Fiona
Fiona has worked in the travel industry for 18 years and is passionate about Costa Rica, Cuba, Peru and Ecuador, the destinations she specialises in.
No Artificial Ingredients
Fiona's first love is Costa Rica and she is very protective over this small, unique and relatively undiscovered country. "Every time I have left Costa Rica, I have felt sad about leaving. I do not think there is any other country in the world that offers so much diversity, has truly genuine people, and offers some amazing hotels in stunning locations."
A Mystical Culture
When Fiona first went to Peru, she was truly amazed. "I did not really know what to expect from Peru, but it surpassed all my expectations. I absolutely loved it and I found the cultural history fascinating. The hotels were of an excellent standard, with one even still having some perfectly preserved Inca walls." Fiona firmly believes that to fully experience Peru, clients should have a tailor-made itinerary rather than compromising by being part of a large group.
The Land of Contrasts
Ecuador is more than just the Galapagos Islands. In May, Fiona revisited Ecuador, concentrating this time on exploring more of the mainland and visiting some undiscovered secrets, which I'm sure you will love to include in your itinerary. "The picture I always have in my mind from Ecuador is of the flower markets and the most amazing roses I have ever seen. It is a bittersweet pill, because I couldn't bring them home with me!"
Unique and Intoxicating
Fiona recently visited Cuba, and chose it for her honeymoon! "It was really difficult to decide which of our special countries to go to for our honeymoon. Cuba became our first choice because I really felt that my husband would love this amazing country and I wanted him to see and experience it before it changes. The highlights for me, having been there numerous times before, were the stunning beaches and the friendly people. My husband absolutely loved Havana City and the interior's stunning countryside."
Samantha
With ten years experience in the travel industry, Sam first went to Cuba in 1998 and extensively travelled the island. "Cuba is the most amazing place offering the diversity of stunning countryside, rural life and amazing beaches. In addition, the people are so friendly and the mixture of dancing and rum makes Cuba a pretty intoxicating mix! I was last there in May and although things are slowly changing, it does mean that there are more hotels and restoration of old buildings within the old town in Havana. I personally recommend going to Cuba now before things change forever."
Paradise with a Smile
In September 2006, Sam went to Sri Lanka and found a traveller's paradise. From ancient cities, religious temples, dense jungle and vegetation teeming with birds and wildlife to exotic beaches and busy towns, Sri Lanka is whatever you want it to be. The people of Sri Lanka will welcome you with open arms, their hospitable nature means nothing is too much trouble when you have made the effort to visit their beautiful country of which they are extremely proud. The recovery of this small island and the optimism of the people since the 2004 Tsunami is remarkable.
Sri Lanka is an assault on your senses, it is everything you could imagine but magnified by ten! "I was completely overwhelmed by Sri Lanka, one of the highlights was the elephant orphanage at Pinawela. The fact that you can get so close to these wonderful animals and even roll your trousers up and get in the river with them whilst they have a wash is an experience pretty hard to beat."
Waiting to be Discovered
Our latest destination which I am pleased to have as one of my specialist countries is Madagascar. This island is incredible, larger than France and full of amazing variety and diversity found nowhere else on earth. Madagascar is still incredibly unspoilt and offers adventure, beautiful beaches, deserts and of course, the famous lemurs of which there are over 50 different species. Our visit in December 2006 saw us travel the length and breadth of the country as there is so much to see and the internal flight system is very good. This country offers such a wealth of opportunity, famous for whale watching, lemurs, extraordinary landscapes and rainforest. Taking time out from our travels, we spent two days on the beach at the Anjajavy Hotel, part of the Relais & Chateau group, a fabulously isolated boutique lodge only accessible by plane. An absolute must for those who want the perfect retreat surrounded by nature.
Alison
Alison currently specalises in Sri Lanka, Cuba, the Carribean and the rest of the world, as she came from a general travel background before deciding to join our specalist company.
Paradise with a Smile
"I love Sri Lanka for its friendly, diverse culture. I was truly amazed by the amount of nature we experienced on safari in Dambula National Park. Along with our English speaking guide and a guide from the Park, it was fantastic, from the wildlife and plants to the salt lakes that had an eiry pink glow enhanced by the fantastic sunset. I was thrilled to see the elephants in their own habitat just going about their business kicking up the turf to get to the grass for a snack".
Unique and Intoxicating
"My recent trip to Cuba in October 2006 gave me the chance to explore the old city of Havana and enjoy time on the beautiful beach of Varadero where we experienced a day trip through the countryside of Cuba down to Cienfuegos, Trinidad and over the beautiful Escambray Mountains to Santa Clara. It was a really brilliant day that exceeded my expectations of the real Cuba. Cuba is perfect for a family holiday and my two teenage sons are already asking when are we going back".
Having worked in general travel before I am able to help our clients with all their other travel requirements, from flights, to skiing, to beach holidays, to city breaks.
Helen
Helen is Founder and Managing Director of Worldwide Holidays Direct. Exhilarated and enchanted by her first visit to Cuba in 1995, Helen felt that a country of such culture, beauty and history was deserving of a holiday company that understood what made it unique and could pass this experience on to others. She founded the company to offer tailored holidays based on personal knowledge, initially to Cuba and over time to additional destinations as customers kept coming back for further holiday ideas.
"I regularly travel to our destinations, visiting hotels and attractions and most importantly talking with the local staff. This way we maintain a personal relationship with our local representatives, keeping up to date and ensuring we maintain the responsive, informed and personal touch that is so important to us".
