Princess Margaret made the island of Mustique famous and it quickly became a celebrity haunt. But often it’s the lesser-known destinations that are where the cool kids hangout. And Mustique’s neighbour, Bequia is one of those places.

To say Bequia is a pretty, quirky island is perhaps an understatement. It’s in the bright colours of the buildings in pocket-sized capital Port Elizabeth, the glinting smiles and ‘welcome to the countryside’ hellos of locals, and the fact that goats wander down the road into the island’s hospital.

Nowhere on the island is this quirky-pretty better encapsulated than at Bequia Beach Hotel, the largest on the island.

Guests come here intending on doing a lot of things. They usually do half of them.

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I’m going to make a rare, unabashed statement – I loved Bequia Beach Hotel. Now let me explain just why.

Bequia Beach Hotel is located in Friendship Bay – a beach I’d dreamt of liming on even before I visited due to this photo.

And it didn’t disappoint in real life – it is a broad stretch of sand fringed by palm and almond trees.

The hotel grounds are extensive, especially when you consider that this boutique hotel has just 59 rooms, suites, cottages and villa, sheltering guests amid verdant tropical gardens.

Bequia Beach Hotel is relatively new. Its phased opening started in 2006 and the villas are still being completed. But it has an inimitable style that affords it a fun yet sophisticated, retro-feel.

Yes, Bequia Beach Hotel has all the usual accompaniments of a luxury stay – a well-equipped gym, spa, two restaurants and bars serving delicious food and cocktails, free wifi throughout (though it wasn’t always a good connection), good quality furnishings in air-conditioned rooms – some with sweeping sea views, and excellent service.

But what I loved about it most was the décor.

It’s rare that I fall in out and out love with a hotel, least of all due to its architectural style and interior design, but Bequia Beach Hotel has something just a little bit special, as the photos here attest.

Bequia Beach Hotel – colonial, kitsch and green

Its Swedish owner Bengt Mortstedt fell in love with the gingerbread-style of architecture made popular by architect Oliver Messel on Mustique, where timber buildings are framed by cute cut-outs.

Mortstedt combined this with colonial style interiors – wood panelled ceilings, palm-leaf ceiling fans, mosquito nets and more across the hotel. Meanwhile Mortstedt’s wife dressed Bequia Beach Hotel’s interiors with tropical prints, and fun, kitsch ornaments.

Added to this, and fulfilling the modern traveller’s desire to travel green, Bequia Beach Hotel is solar powered, uses all local produce and reuses rainwater across the hotel.

Like most of the hotels I stayed at on St Vincent and The Grenadines, there are no televisions in guest rooms. But with nightly entertainment, dinners facing onto a moonlit sea and a fine choice of meals including locally caught lobster, you barely notice.

“Most of our guests come here with the intention of doing a lot of things,” explained Mortstedt. “They usually do half of them.”

I love getting out and making the most of a destination, but I couldn’t blame anyone for liming in the Caribbean sunshine, and surrounding themselves in Bequia Beach Hotel’s wonderful colonial kitsch.

Useful note: Bequia Beach Hotel has three-pin UK power sockets.

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The Amari Watergate Hotel in Bangkok’s bustling Pratunam neighbourhood, downtown Petchburi, provides guests with a stunning place to lay their head. As well as being conveniently placed within walking distance to a landscape of shops and lifestyle malls that would make the shopping offerings of New York City seem scarce.

If you don’t like anything else about this vibrant city, you’ll love the shopping – this is guaranteed. Unfortunately we only had a whistle-stop stay at the Amari Watergate – one night to be exact. However, it was the peaceful haven we so desperately needed after flying in from Kuala Lumpur and before our long journey ahead to Australia.

The first thing that strikes you about the Amari Watergate is the lobby – it’s huge. Not only is it enormous, but also every single inch of it looks like it’s just been cleaned with such perfection that you could eat your meal off the floor (I didn’t, I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know).

The hotel boasts two reception desks and ours was located a few floors up, which is where the hotel’s luxury rooms are situated. As the lift door opened, we were greeted with the offering of a cocktail or glass of bubbly (or both) and deliciously tantalising canapés. These ranged from puff vegetable pastries and oysters and seafood offerings to an array of assorted mini desserts. It was the perfect way to check in to a hotel.

The sweeping views of the city which were provided by the floor to ceiling glass windows made it difficult to leave the ‘checking in’ area and head to our room.

But having travelled for quite some time, plus the promise of a deliciously over-sized bed and a hot bubble bath, it was just enough to tempt me away.

My only regret about our stay at the Amari Watergate was that it wasn’t long enough. I’d have loved to have stayed longer and enjoy the facilities. Also it was in such close proximity to the local shops of the vibrant downtown area, I would have liked to shopped till I dropped.

However, our trip had to go on. Nonetheless I would strongly recommend the Amari Watergate for guests looking for that extra bit of indulgence and pampering. It certainly hit the right spot for us.

Dial An Exchange resorts, are being measured for quality by the holiday exchange company. Using the experience and opinions of its members, Dial An Exchange resorts are focused on providing quality holidays.

As part of the checks and balances it makes to provide the highest quality, Dial An Exchange is using its own customers’ feedback to ensure high standards and quality are maintained.

After returning from their holiday, each member is encouraged to  write a review of the resort that they have visited. When members look up listings of Dial An Exchange resorts on its website, they will find reviews. Other members can read the first-hand feedback of each resort before choosing to book a holiday themselves.

Dial An Exchange resorts are focused on quality

Dial An Exchange managing director Europe, Oliver Green said: “We work closely together with resorts to build on the wealth of positive reviews received, but also importantly to address any negative feedback. If we receive even one negative review, we ask the resort why this might have  happened, and what they aim to do to rectify it. If we receive a second review highlighting the same issue, we will make sure that the resort acts swiftly to address any problems, and if we receive a third negative review on the same theme, we will withdraw our exchange services for that resort until they are able to demonstrate that  the issues have been resolved. Thankfully this is rare, but something we feel is essential in order to maintain a high quality threshold, and to ensure that our members enjoy the best possible exchange holidays.”

“Happily, most resorts work to a very high standard, however there is still variation of quality from resort to resort and country to country. A rustic French gîte in the countryside will obviously be of a completely different standard to a luxury condominium in Florida.”

“The beauty of the DAE system is that every single member can take advantage of each and every available week without restriction, opening up the widest possible range of holiday opportunities. And while at Dial An Exchange we do not grade our resorts for precisely these reasons, we do take every possible step to ensure that each and every member is able to enjoy their dream holiday.”

Every city has them – restaurants that get people talking and Toronto is no different. Toronto restaurants have been florishing for some years now giving the city’s food writers and bloggers such as Andrew Dobson and Reader’s Digest’s Val Howes, plenty to write about.

There’s nouveau cuisine, Italian, Asian fusion, fresh Canadian lobster, salmon and beef – name it and you’ll find it.Here’s six of the tastiest Toronto restaurants.

Nota Bene

This restaurant’s modern take on Italian cuisine has made it a popular choice among the city’s well-heeled diners and has been declared the best restaurant in Canada by a number of the country’s magazines. Yet Nota Bene remains an affordable option on the very much on trend Queen Street West.

Nota Bene is a perfect spot for lunch for shoppers heading to the street’s cool boutiques, at which point I’d recommed the Nova Scotia lobster salad with avocado, maple bacon, blue cheese and buttermilk dressing. However, whether you have lunch or dinner there, don’t leave without trying the sticky toffee pudding served with spotted dick ice cream. It’s the best I’ve ever had in a restaurant, and I’ve become something of a sticky toffee connoisseur.

Bosk

A fine dining restaurant in a luxury hotel is to be expected but Bosk is surprising in as much as it has broken into the wider Toronto restaurants scene, attracting not just hotel guests butdiners from across the city seeking an unpretentious, yet sophisticated experience. The restaurant is one of two located on the ground floor of the Shangri-La Toronto.

The wood carved walls of Bosk’s bar (for the record a bosk is a small wooded area) is a great place for an aperitif. Try the Secret Earl Grey cocktail – earl grey enthused gin, lemon juice, egg white, grapefruit bitter and simple syrup.

Bosk serves a menu of delicious menu of modern classics that dance on your tastebuds. The popular choices are the Nova Scotia scallops and Alberta prime beef.

Momofuku

Staying at the Shangri-La and just across the lobby from Bosk, Momofuku has been lighting up the Toronto restaurant scene since it opened in 2012. Momofuku is the creation of celebrity chef David Chang and sister to his restaurants in New York and Sydney.

Why’s this Toronto restarant causing a storm? Perhaps because Michelin-starred chef Chang’s tasty take on Asian favourites are so very reasonable.

Highlights on the menu include pork buns and Momofuku ramen. Momofuku is a completely different dining experience to Bosk, it’s all about quick turnover and the sort of communal dining familiar to fans of Wagamama restaurants.

Though it’s good and the food tasty, I have to confess it isn’t my favourite of those listed here, but it’s certainly been giving Toronto restaurant-goers something to talk about and is worth a try for a more affordable dinner option.

Luma

There’s something about Luma. Perhaps it’s that it serves modern dishes, crisp white wines and irrisistable cocktails at the heart of Toronto’s cultural and film scene, at the top of the TIFF Bell Lightbox – the location for the city’s popular International Film Festival, held each October.

Luma is a Toronto restaurant serving fine produce in its own inimitable style. After all, where else could you find a shrimp and lobster burger served with crispy shallots and togarashi mayonnaise.

Some of this Oliver & Bonacini restaurant’s popular dishes include starters of seared scallops and veal cheeks for the main dish.

Even if you aren’t able to fit Luma into your dining schedule, stop by for pre-dinner cocktails – it has mid week specials to rival the best bars in town.

360

I like a table with a view and among Toronto restaurants there is no better view than that at 360. Here 351 metres in the air at the top of the CN Tower, one of the the world’s tallest free-standing structures.

An added benefit to dinner at 360 Restaurant is it offers you complimentary access to the LookOut and Glass Floor levels of the CN Tower.

Sadly, as is often the case with restaurants at standout locations, the food isn’t quite as good as the views. It’s perhaps a 7/10 on the tastebuds and an 11/10 for the eyes.

Café Boulud

Contemporary and classic French cuisine combine at Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud’s Café Boulud, located in the Four Seasons Hotel.

With everything from a lunchtime prix fixe menu through to housemade charcuterie, Café Boulud is bringing French flair to the Toronto restaurants scene.

Dishes of note include the roasted veal loin and the Nova Scotia halibut. But save plenty of room for dessert. Café Boulud has a collection of deliciously dastardly desserts such as hazelnut gianduja gâteau, caramelised gala apple and a very flouncy grapefruit givré sporting sesame halva, rose loukoum and grapefruit sorbet.

TATOC has announced the launch a new programme to promote its work, recruit new member resorts and affiliates and share its news.

The TATOC Ambassador Programme has also appointed Mike Ashton as chief ambassador.

It is expected that the timeshare consumer association’s programme, unveiled at the recent TATOC conference by executive chairman Harry Taylor, will play an important role in the realisation of its updated Five Year Plan.

In the plan, TATOC announced its intention to increase resort membership and company affiliation, identify new revenue streams and promote itself to the wider industry.

Taylor explained: “For the Ambassador Programme to be a success we looked for experienced professionals with extensive industry knowledge who regularly meet with other industry professionals and resort representatives.

“The objective for the Ambassadors is to promote TATOC, recruit new member resorts and affiliates and share all that TATOC does and plans to do.”

Mike Ashton has been involved with the timeshare industry for over 16 years as director of business development for Merlin timeshare software. He regularly travels across the world, attending industry conferences and meeting with resorts at all stages of the business lifecycle from start-up to mature.

Talking about his new role he said: “I am delighted to be appointed as chief ambassador for TATOC. It is a very exciting time for the association with the launch of the Five Year Plan and I am looking forward to spreading the message that TATOC is the first point of reference for everything relating to the needs of today’s timeshare owners.”

Taylor added: “Mike is a well known professional with a wide network of contacts across the world and is the ideal chief ambassador for TATOC. We will be adding to the programme over the next few months with ambassadors in key areas including the US, Canary Islands and mainland Spain.”

Anyone interested in becoming a TATOC Ambassador should complete the application form on the TATOC website.

I wondered what he was thinking. Gliding through clear water a turtle led me on a merry dance, captivating me with his every move. It turned out to be the highlight of my day on the water in the Tobago Cays.

I’d already found St Vincent and The Grenadines to be rather spectacular islands – lush forests secreting away waterfalls that gushed with water so clean you could cup your hands and drink. Then there were its pretty islands like St Vincent itself and Bequia. There winding roads gave way to bays you could sit on for hours and not even notice the tide coming in.

But Tobago Cays was a whole other spectacle.

I felt a sense of calm as my eyes widened to the Tobago Cays’ seemingly infinite beauty

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I knew it would be a good day when we left Palm Island Resort that morning. Boarding the Captain Yannis we were handed a glass of bubbly. It was only 10.30am in St Vincent, but we knew it was 5.30pm somewhere.

We floated on the breeze to our first stop, Mayreau. The island has just one unnamed village. But with a population of 250 people, it’s likely everyone knows it pretty well.

We didn’t concern ourselves with the island’s geography or village life however, instead spending most of our time there taking in its marine life. Angel fish and damsels darting between rocks, while tiny schools of electric blue and red fish swayed amid the clearest water and trumpetfish nosed around crevices.

Leaving Mayreau we sailed another 20 minutes or so to the Tobago Cays. These five tiny islands – Petit Rameau, Petit Bateau, Baradel, Jamesby and Petit Tabac sit within a horseshoe-shaped reef.

Sailing to the centre of it I felt a sense of calm as my eyes widened to the Tobago Cays’ seemingly infinite beauty. Perhaps a hundred shades of blue spread out before us as our boat cut through the water. With a rhythmic ripple we edged a path through other sailing ships and catamarans.

As we moored, I found myself temporarily hypnotised – Tobago Cays beauty and stillness encouraging me to relax on the ship – I was liming in the Caribbean after all. But the captain’s announcement broke my contented silence. “Oh yes, there were turtles here and we could swim with them,” I reminded myself. I grabbed my snorkel and jumped into the iridescent blue.

It took a while to find them – the sea was perhaps just 10 feet deep here, but the turtles were fast on their fins. Off in the distance I saw a sphere – the underside of a turtle as it swept towards the surface, before racing off.

Luckily Captain Yannis’ crew were used to turtle spotting and one of them jumped in to acquaint us with them. Minutes later below me, in front and to my left and right, green turtles swooped through the water.

Turtle photos: Matt Preston, Travel With A Mate

I tried in earnest to follow about three at once as they headed in different directions, racing across the sea in a way I only wish I could myself. But even Michael Phelps would have struggled to keep up with these animals here. They were in their natural habitat, coasting gracefully from warm to cooler waters.

Then I seemed to strike up a friendship – a turtle which had been liming on the seabed swam slowly in front of me. Turtles aren’t said to be the most graceful in the sea, but as my new friend twisted and turned, rippling his fins with each gentle wave, I considered it an underwater ballet.

But perhaps the most wonderful part of all was when he ventured from the deep to my world for a quick intake of the air I was breathing. Raising his head above the waves I found myself rising to the surface too, delighting in this creature’s every move.

I watched him intensely, studying the contours of his body. And my new friend didn’t seem to mind at all.

There’s an immense privilege that comes from watching animals up close in the wild and in the Tobago Cays, that day I discovered a new respect for these oddly balletic beasts.

Take in Travel With A Mate’s video for the full Tobago Cays experience

Want to swim with turtles in Tobago Cays? Enter this competition for your chance to win a seven night holiday to St Vincent and The Grenadines.

Find out more about luxury liming (relaxing in style) in the islands.

Three of South Africa’s leading luxury travel brands have combined to offer visitors a unique experience. Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, the Blue Train and the Steenberg Hotel are set to showcase some of South Africa’s spectacular highlights in a new three-centre package.

Take a big five safari, add one of the world’s best train journeys, drink in some of South Africa’s finest wines, and you have all the ingredients for an exclusive holiday.

Embracing many of South Africa’s iconic offerings, the trip allows you to safari at Sabi Sabi luxury lodges in Kruger National Park before travelling to Cape Town aboard the world renowned Blue Train and on to the Cape winelands.

A luxurious trio in South Africa

The four day safari experience at the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve’s romantic Selati Camp sees guests staying in one of eight opulent thatched suites with four poster beds.

From there guests can take morning and evening safaris to see elephants, lions, leopard, rhinos,  buffalos, as well as a host of other wild life.

Next luxuriate on an overnight stay aboard the magnificent Blue Train as it meanders through the wilds of South Africa en route to Cape Town. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most spectacular journeys, the Blue Train has a timeless grace and elegance. Along the route it offers panoramic views of South Africa’s beguiling landscapes.

Arriving into Cape Town the package allows a chance to spend three days at the chic Steenberg Hotel, located on the city’s oldest wine farm. Dating from 1682 the building has been declared a National Monument and enjoys captivating views across False Bay.

Rail Select (www.railselect.com, 01904 521 921) has  a 10 night holiday including return flights from London to South Africa with British Airways, from £4,650 per person May-July 2013, and £4,800 per person at all other times of the year. This price includes one night’s free stay, available all year round.

We have travelled to the north of Africa, south of Africa, but now for the first time, we head towards the middle of the continent, as we journey to Gambia.

Africa. The very name conjures up the rawest of emotions, the wildest of possibilities and most exhilarating experiences. And as we arrived into Gambia’s Banjul International Airport, the air was alive with potential.

The Gambia experience

Gambia is Africa’s smallest nation, with only 1.7 million people. But it is large on warm welcomes, and it is not for nothing that it’s known as the smiling coast of Africa.

In fact, though this phrase sounds like one of those tourist brochure cliches, we’ve already found it to be true. Gambians are exceptionally smiley people.

We never let a luxury stay get in the way of us discovering the real culture and people in our destination

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We’re thrilled to be here familiarising ourselves with a part of Africa that is still relatively new to the tourist scene. While here we will be road-testing some of Gambia’s luxury travel experiences – from the best boutique hotels, to spa treatments, sampling local cuisine and a beach or two.

So as our luggage gets loaded atop a bus to take us to the five-star Coco Ocean Resort and Spa, we’re busy planning how to spend our time in this tiny but fascinating country.

But as we never let a luxury stay get in the way of us discovering the real culture and people in our destination we’ll also be getting out and learning more about Gambia and the way of life for local people as well as discovering some of the country’s wildlife. We’d love any suggestions you have.

Also do join us as we explore Gambia, you’ll find updates from us in all the usual places – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in particular on the hashtag #BlogGambia.

We have travelled to Gambia as guests of The Gambia Experience, but as ever, all views are our own.

You know you’re off to a great start at a hotel when you’re greeted with cocktails. Stepping off the boat at Young Island Resort, Ivan, one of the hotel’s most popular members of staff (think I now know why) handed us each a rum punch.

We’d just taken the five minute ferry ride across from the Caribbean’s St Vincent to Young Island. The island has 29 cottages and villas, each with an impressive view and plenty of room for couples through to whole families.

Young Island Resort is also renowned for its former celebrity guests – Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom stayed at the resort while in the islands to film Pirates of the Caribbean.

Read on to win a trip to Young Island Resort

I was told Depp had cottage number six so I was a little dismayed when my friend Graham was given that one. That said, when our group had had time to inspect all the cottages we decided mine, number 10, was the best.

Young Island Resort is a boutique style hotel offering a sort of back to basics barefoot luxury

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My cottage had a double bed, living area with plenty of seating and not one, but a few ‘piece de resistances’ in its garden. Firstly there was the view – an exquisite 180-degree view of the sea and St Vincent’s shores across the bay.

But what good is a spectacular view if you haven’t a location from which to take it in? Here Young Island Resort came up trumps. I had a hammock, two sun loungers, a gazebo with two chairs and a plunge pool. Ok, so I had to jump up in the air from my plunge pool to see over the wall – but it wasn’t exactly a great hardship.

Young Island Resort is a boutique style hotel offering a sort of back to basics barefoot luxury. Don’t get the wrong idea – the accommodation is anything but basic. Rather it is a laid back Caribbean style. You won’t find designer furnishings, flat screen TVs or remote-controlled blinds. In fact one or two things might not chime with luxury for some. There’s no air conditioning in the rooms, just ceiling fans and a cooling system that allows sea breezes through slatted windows left open on every side of the cottage, with fine netting at every one to prevent mosquitos and other uninvited guests from entering.

One thing that didn’t chime luxury for me was the outdoor shower. Now I know I could be in the minority here, but I don’t get how/why people see bathing outside as a luxury experience. Give me a bathroom, sans the odd creepy crawly (though in truth the only thing that did invade my shower time was a tiny tree frog after it had rained heavily one day) and I’m very happy. And as hidden by vegetation as it was, I could see my neighbouring cottage from my shower and felt sure if I did have a particularly prying neighbour they could have seen me in there too.

Still bashfulness to one side and emerging clean from my shower, I headed out to tasty dinners at the resort’s restaurant. Here lobster tails and the freshly baked breads are particularly stand out. In fact I even had Young Island’s special flambeed Creole toast for breakfast one morning – homemade coconut bread soaked in feisty St Vincent Sunset Rum, a whopping 85% proof! Topped with coconut shavings it was then flambeed, and unsurprisingly kept burning for a good while. The coconut well toasted, the rum offering an interesting kick start to your day – it comes highly recommended.

All in all I would recommend Young Island Resort as a perfect little retreat and a great base for exploring neighbouring St Vincent.

Young Island Resort is an island paradise where you can unwind in any number of settings – on the beach, in a hammock, resort poolside, private poolside or even with a cocktail at the resort’s floating bar. Just tell Ivan I sent you.

Want to visit Young Island Resort? Why wouldn’t you!? Well if this review hasn’t quite convinced you – have a read of why you will want to win this Caribbean holiday. Then cross your fingers for luck because Discover St Vincent and The Grenadines is offering you the chance to win a seven night holiday to Young Island Resort.

Find out more about luxury liming (relaxing in style) in the islands.

I was a guest of St Vincent and The Grenadines Tourism but, as ever, all views here are my own.

I’ve just returned to London from my liming trip to St Vincent and The Grenadines. London wasn’t its usual mix of grey, depressing weather. In fact it was positively bright and breezy, wisps of cloud floating through bright blue skies. So I really can’t complain – the city has greeted me with its spring-like best. But I still want to enter this competition to win a Caribbean holiday – a whole week on a private island resort in St Vincent & The Grenadines.

You see I spent three nights at the resort in question – Young Island and it was by no means enough. I could’ve stayed forever.

Like others in SVG, as this collection of 32 islands is called, Young Island is undeniably beautiful, laid back and a great place to chill out.

Here’s all the reasons I’d enter the competition to go there again:

• Young Island is secluded. If you want to get away from it all you’ll have found the perfect place. There are just 29 cottages on the island, making up the resort.
• It’s accessible. After a 30 minute flight from Barbados to St Vincent you’ll have a ten minute transfer to the private jetty for a ferry to the island – a genteel five minute trip across the water.

• You can use it as a base for exploring – St Vincent is about 200 metres away across the sea and there you can hike La Soufriere volcano, visit Dark View Falls, see the capital Kingstown – known as the city of arches for its architecture, hang out with locals in Heritage Square on a Friday night or at any number of bars.
• Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom stayed here while filming Pirates of the Caribbean. If it’s good enough for them…
• It has lovely staff, like Lennox, one of the boat drivers, who greets you with a beaming smile and a “Yes ma’am, thank you very much”, always, whatever the occasion.

• You’re greeted on arrival to the resort with rum punch.
• The island has beautiful stretches of beach and a quiet pool area.
• The sea here is calm, shallow and crystal clear.

• It has a swim up bar just off the beach.
• Mealtimes are a treat with locally caught lobster on the menu, Caribbean dishes and international choices. Plus the resort makes its own breads fresh each day – mouthwatering choices include cinnamon, coconut, banana and wholewheat. I loved the flambéed Creole toast doused in strong rum at breakfast time.

• The accommodation is classic Caribbean with airy cottages right on the beach or up on the hillside with views of neighbouring islands.
• Cottages have plunge pools, hammocks and gazebos in their garden areas.

• It’s a great place to go liming in the sunshine.

Given that I’ve just returned from a luxury liming trip to SVG, including Young Island, and that I couldn’t enter the competition anyway, I won’t be back on Young Island any time soon. But I hope you enter to win a Caribbean holiday, so I can relive my time there, vicariously through you.