19 January 2018

Trip ideas to celebrate a special occasion Struggling to find a gift to mark a milestone? Surprise and delight on that ‘big’ birthday or wedding anniversary with travel. You don’t have to blow the budget with an all-expenses paid holiday, though. Why not plan a memorable excursion during your next holiday together? Could you buy tickets for their favourite band, a sporting event, or even a gardening show? Or, what about a show stopping day trip they’ll remember for years to come? Travel creates lifelong memories and often, it’s the experiences we remember. The day trip on the train, champagne fizzing in the glass as the sweeping countryside rolled past. The Michelin-starred restaurant that made the foodie grin from ear to ear. Seeing tiny turtles hatch on the beach under a night sky. No matter their interests, make this the year that you create a show stopping gift to surprise and delight. And don’t forget, I can help you plan the perfect surprise, from arranging excursions to train travel to champagne in your room. Read on to discover some of our favourite ways to celebrate a momentous occasion… Indulge in afternoon tea To some, afternoon tea may be “just” a cup of tea and a few bites to eat. For us though, afternoon tea feels like the perfect way to spoil someone on a special occasion and it seems more indulgent than going out for dinner. What is it that makes afternoon tea so magical? It’s the glamour of silverware and a bone china tea service. Formal waiting staff offering just the right amount of sweet and savoury nibbles. The opulent surroundings that are so different from the everyday. You’ll find afternoon tea across the world, so it’s easy to add to your existing holiday plans. In Singapore, head to Raffles. In Dubai, take High Tea at the world’s tallest hotel, Burj Al Arab. One of my favourite places, though, has to be The Ritz in London. If you’re hoping to truly dazzle, why not combine champagne afternoon tea at The Ritz with a night at the hotel? Spot animals in the wild Have they always wanted to spot exotic birds soaring through the sky? To see polar bears on the ice? Orangutans swinging from tree to tree? There’s really nothing quite like seeing an animal in the wild. And, the glimpses of these spectacular creatures in their habitat is something that stays with you for a lifetime. You could plan an entire holiday around watching wildlife or, simply add a secret excursion to your next trip, planned before you head off on your holiday. Even if you’re visiting a country not known for its wildlife, chances are there will be flora and fauna for you to see! For orangutans, head to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Borneo. For whales, head to Hermanus in South Africa for Southern Right Whales. For polar bears, don’t miss the polar bear migration in Churchill, Canada. For elephants, see the largest concentration of elephants in Africa in Chobe National Park, Botswana. For endangered mountain gorillas, try Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Uganda. And for a whole host of fascinating creatures, few places can beat the Galápagos Islands. Sit back and watch the world roll by, champagne in hand Why not indulge in a trip aboard a luxury train? Exquisite service and sumptuous décor that takes you back to the glamour of a bygone era is a truly wonderful way to mark a special occasion. You’ll find luxury trains all over the world, from The Ghan in Australia to the Belmond British Pullman in England to the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada, and they offer a range of itineraries. You could spend an afternoon on a railway close to home or add a train journey to your next holiday. Celebrate with their favourite hobby: tennis, gardening, football, music, theatre, cooking. From green fingers to stage stars, I can help you to plan a trip so your loved one can indulge in their favourite hobby. Perhaps you’d like to combine a weekend in the city with a theatre show or sports match? Maybe a surprise excursion on your next holiday together? Whatever you’re thinking of, I can plan it all for you! Spoil them with a travel gift card Can't quite decide where they'd like to go or what they'd like to do? Let your special someone decide with a Travel Counsellors travel gift card! Get in touch with me, let me know the amount you'd like the gift card for, and I’ll arrange a gift card for you!