Joy dawns for intrepid Penny
The TV and radio star just loves exploring, says NICK DALTON
PENNY SMITH loves the early morning. It comes from 17 years of hosting breakfast television. “It’s the best time to do almost everything, especially in India, watching dawn break over the Taj Mahal,” she says. “I had to be up at the same time as when I used to be on GMTV!”
Penny has been on the 10-day Beyond The Golden Triangle escorted tour in India with Travelsphere and loved the non-stop yet unhurried lifestyle.
“I don’t like holidays where I see lots of pools and bars and come back half-a-stone heavier,” she says. “I like being busy, doing things. And what didn’t we do on this trip?
“We saw tigers in Ranthambore National Park, young males but almost full grown – I found it quite emotional. We went to Jaipur where the tour guide taught us how to cross a road with all the traffic – keep a straight line and don’t succumb to the temptation to run, because they’re not expecting that.
“The train was also an experience we all enjoyed after visiting the deserted city of Fatima Sikri.
“We stayed in incredible places like the old palace on the way to Jaipur, which was simply stunning.
“The great thing is you don’t have to do anything, just turn up. It was brilliant.”
Penny’s trip to India came about after she discovered the joys of Travelsphere’s escorted holidays in Italy with Winter On The Amalfi Coast. We went to all the places – Sorrento, Naples, Amalfi. It’s incredible there.
“I made some paper in Amalfi and did what I consider a really nice painting. I’ve even got it mounted. I made some limoncello, which is mostly sugar with alcohol and lemon.
“Our tour manager, Jane, was great. She would tell you what you were going to visit and you could decide whether you wanted to go or do your own thing.”
Penny, who once went on a two-and-a-half-year backpacking trip, works non-stop, presenting Saturday Breakfast on talkRADIO, appearing regularly on BBC Radio 2 and writing for a number of publications.
So will she find time for another tour in her hectic work schedule? “I’m contemplating,” she says. “I fancy going back to Chile, perhaps the desert area because I’ve never been there. Or Japan.
“Or I’ve seen very little of Germany. And I’ve never been to Croatia – and Travelsphere has introduced this holiday, Croatia Uncovered By Land And Sea, which involves a cruise on a 34-person boat through the beautiful islands of the coast.
“Maybe that will be next. Although I do also want to do a backpacking trip to Mongolia!”
INFORMATION:
Travelsphere (travelsphere.co.uk/01858894207) has been organising escorted tours for more than 50 years and has more than 135 unique itineraries. Worldwide tours include VIP private door-to-door airport transfers (or free airport parking). They, and European tours, include excursions and most meals. Bookings made by December 15 feature discounts of up to £200pp, local and connecting flights for £99, free visas on worldwide holidays and low deposits on European tours.