There are many people who return year after year to Barbados, they love the climate, the beaches, the international cuisine and restaurants and there is a real familiarity about the place. I’ve spoken to people who can remember being able to walk or horse ride the whole west coast by beach, from north to south. Nowadays that is no longer possible but you can enjoy the beautiful coves and white sand beaches scattered up the west coast. The East coast is rockier and the waves coming in from the Atlantic are more treacherous therefore there are fewer tourists and the spectacular cliff top walks aren’t so busy.

Over the years Barbados became a real hub for the British holiday-maker and the locals reacted with friendliness and entrepreneurship, which means that there are so many amazing things to do and well established international events taking place throughout the year.

Barbados has something for all levels of golfer, from the inexperienced or recreational to the more serious and professional players. In the past, Barbados has hosted world tournaments at the Sandy Lane Golf course (also the location for Tiger Woods’ wedding). The Royal Westmoreland Course regularly hosts the PGA European Seniors Tour. Barbados and Rockley Golf Clubs offer a challenge, testing all abilities of golfers. Apes Hill Golf Club in the north central part of Barbados offers an alternative environment to the coastal greens. For simply introducing the family to your game try the nine hole at Almond beach Village.

In most resorts and indeed on all the larger beaches, there is the opportunity to join in with water sports, both wind and motor powered! Try seeing the coastline from the air as you get attached to a kite at the back of a boat and take to the skies. (Let me know what it feels like, I was far too much of a chicken to participate myself!) There are opportunities to take boat trips out to visit the resident turtle population which hangs out just off the coast from Holetown. Top tip – take one of those long foam tubes with you so you can hang in the water for longer watching the turtles. If the idea of bunching up on a boat all morning doesn’t appeal, it is possible to swim off the beach which runs adjacent to Treasure Beach and reach the turtles. I’ve done it both ways and enjoyed the experience. Take out a little Opi and learn to sail; there is often tuition available or it comes included with an All Inclusive deal. At least when you capsize it’s in warm water. There are glass-bottomed boat tours to check out the variety of marine life, or take your diving certification and see for yourself. There are some good dive sites and it is also a great island to qualify as a diver because there are no extremities.

If all that action sounds a bit busy, just lay still in the shade on the beach and take the occasional temperature-restoring plunge into aqua seas. There is usually a swim platform to float out to and it is often sandy rather than weedy underneath you therefore nippy/stingy marine life can’t hide. I think it’s one of my favourite seas to swim in for exactly this reason; it offers very calm and clean water.

So away from the coastline what is there to do? Getting around is probably most accurately done by car, the roads are well-made and the directions are good. If you just want to amble around, try local busses. The defining history of Barbados, after it emerged from the industries of tobacco and cotton, was sugar cane. By growing vast amounts of the stuff and milling it, Barbados was able to export sugar. Go and visit one of only two restored and intact sugar mills in the Caribbean, Morgan Lewis, open from December to April when the Barbados National Trust demonstrates grinding of sugar canes. For nature lovers try Welchman Hall Gully Flower Forest, way up in the green interior of the island, packed with tropical flowers and winding footpaths. One of the things I love to do is just to wander, and Barbados is a great place to do just that, I’ve never felt particularly threatened or intimidated. For shopping try strolling around Bridgetown, you can get duty free goods, but as a keen shopper I don’t go to Barbados to shop.

Whilst wandering around Bridgetown, you may head to Kensington Oval, the home of West Indies cricket. Home to many cricketing legends, the atmosphere on a match day is electric – it is its’ own mini carnival, complete with calypso bands and colourful flamboyant characters. It is located on the outskirts of Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados and you will find plenty of historical points of interest and accompanying tours in that area, so you could easily make a day of it, before chasing back for an early evening swim. Enjoy!

Has January been all that it promised to be in terms of health and well-being? Did you opt for healthy foods and drinks and exercise daily? Probably like most of us, some of your grand plans worked and some didn’t and hey-ho there’s always next year! Or maybe it worked fantastically well and you are one of the lucky ones who have experienced the natural high which comes from exercise and healthy living. Either way, you may be looking for help to stick with your new regime or perhaps to give you a second chance at this year’s resolution.

This is where a Tropical Sky Wellness Holiday could answer your requirements. There are a number of different approaches to such an undertaking, but essentially you should be clear with yourself, if you are opting for the more focussed style of wellness holiday, you are looking to create change which will last or to help you further along with the changes you have already made to your life. The equally relaxing but less forceful health and well being holidays will simply leave you feeling refreshed and ready to go. In all respects, the Wellness and Spa holidays available through Tropical Sky aim to point you in the right direction with the highest standards of instruction, coaching and facilities.

LaSource, Grenada

At LaSource in Grenada, located on the beautiful Pink Gin beach, a holistic approach which refocuses the mind but provides a functional approach to fitness is the wellbeing route taken. In this five star, luxurious resort, Yoga, Tai Chi and Meditation help restore the monkeys of the mind bringing an inner peace and calm, which with the practise learnt at LaSource Grenada, will become part of your daily routine. Your complimentary daily spa treatment and a wide variety of health-aware food choices make this an ideal destination for de-stressing. It really isn’t hard core though – it is simply very relaxing, therapeutic and calming.

Indeed, during June 2012, the UK specialist Dr Guy Meadows will be running the Caribbean’s first sleep seminars. This seven day workshop aims to demonstrate with good practise how to “do sleep”. For all insomniacs, this is surely your klaxon call. The highly regarded Alison Kynaston Jones will be running one of LaSource Grenada’s master classes entitled “Holistic Life Coaching, Meditation and Psychic Awareness”.

The BodyHoliday, St Lucia

A popular resort with both Conde Nast and Tropical Sky holidaymakers, The BodyHoliday St Lucia is an adult’s only wellness centre, focussing on relaxation, restorative beauty, exercise and the underlying principles of a good diet. The idea is that by helping you to establish positive routines and food habits you will take these new guidelines home with you and back into your busy life. There certainly is a kind of freedom in being looked after and cared for in this way, all you have to do is turn up and commit. The restaurants here are good and the food delicious; it is so easy to eat well when it is cooked with such attention to detail and thought for who is eating it.

The range of activities at The BodyHoliday St Lucia mean that you can combine the many highlights of this fantastically green isle with as much instruction and motivating classes as you choose. A really useful feature of the programme is that you can plan a schedule online before you arrive and then simply go and discuss it with the team on arrival to ensure you are making the most of your time and energies. From group exercise to personal training with every stage in between, you are guided and supported in your goals and a real dynamic builds between you and your coach. A number of clients have raved about this resort and repeatedly visit for rest and relaxation.

Buccament Bay Resort, St Vincent & The Grenadines

For a whole family, rejuvenation can come in all shapes and forms and a resort we are  fond of at Tropical Sky, because it never fails to live up to expectation, is Buccament Bay in St Vincent. This is a place where everyone can relax as there truly is something for everyone; Soccer School coached by Liverpool FC luminaries run on all major UK holidays, or try the Pat Cash Tennis Clinic running 2-11 April 2012. For budding performers and simply those interested in theatre why not take instruction from big name London stage actors.

If you’d rather chill out around the resort and make the most of the many group or individual activities going on that’s fine too! With high international standards around this luxury resort, all served up with a genuine Caribbean smile, it is a difficult combination to replicate; maybe it is just the St Vincent way! From 21st May 2012, Buccament Bay Resort will be hosting a number of Fitness Boot Camps which promise to be a magic key to fitness.

Shandrani Resort & Spa, Mauritius

In Mauritius, look no further than the Shandrani Resort & Spa for the kind of holiday which leaves you calmed, focussed and ready to get back on with your real life! A range of land and water sports are on offer and as a five star all-inclusive resort the overall feel is that of care-free, time-off indulgence for the whole family. The Serenity Plus offering at the Shandrani ties in with the ethos of the resort; there is no signing for bills, or need to tip throughout your day, everything is designed around your needs and what you would prefer to do on holiday. To help you make the most of your holiday time, there are two Clarins spas, both with multiple treatment rooms and a wonderful array of traditional and newer procedures are available. With a mini-club for the 3-12 year olds and a babysitting service available this resort will suit young families who enjoy the very best.

Bali is an enchanting country with stunning natural landscape, beautiful beaches and a fascinating culture. What better country could you choose to get married in? The locals are particularly friendly and with even the smallest of details they aim to please. Bali also has the reputation of being a romantic idyll and it certainly lives up to that with swaying palm trees and gently rolling waves. Enjoy your wedding breakfast on the beach in the gentle breeze of the early evening and watch the sun go down over a glass of champagne, toasting your future life together.

Renewing your vows in such a dreamscape is the perfect way to re-establish your intentions. There are such fabulous hotels at good rates in Bali and you are sure to find something which suits your tastes and budget. You can be certain that whichever package you choose, when you have left for Bali and arrived in your resort, you will be in safe hands which genuinely want you to have a wonderful, memorable wedding or renewal of your vows.

I’m Donna and I run the marketing department here at Tropical Sky. I’ve worked here since 2007 and I also worked for Tropical places back in the day. It’s my job to make sure you hear about us and the fantastic products and great holiday offers we have.

Outside of work I’m kept busy with two young children (4 year old twins – hence why I come to work for some peace and quiet!). Between running around after them and looking after my fantastic marketing team, I don’t have much time or energy for much else, but when I can find a spare hour I like to hit the gym or pool for a workout.

1. What “essential” travel item can’t you leave home without?
A toothbrush, toothpaste and a good book.

2. What home comforts do you miss most while away?
My own bed  and a decent cup of tea.

3. What do you look for in the perfect holiday?
Sun, sea and cold white wine on tap.

4. Any tips for travelling with the family?
Pack lots of snacks for the journey and games to keep the kids entertained.

5. What did you get up to on your last holiday abroad?
I went up the Empire State Building, saw Alan Rickman in a show on Broadway and had the best steak dinner ever.

6. If you were shipwrecked on a desert island, what items would you hope to have in your possession?
A nail file, a phone (with reception!) and chocolate.

7. …and who would be your Man Friday?
Will Smith.

8. What’s top of your travel bucket list?
The Canadian Rockies.

9. If there were a scrap between a lion, rhino, great white shark, hippo or polar bear, which would your money be on?
Great white shark.

10. If you could have any superhero power, what would it be, why?
With a click of my fingers, I’d like to be able to help mums around the world magic away all their kids toys so they are all put away tidy – and all the housework done in an instant.

First and foremost there are very few people who don’t travel on a budget – be it £1000, £10,000 or £100,000, we all have an idea in our heads as to how much we will spend on our holidays. I do find myself discussing with clients how much they want to spend in total because this can vastly change the destination and the type of holiday we would recommend. For example, if my partner and I have £4,000 to spend in total for one week, then I need to look at either a holiday which costs less than that and allow for spending money or simply look at an All Inclusive holiday option. There are a number of ways to keep your holiday on track in terms of budget but it really helps in the first instance if you do your sums and work out what that is actually going to be and then we can work it back from there.

I’m a great fan of All Inclusive, especially as we travel with teenage children who have big appetites and want to be a bit independent in the resort. I don’t have to guess what my total spend will be – I’m not surprised by a big bar bill at the end of my holiday and I don’t have to keep finding good restaurants that fit into my budget. The All Inclusive option gives me the luxury of expectation and affordability because I’ve already calculated food and drinks into the holiday budget beforehand.

The 3* All Inclusive option is usually pretty basic but does the job; generally buffets with a local food option, chicken/pork, rice, veg, salad, chips etc. The drinks are unbranded but if you’re not choosy you can’t tell anyway! Caribbean rum all tastes pretty similar once it has a “coke” with it. In terms of savings this is a good choice if the destination is where you’ve always dreamed of, but the flight and hotel prices can be scary and prohibitive. Try the Dominican Republic  for some current great buys.

The Dominican Republic has plenty to offer the holiday maker with its’ lush mountain forests and white sandy beaches. The native population are famously friendly, so days out exploring will always be fun. The beauty of this type of holiday being that the only kind of extra money you would need to bring would be for day trips – and never underestimate the local bus service. Some of my greatest adventures have begun by taking the local bus. Ask your hotel with help planning your route, where to get on and off etc and you’ll find locals really happy to help once you have begun your day trip. There is a great deal of culture and sight-seeing to be done just walking around the local towns, absorbing local life and visiting local veg and fruit markets, and that costs nothing. Do remember to check with your hotel for any possible no-go areas and take the name of your hotel and its’ phone number out with you. Safe than sorry kind of tips rather than hysterical ones hopefully!

Whilst the flights and a hotel in Thailand can seem to dig quite a way into your holiday budget, do bear in mind that you can eat like a King for next to no money whilst there. Noodles, Satay, fried rice, banana pancakes, local fish cooked on the griddle…Whet your appetite? All of that, with a Singha beer for probably not much more than £5! Don’t be squeamish about eating in busy roadside restaurants or areas with no tourists in, the faster the turnover of food, the more the locals eat there, the better it is. I can’t think of a single time I’ve ever been ill (from food) in Thailand after visiting continually for 25 years and eating everything I can see, plus I encourage my children to do the same. There is nothing more gut-wrenching for me than sitting in a smart restaurant in Thailand eating dollied up street food for £100 (I speak from experience – the beautiful Chedi in Chaing Mai serves good food at a high price when the local market opposite has one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to for a fraction of the price). It is all about keeping your eyes open and trying local things rather than imported foods which come at a premium. The same goes for massage, body polish etc, the hotel puts a premium on it but you can certainly get the same for less just down the road of any hotel. Just to reassure you, it’s not a seedy thing to do and those types of smut holidaymakers still prefer doors; the establishments I like are generally shack-like with super-clean towels and smiley faces.

The further beauty of Thailand is that you can travel internally by train/ferry or plane for very little money, thereby combining the fascinating culture of the northern Hill Tribes and adventure of the jungle with an island beach holiday. The harder it is to get there, the fewer tourists you will find and generally the cheaper it will be because there are fewer “imported home comforts”. Having said that I’ve had a cheese and pickle sandwich in some very far flung places!

In terms of managing to visit a traditionally expensive destination cheaply, there are ways, but you have to be realistic – you get less for your money, and it still costs quite a bit. However, if you are undaunted, consider a shorter break; you can go to Dubai for 5 nights currently for under £600 and the hotel is in a great location with enough to do for your stay. There are a number of restaurants to choose from in the evenings, just remember to budget for whatever you choose and Dubai is around the same kind of prices you would expect to eat out in the UK. Remember, you can take a bottle of wine in your case or buy duty free to have a cocktail in your lovely hotel room before going out. If you are hooked on a Middle Eastern holiday, or its just that time of year when a bit of sunshine makes all the difference, Abu Dhabi is a great alternative and is perhaps just a bit less expensive whilst there.

I suppose the main thought process is whether it’s better to go for 5 nights or wait to save for 10. I’m definitely in the 5 night’s camp – even a long weekend can be a fantastic break if you plan it well enough, and by the time I’ve saved for 10, the stakes are higher. Theoretically, you could go shopping in Delhi for a long weekend – think of the savings! Holidays in Goa or Kerala, India are a bit like Thailand – seems like a lot of money to get there, but once there it is so cheap to live and to have a really good holiday, doing different things and experiencing new adventures, that it’s definitely worth the initial outlay.

Tropical Sky Recommended Hotels for Travelling on a Budget:

3* Coconut Court, Barbados

Coconut Court is perfectly situated for those wanting to experience some of the local Bajan culture with plenty of restaurants and bars both in Bridgetown and St Lawrence Gap just a short distance away. The hotel is also situated right on the beach and has a super pool. This friendly and well run hotel gives you plenty of flexibility in its meal plan allowing for a great priced holiday.

3*+ Jolly Beach Resort & Spa, Antigua

The Jolly Beach hotel is the most popular resort on the island. Its low rise structure and facilities are spread over its 40 acres of landscaped gardens. The amenities are extensive and the mile long beautiful white sand beach draws holiday makers time after time. The fantasy pool provides a central hub to the property and borders the beach offering a welcome space to cool down. The pool is amazing for kids with its waterfall and shallowness. Adults find the swim up bar a key attraction too!

3* Blue Horizons, Grenada

Blue Horizons Garden Resort is set within over 6 acres of beautiful tropical gardens, home to several species of tropical birds. The world-renowned Grand Anse beach is a short walk from the resort and the colourful and vibrant capital of St.George’s is only 5 miles away. The hotel offers luxurious self catering accommodations in Superior Studios and Deluxe Suites, a very friendly staff, and one of Grenada’s finest restaurants, La Belle Creole.

4* Occidental Grand Punta Cana Hotel, Dominican Republic

Just steps from exceptional shopping in the seaside village of Bavaro, the All Inclusive Occidental Grand Punta Cana resort hotel will whisk you away to a land of tropical relaxation. Explore the gated property on horseback and soak in the natural beauty of winding rivers cut through cliffs forged into existence by the surrounding waters.

4* Marina Byblos Hotel, Dubai

Marina Byblos Hotel is a brand new 4* hotel located in Dubai Marina and just 5 minutes walk to the beach. The location of the Marina Byblos is perfect and you are very close to the areas various bars, restaurants, yacht club and shopping.

5* Movenpick IBN Battuta Gate, Dubai

Guests staying at the Movenpick IBN Battuta Gate Hotel can enjoy a “dine around” All Inclusive concept across the hotels 8 bars & restaurants including the Oceana Beach club, just 10 minutes from the hotel via complimentary shuttle bus.

4* Mermaid Hotel & Club, Sri Lanka

The Mermaid Hotel & Club is the perfect get-away for sun, sand and sea lovers and is cleverly nestled in a vast coconut grove along the picturesque golden sands of Kalutara beach. This All Inclusive hotel combines the perfect balance of relaxation and leisure activities and represents excellent value for money. This hotel is superbly equipped, elegantly designed and offers all creature comforts in a relaxed, casual atmosphere.

5* The Chedi Chiang Mai Hotel, Thailand

Located on the banks of the Mae Ping River, the stunning Chedi, Chiang Mai oozes quiet charm and understated luxury. Tnhe rooms are beautifully appointed and the suiets are cavernous. Meals are served in the half outdoor restauarant, breakfast is a relaxed pleasure and the bar is a great place to grab a pre or post dinner drink.