Barbados
Barbados is where many British holidaymakers get their first taste of the Caribbean. Warm, safe and easy, it’s a small, beautiful tropical island where everyone seems to have a good time – jetsetting celebs, golf and cricket fans, lovers of nature and history, families taking a break by the beach. Some visitors go to lie in the sun, others get out and explore.
Shaped like a pork chop, Barbados is only 21 miles by 14 with most of the holiday action concentrated along its western and southern coasts. Contrary to expectations, the beaches here are not as wide and empty as you might hope, and some suffer from heavy use. The sheltered west side of the island, its so-called ‘Platinum Coast’, is where you’ll find the five-star hotels, smart restaurants, polo fields and villas fit for famous footballers – even Prime Ministers.
The east coast of Barbados is much wilder and less developed, buffeted by the deep blue waves of the Atlantic. In between lie undulating green hills where sugar cane fields and ruined windmills are reminders of the days of slaves and plantations. Barbados has a unique connection with Britain that dates back to 1627, and its maps are full of engagingly familiar place-names like Folkestone, Scarborough and Scotland. Historic houses such as Francia Plantation and St Nicholas Abbey bring this past to life, while the capital, Bridgetown, with its fast food outlets and shops catering to visiting cruise ships, reflects the growing influence of the US on Bajan culture.
To get the best of Barbados, you’ll need to hire a car for a few days or join some organised excursions. Though best known for beach holidays, this is a lovely island that offers much more, with good walking and riding inland, and cultural attractions that include bountiful gardens, heritage sites, vibrant festivals plus the ever-popular rum distillery tours. Barbados is also sunny, friendly and still touchingly English - and that’s why everyone keeps going back.
Once you’ve got a taste for the Caribbean scene, you’ll want to see more islands. Like Barbados, Jamaica has strong links with the UK, but the island is much larger with spectacular mountains and a lively culture based on the three Rs – rum, reggae and Rastafarianism. Sometimes described as the Ireland of the Caribbean, Jamaica is bursting with music, partying and warm-hearted people with a wonderful style.
St Lucia is not much bigger than Barbados and manages to pack in a rainforest, a drive-in volcanic crater, gorgeous sandy white beaches and its famous twin peaks, the Pitons. There’s nothing unsophisticated about its main hotels but the island is a long way from being over-developed. It has a charming, warm culture that’s a mix of English and French Creole.
South Australia has a real Mediterranean twist, enjoying beautiful long summers and mild winters. The country’s seafood and wine capital, you can sample the café culture in the 700 or so restaurants in the state capital Adelaide, and head out on wine tasting tours into the Barossa and Clare Valley vineyards. Lose yourself in Adelaide’s sprawling green parklands and visit the picturesque German village of Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills.
Dubbed Australia’s Real Outback, the Northern Territory is a visit to the Australia of your daydreams think red deserts, outback farms and flying doctors. Take a hot air balloon ride over Alice Springs, see the sunrise over Uluru or tackle the rim walk around Kings Canyon for stunning desert and mountain views. There’s much more to the Northern Territory than desert though. Its gateway city is tropical Darwin where you can enjoy a harbour cruise, shop for Asian street food in the exotic Mindil Beach market or relax at the deckchair cinema.
If you’re dreaming of Australian surf culture, you’ll find it here in New South Wales. From Bondi Beach to Byron Bay, there’s almost too many landmark Australian beaches here to choose from. Home to 30 national parks, there’s plenty to do in the hinterland too. Hunter Valley is a must for wine enthusiasts, and the Blue Mountains, a World Heritage area, boasts a wealth of endemic flora and fauna. There’s hustle and bustle too, of course in Sydney arguably one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.
Nothing can beat sipping a café au lait at one of the many atmospheric street-side cafes and watching stylish Parisians go about their business, or admiring street performers in the Latin Quarter and bartering with hawkers trying to sell their wares. For first-time visitors, legendary landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame and The Louvre will always top the must-see list, but there’s much more to Paris than these icons.
At night, Paris entertains the masses whether it’s the famous can-can shows at the Moulin Rouge or the world-renowned Bluebell Girls who put on a cabaret claimed to be the biggest spectacle this side of Las Vegas. Party animals looking for racier evenings can choose from countless smoky bars, stylish jazz cafes and hip dance clubs. Avoid the obvious touristy spots in the Champs-Elysees and Trocadero unless you want to pay through the nose. Instead, head for Bastille, Marais and the up-and-coming area of Menilmontant.
It may be Italy’s second-largest city, but – like Paris – it is the economic and fashion capital of the country. Like its French cousin, Milan is a vibrant and modern metropolis but with some of the world’s greatest art treasures. It is famous for the magnificent Duomo, a gothic masterpiece and one of the world’s largest cathedrals.
Check out the other side of the city, and you discover that gravity is a convenient force that keeps your feet on the ground - and helps you discover a fascinating area. Once you get off the freeway and into the heart of Orlando, you discover that it is a place that manages to be both thriving and relaxed.
Water is key to the Orlando that most visitors miss. The region's very first tourist attraction was a simple boat trip - which survives to this day. At the eastern end of Morse Boulevard in the beautiful suburb of Winter Park, you'll find the jetty for a fascinating trip of Orlando's lake district. You can spend an intriguing hour cruising along creeks and across lakes, seeing some beautiful (and expensive) homes. If these clapperboard mansions look strangely familiar, and remind you of communities much further north, that's because many New Englanders settled here towards the end of the 19th century, drawn in by cheap land and the expanding railroad. Winter Park still has its own station, with daily trains to and from New York.
Head to Deira City shopping mall for fashion, cameras and other electronic bargains. Karama market in Bur Dubai is best for ‘quality’ fake watches and bags. The gold souk is another must. Anything you want to buy will be weighed and a mark-up added for workmanship.
On the Spanish side, the Basques have their own version of tapas, known as ‘pinchos’ and how you order and eat them sums up the relaxed way of life. Locals help themselves from the cold selection on the bar or order from a menu of hot pinchos. Pinchos cost from 1.15 euros, while a portion -una racion is enough for two or three people to nibble and costs from 3 euros. 
The Brittany region of France has fantastic beaches and is easy to get to by plane or ferry. Instead of tapas, try savoury crepes such as ham, egg and cheese and a bowl of cider or freshly caught shellfish.
Bali has had its troubles in the last few years but the Indonesian island shouldn't be forgotten. It's a potent and memorable mixture of culture and natural beauty with rainforest, emerald rice fields, sandy beaches and the hypnotic gongs of the Gamelan orchestras.
Japan is often thought of as expensive, and certainly it's possible to pay a lot to eat and stay there. But like its old adversary China, it has a food culture and etiquette that is fascinating - if sometimes baffling - and the hot springs at Hakone, near Tokyo, are worth a few days of anyone's time.
Add all of those arrangements to travelling abroad and getting married in a foreign destination, where language and culture can prove to be formidable barriers, and you have the recipe for a big-day big headache. 
Imagine crisp white linen, sparkling crystal wine glasses, and gleaming cutlery at your wedding breakfast, with the sea in the background and the sound of lapping waves accompanying the laughter and joy of your day. Candlelight takes you into the evening, with entertainment to suit you and your wedding guests. On the beach, plump cushions and lanterns wait for those seeking a moment to truly chill out as your wedding day draws to a close.Embark on your journey towards marital bliss and contact your Travel Counsellor today.
If you are still deciding where to go on your honeymoon, let us take the pressure off by offering advice on the most luxurious and relaxing honeymoon destinations in the world. Playground of the rich and famous, Mauritius has long been a top class destination, for honeymooners in particular. Stunning beaches, luxury resorts, deep blue lagoons…the list is endless. A tropical paradise sitting afloat in the sea, this island will delight newlyweds the world over.
With decadent top class resorts offering sumptuous honeymoon suites, you can rest assured you will be in the lap of luxury in the Seychelles. Catering toward the romance of the newly married, the privacy and seclusion of the islands’ many hotels ensures total rest and relaxation, as well as the endless possibilities of dining on the beach or indulging in a spot of pampering at the spa.