World Picks

Egypt: Sharm El Sheikh

Now all the civil unrest is slowing down, Egypt has suddenly become trendy again. Either a cultural mini break to Cairo, a beach holiday to Sharm El Sheikh or don your scuba diving gear in the Red Sea – Africa’s most popular holiday destination just got cool again. For a full list of dive operators click here

If you want a cultural trip, then Cairo and Luxor are the places for you. But if you want the full VIP experience, then we suggest you get yourself to Sharm El Sheikh and Na’Ama Bay, which is where the party’s at. Although these resorts are more catered toward package deals rather than well-seasoned travellers, there is a sense of luxury surrounding this part of Egypt.

Sharm El Sheikh is built around two bays, which is famous for both snorkeling and diving. The bay has fabulous 5* hotels, bars, restaurants and shopping malls – it’s a place which caters for everybody.

Frequented by many a celeb, from Jordan to the Obama’s, Egypt’s glam spot has more activities to do than you might think, and the scenery really is spectacular. Quad biking in the desert and snorkeling in the Red Sea are a MUST, and taking a day tour around the pyramids should not be sniffed at either.

The best place to stay in Sharm El Sheikh is The Ritz-Carlton. The super luxurious hotel is situated near the coast, which means it has a little more privacy and less noise than the hustle and bustle of the city centre. We recommend you stay in the Sea View Deluxe room (pictured below), which will set you back around $194 per night – which is not as expensive as you would think for a luxury hotel, but will still pull at the purse strings. The hotel comes with a spa, award winning restaurants, limousine service (posh or what?!), and babysitting services for all you mummy and daddy’s out there.

Essential Info

Nearest Airport: Sharm El Sheikh International Airport

Currency: Egyptian Pound

Guestlist Tips: Find out about all the nightlife and goings on by visiting UncoverEgypt

EasyJet fly from Gatwick to Sharm El Sheik with flights starting from £123.99. Book in advance for a bargain.

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Ireland: Dublin

Now that St Patrick’s Day is well and truly over, and our liver hasn’t dropped out, Ireland is looking good as our next mini-break destination.

We love the countryside of Cork and Derry, but if you want a fun weekend of sightseeing, drinking and live folk bands, Dublin is the place for you. As well as retaining its historical and cultural charms, Dublin offers trendy bars, elegant restaurants and stylish, cosmopolitan shops and hotels.

Frequented by many a celeb, the nations capital is steeped in history, (Kilmainham Jail for example), and heritage. The Guinness factory is always fun to tour, with a complimentary pint of the black stuff at the top of the tower. Bliss!

With its bustling city centre, Dublin provides the ideal setting for shopping, offering the shopaholics a wonderful array of products ranging from the traditional to the contemporary. Quick, get the credit card!!

Dublin has one of Europe’s most vibrant and exciting nightlife cultures. So whether it’s the traditional pubs with Irish music, or the hip and trendy bar and club scene that you’re after, you’ll find it all here! We love Temple bar, which is just as famous as St Patrick himself! As one of the oldest pus in Ireland, you will find great drinks and authentic entertainment. Get your Riverdance on!

The best place to stay in the city is by far The Merrion hotel. The luxury hotel is situated in on the coast of Dublin, so it’s far away enough to relax, but close enough to visit the city. We recommend you stay in the double deluxe room, which will set you back 630 Euro’s per night – it’s expensive, but worth every penny. The hotel comes complete with bars, restaurants and a spa, (the facials are DIVINE!)

Essential Info

Nearest Airport: Dublin Airport (just under an hour from the UK).

Currency: Euro

Guestlist Tips: Find out about all nightlife events by visiting DublinUncovered

Ryanair fly from Gatwick to Dublin with flights starting from as little at £15. Book in advance for a good deal.

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Croatia: Pag Island

 

What do Armin Van Van Buuren, Tiesto, Paul Van Dyk, Swedish House Mafia, The Chemical Brothers, Sven Vath, Ferry Corsten and Calvin Harris have in common (apart from being superstar DJs)? The answer is they all played Club Papaya in Summer 2010.

Club Papaya is located in Pag – a secret island stop-off for celebrities on summer yacht trips around the Med. Famous faces that have visited recently include Eva Longoria and Tony Parker (the week before me), Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin (in 2009) and Beyonce and Jay-Z (also in 2009). But it’s easily accessible for the rest of us as it’s a 90 minute transfer from Zadar airport, which is served by budget airlines like Ryanair.

Pag is famous for lace, cheese and beaches and it’s the third of those that is the most memorable about the island. There are private beaches everywhere, each one more stunning and more remote and romantic than the last. But if you need to meet someone to take on that intimate coastal picnic then you can find all the beautiful people on the party beach, Zrce.

Club Papaya is the biggest and best club on Zrce and it’s a 20 hour a day non-stop party as I witnessed first-hand (that’s me in the photo above). The day’s entertainment begins with a beach party from 12noon- 4pm, then an after-beach party until 8pm! These are slightly like the world famous Nikki Beach chain but more fun. Papaya beach is not about posing ‚Äì although there is plenty of that ‚Äì it’s about claiming somewhere you can dance, whether that be a space in the pool or a VIP sofa and shaking your booty.

Drinks are great value with 1 litre of yummy cocktail for 100 KN ( £12). That’s what you’d pay for a single drink on Nikki Beach and you get about five servings from one jug. Alternatively pay 600kn ( £85) for the VIP area and you get to look down over the whole club and have half a bottle of spirits and a selection of mixers to start the party in style.

After a break for a power nap and shower, the night-time starts again at midight and does not stop until 6am.

ESSENTIAL INFO

Nearest Airport: Zadar (2.5 hours from London Stansted)

Currency: Kuna. £1 = 8.6 KN

Time Difference: +1 Hour

Guestlist Tips: Check out the Papaya website and Papaya Facebook to see this season’s party dates and buy tickets. The season starts in June.

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Ibiza: Bambuddha Grove

Bambuddha Grove in Ibiza is designed to pleasure all the senses from the moment you walk past the bamboos to your table. Whether you sit in a private hut lounging on cushions as we did (see above) or have a table in the main room surrounded by buddha statues, sensual lighting and tables of people soaking up the decadent atmosphere, you can’t fail to feel comfortable and at ease.

The ease quickly turns to full on enjoyment when you see the menu. Influenced by the teachings of the kama sutra, the menu is cheeky and reinforces the fact that you are in the restaurant to have fun. And like any form of pleasure, it’s up to you to control the pace.

If you’re feeling adventurous and experimental then do as we did and pick sea bass sashimi with foie gras ice cream and seaweed or scallops with strawberry air and yuzu ice cream. Or stick to something tried and tested like spring rolls or duck pancakes – cooked to perfection.

For main courses, ostrich with pumpkin and ginger was sublime – like moist beef. The highlight, however, was sizzling tiger prawns in a Thai vegetable sauce that was literally steaming.

Leave room for the Decadent Chocolate Magma Cake – words cannot describe how moist, more-ish, and absolutely orgasmic this tasted.

No wonder you eat off beds in this place favoured by footballers, DJs, celebrities and international VIPs. We wish we could sleep here and be pleasured every night.

Visit the Bambuddha Grove website for map and booking information. Be quick as this place gets booked up fast – everyone wants to visit!

ESSENTIAL INFO

Nearest Airport: Ibiza (2 hours from London Stansted)

Currency: Euro. £1 = 1 EURO (approx)

Time Difference: +1 Hour

Guestlist Tips:

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Spain: Nikki Beach, Marbella

 

There aren’t many places where you can purchase a 15 litre bottle of Champagne, but with a price tag of 2,956 EUROS not many people could afford one either.

Yet, nestled in the south of Spain lies a world where champagne is sprayed like tap water, where magnums and jeroboams are ordered instead of singles or doubles and where one Arab Sheik ordered a bottle of champagne for every guest to the tune of 800,000 EUROS. Then he probably sprayed it over everyone..drinking it doesn’t create as much attention.

Welcome to the world of Nikki Beach Marbella – one of the most exclusive venues on the Costa Del Sol. Every week, you will see at least one premiership football star and several faces you’ll recognise from Hollyoaks / Eastenders / Coronation Street. Every so often a true A’lister like Cheryl Cole or Kate Moss will pop by and join the party.

If you’re deemed beautiful /rich enough to gain entry then you are automatically part of that party. We couldn’t help but feel special lounging on the luxurious and rather comfy huge beds being pampered by the attentive and attractive staff. After enjoying a cocktail or two by the beach, we sampled the sushi, with a wide and delicious food menu. On Sundays and Thursdays the venue hosts a beach party as the sun sets with a seafood BBQ and jaw dropping entertainment. (Think gorgeous girls in skimpy clothing, eight foot dancers and some seriously sexy music that makes you want to stay all night)

If it’s an escape from the grime, sludge and stressful attitude of daily life that you’re after, Nikki Beach is the perfect bright, sandy and hedonistic solution.

ESSENTIAL INFO

Nearest Airport: Malaga (2.5 hours from London)

Currency: EUROS. £1 = 1.15 Euros (almost the same!)

Time Difference: +1 hour

Guestlist Tips: Visit the Nikki beach club website for details on their special parties and follow the event’s dress code or go beach chic (this is no place for baggy / saggy cozzies).

Get there early and hire a double sunbed for the day . At 125 EUROS per day, it’s pricey but they’re big enough for three and you never know who’ll be on the bed next to you. Consider it an investment

St Lucia: Gros Islet

How would you fancy fresh mango delivered to you on the beach as you lie under the warm Caribbean sun catching up on books you never get a chance to read back home? The boat above will do this for you and the fruit costs just 1 ECD (about 25p). In St Lucia, you can enjoy all the wealth of nature and it doesn’t have to break the bank.

We stayed in the North of the island at the Bay Guesthouse in a cool, clean, modern double room with en suite that cost just $ 40 USD a night (dollars are also acceptable currency on St Lucia). You can upgrade to a beachfront studio with a kitchenette for $50 a night. And no matter where you stay you have access to the communal patio where there are two hammocks and lots of books and games. People from all three of the guesthouse rooms tend to meet on the patio in the evening and have a drink as the sun goes down.

If you like scuba diving or snorkelling then we can guarantee you will be spoiled for choice with the variety of sites to explore. For something really special, consider booking a dive tour. Scuba Steve’s Dive Centre is a 5-star PADI resort (so it’s really safe) and they take you out on comfy boats like the one below.

It’s a great way of getting out of Gros Islet as it’s a 50 minute boat ride to Soufriere, a national marine park, where you can see turtles close-up.Our dive instructor Al took this photo on the dive, showing  how close they come to you. They’re magnificent! Prices start at $50 USD for snorkelling and an excellent value $75 for a two-tank dive.

The islanders are super friendly everyhwere you go. From the owners of the guesthouse to the dive instructors (who tend to be quite good looking), there is no shortage of people offering to show you around. Make sure you visit the volcano and sulphur springs, the yacht harbour and beaches of Marigot bay and the Pigeon Island national park, where you’ll find a stunning bohemian-style restaurant called Jambe de Bois (below). On Sundays, they serve up jazz alongside their traditional island dishes (grilled fish marinated chicken, salads, vegetables and homemade cakes).If you want more of a party there’s the Rodney Bay Marina and the Friday night jump-up in the town of Gros Islet.

St Lucia has something to satisfy all tastes – sun, scuba diving, sensational beaches and places to sip rum (or the local piton beer) and dance until the early hours. We’d happily pay double what we spent and think we’d got value for money. With the money we saved, we’replanning our next trip back…

Essential Info

Nearest Airport: St Lucia Airport (8.5 hours from London Gatwick). British Airways fly daily, Virgin Atlantic fly three times a week.

Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar. £1 = 4 ECD

Guestlist Tips: There are lots of affordable guest houses, which give you more of an experience of island life than staying in a resort. Google ‘Guest House St Lucia’ and book in advance.

Try the local food at the Friday night jump up in Gros Islet town but beware of pickpockets and remember that the rum is strong!

It’s worth paying 13 ECD to enter the beaches on Pigeon Island as they tend to be quieter and there are no beach vendors offering to sell you bracelets / bamboo / handbags

Egypt: Sharm El Sheikh

 

Now all the civil unrest is slowing down, Egypt has suddenly become trendy again. Either a cultural mini break to Cairo, a beach holiday to Sharm El Sheikh or don your scuba diving gear in the Red Sea – Africa’s most popular holiday destination just got cool again.

If you want a cultural trip, then Cairo and Luxor are the places for you. But if you want the full VIP experience, then we suggest you get yourself to Sharm El Sheikh and Na’Ama Bay, which is where the party’s at. Although these resorts are more catered toward package deals rather than well-seasoned travellers, there is a sense of luxury surrounding this part of Egypt.

Sharm El Sheikh is built around two bays, which is famous for both snorkeling and diving. The bay has fabulous 5* hotels, bars, restaurants and shopping malls – it’s a place which caters for everybody.

Frequented by many a celeb, from Jordan to the Obama’s, Egypt’s glam spot has more activities to do than you might think, and the scenery really is spectacular. Quad biking in the desert and snorkeling in the Red Sea are a MUST, and taking a day tour around the pyramids should not be sniffed at either.

The best place to stay in Sharm El Sheikh is The Ritz-Carlton. The super luxurious hotel is situated near the coast, which means it has a little more privacy and less noise than the hustle and bustle of the city centre. We recommend you stay in the Sea View Deluxe room (pictured below), which will set you back around $194 per night – which is not as expensive as you would think for a luxury hotel, but will still pull at the purse strings. The hotel comes with a spa, award winning restaurants, limousine service (posh or what?!), and babysitting services for all you mummy and daddy’s out there.

Essential Info

Nearest Airport: Sharm El Sheikh International Airport

Currency: Egyptian Pound

Guestlist Tips: Find out about all the nightlife and goings on by visiting UncoverEgypt

EasyJet fly from Gatwick to Sharm El Sheik with flights starting from £123.99. Book in advance for a super cheap deal.

 

 

Morocco: Marrakech

Want a destination that combines sun, shopping, superb food and sightseeing? You don’t need to fly far to get all of that as Morocco is less than 4 hours from the UK.

Some tourists chose to stay in the centre within walking distance of the souks, but if you’re looking to wind down at the end of a long day’s bargaining or don’t fancy shopping every single day then it’s advisable to stay slightly out of the centre.

Richard Branson’s Moroccan retreat Kasbah Tamadot (above) has been transformed into a hotel and it’s breathtakingly beautiful. With a sweeping infinity pool, a stable full of horses so you can explore the local area, a celebrated local restaurant serving fresh Morrocan cuisine and bedrooms decorated with fabrics straight from the souks you’ll feel totally relaxed. It’s just a 50km drive from the hotel to central Morocco so you can wake up in peace and quiet and have a hearty breakfast on the terrace before battling with the crowds and experiencing the sensory overload in the centre.

ESSENTIAL INFO

Nearest Airport: Marrakech (3.5 hours from London Gatwick)

Currency:  Moroccan Dirham. £1 = 12 Dirham

Time Difference: GMT

Guestlist Tips: Find out about promotional deals and book online at the Virgin Holidays website.

Easyjet fly from London Gatwick to Marrakech with flights starting from £45 one way. Book in advance for cheaper prices.

UK: A To Z

Buckinghamshire: Stoke Park Resort And Spa

If you want to escape to somewhere that has a reputation for being at the top of their field as well as a destination that has some kind of celebrity connection then check out Stoke Park Club and Resort in Buckinghamshire.

It may be in the UK – just 30 minutes on the train from London – but you’ll leave after a weekend feeling as relaxed as after a two week foreign holiday. There’s no worry about an airline losing your bags or sitting next to a screaming child and absolutely no jet lag.

Both Tatler magazine and The Daily Telegraph newspaper have named Stoke Park as one of Britain’s top ten spas, it’s in Harpers Bazaar’s list of top 100 spas in the World and it has a four bubble award in the prestigious Good Spa Guide. Celebrities love it’s luxury and it’s the hotel where Daniel Craig stayed while he was filming Bond at Pinewood studios. He honed his impressive six-pack in the hotel’s state of the art gym. Day visitors to its spa include supermodels like Kate Moss and Claudia Schiffer, popular TV presenters including Tess Daly and Tamzin Outhwaite and A list pop stars like Madonna. And we all know Madge has high standards…My tip – try the white chocolate body wrap which feels and smells as divine as it sounds.

Whether you are with the man or lady of your dreams or able to spread out like a starfish in bed, you can’t fault Stoke Park’s guestrooms. The standard rooms are half the size of my flat, while you could have fit 10 people in my junior suite – in my bed. If you’re fed up with fighting your other half for the duvet then this is the place to come to patch it all up. You can’t fail to be cheerful with all the luxurious facilities including a 16m pool where you can do some gentle laps while looking out at the hotel’s grounds, state of the art outdoor and indoor tennis courts and a fine dining restaurant that has a menu packed with delicacies from foie gras to scallops to homemade chocolate desserts and petits fours. Stoke Park is a treat for the mind, soul and body (especially the stomach!)

ESSENTIAL INFO

Train Station: Slough

Currency: £1

Time: GMT

Guestlist Tips: Book a room online by visiting the Stoke Park Hotel website. There are several package deals available including special rates for a tour of Windsor Castle and promotions on spa treatments.

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Caithness: Ackergill Tower