Escape
Worldwide is an independent travel agent that specialises in longhaul holidays - our basic principal is to visit the destinations we feature to get to know them in person, so we can share our knowledge and passion with you - it's a tough job, but someone's got to do it!
Travel Partners
We work with many UK tour operators, to offer you the best holidays available:
We're proud to work closely with some of the leading names in travel, and have great contacts around the world. Being an independent company, however, we're not tied to any suppliers and we won’t try to push the products of a parent
company – we’ll offer you what we think is best
for you, at the best possible price.
Escape
Worldwide is a member of the Global Travel Group, one of the
UK’s largest networks of independent travel agents, with almost
1000 agencies across the Country. Unlike many nationwide High
Street travel agents, members of the Global Travel Group are
independently owned and run, yet benefit from being a part
of a large organisation in many ways – we’re able
to negotiate the best prices on holidays with all leading
travel companies, and able to pass this on to our customers.
Your
Financial Protection
All holidays shown on this website are fully ATOL-protected package holidays - we're not simply putting together a flight and a hotel and calling it a holiday, we're offering quality holidays at a great price.
By being a member of the Global Travel Group,
any money paid to us is financially protected, as it is paid
straight into a secure Client Account that we do not have access
to. In the case of our own insolvency, your money is not held
by us so you'll still travel - it's not a case of having to
fight to get your money back, you'll simply go on holiday
anyway. In the extremely unlikely event of the insolvency
of the Global Travel Group PLC, your money is held in a Client
Account which cannot be used by liquidators - you'll still
travel.
All
Tour Operators we deal with are holders of an ATOL (Air Travel
Organisers Licence), which secures your financial protection
in the event of the insolvency of the tour operator.
Your
security - both financially and otherwise - is a priority
of the Global Travel Group, and your protection is at its
highest possible level by booking with us.
Meet the Team
At Escape Worldwide we're passionate about travel - here are some of the team based at our Wanstead office:
DARREN
Darren's been at Escape Worldwide since Day One.
Where Darren's been . . .
Darren has travelled extensively over the years and has visited most of the longhaul destinations we feature:
Australia
Thailand
USA
Egypt
Kenya
New Zealand
Cambodia
Canada
UAE
Tanzania
Indonesia
Vietnam
Cuba
Oman
Zambia
Malaysia
Laos
Mexico
Israel
South Africa
Singapore
Macau
Brazil
India
Sri Lanka
China
Hong Kong
Jamaica
Maldives
Waikiki,
Hawaii
Ayers Rock,
Australia
Wat Po,
Bangkok
The Pyramids,
Cairo
Favourite locations:
-
The Nile in Upper Egypt - I love how remarkably preserved the history is and how you can picture yourself in a different era!
-
Macau, China - possibly the craziest place I've ever been, where Las Vegas meets China, with a bit of Portugal thrown in too!
Favourite hotels:
-
Kuramathi Island Resort, Maldives - the most relaxing place I think I've ever stayed, with the best pizzas for lunch!
-
The Shore, Phuket - I stayed in a pool villa overlooking the beach, which is probably the best room I've ever stayed in !
Favourite experiences:
-
Taking a helicopter ride over Victoria Falls in Zambia, and then walking along the top of the Falls too!
-
Cycling along the promenade from Copacabana to Ipanema in Rio De Janeiro - I hadn't been on a bike for years but the setting was incredible!
KAREN
Karen has worked at Escape Worldwide for around 7 years, and has seen much of the world in that time.
Where Karen's been . . .
Karen loves the Far East but has also travelled to the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean:
Thailand
Cambodia
Cuba
Egypt
Kenya
Malaysia
Sri Lanka
Barbados
UAE
Tanzania
Singapore
India
USA
Jordan
Mauritius
Hong Kong
Israel
Maldives
Luxor
Egypt
Taj Mahal
India
Penang,
Malaysia
Pinnawella
Sri Lanka
Favourite locations:
-
Angkor Wat in Cambodia - the temples are incredible and so atmospheric, its such an amazing site and not too difficult to get to.
-
The Taj Mahal in India - it's just as beautiful and intricate as you'd imagine, and the tales of love are really moving.
Favourite hotels:
-
The Ashnil Mara Camp on the Masai Mara - a beautiful camp in the heart of the Mara, with a superb fire pit that's perfect for a post-game drive beer!
-
Movenpick Aswan, Egypt - on its own island in the middle of the Nile and overlooking the town, I love the little boat that takes you to the mainland!
Favourite experiences:
-
I love being on safari, and there's nowhere quite like the Masai Mara for sheer diversity of wildlife - each time I go it's different, and fantastic!
-
Attempting to learn to dive in the Red Sea - not being a natural in the water I didn't quite master it, but the colours of the fish and the coral made the effort worthwhile!
MARK Mark started Escape Worldwide in 2002 with Darren - he's been travelling since he left school, over 20 years ago!
Where Marks' been . . .
Mark wins the 'how many countries have you visited' game in the office
Australia
Cambodia
USA
Egypt
Kenya
New Zealand
Burma
Canada
UAE
Tanzania
Indonesia
Vietnam
Cuba
Oman
Zambia
Malaysia
Laos
Mexico
Israel
South Africa
Singapore
Macau
Brazil
Syria
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Hong Kong
India
Jordan
Maldives
Pyramids,
Egypt
Big Island,
Hawaii
Kuramathi Island,
Maldives
Harbourfront,
Hong Kong
Favourite locations:
-
Stone Town, Zanzibar - wandering through the narrow lanes of this ancient town really conjures up an exotic atmosphere - the spices I've bought here are great too!
-
Stellenbosch, South Africa - the heart of South Africa's winelands, relaxing with a chilled glass (or bottle, or two) of Chenin Blanc. Heaven!
Favourite hotels:
-
Raffles Hotel Singapore - the first longhaul place I ever visited was Singapore and I stayed in a hostel near Raffles. I was lucky enough to stay in the hotel itself nearly 20 years later, and it really lived up to my expectations!
-
Saratoga Hotel, Havana - a classic old Cuban hotel with all the trimmings, overlooking the grand Capitolio Building. A mojito at the bar can't be beaten!
Favourite experiences:
-
A helicopter trip over the Volcano National Park, Hawaii, seeing the bubbling lava heading towards the Pacific Ocean - I didn't opt for the 'doors off' chopper, though!
-
Watching the monks collecting alms early in the morning in Luang Prabang, Laos - one of the most fascinating things to witness, as the whole town comes out to offer food.
Escape Worldwide S2264. We act as The Global Travel Group plc in connection with
the sale of travel products. Unless specified as the operator, the Global Travel Group plc
is the agent of ATOL protected Tour Operators and other principals
