Welcome to Ilulissat in Greenland, but l et's first celebrate our 55th country. Greenland is an island of the kingdom of Denmark, which is our 55th country. We were fortunate to visit it on our North-to-South Pole cruise. Ilulissat is the Kalaallisut word for "Icebergs". Ilulissat is home to almost as many sled dogs as people. It has a population of 4700 and is Greenland's third-largest city and most popular tourist destination. Greenland is an island country in North America that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Greenland is the world's largest island. It lies between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The village of Ilulissat is wrapped in an icefjord; we jumped on the first tender boat to make our way to the fjord (a short 30-minute walk from town). Upon arrival, we were treated to dog sled practice as we walked through the fields where the dogs were housed. Thank you, Arctic Living Ilulissat , for this enlightening experience on sled dogs. We were fortunate to see the dog sled practice and the level of excitement with all the beautiful dogs. We love how you put the dogs first, your high level of nourishment and care, your preservation of the Greenlandic dog sled culture, and your passion and love for this tradition. The fjords then rendered us speechless as we reached the top of the hill. We hiked through the breathtaking and colourful natural flora to the actual fjord to experience this magical moment for the first time. It was very picturesque, and we took many pictures to capture this incredible landscape and moment. Ilulissat Icefjord is 66 km wide and 555 km long and is a UNESCO natural world heritage site. The fjord is a collection of icebergs that have calved from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, the fastest and most active glacier in the world, one by one, with a speed of 40 metres per day. We followed this with a visit to the Icefjord Centre . It was incredible architecture with minimal impact and nicely blended with its surroundings, using only steel and wood to construct over two years. It only opened 11 months ago. It was imposing and a great way to learn about the life stages of ice, from a drop of rain to snowflakes, calving, drifting and melting! In the Ilulissat Icefjord, global warming is evident. The Greenlanders are thankful for the growing interest in an issue they live with and adapt to constantly. The area is a site of extensive research undertaken for centuries and, as a result, is said to facilitate insight into climate change. We enjoyed listening to and hearing about the village and how tourism is doubling and becoming stronger each year from around the globe; it was a beautiful, charming community with excellent infrastructure, nestled among a seascape of ice. We finished the day exploring the beautiful town, its bright-coloured homes, and its scenic views. The ship was joyous this evening as the crew and passengers digested the sensory overload we were all grateful to experience, thanks to Hurtigruten. Fun fact: Greenland is 80% covered in ice, and It got its name from Erik The Red, an Icelandic murderer exiled to the island. He called it "Greenland", hoping the name would attract settlers. But according to scientists, Greenland was Let'sgreen more than 2.5 million years ago.

Icefjord Centre - One visit Upon arriving in Ilulissat on the west coast of Greenland on our Pole to Pole cruise with Hurtigruten Expeditions to visit the magnificent Ilulissat Icefjord, we followed this with a visit to the Icefjord Centre. We were impressed with the incredible architecture, which had minimal impact and nicely blended with its surroundings, using only steel and wood to construct over two years. The Icefjord Centre only opened 11 months ago. It was imposing and a great way to learn about the life stages of ice, from a drop of rain to snowflakes, calving, drifting and melting! A friendly chap who worked there joined us for coffee (the cafe onsite makes exceptional coffee) and shared his stories about Ilulissat and the dramatic changes they are experiencing due to climate change. Recently, the permafrost has been reducing, and the houses are beginning to shift and become damaged, among the changes in the ice. Thirty years ago, it was much closer to go and touch; now, the drive has become much longer. In the Ilulissat Icefjord, global warming is evident. The Greenlanders are thankful for the growing interest in an issue they live with and adapt to constantly. The area is a site of extensive research undertaken for centuries and, as a result, is said to facilitate insight into climate change. We enjoyed listening to and hearing about the village and how tourism is doubling and becoming stronger each year from around the globe; it was a beautiful, charming community with excellent infrastructure, nestled among a seascape of ice. The structure's roof has a viewing platform that provides a sensory overload of the Icefjord. If you are fortunate enough to find yourself in this magical part of the world, be sure to visit.

Patagonia & Antarctica Ultimate Adventure - Antarctica In the final week of our 13-week Pole to Pole cruise on the MS Roald Amundsen with Hurtigruten Expeditions , we experience the big white wonder of the world and our 7th continent - Antarctica. Day 85 - At Sea, Cape Horn & Drake Passage We started the day with the news we had been waiting for for over 85 days: we won the lottery for kayaking in Antarctica and were in Group A, which provided us with the highest chance to get out on the water should the weather permit. We were very fortunate, as most of the 400 passengers also had this activity on their bucket list, with only four landings scheduled, a maximum of two sessions per landing and eight kayaks per session; you do the math, we were two lucky ones. Crossing the Drake Passage takes about two days; we had heard so many horror stories over the past few months from fellow passengers who had experienced the 'Drake Shake', so we were very fortunate to be blessed with the 'Drake Lake' for our crossing. Yesterday, we were scheduled for a landing on Cape Horn. Unfortunately, the winds were too strong, resulting in a no-go, so we continued our path to the Antarctic Peninsula. When we first set out on this cruise, we were unaware that the chances of landing on the mainland of Antarctica were meagre, as we had booked a Pole-to-Pole cruise. As most are quick to let you know, our landings would be on the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula; claiming this is not Antarctica; therefore, you haven't visited Antarctica. Although we suggest otherwise, as we have come this far, the peninsula is part of visiting Antarctica in our book, it is actually part of the mainland. It's a little like you have seen Tasmania, and then to find out you haven't been to Australia, or you have been to Koh Samui, but have you been to Thailand - yes, of course! Today was making the most of a relaxing sea bay before the big arrival. Day 86 - Half Moon Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica Welcome to our final continent; all seven are now ticked off! This continent has always been on our bucket list, and finally, setting foot on the icy continent of Antarctica has been fulfilled. As the fog lifted this morning to present the majestic views, they were breathtaking, like nothing we have ever seen. Blessed to be joined by the sun and blue skies, we cruised closer to the first land we had seen over the past few days. The pictures were priceless and a great taster of what was to come. There is so much ice! The elevations were surprising; these mountains are enormous! We later learned Antarctica has the highest average heights in the world. Our kayaking adventure was postponed due to the stronger winds, so we layered up for the landing on Half Moon Island. As we approached the island, we could see all the little penguins and spotted a few whales, so we were excited! Especially as it is usually too early in the season for whales. The landing took us across to land where we could experience being up close and personal with the penguins, two breeds; the main colony were chinstraps who come to breed (up to 15000 eventually) and then the Gentoos who come to hang out by the water. They were adorable and clumsy as they would make their way down to the sea to feed, constantly tripping over their little feet; you could sit by and watch them all day. They didn't seem to be bothered by us humans, so they continued getting on with their day. It was cold, around zero, so thankfully, we layered up and enjoyed the hour on land. We were mesmerised by the natural wonder and adorable penguins surrounding us. As we were leaving, we sat with the penguins, just enjoying being near these birds full of character; oversee the following for a giggle, the one on the left:-) We can't wait for the next few days to experience this majestic place on Earth. Day 87 - Wilhelmina Bay, Antarctica Today was fascinating; let's start in reverse! Heavy snow set in during dinner, and we scored a window table to ensure we could experience heavy snowfall while cruising; the first time we had been on a cruise and the ocean with snow, it was pretty surreal and beautiful, especially in Antarctica. It was heavy snow, and the snowflakes were the size of a cotton plant; it was what movies and picture books are made about. As dinner progressed, the deep blue ocean that engulfed us transitioned into a tinge of foggy grey; it was freezing over as the snow settled, and a thin layer of sea ice was beneath us. Let's jump back to the morning; it was an early start as our Kayaking was scheduled; take two. We made sure to fill our bellies with some fuel, and during breakfast, the news came it was cancelled. The weather was changing rapidly, and snow was gracing us with her presence; we did enjoy the morning show with the seals relaxing on the icebergs as we cruised by. The ship quickly changed its navigation from our original destination, Orne Harbour, to a new location, Wilhelmina Bay, where we could bring out the zodiacs and all get a chance for a scenic cruise through the sea ice and flows and be within inches of the icebergs. Before lunch, we explored the ship; seeing it covered in snowfall was a surreal experience. After lunch, we geared up; as the snow settled in, we loved popping back to our room to measure the snowfall; it felt like a winter wonderland with snow filling your balcony and a little like Christmas. We love it. Brendan was our host and zodiac driver through the sea ice for one hour, providing us with lots of insights on the icebergs, sea ice and all about the nearby birdlife as he expertly dodged and weaved all the ice flows and icebergs with limited vision. Being part of the sea as it began to ice up was also fascinating. It has the same texture as a slushy; the water on the surface becomes a light shade of grey and is mushy. Great work, and thank you, Brendan, for keeping us safe. After being woken up on the water and showered with snow, we returned to the ship to bring our body temperature back to normal, prepare for dinner, and wait for the boat to unveil our next destination as we explore Antarctica. Unfortunately, the passengers who had booked the camping on the ice due to the weather were also cancelled. Day 88 - Neko Harbour, Antarctica Will we kayak in Antarctica? It is becoming a million-dollar question. Another early morning for take 3 for us kayakers who were the fortunate ones in Group A (this means we were first to kayak before all other groups). It was 8.05 am, so it was time to pop into our cold suits; one leg in, the announcement popped up that it had been cancelled, and the wind was picking up. So close! Fortunately, the zodiac was still on, and we happened to be in the first group of the day, so we dressed up for the cruising and went down to the expedition landing. We were first on the boats and surprised it was a little warmer than yesterday, much more civilised with only light snow dust. We navigated the sea ice and enormous icebergs on the hunt for some sealife; penguins were the day's spot. The icebergs glistened in the water as the sun peeked through the clouds. Just remember that the visible part of the iceberg is only 10-20% of the actual size, so most of the berg lives underwater. We could see the entire length with the water pristine, and it was just wow! On the way back to the ship, we came across a sensational raft of gentoo penguins. Forty-five minutes later, we were back on the ship, and the weather was closing in, and the captain was concerned with all the sea ice also closing in on the boat that we could be iced in the harbour, so it was time to pack up and move on. We made our way for Danco Bay, and take 4 of Kayaking was on the schedule, fingers crossed. The ship changed direction again, and a new destination was on the map until the wind blessed us with her presence at up to 90 knots at one stage, so the ship maintained its position to keep us all comfortable and to wait out Mother Nature. Later in the evening, she cruised along the majestic coastline of Antarctica, filling our senses with icy mountain peaks and wonders. We sailed into Damoy Point, a rocky headland on the west coast of Wiencke Island, filling us with more delight with the size of the glaciers. The ship decided to spend the evening as the weather conditions were good, and activities looked promising for our last day in Antarctica tomorrow. Let's go Kayaking! Today was spent enjoying the changing weather and genuinely appreciating the perils of the weather. I was fortunate to sneak in a 'patchy video' call to Mum and Dad to share the experience of the wonders of the world. Day 89 - Dorian Bay, Antarctica The million-dollar question has been answered, and we have hit the 'Kayaking in Antarctica' jackpot! 🛶 This morning, we woke early to calm waters and weather. It was five, and we were optimistic it would happen! With our cold suits and straight to the meeting point, there was no wasted time. The sooner we were on the water, the sooner it was to become a reality. Fourteen of our fellow kayakers were on the same page, and everyone was ready. We were given finishing touches to our Kayaking outfit, a unique life jacket and gloves to keep us dry and hopefully warm. We piled into the zodiacs for a short five-minute cruise across to the waiting kayaks, and one by one, we were loaded into our kayak, two per kayak. Wayne was in the back, and I was seated up front as the head photographer. Fine by me, as poor hubby would need to do all the paddling (which, after knowing my rhythm, he much preferred to take control). Before we embarked on this magical experience through sea ice, we had a quick practice and 101 on manoeuvring the kayak and, of course, staying above the water. This moment was one we had been waiting for. It is nearly 90 days since we departed Vancouver, and we were hoping to kayak in the Arctic Circle; unfortunately, the weather continued to close the opportunities. The paddling commenced, and it was surreal. We were all lined up, navigating on the water's surface through large chunks of sea ice; the paddles driving their way through the ice chunks were eerily sounding but surreal and peaceful. We arrived at the most magnificent turquoise iceberg to capture pictures up close and personal. Unbeknown to us - this same iceberg would calve and start the process of tipping over a few hours later, which we were fortunate to witness from our balcony - play with sound. We continued closer to Damoy Point, a research station home to a Gentoo penguin colony. The station was being prepared for the arrival of four female researchers to spend the summer in a few weeks, so we all floated amongst the sea ice and bergs to enjoy the serenity, overshadowed by dramatic icy mountain peaks. We watched the penguins go about their day, swimming and diving, waddling, and even swimming beneath our kayaks in the crystal waters beneath us. It was one of those magical moments that will remain with you forever. After about 1.5 hours, we returned through the sea ice. We were all becoming familiar with paddling through (or, in my case, my darling hubby was); I was too busy trying to get my little fingers and toes to circulate again and keep the phone from going for a swim in below-zero waters). We approached the ship and were to wait for our zodiacs to pick us up and take us back to our cosy cabins; they were running a little behind, so we took the opportunity to row around the ship. It was magnificent to experience this impressive vessel from the exterior and at the water level; it was surreal. We were shortly picked up once we reached the stern and delivered back to the ship. A huge thank you to Molly and Orto from the Expedition team for a memorable experience kayaking in Antarctica; it was the perfect ending to our three months onboard. The afternoon was spent enjoying a lazy lunch, reviewing the incredible photos we captured, and celebrating ticking off another bucket list experience. Kudos to Hurtigruten Expeditions for being the first cruise ship to launch Kayaking in Antarctica this summer; we were the first group out on the water this season 👏 We were scheduled for a zodiac landing later in the evening to walk through the snow and see another penguin colony, but we decided to opt-out, as it was on the peninsula. We were all hoping it was on the mainland; therefore, we wanted to stay on our natural high from the morning; it was our perfect ending to Antarctica. Dinner was spent back in Lindstrom chatting with our new Aussie friends and enjoying drinks as we entered the Drake Passage, all with fingers crossed it would bless us with a crossing of the 'Drake Lake', not the 'Drake Shake'. Day 90 - Drake Passage The Lake is slowly becoming the Shake! Therefore, it has been a slow day. We enjoyed lunch and a bottle of wine; the afternoon was spent hiding away in the suite to stay horizontal! We find it much easier on the body; the motion sickness creeps in as soon as you wander around. Fortunately, it takes quite a rocky ship now to upset us, and we know how to avoid it! Dinner was quick, and back to bed! One of those days! A little penguin love and kayaking highlights; I hope it gives you as much joy as it does me:-) Day 91 - Drake Passage This marks our last day at sea for three months. Fortunately, the Drake was easing up as we approached land around noon. We enjoyed our last day over a lazy lunch at Fredheim, thanking the team and preparing to pack our cases and disembark for the morning. Before dinner, we enjoyed catching up with the Pole-to-Pole guests for the captain's farewell; drinks were overflowing as everyone was sharing all the unused bottles of bubbles and shipboard credit, as you can't take it with you. This was followed by a fun evening with a group of lovely Aussies we met on this segment; it was full of laughter and entertainment from the crew. We were incredibly grateful to the lovely crew, who cared for us throughout the cruise; you all made our trip more delightful. Thank you, team; we will miss your friendly smiles and daily chats. Beautiful moonlight glistened over the ocean as our next and final destination, Ushuaia, welcomed us. Thank you for travelling with us as we embarked three months ago on our 'once-in-a-lifetime' cruise from North to South Pole; we hope you enjoyed our travel moments as much as we enjoyed visiting parts of the world on our bucket list. Join us as we experience our next adventure, the ' Argentina Chapter ', one month exploring a new part of the world.

Today was an unexpected adventure in São Tomé, but with all things travel, you must go with the flow, and Mother Nature always has the upper hand. Upon arriving in São Tomé, our beautiful luxury hotel, the Regent Seven Seas Splendor ,  was anchored about 30 minutes from the port, so the tenders busily transported everyone across to land. During our tender trip, the sun was shining, and as we approached the shore, the skies had turned a moody grey and opened up! Fortunately, we are all waterproof and enjoyed our second shower of the day, which resulted in new hairstyles, too! But why miss an opportunity to explore a new destination? Our African Art & Lunch walking tour around town was to be reshaped, and buses were soon arranged to deliver us to the city hotspots! Our first stop was the São Sebastião Museum, a historical fort built in 1575 that first housed the colonial maritime defence command. The fort was primarily open air, but there were a few rooms throughout the house to tour and provide some reprieve from the torrential downpour; we quickly captured the artefacts and intriguing sacred catholic art statues and voodoo practices. We then skipped on the rooftop tour and were back on the bus; unbeknownst to us, we had joined another tour group, but no dramas as we were all heading to the local art gallery Casa das Artes Criação Ambiente e Utopias for lunch. The art gallery in this small town was incredible. The pieces were mesmerising and full of tales. We loved perusing the art and then enjoyed a local lunch accompanied by a local musician. We were super excited to try all the banana delights they had on offer, too! Once everyone's bellies were full, we all opted to walk back to the ship to glimpse more of São Tomé. However, the roads had other plans for us after the day's rainfall. They were impossible to cross by foot as they were all flooded, so we were all picked up by buses and deposited back at the port. Our tenders were waiting to ferry us back home. Kudos to the pilots; the waters were definitely challenging. Despite the rollercoaster-like journey, we all stumbled aboard the ship to settle our bellies and felt grateful for their expertise and the stable ground again. São Tomé and Príncipe is an African island nation near the equator part of a volcanic chain known for its striking rock and coral formations, lush rainforests, and pristine beaches. Our visit took us to São Tomé, the larger island, home to the capital and a population of just over 200,000. Notably, São Tomé and Príncipe is Africa's second-smallest and second-least populous sovereign states after Seychelles. It was a short and sweet visit to São Tomé, our 88th country, but one that remains with us due to the fun and unexpected adventure. Hopefully, next time, we will explore further afield, visit the magical beaches and lagoons, and understand more about this part of the world.

Welcome to Senegal, our 83rd country. We woke up to our first African sunrise in Dakar aboard the beautiful Regent Splendor , an experience we had all heard so much about but only seen in movies! Senegal ensured we didn't miss this breathtaking moment. Dakar is the capital of Senegal, home to 1.3 million people. It was founded in 1857 when the French built a fort on the site of the modern Place de l’Indépendance to safeguard the interests of merchants who had been settling there for 20 years and of the residents of Gorée, a waterless island in the lee of the peninsula that once was an outpost for slave and other trading. We disembarked for our tour and boarded the air-conditioned coach, leaving for Lake Retba for an exciting 4x4 dune adventure. As we drove through the busy city of Dakar, we were given our first taste of an African country on the west coast, heavily populated and polluted in this case. The authentic living conditions and lack of infrastructure and machinery followed, showing us that today would be a learning experience we all needed and reminding us that this corner of the world is still a ways behind. The first stop on our tour, Lake Retba & Village Festival, was a traditional village, Noflayee, about one hour from Dakar. We were treated to a local dance performance and welcomed by the village chief. The performers were outstanding, especially during the midday heat, and danced their little hearts out; we felt welcome. Next was a trip to the famous stage from the Paris-Dakar rally and Lake Retba. The lake used to be pink due to marine microorganisms in its waters. However, due to the impact of climate change, it has lost its colour. We carefully selected our jeep, reminding ourselves to avoid the direct sun. Fortunately, we spotted a jeep with just that, a roof and bonus actual seats; all other jeeps were bench seats. A little warmup trip by the lake and salt mounds, crossing the finish line of the Paris-Dakar rally, and our first experience of the intensity of the local street vendors. Followed by a bumpy and fun ride as we hit the dunes of Senegal down the final stage of the famous "Paris-Dakar" rally on the wild beach with a stop by the Atlantic offering endless views of the Ocean. Unfortunately, our dream on an endless beach was spoiled by the extreme plastic pollution, the sight of a mature turtle that had recently died from swallowing one of the thousands of plastic bags that littered the shore. Meanwhile, locals poured over the sand dunes to try to sell cheap trinkets, which soured our experience. After the 4x4 ride, we returned to the local resort and enjoyed a delicious local lunch of African delights. Once our bellies were satisfied, we were back on the road with a quick stop at the local market for those wanting some souvenirs of their time in Senegal and to support the community; we were feeling a little overwhelmed by the intensity and being asked for handouts at every given moment, so chose to remain on the bus before we embarked on the trip back to the ship. Here are a few fun facts about Senegal: One of the youngest presidents, 44 Offshore oil and gas, one of the richest in the world, soon due to discovering oil recently Official French language 95% Muslim & 5% catholic It is home to several palm trees, including banana, coconut, and palm oil trees. The Maringa palm tree is known to heal diabetes.

A theme is beginning to emerge across borders along the West African Coast: the tale of two colonies: the French and the English. Both behaviours are becoming notable, with the French colonies having dramatically higher pollution levels than the English. Welcome to Abidjan, the largest city and former capital of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), is a French-speaking metropolis with a population of about 6 million. It accounts for over 20% of the country's population and is Africa's sixth most populous city. Known as a cultural crossroads of West Africa, Abidjan is marked by substantial industrialisation and urbanisation. Today's five-hour tour, Akwaba Abidjan to Bingerville with Regent Seven Seas on the Splendor , focused on exploring two significant Ivorian cities: Abidjan and Bingerville, which was the capital of Côte d'Ivoire for 25 years in the early 1900s. As we drove through the city of Abidjan, we saw quite a mix of architecture. The city was transitioning to a modern-day city with the construction of F Tower, the highest tower in Africa. This office building has 72 floors and is symmetrical, like an African mask. A city on the move! Given the heavily populated city and the primary mode of transport being vehicles, we were police-escorted throughout the day to ensure we arrived on time and returned to the ship without delay. We felt very privileged (not in a good way) to see all the locals queueing up in traffic to let the cruise passengers explore their country. Our first stop was the botanical gardens in Bingerville. We quickly rebelled and escaped the four buses unloading for a guided tour, taking the opportunity to explore and take pictures of the park. Once the weather beat us, we were back on the bus bound for a visit to the tiny Combes Museum, housed in a high school, the Center Technique Des Arts Appliqués De Bingerville. We bypassed the walk-through to chat with the young art students and enjoyed watching the local artist, Dezy Kouassi , bringing the mural to life; he was so kind as to send us a picture once it was finished. Our garden visit was followed by a trip to Orphanage De Bingerville, which was previously the governor's house. We enjoyed the learning experience and gifted some books and pencils to help the kids. We were offered a quick tour, and the kids were super excited and raced out of class for quick hellos. We spent the time doing a quick photo show-and-tell. They just loved it, and their smiles again filled our hearts! The Orphanage was for boys and girls aged 5 to 25 and opened in 1953 as a result of WII. Initially, it was coed, but 1973 it was split due to difficulties managing both. We wrapped up our tour with a lively music and dance show at the Musée des Civilisations de Côte d'Ivoire. The museum showcases incredible sculptures that depict the traditional ceremonies and rituals of Côte d'Ivoire. The journey through Abidjan and Bingerville provided a glimpse into the urban transformation and the deep-rooted cultural heritage of Côte d'Ivoire. While the guided tour offered structured insights, the impromptu interactions with locals and spontaneous moments added a personal touch to the experience.

Binh Dinh General Hospital - One Visit Binh Dinh General Hospital is only one year old, so it is spotless and modern; I recommend this hospital if you need medical attention. We attempted to get treated at other hospitals in Qui Nhon but were terrified of all the rusted equipment and quality of staff; no English and the level of care was not high on their agenda. Binh Dinh had lovely nurses and doctors, very caring and provided correct treatment advice. We only needed a wound redressed and cleaned, so unable to give feedback on other procedures.

VinMec - Four Visits The hospital was very professional, clean, modern, and only 12 months old. The Emergency Department was not busy, so waiting times were fast all four times we visited. Whole blood and urine tests, including ECG, were completed to minimise surgery risks before the procedure. All results were provided to the patient. Fantastic pre-and post-op care was provided. The costs were not prohibitive: $900 for the day procedure and $20 daily to redress and clean the wound. The hospital accepts credit cards and provides insurance receipts. A fully stocked pharmacy is also in the hospital. We visited  VK Hospital  before attending VinMec, which was not very clean, nor were they able to diagnose the problem. There were long waiting times, and we completed a procedure that did not fix the issue. They also asked for a tip and confirmed he had no idea what was wrong after he had done the procedure.

Nha Trang Private Car We needed a private car to transport us from Nha Trang to Quy Nhon, and we were very impressed with this company. My customer service experience with Anna was fabulous, and I could quickly pay online with my credit card. We initially booked the transfer for a set date but had to postpone it at the last minute due to a medical emergency. Anna was excellent, understanding of our situation, and flexible as we adjusted the date. Thank you, Anna. When we were ready to depart, the driver arrived early and drove us safely to Quy Nho. The trip took about four hours, with a quick toilet stop halfway. As promised, the car was conditioned, clean, and safe. I recommend affordable offers in Vietnam at an affordable price.

Avani Quy Nhon Resort AVANI was lovely from the moment you arrived until you departed. The view from the restaurant and the rooms was beautiful. We had an oceanfront room, and waking up to the view every morning was excellent. The food was excellent, and we had an all-inclusive package, so we dined breakfast/lunch and dinner, which exceeded our expectations. We loved all the local dishes, and they were very accommodating for dietary requirements (as I am no onion and no garlic). The pool had a beautiful outlook, although the water was like swimming in a hot bath, so unfortunately, it wasn't suitable for laps. We also experienced the spa with a massage, which was great too! The customer service was responsive, and we had to delay our arrival by three days due to a medical emergency. They were very understanding and genuinely concerned about our situation, and most staff came to chat with us over our few days to make sure we were okay - they were divine! The transfer was lovely on the day of departure, and they even had our breakfast pack for the trip. Just note it was about 20 minutes from Quy Nhon, which you must visit to experience the fabulous coffee shops (and Vietnamese coffee); our favourite was Marina Royal. Recommend AVANI for a nice relaxing getaway for a few days. We also had to visit a hospital while there. Binh Dinh General Hospital is only a few months old and has always been efficient with our visits and quality care.