Amanda Holidays

We had always dreamed of visiting Thailand, and Amanda put together the perfect itinerary - four nights in Bangkok at the beautiful Oriental Residence followed by Koh Samui at the charming Rocky's Boutique Resort. Bangkok was extraordinary. Amanda arranged a private full-day sightseeing tour and a trip to the famous floating markets, and our local guide Nina was utterly amazing - she took such brilliant care of us and felt like part of the family. Amanda's organisation of tra

I have been lucky enough to travel to South America twice with Latin Routes - and both trips reminded me why this part of the world gets under your skin in a way few destinations do. My first adventure took me to Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls and Rio de Janeiro; my second to Peru - Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. If Latin America is on your radar, please read on. I hope this post helps inspire you... If you were captivated by BBC's Race Across the World - watching t

Those who know me will know Orlando holds a very special place in my heart. After our last family adventure there a couple of years ago, I said I'd be back again soon - and the pull proved too strong to resist! This time though, we did things a little differently... We landed in Orlando and headed straight for Cocoa Beach - around an hour's drive after picking up our hire car. Staying at Beach Place Guesthouses for three nights - with hammocks, fire pits and beachfront views

Travel around Europe often means capital cities, history and culture. But venture to the northern extremities of this extraordinary continent and a very different world awaits. I joined the Ocean Explorer, operated by Quark Expeditions, for an eight-day expedition cruise around Svalbard - departing and returning to Longyearbyen - with a remarkable route taking in some of the most remote and dramatic landscapes on earth. The ship itself looked nothing like the river cruisers o

With neither of us having previously been to Thailand, we were super excited to ask Amanda to put together a three-centre trip to celebrate both of our 30th birthdays, built around visiting Elephant Hills. Part 1: Khao Lak - Hotel Bangsak Village After a long journey from the UK, we couldn't have asked for a lovelier welcome for our four-night stay - cool flannels, a refreshing local tea and the warmest smiles. The hotel is adult-only, which made it so peaceful and relaxing.

I’ve always loved the idea of cruising: unpack once, see somewhere new every day. But ocean cruises? Big ships, crowds and choppy seas? Maybe not for me. River cruising, though, is a whole different experience. Calm waters, smaller ships, beautiful scenery just beyond your window and a relaxed pace that lets you truly enjoy the journey. I was hooked from day one. From the moment my colleagues and I boarded Riviera Rose, I knew this was something special. Elegant yet welcoming

My recent trip to Abu Dhabi for the Designer Travel conference was the perfect blend of business and pleasure - combining essential...

Maria and Ian’s week in Rome - with some brilliant day trips along the way - was planned around a very special concert, and I’m so happy...

Thank you so much, Amanda, for arranging our incredible trip to the US - San Francisco, Yosemite, Death Valley and Las Vegas. This was...

I’ve always loved being near the water - whether it’s riverside walks or getting out on the water itself – but I’ve never actually been...

Three years ago, we hired a villa in Cyprus for a week to celebrate Ashleigh’s 30th, so it was only right that we did something similar...

As this was my first ever cruise, I wanted to tick something off my bucket list - and the Norwegian fjords delivered. At the time,...

When Elegant Resorts invited me to join a small group of Designer Travel colleagues for a 7-night luxury trip to Bali, I couldn’t have...

At the start of 2024, Japan was high on our list of potential holiday destinations. The more we talked about it, the more excited we got;...

When my husband and his best friend decided to retire at the same time, we knew a 'retirement holiday' was the perfect way to celebrate....

This summer I had the unique opportunity to go travelling with my 11-year-old daughter during the summer holidays. The main challenge was...

Hi Amanda, We are back from Orlando and had such a great time – thank you. It was completely different to any holiday I have ever been on...

Julie is the partner of one of my husband’s oldest friends, and Jess is her wonderful daughter. As fellow Orlando enthusiasts, I’ve had...

Malcolm and I have long dreamed of taking a US road trip in an RV, with Yellowstone topping his list and Yosemite topping mine - just a...

I've always been fascinated by ancient civilizations like the Mayans, Incas and Egyptians. Watching countless documentaries, Machu Picchu...