New York – what can we say about the Big Apple? We’ve all watched movies set in this city and arriving here for the first time, seeing the yellow taxis and the skyscrapers looming overhead made us feel like we were on our very own film set. There are iconic sights everywhere you look, from the Statue of Liberty that welcomed so many emigrants to America to the stone and steel structure of Brooklyn Bridge and from the bright lights of Times Square to the breath-taking views of the city’s skyline from the Staten Island Ferry.
South Africa – We don’t know if we’ve ever visited anywhere as diverse. This is a country where you can venture deep into the wilderness and encounter some of the world’s most ferocious animals. Think lions in the Kalahari or rhinos in Kruger Park. It’s home to Cape Town, one of the world’s most beautiful cities, which sits in the shadow of Table Mountain and is surrounded by golden beaches. It’s got a fascinating history and Robben Island would top my list of must-sees. Nelson Mandela was incarcerated in this former prison which is now a museum to the apartheid era. Then there are the Winelands, which host some of the oldest, largest and most beautiful wine estates in the world. Make sure you bring a designated driver!
Japan – So many images come to mind when we think of Japan. The sheer tranquillity of Kyoto with its traditional wooden houses, otherworldly bamboo park and shrines and temples to Buddha. The mayhem of Tokyo with its neon-lit skyscrapers and endless streams of people. And the food – the sushi, the slurpy bowls of ramen, the tender steak – We can almost taste it now!
Saint Lucia – this island in the Eastern Caribbean is renowned for its small, luxurious resorts yet it has a down-to-earth feel that charms everyone that visits. Our most vivid memories are of the old colonial plantations in the south, snorkelling in the fish-filled waters of Anse Chastanet and trying to keep up with our local guide as he led us through the jungle on our trek up the 2617-foot-high Gros Piton Mountain.
Barbados – one word: beaches. Barbados is where you go if you’re looking for beaches of powdery sand and turquoise blue waters. Rockley Beach is one of the best but Payne’s Bay is where you go if you’re into snorkelling. When you drag yourselves away from the beaches, you can enjoy venturing inland to the original Barbados tropical rainforest where you should see lots of exotic birds and even some Barbadian green monkeys.
Rome – a visit to the eternal city has so many highlights. This is a city built of history, with ancient ruins such as the Colosseum, the Forum and the Pantheon telling of its Roman past while the Vatican with its basilica to St Peter testifies to its status as a place of pilgrimage for Catholics. The art here is awe-inspiring, with sculptures by Michelangelo, paintings by Caravaggio and fountains by Bernini to be seen right in the centre of town. After a day of visiting world-class historical and cultural sites, Rome has a further trick up its sleeve and that’s its food. Pizza, pasta, wine, gelato and excellent coffee – now that’s what makes a holiday!