Krabi is one of our favourite parts of Thailand and is an area we've visited a number of times - we'd love to share our passion for Krabi with you! WELCOME TO KRABI The relaxed beach resort of Krabi is set in some of Thailand's most   impressive scenery , overlooking beautiful Phang-Nga Bay in the south of the country. As Thai beach resorts go it's fairly small and laid-back, making it a great option for those wanting to   chill out on holiday , rather than partying all night. The main beach area is at Ao Nang, a few minutes from Krabi town itself, and here you'll find a good selection of hotels, a number of bars and restaurants - including some of the   best seafood  you'll find in Thailand - and a relaxed atmosphere. GETTING TO KRABI   Most of Krabi's beach hotels can be reached in around half an hour from the airport, which has direct flights from Bangkok for an easy   Bangkok and Krabi twin centre holiday , and also Koh Samui. Phuket airp...

Kenya is such a magical place and the wildlife is simply breathe taking. Our  Cheetah Safari  is a traditional seven-night safari visiting Samburu, home to unique wildlife, followed by the Rift Valley Lakes where thousands of pink flamingoes often tint the horizon. The final destination is the Masai Mara where vast numbers of plains game and spectacular big cats abide. Everyone in the office has been on safari in Kenya and the experience is simply amazing. On Darren's last trip he even had a Cheetah jump on the top of his safari vehicle, using it as a look out post to find it's cubs some breakfast. The Cheetah Safari is a comprehensive safari, covering amazing areas including the breathe taking Masai Mara which is home to some of the worlds best wildlife, Cheetah, Lions, Elephants, Zebra and so much more.  DAY 1 SUNDAY HEATHROW - NAIR OBI Fly from Heathrow overnight to Nairobi. DAY 2 MONDAY ABERDARES On arrival transfer to the Safari Lounge, where you can ...

The countries of the Middle East offer a wealth of interest to the visitor, from the incredible history of Egypt to the modern metropolis of Dubai. With guaranteed sunshine, top quality hotels and short flight times, it’s no wonder this region is so popular. There’s nowhere quite like Egypt for accessible history, unique sights, amazing diving and guaranteed weather, and its all just a 5 hour flight away! While it’s seen its fair share of change in the last few years, once Egypt is back on its feet it will return to its place as one of the world’s best visitor destinations. A Nile cruise is a superb option for taking in a few thousand years of history in comfort, while the Pyramids and Sphinx should be on  anyone’s ‘must see’ list. Divers flock to the Red Sea and it’s easy to see why, plus there’s loads for non-divers too. Dubai has firmly established itself as one of the world’s leading destinations over the last few years, and offers an incredible range of lu...

The islands of the Indian Ocean are amongst the most beautiful in the world, and we’re huge fans of this region having visited most parts of it over the years. From the castaway beaches of the Maldives to the culture of India & Sri Lanka, this is a truly fascinating part of the world. Sri Lanka is a particular favourite of ours and we’ve all been several times - to our mind the best way to see this island is with your own private car & driver, to explore the interior before heading to the beach - or onwards to the Maldives . Sri Lanka is one of the friendliest destinations you’re likely to visit, with an incredible history and beautiful scenery. The nearby islands of the Maldives are just dots on the map, but their beauty really does take your breath away. Each island is individual so getting the right one is important - some have loads of facilities, some are total chill-out. Our favourites include stylish Velassaru, Kuramathi Island with is range of dining optio...

Africa is a real passion of ours - we’ve all been, and there’s nothing like being on the Masai Mara at sunrise, exploring the dunes of Namibia’s Sossusvlei or experiencing the Serengeti during the annual wildebeest migration. From Cape Town to Zanzibar , we’re hooked! A good safari will combine different areas to give you a variety of wildlife and landscapes. A driving safari is great  value and really opens up a country, while a flying safari makes easy work of long distances by light aircraft.  A safari in Kenya is like working your way through a guidebook of game, while the national parks of Tanzania are incredibly varied. Hot air ballooning is possible in some locations. It’s easy to follow most itineraries with a stay on the beach, with the likes of Mombasa and Zanzibar being perfect for a beach break with or without a safari! South Africa is one of our favourites, and lends itself perfectly to a fly-drive or escorted tour with its mix of history...

Karen just got back from a superb trip to Thailand, taking in city, countryside and beach in a three-centre trip - Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Hua Hin. Today, back in the office, she's full of tales about riding elephants, learning Thai cookery, visiting floating markets and singing karaoke (there was quite a lot of Singha beer involved!) so we thought we'd bring you some of her highlights from her trip, plus details of how you can do the exact same trip too (the karaoke is optional!) Bangkok "My trip started in Bangkok, which is a place I've been to a few times before, but there's always so much to see and do - it would be hard for me to visit Thailand and not have at least a few days in Bangkok! I spent a full day exploring the city , travelling by skytrain, tuk tuk and boat to take in places that I hadn't been to before - the flower markets in Chinatown, the beautiful teak house of the famous silk entrepreneur Jim Thompson, and the fabulo...

Darren Escape Worldwide - Home of Long Haul Holidayshttp://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk

Our friends at Somak Holidays  have recently reported on the best 5 afternoon teas in Cape Town, South Africa: Afternoon teas inject a little lavishness into the routine of things. It’s a celebration of all things sweet, savory, bubbly and a chance to drink tea the ‘proper’ way. Cucumber sandwiches, warm scones, leaf teas, delicate éclairs, and miniature puds – they all have a place in my heart, but above all it’s the theatre of the afternoon tea that makes it such a special experience and one of utter pleasure. Cape Town’s colonial settlers brought with them the English tradition of the afternoon tea, and have since put their own twist on it, and today it’s a thriving tradition known to the locals as ‘high tea’. So lets raise our cup, saucer and pinky to Cape Town’s finest high tea haunts. Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel The  Mount Nelson Hotel  is one of the most famous places in the world to pour a cup or two, and it’s the place to do it in style. The hotel i...

Stellenbosch is the only winelands town that has a University, and with the infusion of young student energy this ‘College’ atmosphere permeates throughout the town. This is visible in the many bistros, art galleries, Music venues, Theatres and Wine bars that make up the vibrant heart of the Old town. It is a unique place where international guests are able to experience the diverse culture and meet the many people from all aspects of society that make Africa the ‘Rainbow nation’. The wine Stellenbosch   is home to some of the   oldest and most famous wine estates in South Africa, in fact Stellenbosch is where South African wine making began! It’s home to the widest range of estates, with 148 wineries in total where they produce some of the world’s best wines. Kanonkop and Rust and Vrede among others are repeatedly recognized for their wines worldwide. The best way to visit the vineyards is on a tour where you can sample the wines along the way! The arts St...

Masai Mara National Park The most popular safari destination in Kenya , the reserve is home to countless species including the ‘big five’ and stages the Great Wildebeest Migration. Aberdare National Park This park is home to part of the Aberdare mountain range, an area of natural beauty. It is full of rich vegetation, clear streams, waterfalls and lakes, along with unique fauna and flora, creating an ideal habitat for a wide variety of mammals and birds. Elephants and rhinos, roam the park and other residents include leopards, spotted hyenas and bongos. Samburu National Reserve & Buffalo Springs Samburu National Reserve and Buffalo springs started life as one park but are now adjacent to each other. The Ewaso Nyiro River runs through both reserves and in parts acts as border between them. Samburu is not as well known as some of the other national parts in Kenya and therefore is less crowded. The dramatic and rugged landscape is home to the colourful Samburu pe...

  Mark has just got back from Bangkok and whilst there he visited the new Centara Watergate Pavillion:   Having been to Bangkok a fair few times and having seen plenty of hotels I was keen to see Centara Hotels and Resorts new offering and I have to say was pleasantly surprised by the Centara Watergate Pavillon .     The hotel is well located, close to Pratunam Market and a short walk to the Central World shopping mall, one of the largest in Bangkok .   Arriving at the hotel, the reception is located on the 9th floor which I have to say give it an exclusive feel. The lobby was large, bright and welcoming with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the water features and main restaurant.       I was welcomed by the friendly reception and met the marketing manager for my look around. Firstly we were taken to the impressive Spa, which has a good number of treatment rooms and also seemed to be very well priced for a city hotel...

"My favourite trip of last year was definitely a fly-drive I did in Namibia - what an incredible country! In the course of 10 days I covered 1800 miles, climbed the world's biggest sand dunes, drove around one of Africa's best national parks, drunk German-style lager on the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean and watched the sun set over the Kalahari Desert. My highlights were Etosha National Park , where you can drive yourself and get extremely close to lion, rhino, elephant and a host of other game; and the dunes at Sossusvlei, which is probably the single most spectacular place I've ever been to! This was my first trip to Namibia and it's somewhere I'd recommend to anyone with a sense of adventure - if you love spectacular scenery and incredible wildlife then it's for you, but if you're more of a nightlife and cities person then perhaps not. The one thing that really strikes you as you drive around Namibia is just how varied the countryside is - every few...

Karen looks back to 2013 at her favourite trip: “My favourite trip of last year was to South Africa - I'm the only person in the office who hadn't been before and I've heard such great things about it - and I wasn't disappointed! The South African Tourism Board invited me to go, and we took in two main areas - Cape Town & the Cape Peninsula area, and Durban along with nearby safari parks. Cape Town is such a fantastic city, and in such a dramatic setting - the first time you see Table Mountain it really takes your breath away! I'd been told that the weather at the top of Table Mountain can change quickly and you can't go up if the weather is bad, so we headed straight for the cable car as soon as we arrived, as it was sunny! The views are just incredible, across the city and the Atlantic Seaboard, plus along the Cape Peninsula too. I really liked the  V&A Waterfront  area of Cape Town - it has a lovely feel and some great shopping, plus you catch boats...