Darren was recently in Abu Dhabi in the UAE and whilst there visited Ferrari World and the amazing Formula Rossa, the worlds fastest roller coaster..... certainly not for the faint-hearted as you can see! Ferrari World is located on Yas Island, close to the Formula 1 Grand Prix race track, which is also well worth a visit! Escape Worldwide - Home of Long Haul Holidays http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk

Mark was in Bali recently and spent a few days in Seminyak staying that the Desamuda Village. Located in the heart of Seminyak, Desamuda Village is 5 minutes' walk from shopping, restaurants and entertainment options and a 20 minutes walk from the beach. The resort is a 20-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport. The Desamuda Village boasts a spa, gazebo and 2 outdoor free form swimming pools. There’s a restaurant and bar are also available. Guests enjoy free shuttle service to Kuta area and free Wi-Fi access. The Rice Table Restaurant serves a wide selection of Indonesian and European dishes. This beautiful resort offers traditionally styled deluxe rooms, and a select of impressive pool villas. However the highlight of this resort are the amazing Deluxe Pool Villas. Mark opted for one of these for a few nights and was very impressed. “On arrival I loved the lovely Balinese feel of the resort and also the friendly staff. I was swiftly checked and take...

Japan is a simply amazing destination and a visit to Hiroshima is a must. For most people the city of Hiroshima is synonymous with one thing - the dropping of the world’s first atomic bomb, however today Hiroshima is a modern, friendly city, with the Peace Memorial Park being a constant reminder of what happened here. A highlight in the area is nearby Miyajima which is one of Japan’s primary sites with it’s beautiful shrine gate seeming to float on the water. It a short train ride and boat trip and a must go see.  What to do in Hiroshima In central Hiroshima there is the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park and the sites close by are the main draw here - allow yourself a time to take in this area of the city, as its very moving. There is also an excellent museum and the eerie Atomic Bomb Dome close by. The island of Miyajima with the Itsukushima Jinja Temple and its iconic ‘floating’ torii gate is one of our top sights in Western Honshu, and a half day trip from the cit...

We are asked a fair bit, I want to go on safari in Kenya, but don’t want to keep moving around? Well Karen has the answer: I did a safari in Kenya last year and what I did was to fly from Nairobi straight into the Masai Mara by light aircraft, I then spent 3 nights at a camp before flying back to Nairobi. I found this worked really well as the light aircraft was a FAB way of seeing the Masai Mara from the air and it only took about an hour and a half to get from Nairobi, Also it landed close to the camp so didn’t have to go too far to get to the camp, though on saying that the drive to the camp was amazing, littered with giraffe and zebra. Whilst at the camp I did a couple of game drives a day, which I have to say were simply amazing. I saw the big five plus tons of other animals. I was pretty amazed when we came across a herd of elephant; I counted 20 with a couple of babies, which were so sweat. There is some much to see on the Masai Mara and the local driver/guide, Dav...

We love the USA and one of our favourite areas is between San Francisco and Las Vegas , via breathe taking Yosemite National Park and unworldly Death Valley. Mark recently did this trip with a hire car and had an amazing time. Mark suggests starting in vibrant San Francisco before collecting a car and driving to stunning Yosemite national Park. Continue to Death Valley and finish your USA fly-drive in Las Vegas. The best time to travel is from April to September, when the weather is best and Tioga Pass should be open. Day 1 - UK to San Francisco Fly from London to San Francisco , arriving later the same day. On arrival into this amazing city, make your way to your chosen hotel, for I would suggest a three night stay, this should give you plenty of time to enjoy this cosmopolitan city. Days 2-3 - San Francisco Spend the next few days exploring San Francisco. Perhaps prebook our San Francisco Helicopter tour, the ultimate San Francisco sightseeing trip - witness stunning vie...

We are huge fans of Japan here at Escape Worldwide and one of Darren’s favourite areas is Tokyo. Japan’s hectic, frenetic capital, Tokyo , is one of the world’s greatest cities, and is packed with things to see and do. Its modern side of numerous neon billboards and crazy thronging crossroads is tempered by amazing traditional temples and beautiful cherry blossoms in the parks, but it’s an easy place to get to know - go shopping in one of the quirky quarters, eat sushi in the place to be seen or take in the crazy nightlife in Shinjuku. What to do in Tokyo Tokyo is a vast city so much sure to allow plenty of time to take things in - although the comprehensive modern subway and overland train networks make getting around straightforward. Tokyo Sky Tree is the world’s second tallest structure and gives incredible views across the city, laying out the various districts that make Tokyo tick beneath you. Make sure to arrive early though it does get very busy.Head to Akihabara for g...

Mark was recently in Australia and part of his trip was to Queensland and included a visit the Cairns and Port Douglas , both gateways to the amazing Great Barrier Reef As one of the gateways to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is the main hub for visitors to Far North Queensland and is a great place to base yourself for a few days of relaxation and activity alike. Take a trip out to the reef itself or head inland to the amazing rainforests of the Daintree region to experience one of the few places where the rainforest meets the beach. The town itself offers a huge range of activities from bungee jumping and cableways gliding over the canopy to swimming lagoons. Whatever you do whilst in Cairns, be sure to get yourself out to the Greater Barrier Reef, one of Australia’s top attractions - there’s a myriad of options of how to visit this unique place with option for every level from qualified diver to total water-phobe, but the most important thing to our mind is just to ma...

If you are looking for something a little special then how about a stay in a pool villa and nowhere does them better than Thailand. Thailand is home to some of the most luxurious hotels you can find and many offer rooms that not only are stunning but also feature your own private swimming pool. One of Darren’s favourite pool villas can be found the beautiful Evason in the Thailand beach resort of Hua Hin. The resorts of Hua Hin and nearby Cha Am are relaxed alternatives to some of the more commercialised resorts, and offer a more Thai feel – I find this area of Thailand to be perfect for a relaxed stay, without being dull. As they are reached by road from Bangkok they also offer a straightforward and great value option with no domestic flights involved. Hua Hin offers long, sandy beaches, great food (try the night market in the centre of town or the restaurants along the beach – the seafood is fantastic!) and a good range of quality hotels, while Cha Am has a more r...

On a recent trip to Australia, Mark took a helicopter ride over the Great Barrier Reef and we just loved his video of the helipad! Escape Worldwide - Home of Long Haul Holidays http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk

Mark is a great fan of the USA and one of his favourite areas is California (and surrounding areas) which is so much more than just the glitz and glamour of the cities, he suggests: I love the USA and would suggest starting in vibrant San Francisco before collecting a car and driving to stunning Yosemite national Park. Continue to Death Valley and finish your USA fly-drive in Las Vegas. Best from April to September. Day 1 - UK to San Francisco Fly from London to San Francisco , arriving later the same day. On arrival make your way to your chosen hotel, for a three night stay - we have a range to choose from, and your length of stay in San Francisco is flexible. Days 2-3 - San Francisco Spend the next few days exploring San Francisco. Perhaps prebook our San Francisco Helicopter tour, the ultimate San Francisco sightseeing trip - witness stunning views of the city skyline, San Francisco Bay and world-famous landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. Da...

Mark was in India in October last year and spent a week exploring the sights of the famous 'Golden Triangle' of the North, and a few days discovering the charms of laid-back Kerala in the South. Here's why it was his somewhat unexpected top trip of 2016 . . . . Exploring India's Historic North I visited two sides of India in October in two different ways, combined in to one trip. The first part of my trip was a group tour of the classic sights of the 'Golden Triangle ' - Delhi, Agra and Jaipur - which was arranged by our friends at G Adventures, who run amazing escorted tours with an adventurous streak. I then said goodbye to my group of fellow G Adventurers and headed to Kerala to spend a few days exploring the beaches, backwaters and history of this charming area, in the company of the fabulous folks at Kerala Travel Centre. Being an independent company ourselves we love working with other independent companies around the world. In all honesty ...