British Airways Business Class

I haven't taken any photo's for this post as I somehow feel inappropriate taking photo's when people are trying to privately enjoy their flight. However, I thought I would write a little review to help you decide whether it's worth the phenomenal cost of an upgrade!

On British Airways a business class passenger can still only check in 24 hours in advance and cannot pre book seats without a fee unless they are a gold card member. They will also have the same entertainment system as the rest of the flight so the same movies and TV shows will be available to watch.

The seat on a short haul European flight will be in a 2:2 dimension as opposed to 3:3 in economy and will therefore be slightly wider with slightly more leg room but it's not a huge difference. In club world the seats are positioned 2:4:2 unless you are in the bubble of a jumbo where they will be 2:2. The seats are quite impressive. If in a couple either take the window and aisle so you can face each other (one will take off backwards) or the two very middle seats, which do not have a divider and almost create a double bed type situation.

The seats will recline and coupled with your footrest will create a fully flat bed. They aren't much wider than economy but the bed is what makes everything so much more comfortable. You will have a little drawer to store personal items and a larger TV screen and tray table. Your seat will come with large noise cancelling head phones, which are worth the upgrade as well as a thin duvet and more substantial pillow. The wash bags are usually from Elemis and include a toothbrush and Colgate toothpaste, hand cream, body cream and lip balm as well as a soothing spray for your pillow on occasion. Socks and an eye mask are also included.

Another benefit to club world is there are less people per toilet. Most cabins will have three toilets available all with designer products such as hand wash and hand cream. Club Europe will have two toilets at the front of the cabin so an even better ratio. There is also a club kitchen serving sandwiches, yogurts, chocolate, crisps, fruit and soft drinks, which you can help yourself to between meal times. Sometimes ice cream and pastries are also available here. 

The biggest benefit to travelling in business class is the food. Passengers will be welcomed with a choice of apple juice, orange juice, water or Tattinger champagne. You will then be offered a newspaper. After take off more drinks and nuts will be served including premium wines and champagne cocktails. A menu is presented with a choice of two starters, three main courses and two desserts and your order is taken. We recently had marinated prawns with hummus, followed by a wild mushroom pasta for myself and braised beef for the boy and then a cheese plate. Warm rolls will also be served with dinner or lunch and a side salad. On our return we opted for tomato and mozzarella followed by a cod dish in a creamy sauce.

Breakfast will either be bacon rolls or on longer flights the full works. On our latest flight the option was a smoothie or juices as well as a selection of pastries, which did several rounds! The warm pain au chocolat were very good! We when had museli or fruit followed by a full English, a breakfast wrap or smoked salmon and salad, which I opted for. All food is presented with a table cloth and metal cutlery so you can actually enjoy your meal properly. Courses are also served separately so it is a bit like dining out as opposed to everything being on one tray!

Finally business class passengers will have access to the lounge. The lounge has short 15 mins spa treatments that can be booked on arrival such as an over the clothes massage or quick manicure. They also have lovely large showers and fluffy towels to use. There will be snacks such as cookies and crisps as well as soft drinks available to help yourself. There will also be premium spirits with mixers and wines and champagne is available on request. There is wifi, computers to use, a small playroom, TV's and newspapers. There are comfy chairs to lounge in and wait for your flight. At meal times there will be breakfast such as toast, pastries and some hot options, lunch or dinner, which will be buffet style. Usually there is a salad and jacket potato bar and a couple of options such as curry or pasta.

Is it worth paying for business class? If you have unlimited funds I would say 100% yes, it's a lovely way to travel. If it's going to leave you skint for years then do not do it! Everyone will recover from a flight and the plane gets every passenger from a to b at the end of the day. If you can afford a once in a while treat like for a honeymoon then I would say pay the difference and give it a go!!!! It's worth trying once!

Ho Chi Minh City

We flew from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City in around an hour on Vietnam Airlines for £65. Our hotel of choice was the InterContinental Asiana Saigon. We caught a taxi from the airport to the hotel, which took around 40 mins in the rush hour traffic.

This hotel was lovely. There were no balconies in the rooms but there were floor to ceiling windows offering good views over the city. As an InterContinental member we were put into a draw and won some free laundry but lots of exciting things were up for grab! Our room was large for a city, we had a big bathroom with rain forest shower and bathtub, a large bed, big flat screen TV and seating / desk area. Everything was spotlessly clean and all of the staff were very friendly.

The hotel is well located and is a 5 mins walk to the Notre Dame Cathedral and central post office. You are also walking distance to the main market, lots of shops and restaurants and the war remnants museum. Taxi's here are very reasonable just make sure you use Vinasun. The hotel also offers a wonderful breakfast selection. There are cold meats, cheeses and smoked salmon with a variety of breads including delicious french baguettes. There are pastries, juices including whole coconuts, cereals, fruits and yogurts. There are some hot breakfast choices as well as Asian cuisine. The best part though were the made to order pancakes and waffles with maple syrup or dark chocolate sauce.

Whilst in HCMC I would recommend a trip to the Cu Chi tunnels. We chose a half day tour with Les Rives. The tour was just over £100 for both of us. We were collected by mini bus and driven to the port where we were given water and a bathroom break. We then took a 90 mins speed boat tour up the river, which was picturesque. We were given lots of fruit including lychee, mango and the queen fruit mangosteen as well as water, iced tea and diet coke. On arrival we had our lunch, which was rice, sweet and sour pork, some vegetable soup, spring rolls and a spicy chicken dish and also another bathroom break.

Next up were the tunnels! Be prepared to get bitten as you are in the jungle and no amount of insect repellent can protect you! Exploring this area with an English speaking guide brought everything to life. The story of the Viet Cong is quite incredible and I really don't think anyone should miss this trip. You will have a chance to squeeze into an original tunnel and also shuffle through a Western size one to get a feel for how these people lived and fought. You will be told countless stories and will really see the area properly. We thoroughly enjoyed learning and experiencing everything on this day tour. Of course then it's back on the boat for another 90 mins journey with refreshments before being dropped back at your accommodation.

We also chose to take a walking and cyclo tour with Urban Adventures. We met at 8am at the Post Office to marvel at this and Notre Dame. We then walked onto the Reunification Palace before stopping for 90 mins at the war remnants museum. The museum was horrifying and harrowing to say the least but I am glad we went as I learnt a lot about the Vietnam War. Next we jumped onto the cyclo's for a ride through the city, which was amazing fun. We stopped at a market designed for locals with very cheap prices and grabbed some Banh Mi for lunch with the help of our guide. Next it was back on the cyclos for another ride before reaching the Ben Thanh market. Our guide gave us a brief tour before we were left on our own to explore. The trip was really fun but also a great way to see and experience the city so I would recommend visitors to give this one a go!

We had a very short stay in Saigon and hope to go back one day to spend more time in this wonderful city! It really is an incredible and overwhelming place that must be explored. Keep an eye on your bags as pick pocketing can be an issue and cross the road confidently and calmly and other than that just relax and enjoy this amazing place.

Saigon Special

Our final stop on this mammoth two week trip was Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City as it is now known.

On our first evening we chose to dine with a friend at Propaganda. This was such a cute little Vietnamese restaurant a short walk from the Notre Dame Cathedral. We went for a main course each, four Saigon special beers, a still water and a glass of wine for the bargain price of £35! I tried the sauteed prawns with Vietnamese basil and coconut broken rice, which was delicious. The portion size wasn't huge but it was more than satisfying. Our friend went for the shaken beef shank with sweet potato fries, which was a generous and delicious tasting dish. Finally the other half opted for the BBQ honey pork chop with pandan leaf broken rice, which he chowed down before anyone could try! The restaurant had inside and outside dining space and very friendly staff.

A short taxi ride or a 10-15 mins walk from here was a wicked martini bar 2 Lam Son at the Park Hyatt hotel. It's very loud at the weekend and is busy but we managed to find seats propped up against the bar. If you want table service there will be a minimum spend. The bar is dark with lots of wood and has incredible martini's. I tried a passion fruit, a lychee was definitely ordered although this was very strong and the lemon grass was delicious but the options were endless. I would definitely recommend coming here for a drink, although three cocktails will set you back as much as a dinner at Propaganda so it's not a cheap Saigon option.

Our final evening was spent fine dining alone at La Villa French Restaurant. This is a villa with a lovely pool and romantically lit garden. You can choose to sit inside or outside here. The restaurant is Michelin starred quality and is voted number one in Ho Chi Minh City. We chose a tasting menu for 1,290,000 VND per person and it was an incredible treat. Firstly we were given a selection of four amuse bouche. We had a mini leek and potato soup as well as some other delicious treats. Then we had a mini starter of steak tartar with quails egg. We followed this with crab ravioli in a foie gras sauce, which was incredible. Throughout the meal there were also several opportunities to grab a selection of homemade breads. My favorite was the olive flavored.

The next course was scallops and this was followed by beef tenderloin cooked to your specification. We finished this with a cheese trolley, which had around thirty different cheeses to try and a chocolaty dessert that was delicious. After all of this food we were then presented with a selection of petit fours, a small cup of tea and a liquor. I really wish I had taken my camera as every course was delightful and definitely photo worthy. The wine and cocktail list is also extensive so you will definitely find something to suit your taste!

Whilst this meal set us back over £100 it was so worth every penny and would have cost triple the amount in France or London. I would highly recommend anyone to come here for a treat date night as it's a beautiful location as well as having a fantastic selection of food and staff that will bend over backwards to provide a pleasant evening. A cab from district one will cost around 6 USD each way and takes about 15 mins but please don't be put off by the journey out of the central areas as it is honestly worth every second!

Nha Trang

After an incredible time in Hoi An we jumped on a Vietnam Airlines flight, which took just over an hour and cost £70 down to Nha Trang. We then grabbed a taxi, which was a set fare of 300,000 VND on the way and 350,000 VND on the return for the 40 mins journey. Do negotiate a fixed rate as the meter was significantly more pricey!

Our hotel of choice for our three night stay was The InterContinental Nha Trang and what a treat this was! We upgraded ourselves to the club room, which meant we were whisked up to the 18th floor for check in. As we arrived early we were then offered breakfast as well! Our room was ready right away so we dumped our things and headed straight for the beach!

The rooms here are large. There is a huge rain forest shower and big soaking bath tub as well as a giant sink area and lots of mirrors. The toilet is separate. There is a massive super king size bed and seating area as well as a balcony with sea view and furniture to relax on. There are robes and slippers and the laundry service is quick but not as cheap as other places in Vietnam!

The beach area here is incredible and we enjoyed our time on the white sand and by the crystal sea so much we actually spent all four days lying in a comatose state on the super comfy loungers under over sized umbrellas with an abundance of towels. The guys running the beach area were incredibly sweet and offered a reasonable selection of food and drinks. They also had security helping you to cross the road from the hotel, which was a nice touch.

The highlight for us here were the club benefits. The room was light and airy with a balcony over looking the sea. Breakfast was served a la carte and complemented by a small buffet of fruits, meats, cheeses and pastries. We had waffles with chocolate sauce, pancakes with maple syrup, scrambled eggs to accompany baked beans, bacon, sausages and hash browns as well as tried the incredibly sweet ice cold Vietnamese coffee.

Afternoon tea was a variety of mini cakes and sandwiches such as mini ham and cheese toasties and smoked salmon bagels, macaroons, chocolate tortes and the best part was the fresh coconut juice.

Cocktail hour was a real treat. After a freshening shower each evening we were invited to the club room from 5:30pm-7:30pm for unlimited beer, wine, prosecco and spirits. Along with meats, cheeses, fruit, cakes, hot and cold canapes. Examples include seafood spring rolls, mini burgers, mini fish pies, seafood salads, meatballs, prawn cocktails, tomato and mozzarella skewers, melon and ham skewers, little pies and chicken wings. The choice was large and was constantly topped up. So much so this ended up being our dinner on all three evenings.

After cocktail hour we would simply go for a wander around the vibrant town and check out the various night markets. The city was crazy busy and full of traffic, locals and tourists, eating, partying and wandering but the atmosphere was buzzing and we really enjoyed being a part of it. Nha Trang is vastly different to Hoi An and I couldn't say for sure, which I preferred. I definitely think it's worth checking out both areas on your trip to central Vietnam.

Hoi An

We spent five glorious nights in the wonderful town of Hoi An. This really is such a pretty little place full of lanterns and candles floating along the river. It's made up of lots of little backstreets with restaurants, souvenir shops and also clothes making vendors. Every budget can be catered for in terms of food and accommodation. The area is bustling with people every evening and the atmosphere is electric.

We flew from Hanoi on Vietnam Airlines to Da Nang airport in around one hour and for a cost of around £70. We were then collected by Hanoi Transfer Service (who were brilliant in advance of our trip and on time for the transfers) for £24 return for the 40 mins journey in each direction.

We spent our days either lazying by the pool or cycling the 20 mins ride through the rice paddies to the beach where loungers were available along with all types of food and drinks including whole coconuts for 50p! The water was warm and the beach was packed but clean and with a great vibe. The ride back at sunset was simply magical!

On one morning we chose to set out early and take a cooking class through Red Bridge Cookery School for 32 USD each. The day started with a welcome drink in their restaurant followed by a picturesque journey up the river in a motor boat. The scenery was lovely and this continued as the back drop to our lesson. Our teachers were great fun and we learnt a lot. The only disappointment was it appeared to be more of a demonstration and tasting as opposed to actual cooking.

We learnt to cook:

• Rice paper 
• Fresh Rice Paper Rolls of Shrimp
• Crispy Hoi An Pancakes with Shrimp, Herbs, Bean Sprouts & a Peanut Sauce
• Seafood Salad with mixed Vietnamese Herbs served in Half a Pineapple
• Vietnamese Eggplant in Clay Pot
• Food Decoration - Pineapple Boat, 3 Colored Flowers & Vietnamese Hand Fan

The food decoration was the best part, most of the group were totally useless but those that made a cucumber into a fan or a tomato into a rose was pretty impressive. As part of the day we were also split into small groups and taken around the Hoi An market. This was great to see the market in action and the locals working on their individual skills.

The evenings is when Hoi An comes to life with an array of bars and restaurants. We had two favorites. Try Morning Glory and make sure your hotel phones ahead to book as this place is very popular. We seriously over ordered here but managed to consume everything. The food here is amazing and authentic and with two large bottles of water we managed to spend £15 per couple, which is a total bargain! Another great find was Brother's Cafe. The food wasn't quite as good and it's quite a walk out of town. However, the setting is gorgeous and romantic in a beautiful garden with the river on one side all lit by lanterns and fairy lights. Try an array of salads here as they were genuinely great. Dinner with water and soft drinks was around £35 per couple so this is a more expensive Hoi An option.

Finally go and get yourself some Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguettes with BBQ pork, pate and salad) for lunch. There are loads of great places selling them in Hoi An so ask your hotel to point you in the right direction. Four baguettes, three waters and a beer was around £3 so it's no wonder we became addicted and could not stop going back!!!

Hoi An is a great little beach side town with amazing food and nightlife. Do not hesitate to add this picturesque area into your Vietnam holiday!