Five Countries Four Marlboroughs: Good Bye Vegas - hello luxury, the Grand Del Mar.

The moment had come - it was time for me to leave my adult Disneyland.

Good bye (sob sob) Las Vegas - I will be back one day!

With the car well and truly packed, we were on our way to the last destination on our holiday - we were going to finish the trip in style at the Grand Del Mar which is situated in Del Mar just 15 minutes north of San Diego. This would be a five-six hour drive.

We had promised the kids we would take them to M&M's world in Vegas so we quickly stopped by on the way. It was bigger than the one in London and the kids went crazy running up and down the five levels. The kids found out that they could have their name printed on M&M's so they quickly chose some different colours and placed the M&M's down the chute. Even i thought this was cool.

On the drive we called into a place called Ghost Town - I'd actually seen this place on Getaway a couple of months before. We were hoping to see a real abandoned unchanged Ghost Town however it was commercialised that much that we only spent about 5 minutes there - and the kids M&M's were starting to melt in the 42 degree heat.

We called into Maccas on the way - I'd ended up with so much loose change and this was going to be a good chance to get rid of the lot. I had so many 1c pieces - they really are annoying and i couldn't help thinking how glad i was that Australia had ditched them. I felt sorry for the poor girl t the counter but i told her, 'don't worry, I am going back to Australia soon, you will never see me again."

We really enjoyed the drive, the freeways are just unbelievable and we easily made our way with the help of the GPS - until Miss Garmin sent us off the freeway and into a part of San Bernardino that we clearly didn't want to be in. We stopped out the front of a house to work out where the GPS had put us and found a big, angry bull mastiff barking at us, then a gang appeared from the driveway - we were out of there quick sticks! Miss Garmin hadn't factored in a new freeway but i had my iphone so I used the maps app to guide us out to the safety of a six lane freeway - first time I've ever had success with a map was when i really needed it!

Six and a half hours later, we arrived at the Grand Del Mar - this is the number one hotel in America. I was going to finish the last two nights of the trip in luxury and style!!

"Welcome to the Grand Del Mar, Mrs Marlborough" - music to my ears. As the bellman unpacked our car we were taken into the amazing lobby and given refreshing eucalyptus towels to freshen our faces. Bliss. While we checked in, the kids were taken to a large suitcase to choose a gift. Then we taken down to our room.

The hotel is like a huge maze and i swear i still didn't know my way out even on the last day - thank goodness William worked out the way. The concierge showed us around the hotel on the way and we knew right from the start we wouldn't want for anything whilst we were staying there. They were ready for us, but would they really be ready for the Marlboroughs?

Our room was the most incredible hotel room I have ever seen - everything was gold. There were gold taps, gold handles, hey even the TV had a gold frame. The bath was so deep with a TV at the end. Geez, there was even a phone and original artwork in the toilet! Sliding doors opened out to the grounds which were just as spectacular as the room. We had planned on going to Sea World the next day - but after seeing this hotel - there was no way the four of us were going anywhere. When you are in one of the most luxurious hotels in the world, why on earth would you want to leave to battle the crowds at Seaworld?

We decided to go for dinner at the more 'casual' restaurant, Amaya. After our meals we were told there was a huge firepit to sit around. The funny thing was, our server had told us that whenever we wanted the fire on he could arrange it. All this meant was he would push a button and the artificial log fire would ignite - and it was warm! It was now down to about 20 degrees which was a nice change after the 40 degree heat of the desert.

Part way through the dinner, Terry went off to find the 'restroom'. He passed another guest on his way, "G'Day mate, haven't seen a loo around have ya?" The man looked aghast and said, 'No sir, there is a lavatory by the way though'. Terry finally found the 'loo' and there was a Picasso in it! We were laughing because Terry said, "he wasn't very friendly" I said to him, 'yeah no kidding, listen to the way we speak! Haven't seen a loo around have ya? He would have been in shock!"

The people dining in the restaurant were all very well to do. The women may have had the clothes, the bags and the shoes but i was the one downing the cocktails and having the most fun!

After dinner, the four of us went and sat around the huge firepit and had dessert and port. The waiter came up to Terry and said, "Excuse me sir, have you finished with dessert?" Terry says, "Yeah, she'll be right mate. I piked out."

You see the Marlboroughs can try to walk the walk but they definitely can't talk the talk!!