Lesley's Travels

When you think of Benidorm, what pictures do you conjure up?  Is it a resort full of stag and hen parties or is it the TV program where Jonny Vegas sits around the pool whilst Madge scoots around on her mobility scooter? Well, to be honest your not wrong on both counts, but there is so much more to this area than the bright lights, bars, skyscrapers and beaches of Benidorm.  When I tell people I'm staying near Benidorm they laugh and say that's a bit of a come-down for you isn't it; but we have a friend who lives on a gated community just above the picturesque village of Polop with views over Calpe, Altea and Benidorm and so rather than just sitting by the pool every day we headed out and about to explore. Head out of Benidorm and you will find some fantastic and stunning places. We drove to El Castell de Guadalest , known usually as Guadalest , which is a small town situated in the mountains about 25km from Benidorm.  It certainly is situated in one of the mos...

Tia Maria & Tim Rose left the cold and wet UK behind in January as they escaped on their Caribbean Honeymoon to the NEW Sandals Resort in Grenada and were happy to tell Travel by Lesley all about it on their return…. Our Honeymoon at Sandals  Grenada Although we married in April 2013, due to work commitments we could not have our honeymoon until January 2014 - its handy when you know someone in travel, so it was with much anticipation, and with lots of help from our wedding gift list organised by Lesley, we left the UK for sunny Grenada, at last!  and we we were quite happy to get away from the continuous rain that had been plaguing  Britain  for weeks!  Our check in at London Gatwick was smooth and efficient and our wait was massaged by the services of the VIP Lounge: a wedding present from Lesley and a lovely relaxed way to start our journey Our Virgin Atlantic flight to Grenada seemed to take no time at all – partly due, I think, t...

As I board the BA flight to Nassau, Bahamas , I am shown to my seat 1A, handed a glass of champagne and asked if I would like a newspaper; upgrading to Club Class is the ultimate luxury in travel!  Menu cards are handed out after take off and I am asked how I would like my steak cooked.  One of the perks of Business class is that you eat quite early in to the flight so that you can either catch up on movies or have a sleep, after all you have to make use of the lie flat bed, comfortable pillow and duvet... It doesn't seem long before we are touching down in Nassau. Entering the Passport Hall we are serenaded by a steel band, i'm not sure if this is a daily occurrence but it was certainly a wonderful welcome.  Luggage collected and immigration passed there is a smart Sandals Lounge where they will send you off on your way to in an air-conditioned mini bus to the Sandals Royal Bahamian . Around 10 minutes after leaving the airport we arrived at the...

I have been planning Destination Weddings for the last 10 years including my own, but is it really as easy as it seems?  So here is our  Travel by Lesley simple step-by-step guide to getting through the planning process. So grab a pen and start ticking off your wedding to-do list. As soon as possible Agree on your overall budget, and add a contingency of 10 percent or so for unexpected expenses. Think about where you want to get married and look into all the legalities.  If you plan to invite friends and family, decide what you will pay for and what they will need to pay for, and check who’s likely to come.  When you have a number in mind, choose and book your wedding package. Consider taking out wedding insurance. Check that your passports are up to date. Most countries require you to have at least six months left on your passport especially after Brexit.  Remember to book in the name as per your passport. We will send you a wedding information ...

The Solana Beach is situated on the East Coast of Mauritius close to Belle Mare beach. On arrival at this 4* All Inclusive hotel I felt it had a bit of a Caribbean, with its eye catching patterns in bright trendy colours reminiscent of the 60 & 70’s combined with neutral coloured furniture blending natural beauty and contemporary design. The resort has two restaurants, the main restaurant Cinnamone offers Mauritian and international flavours whilst Pomelo is the a la carte restaurant, there is even an elegant adult-exclusive dining room which is ideal for romantic dining.  Two bars entice you with cocktails, and the table of flavoured rums next to the bars entrance proved this, the main bar is Indigo which overlooks the pool whilst the Coco Bar overlooks the sea. We were lucky enough to try out the Ylang Spa at the resort which offers a choice of treatments and massages in a serene and relaxing atmosphere, you can let yourself be pampered in the hammam or sauna b...