Escaping to the Tropics with Annie West

Have
you ever lived through miserable weather and long tiring days of work and
longed to escape to a tropical paradise? I’ll put my hand up to that. Even now,
when the weather in Australia is of the heatwave variety, the idea of a
tropical beach appeals. Maybe it’s the gorgeous, glittering sea, the balmy
breezes or the shade of lush vegetation. Sigh.

That longing inspired the setting of my current book (The Greek’s Forbidden Innocent), so I happily indulged myself recalling time spent in the tropics. It made diving into my story each day so much easier!

If
you’re dreaming of a tropical escape here are a few tips.

First
up, check your dates. Even Paradise can get thrashed by rough weather
sometimes. This first photo is of Trinity Beach in far north Queensland (the
north east part of Australia). It formed part of my inspiration for Mina and
Alexei’s story. Out to sea is the Great Barrier Reef. So if you were planning a
trip there you’d want to be able to explore the Reef, right? And swim in the
sea? It’s best not to assume that because it’s winter in the northern
hemisphere, it’s automatically the best time to visit. Summer in this area can
be hot and incredibly humid. It’s storm season too, so if a cyclone is going to
roll in from the Pacific, this is the most likely time of year. Then too,
summer is stinger season in north Queensland – there are some very unpleasant
jellyfish that ride the currents at that time of year, which means for a couple
of months it’s better to swim in a pool than at the beach, though the reef is
usually okay. Wherever you’re going, do your homework in advance.

So,
you’ve checked your ideal tropical destination, saved your holiday money and
checked when to go. What else?

Take
your cue from the locals.  They don’t
usually sunbake all day. Pack a hat and plenty of sunscreen and, if you’re not
used to the sun, take it in small doses. Turning lobster red and sore on the
first day of sun exposure can take the shine out of the most wonderful holiday.
 Insect repellent is handy too.

Keep
up your fluids! There may be a sunken bar in your resort pool – lots of fun and
such a luxury. But remember to top up with water as well.

Oh,
and those pretty coconut palms? They do drop coconuts from time to time. Maybe
find some other shade to relax in.

But
with those couple of precautions, your trip should be marvellous, with the
beach on your doorstep and nothing to do but unwind. Don’t forget to take some
reading matter so you can loll about by the water, enjoying the decadence of
totally relaxing in idyllic surroundings and not working! Could anything be
nicer?

If
you’ve got the time and energy, don’t miss the chance to explore more than the
beach. Check out the local towns, maybe meet some locals, go on a tour of the
rainforest or learn about the local wildlife. The tropics are so richly diverse
and fascinating. Plus of course there will probably be jet skis, canoes, paddle
boards and all sorts of fun activities to enjoy.

If
you can, try to see at least one sunrise or sunset. They can be absolutely
spectacular!

If
you have suggestions on a tropical paradise to visit, please let me know. I may
just have to do some research for another book! Is there an idyllic location
you’d like to escape to right now?

About Annie

Australian Annie West loves writing passionate, intense romances and not just because it gives her a chance to ignore housework! She is a USA Today Bestselling author, published in 25 languages. Annie writes contemporary stories about charismatic heroes and strong heroines. She loves being in contact with readers as far apart as Brisbane, Bremen and Bermuda. When not writing and avoiding housework she can be found walking, enjoying good food and good company, travelling and reading.

Annie has a new book out right now!

Connect with Annie via

Her website: http://www.annie-west.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anniewest.author

Or sign up for her occasional newsletter
with book updates, behind the scenes information and giveaways: https://tinyurl.com/ya56pe7c

THE GREEK’S FORBIDDEN INNOCENT

The Greek’s
virgin bride…

…is hiding her royal identity!

While helping her friend escape an arranged
marriage, dutiful Princess Mina finds herself captive
on enigmatic Alexei Katsaros’s luxurious private island! Mina must convince
Alexei that she’s his future bride, but she doesn’t expect their scorching
chemistry to be so deliciously overwhelming… And after a night in the Greek’s
bed, suddenly there’s more at stake than just Mina’s hidden identity—her heart
is at Alexei’s mercy, too!

Escape to an island paradise with the
billionaire and his royal bride!

Buy on:

Amazon Kindle Amazon Paperback

Amazon UK Amazon Aus

Travel to Gran Canaria with Katrina Cudmore!

Earlier this year, in desperate need of some sunshine after the long cold winter we had just experienced in Ireland, I decided to take advantage of my youngest son’s primary school May mid-term break and the two of us jetted off to the cheapest sun destination I could find! Gran Canaria.

 

I went with little expectations, having already holidayed on another Canary Island – Lanzarote which I found too barren and touristy. But I fell in love with Gran Canaria. For me it has all I want in a holiday – a relaxed atmosphere, stunning beaches with warm seas, great accommodation and restaurants serving good value food, the friendliest locals I have ever encountered and cool bars for the night time.

 My son having fun in the surf!

Travel to Greece with Pippa Roscoe

 

[caption id="attachment_1434" align="alignleft" width="300"] Pippa with Rachael Thomas[/caption]

Earlier this year I convinced Rachael Thomas to come to Crete with me on a research/writing trip. I know that I write better in the sun, outside. I’m not sure whether it’s the fresh air, or the warmth, or just being away from home but there’s something about it that helps the words to flow. We packed up our laptops and booked the flights and accommodation – something that was done with military precision worthy of any determined, accomplished Harlequin heroine! – and picked the most beautiful hotel in Crete. 



We arrived early in the morning, which meant that the first thing I did before we could check into the hotel was to get myself an iced coffee. Okay – so one thing I LOVE, to a really insane degree, is Greek Ice Coffee. It has to be sweet because, of course, I’m on holiday so the diet is OFF. On average I need about twenty minutes of alone time with this gorgeous thing before I could even think about eating breakfast. I may even need a second one!

Travel to Ireland with Kate Walker & Giveaways

When I was  growing up, the most exciting thing that could happen as part of the school holidays was  when my mother took us all to visit her family  in my grandfather's house just outside Dublin in Ireland.  It was a major undertaking -  there were five of us sisters and my mother, all  travelling across to the port of  Holyhead Anglesey,  getting on to the ferry and then traveling across the sea to the port of  Dún Laoghaire  where the ferry docked. I had so many wonderful memories of the journey (once the sea sickness was over!) of this beautiful country where both my mother and father had been born, where they had met  and married all those years before. So it was a special delight to be able to travel back there with my husband and my own son many years later.

   It was more than twenty years since I'd visited but memories came rushing back and I found I could retrace my steps  almost as easily as if it had been yesterday that I'd walked that way before.  I  found Dublin Castle, the General Post Office where the 1916 rebellion had  started.  I walked along the Dublin Strand  and from there, tracing my  childhood footsteps,  I was able to lead my husband  to my Grandfather's house in the little village of Sandymount  where I had spent all those wonderful summer holidays.  I even walked around  Trinity College where my mother and father had met  even more years before and then  across Stephen's Green  where  the magnificent gateway has a high wide arch where the names of all the Irishmen killed in the Boer War are listed.  There's one of my ancestors there  -  my Great Uncle Charlies  - Charles Walker - who was my grandfather's younger brother.  He was only 17 when he died and as I take my name from my grandmother Katherine Walker, he was her brother in law.   As you can see, the weather was pretty typically Irish  - lots of grey clouds and plenty of rain - the sort of day that in Ireland you learn to call it a fine soft day!

Travel to San Diego USA with Linda Lee Kane!

Welcome to San Diego, California which is widely known as “America’s Finest City.” San Diego is known for its

[caption id="attachment_1189" align="aligncenter" width="278"] San Diego Beach[/caption]

miles and miles of white-sandy beaches and amazing weather with a laid- back atmosphere. What many visitors don’t know about San Diego is that it is composed of many distinct and diversified neighborhoods and each have their own unique charm.

Travel to Amsterdam with Jane Godman

I Love Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities. It’s vibrant, and fun, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. I like wandering De Negen Straatjes (or Nine Streets) that thread between the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht and Herengracht canals. They’re lined with quirky shops, little restaurants and cafés.

The city is famous for its museums, some of them high-brow, others silly (and a few pornographic). No visit to Amsterdam would be complete without a visit to the imposing Rijksmuseum, and my personal favorite is the Van Gogh Museum. I find it quite moving to look at the brush strokes of the master himself.

Then, of course, there is the Anne Frank House. Located on the Prinsengracht, in the center of the town, it is quite simply a not-to be missed experience.  

Dani Collins – Hawaii’s Volcano Park Off The Bucket List!

HAWAII has been on our bucket list for a while. We actually visited the island of Kauai the year after we married for my sister’s wedding. For fun, I dug up a photo from that trip. 

 

My husband has wanted to see the volcano park ever since. We were looking for a splashy vacation for our twenty-fifth anniversary last year—as well as a break from winter—so we went this January.

 

It was a truly wonderful vacation! We started with three days on ‘the big island,’ aka ‘Hawaii.’ Then we flew to Oahu and spent eight days on the North Shore at Turtle Bay Resort.

 

I am blessed with a husband who likes to do his research. While most of Hawaii hovers in the twenties throughout the year, he read that the volcano park elevation is 1143 meters and can get quite cold. We were fine through the day, but when we tried to view the glow of lava in the crater at night, I had to bow out. The wind came up and I was still in shorts.

Travel with Jacqui Jacoby & Giveaway!

 

End Games

I’ve been traveling since I was a kid of about nine. My mom took me to Philadelphia to visit the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin. I was a history buff even back then having already read several children’s books on his life. Visiting him was more than my little heart could take. Ben’s grave is located against one of the walls. The bricks were removed and a fence installed so you could see him plain and clear. Now visiting cemeteries has never been on my creepy list. My mom asking me to lay down beside his grave to ‘see who was taller’ … okay, that crossed into the weird though for my whole life, I’ve been able to say I was taller than Mr. Franklin.

Monterey Bay Aquarium with Linda Lee Kane

I love the coast, I love the ocean, and what better way to learn more about it than by volunteering at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. What an opportunity. The classes that were held taught us so much about the sea and all the beautiful creatures that reside.

 

On my first day as a volunteer I saw a blue whale. These animals are massive and so majestic. I found out that long ago that Monterey Bay was fished out, the sea anenome were done, the otters were gone. Many people gathered and helped to fund the revitalization of the bay and boy, were they successful.

 

 

Travel to Andalusia, Spain with Jane Godman

Tapas, Flamenco, and Ice Cream (with some history thrown in) – A whirlwind tour of Andalusia

[caption id="attachment_1071" align="alignleft" width="225"] Alhambra[/caption]

I love Spain. It’s a two-and-a-half-hour flight from my home to the glorious beaches, or enticing cities, of one of the most beautiful European cities. It’s almost a hobby of mine to leave the English weather behind and soak up some Mediterranean sunshine.

Last year, my husband and I went on a tour of Andalusia. I’d wanted to visit Granada and see the Alhambra, so we decided to take in some of the other sights of the region as well. Our whirlwind tour started high up in the hills of Mijas, took in the ancient town of Ronda, allowed us to spend time in the vibrant city of Seville, included the incredible mosque at Córdoba, and ended with the iconic Alhambra.  

There were so many incredible sights packed into the tour that I’m going to leave the “wow factor” to the pictures and talk instead about the “yum factor”.

Lesser Spotted Destinations with Katrina Cudmore & Giveaways!

Lesser Spotted Destinations

 

A few years ago after a particularly hectic weekend break in a jam-packed London, I read a travel article in the English Sunday Times that really resonated with me. The article argued that in a time of ever increasing tourism and the associated concerns over the environmental impact on popular destinations, we should all be seeking out new and less visited destinations. The Cliffs of Moher here in Ireland are a case in point. Last year the cliffs had over 1.5 million tourists. Cliff erosion is now a concern at the site, as is visitor management. I don’t know about you but when I travel, I like to visit unique locations. I hate the feeling of being yet another tourist in a too predictable destination.

That why’s I thought I’d share with you two alternative coastal destinations in Ireland for you to consider, where more often than not you will be only one of a handful of visitors on any given day and where you will find a more authentic Ireland.

 

Geokaun Mountain & Fogher Cliffs on Valentina Island are located in County Kerry in the South West of Ireland at one of the most westerly points in Europe.



Valentina although an Island is accessible by a bridge and is a wild and beautiful place on the Atlantic coast full of stunning walks, in particular the 600ft Fogher seacliffs. The Blasket Islands can be seen in the distance from the cliffs and the area is renowned for its flora and fauna. Ferries leave from the nearby fishing village of Portmagee for the Skellig Rocks. Skellig Michael towers 714ft above sea level and is famous for its sixth century monastic settlement. The site, reached by steep steps, includes stone beehive-shaped huts, oratories and crosses. Thousands of puffins breed on Skellig Michael during the warmer months and it was a recent location for the filming of Star Wars movies.

December in Lapland by Karin Baine

A few years ago we decided to take our two boys to Lapland for the day. Although it likely cost as much as a week in the sun we figured it was a once in a lifetime experience we wanted to give them.

As a certified Christmas-a-holic I don’t know who was more excited at the prospect, me or 



the kids. Okay, it was me. Not least because we didn’t tell the boys where we were going until we reached the airport.

A Week Walking The Great Wall of China with Rachael Thomas

 

My previous post here on Traveling with Nasreen was all about my training walks in my local area as I prepared to take on a week trekking along The Great Wall of China raising funds for British Heart Foundation.

In October I took on that challenge and it was an amazing week and our twenty eight strong group raised over £52,000 for the cause.

 

 

 

 

 

 



For five days we trekked along the wall, some parts of it were in good repair and being close to Beijing a popular tourist area, while other parts were what we named, the wild wall. More often than not, we were the only ones on these stretches of the wall.

Travel with Phillipa Nefri Clark to Great Ocean Road

Two towns on the Great Ocean Road

[caption id="attachment_952" align="alignleft" width="438"] Great Ocean Road[/caption]

A number of years ago, we took a rare break from business to have a short family holiday in Lorne, Victoria. The week leading into our departure, I’d had the worst headache imaginable, culminating with a CT scan the morning we left. Against dire warnings from my doctor that I should stay in town until the results came in, I persuaded my husband to head to the one place I knew would help - the ocean.

Wellington, New Zealand - then and now by K. A. Servian #Giveaways

New Zealand’s capital is a vibrant city with an active arts scene and thriving cafe culture. The CBD is compact. You can wander from Cuba Street with it’s eclectic independent retailers down to Lambton Quay, dubbed ‘The golden mile’ with it’s high-end shops, in around fifteen minutes.

Wellington is also home to Te Papa, the country’s national museum and a fascinating place to spend an afternoon. It’s also worth taking a drive around the southern coast where houses cling to cliffs above a dramatic rocky shore. For a more sedate beach option, Oriental Parade in the city is a lovely spot for a walk and an ice cream.

Thought to have been occupied by Māori since 950AD, the first European settlement of the area that was to become Wellington began in January 1840 when Edwin Gibbon Wakefield, founder of the New Zealand Company and a man of questionable morality, sailed into Port Nicholson with the intention of setting up a town. The company’s methods were dubious to say the least and the whole scheme came close to failure on several occasions due to a lack of suitable building plots and difficulty negotiating land deals with the in situ Māori population. The Wakefields did eventually succeed, although in a modified form from their original plans.

Letting the Train take the Strain with Liz Fielding

LET THE TRAIN TAKE THE STRAIN

I love trains. Step aboard and even the twenty-five minute journey from my home into the nearby city of Bath is an adventure.

I can enjoy the scenery. The river, the canal, the weir at Avoncliff, the soft hills, the blackthorn flowering in spring and, last week, those blackthorn heavy with sloes. Then, finally, the view of Bath laid out over the hills, golden in sunlight.

When I was ten years old I travelled with my family by train to Austria for a holiday in St Anton. There were horrible green upright seats on the French trains (my Dad slept on the floor, my aunt stayed awake and knitted socks). The Swiss train had park bench style wooden seats which were bigger and a more ergonomic shape but then our travel courier said there was a spare first class carriage and we were moved to luxury as we swept by Lake Geneva. And we stopped in Basle for breakfast in the station restaurant – stiff white cloths, silver cutlery, our first “continental” breakfast!

I once had a fabulous day out with the dh and the children travelling from London to York on a privately hired Pullman, a treat from the client for all the consultants working on a big project. A fabulous full English silver service breakfast, a day in York (if you go there do not miss the Yorvik Centre – a recreation of medieval York with all the sounds and smells) and then home with roast beef and all the trimmings, good wine and a disco on board. York was amazing, but it’s the train that lingers in the memory. I sometimes see a Pullman waiting at the platform in Bath, the tables laid, lamps lit and long to be one of the passengers stepping aboard.

Travel to Great Wall of China for #BritishHeartFoundation with Rachael Thomas!

For the last six months I have been spending lots of time preparing and training for a charity trek in China. Later this month I will be leaving my desk and flying out to Beijing and then onto The Great Wall of China where I will spend five days trekking to raise funds for British Heart Foundation.

My training has meant lots of walking and my dog, Poppy and I have done plenty of walking locally. We’ve spent many hours walking over our farm and the surrounding area.



I’ve also spent time walking along the coastal path near me. This is looking back down to Aberaeron on a very blustery autumn day.

Travel to Anlaby Station, Australia with Ella Carey & Giveaway!

As part of my research for my fourth novel, SECRET SHORES, I went to Anlaby Station in South Australia, which was once Australia’s largest merino sheep station. Anlaby was the inspiration for Haslemere- the property that Edward inherits in the book.

The entire place was wonderful. What struck me was the way I connected with the Australian landscape of my childhood again- I grew up in South Australia, so going back there and being out in the countryside was incredibly special for me. There is something about the stillness of the paddocks, the whispering, pale eucalypts and the vast, vast skies that brought back memories I thought I’d forgotten. Layer in a romantic old homestead and a wondrous, restored garden and I was transfixed.

[caption id="attachment_886" align="aligncenter" width="225"] The Old Homestead[/caption]

 

Travel to Masai Mara, Nairobi with Mollie Blake & #Giveaway

Don’t we all love to dream of flying away to a tropical island, or a cosmopolitan city in a faraway place? Travel is something in which I take great pleasure. Packing? Not so much.

Now for a confession. Several years ago, we wanted to do a safari holiday. My research showed that the Masai Mara was a great destination to catch site of the big five – elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard. What my husband didn’t know was that I didn’t want to look at any other, possibly equally qualifying, destinations. Why, you may I ask? Well, I am an author.

In addition to sharing a holiday of a lifetime with my husband and our son, I also wanted to do some research for my book, The Secret At Arnford Hall. I needed a location with a dangerous place, to send the protagonist to, a certain Gabriel Black, as he searched for a man who didn’t want to be found. I wanted to tie it in with a destination the young Gabriel would have travelled to with his parents and siblings. In addition to that I needed somewhere with seedy places off the beaten track, together with exotic destinations that would pull a person back. Kenya seemed to fit all my needs.

Two days in Nairobi gave me an insight into the “downtown” areas, populated with rundown buildings, and ramshackle shops and warehouses. Then you could turn a corner and see palatial hotels with hidden tropical gardens and areas to drink delicious coffee away from the bustle and fumes of the streets. This gave me the location for a car mechanic who fixed Toyotas. I remember everywhere I looked there would be a beat up Toyota on the road somewhere. Kenya seemed the perfect setting for the hapless mechanic to seek escape from gambling debts, get caught up in kidnapping by a violent gang boss, and feel the pull on his heart strings, leaving him wanting to return as a pilot to fly shuttle planes over the Masai Mari. We even took one of these flights ourselves to end our holiday on the beach at Mombasa.

So enough about the research, and more about our wonderful holiday. In Nairobi we visited an elephant sanctuary and a giraffe centre.

Beaches I have loved by Michelle Douglas #Giveaways

Sarah and the Secret Sheikh is set in the fictional Arabian country of Keddah Jaleel, and while I’d love to show you pictures of my adventures in that part of the world, I’ve never had the opportunity to experience it (maybe one day).



The desert sounds so magical, doesn’t it? But I haven’t been outside my own country in over four years! However, Keddah Jaleel does have the most spectacular coastline…and those who know me know how much I love the beach. It doesn’t really matter which beach—I pretty much love them all. So today I thought I’d share some of my favourite beaches with you. 

 

 

 

My childhood beach was in the tourist hamlet of Tuncurry, which is just over two hours North of Newcastle (which is where I live). This particular spot is called The Rock Pool (though it’s more a netted beach than an actual rock pool), and is very child friendly. It’s tucked into the mouth of the harbour, bordered by the breakwater, and it’s not unusual to see dolphins frolicking in the harbour on the other side of the net. J (This spot featured in my 2011 release, The Secretary’s Secret).

[caption id="attachment_870" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Rock Pool, Tuncurry…with the iconic Forster and Tuncurry bridge in the background[/caption]