Casa Bonita Tropical Lodge is a boutique resort tucked in the heart of the rainforest. Formerly a private home the pretty 18 room hideaway has a canopy tour of the jungle and rooms have views of the Caribbean Sea or the Sierra Barahuco mountains. Barahona is the only place in the world where they mine larimar, a semi-precious stone the colour of the ocean. Locals say larimar can heal a broken heart. You can visit the mine and at Casa Bonita’s Tamana spa masseuse Miranda use

Denbies Wine Estate is a delightful 265 acre vineyard in an area of Outstanding Beauty which has been producing wines since 1986 and as English wines finally receive the recognition they deserve, the family owners have this year opened England’s first vineyard hotel. Overlooking the vineyard the 17 room Denbies Vineyard hotel has a charm that is both English country house and contemporary in style. There is a lovely conservatory restaurant and two pretty cabanas in the g

In Montenegro, I fell in love the delightful man-made island of Our Lady of the Rock with its charming history. It was built by seamen in 1452 to house an icon of The Madonna and Child which they found washed up on the rock. To this day on July 22nd locals throw rocks into the sea to widen the surface of the island whose pretty blue-domed chapel has several striking paintings and tapestries, including one embroidered over 25 years by a lady from nearby Perast while she wait

There is an exciting new food scene emerging on the little island of Ibiza with a wave of new restaurants and dining experiences. This month sees Ibiza set to host The Amorevore Food & Arts Festival (26-28 October) with stands of street food, wild food walks, long table banquets,pop up dining, cookery demonstrations and photography exhibitions.The festival highlights Ibiza’s growing status as an artisanal food destination and offers insights into global food issues. ‘Amore

Friday night is usually Fish Fry night in The Islands Of The Bahamas when parties take off, tasty fish and chicken is deep fried over a smoky camp fire, music starts, rum punch is poured and the local Kalik beers are cracked open. Young and old, locals and tourists all join in at locations such as pretty Governor’s Harbour on tiny Eleuthera when this otherwise sleepy spot jumps into life. Wednesday nights alright for frying on Grand Bahama But in Grand Bahama Island Wednesday

Lumiere lights up Hackney 'Chatsworth Road is raw and diverse. I love it around here', declares Lumiere, owner of the local juice bar which shares his name. 'It’s a real community, which is something quite special in London, but it’s not too in your face: it’s just right.' Lumiere is a big fan of villa holidays but Chatsworth Road is his favourite place in the world. All of the juices on offer are named after local streets. Berry Blurton is made up of strawberry, peach, papay

The Hotel con Corazon sits on an unpretentious corner of the historic city of Granada, Nicaragua. This charming boutique hotel has 15 rooms, a swimming pool, tiny bar and restaurant and a lush courtyard. But the Hotel con Corazon is more than just a pretty face. The boutique property helps young Nicaraguans build a better future, as 100% of hotel profits are invested in educational projects as well as creating jobs and supporting local businesses. Inside the hotel, evidence

Fond memories of a visit last month to the The Stud at Kladruby nad Labem , one of the oldest studs in the world and home to the oldest original Czech horse breed: the Old Kladruber horse. The Old Kladruber horses are still the pivot of the life in the stud. Historically, the grey horses were used for ceremonial service at the royal and imperial court. In fact, they are probably the only horse breed in the world which was bred specifically to pull coaches of the sovereigns.

My toddler and me travelled by train to St Austell and did the whole trip without a car, with both the beach and the Eden Project easily accessible by taxi (only a tenner each way). I had been just about to apply for a credit card, but instead decided on a UK holiday that wouldn’t break the bank. There was a heat wave in London, but the temperature in this part of Cornwall was 18 degrees. We warmed ourselves in the Mediterranean climate inside the biome of the Eden Project, c

I recently headed north of Luxembourg City to the enchanting Ardennes district - a region rich in nature, fairy-tale castles and villages crammed with character and charm. A good starting point is pretty Esch sur Sure, home to the country’s oldest castle (927) and gateway to the Upper Sure Nature Park with trails, walks and even a solar powered boat for a guided tour of the reservoir. I stopped off at the slightly eccentric but enchanting Hotel de la Sure which has a large te