30 April 2020

I hope that this communication finds you well and that you are all coping with these unusual times. It's certainly been a strange few months. I thought it might be useful to give you an insight into what has been happening in this industry over the last 8 weeks or so. As you can imagine, it has been far from business as usual and extremely challenging to say the least. When this outbreak first started to impact on the travel industry in mid-February I had multiple clients who were about to depart on their holiday or adventure. Some of these were once in a lifetime experiences and others for clients who travel every month. Each was as important as the other and at that point we were giving out advice as given by the relevant international governments and many clients decided to travel as the situation was evolving. I kept in touch with them on a regular basis whilst abroad and gave updates where necessary if advice was changing. I also had clients away on longer trips who had departed before anyone was aware of what was starting to unfold. As a Travel Counsellor, I have always worked from a home office. This turned out to be a massive benefit. Our fantastic IT infrastructure was already set up to work in this way. There was no need for a change of working arrangements and therefore we were perfectly placed to service our clients need unlike the majority of other travel providers Once we got to a situation where it was becoming more and more obvious that things were getting more serious, our first concern was getting people home as soon as they could. As a company we had thousands of clients all over the world but keeping in touch and understanding each individuals circumstances meant that we repatriated customers with little fuss and delay. My clients can contact me at any time of the day or night by phone, email, text, WhatsApp etc and we have a 24 hour emergency team available. This means that we could hold options on flight seats whilst local arrangements were made without obligation. I know that customers of the bigger on-line travel agencies had no such guidance and help and many were left to their own devices and paid thousands to get back. I also have clients based in foreign countries who needed to get home from the UK and again they were rebooked as soon as was practical The bigger issue was forward bookings going into April (covering Easter) and May. Foreign office advice was changing daily if not hourly. Visa requirements, airline schedules were in a state of flux and advice given one day was not valid the next. This gave us a huge challenge and one not helped by the chaos in the airline industry. It wasn't always possible to give an immediate answer as to whether a trip could be rebooked for a later dates, or cancelled completely. The majority of my clients did not want to completely miss out on a trip which they may have saved for and looked forward to over many months. I have rebooked many of these for late 2020 or 2021 and in most cases at no additional costs and I thank you for your patience whilst we sort these out. It's now likely that the majority of bookings in June will also be impacted, but rest assured I will be here to give advice and reassurance should your plans have to change. It's going to take time to work through. The logistics are previously unimaginable but we are working around the clock. Some providers (tour operators, airlines) are not helping by rapidly changing terms and conditions or back tracking on rebooking and refund commitments. This has sometimes lead to difficult conversations with clients but in each case we have your back It's still uncertain times and a constantly evolving and fluid situation although there is definitely still confidence and determination for us all to get travelling again. This week I have booked a river cruise, a holiday to the Caribbean and a trip to Peru all for either Christmas or for 2021. If you're dreaming of a trip when this is all over, why not get something in the diary. I'd be delighted to start making bookings for you and helping to give you something to look forward to There are always challenges in this industry - terrorist attacks, natural disasters, airline failures etc and this is when a professional travel agent rises to the fore and becomes an essential ally to the customer. We will survive and be better for it in the future because ultimately we care about our clients, their experiences and outcomes and will try harder than anyone else Thanks for being a client (or a potential client if you're reading this) and don't hesitate to get in touch at any time. If you family friends or colleagues that may benefit from my service please shout it from the rooftops Stay well

14 June 2018

Away from the more commercial parts of Eastern Crete like Malia and Agios Nikolaos the Western areas of Crete offer a more authentic experience. The airport at Chania is now receiving more arrivals and gives easier access to the area. There are some of the best beaches in Europe located here, in particular the beach at Georgioupolis. I stayed here at the fabulous Anemos Luxury Grand Resort. The hotel opened in 2016 and is a beautiful property. It has a mountainous backdrop and overlooks the huge bay. It's a polished 5-star hotel without the eyewatering prices that similar standard hotels in the likes of Elounda charge. Set on the huge beach with its shallow waters and soft sand, it offers a range of room types from regular deluxe, to family duplexes and accommodation with private pools. We enjoyed this hotel so much that we are returning this year. A good choice for families and couples alike. There is a high standard buffet restaurant for breakfast and dinner along with two speciality restaurants. A large pool area means that you won't be short of sunbeds although many guests spend the day beach-side where there is a bar/restaurant for lunch and a large private area with comfortable sunbeds Georgioupolis is a 30-minute walk down the beach past numerous beach bars which have a bit of a Caribbean feel. There are a handful of restaurants in town and a pretty church on the beach Chania is a must see. The locals claim that this is the most beautiful of all Greek cities. Set around a harbour, it is a Venetian port with tall pastel coloured buildings, cobbled streets, restaurants and boutique shops. It's a fabulous place to visit in the evening and take dinner. Prices are affordable, there is a great choice (there is a Turkish influence to many dishes) and the standards are very high. Car-hire would also be a good idea. There are many archaeological sites on the island including the main attraction - Knossos. In addition, there are multiple hiking opportunities in the area with gorges and mountains on the doorstep. You can also head to the pink sand beach of Elafonissi in the South Western corner which is a fantastic day trip. Despite being the largest Greek Island, Western Crete is a fabulous choice for a get away from the crowds. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with me for personal feedback.

21 March 2018

I have just returned from a fabulous educational visit to South Africa. I have sent hundreds of clients here over the years and this trip was a great opportunity to see the country first hand. And what an experience it was! We started our adventure in Johannesburg staying at the Sandton Sun Hotel. Many clients only pass through en-route to the game reserves or Eastern Cape, but it is definitely an opportunity missed. The highlight was a cycling tour around Soweto - some may imagine that this may be out of their comfort zone but having seen this for myself it would be a shame to miss out. It's the safest area of Johannesburg despite its huge size and in parts, grinding poverty. We were welcomed by everyone we met. It’s a city in itself with an estimated population of 4 million. From there we flew to Mpumulanga on the edge of Kruger staying firstly in White River at the Country Boutique hotel which is a lovely B&B. From there we drove the Panorama Route taking in the majestic scenery of God's Window and Blyde Canyon. The next stop was a charming resort in Hazyview called Hippo Hollow on the banks of the Sabi River. As the name suggests, the hotel is located right in front of an area where hippos congregate and leave the river to eat in the evenings We were then fortunate enough to spend two nights in two different game reserves - Beck's Safari Lodge in Karongwe Game Reserve and Makalali Main Lodge in the Makalali Private Game Reserve. A game drive is one of the must-do's in travel. An indescribable experience to see animals in their natural environment There is so much more to South Africa including the Battlefields, Eastern Cape, Garden Route, Wine lands and a trip to this fabulous country needs to be high on everyone's bucket list.

21 June 2012

Japan is a country that I have wanted to visit for as long as I can remember and when the opportunity arose I grabbed it with both hands. My trip included visits to Kyoto and Osaka with the two cities being around 30 miles apart. Kyoto was the capital of Japan for 1000 years and is the best destination to experience the cultural and traditional side to the country. Many buildings in the city are traditional wooden structures that are protected by law and therefore the city has a historical feeling to it. It sits in the foothills of Japan (Japan is a very mountainous country) and this adds to the atmosphere. Most visitors will spend their time here visiting temples, museums and the countryside and this is a contrast to the usual image of a high tech country. It is incredibly clean although there are no visible bins! People are incredibly welcoming and friendly and Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. I would strongly recommend taking advice before travelling to Japan. It can be confusing for first time visitors from the UK. Many signs and information are in Japanese and it would be essential to use a guide for the many cultural places of interest. I stayed at the Westin Mayako which is one of the few Western chains in the city. The Japanese chains (ANA, Nikko etc) really cater for the local market. The Westin is a great standard and conveniently located. Give me a call if you're interested in visiting this fascinating country,

23 October 2009

Two hours by road south of the popular resort town of Krabi lies Koh Lanta. If you're looking for a more authentic Thai experience but would still prefer the sophistication of good standard hotels then Koh Lanta is worth a look. It's been a favoured destination for Scandinavian tourists for many years and it has only recently opened up to the general European market, but it is unspoilt by western influence and offers a laid back atmosphere, great beaches and towns and villages redolent of by-gone times. It's easy to twin centre with Krabi, its bigger mainland sister to the north, and although Koh Lanta is an island the transfer buses use two ferries to get there each of which takes no more than five minutes and run numerous times per hour. I stayed at the Rawi Warin Resort and Spa which is set into the hillside down to a sandy beach with few tourists. It's a good base and less expensive than properties of a similar standard in the more popular resorts. It's possible to visit the Phi Phi Island on a day trip by boat if the mood takes you and there are numerous alternative excursion possibilities. Flights to Krabi from Bangkok take an hour and 20 minutes and operate 5 times a day - most hotels on Koh Lanta offer a meet and greet service to take you straight to your hotel.

01 July 2008

Delhi is a fantastic city and a great starting point to ease yourself into the wonderful chaos of India. Where fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty collide and palaces and hovels sit side by side. The capital of united India, it is the 3rd largest city in the subcontinent after Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta). India was a country I'd wanted to visit for as long as I can remember and it would take many months to do the whole country justice - probably a year or more. But in the 10 days I had to spare I chose Delhi as my starting point and wasn't disappointed. The city is divided into two very distinct centres - New Delhi with it's wide boulevards, mansions and embassies to the south and Mughal Old Delhi with it's overcrowded frenzy of narrow streets and alleys to the north. Delhi isn't a beautiful city but it is an exciting one and after a while you get to see past the peeling paint and realise that you are in one of the great cities of the world. I loved the noise and the smells and the volume of people. Some cities are renowned for people watching - Paris, Milan, Monte Carlo etc but people watching in India is on a totally different level - this is travelling at its best. There are more than 1,300 listed monuments in Delhi however the must see sights on my agenda included :- Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) - The largest mosque in India capable of holding 25,000 people Lal Qila (Red Fort) - A huge structure surrounded by 1.5 miles of red sandstone wall up to 110 feet high. India Gate - India's main war memorial to World War 1 Connaught Place - New Delhi's commercial centre Raj Ghat - A serene park south of the Red Fort which marks the site of Mahatma Gandhi's cremation. This is only a small sample and there are enough attractions to fill a fortnight's stay. For me, a major element of any trip to a new country is the food and India was no exception. I couldn't wait to sample real Indian cuisine. However, India isn't Thailand or Malaysia where you can happily munch your way around outdoor food vendors at any time of day or night. In India this can be a very bad idea and even the locals warned us off sampling backstreet food. There are probably a few exceptions but the best restaurants are run by the hotels and they offer food from all over the subcontinent. There are numerous hotels in Delhi and some of the best hotels in the world are to be found in India. There are some great standard luxury options, notably the Taj Mahal, The Oberoi and the Shangri-La. There tends to be only 2 standards - superbly run international hotels, and everything else. Unfortunately there is little to offer in the 3-4 star range. I stayed at the Taj Mahal which I can highly recommend. It's well located and has all the modern amenities you'd expect of a 5 star hotel. We tried not to use the hotel's own transport as this can cost up to 4 times as much as a local taxi. Instead we took advantage of the local auto-rickshaw! It can be a bit of a triple A ride but I found it's the cheapest, fastest and most exhilarating way to get around. Delhi is fabulous and is a great springboard to the rest of India. From here the golden triangle route taking in Agra in Jaipur is the most popular trip but it's just a starting point. The opportunities are endless. Enjoy - I did!

01 July 2008

Sadly, my first trip to India was a short one and I wanted to combine Delhi with somewhere a bit different. Most visitors to Delhi will then head off to Agra and Jaipur to see the Taj Mahal and the Palace of the Winds but I was travelling alone and thought those places would be best seen at some time in the future. Plus the fact it's where everyone goes and I was looking for something else. So I decided to travel to Udaipur. Often referred to as the City of Lakes it is somewhere that I'd been looking at in guidebooks for years and seemed to be a perfect destination to relax after the chaos of Delhi. Set around two main lakes - Pichola and Fateh Sagar the city is dominated by the City Palace which is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. Half of the palace is still the private residence of the royal family but the remainder is open to the public and well worth a visit - the views are spectacular and it is reasonably compact. I used one of the local guides to show me around - they are cheap, informative and will go at a pace to suit you. For me, Udaipur epitomised everything I expected from India - elephants bathing in the lakes, cows wandering the streets, stalls with mountains of brightly coloured sweets and narrow alleys filled with humanity. It's a fairytale city that is often overlooked by visitors. I made the effort to walk the 9km around Fateh Sagar, one of the two main lakes. It takes about two hours although you need to allow a bit more time if you visit Nehru Park which is an island in the middle of the lake named after prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. You take a small ferry from the jetty area which costs a few rupees. The lake is surrounded by hills and gardens and is a pleasant and worthwhile walk. There was another attraction which led me to Udaipur - The Oberoi Udaivilas Hotel. Staying in one of the best hotels in the world might seem to defeat the object of visiting India at all but being a Travel Agent, I had to see what all the fuss was about. I've stayed in some fabulous hotels over the years in many parts of the world but this hotel was in a different league. It's impossibly luxurious - a fantasy hotel set on the shores of Lake Pichola. The buildings look like an old palace, but it was custom built and is the flagship of the Oberoi group. Impeccable service in beautiful natural surroundings with huge rooms and fabulous public areas. It boasts a spa operated by Banyan Tree and most suites have semi-private pools. It even has it's own clean water supply. If you only ever stay in one luxury hotel, make it this one. Udaipur was the highlight of my first trip to India and I would urge anyone who loves travel to visit.