Carrie Johnson describes Saudi Arabia beach resort as a ‘dream' holiday
Carrie Johnson, the wife of former British prime minister Boris Johnson, says she has 'never been on such a kid-friendly holiday' at a new 'dream' Red Sea resort.
While Mr Johnson was visiting Saudi Arabia for the Saudi Media Forum last week, his family took the opportunity to join him during the half-term break for a beach getaway.
The country came as a surprise to Ms Johnson, who wrote on Instagram: 'I had no idea there were beaches like this in Saudi.'
'I haven't been to the Maldives but it's what I imagine the Maldives to be like but with way less people,' she added.
Taking to social media, Ms Johnson shared pictures of her family on holiday, with her children on the beach, splashing in the sea and partaking in watersports, as well as the food and drink offerings at the two-year-old St Regis Red Sea Resort.
The luxury resort can be found on a private island just off the coast of Saudi Arabia, accessed via speedboat or seaplane.
The hotel is situated in the heart of the area of the Red Sea Project, which is developing the area's archipelago of 90 untouched islands into a luxury tourism destination.
The hotel first welcomed guests in January 2024, becoming the first island resort that opened in the Red Sea against a backdrop of white sandy beaches, a large coral reef, desert dunes and dormant volcanoes.
The St Regis is made up 90 villas, each with a private pool. More pools, a fitness centre, spa, children's club and fine dining restaurants can also be found within the resort.
The hotel also offers a butler service which promises to personalise the experience of guests.
Ms Johnson said that no other holiday they had been on had been as kid-friendly as the St Regis Resort, giving credits to its 'incredible' kids club open from 10am until 7pm that her three kids 'absolutely loved'.
She said that they went most mornings, which meant Ms Johnson could 'actually read a few pages of my book'.
'Everyone was so, so friendly to our kids doing everything they could to give them the best holiday,' Ms Johnson wrote.
'Full disclosure this is not a cheap holiday. It's very luxurious. The food was insanely good (the Japanese restaurant in particular) and the beds were the most comfortable I've ever, ever slept in,' she added.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Hotel in China rapped by wildlife officials for using endangered red pandas to wake up guests
They're alarmingly cute. A hotel in China has been rapped by local wildlife officials for using endangered red pandas during wake-up calls for guests, according to a report. The Lehe Ledu Liangjiang Holiday Hotel, located in the mountains near Chongqing, offered boarders the option of a 'red panda-themed holiday,' which included bringing the endangered species into guests' rooms for wake-up calls, The Times of London reported. The hotel brought the endangered species into guests' rooms for wake-up calls. For the morning meet-ups, the adorable, furry critters would be ushered into plush hotel rooms to interact with guests who shelled out for the special treatment. The unique experience flew under the radar of wildlife officials in the Communist country — until a British tourist and YouTuber couple went viral with a panda video from Lehe Ledu. The 'On Tour With Dridgers' video showed an apparent handler lead the well-kept critter into the room and up onto the bed. Content creator Reanne Ridger fed the bushy, red beast a treat and even stole some cuddles during her brief visit, video showed. Even more eyes were drawn to the questionable practice after the publication of a feature article in a popular Chinese magazine, the Times of London reported. However, the publicity also drew the attention of local forestry officials who could barely believe their eyes. Hotel staff told the outlet that they borrowed the pandas from a local zoo. AFP via Getty Images In a statement, Chongqing Forestry Bureau ordered the hotel to immediately halt all 'close contact' between animals and guests and threatened to prosecute the hoteliers for any further infractions, the outlet reported. China's state-backed newspaper The Global Times issued their own scathing report on the panda pandering. Hotel staff told that outlet that they borrow the pandas from a local zoo and rotate which critters are called into work. They further assured that all the red pandas are vaccinated, cleaned, and cared for by dedicated staff, The Global Times reported. 'Close contact' activities have been banned in China since 2018 as the practice was a customary form of income, The Times of London reported. Despite what its name would indicate, red pandas are not bears, but are closely related to raccoons and are a nationally protected wild species in their native China.

Miami Herald
11 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Where to Eat, Drink and Chill in Kauai's Tastiest Beach Town
Before traveling to Hawaii for the first time, I spent hours browsing through Instagram and TikTok foodie posts. Gathering ideas for all the delicious meals I'd eat, I had high expectations for the food in Poipu Beach, located on the south shore of Kauai. As it turns out, this island's food scene impressed me even more than expected. From nicer, more sophisticated spots like Red Salt Restaurant to quick bar bites at Kalapaki Joe's, check out these best Kauai food and drink spots on your next visit. These must-visit restaurants in Kauai won't let you down. I love Indian food and will make a point to grab it during any trip. This tucked-away restaurant, "That Indian Place", has excellent food and will adjust to your spice preferences. I ordered the butter chicken (mild) and the chicken sagwala (mild), along with some garlic naan bread. The local atmosphere and outdoor dining patio really made this place stand out as one of my favorite spots to eat throughout the whole trip. Top menu items Mango LassiButter ChickenChicken Tikka MasalaChicken SagwalaPaneer Tikka Stop by Brennecke's Beach Broiler as you stroll along Poipu Beach for a lively, vibrant atmosphere. Locals and visitors alike know this top spot as one of the best places for food and drink on Kauai. While crowded, you can grab some phenomenal bites here as well as tropical-style frozen cocktails. I loved the desserts here too. If you plan on doing some appetizer or bar hopping along the main strip, definitely make this restaurant/bar a must-visit spot. Top menu items Seafood Pupu PlatterMango MadnessLava Lava FlowPineapple Rum Upside Down Cake If you want to try a Loco Moco, stop by Red Salt Restaurant, attached to the beautiful Ko'a Kea Resort. This spot served the best Loco Moco I had while in Hawaii. A Loco Moco is a Hawaiian favorite comfort food, made with white rice, gravy, a hamburger patty, and topped with a fried egg. It sounds interesting, but trust me once you try it, you'll want to order it time and time again. The ocean views from this restaurant also set the scene for a nice meal. Top menu items Lemon Pineapple PancakesLoco Moco Acai Bowl Unlike other islands with numerous national chains, Kauai offers a more locally inspired dining scene. This laid-back, down-to-earth island provides numerous options for fresh, local seafood, including mahimahi, ahi tuna, and ono. The island also has many traditional Hawaiian plates to try. I highly recommend trying at least one classic Hawaiian dish, such as the Loco Moco, during your visit. You'll also find spam musubi almost everywhere, another classic food in Kauai. Where to Stay in Kauai, Hawaii's Gorgeous Garden IsleBest Time to Visit Hawaii: A Month-by-Month GuideUnwind & Recharge: Choosing the Ideal Hawaiian Island for Your Family Getaway10 Dreamy Honeymoon Spots in the USA20 Fun Things to Do in Hawaii with Kids The post Where to Eat, Drink and Chill in Kauai's Tastiest Beach Town appeared first on She Buys Travel. Copyright © 2025 SheBuysTravel · All Rights Reserved


CNBC
16 hours ago
- CNBC
36-year-old travels the world in a Toyota Tacoma: After 3 years on the road, this is her No. 1 takeaway
In 2015, Ashley Kaye's father died and she inherited her childhood home in Waterford, Wisconsin. At the time, she was 27 years old, working in corporate healthcare and transitioning to a consulting job, where she worked 80 to 100 hours a week. "I worked from home, so I just walked from my bedroom to my office to the kitchen and repeat," Kaye, now 36, tells CNBC Make It. "I was a zombie in those times," While traveling, Kaye met someone on a scuba diving trip in Honduras who helped her realize what she wanted was to leave her career behind and travel full-time. "We just hit it off and chatted the whole time I was there. We spoke about the worst of the worst, the best of the best, and financials, too," Kaye says. "He told me he wished he had done it sooner because it's so much easier and cheaper than you think. That changed everything for me. I went home and worked more and more until I quit the next year." Kaye spent the next three years traveling during the covid-19 pandemic. While on a trip to South Africa, she received unexpected news that her aunt was ill and she'd need to fly back home to Wisconsin. "That flight was probably the moment where not a single ounce of my being was like 'Yay, I'm going home.' It was like, 'I don't want to be here. This isn't it for me.'," she says. "I love being on the islands. I love having the ocean near me. That took away the hesitation I had in previous years about selling the house." While Kaye was back home caring for her aunt, she prepared her childhood home for sale and considered her next move. She thought a lot about trying van life and living and traveling with her dog. "Traveling by plane with a dog just sounded like a terrible idea," she says. "I do a lot of photography, so I knew I wanted something where I could reach tougher destinations." While waiting for the sale of her home to close, a couple reached out to Kaye on Instagram to ask about her time in South Africa. They shared their experience overlanding in a Toyota truck with a camper in the truck bed. Overlanding is a form of self-reliant travel that involves adventuring to remote destinations, typically in a vehicle of some type. After doing a bit of her own research, Kaye was all-in and purchased a Toyota Tacoma truck for $42,934, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. Kaye picked up the truck in South Dakota and drove it back to Wisconsin to finish packing up her home when it officially sold in March 2023. Now that her new home was the truck, Kaye set off on her first adventure: A drive down to Baja California, Mexico. She stayed there for three months and planned out the renovations she would need to make the truck more livable. "My life is kind of like 'the plan is there is no plan.' Most people plan this type of adventure for years. I didn't even have a truck when I accepted the offer on my house," she says. "It was very spur of the moment, so I needed to take a pause and figure things out." While living in Mexico, Kaye found an American company that made the truck bed replacements that would provide external storage and make it easier for her to live and travel in the Toyota Tacoma. But, the installation couldn't happen until September. In the meantime, Kaye learned as much as she could about the truck and the kind of camper she would need. She estimates that she has spent over $50,000 on the renovations. Costs included purchasing a camper, adding solar power, replacing the truck bed, upgrading the suspension, new tires, customizing a bumper, and installing an electric cooler. When the truck was ready, Kaye decided to journey the Pan-American Highway, starting in Denver. The highway stretches from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina. "It's really an incredible way to travel because you get to set your own pace and if you find somewhere that's beautiful and peaceful you can stay as long as you want," Kaye says. "But there's pros and cons to every mode of travel and a lot of red tape and logistics crossing borders. It can be exhausting, especially when you're alone. You have to find a balance that works for you, but overall, it's definitely one of the coolest adventures of my lifetime." Since living and traveling in the truck full-time, Kaye has visited Mexico, every country in Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and parts of Argentina. In total, she's been to over 20 countries so far. "I don't want to be a cliché and say it's a dream life because it's a lot of work and there are a lot of things that you need to take care of and maintain," she says. "But it's really incredible to be able to wake up and just look at the map and say, 'Should I go sleep inside this volcano or go to the jungle or go to the beach?' You have a lot of really beautiful options, so I can't really complain." After all this time on the road, Kaye says the biggest lesson she's learned is that life is too short. "Ever since I started traveling, [I learned] life is just too short. You don't have to go and quit your career to travel the world but whatever your dreams and goals are in life just start now and everything else is just figuring out a goal," she says. Kaye says when she was younger, it was her dad who taught her that she was capable of anything. "I grew up with my dad raising me and telling me every day 'You can be anything you want when you grow up and you can do anything,'" she says. "He was 57 when he passed away, so he never even got to retire. His passing taught me how to live life because you never know how much time you have in life."