Bachelor star Holly Kingston recalls trying to hide pregnancy from crew when shooting Aussie travel series Luxury Escapes

A former Bachelor star tried to hide this exciting secret from cast and crew when starring on a luxe Aussie travel series.

Former The Bachelor star and winner Holly Kingston is set to play travel host in the returning season of Aussie travel program Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays.

The former marketing manager won the heart of bachelor and now-husband Jimmy Nicholson on the Ten dating show in 2021 – and now she’s set to win viewers over on the travel series when it returns to screens on August 29, while also letting the crew in on a little secret...

The Foxtel program showcases the best hotspots in our own backyard and across the globe – and just like last season, some of Australia’s beloved celebrities such Cameron Daddo, Rebecca Gibney, Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Jane Hall have all got their passports on hand like Kingston and are ready to take viewers from one exciting destination to the next.

This season sees Greece, Mexico, Singapore, Istanbul and Germany among the many pit stops.

In the first episode airing on Thursday evening, Holly teams up with former The Living Room co-host Miguel Maestre as they go on an adventure to the Maldives.

Holly Kingston and Miguel Maestre are travel buddies on Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays.

“Like many, the Maldives has been on my bucket list for several years and I am lucky enough to have gone with my husband one month prior to heading back for filming with Luxury Escapes TV,” Holly tells news.com.au.

“Such a pinch me moment exploring this glorious destination twice in one year. I thought my husband had trouble sitting still, little did I know I hadn’t seen anything yet,” she added, before laughing, “I subbed him out for someone a tad more boisterous, Mr Miguel Maestre. Most head to the Maldives to relax and recharge, that’s not on the agenda with Mr Maestre as a travel companion.”

Stream Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays on Foxtel, available on Hubbl.

Holly visited the Maldives earlier this year with husband, Bachelor star Jimmy Nicholson.

The pair stayed at the art focused resort Joali Maldives before spending a few nights at the nearby sister resort Joali Being – the only wellbeing island in the region.

“We stayed in epic overwater bungalows with private pools bigger than my local ocean pool in Bondi. I felt so spoiled,” Holly says.

“Joali felt very artsy, opulent and glamorous. This is a once in a lifetime kind of property. Diving off our overwater bungalows and going for a snorkel between shooting felt like I’d scored a pretty good gig.”

“As for Joali’s sister property, Joali Being is where you go when you want to completely switch off and indulge in some serious R&R,” she adds. “The second we arrived off the boat we felt at ease, even with my rowdy co-host in tow.”

On her second trip there, Holly and Miguel stayed at Joali Maldives and Joali Being.

When Miguel wasn’t busy with the water sports, he lounged around in his bungalow.

Apart from the memorable private submarine rides, healing treatments, snorkelling, food, and crystal clear waters from both resorts, Kingston says there was another highlight of her trip: Miguel’s colourful blazers.

“I’ve never met someone who travels to a tropical destination and decides to pack 50,000 different blazers & tux jackets,” she laughs. “He had a new blazer for every shoot day, I think he even tried to pop one on for water sports!

“I headed to his room to shoot one day and as I cycled down the beautiful serene sandy pathway I knew I was getting close as I heard Ricky Martin on full blast and arrived to Miguel dancing with a cup of coffee in his 18th blazer of the trip.”

Holly rates Miguel as a travel buddy.

During filming, Kingston was also in the early stages of her pregnancy – and trying to hide it from Miguel and the crew became impossible.

“I had intended to keep it a secret but the second I declined wine and some Maldivian sashimi, it was evident something was up,” she tells us. “I ended up telling Miguel and the Luxury Escapes crew I was pregnant before we even told family! There were many retakes due to the wonderful Joali staff serving me mocktails and saying things like, ‘No alcohol for the pregnant lady.’ I don’t think those takes will make it to air.”

And don’t expect this soon-to-be mama and her hubby, who is a pilot, to give up the wanderlust once their first baby arrives later this year.

Holly and her husband Jimmy are expecting their first baby later this year.

“We’ve had no shortage of people tell us, ‘Just wait til the baby comes, no more travel for you!’” Holly reveals. “But travel will always be a very big part of our lives and we have even got travel plans for bub’s first year.”

“I’m thinking we’ll have to get it used to planes sooner rather than later... After all its dad will probably convince it to be a pilot.”

The Maldives is on the radar too, with the pair not opposed to visiting for a third time, this time with bub in tow.

“Maldives would be the ultimate destination for a new addition because the people are wonderful, the resorts are great with kids, there are pools galore and most of all everything you need for an epic stay is on the island,” she says.

“So in short, yes, I’ll tell Jimmy we need to book a Maldives holiday immediately!”

Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays premieres on Foxtel’s LifeStyle channel August 29 at 8.30pm AEST, also streaming on BINGE and on the LifeStyle app, available on Hubbl