holiday | Elevate with Ola

June 15, 2021July 26, 2021

Sunborn Gibraltar

a gem of the Mediterranean floating glamourously in the sea. I'm sure it will suit your next break whether that's a break from work to chill, a break to work away from home, an active holiday, or your special occasion. Whatever it is the Sunborn Gibraltar will cater!

Welcome on board the world’s first 5-star floating yacht hotel!

This has been one of the most beautiful stays I have had around the world. It won a place on my list of top hotels to stay at around the world, more on that to come soon.

The floating giant is a seven-deck, 465ft cruise ship, if you want to know what the vibe is like on a 5-star floating yacht, imagine “cruise ship meets Bulgari hotel” at least that’s how The Telegraph describes it!

Sitting on the marina of Western Europe’s southernmost tip, Sunborn Gibraltar brings to you a whole new level of exclusive luxury.

I can assure you that deciding whether you would stay at the hotel or not wouldn’t be a difficult decision to make it picking which room to stay at. The yacht hotel comprises 189 lavishly appointed rooms, that give you the choice of three views: the maria, the sea, and the Rock. Molton Brown toiletries furnish the bathrooms, depending on the room type you stay in you could have a shower or a bath that’s so big it could fit at least a couple of people.

I was personally impressed with how the wardrobe full-sized mirror slides open to the bathroom, making it one big dressing room. I took photos of the design to fit it in my future home.

Onboard the yacht you have 2 restaurants, 2 bars, and a lounge for exclusive use by hotel guests on the sundeck. An infinity pool with a view of the Rock, a lush spa a fresh fitness suite, and a casino. All offering guests a unique opportunity to enjoy the ultimate indulgent hotel experience.

The yacht hotel also hosts top-class conference and meeting rooms. The Aurora ballroom promises an exceptional atmosphere for your special events whether celebrating in small or big groups the soundproof ballroom means you can party all night long!

Imagine taking your wedding vows or celebrating your anniversary with the scenic Mediterranean as a backdrop on one side, the view of the Rock on the other. That is one hell of an unforgettable location.

You can spend a week exploring the hotel alone let alone exploring Gibraltar.

Being close to the airport and housed at the ocean village promenade it is really the perfect place to stay to explore Gibraltar. Most tourist destinations are within 15 minutes of the hotel.

I must say even with it being close to the airport you don’t hear the noise, if anything it is a fascinating experience to stay at one of the marina rooms/suites and watch the flights take off or land on the runway. Absolutely fascinating experience!

My visit was a workcation meets let’s see what Gibraltar has to offer, it definitely had plenty to offer I would say as well as the hotel that provided a suitable environment to work and relax when I wanted to.

Spending time by and in the infinity pool, at the exclusive wheel lounge watching the sun drop behind the ocean while enjoying happy hour, or even taking a break from my inbox and sitting in the Barbary restaurant for a lovely afternoon tea.

You won’t run out of options at the Sunborn Gibraltar.

Talking about relaxation, the spa and sauna experience was just what the doctor needed to unwind from a busy week’s work prior to my departure.

See the Sunborn Gibraltar Photo Gallery

Definitely, a gem of the Mediterranean floating glamourously in the sea. I’m sure it will suit your next break whether that’s a break from work to chill, a break to work away from home, an active holiday, or your special occasion. Whatever it is the Sunborn Gibraltar will cater!

Enticed to book a stay at the Sunborn Gibraltar?

Tells us in the comments which are your favorite hotels from around the world? Do you want Ola to try out a hotel for you – give us some suggestions!

Did you get some value from this post?

I hope you did because each week I put my heart into making sure you get some good tips so you can rock it in your travels while creating a life you love.

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June 8, 2021July 26, 2021

7 days on The Rock

Gibraltar never really surfaced on my travel radar till one of my friends went there a few years ago and came back shouting you have to go to Gibraltar, it’s amazing!

Even then, I was a bit reserved about it, mainly because I’m not a 100% beach holiday person. I like soft adventure and activities but also there weren’t direct flights from where I live. So, once a flight came up and the cabin fever in me had risen to a reasonably high level, I hit the book now button and I jetted off.

Gibraltar has the only wild monkey population in the whole of Europe.
12% of its economy comes from gambling.
It has the only airport in the world where the runway has a pedestrian and car crossing, and the runway extends into the sea on a piece of reclaimed land. Definitely not one for nervous flyers!
John Lennon and Yoko Ono got married there.
There is 29Km of roads in Gibraltar. You can actually walk the whole length of Gibraltar in an hour.
The tunnels of Gibraltar that run inside The Rock are 55Km long, which’s twice the length of the road network.
Despite its size, it has a world heritage site; Gorham’s cave. It is said to be one of the last habitations of the Neanderthals.
Gibraltar has appeared in 2 James Bond movies; You only live twice and The living daylights
It has a giant floating hotel; the five-star superyacht hotel Sunborn Gibraltar is a seven-deck, 465ft cruise ship. The Telegraph describes it as “cruise ship meets Bulgari hotel”.

To say it’s lush and luxurious is an understatement.

I obviously had to try said hotel when I visited Gibraltar.

You can see more of the Sunborn Gibraltar hotel here.

Language

The offical language is English. The original language is Llanito, a mix of Spanish, and North African.

Currency

Gibraltar Pound, but many places take the British Sterling Pound as well. the conversion rate is negligible.

Trasnport

Gibraltar is a small territory, walking is the best way to explore the area however taxis and buses are available as well as car rental.

What to do in 7 days on The Rock?

You are probably wondering man, that’s too small of a place what am I going to do there.

I’ve put together for you a list of activities and a sample seven-day itinerary that you can try out.

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Best time to visit

All year round! with 300 days of sun you can't go wrong on timing.

COVID tests

At the time of publishing Gibraltar is on the Green list for UK citizens, please always refer to the government website for updates.

Activities

There is a wide range of activities you can do, Im sure we can find something that would suit every level of fitness. Do get in touch by clicking this text and we can sort you out with more ideas.

Did you get some value from this post?

I hope you did because each week I put my heart into making sure you get some good tips so you can rock it in your travels while creating a life you love.

Wanna Share This Because You Love Sharing Valuable Info?

May 18, 2021July 26, 2021

10 days in Algarve Portugal

Who can say no to the sun, sand, and sea?

And when they all come together in one of the most gorgeous spots in Portugal, saying no gets even harder.

Here is how you can spend 10 days in Algrave soaking up the sun, sand, sea, scenery, and food!

Top spots to visit in Algarve Portugal

Faro is the largest city and the capital of the region, home to Algarve’s international airport.

The charm of the old town is what attracts visitors, the cobblestone streets, the cathedral, and the ruins of the defensive walls are what sightseers would like to see. Faro is also home to a large beautiful natural park and its own fabulous beach.

Vilamoura is home to Portugal’s largest marina, it’s also a magnet for golf enthusiasts. Vilamoura is beautiful, enchanting, and caters for a respite holiday under the sun or for family fun with plenty of activities to pick from.

Albufeira the top beach destination pulling tourists in from all over the world. Some of the best stretches of sand in the Algrave are there making Albufeira the tourist capital of the Algarve.

Portimão is where you can stay in an urban setting yet be a stone throw away from the beach. It’s Algarve’s second-biggest city and has done a really good job at reinventing itself. You will find a collection of cultural and historic attractions as well as a stunning artificial reef that attracts divers from all around the world.

Lagos is the western Algarve’s liveliest resort town. It showcases a collection of medieval castle walls and churches, but what really lures in the holidaymakers is its magnificent coastline.

I heard the shopping is pretty inexpensive and the food is great too!

Both Vilamoura and Albufeira were chapters in my travel story to the Algarve – Portugal

What to see in Vilamoura and Albufeira

1- Vilamoura Marina is a must!

Visit during the day, stroll around the designer shops and the stalls. Treat yourself to snacks or meals at the waterside cafes and restaurants.

You can hire a bicycle and cycle your way around, or simply sit there and do a bit of people watching, it’s a common thing to do.

Don’t miss out on the night scenery along the marina, it’s both romantic and enchanting. You should try it even if you are on a solo trip.

2- Head to the beach at either destination, because the more beaches in life the better (or at least that’s how I feel).

3- Visit the Roman ruins

Vilamoura has an archeological site that will take you back 5000 years, with both an indoor and outdoor museum.

You can check opening times and ticket information here.

4- Water sports and excursions.

You can get pretty much anything; parasailing, a 3-hour boat trip in Benagil caves, Dolphin watching, snorkeling, kayaking, or a full-day private yacht charter tour.

5- Hit the golf courses

Both Vilamoura and Albufeira are renowned for their golf courses and resorts. The favorable climate, and being mostly located in unspoiled areas with stunning views, making this a paradise for golfers from all over the world.

Where to eat?

Il Lamparo: fresh salads and sandwiches (Vilamoura Marina)

Prime Steakhouse: quality meat cuts cooked to your liking (Vilamoura Marina)

Thai Beach Club: Thai food in style (Quarteira)

Uniko food with finesse (Vilamoura Marina)

Don Alfonso (Vilamoura Marina)

Amorino Icecream (Vilamoura Marina)

Corda Cafe at Pine Cliff resort at Albufeira

Did you get some value from this post?

I hope you did because each week I put my heart into making sure you get some good tips so you can rock it in your travels while creating a life you love.

Tag: holiday