By
Rachel Stevens
04:34 EST, 15 July 2013
|
04:45 EST, 15 July 2013
Life certainly changes when you have a baby.
Once upon a time, in a different chapter of my life, I used to fly around the world as a member of the pop group S Club, dashing off to Los Angeles or playing in big cities all across the world. But since my daughter Amelie came along two-and-a-half years ago, travelling has become a slower process.
Everything, now, seems to revolve around preparation.
A taste of the tropical: The hotel provides a relaxing enclave in the Portuguese Algarve
I
have always liked to pack a lot when I go away, but with a toddler, there
is so much more to think about. You have to consider food choices and
the amount of time that will be spent on a plane – and then think about
options that will keep your child entertained for the duration of the
journey.
However, I’m still
keen to go away on holiday. Last year, my husband Alex and I took
Amelie on her first overseas adventure – a trip to Halkidiki in Greece.
It
was a gorgeous week, and Amelie seemed to cope pretty well with the odd
experience of being up in the air. So, as summer 2013 finally started
to appear, we began dreaming of our next escape.
Welcome escape: Rachel and Alex enjoyed their second big holiday with their daughter at the Conrad Algarve
Portugal seemed a good choice. It is
only two hours away by plane, it is in the same time zone as the UK –
and we knew the weather would be reliable. I had also, despite my
previous globe-trotting, never been to the country – and I wanted to see
what it offers.
A friend had mentioned the Conrad
Algarve – a luxury property that opened in May, and sits neatly between
Albufeira and Faro towards the southern edge of Portugal.
They
suggested it as a hotel with a good balance – a comfortable place to
stay for children and young families, but also a really stylish retreat.
Ideal for mums needing a little glamour!
New arrival: The Conrad Algarve opened in May, and includes Gusto, a restaurant under star chef Heinz Beck
So
we armed ourselves with everything we could imagine – snacks, books and
toys. We downloaded a million episodes of Peppa Pig onto the iPad,
scooped up Amelie, and headed for the airport.
A couple of hours later, we landed in
Faro, and were met on touch-down for the swift transfer to the resort.
Before I knew it, we were checking in.
My first impression was that everything was very new, and beautifully arranged.
We
had a pair of interconnecting rooms – one for me and Alex, another for
Amelie – so space was never going to be an issue. It was like an
apartment. Amelie even had her own bathroom – she was pretty kitted out
for a two-year-old. I recall standing on the balcony, looking out over
the swimming pool, and thinking that it was going to be a great week.
Pool your resources: The hotel offers outdoor swimming areas (above), and a lovely pool within the spa (below)
Soaking up the sun: Rachel – and her feet – enjoy relaxing by the pool
Amelie settled in quickly – and so
did we. The main point of the holiday was for us to relax. On one day,
we took Amelie to Zoomarine, a nearby aquarium theme park, where she was
fascinated by the thousands of fishes. But for the main part, we were
happy to take our stay at a leisurely pace, splashing in the pool and
enjoying long, lazy lunches.
However, Alex and I did manage to grab a spot of ‘adult time’.
The
hotel has excellent facilities for children, with a kids’ club and a
baby-sitting service. Amelie would go to the club for an hour or so
every other day, and she formed such a bond with one of the girls,
Fernanda, that she ended up baby-sitting for us on a couple of evenings.
Perfect.
I also managed to flit to the spa.
The hotel offers a brilliant app, the Conrad Concierge App, which allows
you to book treatments from your smartphone, and I wasn’t going to miss
the opportunity to be pampered. I had a facial and a full-body massage,
and could have spent most of my week there – until I remembered that I
have responsibilities now!
Alex
and I did make good use of our final night, when Amelie was being
looked after, and we slipped away to the hotel’s main restaurant. We
tried all the dining options over the week, but Gusto is something
special – a true gourmet hotspot under the guidance of Michelin-starred
chef Heinz Beck.
Mum’s night off: Rachel relaxes into an evening of dinner at Gusto
We had a proper grown-up dinner, with plenty of fresh local seafood. The restaurant even has a water menu that lets you pick from an array of spring waters from across the world – something that I have never encountered before.
We ended our stay fully revived and refreshed – which were not sensations I always felt in the giddy whirl of my S Club days. Back then, on some trips, it was a case of making things happen as fast as possible – in and out of the car, the hotel, the studio, the show.
But I was lucky enough to visit some amazing places.
S Club class: Rachel at the height of her pop star days (left) – and bringing glamour to the red carpet (right)
I spent a good deal of time in Los Angeles, and really fell in love with it. It took me time to understand the city – it is such a huge, sprawling place, impossible to absorb it in one stay – but I had a few friends there, and gradually, it worked its magic. Knowing a city is about finding those little places that make you feel that you fit in. There is something great about going to Malibu for the weekend, or spending the afternoon in Santa Monica. I have such good memories of it all.
My favourite trip, though, was probably the one that took me out to Siberia.
Sweet dreams, LA: Rachel grew to know Los Angeles after spending plenty of time there – and recommends a weekend visit to Santa Monida (left and right), where surfers take to the beach against an urban backdrop
At one point, S Club worked with the World Wildlife Fund, and I went to deepest, furthest Russia to publicise the plight of the Siberian tiger. That was quite a journey. I cried for a whole day before I had to board the plane, thinking about how many miles I was going to fly, and how long it would take.
And when we landed, the airport was scarcely more than a wooden shack. I also remember it being incredibly hot. I don’t think anyone believed me, because they assumed it would be snowing.
But to see these graceful creatures – not, sadly, in the wild, but at least in their part of the planet – was something I will not forget.
Far side of the world: Rachel enjoyed a taste of Auckland during her foray to New Zealand for The X-Factor
I still do the occasional long-haul trip, when Amelie lets me!
I recently travelled to the opposite side of the globe to appear on the New Zealand version of The X-Factor. It’s a very long distance, but I’m a definite fan of the show, and it was great to be involved with it. I had a chance for a shopping session or two while I was there, and I really liked Auckland.
It’s quite a large city, but I caught a glimpse of the cafes and the lifestyle. I’d like to return and see some of the South Island. I know that it’s meant to be spectacular.
Happy endings: Rachel and Alex got engaged in the picturesque Italian region of Puglia
Maybe I will go back with Amelie. I would love to show her the world – and I will definitely take her to Italy at some point. It is my favourite destination in Europe. I’ve been to Positano and Capri – and one of my first holidays, when I was quite young, was in Rimini. I must only have been seven, but I can clearly remember how delicious the food was, all those bowls of pasta.
Alex and I also got engaged in Puglia, so Italy has played a significant role in my life. Perhaps, next year, we will take a tour as a family.
Travel Facts
ITC Classics (01244 355 527; www.itcclassics.co.uk) offers holidays at the Conrad Algarve – and has prices from £945 per person based on two adults sharing a Deluxe Room for seven nights, including daily breakfast, return economy flights with easyJet from London Gatwick, and private transfers.
More details on the hotel at www.conradalgarve.com.
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Rachel Stevens finds family holiday heaven in the Algarve
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