Before my kids broke up for Easter holidays, the families and pupils of the primary school were treated to a wonderful World Market Day. The school hall looked fantastic as it was decked with bunting, flags and  artefacts from all over the world. The children entertained us too with capoeira, the Haka and Poi dancing. Everyone dressed up in national costumes and made a real effort of bringing the world under one roof.

It was a beautiful show of cultural differences and a celebration of those traditional dances. All this shared with such pride and generosity.

It made me realise exactly why I am in the travel industry. I am hungry to experience different cultures, see new places, meet new people and learn about the different countries and nationalities from around the world. It is not just a desire to go away on a holiday where you get a rest from the norm and the workplace, there is a fundamental difference. I have a passion to travel, so my day job, as an independent travel agent, ticks many boxes when it comes to fulfilling this desire. I may not have been to all countries on the planet, at least not yet, but I have so far travelled around most of Europe, parts of Asia, the US, New Zealand and Australia in various guises. My colleague has been to other destinations, some that I have not and so between us, our travel knowledge covers a wide and varied amount of the globe.  I am confident our enthusiasm and love of travel will be infectious. We want you to understand why travel matters to us and how our travel expertise will benefit you too.

Today is World Water Day. Great if you are someone who doesn’t need a day like today to remind you of how privileged you are if you have water to flush your loo and water to brush your teeth. If, like me, you easily forget how fortunate you are, then surely this day is a good prompt to think of those who live on our planet without such luxuries.

Some of the countries we send clients to are dry and hot, where water is scare due to low rainfall. I feel, as a travel agent,  it is my responsibility to give some useful tips to people who travel and holiday with Travel Matters, on how they can do their bit for helping look after the people and places they visit.

Simple tips and common sense really….

Take a shower instead of a bath. This uses about a third of the amount of water.
Opt in to towel and sheet re-use schemes and report dripping taps.
Turn off the water while lathering the soap, brushing teeth or shaving. A running tap uses 6 litres of water a minute.
Ask your hotel what it’s doing to save water and find out about the water situation in the area where you’re staying.

For more information on water saving tips, visit Tourism Concerns website and read about their WET pledge.

For more information on how you can make your travel matter, check out our our Make Travel Matter campaign.

Increasingly, it is becoming more easy for us all to book our holidays and travel arrangements in the comfort of our armchairs at home. Better still, we can all share the ipad or tablet, children browsing over our shoulders and helping with the booking experience.

So why should I use an independent travel agency?

A work colleague did a very interesting experiment the other day, which will give you one answer to the question above. Click here to watch. It takes a couple of minutes!

Whilst we are not really in the business of selling just flights, it goes to show that we are able to compete with the on line travel companies and above all we are able to offer so much more at no extra cost to you!

Service – We understand you deserve a personalised and attentive service that starts from the beginning of the holiday idea and ends at your chosen destination.

Knowledge – We make suggestions and recommendations based on our own experiences and knowledge. We give impartial, honest advice in planning every type of holiday to suit every need and every budget.

Use our contacts – We go the extra mile to ensure that your needs are catered for; from restaurant bookings to those touches that make a holiday special, such as champagne and flowers for a birthday or anniversary.

Nothingis too big, too small, too complicated or too simple for us to help with!

Whilst we do not offer a 24 hour round the clock service, (we all need a break sometime) we are open Monday to Friday and you can pop by and talk to us, pick up the phone or email. We love using social media too, so there is no excuse to not keep in touch.

Highlighting Responsible Tourism Week

Voluntourism -  Good, Bad or Ugly?

With just 5 days to go until our event we are hosting with fellow responsible tourism friend Thomas Armit of West Africa Discovery, I have been drawing up some questions for our speakers Chris Hill – Hands Up Holidays and Ben Keene of Tribewanted.

In the past there have been some scathing reports and articles about the conduct of certain organisations and practices with unclear management and evaluation. I have several questions I would like to ask.

How do we guarantee that host communities are not exploited? Come to think of it how do we make sure that volunteers are not exploited?

Is there a code of conduct for volunteer organizations?
It is so important that communities and volunteers alike are cared for with the benefits and goals outlined. Organisations need to be transparent, matching skills and matching expectations.

How can short term volunteering deepen a relationship, making connections with a community and then leaving them, be helpful?

What does Bad and Ugly volunteering look like? Racism or classism? Does it create dependency?
I am looking forward to understanding what organisations can do better and what is already being done well.

Please join us for our event to highlight Responsible Tourism Week 2012 on Wednesday 15 February in SW London, UK at 7pm. We will be live streaming, so if you can’t be there in person, join us online.

When I first met Adam Gobat, one of the three brothers whose family built and own the Cap Maison estate on the North West tip of St Lucia, I was interested to hear about his marketing ideas and how he intended to bring more visitors to this beautiful island. With the mention of chocolate and rum, (anyone who I am acquainted with knows I have a penchant for quality chocolate), my attention was very much his.

So one cold January evening, on accepting the invitation to the Rabot Estate in London, I learnt from Adam (who was born and raised) in St Lucia, that this West Indian island is one of the most fertile Caribbean islands where anything will grow. It’s volcanic fertile soil is supreme for sustaining fruit and vegetables and the infamous cocoa bean.

St Lucia's green and fertile land

The cocoa plantations of St Lucia have slowly been taken over by the banana plantations which are sold as a commodity. However, that evening, I was introduced to Angus Thirlwell who is the co –founder and CEO from the Hotel Chocolat at the Rabot Estate in Soufiere, St Lucia. He and his team have worked tirelessly to encourage the cocoa plantation farmers to understand the true value of the cocoa beans.

The beautiful view of the Pietons from Hotel Chocolat

Hotel Chocolat was founded with a mission to make chocolate exciting again. Authenticity, originality and ethics are central to the brand.To their credit, given the disparity between those who enjoy fine chocolate and the subsistence cocoa growers  - who nurture the beans, Hotel Chocolat wanted to do something to make a difference, which led to creating their Engaged Ethics programme in 2002. This programme has gained real momentum and is delivering sustainable benefits to cocoa communities in both Saint Lucia and Ghana.

The cocoa farmers on the plantation

So what has all this got to do with Cap Maison Estate?

Cap Maison, St Lucia

Well, between Cap Maison and the Hotel Chocolat, this holiday with a difference is designed to showcase St Lucia’s rum and cocoa heritage. By joint collaboration, they provide a seven day holiday of pure indulgence. Your experience will be enriched by engaging with the true essence of what St Lucia has to offer. And with Cap Maison currently leading the fine dining scene on the island with its award winning, cliff top restaurant ‘The Cliff at Cap’, this really will be a very special holiday.

Cap Maison

Highlights of this holiday include a rum appreciation evening at Cap Maison and a scenic full day excursion to Hotel Chocolat. This starts with a boat cruise along the west coast of St Lucia, stopping at the picturesque Marigot Bay en route. Guests travel further south, taking in the majestic Pitons to Soufriere where they will discover the Rabot Estate, home to Hotel Chocolat and Saint Lucia’s oldest cocoa plantation. Here you can learn about the chocolate making process, create your own chocolate bars with the guidance of the cocoa farmers. You will also enjoy a cacao cuisine lunch at Hotel Chocolat’s Boucan restaurant and learn how to make ganache for decadent chocolate truffles.

7 nights’ accommodation in a Courtyard Villa Suite (based on two sharing)

A day excursion to Hotel Chocolat and activities at the Rabot Estate Cocoa Plantation in the south of the island

Scenic boat transfer from the north to the south of the island from Cap Maison to Hotel Chocolat

Daily breakfast at the acclaimed ‘Cliff at Cap’ restaurant, under the direction of Executive Chef Craig Jones

1 x two course lunch at Cliff at Cap for two people with a complimentary bottle of wine

1 x special pairing dinner with selected rum and wines served at The Cliff at Cap and in the wine cellar

Rum appreciation evening at Cliff at Cap’s rum bar

Authentic seafood BBQ on the private Smugglers Cove beach

Complimentary bottle of Chairman’s Reserve rum and a selection of St Lucian favourite’s in a mini hamper

Return transfers to and from Hewanorra International Airport

The price for the Rum & Chocolate Holiday Package is £4,400 per person when staying between 3^rd January and 13^th April 2012 or £3,300 during the summer period of 14^th April to 19^th December 2012. This excludes 10% service and 8% government tax.

Back in London, after tasting the Chairman’s Reserve, authentic Caribbean rum and gold medal winner at the International Spirits Challenge in 2011, my imagination has wandered and I am far away on the West Indian shores enjoying the Caribbean climate.

With a flying time of less than 3 hours from London, Iceland is the perfect short break destination for those of you that like something a little unique.

What’s on offer?  Well Iceland has spectacular landscapes, hot springs, geysers, warm volcanic thermal baths and whale watching this is a fantastic destination winter or summer. Parts of Iceland seem unchanged since the Viking settlers arrived here more than 1000 years ago.

The Great Geysir or Stori Geysir

For me, it was going to be a weekend of pure adventure!  On arrival at Reykjavik airport, the temperature was a mild minus 6 degrees (thank God I packed my thermals) a quick dash to our waiting transfer, we were on our way.

After settling into our hotel, the Hilton Reykjavik Nordica, we spent our first afternoon enjoying a cocktail or two. A quick change into our many layers and we were ready for dinner at a local restaurant. Our transfer for tonight and the rest of our stay was provided by Ragnar and his fleet of Super Jeeps http://www.superjeep.is/

Ragnar and his fleet of Superjeeps

The restaurant in question was Laekjarbrekka, which offers traditional Icelandic cuisine, housed in one of the cities oldest buildings, built in 1834 by a rich Danish merchant. Laekjarbrekka offers a unique fine dining experience and could well be the most romantic restaurant in Iceland, with piano music in the background, fresh roses and candles on every table it was perfect.  The food was excellent with lots of traditional dishes on the menu like reindeer, puffin and lamb plus the freshest seafood. http://laekjarbrekka.is/

Just after desert (fantastic timing) out guide Ragnar got a call to say Aurora Borealis was putting on a fine performance, we downed our coffees and quick as we could, we replaced the many layers of thermals that we had been wearing. We headed out of Reykjavik into the wild and freezing countryside in search of them. To see the Northern Lights in one’s lifetime is an unforgettable experience.  They seem to dance across the sky and the search for them is both adventurous and romantic. 

Sadly, by the time we arrived the show was over!  The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are one of the most spectacular shows on earth and normally seen in Iceland from September to April but as we discovered sightings are not always guaranteed.

The Northern Lights

Day 2

After an early breakfast, Ragnar and his team in their Super Jeeps met us at our hotel for our Golden Circle Tour.

Well, what can I say! This is the absolute classic Iceland excursion and is a must for all first time visitors to Iceland. It’s a full day (max 10 hours) you’ll experience some of Iceland’s greatest natural phenomena with one of the friendliest, highly knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides you will ever meet.

We visited geysers, waterfalls, national parks, walked on glaciers, drove through rivers, up and down mountains and experienced the best off roading ever!

All too soon, my Icelandic adventure came to an end and it was time for our final dinner.

Reykjavik, Iceland

No matter the season, there is no place like Iceland!

Catherine’s trip to Jordan back in June will be a good holiday guide to Jordan and the Rose Red City of Petra. Give her a call if you want to discuss your travel plans to Jordan.

Jordan and the Red Rose City of Petra have been on my wish list of places to visit for a long time. Having read so much about this magical and intriguing Kingdom, I was full of excitement at the prospects of visiting the lowest point on earth The Dead Sea, the infamous Rose Red City that is Petra, the jewel in Jordan’s crown and to follow in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia as I cross the desert landscapes of Wadi Rum.

My first stop Jordan’s capital Amman after a four-hour flight delay from London and a slow process through immigration, I finally reached our hotel tired and hungry.  A quick call to room service and a few hours of sleep set us up for what was to become one of the highlights of our trip.

A friendly local face

After an early breakfast we took a taxi to the Roman remains of Jerash, no words could prepare me for my visit to this extraordinary sight- one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world.  Once buried for centuries it is hard to believe that this extensive sight was only excavated in the last 70 years.  You will find arches, churches, spacious squares, colonnaded streets, theatres and hill top temples.

Colonnaded Street Jerash

After leaving Jerash, we headed back to Amman to discover this modern, lively and ancient metropolis and one of the world’s oldest inhabited places.

With its contracting old and new quarters the city has much to offer, the Archaeological Museum houses the Dead Sea scrolls, the impressive Citadel is a highlight as is the 6000 seat Roman theatre which is carved into the hillside and still in use today.

The Citadel Amman

After Amman, we travel south along the Kings Highway, once part of the Silk Road visiting Madaba ‘The city of Mosaics’ believed to have the oldest surviving map of the Holy Land. The Monastery at Mount Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised Land with fantastic views of the Dead Sea the Jordan River, and, on a clear day Bethlehem and Jerusalem. The Baptism Site, where Jesus is believed to have been baptized by John the Baptist, and the Castle of Kerak before arriving in Petra.

Mount Nebo

Petra, at last we arrived at our home for the next three nights, the Movenpick Resort Hotel located right at the entrance to Petra.  We had planned our time in Petra carefully so that we had the opportunity of visiting the Rose Red City both during the day and at night.

Nothing can prepare you for what has to be one of the world’s most famous walks The Siq. The walk is 1km through this narrow gorge with towering pink cliffs on either side.

The Treasury by day

As you start to reach the end of the Siq I found myself filling up with anticipation getting ready to hold my breath and as my the first glimpse of the spectacular Treasury came into sight that’s exactly what I did as one of the greatest wonders on earth unfolded in front of me, truly breathtaking.  I shall always keep with me my first sighting of this amazing sight. The sheer scale of its construction and the many shades of pink were simply awe-inspiring.

The Tombs of Petra

To witness Petra by day truly is spectacular but Petra by night is also a very magical experience, as night falls this desert setting takes on a completely new personality. Approximately 2000 candles will light the way as you walk through the Siq and everyone talks in a hushed voice as they make their way to the Treasury.

Once you reach the Treasury, you are greeted by this amazing scene of low candle light, which light up the entire area whilst people sit sipping tea, listening to a local Bedouin who tells us tales from the past, then suddenly a lone flautist plays a haunting tune. Magical!

The magical Petra at night

A quick visit to Wadi Rum and then on to the Dead Sea where we spend our final three nights just chilling out.

The Mekong Delta features the Mekong River, the twelfth longest river in the world. This beautiful region, with its network of tributaries and canals is a busy thoroughfare of rowing boats and cargo boats, all plying their trade. The Mekong Delta covers a vast area to the south west of Vietnam’s buzzing Saigon.  It can be experienced as a day trip, but it is a long drive each way in a day.

Inspired by Asia have discovered a great way of seeing the Mekong Delta and using the river as a means of getting to Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh and from there to the inspirational setting of Angkor Wat.

In January this year I decided to try out this route for myself.  With the assistance of our local agent in Vietnam; Buffalo Tours I travelled south the Mekong Delta region. First stop was the small town of Cai Be, around a 3 hour drive from Saigon. On arrival at the broad river I boarded a long-tailed boat for a very pleasant cruise to the town and the small canals that lead off from the river. Cai Be features a floating market which gave some great photo opportunities. The town also features a Catholic church, rather surprisingly. It’s steeple standing in stark contrast to the surrounding water-side houses.

Angkor to Saigon

We disembarked the boat at a local village, followed by a short but pleasant walk through the village to a series of workshops that specialise in rice paste making, rice pop corn, coco candles and more. Normally a demonstration like this would have me watching the time until we can move on but I did find the process fascinating and the chance to taste the end product was worth it too!

Lunch was taken at a beautiful French colonial style restaurant. You take a path overgrown with tropical plants, through a large wrought-iron gate and into the gardens of a stunning property, complete with open balconies and colourful shutters. Friendly, immaculately turned out restaurant staff are there to greet you and see you to your table.

Afterwards there was a further 2 hour drive to the city of Can Tho. This is one of the largest towns in the Mekong. This is where all of the population descend with the goods to be sold or bought.

Situated on a bend in the river, just a 10 minute boat ride from the centre of Can Tho is the Victoria Can Tho Resort. This was my accommodation for the first night. Set in lush tropical gardens, this is a quiet retreat offering a large outdoor pool, a spa, restaurant and bar.

Victoria Can Tho

Rose early the next morning to see the sunrise and embark on a boat ride to the Cai Ring floating market. This is the largest floating market in the area and very impressive. The wide river was packed bow to stern with vessels of all shapes and sizes, selling and buying all manner of goods. A very colourful sight. There was also a chance to leave the boat for a stroll through a riverside market.

We drove on to the town of Chau Doc. Located on the border between Vietnam and Cambodia it has long had strategic importance as a trading post. I stayed the night at the Victoria Chau Doc Resort. This property is within easy walking distance of the town centre, so it was easy to go for an evening stroll to end the day.  Pool and restaurant, both overlooking the river with great views.

On the 3^rd day I boarded the speedboat for the four hour journey to Phnom Penh. The speedboat carried around 20 passengers and offered both covered and uncovered seating. The boat was pretty quick as it skimmed the wide river.  En route we stopped for around an hour at the official border point for the visas and passports to be stamped and verified.

Arriving in Phnom Penh was memorable as the built up waterfront comes in to view.We disembarked and I had a very short transfer to the waterfront-located Amanjaya Hotel. This property offered fantastic views of the city and river from its rooftop bar.

From Phnom Penh it was just a short one hour flight to the northern city of Siem Reap and gateway to the world-heritage listed Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat, constructed over a period of 30 years, is world famous for its beauty and splendour.

Included was two nights at the Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa and a full days guided tour of this world-famous site.

Tour details

This 7 day private tour is available from just £799 per person, based on twin-share including an English speaking guide, breakfast daily and accommodation as described.

My next stop on this US tour is Rhode Island, the smallest of the U.S states and at its heart the city of Providence, my home for the next few nights.

I fell in love with Providence the moment I stepped off the Northeast Regional Amtrak train, which connects Washington via New York to Boston. Providence has much to offer the first time visitor, steeped in history it was one of the first cities established in the United States.

Start with a stroll down Benefit Street with it mile of history.  Also on offer are rich cultural attractions, colonial houses, churches, and not forgetting the very opulent mansions of Newport.

Providence is also famed for its food, and if like me a coffee fan you’ll be right at home – it has the most coffee shops per capita compared to any other city in the US. The same goes for restaurants, Federal Hill, the areas very own Little Italy will give you plenty of pleasure as you stroll along deciding on where to eat (call me for suggestions).  A must for breakfast is a visit to Eddies and Son Diner this is real 50’s Americano Nostalgia at it best!  You’ll also find several Central American and Asian restaurants, vegetarians, and vegans are also well catered for in this city and along with a thriving arts culture the city truly deserves a visit.

Apart from the coffee and the food the other thing I love about Providence is the friendliness of the residence – it is amazing but true that when crossing the streets drivers on both sides of the road stopped their cars to let us cross imagine that!

Next, stop on this US tour – Newport, RI. Where money talks and a maritime legacy began. Newport offers a one of a kind authentic New England feel, this is where you will find the Summer Cottages of America’s Gilded Age dotted along Bellevue Avenue.  Newport also contains the highest number of surviving colonial building of any US city, its home to America’s Cup and known as the Sailing Capital of the World, its also home to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Some of the nation’s wealthiest families spent their summers in Newport, including the Vanderbilt’s, the Astros, and the Wideners. They built the largest houses which they called “cottages”, like The Marble House, Rosecliff where The Great Gatsby and High Society were filmed, Miramar, Rough Point where the owner kept camels in the grounds and the grandest of them all The Breakers – these mansions are a must for any visitor. You might be surprised to know that many of these houses are still privately owned today!

The oldest Catholic Church in Rhode Island, St Mary’s is also located in Newport and witnessed the marriage of John F Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier on September 12, 1953.

The ferry crossing from Bequia to St Vincent is one hour. The crossing I took was quite choppy as the sea was rough that day. Read on for more Caribbean island hopping adventures with Karen from Travel Matters…

Leaving the shores of Bequia for St Vincent

I learnt from a very informative gentleman about the new international airport being built,  which is due to open in 2013. The existing airport will close and accommodate a new hospital. Over 120 families have been displaced, one mountain has been excavated, three valleys and a river have had to be re directed to house the 9000 foot runway. It will indeed boost the economy’s tourism and accessibility to neighbouring islands will benefit also.

Next stop – Young Island, St Vincent

On arrival at Kingstown, we took a short taxi drive to the quayside opposite Young Island. A call to the Young Island ferry transfer and we were on the island 5 minutes later.

Calling the ferryman at Young Island

The lovely Biana Porter is the general manager of this Robinson Crusoe Hideaway. The accommodation is rustic, set on a beach and has rooms which are elevated around the island with spectacular views.  It is perfect for couples looking to get away from it all. The food here is very good.

St Vincent to Grenada – more Caribbean island hopping

Caribbean island hopping is very easy and straight forward. The next island hop is to Grenada. My first impressions of Grenada were a very warm and friendly bunch of people. The airport is very clean, air conditioned and very well laid out. It seemed that customs and immigration staff were very keen to identify us visitors but on no occasion did they make one feel like a criminal (unlike the jobs worth on Bequia at the arrivals gate!)

It is a 10 minute taxi transfer from the airport to the hotel Calabash & Villas. This property is understated elegance. On arrival you walk through the reception area to the restaurant and gardens. It is horseshoe shaped, lawned and flat with palm trees, manicured paths and shrubs. Each of the thirty rooms are named after flowers “Angels Trumpet, Cup of Gold, Ixora, Turks Cap to name a few.

The beautiful manicured grounds of the Calabash hotel & villas, Grenada

The rooms have a generous sized terrace or outside space, where you are served breakfast each morning. You can complete a breakfast menu requesting your desired breakfast and at which time you wish to be served it. There is a small kitchen area used by the house maids to prepare the breakfast for you. As well as complimentary afternoon tea each day, served in the bar area, at 6pm a knock at your door and you will be delivered some canapés to keep you going before dinner. Nice touch!

Breakfast on your own terrace at the Calabash hotel & villas

Lunches are served down at the beach bar, which overlooks a very calm, sandy beach with its own jetty. It was fun to listen to the sounds of a group of young boys chattering and laughing as they did somersaults and threw themselves off the jetty. It was highly entertaining to watch too.

The Rhodes Restaurant has an a la carte menu designed by  Gary Rhodes using locally available and seasonal produce and our chefs Dexter and Dandy (Rhodes trained) did not disappoint. My calalou and shrimp tart as a starter followed by the Dorado fish with christophene and broccoli was absolutely delicious.

I was interested to see that the Calabash has an environmental policy and is a member of CAST – the Caribbean Action for Sustainable Tourism, which is dedicated to protect and preserve the beautiful environment of the Caribbean.

And on to Barbados

The Caribbean island hopping adventure reached its last island.  Our LIAT – leave in anytime flight to Barbados left earlier than scheduled, so we arrived on Barbados earlier than planned. A 45 minute transfer North on the West coast, Cobblers Cove driveway, which was quite tucked away, was suddenly upon us.

This gorgeous small Relais Chateaux property boasts just 40 rooms. It has a real colonial style reminiscent of by gone elegance. Some suites can overlook the stunning gardens. It is such a delight to watch a humming bird come for nectar from the comfort of your balcony.

Cobblers Cove, Barbados

The beaches on the coast of Barbados can change with the seasons, so currently the beach is quite narrow, but despite its size Cobblers Cove beach is beautifully clear and perfect for swimming.

The Terrace restaurant is the place to dine in. The current chef, Bryan Porteus has created an outstanding menu and his dishes are so delicious – your taste buds will be blown away in this gourmets paradise!

Rooms are very spacious with an adjoining living area, separate bathroom and kitchenette area to make hot and cold drinks. The hotel is within close proximity to Speightstown, a small town community with old port, a few shops and restaurants.

Our purpose of this time in Barbados was to visit Andrew Warden’s properties and a 15 minute drive took us to the Little Good Harbour.

This is a perfect retreat for those independent minded travellers to Barbados, keen to have their own self catering facilities yet in the grounds of beautiful gardens, two pools and a spa. The vineyard villas are super for larger groups or families travelling together.

The very charming Graham Dear hosted an exquisite lunch at the infamous Fish Pot restaurant. It is a popular choice on the island. Booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

The Fish Pot restaurant, Barbados

After lunch we headed to the East coast, over the Northern interior part of the island. The coast line resembled wild Scottish countryside (believe it or not).

Our final hotel night was spent in Atlantis hotel. The building was built formerly along the railway track and had a restaurant there. Patrica and Andew Warden have laboured to create a dynamic characterful 8 bedroom hotel with a large restaurant also.

The view from Atlantis hotel - East coast Barbados

A few nights on the East coast of Barbados is a must. The raw and rugged coastline is such a contrast to the polished West coast. The waves crashing against the shore, wind in your hair, it is a great base to place yourself for discovery the real Barbados. There are some stunning coastal walks and world class surfing at the Soup Bowl beach. The rooms are very characterful, spacious and each has been named after an area of the island. Cattlewash and Soup Bowl are a couple I can remember. The lovely Diane, front of house, will look after all you well.

So end of trip. What have I learnt about Caribbean island hopping?

Well I can sincerely say, hand on heart, I feel I know the Caribbean much more extensively. I have learnt the people are extremely friendly. They are proud to be members of the West Indies. They are blessed to live in a beautiful part of the world they have. The islands are rich in diversity and are beautiful in so many aspects. The Caribbean offers so much more than just a beach holiday, the islands interiors are diverse and rich in flora and fauna with ample birdlife. The restaurants I visited during this trip were of a very high standard and offered some of the best fine dining I have ever experienced.

Would I go back?

Yes – absolutely. I would probably island hop and stay on two or three islands over the entire visit.  Island hopping in the Caribbean is very straight forward and not a drag at all. I think that is what surprised me the most – the ease of travelling from one island to the other.