Escape Worldwide - Home of Long Haul Holidays

Shopping in Bangkok

2012-02-13T14:57:00.000Z

If your ever in the Far East and looking for somewhere to stopover for a few days to spend abit of money on yourself, or others if you’re feeling nice... Bangkok is great!

There are tons of shops and lots of shopping to be done in Bangkok. Anything from clothes to watches and handbags can be found for the collectors out there. These can be purchased in various parts of the city.

There's a bargain to be had everywhere depending on what it is that you want and how much luggage allowance you have left! A trip to the Grand Palace and the surrounding areas is fantastic and getting around here is easy on foot or by tuk tuk, which you can rent by the hour for next to nothing.

One place that is well worth a visit is MBK, which is a fantastic shopping centre for the bargain hunters! It’s full of floors and floors of merchandise from upmarket designer outlets to market-style stalls. It’s situated at the end of the skytrain line and the port for the river taxi is at the other end.

On arrival stallholders immediately begin negotiating and need no encouragement to do so. Never settle for the initial price...bartering is expected and I would always go in with at least half the marked price as my first offer (sometimes even lower if you feeling lucky!)
So whether you a first time buyer or a seasoned shopper, Bangkok is definitely a top place for shopping!

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I want a twin centre holiday in Thailand, seeing Bangkok and then relaxing on the beach, but I want to keep the flights down to a minimum?

2012-02-07T15:49:00.000Z

Last time I was in Thailand I did a twin centre holiday, very similar to what you want to do. I spent 3 nights in Bangkok, which I found great fun, fantastic shopping and also plenty of sightseeing.

I then headed to the beach, going to a resort called Hua Hin. Hua Hin is only about a 2 and a half hour driver from Bangkok, so no need for any more flights.

Hua Hin is a lovely old fishing village, once favoured by the Thai Royal family as their beach retreat. Today Hua Hin still has plenty of charm as well as some lovely hotels. It has much more of a Thai feel than some of the other beach resorts such as Koh Samui or Phuket. Unlike the larger, better known resorts, Hua Hin has some lovely restaurants, low key bars and a fantastic night market. If you’re looking for wall to wall clubs and bars, or KFC on every corner then Hua Hin isn’t the ideal place for you. I’d suggest heading to Pattaya, which again can easily be reached by road from Bangkok.

I stayed in a hotel right in the centre of Hua Hin, the Hilton Hua Hin Hotel, which has plenty of shops, bars and restaurants slap bag on the door step. It had a lovely beach, good swimming pool and a great bar!

Hua Hin has plenty of other hotel options, from the stunning Evason Hua Hin, which is in a peaceful location about 30 minutes outside town, with some great pool villa rooms to the fun family Courtyard by Marriot hotel with plenty of family activated including some fun waterslides!

Hua Hin makes a great beach option from Bangkok, cutting down on the need for an extra flight.

Darren
Escape Worldwide - Home of Long Haul Holidays
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Latest Holiday deals - savings of up to £410 per person

2012-02-05T18:00:00.003Z

Hi,

Check out some simply amazing holiday deals we have at the moment:

http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/newsletter/quick/quickfeb12a2.html

We have some fantastic deals to Thailand at the moment, for example, 8 nights in stunning Krabi at the 4* Centara Anda Dhevi Resort from only £799 per person. That price includes all flights, private resort transfers and accommodation.

Check out more amazing holidays at http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk

Darren
Escape Worldwide - Home of Long Haul Holidays
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Travel Ideas for 2012

2012-01-26T12:27:00.000Z

Plan your Travel Year with the help of our Travel Calendar!

If you're looking for holiday inspiration in 2012, check out our travel ideas month by month - this week, suggestions for January, February and March, taking in the Red Sea, Thailand and Tanzania. For more details about any of the holidays we feature call us on 020 8989 0970 or e-mail us at info@escapeworldwide.co.uk

Click Here to check out our travel calendar.

JANUARY - The Red Sea is the perfect place for some winter sunshine and relaxation, without your wallet taking too much of a strain. Just a 5 hour flight away, the various resorts offer quality accommodation at excellent prices - the perfect post-Christmas break!

FEBRUARY - Having your own private pool is the ultimate romantic room, and nowhere does pool villas quite like Thailand - the perfect option for a valentines holiday. Pool villas are found in most Thai beach resorts - some are set within their own walled garden for privacy while others have spectacular views of the beach!

MARCH - March is a great time to be on the Serengeti, when the calving season is coming to an end and wildlife activity is starting to peak. Take in other areas of this wonderful country too, and follow your safari with a stay on the beautiful beaches of Mombasa or Zanzibar for the ultimate African adventure.

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Can I get married in Sri Lanka?

2012-01-24T09:50:00.000Z

Mark was invited to a wedding on a recent trip to Sri Lanka...

"Sri Lanka is one of the most popular destinations we feature for overseas weddings – it’s great value, very romantic and the paperwork is minimal, and there’s a good selection of hotels that can arrange weddings, so it’s a good option overall. I was visiting the Jetwing Lighthouse Hotel, and a couple from the UK were getting married – somehow I managed to get myself an invite to the ceremony!

They’d opted to get married in traditional Sri Lankan dress, which the hotel had arranged for them, so guests were also asked to have a touch of local dress about them – I bought a sarong from the gift shop, which was ideal, although actually working out how to wear it was another story!

The wedding ceremony was taking place in the gardens of the hotel, as the couple had decided this was easier than the beach, although personally I think there’s something really special about getting married on the beach itself, and most hotels in Sri Lanka can do this. The couple arrived on the back of an elephant, who we’d nicknamed ‘Batman’ as he was dressed in a huge black cape with a mask complete with eyeholes, making him look like an elephant superhero!

The ceremony itself seemed very traditional, with candles being lit and a procession of drummers and singers, lasting about 20 minutes in all. Some of the couple’s friends and family had joined them in Sri Lanka, and also lit candles at appropriate points – I stayed a little way back, so to be honest I didn’t keep up with the intricacies of the ceremony too well! Once the ceremony itself was over, Batman The Elephant took the couple off to a wedding breakfast with their family, while we headed for the bar!
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I am family of 5, 2 adults and 3 children. Is there a hotel in Egypt that will get us all in one room?

2012-01-17T09:50:00.000Z

Yes is the answer to that, Darren recently visited a lovely hotel in Makadi Bay in Egypt call the Makadi Palace Family Star which is a beautiful 5* hotel and offers a great all inclusive package.

The Makadi Palace Family Star has fantastic family rooms that sleep upto 2 adult and 4 children (11 and under) and what’s even better is that the children only pay £399 per child anytime of year, making it a great value option. The rooms are well configured with a large sofa bed, two separate single beds which are screened for the living area and a separate bedroom for the adults!

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The hotel offers a comprehensive all inclusive which allows you to dine in pretty much all of their restaurants so you’re not just stuck with the buffet. The hotel also has a good sized swimming pool, with children’s pool, various sporting activites, direct beach access, kids club even FREE wifi in the receptions.

All in all the Makadi Palace Family Star makes for a great all round family option and well worth considering for your next holiday.

Do you need a visa to visit Sri Lanka?

2012-01-04T09:11:00.005Z

From the 1st January 2012 the answers is YES. Until now British Passport holders visiting on holiday didn’t need a visa to go to Sri Lanka, but unfortunately from the 1st January they do.
Having been to Sri Lanka a few times it was nice not having to worry about a visa, but I believe they have made the process pretty painless.

The Sri Lankan immigration have set up a good website with all the information you need on the new visa system - http://www.immigration.gov.lk/ though I’d probably check this from time to time as things might change as the visa system is so new!

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In need of a New Year’s Getaway?

2011-12-21T10:21:00.004Z

As happy a time Christmas is, by January, there’s not better feeling than putting your feet up and taking a deep breath of relief knowing that you’ve got 300 odd days until the next round of festive cheer.

But seeing as you’ve been buying gifts and treating others around you, why not reward yourself with a New Year’s getaway? Abandon the cold weather, rainy days (and maybe even snow) and fly of to somewhere with abit of winter sun.

There’s many places worth going on late deals in January - Luxor would be my personal choice offering great value for money aswell as the nice weather! Other destinations I would suggest include Cairo for a slightly busier sightseeing trip.

Going away in the New Year may initially seem expensive, but you can actually find some great deals - Stay for 7 nights in Luxor 3* from just £309! Or see the amazing Pyramids in Cairo 4* for 4 nights from £599

Dubai or Abu Dhabi for either a beach or city break are also great options - Stay for 5 nights in Dubai 3* from £649, or for a longer break - stay in Abu Dhabi for 7 nights 3* from £849. You could head even further away to the Far East to somewhere like Cha Am in Thailand. Staying for 7 nights 4* from £829.

So what are you waiting for?

James
Escape Worldwide - http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/

Can I fly direct to Bangkok from Manchester?

2011-12-20T10:37:00.004Z

Unfortunately not, there aren’t any direct flights to Bangkok from Manchester. Direct services to Bangkok are only from Heathrow with Thai Airways, British Airways, Qantas and Eva Air.

There are a few easy indirect options for example with Emirates, which is a world class airline and would fly direct from Manchester to Dubai and then you would change aircraft for an onward direct flight to Bangkok. You can even fly on the new double decker A380 aircraft on the Manchester / Dubai leg, which I loved when I flew on the A380.

You can do a similar thing with the likes of Etihad Airways, which would go via Abu Dhabi and Qatar Airways which would go via Doha. There are also options with Air France or KLM going via Paris or Amsterdam.

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What’s the price of beer in Vietnam?

2011-12-16T12:19:00.004Z

Mark's currently sitting in a bar in Vietnam, so it seems like there's no better time to ask him about the beverages he's been 'testing out' there...

The cost of beer in Vietnam depends on what you drink and where you drink it, but overall the simple answer is - beer is very cheap in Vietnam!

Hotels are obviously the most expensive place to drink beer in Vietnam, but even here things do vary dramatically. Business-orientated hotels in the main centres are the most expensive, with a bottle of Heineken or similar at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Saigon being 110,000 Dong (£3.65), although in their rooftop Bar add an extra £1 (worth it for the view!)

At the other end of things, you can easily get a beer at 12,000 Dong - a mere 40p! In many local bars (and for local read tourist bars, but outside of the larger hotels), a bottle of local beer such as Saigon or Larue will cost 12,000 to 15,000 (40p - 50p), or up to a whopping 30,000 Dong (£1) in a pricier venue. That’s for a 450 ml bottle of very pleasant beer indeed! resort towns such as Phan Thiet and Nha Trang have many bars offering beer at this kind of price.

Keep an eye out for local brews across the country. 333 (pronounced "bar bar bar") and Saigon Beer are available in most areas, but some regions have their own bets - Historic Hue, the former capital of Vietnam, is our favourite area for trying local beers, with e likes of Huda, Festival and Hue Beer being around 20,000 Dong, or around 65p.

The cheapest beer we’ve come across in Vietnam is in the wonderfully charming town of Hoi An in Central Vietnam, where local brews are sold by the glass at just 4,000 Dong a go - that’s just 14p. Suddenly 40p seems quite pricey!

Prices correct as of December 2011 and to the extent we can remember with that amount of extensive research :-)

Escape Worldwide
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48 hours in . . . Kuala Lumpur

2011-12-15T15:06:00.006Z

Kuala Lumpur is one of the Far East’s most exciting cities, but with loads to see and do it’s important to plan your trip to make the most of your time here.

DAY 1
Start your visit to Kuala Lumpur by boarding the frequent hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus that takes in all of the city’s main attractions. There are stops on Bukit Bintang if you’re staying in this part of the city, and throughout the Golden Triangle and KLCC areas too. Head to the older parts of KL to start with - get off at stop 8 in the Chinatown district, and walk through to stop 9 at Central Market.

Stroll through colourful Chinatown before arriving at Central Market, which has been refurbished from a traditional market to a centre for traditional handicrafts. Hop back on the bus and continue past the National Palace, through the Lake Garden and on to the National Mosque.

AFTERNOON
Grab a bite to eat at the KL Tower before taking the lift to the top, for spectacular views across the city. Although a little shorter than the Petronas Towers, the KL Tower is raised on a hill so is one of the few places to get views of the Petronas Towers without craning your neck! Then head down to Bukit Bintang, taking in some of the city’s best shopping and stopping for a coffee or a beer in one of the trendy cafes in the area.

EVENING
Jump on the monorail and catch a train to Maharajalela station - from here it’s a few minutes walk to Petaling Street and its famous night market. The bargains here are excellent, if your bartering skills are up to it!

DAY 2 - MORNING
Head to the Petronas Towers, where you’ll need to be in good time to collect tickets for the Skybridge viewing platform later in the day - the days tickets tend to get snapped up early! Then take a bus or a taxi out of town to the unique Batu Caves, located about 10 miles north of the city centre. A Hindu shrine in the main ‘temple’ cave is reached via 272 steps, and the spectacular caves are visited by around a million pilgrims each year.

AFTERNOON
On the way back to the city return to the Petronas Towers and take the speedy elevator to the Skybridge, which links to the towers at floors 41 and 42 - making it the highest 2-storey bridge in the world! Head back to your hotel for a dip in the pool or to relax before heading out for the evening.

EVENING
Start your final night with drinks at the Skybar, located on the 33rd floor of Traders Hotel with great views across the city and a great vibe - there’s even a swimming pool! Then head down to Jalan Alor, where Malaysian and Chinese street food is at it’s best - a perfect way to finish off 48 hours in Kuala Lumpur!

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Why can't I seem to find many 'All Inclusive' hotels in Thailand?

2011-12-13T16:59:00.006Z

There are one or two All Inclusive hotels in Thailand, but to be honest the food and drink is so cheap out there you wouldn't want to be staying in your hotel!

Last time I was out there I visited three of the beach resorts - Phuket, Krabi and Phi Phi - and I think the most I paid for a meal was £25 and that was the most amazing lobster I've ever had in Phuket. Even the more remote beach hotels have a couple of beach restaurants close by, and if you are in one of the more touristy areas, such as Ao Nang in Krabi, you will be spoilt for choice. You will be able to get a really good meal for about £5 or £6, or just some chicken satay for £1 or so.

The bottles of beer are enormous! Singha, Tiger and Chang beer are all very common, as are Happy Hours, so make the most of them! Happy Hour quite often runs from 4 in the afternoon until about 9 in the evening, and the offers tend to be 2 or 1. Given the full price is about £2 for a large bottle, you might not need to be there after 9pm, the beer is quite strong!!

Karen

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I want to go on safari in Kenya, but don’t want to keep moving around?

2011-12-06T10:43:00.005Z

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 sweet. There is some much to see on the Masai Mara and the local driver/guide, David, was simply fantastic and it was really interesting hearing how he grew up on the Masai Mara.

OK you don’t get to see the full diversity that Kenya has to offer by flying just in the Masai Mara, but it was a great way to experience some of the most amazing wildlife I have ever seen.
The only thing that was a little disappointing was that my luggage allowance was restricted to 15kg because of the light aircraft, it wasn’t be biggest problem, but it would have nice to have had a bit more.

The landing strips are right in the middle of the Mara, so sometimes you need to clear the runway of Zebra and Wildebeast, all a bit off, but great fun!

Darren

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Can I hire a car in Cuba?

2011-11-29T16:33:00.010Z

Yes, hiring a car in Cuba is an excellent way of seeing the more remote parts of Cuba. Though don’t expect the big plays like Dollar Rent A Car or Hertz. Car hire companies tend to be local Cuban companies so expect some paperwork! Pre-booking before arriving in Cuba is pretty much a must with most companies in the UK only booking the car hire as part of a complete holiday package.

A few points worth remembering when hiring a car...

Roads are pretty good in most of the country, but as the East is less developed some of the roads in this area can be a bit bumpy. It is more likely you’ll get stuck behind a donkey rather than another car, so progress can be slow occasionally! I found the traffic in Havana reasonably busy but once you’ve made it to the main ring road out of the city things came down a bit! Petrol stations aren’t as common as in the UK, so fill up when you see one!

Cars in Cuba tend to be modern and various sizes and types available ranging from small compacts to people carriers. Unfortunately you won’t easily be able to rent a big old American beast as these tend to be privately owned and also pretty much on their last legs, not sure they’d get you to your destination to be honest! You can however book an hour or two in one of these style of cars in places like Havana, though don’t necessarily expect a seat belt!

As with hiring a car in most countries you will need to arrange insurance and pay a deposit locally. There may also be a drop off fee if you are picking the car up in one part of the island and dropping it back in another. Also standard stuff applies like needing an international driving licence.

Hiring a car in Cuba, as opposed to fixed transfers for instance opens Cuba up and one of my favourite holidays would be starting with a few nights in Havana, pick up the car and visit Pinar del Rio in the West and the area around Trinidad in Central Cuba, finishing with a few nights on the beach in Varadero. You’ll see the highlights but won’t spend all your time in the car! Also there’s loads to see along the way and with a car you can stop when you like. Oh, I personally wouldn’t drive at night, especially log distance, as there aren’t many street lights!

Hiring a car is a FAB way to see Cuba, enjoy!

Karen

Escape Worldwide

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Where is the best place to see Orang-utans?

2011-11-22T11:18:00.008Z

Having just returned from an amazing time in Borneo, I found that that there were so many individual experiences you could choose from. But one particular question that is often asked by potential visitors is where is the best place to see Orang-utans?

I actually got to see the Orang-utans twice whilst in Borneo. The first being in the more commonly known Sepilok. The Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre was a moving experience. After chatting to some of the Rangers within the centre, I was warned not to be disappointed if I didn’t see any as this would actually be a good thing. The Orang-utans are trained in order to return back into the Jungle, but are still fed by the Rangers if they are not quite ready to fend for themselves. This process can take years.

So waiting on the viewing platform, I was standing wondering would I actually see an Orang-utan in the flesh... and as feeding time came, they appeared. I had mixed reactions at this point - Firstly, it was amazing to be so close to the most ‘human like’ animal on the planet. But at the same time it reminded me of the importance of centres like this and the amount of work that still needs to be done.

My second experience of seeing Orang-utans was actually at the hotel I was staying at in Kota Kinabalu - The Rasa Ria. A popular feature of the Rasa Ria is the Orangutan Sanctuary set within the resort. Guests can see Orangutans at feeding times which is a great opportunity to get up close without even leaving your hotel! The ranger even brought over one of the newest additions to the sanctuary - Baby Ten Ten who is one of the many Orangutans who was being kept as a pet but was saved and is now being rehabilitated to go back into the wild. Many will even go onto Sepilok as the next stage of their rehabilitation.

The Rasa Ria is an absolutely stunning property and great for occasions such as honeymoons, but this reason alone is enough for me to want to go back and stay there!

So I’d say go to Borneo, and to see Orang-utans, visit either Sepilok or the Shangri-La Rasa Ria in Kota Kinabalu. Sepilok would add more of a cost to your holiday but there are so many other thing to do whilst there such as seeing the Turtles and getting a taste of life in the local villages... stay for a few nights and do as much as possible! But for a more relaxed and cheaper experience, I would suggest staying at the Rasa Ria... or even do both!

Either way, it would be an unforgettable experience and a simply amazing holiday!

James

Escape Worldwide

We know, We've been, Just call!

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Latest special offers and holiday ideas

2011-10-13T17:06:00.003+01:00

Hi All,
We have some great special offers at the moment, so check out our latest newsletter at:
http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/newsletter/offers/Oct11b2.html

This week we have some great deals to Thailand, Sri Lanka and a Hong Kong / Dubai

THAI TRIPLE CENTRE
BANGKOK, PHUKET & KRABI - From Only £1099 per person

Fantastic savings to Thailand - save up to £300 per person on this superb triple-centre holiday combining three of our favourite parts of the Country, taking in Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi staying in quality hotels throughout.

Check out the details: http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/prices/offers/thai25.PDF

SRI LANKA TOUR & BEACH
ALL INCLUSIVE TOUR - From Only £1225 per person

A superb 5-night tour of Sri Lanka followed by 5 nights on beautiful Bentota Beach, with a full sightseeing programme and all meals & drinks included - saving up to £160 per person makes this one of the best deals around.

Check out the details: http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/prices/offers/sri9.PDF

HONG KONG & DUBAI - From Only £1189 per person

Combine vibrant Hong Kong with the beaches of Dubai, saving up to £160 per person too! Spend 4 nights at the 4* Harbour Plaza Hong North Point in Hong Kong and 5nights at the 5* Amwaj Rotana in Dubai.

Check out the details: http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/prices/offers/HKG5.PDF

We have some great holidays ideas to many long haul destinations. Checkout our website at www.escapeworldwide.co.uk for plenty of holiday ideas!

Happy travelling!

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

Hotel Inspections - it's really hard work!

2011-10-06T09:44:00.000+01:00

Visiting hotels in exotic locations may sound like a dream job, but it can be really hard work – honestly! Natalie visited the Cuban beach resort of Varadero as part of a longer trip to the Caribbean’s largest island, and certainly didn’t get time to chill on the beach!

“We were spending two nights in Varadero as part of a week-long trip to Cuba, that had already taken in Havana, Pinar Del Rio and Trinidad – we’d already clocked up quite a few miles and had visited plenty of hotels. Varadero is Cuba’s largest resort so there were various hotels here I was keen to see – I was hoping two days would be enough, but it soon became clear that it wouldn’t!

The hotels we’d seen in the other parts of Cuba were generally small places, quite often historic buildings, which meant that they were quite easy to visit – some had only around 15 rooms, with a restaurant and bar, and the odd one also had a pool. Cuba’s historic hotels are generally beautiful and full of character, but they don’t tend to have dozens of room types and lots of facilities! Varadero’s hotels, on the other hand, are far larger resort-style properties, with plenty of restaurants, numerous bars and plenty of space – it was going to take far longer to see each one properly than it had elsewhere on the Island!

We started at the Paradisus Varadero, a beautiful hotel set in huge grounds – which instantly meant that it was going to take quite a while to see everything the hotel offers! The setting of this hotel is stunning, and the beach here is glorious, but when it’s 33 degrees and you’re dressed more for the office than for the beach, it’s a long, hot walk to make sure the beach is as glorious close up and it looks from a distance.

Next stop – Sandals Royal Hicacos. As with all Sandals hotels, this property has a good selection of room types, and it’s important for me to see them all, so I know what the differences are between each type. As the resort was fairly full during our visit, each of the different room categories that was available for us to see seemed to be at the opposite end of the hotel from one another! Sometimes it seems that hotel visits are also a great way of keeping fit!

Over the course of our two days in Varadero we did just about squeeze in all of the hotels we wanted to see, but only with some early starts and late finishes – and even when an unexpected tropical downpour happened, we didn’t have time to sit it out and carried on regardless – although I didn’t get to see the beach at the Paradisus Princessa Del Mar because of it!

When I got back home a friend asked me how my holiday to Cuba had been. ‘I wouldn’t know’ I replied – ‘I’ve definitely been to Cuba, but I really haven’t been on holiday’!”

Links:
For holidays to Varadero visit http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/cuba/destin/vra.shtml
View our Cuba beaches photo gallery: http://www.farawayescapes.co.uk/gallery/Escape%20Worldwide%20Cuba%20Beach%20Photo%20Gallery/

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Thailand Food.....we love it!

2011-10-06T09:32:00.000+01:00

Thailand’s food is one of the highlights of any visit here, and after many years of travelling to the Country, the staff at Escape Worldwide have their own view of it!

Karen used to be the biggest wimp in the office when it came to spicy food, but over the years she’s developed a real taste for Thai food. “I tend to stick to dishes that I know I like, so I don’t get any unexpected surprises. Everything is so fresh, and the seafood in particular tends to be superb – and so well priced, compared to the UK. In fact, I tend to go a bit overboard in Thailand as the food is really good value – crab cakes or spring rolls as a starter for £ 1, a main dish of a Thai curry for maybe £ 1.50, all washed down with copious quantities of Singha or Chang beer – and you still won’t have hit a fiver!”

Natalie remembers one meal in particular. “I think the hottest meal I’ve ever had was in Bangkok, when I thought I’d try a Thai Green Curry. The restaurant our hotel, the Dusit Thani, suggested was a traditional place a few minutes walk away (there are so many restaurants in this area of Bangkok it’s hard to know where to start!) so I guess the food is fairly authentic – perhaps I should have asked for a less hot version! It got to the point where I couldn’t feel my mouth, but even then the flavours of the food were still there. Even a large bottle of Singha Beer didn’t help much!”

Darren had developed a straightforward theory to Thai food. “If it comes with coconut milk, it’s likely that it’s going to be spicy, as the coconut milk is often used for cooling things down. Therefore, ask for a less spicy version. If it has red bits floating in the coconut milk, you haven’t really got a hope! My standard dish if I’m not sure of what to go for is Phad Thai, or fried noodles – always tasty, always available and always cheap, you really can’t go too far wrong!”

Mark’s been visiting Thailand since 1991, so has tried many local dishes from the regions over the years. “The oddest thing I think I’ve tried was in the Isaan region of Northeastern Thailand, which has its own different style of food. In Nakhon Ratchasima, one of the larger towns in the area, I tried a type of local sausage, which I can only describe as ‘different’ – I still have no idea what was in it! I did a Thai cookery course in Chiang Mai on one visit, so I learnt about the local spices and vegetables – this is something I’d really recommend, and some schools will also tell you what replacement ingredients you can use if you can’t obtain the authentic stuff when you get back home.”

For holidays to Thailandvisit www.thaiescapes.co.uk

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Check out our feature in West Essex Life

2011-09-10T16:05:00.000+01:00

Hi all,

We now have a regular feature in West Essex Life Magazine, so check out our first feature about holidays to Thailand :

http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/wanstead/WEL/July%202011%20-%20Thailand.pdf

Happy reading!

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

What's been going on...48hrs in Hong Kong and more

2011-08-28T09:20:00.000+01:00

Hi All,

Sorry for next updating the blog recently, all been a bit busy with being away and also welcoming James to our team! So what have you missed?! The following are a couple of our last newsletters that you might of missed:

48 hours in Hong Kong : http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/newsletter/guide/48hrsHKG2.html

We focussed on one of our favourite cities in the Far East, Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a diverse fun packed cosmopolitan city with plenty of things to see and do.

The star ferry is a great, fun way to get around and cheap too. Stay either on Hong Kong Island or Kowloon with give you a chance to experience this amazing city. Read all about it in our guide: http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/newsletter/guide/48hrsHKG2.html

Beaches with a difference: http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/newsletter/offers/Aug11b.html

This week we looked a some amazing beach holidays with a bit of a difference.

Nha Trang in Vietnam is one our our favourite beach resort with a relax atmosphere, amazing people and stunning beaches. There are also some stunning hotels, no more than the 5* Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang, which is a stunning resort, in a beautiful beach and at a bargain price!

Also check out the amazing Sheraton Senggigi Beach Resort in Lombok, which is a great hotel, one of my favourites!

Check our all our holidays to the Far East at http://www.asiaescapes.co.uk

This weeks amazing holiday offers: http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/newsletter/offers/Aug11c2.html

In this weeks newsletter we have some great holidays ideas including a pool villa in Phuket, Thailand. A great twin centre holidays to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, or a fantastic tour of India.

The Dewa Hotel in Phuket Thailand is a beautiful hotel, in a great location in Phuket. It also offers some of the best value pool villas in Thailand, stay 9 nights from only £1199 per person, bargain!

Check out all our great holidays to these places and many, many others at http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk

Happy travelling

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

Great Holiday Offers - Thailand | Safari | India and many more!

2011-07-12T12:52:00.000+01:00

Hi All,

Some great offers and holidays ideas for you this week: http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/newsletter/offers/Jul11a2.html

I was in Thailand the week before last and spent time in Phuket and Khao Lak and had a great time. Technically it's rainy season there, but in 11 nights we have 3 showers, two of those were in the evening so didn't effect our sunbathing...sorry I mean work!

I stayed at the Kata Thani Hotel in Phuket which was fantastic, on an amazing beach with a choice of swimming pools, bars and restaurants. The hotel is on Kata Noi beach with a couple of shops and restaurants just outside the hotel, and the resort of Kata is only about a 10 minute walk, though it is up hill!

Patong is the main resort in Phuket and well worth a night out, it's made, tons of bars, night markets, restaurants, shops, the place doesn't stop, though I was surprised how lovely the beach was for such a busy area!

Khao Lak was my next stop, about 3 hour drive away, stunning, absolutely stunning place. Much more low key than Phuket with a good range of shops, bars and restaurants in the main centre. The hotels here a lovely, of a good standard. One of my favourites was the Wanaburee which was a simply charming property with a great tropical feel!

We have some great offers to both Phuket and Khao Lak on our newsletter this week so go and check them out....a bargain!

Check out all of the great holidays we have at http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/

Happy travelling!

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

Long Haul offers - Thailand | Safari | Cuba and more

2011-06-03T11:07:00.000+01:00

Hi All,

We've found some of the best loughaul holiday offers around this week, including a superb luxury holiday to Thailand for under £1000, saving a massive £400 per person! We've also got an exciting safari (Karen came back from a safari last week so give her a call if you want to know more) plus a city break in Dubai and a superb Cuba twin centre holiday. For more details about our offers or any of the holidays we feature call us on 020 8989 0970 or e-mail us at info@escapeworldwide.co.uk

A couple of my favourites this week:

5* THAILAND from £995 pp

BANGKOK + KRABI

Top quality hotels in excellent settings, plus save over £400 per person! The Dusit Thani Bangkok is probably our favourite hotel in the city for its unbeatable location, while the Sheraton Krabi's beachfront setting is perfect for chilling out afterwards.

Departures: 16th June 2011
Nights: 3+5
Prices from: £995 per person!

DOWNLOAD DETAILS

MORE THAILAND HOLIDAYS

__________________________________________________________________________

SAFARI + BEACH from £2385 pp

TANZANIA SAFARI & ZANZIBAR

A safari is like no other holiday and Tanzania offers some of the best wildlife in the world. The 5 night Sopa Serengeti Safari will show you a huge amount, and follow it with the modern Z Hotel, set on a stunning beach close to local restaurants on Zanzibar .

Departure: 14th November 2011
Nights: 5+5
Prices from: £2385 per person

DOWNLOAD DETAILS

MORE SAFARI HOLIDAYS

We have a great range of amazing holidays so check out our website http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/ for more ideas!

Happy Travelling!

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

Egypt is back with some amazing holiday ideas and prices

2011-05-29T10:19:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

This week we're having a look at Egypt. I was there last week and boy was it hot and the Red Sea just simply stunning. Our newsletter has a look at some amazing offers, check it out:

http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/newsletter/top/egypt2.html

I visited Hurghada, Makadi Bay, a spot of Nile Cruising and Sharm on my visit and the following were a couple of my favourites.

MAKADI BAY

One of the best family resorts on the Red Sea, Makadi Bay is easy to get to, relaxed and offers a good range of quality hotels. Darren checked out a few hotels due to open in the coming months, including the gorgeous Makadi Spa, set to be one of the most stylish properties in Egypt, and the Sunwing Waterworld with its water slides, wave pool and family fun. Current options include rooms large enough to take a family of six - superb for larger families.

Read more details on Makadi Bay: http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/escape/top/egypt5.html

More holiday details can be found at: http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/red/destin/makadi.html

HURGHADA

Set on the shores of the Red Sea at the closest point to the Nile Valley, Hurghada has developed over the years in to one of our favourite resorts, with a modern feel but still with an Egyptian identity. It's easy to visit the Nile during a beach stay to visit some of the world-renowned temples and monuments (Darren did the journey in under 4 hours) making Hurghada a superb choice for both relaxation and interest. There's also a new wave of restaurants, shops and bars in the resort.

Read more details on Hurghada: http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/escape/top/egypt4.html

More holiday details can be found at: http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/red/destin/hurgh.shtml

NILE CRUISE

I visited the Nile at Luxor to check out some cruise boats. One of the main things about Luxor at the moment is how quiet the main sites are, so if you fancy having the Temple of Karnak or other renowned sites pretty much to yourself, now is the time to go! There are numerous Nile cruise boats available so it's hard to know where to start, but make sure you pick one that includes all the main sightseeing, as costs can build up if this isn't included.
Read more details on Nile Cruise: http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/escape/top/egypt6.html

More Nile Cruise holidays: http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/red/destin/cruise.shtml

Egypt and the Red Sea is amazing value at the moment and there isn't a better time to visit!

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

Something a bit different...holidays without the beach!

2011-05-21T13:54:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Our newsletter this week had something a little different, holidays without a beach! Check out the ideas:

http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/newsletter/offers/May11b2.html

A couple of my favorites are:

HAVANA CITY BREAK, CUBA from £849

PARQUE CENTRAL HOTEL

Soak up the atmosphere of Havana, one of the world's most mesmerising cities, and stay in one of the best hotels, superbly located where Old and New Havana meet and with some of the best facilities in the City.

Departures: 12 JUNE 2011
Nights: 3
Prices from: £849 pp

Check out more great holidays to Cuba at: http://www.cubaescapes.co.uk/

FAR EAST CITIES from £1079

HONG KONG + KUALA LUMPUR

Combine two of the liveliest cities in the Far East in one trip - explore vibrant Hong Kong and cosmopolitan Kuala Lumpur, with amazing food and superb shopping a plenty, saving over £500 per couple too!

Departures: 15 JUNE 2011
Nights: 4 + 4
Prices from: £1079 pp

Check out more great holidays to the Far East at: http://www.asiaescapes.co.uk/

I've just come back to Egypt and during my trip I visited Hurghada, Makadi Bay, Sharm El Sheikh and Luxor. I also visited a number of Nile Cruise all in the name of research, watch this spacous for some stories and pics!

Happy travelling!

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

Long Haul Holiday Ideas - Maldives | Borneo | Cuba and more

2011-04-21T14:29:00.000+01:00

Firstly Happy Easter everyone! So what you planning to do with all the extra days off? How about planning your holiday. The following are some great ideas to get you started:

http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/newsletter/offers/Apr11c2.html

A couple of my favourites:

LUXURY MALDIVES from £1789

TAJ EXOTICA

A real favourite of mine, the Taj Exotica is one of the most beautiful resorts in the Maldives, and our offer includes two free nights and complimentary airport lounges.

I've stayted at the Taj Exotica and it is simply stunning!

Flying from Heathrow on the 19th June, staying 7 nights on a bed and breakfast basis at the 5* Taj Exotica from only £1789 per person.

Download the details http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/prices/offers/mle7.PDF

See more great Maldives holidays at: http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/ind/destin/mle.shtml

LUXURY BORNEO from £899

SHANGRI-LA RASA RIA

A superb hotel set on a gorgeous beach, complete with it's own Orang Utan sanctuary!

Our special offer includes three free nights, making this unbeatable value.

Flying from Heathrow on the 30th May and staying from 7 nights at the 5* Shangri La Rasa Ria on a room only basis from only £899 per person!

See the deal: http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/prices/offers/malay5.PDF

More great holidays to Borneo can be found at : http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/asia/destin/Mbor.shtml

We have plenty of other great holdiays so give us a call today or visit us at http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/.

Happy Travellig and Happy Easter.....enjoy the chocolate!

Darren
Escape Worldwide - We've Been, We Know, Just Call!
http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/