A trip of a lifetime – Stampin’ Up European Incentive Trip 2011

I am home, tired and still smiling from the amazing time we had.  Last year was just wonderful and I could not imagine that my trip to Prague could surpass the trip to Monaco but I was wrong!

It was fantastic, all the demo's got to know each other better this time and things were more relaxed and I don't think I stopped laughing all weekend.

I flew out on Thursday morning and was lucky enough to have Amanda Fowler, Natalie O'Shea, Bekka Prideaux & Paula Gorry (UK Manager) as travel companions. I don't think a flight has ever gone so fast!!  It was a smooth journey as we were in the Mandarin Oriental in Prague by noon.  We had the chance to stop by the hospitality suite before going to our rooms. Shelli & Pam from Stampin Up were awaiting our arrival and gave us such a warm welcome.  In the hospitality suite all weekend there are drinks and snacks available as well as large jars and bottles of sweets and treats.  The attention to detail is staggering down to the cute little brown bags to fill with treats and take back to your room.

Kellie and Kellie Sue are the clever ladies that organise the whole trip and they make sure all the gifts and surprises are shipped to the hotel ready for our arrival.  They even bring along a wheel with them, like the wheel of fortune prize wheel and we get the chance to spin it every day to win a prize.  Here is me in true game show mode……..

Each colour corresponds to a bag with a prize in it.  I won some ribbon and some brads on the first day and after spending an hour or so chatting with Pam and Shelli we went off to see our rooms.  We are so lucky to get a room each and we are so loud and excited when we are all together so its nice to have somewhere to retreat to, even if it is only for a short while.  The hotel is an old monastery and it was so serene.  My room was lovely and had the most magnificent view of the garden.  BUT the bathroom was to die for.  All marble and it even had a tv in it!!  I managed to sneak the toiletries into my suitcase as they were the nicest ones I had even had.

Here is the view from my window….

Out little group decided to take an hour and unpack then headed out along the Charles Bridge into the center of Prague.  It was a beautiful day and much warmer than the weather forecast had led us to believe.

After negotiating the crowds on the bridge we managed to find a little bar for some liquid refreshment…….

Cheers!!!

We did a little shopping and sightseeing then it was back to our hotel rooms to glam up ready for the arrival dinner.

From left to right – Amanda Fowler, Me, Julie Kettlewell, Natalie O'Shea, Bekka Prideaux, Jo Dumbleton, Monica Gale and UK Manager of Stampin Up Paula Gorry.  Oh and Frank Manu is the UKs incentive trip mascot, he is perched on Julie's shoulder…..

We were treated to an amazing 3 course dinner and at every meal Stampin Up create a pretty handmade keepsake of the meal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both Shelli and Pam looked lovely.  I got a little gift as a recognition of being the first european demo to earn the next incentive trip to Vienna.  What I received will remain a mystery though as it was a something special from the new catalogue, I nearly cried when Shelli gave it to me!

It was a lovely evening and afterwards the UK group headed out to the outside seating area as it was still such a warm evening.  The photo is a little fuzzy but it looks stunning so I had to post it.

Shortly after we went to bed only to find something really lovely waiting for us on our pillow…….

This is the photo of the turn down service which included a delightful smelling pillow spray but those lovely people at Stampin Up also gave us a journal which has been covered ready for us to take notes or our trip with the clock face from sense of time as the theme for the whole trip…..

Come back tomorrow for the next days photo's………..