Tenerife South Five Star Iberostar Anthelia

One of Three Pools at the Anthelia Tenerife @Solange Hando

If you love water, you'll love the Iberostar and its choice of seawater pool and two fresh water pools, one of them heated. 

Then of course you can swim in the Atlantic and if you feel like a change, you can always head for the mountains in the background and the awesome Teide National Park.

The Iberostar Anthelia @Solange Hando

Overlooking the beach on Costa Adeje and voted 'best inclusive in Spain', the Anthelia has a wide choice of rooms catering for couples, families and business clients, Some rooms enjoy super priority location but most sought after are the seaview suites.

Although this is a large resort where you might need a day to get your bearings, it never feels crowded as buildings are clustered in village-style units around plaza and lawns, palm trees, flowers and shrubs.

Archways, balconies and pastel colours complete a traditional picture.

Superior Room at the Anthelia @Solange Hando

Rooms are spacious, pleasantly furnished in soothing colours with all the amenities you would expect from a five star venue, including free wifi, bathrobe, slippers, and chocolate on your pillow.

Best rooms are those on the upper floors, some with double sea view.

Fresh Food for Breakfast @Solange Hando

The Zeus buffet restaurant offers continental, full American, Spanish and healthy breakfasts as well as evening meal with show cooking.

Other eating venues include Poseidon, a gourmet restaurant for innovative Canarian cuisine (reservations essential), Portofino for Italian cuisine à la carte, the Beach Club Barbecue and the Mirador Terrace if you fancy a gourmet breakfast.

Reception Area and Bar @Solange Hando

The Anthelia certainly has a touch of class from marble floors to majestic staircases, from cool water features to elegant period furniture in the bar.

But looks aside, you will find plenty to do, fitness, tennis and more, plus children and teenage clubs, boutique selling beachwear and jewellery and the tantalizing Spa Sensations where experts will pamper you in true Thai Zen fashion.

The Anthelia Right by the Sea in Tenerife @Solange Hando

Love Travel, Want to Write? Pitch and Sell

Ladakh ©Solange Hando

Pitch is Best

Why?

It saves you time for you don't know what an editor has in the pipeline

It saves editors time, they're more likely to read a pitch than a whole attachment

Pitch well and you should sell every article you write

Pitch to Sell

Brief and Brilliant

Got an idea? Choose the right market, consider the readers age, budget, interests

Show, don't tell the editor you are familiar with the publication

Write your pitch in a similar style

Go straight to the point

Keep it brief

Editors want your ideas, not your life story

Finer Points

Email, don't call 

Keep your subject line precise and clear

If you try to be clever, it may look like spam

Contact the correct editor, if unsure, phone the switchboard

Make sure you have the correct spelling

Address editors as they would address their readers 

Always offer images

Finally

Don't mention payment at this stage, wait until your idea is accepted

Don't ask for guidelines

Why not?

Either they're on the web and you should have checked

If not, study the magazine and you'll have the answers

Would you like to read more?

Check this out
Ten steps is all it takes on your way to success

Be a Travel Writer

Good luck

and see you on the road...

Tobago, Winter Sun in the Caribbean

Tobago, Calm Waters on Caribbean Coast ©Solange Hando

Are you looking for a quiet holiday in the sun? Then you'll find Tobago's Caribbean Coast lined with gems, Castara, Parlatuvier, Englishman's Bay and more, perfect places to soak in the winter sun and relax for a while away from it all.

But if these resorts are too secluded for you, you can always head for the sweeping sands of Turtle Beach along the coast where pelicans skim the waves and fishermen haul in their catch in the morning. In season, turtles nest on the beach.

Traditional Bungalow on the Beach ©Solange Hando

 Tobago is definitely the quieter side of paradise, draped in palm and sea grape trees at the southern end of the Caribbean archipelago. Even Scarborough, the capital, looks like a village, a mere sprinkling of  pastel-coloured houses clinging to the slopes, while down by the harbour, the odd cruise ship soon returns to the ocean..

Little Tobago on the Atlantic Coast ©Solange Hando

But unlike the Caribbean coast on the north side of the island, the Atlantic shores to the south are rugged and wild and often battered by foaming breakers.

This more dramatic scenery has a charm all of its own and from the lovely resort of Speyside, framed by lush hills and near-deserted beaches, you can take a boat to Little Tobago island, past coral gardens and Ian Fleming's villa, You may get a little wet when you land but it's worth the effort for a pristine nature reserve greets you with gorgeous views and myriad exotic birds.

The Argyle Waterfall ©Solange Hando

Yet there's more to Tobago than the coast. Claiming the world's oldest rainforest, the Central Mountain Range stretches right across the island, crossed by luxuriant trails where humming birds and parrots splash colour in trees.

There are streams and waterfalls and refreshing pools, just right for a dip. The Argyle is sign-posted from the road so you can't get lost but if you plan to go deep into the jungle, a guide is essential.

 Beach at Pigeon Point ©Solange Hando

Tobago is rarely crowded but if you are looking for a few beach amenities, Pigeon Point is the place to go, fairly close to the airport, though even in season, you can find superb stretches of white sands with no one in sight  and swim alone in warm translucent water.

Just off shore from Pigeon Point is the Buccoo Reef where one can snorkel from a boat and gaze at fire coral, blue parrot fish and other underwater wonders.