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...