However, as a complete contrast, halfway through our holiday we decided to take a night away from the luxury of the hotel and arranged a desert safari excursion. Our Arabian adventure began when we were picked up from the hotel late afternoon by a 4-wheel drive destined for the desert. The land rovers were spacious and comfortable and the guide was accommodating, letting us stop along the way for some great photo opportunities. The scenery was breathtaking and the drive across the dunes as thrilling as we were promised. However, at times it felt very bumpy so I wouldn’t recommend it for small babies, infants or the faint hearted!

Our first stop was at a farm where I had the opportunity to ride on a camel, which was great fun, whilst my adventure-loving husband attempted the art of sand-boarding. We were then taken to a traditional camp to spend the night. Watching the sun sink into the sand, we sat around a blazing bonfire and enjoyed a BBQ feast followed by Shisha (the famous Arabic water pipe). To our delight a traditional belly dancer provided entertainment and we relaxed as the sounds of the Arabic music drifted into the distant dunes. The guides provided comfy sleeping bags and we lay in our camp watching the stars before falling asleep. Bathroom facilities were on-site and catered sufficiently for our needs and the tents were spacious and clean. Whilst it was nice to get back to the air-conditioned luxury of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel the next day, I was really glad that we had taken the time out for a real Arabian adventure!

On my recent honeymoon in Thailand I was lucky enough to book the Hongs by Starlight Tour while we were in Phuket, a fantastic excursion which is highly recommended.

We were picked up from our hotel after breakfast and driven to Phuket pier, and on the way we were told that John Gray, owner of the excursion company and well-known local environmentalist, was going to be joining us for this trip which made for a lovely surprise.

John Gray is truly amazing person and with his heart and soul into saving the planet.
John has Taken it upon himself to teach local people and tourists the importance of Eco Tourism and actively working together to save the planet.

John Went to Thailand in 1981 after studying the limestone formations in Hawaii with the knowledge that they would be hollow inside and you could enter these formations (Hongs) at low tide through caves by canoe.

Inside there are beautiful unspoiled lagoons that are only occupied by wildlife, which included monkeys, bats, birds, fish and lizards of all sorts. There were 15 people booked on this tour and each pair had there own paddling guide to help explore the hongs.

Since 1981 when the tour was first set up 15 other companies now offer ‘similar’ tours for a ‘better price’, but the John Gray tour is like no other as he prides himself on quality not quantity.

They feed you lunch and an absolutely fantastic Thai buffet-style dinner cooked onboard, with complimentary soft drinks all day.

One of the highlights was as we were sitting on the back of the boat one of the guides whistled and threw some chicken skin into the sea behind the boat… Minutes later about 20 white bellied wild eagles were following the boat catching the food being thrown to them.

Towards the end of the tour we made Kratangs, traditional offerings to the sea gods, from banana plants and flowers with candles. We paddled into a cave in the pitch dark and released them to float away, a really spiritual and amazing experience.

John Gray at this point was off paddling around on his own only to return with two black bin liners full of litter that had been dropped that day by the previous morning herds of tourists. He told us that sadly this was a normal occurrence.

This trip made my honeymoon and was professional from the start. Families and couples would love it. Some of the John Gray staff are still there from the original set up in 1981 and still brimming with enthusiasm.

When I return to Thailand I will definitely be doing it again.

Betty in the Tropical Sky accounts team recently visited Tub Kaek Beach in Thailand, and found the Amari Vogue hotel to be a fantastic tropical holiday choice. Read on to find out more…

In March my husband and I stayed at the Amari Vogue, a fantastic beach resort around 40 minutes west of Krabi Airport on Tub Kaek Beach in Thailand.

There are only four hotels at Tub Kaek and the Vogue is the last before you reach the National Park at the end of the road. If you enjoy walking, there is a path you can follow through the tropical forests to a waterfall. You need good footwear and a long-sleeved top, but it is a great experience to climb up the path through the trees, over little streams and fallen tree trunks, accompanied by the sound of monkeys calling in the distance.

The beach is quite long in both directions, and is very quiet and secluded, unlike some of the other beaches around Krabi. The sea is shallow and very calm, which means at low tide it is great for spotting crabs, starfish and other sea creatures crawling across the small sand banks. We also saw a kingfisher down at the beach, a couple of white egrets and some smaller birds that flew in and out of the trees in the hotel gardens.

The resort has wonderful sea views across to the limestone islands the area is famous for. Set on a hillside, the hotel reception is at the top with all the rooms set either side. Most of the rooms look out onto the gardens, which include large ponds and swimming pools surrounded by wonderful tropical flowers and trees. Some of the rooms also have wonderful sea views and all are large and include a shower and bath, plus all the other luxury amenities you expect to have in a five star hotel.

There are five small swimming pools in total, three of which have bubble jet seats set into them. A pool down near the beach is very shallow and ideal for small children. The hotel also has two great restaurants. The Lotus has a mainly Thai menu and is where breakfast is served, while Bellini, next to the beach, serves Italian food. We enjoyed both, but mainly ate at Lotus, because we love Thai food.

The staff are all very helpful. There is a spa where you can have a soothing massage or facial. The Sunset Lounge is the ideal place to sit and sip your cocktail while you watch the sun set behind the islands, before deciding if it’s Italian or Thai for dinner.

There is a complimentary hotel bus service which runs to Ao Nang town and beach, which leaves daily at 10am or 2pm and returning at 2.45pm or 6.45pm and takes approximately 40 minutes. This saves on taxi fares and gives you plenty of time to take a trip over to Railay Bay or Chicken Island, if you don’t fancy the longer boat ride from the beach at the Hotel.

We decided to take a boat trip from the hotel over to Chicken Island where the snorkelling was lovely, straight off the boat into quite deep water. Then it was onto Tup Island, where there was a very shallow sandy bottom to the sea, with a wonderful variety of fish and other sea creatures, and then finally to Poda Island where you could have a good swim as the water was quite deep.

We also went to Hong Island, one of the islands you can see from the hotel. There is a lagoon at the back of the island with an impressive entrance, and some of the small islands next to Hong are teaming with fish and in very deep water. Hong Island itself has a beautiful sandy beach and you can either stay in the shallows or follow the edge of the island to where it drops away quite sharply. You can also walk round the Island, but we spent all our time in the water watching puffer fish, parrot fish and lots more.

Because of the hotel’s quiet location, it is a great place to stay after several days touring round this part of Thailand, or if you have been hard at work and just want to get away from a noisy world. We loved it and if we got the chance to go again, would jump at it.

After a busy first half of the year, my boyfriend and I decided to take a relaxing holiday away to St Lucia. Arriving at Almond Morgan Bay on the island’s beautiful north west coast we were met by ice towels and a fruit cocktail – much needed after a long flight!

We had booked an Ocean View room and this did not disappoint, with its stylish modern furnishing and fantastic panoramic views of the ocean and hotel pool.

For me I was most impressed with the variety and standard of food – there are four restaurants included in the all-inclusive plan and all were fantastic. There was such a selection to choose from, including Asian/Creole, international dishes, seafood and French Creole. Service in all restaurants was impeccable. If you book a Caribbean holiday at Almond Morgan Bay you will definitely not go hungry! I can also recommend the cocktails, all using premium branded spirits, so great if you fancy a ‘proper’ Smirnoff or Jack Daniels!

We spent the days relaxing on the beach and by the pool, but if you are feeling a little more adventurous you can take out the kayaks and pedaloes, ride the banana boat, or take a 20-minute sailing lesson. These are all included in the all-inclusive package so you will always have something to do.

Ask for Joy at the watersports centre. He took us on a wonderful boat trip up to the Pitons, the island’s unforgettable twin coastal peaks. We stopped and visited the volcano at Soufriere, swam in a waterfall and saw the botanical gardens, finally arriving at a secluded beach for a traditional beach BBQ. This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip!

If you are looking for a relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff and good food, Almond Morgan Bay will definitely not disappoint.

Thailand is a country of real diversity and contrasts, and we decided to start our recent holiday to this beautiful country with a night in lively Bangkok before moving south to Ko Samet to begin the beach part of our trip. We also discovered that the legendary Thai hospitality and quality of service was very much in evidence at the hotels we stayed in.

On arriving at the Le Bua Hotel in Bangkok the check in procedure was simple and relaxing, as we were invited to sit on the comfortable sofas and listen to the grand piano playing in the background whilst the paperwork was completed.

La Bua is a five star boutique hotel that occupies the top few floors of one of the highest buildings in Bangkok. All rooms are above the 50th floor and have balconies with amazing 180-degree panoramic views of the city.

The Sirocco restaurant is really lively and definitely the place to be, along with the stunning cocktail bar, which is just amazing with its breathtaking views, especially at night. It was definitely a good idea choosing La Bua, it was a great hotel and perfectly located to get around Bangkok and see the sights.

After our stay in the city we then travelled onwards to Rayong pier (just north of Pattaya) for our boat transfer to Ko Samet where we would continue our stay at The Paradee Hotel.

Although our journey was delayed, to our delight hotel staff were at Ko Samet pier waiting for us in a beautiful private speedboat, which even featured white leather seats embossed with the Paradee
Logo. After the 20-minute boat transfer more staff were standing on the beach waiting for us with a warm Thai welcome.

We were introduced and taken straight to our rooms by Alex the Front Desk Manger for our in-room check in. As we arrived at our room a gentleman was already there smiling away with a wooden briefcase filled with an array of natural soaps of all fragrances for us to choose from, a lovely touch. I chose Lemon Grass and my wife went for the Oriental Tea.

The rooms were lovely, spacious and beautifully laid out and included a complimentary welcome bottle of red wine. At the end of the four poster bed was a window with a direct view of the sea.

The beach at The Paradee Hotel is perfectly manicured and treated every day, and the sand is like flour and bright white. There is a reef just off the beach and cordoned off from boats so you can snorkel away on your own and look at the wonderful fish and coral without any worries.

The staff walk around every now and then and hand you fresh fruit skewers. To my amazement mine and my wife’s had our Chinese birth year animal sign on the top, another example of the hotel’s superb personalised service.

All in all The Paradee was truly amazing, such a hidden gem. Stay there with absolute confidence and you will be back.

Escorted tours are a fantastic way to see the best bits of a country. Travelling with the experts, you are sure to visit the truly must-see locations and get all the inside local knowledge from your professional tour director.

The Polar Bear Adventure in and around Churchill, Manitoba, is one of the more adventurous tours, taking you into the wilds of northern Canada. Churchill is known as the ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World’, and is the best place to see these great white bears, the largest land predator, in their natural habitat.

You’ll take an exciting light aircraft flight north from Churchill to spend three and a half days at Seal River Lodge, where you will enjoy luxurious accommodation in a unique, utterly secluded location. Bears freely roam up close to the lodge, which has large viewing windows so you can observe and photograph them as they wander past. You’ll also have the chance to join local guides to trek on foot to see the bears in their natural habitat.

After your stay at Seal River Lodge you’ll return to Churchill, an attractive town on Hudson Bay, for a chance to spend some time exploring and maybe doing a spot of shopping too. Then it’s a day riding the Tundra Buggy – a custom-built vehicle designed to let you get close up and personal to the polar bears. Raised up and protected from the bears, the buggies can get right in among these beautiful creates. It’s a unique experience and not to be missed when you are in the area.

The great northern lights, or aurora borealis, are also visible from Churchill for a natural night time show to remember.

The six night Polar Bear Adventure is a fantastic opportunity to view the great Arctic bears around Hudson Bay. If you would like to find out more about the Polar Bear Adventure, visit Canadian Sky or call 0870 9040 930.

Whilst there are many excellent hotels in Grenada, I thoroughly enjoyed the Grenada Grand Beach Resort which is located on the infamous Grand Anse Beach, just ten minutes drive from St Georges. Set in luscious landscaped gardens, the resort offers 240 luxurious rooms and suites, each with their own private terrace or balcony, and views of either the gardens or Grand Anse Beach. During the day, a fun place to hang out with the kids is by the Fantasy Pool which is a 300 foot freshwater pool complete with its own sunken bar, waterfalls and open air Jacuzzi. But for a more serious swim, you can’t beat the Sunset Pool, which at 60 foot long is perfect for a few laps, especially at the end of the day as the sun is going down.

We stayed in a hillside villa, with complete privacy throughout the private pool, jacuzzi, outdoor double bed and garden area. The service was perfect and room service was excellent. Staff always left flowers on our bed with a greeting and then come again in the evening to check on things and prepare our room for a romantic evening, leaving a little gift and lighting the incense and candles. This southern end of the island of Mahe was much nicer and quieter than the northern end where many of the other hotels are found.

We got a hire car to explore the island. A little bit of haggling with the car hire girl and got the price down to 35 euro a day – half the price we were meant to pay! There was so much to see with the mountainous interior, forests and miles of beautiful white sand that it was difficult to believe Mahe was so small at 28km by 8km! Even so, it is the largest of the islands

Mahe and Praslin are the main two islands but there are 115 in total! Every island offered something different and was easily accessible and we made sure we went island hopping during our stay. Every island had its own unique flora and fauna (some carnivorous!) and the scuba diving and snorkeling were great with hundreds of species of Tropical Fish.

To sum up the hotel and service was excellent. The beach had pure white sand and was perfect for strolling along hand in hand. We couldn’t have asked for more!

As well as some of the most varied wildlife and best safari locations in the world, Africa is a continent that also has some truly stunning beaches.

Combining a beach extension to your African safari holiday is the perfect way to round off a wildlife tour, and we have put together a few resorts perfect for enjoying pristine beaches and luxurious accommodation.

Kenya
With pristine waters and powder-white sandy beaches, Mombasa on Kenya’s southwest coast is an ideal location for a beach holiday. There are a number of resorts which take full advantage of the surroundings:

Pinewood Village
Located on Galu Beach just south of Mombasa, the multi-award winning Pinewood Village Hotel is a stunning boutique resort with 56 luxuriously-appointed guest rooms, all featuring private balconies or verandahs and canopied four-poster beds.

The resort has a wide range of facilities including a watersports centre, tennis and an 18-hole golf course located near the resort as well as a large free-form swimming pool with swim-up bar.

Guests to Pinewood Village can dine in the informal Bahari Restaurant which serves breakfast and dinner, while lunch can be had at the poolside bar or Jahazi bistro next to the beach. Guests staying in the exclusive suites have their very own private chefs.

Whitesands
On the Mombasa Bamburi coast the Whitesands Hotel is a beautiful resort with 340 rooms ranging from standard right up to presidential suites. All feature wireless internet connections, balconies or verandahs and satellite television.

A great range of activities are on offer at Whitesands, from catamaran sailing, scuba diving and tennis to a well-equipped fitness room and beauty salon.

There are five free-form swimming pools with waterslides, diving boards and inter-linking channels.

The hotel boasts three restaurants – the Pavillion buffet restaurant, Lido’s ‘Fish on the Beach’ and the Minazi pizzeria and trattoria, which is open to guests 24 hours a day.

Mauritius
Mauritius is a small island located east of Madagascar in the beautifully warm Indian Ocean. With unspoilt beaches and lush tropical surroundings, these resorts are sure to wet your appetite:

Movenpick Resort & Spa
The Movenpick Resort & Spa is located in Bel Ombre on the beautiful south coast of Mauritius among sugar cane fields. It features modern luxurious guestrooms, suites and villas – all beautifully appointed with thatched roofs and terraces or balconies overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Children are well catered for with separate rooms, offering both privacy and practicality.

A Zen-inspired spa offers relaxation and rejuvenation – 1,800 square metres of pure tranquillity. The swimming pools, fitness centre, tennis cours and other facilities cater perfectly for the more active person, and there are a whole host of watersports on offer.

Beau Rivage
Located at Belle Mare on the east of Mauritius, the Beau Rivage is a luxurious resort with wonderfully appointed, modern suites that feature views of beautiful tropical gardens and of the beautiful ocean beyond.

A massive 2,000 square metre free-form swimming pool offers a shallow area for young children and a separate area for splashing around and having fun.
A range of complimentary watersports are also on offer, including windsurfing, snorkelling and waterskiing.

A fantastic range of dining options means that there is something for every taste. Choose from seafood at the Le Langoustier or local Mauritian dishes at La Méditerranée. For the romantic at heart, there is also a private dining option available at the resort.

If you would like to enquire about any of the above resorts or discuss your options further, call Tropical Sky on 0870 9097 605.

My boyfriend and I chose The Sanur Beach Hotel in the south west of the island, for Sanur’s long stretch of white sand and the close proximity to other towns and to both Ngurah Rai and Denpasser airport. The resort offered large, comfortable accommodation located in a natural setting with large shady trees and a wide choice of activities onsite. We both really enjoy water sports and there were many choices available including motorboat and jet skiing, sailing, surfing and wind surfing. There were also two swimming pools, a jogging track that ran around the park near the Wisnu Wing, where we found the oldest trees in the Sanur area and a beach volleyball court. Although we had chosen The Sanur Beach Hotel for its great sports activities and facilities, we soon realised that two weeks wasn’t nearly enough time to enjoy them all! There really is so much to do in Bali!

One of my most memorable experiences was climbing Mount Kintamani in the mountainous central region. We were advised to leave at around three am and begin our hike in torch light, so that we could reach the top by sunrise. Scrambling up crumbling volcanic rock and following narrow tracks in almost pitch black was no easy task, even for us who I had thought were relatively fit! However, the view from the top as the sun rose up over the distant mountains was worth every ache and pain!

If you decide to climb the volcano, even in daylight, don’t expect to find your way on your own. Ensure that you book a guide. This can be done from the hotel, or if you have a hire car you can book at the base of the volcano. Remember that the temperature is certainly more suited to strenuous activity at 5am than 10am so it is worth making the effort to get out of bed that bit earlier! I must admit that it was a nice feeling meeting other climbers huffing and puffing in the sweltering morning heat as I leisurely walked back down the mountain for breakfast!

And if you do take food with you up the volcano watch out for the pesky monkeys - unless you want your breakfast stolen!

I stayed at the Equatorial Kuala Lumpur, located in the heart of the city’s commercial and entertainment district, within easy walking distance of the world famous Petronas Twin Towers - the world’s tallest buildings.

This five-star hotel features an outdoor swimming pool and fully-equipped fitness centre, which was good for my waistline as the hotel is renowned in the city for its award winning Chinese and Japanese restaurants! Malaysia is a haven for food-lovers, from top-class restaurants to incredible street food in China Town. Home to a diverse mixture of cultures, races and cuisines including Indian, Chinese, Malay and European people, it’s impossible for a visitor’s taste-buds to get bored!

Shopping is unrivalled in KL, with sprawling shopping centres offering everything from designer brands to traditional Malay handicrafts. There is even a Topshop for those missing British high street bargains!

I would advise anyone visiting KL to see the commercial district at night. Thousands of fairy lights illuminate the Petronas Twin Towers, while people dine in candlelight at the open air restaurants scattered around the Golden triangle.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it is completely free to go up to the top of the Twin Towers. One tip I would give though, is to arrive before nine in the morning to get your complementary tickets, as there are only a limited number allocated each day and the queues can get quite long by mid-morning. The views are fantastic and a guide accompanies your group to explain all of the sights. There is also a museum at ground level which is worth a visit.

I really couldn’t have chosen a hotel with a better location than the Equatorial Kuala Lumpur. It really was great on all levels, from service and facilities to the little extras, such as the complementary foot massage - greatly appreciated after a hard days shopping and sightseeing!

My family and I stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Sharm El Sheikh after it was recommended to me by a friend with children. Sharm El Sheikh is a popular resort on the southern tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and is famous for its world class diving and watersports.

My husband and I were avid divers before having our two young children but for obvious reasons don’t often get the chance to enjoy our hobby. However, we got to take part in amazing morning dives each day while our boys were entertained at the kid’s club.

There is top class diving and watersports on the hotel’s beachfront so no time was wasted traveling to and from the dive centre, and the kid’s club was a real hit with the boys! We never felt like we were having more fun than them!

Generally, the entire holiday was a success. The hotel had beautiful grounds, a lovely beach with its own private coves and bays, the reception staff were spot on and the diving school staff were a lovely bunch of people.

As well as excellent diving and watersports the hotel had extensive facilities including a spa and fitness centre, an Arabian massage tent and an outdoor pool complex which was another huge hit with the children. When my husband was busy playing volleyball in the pool with our sons, I was able to enjoy the indoor heated whirlpool tub, sauna and steam rooms.

Altogether a wonderful place to stay for parents with water babies!

In February 2008, a female green turtle laid 100 eggs in a nest on the beach at Paradee, of which half were taken to be raised by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources as part of a conservation programme. The remaining eggs were left in the mother’s nest at Paradee and a special protection zone was set up to allow the eggs to hatch under the watchful eye of the staff and guests at the resort. At the end of April, following extensive beach cleaning, the hatched Paradee turtles were released back into the wild.

Samed Resorts’ Adopt-a-Turtle campaign aims to raise funds for the conservation of green sea turtles in the Gulf of Thailand, supporting the work of the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre in their turtle-breeding project on Koh Mun Nai, a short distance from Koh Samet at the heart of the National Park.

Sunny, sexy and sophisticated, Sydney is one the most attractive cities I’ve visited. I flew to Sydney last January to spend a month sunbathing, shopping and seeing the sights that I’d heard so much about! Sydney is one of those places that you feel at home in right away. It’s clean and very cosmopolitan – and the excellent metro system makes it an extremely easy city to get around, not that I needed to use public transport much as I stayed right in the heart of the action at the Sydney Travelodge.

Located in the regenerated southern area of the city, close to Oxford Street and the beautiful Hyde Park (perfect for an Aussie style morning jog!) the hotel is within walking distance from Central Railway Station, theatres and restaurants. Circular Quay, the Rocks and the Opera House are accessible by train via nearby Museum Station or by bus on Elizabeth Street. Chinatown is three blocks away and Darling Harbour is a 15 minute walk from the hotel. There’s so much to do in Sydney that you could easily spend a week here and still find yourself crashing into bed at night exhausted by trying to see all the main attractions. I didn’t spend a lot of time in my room in the day, but it was very well appointed with a modern and fresh look, open wardrobe (for all the clothes I bought!) with an iron and ironing board, fridge, tea/coffee maker and a microwave. The bathroom was clean and bright, with a shower and also hair dryer, which was great as I had packed very lightly and not brought one.

I would thoroughly recommend a visit to Darling Harbour as there is so much to see and do. There is an Oceanarium, an Imax theatre, museums, shops, restaurants and bars and I whiled away quite a few evenings enjoying a cold beer, watching the sun set and the boats and the people go by.

Of course the main attraction to Sydney is the beaches – there are over 20 strung along the city’s oceanfront and dozens more around the harbour I was spoiled for choice! I liked Bondi – it does get busy but there is so much going on. There is a great walk between Bondi and another good beach, Coogee that is definitely worth doing if you find the time between all the other activities on offer in this fantastic city.

We chose to stay on an all-inclusive basis, which was perfect considering we were part of a group of ten other wedding guests, as no one was left footing the bill for the drinks each evening. The dining options were excellent, ranging from set menus to buffet style, with a choice of food including Chinese, Indian and International cuisine, but our favourite restaurant was Abalone on the beach, which had the most amazing choice of fresh fish. But be warned, you can’t just turn up at this restaurant and advance booking is highly recommended – especially if you are a large group! Food in the Italian restaurant was also delicious, again another tip is that it doesn’t open every night so make sure you don’t get caught out and miss the opportunity to sample it. As well as unlimited drinks, the all-inclusive option also includes 24 hour room service and a free mini-bar in addition to a selection of house wines at dinner and champagne – perfect for us group of wedding guests to continue the celebrations long after the happy couple had moved on to another hotel!

Our all-inclusive package included a 20 minute massage, tennis lessons, cookery class, trip to a private island, sunset catamaran trip and a meal in the á la carte restaurant. The beaches are fine, but the lagoon is manmade, so slimy rather than sandy underfoot. However there are also three pools to choose from and the service around the pool is superb – it even includes sunglasses cleaning if you need it!

I have to mention the wedding day, as it was a dream from start to finish and completely stress free for our friends getting married. They chose to say their vows in the secret garden which was very private and very, very, romantic. If we hadn’t of got married ourselves in Sri Lanka, I would have jumped at this hotel as it has everything a couple could want in order to start off their lives together.

If visiting Borneo, the place to stay is the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort. It is extremely well situated, being just 10 minutes from the airport and close to the local attractions and city centre, yet it is surprisingly tranquil. Split into two separate wings, the resort offers a selection of room types with a choice of views. We stayed in a Kinabalu superior room and had the most amazing views of Mount Kinabalu, which made a really nice change from a sea-view which is what we would have usually requested. Aside from relaxing on the lovely white sandy beach, there’s plenty to do at the resort, from water skiiing, jet skiing, scuba diving and fishing to a fitness centre and spa offering a fabulous selection of treatments.

Venture outside of the hotel and take a boat ride to one of the offshore coral islands where you can have a true Robinson Crusoe experience. Another must is a visit to the Kinabalu National Park where you can do a jungle walk as well as a trip to the Sepilok Orang Utan Centre where you can learn all about the Orang Utans and how they are rehabilitated back into the wild.

We were on a room-only package so, whilst we would sit around the pool most days and enjoy lunch at the resort, we choose to venture out in the evenings to sample the local cuisine. There are two really good restaurants within 15 minutes walk of the hotel which are worth trying. Or, a quick taxi ride into Kota Kinabalu and you have some excellent restaurants in the harbour area as well as in the town. We particularly enjoyed Ang’s Hotel Restaurant (Fatt Kee Coffee Shop) which is opposite Wisma Merdeka Shopping Mall. Whilst it’s not much to look at from the outside, the food is freshly cooked to order by three chefs slaving over very large hot woks. The only downside is that they don’t serve alcohol however, the Chinese tea works well with the meal and above all else, it is all very reasonably priced!

However, after years of visiting Barbados, Jamaica and other popular islands, I decided that I wanted everything that this part of the world offers - but with a twist. So I chose Cuba. The largest of the Caribbean Islands, Cuba is somewhere a bit different. Aside from the miles of unspoilt white sand beaches and beautiful scenery, the culture and atmosphere of Cuba is like no other country in the Caribbean. The main thing that epitomizes Cuba for me are the ancient, classic American cars - cared for tenderly by Cubans as cars are in short supply and new cars are pretty much non-existent! Cuba remains a communist country and from necessity everything is reused and recycled with love! Another thing that was unforgettable was the energy and vibrancy of the island – especially in the capital, Havana. The people are so friendly and welcoming, and there is almost constant live salsa music everywhere you turn, hailing back to Cuba’s Spanish roots.

My boyfriend and I chose to stay at The Paradisus Princesa Del Mar Resort and Spa, located on the popular Varadero Beach. This was a stunning, all-inclusive five-star hotel designed for adults over 18. As well as the ‘grown up’ aspect of the resort, the other feature that drew me to it was that I’d heard it offered a varied gastronomic menu – it didn’t disappoint!

I thought that their breads and pastries were amazing and there were plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from. We tried the French and Chinese, but the Cuban a la carte menu was so delicious that we stayed authentic throughout most of our stay and sampled what seemed like every Cuban dish available under the sun! My favorite was a traditional pork dish served on a bed of rice – and the bean soup appetizer.

The Rock House restaurant has a mini buffet at lunch - we ate here twice and it was delicious - we had lamb one day and goat another. Cubans do meat very well! There were also always imported cheeses, olives and freshly squeezed juices daily.

As for the rest of the resort, it has lovely grounds and our room was very nice too. The sea was a beautiful turquoise blue and the beach was stunning. If you go for a walk you will be approached by people from time to time asking if you want to buy some souvenirs - but they’re harmless and leave you alone if you politely ask them to.

We went on the Havana day trip and we also did the Jeep Safari - they were both amazing trips and we are so glad we did them - they are both highly recommended.

I would suggest visiting Cuba at least once in your lifetime before it’s opened up to the US and commercialism kills it of its current charm - especially Havana, a must-see destination. You can find great beaches anywhere - but Havana is one of a kind and definitely worth visiting.

Fly-drive holidays in the USA are a perfect way to see it all in one go. One of the major decisions when deciding where to go on holiday in the USA is the destination.

Should you head to the west and enjoy the sun in Los Angeles before heading to Las Vegas and over to see the Grand Canyon? Or should you choose the east, and visit the magnificent New York City and historical Washing DC?

Above are just a few options available, and by listing the must-see sights, it quickly becomes easy to see why it does become a problem choosing where to go. Fly-drive holidays allow you to see much of the country in one go.

American Sky fly-drive tours offer a great way of seeing the parts you wish to most, on tours like Self-Drive the West and Self-Drive President’s Path.

With the option to take a specific tour route, with major sights laid out for you, or choose your own route and take in exactly what you wasn’t to see you will be spoilt for choice.

To book or enquire about a fly-drive holiday in the USA, contact American Sky on 0870 9040 920.

There are only four hotels at Tub Kaek and the Vogue is the last before you reach the National Park at the end of the road. If you enjoy walking, there is a path you can follow through the tropical forests to a waterfall. You need good footwear and a long-sleeved top, but it is a great experience to climb up the path through the trees, over little streams and fallen tree trunks, accompanied by the sound of monkeys calling in the distance.

The beach is quite long in both directions, and is very quiet and secluded, unlike some of the other beaches around Krabi. The sea is shallow and very calm, which means at low tide it is great for spotting crabs, starfish and other sea creatures crawling across the small sand banks. We also saw a kingfisher down at the beach, a couple of white egrets and some smaller birds that flew in and out of the trees in the hotel gardens.

The resort has wonderful sea views across to the limestone islands the area is famous for. Set on a hillside, the hotel reception is at the top with all the rooms set either side. Most of the rooms look out onto the gardens, which include large ponds and swimming pools surrounded by wonderful tropical flowers and trees. Some of the rooms also have wonderful sea views and all are large and include a shower and bath, plus all the other luxury amenities you expect to have in a five star hotel.

There are five small swimming pools in total, three of which have bubble jet seats set into them. A pool down near the beach is very shallow and ideal for small children. The hotel also has two great restaurants. The Lotus has a mainly Thai menu and is where breakfast is served, while Bellini, next to the beach, serves Italian food. We enjoyed both, but mainly ate at Lotus, because we love Thai food.

The staff are all very helpful and there is a spa where you can have a soothing massage or facial. The Sunset Lounge is the ideal place to sit and sip your cocktail while you watch the sun set behind the islands, before deciding if it’s Italian or Thai for dinner.

There is a complimentary hotel bus service which runs to Ao Nang town and beach, which leaves daily at 10am or 2pm and returning at 2.45pm or 6.45pm and takes approximately 40 minutes. This saves on taxi fares and gives you plenty of time to take a trip over to Railay Bay or Chicken Island, if you don’t fancy the longer boat ride from the beach at the Hotel.

We decided to take a boat trip from the hotel over to Chicken Island where the snorkelling was lovely, straight off the boat into quite deep water. Then it was onto Tup Island, where there was a very shallow sandy bottom to the sea, with a wonderful variety of fish and other sea creatures, and then finally to Poda Island where you could have a good swim as the water was quite deep.

We also went to Hong Island, one of the islands you can see from the hotel. There is a lagoon at the back of the island with an impressive entrance, and some of the small islands next to Hong are teaming with fish and in very deep water. Hong Island itself has a beautiful sandy beach and you can either stay in the shallows or follow the edge of the island to where it drops away quite sharply. You can also walk round the Island, but we spent all our time in the water watching puffer fish, parrot fish and lots more.

Because of the hotel’s quiet location, it is a great place to stay after several days touring round this part of Thailand, or if you have been hard at work and just want to get away from a noisy world. We loved it and if we got the chance to go again, would jump at it.

During my stay at Olhuveli Beach and Spa Resort in the Maldives, I couldn’t resist indulging in a few treatments at the resort’s Sun Spa.

Located near to reception, the spa is an oasis of calm with quaint wooden bridges and walkways over ponds leading to private spa pavilions. The whole area is concealed behind thick vegetation and is bursting with flowers and birdsong – much nicer than my local beautician’s. Here it is quite different…

The spa rooms are stunning. Each pavilion has a toilet and separate changing area and the large covered room has two treatments beds and an open-sided back wall that leads into a private outdoor garden area with fountain, shower, bath tub and lovely plants.

Whilst perusing the spa menu – and there is an impressive choice of massages and treatments on offer – the staff kindly bring some herbal tea to enjoy and are happy to make recommendations. Eventually I opted for the Jet Lag Recovery massage as I was aching a little from the flight. At $70 US this hour-long full body massage was pure bliss - it involved a deep tissue massage using essential oils and a little bit of back and neck cracking which really woke me up and I felt fantastic afterwards! So much so, that I immediately booked in for an Ayurvedic Dosha massage at 6pm the next day.

This is definitely the best time to enjoy a treatment - the sun is setting and therefore you get to hear all the birds singing in the trees which is very therapeutic! I would also highly recommend Santha, my spa therapist, for Ayurvedic massages as she was very firm (without it being painful) and very professional. At $85 US this massage also lasted an hour and involved lots of deep tissue massage and more cracking of the back, neck, shoulders, fingers and toes. I felt as if I could walk on air afterwards!

Offering the perfect escape from the humdrum of modern day life, this resort is proud to point out that in addition to no usage of phones or Blackberries on the beach that there are also no TVs or telephones, so you can totally chill out without any interruptions at all.

We stayed in their new Sea Feather Villa, which included a living room, dining room, kitchen, king-size bed with en-suite bathroom and shower as well as splash pool and private golf cart. The villa also had a second bedroom with its own bathroom which suited us perfectly as we were holidaying with my sister and her husband.

The villa’s terrace overlooked the ocean so many a game of backgammon was played here at the end of the day whilst enjoying an aperitif! I was equally impressed that the kitchen came stocked with tea, coffee, cereal, fresh fruit, snacks, a bottle of champagne, some house wine, selection of spirits, soft drinks and beers – it was very accommodating indeed!

Palm Island is very laid back and activities are low-key and generally focused upon the sand and the sea. So, a few days into the holiday after enjoying all the lovely food, we were definitely in need of some exercise and chose to walk around the island on one of the three suggested hiking trails that you can take. The views are wonderful and you can even see some of the other islands in the distance. There were also bikes available at the hotel, but I must admit they took a bit of getting used to, so I would definitely recommend walking instead.

We booked a trip on the Captain Yannis to the Tobago Keys and, as there was only the four us on board, it felt like a private charter. We snorkelled off the boat and, aside from lots of brightly coloured fish, also saw a turtle, ray and a reef shark! All in all, this was a totally relaxing and chilled-out holiday and I for one can’t wait to return.

When holidaying with my family I have learned the hard way, that it makes life a lot easier to book all-inclusive. Wanting an action-packed beach holiday to keep my two energetic sons busy whilst at the same time needing great value for money and facilities for grown ups was a tall order, but we got it right when we booked our holiday at Almond Beach Village in Barbados.

It is situated on an old sugar plantation and spread over 32 acres of landscaped gardens. Seeing the beautiful white sand beach for the first time was breathtaking and as for activities there was a separate children’s area and no less than ten pools around the property. There were also four floodlit tennis courts.

As a real foodie I was pleased to discover that there was a great selection of dining. Unlike so many all-inclusive resorts the food was not all buffet and the cocktails were strong! Being a bona-fide beach-loving family, the beach BBQ was a definite highlight, with fantastic food whilst watching the sunset go down.

The water sports were fantastic as well and all free. We would especially recommend the reef fishing, although this does get quite busy so would recommend booking it shortly after arriving.

My husband and I had researched the island before choosing Barbados and what sold it to us was the warm climate, combined with cooling trade winds - the perfect weather for children to play outside. We also chose our holiday dates to coincide with the Barbados Sports Camp. The first of its kind for 2007, it offered coaching for children aged 9 – 17 from international sports men and women, absolutely free of charge.

The Barbados sports camp offers a unique opportunity for both local and visiting children to learn from sporting legends and to ask to questions about their incredible careers. The emphasis is firmly on fun, playing sport and making new friends and my two boys aged nine and eleven couldn’t stop talking about how much they enjoyed themselves.

Located at University of the West Indies sports ground just outside Bridgetown, the camp offers football, netball and cricket lessons on weekdays and places are available to book for up to a week per child. Again, book early as there are a limited number of places available per day. It’s hard to believe that children can attend the camp for free! The sports stars offer their time in aid of SPARKS, a charity which supports medical research into children’s diseases.

With international sportsmen and women like Mike Gatting, Alan Hanson and Sir Geoff Hurst amongst others all participating in the Barbados Sports Camp 2008 runnning from August 5–29, my family already knows where we’re heading this summer!

Visit the Barbados Sports Camp website for more information.

For a real sense of adventure on your Caribbean holiday, why not discover the world of piracy that once existed in these beautiful islands.

The era of piracy started back in the 1560s and lasted for two hundred years after nation states of Western Europe and colonies in the Americas began to better control the waters surrounding the Caribbean.

Piracy was most prevalent throughout the mid to late 1600s, targeting the major British seaports in the Caribbean such as Royal Port and the French settlement of Tortuga and begun as a result of lucrative opportunities to attack merchant ships, most commonly Spanish vessels sailing to Europe from the Caribbean.

What better place to learn about the history of piracy than to visit the very shores in which it took place.

The Bahamas
Home to many a notorious pirate, like the infamous Blackbeard and Calico Jack, the Bahamas offers a great chance to experience the pirate adventure, paying a visit to Blackbeards Cay.

Recommended Resort: Sheraton Cable Beach Resort

Jamaica
Pirate fans visiting Jamaica should not miss Port Royal, one of the most renowned pirate haunts and a regular sport for notable pirates such as Henry Morgan - today a tourist destination for enthusiasts and treasure seekers.

Jamaica also offers pirate fans the chance to sail the very same coastline that Calico Jack sailed in the early 18th century with Calico Pirate Cruises.

Recommended Resort: Couples Ocho Rios

St Lucia
Sail along the St Lucia’s west coast in the 140 foot Brig that was featured in the Blockbuster movie The Pirates of the Caribbean.

Recommended Resort: Rendezvous St Lucia

Langkawi
Langkawi has long been a location for people seeking paradise. The archipelago located at the northeast tip of Peninsular Malaysia in the Andaman Sea has been named a World Geo Park by UNESCO, and offers visitors white sandy beaches and beautiful clear waters ideal for diving and snorkelling.

Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa
The Westin Langkawi Resort and Spa is perfectually situated, away from the hustle and bustle and overlooking the surrounding islands.

The luxury five star resort is just five minutes from the duty free shopping centre of Kua, the resort is perfectly located for those looking to pick up a bargain. The fantastic spa facilities on offer will take care of any aches you might have from all that shopping, and for active people, the water sports and golf facilities mean that there is something to suit everyone.

Pelangi Beach Resort
The Pelangi Beach Resort is a luxury five star property located on the west coast on Langkawi’s main island. Modelled on a typical stilted Malay village, the resort features a fantastic arrange of activities and tours, including scuba diving, windsurfing, jungle trekking and fishing.

Children at the resort will be well taken care of with the kids club offering daily activities to keep the little ones amused whilst parents can relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Penang
Penang is a fantastic island, offering diversity to its visitors. Enjoy the lively towns and the bustling night markets at Batu Ferringhi – also great for its luxury resorts and great dining options.

Penang is perfect for foodies with wonderful food influences from all over South East Asia – evident in the choice available at the hawker stalls dotted throughout the island.

Shangri-La Rasa Sayang
The Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort is situated in Batu Ferringhi. This five star luxury resort has recently undergone renovations and has been relaunched. The resort is spectacularly located, and the beautiful well kept gardens reveal a majestic free form swimming pool, surrounded by soaring rain trees.

Guests staying in the exclusive Rasa Wing will be treated like royalty, with in-room check in/out options, breakfast at the Ferringhi Grill and complimentary drinks served daily in the Rasa Lounge, as well as afternoon tea and complimentary canapés.
Staying in the Rasa Wing is made all the more appealing with its very own private swimming pool, butler service and a large soaking tub on the balcony.

Golden Sands Resort
The Golden Sands Resort is also located on Ferringhi Beach – perfect for families, the resort features a great range of activities to keep children occupied.

Guests are spoilt for choice with the range of dining options available at the Golden Sands Resort, offering Italian and continental cuisine options, as well as many local dishes on offer to wet your appetite.

Borneo
Tavel to Sepilok in Borneo to see the magnificent Orangutans or for the extremely daring – conquer Mount Kinabalu, the fourth largest mountain in Southeast Asia, located in Kinabalu National Park – an area deemed as a World Heritage Site.

Shangri-La Rasa Ria
The Shangri-La Rasa Ria is a five star luxury resort located in Kota Kinabalu in north eastern Borneo on the beautiful Pantai Dalit beach.

Guests will have the opportunity to visit the resorts own Orangutan education centre, with the chance to see baby Orangutans up close, watching them feed and play.

Guests to the exclusive Ocean Wing will have access to a range of extra facilities, including private swimming pool, butler service and breakfast reserved for Ocean Wing guests only at the Coast restaurant located in the resort.

It seems that Hermitage Bay on the idyllic island of Antigua is set to become one of the region’s top luxury Caribbean resorts, and it’s not hard to see why.

Since opening in 2006 it’s already notched up third place in the Trip Advisor Traveller’s Choice Awards for an all-inclusive hotel and also garnered honours for the quality of its dining.

Not content to sit on its laurels, the beachfront resort has now launched two special add-on packages, as General Manager Keith Martell explains: “We have put together a selection of the most popular extras that guests are requesting to create two very special offers with the themes of luxury and romance.”

The Romantic Escape package is perfect for honeymooners or those celebrating a special anniversary, and includes a bottle of Nicholas Feuillatte champagne, a private candlelit dinner on the beach with butler service and a couples’ massage in the spa or on the guests’ own verandah. It also includes a trip on Hermitage Bay’s boat to a deserted beach for a lobster lunch and bottle of Macon Lugny.

Those booking the Luxury Retreat package will be able to indulge in a range of pampering extras, with a welcome bottle of champagne on ice, a gourmet tasting dinner from the executive chef, two days of 4WD vehicle hire and a six-hour cruise on private yacht. Guests can also enjoy a therapeutic treatment at the spa.

Hermitage Bay is set within acres of lush gardens on Antigua’s sheltered west coast next to a beautiful beach, and is an intimate property of just 25 single-storey cottages built in tropical hardwood. They all feature large bathrooms overlooking the Caribbean Sea and include verandahs or sunbathing decks.

Enjoying complete peace and tranquility, there is an infinity-edged pool plus a watersports centre where guests can try activities like sailing, windsurfing and kayaking. Antigua’s charming capital St John’s is just 30 minutes drive away and the island itself boasts no less than 365 beaches.

Contact Tropical Sky’s expert travel advisors on 0870 9079 605 to find out more about Hermitage Bay and the Romantic Escape and Luxury Retreat packages.

Sarojin is set among ten acres of gardens which feature a lotus pond and giant ficus tree, and has 56 suites and residences, all with garden sun terraces and contemporary Asian decor.

There is a large infinity pool with shaded private pavilions raised up in it, along with a luxury spa centre and a yoga and tai chi deck.

One of the resort’s most unique features is its onsite ‘imagineer’, who job is to devise custom-made excursions and personalised experiences for guests. These could range from a private Thai cooking lesson next to a cascading tropical waterfall, a sunset cruise for two or a champagne jungle adventure.

Sarojin is also very active in the local community, and established the Sarojin Khao Lak Community Fund as a response to the tragic 2004 Asian tsunami.

“To date through our international contacts and partners we have been able to support a significant number of projects in Khao Lak and wider areas of Phang Nga province,” explained Executive Director, Andrew Kemp. “Whilst the critical aid, relief and immediate needs have in the main now been met we continue to focus on specific projects we identify locally that still require ongoing support.”

The fund is distributed solely to community projects in the Khao Lak and Phang Nga area in Thailand, including support for local orphanages, road building, and finance towards the creation of a boatyard to restore the local fishing fleet.

If travelling alone, dining can sometimes be an issue, but the resort soon put my mind at rest as solo guests are extremely well looked after at mealtimes. You can choose to sit alone or dine on one of the communal tables where there are other likeminded people travelling solo, which was such a great way to meet new people and before long I found that I had made many new friends.

If you prefer one-to-one company then there are special staff called ‘BodyGuards’ who are more than happy to dine with guests – and are great a source of information for what to do and to try out at the resort. As a result, I was even persuaded to try my hand at playing on the 18-hole championship golf course. Other sports with instruction include diving and snorkelling, sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, kayaking, tennis, archery, fencing and volleyball. And if you’re not exhausted by all of that, there are also bike and walking tours, a gym with personal training, Pilates, fitness classes and stretch classes and lots more.

Aside from the activities, I’d also read that the resort was voted as ‘Best Spa in the Caribbean’ and by the end of my stay, I could certainly vouch for it! A complimentary daily spa treatment is included in the price so I immediately took advantage of an ocean wrap, facial, hydrotherapy, body scrub and some great massages.

Whether travelling alone, with friends or as part of a couple, this resort has a lot to offer those who are seeking a healthy mix of activities as well as a relaxing spa and beach holiday!

For those looking to experience a safari holiday, Namibia is a great choice, and while it may not have the huge herds of game that you find in some East African Safari destinations, it still has an incredible diversity of wildlife and many unique desert species.

Visit Walvis Bay on the coast to see flamingos and a great array of birdlife, or head east to the Kalahari Desert to view ostrich, springbok and oryx.

For a wondrous spectacle, head to Cape Cross to view the amazing fur seal colony – literally hundreds of thousands of bull seals, sleeping, feeding and staking out their territory!

For those who love choice, Etosha National Park is home to no less than 114 species of mammals, like the rare black-faced impala, black rhino, elephant, cheetah, lion, leopard, hyena to name a few.

When you begin to consider the chance to see exotic wildlife and experience both a fascinating and sometimes surreal landscape, Namibia starts to become a really exciting option, from the huge red dunes at Sossusvlei – ideal for sand boarding and quad biking, to the eerie Skeleton Coast, referred to as “The Land God Made in Anger” by Namibian bushmen, and so called because of the bleached whale and seal bones and skeletal ship wrecks which line the coast.

Consider the following four hotels and lodges when looking to get the most out of your stay in Namibia:

Ongava Lodge
The Ongava Lodge at Etosha National Park is perfectly placed for game viewing. Located on a hill overlooking the surrounding plains, the Ongava Lodge offers luxury accommodation within thatched chalets, beautifully appointed and affording great views of the surrounding savannah.

Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp
The Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp at the Namib Naukluft Park in the Namib Desert is located on a private reserve, built on a mountain to provide stunning views over the desert.
The camp is ideally situated to experience the beauty of the Namib Desert within accommodation that affords privacy within each of the nine guest rooms.

Skeleton Coast Camp
The Skeleton Coast Camp, located centrally on a private reserve is a tented camp built in the dried up Khumib river bed. The camp is set amid a spectacular range of scenery, from skeletal bones of seals and whales lining the coast, to shipwrecks, canyons and saltpans.

The Burning Shore Lodge
Located in Swakopmund among the largest sand dunes in the world, the Burning Shore Lodge is perfectly located to experience this beautiful region, with the opportunity to enjoy a range of activities such as dune quad biking and sky diving.

If you are interested in a holiday in Namibia, contact Africa Sky to book or enquire on 0870 9040 925.

The Beau Rivage is an amazing hotel and is in a stunning location on a spectacular white sandy beach, at Belle Mare, on the eastern coast of Mauritius. The staff were exceptionally attentive and all remembered my name from the word go - the beach boys were also especially welcoming and did a fabulous job of cleaning my sunglasses! The hotel really does like to pay attention to detail. There were plenty of water sports and activities available to keep me entertained, but after the safari I was more than happy to relax and sample the spa treatments on offer.

There was no eating off street stalls for me, though. I had come to the romantic island of Langkawi for a week of pure indulgence and relaxation, and the five-star Pelangi Beach Resort certainly allowed me that.

Spread over 30 acres of palm fringed beachfront, the resort is designed in the style of a traditional Malay village and buildings are raised on stilts with sloping roves. I stayed in a poolside suite in a secluded, tranquil part of the resort. I could walk out of my room and straight into the pool in a couple of footsteps, and this barefoot experience really made me feel like I was the only one in at the resort. Staff were friendly and very accommodating, the food was delicious, and the long, white beach was perfect for that relaxation I was after.