Explore the enchantment of Aruba

27 May 2024

Whether you're dreaming of leisurely days spent basking in the sunshine on pristine beaches or lounging by the pool in utter relaxation, Aruba offers the perfect backdrop. This enchanting island in the southern Caribbean is more than just a holiday destination; it's a haven for premium leisure travellers seeking tranquillity, beauty, and a touch of luxury. With guaranteed sunshine, crystal-clear waters, stunning architecture, and weekly flights from the UK, Aruba is a gem waiting to be discovered.

Of course, there’s plenty of scope for basking in the tropical sunshine on Aruba’s many uncrowded white-sand beaches or by your swimming pool. Peaceful Eagle Beach was named the best beach in the Caribbean and, depending on when you visit, you may get to see nesting and hatching sea turtles there.

Aruba is a brilliant destination for foodies; native cuisine is influenced by the Netherlands and South America and features lots of fresh local seafood.

Some restaurants offer super-personal chef’s table experiences where you can watch your gourmet meal being prepared and chat with the chef, including The Kitchen Table. You can also treat yourselves to a luxury pop-up picnic to savour beneath the trees beside Surfside Beach.

There’s more indulgence to be found in Aruba’s array of spas, most of which are found in its high-end hotels. For instance, the adults-only boutique retreat Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort on Eagle Beach offers massages in an ocean-view cabana. There’s also an oceanfront restaurant with a chef’s table experience, a beach bar, and movies under the stars.

The Caribbean’s first carbon-neutral hotel, it has won awards for its sustainability efforts, including beach cleans you can take part in.

Then there’s the Ritz-Carlton, where the sleek spa offers treatments like Awa Y Tera, incorporating a local coffee scrub, scalp massage, and mud mask, as well as science-driven skincare from ESPA and Eminence. Elsewhere in this elegant resort, you’ll find five restaurants, including Casa Nonna, Divi Sushi Bar & Lounge, and the classic bistro BLT Steak.

Meanwhile, the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa, and Casino is a tempting option for its full-moon and aerial yoga, poolside Pilates, activity pool, and adults-only pool with private cabanas. Exceptional on-site dining includes seafood at Ruinas del Mar, built around the concept of gold-mill ruins, with a koi-filled lagoon, waterfall, and rooftop bougainvillea garden.

Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa is a boutique wellness resort offering customised wellbeing journeys, daily complimentary yoga and Pilates, and a unique spa with five Balinese-style private thatched cabanas perched above Eagle Beach. Its talented chefs draw on local ingredients as much as possible, including herbs from Manchebo’s kitchen garden, plus there’s a dedicated plant-based menu.

Adults-only from 2023, Boardwalk is another boutique hotel featuring just 49 casitas within lush tropical gardens filled with hammocks, tranquillity zones, two pools, and a cocktail bar. Mats are provided for yoga on your patio, or you can join mindfulness classes on an outdoor deck, plus enjoy therapies in a treatment room or your casita.

Aruba Ocean Villas is another serene adults-only escape with a spa and a beachfront restaurant offering the option of booking a private overwater dining cabana. Sundays feature BBQ lunches and for exploring, there are complimentary kayaks, snorkelling gear, paddleboards, and paddleboats.

There are weekly direct flights from the UK to Aruba with British Airways. To book your Aruba holiday, call your Travel Counsellor today.

3 different ways to experience Malta

09 October 2026

A short break to Malta can look very different depending on how you like to travel. You could check into a five-star hotel and build your days around art, architecture, and Michelin-starred dining. You could slow everything down, wandering through neighbourhoods, stopping for pastizz, and exploring historic towns. Or you could use Valletta as a base for hiking, kayaking, diving, and days spent discovering Malta’s coastline. Here are three ways to make a short break in Malta completely your own.

The perfect guide to a Valletta city break

09 October 2026

For a city break with plenty to see, eat, and experience, Valletta makes a wonderful choice. Malta’s compact capital is easy to explore on foot, with honey-coloured streets leading to grand palaces, historic churches, and harbour viewpoints. From its impressive fortifications to its lively restaurant scene, Valletta brings together centuries of history and a distinctly Mediterranean way of life, making it ideal for visitors who want more from a short break than simply sightseeing.

Travel Counsellors experience the magic of Bhutan

02 October 2026

Bhutan offers a rare sense of stepping away from the familiar. On a recent eight-night journey, a group of Travel Counsellors travelled from Thimphu to Gangtey, Punakha, and Paro, experiencing mountain passes, riverside valleys, ancient monasteries, local communities, and peaceful highland landscapes along the way. The itinerary combined significant landmarks with hands-on experiences and quieter moments, offering a thoughtful introduction to a country that still feels wonderfully untouched.

Explore the enchantment of Aruba

3 different ways to experience Malta

The perfect guide to a Valletta city break

Travel Counsellors experience the magic of Bhutan

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