Beautiful Phi Phi  Phi Phi in Thailand is a simply stunning destination and well worth spending a few days chilling in this island paradise.  The Phi Phi Islands are famed for their stunning beauty, soft white sands, towering sea cliffs and swaying palms. True island paradise, spend a few days here relaxing in to the laid back atmosphere. It has a great, chillout vibe so well worth staying a few days.  The smaller island of Koh Phi Phi Leh can be visited for its excellent snorkelling, while the hotels and other facilities are located on the larger Koh Phi Phi Don, with superb seafood and a relaxed vibe, with a variety of local, small bars and restaurants. The islands are within a marine national park to p rotect their natural beauty. Phi Phi combines really well with both Phuket and Krabi as it's only a relatively short speedboat ride away, so it’s easy to spend time in both the main resort and the islands. Including other areas of Thailand such as Bangkok or Chiang Mai i...

The islands of the Indian Ocean are surprisingly varied, ranging from cultural melting pots to dots on the horizon - it’s important to pick the right one for you! The gorgeous islands of the Maldives are probably the most beautiful beach destination we’ve ever been to - picture postcard stuff, and then some! Each resort is an island in its own right, and as you can't really get off your island it’s important to make sure that your resort is ideal for you. The Maldives is perfect for relaxation and gentle activity - if it’s sightseeing and culture you’re after, you’re in the wrong place! Water based activities are popular - if you want decent snorkelling and diving (it’s world-class here) then look for an island with a house reef, or if you prefer to potter in the shallows with a good book and a glass of sauvignon blanc (we’re definitely the latter!) then you need an island with a lagoon. Some resorts come with hefty price tags, so it’s important to get things right! ...

We ADORE South Africa ! It really has to be one of the most spectacular countries on the planet, with dramatic scenery at every turn - add in fabulous wildlife, great cities, a lovely climate (rarely too hot, rarely too cold) and some of the best food & wine (we’re easily swayed!) anywhere, and it’s easy to see why South Africa is one of our favourite places! All South Africa trips should take in CapeTown at some point - talk about an incredible city! The setting is stunning, with Table Mountain as its backdrop, plus there’s loads to see and do. We love the hop-on hop-off buses that will take you to all of the main sights, including the beaches of Camps Bay and the seals of Hout Bay. Be sure to head down to the Cape Peninsula – dramatic scenery, incredible flora & fauna, and all just a short drive form the city. South Africa is perfect for a Fly-Drive holiday , or we can also arrange an Escorted Tour, or just a few days in a couple of locations with transfers inclu...

We're continuing our look back at our teams travels this week - Mark visited Australia on an epic three-state trip, starting in Sydney, moving to Victoria and driving most of the Queensland Coast in a campervan - here's a quick look at the highlights of his Aussie adventure. . . . Starting in Sydney ​ The first time I visited Australia was 27 years ago as an 18-year old backpacker, but I'm always excited to go back - it's one of the most diverse, incredible countries on the planet. As with many visits Down Under I started in Sydney , which is a very easy city to get to grips with - for me, if you stay anywhere between Central Station and Circular Quay you can't go too far wrong, and it's such as easy place to explore. I stayed right in the middle of Sydney at the Grace Hotel , which has pretty much everything you want to see within a 20 minute walk - I took in the Sydney Tower Eye, Darling Harbour and the amazing Sydney Opera House, all on foot. ...

We're having a look back at some of our favourite travels from last year - Karen headed to the USA, visiting New York, Miami and Las Vegas, on an action-packed trip. Here's a quick look at the highlights of her visit State-side . . . . The Big Apple ​ I've been to various parts of the States before, but this was my first trip to New York - it's one of those cities that's so well known on TV and in films that you kind of feel that you know it already, so it did feel like I was on a movie set at times - or at least in an episode of Friends!  I chose to stay close to Penn station as I was taking the train to my next destination - the Wyndham New Yorker is in such a handy location, plus I love the Art Deco feel of the place. I used the hop-on hop-off buses quite a bit - what a great way to get around and to take in all the main sights - plus I took a cruise out towards the Statue of Liberty, which was fab! There's so much to see and do that you could g...

As 2019 gets underway we've been having a look back at our favourite trips of 2018 - we love to travel at Escape Worldwide, and one of Darren's favourite trips last year (there were many to choose from!) was to Indonesia, taking in the islands of Bali and Java. Here's a quick look at his highlights . . . . TheBeaches of Bali ​I've been to Bali a number of times over the years, but this time I also visited a totally new place for me, the neighbouring island of Java. On Bali I based myself in the lively resort of Seminyak - probably my favourite part of the island - but explored all the main resorts. When I say 'explored' I actually mean 'bar-crawled' - there's no better way to get to know a place! Seminyak has a real buzz to it, with loads of restaurants and bars, but it's not as lively as Kuta. For me the reason I love Seminyak is for sunsets - grab a beanbag on the beach and a cold Bintang beer, and watch the sun set in specta...

TOP 5 ROMANCE Add a little romance to your life with our top 5 romantic destinations. LIGHT A SKY LANTERN ON THE BEACH IN THAILAND Traditional sky lanterns are launched across Thailand for celebrations and to bring good luck, and there’s no better way to mark a special occasion than to launch your own lantern in to the night sky. Made out of rice paper and a bamboo frame, the lanterns can drift for miles in a breeze before gently returning to the ground once the candle has gone out. The most popular time to launch a sky lantern is during the Loi Krathong festival in November, but lanterns are available in most beach resorts year-round – our suggestion would be to head for Krabi , and watch your lantern rise above a backdrop of island and outcrops of Phang Nga Bay. HOT AIR BALLOON OVER THE MASAI MARA, KENYA A safari is a special travel experience, and a balloon ride over the plains of Africa is truly something else – a real ‘once in a lifetime’ experience when the roma...

Away from the theme parks of Orlando, Florida’s far south holds a wealth of interest and something a little out of the ordinary. Darren picked up a car in Miami and headed through the Florida Keys to Key West. Miami acts as the main gateway to southern Florida, and as one of the coolest cities in the US it’s a great place to start a trip. Most of the action takes place in Miami Beach rather than downtown, and Collins Avenue is really at the heart of things. Miami Beach Historic District is home to the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world, with many of the buildings now turned in to hotels and clubs. Coined ‘Millionaires Row’, Collins Avenue is the place to be and be seen in Miami. From Miami it’s only a little over 50 miles until you leave the mainland and hit the Florida Keys, a chain of picture-postcard coral cays that run over 100 miles southwest to Key West. The first town you’ll hit is Key Largo, a world away from the bright lights and glamour of Miami,...

A driving holiday is a superb way to really get to know a destination, and many countries are well suited to this style of holiday. Darren shares some of his favourites. The USA is one of the most popular self-drive destinations and there are a myriad of routes and itineraries you can consider, from the theme parks and beaches of Florida, the volcanoes and coastline of the Hawaiian Islands or the classic Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles. One of the most popular itineraries combines the states of Nevada and California, taking in Las Vegas, San Francisco and LA, plus a host of other locations in between. From Vegas it’s only a short drive to the Grand Canyon, albeit in the wrong direction, while the route through to San Francisco will take you via Death Valley and Yosemite National Parks. Then follow the Californian coast south to LA, stopping in the likes of Monterey, Carmel and Santa Barbara en route. If you want to combine your transport and your accommodation, then hiri...

RETRO - HAVANA The Cuban capital Havana is a captivating mix of intriguing history and faded glamour, with a decidedly retro feel. Mark spent a long weekend discovering the charms of the City. Havana is an extraordinary city that’s packed with interest, and one that makes a great destination for a long weekend with a difference or as part of a wider trip to Cuba . 500 years of history has left the City with an incredible array of buildings from various architectural styles, while the last 50 years or so has changed its character again. Lose yourself in the backstreets of Old Havana, watch the waves crash on the Malecón, Havana’s seafront promenade, and take in the nightlife of Vedado - ideally with a cold mojito in your hand. A great place to start exploring is at Parque Central, a tree-lined square that marks the start of Old Havana where men sit under the shade of the trees to discuss the latest goings on in the world of baseball, a Cuban obsession. The square is surrounded by ...

The beautiful Indian Ocean island of Mauritius is a melting pot of people and cultures, and is one of the world’s most exotic destinations. Karen  loves the destination. The island of Mauritius seems like just a small dot on the map hundreds of miles off the African coast, but as soon as you arrive you’ll find out there’s a surprising amount to it, and while Mauritius may be seen to many as a place to soak up the sun and relax on the beach, there’s plenty more to see and do. Golf is hugely popular here with a range of excellent courses, the most spectacular of which is probably the Bernhard Langer course on Ile Aux Cerfs, a beautiful island just off-shore. Take a quad bike through the sugar cane plantations, go diving on the coral barrier reef that encircles most of the 200 mile coastline, learn to cook creole-style or be pampered in an award-winning spa. Mauritius offers some of the world’s best hotels, with properties such as Shangri-La's Le Touessrok and Le Saint Géran ...

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...