Helens Wedding & Honeymoon In Cuba

I decided to get married abroad due to a few reasons – 1) the cost of weddings in the UK 2) I wanted some actual sunshine if possible and knew that there was no way it was guaranteed in Manchester! I looked at a few options and then decided Cuba met the bill in more ways than one. We travelled with 20 of our family and closest friends. We chose to stay at the Melia Cayo Guillermo located on the island of Cayo Guillermo – the Cayo’s are small islands just off the north coast of Cuba, connected to the mainland via a 70km causeway. We flew into the airport of Cayo Coco and transferred to the island, this took approx. 45 mins but we managed to spot some flamingos on the way!

The hotel was amazing, we had stayed at the Sol Cayo Guillermo 2 years prior and knew that the Melia would be something special, and it didn’t fail to please. We had been allocated a Junior Suite in the hotel which consisted of a living area, 2 bathrooms and a king bedroom. We had 2 balcony’s where we could enjoy stunning sea views every evening while enjoying a glass (or 2) of champagne – included in the all-inclusive package of course!


The beach at the hotel has to be the best beach I have ever seen in my life, I felt as if I was in a Bounty advert! Powder white sand, clear blue sea and hammocks in the water! I spent my days sipping cocktails and reading books – not the stressful lead up to a wedding I had seen my friends go through back in the UK!

On our wedding day, we chose to have the ceremony in a private pavilion in the hotel gardens – we chose to get married at 4pm as we thought it may be cooler and more comfortable for everyone, especially the men who were wearing shirts, waistcoats and cravats! The ceremony was beautiful and even I shed a tear!

On our wedding night we had arranged private use of the beach bar and held a BBQ where we had a private chef and staff for the entire evening! We hired a Cuban band and we handed cigars out so that everybody could really savour the atmosphere! The night was over too quickly and I retired to my room now a married lady!!

For the rest of the holiday we mainly spent the days by the beach and our evenings having dinner in one of the 3 restaurant options available to us – Italian, International or the buffet restaurant. Even Lobster was available! We also enjoyed a catamaran cruise and snorkelling excursion which took us out into the ocean and we were dropped at an area where we could go into the water and snorkel away – I didn’t know that fish that colourful existed!! We also enjoyed lunch and drinks before heading back to shore.

The end of the holiday came too quickly – we had made friends with all the staff and said our goodbyes before heading back to the UK as husband and wife. We will return for a holiday in Cuba one day and hopefully the Melia Cayo Guillermo. Our wedding was definitely the best day of our life and I would recommend a wedding overseas to anybody!!

Damyon Travels to Thailand

My fiancé & I went on our Thailand Multi Centre Holidays in May of last year. It was the latest in many visits to the Country we both adore. First was the capital, Bangkok followed by the tropical island of Koh Samui.

BANGKOK - An ideal city to spend two or three nights in. A nice way to acclimatise yourself to a different world, which is the Far East. There is a great choice of excellent hotels available to suit all budgets.  Bangkok is a truly Asian City and retains its strong Buddhist heritage. Although there are many high rise hotels and office blocks, you will never feel that you could be in London or any other European City. The people are helpful, though often shy and always polite.

Popular attractions include The Royal Palace – a complex of gold topped buildings of amazing style which has to be seen to be appreciated. The Klongs or Canals can be visited by longtail boats. A trip away from the City itself will take you to the Damnern Saduak Floating Markets which is still charming despite its “touristy” overtones. This can also be combined with a visit to the Bridge on the river Kwai. There are a variety of other trips to be enjoyed including a “City & Temple” tour where you can visit stunning Temples & behold the Emerald Buddha and the breathtaking reclining Buddha at Wat Pho. You can even visit a snake farm! So you will always find something new and amazing to visit.

If shopping is your thing, you will find day markets, night markets, the largest Sunday market in the World, department stores, Malls and many quality jewellery and tailoring outlets - all at incredible value for money.

The eateries available are as varied as everything else in Bangkok. From small, family run often quirky properties to 5* dining in the top Hotels. If you like something different, seek out one of the high rise rooftop Bar/Restaurants…..The Banyan Tree’s “Vertigo” and Moon Bar boasts stunning views of Bangkok’s skyline. But, for sure, it lives up to its name and is certainly not for the faint hearted!

Krungthep is the (shortened) Thai name for the city. They call it the “City of Angels” – for us, it is vibrant, spectacular, fascinating and so welcoming ………in short, a truly must see of the East.

KOH SAMUI - This is the “Island of Palms” and can be reached easily by a short flight from Bangkok. It is also possible to do the journey by road and ferry if you have the time to spare.

The main tourist area centres around the beach of Chaweng on the Eastern side of the Island. It is a delightful Bay with calm seas and tropical sand backed by palm trees. Like us, some visitors may prefer to stay in a Hotel a little outside the centre while still being close enough to enjoy the lively night time atmosphere and restaurants – of which there are many.

You will find a wide choice of restaurants serving both Thai and International foods. Those in search of fine dining would do well to try the Page restaurant at the chic, modern Library Hotel. On the road leading North from Chaweng itself, you will also find other smart restaurants such as Rock Pool which is set on a wonderful decked area right at the sea’s edge and boasts some divine seafood tapas.

If you are looking to stay outside of the Chaweng beach area as we suggest, then you may like to consider quality 4* stars such as Bhundhari  (where we in fact stayed)  or the Peace Resort and Bandara Spa Resort on Bo Phut beach on the North Coast. Slightly more remote are the Luxury options up in the North East tip are the World Class Six Senses & Tongsai Bay.

Round Island transport could not be easier. Songthaew are small passenger open top “trucks” and are intensely regular and VERY cheap. You simply flag one down, tell them where you want to go & jump on. Taxis are available but more expensive and undoubtedly less fun!

As mentioned, at the North of the Island, is Bo Phut (Fisherman’s Village) where you will find Big Buddha Beach - a very pleasant area with a good selection of shops, hotels and restaurants (Zazen being our personal favourite) on a much smaller scale to Chaweng. It is an ideal spot for another reason…..the Island’s two ferry terminals operate from here where you can enjoy Snorkelling, Fishing and Kayaking trips. A great day out is a visit to the Anthong National Marine Park…….a protected area of 42 Islands covered in limestone mountains. It boasts a kaleidoscope of rainbow- coloured corals and tropical fish. Another full day visit that will not disappoint is over to Samui’s smaller sister Island Koh Phangan. This Island is most famous for its Full Moon & Half Moon parties, but it is an excellent excursion destination (indeed, we have been over to it twice in our last two visits to Samui for some elephant trekking!)

For us, Koh Samui has it all. A tropical climate which can be enjoyed most of the year. Superb beaches, great places to visit, a wide variety of activities to suit most tastes. It is a dinners paradise and you can lay your head at the most basic of abodes through to some of the best beach Hotels in the World - what more can you ask?

James Visits Mauritius

When I thought of Mauritius, I always had a vision of pure white soft sands and dazzlingly clear aquamarine waters. I envisaged relaxing on the beach in the glorious sunshine until watching the mesmerising sunset in the early evening and being fixated on the ever-changing skies; from turquoise to pink to red to purple, with millions of stars eventually emerging from nowhere. And to be fair I wasn’t far wrong. As Mark Twain said “Heaven was copied after Mauritius”, so whether you’re looking for the picture-perfect honeymoon destination, an island luxury spa retreat or just a well-deserved break in paradise, you will not be disappointed with Mauritius.

As you travel around the island you’ll notice the roads are lined with fields of sugar cane and in the distance the extraordinary peaking Moka Mountain range in the centre of the island. Stay in Trou Aux Biches on the North-west coast for a stunning beach to relax on and to see the best sun-sets. It’s a pretty resort lined with Casuarina trees that is close enough to visit some of the islands must-see places as well as being far enough away to feel like you’re on a remote island. Take a boat trip out and swim with the tropical fish in the coral reef, scuba dive or even do an under-water walk. There’s everything from five-star luxury resorts and boutique hotels, (such as Trou Aux Biches Resort & Spa and Le Cardinal Resort & Spa), to all-inclusive hotels, self-catering bungalows and villas to choose from.

Experience the Mauritian night life in Grand Baie and order one of the many exciting cocktails on offer at Banana Beach Club whilst listening to a live band playing a mix of up-lifting holiday vibes, new & old. The hundreds of restaurants along the main road from Mont Choisy to Grand Baie offer many different cuisines. The islands population consists of many different ethnic groups, including French-Mauritians (originally from France), Indo-Mauritians (from India), Creoles (from Africa), and Sino-Mauritians (Chinese), giving the island a diverse mix of wares to sample. Dining out can be a fairly expensive experience, so it’s always worth asking hotel staff and of course your fellow holiday-makers for recommendations to suit your taste and pocket. Try Le Capitaine with its romantic setting and sea views for some excellent sea-food at a reasonable price.

Take a day trip to Port Louis, the islands capital. Experience Mauritian life and mix with the friendly locals by taking one of the in-expensive, yet frequent local buses. In the city you’ll be reminded of the islands colonial past with the central post-office and its museum, the traffic lights & signs, policemen’s uniforms and there’s even a marble statue of Queen Victoria. The natural history museum houses a Dodo bird exhibit which was native to the island until it became extinct in the 15th Century. Visit the St.Louis Cathedral which is one of the island’s oldest buildings or the Port Louis Theatre which is the oldest theatre in the Indian Ocean.

The Cauden Waterfront is the place to be seen and to mix with the trendy and wealthy locals in Port Louis. With its luxury hotel & marina, shops, restaurants, casino and museums there’s plenty to see and do amidst the hustle and bustle. If you’re in Mauritius during the pleasant winter months, (between May and October), enjoy a Saturday afternoon spectating and people spotting at the Champs De Mars, (Ladies can enter the enclosure for free, gents a small charge). Sip a glass of champagne or have a glass of Phoenix, the local beer, or even try your luck and have a flutter on the horse races; a favourite Mauritian past time.

The main languages spoken in Mauritius are either French or English. As far as religion goes Hinduism is the predominant religion at around 50%, followed by a good mixture of Christians, Muslims, and Catholics. Visit the colourfully decorated Maheswarnath Temple in Triolet, the islands largest Hindu temple and take a guided tour with the High Priest who is never too busy to show you around.

Mauritius has a subtropical climate all year round, averaging 30 degrees during the summer & touristic high season, (November through to April), but also an impressive 25 degree average during the quieter winter months. So along with the faultless weather, the freshest seafood you will ever taste and the unspoiled beaches of powder soft sands, you’ll wonder why you haven’t booked your Mauritius holidays sooner! Mauritius really has something for everyone.