns, a gentle way to start the day and limber up for our first outdoor swim.  We were heading to Llyn Padarn, one of the largest natural glacially formed lakes in Wales, set in the stunning Snowdonia landscape. The chilled deep blue water of the mountain lake was refreshing and invigorating, with the added bonus of a comforting mug of hot pea soup to warm us up at the end. Our afternoon was thenfree for walks in the stunning hidden gardens on the 200 acre Plas Cadnant estate, the option of a relaxing massage or another refreshing dip in one of the nearby waterfalls.

The next day was a sea swim at Newborough, the picturesque Anglesey beach famous for long white sands edged with an evergreen pine forest.  After a pep talk from Dave our safety instructor about all the bitey stingy stuff that we might encounter, we swam cautiously in the shallow lagoon as the tide slowly ebbed in.  Our small group of mainly single 40 something ladies were all good friends now, and as we swam a former police inspector told of tales of life at the cutting edge of crime. It was fascinating.

Back at Plas Cadnant, we tucked into tea and home made cake and then rested in our rooms until the next yoga session came round. I hung out with my new room mate, chatting about everything and nothing and I realized that room sharing can be a very enjoyable and life affirming experience.  You start sharing with a stranger but end up sharing with a friend. 

https://thezestlife.co.uk/

The Ranch – Palazzo Fiuggi, Italy

Wellness retreat with Hollywood elite

Tucking into my calorie controlled Michelin starred lunch, I took a moment to pause and savour the delicious food. A group of ladies were walking to their table, all dressed in standard issue white towelling robes with one of the group slightly behind. As I sipped my vanilla chai tea, I started to process that the tardy diner was one of the most famous faces in the world. A media giant who was known by her first name alone. I had booked onto this hard core wellness retreat as a challenge to myself but now all that all seemed relatively easy compared to the impossible task I was about to set myself. How could I get a selfie with Oprah?

I had arrived a day early to Palazzo Fiuggi, a five star hotel that was to be the base for my luxury wellness retreat in the Italian countryside. The 5 day health programme is an outpost of the award winning Ranch retreat in Malibu California which is based round hiking, vegan food and yoga. Oprah, although a previous guest of the Ranch in California, was not on my programme but was one of the Palazzo’s private wellness guests. All our Ranch activities were to be held in a separate wing of the Palazzo which greatly reduced my chances of ‘accidentally bumping into’ Oprah. I had to therefore schedule in some daily stalking time as part of my activity plan.

6am the next morning, I jumped out of bed ready for my portion-controlled vegan breakfast – homemade granola and almond milk. After 30 minutes of stretches we set off for our 4 hour uphill hike. The walks are based on time not length so you can set a personal pace for a couple of hours and then turn back again when the radio message comes through. This was my first time using walking poles which gave me a helpful extra push up the hill, especially when rocky under foot. A pacer sets the route with small red flags so the chances of getting lost, if you do end up walking on your own, are very slim.

Lunch was a surprisingly filling chickpea salad on lentil crust, with the same meal being served to all 25 Ranchers, 22 ladies and 3 men. An eclectic mix of successful mover and shakers – a Hollywood writer, a high profile divorce lawyer, a New York architect. Afternoons were free so I opted for a swim in one of the many pools dotted round the hotel with a sideline plan to stake out Oprah. My hopes were raised when I spotted Gayle King, Oprah’s BBF relaxing by the jacuzzi pool. As I swam endlessly up and down, it became apparent that Oprah would not be joining her friend poolside.

The following morning, we had a variety of health tests – blood, urine, heart, weight and blood pressure and then we were back out on the rain soaked Italian hills. The walk was shorter as the wet conditions made the mountains more treacherous and landslides possible. Back at the hotel, there was no sign of Oprah at her usual lunch spot and my selfie plan was fading fast. ‘I think they’ve left’ I said to my fellow rancher, ‘oh no she said, they’ve just gone out for the day, their security guard told me’. I was relieved, there was still hope but time was not on my side. For the next few Oprah free days, I enjoyed the routine of 4 hour morning hike, vegan lunch, afternoon swim, evening yoga and then dinner with the Ranchers, overlooking a spectacular view of the old town of Fiuggi. After dinner I cruised past the main Palazzo restaurant, the gym and paced the spa corridors but no sign of Oprah. Spontaneous opportunities were rapidly diminishing and I had one day left.

My last day arrived and giving myself a break from Oprahwatch, I booked myself a facial from Palazzo Fiuggi’s extensive beauty menu. Feeling all fresh faced and plumped, I headed back along the spa corridor towards my room. Then, slowly walking towards me in the distance, I could see a very familiar solitary figure. There were two of us in this corridor, one person was me with heart pounding and knees shaking, and the other person was Oprah. We drew closer, with my tight throat and quivering hand, I managed to set the phone to photo mode and meekly asked ‘can I please have a selfie with you?’…. Oprah smiled, stopped in her tracks and said ‘Sure’ as she turned to face the camera. The rendezvous was over far too soon but it was enough. I was ecstatic. The perfect ending to what had been a fabulous few days at the Ranch in Italy.

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Vanessa Williams TV Director Producer

Vanessa Williams filming at the Banana Plantation in Tenerife

I have worked in broadcast television for over 30 years, starting as a production secretary and then working my way up to Producer Director. Since a young age I have always wanted to be involved in ‘showbiz’ and initially studied catering as a way in via the catering truck. Having realised I prefer eating food to making it, I decided to do a secretarial course as that seemed a less labour intensive way of getting into the industry. After watching Judith Chalmers on Wish you were Here and Cliff Michelmore presenting on Holiday as a child, my dream job was to work on a travel show. I have spend the last four years working with Jane McDonald, producing and directing her travel shows in the Caribbean, Japan, Canaries, Europe and the UK. I have started a blog as I would like to now use my experience to write for travel publications and websites, especially healthy holidays.