A round-up of my favourite hidden gems of 2014
I can’t believe how quickly time flies − it seems like just yesterday I was checking out some of my top 5 hidden gems of 2014. But as another year is indeed coming to a close I thought I’d take this opportunity to share my highlights with you below in no particular order, my favourite hidden gems, and it wasn’t an easy call choosing them. And to one of them, St Ann’s Hospice in Little Hulton Manchester, I will be forever grateful. Let me know if you agree, or if there are any others you’d care to share. Happy New Year and looking forward to giving you the low-down on lots more hidden gems in 2015.
St Ann’s Hospice Little Hulton Manchester
St Ann’s Hospice Little Hulton Manchester
I can honestly say that this year has been the toughest year of my life. In February of 2014 my mum passed away from mum gallbladder cancer. It was diagnosed out of the blue and had already spread to mum’s spine and liver. There was no cure. As you can imagine I was distraught. But thanks to the kindness and compassion of the staff at St Ann’s Hospice Little Hulton my mum died comfortably, she wasn’t in pain, and had peace of mind. They allowed my mum to keep her dignity and for this my family and I can never repay them. Before my mum was admitted to St Ann’s Hospice I didn’t even know what a hospice was and shockingly St Ann’s Hospice which provides its services for free needs £16,000 a day to stay open. Here’s how you can make a donation.
Maastricht Monastery hotel, Kruisherenhotel
Maastricht Kruisherenhotel breakfast buffet
I’m always on the lookout for quirky boutique hotels and the Kruisherenhotel in Maastricht, a former 15th century monastery, proved to be a heavenly place to stay. I loved the mix of the Kruisherenhotel Maastricht’s original Gothic features and cool, contemporary rooms created by international designers that include Philip Starck and Le Courbusier. And as you can see from my picture the restaurant, upstairs on the mezzanine in the cloisters, was also pretty impressive. As was the breakfast, which was unusually lavish by Dutch standards, another reason it’s one of my hidden gems of 2014.
Seal spotting at Blackeney Point Norfolk
This was one of my hidden gems of 2014 that really took me by surprise. Before visiting the Norfolk coast I never realised that Blakeney in Norfolk was one of the best places in the UK to spot grey seals. And I certainly never expected to see hundreds of seals (common and grey) up close on a boat trip, which was a truly amazing experience. Since my visit, Blakeney is now home to over 2,000 seal pups this year, making it the biggest seal colony in the UK and the subject of a new season of BBC Winterwatch.
Montenegro’s best restaurant
My top 5 hidden gems of 2014 wouldn’t be compete without at least one restaurant mention. There were a few serious contenders, like Vis & Ko in Haarlem, the Netherlands an amazing fish restaurant and Brewery Troost Amsterdam which serves THE best veggie burgers in the city. But the winner of the year for me was Catovica Mlini, the best restaurant in Montenegro. Not just because of its outstanding food but also because of its tranquil, off-the-beaten-track setting in an old mill (complete with its very own duck pond).
The Grand Hyatt, Kauai’s best hotel
The saltwater lagoon at Kauai’s best hotel
In a word, wow. The Grand Hyatt, Kauai’s best hotel is amazing and the most glamorous of my hidden gems of 2014, so a fitting way to end in style. I’m not usually a fan of big resorts, I prefer more intimate, boutique hotels. But the grounds of the Grand Hyatt (with its own saltwater lagoon, lazy river, waterfalls, beachfront cabanas, home to the biggest spa on Kauai and a waterslide, hurrah) literally took my breath away. What also makes this Hawaii hotel one of my top 5 hidden gems of 2014 is its location. As tough as it was to tear myself away from the resort it was about a five-minute walk from our room to Shipwreck Beach (where the likes of Justin Bieber have been papped). Also within walking distance (about a 20-miute walk) is Poipu Beach which is popular for snorkelling as it’s teeming with marine life. I was lucky enough to see a rare Hawaiian monk seal and sea turtles.
