'I was so sick I couldn't leave my hospital bed - now I get paid to travel the world'

'I was so sick I couldn't leave my hospital bed - now I get paid to travel the world',Hayley Marie Sparkes, 40, from Essex, lives out her childhood dream of travelling and being on TV heading to glam destinations like Taiwan, Mauritius, Belgium, Turkey, Paris, Italy and Ibiza

‘I was so sick I couldn’t leave my hospital bed – now I get paid to travel the world’

A TV and travel presenter has revealed how her job has let her visit dozens of far-flung countries around the world. She’s been gifted holidays abroad – and even gets paid to stay on luxury resorts.

Hayley Marie Sparkes, 40, from Essex, had always wanted to be a TV presenter. It was her childhood dream, but travel was also her major goal in life.

Unfortunately, during her childhood and early teens she was struck down with a severe auto-immune condition that left holidays abroad "too risky". Sometimes, when she should have been away on staycations in the UK with her family, Hayley was too sick to leave her hospital bed.

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She told Daily Star: "I suffered with a severe auto immune condition that eventually left me bed bound and unable to do the everyday things most of us take for granted. One of the best parts of my job is that I get to make up for lost time."

After a number of lifesaving surgeries, Hayley is in great nick, and has gone on to work as a TV presenter for ITV's This Morning, as well as presenting travel documentaries and even a digital series for Jet2Holidays.

HAyley on a balcony — Hayley works on shows like The Bachelor and This Morning (Image: Hayley Sparkes)

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Hayley filming on location

Hayley filming on location (Image: Hayley Sparkes)

"The Tourist board often give you special access for filming. The pay will vary massively depending on the job you have, but the perks can make-up for it. Most industry jobs will include the chance for free or discounted travel."

Hayley added: "One of the most luxurious experiences I have had in travel was during my time at a women’s only retreat in Bali. You could literally enjoy spa and holistic treatments all day long with no limit.

"You would perhaps have a two hour massage after breakfast, then a therapist would come and paint your nails whilst you might be relaxing by the pool. Then you could have a hair conditioning treatment and scalp massage whilst you sunbathed, then some reflexology in the afternoon.

"The treatments could be all day, every day, whatever you wanted. There were so many amazing treatments to choose from. I genuinely felt like I had died and gone to heaven, I will never forget it."

Hayley has travelled to dozens of locations (Image: Hayley Sparkes)

Her favourite place to visit, though, was Mauritius. She commented: "My TV presenting work has sent me to the beautiful Island of Mauritius three times now, and it really holds a special place in my heart.

"The Mauritian people are wonderful. Mauritius is often depicted as a 'rainbow nation', due to the Islands diverse and multi-language society. Different religious groups often worship side by side, they live in peace together, there is hardly any crime, so it is a very safe holiday destination to visit."

But, despite the incredible perks of the job, Hayley says that being TV presenter isn’t all spas and sunbathing. It can be hard work – even if it’s worth it.

Some days, she had to wake up at 4am to get to filming. She explained: "This may be to film at sunrise or to get some shots with wild dolphins or to climb a mountain. From that moment on, I will be on the go constantly, often being driven around from place to place to film pieces to camera, and to also shoot social media and modelling content.

"Shows are not scripted, so I have to work out at each location what I need to say for that element of filming. You are on the go constantly and often I will fall asleep on the way to film at a new destination, then wake up on arrival and need to be camera ready in seconds.

"I have worked 16 hour days for two weeks on the trot before without a single hour off to myself. The only time to rest is on the flight home!"

Hayley noted: "Instead of focusing on the tiredness I try to change my mindset, you just have to power through and acknowledge you can catch up on your rest and sleep when you are back in your normal routine, I never want to miss a moment."

If you would like to book your holiday with Hayley's travel agency team contact [email protected] or telephone 01202 155 511 . Follow hayley on instagram @hayley sparkestv.