The Silver
Traveller 2019 Issue 1
SEE CAMBODIA AND VIETNAM
CRUISING
Ocean, River and Tall Ship Sailing
JAN LEEMING
Tours Croatia
ALSO INSIDE...
Train Journeys, Touring Namibia, and much more!
JOHN SUCHET
to cruise the Danube
ANGELA RIPPON relaxing in Corfu
Brought to you by your local Advantage travel agent
CONTENTS
Launching our 2020 boutique cruise collection Our 2020 itineraries are now on sale for our luxurious boutique ship Spirit of Discovery, and her even newer sister Spirit of Adventure. From Arctic expeditions to Greenland and Svalbard to cruises to the Amalfi Coast, the USA and the Caribbean, it’s our most exciting collection ever.
Cruise with no more than 999 other guests
Sail all inclusive in 2020
What’s more, from 2020 both ships will include an unlimited selection of drinks on board, along with a chauffeur service up to 250 miles each way†, speciality dining, gratuities, free Wi-Fi and more. Book through your travel agent today.
Dine in five world-class restaurants at no extra charge
Guaranteed by our Price Promise
All inclusive cruises include selected wines at lunch and dinner, Saga house-branded spirits, cocktails containing house-branded spirits, draught beer and lager, non-alcoholic cocktails, all mixers and soft drinks. †Private chauffeur service up to 75 miles each way or shared chauffeur service from 76-250 miles. Please call for further details. Saga’s holidays and cruises are exclusively for the over 50s (but a travelling companion can be 40+). Saga Holidays is a trading name of ST&H Ltd (registration no. 2174052). ST&H Ltd and Saga Cruises Ltd (registration no. 3267858) are subsidiaries of ST&H Group Ltd (registration no. 0720588). All three companies are registered in England and Wales. Registered Offi ce: Enbrook Park, Sandgate, Folkestone, Kent CT20 3SE. With respect to general insurance products sold in the UK, ST&H Ltd is an appointed representative of Saga Services Limited, registered in England and Wales (company no. 732602), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. NTA-SC1154.
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WELCOME to your Silver Traveller Or perhaps we should be calling this your Gold Traveller as we are thrilled to have recently been awarded the accolade of Best Travel Reviews website at the prestigious 2018 British Travel Awards. What makes this award so special is that it’s a consumer vote which determines the winner, and we are grateful to all Silver Travellers who voted in their thousands for their favourite travel reviews site. This means a great deal to the dedicated team here at Silver Towers, and is a real endorsement of our work to provide high quality travel information and advice which can be trusted. It really does not seem possible that we are now 8 years old. The time has flown by since the early days when a team of two were hunched over a laptop on a kitchen table wondering if an idea just might have legs! Since then we have grown a little with 100,000 members now registered as Silver Travellers, and over 150,000 contributions. We’ve introduced a research and training division, and our annual Silver Travel Awards are now a fixed diary date in the calendar, with the voting for the 2019 awards starting on March 1st. Check www.silvertraveladvisor.com for details of the amazing location for our glittering ceremony (and how you can attend), as well as our fabulous celebrity presenter who is a national treasure and has earned huge respect for her tireless work to support older people. Our Silver Traveller magazine has also grown, both in size and stature, and I’m delighted to announce that
THE SILVER TRAVELLER is brought to you by Silver Travel Advisor www.silvertraveladvisor.com service@silvertraveladvisor.com Managing Director: ................................... Debbie Marshall Creative & Communications Director:...... Jennie Carr IT Director: ................................................ Taki Sirianos Partnerships and Promotions Director:.... Gill Haynes Head of Partnerships (non-cruise):........... Lynn Scrivener News Editor: .............................................. Roger Bray Social Media Managers: .......... Carole Tidball, Steve Newman Forum Moderators:.................... Alan Fairfax, Steve Aldridge, David Emerson
this edition is our first that has been created exclusively for distribution by the Advantage Travel Partnership’s network of independent travel agents across the UK. It seems rather fitting with our goal of providing quality information to our readers, as I firmly believe that Advantage’s local travel agents can offer the personal service and trust that we know is so important, as well as having the passion and knowledge to recommend and book the right holiday for you. Despite these changes, some things remain constant, and our ethos and aim to offer friendly personal service and high-quality information is the same as it was when we first started Silver Travel Advisor. We’re still a relatively small team, aged from 57 to 83 years young (gently maturing like fine wine), and we’re united in our belief that travel should be accessible to all. And whatever we can do to make that happen, from finding the trip of a lifetime around the world to a short break by the seaside, we are here to help. Enjoy your Silver Traveller, and here’s to the next 8 years! Best wishes
Debbie Marshall
Ship Visits Coordinator:............... Peter Godliman Silver Travel Book Club Editor..... Andrew Morris Advisors:....................................... Alan Fairfax, Chrissy Nason, Steve Aldridge, David Powell, Dinah Holland, David Graham, Sally Dowling, Peter Lynch, Steve Newman, Petra Shepherd, Gillian Thornton Research & Training: ................... Jane Silk Patron: ......................................... John Carter Designed by: ................................ www.vertigodesign.co.uk Silver Travel Advisor Ltd. is a UK registered company (no. 7408308), c/o Age UK, Tavis House, 1-6 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9NA. Whilst every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information and advertisements in the magazine, the publishers cannot accept any liability for errors or the result of the use of the information.
Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com for travel reviews and information
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CONTENTS
Highlights of your Silver Traveller
Pages 6-9 UK & Channel Islands
Page 36 Expedition Cruises
Page 6 Visit Guernsey and Jersey
Page 37 Tall Ship Cruises
Page 8 Castles on the Border
Page 38 Jan Leeming Tours Croatia
Pages 10-16 Europe Page 13 A weekend in Lausanne Page 15 Relaxing in Corfu Angela Rippon enjoys R&R in Avlake Pages 17-20 Rail Page 21 Cycling and E-bikes Pages 22-23 General Travel
Page 38-40 Single Travel
Page 40 China for one? Page 41 Accessible Travel Page 42-46 Faraway and Exotic Page 42 Solange Hando experiences a grand tour of Namibia Page 43 See Cambodia and Vietnam
Page 24 European Cruises
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Pages 25-31 River Cruises
Pages 47-51 Escorted Touring
Page 28 John Suchet to cruise the Danube
Page 47 Tour South America
Page 30 Just the right ingredients
Page 50 Penny Smith perfectly escorted
Pages 32-35 Ocean Cruises
Page 52 Celebrity Spotlight
Page 32 The Canary Islands for Winter Sun
Page 53 Silver Travel Book Club and TV Page 54 Meet the Team
WHAT IS SILVER TRAVEL ADVISOR?
What is Silver Travel Advisor? Silver Travel Advisor is an award-winning travel reviews, information and advice website, especially for more mature travellers. On it, you will find a wealth of articles about where to go, where to stay and where to avoid, backed by personal service from a veteran team of travel industry professionals, some of whom are retired and work on a voluntary basis. Their backgrounds are diverse, but they are all united by a passion for travel, and their aim is to curate the very best independent guidance and recommendations that can be trusted. So if you would like to contribute reviews about your own travels and holidays, find out more about new destinations, enjoy our magazine or ask a question or two, this is exactly the place for you! Happy Silver Travelling.
Book your holiday with confidence
Silver Travel Advisor encourages the exchange of opinions by its community of 100,000 members, known as Silver Travellers, through the website www.silvertraveladvisor.com, where there are many thousands of reviews and a friendly forum, as well as regular newsletters and social media posts on a lively Facebook page. It’s completely free to become a member, and each month there is the opportunity to join in a prize draw for holidays in the UK and abroad, as well as frequent light-hearted competitions. Every year the Silver Travel Awards celebrate the very best in travel for the over 50s, and voting commences on March 1st for the 2019 awards which will be held in June. The free Silver Traveller magazine is full of articles about locations around the world from travel writer and celebrity contributors. The magazine also highlights recommended partner companies who can be trusted to provide high levels of service and quality, many of which have been road-tested by Silver Travel writers, and are available to book with your local travel agent.
We have recently joined forces with Advantage Travel Partnership, the UK’s largest consortium for independent travel agents, to help provide you with trusted recommendations of who to book your travel with. Our recent research has highlighted how much our members use high street travel agents to book their holidays, so our partnership with Advantage is very appropriate. There are over 350 travel agency businesses who are part of the Advantage Travel Partnership, spread across the length and breadth of the UK. Member agencies offer you a wider range of products and services than many other larger, non-independent, travel companies and provide unbiased advice with personal service to help select the right holiday for you. Booking with one of the Advantage associated agencies also means your money is financially secure, the service you receive is exemplary, and you enjoy exceptional value for money.
For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page
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UK AND CHANNEL ISLAND HOLIDAYS
10 Reasons to Visit Guernsey
Lily James and Michiel Huisman in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Debbie Marshall shares her top tips 1. Don’t use the J word (Jersey)! Guernsey has its own charm, its own history and there’s plenty to see and do for a week’s holiday or a shorter stay. 2. Visit the Underground Hospital and the other sites which recall the German occupation during World War 2, brought to life in the book and movie – The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
Jersey Gillian Thornton takes to island life…night and day!
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’ve never been one for assignations in car parks, but an al fresco late-night rendezvous was the start of an unforgettable adventure in Jersey. I was taking part in the Full Moon Walk, a guided moonlight ramble across the sea bed when the tide is at its monthly low. Look into rock pools; see your moon shadow; and maybe spot the luminous glow of hidden sea worms. Run by Jersey Walk Adventures, it is just one great
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3. Enjoy the freshest of seafood at one of the many restaurants along the harbour at St. Peter Port, as well as a wealth of local produce. 4. Sample fresh “hedge veg” from honesty boxes along the roadside – take your pick! 5. Live life at a slower pace – the speed limit is only 35mph. 6. Visit Hauteville House where Victor Hugo lived for 15 years during his exile from France. 7. Marvel at the Little Chapel, decorated entirely from pieces of broken tiles. 8. Walk out to 12th century Castle Cornet, which has protected the island through the ages, and put your hands over your ears for the noon day cannon! 9. Visit any of the 27 beautiful sandy beaches. 10. Walk one of the easy marked trails or use the fabulous coastal bus service which goes all the way around the island.
SILVER FACTS Read Debbie's full article at silvertraveladvisor.com/guernseyadvantage.
reason to visit an island famous as the location for the BBC detective series Bergerac. Largest of the Channel Islands, Jersey offers a beguiling blend of beautiful beaches and scenic walking trails, gourmet restaurants, retail therapy and outdoor activities. I booked a stay at Hotel Cristina which enjoys panoramic views over St Aubin’s Bay, just a short drive from Jersey’s only town, St Helier. Here I admired the smart new marina and toured the newly restored Georgian mansion at 16 New Street. I loved revisiting old favourites too such as Gerald Durrell’s famous zoo, Corbière Lighthouse, and Jersey’s many heritage sites. And now I have a new favourite, the magical Full Moon Walk. Can’t wait to do it again!
SILVER FACTS Let your local travel agent arrange your holiday to the Channel Islands. Contact them today.
UK AND CHANNEL ISLAND HOLIDAYS
Easy coach tour to a well-loved seaside resort Glynis Sullivan takes a trip to Eastbourne and has a super time!
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lpha – let’s call it Alfa - in the Greek Alphabet is the first letter, well, Accommodation, Leisure, Friendship and Accessibility come first in my ‘Alfa’ bet too. Alfa encompasses all these attributes. The talk on the coach is “Where have you been to with Alfa?” and “Where have you booked for your next tour?”. These conversations start on the coach before you set off on your trip, so friendships begin to build as you start your tour. Alfa Holidays have excellent, convenient pick up areas and that is what people love about this coach company. Less mobile passengers are able to put a wheelchair in the hold of the coach and patience is shown when entering and leaving the coach by fellow travellers. Many senior travellers are finding that they can take three or four tours with Alfa for holidays around the UK throughout the year without ‘breaking the bank’. Our hotel in Eastbourne was the Queens, a large Victorian building situated by Eastbourne Pier, a welllocated hotel near to the beach and bus stops that can take you around the area or a short walk to the town centre with a wealth of shops and theatre. Included in the price are organised day trips to places such as
Battle, Hastings, Rye and Brighton. If you wish to go on the tours that is fine and a day out to all these lovely places is a treat, otherwise you are free to entertain yourself.
SILVER FACTS To read the full article about Glynis' trip, go to silvertraveladvisor.com/Eastbourne-advantage.
To The Edinburgh Tattoo and Pitlochery Glynis Sullivan, a dedicated Silver Traveller, took the high road to Scotland on a Shearings Holidays escorted coach tour. She writes: Held at the historic Castle, the Tattoo is a spectacular display by servicemen and women from all over the world. The massed pipe band started the proceedings and passed the baton to pipers from Jordan, then on to those from Nepal with dancers joining them. Scottish sword dancers showed their skills and later dancers from New Zealand swelled the ranks. The lighting and the graphics pulled the event together and the finale was the lone piper high up on the castle walls. The Shearings coaches were waiting to take us back to Pitlochry. It was a late night but well worth missing a little beauty sleep to see this spectacular event.
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e visited Scotland this year, staying in charming Pitlochery, with a number of excursions included too. Going to Edinburgh is a great experience, but going to the Tattoo when the Edinburgh Fringe is on is amazing and was a big draw for this particular tour. From shortbread biscuits through to Tam O’Shanters, all Scottish life is present!
SILVER FACTS Shearing Holidays offers a wide range of holidays in the UK and abroad. Speak to your local travel agent to find out more. Contact details are on the back of the magazine.
Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com for travel reviews and information
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UK AND CHANNEL ISLAND HOLIDAYS
Castles on the Border
- reivers beware!
Northumberland conjures up a slightly mystical air, it’s a coastal county steeped in history, on the English/Scottish border, where a touch of lawlessness and lack of submission has encouraged the building of castles and fortresslike houses from Norman times, Alnwick Castle being a prime example.
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ts recently restored extraordinary garden is a testament to the determination and dedication of the local aristocracy. Fortified peles and bastle houses from the Middle Ages are prime examples of how the local families, the reivers (cattle rustlers and general troublemakers) with names such as Robson, Charlton, Graham and Armstrong, took great care of their livestock, which lived on the ground floor of these solid buildings, to prevent their rivals stealing the cattle. Northumberland has always had strong and ancient links with Christianity, St Bede, St Aidan and St Cuthbert are all celebrated here. As our wonderful reviewer Eleanor Wasley reports, ‘A visit to Lindisfarne, Holy Island, across the causeway still brings a tingle to the spine. Stand in the ruins of the abbey and admire the spirit of these early saints. The Lindisfarne Gospels date from the 8th century. Now in the British Museum, they are one of the earliest surviving copies of the Bible and the illustrations are truly mind blowing. Northumbrian dialect, with its characteristic lilt and many words not found elsewhere in the English language, is a direct descendent of those times.’ The Romans have left their mark here too: Hadrian’s Wall, begun in 122AD, was a thriving frontier, with milecastles and forts leaving the region in no doubt as to who was in charge! Local legend has it that King
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Arthur is buried here, in a cave at Sewingshields: there can be no greater historical accolade surely. Nearby is Cragside. Built in the Victorian era by industrialist William Armstrong, it was the first home in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity, a testament to the technological advances of the era. It would be easy to spend many days here exploring, including Bamburgh Castle, which appears almost impregnable, perched right on coast and which is often used in historical films. What must also be recommended is the stunning coastline, a designated AONB, offering miles of pristine beaches, glorious walking and superb countryside.
SILVER FACTS Read Eleanor's full highly informative article silvertraveladvisor.com/Northumberland. Or call us today for a travel quote - our number is on the back cover.
UK AND CHANNEL ISLAND HOLIDAYS
Great British Breaks mini guide Are you looking for ideas on holidays here in Great Britain? Our mini guide has it covered!
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ou can take a coach trip to visit iconic seaside resorts, offering daily excursions, staying at a local hotel. Or maybe tour the counties visiting historic houses and charming gardens, with expert guides. If a country or city hotel takes your fancy, there are properties just for adults, with glorious grounds or you’ll maybe head for the city and the delights the arts and culture bring. Self-catering options work well, especially for larger groups and those who want to take pets too. Fresh air and the countryside are a tonic we all enjoy. And of course, for walking and cycling there are many opportunities, in guided groups or independently. Activities such as photography, dancing, yoga and jazz are all on offer as well. One of the most popular ways to see Great Britain is from the sea on a cruise, nd you can take in various Scottish or Channel islands, as well as the Isles of Scilly. River and waterway cruises are a fun option too that guarantee a gentle potter.
Great British Break
s
Escorted tours &
Welcome to the Silver Travel Advisor Mini Guide to Great British Breaks
self-catering and escorted tours or activities aplenty ! fabulous weathe We all know that r and continual sunshine cannot be guaranteed, however there is so really doesn’t mattermuch to do, it ! And a Great British quality is to be stoic – who has not taken a picnic on a windy beach or walked in the forest August day? Someh on a chilly ow an ice cream, fish and chips or afternoon tea taste so much better after a bit of real weather.
We have heard from so many of you who are fed up with negotiating airports and all that it entails. Standing in yet another queue far too early in the morning or late at night, shoes off, hanging onto your trousers that are rendered beltless , whilst struggling to and/or kindle out get your tablet of baggage and simultayour hand the rather too small neously filling plastic bag with fiddly liquidy things and make-up. This is where a holiday in Great Britain comes into its a look through this own! Just take some seriously goodmini guide to find hotel stays, coastal holiday options: and river cruises,
So read on, and find interesting holiday just how many Look out for the*, s you can take. it shows the company offers permanent special offers to membe rs of the Silver Travel Club, for more inform ation go to page 10. Happy Great British
www.silvertrave
ladvisor.com
Breaks!
Great British Breaks: A Guide for the Silver Traveller coach tours
Great Britain is a wonderful place to travel around by coach, whether you take a traditional trip, staying at one hotel and enjoyin g daily excursions, or join a small mini-bu around the country s tour, moving , taking in sites along the way. Both recommend them, have much to tour managers andand both offer guides, as well as experienced drivers, so you can totally relax.
Just Go Holiday s– National Trust to partner with the bring you historic insights and unique al www.justgoholidaysvisits. .com or call 08432 244 222 RHS Garden Holiday s – British gardens at their finest, with the experts. Heaven ly horticulture. www.rhs.org.uk/sho p/rhs-gardenholidays
Alfa Travel – for Shearings Holiday trips offering s excellent value, renown, with excelle– coach tours of many and friendly hotels. pick up points and exciting evening nt excursions www.alfatravel.co.uk entertainment Premium luxury Grand Tourer trips . or call 01257 248000 available. Collette – small www.shearings.com group tours, coverin London plus the or call 0844 824 length and breadthg 6351 of Great Britain. Tauck Tours – very www.gocollette.com personal journey around the iconic s sites, or call 0800 804 and glorious country major cities 8705 Cox & Kings – high www.tauck.co.uk side. quality escorted small groups or or call 0800 810 private tours across 8020 the nation. www.c Trafalgar – interes oxandkings.co.uk s around the ting GB-wide or call 020 3773 and long, itinerar 8947 holidays and short-break forspeciali Ideas ies with Grand UK Holiday st guides, travelling s – especially for in small groups. of Great Britain those over 55, sociabl www.trafalgar.com/u ryside, cities and coast e and great fun. k Turkey and tinsel or call 0800 533 count too.* 5619 www.grandukholiday s.com *Specia l offers for Silver or call 01603 619933 Travel Club members, see page 10. Visit www.silvertrave
ladvisor.com
SILVER FACTS All our mini guides, including Great British Breaks, can be requested by typing the title into the search box on our website. • Solo Silver Traveller • Great British Accessible Attractions • Great British Days Out with the Grandchildren • Great British Free Days out • Great British Gardens • The Silver Travellers' Guide to Gatwick Airport
Hidden England by Gillian Thornton It’s surprising how many beautiful and fascinating places we all pass by without realising as we hurry to our next destination.
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o in a bid to make us turn off the fast lane, eight historic sites have joined together as ‘Hidden England’, crossing the county boundaries of Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Rutland. Most are within an hour’s drive of each other, so you can easily visit two or three in a day. I stayed at Barnsdale Lodge Hotel close to picturesque Rutland Water, one of four comfortable partner hotels. Hidden England includes two magnificent churches – Lincoln Cathedral with its Gothic architecture and soaring towers, and Peterborough Cathedral, last resting place of Tudor queen Catherine of Aragon. There’s more Tudor splendour at Burghley House on the edge of Stamford, home to William Cecil, High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I; at Grimsthorpe Castle, built for a visit by Henry VIII; and Doddington Hall with its replica Elizabethan garden. Tour 12 acres of restored wilderness at Easton Walled Gardens; climb the tour at Rockingham Castle for views over five counties; and wander through the 19th century state rooms at Belvoir Castle. Hidden maybe, but all well worth discovering!
SILVER FACTS Visit www.hiddenengland.org to find out more
For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page
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Lakes and Mountains in Slovenia Wordsmith, Kay Wiseman, takes a trip to Slovenia and reports on her most enjoyable stay at Lake Bled.
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rriving from the airport, we are immediately transported into alpine villages and meadows filled with wild flowers. Sitting snugly at the base of the Julian Alps, Lake Bled can only be described as chocolate box beautiful. The surrounding mountains and spruce trees are mirrored in the lake and seemingly floating in the centre, is the only island in Slovenia. Bled island. There’s a harsh winter climate in the Julian Alps, which leads to snow melts in the mountains, in turn creating sparkling waterfalls and dramatic gorges. Vintgar Gorge cuts deep between the hills. The boarded Tourist Trail allows us to take an exhilarating walk alongside the tumbling waterfalls, rapids and swirling pot holes with steep beech forest above us. For a real treat, we had dinner on the terrace of Castle Bled, which is lit up and looks every bit like a Disney fairy castle. The food is exquisite and wine buffs tantalised their noses with the local Slovenian wines. I just enjoyed the taste! The younger members of our group declared this was the perfect proposal venue. It is indeed the most romantic spot I have ever seen.
Cosmos coaches in Transylvania and the Balkans Glynis Sullivan and husband, Trevor, always game for an interesting, new journey, travelled to a region that’s gaining wide interest.
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irst Budapest, which has a surprise around every corner. Beautiful buildings and so much to do. The first afternoon was free and we visited the famous Széchenyi thermal bath spa, what a treat, watching the older residents playing chess by the side of the pools and people taking advantage of the many warm pools, filled by natural springs. A couple of days later, Rila Monastery in Bulgaria was another stunning surprise, full of colourful frescoes and founded by a hermit in 927AD. The excitement was building as we approached the world-famous Bran Castle, would we see the ghost of Dracula, would we have our neck bitten?
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I love finding out how people live in different countries and so wandered off to look around a local village. Photographers and artists will feel their creativity tingle walking past alpine farm houses with neatly stacked wood piles and hay racks. Just above the village, you reach open pasturelands full of wild flowers and looking like an impressionist’s painting. It is a beautiful part of the world. Jaka Azerman, Director of the local tourist board, said “We live in paradise here”. I agree with him.
SILVER FACTS To find out more about visiting Slovenia, contact your local independent travel agent today
Would our teeth or fangs begin to grow – who knew, but it was one of the highlights on this Cosmos Transylvania and Balkans tour. The Castle’s ‘secret’ staircase is how Dracula supposedly crept down to his guests in the bedroom below his to drink their blood. Well, it certainly scared me!
SILVER FACTS Find out about escorted hoildays in Europe and beyod by contacting your local travel agent.
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Tales are often told of tiny coves, where pine trees grow almost to the water’s edge, of warm rocks to lie on and sands that almost melt away in shallow water to the horizon. This is Croatia, where islands abound, each one somehow more tempting than the last. Where cosmopolitan style, with a hint of lingering nostalgia, is part of the culture and present in towns and cities. Dubrovnik and Split have endless charm and history. Croatia is the ideal place to enjoy a villa holiday, whether you’re keen to explore the rural interior as well as the enticing coastline.
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River cruising with Fred. Olsen
Step aboard Brabant, Fred. Olsen’s dedicated river cruising boat. Built in 2006, this elegant and
• comfortable Fly directvessel fromis inStansted, • 7, 10, 11ships. & 14-night keeping withManchester, the British style of our ocean-going cruise Brabant’s holidays available, bright and spacious public areas and 79 well-equipped rooms and suites, spread across four decks, Heathrow, Birmingham & Southampton plusalready shortknow breaks provide the intimate, home-from-home feel which Fred. Olsen’s guests and love. • To Hand-picked hotels, apartments andthe Silver Travel • Tailor-made, self-drive, twin and multibook using your discount code STC10 call Advisor member booking hotline 0800 0355 108 or visit www.fredolsencruises.com/silver-travel-club villas with private pools centre holidays • All packages include either car hire or resort transfers
• Resort representatives on hand 7 days a week
*All bookings are subject to Fred. Olsen’s (FOCL) standard terms & conditions, available on our website & on request. All prices quoted under the Silver Travel Club members discount offer are exclusive to qualifying members & their travelling companions only, members must quote their discount code at time of booking. Membership discounts cannot be applied retrospectively. Bookings must be made via the booking hotline number 0800 0355 108. Proof of membership will be required at the time of booking. Offers cannot be extended to any unrelated third party, are subject to availability & may be withdrawn or amended at any time without prior notice. From time to time FOCL may run special offers which cannot be combined with this discount, including selected group travel deals. All guests booked under this scheme are requested to refrain from disclosing the fare paid whilst on board. Offer is for first-time cruisers with Fred. Olsen only. Fred. Olsen Oceans members are entitled to a 5% Silver Travel Club discount subject to the same terms & conditions, to be applied after the standard Oceans discount, where applicable. In this instance, Oceans Terms & Conditions apply. Flights are excluded from any discounts. Offer ends 30/06/2019. E&OE.
Book today with your local travel agent
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Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com for travel reviews and information
01/11/2018 10:25
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Caminhando - that’s
Portuguese for walking!
Sally Dowling strides out around the Lisbon coast
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espite being a keen walker, I had never joined a guided walking tour so when Explore invited me to join a small group trip to Portugal I was very excited. Explore are activity holiday specialists and have some great itineraries all over the world, with walks and activities graded for suitability. I found them pretty accurately measured. As a keen walker of average fitness, this trip, classed as ‘moderate’, suited me fine.
Our days were spent sampling a new itinerary for 2019 centred around Lisbon, including the historical city and UNESCO heritage site of Sintra, with its unique palaces and castles and glorious gardens. Moving onto the coastal town of Sesimbra, we hiked along the dramatic coastline of the beautiful Arrabida National Park. Late September is a perfect time of year to enjoy a walking holiday in Portugal and we were blessed with blue skies and long sunny days. Hotels and transport were arranged by Explore, and our guide, the remarkable Frank, helped the group choose restaurants or café for meals, as well as ensuring we never got lost. His knowledge of the area was outstanding. This trip was a perfect combination of city, country and coast.
SILVER FACTS To book an Explore holiday call your local independent travel agent today. To read Sally's full article visit silvertraveladvisor.com/portugal-exploreadvantage.
WELL WORTH A WEEKEND Hungary’s second city, Debrecen Undiscovered Debrecen is in the east of the country (two hours’ drive from Budapest).
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t offers an alternative destination to explore and learn a little bit more about Hungarian culture. The city is small by UK standards, a population of around 200,000, but has plenty of attractions to keep you busy for a few days. It has several excellent museums, including the Déri Museum, best known for the monumental paintings of the Christ Trilogy; great restaurants, go to Ikon for a real taste of modern Hungarian cuisine; thermal spas, try the Aquaticum Mediterranean Spa and Water Park; and the unique Great Forest, an actual forest in the city that comes alive during the summer with lively bars and eating places. The Flower Carnival in August is a visual treat, expect to be entranced. Hortobágy National Park, Hungary’s first and a UNESCO World Heritage Site is easily reached from Debrecen as is, further afield, the Tokaj-Hegyalja Wine Region, where the world’s first vineyard classification system was born in 1772, ahead Bordeaux in France. There are numerous specialist wineries to visit, many with outstanding tasting sessions, excellent dining and accommodation in converted buildings.
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SILVER FACTS For more information about visiting Hungary speak to your local independent travel agent today.
A weekend in Lausanne By Debbie Marshall
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Exclusive North Iceland Arctic Experience
Direct from your local airport + Direct flights departing from 10.12.18 - 15.03.19 + 3 or 4 nights accommodation + 20kg hold luggage & 5kg hand luggage + Resort airport transfers + Search Sea for the Northern Lights tour + Lake Myvatn - Land of Fire and Ice full day tour
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have always had something of a love affair with Switzerland since my first brief visit in the late 1980s. I can recall with total clarity my first view of the mountains across the lake, and couldn’t believe that anywhere could be so beautiful and tranquil. This was a long way from the home counties! Since then I have discovered the city centres of Geneva and Zurich, the ski resorts of Valais and the Bernese Oberland, and the palm trees of Lugano. Switzerland captivates me like no other place. Yet Lausanne has always been something of a transitory acquaintance. An exit on the autoroute, a stop on the train, but never a place to linger. Yet with its lakeside location surrounded by mountains, Olympic connections and a reputation for wonderful culture and cuisine, I always knew it held the ingredients for a perfect city break. The pace of life is tranquil, the views are incredible and the climate is benign. The Swiss are so civilised and friendly. Cars stop to let you cross, the waiters are smiling and the shop assistants are genuinely pleased to see you. Find out more about Debbie’s weekend break in Lausanne on www.silvertraveladvisor.com by typing Lausanne into the search box
from £499pp
or book now with £49pp deposit*
See your local Travel Agent for more information
For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page
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EUROPE
PRAGUE, VIENNA, BUDAPEST
Dave Harcombe, our travelling pharmacist, goes right to the heart of three cities in Europe.
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five star road trip with a multi award winning travel company, Trafalgar. With a cast of forty eight, a pot pourri of nationalities and the best driver and tour director in the world. Ten days. Three
perfectly preserved cities of romance, rich in history and diverse in culture. Five star hotels. All perfect locations - three nights in each. Prague will capture your hearts. In Vienna, we had a ball. And Budapest? It's truly magnificent. The food is superb, including the best ice cream this side of Italy. Extraordinary castles, wonderful palaces, amazing cathedrals. The crown jewels. A madcap restaurant. Bratislava was a revelation. Gyor even more so. A sensational Strauss concert in Vienna. An almost private classical recital in a candlelit monastery too. Street theatre. Tram rides, boat trips, river cruises, walks with witty and knowledgeable guides. Wine tasting, a brewery visit. Exquisite art. Big skies, an ever present sun. Stunning gardens. Thermal baths. Trafalgar. Simply the best. Just turn up and they do the rest. Read Dave’s fabulous blogs about this trip at www.silvertraveladvisor.com, type Trafalgar into the search box.
SILVER FACTS To find the best tour for you, speak to your local travel agent. Contact details are on the back cover.
The Glorious AZORES Steve Newman, our Social Media Manager, visited The Azores. He revelled in the climate, scenery and wildlife.
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ut quite simply, the Azores are stunning. Only a three and a half hour flight from the UK, the nine islands that rise from the middle of the Atlantic are bathed in the warmth of the Gulf Stream and so have good weather all year around. An autonomous region of Portugal, the islands are characterized by dramatic landscapes, fishing villages, green pastures and hedgerows of blue hydrangeas but each one is totally different. The people are so friendly and food so cheap: I frequently ate for under 12 Euros with wine. Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel, the main island, has mosaic patterned pavements and squares and white colonial buildings that seem to have been plucked
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from the hillside above Oporto and dropped here. The islands offer amazing walking on clifftop paths or looking down on tree lined lakes that fill old volcanic craters. They are also a popular destination for cycling and one of the world’s best destinations for whale watching. A magnificent holiday choice. To read Steve’s longer article, type Azores in the search box at www.silvertraveladvisor.com
SILVER FACTS For expert advice on hoildays to The Azores speak to your local travel agent.
EUROPE
Relaxing in Corfu Angela Rippon enjoys R&R in Avlaki
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hen I was a young reporter in the Westcountry, I was sent to Jersey to make a film about the wonderful Zoo that conservationist and broadcaster Gerald Durrell had established on the island. In preparation for meeting the great man himself, and learning more about his passion for animals, I read the glorious account of his childhood on the island of Corfu in his book My Family and other Animals and was totally captivated. I could smell the scent of pine; hear the endless song of the cicadas; feel the sun on my back; and share the wonder of a ten-year-old boy at the discovery of an Island rich in flora and fauna, which was his playground. His book turned the island of Corfu into a “must visit” destination for thousands of holidaymakers. Me amongst them. It’s been many years since I made a trip to that particular Greek Island. So when I was given the opportunity of returning earlier this year, I jumped at the chance. And so did five of my closest women friends who couldn’t bear the thought of me being there on my own! Six women sharing a house for a week – now there’s a challenge. But it turned out to be a blast. The villa was fabulous. Tucked into a hillside at one end of the glorious bay that is Avlaki, our view skimmed over the villa’s infinity pool to give an uninterrupted panorama of the curved bay and crystal turquoise sea that was virtually our own private beach. Two shore side restaurants offered a choice of international cuisine in one, traditional home cooked Greek in the other. Every dinner was eaten watching the sky painted with stunning sunsets, against the chorus of frogs from the nearby lake. Our walk
home each evening lit by the fireflies dancing in the hedgerows. And yes – one evening we did have a takeaway to curl up and watch a DVD of Shirley Valentine. The keen swimmers in our sextet voted the bay the best open water swimming experience ever. Whilst we hedonists enjoyed almost daily pampering from visiting beauticians. I went trekking through the wooded hills with a local riding school. And I appreciated again how the young Durrell fell in love with this place as we wound our way along trails flanked by banks of shrubs and wild flowers alive with butterflies and bees. For a whole week, we were lotus eaters. When we left, we each had the start of an early tan, some truly fun memories. And the real test of a great holiday? We were all still talking to each other.
SILVER FACTS For the best advice on booking a villa holiday speak to your local independent travel agent today.
Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com for travel reviews and information
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EUROPE
Andrew Morris visits Chernobyl thirty years on 81 year-old Ivan Semenyuk needs a stick to help him walk these days.
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e stoops a little and struggles to pick up the logs from the wood store outside his humble home, especially in the depths of a Ukrainian winter. Inside, we help him light the stove and settle back to hear his story. Because Ivan is still living in the village of Paryshyv, deep within the official Exclusion Zone of Chernobyl, where
- at 01:23 on 26th April, 1986 - reactor number 4 at the nearby nuclear plant exploded. You need an authorised guide to visit the strictly controlled Exclusion Zone, and over two days you will be shown sites that provide a snapshot of a place frozen in time and giving a real sense of life under Soviet control. A ‘Special Zone’ exists around the nuclear reactors, but we got surprisingly close to number 4. Encased in a concrete sarcophagus since the end of 1986, it was protected anew a couple of years ago by a French-designed stainless steel outer shell, 10 years in the making, the largest movable structure ever made and hopefully capable of containing Chernobyl’s nuclear contamination for another 100 years.
SILVER FACTS To arrange for a fascinating visit to this remarkable place speak to your local travel today.
Winter Adventure in Romania Andrew Morris took Explore's Winter Adventure in Romania tour which provides the perfect introduction to this fascinating country - its interesting past; wildlife; spectacular landscapes; and fun activities.
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ndrew visited the capital city of Bucharest to understand the impact of crazed Communist leader, Ceausescu in the 1970s and 1980s, and enjoyed the charming old town that survived his megalomania. Andrew joined a wildlife expert to track deer, wolves, lynx and bears, in the Carpathian mountains and then took a cable car up to Balea Lac, high in the Fagaras mountains of Transylvania, for snow-shoeing and a gentle spot of ice-tubing. He travelled to intriguing towns and villages with a knowledgeable local guide, who told the story of Romania’s rich history and heritage with humour and insight: Brasov, where Germans first arrived in the mid 12th century; Bran, famous for its castle, and inspiration for Bram Stoker’s home of Dracula;
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Sighisoara, a most attractive mediaeval town and birthplace of infamous Vlad the Impaler; and Viscri, a proudly preserved traditional Saxon village.
SILVER FACTS For the best touring option for you speak to your local travel agent today.
RAIL
NORWAY’S coast, country and cities by rail Gillian Thornton takes a Scandinavian break, by train, twisting and turning along the track.
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any holidaymakers only admire Norway’s spectacular mountain scenery at fjord level from the deck of a cruise ship. But a rail break provides a whole new perspective, as I discovered on a weeklong escorted trip with Great Rail Journeys, which began by the water in Bergen and finished at the harbour in Oslo, with a 12-mile ride on the famous Flåm scenic railway, which delivered us far inland to the furthest tip of pretty Aurlandsfjord. But first Bergen, where the waterside Hotel Clarion Admiral is one of three choices offered by GRJ. Across the harbour, the painted wooden facades of the UNESCO-listed Bryggen are reminders of Bergen’s importance as a port from the Middle Ages to the 17th century. Visit the Hanseatic Museum in an atmospheric wooden merchant’s house, and the narrow alleys lined with boutiques where dried cod and other staple goods were once traded. Bergen also boasts an excellent collection of art museums, including works by Munch, and some seriously good restaurants. The must-do view is the panoramic terrace on Mt Floyen, gateway to a network of upland walking trails or take the funicular upwards. Hopping on the Bergen-Oslo railway next day, I watched the scenery change as the carriages wound steadily up past small farms nestled in rugged valleys. At Myrdal, we changed onto the Flamsbana, opened 75 years ago to replace horse-drawn traffic. Today it’s one of the world’s most picturesque routes twisting steeply - and ingeniously – down from Myrdal to the fjord at Flam. A short walk to the
quayside delivered us on cue for an afternoon cruise excursion, before overnighting in the historic Freitheim hotel – a 19th century farm that began to host British salmon fishermen. Take the daily free tour for the full story. Picking up the mainline again, we sliced through the spectacular and sparsely populated interior to Oslo, where the Thon Hotel Opera occupies pole position between station and harbour. Take a walk on the sloping white roof of the eye-catching new Opera House opposite, shaped like a glacier. Norway’s capital has museums to many of its famous countrymen and events, from Munch and Ibsen to Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki expedition and polar exploration on board the Fram. I found it humbling to stand in the Viking Ship Museum beside four huge vessels excavated in the 1890s, complete with intricate artefacts. But even more so to discover the Vigeland Sculpture Park with its 600 beautiful human figures from babies to the elderly. A moving end to an unforgettable rail trip.
SILVER FACTS Your local travel agent can tailor make a rail journey to your individual requirements. Contact them today for details. For more information on travel to Norway visit www.visitnorway.com.
For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page
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RAIL
Take to the Tracks G
iven just how much time can be spent shuffling through security at airports, hopping on a train to start your holiday seems a marvellous plan, and it’s possible to get to the most interesting places, Moscow, Rome or Zagreb, for a tailor made short break, or for a longer wander around Europe as Rail Passes for seniors offer remarkably good value options. There’s a real sense of being a true traveller as you head for a change of train (which will be on time) and a quick snack, in Munich or Brussels, surrounded by city life and bustle. It’s that authentic experience we all crave. Canada is one country which has train travel seriously sorted out! Jacqueline Jeynes took the Rocky Mountaineer and writes, ‘We had the luxury of enjoying the Gold Leaf service, comfortable roomy seats allocated on the top deck of the sightseeing carriage, the dome. This is a family-run company that has customer service down to a fine art. There is no doubt this is luxury travel, flawlessly organised.’ If you fancy an exotic journey whilst in Thailand, Steve Francis’ journey on the night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, might be worth considering. He travels third class aircon, sleeping in ‘bunk beds
with a curtain very much like the US trains in the thirties. The important thing is all the bed linen is fresh and third class is near the buffet car.’ Top tips indeed! And undoubtedly authentic in every way.
SILVER FACTS Your local travel agent will help you plan your route and can assist with booking all your travel. Give them a call and start planning that adventure today.
Railways of an island by Alan Fairfax M
ention the Isle of Man and immediately visions of T.T. Racing, banking and finance come to mind, but there is far more to this island. The Manx Electric Railway built between 1893 and 1899 operates from Derby Castle affording trains to the village of Laxey in the east and the town of Ramsey in the north. Boarding the Laxey bound train, is like stepping back in time, with open sided carriages built in the late 1800s with their wooden slatted seats and high roofs in pristine condition. We take the steam train too from Douglas to Port Erin, which began service in 1874. The original carriages have doors that are locked and unlocked
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via large brass handles outside the carriage, and the windows are operated by a leather strap. The fire is well alight, steam is up and with a long blast on the whistle we slowly roll out of the station. Enjoy the Isle of Man, with its historic trains, great museums and beautiful beaches, excellent restaurants and sensibly priced accommodation – it’s rather a treat!
SILVER FACTS Speak to your local travel agent to discover more rail holiday options
EUROPEAN HOLIDAYS
IMPERIAL CITIES & FIVE-STAR DANUBE CRUISE This magnificent cruise experience sees you begin your adventure by uncovering the unparalleled beauty of three of Europe’s Imperial cities. Starting in Berlin, you continue to Prague and Budapest, enjoying excellent accommodation and guided tours in each one before embarking on a spectacular 7-night five-star cruise on the blue Danube, exploring its glorious destinations and its musical heritage. 1
Germany
It’s all included in the price . . . and it’s exclusive to Great Rail Journeys
BERLIN
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Escorted by a UK Tour Manager from London to embarkation, and from disembarkation back to London
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Exclusive meeting point at our dedicated Departure Office in St Pancras
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All rail and coach travel throughout your tour and a fully escorted return journey by rail back to London
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4 nights’ hotel accommodation and 7-night cruise on board the Amadeus Queen 11 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 11 dinners
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Flexible Excursions - Choice of two in selected ports
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Entrance to Hradcany Castle and St Vitus’ Cathedral
Cologne TO/FROM BRUSSELS
Germany
1
COLOGNE
River Rhine
Belgium
FRANKFURT
PRAGUE
Prague
Luxembourg
Cruise
River Danube
Days 4-11 1 Nights in hotel
Zürich By Rail
1
Nights on ship
By Coach
Switzerland
Czech Republic Czech Republic Slovakia
REGENSBURG END
PASSAU Munich By Ship
2
DURNSTEIN LINZ
VIENNA
EMMERSDORF
Austria Austria
BRATISLAVA
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START BUDAPEST
Budapest
Hungary
HOW TO For more information or to book, please contact your local Travel Agent BOOK
12 Days from £2,195 pp | Departures between 6th May and 22nd September 2019
Book with 100% confidence, flight-inclusive holidays are ATOL protected, non flight-inclusive holidays are protected by ABTA. Dates and prices are subject to availability. Prices shown are per person, based on 2 people sharing. Prices may change prior to and after publication. Itinerary may differ depending on the departure date you choose. Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com and information Terms and conditions apply. Pleasefor call travel for furtherreviews details. Calls will be recorded.
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RAIL
Venice, via Paris and Zurich Silver Travel Advisor’s rail guru, Peter Lynch journeys to Venice, in his own inimitable style.
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f you mention travelling from London to Venice by train everybody assumes it will be on the iconic Orient Express, which still runs a weekly scheduled service between March and November to Venice. But this is not the only option: I booked a train and accommodation package using regular trains departing hourly from London. We boarded a Eurostar at St Pancras station, then
went speedily through Kent, diving under the channel, and on to Paris, where we grabbed a glass of wine in a street cafe before the high speed TGV left for Switzerland. Our Hotel du Theatre, in the atmospheric cobbled streets of Zurich’s old town Niederdorf, was just a five minutes’ walk from the station. Next morning, we were travelling south and just beyond Lake Zurich the Alps appeared, sharp snow-capped peaks fringed with bright green valleys and dotted with black and white cows – wearing bells. Several tunnels and bridges later the train descended to Lake Lugano, and then Lake Como – marking our crossing into Italy. The train rolled into Milan’s massive Romanesque station, where there was a moment to peek outside and sip a real Italian coffee. The afternoon train raced east across rich farmland, with glimpses of the Italian Alps on the horizon. Journey’s end was in sight as we crossed the lagoon to Venice’s Santa Lucia station. A cruise down the Grand Canal on a vaporetto, past tantalisingly illuminated windows of palazzos, and we were at our hotel – The Giorgione.
SILVER FACTS Peter's full article can be read at silvertraveladvisor.com, type in Venice into the search box.
Discover Europe And Beyond By Rail Unparalleled service, incredible travel experiences and the very best value—all inspired by you. For the finest independent tailor-made rail holidays, book with your local travel agent.
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CYCLING & E-BIKES
E bikes are easy, efficient and energy-saving! Jennie Carr explains
Silver Travel Advisor’s Chrissy Nason tests an e-bike in the UK with Inghams. You can read her article by typing “Box Hill” into the search box on www.silvertraveladvisor.com.
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gentle purr began behind me and Ingrid, aged 82, confidently pedalled past, a politely pleased smile on her face. She had, of course, made use of her e-bike’s electric-assist mode to cruise quietly by on a gradual incline that was, I admit, challenging my inner thighs! We were cycling in Italy, along the River Po. No matter what anyone tells you, donning lycra and a snazzy helmet do not make the lumps and bumps of a cycling holiday any easier. A bit more pre-holiday pedalling practice might have been in order, however help was at hand. If you fancy a trip by bike, and there’s much to recommend it, a leisurely pace, being part of the countryside, feeling good about the exercise, I now see no reason to puff or pant when e-bikes are available on almost every cycling holiday and on many river cruises for active land excursions. Yes, they are slightly heavier to start with, however once you get going, the extra weight is forgotten and you no longer break into even the lightest sweat, as hills are tackled with relative ease. Comedy writer, Judith Holder told me, ‘E bikes are incredibly easy to use. There are 4 modes. First you can use it just as a bike with no power, second one is ‘eco’ which gives you a little boost and gets your speed up, third is ‘power’ which means oh yes, you really do get some speed up, and the fourth is ‘sport’ which sends you up hills like Chris Frome.’ On her recent trip along the Danube, she reports thus: on Day Three I thought I’d really put the bike
through its paces and go off piste to explore some of the castles and monasteries on high. Now the power mode really came into its own. Not from a standing start - getting the thing going up a steep hill is a challenge unless you can take a run at it, and with a proper hill you are peddling hard. But you do get up it. And that is the advantage. I think it means I could now tackle almost anything. Not the Alps, perhaps but I could tackle nearly all cycling jaunts, and how liberating is that! There will, of course, be purists amongst you who are horrified at this heresy, however I urge you to try the e-bike just once – you’ll never look back! Ingrid and Judith Holder loves e-biking! Judith didn’t.
SILVER FACTS There are a number of travel providers offering cycling hoildays near and far for all abilities. To find out more, call your local travel agent today. Contact details are on the back cover.
For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page
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GENERAL TRAVEL
Building a better world
as you travel The Planeterra Foundation is a non-profit partner of G Adventures: established in 2003 by founder, Bruce Poon Tip, it was created so the travel industry could give back to local communities. Using the annual contribution from G Adventures to cover operating and project administration costs, Planeterra spends 100% of its donations on projects in social enterprise, healthcare, education and conservation. From Iceland to Sri Lanka, Brazil to Uganda, with 17 new partnerships announced in 2018, Planeterra now has 68 project partners in 41 countries around the world to which it has contributed millions of pounds.
Here are projects you might visit on a G Adventures trip:
New Paths for Youth Bike with Purpose in Belize This project aims to provide youth on Caye Caulker with training for future employment in island tourism and conservation science. It is a social enterprise, giving students from Caye Caulker’s Ocean Academy the chance to practice guiding skills while giving visiting travellers a unique experience. Planeterra provided funds to buy bikes and other materials for a student-led bicycle island tour. This activity is included for over 2,500 G Adventures travellers and bike rentals are available for everyone, with proceeds funding educational programmes at Ocean Academy.
Empowering Women Maasai Clean Cookstoves in Tanzania Planeterra helped to create a community tour, which generates an income for their partners at the Maasai Stoves & Solar Project. This visit is led by the all-women engineer team and takes travellers to experience the difference in air quality that a clean cookstove makes to a boma (homestead). The tour pays for the cost of a new stove, which once installed, removes 90% of indoor smoke pollution. The entire boma also receives solar power, increasing security and safety. Through a training course, the Maasai women become experts in stove and solar panel installation. So far, the project has trained 75 women and installed 750 stoves in over sixty Maasai areas across the Serengeti and has expanded into neighbouring Uganda.
Conserving Cultures Jukil Lodge in Bolivia Beginning in June 2016, Planeterra and G Adventures, with the help of sponsor Live Out There, began funding the construction and upgrade of Jukil Community Lodge, which is seen by the village as a way to rescue their indigenous culture and provide training and meaningful work for their young people. Visitors to the Lodge learn about the local agricultural practices, including quinoa production, and take a walk guided by a local to the sacred Jukil mountaintop.
SILVER FACTS Read more about these projects at planeterra.org.
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GENERAL TRAVEL
HOLIDAY HICCUPS Judith Holder shares her thoughts.
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s older travellers we have our upsides – if we’re delighted with the holiday, generally we are pretty good at telling people, we’re really interested in the local cathedral, and let’s face it, we represent a huge section of the holiday market. Essentially, we know what we want, we don’t suffer fools gladly, and if need be, we can be black belt complainers. Sometimes I have been known to change rooms three times. Just saying. The complication for me is that as I get older I need to take a little bubble of my normal routine with me –my case is full of tea bags (tragic I know, but frankly I am past caring) and a travel kettle – oh yes, you can scoff but kettles in hotel rooms are not standard especially in Third World countries like France and Germany (what is it with nations who don’t have kettles, hello?). There are limits, for instance I draw the line at slippers, but don’t think it hasn’t occurred to me. We’ve all had bad holidays. Top of my list would be a week in Portugal out of season when it rained so much I needed a change of clothes after walking from my room to breakfast, and the beach disappeared in a storm. After a week of that, your normal routine at home feels like bliss. This has its own upside because your relief and joy to be back home is immense and you actually don’t want another holiday for ages.
Bad food on holiday is a serious blow for me now. We’ve all been to hotels where much of breakfast is taken by the “we’ve smuggled out a sandwich for lunch” brigade. You know who you are. But recently I went to a hotel which was so devoid of decent food that people were taking food IN. That’s a bad look, wouldn’t you say? Then there are the small niggles, there’s a sunlounger war going on (and inevitably, once one person does it you’re all at it), the beach is a bus ride away, you’d forgotten how annoying sand is, the heat brings you out in a rash, and there’s a hen party down the corridor. I can sympathise, holiday hiccups are seriously annoying. Unless you’ve chosen to go camping of course, foolhardy and I hope you know what you are up against, or you are brave enough to go skiing, in which case you are probably lucky to get home at all.
Judith writes a blog Greypride, co-writes a lot of comedy with Jenny Éclair and podcasts with her under the banner of Older and Wider.
Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com for travel reviews and information
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EUROPEAN CRUISE
THE WONDERS OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS with Saga
Rainbow colours leap across the sky dancing to a silent orchestra and a choir of oohs and aahs from the deck of Saga Pearl II, as travelling pharmacist, Dave Harcombe watches the sky whilst cruising.
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bove our heads the magical Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) are treating us to something so very special. They are all around the ship - a full 360 degree panoramic view. And for once majestic Saga Pearl II is an insignificant bystander in this wonderful 3D display. A delicious tingle goes down my back and my hairs stand up. Like most things in life, it starts slowly. Finger-like plumes emerge from nowhere and gradually pick up tempo and imagination. Extraordinary shapes, beautifully un-choreographed. It's like a giant spotlight shining into the sky with its beam dancing across the celestial spaces. "Look at me" it proclaims, "I can do this ... and this ... and this". And a spectacular 3D display begins - mesmerising, teasing and leading us in a merry dance. A slow waltz, then a quick step. Freestyle too. Constantly moving, disappearing, then reappearing often with increased intensity and boldness. Above and around our heads. You want to reach out and caress it. Swirling and skipping. Green curtains ripple across the sky - tinged at the lower edge with red. Colours jump and leap. A gigantic firework display all for us. It's like an artist painting an abstract work of art at breakneck speed. It's minus 10 on deck. The frosty air is pummelling our faces. But the intense cold is suddenly forgotten as this natural antidepressant instantly lifts our mood. We can smell the sea. We inhale the icy fresh air. A shooting star cuts through a night full of twinkling stars. A perfectly clear sky. Ghosts of seafaring Viking warriors, fisherman and oil workers glide across the water, silhouetted under a full moon. Across the next four nights the lights keep coming - like invaders from a distant galaxy- and we are so
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privileged to be part of it. I have waited almost 60 years to see this phenomenon and we are in luck. These ‘swords in heaven’ or ‘candle dragons’ are magnetic particles of pure joy. As day turns into night searching for ‘the lights’ becomes almost an obsession. Thermal jacket, gloves, vests, hats all laid out on our beds for quick access. Fingers crossed for clear, starry nights as we follow the routes of the Vikings.
SILVER FACTS To find out more about Saga's full range of cruise options speak to your local travel agent.
FARAWAY & EXOTIC
2020 Europe & Russia River Cruising Out Now
A river cruise with APT is the most relaxing and stylish way to discover Europe’s waterways. Enjoy ever-changing views, exceptional dining and stylish surroundings aboard your river ship. On shore, enjoy carefully-crafted excursions led by local guides who will bring the history and culture of each destination to life.
BOOK EARLY & SAVE Artist Impression
European Gems 15 Day Essential river cruise | Budapest to Amsterdam Cruise through Europe’s heartland and discover the charming towns, historic cities and cultural gems that line the banks of the Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers on this 15 day Essential river cruise.
15 days from only £2,095* per person Departures from April 2020 to October 2020
So much is included: Return flights from the UK Unique cultural experiences in towns, villages and cities Excursions & Insider experiences Complimentary soft drink, beer and local wine with lunch and dinner on board† Onboard Bicycles
NEW FOR 2020
Contemporary River Ship
Cruise Director and Local Guides
Custom-designed for Europe’s waterways, this vessel features modern decor and spacious public areas.
Artist Impression
Prepare to be wowed by the ship’s state-of-the-art facilities, including Sun Deck with heated whirlpool, roof-top Garden Terrace and bar, Vista Lounge that opens out to a spacious verandah and the relaxed pub atmosphere of McGeary’s Bar.
Stylish accommodation All tipping and port charges Overseas Transfers
EUROPE | RUSSIA | VIETNAM & CAMBODIA | CHINA
6781
For ABTA No.V9080
*Prices are per person, twin share and include saving where applicable. Solo supplements apply. Valid on new bookings up to 30 March 2019 or until sold out. Subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Not combinable with any other offer unless specified. European Gems (EUTCR15F): Price based advice on travelfrom in E cabin 6 April 2020 experts on a Classic River Ship. A non-refundable deposit of £500 person is due within 7 days of booking, full friendly youronlocal travel call us today - our number's on the backperpage payment due 100 days prior to departure. †Regional wine, beer and soft drink served with lunch and dinner. Prices correct at time of publication. For full terms & conditions please refer to the APT River Cruise 1st Edition 2020 brochure. UK1368
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RIVER CRUISE
At the helm of
Avalon Waterways Pam Hoffee, Managing Director of Avalon Waterways, talked to Jennie Carr. River cruising is becoming ever more popular, what do you think makes it so attractive as a holiday? River cruising is the world’s fastest-growing travel style for several reasons. When you take a river cruise, you visit dozens of destinations by way of a luxury, floating boutique hotel, which means you only have to unpack and pack once. That is its number 1 appeal. It also appeals to travellers interested in getting off the-beaten-path, with itineraries that feature a good mix of large cities, small towns and villages which are at the heart of the country and provide authentic, insightful experiences. Onboard dining is another reason people love river cruising, with much else included, so travellers know the cost of their trip upfront. What is it about Avalon that makes a cruise with you so special? Avalon Waterways appeals to travellers interested in choices. Whether people want to enjoy a guided city walking tour, join a cooking class or paddle a canoe, our Choice selections of Classic, Discovery and Active excursions offer a wide range of possibilities, which allows guests to decide what suits their particular interests and passions. When guests prefer to explore alone, we offer recommendations and information with our new Adventure Center and AvalonGO mobile app. Finally, with Avalon, there’s only one point-of-view – the suite view. For the first time, in 2019, the entire fleet is completely comprised of Suite Ships®, each featuring Panorama Suites with the widest opening windows in river cruising, the industry’s only Open-Air Balcony and an inviting bed facing the ever-changing scenery. How do Avalon look after single travellers? Avalon Waterways has waived the single supplement for solo travellers on several departures throughout the year. Up to 10 percent of our guests cruise alone.
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Do you have plans for any new river cruises, on waterways we might not expect, somewhere unusual? In 2019, we have expanded our Mekong River cruises with a new, Suite Ship – the Avalon Saigon. Travellers cruise through narrow passageways on intimate, 36-passenger ships to get close to the sights, cultures, and traditions of Vietnam and Cambodia, visiting areas virtually untouched by tourists. We have also introduced the Ganges River for 2019. And we’re giving travellers our most dynamic “Special Interest” cruises to date, from beer and wine to history, music and Christmas cruises, inviting them to explore their hobbies and passions. And 2019 gives history buffs a unique opportunity to pay tribute to and remember WWII on Normandy’s Beaches on the 75th Anniversary.
SILVER FACTS Read the full article at silvertraveladvisor.com/ pam-avalon-advantage. To find out more about Avalon Waterways cruising holidays contact your local travel agent today.
FARAWAY & EXOTIC
SMALL DETAILS. BIG DIFFERENCE.
OPEN-AIR BALCONIES, WITH BEDS FACING THE VIEW
EVEN MORE LUXURY INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
PRIVATE HOME PICK-UP SERVICE
See the world go by from your bed. All of our suite staterooms offer stunning views.
Full board dining with wine and beer, gratuities, return flights, transfers and excursions. No hidden fees.
We’ll take you to and from the airport so you can relax from the moment you close your front door.
For more information contact your local travel agent
ABTA No.V3031
We are a member of ABTA and our flight-inclusive holidays are protected the information ATOL scheme. Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com for travel reviewsbyand
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RIVER CRUISE
Bar du Leopard on board Uniworld’s Maria Theresa
John Suchet
to cruise the Danube After such a wonderful evening hosting the Silver Travel Awards in July 2018, John told Jennie Carr about his travel plans in 2019. We were delighted to have you hosting the Awards earlier this year, what better way could there be of celebrating that undeniable link between music and travel, with Classic FM and Silver Travel Advisor. You’re off on a Uniworld river cruise next year, where will you be going? And what music will this journey evoke for you? I’m off on an Enchanting Danube cruise, which is at the western end of the river, as it flows through Vienna. You have an outstanding musical tradition there. Three Strausses and Schubert were totally Viennese, and Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart all worked and lived in the city. It positively oozes music. Despite the fact that the Viennese Waltz is so closely linked with Johann Strauss, he famously couldn’t dance, and what’s more, neither can I! What particularly appeals to you about river cruising? Is it the ability to link places you visit to former times, and thus understand more about history? There’s also a realisation, once you’re on a European river, that these were and are the arteries of the continent, linking many countries in a way we don’t experience in Britain. I like the idea that there’s always something new to see and you cruise through historical cities and towns. It’s something I have wanted to do for ages. Many of these places have musical connections, and the musicians of the day would have travelled along these very waterways to reach the various princely courts.
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Indeed, as a nineteen year old, Beethoven sailed on a yacht with the Bonn Orchestra on the Rhine and Main to a prince’s country residence, and on the journey he had to work his passage as a menial kitchen hand. It's well known that river cruising is rather a lovely way to travel, great comfort, small ships and plenty of being looked after! The Uniworld ships look really luxurious, with beautiful staterooms. I know we are promised superb dining, with wonderful wines. All this whilst travelling through Europe for eight days, from Budapest to Passau, with Linz and Salzburg thrown in for good measure too – a musical feast. It’ll be like being in a fabulous floating hotel! I can’t wait, especially as we’re visiting Vienna, which is undoubtedly, my favourite city. I’ll have the opportunity to give a couple of talks on the ship too, something I always enjoy.
SILVER FACTS Find out more about Uniworld and other river cruise operators by calling your local travel agent. Contact details are on the back cover. Read the full article about John at silvertraveladvisor.com/John-SuchetUniworld-Advantage.
FARAWAY & EXOTIC
European Rivers 2019 With Fred. Olsen
Sail the breath taking Danube; savour the highlights of the heart of Europe on a journey through the spell bounding Moselle, Rhine and Main Valleys; enjoy a taster cruise to Amsterdam when the tulips are in full flourish; and much more. Now Fred. Olsen’s experience and knowledge has been applied to a new programme of tempting river cruises.
Here is a selection of cruises we have to offer in 2019... River Danube and City Discovery
Exploring the Scenic Moselle Valley
Scenic Delights of the Moselle Valley
Romantic Rhine & Moselle Marvels
8 nights • Brabant • Sails from Budapest to Nuremburg
7 nights • Brabant • Sails from Dusseldorf to Basel
7 nights • Brabant • Sails from Basel to Dusseldorf
7 nights • Brabant • Sails from Basel to Dusseldorf
22nd May 2019 17th September 2019
6th June 2019 4th July 2019 1st August 2019
13th June 2019 11th July 2019 8th August 2019
27th June 2019 25th July 2019
from only £1,799pp
from only £1,499pp
from only £1,499pp
from only £1,499pp
To book, or for more information, contact your local Advantage Travel Information shown is correct at time of going to press (Feb 2019). Fares are per person, based on twin occupancy, subject to availability. Fares are capacity controlled and may change at any time. Call for latest prices. Fares shown are based on fly cruises, which include return flights from/to a London airport based on economy class as arranged by FOCL, and transfers to/from the boat. Flights will be any London airport to a relevant destination airport; this will be dependent on the airline operations. Flights may be with any scheduled airline. The airline carrier and route will not be available until approximately 10 months prior to your return date, when airline schedules are For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page published. Please see full terms and conditions for more information. Should you wish to make your own way to join the boat; the cruise-only option is available on all Fred. Olsen river cruises and a deduction will be made to the price. You will also need to arrange your own transfers to/from the boat. E&OE.
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RIVER CRUISE
Slow-boating in French style
Gill Haynes left Silver Towers for a week of meandering.
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he kingfisher catapulted across the river like an azure ball-bearing, landed on a branch then ricocheted back to the other bank again. It was one of many sightings of birds and wildlife that reminded us we were on slow-time now, driving ourselves down the River Saône in Eastern France at a little over walking pace. And onboard, we were surprised by the space on the beautifully designed and equipped boat. Our immaculate Quattro S had
a full-size fridge-freezer, a proper shower with glass doors and a full-height master cabin. Plus two bikes for exploring, safely stowed on the top-deck. Off the main tourist-trails, the pretty riverside villages, mini-chateaux and towns welcome visitors with open, flower-filled arms. Slow-lane life is wonderfully friendly! I had some trepidation about the series of locks on the river. However, Nicols gave us a full explanation of how everything works set of instructions before we set off. After one or two locks, we relaxed: we could do this – and so, I’m sure, could you! Rather than stay at a marina, we choose to flycamp at unspoilt ‘nature moorings’ most evenings, simply tying up at the side of the river. One night, we watched two coypus, looking like beavers that have run into a wall, rummaging among the lily pads at the water's edge. And the river is jumping with fish. No wonder that, like us, the kingfishers love it!
SILVER FACTS Your local travel agent can help find the best slow-boating holiday for you. Call them today.
Just the right ingredients! Take a large converted barge, many bicycles (some electric), an international group of passengers of all ages, great Italian food, a hilarious, charming crew and two expert guides for a week of cycling along the mighty river Po. Jennie Carr reports.
water, gently exercised, watching the world go by before you moor up for the evening and a pleasant stroll in a pretty town. We saw the iconic sights of Venice, they can hardly be bettered, stopped by a beach on The Lido, ate picnics in tiny villages, visited churches, palaces and a fish market, sat in an ancient bell tower and had cheese with wine for elevenses. And then Mantua as the finale, first seen from the river late afternoon and then explored – a jewel in Italy’s gem-studded crown. This holiday was fantastically organised, full of interest and never exhausting. The cycle trails were mainly car-free and gloriously flat. Lycra is not compulsory and the pace of cycling easily achievable. If you can ride a bike and like being on the water too, it’s unbeatable!
SILVER FACTS
S
tarting in Venice, finishing in Mantua, this is a most relaxing way to immerse yourself in the delights of Italy. Think of leisurely afternoons on the
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With so many cruising styles and optons available, your local travel agent will help you make the right choice.
SINGLE TRAVEL
moments
Save up to £300pp on river cruises My best moment was sitting quietly by my Juliet balcony, reading my book. My first ‘toe dip’ into river cruising - it will not be my last.
Dutch Waterways and Tulips
A Danube Waltz
6 days from £849pp*
8 days from £1,399pp**
Save up to £200pp
Save up to £300pp
Includes all meals & 3 excursions Departs 1, 6 and 18 April 2019
Includes all meals & 4 excursions Departs May - October 2019
The Titan difference • VIP door-to-door travel service† • Multi-award winning
• Fly from an airport near you‡
• Expertly designed escorted holidays
• Guaranteed departures
• Exceptional value
For more information about Titan river cruises please contact your local Advantage travel agent *Lead in price and biggest saving based on 6 April 2019 departure in a cat. 1 cabin. **Lead in price and biggest saving based on 6 October 2019 departure in cat. D cabin. †Mainland only. ‡Subject to availability at time of booking. VisitUKwww.silvertraveladvisor.com for travel
reviews and information
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OCEAN CRUISES
The Canary Islands for Winter Sun
Alan Fairfax, our cruise guru, sails to warmer climes.
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inter approaches, the days get colder, thoughts turn to winter holidays and warm sunshine, but where do you find it? Answer, a cruise to the Canary Islands. 2pm on a chilly Autumn afternoon sees me boarding MV Columbus, flagship of Cruise and Maritime Voyages at Tilbury for such a cruise. First port, Amsterdam, a half day stop to embark passengers and explore the city followed by three relaxing sea days to Gibraltar. Time to enjoy the onboard activities, lectures, films, line dancing, craft classes, production shows, classical recitals, and much more. The days become warmer, many sunbathe on the comfortable loungers. Food is an important element of any cruise and Columbus does not disappoint. The Waterfront Restaurant operating at breakfast, lunch and dinner served by waiters from menus offering numerous choices. Speciality restaurants, Fusion, for those delicious Indian dishes served by staff in authentic costume and The Grill for mouth-watering steaks. For something a little less formal, the Plantation Buffet with its large alfresco terrace, on sea days spoil yourself with breakfast in bed. Remember the saying ‘Come on as passengers, go off as cargo’. Choose from a wide range of well-appointed cabins, 150 having been allocated to solo travellers. In Gibraltar the mercury is touching 26C, the sun shines from an azure blue sky. Board the cable car to the summit, take in spectacular views including the Spanish mainland, be amused by the famous Barbary Apes. One more day at sea in the sun, then we arrive in Arrecife, capital of Lanzarote, an island with a desert like climate making it popular with tourists especially in the winter.
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Next day, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, a beautiful port with numerous palm trees as the name suggests. The days pass quickly and soon we are in Tenerife, an island of silver sand beaches, hot sunshine, lively resorts and banana plantations and of course Mount Teide, Spain’s highest peak set in the Teide National Park. Time to head north to Madeira and Funchal, a delightful town basking in the sunshine with much to see and a popular cruise port. Ascend to Monte Municipal Park by cable car and descend in one of the famous wicker taboggans. Last port of call, Leixöes, Portugal, a small town immersed in history set on a large golden sand beach where it is still 24C before two sailing days back to Tilbury.
SILVER FACTS To enquire about or book your next ocean cruise, contact your local travel agent today. Read Alan's complete article at silvertraveladvisor.com/CMV-canariesadvantage.
RIVER CRUISING
Britain’s leading independent cruise line
Welcome to our world of cruises! Worldwide Cruise Collection 2019/20 • Traditional British cruise experience • Six smaller to mid-sized cruise ships
Columbus
• Sailing from 14 ports throughout the UK and Ireland • Great deals for singles and groups • Excellent service from a friendly crew Magellan
• 95% of guests rate us excellent or good • Over 200 year round cruises NNER WI
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AWARDS
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Norwegian Fjords - Baltic Cities - British Isles - Iceland - Northern Lights - Canary Islands & Madeira European Cities - Scottish Isles - River Seine - Spain & Portugal - Greenland - Canada Round the World Cruise - World Cruise Sectors - African & Indian Ocean - Caribbean & Mexico Trans Panama -Voyages to/from Australia & New Zealand - Christmas & New Year and Festive Breaks
For more information please see your local travel agent For friendly your local callTravel us today - Ltd ourtrading number's the back page Subject to availability. Terms & advice conditionsfrom apply. Offered for sale travel in the UKexperts by South Quay & Leisure as Cruiseon & Maritime Voyages. ABTA V9945. ATOL 4619.
334712
OCEAN CRUISES
Cruise and walk - ideal for the active traveller! Is this for walkers who’d like a cruise? Or cruisers who like to walk?
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hat is for certain is, that on a Cruise & Walk Holiday you’ll explore well beyond that which fellow passengers do. Indeed, you might be envied by some. Ramblers, in association with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, take full advantage of the new daily destinations ships, by exploring coasts, countryside or cities on foot. You’ll benefit from a dedicated tour
guide and small group, whilst partaking in all the top-notch facilities the Fred. Olsen ships have to offer – superb food, leisure pools and jacuzzis, lounges and bars, fitness centre and wellbeing spa, and a library. Your own floating hotel indeed! As one tour leader says, ‘I look forward to swopping my boots for dance shoes at the end of the day’. Many of the islands and highlands of Britain are best reached by ship: on a cruise you can reach a variety of coastal regions that would take days to reach by road. And it’s possible to ‘hop’ across to Ireland easily too. Indeed, it’s the perfect way to visit several islands in one trip, to sample a range of scenery and different walks – the Canary Islands are so varied with green valleys, barren volcanic mountains as well as golden, black and red beaches. Further afield, the Caribbean islands offer glorious hikes and great wildlife spotting whilst the islands of the Indian Ocean are exotic with ancient forests, unique flora like Coco de Mer and jaw-dropping views. Boots and boats – a winning combination!
SILVER FACTS To find out more about active cruise options contact your local travel agent today. Read Steve Newman's full review at silvertraveladvisor.com/cruise-and-walkadvantage.
Best of Balmoral What a great time was had by our members on-board Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral when she came into Newcastle upon Tyne.
T
he thirty strong group had a guided tour of the ship looking at the accommodation and recreational areas then sat down to a wonderful buffet lunch. The ship had just returned from the Norwegian fjords and was about to depart to Sweden that afternoon with the tide. Hosted by our own Steve Newman, the service and welcome from the Fred. Olsen staff was exceptional. Even to the point where Keith Norman, Fred. Olsen’s Business Development Manager, suggested this great photo call! The group had a short but fascinating presentation about the company’s sailings from Rosyth this year. and their brand new river cruise holidays on the lovely 150 passenger Brabant which are selling fast. Lottie, a
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member on the visit, wrote to tell us ‘We were treated to a very informative day visit. We parted company with much to digest regarding cruising.’ Our ship visits are becoming ever more popular as you can explore ships before you actually cruise and there’s bound to be one near you. So do go onto the Silver Travel Advisor website, search for Ship Visits and book up early before they all go!
SILVER FACTS To find out more about ship visits, speak to your local travel agent or visit silvertraveladvisor.com.
RIVER CRUISING
Around the world
Join Black Watch for 109 nights of incredible global exploration Up to
£600pp FREE On Board Spend*
Around the World
8th Jan 2020 • 108 nights • Sails from Southampton Black Watch • W2102
Portuguese, Canarian and Caribbean delights will start your journey in style. Enjoy a full day to explore Havana – perhaps via classic car – before Black Watch cruises the unforgettable Panama Canal. An array of idyllic South Pacific islands will then compete for your attention. Immerse yourself in the paradise of Bora Bora, Fiji and more. Two nights in Sydney – home to the iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House – kicks off your ‘Down Under’ discovery, which takes in Tasmania and Melbourne too.
Room Type (Two sharing)
Prices from per person
Interior
£10,799pp
Ocean View
£12,499pp
Balcony
£19,499pp
Suite
£20,199pp
Single
£18,299pp
An overnight stay in vibrant Singapore is sandwiched between culture-rich Indonesian islands. Sailing the Suez Canal is sure to live long in the memory, but not before you’ll have spent time exploring India and Jordan, where the highlights include the Taj Mahal, Petra and bustling Mumbai.
For more information or to book, please visit or contact your local Advantage travel agent Prices are correct at the time of going to print, but are capacity controlled and may change at any time. Call for the latest prices. Fares are per person, based on twin occupancy of the lead-in twin room, subject to availability.Visit Priceswww.silvertraveladvisor.com are based on standard occupancy. Off ers travel may be reviews amended or withdrawn at any time without prior notice, are subject to availability for and information & cannot be applied retrospectively. All bookings are subject to Fred. Olsen’s standard terms & conditions, available on their website & on request. Some ports may be at anchor, intermediate days are at sea. FOCL reserve the right to amend itineraries for operational reasons. On Board Spend is per person, non-refundable and non-transferable. No cash alternative will be given for unused spend. On board spend amount varies dependent on room grade. E&OE
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OCEAN CRUISES
A VESSEL FOR ADVENTURERS Pat Richardson recalls her time at the christening of Hurtigruten's ship, MS Spitsbergen.
I
have been a guest at the christening of a least two dozen ships, but this one was different. For a start, it took place north of the Arctic Circle at Svolvaer in Norway’s Lofoten Islands. And, whilst each of the others was either a river or an ocean cruise ship, this was Hurtigruten’s latest, and they don’t call them cruise ships. (More about that in a moment.) The ship’s godmother, Cecilie Skog, was different, too. A dainty, cover-girl pretty, 41-year-old, she is the first woman to have been to both the North and South Poles and climbed the ‘Seven Summits’ – the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. Who better indeed? As for the Spitsbergen, formerly a Portuguese car ferry, Hurtigruten’s extensive refit has created a stylish vessel with spacious public rooms, inviting cabins, a gym, sauna and outdoor hot-tubs. In addition, her hull was reinforced to ice class standards. After touring the ship with her captain, I joined an excited crowd in Svolvaer’s town square to watch the dockside ceremony on a big screen; followed by a rock concert live on stage. As the temperature dropped – something that July’s midnight sun did not do - I was welcomed into the VIP tent for refreshments, and spoke to the delightfully unassuming Cecilie Skog. Have you heard of Hurtigruten? We used to know it as ‘The Norwegian Coastal Voyage’. It’s still going strong, but has reverted to its original Norwegian name: Hurtigruten – meaning ‘fast route’. It was
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founded in 1893 by Richard With, to provide a regular scheduled service carrying post, produce and people to coastal communities in northern Norway between Tromso and Kirkenes. Today, this service continues; one of Hurtigruten’s ships leaves Bergen every day of the year, to make the 11-day voyage to Kirkenes and back. It also carries leisure passengers, who appreciate the opportunity to see Norway’s beautiful coastal scenery, and to get a flavour of local life. Hurtigruten offers itineraries to Iceland, Greenland, Spitsbergen, and Antarctica and along South America’s coasts plus Arctic Canada and the Amazon. For this, they need more ships, hence: MS Spitsbergen. In addition, the company plans to construct up to four new explorer ships. And on their traditional Norwegian coastal voyages, as well as city walks and scenic drives, a range of adventurous excursions such as dog-sledding, snowmobiling, mountain hiking, kayaking and RIB safaris are being offered. Read about Pat’s recent voyage on our website, type Hurtigruten in the search box at www.silvertraveladvisor.com
SILVER FACTS Discover more about expedition cruising by speaking to your local travel agent.
TALL SHIP CRUISES
Tall-ship sailing in perfect locations The Royal Clipper – The Windward Islands of the Caribbean, Debbie Marshall sets sail.
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still want to enjoy sailing but not with all that responsibility.” George (aged 65) explained why he had the Star Clippers bug. He had captained many a small yacht in the past and still wanted to travel by sail power. His wife, however, preferred luxury holidays with a little pampering in the sun. The two had found the perfect solution to ensure marital harmony for their golden years. January is the perfect time to escape from the UK with a direct flight to Barbados and join the Royal Clipper. What a welcoming ship it is, by far the most elegant and photogenic in the port, a vision of beauty with comfort and charm in equal measures. Rising early to enjoy the sunrise with a dazzling display of oranges and pinks over the hills of the islands, accompanied by the water performance of the flying fish and the birds swooping to catch them. Then with appetites likewise awakened, it was time for a fabulous buffet breakfast. During the day the ship called in at a different island:- St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, St Kitts, Iles des Saintes and Martinique, and a range of excursions were on offer. Each evening, the perfection of the setting sun before dinner, cocktail in hand, and enjoying the atmospheric Sailaway, memories were made to last a lifetime.
convertible in Havana, and indulged in a city tour as its passenger. Other excursions included meeting stingrays off Grand Cayman, a raft trip along Jamaica’s Martha Brae, and a visit to the unspoilt Cuban islands of Cayo Largo, where a fantastic beach barbecue was laid on by the crew. The ship itself is glorious: it recreates the golden age of sail for seasoned seafarers, combined with plenty of home comforts for modern day landlubbers. Activities onboard are understated, but that’s all part of the Star Clippers’ allure. In addition to watersports, the most exciting activity is climbing the rigging to the crow’s nest! And at night, after a mean cocktail in the alfresco Tropical Bar, the crew point out constellations made up of the improbably bright stars in the darkest of skies. No wonder so many passengers travel this way time and again.
Stars, cars and mojito bars are all part of a captivating Cuban cruise Jeannine Williamson took huge pleasure in her cruise on the Star Flyer, calling at Havana, small Cuban islands in the Canarreos archipelago, the Caymans and Jamaica ending in Cienfuegos. She couldn’t resist the lure of a bright pink Cadillac
SILVER FACTS For cruise details contact your local travel agent.
For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page
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SINGLE TRAVEL
Jan Leeming Tours Croatia
Jan Leeming tours Croatia
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s one of Just You’s most popular destinations I was so excited to be heading to Croatia, a region with an abundance of history, culture and beauty. Arriving at dusk, it was not until the morning that we were taken aback by the magnificence of Croatia - a mountainous country clinging to a sea dotted with islands. Our first trip was to Zadar, located on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, where after the World War II clear up, a Roman Forum was discovered in front of the 9th Century Pre-Romanesque Church of St. Donatus, which itself has been constructed using much ‘debris’ from Roman times. Recycling is timeless! The Sea Organ of Zadar, a construction of pipes under the sea where wind and waves play a somewhat haunting tune, is a truly captivating experience. Krka National Park was our next port of call, with its spectacular major waterfall, surrounded by little ones all around. For me, one of the best things about travelling with Just You is spending time with like-minded people and it was wonderful walking through the park sharing stories with my new friends. Our Tour Manager, Alen, kept the group entertained throughout with his wealth of historical information. Twenty years ago I visited Split and was keen to see the Diocletian Palace again. Since then, much Jan at Zadar Cathedral more of the Palace has been excavated and our guide took us on a walk through the ‘subterranean’ rooms. The panoramic views from the belfry of the Cathedral of St. Domnius were breath-taking, if you climbed 366 steps, which I determinedly did, with pride in my success. Reaching the half-way point of the tour, we were off to Dubrovnik, founded
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Jan by Plitvice Lake in the 6th century and with a fascinating history. Back in the 14th century, it became one of the most important mercantile and maritime centres on the Mediterranean. A real highlight was sailing to the islands of Brac and Hvar, where we had a brief stop in one of the smallest natural harbours you are ever likely to encounter. In true Just You adventurous spirit, some of us were determined to get our swimsuits wet, so I can now say I’ve swum in the Adriatic. Our final day was spent in Mostar, it was here in the 1990’s during the Bosnian War the historic Stari Most Bridge was blown up. It was re-built with local materials using Ottoman construction techniques, stones from local quarries and original material recovered by Hungarian army divers from the river. An uplifting end to a wonderful trip!
SILVER FACTS Just You offer tours for single travellers, with a balance between guided and independent travel, under the friendly watch of a tour manager. No single supplements are added.
SINGLE TRAVEL
Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com for travel reviews and information
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SINGLE TRAVEL
Away with the Single Supplement A
t Silver Towers, we are much heartened to find that many of our partners are reducing or doing away with the single supplement. From river and ocean cruises, to lakes and mountains stays, beach holidays and special interest trips and escorted tours, those travelling alone, for whatever reason, are now being offered choices that are as good as those for couples, groups and families. Not only are the specialist singles holiday providers such as Solos Holidays, Just You, Travel One and One Traveller offering excellent holidays, but cruise lines such as Cruise & Maritime Voyages and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines are ensuring up to 150 single cabins on their ships, with welcome parties
and shared dining to settle you in. And river cruises now often remove supplements on their voyages too, be sure to read our monthly special offers newsletter (register here to receive it silvertraveladvisor. com/users/sign_up) and check the website too. Escorted tour companies, Shearings, Saga, Grand UK, Wendy Wu Tours and Cox & Kings all have dedicated programmes if you’re travelling by yourself. And Jules Verne and Explore often make no single supplement offers too. In fact, there’s every reason to travel how and where you like, should you be just one! Our very popular mini guide for the Solo Silver Traveller, sponsored by Solos Holidays, can be ordered by post or read
online silvertraveladvisor.com/ solo-silver-traveller.
China for one? Why not join a group tour? I
Cathy Bartrop of Travel Guru TV, Gill Haynes from Silver Travel Advisor and Wendy Wu herself
Would you like to visit an exciting destination, with so many sights to see - modern cities with historic quarters, remarkable antiquities, enchanting wildlife of the larger variety and peaceful countryside?
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f your answers is yes, then China must surely be at the top of your list, with Shanghai, Beijing, the Terracotta Warriors, Giant Pandas and river cruises through stunning gorges. Not forgetting the breathtaking Great Wall of course. Wendy Wu Tours have specialised in tours to China for years, and now there are trips specifically for single travellers, accompanied by National Escorts, who are the experts on their home country. They organise all the logistics, so you can thoroughly enjoy your holiday. You’ll be shown the authentic China, joining a group on your adventures, so you have others with whom to share your daily experiences and friendly mealtimes. Each traveller has their own room, with no single supplement, giving you space for relaxation when you want it. All airfares, local transport, excursion and entrance costs, visas for UK and EU passport holders and most meals are included in the cost too, so there’s very little extra to worry about. And as Asia specialists, Wendy Wu Tours offer single traveller tours to Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia and India too.
SILVER FACTS For more single travel options speak to your local travel agent.
ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL
The high road, the low road, the ocean wave, a city hotel, a country getaway….you decide!
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couple of clicks on the Silver Travel Advisor website will bring you to this page silvertraveladvisor.com/find-a-holiday/holidaytype/accessible-holidays, which is filled with ideas for anyone who has limited mobility or disability and wants to travel. You’ll find ocean cruising companies, escorted tour operators, hotel stays at home and overseas, campsites in Europe and cabins in UK forests, fully equipped with hoists for the hot tub too, as well as the specialists below. Request our mini guide on Accessible Travel and Attractions by post, or read it online, at silvertraveladvisor.com/accessibleholidays-and-attractions Award-winning Enable Holidays provide a complete package for those with limited mobility, with adapted transfers from the airport to your destination and carefully audited accommodation so you exactly know what to expect. Ramps, lifts, flat-floor bathrooms, raised beds and more are all on their checklist, so you can travel with confidence. Try India, USA, Vietnam, Mexico and Europe for starters. A trip to Crete, a beach in the Canaries, sightseeing in Amsterdam and a tour of North Wales – all these are happily sorted by Limitless Travel who take escorted groups, which everyone can join, to disability-friendly hotels, with qualified care staff on hand to help with simple tasks. Fuller care packages are available to ensure you have everything as you need for a fabulous holiday. Revitalise have purpose-built accommodation near Southampton, Southport and near Epping Forest so you can be sure to stay somewhere that’s well designed for whatever you need. Offering wonderful
themed weekends, accessible excursions and entertainment in the evenings, you’ll have the best time. Carers are welcome and they’ll be supported by trained volunteers. Discounts and possible funding available. For those living with dementia and their families, getting in touch with nature has proved to be very beneficial and a peaceful way to spend time together. Dementia Adventure have designed small group holidays around the UK that do this very thing. Their expertise and research contribute to making certain the holidays are totally appropriate for everyone. In partnership with Personal Touch Holidays, breaks in Portugal will be offered from 2019. It is all very well finding a cruise ship or hotel that fulfils all your requests, however the question ‘How do we get there?’ often arises. Driving Miss Daisy has the answer, with vehicles adapted for wheelchairs and well-trained, DBS checked companion drivers, perfect for journeys to cruise terminals or hotels, as well as trips to family and friends. Now partnered with Enable Holidays and Limitless Travel as well as Silver Travel Advisor, this highly professional, friendly service is the ideal solution.
SILVER FACTS Your local independent travel agent can help organise all types of travel, making the booking process simple and stress free. Call your travel agent today. Contact details are on the back cover.
For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page
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FARAWAY & EXOTIC
An extraordinary country where memories are made Solange Hando experiences a grand tour of Namibia
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ordered by the Atlantic in southern Africa, Namibia is roughly three times the size of the UK but with just 2.6 million people, nature takes your breath away. The Constitution ensures protection of the wild life and diverse landscape from mountains and canyons to deserts and national parks. Heading south from the capital, our first stop was on the edge of the Kalahari where we enjoyed a sundowner safari among weaver birds, ostriches and bouncing springboks. Then there was a long drive through the steppes to the deep south and the Fish River Canyon, the greatest in Africa. Stretching 160 km, up to 27 wide, you cannot see it all but the ridge offers spectacular views over dramatic rocks and cliffs and the tiny river far below. Wild flowers splashed colour here and there and back in our thatched 'village', we gazed at a magnificent sunset over the vast pristine land. Next? To the Namib Desert on the western side, bumping on gravel roads over the Tsaris mountains and down to the 'Desert Quiver Camp' where a long-horned oryx grazed by my hut. As with most accommodation on the tour, this was out in the wilderness and full of character. Namib, they say, is
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the world's oldest desert and has the highest dunes. So we were up soon after dawn when the sun lit up the slopes, all shades of orange, pink and red, and we started to climb the 'Big Daddy'. But what was that? A sandstorm out of nowhere? We slid down to the white clay pan, the Deadvlei sprinkled with skeleton trees. This was nature in the raw. Later, after cruising with the seals in Walvis Bay, we drove north across gravel plains framed by the highest mountains on the way to Twyfelfontein. With its prehistoric rock engravings listed by Unesco and Living Museum of Damara Culture, we loved it. But I could hardly wait for the great Etosha National Park and nearby reserves where wild life reigns supreme. We had seen plenty along the way, including leopards and desert lions, but this was truly special with so many zebras, antelopes, elephants, hyenas, rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes and more gathering around the waterholes. Safaris were full of fun but most magical was the softly lit waterhole in Okaukuejo rest camp where we watched in silence under a starlit sky.
SILVER FACTS To find out more about exploring Namibia, speak to your local travel agent.
FARAWAY & EXOTIC
See Cambodia and Vietnam from a relaxed perspective Silver Travellers take time out of their travels to relax aboard a river cruise on Asia’s iconic Mekong River, on Selective Asia’s award-winning tailor-made itineraries.
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ietnam and Cambodia evoke the thrill of new adventures, and conjure visions of tropical landscapes, ruined jungle temples, and cities vibrant with sound and colour. From exploring newly discovered sights to taking tea with the locals, these destinations keep on surprising and delighting visitors at every bend in the road. So if you want to take a break from wandering the grounds of Angkor Wat and tasting fragrant treats in bustling street markets, add a river cruise to your itinerary and enjoy a laid-back pace for a while… The majestic Mekong ties these neighbouring countries together, flowing right across Cambodia into the southern tip of Vietnam, where the lush Mekong Delta unwinds into the South China Sea. A number of stylish riverboats ply these waters, on cruises ranging from 3-10 days, offering the opportunity to relax while you explore. The rush of reaching A from B as fast as you can gives way to the sput-sput of sampans motoring past, and the chop of their bow-waves against the hull. Looking to the banks, you might spot farmers planting rice, or see a gleaming golden temple emerge as you round the riverbend. Elsewhere, jungle stretches right to the water’s edge, giving cover to creatures that venture down to drink and bathe. Combine Cambodia and Vietnam’s intoxicating history and culture with some relaxing downtime on the water to enrich your overall experience. If you’re
keen to continue your journey from Ho Chi Minh City when you disembark, you can travel north to explore beautiful Hoi An, discover the backwaters of iconic Halong Bay, or venture up into the less trodden roads of Ha Giang and Sapa.
MORE INFO Your local travel agent can help tailor your own South East Asia adventure, to include tours, hotels, transport and even visas. Call them today. Contact detals are on the back cover.
Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com for travel reviews and information
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FARAWAY & EXOTIC
Immerse yourself in Culture, History & Natural Beauty across the Globe with Shearings... There’s so much more to Shearings than traditional seaside holidays, though of course, if that’s what you’re after, they’ve certainly got plenty of great ones! However, if you want to experience a little bit more from your next holiday, do consider one of Shearings’ awardwinning escorted tours or river cruises! They have all been meticulously planned by Shearings’ team of holiday experts, who are constantly seeking the best hotels and ships, including welcoming exclusively-chartered vessels, friendly family-run properties and popular chain hotels, all sharing Shearings’ unwavering commitment to high quality and superb service. They’ve also handpicked the best visitor attractions including must-see iconic landmarks and enchanting hidden treasures off the beaten path.
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There are so many amazing destinations just waiting to be explored on Shearings escorted tours! For example, in the UK, you could take a captivating escorted tour travelling from the extreme southwest point of
Land’s End up to John o’ Groats:
Or why not try a relaxing river cruise
the extreme northwest point of the
and sail along some of the world’s
British mainland. This is just one of
most stunning scenery? Your views
Shearings’ Grand Tourer premium
will constantly change as you travel,
holidays, specially curated to offer truly
stopping at fascinating ports of call
unforgettable holiday experiences.
along the way. River cruises are essentially escorted tours on the water!
The new 2019 Shearings Worldwide
Also, your accommodation travels
programme includes a whole host of
with you, which means you need only
exciting once-in-a-lifetime experiences,
unpack your cases once! We’ve even
such as Wings over the West – which
teamed up with premiumriver cruise
offers a taste of the high life (literally!),
specialists A-Rosa to offer our widest
giving you the chance to fly by private
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jet, taking in breathtaking views
Whichever Shearings escorted tour or river cruise you choose, you’ll find it so easy to explore and enjoy yourself, with all your transport, sightseeing excursions and accommodation planned for you by Shearings Find your perfect holiday experience today, visit your local travel agent.
of awe-inspiring desert landscapes including the Grand Canyon an Monument Valley – absolutely unforgettable, and probably not what you’d expect from Shearings!
FARAWAY & EXOTIC
Time to Taste the Best There’s little doubt that food is the heartbeat of many areas, with regional wines being an ideal accompaniment.
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nsight Vacations, passionate about premium escorted tours, are keen to offer their guests truly authentic tastes in all their destinations, be it Europe, America or Canada – something rather special and a little out of the ordinary! In Puglia, you’ll meet a local wine merchant and find out more about the hearty rich reds produced here. And for a Farm-to-Table experience, meet the farmers and growers, then enjoy a family meal, for which the Grandmother has handmade your pasta course in time-honoured fashion. On a Californian tour, the Winelands, the biggest grape-growing region outside Europe, offer great wine tasting excursions with personal excursions given by producers. A visit to the famous Farmers’ Market in Los Angeles is an absolute must for anyone interested in food, fabulous for gourmet grocers, unique ice creams and artisan bakers is an absolute must for anyone interested in food. A great alternative to sometimes samey hotel fare, is the Dine-Around option, which finds smaller,
personally recommended restaurants that you might otherwise miss, try a marvellous Irish beef and Guinness stew in an intimate Killarney eaterie for a genuine flavour of Ireland. And going one step further, right to the heart and soul of a place, Dine-at-Home takes you to the home of a local foodie, found through EatWith. You cannot get much closer to speciality dishes, which your host will prepare, whilst explaining the ingredients and their use, before you all sit and eat together.
SILVER FACTS To enquire about the right foodie holiday for you, speak to your local travel agent today.
Amazing Alaska
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t’s dramatic and exciting in Alaska, with midnight sun in summer and little light in winter. The largest state in the USA, with Denali, the highest mountain in North America, and eight outstanding National Parks to explore. Alaska is the perfect place to watch humpback whales, see bears standing in the river feeding on salmon and wonder at icebergs and glaciers. Nature unabashed is the feature here, there’s little that’s tamed and why should it be? You can sail on small ship cruises, getting up close to the marine life or take to the highways on a self-drive holiday or truly relax on a superb train especially designed for luxuriating in the dramatic views. For more information about travelling to these destinations contact your local travel agent.
Madagascar magic M adagascar conjures up images of island life, with virgin jungle at its centre full of the secretive lemurs. It’s bursting with unique, often endangered, flora and fauna, so much so that it’s often called the island continent. Technically part of Africa, its ancient forests, wide savannahs and hidden rivers are home to tribes, still living as their ancestors did, and having limited contact with Westerners. Undiscovered Destinations take travellers on treks, river journeys and drives to find extraordinary hidden treasures and whilst the accommodation is simple, the journey sometimes challenging, the adventures will never be forgotten, the memories sublime. For more information about travelling to these destinations contact your local travel agent.
For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page
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SILVER TRAVEL BOOK CLUB
Unforgettable New Zealand holidays 21 DAY NEW ZEALAND GRAND EXPLORER SELF-DRIVE £3,235
18 DAY NEW ZEALAND PANORAMA COACH TOUR £4,105
INCLUDES:
HIGHLIGHTS:
FROM
*
per person
• 20 nights accommodation in the style of your choice
• Water taxi transfers to Kenepuru Sound
• Entry to Matakohe Kauri Museum
• Entry to Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve and Pools
• 18 days car rental including full insurance, unlimited kms and GPS
• Kaikōura Whale Watch Cruise
• Waipoua Forest Twilight Encounter
• Monarch Wildlife cruise, Dunedin
• Cape Brett and Hole in the Rock Cruise
• Guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set
• Māori cultural experience with traditional hangi • Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Reserve • Locally guided Art Deco walk • Scenic Interislander Cruise
• Taieri Gorge Railway
• Milford Sound Nature Cruise including picnic lunch • World-Heritage Westland National Park
• Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers
• Award-winning TranzAlpine train journey through the Southern Alps • Airport transfer on departure
The Australasia Holiday Specialists 46
FROM
^
per person
• Historic Bay of Islands
• Thermal wonderland of Rotorua • Napier, the Art Deco capital of the world
• Wellington, the nation’s capital • World Heritage listed Mt Cook National Park
• Dunedin, the Edinburgh of the South • Fiordland National Park
• Spectacular Southern Lakes region • West Coast Glacier region
FEATURED EXPERIENCES:
• Authentic Māori Village, Hangi and Cultural Performance
• Milford Sound Scenic Cruise • World famous TranzAlpine train journey • TSS Earnslaw Walter Peak Cruise and Dinner
INCLUSIONS:
• 17 nights premium hotel accommodation
• Full breakfast daily, 1 lunch and 15 dinners
• Travel by 5-star luxury touring vehicle • All sightseeing, excursions and entrance fees as shown
• Complimentary airport transfers on arrival and departure
Book with your local travel agent.
*Terms and conditions: Prices are per person, twin share. Prices were correct at the time of submission but are subject to change without notice. Price excludes international and domestic airfares + airport taxes. *Self-Drive Package: Advertised price is based on travel in November 2019. Car hire excess conditions apply. Car parking fees may apply in come locations. ^Coach Tour Package: Advertised price for tours departing 2019/2020 season. Single share options are available at an additional cost. A deposit of £200 is required within 10 days of booking confirmation. Full payment is required within 60 days of tour departure. Please enquire for more information.
ESCORTED TOURING
Brazil
– abundant diversity in one country Rio de Janiero, the extraordinary Amazon basin, the Pantanal and the Iguazu Falls are all unique, and just some of the reasons travellers are finding Brazil an exciting, rewarding place to visit.
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he cultural diversity of its people – African, Amazonian Indian, Portuguese and other Europeans – create a rich national heritage seen in the music of Salvador Da Bahia, the colonial architecture in São Luís and Olinda and Carnival in Rio, with its Christian roots that has incorporated music and dance from across all ethnic groups, samba-reggae for example. For wildlife and geography, Brazil is in a class of its own. The coastline boasts wonderful beaches and Iguazu Falls are almost beyond compare spanning both Brazil and Argentina, take a helicopter ride to truly appreciate them. If you want to visit a remarkable savannah and wetland area deep in the interior bursting with birds and wildlife,
Tour South America - exotic and entertaining!
After 20 years of mastering touring through Asia, Wendy Wu Tours launched their new programme to South America. It features escorted tours, with many added extras for great value, to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica and Panama.
the Pantanal is just the place. You can explore on foot, by boat or on horseback! And perhaps most excitingly, there‘s the opportunity to search for jaguars whilst visiting an ecotourism project. A cruise down the Amazon, through lush vegetation, takes you to a special environment – monkeys swinging through the trees, parrots swooping across the horizon and a cacophony of sounds that hint at hidden creatures. Prepare to be amazed! Exhilarating and unique experiences available include: • A visit to Peru’s Palomino Islands, surrounded by rocky islets, natural caves and an abundance of wildlife – spot thousands of sea lions. • A 2-day pass to the 15th century, mystical Machu Picchu, the Incan citadel in the Peruvian Andes. • A professional, sultry salsa show in Cali, Colombia, famed for its dancing schools. • A full day Glacier Cruise in Puerto Natales, on the edge of the Parque Nacional Torres, Patagonia • A full day visit to the uniquely forested Victoria Island in Nahuel Huapi National Park, Argentina • An Argentine wine and cooking master-class in Maipu, surrounded by vineyards and fabulous restaurants • Visit a local Amazon tribe, Caboclos, in Brazil to learn about traditional Amer-Indian life • Visit both sides of the majestic, breath-taking Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil • Explore the Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve, replete with rare birds, in eco-friendly Costa Rica
SILVER FACTS Speak to your local travel agent for advice on selecting the best South America tour for you.
Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com for travel reviews and information
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OCEAN CRUISES
Extraordinary TOURS to Japan Discover incredible Japan and experience vibrant, futuristic metropolises, delicious cuisine and spectacular scenery. From iconic Mt Fuji, tranquil temples and picturesque old towns to the bold and bright Tokyo, Himeji Castle and bowing deer of Nara Japan is a dream destination waiting to be explored.
TAKE ME THERE Japan Uncovered 17 days from £6,490pp ✅ ✅ ✅
Visit the Snow Monkeys Admire delightful Kyoto Reflect in Hiroshima & Miyajima
BOOK NOW 48 CONTACT YOUR LOCAL TRAVEL AGENT
ESCORTED TOURING
California and the Golden West
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his outstanding American region really is a ‘must-do’ for any Silver Traveller, however there are long distances to cover, especially if your plans include trendy Los Angeles, San Diego, artistic Sedona, the breath-taking Grand Canyon, remarkable Las Vegas, San Francisco and pretty Carmel. It may seem an ambitious itinerary, however why not see as much as you can on one trip? You’ll immerse yourself in true West Coast and desert life, which is about as different to the UK as you can get – magnificent rock formations, state-of-the-art themed hotels and casinos, laid-
back, quaint towns, a dramatic coastline and fastmoving, movie-star cities. And this where the success of an escorted coach tour comes in – you sit back and totally relax, able to really absorb the amazing views, whilst your driver does the hard work. One traveller reports: Ernest was a very friendly, good, steady driver with excellent knowledge that he shared about points of interest on each journey. At every hotel, he would explain all the information we needed to know - room numbers, arrangements for the luggage, dining times and alternative local places to eat. And of course, with everything taken care of, you’ll be ready to enjoy the experiences on offer once you reach each destination! As our reviewer put it, ‘we could almost have left our brains at home, we didn't have to think about anything, it was so well organised’. All the better to really get the best from your holiday.
SILVER FACTS For advice on the best tour for you, call your local travel agent today. Contact details are on the back cover.
The Italian Lakes Retired deputy headteacher, Ian Lumsden travelled by coach to and around the Italian Lakes. He revelled in the trip. Here he reports on the stay at Lake Garda .
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t the top of the lake, surrounded by mountains, Riva del Garda is very much a family resort situated in a genuinely exquisite position. The sheer cliffs, which rise from the lake, are of white limestone with verdant woodlands where the trees can cling on. The Grand Hotel is in the centre of the most important square, the huge Museo Civico to one side forming part of the harbour. It was splendid, our room swish and modern. After a fine breakfast, we headed for the ferry across the water. Lakeside Limone has a reputation for the longevity of its inhabitants. Whether this is due to fish, tomatoes, olive oil, Vespas, tobacco or its famous lemons, I don't know. The lake's waters are clear turquoise, the fish huge and one can see why the place is packed. We found a table in the sun and I fed the fish. I drink tea with lemon. The freshness was unmistakable.’ Ian also visited Stresa by Lake Maggiore, Isola Bella, the Borromean Islands, Lake Lugano, Lake Como, Verona, Milan and Lake Orta along with several with palaces and other islands on this tour.
SILVER FACTS For advice on the best tour for you, call your local travel agent today. Contact details are on the back cover.
For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page
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ESCORTED TOURING
Penny Smith perfectly escorted Penny told Jennie Carr all about her recent trip, ‘Beyond the Golden Triangle’, where she reached parts of India others might not get to.
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s you might imagine, this lively broadcaster loves to travel and her latest journey took her to India to Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore National Park, Talabgoan and Jaipur. So a trip of definite contrasts with tuktuks, tigers (note the plural) and the Taj Mahal. It’s Penny’s third trip to India and yet there’s always more to experience. This time she chose to travel in an escorted group, with Jonny, the tour manager in charge of the logistics, and Luv, their wonderful, local guide. It makes the journey that bit easier and removes any vulnerability you might feel in such a different culture, Penny said, whilst ensuring that you really do get to see a great deal, as well as accessing places the individual won’t find. Local knowledge is a marvellous thing! Take the trip to the workshops where inlaid marble is prepared, an incredible feat of craftmanship, by the direct descendants of those who worked on the romantic Taj Mahal. Penny felt thrilled to have seen both these places, the former adding so much insight to the latter. We touched on the subject of food, which Penny freely admitted to loving, Indian food, she said, must be tried in India, calling it a thing of joy and beauty. Especially the mattar paneer (spicy peas and cheese), the sambar soup and the okra and the cauliflower and …..everything! Her ‘wow’ moment came in Ranthambore National Park on an early morning drive when Penny and her group saw tigers, almost invisible, blending in with the red brown earth and grasses. Powerful, graceful with
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rippling muscles, moving softly on paddy-paws, she was struck by how magnificent yet vulnerable they appeared. And it was to see these amazing beasts that prompted Penny to travel in May, when it is very hot. However, sightings are more likely at this time, with less vegetation growing and less water available. We talked about the extraordinary hotel at Talabgaon Castle, visited by The Queen and Prince Philip in their youth as guests of the Maharani and Maharaja. It’s a place of bright colours and blue glass against the flat dusty earth, a traditional home, with modern comforts in the bedrooms and bathrooms. It was, she told me, ideal for relaxing after the National Park safaris, with time to catch her breath before heading on to Jaipur and Delhi.
SILVER FACTS Your local travel agent will help you select the right India tour, and arrange everything for you.
ESCORTED TOURING
New experiences with Cosmos -
MEET GILES HAWKE Giles is the CEO of Cosmos and talks to Jennie Carr about touring and adventure holidays, changes in travel and the challenges ahead.
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ith a foot in both camps, Giles is the ideal person ask at about the difference between touring and cruising. He admits there certainly is one, with touring holidays offering more time at destinations, allowing customers to travel deep into a country’s culture, with local guides providing unique knowledge and arranging priority access to museums and art galleries - it’s the VIP experience in a group. For older visitors, there’s the joy of a tour director who covertly manages logistics and hosts the holiday, which adds security and confidence, should a trip to new places be a slight concern. Giles points out that as most touring travellers are not heading for a sunbed, rather places of interest, cooler spring or autumn weather is often better as it means a less crowded, more personal trip all round. I’m interested in the second ‘A’ of ATAS (Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers), which Giles chairs. Rather than Benedict Allen style daring feats, Cosmos provides adventures which create a gentle adrenalin boost and are jolly good fun. Guests do something different to their normal daily life: experiencing new cultures, cooking and eating with a local family, even leisurely white-water rafting. The emphasis is on what you do when you arrive at the destination: in France picking grapes, shopping in food markets and then helping to create a gastronomic meal. Customers, Giles stresses, are experience hungry and this is where touring scores so highly – it is indeed an experience from start to finish. Where I ask, are these folks wanting to go on their
adventures? Borneo for the orangutan visits, Jordan, Israel, Lourdes for religious tours, South America right down to the tip of Patagonia and Iceland. And he says, some are wanting bolder adventures – Iran and Palestine for example. Cosmos treads a careful line here, between fulfilling requests and sticking closely to the FCO advice. Giles is absolutely clear that the most significant developments in travel are the rise of the no frills airlines, which has opened up the world at a very reasonable cost, and technology in cruise ships, which has allowed ships to become vastly bigger, with extraordinary facilities and for cruises to become more affordable. Challenges ahead may include over-tourism, he forecasts. There will be restrictions on numbers of visitors in certain destinations, Venice for sure. The reason for travelling to a beautiful place can be instantly removed if all you see are coachloads of other tourists. Tours to the far reaches of Chile will ensure, for now at least, that Giles’ guests should not suffer this fate.
SILVER FACTS Your local travel agent will be able to recommend the right tour and cultural adventure for you.
Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com for travel reviews and information
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CELEBRITY SPOTLIGHT
Travels with my Grandfather Winston Churchill
Winston and Celia 1962
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f you’re travelling to or through London with TAUCK, you may well have the pleasure of meeting Celia Sandys, one of their ambassadors, at a dinner or presentation where she tells tales of her grandfather that cannot be found in the history books. Celia is one of Winston Churchill’s grandchildren and she spent many holidays with him, in the last five years of his life. She has also written five books about her grandfather, including one on his early life and one on his travels. Celia Sandys
- Celia Sandys talks to Jennie Carr Her first trip with him was aged sixteen, as she was an available grandchild of the right age. They were guests of Aristotle Onassis and his wife on his incredible yacht sailing in the Mediterranean. Fellow guests were Maria Callas and her husband. And it was on this voyage that two marriages ended and a love affair began. What an extraordinary trip for the little-travelled young Celia to experience! She recalled her grandfather asking her to describe what she could see from the cabin windows each morning, particularly the colours. So very important to the artist he was. Many of her memories of Winston Churchill are from his country home, Chartwell, in a domestic setting, where his grandchildren had little notion of the public figure he was, but rather saw him as a benign figure whom they rather took for granted. Feeding the fish and visiting the animals were simple pleasures they all enjoyed together here. Celia also accompanied him on painting trips, where he enjoyed the Mediterranean sun in Monte Carlo staying at the Hotel de Paris. These were peaceful trips, with drives in the country and picnics; Celia adored having her grandfather to herself. Painting was a great solace for him and his favourite leisure activity, which he began in 1915 and continued for the rest of his life, apart from a break during the Second World War. At this time he painted just one picture of sunset over Marrakech, which currently belongs to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Quite where it will end up, who knows. Courage is the quality Celia said Winston Churchill would most want to be remembered for. It was this which allowed him to defy everyone during the Second World War and to convince the nation that they would win the war in the end. Meeting Celia Sandys is a fascinating experience; her insights into her remarkable grandfather are warm, amusing and give a rare opportunity to learn about the more private moments of this great statesman. Her recollections are a graciously fitting tribute to him. One of Churchill’s homes
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SILVER TRAVEL BOOK CLUB AND TV
Travelling as you read
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he Silver Travel Book Club - your Book Club - is into its second year already. How time flies when you’re travelling through the pages of a book. In recent months we have travelled through France on a road trip with author Ben Hatch, walked the length of Spain with Laurie Lee, become alarmed in Central America with Maile Meloy, and
witnessed what it was like for Elena Gorokhova to grow up in the Soviet Union before the fall of the Iron Curtain. All thanks to the magic of literature and through our partnership with TripFiction. Each month we give away copies of the chosen book to those Silver Travellers who leave the most entertaining memories of the destination on either the website Forum thread, or on our Facebook page. And some months we link the Holiday Prize Draw with the Book of the Month to create a winning combination in interesting locations. Travel and books: what a perfect double act for Silver Travellers, whether on location or in your armchair at home!
SILVER FACTS To find out more go to www.silvertraveladvisor.com and type Book Club into the search box.
Silver Travel TV
Travel Insurance Tips
Our TV Channel is the best place to get a up close view of what to expect on your holiday. Take a few minutes’ look at video clips of destinations around the world, and in the UK as well, so you can book with confidence. And also enjoy a sneak preview! Find out about staying on the Norfolk Broads, cruising in the Norwegian Fjords or walking in the UK, there’s plenty more too! Visit www.youtube.com/user/silvertraveladvisor
Can I travel abroad without seeing a doctor first? If you’re fit and healthy and travelling in Western Europe you can go on holiday without seeing a doctor. However, if you have a pre-existing medical condition, are unfit, have had a major illness or had major surgery in the last 2 years you should see your doctor before travelling. Some countries recommend extra vaccinations for certain ages as well.
Watch broadcaster, John Carter, on Silver Travel TV.
Can I get travel insurance with a pre-existing health condition? This depends on the severity of your condition, but if the insurance company considers it is a greater risk to insure you to travel and therefore charges extra, then you really not take the chance of going on holiday without proper medical coverage. If they think it is a risk, so should you. I am holidaying in the UK, is there a need for insurance? If you get sick, no matter what the circumstances, you can go to an NHS hospital. But travel insurance is not just about health, it also protects you if you have to cancel the holiday, if your camera is stolen and so much more.
For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page
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MEET THE TEAM
Our Contributors North, south, east or west our writers will be somewhere about, keen to explore the latest destinations, as well as old favourites. All aged over 50, they have a wealth of travel writing experience and many diverse interests, from wildlife safaris through luxury cruising and selfdrive boating to gentle walking and cycling almost anywhere around the globe. They’re here to share all this with you! For more articles, type their name into the search box at silvertraveladvisor.com. Jennie Carr – Editor A keen traveller, Jennie’s notable moments include hill climbing in Gocek & Kalkan in Turkey and two treks in the Namibian desert. Sally Dowling Sally is an award winning writer and seasoned traveller who has only recently discovered the delights of cruising. Alan Fairfax A passionate ‘cruise ship’ expert and travel writer, with over 100 cruises under his belt, and Alan is also a moderator on our friendly Forum.
Peter Lynch Once a Biology teacher, now a travel writer and author, with a keen interest in wildlife. An expert on rail journeys. Pat Richardson An award-winning UK-based freelance travel writer who writes mainly about cruises. She also gives talks on travel and travel writing.
Solange Hando Solange loves exploring the world. She is an award-winning travel writer and member of the British Guild of Travel Writers.
Ian Lumsden A retired deputy head teacher, with a wonderful sense of humour, who loves to dance, walk and travel, often at the same time!
Gill Haynes After 30 years in the cruise industry, Gill still loves life on (and below) the waterline. But her new favourite destination is Namibia.
Andrew Morris Andrew is the Editor of the Silver Travel Book Club and makes literary recommendations to our members to enhance the enjoyment of their travels.
Judith Holder As the TV producer responsible for the hit series Grumpy Old Women, Judith has written six books. Glynis Sullivan A regular contributor to Silver Travel Advisor, Glynis loves to travel with her husband Trevor, and is always ready to pack her bag! Gillian Thornton She has travelled to Finland and Oman, Florida and Poland, but she also loves Britain. 'I never mind where I go,' she says.
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Steve Newman Steve has walked with penguins, swum with sea lions and crossed the deserts and mountain of the world. He is also a keen birdwatcher.
Kay Wiseman Kay is a travelling wordsmith who has now retired to Devon where she continues to enjoy travelling and writing in equal measures. She is an experienced solo traveller. Dave Harcombe Our travelling pharmacist, Dave has a wealth of experience from many years dispensing both medicine and sound advice with his dry northern sense of humour.
SILVER TRAVEL BOOK CLUB AND TV
Personalised holidays, tailor-made for you
Classic Collection Holidays is a leading independent specialist tour operator providing 4H & 5H luxury hotel holidays to sophisticated destinations
Spain I Balearic Islands I Canary Islands I Portugal I Madeira I Italy Croatia I Gibraltar I Malta I Greece I Cyprus I Turkey I Croatia Morocco I Egypt I Caribbean I Bermuda I Cities I Lakes & Mountains
PRIVATE TRANSFERS INCLUDED
FLY FROM YOUR LOCAL AIRPORT
Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com for travel reviews and information
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Why book with your local independent travel agent? Our extensive travel knowledge and expert advice will ensure peace of mind and a holiday tailored to your individual requirements. As an independent travel agent, we have the benefit of being able to research and book your holiday using the widest range of travel providers. You can be assured that we will recommend options that are best suited to your budget, travel needs, and desires so you can embark on your next trip confident it will live up to your expectations. We offer a friendly convenient service, and value for money. To find out more, please contact us today.