Sales Manager

Sarah McLennan

Sales Manager

sarah@realholidays.co.uk

Amazingly, I’m one of Real Holidays longest serving members of staff, having started in 1998. My love of travel began from birth; I can credit my parents for nurturing an appreciation of the world. I grew up in Quito, Ecuador, the vibrant Latin-American scene became my norm and we spent our holidays sailing around the Galapagos.

I have been exploring the world ever since. During my degree in International Tourism, I lived near Byron Bay, Australia. Since working for Real Holidays, I’ve grown to love Europe, particularly Italy and the rolling views from hilltop towns like Perugia in Umbria. For me, it’s often about the views. It’s certainly what stays with me long after.

Sarah's favourites

I’m lucky that I’ve travelled to so many places for work and pleasure. Standouts include the unspoilt Pelion region of Greece and my honeymoon in Mexico. I was bowled over by the sensational views of Ethiopian plateaus, coffee plantations and jungle-clad mountains. Here are a selection of my favourites.

Sicily

Sicily is one of my favourite regions of Italy and makes a wonderful holiday. I love the variation - a beautiful Baroque town one day, visiting an ancient Greek Temple the next and relaxing on a beautiful sandy beach after that. And that’s before I mention sensational food and wine….

I have so many lovely memories from Sicily – including a special breakfast at boutique hotel Casa Talia in Modica. We sat in the garden, overlooking beautiful Duomo St George and the owner, Marco picked delicious pomegranate from the tree for us to eat.
Mexico

I was lucky enough to first visit Mexico on a work trip and I enjoyed it so much, I returned on my honeymoon a year later. I love the ancient Mayan history at the temples of Uxmal, Kabah, Chichen Itza and Tulum, plus beautiful colonial cities like Merida.

I particularly liked the beaches of the Mayan Riviera, south of Cancun and Tulum. Just heavenly. Mexico City bustles with vibrancy – Zocalo Square is huge and I loved the leafy neighbourhoods, where I visited Frieda Khalo’s house.
Ecuador

Having been born and grown up in Ecuador, it still holds a very special place in my heart and I just love the people, the culture, the colours and the varied landscapes of the country.

It is comparatively a small country but so compact and full of diversity from volcanoes, UNESCO colonial cities, Amazon jungle, cloud forest, rugged coastline, and the most famous of all, the Galapagos Islands.
Ethiopia

I went to Ethiopia a couple of years ago and was totally wowed by the landscapes. I am a keen photographer and the views were so stunning that I found myself constantly picking up my camera but was too transfixed to actually take pictures!

There’s so much to see here: rock-hewn churches in the north, the castles in Gondor, the impressive Simien mountains with the Gelada baboons and the Bale National Park in the south, home to the elusive Ethiopian wolf. Sadly, the wolf stayed elusive during my trip but it gives me a reason to return!

Sarah's favourite experiences

Too many to list but I will try! Seeing the Taj Mahal. Sailing around the Galapagos as a child. The Rocky Mountaineer in British Columbia. Lunch overlooking Zocalo Square in Mexico City. Sailing the Whitsundays on a traditional tallship. A herd of wild elephants came so close to the safari jeep in Kenya you could touch them. Walking down the Siq to the rose city of Petra in Jordan. Watching a Gelada baboons walking right in front of steps in Ethiopia. Relaxing on a beach in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Travelling around the temples of Bagan by electric bike. Chilling with a glass of nice Italian wine people-watching in the main square of Ortigia in Sicily.