11 December 2024

Wherever your next trip will take you, I hope you’re looking forward to the amazing memories you’re sure to create. To help ensure that you tread a little lighter and enrich the places you visit along the way, I’ve gathered some top tips for responsible travelling that I’ve assembled with support from our sustainable tourism charity partner, The Travel Foundation. Before you travel • Pack a reusable water bottle – many places have refill stations available, but it’s always best to check that water is safe to drink. • Think reusable when it comes to packing. Water bottles, coffee cups, and reusable straws can be great ways to save on plastic while you are away. • Travel light – when you’re packing, think about how you can reduce the weight of your luggage. Any extra weight on board a flight adds to emissions and will be extra weight for you to carry around once you arrive. • Pack soap and shampoo bars instead of bottles to save on space and plastic. • Pack a tote bag to carry any shopping you pick up along the way. • Use reef-safe sunscreen – this will help prevent harmful chemicals from entering the ocean when you go swimming. • Look for accommodation with sustainability certifications – at Travel Counsellors, our Green Leaf label is an easy-to-spot sign that the accommodation is working to reduce its environmental impact and better support local communities. If you are unsure, you can always ask your Travel Counsellor for more information. • Look into carbon offsetting options for your trip. These are by no means perfect, but they help to compensate for carbon emissions from travel. While you’re away • Look for alternatives to internal flights - travelling by train can be a time- and cost-effective way to see more of the country you’re visiting, dropping you right into the heart of a city. • In your accommodation, keep heating or cooling systems in your room moderate, and remember to turn the lights, appliances, and air-con off when you leave. • Use water considerately, especially in areas where it’s scarce. Shorter showers save an average of 15 litres per minute. • Look for opportunities to get off the tourist trail and see some alternative sites. • Seek out locally-owned businesses and artisans – you’ll often find the best traditional dishes and souvenirs in these places. • Look for ways to get around on foot, by bicycle, or via public transport before you flag down a taxi. • Refrain from using plastic straws or other single-use items while you’re out and about. • Include a visit to a national park or protected area – funds from visitors help to keep these open and continue the work they do in protecting and restoring high biodiversity areas. • Choose souvenirs that are locally made from sustainable materials, avoiding anything made from endangered species such as coral. • Ask me about arranging a local guide – this will give you the inside track on the places you visit and access to the best hidden gems. Safe travels :)

09 December 2024

This year I was delighted to be invited on an 8 day tour of Sri Lanka with Exodus travel. Having never been on a tour before I was excited to see what it would be like and if my expectations were correct. In short I loved it!! It was such an easy, stress free way to travel. The guide was amazing, so generous with his knowledge, so I really felt that I got under the skin of the country and our every need was taken care of. Here is my diary from the trip - Day 1 of my cultural triangle tour of Sri Lanka.... Lovely to be met at the airport by our tour guide Dilip, and escorted to our air conditioned bus, as the heat on arrival was overwhelming after a long journey. Our tour is 16 passengers, & the bus has twice as many seats so plenty of space & very comfortable. Our hotel for the night was only 30 minutes from the airport, perfect for some rest & delicious fish dinner, ready to head to Sigiriya the next day. As soon as you arrive here you are struck by the noise of the traffic, tuktuks, bikes & an original way of driving!! Along the roadside are lots of small businesses, shrines & activity. Everywhere is so green, it is beautiful ?? Day 2 ...the itinerary today was a four hour drive & then a climb up Sigiyira (Lions Rock) ...neither of which I was relishing, but I had a fantastic day. The journey was very comfortable, interesting & went very quickly due to the tour guide entertaining us, we even had Sri Lankan singing, & the wonderful views of Sri Lankan life out the window...plus a quick snooze ! We stopped to watch men working their way through opening a huge pile of coconuts, in the heat, & learn how they use all parts of the coconut in this amazing country. On the tours the guides will stop when there is something they think the group will be interested in. Along the way we also saw lots of monkeys, deer & two elephants just hanging around on the side of the road, which was magical.?? There are plenty of comfort stops included, but you're not hanging around, & all the facilities were very clean & only one squat toilet so far, although others were available! After a delicious lunch at the beautiful Ariya hotel we headed to the rock. Famous for it's historical significance, with ruins from 5th century, it is an ancient rock fortress with ruins at the bottom & the top which is nearly 200 meters high. It dates back to 400AD, and you can see the walls decorated with frescoes, and the remains of an impressive palace right on top of the rock column, accessible only through the mouth of an enormous carved lion. The climb up was precarious, on very narrow steps, metal staircases & a bridge, but we made it! Spectacular views & bonkers that a palace was built at the top. After all that exercise a cold beer was waiting in the bus .. perfect. We returned to a swim & a well earned meal. Your tour guide advises you with options of where to eat. This hotel is now for 2 nights & is really lovely. Day 3 ....having spent the night in a beautiful hotel near the base of Sigiyira rock we made our way on the coach to the national park & Polonnaruwa ancient capital with archeological ruins from 12th century. Being on a tour has lots of benefits including having someone to tell you what time to be ready, what to bring, so you can relax & let someone else be in charge of all arrangements. We enjoyed a cycle tour around the ruins, with the coach & a back up vehicle, so it was easy to leave things on the bus & grab them when needed, especially for the sacred places where you need shoulders & knees covered. If you don't want to participate in any activity then that is no problem. Now for an authentic Sri Lankan lunch & the elephants!! ?? Day 4 ...this morning was a short drive to Dambulla caves, which was home to the king in 12th century, & where he installed many many Buddhas. The caves are super hot, but seeing the beautiful Buddhas is worth it. We learnt so much from our guide Dilip about the history & Buddhism as a way of life, which was fascinating. I'm certainly learning much more being on a group tour. Various forms of transport today including a tractor called a Land Master, the Sri Lankan version of a catamaran & a tuk tuk to see the rice fields, coconut drinking Sri Lankan styley & the most delicious meal in the home of a lovely local family. They were perfect hosts, with all the family involved & then demonstrated some of their local skills. Day 5 .... Spice Garden & Peradeniya Botanical Gardens Loved visiting the spice garden where we learnt all about the different spices & their medicinal benefits, then had an invigorating massage. We also had the opportunity to plant a tree each, & see some that were planted by previous Exodus customers a few years ago. The botanical gardens are beautiful & today it was full of hundreds of school kids in their smart white uniforms, enjoying the gardens. Day 7 ...tea, tea & more tea? We picked it, watched the process of production from bush to packet, drank it & drove past miles & miles of plantations in the mountains. The temperature here is only 20 degrees, so much cooler than we are used to. Today was supposed to be on the train, but sadly it broke down, so we were back on the coach. However the speed at which the tour guide arranged a new itinerary was super impressive. The train is an experience on its own. The carriages have no doors or windows , are very busy, with passengers sitting in the doorways or literally hanging outside the train! Day 8 ... lots of driving today back towards the airport, with the highlight definitely being white water rafting. It was something I've always wanted to do, although was rather nervous! The rapids were grade 3 down to 1, so perfect for beginners. Of course I fell in!!!....but it all added to the experience & fortunately came away without any injuries! The scenery along the river was beautiful & so peaceful. We finished by body rafting which I loved!! Final day of cultural triangle tour of Sri Lanka....Colombo is a vibrant, westernised city, very different to everywhere else we have seen in Sri Lanka. We had a fantastic final meal at a local hotel & cocktails at the rooftop bar, which was a great way to end the trip. Sharing these experiences with a group of like minded people was a privilege. We started as strangers but definitely ended as friends. Whether you are travelling solo, in a couple or with friends, an organised tour is a fabulous way to explore.

17 January 2023

5 go on a Christmas adventure 2022 Having never even been out for Christmas lunch, we decided to escape the stresses of Christmas at home as a special holiday to celebrate our 50ths. I'm a massive Christmas fan, but over the years the sparkle & magic has been replaced with high expectations, hard work & less sparkle & magic than I am happy with! So time for a reset! In the run up to the holiday I didn't feel the need to book numerous activities, fill the cupboards & freezer with copious calorific food or spend hours & a fortune on presents. Instead I could concentrate on making sure we had what we needed for a Christmas at Sea! Here’s how it went…. Day 1 Cracking flight with Virgin extra leg room seats for the ever growing tall members of the team was well worth it. Felt like a movie star in our transfer BMW van with blacked out windows! Arrived at @pelicanbeach to a fab family room, with balcony overlooking the sea. Best view ever. I've never stayed in a room literally on the beach & I love it. A walk along the beach with a glorious sunset & dinner of fish tacos was all we could manage before bed called Day 2... Mostly lazing around on the lovely sandy beach, swimming in the sea or pool, or floating round the lazy river. Tough life!! We took a stroll along the coast road to explore some of Fort Lauderdale. One yummy dinner later & back for an evening chill on the beach. Gorgeous hotel, right on the beach. Perfect for a night or two pre or post cruise Day 3... This was the first day of our Christmas cruise. We embarked at Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale onto the fabulous Celebrity Reflection. Getting onboard is really easy...you leave your luggage at the dock, & see it again in the cabin. Check in is online via the app, so all very efficient. We explored the ship, settled into our cabins & got stuck into the sunbathing! We had 2 balcony interconnecting cabins, which is perfect for our needs with 2 teenagers & a 7 year old. To see the schedule of events, your account & itinerary information you just look at the app or have a newsletter left on your bed each night. The highlight of the day was dinner at Le Petit Chef. An animated dining experience with fabulous food. This is one of many speciality restaurants on board. Day 4... Christmas Eve day at sea.. I had no idea what to expect in terms of how "Christmassy" this trip would be. Well, the ship is beautifully decorated, with numerous gorgeous trees, a central Christmas display & lovely foliage with lights around. The show tonight was a "Holiday Spectacular" (it is an American line) which got us in the Christmas mood. The highlight of the day for Edie was the kids party where she got to make lots of Christmas crafts ..we were the last to leave The highlight for the adults was lying in the 27 degree sun not having to think about food preparation or any chores! Santa did find us on the cruise, Edie had put a map in with her letter, so all was well for the 400 kids on board Sea days are obviously the busiest of all, but we got loungers where we wanted, swam in the pool & ate lunch in the sun Very relaxing Christmas Eve Day 5... Christmas Day The day started as usual with a very excited girl that Santa had come! More importantly he had found us in the Atlantic Ocean, thanks to the map she put in with her letter. After stockings & pressies, we had a yummy breakfast (the choice on board is incredible). The morning was spent sunbathing whilst sipping Mimosas, enjoying the relaxing view of the ocean. We docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico in the afternoon & had a stroll around the old town & the forts. The town has a real Spanish feel, with colonial buildings but is an American territory. At dusk the Christmas lights came on, & the party started. It seemed everyone came out to meet up & celebrate, so the constant sound of firecrackers & music gave it a special vibe. Back on board turkey was on the menu for dinner, although I was the only one to choose it There was plenty of entertainment available every evening, however the day had proved too exhausting for the youngest member of the team, so that's when having a cabin with a balcony is perfect. It was lovely to be able to have a truly relaxing day & I will never forget my Christmas day in the sun

16 January 2023

Day 6...Boxing Day Our next itinerary stop is the island of Sint Maarten. Famous for being an island of two halves...Sint Maarten, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is a country on the southern part of a Caribbean island shared with Saint Martin, a French overseas collectivity. Its natural features span lagoons, beaches and salt pans. The capital, Philipsburg, has cobblestone streets and colorful, colonial-style buildings. This part of the Caribbean was hit by Hurricane Irma in 2017, the results of which are still sadly very obvious. The beach we visited had soft golden sand, turquoise sea & perfect temperature sea for swimming. Also great for little people to jump the waves. Joshua fulfilled a dream to jetski, so for 30 minutes my heart was in my mouth as he whizzed around. Darren also fulfilled a dream as he got to crew on an America's cup yacht. Happy boys! Day 7...The British Virgin Island of Tortola Today we took a stroll into Road Town & then bus/taxi on a hairy journey to the beach on the other side of the island. We drove up & down the steep mountains, with lots of tooting & bumps! The beach was stunning with turquoise sea, golden sand & a lovely breeze, surrounded by lush mountains. Our guide Vincent told us that 90% of the island was destroyed by Irma There are always excursions that can be booked with the cruise line, or you can organise it yourself but always make sure you leave plenty of time to get back onboard before departure as they will go without you Lovely evening of sundowner cocktails & dinner. In the evenings on board there is plenty of entertainment to choose from... shows in the theatre, bars, live music & dancing. Something for everyone Day 7...US Virgin Island St Thomas Today was sightseeing day so the 3 Musketeers (the boys stayed on board to chill) went to the Paradise point cable car for a fantastic view. Here we enjoyed a Bailey's frappe called a Bushwhacker... unexpected but very enjoyable The Pirate museum was entertaining and who knew there were so many famous pirates including some cool girls!!? Magen beach on the island is in the top 10 of beaches in the world, so not to be missed. Downtown is worth exploring with shopping and 99 steps to explore. We felt more of an American than Caribbean vibe on the island. It was a great day and a really enjoyable port stop. Day 8...Day at Sea Fantastic, relaxing day at sea. Fun to watch Cool Runnings on the lawn at the outdoor cinema. Ice cream & cocktails on tap all day Day 9... Nassau, Bahamas Final stop! Great for last minute shopping, colonial buildings and a final swim in the turquoise sea. We snorkelled & chilled on the beach, catching the final rays before it all came to an end Worth getting a taxi to a quieter part of the island, away from the port. Day 10... Miami & homeward bound There are various excursions you can do on the last day including a tour of Miami, so you don’t need to worry about your luggage or getting to the airport as it’s all included. We spent our few hours in Bayside where you can take a boat trip to see the houses of the rich & famous on the islands, shop, eat and chill before the journey home ! A great holiday for everyone, although we agreed it was a weird being in the heat on Christmas day! We love the freedom on a cruise ship we can give the teenagers without worrying, plenty for little one to do on board and our every need is taken care of for us, so everyone is a winner!!

24 February 2020

The week started with the family full of colds and Storm Dennis! To say I was a little apprehensive about how successful our French “Road Trip” was going to be, is an understatement. As a family of 5, and with a large age range (2 x 13 year old boys and 1 x 4 year old girl), planning holidays takes a fair bit of time and effort to get it right (which of course I love!) As anyone with more than 2 children knows finding accommodation is often a challenge without it costing the earth, or parents having to be in separate rooms – neither of which appeals to us. Finding itineraries that work for all our interests is another challenge, but I pride myself on having always achieved this – but I definitely had a wobble about this one! Essentially we were combining WWII history with Disney! Definitely a bespoke trip! So the plan was Eurotunnel to Calais, nip up to Dunkirk to see the site of the evacuation , drive down to Honfleur to enjoy the pretty town and French cuisine, before finding our hotel in Caen where we were to stay for 2 nights in a family room. A day of exploring Normandy , 4 nights in Les Villages Nature at Disneyland to include a day trip to Paris, some chill out time on the site and 2 days of Disney parks. Something for everyone I thought! Battling Storm Dennis, our journey took somewhat longer than anticipated, with the stop to potter around Honfleur permanently cancelled, and ended with 2 adults in desperate need of a glass of wine – turns out driving through a storm is pretty exhausting! TOP TIP: If you are travelling on the A86 from Caen to Paris in a high vehicle there is a section with a 2m height restriction, which phased us for a small time (we have a VW Caravelle). The hotel was great, with comfy beds for all 5 of us, great breakfast, good restaurant nearby ( wine was consumed) and really close to the amazing Memorial museum in Caen. Make sure you have at least a couple of hours to do it properly as it is done really well, and engaging for all ages. We took the coast road from Pegasus Bridge to Arramanche – war cemeteries, the floating harbour, sword and gold beaches all along the route. It is a long stretch and you can keep going to Omaha. Les Village Nature is a great alternative to the Disney hotels, whilst still giving you the Magic hours extra. It has a fabulous swimming pool on site included, busy but provides body floats for little ones. Loads of other activities to do for a charge, and lovely surroundings to explore but alas we ran out of time. If you can take bikes that would be ideal. We stayed in a Cocoon VIP Apartment which slept 6 comfortably, great kitchen , lovely jacuzzi bath and shower. Great pizzas in the Italian restaurant and had a lovely French meal at Cepages. Supermarket on site is very expensive so good to know the Val d’Europe shopping centre 10 minutes away has a huge Auchan, for all your needs. Our day trip to Paris was successful, with the Eiffel Tower now added to the kids list of places they have visited. The train from Disney was really easy and we were blessed with a morning of sunshine to walk along the Seine, past the Louvre, up the Champs Elysses to the Tour Eiffel. Then onto the bit Edie and I were very excited about …..Disneyland Paris. Clearly in half term it’s never going to be quiet, but with good planning before hand so you know which rides you want to do you can best schedule your day. You can purchase Fast pass for some rides at additional cost. If you want to see a special show, or Princess Pavillion then you must make sure you are at the park gates to get in at 8.30am. Remember to add at least 30 mins for time to get parked and get to the entrance. For maximum efficiency download the Disneyland Paris app and the Lineberty app for many of the meet and greets and don’t forget your autograph book. Our favourites: Crush rollercoaster, Mickey and the Magician show, all things Frozen, Toy Story soldiers ride, 4D cinema, Big Thunder Mountain, Stitch Live 13-year-old perspective: "You don't have to be little to still enjoy it" Adult perspective: “Forget the rides - I love the shows, parades and fireworks” 4-year-old perspective: “Going on the Dumbo ride made me very, very ,very, very happy” On reflection, I am pleased to be able to say that our week was a success, helped by a bit of sunshine every day, some yummy food and wine, and a Jacuzzi bath!!! Of course we had the usual family challenges but as we reluctantly made our way home the wise 4-year-old said: “Being on holiday is the best, but being at home is really good too”

14 January 2020

2020 sees a number of major sporting and cultural events which may be of interest to travellers: For those interested in combining watching the Olympics and experiencing a completely different culture, Japan hosts the Olympics during July and August. Closer to home, the beautiful city of Vienna in Austria will be celebrating the 250th birthday of Beethoven with for a feast of events to celebrate the milestone. For a fun city break, Eurovision 2020 is to be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands More widely, here are a few of my top picks for this year ahead: Montenegro – Croatia has become a hugely popular destination over the last few years, however its neighbour Montenegro, is a great alternative. With a mix of centuries-old villages, aristocratic mansions, and many activities beyond its Adriatic lapping pebbly beaches, it has something to offer everyone. If adventure is what you are after you can see amazing wildlife including brown bears and wolves in the national parks. Combine this with the sun-drenched, crowd-free coast and it’s a winner. Cruising into Montenegro will forever be one of my holiday highlights, I remain in awe at its beauty. Yosemite National Park in California has seen an increase in comfortable accommodation in the last year giving more options for sleeping in the shadow of the famous El Capitan. ‘YoYo’, as it is known in our family, still ranks as our all-time favourite holiday experience. It is a fabulous addition to any Californian road trip where you can truly experience ‘wilderness’. There is so much to do from hiking through the forests of towering redwoods to listening to ‘park ranger’ stories about bears! For a city break how about a visit to Budapest, on the banks of the Danube? The city will see seven new 5-star hotels open over the next couple of years. Visit the famous Gellart spa bath to experience its spring water pools. Also to see and experience are the opera house, churches and the market. Plenty to keep you busy! Alaska – traditionally a destination for cruisers, but this is not the only way to discover the vast landscapes, varied wildlife - from bears to whales, and breath-taking scenery. In the warmer months with long days, there is ample opportunity for hiking, fishing and kayaking. In March, the city of Fairbanks hosts the World Ice Art Championships. For my money, Rocky Mountaineer in Canada should be on everyone’s bucket list and in 2020 it celebrates its 30th birthday. The world-renowned, luxury train travels by daylight through the wild beauty of Canada’s West and is the best way to experience the majestic Canadian Rockies. The biggest trend in travel we will see this year will be customers wanting to understand more about how to travel in a more sustainable way. I have some top tips for clients about what to look out for when they are away, and of course provide advice about how to make sustainable choices on how to travel, where to stay and how to support local communities. For those wishing to stay in the UK, I can help clients find ‘close to home’ experiences. There is loads to see and do in our wonderful country. Indeed, Lonely Planet has England as one of its top picks for 2020! If you would like any help with holiday planning please drop me a line at Claire.filmer@travelcounsellors.com, or give me a ring on 01275 350097 and check out my website at www.travelcounsellors.com/Claire.filmer

11 December 2019

I have a philosophy in life not to look back, or where travel is involved not to return to the same place, historically judging those who do so to be unadventurous or unimaginative. Imagine how surprised I then was to discover a place that I now return to on an annual basis - Madeira, or more precisely Funchal. I can only describe it as a little sanctuary, bubble like from the rest of the world for our brief holiday period. There is nothing particularly amazing about it - it is a rugged, volcanic archipelago off the coast of Portugal, which happens to provide a great holiday for my family. We swim in the hotel pool (same hotel), we saunter along the promenade into town, down the main street and stop for ice cream and a cheeky beer, whilst listening to the local musical entertainment. We hire a car for a day and explore another little part of the island. If you want history, natural springs, levadas for walking, mountains, it is all here - including a ferry ride to the island of Porto Santo. We have found some fabulous restaurants which we return to each time, where the kids happily eat rare beef, fresh fish and vegetables that they would complain about at home! The street art on the doors of the main street in the old town always entertain us, as do the street performers. The vibe is very relaxed, unpretentious, weather fairly consistent, food and wine amazing, people really friendly and plenty to keep everyone amused. The flowers are a favourite of mine - the scent is all around you, with a wide selection of colours and varieties. One year we were there for the annual Flower Festival which was just incredible. The designs and shapes made from petals were incredible. The Mercado dos Lavradores is always a fun way to spend a morning, particularly the fish market where you see the huge fish caught that day and how they are skilfully prepared for sale (open Mon - Sat). We have done a catamaran trip to see dolphins; botanical gardens, which you reach via cable car; Monte, which is a romantic escape from it all; followed by the iconic Monte toboggan run back down - madness but much fun! As a treat one year for a special birthday we went to Belmond Reids Palace for afternoon tea which was a fabulous unforgettable experience. A friend of mine recommended visiting at New Year as they have amazing firework displays, so that's definitely on my list for the future. I can't wait to go back!!!!!

10 November 2019

Some top tips for reducing the impact of Jet Lag – Tip No 1…..Drink loads of water and limit caffeine and alcohol (sad but true!) Flying can leave you feeling dehydrated. The more hydrated you can stay, the better prepared your body will be to adjust to a different time zone. Tip No 2…..catch some zzz’s wherever and whenever you can, but not for more than 4 hours, and not as soon as you arrive somewhere. The sooner you can adjust to sleeping in sync with your new destination, the quicker your body will sync to the new time zone. A power nap can help keep jetlag at bay, but don’t sleep for more than 3-4 hours. Tip No 3 – if you are feeling tired get outside and do some exercise or go for a walk, explore a new city. Natural daylight will help your body adjust to a new routine following most flights. Being exposed to light can help teach the body to feel more awake. That's why it's a good idea to introduce some light into your room when waking up. Tip No 4 - Leave the curtains slightly open to make waking up a little easier. If you can go for a walk for an hour when you wake up in a new destination that will help your body adjust even more. Tip No 5 – Try to adjust your time to bed, and wake time, a little to the new time zone a few days before you go. Easier said than done with all the last minute packing and preparing to do I know! Easing into your destination's time zone by adjusting your sleep schedule a few days before you arrive will help. Tip No 6 – change your watch as soon as you begin your journey so you start to sync with your new time zone Tip No 7 – remember travelling is tiring and when people are tired, they become sensitive to things that might not bother them normally. Be kind and patient…it helps everyone. HAPPY TRAVELS