Leading EastEnders actor Scott Maslen gives nowfly an insight into some of his and his wife Estelle's favourite places to explore and relax in.
Photograph © Jane Mcleish Kelsey.
Manhattan, New York, USA.
For a high-octane experience, New York is hard to beat. It's full-on 24 hours a day with plenty to see, do, eat and drink and you can even get some sleep (if you have the time). Chances are you'll need another holiday after visiting New York just to recover but don't let that put you off - it's a must-see place. For a boho hit try the great rooms at Soho House NY in the Meat Packing district. It’s very cool. And make sure you visit an authentic jazz club - there are many to choose from. Woody Allen's band play a regular slot at the Cafe Carlyle on a Monday evening and it’s one of the most popular.
Check www.sohohouseny.com for details.
See www.thecarlyle.com/entertainment.cfm for details about Woody Allen's jazz band.
For flights to New York click here.
Doñana National Park, Costa de la Luz, Spain.
Growing in popularity, the Doñana National Park is home to some beautiful bird life. One of Europe's most important wetland reserves and a major site for migrating birds, it is an immense area with the Park itself and the surrounding Park Natural or Entorno de Doñana amounting to over 1,300 square kilometres. Every May it pays host to the El Rocio Festival where locals bring out their covered wagons and don traditional Andalucian clothing, including broad-brimmed hats and flamenco dresses, to head to the El Rocio shrine. This is the real Spain, complete with cowboys playing flamenco, searing heat and stunning sunsets. A fantastic festival and well worth seeing.
Click here for details about Doñana National Park and the Festival el Roció.
For flights to Cadiz click here.
Or flights to Seville click here.
Lake Como, Italy.
Lake Como is just incredible. It's sophisticated, classy, chic and cool - Italy at its very best. We drove round parts of the lake and stopped in some great bars and restaurants. With some of the best cuisine in the world, you'll never go hungry. Everyone seems to have fun here and it's very sociable in places, with lots of activity on the water in truly elegant-looking boats. A masterclass in style.
For flights to Milan click here.
Holkham, Norfolk, UK.
This place has some of the best skies and beaches in the world and it's virtually on the doorstep. The endless beaches and mountainous dunes are simply magical and perfect for the kids to play on. It is really easy to get to from London but you feel a million miles away. It’s one of our favourites.
Le Touessrok Hotel, Mauritius.
Mauritius is a utopian isle with a harmonious and colourful mix of African, Indian and Dutch culture and history. We stayed at the luxurious Le Touessrok Resort, which was fantastic. It’s a great place to relax and be pampered but if you're feeling more energetic, it is ideal for fishing or activities such as water skiing, sailing or diving. There's also an amazing golf course. Be sure to travel around the island to marvel at the mix of Hindu temples next to Catholic churches. We found the Mauritian people lovely and they have to be some of the most beautiful people in the world. A truly magical place.
Check www.letouessrokresort.com for details.
For flights to Mauritius click here.