Joanna Lumley is synonymous with being fabulous, so it's no surprise that her latest adventures have taken her to a seriously glamorous region; the Caribbean.
The British star is presenting a new two-part series on ITV which will see her travel from Havana to Haiti, uncovering hidden hotspots and lesser known gems that need to be on any explorer's radar.
Unsurprisingly, she's offering up heaps of travel inspiration in the process (not to mention giving us all a major case of wanderlust).
She tells viewers: "Cuba and Haiti are two of the poorest, most challenging countries I have ever visited but they’ve given me some of the best experiences and I’ve met fabulous people. Would you want to visit it? Of course, if you’re adventurous. It’s not easy, but then travelling often isn’t easy."
We take a look at where Joanna is heading each week – and how you can recreate her trip without breaking the bank…
(If you are feeling inspired, our guide to cheap Caribbean holidays may also be of interest).
1. Cuba
Joanna's travels began in Cuba, where she explored the back streets of Havana.
The Ab Fab star headed to a boxing gym where she met boxer Idamelys, who is battling to change the rules for women fighters. (In Cuba, women are banned from taking part in any competitive boxing match).
Best Caribbean beaches for a ridiculously dreamy holiday
Other highlights on her trip included a tour of the city in a classic car where she learned about how communism has affected the people of the country, as well as watching a cabaret at the National, a hotel that pre-dates the revolution.
As for her verdict on Havana itself? Joanna said: "You could spend all day long walking up and down these ravishing streets. All the walls and all the paints, the colours are so great."
Want to see it for yourself? Our Havana city guide includes heaps of tips on what not to miss if you're visiting.
Leaving Havana on a horse and cart, the style icon headed to Cuba's tobacco region to visit a cigar factory, before continuing on to Hershey, named after the chocolate manufacturer.
Oh, and of course there was time for a cocktail – in fact, she tried her very first Pina Colada!
The star also visited famous spots including the tomb of Che Guevara, Fidel Castro's hometown Santiago and Hemingway's favourite beach.
Want to visit? We've got a guide to finding cheap Cuba holidays including best places for deals and the destinations that need to be on your radar.
Best Caribbean islands from Barbados to Cuba for a ridiculously dreamy holiday
Secrets of the Mega Resort: inside the ridiculously lavish £3.4billion resort
2. Guantanomo
Joanna travelled to the south of Cuba, home to the infamous Guantanamo Bay. There's a ten-mile exclusion zone around the prison, so she couldn't get close, opting to visit the town of Guantanamo instead.
As she walked through the town, Joanna explained: "I don’t know what I was expecting, but it’s absolutely gorgeous with a beautiful Spanish influence.”
3. Haiti
Joanna took a flight from Cuba to Haiti (which takes just under two hours) to the Labadee, a tiny part of the country. (It's actually home to one of Royal Caribbean's private resorts).
From there she headed to the city of Cap-haitien, learning about the effects of plastic on the local beaches, discovering the history of the country, visiting ancient fortress Citadelle Laferrière, and exploring Haiti's foodie scene.
Also on the itinerary was a trip to the nearby island Ile-a-Vache off the coast of Haiti.
There she attended a colourful Voodoo ceremony, drinking with locals and being lead into the inner-shrine which is filled with icons and offerings to the spirits.
Back on the mainland, it was time to visit the capital city of Haiti which is still recovering from a devastating earthquake in 2010. It made for an emotional visit for the star, who also met some homeless children.
Want to visit? Unfortunately, as of February 2020, the FCO advises against all but essential travel to Haiti, so you won't be able to book a holiday. You can check the latest FCO travel advice on Haiti for more updates.
- Joanna Lumley's Hidden Caribbean airs on Tuesdays at 9pm on ITV.
Source: Read Full Article