Penny's Top 5

Travel ambassador, broadcaster and presenter Penny Smith, has travelled with Travelsphere for an unforgettable winter escape in Canada, to uncover the delights of the Amalfi Coast, sail the beautiful Adriatic Coastline, go in search of the big five in South Africa (with a wine or two on the way) and discover the sights and sounds of India. Here she give us 5 reasons why everyone should consider a guided holiday.

1. Knowledgeable tour guides

Every Travelsphere Holiday Director I have come across has been an incredible source of knowledge – full of top tips and quirky facts. They’ve taught me so many things I would never have found out from a guidebook. On my trip to South Africa, our Local Guide told us that zebras have different stripe patterns in the same way as humans have different fingerprints – I love learning stuff like that, it’s what travel is all about.

2. Fabulous people

I’ve met so many wonderful people on my Travelsphere holidays. I wasn’t expecting it, but one of my favourite parts of the day is meeting up with the group in the evening to relive the events of the day. I’ll never forget Liz, who I met in South Africa, she was so much fun when we went wine-tasting. She asked so many questions, which all boiled down to the one thing - “How much wine can I get into England without having to ship it!” On my cruise in Croatia – I met a lovely couple who, after a couple of drinks, got up and showed us all how to jive!

3. All the highlights and so much more!

When you choose a Travelsphere holiday, you can be confident that not a minute of your precious time away will be wasted. Travelsphere has done all the hard work and knows the places that are worth visiting and those that are not – so you’ll never be left wishing you’d visited somewhere else instead. On my 10-day holiday to India, I saw tigers in Ranthambore National Park, watched the sun rise over the Taj Mahal, gazed in awe at Jaipur’s Palace of the Winds, watched carpets being made, stayed in a Maharajah’s palace and travelled around Old Delhi on a rickshaw. I don’t know how we managed to fit it all in – there is no way I could have organised all of that myself!

4. Time to do your own thing

Don’t get me wrong, a guided touring holiday isn’t some kind of endurance test – in fact I was surprised to discover that it can be a really relaxing and flexible holiday choice. In Italy, we had several days where we were free to do whatever we wanted. Some days I just lounged by the pool reading my book and on others, if I felt like getting out and about, I joined an optional excursion. In India, even though we did lots, I still had enough free time to buy more souvenirs than I could fit in my suitcase and visit a tailor to buy some made-to-measure shirts!

5. Real easy holidays

For me, the very best thing about guided touring is that from start to finish, it really is a holiday. I love that feeling, when I arrive at the airport, park my brain and go into Travelsphere-holiday mode. I know I don’t have to worry about anything because Travelsphere has organised it all, from my flights and accommodation to sightseeing and opportunities to sample the local cuisine. All I have to do is relax and enjoy it!

Feel inspired? Where will you go on your guided holiday?